Give Me Your Heart

Sparing a glance towards the dining room door, Gerard spared a small sigh, his hand pushing through his hair nervously. He knew that it wasn’t a big deal, since he and Riley had gotten together originally, he had had more than one awkward dinner with her mother and father, but the idea of sitting through another one unsettled him, even if he did wanted to make some kind of amends with the older couple, he worried that they would only attempt to pick holes at a relationship that, on occasion, Riley didn’t seem certain of.

Sparing another nervous sigh, he adjusted the shirt he had changed into before he carefully nudged the door open, his blue eyes peeking towards Audrey and Luis who sat beside the table, fussing over Alexander who was babbling happily in his seat.

“Gerard” Luis quipped as he pushed himself to his feet “It’s been a while” he added as he jutted his hand out ahead of him.

Gerard, who stood a little awkwardly in the doorway, quirked a polite grin and nodded, placing his hand in the older man’s. “It has been a while, Senor Cortez” he agreed softly “It’s nice to see both you and your wife again” he added with a small look towards Audrey who offered him a slightly wary smile.

Luis noted the look on his wife’s face before he shook his head, quirking a kind smile. “How was pre-season?” he noted as he offered the younger man the seat opposite him. It felt a little tense, from the second that Gerard had stepped into the room, the atmosphere had shifted a little, but Luis didn’t want to let it faze him.

They were running out of chances, Riley was rapidly growing more and more irked with her parents’ lack of warmth towards her boyfriend, and Luis knew that they had to make the effort. Chances were that Gerard was going to be around for a while to come and Luis didn’t want to run the risk of pushing his daughter away, not wanting to miss out on important days that would eventually arrive.

Gerard, who’d moved to sit down, smiled a little. “I think it went pretty well” he enthused softly “We had a couple of tough games but were still able to come out with wins and I feel good ahead of the new season. Do you have a team?” he posed, trying to keep the conversation moving.

Luis nodded. “I was born in Seville” he quipped “And I have sort of followed Sevilla since I was a boy, but living in Barcelona, it is hard not to enjoy watching your team play” he enthused.

Gerard offered him a grin. “I could get you tickets if you want” he noted softly “I mean, Riley doesn’t tend to come to a lot of games, but I am sure that she would be more than happy…”

“I’d love that” Luis interjected softly, cutting off the defender’s babbling. He could see that he was nervous, from the second he had stepped into the room, the defender looked a little uncertain, but Luis wanted to offer him a little reassurance, even if they weren’t on the best of terms, he wanted to try and calm him down a little.

Gerard blinked a couple of times before he quirked a small smile, wordlessly thanking the older man for cutting him off.

~#~
Resting against the frame of the kitchen door, Gerard spared a small amused grin, his blue eyes watching as Riley sped around the kitchen. It had been a little awkward, with Riley still trying to finish preparing dinner, Gerard had been left alone with her mother and father for a lot longer than he would have wanted, but with Luis determined to keep the conversation moving, the atmosphere had become a little more relaxed, something which pleased the defender.

He knew that it was going to take a little work, both Audrey and Luis were going to take some time to fully get used to him, but he was pleased that they were making steps forwards. The last thing he wanted was for Riley to find herself stuck in the middle.

“Aren’t you supposed to be talking to my parents?”

Gerard, who’d drifted off slightly, startled at the sound of Riley’s voice, something which made the brunette chuckle a little. “You didn’t kill them, did you?” she teased as she stepped towards him.

Gerard scoffed a little before he shook his head. “They’re fine” he noted softly “It’s still a little awkward, but your papa, he talks a lot and after a little while, your mama started to join in. It’s probably going to take a few more hastily arranged out of the blue dinners, but, I think we might just make this work” he teased with an impish grin.

Riley shook her head. “I am sorry I sprung this on you” she quipped as she moved to warp her arms around his neck “I didn’t mean to catch you off guard” she added.

“It’s fine” Gerard quipped “I mean, you owe me one for not freaking out, but I think I can forgive you” he teased, happily wrapping his arms around her waist.

Riley rolled her eyes a little before she pushed herself up onto her toes, pressing a soft kiss against his lips. “I love you” she mumbled softly.

Gerard, who’d moved to rest his head against hers, smiled a little. “That’s good” he mumbled “Because, I kind of love you too” he added with an impish grin.

Riley offered him another eye roll before the sound of someone clearing their throat reached them, causing Riley to pull away from him a little, her blue eyes peeking towards her mother who stood in the door way. “Mama?” she posed.

“Alexander is looking for his madre” Audrey quipped “Your papa is trying to soothe him, but I think he’d rather have you” she added.

Riley nodded. “OK” she mused “Gerard, can you…?”

“It’ll be fine” Gerard grinned.

Riley offered him a slightly dubious look before she padded out of the room.

Audrey, who stood shyly in the door way, watched her go for a moment before she flicked her attention towards Gerard, her eyes scanning him for a second before she spared a small sigh. “You are going to take care of them, aren’t you?” she mused softly.

Gerard, who’d moved to check on the food Riley had left behind, startled a little before he turned, his blue eyes mirroring Audrey’s. “That’s what worries you?” he posed softly.

Audrey nodded. “She’s my daughter, my only daughter, and I want to be sure. I want to know that your intentions towards her are good” she insisted softly.

Gerard offered her a soft look before he nodded his head. “I promise you, Mrs Cortez, I am going to do the best I can for both of them and it would mean a lot to me if you could get behind it. I don’t want to be a problem” he insisted softly.

Audrey admired the expression on his face before she nodded her head, sparing him a shy smile. It was going to take a little work, both she and her husband would need a little time to get used to the idea that he wasn’t going anywhere any time soon, but the look on his face reassured her slightly, even if she was still a little wary. She was more confident that Riley was onto a good thing.