A/N: I just wanted to say thank you for everyone who has made this story so memorable for me, and to everyone who has favourited, followed and review. You are the reason I keep writing. :) Thank you!

Chapter 12: Princess of the Forgiven

Riley walked mindlessly around the arena, looking for one person in particular, but not knowing where to find him. She wasn't sure how long she had been walking when stopped a few yards away from a food stand that had been selling hotdogs on the west side of Madison Square Gardens. The smell alone had been enough to catch her attention, but it was afterwards, when she noticed that familiar colour of light brown hair and the shoulders the went with him when she felt her knees buckle. She was only looking at his back, as he bent down to the level of the small girl standing next to him and she recognized Nadine.

In front of Lucas was Zay purchasing the hotdogs, passing the vendor the money.

Her eyes went back to Lucas, acting like another older brother to Nadine, folding his hands in a very particular manor. She watched Nadine return the gesture with other hand motions, and soon realized exactly what Lucas and Nadine were doing.

They were signing to each other.

It was how Nadine communicated, since she could not speak. It was so heart breaking to watch. Lucas loved Nadine so much, that much was obvious. They were so fond of each other.

She could only watch for so long before her heart began to ache, and she felt the tears prick at her eyes. The selfish pulse inside her pumped as her mind returned to the thoughts to Missy and Luna. She wanted Lucas to hold her and tell her things were going to be okay. She had been so strong lately, but now she felt helpless and weak again. Everything she had worked so hard for seemed pointless, and she couldn't find it in herself to walk up to him.

It was Zay who spotted Riley first when he turned back from the stand to hand Nadine a hotdog. His eyes pondered on Riley's as he stood like a deer in the head lights. Lucas caught his gaze almost immediately, and as he did, his head turned to Riley as their eye's became trapped in each others.

It took two seconds for Riley to realize looking for him might have been a mistake, and immediately, she turned back and walked as fast as she could with her skates and the guards on, she eyes still watering.

A lone tear escaped and she wiped it away with the heel of her hand, continuing forward.

People turned their heads to her as she passed, but for once she ignored the stares, trying to leave her pain behind with them.

It didn't take long before Lucas caught up with her, slightly out of breath from running after her. She was stuck at a dead end, cornered by the boy she cared for.

"Riley, what happened?" he asked after a moment, examining her like he hadn't seen her in years. It took her a moment of watching him to know that she did trust him. But she wasn't sure she could tell him the truth. "Zay said you were fine when he left you."

"Nothing happened," she lied. "I just had to see you."

She could tell that there was something on his mind. And she was almost certain she didn't look fine, she stood up straighter, and tried to put on a fake smile, hiding her emotions once again.

"Don't you go on the ice really soon?" he asked, standing directly in front of her awkwardly, looking around and seeing that most of the fans were out of sight and probably in their seats seeing as the event was going on as they spoke. He didn't know how to act around her anymore, because he didn't know what they were.

She shrugged, having almost forgotten about the competition completely, and Lucas was suddenly very concerned for her.

"Riley, come on. What's going on?" he begged her. "You were so excited for this opportunity the other day. Did you change your mind about all of this?"

Part of her mind was screaming at her to tell him exactly what had happened. But the other part knew he wouldn't understand, or he might judge her. It was easy to talk to someone, but to share personal thoughts and beliefs, that was not easy. She could not risk trusting him with information, just for him to shoot her down.

But she had to know what he thought.

The guilt burned her insides.

How much did she really have to lose?

The thought that he might think that everything that had happened was her fault, broke her heart. Not knowing hurt her so much. What was going through Lucas's mind? Did he think that she was the one who had deceived him? That it was what Riley had done that really led to Luna's death? That it was Riley's selfishness and desire to want everything that brought about the horror of losing a small child? But that wasn't her. She wasn't selfish, and she never meant for any of this to happen. And he had to know that she didn't have anything to do with it.

It wasn't her fault.

It was the way of the universe.

She didn't care what the rest of the world thought.

She didn't care what Missy thought.

But she thought the world of Lucas, and she had to know.

"I need you to be my friend right now," Riley said with as much confidence as her voice could muster. The two of them looked into each other's eyes, as Lucas's mouth popped open, no words escaping. "I need you to be my friend in this moment and I need you to listen," she repeated."

He just nodded, still unable to comprehend the moment.

"It's not my fault," she finally said, her eyes almost looking through Lucas, as her mind worked to understand everything that had happened. Skating, jumping, spinning, it all blurred into one image as her mind replayed the moments that imprinted her mind.

Lucas's face softened, but she could tell he was still at a pass, not understanding.

"None of this is my fault. There is nothing I could have done. Everything that happened, the semi truck, the weather, the traffic, none of it was my fault," Riley said quietly in realization.

Lucas's eyes widened in understanding, and his voice slipped in his throat, no words coming.

"You have to know that, Lucas. No matter what anyone says, what happened to Luna is not my fault. I didn't hurt her."

"You think, I blame you for this?" Lucas raised his eye brows and frowning, as Riley still tried to grasp her own fuzzy and confusing thoughts, she eyes fearful and scared. Tears stung at her eyes at the hurtful words still repeating in her mind. Darkness. Sadness. Heartbreak. Guilt. Death. Fault.

They stung like a blade on the surface of her skin.

"I really need you to be a friend right now," Riley whispered for the third time, her nose scrunching up the way it did when she knew she was going to cry. Lucas's eyes shot up, finding Riley's sad and lonely ones, boiling with unshed tears. "I need you not to blame me for this."

"Oh, Riley," he hushed, taking a step forward, putting one arm around her and then the other. His hand rubbed slowly up and down her back and she wrapped her arms around his waist joining her hands together behind him and rested her head on his chest, closing her eyes listening to the faint would of his heart beating. "I know that this is not your fault. I know."

"You do?" she mumbled, closing her eyes.

"I never blamed you. I could never blame you for something like this," he promised. "It never once crossed my mind."

He felt her body relax, as she released a breath.

"Is that what you were worried about? Me blaming you?" he pulled his head back and looking down at her sad eyes.

He felt her nod against his chest. After a moment, she pulled her head back, but didn't release her arms. "I know it's not my fault - b-but I realized that what's actually been bugging me all this time was what everyone else thought. I didn't harm Luna in anyway. I loved that little girl. I would never hurt her and I need people to know that." She paused, and clarified. "I need you to know that."

"So you've finally forgiven yourself?" he asked.

Riley's mind reverted back to her father's lesson on forgiveness years ago and remembered when Maya tried to forgive her own father. Never one did Riley anticipate that she too would have to forgive herself before she could learn to move on completely. To begin to walk through another door.

"I'm not sure what brought this up," Lucas said after a moment, realizing Riley was tranced in thought. "Zay swore you were happy and prepared when he left you. I should have known better than to trust his body language interpretations. "

"Don't blame Zay. I finally had a good conversation with him and I think I finally see him in a different light. He's a good friend to you, you know. And so are you. He's lucky to have you."

"Yeah," he replied. "Zay's a good guy." They enjoyed the closeness of each other, the heat passing in between, and comfort and protection. Riley finally felt cared for and safe. "So if it wasn't Zay, what changed?"

She sighed and remembered the humiliation Missy provided not that long ago. "I met up with an old demon who had her sights set on hurting me and I guess she just said a few things that hurt me. Everyone was watching and listening, and I just had to know that no one would believe what she said about Luna. I'm a decent person. I go to church every other weekend with my parents, I flip ever pennies so that the next person will have good luck when they find it, I volunteer on weekends. I'm a good person."

"Riley," Lucas said softly a brilliant calm smile on his lips. "You are the best person."

She sure was something, Lucas thought. She was more than she knew, the best heart and the best mind. She was the girl that time forgot.

X

Miraculously, Riley found her way back to the competition just as Missy was gliding off the ice and onto the arena floor once again. Part of her was thankful that she didn't have to watch the other girl perform on the ice, but the rational part of her listened to the crowds reaction to Missy's routine and the excessive noise pounding in her ears. She knew it was a good skate and she wished that she could have seen what she was up against.

Missy sat down with a small frown next to her coach, just as Missy's trainer pulled her athletic coat around her shoulders. Both adults spoke into her ears, and Riley didn't need to be in hearing range to known criticism when she saw it. Missy's coaches were strict and just the look on her face was enough for Riley to see that this was a normal occurrence for Missy. She hadn't even seen them congratulate or hug Missy since she had come off the ice. It was business as usual

Riley watched as Missy rolled her eyes, and caught her staring. Instead of looking away, the girls stared for a moment. Riley making it clear that she was unaffected by Missy's previous tackle.

Not two seconds later, Missy narrowed her eyes and looked back towards the judges and Riley knew. She knew in that moment that Missy knew she hadn't won, and that the game was back on. Riley was not going down without a fight, and this time it would surely be an even fight.

"Oh thank God!" a relieved voice sounded from behind her. Turning slowly, Riley came face to face with her coach, Katy. I really want to yell at you right now for being inconsiderate and incredibly stupid, but you're on the ice next and you need to be pepped up not down."

Just as Riley was about to object, or rather participate to the conversation, Katy pulled her arm and led her back to their designated waiting seats.

She sat down, so remove her skate guards, and Katy passed her a new pair of ear plugs.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the results are in for Missy Bradford's short program. The judges have not been feeling generous tonight, but it looks like Ms. Bradford's scores are appearing on the big screen. 24.7 for technical merit, 23.4 for required elements, and 22.6 for presentation. Giving her a combined total of 70.7 and putting her at the top of the standings. Congratulations Missy on a great skate!" a male commentator spoke powerfully through the system in the arena.

There was cheering coming from the direction of Missy, as well as the rest of the arena, but Riley tried to ignore the pit that it created in her stomach.

"The judges are expecting more this year, aren't they?" Riley asked turning to Katy, who stood with her arms crossed, eying the judges table across the rink.

"Well you are older this year, Riley. We knew it was going to be more challenging this year."

It must have just been the nerves.

Even if she didn't place today, anyone in the top ten would be going to Nationals. She'd be safe.

But she could have really used one of Maya's pep talks. She was already talking herself down.

All she could so was nod along and wait for the ice to be cleared.

Riley's eyes wandered the arena looking for Maya, or her family, or even Lucas. But it was still Maya who called her name.

"Riley!" she shouted.

Riley's head swung to the right and saw a panting Maya. Both girls released that breath, and immediately felt the relief. It was Riley who crossed the distance, and wrapped her arms around the shorter blonde girl.

"Look at me," Maya said after a short moment. "This is your moment, and you are going to kick some major league ass today. We are going to get you to the Olympics."

Riley grinned, rolling her eyes slightly at her friends aspirations.

"I'm going to get you there," Maya promised, showing off her pinky finger and waving it in the air. Riley clasped their fingers together.

"Okay," she agreed.

"But first, you've got to get out there and win some Regionals. I know this hasn't been easy, and you've gotten a few scars since we started this. But look," Maya hugged her shoulder and looked to her right. Farkle, Josh, Lucas and even Zay were all there, standing and smiling at her. Riley just watched the group, surprised to see them. But crazy as all of it seemed, she felt loved and that even if she didn't do well, she still had family and friends to go back to. "You've got some great friends, Riley. And I don't care what happens in five minutes, we are all bringing you out for dinner after this."

"Maya," Riley said softly, surprised by the sincerity of the gesture. "That sounds great."

She smiled back at her friends and gave them all a small wave.

"Thank you, Maya," Riley gave Maya another hug. "I know I wouldn't be standing here right now if I didn't have you. You-

"Stop being a sap, and get on that ice," Maya pulled back and turned the taller girl on her heels. Katy stepped up with the ear plugs and Riley put them into her ears. She felt like a nascar in the pit stop being prepped.

The attending opened the gate to the rink for her, and suddenly she was in ultra Riley mode, forgetting about her friends, and family and the rest of the arena all watching her. She nodded to the attending and took off across the ice.

"Up next is Riley Matthews representing New York tonight. Riley Matthews recently broke the record in New York for intermediate women last month, and fans are eager to watch this young skater take home a medal today," the commentator spoke.

Pushing her skate to a stop, she took her place in the centre of the rink and closed her eyes. Each breath she took was measured and explicit. Once again, her arms stretched the the heavens, and she leaned backwards, posing and waiting for her queue.

And when she took off, she took off with force and agility, as the less elegant song began playing and the beat dropped. She and Katy had chosen the song when they had been driving on day and heard it on the radio. The music had a power to it, that stretched into her bones. Riley immediately knew she wanted to ice dance to the song and created her own routine.

Pivoting on her back leg, she skated backwards, extending her arms to the side, preparing for her first jump - the Triple Axel. The jump was nearly second nature now, and she twisted into the air and spun three times, and pounding onto the ice clipping the ice and leaving a familiar dent. She landed it perfectly and adjusted into a double loop.

She continued her routine, move for move, jump for jump, spin for spin. Until the last spin, the entire routine could have be her best routine yet, executed flawlessly in her own opinion. But it was the slightly uneven ice slipping from her triple axel and finding the exact location to initiate the spin that was her last mistake. When her skate slipped into the groove, it altered her path and lead for a small recovery time.

Just a slip.

It would have been an unnoticeable mistake for the untrained eye, but for a judge it would dictate her entire standing.

Still she power-housed to a stop, centre stage, and struck her signature pose, leaving finish to the crowd. The crowd wouldn't have been able to see her mistake, not from the distance. So they cheered like no tomorrow, obviously happy to see success in their hometown girl.

Riley bowed, just as expected, and she put on a smile. Folding her right hand behind her back, she bent forward and curtsied, to all four sides of the arena. Grabbing a rose that slid across the ice and waved to the fans, she skated to the edge.

Katy stood waiting for her with a smile. "I slipped on that last spin," Riley emotionless, before Katy could get out a remark.

"I saw," she acknowledged. "But overall, I think it was one of your best skates yet. Better than Sectionals maybe." It was weird, the way Riley felt so cold about the situation, she hadn't ever felt so cold after competing. She tried to remember Maya's pep talk, but her mind kept slipping back to Luna, and how last time she was in this position, her good news was destroyed by awful news.

Riley shrugged, and proceeded to their seats to wait for the results. She wasn't even sure if she wanted to know the results.

"How are you feeling?" Katy asked her, a gentle hand on her shoulder. She was usually a coach first, but sometimes, Katy was like a second mother and she knew when the girl was in pain.

"Fine," she replied.

Katy looked over her shoulder and waved. Before she knew it, Maya was sitting on the other side of Riley, cozying up with their hands holding each other.

Riley gave Maya a small smile and finally felt a little better about the situation, her breathing normal again.

"What a fantastic skate administered by young skating protégé Riley Matthews. The judges have just passed me the results and you can see them above on the screen. In presentation a 27.9, in required elements 20.2 and finally 21.1 in technical merits, for a combined total of 69.2. That puts Riley Matthews up on the leaderboard at 3rd position, after Missy Bradford and Karma Davies."

Riley deflated. It was truly amazing how such a small mistake could cost her so many points. A flawless routine could be destroyed so easily. Even if her presentation did bring her up so many points, the technical merit and elements brought her down considerably.

"Third place Riley! That's awesome!" Maya said beside her. Riley nodded, unable to come up with any words that wouldn't make her seem selfish and diva like.

"As long as the other girls don't score higher than you you'll still place. Either way, you've got a ride to Nationals," Katy said from beside her, pulling out a note pad and writing something down. Maya shook Riley's arm in excitement.

"Did you hear that Riley? Nationals! You made it! We're going to Chicago!"

Riley didn't want to be sad or angry, not in front of the people she loved. She turned to Maya and tried to smile.

"We're going to Chicago," she repeated, letting herself know that third place only meant that she had room to improve and that she could do better. That she would do better.

She now had an incentive.

And even more to lose.

X

After the rest of the long evening watching countless other skaters and routines, Riley stood beside Maya once again, but this time of they stood at the main entrance of the Gardens, observing the city and dwelling on the recent events. Riley still held the bronze medal in her hands, and her bag over her shoulder. Maya beside her, held the key to the world. It might have been a Sunday night, but the city was still alive and Maya knew that.

"This has been a pretty crazy day," the blonde said. Riley wasn't sure what they were waiting for, but they were just standing, in front of the street which was quieter than she expected it to be. Most of the fans were already gone, and many of the skaters have began their travels back home across the country.

"Sure has," Riley agreed, she was utterly exhausted.

"How are my girls doing?" Farkle strutted up behind them and put an arm around both of his favourite girls. Riley smiled at his forwardness and appreciated the sense of norm it brought her. Farkle loved Maya and Riley and she hoped that would never change.

Riley patted his hand resting on her shoulder, and leaned against him.

"We don't belong to you," Maya corrected, pointing her finger towards him. She had probably told him that a million times before, but Riley knew that Maya really didn't mind, it was just her character. Maya wouldn't be Maya if she wasn't completely independent and levelheaded as she was.

"But you're still my girls," he replied, squeezing them closer together.

"What are you still doing here, Farkle? I thought you went home ages ago," Riley asked.

"I had to make sure you were okay, and I got talking to your father about school again. That man sure can talk about history. Anyways, after we lost you in there I was slightly worried I was never going to see you again and that everyone was going to blame me for losing you before you went on the ice," he admitted, remembering the moments.

"I'm sorry about that," she apologized, looking down at her feet. "I didn't mean to use you, I just needed some space."

"It's okay, I just wish I could have been more help."

"You were plenty of help," she promised.

Riley looked over at Maya who was glancing between her cellphone and the road, obviously waiting for something. Just then her face broke into a smile.

"There are the boys," Maya grinned, hopping down the steps, and leaving Riley and Farkle at the top of the stairs. Riley looked down the stairs seeing a large truck pulling up to the curb and recognizing it as Lucas's. "Come on, Riles."

Farkle and Riley exchanged a look, and the truck horn blasted in their ears.

"I promised you a fun night Riley. This is it." Maya waved her arm toward the truck.

She saw the window roll open and Josh and Zay waved at her. "Come on ladies!" Zay yelled from his seat.

"Go on," Farkle said softly and encouraging. "It'll be a good time."

"No," Riley grinned. "You're coming too," she grabbed his wrist and pulled him down the steps, laughing at Maya, who celebrated her victory by throwing her hands into the air.

The side doors of the truck opened, and everyone jumped out besides Lucas, who remained at the wheel and it was decided that the girls would sit in the middle because they were smaller. So Riley sat in the front with Lucas on one side and Farkle on the other. Behind her was Maya with Josh and Zay on either side of her.

Sliding into her spot in the truck, she gave Lucas a warm smile, saying 'hello' with just her expression.

Lucas started up the truck and loud country music began playing which made Riley laugh, but behind her, Maya booed and whined.

"This is not real music, somebody stop my ears from bleeding," Maya begged as she covered up her ears.

"He won't change it," Josh swore. "Whenever I'm in here, it's all country all the time."

"You city folk just don't appreciate quality music when you hear it," Zay shook his head in disappointment.

"Go ahead," Lucas nudged Riley. "You pick the music."

"This doesn't usually happen," Zay said lowly, unable to comprehend why his best friend would let girls dictate their music selection or even change it from the normal country music they listened to.

"Come on, Riley," Maya whined. "Get rid of this garbage." The boys laughed at her, and Lucas continued down the highway.

"Sorry, sorry," she apologized, turning the dial and switching radio stations. Stations ranged from news, weather, and sports broadcasts.

Moments later, she found a perfect song, and the light strumming sound of a guitar filled their ears with the magical sound of Imagine Dragons.

"Good choice, Riley," Farkle told her, and everyone listened intently, more than they should be, perhaps looking for a greater meaning.

"Thanks," she smiled, sitting up straighter and leaning forward in her seat to see the night life of the city as Lucas drove them in between the tall skyscrapers. "So where are we going?"

She turned her attention to the back row of seats and heard Maya humming along and tapping her hand to the sound of It's Time.

"I don't know," Maya shrugged, and looked at Josh. "Josh said he knew a place, so we're going wherever he says."

"This place normally has a rad live band, but on Sundays it's karaoke night and there are some pretty amusing people that choose so sing. You're going to love it, Riley," Josh explained, just as Lucas turned the corner.

"Oh, I love this part! Turn it up, Riley!" Maya shouted.

Riley did as she was told and Maya began singing along, making Riley laugh.

"It's time to begin, isn't it, I get a little bit bigger then I'll admit," she sang loudly, and everyone in the truck laughed along too. That's when Riley jumped in, and almost turned around completely looking directly at Maya, her smile growing with each passing second. "I'm just the same as I was, now don't you understand, I'm never changing who I am."

Soon everyone was tapping along and singing along.

Maya and Lucas had done it. They had taken her mind off of skating and the pain she held deep inside of her. And they had let her enjoy herself with her friends. And so she sung. She sung at the top of her lungs.

Surprisingly, the evening only got better for Riley, and she even found herself up on the stage of the small bar next to Maya singing along to Girls Just Wanna Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper. She couldn't believe this place. It was one of the smallest dwelling she'd even been in. But it was big enough for a small stage and a few used sofas, and other seating. There was a stocked bar and the acoustics were also better than she expected. Everyone who sang sounded decent, also making her feel better while she stood up in front of everyone. She hadn't felt so normal and free as she did in that moment, being reckless and silly while Lucas, Zay, Josh and Farkle filmed them using their cell phones. She enjoyed herself completely, laughing with Lucas and Zay as both of them told her embarrassing stories about the other, listening to strangers sing about love and friendship, even talking to a few randoms about their experiences.

For once, she wasn't Riley Matthews, figure skater. She was Riley Matthews, regular girl.

She sat with her coke, admiring Lucas, as he told her an elaborate story about his horses back on the farm before his father sold the property. In the meantime, Maya had Josh on the dance floor, while young man sang a cover of a song she recognized from the radio.

"What?" he asked, leaning back in his chair, which was worn out and wooden, reflecting the entire bar.

"Nothing," she swore, but her eyes still hid secrets and he could see that.

His crooked smile new better than to rush the skittish young brunette.

"You've just got this look, like you know something."

She just shook her head in amusement. "No, not really. Although I would really like to see you up on that stage belting out a few notes."

"Nope," he promised. "Not tonight. I would need to have a few drinks in my system to even consider that, and I'm the driver tonight so not happening."

"I'll get you up on that stage someday."

He shook his head, but they both knew in their hearts that they would be back. And the experience would be just as memorable.

She was taken off guard when Lucas jumped out of his seat, and slide into her side of the booth, trapping her inside.

"So did you want to talk about it?" he asked.

"Talk about what?" she inquired.

"I know you weren't expecting a bronze today, and I for one thought your skate was a million times better than the girl who claimed first."

"Then you missed the mistake I made on that last spin, because it costed me about four points."

"That's why you're so upset?"

"I'm not upset."

"Well you aren't happy about it either."

"I guess not."

"That little mistake you made, it's nothing," Lucas said. "It's nothing and you are way better than those other girls, because even with that mistake they only beat you be half of a point. Don't let that small error bring you down. You are far too talented."

She nodded, considering his opinion. Frankly, she didn't really want to think about the competition in that moment, so she grabbed his hand closest to her, and pulled his arm around her shoulder, allowing herself the comfort of his body in the small booth, in the tiny bar.

And the rest of the world blurred behind the walls where the six friends enjoyed each others company and life.

A/N: I am thinking that there will be about 3 or 4 more chapters left of this story, before it will be time to say goodbye to this universe.

Are there are scenes that you would really like to see before I wrap up this baby?

I would like you all to consider a sequel and what that could mean for this story. I've been thinking a lot about the life I want these characters to be living in five or ten years from when this one takes place. Please let me know what you think! Would it be too dry if I wanted to write more as a sequel?

Comment and let me know. :)