Becoming Lodge

Last night

    Veronica paused looking around the completely empty master bedroom a lump in her throat. Tonight would be the last night Jughead, Camila and her would be in New York. Tomorrow morning the three would be on Lodge jet to Riverdale. The town with pep Veronica thought shaking her head with a small smile. More like the town with bad memories and heartbreak. All of their personal belongings already in the house in Riverdale. Jughead popped his head in the room looking at Veronica curiously. Since the big fight they had been in a rough spot. Veronica still felt that Jughead didn't have a right to block Archie from her phone. But she was beginning to see his point once the emotions had simmered. Veronica was still hurt and angry though. Jughead was still angry at her for being mad at him. Even after their blow up he still belived he did the right thing. He would do it all over again even knowing the result. "Reina?" He asked hesitantly. "I know you're still mad, but can we move past this? I miss you. I hate this. I'm sorry I hurt you, I really am. I just wanted to protect you and Camila. I thought I was doing the right thing."
   "Do you still think you did the right thing? Even knowing it hurt me? Was it still the right thing?" She asked quietly the anger not as bright hurt more in her voice.
   "I do, yes... because of it you kept the push to move forward. To become who you are now. I stand by my decision. But.." he grabbed her face gently so she was looking at him. "But I never meant to hurt you. I really was trying to protect you. I thought you would heal better this way. I'm sorry for that. I am sorry that it hurt you. I swore I never would hurt you and I did. For that I'm sorry. But Reina. I will NEVER apologize for helping you become who you are. You did it. I hope I had some help in that."
   Veronica was a little startled by his admission that he wasn't sorry for blocking the phone calls. However, he was sorry for hurting her. Veronica understood the crazy sense of protectiveness that Jughead felt for her, because she too felt the same way about him. Veronica smiled sadly before kissing his cheek. "I forgive you for hurting me. I understand what you did. In the future though can you let me make those decisions? Even if you don't agree? Please let me make my own choices. Too many of my choices have been taken from me. I don't want to ever feel like I'm not in control of my life. I can't feel out of control of my life. I won't. But if we can both agree to that then yes we can move on."
   "Fair enough, but that doesn't mean that I'm not going to put my two cents in whenever I feel like I need to. Whether you want to hear it or not." Jughead laughed softly. "Not that you ever listen to me...one day maybe you will."
   "I doubt that." Veronica laughed back at him her eyes losing the anger. "I don't need advice from you or anyone. I do my own things regardless of the consequences." Veronica laughed harder brushing back a stray tendril. One that had fallen out of the messy bun she had pulled her hair into to finish packing.
   "Yes I'm very well aware of your doing whatever regardless of consequences." He teased her back. "But promise me you will come to me if you don't know what to do. I will always help you navigate any situation that comes up. You know cuz that's kind of my job."
  Veronica sighed dramatically rolling her eyes. "Yes I know..I know you always tell me it's your job. Like I don't know what your job is.. I mean I did give it to after all." Veronica teases back.
  "Then make sure you start reminding yourself." Jughead kissed her head walking back out the bedroom door in search of Camila.

     Jughead was awoken to his bedroom door opening and feet padding on the floor followed by soft giggling. "Shhh corazon..you'll wake Juggy." Veronica whispered climbing into bed pulling Camila in the middle.
    "I'm awake.." Jughead rolled over wide awake now. Camila launched herself onto him smothering him in kisses. "Hey princess what are you and mommy doing in my bed?"
   "We misses you." She said as if it was obvious. "Duh.." Camila lay her head on his chest. "We sleep here with you..last night..then new house." Camila cried excitedly jumping up from his chest smacking him in the jaw with her head. "Sorry Juggy. Accident.." she exclaims kissing his jaw where she hit him. "I sorry."
    "I forgive you." Jughead softly kissed Camila's head. "Ok you can stay but you have to settle down. We have an early morning. Papi will be here to help us tomorrow too. It will be fun. But you have to sleep. We all do." Jughead gently settled Camila onto the bed. "Reina.." he looked over Camila's head to see Veronica curled up her back to both of them. Jughead knew she was crying softly but she wouldn't open up in front of Camila.
   "Yea.." she said softly her voice heavy with tears. "We just wanted our last night to be with you."
     "Of course." Jughead cuddled Camila closely to his chest.
    "Sing me song Juggy." Camila's voice becoming heavy with sleep.
    "You know I can't sing." Jughead laughed.
    "Mommy.. pweease." Camila pleaded. "Just one."
    "Which one corazon." Veronica replied having composed herself for her daughter.
    "You pick."
    "Ok.." Veronica sighed..without thinking she began to sing a song she hadn't thought of in years. One that she used to love more then anything. (Sam Smith-Fire on Fire.  I had Archie write this in the story but it belongs to Sam Smith.) "My mother said I'm too romantic she said you're dancing in the movies. I almost started to believe her. Then I saw you and I knew. Maybe it's cuz I got a little bit older. Maybe it's all that I've been through. I like to think it's how you lean on my shoulder. And how I see myself with you. I don't say a word but still you say a take my breath and steal the things I know. There you go saving me from out of the crowd. Fire on fire we're normally killers, but with this much desire together we're winners. They say that we're out of control and some say we're sinners, but don't let them ruin our beautiful rhythms. Cuz when you unfold me and tell me you love me and look in my eyes. You are perfection my only directon..it's fire on fire.." Veronica trailed off tears clouding her eyes. Singing the love song Archie had written for her. The night they had gotten back together after that dreadful night in the woods. Camila beside her smiled in her sleep her thumb in her mouth. Her hand clutching the locket around her neck tightly. "I love you corazon. I'm so sorry for the chaos your life will be thrown into starting tomorrow." Veronica softly kissed Camila's forehead knowing that in the next few days Veronica would be introducing Archie to his daughter. Veronica really didn't want to, but she knew that in the small town Camila would be all the talk. Boy next door Archie Andrews had a child with Veronica Lodge, New York socialite. At least that's what they had all believed in high school. Veronica was so much more then the girl they all thought they knew.  Veronica laid her head on the pillow feeling the familiar prickle of tears stinging her eyes.
   "Reina..you ok?" Jughead mumbled knowing she would either snap at him or talk to him. The roller coaster of emotions she was on lately Jughead wasn't sure which way she would respond.
   "Yea.." she sighed heavily. "I always am. I always am." She repeated as if trying to convince herself she would in fact be ok. Her heart thundered heavily against her chest when Veronica thought of being face to face with Archie Andrews once again. Veronica wasn't sure what she was feeling about Archie. She still loved him, but she also truly hated him. What he had done to her, what he had forced her to become. The heartache he still caused her.
   "You know it's going to be ok.. right? No matter what it's all going to be alright. You've always got me. Now and forever. I'm here and I'm not going anywhere."
   "I want to believe that. But I have also learned that sometimes we create our own heartbreak through expectations. I just.. Jughead I just want to feel safe again.. I know that doesn't make sense, but I haven't felt safe in years. It's scary to feel this way. I..."
    Jughead grabbed her hand since he couldn't hug her with Camila laying on his chest asleep. "Reina.. you are safe. You are safe with me I promise you that. When you are scared all you have to do is look me in the eyes hold me tighter and smile. Because I've told you before and I will tell you again. I'm not going anywhere. I'm here. You are safe."
   Veronica bit back the argument that he didn't understand what she was saying. When Veronica was speaking about feeling safe she wasn't referring to physically. Veronica was physically safe like she had always been. Her heart and emotions were not safe and hadn't been in years. Veronica squeezed his hand in thanks. "Juggy you have changed my life without even trying. I don't think I could ever find the words to explain it to you. To tell you how much you truly mean to me. I can't  imagine what things would be like if I hadn't come to find you in the bunker that night. I am so glad that I made the choices I did. Thank you Jughead for believing in me when I didn't believe in myself. Thank you for always being here. Thank you for loving Camila the way you do. Thank you for everything. I love you Jughead Jones."
   Jughead smiled and felt his eyes tear up at the emotional turn of events. Veronica had never been so open with her feelings towards him. "I love you too Reina. And I can't imagine life without you or Camila in it. I too am glad that Veronica Lodge showed up looking like a hot mess that day. Seeing you like that is what made me want to protect you. I wanted then to protect you and now even more so. I saw the strength in you and knew with the right help you would prove yourself. You will always be my Reina de heilo. I will always be your consigliere. We are going to do great things. Big things together. Stick with me and you will go far kid." He teased making Veronica laugh.
   "We are already doing great things. We are an amazing team. I guess I never knew how strong I truly was until I didn't have any other option but to be strong. Thanks Jughead for giving me the strength to do this." Veronica's voice trailing off. She snuggled into Jughead her hand on her daughter's back. Her eyes closing the anxiety gone when she breathed in the scent of Jughead and Camila. Calming Veronica temporarily from the storm inside of her.
   "Good night Reina." Jughead placed his hand over hers before falling asleep himself. The three of them sleeping the best they had in months. Jughead, Veronica and Camila.
    Hiram Lodge had searched the house thoroughly for his daughter and granddaughter a slight panic forming. Where could they have gone? He was early with breakfast to get them moving. They had so much to do no time to waste. "Jughead have you seen..." Hiram tapered off at the sight before him when he opened the door to Jughead's bedroom. Veronica lay with her head on Jughead's shoulder Camila laying on his chest. The three sleeping soundly. "What in the hell?" Hiram snapped loudly waking the three of them abruptly. "Veronica Lodge! What in the hell is going on?"
    Veronica snapped up in the bed quickly confusion on her face momentarily. "Daddy..what are you doing here?"
    "Coming to help you all get situated for the move. What the hell are you doing in his bed with your daughter?" He demanded.
   "Sleeping.. What the hell does it look like? Now daddy if you will kindly excuse us. I'm going to get Camila and myself situated. So we can get on the jet. Give me twenty minutes." Veronica snapped irritation in her voice.
    Hiram shook his head storming out of the room. Jughead laughed softly. "That was a wake up. One I will probably never forget. I can only imagine what is going through his head."
   Veronica shook her head laughing along with him. "Oh you know probably what you imply to everyone.. Reggie.. Archie.. we're sleeping together." Veronica teased tossing the pillow at him. A huge smile formed on her lips. Veronica realized that saying Archie's name didn't cause her as much pain as it used to. Maybe I'm finally over him. She thought delighted in these thoughts. Veronica picked up Camila and headed out of the bedroom to get them ready. Today was the day and Veronica Lodge was ready. She was ready to confront the memories and heartache. With Jughead by her side Veronica could handle anything thrown at her. At least that's what she thought and believed. Until she actually came face to face with Archie Andrews later that day. Much sooner the anyone had anticipated.