When the opening to his and Ria's song started, Kendall had been very confused. At first, he thought it was a cruel joke the guys were playing on him. But after a glance to the wings and seeing Dia grin at the doors ahead like a Cheshire cat, he began to hope.

He sang along to the music, and when it came to the small break between his verses and Ria's, he held his breath.

Then, the doors opened, and her voice rang out, clear as a bell, as she sang. He stared at her, barely believing it – she was wearing the exact same outfit she had worn when she'd left. Her eyes locked to his as everyone in the crowd turned to look at her.

Like Moses parting the Red Sea, the crowd shifted to give Ria a pathway to the stage.

Kendall was so entranced by her actually being there that he almost forgot to join in when the chorus came around again.

Ria arrived at the stage as the penultimate chorus ended, and Kendall held out a hand for her to take. With a smile, she took it, and he helped her up onto the stage. Still holding hands and paying attention to only each other, they sang the last chorus.

They stopped singing, and the music faded away. The crowd cheered.

"You came back," Kendall whispered.

"I couldn't not," she replied. "My heart is here."

"OH, KISS ALREADY!" yelled Dia's voice from the wings, making Kendall and Ria laugh. They then stared out at the crowd as the onlookers began to chant the order.

"KISS! KISS! KISS!"

"Better give the audience what they want," said Ria over the chanting.

Kendall happily obliged, pressing his lips to hers for the first time in what felt like years. The crowd's chanting gave way to cheers once again.

They broke apart, bashful grins on both their faces.

"Sorry to break it up, guys," said Logan, appearing next to them and making Ria jump. "But… we have a gig to finish."

"See you after we're done?" asked Kendall.

Ria giggled softly. "Definitely." She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before dashing offstage into the wings. She greeted her little sister with a massive hug.

"It worked!" she squealed happily as the band resumed singing.

"I know, I was there," replied Dia dryly, but she had a smile on her face too.

-x-

That night, Kendall accompanied Ria to her hotel, not wanting to spend the night without her. They bade their goodbyes to their friends at the PalmWoods and took a taxi to the Matrador.

Kendall enveloped her in a tight hug as soon as they were in their room. "I've missed you so much," he murmured into her hair.

Ria wrapped her arms around him. "I've missed you too," she replied, resting her head on his chest. "I'm sorry I left."

"I'm sorry about why you left," replied Kendall. He detached himself from their hug. "But let's not talk about that."

Ria gave him a smile. "I love you."

He smiled in return. "I love you too."

Only just managing to wait for the 'too' to leave his lips, Ria pushed him against the wall and attached her lips to his. Kendall, though surprised, responded quickly. Gently, he began to push Ria towards the bed, lowering her down onto it when they reached it.

They broke the kiss then, Ria looking flushed. "You okay?" he asked, a little concerned since he was pinning her down. She nodded, a smile appearing on her face.

Kendall resumed kissing her, allowing his hands to roam her arms and chest, relishing the feel of her beneath him after so long apart.

Ria was also running her hands along his body, but he still was surprised when she started to pull up his shirt.

"Take it off," she whispered, removing her lips from his. Kendall obliged, revealing his bare chest, and threw the shirt away. Ria's mouth curved into a smile as he leaned back down to kiss her again. Running on instinct, Kendall rested his hand on Ria's thigh before sliding it up, hiking up her dress in the process.

Ria stiffened for the smallest of moments, but Kendall felt it, and he stopped to look at her.

"I'm sorry," she said quietly, looking away from him as if she were ashamed. "It's just…" Her green eyes returned to his. "Before anything goes any further, you need to know something."

"Okay…" Kendall said slowly, moving from his position atop Ria to sitting cross legged on the bed. Ria, too, sat up.

She gave a sigh. "If we do this tonight," she said, not looking at him. "You… you won't be my first."

"Okay," he repeated, a little stunned.

"You're not… mad, are you?" she asked, looking up at him.

"Mad?" The idea seemed to reboot his senses. "No. I'll admit, I'm a little disappointed though," he added with a smirk, but it faded when Ria's expression didn't change.

"Kendall," she said, her voice firm. "I was raped."

He stared at her for a while. She waited patiently for the information to sink in.

"Oh."

Ria couldn't help but roll her eyes. "Seriously? That's all you've got to say?" she said dryly, her good humour returning for a moment before it slid away again with a sigh. "But yes, oh. It's why I was so afraid of intimacy."

Kendall looked at her. "You don't need to be afraid," he said quietly. "Not with me."

Ria smiled softly. "I know." She reached out and took his hand, replacing its former position on her thigh. "I just wanted you to know," she continued, as she began to slide his hand up her leg while Kendall watched the movement. "… that it's okay," Ria watched Kendall's face as she left his hand at the very top of her thigh, "… for you to take me."

Without another word, Kendall crashed his lips to hers.

-x-

Ria woke the next morning curled in Kendall's embrace. A soft smile played on her lips as she remembered the night's activities.

What are you so happy about? Dia's grouchy voice pierced her mind.

You really don't want to know, replied Ria happily.

Why? What did you… Dia trailed off, and Ria knew she'd accidentally scratched the surface of last night's memories. OH MY DEAD GOD. GROSS. I mean, I'm happy for you but, EW.

You shouldn't have looked, said Ria teasingly, giggling both mentally and aloud. Kendall stirred next to her.

"Mmh?" he asked, lifting his head up.

"Morning!" Ria replied brightly.

"What're you giggling about?"

"Oh, just traumatising my sister."

-x-

The six of them convened in the band's crib, Ria cuddled up to Kendall and Dia munching on gingerbread men (subsequently getting crumbs all over James, but he didn't seem to mind). Logan repeatedly checked his watch – he had a date with Camille in three hours' time – until Carlos thought to snatch it off his wrist and throw it across the room.

"Hey!" protested Logan.

"Dude, you've got time!" retorted Carlos, rolling his eyes. Logan pouted but didn't reply.

"It's so good to be back," said Ria happily, nuzzling affectionately into Kendall's neck.

"It's good to have you back," replied James, smiling at Kendall's renewed good mood.

"Mmh," agreed Dia, her mouth full.

"You okay?" asked Kendall. "You've barely said a word all morning – you've just been gorging yourself on biscuits."

Ria stared at her sister, and gave a little giggle. Dia shot her a glare that clearly said shut the hell up.

"I'm fine," she said after swallowing her mouthful. "Though, there is something that I need to tell you guys."

The boys looked at her attentively, though her eyes locked onto her boyfriend. Ria started to giggle again, the sounds stifled by her hand.

"James," said Dia.

"Yeah?" he replied when she didn't continue. He looked at her intently.

Dia gave a sigh.

"I'm pregnant."

Her boyfriend's mouth worked silently for a few seconds.

The guys all stared at her, eyes bugging out of their heads.

James fainted.

Ria didn't bother hiding her laughter.

-x-

A/N: Ta-dah! BTS is finished! As to whether there will be a sequel… maybe. See y'all next time!