Y/N PoV
I look over at my boyfriend sitting in our booth at Pop's. His cheek has scabbed over from the punch Chuck delivered to him. "And all this time, I thought you were a lover, not a fighter."

"I'm both. I've got layers." Jughead sits both of his arms on the table and folds them. He leans back into the seat, "Betty was doing something nice, it's just sometimes, when people do nice things for me I short circuit. Maybe I'm not used to it. Maybe I'm scared. Of getting hurt. Or being rejected for being myself."

"I should have told you about the Serpents and Chuck. But I lied. And instead I didn't stop this party you didn't even want."

"Why didn't you stop it?" He leans towards me more and sets his hands in his lap.

"Something is very, very wrong with me. Like there's this darkness in me that's overwhelming sometimes and I bet it comes from my dad. But I think that's what makes me do these crazy things. Like..." I hold out my palm with the snake bite on it. Toni told me it will probably be there for life which isn't bad just annoying.

Jughead sighs at the sight of it. He grabs both of my hands and folds them together bringing them to his face. Jug kisses my hands and stares at them contently.

I give him a kiss on the lips and lean my forehead against his. I lay against him and he holds me rubbing my arm lightly.

Jughead is right. He has layers but so do I.

**Time Skip**
Veronica walks down the stairs quietly carrying her Louis Vuitton heals letting them swing. She makes it down looking at the door but her eyes wander to the corner Jughead and I are sitting in.

"Veronica. Hey, good morning." Jughead sets down the coffee mug.

"Morning, Jughead. Y/N." She laughs, "Um, so listen."

He types something into his laptop, "Don't..don't worry, my lips are sealed."

"Mine might be as long as I don't hear about what went on in that room." I take a drink of the bitter black coffee.

"Okay. Cool." Ronnie leaves us to enjoy our morning.

I am drawing Hot Dog smiling running in a field of daisies. That dog might be owned by a biker gang but he is far from tough. Hot Dog is the opposite of everything Serpent.

Archie comes downstairs with a big smile. He grabs a mop and goes to the kitchen to clean it up.

We go to the kitchen as well and sit at the island watching Archie clean up his mistake. He coughs from the sharp smell of alcohol on the floor.

"Long night's journey into day." Jughead is eating some of the birthday cake for breakfast.

Archie's phone rings and he sighs. It's no doubt Fred checking in on us. He declines the call, "I can't face the music right now."

"Yeah I understand. So you and Veronica?" He gives his brother a smug smile.

"Yeah. Jug? Y/N."

"Don't worry. I'm never telling anyone anything literally ever." Jughead takes a drink from the carton of milk.

"Okay. Good. Thanks, that's great!" He laughs and continues on mopping.

"You might not be as lucky with me Archie." I couldn't resist the cake anymore so I just eat it for my breakfast.

Archie rolls his eyes at me and cleans.

**Time Skip**
B-Hey are you free?

Y/I-Yes but since it's you asking that's a no.

B-Please Y/N. Meet in the Blue&Gold. It's really important apparently.

Y/I-Apparently? Fine but this better not be about another party.

"I got to go Juggie. Betty needs me in the Blue and Gold because it's important. Whatever that means." I sigh unhappily.

"That sucks. So I'll see you in class later?"

"Wouldn't miss it." I get up from my chair and give Jughead a kiss on the cheek, "See ya."

He smiles at me as I leave the lounge. When I get to the Blue&Gold, Alice and Betty are going through a bunch of documents. Veronica is also there just as confused as me, "Oh, finally, close that door." Alice demands.

I shut the door and lean on one of the many desks in front of the woman.

"Ladies, I need you to look around the room. Whoever is not in this room is on the table as a possible murder suspect including those Pussycats."

"Oh my god, mom." Betty shakes her head. I can tell she is unsurprised because this is something Alice would do any day.

"Two questions, where is Jughead and where is Archie?" I ask. The paper clips that where on the floor earlier are still there, it's a mess in here.

"They are also on the table. Now, let's talk about your father." She turns to Veronica while crossing her arms sternly.

"He has an epic grudge against the Blossoms, so yes. He is totally in the realm of possibility that he hired someone from jail to kill Jason. Maybe Jughead's dad." Ronnie looks over at me with a forgiving look.

I scoff, "You really believe that? I know FP. He wouldn't do something like this!"

"My dad paid Jughead's dad to trash the drive-in. Maybe he paid him to-."

"Commit murder and for all we know, that gay Greaser Serpent is an accomplice." Alice interrupts her.

"And what are you basing that off of? That you saw FP and Joaquin talking?" Betty purses her lips together angrily.

"It didn't look like they where talking. It looked like they where conspiring." She says happily.

"Conspiring about what?" I pick up a paper clip and bend it into various shapes. It's satisfying.

"That's what I need you to find out. Either through Jughead or FP directly, without raising suspicion, of course." She walks over behind a desk. Alice holds up a piece of paper. "Which is why I have prepared a seemingly innocent list of questions."

I get up and walk towards her angrily, "I already asked Jughead, point-blank, if he thought his father had anything to do with Jason's death, and he said no. And I believed him, and I still believe him."

"Y/N you're too close to this."

"I'm not going to insult Jughead or betray him by entertaining this. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a Homecoming dance to help Betty plan. Come on, V and Betty, lets go." I grab my bag then leave the office with the girls right behind me, "Come on Betty lets get to the gym to set up for the dance."

"Sure." Betty and I arrive at the gym. The two of us start to hang up decorations and set up everything.

I am almost done with my part when my handsome boyfriend comes in with a big box of lights. "Hey, you." I walk over to him. "Why didn't you tell me about the dinner?" He asks.

"What?"

"Betty's mom basically tackled me in the hall to invite my dad, you, and I over before the dance." I scrunch my eyebrows together in confusion, "Did you not know?"

"No, no, of course, I've just, you know, got so many..." I gesture the the gym, "Plates are spinning."

"I'm a little terrified about the social experiment of it all, but I think it's good for my dad to get to know you better. I think it's important, for us. You know?"

I give him a light smile, "Yeah."

He sets the box of lights down on the ground, "Lets go get lunch. You must be starving."

"Not as much as you, I'm guessing." I hold his hand as we make our way to get our lunches. After we do, Jughead takes me to the table full of our friends and sadly Cheryl.

"Sorry to interrupt, but I have an announcement to make. One that tangentially involves you, Betty. I'm bringing Polly to the dance as my date, and we're campaigning as co-queens of Homecoming Court." Cheryl stands like a statue with nothing showing through. No emotion in her eyes or words. I can't tell if running for co-Queen amuses her or if she hated it.

"Because why?" Betty asks.

"Because, Nightmare Smurfette, by all rights, it should've been Polly and Jason on that stage being crowned. This is the next best thing. So, don't forget to vote, and I'll see everyone at my coronation!" She says cheerfully then leaves with some pep in her step.

"Betty, Y/N. About the Homecoming Dance, can I play a couple songs? I kind of told my mom that..."

Betty gives him some kind of weird glance. Archie furrows his eyebrows, "Whoa, you don't want to me to?"

"No, no it's not that, Archie, it's just, um this dance needs to be fun. And your songs, as amazing as they are.."

Jughead intervenes, "Make you want to slit your wrists.

I elbow him under the table, "In a good way, Arch."

"In an amazing way. But no need to fret Betty and Y/N, cause Archie asked me to sing with him, and we are thinking about doing some upbeat covers." Veronica nods and gives Betty a couple glances.

Archie looks at her, "We are?"

"Aren't we?"

"Oh um yeah. I forgot for a second." Archie begins to eat his food again and I do the same.

Now that music is checked off my to do list, the next thing is to yell at Alice for inviting us to a dinner. She has something planned, I know it.

**time skip**
I burst into the Coopers home and walk towards the kitchen to find Alice. She is making a pie when I get there. "I know what you're doing, Alice!"

"Whatever do you mean? I'm making peach pie for my guests." She is acting innocent, almost too innocent.

"No, you're laying out some kind of trap for Jughead's dad." I cross my arms and stare into her eyes.

"On the contrary, Y/N, I took what you said earlier to heart." She lays more of the crust into a pattern on the pie. It looks mouth watering.

"So you're not going to question Jughead or his dad about the murder then?"

"I mean, only if it happens to come up as casual dinner conversation." Alice gives me a smile and walks over to the sink.

"I'm not playing this game with you! And neither is Jughead, not after I tell him what you're planning here." I gesture to the pie then grab one of the leftover peaches on the counter and eat it.

"Are you sure, that's a good idea, Y/N? When I invited Jughead, he seemed so excited. Like it really meant a lot to him that his dad is gonna get to know you better. That's all I'm after."

I eat some more of the peaches. Curse this delicious pie! "FP is innocent, Alice. Jughead said so, and I trust him."

"I'm sure the question of FP's guilt or innocence won't even come up at dinner." She smiles brightly and starts to clean up the pie, back facing me. I take this as my goodbye so I leave the Coopers.

**Time Skip**
"Can we talk, Y/N?" Jughead is holding me in my bed. It's late but neither of us could sleep.

"Of course." I turn around to face him, "What's up?"

"My dad shaved. Which is the equivalent of tectonic plates shifting. I was thinking, maybe it's time I go back and live with him again for real this time." He scans my face for any hint on what I'm thinking.

What I'm thinking is selfish. I would love for Jughead to be able to be home with his dad but I don't want him to go. I enjoy him staying in my bed with me and cuddling. It helps me sleep. "That would be amazing."

"Really?"

"Really Juggie. It would be great for you to go back home. I would just miss you that's all."

He gives me a small kiss, "I'll miss you too and I'm sure I will be able to sneak you in."

I laugh at him, "That works. We should probably get to sleep."

He nods and we slowly drift off into a night full of slumber.

**Time Skip-I am really lazy today**
"Super delicious, Mrs.C." Jughead is practically inhaling the food Alice made for dinner.

As for me, I've been studying everything to give me any idea what Alice's plan is. So far she has been very natural with no hints about FP's possible guilt.

"Sure is Alice. Been a long time since I ate something that didn't come in a combo meal or snack pack." FP is happily eating as well.

Alice takes a seat and start to eat, "So FP, Betty tells me that you're working for Fred Andrews now. How do you balance that with all of your other responsibilities?"

"You mean like being a father?" He asks calmly.

"And being a part of the Southside community?"

"Alice." I whisper yell at her. The bomb is being dropped.

"You can say Southside Serpent Alice, I'm not ashamed and neither is Y/N I hope."

I give him a big smile, "I'm not. The Serpents are great people especially Toni Topaz. Sweet Pea isn't bad either."

He nods, "She's a good kid so is Pea. And it's not just me, there's a bunch of us working on Fred's site."

"So, if you don't mind me asking, I mean, I'm just curious, how did you make your living before that?" Alice passes a bowl full of rolls over to Jughead as he has already ate about 5 of them.

"I scraped by. Odd jobs."

"I know that you worked for the drive-in, Jughead, before it was closed." She gives him a sympathetic look, "Did you find work there, too, FP?"

Jughead looks over at me with an uncomfortable look on his face, "Dad?"

FP continues to eat, "Well, hung out a bit. What can I say? I'm a movie buff."

We all laugh quietly and Jughead gives me a smile. He looks better than a second ago luckily.

"So, tell me, were you upset when Hiram Lodge bought the drive-in land?" The table goes quiet as she speaks.

He finally says something to clear the tension, "Stuff happens."

"Let me rephrase that question. Were you surprised?" By now the tension is building and nobody says anything. Thankfully, the doorbell rings and Betty gets up to get it.

I can hear her talking to what must be a man. She lets him in as I take a drink. When I see Hal, I cover my mouth to keep my laughter in. This is going to be so fun!

"I thought you said she wanted me to be here?" Hal whispers to Betty because of Alice's angry look.

Everybody but Alice stands up. Betty smiles, "She does. I mean it's Homecoming and our families should be coming together. Right, mom?"

Finally everybody sits but me, "Did you invite my dad because if so I better be getting to the dance." I can't see him after the emancipation.

"Don't worry Y/N. He's not coming. I won't let him." Jughead gives me a warm smile and his dad gives him a small glance.

I sit back down and continue eating silently. The awkward tension returns as Hal finally breaks the eerie quiet, "I'm hoping maybe you have some vacancies down at Sunnyside. You see, I've been sleeping in my office down at the paper, and it's just getting a little chilly at night."

"I bet your office beats the trailer park." FP sets down his fork and puts his arm on the back of Jug's chair.

"I wouldn't be so sure." He laughs, "You see, Alice here, she's been redecorating the Register. The other day, she threw a brick through the window.."

"Keep talking, Hal, and the next brick I throw may not be at a window." Alice sets down her glass with a big thud once it meets the table.

Jughead and I glance at each other with smug looks on our faces. It's funny for me and him at least.

"You remember our Homecoming, Alice? Hal? Back in the day? Castle in the Clouds. Your mom ever tell you about that night?" FP asks Betty.

"Just that she and my dad were king and queen."

"Yeah, they where. Of hell."

Jughead looks at his dad unhappy, "Dad, please."

"No, this is a fun story, I promise. Fred and me, we were all set to play at the dance. I was backstage, dropping off our gear when I hear these voices yelling. It was your mom and dad. They were fighting about...about I don't know what. But it sounded like life or death."

Alice's nose flares and she looks at him angrily, "Shut up, FP."

"Happy to oblige if you are. I don't care what you think of me, Alice, but don't jerk me around. Not in front of my son." FP stares her down angrily.

Jughead looks down at the ground as Betty tries to save this, "This was such a nice idea, mom, but I think it's time that we get to the dance. So is it ok if we skip the peach pie?" She gets up with Jughead, FP, and I.

Alice doesn't try to stop us so we leave. FP gives us a ride to the dance and Betty gets out quickly. She doesn't want to be around this anymore. I get out with Jughead. "You be a gentleman tonight, okay?" FP tells his son.

"He always is Mr.Jones." I stand under the umbrella with Jughead.

"Y/N, would you mind giving us a minute?" Jughead hands me the umbrella.

"No, of course, take your time Juggie." I grab it, "Thank you."

Jug gets back into the car with his dad as I wait on the steps for him. I look at the rain falling down on the umbrella and remember dancing in the rain with Jughead. I loved standing in the wet trying to forget about my whole life until little Jug started dance with me. He was such a cute boy back then and now he is the same maybe even cuter. Soon enough he gets out of the car and joins me. "Hey."

"Hey, how did that go?" I ask.

"Not exactly what I expected but ok. Could we maybe talk about something later, together? It has to do with my dad."

I hold the umbrella over him so his tux doesn't get too wet, "Yes, it's all okay, right?"

"Everything is great, I just wanna figure something out together babe." He uses my new favorite nickname. Every time it leaves his lips my heart beat picks up.

We walk in and talk with Kevin my the food table. I see Ronnie and Archie talking to Alice or as she would say, they were conspiring. They walk over to us suspiciously, "Where were you guys?" Betty raises her eyebrows.

"We stopped..we stoped at Pops." Archie shoves his hands into his pockets nervously.

"And what were you just talking to my mom about?"

"Betty. Y/N.." Veronica whispers guilty.

"Guys, can we table this? We gotta get ready. Come on." Arch grabs V's hand and takes her over to the stage with him.

Jughead wraps his arm around my waist as Mayor McCoy introduces Archie and Veronica. They get on stage and start to sing with some moments that don't seem so friendly. I can see the looks they give each other, my brother and best friend are in love! When they finish their upbeat song I excuse myself and take them and Betty into the hall.

"What is going on?" I cross my arms and look at the three angrily.

Veronica uncrosses my arms and looks at the ground, "Before you get mad, let me explain."

"Explain what? That your working with Alice behind my back?" I ask.

"I'm sorry, Y/I, but you know FP had some kind of arrangement with my dad. I had to make sure it wasn't about Jason Blossom."

I look at Archie, "And what's your excuse?"

"I was looking out for Jughead in case FP was doing shady stuff. To protect him." He looks at Ronnie for help.

Veronica sighs, "Blame me, Y/N. I asked Archie to help me. Betty didn't know."

I ball my hands into fists, "Help you do what? What did you two do?"

Footsteps can be hear behind me, "Guys? Y/N?" Jughead reaches us which a frown, "What's going on? Why do I feel like I'm suddenly left out?"

I turn back around to look at them, "Do you want to tell him or should I?"

"Tell me what?"

Archie walks past me with Veronica, "We went to your dad's trailer to.."

"To search it, Jughead." Veronica gives him a sad nod. She looks down at the ground ashamed of what she did.

"Why would you guys do that?" He asks.

Betty joins them, "My mom put them up to it. She was convinced he was hiding something about Jason."

V interrupts to save this, "We where wrong. All of us. We didn't find anything."

"And Jug we were only doing it to prove that."

Jughead narrows his eyes, infuriated at how stupid and unforgiving the problem is. "That my dad wasn't a murderer? You want behind my back Archie? How did you..when did you guys know to go to my dads trailer?"

"We knew he'd be at dinner with-" she stops as Jughead turns around. I stroll over to him and put my arm on his shoulder. He turns around, "That's why Alice invited my dad and I to dinner? So these two could break into my-his trailer while she interrogated him?"

"No, I didn't know what they were doing. But yes, that is why she invited you guys." I step closer to him with tears beginning to well up in my eyes.

"To think I was gonna pass on moving to Toledo with my family for you."

"What?" My eyes get bigger and a single tear slips down my cheek.

"When we went to my dad's trailer, you asked me if I believed him. I said I did. Wasn't that good enough for you?"

I reach for his hand but he pulls it way from me, "It was. I tried to stop her. I promise."

"You could've told me, you could've warned me about this." He shakes his head at me.

"You were so excited Jug. I didn't want to disappoint you." More tears escape my eyes. I put my hand on the back of his neck.

"So instead you lied? You all lied to me?"

"I'm sorry Juggie, I wish I didn't because I lo-"

I get interrupted by Kevin running down the hall with a bunch of other people. "There they are!"

Everybody starts saying different things until Fred says the words nobody wants to hear, "FP was just arrested. For the murder of Jason Blossom."

Jughead stares at the wall until he runs out of the hallway. I follow him out of the building chasing after him. He is fast so I start to lose him down the block. It's no use. I stop and immediately get into Fred's car to go find him.

I check Pops, the police station, his dads trailer, and even my room but he's not there. At this point I have no idea what to do so I go back home and call him a million times. Every time I hear voicemail and none of my texts are read. I go to the Coopers to have a word with the witch.

"Kevin said somebody tipped off his dad! Was it you!" I yell once I see her in the living room on the couch with a smirk.

"I was at the dance, Y/N."

"Answer the damn question and don't lie! Was it you?" I pace in front of her trying to cool myself down.

Alice thinks for a moment, "It was not. But I'm glad that your safe. And as much as I like Jughead, I am so glad you're done with that family."

"Done? I love Jughead! He's as much my family as Archie is, more so right now. Also stop acting like my mom because you don't even come close to my real one." I finally calm down a bit so I stop pacing and look at her. I then start to walk out.

"Where are you going, young lady?"

"I am going to go look for Jughead. Do not push me tonight, Alice, because I will push back." I grab my purse and leave. Fred's car is parked in the drive way with Archie at the wheel. I get in the passenger seat, "I'm not gonna speak to you just drive me to Pops right now."

He obeys me and drives me there. We get out and I run up to Pop Tate, "Pop, Jughead hasn't been by, has he?"

"Nope. You're not the only one who's come looking for him." He gestures over to a booth with Betty, Veronica, and Archie who joined them sitting at it. They stand up and come towards me. "Y/N. Thank goodness." Veronica starts.

"We were gonna call you." Betty stands next to V with a pleading expression.

"I'm not talking to you, any of you, ever again."

Veronica puts her hand up to stop me from speaking, "Its about Jughead. Kevin called me and he said his dad found a gun, the gun the killed Jason, in a lockbox in FP's closet."

"But Y/N, we searched FP's trailer. We looked thought that closet. And there was no lockbox." Archie's tone turns more serious, "Someone put it there after we left. Somebody planted the gun. Jason's murder weapon, in a closet in FP's trailer. It wasn't there when we searched for it. He's being framed, Y/N."

"Well maybe you didn't see it."

"We're not talking about the Vogue closet here, Y/I." Veronica shakes her head.

"Well, maybe you looked in the wrong one!" I tell them.

"It's a trailer! There is literally one closet! There was no lockbox. No gun. Whatever Sheriff Keller is saying he found, it wasn't there."

Archie glances between me and Ronnie several times, "Look, we need to tell Jughead his dad's innocent. Where is Jughead?"

"I don't know. I tried calling him. I left him messages. He's not answering his phone." I look at the ground feeling like this is all my fault.

"In the mean time should we talk to Sheriff Keller?" Betty suggests.

"No. Not until we tell our parents." Archie's plan sucks but everybody else's plans also suck.

Veronica looks at him with wide eyes, "That we broke into FP's trailer?"

"Our dad will know what to do, right Y/N?" He puts his hand on Ronnies shoulder to stop her from worrying.

"Fine lets go."

We leave the diner and go back to the Andrew's house. They discussed everything while I go downstairs to change into some jeans and a t-shirt. I walk upstairs to see Ronnie and Hermione gone. I go to the kitchen for some food.

Archie saunters in behind me, "I'm worried about Jug."

"Me too. Where else could he be?" Then the aha moment dawns on me, "Bus station? Oh god he got a bus ticket to Toledo didn't he." I put my back of chips down, "We need to go before he leaves town."

He nods in agreement and we get into the truck. I drive us to the bus station but nobody is in sight. The lights are off with not a soul on the benches surrounding the building. Ronnie calls him and I sit down on the bench to wait. "Let's try Pops again." He suggests after he hangs up.

I sigh lightly but get into the truck anyways then drive us to Pops for the third time this night. Veronica joins us as we walk into the dinner. I scan the room and I see him in the corner of the restaurant with a cup of coffee. "Told you." V smiles at Archie.

"Jug! God I was so worried." I run over to him and sit at the end of the booth. "We're so sorry about everything."

"Juggie, we screwed up. We all did. Breaking into your dad's trailer was wrong, but at least some good came out of it." Archie leans on the table.

"Pretty sure my dad was just arrested for murder." His eyes are wet with tears and he doesn't take his eyes off the window. I put my hand over his to try and comfort him. Jughead doesn't resist.

"That gun wasn't there when we searched his trailer. Someone put it there after we left."

This gets his attention. He looks at me then over to Ronnie, "What are talking about?"

"He's being framed." I whisper.

Jughead thinks for a second but then turns back to me. "Okay. Let's get to the police station."

We all nod and go to the truck. I take them to the station where FP is being questioned at this very minute. The whole time Jughead doesn't stop holding my hand.

Once I park, everybody gets out quickly and goes in. Ronnie finds the Sheriff, "We need to talk to you about FP. He's being framed!"

"Then how come he just confessed?" Keller looks behind him.

FP is being hauled away in handcuffs to jail. I look at Jughead and see the anger written all over his face. Then a tear falls down his cheek and I hug him tightly. I try to calm him down with some luck. Jug cries into my shirt for a minute. It hurts to see the person you love be in pain. His heart is breaking and I can't glue it back together again. He pulls away. "Can we just go home?"

"Yes. Come on."

Our group goes back to the car. I drop everyone at home. Afterwards, Jughead and I go down to my room. "How are you holding up?" I ask once we reach the basement.

"My dad murdered somebody and is in jail so I'm not the best." Jug lays down on my bed.

I nod and go to lay next to him. "I'm really sorry I didn't stop Veronica and Archie. That was a real shitty move."

"It's okay. I'm sorry I got so mad." He pulls me on top of him. Jughead embraces me, "I shouldn't of taken my anger out on you."

I put my hand on his cheek, "You have every right to be mad. It's not fair. So you said you passed on Toledo for me? Why?"

"All I have wanted is for my family to be back together but not anymore. I just need you. I can't leave you not now and I don't think I can." He kisses my forehead.

"I need you with me too." We take a pause from all the talking and just stare into each other's eyes. "Do you wanna change?"

"Soon. I just wanna be here with you for a while." He turns so he is spooning me. Jughead said he would change later but with the night we've had we fall asleep.