Refuge

Tiny Moments

The morning sickness starts just two days after she finds out, and it's just as miserable as she remembers. She does her best not to wake up Archie, but he follows her into the bathroom to try to comfort her as she brushes her teeth.

"Do you have a bug?" Archie ponders, rubbing his eyes to wake himself up.

"Something like that," Veronica nods.

It's not that she doesn't want to tell him, it's just that they're currently only planning on having two kids, so this will be her only chance to tell Archie she's pregnant- so she wants to make it special. Thankfully, her husband is a little bit clueless when it comes to these things.

"Mama," she can hear Charlie shout from the kitchen.

"Well," Veronica chuckles, kissing Archie's cheek. "Duty calls."

"Why don't we both drop her off at school?" Archie suggests, following her out of their room with his face buried in her shoulder, pressing kisses. "I'll drop you off at work."

"Is this a special occasion?" Veronica raises her eyebrow, meeting Charlotte with a big hug. The little girl almost immediately reached for Archie after hugging her Mom.

"Good morning Dad," Charlie smiles, knowing Archie is the one that will carry her around all morning. "Can you make me some cereal this morning?"

"Of course, princess," he kisses the side of her head, setting her down. "Ronnie do you want cereal?"

"I could really go for a blueberry muffin," Veronica tells him, scrolling through her emails while giving Charlotte a few snuggles.

"A muffin?" Archie chuckles at her odd request. "I can make pancakes, cereal, eggs..."

"Or you could take me to the coffee shop on the way to work to get me a blueberry muffin," Veronica gives her best puppy dog eyes.

"Okay, sure," Archie gives in, passing Charlie her bowl of captain crunch. "I could go for a coffee."

Charlie finishes breakfast quickly, and drags Veronica upstairs so she can get dressed in a dress and tights with her pink boots.

"Have Daddy help you put your coat on," Veronica reminds the little girl, running into her room to grab her purse, with the sonogram photo tucked safely inside.

"You ready?" Archie asks when she steps out into the garage, having her coat ready in his hands. He slips her coat over her shoulders, and walks her to the car to open her door.

"Such a gentleman, babe," Veronica smiles at him, pressing her nose to his.

"Just taking care of my girl," he pecks her forehead, before hopping in the car himself. "So Charlie bug, what is my big pre-k student going to do at school today?"

"We usually draw on Tuesdays because we have art!" she says excitedly. "But we won't get to have outside recess because of the snow."

"So you get to play inside today?" Veronica asks, smiling at her daughter's excitement. Moving here, Veronica's biggest worry was sending Charlie to "big kid school", but they all love Riverdale Elementary, and it makes Charlotte excited to know her dad went to her school.

"Yes, but I should have brought my baby doll so that I could play with her," Charlie whines. "Now I'm gonna have to share."

"It will be good for you to share Char," Veronica gently reminds her.

"Mommy is right, sweetheart," Archie turns to smile at their frowning girl. "You can play with the baby doll when we get home."

"Okay," Charlotte huffs, a grumpy look on her face.