Becoming Lodge

Laundering

Veronica opened the door quietly to Jughead's bedroom not realizing that Jughead was an incredibly light sleeper. Any noise woke Jughead one of the reasons he was normally up before Veronica. Especially when Camila cried. Veronica closed the door behind her. She lifted the covers and cuddled close to Jughead just needing to not feel so alone. "Reina? You ok?" Jughead mumbled softly. Wide awake as soon as he heard the door knob turn. Jughead rubbed his eyes.
"No.. can I just sleep here tonight? I don't want to be alone." She said her voice rasp. Jughead knew Veronica had been crying. He rolled over facing her seeing the tears on her face in the light of the moon through the window. Veronica cuddled into his chest sobbing. "I keep seeing his face. I can't stop seeing his face. It's etched in my brain." Veronica cried the words breaking Jughead's heart.
Jughead wrapped Veronica tightly in his arms bringing her close. Stroking her back Jughead began to realize that Veronica climbing into his bed when upset was becoming more frequent. At least four times a week Jughead was woken to Veronica sliding into bed with him. It had all started months before when she had a breakdown of sorts and fallen asleep in his bed. Jughead didn't really mind he enjoyed being around Veronica. The problem was he had hoped it wasn't becoming as regular as it was. Veronica was breaking more not getting better. Veronica was going through more then she had shared with Jughead. Promising he would get to the bottom of it tomorrow as Veronica's breathing slowed and the tears stopped. Veronica fell asleep in Jughead's arms. Jughead pulled away from Veronica just enough to be able to breathe and closed his own eyes falling asleep shortly after. Knowing there was so much the two of them needed to speak about.
Jughead rolled over carefully afraid to smack Veronica. Jughead sat up realizing he was alone in his bed. Jughead shook his head knowing that most of the time he would wake up alone. Veronica would awaken first and slip out. Somehow never stirring him from his light sleep. Getting up quickly Jughead pulled a shirt on and padded out of the bedroom in his sleep pants. Finding Veronica in the livingroom sitting across Camila on the floor holding up flash cards. Veronica wanted Camila to be bilingual like she was. Veronica knew it was easier for a young child to learn then an older person. Which she was learning through her teaching Jughead. Veronica knew there would come a time that Camila's Spanish would surpass Jughead's. Jughead was surprised to see Veronica in yoga pants and a huge T-shirt, her hair in a bun no makeup whatsoever. Veronica was all natural. Jughead was reminded of how beautiful Veronica was even like this. Jughead really didn't think Veronica needed all the hair and makeup or designer clothes. She was Veronica that in itself made her beautiful. Jughead wanted to say all these things to Veronica. But he wasn't sure how she would take it. Especially if she viewed his comment as an insinuation that she looked terrible. Which all depended on what mood she was in how she would take his well intentioned comment. Instead of saying anything Jughead walked over to them smiling. Crossing his legs Indian style Jughead sat down beside Camila and Veronica quietly listening to and watching Veronica interact with Camila. Veronica was holding to her promise to Mary that she would be a great mother to Camila. Veronica was so sweet and amazing with Camila. The two of them were super close and the love between them evident in their interactions. Spending as much time as possible with Camila as she could. Veronica was doing an awesome job of balancing motherhood with her business ambitions. At just over a year old Camila was paying attention. Jughead swore that Camila was really concentrating on what her and Veronica were learning. Camila and Veronica looked at Jughead both smiling. "? Vas a unirte a nosotros?" (Are you going to join us?)
Veronica watched Jughead as he unraveled what she said. "If you asked me to join, yes I would love to." Jughead replied.
Veronica clucked her tongue smiling at Jughead "En esta casa hablamos espanol." (In this house we speak Spanish)
Jughead chuckled softly. "I'm still learning Reina." As Veronica shook her head again Jughead attempted. "Aun...estoy... aprendiendoito." Jughead butchered the last word making Veronica laugh. Jughead had this crazy habit of adding strange syllables and sounds to certain words. Changing their meaning and the words themselves. Veronica had been trying to get him to learn, but he continued. Veronica finally came to the conclusion that Jughead was doing it on purpose to tease her. Jughead looked at Veronica with a wicked smile knowing that he was intentionally butchering the language. Jughead loved teasing Veronica. What Jughead didn't know was that Veronica loved when he teased her.
Veronica looked at Camila smiling "Que vamos a hacer con Juggy, Camila?" (What are we going to do with Juggy?). Camila laughed as if she understood Veronica's question.
"Juggy!" Camila cried out standing up toddling over to Jughead. She kissed him sloppily on his cheeks. Jughead loved these kind of kisses from Camila.
"Reina so.. I've been meaning to ask you. Are you ok?"
Veronica furrowed her eyebrows confused by the question that to her seemed to come out of nowhere. "Jughead? Of course I'm fine are you?" Veronica questioned irritated now by the turn of events. "Why must men ruin everything by talking about their emotions?"
Jughead paused listening to the irritation in her voice. Normally Jughead would leave the conversation alone. But today he decided that he needed answers to what was going on with Veronica. "So... well...I've kinda noticed  you've been in my bed a lot the past few months. I don't mind, but the crying I want to know why. There's something going on. Talk to me. Tell me what's keeping you up at night. I think I deserve to know." Jughead said firmer then he anticipated.
The tone in Jughead's voice caused Veronica to pause. On the tip of her tongue was the best comeback in history. Yet she knew that Jughead was asking out of true concern. Jughead had no motivation to ask other then to make sure that she was ok. This realization sombered any snappy comeback. Jughead Jones cared about Veronica. How much and how specifically Veronica did not know. But it really didn't matter much to Veronica. Jughead cared. Veronica smiled slightly " It's nothing.. it's something...it's everything." Veronica said. "It's everything."
"Everything is vague but I understand. Ok top two things right now at this time. What is keeping you up at night?"
"Everything." Veronica sighed. "It's everything. I just can't stop thinking about him Jughead...I just can't for starters.. his face is in my dreams. When I look at my daughter. He's everywhere and nowhere. I just can't get him out of my mind. That's incredibly upsetting, but Jughead I'm more anxious about the businesses." Veronica took a deep breath before continuing. Knowing that Jughead might just snap. "Jughead the businesses are washing money. I found out when I was looking. My father didn't cover his tracks too well. I'm not sure what's going on with daddy.. he's gotten so sloppy."
"That's not possible Veronica. I looked over everything." Jughead declared. Jughead had with a fine tooth comb wanting to make sure. Hiram Lodge was shady and Jughead knew Veronica wanted to go legal. Veronica had never wanted to dabble into anything illegal. Always wanting to be on the legal side.
Veronica shook her head emphatically. "If you don't know what your looking at. Or more accurately for. It's invisible. Daddy taught me how to hide it. I've known for years how to do it. But Jughead when I looked it's there glaring like a neon sign." Jughead felt his cheeks get hot. Veronica had promised him they wouldn't go this route. Before he could say anything Veronica continued. "I covered it. No one will find it. I assure you of that."
"Veronica! Seriously.. you aren't a forensic accountant you can't think you are smarter then the FBI."
Veronica laughed. "Not necessarily smarter, just more clever." Veronica winked. "It's a trick my family has used for years, just tweaked and perfected."
"You said we weren't going down this path. You promised Veronica." Jughead snapped at Veronica seeing the truth on her face. Veronica had not known in the beginning all she was doing now was covering their asses. Jughead softened. "I'm sorry I snapped. I just don't want either of us to end up in prison like our fathers."
"Not gonna happen Jughead. 99.9 percent of the businesses are legal. There's just a little that isn't. It's hidden so well. Jughead I would never betray your trust. That's why I'm telling you." Veronica snapped aggravated that Jughead would question her loyalty to him after everything they had gone through. "You can still get out." Veronica snapped knowing all to well technically Jughead couldn't much like she couldn't either. Both of them had made vows to the family.
Jughead shook his head laughing softly. "You know I can't. However, I think I will tell Gary Chavez yes then." Veronica looked confused at Jughead's statement. "A guy. Gary, approached me to start dealing arms. He made me an offer that could make us lots of money, but I declined. I thought we were going legit, but if you think you can hide this too Veronica let's do it. I want to make enough money that I never have to worry about having enough to eat or a place to live ever again." Jughead declared looking at Veronica puzzling over his words.
"Are you kidding Jughead? Tell me your kidding."
Jughead shrugged his shoulders "Kinda but not really. Why not Veronica. Think about it. With some of your money we could make REAL money. Invest in me. You invested in Archie on numerous occasions. If we are gonna be illegal. Let's be illegal. Let's just make sure we cover our tracks better so it's not traced to you or even me. Especially not you." Jughead finished. "I know people who can do it. People we can bring into the family. I think we should combine the serpents with your family ties. Veronica we are crossing a line. The line between right and wrong... good and evil."
"If there was a line between them I believe I snorted it years ago." Veronica quipped making them both laugh. She nodded her head the idea slowly taking root in her mind. Making the idea more plausible. They could do this. And most importantly it made sense. For Veronica to build her own family with their loyalty to her, not Hiram. Veronica needed Jughead and the serpents. Veronica had the inner workings of money laundering much like her father. Jughead had the people to do the hard work and the connections. The two of them combining these things would make them unstoppable. "Are you thinking we can combine the serpents with the Lodges? Would the serpents want to do this?" Veronica paused Jughead nodded confirming. "If we can combine our families Jughead we can make a strong indestructible one. We can build a dynasty that no one has seen before." Veronica finished as she began to think about how to go about hiding the money from the guns in the businesses. As if a lightbulb went off Veronica jumped and grabs Jughead's arm. "I got it. I know how to do it. I will explain later. How much do we need to start?" Veronica's eyes lit up at the excitement.
Jughead swallowed hard knowing he had never seen this much money before in his life and he couldn't even believe that he was telling Veronica he needed to borrow this amount. "$200,000." Jughead knew Veronica had some money. Especially after her trust fund was released but he didn't know how much or if she could come up with that amount.
"That's all? For some reason I was worried it would be millions....  $200,000 is that even enough? I have more then that in the safe in the office." Veronica said offhandedly.
Jughead stared at Veronica stunned that she was so easily going along with this. "You're sure about this? I mean Veronica we could get in a whole lot of trouble."
"Sure Jughead why not? You have the connections I have the money and the knowledge of how to do this. We could make so much money. Hell we could put Riverdale right in the middle of it all. Which actually is a great idea. I mean Hiram is still the mayor." Veronica shrugged as a plan began to click into place. "Once we get money rolling. We should build that casino I talked about in high school. Sweetwater Casino. That will be the best cover."
"Veronica casinos are an easy target. That's the first place the feds will look."
"I know Jug let me tell you how it can be done." Veronica said picking Camila up off the floor. "Follow me into my office. If you are serious let's get this ball rolling right now." Veronica said as she walked out of the livingroom heading to the office knowing Jughead was right behind her.