Landing In London {Dreams & Bleachers Sequel}

Empty Chairs

NJ's POV

It's been two weeks, and I haven't felt better in my whole life than I do with these girls. They're the best damn thing that's ever happened to me, besides Ryder of course.

Seeing how happy Sarah is just always lightens the mood. To top it off, it's Thanksgiving, and I'll finally get to see all our friends. They haven't got a chance to meet our little ones, so I'm sure you can understand why I'm so excited.

The girls have been just raving about it! They can't wait to meet them just as much as me.

Ryder was at work right now, because as we all know, crime doesn't sleep, but he promised he'd be home by dinner. The doorbell rang, and I ran to grab it. A smile spread across my face when I saw Harley and Jade, along with their own family.

"Hey! How're you doing?" Harley beamed as she walked in.

"Good. It's been a bit of an adjustment, but we're very happy. How's Gray been?" I asked.

"Ah, he's a little trouble maker like his mom! Nothin' we can't handle." Jade said. "Do you have a place I can lay him down? It's about nap time for him."

"Yeah, we have a bassinet upstairs in the baby's room." I replied as I began to walk towards the stairs, then realized Sarah was right behind me. "How could I forget? This is our newest addition to the family, Sarah. Honey, these are some of daddy and I's fri- I mean, family."

Ella leaned down, smiling. "Oh my God, you are just too precious! Um, I guess I'm your cousin, Ella. This is my sister, Carolyn."

Sarah got very happy, because she finally had a friend, who was also a girl. "You're really pretty." She said.

Ella blushed. "Oh, thank you."

"Why don't you stay down here with Ella and Carolyn while we go upstairs for a few minutes?" I asked her, to which she happily nodded.

Harley, Jade and myself walked upstairs to the nursery where Savannah had just been put down for her nap. They set Gray down in our bassinet, and he went to sleep fairly quickly.

"This is gorgeous." Harley spoke as she took as look around.

"Thank you, I spent a lot of time obsessing over it." I snickered.

"We better go get the food from the car, so it doesn't freeze out in this cold weather." Jade laughed.

"I suppose so. Plus, I just heard your doorbell again." Harley added.

I sighed, jogging back downstairs to see Seamus had brought his own son. Yeah, I heard some things about that all, but I'm proud he did what he did. Ashley was there, so I suppose they made up. That, or he made an agreement to come because he didn't want to be with a kid but no woman.

It wasn't too soon after that the others started to come, bringing plenty of food. Jade and Eddie were the ones who cooked, while the rest of the guys watched the game and I sat watching the kids from a distance while the girls gossiped around me.

We'll be eating in about a half hour, and Ryder still isn't home. Please don't do this to me, Baby. Don't.

Later

Everyone was taking their seats at the dinning table, with the kids at their own table in the next room. Ella sweetly agreed to watch them, although I know part of it was to escape some of the odd conversations we tend to have.

We all joined hands for prayer, and I sighed when I realized there was an empty space next to me. Arianna, who was on the other side of the empty chair, gave me a soft smile, then reached over and put her hand in mine. That was pretty unexpected, considering she can't stand me.

Jade was the one to say grace, then as we all lifted our heads, I heard the question I was dreading.

"Where's Ryder?" Ash asked.

"He, um, he got caught up at work." I muttered, keeping my head down.

Arianna's POV, Later

Kevin and I were driving back to the apartment, and there was a thick silence. He knew why I was upset. Eddie and Genesis announced their engagement tonight, and at least half our friends have kids now. Not us, no. We're still stuck back in high school.

"Are you okay?" He quietly asked.

"No, I'm not okay." I snapped. "And you know why I'm not okay."

He sighed. "I'm sorry, it's just... I'm not ready, okay, Arianna? I'm not ready for us to get married and have kids. If you can't have patience with me, maybe you should try to find a man that is ready to give you those things."

I suddenly shut my mouth, scared that any words might make him leave me. Yeah, I want a ring and some kids, but I don't want them with anyone other than him. I just can't stand waiting around for him.

NJ's POV

The kids were both in bed, and everyone had left. I only had some candles burning on the dinning room table I sat at, with no other light than that. There I was, alone eating some left over pie and waiting for Ryder to come home.

Even Hope had given up and gone to bed. It was to a point I was starting to get worried. I know he was chasing a lead, but it's not like him to not call.

Finally, I heard the garage door go up, and back down. Checking the clock, I saw it was almost midnight when Ryder walked in.

"Angel, you shouldn't have waited up for me." He said as he quickly kissed my numb lips.

"I was worried." I replied, noticing his kiss tasted a little different than normal. "You said you'd be home by dinner."

"I'm sorry, Honey. We got slammed today. I promise I'll make it up to you." Ryder spoke as he carelessly threw his jacket over the back of a chair. He turned towards the staircase, saying, "I'm going to go turn in. I'm bloody beat."

He began to walk away when I muttered, "You should have called."

"What?" He asked as he turned around.

"I said, you should have called me." I told him with frustration. "For all I know, you could have been dead somewhere."

He looked at me with those glistening eyes I can't refuse. "I'm sorry, Baby, really. Like I said, I promise I'll make it up to."

I sighed to myself as I picked up my plate and wordlessly walked to the kitchen with nothing else to say. Something about this just didn't seem right.