Becoming Lodge

Realizations

  Jughead sat holding Veronica in his arms while she cried. Her heartbreaking with each sob. Jughead kissed her head reassuringly. "Reina it's ok. I promise it's ok." Jughead hated seeing Veronica like this. And thankfully he hadn't for awhile now.  Jughead felt helpless and unhinged listening to Veronica sob into his shoulder.
   "No Jug it's not. My daughter is wearing the locket Archie gave to me.. she's in love with a video she found on Mary's phone. A video of Archie singing a song written for me. Things just can't get worse. I'm going to lose my daughter to Archie freaking Andrews." Veronica rambled feeling lost and angry. How did this happen? Veronica had thought she had covered all the bases keeping Camila away from Archie. And now three years later she was blindsided by everything all at once.
  Jughead hugged her tighter kissing her forehead. "No way. You think I would let that happen? I will bury him so fast if he tries." Jughead stated firmly emotionlessly. "He won't even try.. I will make sure of it."
A small knock sounded on the bedroom door. Not waiting for a reply Mary Andrews pushed the door open before closinh it quickly behind her. Mary felt tears come to her eyes watching the raven haired beauty. She was crumpled up on the large bed looking smaller then she really was. "I'm sorry Veronica.. please let me explain." Mary sat on the other side of Veronica on the bed. Lovingly she placed her hand gently on Veronica's leg.
Veronica looked at Mary with hatred. Wiping her eyes quickly, refusing to be weak in front of Mary Andrews again. Veronica was not the sweet girl Mary remembered. Veronica was the boss now. "I can't believe you Mary. How could you do this to me? I did everything right by you. Maybe in your mind not your son, but I have always done right by you. I love you Mary and for you to do this to me. I just I just don't know. I trusted you Mary." Veronica stated coldly pushing Mary's hand off her leg. "Don't touch me." Veronica snapped her eyes flashing with rage. "How long has he known? How much does Archie know? Is he or you going to try to take Camila from me? Because I guarantee that won't end well for either of you. I know you probably think that because you are a lawyer you can protect yourself. But Mary you would be sadly mistaken to think this. I will bury your son and even you if I have to. I will do whatever I have to do. No matter how much it might hurt me. Camila is my daughter! Make sure you understand that. Your son got off easily when he cheated on me. He won't get off easily again next time should he or you come for Camila." Veronica snapped preparing herself for the fight to come. "He will truly regret ever even meeting me at Pop's. I will make you both regret it. Don't ever cross me I'm not the person you remember. I am full dark no stars now."
  Instead of a fight, Mary looked at Veronica with love and compassion, seeing the hurt and pain in Veronica's eyes. Hidden behind the anger. Mary placed her hand firmly back on Veronica's leg. Mary grabbed Veronica's face gently and forced her to look into her eyes. Jughead stood watching the interaction knowing that no one else would ever be able to get away with grabbing Veronica like that. But Mary Andrews was not just anyone to Veronica. Jughead knew that Veronica loved Mary like her mother.  That this betrayal might just destroy what was left of the sweet girl that was becoming harder to see. "No love. I would never do that. I love you Veronica, you are my daughter. Archie still has no idea about Camila. Who she really is. He does know of Brooke's granddaughter Cam, but not our Camila. I told you before and I will tell you again. It's not my place to tell Archie. It has never been my place to tell him anything. Especially now after all these years. The video I took yes. I was so happy to hear Archie play again. I wanted to remind him and myself of how talented he was. So I recorded him without his knowledge. Archie hadn't written music or played the guitar since you left. He hadn't even picked the guitar up. After your visit to Riverdale, the one you wouldn't tell me about." Mary paused holding Veronica's eyes firmly still even all this time later angry that Veronica hadn't told her. "Archie swears he saw you Veronica. That he smelled your perfume on the wind. When he saw Jughead at Pop's he knew you had to be somewhere close. A few days later I found Archie sitting on his bed writing that song. I'm not sure how Camila found it." Mary paused once more watching Veronica's face. Waiting for her words to sink in. "I love you Veronica I would never intentionally betray you. I know that many people have hurt you badly. I am not one of those people. Don't you know that by now? Haven't I proven to you that I've been loyal? I am protecting you over my son." Mary finished knowing Veronica well enough to let the rest go.
   "How many times did I call you begging me to help find that damn song, when all along you knew? You knew it was Archie's song. Why didn't you ever tell me about Archie and what was going on?" Veronica stated flatly now the anger having been sucked out of her like a balloon. Veronica hated to admit it but hearing that Archie wasn't writing music or playing guitar brought Veronica intense joy, but also a lot of pain. Her heart ached for the boy who had such stage fright he couldn't even audition for the talent show. Veronica's eyes misted over remembering telling Archie. "If you freeze out there red troubadour, focus on someone that makes you feel safe." Veronica's heart ached sharper when she remembered watching Archie on the stage seeing his stage fright. Just when Veronica thought Archie was going to run off the stage. He looked at her. Veronica nodded him on with a smile. Archie smiled before turning to the audience. Veronica remembered he gave one of the best performances she had ever seen. Veronica had been so proud of Archie at that moment. Admittedly that was when Veronica also realized Archie made her feel safe too. A feeling that she had never felt before or since. Jughead was a security and comfort, but he was not Veronica's "safe". Veronica wanted to feel safe once again. A feeling she had been searching for for years now. But Archie wasn't her safe anymore, he never would be. Veronica didn't think she could ever forgive the betrayal that still stung her heart.
  "But I didn't Veronica. It was almost two years ago. I didn't remember the song. I don't even know how Camila found it... Veronica it was almost two years ago!" Mary reiterated trying to get Veronica to understand. "I sometimes forget what happened last week. How am I supposed to remember almost two years ago?"
Jughead shook his head at the words Mary Andrews was saying. Knowing Mary well enough to know that she was being honest. Camila stumbling upon the song was truly an accident. Mary had never meant Camila to find it. "So what now? We know where the song Camila loves comes from. What do we do? I think hearing it is too upsetting to Veronica. We should minimize the expose to Camila. She's three. I'm pretty sure we can convince her to fall in love with another song." Mary nodded next to Veronica who laughed. Jughead looked at Veronica one eyebrow raised.
"Jug.. you know Camila better then anyone... well besides me. You know she's stubborn and isn't easily persuaded. She's like me." Veronica shrugged realizing how true her statement truly was. Camila's personality was a mirror to Veronica's. Sighing heavily Veronica didn't know what to do. On one hand Veronica knew from personal experience that the more something was forbidden. The more it was desired. Take hers and Archie's relationship. Perhaps if Hiram hadn't been so against them being together they wouldn't have gotten so close. Veronica mused silently thoughts and memories tumbling violently around in her head. The song lyrics repeating over and over..when she was mine. What did it mean? They are just words Veronica reminded herself. But were they?
Mary squeezed Veronica's knee gently startling her out of her thoughts. "I am sorry Veronica. I am. I didn't do this on purpose."
Veronica bit her lip hard tasting the warm blood. "I know Mary." Veronica relented realizing now that she wasn't all that angry at Mary. Veronica was truly angry at her mother, Hermoine. If Mary had betrayed Veronica, it would make some sense. Archie was Mary's son, her loyalty should be to him. But Hermoine was Veronica's mom. Her giving Camila the locket Archie had gifted to Veronica all those years ago. That was a huge betrayal to Veronica. Veronica knew that Hermoine had planned all of this from the beginning. Hermoine was up to something, like she always was. Veronica wasn't sure why she said it. In fact she surprised herself and when Jughead asked her later why. Veronica couldn't explain it to him either. "Mary will you forward the video to me. I will upload it on Camila's iPad. So she can listen to it whenever she wants. Hopefully sooner rather then later she will be sick of it."
Jughead looked at Veronica sharply shocked by what she said. "Reina? You can't be serious!"
"But I am Jughead I'm dead serious. Camila is going to meet Archie soon enough. Might as well at least get her accustomed to him now. I can't keep this a secret much longer Jughead now can I?"
Veronica heard her phone ding knowing Mary had sent the video to Veronica immediately. Mary wanted Veronica to have it. Mary hoped that having this piece of Archie, Veronica would start to soften. Camila poked her head in the door her eyes rimmed from tears. "Mommy.. I'm sorry." Camila cried rushing into Veronica's room throwing herself at her mother's bed. "Please mommy. I'm sorry." Camila buried her head in Veronica's shoulder crying softly the locket still around her neck.
Veronica sighed deeply feeling her daughter's sadness throughout her body. Her heart aching for the sadness. "I'm sorry too corazon. I just..I just.." Veronica didn't even know where to begin. "I'm just stressed about the party and our move."
Camila pulled away looking in Veronica's eyes. "Mommy. Please I want the heart. I love it. Mimi gave it to me."
"I know baby but it wasn't hers to give. It was mommy's necklace." Veronica voice betraying the pain she was feeling.
"Why don't you wear it? It's pretty mommy." Camila questioned Veronica not knowing that the conversation was deeply hurting Veronica. The memories it was all too much. The answers she couldn't give her daughter.
Veronica shook her head fighting the memories that threatened to overcome her. "It was a present from someone."
"A boy?"
"Yes someone very special to me at that time. It makes me sad to see it. He hurt me really bad." Veronica explains simply her words getting caught in her throat. Her heart racing the memories strangling Veronica.
"You like him?"
Veronica shook her head. "No baby it's worse then that. I loved him very much. He hurt me really badly."
"Why he hurt you mommy?"
"I ask myself that every day corazon. I don't know. I just don't know." Veronica wanted to tell Camila about Archie. This might be the best time. But no matter how much she felt she should Veronica couldn't say the words. "I wish I knew why. It would make it easier to get over."
"Puedo quedarmelo?" (Can I keep it) Camila asked her Spanish sounding almost better then her English Veronica noted. Camila used her Spanish as a leverage Veronica also realized.
Jughead looked at Veronica knowing that even though Camila having the locket hurt Veronica. That Veronica would cave to this. Camila even at three knew how to manipulate her mother. "I'm going to regret this I just know it." Veronica shook her head again. "Si, puedes quedartelo." (Yea you can keep it.) Veronica relented her chest burning seeing the locket glitter on her daughter's neck.
Camila kissed Veronica happily. "Te amo mommy!" Jumping off the bed happily Camila ran out of the room. "Mimi.. mommy dijo que podia." (Mommy said I could)
"You were played by a three year old." Jughead chuckled.
"With the help of Hermoine Lodge I assure you." Veronica snapped trying to block the memories. "This is getting out of control and we aren't even in Riverdale. Jughead I'm beginning to think this is a huge mistake."
"Unfortunately it's too late Reina. Its going to be ok, one way or another. Who knows maybe it's not gonna be that bad." Jughead assures sounding even to himself far from confident. Jughead had a sinking feeling that their lives were going to change again in the next couple of weeks. Hopefully the consequences won't destroy everything they had been building for almost four years now.