Here's To Forever

Eight

James

I've never raced somewhere so fast in my entire life, I pulled up at my parents house to see them sitting in the living room talking to themselves
"Where is she?" I asked walking in
"She's outside" Mum answered but she stopped me before I could continue
"Whatever you do James, please don't be mad at her" Mum begged, I looked at her confused before shaking her grip off of me and heading outside

There she was, sat on the porch swing that we used to always play on as kids, that is where she taught me math, that is where I taught her to be louder. It's crazy how it's come back to that swing
"James" her voice said noticing me, I looked over at her with a smile
"Hey Ri" I said but before I could do anything she had broken down into tears and was running into my arms, I happily held her close. I don't know what is going on but I know we will get through it
"Riley, what is going on? You've scared the crap out of me" I said scooping her up and taking her back to the swing allowing her to sit on my lap
"I don't want you to be mad or hate me" She said crying into my chest
I raised her chin making her look at me
"I don't think that is even possible. When you walked out Ri, I thought you were gone for good and I couldn't understand what I had done" I whispered to her
"It was never you James, you didn't do anything.. It was me" She cried
"can you please tell me what is going on Riles? I promise whatever it is, I won't be mad.. I just want to understand" I explained, She gripped on to my shirt
"It wasn't our plan though James, it wasn't meant to happen like this" She cried
"What wasn't?" I asked
"Having a baby" She said with her grip tightening on me, I moved back slightly so I could look at her
"Are you pregnant Ri?" I asked and she slowly nodded, I smiled widely
"Why on earth would I be mad at that Riley" I asked 
She looked up at me trying to read my expression but I can promise you I have nothing but happiness on my face right now
"you're not mad?" she asked and I shook my head pressing my lips against her
"Wait.. Is this what you thought I would be disappointed with?" I asked her and she nodded again
"why?" I then asked
"Because we were meant to be getting married first, we hadn't even thought about kids yet and even when we spoke about it you didn't know when you wanted them" She rambled
"Riley, I would love to be having kids with you, whether that be now or later down the line. This would never be something I would be disappointed about. Marriage or not babe, I'll be here" I said before placing my hand on her stomach
"For both of you" I smiled looking down then back to Riley as she pressed our lips together again

--

After a long calming chat with Riley about this, she finally let me in. She told me why she was so scared. I can't help but blame myself for her feeling like this but at the same time I know Riley enough to know she had the tendency to overthink even the little things
Here we are now on Emily's doorstep, Riley seems a lot happier. That is all I care about
"Hey!" Marcus said smiling as he let us in
"Hey man" I said doing our usual handshake
"Em! James and Riley are here" He called making Emily poke her head out of the kitchen before drying her hands in a towel and walking towards Riley
She did not look happy but once again, my fault I probably worried her more then I should have
"Riley" Emily breathed out pulling Riley into a tight hug
"Don't you dare ever do that again" She rambled making Riley chuckled hugging her back
"I won't Em" She said as they pulled away
"You better not!" She said cupping Riley's face
"want a beer James?" Marcus asked, I looked over at him and nodded following him into the kitchen
"I'm glad to see she's okay" Marcus said handing me a bottle
"Me too, I'm sorry for stressing out Emily" I replied as we tapped out bottles together
"Hey man, we both know that if you hadn't told her, Emily would have murdered both of you" He chuckled, he had a valid point
"Okay but next time talk to us" I hear Emily say as they walked into the kitchen
"Auntie Riley!" Owen called as he came running in from the garden with Jackson
"Uncle James" he then called coming and hugging both of us in turn
"hey spuds" I said laughing making Emily roll her eyes
"Boys go wash up before bed please" Emily warned them, they groaned before then walking away

We had been at Emily's for a little while, she had just finished putting the boys to bed when she came down and sat with us
"Want some wine Riley?" Emily asked bringing in two glasses and a bottle
"Em we need to talk to you first" I replied, Emily looked at me confused before taking a seat next to Marcus, the pair of us were just as confused as I had been before I was told
"well um, to put it simply.. I'm returning the favour" Riley said trying to make a joke but all it did was confuse them further
"You're going to be an Auntie Em" I chuckled finishing my beer. She looked at me wide eyed before looking at Riley with tears in her eyes
"No way" She said getting up pulling Riley in for a hug
"Congratulations man" Marcus said hugging me before turning to his Sister-In-Law to hug while Emily came over to me
"James you little shit you" She laughed hugging me
"Is this what all of this was about?" She whispered to me and I nodded
"I'm so happy for you both" She squealed sitting back down
"It's gonna be so amazing!" Emily chimed again, she was clearly over the mood with the news
"you aren't mad?" Riley asked
"why on earth would we be mad?" Marcus asked and Riley shrugged, I smiled at her before placing my hand on her waist
"We were meant to get married first" Riley whispered
"Hey look at it this way, if you postpone it a little bit! They could be at your wedding. How amazing would that be" Emily smiled taking Riley's hand into hers
"Riley everything happens for a reason and I'm pretty sure he has a reason for coming now" She smiled making Riley chuckle
"him?" I asked
"We don't even know how far along he is let alone the gender" I chuckled
"I have my ways of knowing Jamesy" Emily teased
"A mother knows" She continued making Riley roll her eyes
"I'm so proud of you Ri" Emily then said crying again hugging her sister
Emily had built an amazing life here for herself, a husband, two happy little boys. She's got everything she always wanted when growing up and now it is Riley's turn.
This may not have been the way it was planned for her but it'll work out, I know it will
She's got my by her side 100% of the way, would could be stopping her