"It's the same as when we were kids."

That sentence alone should have been enough to stop Archie Andrews from breaking into FP's trailer, but it isn't. He and Veronica enter, using the key he found under the same empty flower-pot FP used to put in under when Archie was younger, and they start the search for anything connecting FP to Hiram Lodge, to Jason Blossom's murder.

"I checked everywhere, twice," Archie claims, "but there's nothing weird or dangerous-looking.

"Same out here." Veronica shuts the cabinet drawer. Her voice is shaking with panic, overwhelmed by determination. "Just tumbleweeds and dust-bunnies, that's it." She takes in a jagged breath, her eyes welling up. "We need to keep looking."

"Veronica," says Archie softly.

On high alert, Veronica swears, "somewhere, there's something that proves it."

"What?" Archie says snappily. "What are we even looking for, Ronnie?" He searches her face as he says asks in blatant frustration and honesty, "a signed contract between Jughead's dad and yours? I doubt they're that stupid."

"We'll switch!" Veronica becomes more and more alarmed, consumed in persistence to prove her dad is behind it. "I'll take the bedroom."

She goes to charge passed, but Archie stops her. He grips her upper-arms, holding her in place. "You wanted to see if we'd find anything incriminating, and we didn't," he tells her firmly.

"Then we'll look somewhere else," Veronica says in driven panic. "Outside or under the trailer."

Again, she tries to move, but Archie stops her. "Veronica." He stops her, looking into her eyes to see the truth. "What do you want?" he asks pushily, "do you want your dad to be guilty?"

"I wanna know, Archie," Veronica says, her voice shaking. "One way or the other, I need to be sure."

"We can keep looking forever, Ronnie," says Archie, "and never find anything."

Veronica sighs and asks quietly, "then what about when he comes home?"

"I'm not sure," he says. "But..." Torn and unsure of what to say, Archie casts his mind to Thorn and what he'd say if he knew about everything. He thinks about what he wants to say still, what he wants Thorn to know, and Archie says it aloud to Veronica. "I'll be right there, next to you, doing what I can to help," Archie reassures. He stops, Thorn still in mind. He could say all this and Thorn would never let him close enough. "If you'd let me," he adds, another thing he'd want Thorn to know but said aloud to another. He looks to Veronica, focusing back on the situation at hand, and says, "and maybe I'm wrong, but not finding anything tonight feels like a win. A major win for the home team," he says, smiling, and Veronica breaks into a smiles herself, her eyes soft as she looks up at him, and he asks, "what?"

"Just..." Veronica cracks a soft laugh, lowering her eyes for a moment. "Ye, though I walk through the valley of darkness, and..." she looks up at him, "Archie Andrews is there with a smile and a sports metaphor." Her hand rubs his hand through the blazer her wears. "I think, on a contrary to others, Thorn is the idiot for letting you slip through her fingers, Archie Andrews, and not the other way around. I can't believe that she would let someone like you go without even a slither of chance. She doesn't know what she had when she had it, and that's what I think."

And as Archie and Veronica share their first kiss, Thorn sits in her bedroom staring at her reflection in her vanity-mirror at her grandmother's house. She, on attending the homecoming with her grandma, decides on getting ready there, unknown to what her friends are doing at the moment. Blissfully unaware that the words Archie would have saved for her have brought him and Veronica closer.

"Magnificent." Clifford's voice makes Thorn looks up from her mirror to meet his eyes. "Red truly is your colour, Thorn," he comments, his eyes flickering over the dress silk of her dressing-gown. He smiles. "Just magnificent."

Quietly, Thorn thanks him. She lowers her gaze from him, not wanting to look at the man invading the privacy of her room. She knows here, unlike at her father's, Clifford can get to her. He can intrude, push his way in, get into her thoughts. It's easier for him, much easier than Thorn would want to admit.

"You were right." He saunters into her room, his eyes on the pink dress handing on her wardrobe door. "I should have been embracing Cheryl for the business," he says. "She's a Blossom, through and through."

"I'm glad," Thorn replies shortly. She turns back to the mirror the moment she feels Clifford settle into her room. She tilts her head back, turning her cheek to him as Clifford takes a seat comfortable. "Cheryl's a good choice for you," she says, "for the company."

"Cheryl's not a choice," Clifford says, harsh. "Cheryl has merely there by default, but she's showing her value - to me," he adds. "Much more valuable than I previously expected her to be. I do believe she has the stomach for the business, unlike Jason."

"And me?" Thorn asks regrettably. "Now that she's proven her worth to you, am I still in line for it also?" she asks, "do you still want me as your successor?"

Clifford shakes his head, and Thorn lets out a sigh of relief. A small smile appears on her face, her hand coming up to cover it. "I'm free," she says, whispering out the words as they ghost over her lips.

Dry laughter leaves Clifford's mouth, making Thorn turn her attention towards him in questioning. "You think you're free?" he asks, humorously. "Did you think I'd let you go? Run? Be free? No, child," Clifford shakes his head, "I've seen what you can be, what all my years of training has made you, and you're a miracle, the only one like you," he says. "Too rare and too precious." His words taunt her. "You're my masterpiece, Thorn. You need to be protected."

"From what?" she asks.

"From people," he answers. "From Archibald Andrews," he says, and her eyes widen, "who will only corrupt you, tear you away from this family, what I made you. He's a problem--"

"If you hurt him--"

"I promised you," he cuts her off, "I wouldn't,"

"I don't want him touched," Thorn says firmly, "by you or any of your henchmen, or anyone you hire. He doesn't get hurt." She fiercely protects him. "He's not involved in this, any of it."

"Then hear my proposition," Clifford says, clasping his hands together. "You come to live with me. You live at Thornhill," he offers, "and you won't be my successor, and you won't be playing the part for everyone to see," adds Clifford on seeing her go to argue. It stops Thorn, letting him finish. "At least not all the time. Mostly," he says, "you will have an audience of one - me." He sees her lower her head, tears hitting the wood of her vanity. "But I want you to come willingly, Thorn. I don't want a prisoner." He reassures here, "I want to protect you. Keep you safe from those who will hurt you." Clifford stands. "Your friends, Archibald - they'll never get this pull you have to this life. They'll never accept you. Not like I do," he says. "Think about all the hurt you've caused to them and they've caused you this year just because you tried to be like them," Clifford says softly. "All this pain you've caused yourself. It's an ache to see it, but I can stop the hurting you have in your heart, Thorn - make it all go away - make it all stop."

On seeing her wavering defiance, Clifford changes his tactics. He's so close, and he knows how to get want her want.

"It won't be long before your dear Archibald leaves you for another, the feelings he has for you will only last so long," Clifford says. "They'll wear off, and you'll be alone."

"Archie wouldn't do that." Thorn, with a heavy heart, says, "he loves me. He actually loves me."

Clifford puts his heart over his heart, "if you're sure, if you know he love you." He says, "but if he doesn't. If he grows tired of you," Clifford moves closer to her door, "you know I'll keep you safe. Think it over," Clifford encourages, "you have tonight."

*

Clifford Blossom's words ring in her head as Thorn arrives at the homecoming dance with her grandmother. Thorn looks to Marion Blossom, her date being her granddaughter and never anyone else. Thorn has never seen her grandmother with a man, or even talk about a man. She has never seen grandmother in love unless it's in a film, but that's acting. Her mother has never shown love towards her father, either. Raven has loved and she destroyed it along with herself. Axel has plenty of girls, but not one has stuck; and Thorn has Archie and she's too afraid to love him.

Love isn't an option for Blossoms, she thinks, and Thorn knows it's true just by thinking of her family. No one has ever had a love and it stick. It never stays. It all fades to nothing, in the end.

"You look incredible, Thorn," comments Betty as she joins the two women. It surprises Thorn to have Betty approach them first, to be the one to speak first.

"Of course she does," Marion boasts, "she's my granddaughter. It's in her blood."

"I'm glad I saw you actually, Miss Blossom," Betty says politely. "Principal Weatherbee would like to speak to you regarding the annual donation you make. You are responsible for most of this," she motions to the decorated hall, "happening."

"Well, I always say never forget where you come from, who made you," Marion says, and Thorn nods. "So, duty calls," jokes Marion. She plants a kiss to her granddaughter's face. "I'll find you later, darling."

"Sure," Thorn says, mustering up a small smile.

"Lovely to see you again, Betty," Marion says. "Missed seeing you around the house with our dear Thorn. It's important to have good friends there. I wish I knew not to take advantage of that when your age."

"I'll keep that in mind," replies the blonde, and then the elder woman goes tottering off talking to most she passes. Betty looks to Thorn.

"I promise you," Thorn says, with her hands up, "I didn't tell her anything."

"I believe you. Your grandma always had some sixth-sense about these sort of things," Betty says. She laughs, "do you remember when you broke my beach-doll Barbie and I didn't talk to until your grandma came to pick you up?"

Thorn cracks a large smile, "yeah, I do. I thought you'd never forgive me for that."

"She told us that friends have to break things once in a while just so we could fix them together and make them better," Betty says, smiling.

"Barbie definitely wasn't better," Thorn laughs.

"Definitely," Betty agrees, laughing also. "Pink, crusty glue."

"And glitter," Thorn adds.

"Yes! Lots of glitter," Betty says, sighing happily at their memory.

Thorn ruins that. "It seems I'm always the one breaking things," says Thorn sadly.

"But it was fun," offers Betty, "trying to fix it with you."

"Look, Betty--"

"Don't," Betty shakes her head and smiles, "I was being selfish before. I was wrong to say all those things to you about Archie, about you. I was upset and I know that's no excuse for what I said. I think you're great a person, and your grandma is right, again." Betty says, "I never should have taken advantage of your friendship and used that to stop you from being with Archie - being happy with Archie. I was just angry."

"You had a right to be," Thorn says honestly. "I never should have slept with Archie, kissed Archie or even looked at him in the way I did when I knew you liked him."

"But I--"

"I broke the first cardinal rule of girl-code," Thorn says, cutting her friend off. "We both got things wrong, but I want to make it right between us; and that starts with reassuring you that there is nothing," she says firmly, "going on now, nor will there ever be, between Archie and I."

"You'd do that for me?" asks Betty, a sad smile on her face.

"Betty, you are the first and only girl that has ever been my friend," says Thorn, "until Veronica showed up. I've always been a lads-girl and you showed me all the good girly stuff, like High School Musical and Kelly Clarkson on American Idol," she says, making both the girls laugh, "and Damon versus Stefan." Thorn looks at the blonde and says firmly, "I would never do anything to risk losing that, risk losing you, again; and if that means, I can't be with Archie, then I won't be with Archie."

"But I want you to be with Archie," Betty replies.

Thorn's face drops. "What?"

"After our fight, I went to Jug and he talked a hell of a lot of sense into me," Betty says honestly. "Like you and Archie are my two best friends and you've both been so supportive of me and Jughead being together; and by talking to Jug, I realised what I had and what I was stopping you from having. Jug," Betty smiles widely, "he's my soft place to land, my safe place." She looks to Thorn. "I didn't even think I could have been the one to take that same thing from you. I could see passed my own feelings to see yours."

"Betty..."

"I want you to be happy, Thorn," Betty says honestly, "and if that's with Archie, then I want you with him."

"You're really going to let us be together?" Thorn asks, almost in disbelief.

"Yeah," Betty smiles. "I should have been more supportive before. I was hurt," Betty says. "I felt betrayed, but I'd be the only betraying our friendship if I didn't let you two be happy."

Thorn breaks into a smile. "You have no idea how much I needed to hear you that, especially tonight," she says. Thorn's eyes flicker over the room. "Have you see him?"

"I haven't seen him or Veronica," Betty answers. "I was about to ask Kevin the same the thing before I saw you."

Thorn scans the room, searching for Archie. Her eyes go to the doors eyes and, almost at perfect timing, she finds the familiar redhead across the room, now entering with Veronica at his side. She smiles, her heart swelling, until she sees Archie glance back at Veronica. Thorn sees them with their hands clasping each other's, and her chest tightens, preparing for her heart to shatter.

Betty goes to tug Thorn over to them, but Thorn stays planted to the floor. Betty looks back at Thorn, who shakes her head.

Thorn closes her eyes briefly, to take a breath. When she opens them, her eyes meet with Archie's from across the room, his hand no longer is Veronica's. She holds his gaze, wondering if Archie has grown from tired of her like Clifford said he would. She fears he has, but she told him such when she broke his head the last time.

Yet, Thorn didn't think Archie would move on so quickly.

*

Entering the gym again, after nipping to the toilets to freshen up, Thorn tries to stand tall. Her eyes find Mary Andrews, Archie's mother, a woman Thorn has been avoiding since hearing from her father she's in town. Thorn has a great relationship with the redhead; Mary being the mother-figure Thorn so desperately needed, but it's awkward to see her after messing her son around.

Thorn glances around the room and sees Kevin talking to his dad. It interests her far more than anything else. She waits at the side and, as Thorn predicted, Kevin walks over to her straight after.

"Hey, is everything okay?" Thorn asks, concerned.

"We need to find Jughead," says Kevin firmly, his hand on her arm. "They've arrested his dad for Jason's murder."

Thorn's face drops, as does her heart. All that Kevin says goes fuzzy in her head. She can't make out his words, they all melt into one. It's not until he's yanking her over to Fred and Mary Andrews, she snaps back.

It's not the way Thorn wanted to be reunited with Mary Andrews, but on feeling the new grip Mary has on Thorn's hand, she's reassured Mary is still the same woman that left. Kevin, over the music, does his best to explain the situation to the adults around them, all telling the appropriate people. It's not long before Thorn is pulled away from the dance to search of the group of her missing friends.

"There they are."

The four of Thorn's friends turn to the group of their loves ones heading for them. Archie's eyes fixing on Thorn, looking tragically beautiful in her pink dress. She struggles to take it the tension as she looks at her friends, the way Jughead's face tightens and his eyes are just as watery as her own.

"Betty," Mrs Cooper says in relief,, "Thank god."

"Mom, don't," warns Betty.

"No, you have to listen," says Mrs Cooper firmly. "All of you."

"Thorn?" asks Jughead, him turning to her as he knows she's the only one who will be completely honest with him. "What's going on?" he asks, concern growing after reading her pained expression.

"You should listen," Thorn says sadly, looking to Kevin.

"My dad just told Mayor McCoy about your dad, Jughead," Kevin tells them all.

"What about my dad?" asks Jughead, his brow furrowing.

"He was just arrested." Fred Andrews speaks up, telling the boy he considers a second son the news. "For the murder of Jason Blossom."

The boy panics, his feet kicking in before his words. "Jug," calls out Thorn as she tries to stop the sprinting boy. She goes to follow him, but a hand stops her. She looks up to see Archie looking at her.

"Leave it," he says. "He needs to be alone right now."

"And how would you know what he needs?" Thorn questions.

"I'm his friend," Archie say.

"Are you?" She yanks her arm away.

"What kind of question is that?" Archie says, "I'm his best friend."

"Then why were you and Veronica late?" Thorn asks knowingly. "She told me, Archie," Thorn tells him firmly, "what you two were planning on doing and I can't believe you'd go through it."

"I did it to help," he says.

"And what did you find?" Thorn sees him lowers his gaze. She glances at the both of them, Archie and Veronica. "You didn't find anything, like I said." She sucks in a breath. "I just hope it was worth losing Jug, and me," she adds, and Archie's eyes go to her immediately.