A.N.: What-what-what's happening! I finished this thing forever ago, but never thought to post it until now. It's Jughead and Betty, our two favorite comic book characters. This is just a one-shot, but odds are with me that theres gonna be at least one person out there who'll like this story.

Warning: Mucho fluff and sappiness ahead. May cause rotting of teeth, or inexplicable drowsiness.

Disclaimer: I own a grand total of sixteen different necklaces, but Archie, Jughead, or the rest of the Riverdale gang? Nope!

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Changes

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Jughead Jones frowned, watching Betty storm out of Pop's Diner. Archie, the idiot that he was, had not gotten the right message Betty had been trying to get across to him. Instead, he ended up making a fool of himself, almost cruelly ignoring the poor blonde's feelings, favoring a certain rich heiress over her.

In doing so, he managed to awaken something that Jughead rarely saw; Betty's temper. He was rather impressed. It was quite the sight, Betty standing her full height, her hair flying, and her eyes flashing angrily, her entire lithe body almost shaking with rage. It had almost been amusing, until Archie went and opened his big mouth once again, causing her temper to snap, and her to lash out at the moron.

Betty Cooper was usually a rather placid girl, doing little to act violent or angry, being perfectly happy to act the nicey-nice next door neighbor. But tonight, Archie had pushed her a little too far, and she had snatched up Jughead's helpless bowl of pistachio ice cream, and dumped in on the redhead, making sure it got everywhere. Once she had completed said task, she simply got up and stomped out of the diner, her anger still coursing hotly through her blood.

Archie was currently trying to wash some of the ice cream out of his hair, but there was little chance of him getting it all out without the help of a long shower. Afore mentioned heiress, one Miss Veronica Lodge, who now had the coveted title of 'Archie's Steady Girlfriend' was currently sitting on one of the stools, coolly watching the redhead, making no effort to help him.

Jughead's frown deepened into a scowl, and he got off his stool, ignoring the happy couple. Archie was fine, he always was. Veronica ignored him, having no interest in catching the beanie-wearing teen's attention anyway. Said teen walked quickly for the door, his long legs getting him across the room in seconds. He had known Betty for as long as he had been living in Riverdale, and could honestly call her his favorite female in the entire city, excluding his mother and little sister. He knew her nearly as well as he did Archie, and he knew her temper wouldn't last.

The thin blonde was not one who could stay angry for very long, it was simply against her nature. He knew very well that the girl's anger would soon, if it had not already, turn into sadness, depression, and a newer development for the girl, bitterness. It just wasn't in her nature, or even in her chemicals, to stay angry.

He shoved the glass door open, stepping out into the cooler night air. He ignored Archie's whining voice calling his name, and looked around for Betty, more concerned for the beautiful blonde than the clueless redhead. He glanced a blonde ponytail disappearing around a corner, and started after it, knowing Betty's hairstyle anywhere.

Then he paused, blinking a few times in confusion of his thoughts. Beautiful? Do I really think she's beautiful?

Shaking his head quickly, Jughead continued walking. He reasoned with himself. He was a guy. A weird one perhaps, more interested in food than in girls, but a guy nonetheless. So, he thought Betty beautiful. She was pretty attractive; everyone who met her knew that. Emotions were confusing anyways, so it was best to just ignore them for the moment, and catch up with her, if only to make sure she was alright. Adjusting his beanie so it was slightly tilted on his head, he let his long legs follow the girl, still rather confused of his thoughts, and not entirely sure of his sanity.

The day had started so well for her. She had gone to her cousin's wedding, and had watched the ceremony with both joy and envy. It had been so romantic, and Betty had returned to Riverdale in an overly jubilant mood, giggly and smiling at everyone. She found herself in Pop Tate's Diner, and had gushed happily to a half-listening Jughead all the juicy details about the ceremony, ignoring the youth whenever he rolled his eyes, something he did often around her. She had spaced out a little, picturing her own wedding, and a certain red-headed teen that she imagined for the groom.

She had sighed dreamily for the third time, when Archie Andrews himself had arrived, his usual goofy smile on his face, his familiar brown eyes glittering cheerfully in her direction.

Then next five minutes of conversation were filled with hints, nudges and nearly downright saying; "Propose to me now!" For a few seconds, it seemed as though the redhead was actually getting the hint, and the banter had gotten almost romantic, with Betty nearly swooning twice (and Jughead half gagging in the background). But of course, it didn't last.

Veronica Lodge, her best friend, and biggest rival had arrived, interrupting the moment. Betty might not have minded so much, if Archie hadn't suddenly turned around and asked the raven-haired women to be his steady girl. That had hurt, and Betty had, for once, unleashed her temper, and shouted at the clueless boy. She might have been able to regain control of herself, if in the next sentence the doofus hadn't said, "B-but Betty! I didn't ask you to marry me!"

That had been the snapping point for her, and she didn't remember exactly what she did. But she was pretty sure it involved ice cream and dumping it on Archie's empty head.

Losing her temper, though, was a draining experience for Betty, and when it suddenly sunk in exactly what had happened in the diner, her anger drained out of her, replaced by sadness. Sadness so deep, it sapped her strength, and she stumbled slightly as a sudden sob escaped her. She entered a soft circle of light under a street light and stopped completely, making no effort to quell the tears that were now running freely down her face.

Jughead felt as though he had taken root. He had been only a few feet behind Betty, and about to call her name, when he heard her first sob. He had froze. The world stopped spinning. The sun went super-nova. Aliens invaded the planet, took over and forced everyone into purple cow costumes. And Betty had stumbled into the circle of light and burst into tears. Jughead was terrified, furious with Archie, and confused, because even now, with tears running down her face, hair coming loose from her ponytail, clothes mussed from her hasty retreat from Pop's, Betty Cooper still looked stunning -no -beautiful in the combined ethereal lights of the moon and the lamp post.

Still not entirely sure of his sanity, Jughead forced his feet forward until he was standing just outside the sobbing girl's circle of light. He cleared his throat, terrified of what he was about to attempt, but willing to take a risk for Betty.

Betty froze, an icicle of fear momentarily stopping all movement. She didn't want to see anyone right now. She would rather curl up and cry her eyes out for a few hours, mourning her loss. The non-existent ice melted, and she turned her head, locating whoever was interrupting her tear fest.

And there was Jughead Jones, the one man on the planet she actually welcomed in interrupting her tears. He was staring at her with his familiar brown eyes, his expression one of concern and something else she was too distressed to identify. His beanie was slightly askew, sitting tilted on his head. His jacket was buttoned in the middle, draped loosely over his thin shoulders. Her lips parted slightly as she started to say his name. He beat her to it.

"Betty…" This was interesting. Once in a while, when Jughead had to read one of those sappy romance novels (not because he wanted to, but for his mother), he would read about how in the moonlight, things where revealed about the heroine that the hero would have never noticed in the daylight.

He thought it an exaggeration.

Now, as he watched Betty, he couldn't help but think there might just be some truth in those books. Her blue eyes were glittering with yet unshed tears, but they still sparkled eerily in the moonlight. Her expression was filled with pain, but the small smile that was flitting across her face somehow seemed to make his heart transform into a galloping stallion, one that raced around in his chest so fast, he was afraid it was going to damage something. Was it really the moonlight that made things so different?

Just seeing the beanie wearing boy was always doing strange things to Betty. Somehow, her problems seemed less troubling around him, and she found herself laughing at all his wisecracks, no matter how corny they were, or had badly she was feeling. Even now, in the midst of her tears, she couldn't help but feel somehow…better, seeing how concerned Jughead was for her.

But seeing Jughead also reminded Betty of a certain empty-headed teen, and the small smile on her face faded, and she turned away from the taller youth, her shoulders shaking as she tried to hold back more tears.

Jughead edged forward, no longer being able to just stand there as he watched the girl try to hide her tears. Invading the circle of light she was residing, he moved closer to Betty, debating whether he should touch her. She decided for him and started to walk away, a complete picture of sadness.

"Betty, wait."

She was now standing just at the edge of the light her back facing Jughead, her shoulders still quivering slightly. Her voice soft she asked, "Is-is it me, Juggie?"

Jughead moved closer to her, until one hand was resting on the lamp post, the other hanging limply at his side. He knew what the blonde was asking. "Bets', you know it has nothing to do with you." If ever there was a time Jughead had wanted to something violent to Archie, now was that time. How could he hurt something so beautiful, so amazing, so perfect, and just...not care?

"Then why?!" she whirled around, her blue eyes flashing angrily, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. "Why does he always choose her over me? Why can't he look at me the way he stares at her? Why can't I ever get the happy ending I want?"

Wide-eyed, Jughead spread his hands defensively, not wanting to take on Betty's wrath without backup. Her eyes were still blazing with fury as she stalked closer to the boy. He was half glad she was no longer crying. Betty's tears always made Jughead's chest ache. Glaring up at him, Betty started to jab his chest, painfully, with her finger.

"I'm pretty." Jab. "I'm smart." Jab. "I'm athletic." Jab. "I can be funny." Jab. "So what the heck does she have that I don't?"

The girl went to Jab Jughead's chest again, when he grabbed her hand with his, holding it gently to his chest, his warm hand a sharp contrast to her cold fingers. Betty let out a small gasp, her eyes, still watery with tears, widening as she stared up at the boy.

Still gently holding her hand, he suddenly grinned, his teeth white. "Certainly not your temper!"

She snorted and pulled her hand away. "Come on Juggie, you know I can't hold a candle to Ronnie's temper."

Still grinning, he shoved his hands into his jacket, responding with, "Well, I think you were doing pretty well tonight. Even Pop looked impressed! You sure were angry."

Betty smirked, looking bitter, "'Course I was angry! That dumb Archie…" She looked away, tears beginning to well up in her eyes, once again starting to give in to her overpowering emotions.

Jughead frowned, his thick eyebrows furrowing, "I hate to admit it, but Archie was a huge jerk tonight. I'm really sorry, Betty."

She looked up at him, blue eyes wide with emotion, her hands shaking slightly, lying limply at her sides. She asked, her voice pleading, "W-will it always hurt this much Juggie? Will it always be s-so hard?"

With a resigned sigh, Jughead reached out to the girl, and pulled her into a gentle embrace, his mussed hair blowing gently in a sudden breeze. That seemed to be the final straw for Betty, and she broke down crying, again, sobbing hard into Jughead's chest, her hands pulling at him, trying to get closer. Biting his tongue against anything he was going to say, he simply pulled her closer, his long arms wrapping around her, her lithe body melting into his. Jughead couldn't help but marvel at how Betty seemed to fit perfectly in his arms, how he could easily rest his chin on the top of her head, which he did. He held her gently, silently amazed at how, even now; the blonde was still able to do crazy things to him, making his mind spin in wild circles, his heart fly around in his chest.

Betty was so confused. For as long as she could remember, Jughead had been a constant in her life, someone she could almost, but never did, take for granted. He was always right there for her, ready to crack her up with a corny joke, stand up for her against her rivals, hold her when she needed to be held. Heck, he had even cooked for her once or twice. Jughead was, though she would never admit it to him, or anyone else, her anchor, her dependent. The best friend she could always lean on.

But tonight…somehow, things seemed to be changing. His arms around her were no longer just comforting and familiar, but tonight she felt safe, as though there was nothing in the world that could touch her. It was so unfamiliar, yet, so welcoming as well. She was still crying weakly into Jughead's shirt, but, it was just easier to let him hold her, keeping her safe and warm.

But it couldn't last. Reluctantly, Betty pulled herself out of Jughead's arms, feeling, exhausted and flustered about the new perspective she had gotten in his arms. She nervously tugged some of her hair behind her ear, suddenly feeling insecure. Avoiding his eyes, she started backing up, her face heating slowly as she began to blush. She managed to stammer out, "Th-thank you J-juggie. I-I've got to get going home now."

Raising his eyebrow, Jughead decided against trying to understand what was happening, and instead asked, "You want me to walk you home?"

Betty blushed harder, suddenly glad there was little light in the area, and stammered out, "N-no, thanks Juggie, b-but I'll walk myself home."

Thoroughly confused, Jughead blinked, looking at Betty with concern, trying to figure out what he did. There were still tears on her face, but it didn't look like she was still crying. She looked almost…flustered, which was perplexing, as it was just a hug between friends. Right?

She gave him a shaky smile, one that said she would be o.k., before turning and quickly walking away.

Betty left him standing there looking confused, one hand still resting on the lamp post, his beanie tilted on his head, his unruly hair looking more untamable that usual. In short, there was nothing different about him. Nope, Juggie looked exactly like he did every other day of the week. Nothing had changed.

…right?

Nothing.

Nothing had suddenly changed between them.

Nothing was suddenly so different it changed everything about their lives.

The two teens walked their separate ways, both lost in their emotions.

Changes were bad!

Changes meant growing up, insecurities, taxes!

But Jughead kept looking back, trying to figure why she suddenly looked so beautiful tonight, why he wanted to still be holding her.

But Betty kept looking at her hands, trying to understand why it was they missed touching him, why she missed him holding her.

And they both shared a thought, though they didn't know it.

"Perhaps something really has changed…maybe it's time I changed things…"

Changes

End Note: Alrighty! There is my Jughead 'n Betty story. I like this pairing lots, and also like reviews lots too (wink wink). Let me know what you think people!

Review!