💕 Bughead Smut & One-shots 💕

Eavesdropping

A/N: What should have happened during "The Lost Weekend".

Jughead propped his ladder against the side of the house and sighed. He remembered what his dad had told him the night of his birthday. She needs you right now. Don't shut her out when things get hard. He knew his dad was right, even though he was also a killer apparently.

Betty had just been trying to protect his feelings and he really believed that she hadn't known about Archie and Veronica searching his trailer.

Besides, either way, whether he talked to her or didn't, his dad was still going to jail. His dad was still a murderer. Their relationship, the last good thing in his life, didn't have to die too.

He climbed up shakily until he reached her window. As he got higher up, he started to hear voices inside. He climbed until he was right underneath the window.

He peeked over the ledge and saw Betty, still in her lavender homecoming dress, crying and arguing with her mother.

Of course, he wanted to know what they were fighting about, and he wanted to talk to Betty, but this probably wasn't the best time to show up at her window if her mother was right there.

"But I'm glad that you're safe."

He was about to climb back down when he heard the next thing that was said,

"And as much as I like Jughead, I am so glad you are done with that family."

That hurt. He knew she was right. He knew he wasn't right for her. But it still hurt to hear her mother say that. He knew the right thing to do was to go and stop eavesdropping, but he just had to know how Betty was going to respond if she was going to respond.

"Done?" Betty seethed, "Mom, I don't care what the hell you have against FP, and I know all about your little fling in high school. But Jughead is not FP, he's not dangerous, and I trust him. If he ever speaks to me again, I will certainly not be 'done' with him."

Jughead smiled in spite of himself.

"But-"

"I love Jughead. He's as much my family as you are, as far as I'm concerned, more so right now."

Jughead gasped silently. She loved him. She had said the words.

"Oh please, you're too young to know what love feels like."

"I think I'll be the judge of that, thanks, now get out of my way, I'm leaving."

"You are not going anywhere, young lady."

"I am going to look for Jughead. I am going to make sure he's alright because I can't imagine what he must be feeling right now. His dad was literally just arrested for murder. And on top of that, he thinks his best friend and his girlfriend just betrayed him, because of you! You invited them over to interrogate them and while you made sure they were out of the way, you asked my two best friends to search my boyfriend's dad's trailer! Are you even hearing how insane that sounds?!"

"I know what I did Betty! I did what I had to, to keep you safe."

"How were you keeping me safe exactly?"

"I just- was."

"Is it because you don't want me dating the son of a Serpent because you're afraid he'll join the Serpents?"

"I just don't want him to hurt you."

"He would never hurt me."

"How do you know that? How do you know he won't become an abusive drunk like his dad was? I don't want that life for you. Why do you think Gladys left when she did? Or let's think about this short term, what if his dad's buddies recruit him and they don't like him dating the perfect Northsider? Who do you think he'll choose?"

"Stop calling me that. I'm not perfect. I don't have to be perfect all of the time. Jughead knows that. I don't care what his Serpent friends think. I'm not worried. Jughead's smart, he doesn't need someone to babysit him and make all his decisions. I trust him to do the right thing. Our relationship is between me and him. Not FP. Not the Serpents. And especially not you. I understand you're worried about me, but I've said it before and I'll say it again, stay out of my business. I love him and now I'm going to go and find my boyfriend. Do not push me tonight, Mom, because I will push back."

Betty stormed out of the room and Mrs. Cooper just sat there and cried.

Jughead sprinted down the ladder and to the Coopers' front door.

He stood in front of the door, and he was there when she opened it. For a few seconds, the two teenagers just stood there looking at each other. Then she opened her mouth to speak,

"Jughead, I-"

He stepped forward and interrupted by kissing her. She didn't pull away, didn't question it, she just kissed him back, glad that he still wanted to be with her. When they finally broke apart she said,

"I'm so sorry. I promise I didn't know what her plan was. I knew she must have had other intentions when she invited you and your dad for dinner but you were so excited, I didn't want to disappoint you and I'm sorry about FP and-"

"Don't apologize. It's not your fault. You didn't know. You know me. You know I run away when things get hard, but I don't want to lose you over this, Betts."

"You won't lose me, Jug."

He looked her in the eye and said,

"I love you, Betty."

Her eyes widened. He loved her.

"I- I love you too."

They kissed again.

"Come stay with us."

Jughead chuckled sadly.

"Somehow, I have a hard time thinking your mom would be okay with that."

Betty's face fell.

"You're probably right," she started, but then said defiantly, "But I don't care. You need somewhere to stay and we have the room. Polly doesn't live here anymore. My dad doesn't live here anymore, and I don't think I can live alone in that house with just her."

"Just don't worry about me right now. I'll figure something out."

He sat down on the top step in front of the door.

"For now, just sit here and be with me, please."

She nodded, sat down next to him, and rested her head on his shoulder.

"Thank you," he whispered.