Shadows of Your Dreams

Chapter 5

It was way too quiet in the kitchen as FP stared at the two 'kids', eyes wide, arms shaking while holding the half-sleeping baby in his arms. Betty was quietly getting the brownies out of the oven and sliding the cupcakes inside, Jughead gazing right back at his father. "What?" FP asked finally, about after five minutes of pause.

"We're getting married," Jughead stated again, being patient with him while allowing himself to wonder when was FP exactly going to react to their earlier words to him.

"Married," he breathed, shaking his head in unbelief. "Married? Betty?"

The blonde smiled at him reassuringly as she sat back down in the table next to Jughead. "Yep." The beanie-wearing guy couldn't not notice how shy and nervous she seemed to be about sharing that kind of news with his father—someone who was very close to both of their hearts. His arm rested itself on the back of her chair, giving her shoulder a soft squeeze.

"Dad, you were the first one to tell me how stupid I was when we broke up in high school," Jughead smirked. "We've never lost the feelings, quite the opposite. And when we started dating again, I just... didn't want to wait anymore."

FP breathed out like this was hard for him to handle. "I mean. I'm happy for you two. Just, Betty, you do know he fucked up when he slept with another woman, right? You have to look over that child if—"

"I can't have children, FP," Betty spoke softly, reminding him something he already knew. "And I've always wanted some. It doesn't matter if she's blood or not, I'm already in love with her, I promise."

"I'm not even doubting that honey, just didn't you want to travel?"

"I did," she nodded. "And I probably will a week at a time if I get some small jobs in other countries. We've talked about it a lot lately; you don't have to worry about that. I'd much rather live with Jug and Bea, and maybe when she's a little older, they could come with me..."

This was the first time the man smiled after they had told him their made-up story about engagement and dating. He understood they had talked everything through and weren't rushing things too much, or making stupid decisions, regretting them later. They were smart kids and he knew that. "Well, in that case, congratulations."

The two grinned at him. "We haven't told Betty's family yet, and probably won't for a while until we can see them face to face, so if you could keep it low right now, that would be much appreciated," Jughead said, finding the whole situation very amusing.

"Yeah, of course."

There were a few minutes of hugs, followed by Jughead and FP putting Beatrix to bed while Betty placed the brownies in the fridge and checked on the cupcakes that she suddenly had a huge craving for. She was happy to leave the two alone for a few minutes so that they could talk and FP could ask Jughead the right questions dads needed to ask: are you happy, is she happy, etc.

When Betty got her attention off the oven, she heard the two men speaking while coming back to the kitchen area. "Well, at first we thought about just signing the papers, but Betty wants a wedding and—"

"Of course she does. I want a wedding for god's sake," FP cut him off. "I've been waiting for this for years." The blonde smiled at the two of them when they sat down in the table again, continuing eating—Jughead filling his plate for the third time already. "Betty, what kind of wedding have you dreamed of?"

She smiled sheepishly, leaning against the counter. "Honestly, every little girl dreams of a big white wedding when they're young."

"It's gonna be big then?"

"No," she chuckled, leaving the older man confused. "When you grow up, those thoughts go away, usually... I just want my family there. And your family. And a couple of close friends, you know."