"Think you'll eke it out, Arch?" Jug asks as we walk to join him. We were in the gym which was being used as the room for both elections. Archie and Fred both looking extremely nervous. But Fred was holding himself a special way to show confidence and look good around the voters. Which strategy wise was a great idea.

"Uh, to be honest, Jug, mine's not the election I'm worried about," Archie says glancing to his father nervously.

"In the meantime, Betty is voting for you through us by proxy," Jug says chuckling slightly.

"How's she doing?" Archie asks.

"You know I think she's gonna be okay," I tell them nodding slightly, "she looks stronger than ever. And I'll make sure to help her through it."

"Good," Archie says, "so have you guys voted."

"Of course," I say, "Archie Andrews all the way."

*****

"Attention, Riverdale High students," Weatherbee's voice breaks in over the PA as we all sat there waiting for the results. "The results of your student council election are in." He pauses and we all stand up eagerly. "Your new student body president is....Archie Andrews." We all start to cheer loudly I shove Archie slightly as we clap for him. "In unrelated news, for the foreseeable future, all former Southside High students will remain at Riverdale High. That is all." We continue to cheer loudly.

"Can't get rid of us baby!" I cheer as I wrap my arms around Jughead. He looks to Archie as they share a look of forgiveness and understanding. "My boys are back. We're here for good. I'm with the Andrews. Everything is good."

"A quicky in the car could make it perfect?" Jug suggests.

"You almost die and come out of it a horny bastard," I chuckle looking up at the clock, "we have twenty minutes."

"Ew you two," I hear Toni say. I flip them off before pulling him out of the school back to my parking space pulling him into the back seats of the truck. He looks around nervously as I toss off my shirt.

"Don't pussy out now Jones," I chuckle.

"Never," He says before crashing his lips against mine.

*****

As we sit at the docks we all talk amongst us. Someone playing some loud music as we drink and enjoy the fire. We we're having fun in the new land claimed by the Serpents. The docks being our new home. "Listen up now!" I hear FP yell then whistle, "Hey, listen up!" I tap Jug's shoulder as everyone shuts up and turn to the "stage" which was really just some wood laid out standing above everyone. "Some 60 years ago, the very first Serpent meeting took place on these same riverbanks. And it makes sense that is where we gather now, where I Where I say my goodbye." People give a few awes and whispers. "Jughead, would you step up here, son?"

"Dad, what are you doing?" Jug asks slightly nervous. I watch from the ground wondering what FP could be doing.

"What I should've done a long time ago," He says softy to his son then turns to the crowd now with a raised voice. "I'm retiring from the Serpents. For real this time." A soft uproar of questions flood around the Serpents. All of us wondering why our leader would step down at this time of need. "Whoa." He says raising his arm to calm us down. "But my boy My boy has never stopped fighting for this crew. Hell, he almost died for it. That's why I'm giving you the mantle." I watch like a proud girlfriend cheering loudly.

"Woo Juggy!" I cheer for him. Everyone doing the same. He looks down at me and smiles happily. He loved this gang. This gang was a family to him, to us.

"And now, as your first official duty as Serpent King," FP says as Toni walks forwards with a cherry red Serpent jacket. FP takes it and turns to Jughead. "I think you know what to do with this Take it." Jughead takes it from FP and smirks slightly.

"Wooo yeah!" I cheer amongst everyone else.

"All right. All right," Jughead says settling us all. We shut up as he begins to talk, "All I can say is I love you, Dad. And the Serpents will not die out. Not on my watch." We cheer as Cheryl steps forward. He helps her put on her jacket as she stands with him proudly. Toni and I extremely proud of our significant others. Jug steps from the stage and rejoins me.

"Serpent King huh?" I ask him, "what a title."

"I know," He says, "I hope.. I hope I do good for everyone."

"I have faith that you will lead this group to glorious new heights," I say as I raise my cup, "long live the king?"

"Long live the king," He says taking a drink from his.

*****

As I walk into my house I see Lily sitting at the kitchen table sipping on a drink. "I'm sorry," Lily says as I sit my keys down.

"For?" I ask her.

"Being a shitty guardian. You were right. I was never there," She says.

"No thats not right," I tell her, "you've been there plenty-"

"It wasn't enough. Besides. Fred will take good care of you. I promise," She says, "and when you're an adult. You can come back and live here."

"Why are you leaving?"

"When I was younger... Hiram and I hated each other. I pissed him off and he told me one day I would regret it. And he bought the factory. Fired me. He hires the ghoulies to run us serpents off and I'm tired of fighting for it. I'm tired of fighting for a town I've always wanted to leave."

"I used to want to leave too," I tell her, "but I can't imagine myself anywhere else."

"He better be good to you," Lily says, "I'm leaving tonight."

"Goodbye Lily," I tell her.

"Just promise me you'll be careful," She says, "please."

"I'll be careful." She nods before I walk off to my room. Packing a bag with my clothes that needed to go tonight. As I look around the room I couldn't help but feel sad at what I was leaving. Something so special to me. Yet so ruined for me. I got shot here but so much good happened here. As I finish collecting my things I load it into my truck before looking back at the house. One day I'll be ready to come back and make this place a real home.

*****

"Okay," Fred says as he and Archie meet me at my truck, "I want you too know we spent the last couple hours setting this up for you."

"Alright," I say as they lead me inside.

"The basement," Archie says redirecting me. I nod and follow Fred into the basement. What looked like a new wall had been set up quickly.

"We didn't want you to have to sleep on the couch," Fred says as he opens the door on the wall and leads me inside. Inside there was a large fluffy area carpet thrown on the floor with a bed set up with everything.

"Veronica picked everything out," Archie says.

"Since this is a permanent living situation we wanted you to have some privacy. I've been working on this room for an office- but it felt right to give it to you," Fred says. I smile wiping away a tear from my eye.

"Why are you crying?" Archie asks.

"You both are so fucking sweet," I giggle sounding teary, "I've never really had anyone do anything like this for me."

"You're our family now," Fred says, "just remember that." I sit down my boxes and hug them both.

"You Andrews men are the best."

*****

Archie, Jug, me, and the rest of the gang and various supporters of Fred's campaign collect around the living-room of the Andrews house. All waiting patiently for the election results.

"Hello?" Fred says on the phone causing us all to shut up. "Well, um I appreciate it. Thanks."

"So?" I ask

"Hermione won," Fred sighs looking disappointed.

"I'm sorry, Dad," Archie says.

"You tried your best Fred," I say. A knock on the door interrupts us. I could tell Archie was growing nervous as his dad went to answer the door.

"Dad," Archie says, "dad." Fred pulls open the door to reveal Hermione Lodge.

"Hello, Fred," Hermione says, "May I come in?" He opens the door wider before walking off. She joins us and I scowl at her. Is it wrong to assault the mayor? What charges come with that?

"No," Jug says as if he was reading my mind, "you're going to stay back here. Don't even think of it."

"Was it close, at least?" Fred asks. This poor mans dream was just crushed. And the one who did it, out of personal and selfish monetary reasons, had just strolled in.

"Very. Less than 200 votes," Hermione says.

"We demand a recount!" I exclaim as Jughead pulls me back.

"Y/n no," He says.

"So, what, you came to gloat?" McCoy asks harshly.

"No, Sierra," Hermione says, "I came to tell Fred that he ran a great campaign." We applaud Fred and his campaign as Hermione smiles at Fred. "You did well."

"He did didn't he," I say to her. "If you must be mayor Hermione. Then please remember, there are other people than the Northside."

"I will," She says. I nod trying to act as if I could trust her. I wanted Hermione to do what was right. But I don't know if I can trust her. Or even any of us could. As I look around I suddenly can't find Archie.

"Where is Arch?" I ask Jughead. He shrugs before looking around.

"Headed out. In the mean time. Wanna show me your room?" Jug asks smirking slightly. "Or that overdue revenge sex on Archie's bed."

"Option two?" I ask him, "please. I wanna piss off Archie."

"You're sick," Jughead says, "but is that bad that its kinda turning me on?" I chuckle before seizing his hand and pulling him upstairs.

"Were getting as bad as Varchie," I chuckle as we get to Archie's room. Locking the door behind me.

"We're better than Varchie," He says as he pulls off my shirt. "We're making up for lost time. Me in the hospital, you in the hospital. Its our turn to act like the horny teens. Besides we've had this promise for months."

"Stop talking," I say, "just kiss me."

"Anytime," He says pressing his lips to mine both of us stripping down before falling onto Archie's bed. Add that onto the list of places. Archie's bed. Finally got the damn revenge sex.

****

"Well, here's a fun fact about my newest acquisition," Veronica says as the five of us sit huddled together in a booth at Pops. Apparently Veronica had bought the property with money she got from holding Nick St Clair for ransom. Aka respect. "According to Pop Tate, the basement of this very diner used to be a secret speakeasy, back in the days of flapper dresses and cigarette girls. So-"

"Yes?" Jug asks as she stops talking for a dramatic flair.

"I want to reopen that speakeasy. A cabaret space for world-class entertainment and the most decadent cocktails. A place for North and Southsiders alike. In fact, Jughead, I was hoping your dad might want to manage it. To make sure the Serpents feel welcome and at home," Veronica explains.

"That's amazing, Vee," Betty says.

"That is," I say.

"What about your dad?" Jug asks half curious half upset.

"Knowing Daddy, he's probably plotting some sort of revenge," Veronica says. I push my straw into my drink as we all go quiet. "And Y/n. You're rehired and promoted."

"Thank you Veronica," I say to her, "I promise I won't bum as many milkshakes. But I'm still not cleaning the bathrooms if I can get anyone besides Pop Tate to do it."

"I wouldn't expect anything else," Veronica says. Archie looks over to Jughead whole was smirking at him.

"Why do you keep smirking at me?" Archie asks. I exchange a quick look with Jughead before he looses it. Laughing loudly as the others look lost. "What?"

"You sure you wanna know?" I ask him.

"Yeah," He says.

"We fucked on your bed for revenge for Jughead's birthday party. And stole a condom," I tell him. Betty loses it and Veronica starts to laugh as Archie looks at us in disgust.

"Thats fucking disgusting," Archie says, "on my bed why? Why?"

"Hey at my birthday you had the chance to tell those douche bags to go away and we could of had a good time," Jug says, "but you didn't."

"That was in October its may!" He screams.

"It was well overdue okay!" I say still laughing, "at least we didn't leave the condom. Although that would have been funny and sick so I slightly regret that."

"I can't with you two," Betty says still laughing, "I want to say how immature that is. But the fact that you held a grudge for this long over that and still did it is amazing."

"I just can't believe you actually did it," Veronica snorts.

"Next stop is Archie's car!"

"No!" Archie screams.

"No the next stop is for Y/n and I to go to the five seasons," Jug says, "we'll see you guys later."

"They're gonna do it," Veronica teases, "do you need another condom?"

"Can we not do this? She's like my sister," Archie says. Jughead opens up his wallet pulling out three condoms to piss off Archie.

"We're fine. I have a box in the hotel too," Jug teases.

"And now I'm uncomfortable. Come on Jug," I say he nods turning back to the others again.

"Goodnight guys."

****

The hotel room was so nice. Once we got inside our room I flop down onto the bed and Jug joins me. "Why did you get a hotel room?" I ask him.

"I figured after everything in these last couple months you and me needed this," He says, "we don't have to do anything. We can just cuddle. I just want to be with you."

"God I love you," I say to him as we both sit up on the bed, "I know I say it a lot but damn I do."

"I love you too," He says, "some damn much." I pull off his beanie and start to play with his raven locks. Specially his little curls in the front.

"After everything in our lives. I'm glad I kept holding on to us," I tell him.

"Me too," He says, "I actually wanted to ask you something."

"Yeah?" I ask him.

"Now that I'm serpent king. I was wondering if you'll be my queen?" He asks. I look at him in confusion.

"Meaning?" I ask him, "you aren't like proposing."

"No not yet," He chuckles, "for now its that promise ring." He runs his fingers over the ring. "Do you ever take it off?"

"No often," I admit to him, "It means something to me."

"Good," He says, "No I'm asking you to be with me in the Serpents. My right hand. My Queen. Because in a couple years I wanna replace that ring with a real one."

"I can't wait," I tell him as I cup his cheek. He smiles before placing his lips on mine. Softly and passionately before his hands move to my waist pulling me onto his lap. I could tell he was getting excited. He pulls away nervously.

"I don't want to make you do anything you don't want to," Jug says, "you deserve better than that." I look around the room before settling back onto him.

"Well I mean. Lets not let the room go to waste."

****

The next morning at school Jughead and I were closer than ever. The Serpent King and Queen on campus, in love and happy after the shit show that had been out lives. Which lead to us being in the gym to watch Archie get sworn in as Student Council President. "Students, faculty and staff, before we inaugurate Archie Andrews as our new student council president, please rise for our national anthem," Weatherbee announces. Josie walks to the mic to sing as we all get up in respect.

"Oh, say Can you see By the dawn's early light What so proudly we hailed At the twilight's last gleaming Whose broad stripes And bright stars,"Josie sings as the doors open revealing cops walking to Archie. "Through the perilous fight - Or the ramparts We watched Were so gallantly streaming-" They cuff Archie.

"Sheriff Minetta, what are you doing?" Archie asks.

"Archie Andrews, you're under arrest for the murder of Shadow Lake resident, Cassidy Bullick," Minetta says.

"What?" Archie asks, "- I didn't kill him."

"You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law. You have the right to an attorney-" Minetta says as they lead Archie out the doors. I look across my friends all in confusion.

Why would Archie Andrews be arrested for murder?

<end>