Always and Forever

Chapter 45: The Stranger

On Wednesday morning I decided to spend it with Fred since I haven't in a while. I was now pouring coffee for him as the front door opened and a familiar dog ran inside. 

"Vegas?" Fred greeted as the dog ran to him, I looked and Archie was standing in the house, the sun shining on him, His hair wasn't his normal carrot top color. 

"Archie..." I breathed happily, I ran to him, he dropped his bag and we embraced each other in a hug. "You're home." We have finally been reunited, haven't seen each other since the night that Archie got rescued from the juvie. 

"Hey Dani," Archie greeted, he then let out a hiss of pain. 

"What? What's wrong son?" Fred asked as I pulled back, I had happy tears in my eyes. 

"It's a long story," Archie answered as he touched his chest. 

"Would you like some orange juice with that story?" I asked. 

"Yeah," Archie agreed with a small smile. For the first time in months, the three of us sat around the table eating breakfast as normal, Fred and I gave Vegas food from our plate. Archie told us his story from being out in Canada and the bear attack. "I don't remember the rangers finding me. I woke up in the hospital knowing that...I couldn't keep running. It was time to come home, back to a normal life, if that's even possible." 

"What about Hiram?" Fred asked. 

"I survived a bear attack, Dad," Archie reminded us. "I can't live my life in fear of when he might come after me anymore. To be honest I'm more worried about him gunning for you and Dani."

"I survived the Black Hood," Dad reminded him. "Twice. Hiram doesn't scare me." 

"He doesn't scare me wither, Arch," I said. "I survived the Ghoulies."

"He's not the only one in towns with friends," Fred stated. "What about Veronica? You reach out to her?" Archie and I glanced at each other, but we both knew what he had to do. He left and I went to play with Vegan, I love my dog and missed him so much. 

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After Archie reunited with Veronica, Archie Jughead, Veronica, Betty, and I all sat in a booth at Pops. I sat next to Archie and across from Jughead. Pops came to us with our drinks. 

"Two chocolate, one strawberry, one vanilla, and a root beer float for Archie," Pops said as he put the drinks down. "Welcome home, son." 

"Thanks, Pops," Archie said.

Since when do you drink root beer floats?" Betty asked as she gave her card to Pops.

"I'm guessing, I'm just not in the mood for a strawberry milkshake," Archie answered. 

"New drink, new hair," Jughead listed. "New haunted vacant loon in the eyes--"

"Guys," Veronica cut him off. "Archie just lived through The Revenant. Let him order what he wants." 

"So what'd I miss when I was gone?" Archie asked us and we all glanced at each other. 

"Well, thanks to the town quarantine orchestrated by my father, Pops was shut down and just reopened," Veronica explained. "And he's also been attacking shipments to the speakeasy. But thankfully, I've hired the Serpents as my full-time protection, and that service extends to you, Archie." 

"You don't have to worry about Hiram's gonna come after you or Fred," I said. 

"You won't be able to see 'em but I have guys watching you 24/7. And we have a possible lead that could diffuse this threat permanently." Jughead said as he and I nodded at each other.