200 Writing Prompts: "Hi,so I was thinking maybe 35 and 41! Thanks" –Anonymous

"Could you do a imagines with 35 and 41 Please!? Thank you 😀" – 

"Hi, Jughead," You said softly.

"It's Forsythe, now," your ex-boyfriend replied curtly, letting you into his Manhattan apartment.

When Jughead had signed a book deal for his high school tales regarding Jason Blossom's murder, the book immediately became a New York Times bestseller and he left Riverdale as soon as possible, eager to leave his old life with you, behind.

The apartment was lavish-looking, and bare. The only thing indicating some semblance of Jughead living there was a small bookshelf in the living room with books you recognized from Jughead's youth. A small picture frame held a snapshot of Jughead as a child, with his parents and Jellybean in front of the drive-in.

"Your apartment looks nice," you said.

Jughead leaned against the door, ignoring your comment. "Why are you here, (Y/N)?"

You swallowed, taking a deep breath. For the first time in months, you stared into Jughead Jones III's stupid, hateful, blue eyes. Facing him, he noticed a small out-sloping on your abdomen.

"I'm pregnant."

Jughead exhaled sharply. "Oh."

He took a seat on the sleek, leather couch. He uncapped a crystal bottle of amber liquid, pouring it into a matching glass. He took a long, tired swig.

"I'm happy for you two," he said softly. Jughead had broken up with you briefly before receiving his book deal. It was no secret that that night you got drunk, finding solace in a certain Archie Andrews.

You'd dated Archie ever since. To him, it was like a dream in that he was dating the most beautiful girl in Riverdale. To you, it was like a dream because it was like you weren't even in your own body. Nothing felt real since the day Jughead broke it off.

"I... I'm just getting really into my book deal, and I feel like our lives are going different directions, and... I don't know," he had said. "I will always love you."

That night, when you'd slept with Archibald Andrews, the Archibald Andrews who was Jughead's best friend, the Archibald Andrews who Jughead was eternally jealous of, the Archibald Andrews who Jughead knew had feelings for you, and you constantly reassured him you'd never give the time of day, that was the day you'd ended any chance of Jughead looking you in the eye again. He'd moved to New York shortly after.

"Juggie," you said, ignoring his wishes to be called Forsythe. "Archie and I broke up."

"Oh," Jughead said, taking another swig from his glass. His eyebrows furrowed. How could Archie leave you alone with the baby? What an ass. "I... I'm sorry."

You bit your lip, looking away. "It's fine."

Jughead stood, stepping closer to you. For the first time, you didn't see hate, but pity? Compassion?

"If you need to borrow any money," Jughead said. "Don't feel afraid to ask."

Your eyes lowered. "Thanks."

He ran a hand through his hair. "Does... does Archie not want anything to do with the baby?"

You chuckled darkly. "Of course he doesn't."

Jughead's eyes widened. "What does that mean?" He could feel his face getting hot. He would have never abandoned you like that. When he got a hold of that jerk...

You cut off his thought process, reaching out to put a hand on his shoulder. He looked up in surprise.

"About the baby... It's yours," you whispered.

Jughead stepped back in shock. The two of you had slept together right before the break up. Any manner of malfunction in birth control could have resulted in this. The timing worked out perfectly.

"Oh," Jughead said, much more softly than before.

"I don't expect you to get back together with me," you said, voice welling up. "But I just wanted you to know, in case you wanted to be a part of the baby's life."

"Oh, okay," Jughead said. "I'd like that." He said, with a small smile.

"Okay," you said. "Well, goodbye. You know how to reach me." You stood stiffly, leaving Jughead's apartment.

You found yourself wandering the streets of Manhattan, but ended up on a park bench not far from Jughead's apartment, taking stock of your situation. After telling Archie, you'd bought a plane ticket to New York without a second thought and without a good plan. It began to rain. You didn't even bring a second change of clothes.

You held your face in your hands, and began to cry. Everything was so overwhelming. You didn't think you could raise a baby by yourself, but there was no way you'd ask Jughead to rejoin your life after all the bad you'd done towards him.

"(Y/N)?" You heard a familiar voice.

Looking up, you saw Jughead, holding an umbrella.

"Oh, hi" you said, sniffling and rubbing your eyes. "Sorry, pregnancy hormones and all that." You stood up, slinging your bag over your aching shoulders.

"Come on," Jughead said. He took your arm, leading you back into his apartment. He turned on the heat and hung your coat out to dry.

"You can stay here until your flight," Jughead said. "What are you doing after this?"

You began to cry again, though you tried not to. It just ended up coming out as a strangled, labored breathing. "I... I don't know."

"Oh... well you can stay here, if you want," Jughead said, looking away.

"You don't have to do that," you replied, glaring and wiping away your tears. "You don't have to pretend you like me just because I'm carrying your child."

Jughead's expression softened. He sat next to you, caressing your face. You stared up at him in surprise.

"(Y/N), not a day went by where I didn't regret leaving you," he said, voice heavy. "But I was worried. I didn't know where my life was going, and I didn't want to drag you along for something that could be doomed to fail. I knew you had Archie, and he was guaranteed to provide for you."

He breathed, looking off into the distance.. "It was horrible, (Y/N). Coming home every day to an empty apartment, not having anyone, not having you. I almost came back, because it was so hard to do it alone."

He finally looked back at you. His blue eyes were no longer stupid or hateful, but instead loving, and vulnerable. "I don't want you to have to go through it alone, just because you don't know where your life is going."

He entwined his hand with yours. "We don't have to date again if you don't want to, but I will go through this with you, together."

The two of you sat in comfortable silence, marveling at your rejoined fates.

Eventually, you turned to him. "So, where were you going when you found me?"

Jughead laughed. "I went to the store to find baby stuff, but I realized I don't know shit about babies."

You smiled, excited for things to start over. "Let's figure it out together."