Archie and Betty through the years (from teenagers to middle-age?) being each other's support systems when things get a little tough in their relationships with Veronica and Jug.
Anchor
by keiraknighted
AO3 // ff.net
“Ronnie, you have to talk her out of it,” Archie begs forthe third time that day. Veronica slides her deep purple dress on and turnsaround, waiting for Archie to zip her up. A bridesmaid dress, for all intentsand purposes. Archie drags the zip up and Veronica turns around, placing herhands on his shoulders.
“Like I said, Archiekins,” she says. “If you think it’s sucha bad idea, then you should talk themout of it.”
“Don’t you think it’s a bad idea?”
Veronica laughs. “Of course I do. But it’s their life.”
“So as Betty’s best friend—” Archie starts, until Veronicacuts him off.
“You’re Betty’sbest friend, remember? And Jughead’s,” she reminds him. Archie looks pained. Veronicastraightens his tie. “You know they won’t change their minds now. They’ve beenplanning this ever since Betty became the so-called serpent queen,” she rollsher eyes.
“But what if they’re making a huge mistake?” Archie presses.And he’d try to convince them himself he would, it’s just—to talk to Betty outof it would feel like betraying Jughead, and to talk Jughead out of it wouldfeel like betraying Betty. And to try and talk to them together is just alosing battle.
Veronica shrugs. “It’s only marriage. And no one knowsbetter than the four of us how well that canlast.”
Archie still has his doubts. But to Veronica, it’s caseclosed. She puts her heels on and heads for the hotel room door.
“Come on,” she says, tilting her head. “The bride and groomare waiting for us.”
At a chapel in Vegas, two weeks after graduation, Betty andJughead tie the knot, with Veronica and Archie as their witnesses.
Alice had forbidden it, and FP had warned against it. Thathad only made Betty want to do it more. She’s queasy as she walks down theaisle in a dress she bought months ago, not exactly a wedding dress, but it’swhite. Her serpent tattoo is fresh on her hip.
She gets through the vows, and Jughead through his, and thefour of them head to the hotel bar. They’re only eighteen, but they get servedanyway.
Four drinks in, Betty is on top of the world. Surrounded byher friends, married to the love of her life. She’s pretty sure things couldn’tget more perfect.
Six drinks in, she’s outside, desperate for fresh air,feeling claustrophobic, her white dress too tight. Archie’s hand grazes herback.
“Hey,” he says softly. Her head spins. “Are you okay?”
Betty nods. “Too much to drink.” A light breeze tousles herhair, and she closes her eyes, grateful for the coolness of the wind on herface. Archie stays beside her.
“Perhaps it’s time for bed,” Archie suggests. “Mrs Jones,”he adds. A joke probably, but she doesn’t laugh.
“Did I make a mistake?” she whispers, so softly she’s sureArchie hasn’t heard, especially since he doesn’t respond right away.
He takes a deep breath. “Of course not,” he finally replies.“You and Jughead were bound to get married eventually. What difference does itmake if it’s now or in a few years?”
Betty nods. She leans against him, and he wraps his armsaround her.
“Let’s get you to bed,” he says.
The last thing she remembers is him pressing a kiss to herforehead before she drifts off to sleep.
Moving to New York was always the plan. Archie never thoughthe’d be leaving Betty and Jughead behind in Riverdale. But Jughead says heneeds to get things sorted with the Serpents before he leaves, and Betty, ashis wife, is staying to support him. They both swear they’ll join him andVeronica in New York next year.
Archie loves living in New York, but the thing is, it’sfreaking expensive. He manages to get a job waiting tables, but he kind ofsucks at it, so the tips aren’t great. Veronica, on the other hand, is alreadya successful business owner, and she’s even thinking about turning Pop’s into achain. She’s currently studying business while Archie studies music on ascholarship.
It’s not exactly how imagined it. He lives in a dorm with aroommate he doesn’t particularly like, instead of the nice apartment hepictured sharing with Veronica or Jughead. Veronica refuses to spend any timein his dorm, and he’s always travelling back and forth across the city to seeher. Her apartment is nothing fancy, but the fact that she can afford to livein it alone is impressive enough.
“We should go travelling in the summer,” Veronica saysdreamily, playing with Archie’s hair as they lay in her bed on a Saturdaymorning. “Europe, maybe. Or Australia.”
“I don’t think that’s going to be possible, Ronnie,” Archiesighs. He’d love to give her everything she wants, honestly. But he doesn’thave the money.
Veronica pouts. “Why not? Haven’t you always wanted to go toParis?”
“I’d love to see it with you,” Archie says. “But I’llprobably be working for my dad over the summer.”
“Does he really need you?” Veronica complains.
Archie tries not to sigh again. She just doesn’t get it. “Idon’t know, Ronnie. But I need the money. New York is expensive.”
“Oh,” Veronica says, understanding finally dawning. “I’llpay for your flights.”
Archie groans. He pulls away from the hand twirling in hishair and sits up. “I don’t want you to do that.”
“Archiekins, come on,” Veronica coos, sitting up beside him.“It’s just money.”
Archie tries not to be frustrated with her, but he can’thelp it. “Of course it is, to you,” he huffs. He throws himself out of bed andgets dressed.
“Don’t be such a proud man,” Veronica snaps. “Does it reallybother you that I make more money than you? That I’m more successful than you?”
Her words sting. “Of course not,” Archie says. “I’m proud ofeverything you’ve done. But I don’t want to have to rely on you to pay forthings for me. If you want to go to Europe, that’s fine. But I can’t affordit.”
He thinks he’s explained himself well, that she’llunderstand. But she gives him a pained looks and says, “That’s ridiculous,Archie. I’m happy to pay.”
Archie shakes his head. “Forget it,” he says. “I’ll see youlater.”
Veronica doesn’t bother trying to stop him as he leaves.
On the train home, he calls Betty.
“Hey,” she says brightly. Archie can feel some of thetension drain out of him at the sound of her voice.
“Hey,” Archie replies. “What’s up?”
“I’m just doing the dishes, nothing interesting,” Bettylaughs. “What’s up with you?”
“Veronica and I kind of had a fight,” he says.
“Oh, what happened?”
“She wants to go to Europe this summer and I told her Ican’t afford it. She said she’d pay but…” he trails off. Maybe he’s being dumb.Maybe Betty will tell him he’s being an idiot and he should take a free trip toEurope from his girlfriend.
“Of course she did,” Betty snorts. “I love V, but she reallyhas no clue what it’s like to not have any money.”
“So you don’t think I’m being stupid?”
“I completely get it, Archie. I’m the same, I don’t want tofeel like I owe someone something, even if it’s someone I’m in a relationshipwith. You want to stand on your own two feet. It’s perfectly understandable.”
Archie breathes a sigh of relief. Someone gets it. Someonegets him. “Thanks, Betty. You always know exactly what to say.”
“Anytime, Arch.”
Betty is pretty sure she shouldn’t be feeling this anxiousright now. Archie is home for the summer and he’s coming over in an hour fordinner at the little unit Betty and Jughead have been renting this past year.She can’t wait to see him. She’s missed him a lot this past year. They spoke onthe phone a lot, and he came home a few times, but it’s not the same as seeinghim every day.
She’s been working for her mom all year at the Register,while Jughead works on his novel and leads the Serpents, doing odd jobs forpeople or writing a story for the Register every now and again for some extracash. But it’s not what she wants to do anymore. She’s ready to get out ofRiverdale, go to college, see the world. She keeps seeing Veronica’s Instagramposts, in a bikini in Greece, or on top of the Eiffel Tower, and she can’t helpbut feel jealous.
She’s got a million things she wants to do in her life, andthe truth is, now she doesn’t know if she’ll ever get to do them.
Her hands shake as she opens the little box containing thepregnancy test. The cashier had congratulated her when she bought it. Betty hadsmiled like she was excited, when in fact she just feels sick. Sitting on thetoilet, she reads the instructions, and follows them to the letter. Now all shecan do is wait.
Her stomach churns. This could be a good thing, right? It should be a good thing. She’s married tothe man she loves, possibly pregnant with his baby. This isn’t some teenpregnancy like her mom or Polly. This is different.
Except she knows she’s not ready. Kids are for after she’sfinished college, after she’s travelled, after she’s had a career and a life.Not now. Jughead will probably bethrilled. She’s beginning to suspect he’s not that interested in collegeanyway, and would rather stay here and lead the Serpents. And a baby would makehim so happy.
She watches the test, praying for a negative. Her prayersaren’t answered.
She decides not to tell Jughead yet. It can wait until afterdinner. She throws the test in the trash and covers it with tissues, then getsto making dinner. She usually cooks, Jughead isn’t that great at it. He alwayssays he’ll do the washing up, but he rarely gets around to it. There’s alwayssome gang issue he has to resolve. Betty had been excited to be part of theSerpents at first, but she’s already bored of it, skipping most of theirmeetings in favour of reading a book on the couch.
The doorbell rings just as Betty is dishing up the chicken.Jughead gets it, and Betty listens as he greets Archie, and then the two ofthem join her in the kitchen. She turns around, and before she can even sayhello, Archie is pulling her into a hug. She laughs, squeezing him tightlyback, forgetting for a moment the worries on her mind. But then he pulls awayand Betty glances at Jughead and the churning in her gut returns.
“I’m so glad you’re home,” Betty tells Archie. “Dinner’sready, go sit down and I’ll bring it to you.”
Archie obeys, grinning, and Jughead follows, leaving Bettyto bring the plates out.
If either of the guys notice that Betty isn’t quite herself,they don’t say anything. Betty is pretty quiet the whole time, letting Jugheadand Archie keep the conversation. It’s not that she doesn’t want to join in,it’s just that she can’t seem to take her mind off the revelation she’dreceived in the bathroom earlier.
They discuss Archie’s college life, the Serpents, Betty’sjob, and Veronica being in Europe. Archie swears he isn’t jealous, and thathe’s not worried about Veronica hanging around those hot European guys.
“She can flirt as much as she likes,” Archie shrugs. “I knowshe’d never cheat on me.”
It’s at that moment Jughead gets a message, and he’s alreadystanding up before Betty can ask who it’s from.
“Sorry guys, gotta run,” he says. “Emergency Serpentbusiness.”
“Seriously, Jug?” Betty pleads. “Can’t it wait? We have aguest.”
“No, one of the new recruits thought it would be a greatidea to graffiti one of the Ghoulies’ cars, so I have to go and deal with that.Besides, it’s just Archie.”
“Surely Toni, or Sweet Pea—”
“I’m the Serpent king, Betty,” Jughead huffs. “It’s my job.”
“Fine,” Betty mutters. Jughead gives her a kiss on the headbefore running out the door. Betty looks to Archie, who looks a littleembarrassed at having witnessed the argument, pushing his peas around hisplate. “Sorry about that,” Betty says.
Archie looks up. “You don’t have to be sorry,” he assuresher. Betty watches him gingerly put a pea in his mouth before she snorts withlaughter.
“I forgot you hate peas,” she says. Archie laughs. “Youdon’t have to eat them. Here.” She stands up and takes his plate, stacking iton top of hers and Jughead’s, then takes them to the kitchen.
“You want me to wash up?” Archie calls after her.
“It’s okay,” Betty says. “I’ll do it after you go.” She putsthe plates in the sink. She stands there a moment, trying to gather herselfbefore she goes back out to face Archie. She won’t enjoy is company properly ifshe keeps dwelling on her pregnancy.
She doesn’t hear Archie enter the room, but then he’s besideher, his hand on her shoulder. “Hey,” he says softly. “Is everything okay?”
Betty squeezes her eyes shut, trying to will the tears shecan feel forming to retract back into her tear ducts. But then they’re spillingout, and she lets out a sob, shaking her head. Why did he have to ask? Shecould have held it together if he hadn’t asked.
He immediately wraps his arms around her, pulling heragainst him tightly. Her shoulders shake as she cries into his chest, unable tostop now that she’s started. He rubs her back, and he lets her cry until shepulls away, wiping her eyes.
“You want to talk about it?” he asks, eyes full of concern.
She isn’t planning on telling him, but somehow it just slipsout. “I’m pregnant.”
He stares at her, not sure what to say. Betty keeps talkingso he doesn’t have to say anything.
“I haven’t told Jughead yet. I just found out before you gothere and I—” she sobs again. “I should be happy. But it probably means I won’tget to go to college next year, or join you in New York.”
Archie pulls her into his arms again. “Hey, hey,” he sayssoothingly. “You have other options. And whatever you choose, I promise I’ll bethere for you. And maybe you can still go to college.”
Betty nods, and somehow, she’s comforted, even though shedoesn’t really believe what he’s saying. She could never afford a baby and college. And if she gives the babyup, or gets an abortion, Jughead will hate her forever.
But for now, she lets Archie let her believe everything isgoing to be okay.
Archie has had the ring for a while now. He’s been carryingit around in his pocket, waiting for the right time.
But he and Veronica are both finished college now, and hehas a bit of money saved, despite buying the ring. Veronica now owns a Pop’sand speak easy in three locations, and Archie is getting gigs almost everyweekend, plus his day job selling furniture.
They’re in Riverdale for the weekend, for theirgoddaughter’s fifth birthday. Archie can hardly believe little Matilda Jones isready for school already. Betty and Jughead throw a little party for her atAlice’s house, and afterwards, Archie and Veronica take a walk along SweetwaterRiver.
And suddenly Archie can’t think of a better time or place todo it. In the town they fell in love, where Archie hopes the can raise childrenand grow old together someday.
“They looked so happy. I’m going to be honest, I didn’tthink Betty and Jughead would even last this long,” Veronica is saying. “I’mhappy to be proven wrong—” she cuts herself off when she sees Archie loweringhimself to the ground on one knee. “What are you doing?” she asks, eyes wide.
“Ronnie,” Archie says, pulling the ring box out of hispocket. “From the moment I saw you, I knew I wanted to spend the rest of mylife with you. We’ve had our share of ups and downs, but there is no one I’drather have by my side than you. Will you do me the honour of becoming mywife?”
Veronica stares at him. She stares so long, and without asmile, that Archie begins to feel anxious.
“Ronnie?” he prompts, nervous. He swallows.
“Archie…” she starts, her voice soft and sympathetic.Archie’s stomach sinks. He stands up, trying not to let his eyes betray thehurt he feels. “I’m sorry,” Veronica continues. “I just… I’m not ready to getmarried yet. I don’t want to break up, and I still love you… but marriage?” she balks. “I… can’t give youthat kind of commitment.”
Archie nods, clenching his jaw. “I get it,” he says, thoughhe’s not quite sure he does. But what else can he say? He doesn’t want to breakup either. But he really wants to get married one day. And what if Veronicanever gets there? He doesn’t voice his thoughts out loud though.
“I’m really sorry, Archiekins. We should have talked aboutthis, I should have realised you would want to propose soon.”
“Ronnie, it’s okay. I’m just… I just need a minute.”
Veronica nods. “Should we go back to your dad’s?”
“Yeah,” Archie says. “Yeah.”
He goes up to his old room when he gets back, and Veronicastays downstairs with Fred to give Archie some alone time. He shuts the doorbehind him, and when he looks up, his eyes lock with Betty’s through thewindow. She seems surprised to see him, but she smiles and waves. Archie wavesback, but he can’t bring himself to return the smile.
Betty reaches for her phone, and moments later Archie gets atext.
Everything okay?
Archie looks up. He shakes his head. Betty turns back to herphone, and then his phone is ringing, Betty’s name on the screen. He smiles tohimself as he answers.
“What’s wrong?” Betty asks immediately.
“It’s too embarrassing,” Archie sighs.
“You can tell me anything.”
“I proposed to Veronica and she said no.”
Betty winces. “Ouch.”
“I’m such an idiot.”
“Don’t say that,” Betty scolds. “She’s the idiot if shedoesn’t want to marry you. Any girl would be lucky to have you as a husband.”Archie snorts. “I’m being serious!”
“So you’d marry me if you didn’t already have a husband?”
“You know I would.” Betty chews her lip. “She’ll change hermind.”
Archie nods. He hopes Betty is right.
“Love you,” she says.
“Love you too, Betty.”
Betty is pregnant again. This time, it’s planned. Eightmonths ago, it had seemed like a great idea. Matilda wanted a sibling, Bettyand Jughead were both ready for another child. Jughead had just finished hisnovel and was sending it off to publishers. The Serpents had been drama freefor a year.
But Jughead had received nothing but a string of rejectionletters. It hit him hard. And at first, he was just having a drink or two tolet off some steam. But now…
Well, it’s 2am and Betty hasn’t seen him in hours. And sheknows there wasn’t a Serpent meeting because Cheryl has been posting picturesof her date night with Toni on her Instagram story. Betty hasn’t been a part ofthe Serpents since she gave birth to Matilda.
Betty can’t help but worry. He’s been drinking more andmore, and it’s getting harder and harder to hide from Matilda. She was askingfor her dad when Betty tucked her in earlier, and it made Betty’s heart ache.
There’s a crash at the front door, and Betty sits boltupright in bed. The front door slams, and she can hear Jughead banging around,making no effort to be quiet. She winces when he kicks open the bedroom doorand flicks the light on.
“Would you be quiet?” Betty hisses. “Your daughter isasleep.”
“I’m going to wake her up,” Jughead says, turning around.
“Don’t you dare!” Betty snaps. “I don’t want her to see youlike this.”
Jughead stops in the doorway, turning just his head to lookat Betty. He’s wearing a cold sneer on his face. “Like what?”
“You know what.”
“Like what, Betty!” he growls.
Betty flinches. She hates him like this. He never getsviolet, but he gets mean. “Drunk,” she snaps. “You’re awful when you’re drunk.”
“Oh, I’m awful, am I? Well excuse me for trying to have agood time now and again.”
“Now and again?” Betty repeats, incredulous. “You’ve beenout late drinking every night for the past two weeks! Do I need to remind youthat you have a daughter and a pregnant wife at home waiting for you?”
Even in his drunken state, Jughead has the decency to looksheepish at that.
“You have to stop, Jug,” Betty pleads. “Don’t become thefather you hated when you were growing up.”
Those words seem to trigger something inside him. Hesoftens, walks towards her with apologetic eyes.
“I’m sorry,” he whispers, kneeling on the ground beside thebed. He puts his hand on Betty’s swollen stomach. “I’ll quit, I promise.” Hekisses Betty’s stomach. Then he stands up and crawls into bed beside her, noteven bothering to undress. Within minutes, he’s snoring beside her.
She picks up her phone and continues her conversation withArchie.
He’s home. Thanks for keeping me sane. Xx
Archie wants to think he’s crazy, paranoid. But he’s beensuspecting something for a while now, and every time Veronica tells him she’sworking late, or she’s out with friends, he can’t shake the feeling that she’slying to him. That there’s someone else.
He hasn’t said anything, because he keeps convincing himselfhe’s wrong. It’s just his imagination. He doesn’t want her to think he doesn’ttrust her. And even if it’s true… well, he’s not sure he’s ready to face thatyet.
But she’s not here again, and he’s lonely, he’s been lonelyfor months, so he picks up the phone and calls Betty. He doesn’t want to say itout loud, but he can’t bear the thoughts inside his own head anymore. And Bettywill talk him down, reassure him that everything is fine. Veronica can’tpossibly be cheating on him.
“What’s up, Arch?” she answers.
He hesitates. He doesn’t want to burden her with hisproblems if she’s having problems of her own.
“How’s—how’s Jughead?”
“He’s good,” Betty says. “It’s been two months since hislast relapse, and he started writing again. Something new.”
“That’s great, Betty. And the girls?”
“They’re great too,” Betty says. Her voice always growsfonder when she talks about her daughters. She loves them so much.
“I’m glad.”
“Arch?” Betty says, and she sounds a little concerned now. “Iseverything okay?”
Archie shakes his head, though Betty can’t see him. “I think—Ithink Veronica might be cheating on me.”
Betty doesn’t say anything.
“I’m just being crazy, right?” Archie asks.
“I don’t know, Arch,” Betty whispers. Not what Archie wasexpecting. “I mean, if you feel like something’s wrong… maybe something iswrong. Even if the thing that’s wrong isn’t that she’s cheating. But you shouldtalk to her about it.”
“You think?”
“Yeah, I mean… don’t like, accuse her of cheating. But lether know you’re unhappy. That you feel like something is off.”
Archie swallows. “I really thought you’d tell me I was beingparanoid.”
“Trust your instincts, Arch. They’re usually pretty good.And you know I’m always on your side, right?”
“I know.”
The talk ends in a fight. And the fight ends in Veronicaadmitting it. She’s cheating on him. And even though Archie has suspected itfor months now, the truth kills him.
He feels like a complete fool. He should have ended it whenshe said she didn’t want to marry him.
Veronica apologises over and over, tears in her eyes.
“I never meant for it to happen. I never meant to hurt you,”she tells him.
“But you did anyway,” Archie says bitterly.
She doesn’t stop him when he leaves.
Betty loves having Archie back in Riverdale, though shehates the circumstances that brought him back. He seems sad about Veronica, buthe also seems happier in some ways too. She knows he always saw himself comingback here someday.
She sees him a lot now, and he loves looking after Matildaand Alison so that she can have a bit of a break from her ten-year-old and her five-year-old.She loves them to bits, but to say they’re a handful is an understatement.
The four of them, Betty, Archie, Matilda, and Alison, are ontheir way back from a trip to the movies. Jughead had been supposed to come,but last-minute Serpent issues had arisen. Betty has long since stopped caringabout anything Serpent related.
They’d had to drive a couple hours, to the closest cinemathey have these days. It’s way past the girls’ bed time, and they’ve bothfallen asleep in the back seat. Betty and Archie talk quietly in the front, soas not to wake them.
When Archie drops them back at Betty and Jughead’s, Jughead stillisn’t home. Betty’s stomach sinks. She tries not to think the worst. Shecarries Alison to bed, while Archie carries Matilda.
“Thanks, Arch,” Betty whispers.
“I’ll see you… tomorrow, probably,” Archie laughs. Heglances to the door. “Do you want me to stay until Jughead gets home?”
Betty hesitates. She shakes her head, even though she doeswant him to stay a little bit. But if Jughead has fallen off the wagon again,it’s probably best if she deals with it alone. Archie nods, and Betty gives hima goodbye hug. It’s at that moment that Jughead chooses to make an appearance.
The front door swings open, and Betty can already smell thathe’s been drinking. She tenses, and Archie is stiff beside her.
“What are you doing here?” Jughead slurs, glaring at Archie.
“Just dropping your wife home.”
“You’ve been spending an awful lot of time with my wifelately.”
“Jughead, stop it,” Betty snaps. “Go and take a shower. Don’twake the girls.”
“Fuck off, Betty,” Jughead snarls. “Don’t tell me what todo.”
Betty flinches, and she can feel Archie get his hackles up.
“And you can fuck off too, Archie,” Jughead adds.
“I’m not leaving her with you like this.”
“Get out of my house, Archie!” Jughead yells. He goes toshove Archie, but Archie doesn’t back down, and Jughead stumbles back.
“Betty,” Archie says. “You and the girls should stay with metonight.”
“That might be best,” Betty agrees. She goes to move towardsthe girls’ bedroom, and Jughead grabs her by the arm, squeezing tightly,pressing bruises into her upper arm.
“No,” he says.
“Jug,” she says. “Let me go. You’re hurting me.”
“Let her go, Jughead.”
Jughead glares at Archie. He takes a swing, stumbling overhis own feet, hitting Archie, and elbowing Betty in the face in the process.
“Fuck!” he yells, shaking out his hand. Betty clutches herface. “Betty,” Jughead says. “I didn’t mean to hit you. I’m sorry.” He soundsweak and pathetic now. Tears form in his eyes, and Betty can feel herselfcrying as well. She stares at him in shock. He hadn’t meant to hit her, sheknows that. But she can’t trust that we won’t accidentally do something worseone day. Like hit one of the girls.
She knows this is it. With one glance at Archie, he knows ittoo.
“Are you okay?” Archie asks. Betty nods. “Get the girls.”Betty nods again, hurrying to the bedroom. She wakes them quickly, and theyfollow her sleepily out of the house and to Archie’s car.
“Betty, wait!” Jughead calls after them. “I’m sorry. I swearit won’t happen again.”
Archie slides into the driver’s seat.
“Betty—”
“Just drive, Archie,” she says, swallowing her tears.
She’s awake early, in her old bedroom at her mom’s house.Archie had dropped her off last night, and she’d cried into her mom’s armsuntil three in the morning.
She gets up, glancing out the window to see that Archie isawake too. She gestures for him to meet her outside.
They stroll along the street, no destination in mind.
“Are you going to go back to him?” Archie asks.
Betty shakes her head. “I’ve tried too many times, Arch. Ifhe can sober up, I’ll let him see the girls. But he and I are done.”
“I’m sorry.”
Betty shrugs. “I think it’s been coming for a long time.”
“Did you ever think this is where we’d be at thirty? Back inRiverdale, living with our parents?” Archie snorts.
“God,” Betty laughs. “Not at all. I guess life doesn’talways work out like you planned.”
“It’s not all bad though,” Archie muses. “At least I’vestill got my best friend.”
Betty smiles. “Yeah. Thank you, Arch.”
“What for?”
“Being my anchor. No matter what I’ve been through, you’realways there to ground me.”
Archie grins. “Back at you.”
He slips his hand into hers and gives it a squeeze.
“Pop’s?” Betty suggests.
“I thought you’d never ask.”