Betty laughed at something Jughead said, laying her head on his shoulder. She was currently sitting with him, Joaquin, Toni, and Fangs. They were all having a couple of drinks at the Whyte Wyrm, and Betty needed this type of night with her boyfriend and brother and their friends. Archie Andrews had been relentless . He had been calling her and waiting for her by her locker. He wasn't as bold as to wait at the Cooper household, because he knew Sweet Pea would annihilate him.

Alice and Hal Cooper had ordered her to get a restraining order against Archie, but Betty hadn't felt like that was the smartest move. He was still her childhood friend, wasn't he? He still had some good intentions in him, didn't he? She wasn't one hundred percent sure about that. But what she did know was this: the last two years had been terrifying for her.

He would send her roses, letters, decapitated baby doll heads, and once, a snake. The snake had to be removed by her father while she sat in Sweet Pea's room and cried. To say that her older, severely protective brother was mad was the understatement of the century. He was livid. Sweet Pea had had words with Archie, letting his fists speak them.

It still wasn't enough to scare him off.

So here they were, some odd months later, and Betty wasn't allowed to go anywhere without her boyfriend or another serpent. FP and Hal's decree. FP, Hal, and Alice were all best friends, and FP was Betty and Sweet Peas' godfather. Just like Hal and Alice were JB and Jughead's godparents. The three people were formidable in the Serpents – or Serpents extended, for Alice – and they had always had one another's backs. It made their kids the same way when growing up.

Jughead had seen Sweet Pea as a kindergartener, taking care of Betty who was still in pre-school, and he had wanted to be like him. So, he took her under his wing as well. Betty still remembered when Archie was a good guy and not obsessed with her. He had helped Jughead protect her but the older they got, the more dangerous the redhead had become. And now, Betty wasn't allowed to be anywhere near him on her own. Or even with friends.

Just then, Jughead pressed a kiss to her lips, firm and full of passion, and then held them to her forehead. "I've got to get you home. Sweets must stay and talk things through with your dad."

"Juggie, I can walk myself home," Betty reminded him, and he looked at her incredulously.

"Not from the southside and you're sure as shit not walking by yourself," Jughead said firm, tone unwavering. "Come on, my bike is right outside."

Betty laughed but acquiesced his wishes, interlacing their fingers together and making their way out of the bar. Sweet Pea saw them leaving and hurried towards them. "Betts, wait up."

She paused, watching her older brother as he walked towards them. He stopped in front of them, glancing at Betty before looking at Jughead seriously. "Get her home safe. And, uh, maybe hang out around the house till we get there."

"Sweets," Betty sighed in exasperation. "I'll lock the door, but we can't let Archie dictate our lives."

"The guy has been obsessed with you for the better part of three years, Betty," Sweet Pea sighed. "I don't want this to be the night he tries to do anything."

Betty sighed, knowing in her heart that it was pointless to argue. And, she couldn't say that she didn't feel better with the idea of Jughead being there with her while she waited for her dad and brother to come home. She nodded her head. "All right. I can do that."

"You don't really get a choice," Jughead laughed, stealing one more kiss before looking back at Sweet Pea. "I promise, Sweets, she'll be safe with me."

Betty knew that Sweet Pea knew Jughead's words to be true. Jughead had always protected her where Sweet Pea couldn't, but she had to admit, it got annoying after a while. But, deep in her heart, she knew that they just cared about her and didn't want to see her hurt. Sweet Pea grinned at Jughead, and then the two of them were walking out of the Wyrm, Betty tucking into Jughead's side. He led her to his bike, and she climbed on, wrapping her arms around his waist. Resting her chin on his shoulder, she laughed as he revved his bike. "Let's go, Juggie."

They were off.

XXX

They pulled up to the Cooper household a little over fifteen minutes later, and Jughead parked the bike. It wasn't even a second later that showed Archie walking out of his house. "Betty!"

"Go inside, Betts," Jughead said firmly, and she swallowed thickly.

"I can handle it," she muttered.

"You shouldn't have to," Jughead replied.

But Archie had already reached them, and Jughead was pressing Betty behind him. "Hey, Betts."

"Don't talk to her," Jughead snapped, tone livid.

"What are you, her bodyguard or her boyfriend?" Archie sneered.

"Both," Jughead replied in a deadly quiet voice. Archie rolled his eyes heavenward and then looked at Betty.

"See you at the game on Friday, right?" Archie asked, smiling at her.

"Yeah, with the rest of the Serpents," Betty snapped, tone betraying the nerves she felt. "Seriously Archie, just go away."

He smirked at her, eyes narrowed on her, before he looked at Jughead. "You won't always be around."

"Yes, I will," Jughead growled vehemently. Then he was shoving Archie away from them as the red headed dick laughed. Betty sighed. Archie was always looking to stir the pot. She shook her head as Jughead turned them on their heels and guided her into the house.

She knew it had to get worse before it got better. It always had to get worse before it got better.

Author's note: Guess who's back, back, back, back again. Bughead's back, back, back, tell a friend.