AN: Hey guys!
I just wanted to thank you guys for all the reviews1 I can't believe that I am almost to 300! That goes out to all of you. Now some of you may be wondering why Maia showed back up. I needed her to come back so Laura and Riker can finally address what happened to him before they get married. I know in the past I had then briefly address it, but this chapter I wanted to fully have Laura understand what Riker went through. This chapter mentions rape and how sometimes a man can feel less of a man when it happens to them. Rape basically is something that is evil and vile and happens to men as well as women. I wanted to address that here; I don't mean any offense what so ever that is not my intent. So please review and let me know your honest feelings about this.
Chapter 53
Laura came home with Raini and Rydel, the three girls were laughing as they came through the door. The three of them had a blast shopping for Laura's wedding dress and their dresses as well. Laura put her purse on the chair in the living room and made her way into the kitchen to get something to drink.
" You guys want anything?" Laura asked.
" Sure soda is fine." Raini said Rydel agreed. Bringing the girls their drinks they all sat down around the kitchen table and talked.
" I still can't believe that you are getting married this Saturday. That is crazy I mean it just seems like yesterday that I found out about you and Riker." Raini said.
Rydel nodded her head in agreement. " I know same here; I still can't believe that my big brother is getting married. But I know he is marrying the right girl, you make him so happy Laura, I can't believe that we are finally going to be family." Rydel squealed Laura just laughed.
" I know me too. I have wanted this for so long. I know we are you and everything but when you know it's right why wait?" Laura said looking at her best friends. She truly was a lucky girl to have such amazing friends and family that love her.
" So are you getting nervous? I mean the wedding is only a few days away, how much has been done?" Raini asked.
" No I am not nervous believe it or not, and Riker said he got a hold of the minister and our moms are doing the catering for the reception and we are having the wedding here at the beach. This was really the place that we fell in love so we figured to have it here."
Both Raini and Rydel sighed. That was so romantic.
They heard a door open and Riker came out of the bedroom after taking his shower. He felt a little bit better but not much after Maia's latest rampage. He smiled at Laura Raini and his sister. Looks like they were discussing the wedding. Riker walked over to them and placed a kiss on Laura's head.
" So how did shopping go? Did you find a dress?" Riker asked as he sat down next to Laura. Laura could feel that something was going on with Riker but she would ask later when they were alone whatever it is she felt that Riker didn't want anyone to know.
" Yeah I did, it is gorgeous if I say so myself." Laura grinned.
" Well where is it?" Riker asked.
Laura rolled her eyes. " It is still at the shop they are going to deliver it to me on the day of the wedding so you can't see it. After all it is bad luck for the groom to see it before the wedding." Laura said.
' Yeah Riker how dumb can you be?" Raini teased.
Riker rolled his eyes.
" Real funny Raini, funny. So you guys had a blast? That is good to hear." Riker said.
Rydel and Raini both looked at each other and realized that Riker wanted to tell something to Laura and didn't really want them to know so they decided it was time to go.
" Laura I think we are going to go, but I will call you tonight so we can plan your bachelorette party." Raini grinned.
" Oh Yeah that is awesome!" Rydel said excitedly.
Laura laughed and Riker groaned. ' As long as there are no strippers, I don't want my fiancé seeing any other man's body except for mine." Riker said.
" Caveman Much?" Rydel asked.
Laura and Raini laughed. Riker just rolled his eyes. Raini and Rydel picked up their things and hugged Laura and Riker and walked out the door waving their goodbyes before shutting the door. Laura just turned and looked at Riker.
" Okay so what is going on? I can tell something is going on with you. Tell me what is wrong baby?" Laura said as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Riker sighed. He really should have known how well Laura could read him. It was one of the many many things that he loves about her. But honestly he really wasn't sure on how to start and tell her that Maia was free and came by and paid him a visit. They both thought that part of their lives were over with. Riker just really hoped that she would stick to her word and stay in Australia. But he knew that he had to tell her, Riker didn't want any more secret in-between them.
" Come on let's go to the living room it is a lot more comfortable in there ." Riker said as he grabbed her hand and lead her to the couch, Laura was admittedly getting a little worried by how Riker was reacting.
" Riker you really are starting to scare me, tell me what is going on with you. You haven't been yourself since I got home; you definitely aren't as cheerful like you were this morning." Laura said to him. Riker just sighed.
" I need to tell you something and I don't know how you are going to react." Riker said.
" Just tell me because all this not being upfront is freaking me out." Laura said.
" Maia dropped by." Riker said dropping the bomb on her. Laura was silent at first she didn't think what he said was real.
" What did you just say?" Laura asked quietly.
" Maia dropped by. She got released out of prison for good behavior." Riker said afraid to look at Laura and see the pain that the mere mention of Maia's name still brings her. Because he knows that despite the fact that Maia drugged him, Riker still betrayed his vows and his love to Laura by having Sex with Maia. The topic was a subject that despite having forgiven each other they don't bring up. Riker was with another woman sexually despite him being under the influence of drugs. Hell even for a while they both thought that he was the father to her child.
Laura just laughed. She couldn't believe this shit. Every time something good is about to happen it seems like the bitch from hell has to come in and ruin it. How did she get out so early? She was only in jail for what maybe a year? Is that the price you pay for trying to kill not just one but two people? Riker looked at Laura and was starting to freak out, why was she thinking that this was funny?
" Laura?" Riker asked.
Laura stopped laughing and looked at Riker. " I don't mean to laugh but I rather laugh then cry. How the hell did she get the fuck out when she tried to kill me and Ross?" Laura asked stumped.
" That is a very good question but what she said was that she got out due to good behavior." Riker said still not believing it himself.
" That is crazy! So just because she was good for what a few months? That she is just unpunished for trying to kill two people? So what did she have to say?" Laura asked.
Riker sighed.
' Tell me Riker!" Laura said getting frustrated.
" I am trying too! This isn't easy for me to say okay?" Riker raised his voice. He knew that Laura was just frustrated with the situation but so is he.
" Tell me." Laura said with a slight growl.
Riker was starting to get pissed.
" Can you quit acting like this so I can have a fucking chance to tell you? You are acting like I fucking invited here over? Now she said that she was released for being a model prisoner and so that she thought it was time to make changes to her life. She told me that she came over to apologize and she wanted me to know that she was leaving back to Australia."
Laura rolled her eyes. " Please tell me that you didn't believe her." Laura said.
" I don't know what to believe, all I do know is that I don't trust her and that I just wanted to let you know about it. That is all." Riker whispered. Laura could feel the guilt weigh her down. All Riker wanted was to tell her that Maia was here, to be honest with her and what does Laura do? She treats him like he is the bad guy. She honestly didn't mean to do that but something about just hearing Maia's name coming from Riker's mouth makes her uneasy. Laura sighed as she looked over at the pain that was in his eyes. She feels really horrible. She leans in and kisses him, hesitant at first but Riker kisses back whole heartily. Laura breaks the kiss finally before it could get out of hand.
" I am so sorry baby, I didn't mean to make you feel worse, I know it isn't your fault at all, but just hearing her name makes me crazy. But that is no excuse for me acting like I did. I am so sorry." Laura said as she placed kisses along his face. Riker just pulled her into his arms and just held her.
" It's okay." Riker mumbled into her hair.
" No it is not okay, I shouldn't have done that. I need to know that you have forgiven me. Please?" Laura begged.
" I forgive you." Riker whispered as he leaned in and kissed her once again. Briefly as they still need to finish this conversation. As the kiss broke Laura thought of something.
The baby.
What happened to Maia's baby that she originally tried to pass off as Riker's but ended up being Garron's.?"
" Riker what about the baby? Didn't she have him or her with her?" Laura asked.
" No she didn't. I didn't even bother asking about it. Does that make me a bad person? There was a time when I thought I was that child's father and I don't even ask about it?" Riker asked. Laura grabbed his hand and looked him in the eyes.
" That doesn't make you a bad person. I am sure if the child had been yours that would have been your priority but the child isn't yours so don't beat yourself up about asking about it. I am sure they know that you loved them. I just wonder what happened that was all, because she should have given birth by now." Laura said.
Riker nodded. " Well she didn't look pregnant so she probably did. God I can't believe that we are talking about this mess still. I really thought it was in the past."
Laura sighed.
" Well I think we need to stop running from it and confront it head on so there can be no more of this popping up you know? We are getting married on Saturday and I want us cleanse of this. Seeing her again probably brought back many unpleasant memories of that night right?" Laura whispered. As much as she tried to believe that she was fully okay with what happened, she knew that a part of her would ache for the fact that Maia got to know Riker in the same way that Riker gives himself to Laura. Not by choice any means of course, Laura knows that Riker didn't want that to happen, and Laura doesn't consider it cheating anymore as she knows that he was tricked. But he still had sex with her and from Maia showing her the tape of them; Laura knew it was more than once. The thought of Riker touching Maia like thought makes Laura physically nauseous. Laura could still remember that horrible morning when their world came crashing down and the fall out. Riker coming in her room that morning after Laura seeing the tape.
She was going to be sick now. But she knows that if she is feeling like this, Riker must be feeling worse as he was the one that was violated.
Laura sighed.
Riker was in all intends and purposes was raped. There actually wasn't no intends or purposes, he was raped by that bitch. And it pains Laura to know that she really didn't fully grasp that until now. She had told herself that when they got back together but she still held a part of it as cheating and thought of it as just free wiling sex. But the truth is Riker had no control over his body that night. His reflex when he came was intoxicated under the influence. Laura could feel her blood boil at the thought that Maia could do something that evil to someone like Riker who has a big heart loves everyone and is willing to be anyone's friend. Laura could feel her heart break as she realized that Riker went through hell and up until this point she really didn't recognize that. Laura could feel her eyes water and her body tremble as she came to that realization.
" What's wrong baby?" Riker asked. Laura wrapped her arms around him and pulled him to her.
" I am so sorry Riker, I am truly sorry for what that wrenched person did to you. I know I said it before but I really didn't fully recognize it until now. But she raped you. She forced you to do something that you aren't willing to do otherwise. The sight of her just must have brought that all back. Baby you got to know that I love you and I don't think of that as you cheating on me anymore. You didn't know what you were doing."
Riker could feel the emotion burning in his throat. It felt like his throat was closing up and he was having a hard time breathing. He thought that he was past all this, Laura had forgiven him and they even identified it as rape before but Riker really didn't want to focus on that. Because for all he thought was that men couldn't be raped, that only women were victims. Maia made sure to throw in that he could tell that he was with her and not Laura, but he was used and he really didn't know that it wasn't Laura. Maia was trying to make him take on the blame when it really was on her. He was the victim of her cruel actions and he can actually admit that now he was a victim of rape. That it is okay for a man to admit that he was a rape victim and not feel the shame of embarrassment of it. Rape is a horrible vile thing that happens to everybody women and even men. There shouldn't be any shame in crying out and saying that he was a victim and not just oh it was just sex I couldn't control.
" She said that I knew who I was with; that I knew it wasn't with you. But Laura I really didn't know. I thought we were together, she even told me that she was you. She whispered in my ear how much she loved me and that she was you. She even made me call out your name because that is what she wanted." Riker said as he looked her in the eyes.
Laura really wished she could kill a bitch. She grabbed Riker's face and kissed him. She pulled back.
" She was a bitch to say you knew. You didn't and that was because of her. You did nothing wrong there Riker. Nothing! I want you to believe that."
" I do. I really did but seeing her again and when she said that it just brought back so much of that self-hatred that I had for myself. I even took a shower after she left and scrubbed myself raw. I felt so dirty and damaged."
' You are not damaged, You are not dirty okay? You are Riker Anthony Lynch the man that I love most in this world and who is going to be my husband this Saturday. Come with me." Laura said to him. Riker just smiled and kissed Laura. He really was a lucky man to have such a beautiful caring woman to love him.
" I Love You so much." Riker said.
" I Love you too, and I am going to show you that you are worthy and good and clean. You are not damaged and I want to show you that. So come with me." Laura said as she pulled Riker up and they walked into the bedroom. Laura took off his clothes and laid Riker on the bed. They weren't going to have Sex all she wanted to show him was that he was the man that she loved. That she was in love with who he is and that he has nothing to be shameful about. That despite everything that happened, Riker was what she wanted and who she wanted. That Maia may have gotten to spend one night with him, but she Laura was the one that was going to have the rest of his life to be with him. Laura showed him that he was valued and loved and that Saturday they were going to finally become one.
" I Love you." Laura whispered in his ear as he had fallen asleep after such an emotional gut wrenching day. She wiped his hair out of his eyes and brought him closer to her, Riker automatically wrapped his arms around her and placed his head on her chest.
Maia was not going to take this away. She lost and Riker and Laura have won.
Ratliff was pissed at the way Ross behaved. ' What the hell was that Ross?" he asked.
" What was what?" Ross asked.
Ratliff rolled his eyes. " Do not play dumbass with me, I mean how you acted with Kel? Telling her that we were involved like that and that we were planning a trip together when we are here for Riker and Laura!"
Ross rolled his eyes.
" We are involved right? I mean she had to find out sooner or later, but honestly I am surprise she didn't realize sooner. I mean is she really that much of a twit that she couldn't pick up a paper?" Ross asked his jealously getting the best of him.
' Didn't you hear what she said? She was in France!" Ratliff said.
Ross again rolled his eyes. " What they don't have any papers or internet in France? She can't be that stupid!"
Ratliff just rolled his eyes.
" Can't you stop fucking insulting her for five seconds. She didn't do anything to you."
" But didn't she cheat on you that is why you broke up with her? So why do you care if I insult the ho?" Ross said.
Ratliff just rolled his eyes. Despite them breaking up Kelly and him had 5 years of an amazing relationship and they were friends first so despite everything that went down, he couldn't cut the bond. They were just friends after all; Ratliff was madly in love with Ross.
" You don't have to call her names! Why are you so damn jealous?" Ratliff asked.
Ross scoffed. " Like I would be jealous of her, I mean look at my body I know how much you like it Ratliff I know you want me, I just find it unnecessary to have her in our lives that is all/" Ross shrugged.
" So does that apply to Laura too? I mean you were in love with her too, so should we cut her out of our lives as well?" Ratliff asked.
" Now you are being a dumbass, Laura and I never had anything, She is my best friend, actually she is my family so that is different, and really you bring that up when we are living in her apartment?"
" No I m just bringing up the fact that you can't just expect me to drop Kelly out of my life. It isn't fair."
" Oh I am sorry that I don't want someone that hurt you in your life, excuse me for caring."
Ratliff rolled his eyes.
' This is ridiculous I am going to go get my gift to Laura and Riker you can do whatever you want."
' What does that mean?" Ross asked.
" It means until you stop acting like a jealous tool, then I really don't want to be around you."
' So what you going to go fuck Kelly now?" Ross asked as his jealously was on fire and blinding him to what really was going on.
" That is exactly what I am going to do. It is nice to know that my boyfriend that one that I love and have been with for over a year now has so much faith in me and thinks that all I think with is my dick and that I am some whore. Go to hell Ross." Ratliff said as he stormed a way to go finish with the travel agent leaving Ross standing by himself.
Ross couldn't help but think that maybe it was time to end this relationship with Ratliff. After all if he wasn't going to believe him what is the point in being together?