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riarklesplanetarium · 8 years

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Everything Has Changed

Prompt by Anonymous: riley hits her head during cheer and when she comes to, her memory is foggy and she has a huge crush on farkle instead of lucas

Word Count: 3182

Summary: Pre-Ski Lodge AU in which Riley starts to fall for Farkle, basically just the prompt. Riarkle with a lil’ bit of Lucaya.

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It was the big day. Riley’s first high school cheer tryouts were today and she was determined to succeed. Her friends were all watching, which the rest of the team found unusual, but didn’t mind. They all wished her the best before she went out to do the routine she’d been practicing for weeks.

“Good Luck, Riley,” Lucas said, a smile stretched across his lips as he squeezed her hand.

She melted inside and couldn’t hide it.

“Thank you, Lucas,” she said smiling after him like an idiot.

She was in a trance when Farkle approached to give his encouragements.

“Break a leg out there, Riley. I have complete faith in you as always. You’re gonna go great.”

She snapped out of it, saying, “Thank you, Farkle. That means a lot. Where’s Smackle?”

“Oh… well, she kinda broke up with me. I mean it was mutual and we’re still friends, but she decided to sit this out. She didn’t want it to be too awkward, you know?”

“Oh, I’m so sorry Farkle! I had no idea. Anyway, thank you for that bode of confidence. I feel good about this.”

Zay told Riley a joke to get her to laugh before her performance and Maya tried to dissuade her from going on like she did every year.

“Riles, one of these times you’re gonna get hurt and so help me when that day comes, there will be nothing I can do!”

“Relax, Maya. I’ll be fine. All these years and I still haven’t managed to really get hurt.”

“Well if I can’t stop you, I wish you the best.”

“Thank you, Peaches.”

And with that, Riley took the floor to do her routine.

It started out well. Riley nailed every turn, kick, and jump. It was obvious that she had really practiced. It wasn’t until Riley attempted a back handspring that things went wrong. She didn’t quite land the jump and she hit her head pretty hard on the mat.

Riley was groggy when she opened her eyes and saw a blurry face.

“Riley! Are you alright?” Farkle yelled.

“Hmm? Oh yeah, I’m fine, I think,” she smiled up at him.

“Alright Matthews, let’s get you to the nurse’s office. Someone get her dad.” Coach Harada barked.

When Coach and Riley got to the nurse’s office, the nurse instructed Riley to lay down on the couch and rest with an ice pack on her head. After a while, she dozed off, but not long after, she was softly shaken awake by Cory, who was ready to take her home. When they got home, Topanga was waiting for them.

“Goodness, Riley! Are you okay?”

“Yes yes, I‘m just tired.”

“Okay, Sweety, get some rest and I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Okay. Goodnight!”

Riley changed into her pajamas and drifted off and in her sleep, she dreamed she was back at school earlier that day. She saw herself in class daydreaming about what it would be like to be on the cheer team and date the guy of her dreams. She couldn’t help but be satisfied, even if this was just a dream. When she woke up, her eyes fluttered open to see Maya sitting in the bay window.

“Good morning, Riles. Are you feeling better?”

“Yes, Peaches, just a little sore.”

“Did you get enough rest?”

“Yes, Maya. And I had the most wonderful dream about…”

“Lucas? It is Lucas?”

“What? No! Why would you guess that??”

“Because you have the biggest, most annoying crush on him.”

“No, I don’t! What are you talking about? I like Farkle, Maya.”

“What? That’s news to me. You’ve been drooling over Lucas since the seventh grade when he first moved here.”

“I’ll admit that I liked him for a while, but that was just superficial, I think. Once I got to know him and really spend time with him outside of middle school, I kinda got over it. He’s a great guy, but he’s just a friend. Farkle, though… he’s the one I have a crush on. He’s so kind all the time and he’s so supportive. He always believes in me and wants me to do the best I can and he encourages me to keep improving. He’s perfect.”

“Riley, are you sure you’re okay? What is the capital of our country?”

“Washington, D.C.”

“What about New York state?

“Albany. Maya, what are you doing?”

“When you fell and hit your head, I think you may have gotten a little jumbled up. You’re being weird. Well… not really, you’re being you. But something is up. You’re in love with Lucas, not Farkle. Farkle has a girlfriend.”

“No, he doesn’t. Smackle broke up with him yesterday. He told me right before tryouts.”

“I think you may have dreamt that up.”

“No I didn’t, ask him.”

Maya grabbed her phone out of her pocket and texted Farkle, after reading his response that confirmed Riley’s story, she sighed.

“Well, Riley, it seems you’re right. You seem fine if you ignore the huge fact that you’re over Lucas. If you do anything else weird, I’m telling your parents.”

“While I don’t really know what you’re referring to, I will do my best to be a normal happy Riley.”

“Okay, Riles. Get some more rest and I’ll see you later.”

“Bye, Peaches.”

“Bye, Riley,” Maya crawled out the window before sticking her head back into the bedroom, “Hey, Riles?”

“Yes, Maya?”

“Are you sure you’re not just, you know, stepping back for me like you did before? I don’t want you to give up on Lucas just because I like him too.”

“No, Peaches. I really just don’t like him that way. I wouldn’t do that again, seeing as it didn’t work at all last time.”

“Okay,” and with that, she turned back around and headed out the door.

~~~

After a Saturday filled with naps and nothing in between, Riley left her room on Sunday morning to look for her family. When she entered the kitchen, she saw not only her family at the table, but Maya, Lucas, Zay, Smackle, and Farkle.

“Hey, Riley,” grinned Lucas, as she walked toward the table.

“Oh, Hey Lucas,” Riley responded.

“You look nice this morning. Are you feeling better?”

“Yes I am, I feel like I’ve made a full recovery, though, there’s a pretty big bump on my head.”

Lucas had obviously noticed a change in Riley’s behavior toward him and he was confused by it. While it was a little off-putting to him, he wasn’t sure how he really felt about it. Maya observed Lucas from the other side of the table and began to believe that Riley’s feelings really had changed. Maya believed that Riley would step back for her, but she also knew that Riley wasn’t a good enough liar or actress to pull this off.

“Are you going to school tomorrow, Riley?” Smackle questioned.

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” she answered, not making eye contact and softly smiling off somewhere.

Quickly, Maya followed her gaze and saw that she was staring in Farkle’s direction. Zay saw what Maya was doing and went to follow her gaze. When he saw Riley staring at Farkle, he caught onto what was happening. He jabbed Maya in the side to get her attention. When she looked over he looked quizzically at her, nodding toward Riley. Maya seemed like she was about to respond when Riley cleared her throat and shook her head, breaking her stare.

“So! What are you all doing here?”

“We came to check on you Riley, because we love and care about you... and also because we got bored without you,” answered Farkle.

Zay and Maya whipped their heads toward Riley to see her reaction. Her eyes brightened and she melted in a way that had previously been reserved for Lucas. She smiled but regained her composure quickly. Zay confirmed his suspicions, but Lucas was still confused as to what was happening. He looked to Zay, who was smiling and looking back and forth between Riley and Farkle. All at once he realized what was going on. He wasn’t sure when it happened, but Riley was in love Farkle. He felt like just days ago he had been the object of her affection.

As Riley snapped out of it again, the group resumed normal conversation, with the exception of Lucas, who was trying to figure out how he felt. He really did like Riley. It was weird seeing her staring at Farkle the way she used to stare at him. He wasn’t upset, though. Maybe he had waited too long to make a decision. Riley had liked him for almost three years. In a way, this made his decision easier.

The rest of the group was chattering when Smackle’s phone rang. She answered, and as the call ended, she announced, “I have to go. My mom wants me to run errands with her.”

Riley got up and walked her to the door.

“Goodbye, Smackle.Thank you so much for visiting. It really means a lot to me.”

“Thank you for allowing us to visit, the pleasure was all mine.”

While they chattered at the door for a moment, Maya and Zay made eye contact. They both knew that they would do what they could to get Riley and Farkle closer by the end of the night.

When Smackle left, Riley returned to her friends.

“Do you guys want to watch a movie or something?”

“Sure, Riles. What movie?” Maya asked.

“I don’t know, I could go for some Star Wars. What do you guys want to watch?”

“Empire Strikes Back!” yelled Farkle.

“Fine by me,” responded Zay.

“Okay, let’s do it,” said Lucas.

Maya and Zay raced to the couch and lounged on it, taking up most of it. They had a plan. When Lucas tried to sit down near Zay’s feet, Zay kicked him and told him to sit in the chair. Riley sat down on the end of the couch and Farkle looked for a place to sit.

He was about to sit down on the floor, when Zay said, “Oh! Sorry, Farkle, you can sit on the couch next to Riley, I’ll move my legs for you.”

“Thanks, Zay,” Farkle acknowledged as he sat down with Riley.

Maya and Zay looked at each other and congratulated themselves on a job-well-done. Lucas looks to them and realizes that they’re up to something.

“Hey guys, I’m gonna make some popcorn,” Lucas announced, “Zay, why don’t you come help me.”

Zay sat up and stood, then walked into the kitchen.

“What’s going on, Zay?”

“Well, isn’t it kinda obvious that Riley is into Farkle?”

“Yeah, I’ve picked up on that, but I don’t get it. I thought she liked me. I don’t have a problem with her liking Farkle, but this seemed to happen quickly.”

“Maybe it’s just been happening over time. It’s been three years, you can’t have expected her to wait around forever.”

“Didn’t it seem like she still liked me on Friday, though?”

“Look, Lucas, Riley’s the nicest girl out there, and maybe you mistook her being nice for her still liking you, but I’ve gone to school with you guys for a while now, and I see the way Farkle looks at Riley and the way she looks at him. I don’t think this is new at all. I just think that maybe she hadn’t realized it yet, or she knew it would be wrong because Farkle was with Smackle, but that’s over now.”

“What am I going to do? I still love Riley”

“Do you still also love Maya? If so, then it sounds like your decision got a lot easier. It not, then you don’t deserve Riley or Maya. If you liked Riley more the whole time, you shouldn't have dragged them through that triangle.”

“No, I do love Maya.”

“Well, then, problem solved. Let Riley be happy and accept the fact that she doesn’t need you to be happy.”

“Zay, you really know how to talk sense into a person.”

“Lucas, you really needed it. Let’s make some popcorn and get back to setting up Riley and Farkle.

“Okay,” Lucas stated hesitantly, before deciding to just go with it.

When Lucas and Zay returned to the couch they saw Riley and Farkle chattering distractedly. Zay leaned over to Maya, informing her that Lucas was onboard with the plan. When Maya heard this, she felt a little giddy inside. Not just for Riley, but for herself. If Lucas was willing to help Riley date someone else, perhaps she had a chance with him. She’d been observing Riley for days and finally believed that she was actually over Lucas. Now that she knew, she was ready and willing to set Riley up with Farkle.

“Guys, I have an idea,” Lucas quietly plotted to his friends.

“What is it?” Maya and Zay replied.

“Just watch,” he whispered before announcing loudly, “I've actually never seen Star Wars.”

“What?!?” Riley and Farkle reacted.

“How can you have avoided Star Wars all this time? It's everywhere!” Farkle questioned.

“I don't know, it was never really my thing.”

“This is ridiculous! We have to watch all of them…well maybe not the prequels,” Riley said as she began planning the events of the day.

“You and I aren't leaving until you watch them, Mr. Face,” Farkle jokingly threatened.

“Sounds like a plan. But why do you need to be here, Farkle? I can just stay here alone with Riley and you can go home.”

“No, you can’t! – I mean…you could, I guess. I just...”

“No no no, Lucas. Farkle is staying. He's my favorite Star Wars partner. I can't have a marathon without him!” Riley defended enthusiastically as she wrapped her arms around Farkle in a playfully protective hug.

Zay and Maya were impressed with Lucas’s work as Farkle looked at Riley and smiled gratefully.

Farkle leaned into Riley’s ear and whispered, “Riley...we can all go if you want to be alone with Lucas, in case you want to...you know...talk or something.”

“No, Farkle,” Riley responded quietly, “I don’t want to do anything with Lucas. I really want you to stay.”

Farkle’s eyes brightened as she spoke, then he looked down at her as she tightened her hug before releasing him before laying her head on his shoulder. Farkle sat back on the couch and relaxed as Episode IV began playing.

Throughout the entirety of the first two movies, Riley and Farkle remained in the same position, unmoving. When Empire Strikes Back ended, the gang decided to take a break before starting Return of the Jedi.

“Is anyone hungry?” Zay polled.

“I could eat,” responded Lucas.

“Alrighty then, let’s go get some food!”

“But Zay!,” Maya interrupted dramatically, “Riley here should get all the rest she can before she goes back to school. I think she should stay here.”

“Well,” Lucas played along, “We don’t want her to be here all by herself.”

“Someone should stay behind with her while the rest of us pick up some food from that Mexican place down the street,” Maya mused.

“I’d do it, but I don’t trust any of you to get my order right,” said Zay.

“Ditto,” Maya noted.

“I’ll do it,” piped Farkle.

“Yeah! Great idea!” Maya yelled, “Lucas, Zay, let’s go. Farkle, text me your orders.”

With that, Maya grabbed Lucas and Zay’s arms and dragged them out the front door.

Unbeknownst to Farkle and Riley, Maya had ordered the food on her phone so it would be delivered to the house. While Riley and Farkle thought she was getting food with Zay and Lucas, the three of them had actually re-entered the house through the bay window and were peering through the hallway into the living room.

Without Maya around as a safety net, Riley got a little nervous alone with Farkle.

“Hey, Riley,” Farkle murmured quietly, “How are things going with Lucas?”

“Why do you keep asking about him?”

“We all know how you feel about him,” Farkle said, frowning at his feet.

“Do you? How do I feel about him? How would you know?”

“You talk about it a lot...and you stare sometimes. When he speaks, you melt a little.”

“Well maybe it seems like that, but I only feel about one person that way and it’s not Lucas.”

“Huh?”

“You and Maya seem to think I’m obsessed with Lucas, but I’m not. I haven’t since, like, seventh grade.”

“Sorry Riley, it just seemed like... I guess we...Well, maybe I...”

“Farkle, are you okay?”

“Are you okay? I just don’t get it.”

“Get what? I’m fine.”

“I mean, if you don’t like Lucas...who’s the person?”

“What?”

“You said only feel like melting with one person. Who?”

“Oh,” Riley went red, “Well, it’s a tough situation.”

“How so?”

“Well, he just got out of another relationship. And I don’t want to mess our current one. And he seems to think I’m in love with someone else.”

“Who?” Farkle repeated.

“...Well,” Riley internally debated with herself before saying, “Farkle, it’s you.”

“Huh? Oh that's-- wait what?” Farkle looked up, realizing what she said.

“Farkle I think I’ve been in love with you since I met you, it just took a while to realize. You’ve always supported me, from when you saved my life the day we met, to two days ago at cheer tryouts. You never doubt me, even when I’m wrong. You’re always on my team. I love that. You’re the greatest partner I could ask for. I don’t know. I just needed to get that off my chest. Maybe I shouldn’t have. Was that a mistake?’

Farkle sat up while Riley had been speaking and grabbed her hands before responding, “No. No, it wasn’t. I’m glad you said that. I’ve always loved you too. When Lucas showed up, I watched you fall for him and just gave up. I did like Smackle, but it’s different. We’re so similar. It wasn’t a good partnership because we didn’t need each other. You make me better, more understanding.”

The two sat there looking at each other before Riley kissed Farkle on the cheek. Farkle blushed, before leaning toward Riley and grabbing her face, not doing nothing.

“Are we gonna try this?” Farkle questioned.

“I think so.”

And with that, Farkle pulled Riley’s face to his and kissed her. It was glorious. All the love that had been between them since the first grade was up in the air, and it wasn’t going anywhere.

“We did it!” Zay and Maya cheered as they high-fived and congratulated themselves.

“What are you doing here? And what did you do?”

“We’re watching you and we were successful in making sure you got together.”

“What about our food?” Farkle frowned jokingly.

“It’s on its way.”

Lucas gave a signal of assurance to Farkle and Riley, before turning back to his partners-in-crime. The three returned to the couch with the others to wait for the food. Riley and Farkle spent the rest of the evening snuggled up together, enjoying the time with their wonderful, supportive friends. All was well.

#girl meets world #GMW #riarkle #Lucaya #riley matthews #farkle minkus #hive five #star wars #au #movie marathon #clique six #maya hart #maya hunter #lucas friar #zay babineaux #isadora smackle #save gmw #save girl meets world #<3

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incorrectgmw · 6 years

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Hi! do you read gmw aus? if so, pls recommend some, I really miss the show and this account is one of things keeping it alive for me :((

yes!!! i read as many as i can possibly get my little hands on!!!

‘my soul and yours are the same’ - A string of soulmate aus, in which, in every universe, Lucas Friar and Farkle Minkus are destined to be together. (a series by yours truly, the latest of which is not abandoned i promise, mostly lucas/farkle-centric but with more than a few background relationships.)

anything written by tumblr user friarlucas, but specifically her mad dogs au and her quincy willows au. (those two fics specifically are mostly riley/lucas and quincy willows has farkle/zay, and most of her fics are riley/lucas, but she writes a little bit of everything.)

‘kaleidoscope’ - She meets her when she's five, is in love with her by the time she's thirteen and tells her when she's seventeen. Or: Maya's always been too afraid to tell her best friend that she's in love with her and that they're kind of soulmates. (riley/maya with a hint of lucas/farkle.)

‘tell my love to wreck it all’ - When Riley is the only person matching the description, centered perfectly in the crosshairs of her rifle, Maya starts to sob. or: riley's a werewolf. maya's a hunter. you can do the math. (riley/maya angst but it’s really good with a happy ending!!!)

‘my heart is gold and my hands are cold’ - He gives his heart to the tin man anyway, asking nothing in return. (lucas/farkle theater au)

‘where you are, i will be’ - “and i’d choose you; in a hundred lifetimes, in a hundred worlds, in any version of reality, i’d find you and i’d choose you.” (a maya/riley reincarnation au that’s so good omg)

‘What the Hell Were We? (Tell Me We Weren't Just Friends)‘ - With Riley and Maya isolating themselves from the group, the last thing he needed was to freak out the one person he had left. The idea hadn’t crossed his mind that maybe Farkle was worried about the same thing. (farkle/lucas with background rilaya that’s so nice. more of a future fic than an au.)

‘I Won’t Just Buy You a Rose’ - When Riley Matthews shows up in his flower shop, hoping for an arrangement that will impress her parents, Farkle doesn't know how attached he'll grow to her. (a riley/farkle flowershop au for the ultimate dose of cuteness for your soul!!!)

hope that helped anon! i tried to give some variety so that something might strike your fancy, but a lot of fics are straight up riley/maya or lucas/farkle. if you want something else (a rarepair or just something that’s not out there), feel free to send it to my personal account @farklelucas and i’ll write you a little something for almost any pairing!!!

#gmw #gmw au #girl meets world #gmwau #asks #niq #not incorrect quotes #anonymous #welcome to the losers club askhole

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preyandhunter · 9 months

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Hey Guys 👀… New AU time????

In a world of blood and shadows… the ghouls, man-eating monsters wearing the faces of humans prowl the night, wary of the white-clad humans, the Doves, who stalk the daylight. The fragile status quo is raptured when an ill timed murder of on innocent pro-ghoul human launches the city of Hermittopia into a bloodbath that rapidly spirals into a war front. The multi-fic series will explore the ways a number of individuals’ paths intersect with each other and weigh on the story, between parties pro-ghoul, anti-ghoul, and several shades of neutral alike.

ao3: Come Read!

———

We are proud to be presenting, “To Be The Prey, To Be The Hunter” au a.k.a “Prey&HunterAU” (see: tags) this was developed recently under the machinations of several users including

@evilrat-sabre !!!!

@monosminecraftmania !!!!

And @azzayofchaos !!!

If you want additional details for this au then please @evilrat-sabre for a link to their discord, for sneak peaks at the ghoul thread.

———

Warning:

Tokyo ghoul feature very dark themes, Hermitcraft is usually silly and light-hearted. We will have some dark and we will have some silly, but if it’s something you don't vibe with, it’s okay to look the other way. This entire au is just some friends having fun.

General TW for Cannibalism, main character death, blood, gore, and gray morality

———

^us making this au (drawing by mod Zay! (That’s me tee he))

Organization for this blog:

(Coming soon I hope…)

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seriestrash · 7 years

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A Christmas Movie Miracle

❄ Day Two ❄

A/N: **Complete AU** Riley and Lucas have never met! Zay and Lucas moved to NYC for college.

Summary: Riley is on a mission to find Auggie a very specific toy. After the brunette wanders into the toy shop Lucas works at, he sets out on an adventure to help Riley fulfil her wish list.

Word Count: 3634

❄ ❄

It’s the day before Christmas Eve and a twenty-one year old Riley and Maya have been all over the city looking for a present for Auggie. Riley has spent months trying to find this very specific gift but she’s had no such luck.

They’re currently in a vintage toy store looking around. Maya is pretty tired from all this effort and no results but Riley is still determined.

“Riles, maybe we should just find him something else.” Maya suggests lightly.

“No Maya, it has to be this.” Riley says dramatically.

“We’ve checked every toy store in the city, new and old and we’ve had no such luck. They just don’t make Mister Googly toys anymore.” Maya sighs.

“I know, Maya.” Riley snaps. “But this is our first Christmas without mom and dad and Auggie needs Mister Googly!”

“Okay, Riles I’m sorry.” Maya gives her an apologetic smile. “We’ll keep looking.”

“I’m sorry.” Riley softens.

"It’s okay, Riles.” Maya says genuinely and she makes sure to hold her gaze so Riley knows she understands.

“I’m just hoping for a Christmas miracle like in the movies.” Riley sighs as her eyes scan the shelves of once loved toys. “You know, the ones where everything is okay in the end?”

“Yeah and add in a ridiculously fast tracked love story.” Maya scoffs. “You’ve made me watch three movies this week where the couple say I love you after two days.”

“It’s sweet.” Riley coaxes her head.

Maya crinkles her nose in mock disgust but quickly breaks with a smile. “I’m going to ask someone at the counter if they know the toy or not. Why don’t you look in that bucket of stuffed animals?” Maya suggest and Riley nods. The brunette walks towards the big cylindrical bucket and starts sifting through the plush toys.

Maya approaches the counter where there’s a guy sat with his feet up reading a magazine.

“Ahem.” The blonde clears her throat loudly and the store clerk looks up from the pages. Once he meets the pretty blue eyes of Maya his attention was all hers.

“Well hello, Miss.” He grins wide. “I sure hope I can help you today.”

“Zay.” Maya reads his tag, “I don’t have time for games. I’d like to know if you have a Mister Googly plush toy in this store anywhere?”

“A Mister what?” Zay questions with crinkled brows.

Maya lets out a frustrated sigh. “The little monster from that old kids show. He’s fluffy, he’s blue, and he’s made just for you, he’s your foogly boogly best friend.” Maya sings the little jingle.

“That’s adorable.” Zay says with a smirk.

Maya was beyond done before even entering this store but now she was just annoyed with Zay’s less than helpful flirting. Maya reaches forward and grabs a tuff of Zay’s shirt. She yanks him forward and holds his stare, “I’ll tell you what’s adorable, finding me that stupid toy monster. You see that pretty little brunette behind me? She’s my best friend in the whole wide world and if she wants a Mister Googly toy than I’m going to find her a goddamn Mister Googly toy!”

Meanwhile, Riley’s searching through the stuffed toy bucket when she’s approached by an employee that looks about her age. "May I help you with anything, Miss?"

Riley meets his green eyes and gives him a shy smile. She notices his tag reads ‘Lucas’. "I’m looking for a Mister Googly doll.”

“Like that kids show from a while back?” Lucas questions.

Riley nods and pulls out her phone, she brings up a picture of Auggie when he was younger and she zooms in on his beloved toy.

“I’m sorry, I don’t recall us having any of those in store We had one a few months back but it sold.” Lucas frowns and when Riley’s face drops he really wishes he could have told her he did have the toy. “I’m sorry.” He says again.

Riley’s halfway through telling Lucas it’s alright when she hears the scuffle Maya was in with Zay.

“Oh no.” Riley shrieks as she looks at Maya with a tuff of the other employees shirt in her hand.

“Oh wow.” Lucas says now looking over at it too and they both scurry towards their respective best friends.

“Maya stop!” Riley calls over and the blonde releases Zay with a sigh.

“You know her?” Lucas asks.

“She’s my best friend.” Riley says simply.

“He’s mine.” Lucas adds in the same manner.

“Maya you can’t go around roughing up the employees of every toy store we visit!” She quietly reprimands her friend.

“Well lover boy over here wasn’t being very helpful.” Maya folds her arms.

“In my defence you didn’t really give me a chance-” Zay stops when Maya shoots him a mean glare. “A chance to be helpful!” He defends.

“It’s alright, Maya they don’t have it.” Riley says solemnly and again it hurts Lucas to see this stranger like that.

“Have you tried Tim’s toys on-”

“Yep.” Riley nods.

“Toy empori-”

“Yes.” Riley nods again. “We’ve scoured every toy store in New York City and had no luck. I think I should just give up.”

“But Riles, what about your Christmas miracle?” Maya wears a frown.

Riley just shrugs sadly and turns to the two employees. “Thank you for your help.”

The girls only get a few steps away before Lucas calls out for them to wait. They stop and turn their attention back to the Texan.

“I know a guy who comes in from Cape May, he collects toys.” Lucas says.

“Weirdo.” Maya mumbles under her breath but Zay heard and chuckles.

Lucas heard too so he gives a simple explanation. “He collects and sells them for profit. If you just wait a second I can call him and ask if he knows where you could get a Mister Googly doll?” Lucas poses it as a question to gauge if she’d even be interested in that.

“You’d do that?” Riley’s eyes sparkle with hope. “Thank you so much.”

Lucas steps off to the side for a minute and calls his contact. He returns to tell Riley that he does have a Mister Googly doll that he’s selling but she’d have to go to Cape May to pick it up because he won’t have time to post it nor would she even get it on time if he could.

“Cape May is nearly a six hour round trip and probably even longer on the bus.” Riley frowns.

“Lucas has a car!” Zay chimes in and his best friend gives him a concerned ‘what are you doing?’ look. “Lucas, let the nice ladies borrow your car.” Zay adds with his trademark smirk.

“Borrow my car?” Lucas laughs.

“We can’t borrow his car.” Riley laughs too.

“We also can’t drive.” Maya says truthfully.

“Lucas, drive the nice ladies to Cape May.” Zay says in the same positive tone he used when talking about lending the car to them.

“No.” Riley shakes her head. “No thank you.”

“Riles, you should go!” Maya is surprisingly supportive of the idea. “I promised my parents I’d endure a Santa photo with the mini Hunters this afternoon but you can go.”

Both Riley and Lucas tug each of their best friends off to different sides.

“Zay, what are you doing?” Lucas asks him quietly.

“You’re clearly into her.” Zay says. “I’m being a good wingman!”

“What makes you think I’m into her?” Lucas scoffs and he’s honestly not fooling anyone.

“The second that pretty brunette looked at you with those sad eyes you just had to save her. You want to help her, so help her!” Zay says. “It’s not like we’re doing anything exciting for Christmas.”

Over with the girls, Riley’s giving Maya a quizzical look. “What are you doing?”

“I’m helping you find Auggie’s gift like I promised.” Maya says simply.

“You’re trying to get me to go on a road trip with a stranger.” Riley eyes her. “He could be a serial killer or something!”

“He’s a harmless Huckleberry.” Maya swats the air. “You yourself said you want the Christmas movie miracle, this is it! A stranger who’s going to help you get the gift you’ve spent months searching for.”

Both Riley and Lucas seem to be swayed by their respective friends arguments and when they all meet in the middle together they just nervously look at each other.

“I couldn’t ask you to drive nearly six hours for me.” Riley shakes her head.

“You don’t have to ask.” Lucas says. “I want to help.”

“Really?” Riley asks dubiously.

“Really.” Lucas nods.

“Okay. Sure.. Why not?” Riley laughs in disbelief that she was about to embark on this adventure with a complete stranger.

“Zay can cover my shift here and we can go now if you’re ready?” Lucas asks.

“Yeah I’m ready.” Riley nods.

As the two get ready to leave Maya stops Lucas. “Just checking that you’re not a serial killer, right?”

“No Ma’am.” Lucas laughs.

“Good. Cause if you lay a finger on Riley, I will hurt Zay far worse than you could ever imagine.” Maya says seriously.

“You have nothing to worry about.” Lucas says nervously. For such a small girl she sure was scary. “But I think Zay should be afraid..”

“I kinda like her.” Zay admits with a smirk and Maya rolls her eyes again but she’s trying really hard to suppress her smile.

Lucas leads Riley to where his car is parked. Riley’s feeling anxious about the situation, not that she felt in danger but she could be awkward around new people if she overthinks things which she was currently doing.

There is awkward small talk for the first twenty minutes of the drive. Like Lucas asking which radio station she’d like to listen to and him checking if the heating in his car was warm enough or not.

Finally Lucas decides to address the awkwardness head on. “This is weird right?”

“Totally weird.” Riley says with a relieved breath that he brought it up. “I mean I am so appreciative that you’re helping me - on Christmas Eve of all days! - but we don’t even know each other.”

“Okay then, let’s change that.” Lucas says. “Let’s play twenty questions?”

“Alright.” Riley gives a single nod. “You ask first.”

“Okay.” Lucas thinks for a moment. “Have you always lived in the city?”

“Yes, I was born here and I go to Columbia University so I’ve stayed.” Riley answers.

“Ivy League. Nice.” Lucas says in an impressed tone. “Okay, your turn.”

“You’re from Texas?” Riley questions.

“Yes, Zay and I both are.” Lucas explains. “We attend NYU together.”

Twenty questions was the perfect way to defuse the awkward tension in the air. They very quickly establish an open line of communication and the back and forth questions fade out without either of them noticing and suddenly they’re just discussing parts of their lives with each other.

After nearly two hours of driving Lucas asks something that changes the mood. “I feel like I haven’t asked the obvious question.”

“What’s that?” Riley asks.

“Why does this particular toy mean so much to you?” Lucas questions.

Riley shrinks into the passenger seat slightly. “It’s important to my little brother Auggie, he accidentally donated his childhood one to Good Will at he beginning of the year.” Riley gives only half of her true explanation.

“How old is your little brother?” Lucas asks.

“Sixteen.” Riley says and she looks directly out the windscreen.

“Older than I was expecting.” Lucas thinks aloud.

“It was a gift from our parents when he was little.” Riley says still keeping her gaze forward. “We lost them both just after New Years in a car accident.”

“Oh Riley, I’m so sorry.” Lucas is shocked and genuinely upset for the girl.

Riley just shrugs a shoulder. “My Uncle Shawn moved into our apartment with his wife and two youngest children - Maya’s family - It was so I didn’t have to stop going to college.” Riley explains, “But I still feel responsible for him.”

“You’re his big sister.” Lucas says in an understanding way.

Riley nods. “I used to have this bear when I was little, Auggie bit the face off him but I still loved it more than anything because my parents gave him to me.” Riley half smiles. “When I was about fifteen, Beary the Bear Bear went missing and I tore our whole apartment to shreds looking for him but he was gone. I was devastated then and that was long before the accident and I’d still do absolutely anything to have my faceless teddy bear back.” Riley looks to Lucas for a second and he looks back at her for a moment before they both break to look down the road ahead. “Mister Googly is Auggie’s Beary the Bear Bear. It might not be his exact one but I’ll do anything to get one back for him.”

“Well you’re in luck.” Lucas says with a small smile. “We’re going to get you that monster and you’re going to be home in time for dinner.”

Riley gives Lucas a small smile but then gazes out the window for a while as the thought of her childhood memories made her miss her parents.

Shortly after, Lucas stops for some gas and buys a few snacks for the road. They make it to Cape May just after half two. The pair chat out front of Bill’s [Lucas’ contact] building whilst they wait for him to come back from work.

Once Bill finally arrives he lets them up into his apartment which is filled with toys, thus giving the place a creepily eerie feel. Subconsciously Riley sticks close to Lucas whilst they’re in there. The man goes off into another room to retrieve the toy and Riley and Lucas both exchange funny glances to communicate that they’re both just as weirded out as the other in that apartment. Their gazes are broken when Bill seems to be having an argument with someone. Moments later he returns to the living space with a red face. He explains that his roommate sold the Mister Googly whilst he was at work.

When Riley hears this, she’s absolutely crushed. She’d just driven nearly three hours under the false security that she had finally found the gift she was searching for.

Bill is sympathetic to the couple for driving so far and he tries his very best to help them out. He offers them a hot beverage each whilst he calls a few of his contacts and tries to source them another Mister Googly.

Finally Bill finds one. “I have a guy in Dover, New Hampshire, he’s got the exact doll you’re looking for in perfect condition.”

“Dover?” Riley frowns. “That’s nearly an ten hour round trip on the other side of New York.”

“How important is it to have for Christmas Day?” Bill questions.

“Very.” Riley’s frown remains.

“The best I can think of is priority shipping on the 27th or if you were to drive and pick it up.. You might be tired but I think you’ll make it.”

“I’m supposed to take Auggie ice skating after dinner.” Riley chews nervously on her bottom lip.

Lucas thanks Bill even though he was annoyed that Bill messed them around a little and he takes the other collectors details so they can work out their plan of attack in the car.

“I’m just going to have to give it to Auggie late.” Riley says sadly.

“I know that kind of sucks but you will be giving it to him.” Lucas says encouragingly. “And I know I don’t know him but I imagine Auggie would rather you be home for Christmas than given the perfect gift.”

Riley gives Lucas a small smile and they set off for New York. Lucas tries to lift the mood by poorly singing along to Christmas carols on the radio and it works for a while but the closer they got to New York the more upset Riley felt about returning empty handed.

Lucas drops Riley off at her apartment building and apologises that things didn’t work out the way they hoped. She tries to fake a warm smile as she thanks him for his efforts and even though she genuinely was thankful she failed at masking the disappointment. Lucas just sits and watches her sadly walk inside and he absolutely hated that. He looks at the collectors information that sat on a piece of paper on his dashboard and he thinks for a moment… Could he?

The following day is Christmas and Riley was still bummed about her gift being late but she was happy to spend time with Auggie and the Hunters. Their first Christmas since losing their parents was always going to be tough but it did really bond them together as siblings. Also having Maya there to lean on helped and the excitement of her younger siblings being true Santa believers really gave Riley a lot to enjoy throughout the day.

Katy was preparing a big lunch for the family when she realised she was out of eggs. Riley offers to go down to the bakery - which is now under Katy’s full-time management - and collects some. She makes Auggie tag along with her so they can regroup for a moment away from the Hunters whom - as sweet as they were being - were completely smothering the Matthews children as they tried to make this holiday less upsetting without Cory and Topanga.

Whilst Riley is out Lucas pulls back up to Riley’s apartment. He gets to the buzzer and realises he doesn’t know what number she is so he just hits random ones and asks whomever answers. Each time he apologises for interrupting their day and wishes them a Merry Christmas.

“Lucas?” Riley’s asks surprised as she approaches with a carton of eggs in hand.

Lucas finishes apologising to the person on the other end of the intercom and excitedly steps towards Riley and the boy he assumes is her teen brother.

“What are you doing here?” She asks with a confused look.

“Special delivery.” Lucas says as he picks up a present he sat down when he was using the intercom.

She gives him a dubious look like surely he didn’t…

“Auggie Matthews I assume?” He turns to the teen.

“Yes…” Auggie is confused about the situation too.

Lucas hands the gift wrapped box to Riley and gives her a nod. She gives Lucas another look like she can’t believe what’s happening but at the same time she was so thankful it was.

“Auggie this is for you.” Riley says and suddenly she’s nervous for his reaction.

“But you already got me a ton of gifts.” Auggie coaxes his head. Riley had got him a ton of gifts, whilst she was searching for this particular present she had complied others she thought he may like too.

“This one is one I wanted to give you most.” Riley says as she wiggles the box, begging him to open it.

Auggie unwraps the gift and is at a loss for words when he pulls out a Mister Googly doll. He’s so genuinely touched by the gift but he tries to play it off as cool because he didn’t want to be a weeping sixteen year old boy. Riley notices his struggle so she helps bail him out.

“Why don’t you take these eggs up to Katy and help with lunch? I’ll be up in a minute.”

He nods and goes to enter the building but stops to give Riley a tight embrace. "Thanks, Riles.”

“You’re welcome, Augs.” Riley whispers as she hugs him back. After they part Auggie coughs to shake off the feels and heads inside.

Riley turns to Lucas with a look of disbelief on her face. “Did you really drive to Dover for Mister Googly?”

“I did it for you.” Lucas chews on his bottom lip.

“You already drove me to Cape May and back… and then you drove to Dover and back on your own?”

“I made Zay come with me this time.” Lucas shrugs like it’s no big deal. “I slept a little bit first so it was responsible.” Lucas adds cutely.

“But why?” Riley questions. “You met me all of twenty-four hours ago. Why go to all this trouble?”

"Maybe it’s because it’s the season of giving… Or maybe it’s because I think you’re really pretty and sweet and I just wanted to see you smile…” Lucas gushes. “I just wish I could have brought you your faceless teddy bear back too.”

Riley leans forward and closes the space between their lips with a soft kiss. When they part lucas is left with a smile on his face and his eyes remain closed for a moment. Once they open slowly he asks, "What was that for?”

“Thank you.” Riley says wearing a sweet smile of her own.

“Do you thank everyone like that?” Lucas lets out a breathy laugh.

Riley rolls her head forward with a quiet giggle. “Do you want to come inside for lunch?” Riley asks after meeting Lucas’ gaze again. “Or some coffee at least you must be exhausted from all that driving.”

“Auggie won’t mind?” Lucas asks and he’s still reeling from their kiss.

“I’ve practically smothered him all day, he’ll welcome the distraction.” Riley laughs.

“Well in that case, I’d like that very much.” Lucas grins. “But Zay’s kind of waiting in the car…”

“Go get him.” Riley smiles. “Let him come in and bug Maya or something.”

“It is the time for togetherness.” Lucas shrugs innocently and Riley smiles.

Maybe it was a miracle or fate or the universes will, but whatever it was, Riley was thankful that she walked into that toy store yesterday.

End Notes: I know I said I was going to post my one shot about the do good foundation but it’s over 6000 words long so I thought I might save that for now!! Anyway! I hope you enjoyed this one shot ! My apologies Cory and Topanga RIP. Also a lil bit of Zaya for you dears dskjlhg

here’s the anon that inspired this piece;

I’ll see you lovelys tomorrow!

#rucas #rucas au #rucas fic

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yuniesan · 7 years

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Matters of the Heart - Chapter Nine

Matters of the Heart (Rucas Adult AU)

Summary: Lucas worked hard all of his life protecting his family. During the day he works at his security firm, at night he runs a bar in New York with his best friend and his sister, making sure that no one interferes in his business, or assaults his customers.

Riley thought she had everything she could have wished for cool friends a boyfriend who cared too much and loving parents, except she didn’t know what she wanted from her life. Her life never felt like it was hers. She saw graduate school as a way to learn more about the world and about herself.

Until they met and realized there was much more to the world than what they had thought they knew.

Chapters [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]

A/N: 1. I found a way around the FF.Net problem [YAY ME] 2. There's a soundtrack to this story that I'm putting together, but I also don't mind recommendations for songs that you think match the story

Chapter 9 –Love is all you need

A week had passed since their weekend getaway, a week since Riley had dinner with his mother and step-father, a week since he had seen Riley collapse from the memories that had flooded her mind. In that time, they had gone back to work, and finished the final preparations for the company’s latest client. Lucas hadn’t given any thought to having dinner with Riley’s father until he had gotten home early that night and stood in front of his closet wondering what he should wear.

“You’re not a teenage girl Friar,” he murmured while he pulled out three different outfits and stared at them, before settling on a clean white button up shirt, a pair of jeans that hadn’t been torn to shreds, and a suit jacket. It was dress casual, which should be alright since they were eating at Riley’s childhood home.

It had taken him an hour just so that he could decide on what to wear, he didn’t want to offend Riley’s father in anyway especially since he was also Zay’s father. But he was also worried about how the man would react to him dating Riley, because while everyone had given him a version of the hurt her and die speech the opinion that mattered the most was from the man who had raised her.

Thinking back to their earlier conversation Lucas wasn’t sure what he should do, while Riley had sat there in his office smiling back at him. He had never been so nervous about anything, not

“You’re going to be fine Lucas,” she said smiling from the couch where she was putting out the latest contracts for his clients. “He’s not going to bite you.”

“I know that Riley,” he said walking over from the window as he ran a hand through his hair. “It’s just that first impressions are important, just like a client here, or someone at the bar, the first impression you make can have someone’s approval or disapproval.”

“Yeah well he’s not going to eat you alive so keep calm,” she put her hands on his shoulders and squeezed them, but he could tell that she was feeling the tension in them. “Geez Lucas,” she said sitting up and kneeling next to him as she tried to rub his shoulders.

“I know I shouldn’t worry too much,” he sighed as she worked through one particularly tough knot. “I think it’s more about the fact that I’ve never gone through this for anyone.”

“Well there’s a first time for everything,” she said putting her arms around his shoulders and giving him a kiss on his cheek. Lucas had turned to meet her lips and held her arms close to his heart.

That had been hours ago, and while they had decided to leave early to get ready, he nerves had gone to hell and back again several times. It had taken him more time to get ready than he had hoped for and as he was walking out of his room he noticed Maya getting ready for her shift while Josh smiled at her as he put some food in front of her face urging her to eat.

It had been such a long time since he had seen his sister so happy, and while he knew what he had with Riley was special, he had also noticed that his sister had found something special as well. They hadn’t gone to lunch with their mother that week because he had had dinner with her, and afterward had been swamped with work but he knew that Maya had taken Josh instead so that the older man could finally meet their mother. But as he watched them now, he noticed that she was more relaxed than she had been over the years with the random guys she had gone on dates with. Those guys who had barely lasted through three dates with her before she realized that they weren’t worth the effort. Guys that Lucas had seen at the bar and mostly gave them his assessment within three seconds of meeting them.

Maya had always joked that he had been too harsh with them, but in the end she had found Josh and he had given her his approval. Josh was sweet on her, he always gave her flowers or sat with her while she painted. And most of all, Lucas had seen how the older man had helped Maya through her own insecurities about being in a relationship. The both of them had found something special, but they had also learned to trust their other halves, their better halves.

“You’re looking rather dapper,” Maya said with a smile when she noticed him standing there.

“It’s not too much right?” he asked looking between the couple in front of him.

“You’re meeting Shawn tonight right?” Josh said and Lucas nodded back. “You look fine, just bring him a bottle of wine and talk about how Riley’s the best thing in the world and you’ll live through it.”

“How did you get through meeting my mother?”

Josh’s eyes shot up meeting Lucas’s and he knew that the nervousness that Josh had felt was the same as what Lucas was feeling at that moment.

“You win Friar,” Josh said making Maya laugh.

“Oh please, if you two didn’t worry so much it wouldn’t feel as scary as it is,” she said as she finished pining her hair into a messy bun after fighting with the long blonde locks for five minutes.

“Tell me how you feel after meeting his parents,” Lucas said as he walked towards the liquor cabinet and grabbing one of the more expensive bottles of wine he had gotten recently. “I’ll see you guys later.”

Lucas walked out of the apartment wondering if wine was the right thing to bring when meeting his girlfriend’s father, but his mother had taught him that when he was going to someone’s house that he should bring something along so it was still better than showing up empty handed. Getting into his car his phone buzzed with a message from Riley sending him directions to her father’s house. It was a brownstone in the city not far from where Riley lived, he could walk but he took the car anyway because if he drove her home she would be safe. He knew it was more about making a good first impression, he should drive Riley home but he wasn’t sure if his nerves would allow him to walk without questioning every single thing so he drove.

Once outside the building he took in the sight trying to memorize the place where Riley had grown up. The small garden in the front yard, flowers outside the windows, and a nervous Riley standing in front of the doors. He knew she was as nervous as he was about the dinner but he tried his best not to show it.

“Everything okay?” he asked as he got out of his car.

“Yeah,” she said before looking down at her feet. “I think… I don’t know.”

“I guess we’re both nervous about this aren’t we?”

“Yeah, I guess we are,” she said before putting her arms around him. Since she was a step above him they were eye to eye. He pulled her in for a quick kiss before she gave him a wide smile. “Hi,” she murmured.

“Hey,” he said smiling back at her, his nerves were diminishing all because she was there with him. “Let’s go inside.”

“Yeah, let’s get this over with,” she pulled on his hand as he entwined their fingers in her hands.

They walked inside greeted with the smell of pasta and garlic, he didn’t know much about Riley’s life outside of what he had learned when she had first started working for him, and the little things he had learned along the way. But he learned everything he could ever hope to learn the moment he walked into the apartment and saw the bright colors of the couch, and the curtains, the millions of pictures that were framed on the wall around the fireplace and the books piled high on the coffee table. One thing was clear about the room, and that was that she loved her father, whether or not he was biologically hers.

“Hey kids,” the man said from the kitchen as he placed a plate of garlic bread on the table. “I made Riley’s favorite.”

“Dad everything you make is my favorite,” she said pulling away from Lucas to hug her father.

“I love it when you call me dad,” the man said smiling at her. “It’s not something you do all of the time you know.”

“Yeah well it’s something I should have done for a long time now and I’m sorry,” she said before pulling away and walking towards Lucas. “Dad,” she smiled at her father. “This is Lucas Friar, Lucas this is my father Shawn Hunter.”

“It’s good to meet you sir,” Lucas said trying to smile without it being one of those awkward smiles where his lips get stuck on his teeth. “I brought you some wine, if you want to have it tonight with dinner.”

“It’s nice to meet you too Lucas, and wine is perfect as long as you’re not driving,” Shawn said to him but Lucas shook his head.

“I won’t be drinking tonight, but you can have some,” Lucas hadn’t thought about driving and drinking until that moment. His blood was on fire from just thinking about messing up this dinner.

“Alright,” Shawn said smiling at him as if he had answered a question correctly.

They sat in a comfortable silence as the food was being served, every once and a while Riley would squeeze his hand just so he would be a little more comfortable with siting there.

“Dad,” she said breaking the silence. “Did I tell you that Lucas’s step-father is Jonathan Turner.”

Her father’s head shot up for a moment looking between the two of them as if he were seeking confirmation. “No you didn’t tell me that Riles.”

“I didn’t know until we had dinner with Lucas’s family last weekend,” she said with a shrug.

Shawn smiled at Lucas as if there was something there. “Did you know when you and Riley started dating that your stepfather helped raise me?”

“No sir,” he said automatically. He really hadn’t because the background check only covered Riley but neither one of them knew the connections that they had between the two of them. “I also hadn’t known that my childhood friend was your son.”

“Well it’s a small world isn’t it,” Shawn said smiling at Riley without looking at Lucas. “So that means that if I had known about Zay long ago, Riley would have met you long before now.”

“Dad,” she said and Lucas could see her glaring at her father.

“What he has to know that this was coming, you know the shovel speech, it’s normal and he’s probably gotten a version or two of it since you started dating.”

“Yes I have sir,” Lucas said confirming this to Riley who just looked at him with her mouth wide open in surprise even though he knew that she had known about it.

“Well I know I don’t have to threaten you, but I do want you to understand this Lucas, if you do anything remotely wrong, I will hunt you down. I have been honor bound to do it too,” Shawn said as Riley squeaked out her father’s name. “Oh don’t be like that Riley, you know I would do anything for you, but I only get to play the concerned father a few times and you have to let me have this moment.”

“Fine but that means I’m going to torture you later on when you and Angela are alone,” she said pouting which made Lucas want to kiss her but he was holding himself back because he didn’t want to get on her father’s bad side.

“I will try my best to do good by her sir,” he said to the Riley’s father.

“Good, and if you don’t I’m pretty sure Jon would find a way to torture you, maybe even send your mother to have some words with you.”

“She’s very good at that,” Lucas said trying to maintain eye contact with the man. “She likes Riley a lot so I wouldn’t want to disappoint my mother either.”

They ate and talked throughout the dinner, the uncomfortable feeling slowly dissipating as they got to know each other. When it was time to say goodnight Lucas smiled at Riley as he walked her to his car and opened the door. Her father watching them from the door smiling as if he knew something that they didn’t. Once he waved to the man and got into the car Riley smiled at him, but didn’t say a word until he pulled away from the curb.

“How was I?” he asked as he drove towards her apartment.

“You were fine, although I would have been happier without the shovel speech,” she said smiling at him. “You don’t have to drop me off at home yet you know.”

“I know but I’m trying to be a good boyfriend.”

“Well you can show me your apartment if you want,” she said smiling at him. “Charlie told me you have a great view of the city from the top of the building.”

“So he’s giving away my secrets is he,” Lucas said smiling at her but nodding at the same time. “Sure let’s go have some wine on the roof, and we can talk a little. There’s also a nice little garden up there, Maya made it, and it’s mostly made of random material but you’ll like it.”

She smiled and him and nodded making him take the next turn towards his place. In the short drive he couldn’t help the smile on his face, he really hadn’t known that something so pure and good could have happened to him. He also couldn’t believe just how connected their lives had been for so long without them meeting it was as if they were supposed to meet when they met.

They quickly stopped in his apartment and he gave Riley the ten cent tour before grabbing another bottle of wine along with some strawberries that were in the fridge so they could have them as a snack before taking Riley to the roof.

Maya had gotten bored one year after he had brought the building, she had originally wanted them to rent out the roof for parties, but Lucas didn’t want people going through their apartment just to get to the roof so instead she decorated it with fairy lights and as many sculptures as she could make. They varied in type and size but his favorite one was the one that she had made right after graduating high school. It looked like a fence with an intricate wiring that made flowers and butterflies, and she had grown some flowers around it. He had loved it because he always believed that it was the part of their childhood that he had been able to salvage before everything went to hell.

“It’s beautiful,” Riley said as she ran her hand through the flowers that were still growing and would continue to do so until winter.

“Maya is very talented, she’s been working on her stuff for so long even while working at the bar,” he said proud of his little sister. “The flowers are my mother’s favorites because they grow in the cold weather.”

“Why hasn’t she had an art show?” Riley asked and Lucas honestly didn’t know the answer.

“I’ve asked her but she said that it will happen when it happens,” he said with a shrug. “Maybe Josh will convince her since he’s become the subject of her latest works.”

Riley laughed at Lucas, she couldn’t imagine Josh sitting around long enough for someone to draw him, but then again the way she’s seen her Uncle look at his girlfriend lately it was possible that he would do it for her as long as they talked. Josh was always observant of others, sometimes missing the good things happening to himself so Maya was one of the best things to have happen to him. She couldn’t be happier for the man.

“So…” she started only to stop as she saw him light up the little fairy lights on the sculpture, and setting a blanket on the large lounge chair for them to sit on.

“Riley?” he questioned looking at her only to make her heart speed up.

“It’s nothing,” she said realizing that she couldn’t have imagined a man looking so beautiful, the mix of the New York lights and the lights of the sculpture making him glow in her mind.

“It has to be something,” he said pulling her close.

She couldn’t think straight the nearness of his body next to hers, there was nothing but heat coming off of him even as the temperatures began to drop the closer the got to November. Instead of saying another word she pulled him towards the lounger and sat down with him. The only thing they had done since they started going out was kiss, nothing too much, maybe some soft touches but nothing too explicit. Even though she wanted to see what he looked like under all of the layers he had.

“Thank you,” she said to him. “For not just today but for everything from the last few weeks.”

“No problem,” he said smiling before turning and opening the wine.

They laid there, drinking the wine and eating the strawberries watching the lights change around them, Lucas kissing her every once and a while. She didn’t want the moment to end, the night to be over because it felt magical more than anything else.

“Lucas,” she said looking up to meet his green eyes. “Would it be alright if I stayed the night?”

He looked at her with nothing but love and it made her heart beat just a little faster, no one was in the apartment, everyone was still in the bar. Lucas smiled at her and nodded, so she took the chance and stood up dragging him to his feet and pulling him close to her. As he got closer he put his hands on her face and gave her a gentle kiss on the lips, slowly kissing each corner before kissing her straight on the lips. She opened her mouth slowly slipping her tongue into his mouth, deepening the kiss. She couldn’t help but smile when he groaned into her mouth almost as if her were holding back. At this point they had already had seven weeks together and she couldn’t stop herself from dragging his shirt up just so that she could finally feel the hardness of his muscles against her hands.

“Riley, you’re pushing my resolve to not have my way with you right here right now,” he said as he pulled away. His head touching hers, but his eyes were closed.

“What if I said I didn’t want to wait anymore,” she whispered as her heart hammered in her chest from the anticipation of being with him. “Unless you want to wait which is fine with me.”

At the words he pulled away and looked at her as if she were joking, his eyes shining with amusement at the thought that she was messing with him. Without another word he lifted her off the ground bridal style while he smiled at her, and carried her off towards the door that lead to the apartment below. Never letting her go as she held onto him in a tight grip, their wine and strawberries forgotten on the lounger.

Lucas woke up the next morning to Riley sleeping on his chest her hair covering her back in long soft curls, while she snuggled closer to him and he wasn’t sure what he liked better, her sleeping with him or what they had done the night before. He knew that he needed to get up, he still worked that morning, and so did she. They had a meeting to set up but he couldn’t be bothered with waking her.

“Riley,” he whispered but she only grumbled and pulled a pillow over her head making him smile. He probably needed to give her coffee to wake her up, especially since it was so early in the day.

Slowly pulling her off of his chest and making sure she had all the pillows around her so that she was comfortable, he went to the bathroom and took a quick shower, shaving and brushing his teeth before making his way towards the kitchen to make coffee for the both of them as well as some breakfast.

He was normally the only one who woke up so early in the day, but was surprised to see Josh standing in front of the fridge trying to figure out what to take out.

“Morning,” Lucas said starling the other man who hit his head against the top of the shelf in the fridge. “Sorry man.”

“No it’s okay,” Josh said rubbing his head. “I’m not a hundred percent right now.”

“No one really is… well not in this house anyway,” Lucas said as he started the coffee machine. “We all run on several cups of coffee before any of us are decent.”

“I understand that… by the way have you seen Maya’s strawberries? I was going to make her something and they’re gone.”

Lucas snorted as he turned away. “Um… Riley and I may have left the ones we didn’t eat on the roof.”

“I don’t want to know,” Josh said putting his hands up. “She’s my niece and I really don’t want to know what you two do. I’m just going to think you guys are just holding hands and skipping off into the sunset.”

“Okay, well the same goes for you and Maya,” Lucas said knowing that whatever was happening between Josh and his sister wasn’t any different from what was happening between him and Riley. “I’m making breakfast if you want some.”

“Sure since I can’t think what to make outside of a smoothie right now,” Josh sighed. “I’m not good with mornings after staying up so late the night before.”

“Yeah well I have to be because I have a meeting,” he said as he pulled out the eggs and toast. “So we never talked about you meeting my mom.”

Josh laughed. “It was alright, I mean I was nervous and I dropped my drink on my food but other than that everything went alright.”

“My mother isn’t scary you know, and I’m sure she loved you, she’ll love anyone who can hold onto Maya for longer than three dates and you two have been together for two months,” he said smiling. “She’s really happy you know, that the both of us have found someone especially after well everything.”

“Yeah, Maya and I have talked about that, and she feels guilty but I can’t help but want to thank you for keeping her safe, because… well if you hadn’t I don’t know if I would have been so lucky to find her when I did.”

“My sister is tough as nails, and you don’t have to thank me, it’s what any big brother would have done to keep their sibling safe.”

“Still,” Josh started but Lucas held his hand up.

“Honestly, no thank yous, because in the end we all had something in our lives that we had to overcome to get to this point, let’s just enjoy this moment and not dwell on how we had to get here.”

“Boy Riley sure has made an impression on you with all this move forward stuff,” Josh said with a smile. “I’m glad, and I should probably do the same.”

The two of them shook on it, just as Lucas was about to say something else Riley walked into the room wearing nothing but one of his shirts and a pair of boxer shorts. Her hair disheveled, as she ran her hand down her face. She wasn’t paying attention to anything happening around her almost as if she were being driven forward by the smell of coffee. Josh was laughing to himself watching his niece move forward, every once and a while hitting a table or a chair as she navigated her way towards the coffee.

“She’s not a morning person,” Josh whispered as Lucas put some coffee in a mug and added sugar and cream before Riley finally reached him.

He handed her the mug and directed her towards one of the bar stools watching as she slowly sipped the coffee in her hand. Lucas couldn’t help but laugh as he watched her sleepy face turn into awareness before she began to blush as if the memory of the night before came forward in full force.

“I think she’s awake now,” Josh said laughing before taking the plates of food Lucas set in front of him on a tray and walking off. “I’m just going to leave you two alone ignoring what may or may not have happened.”

Riley stayed quiet in front of him making Lucas worry, until the sound of Maya’s bedroom door closing alerted her to the fact that her Uncle wasn’t in the room.

“Don’t worry too much,” Lucas said as he pulled her coffee away from her hands and gave her a kiss on her lips, the taste of coffee was there while she smelled like vanilla and Lucas’s detergent.

The smell of the fabric softener and Riley mixed together made him happier than he could have imagined because it was as if his two worlds were colliding and it made him giddy thinking about it. He shook his head, he was a man, men didn’t get giddy over anything, but for some reason this was perfect to him.

He put a plate of food in front of her, and she gave him a shy smile as he walked around the breakfast bar and sat down next to her. They ate breakfast in relative silence as Riley drank another cup of coffee.

“It’s too early to be awake,” she said leaning onto his arm.

“It is but sadly we still have to work like normal people,” he said as he ran his hand up and down her back. “We also need to stop by your place and get you a change of clothes.” Riley grimaced at him, “Or we can see if Maya has anything you can borrow.”

“Yes please, I don’t know if I could survive going home and not face planting on my bed,” she said as she ate her food. “Your bed was comfortable too,” she blushed and he couldn’t help but pull her into a hug.

“Finish your breakfast while I go ask Maya for some clothes.”

“All I really need is a new shirt everything else should be alright.”

“Ok,” he said as he stood up and walked off.

When he got to his sister’s door he was afraid that he would find her in some kind of compromising position instead he was greeted by his sister handing him a few shirts and a great big smile.

“Yeah whatever,” he said taking the shirts before she could comment on the fact that Riley had stayed the night.

“You’re welcome,” Maya yelled out after him, he waved his hand at her and walked off towards where Riley sat in the kitchen.

She was cleaning up the mess of dishes that he had made, which only made him smile, they were a team and he hoped that he could do the same if she made a meal for him. He put the clothes down and put his arms around her waist kissing her on her head.

“What would you think of us going to dinner tonight,” he said to her. “Just us, no parents, no friends, no nosy uncles and sisters.”

“I’d say that you have a date,” she said as she turned off the tap. “Anywhere in particular?”

“It’s a surprise,” he said to her. “Now let’s get ready for the day.”

She nodded at him and he walked her back to his room which had its own bathroom, because if he had to own the building he was getting his own bathroom.

She had stood there for hours waiting, the sun had come and gone and they hadn’t come out which only made her angrier. She couldn’t believe that Lucas would have a relationship with anyone other than her. The paper cup in her hand crumbled as the pair walked out of the apartment, she had never been allowed the luxury of staying over at his house while they had been together. Not once in the year long relationship they had had and just watching this woman who he had known for such a short amount of time getting to do the things that were so rightfully hers made her angrier.

There was nothing stopping her from ending their relationship but she couldn’t do anything when there were so many people around them all of the time. Interlopers constantly ruining her plans. She had to wait for the right moment.

When Riley got home she was tired, but excited at the same time, Lucas had told her to pack an extra set of clothes but hadn’t told her where they were going. The only thing he told her was that she could wear jeans and sneakers. So she pulled out her overnight bag and packed it with an extra pair of jeans, underwear, and shirts, as well as an extra sweater.

“Knock knock,” Riley heard Charlie say from her door.

“Hey,” she answered as she threw her toothbrush into her bag.

“You know ever since we all started dating someone I swear I never see you,” he said walking into the room and plopping himself down on her bed.

“That’s because we haven’t,” she said smiling at her best friend. “You’re with Zay most of the time lately, hell Farkle and Isadora are running around planning a wedding that neither one of them want to have, and Josh is with Maya all lovey dovey and I don’t want to know what else they do because eww gross that’s my uncle.”

“We’re all paired off,” he said to her as he dug through her bag. “You should take the red ones and that red sweater.”

“Charlie,” she screamed out pulling the bag away from him.

“I’m just saying.”

“No, no fashion advice… the red one really?”

“Yes, they’re sexy and that sweater looks really good on you,” he said before getting up and pulling the clothes out of the closet.

“What if I wore them now and wore these later,” she said pointing out the outfit in her bag.

“That works too,” he said with a smile before pulling her down onto the bed and turning to face her. “How are you doing?” he asked and she knew he was just worried about everything that had happened since that night he had all but forced her out of her shell.

“Honestly,” she asked him and he nodded. “I don’t know if I could be happier than I am right now, and I have you to thank for that.”

“Yeah well if you two get married I want to be your maid of honor,” he said lift his head up in defiance.

“Deal,” she said pulling him into a hug. “You know somethings been bothering me.”

“What,” he said smiling at her as he pulled away.

“How did you figure it out… that me and Lucas are together,” she started pulling at the frayed ends of her ripped jeans.

“Well… it wasn’t that hard,” he smiled at her. “The day that Maya was plotting I realized that there were too many things that lead towards you and Lucas having some kind of relationship. The new job, all of a sudden this new guy in your life, plus you two should probably not make out in his car when he drops you off here.”

Riley could feel her cheeks flush thinking of all of the times that they had kissed in his car, how she hadn’t realized that someone could be watching made her feel stupid.

“Don’t think too much about it,” Charlie continued. “I’m actually happy that you’re happy.”

“Yeah well the same goes for you,” she smiled. “And everyone else, I’m glad we can all be happy right now.”

“When you and Lucas get back from your little overnight trip, lets hang out, just you and me,” he said to her and she smiled back.

“Silly sleepover,” she said as an answer remember all of the times after Charlie had come out to her and how they had become closer, well after one fight but she had realized that a lot of things had made sense to her a week later and she hadn’t wanted to lose him as a friend.

Silly sleepovers were their go to thing to do when they just wanted to hang out without anyone else around. They hadn’t done one since they moved in with the geniuses because they had been so busy, but with both of them in a new relationship they needed the moment to relax and talk.

“I’ll bring the licorice and the gummy bears,” he said smiling at her as if he were remembering the same thing.

“I’ll bring the popcorn and the chocolate,” she said laying her head on his shoulder.

“Where’s the boy toy taking you,” Charlie asked causing her to jump up and stare at him. “What he’s hot, and I’m not dead, he’s not as cute as Zay but I’m allowed to look you know.”

“But a boy toy geez Charlie,” she said playfully pushing him out of the way.

“Well I don’t know what else to call him, other than Grumpy Mcgrumperson but since he’s mellowed out I figured I needed to find a new nickname,” Charlie shrugged his shoulders as he said it making her laugh.

“He’s not that grumpy.”

“You weren’t there all of the times that I woke up at their place,” he said turning towards her on the bed. “He hates when we sleepover because he feels like he loses control of his life.”

“He wasn’t like that with me,” she said almost instantly regretting the words that had come out of her mouth.

“So it finally happened,” he said his smile wide and his eyes lighting up like a giant Christmas tree. “I knew nothing had happened before because well you always came home afterwards, and when you two weren’t dating,” he said while making air quotes at the word dating. “and going on overnight trips, I knew nothing happened because you’re the type to wait for that perfect moment… which means last night was that moment… What happened tell me I want to know.”

“Nothing, it’s a lie you’ve created in your head,” she said trying to change the subject.

“Not gonna happen girly now tell me because I will get it out of you eventually,” he said poking her arm. “Come on I tell you everything.”

“You do and you should think twice before you say things too because honestly there are things about your life that I’m too traumatized to remember.”

“Riley.”

“Charlie.”

“Please,” he stretched out the word giving her his best puppy dog eyes and she knew it was the end of her resolve.

“Fine, but don’t mention anything around Josh it was embarrassing enough when he saw me this morning in Lucas’s clothes because all I could think about was getting to the coffee machine.”

“Oh god,” he said laughing at her. “This is going to be good.”

Riley rolled her eyes at her best friend. “We had dinner last night with Shawn, but afterwards I just wanted for us to hang out for a while so he took me to the roof of his building and we talked and cuddled and well… I guess it just went off after that.”

“It was romantic as hell wasn’t it,” he said grinning at her. “Is that why he didn’t go to the bar last night, Zay kept complaining that he was the one left putting all the orders in and that it wasn’t his job.”

“It probably should be his job, because sometimes Lucas stretches himself out too thin and there’s only so much I can do,” she said regretting the words as she looked over at Charlie. “Sorry, I know he’s your boyfriend and I’m still getting to know him especially since he’s now my brother but I guess I worry about Lucas working too much.”

“Maybe you’re right, but I think that maybe it’s time that they hire a manager to actually manage the place.”

“It’s not just that,” she said to him worried that she would be revealing too much. “It’s just that he’s always doing so much for everyone, he wants everything for everyone he cares about that he would interrogate the hell out of their significant others, but sometimes I think that he thinks that this is the only way to protect them.”

“He’s got a protection streak in him doesn’t he.”

“Yeah I’ve helped out working as his assistant, but there’s only so much I can do, he needs more help than I can give.”

“Well maybe I can do the work, you know I worked at that bar during college even if you almost never went, so I know all of the stuff and the lingo, plus if we all helped out maybe he would be a little less grumpy that we’re always at his place and eating his food and accidentally walking around naked because it was an accident and I really had to go to the bathroom.”

Riley knew her eyes were wide while she looked at him but she couldn’t stop the laugh that bubbled up from inside her chest.

“Stop laughing it wasn’t funny,” Charlie said but she couldn’t help it. “Riley seriously.”

“Okay,” she said taking deep breaths to steady herself. “You know Lucas’s room has its own bathroom.”

“Yeah well Zay’s doesn’t, and I sure Maya’s doesn’t either because I’ve had to share it with them when I sleep over there.”

“Well I guess… but it does have a really nice bathtub too, it’s got all of these jets.”

“Whatever Matthews,” he said standing up. “Tease me with a bathtub I can never have. What do I care about it anyway?”

“Go I need to finish packing,” she said pushing him out the door. “And remember if Lucas and I are going out that means his bathtub is free,” she said with a wink before closing the door.

“Thanks Riles,” Charlie said from the other side of the door as she went back to putting everything in her bag. She went to the bathroom to take a quick shower and to fix her hair smiling as she tied the loose curls into a ponytail.

A message from Lucas told her that he was ten minutes away so she quickly changed into the outfit that Charlie had picked out for her and slipped out her door. The apartment was empty as she went to the kitchen to grab a bottle of water. Charlie had been right, they all barely saw one another, they were all busy and they were all happily dating someone. She couldn’t help the smile that had come across her face, everyone she knew and loved were in love with someone.

The was a short knock on the door and she knew Lucas had arrived and she couldn’t help herself as she skipped to the door and swung it open to greet him. His smile was wide as she threw her arms around his neck and gave him a quick kiss.

“If that’s how you’re going to greet me from now on,” he said as she pulled away.

“I’m happy,” she said to him and she knew it was true. “And everyone I care about is also happy, so it’s a cause for celebration. Now tell me where we’re going.”

“It’s a surprise,” he said as she pulled away so that she could grab her bag, but he took it from her before she could pick it up.

Riley wanted to keep asking where they were going but instead got into his car and turned on the radio. She put the music on low so they could talk, while he drove but also so she’d have something to do while he put her bag in the trunk.

“How far is it?” she asked him trying to get some information out of him.

“Not far, if you want to know we’re going to the beach we went to that night a little over a month ago,” he said smiling at her. “I realized we had our one-month anniversary and neither one of us did anything to celebrate between the dinners with our families and work this week, so I figured a trip without so many people interfering would be a good idea.”

“Really,” she said with a smile, all of a sudden appreciating the clothes that Charlie had picked out for her. “I’m alright with that.”

The drive was a little longer in the rush hour traffic, and when they reached the area the sun had already set over the beach leaving behind the stars. Lucas pulled into a small house not far from the place they had gone to over a month before and Riley couldn’t help but look at him confused.

“I kind of brought this place,” he said smiling at her. “It’s small, only two bedrooms, but I want it to be ours especially since both of our places are overrun with random couples.”

“Yeah Charlie told me something happened,” she said smiling at Lucas.

“Don’t remind me,” he said rolling his eyes. “I mean I don’t care what him and Zay do or are doing but I also don’t want to run into a naked man before work.”

Riley laughed at him before pulling his face towards her, “Poor baby,” she cooed smiling at him before she kissed him on the lips. “I have some money saved up so please let me pay for a part of this place.”

“No,” Lucas said automatically. “Not the house, but I figured we can spend the weekend decorating it, and if you want to pay for something well you can pay for the furniture. And whenever we need to get away we can always come here.”

“You have a deal Friar,” she said pulling him into her arms. “But if we have no furniture where are we going to sleep.”

“I didn’t say that we didn’t have a bed, I’m crazy not stupid,” he said pulling her away from the embrace to give her a quick kiss. “Now let’s get inside and check it out to see what we need.”

They spent the night in bed and the rest of the weekend shopping, buying little things here and there, finding yard sales and buying furniture that they could use. By Monday morning the house had a couch, a dining table with mix matched chairs and plates, the bedroom was fully furnished, since it was the first place they had decided to get furniture for. The entire set was brand new and made of wood and she loved it. Riley decided that they could bring everything else over from the city but the first real thing that she put in there was a framed photo of their first real date, she had the picture printed while they were buying food at a local drug store.

“I know it’s too much,” Lucas had said as they drove back to the city.

“No actually it’s perfect,” she said blushing as she looked at him. “Lucas, I want this to last and I know it may seem like it’s going too fast.”

“It’s not Riley, I feel like I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time and honestly for once it feels like I’m moving forward instead of waiting in the past. I want this as much as you do… just don’t tell my sister that I brought a house just to get away from her.”

“I won’t as long as you don’t tell my uncle that I agreed to going there and stay with you as much as possible.”

“You have a deal.”

#matters of the heart #rucas fanfic #rucas adult au #Riley Matthews #Lucas Friar #Maya Hart #well a little in this chapter #Josh Matthews #Joshaya #Charlie Gardner #Riley and Charlie BFF's #sex happens offscreen #stalker getting weirder #she's creeping me out #and I'm the one writing her

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