Chapter Text
21 December 2019
“Oh, my god ,” he gasped.
Betty’s eyes widened in shock. “How is Archie here before us?”
“We need to turn around-”
“I made eye contact with Cheryl.”
“Hey, guys!” Cheryl called out, a devilishly sharp smile on her painted red lips.
“ Fuck ,” Jughead mumbled.
Betty faked a smile, waving over at their friends before she tugged him towards the bar. “We’re locked in,” she huffed, slumping into his side. “It had to happen sometime.”
“Yeah, but I didn’t want it to be tonight .”
Betty held her hand out. “I can drive if you want me to.”
Jughead shook his head. “There is no scenario of this in which I accept that lightning rod.”
She laughed, shrugging her shoulders. “Then I guess you’ll just have to endure.”
“Hey!” Reggie cheered as he walked over, resting his palms flat on the polished wood. “How are you guys? It’s been a minute.”
“Oh, you know,” Betty shrugged. “Working nonstop.”
He nodded as Jughead’s hand settled on the small of her back. “You’re doing the school thing, right?”
She nodded. “Finals were harder than I remembered, but it makes sense with having been out of school for three years.”
“And what’d you get?” Jughead asked, beaming with pride.
Betty sighed, rolling her eyes. “Passed every class with an A or an A-minus and I only have two classes left.”
“Hey, that’s great!”
“She’s so impressive,” Jughead said as he leaned down to kiss her temple.
“Oh my god.”
“I want to brag,” he whined, smiling when Betty’s arm wrapped around his waist, pulling him closer.
She leaned up to kiss his cheek before turning back to Reggie. “A coke for him and our new favourite pink drink for me?”
Reggie, nodded, wandering off to make their drinks without another word.
“New favourite pink drink?” Jughead asked, one brow cocked in confusion.
“Donna, Veronica, and I have been texting about new drinks since we went out with them, Toni, and Cheryl last weekend.”
Jughead hummed softly. “I’m surprised you can drink after that.”
She shrugged. “I only got a little sloppy.”
His brows rose in disbelief. “If needing to be carried to the car was a little, we should probably talk to someone.”
“Okay, maybe a lot,” she chuckled. “But the point is: new fun drink I asked Reggie to learn.”
Reggie set two glasses down between them before looking at the other end of the bar. “I have to go, we should meet up sometime soon.”
Betty nodded excitedly. “That sounds awesome! You’re so busy, Mister Restaurant Owner.”
Reggie shushed her as he glanced over his shoulder. “Veronica and I opening a new place together-“ He shook his head as a small smile crossed his lips. “It’s just good business.”
Betty waved him off. “You’re a hotshot now.”
He shrugged as he backed away. “Maybe.”
A laugh escaped her as she turned back to Jughead, smiling as he stared down at the drink in her clear whiskey glass. “Ask me.”
He wet his lips before forcing himself to speak. “What’s that?”
“A pink squirrel.”
Jughead’s eyes widened slightly, but he didn’t look away. “Is there alcohol in that?”
“It’s a one-to-one of alcohol to cream.”
He nodded.
“Do you want it?”
“I shouldn’t,” he said softly.
“You’ll like it, kitten.”
He glanced up at her with a small frown on his lips. “But I’m driving.”
“I have my license,” she reassured him. “I’ll take care of you.”
After a moment of quiet, he sighed before he pinched the stem of the glass between his thumb and forefinger. “This is bad,” he whispered.
“Yeah, but it’ll taste so good and then, if you want, I can get you another one before we go.”
He hummed in acknowledgement.
Betty reached out, pressing two fingers against the skirt of his glass.
He swallowed, nodding before he raised the glass, smelling it.
She leaned up to kiss his cheek. “Drink up, little prince.”
With a sigh, he nodded again, bringing the glass to his lips. Slowly, he took a sip. A hum of surprise escaped him. “This is good.”
“I knew you’d like it.”
“Was your plan to get me drunk?”
Betty grinned. “When is it not my plan?”
“You’re just trying to take advantage of me,” he gasped melodramatically.
She shrugged as her arm wrapped around his waist. “You’re just so fun when you’re tipsy, kitten. And aren’t I lucky that you’re all mine to toy with?”
“ Daddy ,” he whispered softly, a flush rising over his cheeks.
“Another sip and we’ll join the gang.”
He nodded, taking one long, slow sip before wrapping her arm around her shoulders. He sighed heavily when they glanced at the table. “I hate this game.”
“It’ll be quick, it always is.”
“I know,” he whispered softly. “I just get defensive and then they dig into you and I just want to-“
“Now, now,” Betty soothed. “You know I can handle myself and I wouldn’t stand for any cheap shots- especially aimed at you.” She pulled him towards their friends with a smile on her face, squeezing his hand as they stopped at the edge of the table.
“It’s you!” Archie cheered, raising his beer.
“It’s us,” Jughead answered, raising his drink with a bright smile. He sat down beside Archie, smiling when Betty sat down beside him, her hand on his thigh under the table.
“How's Cali?” Betty asked, leaning over the table.
“Incredible.” Josie leaned over the table from Archie's other side, smiling back at Betty. “You need to come visit sometime, the sunshine is amazing.”
“Will you fly us out when you and the pussycats get a star on the Walk of Fame?”
Josie laughed before nodding excitedly. “Absolutely.” She reached over Archie and Jughead, taking Betty's hand in hers. “The girls say hi, by the way.”
“Oh, god, I miss them so much.”
“Not to interrupt this lovely reunion,” Kevin said, a sharp smile on his lips. “But you were last to the table.”
Betty sighed, leaning back in her seat.
“You guys suck,” Josie scoffed.
“Hey, you’re here until after Christmas. Let us have our fun.”
With another sigh, Betty nodded him on as she leaned into Jughead’s side. She turned to Josie after a moment. “Want to come grocery shopping with us on Monday?”
Josie nodded excitedly. “We’re cooking together Tuesday?”
“Yes!”
“Hey,” Kevin whined.
“Okay, okay.” Betty turned back to Jughead with a heavy sigh. “Ready?”
He finished his drink, chasing it with a sip of her coke before nodding.
After waving to Reggie for one more, she squared her shoulders, looking Kevin down. “Go.”
“This week’s contestants on America’s favourite game show, You Can Go Fuck Yourself And Here’s A Bunch Of Reasons Why , Betty Cooper and Jughead Jones!”
“That’s a little verbose, don’t you think?” Jughead taunted.
“You’re only making this worse ,” Cheryl said sweetly.
“Cheryl, why don’t you start us off with Betty Boop,” Kevin suggested sweetly.
“Oh, god,” Betty winced, sipping her drink to hide her face.
“Dearest Betty, my, my, haven’t you grown up,” Cheryl began. “You used to be an innocent flower child. Now,” she paused. “Well, you’re a different kind of flower child; you smoke more than I do and you can’t keep those adorable little talons off your high-strung vagabond.”
“Hey, insulting my mental health has to at least be a yellow card here.”
“Oh, no, I meant the nagging- I’m not one of your children, Mister Tanner.”
Jughead’s brows furrowed. “Everyone in this little cult is one of my children, who the fuck do you think you are?”
“He has a point, babe.” Toni shrugged a shoulder. “To be in the same inner circle as Jughead Jones is to have a new dad.”
Cheryl hummed, scanning Jughead up and down. “While he will be especially DILFy in twenty to thirty years, I’m not calling him Daddy anytime soon.”
Betty hummed disapprovingly. “I don’t love the window that leaves open.”
Jughead laughed, squeezing Betty’s side. “I’m quite content with my current choice of the Blossom-Cooper bloodlines, don’t worry.”
A waitress set down another pink squirrel and a plate of fries, eliciting a noise of excitement from Jughead.
As she leaned up to kiss his cheek, Betty chuckled.
“I will say, Jug,” Toni said. ”I do love the way you've really embraced that lesbian-adjacent energy you've always given off.”
Jughead dropped the fry pinched between his fingers as his eyes went wide. “My what now?”
Cheryl and Toni laughed.
“I know what you call dearest Betty in the bedroom.”
Everyone around the table leaned closer.
“We're moving on from this subject,” Betty said sternly.
Cheryl laughed, about to speak again when Betty glared harshly. “Okay, ouch.”
“We're moving on?”
“Yeah, whatever.” She rolled her eyes before nodding. “Can we please talk about the ring on Jughead's finger?”
His eyes widened as Betty smiled proudly. Without a word, he looked over at her for help.
Betty had asked Jughead a question on Church Street. It had been under the bright, twinkling lights hung over their heads as snow had started to fall and he had cried as she pushed the Claddagh onto his ring finger, but his yes had been the sweetest sound next to one of his ever-beautiful, heartfelt I love you s.
The bright smile had graced his lips for the rest of the day, even when she asked if he wanted to move the ring to his right hand, for romance rather than betrothal, in order to hold their invasive friends’ questions at bay. The only thing that had managed to bring them down in the two hours of blissful romance since had been the moment Cheryl had finally bright it up to the group.
Betty wet her lips before turning back to the table. “We're engaged,” she said plainly, holding up a hand when everyone tried to talk at once. “We want to be engaged for a while , but we're engaged.”
Toni squealed in time with Cheryl as she reached out for Jughead's hand, pulling it across the table. “Oh my god,” she gushed, spinning the Claddagh around his finger before straightening it once more. “I can't believe it!”
“Who would have thought I'd be officially off the market less than twelve months into my I'm never getting married, I'll die an old spinster phase?” he asked dryly.
Toni scoffed, pushing his hand back. “Girl, we all saw that coming.”
His eyebrows rose in confusion.
“ I’m done with relationships, I just want to find myself is code to the universe that it's time to fuck your life up,” Josie said with a shrug of her shoulders.
“Oh my god,” he sighed, sinking back in his seat.
“What's all the squealing for?” Donna asked as she and Veronica walked over; Veronica's arm was happily threaded around the crisp gray fabric of Donna's tastefully unbuttoned button-up as they finally came to a stop at the edge of the table, her shiny short purple dress swishing with the motion.
Jughead smiled before holding out his hand.
Veronica’s mouth fell open as Donna's eyes widened in shock. “Oh my god, congratulations! Have you two gotten a chance to celebrate, yet?”
Betty shook her head as Jughead opened his mouth to speak.
“No way!” Donna tutted. “You two should grab a bottle of what you want and go home.”
“Sweet Forsythe doesn't drink.” Veronica hummed before shaking her head. “No!” she gasped excitedly. “I know what's celebration enough; give me your keys, I'm having the kitchen whip up your usual and I'll have Monroe and Reggie load the car up for you so you can go home with it.”
“We're dashing and dining?” Jughead giggled, resting his head on Betty's shoulder. “Bug, that sounds perfect!”
Betty dug through her purse one-handed, tossing the keys off to Donna with a nod. “You'll let us know when it's ready?”
“Absolutely,” Veronica assured. “Happy roasting,” she said with a wave before pulling Donna away to check on the next table.
The table erupted into laughter before Josie and Archie and Cheryl and Toni and Kevin took their time playfully pecking away at Jughead and Betty.
Reggie stopped by soon after Veronica and Donna, Monroe in tow as he pressed the keys into Betty’s palm. “Get our drunken angel home safe, yeah?”
Betty rolled her eyes before nodding as she pulled Jughead to his feet beside her.
After saying their goodbyes, Jughead pecked her lips as they wandered towards the exit. “Hey.”
“Hey.”
“I have to use the restroom,” he slurred, resting his head against her temple.
“You can do that.”
“Hooray,” he said sleepily.
“I’m going to leave you behind.”
“ No .”
“You have to run.”
Jughead groaned before kissing her cheek. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.” She patted his ass teasingly, earning a drunken giggle from him. “Run, kitty.” Betty slowed her pace, watching Jughead’s backside as he disappeared into the diner before her. After nodding at Peaches when she made it back to the surface, she wandered over to order two milkshakes; one vanilla and the other chocolate. As she walked out to the car, she smiled to herself at the sound of Jughead’s feet slapping against the snowy gravel behind her.
“Wait!” he laughed, chasing after her.
Betty set the milkshakes down in the front seat, about to turn when his arms wrapped around her from behind. She laughed loudly in the empty parking lot as he picked her up, squeezing her tightly. “Hey!”
He set her down on her feet again, smiling as he kissed her cheek. “Can we listen to Watermelon Sugar again?” he asked as he wandered to stand in front of her. “Please, please, please ?”
She kissed his cheek before pointing towards the passenger’s seat. “In the car, kitten.”
“Yes, Daddy.” He kissed her lips before climbing into the truck. “Milkshakes!” he gasped excitedly.
“Yes, kitty,” Betty breathed as she followed him inside. She turned the ignition as he took a sip, watching her as she turned back to him.
“So-“ He interrupted himself with a shout when she slid her freezing cold hands inside his leather jacket, pressing against the soft fabric of his blue-gray dress shirt. “Holy fuck, your hands are cold.” He set his hands on her shoulders as the cold air blowing on them slowly warmed.
Betty hummed, inching closer as she leaned forward to kiss him. “Well,” she breathed between kisses. “Guess we’ll just have to head home, so you can warm me up.”
A sweet, breathy laugh escaped him as he nodded. “Can we go home then?”
She nodded, sighing heavily before pulling away. “Yeah, we should.”
He set their milkshakes in the cupholder before he reached out for her phone. “ Watermelon Sugar ?”
“Anything you want, kitty,” she breathed before pecking his lips before buckling in. “Put on your seat belt.”
He nodded, following her instructions before his hand settled on her thigh. As he settled back in his seat, watching the snow fall along the quiet Vermont roads, he hummed along to the song. His eyes closed as he laid his head on her shoulder, the song fading into one of Betty’s favourites; I Wish I Was The Moon by Neil Case.
Betty hummed to herself as Jughead inched closer.
“‘Cuz I’ll be the one,” Jughead sang along under his breath. A yawn escaped him as they passed through town. “Daddy?”
“Yes?”
“Are we almost home?”
She nodded. “Just a few minutes.”
“Okay,” he whispered, letting out a heavy sigh. “I may fall asleep when we get home.”
“That’s alright. We’ll get you out of your clothes and your ropes and into something cozy.”
He nodded as another yawn slipped from his lips. “I love you.”
“I love you, too,” she breathed, smiling to herself when her practically purred as he moved closer. Betty's fingers threaded through Jughead's, the solid metal of the band on his ring finger digging into her skin.
Not that she minded.
Vermont hadn't been the adventure she had anticipated, but it had turned into one she wouldn't trade for the world.