AN: Sometimes I think ItsBeckChadwhick is the only reason this story gets published. Scratch that! They are. School is going to kick my butt this year, but I want to continue this. Here's to hoping I can! Thank you for your support. :)

There wasn't a room in the entirety of Riverdale that could hold a candle to the gloom in FP's jail cell. Streams of light entered through the spaces in the peeling, white bars that surrounded the small living space of the elderly Jones. Unfortunately, it was not enough to give the cell any warmth. More than that, FP himself seemed to banish the light with his presence, any sun streaming in from the lone window stopping short of the black leather boots that hung over the cot in the corner. His stretched-out body took up so much space, and yet the light dared not touch it. Banishing the light came easy to all Jones' men, Jughead thought.

The lone guard on duty watched Jughead from the door frame as the younger Jones slowly made his way to the dark and lonely holding cell. The officer tightened his grip on his holster as if afraid Jughead might try something. Maybe wearing the Serpent jacket was a bad idea in this case, the snake on his back branding Jughead a criminal before he had had a chance to commit any crimes. But no matter how much he hated the image that the jacket gave him, the jacket connected him to FP in a way that repaired years of neglect between them. It was as if Jughead finally understood his father for the first time in his life and vice versa. He couldn't give something like that up.

Besides, Fran had been right. His jacket was a hit at Southside High. Usually, the school frowned on gang clothing, but the Serpents were the only ones that flew under that radar. Or possibly above it. Jughead remembered his Principal giving him a wink as Jughead walked by, hands in the pockets of the faded leather. The other guys at school were already giving him high fives and claps on the back, as if they knew him. The girls stood up a little straighter when he walked by, smiling wide in his direction. He'd like to say that his love for Betty kept him from noticing that, but these girls made it way too obvious. Not that Jughead would do anything about it. Still, it was certainly different than what he was used to.

Walking up to the bars, Jughead adjusted the grey beanie on his head.

"I got your contraband," the younger Jones said, holding up a comic book from the 1950s. FP shook his head in Jughead's direction.

"Don't say that so loud, kid. Someone might take you seriously."

"I was curious how I was supposed to slip a nail file into something like this. I decided that was a bit too cliche so I just brought you a knife instead." The guard stepped forward towards the teenager who shook the comic book deliberately in his direction. "Just kidding. See? Nothing to worry about."

The poor law enforcement narrowed his eyes at the young man but said nothing, content that Jughead was being…. well, Jughead. The younger Jones boy looked at his father again. FP's eyes looked more haggard than usual, the bags under them growing darker. The unkempt mess of brown on his head coupled with the beard slowly growing on his chin all worked to make FP seem much more pathetic than usual. And that was saying something.

"Are they not allowing you to sleep in here?" Jughead asked, slipping the comic book to FP through the bars.

"I keep having dreams, that's all," the older Jones replied, casually flipping through the book before throwing it on his unmade cot.

"About what?"

"You know what," FP responded, glancing over at the guard still watching them. Jughead assumed he was talking about Jason. "Your girl still okay?"

"So far, so good," Jughead whispered, trying to keep as much of their conversation private as possible.

"Well, keep it that way. She needs protection."

"I don't know how much I'm supposed to provide for her. There seem to be so many things stacked against us: this stupid jacket, not going to the same school anymore, Mrs. Cooper trying to break us up-"

"Alice is trying to do what now?" FP demanded, frustration clear. Jughead sighed.

"She was talking to Hal about… something. I don't know. That I'm dangerous for her. She didn't know Betty and I were listening in."

"Well, you are dangerous for her," FP said seriously.

"Way to make me feel better, Pops."

"Not trying to make you feel better. Trying to make you realize that the situation is serious."

"I'm getting that."

"As far as that jacket goes, it could be the one thing keeping Betty safe." Jughead scoffed. "I'm not joking."

"How do you figure?" FP sighed, running his hands along his face.

"Some people get born into the wrong family. Betty is one of those people."

"Don't I know it."

"No," FP said gravely. "You don't."

He didn't elaborate immediately, but for some reason, Jughead was feeling patient. Maybe it was because the situation had to do with Betty. That usually made him a better version of himself. Either way, he waited as FP stared at the wall for a few moments before looking back at his son.

"There's someone who doesn't like Alice-" FP started.

"Shocker."

"Well, this one is a shocker. He shouldn't be after her, but that isn't stopping him."

"Who's he?" FP glanced over at the guard. The officer was tense, looking off in another direction, but something told Jughead that this guy was listening intently to everything they were saying.

"Don't know," he said, but his eyes told Jughead a different story: I know but I can't tell you right now.

"Well, if you don't know, then how am I supposed to protect Betty?"

"Join the Serpents."

Jughead groaned, putting his forehead in between the bars of the jail cell. "How did I know you were going to say that?"

"Once you're one of them, they will protect Betty for you. There are eyes and ears for them all over town. Betty won't so much as trip over her shoelaces without a Serpent to catch her fall."

"That sounds… really good, actually," Jughead said, relieved by the idea of it. He knew the Serpents wouldn't harm Betty, and if he joined them, he could get their added protection to make sure nothing happens to her. There was, of course, a downside. "But I don't know how well Betty is going to take to me joining the Serpents."

"Why?" FP asked, as if Jughead had said something ridiculous.

"What do you mean, why?" Jughead demanded, glancing over to the guard himself. "They're involved in... not so nice activity."

FP rolled his eyes. "Yeah, and that could be the thing that keeps her safe. Don't you want her safe?"

"Of course I do."

"Then you have your answer."

"No, I don't," Jughead growled, taking the bars on his father's cell into his fists. "You don't get it."

"What don't I get?"

"Betty won't want to be with me if I'm a Serpent."

FP was silent for a moment, watching his son with an intensity that the younger Jones had rarely seen. Jughead wanted to say more, but the look in FP's eyes made him think that it was a better idea to keep quiet.

"Let me ask you something, Jughead."

"Ok…"

"Do you love her?"

"Yes."

"Do you want her safe?"

"Of course, but-"

"Then you need to buck up, be a man and keep her safe," FP growled, his eyes flared and intense. "It's isn't nice to lose someone you care about. It isn't a good feeling to watch them leave, but if leaving is what's best for them, then you have to let them go."

Jughead's heart constricted. He felt like someone had taken their hand, rammed it through his chest and ripped it out, still beating. This wasn't how things were supposed to go. Betty and him were supposed to last forever. That's what Jughead wanted. He wanted to see Betty through high school and beyond. He wanted to see that the two of them could make it, that the two of them could defy the odds. They were supposed to defy the odds. But here was this thing, threatening to break off all the hard work they've already put it. And Jughead felt paralyzed to stop it.

"Is that how you felt with Mom?" Jughead whispered, barely audible. He was looking down at his shoes, refusing to meet his father's eye.

"Yeah," FP whispered, voice just as low. "I knew it was better for them to leave than to stay."

Jughead's body tensed from the force it took to not begin crying. While it wasn't exactly fair, Jughead couldn't help but blame his dad a bit for all of this: for being a serpent, for forcing him to grow up where he did, for showing this as the only way. Jughead inhaled and exhaled, trying to get his body under control.

"Are you going to do it?" FP asked, and Jughead had to breath deeply again to fight off a new wave of tears.

"Yeah," Jughead said hoarsely, finally looking his dad in the eyes again. "I'll join the Serpents."

FP smiled. "That's my boy."

Jughead was surprised to find Betty waiting outside jailhouse when he stepped out. She held two cups of coffee in her hands, smiling wide. Usually Betty's presence caused him to smile as well, but after the conversation he had with his father, it just wasn't coming. Unlike FP, light seemed to radiate out of Betty's pores, the sun almost focusing in on her presence as she stood there, her trench coat wrapped tightly around her body with her signature ponytail on her head. Jughead was starting to realize that any light in his life came from this beautiful girl. He knew he had a finite amount of time left before her light was going to be extinguished and Jughead would be flooded in darkness once more. He wasn't ready to see it go just yet.

"Hey there," Betty said shyly, handing him his coffee, the brushing of their fingers causing electricity to shoot up his arm.

"Hey," Jughead responded, timidly placing his hand on her back before she leaned into him with her body. There faces were so close now and Jughead could hardly think for how much he wanted to kiss her.

"Everything ok?" Betty asked quietly, searching his eyes. Jughead nodded, dropping his forehead to hers.

"I'm just surprised to see you, that's all."

"I missed you. Fran told me you were here," Betty whispered and Jughead nodded again. She shifted nervously in his arms, meeting his eyes warily. "It wasn't a bad surprise, was it?"

"No, not at all," Jughead said softly, eyes on her mouth. "It's a very good surprise."

He closed the gap between the two of them, brushing his lips against hers. Jughead smiled as Betty inhaled sharply, her mouth opening slightly to deepen the kiss. Jughead could feel Betty's tongue around his and he moaned as Betty weaved her free hand through his hair. He leaned back slowly, wanting to see her. Betty's eyes were half lidded, mouth slightly open, her lips already wet. She was always beautiful, but after they kissed, she became gorgeous. Jughead's body reacted to her so easily, tightening his grip on her back. He didn't know how much longer he could take before finishing what they started when they first said, 'I love you.' Jughead wasn't sure how much time he had left with her.

Betty smirked then, and even though it wasn't a look he was used to, Jughead knew what it meant. The quirk of her lips said that she was thinking of doing something she hadn't done before. And that they were both going to like it.

"So, guess who's parents will be out of town for a Newspaper convention in New York City for the next week?" she asked, glancing from his mouth to his eyes. Jughead smiled.

"I'm guessing it's you," he said, leaning into her ear to brush his nose against the lobe. Betty let out a giggle, pressing her body even closer into his.

"You're guessing right. Polly wants to go with them so that she can see New York City before the babies are born."

"Guess that means you're going to be all alone," Jughead muttered against her ear, kissing the spot right behind it. Betty moaned and Jughead grinned. Exactly the reaction he was searching for.

"It's a little dangerous to be home alone. Know of anyone who can keep me safe tonight?" she breathed, her hand playing with the hair line on his neck. Jughead stopped moving for a second. Safe. He was supposed to be keeping her safe. He was supposed to be joining the Serpents and breaking her heart to keep her safe. "Juggie?"

But not tonight. Tonight, they were going to be two people in love. He could worry about the rest tomorrow. Jughead tilted his head to look into her eyes and smiled. "I can think of a few people."

Betty smiled widely at that, pulling his head down to crush her lips against his. Everything could wait until tomorrow.

AN: Reviews bring inspiration! :)