"WHY DID YOU WANT TO TO GATHER US IN THE LIVING ROOM?" Alice Cooper was the first to ask as to why the former members of the Midnight Club were all seated in her living room at this very moment.

    "I've gathered you here today because I wanted to discuss the things that were currently going on in Riverdale with the game Gryphons and Gargoyles right now," Marla spoke first. The room was then filled with groans and eye-rolls. So much for being adults.

    "We've told you and our kids not to worry about this game. Everyone's done everything they can to put the game to rest," Hermione Lodge pointed out.

    Marla's shoulders slumped before getting upset. "Clearly, the game isn't 'at rest' anymore with all of these people dropping dead like it's no big deal! You guys of all people know the effects and the outcome of this game! Now why won't you help us?"

    "Because it's not a child's position to even begin investigating this game," Penelope piped up, "if we get everyone to stop playing, then it'll all blow over."

    "There's not a single chance of this game blowing over if we don't take this seriously, Penelope."

     "Betty, will you please keep your adamant lover on a leash?"

    Betty gripped Marla's shoulders and backed her away. Alice's eyebrows rose. "Excuse me. Did Mrs. Blossom just say 'lover'?"

    "Grill me later, Mom," Betty shut her down before Alice had a chance to ask anything before turning to Marla. "And will you calm down?"

    Marla nodded and Betty let her go. What she said next is what got everyone's attention. "What if I told you that I knew who the Gargoyle King was when you guys were back in high school?"

    The room went silent before Penelope let out a huff of a laugh. "Like you know who could've been there under that mask."

     "My mom was there. She told me. It was my dad who was under that mask. Granted that I've never met him, my mom had kept his Gargoyle King mask in a box in the attic. It's not there anymore. Because she went out and burned it."

    They all looked at one another. "How can we tell that you're not lying?" Hermione asked. 

    Marla scoffed, clearly getting agitated with everyone that was in the room. "Why would I lie about this?"

    "Okay. Timeout for you. To the kitchen." Betty began backing her into the kitchen. "Get it together, will you?" she asked Marla when they finally got to the kitchen. "They're not gonna help us if you keep yelling at them."

    "They don't seem to believe me so I don't see the point. I say we just go on with the case behind their backs like we've always been doing." Marla shrugged.

Betty rolled her eyes, faux-annoyed. "What am I gonna do with you, Mars?"

    "You love me and my smart ass and you know it."

    "I do."

So the group conversation with the OG Midnight Club had been a bust and Betty and Marla were back to working on the case by themselves. The two of them were sitting in Betty's bedroom, papers sprawled all over the bed—it had come from the box of information they gathered over the course of the past few weeks they were working on the case.

     "This is ridiculous," Marla groaned, "I'm pretty sure I've gone through this box at least a dozen times. It's like opening the fridge multiple times, knowing damn well there's gonna be nothing good in there but secretly hoping that something's gonna pop up."

     "You wanna take a break?" Betty suggested, moving the box and papers aside. Marla nodded and leaned back against Betty's bedframe. "I think I might be getting carpal tunnel."

    Betty let out a light laugh. "Been working yourself to the bone, huh?"

    "I guess so. Hey, did your mom ever grill you about us dating?"

     "Yeah. She did," Betty trailed off for a moment before continuing, "um, she wondered why I was going out with you. There were so many nicer girls and boys out there and I decided to date you."

     Marla let out a breath. "Wow. At least she wasn't homophobic about it. Condescending on my behalf, but anyway. What'd you tell her?"

    Another moment of silence before Betty spoke up. "That you make me happy, Mars. That you make me really happy."

    Marla sat up and took Betty's hands into her own. "You make me happy, too, Bets."

    Betty rose a eyebrow. "Marla McQueen actually has feelings? Who knew this day would come."

    "And the moment is ruined."

    "I was kidding."

    "I know."

Marla and Betty walked into school the following day holding hands, like it was something they did everyday. That's how natural it felt, to have their hands intertwined like it was an everyday occurrence. Like they were meant for each other.

    "Someone looks happy," Veronica commented, smirking and looking between the blonde and the brunette sitting across from her during lunch. The two of them just smiled.

    "I'm happy," Betty replied, before pointing to Marla, "I'm not sure about grumpy pants over here but I think she is, too."

    Marla rested her head on Betty shoulders before jokingly deadpanning with, "I'm never happy."

    Betty turned her head to press a kiss on top of Marla's. That got Marla to elicit a small smile.

    "You guys are so cute, it almost makes me sick," said Veronica, "almost."

    "We try."

𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑'𝐒 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄 .｡.:* 

short update as i haven't updated this in almost seven months, yikes

i lost a lot of inspiration for this fic as i've stopped watching riverdale and i don't remember

a n y  of the plot lines so who knows ? i might au it all the way to the end

gonna put this on hold for the time being until i can try to get some of my inspo back !!

if worse comes to worst, i'll discontinue this fic

let's hope it doesn't get to that