Betty, Alice and Klaus sat across from us three. Looking to Klaus, he rolled his eyes at me playfully. To keep us entertained in this silent lunch party, with the classical smell of pops greasy oil in the air. Then out of nowhere, Alice broke the silence. "The black hood is targeting sinners, so I'd watch my back if I were you, Fp." Dad looked to Jughead and I, with a slight smirk. "Especially once you rejoin that gang of hoodlums."

"Serpents aren't hoodlum-." Jug, Klaus and I were then cut off by dad.

"I'm not going back to the serpents Alice." Klaus and I exchanged looks of shocked. "I thought a lot about this while I was in Shankshaw, and I'm done with serpent life. It's gonna be one last ride for my kids and I, but it's too much of a slippery slope for me."

"The serpents need you, Dad." Jug and I started the chain.

"Lucifer and Jughead need you, Mr Jones." Betty included.

"The serpents need you, Fp." Klaus concluded.

"And what, pray tell, will you be doing with all your extra time, Fp?" Alice quizzed, head high.

"Working, Warden Cooper. I saw a 'help wanted' sign in the window. Thought I'd talk to Pop about picking up some shifts." Dad replied to her.

"Let's hope your plans don't come crashing down once you start drinking again." I jolted, feeling Jughead place his hand on top of mine. Slightly looking up to me, it was a silent way of saying. Please, don't.

"Actually, I'm in AA. Started in jail, and I don't plan on stopping." Dad came back with, chuckling at the end. Jug, Klaus and I smiled to ourselves.

With the day continuing, I showed dad the beast was home. Him smiling, him, myself and jug. All set off on the road, the one we would always take with one another before Jug was old enough to ride. Coming to a stop, dad and jugs bike beside one another. I parked mine in front, so I was able to be included in the conversation. There was no hours to be seen for miles, it was peaceful at our spot. The sound of the creek, mixed with the wildlife... was refreshing.

"Things got ugly when you were away. I asked myself everyday what you would do if you were here." I explained to dad.

"I was going through the same." Jug added, trying to live up his mark in the gang. It's been hard for him.

"Has Penny bothered you?" Dad begun, directing it at Jug. My eyes widened. "I figured she's the one who greased my wheels."

"You've been in contact with Penny?" I stood up from the bike, my voice angry. Mixed with fear of thoughts going through my mind of what she might've made him do.

"Luci." Dad said sternly to me.

"No! Dad, you know what she's capable of-." I stopped myself from continuing my sentence of rage, feeling my insides burn. But feel as cold as ice at the same time. Jug looked in between dad and I confused on why I snapped.

"I've done a job."

"What kind of job?" Dad questioned.

"It was a one time thing. I figured it best not to ask too many questions." Throwing my arms into the air, dad grabbed the back of my jacket. Stopping me from going anywhere. "We're squared away, for good."

"You know, when I was 16, my old man kicked me out and told me to go to hell. Instead, I joined the serpents. And then the army, and then back again. I don't want that life for you, Jug. I want you to go to college, get out of this godforsaken town." I leant against dad, remembering when he gave me this speech at Jugs age. That why I got a masters degree in engineering.

"I ran the gauntlet. I fought with the serpents, beside Luci and fought for them. I have to stay. I wanna stay. But I need your blessing, both of you." He begged.

"Just promise us you'll keep writing." Dad said on behalf of both of us.

"I will. I do everyday."Dad and I sighed, while we both sat back down on our bikes. Jug looked to me. "Why do you hate Penny so much?.. Luci?" I kept quiet, looking up slightly at Dad. He put on his sunglasses, talking for me.

"Luci and Penny never got along growing up, she was the reason Klaus and her broke up in the first place." Jug looked to me, eyes full of sorrow.

"I'm sorry Luci."

"Don't be, let's get going." I changed subject, revving the engine to start. We all headed home to the trailer. All engines turning off, dad looked to Jug.

"Juggy, can you give your sister and I a second. Please?"

"Yeah." Jug Walking up the front stairs, closing the door behind him. I swung my leg over the seat. Standing in front of my father, looking up to him like I did when I was younger. Every time I had a problem.

"You shouldn't of raised your voice at Jug like that." He started.

"I know, I hate myself for it. I just got angry and scared-." My voice cracked, feeling all emotions hit me at once. All the memories of what that woman has caused me.

"Hey." Dad pulled me into his chest, wrapping my arms around him. My breath went shaky, the thing I do before I ball my eyes out. "Shhh, I've got you." He whispered to me, running his hand down my hair. Rubbing small circles on the small of my back, I slowed down my breathing. The sound of dad's heart beat, made me feel like when I was a baby. Falling asleep in his chest. "There we go, feeling better now?" Feeling him kiss my head, I looked up to him. Having my chin on his chest, smiling slightly. He placed another kiss on my forehead, he rubbed away the slight marks of mascara under my eyes. Taking the impala to pick up dinner from Chinese place down the road, Jug was explaining the party that him, Betty, Klaus were setting up for Dad's retirement. Agreeing with my little brother that it would be good. "A party? No, no, no, no." We walked inside, Juggy passing me the drinks. "The problem is, I'm trying to keep the Serpents in the review mirror, remember?"

"Dad, it's one night. It'll be good to see everyone." I tried to help Jugs argument, sitting across from my little brother. He passed me my meal.

"Not even. It's like, three hours. You've done right by the serpents. More then right. Let them do right by you." Jug included, us placing food around the table. Dad joining between us with plates. "Come on, It's the end of an era."

"Ok." Dad softly replied, caving in. "Ok, let's do it." Jug and I winked to one another, smiling like a pair of goofballs. Jugs phone begun ringing, jug quickly scurried to pick it up.

"It's Archie. Don't bogart the egg rolls." Jug going down the hall, taking a mouthful of rice. Dad smiled looking to me. Rising my eyebrows, I gulped it down.

"Just like when you were a baby." Dad laughed, making me roll my eyes. Dad placed a hand on the back of my head, saying something I needed to hear for a long time. "I'm proud of you, what you've been doing with the serpents. You've definitely been keeping them in line."

"Thanks Dad."