A/N: Hello Everyone! It's been a long while since I dabbled into this universe and thought it would be a nice challenge. However, this does contain some spoilers toward the show, but it set before the show began. It's set approximately a year before the events in the pilot. It will be rated M since there will be some sexual content.

It's mostly going to be showing how close Riley and Kyle were at one point before the pilot. Also it will give some clues into Kyle's brain leading up to when he made the decision to leave his family for over a year even though he loved Riley and his family more than anything. It's is set near the end of September just around three weeks after the school term starts and let's just say it's a Friday :)

Finally, a thank you to my dear friend Meowser Hotchner who has helped me out with so many things, including getting this story on the road! So thank you girl, sending lots of love your way.

Enjoy! xx Mariah


Riley's drive home on Friday, September 23rd was slower than it usually was since she had to drop off Travis and Katie at church for the weekend long slumber party, pick up groceries and a few other things for the house. She also was intentionally avoiding home, taking the long way home from the grocery store.

She needed more time to think. She needed more time to avoid a conversation she had to have with her husband Kyle.

She just hadn't formed the correct words to tell him yet. To tell him that she'd been laid off after her shift today, that her services were no longer needed at the local country club and that all income for their family of four was at zero as of now.

She still hadn't readied herself for that yet.

For the potential fighting, screaming and most likely the throwing of one or two breakable things.

He wasn't a violent man, her husband. He would never hurt her. He was just hot headed, I guess you could say it ran in his family.

It was just that morning had been so nice, so peaceful and she didn't want to ruin it.


"Good morning beautiful," Kyle said as she surfaced from their bedroom as the clock hit nine, dressed in a tight little purple dress and black heels, her hair up in a ponytail, just the way he likes it. "Your morning coffee, my love."

"Well aren't you chipper this morning..." she whispered and took the mug from, pausing to kiss him and show how much she loved when he was in a good mood, before sipping from the mug.

"I guess you could say a night like last night will make any man happy," he whispered, his mouth found the same spot he'd kissed the night before. "Or shall I remind you?"

"Oh... no need. I have enough marks to remind me," she chuckled and pressed a kiss to his cheek. "I take it you slept well?"

"I did," he smiled down at her.

"Did the kids get off to school alright?" She yawned and sipped her morning coffee.

"Yes ma'am. I made them both blueberry pancakes for breakfast with a yogurt cup and orange juice. I also reviewed with Travis for his spelling test and braided Katie's hair before sending them off on the bus." He explained as he slid a plate of eggs and toast toward her. "Speaking of breakfast, eat up. I've noticed you haven't been eating very much in the mornings the past few weeks."

"I'm not very hungry," she yawned and drank from her mug as she leaned against the counter.

"Riley..." He said sternly.

"Fine... but only for you," she sighed and sat down on a stool. "Fork please..."


She came back to herself as she pulled into the driveway, Kyle was out front reading the paper with a beer sitting next to him.

She felt a rush of nervousness as she jumped from the car and walked toward the trunk, grabbing the bags of food and envelopes of paperwork she needed to fill out so that she could get unemployment checks.

This wasn't how she'd pictured her life at twenty seven.

"Let me help you," he said, folding the paper in half and finishing the beer. "Where have you been? Grocery shopping doesn't usually take you this long... it's almost five thirty."

He looked worried, but upon seeing her up close, that worry seemed to melt away.

"I love you," she said out of instinct.

"I love you too," he whispered and smiled down at her.

He tucked his arm around her waist as they walked into their home.

"Where are the kids? They didn't come home off the bus." He asked kicking the door closed behind him.

"They are at that church weekend slumber party. Remember? I have some things we need to talk about," she said setting the groceries on the counter.

"You're not pregnant are you?" He asked, his eyes traveling to her stomach briefly. "Because if you are... we'll manage. We always have."

"No. No I'm not pregnant." She whispered and sighs. "I wish it were that easy of a problem."

"Then what is it Riles... you can tell me." He said smiling softly toward her.

She looked up at him slowly, her body leaned up against the counter next to him. He began moving the food into cupboards and the fridge, aware of Riley's eyes on him.

"Kyle," she began, biting her lip. "I-I got laid off."

Whatever he was expecting, it wasn't that.

He felt his throat working and didn't know what to say, but Riley was standing there, an anxious look on her face.

He moved toward her, pulling her toward him.

"That is unfortunate, but I have news of my own," he whispered against her cheek. "I got cleared for work by the doctor today. I start construction work again on Monday."

"You do?" She gasped.

"Yeah," he answered and smiled sweetly down at her.

"That's great!" She said enthusiastically and kissed him deeply. "This is so great..."

He leaned her up against the counter, his hands grasping her ass tightly as her fingers ruffled through his hair.

She lead him toward their bedroom, but he ran into the wall softly as he unzipped his wife's dress that fell into a pool at her feet, leaving her only in the tightest of panties.

"This right here is why I thought you might be pregnant," he laughed, pressing his lips to her neck.

"Kyle..." She gasped, twisting in his arms.

He saw that she was still wearing the panties and smirked.

"Take them off," he groaned, reverting, just for a second, to be terrifying.

She immediately slid them down her hips, feeling the heat of his eyes on every exposed inch.

"Touch me," she moaned. "Please."

"Shhh," he hushed her, before moving his finger, and pressing his hand against her cheek, giving him more support to lie her on the living room floor, and connect their lips again. "I've got you."

His lips were firm against hers, but the kiss remained soft, meaningful, slow. He exhaled through his nose, not wanting to let go. His entire body had been taken over by one, Riley Parks, and it always had.

There is something so disarming about her. There's a vulnerability in her eyes, he can't resist.

He moved his hand from her cheek to the back of her head, his fingers tangled in her long, dark chocolate hair, lightly pulling her into him, adding more pressure to their lips, deepening the kiss as her fingers quickly undid his belt.

His eyes traveled from her face to her collarbones, delicate in the semi-darkness, then to her breasts. Without lingerie they sit lower, more natural, less close together, each so perfect and moulded to her form. He didn't linger too long, just enough for her to see how beautiful she was to him.

It was her eyes he wanted to see and his hands could tell him the rest.


They laid naked in the living room, about an hour or so later, his arm draped over her waist. She leaned in for a kiss, the kind one wanted to last forever, but after a time she withdrew to gaze at the face she loved so much. Kyle glided his hand over her skin to her face, brushing away a strand of hair.

"We're gonna be fine," he whispered. "We always have been."

"Promise?" She asked, peering up at him.

"Pinky swear," he laughed and held out his finger for her to swear on.

"Pinky swear," she whispered and squeezed his finger against hers.

"Have I ever told you how much I love you, Riles?" He said, the words achingly honest and raw.

She grinned, he said the exact same thing every time.

"No, uh uh," she shook her head and fought away her grin.

His hand had migrated to her hair, pushing it back from her face

"Well, I do. And you know what?" Riley heard the words before he said them, folding her lips inward. "I always will."

As always she dropped her gaze before meeting his, there was an intensity to it, like his love iwa kerosene and she was his only flame.


Later on, the couple is snuggled up on the couch watching some movie.

It was supposed to be a thriller, but it was more boring than a science movie in Biology class.

Both of them just looking at the other and eating popcorn, enjoying the kid-free night.

"Dinner was great," he said kissing her hand. "Thanks again."

"My pleasure," she smiled at him softly. "The sex before was just phenomenal."

"It's always perfect," he said sucking on her wrist, leaving a small mark there.

"That is very true..." She laughed, her eyes closing momentarily, it was almost as though she thought of every encounter they have ever had.

And after almost ten years together... that was a lot of encounters.

"It's only once in a blue moon when we get a weekend alone," Kyle laughed and tossed some popcorn in his mouth.

"That's true," she smiled up at him. "But I wouldn't change my life around one bit. I'm married to you, I have two beautiful children and a wonderful home. What more could I ask for?"

"Sometimes I think I ruined our lives by getting hurt. We could've had a perfect life... no worries about money or pain in my knee." He sighed. "Travis used to be so proud that his daddy was a football player. But I blew out my knee when he was three... I was two weeks away from being drafted into the NFL."

"We still have a great life. Yes, we have our worries, but everyone does." She whispered, her hands touching his cheek. "Nothing that happened in your fault. So what you took a bad blow in college football and blew out your knee. You still got me, you always will. And Travis and Katie? They will always be proud of their daddy."

"If I would've just thrown that stupid ball..." He muttered.

"You still would've been tackled by that linebacker and it still could've happened. Where is this comin' from Kyle?" She said looking at him.

"I just- I wish I could have a better job with a better income." He sighed.

"Don't we all..." She smiled. "You could always try and put that degree of yours to good work."

"I got a degree to become and physical education teacher... none of those jobs are open." He said looking at the tv.

"I heard a rumor that there is a teaching position open at East for the football. Plus, You and I both know that Paul would hire you on spot the second you told him you were interested." She explained, every word showing her love and devotion for him. "You're great with kids, great at playing football and you'd look hella fine in that uniform."

"I would, wouldn't I?" He smiled.

"You really do look fine in navy blue," she laughed, her eyes placing him back in his football jersey from high school.

"I know... you always stared at me when I was playin'." He said softly.

"Well I had to appreciate how sexy my man is, don't I?" She asked.

"And I've got to appreciate how incredibly beautiful my woman is..." He muttered, pressing his lips to her neck softly as her phone rang.

"Saved by the phone," she laughed and reached for the phone. "Hello?"

There was a pause, no sound or talking.

She pulled the phone from her ear and saw that it's Lacey's name glowing across her screen.

"Lace?" She said taking some popcorn in her hands.

"Riley, hey. Sorry Dale caught my attention for a sec there," Lacey explained. "What's up?"

"I don't know you called me!" She laughed.

"Oh right!" Lacey cackled. "Dale! Stop... I'm on the phone."

"Ugh gross," she popped a few pieces of popcorn in her mouth.

"Well what I was gonna ask ya if you and Kyle wanted to go out for some drinks with Dale and I... let's say in a half an hour?" Lacey asked.

"Half an hour? Let me check with Kyle..." She said pressing the phone into her shoulder. "Babe?"

"Hmm?" He asked looking away from the tv.

"Want to go out with Lace and Dale?" She asked.

"Sure. Sounds fun," he smiled.

"Are you driving or are we meeting up?" She said standing up from the couch.

"I told you they would be up for it!" Lacey yelled to Dale. "Umm... meet us at Joe's place. Oh an Evan's coming too."

"Alright. See you in a bit." She laughed and hung up. "Evan's tagging along too. Let's go get ready."

"We're dressed aren't we? Let's just go now," he asked shutting tv off.

"I am in a sundress and I do not wear that when I go drinking," she said looking up at him. "Change your shirt. You got spaghetti sauce on it."

He sighed and reluctantly followed her into the master bedroom to change.


Kyle drove down main street with a smile on his face as his wife fell into a fit of laughter after singing along with the radio.

He loved it when his wife showed herself off like this. It made him remember her in high school, all big eyes and clinging skirts. The same girl in back of his truck with a tiara in her hair, a fluffy dress and the same goofy laugh. The same girl who turned his entire life around with a plastic test when she was twenty.

"You look stunning," he said parking the truck outside Joe's.

"Thank you," she whispered. "Now let's go make an entrance and have some fun."

He helped her out the driver's side and planted a deep kiss on her lips, his hand sliding down her back and cupping her ass lightly.

"I just needed to do that first," he whispered and pulled her toward the door.

They walked in the small town bar, only twenty or twenty five people inside as they graced the floor.

Kyle spun her around to the music as she pulled his lips to hers.

"Lovebirds! Over here!" Dale shouted over the music.

"Lacey!" She said looking over and running over to her.

She could grace any billboard or magazine cover, but she was better than those two dimensional photoshopped models. Somehow her imperfections made her perfect.

There was a shyness to her, hesitation in her body movements and a softness in her voice.

Her gold dress with a black belt had a tailored look that was bold against her tan skin, this dress made him want to both show her off and hide her away. But by just closing his eyes he could already see her in jean shorts and an old high school t-shirt, feet up on the couch paintin' her and Katie's nails and that was a lot more than any guy in this little bar will ever see.

But she was right there, only feet away looking hotter than ever in a sample sale couture dress, but in her understated glamour she might as well be the girl on television in a beauty contest again. With his hands in his pockets, he waltzed over to her and nuzzled his head in her neck while wrapping his arms around her.

"I love you," he whispered quietly as he kissed her cheek.

"I love you too," she whispered back.

They were good, real good.