Shadows of Your Dreams

Chapter 2

It wasn't the first time buying diapers, but it definitely was the hardest. Usually, Betty had her mother tell her the mark and the size and how the package should've looked, but this time, she was trying to figure out what would be the best for a newborn baby who was always hungry and for that reason alone, always had a wet diaper after a fresh bottle. They had tried a few different types after her mother had suggested some, but they didn't feel right for the little girl—who still had no name.

Jughead had gone to the court on Monday which had turned out to be a small seating behind a round table with Karen and a few specialists. The mother had wanted to put the baby up for adoption, which Jughead categorically disagreed with, so now, on Thursday, the baby was still staying with him as he had the legal rights to at least be her guardian until the real court process took place. (Which was happening in just a day.)

"Hey. Found something?" Jughead asked, approaching Betty who still had a dilemma about which ones to buy.

"Uh..." He placed his hand on her shoulder gently and gave it a soft squeeze, getting her attention. Betty sighed when she looked into his kind eyes and relaxed a bit. "I feel like... I'm doing everything wrong. And it's not even my baby."

Her eyes were full of pure honesty and vulnerability which was just another adorable thing Jughead loved about her. He knew her being anxious about little things like that wasn't healthy and felt bad knowing it was most certainly his fault, but he liked the way she had learned how to open up—at least to him. "It's okay. Don't stress about that. I have no idea what I'm doing and you're the only reason I've survived these past few days."

Betty smiled slightly when he kissed her temple, both of them looking at the little girl in the new stroller Jughead had bought. "She needs a name," the blonde stated quietly.

Jughead nodded in agreement. "I know. Hopefully, she'll be mine after tomorrow. Then we can name her." Him talking in plural made her heart a bit lighter; she liked knowing he thought Betty was part of that girl's life somehow. Because she thought it too. "Haven't tried these, right?"

Betty shook her head, looking at the package he was pointing on. "Think they're good?" she wondered out loud.

"Who knows. Let's try." Betty nodded in agreement and let him grab a small package of those, because who could know if the baby's skin was going to fit with those diapers or have another allergic reaction. "What else?"

"Depends on what you want to buy... While I really hope you're getting her, and it's a real bullshit if you won't, I don't think you should buy a crib yet."

"Yeah, you're probably right," Jughead sighed.

"We could get... Clothes?" There was an animated smile on her face which made him chuckle and shake his head in amusement. Betty had always loved little kids, especially when she got to pick out baby clothes because apparently, it was unfair that they had such cute ones and adults didn't.

"Sure, hon, lead the way."

"Which do you like more?" Jughead asked, Betty's feet under his thigh for some warmth, both of them on the couch, sharing a blanket.

"I don't know," the woman sighed and looked at him. "You?"

"I mean... Lucía Valeria holds Spanish roots. Harriet Blu is just beautiful."

"I still can't believe we're naming your baby right now," Betty mumbled with a sigh. She had always hoped to have babies with him and hadn't in a million years thought she would be helping him with the baby of another woman. Now, the blonde was obsessed with the tiny girl though. As was Jughead.