The next afternoon, Seraphina was at Betty's house while Cheryl and Zareah were on a date. Betty was entertaining Seraphina by playing a game of Chutes and Ladders that she and Polly had played when they were kids. Seraphina was talking with Betty as they played the game, and Betty realised that despite Zareah's best efforts Seraphina understood more than Zareah thought, and she remembered more that Zareah probably thought.

"We almost left town yesterday."

"Oh really?" Betty commented

Seraphina nodded, "Mama said that Mommy is in town, but I didn't see her."

Betty didn't say anything.

"Mama gets so scared every time Mommy finds us." Seraphina added, "I know why too."

Betty looked at the little girl quizzically, "You do?" She picked a card, as it was her turn.

"Mommy tried to hit me."

"Oh." Betty uttered shocked

Seraphina drew a card and then moved her piece, "Mama doesn't think I remember, but I do."

"Were you scared?"

Seraphina nodded, "Yeah. I cried, and then Mama stepped in front of me."

"She loves you, a lot."

"I know." Seraphina spoke confidently. She looked at Betty, "Thank you."

Betty furrowed her eyebrows, "For what?"

"My mama never had any friends before. Not since Mara."

Mara, or Dagmara which was her full name, was the girl from Poland who's parents were arrested and convicted of custodial interference.

"Everyone needs friends. Even the stubborn, but that means their friends need to be just as stubborn." Betty explained

Seraphina reached over and hugged Betty. She was glad that she and Zareah were staying in Riverdale. It was the only place that had ever felt like home to her.

Meanwhile at Pop's with Cheryl and Zareah, they were enjoying their burgers, fries and shakes when a commotion was heard that the door.

"Please. I just want to see to my daughter." The voice of a woman pleaded as she tried to get past Pop.

Zareah looked over to see her mother. She was glad that she had given Pop that picture of her mother, so that he could watch for the woman and stop her from coming in while Cheryl and Zareah were on their date. Esther Christensen was the last person that Zareah wanted to see. Even if her mother was the last person on the earth, Zareah still wouldn't want to see her mother.

"I have a right to talk to my daughter!" Esther yelled and tried to push her way past Pop, but he wasn't budging.

Upon realising that the situation was just escalating, Zareah decided that she should probably deal with it. She started to get up, but then Cheryl grabbed her hand to stop her.

"I got this, ZiZi."

Zareah took Cheryl's hand, "How about we do this together?"

"Okay."

Hand in hand, Zareah and Cheryl walked over to Pop, who was still blocking Esther from entering his restaurant.

"Pop, we got this." Zareah said

"You sure?" Pop questioned

Zareah nodded, "Yeah. I'm sure."

"Okay." Pop agreed as he walked away to stand behind the cashier counter, "I'll be here if you need me."

Esther smiled, giving a relieved sigh as she stepped forward to hug her daughter, but she was stopped by Cheryl stepping in between them.

"No. You don't get to hug my ZiZi. If you want to hug her, she has to initiate it."

Esther looked at the teen quizzically, "I'm sorry. Who are you? How do you know my daughter?"

"Cheryl Blossom."

"She's my girlfriend." Zareah answered her mother, coldly.

Esther turned her attention towards her daughter, "Now...Sprinkles, where's the love?"

"You don't deserve any. What are you doing here?"

"I'm here to get you and Sera back."

Zareah scoffed, "Yeah. That's not happening."

"Come on, Zare. You and Sera are my daughters. Come home with me."

"She is home." Cheryl butted in

"Stay out of this." Esther snapped at Cheryl

Zareah shook her head, "Don't talk to my girlfriend like that."

"Where's Sera? I want to see her."

"You're not going to see her. She doesn't remember you."

"At least give me a chance to proof myself, Zare. I'm clean. I haven't touched any alcohol in a year."

Zareah crossed her arms, "What about the weed, Mom?"

"Only once or twice a week."

Zareah rolled her eyes, "You're unbelievable. What are you even doing here, because there is no way I'm letting anywhere Sera if you're still smoking." She shakes her head, "If you're not going to stop smoking, you might as well go home because you have no chance with me. And if I have to fight you for custody of Sera, I will and I know I will win because I'm the one who has been caring for her for the past three years. And I took care of her after dad was murdered, when you fell apart. And I took care of you too, so don't forget that. The days when you were so drunk or hungover that you couldn't even pick yourself up off the floor, much less take care of me or my sister."

"I'm sorry, Zare. I really am."

"It's too late. You're too late." Zareah uttered, "Six years, Mom. I needed you, but you were too broken to care. You don't get to care now."

Zareah grabbed Cheryl's hand, dragging her out of the restaurant.

"If you follow us, I'll have my cousin sic her boyfriend's gang The Serpents on you."

Zareah was full on crying by the time they reached the parking lot. Cheryl pulled Zareah in and hugged her, but Zareah pulled away, sniffling as she wiped her tears.

"Not here. Let's get Sera and then go home. I just want to go home. To Thistlehouse."

Cheryl nodded, "Then that's what we'll do."

Hope you enjoy. Comments are greatly appreciated.

What would you like to see happen next?