A/N: Okay, the next 3 chapters are kind of short so I'm uploading them tonight, but not all at once if that makes sense. I want at least one review or a new story favorite or follow. So I hope you enjoy. And I'm still in the beginning stages, so it hasn't got completely crazy yet but this does set it up.

And a huge thanks to:
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Guest 1

Guest 2

TeaAndGlee

Jennoist-OTP

skycaro

all for leaving the first reviews. And thanks to those who have followed and/or favorited this story. All the love is much appreciated.

I own nothing related to Glee, in fact, I'm sure everyone is a little OOC? Oh well, sit back and relax and enjoy the Ryley goodness :)

Four Years Later

Marley was sitting in her apartment after a long day at work at her PR firm. This really wasn't what she wanted to do, she had been hopefully trying to break into something else, but she was gaining invaluable experience. She was about to take a nap but her cell phone rang and she grudgingly picked it up. It was Ryder, obviously trying to get a start on happy hour.

"What?" she answered grumpily.

"Jesus, cheer up buttercup. I just wanted to know if you wanted to hang out tonight at Shenanigan's Pub." he replied.

"I just got off work! And we hang out almost every night. And we don't even hang out, we talk for like a half hour, discuss a game plan to get you laid, I talk to the poor girl for ten minutes and you ditch me." Marley answered in contempt.

"Well, we wouldn't have this problem of me ditching you if you would just sleep with me already." Ryder joked.

"No, not an option." Marley replied.

"Come on, Kitty and Artie just walked in, well Artie wheeled in, but you know what I mean." he said.

"Fine, give I'll be there in 15. Just don't scare any of the available girls off."

A little while later, Marley showed up to the bar as it was in full swing. And Marley had already talked to a redheaded girl and he seemed to be having some luck with her. Marley couldn't believe how desperate these girls were, even though Ryder had been nothing but a great friend to her and she really did want him to be happy. She just thought that he was possibly scraping the bottom of the barrel.

"Hey, green is not a good color for you." Kitty said as Artie wheeled over with her sitting on his lap.

"What are you talking about? I'm wearing blue." Marley answered.

"Don't play dumb. I see you looking at Lothario while he's getting lucky with the gingerbread tart at the bar .You're jealous. I keep telling you that you should've slept with him when he first hit on you." Kitty said drunkenly.

"And you should stop drinking." Marley shot back.

"I'm fine, I got my designated driver right here. And that is your like, your tenth cocktail." she said as she patted Artie's face and almost took off his glasses.

"Babe, maybe you should slow down." Artie said.

"Look, we're not here to talk about how much I've been drinking. We're here to talk about you. You love Rick…no Ryan…damn, what is his name? Okay forget it, his name is not important. You love him and you want to have cute, floppy Bieber hair babies with him and live happily ever after and all that jazz. Adddmit it, bitch!" Kitty said adamantly.

"No, we're just friends. I don't have feelings for Ryder." Marley replied.

"Then why haven't you talked about Jake in four years since you met lover boy?"

The name still felt like a dull ache in her stomach. She supposed it was true about what they said about never forgetting your first love. But she felt more angry than longing when she thought about Jake now.

"Because I don't have any reason to. And Ryder is a nice guy, but I'm just not that into him." she said as she stole a glance at him. Maybe it was just her, but she couldn't help but think Ryder looked really uninterested.

"If you're not into him, then why do you keep stealing glances at him?" Artie asked her.

"Because I'm watching him to make sure he's not going to blow it!" Marley answered irritably.

"Who'd you think you're kidding, he's the earth and heaven to you, try and keep it hidden, honey we can see right through, girl you can't conceal it, we know how you feel and who you're thinking of…" Kitty started singing off key before she started giggling.

"Okay sweetie, it's time to go home." Artie said as he wheeled away. Marley smiled to herself as she watched Artie take care of Kitty. They may have looked like a mismatched couple to anyone else, but they were cute together.

"Ridiculous." Marley scoffed to herself as she stirred her drink.

"What's ridiculous?" Ryder asked as he slid into the booth next to her.

"Nothing. So why aren't you in the back of a cab making out with the buxom redhead?" Marley asked him.

"Eh, I just wasn't feeling it tonight. She wasn't my type." Ryder said with a shrug.

"Too self absorbed or too clingy?" Marley said with a smirk, knowing well enough what Ryder liked in a one night stand.

"I don't know, there just wasn't any fireworks. Maybe I'm just tired tonight." Ryder concluded.

"Or maybe you're finally growing up and realize you want a relationship that lasts longer than eight hours." Marley replied sarcastically.

"Nope, never. I'm never growing up. I'm fucking Peter Pan." he chuckled as he took a drink from his bear.

"Come on. There has to be a type of girl that will make you want to settle down." she said as he got her another drink.

"Maybe there is." he said mysteriously.

"Tell me about her." Marley continued as she felt the alcohol take effect.

"Well, she's beautiful, smart, sexy, really sarcastic but only because she doesn't know how to open up to people, and she's still a mystery to me even though I've known her for a long time." Ryder answered, his speech becoming slurred.

"Oh, well do I know this girl?" Marley asked him absentmindedly.

"I'll never tell." Ryder answered.

"Damn it, it's Kitty isn't it?!" Marley burst out almost angrily, even though she wasn't sure why.

"Calm down. It's not Kitty." Ryder replied, laughing at her reaction.

"Fine then." Marley huffed.

Just then, a large spotlight shined over their table. A DJ's voice boomed out over the loudspeaker: "And we have our couple for the spotlight kiss! Come on, kiss already!"

Maybe it was the alcohol they had both drank, maybe it was all the flirting they were doing earlier, or maybe it was the crowd urging them on, but Ryder and Marley turned towards each other and just kissed. It was awkward at first until Ryder put his hand on the back of her neck and she leaned into the booth. They broke away, slightly breathless. They heard the wolf whistles and catcalls from the drunk patrons.

"You want to go, somewhere more private?" Ryder asked nervously.

"Okay." Marley agreed with a smile.

"Okay. Let's go." Ryder said as they walked out of the bar.

A cab ride later, Ryder and Marley were furiously making out on her bed.

"So what happens now?" Marley asked drunkenly.

Ryder immediately stopped kissing her and buttoned his shirt and got ready to leave. He didn't want to take advantage of Marley like this.

"It's time for you to go bed. I'll see you in the morning." Ryder said as Marley looked confused and slightly hurt.

"You don't want to sleep with me?" she asked him.

"Not like this. Not when you don't even know it's what you want." he answered as he tucked her into the bed.

"Oh." Marley said as she started to drift off to sleep. Ryder pressed a kiss to her forehead.

"Goodnight." he said as he stood up to leave.

"Hey, wait. Can you just, stay and lie next to me?" Marley asked him as she gently touched his hand. She sounded like a confused child when she asked him that.

"Okay." Ryder replied with a small smile as Marley curled up next to him and fell asleep. And soon enough, Ryder fell asleep too