A/N: Hey all! Back with a new chapter for ya. Enjoy!

Lucas' stomach continued to churn as the charter flight touched down at Washington Center. Even before the flight was catapulted off of the flight deck, he closed his eyes and tensed up, and he remained that way for majority of the flight. Needless to say, he was happy when his feet hit solid ground.

He had a month off before he had to report to his new position at the Naval Academy in Texas. After his first counseling session with Lieutenant Commander Parker, Lucas called Mr. Matthews and gave him the cut and dry version of what was happening (only that he had taken some time off before his next duty assignment), and he asked if it would be okay if he would be able to stay at their place. Once they heard about the crash, Lucas' parents were even more upset with him, and he received yet another lecture from his father as to why his decision to join the Navy was one of the worst ideas that he ever had. Luckily for him, Mr. Matthews agreed and said that he wouldn't have it any other way. Another reason why he asked was because his therapist wasn't that far away from the Matthews' apartment, only about an hour's drive.

Now all that was left to do was to meet up with his cousin, Alicia, so he could pick up his car. Mr. Matthews offered to meet him at the airport and fly back with him, but Lucas respectfully declined. He did need to bring his car back with him, he reasoned.

He shook his head just as he looked up and saw his cousin standing a few yards in front of him, her dirty blonde hair blowing in the wind and her blue eyes sparkling in the sunlight.

With open arms, Alicia welcomed her cousin home. "Hey, Luke. How's it going?"

Lucas smiled as he accepted the hug and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "Oh, you know… trying to get by; happy to be back on solid ground. How about you?"

"I'm doing well. Job is going great, the family is doing well."

"That's good to hear."

"How are things going with your parents ever since… you know," she mentioned.

Lucas let out a frustrated sigh as they approached his car. No matter where he went, he couldn't escape talking about it. But, he gave her the benefit of the doubt. Other than his parents and the Matthews' family, no one else really had any idea of what happened, besides the fact that he had crashed in the ocean and almost didn't make it. Everyone that knew had a bit more detail to soak in. "Oh, you know my dad. Frustrated and angry as ever. And this whole thing just gives him yet another reason to try and show me that I should be something different with my life."

Alicia grimaced. "I'm sorry. Don't let him get to you, though. You know that he's been after you to follow in his footsteps since you entered high school. It's your life, and I think you should do with it what you feel is the right thing to do," she said as she poked her finger to his sternum.

He batted her hand down and gave her a half smile. "Thanks, Al. And I'm trying… I really am."

She gave him a pleased smile. "Good."

"Now, do you need a ride home?"

She shook her head. "Nah, you know I'm about a twenty minute walk from here."

Lucas glared at his cousin. "Yeah, I do… and I don't care. Get in the car."

"Lucas," she sang. "I can walk."

"Alicia," he sang back. "I don't care. Now get in the car."

She rolled her eyes and opened the passenger side door. "Okay, fine. You win."

OoOoO

Six hours later, Lucas parked his car right next to Mr. Matthews' sedan. He turned it off, removed the keys from the ignition, and let out a sigh as he looked up at the apartment. This was going to be his home for the next month. Despite wanting to start that journey with people that he cared about, a huge part of him didn't want him to go inside at all.

After a few more minutes, Lucas stepped out of the car, headed into the apartment complex, and pressed the buzzer for the Matthews' apartment. "It's Lucas," he called into it.

It wasn't long after he lifted up on the button that he got a response.

"Come on up!" Riley's voice replied.

A small smile spread over Lucas' lips as he headed up the stairs to the apartment. Once he opened the door, he opened his mouth to greet everyone, but he stopped. The apartment was decorated, with a huge sign hanging above the kitchen table that read, "Welcome home, Lucas!" and streamers sweeping up to it. Mr. and Mrs. Matthews, Auggie, Riley, and Maya were standing on either side of the table.

Riley was the first one to approach him. "Welcome home," she greeted as she wrapped her arms around him.

Lucas dropped his sea bag and returned the embrace, "Thank you," he whispered as tears threatened to spill over.

"Welcome home," everyone else said once the young couple released from their hug.

"How are you doing?" Mrs. Matthews asked.

Lucas shrugged as he and Riley approached the rest of the group. "A bit tired."

"I don't blame you," Mr. Matthews spoke. "That long drive must have taken it out of you."

"Why didn't you just take the plane?" Auggie asked.

Lucas' jaw involuntarily clenched as he contemplated how to answer the teen's question. "The flight from the carrier was enough for me. That, and I needed some way to get my car up here."

"So where's your next duty assignment, cowboy?" Maya joined in.

"At one of the Naval Academies in Texas, but I'm not focusing on that right now. Right now, I just want to relax."

"I don't blame you for that," Mr. Matthews commented. "Riley, why don't you take Lucas to the guest room."

"Sure," she responded as she picked up his bag and headed down the hallway, to which Lucas followed.

Once she opened the door, Riley placed his bag onto the easy chair in the corner of his room. "Dinner should be ready in a few minutes. But don't feel rushed. Take your time; get comfortable with your surroundings."

He smiled as she stepped out of the room. "Thanks,"

"Anytime," she responded as she headed back down the hallway.

However, she didn't go straight back into the kitchen. Once she reached her room, she stepped inside and immediately sat down in the bay window. She couldn't help but feel that Lucas was unusually… on edge. Tense… and she couldn't understand why. Especially when Auggie asked why he didn't fly back, that was when she really noticed it! But what was causing it was the real question!

She sighed as she stood up and headed back out to the kitchen. Riley told herself that it was probably due to stress from all the change, but something in the back of her mind kept trying to tell her that there was something much more at play.

A/N #2: So, what did you think? Think Riley will find out what's going on? Let me know before you head out! See you on Wednesday!