Shout-Outs: Alana Lissens and Guest

Rated: T

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

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Chapter 10

"I'm too afraid to look," Veronica said.

"You are one of the strongest women I know," Betty told her. "Just look at the test! Okay?"

"You do it."

Betty got up from the edge of the claw-foot tub and walked out of the bathroom. "I'm going to make some coffee, Jughead will be awake soon."

"What? It's not like you're his wife!" Veronica called after her. "He can make his own coffee!"

"After this conversation, I need it too!" Betty replied.

"But we barely had a conversation," Veronica answered. "Come on, I need your support!"

"And you have it, I'm sending it from the kitchen! Now see if you're pregnant or not. It'll be a relief when you do regardless of the results. The not knowing is the worst part."

Veronica sighed loudly enough for Betty to hear her as she closed the door behind her.

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Archie was in the kitchen leaning against the counter and scrolling through texts on his phone when she came in.

"Is she okay?" he asked.

"She's trying to work up the courage to look at the test," Betty said.

Archie sighed. "Maybe I should go and check on her."

Betty nodded. "I'm going to start to cook now, it should be ready by the time you come back out. Jughead likes a good American breakfast, so I have bacon and eggs and a bunch of other stuff."

"I doubt Veronica will be eating much after all the excitement this morning," Archie replied.

Betty reached for the French press that Isabelle had given her and nodded. "True," she agreed.

"Jughead on other hand, has eaten right after throwing up from food poisoning," Archie said. "And I'm kind of hungry myself, so don't feel like you have to accommodate Ronnie."

Betty smiled at him. "Go check on your girlfriend, go!"

"She's my fiancée," Archie reminded her.

Betty chucked a tea towel at him and shook her head as he disappeared.

She put a pot of water on the stove to boil and started to whip up a batch of waffles. Jughead still wasn't really talking to her but she was hoping making all his favorites would be a peace offering of sorts until they got a chance to have a real conversation. She was pretty sure that she knew what she was going to stay to him, aside from I want you to stay.

They had always had a mature relationship where they were able to discuss things with each other. This was just a fluke, her not being able to say what she wanted to say to him was not the norm. She still couldn't figure out what was wrong with her. Especially since the possibility of rejection was behind her. He'd spoken first.

It was all so simple.

She was the one over complicating things.

Betty sighed and poured the hot water over the coffee grounds and then set the timer on her iPhone. A few seconds later, there were shrieks that sounded like joy.

An elated Veronica barreled into the kitchen with Archie close behind her.

"I'm not pregnant!" She said, looking completely relieved. "Not that children won't ever be in the picture, it's just that we can do things the right way! Daddy won't kill you now, Archie."

Archie laughed a little bit. "Wait. He was going to kill me?"

"There's a lot of commotion going on out here," Jughead said, rubbing his eyes. "What's going on? I'm assuming it isn't bad news."

"We're baby free!" Veronica answered. "It'll be a while before you and Betty have to fill in as godparents. On that note, we will be going to Milan this afternoon like we promised. You both better make sure you're available. You'll both have a lot of duties to fulfil as our maid of honor and best man."

"You want us to drop everything to go to Milan with you?" Betty asked.

"No," Veronica replied. "I mean when we really start to plan the wedding. Now, do you have any champagne lying around here, B? I feel the need to celebrate properly!"

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When Veronica and Archie had left, Jughead went back to his bedroom without saying a word to Betty. She cleaned the kitchen and told herself that she probably should just follow him and talk to him. A little while later, he reappeared.

"I'm going back to New York," he told her. "My agent booked me a red-eye for tonight."

"Oh. . ." Betty trailed off.

"I'm not doing it on purpose because I haven't gotten the answer from you that I wanted or anything!" Jughead added hastily. "They just need me back in New York sooner than we expected."

Betty finally found her voice. "If you wanted to come back. . . if you really wanted to come back after you're done with all your official business, I'd be waiting for your return. The only reason I wouldn't ask you to stay is because I know you have a contract and other obligations in New York. But I want you to. I want you to stay."

Jughead took her hands and looked at her earnestly. "I would stay if I could, you know."

"I know. I know," Betty assured him, freeing one of her hands to touch his face. "Go on and come back as soon as you can. Okay?"

"I will," Jughead promised, leaning in and giving her a chaste kiss. "I miss you already."

Betty sighed and leaned her forehead against his, feeling like a tremendous weight had been lifted off her shoulders. "I'll miss you too," she answered. "But we won't be apart forever, you'll be back. I'll be waiting for you."

Jughead nodded and let her go. "I have to leave now. Luca's on his way to bring me to the airport."

"Okay," Betty said, nodding. "It feels like you just got here, I can't believe you have to go already."

"I'm going to call you every single day and we can Facetime," Jughead told her. "That way, it'll feel like we're not even apart. We've been apart for so long, a few weeks won't hurt in the grand scheme of things. Once I get back, I don't plan to ever let you go."

"You can't stop writing," Betty told him. "It's a non-negotiable."

"I won't," Jughead said. "When this little project is more successful than you ever imagined, we'll hire somebody who's just as good as you to run the place then you can come with me if I ever have to go away for extended periods of time. I'm ready to share my life with you Elizabeth Cooper."

"I'm ready to share my life with you Jughead Jones," Betty replied, standing on tip-toe to give him a kiss. She paused and looked at him. "I love you."

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"So, you have told him," Isabelle said later that afternoon as they shared cappuccinos and cannoli. "I can tell you look a lot more relaxed than you have since I met you. You look happy and peaceful and all the things a woman in love should look like."

Betty nodded and set her mug down in its saucer. "I did. It took me a while though and he had to say it first but I told him. He's coming back . . . he's coming back to stay with me."

"I am so very happy for you Elizabetta!" Isabella reached over to squeeze the other girl's hand. "I am so very proud of you. You have taken so many chances this year and you have changed so much. You are absolutely glowing! I wish you many more successes and more happiness than you will ever know what to do with."

"More happiness?" Betty replied. "I don't know what I'm going to do with the happiness I am experiencing now. I think I'm going to explode all over the place, I'm beside myself with it."

Isabella beamed. "Is it not the best feeling in the world?"

"Yes," Betty agreed, her face splitting into a wide smile. "Yes it is."

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The Diary - October 24th

For the first time since I've moved to Italy, I am alone. Enzio and his crew finished work on the house this afternoon. I told them to come back whenever they wanted for an American breakfast or just a good plate of pasta. I will miss their company, I'll miss restoring Sweet Dreams. Although, I have so many finishing touches to make. And Veronica wants me to dedicate a whole entire room just to her. This means redecorating it in her favorite jewel tones whenever I get the chance.

I guess the work really isn't over. Even after it is, when the guests start trickling in, there will be movie nights to host and breakfasts to cook and cheese plates to make. I will always be busy and that's fine with me. This is what I wanted anyways.

Veronica and Archie left for Milan this morning. She is not having a baby quite yet, although she says children are still a distinct possibility in the future. After they get married. She just wants to do things the right way. I know when they do have kids, they'll be the well-cared for, well-dressed children in the whole entire world. I think she'll make a good mother that she would have if she had been pregnant. I am sure I'll see them again, Jughead and I will be their maid of honor and best man.

Jughead left today as well. He has things to do in New York City. But he is coming back. I had a moment of insane courage and I told him to return to me. I told him that I wished I could ask him to stay but I knew he had obligations to uphold and I wouldn't get in the way of that.

The important thing is he'll be back. I won't have to spend the rest of my life without him like I thought I would. We're planning for a life TOGETHER! I am beside myself, I am in love and I am anxiously counting down the days until he returns. Could life get any better than this? I don't think so.

But then life has had a way of surprising me these last few months. So, I am starting to always expect the unexpected.

I cannot wait to see what happens next.

TBC. . .

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Author's Note:

One more chapter to go and then I am done with this story. I'd like to apologize for the lateness of this. I have a bunch of stuff going on right now, including maid of honor duties. I would have finished this chapter yesterday afternoon while I was doing laundry or something but I was with my best friend looking for her wedding dress. On top of that, I woke up with acid reflux at three in the morning yesterday and ended my day with a migraine where I couldn't even see straight. Not that you need the litany of what's going on in my life. As always, I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts on this chapter. If you have the time, feel free to tell me!

Until Next Time!

Lots of Love,

Holly, 10/8/2017