"You know Y/n when we are older you and I are gonna be married."

"Married?" I ask looking over to Jughead. His soft raven locks falling out of his beanie as the two of us lay in the treehouse. His soft blue eyes scanning over my face. "That's a big step."

"No it's not," He says, "when we're adults we're gonna get married."

"Why do you want to marry me?"

"Because you and I are meant to be."

Meant to be... Everyone always says he and I are meant to be. Soulmates if you believe in the term. I used to think that all of that garbage everyone told us was just something they said because they hadn't seen anyone act like how Jug and I do. No one was closer than the two of us. But as we got older, as we reconnected. I guess I finally understood why everyone said we were soulmates. The love we have is something I don't think I've ever seen anywhere else.

So we went a little fast. Jumped the gun a bit to engagement. But when were we ever typical? We've always marched to the beat of our own drums. Doing whatever we want whenever. 

"You okay babe?" Jug asks as he wraps his arms around me tightly. The two of us had decided to stay over at my place last night. He was going on and on about some tape and he was worrying me so I pulled him down to bed so he could relax. So now that it's morning I fully expect this to spiral again.

"Yeah just thinking," I tell him, "remembering when we were kids." He smiles lightly.

"Yeah? What part?" He asks me.

"When you declared that we'd be married when we were 10," I tell him, "I'm pretty sure you stole the idea from Archie." I chuckle. He moves pecking my shoulder.

"I didn't steal any idea," Jug says, "I knew we'd get married. Archie just proposed to Betty which- technically we were already married at that point. We did have that amazing wedding ceremony when we were 6."

"Right," I say, "Well at least at that wedding we had my mom and Fred." I tense lightly. "I need to get out of my head. So let's talk about these tapes."

"Right," He says, "come on I have it. We should get my dad and everyone else." So we do. We gather Charles and His dad and go over to the Jones/Cooper house to look over the this tape. And is it horrific. Suddenly I get the fear and panic in his voice from last night. This tape has a person wearing a Jughead mask getting smacked over the head again and again with a rock. The person hitting him has a Betty mask. It's haunting. Absolutely haunting. 

"Hey. What are you guys watching?" JB asks as she moves towards us. Jug shuts it off quickly.

"Jellybean, you gotta get out of here," Jug says, "Sorry, this is NC-17 stuff."

"Hell I wish I didn't see it," I say to her.

"Fine. Whatever," She huffs before heading back upstairs. Clearly a little upset the entire house shut her down.

"Okay," Betty says then looks to her brother, "So, that was dropped off at the sheriff's station in a bin with all of the other voyeur tapes?"

"Yeah, but the other tapes were just static shots of people's houses at a distance," Jug says, "This is clearly an escalation. A recreation of whatever someone thinks happened to me in the woods. The big questions are, who is doing this and what are we gonna do about it?"

"Me? Nothing," Betty says, "No, I'm not getting pulled into some creepy new mystery. But feel free to get sucked into this one, okay?" 

Jug looks over at me.

"Listen- I don't think I can handle this one babe," I say honestly, "I mean- that was a lot and I have a feeling that it's not just gonna be a one time thing so- I'll help you with what I can but for my mental health I personally think I shouldn't get involved."

"Okay," Jug says, "alright."

"Could always use an extra set of eyes and ears, little brother," Charles says. Jug moves pulling the tape from the VCR and nods.

"Alright I'll work with you," He says to his brother. Then looks over at me. "You okay with this?"

"Yeah," I tell him, "I have wedding stuff to work on anyways. Just be careful okay?" He nods. So Jug and Charles leave to go work on their new case. And Betty slides back up to her room. Leaving me to just walk back to my house. I see Archie sitting on the porch strumming his guitar. I bite my lip softly as I look at him. 

"Hey Y/n," Archie says looking up to me, "you okay?"

"Do you love Veronica?" I ask. He seems taken back at the question. But then softens lightly. 

"I do," He says, "I really do."

"But?"

"But nothing," He says, "is something wrong why are you acting so weird."

"I'm just ya know going through everything right now with the wedding planning and well I was thinking and my mind just went to how in love you and Betty were growing up," I say softly, "I wasn't there  for a couple years so I don't know what changed. But I remember when the only thing we knew was that you and Betty were destined together and Jug and I were made for one another." He chuckles.

"Simpler times," He says softly, "things were a lot different."

"Yeah," I say softly, "but not everything changed... Wanna help me sort through some pictures for the video JB is making for the wedding?"

"Yeah," Archie says, "lets go."

We head inside and I grab the boxes of pictures to sort through. We place them in piles. One of our families, one of us with our friends, and another of Jug and I. It was nice to look through them. To look at the memoires this town has given us. Will all the horror we've been through it's nice to look back to better times.

I pick up a picture smiling lightly. It's a picture of Archie, Jug, and I in the backyard all completely soaked but smiling brightly.

"Archie! Archie stop!" I squeal through laughter as Archie dumps the bucket of water of my head. "Archie!"

"Oh man you've awoken the beast," Jug says smirking lightly. I move grabbing the house from the ground pointing it right to Archie soaking him. 

"Hey ginger remember who's the best around," I shout. I see Jughead laughing and turn spraying him with the hose. He shouts loudly as I just chuckle. 

"God we were so little," I say as I show Archie the picture, "hard to believe that we are about to be leaving for college soon. Strange isn't it?"

"Yeah," he chuckles. 

"You know you can tell me anything," I say looking up to Archie, "you and Jug are my boys and more than that we are family. So if somethings on your mind just tell me."

"I will," He says softly. I decide not to pry and instead look down to the pictures on the table. 

"Thanks for your help Arch," I tell him as I close the box, "it's been nice hanging out with you."

"Yeah," He says softly. He smiles before heading back up to his room. I sigh as I gather the separate stacks then slide them each into their envelope. I decide to walk them over to next door to go give them to JB. 

"These it?" She asks me.

"Yep," I tell her, "I trust that you will do some amazing work."

"Just for you," She says, "give me like two days to work on everything." I nod.

"Thanks JB," I say hugging her lightly, "means a lot that you're on board with this whole wedding thing."

"I don't think there is anyone else in the world that could ever make my brother happy like you do," She says honestly, "besides I think we all kinda knew that you guys would get married young." I chuckle lightly.

"Yeah," i tell her, "listen thanks again. For all your hard work I'll bring you back a milkshake from Pops tonight." She nods. I wave goodbye to her then head back down stairs. I see Betty's door open and decide to move towards it. Once I step into the basement room I see her reading a book. "Heya cooper what's up?"

"Just reading old diaries," She tells me, "I'm at a very interesting entry. Can I read it to you?"

"Of course," I tell her as I move sitting at the edge of her bed.

"Okay fifth grade diary, 'Today I learned that Archie has a crush on Y/n. It's not fair. She always has guys crushing on her. Why does everyone like her and why does Archie have to? I asked her how she felt about Archie but she just said that he's way too much like a brother'"

"You were jealous of me pulling guys in fifth grade?" I ask her.

"Oh I was jealous for a while because of you," She says, "I mean you were so pretty and you had a bunch of different people crushing on you- but like listen to the next line... 'She's just so pretty. I've never seen a girl like her. She's bright and just so nice. I see why the guys like her. Even I feel butterflies when I talk to her.' I was so into you!"

"Oh my god!" I exclaim, "that is amazing."

"Did you ever keep diaries when we were little?" She asks me.

"I journaled in middle school but those things were tossed in a fire," I tell her, "they were so angsty and a lot of it was me dealing with the fact that I felt like my world was ripping apart cause I liked girls and boys." She chuckles. "So hows everything with Sweet Pea?"

"Good," She says, "we got back together."

What?

"Oh nice," I tell her, "you work everything out with him?"

"There wasn't anything to work out-"

"What about...." I say trailing off, "Yale."

She gives me a curious look. 

"We're gonna try long distance," She says. I nod. Maybe Archie and her kissing was a one time thing because they both seem pretty okay with their partners. I smile at her before saying goodbye and heading home. 

"Hey Y/n wanna paint?" Oliva asks me.

"Of course," I tell her. 

We move to the dining room and set up or paint and canvas to start working. It's nice. Just talking and enjoying the time together.

"It's sad that I just got my sister back and you're leaving again," She says softly, "I mean- I'm happy for you going off to art school. Cause that's so cool! But I'm sad that you won't be here with us anymore."

"I'll visit a whole bunch," I tell her, "and I'll call and make sure to check in all the time. You'll get sick of me." She chuckles. "Don't worry about me leaving. It'll feel like I'm still here. Besides you'll have Archie. He's sticking around."

"Yeah," She says softly, "still not the same."

"I know," I tell her, "but apart of growing up is having to accept all this stuff."

"I guess," She says softly. "Will you let me visit?"

"Of course," I tell her, "Jug and I will have our apartment and once it gets all set up you can come."

She smiles brightly.

We finish our paintings then she goes back to her house and to bed. While I set our paintings up to dry. I hear talking outside then move to look out the window. Betty and Archie on the porch looking a little too close. He moves pulling her into a kiss. I scoff loudly. 

I back away as the door opens. Archie whispers goodbye to Betty then steps into the house. Once the door shuts again his eyes meet mine.

"Oh hey Y/n I thought you'd be in bed," He says softly.

"Just cleaning up my painting stuff," I tell him, "you were hanging out with Betty?"

"Just homework stuff," He says. I nod lightly. 

"Right," I tell him, "whats up with Veronica?"

"She's at the maple club," He tells me, "Betty was working on my english stuff with me. Gotta catch back up again."

"Yeah," I tell him, "I'm gonna head to bed. Lock the door."

He nods. I grab my box of paint then I start towards the basement. Once in my room I scoff lightly.

"Oh there is no way I'm letting them get away with this."

~~~

The next day we were back at school like any other week. Jughead was focused on some theory that he has so he was super busy- Betty was avoiding me and well Archie was up his girlfriends ass. 

So I couldn't confront Archie and Betty. I guess I'll just have to warn Pea. 

"We need to talk," I say cornering Sweet Pea in the lounge. Lunch had just ended so it was just the two of us as everyone was heading back to class. He looks at me carefully. Slight guilt in his eyes. "I'm just gonna stay it and you need to listen." He nods. "I think you shouldn't get back together with Betty."

"What?" He asks at once, "I thought you wanted me and her to get back together."

"No I think it's a bad idea," I tell him, "listen I think Betty is into someone else." He tenses.

"No she's not," Pea says, "she's been all cutsey with me since the variety show-"

"Sweet Pea she's been super tense around you it's been like she's walking on egg shells," I tell him, "listen I just want to make sure that you're okay. I don't want to see someone hurt you-"

"Like you did?"

"Sweet Pea you are one of my closet friends and apart of my senior year I wanted to right some of my wrongs and one of my biggest wrongs was hurting you like I did," I explain, "I love you, you're my best bud and I want you to be happy. So yeah I wanna make sure you aren't hurt like I hurt you and Betty is acting seriously fishy."

"Fishy? Fishy how?"

"She's sneaking around," I tell him, "I live next door and she sneaks out all the time. And she's been spaced out in class and everything. Listen I don't know for sure what's happening but I think she has a thing for someone else- if she isn't fooling around with someone else. You can tell her I told you to call it off - or that I told you she was being shady. But maybe you should get out before it's too late."

"Just let me talk to her," He says softly, "please."

"Yeah of course," I tell him, "I'm here if you need anything." He nods then moves slipping off to class. 

"Everything okay?" Jug asks as he moves towards me. I just sigh lightly.

"I'm meddling," I tell him, "in things I shouldn't... Stop me before I do anything else."

"Stop meddling in teenage drama," He tells me, "we don't want to start anything before graduation. We want to get out of here not be stabbed to death in the student lounge."

"Fair enough," I tell him, "you skipping class?"

"I have a pass for the library- you?" He asks me.

"I have my online college class this bell," I tell him, "I work on it at home so it's kinda like a second free period."

"Really how come you never told me?" He asks.

"Cause you'd try to skip class and drag me to my car," I tell him, "you're kinda a horny bastard."

"Mmm well that does sound kinda nice," He says as takes my hand, "but I'm on the case. I'm skipping to talk to Ethel wanna come?"

"After last year when she was obsessed with you?" I ask her, "yeah no thanks.... But text me after you interrogate her okay?"

"Yeah alright," He says. I move pulling him into a kiss. He moves off towards his goal while I head over to the Blue and Gold. I pull my laptop from my bag and start back on the wedding invitations. Veronica was designing them and they are really sleek but I have to make sure they look decent before I send them in. 

"You are invited to the wedding of Jughead Jones and Y/n L/n," I say as I hand the handmade invitations to Betty and Archie. Good old construction paper and markers. 

"Wedding?" Betty asks, "aren't we too little?"

"Nope," Jughead says, "not for us we're soul mates."

"Soulmates?" Archie asks, "what's that?"

"It means we're meant to be together," Jughead says.

"Delilah said that soul mates happen because two people in their afterlife fall in love so they decide to find each other in their next life," I tell them, "Jughead and I are meeting from our last life."

"Then Archie and I are soulmates," Betty says, "don't you think?"

"Maybe," I tell them, "I just know Jughead and I are. So we're getting married. That's what you do when you find your soul mate."

"Hey Y/n you good?" Betty asks me.

"Yeah doing great," I say snapping from the memory, "just looking over the wedding invitations." She leans over to look at them then smiles. 

"You're marrying Jughead," She says brightly, "it's surreal. I mean did you really think this would happen?"

"I'm afraid if someone pinches me I'll wake up and I'll be back in new york," I tell her. She chuckles. 

"Finally this down is having something good happen in it-"

"Plenty of good stuff happens in this town," I tell her, "like all of us meeting. Or Veronica showing up. This town raised a kid going off to Yale." She chuckles lightly. 

"Yeah I guess so," She says as she sits down, "Honey called us down to the office early but I guess you were at the councilor's?"

"Weekly sessions," I tell her, "what did he want?"

"To remind us that we are in charge of the year book," She tells me, "remember when we signed up for it."

"Yeah it was before I was forced to decide who to murder my brother or my friend who just wanted a better life," I tell her, "it was kinda overshadowed ya know?"

"Trust me I know but he's holding us to it," She tells me, "you've been taking pictures at events for the blue and gold and I know you don't use all the pictures you take- did you keep the others?"

"Oh yeah of course," I tell her. Then move digging in the desk I'm sitting at. It's the one I've been using the entire time I've been working in the Blue and Gold. I pull the thin flashdrive out and hand it to her. "All the sports events I've been to, Quizbowl competitions, and everything else. Most of the pictures have already been edited but if there is one you want I'll touch it up for you."

"You are a life savior," She smiles.

"I'll put together the Club and the sports pages," I tell her, "if you wanna cover like senior pages and event pages. It helps that we didn't have a homecoming or back to school dance this year."

She nods.

"Yeah that's true," She says. I smile.

"We'll get this done together," I tell her, "don't worry."

She doesn't. Instead she and I start planning out what we should do for the senior and activity pages. The entire class period goes pretty smoothly. Then I head off to class. 

As the last school Bell rings Jug and I hop in my car.

"Ethel probably isn't our guy," Jug says, "I mean she even seems to have her life together. Which is great because she really needs to catch a break."

"Yeah," I tell him, "any other leads?"

"Not really," He shrugs, "I've combed through the footage and not a single clue. The only red flag was Ethel-"

"Well I mean she still could be the culprit," I tell him, "maybe you just want her to be innocent."

"I guess," He says sighing lightly. I move taking his hand. Trying to focus my eyes on the road.

"Hey- you're great at this detective work," I tell him, "you'll catch our bad guy. I have faith in you babe." He moves pecking the back of my hand. I smile. "Hey listen- do you mind if we swing by the cemetery? I wanna change the flowers on the grave."

"I don't mind," He says, "let's get some flowers."

I smile then move to pull into the grocery store parking lot. 

"Come on," I say softly as I climb out. The two of us head inside and I grab two large bouquets. As we move to the checkout lane I turn to see him holding a bag of chips. "Jug."

"I'm hungry," He says simply.

"Fine," I say to him. He smiles then puts them down for the casher. I pay quickly and then we're back on the road heading towards the cemetery. The first stop is always the worst. 

"Hey Fred," I say softly. I kneel down to place a couple flowers on the grave. I wipe away the dust and sigh lightly. "You know I heard Archie stopped by. That's good because I think your son is doing something really stupid again- you know like always." I chuckle lightly. "Jug's here. Took a break from investigating and everything."

I look back to Jug. He's tense. Doesn't know what to say or do. He just smiles lightly.

"Hey Mr. Andrews," Jug says. I smile lightly at him.

"Jug if it makes you uncomfortable you don't have to talk to the grave," I tell him, "people handle death differently. Honestly I do it out of habit. Makes me feel like I have them with me- but if it doesn't feel like that for you don't force yourself to."

"It's not that," He says softly, "just- different for me ya know?" 

"Not everyone is a tragedy," I say chuckling lightly, "I always know when Archie stopped by. He always cleans around the grave. Knocks all the leaves and stuff away."

"Yeah?"

"Just like he always knows I stop by because I leave fresh flowers," I tell him as I stand. We walk towards my moms grave. I repeat the wiping off the dust then sitting flowers down. Jug kneels down beside me. 

"Naomi," Jug says softly, "I'm marrying your daughter again." He beams as I smile at his words. "I hope the ghost side of the wedding is just as fun as the actual wedding is gonna be." 

I roll my eyes lightly. As I lean over to Delilah's grave to set down her flowers, then Adams, the Amanda's.

"She's great ya know," Jug says to my mothers grave, "yeah beauty. Honestly you have the best daughter. I'm glad I'm marrying her." I move pecking his cheek.

"I'm glad I'm marrying you," I tell him, "now lets go- Charles probably needs you."

So we leave and I drop him off while returning home to my family. Going through the routine. Helping the kids with their homework, starting dinner for Lily. All that jazz. After all the kids are in bed and we finish dinner Jughead stops in.

I move making him a big plate of the chicken dinner we ate and place it in front of him as he sits at the kitchen island. 

"We checked that weird video store today," Jug tells me, "and Charles thinks that Ethel is guilty because she rented Friday the 13th 16 times. Something about her liking horror and having a thing for me in the past."

"I've watch the original scream like 30 times on amazon and have watched a hundred other horror movies," I tell him, "that isn't enough to make her guilty- there has to be more then just a movie she likes."

"Thats what I said," Jug says, "our voyeur is probably someone with camera experience. Someone who knows old equipment and has access to it."

"Then looking around that shop is a good idea," I tell him, "it's filled with creeps."

"You've been there before?" He asks me. 

"Yeah I wanted to rent Nightmare on Elm Street for me and Sweet Pea last year after Fangs went into the cult and we walked in and they were weird," I tell him, "Sweet Pea told me they sell and rent out pornos there and it was a Friday night so I figured all the weirdos came out to get their retro porn."

"Did you guys see any of those tapes? Were they just out?" He asks me.

"No clue Sweet Pea only heard it in rumors and well being the only female in a store filled with horny men made me want to leave as fast as I could," I tell him, "any of that help you with your investigation?"

"Maybe," He says, "I'll tell Charles about it. That okay?"

"Yeah of course," I tell him, "whatever helps... So are you staying her tonight?"

"If you want me to," He says focusing on his plate.

"Well I have a early wedding present," I tell him, "a old friend of mine told me she couldn't come but decide to send her gift and I opened it. Can I show you it?"

"Yeah sure," He says clearly not getting the hint.

"I'll go get it," I tell him. He nods. I move off and slip downstairs to my room. I pull the box out from under the bed and slip on the lingere.  My old friend Cali was a hot mess sure but damn does she know how to pick something hot. And well we've both been so stressed out lately. I lace it up the best I can. Now hopefully Jughead will come down here because I don't think I can live it down if Archie see's one of us. 

"Hey babe you okay-"

Oh this dumb man. I smirk lightly as I turn to see him. His face bright red and full of shock.

"What-"

"It's supposed to be a honeymoon gift- but I honestly I think it's more fun to use it now," I say smirking at him, "hows that sound?"

"Amazing," Jug says. He moves picking me up from the ground and pulling me into a deep kiss. 

Never a dull moment with The Jughead Jones.

-------

Kinda short but only because I'm gonna separate this into two chapters because the first draft was getting real close to like 7,000 words and I was no where near done. Anyways here is your chapter guys.

Also hear me out. Ya know how I did that Betty one-shot continuation from the last book... what if I did something similar soon..... Just an idea.

Be safe and wash ya hands!

- emma