Consequences

Chapter 13

"Mom!"

"Mom!"

"Daddy!"

"Archie!"

Jughead woke with a start. The cries were so chilling and heartbreaking that it chilled him to the bone.

Had he dreamed the cries? He was still in a daze and uncertain until a sob came from the other side of the room.

"Veronica, wake up," Jughead whispered as he shook her awake gently. "Wake up."

Veronica, with tear-stained cheeks and trembling hands, slowly opened her eyes. "...Jug?"

She sat up, trying to calm down. Once she realised what had happened, she embarrasedly put her head in her hands. "Dios." She tried to bolt out of the room but Jughead stopped her.

He had never seen Veronica like this. Everyday,  she would look perfect and confident, as if she had the whole world in her hands. Even when she was being sarcastic or angry, she would have the air of a regal queen. But this... Jughead had never once seen Veronica so broken and vulnerable. Sure, he had seen Veronica scared and uncertain when Cheryl nearly died and when she consulted him about trusting her father. However, those two incidents were nowhere close to this state.

"Jughead, please, let me go," Veronica pleaded, attempting to break free of his grasp on her arm.

"Not until you're okay," Jughead wrapped her in his arms. He could feel her shivering and trying hard to gain control of her breathing.

After a few minutes, Veronica had calmed down and fallen asleep in Jughead's arms.

Jughead stared at her sleeping face. Bare faced Veronica did not look peaceful even when she was asleep. She had a slight frown and tensed body, as if she had all the weight of the world on her shoulders.

At that moment, Jughead realised she had no one. Her parents had betrayed her, her boyfriend had left her, her best friend despised her. She had no family or friends. Well, she had Toni and Cheryl, but he didn't think that they were close enough to be sharing deep feelings and fears. All Veronica had was...him.

Veronica and him had moved on from their frenemy relationship to a closer friendship during the war. Somehow, Betty and Archie had often disagreed with Jughead's measures, while Veronica had supported him all the way. He had viewed her in a different light until the accusations of her being a spy came. Ever since, he had been mad at her and had not treated her particularly well. He felt ever so guilty as he held such a small, precious bean in his arms.

Then, he came to another realisation. Jughead Jones did not have many people in his life either. Sure, he was the 'King', but a king was often lonely. There were not many people he would trust thoroughly, and that was his dad, Toni and ... Veronica. Cheryl, Fangs and Sweet Pea were people that he would trust, but they were sometimes too irrational and they weren't as close as the aforementioned.

And Jughead was scared as he held on to the sleeping angel as if his life depended on it.