Riley hasn't told his parents plans of going to Lousiana with Sam, he knows he's an adult but when he's on stateside he doesn't like to leave the comfort of his childhood home. Riley does know how much it would mean to Sam for Riley to meet his parents, from what Riley has been told Sam's parents only know him as Riley that was until Sam came out.

"I can tell you're nervous," Sam murmured into Riley's hair, he had leaned over and paused the tv but Riley was too wrapped up in his head to notice. "How can I not be?" Riley shrugged and leaned into Sam's arms.

They were propped up on the couch watching some movie that Riley couldn't remember the name of. "You don't have to go if you don't want to." Sam was saying one thing but his tone was saying another, Riley knew that Sam wanted him to go and for that Riley had to go, no matter what Sam said.

Riley slowly got off of Sam's chest, he grabbed Sam's hand. "I do have to go though, I love you and they want to meet me. I want to meet them, I'm just not good at being apart from my parents while I'm home." Sam made a wounded noise before squeezing Riley's hand. "I know you aren't, it isn't fair for me to ask you to go meet them when I knew this about you though. It's a valuable reason to not go, and my parents will understand."

Riley sent Sam a small smile. "You aren't listening to me Samuel, I'm going. I want to meet Paul and Darlene. It's time." Sam sent Riley a wide smile, but Riley could still tell Sam was worried about him so Riley leaned closer to Sam and kissed him deeply. "I'm 29, I can handle this." What Riley didn't say to Sam was that he was going to call his parents every night to make sure they're safe, since Riley can't be there to protect them.  

Sam moved a piece of hair behind Riley's ear. "If you're sure, I want you to be comfortable." Riley smiled, he moved the blanket off of his lap and moved so he was sitting on Sam's lap, the latter who had to adjust and put his arms around Riley's waist because of the position.

Riley put his hands on Sam's cheeks and pushed them together making his lips pucker. "I'm comfortable where ever you are, okay?" Sam nodded lips still pressed together, Riley leaned forward and kissed Sam's puckered lips releasing them from Riley's loose hold.

Sam tugged Riley closer if that was possible, Sam's breath ghosted Riley's ear making a little shiver coarse through his body. "I love you, more than anything," Riley smirked at Sam's confession, often the soft-spoken words led to something more but they couldn't do that in Riley's parents' living room.

"If we're gonna do anything, we need to go downstairs."

||

Riley was running, he could hear the bombs going over his head. He had to get to safety. Riley's legs were burning but he couldn't stop, it was a stupid mistake Riley should've never done it.

But it happened, and Riley didn't know where anyone was.

Gasping Riley opened his eyes, he looked to his left to see Sam sleeping peacefully. Riley rubbed his eyes and shakily got out of bed, after being quiet from sleeping in the desert he still felt nervous about waking Sam.

Riley tiptoed around Acaia so she wouldn't get woken up, Riley winced when the steps creaked but sneaking a peek at Sam told Riley that Sam was dead to the world.

Riley shivered at the bad wording he said in his head, Riley almost died that day and maybe Sam too. Riley closed his eyes and took a deep breath before he grasped the door handle and turned the knob.

He didn't really know what he was doing upstairs but he knew he couldn't stay in the basement, at least he had to calm down first before going back to sleep. Riley walked towards the sink and grabbed a glass of water, he was halfway finished when Riley heard footsteps.

Now every time he has one of the nightmares afterward he becomes jumpy, so Riley looks around and grabs a knife from the knife block, he holds it out in front of him in a defensive position so he can hurt whoever it is.

"Put the knife down son." Riley breathed a sigh of relief when he heard his dad's voice, his shoulders sagged and he put the knife on the counter. "Happened again?" Riley didn't say anything but the nod was enough for Alejandro.

"Stress this time I think." Riley's nightmares, or more like memories were brought on when he was in a high stress, funnily enough, he's only had them when he's back in his childhood home, never in the field but Riley guesses that's a good thing.

Alejandro sighs and walks towards Riley. "What's on your mind?" Riley sighs and dumps the rest of the water into the sink. "Sam asked me to visit his parents, I said yes of course but I guess I'm nervous about how you guys will do." Alejandro shook his head.

"We're your parents, we're supposed to be worried about you. Not the other way around." Knowing this wouldn't go anywhere Riley stood up. "Not if you've seen the things I have." Riley was almost out the door when Alejandro called back.

"Are you going?" Alejandro asked, Riley, turned around and nodded. "Good night, Dad." Alejandro tips his head towards Riley as an unspoken greeting.

Riley runs his hand over his eyes as he tiptoed back downstairs to get in the warm bed, Riley was hoping to get through this without waking Sam and he was about to count success but Sam groaned as the bed shifted because Riley was getting in it.

Riley winced inching towards Sam hoping he wouldn't wake up, but he was out of luck. "You okay?" Sam asks eyes still closed. "Nightmare," Riley whispered laying down beside Sam.

"Wanna talk about it?" Sam rolled towards Riley. "No, just wanna sleep." And that was that Sam pulled Riley closer until they were cuddling again, that's when Riley knew. He would be safe with Sam, he couldn't protect his parents but he had to have faith and trust that God would protect them while he was gone.