December 24, 2028
Riley had just arrived in her hometown of New York City. She loved Washington but it wasn't home. She missed being here but she was absolutely, positively, one-hundred percent satisfied in Washington. But she hadn't been happy since New York.
Riley blocked that last thought out of her mind as she reminded herself that she hadn't been sad since she had lived in New York. She blocked that thought out too not wanting to think about the root of her sadness. No, she was satisfied with her life in Washington and she was going to stay there. But she couldn't deny she loved being back in New York City.
Riley walked out of the airport to see a man with her brown hair, only much, much curlier staring around the airport parking lot with his hand just above his eyebrows blocking out the sun. She smiled at her idiot father and dashed out into the parking lot to meet him.
"Dad!" Riley exclaimed, letting him know where she was.
"Riley!" Cory Matthews exclaimed back as he caught his little girl, who was not so little anymore, in his arms as she flung herself to him. "Are you ready?" He asked once he had set her down. Riley replied with a nod and shoved her bags in the back of the family minivan.
"So how's Washington?" Cory asked once they were on the road.
"It's going well." Riley answered. "The firm is still taking on all the cases we can and-"
"No, I don't mean work, Riley." Cory said. "I mean how about your friends? Or your time outside of work? Your social life?"
"Oh," Riley said. "Well, I don't really get out much."
"In Washington, D.C.?" Cory asked in surprise. "Aren't there plenty of things to do there?"
"I already took all the tours while I was interning, dad." Riley replied.
"I know, I mean I'm sure you've seen every inch of the area but don't you ever hang out with your friends or co-workers?" Cory asked.
Riley was silent until she heard music barely coming in from the radio.
"Oh, I love this song!" Riley exclaimed as she turned the music all the way up.
"Riley!" Cory repeated over and over over the loud music and Riley sing-screaming the lyrics to the song.
"Riley, Maya's coming tonight!" Cory shouted. That was enough for her to turn down the music.
"What?" Riley asked softly.
"Shawn and Katy wanted to know if they could come for Christmas dinner and your mother and I said yes." Cory stated. "I would assume they are bringing Maya along."
"Well," Riley started trying to think of an excuse. "What about Josh? They haven't talked at all since they've broken up."
"Josh is spending Christmas in Philadelphia, as are your grandma and grandpa by the way." Cory answered. "There was a snow storm in the area and they are snowed in for the holidays."
"Okay, fine." Riley grumbled as she slumped against her chair like a child throwing a tantrum.
"Whatever happened between you two anyway?" Cory asked. "You guys used to be inseparable."
"Why don't you ask her?" Riley asked. "You work with her, don't you?"
"I did ask her and she said you left for Washington and never came back." Cory said. "She said she had no idea what had happened."
"I just…" Riley started. Now was not going to be a good time to tell her father about the baby. No time was going to be a good time to tell anybody about the baby. "I just needed to move on."
"Move on from what?" Cory asked. "I thought you were happy here."
"I was!" Riley exclaimed. "I'm sorry," she said in a much calmer voice. "I just don't want to talk about it right now."
"Okay," Cory replied, sincerely. "Fine."
The rest of the car ride to Greenwich Village was silent between the father- daughter pair. This was the one thing Riley didn't like about being home. Every time she came back, she was interrogated by her parents or her brother over what happened between her and Maya or her and Farkle or worst of all, her and Lucas. It was a painful past she didn't want to relive. There was a reason as to why she left.
Lucas Friar woke up to a loud banging noise in his New York hotel room. His head throbbed in extreme pain as he regretted that last drink from the night before. He looked up with tired eyes to see his once geeky best buddy clanging a metal pot against the desk in their hotel room.
"Jesus Christ, Farkle!" Lucas exclaimed. "What the hell are you doing that for?"
"It's two o'clock in the afternoon!" Farkle exclaimed. "We need to go soon if we are going to be there by dinner time."
"Dinner is around seven, usually, isn't it?" Lucas asked. "Wake me up in a few hours."
"No, Lucas we have an early dinner at five!" Farkle exclaimed. "It's Christmas Eve! Get your drunk ass out of bed."
Lucas dramatically flung his long, muscular legs out of bed, making a grunt with every movement.
"I'm not drunk." Lucas said, only to be interrupted by a belch. "Anymore."
"Good." Farkle said. "Then make yourself look well… not hungover and get ready to leave!"
"Fine, fine." Lucas muttered as he walked over to the mini bathroom the two boys had in their hotel room. "Piece of cake."
This was far from Lucas' first rodeo with alcohol and drunken nights. Riley had left him to cope with the death of his child alone. He had gone back to Texas one night and was being far to mopey for his Texas best friend, Zay Babineaux, to handle so he took him to a bar. Lucas had been drunk before but it had never been this pleasing. Sure, the throbbing headache and vomit in the morning wasn't very fun but the ability for him to let go of every fear, every worry, every ounce of sadness he was bottling up and that's all he wanted to do. He almost always found an excuse to drink and had gotten good at sobering up fast if he had to go to work or school or anywhere he couldn't be drunk. Tonight, he was going to Christmas Eve dinner with the Minkus' so he had to look presentable for that. He would also have to watch himself if they busted out the wine or spiked egg nog because he had issues having just one glass. Maybe he could have one or two glasses at the Minkus' and then go out with Farkle to have a few more. Yep, that sounded like a plan.
One cold shower and two cups of coffee later, Lucas was ready to go. Farkle looked happily surprised to see him sober up so quickly.
"I clean up well, huh?" Lucas said, sarcastically.
"Yeah, you're gorgeous." Farkle replied with a stoic stare. "I know you're not going to listen to me if I tell you to get help-"
"Nope." Lucas responded, almost involuntarily at this point.
"But," Farkle continued. "Can you please limit yourself to one or two or even crazier, no drinks tonight?"
"Yes, Farkle," Lucas said. "I will be on my best, sober behavior."
"Good." Farkle said as he double checked to make sure they had everything and then went downstairs and hailed a taxi cab.
"Where to, boys?" The driver asked.
Farkle was silent until Lucas closed his door. Farkle made sure to do his best to make sure Lucas wouldn't escape. He wasn't going to like it but this was the only way his friends could think to get him sober. If he kept drinking like this, he'd be dead in a year.
"Greenwich Village." Farkle said.
"You got it." The cab driver replied but neither of them heard.
To Farkle's surprise, Lucas didn't try to bust out of the cab or say anything. It was almost making him even more nervous as to what would happen when they did reach Greenwich Village.
"Stop the cab!" Lucas said suddenly. The cab driver obeyed and pulled the two men over where Lucas had requested. Farkle was beyond confused to why Lucas had stopped here. Did he just now realize where they were going? Had the alcohol affected him that much?
Just to make sure Lucas didn't do anything stupid, Farkle paid the cab driver and followed his friend outside. Immediately he realized why Lucas wanted to pull over here. Just a few doors down from where they had parked was a pub, open on Christmas Eve.
"Lucas, no!" Farkle had shouted but Lucas was already inside.
It seemed Lucas had worked fast because by the time Farkle was allowed to enter the bar, Lucas was already sitting on the stool taking a shot of whiskey.
"Lucas, you said-"
"You want me to see Riley, right?" Lucas asked. "Well, I'm not going to see her unless I'm wasted."
"Lucas, you don't know-"
"Farkle, do you think I drink because I like the taste?" Lucas asked as he took another shot. "What do you think happened that made me this way? Who do you think caused this?"
"You can't possibly blame this on Riley." Farkle had said, causing Lucas to laugh in a humorless way.
"Why does everybody think she's so goddamn innocent?" Lucas asked, his words starting to slur together. That was some strong whiskey. Well, that and he wasn't completely sober from the night before. He never allowed himself to truly be sober anymore. "I know for a fact she's not."
"Maybe not, but what did she do that was so bad it caused this?" Farkle asked, motioning to Lucas right now. This question seemed to stop Lucas in his tracks and Farkle bit the inside of his mouth in fear of what his best buddy was going to do next.
"You have no idea." Lucas said simply.
"Then tell me." Farkle pleaded.
"No," Lucas said. "She made me promise not to tell anyone."
"You still love her." Farkle told him, everything now making sense.
"Let's go." Lucas said as he removed himself from the barstool and left some cash on the bar for the bartender. He was stumbling only sightly but enough for Farkle to be terrified of what was going to happen next.
Riley was having a pretty good holiday as it turned out. She was worried Maya was going to be there but Shawn and Katy told her that Maya was out of town on a project. Riley thanked every god in the universe for that and was able to enjoy a lovely Christmas Eve with her family and extended family. That was until the speaker box buzzed.
"Who's there?" Auggie asked.
"Farkle." Riley heard on the other side.
"You guys invited Farkle?!" Riley asked her mom.
"No," Topanga said. "But he lives in the city again so he comes over with Maya sometimes."
Now, Riley was cursing the gods for bringing Farkle here. She couldn't throw him out, she would feel too bad. He didn't do anything wrong but he was a direct link to Lucas. But surely he wouldn't bring Lucas here. Riley knew Farkle had his fair share of bad breakups with girlfriends and she would never bring any of those people back into his life.
Auggie ran back to his room to play video games or something, Cory left to use the restroom and Topanga and Riley started working on cleaning the dishes when Topanga realized they didn't have any dish soap left in the bottle near the sink.
"There's probably some in the cabinet in the laundry room," Topanga said. "I'll be right back."
Riley nodded and, as if on cue, the doorbell rang once Topanga had left the room. Riley knew she couldn't wait until her mother came back and odds were Auggie nor Cory were going to be coming out of their secure places very soon. She had to answer the door. It couldn't be all that bad. It was only Farkle. If anything it would just be awkward.
Riley pulled open the door, shocked and mortified of who was behind it. Farkle was there of course but he was joined by none other than Lucas Friar who was leaning the right side of his body up against the door frame in a very odd action.
"Well, if it isn't the wind beneath my wings?" Lucas said in a very slurred speech as he let himself in, Farkle following after.
"I'm so sorry." Farkle mumbled to Riley as Lucas continued walking in his drunken state.
"So, Riley," Lucas said, wiping around in a very disoriented fashion. "How have you been?"
"Are you drunk?" Riley asked as she felt tears form in her eyes, doing everything she could to keep them back.
"You don't think I could see you if I wasn't drunk, do you?" Lucas asked. "It's his fault" he continued pointing to Farkle. "He's the one that dragged me over here."
"Okay," Riley said quietly. "I think maybe you two should leave. You guys weren't really invited so-"
"After we just got here?" Lucas asked. "Riley, I think that's pretty rude. Besides, I'm going back to California in a couple of days. We only have a few days to restore our love."
"I mean, that's what he wants." Lucas continued after a moment of silence and turning his attention to Farkle. "That's why he dragged me down here, isn't it? That's why you invited me to New York in the first place. You just have to meddle with everybody's life. You and Maya just make us your little puppet show. Well, guess what? I'm not going to be your puppet anymore, you little bastard."
"Don't talk to him like that!" Riley found herself defending Farkle before she knew what she was doing. She supposed her middle school self didn't die so easily.
"Oh, like you are in any position to defend him." Lucas said, turning back to Riley. "You broke my heart when you left, you know? Didn't even ask me what I thought you just left me behind to deal with our… problem. Well, I don't know about you but does it look like I'm coping with it very well?"
Suddenly, Riley felt the smallest amount of guilt. To cope with losing their baby and in turn, losing her, he had started drinking. She supposed this was an everyday kind of thing for him and it couldn't be good. She knew from the stories he told her about his family, his dad was an alcoholic so it would be easier for him to slip into that lifestyle as compared to someone like her who's family didn't have a drinking problem as far as she was aware.
"Well, then," Riley started before swallowing a lump in her throat. "I think you might need to get some help."
Lucas laughed humorlessly at her. It was the type of laugh that scared Riley because she knew what she had said was not funny.
"You just don't get it do you, Riles?" Lucas asked. "Neither do you!" He turned around to Farkle. "I like being like this. I can have a good time for once! I'm not thinking about you or our problem, which I haven't shared with anyone, by the way." Lucas was talking to Riley by the end of that sentence.
Riley was a bit surprised he had kept her promise. She wasn't an alcoholic but she had been drunk before and she had spit out a few secrets she had meant to keep to herself. She was surprised Lucas hadn't done that yet. She was surprised he hadn't felt any vengeance towards her and blurted it out to somebody. But she was also extremely grateful he hadn't told their secret to anybody.
"So," Lucas said as he plopped himself down on the couch. "Why don't you stop being stupid and come sit in my lap?"
Riley couldn't believe how crude and ugly the boy she once thought the kindest person she had ever met was being. Her cheeks felt wet and she didn't realize she was crying until it was too late. She tried to keep it down so her family couldn't see because for some unknown reason she didn't want to get Lucas in trouble with her family. Farkle was staring between Riley and Lucas, obviously having no idea what to do.
"Riley?" She heard a voice she knew belonged to her dad from behind. "What's going on? I heard yelling."
"Oh, hi, Mr. Matthews." Lucas answered. He seemed to be the only one completely unfazed by anything that was currently happening. "I was just telling your daughter she and I need to start things up again."
"Telling her or asking her?" Cory asked as he came to stand by Riley who was trying harder than ever to conceal her tears.
"He was telling her." Farkle said before Lucas could say anything. Riley was happy somebody other than Lucas was talking. "He's drunk and he's being very rude to her."
"I'm not drunk," Lucas defended. "I'm just buzzed enough to say the things I'm saying."
"Lucas, I think you better leave." Cory said, calmly.
"Not until your daughter plants a big, wet one right here." Lucas said as he stood up and pointed to his lips.
"Lucas, get out." Cory said getting a little bit more perturbed.
"Come on, man-" Farkle tried but apparently Lucas saw this as now or never.
"Of course I won't mind one right here, either." Lucas said as he moved his finger to point to his crotch. "Won't be the first time, huh, sweetheart?"
"Lucas, get out of my apartment and don't come back again!" Cory thundered in a voice Riley had never heard before. She was also frightened when her father grabbed Lucas by the back of his shirt, hoisted him up and threw him outside with Farkle in tow.
Riley figured her father might want to say something to her and tell her it was going to be okay or that Lucas would never get back into this apartment again but she didn't want to here it. Instead, she ran straight up to her room and locked herself inside. Luckily, she had her laptop with her and was able to trade her tickets she had to return to Washington on the twenty-eighth and changed it to early tomorrow morning. She needed to be out of New York. She needed to go back to work so she could distract herself again. The only thoughts that where currently floating through her mind were of Lucas and their baby and how different their lives would have been if she had been able to carry it to full term. This would be their third Christmas as a family and their baby would probably be around two years old. She imagined her and Lucas curled up in each other watching their toddler son play with the wrapping paper because out of the zillions of presents he got from all of their family and friends, the paper was the most thrilling. It would have been great. It would have been miles better than a drunk Lucas yelling profanities at her. Fantasy was always better than reality.
When Riley woke up early the next morning, she quickly packed her bags and wrote a note to her family explaining she had to return early for work, although she was almost positive they weren't going to buy it. Once she was sure she had everything, she noticed her window was wide open, letting in the cold New York air. She could have sworn she closed that the night before. It wasn't until then she noticed a small piece of paper laying on her bedside table. She picked it up to read it.
I'm sorry about yesterday. You didn't deserve that.
-L
It made her feel better but she didn't want to see him anytime soon. He had hurt her more that she every thought he would and she needed more time. Not that she would have considered getting back together with him anyway. When he was sober, he was nice but she saw a life she couldn't have with him every time she looked at him. It hurt and she simply couldn't do it. But she meant what she wrote on the back of the photo. She would never stop loving him.
AN: Hey guys! I'm sorry I didn't update yesterday but I actually ended up having New Year's Eve plans. That was weird. But yeah on a side note, Happy New Year! I hope 2016 is good to you all!
I'm sorry if this chapter was a little crude for some of you. If I ever write anything you guys think might be to mature for it's rating, please let me know and I will change it. I have no issues with writing an M rated fic at all.
I don't know why some of the reviews aren't showing up. It may be because I updated too early last time and it won't show but I haven't had to delete any rude guest reviews for this story so I'm not sure what is happening. I swear there hasn't been one I have rejected yet so I apologize on behalf of fan fiction .net
Also, school is going to be starting very soon for me and this semester is going to be insane so I'm not sure how often I will be able to update. I'll do my best but I'm sure most of you understand I have to do school work before any of this as much as I'd rather write more for this story.
Anyway, next chapter will take us back to 2032 and may result in some issues for Riley and Lucas. It is important to remember that in the previous two stories I have mentioned Riley does not know about Lucas' somewhat abusive past... yet.
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