Don't Let Go

Part 40

Betty- (sighs) Baby, where is this coming from? Why do you suddenly want a daddy?

Riley- People at my new school say mean things because I don't have a daddy. (sniffles)

Betty- Like what?

Riley- I was an accident, you didn't want me, my daddy doesn't want me...no one wants me. (cries)

Betty- Oh my god, sweetheart, when did this start?

Riley- As soon as I started going to school here.

Betty sighed and hugged her daughter tightly.

Betty- Honey, you don't need a daddy to know how much I love you. I love you more than anything in the world and I would do anything for you. But...if you want to call Juggie, Daddy, you can ask him.

Riley- Now?!

Betty- Not now, you have to go to bed now, but tomorrow, after school you can ask him.

She nodded and snuggled against her mother.

Riley- I love you mommy.

Betty- I love you more.

Within a few minutes the little girl fell asleep and Betty was able to sneak out from under her before going back to her bedroom where Jughead was writing on his laptop.

Betty- Hey, what are you writing?

Jughead- A few short stories for my new manager. Do you want to read them?

Betty nodded as she laid down in bed with him.

Betty- I would love too...but can we talk about something?

Jughead- Of course...

He closed his lap top and turned to face her.

Jughead- What's up?

Betty- Well, Riley was asking me a bunch of questions before she went to bed, about her dad and why he's not here, and she said that she really wants a daddy...she said that she wants you to be her daddy.

His eyes widened.

Betty- You don't have to say yes, she isn't your responsibility, I just wanted to let you know first because she really wants to ask you tomorrow if you will be her dad, and I don't want her to have false hope or you to feel like you have to do this if she asks you, I'm just really overwh- (nervously)

That's when he kissed her.

Betty- W-What-

Jughead- (chuckles) Baby, calm down. I know that Riley isn't mine, but I love her so much and I would want nothing more than to be called her dad.

Betty- Are you sure?

Jughead- Yes, because one day we are going to get married and I will officially adopt Riley and we will have more babies. Our family is going to be beautiful, okay?

Tears began to stream down her face at the thought of that possibility, and she really hoped for it to become her reality.

Betty- (nods) One day. (sniffles)

--

~Ten years later~

It was Riley's 15th birthday and she was surrounded by her whole family. Her grandparents, her aunts and uncles, hee parents and her little siblings. She was having a party with her friends the next night, but tonight was all about her family.

They had eaten dinner, and had Riley's birthday cake, but now they were all sitting in the living room watching the 15 year old open her gifts. She first opened the gift from her uncle Ben and his wife Rachel, then her uncle Caleb and his girlfriend Hope, then Fp and Alice. They had all gotten her gift cards, not knowing what to get a 15 year old girl, but she was extremely happy with the free money. Then she opened Cheryl and Toni's gift.

Riley- Condoms? (laughs)

Cheryl- You're fifteen now, we thought you could use them. (laughs)

Jughead immediately stood up and pulled them out of his daughter's hands.

Jughead- No way, you don't need that.

Riley- Hey! That's my gift! (laughs)

Jughead gave Cheryl and Toni a death glare, making them laugh even harder before giving the girl her real gift.

Riley- (screams) NO WAY! YOU GOT ME TAYLOR SWIFT TICKETS?!

Toni- Yes ma'am! The three of us are going together!

She jumped up and hugged them both tightly.

Riley- Oh my god thank you! This is so much better than condoms, though, I think that's very funny and I will definitely be using them someday. (smiles)

Jughead- Nope.

Cheryl- Don't listen to him.

Jughead- Cheryl!

Noah- Mommy, what are condoms?

Betty- Nothing you need to worry about until you're an adult.

Noah- But that's like a million years from now. (sighs)

Betty- Exactly.

The seven year old pouted, making Betty smile and kiss his cheek, then she pulled the boy into her lap.

When Riley sat back down, her little three year old sister walked over to her and sat in her lap.

Blaire- Sissy! (smiles)

Riley- Do you wanna help me open my last gift? It's from mommy and daddy!

The little girl nodded as Riley grabbed the last gift in the room. It was a small envelope with her name on it. Blaire helped her big sis open up the envelope, and as soon as she saw what was inside it, she gasped before bursting into tears. The piece of paper in her hands read:

Certificate of adoption. This is to certify that Riley Cooper has been formally adopted by Jughead Jones on this day of March 23 2030. Signed Jughead Jones.

Riley placed her sister on the ground before standing up and running into her fathers arms. He lifted her off the ground, holding her tightly while she cried into his shoulder.

Jughead- I'm sorry this took so long, it took a while to finalize the papers, but it's done. All you have to do is sign a few papers and I will officially be your dad, okay? (tears)

Riley- (nods) Thank you. (cries)

He held her for another moment before placing her back down on the ground and pulling away, looking directly into her eyes.

Jughead- And you don't have to do this, but at some point, if you want to change your last name, we can, okay? (tears)

She nodded and hugged him one more time before walking over to her mother and hugging her.

Riley- Thank you, mom. (sniffles)

Betty- Of course, baby.

Riley turned back around and looked down to see her sister holding her legs, then the little girl reached her arms up. Riley picked her up and placed her on her hip, hugging her tightly.

Blaire- Rye Rye sad?

Riley- No, I'm not sad, these are happy tears.

Blaire- Promise?

Riley- I promise. I've never been happier.