This is for @gabbiegross . She requests this for her Secret Santa from @messykings post made in November. I hope you enjoy this story!
“Ronnie, why the hell we buy all these gifts if we're just going to give them to Archie.” Reggie wobbles behind Veronica as she confidently struts to the car, unlocking it in the process.
“Reg, you know why.” Veronica opens the trunk of the car, goes around to the front and opens the driver's door to slip her sunglass in the empty middle compartments along with her purse in the back seat. Veronica meets Reggie at the already open trunk.
“We,” Veronica scrunches her nose to get the first present from the top. “Reggie could you,” motions down with her hand. Reggie bends his knees as instructed. Veronica grabs the top wrap box, smiling,
“As I was saying,” Veronica grabs another box. “Archie has been feeling down with everything that's happened this year. I mean his dad got shot and the murderer is still running around. Also how we kind of end that night at the Whyte Wyrm. Plus all these gifts are not just Archie’s, some are for you, Betty, my suegra, and daddy. No need for you to sound bitter plus I know you got just as many gifts for Archie as much as I did. So you can hush.” Veronica grabs the last box from Reggie’s hands, slipping it in the trunk. Reggie shuts the trunk then winks at Veronica as he walks to the passenger side. Veronica puts a strand of hair behind her tan ear as she falls suit to the driver side.
Veronica puts her key in the ignition and turns it in a 180 degree. The radio comes to life, talking of white Christmas and happiness but sadly Riverdale wasn’t feeling that way. Reggie turns towards Veronica and grabs her hands from the steering wheel.
“Your right….I miss Archie. God, I miss that boy.” Reggie averts his glaze to show attention to the car floor but snaps his eyes back to stare into Veronica’s dark brown ones. “Archie may or may not take us back but we will always love him and I will always love you, Veronica Lodge.” Veronica sucks in a breath and blinks before looking Reggie in the eyes again.
“I…” Veronica clamps her mouth shut. “I love you to Reggie Mantle.” Reggie and Veronica lean forward, touching foreheads. Reggie lightly kisses Veronica as he cups her cheeks to wipe the tears spilling out from her eyes. Veronica returns his kiss with two on his eyes and lips. They stay in this position a little longer as the radio continues to talk about a happy Christmas. Veronica and Reggie slowly pulls away going back on to their sides of the car with a feeling of bittersweetness.
“Okay,” Veronica claps her hands together as she grabs her sunglasses and slips them on. “Lets ride.” She turns to Reggie who cocks his eyes brow at his girlfriend. Reggie grabs his sunglasses out of his letterman, sliding them on his face as well.
“Yeah, lets.” Veronica steps on the gas pedal and pulls out of the parking spot. Reggie fidgets with the radio making it jumble its words. He gets to a station where the radio start to sings ‘Ruin the Friendship’ by Demi Lovato. Veronica gives him this look as she checks both sides of the street before she leaves the shopping mall.
“Before you say anything.” Reggie crosses his arms. “Demi Lovato is amazing and this song is amazing. Actually, this whole album is amazing.” Veronica laughs, turn right on the street, as Reggie seats up to proclaim his love of Demi.
Veronica giggles at Reggie’s joke about how he could probably rock heel highs just as well as she can. Veronica gets out the car and walks to the back it to pop the trunk. Reggie meets Veronica at the trunk to get out the presents.
“Okay, so Archie's presents are the red ones with the big ass R all around the paper.” Reggie opens then closes his mouth to keep from saying something ridiculous. He grabs the presents that vary in size. Veronica closes the trunk to her dark purple car. She turns towards Reggie and counts the presents with way too many Rs on them.
“We got all of them. Let's go face this.” Veronica walks ahead of Reggie. Reggie walks behind her and watches his girlfriend playing with her necklace. Reggie struts up the stairs and meets Veronica on the porch.
“Hey,” Veronica turn towards Reggie. “We go this. I’m right here. Plus Archie loves us too much not to let go completely. I would know.” Veronica nods at Reggie statements. Reggie kisses her on the cheek and smiles. Veronica returns the smile with a less reassuring one. Veronica knocks on the door and steps back to where Reggie is. They both wait on the poach as they hear feet approaching the door.
“I got the door dad.” Ronnie and Reggie heard their favorite redhead yell. Archie answers the door to be met with an Asian and Latina with similarities unknown to each other. Archie goes outside, closing the door behind him.
“What are you both doing here?” Archie crosses his arms paying close attention to his shoes. Veronica walks up to Archie with Reggie in toll.
“Archie please look at us.” Veronica guides his head towards her eyes. She looks into his dark brown pools that lost most of the light she saw the night she first meet him. Archie stares back at Veronica to see the tired restless nights she been having. He takes his head out her grip to see his former boyfriend have the same look but not showing as much. Archie glance between them trying to hide this hurt but a tear rolls down his pale cheek.
“Babe, we’re here because we miss you. We miss hearing your voice, laugh, and your presences as a whole. And we both want to apologize for not saying what we truly meant to say after we had a night of,” Reggie wiggles his eyebrows. “Passion.” Archie chucks along with Verionca at Reggie. Veronica pulls on Archie sleeve. Archie looks down at her light tan face that is screaming longing and ‘i miss yous’.
“I want to piggyback off of Reggie.” Veronica sucks air in to let it out. She turns her head to stare Archie right in the eyes. “Archie I love you from the moon and back and I should have told you when we all had our night of...passion.” Veronica rolls her eyes as she could feel Reggie smirk.
“I want to tell you that but I never seen my parents say I love you and I didn’t have stable relationships with anyone especially two people at the same time. You and Reggie are the world to me and I want both of you in my life for as long as I can. Especially you, Archiekins. So will you take me and Reggie back please?” Veronica stares at Archie waiting for an answer and Archie stares back at both of his former lovers that he was supposed to mad at but he just couldn’t. They were his everything as he was their everything.
“Let me think about it.” Archie breaks his eye contact with Ronnie and Reg. He could feel them getting down on themselves. Archie didn't want that and he hates the tired look plus his father told him that saying I love you is a vulnerable act. For them to come to his house and drop their guard is hard. He loves that they did that plus they’re not the only one with sleepless nights, missing both of his raven hair lovers.
“I thought about and I love you both too. Come here!” Archie stretches his arms out for both of them. Veronica ran into Archie’s warm embrace. Reggie put down the presents and walk over to his cute boyfriend and girlfriend. He hugs them both, missing the embracing warmth they had always made when close together. All three let go stepping back a little. Reggie and Veronica walk on both sides of Archie and they give him a kiss on both sides of his face. Archie turns the color of his hair from the loving embrace of his lovers no longer being exs.
Archie goes to his front door, opening it to step into the warm house. “You two coming?” Archie offers them a warm smile making his dimples visible. Veronica and Reggie reflect that smile that Riverdale’s golden boy still had after everything happening in this town.
“Of course, Archiekins. Reg don’t forget the presents okay.” Veronica winks at Reggie who returns it with a groan. Archie laughs as Veronica enters the Andrews’ home greeting Mr. Andrews who’s in the front room with a wigged tail Vegas. Reggie gets all the presents and starts to make his way into the house. He turns to Archie at the doorway and smiles at his favorite redhead.
“I’m happy we're all back together.” Reggie looks over at Ronnie playing with Vegas then back at Archie. Reggie walks in with the presents in hand greeting Mr. Andrews with a warm hello. Archie closes the door, leaning against it with a smile. He glances over to the sight across from him. He sees his father talk to Reggie while helping him with his presents and Veronica laughing at Vegas’ attempt to lick her face.
“I’m happy we’re all back together too.” Archie mumbles to himself before walking over to Veronica, kissing her cheek as he sat down next to her on the couch, admiring the beautifully decorated tree and presents being put under it by his dad and sweet boyfriend, Reggie.
