The Other Queen - Book 5 (Riverdale Season 5)

The Pussycats - Part 3

"Toni, how overdue are you?" Veronica asked as Fangs helped Toni sit down as they waited for Josie and the Pussycats to perform.

"A week," she sighed, "but I thought it would be good for the baby to see the Cats live. Plus, I wouldn't miss this."

"I gotta go," Aminity said. "We're about to start."

"Break a leg, Princess," Sweet Pea smiled, giving her a short kiss before she walked over to the light board and started the show.

The crowd cheered as the song ended.

"Let's give it up for Valerie Brown and Melody Valentine!" Josie said and the crowd cheered louder. "Listen, I've played a lot of venues. The Sydney Opera House, Dodger Stadium, the Apollo." She laughed with a smile. "But there is no better spot to play music than here. Riverdale nourishes artists like myself and Valerie and Melody, and heck, even Jughead Jones." Jughead smiled and raised his milkshake to her. "So, this next song is something my dad wanted to hear me perform." She brought over a stool to center stage. "It's originally sung by one of his favorite artists, Nina Simone. This is for him."

"Toni?" Josie asked, noticing her wincing in the audience.

"I'm sorry, Josie. I think I'm having my baby."

"Oh, crap. Um, okay. Uh, is- is there a doctor in the house?"

"I'm a doctor," Dr. Curdle Jr. raised his hand.

"Wrong kind," Aminity said as she rushed over to Toni.

"I can do it," Fangs said. "We prepared for a home birth. I just need another pair of hands."

"I'll do it," Cheryl offered, quickly standing.

"Let's go," Fangs nodded.

"We should have enough time to get her back to the apartment," Aminity said as Fangs and Sweet Pea helped Toni up.

***

Sweet Pea waited in the downstairs lobby of their building with everyone else as Fangs, Aminity, and Cheryl helped Toni upstairs. After a long wait, Aminity made her way downstairs and everyone eagerly gathered around her.

"Well?" Kevin asked anxiously.

"It's a healthy baby boy," Aminity smiled. Kevin let out a sigh of relief as everyone around them awed. "And Toni is doing great."

"Finally some good news in this crazy town," Kevin smiled and Archie patted him on the shoulder. Aminity went over to Sweet Pea, smiling as they watched everyone's excitement over the baby.

"You know, this could be for us one day," Sweet Pea said and she looked up at him in shock. "It's not a terrible plan."

"No. It's not," she smiled and he wrapped his arms around her.

***

"Not gonna lie, Josie, we were kinda hoping you'd stay and be Riverdale High's new music teacher," Kevin said as they all gathered outside of Pop's to send off Josie, Valerie, and Melody.

She laughed. "My destiny lies elsewhere."

"Have a great tour, Josie," Veronica told her. "And I'm gonna call you, okay? And I'm gonna live vicariously through you."

"Deal. But you guys should come out and see me sometime."

"We will, one hundred percent, Josie," Betty nodded.

"Especially if we can get backstage passes," Tabitha added.

"Uh, hell yes, you can."

"Look who came to say bye," Toni smiled as she walked over, her son in her arms.

"Oh my God," Josie smiled, walking over and looking at the baby. "What is this cutie-patootie's name?"

"Tony," Fangs shared.

"Anthony," Toni shared his full name. "After my grandfather."

"Congratulations again, Toni, Fangs, Kevin. He's really beautiful." They said their goodbyes and the others went to meet Anthony.

"You know, we could use a lighting designer to travel with us," Josie said as she walked over to Aminity and Sweet Pea. "And a roadie or bus driver." Sweet Pea chuckled.

"As fun as that sounds," Aminity glanced between Sweet Pea and Josie, "my place is here. Your concert did a lot, but there's so much work left to do." Josie nodded.

"And my place is with her," Sweet Pea said, putting his hands on Aminity's shoulders and kissing her head. Josie nodded with a smile before getting onto the bus. It started to drive away and they all waved as Josie, Valerie, and Melody waved from inside.