Riverdale: Betty X Jughead

Chapter 7: First comes love

Jughead's POV:

Betty and I live in a small apartment in the city, anonymous cogs in a much larger machine. Our life has never been better.
We eloped a few months ago, and it was honestly the greatest thing to ever happen to me.  I love her more than anything, and she's blossomed into the person she's always wanted to be.  Truth be told, so have I.
  I'm a good husband.  I take care of the person I love, and I never let her feel less than what she is: the love of my life.
  I wish she didn't have to work, but she does just to make ends meet.  She doesn't mind, though.  She works at a diner that looks like a reproduction of Pop's.  I think it comforts both of us, even if the milkshakes aren't quite as good, and it feels a little less like home.
  I work at a construction company for the money, but I also have my dream internship at the Publishing company.  I'm basically just the coffee boy right now, but Betty really hit it off with my Bosses and now they are considering publishing some of my writing.  It's a dream come true.

  Today I am working at the construction site.  It isn't my kind of work, but it pays well. Halfway through the day, I stop to take a lunch break. I'm sitting against the wall in the sun, eating my sandwich when someone walks up and interrupts the sunlight.
I shade my eyes and look up, expecting to see my boss or one of my co-workers. Instead, I nearly drop my sandwich at the sight of my father standing over me.
"Dad? Oh my god..." I stand up quickly. "Hi... What are you-" my voice catches when I see Archie and Veronica standing a little ways behind him. I can't help it, my eyes begin to water and I have to quickly wipe the tears away. "Arch..."
He takes a deep breath. "I can't believe you're alive..." He walks over and hugs me quickly.
"What are you guys doing here?" I ask.
"We graduated today... Your dad was there and told me he was coming to see you. We forced him to take us with..."
I laugh a bit. "Wow... Congrats on graduating. I can't believe it... God, Betty is going to be so excited to see you all... I'm going to tell my boss I have to leave early so we can go surprise her..."  I start walking ahead of them to the office when I notice Betty in her diner uniform, running as fast as she can toward me.  I'm startled and a little worried.
  "Bets?  What's wrong?"
  She's out of breath when she tackles me in a hug.  "Juggie, I have news... Really, really exciting news..."  She is about to tell me but she catches sight of everyone else and stops dead in her tracks.  She covers her mouth as tears fall down her face.  She can't seem to form words, so Veronica is the first to make a move.
  "Betty Cooper, aren't you just adorable in your uniform!!" She squeals.  The girls hug and it's like all is right in the world.  "So 'working girl chic'."
  Betty laughs.  "And look at you... Still ever the heiress, I see." Betty plays with the pearls around her neck.
  Betty releases her and hugs Archie.  "Hey Arch... I've missed you."
  He seems at a loss for words, so he just hugs her back.
  Veronica gasps when the sunlight catches Betty's ring.  "Betty Cooper, is that an engagement ring?!"
  I smirk.  "Wedding ring actually..."
  "You got married without me??!"
  "Eloped," Betty clarifies with a smile.  "You didn't miss a party, don't worry."
  My dad looks between us.  "You two eloped...?"
  "Yes..." Betty says hesitantly.  "We didn't see a point to waiting any longer... We knew it would happen eventually..."
  My dad smiles a bit.  "Well, I'm glad Jughead married you... He could do a whole lot worse than a saint like yourself.  C'mere."  He hugs Betty and she laughs.  Her smile is brighter ban before and she hugs him back tight.  It means a lot to me that she seeks his approval so much, and even more that he's so fond of her.
  When they finally let go, my dad looks down at her with a smile.  "Oh, what was your good news for Jughead? We won't listen if you don't want..." He smirks.
  She laughs, but it seems a bit nervous.  "You can hear..." She bites her lip and walks over to me.  She takes my hands in hers and searches my eyes.
  "Juggie, I'm pregnant."