Outside, lightning lit up the sky and thunder shook the whole house. Inside, Betty laid on her bed with her blanket up to her forehead. A whimpering Dakota laying next to her. Betty was from Berkeley, CA and while they had storms, none looked quite like this. She had never had any irrational fears, but they would be the start of a new one.

Jughead woke to the sound of thunder ringing through his ears. He sat up noticing Dakota wasn't in the hallway, poor girl was always scared of storms. However, she normally would curl up to him on these nights. The last time Dakota wasn't with him or in the hallway was the first night Betty was there. She was crying in her bed. Jughead sighed knowing Betty was most likely upset again. He just prayed she wasn't upset with him. He stood up quickly and threw on a shirt to match his plaid pajama pants, making his way down the hall to Betty's room. He slipped inside quietly taking in the sight of a covered up Betty and a curled up Dakota next to her.

"Hey, are you alright?" Jughead asked quietly.

Betty took her blanket off her face, it's coloring was pale her hands shaking. "Oh Betts!" He said concerned, quickly walking to her bed sitting on the edge. "I thought i'd come check on you, I'm glad I did." He said gently grabbing her hand. Betty sighed and looked away not wanting him to see the scared look on her face. "Betty, tell me what's wrong." He soothed rubbing his thumb against her hand.

"I'm, I'm, scared Jug. We don't get storms like this in California. I don't want to lose my life, before my baby gets hers." Betty explained tears threatening to escape her eyes.

Jughead sighed and kissed her head. "Betts it will be okay. I checked my phone, there are no tornado warnings or hail or anything. This is just a simple thunderstorm."

Betty nodded softly with a small smile. "You're right, I'm being stupid."

Jughead smiled at her now reddened face, "Goodnight Betts." He said standing up and making his way to the door.

"Juggie…" Betty called out from the bed loud enough for Jughead to hear her wavering voice. He turned to face her, a soft look on his face, hoping for something good and worthwhile to come out of her mouth. "Stay." She whispered as if she was scared to say it. Jughead smirked back at the bed from his stance and walked slowly to her bed. Betty pulled back the blanket she was using and moved over to open a space for him. He climbed into the bed next to her and wrapped the blanket around them. Betty snuggled into his chest as he encased her into his arms. The thunder continued to sound loudly around them and lightning lit up the room but somehow in Jughead's arms Betty felt safe. The events outside didn't bother Betty now that she was smelling Jughead's freshly washed shirt, feeling his warmth, and hearing his heartbeat.

They woke the next morning entangled with each other. Outside was clear and sunny as if nothing had happened outside. Betty carefully untangled Jughead's arms and legs from her body. She loved having him near her but she wanted to cook him breakfast. A thank you of sorts for staying with her.

She tumbled out of bed trying not to wake him, he was solid as a rock, barely moving and heavy, when he was asleep. Dakota followed her out the room and downstairs where Betty quickly started on breakfast. Jughead was a farmer, he would be awake in any second. She made a simple but yummy breakfast. Fried eggs, bacon, and bagels. She assumed he would like this breakfast, he had made her eggs the first day she was here and he seemed to love meat.

The smells quickly filled the house waking Jughead up. He frowned at the empty cold bed and rushed downstairs. Upon seeing Betty in the kitchen, he smiled. "Morning Betty," He said slowly strolling over to her. She turned to him and smiled, "Good morning." Jughead took a look at the breakfast cooking in the pan. "What's this for?" He asked his hand snaking around her waist. Sure they weren't together yet but they had spent the night bundled together and that seemed like enough warrant for platonic touches.

Betty smiled at him and his gentle touch. "A thank you for being there for me last night."

Jughead smiled and dipped his head down to her level, taking a sniff of the cooking food. "It smells delicious." He noted looking at her face fresh from a good night of sleep. He paused examining her face, "You are so beautiful." He whispered almost as if he didn't want her to hear.

Betty looked up at him blushing from his words. She placed her hand on his shoulder and held his gaze. She wanted him to kiss her right then.

Ding dong.

Jughead cursed under his breath, his face just inches from hers. "I'll get it."

Betty turned back to her cooking as Jughead ran off to the door. She slid the spatula underneath the egg and gently lifted it over to the nearby plate and picked up another egg. Cracking it against the counter she dropped it into the pan and again picked up a egg. As she cracked and opened it, she felts hands on her waist. The hands moved causing her to squirm and drop the egg quickly into the pan.

A giggle emerged behind her back. Betty quickly sat the eggshell back in the carton and turned around. Anna was covering her mouth trying not to laugh too hard.

"It was you!" Betty exclaimed and tickled Anna pulling her into a hug.

Jellybean came into the kitchen with Noah by her side. Noah immediately ran to Betty and joined her and Anna's hug. Betty smiled and hugged them both. "Good morning! To what do me and Jughead owe this surprise?"

"I've got some things I thought you might like." Jellybean explained holding up a paper bag. "But you finish what you're doing, we've got all day."

Betty nodded as the kids let go of her. "Are you guys hungry?"

"No, no, we already ate! You go right ahead." Jellybean ushered, "Kids, why don't you go out and play with Dakota?" Dakota heard the word play and shot out the door, the kids quickly following behind her.

Betty laughed as she turned to the food once again. "Jug! Your breakfast is ready." Betty yelled not sure why exactly he went to.

Jughead emerged from the stairs and into the kitchen. He now wore his work clothes instead of his plaid pants and t-shirt. Betty smiled taking in the sight of him. He changed, almost as if only Betty could see him that way. That thought was enough to make Betty's stomach drop. "Thank you, Betts. I'm starving." He said taking a seat.

Jellybean sat across from Jughead and observed the easiness that the pair had settled into. It was no where near a marriage-like relationship but they were slowly getting there.

Jughead downed his breakfast while Betty slowly ate. Betty was relieved her morning sickness had eased but she was still afraid to eat too fast.

Jughead took his own plate and Betty's and washed them in the sink. Betty muttered a thank you and stood up. "Maybe I should change. I'm still in my pajamas." Betty noticed with a nervous laugh.

"Whatever you're comfortable in. We won't judge." Jellybean assured with a smile. Betty thought about changing. All of her jeans were getting tight and her pajamas felt super comfortable. Pajamas it was.

"Let's go sit in the living room." Betty suggested gesturing towards the living room. Jellybean nodded and stood up and walked to the living room.

Jughead finished washing their dishes and sat them on the drying rack. He dried his own hands and walked towards Betty. "I'll be off to work now." He informed her with a nod.

"Okay, oh! Jughead can I borrow the truck? We need groceries." Betty asked with pleading eyes. "After Jellybean and the kids leave that is. I know how to drive and I have a gps."

Jughead chuckled as her ramble to convince him to let her even though he already decided he was saying yes. "Sure, the keys are on that key rack." He said pointing, "be gentle with her, she's old."

Betty laughed and nodded. "I'll let you know when I leave."

"I'd appreciate that." He said kissing her head. "Enjoy your day, I'll see you later. Oh your debit card is on the counter." With that he was out the door.

Betty sighed seeing him go out the door, she already missed his presence in the house. She shook the thoughts out of her head and joined Jellybean in the living room.

"You're showing more and more everyday." Jellybean noted from the couch with a smile. Betty smiled and glanced down at her stomach, her hand laying on it. "Yeah I guess so."

"Sit. Relax. I've got some things for you." Jellybean motioned to the couch. Betty smiled and sat across from Jellybean in the lazyboy they had in the living room. Jellybean handed Betty the paper bag with a grin. "Open it."

Betty smiled down at the bag, she couldn't imagine what was inside as she opened it carefully. Inside, underneath some tissue paper was a light brown baby dress. It was decorated with farm animals and a small brown bow on its shoulder.

"It was Anna's." Jellybean explained causing Betty to burst into tears. "Oh Betty, what's wrong?" She asked coming to her side. Betty laughed at herself for crying. "I'm sorry. I just feel so overly emotional. You guys are so sweet and welcoming and I've done nothing."

"Oh sweetheart, you're family and that baby is family." Jellybean assured her pulling her into a hug. "We all love you so much already. Don't worry honey, you're home now."

Betty wiped her tears and nodded to her words. "Thank you, I lost my sister and my niece but now I have another sister, a niece and a nephew." Betty said smiling through her tears.

Betty and Jellybean spent their morning talking about the baby and stories of Anna and Noah when they were little. Betty only hoped her daughter was as well behaved and adorable as her new niece and nephew.

Betty gathered her things and text Jughead to let him know she was leaving for town. Dakota stood near the truck, her eyes pleading to go with Betty. Betty smiled at the dog below. "No, you stay here with daddy." Dakota whimpered an argument then ran off towards the north field.

It would be a long ride but she was getting used to the 45 minutes ride to everywhere. It took 45 minutes to get to town, 45 minutes to go to Jellybean's house, and an hour and 45 minutes to get to the nearest train station. She climbed into the truck and rummaged through Jughead's CD collection. The old truck didn't have any way to hook up an electronic device so Jughead stuck to CDs. Betty searched through the various genres he had, country, grunge, and pop. What an odd combination of music he had lying in his glove compartment. She settled on a Beatles top hits CD and popped it into the radio. Pulling her seatbelt across her chest she went on her way.

The ride seemed to be shorter with the music keeping Betty company. She arrived in town and pulled the truck into the biggest parking spot she could find and climbed out of the truck.

"Betty!"

Betty turned to find the voice calling her and there stood . She hadn't seen her since the wedding a week prior. Mrs. Tate wrapped her arms around Betty. "How are you love? Jughead treating you alright?" Betty flushed thinking of how he held her in his solid arms just the night before. "Yes, he is treating me right."

Mrs. Tate noticed a bulge poking against her and looked down to investigate. "Well I say he treating you very well." She stated with a giggle all her own.

Betty reddened knowing Mrs. Tate wasn't stupid and probably could figured it out that the baby wasn't Jughead's. Betty cleared her throat quietly, "I'll be honest it happened before we were married, an engagement celebration of sorts." Betty fibbed with a wink. It was 2017, certainly she couldn't judge her for sleeping with her fiancé.

Mrs. Tate's face began to glow, "Well he has always been a looker!" She giggled and threw her hand to her face in embarrassment. "So what brings you in town Betty?"

"Groceries, Jughead has a big appetite and so do I right now." Betty said placing her hands on her stomach. Mrs. Tate smiled and wrapped an arm around Betty, "This way, I'll get you everything you need."

Betty got everything she needed from the store and loaded it all into the truck with the help of Pop Tate himself. She thanked him and climbed into the truck. Once settled she turned the key in the ignition. The truck didn't purr to a start. Instead, it shook and jumped. She sighed and tried again, no luck. Again, no luck.

Shit.

Betty pulled out her phone and selected Jughead's name in her phonebook. The ringing noise annoyed her as she waited for his answer.

"Hello?"

Betty sighed. "Juggie, I need you."

With a few simple words. Truck, Broken, Now. Jughead had called a neighbor and rode into town with them. Betty had no idea they even had close neighbors, but when standing in the both field you can see the neighboring farm.

Pop emerged from the diner with a concerned look on his face. "What is it sugar?"

Betty smiled at him, "The car won't start. Jug is coming."

"Come in and sit down while you're waiting, he's gonna be awhile."

Betty sat in one of the booths, it was cherry red with a bluish white table. It looked identical to any other diner you would find in the United States. She sunk into the booth, a steaming hot chocolate in front of her. Betty sipped on her hot chocolate and hugged herself trying to keep warm and calm her nerves.

The bell sounded letting the diner know that someone had entered. Betty looked up to see Jughead's concerned face. "Sorry Betts. Sometimes I wish we didn't live so far away from town."

"It's okay. I got hot chocolate!" She explained with excitement like a young kid would.

Jughead knitted his eyebrows at the cup then turned to Pop with a glare. "Caffeine-free?" He questioned.

"No such thing, Jug." Pop said with a shrug but sending a wink to Betty as Jughead looked away.

"Let's look at the truck." Jughead said walking out the door. Betty followed and watched as he tinkered with the mechanics under the hood.

"Okay Betty. Try it now." Jughead instructed after a few minutes. Betty turned the key and the truck came roaring to life. Betty cheered from inside the truck, it was fixed after only an hour. Just think if the drive wasn't 45 minutes, Betty would have only been stuck for 15 minutes.

They rode home singing along to the Beatles and pointing out clouds that looked like famous people. By the time they arrived home it was dark. Jughead hopped in the shower and Betty changed into her pajamas.

Betty snuggled into the bed, positioning her pillow just right. She closed her eyes and tried to sleep but she couldn't manage it.

The shower turned off getting Betty's attention. Jughead was in bed now with his plaid pajama pants. His arms most likely empty except for his book. Betty sighed and flipped over on her side. She closed her eyes again with yet again no luck.

Betty threw the covers off of her and marched out her bedroom door, past Dakota, and into Jughead's room. She had barely entered the room before Jughead noticed her.

"Juggie… Can I sleep in here?" was the only thing she said but in her eyes Jughead saw volumes. Her words were more than a simple question. She wanted to lay with him, to be in his arms, she wanted to sleep in the same bed on nights where there was no storm, nothing that needed to be confronted, just her and Jughead together in a normal way. She wanted to open her heart to him and so did he.

Jughead stood up and swiftly walked to her closing the gap between them. He took her face into his hands and pressed his lips to hers. Betty gasped not expecting such a reaction. She kissed him back gently but it was backed with heat. Jughead pulled her body close to his and held her still. He pulled away so a few inches stood between them.

"Is that a yes?" Betty asked with a smile, her bottom lip wedged under her teeth.

"Hell yeah." Jughead countered kissing her again and leading her by her hand to the bed.

They laid together, the lights low, their arms wrapped around each other.

Dakota jumped onto the bed and wedged herself in between their legs. The dog sighed contented knowing this was how things were supposed to be.