//

"Thicker than blood. More precious than oil. Riverdale's big business is maple syrup. Since the town's founding, one family has controlled its lucrative syrup trade, the Blossoms. They were a part of the fabric of our daily lives Rich or poor, old or young, we consumed Blossom syrup by the bucket. That sickly, sweet smell was inescapable. The death of Jason Blossom precipitated a crisis. With the heir apparent gone, who would inherit the family business one day? Certainly not Cheryl. It was a question that brought the wolves to Riverdale. And now, the Blossoms were circling the wagons against possible attack, from within their own ranks."

Ricky sat across from Betty in her room as she spoke, "Polly won't answer my calls or e-mails. I mean, I get that she doesn't want to talk to my dad, but what did I do wrong?"

"Nothing," Ricky answered. "We'll figure it out. Okay?"

"Okay," Betty agreed.

Ricky smiled before leaning over and planting his lip on Betty's.

Only a second later, Alice barged in, practically slamming the door open which startled the boy and made Ricky jump away from Betty, falling off the bed.

"Up and at 'em, breakfast is ready," Alice told them before glancing down at Ricky with a smile almost as if she was pleased he feared her. "Hello, Ricky."

Ricky silently waved at her, scared to move from his spot on the floor.

"I'm not hungry," Betty replied.

"Oh, enough is enough, Elizabeth, we have a big week ahead of us. The Blossoms have always been a thorn in our side, ever since, according to your milquetoast father, Great-Grandpappy Blossom killed Great-Grandpappy Cooper. Well, it's about time someone brings them to heel. I'm writing a searing, no-holds-barred takedown of their clan."

"And you think that's going to bring Polly home?" Betty asked with a very doubtful tone.

"Maybe, maybe not, but it'll make me feel better," Alice stated. "Word has it that the Blossom board of trustees has descended upon Riverdale like a cabal of vampires. Why? Now, that's a story. I just need to find a way in." She clapped. "So come down for breakfast, both of you."

Ricky raised his hand. "Uh, Mrs. Cooper. I already ate," he said.

"Oh, I wasn't asking," Alice told him before exiting the room.

Once she did, Ricky sat back on the bed. "Betty, your mom scares me," he spoke to her.

Betty chuckled. "It's my mom. She scares everyone."

***

The next day at school, Ricky bought a bag of chips from the vending machine as he and Jughead were walking down the halls.

"Okay, if you could read only one novel for the rest of your life, what would it be?" Ricky asked.

Jughead scoffed and took a few of Ricky's chips when Ricky offered. "Seriously? Of all the questions you could've asked, you chose one of the most bland question ever."

"I'm a very bland boy with very bland questions," Ricky responded. "Now, answer choosing from the books I list off. Twilight-"

"That's an automatic no," Jughead cuts off, chewing on the chips.

"Let me finish," Ricky chuckled. "Sherlock Holmes: A Study in Scarlet..." Ricky smiled cheekily at that because that was his favorite series as a kid. "Or The Shining."

"The Shining," Jughead answered. "Because it's a classic Stephen King novel and you can never go wrong with a classic."

"Usually, I'd argue but you make a good point, Forsythe," Ricky stated as they entered the student lounge.

"Just in time, we're celebrating," Veronica told them.

"Archie was just telling us how he's going to some super-exclusive music program this summer," Kevin added.

Ricky sat on the couch's arm next to his brother, still chewing on chips. "Wow. Is that true?" he asked.

"Maybe," Archie answered. "If it happens, though, it would be huge for me."

"Do you have to audition for it?" Jughead asked.

"Well, not exactly. Mrs. Blossom came by earlier and said she'd put a good word in for me."

Ricky, Kevin, and Veronica all spoke at the same time.

"Yikes."

"Amazing."

"Terrifying."

"What's she getting out of it?" Jughead asked.

"I told her I'd take Cheryl to their family's tree-tapping thing. I already talked to Valerie, and she's cool with it," Archie answered.

"Cool with you being a gigolo now?" Jughead sassed.

"I'm doing someone a favor for my music, Jughead. I need to make connections outside of Riverdale."

That's the way of the world. It's all about connections," Ronnie stated.

Archie stated before nudging Ricky's knee. "Bro, help me out here? You've been studying music longer than I have if there was an opportunity for you-"

"I'd just do it for Cheryl, no matter how great I want to do in music," Ricky admitted, he raised his hand up as Archie was about to speak. "If it were anyone else that I actually trusted that wasn't Penelope and Clifford Blossom, I would take it but it's...them. They always want more."

"But Jughead and Ricky are right," Veronica added. "These kinds of favors always come with a price tag. Betty, back me up here."

"I think it's a great idea," Betty said.

"Thank you, Betty," Archie told her while he sent Ricky his mean big brother look, his younger sibling just rolled his eyes sassily back.

"Yeah, and while you're there, would you talk to Polly for me?" Betty asked Archie. "I just want to make sure she's okay."

"Definitely."

"Thank you."

"And don't worry, Ronnie, I can take care of myself," Archie told her.

"Famous last words, Archiekins," Veronica replied before taking a bite of her fruit.

***

Later that day, Ricky went to the Pembrooke with Veronica, Kevin, Betty, and Ethel. Hermione made them all some food.

"Mrs. Lodge, this Quiche Lorraine is to die for," Kevin told Hermione.

"It's absolutely amazing," Ricky added. "It's very different from what my dad or I cook but it's amazing."

Hermione smiled at the boy. "Thank you, Ricky."

Veronica noticed Ethel's plate was still full. "Ethel, you haven't eaten at all."

Ethel placed her fork down. "Oh. Sorry. I just I'm not really hungry."

"Anything we can help with?" Ricky asked her.

Ethel glanced at the boy from across the table before admitting, "Uh, my parents All they do is yell at each other."

"My parents are fighting right now, too. It's terrible," Betty says sadly which caused Ricky to place his hand on hers which she sent him a smile to reassure him that she was okay.

"I think my dad had some bad luck with our savings," Ethel continued. "Now my mom says we're going to have to sell the house. My dad is just so...crushed. I wish there was something I could do to help him."

"Girl, we have a lot more in common than I thought," Veronica said. "We lost our place at the Dakota. Look, being ruined sucks. But you have your family and you have us. You've got this, Ethel Muggs."

Hermione's expression fell. "'Muggs'?" she questioned.

"Uh, it's Dutch," Ethel explained. "We lost the third 'G' when my Grandpa Manfred came over."

***

Later, Ricky was at the Cooper home as Archie explained how Polly was doing to Alice and Betty.

Ricky grew worried when Alice grabbed a very sharp knife from the kitchen drawer just to cut a cherry pie.

"Who would've predicted this?" Alice spoke as she stabbed into the pie. "Archie Andrews is our fox in the henhouse."

"Tell us about Polly," Betty asked. "How is she? Did she seem okay?"

"The Blossoms are treating her great. But, Betty, I don't think she's coming back. I don't think she wants to," Archie stated.

"Wait, that doesn't make any sense," Ricky spoke.

"That's not Polly," Betty agreed.

"She made her choice," Alice stated as Alice moved her knife towards Ricky that was holding his slice of pie. Instinctively, he moved back but his movement wasn't noticeable. "We have to learn to live with that."

"No. I know my sister. She wouldn't do that to us. Something else is going on," Betty replied.

"What else did you see, Archie?" Ricky asked.

"When you were in the sticky, red thick of it? Anything about the board?" Alice asked.

"Cheryl said that they're worried that after all the scandal with Jason and Polly, that they might try and steal the company from Mr. Blossom," Archie admitted.

"Well, do you hear that, Betty?" Alice asked. "This is our story. A hostile takeover. No wonder the trustees are in town. The Blossom empire is crumbling."

"Okay, but, Mom, if you write a story attacking them while Polly's still in Thornhill-"

Alice cut her off. "Enough about Polly. I mean it. She's the one that betrayed us, not the other way around."

Ricky leaned towards Betty whispering, "If you want, we can talk to Cheryl tomorrow about Polly. She'll talk if I'm around."

"That sounds great, thank you," Betty whispered back.

"Ricky, less talking and more eating. You're getting too thin," Alice told Ricky.

Ricky complied, hurriedly grabbing his fork. "Yes, ma'am," he replied.

***

The next day at school, Ricky walked towards Cheryl who was sitting with Vixens as Betty and Jughead followed Ricky.

"Cheryl, can we talk?" Ricky asked the redhead.

Cheryl nodded before turning to the cheerleaders. "Scatter, my Vixens." They all walked away causing Cheryl to stand and turn to Ricky. "Yes, Ricky? What is it?"

"It's about Polly," he answered.

"Look, I don't know what kind of Stockholm syndrome spell you've cast on her, but I want to talk to my sister," Betty demanded.

"Let's not fight," Cheryl said to her. "Especially not when we should be celebrating."

"Why? What happened?" Jughead asked.

"Haven't you heard? Dr. Patel just confirmed it this morning." Cheryl smiled. "Polly is having twins. Bless our Blossom genes!"

Betty's sad expression made Ricky frown as she stated, "And she didn't call to tell me."

"Hostages aren't normally allowed to make outgoing calls," Jughead remarked.

"Jug," Ricky called his brother figure. "Not necessary."

"Can you please just give her a message for me?" Betty asked Cheryl.

"As long as it doesn't upset her," Cheryl replied.

"Tell her she should call our mom. She's trying really hard to hide it, but I can tell she's really, really hurt and upset," Betty answered.

Cheryl nodded. "I'll pass your message along..."

"Thank you."

"If I remember."

"Hey," Ricky called as Jughead spoke in a strict tone, "Cheryl."

Cheryl turned her eyes on the Jones boy. "That was a joke, you hobo." She remarked before she looked back to Betty. "Of course I'll give her your message, Betty. But no promises that she'll care or respond."

She walked away, sending a wink to Ricky but bumped shoulders with Jughead and Betty.

Ricky looked at Betty. "I'm sorry. That was the best I could do," he told her.

"It was more than enough, thank you," Betty replied.

***

Once school was over, Jughead walked home with Ricky and Archie as he's been doing lately. Once homework was done, the three boys plus Fred Andrews casually talked in the kitchen.

That was until the doorbell rang to which Fred stood up. "I'll get it," He told them, opening the door, only to be greeted by Cheryl Blossom.

"Mr. Andrews!" the redhead greeted. "Nice haircut. You're looking extremely DILF-y today." Ricky, who heard this sentence from the kitchen, choked on his soda, resulting in Archie asking if he was okay. "Is Archie home?"

"Cheryl, yes," Fred answered, once he said that, Cheryl came in before he said, "Um, come on in."

"The Ice Woman cometh," Jughead muttered to the boys to which Ricky nudged him but smiled.

"Hey, Cheryl," both Andrews greeted her.

Cheryl smiled at Ricky but spoke to Archie as she placed a guitar case on the counter, "As a maj thank-you for coming to the maple banquet with me tomorrow, I wanted to give you this."

Cheryl opened the guitar case, Ricky leaned over to look and gaped. "Cheryl, is that a-" he began.

"An '84 Les Paul? Oui," she answered to him. "In our signature color."

"Can Archie and I switch places?" Ricky half-joked but stopped smiling when Jughead gave him a look.

Cheryl smiled. "Sorry, baby boy. You're snooze, you lose." She turned to Archie. "You're welcome. Okay. That's all. I'm going now. My claustrophobia acts up in small houses. See you tomorrow."

She kissed Archie on the cheek before leaving. Once she did, Fred spoke, "I'd give that back if I were you."

"Dad, come on," Archie began. 'The Blossoms, they're helping me get into that summer music program. Like, the best in the country."

"And since when did the Blossoms ever give a damn about you, Archie?" Fred asked.

"Well, they think I have potential, Dad," Archie stated.

"He's also pimping himself out to Cheryl," Jughead added.

Ricky hit Jughead's arm. "Idiot..." he mumbled, for snitching even though they both knew what Archie was doing was not good.

"The Blossoms tried to run our business into the ground," Fred replied.

"Maybe if you tried talking to Mr. Blossom..." Archie suggested.

"I tried talking to him, Archie, he laughed in my face. Don't think for a second that the Blossoms are looking out for you. They're using you, Archie. They look at us like we're dirt under their shoe. I'm over it."

***

At school, the next day, Ricky was with Betty at the Blue and Gold. "My parents are unbelievable, Ricky," Betty ranted to Jug as she paced in front of him. "Polly is locked up in that house like a character out of Jane Eyre, and what are they doing? Changing each other's login accounts and throwing bricks through windows."

"That's horrible," Ricky stated. "I'm sorry you had to see them that way."

Betty began to tear up. "It's like, you know how, in a time of crisis, people either come together or fall apart?" Ricky nodded, he felt that way when his parents split up. "It feels like we're falling apart. And the way things are going, pretty soon, the Coopers, we're not gonna exist anymore. And there's nothing I can do to stop that."

Ricky stood up straight, cupping her face softly. "Betty, don't do that," he told her. "Don't give up. Your family is splintering right now, but it won't fall apart. Know why? Because of you. Because you're holding them together. You're so much stronger than anyone I've ever known. You're stronger than your mom and you're stronger than your dad. You're the glue that's holding this family together. So don't ever let go."

Betty nodded, sinking into Ricky's comforting arms. "I won't," she told him before hugging him.

Ricky held her before kissing her forehead. "Everything's going to be okay," he told her.

***

Later that day, Ricky was talking to Betty and Veronica when Kevin approached the brunette girl. "Oh, my God, did you hear? Remember when you went swooping in to save Ethel, 'cause you thought she might be suicidal?" Kevin asked her.

Veronica's face washed over in fear. "Oh, no. She didn't-"

"No, but her dad did. He accidentally swallowed a whole bottle of sleeping pills...He's going to be okay, but that's why Ethel's been so sad lately. Now, everybody knows..."

Veronica pushed past him, rushing into the girl's bathroom.

"Her dad's okay, right?" Ricky asked for confirmation.

"Yeah, he'll be fine but Ethel and her mom are still taking it pretty hard," Kevin added.

"I'll be right back," Betty told Ricky and Kevin, following Veronica into the bathroom.

***

After school, Ricky went with Betty and Veronica to get Ethel's family flowers for what happened to Mr. Muggs.

"Betty. Veronica, Ricky, hey," Ethel greeted once she saw the pair enter the hospital waiting room.

"Hi, Ethel," Ricky greeted solemnly.

"Mom, these are my friends. This is Betty, Ricky and this is Veronica," Ethel introduced to her mother.

"Mrs. Muggs. Ethel..." Veronica began. "We heard what happened, and we wanted to leave these flowers with you."

Ethel took the flowers as Mrs. Muggs said, "That's very kind. Thank you."

"Please don't..." Veronica spoke. "Don't thank me."

At this, Ricky gave her a small side-hug as Betty spoke up, "We're just so glad Mr. Muggs is going to be okay."

"We're sending our best wishes to your family," Ricky added. "And we'll see you at school, Ethel?"

The three began to turn and walk away until Veronica stopped in place.

"You don't need to do this, Vee," Betty told her softly but that didn't stop the Lodge girl.

She turned back around and walk back to the Muggs family. "Ethel? Mrs. Muggs? There's something I need to tell you. My name is Veronica Lodge," she stated and once she did, Mrs. Muggs had an expression of disgust. "My father is-" 

"Hiram Lodge," Mrs. Muggs finished with a scoff. "And you're showing your face here?"

"Mom, she's my friend," Ethel said.

"She's not your friend, honey," Mrs. Muggs told her, not breaking her stare from Veronica. "Her father is a criminal. He's the reason Dad did this to himself."

Ricky spoke up, "Mrs. Muggs, I don't think that's necessary-"

Ethel had an expression of hurt. "Ronnie? Is that true?" she questioned.

"Yes," Veronica answered with sadness. "And I am so sorry. I wish I could do something."

"'Sorry' isn't good enough," Mrs. Muggs told her. "You want to do something? Tell the truth. Your father is ruining lives. He deserves to sit behind bars for the rest of his miserable life."

"That doesn't give you the right to yell at a teenager for her father's actions," Ricky snapped. "I'm sorry for what's happening but you saying that God awful stuff to her, I won't allow it."

Ricky sent Ethel an apologetic look as Mrs. Muggs only pulled her daughter away from them.

The three teens finally turned their backs and began to walk out to the hospital exit.

Veronica spoke, "Thank you for trying to stick up for me, Riccardo but what she said was true."

"Ronnie, come on," Ricky spoke softly.

"No, it wasn't," Betty added.

"About my dad, yes, she was. Who knows how many more lives he's ruined?" Veronica stated.

***

Later that night, Ricky was walking Betty home when his brother called to inform about Polly. Betty immediately took Ricky's hand, dragging him into the kitchen.

"Mom?" Betty called, happily as Ricky saw Alice was drinking a bottle of white wine. "Archie just called."

"He talked to Polly," Ricky added. "She's safe. She's okay and so are the babies."

"Mom. She didn't choose the Blossoms over us, she's actually there to spy on them."

Alice started to cry but quickly wiped her tears away as she spoke, "You know, when I went after this story I thought, in the back of my mind that, 'What if this is it? What if this is finally the time that she doesn't come back?'"

"She will, Mom," Betty reassured her, sitting beside her. "And right now, she's our woman on the inside. We're going to write this story."

Betty glanced at Ricky who said, "Mrs. Cooper, we're inviting you to come write with us at Blue and Gold."

Alice chuckled, "The school newspaper?"

"Yeah, that's what we are," Ricky answered also with a small laugh. "But I think our annual operating budget is bigger than the Register's."

Alice had her doubts about Betty dating Ricky (even if he was very different from Archie) but for now, she saw him as a well-mannered young man who wanted to do what was best for everyone. Just like Fred.

Alice looked at her youngest daughter and smiled.

***

"It seemed that, for Veronica, the sins of the father would remain simply that. While Archie Andrews returned from the brink with one more bit of news."

The next day at the Blue and Gold office, Ricky stood in front of Archie with Betty and Jughead.

"At the banquet, I heard Mr. And Mrs. Blossom talking," Archie stated. "It sounded like Clifford Blossom was responsible for sending Veronica's dad to jail."

"Oh, my God," Betty spoke as Jughead quickly wrote on a sticky note. "If Clifford sent Hiram Lodge to jail, tore apart his family..."

"Then maybe Hiram was trying to do the same thing to him?" Ricky finished.

"Yeah, by going after what the Blossoms value most, their family, their legacy. That's a motive," Jughead stated which Ricky nodded agreement before Jughead pressed his sticky note to the murder board.

The note was labeled, 'HIRAM LODGE'.

"Winter had come early to Riverdale. Brutal and unforgiving. But it would be nothing compared to the storm that was gathering. A storm of chaos named...Cheryl Blossom."

***