Resilience | Sweet Pea.

27 - Feliz Navidad.

Christmas Eve rolls around. It'd been barely days since everything happened with Penny, Jughead and I had hesitantly considered that a win for the moment for the sake of our sanities. It'd also been a few days since Archie and Betty's fiasco with the Black Hood. Everything feels so... Out of sorts, like none of it really happened, like a bad dream.

I sit at home with Fred and Archie. I sit at the kitchen counter, my nose buried in a book, which didn't happen so often anymore. Archie is watching his oven pizza cook while Fred makes a coffee.

"So, Nova." Fred asks, I look up from my book to pay attention. "Have you heard from Sweet pea?"

"Yeah, he called me this morning so I could catch him up on everything. He's helping Fangs with some stuff, then he's going with Toni to deliver the presents to Toys for Tots." I inform him.

"What's he doing for Christmas?" He asks.

"I was actually going to ask if we could have him over for Christmas dinner?" I ask.

"Of course you can invite him over." Fred says.

"Wait... So he's not doing anything at all?" Archie asks.

"No, I don't think so." I sigh. "It's his first Christmas without his parents."

"Why isn't he spending Christmas with his family?" Fred asks.

"He uh... Well, he doesn't know what happened to his Mom. And well... His dad is just... not a great guy." I sigh, trying to not tell them too much, as I know Sweet pea's quite sensitive about it.

"Well why don't we do one better than dinner, then? I'll go out and get a few extra things, and you call him up and get him over here. He can spend Christmas with us!" Fred enthuses.

"Really?!" I ask.

"Archie?" Fred asks.

"Yeah. I don't see why not." Archie says.

"Aw... Guys..." I say, holding my hand to my chest.

"Call him." Fred smiles at me.

I pull my phone from my pocket, walking into the hallway to dial Sweet pea's number.

"Hey, babe. What's up?" Sweet pea answers. "I can't talk long, I'm just about to leave Fangs' place to meet Toni"

"I have a question for you." I tell him.

"Shoot."

"I was talking to Fred and Archie and we wanted to know if you wanted to come over when you're done... And spend Christmas with us?" I ask

"Wait, what?" He asks. "Really?"

"Really. It was even Fred's idea." I say joyfully.

"I dunno babe are you sure it's okay?" Sweet pea hums.

"I don't think Fred would've offered if he didn't want you to-"

Fred takes the phone from my hands.

"Sweet pea, it's Fred." Fred greets. "I'm going to the store, and I'm hoping you'll be here when I get back? Good. See you in a bit."

Fred smiles at me as he hands me back the phone.

"So... I'll see you in a bit?" I ask.

"I'll just help Toni with the delivery, grab my stuff and then I'll be over." Sweet pea laughs, he sounds happy which plasters a grin on my face.

"Sounds good." I say.

"Okay, I'll see you soon. I love you." He says.

"I love you too, bye." I say, ending the phone call.