𝐺𝑢𝑖𝑙𝑡𝑦 𝑎𝑠 𝑆𝑖𝑛? >>> 𝐒𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐏𝐞𝐚

𝑭𝑶𝑹𝑻𝒀-𝑭𝑶𝑼𝑹

✰ 𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗉𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝖿𝗈𝗋𝗍𝗒－𝖿𝗈𝗎𝗋 ✰

WHEN EMILIA MADE IT HOME three weeks after the incident, Sweet Pea was with her, walking beside her as she hobbled into the house, still unable to put pressure on her leg. It was bittersweet to come home, knowing James Brown would never set foot in the house again. The girls were waiting at home with Betty and Jughead. Betty was preparing to go back to school, while Jughead was keeping the Serpents above water.

The race between the mayoral candidates was still under way, and Archie had become student council president. Things were beginning to calm down. Attorney McCoy advised Emilia to keep a low profile while the aftershock of her identity's exposure finished its course through the town. By the time Emilia came home, it was barely spoken about.

"Hi, Princess." Emilia said, hugging Livvy as best as she could.

Anna walked in from the car as Claudia tossed her arms around her sister's waist, thrilled that she was okay. Claudia had therapy twice a week now, and that was really good for her. "We missed you." Claudia said, and Emilia smiled.

She pressed a kiss into Claudia's brown hair. "I missed you, too. You guys have been good for Grammy? Going to bed on time, eating your vegetables?" Emilia questioned in a teasing manner, looking at both Livvy and Claudia.

"Yeah, yeah." Livvy grumbled, settling in Sweet Pea's arms.

Betty stood up, gingerly hugging Emilia. She apologized for her father shooting James all those months ago, and Emilia forgave her. Why wouldn't she? Jughead and Betty left, and Emilia had to go upstairs. "Sweet Pea, I can do it alone." Emilia brushed off her boyfriend's assistance, trying to hop up the long flight of stairs into her bedroom.

Sweet Pea just watched her struggle with his broad arms crossed for three minutes, and she had hopped up two steps. So, Sweet Pea swept her into his arms, carrying her bridal style into her room, tossing her gently onto her bed. "You're welcome." Sweet Pea grumbled, placing her backpack on her bed, leaning down to press a kiss to her lips.

"You're too good to me." Emilia opened her phone, an old one Betty had lying around, seeing that there was a Serpent meeting at the quarry the next day.

Her leg was severely bandaged under her pants, but her doctors were confident she would walk again, and soon. "How do you feel? Can I do anything?" Sweet Pea asked, kneeling in front of Emilia's bed, one of her pillows under his chin.

She rolled her eyes. "That's a stupid question," Emilia poked his cheek, getting comfortable in her bed. "Your eye's looking good. You gotta stop messing up your pretty face." Emilia observed his fading black eye from the fight with the Ghoulies.

"Why, you like it?" Sweet Pea teased her, leaning close to her face.

"Yeah, I guess I do." Emila gripped his dog tags and pulled him down to her, pressing their lips together.

When he got a text from Fangs' mother, asking him for his help with 'Tent City' and her new home, Emilia forced him to go. Sunnyside was barely standing, so the Serpents created a village, where they could live on and survive, especially after losing the Wyrm. Then, the next morning, Fangs was released from the hospital. They were all home, they had all made it.

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AT THE QUARRY WITH THE rest of the Serpents, Emilia was given a new Serpent jacket, because the Ghoulies had burned hers. She wore it happily, feeling safe again. It was a party, a celebration. Emilia clung to Sweet Pea's side, using him to hold herself up, frustrated about her crutches. But Fangs was using a crutch as well, so they swordfought with them, Fangs unfortunately winning. For the first time in a long time, Emilia smiled.

Her cheek had a nice scar from Penny's knife, and the name on her arm wasn't going away anytime soon, but Emilia was dealing with that. Maybe it wasn't the worst thing. She was Zara Kotecki, but not the Zara Kotecki who killed a man in cold blood and turned into a dark husk of a person. Emilia was Zara Kotecki, the one who was strong, and protected her family through whatever means necessary. The one who had dealt with so much, and was raising her sisters the way they were meant to be raised. That was her.

FP stood in front of the crowd, whistling to get their attention. "Listen up now! Hey, listen up!" FP shouted. Jughead, from where he was sitting, turned to his father. "Some 60 years ago, the very first Serpent meeting took place on these same riverbanks, led by Grandpa James. So let's all raise a glass, to a man who fought until the very end, to change Riverdale, and raise his girls the right way. To Grandpa James." FP said.

The Serpents repeated the words, Emilia smiling sadly. "You okay?" Sweet Pea whispered in her ear, and she nodded.

"We also need to mention something. Emilia Brown managed to survive torture from the Ghoulies twice, without losing a tattoo. Let's drink to that!" FP winked, and the Serpents all cheered loudly. Emilia was a hero, that was for sure. "It makes sense that this is where we gather now, for Grandpa James and Emilia. This is where I... Where I say my goodbye. Jughead, would you step up here, son?"

Surprised, Jughead stood, reaching his father's side. "Ten bucks." Fangs whispered in Emilia's ear.

"You're on." Emilia returned.

"I'm retiring from the Serpents. For real this time," FP announced, the crowd growing upset. Fangs handed Emilia the ten dollars. "But my boy... My boy has never stopped fighting for this crew. Hell, he almost died for it. That's why I'm giving you the mantle." there was loud cheering at Jughead becoming the new King. Of course, FP would've loved to make Emilia leader, but he couldn't do that. She had too many responsibilities, with her grandfather gone and her grandmother alone, raising Claudia and Livvy. She had to be at home.

Happy, Sweet Pea pat Fangs on the back, the boy wincing in pain, Sweet Pea apologizing with a smile. He had an arm wound around Emilia's neck, her hands gripping his strong limb. "Is Cheryl really joining the gang?" Emilia wondered. She had certainly missed a lot while she was down for the count.

Sweet Pea nodded. "And now, as your first official duty as Serpent King..." FP beckoned for Toni, an arm around Jughead's shoulders. "I think you know what to do with this." Toni handed him a red Serpent jacket, placing it into Jughead's hands as more cheering commenced.

"All right. All right," Jughead quieted the gang, FP stepping away. "All I can say is... I love you, Dad. And the Serpents will not die out. Not on my watch." Jughead promised. He brought Cheryl over, placing her red jacket over her shoulders.

Within the next week, Hermione Lodge had become mayor of Riverdale, and Emilia was bouncing back to her normal self. She even forced herself to go to school, using her crutches after trying and failing to walk without them. Just as Riverdale started to feel calm again, Archie was arrested in front of the entire school, for a murder that he did not commit. Emilia knew, watching the scene with Sweet Pea and Fangs, that this wasn't over. That Riverdale, well, it was the town of horror, and Emilia had had enough horror to last a lifetime.

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