Chapter 1

It had been 5 years since the terrors of Riverdale had passed, and 5 years since 'The Town with Pep' became a small town like any other. The troubled teens who had once attended Riverdale High had long since graduated, leaving their dreaded pasts behind them and going their own separate ways.
It was a day like any other when Betty Cooper received a call; a call that would alter the course of the rest of her life.

She was sitting alone in her small Pennsylvania apartment when her phone started buzzing on the table beside her. She picked it up quickly, expecting and slightly hoping a call from work would put her out of her lonely misery, but was surprised to see an unknown number flash up on the small screen display. Betty never got any calls, other than the occasional check-in from her mom or some work-related call, so she was shocked and a little scared to see that letter word appear on her usually blank phone screen. The word 'Unknown' was one that she often associated with her father in his days of the black hood, a memory that she was happy to have left in Riverdale. A little shaken, Betty quickly declined the call and placed the small device back on the table beside her. It was another few minutes before that horrid word graced her screen again, and she was forced to bite the bullet, and hit 'answer'.

"Hello?" She muttered into the speaker, trying her hardest not to sound frightened. "Who is this?"
"Betty? Is that you?" A voice from the other end asked with relief. It was a voice that Betty knew well, but she hadn't heard in years. A voice that caused a huge wave of happiness and confusion to wash over her.
"Veronica?"
The voice on the other end could be heard sighing in relief, a slight chuckle being released from their lips.
"Yeah, it's me B. You have no idea how happy I am to hear your voice"
"Me too V. It's so good to hear from you" Betty replied honestly. She hadn't realised how much she truly missed her best friend. After graduating from Riverdale High, Betty had moved to Pennsylvania with Jughead, and Veronica had gone back to New York City on her own. They had sworn to keep in touch, but busy lives got in the way and over time, Betty had lost her best friend.
"How did you get my number?" Betty asked curiously before Veronica could say anything else. She heard a sigh from the other end before she got an answer.
"It's a long story B; but the short version? I got a job offer. In Riverdale. It was one that I just couldn't refuse, so I came back. And I ran into your mom"
Veronica hesitated on the last few words, and Betty immediately knew something was up. She also happened to know that a certain redhead from their past still lived in Riverdale.
"That's great V! I'm so glad you found my number. I didn't realise how much I needed to talk to my best friend"
She replied, unable to keep the emotion out of her voice. She had had a rough couple of years, and a call from Veronica was something she didn't realise she desperately needed.
"Awe, B, don't be sad. I'm thinking reunion? Say the word and I'll be there"
Betty shook her head sadly, before realising that Veronica couldn't see her.
"It's okay V. I was actually thinking about coming back to Riverdale too, if not just for a visit. I haven't seen my mom or FP in a while. I haven't really talked to Archie either"
Betty said the last part very wearily, knowing exactly how things had ended between Archie and Veronica. The small sob she heard from the other end confirmed her suspicions that this call was partly related to the redhead himself. Something was wrong.
"Okay V, spill. I know something's wrong, and I'm here for you. No judgement"

It was like no time had passed. Betty and Veronica picked up exactly where they left off, as if this was a conversation they had every day.
Betty listened to Veronica sobbing hysterically on the other end of the line, desperately wanting to reach through the phone and hug her old friend comfortingly. Instead, she waited patiently until the sobbing had subsided, and in a choked and sniffly voice, Veronica began to explain.

"It's Archie, B. I ran into him during my second week back, and damn he looked good! Anyway I didn't know he still lived in Riverdale and he didn't know I was back from NYC, and as you know things didn't end well between us, so once we started talking, well, we were fighting again. One thing led to another and, well, I think I'm pregnant with Archie's baby!"
The final few words spilled from Veronica's mouth so quickly that Betty almost missed them. It took a moment for her to process, before Veronica could be heard sobbing again. This time though, she wasn't alone.
"I'm scared B"

At this point, Betty was on the verge of a full meltdown. Her friends' words were hitting a little too close to home, because there was something similar that Betty herself had been hiding from everyone for the past year. The truth was, she didn't live a boring life in an apartment on her own. Her life was hectic, and she shared her small Pennsylvania residence with two other people. Two five-month-old children. Twins, Faith and Jeremiah. Jones.

"Awe B, don't be upset. I'm so sorry to burden you with this. I shouldn't have said anything"
Veronica began to ramble apologetically, but Betty cut her off quickly.
"No, V, it's not that. It's me. I, well, know what you're going through right now" She took a deep, shaky breath before uttering the words that she had never actually said out loud. "I went through the same thing, a little over a year ago"
There was a long pause on the other end of the phone, in which Veronica stopped crying, and was silent for a few moments. Betty had to triple check to make sure her friend hadn't hung up on her, but she was definitely still there.
"Wait, what?"

Veronica's words could barely be heard through the phone, but they echoed loud and clear through Betty's head. Veronica was the first person she had explicitly told about her small family. Of course, her work colleagues and her babysitter knew, but none of them knew her past. They didn't know what it meant.

"Betty Cooper, you have a baby?"
Veronica's words were louder now, and her tone was happy. It gave Betty more confidence, and she stopped sobbing and giggled a little.
"Yeah, I do. Two, actually"
"WHAT? I need details B. Please. You're taking my mind off this Archie situation"
Betty chuckled a little, before diving into her favourite topic of conversation. Her children.
"Well, they're five months old. Twins, Faith Polly and Jeremiah Louis; and they are absolutely perfect. Faith looks exactly like me if I'm honest. Except for her eyes. She has her dads' eyes"
"Awe B, I can't wait to meet them! When did you say you and Jughead are coming to visit?"
Betty paused now, considering her words carefully whilst trying to ignore the heavy ache in her heart, which had been weighing on her for just over a year now. She had just told Veronica one of her biggest secrets, and she really didn't want to spill the next one. That Jughead didn't know.
"Well, actually V, Jughead and I aren't together. We broke up about a year ago"
"WHAT?! Bughead is no more? Is there hope left for any of us?"
Betty knew that there would only be mere moments before Veronica asked the dreaded question, and she didn't know if she could lie to her friend. She was sure Veronica would understand, but they had just had their first conversation in three years, and she didn't want to mess things up.
"How often does he see the kids? Do you still get along, or do you like, not talk?"
Betty sighed dramatically into the phone. She knew it was time she came clean to someone, and it may as well be an old friend.
"Well actually V, Jughead doesn't know. We sort of broke up because he didn't want to be tied down. He knew I had always wanted to settle down and start a family, and that just wasn't what he wanted. We weren't on bad terms though. So we kind of said goodbye, I guess. And, well, I have the results right here"
Betty was expecting another long pause to follow her rant, but to her surprise, Veronica had an immediate reply.
"No, B, that isn't fair. Jughead would want to know his kids. He would want to be a part of their lives, if not just a small part"
"Yes, well that's the problem, Veronica. He would. He had so many plans for his life, before settling down anywhere, and I know that he would feel obligated to come back and look after these kids. Therefore, he wouldn't get to live his life. And after everything he's been through, he deserves it"
"What about your life B? You're only 23 and you're a single mom to two five-month-old babies. In case you forgot, you've been through hell and back too. You deserve the life that you dreamed of"

Betty was on the verge of tears now. She wanted to be mad at Veronica for trying to change her mind about this, but her friend had a really good point. Betty had put up with just as much as anyone in her time and ended up a single mom with about a thousand secrets bottled up inside of her. Deep down, she agreed with Veronica.

"Now, B, we're flying you and your two little darlings out to Riverdale as soon as possible. Oh, and I'm getting Jughead here too"
"No, V, absolutely not. He left me in his past. And he certainly left Riverdale in his past. He's off somewhere being amazing and free. I don't want to be the one to get in his way"

Betty was immediately on the defensive again. She had thought that Veronica had a point, but one mention of Jughead and she was completely set against the idea. The truth was, it wasn't entirely for his sake. She was scared to see him again. Scared that he would hate her, for keeping the children or for keeping them a secret. And scared that he would leave for good.

"You won't be getting in his way"
Veronica stated matter of factly as she considered Betty's words.
"I will be. I'll call you when everything's sorted B"
And with that she hung up, leaving Betty confused, scared, and happier than she'd been in a long time.

Okay, so this is the first chapter of my new story. I've been working on this concept for a while now, and am really excited to start posting. I have a few chapters stored so hopefully there will be updates coming soon. I hope you enjoy!

-El xx