Riverdale Preferences

#40 He Wins Over Your Parents

Archie:  Your parents had never been fond of Archie. Due to his past, his reputation as the "ladies man" hadn't slipped past them. Nothing he'd done through the almost year and a half that you've been together had been enough to prove that he's much more than some inaccurate reputation portrays him to be. You're at his house the afternoon that you get the call to say that your uncle had been in a motorcycle accident and is in the hospital. Naturally, he goes with you to the hospital to be with your family and see your uncle. After several hours, it's determined that your uncle will be able to head home within the next couple of days, but that he would need round-the-clock care for a few weeks until his injuries have subsided enough for him to be able to care for himself completely again. The relatives immediately dive into trying to figure out who can be with him when. "I'll obviously be there in the early mornings and evenings and overnight, but someone will have to be there with him when I'm at work," your aunt frets. Your mom, an overnight nurse at another hospital, says, "Well I can be with him during the days where I don't work back to back nights..." "That still leaves those few days though, and everyone else works during the day..." Your aunt states, beginning to bite at her thumb nail. "I have the next nine days off...I can be with him during the day then," Archie pipes up. Everyone turns to look at him. "You would do that?" your dad questions. "Of course," he says with a shrug as though it should be obvious. "And even once those nine days are up, I have a decent amount of days free, so I'm sure we could work it all out somehow." "You're a good man, Archie. Thank you," your dad compliments gratefully, and your mother gives an approving nod and smile. In that moment, you know there won't be a doubt in your parents' minds that Archie is more than some stupid reputation makes him out to be, and that he's there for you and your family whenever they may need him.

Jughead: "Oh my God!" your sister freaks out as she enters the room. "What's wrong?" you question, biting into a chip drenched in onion dip. "The clown that I hired to be here today just called to cancel. The party starts in ten minutes and now I have no entertainment for the kids," she wails dramatically. "Alright, so what? Is it really that big of a deal? I could run out and grab some art supplies and the kids could make crafts instead," you suggest. "Or play games. There are lots of fun ones that I remember playing when I was their age," Jughead adds on. "You don't understand - he had his heart set on a clown coming to his party. I promised my son a clown and now that stupid clown is gonna make a liar out of me!" she whispers harshly so as not to be overheard. "Do you have a clown costume around here somewhere? From Halloween or something?" Jughead asks. "I think so, why?" "Dig it out...he wants a clown, he's gonna get a clown," Jughead responds simply. About an hour later, after all the kids have had pizza and cake, and once you've had time to get a goofy clown face painted onto Jughead, he finally makes his grand appearance and the kids go nuts. Jughead hams it up, loving getting to act so goofily without people telling him to act his age and be more mature. Once his little show is done, you go with him into the bathroom to help him wash his face. You hear a light rapping on the door, followed by, "[Y/N]? Jughead? Can I come in for a second?" You open the door so your mother can join you. "Thank you, Jughead, for doing that for us. The kids really loved it." "Anytime. I had fun doing it. If I ever decide it's time for a career change, I think I know my second-calling," he jokes. Your mom actually cracks a smile at this, which is surprising since she's always nagging you about needing to find someone more grown up. "Actually, that's the main reason I wanted to talk to you. I wanted to apologize to you both for always making such a big deal over your sense of humor and approach to life. Turns out, that's exactly what we needed today and I'm glad you were the one to help us out with that," she sincerely tells Jughead. You just smile and nod, knowing that from here on out, she'll finally accept Jughead as he is.

Kevin: Upon your parents' request, Kevin had stayed away from any kind of birthday party or holiday gathering in the last couple of years. The two of you have yet to figure out why, but your parents don't like him and want him to stay away from the family. You've been having a hard time since the death of your grandfather a few days prior, so you've been trying to keep busy in helping with some of the funeral arrangements. One night, after having dealt enough with the family for a little while, you take off to Kevin's apartment to spend the night there with him. "The wake is tomorrow and then the funeral is the day after that," you inform upon Kevin's inquiry. "I really wish my family wasn't so anti-you so that you could be there with me for those things," you admit sadly. "I know, Baby, I know." He pulls you in close, tucking you under his arm where you eventually cry yourself to sleep. The following afternoon, as the family is gathering in the room just before the wake itself actually starts, you see Kevin walk in. Knowing how close you were to your grandfather, and how difficult this must be for you, he'd come to show his support, despite any reprocussions he might face from your family later. "What do you think you're doing here? This is a time that the family needs to be together, not a time to deal with you," your aunt snarls. "With all due respect, I'm not leaving until [Y/N] tells me to," Kevin states confidently, pushing gently past her to get to you. You wrap him up in your arms, extremely grateful that he's there with you. He stays through the entire wake, and returns the following morning for the funeral. As the funeral comes to an end and the friends and relatives start heading for the small reception to follow, Kevin starts to head for the car. "Kevin?" your mom calls after him. He turns around and she continues, "Join us back at the house? I know we've had our differences in the past, but these last couple of days have shown that it was stupid of my husband and I to be so harsh on you." Kevin cracks a small smile. "I'd be happy to join you at the house. See you there."

Reggie: Your parents have never thought highly of Reggie, but despite their harsh words, your grandmother still insists on meeting him. He tags along to her house with you and your family for dinner one Sunday evening, silently hoping that this doesn't end as horribly as he imagines it might. "Ah, yes, and there are the abundance of muscles I've heard so much about," she says through a wide smile as soon as she opens the door. Oh this is going SO well already, Reggie's look seems to say. Things are tense over dinner, but your grandmother just sits there smiling the whole time as though she's in on some huge secret that the rest of you know nothing about. When the meal finally ends, everyone takes to the living room with cookies and coffee for dessert. Your grandma's smile just grows wider as Reggie takes a seat next to you on the couch and automatically rests his hand on your knee. "You know, dear," your grandma directs to your mother, "I don't really see why everyone has such a problem with [Y/N] and Reggie's relationship. Seems to me like they are both happy and in love, and he appears to be a good-mannered, put-together young man. You know, they remind me a lot of me and your father when we were young and dating," she finishes, beaming at the memory. "But, Mom, Dad didn't have so many muscles and a playboy attitude!" your mom points out bluntly. "Since when does having a playboy attitude make someone a bad person?" she challenges pointedly. Your mom sighs and begins playing distractedly with the fringe on the throw pillow nearby. You try to bite back a smirk, knowing that if your grandma approves then it's only a matter of time before your mom caves too and comes to accept Reggie.