Author Note: I just wanted to thank you again for all the wonderful comments, reviews, messages, reblogs, likes, etc. it's beyond sweet and kind of you to take that little moment to let me know your thoughts and that you appreciate this so thank you! It really means the world to me more than you can ever know.


-43-

"So" Maya swung her purse as she and Farkle walked around the park.

"So" he had no idea what he was supposed to say.

"I'm sorry," Maya began, "I know it was years ago, but you're just finding out now. That can't be easy to discover that Smackle cheated on you, and with Zay."

"It's not," Farkle confessed, "It's this betrayal I never knew existed."

Maya watched as he sat down on a bench before sitting with him, "Here's the thing, you and Smackle don't belong together. Do I think she and Zay do, probably not, let that play out and be whatever disaster it's going to be. You and Sarah however do belong together." She covered his hand with hers, "I see the way she looks at you, the way she blushes when you look at her. I've seen the way you look at her when you think no one is watching, Farkle she's the one for you. While you guys are kind of stuck with me and Charlie for the rest of your lives, I can't think of anyone else I would rather have as a step-mom to this little one."

Farkle smiled, "Thank you Maya, I'm really glad to hear that. I know we have a lot to talk about, a lot to figure out but I think you and I can do this, especially since you'll have Charlie and I'll have Sarah to support us. Besides think of how lucky this little one is going to be to have you for a Mom, me for a Dad, Charlie and Sarah as step-parents. We might have to come up with better names for them though."

"Yeah we might. I know you're hurt and you get to be, you should be, but don't let that hurt eat away at you, don't let it destroy you and Sarah, okay?"

"Okay, thanks Maya. You really are a great friend."

"I try, I'm not always so great but I have my moments." She shrugged as he put his head on her shoulder and they sat in silence for a few moments.

Neither noticed the camera lens pointed towards them, the quick shots taken as they sat in comfort on the bench.


Riley stared at the pregnancy test resting on the counter. Her heart was racing with nerves she'd only felt a few times before in her life. The time she'd been pregnant with Alex and taken a test, and about a month after that fateful trip to Vegas a she stood in almost this same spot waiting for test results, they had been negative that time.

"Ri, you okay?" Lucas popped his head in the door, "The car is almost loaded."

"Just another minute" She couldn't move, her fingers were shaking against the countertop.

Lucas came up behind, "Riley, what's wrong?"

She sighed as she realized time was up and she looked at the results picking the stick up, "Negative."

He pulled his wife to him, "Honey, we've just started you know, we might not be yet, but I know we will be."

"I know, I was just hoping." She sighed as she pulled back to wipe away her tears only to have Lucas do it for her.

He couldn't help but smile, "We have so much love for each other, our daughter, and I know that love is going to be with us when we create another little life."

Riley nodded, "You're right, I'm just disappointed, and it's not like we're really trying."

"Right we're not really trying, we have done a few activities that don't lead to pregnancy." He teased.

Riley smiled as her hands slipped to the nape of his neck, "You know my parents are expecting us for a few more hours."

"Yeah that's true." He watched as her chocolate eyes dance with mischievous glee.

"We could us maybe a little bit of practice of you know." She felt butterflies in her stomach a moment before Lucas lifted her up on the counter.

Lucas captured her lips with his as he steadied himself as her legs wrapped around him. His hand slid up her thigh pushing her dress up, "Are you sure?" he breathed before kissing her neck.

"Uh huh" she felt her body arching into him, "I need you Lucas."

"Tell me what you need" his fingers between her legs as he watched her quiver at his touch.

Her voice was shaking "That, you touching me there"

"Like this?" He let his fingers explore her, watching the way she bit her lower lip to hold on to her reaction.

She closed her eyes nodding as her fingers drew down his t-shirt clad chest to his jeans, her fingers desperate to free him. "I need you fast and hard" she confessed when she felt the pressure of his touch.

Lucas felt a growl of pleasure when he felt her touch on him. His mouth moved down to the neckline of her dress, his teeth undoing the buttons one at a time until her dress was open.

"Now" she pleaded as his hands pulled her panties down letting them hang on one leg.

Her fingers dug into his hair as his lips captured hers again just before he felt their bodies together. A desperate, feverish need took them both as they clung to each other with their names on their lips.

Riley closed her eyes resting her head on Lucas' shoulder when the stars around her faded. She could feel his lips plant a gentle kiss on the top of her head.

"I love you" She felt a shiver through her body when she heard his declaration.

"We're real right, this us, all of this, I'm not dreaming this all." She begged.

"If this is a dream than I don't ever want to wake up. We have to be real, I would never be able to survive if one day I woke up and this wasn't real." He confessed.

"We should finish getting ready go see our daughter, my parents." Riley felt him pull away before she slid off the counter. "I should go check on Auggie before we leave, see if I can convince him to come down."

"Ri, button up your dress first babe." Lucas pulled her towards him, starting to do the buttons, "No need to freak out your younger brother."

"Good idea."


Riley double-checked that her dress was done up before she knocked on the basement door before opening it, "Auggie, you home?" she called as she moved down the steps.

"Yeah Riles, what's up?"

When she got to the basement level she found several law text books around the apartment, "Aug, um Lucas and I are going down the shore to spend some time with Mom, Dad, Alex, I thought I would see if you wanted to come with us."

"I can't" he told her as he came from the bathroom pulling his t-shirt on, "I have to work."

"The BAR exam is tomorrow, isn't it?" she watched as he stopped moving.

"Is it, I hadn't thought about that for a while."

Riley picked up one of the books, "You're going to still take it aren't you?"

"What if I am?"

"After you take it are you going to come and see Mom?"

Auggie was quiet as a hand went through his curls, "I don't know."

Riley took her brothers face in her hands, "Auggie, please, I know you're in pain right now. We all are, but don't push her away right now. We don't know how much time is left, do you really want to live with the pain and guilt of knowing you could've said goodbye, and not done so?"

He tried to control the tears welling in his eyes, "I'm scared Riley."

She pulled him into a hug, "Oh honey we all are, but we're family and I know things were hard and strained before the diagnosis, but we have to come together for this."

He nodded, "I'll be down after I take the test, just please don't tell anyone. No one knows I'm taking it."

Riley pulled back, "Okay, I won't tell, but if you're not at the house by two on the fourth, I'm telling everyone, understood."

"I'll be there by noon." He smiled as he looked to his sister. "I'm doing this for me Riley, not for her."

"Good, you can't decide on a career just because its what she wants, you have to want it. No matter what you decide in the long run I'll support you. Worse comes to worse I'm sure Lucas can hire you at the Animal Clinic as a receptionist or something."

"Gees thanks." He rolled his eyes, "So Alex still mad at you?"

"Probably, but I hope a few days apart will have calmed her down. Gave her time to see our side, not wanting to hurt her if it didn't work out."

"And it's working out right Riles?"

She nodded, "Yeah, it is."

"Good." He looked around the apartment, "How did you know Lucas was the one?"

Riley took a few steps around the apartment, "Um, there was this moment junior year of high school. We were walking through the park it was towards the end of fall, just before that winter chill really over takes the city. I must've reacted to the chill of the wind or something because he stopped, took off his letter jacket and put it on me. He didn't say anything, and I just knew right then no one else could be as good to me or for me as Lucas."

"Why did you believe the worst?"

"Because I never thought I was good enough for him, but I am, I see it now, I know it now." She put her hand over her heart, "I feel it now, here, why?"

"I think Sonya could be the one." He confessed.

Riley smiled, "Then don't let her go, hold on to her."

"Thanks Riley, you're the best big sister you know that right?"

"You're the best baby brother I could ask for." She moved towards the door, "Lucas and I are gonna be gone, so when you leave for the shore will you make sure everything is locked up tight?"

"Yeah of course."


Reese looked around at all the boxes piled up, just waiting for the movers to arrive to load them up and out.

This part of his life was over, after everything that had happened he knew he needed to move on, to start over somewhere where people wouldn't automatically think of him as a disgraced Yankee, or a guy who got shot.

He looked down at the envelope in his hand, he figured she wouldn't be home, probably out of town for the holiday but it would be waiting for her when she returned.

Reese had made up his mind as he looked at his apartment one last time before leaving. He met the town car downstairs and had it make a stop at Riley's. He looked at her brownstone, thinking about how this had almost been his home. But as he went up the front steps he knew it was never going to happen.

As he opened the mail slot he looked in through the frosted glass. He could see the updated color scheme, a change in the décor, items he was sure were Lucas'.

Reese slowly stepped down and looked at the building, knowing this would be the last time he was anywhere near Riley Matthews a woman who might not want it, but owned his heart.


"She wasn't with your son." The man told Kimberly Gardner as he slipped her the large envelope.

She handed him a wad of cash, "I'm sure it's some poor fool she's working with the scam my son."

"Poor isn't how I would describe who she was with." He smirked.

Kimberly raised an eyebrow, "Who was she with?"

"Farkle Minkus, last I checked he's a millionaire from not only his trust fund but his own inventions." He shrugged, "But they were looking awfully cozy in the park today."

Kimberly took the envelope, "I'll call if I need more information." She left the man in the coffee shop and went quickly to her town car waiting for her. Once alone she opened the envelope and saw the picture of her future daughter-in-law with Farkle Minkus' head on her shoulder, holding hands. "What game are you play Maya, are you going to break my poor boys heart?"