The next morning...
Jughead POV:
Her toes began to wiggle against mine, her chest heaving heavier and her arms strangling my chest tighter as she began to pull herself awake. My hand, already embedded in her hair, began to massage her head to ease her back while I remained over-concentrated, letting out a yawn.
"Good morning, Jug.", she whispered, kissing my neck lightly, not lingering for more than a moment.
"You sleep okay?", she asked.
"Mhm.", I mumbled back.
She released a sigh, her fingers now taking up the task of caressing my cheek.
"You didn't sleep at all, did you?".
"How can I, Betts?", I asked, part of me hoping she would have an answer despite the fact that the question was meant to be taken as rhetorical.
"How am I supposed to sleep when there's a potential threat to our safety?".
"You've been up all night just listening for anything, am I right?".
"Maybe.".
"And did you?".
"No. No, I didn't hear anything.", I avowed.
"See? We're fine. The rain stopped before we... I fell asleep, and then the noises stopped. You and Ashton both need to be less paranoid. Come on, the kids have school.". She tilted my face towards hers with her hand, smiling brightly before she kissed me. She bit my bottom lip, compelling a quiet groan from me as I pulled her on top of me before she abruptly pulled away.
"Nuh-uh.", she scolded teasingly. "Kids. School. Let's go. We can always fool around later.".
"Damn. You never get tired of it, do you?".
"With you as my husband?", she giggled. "Never.".
~~
"So, Ash, your birthday is sneaking up on us!".
Betty winked at me from the passenger seat while Trinity still sulked silently in the back row. She didn't like that Betty borrowed her usual spot in the car on the way to school.
"What do you want to do for your party, honey bunny?", she asked.
"I don't want a party this year, Mama.", he stated firmly, not a waver to be found in his voice.
"Come again?", Betty replied, seemingly worried.
"I don't have any friends. All of the kids at school call me the 'wiggly freak'. I think it's because I bounce my leg sometimes.", he explained unashamedly. "But that's okay. I'd much rather spend my birthday with the people who matter.".
My right hand quickly began to lose circulation as Betty's gripped it tightly, her sniffles becoming audible.
"Oh, Betts, don't cry.", I pleaded. "It's okay! Why are you crying?".
"I-I didn't mean to make Mama cry, Daddy. I-I'm sorry!".
"No! No, Ash. It's o-okay.", Betty told him, now reaching back to hold his hand.
"I-I'm just happy crying because I'm so proud of you. I love you so much.".
"Uh... I hate to ruin the moment, but Dad just pulled in, Mom.", Lola said apologetically, kissing both mine and Betty's cheeks briskly before she stumbled out of the car, Trinity doing the same while she waved a silent goodbye.
With Ash being the only kid in the car, and with only moments to spare, Betty and I pulled him into a tight, awkwardly positioned hug. Nevertheless, it was still just as valid as any other, and visibly just as comforting to him.
"Alright, Ash. You go kick some ass, okay? Be my brave boy.". I patted his shoulder as Betty began to scold me for my language, Ash skipping out of the car while he laughed all the way up to the door.
"It worked. He's happy going in. Wasn't that the goal?", I asked with a grin.
"I think my motherly sweet talk was enough.".
"Oh... Yeah, it definitely was.", I confirmed.
"I just felt like slipping a little something into that conversation, too.".
"You ass!". Betty slapped my shoulder.
"Oh my. What happened to watching our language?".
"Asshat.", she whispered. I could see her biting her lip as she smirked in the reflection of the window on her car door.
"Let's get on home. We have some... party planning to do, Juggie.".
