Give Me Your Heart

“Are you at some point going to put that thing down?”

Gerard, who had been sending another text to Riley, lifted his head, his eyes glancing towards Lionel who sat in the seat ahead of him, a slightly amused grin on his face. It wasn’t the first time, since Gerard and the rest of the Barcelona squad had landed in England, the defender had barely been parted from his phone for a second, and it amused the argentine, even if he was pleased that things between Riley and Gerard seemed to be going along so well, it was a change to see the defender so smitten.

It had been a worry, after Riley had revealed that she was pregnant, she had gone through a stage of being more than a little stubborn when it came to her relationship with Gerard, but Lionel was happy to see it going so well, even if it had had a few bumps. He was merely glad to see the two of them so happy.

Gerard, who’d moved to stow his phone in his pocket, rolled his eyes a little, something which made the argentine chuckle. “It’s kind of cute” he teased “You’re liked a teenaged boy with a crush” he added.

“Don’t you have something better to do?” Gerard quipped as he rested back in his seat. It had been a long week, after the team had arrived in England, they had spent a lot of time in training ahead of the new season, and with their last pre-season match concluded, they were due to travel home, something which Gerard was looking forwards to.

Lionel offered the defender a slightly impish grin before he shook his head, something which made Gerard roll his eyes. “It’s been a while, Gerard” he teased brightly “I am merely trying to ascertain whether or not I should be contemplating buying a new suit” he added.

It wasn’t the first time the topic had arisen, for a while, Lionel had a few of their other teammates had been speculating that it was only a matter of time before Gerard asked Riley to marry him, but still Gerard remained coy. He knew that they were curious, they weren’t the only ones, but with Riley being a little more hesitant than he had been expecting he wanted to keep the topic at bay for a while, not wanting to end up in another fight with Riley about them moving too fast.

“I wouldn’t be in a hurry if I were you” Gerard quipped, shrugging slightly.

Lionel tilted his head. “You’re not thinking about it?” he posed.

Gerard shook his head. “That’s not what I said” he countered “But I wouldn’t be expecting to be attending a wedding in the near future, Leo. Riley’s very keen to take our time and until I am certain that she won’t just turn me down…”

Lionel scoffed a little, cutting the defender off “She wouldn’t turn you down” he interjected, a slightly incredulous expression on his face.

Gerard shrugged. “Perhaps not” he noted “But she and I had a conversation recently that makes me think that she’s not quite where I am, even if we both want the same thing. I’d love to propose to her, but I don’t want to risk the chance of her turning me down. I want to get it right the first time” he insisted softly.

Lionel offered him a look for a moment before he quirked a small smile, his hand gently patting the defender’s shoulder. “I am sure that you’ll get it right, hombre” he quipped with a reassuring grin on his face “You and Riley, you might have taken the long road on this, but you’re good together and I am sure that eventually you’ll get it right” he enthused with a grin.

Gerard offered him a look before he nodded his head, quirking a small smile. He knew that it was going to take a while, from the way Riley spoke, it was going to be a while before she was confident enough in their relationship to take a step forwards, but he was hopeful, even if it had had a few hiccups. He liked them together and was sure that, eventually, they’d get it right.

~#~

Staring up at the door of his home, Gerard adjusted his kit bag on his shoulder, a small smile pulling at the corner of his mouth. It had been a long trip, longer than he remembered it being, but he was pleased to be home, even if it was a little later than he had been anticipating, he was excited at the prospect of seeing Riley and Alexander again.

Fishing his key out of his pocket, he moved to place it in the lock, only to watch as the door was swept open ahead of him, allowing Riley to step out onto the stoop. “You’re late” she quipped, a slightly quirked smile on her face.

Gerard, who was admiring her, quirked a grin. “I’ve never really been good with timing” he noted.

Riley shook her head, but still the smile didn’t shift, something which encouraged Gerard to step towards her, wrapping her in a soft hug that she was eager to respond to. It was a little sentimental, despite the week that they had been apart, they had spoken every day, but the short phone calls didn’t bare comparison to being in the same place, something they’d both missed.

Enjoying the hug for a little longer, Riley offered him a small squeeze before she took a pace back, a small smile playing at the corner of her mouth. “It’s good to see you” she noted softly “I know it’s silly, it’s been that long and we did speak a lot but…”

“I feel the same way” Gerard interjected, a coy smile on his face.

Riley offered him another grin before the sound of a voice calling out from the house reached them, causing Gerard to lift an eyebrow. “You have guests?” he teased.

“I do” Riley confirmed “And I should have called you to let you know that they were going to be here” she added, a slightly sheepish expression on her face.

Gerard noted the slightly uncertain expression on her face before he tilted his head, wordlessly enquiring who had opted to pay them a visit.

Riley chewed on her lip for a moment before she took his hand, squeezing it gently. “I spoke to my parents whilst you were away” she noted gently “I told them that I wanted them to make more of an effort with you and…they want to have dinner with the two of us” she added, her tone a little uncertain. It had been a surprise, her parents showing up and insisting that they wanted to have dinner with both her and Gerard, but she knew that she couldn’t turn them away, even if she was a little wary about it. It was a step in the right direction and she didn’t want to toss it away.

Gerard eyed their hands for a moment before he spared a small sigh, his blue eyes peeking up at Riley. “They want to have dinner?” he posed softly.

“They do” Riley confirmed “But, if you want me to…”

“I don’t want you to” Gerard interjected softly “It’s about time that we did this” he added.

Riley offered him a slightly uncertain look before she nodded, a small smile on her face. It was only a small step, a dinner between them and her parents, but she was glad that they were doing it, even if it did prove a little awkward.