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Jughead was In the middle of taking a test when Honey started speaking on the speaker.
Honey: Attention students, don’t make too many plans for Senior Ditch Day Tomorrow. Tomorrow we’re opening the time capsule behind the football field and all students are required to be there! You can waste your maturing potential on a day that shouldn’t even exist after the opening! Be there by 10AM!
Everyone rolled their eyes at the asshole that shouldn’t be their principle as the speaker shut off. At 8AM the next day FP drove up Into the football field.
FP: Cheer up kid. After this Is done we’ll go to Pops for lunch, my treat!
Jughead grinned
Jughead: Thanks Dad!
They hugged
FP: Try to have fun Jug
He kissed his cheek before letting his son out of the car. All the students just hung out with each other until the ceremony started. A man a little older then Jughead’s grandfather started speaking, telling the students In the time capsule was a personal letter from the students during that time and that each of the current students would get one. He and Honey undug the capsule before the students got In line and received a random letter. Jughead was curious as he opened the envelope, then his heart dropped… this was his grandpa’s class and this random student wrote “Someday I will cause pain to someone Forsythe Jones loves!” Jughead’s heart pounded as he texted his Dad to come get him. When Jughead got Into his Dad’s truck FP spoke.
FP: So, wasn’t that bad was It? What did you get Boy?
Jughead: I rather show you at Pops
FP could tell something was wrong. He held his little boy’s hand with one hand and drove with the other. After they got started on their burgers and fries FP spoke.
FP: Okay Jug, what’s up? What’s In that letter that makes you look as white as a ghost?
Jughead took a deep breath before pulling out the letter and laying It In front of his Dad. After taking In the ominous letter FP squeezed his boy’s hand.
FP: We’ll figure this out Juggie
After dinner that night FP gave Jughead permission to go talk to his grandpa about the mysterious letter he got In the time capsule. Jughead left and headed towards Pops and his grandpa’s house, planning to stop on the way to get them both milkshakes. Twenty minutes later after the stop at Pops with two delicious milkshakes In hand Jughead was just about to pass a nearby alley when he was suddenly grabbed and yanked backwards Into the alley before he could even think to react. Moments later as he was thrown to the ground Jughead tried to move but before he could get far he was being kicked In the stomach, back, and head repeatedly. The pain was so dizzying and Intense that he didn’t even feel the knife cutting Into his skin before everything went dark. Later Jughead came around to find himself lying on the ground In a filthy alley with pain vibrating through his entire body. With a pained moan Jughead managed to sit up and do an Internal survey of the pain he was In feeling relieved that despite everything else that had clearly been done to him, he hadn’t been raped. He slowly pulled himself back to his feet and limped the rest of the way to his grandfather’s house. After what felt like forever Jughead made It to the small townhouse that Forsythe was living In and once he was there he knocked loudly on the door. Soon after that Forsythe pulled open the door and saw his beautiful grandson beaten, bloody, and broken and even as he was about to speak up Jughead fell forward Into his arms causing him to cry out worriedly.
Forsythe: Jug, kiddo! What happened?!
Forsythe gently helped Jughead over to the couch and settled him In before briefly walking away to get the first aid kit. He had Jughead strip out of everything but his boxers. Every little movement caused Jughead to wince. Forsythe started on the clearly knife cuts on Jughead’s back.
Forsythe: Jug, who did this to you?
Jughead: Look In my Serpent jacket
Forsythe reached In the Serpent jacket and pulled out the letter. Forsythe slowly opened the mysterious letter and read It.
Jughead: Who’s doing this Grandpa?
Forsythe sighed heavily as he hugs him
Forsythe: I don’t know kiddo. Sadly I’m not exactly short on enemies because I was an asshole bully In high school, who became an asshole of a father and a miserable excuse for a Serpent King so It could be anyone. But we’ll figure It out together. That was the teenager me and my family doesn't deserve to be hurt because of It. If someone wants to touch a hair on my son or grandson they'll have to get through me!!
He lets go and starts on Jughead’s face
Forsythe: For now I’m calling your father to let him know what happened and that you’re staying here for the night. We’ll all figure this out together.
After Forsythe Is done he guides Jughead to his bedroom, tucks him In, and gently kisses his forehead before calling FP that Jughead Is sleeping over and for FP to come see them In the morning. Once Forsythe hangs up Forsythe goes back to the bedroom, gets In the bed, pulls his grandson tight to him
Forsythe: I love you kiddo
Forsythe eventually fell asleep while holding his grandson close to his side, swearing to make whoever had the nerve to attack Jughead pay In a big way. In the morning Jughead slowly started to wake up. But when he saw the time he scrambled out of bed and down the stairs; running Into the dining room where he found his Grandpa talking to his Dad.
Jughead: Grandpa, you should have woke me up! I go back to school today!
FP: Easy Boy. I already called the school and told them something happened and that I would get you to school as soon as I can. You needed the rest Boy!
He sighed sadly
FP: Your Grandpa and I talked about the letter and what he was like In high school. It’s probably some asshat that wants revenge for your Grandpa’s bullying days. But we’ll figure out who this Is. In the meantime I’ll get you to school and maybe you can find who got your Grandpa’s letter. Come on kid, get ready. I already have your school bag.
Jughead gave a nod before getting ready. Once ready and done with breakfast he got his ride to school. As soon as he walked In he walked over to Veronica.
Jughead: Wow, the face. Whose head do you want to rip off now?
Veronica: Of course I get the letter from the sexist pig! If I knew who he was I’d snip of his beloved man parts before sending him to Hell!!
Jughead snickered
Jughead: Can I please read the letter?
She handed It to him. “All woman are nothing but whores. I wish they’d all go rot In the dirt!” Jughead squirmed but then remembered his grandfather’s words.
Jughead: Veronica… I think I might know who wrote this. If I tell you though you’ll have to promise not to hurt them or hold anything against them… Or me!! I promise he has changed and time outside of high school has grown him and changed him made him a gentle gentleman!
She smiled gently
Veronica: Okay hobo prince, just tell me
Jughead: After the letter I got from the time capsule and after a talk with my grandpa… I believe my Grandpa wrote this.
Veronica sighed
Veronica: Alright Jughead, you win. I can’t hold anything against an old man who has been out of school for years and have more than enough time to grow and mature.
Jughead: Thank you. But I’m going to have to keep this letter.
Veronica: Keep It Aladdin! Like I would need to keep a letter like that!
She shut her locker door
Veronica: See you In class
She walked away. Just as Jughead put the letter In his bag the math teacher walked up to him.
Teacher: Mr. Jones, today Is the senior class picture and that’s what you choose to where? You’re supposed to be representing our school. Not looking like a gutter rat.
Jughead: There Is nothing about my outfit that goes against the dress code. And I am representing the future generation; away from this toxic brainwashing of normal and perfect. Normal DOESN’T exist!! This perfect mold trash like you are trying to craft us Into will forever be bullshit!
Teacher: Change or will not be part of the photo. End of discussion.
As he walked away Jughead called his Dad
Jughead: Dad, one of the teachers Is trying to kick me out of the senior picture cause of what I look like. Time to send In the canon fire.
And they did big time. During the lunch period Alice marched Into the school and ripped apart the math teacher like a zombie. When school was done Jughead joined his classmates for the senior photo with a smirk on his face. That day after school he and FP went back to Forsythe’s house and showed him Veronica’s letter. Forsythe sighed sadly.
Forsythe: I remember this letter now. It was just an accident, but a mother of one of my classmates ran over my cat. Since then I reined, destroyed, and tortured my classmate, that woman’s daughter. I’m so ashamed of the way I saw woman In high school. But I changed and I’m not going to be held down and defined by the past.
FP laid his hand on his Dad’s
FP: None of us are. Your past you doesn’t matter only your current you. I’m no different than you and people tried to tie me to my past as well. But It will never work. We both changed and that’s all that matters. We will try to talk some sense Into the person that wrote this once we find out who that who Is.
Feeling the need to protect his son and grandson until all of this was over, Forsythe moved Into the Jones-Cooper house; taking up the room In the basement. The next day at school Jughead and his friends were In art class painting. As Archie glanced at his best friend’s painting he snickered.
Archie: A hamburger, you and food bro!
Before Jughead could respond gas cans were thrown through the windows; knocking anyone that was In the room out cold. Three hours later as Jughead slowly woke up he noticed he was sitting on a living room floor; his hands handcuffed behind his back and to a table leg. As he started to struggle a man walked In.
Caleb: The name’s Caleb Serpent boy. And you will suffer cause of your grandfather. Your grandfather will never see his precious grandson ever again!!
Jughead shuddered
Jughead: Your letter… It’s you…
Caleb: Ah, you found my time capsule letter. Good!
Tears filled Jughead’s eyes
Jughead: Please!! Whatever my grandfather did was a long time ago!! He changed and matured since then!!
Caleb: Lies, typical Jones trait
He grabbed his Iron and turned It on. Once on full heat he walked over and held It against Jughead’s shirtless back; causing Jughead to scream out In pain. Meanwhile Weatherbee checked on the art class; talking to the art teacher.
Weatherbee: Is everyone here?
At that Archie shouted frantically
Archie: Jughead! He was right next to me!! He’s gone!! Someone took him!!
Weatherbee: We’ll find him Mr. Andrews. Come to my office and I’ll call his house.
Archie followed him out and Into his office where Weatherbee Informed FP and Alice what’s going on. After hanging up FP quickly spoke to his father.
FP: Dad, do you have any knowledge on where Caleb grew up or where he likes to hang out?!
Forsythe: He has a summer home In Shadow Lake!
FP: Come with me! We’re gathering The Serpents and going there NOW!!
*****
FP, Forsythe the First, and The Serpents bust Into the kidnapper's Summer home In Shadow Lake. They hear creaking upstairs; Indication that someone Is walking around up there. FP signals everyone to be quiet before FP quietly looks around downstairs, Forsythe searches upstairs with Hog Eye and the teen Serpents search the basement. After a little bit of searching FP comes across a hot tub... with Jughead chained In It! FP rushes to It. FP can see pools of vomit Inside the hot water. Not caring about his clothes FP quickly jumps In; unchaining his barely conscious and weakly gasping boy and gathering him Into his arms and getting out of the hot tub. FP holds his boy's head close to his and whispers reassuring.
FP: Shh. You're safe now baby. I've got you. Daddy's right here. I'll get you to the hospital. You'll be okay sweetheart.
Meanwhile Forsythe walks Into a bedroom where he sees Caleb laying on the bed watching TV like he hasn't been torturing his grandson!
Caleb: Well well well, It's Forsythe Jones, the man who bullied and constantly traumatized and scared my little sister In high school just cause our parents accidentally ran over your pet cat In high school! Now It's my turn to traumatize someone you love for something that wasn't their fault.
Forsythe held up his hands
Forsythe: Caleb, I'm sorry. I know I was an asshole In high school and that Innocent girl didn't deserve the treatment I gave her. But that was years ago and I have changed! I'm begging you, please leave my grandson alone!!
Caleb chuckled as he got up; shutting off the TV.
Caleb: No. I have dreamed of this for years. You think the torture stopped after you graduated? My sister couldn't give birth and It was obviously from one of your many beatings!! After that news plus getting bullied In college from the permanent marks and scars you gave her, she committed suicide!! Your grandson Is your payment for my sister!!
Tears filled Forsythe's eyes and he fell on to his knees.
Forsythe: Caleb please. I'll buy you anything you want. I'll help you meet a nice woman... or man. I can give you anything you want.
Caleb: Then shut up and sit there In tears as your grandson suffers and dies.
Suddenly a bullet flew Into Caleb's forehead and he fell dead to the floor. Lost In grief, sorrow, and guilt, Forsythe assumed It was someone who was helping Caleb.
Forsythe: Just do It... put me out of my misery... send me to meet my grandson.
Suddenly a gentle hand went on his shoulder.
FP: Daddy, It's me. I have Jughead. He'll be okay but we need to get him to the hospital.
Forsythe wipes his tears as he stands up. Soon after getting to the hospital Jughead was placed on a gurney and rushed to a room. The poor boy was Injected with medicine to bring down his blood pressure and help with his nassua and sickness and a feed bag with water was hooked up to him to help get rid of the dehydration. After they put a breathing mask on him and rubbed stuff on Jughead's burns they left FP alone with his son. FP gently took Jughead's hand In his and was about to kiss Jughead's forehead when Jughead started tossing In his sleep and whimpering; clear sign that the boy thought he was still with that man.
FP: Hey hey hey. It's okay Juggie. It's okay.
He started gently and slowly rubbing his fingers across Jughead's forehead; causing the boy's breathing to be calm and his body to be very relaxed; putting the boy Into deep sleep.
FP: You like that, don't you baby
He continued as he gently kissed Jughead's left cheek. Forsythe walked In; causing FP to speak.
FP: Please don't blame yourself for any of this Dad. None of this Is your fault. Caleb may not have been able to forgive you. But I do... and I know Jughead does too.
FP: You know, years of not being with you after everything that happened, I haven't celebrated your birthday with you In years. Once Jughead's ready and feels like himself again, we'll celebrate you being back In our lives. Just you, me, Jug, and JB.
Forsythe: Son-
FP: I won't take no for a answer
Forsythe nodded yes. Later that afternoon Jughead slowly opened his eyes and spoke weakly as he saw his grandpa sleeping In a chair next to his bed.
Jughead: Grandpa?
Forsythe woke up and started running his fingers through his grandson's hair.
Forsythe: Hey. You're just a little sick kiddo. But we'll get you better In no time.
Jughead: Dad?
Forsythe: He went home to get some stuff for you to make you feel more at home while you are In this hospital bed for three days. Is that okay? Or do you need me to call him?
Jughead: I'll be okay. Just don't leave me right now.
Forsythe smiled gently
Forsythe: Never
*****
After a stressful day back at school after everything that had happened Jughead needed fresh air and since It had finally stopped raining he decided to walk home with Archie. As they were walking Jughead listened to Archie telling him about the boy from the center that had been raped and left In the alley near the center. As he listened to his best friend’s words Jughead tried not to think about everything that he’d just been through.
Archie: What kind of dark curse Is on this town? I mean first you get kidnapped and tortured for something that wasn’t even your fault, and then an Innocent homeless kid Is attacked and hurt In the worst possible way.
Before Jughead could respond to Archie’s words a car drove by and splashed them with a huge wave of mud and water from a nearby puddle; completely soaking them from head to toe In dirty water. But rather than getting upset Jughead just laughed feeling the first sparks of true happiness since his abduction returning, causing him to speak up with Ironic laughter In his voice.
Jughead: Now I’m wet and filthy, just like when I was living on the streets.
Archie laughed at that
Archie: Definitely not the response I was expecting but If It got you to laugh than It’s all good because I haven’t heard you really laugh since before everything with Stonewall and I’ve really missed my best friend.
With those words he held out his arms
Archie: Bring It In bro!!
Jughead laughed as he stared down at himself and over at Archie.
Jughead: Are you kidding me right now?! Dude, we’re filthy!
Archie just smiled back at him
Archie: What? It’s not like we can get any dieter.
Jughead just smiled and laughed at that as he allowed Archie to hug him and soon after they pulled out of the embrace both boys were walking Into their homes and heading straight for their showers to get cleaned up. Unfortunately for Jughead as soon as he was standing under the warm spray all he could see were flashes of himself chained up In the hot water of the hot tub. Jughead stumbled backwards hitting his ankles on the ledge and falling backwards, hitting his head on the wall. As he fell Into darkness more Images of his kidnapping and everything that had happened flashed through his head causing him to have a panic attack even as he blacked out. As that was happening Alice who had been heading for Jughead’s room to check on him heard the crash causing her to pick up speed and rush Into his bathroom. As soon as she saw Jughead on the floor Alice cried out for her son as she gathered him In her arms and held him close; rubbing his cheek lovingly.
Alice: Jug, honey!
Eventually Jughead’s breathing evened out allowing him to speak.
Jughead: Mom?
Alice: I know you’re not quite ready for all of this but you’re covered In mud so you need to get cleaned up. How about you try a bath and I’ll be right here to help you get cleaned up.
Jughead sniffled and reluctantly nodded yes and after briefly going back Into Jughead’s room to get him fresh boxers and his pajamas Alice came back Into the bathroom and helped Jughead Into the tub which had him panicking all over again.
Alice: Shh, It’s okay honey, I’m right here. Mom’s here and she’s not going anywhere.
Alice started to sing to her son hoping to give him a sense of comfort and safety.
Alice: Come stop your crying It’ll be alright. Just take my hand, hold It tight. I will protect you from all around you. I will be here, don’t you cry. For one so small, you seem so strong. My arms will hold you keep you safe and warm. This bond between us can’t be broken. I will be here don’t you cry. Cause you’ll be In my heart. Yes you’ll be In my heart. From this day on, now and forever more. You’ll be In my heart. No matter what they say. You’ll be In my heart always, always.
Alice looked down to see that Jughead’s eyes were drifting closed and he was almost completely out so she shifted and pulled him Into her arms to lift him out of the tub and carry him out to his bed. As soon as she got him out to his bed and changed Into his pajamas Alice tucked Jughead In only leaving him briefly to drain the tub before joining him on the bed wanting to stay with him until she was sure that he was settled, speaking to him softly as she did.
Alice: There now sweetheart, you’re safe now. Everything Is going to be okay. I love you so much honey.
Jughead mumbled out a sleepy reply
Jughead: I love you Mommy
Alice smiled at those words. She fell asleep as well while holding her son close to her chest. Two hours later after getting home from work FP stepped Into the room to check on his baby boy and when he did he couldn’t help but smile at the sight of the love of his life holding his baby boy close as they slept. FP knew what he’d always known that Alice was and always would be the perfect mother for his children and that he loved her more now than he ever had because she was sleeping with his poor traumatized child just so he wouldn’t have to wake up alone. FP ran his fingers through Jughead’s dark curls as he slept and kissed his forehead and then Alice’s lips before leaving the room to go downstairs to Jellybean so that the two of them could make Reese’s brownies together as a special treat for Jughead to enjoy later that night when he woke up from his nap. While he and Jelly were putting everything together for their baking experience FP couldn’t help but smile as he thought about his life and how he’d started out as a kid being abused by his alcoholic father to married to a horrid woman who did the same thing to his little boy… him losing the true love of his life. Than finally he’d managed to make things right with his children and the woman that he’d always loved and now he had everything he could possibly want with her and his children.