After It All

Chapter Two

Riley

"But what if I don't like it?" Landon asked as we walked hand and hand out of his new school, I smiled at him as we continued to walk towards the car
"I bet you will sweetie, you just need to give it a shot alright?" I asked

Landon hasn't exactly grown to be the biggest social butterfly, he doesn't hit it of with other children like Zach did. It's been harder for him we all know that and I think started school here with out Zach is going to be hard for him

"But what if they are mean? Zach won't be there and" He said starting to ramble, I sighed crouching down to his level taking his hands into mine, he looked up at me with those brown eyes. The same ones that James has, it's one of the many things that is James shining through with the boys
But I wouldn't want it any other way

"Listen to me okay" I whispered earning his full attention
"You Landon, are the bravest little man I've ever met. You are different to everyone else we know that but it's the best kind of different" I said making him smile as I rubbed the back of his hands lightly 
"I'm Mummy's special little man" He whispered looking back up at me
"Exactly baby" I said before he gently reached forward pulling me into a soft hug 

"I don't want to do football with Zach this year" She said making me raise a brow. When Zach got into football, Landon followed and I think we all just assumed it was what they wanted but from the way he just said that, I don't think it's what he wants anymore

"Then what would you like to do Lan?" I asked watching as a grin fell on his face ear to ear

"I wanna dance, like you and Daddy do" He whispered making me smile, When the kids were little, we wanted nothing more then to get them both into dance but when Zach wasn't interest. We didn't want to pressure into Landon into it either but seeing that he wants to. And we're back in the city. I couldn't think of any place better then for Landon to start

"I know just the place" I smiled kissing the top of his head and we walked over to the car finally

It didn't take us long at all to get to our next stop, I knew how to get to this place too easily. It felt like only yesterday that James and I were here
"What is this place mummy?" Landon asked holding my hand as we walked into the building, I smiled looking in front of us to see the photo wall still with all of our photos from Regionals, Nationals and Internationals all still up. Each troupe that made it to all three had their own board and it was actually sweet that they were still here

"Is that Daddy?" Landon asked making me smile, I picked him up placing him on my hip making him smile wider
"And you mummy!" He said pointing to a photo of James and I
"Is this where you danced?" he asked placing his head on my shoulder
"it sure is honey" I smiled
"This is where I met your Daddy" I said making Landon smile once more looking at the photo's 

"It's Auntie Em!" He clapped making me chuckle, it's almost crystal clear that Emily is Landon's favourite whether we want to admit it or not

"Now that is a face I didn't expect to see" Someone called, I would know that voice anyway. It's one that I hadn't heard in years
I turned slightly to see Miss Kate walking this way with open arms making me chuckle as she pulled me into a tight hug
"Riley" She smiled into the hug while Landon stood in the middle of the hug looking confused as ever

"and who is this handsome little man" Miss Kate said poking Landon's tummy making him giggle
"Well this is one of James' and I's children. He would like to dance and I couldn't think of anywhere better" I said smiling 

--

"Now that's all set up, we will see you next week Landon" Miss Kate smiled making Landon smile ear to ear swinging his legs in the chair he was sat in
"I remember when you and James were just two little kids" Miss Kate pouted making me chuckle
"And now we have little kids of our own" I smiled 

"When did you all grow up" She chuckled, I smiled to myself before looking down at my phone to see a few missed calls from James. Only then did I notice we had been gone all day and all they thought we were doing was visiting the school while James took Zach to his. With company of Ellie 
"We should really be going. But we will see you bright and early next week?" I smiled making Miss Kate nod before we turned to see Landon sat their patiently
"It was lovely to meet you Landon" Miss Kate smiled
"It was lovely to meet you too Miss Kate" Landon answered 

I never in a million years thought I would ever hear those words come out of my children's mouths

As soon as Landon and I got home, he ran upstairs where I'm assuming Zach would be waiting for him while I walked into the living room where I saw James
He was falling asleep slowly while Ellie lay asleep on his chest
They do that often and it's honestly my favourite thing
"Hey" James whispered noticing my weight added to the sofa

He swiftly wrapped an arm around me pulling me onto his chest allowing my to join his cuddle with Ellie

"Where were you guys?" He asked in a low tone, it was his signature sleepy voice
"Landon chose a new path" I said making James look at me with one eye open
"Ri, I love you but I'm half asleep" He said making me chuckle

"Landon wants to dance" I said now earning the opening of both eyes
"What?" James breathed out

Whether he wants to admit it or not. James really wanted at least one of the boys to dance, to sort of follow in his footsteps, now that he has the opportunity, I think he's going to be even more smitten with our little Landon

"So I took him to The Next Step to sign him up for some classes which meant running into Miss Kate which then lead to a long catch up" I said making James nod as he pulled me in a little closer
"Everything is slowly falling even more into place isn't it" He said making me smile as I leant forward stroking Ellie's hair out of her face

"It is" I smiled before looking up at James watching at he nodded before leaning down pressing our lips together

It took us a long time to build what we had, but I wouldn't have wanted to build it with anyone else