Riverdale: Betty X Jughead

Chapter 10: Truth

Jughead's POV:

We all gather in the living room for the game. I know this is probably a bad idea, but I have a few things I'd like answered after all this time.
  "Who wants to go first?" Veronica asks.  "No one? Alright, I will... Betty, truth or dare?"
  Betty bites her lip.  "Truth..."
  Veronica smirks.  "You never told me... Who was your first kiss?"
  Betty blushes.  "I... You'll judge me..."
  "Will not! Unless it was Chuck, then I might judge you..."
  "It wasn't Chuck, Ronnie..." She takes a deep breath.  "It was Jughead."
  I face her quickly.  "Wait, really?"
  "You married your first kiss??" Veronica squeals.  "How cute!!!"
  She looks down and smiles softly.  "I had never liked anyone enough until Juggie..."
  I smile softly and pull her close.  "I love you..."
  "I love you too," she whispers.  "Alright, my turn..." She leans on me.  "Archie.  Truth or Dare?"
  "Dare," he says quickly.
  "Damn, I'm no good at coming up with dares...  Um... Okay.  I dare you to-" I get cut off by Veronica's phone beeping.
"B, don't kill me...." She says quickly.
"What did you do...?" I ask hesitantly.
"I may have told Cheryl I was coming to see you... She may have told Polly... And they may both be here in the city looking for us."
  "Veronica!" I sit up quickly. 
  "You can't be serious," Jughead says. 
  "I'm sorry! I just mentioned it to Cheryl... I didn't think she'd even care... I can tell them to go back to Riverdale if you want..."
  I sigh.  "No... I think it's been long enough... You can give them our address."
  "Betty-" Jughead starts to stop me.
  "No, Juggie... I think it's time..." I take his hand tight.
  He sighs but doesn't argue.
  Ten minutes later, there's a knock at our door.
Jughead opens it but Polly pushes past him and runs straight into my arms.
The sight of her brings me to tears and soon we are both sobbing and holding each other tight.
"I've missed you, Pols..." I whisper.
"I missed you too, Betty..." She sniffles. "Why did you leave...? I needed you..."
That breaks my heart. "I... I had to... I'll explain later, I don't want to make you more upset..." I lay my head on her shoulder.
"Well, I sure feel loved," says Cheryl sarcastically.
I laugh softly. "Sorry..." I go hug Cheryl.
Polly smirks. "I just realized that I almost bulldozed my sister's poor boyfriend... Sorry Jughead." She hugs him against his will.
When they part, he fixes his shirt and smiles a bit. "It's okay... And for future reference, I'm not her boyfriend... I'm her husband."
Polly grows really quiet.
"It's true..." I smile softly. I show her my ring and she covers her mouth.
"Oh Betty... I'm... I'm so happy for you! Both of you!" She pulls us both into a hug. "Congratulations, you love birds... I can't believe my little sister got married before I did." She laughs but I can tell it's a little sad.
"Hey, you beat me in the kid department..." I remind her with a smile.
"Just barely," Jughead mumbles. I elbow him.
Polly looks between us. "You... You have kids?"
"No! No... We don't have kids... Yet. But I am pregnant... I just found out today actually..." I smile a bit.
She covers her mouth. "Betty!"
I bite my lip. "Surprise?"
Before she can say anything, two little kids toddle in, looking like a mix of Cheryl and Polly... I know immediately these are Polly's twins.
"Betty, these are Polly's babies... They're about to be two," Cheryl says. "This is baby Jason, and this is baby Elizabeth. I personally thought she should've been named Cheryl, but Polly missed you, sooo...."
Jughead smiles and takes my hand. "Look at that, Betty... It's a little Betty."
   My eyes water yet again and I bury my face in his shirt.  "I can't cry anymore today... I'm being such a baby."
  Polly laughs a bit.  "You're pregnant. That's how it's supposed to be..."
  Juggie rubs my arm.  "Well I guess that's something for me to look forward to."  I rightfully smack him.
  "Bets, can I talk to you?" Polly pulls me off to the side.  "I'm so so happy for you... But I'm also a little worried you aren't prepared for this.  You haven't even spent time with kids..."  I'm about to interject, but she cuts me off.  "That's why I propose living with you.  I don't care where you and Jughead go, or even if you come live with me in Riverdale... I want me and the kids to live with you.  I can take care of you and pay half the rent so you guys won't have to work so hard... You'll get to spend time with my kids so you can learn how to handle them.  It's the perfect scenario."  She searches my face.
  I take a deep breath.  "That sounds amazing Polly. I'd love that... But I can't.  I've uprooted Juggie's life too much...  He barely likes spending time with friends, I can't imagine he'd be happy living with three other people."
  "Betty, you have a say in this too... It's your life."
  I shake my head.  "I'm not doing anything that he wouldn't be comfortable with... He left his whole life to move me here.  I owe him more than you know..."
  "Love isn't about owing... If you don't see that, then you're way less mature than I thought."
  I start to get upset.  "You talk a big game for someone who got herself pregnant in high school.  Where is Jason, Polly?  He's dead.  You didn't even date for that long... You know nothing about a healthy relationship."
  I can immediately tell that I've hurt her, and I try to backpedal, but it's too late.
  "Mom was right... You're as stubborn as you are stupid," she spits.  "And as for Jughead... I don't know what kind of spell he's got you under, but every since you started dating him you've changed, and none of us like it."
  "None of you like that I'm finally happy? For once in my life I am truly happy... I'm so much more confident now, and I'm not afraid of what you or anyone else thinks of me."
  I don't realize I've gotten so close to her until Jughead is gently pulling me back.  "Betty, let's cool down..."  He holds me in his arms.  "What was that about?"
  I stare at Polly over his shoulder. "That was our family finally telling the truth."