AN: It's been a long few weeks, and this chapter isn't my favorite. I'm starting to realize that my weakness is figuring out how to end a story! One, maybe two more chapters! Enjoy!
Saturday, July 5th 8:30 a.m.
Lucas woke up with a bright smile on his face. He and Riley were in love, and not even the theatrics of her father when they got back to the house could change that. He sighed, rubbing his face as he remembered Cory's high pitched voice from the night before.
Maya egging him on didn't help much. Thankfully, one mention of Zay and Shawn stomped off in search of him, causing Maya to flounce off after him, whining in a voice that hinted she was actually enjoying the fatherly attention.
Cory lost some of his energy when it was just the three of them, but not enough to back off entirely. Lucas reassured the man again that his intentions were honorable and that he loved his daughter.
That wasn't the best choice of words. Cory went nuclear when Riley confirmed that they were in love, clutching his chest and shouting for Topanga. By the time Topanga had finally calmed him down, the whole house was up and involved in the drama.
During the madness that ensued, Lucas took the opportunity to give Riley a kiss on the cheek and slip to his bedroom unnoticed. Sometime later, Zay came in laughing about how Shawn and Cory were sleeping in the hallway in front of the girls' room. Lucas had poked his head out the door, just enough to confirm his friend's story, rolling his eyes at the two men before he settled into his bed for the night.
Thankfully, neither man was present in the hallway this morning as he made his way to the bathroom. He had been hoping to wake up early enough to sneak off to the boardwalk with Riley for a breakfast date, but that plan was probably out the window.
They only had one more day here at the beach house, and Lucas wanted to make it special. He was hoping that after last night all of Riley's doubts would be silenced, but knowing her as well as he did, he wanted to make extra sure that she was as secure in their relationship as possible before they headed back to the city.
After his shower, he rushed to his room to get ready for the day, putting on a pair of board shorts and a blue v-neck t-shirt. He made his way downstairs, a smile blossoming on his face when he found his girlfriend, laying on her stomach on a chaise lounge in a bright blue bikini.
"How many of these did you bring?" Lucas asked softly, running his fingers along the tie at the base of her neck as he sat on the edge of her seat.
Startled, Riley jerked up, banging her head against his chest. She recovered quickly, tossing him a coy smile over her shoulder. "As many as it takes."
"To what?" Lucas murmured. "Drive me crazy?"
"Is it working?" She whispered back as she sat up, scooting over to make room for him next to her.
Lucas nodded earnestly, adjusting the chair so they could recline back together. Satisfied with the position, he wrapped his arms around her waist, leaning them back so her head could rest on his chest. He bit back a groan at the feel of her sunbaked skin under his fingers and the overwhelming sweet scent of her hair.
"God, I love you," he sighed, closing his eyes in contentment. "And I love that I can say that whenever I want now."
Riley giggled as she twisted in his arms to face him. "I love you, too... And I love when you tell me that you love me."
They were lost in each other's gaze until they heard Zay and Maya making overexaggerated gagging noises. When they had the other couple's attention, Maya groaned. "I'm so glad we don't have to even up whatever that nonsense you two are doing. I would choke."
Riley pouted, while Lucas glared at Maya over the top of her head.
"What? Too soon?" Maya teased her eyes wide and innocent.
Zay huffed, trying to sound as bored, annoyed, and put out as possible. "Yes. It will always be too soon. The triangle and everything associated with it needs to return to the pits of hell where it belongs."
Lucas nodded emphatically. "We all are where we're supposed to be. There's no need to rehash our mistakes."
"Hey," Maya said, hands raised. "I'm glad the triangle happened... Well, sort of. We have no lingering doubts about what could've been, and we all came out closer and stronger in the end."
Lucas nodded his head in agreement.
Riley tapped her chin thoughtfully. "I don't know... I still have some doubts."
"What?" Lucas shouted outraged.
"I'm just saying, Zay and I never had the opportunity to resolve our feelings for one another," she teased.
"You're right about that one, darling," Zay joined in. "I, for one, think we need to spend the next six months overanalyzing every moment of our friendship for deeper meaning, and in the process, everything I do with Maya, I need to do with you, and everything you do with Lucas, you should do with me."
Maya was fuming until Riley turned to her with wide innocent eyes. "What? Too soon?" she asked.
The four friends broke out in laughter. "When you say it like that, Honey, we sound ridiculous."
"We were ridiculous, Peaches."
Lucas jumped in. "We all were just trying to do right by each other. These feelings we have are overwhelming and confusing. I don't think we should beat ourselves up about what it took to get here, and I'm very happy with where we ended up."
Everyone nodded in agreement. Changing the subject, Lucas asked, "Where are Smackle and Farkle?"
Maya gestured to the beach. "Eh, they're somewhere out there, doing something with science and crustaceans."
Riley scoffed. "They're probably just making out."
"Speaking of making out," Zay began, bringing Maya closer to him. "We're going to go find our place to do science and crustaceans."
Maya giggled, which caused Lucas to raise his eyebrows. If he had any worries that Maya was forcing herself to feel things for Zay, that giggle eased his mind. Maya wasn't ever like that with him. She grabbed a blanket off the railing and dragged Zay off toward the beach.
Left alone with Riley once again, Lucas said, "So..."
"So..." she giggled. "Hi."
"Hi."
"Hi," she whispered against his lips, giving him a soft kiss. "We better go find our own patch of sand before my dad realizes we've been left alone."
Lucas shook his head, leading her in the opposite direction. "I was thinking we could go back to the boardwalk. We could play some games and talk. As much as I would love to spend the morning hiding from your father and sneaking kisses, I've really missed talking to you these past couple months, Riley."
Riley gave him a sweet smile. "Let me go change, and I'm sure Frankie will take us wherever we want to go."
Lucas grabbed her hand as she walked away. "Do you have to change?"
Laughing, Riley gave him a kiss before she skipped up to her room.
Saturday, July 5th 6:20 p.m.
Lucas and Riley spent the majority of the day strolling up and down the boardwalk, playing games, eating junk food, and riding rides. Riley could hardly believe that five short days ago they were at this same carnival, unable to fully express their affection for each other.
She didn't hesitate to grab his hand as they lazily made their way to the Ferris wheel, and unlike last time, they did share a kiss at the top of the ride.
For the last few hours, they had been holed up in a corner booth of a cafe, talking about every little thing they had wanted to say to each other for the last few months. Riley was shocked when she received a text from both Maya and her father, wondering when they were planning on coming back to the house.
"Oh, Lucas! I didn't realize it had gotten so late. We better head back to the house for dinner," Riley said, sounding disappointed as she glanced down at her phone. She really didn't want their conversation to end.
Lucas sighed, feeling just as disappointed. "Do we have to?" He whined. "I love having you all to myself."
Riley giggled, feeling herself getting lost in his eyes. She tried to shake it off, but sometimes his green eyes were downright hypnotizing. "I guess we don't have to go home just yet. I'll tell them we are going to have dinner here. Just the two of us."
"Just the two of us. I like the sound of that," Lucas said, grinning as he leaned in to give her a kiss. Pulling away, he continued, "But if you really want to go back, we can. I won't be upset if you want to spend time with Maya."
Riley shook her head. Given the choice, she knew who needed her most right now. "Maya has had me for half my life. She can spare me for a night or two."
They decided to eat at a little hole in the wall pizzeria, and Riley enjoyed being Lucas's date instead of just his friend. He held open the door for her, pulled out her chair, and even paid for their meal. She felt like a princess.
"Lucas, you don't always have to pay for everything," Riley began unsteadily. The entire day had been going so well, she didn't want to have an argument.
"I know, but I want to. I'm courting you."
Riley giggled at the archaic term, imagining what Maya would have to say about that one. "Courting me? Lucas, you already have me."
Lucas kissed her temple as he opened the door to the van. Frankie had just arrived to bring them back to the house. "I know, Sunshine, but the best way to keep you is to show you how much I appreciate you and how special I think you are."
She felt her face heat up at his words. "Thank you, Lucas, but money isn't the only way you can do those things. I just don't want you to be broke all the time."
Lucas let out a full-bellied laugh, wrapping his arms around her after they both got settled in their seats. "Okay, well, when I take you out on dates, I'm going to want to pay for everything. Today, I asked you out, so it's on me, okay?"
Riley nodded. "Well, when we get back to the city, can I take you on a date?"
"You can take me on a date whenever you want, Riles."
"Good. I want you to feel appreciated and special, too," Riley leaned into his him embrace when he tightened his hold on her. "And since I asked you, the next time we go out is on me!"
"As you wish, Princess."
Riley nodded her head in satisfaction. "Darn skippy!"
When they got back to the house, nothing could ruin their mood, and it seemed as though Cory had been lectured into submission by Topanga, at least for the evening. The six friends cozied up in front of the tv, watching mindless reality shows and laughing the butts off late into the night.
AN: I just wanted to show that things were leveling off, and the kids are starting to have normal, healthy, happy relationships. I imagine Lucas and Riley to be an obscenely fluffy couple once they get through all the drama and insecurity. Let me know what you think, and thanks so much for sticking with me for this story. It's hard to believe I've been writing it for over a year!