A/N: So, many years ago in high school (early high school), I attempted to write fics. (If you want to read, two still exist on this site.) I never finished either of them. I always regretted that and I may go back to them, but I thought I try again. Plus, there's an abundance of Lucaya fics on this site (I've read some that are really good), and I'm more of a Rucas shipper, so I thought I contribute some. (No haters)

Come Back, Be Here

Riley fidgeted in her seat as she drove to the airport. She should be feeling excited, she's been waiting six months for this day, but all she felt was her stomach churning. She was nervous, no doubt. It's not like she hasn't seen him since he left. There was one trip to Texas. Just one. But that trip left nothing answered. In fact, it probably left Riley more scared than before. Scared of loving a man that would enjoy his life without her. He often reassured her that his feelings about her would never change. But Riley had that feeling. The haunting dreams did not help. Haunting seems too menacing to talk about the man she loves. But these dreams haven't always been good. No, sometimes they shake her very core, causing her to jolt awake with panic. She's lost count to how many times she's had to reassure herself that it was just a dream. But no longer, he was finally coming home.

"How long are you going to be gone?" Lucas turned to the timid voice that asked the question he was dreading. He knew he was doing the right thing. Pappy Joe was sick and he promised to help out on the farm till he got better. He just didn't know how long. He looked at the girl that was currently sitting on his bed while he packed. He hate to leave her. They had just started their relationship, the relationship that's been 13 years in the making. And now he's leaving for who knows how long. And she looked so sad. He hated that he was the reason for her sadness.

He walked to her and gently grabbed her face so she was staring at him now, "I'm going to come back. I would never leave my sunshine."

Riley smiled at what he said but he still didn't answer her question, "How long?"

Lucas sighed and let go of her face and sat next to her on the bed, "The doctor said the treatment would probably weaken his ability for a 4-6 months. So I'm hoping 6 months the most."

"6 months? That's not so bad," Riley responded optimistically. In retrospect, six month was really short compared to lovers who had to be separated for years due to war. But it still made her nervous as they had just started dating, if you could even count it as that.

"You can always visit me," Lucas put his arms around her and leaned his head on her shoulder. Riley chuckled.

"I might take you up on that offer Mr. Friar," Riley giggled. She was incredibly lucky she got a job has a kindergarten teacher at John Adams Elementary. As Uncle Turner was still the superintendent of the school district, the interview process was definitely a funny one. "School doesn't start for a couple of months, maybe I can come for a week before my life gets dominated by five year olds."

Lucas hugged her tighter, "Those kids are lucky to have you as their teacher."

"What about the hospital?" Riley asked. Lucas' dream had become a reality when he was accepted to start working at the animal hospital in New York City. Riley couldn't have been prouder when he received the phone call accepting the position and she knew Lucas would be heartbroken if this opportunity was taken from him.

"They were actually very understanding about it. They're deferring my acceptance for until I come back, as long as I come back before the new year starts. Apparently it works well as the veterinarian I will be replacing will leave the hospital at the end of January. They had hoped I could familiarize myself with his patients before he leaves but they were fine with it." Lucas explained and Riley felt a bit better about the situation. There was really no reason for him to not go then.

Lucas stood at the welcoming terminal, looking for the familiar face he's been missing. To say he was nervous was an understatement. After the last time he saw Riley, he was afraid that her feelings for him have changed. All because of Chelsea.

Lucas honestly felt nothing for her. His only admiration for her consisted of the fact that she was a great worker at his grandpa's farm. But when Riley walked into the barn to say good-bye, at that moment, Chelsea kissed him. Lucas' only reaction was from the tiny gasp he heard from behind him. He turned around and saw the love of his life, with her right hand over her mouth (as if to cover her sound.) As soon as Lucas turned, she ran and Lucas ran after her. He reassured her that he did not instigate the kiss (nor respond to the kiss) and also felt absolutely nothing for Chelsea (and he really felt nothing.) With words, Riley responded that she believed him. But her eyes, her facial expression, they said another story: She had doubt.

"Riley, I swear," Lucas pleaded while gripping Riley's left wrist, "she kissed me." Lucas stared at Riley as if nothing else existed around them. He would do anything to look at her eyes right now, to see the sparkle that she always had when she stared at him. But Riley refused to look up. Lucas knew, she was afraid.

Riley stared at the ground and wished for it to open and swallow her whole. She wanted to get away, be anywhere but here. She would've kept running but he grabbed her and turned her around. She closed her eyes, wishing to disappear. Maybe this was all a dream. She knew it was no use to try to run away from him. He would catch up to her, he always caught up to her. Before another thought entered her mind, Riley felt a warm touch underneath her chin and opened her eyes. She felt her head being lifted her and it forced her to stare at the green eyes she has been avoiding this whole time.

"Riley? Please, you have to believe me," Lucas whispered. Riley feels like she should say something but nothing comes out. Lucas has never lied to her when it involved their relationship. That was one thing she admired about him. Even when she was hesitant about dating, he was always upfront about how he felt. He liked her. He loved her. He couldn't live without her. He was always the first one to say it. And Riley finally believed him and ignored her fear, fear of losing him if the relationship didn't work. Something she feared right now. But then she stared in his eyes and she saw the same eyes that told her that he loved her, the same eyes that told her he never leave her, the same eyes that told her she was the one.

Lucas was afraid. She hadn't said anything, just staring. Knowing her all this time, he knew that a silent Riley was never a good thing. All he wanted was to reassure her, to love her, to make sure she believed in his love and their love. But at the moment, Lucas was afraid that all his work over the years had gone down the drain. He didn't know what he would do if Riley didn't believe him. He didn't want to think about what he might do. No, he promised her that he would never go back to the violence again. No, she will believe him. They're Pluto.

"Okay, I believe you," she said and Lucas finally took a breath and smiled. But he knew she was hiding.

Despite Riley's nervousness, she smiled when she saw the handsome boy walk through the welcome terminal. Before she had a chance to yell for his attention, she saw that his eyes had caught hers. She saw him walking towards her but she couldn't wait. Riley ran towards him and immediately jumped into his arms when she reached him. Her Lucas was finally back.

Lucas knew that he missed the girl in his arms but as soon as she jumped into him, his heart nearly bursted. Her slender figure was enveloped into his arms and he never wanted to let her go. In fact, in that moment, Lucas knew that he was never letting her go.