Lucas turns on his laptop as he looks through the attic looking for some old paperwork when his computer went off signaling he had a FaceTime request. He was shocked for a minute and then smiled pressing the accept button.
"This is a surprise?" He says sitting down with his laptop perched on his knees. "Well hello to you too Lucas." He chuckles smiling at isadora Smackle who still looked exactly like the girl he knew back in high school. Except now she was grown up no longer wearing glasses with a short bob.
"I'm sorry how are you Smackle?" She smiles folding her hands and placing them on her desk. "I'm well and from the looks of it Riley was correct in telling me you stayed in town this summer?" Lucas nodded telling her she was correct.
"So to what do I owe this FaceTime you miss me Smackle?" Lucas asked seeing the hint of pink on her cheeks. "Lucas I appreciate the fact after all these years you're still infatuated with me however I'm in a rush to catch a plane but I came across something I think you could help me with?"
Lucas looked at her and nodded as she pulls a folder from her briefcase opening it. "As you may or may not know Riley is going through something pretty major?" Lucas nodded not knowing everything but he knew enough.
"Well as I was cleaning out my office I came across a receipt for a package that was sent to your ranch some years ago." He looks at her weirdly having no idea what she was talking about. "I take it from your expression you have no clue as to what I'm referring to do you?"
"Sorry can't say that I do. Was it sent for me or was it sent here for Riley?" Lucas asked scratching his neck and putting his laptop down looking at the boxes that were in the attic. "A little bit of both." Lucas looks at her seeing her smiling at him.
"What's that look for Smackle?" She holds up one finger and talks to someone off camera. He hears a door close and then she turns her attention back to him. "The package is from Riley's friend Elena."
Lucas looked at her with widen eyes. "What do you mean Elena?" Smackle looks at him going to her face like she was going to fix her glasses making herself smile. "So use to fixing them I forget I got contacts." Lucas nods lightly chuckling as he waits for her to explain.
"Elena Rodriguez? You never heard of her?" Lucas lowered his head shaking it. He may have heard the name but he didn't really know if he knew. "Elena is or was Riley's best friend from college. Surely you remember her talking about Elena when she returned from her college tour?"
Lucas thought about it and all he could remember from that time was trying his damnest to forget kissing Maya and if it meant anything and making it up to Riley. He looks up when he hears Smackle sigh. "I forgot. Let's move on." Lucas nodded as she continued.
"Well Riley met Elena on the tour they became instant best friends. When Riley finally went out there for school they became inseparable always standing by each other. Dare I say even better friends than Maya and Riley."
Lucas looks at her with wide eyes making her smile. "Shocking I know. But the truth none the less. When Elena got pregnant Riley stood by her side she quit school and contrary to what Mrs. Matthews thought Riley didn't do it for Elena. She did it for herself." Smackle waited to see if Lucas was following all she was saying.
"Riley started writing her freshman year putting everything as you know into a book." Lucas knew he own the book Smackle was talking about and every one after. He wondered how she knew about it.
"She was making a name for herself and she felt college wasn't for her at least at that time. It worked itself out Riley was there for Elena through her pregnancy and the fallout."
Lucas scratched his head leaning against the wall. This was a lot of information Smackle was giving him and he didn't know what to make of it or if he was suppose to know any of it. "Smackle how do you know any of this? I mean Riley stopped talking to all of us after what happened."
Smackle nodded smiling looking at the picture she had on her desk of Riley, Elena and herself enjoying a cup of coffee. "I was there Lucas. Not when Elena got pregnant or when she lost Elena but in the beginning I was there."
"You were there? What does that mean and why are you telling me all this now?" Lucas tells her raising his voice at her. She doesn't react to it she just lets him vent out his anger before she goes on.
"I was at Berkeley studying Biological and Biomedical Sciences. They had an excellent program so I went before I changed majors. I got in contact with Riley and we talked about everything we both cried sorry we weren't in each other's lives. We made up for it by staying in contact with each other."
"Okay but I still don't see why you're telling me this now? What's so important that I need to hear this now?" Smackle shakes her head at him as he wasn't seeing the big picture yet. "Lucas I'm not telling you this for you. I probably shouldn't even tell you this. However just like Riley I too made a promise to Elena."
She grabs a tissue wiping her eyes. "I've been out the country so I did not know of what was happening with Riley. Now that I am back I've come to make things right as Elena wanted me to. There should be a box or package I'm not sure who she addressed it to but." She sniffs blowing her nose.
"It should be there I have the receipt and copies of it but the originals should be there. I need you to make sure they get to the proper people. This will help Riley with her case." Lucas rubs his head making sure he was hearing her right. "Why did she send it here of all places?"
Smackle smiled looking at him. "Because she knew that no matter what Riley would end up there." They talk a little more and Lucas finds the box Smackle was talking about. They hang up and Lucas opens the box finding a note and tapes. He pulls them out and finds one with his name on it. He holds it in his hands and finds the note address to him.
Lucas,
I trust you of all people would know exactly what to do with these tapes. That is if Smackle contacted you and Riley is in need of them. So please take them where they need to go and then play your tape. I know you have no reason to listen to me but please.
Elena.
Lucas looked over the note once more and pulled out the tapes. He knew Riley was in court and seeing as her mom was involved he knew which courthouse they would be at. He gets changed and gets in his truck driving where he needed to go.
Riley paced outside the courthouse chewing viciously at her lip she was close to drawing blood. Her uncle Eric called her that morning saying new evidence had made its way to the judge and she wanted them back in court that afternoon.
She got dressed quickly hoping Lucas would watch the twins but couldn't find him so Pappy Joe and Cletus agreed. She raced down to the courthouse where she currently was waiting for her aunt and uncle and Auggie.
"There you are." Morgan says as she walks towards Riley pulling her into a hug as Eric held coffees in his hand. "This could be good news Riley." Morgan tells her as Riley nodded her head. She wanted to believe it but she still had that worried feeling in her stomach. She takes a deep breath and sees Auggie and Ava walking towards her they hold her hands and make their way in.
"Well good afternoon everyone. You all are probably wondering why I have called you in today? Well new evidence has come to my attention and after I play it I will given my ruling." Everyone looks around while the judge hits play on the tape.
At first it's just a single chair in a white room and then Riley sees her making her gasps. "Hello people of the court! Judge you look lovely. Is Olivia benson there? Oh wait that's svu totally different thing."
Riley lightly laughs as the tears fall down her cheeks. "Your honor I don't see how this is relevant. Shouldn't we fast forward it?" Topanga asked standing up. "No." The judge tells her and Riley could see the smile on her face finding Elena tape amusing.
"Well if this tape is being played that means my letter to Harvey west was sent." Riley looks over at Harvey who was leaning back in his seat. " I'm sorry Harvey but the twins aren't yours I didn't mean to send that letter I got scared thinking my little hummingbird couldn't handle it but she always proves me wrong. Don't you hummingbird of New York."
There were gasps all around the courtroom with Harvey standing saying she was lying. "I suspect if this tape is being played a year or months after the letter was sent you did think they were yours Harvey. But if Riley is successful which I'm pretty sure she is you hoped she pay you off."
Riley looks over at Auggie who hands her some tissue smiling at her. "The real father who I can't say made me sign a confidentiality agreement but you should have the name of him if needed to prove." Riley smiled remembering Elena talking about that to her. "Riley I'm so sorry you're the best mother for my kids. I couldn't asks for anyone better."
The tape ends there and the judge bangs her gavel calling order as Harvey was arguing with Topanga. "Mrs. Matthews you shall get your client under control. And as for you Mr. West you will be charge with felony to commit fraud and extortion of Ms. Matthews."
Topanga starts to argue but the judge bangs her gavel. "After reviewing this new evidence I've come to a decision and that is for Ms. Riley Matthews to as she stands now legal guardian of Charlie and Rosie Rodriguez Matthews. Case dismissed." She bangs her gavel calling the bailiff to arrest Harvey and Topanga goes up to her to talk.
Eric and Morgan practically jump over the railing to get to Riley who sat stunned in her seat. "You did it." Auggie tells her bending down next to her as the tears fall down her cheeks. She looks at him smiling getting up and hugging them all.
"This calls for a celebration!" Eric shouts. " I just want to get home and see my kids." Riley tells them. She takes a deep breath and starts crying again. "What's the matter Riley?" She shakes her head sniffing wiping her eyes. "No these are happy tears it's just their mine." Auggie hugs her and tells her they're hers forever.
They walk out with Eric taking Riley's car to go pick them up to go celebrate somewhere.
Lucas sat in the back of the courtroom and watched as the judge played the tape and seeing the look of pure joy on Riley's face when she seen Elena again. He never knew how much she truly meant to her until that very second. He pulls out the note from his pocket and as soon as the judge made her ruling got up and left.
He headed home grabbing his laptop and the tape Elena had left for him. He drove to his house sitting on the porch and puts in the tape. He sees the same girl sitting in a chair smiling at the camera."I'm not sure how to start this? Feels weird talking to you since I don't..."
She smiles letting out a little laugh before continuing. "Well I sort of know you the week I met first met Riley she didn't shut up about you. She was always Lucas this and Lucas that. Quite frankly it got boring. No offense."
Lucas lightly chuckled nodding his head like she could see him. "She did mention a girl she called peaches? I always thought that was a weird nickname for someone I told her if we became friends I didn't want a fruit nickname so she called me cauliflower and then her little mariposa which is butterfly in Spanish if you didn't know."
She looks away from the camera and then looks back and Lucas could see the tears in her eyes. "Now for the real reason I made you a tape. Don't give up on her Friar she loves you and is going to need you whether it's as a boyfriend or just her friend just.."
She let's out a sigh looking up at the ceiling "... just be there for her. But remember Riley has always been stronger than she looked. She doesn't need rescuing she's been able to slay whatever has gotten in her way for a long time now. Now go talk to her I'm always watching so don't make me haunt you too."
The tape ends and Lucas closes his laptop looking out at the sky watching the clouds pass. He knew in that moment what he needed to do. What he had needed to do along time ago but could never do it.
He gets up walking into the house writing down everything he should had said and what he felt. He folds it putting Riley's name on it leaving it on the kitchen table. He looks around the place and waits a few minutes before heading back to the ranch finding the deed to the house and telling Pappy Joe what he was doing.
He was finally letting Riley go.
Dont hate me. It's not over yet. And I couldn't forget about Smackle she had to play a role.