Fangs swings by my house, Cheryl and Toni out at the Quarry, leaving me and Victoria with the house to ourselves for the morning. I told them that Victoria was a friend of mines and she needed a babysitter; me.

"She's so cute." Fangs coos, wiggling his fingers on her sides. The two and a half month old lets out a squeal, bursting into giggles. My heart churns, this is what my life could've been. My mind wanders. What would've happened if I told Sweet Pea? Would we have stayed together? Were we meant to be apart? Was Victoria just a gift that happened to plop into my world? I think about what Sweet Pea would be like as a father. He's never been very compassionate to many besides me, but I know he would treat her like the princess she is, just like Fangs does. Cheryl and Toni have met Tori a few times, Mel being there as well. Today, however, is Fangs's first time encountering her. His brown eyes are attached to hers as his smile only widens. My heart skips a few beats.

It's been three weeks since the incident with Ben happened. Betty and Jughead were thrown off to the maximum. We have no idea what's up with Griffins & Gargoyles, and why the hell people are dying because of it.

I sip my coffee, my sheer robe slightly dragging on the floor as I walk farther into the living room. "She looks a lot like Sweet Pea." I choke on my drink, hot coffee spilling down my chin. Fangs and Victoria look at me, Victoria letting out an odd "hmf" sound.

I walk over, placing her on my hip. "So, how are the Serpents?" I ask.

Fangs shrugs. "We're good. Same old same old." He picks up his jacket off the couch. "Want a ride to school today?"

I look down at the little girl in my arms, her big dark eyes stare into my green ones. She was beautiful. Her hair a reddish brown, almost mixing me and Sweet Peas. Her rosy pale cheeks make her small freckles more noticeable. "I can't, I actually have to bring this little one today. Principal Weatherbee said that the Child Development class needed a speaker for teen pregnancy so I'm speaking for me and my friend, Mel." I explain swiftly. Im not completely lying. I am talking about Mel's experience, except it's when she had Leo, nod Victoria.

He nods, chuckling. "I'll see you at school, Kitten." He kisses me cheek, walking towards the door as I stare after him.

What's up with all the nicknames?

Sighing, I make my way upstairs, Victoria on my hip.

Before school I sit across from Betty at Pop's, Victoria's pink car seat on the table as I rock her back and forth. Her black and white flannel diaper cover and red top causes Betty to giggle. "She reminds me of you." I bite my lip awkwardly, looking. down.

Veronica walks over, sitting next to me. "Thank god you guys are here." She smiles at Tori. "Along with the cutest little girl."

"How's it doing, V?" I ask, changing the subject.

She sighs. "I'm in trouble here." She looks at the papers in her hand. "I'm up to my eyebrows in bills. Pops is hemorrhaging money."

Betty leans over. "Well, how far along is the speakeasy?" I look over at the raven haired latina. "Is it close at least?" When I was last here, she was nearly done with the entire thing. Reggie and I had been assisting her to the maximum.

She stays silent. "Vee, what? What is it?" I ask her soothingly as she talks off her glasses.

"The speakeasy's ready. It has been for a while now." She admits.

"What? Why haven't you opened it?" Betty asks. Veronica explains that she wants Archie to be there opening night.

I grab ahold of V's hand. "This is exactly what Bubs didn't want." Veronica smiles at my old nickname for Arch, which had stopped after me and Cheryl finding my fathers hanging body. "For you to just put your life on hold. You need to focus on yourself for a change." I tell her.

"E is right." Betty says. "We're saying this as your friends, open the damn speakeasy."

I walk down the halls, Reggie by my side, holding Victoria as I carry the car seat. "Everyone must think you're crazy." Reggie chuckles.

Shrugging, I walk into the Child Development room, where Cheryl a click in stroller we got from Mel (an: you know those strollers you can click your car seat in). "It's for school. Besides, she's a hard sleeper." Adjusting the car seat.

I slowly walk down the halls, Reggie by my side. "Woah, looks like that Muggs girl is back." He says. My green eyes look up to find Ethel and Evelyn talking. My mind races as I think about the Farm. All the crazy things that have been happening since they showed up.

What if they're connected?

My eyes snap to Betty and Jughead. Betty attempting to hide behind a wall. "Why was she gone anyway?" I look back in time at Reggie to quickly glimpse at Evelyn hugging Ethel.

I sigh, gripping the handle of the stroller tighter.  "I'll see you at Pops." I say before walking off.

However, I don't get very far before Josie rushes over. "Emmy, can we please talk? Like about Sweet Pea?"

I chew on the inside of my lip.

This wasn't gonna be good.

"I just want to say Im sorry. More than sorry. I made a mistake to take him like he's a game of tug-a-war. However, I don't want our friendship to sour because of a stupid boy. When we were eleven we used to promise each other we would never let that happen." I laugh, leaning against the desk in an empty class room. Josie grabs my hands, grazing her thumbs along my knuckles. "Please forgive me. Em."

I sigh, looking at Josie. She was my friend. She would always be. "I'm sorry too. For overreacting. You're right. Sweet Pea is just a stupid boy." I laugh.

"Friends?" She asks.

I smile. "Friends."

"I am so glad you guys are okay now." Kevin says. I giggle at him, leaning my head on his shoulder as we walk. The Pops bell rings as we walk in. Victoria back at Mel's. Mel agreed to Tori coming to opening night, which Veronica finally organized.

"Hi, Pop!" Josie chirps at Terry Tate.

He smiles at us. "Looking for Veronica?" We nod. "This way." Josie smiles wide at me before we skip over like little girls on halloween. "Pick up the phone, dial 642." He says as we walk into a phone booth like area. Kevin follows suit as Josie and I lean against the door. I anxiously bite on my red nails.

"Password?" I scoff at Reggie's ridiculousness.

Kevin stutters. "I don't know-"

I take the phone. "Open the damn door, Reggie before I-."

The slide on the door opens up, Reggie's eyes peeping through. "Close enough." He opens the door, all of us staring in awe.

The Speakeasy was better than I thought. I giggle as Kevin and Josie gush over it. I hop onto the counter, Reggie leaning on it next to me. Veronica goes over her plans for La Bonne Nuit. Veronica asks Josie to perform for opening night.

Of course she says yes.

Reggie smirks as he now stands behind the bar. I swing my legs over, facing him. "Looks like you got the dream job." I giggle. The phone rings, causing Reggie to answer it.

It's none other than Satans whore.

"Penny Peabody." Veronica says. "I don't believe we've had the pleasure."

I scoff. "Don't be so kind." I roll my eyes. "What the hell do you want?" I snap.

Penny chuckles. "No, no, no, no. It's not what I want. It's what you want." Veronica and I share questioning glances. "Protection. Both of you." I bite my lip nervously. "The Ghoulies are offering their services.For a modest price."

Veronica rolls her eyes. "Let me guess, protection from you, right?"

Penny stares coldly into V's eyes. "It's a nice place you've got here. And as above, so below I'm guessing?" She hums. "Maybe even nicer down there in the speakeasy, I'd hate for something bad to happen to it." I take a threatening step forward, but Veronica holds me back. "Food for thought." She stands up. "I'll let you chew on it."

The evil blonde begins strutting away before stopping, looking back at me. "Oh, and Emmy." I return the stare. "Victoria is really special. Sam and Mel would hate for something to happen to her in their custody. Especially if Sweet Pea were to find out." My heart drops as she walks out of Pops. She knows. The Ghoulies know.

"What the hell? What does she mean by that, Em? Why would Sweet Pea care about Mel's daughter?" Veronica asks me. I only stare at the door.

Goddammit, Penny.

Veronica and I sit in the back of Pops. "Victoria's name isn't Victoria Donahue." I sigh, picking at my strawberry milkshake. "She wasn't full term, either. She's four to five months premature." Veronica's eyebrows furrow. "Her name is Victoria Blossom."

My friends jaw drops. "What? But Emmy, your baby died in surgery-"

"She didn't, V. I put her in a temporary foster home because I wasn't going to put my baby's life in danger." My eyes tear up slightly. "Looks like it happened anyway." I mutter.

"Hey," V holds my hand. "This isn't your fault. You tried to protect your little girl the best way you could've. But not telling your family, friends is wrong. Especially not telling Pea. He's missed the first three months of his daughters life."

I sigh, "I'm going to tell him. Soon." My eyes meet hers. "Please don't tell anyone."

"I won't, E."

The next day I meet up with Cheryl and Toni at the quarry, my red jacket fitted over my body. Fangs leans against an old car as he watched Toni take pictures of me, me and Cheryl, and just Cheryl. He smirks at me, nodding his head. I return the smile, watching Cher smile wide.

"Serpettes, have any of you seen Jughead?" Veronica asks as she approaches us. "I have a problem that has his name scribbled all over it."

I lean next to the vehicle next to Fangs as Toni move towards Cheryl. "You mean true detective?" Cheryl asks. "He's busy canoodling Nancy Drew, no doubt."

"How can we help?" I ask kindly.

Veronica sighs. "Penny Peabody paid me and Emmy a visit."

Cheryl takes her sunglasses off. "That Viper Bitch showed her face on the Northside?"

Fangs leans over. "Why didn't you say anything?" He asks quietly. I shrug in defense, waving him off.

"Followed shortly thereafter by Sheriff Minetta. My father is clearly puppeteering them, and I want to call them off, but I need leverage against him."

Toni smirks. "Blackmail material, you mean?"

Ronnie smirks. "Antoinette Topaz, you are speaking my language." She walks over, I kick my black boots against the ground. "And I know Jughead's been keeping tabs on the Southside." Veronica looks over at me, Fangs placing his hand on my back.

"He has." Toni says. "For instance, we know that over the summer, the Ghoulies set up shop in the basement of the Whyte Wyrm."

"Which Hiram owns." I grumble.

"Sweet Pea and Fangs think they turned it into a Jingle-Jangle lab. Lucky for you I used to barrens there, which means," She shrugs. "I know all the secret ways in and out."

(minus that weird jacket thing and heeled boots and instead of pants their shorts)

Me and Cheryl poke our heads out as Veronica and Toni do on the other side. A few guys come out and we all hide. Toni snaps a few pictures before we move in. "Okay, we move quickly, and quietly."

We all stealthily move about the room as T takes as many pictures as she wants. "Looks like Sweet Pea and Fangs were right."

"Yeah, looks like the Jingle-Jangle business is booming." Toni says.

Cheryl looks over. "This should be plenty of admissible evidence for blackmail, Veronica." I look down at the Jingle Jangle, nodding.

Veronica heads to La Bonne Nuit while I head to her place to grab another bag of my things I had forgotten. I walk into her room, grabbing the red tote, sighing loudly. I turn around, making my way through the Lodge Home when I notice the Study room door is open. Hiram Lodge sits at his desk, staring at me. "Emilia, come in."

I grip the bag tightly as I take a few cautious steps. I notice two heads in chairs as I look about. Penny Peabody and Malachi turn around. "Hi, Gumdrop. We need to have a chat."

________

i really want emmy to have her own drama as well as be involved with the shows drama. she's not really involved with archie drama, and this episode idk how involved she will be with G&G cause idk it was boring this episode whoops

but now veronica knows oh lordy

WHEN IS SHE GONNA TELL PEA ! ?