I didn't sleep at all that night, in Archie's garage. But for the majority of it, I was snuggled inside the folds of Sweet Pea's jacket, where we sat together in front of the couch. Cash slept the whole night through. For a while, Sweet Pea dozed off as well. Snoring softly with his arms still around me. It wasn't until just after seven that he woke up again, after dozing off around five. I could tell by the way he inhaled deeply, shifted his position, and tightened his arms around me.

My body was plastered to his side, but I propped my chin on his chest to look up at him. "Morning, sleeping beauty."

"How long was I out?" he asked, eyes squinted against the light in the room.

"Not long—an hour or two."

He sighed, half yawning, "I'm sorry, babe."

"It's okay. I don't feel like sleeping, but I don't expect you to pull an all-nighter with me on a school night," I smiled softly at him, tiling my head to rest my temple against his shoulder. "Besides, I like listening to your heart when you sleep. It's calming."

Squinting a little less now, he peeled an arm from my waist and brushed his fingers across my left cheek bone. Gently across the red, still slightly puckered skin. "You know I would never hurt you like that, right?" his voice was small, quiet. There was a rawness I'd never heard him use before. It made me sit up in his arms, pushing myself up to be more eye-level with him—though I was still missing an inch or two. The seriousness in his features was what alarmed me.

The fact that he obviously felt the need to make it known to me. To tell me he'd never hit me. It sounded almost like he needed more reassuring than I did, and the more I thought about it, the more that seemed to be the case. And it worried me—that he didn't know I never thought he would. "Pea," I slid my hands onto his cheeks, speaking softly. "I know. I would never—ever—think that."

His eyes searched mine, looking for the lie. But he wouldn't find it. It wasn't there. With a softening of his features, and a slight tilt of his head, he said, "I love you so much." The words came a moment before he leaned in. And I didn't hesitate to meet him halfway, matching the depth of his kiss with a depth of my own. His right hand slid down the side of my body to my hip, his left hand at my lower back, while my fingers raked back through his hair.

Surely it was an odd sight for Mr. Andrews, to walk into his garage expecting two sleeping girls, only to find one asleep and the other heavily lip-locking with a guy in leather. We'd instinctively parted at the sound of the creaky door, but Sweet Pea kept his grip on me—almost protectively. Mr. Andrews stopped a step inside the door. "Um...good morning?"

I smiled sheepishly up at him, "Good morning. Mr. Andrews, this is my boyfriend—Sweet Pea."

"Hi, nice to meet you," Mr. Andrews nodded once to Sweet Pea, awkwardly. Then he gestured over his shoulder with a pointed thumb, looking mostly at me, still just as awkwardly. "Uh- there's pancakes in the kitchen if you're hungry. You're all welcome to come inside. If you want."

"Thank you, Mr. Andrews."

He nodded once, pulling his eyes away from those of us on the floor enough to leave the garage in a reluctant stride. It was a bit embarrassing. Like being caught with your pants down in front of a crowd. Sweet Pea didn't seem too bothered by it, but he looked to me with a cautious expression. "I didn't just get you in trouble, did I?" The fine lines of his lips pulled up into a smirk.

I couldn't help smiling through the heat in my cheeks, "I'm sure I'll survive. The real trouble is getting Cash up."

I peeled myself away enough to get to my knees, leaning over the edge of the couch to gently shake Cash's shoulder. She grumbled, groaned, and buried her face into the couch cushion. I sighed. "Cash, come on, wake up. It's time for breakfast. Aren't you hungry?" I asked, mostly rhetorical. Usually, Cash ate like a horse. She had a tiny frame but her stomach made up at least two-thirds of it. She shook her head against the cushion with a groan.

"Just leave me alone to die," she mumbled, barely audible through the fabric.

"Okay, Lilo," Sweet Pea stood to his full height beside me, before scooping Cash up off the couch, pulling her fidgeting body up into his arms. "This isn't the Heartbreak Hotel. Time to get up."

She grumbled in annoyance with her small eyebrows drawn together, partially glaring at Sweet Pea. I stood, unable to hide a smile, and I crossed my arms. "Did I tell you that you could pick me up?" Cash asked him, her voice small but full of a tired annoyance. Sweet Pea's eyes narrowed as his head recoiled a bit, and I loosed a breathy chuckle.

His eyes shifted to meet mine, "Looks like it runs in the family."

I knew exactly what he was referring to. When we'd first met, I hadn't hesitated to mace Sweet Pea when he grabbed me without permission. But—as he was quickly finding out—I wasn't the only Cassidy girl raised with the proper understanding of consent. "Cash, put on your big girl panties," I said, to which she sighed. "I'm sure if you're nice enough, he'll give you a piggy back ride to the house."

It seemed to grab her interest, causing her eyebrow to rise—along with a less displeased expression. They'd worked it out, settled an arrangement between the two of them, to keep the peace. I didn't know what I'd have done had Cash not agreed to get along. But it seemed she had more fun on Sweet Pea's back on the way into the house than she did being mean to him. He'd set her down when we got inside, and she immediately ran to Vegas in the living room.

It was under my advisement that he'd decided to leave his Serpent jacket in the garage, but Sweet Pea still looked drastically out of place—with an uneasy expression that said he felt it, too. I slid my hand in his, locking our fingers, and I smiled up at him. "You got this, babe," I whispered, supportively.

"Then why does it feel like I'm walking into dinner with your parents?"

I gave his hand a tug, and the large Serpent followed behind me without much hesitation. With a scoff, I twisted to look up at him. "Please—dinner with my parents would be easy," I said, just before we'd reached the kitchen. "Yeah, Bulldog was a bit scary. But my mom would have loved you." The corners of his lips pulled up in a smirk at my words and, in seconds, it faded away to an expression of caution as Mr. Andrews walked into the kitchen from the other room.

Mr. Andrews smiled at me, obviously trying to do the same with Sweet Pea—but feeling a bit awkward about it. The awkwardness from the garage incident had not yet faded away, it seemed. But I could work with this. In a flash, Cash whirled into the kitchen with Vegas hot on her heels. The two nearly spun right into the kitchen cupboards. I grabbed Cash from behind, causing her to squeal, and hefted her up onto a stool at the island. "Okay, take a deep breath. That's enough running around—it's time to eat," I told her.

"Why can't Killer come inside?" Cash asked, mostly to me.

I opened my mouth to speak, but was beat to the punch by a familiar male voice, one that came from the stairs. "Because there's a reason why he's called Killer," it was Archie, I knew. He rounded the base of the stairs, starting for the kitchen, and his pace slowed a bit upon seeing all of us that were in the kitchen. More specifically, Sweet Pea. Archie's eyes flickered between me and him. "Uh…hey."

Archie stepped into the kitchen, stopping near the doorway. "Archie, this is Diana's boyfriend...I'm sorry, what did you say your name was?" Mr. Andrews asked, holding his coffee mug where he stood on the other side of the room. Sweet Pea's right arm had snaked around my waist, keeping me against his side, an obvious display of possession that almost made me roll my eyes—almost.

"Sweet Pea," he supplied, with a blank tone.

I kept my eyes on Archie, watching for some kind of reaction. Some kind of outward sign of his thoughts. But there wasn't one. He looked onward with a neutral expression that couldn't be put into an emotional category—and it irked me. I didn't know what exactly I was expecting. Though, this was the better outcome than what it could've been, I supposed. It was a bit weird sitting at the island. Cash had eaten and run to play with Vegas.

Mr. Andrews was somewhere else in the house doing who knew what. So it was just me sitting to the left of Sweet Pea, in between him and Archie. After yesterday morning's incident, I wasn't all too hungry. But It was like I couldn't stop eating. I thought I'd seen it all when Sweet Pea literally ate an entire shelf of food out of my fridge. I'd just stuffed more pancakes in my mouth when Archie spoke up. "Wow, Diana," he chuckled, smiling at my pancake filled cheeks. "Looks like you were hungry."

I swallowed a large enough portion to answer, "I'm a growing girl. I need all the help I can get—dating this skyscraper over here."

I'd jutted my thumb in Sweet Pea's direction, only drawing Archie's eyes. But Sweet Pea didn't seem to notice. He huffed a chuckle at my words, and I glanced at him just in time to catch his eyes for a second. "Uh, if you want," Archie cleared his throat then, bringing my attention back to him. "My dad can probably write down some prices for things—like what he pays for cable, school. Things like that."

"Okay, thanks. That would be great," I nodded.

"You should stay with me," Sweet Pea spoke up, causing my head to turn toward him almost instantly. The words were surprising, unexpected. But his eyes were completely serious, staying on mine as he continued. "You've been practically living with me already. I've got most costs covered. All you'd have to worry about is you and Cash."

Part of me wished he hadn't brought it up with Archie present, so that I could respond freely, but there was nothing I could really do about it. "I don't know...we'd take up all your free space, and you've got your own school to worry about—plus certain other activities at all hours. Cash and I would just get in the way."

I couldn't quite tell if his reaction was good or bad. His eyes downcast in a slow nod, lips pressed in a thin line. Most signs pointed to bad. Just then, Mr. Andrews reentered the kitchen. "Hey, Diana? I could drive Cash to school if you like, give you a little extra time here?" he offered, pulling on his coat in the doorway. It was another unexpected offer. But I nodded quickly in agreement and thanked him, and he and Cash left the house.

Vegas looked to be pouting on the floor in the front of the door in Cash's absence. As I turned to face forward, my eyes caught Archie's, and I could tell he felt a bit uncomfortable with the odd tension I'd just driven the conversation into. But I didn't know how to change it. It wasn't that I didn't want to stay with Sweet Pea. If I was being completely honest, I would say I wasn't ready for something so big. Especially with what's going on.

There was something about sharing a home that felt so personal, so permanent. I couldn't move in, have it not work out, and then have to move Cash somewhere else again. If things were sour at any given point between me and Sweet Pea, Cash would be stuck in the middle of it. A sudden knock at the door caught all our attentions. Archie slid off his stool almost immediately, quickly volunteering to leave to go answer it. Probably thankful for an escape.

A part of me was worried about who it was. But mostly I was concerned with Sweet Pea, turning on my stool to face him more, eyes scanning his face. "Sweets...I didn't mean it badly," I tried to assure. "I'm just trying to think of a place for Cash right now. If it was just you and me, I would say yes. Without question." He nodded, lifting his head to look me in the eyes. It was obvious he understood, but was just disappointed.

"Hey, Diana," I perked up, twisting on the stool to see behind me, looking at Archie by the door. "Jug's here."

Sure enough, Jughead stood beside Archie, just inside the house. Archie closed the door behind him and stood, glancing between the two of us with a questioning look. There was no misreading the situation. Neither Jughead nor I knew quite where we stood. But I slid off my stool and exited the kitchen, walking the hall toward him. "So it is true," Jughead said, eyes squinted on the left side of my face, his tone slightly angered. "He hit you, didn't he? Didn't he?"

I nodded, sighing, as I came to stand a foot from him. "Yeah, Jug, he hit me. Look- don't get all upset about it. I've already made it clear that no one is touching Ben. I don't want revenge, I just want to get somewhere far away from him."

Jughead exhaled, unimpressed with that conclusion. But he took a step forward and wrapped his arms around my shoulders in a tight hug. It was a welcomed gesture. I hadn't hesitated to hug him back just as tightly. "I'm sorry I've been AWOL lately," he apologized, his chin on my shoulder. "I should've been there—maybe I could've stopped it."

"Yeah, and maybe you would've been arrested for assault," I counted, light-heartedly, as we parted.

He sighed, but nodded. "You're probably right. Have you found a place to stay yet?"

"Not exactly. I'm still working things out-"

"Come stay at the trailer," he interjected, like the option should've been obvious. I was going to decline, but he kept talking before I could. "Look, Diana, that trailer is just as much yours as it is mine. With dad not there, it's just me. There's plenty of room for you and Cash. And Killer, if you must. We're family—it should be your first option."

Living with Jughead had a whole different idea to it than living with Sweet Pea. Jughead and I were siblings. So, if anything got weird, it's not like we could sever our ties. There's been nothing we hadn't bounced back from yet. And Cash would like getting to see Jughead still. I nodded slowly, the idea becoming more appealing as I thought about it. "Okay," I agreed. Just then, a knock sounded on the closed door. I looked to Archie, who only looked confused.

Archie sidestepped to open the door, pulling it open hesitantly. Standing outside on the porch was the last person I'd wanted to see then. Ben. He looked calm, casual. Like he hadn't done what he did. Like he was here to pick me up from a play date with my friends. Or a sleep over. He nodded to Archie, smiling politely. Then he looked directly at me. "Diana, we need to talk," he said, neutrally. "This avoiding each other, moving out, business is helping no one."

I crossed my arms, taking a step back as my eyebrows drew together. If I was being honest, I would say that a large portion of me was genuinely on edge, scared. But I didn't have to be honest, because Jughead's arm went around my back protectively. "She's not going anywhere with you—and you aren't stepping foot inside this house," Archie told Ben, standing in the doorway defiantly. "You need to leave. Now."

It happened in a split-second, in the bat of an eyelash. No one could comprehend what was happening until Sweet Pea had marched right past us all onto the porch, grabbing Ben by his jacket collar and slamming him into the wall to the right of the door. Jughead and I seemed to have the same reaction—stunned stillness, and then a hard startle at the loud smack of Ben's back hitting the wall. "Hey!" Archie shouted, rushing to stop him. "Let him go, man!"

I hurried to the doorway, Jughead right behind me. Sweet Pea was unwavering, shoving Ben into the wall even harder, getting right in his face. It was easy—considering Sweet Pea was much taller than Ben. "You think it's okay to hit young girls? How about someone your own size? Huh?" Sweet Pea sneered, smiling devilishly at Ben's stunned silence. "Can't do it now, can you, you coward?!"

Mr. Andrews' truck had just pulled into the driveway. It was still running when Mr. Andrews hurried out of it, rushing up the porch steps to help Archie pry Sweet Pea off of Ben. But neither of them were strong enough. It was a slight obvious tug against him, but otherwise a useless effort. Finally, I'd seen enough. I took a deep breath and elbowed Archie out of my way, reaching up and grabbing Sweet Pea's arm. "Sweets, stop it! That's enough—let him go," I said, angling myself so he could see my face.

For a moment, he didn't move. His eyes flickered between Ben's panicked orbs and mine. Debating the worth of doing as I asked. What would be more pleasurable? Being the bigger person and stepping away, or breaking Ben's nose? Obviously, breaking Ben's nose. Even I could agree with that. So I said it again. "Let him go, Sweet Pea," I reiterated, a bit more calm this time, but still just as firm. "Please."

It wasn't immediate, but he dropped his grip on Ben, taking a step back. Mr. Andrews stepped forward then and grabbed Ben's arm. "Let's have a chat, Ben," Mr. Andrews said, before practically dragging Ben off the porch with him, back toward his still running pickup. Sweet Pea was fuming, exhaling deep puffs of air with eyes narrowed at Ben's back. I slid my hand down his arm into his hand, and gave it a tug. "Come on, you need to cool down," I exhaled, pulling him into the house.

He didn't fight me, even though he still looked ready to hit someone. I couldn't really blame him. Jughead and Archie filed inside after us, closing the door. I pulled Sweet Pea down to sit beside me on the couch, the hand holding his in my lap and the other combing the hair above his ear nearest me. "Thank you," I said, causing his eyes to actually meet mine. "For defending me. I adore the thought behind it, it just was taken a little too far."

"A little?" Archie's eyebrows popped, standing near the middle of the living room.

I shook my head, "Archie-"

"You got a problem, ginger?" Sweet Pea narrowed his eyes up at Archie.

Jughead grabbed Archie's arm then, tugging him toward the kitchen. "Archie, come on," Jughead said. "I think we all need to calm down a notch." Archie sighed, but nodded, going with Jughead into the kitchen. Jughead was right. The whole house had escalated so quickly into a fist fight. Everyone was riled up—even me. Sweet Pea's narrowed eyes followed them away, and I turned to face him, grabbing his face to get his attention to stay on me.

His eyes seemed to soften when they landed on mine. "Sweets...calm down, okay?" I spoke calmly, softly. "Don't look at them. Look at me." There wasn't much incentive needed. It was like his eyes were magnets reacting to mine, keeping both sets on the same spot. Though, there weren't many other places for them to go anyway. The magnetism pulled him forward, and I tipped my head back, openly accepting his lips with my own.