"Fuck." She muttered again, under her breathe. Jughead walked towards Betty, tossing the positive test on the coffee table before slumping down next to her on the couch and wrapping an arm around her. The tears flowed faster now.
"Babe..shh..stop. You and I are going to figure this out. I promise. I'm here for you. Always. We just need to figure out our next move."
"Please don't tell anyone Jug. Not yet. Not even FP." She pleaded.
"Yeah that's fine. We can keep it to ourselves for now. But..Betts...I think we need to get you in to see a doctor. ...We don't even know how far along you are…."
"I know. I-I just I'm so embarrassed Jug. Like I should have learned from Polly!" She dropped her face into her hands.
"Hey. Stop. This isn't just your thing to handle. For once Betty, let me shoulder some of the weight. Let me take care of you."
"We need a plan."
"We do. I will see about picking up some work, maybe even with Mr. Andrews. We at least need a little money saved, and then we need to get you to a doctor."
"Yes. All of that. Before, we tell anyone."
"Okay. Got it, but Betts, my dad is onto us."
Betty sighed, as if to say, 'I know'. And the two continued to talk about the uncertainty of their future.
After a few days of research, and endless lists, the overwhelmed and exhausted blonde had settled on where she would go to confirm her pregnancy, and technically have her first prenatal appointment. She chose a Planned Parenthood clinic in Greendale, for a couple of reasons. The first being that she didn't need to pay; this meant that she could go and not worry about having cash or a bill being sent to her house, where her mother would inevitably find it. The second reason was that it was all the way in Greendale, odds of Betty and Jughead running into someone they knew were slim, which was important if they wanted to keep their secret a secret. She informed Jughead of her appointment, and he vowed to make sure he got her there safely.
The following morning Jughead and Betty headed into Greendale in FP's truck. Betty peered out the window while Jug drove, and kept one hand with fingers laced through his. Betty had no idea of what to expect when they arrived, but a pang of excited anxiety filled her chest. After all, Betty knew that this little alien she was carrying was a product of love. The truck approached the Greendale Planned Parenthood clinic, and Jug hopped out of the truck first to open the passenger's side door for Betty.
He looked at her seriously, but lovingly. "You ready?" She gave him a half smile, and nodded.
They walked together into the small building, Betty checked in, filled out some paperwork and then they both sat together in the waiting area. They sat close to each other holding hands and each of the pair nervously inspected the their surroundings. It was clean. Not terribly unwelcoming. They were surrounded by pamphlets about their options as young parents, as well as ones about nearly every STD that they could think of. Across the room sat a heavily pregnant girl who looked just a few years older than Betty. The girl was reading a magazine alone and Betty couldn't help but stare. She was staring because she was envisioning her future, although she hoped that she wouldn't be alone. The girl caught Betty's wide eyed stare and met her eyes. Betty gave her an apologetic smile. The girl then glanced at Jughead, who was looking in a different direction and anxiously bouncing his leg, and back at Betty, the girl pointed a knowing smile. Soon after she was called back, and the couple from Riverdale sat alone. Neither of them bothered trying to fill the silence with any sort of conversation.
"Betty?" the voice came from a small woman holding a clipboard and standing in the doorway behind them. Both Betty and Jug turned and quickly jumped up. She led them through the doorway into the back where she took Betty's vitals before bringing them to a small room and explaining that the first ultrasound would be an internal one and that Jughead could wait outside of the room if Betty preferred. Her face went red for a second and she shook her head as to say 'no'. The nurse left the room to allow her to undress and to wait for the doctor.
"God. This is so awkward." Betty said hopping up onto the examination table with no pants and a thin papery sheet over her lap. Jughead let out a chuckle.
"Betts it's okay. Nothing I haven't seen before." He cracked another smile and it somehow made her feel more at ease. She felt stupid for a second for imagining that this whole experience would somehow make her less desirable to Jug. She knew he wasn't that shallow, and that he loved her dearly; and obviously he had a sense of humor about it all.
Knock knock
"Ready?" a woman's voice could be heard through the door.
"Yep."
The doctor came in and introduced herself before dimming the lights leaving just the glow of the monitor where the two would soon see the tiny, little life that they created together.
After an awkward adjustment and an uncomfortable, foreign object placed inside of Betty, a few abstract shapes danced on the screen in front of them until it became focused in somewhat. What they saw was more than either could have imagined. Instead of a smudge on the screen, Betty and Jug could make out an entire outline of a little person, though some proportions were still quite off.
"Well, based on the size of baby, you are looking at December 27th as your due date. That puts you at about 11 weeks."
"Oh." Was all she could respond. She looked over at Jug, but his eyes were glued to the screen, and his mouth hung slightly open.
"Did you want to keep a picture of the sonogram?" Surprisingly Jughead piped up first.
"Yes." He said in a sure voice.
"Okay," The doctor chuckled slightly as she printed a picture and finished up the exam. "We offer pregnancy counseling to discuss your options...only if you are interested. If you have any questions or need a referral out of our clinic feel free to ask or call us later."
"I don't think we will be needing a counselor…. I think we are pretty sure of our decision." Betty glanced down at the sonogram picture in her lap and smiled.
"Sure! Well it is always available to you. It isn't just adoption counselors. They can find you an OBGYN for your regular prenatal appointments. There's also a list of resources in the front lobby for young moms. Good luck, to you both!" and with that, she left Betty to get dressed.
The drive back to Riverdale had a strange giddy feel to it.
"Jug, I feel guilty for feeling excited."
"I get it." He replied, not looking away from the road. "It's like-this wasn't supposed to happen, but it did. I'm not, not happy about it." He gave her hand a squeeze. "Don't get me wrong, I'm terrified. But it's a baby. It's our little thing. I just hope all the good in you can cancel out all the bad in me…" Jug laughed a little.
"A little Jughead…." Betty replied her thoughts wandering.
"I hope not. We need a sweet little baby Betts." She shot him a look, and he smirked glancing over at her for a second. "What?"
"You want a girl?" She raised a brow. He laughed again.
"I don't know. Maybe. It's all I can picture."
"I think I'm hoping for a boy though Jug…." She replied sheepishly.
"Whatever it-er-they are...they will be perfect." He squeezed her hand again, and she turned her head to watch the world go by outside of her window, smiling to herself.
Upon arriving back at the trailer, Betty collapsed into Jughead's chest in his bed.
"So how the hell am I supposed to be 'Serpent Queen' when I'm busy carrying your serpent baby- and then later caring for aforementioned child..?"
"Betty don't even worry about that shit."
"No! I told you, and I told them I would be there for them. I'm just going to have to find a way to make things work. I don't take commitments lightly." She said seriously. Jughead smiled and shook his head.
"You're something else Betty Cooper. -How about we find a way to have you safely fulfill your duties as My Queen? You need to be careful. Nothing risky."
"I can make this work!" Betty was sure of herself. Though she really had no idea what a pregnancy was like or the toll it might take on her. She was up for the challenge as usual though.
Author's Note: I apologize for the long wait in between chapters, I intended to have this up sooner. I get stuck on small parts and layers. The next chapter should be up sooner. I hope you guys feel that my interpretation of Bughead is true to their characters. I really enjoy writing moments that they share. As for the next chapter- It seems as though the wait to tell friends and family of the baby is coming to an end.
