I know, I know! I am the absolute worst for leaving you all hanging for so long. I have been dealing with a lot of personal struggles that have just made writing hard for me. I am better and finding my inspiration again. I am looking to start updating regularly and not leaving you hanging like I did. I can't apologize enough and I am so sorry! Thank you for being patient and sticking with me!

Disclaimer: I do not own Girl Meets World or any of the characters

Chapter 11

"You want to talk to me?" Riley asked, raising an eyebrow and adjusting her purse on her shoulder. "Why?"

"What do you mean, why?" Megan asked. "You don't think we need to talk?"

"I don't think so," Riley shook her head.

"You are dating my ex-boyfriend," Megan said.

"And you married mine," Riley retorted.

"My ex-boyfriend comes with my daughter though," Megan pointed out. "You are playing mommy to my daughter."

"I'm not playing anything," Riley snapped. "I am there for a little girl who was abandoned by her own mother at such a young age. A little girl whose mother wanted nothing to do with her."

"You have no idea what you're talking about," Megan glared at her.

"I know you left her because you were afraid to be her mother. You left her because you're selfish," Riley said.

"I left her because I love her," Megan said.

Riley noticed her voice softened slightly and some of the anger seemed to be leaving her body. She wanted to feel remorse for the woman standing in front of her but she couldn't find it in her. She left her daughter. A little girl who was new to this world and needed her mom. She left her so that she could run off with another man. She didn't look back for a second. She left the two people that she was supposed to love the most in this world. There was no forgiving that.

"Keep telling yourself that," Riley said. She shifted on her feet and shrugged her shoulders. "You can't change what you did. You can't go back in time and undo all the pain you caused."

"I can fix it though," Megan desperately insisted.

"I don't think the scars you left are going to go away that easily," Riley shook her head. "You said what you needed to say and now it's up to Lucas. It's his decision what he wants to do now."

"Maybe you could talk to him for me," Megan suggested. "He seems to really value what you have to say. Tell him I've changed."

"How am I supposed to know that you've changed?" Riley asked, raising a skeptical eyebrow at the girl in front of her. She could see the desperation written all over her face.

"Because I'm telling you!" Megan exclaimed, causing Riley to widen her eyes in surprise. Lucas's ex-girlfriend took a deep breath and then ran her fingers through her hair. "Look, I just want to meet Haley."

"I can't help you," Riley shook her head. "If I were you, I would stop pushing. I would stay away because you are only going to make things worse."

With that, Riley turned and walked away. She knew the other girl was standing there stunned but it didn't matter to her. She said what she needed to say and she felt comfortable about it. Riley knew Lucas, she knew him pretty well. She knew that he wanted nothing to do with his ex-girlfriend and that Haley was better off without her. Things were better the way they were now and nothing was going to change that. Not even Megan.

. .GIRLMEETSWORLD.

"Are you going to tell her?" Zay asked, sitting down at his best friend's kitchen table and watching as he made a pot of coffee for the two of them.

"Isn't it too soon?" Lucas asked, scooping some of the coffee out of the container and into the coffee pot.

"Do you love her?" Zay asked.

"I already told you I did," Lucas shot his best friend a look.

"Then why does it matter how long you've been together?" Zay raised his eyebrow. "If you're in love with her, time means nothing."

"I don't want to scare her away though," Lucas said as he turned on the coffee pot and then walked over to take a seat at the table with his best friend.

"If Megan hasn't scared her away yet, I doubt you telling her you love her will," Zay said.

"Megan texted me this morning," Lucas sighed.

"Let me guess," Zay rolled his eyes. "She wants to meet Haley and she insists that she has changed."

"Pretty much," Lucas nodded.

"You need to block her," Zay said. "She's creepy and not getting anywhere near that little girl. She will not cause either of you pain again."

"Dude," Lucas looked at his best friend in surprise.

"I can still remember that phone call I got when you found out she was gone. I still remember the look on your face when you realized she ran away with another guy," Zay said and then shook his head. Lucas could tell his best friend was reliving the memory. "You're a different person now. You have come a long way and raised that little girl to be an amazing person. She would just ruin it."

"Thanks man," Lucas nodded at his best friend.

"Enough mushy stuff," Zay said and then smirked. "How about you make me pancakes?"

"You wish," Lucas smirked and rolled his eyes before tossing a bagel at him.

. .GIRLMEETSWORLD.

"She just showed up at your school and demanded a conversation?" Lucas widened his eyes as he listened to his girlfriend talk to him through the phone.

"Yup," Riley said as she dropped onto her bed. "She wanted me to convince you that she should have a chance to meet Haley."

"She just won't stop," Lucas groaned.

"I think she just really wants to meet Haley," Riley said.

"What do you think?" Lucas asked.

"What?" Riley asked, confusion filling her voice.

"Do you think I should let her meet Haley?" Lucas asked.

"Oh Lucas," Riley said. "I'm not sure my opinion matters."

"It does to me," Lucas insisted. "I want to know what you think."

"I think it took you a long time to get over what she did to you," Riley said. "I think she put you through a lot of pain and heartbreak. I think she made you second guess yourself and if you could trust someone else again."

"She did," Lucas agreed.

"I also think she was incredibly selfish and is only back because her marriage fell apart," Riley admitted. "I mean, you have to ask yourself. Would she have still come back if she was happily married?"

"You're right," Lucas said.

"I'm sorry," Riley sighed.

"Don't be sorry," Lucas insisted. "I have long come to terms with the fact that Haley would never know her biological mother unless she wanted to when she was older."

"You'll give her that choice?" Riley asked.

"Absolutely," Lucas said. "I'll tell her what happened and if she is still curious, then I'm not going to stop her. She should learn who she is if that's what she really wants. I would be a terrible father to keep her from that."

"You're a good guy Lucas Friar," Riley softly said. She felt her heart fill with love because he was truly a great person and she was so lucky that he was hers.

"Have dinner with me tomorrow," Lucas suddenly said.

"Okay," Riley agreed. "I would love to."

"Awesome," Lucas said. "I can't wait."

"Me neither," Riley smiled to herself.

. .GIRLMEETSWORLD.

"You look beautiful Riles," Maya smiled at her best friend. She cradled the now awake baby in her arms to her chest and smiled at her daughter. "What do you think, Sophia? Doesn't Aunt Riley look beautiful?" The little girl gurgled in response and the two best friends laughed.

"I will take that as a yes," Riley smiled and then ran a soft hand over the top of her goddaughter's head.

"Are we all still having dinner at your place this weekend?" Maya asked. Lucas had finally met all of Riley's friends and it went incredibly well. They all clicked almost instantly and it was like he had been friends with them their entire lives.

"We are," Riley nodded with a smile. "He is going to bring his best friend and his best friend's fiancée."

"Zay right?" Maya asked.

"Yeah," Riley nodded. "Zay and Vanessa."

"Well I am looking forward to it," Maya smiled and then noticed the time. "You better get going. Why are you meeting him again?"

"He had to drop Haley off at Zay and Vanessa's so I agreed to meet him," Riley explained. "They live closer to the restaurant and it was just easier this way."

"You are too kind Riley Matthews," Maya chuckled.

"See you later," Riley smiled at her best friend. She leaned down and kissed the top of Sophia's head. "Bye sweet girl. I love you."

"Have a good time!" Maya called after her best friend who just waved in response. The blonde mother watched as the front door closed and she chuckled. Rocking her daughter in her arms, she looked down at her mini-me. "Mark my words, Sophia Matthews. Lucas Friar is here to stay. Your godmother is desperately in love with him."

. .GIRLMEETSWORLD.

"I'm so full," Riley groaned as she dropped onto Lucas's couch with him after dinner that night. "Why did you let me eat that ice-cream?"

"I learned from our second date that there is not getting in between you and your desserts," Lucas smirked as he dropped onto the couch with her.

"You know me too well," Riley laughed. He scooted closer to her on the couch and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"I'd like to think so," Lucas looked down at her and smiled. She rested her head on his shoulder and looked up to smile at him.

"Thank you for taking me out to dinner tonight," Riley said. "I had a really good time."

"So did I," Lucas said and then leaned down to kiss her on the forehead. She pulled back slightly and turned to face him.

"I love being around you," Riley whispered. She reached out and laced her fingers through his. "I don't want to lose you. I know it's early on in our relationship but I have a feeling."

"I do too," Lucas admitted, squeezing her hand. He looked down at their joined hands and then back up into her beautiful brown eyes. "I love you."

"You do?" Riley widened her eyes in surprise, biting her lip.

"I do," Lucas nodded. "I have known for a while and I don't want to wait any longer to tell you. I love you, Riley Matthews."

"I love you too," Riley whispered.

She scooted closer to him on the couch and he reached out to cup her cheek in his hand. They looked into each other's eyes and felt the passion growing between them. The love was radiating off the both of them and they knew that they wanted to take that next step. They wanted to take the next step in their relationship and be completely connected to each other. His lips slowly inched closer to hers and she closed the gap almost instantly. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and pulled him closer as their kiss grew passionately.

"The apartment is empty for the night, right?" Riley whispered against his lips.

"Right," Lucas mumbled against her lips. She stood up from the couch and extended her hands towards his. He placed his hand in hers and slowly stood up from the couch, letting her guide the way towards his bedroom. He closed the door behind them and then turned to face his girlfriend.

"I love you," Riley whispered as he took a step closer to her.

"I love you too," Lucas quietly said.

He leaned down to kiss her again and slowly moved the two back towards his bed. She felt her legs hit the end of his bed and she slowly inched onto the bed, pulling him down to hover over her. He held his weight up over her and then leaned down to kiss her again. He felt her hands move to the hem of his shirt and she started to tug on it, pulling it up slowly. He tossed it aside and then instantly leaned down to kiss her again.

They knew this step was going to be a big one in their relationship. It was going to connect them more than it already had. Both thought they would be a lot more nervous about taking it but that was not the case. It felt completely natural and comfortable to them. Their love overcame them and made the moment even more special. They knew this would only bring them closer and they were both ready for that.