Veronica sits on her couch, surrounded by books, papers and notes. She's studying or trying to study. Little three year old Valerie sits on the floor, playing with her barbies. She giggles and makes noises and usually Veronica really adores that but she can't focus. She can't tell her daughter to be quiet, she's too little to understand. In moments like this she wishes she could just ask her parents to watch Valerie, it would make it so much easier.
"Mommy play with me?" the little girl asks. She stands in front of her mom and holds a barbie towards her.
"I can't baby. Mommy has a really important exam tomorrow so mommy has to study but we can play tomorrow"
"No now!"
"Sweetheart I can't"
The toddler falls to the floor. She starts crying and screaming hysterically so Veronica is forced to put her books aside and lift her daughter into her lap. Valerie buries her face in her mom's chest. Her tears damp Veronica's top and her little hands hold onto her tightly.
"My sweet little baby" Veronica whispers. She rocks her daughter in her arms until she calms down. "I'm so, so sorry. I know I have to study a lot at the moment and we don't play as much as we used to but mommy is almost done with college and then we can play every day and go to the park and snuggle as much as you want. I love you Val, more than anything else in this world"
The little girl looks up. She places her hands on Veronica's cheeks and pulls her head down to hers. "I love mommy too"
Veronica giggles and kisses her daughter all over her face before she pulls her back into her chest. She runs her fingers through her dark curls and keeps rocking her.
"Do you want to play again?"
"No mommy. We snuggle"
"Why are you suddenly so attached to me sweetie? The past few days you didn't want to go to preschool, you want to snuggle all day long, I can't even go to the bathroom alone. Are you okay?"
"Mommy" she mumbles and cuddles deep into her Veronica's chest.
"Sometimes I wish you would be old enough to answer my questions. I'm just worried about you baby" she says before she grabs her book. Valerie doesn't seem to like that though. She whines and pushes the book away. "No!"
"Valerie! You can stay here but I really have to study"
"No mommy!
"Yes!"
Valerie crosses her arms and starts to cry again. Veronica sighs. It's really exhausting sometimes that her daughter is so much like her. A little more Andrews and a little less Lodge would make most arguments shorter and easier.
"What's wrong with you sweetheart?" she whispers and kisses her forehead. She grabs her phone and checks the time before she wraps both of her arms around her daughter again.
"It's time for dinner. Are you hungry?"
Valerie nods.
"Do you want to help me cook?"
"Si" she mumbles so Veronica gets up and walks into the kitchen with Valerie in her arms. She places her on the kitchen counter and wipes her tears away. "Mac and cheese?"
"Si" she cheers and claps her hands.
Veronica knows Valerie won't leave her alone after dinner but she really has to study. She can't ask her friends because all of them have to study. She knows her parents are busy so she has no choice but to call Archie.
After dinner Veronica sits on the sofa again with Valerie in her lap. She desperately tries to read in her book but Valerie keeps wiggling around and hums the same song over and over again.
She sighs relieved when she hears a knock on the door. She sets her daughter down and walks to the door with Valerie following close behind her.
The little girl's eyes sparkle when she sees Archie.
"DADDY!" she squeals and reaches her arms out to him. He picks her up and kisses her cheek. "Hi sweetie. I missed you"
"Daddy" she mumbles again and lies her head down on his shoulder. One of her hands grab the collar of his shirt and with her other she rubs her eyes.
"Oh so now you're getting tired?" Veronica giggles. She steps aside so Archie can walk into the apartment. "Thanks for coming. I don't know what's wrong with her lately. She so attached"
"Do you think she's getting sick?" he asks and walks inside while bouncing Valerie up and down.
"I hope not. Besides the fact that I really don't want my baby to get sick, I also don't have time to stay home and take care of her. I have a bunch of exams coming up and one of them is tomorrow and that's why you're here"
He chuckles and looks Veronica up and down. Her hair is in a messy bun. She's wearing a black top and grey sweatpants. "You look-"
"Like shit, I know. No need to point it out"
"I was gonna say cute"
She rolls her eyes and walks back into the living room to get her books. "Will you ever stop hitting on me?"
"Nope" he grins causing Veronica to roll her eyes again. "I'll go to my room to study. You guys can do whatever you want as long as you're quiet and Archie, no candy for her!"
He nods before she turns around and walks into her bedroom.
"Your mommy is hot" Archie whispers.
"Mommy hot!" Valerie squeals.
"No! Don't ever say that again. This has to be our secret, okay?"
The little girl nods. Archie sets her down before he sits down on the floor and grabs two barbies. "Want to play with daddy?"
Valerie squeals. She grabs one of the barbies and then sits down in his lap. She leans into his chest before she starts to wiggle the barbie in his face. "This is mommy"
"Mommy? Oh you mean because she has the same beautiful dark hair like mommy"
"Mhm"
"Well" Archie grins and runs his fingers through his daughter's curls. "She could also be you"
"No dada! This mommy"
"Okay, okay. Whatever you say princess" he chuckles.
They play for a little while until Archie notices how Valerie gets tired. She talks less and moves less. She just sits in his lap with her head against his chest.
"Honey are you tired?"
"No"
"Don't lie to me Val, daddy can tell when you're tired"
"No!"
"What if we go change into pjs and snuggle in bed and I read you a bedtime story?"
"Two stories" Valerie says and holds two fingers up.
"Deal" he chuckles. He gets up and carries his daughter into her room. He helps her change into a pink footie pajama before they lie down in her bed. Valerie's little head rests on Archie's arm while she holds Fred, her little bunny, close to her. He holds the book up so she can look at the pictures while he reads. In stead of reading two stories, he ends up reading the same story twice, 'beauty and the beast'. It's Valerie's favorite and Archie has been reading it to her since the day she was born. The little girl always says that Veronica is Belle and Archie the beast. He doesn't hate that thought. It implies that he would marry Veronica one day.
After he finished the book for the second time Valerie is fast asleep. He kisses her little forehead before he carefully turns to lie on his side and pulls her into his chest. Her head in under his chin and his arms are around her body.
"I love you so much little princess. I know it's not always easy for you and you probably don't really understand yet why mommy and daddy don't live together but I promise you we both love you unconditionally and I also promise you that one day we're a family again"
He closes his eyes just for second. He doesn't want to leave. He hates to leave his daughter. It would make it a little easier if they lived in the same town but he's sure that Veronica will stay in New York after college and he won't leave Riverdale so he just has to drive for two hours to see Valerie. He doesn't mind but he would like it better if he could see her every day.
He yawns and falls asleep.
Meanwhile Veronica is getting ready for bed too. It's 9pm and she promised herself to be asleep by 11 so she has enough energy tomorrow.
Before she goes back to her room though she checks on her daughter. She assumes that Archie left already and Valerie is asleep.
When she walks into her daughter bedroom though she sees the little girl lying in Archie's big, muscular arms. She smiles at the sight. It's adorable. Though Veronica is still not the biggest fan of Archie. Everything she does, she does for her daughter because she knows she needs a dad in her life and even though Archie was a horrible, heartbreaking boyfriend, he's an amazing father, she can't deny that.
She walks closer to the bed and kisses her daughter's head before she goes to bed herself.