One step at a time

Chapter 16

Betty held her dad close to her, not sure when she was going to see him again.

"I'll miss you, dad." she whispered into his ear as he held her just as hard.

"I'll miss you too, sweetheart. I'll come and visit soon." he promised.

"You definitely should. It would give you and Atticus a chance to meet." Jughead said, wrapping his arm around her waist when the father and daughter let go.

"I would live that, Jughead. I'll see you guys soon." he waved as the couple got in the car. When Betty got in the driver's seat, she opened the window so that she could speak to her dad.

"Make sure that you say goodbye to Pop for me! And give the twins a hug and a kiss from Auntie B! Love you!" she called as she pulled the car away from the house. She watched in the wing mirror until she couldn't see the waving figure anymore.

"I'm so glad that you invited me on this trip with you." Jughead said, rubbing his hand on her thigh as she continued to drive.

"It's not like I had much choice. You'd have been here whether I liked it or not." she giggled, flicking her eyes to his face momentarily.

"Well, it's like I said, you don't have to do these things alone anymore. You're stuck with me unless you tell me to fuck off." he chuckled. Betty smiled as she continued to drive.

"Which I would never do!" she exclaimed, horrified at his suggestion.

"You never know, babe." he shrugged. She shook her head at him, never imagining him putting her in a situation in which she could say that to him.

"Shut up." she muttered.

"You love me." he said. It was a statement, no longer a question. From the minute she told him she loved him too, he'd not questioned it.

"I do." she sighed. "I really do." she flickered her dazzling smile at him.

— — — — —

As Betty pulled into the driveway, she felt an excited flutter in her heart at the thought of seeing the little boy who shared his dad's features again. She pulled up the hand brake and unbuckled her seat belt as if she couldn't do it fast enough. Jughead chuckled at her eagerness and followed his girlfriend out of the car, not even bothering to collect their bags from the backseat. She bounced on the balls of her feet and beckoned him over hurriedly as she waited by the front door, wishing she'd taken his keys with her to unlock the door.

"Hurry!" she exclaimed, excited to get inside the house.

"Alright, alright!" he chuckled, moving to put a key in the door and twisting it until he heard a click as it unlocked, pushing the door open and allowing Betty through first.

"We're home!" Betty yelled, trying to gain the attention of her boyfriend's son. Jughead didn't think that he had ever felt more content in his life after hearing those two words coming out of Betty's mouth. The image of her continuing to refer to them as a unit as 'we'. He also hoped that one day this would truly be her home that she shared with himself and his son.

"Attie! Where are you?" Jughead shouted after, placing his jacket on a hook. He didn't have to go looking for his son, nor did his son have to reply as he heard the little pitter patter of tiny feet on the stairs.

"Dad! Betty!" the little boy yelled as he came bounding towards them from the bottom of the staircase, his curls bouncing everytime one of his feet hit the ground. He collided into Betty's legs within seconds, seeming to let his whole body go as he wrapped his arms around her thighs, clinging on for dear life. Betty chuckled at the boy's excitement, assuming that his Aunt had treated him to some candy, if his hyperactivity was anything to go by. She reached down and scooped him up by his armpits, lifting him to her chest, hugging him close. She groaned as she cuddled him as close as she possibly could.