"A very Merry Christmas
And a happy new year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear."

Athena sat on the couch, watching as her sister decorated the Christmas tree that they had bought from in front of Pop's with bright red decorations. Athena chuckled softly as she remembered the times from before when the siblings would all decorate the Christmas tree before her parents got someone to fix their decorating as they called it horrid.

The clinking of heels behind her caused Athena to twist her neck around, only to find her mother with a face filled with shock and horror. "Cheryl Marjorie Blossom, what have you done? Athena Frances Blossom, what is the meaning of this. Tell me now!" Her mother shouted causing Athena to sigh calmly and smile at her horrified face.

"Isn't it obvious, Mother? I've saved Christmas. Of course, Athena just helped by helping pick out some of the new decorations." Cheryl boasted with a huge smug smile on her face. "Personally, I like the red jellyfish the best and look how happy Nana Rose is." Athena pointed to her grandmother who played with the tinsel in the corner. "You spoiled, wretched little brats, how do you expect to pay for all this?"

"Oh. I was thinking maybe you could go to Mr. Lodge for a job? Of course, he'd probably ask what skills you have, and you'd be forced to admit that the only skill you have is being a terrible mother." Cheryl told her mother with a smile on her face. "Oh and a terrible cook. How do you mess up scrambled eggs?" Athena smiled at her mother as she glared at her daughter with her piercing eyes. Athena stood up and started walking out of the room with Cheryl not far behind.

"I guess you're going to have to get creative in the New Year," Cheryl added at the end, the two teenagers strutting out of the room before high fiving each other and going to their own rooms. Athena smiled to herself as she shut her door. The death of her brother still affected the Triplets now turned twins, but Cheryl and Athena were the closer than they ever had been before as they rallied together to stay strong against their bitch of a mother.

+ + +

Athena sat down next to Nana Rose as they both drank some tea that was brewed only moments ago. She half-heartedly listened to what she was babbling on about as most of it was nonsense that she couldn't keep up with. Cheryl sat across from the two before standing up as she heard knocking.

Athena paid no attention to it as she presumed it would most likely be carolers at this hour. But as she turned to the door when she heard footsteps, her eyes widened as she saw Archie and Betty trailing along the behind her sister who placed one hand on the back of her chair and one on the back of Nana Rose's chair. "Nana Rose, we have some questions for you about something that happened in Riverdale a long time ago." Athena bit the inside of her cheek as she stared up at the two who's eyes were focused on Nana Rose

"A man killed this family and a group of people decided to take justice into their own hands." Athena's eyes wandered over to her grandmother as she pondered how she would be involved in the Joseph Conway case. "Oh, dear. Here in Riverdale?" Her grandmother responded. "Yes. And you were a part of that group, weren't you?" The redhead's eyes widened as she connected the dots of what Archie and Betty were talking about.

"What is this, a Christmas inquest?" As Cheryl went to move Nana Rose away, Archie's words caused all of them to freeze. "Cheryl, a man's life is at stake." Athena locked eyes with him causing him to nod and smile sadly at her. "Were you with this group when they-- When you killed this man for revenge?" Athena always knew that her grandmother was a badass in her younger days, but certainly did not peg her as a murderer in the name of justice.

"Oh, no. No girls allowed. They told me to stay at home while they took care of the bad man." She let out a soft sigh of relief that her grandmother hadn't killed someone and that it was mostly her grandfather which wasn't much better. "Nana Rose, this is so important. Where did they hang the bad man?" Betty squatted in front of her, speaking quietly.

"Oh, they didn't hang him. Oh, no. They gave him a proper burial. Buried him alive." Athena put her hand over her mouth as to silence her gasp. Betty slowly stood up as Archie maintained composure. "Where? Where did they do that?"

"Ask your grandfather, Polly dear, he was there." Nana Rose's eyes had failed her once again, but no one was focused on that. They were focused on where the man had been buried alive. "My, my grandfather?" Betty's eyes were wide with shock and deeply disturbed by the fact. "I had a picture of them, smiling at the place. Standing under the Devil's Hand."

"Picture? What picture?" Athena's eyes darted from her grandmother to Betty and Archie within seconds.= "Cheryl. I wonder if you might take me to my room. I suddenly feel quite ill." Athena quickly stood up and put her chair to the side so Cheryl could lead the old woman to her room. "Satisfied, you vultures? Your reindeer games are over. Now get the hell out." As Cheryl quickly lead their grandmother away causing Athena to smile at her ex-boyfriend and close friend.

"What happened?" Athena asked softly causing Betty to start to explain and Archie to stay silent and look anywhere but Athena's eyes. "So, Mr. Svenson has been kidnapped?" As Archie and Betty nodded their heads Athena decided to ask a stupid question. "Do you need help? I can come with and do some detective work, I need to refine my skills." Athena lightly asked but that is not how it was received as Archie and Betty looked at each other and she could see the grimace on Archie's face.

"Nevermind. Hey, can you just go wait by the front door? I need to quickly give you guys something." Athena ran away before they could answer and swiped their Christmas gifts off of the side table in the study before running back. She smiled as they stood by the door checking their phones. "Well, Merry Christmas." Athena handed them each a small gift causing Archie to look at her with furrowed eyebrows.

"I got it before." He nodded and smiled before slipping it into his pockets and waving at her as he walked out of the door. Athena quickly hugged Betty before they both went to the car out front. Athena sighed and looked at and Cheryl who stood by the windows looking out into the driveway. If Cheryl had noticed Athena coming up behind her, she would have stopped her from witnessing what was happening in the car below. As Athena's eyes looked down at Betty and Archie, her heart dropped as the two kissed inside the car, neither turning away.

"Hey Cheryl, wanna come for a drive?" Cheryl knew that Athena was going to follow the two teens as they search for the killer, but as her sister, she had to be supportive. Also, she wanted to see what was going to happen. "Sure, why not?" Athena smiled before quickly going to get her coat that would keep her warm and cover her. The two got into one of their cars before getting out on the road.

Cheryl watched as her sister drove with her eyes staying glued onto the road before stopping across the street from Betty's house. Athena pulls out a pair of mini binoculars from her pocket, looking into the window where she could see Betty and Archie, searching through photos. "This is Betty's house, isn't it?" Athena nodded before handing Cheryl another pair.

"Jesus, how many of these do you have?" She smirked before watching as Archie and Betty jumped up inside the house before rushing outside. Athena gasped before shoving her and Cheryl's head down to avoid being spotted. Cheryl smacked her hands away from her hair and was starting to struggle in being a supportive twin.

"I'm assuming that this has something to do with your breakup?" Cheryl whispered causing Athena to glare at her. "No, of course not." Athena denied as she whispered back. "Of course not." Cheryl scoffed as she rolled her eyes before Athena sat back up, watching as the two were right down the road. "Okay, now just follow them." Cheryl rolled her eyes and sighed as she started the car back up.

"I'm only here to humor you and be supportive. Also, I want to see you become a crazy ex-girlfriend." Athena nodded frantically as she watched Archie and Betty turn a corner. The two caught up with them and managed to stay a distance away as to not be spotted. They eventually watched as the two parked in Pickens Park before running into the distance.

"I don't suppose you---What do you have in the coat, Mary Poppins?" Cheryl asked in disbelief as Athena pulled out a pair of mini flashlights. "You have to be prepared. This is my daily life at the moment." The two jumped out before quickly fast walking towards where they saw the pair run. After 10 minutes they finally found the pair again who stood in a hole. "I think we should just wait here. It would be weird to walk out now." Athena proposed causing Cheryl to nod and watched as the dirt covered teens talked in the hole.

"Wait, is that--" Athena felt her heart drop into her stomach as she saw the Black hood walk up to the teenagers with his gun held out. "Oh, my god." Athena quickly grabbed her phone from her pocket and calling Sheriff Keller. "Sheriff Keller, the Black Hood is in Pickens Park, holding a gun up to Archie and Betty."

"Athena? Alright, we are on our way and whatever you do, do not get involved. Just wait there for us." Athena let out a quiet okay before hanging up and looking at Archie who got into the coffin. "We're not going to do nothing, are we?" Athena shook her head before gesturing for Cheryl to follow her. The two turned off their flashlights before making their way behind the Black Hood and slowly walking towards him. Betty cried as she continued to shovel dirt onto Archie in the coffin before looking up and seeing Athena and Cheryl, crouching as they walked towards them.

Athena put up her hands and made a whacking motion with her hands, hoping that Betty would understand what she was saying. Just as Athena motioned a countdown with her fingers, a siren went off from behind her causing the Black Hood to point his gun at the teens on the floor. Athena froze before nodding, causing Betty to whack the shovel over his head. He landed on the floor before Athena jumped into the grave, opening up the coffin to see Archie covered in dirt.

"Archie." Athena held her hand up for him to grab which he did before looking around where they were standing. "Where is he? Where did he go?" Archie panted out. "This way," Cheryl said before the four ran towards the direction she pointed at. They ended up on the bridge that leads to Greendale before they caught up with him.

"Hey! Stop! Stop! Right the hell now! Get down or I'll shoot you." Archie yelled at him as he had his feet on the side of the bridge, looking as if he was going to jump off. "I swear to God, I'll do it! You tried to kill my father and my friends. You are going to pay for your crimes. You are not escaping. This ends tonight. I said stop!" The Black Hood continued to climb before a gunshot rang out causing Athena to look at the body as it dropped in shock.

"Archie put the gun down. It's okay." Sheriff Keller ran towards them with his gun raised and pointed at the body. "Sheriff Keller." Betty gasped out. "Stay back, Betty. He's dead." He concluded as he put his fingers on the man's neck, feeling no pulse.

"Who is he?" As the sheriff pulled off the black hood that covered his face, Athena sigh out as she saw the face of the dead Mr. Svenson or more specifically Joseph Conway. It was over. The terror would cease.

+ + +

"Your instinct about Svenson was right, Ronnie. You and Athena thought he was the Black Hood. We could have ended it, right there at the school where we confronted him. I didn't see it. I didn't, I didn't see it in his eyes." The group was gathered in a booth at Pop's, something that they hadn't done in a while.

"Forget his eyes. I can't believe he cut off his own finger." Ronnie replied back, taking a small sip of her milkshake. "I can't believe he mailed it to you, Betty. What a great Christmas gift." Betty smiled slightly but still wore a grim expression. Athena joked with her but what had happened outside of her house, flashed through her mind and her expression turned vague.

"The finger of accusation," Betty replied. "So we know whodunit. Why did he do it?" Jughead asked. It had been a short while since the two had hung out, but it felt like an eternity. "Mr. Svenson accused an innocent man of murdering his family and got the man killed. So maybe, in some backward way, he thought targeting sinners would balance the scales somehow. I don't know." Betty summed up causing them all to nod.

"No, no, it makes sense," Ronnie reassured her causing Betty to smile. "I mean, Svenson was always around, lurking in the hallways," Athena said with her eyes staring blankly at the table. "He could have seen me and Ms. Grundy in the music room," Archie said. "Yeah, he could have seen Moose and Midge buying jingle-jangle." Betty agreed with him.

"Guys, this is starting to feel like that weird last scene in Psycho." Jughead rubbed his hands together with a look of disgust on his face. "She wouldn't even harm a fly." Athena jokingly said in the weird mother voice causing Jughead to shiver. "The truth is-- I have nothing actually. Except that he's in a body bag and we aren't. I think that's enough for tonight." They all sat in silence enjoying the eve of Christmas before standing and walking their separate ways.

"Hey Athena, wait." Athena slightly grimaced as she heard her name being called by Archie causing her to turn around and see the dirt-covered boy. "Can we talk about the fact that were broken up?" Athena sighed out and gave a bitter smile as she saw him wearing the watch that she got him on his wrist.

"I think that we should stay apart, Archie. At least for a little while so, you can go back to your summer ways." Archie stood there shocked as the redhead walked off and jumped into the car where Cheryl sat with a Dr. Phil look on her face, "You ready to go?" Athena nodded as she leaned her head against the window and watched Archie disappear through the side mirror, tears streaming down his face as well as Athena's.

As Christmas day came around the corner, Athena was woken up by Cheryl who dragged her down the stairs. "Mother. Nana. Is it time to open presents? Santa?" Cheryl picked up a Santa hat from the floor before they both looked up at the couch to see their mother with her hair messed up and lipstick smeared across her face.

The twins gasped as a man popped up from the couch as well causing Athena to sigh out and go into the kitchen. "It is too early for this shit!"

Look I am going to be completely honest. I was not sure whether or not I was going to continue this during Christmas because I just felt as if I was not into it anymore or just didn't have any material so I continued on with other fanfics and then I just decided 'screw it'. Let's try and update. I hope you all had an amazing Christmas and New Years (AND HANUKKAH) and I hope 2018 is going to be a good year for all of us. I hope to see you all on Thursday when the next half of the season comes out.

Thanks, Queenie.

(EDITED)