"If I had to guess," Grandma Smith said as she hung some sage to dry in her window, "The Blossom Witch Clan, though genetically is female based, has always been run by men. Rightly stupid if you ask me, since it's their wives that have the power, but," Dolores shrugged.

"And now that Jason is gone..,." Betty trailed off, "I mean, no offense, but Cheryl is terrifying. I don't have any lost love for her, but she could totally take over the business and all."

"She could, I agree. However, it's just not done like that. And now all the men from far across the world are coming to vie for the title." Dolores sighed, "It'll be a bloodbath. No one trusts one another, everyone is expecting an attack from their own family." She opened her windows, "You think our family has issues? At least we can sleep with both or our eyes closed at night."

A thought hit Betty, "Wait. You knew that the Blossoms were witches?"

"Yes."

"I didn't! No one did. It was...well, a secret, as far as I knew. I only found out because they had to...because I'm a witch too. Even the Serpents don't know-,"

Dolores snorted, "Oh, dear, the Serpent's know."

"FP…" Betty ground her teeth, "He seemed awfully stupid about knowing anything when we asked. Another lie. Great."

"I'm sure there was a good reason. Mostly, those Blossoms aren't to be messed with!" Dolores said sternly. Betty made a face.

"Yuck, you sound like dad. He hates them with more vigor than I understand."

"He may be dumb about some things." Betty knew that Dolores hadn't exactly approved of Hal, and that was part of what had broken the contact with her grandmother for so long, "But he was right about that. I would always, always keep half your mind on them if you're around."

Betty felt an onslaught of emotions all of a sudden, sniffling, "God, Polls won't stand a chance in there."

Dolores inhaled hard too, the betrayal that Betty felt equally felt by her too. Polly abandoning them for the Blossoms had been hard to deal with so far. Still, Dolores tried to keep a cheerful expression.

"Your sister is stronger than you believe her to be. And we both know that Penelope won't do anything until those babies are born. So we have time. Yes, if all else fails...we have time."

XX

"The lawyers are coming this week to take statements for your dad's hearing. We're both going to have to testify on your father's behalf." Hermione interrupted Veronica during her breakfast. Veronica frowned, lowering her spoon.

"What if they ask what he did? Embezzling all that money. Am I going to have to lie?" Veronica asked. The old Veronica wouldn't have blinked to do so. The Veronica she liked to think was a better person was having more trouble with it.

Hermione smiled at her daughter, but it didn't seem as warm as usual, "Dear, we might have to shade the truth a bit, Ronnie. And you want to, don't you? For your dear father?" She asked, sitting, staring Veronica in the eyes and pushing her hair behind her daughter's face.

Veronica frowned.

"Of course, I want to for my dear fa…" She trailed off. Her tongue felt funny and her mind felt woozy. It was like she was in a dream, reciting back what her mother was saying like she was a record player.

But she wanted to help her dad, right? She loved her father. Dearly! Why hadn't she wanted to help him before…?

"Veronica, you will bend the truth to help your father," Her mother commanded.

All her doubts seemed to vanish. Of course she would do that. Why was that ever a question?

"I'll bend the truth to help my father, mom," Veronica chirped back cheerfully, "I would love to."

Hermione smiled in relief, "Also...you don't want to mention anything about us owning the Drive In Land to Fred. It will just..complicate things more."

Veronica's mind didn't even feel conflicted about this. That in itself was true. She had no desire to get in the middle of her mom's weird love triangle.

However…

"I still think you should tell Fred before someone else does," She said, surprising her mom, "This town gossips like nobody's business."

Hermione stared at Veronica for a long time, before humming in quiet thought.

XX

Veronica was a good person. She was a good person. She was a good person. She was-

Dammit. Good people didn't lie on the Bible for the father's in court. And she wanted to tell the truth, but something in the back of her mind also told her to lie. Something in her that wanted to help her dad.

Veronica was a good person. She was good. She wasn't bad. She was so good, she wanted to believe it, despite the awful things she knew she'd done.

Ethyl's poem was a cry for help. The imagery reminded her of some awful stories her mother had read to her as a child; someone accused of being the living dead, put into a wooden coffin, wooden stakes through their skin, screaming hoards...the way her mother had read it had been so haunting, that even thinking of it now gave Veronica uncontrollable chills.

That despair, that anguish, that trapped feeling...Veronica knew it well. Some part of her felt like, in another life, perhaps she could have been writing that poem.

And because Veronica was a Good Person with a capital G and P, despite the little voice in the back of her head telling her to do bad things like lie or cover for her mom when she wasn't sure why, she knew she had to help Ethyl.

If only, maybe, to help herself.

XX

Coach was furious.

One of their biggest games was coming up soon, and as he said, they were all playing like 'a bunch of half-witted foals that had one leg'. It was an apt comparison, and unfortunately, quite true.

Sweet Pea was worried that Betty was going off the deep-end, magically speaking, and his mind was anywhere but the field.

Reggie was dropping half of his catches for god knows why, inciting most of Coach's anger.

Perhaps he would have been equally angry with Archie...had the ginger been around.

It wasn't like Archie to miss practice, loving guitar only marginally more, as far as Sweet Pea could tell.

"Nurse's office," Moose provided. Because of his cast, he was useless, but how could Coach yell at him for trying to do the right thing? So, he was the only one somewhat cheerful, just glad to be watching.

"What happened?" Sweet Pea sighed. Of course Archie would get sick right when they all seriously needed him. Coach had muttered something under his breath about getting his son back just for the game, and Coach Clayton had been horrified by his son's actions, so that seriously said something.

"Dunno the specifics," Moose stroked his chin, "He was upset today. I saw Cheryl bothering him. Then her mom came and after she left, he just…" Moose looked a little unsure now, recalling, "Well, it seemed like his head was exploding. Poor Josie. Archie must have been out of it with pain or something. She tried to help him to the office and he just freaked on her."

"Freaked?" Sweet Pea echoed, concerned.

"Just starting screaming. Yikes. I'd be buying her lots of apology flowers if she were my girlfriend. Or maybe something really was messed up in his head." Moose gave a chuckle and wiggled his fingers on his free arm, "Maybe the Blossoms put a voo-doo curse on him," He sniggered.

"Yeah…" Sweet Pea winced, really hoping that Moose wasn't uncannily right. As it was, now Sweet Pea had ample reason for concern. Who knew what Cheryl was capable of? He doubted Penelope could, but perhaps if pushed to it…?

He stood. Fuck. He needed to find Archie. He turned to leave the practice field.

Luckily, before Coach could start using swear words he didn't know previously existed, he spotted the familiar flop of red hair jogging across the grass.

"Huh, guess he's better," Sweet Pea sighed in relief. Whatever it was, he seemed okay.

"Aye! Andrews!" Moose waved him over excitedly.

Though, as Archie approached, rubbing his eyes and rubbing his head and groaning, Sweet Pea had a very bad feeling.

"Moose! Water, please," Coach sighed, "Hydrate these idiots and maybe they'll play better."

"Good to see you here, man," Moose clapped Archie's shoulder as he stood. Sweet Pea swallowed, hoping his heavy sense of foreboding was for naught.

"Andrews, why the long face?" Sweet Pea asked, "You, ah, sure you should be here?"

Archie rubbed his forehead, head between his knees, "I'm gonna be sick, dude."

"Why? What's wrong?" Sweet Pea asked.

Archie shook his head, refusing to look up.

"I just...have you ever been between a rock and a soft place, Sweet Pea?"

"You mean a rock and a hard place."

"No, a rock and a soft place. I know what I said,'' Archie said, a bit indignantly, "I mean, because it's something you really wanna do, but know you shouldn't. And then there's the whole...the fuck, I don't know what."

Sweet Pea didn't really get the play on words, but understood his conundrum in theory, "Yeah. What's the matter, man? I heard you freaked on Josie?"

Archie groaned again, but Sweet Pea wasn't sure if he was going to barf or if he was expressing regret.

"I don't know if I can...Josie and I…" Archie finally raised his head, but was still pressing his temples, eyes closed, "Look...the Blossoms want me to go to Cheryl's tree-tapping ceremony this weekend. They're offering me like… a trillion awesome things. But I just get a weird vibe from them, and plus sometimes I see-"

He broke off.

"See?" Sweet Pea prompted.

Archie opened his eyes hesitantly, as though expecting to see something horrifying in front of him, or rather, in Sweet Pea. A bad feeling shivered down Sweet Pea's spine, a sort of 'oh, not this too, oh fuck' sort of guess that he really, really hoped was not correct.

"I meant feel," Archie said quickly, "I feel weird."

But Sweet Pea knew he didn't.

"Uh-huh. How long have you been 'feeling weird' around 'em? And...others?" He took a tentative leap.

Archie winced, "Dunno. Since school started, I guess. I think I should just not go to Cheryl's. I mean, I want to go to that music program, but I feel ill. Seriously."

Sweet Pea inhaled hard, "Andrews. Your red hair...it's real, right?"

Archie gave him a withering look, "You're seriously asking if the carpets match the drapes? Fuck off, I'll punch you." He said, clearly not in a mood for any funniness.

"Answer it, Archie."

Archie gave a 'what's it to you' sort of look, "Yeah. I don't box dye or shit."

"And your dad's hair is…"

"Brownish. I got it from my mom. Same bright color and all. She lives in Chicago though. She told my dad that being in Riverdale unnerved her."

Sweet Pea tried to hold in a dry laugh. Yeah, he bet that it did bother her to live here.

He was going to do something stupid. Something Betty Cooper level of stupid, but letting Archie just go his merry way would be worse.

The next time Coach called him in, though his instincts were a thousand times better than to let this ever happen, he caught the ball weirdly and went down hard, crushing his hand.

It fucking hurt, he had to say, but Coach's frantic expression knew he'd just managed to find an excuse to go.

"Archie! Take him to the nurse," Coach said, sending just the person he was hoping to accompany him, since it was clear Archie was still in a world of pain himself, "And boy, take another Advil, great Scott!"

"Yes, sir," Archie said. His eyes bugged out when he saw Sweet Pea's hand, "Dude!"

"Text Betty." Sweet Pea commanded, cradling his palm.

Archie didn't even question, jerkily nodding as he floundered for his phone. He was so engrossed that he totally didn't notice that they weren't going toward the Nurse's office, but closer to the woods in the back of the school.

"We're going the wrong way. Awe, man, that hand looks awful." Archie fretted.

"No. I'm fine. Tell Betty we're at the edge of the woods." Sweet Pea said forcefully. The sharp pain from his broken hand was already starting to dim. He flicked his wrist, like trying to dry his hand from a faucet, and he could feel it start to snap the bones back into place. Totally disgusting but equally cool at the same time. Being a werewolf never ceased to amaze him.

"Wha- but your hand!"

"Archie, I know it doesn't make sense now, but it will soon. I'm fine." He stressed, "Text her."

Something in his voice must have sounded commanding, because Archie shot off another text. Soon, Betty came from Vixens practice, throwing her hands up at Sweet Pea.

"Archie says you're being an idiot! And that's a lot, coming from him!" She said in an accusing tone.

"He broke his hand and refused to go to the nurse! And then he led me to the forest...are you gonna kill me?" Archie grasped his chest.

"Betty," Sweet Pea momentarily ignored Archie, "We, quite possibly, have a huge problem that you haven't ever heard about before and for that I'm sorry. I didn't think many existed anymore, or at least not in Riverdale."

"What existed?" Both Archie and Betty asked together.

"Uhm, Betty...keep Archie back. We're going to see if this really works," Sweet Pea said, fishing out the necklace Betty had gifted him, "I gotta see something." Betty's shock about what she now understood was his plan was all across her face.

"Jordan! You idiot-"

Before Sweet Pea could hear all of Betty's tirade and horror, he took a few steps back, winked at Archie who just looked confused, and let his bones slip away into that comforting, familiar wolf blanket he sometimes imagined he preferred.

As he did, he looked at Archie. And it was there, the proof was in the pudding. His eyes, reflecting no light, an unsettling inky blackness that made Sweet Pea feel cold inside, and all he could see was just his fur jutting out, a true beast being unleashed.

"Holy fu-," Archie stumbled back, tripping over a tree root, howling and yelling in fear.

Sweet Pea quickly changed back, glad to see his clothes still on his body. He was about to congratulate Betty, until he saw the anger painted on her face.

Archie wasn't screaming anymore.

"You broke him!" Betty was now screaming. At Sweet Pea, "Do you know how many times I've heard Archie speechless? Zero! He's traumatized! Are you stupid?"

"Possibly, but also right." Sweet Pea winced, sure some barrage of witchy-spells were about to be thrown his way.

"About what?" Betty began furiously digging through her backpack, "Oh, damn it, how much of that memory erase do we need for him after that?"

"It wouldn't work. Not now." Sweet Pea stopped her, "He's…"

"Supernatural?"

"Mutated," Sweet Pea said uneasily, not quite sure that a magical creature really fit what he now was.

"Like an X-Man?" Archie finally asked, his voice rough.

"Yeah, yeah," Sweet Pea said, talking quietly so as not to spook him any more, "Just like that buddy. You do sorta have superpowers now."

"Explain," Betty said sternly, helping Archie stand.

"He's a Grimm. He was created as like a...balancing tool for when our kind was running rampant and murdering humans. Messy time. No one's quite sure how they came about; I guess it was one singular, born with extraordinary power- enhanced strength, enhanced hearing, a sort of invincibility. And like a spidey-sense to supernaturals nearby. The biggest thing is that Grimms can see us...for who we are. Peeling back the layers, even when we don't want them to. Whenever we use any magic, he sorta, looks through our humanness."

"Monsters," Archie croaked.

"Archie," Betty hissed, "That's not true! They're not...we're not…"

"But we sorta are." Sweet Pea shrugged, "Humans, for whatever it's worth, are pure of heart, regardless of shitty things. Supernatural beings are not."

"But why now? Why….now?" Archie asked, looking ready to bolt.

"Something is coming. That's all I can guess. It's why there's so many new werewolves turning, it's why vampires came back, it's why magic is suddenly important again. In the infamous Sparkly Vampire Book, when supernaturalism got amped up, suddenly young werewolves far before their time turned. I thought Grimms were all adults. 18 and up, so yeah, imagine my surprise."

"You can say it's Twilight, we all know," Betty said dryly, "In fact, I bet you thirty bucks you've read it not just once, but multiple times." She teased.

Sweet Pea ignored her, for if he acknowledged it, he'd lose that bet for sure.

So sue him! It's not because he thought Meyer was a genius by any means, but whenever there were any supernatural books that had a few similarities, Sweet Pea felt it his civic duty to make sure no one was spilling secrets. Of course, he had to imagine most humans would find it impossible to think things like vampires were real, but still. It seemed like it was fine; like most fantasy authors, Meyers was bound to hit the target on a few things, but overall things were dissimilar enough that he didn't have concern. On another note, the TV show 'Grimm', while campy and did have some terrible CGI, toed the line between reality and fiction. Wesen weren't real, not like that, obviously, and he doubted there was some magical stick out there hidden in the Black Forest.

But Sweet Pea digressed.

"Point being, I'm just unsettled by it. But I can't imagine what he's going through," Sweet Pea turned to Archie apologetically.

"So he knows you're a werewolf. Just right here and now. When you look like this."

"No," Sweet Pea shook his head, "But remember when I told you we could sorta...tap into that magical mainframe? Whenever I use magic in any way, pull that part of myself closer to the surface, even if you see a human, he ...ah…"

"Sees a wolf," Archie supplied, shuddering, "And you seem like...it's...you're different too. She's a...wizard?"

"Witch or warlock, preferably," Sweet Pea sighed. Guess he was taking on two new people. Better to have a Grimm on his side other than against him.

"What about Juggie? Could he tell that he-," Betty began to ask.

"Wait, what's Jughead?"

"No, only people who are changed. He could go his whole life without triggering the curse, and exist as a regular human until he dies, right?" Sweet Pea corrected.

"Oh, makes sense."

"What the hell is Jughead?" Archie asked, looking a bit ill.

"Nothing, yet. Hopefully never," Sweet Pea said, unsure he should pour everything on Archie today.

"You...err...maybe you want some water? Do you want to sit down? Go home? It's been a long day for you."

"What's Josie," Archie said, crossing his arms, ignoring Sweet Pea's offers, "Tell me. Now."

"She's a siren. Like a mermaid. But I'd be surprised if she stayed with you." Sweet Pea said, feeling a tad sorry. It sucked to be broken up with.

"Yeah, I really was awful today…," Archie sighed.

"No, because you're a Grimm. We all grew up on boogeyman stories of the likes of you. While there's vampire and werewolf hunters that are just humans, you're like...ultimate apex predator."

"Maybe she doesn't have to know?" Archie asked hopefully, wistfully.

"Naw, that's the thing, Archie. As soon as you see us for who we are…" Sweet Pea reached out, almost touching his cheek, but pursed his lips, shaking his head, "We see you for your truth too. She knows by now. So let me...break the news to my pack. So they don't kill you on sight. I want to work together."

"Pack?" Archie seemed a bit faint, "There's more of you?"

Sweet Pea sighed, shrugging.

"We should maybe get out of the woods. The portrait?" She offered. Sweet Pea thought it was a good idea. Though, maybe she should hide Jason's body.

The trio began walking back to Betty's house.

"Your hand okay? I totally forgot," Archie said.

"Oh. Perk of all the fur and fangs. Super-fast healing," Sweet Pea raised his hand. It didn't even ache anymore. Of course, for Coach, he'd have to wear a split or a cast for a bit, so people didn't raise their eyebrows. Damn, could he 'recover' by the big game coming up? Crap on a rat.

Archie was silent, twiddling with the straps of his uniform.

"Hey...Sweet Pea?" He asked hesitantly. Sweet Pea, caught up in his own self-annoyance for ruining his chance at playing this weekend, half-answered.

"Uhm," Archie's voice paused him, "You were askin' about my mom. Was she...could...maybe…"

This got Sweet Pea's attention. He understood the feeling well...to be left by one's parents. It happened to Sweet Pea twice, basically, and yes...deep down, there was still a longing for his parents, even the father who abandoned him or the mother who never loved him properly.

"Yeah. If I had to guess, yeah," Sweet Pea rubbed the back of his neck, "Grimm genetics are strong as shit. I mean, to have that color of hair...it's unusual. So...red. The Blossoms make sense, two gingers make more gingers, but your dad is basically brunette. Most Grimms all look like those of their family line. So, what I'm saying-,"

"It was probably a tough town for her to be in, if she didn't know what was happening, like you."

Archie's jaw twitched. There was anger.

"And Chicago is better?" He asked hoarsely.

"I'd say likely," Sweet Pea sighed, "Sure, there's probably as many magical beasts, but more spread out. You sneeze and you're likely to hit one here."

"Oh." Archie swallowed, "Would she know that I was one?"

"Depends if she had someone to explain it to her. I'm sure she didn't even consider it." Sweet Pea lied, because the latter was something worse, and heck...he didn't wish that on anyone.

"Yeah, yeah," Archie said good-naturedly, "That's probably it."

XXX

Archie hoped he didn't look nervous. He hoped that the Blossoms around him couldn't take one look at him and know he was scared to his wits. But, he had to remind himself, he'd be far more afraid if he hadn't had a little crash-course on what the heck was going on by Betty and Sweet Pea.

Archie had never been great at school. By golly, he tried, but somehow he always was one point away from an A or a B. Some teachers probably took pity on him and bumped his grade on sheer effort and will alone, but he wasn't always so lucky.

But what was being explained to him yesterday? He'd never soaked up information so quickly, partially because his life depended on it.

He was given the skinny, as Sweet Pea called it. The absolute basics. Betty was a witch. Polly once was, but her powers were gone now. The Blossoms were witches, but they liked to dabble in necromancy, which was a big no-no in lots of cases. Sweet Pea and any Serpent were werewolves. Jughead one day could be a werewolf, but it was highly unlikely for reasons that hadn't been explained to him yet.

The biggest thing for Archie to remember was that he wasn't just swimming with sharks...he was currently swimming with magically enhanced sharks. He always had to keep his wits about him.

If it wasn't Betty's desperation and worry for Polly, Archie might not have gone at all. And Cheryl.

Yes, she was terrifying as hell. She always had been, but now she was worse. But underneath all that scary was sad. Someone in mourning. Someone that missed Jason more than he could ever guess.

And he also felt bad for her. Cheryl had explained what Sweet Pea had said as much; there was now a power vacuum open and no one thought Cheryl could fill it, so everyone was queuing up to be the next head of the Blossom Witch Homeland. Without Cheryl mentioning the witch thing, of course. She still thought he was just some random human.

"Homelands mean a lot. Like, a lot-a lot," Sweet Pea had stressed, "The land they're sitting on is just crackling with magic. To be able to tap into that at any time...oh, well, anyone who is a witch or has a witch at their disposal would die for it."

"Or kill for it," Betty added sharply, almost angrily, "Polly is so foolish! She has no idea what she's getting into."

So far, Cheryl had not flubbed any part of the ceremony and Polly was dodging his attempts to grasp her attention. And Archie was just trying to stay with his head above water and to not flinch whenever he turned around and got a more magical look at someone.

"Won't they know I'm a Grimm, though?" Archie said, right before he left to go home for the night.

"No. Witches won't. Witches are more human, less beast. If someone is a witch and something else, like a witch and a siren, and then they'd be able to see you...well, then we have a way bigger problem."

Before he'd left, Betty had given him a last-ditch safety measure.

"If you feel like you're in danger, crush that." She said, curling his hand around a tiny pill, "And I'll know. We'll come for you. We have your back."

Though this new world was scary, startling, and constantly changing, for the first time in a very long time, Archie really believed that someone was looking out for him behind the scenes. And he was touched.

"I'll do my best to get to the bottom of it."

XX

"Ethel, you haven't eaten at all."

Ethel looked up, as though surprised she was here with Veronica. She shook her head timidly.

"I'm not really hungry."

Veronica bit the inside of her cheek. Sure, perhaps she truly wasn't hungry, but Veronica knew she'd been calling for help. This was just a different version of the same tune.

"Ethel...anything we can help with?" Veronica asked sincerely, reaching across the table to touch her hand, "You wouldn't believe the things we can do to sway one thing one way." She said, knowing her mother was such a master at that.

Ethel looked ready to lie, to say she was fine, but perhaps something broke.

"My parents fight all the time. All they do is yell. It's terrible. I think my dad had some bad luck with our savings and we might have to sell the house. Worse than that...I think my dad's going crazy."

"Crazy?" Kevin chirped in, concerned, "What do you mean?"

"Research, reading, studying...he is convinced that the money isn't his fault, that someone...or something else...is darker and pulling strings. I'm worried about him. Really worried."

"And your mom?"

"Wants him to go to therapy, but he refuses. He claims that there's nothing wrong. He says it's his bloodsucking boss' fault, and he kept saying that, and I just don't know what-,"

"Ethel," Hermione interrupted, her voice as close to worried as Veronica had ever heard it, "I'm sure we can get your father the help he needs. We don't want any nursing such...delusions."

"Yeah, you got this, Ethel Muggs."

If Veronica had been looking at her mother at all, instead of focusing on the relief and the thought that maybe she could do some good, she would have seen the deep, worried from slowly slipping over Hermione's face.