Give Me Your Heart

“Remind me why we thought having both sets of parents over for dinner was a good idea” Gerard posed as he padded into the kitchen, resting against the counter which stood a little away from Riley. It had been a few days, after Cassidy’s wedding, the couple had opted to wait a few days before they announced their engagement, and whilst Gerard was excited about the prospect of sharing the news with their families, he was still a little wary.

He knew that his parents would be thrilled, from the moment they had met Riley, they’d liked her, but he was still a little uncertain about Riley’s parents, even if Luis had offered him his blessing, he was slightly worried that they wouldn’t take the news as well as he hoped.

Riley, who had been stirring a pot on the stove, shrugged. “If I remember rightly, it was your idea” she quipped with a small grin.

Gerard offered her a slightly sarcastic look before he shook his head. “We had to tell them some way” he countered softly “And it makes sense to do it at once rather than separately. Whether they love each other or not, they’re going to be spending a lot of time together” he pointed out.

It was still a little tense, despite the fact that he and Riley had been together for a while, things between the two sets of parents were still a little awkward, and it was something that Gerard wanted to work on. Whether they liked one another or not, they were going to see a lot of one another and he wanted to ensure that, at the very least, it was polite.

“We could always threaten to elope if they don’t behave” Riley quipped with a teasing shrug.

Gerard spared a small laugh before he shook his head. “We both know your padre would kill me if I let that happen” he countered as he padded around the counter, gently wrapping his arms around her waist.

“Perhaps” Riley quipped “But it would get them to behave” she added, offering him an impish smile

Gerard rolled his eyes slightly before he ducked down, pressing a soft kiss against her lips. “You’re still sure about wanting to tell them, aren’t you?” he posed softly. He knew that she was still a little wary, despite the month that had passed since he had proposed, Riley was still a little less certain about the idea than him, and he wanted to ensure that she was certain about the notion of sharing the news with their families, not wanting her to regret a moment of their engagement.

“You’ve changed your mind?” Riley countered as she pulled away from him slightly.

“Not even slightly” Gerard mused “I just want to make sure that you’re sure. The second we tell them…”

“Tell who what?” Audrey’s voice interjected as she stepped into the room.

Gerard, who had his back towards the door, startled a little at the older woman’s voice before he turned around. “What?” he babbled.

Audrey offered him a look before she shook her head. “You said ‘The second we tell them’, Gerard, so, what it is that you want to us?” she pressed softly.

Gerard blinked a couple of times, trying to come up with something to say, before Riley shook her head. “We’d like to speak to you all at the same time” she noted softly “So why don’t we head back into the living room?” she added as she laced her fingers through Gerard’s.

Audrey offered her daughter a slightly dubious look before she nodded, turning on her heel to lead the couple towards the living room.

~#~
“So” Audrey mused as she moved to take a seat beside her husband “Are you going to let us in on your little secret?” she added, her eyes glancing up towards Riley who stood in the doorway, her hand wrapped around Gerard’s. It had been a little out of the blue, the invitation to dinner with Riley and Gerard had caught Audrey a little off guard, but she wasn’t surprised that the couple had news. As far as she was concerned, it was only a matter of time before Riley informed them that she and Gerard were getting married or were expecting another baby.

“Secret?” Montserrat quipped “You two have something you want to tell us?” she added, her attention fixed on the couple.

Riley, who stood a little ahead of Gerard, shook her head. “We were going to wait until we were sat down for dinner” she noted softly “But we do have something we’d like to tell you all and we’d like it if you could wait until we’re done before you react” she added softly.

“Alright” Luis agreed softly “So, what is it?” he added.

Riley shifted her feet a little, something which made Gerard smile, knowing that it was a sign that he should do the talking. Offering Riley a small look, he squeezed her hand gently before he flicked his attention towards the other people who sat ahead of them. “I asked Riley to marry me” he noted softly.

“You did?” Montserrat pressed, her expression more than a little surprised.

Gerard nodded. “I did” he confirmed “I asked her about a month ago and Riley, she said…”

“I said yes” Riley interjected, a timid smile on her face.

The room was quiet for a moment before Audrey pushed herself to her feet, her eyes fixed on the frame of her daughter.

Riley watched her cautiously before she shook her head, a small sigh falling out of her mouth. “Mama, if you’re going to be negative…”

“I am so happy for you, Riley” Audrey interjected, cutting her daughter off.

Riley blinked a couple of times, caught off guard by her mother’s words. “You are?” she breathed softly.

Audrey giggled a little before she nodded. “Of course I am, Riley” she insisted gently “I know that I have not been the most welcoming towards Gerard, but I am so happy for you. Both of you” she added with a soft look towards the defender who offered her a small smile in return.

Riley smiled a little at the small action before she padded towards her mother and father, allowing them to fuss over her for a moment.

Gerard watched her for a moment before he shook his head, a soft smile on his face.

“I thought you were going to wait a while” Montserrat teased as she stepped up beside him, offering him a small hug.

“I was” Gerard quipped “But the moment…it felt right” he added with a soft smile.

Montserrat smiled a little at his words before she padded across the room, moving to pull Riley into a hug.

Gerard watched the interaction for a second before he quirked another smile. He knew that it was likely to be a long engagement, Riley had already made it clear that she wanted the two of them to take their time, but still he was glad that he had asked, even if their wedding was to be a way off. He was still pleased that he had taken the chance when it had come along.