A/N: Why don't emojis work here

Chapter 12 – Meet the Parents

Lucas sat in his living room thinking about where to take Riley on their first official date now that they were together and she didn't have the cast on her leg. He thought about taking her to the light show at the Bronx Zoo but since her father gave her a curfew the minute the two of them started dating it would be impossible to get to the zoo and bad in time.

"Lucas come set the table," his mother said.

"Coming," he got up and walked out of his room still debating what they would do for their date. "Mom where would you want to go on a date?" he asked hoping that she would give him some advice.

"Is this for you and Riley? Because as much as you talk about her I still haven't had the chance to meet this wonderful friend of yours."

Lucas stood there realizing that as much time as he spent at her house Riley had yet to meet his parents. "Sorry mom, I didn't realize with everything going on that I haven't introduced you."

"How about you bring her here to meet your mom, I think your dad would also like to meet the girl who made living here so wonderful for you."

"Yeah son why don't you bring her over for dinner tomorrow, and afterwards we can go to see the tree in Rockefeller center like we always do," his father said. When they had first moved to New York they made it an annual tradition that the Friar Family would take one picture every year under the tree. His father worked in intelligence for the military and although he was strict he was a caring father. His mother worked at some publishing company which allowed her to move around with her family but was now based in New York where the company is.

"Okay, I'll ask her," Lucas said realizing that this was more terrifying than having Mr. Matthews chase him out of Riley's room and stealing his boots.

After dinner Lucas went to his room to text Riley about coming over to his house.

Lucas: Hey Sunshine ? I have a question?

Riley: Sure what's the question?

Lucas: Instead of going out to dinner, would you like to come and meet my parents' tomorrow night? My mom asked.

Riley: That would be great especially since I've never met your parents… OMG! Lucas why have I never met your parents?

Lucas: Too much happened and we were always at your house…. I'm sorry Riles you should have met them sooner. Tomorrow night around five would that be alright? My family has a tradition that we go see the tree every year so they wanted you to come with us. They can drop you off at home afterwards.

Riley: That would be great Lucas, I would love to meet them

Lucas: Okay I'll pick you up around 4:30 and we can walk over to my house.

Riley: Okay, now I have to figure out what I'm going to wear….. I'm nervous but I'll try to not be a super klutz

Lucas: You will do great my parents will love you. I'll see you at school tomorrow ?

Riley: See you tomorrow

After their conversation the night before Riley sat in her room trying to figure out what to do about her clothes and hair. Now it was four in the afternoon and Lucas would be there to pick her up but all she could do was freak out and pace back and forth.

"Riles why are you acting like this?" Maya asked as Riley walked into her closet and back out with her fifth outfit.

"Maya… I'm meeting his parents this is huge. I can't mess it up. What do I wear? What do I say? Should I bring them flowers? Maya help me I'm sooo lost."

"Just breathe everything will be alright," Maya said. "Breathe in and breathe out."

"Why am I taking advise from you? You're not going to have this problem since you already know my grandparents and they love you…. Oh god what if they don't like me?"

"Listen Riles if they don't like you they're demented, and yes I won't have this problem but you are also the most loveable person in the world. Now wear that red flowy dress and this jacket," Maya said holding out the outfit. "You're going to see the tree so this way you will look festive, and here wear these boots so you won't be cold. Now go get dressed and I'll help you with your hair… and stop freaking out."

"Okay I can do this," she said as she ran to the bathroom to take a quick shower and get dressed in the outfit Maya had given her.

By the time 4:30 came around she was ready to go but the butterflies in her stomach started to dance on their own. Riley knew that this was more nerve wreaking than the day she kissed him on the subway for the first time. When the intercom rang she felt like she had just jumped out of her skin.

"Riley are you okay?" Josh asked from the couch. He had his arm around Maya while they were watching a movie. Riley wasn't paying attention to the movie because she felt like the whole world was tilting.

"Yeah… I'll be okay, I think… Okay I'm nervous," she said trying to form a complete sentence in her head and failing.

"Hey Riles are you ready?" Lucas asked as he walked through the door.

"Yeah," she yelled. "Sorry I'm ready."

Lucas walked up to her and hugged her as tight as he could, "You're going to be fine. My parents already love you."

She sighed in his arms and nodded. "Mom, Dad I'm leaving," she called out as they left.

As they walked the short distance to Lucas' house Riley made him stop to pick up some flowers so that she could give them to his mother as a gift. Lucas laughed as he watched her pick out what flowers she was going to buy.

"You're so cute," he said when she finished.

"Well I can't go there empty handed. It's rude you know," she said.

When they reached his house her heart was ready to burst but when Lucas looked over at her she smiled trying not to look nervous about meeting his parents.

"Come on Princess, let's introduce you to my parents," she said squeezing her hand for reassurance.

When they walked in through the door Riley notices how homey his house was, the furniture looked wore and it felt like something out of a cabin. Riley wondered if this was the reason why Lucas always smelled like he had run through the woods. The browns of the house mixed into one another, and there were hints of greens and blues. On the fireplace there were pictures of Lucas from all ages. Riley felt drawn towards them curious about what he looked like when he was a kid.

"Mom, we're here," Lucas called out as Riley walked towards the pictures. "Riles what are you looking at?"

"Baby Lucas," she said smiling. "You've seen so many pictures of me growing up I just wanted to see you as a little boy."

A chuckle came from the other side of the room. "Lucas was always an adorable little boy."

"Mom this is Riley," Lucas said introducing her to his mother. His mother had the same eyes that he did although her hair was a lighter shade of blonde, she was a beauty which makes sense since Lucas was so handsome.

"Hi Mrs. Friar, it's nice to finally meet you," she said trying to smile but her nerves came back as quickly as they disappeared.

"Hello Riley, I'm Samantha but you can call me Sam," she said as she pulled Riley into a hug. "It's nice to finally meet the girl who has stolen my little boy's heart."

Riley smiled and looked up at Lucas who gave her the thumbs up.

"Um Mrs. Friar…. I mean Sam, these flowers are for you," Riley said.

"Thank you Riley, this is very sweet of you."

"Sam have you seen my red tie, I need it for the picture," a man's voice said. "Oh I thought I had time before you got back."

"Riley this is my dad," Lucas said as his mother pulled away from Riley.

"Hi," was all she could get out, as the tall man with light brown hair walked towards them.

"Hello Riley it's nice to finally meet you, you can call me Joe," he said.

"Like Pappy Joe?" she said

"Ah yes I forgot that you've met my father," Lucas's father said. "Yes my father was proud of his first son that he named him after himself," he said as he puffed out his chest making Riley laugh.

"My dad's the funny one around here," Lucas said. "He's the king of Dad jokes even though he works so much. He's very proud of himself."

"I think my dad can give you a run for your money," she said laughing.

Riley thought that his parents were the sweetest people she had met, and wondered why it had taken so long for her to meet them. They've known one another for years but now that they had met she was happy that it was after the whole mess that had happened between her, Maya and Lucas.

Throughout the night Mr. Friar made random jokes while they all laughed, Riley's butterflies' left the moment they met. She felt a strange sort of comfort meeting them almost as though they were meant to be a part of her life.

Once they had finished dinner Lucas showed her around the house, when they reached his room Riley wasn't sure what to expect. Lucas had been inside of her room millions of times. When they walked in she saw that the walls were a dark blue color but the furniture was made of a medium wood color. It looked like Lucas except there were pictures of them together throughout his room in different kinds of frames. His jean jacket which he normally wore during the fall was laying on a trunk at the edge of his bed.

"This room is so you," she said smiling. "It even smells like you."

"What does that mean?" Lucas looked at her amused.

"Well you always smell like the woods… nature… I may get too close to you sometimes," she nervously laughed as she said it.

"Nice to know that you like how I smell."

"Yeah, sorry."

"It's okay," he said pulling her into a hug. "Here take this," he took the jean jacket off the trunk and put it around her shoulders. "So you can always have me around."

"I love it," she said smelling the jacket.

His mother called them down so that they could get to Rockefeller Center before they took Riley home. When they got there his dad worked so hard to make sure that they could take the best picture, he wanted Riley's first dinner with them to be as special as possible. For Riley it was the most perfect night ever.