Chapter 31

A week has gone by since Laura stormed out. She still didn't return. Riker didn't know what to do. He tried to get a hold of her, but still she didn't answer him. So he took that as a sign that their relationship was done. He didn't want to, god he didn't want too. After what Rocky said to him the night she left, Riker made a decision that he would do whatever it took to save his relationship with Laura. That he would make her understand that he may want to know his child and love them. He loves her and she is the one that he wants to be with. But how can you fight to save something when the other half doesn't seem to want too. So Riker did the only thing he could have. He packed his things and moved out. This time he moved into an apartment of his own, as he realized he will need his own place for when the baby comes and stays with him. It would be good for him to do this. He was going to be a father soon, and he needed to get his stuff together.

Maia was all over him. Trying to get him to be a family with her and the baby. He told her time again and again that it will never happen. He may have lost Laura, but he wouldn't ever be with her like that.

Riker sighed. He just finished putting the crib together and he done well if he told himself. He still couldn't get over the fact that he was going to be a father in less than a few months. The crib was his that his mother kept for him and each of his siblings, and since he was the first one to have a child, he got to use it.

It did look good after all these years. And in a matter of weeks his own child will be sleeping in there.

Riker still couldn't believe it. But he had to say he was lucky and his family had his back. They really were there for him when he needed them the most.

It was the third full day that Laura was gone, that Riker truly knew that he lost her. He was waiting around at the beach apartment hoping for any sign that she would show up. For any kind of sign to keep holding on for them. But by the next day he realized he couldn't keep holding on when she obviously doesn't want to. So he looked around and managed this place pretty quickly thanks To Rocky and Ratliff.

Riker really was getting worried about her; Laura hasn't contacted anyone since she was gone. At first Riker went out everywhere in LA trying to find her. But she obviously didn't want to be found.

Where was she? She still had Austin and Ally to do, so she had to be back. Plus she still had blond haired guys still hopelessly in love with her.

Riker sighed. Wherever Laura was he hoped that she was alright and safe.

" So no word from Laura?" Ratliff asked.

" No and I am getting worried. This is not like her at all." Ross said. He really was worried. Laura always kept in contact with everybody. Thankfully the show was on hiatus for a few weeks so they didn't have to stop production.

" Don't worry babe, she will be fine, she will come back when she is ready." Ratliff said soothingly as she tried to comfort Ross.

" This is all that damn bitch's fault! God I hate Maia, I wish I never met her in the first place!" Ross said. Maia was beyond pissing him off. Ross had no idea on how someone so evil and nasty could be winning so much. Because she is, she got pregnant by Riker and literally drove Laura right out of town. If she was here right now, Ross was pretty sure he would strike her. Someone like that deserves to be.

Ratliff could see that Ross was getting worked up again. Maia really was a piece of work.

" Ross you know she will be back, she loves all of us too much to stay away for too long."

Ross just smiled. He was really lucky to have someone like Ratliff in his life.

" Thank you, you are amazing you know that?" Ross asked.

Ratliff just smiled.

Rocky was starting to get worried. He left messages for Laura on her phone but no answer. Rocky was about to go to the police and file a report. This was getting too much. He understood her need for space but to ignore everyone trying to get a hold of her? He understood ignoring Riker, but not everybody else.

Rocky was about to grab his jacket when he heard a noise from outside, he opened the door and was surprised and relieved.

Laura.

" Hey your back!" Rocky crushed into a bone crushing hug. Laura just laughed.

" Nice to know I was missed, I missed you too rocky. But can you let me go I need to be able to breath." Laura said.

Rocky blushed.

" Sure."

Laura smiled. It really was good to be home. She hadn't mean to stay away for a week, she had only planned a night to cool down. But it turned out she needed the week to reflect on everything. When she had left that night so was so angry and hurt that she felt like she couldn't breathe.

" So when did you get back?" Rocky asked.

" Just this morning, can we go inside so I can get some coffee I am in need for some caffeine." Laura asked.

Rocky nodded and then said " Sure." Both of them made their way into the apartment and laura went straight to the kitchen to grab some caffeine. She came back out and Rocky was sitting on the couch,She handed him his cup which he replied thanks and she sat down.

" So if you don't mind me asking, were did you go?" Rocky asked.

Laura sighed. " I went down to Baja, I didn't plan on going there but I just kept driving and there I was. I needed to get away from here you know for a bit."

" I know, But Laura Why didn't you answer any of our calls. I understand about Riker, but you ignored me and Ross and Ratliff among the rest. We were worried about you."

" I know you guys were but I lost my phone on the drive there so I didn't even know you guys were calling."

" That makes sense."

" I really am sorry that I worried you guys. I just needed to get away from here and clear my head." Laura said.

" Oh I know I understand, we all understand,well…"

" Everyone except Riker. How is he?" Laura asked already knowing the answer.

" Do you really want to know?" Rocky asked.

Laura rolled her eyes. " I love him Rocky, of course I want to know."

Rocky was quiet for a few minutes. He was trying to come up what to say to her. Riker really took it hard after she left. He even moved out and got his own place.

" He took it hard Laura I am not going to lie to you. He was really upset that you left that he locked himself in the room for a few hours. He was also angry with you Laura. I mean I get why you were upset and left, and he did too, he understood why you were upset. He just didn't think you would have left like that either."

Laura lowered her eyes. Rocky felt bad. " I am not saying this to you to make you feel bad, I know you love him Laura, but he really was shooked up after you left. He really took it hard. He knew he hurt you, he told me he was planning on making it up to you that night at dinner, the appointment just went really long and Maia hadn't had anything to eat all day and he was hungry too. He didn't mean to hurt you."

Laura sighed. This was just a mess.

" Where is he?" she asked.

" He moved out about a couple days ago. He took your silence as a sign that you didn't want him around anymore."

" I didn't know he called, I lost my phone.."

" I know that now, but he doesn't."

" So he really moved out?"

" I am afraid so."

Laura didn't know what to feel about that. On one hand she was hurt that he took it as a sign that she didn't want him anymore. But Laura really couldn't blame him for thinking like that. After all she was thinking about being done with him. But whenever she made a decision to cut Riker out of her life, her heart broke even more. Had she realized that she lost her phone earlier she would have attempted to call from the phone at the motel. But she hadn't, so she didn't. And now Riker moved out.

The other part of her was thinking that maybe it really was a good thing that he did. It would give them space to think about what they really need from one another.

" I am sorry Laura." Rocky said.

Laura smiled.

" Don't be. This is what will be good for everyone." She said.

Rocky raised his eyebrow.

" I love him Rocky so much, that I can't bare being apart from him. But I am thinking that maybe that I jumped back into the relationship without having fully dealt with the fact that he is going to have a baby with someone else. And it wasn't fair to me or to Riker. I know Riker feels horrible for hurting me, and I know he didn't do it on purpose. But things couldn't go back to the way they were before. There is a child now and he will always have a permanent tie to Maia. And honestly I don't think I can ever accept that. He needs to put his child first., I know that, but at the same time I cant come second to her. I just can't. So this is a good thing. Riker can figure out how he is going to be a father, and I can try and move on with my life. And maybe in time we can be friends.'

" Just friends? So that is it for the Great Riker and Laura love story?"

" Rocky…"

" No Laura, I am not saying this to be an ass, but you just said that you loved him. Are you willing to just watch him go? That is it? You are not going to see if this can be fixed? Which I know can be, because I know how much you guys love each other."

" Rocky it isn't as easy as you think.."

Rocky rolled his eyes.

" Of course it isn't going to be easy! Love, especially true love is hard. Are you really going to let Maia win?" Rocky asked.

Laura rolled her eyes.

" Rocky she won the moment that she got him into bed and got pregnant. I was just a fool to think that we could over come it."

" You guys can!"

" Why should I have to deal with him having a child with her. It isn't fair to me to see that! That baby should be mine with riker, but no he gets to play happy family with that skank."

" I know it sucks and I am so sorry, but Is it fair to Riker to lose you over something that he had no control. Why should he have to be punished for something that was taken away from him. Maia took away his choice in who will be the mother of his firstborn. Does he really have to lose the woman that he loves the most in the world."

" Rocky.." Laura said

" Please don't get me wrong, I don't want to push you to do something you don't want to do. But just think about it from his perspective. He is in a lose lose situation, he either haves you and loses his child, or he has his child and loses you."

Laura was silent.

" Please just think about, and just know that I am really happy that you are back." Rocky smiled.

Laura smiled. " Thanks Rocky and don't worry I am not mad. You are right I do need to think from how Riker views the situation. But it will just take time."

Rocky nodded. " I completely understand."

Laura smiled. It really was good to be home.

Ross and Ratliff were watching a movie on Ratliff's couch. That was what they saw in between their make out sessions. When the two of them get together it always gets heated.

Ross pulled away from the kiss.

Ratliff pouted. " Why did you do that for?"

Ross smirked. " I know you must have this." Ross pointed towards his body " All the time, but I think we need to slow it down just a bit don't you?"

" What do you mean?"

Ross rolled his eyes.

" I mean all we seem to do is have sex. I mean don't get me wrong the sex is fucking awesome and that aint stopping anytime soon. But I just don't want to be a couple who does nothing but have sex, it burns out way too fast and I don't want that with us."

" So are you saying that I am just with you for you body? That all I care for is sex? Because if all I wanted was sex Ross, I would have found someone else for that." Ratliff said. He was hurt, was that what Ross really thought? All they had was sex?

" Um you can turn the attitude down a notch babe all I was saying is that we can do other things besides sex, why are you getting pissed?" Ross stated, now he was getting pissed.

Ratliff rolled his eyes. He pulled away from Ross. " I am getting pissed because you basically just said that I only want you for your body, and that is so not true."

Ross rolled his eyes.

" I did not say that! But now that you are getting pissy all about it, is that the case? I mean why cant we do something else besides sex, I love being with you in that way, but why must it be all the damn time."

Ratliff rolled his eyes " Well I am sorry that I love being affectionate with my boyfriend. I didn't know that was a crime!" he yelled.

Things continued to fall apart and fast. Both of them moved farther away from each other as the fight continued to escalate.

Ross laughed. " So is that your way of saying that I am nothing but a piece of ass for you?" he sneered.

Ratliff was turning red. " You know what Ross? Get the fuck out of here? I don't need to hear this shit, you enjoy the sex just as much as I do, in fact there are plenty of times were I can think of that you couldn't get enough of my ass, so you should shut it." Ratliff sneered.

" This is such bullshit." Ross said.

" Whatever, I knew this was a mistake." Ratliff said.

" I agree, we should have never ruined our friendship just because we were lonely and wanted to get laid."

" So this is what all this was to you, A quick lay that went too long. Well I guess we should just end things."

" I agree." Ross sneered.

" Get the fuck out and don't come back." Ratliff said as he opened the door.

" My pleasure." Ross said as she stormed out.

It was all over.

Riker was alone in his apartment. Boxes were everywhere, the only room that he gotten together was the nursery. The rest he couldn't care too much about.

Riker sighed.

All he wanted to do was move back in with Laura and be a family. But right now he knew that wasn't a possibility. Riker couldn't help but think about where she was.

Where are you Laura?" Riker mumbled to himself. He sat on the couch just looking at the TV; cable wasn't even hooked up so he couldn't watch TV. He just sat there and was thinking about how much has changed so much in a year. He threw his head back. All he wanted was to turn back time and go back to when things were so simple for him and Laura.

Riker sighed.

This was getting too much, Laura made her choice and he is going to have to deal with it. She doesn't want to be with him anymore and honestly after the anger faded he couldn't really blame her. He had let her down time and time again. He never meant to blow her off, but he did. Riker made the mistake of thinking when she said that she wanted to do this with him that it meant she would be okay with just sitting on the sidelines.

He completely fucked up, and now he and Laura were done. Riker got up and went into his bedroom. It wasn't as comfy as the one he and Laura shared, but he didn't care. It covered his head and it gave him a place to rest his head. At this point that is all that he really cares about. Riker moves a box so he can get through and land on his bed, but when he does that he knocks over one.

Riker groans. He picks up the box and when he noticed that something fell out. A small ring box fell out. He totally forgot about that.

It was the ring that he bought long before the whole Maia situation arrived. Riker had purchased a ring for Laura. Not necessarily an engagement ring, but more like a promise ring. Something that would bind their love together for eternity.

Riker sighed.

It was too late for that now. He placed the ring back in the box and lay on his bed.

It really was too late.