Chapter 21

Please let yesterday be a dream. Please let yesterday be a dream. Riley opened her eyes and wasn't necessarily relieved to know that his mother still hated her but the large, warms arms wrapped around her definitely helped. Always comforting her when she needed it. "Finally up I see."

"I was having a lovely dream." The brunette whispered.

"Want to tell me about it?"

"Nope, or it won't come true."

Lucas started laughing and kissed her right behind her ear. "That's a wish baby, dreams don't work that way."

The brown eyed girl yawned and rolled over. "Cinderella says that a dream is a wish your heart makes." And for once Riley didn't lose her cool at the mere mention of 'Cinderella'.

"So my heart wants me to get eaten by a shark?"

Her mouth opened wide as she began to laugh. "You got eaten by a shark in your dream?" The green eyed man simply nodded in agreement and ran his hands down her sides. "Well that's awful."

"So on our honeymoon, we probably won't go to a beach."

"So presumptuous. What makes you think I'd say yes?" The brunette questioned with a joking tone.

His lips pressed in to her neck before grazing her ear, "I think I could persuade you." His whisper sent goosebumps all over her body.

"I think you're right." Her breathy response made it clear she enjoyed what he was doing. "So, um what did you have planned for today?"

The green eyed man lazily shrugged his shoulders. "Damage control." Her brows furrowed and gestured for him to elaborate. "I need to call and talk to my lovely mother." Riley didn't really know what to say to that, so she kept her mouth shut. "Well, I'll call my dad and see what he has to say." She hated seeing her man so bothered by the situation though he had every right to be. It was a big pill to swallow and he hadn't quite been himself ever since they left.

"Or!" Riley sat up and crossed her legs, "We could see if it gets brushed under the rug? I hate being the cause of your mother's ridicule."

Lucas ran his hands through his messy blonde hair. "You didn't cause a thing, you were nothing but polite to her. Everything that happened is a direct cause of her and what she said and did."

"Okay let's just say I agree with you." Her chin rested on his chest, "Either way I don't want your mom mad at you for being with me."

He narrowed his eyes and shook his head. "If you want a reason to break up with me you're going to have to come up with a better one than that."

Riley's voluptuous lips separated but before she could come up with a witty remark her doorbell rang. "Saved by the bell Ms. Matthews." She lightly slapped his chest before hurriedly sliding on some clothes. Her fingertips touched the warm brass of the doorknob and revealed her daughter. "EMILY!"

"LUKE!" Oh okay, I'm ignored. The jerks.

The blonde was wrapped up in his arms as her mother entered the home. "You have my phone missy, give it up." Her body shuddered at the term 'missy'. That word has forever been ruined. A few minutes later Lucas and Em were eating breakfast and Topanga had left with reluctance, but she had a few things to get done today.

A few minutes later Zay and Maya stormed the home and enveloped her in a hug. "Don't you ever run off again without letting someone know where you're going or when you don't have your phone." The blonde scolds and Riley agrees with a smile. "Now, did you give her a what for?"

"Luke! Your mom is crazy to not like Riley!"

"I'm very aware! Thanks guys!" He snapped.

The brown eyed girl slapped both of them. "Knock it off you two, he is already upset about it." Both of her friends cowered down in shame and the chef couldn't help but laugh. To have your mother say she doesn't approve of the person you care for scratch that, love is kind of a blow to the stomach.

A low blow.

But a blow nonetheless. Her chest pressed against his back and her arms rubbed against his chest until her fingers intertwined. "You okay baby?"

"I'm great sweetheart." Lucas craned his neck to glance at her, "come here." His right hand held the back of her neck to get a quick kiss. "Don't worry about me."

"Oh okay!" She retorted sarcastically. "Of course I'm going to worry about you. I love you."

He grinned and kissed her again. "If you want to go talk to your mom, please go. I understand 100 percent and in fact I'm encouraging you!"

"Luke."

"One second princess." The vet stared into her barn wood brown eyes, they were dancing with sincerity and love. "I'm not going to leave you after yesterday."

Riley sauntered to sit in his lap and smiled. "After yesterday, I know how much you love me. So, go see your mom and talk to her. When you come back I'll be here."

A slow smile approached his lips. "So, what will my queen and princess be doing?"

Her arms snaked around her neck. "I'm thinking a movie day, it's so yucky outside. It'll be filled with Disney classics." The brunette leaned in for a kiss and rose off his lap. "Now go and get back before you miss Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs!"

"I can't have that." Lucas rose from his chair and kissed her cheek. "You are truly an incredible woman."

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Lucas stood at his parent's doorstep, staring at the blue door he'd frequented so often since he left, since he considered himself to be a momma's boy. He gained the courage to knock and took a step back waiting for it to creak open.

He had no idea what he was going to say, what he was even there for. The green eyed man fought with himself a good portion of the drive, and the only reason he could come up with for making it here and knocking was Riley. Even though she accepted the fact his mother wouldn't approve, his loving girlfriend still ushered him to come hash things out. "Luke."

"Hey dad." He gave him a quick hug before being rushed inside.

"Lucas." The vet spun on his heels and grinned at his mom who was now hugging him.

"We didn't expect to hear from you for a while, let alone see you." Mr. Friar states with a proud look. Proud that his son would be the bigger man and work things out.

He glanced towards the ground and then back to his father. "It wasn't my idea to come here."

"Riley?"

"Yeah dad, even after everything that happened yesterday she pushed me out the door." Mary let her gaze fall to the floor and they all moved in silence to the kitchen table. The same place they had worked through many arguments, the last one was when he broke it off with Missy and his mother had a conniption fit.

There was an awkward and uncomfortable silence for a few minutes until Mr. Friar cleared his throat, not realizing he was now becoming the mediator in this situation. "Well, you're here for a reason son. Care to share it with us?"

"I'm here because of Riley. Because she forced me to come here and try to work things out." His green eyes flickered to his mother. "I think that says a lot about her don't you think mother?"

Mary only nodded and folded her hands on the table. "You have to understand my position son."

"Funny thing, I heard your position yesterday and I stayed up a good portion of the night trying to see your side but I couldn't. Even though you don't approve of Riley, for whatever reason, it was more than unnecessary to treat her that way." He snaps before removing his jacket. If this was any other person he would have beat the living daylights out of them for even thinking about treating her that way. But, this was his mom. The person who gave him life, the person who raised him into the man he had become.

"Do you really want your first marriage to be with someone who's on their second?"

"Mary, why does that matter?" Mr. Friar questioned, taking off his mediator hat for a moment. "I'm not trying to gang up on you, but if he loves her then why should it matter if she's divorced?"

"Mom, Riley didn't want to get divorced. Her ex cheated, and she forgave him. He ran off for a week or longer when the divorce papers were delivered. Can't say I'm not happy about the divorce but he ignored her phone calls, ignored any form of communication to get him to change his mind until she signed them." The family sat in silence for a few moments longer until he had to speak up again. "Do you know why she was so against divorce and stayed unhappy for so long with him?"

Silence.

"Her father abandoned her when she was 6 years old. Her parents got a divorce and she never heard from him again. In fact she went to hand deliver a high school graduation invitation and the door was slammed in her face. She didn't want that for Emily.

"You and Missy yesterday absolutely disgusted me." His father was about to speak up but Lucas' hand stopped him. "She already felt terrible about putting Emily through that and the hate for her was evident the way you two were talking. As a Christian we aren't supposed to judge, that is what you taught me."

Her head shook. "People make mistakes, but you're judging me right now."

"No, I'm not. I'm telling you something you don't want to hear so you're becoming defensive. So give me another damn reason for not liking Riley, because her divorce isn't an issue for me. I know she'll fight to keep our marriage together. She proved that when she confronted you for the third time yesterday. So, let's hear it."

"Her daughter."

"That little girl is the second best thing to ever happen to me." He spat quickly, "She is my child too. So I'd be careful what you say next if you want to see me again."

His mother's lips separated at his sudden hostility. "Don't you want children of your own?"

"Again, Emily is my kid. I love that little girl, and loved her before I even met her. I love her because not only is she amazing and sassy and funny all at the same time. But I love her because she's a part of Riley. I would love to have kids that have my own blood and DNA someday and Riley already said she'd be willing to give that to me. So, next." He tapped the table and leaned back in his chair.

"The ex-husband. That's a lot of baggage, child support payments having to see Emily go with him."

The green eyed man nodded in agreement. "You are one hundred percent right there, that guy is a handful and never deserved 2 woman as incredible as them. But either way he's in the picture. Charlie hasn't paid child support in years and Riley supports them both, so money is never an issue since her restaurant does very well."

"Her restaurant?" Mr. Friar Questions.

"She's a chef and owns her own restaurant downtown. Restaurant Em, named after Emily." His mother's walls were weakened with his continual speeches, and that seemed to have pulled them all the way down. "Yes it hurts having to see Emily go with him every other weekend when he shows up but, it gives Riley and I a chance to be alone and learn more about each other. I knew what I was walking into whenever I made that second date, and again when she laid everything out on the table for me during the date. I'm more than capable of handling it. And I have been, Riley has been through a lot in her life and I intend-for the first time in her life-to take away some of her burden and pain."

Mary gulped and nodded. "You seem to have an answer for everything son."

"My answer is Riley and Emily. Those girls are my world and I intend to marry her one day. I hope you both can be there, but whether or not you approve doesn't matter to me, but it matters to Riley."

Mr. Friar stood up and gave him a hug. "I'm very proud of you son."

"Thanks dad."

"I'm serious, that's the determination and love that you'll have to carry throughout a marriage. Standing up for her like you've done today is just the man I raised you to be."

The vet smiled and glanced towards his mother. "I'll give you a few days to think over what I've said mom. But, I'll choose Riley. Please keep that in mind." Lucas waved goodbye to his parents and left them alone.

Did I just say that?

I mean, I would choose Riley. I hate to think of that though, choosing Riley and Emily over my mom. They are my little family though and quite frankly I can't see myself with anyone else. I'm sure my dad can talk her over to 'the dark side'.

It's incredible how sure I am of my decision. I know I'm going to marry Riley and I know Emily is my daughter, and I know I'll spend the rest of my life making them happy. I'm so sure of the aforementioned that I would be willing to give up my mom. That's pretty amazing. But, she'd be giving up me, not me giving up her.

"Shoot locked." I mean that's a good thing though since Zay and Maya are gone.

The door swings open and she still looks beautiful. Her hair up in a messy bun, wearing one of my tee shirts in a pair of sweats, only she could make that look good. Emily slid on her socks across the hardwood causing laughter to erupt from the adults. "So, did I miss Snow White?"

Riley replies with a smile and takes his hand. "You're just in time."

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