A/N:Chapter 18

Never Give In

Chapter 18

Everyone

Part 2

New York was different from what she expected. Riley thought that by being here it would make her feel more connected to her past but it didn't. She still saw it; her past. She was starting to remember it but it felt cloudy as if someone had put a thin veil on her memories. And Riley knew that by being here, it did not change what she went through or the things she had experienced. Her life was going to be a before and after of it. It was beautiful thought. The skyline; tall buildings that touched the sky and the view of people on the streets below her. There was this simplicity and nostalgic beauty. Simon had left her in a room to fetch her family. Her family. It was a weird thought to be reintroduced to them again. She wished Elaine was here. Elaine would have helped with her nerves.

"Riley, relax," Raven said soothingly. Riley smiled, she had almost forgot that Raven was in the room, before replying, "I know, it's just strange."

Raven got up from where she sat at one of the couches in the room. It was a spacious a room, Riley had briefly wondered what it was used for. Raven had told her that it was one of the rooms that help to facilitate first meetings.

"So how does this work?" Riley asked

"How does what work?"

"Do you guys go, hey this is your family. See you around Riles?" Riley pressed trying to imitate Simon.

Raven snorted before replying. "No we tend to just push them without introduction and say they are your problem now."

Riley let out a laugh, she knew that Raven was trying to make her as relaxed as really appreciated that Raven and Simon were here.

"I'm staying in New York for a while keeping an eye on you making sure you are fine," Raven said sneaking a peek to see how Riley would take the news, "I hope you don't mind that."

She didn't mind it. Raven would be staying in New York. Riley knew that is was not all for her but she liked the idea that Raven was close and that she knew Riley well enough to know when she was worrying, or uncomfortable.

"No, I don't," Riley said softly making Raven smile.

"Riley," Simon called out. She turned to see Simon leading an older couple to the room. A woman and a man who were looking at her greedily as if she was going to disappear the moment they looked away.

"Riley," The woman breathed, tears were forming in her eyes. Both their eyes.

"Hi," She said softly as she moved a step closer. Her heart was beating wildly in her chest.

"Can we..." the man asked as he moved to open his arms. She could see his hands were shaking and that gave her the courage to move forward into their arms.

In their embrace she heard weeping (she did not know if it was from her or them), calling her name, and 'I love you's over and over again. She did not know if, maybe it was just the moment but she felt the weight inside her being lifted. She knew that whatever happened next, in this moment she was safe and wanted. She knew that her parents would love her for all that she was.

Riley let herself laugh before she pulled away slightly to look at her parents, "Hi."

Her parents let out a choked laugh. This close up she could see the darkness around her parents' eye. She wondered if they had taken care of themselves. She detangled her hands and placed one on each of her parents cheek.

'We really need to catch up," her dad said. Riley let out a small smile. She did not want to worry her parents. They had suffered enough and she did not want to relive those moment again.

"Where's Auggie?" Riley asked hoping to differ away that topic.

"He is waiting his turn, we don't want to overwhelm you too much," Her mom said as she ran her finger through Riley's hair. Riley let out a more genuine smile and mentally thanked Simon. She knew he had warned her parents about not being super physical. It was apparent in the way they let her make the first move. But these touches did not bring her to the darkness. It made her feel safe.

"Can I see him?" Riley asked.

"Of course, let me get him for you," Cory replied. He made his move to walk away but turned to embrace his daughter tightly, "We missed you so much."

Riley watched her dad leave with Simon before turning to her mom. She did not know what to say or how to react which was why she felt so grateful that Raven stepped in and introduced herself to Riley's mom.

"Hi my name is Raven, I am a friend of Riley's," Raven introduced holding her hand out to Riley's mom, "I will be around you for a while to let her acclimate back to her life here."

"Topanga, Riley's mom," Her mom said as she shook Raven's hand.

"There are a few things that I would like to discuss with you if that is alright," Riley heard Raven speak. She gave her mom a shy smile before heading back towards the windows. From the reflection she could see her mom trying to pay attention to Raven only to look at her. As if to make sure she was still there.

"Maya slow down," Shawn called out to her but she was off running. Her heart was pounding in her chest. A year had gone and passed and during that year, every night before she slept, every wish and hopeful thinking lead her to this moment. Her other half was waiting for her. They would be sisters again. She knew the rest of her friends were trying to match her pace, but she could not wait for them. As if she knew, it could be pure instinct for all she cared, Maya moved down the corridors before stopping at the door of what seemed to be a very large room.

And then she saw her. Riley, her Riley looking out the windows.

"Riley,"Maya said her voice heavy with emotion as she reached towards her best friend. A touch on the shoulder turned into her being slammed onto the innocence in her best friend's face was quickly replaced with one of wariness and fight. Maya could feel Riley's fingers tight around her neck.

Riley felt something hard touching her shoulder. And all she could think about was that hell. Her survival skills that she had cultivated kicked it. She turned quickly slamming whoever it was that was trying to hurt her. The calm in her heart morphed into fighting panic. She could feel the darkness closing in. She could feel them coming. She could feel them prying her off and about to sent her to the Fridge. Her body shook and she was not giving up without a fight.

She felt hands touch her cheek, not forcefully but enough that she was shoved away from her opponent.

"Riley," She heard Simon call out to her. Simon who had saved her from that place. She was safe. Riley blinked snapping out of her memories only to look in horror at what she had done. Her parents were looking as if they can't believe what was happening. Raven was beside a blonde girl helping her up. The girl she had hurt. She had become a monster.

Riley shrank to the corner and whispered shakily, "I'm sorry."

"No it's okay," Maya said trying to get closer. A hand was reaching towards her. Her demons came to the forefront of her mind. The demons that made her into this. Riley flinched from the touch, trying to shield herself away, to protect them, "No. Stay away"

"PTSD?"

The words were so foreign as the man called Simon explained to the rest of them what had happened. Post-traumatic stress disorder. Farkle felt a lump in his throat and he wondered if it would ever go away. Simon was explaining things and he should be paying attention but all Farkl could think about was the scene that he walked in on. Maya was completely silent beside him, as were Izzy, Lucas and Zay.

"What my colleague is basically saying," A voice cut through Simon's monologue, "Is that the girl you lost and the girl you found are completely different."

"And who are you?" Zay asked eyeing the lady with the jet black hair.

"My name is Raven, I've been helping Riley to rehabilitate," She said simply. Farkle watched Simon turn to his colleague and ask softly, "How is she?"

She as in Riley, his best friend that he saw backed into a corner off the wall looking haunted. Farkle watched Raven smiled sadly before replying, "She's calmed down. I think it's best if she does not have any visitors for a the moment."

"What happened to her?" Lucas finally asked. His voice hoarse from being silent for a really long time. Farkle knew that Lucas wanted to find out what happened to Riley just as much as he did, just as much as everyone did. Raven turned and Farkled felt himself being silent glanced over by Raven.

"I think it would be best if you find out from her," Raven replied. He wanted to kick up a fuss and demand actual answers if it were not for Maya speaking up.

"You know," Maya said as she looked towards Simon who simply nodded and said, "I was the one who found her."

"Thank you," Maya replied.

"Riley."

She had heard name multiple times after what she had done. Raven had moved her into another room and tried to comfort her. It did not help the sick feeling that consumed her heart. But this was different, the voice was not grown up and Riley could feel the tension in her body relax a little. The voice, she remembered from the months of darkness. She turned her head to see a boy looking at her with wonderment in his eyes. Riley was sure she held the same look.

"Auggie?" His name rolled out of her lips softly as if she had spoken it a million times before. The boy launched himself to her and instead of the panic she thought she would feel there was this relief and joy. Riley felt something wet falling from her cheeks.

"I knew you'd come back," Auggie said softly as she held him in her arms. There were so many things she wanted to say and so many things that she wanted to ask. The words that passed from her lips rang true,"I never forgot you."

"Promise me you won't leave ever again," Auggie spoke, she could feel his words vibrating on her chest. Riley knew that there were a lot of things that were going to be discussed and asked and prodded into. She knew that the months ahead were not being easy. But she had Raven in the city, she had he parents unconditional love and she had Auggie. She could figure this out and do whatever it took to get things back to normal.

"I promise."

Fin

So this is it guys. This is the final chapter. Thank you all so much for all the love and time it took to read this. I will be doing a continuation piece to this story but that will take sometime, so for now I will mark this as complete. I hope you all had enjoyed this story and it had been really fun for the most part writing it. I have been trying to write more recently so hopefully I would be able to put out something concrete soon. Hope you guys have an incredible day/week/year/life and hope to see you in the next one :)