Hello! It's me again coming to you with another story. This one popped up in my head about a week or so ago and I couldn't get it out. So I caved and started working on it and well here is the results.

Don't worry, Never Stopped is not forgotten and will be updated soon. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this story and have your tissues ready because this chapter made me cry.

Summary: The only Jughead had to his name was the 50 bucks in his pocket, his car, and his son who was currently asleep in the back seat. Being a seventeen-year-old parent was not easy and it was even harder when you have nowhere to live after his own mother kick him and his son out of the house. With nowhere else to turn, he heads to Riverdale to visit his dad, someone he had spoken to in years, hoping he would help him until he could stand on his own two feet. There were only two conditions he had to follow: He had to pick an extracurricular activity and keep his grades up. Jughead finally felt as if he could breathe again well that was until a certain blonde came crashing into his life with those damn green eyes of hers that haunts his dreams at night. But that is impossible right, there was no girl who could ever wreak havoc in his life or his heart again...right?

Chapter One

Jughead sighed dropping down into his seat. He placed the application against the steering wheel. His hands, while he filled out all the necessary information, shaking from the cold and anticipation for a steady job. A job that he desperately needed or he would be broke, but really, who the hell was he kidding? He was already broke. He pushed those thoughts out of his mind to focus on the matter at hand. Once he was finished, he took the application back inside to the person at the counter.

"Alright, thank you," the lady nodded as she looking over the paper. "I will give this to the manager and we will be in touch with you shortly."

"That would a great, thank you. Please let them know that I can start tomorrow," Jughead urged. He hated to sound so weak, but he didn't really have any other option.

"I will pass that along," the elderly lady said, placing the application on the counter. "We will be in touch soon," she repeated.

"I can work for a couple of hours. I will only work for tips," Jughead informed her, his hand clutching the counter. "I won't be any hassle, I promise. I just need something where I can start right away."

"Well, I am sorry, my dear," the lady sighed regretfully placing a cold hand on top of his. "But it will probably sometime next week as tomorrow is Thanksgiving and we will be closed until Monday."

Jughead felt his shoulders sag as he listened to what the lady had to say. "I understand," he said defeatedly as it was the same response that he had received many times through the day. He felt his stomach revolt and he didn't know if he was hungry or on the verge of getting sick.

"Would you like something from the menu?" the lady asked pointing up at it.

Jughead smiled gratefully as his stomach started to jump for joy, but dimmed as he shook his head. "I can't, but thank you for your time." He said beginning to turn around to the door when he heard her speak once more.

"Nonsense," the lady waved her hand at him before walking over to a buffet and began filling a plate with bacon, eggs, and toast before placing it in front of the stool. "Have a seat and warm up a bit. You look like you are about to turn into an icicle."

"It is freezing outside," Jughead looking over his shoulder to see that it had begun snowing once again. "The sky is even shitting ice."

"That is one way of putting it," the elderly lady chuckled at his outright forward response and pointed to the chair. "Now stop stalling and sit."

"I really can't," Jughead said holding up his hands. "Thank you for the offer." He sent her a grateful smile and the lady looked at him walking around the counter, placing her hands on his shoulders moving him over to the chair and pushing him down into the seat. "You look like you haven't had a bite all day."

He hadn't, but he was not about to tell her that. He didn't want to offload his burdens on to someone he didn't know. "This isn't really necessary," he told her honestly.

The lady turned away from him once more pouring two cups of coffee before placing them down. Jughead almost wanted to weep at the scent hitting his nose. He could afford a small cup of coffee, he thought to himself as he wrapped his hand around the mug. The heat searing through his fingertips and into his body. The growling in his stomach took over and he soon he was looking at a clean plate. He sat back in the stool as he wiped his mouth.

"How was that?" the lady asked as she picked up the plate.

"That was one of the best meals I've ever had," Jughead smiled as he downed his second cup of coffee and he reached into his pocket to pull his thin wallet, hoping he had enough to cover the meal. "Thank you."

"You're welcome and don't worry about the price," the lady told him and Jughead looked up at the lady in shock. "I have a grandson about your age. He would always come into the house with that hungry look in his eyes after a hard day of work in the summertime."

"I can pay for it," Jughead offered as he opened his wallet, wincing as he saw that he only had a ten dollar bill inside. He swallowed as the reality of his world came rushing back and he remembered that he needed to stop to get diapers before heading home.

"It's on the house," the lady told him gently as she pushed his hand away. Jughead was about to protest when he heard his cell phone chime in his pocket. He glanced at the clock on the wall to see the time was nearing 2:30.

"I need to get going," Jughead sighed as he got out of his seat and smiled kindly at the lady. "Thank you for the meal."

"No problem. I hope you have a nice holiday," the lady nodded at him as she turned to a new customer that walked into the place.

Jughead grimaced as he walked out into the frigid air which made him pull his jacket tighter around him. He got into his car where he quickly cranked it up to get the heater going. Jughead then remembered to check his phone and it was the person he expected to be. His mother. She was wondering where he was at and telling him that he needed to get home. He looked around to make sure there were no people he could run over before pulling out of his space heading for the store.

Forty-five minutes later, Jughead pulled into the driveway of his house. He pulled his seatbelt off as he reached over for the bag of diapers. The bag of diapers that took over a half an hour to get because the lines in the store were backed up from people getting their last minute items for Thanksgiving and the glares he received as he reached over for the diapers were even colder than the air outside the store. Toledo was the not the warmest place in the world and the holidays made the city turn evil, he decided as he walked into the house where he was greeted by his mother.

"It is about time that you got home," Gladys sighed as she walked over to him with her hands on her hips. "I sent that message to you an hour ago and now I am going to be late for work."

"Sorry," Jughead said looking down to his feet. "The store was crowded," he explained as he held up the diapers placing them on the table.

"You just now went to the store?" Gladys gaped at him before shaking her head. "I told you that they would be packed. Why won't you ever listen to me? Why did you put the store off?"

"To apply for jobs," Jughead reminded her as he pulled his jacket off of him. "You know I have been looking everywhere for a job, Mom."

"Well, if you didn't miss all those days at your last one then you would still have a job," Gladys reminded him coldly.

Jughead glared at her. "I only missed those days because Josh was sick. Remember? I couldn't just go to work when my son had a fever of 103 that resulted in a hospital stay. Where is he by the way?" Jughead looked around the room and frowned when he didn't see the baby in question.

"He is asleep in his bed," Glady said pointing to Jughead's room. "Did you find anything on your search?" She asked him.

Jughead shook his head as he sat down at the table, "No, everywhere I applied today said that it would be next week before I hear anything." Jughead covered his face with his hands.

Gladys rolled her eyes as she sat down across from him. "You need to find work. You have a child that you need to provide for."

"You don't think I know that?" Jughead snapped pulling his hands away to glare at his mother. "I am trying as best as I can ."

"Well, it's not good enough," Gladys scoffed as she crossed her arms. "Also, where is the rent that was due yesterday? It's missing from my purse."

Jughead shrugged. "I don't know and I don't go into your purse," he told her pulling his beanie off of his head.

"Then where did you get the money for the diapers today?" Gladys asked him and he turned an eyebrow up at him.

"I have a few dollars to my name and I used what I had for them," Jughead answered slowly. "Are you implying that I took the rent money?"

"Well, you were the only one in the house yesterday," Gladys remarked shortly. "I need that rent money back or we will lose this house."

"I didn't take the money," Jughead shot back defensively. "I know better than to steal from people. Are you sure it was not Bill? He was here yesterday as well."

"He was?" Gladys tilted her head to the side and shook her head. "No. He would not steal from me. Bill is an honest man. He also has a job and works hard for his money. Do you want to tell me the next lie?"

Jughead felt his eyes go wide. "You think I am lying to you?" He scoffed trying to mask the hurt lacing his voice. He could not believe that his mother would accuse him of such things. He stood up from his chair. "You actually think that I am lying to you?" He asked.

Gladys nodded. "Yes, I do. You have changed a lot in the last year and I am not liking what I am seeing."

Jughead glared at her. "I have not changed Mom. I am the same person that I have always been. The lonely outsider who never fit in anywhere. Then I got a girl pregnant and now I am raising my child on my own. So yeah, I changed. Becoming a parent does that to a person, I guess. But I didn't change enough to where I would stoop low enough to steal from you, Mom." He turned from her, heading to his room.

"Then you can no longer stay here."

Jughead whipped around to look at his mother. "What?" He asked her unable to believe the words that he had just said. He watched as Gladys turned around with her arms across her chest and her eyes narrowed at him.

"You heard me. You will need to find another place to live because I will not tolerate stealing under my roof," Gladys told him.

Jughead felt his jaw drop as he realized what was happening, nor could he believe that it was his own mother throwing him to the curb. "You are kicking me out of my own home?" He felt his limbs go numb with shock as he began thinking of places for them to stay.

"I sure am," Gladys nodded. "The only way that you will be able to come back under this roof is when you pay back the funds you have taken from me."

"I haven't taken anything," Jughead bellowed at her, mainly due to the panic flooding his mind. "Please, don't do this to me, Mom. Where am I going to go?"

"That is not my concern," Gladys said coldly. "Bill says that tough love is the only way to raise good kids. This is my way. Please be gone by the time I get home and leave your keys on the counter before I leave. If you are not gone by the time I am back I will call the police and charge you with theft. I am sorry, son. This is for your own good."

"Mom," Jughead pleaded, tears stinging his eyes, but Gladys turned from away from him and walked out the door without another word. Jughead leaned against the counter to keep himself from falling to the floor, waiting for the moment when she decided to come back into the room. To tell him it was just a joke, but as the minutes ticked away it came clear that this was no joke at all. Jughead cupped his mouth as he went into his room to check on Josh. Josh, his little boy, who was still soundly asleep with no awareness of the world around him. He gripped the sides of Josh's crib as he looked around the room wondering what he could take with him or if he should. His car would only hold so much.

Where the hell was he going to go? Jellybean was currently enrolled at Stanford University which was in California, a place he would never make it to. Even if he had the money for a hotel room, he was sure that many of them were filled with the brim of holiday travelers and the rates would be an arm and a leg. And he couldn't donate plasma for money as it had only been two weeks since his last visit. He had used that money to pay for his phone bill and Josh's formula and diapers. Anything left over went into savings which often supplied the gas in his car. His savings! He pulled away from the crib, dropping to his knees at his dresser and reached underneath to the hiding spot, pulling out an old cookie tin pulling the top off. Jughead pulled what little bills he had and counted fifty dollars. Fifty dollars. It was not much, but it could get him a night somewhere. Or at least he hoped it would.

Knowing he was short on time, Jughead emptied his book bag, replacing them with what he could of his clothes for himself. He pulled out an old duffle bag which he used for Josh's clothes and a few blankets. He used Josh's diaper bag for his bottles, food and, of course, diapers. Before he knew it, Jughead was standing in the middle of his room wondering what he could take with him and decided what he had packed was enough and would have to do until things were better for them... If they got better.

Jughead took the moment to gather his thoughts, when the fact that he was homeless hit him, breaking his resolve to its core. He dropped down on his knees, his head hanging downwards as he stared at the chipped edges of the cheap edges of the tiles on the floor. He felt his beanie fall to the ground. Unshed tears blurred his vision, feeling defeated and not knowing what to do anymore. He didn't have any friends that he could stay with, most of the kids at his school being assholes and he would always avoid them as much a possible. And school… What the hell was he going to do about that? He had made a promise to Josh when he was born, that he would finish school in order for Josh to have a better life. More tears filled his eyes as anger flooded through Jughead's body as he thought back to his mother's cruelty and her accusations.

Jughead might be lost as to what his next decision should be, but he did know one thing.

He did not take that money out of his mother's purse. Hell, he didn't even know it was in there. It was not something he did, going around thinking about what is in his mother's purse. He had more important things to worry about, like taking care of his son. Which he was not doing a very good job of at the moment because they no longer had a place to live and he had no family members living in the area. Jughead felt his subconscious do a double take, stop and cast out a line to an idea that barely popped up around the edges and a hook snatched it up right away.

It was true that he didn't have family in the area, but he did have family elsewhere. Jughead lifted his head out of hands and reached down to pick his beanie up off the floor. He ran the fabric through his fingers as he remembered the day his father gave it to him. His father whom he had not spoken to since he was five. His father who lived in another state, but was not impossible to reach. Jughead felt a seed of hope sprout in his chest while he pulled out his phone. As he looked over the details of the map, that seed of hope began to grow because he realized that this is what he had to do if he wanted to make it to the new year. He also knew that this was his only and final chance.

Jughead forced himself to get off the floor to finish packing. Once he had everything that he needed in the car, he placed Josh into his car seat, smiling as the baby barely stirred an inch. He was amazed by how well and deep the baby slept at times. He often wished that he could sleep the way Josh did. Jughead made sure to tuck his blanket in around him to make sure he was warm during their long journey before carrying him out to the car. Before Jughead got into the car, he went to the trunk of to make sure that he had everything that he needed. He even made sure that he had the folder containing his Josh's custody papers, in case he ever needed them. Jughead turned around to the house behind him, remembering his mother's demands of leaving his keys on the counter, but Jughead didn't feel like going back into the house that no longer felt like a home to him. If he was ever honest to himself, it never felt like a home to him. So he pulled the house key off the ring and walked up the steps to leave it on the hook of the door knocker. Satisfied with his little action, he walked back, getting into the car with his son driving off with a promise to himself to never look back again.

It was nearing midnight when Jughead passed a sign that said: Welcome to Riverdale, The Town with Pep. He rolled his eyes at the cheesy slogan as he made a left turn on to the bridge that went to the Southside. He didn't remember much about living here before his mom left his dad taking him and Jellybean with her, but he did remember where his dad lived. He had also stopped at a payphone to look up his dad's name for his address and typed it into the GPS on his phone which he was now following. When he came off the bridge, he started to wonder if he had made a wrong turn when he started to see rundown buildings. He was lucky that he had his headlights because there were barely any working streetlights. Jughead heard a ding and looked down to see that his gas light had come on. His hands tightened around the wheel as he silently pleaded the car to make it to his destination. Jughead jumped in his seat when a car with bright lights came up behind him. A second later blue lights began flashing. He groaned as he realized it was a cop, but to his surprise, the car sped up and went around him which allowed him to let out a sigh of relief.

"Your destination is on the right in 100 feet."

"We're here, buddy," Jughead said excitedly as he turned into what appeared to be a trailer park. He picked up his phone to read the lot number which turned out to be the fourth trailer on the left and pulled into the small driveway that held a pickup truck with a faded paint job and a motorcycle. He turned off the engine while he looked through the windshield at the trailer. He could see a light coming from one of the many windows. "Now comes the hard part," He muttered as he got out of the car, flinching at the wintery air. He tucked a sleeping Josh close to his chest using his jacket to shield the infant from the cold and walked up the wooden steps. Jughead pulled Josh closer to his body as he knocked three times on the door. Jughead could feel the heavy footsteps shake the porch he was standing on as they made their way over to the door. He heard the scrape of the locks and soon he was looking FP Jones in the face. Jughead watched his dad's eyes sweep over him before locking on his crowned beanie on the top of his head.

"Jughead is that you?" Fp asked sounding confused as he opened the door wider. "What are you doing here?"

Jughead let out a breath that he didn't know he was holding. "Yeah, Dad. It's me," He answered quietly not wanting to be too loud to wake up any of the neighbors or the baby in his arms. He started to say something but his dad wrapped his hand down the base of his neck and pulled him into a tight embrace. "Easy," Jughead said shifting out his father's arms trying to avoid Josh from being squashed by the hug. FP looked down and his eyes widen.

"That is a baby," FP pointed out, looking glancing up at him.

Jughead sniggered and nodded. "I know that it is a baby Dad. He's -" he started to explain but FP tugged on his arm pulling him inside the house.

"Get in here out of the cold air, boy. Do you want him to get sick in this weather?" He asked him slamming the door close behind him. FP ran a hand through his hair before turning to his son. "What's going on Jug?" He questioned as moved over to the chair sitting down then motioning over to the couch across the room to Jughead to do the same.

Jughead removed his jacket laying it down on the couch before placing a swaddled up and sound asleep Josh down on top of it. "I need your help," He replied.

"I see and I guess that is the reason," FP asked pointing to the baby. "Why are you here Jughead?" He added.

"I don't know where to start," Jughead admitted, sinking into the couch. He felt his eyes grow heavy as his body began to relax. "I'm sorry for showing up out of the blue, but I didn't have anywhere else to go." He said lifting his head up looking at the ceiling as he thought back to his day.

"What about your mom? Does she know where you are?" FP sought out. The mention of his mother sent a raging anger through him that made him want to throw the coffee table across the room. But he refrained.

Jughead shook his head. "No, and I don't think she really cares," He muttered brokenly. He closed his eyes fighting against the tears that were threatening to appear once again. "Because she kicked me out today."

"Why would she do that?" FP questioned him. "Tell me what happened." His dad pressed and Jughead stood up in frustration.

"I don't know what happened to be honest," Jughead replied, beginning to pace the floor in front of his father. "She accused me of stealing the rent money from her."

"Did you?"

"No, I didn't take anything from her," Jughead replied throwing his hands up in the air. "I tried to tell her that but I couldn't get her to listen to me. I haven't taken a dime from her since he was born. Even when I barely had the money for diapers a few weeks ago I still found a way to get by even if I had to sell something or donate plasma."

"What about a job?"

"I had a job, but I lost it when Josh got sick," Jughead explained tiredly. "And I haven't been able to find anything since. I was out all day putting in applications and came back to my mother yelling at me to get out of her house accusing me of something I would never do."

"So you came here?"

Jughead nodded. "I hope that is okay because I don't have any money for a hotel." He said looking down at the floor feeling like a complete failure that couldn't provide for his son.

"How did you get here if you didn't have the money?" FP asked him curiously. "Why do I smell gasoline?" FP looked around the room.

"I used what money I have for gas," Jughead answered not looking. "And, I am afraid that is me because I had to siphon gas out of a few cars along the way or I would never have made it."

"Why didn't you call me?" Fp asked standing up from the chair walking over to his boy. He looked at him closely. "I could have sent you some money."

"I didn't know your number or if you wanted me to come," Jughead said in a small voice. "Please let me stay. I promise that I won't be here long, but I just need some time to get back on my feet. I will start looking for work today." He urged in a wavering voice. He could feel his resolve breaking, ready to get on his hands and knees to beg his father. "I just…" Jughead covered his eyes with his hand feeling his spirit collapse leaving him feeling empty. Though he didn't expect the feeling of arms wrap around him as he broke down. He was tired. Just tired of life. If it wasn't for Josh, he would have given it up a long time ago.

"It's going to be okay," FP said him moving his hand to cup the back of his son's head. "You are going to be okay, Jughead." He repeated not knowing what to do as he held the broken shell that what his son. The son he could barely recognize from the happy little boy that had left Riverdale all those years ago. The boy he let go because he thought it would be the best thing for him to have a better life.

After a few moments, Jughead pulled out of his father's embrace. "Sorry," He muttered feeling embarrassed by his moment of weakness while he wiped away the stickiness off his cheeks.

"Do not be sorry," FP stated firmly. "And you are welcome to stay here as long as you need to." He added and he saw the lost light in Jughead's eyes shine briefly before dimming once again.

"Are you sure?" Jughead asked him. "We won't be a problem I swear. I just need to save up money then we will be out of your hair."

"What about school?" Fp asked him and he watched as Jughead's shoulders sagged.

Jughead shook his head. "I'm not worried about school. I just need a job." He said determinedly.

FP narrowed his eyes at Jughead. "You also need an education more than you need a job. Your education should come first."

"His needs matter more," Jughead argued pointing to the baby on the couch. "Josh is my only concern and also to pay you for staying here."

FP shook his head at this. "You don't have to pay to stay here, Jug. My only requirement is that you go to school and do something for yourself such as joining a club."

"A club?" Jughead winced at the thought since social gatherings were not his thing. "I don't know and I don't have a babysitter to watch my kid. Are there any good daycares around here?"

"I will watch him for you while you are school and until you get home," FP offered and Jughead felt like he was about to melt into the floor.

"Seriously?" Jughead gaped at him due to the generous offer. "You don't have to you know. Don't you have to work as well?"

"I do, but I am a manager at the diner up the road," FP answered briefly. "I can move my schedule around to help you out. I do not mind watching him for you."

Jughead was floored. "Why are you doing this?" He asked him because he was not used to people giving him a leg to stand on.

"Because you are my son," FP explained to him. "And I wouldn't mind getting to know my grandson, Josh is it?"

"Yeah, that his name," Jughead smiled looking over to the couch where the baby had turned to his side. He walked over to the couch to sit down picking the little boy up letting him sleep in his arms.

"Who named him?"

"I did," Jughead said pulling the blanket around Josh a little tighter knowing that the little boy hated to be cold.

"Where's his mother? You didn't run with him did you?"

"His mother is another story for another time. I really don't feel like talking about it tonight, but I do have full legal custody of him. I have the papers in the car." He said leaning his head against the cushion his eyes closing on their own accord.

FP walked through to the kitchen to the refrigerator to get a drink. "Did you want anything to eat?" He called to the living room. "I don't have much but a couple of burgers from the diner I could warm up real quick." When Jughead didn't answer, FP looked over the door of the fridge to see that Jughead had fallen asleep with his arms tightly around the boy in his lap. FP gently closed the door and walked back only stopping to turn off the lamp. He grabbed a pillow out of the closet and placed it at the end of the couch along with a blanket. He made a mental note to clear the spare bedroom the next day. He also checked the thermostat turning the heat up so the place didn't get too cold before retiring his room for the night.

Here is the first chapter! Tell me what you think! Until next time I have chapters to write.