Author Note: I posted a little Rucas one-shot this morning called Kitchen Moment, so you should totes check that out. Also when LMBYH is done I'll be posting an original story on tumblr so I hope everyone checks that out when it goes up. I'll post more information about it later this week.

Let Me Be Your Hero

Chapter Fourteen: Pieces of Me

"Yes! Yes! Yes!" Riley grabbed his face, kissing him, "How could you think the answer would be anything other than yes!"

"I mean I thought you would say yes, I was pretty sure, especially after all that Mrs. Friar, stuff, but now it'll be real, you really will be Mrs. Lucas Friar." His eyes searched hers.

She was all smiled, "I love you, I can't wait to be Mrs. Lucas Friar."

"Nothing is going to keep us apart, I promise you."

Riley looked down, "You really do intend to keep all your promises you made years ago, don't you?"

"As many as I can." He smiled, "You make me so happy, I hope I can make you as happy."

"You do make me happy Lucas."

"Shit." Lucas muttered.

"What, what's wrong?"

"Your Dad is going to kill me when he sees me, especially now that I've proposed without his blessing."

Riley giggled, "Well, let me deal with him. Now, we need to get to sleep, we still have a long drive tomorrow."

"Okay Princess, whatever you say." He kissed the top of her head, feeling her snuggle in close to him.

Lucas woke before Riley, watching her sleep for a few minutes before she began to stir. "Hey sweetheart."

She smiled, "God I missed that."

"You don't have to miss it anymore."

"Thank God." She got out of bed leaving him with a quick kiss before she went into the bathroom.

She stared at her reflection in the mirror for a moment. Trying to wonder how many days she should wait before taking a pregnancy test. She had a box of them, but what if it was too soon to know?

She looked at the box sitting in the Walmart bag; she was going to do it. Worse thing possible was a negative test and really, that just meant more trying. Not that's what she'd been doing.

Just as she was about to open the box Lucas began knocking at the door, "Babe, I hate to rush you, but um, I kind of need to use the bathroom."

"Just a second" She stuffed the box in her makeup bag and told herself, this was a sign, she wasn't ready to take the test yet, but she would soon.

Xxxx

"Oh, you are going to be a groom-zilla huh?" Riley glanced over as he was going through Pinterest on his phone looking up wedding ideas.

"Yeah, probably" He laughed, "I know we're kind of going warp speed at all of this, but when do you want to get married?"

Riley started to laugh, "You know Maya said I'd be a June Bride, is that soon enough for you?"

"Texas or New York?"

"Huh?" She kept her eyes on the road. "Are your parents going to hate me?"

"Oh, wow." Lucas watched her, "I don't think so; confession time."

"Oh boy, should I be scared?"

"No." Lucas smiled as he watched her try not to be nervous, "Remember how I said my Mom begged me to get out of the service?"

"Yeah?"

"She also begged me to get back with you."

"I knew I liked your Mom, did she really?"

"It went something like, 'Lucas David Friar, stop screwing around trying to be a hero, putting your life in danger, and go re-win the heart of the only girl who has ever turned your head.' I'm paraphrasing of course; it was a few years ago."

"But, will they hate me because I kept you and them from Gabe?"

He could see the real fear she'd obviously hadn't allowed herself to really think about until now. "I will explain the entire situation to them, they'll forgive you."

"Are you sure, I mean I guess I never really took them into consideration." Guilt washed over her, "What would have happened if you hadn't come back Lucas?"

"Don't think like that, I did come back Riley, I'm here, you and I are going to get married. My parents are going to forgive you, yours will forgive me, and we are going to figure out how exactly we can be one big happy family."

"We're a weird family as it is." Riley sighed, "You're sure Charlotte isn't going to hate me? I feel like Ken is going to be okay with me, but I'm really worried about how your Mom is going to react. Oh Shit."

"What?"

"I didn't call them when you were in the hospital."

"It's okay; if you had my Mom would be hovering around. How about I call her right now, let her know I'm okay; invite her down to the ranch so she can see for herself."

"Okay, that works. I've got to stop for gas anyways. I'll give you some privacy."

"You don't have to."

"Oh I think I might." She pulled off at the exit, and settled on the cleanest looking gas station. "Just tell her I'm sorry. I'm sure I'll tell her that a million times myself, but might as well get started."

"Riley, it will be okay, I promise." He scrolled through the numbers on his phone before finding his Mom, watching as Riley got out to pump the gas.

He listened as the phone rang, a bit nervous.

"Lucas, are you okay? What's wrong?" Charlotte Friar had a slight Texas drawl when she spoke, but it would thicken when she was worried or angry.

"I'm okay, um, no, okay, so don't freak out. I am okay, I got grazed by a bullet on the job, but I'm all patched up. I'm on my way back to the ranch."

"Lucas David Friar! Stop playing hero and go win back the love of your life and settle down!"

Lucas chuckled, "Okay, done and done, I think."

"Lucas, you might be a former Navy SEAL but I will put you out in the shed if I have to." She warned.

"Mom, I was protecting Riley. She's fine, I'm okay, we're driving through Texas right now to get back to the ranch tonight. I hope you can get out on the next flight to see us. Her family is there, her parents, her son."

"Her son?"

Something about the way she asked unsettled Lucas, "Yeah, he's almost ten, his name is Gabe."

"Uh-huh." Charlotte took a deep breath, "Lucas, sweetheart, my first born, is there something you need to tell me?"

"Get on the next flight to Austin and you can ask us anything you want."

"I'll call your father, and we'll be down as soon as we can." She was silent for a moment, "Lucas, are you really back with Riley?"

"Yes, very much so Mom. I can see her right now walking out from the gas station."

"Thank God! We'll see you soon."

"Bye Mom, I'll see you soon, love you." He hung up just as Riley opened the door handing him a bottle of water. "Thanks."

"Well, how did it go?"

"Great, they're coming down to the ranch, she might suspect about Gabe being mine." He looked up.

Riley giggled, "So she's the brains of the Friar family huh?"

"Hey, she got more information than I did. All I knew was you had a kid, no one ever flat out said his age."

"True, but we were trying to keep you from finding out. I am so sorry."

"You had a very valid reason, I wish it wasn't true, but it was. We can't change the past, we can only move forward. Next time you're pregnant, I hope you'll tell me."

Riley smiled, "How soon will you want to know, like when I suspect, or after I take a pregnancy test, or after I've confirmed with a doctor?"

"Suspect."

She looked to him for a moment, searching his green eyes, "Lucas, I might be pregnant. I'm a little late, and we've been really awful about using birth control."

"Are you serious?"

She couldn't read him, "Yeah, I mean it could be the stress of the stalker, but I did pick up a test incase."

"That's why you said we didn't need a condom yesterday; you think you've already got bun number two in your oven." The smile on his face grew.

"Don't get excited, it could be a false alarm." She turned on the car, "Listen, please don't mention this to anyone. We still have a lot to deal with, if we tell others about this, it's just going to make things more stressful."

He took her hand and brought it to his lips, "Whatever you want. But I want to be there when you take the test."

"Okay, you can be on the other side of the door this time." She breathed sigh of relief, "So um, how did your Mom react to you getting shot?"

"Grazed." He corrected, "Lucas David Friar! Stop playing Hero and go win back the love of your life, direct quote this time."

"And what did you tell her?"

"Done and done. Not sure she'll really believe me until she sees you."

"Only a few more hours and we'll be at the ranch. Is their enough room for all these people?"

Lucas pulled up a text, "I'll let Clark know my parents are coming, but yeah, I think so. I expanded the house a while ago. Gabe should be in my old room, you're parents in the old guest room. You and I will be in master bedroom, my parents have a room, and Zay and Farkle should each be in other guest rooms."

"You really did expand."

"Just wait until you see it Riley, you'll love it, at least I hope you do."

"It's where we're going to live, I'm sure I will love it."

"You're scared aren't you?"

"Of course I am, my life is about to go through a lot of changes. I'm retiring, you're going to meet Gabe, we're getting married, I'm moving to Texas. It's a lot at once."

"Riley . . ."

"Yeah?"

"We can take this as slowly as you want to. Remember we play by our own rules."

"Thank God for that."

Farkle was pacing the porch, he knew everything was about to change. He still had no idea how they were going to explain this to Gabe. Everyone had kept telling him he would still be Gabe's Dad, but would he?

"You've been good to them, you might not be there every day for Gabe, but you'll still be there for him." Cory was standing by the door watching his former son-in-law.

Farkle sat down on the steps, "Thank you Sir."

"I don't know if Riley would've made it the last ten years without you or Zay, where is he?"

"Oh he and Gabe are riding horses."

"Are you upset that we never told you about Lucas being Gabe's real father?"

"It takes all kinds of people to be a father Farkle, Lucas was basically a donation. You've been Gabe's father, you've been there the nights he cried over a storm, or was sick. Will Lucas be there for him now that he knows, yeah probably, but so will you."

"Thank you sir, it's just uncharted territory for us."

Cory nodded, "You think I've been in situations like this, nope."

"I think this is them." They saw the Silver SUV pull into the gate at the end of the driveway.

"Topanga, get out here." Cory called as they watched it drive up the dirt path.

It didn't take her long to join her husband and Farkle outside. "Where did they get that thing?"

"Riley bought it in Colorado. If I understood her thinking I would explain it, but I don't." Farkle watched as she parked the car and jumped out from the driver's seat before rushing to the passenger side and opening the door.

"Riley, I really can get out of the car myself; it's not as bad as you think."

"Humor me, besides it's almost time for your next dose of pain pills so it might hurt." She warned him as she helped him out as best she could.

"Hey everybody." Lucas looked at Farkle and then Riley's parents.

"Oh Lucas, thank God you're okay." Topanga reached out to hug him and did so a smidge too tightly, "Sorry."

"It's okay, and I was just doing what I had to, to protect Riley." He reached for her hand squeezing it, "Where is everyone else?"

"Clark when to pick up your parents, Zay and Gabe are off riding, they should be back soon." Topanga explained.

Lucas took a deep breath, "Okay then, let's get settled. Have you guys enjoyed your time at the ranch?"

"We have, thank you Lucas. Gabe has been in heaven." Topanga explained as they went inside.

"Great, that's wonderful, right Riles?"

"Yeah, it is." She watched as everyone sat down, "Can I be honest? I have no idea how to explain this to Gabe."

"I don't think that's awful, it's not a normal situation Riley. The best thing to do is be as honest as possible, answer any and all questions you can, and give him time." Cory reminded her. "I would start with just you and Farkle explaining it to him, and then bring Lucas in when he's ready."

Riley sighed, "Yeah, I guess I kind of thought he'd be a bit older when he found out."

"It's not going to be easy no matter how old he is. I wish it was hon, but it's not." Lucas brought her hand to his lips, "You and Farkle will be amazing, just as you have all this time."

Riley rose, "Farkle, let's go find Gabe and Zay. Lucas, will you be okay?"

"I'll be fine, you can stop hovering, I promise. Just let me know if you need me."

"Of course, Mom, Dad, thank you." She gave them each a quick hug before leaving with Farkle.

"So . . ." Lucas looked at the Matthews.

"Did you sleep with Maya?" Topanga drilled her eyes into him.

"I did not, you may ask Maya; Josh is currently with her in Colorado." Lucas looked at his future in-laws, "I have loved Riley since the day we met, even the time we were apart she had my heart. I would never cheat on her, Riley is the only woman I have ever been with, she's the only woman I want to be with. I'm hoping that you'll give me your blessing to marry her. To have the family we've dreamed of."

Topanga looked over to Cory, "I believe him."

"So do I." Cory was dejected, "Wait, Josh as in my little brother Josh?"

"Yeah, you might want to give him a call."

Cory sighed, "Lucas, I know you love Riley, and I know you probably already love Gabe, so I'll give you my blessing, mainly because I know Riley loves you and wants to spend her life with you."

Lucas released a sigh of relief, "Thank God, I was worried you wouldn't give it to me."

"Any other man, I probably wouldn't. But I know how this story goes."

"Mom!" Gabe saw her as he was getting off the horse; he slid down and ran towards her. "Mom!"

"Hey sweetie," She pulled him into her arms, finally able to breathe again. "I missed you so much."

"I missed you to." He hugged her, "is this just a short visit, are you going back to work again?"

Riley saw sadness in his eyes, "Let's have a little chat, I have a few things to explain to you."

"Okay." He followed his parents as they found some bales of hay to sit on. "Do we have to go back to New York? I like it here."

"That's part of what we've got to talk about. I'm not going to do a tour this summer, I'm going to do one show and then I am done. I get to be your Mom, all the time."

"Really, no more dance rehearsal with Uncle Zay, no driving across the country in a bus?"

"None of it, I'm done. I want to spend time with you, and I was thinking we could live here, at this ranch."

Farkle had known this was probably coming, but it still struck him in the gut.

"We would get to live here? Would Nana and Papa be here as well?"

"They would visit." She saw the sparkle in his eyes, "You see, they would visit, and so would your Dad, and Uncle Zay."

"We wouldn't all live together anymore?"

"No baby, probably not; Uncle Zay and your Dad need to go find love."

"But what about you Mom, shouldn't you get to find love?"

Riley could feel tears sting her eyes, "Well, I got very, very lucky. When I was only a few years older than you, I met a boy who became one of my best friends, and was the first and only man I've ever loved romantically."

"But you and Dad were married . . ."

"Yes, we were kiddo, but your Mom and I; we realized that we're better as friends. That's why she thinks Uncle Zay and I need to find love, because she wants us to be happy."

"Okay." Gabe looked down and then up, "I think I'm confused."

"I'm getting to the point, you see, there was a man Lucas Friar, who I loved very much, very deeply, and I still do. But he left to join the Navy, before he and I knew you were coming to us, to me and Lucas."

"Your Mom and Lucas lost touch before she knew you were coming, and when she found out, she was nervous, and wanted some support. That's why she and I got married; I told her I would be there for her and you."

Gabe was silent for a while, "Lucas? Isn't that the name of the man who owns this ranch?"

"Yeah, he was helping me with some work stuff." She bit her lip.

"So, you want us to live here, with him? Why?"

Riley's stomach knotted, "Because I love him, and I love you, and I want the three of us to be together."

"So he's also my Dad?" Gabe looked to Farkle, "So I have two Dad's?"

"Yeah, well three if we count Uncle Zay." Farkle smiled, "You don't have to call Lucas, Dad if you don't want to. He'll understand, but I can tell you he loves you as much as I do."

Gabe took a moment, as he processed everything, "So Mom loves this Lucas guy, and he's my Dad, but you're also my Dad. Right?"

"Yeah, that's kind of it." She ran her fingers over her son's hair, "And I was thinking that you and I would move here to the ranch."

"Are you going to marry Lucas?"

"Yeah, sweetie, I am." Riley felt a wave of guilt, "But not right away, I want the two of you to get to know each other first."

"What if I don't like him?"

Farkle laughed, "Gabe, you'll like him. I promise, if I thought this was a bad idea, I would talk your Mom out of it. Lucas is a good man, he's a hero."

"Really?"

"Yeah, he is. And the best part is, he wants to make sure you and I are always protected." Riley gave her son a smile, "This is good for us, I promise."

"So Dad and Uncle Zay are going to live in the house in New York?"

Riley looked to Farkle, "Um, I think your Dad and Uncle Zay might have to figure that out on their own. They're grownups as well, and it might be time to let them act like it on their own."

Gabe stood up, "Mom, I'm hungry."

"Of course you are, let's go find some food." Riley looked towards Farkle, mouthing a thank you as they started the walk back to the house.

"Where is my baby?" Charlotte Friar was through the front door so quickly that Lucas was afraid his mother would knock him over.

"I'm right here Mom." He braced himself for her hug, his nostrils filling with the scent of Chanel No. 5, "Careful, that's where the wound is."

Charlotte ran a hand through her strawberry hair and looked around, "Cory, Topanga, long time no see."

"Charlotte, it hasn't been that long. You and I had lunch just last month." Topanga reminded her.

"Oh, right." She looked at her son, "Are you sure you're okay, will you tell me what happened?"

Lucas sighed, "Where's Dad, I want to tell all of you at once, and get it over with."

"Right here son." Ken Friar carried his and his wife's bags; he was just as tall as Lucas, his hair bright blond still. He looked Lucas over, "Stitches?"

"Yes sir, they'll dissolve on their own."

Ken nodded, "Lottie, he'll be fine. He told you he was only grazed."

"Yes, thank you!" Lucas stood to give his father a hug, "I was only grazed."

"And what about Dominic?" Topanga asked her stomach a nervous vat of bile, afraid to hear what happened.

"Dominic is dead. Josh and I set a trap for him, and he went right for it. He and I struggled for the gun, and I got a shot off that killed him, and I got grazed in the struggle. I am fine, if I wasn't they wouldn't have released me from the hospital." Lucas looked at everyone, "Really, I'm fine. I've seen far worse, and I've been in far worse. What matters is that Riley is now safe, and so is Gabe."

"Who's Gabe?" Ken looked around the room, suddenly feeling like he was out of the loop.

"I'm Gabe." The young boy stood with his mother in the doorway.

Charlotte, Ken, and Lucas took him in, no question about it the minute all of their eyes laid on him.

"Hi Gabe, I'm Lucas. I'm so happy to finally meet you." Lucas crouched down, meeting eyes just as green as his.

Gabe studied him, "So you're my other Dad huh?"

"Yeah, you don't have to call me Dad though. I know Farkle is your Dad." Lucas tried to hold back the tears

"Are you really a hero?" Gabe studied this man in front of him.

"You're Mom thinks so."

Ken leaned over to his wife, "Wait, did we just find out we're grandparents."

"Hush Ken, our son is finally meeting his son."