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A/N: Another chapter dedicated to my underrated babies above.

In Mr. Turner's classroom, Topanga was at the front of the room, reading a poem in which Betty sat and listened.

"'Two roads diverged in the wood and I took the one less traveled by and that made all the difference'," she read off.

"Okay, now, what do we take from this poem?" Mr. Turner asked her.

Topanga was about to speak when someone loudly snored making both Betty and Topanga quietly laugh as there was a, "Yip-yip-yip-yip..." filling the air.

Betty turned to see Mr. Feeny enter the class as Cory and Shawn were both asleep and were the cause of the noise.

"Interesting in my class, Mr. Hunter handles the yipping," Mr. Feeny told Mr. Turner.

Cory woke up and jumped when he saw both Mr. Turner and Mr. Feeny standing at his desk. "Shawn," Cory called, making him wake up, rubbing his eyes. "Shawn, it's both of them."

Shawn looked in between teachers. "Oh no. Now I don't know which class I slept through," he stated.

Mr. Turner sighed. "Mine, Hunter. Remember The Road Not Taken?"

"A remarkable poem in which the poet tells us that we make choices in life and each choice puts us on a new road that can have a profound effect on our destinies," Mr. Feeny explained.

"Mr. Feeny, how does a poem about a guy on two roads affect our lives when half of us can't even drive?" Zack questioned to which Archie behind him, slapped his forehead in disappointment, leaning back in his seat.

Mr. Feeny smiled, patting Zack's shoulder. "Isn't he fun?"

"He's something," Betty remarked before turning to her twin. "Why are you guys in my class? This isn't even your period."

Zack shrugged. "It's free period for us and Mr. Turner gave us permission to come in."

"Willingly?" Betty asked.

"He just wanted to bug you," Archie translated.

Betty looked up at her English teacher. "Mr. Turner..." she spoke. "Why?"

The teacher shrugged. "I like to think of him as job security."

Mr. Feeny turned to Archie. "Mr. Adams, what was your last choice in your life?" he asked.

"Well, I just got a job for Christmas break. I'm a gopher for Little Pauley's restaurant," Archie answered.

"And I got myself a soft, cushy union job at the docks," Zack answered.

"I helped him," Shawn piped in.

"No one asked for details," Zack replied. "We're both working there."

"This year, I'll finally be able to buy nice presents for my friends and family," Shawn added.

"Ditto," Zack said.

"All right, I want you all to keep a journal about the choice you make over the next week. Then I want you to write a paper on the potential of those choices to change your life."

"This next period's homework, isn't it?" Zack whispered to Archie.

"Yeah, bud. It is," Archie replied.

"Dang it."

Shawn raised his hand. "Mr. Turner, what if my choice is to not do the assignment?"

Mr. Turner looked to the principal. "You want this one, George?" he asked.

"No, no. Your class, I get them after lunch," Mr. Feeny replied.

"Then you would get an 'F', not getting into college, spend your time at the local convenience store waiting for them to bring in a new batch of lottery tickets," Mr. Turner explained.

"And that would change my life how?" Zack asked.

***

After school, at Little Pauley's restaurant, Archie was in his work uniform, bringing over a tray of cups to a table.

"Who are you?" One of the older gentlemen asked him.

"Uh, my name's Archie Adams," the teenager explained. "Sam by the bar hired me to work here and-"

"Stop talking now," the man cut off Archie.

Archie immediately closed his mouth. "Yes, sir," he replied, placing the cups down on the table.

"What's that?" the other man asked.

"Cappuccinos, sir," Archie answered. "Sam wanted me to run them over to your table-"

"Sam at the bar...think he knows what I like?" the man asked tensely.

Archie hesitated, not wanting to disrespect the customer in any way. "Uh, it was merely a recommendation-"

"Sam at the bar has a tendency to run off at the mouth," he continued. "I don't like tendencies, I don't like mouths. You understand what I'm saying?"

Archie gulped. "Yes, sir."

The man on the left who sipped from the cappuccino asked, "Who made this?"

"Answer him," the other man on the right said. "And choose your words carefully."

Archie paused, "I...made it."

"Hey, it is fantastic," the man on the left stated before turning to his friend. "Try it and tell me if I'm wrong."

"I'll tell you if you're wrong," the man on three right replied" grabbing his cup and sipping it. "You're right. This is good."

Archie smiled, less unnerved. "I did add some cinnamon to it," he replied.

The man on the left-handed him a rolled-up bill. "This is for you, kid."

Archie grabbed it. $20 was his first tip. "Oh, thank you, sir," he replied with a grin.

"Keep slingin' them cappuccinos, maybe I'll come up with another 20."

"On it," Archie replied, putting the bill in his apron. "If you gentlemen need anything-"

"Yes, I'd like you to accompany my new bride to the beauty parlor, you know, keep an eye on her," he stated.

Archie paused. "Actually, sir, Sam told me I got a few more hours and a whole list of things to do-"

"We'll clear it with Sam," he replied.

"Don't worry about Sam," the man on the right said before both men laughed.

Archie just laughed with them, giving them a thumbs up.

***

The next day at Archie's house, he was eating cereal at the kitchen table when Zack came in, practically shivering and shaking to death from the weather outside.

"Zack-Attack," Archie greeted, placing his spoon down. "Need anything?"

"Lunch," Zack said. "I'm on lunch."

"What do you mean? It's 8 in the morning," Archie replied, getting up to look in the cabinet for something.

"I've been working in the docks since 3 A.M.," Zack replied, still holding himself for warmth. "Do you know how cold it is at 3 in the morning, Arch?"

"Nippy?" Archie asked.

"Oh, wish it was only nippy," Zack replied. "Hey, watch me break my ear off."

Archie rushed forward. "Okay, I believe you. Don't do it." He wrapped an arm around Zack, helping him sit down. "Sit, darling. I'll make you soup and hot chocolate." He went back to the cabinet, pulling out a can of soup. "I thought you said working on the docks would be easy."

Zack removed his beanie and large jacket then the jacket underneath that one. "That's what the brochure said," he replied. "So I show up this morning, and the wind-chill factor is like...Jupiter, so I go up to the boss and say," Zack mimicked himself shivering, mumbling as if he was speaking. "And he goes, 'Yeah but you took the job'. And then Shawn who's also working at 3 comes up and he goes," he mimicked Shawn freezing and mumbling once more. "And he goes, 'That's nice, Christmas presents for your friends'. And I said," he micks the mumbling and freezing again. "And he goes, 'Oh, look. Here comes a Turkish freighter.' And all of a sudden, in comes a Turkish freighter."

Archie glanced back at Zack as he placed the pot full of soup on the warm stove. "Was it unexpected?" he asked.

"Out of the mist it came," Zack replied. "That's my wonderful job, Arch. 3 in the morning, 50 below and unloading the same Turkish freighter that brought in The Outbreak Money. Do you know something? If I go, you go!"

He walked over to Archie and shoved his freezing cold hand in Archie's shirt, making him jump at the change in temperature. "Dude!" he said, pushing the blond back. "Now you get no cocoa," he replied.

"I want the soup," Zack said, sitting back down with Archie.

"You're gonna get the soup, I just put it on the stove," Archie replied, also sitting down.

Zack sighed. "So how's your job?"

Archie nearly grinned but held it back. "Zack, man. It's awful, just brutal."

Zack narrowed his eyes at his best friend. "You got a cushy job," he stated.

Archie's face broke out into a grin. "Yeah, I do!"

***

Later at Little Pauley's, Archie was working again while Zack sat at a table nearby.

"Yo, coffee boy, if I might," the man on three right, Mr. Fountain, called.

Archie turned to Zack. "Watch me make a $20 tip." Zack nodded with a smile before turning to watch his best friend approach the table. "Yes, sir, Mr. Fountain." Mr. Fountain gave him another twenty-dollar bill to which Archie was going to show off until he called for Archie again. "Right, sorry. What do you need?" he asked.

Mr. Fountain pushed an envelope across the table to Archie. "You take this envelope, you go to the mailbox on 14th and Pine..."

"And make sure no one sees you..." the man on three left, Mr. Martini added.

"Nobody. Put this in there."

"Um, sir. I'm sorry but I don't think there is a mailbox on 14th and Pine," Archie told him.

Mr. Fountain motioned for Archie to come closer to which he did. "Today there's gonna be a mailbox on 14th and Pine," be stated with confidence.

"And Mr. Fountain is never wrong about mailbox placement," Mr. Martini said.

Archie chuckled, "Okay," he agreed, taking the envelope before looking at it to see it was blank. "Um, once again if I may, to get this mailed there should be a stamp and address."

Mr. Fountain pointed at the redhead. "You're a noticier, aren't you? I noticed that you're a noticer."

Zack approached with a smile, grasping Archie's arm. "Not to worry, the envelope is definitely getting to where it's supposed to, right, sir?" The man only nodded in agreement as Zack pulled Archie away from the table. "Arch, buddy, do you have any idea who you're working for?" he asked.

"Yes, Mr. Fountain, Mr. Martini, and Sam," Archie answered. "Why? What's wrong?"

"Nothing, just that you're working for the mob," Zack answered.

Archie's eyes doubled in size before slowly glancing back at the table he was previously at to which both men were smiling at him. "Uh, the nice mob, right?" he asked Zack.

Zack huffed. "Yes, the nice mob. Come here." He flicked Archie's forehead, making him flinch at the pain. "You're supposed to be the smart one, not me."

Archie rubbed his forehead. "Okay, you're right. I have to quit. I can't work for the mob. I have a future."

"Little more cappuccino over here," Mr. Martini called to Archie.

Archie looked anxious. "Dude, every time I try to get away, they keep dragging me back." Reluctantly, Archie walked back to the table, trying to look unbothered. "Mr. Fountain."

"Yes, what is it?"

"I quit," Archie said, placing the envelope back down.

"Okay," was all Mr. Fountain said.

"We'll miss you," Mr. Martini added.

"I really hate to quit but I have to go home and I'm grounded for a bad grade," Archie tried to lie.

"You make a fine cup of cappuccino," Mr. Fountain told him.

"Thank you, thank you, sir but I-I gotta go, bye," Archie said, sounding relieved before beginning to walk out. "Zack, let's go."

"Coming," he told Archie who walked out but he stayed in place.

"Kid's a lunatic," Mr. Fountain told Mr. Martini.

Zack approached them. "Look, about my friend. I know sometimes he seems a little chatty, but he's a smart kid. Trust me, you don't have to worry."

"Loyalty. You're loyal to a buddy," Mr. Fountain noted.

"I like loyalty in a person," Mr. Martini added.

"I like it on the stand."

"You do?" Zack asked.

Mr. Fountain turned to Mr. Martini. "Hey, Lou, it looks like we got an opening for a job here." He turned to Zack. "Hey, Mr. Loyalty." He placed a 20 dollar bill down and slid it across the table with the envelope. "Are you interested in a job?"

Zack began to eye the money.

***

The next two days, Zack was wearing a waiter's uniform, walking over with a tray to the table.

"Hey, sonny-boy, you know what I got a taste for right now?" Mr. Fountain questioned.

"Hazel-nut biscotti, sir?" Zack recommended as he placed the cups full of cappuccinos down.

"That's what I was thinking."

Under the plate, a hazel-nut biscotti was waiting. "Well, then. It worked out perfectly," Zack said, placing it down on the table.

"Hey, Lou, did I tell you this was a good kid?" Mr. Fountain asked. "Was I right?"

Mr. Fountain looked to their waiter. "So, Zack, you ever wonder why we got a nice restaurant here, no customers, but we make a nice living?"

Zack nodded. "I figured you do a good take-out business," he stated.

"Good take-out business?" Mr. Fountain said.

"Yeah, we do a good take-out business," Mr. Martini agreed before both men laughed.

Zack walked away to the front counter to put the tray down to which Archie jumped up from behind the counter. "Zack," he called.

Zack turned to him. "Arch, what are you doing here?"

"No, what are you doing here?" Archie replied. "I haven't seen you for two days."

Zack sighed. "Come on, man. Jobs like this don't come around often. You should know. You worked here."

"But I quit when things weren't..." Archie trailed off. "You know, legal."

"Arch, it's just a nice family restaurant in a quiet neighborhood. Nothing's going on so relax," Zack replied.

A loud bang outside similar to a gun made Archie and Zack immediately drop to the floor.

Archie slightly raised his head as he heard a car engine go off and backfire.

"It was just a car," Archie spoke.

Zack still stayed on the floor. "Yeah, sounds like it."

Archie slowly looked to his best friend. "So why are we on the ground?" he asked.

Zack folded his arms on top of one another so he could rest head on top. "Because...it's fun. And we do everything together," he lied, smiling at Archie before they both got up.

"Zack, come on," Archie continued. "We both know a job like this cannot lead to anywhere good."

Zack ran a hand through his blond hair. "It leads towards nowhere, man. It's just a job for a couple of days so I can earn a bit more cash to get decent presents for you and my sister."

"That's why you wanted a job? To get me a present for Christmas?" Archie asked.

"Not just you, Betty too," Zack answered. "No matter what, you guys have always gotten me presents every year so now my turn. Something good instead of a pair of socks every year for you."

"Just so you know, I cherish the Stars Wars you got me," Archie replied, pulling up his pant leg to see that underneath his sneaker, he was wearing a sock with lightsabers on it. "Look, I get what you're trying to do but I'm worried that this job will change you."

"Arch, it's not gonna change me," Zack stated, patting Archie's shoulder.

"Scusi, Zack," Mr. Martini called.

Zack turned back to them as he spoke roughly in Italian, "Un momento, per favore! Lo parlo con il mi amico." He turned back to Archie who was watching him with an unreadable expression. "What?"

***

At Archie's home later that night, Zack entered through the backdoor in the kitchen.

"Ho ho ho, my best friend, Archibald," he greeted happily.

Archie turned to him as he saw a present in his hands. "What's this? Christmas is in two days."

"I know but I just bought you the best present, it absolutely beats every pair of socks I got you and I wanted to see your face light up like a happy little elf or in your case, big elf." He handed Archie the box. "So light, little-big elf."

Archie pulled the top off the present box, pulling out what was inside. "Its a watch," he spoke in shock. "A really, really expensive watch." He sat at the table. "Which I can't accept."

"Why not?" Zack asked.

"Because of where the money comes from," Archie answered.

Zack sat down beside him. "But I had it engraved."

Archie turned it over and read it, "'To my best friend in the world, Archie'." He met Zack's gaze. "Thanks, Zack-Attack."

Zack smiled. "You're welcome, bud."

"So," Archie began. "Now that you bought it and I'm assuming you bought your mom and Betty something..."

"Yeah, got it in my pocket," he answered, patting his jacket pocket.

"So you'll quit your job now, right?" Archie asked.

Zack chuckled. "Arch, it's easy money. How can I quit easy money?"

"Zack, I made $160 working there. I'll give it to you. That's even easier money. All you have to do is quit."

Zack got up. "No, man. Spend it on your family, don't worry about me." He patted Archie's back. "I'll see you around."

As he began to walk out, Archie called for him, "Zack, hold on." The blond turned to him. "You're still going to be at the Matthews house tomorrow night for Christmas Eve, right?"

Zack gave him a smile. "Yeah, don't worry. That's a tradition I never miss."

"Hey," Archie called one last time.

"Yeah?" Zack asked.

"Thank you again for the watch," he said, putting the watch on his wrist. "Not because of what it cost but because of who it's from."

Zack sent him a smile. "No problem, pal," he told him before leaving.

***

On Christmas Eve, Zack was working until he was done and approached his usual table.

"Mr. Fountain, Mr. Martini, the place is all cleaned up so if there's nothing else, I got a little Christmas thing to go to with my friend," he told them.

"Actually, there's one more little favor I need tonight," Mr. Fountain replied.

"Well, tonight's really tough for me, Mr. Fountain," he stated. Mr. Fountain slid Zack several bills. "$200?" Zack questioned as he realized that the more many they give, the bigger the task had to be.

Mr. Fountain reached behind the table for a box. "I want you to take this box, go down the street, stand in front of the warehouse. Car will come by, a guy will ask for it. You'll give it to him, he'll give you an envelope. You bring it back here."

Zack eyed the money before looking at the box, thinking everything over. He realized that this what Archie was afraid of.

"Now you do that for us, kid and maybe we'll find something a little more permanent. How would you like that?" Mr. Martini asked.

Zack hesitated but nodded, grabbing the money then the box. "That'd be great," he replied.

***

30 minutes later, Zack stood in front of the warehouse with the box in his hands, shivering as snow came down.

Archie saw him and approached him, hands stuffed in jacket pockets. 

"What are you doing here?" Zack asked him.

Archie didn't answer, only told him, "Come on, let's go. You're working much too hard. We're hanging out with the Matthews family together on Christmas Eve. Nothing you're doing here is nearly important as that. So let's go."

"I got paid for a job and I'm gonna do it," Zack replied.

"Ooh, loyalty," Archie said. "I like that...in a worthless little coffee boy who they don't care if he lives or dies."

"I've never had money like that before, Archie," Zack replied. "Not even when we moved here. It makes me feel like somebody to be able to buy good presents for my family and friends."

Archie nodded. "Yeah, I'm sure that's a real nice feeling." He looked at the box. "Hey, what's in the box?" he asked.

"I don't know what's in this box. I have nothing to do with this box. I am merely the box holder," Zack replied.

"No, come on. Open it up. I wanna see what's inside. I wanna see your face light up like a happy little elf. Open it up, my little elf."

Zack walked away and leaned against a pallet. "Archie, I don't want to spend my life in front of a convenience store, waiting for the new batch lottery tickets."

Archie approached him. "Zack, he was exaggerating."

"Well, it rang pretty true to me."

"What about Betty?" Archie asked.

"What about her?" Zack repeated. "She's smart and beautiful. She'll go to college, have a good job, and get married one day. She's going to do better than me because she's the smart one and I'm...the dumb one."

"So this is it?" Archie asked. "This is the road you're taking?"

Zack scoffed. "This isn't a road, this is a box. And as long as I don't open this box, I don't know what's in it. There's a teddy bear inside."

"Oh, a teddy? Okay, so we'll bring the box and put it under the tree, and later, we'll play a little game called 'Let's Guess The Street Value of The Teddy'."

Zack sat back on the pallet, putting the box down. "How'd this get so complicated so quickly?" he asked.

Archie sat beside him. "I don't know. I guess that's how they get you. They get a guy who feels like he's nowhere in his life and they make him believe that where he should be is on a street corner, holding a box in the middle of Christmas Eve."

"Yeah, well, maybe this is my street," Zack told him. "Maybe no matter what I do, this is where I end up like that poem says."

Archie sighed. "No, the poem says you have choices in your life and every choice you make means something. I mean, Zack, we're 16-years-old and we got fooled by a couple of guys who look like our uncles. I mean, you see how easy it is to end up on the wrong road?"

Zack nodded. "Yeah, and I knew all about those guys too. And I didn't walk away. I thought I'd just get them some coffee, make some money and...get out before it got to this."

"So why are you here, man?" Archie asked.

"I don't know," Zack answered. "I thought I was a street smart guy but now I'm a little scared."

"You know, Zack, I didn't see this coming at all. I thought the devil was supposed some guy with horns and a long tail."

Zack stood up. "Arch, it's Christmas Eve. You should go."

Archie also stood up. "No, that'd be the wrong choice. See, the difference in the poem is that that guy had to choose his road alone."

"So you don't think he had a best friend?" Zack asked.

Archie shrugged. "No, I guess not. But according to this..." He pulled up his jacket sleeve to look at his watch. "You do."

Zack paused. "'Two roads diverge in a wood...'," he quoted. "And I choose the one that leads back to your house and mine."

Archie smiled. "Good." He picked up the box. "We should take this back first."

Zack chuckled. "Wouldn't it be funny if there really was a teddy bear in there?"

"Yeah, don't you wish life was like that?"

"I'm beginning to see...that it's not," Zack stated.

Archie tucked the box under his right arm before wrapping his left arm around Zack's shoulders. "Come on." He pulled Zack to walk with him away from the warehouse. "You're lucky it was just me here. I nearly told Betty everything."

Zack looked at him. "You didn't, did you?"

"If I did, she'd be here with me and you'd be locked away in your house first thing," Archie replied.

"You think so?" Zack asked.

"Like you said, she's the smart one," Archie joked.

***

Later at the Matthews home, the Cooper siblings, Archie, Shawn, Topanga, Mr. Feeny, Mr. Turner, and Lonnie from Mr. Matthews's store was all there along with the whole Matthews family.

Betty pulled out a scarf, holding it to her chest. "Soft and cute, I love it, Cory. Thank you," she said.

Cory smiled back. "Anything for my best friend," he replied before hugging her to which she hugged him back.

"Betty, this one's for you," Shawn handed her a small gift. "Not sure who it's from but I think it's for you."

Betty chuckled as she looked over the present. "I think I know who this is from based on these wrapping skills," she stated with a small giggle before unwrapping the small box before pulling off the lid. She beamed at what was inside. "Aw, Shawny..."

She pulled out a newly bought silver necklace locket.

She opened the center to see inside was a small picture of 9-year-old Betty, Cory, and Shawn smiling at the camera.

It was a month after Betty moved to Philidelphia and she befriended the two boys. Looking at the picture reminded her of a time when things were simpler.

"Wow, Shawn," Cory spoke. "That's a nice locket."

"Well, working at the docks wasn't exactly a cushy job but it paid well enough to get decent presents," Shawn explained.

"I love it, Shawn. Thank you," she told him. "Can you help me put it on?"

"Oh, yeah," Shawn agreed, standing up with Betty.

She handed him the locket as she turned away from him so he could gently place it around her neck. Once he did, Betty raised her hair up, allowing Shawn to bring the clasps together.

She turned back to face him, centering it to rest on her collarbone. "How does it look?" she asked him.

Shawn looked at her with a small smile. "Perfect," he told her. "Just like you."

Betty beamed, smiling happily as she looked into Shawn's eyes.

Archie who watching everything leaned towards Zack as everyone around them all opened presents.

"She still likes him, doesn't she?" Archie whispered.

Zack nodded. "Yeah, she does but it's complicated, I think."

Mr. Feeny spoke, breaking the ex-couples eye contact as he placed the camera in three front of the room, "Okay, folks. Everybody get together now. Real close."

Betty spoke to Eric who sat on the couch, "Eric, mind I squeeze right next to you?" she asked.

Eric immediately pulled her down. "Aw, there's always room for you, blondie." He glanced at Lonnie as he still said to Betty much clearly, "Always for you."

Eric wrapped his arm around Betty's waist causing the girl to chuckle and rest her head against Eric, still smiling.

Shawn looked down at the two of them with a frown on his face before focusing ahead as Mr. Feeny said, "Okay, I have set it." He rushed into the picture, standing beside Cory. "Everybody smile." He nudged Mr. Matthews specifically. "Smile."

The camera snapped and took a picture.

***

Hi!

Yes, I realize the chapter is out of order but bear with me because it fits the future plot.

I'm mad because I had written this chapter two hours ago and was almost done with it until Wattpad was mean and deleted most of what I wrote and worked my butt off to write. But lucky you guys because remember most of what I originally wrote.

Also, some of you were commenting on how you don't like Betty and Eric together because of the age difference but it's literally the same thing Maya had with Josh in Girl Meets World. Yes, they're flirting but it's still appropriate and most of you think it's cute

So...y'all are outvoted.