I sit next to Nana Rose, who has Tori in her lap as Mother speaks. Tori wraps her hand around Nana's finger, a red pacifier in her mouth.

"We are gathered, today, to mourn the passing of one of our own," Mother looks up, her eyes almost changing. "Betty!" We all turn around to see cousin, Betty Cooper, standing in the doorway. "Sweet, darling, Betty. You've come to pay your respects."

Betty is at a loss for words as she stares at my mom. "Well, Uncle Claudius was family, so..."

"Mourn with us, cousin." Cheryl says. I raise a brow in confusion. Claudius tried to murder us, what is there to mourn. Betty goes to sit by Nana Rose, giving me a closed mouth smile.

"Tragically, this ungrateful town never welcomed Claudius to its bosom. I believe that is why he committed the most cardinal of sins, taking his own life" My mothers eyes water, more than they ever did for my father.

Nana Rose looks at Betty. "Crocodile tears." She hisses. I giggle, covering my mouth with my hand as we continue the ceremony.

After the ceremony thing, I stand by Nana Rose as Mother walks over with a champagne in hand. "Why, Emilia, I didn't know if you'd come or not because of everything that's happened." She says to me with a sad stare.

"As hard as this is for all of us, I would never abandon my family." I put my hand on Nana Roses shoulder. "You're the ones who raised me, who fed me, who shaped me into who I am today. Not the Lodges." Mother gives me a sad smile before hugging me tightly.

"I knew you were the golden child." She says, cupping my cheeks with her hand. I watch as Betty awkwardly walks out, and I furrow my brow, walking over to Cheryl and Toni in the other room.

"What happened?" I ask.

Cheryl rolls her eyes. "Betty was diving her nose into something she shouldn't." She says bluntly. "Tell me, Em, what's going to become of us now that we're no longer blood?" She says in a cold tone.

I raise a brow. "Cher, you're still my sister. You have been for 17 years now." I say, flabbergasted. "Just because I'm suddenly twisted into another family doesn't mean you're not my #1." I grab her hands, and she lacks eye contact. "We've been Emmy and Cheryl since day one. Nobody is going to change that. Not Hiram, not Veronica, not The Serpents. Nobody."

Her eyes water as she hugs me tightly, a sob escaping her lips. "Don't leave me here, Emmy. Please don't." She cries. My eyes meet with Toni, who gives me a sympathetic glance.

"It's you and me, Cher. You and me." I say under my breath.

I meet with Ronnie at our fathers hospital room, nearly tripping on the lace of my dress. "Good timing." She says. "Nico, Leo." She calls out as we head towards the two capos. Veronica and I stand side by side as we look up at the two literal giants. "We're in a crisis. The mob underworld smells blood in the water, and we need to change the narrative." She states.

"We need to obscure the fact that Hiram is down for the count and present a strong front." I add, giving a confident glance.

However, my confidence is drained by the two capos. "It's too late for that." One says.

"People are talking."

"No ones seen the Man in Black recently and no ones collecting the vig."

Veronica's jaw drops. "What? Why the hell not? We should get out there and start collecting, immediately."

The two make eye contact. "Nico and I have been discussing options." The left one says. He must be Leo. "It might be in your family's best interest to align with the Grandes."

I cross my arms. "You mean Elio's family?" I ask, realizing Elio's gifts weren't just for fun.

"Well, he does want to set a future bond with you, Emilia." Nico says.

"Too bad." I retort. "Neither are gonna happen." I wave my hand around, shaking my head.

Leo looks down at us as if we're stupid. "Your father took a bullet two inches from his heart. If we're not careful, our next play could be our last."

Veronica rolls her eyes. "I don't need you to mobsplain what's best for my family."

"Due respect, you're not being realistic." Nico says.

My half sisters eyes are almost on fire as she glares them down. "Due respect, you're fired." She looks at the other sibling. "Both of you."

"Seriously? You're getting rid of the only capos you have left?" Leo shouts.

"You mean the same two clowns who didn't protect my dad from getting shot?" V asks.

I snort. "She's got a point." I say lowly. "But uh, yeah we're good." The two of them walk away without another word as V sighs.

"I have a few people in mind that can help." She says.

My red hair falls into my face as I let out a breath. "I should go do some of my other business. You know, parent related." I laugh. Veronica nods, and we take our separate ways.

Sweet Pea and I sit at Pops. "I hope you know Elio is just a business associate with the Lodges. I'm still not sure what his plans are." I say, dipping a fry into ketchup.

"Well, I guess I shouldn't be surprised." He sighs, drinking a soda. "You were born a Blossom, you're best friends with The Jones family, you're literally adored by the Andrews, The Cooper's are related to you in different ways you once believed, and now you're dragged into the Mob world." He chuckles. "And lets not forget you're a serpent with a 6 month old daughter."

I laugh, shaking my head. "God, I hope Tori's life is more simple than ours." I say, looking at my phone screen, which is a picture of Jughead, Cheryl, Sweet Pea, Fangs, Toni, Tori, and I before Choni left for their summer trip.

"Well considering she's related to us..." Sweet Pea and I laugh. "She's going to have a wild ride."

I sigh, nodding. "So, I've been thinking..."

"About how freaking cold it's getting? I know." He jokes.

I scrunch my face. "No." I giggle. "I'm at Thistle House, and I know Cheryl wants me to stay but I think it would be better for not only Tori but all three of us if we moved back into that Pembrooke Apartment."

"But Cheryl would be so upset if-"

"I know. I know." I mutter. "But Tori shouldn't grow up over there. Not that I'm saying she should grow up with Grandpa Hiram and Mobsters. But I can keep her from that cause we're not in the same apartment, you know? And I will be closer to Fred and Alice who can watch T if we can't." I put my hand over the table, linking it with his. "It would be good for all of us to have our own place. Just our family."

Sweet Pea looks at my hand, bringing it up to his lips. "Whatever it is, Princess, I'll always stand by you." He says softly.

I smile. Before, Sweet Pea would've the biggest deadbeat  dad anyone could find. But now, he's really stepped up his game, or trying to. He's taking her to eat, he's taking her to visit Fred or whoever. He's taking her shopping and literally buying her anything she attempts to touch. He takes naps with her on his chest in my...our bedroom. He's really trying, which is all I could've asked for.

That's what we're both doing, isn't it?

Sweet Pea stands up, sighing. "I have to go, I'm helping Jug with that thing you asked him to do." He placed a few dollars on the table.

"Have you found anything?" I ask.

"I don't know yet." He says, letting out a sigh. "I'll see you tonight at The Five Seasons."

I raise a brow. "The Five Seasons? What about-"

"I got us a room for a couple nights, until we can figure something out." He says. I watch as Sweet Pea walks out. What was he trying to do?

That night, I head back to Hiram's hospital room. Luckily, I had changed into leggings and a white sweater, my red serpent jacket hardly keeping me warm.

Riverdale General was dead. Nobody in sight. My doc martins thump against the tile as I look down the halls, expecting to see a nurse or something.

But there was nothing.

I reach Hiram's door, and I see a figure inside. So slowly, I twist open the door and they spin around, shuffling awkwardly.

"Archie?"

The red head jumps at my voice, looking like a deer in the headlights. "Uh, uh, Emmy." He stutters.

I close the door behind me, walking in. "What are you doing here?" I ask, looking at Hiram.

"I was facing my demons head on, I guess. But he's not awake." Archie says quietly.

My hair flies as I shoot up. "Last time you said that you killed yourself, Hal, and Hiram in your sleep." I glare. "So were you planning on finishing the job? Did you shoot my dad?"

"No, Emmy! I'm not like that."

"Says the guy that LITERALLY WAS GOING TO SHOOT MY DAD-" Suddenly Archie covers my mouth and looks over my shoulder. I turn around, seeing a black figure slowly creep to the door. Archie puts a finger to his lips, pushing me against the corner of the two walls, hiding behind the other wall. (DOES THAT MAKE SENSE, THE WALL GOES BACK AND SHES HIDING IN THAT CORNER? JUST WATCH THE EPISODE) He puts his arm over my protectively as the figure creeps towards Hiram. I try to see who it is, but he wears a mask. The man points a black gun at Hiram's head, the same time Archie raises his gun as well.

Then, a gun shot shoots through the air.

My ears are ringing as the man shouts in pain, running out of the room. I push past Archie, looking out the door wide eyed. I spin to look at the red head. "At least learn how to aim!" I scold before taking off, running after the masked man.

The man is fast, but not fast enough due to the gun wound and himself focussing more on that in a moment. I pick up my speed, leaping towards him. We fall onto the floor in the main corridor of the hospital, rolling around a few times. I land on my back, the masked man aiming the gun for my face. I duck, kicking him in the knee. He falls slightly as I stumble up, trying to catch my breath as I reach for a chair.

BANG

The sound floods my ears again as I close my eyes. I open them to see the man, with a dark glint in his eyes. I suddenly feel a large pain and I look down at my leg. A bloody stain is hard to see through my pants, but as my hand touches it, my palm is covered. I slowly fall to the ground as the man gets up, hobbling out of the hospital.

"Emmy!" I look up to see a worried Archie. "Oh my god!" He shouts. He reaches for the nearby phone, clicking on a number. He grabs a box of tissues, taking multiple and putting them on my leg. "You'll be okay, Em. You'll be okay."

Two hours later, I see Veronica rushing into my new hospital room. "Oh my god, Emmy!" She shouts. She rushes to my bed, staring at my bandaged thigh.

I laugh. "I'm fine, V. It was clean, easy to take care of. I'll be hobbling out in the morning."

"I sure wish it was him that was stuck with a bullet in his leg." She mutters. "I called Sweet Pea, he'll be here with Tori later."

"Pea is gonna be pissed. He thinks Im getting hurt all the time."

Veronica nods. "Cause you are." We both laugh, and she plays with my hand. "Dad's awake. He's talking to Archie."

My heart races as I nod slowly. "Can I go see him?" I ask. Veronica gives a small smile, nodding. With the help of a nurse, I'm put into a wheel chair and pushed to another hall. Veronica pushes open the door, and Archie shoots up, looking at me concerned.

"Em, are you okay?" He asks me, looking at my wrapped leg.

I nod. "Just a little tired." I say. I look at Hiram. "You're awake."

"Well, I had to make sure my two girls were good." He glances at my thigh. "I'm sorry this happened to you." He says lowly.

Wheeling myself closer, I shrug. "Hey, it's happened before." I joke. Hiram laughs, holding my hand.

"Veronica is telling me you're thinking about the Pembrooke apartment for you, Sweet Pea, and Tori."

I open my mouth, unable to say anything. "Well, maybe, I'm still working out-"

"I think it would be amazing for all of you." He says. My green eyes widen in surprise. "Having all of us, a family in the same building? Music to my ears."

"As long as Tori doesn't get involved in your business, I think we can make arrangements." I say with a serious tone.

Hiram gives a smile. "Of course, mi sirena."

Veronica leaves to go finish a plan with Reggie to burn all of the drugs as Hiram's work. Sweet Pea comes in, Tori in one arm with a balloon tied around her wrist and then a bouquet of flowers in his other hand. A smile spreads across my face. "You didn't have to do this." I laugh.

"Of course I did. Shut up." He says bluntly. He lets me take Victoria from his arms as he puts the flowers down. "So, what did they say?"

I sigh, looking at my daughter in my arms. "I can leave in a day or two, but I'll have to come back in a week or two." I explain. He nods, wrapping his hand in mine.

"She's been really fussy, either she's teething or she really fucking missed you." Pea chuckles.

I shake my head, a small smile on my lips. "Who knows, T is all over the place." I laugh. I scoot over, letting Pea slide next to me on the bed. I lean on his shoulder, our hands still linked when I fall asleep.

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& then she's still there when hermione kills minetta and when veronica pays hug and yada yada lolololol okay um well love you all byeee