Dreamers

41

B POV
I step through the door and have flashbacks of the last time I was here. I stumble back a little. "Mom?" I hear. "I'm fine." I say weakly. "What's wrong?" they ask. "I said I'm fine." I say quietly. I head to Jughead's room and set the bag down on a dresser. I close my eyes and take a few breaths.  "Betts." I hear. My eyes start to tear up, and wipe at them furiously. "Betty?" he opens the door. I feel a hand touch my shoulder and I flinch. "I'm fine." I whisper. He hugs me from behind, but I turn and cry into his neck. "Shhhh. It's ok. You're ok. Shhhhh. Calm down love." he whispers. I take in a few shuddery breaths and step back some. He holds my hips to steady me. I close my eyes and take in some more deep breaths. He rubs my sides and I step back. "Betty?" he says softly. "I'm fine." I whisper. "Mom?" I hear. I take more steps back, until I hit a wall.

S POV
I try step closer to her, but dad holds me back. I look back at him, and he shakes his head. I look at him confused. "Leave her alone. I don't want her to hurt you." he says softly. "Why would she hurt me?" I ask. "She doesn't know what she's doing when she gets like this. It's like she blacks out. Don't get to close." he says. She keeps whispering something. "Mommy?" I ask. Dad pulls me back, and I hide behind him.

J POV
"Stay back." I say. She nods and I step closer to Betty. "Betty?" I say softly. She slowly looks up at me. "Juggie." she says. She steps closer and hugs me tightly. "I'm sorry." she whispers. "It's ok. It's not your fault." I say softly.  She sobs into my chest and I hug her tightly. "You're ok. Shhhhh. It's ok love." I whisper. I feel Scarlett move closer, but she stops. I kiss Betty's head and she calms down. She takes a deep breath and slowly releases me. "Come here munchkin." she says. Scarlett walks closer and Betty hugs her. "I'm sorry you had to see that." she says softly. "I was worried about you." Scarlett says. "I'm fine really." Betty replies. I hear a whine at the door, and open the door. The dog runs in and Betty gasps. "You still have her?" she asks. "Yea." I say.

B POV
I get on my knees and say, "come here missy." She sees me and runs over. "Hi. Awe. I thought she wouldn't be alive this long. You know, after 13 years." I say. "She's pretty special." he says. "I remember the day I got her." I smile, but it falters. "I've missed out on so much." I say quietly. "You're catching up on the years now." Scarlett says. "It doesn't make up for the time I missed." I say. Scarlett kneels next to me and hugs me, and I rub her arm. "What do you want supper?" I ask. "Mac and cheese." she says, making me smile, "But I want it the way you make it." I nod and we stand. She hops on my back and jughead just laughs at us.

J POV
I turned around to grab something, but someone jumps on my back. I turn my head slightly and see Betty. "To the kitchen." she says. I shake my head and hang on to her as I walk to the kitchen. She hops down and gets everything together. "Can you teach me how to make it?" Scarlett asks.

B POV
"Of course munchkin." I say. We finished making the shells, and I see jughead trying to sneak food from the fridge. I throw flour at him. "You and your stomach." I grumble. "Did you really just throw flour at me?" he asks with a raised eyebrow. "So What if I did?" I reply. Scarlett puts the shells in the boiling water. "Be careful." I say. She nods and continues. "You know, the flour makes you look better." I say and he glares at me. "I must not look that bad." he says. "Can we not talk about that please. I'm gonna throw up." Scarlett says, adding a fake gag for effect. I laugh and almost fall to the floor. "Hilarious." he says sarcastically. 

S POV
I've never seen dad so happy, even though he is covered in flour. Mom adds her special cheese, and I stir it in. I rest my head on her shoulder. My head can reach her shoulder, and hers can reach just below dads chin. "Sleepy?" I hear. "No." I yawn, "I want to eat the Mac and cheese before I go to bed." "Tomorrow you get to sleep in, then we are going somewhere." Dad says. My head shot up from moms shoulder, and she looked at him curiously. "Where are we going?" I ask. "I'm going to take a shower, because somebody threw flour on me." he says turning to leave. "Supper is almost done, so don't be long." Mom says. "Will do Betts." he says.

B POV
I make Scarlett a bowl, and she goes to sit at the table. "I'll be back in a minute." I say and head to the bedroom. "Juggie." I say. "Shower." he replies. I walk in the bathroom, and say, "I told you not to take a long shower." I say. He pops his head out, and he has an arrogant grin on his face. "No. Nope. I am not getting the shower with you. I'm going to eat." I say and turn to leave. He picks me up, and carries me over to the shower. "Put me down!" I giggle. "Get in the shower with me." he says. "I want to eat. You go eat some Mac and cheese with us and then we can both get in the shower." I say. "Yes ma'am." he sets me down and kisses my lips.