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seriestrash · 7 years

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A Christmas Movie Miracle

❄ Day Two ❄

A/N: **Complete AU** Riley and Lucas have never met! Zay and Lucas moved to NYC for college.

Summary: Riley is on a mission to find Auggie a very specific toy. After the brunette wanders into the toy shop Lucas works at, he sets out on an adventure to help Riley fulfil her wish list.

Word Count: 3634

❄ ❄

It’s the day before Christmas Eve and a twenty-one year old Riley and Maya have been all over the city looking for a present for Auggie. Riley has spent months trying to find this very specific gift but she’s had no such luck.

They’re currently in a vintage toy store looking around. Maya is pretty tired from all this effort and no results but Riley is still determined.

“Riles, maybe we should just find him something else.” Maya suggests lightly.

“No Maya, it has to be this.” Riley says dramatically.

“We’ve checked every toy store in the city, new and old and we’ve had no such luck. They just don’t make Mister Googly toys anymore.” Maya sighs.

“I know, Maya.” Riley snaps. “But this is our first Christmas without mom and dad and Auggie needs Mister Googly!”

“Okay, Riles I’m sorry.” Maya gives her an apologetic smile. “We’ll keep looking.”

“I’m sorry.” Riley softens.

"It’s okay, Riles.” Maya says genuinely and she makes sure to hold her gaze so Riley knows she understands.

“I’m just hoping for a Christmas miracle like in the movies.” Riley sighs as her eyes scan the shelves of once loved toys. “You know, the ones where everything is okay in the end?”

“Yeah and add in a ridiculously fast tracked love story.” Maya scoffs. “You’ve made me watch three movies this week where the couple say I love you after two days.”

“It’s sweet.” Riley coaxes her head.

Maya crinkles her nose in mock disgust but quickly breaks with a smile. “I’m going to ask someone at the counter if they know the toy or not. Why don’t you look in that bucket of stuffed animals?” Maya suggest and Riley nods. The brunette walks towards the big cylindrical bucket and starts sifting through the plush toys.

Maya approaches the counter where there’s a guy sat with his feet up reading a magazine.

“Ahem.” The blonde clears her throat loudly and the store clerk looks up from the pages. Once he meets the pretty blue eyes of Maya his attention was all hers.

“Well hello, Miss.” He grins wide. “I sure hope I can help you today.”

“Zay.” Maya reads his tag, “I don’t have time for games. I’d like to know if you have a Mister Googly plush toy in this store anywhere?”

“A Mister what?” Zay questions with crinkled brows.

Maya lets out a frustrated sigh. “The little monster from that old kids show. He’s fluffy, he’s blue, and he’s made just for you, he’s your foogly boogly best friend.” Maya sings the little jingle.

“That’s adorable.” Zay says with a smirk.

Maya was beyond done before even entering this store but now she was just annoyed with Zay’s less than helpful flirting. Maya reaches forward and grabs a tuff of Zay’s shirt. She yanks him forward and holds his stare, “I’ll tell you what’s adorable, finding me that stupid toy monster. You see that pretty little brunette behind me? She’s my best friend in the whole wide world and if she wants a Mister Googly toy than I’m going to find her a goddamn Mister Googly toy!”

Meanwhile, Riley’s searching through the stuffed toy bucket when she’s approached by an employee that looks about her age. "May I help you with anything, Miss?"

Riley meets his green eyes and gives him a shy smile. She notices his tag reads ‘Lucas’. "I’m looking for a Mister Googly doll.”

“Like that kids show from a while back?” Lucas questions.

Riley nods and pulls out her phone, she brings up a picture of Auggie when he was younger and she zooms in on his beloved toy.

“I’m sorry, I don’t recall us having any of those in store We had one a few months back but it sold.” Lucas frowns and when Riley’s face drops he really wishes he could have told her he did have the toy. “I’m sorry.” He says again.

Riley’s halfway through telling Lucas it’s alright when she hears the scuffle Maya was in with Zay.

“Oh no.” Riley shrieks as she looks at Maya with a tuff of the other employees shirt in her hand.

“Oh wow.” Lucas says now looking over at it too and they both scurry towards their respective best friends.

“Maya stop!” Riley calls over and the blonde releases Zay with a sigh.

“You know her?” Lucas asks.

“She’s my best friend.” Riley says simply.

“He’s mine.” Lucas adds in the same manner.

“Maya you can’t go around roughing up the employees of every toy store we visit!” She quietly reprimands her friend.

“Well lover boy over here wasn’t being very helpful.” Maya folds her arms.

“In my defence you didn’t really give me a chance-” Zay stops when Maya shoots him a mean glare. “A chance to be helpful!” He defends.

“It’s alright, Maya they don’t have it.” Riley says solemnly and again it hurts Lucas to see this stranger like that.

“Have you tried Tim’s toys on-”

“Yep.” Riley nods.

“Toy empori-”

“Yes.” Riley nods again. “We’ve scoured every toy store in New York City and had no luck. I think I should just give up.”

“But Riles, what about your Christmas miracle?” Maya wears a frown.

Riley just shrugs sadly and turns to the two employees. “Thank you for your help.”

The girls only get a few steps away before Lucas calls out for them to wait. They stop and turn their attention back to the Texan.

“I know a guy who comes in from Cape May, he collects toys.” Lucas says.

“Weirdo.” Maya mumbles under her breath but Zay heard and chuckles.

Lucas heard too so he gives a simple explanation. “He collects and sells them for profit. If you just wait a second I can call him and ask if he knows where you could get a Mister Googly doll?” Lucas poses it as a question to gauge if she’d even be interested in that.

“You’d do that?” Riley’s eyes sparkle with hope. “Thank you so much.”

Lucas steps off to the side for a minute and calls his contact. He returns to tell Riley that he does have a Mister Googly doll that he’s selling but she’d have to go to Cape May to pick it up because he won’t have time to post it nor would she even get it on time if he could.

“Cape May is nearly a six hour round trip and probably even longer on the bus.” Riley frowns.

“Lucas has a car!” Zay chimes in and his best friend gives him a concerned ‘what are you doing?’ look. “Lucas, let the nice ladies borrow your car.” Zay adds with his trademark smirk.

“Borrow my car?” Lucas laughs.

“We can’t borrow his car.” Riley laughs too.

“We also can’t drive.” Maya says truthfully.

“Lucas, drive the nice ladies to Cape May.” Zay says in the same positive tone he used when talking about lending the car to them.

“No.” Riley shakes her head. “No thank you.”

“Riles, you should go!” Maya is surprisingly supportive of the idea. “I promised my parents I’d endure a Santa photo with the mini Hunters this afternoon but you can go.”

Both Riley and Lucas tug each of their best friends off to different sides.

“Zay, what are you doing?” Lucas asks him quietly.

“You’re clearly into her.” Zay says. “I’m being a good wingman!”

“What makes you think I’m into her?” Lucas scoffs and he’s honestly not fooling anyone.

“The second that pretty brunette looked at you with those sad eyes you just had to save her. You want to help her, so help her!” Zay says. “It’s not like we’re doing anything exciting for Christmas.”

Over with the girls, Riley’s giving Maya a quizzical look. “What are you doing?”

“I’m helping you find Auggie’s gift like I promised.” Maya says simply.

“You’re trying to get me to go on a road trip with a stranger.” Riley eyes her. “He could be a serial killer or something!”

“He’s a harmless Huckleberry.” Maya swats the air. “You yourself said you want the Christmas movie miracle, this is it! A stranger who’s going to help you get the gift you’ve spent months searching for.”

Both Riley and Lucas seem to be swayed by their respective friends arguments and when they all meet in the middle together they just nervously look at each other.

“I couldn’t ask you to drive nearly six hours for me.” Riley shakes her head.

“You don’t have to ask.” Lucas says. “I want to help.”

“Really?” Riley asks dubiously.

“Really.” Lucas nods.

“Okay. Sure.. Why not?” Riley laughs in disbelief that she was about to embark on this adventure with a complete stranger.

“Zay can cover my shift here and we can go now if you’re ready?” Lucas asks.

“Yeah I’m ready.” Riley nods.

As the two get ready to leave Maya stops Lucas. “Just checking that you’re not a serial killer, right?”

“No Ma’am.” Lucas laughs.

“Good. Cause if you lay a finger on Riley, I will hurt Zay far worse than you could ever imagine.” Maya says seriously.

“You have nothing to worry about.” Lucas says nervously. For such a small girl she sure was scary. “But I think Zay should be afraid..”

“I kinda like her.” Zay admits with a smirk and Maya rolls her eyes again but she’s trying really hard to suppress her smile.

Lucas leads Riley to where his car is parked. Riley’s feeling anxious about the situation, not that she felt in danger but she could be awkward around new people if she overthinks things which she was currently doing.

There is awkward small talk for the first twenty minutes of the drive. Like Lucas asking which radio station she’d like to listen to and him checking if the heating in his car was warm enough or not.

Finally Lucas decides to address the awkwardness head on. “This is weird right?”

“Totally weird.” Riley says with a relieved breath that he brought it up. “I mean I am so appreciative that you’re helping me - on Christmas Eve of all days! - but we don’t even know each other.”

“Okay then, let’s change that.” Lucas says. “Let’s play twenty questions?”

“Alright.” Riley gives a single nod. “You ask first.”

“Okay.” Lucas thinks for a moment. “Have you always lived in the city?”

“Yes, I was born here and I go to Columbia University so I’ve stayed.” Riley answers.

“Ivy League. Nice.” Lucas says in an impressed tone. “Okay, your turn.”

“You’re from Texas?” Riley questions.

“Yes, Zay and I both are.” Lucas explains. “We attend NYU together.”

Twenty questions was the perfect way to defuse the awkward tension in the air. They very quickly establish an open line of communication and the back and forth questions fade out without either of them noticing and suddenly they’re just discussing parts of their lives with each other.

After nearly two hours of driving Lucas asks something that changes the mood. “I feel like I haven’t asked the obvious question.”

“What’s that?” Riley asks.

“Why does this particular toy mean so much to you?” Lucas questions.

Riley shrinks into the passenger seat slightly. “It’s important to my little brother Auggie, he accidentally donated his childhood one to Good Will at he beginning of the year.” Riley gives only half of her true explanation.

“How old is your little brother?” Lucas asks.

“Sixteen.” Riley says and she looks directly out the windscreen.

“Older than I was expecting.” Lucas thinks aloud.

“It was a gift from our parents when he was little.” Riley says still keeping her gaze forward. “We lost them both just after New Years in a car accident.”

“Oh Riley, I’m so sorry.” Lucas is shocked and genuinely upset for the girl.

Riley just shrugs a shoulder. “My Uncle Shawn moved into our apartment with his wife and two youngest children - Maya’s family - It was so I didn’t have to stop going to college.” Riley explains, “But I still feel responsible for him.”

“You’re his big sister.” Lucas says in an understanding way.

Riley nods. “I used to have this bear when I was little, Auggie bit the face off him but I still loved it more than anything because my parents gave him to me.” Riley half smiles. “When I was about fifteen, Beary the Bear Bear went missing and I tore our whole apartment to shreds looking for him but he was gone. I was devastated then and that was long before the accident and I’d still do absolutely anything to have my faceless teddy bear back.” Riley looks to Lucas for a second and he looks back at her for a moment before they both break to look down the road ahead. “Mister Googly is Auggie’s Beary the Bear Bear. It might not be his exact one but I’ll do anything to get one back for him.”

“Well you’re in luck.” Lucas says with a small smile. “We’re going to get you that monster and you’re going to be home in time for dinner.”

Riley gives Lucas a small smile but then gazes out the window for a while as the thought of her childhood memories made her miss her parents.

Shortly after, Lucas stops for some gas and buys a few snacks for the road. They make it to Cape May just after half two. The pair chat out front of Bill’s [Lucas’ contact] building whilst they wait for him to come back from work.

Once Bill finally arrives he lets them up into his apartment which is filled with toys, thus giving the place a creepily eerie feel. Subconsciously Riley sticks close to Lucas whilst they’re in there. The man goes off into another room to retrieve the toy and Riley and Lucas both exchange funny glances to communicate that they’re both just as weirded out as the other in that apartment. Their gazes are broken when Bill seems to be having an argument with someone. Moments later he returns to the living space with a red face. He explains that his roommate sold the Mister Googly whilst he was at work.

When Riley hears this, she’s absolutely crushed. She’d just driven nearly three hours under the false security that she had finally found the gift she was searching for.

Bill is sympathetic to the couple for driving so far and he tries his very best to help them out. He offers them a hot beverage each whilst he calls a few of his contacts and tries to source them another Mister Googly.

Finally Bill finds one. “I have a guy in Dover, New Hampshire, he’s got the exact doll you’re looking for in perfect condition.”

“Dover?” Riley frowns. “That’s nearly an ten hour round trip on the other side of New York.”

“How important is it to have for Christmas Day?” Bill questions.

“Very.” Riley’s frown remains.

“The best I can think of is priority shipping on the 27th or if you were to drive and pick it up.. You might be tired but I think you’ll make it.”

“I’m supposed to take Auggie ice skating after dinner.” Riley chews nervously on her bottom lip.

Lucas thanks Bill even though he was annoyed that Bill messed them around a little and he takes the other collectors details so they can work out their plan of attack in the car.

“I’m just going to have to give it to Auggie late.” Riley says sadly.

“I know that kind of sucks but you will be giving it to him.” Lucas says encouragingly. “And I know I don’t know him but I imagine Auggie would rather you be home for Christmas than given the perfect gift.”

Riley gives Lucas a small smile and they set off for New York. Lucas tries to lift the mood by poorly singing along to Christmas carols on the radio and it works for a while but the closer they got to New York the more upset Riley felt about returning empty handed.

Lucas drops Riley off at her apartment building and apologises that things didn’t work out the way they hoped. She tries to fake a warm smile as she thanks him for his efforts and even though she genuinely was thankful she failed at masking the disappointment. Lucas just sits and watches her sadly walk inside and he absolutely hated that. He looks at the collectors information that sat on a piece of paper on his dashboard and he thinks for a moment… Could he?

The following day is Christmas and Riley was still bummed about her gift being late but she was happy to spend time with Auggie and the Hunters. Their first Christmas since losing their parents was always going to be tough but it did really bond them together as siblings. Also having Maya there to lean on helped and the excitement of her younger siblings being true Santa believers really gave Riley a lot to enjoy throughout the day.

Katy was preparing a big lunch for the family when she realised she was out of eggs. Riley offers to go down to the bakery - which is now under Katy’s full-time management - and collects some. She makes Auggie tag along with her so they can regroup for a moment away from the Hunters whom - as sweet as they were being - were completely smothering the Matthews children as they tried to make this holiday less upsetting without Cory and Topanga.

Whilst Riley is out Lucas pulls back up to Riley’s apartment. He gets to the buzzer and realises he doesn’t know what number she is so he just hits random ones and asks whomever answers. Each time he apologises for interrupting their day and wishes them a Merry Christmas.

“Lucas?” Riley’s asks surprised as she approaches with a carton of eggs in hand.

Lucas finishes apologising to the person on the other end of the intercom and excitedly steps towards Riley and the boy he assumes is her teen brother.

“What are you doing here?” She asks with a confused look.

“Special delivery.” Lucas says as he picks up a present he sat down when he was using the intercom.

She gives him a dubious look like surely he didn’t…

“Auggie Matthews I assume?” He turns to the teen.

“Yes…” Auggie is confused about the situation too.

Lucas hands the gift wrapped box to Riley and gives her a nod. She gives Lucas another look like she can’t believe what’s happening but at the same time she was so thankful it was.

“Auggie this is for you.” Riley says and suddenly she’s nervous for his reaction.

“But you already got me a ton of gifts.” Auggie coaxes his head. Riley had got him a ton of gifts, whilst she was searching for this particular present she had complied others she thought he may like too.

“This one is one I wanted to give you most.” Riley says as she wiggles the box, begging him to open it.

Auggie unwraps the gift and is at a loss for words when he pulls out a Mister Googly doll. He’s so genuinely touched by the gift but he tries to play it off as cool because he didn’t want to be a weeping sixteen year old boy. Riley notices his struggle so she helps bail him out.

“Why don’t you take these eggs up to Katy and help with lunch? I’ll be up in a minute.”

He nods and goes to enter the building but stops to give Riley a tight embrace. "Thanks, Riles.”

“You’re welcome, Augs.” Riley whispers as she hugs him back. After they part Auggie coughs to shake off the feels and heads inside.

Riley turns to Lucas with a look of disbelief on her face. “Did you really drive to Dover for Mister Googly?”

“I did it for you.” Lucas chews on his bottom lip.

“You already drove me to Cape May and back… and then you drove to Dover and back on your own?”

“I made Zay come with me this time.” Lucas shrugs like it’s no big deal. “I slept a little bit first so it was responsible.” Lucas adds cutely.

“But why?” Riley questions. “You met me all of twenty-four hours ago. Why go to all this trouble?”

"Maybe it’s because it’s the season of giving… Or maybe it’s because I think you’re really pretty and sweet and I just wanted to see you smile…” Lucas gushes. “I just wish I could have brought you your faceless teddy bear back too.”

Riley leans forward and closes the space between their lips with a soft kiss. When they part lucas is left with a smile on his face and his eyes remain closed for a moment. Once they open slowly he asks, "What was that for?”

“Thank you.” Riley says wearing a sweet smile of her own.

“Do you thank everyone like that?” Lucas lets out a breathy laugh.

Riley rolls her head forward with a quiet giggle. “Do you want to come inside for lunch?” Riley asks after meeting Lucas’ gaze again. “Or some coffee at least you must be exhausted from all that driving.”

“Auggie won’t mind?” Lucas asks and he’s still reeling from their kiss.

“I’ve practically smothered him all day, he’ll welcome the distraction.” Riley laughs.

“Well in that case, I’d like that very much.” Lucas grins. “But Zay’s kind of waiting in the car…”

“Go get him.” Riley smiles. “Let him come in and bug Maya or something.”

“It is the time for togetherness.” Lucas shrugs innocently and Riley smiles.

Maybe it was a miracle or fate or the universes will, but whatever it was, Riley was thankful that she walked into that toy store yesterday.

End Notes: I know I said I was going to post my one shot about the do good foundation but it’s over 6000 words long so I thought I might save that for now!! Anyway! I hope you enjoyed this one shot ! My apologies Cory and Topanga RIP. Also a lil bit of Zaya for you dears dskjlhg

here’s the anon that inspired this piece;

I’ll see you lovelys tomorrow!

#rucas #rucas au #rucas fic

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