Chapter 21 - One Year, 6 Months and 12 Days Later

"Home at last!" Dougie shouted walking through the door of the McFLY house. It had been over a year since they left, he had almost forgotten what it looked like.

"Thank God," Danny sighed dropping his bags in the middle of the doorway.

"Danny!" Tom shouted, "Take your stuff upstairs." A year away hadn't changed Tom. He was still as much like their mother as he's always been.

"Fine," Danny groaned picking up his bags and putting them in his room. Harry smiled and flopped on the couch, "Good to be back home."

"You said it," Tom smiled sitting on the chair next to him and turning the TV on. Soon Danny and Dougie were back from their rooms. Dougie had his lizard on his shoulder and he smiled, "My sister did a nice job of taking care of Zukie. He's very happy I'm home."

"Doug, you and that lizard scare me a bit," Danny laughed, "You treat it like it's your baby or something."

Dougie laughed, "He is my baby." Danny rolled his eyes.

"So yo guys want to go visit Lauren and Riley tomorrow?" Tom asked. Everyone nodded and Dougie started to get butterflies in his stomach. Even a year halfway across the country from her, he still loved her. Dougie sighed, knowing she's still going to feel the same way she did before they left.

"Alright, well I'm going to bed." Tom said getting up, "I'm exhausted."

"Same," Harry followed him, "Night guys."

"I'm going up too," Danny said, "You gonna be alright, Doug?" he asked sensing his friend's nervousness. Dougie nodded,

"Yeah."

"Alright. Get some sleep, okay?"

"Yeah, I will." Dougie nodded. After Danny was upstairs he sighed. "Zukie what am I gonna do? I'm going to be just as nervous when I see her as I've always been. Do you think she's changed a lot. Do you think she's changed her mind about me? I mean, a lot can happen in a year."

Zukie blinked.

"Yeah, you're right." Dougie sighed again.

"Doug?" Dougie heard a voice.

"Zukie!?"

They laughed and the kitchen light turned on. It was Harry. Dougie smiled, "Oh. Hey."

"You okay?" Harry asked. Dougie nodded, "I'm fine."

"No you aren't." Harry laughed, "Mate you're talking to your lizard. What's wrong?"

"Just worried about Riley is all," he sighed, "I'm fine."

"Come on," Harry stood up, "We both need our sleep. We'll see Riley in the morning."

"Harry! Come here!" Dougie shouted the next morning. Harry came running into his room. "Mate, you don't have your casts on anymore, so what could you possibly need from me?"

"What do I wear?" he asked. Harry smiled, "Mate, we're just seeing our friends. You worry too much."

"Yeah," Dougie sighed and held up a t-shirt, "What about this?"

Harry laughed, "Sure. That's fine. Now hurry up we're gonna be late."

The four boys got in the car and drove to Riley and Lauren's house. They hadn't been there since the going away party. Danny laughed remembering how drunk he had gotten. Soon they pulled into the driveway and knocked on the door. The wooden door flew open and Lauren flew into Harry's arms, "Hi guys!" she exclaimed hugging the rest of them. "Come in. It's so good to see you!"

"Look!" Dougie smiled like a little kid and wiggled his fingers, "My casts are gone."

"Good, now you won't have to have us waiting on you hand a foot," she laughed and led them into the living room where they all sat down. A few minutes later Riley walked in smiling. Dougie was the first to get up and wrap her in a hug. "Dougie! I missed you," she smiled.

"I missed you too," he said. Riley hugged the other three boys. "How was your trip?"

"It was great," Tom smiled. A few seconds later they all watched as a small boy made his way over and wrapped himself around Riley's leg. Riley lifted him up and held him close to her.

"Is this like your cousin or something?" Danny asked poking the baby in the nose and making him laugh.

"No..." Riley started, looking at Lauren. Lauren nodded and Riley took a deep breath. "He..er...he's my son."

Everyone stood in an awkward silence and soon all three boys turned towards Dougie. It took Dougie a little longer to realize what the rest of the boys were staring at him for, but one he did the color drained from his face. He stumbled backwards, Harry, Danny and Tom caught him or he would have fell to the ground. He sat down on the couch, his eyes fixed on the floor. Finally he looked up. "Your son?"

Riley nodded, "This is Nicky. Nicholas Lee Geisler."

Lauren, Danny, Tom, and Danny all headed outside to the back deck to give the two time to sort things out.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Dougie asked, emotionless.

"Dougie I-"

"It doesn't matter." he shook his head, "Riley, it's time I take responsibility for my actions. I've gotta start sometime, right? I mean as much as I'd like to forget all my responsibilities I can't." he was pacing the living room by this time, "So I'm responsible for this kid and I'm going to see to it that he's happy."

"But Dougie-" Riley tried again.

"I'm going to make sure he has a father in his life like I never did." Dougie continued.

"Dougie I..." Riley began, tears in her eyes, "I don't want you in his life."

"What?" he asked. "No. Riley please. I never had a dad and I don't want that to happen to Nicky."

"Dougie!" Riley stopped him before he could start another rant, "No!"

"Why not?" he asked coldly.

"Because he isn't yours."