"Juggie, Juuuugggiiieee, come over and play wifh me, pwease?!" A small blonde-haired girl excitedly waved her arms, calling out to the raven-haired boy who stood across the street from her.

Neither child was more than five years old but they had been best friends since they could crawl.

They had lived across the street from each other for their entire lives. Their parents had always been close - having also grown up together - and they all attended the same high school. It was their destiny to be best friends.

"I not supposed ta, Beddy," the boy said with a sigh, making the girl frown.

"But Mommy said I can play outside till we go see the movies! Pwease Juggie, we can look for flier flights?!" The girl clasped her hands together tightly, begging the blue-eyed boy.

The pair had been enjoying their last summer together before they were to start kindergarten and had been busy doing all the things that best friends did at their age. Swimming, hide and seek, playing in his treehouse or her sandbox. But today it was Tuesday and Tuesday was their favorite day of the week.

That was because Tuesday's happened to be the day of their weekly trip to the Twilight Drive-In. There they'd get to have popcorn and hotdogs and were allowed to run around holding hands, chasing all the other children who got bored with the films too quickly.

"Mama says I can't, Betts. She said we gotta go to the ledo. In some place called hi-o. She said we gotta go and we can't come back no more," the little boy said dejectedly, kicking the dirt at his feet and looking melancholy. This was not what the little girl had expected to hear.

"But... if you weave Juggie, what'm I gonna do? Who will play wifh me at the dive-in? You can't go, Jug! You gotta go wifh me on the big kid bus for school! You can't weave me, Juggie!" The little girl couldn't stop the tears from falling down her cheeks as she sobbed at the news that they were leaving... that he was leaving her.

It was more than the boy could bear and he ran to the little girl and hugged her close, wrapping his slim arms around the crying little girl and squeezing her tighter.

"Don't cry, Beddy," he whispered, hugging her with all his might, his voice muffled by her hair and trying to stop his tears from falling.

"You're my bestest fwiend, Juggie. What if we don't 'member each other no mores?" She cried out again. The little girl buried her face in his neck as she sobbed uncontrollably. Just then the boy's head shot up as he got an idea!

"Hold on, Betts, I got an idea! Stay wight here," the little boy ran to the car that was being loaded in his driveway and jumped into the back seat. He dug around for a minute, searching for the item he had placed there earlier.

When he found it, the little girl watched as the boy ran back across the empty street carrying a little stuffed sheepdog.

She knew this toy well. She has seen it several times before. It was the only toy he had that no one else but him was allowed to touch.

"Here Betts, you can has Hot Dog so you can 'member me, m'kay?" The little boy smiled shyly as he handed his most prized possession to the little broken-hearted girl.

"Really, Juggie?" She sniffled, "Like for always?" The boy nodded as she took the toy from him, smiling brightly. Just then she got an idea too!

"Hold on, Juggie imma be back," she ran inside her house and then ran back just as quickly, holding something behind her back. She knew her mother was probably going to be angry with her, but she decided that it would be worth it for her bestest friend in the whole world.

"My Nana Smith made dis for me but it's kinda too big for my head. Plus, it looks more like it's for a boy so I want you to has it, Juggie. But it's a secret tho, just 'tween me and you," she pulled her hand out to present the boy with his gift.

A grey beanie, knitted into the shape of a crown. Taking the hat from her tiny hand, the little boy was completely overcome with emotions. He knew that it was a birthday gift that her grandmother had made for her. When she opened it and he saw it, he couldn't stop talking about how much he wanted one just like it.

"Are you sure, Betts?" He whispered while clutching the hat in his hands.

"Yes Juggie, I know how much you liked it. And 'member when we would play in your treehouse? You would be the prince who saves me from the evil witch? Well, now you has a crown to show everyone you're my prince," she smiled sweetly at him, tears building in his eyes again.

"I loves you, Betts. I'mma miss you. I promise, when I am all growed up, imma come back to get you. I won't forget you, Beddy," he clung to the girl, getting one last hug in as he heard his mother calling for him.

"I loves you too, Juggie," she hugged him back even harder, never wanting to let go. When they finally pulled apart, she took the hat from the boy's hands and placed it on his head, giggling at the giant size of it over his dark curls.

"My prince," she whispered and kissed the little boy quickly, right on the lips.

He barely has time to react before his mother came to collect him, scolding him while dragging him back across the street by his arm.

"I told you boy, stay away from her. I swear to God boy, why can't you ever listen to me for once!? That girl is gonna be trouble, just like her mother..." she mumbled to the boy, staring daggers at the tiny blonde girl who was left standing in shock.

Both children were crying by this point, neither understanding why this was happening to them. The boy was placed in the car, helpless as he watched the little girl sinking to the grass and sobbing harder.

"Bye princess, I'll come back someday... Promise..." he whispered as they drive away to his new life.

A life away from the blonde princess. His best friend, the one he loves, the one he doesn't want to leave behind.

I woke up from the dream I was having with a shot, clutching my chest and sobbing uncontrollably. It all felt so real, the little girl's pain, the love she felt for the boy, the sorrow that never seemed to end. My head was pounding and I couldn't seem to stop the tears from falling as I desperately tried to regulate my breathing.

I knew the throbbing pain in my head wasn't the only reason for the tears.

This wasn't the first time I'd had this dream, or others similar to it but with happier endings. However, I have had this same particular dream several times a month since as far back as I can remember. And every time, I wake up in tears feeling so much sorrow and loss that my heartbreak just tears me to pieces.

Like the only thing I had ever loved was stolen from me.

I asked Alice and Hal on several different occasions if the dream meant anything or if they remembered the little boy with raven hair but they'd always brush it off and change the subject. All they would ever say was that it was just a dream, hand me Hot Dog to keep me company (they always told me Nana Smith had given me the plush puppy) and then they'd tell me to go back to bed.

As I got older, I just chalked it up to a strange dream and didn't think about it much more than that. I accepted what they told me as fact and didn't ask ever again.

The dream itself always seemed vivid and lifelike but it couldn't have been real. Seriously, who names their kid Juggie?

I wiped my eyes again - hoping to stop the tears - when I finally noticed that I was not in my own bed like I should have been. I glanced around the bedroom, taking in the dark walls that were covered in classic movie posters and shelves filled with hundreds of books. Whoever you are, color me intrigued...

Then panic sets in when I glanced down, noticing that I was no longer dressed in my skimpy outfit but a soft, gray tee-shirt with an S on the front. What in the hell happened last night?!

I wracked my brain, trying desperately to figure out how I ended up here - wherever here was or wherever my clothes could be. I threw the blankets back and started to search around the room for my phone when I heard someone clear their throat behind me. I practically jumped out of my skin and spun around to face the doorway.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you," he said softly while leaning against the doorframe. I couldn't do anything more than gawk at him, unable to squeak any sound out. "I heard you crying so I wanted to come to check on you."

I tried to pull myself together enough to ask how I ended up here. Although, it's really hard to do that when I noticed he happened to be completely shirtless and only wearing a pair of loose-fitting pajama pants and a smile.

"Did... did we, um... you know, did we..." I stammered while looking away, flushing and not meeting his eyes. I heard the deep chuckle that escaped his lips and my body heats up again, that kindling inside me waiting to be lit. I looked up at him as he began to walk closer to me.

"Don't worry, Princess, nothing happened. That creep from the bar last night laced your drink when you weren't paying attention and you passed out. When I couldn't find your friends, I carried you up here to my apartment and asked Cheryl to help you change. She is your cousin, right?" His brow creased, giving me a questioning look before continuing.

"I thought that letting you stay here was a safer bet than trying to find out where you lived and dumping you in a cab," he scratched the back of his neck as he spoke, almost like he was just as nervous as I was.

While the thought that-that creep from the previous night could have seriously hurt me - or worse - did terrify me, I couldn't help but feel my heart fluttering at the kindness of the man standing shyly in front of me like I made him nervous.

As if he doesn't already know he is completely gorgeous, standing there looking like some sort of greek god. How could he possibly be nervous around someone like me?

He was tall with an athletic build, his six-pack and muscles not large but defined in all the right ways. While he is obviously in amazing shape, he was much leaner than Archie ever was. I think I like his build much more though... the very thought of how much I like it making my purse race.

His arms were both sleeved in beautifully ornate flowers with gothic tattoos of every kind. On his left pec, just above his heart, was the black outline of a Basquiat crown with the letters JJ in the center. On his right pec sat a beautiful black and gray vintage typewriter. Directly underneath that one, on the front of ribs, there was a black and gray raven in flight carrying a sprig of tiny yellow four-petaled flowers in its claws.

Running up the length of his left side was the phrase Pulvis Et Umbra Sumus and on his other side, it read Memento Mori.

However, the tattoo that really caught my eye was the hissing coiled cobra on his left front rib cage with the name Forsythe in bold underneath it. I stood frozen in recognition, eyes blown wide as he stared back at me. Without thought I stepped forward, reaching my hand out to lightly stroke the lettering along his ribs and felt his breath catch. I didn't even look at his face as he growled lightly, my eyes transfixed on the script along his ribs.

Could it be? Is he Forsythe Jones' son? Forsythe isn't exactly a common name so he would have to be. Is he the one who sent me the evidence? I thought to myself as I traced my fingers up the vertebrae of the snake. I didn't even realize I was still stroking his tattoo until he lightly grabbed my wrist, bringing my hand to a standstill.

Embarrassed by my intrusion of his personal space, I attempted to pull my hand away but he held it firmly in place, rubbing his thumb across my knuckles tenderly. I nearly came unglued right there on the spot from the sensation it sent to my core. The shockwaves running through my body at his touch were intoxicating and I wondered what it would feel like to have his hands running all over my naked body.

I could feel myself growing hot again at the thoughts of his hands on me and I began to blush profusely. That was when I become painfully aware that I still standing here against him, hand pressed to his bare chest and without any pants on.

"Oh!" I pulled my hand out of his grip and grabbed his sheet to cover myself. I didn't think my face could get any redder, but boy was I wrong.

Dear God, can this get more awkward! I thought in frustration. He chuckled and placed his finger under my chin to lift it so I was forced to look him in the eyes.

"It's okay, Betts. We're both adults here, there's no reason to be embarrassed around me," he rasped, swiping his thumb across my cheek as he stared down at my lips. Realizing he'd been caught, he cleared his throat again and dropped his hand from my face. "Well, I'm sure you have a lot of questions for me. How about I make us some breakfast and then we can talk? There are some pajama pants in the top drawer," he briefly glanced down at his tattoo where my hand had been pressed before gesturing to the dresser.

"Oh, yeah, that would be great. Just let me- wait..." I jerked my head back in his direction, "What did you just call me?" I asked, staring at him with my brow scrunched in confusion. The dream was still so fresh in my mind that I thought that maybe I had misheard him but he just smiled.

"Just get dressed Betts, this may take a while."

With one last glance, he walked away, leaving me standing there with no knowledge of what the hell was happening.

After washing my face off with warm water and rinsing my mouth out with some mouthwash that I found in his bathroom, I finally made my way out of his bedroom. I had so many questions for him, the journalist part of me itching to find out what pieces were missing to this puzzle. I had to know the truth of what was going on, no matter how insane it might have been.

I walked down the narrow hallway leading from his room, passing another bathroom and what looked to be another bedroom before I finally reached his living area. It was open and bright, windows lining the right wall, overlooking what I could only assume is the backlot of the Wyrm. Separating the spacious kitchen from the living room was a large island with a black marble top.

I could smell the brewing coffee and bacon he had cooked, realizing at that moment that I was absolutely starving. I saw him standing at the stove, humming while he cooked some scrambled eggs. I watched his back muscles contracting as he whisked the eggs in the pan and I was forced to clench my thighs together at the sight.

Jesus Betty, pull yourself together! I know he's hot as fuck but you have a mystery to solve here! I scolded myself, biting my lip as my eyes trailed over his body. That was when I noticed the giant double-headed snake tattooed along the center of his back forming a giant S.

It was just like the symbol that was embroidered on the back of his Serpent jacket, except sitting on its head was a golden crown embellished with three green jewels.

Skimming along the body of the snake was the phrase Long Live The King. I chuckled to myself, Let's see, so either he really likes The Lion King or that makes him... Then it clicked.

Uh oh... I released a small gasp that must have been louder than I thought because he turned to me and winked, acknowledging my presence. He smiled as he turned and began placing the bacon and eggs on two plates that were sitting on the island. I didn't know what to say or where to even begin with my questioning so I took a seat at the island and put my hands on my lap.

He looked at me expectantly and spoke, "I know you have a lot of questions so let's eat and I will try to answer them as best I can. Okay?" He pushed a plate in front of me and continued, "Some of these things I am about to tell you I didn't even know until just a few years ago but I will do my best, okay?" His voice was so calming that I could feel my shoulders starting to relax.

I took a deep breath and all the thoughts in my head came tumbling out of my mouth in one continuous stream of word vomit.

"What do your tattoos mean? Are you Forsythe's son? Was it you that sent me Jason Blossom's coat - and if so - where did you get it from? You called me Betts... How do you know me? And how do you know about my dream? How do you know what he called me? What is-, " all the thoughts in my head continued spilling out before I can even stop it and he had to reel me back in.

"Hey, hey, one thing at a time, Betty," he laughed quietly, "Let me answer some of your questions and that should explain what some of the tattoos mean, okay?" I nodded my head, patiently waiting for him to continue.

"Well first off, yes my dad is FP Jones. I was born and lived in Riverdale until I was 5 years old before my Mom decided to drag Jellybean and I to Toledo to live with family-," before he could finish, I interrupted him.

"Jellybean?" I asked, his smile growing wider at my confusion.

"Jellybean, my baby sister. She was only a year old at the time so she doesn't remember being here, but I do. Mom always told me that my dad was a drunk who ran a gang and that she left to protect us from the life he'd spiraled into but I always felt like there was something she was leaving out. She was really vague about anything involving my dad and Riverdale. It just felt... off," He explained, turning to place our now empty plates in the sink behind him.

"The older I got, the more I started to rebel against my mom and her rules. I started wearing darker clothes, listening to heavy metal music, reading dark literature - you know, the classics - and eventually, I wanted to learn how to ride a motorcycle. God, she got so angry when she found out my friend's dad was teaching me how to ride. Said I was just like him and was nothing more than a disappointment in her eyes," his jaw tightened at his last statement and I knew that there was a lot of bad blood there.

"She stopped trying at that point. Said she was just waiting for me to screw up and be a drunk just like my bum of a dad. That's a lot of pressure and negativity for a fifteen-year-old kid and by the time I left she just wasn't my mom anymore. She didn't even have the decency to tell me that my dad was arrested for Jason Blossom's murder until months after it happened. That was the last straw for me. I was so angry with her at that point that I knew what I needed to do," he said sadly. "I hopped on the first bus into Riverdale to get FP's side of things. Even if he was possibly a murderer, he was still my dad and he at least deserved a chance to tell his side. Explain why mom took us and ran, why he was in jail - if all the things she told us were true or just bullshit she spouted to keep us away from the truth."

"Ironically, he really was the leader of a gang but there was one major lie she told us about him. He never drank when we were around," he rested his hand on mine and began to caress the back of my them with his thumbs. He let out a staggered breath before he continued, "He didn't start drinking until after Gladys took us to Ohio. Turns out he was having an affair with his highschool girlfriend and when my Mom found out she took off with us while he was at work. Just packed us up, left a note that said she knew and that he would never see any of us again and bolted," I could see the anger building in his eyes as he spoke.

"Dad was so devastated that she took us away from him that he ended up blaming it all on his mistress and drank himself nearly to death for years. He told me it wasn't just that we were gone that caused him to drink, he said he couldn't live with what he said to the other woman. He said he regrets it still to this day because she was the only woman he ever really loved," he paused briefly before continuing.

"They were madly in love, had always been but he said something happened in high school that split them up. He never said what it was but then she got married and he started dating Gladys. Dad said that he and my mom got married when she got pregnant with me and that he was happy, but he still loved the other woman. After like 8 years apart they couldn't take it any longer and started the affair."

"They knew it was wrong but they couldn't take being apart anymore. They both knew they had married the wrong people so they made plans to divorce their spouses so they could be together. But before that could happen, my mom took us and FP flipped out and just kind of self-destructed. He got drunk and told the woman he loved it was her fault, said that he wished he never loved her and that she was his biggest mistake," my heart broke at the sound of his voice trembling, almost like he could feel what she must have felt in that moment.

"He told me that after he said it he watched something break inside her, something that turned her cold, and he instantly regretted what he had done. He said he knew at that moment that he'd killed the only thing he had left so he threw himself headfirst into the Serpents and the bottle."

"He swore to me that he had made a lot of mistakes in his life but he never killed anyone. He'd just been forced to get rid of Jason's body by Clifford Blossom or else my sister and I would be next. He was terrified, he knew Blossom had the resources and would have no problem finding us," I squeezed his hand gently, hoping to comfort him in some way.

"So FP did the only thing he could at the time, he took something from the crime for insurance - just in case things went south. He had a Serpent that he could trust hide the jacket until he could play his hand and when I showed up at the jail, he knew it was time. I'd been trying to find the jacket for months - since that guy who hide it had taken off before I even got to town - and when I finally found it, I knew that Sheriff Keller would think I was just trying to get my dad out of jail with false evidence. That's where you came in, Betts," he tapped the end of my nose with his fingertip and smirked.

"I watched you back then; watched you investigate with such fierce determination, read the article you wrote about my dad's innocence. He told me that he always knew you would be in his corner, that you weren't like the other Northsiders. You had a heart for the Southside and you were the only truly pure thing left in this God-forsaken town. That was why he had the Serpents protect you anytime you ventured over to this side of town. He was fiercely protective of you," I interrupted him again once I heard that.

"Wait, FP was the reason the Serpents protected me at Southside High? But... I don't even know him, why would he-," he placed his hand over my mouth and smiled.

"He knew you, Betty, and he loved you. He wanted you to be kept safe, we both did, to be honest. That's why when I took over I had the Serpents continue to protect you," he stepped around the island and when he moved a hand to cup my cheek, I instinctively pressed into it.

"FP had so much faith in you, he knew if anyone could get the town to believe the truth that it was you. He said you would help me prove to all of them that he was innocent. After..." he paused, "um, after he got sent to prison, I went to the jubilee and heard your speech. That speech was the reason why I made the decision to take over as the leader of the Serpents until FP could get out. Make them better than they were."

"My dad and his plight are what inspired me to write a novel about the murder and everything that happened after. So, as you can see, that is what a few of my tattoos mean," he stopped and looked me deep in the eyes. It still wasn't enough information, some questions still remained and I had to know everything.

"What about the crown tattoo? And you still haven't explained how you knew about the dream. Hell, I don't even know your name yet," I studied his face closely, trying to get a read on him, trying to understand him.

"Maybe I should show you," he grabbed my hand, pulling me off the stool and back towards his bedroom. He motioned for me to sit on the bed and reached into his desk drawer, pulling out an old wool beanie. He knelt down in front of me and placed the beanie in my hands. It was faded and had a few holes but I noticed it was in the shape of a crown.

"What- how? I don't understand..." I struggled to get out a complete sentence as I held the fraying piece of wool in my hands. I take a staggered breath before asking him again, "How? How is this here? How is this real?" He smiled shyly, reaching out to caress my cheek once again.

"It's here because that wasn't a dream you were having, they were memories. More precisely they were our memories. And from what I gathered, it was our last memory together," his fingers traced my jawline as he continued, "I dreamt of it too, Betty. I dreamt of you."

"The crown is over my heart to remind me of a promise I made a long time ago to someone who was very special to me," his eyes flicker down to my lips then back to my eyes. "A promise to my princess... to you. I promised that I would come back for you and this crown has reminded me to keep that promise," He started to lean towards me slowly, so close I could feel his breath on my lips.

"What's your name?" I whispered, his lips dangerously close to mine.

"The names Jughead but you always liked to call me Juggie, Princess."