Riley stayed asleep the whole ride, only did he awake when the car slowed to a stop in front of the house. He rubbed his eyes as he tried to rub away the sleep. "Why didn't you wake me earlier? I don't want to look tired in front of your family?"

"It's 12 am, no one is going to care how tired you look," Sam spoke bluntly, Riley reached out and rubbed his tense shoulders lightly because Riley was still reclined in his seat the position his arm was in was a little painful but he pushed it aside.

Riley jerked the handle on the side of the seat and it went flying forward, letting out a chuckle he unbuckled and twisted towards Sam. "You gonna be okay?" Riley asked, he knew Sam was tense but he didn't know if something happened while he was sleeping or if he was tense because of the drive.

Sam shrugged, with a click his seatbelt was off. "I'm tired, got a text from Ma while you were sleeping and she said TT wants to meet you." Sam rolled his eyes as he looked at the house, it was dark except for the porch that was left on for them.

Of course, Riley knew who TT was. Riley hasn't even met her yet and he's already a fan of her. "What are you talking about? I want to meet TT, I'm excited." Riley poked Sam's shoulder lightly before opening the car door.

Sam chuckled as he followed Riley's lead in getting out of the car. "I know you want to meet her but I'm afraid she'll be a little overbearing for you." Riley scoffed lightly. "Baby, I'll be fine." They met each other at the trunk of the car, as Riley swung open the trunk he walked towards Sam and kissed him lightly.

Sam placed his hands on Riley's waist and tightened his grip, just not enough to hurt him. "You're too good to me." Riley shook his head fondly letting it rest on Sam's shoulder, they knew they should be getting inside soon but they couldn't help it.

Riley's never felt this before, utter and complete bliss. The silence of the night but if you listened close enough you can hear the gentle clap of the water hitting the rocks, It was peaceful.

"Do you ever get used to it?" Riley's voice was sharp in the quiet of the night, Sam pulled back tilting his head in confusion. "What do you mean? Get used to what?"

He opened his arms wide and gestured to everything, Sam makes an o shape with his mouth before looking at Riley softly. "I'm from here so I'm used to it but it's when I come back from places like Afghanistan it's a shell shock. Not used to being outside and not having to hear gunshots." Riley knocks his shoulder against Sam's as he closes the trunk after grabbing the bag.

"Are you gonna take me to the pier while I'm here?" Riley asks changing the subject easily. Smirking Sam nods. "Of course, maybe we can dance together."

Riley laughs loudly, the sound echoing from the quiet. "You can't dance, dumbasser." Sam turned around while he was walking and pointed a finger at Riley, he tried to be serious but he failed. "Now you can't cuss around Mama, she'll beat your ass." They both knew Sam was kidding but the threat worked nonetheless.

"Scouts honor, I won't cuss in front of your parents." Sam shook his head at Riley, he turned back around and Riley could hear him muttering that he wasn't a scout.

As they got closer to the house that's when Riley started to get nervous, no matter how many times he told himself the likely hood of meeting Sam's parents now was low but that didn't mean the nervousness would just disappear.

It seems he was right to be nervous because Mrs. Wilson walked out on the porch with her house robe on, she didn't bother to close the screen door she just gestured the two men inside. "I hope we didn't wake you Ma," Sam says nervously as he slips off his shoes by the door, gesturing for Riley to do the same.

Mrs. Wilson shook her head, she held out her hand for Riley to take which he did shaking loosely before dropping the hand. "No, your Daddy's snoring kept me up. Nice to meet you, Riley, you can call me Darlene. Sorry, you have to meet me like this." Darlene chuckles gesturing to her robe.

Riley waved her off lightly. "Don't worry about it, you look stunning." Sam shook his head fondly knowing exactly what Riley was doing. "You picked a good one Sam, I will admit I was confused when Sam said he had a boyfriend and that he is pansexual but after he explained it to us we couldn't be happier for our boy," Darlene explains leading them upstairs.

"It makes me happy that Sam has a support system, now if you don't mind I'm sleepy still. Which room is it?" Sam pointed to the door on the left. "I'll be there in a minute babe." Riley nodded and bid goodnight to Darlene, he barely got to text his Mom to tell her they made it before he passed out. Still in the same clothes as before, on top of the covers.

||

Riley flinched awake when a loud voice echoed throughout the house, it was followed by a loud laugh. Riley, his heart still beating in his chest looked around at the unfamiliar surroundings.

Yesterday came crashing back down to him, he laid back down on the pillow with a huff. That's when he noticed Sam had carefully dressed him in more comfortable clothing and tucked him in. Speaking of Sam, where is he Riley thinks to himself.

Before he talked himself out of it he swung his legs out of bed, he wanted to find Sam as well as get some coffee. He rubbed his eyes as he slipped his feet into the slippers that Sam laid out.

The voices got louder when he walked out of the bedroom, he walked down the stairs and followed the voices into the kitchen. "Oh, Riles. Did we wake you up?" Sam asks as he noticed Riley walk into the room.

"It's fine," Riley murmured into Sam's sleep shirt. Sam pulled back when they heard a cough as a way to tell the couple they weren't alone. "You've already met Ma, this is Daddy, Paul. My sister Sarah." Sam pointed to each family member but Riley's eyes stopped at Paul.

"You're tall." Riley blurted out before blushing in embarrassment, he can't believe he said that in front of his boyfriend's parents. Before he could open his mouth to apologize Paul laughed.

"I get that a lot, son. Welcome to the family." Paul's deep voice echoed in Riley's ears, Paul held out his hand for Riley to shake which he did.

He may have embarrassed himself, but according to Paul, he was a part of the family.