Zay's not even surprised when he heads to the kitchen this particular morning to see Riley in one of Lucas' college shirts and pajama shorts glasses on her face and hair in a bun cooking pancakes. Her and Lucas had been dating for around 4 months now, they got together shortly after their unexpected meeting and she basically lives with them. Her Uncle Josh and Maya had been dating for a while but in the recent months they had been spending a lot of time at her shared apartment. While the brunette loved that they were so in love and finally together without Josh pushing the '3 years' excuse on Maya she did not need to be witness to the physical displays of love they were fond of showing in her apartment. It lead to her spending more nights in Lucas' bed than her own, and spending the majority of her time with the boys.
She's not complaining though, her and Lucas' are great and she loves spending time with Zay. Zay isn't complaining either, neither him nor Lucas are that good of cooks and Riley loves being in the kitchen. Especially on the weekends, Riley likes to make a nice breakfast for the three of them when she stays over. And today she's whipping up pancakes.
"Good morning Riley, where's lover boy?" Zay asks her with a smile as he starts making the coffee for the three of them.
"You mean the hibernating bear? He should be up soon, you know he starts to get up when he smells food." Riley giggles as she flips the pancakes. True to her word Lucas stumbles out into the kitchen shortly after, just as she's finishing plating the pancakes. She can't help but admire him in his plaid pajama pants and old t-shirt; his messy bed head and slight look of confusion only increases his cuteness.
" 'Morning'" he greets Zay before he greets his girlfriend with an apprising smile as he sees her in his shirt, "And good morning beautiful" Riley blushes slightly at his words, unable to control the butterflies in her stomach
"Good morning love, I figured you be out for food. You don't want Zay to eat it all." Riley gives Zay a playful wink as he gives her a jokingly shocked expression. "I'm going to put these down and wash my hands do you think you could get me some coffee?" Riley asks Lucas with a hopeful look.
He chuckles and nods his head; her obsession with coffee was a serious thing. She figured she hadn't gotten hers yet because her hands were covered in flour and pancake. He grabbed her favorite mug and his favorite mug and fixed their coffees. He smiled as he looked at their mugs. He learned about Riley's obsession with mugs shortly after he met her. If she could get her drink in a mug she'd be immediately happier. Even if it wasn't hot, she liked her juice or water or wine whatever she was drinking out of mugs. She had a small collection of favorites back up in her apartment, and when Lucas noticed that she was spending more and more time at his he got her a special mug that matched his own favorite. Riley's was purple with a little teddy bear holding a coffee mug and his was blue with the same design. He had gotten them the mugs after she told him about the loss of her childhood bear and she just about cried at the sweet gesture.
He sat down next to her at the table and grabbed her hand as they all ate breakfast together chatting at laughing.
"So Riley, any other plans for the day? Besides Maya coming over here for diner of course." Zay asked with as they ate.
"I have to edit some photos for a shoot I did this week. I should probably go home, but my laptops already here so we'll see where I end up for the day." Riley answered with a shrug of her shoulders.
"Well you know you're always welcome here beautiful" Lucas told her giving her head a kiss.
"Yeah you basically live here, I'm surprised you haven't just moved in yet." Zay said with a chuckle quickly noticing Riley's red face and the look Lucas was giving him. Lucas had been trying to think of how to ask her to move in with him for a few weeks, and Zay knew this. In fact everyone knew, Josh had plans to move in with Maya once Riley had moved out the only person who didn't know was Riley and from the looks of her expression she was oblivious to it. Lucas just wanted the moment to be perfect, and he couldn't think of a way to make it yet.
They all helped clean up from breakfast and after Riley got comfortable on the coach with her legs over Lucas lap as he and Zay watched TV. These were the moments Riley loved most about being with Lucas, they could just be and it was enough to feel his hands on legs and know that he was there.
It didn't take her long to finish editing her photos; once she finished she switched over to leaning into Lucas chest giving him a sloppy side hug that Lucas quickly reciprocated.
"Hi" she said shyly as she snuggled deeper into his chest
"Hey Princess" Lucas responded quietly using his fingers to trace the small scar on her cheek. Her cheek had healed nicely after Ryan, but she was left with a thin white scar that no one but Lucas ever seemed to notice. He always touched it so lightly or gave it the lightest kiss. He was currently stroking it gently staring into her eyes as she started into his. He couldn't help think of how lucky he was to have met her, but hating that Ryan was a part of it. He gets lost in the memory of a few nights ago when him and Riley where lying in his bed.
"I don't know why." Riley says quietly to him one night
"Why what princess?" He asks her stroking her arm as she laid her head on his chest
"Why Ryan's still so hung up on me. We went out twice sophomore year and the dates were both terrible, and I told him I wasn't interested then either. But he was always making sexual comments towards me or trying to make a pass every time he saw me; it made it hard to be at Zay's. Its one of the reasons him and Zay stopped rooming together too. And he still won't leave me alone now. I wish he would just leave me alone." Riley tells him as she draws little circles on his chest
"What? Wait, you mean you've seen him recently?" Lucas tries to keep the anger out of his voice; he doesn't want Riley thinking he's mad at her when his anger is solely directed towards Ryan. Riley nods against his chest.
"Yeah…he's just around. Like I've seen him at Topanga's or by the park near here that I take photos at sometimes. I never stay though once I see him I just leave, he hasn't done anything but he's just always around. I just wish he'd leave me alone. I just want to be with you only." Riley tells him, her voice shy.
"Well Princess we're together and he's not going to change that. And I'll try to keep him away from you. Okay?" Lucas asks her giving her a squeeze
"I know you will, and if does hurt me you'll just take care of me right? Like you did when we first met?" Riley looks up at him with hopeful eyes
"Of course beautiful, I'll always take care of you. I'll take care of you as long as you'll let me." Lucas can tell Riley's getting sleepy and pulls the cover over them.
"Even if I want you to take care of me forever?" Riley asks as she closes her eyes
"Especially then." Lucas answers giving her head a kiss before he closes his own eyes
Lucas is jolted out of the memory when Zay makes a comment.
"Would you two stop staring into each others stupid stupid eyes? My god." Riley shoves her red face back into Lucas' chest as Lucas laughs heartily at Zay.
"Zay, you're the one who kept telling me how perfect we would be together, now let me enjoy it." Lucas responded with a raise of his eyebrow
"Touché" Zay grumbled quietly back
A while later Riley was in Lucas' room trying to figure out which shirt to wear, she wanted to be comfortable but she didn't want to just be in a t-shirt. She was looking through her drawer in her bra and leggings when Lucas came in. She let out of a frustrated sigh flopping onto to the bed face down. Lucas chuckled lightly as he sat down next to her and stroked her back trying to not get too distracted by the fact that she wasn't wearing a shirt.
"What's wrong Princess?" Lucas asked her with a knowing smile. The initial response was muffled. "Princess I can't understand when you talk into the bed."
Riley raised her face slightly and turned it to look at her boyfriend, "I said I couldn't find a shirt in my drawer. And like I know I could go back to my place but just urgh. I should bring more than just pajama shirts to my drawer." Riley rambled and she felt Lucas get off the bed she sat up and saw him coming back with her favorite blue flannel of his.
"Why don't you wear this huh? I know you like how soft it is and I know it'll look better on you than on me." Lucas told her with a smile and shrug. "Plus I know, Princess, you like wearing my clothes when they smell like me and I wore this a few days ago."
Riley jumped up and hugged him grabbing the shirt and putting it on. "Thanks Luke, I'll make sure I bring more shirts next time I come from Maya and I'd place." Looking at her then Lucas knew this was the moment.
"Or Princess you could just bring them all here, and never go back to Mayas." Lucas told her with a wide spread grin, to which Riley gave him a confused look. He chuckled at her grabbing her hands, "What I mean is, move in with me. You practically live here anyway, lets just make it official."
"Yes!" Riley proclaimed jumping into Lucas arms, he was quick to catch her. "Oh my gosh. I have to tell Maya, Uncle Josh can just move in he basically lives there anyway! We can tell Maya when she comes over for diner! Oh my gosh wait what about Zay is he going to be okay with me moving in?"
"Princess slow down, take a breath. And yes Zay knows, actually all our friends know I was going to ask you. I've been trying to find a special way for two weeks. But I just couldn't wait any longer and you just look so cute in my shirt." He gave her a kiss on the cheek before she grabbed his face and gave him a soulful kiss.
"I'm so excited! Ah! I can't wait to tell Maya this night is going to be amazing!"
As the couple expected everyone was excited for the happy couple, Maya was especially happy that Josh could move in with her. Their night was filled laughs and good times. Then there was a knock on the door. Riley sprung up to get it.
"I'll get it! Since its my apartment now too. Riley stated with a giggle as she opened the door not expecting who was on the other side. There stood Ryan and from the looks of it he had had a few drinks, he had a glazed look in his eyes as he took in the brunette in front of him. He made to grab her arm but she jumped out of the way and ran to Lucas shouting his name. Riley had only told Lucas but she still had the occasional nightmare about Ryan. She had never been a fan of his, but was especially scared of him since the last time he was here.
Lucas was confused as to why his girlfriend was hiding behind him and clutching onto his shirt for dear life. That was until he saw Ryan stumble into their home and it all made sense.
"Riley! And I see Blondie here's too! Now it's a party." Ryan slurred at the group trying to make eye contact with the brunette who had head slightly peaked out under Lucas' arm. But Riley was having none of it . All Lucas wanted to do was pick this scum of the earth up and throw him out of his home and get him away from Riley. But he knew he couldn't leave his girlfriend, especially with the way she was gripping his shirt. He was thrilled when Zay stood in front of him and Riley and directed his comment toward Ryan.
"What the hell are you doing here Ryan? I'm pretty sure Lucas throwing you out of our home last time wasn't an open invitation to come back. And I'm sure after what you did to Riley she doesn't want you in her home either."
Maya was quick to back Zay up, "You better get the hell out Ryan. You don't mess with my Honey and get away with it." Maya raised her little fist and Ryan could tell by the fire in her eyes that she was not someone to mess with.
"Finnneee I'll go" Ryan stated with a droopy smile, as he started walking away Maya and Zay moved to the side of Lucas. And Riley came out and stood next to Lucas as he put his arm around arm shoulder pressing a kiss to her head. But just before Ryan actually went out the door he made a be-line for Riley.
Before anyone could react he roughly pulled her by the arm towards him. Riley was positive this was the second time he would be bruising her as he dragged her along. "NO!" Before anyone could react Riley ripped her wrist out of Ryan's grip launching herself into their coffee table. She cried out in pain as she fell down on her wrist and tears started coming down her face as she cradled it against her chest.
"That's it!" Maya rushed over and pushed Ryan out of the apartment and gave him a threating look while telling him, "If you ever and I mean EVER come to their home again I will make sure you never have children." With that she slammed the door in his face making sure it was locked she turned to her best friend.
Lucas had already pulled her into his lap and was cradling and her soothing, petting her hair and kissing her head. It seemed to be helping because soon her sobs turned to quiet tears.
"Hey Maya can you get Riley some ice? I still want to look at her wrist but I know it needs ice." Lucas asked while he continued to hold Riley close to him as they sat on the ground. Maya nodded and went to get the ice for Riley.
"Hey Princess I'm going to look at it okay? It might hurt but I want to make sure nothing is obviously broken, okay?" Lucas asked as gently as possible. Riley nodded with a sniffle and watched as Lucas gently took her wrist in his hands. She winced slightly when he moved it. "I don't think its broken Princess, it might be sprained. But either way the ice will help and I know something that'll help even more."
"What will help more?" Riley with a shaking voice
"This" Lucas gently took her hurt wrist and gave it a gentle peck, "There a magic kiss so it'll heal sooner." Lucas looked proud as Riley giggled at his lame joke.
Maya had come back with the ice but didn't want to interrupt their sweet moment, and it seemed Zay didn't either. He was just standing and watching them in awe. They were clearly perfect for one another.
It took Lucas a moment before he noticed Maya had the ice. "Why don't we watch a movie while Riley ices her wrist?" Lucas asked as he looked at his two friends, they nodded and everyone settled into their spot. Riley refused to leave Lucas and found her spot snuggled in his lap on the big chair in their living room. He held the ice as they watched The Princess Bride a favorite of the gang. Once the movie was over Maya went back to her apartment, and Zay retreated to his room.
Lucas noticed that Riley was getting sleepy as she struggled to stay awake. He picked her up and carried her to their room. Helping her get changed without bumping her still sensitive wrist. He got helped her get into bed and she quickly snuggled into his chest breathing a sigh of relief. Lucas stroked her hair and gave her head a kiss as they laid together.
"Today was definitely not how I thought it would go, but I'm glad you'll be sleeping next to me every night from now on. You're the only one who helps with the nightmares and I'm sure I'll have some tonight." Riley mumbled sleepily
"I'll always be here to chase away your nightmares Princess, either in your dreams or real life. Today was not how I thought it was going to be either but I'm glad that from now on no matter the day, I'll get to end it next to you." He felt Riley smile into his chest and turn and give his arm a kiss but she didn't say anything. She didn't need to Lucas knew what she meant. They continued to lie together until they both drifted off, still in each other's arms.