"Oh, I could have that voice playing on repeat for a week
And in this packed out room swear she was singing to me"

Archie Andrews and Athena Blossom had realized the full mortality of themselves and the love they had for each other. The two had clung to each other and had no signs of slowing. Their lips grazing each other every few seconds. The coping mechanism that they had was to love each other until they didn't have each other.

The two lay together after just showing each other their affections in front of Athena's fireplace in her room. They were sinners, but they didn't care. They had each other. "How about we go get ourselves a midnight snack?" Athena wiggled her eyebrows as she lent up with the blanket trailing behind her. "Athena, what if your sister or mom sees us. I think I'd be dead within seconds." Athena chuckled as she slipped on her clothing with Archie's gaze on her.

"If you die, I die. A modern-day Romeo and Juliet." She ran over and slipped her sweatpants on with Archie chuckling and still half naked on the floor. "What are you laughing about?" Athena smiled at him before sliding down next to him and grinning at his face. "No, just--- I love you, Athena" Athena's eyes widen as she sat up straight looking at him. He quickly cleared his throat before rushing to change the subject as Athena stared at the floor.

"Do you want to watch Netflix?" Athena nodded, biting her lip as she was speechless, words seemingly not forming. "Or maybe I should go, on the off chance your mom or sister walks in." Athena forced a smile and licked her lips before finally having words. "We could just get dressed or you could go?" Athena elaborated, knowing very well that her mom or sister would definitely not walk in without knocking as they have always. "I'm gonna go. I have to do this thing. I'll text you."

"Archie, thanks, for...this." Athena awkwardly said before he got dressed and jumped out of her window. "What the hell was that?" Athena panicked. Her emotions muddled and confused about the words that Archie had said. On one hand, she wanted to scream that she loved Archie Andrews from the rooftops. But the other side of her vigorously fought to keep her mouth shut as the fear of love crept into her mind. Her own family never even told her that they loved her and she wasn't raised in a very loving environment. The thought of someone genuinely loved her scared her.

+ + +

The day after, Athena and Archie glazed over the situation, both making their way to the Blue & Gold offices with Veronica by their side, talking with her usual pep and sass. "So, the reason we called you guys in here--" Betty started before being interrupted by an enthusiastic Jughead. "My dad's getting out of jail." Athena smiled widely before glancing at Archie who had a slight smile on his face.

"That is fantastic news, Jug. Isn't that great Arch?" Athena looked up at her boyfriend who smiled and nodded at her before turning back to Veronica, Jughead, and Betty who all looked at the pair with confusion. "Jug, that's great," Archie said, his eyebrows furrowed. "Yeah. What heralded this miracle?" Veronica asked causing Athena's smile to falter as she remembered the highly illegal activity she and Archie had helped Jughead with.

"Uh, overcrowding at the jail. I guess the judge reviewed my dad's case, and after Cheryl and Athena's testimony, it was the perfect storm." Athena nodded with a forced smile at Jughead's lie as Betty and Veronica continued to live in blissful ignorance. "What do you need from us, Jug?" Archie asked causing the two girls to edge forward to hear the reply.

"Both of us. We have a new lead on the Black Hood case. And Jughead and I were wondering if you guys would follow up on it for us. We can give you all the details, the articles." Betty explained as Athena balanced herself on the ball of her feet, rocking back and forth.

"It's just that I have to be there for my dad, to help with his re-entry, so--" Jughead said with a sigh at the end. "Oh, yeah, and I'm just taking a break from the Black Hood." Betty quietened down as she explained her reasons for wanting the three to work the case. "Wait, so you want us to be you guys? Plus Veronica?" Veronica at the end add-on as Betty and Jughead smiled and acted all couply.

"Essentially, yes. Veronica is essential to the dynamic" Veronica glared at them as Athena and Archie awkwardly looked at each other, memories of the night before flooding back into their minds. "What, is there a problem with that?" Athena was about to say something before Veronica stepped in front of the couple with a smile on her face. "Not at all. I would love to become like the scooby doo gang with these two. But I most definitely am not Velma." Veronica walked out of the room with Betty trailing behind her as Athena was dragged away from Archie who smiled at her.

"Alright, spill. What was that between you and Archie?" Veronica interrogated as they walked the halls. Betty nodded as she waited for Athena to include them on all her boy troubles. "I know you won't give up so I might as well tell you. Archie told me that he loved me and I freaked." Athena said slowly causing Betty to have a confused look on her face and Veronica to nod with understanding. "Why?" Betty and Veronica spoke at the same time."Girl, I get it." This caused the two girls to turn to each other with confused faces.

"It's just the fear of actually being loved by someone. I think my parents kind of contribute to this fear." Athena explained, not going into a lot of depth with hesitation. "I get it. What about you, B?" Veronica turned to her and with a shrug and a smile on her face, Betty explained to the two about her relationship dynamic with Jughead.

"We said I love you the night of the jubilee" Athena groaned, knowing that she had an infinite amount of choices and an infinite amount of consequences that could come with those.

I AM SO SO SORRY THAT THIS IS A BAD CHAPTER BUT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FOREVER I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO DO!!!!!! Do I break Arthena up (pending ship name) or do I keep them together and just have Bughead break up like THIS IS SO HARD. So before I make any huge decisions about this direction, I am just going to chill and get your opinions. We got one episode left. I REPEAT WE HAVE ONLY ONE EPISODE LEFT. I will not be ending this here though. I am going to keep this for the next half of the season so yeah.

Thanks, Queenie.

(EDITED)