The night of Riverdale's Christmas talent show finally arrived, and Asher and Jerome were putting the finishing touches on their outfits in their apartment. They'd gone for the ultimate holiday look: Asher in a green dress shirt and red pants, and Jerome in a matching set, both topped off with a playful elf hat. Jerome caught sight of himself in the mirror and burst out laughing.
"Okay, this is… definitely a choice," Jerome said, shaking his head. "I can't decide if we look like Christmas superheroes or holiday-obsessed lunatics."
Asher grinned, adjusting his elf hat. "Hey, it's Riverdale. If we're going to go big, might as well go all in. Plus, we look festive!"
Jerome rolled his eyes, but his smile was genuine. "Alright, Mr. Festive. But you're the one with the Broadway singing voice, so I'd better be the supportive eye candy here."
"Oh, really?" Asher laughed, raising an eyebrow. "Well, supportive eye candy or not, you're singing too." He cleared his throat and started practicing, his voice filling the room with smooth, Broadway-worthy notes. As he sang a few lines of All I Want for Christmas Is You, Jerome found himself completely mesmerized.
"Wow," Jerome said, shaking his head with an affectionate smile. "You're really something, you know that? I don't know what I expected, but… that was gorgeous."
Asher blushed, nudging him playfully. "Thanks, but I hope you're ready to join in. I don't want to be the only one belting out notes up there."
Jerome laughed, taking a deep breath and doing his best to sing along, though his voice was more comfortable in the shower than on stage. Still, he managed a decent tune, and Asher's face lit up with joy, clearly impressed.
"That was perfect!" Asher beamed, leaning in for a kiss. "You're going to be great, Jerome."
After a few more rounds of practice and making sure every last detail was in place, they finally felt ready. They grabbed their coats and headed out the door, excitement bubbling between them. But as they walked down the steps of their apartment building, they spotted a familiar face struggling with boxes from a U-Haul parked out front.
"Morgan?" Asher's eyes widened as he saw his old friend Morgan Reznick, arms full of moving boxes. She looked up, equally surprised, and broke into a smile.
"Asher! Jerome!" she said, balancing a box precariously as she waved. "Well, look who's all decked out for Christmas!"
They rushed over to help her with the boxes, and Asher gave her a quick hug once her hands were free. "Morgan, what are you doing here? Are you moving to Riverdale?"
Morgan laughed, dusting off her hands. "Yeah! Alex and I decided we needed a change. We wanted to get away from the hospital for a bit—and from Salen Morrison, who's like a corporate herpes outbreak that just won't go away. We're both so tired of her popping up like some kind of evil groundhog."
Jerome burst out laughing. "Sounds like you've had enough of her."
Morgan rolled her eyes, exasperated. "Enough is an understatement. We figured Riverdale might be a good place to start fresh. Plus, I've got little Eden now, so we wanted somewhere… different." She glanced over at a car parked nearby, where Alex Park was unloading a stroller and a sleepy toddler bundled in winter gear.
Asher's face lit up. "You have to come to the talent show tonight! Jerome and I are performing, and you'd get to see our little Christmas duet. It'll be like nothing you've ever seen."
Morgan raised an eyebrow, smirking. "A duet, huh? Sounds cute. But Eden's still getting used to her new room, and you know how babies are. We're dealing with a whole lot of 'I don't wanna go to bed.' So I might have to sit this one out… but I'll definitely try to make it."
Asher gave her a mock pout. "You better try. This is a once-in-a-lifetime performance, Morgan."
She laughed, shaking her head. "Alright, alright, I'll see what I can do. And if I don't make it, Alex will fill me in. He's a sucker for holiday performances." She shot a look over at Alex, who waved, looking slightly amused.
"Good luck, you two," she added, a mischievous glint in her eye. "I'm sure Riverdale won't know what hit it."
With a final wave, Asher and Jerome headed down the street toward the town square, where the Christmas talent show was just beginning. Strings of holiday lights illuminated the stage, and the crowd was bustling with locals, all wrapped up in scarves and festive hats. The air was alive with excitement, and they could feel the anticipation building as they made their way backstage.
As they waited for their turn, Asher took Jerome's hand, giving him a reassuring squeeze. "Ready to make Riverdale history?"
Jerome grinned, leaning in for a quick kiss. "Let's do this. Just… maybe don't judge my dance moves too harshly?"
Asher laughed, feeling his nerves melt away. "Never. You're perfect, and we're going to nail this."
Finally, their names were called. They stepped onto the stage to cheers and applause, the spotlight bright on them as the opening notes of All I Want for Christmas Is You began to play. They started singing, Jerome putting his all into each note, and Asher's Broadway-level vocals filled the night air with holiday cheer. The crowd swayed and clapped along, and they could see smiles and laughter spreading through the audience.
To their surprise, in the middle of the crowd, they spotted Morgan and Alex, with Alex holding little Eden, her eyes wide as she watched the lights. Morgan gave them a thumbs-up, cheering them on with a grin.
They finished the song with a flourish, and the audience erupted in applause, whistling and cheering as they took their bows. Jerome wrapped his arm around Asher, pulling him close for one last celebratory kiss, the perfect ending to their unforgettable performance.
Backstage, Morgan and Alex caught up with them, Eden toddling between them in her tiny holiday outfit.
"That was amazing!" Morgan said, laughing. "You two were like Riverdale's own Mariah and… Mariah's backup dancer!"
Jerome rolled his eyes playfully. "I was more than just a backup dancer, thank you very much."
Alex chuckled, shaking his head. "Honestly, it was the best Christmas duet I've ever seen. You two might just be the new stars of Riverdale."
Asher smiled, looking around at his friends, his partner, and the little town that had quickly become their home. "Thanks, guys. We're just glad you were here to see it."
As they all headed into the crisp winter night, laughing and talking, Asher and Jerome felt a warmth and joy that no amount of holiday magic could replicate. It was the perfect Christmas, and they knew they'd remember this night for years to come.
But, just kidding...
Asher and Jerome stood in the middle of Riverdale's town square, surrounded by holiday lights and a buzzing crowd. They were still on a high from what they thought had been their epic performance at the talent show. Breathless and a bit giddy, they were basking in the applause around them, giving each other over-the-top high-fives and grinning like kids on Christmas morning.
"Wow, we nailed it!" Jerome beamed, his shirt halfway unbuttoned from their enthusiastic, imaginary Mariah Carey routine. "Riverdale's not going to forget us after that one."
"Totally!" Asher agreed, his cheeks flushed with excitement. "Did you see their faces? That was the performance of a lifetime!"
Just then, Veronica walked over, eyebrows raised, trying to suppress a laugh. "Uh, boys? I hate to break it to you, but… that was just practice." She smirked, crossing her arms. "You're not on until later. Kudos for the enthusiasm, though. At least you've got the routine down."
Asher and Jerome looked at each other, a little stunned, then laughed, each muttering a sheepish, "Oops."
"Well, at least we're prepared, right?" Asher said, nudging Jerome.
Veronica chuckled, shaking her head. "Prepared would be an understatement. You two have this down to an art form. But seriously, save that energy for the real thing." She patted them on the back. "Now, go get yourselves ready."
They headed backstage, where they found a mirror and, still riding the high from their "practice," admired their reflection in full holiday getup: green dress shirts, red pants, and those little elf hats. As they unbuttoned their shirts, getting ready for the grand shirtless number, they started flexing and jokingly striking poses in the mirror.
"You're looking pretty good, if I do say so myself," Jerome said, winking at Asher in the mirror.
Asher laughed, trying out his best "serious model" face, though he couldn't keep it for long without breaking into laughter. "Right back at you, Mr. Eye Candy."
They were deep in the middle of goofily flaunting their shirtless selves when they heard laughter from behind them. Turning around, they saw Veronica and her husband, Gabriel, grinning at them, while a few others backstage were trying not to laugh too loudly.
Gabriel gave a playful applause. "Now that's commitment! I see we're fully leaning into the shirtless holiday cheer."
Jerome laughed, scratching his head. "Hey, we're just… warming up. You know, getting in the zone."
"Sure," Veronica said, smirking. "Don't let us stop you, boys. This is… fantastic."
But the teasing didn't stop there. Cheryl Blossom sauntered over, dressed in a sleek, red velvet outfit with plenty of glittering details. She gave them a long, amused look before arching an eyebrow.
"Oh my god, is this the Riverdale Christmas Calendar or the talent show?" Cheryl deadpanned, crossing her arms. "Honestly, boys, if you're going to make a spectacle, do it with some real style."
Asher, unfazed, grinned and threw an arm around Jerome. "We're just making sure the town gets the full Christmas experience, Cheryl. Nothing wrong with adding a little extra holiday magic, right?"
Cheryl rolled her eyes, a smirk creeping onto her face. "Just make sure you don't steal my spotlight. I'm about to go on and give everyone the performance they're here to see."
With that, she adjusted her sparkling Santa hat and sashayed toward the stage entrance, leaving them chuckling as they continued to get ready.
Soon, the show officially began, and Veronica took to the stage as the host. She looked dazzling, her outfit glimmering under the stage lights, her confidence radiating through the crowd. She stepped up to the mic, her voice strong and full of charm.
"Welcome, everyone, to Riverdale's Christmas Talent Show!" Veronica announced, her voice carrying over the crowd's excited cheers. "Thank you all for coming out to celebrate the holiday season with us. And trust me—tonight's lineup is nothing short of memorable."
She launched into an SNL-style monologue, tossing in a few wry jokes about her family. "You know, growing up with my dad, Hiram Lodge, the holidays were always… interesting," she said, smirking. "Our family Christmas card could've been called 'The Most Wanted List.'"
The crowd laughed, and even Asher and Jerome snickered from backstage. Veronica threw in a few more quips about her infamous family, before shifting her attention to Cheryl, who watched her from the wings, completely unfazed.
"And what would a Riverdale Christmas be without Cheryl Blossom?" Veronica said, giving a mock sigh of resignation. "I mean, only she could find a way to make Christmas about herself. But hey, that's why we love her."
Cheryl laughed, blowing a kiss at Veronica from the wings.
Veronica then turned her focus to the pop culture phenomenon of the moment: Anna Redman. "And I know not all of you watch The Bachelor," she said, giving the crowd a knowing look, "but for those of you who do, let me just say… let's all be thankful that Anna Redman didn't make it to Riverdale this Christmas. We can only handle so much drama."
A few audience members who knew the reference laughed and clapped, while others exchanged curious looks.
Finally, she ended her monologue with a romantic twist, glancing over at Gabriel, who was watching her from the audience. "But jokes aside, Christmas is really about the people you love," she said, her gaze softening. "And I'm just so grateful to be spending this one with all of you—including my husband." She winked at Gabriel, who blew her a kiss.
With a grand gesture, Veronica announced the first act of the night. "And now, kicking off our evening, please give it up for Cheryl Blossom with her very own Sexy Santa dance!"
Cheryl strutted onto the stage with a confidence that could've lit up the entire town, her red velvet outfit sparkling under the lights. She launched into a sassy, high-energy dance number, complete with backup dancers and all the attitude she could muster. The crowd watched in awe, and backstage, Asher, Jerome, Veronica, Gabriel, and Toni Topaz all had their own colorful reactions.
"Oh my god, she's really going for it," Toni whispered, both amused and impressed.
Veronica rolled her eyes with a grin. "That's Cheryl for you. She'll always find a way to turn Santa into a personal statement."
Asher leaned over to Jerome, trying not to laugh. "Should we be taking notes? She's really setting the bar for holiday sass."
Jerome chuckled, shaking his head. "I think we've got our own brand of holiday magic. Cheryl can keep the sass."
As Cheryl ended her performance with a dramatic pose, the audience erupted in applause, and she took a gracious bow before making her way offstage. Veronica stepped back up to the mic, grinning.
"Alright, everyone, give it up for Cheryl Blossom!" she cheered, clapping along with the crowd. "Now, next up, we have Archie Andrews with a very special Taylor Swift solo. And rumor has it, he's chosen All Too Well."
Archie took the stage, his guitar in hand, and started strumming the opening notes. His voice was heartfelt, and the audience quickly fell silent, captivated by his rendition. Veronica, Gabriel, and the others listened, nodding along, until they realized that Archie was… still singing.
"Oh god," Veronica whispered, eyes widening. "Is he doing the 10-minute version?"
Asher laughed under his breath, nudging Jerome. "I think he is. He's really going for it."
By the time Archie finished, the crowd was wiping away tears, moved by his emotional performance. Veronica returned to the stage, giving him a soft smile.
"Let's give Archie a big hand," she said, clapping with the crowd. "That was beautiful, Archie. And now, on a totally different note, please welcome Moose Mason and Jay Halstead-Mason with their… athletic showcase."
Moose and Jay strutted onstage, holding dumbbells in one hand and a football in the other. As they began tossing the football back and forth while switching dumbbells from hand to hand, the crowd watched, clearly a little puzzled but entertained. Backstage, Veronica and the others exchanged amused looks.
"Are they… lifting weights and playing catch?" Asher asked, tilting his head in confusion.
Jerome shrugged, chuckling. "Guess it's their own twist on Christmas fitness."
When Moose and Jay finished their act, the audience cheered politely, and Veronica returned to the stage, clearly holding back a laugh.
"And now, for a very special holiday duet," she announced, "please welcome Asher and Jerome!"
Asher and Jerome took the stage, shirtless with only their elf hats and holiday pants, and the crowd erupted in cheers and laughter. As they launched into their duet of All I Want for Christmas Is You, fake snow began to fall, creating a magical, slightly over-the-top winter wonderland. They sang with all the enthusiasm they had, fully committed to their "cringey holiday show," as they called it.
By the time they finished, the crowd was applauding wildly, and Jerome leaned in to give Asher a quick kiss, both of them beaming. Veronica took the stage again, clapping along.
"Let's hear it one more time for Riverdale's holiday heartthrobs!" she said, grinning as the audience cheered.
Finally, the evening wrapped up with the much-anticipated Christmas speech by Jughead Jones. He took the stage with a stack of papers, adjusting his beanie dramatically as he cleared his throat.
"Christmas," Jughead began, in a low, serious tone, "is more than just lights and presents. It's a celebration of life's deepest connections. It's finding warmth in the chill of winter…"
Asher and Jerome shared an amused look as Jughead continued with his intense reading, the crowd listening intently. Fortunately, his speech was heartfelt rather than funereal, and by the end, he'd left everyone in a reflective, cozy mood.
With one final announcement, Veronica closed out the night. "And now, to send us off with one last song, please welcome Josie and the Pussycats with their holiday rendition of Last Christmas!"
Josie and the Pussycats took the stage, and the upbeat, festive tune filled the air as the audience sang along, everyone getting into the holiday spirit. As the night wound down, Asher and Jerome exchanged a satisfied smile, their hearts full from an unforgettable Riverdale Christmas.
But, the talent show is not over yet...
The night was far from over at the Riverdale Christmas talent show. Josie and the Pussycats had just wowed the audience with their rendition of "Last Christmas," leaving the crowd buzzing. But as they wrapped up and took their bows, Veronica strutted back on stage, microphone in hand, looking as dazzling as ever.
"Alright, everyone, don't go anywhere!" Veronica announced, her voice bright. "Josie and the Pussycats were fantastic, but this show isn't done yet. We have three more incredible acts, followed by the crowning of our Christmas Talent Show winner!"
The audience cheered, clapping and whistling, clearly thrilled that the show would continue. Veronica waited for the applause to quiet before announcing the next act.
"And now," she said with a flourish, "please welcome to the stage Beatrice Fairbanks and Christian Hughes, performing their very own Christmas jazz ensemble!"
As Beatrice and Christian took the stage, the lights dimmed, and the smooth sounds of jazz filled the air. They began singing their favorite classic Christmas songs with sultry, vintage flair, giving the night a sophisticated twist.
Backstage, Asher, Jerome, Cheryl, Gabriel, and Veronica couldn't resist making a few comments.
"Alright, I'll give it to them," Cheryl said with an approving nod. "They've got that old-school jazz vibe down. Not bad."
"Very classy," Gabriel agreed, nodding along with the music. "They've really captured the holiday spirit."
Asher watched intently, listening to the soft jazz as he leaned toward Jerome. "Do you think they'd consider taking a request?" he whispered. "Maybe… a Mariah Carey classic?"
Jerome laughed, giving him a gentle nudge. "Asher, no one's playing 'All I Want for Christmas Is You' in a jazz ensemble. Let it go."
Asher shrugged, grinning. "It's a classic for a reason."
Veronica chuckled, shaking her head. "Stick to your duet, Asher. I think Beatrice and Christian are sticking with the vintage playlist."
When Beatrice and Christian finished, the audience burst into enthusiastic applause. Veronica returned to the stage, clapping along, her smile bright as she took the microphone again.
"Thank you, Beatrice and Christian! That was absolutely beautiful." She paused, glancing at her cue cards with a mischievous glint. "Now, for our next act… Riverdale's own Reggie Mantle and his team of buff men, here to bring us a little holiday cheer!"
Just as the crowd began to cheer, a sudden interruption threw everyone off.
From the back of the audience, a voice belted out a high note, completely off-key. Natalie Manning from Chicago Med had somehow managed to slip onto the stage, singing an unplanned, terrible rendition of "Silent Night." The audience's cheers quickly turned into confused murmurs, and within seconds, boos began to ripple through the crowd.
"Oh no," Cheryl whispered, covering her face. "Why does Natalie have the audacity to ruin my life every chance she gets?"
Veronica looked mortified, barely containing her fury as Natalie wobbled off-key, determined to finish her uninvited solo. As Natalie finally finished and left the stage, the crowd's boos grew louder, and Cheryl shot an annoyed look backstage.
"I swear, ever since Moose and Jay's wedding back in Chicago, she's made it her mission to disrupt every event I care about," Cheryl muttered to Asher, Jerome, and Gabriel, who all looked equally baffled.
Veronica stormed backstage, visibly fuming. "Can you believe her? She just had to show up to ruin a perfectly good talent show. She's got some nerve."
Jerome looked at her, bewildered. "Okay, but… who exactly is Natalie?"
"Long story," Veronica replied, taking a deep breath and brushing herself off. "Just know she's a Chicago nuisance who refuses to stay gone."
After composing herself, Veronica returned to the stage, plastering on a smile as she addressed the crowd. "Alright, folks, my deepest apologies for that unscheduled… performance." The crowd chuckled, and Veronica went on. "But without further ado, please welcome Reggie Mantle and his team of buff men for a Christmas striptease!"
As the crowd cheered, Reggie strutted onto the stage with his "buff men" entourage—including a very excited Kevin Keller. They were dressed in holiday suspenders and bow ties, and they launched into a Magic Mike-style routine set to an orchestral version of "The Nutcracker," shimmying and strutting to the beat. The females in the audience were swooning, fanning themselves as things got wild and sweaty under the stage lights.
Backstage, Veronica, Gabriel, Asher, Jerome, and Cheryl exchanged wide-eyed glances as they watched the hilariously intense performance.
"Did they just turn The Nutcracker into a striptease?" Asher whispered, half-laughing, half-shocked.
"Only in Riverdale," Jerome said, shaking his head in amused disbelief.
As Reggie and his crew wrapped up their routine with a dramatic final pose, the audience erupted in cheers and applause. Veronica returned to the stage, clearly entertained as she clapped along.
"Let's give them another big hand!" she said, laughing. "And now, for our final act of the night, please welcome Betty Cooper with her… well, let's just say it's her take on holiday humor!"
Betty took the stage, grinning as she grabbed the microphone, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Alright, folks, hope you're ready for some holiday jokes. Let's start with a classic: What does Santa suffer from if he gets stuck in a chimney?"
She paused dramatically, waiting for the audience's attention.
"Claustrophobia!"
The crowd laughed, and Betty continued with a series of cheeky, slightly dirty Christmas jokes, pointing to audience members and making them the targets of her playful banter. Veronica, Asher, Jerome, and Gabriel couldn't stop laughing, impressed by Betty's unexpected stand-up skills.
"Oh my god," Asher whispered, wiping away a tear. "She's hilarious!"
Veronica grinned. "Betty's got a wild sense of humor when she lets it out. Who knew?"
As Betty wrapped up her set with a final joke, the audience gave her a loud round of applause, clearly delighted. Veronica returned to the stage one last time, smiling warmly as she took the microphone.
"Thank you, Betty, for that amazing performance! And now, it's time for the moment you've all been waiting for: the crowning of Riverdale's Christmas Talent Show winners!"
The crowd cheered excitedly as Veronica gestured for everyone who'd performed to join her on stage. One by one, Cheryl Blossom, Archie Andrews, Moose Mason and Jay Halstead-Mason, Asher and Jerome, Jughead Jones, Josie and the Pussycats, Beatrice Fairbanks and Christian Hughes, Reggie Mantle and his buff men, and Betty Cooper all joined her on stage. (Natalie Manning, of course, was nowhere to be found.)
Veronica held up a golden envelope, giving the crowd a suspenseful smile. "Alright, let's start with third place. Drumroll, please!"
The audience began clapping in rhythm, and Veronica opened the envelope. "In third place… Jughead Jones with his Christmas literary speech!"
Jughead nodded solemnly, giving a small bow as the crowd clapped and cheered.
Veronica moved on to the next envelope. "Now, for second place… let's hear it for Josie and the Pussycats!"
The crowd erupted in applause as Josie and her bandmates waved, visibly thrilled.
Finally, Veronica took a deep breath, holding up the last envelope. "And now, the moment we've all been waiting for… first place goes to… Asher and Jerome!"
The crowd exploded into cheers, clapping and whistling as Asher and Jerome exchanged an astonished look before stepping forward. Asher, with a huge smile, grabbed the mic for a quick speech.
"Well," he began, grinning from ear to ear, "I think I can safely say this is the best Christmas talent show I've ever been a part of. Thanks to all of you for making Riverdale feel like home—and a big thank you to Jerome, my partner in crime and husband. Merry Christmas, everyone!"
The audience laughed and clapped, and Jerome gave Asher a quick, heartfelt kiss, both of them beaming.
Veronica took the mic back, smiling at the crowd. "Thank you all for coming out tonight, and Merry Christmas to each and every one of you! Drive safe, stay warm, and have a wonderful holiday!"
With that, the show ended, and the audience slowly began to file out of the town square, chatting happily as they left. Backstage, Veronica, Gabriel, Asher, and Jerome gathered together, still buzzing with excitement.
Veronica grinned, pulling them both into a hug. "Congratulations, you two! First place! How does it feel?"
Asher laughed, still dazed. "Honestly? It feels amazing. I don't think I'll ever forget this night."
Jerome nodded, squeezing Asher's hand. "Yeah. This was one of the best nights ever."
As the four of them left the venue together, they met up with Cheryl, Toni, and the rest of the gang, everyone still buzzing from the night's performances. They walked back toward the apartment complex, their hearts full of holiday cheer, laughter echoing through the quiet, snowy streets of Riverdale.
It was a Christmas they'd remember forever, and for Asher and Jerome, it was the start of countless more unforgettable moments in their new home.