Forever •BWS•

19.

•Brads PoV•

"It's Christmas!!!!!!" Tris yelled all through the house at 5:30am this morning.

Riley groaned beside me, and I slowly opened my eyes to see her moving back towards me more, so that her back pressed against my chest. I wrapped my arms around her waist tighter, getting her as close as possible.

"I hate Tristan Evans" she mumbled, making me laugh lightly.

"I know. Go back to sleep for a while babe, it's fine" I said, pressing a soft kiss to the back of her neck.

Today was going to be eventful to say the least. We were going to open all of our presents here with everyone, and then as soon as I told Mum
that Riley and I were back together, she insisted that we came home for Christmas dinner, saying she would invite Maura and Ethan over as well. So it was going to be just like it used to be. But I was petrified to see Maura in all honesty. I had promised her that I wouldn't hurt Riley again and I did, and I was scared that she wasn't going to be happy about us being back together. As soon as I knew Riley was fully asleep I carefully unwrapped my arms from around her and got out of bed, knowing that I wouldn't be able to get back to sleep. Thanks Tris.

"So, you gave her the ring then?" He asked as I entered the kitchen.

"Yeah" I yawned, rubbing my eyes.

"And you're back together?" He asked and I nodded, making him grin. "See man, I told you everything would work out fine. She loves you too much to let something like that get in the way"

"How did you know for a fact that she would forgive me though?"

"Because you don't see Riley the way we do. The way her eyes sparkle when she looks at you or how she smiles when you're around. We all knew she wasn't going to let you go that easily, no matter how hurt she was originally"  he said, and I couldn't quite believe it.

I never knew Riley reacted like that when I was around, I was always too focussed on just making sure she was happy. Anyways, to pass time until everyone else was up, Tris and I played COD, my phone constantly buzzing and I knew that it was either Mum or my sister Nat. Mum probably wondering what time and Riley would be home and Nat......probably just to be annoying. Before I knew it we had been playing for 2 hours, when everyone started coming downstairs.

"Morning Bradley" I heard Riley say from behind me before her small arms wrapped around my neck while she kissed my cheek.

"Morning babe" I smiled. "Sleep well?"

"The best"

"Guys everyone's here, let's open presents!" Ari exclaimed.

So for the next hour we all sat in a circle, each taking turns to open presents. I couldn't help but notice that Riley had kept looking at the promise ring and smiling to herself, occasionally glancing at me as well. What a cutie.

• • • • • • • • • • •
•Riley's PoV•

"Brad you'll be fine" I said, rubbing the back of his hand with my thumb as my other hand kept hold of the steering wheel.

"What if she doesn't want us together again?"

"She knows that you make me happy and that's all she wants, just like any mother"

"What if—"

"Brad, will you stop with the what if's?" I said softly. "Mum does not hate you. She understands that you made a big mistake, and she accepts that I made the decision to forget about it. And if I forget it, she will too. She just wants us to be happy"

"I am happy with you, I always have been" He said, squeezing my hand.

"Stop worrying then, it'll be fine" I said as I pulled up outside our houses and briefly pecked his lips.

We got out of the car and I intwined my fingers with his, giving his hand a small squeeze of reassurance as we entered his parents house. Only to be engulfed into a massive hug by Anne.

"I've missed you both so much!" She cried. "Cmon cmon. Dinner will be ready in about 10 minutes."

"Riles" Mum smiled as I walked into the living room and hugged me. "How are you?"

"I'm great Mum. And you?"

"I'm good sweetheart" she smiled, rubbing my arm. "But..."

"But?"

"I'd like a word with Bradley before dinner, if that's alright"

I looked up at Brad and he nodded, even though I could feel his hand shaking slightly in my grasp. It was obvious that he was even more nervous now. So they went off to the kitchen to speak while I hugged Derek.

"I've never been so glad to see you in my life" Natalie sighed as she hugged me tightly. "I thought Brad had messed everything up"

"He did for a good while"

"I thought so. I thought I had lost my little sister" she pouted.

Me and Nat had always been extremely close. Since me and Brad were best friends from a young age, it was sort of natural that Nat and I grew close as well.

"Even if I hadn't forgiven him, we'd always still be close Nat" I said, pulling her into another hug. "You've always been like my big sister and a best friend all in one. Brad's stupid mistakes would never get in the way of that"

"I'm glad you two are back together anyways, it's good seeing you both happy again"

I smiled and sat down at the table, where Anne had told me to sit before Jesse came over to me. I clapped her just before Brad walked back in, followed by Mum.

"Everything okay?" I asked.

"Yup. Everything's perfect" he smiled, kissing my cheek before he sat down at the table too.

I looked at Mum and she smiled at me. She had forgiven Brad. And that made me really happy to know that my biological family and my non-biological family, Brad's family in other words, could all still be together.......