Give Me Your Heart

“Alexa” Gerard breathed softly “It…it has been a while” he added, his eyes scanning the blonde woman’s frame slightly.

Alexa watched his stare and shook her head, an amused grin on her face. “You have nothing to be worried about, Gerard” she teased “I’m not here to tell you that I am expecting. You’ve only got one pregnant girl to deal with” she added with a look towards Riley who’d shrunk back a little, her eyes fixed on her feet.

Gerard, who’d startled a little at the sound of her voice, shook his head slightly, a small embarrassed tint on his cheeks. “I wasn’t…it’s just been a while, Alexa. You look good” he babbled softly.

Alexa admired the shy look on his face for a moment before she shifted her stare, settling it on Riley who stood sheepishly behind her boyfriend, shifting her feet nervously. “You’re together, I see” she quipped softly. It hadn’t been a surprise, after the way Gerard had broken up with her, the news that he and Riley had gotten back together was inevitable, and as much as she was irked with the defender for having led her on, she had to admit that he looked happy, something she doubted that he had ever been with her.

Gerard eyed the blonde woman for a moment before he reached his hand back, tugging Riley a little closer. “We are” he confirmed softly, his hand gently squeezing Riley’s.

Riley offered the defender a glance before she stepped to his side, shifting a little ahead of the blonde woman who quirked an amused smile. She wasn’t surprised, from the moment she and Riley had met, Alexa had sensed that she was a little shy and reserved, and she had to admit that she found it a little amusing, even if she didn’t have any intention of causing a problem for her and Gerard, she was a little proud that she had made the other woman feel a little concerned. “You’re OK” Alexa mused “Your boyfriend and I, there’s nothing between us” she added.

“I know” Riley squeaked “It’s just…”

“I know” Alexa mused “But you can rest assured, I’ve already moved on and I can clearly see that Gerard has too. You’ve been together for a while yes?” she posed.

Riley nodded. “A couple of months” she confirmed softly “But you have to know that I never meant to get involved between the two of you” she babbled, her cheeks warming a little.

Alexa mulled her words over for a moment before she took a step forwards, something which caused Riley to stiffen a little.

“Alexa” Gerard warned.

Alexa shook her head. “Don’t worry, Gerard” she teased “I wouldn’t do anything to her. You clearly care about her and as soon as you mentioned the fact that she was pregnant, I knew I couldn’t compete. You two clearly have something unfinished here and I am not going to get in the way of it. I wish you the best” she enthused before she pushed herself up onto her toes, pressing a kiss to his cheek which missed his lips by mere millimeters.

Riley, who was stood at his side, stiffened a little as she watched the other woman press a kiss to his cheek before she shook her head, moving to pad away towards the car. She knew that it shouldn’t have bothered her, from the second that she and Gerard had reconciled, he had been nothing short of wonderful with her, but still the way that Alexa kissed his cheek, and the way that he didn’t push her back, irked her more than it should have.

~#~
“You’re being quiet”

Riley, who’d been flicking through the television channels, lifted her head a little, her blue eyes peeking towards Gerard who sat a little away from her, his head tilted. It had been a while, after they’d run into Alexa, they’d headed back to Riley’s apartment, but since they’d arrived, Riley had barely spoken two words, something which confused Gerard slightly. It wasn’t like her, when it was just him and Riley, she was usually talkative and cheerful, and it concerned him a little that she was so quiet. Her being quiet had never been a good sign.

“Riley, if this is about Alexa…”

“I’m being silly” Riley mumbled, cutting him off.

Gerard tilted his head a little before he shuffled a little closer. “Riley?” he posed softly.

Riley shook her head. “You know that she is beautiful, Gerard” she mumbled, her fingers pulling at a loose thread on her shirt “And that if it hadn’t been for bump, then you would have still been with her” she added.

Gerard shook his head. “That’s not true” he refuted gently.

Riley scoffed, something which made Gerard lean his head back, letting a small sigh fall out of his mouth. “Fine” he mumbled “Maybe that is true, but bump did happen, Ry, and I am so glad that he did. I made a mistake with Alexa, I ran into something I shouldn’t have done, and I regret it, OK?” he insisted, his blue eyes peeking towards her.

Riley shook her head. “I’m sorry” she mumbled gently.

Gerard shook his head, quirking a small smile. “You know, for the next few months, you’re allowed to be a little irrational” he teased, his hand gently moving over her bump.

Riley watched the movement of his hand before she shook her head, a small frown on her face. “I am going to be to be a pain” she mumbled.

Gerard chuckled. “You’ll be my pain” he teased, moving to press a kiss to her temple “Riley, I know we’ve not been back together for long, but you know that I …”

“I do” Riley interjected “And I know I’ve not said it yet, but you know that I feel the same way, right?” she posed. She knew that it was a little silly, during their previous relationship, the ‘l’ word had been uttered frequently, but for a little while, she wanted to hold off on uttering it, even if it wouldn’t be the first time that they’d said it to one another, she wanted to take her time about it.

Gerard quirked a little smile, slightly amused by her hesitation, before he pressed another kiss to the side of her head. “I know” he confirmed gently