Chapter Three

Riker was going out of his mind. The doctors said that there was nothing really wrong with Laura except that she won't wake up. Her heart is still beating so she is alive, and they said that it has been known to happen for patients who have suffered a deal of trauma like she did to slip in a coma. All Riker wanted right now was to see Laura open her beautiful eyes. It has now been three days since the accident and Riker was worried that with more time that passes, Laura will have a less and less chance of waking up. His parents had left a little while ago, as his dad needed to attend to one of his new client's needs and his mother had to help Riley start planning for the wedding. They both felt guilty for leaving but Riker told him that he was fine. Laura was his wife so he should be the one waiting on her to come back to him.

Riker sighed.

All he wanted was for Laura to wake up and for them to get on with their lives. It seemed that despite everything that they tried, drama would always seem to find them. Riker was just sitting out in the waiting room while waiting from the word from the doctor that he could go and see Laura which he found was ridiculous. Riker was Laura's husband why couldn't he go see her now? Riker knew that the doctors were doing everything that they could to help her but Riker needed to see her. Riker was brought out of his thoughts when he heard someone walk up.

Raini and Calum walked up to Riker with a sad smile on their faces. Both were worried about Laura and they knew that Riker was going through hell. They couldn't help but think when was it going to be enough? In almost all the entire time Riker and Laura have been together they had to face one crisis after another. When were they going to catch a break? Raini hugged Riker and Calum shook his hand.

" Thank you guys for being here. Laura would be happy to know that you guys are here." Riker said with a smile on his face and Raini saw that it didn't reach his eyes. Which broke her heart as Riker was always such a happy person.

" Where else would we be? Laura's family and we want to make sure she knows that we are hoping and praying for her to make it through. Which she will because she is Laura and she is the strongest person that I know." Calum said. Riker just nodded. He and Laura were really lucky to have such supportive friends.

Too bad the same couldn't be said for the majority of his siblings. Especially Ross. Riker just shook his head. He couldn't think about that right now. All he needed was to be focus on Laura and that was it.

Everybody else can wait.

Ratliff was pacing around the room. After hanging up with Ryland he didn't know what to do. Hearing about Riker and Laura broke his heart and of course he wanted to be there for them, after all they were like family to him. But could he really go back after cutting ties for five years? Would they even want to see him? And of course there was the whole situation with Rydel and Rosie. She was his wife and Rosie was their baby girl. How would they react to all that after all since the last time they saw Ratliff he was in love with Ross.

Would they kill him for bouncing in-between family members? Ratliff couldn't help but cringe at that thought. It was bad that he slept with a brother and his sister. But in his defense Ross and him were through and he couldn't help but falling in love with Rydel.

You couldn't help who you loved could you?

Ratliff sighed.

" Hey babe, what you doing up?" Rydel said as she made her way over to her husband. Ratliff quickly pecked her on the lips and held her.

" Um..Ryland called me. Riker and Laura got in a horrible accident and he wanted us to come home."

" Oh my god! Are they alright?" Rydel asked in shocked. It has been a while since Rydel seen any members of her family, it wasn't because she didn't want too. Life was just too busy and her life was with Ratliff and Rosie in New York. But that didn't mean that she wanted any harm to come to them. Especially to Riker and Laura. Riker and her have always been the closest out of the siblings as probably because they were the two oldest. And Laura was like a sister to her. And they forgave her for her actions regarding Ross and Ratliff.

Rydel sighed.

That was a subject she didn't like to talk about too much. To remember what she did to her brother and Ratliff. Even though it happened years ago, Rydel knew there would always be a part of her that would never forget. Rydel was truly sorry for leaking the photos of Ross and Ratliff as lovers to the press. She let a moment of insanity and jealous cloud her judgment. And it nearly costed her everything. But her family was amazing and they knew who she really was and they forgave her. Even Ross and Ratliff did. And now she was married to Ratliff and had his child. Rydel sighed. She knew that she should feel guilty for going after her brother's ex, and after everything that the two of them have been through and for Ross to have forgiven her for betraying him, she still fell in love with Ratliff and married him.

Rydel sighed again.

Not fell, she had always been in love with Ellington Ratliff for years. That was part of the reason why she went off the rails because she felt that Ross stole Ratliff from her. But she knew that they couldn't help who they fell in love with. She just lost sight of that for a while. And they ended up breaking up anyway, as Ross hurt Ratliff in the worst way possible. So Ross shouldn't have a problem with them being together right? Why was there always dram in this family? Rydel just shook her head, now was not the time to go over this, everything needed to be on Riker and Laura.

" Then what are we waiting for? Let's pack and then we can find a flight out. I think it is time that we go back home even for a visit. They are our family babe and I think it has been long enough. Plus I want them to know that I love you and that what we have is real. Plus I think they should get a chance to meet Rosie." Rydel said as she talked to her husband. Ratliff just sighed and smiled. He was so glad that she was willing to go. Maybe that will help him wanting to face his past.

" Okay how about you pack and I will try and get a flight out as soon as possible." Ratliff said as he placed a kiss on his wife's lips. Rydel just smiled and walked to get started leaving Ratliff alone in the living room. He sighed. Ratliff guessed he better get started.

Rocky threw the last of his clothes in his bag and was trying to get the hell out of his apartment and out of this country as fast as he could. It was funny how fast things could change. Just this morning he was thinking about how much he loved being here, how this was his life now. But of course that was before he realized his girlfriend was nothing but a two trick whore who did nothing but spread her legs for his asshole of a friend.

Rocky just bite down on the laugh on that. It was funny how the two people that he thought he could trust most in this world betrayed him during the whole tenure of their friendship/relationship. Rocky still couldn't believe that he was so stupid for so long and not to have seen any signs that Becca and Paul were stabbing him in the back.

He should have known better anyways. Rocky was always the one to be left with nothing good. No music career, no relationships that would last past the first time they got him in bed. With Becca he knew that it was too good to be true. This time Rocky couldn't hold back the laugh as he thought about how this was a pattern in his life. In all of the siblings Rocky always seemed to be the one who couldn't have anything good last. Let's look at the facts.

Riker got Laura and they were happily married.

Rydel was off living her life and happy.

Ryland was engaged and becoming a rising top manager in the business.

And what has become of Rocky? A pop star in a washed up band in England playing for pubs and spare change? His girlfriend, pardon ex-girlfriend was a whore, and his ex-best friend was a douchebag.

Nope nothing ever stayed for Rocky Lynch. Sometimes he wonders why he even bothers trying? Rocky grabbed the few things he had that he wanted to keep and walked out of his London loft. He slammed the door as he walked to the exit of his building. He was going home to support Laura and Riker. That was what good brother and friend would do.

And anything after that he didn't know what else he would do. All he knew was that he was tired of being left with nothing.

He was just tired of being the loser in life.

Ross climbed out of bed and noticed Kelly was still asleep. He just rolled his eyes. Sure Kelly was a great girl and all, and the sex was amazing, but really that is all that it was. Sex. He and Kelly didn't have a great love anything like that. They both had needs and they found the person that could meet their needs.

Ross walked out to the bathroom and turned on the shower and letting the hot water wash over him. Ross sighed. After having a quick wash Ross turned off the water and stepped out and changed into a new pair of clothes. As Ross turned around he noticed his cell phone and realized that he had quite the few voicemails.

Ross sighed. He figured he might as well check them. So he press dialed voicemail and pressed play new messages.

" Hey Ross, This is Ryland can you please call me back, something happened and I really don't want to leave it over a phone message please call me back. Okay love you bro."

Ross just rolled his eyes.

" Hey Ross, Ryland again. Where the hell are you? I have something to tell you and I really don't want to leave it over a message. Please call me back."

Ross just sighed.

" Okay Ross since you obviously are still on this selfish self-pity party and don't care about anyone else, Riker and Laura have been in a serious car accident. Riker is mostly is worried about Laura who is in serious condition. I figured you would like to know after all you claim to love them right? But of course who am I kidding? This is Ross Shor Lynch I am talking to. The most selfish sob I have ever met. Just because your heart got broken doesn't mean that you had to fucking cut off contact for five years man! So I guess you really don't give a shit if Laura dies right? I mean you haven't been returning any of our calls. That is fine Ross. I did my part. Having a nice life you fucking asshole."

Ross felt horrible. While his brother was trying to reach him to let him know about Riker and Laura what was he doing? He was busy having sex with his ex's ex. God could he be any more selfish. But then at the same time how could he have known? It wasn't like he did it on purpose and was it really necessary for Ryland to go off on him like that. Ross didn't think it was fair. Ryland didn't understand how deep the hurt was from losing Ratliff. How could anyone possibly understand what he is going through? Ross felt like he was actually going to die inside. The sight of Ratliff driving away from him still haunted his dreams.

Ross knew that he was being selfish and he knew he was an ass to his family, especially his mother who did nothing but want to help her son. But what did he do? He threw the fact that it took her a bit to warm up to the idea that her son was in a relationship with a man in her face. This caused the argument between him and Riker. So after that he figured it would be best if he didn't contact anyone. He was better on his own and that way he wouldn't hurt anyone else.

But was it really the right thing to do? Cut himself off from everybody? Laura was like family to him so he hates to think that she thinks that he doesn't want anything to do with her. Despite everything that he tried to do by breaking up Riker and Laura when he first learned about them, she still found a way to be his friend and she still let him live with them at the apartment. Ross didn't know what he would do if Laura didn't make it. That would kill Ross; He would have lost five years with his best friend just because he was off licking his heartbreak wounds.

Could he really go back there? Could he really not afford not to? What would that say about him if he just decided to stay away? Ross then made the decision that he would of course go back, he would have too. He had to make sure Laura was okay and Riker too. Maybe it was time for him to be the man that his mother thinks he can be and face up to what he did about leaving and abandoning everyone. Ross made his way to the computer and logged in. He quickly pulled up the travel site and booked a ticket back to the mainland. He was going back home to see about fixing the damage that was left in his wake.

Ross just hoped that he was making the right decision.

Raini and Calum had stayed with him for hours. Riker appreciated having his friends up there with him. Curt had even been up here for a while. Riker really did have the most amazing friends, both he and Laura did. He wished he could say the same for his siblings. Except for Ryland who has been here.

Riker sighed.

He was now by himself as the others had to go home; the babies were with the babysitter so Raini and Calum went home to check on them. Curt went back home as it was getting late leaving Riker alone in his thoughts. Laura was still unconscious and Riker couldn't help the fear that was creeping in. The longer that she didn't wake up the chances of her not coming back were getting greater. No he couldn't think like that, Laura was going to come back to him. She had too.

Riker felt someone laid their hand on his shoulder. Riker looked up and saw that it was the doctor.

" Is she okay? Is she awake?" Riker asked getting up from the chair. The doctor just sighed. He really wishes he could tell this young man better news, but unfortunately he can't.

" No I am sorry she isn't wake. But I figured it is alright for you to go in there and sit with her if you would like." The doctor said. Riker just smiled. Finally he can go see her. " Thanks so much." Riker said as he made his way to her room. It didn't take long as her room was right around the corner and Riker opened the door and walked in. The sight before him nearly brought him to his knees. Her beautiful face was marred by cuts and scrapes as well her arms and hands. Riker had to bite back the sob that was just begging to come out. He had to be strong for her. She needed him to be the one to carry her right now and that was what he was going to do. Riker walked over to her bed pulling the chair closer and sitting down. He leaned over and placed a tender kiss on her forehead.

" I love you so much baby." He whispered to her. He then petted her head before placing small kisses along her face. It had been days but it felt like forever since he got to see her, to kiss her. That Riker couldn't help himself. She looked so beautiful to him even with the cuts and scrapes, she was still his baby and he wished nothing more than to trade places with her. Laura was the last person on this planet that should have to endure this kind of pain.

" God I am so sorry babe, I feel like this is all my fault." Riker said to Laura. And that was how he felt, if only had he paid more attention to what was going around while driving he wouldn't have hit the other car. Even though he knew the other driver ran the red light. Riker felt that he let Laura down in some way. He was her husband damn it and he was supposed to make sure she never would have gotten hurt. Riker could feel his shoulders tense up as he could feel the anger come. How could he be so careless with something so precious like his wife? He took vows damn it that he would always protect her? Riker couldn't hold it in anymore and he could feel the first tears starting to fall and he just let it assume him. The guilt was killing him, what kind of man was he if he couldn't protect his wife? How could he have been so careless? Riker just sat there and sobbed as he felt the guilt and remorse overtake him. He didn't know how long he had been crying but it must have been a while as his throat was sore from it and his face felt like it was on fire. Riker wiped the tears away and looked back at his wife. He didn't care how long it would take; he would make up for letting her down.

" I will make this up to you, baby I promise I will. You just got to come back to me okay? Because I honestly don't know who I am without you. And I don't want to ever find that out. I need you to be me you know? I love you so much." Riker placed a kiss on her hand closing his eyes as he could take in the touch of her on him. Riker could hear the knock on the door and he turned around to see his mother.

" Hey Mom." Riker said. Stormie's heart broke at the sight of her son's face. This whole thing was horrible and she just wished that both Riker and Laura could finally be happy without so much drama.

" Hey, the doctor said that you were in here. How is she?" Stormie asked. Riker just sighed.

" She is still the same. But I know she will you know? Because we aren't supposed to be done." Riker said.

Stormie just nodded.

" Isn't she the most beautiful thing that you ever saw?" Riker whispered.

Stormie just put her hand on her son's shoulder. And agreed with him. Laura was definitely a beautiful girl and she made her son so happy that Stormie couldn't possibly love her anymore than she does, but she does. Laura is an amazing young woman and Riker is really lucky to have her, and Laura was lucky to have Riker in her life. The two of them had a love like she hasn't seen between two young people before. Sometimes it really did feel magical.

" She is going to wake up you know. She knows that she has you here waiting for her Riker. The two of you have a life to get back too and it will be a long one with nothing but love and happiness. Plus you guys still own me grand babies."

Riker just laughed. He was very lucky to have a mother like Stormie. She was always so supportive of everyone.

" Believe me we are working on it." Riker said.

" I may want grand babies but I don't need to hear that okay?" Stormie chuckled.

Riker just smirked. " Sure."

Both Riker and Stormie just sat by Laura's bedside giving each other support. Both were lost in thought that at first they didn't realize that Laura was starting to move. Riker noticed right away as she squeezed his hand.

" Laura?" Riker cried out excited. She was coming back to him. Thank you God. Stormie just smiled at the look of elevation and relief on her son's face.

Laura's eyes were fluttering before opening. The sight of her eyes made Riker weak. She was back, she came back to him.

" Hey Laura, how are you feeling?" Stormie asked. Laura just pointed to her throat. Stormie went to go get her a cup of ice chips and water and a straw before giving Laura the water. Laura took a sip before speaking. She handed the cup back to Stormie before smiling.

" Thanks Stormie." Laura said.

" No problem sweetie, I have to say seeing those beautiful eyes of yours is a sight that we have all been missing. We are so glad that you came back."

Laura just nodded.

" How long have I been out for?" Laura asked.

" About three days now sweetie, you guys got in a bad wreck and you were hurt pretty bad. You just needed time for your body to recover. Are you sore or have any pain?" Riker asked.

" No I mean I am sore yes but no pain." Laura answered.

Riker let out a sigh of relief. " That's good."

Laura just nodded. She looked over at Stormie, " Stormie can I ask you something?"

" Sure what is it sweetie?"

Laura then looked back at Riker and she could tell that he was happy to see her that he was willing to wait for her to come back, but she was confused about something.

" Who is this guy?" Laura said pointing to Riker.

Both Riker and Stormie had a look of utter fear on their faces.

" He is Riker honey, my son." Stormie said before getting cut off by Riker.

" And I am your husband. Now babe this isn't the time for jokes okay?" Riker said. Laura's eyes widen in fear as she came close to Riker.

" No you can't be my husband! I don't even know who you are!" Laura said as she scooted back away from Riker. Riker could feel his heart break. Was this really happening? Did his wife just forget about him? How was it possible for her to know his mother but to forget about him?

" Laura, I am telling you the truth. Mom tell her please." Riker whimpered.

Stormie's heart broke at the sound of the intense pain that she heard in her son's voice.

" Laura it is true, he is my son. Your husband. You really don't remember?" she asked in shock.

Laura nodded. She looked at Stormie and Riker and she was finally getting that what they were telling her was the truth, but at the same time she couldn't remember him. How could she remember Stormie and not her own husband. She looked at the blonde boy and her heart broke at the pain in his eyes and Laura felt horrible that she couldn't remember him.

" I am so sorry; Riger but I honestly don't know who you are. I am really sorry." Laura whispered sadly.

" The name's Riker. It's Riker." Riker croaked out as he could feel his throat shut as the tears were coming to him. His own wife couldn't remember who he was.

What the hell was he going to do?