A Glance at the Groom

Author Note: Okay this might be a little different but I hope you enjoy it!


Today was the day, the day that Riley Matthews married the person who lit up her chocolate eyes with a simple smile, a meaningful touch, the right words whispered in her ears at the right moment as she cried.

Every picture of her had to be put away it was too painful to see her smiling face staring back. Not when in a short while the blonde would have to be at the church, be the supportive friend, to wish her well on the new journey.

The apartment door opened and Zay came sliding in with a Kramer like entrance, "Okay, are you going to tell her how you feel or are you going to cry and put all the pictures in a drawer until she's back from her honeymoon."

Zay felt the glare back in response. "Fine, just remember that if you were ever going to stop this wedding this would be your chance."

A sob escaped from deep inside, feeling Zay's arms as the tears flowed.

"We don't have to go."

"Yes we do" voice cracking between the sobs, "You're the best man, I'm the maid of honor."

Zay felt her pull away, "Okay, so you're going to watch Riley marry Lucas and never tell her that you love her more than you could ever fathom loving another person, that you want to spend the rest of your life with her, that you want to kiss her gently, that you want to kiss her hard, that you want to spend every night for the rest of your lives making love?"

"Exactly" Maya wiped her eyes and went to the bathroom splashing cold water on her face, "Let's be real Zay I'm a selfish fucking bitch, and if I told Riley this I know it wouldn't even happen. She's never felt that way about me it's been him since he first smiled at her on the subway."

"And it's been her for him since then as well." Zay remarked as he pulled a picture of their high school graduation and their college one out of the box she'd hid them all in and put it on her desk. "Come on Honey Nugget we're already running late."

Maya came out, her eyes still slightly puffy, "Why do they have to get married?"

"Because they love each other, they want to spend the rest of their lives together. She likes to kiss him hard, he likes to kiss her gently, and they want to spend the rest of their lives making love every night and having kids, and all that crazy couple stuff." He told her as he tossed his car keys in the air.

"Fine, let's go." She grabbed her garment bag and followed him, hoping her eyes wouldn't give her away.


"Maya" Riley giggled and threw her arms around her best friend, "Can you believe it, Lucas and I are getting married today."

Maya looked to Topanga, "How many mimosas has she had?"

"Three" Smackle confessed as she nervously looked to Ava.

"Yeah, toots here got a little excited and forgot it wasn't just orange juice." Ava smirked.

"Okay Honey let's get you ready to Lucas." Maya felt her own heart breaking as she said those words.

Riley released a content sigh, "There were times I didn't think this day would come, but it's here and I don't think I could be happier."

"You're really happy?" Maya bit the inside of her cheek trying to hide her feelings.

Riley looked up at Maya from her seat, "How could I not be, in less than an hour I'm going to say vows I've been dying to say to Lucas in front of everyone. Words that I might not need to say promises I might not need to make, because he already knows, in our hearts we've been married for years."

As Maya listened she realized just how true it was. Lucas and Riley in their hearts had probably been married since high school. "Just remember if he ever mistreats you I'm taking him out."

Riley rolled her eyes, "Peaches that's sweet, but you'll never have to do that."

"I know, I'm just saying." Maya looked into her best friends chocolate eyes, seeing the joy and hope radiating from within. "If you want to we can run out of here right now, run off together and live our lives just you and me."

Riley giggled, "Oh Maya, you know I could never do that.'

"I know." Maya felt a wave of peace wash over her, maybe she would never tell Riley her real feelings, but maybe she didn't have to.

"Help me with my dress?" Riley looked up at Maya, "I can't reach the buttons in the back."

"Of course" Maya went with Riley behind the dressing screen, "Have you and Lucas decided which apartment you're keeping?"

"Actually, we're giving up both apartments." Riley admitted, "I got a job offer in Southwest Colorado and Lucas found a Animal Hospital he can work at there, so we're moving."

Maya felt the air escape from her, "You're leaving New York?"

Riley nodded as she felt the buttons on her dress being connected, "I've been trying to find a way to tell you. You're my best friend, my sister, it's going to be difficult to leave you, but I also think we both need this."

"You do?" Maya watched as Riley turned to her, breathtaking in her white gown.

"Lucas and I need to live our life together, and you need to stop holding onto whatever, or whoever you're holding onto so that you can find the one to spend your life with." Riley smiled, "Though I don't think it's my Uncle Josh, I do think that maybe you might have already met him, and you just need to open your eyes to the possibility."

"I don't know what you're talking about." She wasn't lying it was the truth she had no idea who it could be.

"The other Texan we know." Riley giggled some more, "Zay is head over heels in love with you he would do anything for you."

Maya looked down, "Yeah he would."

"Well how do I look?" Riley backed away as she stood in front of the window.

"If Lucas doesn't see you as the beautiful, ethereal angel that you are, he's a moron."

"Thanks Peaches."


As Maya walked down the aisle ahead of Riley she noticed Lucas shifting from one foot to the other with Zay leaning over to tell encourage him to calm down.

When she took her spot and turned she watched Riley slowly coming down the aisle, Cory beaming with pride and nerves as he was about to finally, really let his daughter go. With all eyes on Riley, Maya remembered something from a rom-com that she'd watched a million times and looked over to Lucas.

The look of pure love, pure joy the pure enchantment at seeing Riley was more honest than any look of love or desire that Maya had ever bestowed upon Riley. When she looked back at the bride, her best friend, she saw her returning that look to Lucas.

Was this the way they always looked at each other? As she listened to them exchange vows, as they made promises they were already keeping in their hearts she knew that Riley truly loved Lucas and vice versa, whatever feelings she had while valid were nothing compared to what was right in front of her at this moment.

Once she looked outside of her own emotions she saw it. The purity, the strength the depth of it she was lost in this realization as Zay led her down the aisle and she glanced at him, struck by a jolt of something when she locked eyes with him.

When she witness their kiss on the steps of the church, she realized just how perfect they were for each other, how much they really loved each other, and whatever reservations she'd had all these years was her own fear of losing her best friend, but she never would, not really, only if she'd acted selfishly and for once in her life today she put Riley's happiness above her own, and finally saw what everyone else knew.

Riley loves Lucas and Lucas loves Riley.