The Little Friar // Lucas Friar

Girl meets Hurricane

Ari POV:
I stood behind the counter at Topanga's beside Katy and Topanga as we watched Riley with Mr.Matthews, Maya with Shawn, and Lexi with Lucas. I had just recently started working there while Lucas got a job at the grocery store so that we could support our little family. As our daughter's enjoyed their little father daughter time we stood talking. It was a little strange for them seeing as Lucas and I were just a year older than their daughters but it was great getting to talk with other moms. Lucas' mom was incredible but she didn't raise a girl so getting advice from these two was great.

As I stood there I admired the looks on the faces of my daughter and my boyfriend as they talked and giggled with each other while Lucas fed her little crumbs of cake.

"Okay! Evening over!" Mr.Matthews exclaimed suddenly.

"Hey!" Maya and Shawn replied.

"Did you all do your homework?" Mr.Matthews asked.

"Yeah its all done" Lucas replies as he tosses Lexi up in the air a little before catching her causing her to burst out into a fit of giggles.

"I did excellent work" Riley responds.

"I also did excellent work" Maya responds.

"One of us is completely lying"

"Can you guess who?"

"Give them a hint" Riley tells Maya.

"You guys need a hint?" Maya asks to which they all shake their heads and reply with a No.

"They really get along together don't they?" Topanga asks Katy as I start to wipe down the counter.

"Yeah. The sound of my daughter's laughter has always been my favorite song." Katy replies smiling over at the pair.

"Looks like we all have the same taste in music" I respond after Topanga nods in agreement.

"You done for the day, Ari?" Katy asks.

"Yeah, I'll see you next time" I say after clocking out and grabbing my bag.

"Bye Ari" Katy and Topanga reply.

"Ready to go lovey" Lucas asks as buckles our angel into her stroller.

"Yup lets go" I say leaning up to peck his cheek before we make our way out of the cafe and start heading home.

Lucas POV:
A few days had passed since the father daughter night and now we were sitting in class and the word "Katrina" was written on the board at the front of the class.

"It came out of nowhere. The winds were blowing at 175 miles an hour. A "Category 5" hurricane. There is no category six. Who knows what a levee is?" Mr.Matthews asks before calling on someone. "Riley?"

"It's like a hill or a dam that's supposed to keep water out. "Riley responds.

"Supposed to." So, we build these protections to keep out the elements, but sometimes the storm is stronger than we are. Who knows anything about New Orleans geography?" Mr.Matthews continues before calling on Farkle.

"It's below sea level." Farkle answers.

"So where does the floodwater go? Ari?"

"Down. Right into the city." Ari answers a little sadness evident in her voice as she remembers all the volunteering we did there after we had found out what had happened.

"And what's the result? Lucas." Mr.Matthews continues to call on us.

"Parish after Parish was destroyed. People lost their homes. People lost everything."I reply as I also recall the days spent in New Orleans.

"Lucas went there from Texas to help out." Riley says suddenly calling 60th Ari and I to turn and look at her in confusion.

"He told you that?" Ari asks in confusion.

"Nope." She replies

"someone has a little stalker problem"Ari whispers cooling me to laugh a little alongside her.

"You know, when it ended, there were jazz bands playing on the street. Other people came out of what was left of their houses to dance. You know what they do in New Orleans? They have Hurricane barbecues. Hurricane picnics. Their city drowned but they still celebrated each other." i say as i recall the celebration that had occurred.

"Thank you, Lucas. So, their homes are gone. They have no power. And they live in a city where even geography tells them it's a sucker's bet to stay. What do they do?" he says looking towards Maya expectantly. "Maya, raise your hand." He says.

"I don't know the answer." she responds

"Stop hiding out in my class, Maya. You know the answer. What did they do? "He asks.

"They stayed and they believed things would get better. And they did. They got better." Maya answers giving a small smile.

"How come?" Mr. Matthews asks her.

"Because they had hope." Maya finishes her answer.

"New Orleans is one of my favorite cities in the world. Even in devastation, they didn't miss a Mardi Gras. The clothes look nice, Maya. But it's the hope that looks great on you." he tells her finally revealing the life connection that we had been waiting for before dismissing us.

"Hey bubba, I have work so you get to watch the little princess today" Ari says wrapping her arms around me.

"Sounds good baby, you want us to walk you?" I ask her kissing her crown before she nods her head smiling up at me.

Ari POV :
After arriving at the bakery I walked in to see Katy and Shawn standing at the counter talking.

"Hey boss" I say smiling as I walk in before someone runs in.

" knock knock" Mr. Matthews  as he comes in.

" who's there?" Shawn asks.

"The only person who could change your life from things are going pretty good right now to... AHHH!" Mr. Matthews says before suddenly shouting causing me to jump.

"The only person who could change my life from things are going pretty good right now to..." Shawn trails off waiting for Mr.Matthews to shout again.

"AHHH!" He does.

"Who?" Shawn finishes before a woman comes in and says Hi.

"Yeah Ari I think you're good to head home we're not that busy" Katy says causing me to giggle and nod before grabbing my bag and heading out towards Lucas' place.

"I'm home!" I shout after arriving.

" what happened to work?" Lucas asks.

" I don't even know" I say laughing as I lean up to kiss him.

A/N: hey everyone sorry for the extra long wait on this chapter. Life has been crazy but I'm hoping that updates will start to be more frequent from now on. Anyways hope you all enjoyed.