A Collection Of Varchie One-Shots.

{4} One Last Call

A/N: This one-shot is really sad so be prepared. Also, this isn't written by me, I was reading a fanfiction and this came up and I loved it. All I did was switch the names so all credit to the owner. Again this is when both Archie and Veronica are older and married. And Archie is in the police force. Oh Also a very important thing to remeber, in this story Betty and Archie are brother and sister.

Archie grounded his teeth together, his whole body tensing as he worked hard not to scream. He pressed one hand to the middle of his chest and watched in the dim light as red seeped between his fingers, warm and sticky. There was too much blood. He wouldn't survive much longer if he didn't get help.

And I won't, he thought helplessly. He'd gotten shot while undercover, and the agency had warned him countless times they couldn't do anything if he was in danger. Archie was on his own.

Shaking, he fumbled in his pocket for his disposable phone and turned it on. Logically he knew he should call 911, get to a hospital, and make up a story, but he also knew logically that it would be hard to explain why he'd been shot in the chest with his badge in his pocket. Also, he'd never make it to the hospital on time. He had minutes, maybe even seconds.

So instead of dialing 911, he typed in a more familiar number and brought it to his ear as it started to ring. He worked on managing his breathing with each ring, but it was getting harder as he got weaker and the reality of the situation set its full weight on his shoulders.

Come on, please pick up, please, he silently pleaded. He just had to hear her voice, that was all he needed. He needed to know she was okay, she was safe, she was happy. But the last ring sounded in his ears and he heard a robotic voice say, You have reached the voicemail of Veronica Lodge-Andrews. Please leave a message after the beep.

He blinked hard, wanting nothing more than to break down but also knowing he needed to give Veronica one last memory of him. "It's me," he said, nearly choking on the words. "It's Archie, I just wanted to—"

Suddenly there was a noise on the other end of the line and he heard a voice— her voice. "Archie? Hey, sorry, I didn't recognize the number."

He glanced upwards for a moment, a silent thank you, and said: "Hey, Ronnie."

"Is something up? You sound awful." He could almost see her face, her eyebrows scrunched up as she tried to see right through him and dig out the problem. Which she could do, most of the time. But not over the phone, and he was grateful because he didn't want her to know what was wrong right now.

"It's just been a long day out in the field. You know the kind." Knowing she wouldn't be convinced he tried to change the subject. "How was your day?"

"Unexciting, as usual. I went to the store and bought some ice cream—just to feel like an adult, obviously, because I know we have more ice cream then we need already need." Despite everything, Archie managed a small laugh. "We can never have enough ice cream."

"Fair enough," she said, and he could tell she was smiling. His heart ached, remembering that smile. Remembering how her face would light up as her lips turned upwards, how getting a flash of teeth from her made him feel like he'd won some grand medal. How she would keep that smile even as their lips touched, and she'd run her hands through his red hair and laugh, and he couldn't help but smile too because Veronica was infectious.

Archie's eyes stung. "How—how's Betty doing?"

"She's fine. Out on a date with Jughead again. They're really happy, you know Arch," Veronica said thoughtfully, fondness painting her tone a warm, gentle color. "I think they've been discussing getting married."

"Good thing we beat them to the punch," Archie joked, eliciting a slight laugh from Veronica.

"True, except they'll get the wedding that won't be chaotic since we can give them advice."

"Yeah, we will," Archie said, forcing his lips to turn upwards as he said it. He didn't know why he was faking a smile; she couldn't see it. Maybe he needed to pretend he was happy, too. And he was happy. He had a wonderful wife. A sweet sister, one who had finally found someone who would love her as much as she loved him. A freezer full of ice cream and a bed where he could guarantee Veronica's arms around him every night. He was happy. And that was precisely why, at this moment, every part of him felt so sad.

"What do you want to do tomorrow?" Veronica asked.

Archie dared dream. "Let's just stay at home. Watch a movie. Eat some of that mountain of ice cream you've created. Lie around"

She laughed "You do realize that's what we do every Sunday, Arch,"

"I know, I know," he murmured. His voice was getting weaker. There was no way he could hold out much longer; his body numb, the blood flowing out of him. His head spun. "But just one more time?"

Veronica sighed mockingly "Oh, alright. But if you're going to tell me its a lazy day, you know you won't get me out of bed until the afternoon."

"Maybe that's what I'm intending." He teased, but the words just hurt to say. What he wouldn't give to hold her one last time. What he wouldn't give to spend just one last day with the people he loved. But there was no point in dreaming anymore. He had to wrap up before it was too late.

"Ronnie."

The desperation in his voice must've caught Veronica because her voice sounded worried when she asked, "What is it? Arch? Are you okay?"

"I'm better now," he said, even as the first tear escaped. Better now that I know you're safe. Better now that I get to end my life the way I ended every night— thinking of you. "I love you, Veronica."

"I love you, too," she said, and she sounded so scared. He didn't want her to feel that way. He didn't want his brave Veronica to be afraid for him.

"Archie, please, what's wrong?"

"Nothing." He insisted, as strongly as he could. "Not anymore. Tell Betty and Jughead and the others hi for me, okay? I won't be home until late."

"O—okay. Just please come home safe, Archie. Come back home." In the end, she seemed to almost choke. She was clearly shaking, and he wished he could tell her the truth, but he couldn't bear it. Plus, his consciousness was sapping so quickly.

"Veronica," he gasped, and the tears were falling faster, and he couldn't think, couldn't breathe... "I wanted to say I'm sorry, for everything I've done."

"No, Archie Andrews, don't you apologize to me! You never need to do that with me. Just come back. Just tell me you're coming home."

"I love you so much, Ronnie," Archie said. And before he could do anything stupid, before he could ruin it, he hung up the phone.

There wasn't time to grieve all he had lost. As he fell onto his back and his eyes fell closed, he just hoped Veronica would be safe, that she and Betty and everyone else would band together and they would forgive him for leaving them. As he slipped away, he breathed one last prayer to the air, a wish only the stars would ever hear.

Us against the world...

*END*

OMG! So sad... Anyway, I hoped you guys enjoyed this chapter! If you have any feedback or requests just comment them. I love to hear what you guys have to say, plus requests help me update faster. Well then, until next time!

Xoxo ~ Mia