The Forgotten Blossom | A Riverdale Story

Chapter 25: Christmas Eve

The best part of the next 3 hours was spent joking and laughing about goodness knows what. It wasn't long before the presents were stuffed back into the cupboards, now wrapped and the kids were home.

"Mom, Mr Jones we're home" Betty shouted opening the door, Archie, Veronica, Claire and Jughead followed.

"Hey kids" Alice said standing up from her chair at the table. Hermione gave Veronica and Claire a brief hug before returning to her fiancé.

"Did you have a nice time?" She asked.

"Yeah, I need to wrap your gifts though" Veronica said.

"Me too" Claire added.

"Let's go upstairs, I have wrapping paper" Betty said, walking to her room with Veronica and Betty.

"I'm going back to trailer to take a nap" Jughead said, throwing down his hard hat.

"Me too" Archie yawned, running his hand through his hair. "Bye" he said, leaving with Jughead.

"Bye then" Alice laughed "that didn't last long" The rest of the night flew by and eventually everyone got tired.

"We should go home love" Fred suggested.

"Good idea" Hermione stood up "Ronnie! We're leaving" She shouted upstairs. Veronica appeared at the top of the stairs with several gift bags in her hands.

"Okay" the girl said goodbye to her friends. "I'll see you tomorrow" The three put their coats on and waved goodbye as they left the house. Hermione linked her arm with Fred's as they walked down the snowy path. Veronica walked behind, gift bags still in her hand's, she wobbled slightly on the frosted over ground. Once they were inside the house Veronica ran upstairs to put the presents in her wardrobe.

"Oh look" Fred pointed up before pulling Hermione towards him by the lapel of her jacket. Their lips were pushed together before Hermione could tell what was going on. On the quick glance she got she spotted a twig of mistletoe hung on the doorframe. She smiled into Fred's lips, her hands running through his hair. Veronica walked downstairs slowly, grimacing at the sight.

"Why am I always the one to witness this?" She said stomping back upstairs and slamming her door. Veronica didn't mind really but she didn't like to admit it. Fred and Hermione stopped for a minute and laughed before turning back and continuing. Fred picked Hermione up carried to the sofa. He put her down on the sofa slowly, took her jacket and shoes and put them in the hall. He pulled a blanket over the woman and went to sit down on the seat across. Hermione squirmed out of the blanket.

"What's wrong? I was going to put on a movie" Fred asked.

"I want to cuddle you" Hermione whined, pulling the man by the hand.

"I thought you were too warm" Fred said as Hermione dragged him the the couch.

"I'm too cold now" Hermione pushed Fred onto the couch and climbed on top of him. Her head rested on his chest, his arms around her waist.

"That's better, you're nice and warm" Hermione closed her eyes and breathed in Fred's warm scent. Fred put on National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, something that they would watch together every year in high school.

Next door, everyone was getting ready for bed. Claire was buzzing with excitement, she couldn't wait to spend her first Christmas with Alice and Fp.

Alice cuddled into Fp, she was exhausted but couldn't fall asleep. Betty was having difficulty too, she wanted to be spending the night with Jughead but wasn't allowed to see him until they could come to their senses and agree that it's wrong to date while their parents are married. She decided to text him and check if he's awake.

Betty: You awake?
Jughead: Yeah, what's up?
Betty: I'm sick of this house, I wanna run away
Jughead: With me?
Betty: Of course
Jughead: Wow, Betts...
Jughead: Idk, I can't leave my dad
Betty: Not even for me?
Betty: Sleep on it, goodnight xx
Jughead: Goodnight xx

Betty flipped her pillow and smiled at her phone. She thought about how perfect it would be to run away with Jughead, to get away from her mother. The wild thoughts helped her fall asleep.

It was 2:40 when Hermione was awoken by a nightmare. She quickly realised that she and Fred had fallen asleep on the sofa, the movie had ended and Veronica must've turned the tv off for them.

"Fred, Fred" Hermione shook her fiance until he woke up.

"Wha- what's wrong?" he rubbed his eyes and sat up, pulling Hermione into his lap.

"We fell asleep on the sofa" Hermione laughed quietly, leaning back into Fred's chest.

"Let's go to bed" Fred said as he stood up. To Hermione's surprise, he scooped her up and began walking upstairs.

"What? You don't think I can walk anymore?" she laughed, stroking Fred's beard playfully.

"I don't want you getting hurt" Fred explained, putting Hermione down to open their bedroom door.

"You're such a nerd" Hermione laughed. They got changed and into bed, snuggling close together together to keep warm.

A/N

Do you think Betty and Jughead will run away? Also take note of Hermione's nightmares, they might come in to play later on...