No one ever told me that love would hurt so much

Chapter 16

♾️ Jughead ♾️

But after, I was completely out of it. The twins had their usual noon nap but just then, Betty asked if I could make her some lunch. Now I've been up for two days with barely any sleep, a sick wife and two seven months old (one of those two also sick). At some point, I just didn't sit down anymore, too afraid that I would fall asleep right away.

I went to work with the twins. Betty was knocked out with some sleeping pills against her headache and I didn't want to leave them alone at home. They were sleeping anyways. I just didn't want to risk anything happening to them.

I put them in the back of the hallway leading to the kitchen and changing rooms.

"Are these your children?" Ben asked. We were having another night shift together.

"Uh, yeah. My- My wife is sick, so I couldn't leave them alone. But don't worry, they should sleep through the whole night"

"They look cute"

"All from their mother" I smiled softly before excusing myself to go change into my working clothes. Thankfully the twins weren't a problem. I could barely keep my eyes open though. Multiple times, I must have fallen asleep. Ben just woke me up whenever someone was approaching the diner or when he needed help with something. He has only worked here for a couple of weeks, so he still needed me to find certain things.

By seven, when my shift ended, it was hard to even walk straight. Ben made me call someone and since Betty was sick, I turned to Archie. Thankfully he was in Riverdale right now and didn't have to go to college. He just barely got up though, so I still had to wait a bit. Myles was awake by then, having his usual round of crying ever since he started the fever. It seemed better today though, with what I could tell with my lips.

"You know, you look dead" Archie said as a greeting. I huffed, continuing to sway Myles to keep him calm. Thankfully Emilia was quiet. Ben had watched her a few minutes after his shift ended, though then went home.

"Thanks" I replied. I couldn't put Myles down because as soon as I did, he immediately started blaring, so I asked Archie to take Emilia instead. He fixed her in the buggy before we walked over to the car. I instructed him how to put in the car seat before sitting down in the backseat, so that I could hold onto Myles the whole drive.

I had fallen asleep as soon as the car drove off though.

Archie shook me awake once he had parked.

"Should I worry?" I shook my head.

"No, I'm fine, just tired. Haven't gotten much sleep. Betty and Myles are sick" I explained, shrugging.

"Do you need help taking care of them? I'm free until Monday" Archie offered. I shook my head before getting out of the car. Archie got out the buggy and helped to carry Emilia inside with me.

"I mean, we've hardly seen you four. I'm sure that Veronica would love to take care of the twins for a weekend"

"You've never had them alone. I don't think that I feel comfortable with that yet. They've always been with one of us"

"So come with us. You and Betty could both sleep in the guest room, if you are comfortable with that" I smiled sheepishly.

"We've been sharing our bed for a while now"

"Really?" I hummed "Even better. Come to us, Jug, please. You need some sleep"

I did. I really needed some sleep. I felt like I could sleep for two days if I closed my eyes right now. I didn't want to be a burden though. Veronica's words still stuck with me: Archie wasn't only there for me.