4 years later

Hiram was dead, finally our running was over. One week ago we got a call from Jughead's dad, FP Jones, saying that he was killed in a mysterious car accident, and that it was safe to return.

Me and Jug were overjoyed that we could finally return to Riverdale, and visit our families safely- for we had not seen them in years.

I also wanted to see Betty, see if she was ok. She had never answered any of our calls, and I had never actually properly talked to her after our time in the bunker. Jug tried to reassure himself mostly that she couldn't have found another man in the many years they were together, that they loved each other so much she would never cheat. Perhaps that would comfort me too if she had not proved that theory wrong before, and they had not spoken a word in four years. Although we were both terribly nervous, Jug said nothing, for fear of losing me, and I said nothing- as I was not supposed to care for the blonde ponytailed girl as much as I did.

Veronica also ignored all of my calls to check in with her after our initial break up. She was most likely paired up with a man three times as good as me. As much as I stopped loving her she was still a great girl and deserved someone who'd treat her well.

As we approached the familiar site of Pops I saw a beloved face I had not seen in what seemed like forever. My father.

It was all in slow motion as I approached my father. I smiled as I pulled him into my embrace, savouring his parental touch.

"Dad!?" I said, pulling back.

"Arch!" He whispered smiling down at me. He had aged, but aged well. His silver hair was curled and he had shaved his bristley beared. Upon his forehead there were faint but visible wrinkles and light bags below his eyes.

Minutes later all three of us were sipping strawberry milkshakes munching on our breakfast and talking, just like old times.

"So, where's Betty?" My father asked taking another sip of his milkshake. Me and Jug looked to each other in confusion before he continued, "I mean Veronica was crushed when all three of you left her alone, she thought she meant more to you trio than that."

"Ur... Dad... Betty never came with us, we tried to make sure she was safe but she wouldn't answer our calls and we were on the run."

My Dad's mouth hung open.

"But, Alice said Betty left with you, so she sold her house and went to live on some farm." He continued slightly agitated, "Betty left the same day as you, so I had no reason to assume she was lying."

What happened to Betty?

45 minutes later

My father had left Pop's about half an hour ago, me and Jug were terribly worried about what happened to Betty, but we still did not utter a word to each other, over our time on the run we had learnt to communicate without uttering a word. We knew almost everything about one another.

"Excuse me are you going to order anything, you've been here 2 hours already." A woman's voice said. I looked up and recognised the matured face.

"Veronica..." I cried in a state of shock.

"Oh my god!" She whimpered dropping her notebook on the floor. Suddenly I felt arms wrap around me tightly, not letting go.

Soon enough she was sat beside Jughead at our table explaining how she was engaged to Reggie and how she was devastated when me, Jug and Betty left her.

Jug looked towards Veronica, "Betty never came with us, Alice must have lied."

"W...what? Where's Betty?"

"We...we don't know." I replied looking down and hiding my devastated expression.

Betty PoV

My king, my saviour,

Guide me through the night,

Bless me with your darkness,

Gift me with your flight,

"Mommy! Mommy!"

I looked towards a little girl, about 4 years old. My daughter and youngest offspring. Her name was Cherry, named after her brilliant red hair and my dear cousin, Cheryl, who I missed a lot.

Second a little boy clambered onto the pink sheets of my bed, wrapping his arms around me, his blonde hair brushing against my face. His name Ronald, Ron for short, after my best friend Ronnie. Half of me felt guilty, for V used to be my best friend, and yet her boyfriend, perhaps husband by now was his father. Archie Andrews.

Suddenly I awoke after my recurring dream. For almost 3 years I had had the same one, ever since I my twin babies had been taken from me and put into the Sisters' orphanage. I could only catch slight glimpses of them when set to work in the garden, over the other side of the fence playing outside. Even though they were among many other children and I had never had a proper conversation with them, I could recognise them in a heartbeat. They were my children.

On the day I first found out I was pregnant I was told I was only a few weeks along. Because me and Jug were drifting apart, we had not had sex for months, leaving Archie as the only candidate. I knew I loved Archie, but also knew he did not love me back, because if he or anyone else did- or even cared about me at all- they would have come to my rescue 4 years ago. Now I had given up.

As it was morning, the effects of the fizzle rocks we were forced to eat had worn off, this was the only time of the day I was 'sober' as each morning the first thing we have to do is 'take our medicine'.

Reluctantly I headed to the main room. I queued up for my daily dose of the drugs and eventually received my paper cupful. Hesitantly I poured them in my mouth and cringed at the sour flavour. Immediately I was hit by a wave of terrifying stillness. My mind went blank and I just watched as my body did as it was told from the outside world.

The drugs felt as if someone had locked my mind up and was forcing me to watch my body perform like some sort of robot, with barely any control over how I acted.

Veronica PoV

I was awkwardly sat with the two men, 4 years ago I was so desperate to see. About a week ago my father had died in a mysterious car accident. Honestly I wasn't surprised, he had many enemies, but it still hurt that no one had a nice thing to say about him.

After realising my three supposed best friends left me, I went into buisness with my father, learning his personal tricks and acquiring my own. In his will he had left me, as his only child, with ownership of all of his business shares and plans. For this reason I was recieving a large amount of phone calls from different associates of my father's who understandably didn't trust me as their new boss or colleague so were trying to buy back their shares of their own businesses.

Ring

I picked up the phone and found it was from the sisters of quiet mercy, asking me to go and talk over some business with them as soon as possible.

"Who was that?" Jughead questioned, not looking up from his laptop.

"The sisters of quiet mercy," I sighed, "I really don't want to go alone though, that place creeps me out!"

Archie looked to Jughead and said, "We'll go with you, it's the least we can do for the free milkshakes," he gestured towards the drinks I made them on the house, "plus it'll take our mind off... things..."