Since the day a young Maya heard singing from an open window, climbed in and found her brown haired ray of sunshine the two had been best friends. Riley was the yin to her yang, they were two peas in a pod. In their teen years, each of them had solidified their reputation as the other's opposite. Maya was impulsive and brave and wild while Riley was a bright, rule-abiding and cautious. Riley was brave too, Maya would reflect sometimes, because she believed in things like hope and the good in people whereas Maya knew better. The infuriating thing about Maya's best friend was her inclination to just ignore the bad in the world. Sometimes Maya thought she wasn't Riley's best friend, denial was.

"Riley, this is happening. It's okay to be scared or sad."

"Nothing is happening Peaches because distance means nothing to a love like ours. It happened to my parents and now it's happening to us and it worked out for them so it'll work out for us. Besides, Zay has a girlfriend in Texas and they seem to be doing just fine."

Word had gotten to Lucas that his Grandpappy Joe was in the hospital not doing well and that he should go visit him "sooner rather than later." He was an adult now, he knew what that meant. His grandpappy was dying and he needed to go be with him.

Lucas had procrastinated telling Riley because he had been busy with recommendations and clinicals for vet school. He had ignored his mother's constant badgering to call his grandfather back and now the thought that he may not ever speak to him again made him feel like a frightened child. In the years Riley and Lucas had been together, he had known that breaking bad news to her was quite the task. He was supposed to be strong and fearless but his voice shook when he had told her.

"Well when are you coming back?" Riley had asked cocking her head to the side ever so slightly like puppies do sometimes, she did it unknowingly but it usually made Lucas smile. They sat shoulder to shoulder on the maroon loveseat in their shared apartment.

"I don't know Riley. I'm gonna be gone for a couple of weeks at least, more or less depending on how bad it is."

"How bad what is?"

"Grandpappy Joe, he's sick. They don't think he's going to make it."

"I'm so sorry Lucas, take the time you need. We'll be fine." The words had felt forced, even for her. Sure they'd make it through anything, but every ounce of her wanted to ask him to not go and leave her. She kissed him and he smoothed her hair in a way that always made her feel like everything was going to work out.

"Babe there's one more thing," Her stomach dropped. She knew Lucas and 'baby's and 'honey's and all their variations only escaped his lips in the direst of circumstances.

"I heard back from Dr. Furler. He wants to meet me for an interview."

"Who?"

"You know honey, he heads up those residency placement programs in College Station. Remember? We talked about it." He was lying of course, this was the first he'd mentioned this to Riley and hoped she wouldn't call him out on it.

"College Station, what is that, Jersey?" She asked, her soft tone turning to disgust, her face scrunching.

"Not exactly. It's where A&M is." He tiptoed around the word cautiously, he didn't want to upset her more than she already was but it was inevitable. She was going to blow. He felt it.

"TEXAS A&M?!" She shouted accusing. "Are you freakin kidding me? When did we talk about this?!"

"Okay, we might have had this conversation when you were asleep."

"Lucas Bartholomew Friar, how dare you?!"

"Riley you know that's not my middle name, can you just calm down for a second?"

"CAN I CALM DOWN? I don't know, honey, can I?" Okay, I deserved that, Lucas thought to himself. She hates it when I patronize her.

"Heading to Texas, got your work and school all sorted, anything else I should know? What, you got a wife down there too or something?!"

"Riley, I applied to a bunch of places all over, just silly places, I didn't think I had a chance so I didn't think it was important to tell you. It's a really hard program to get into." He looked sincerely at her with wounded eyes. She sighed. She was happy for him, she really was.

"So where else did you apply?" She asked trying to lighten the tone, bumping shoulders with him.

"Guam." He laughed, overly enunciating the word. "California. North Carolina. Oregon." He got up, decisively. "There was something I realized though even as I was filling out all these applications though." Riley got up on her tippy toes to kiss him, "And what's that?"

"I love you."

"Hardly the epiphany, Friar."

"No, like really really really love you." He pecked her lips after every really, it made Riley smile in that big toothy way he loved. "And Riley Rhiannon Matthews, I can't live without you."

"That's not my middle name," She smiled with her eyebrows furrowed, concerned and suspicious of this sudden affection.

"I know. I guess what I'm trying to say is that wherever I do end up, I want it to be with you." He let go of her and got down on one knee, pulling out a small red ring box.

She expected a purple jelly bean in it, this was a near annual event for them. Ever since they decided to become a couple in middle school, every couple of years there was that darned ring box. Like clockwork, every one or two years, usually during a difficult time or change in their lives out came the box. Lucas's best friend Zay joked that every anniversary they had to renew their vows. The color of jellybean changed from time to time. When they had graduated it was a grass flavored bean and Riley didn't talk to him for two whole days. She said it was the meanest thing he'd ever done and she was probably right. That's what he got for listening to Maya. He didn't usually go through the sillyness of taking a knee for her, Riley wondered what was different this time. She let out a small gasp when the box opened and in the place of a jellybean there was a rose gold band with a single brightly shining diamond in the middle.

"And I'm asking if you'll do me the honor of allowing me to tag along wherever you go. I can't imagine growing old with anyone but you. Riley Matthews, would you allow me the privilege of being your husband?"

Author's Note: Go easy on me guys, it's my first fic! REALLY ROUGH first draft. This started out a Joshaya idea and the more I thought about it, the more it made sense for Riley and Lucas. Maybe a one shot? Let me know if you guys like want more because I have some ideas about where the pair can go from here. I appreciate feedback!