Riverdale One-Shots

Home for Christmas?-Bughead

A/N: Betty is in the military and she has been away for months on end, she and Jughead have a kid and is thinking about another one. Jughead hasn't heard from Betty in 4 months. Is she gone or is she coming home this Christmas?

Another sleepless night without knowing if she is alive. Without knowing if she is coming home for the holidays. The last time I got to get in contact was when we were on Skype and then there was an explosion and everything went black; the last thing I saw was her smiling and then that was shortly taken away from me. How do I tell everyone? Hell, how do I tell our 7 year old that his mommy died and he will never see her again. I have just today before Christmas and if she is not home then I have to tell everyone the news but for now I have to plaster on a fake smile and get things ready for an amazing Christmas.

I get out of bed and went to the bathroom to wash my face. Once I was done drying my face with a little towel, I looked at the mirror to see a broken shell of a human. I look to my left. Empty. It has been a while since Betty was right next to me to get ready every morning. I just sigh and go to wake up ou...my son. I walk down the hall to his room. I walk in to see him finishing adjusting his bow tie in the mirror next to his wardrobe. "Hey little man how are you today?" I say with a joyful tone in my voice.

"I'm good daddy." He turns around to face me. "How does it look?" He points to his bow tie, half was up and half was down. I chuckle and straighten the bow tie. "Perfect, now you are ready to conquer the world with your bow tie." I say to him while kissing him on the head. "Now come on let's go downstairs and I'll cook breakfast while you write a list for Santa." I tell him while I mess his curly blonde hair up even more. "All right  daddy." He says to me in reply as he runs down the stairs, I still continue to smile at my little bundle of joy. I make my way down the stairs to see him running around for a pen and paper. I still smile as I make my way to the kitchen to start on my famous blueberry pancakes with a little side of scrambled eggs. I got on my apron and started to turn on the stove.

After just flipping the last pancake I heard the door bell ring. "I'll get it." Said Beckett, my son running to the door. I heard the door open and heard footsteps. As I turn off the stove, I turn to see my father with Alice with Beckett on her shoulders. "Hey son, man are those your famous blueberry pancakes?" My dad said with a big smile. "Yes dad they are and lucky for you I made plenty for all of us." I told them as I got my apron off to hug him. "I missed those years, I remember when you almost set the kitchen on fire when you were six." My dad told me as he got a plate and started taking a few pancakes. Alice and Beckett trailed behind him with their plates, today was going to be a busy day.

As we ate we talked and talked about what has happened since we last saw each other until Alice broke the conversation. "I had to break this chat but we need to get this tree up and running or we won't sleep until midnight." We all laugh as soon as she said that and I sipped the last sip of my hot chocolate and grabbed the dishes to wash them. Alice and Beckett went up to get the tree from the attic while my father stayed to help with the dishes.

"So how's Betty and what's the story?" He asked drying the 2nd to last dish. "She is doing well, I just talked to her last night actually." I lied.

"Damn it Forsythe Pendleton Jones III!" He screamed while throwing the rag down. "I know that's a lie, I have raised you for 18 years and I can tell when you are lying. What is the truth my little boy?" He said to me almost in tears. I sigh and put my hands on both sides of the sink with my head down.

Silence fell upon us.

"Yo...u're right."

"Seeing you like this is killing me son, tell me."

"Betty and I lost contact 4 months ago and the last thing I saw was her smile." I said falling down in tears. He gave me the list Beckett gave him for Santa and what it said made me fall down to the floor sobbing.

It read...

"Dear Santa, I don't want any toys or bow ties this year, all I want is for my mommy to come home."

My dad rushed to my side and rubbed my shoulder to comfort me. "How can I tell him that his mommy is gone? How do I tell anyone the love of my life is gone just because of one stupid bomb that went off to take my angel away from me, it hurts dad, it hurts so much." I said it with every heart beat and every breath I had.

"Son, you just got to hope for the best, hope Beckett understands but for now on your secret is safe with me." He said and kissed my head.

"Daddy, come help us bring the tree down please." My son yelled from the stairs. I look at my dad. "Go, make sure this Christmas is the best that little boy ever has." My dad told me, wiping my tears away.

"Thank you dad." I told him and run up to help my son and Alice.

The last Christmas ornament was placed on the tree which was a picture of me, Betty and Beckett on Beckett's first Christmas. Christmas music in the background while Alice and my dad were chilling with some eggnog. The sun was down so I got a movie ready for the night to end, I put in the movie Elf and sat back with Beckett and hit play. My dad and Alice left in the middle of the movie so they could go home before my mom and Polly could worry about where they went. In the middle of the movie Beckett asked me a question I'll never forget.

"Daddy, is it lonely without Mommy?"

"Why is that honey?"

"I heard you cry and toss and turn last night but don't worry Santa will make her come home this Christmas."

"I hope so buddy, I really do." I said before I fell asleep on the sofa.

"Daddy wake up!" My son told me while shaking me. I get up to see a Christmas miracle, gifts were all over the place, the stockings where filled to the rim and the cookies were gone.

"Santa came!" He said filled with joy. My dad came in from the kitchen with two cups of coffee, handing me one. "Thank you so much." I whispered to him. "You're welcome." He said to me while we clink cups together while Beckett was opening his first present.

After Beckett opened his last gift he found a little envelope under the tree addressed to me. "Daddy, here's your present." He handed it to me. I opened the envelope and there was a piece of paper that said 'open the front door'. I got up and opened the door to see the best thing I will ever receive in my life.

My missing wife on my door step with roses in her uniform, unharmed.

"Mommy!" Beckett said running up and hugging her. "Hey my baby boy." She said to him, I was still in shock. She put Beckett down and went up to me and wrapped her arms around me. "Missed me?" She asked me.

I shed a tear and smiled, a real smile. "You have no idea." I looked up to stop the tears but saw mistletoe above us. I look into her eyes and then the next thing you know I felt her lips on mine, man I missed this for 10 months and now it's here, forever.