Riley looked around at the table of people who have helped her over the last six years and she couldn't have felt more loved. She looked over at the twins who were making goofy faces at Ava trying to make her spit out the water she was drinking. She was glad the nightmare was over and the twins were officially hers.
"Hey you okay?" Morgan asked watching as Riley looked at her plate. She smiled at her nodding her head she actually was okay. It felt like a long time coming but for the most part she was happy. She looks at Auggie who smiles back at her knowing what she was thinking.
About their dad.
He told them he was staying in town and wanted to get to know them better since Auggie was staying in Texas too. They didn't have to worry about their mom since she was going back to New York. Cory had told her she was going back to take Harvey to court and take him for everything he was worth.
But Riley knew the truth she couldn't accept the fact Riley was in the right and knew what she was doing all along. She also noticed Maya had an art show coming up and that was the real reason she pushed up the court date.
But with the summer she had and being a mother herself officially now. It didn't bother her after all she was use to it. Even if her mom did stay and tried to get to know Riley now it wouldn't have been the same.
Maybe in the long run and under different circumstances they could meet again and make peace. But for now Riley was content with having just her dad trying to make an effort to be back in her life.
"I like to propose a toast." Eric announces standing up and clinking his plastic cup. "I look around this table and I'm proud to call you all family. Well except maybe Charlie and Missy." They boo him and he smiles hugging them saying they were apart of the family whether they liked it or not.
"So I think we take this celebration back to these two's hotel room and raid the mini fridge." Eric chuckles wrapping his arms around Ava and Auggie shoulders. "Funny uncle Eric but I think the twins rather go sleep."
They look and see the twins slumped together yawning. "Yeah it's been a long day. I just want to take a bath and get some sleep." Riley tells them picking up Rosie as Eric gets Charlie. "Okay but we plan to stay in town too." Morgan tells her as they put the twins in the car.
Riley smiles shaking her head at her aunt she knew why she was staying in town. "Aunt Morgan you don't have to. I know you have a life now and I'm okay. For the first time in a very long time I'm good." Riley pulls her into a hug squeezing her tightly.
"You don't have to worry about dad. I wouldn't have let him back into my life if I didn't feel it was time and the right thing to do." Riley whispers into her ear. Morgan pulls back with tears in her eyes.
"How did you get to be so smart and strong?" She asked smiling and wiping her eyes. Riley lightly laughs hugging once more. "I've had some good teachers." Eric wraps his arms around them and says. "Well I try." Morgan playfully shoves him and goes to hug Auggie.
"Well niche." Eric tells her smiling putting his hands on her shoulders. "We did." She laughs as he shakes his head. "No you did it. I know you had your doubts but you still believed and that was a lot stronger than your doubts." She hugs him putting her head on his shoulder. "Thank you uncle Eric."
They pull apart and he smiles as he walks away with Morgan. "So see you tomorrow for lunch with dad?" Auggie asked as he leans in her window. She nods smiling as he pats her hand before she pulls away.
"Dude are you sure this is what you really want to do?" Zay asked for the millionth time while Lucas chuckles putting his stuff away. Lucas had FaceTime with him telling him what he plan to do and Zay was trying to stop him.
"Yes Isaiah I think I know what I'm doing here." Zay shakes his head covering his ears saying nope over and over. Lucas shakes his head sitting at his desk watching Zay. "You and I know it's what I have to do. And besides your the one that gave me the idea." He looks at him with wide eyes narrowing them at him.
"No! Noah wouldn't be doing what you're doing. I knew I should have stayed I'm coming back." Zay shouts at him. "Old Noah wouldn't but like you said I'm this generation and I think that's what he would do. Admit it?"
Zay let's out a long sigh waving him off knowing he was right. "I know but I thought it would end differently not like this. You know?" Lucas hears a car pull up and the front door open. He looks out the window and sees Pappy Joe and Cletus talk to Riley and hug her as she wipes her eyes.
He smiles knowing what he was doing was the right thing to do. "It's the way it has to be Zay. I'll talk to you later." He hangs up and opens his room door seeing Riley about to knock.
"Hey." Lucas tells her surprised to find her at his door. "Oh you're on your way out?" She asked putting her hair behind her ear. "Actually I was headed downstairs for a snack." She nods and they make their way downstairs to the kitchen in silence.
"So did you want to asks me something or just saying goodnight?" He joked opening the fridge. Riley laughs leaning against the sink. "Actually I kind of feel weird asking you? I feel like maybe I should just pay you or maybe I should..." she shakes her head telling him never mind.
"I can watch them for you. It's not a problem." He tells her trying not to laugh and closing the fridge. "Are you sure? I feel like you should be doing other things instead of watching my kids." He shakes his head opening the freezer grabbing a popsicle.
"What other things could I be doing?" He asked offering her some before biting into it. "I don't know having a life." She says before widening her eyes and biting her lip. "Sorry I didn't mean it like that." He shakes his head at her once again walking towards her.
"It's okay Riley and Charlie and Rosie have become part of my life. So it actually a win win." He smiles telling her goodnight before heading upstairs and smacking his head. "What are you doing Friar?" He finishes his ice cream and lays down on the bed. He had plan to ask her to take them tomorrow anyway. They still had a couple thing to go over.
"Chief." Rosie asked looking at him. "Yeah Rosie posey." Lucas chuckles wiping the jelly from her cheeks as they sat in the garden enjoying their picnic. "Are we ever going to show mommy our house?"
He smiles as he looks at the twins who while they ate were covered in paint. Luckily he got them tiny coveralls so it didn't get on their clothes. "Soon I just want to make sure everyone is ready. So it's still our secret right?" He asked holding out his pinkies to them.
They chuckle and sit up holding out their pinkies interlocking them with his and agree. He smiles nodding and they sit back down eating. He looks at them and rubs his neck before clearing his throat.
"You know when I finally reveal the place to your mom, it will just be you guys in the house." The twins look at him weirdly and asks why and was he still going to be around. "Well I'm going to be here still just I'll live with Pappy Joe and Cletus." Charlie and Rosie breath a sigh of relief and go back to eating.
"But in a few days I won't be here for a couple of weeks." He tells them already seeing the sad looks on their faces. "Why chief?" Charlie asked as they scoot closer to him. "Well normally when you guys visit for the summer I do jobs out of town. But since they got cancelled I stayed. But a friend wants me to assist on a job so I'm going to go."
"But you'll come back right?" Rosie asked putting her arms around his neck. He chuckles nodding his head as she pulls him into a hug along with Charlie.
Riley smiles as she watches her dad from the restaurant window her and Auggie were currently sitting in. He was stepping out from his cab holding flowers looking extremely nervous like he was going on a date.
He looks up and sees them and waves with a smile walking in the door. "Hey." Cory says awkwardly standing in front of his children not knowing if he should hug them or just sit down. He smiles at them before sitting down putting the flowers on the table.
"Those are aunt Morgan's favorite flower." Riley tells him as she shifts her eyes to the side. He turns his head and smiles nodding tapping his nose making Auggie smile. "Well I was hoping my baby sister would be here so I can personally thank her for helping you."
He turns his head looking away from them and shouts. "When I was to blind to pay attention. She always was the smart one in the family." Riley and Auggie laugh when they hear Eric shout hey standing up. "Okay who told?" Morgan asked folding her arms across her chest.
Riley and Auggie shrug as Cory stands in front of his sister and brother handing Morgan the flowers. "I'm sorry my stubbornness won out along with Topanga and not seen that Riley has always known what she was doing." He turns and looks at Auggie.
"And I'm sorry I ignored you when I should have been a better father to you than I have been. And I know it's not the same but like I told Riley I would very much like to get to know you better." Auggie stands shaking his head and hugs him.
"Group hug Matthews." Eric shouts pulling Riley up and squeezing her. "Okay let go I think we are drawing a crowd." Morgan tells Eric when he begins to hum loudly swaying them back and forth.
A flash of a camera goes off making them look at each other. "So shall we order I'm starving." Ava says popping up from the table scaring them all and putting her camera down.
"I forgot she was with us." Eric says mouthing she was a ninja making Riley laugh. "So Auggie, Ava how is college life treating you two?" Cory asked when the waiter took their orders. "It's dreadful Mr. M. Absolutely horrible." Ava tells him putting her hand to her head throwing it back dramatically.
"Aspiring to become a actress aren't you Ava?" She smiles nodding her head. "How did you know?" Cory tells her lucky guess making the rest of them laugh. "What about you Auggie?" He looks at him and clears his throat with Ava giving him a smile. "I want to become a writer."
Everyone looks at Riley who was smiling ear to ear. "Really? I thought you wanted to become a photographer?" He shakes his head as Ava pulls a envelope out her purse handing it to Riley.
"That's a short story I wrote for my English class and my teacher said it was amazing and with his help would like to turn it into something more." Riley opens the envelope looking at it. "That's if I want to but I told him thanks for the offer but I like to see what college has to offer and gain more experience."
Riley gets up out her chair pulling him up and hugging him. "I think you would make an excellent writer. I'm proud of you." He squeezes her lifting her up making them laugh as their food comes and they eat.
"So how are you doing Riley?" Her dad asked as they walked along the streets. After lunch Auggie went back with Ava to their hotel and her dad asked her did she want to go for a walk to which she agreed.
"I'm good. I feel like a giant weight has been lifted and I can finally breath." She tells him linking arms with him something she wouldn't have done weeks ago.
"Well I'm glad and I know I haven't said it but I'm proud of you and not just for taking on a responsibility like raising two kids but always having the courage to stand up for what you believe in and helping your brother figure out his dreams along the way."
"That was all Auggie." Riley tells him seeing the sadness in his eyes knowing everything they accomplished they did it without him and Topanga. "But you know I wouldn't have gotten to be where I am without you dad."
He smiles letting out a little chuckle shaking his head. "Sweetheart everything you've accomplished was all you nobody not even I can take credit for the amazing women you have grown to be." Riley smiles leaning her head on him thanking him.
They continue walking when Riley sees a bookstore wanting to get the twins some books. She scans the shelves looking around and can see her dad hesitantly looking at little dolls and toys they had in there.
"They would love anything you get dad." He nervously laughs turning to her. He goes to speak but stops before trying and not finding the right words. "They know about you and mom." Riley tells him already knowing what he was trying to asks. "They do?"
"Yes. When I talk to them I tell them the truth." Cory frowns lowering his head. "They must think I'm completely horrible don't they?" He asked sitting down at the little table they had there. Riley sits next to him putting her hand on his.
"They don't think that at all. I told them about you but I said you guys were having trouble adjusting to the situation but when you were comfortable you would want to meet them." He looks up at her with tears in his eyes.
"I would love to meet them. When you and the twins are ready. I'll be here." Riley smiles wiping her eyes. "Okay." Cory looks at her as she stands holding out her hand. "Let's go meet them."
Only two more chapters to go. Also even though no one has expressed it but the way I wrote Topanga is how I saw her sometimes in gmw. That she favored Maya more. She is still one of my favorite characters just thought I write her this way for the story.