…from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, Till death due us part. This is my solemn vow."
Riker’s eyes were glazed over as he looked at the water, throwing rocks mindlessly as he thought back to one of the best days of his life… the day he got to marry the girl he was helplessly in love with. It was a love that never diminished - one that stayed with them with the birth of their daughters… of their son. Was it wrong for Riker to think it could hold past the birth of another little girl? Lexie Jane Taylor-DeLoughrey was perfect. Sure, perfection was rare and there were times that him and Elodie had to work on a few things, but perfect was retrospective and to Riker, he had it. Had… yes… he could no longer say has. Four months, four miserable months putting on a facade that he was okay for his kids. The only one seeing through it being Amie, and it pained him how much he started depending on his daughter for emotional support.
After his vows, Elodie’s last sentiment was on repeat on his mind… how she told him she needed a break… that she couldn’t be in the house… be… near him. Was he that awful? He couldn’t help but wonder where she had been for the last 4 months… what she meant by “You’re the only person I ever slept with… Jesus,” Was she… sleeping around? Before everything, he trusted Elodie with his life. Now… as terrible as it was… he didn’t know what to believe.
Flashback to the Day Elo Returned:
For the last hour, Riker had gone for a run with his daughter strapped into her stroller - laughter leaving Lexie’s lips as it often did when they went on their little run together. Stopping for a second, Riker picked his little girl up, kissing her cheek with a smile.
“Aw she’s adorable, what’s this gorgeous girl’s name?”
Riker was distracted as a woman walked up to him, in workout gear of her own as she made faces towards his child to make her smile. “This little girl who can’t stop laughing is Lexie,” Riker responded, watching as the girl put her hands out to be held by the woman… maybe Lexie was missing her mother… a female figure that was older in her life, because the girl immediately latched on to the woman who begin playing with her. This wasn’t the first time something like this had happened - people approaching him to play with his little baby.
“Hi Lexie, you are adorable… just like your dad.” there was a flirty expression on her lips as she shot Riker a smile before handing the girl back into his arms. “You know, I’ve actually seen you run around here most afternoons with your daughter. It seems hard being a single father,”
“Oh… no I’m not…” could he even say that he wasn’t? He had no idea what was happening with Elodie but she just… left. “No… I’m married,” he finished and there was an instant look of disappointment on the girl’s features. “Well, she’s a lucky woman. Bye Lexie… and Mr. Married, I’ll see you around,” the girl smiled before running away.
A sad smile immediately fell onto his lips as he looked back down at his daughter. “Yes Lexie, you do have a mom… I know you haven’t seen her in a while though,” he whispered, before putting her back in her stroller. Though before he started running again, he found his phone ringing, indicating a notification.
Immediately, his heart dropped. Elodie was back… his wife… was back.
End of Flashback
He found himself throwing another rock, this time harder - making no effort to skip it anymore, instead, rather just get his frustration out. Elodie was back, but nothing had changed between them. If anything, their relationship had deteriorated. Partly… okay… mostly it was Riker’s fault. He just… couldn’t sleep next to her. He gave her the room, and simply slept on the couch… spending most of his time not at home so he could avoid talking to her. Why? Well… part of him feared that the conversation that would start was one with her asking to get a divorce - after all it had been 4 months. There weren’t many reasons he could rationalize that she was coming back. However, in addition to that, part of him had been avoiding her because maybe… just maybe it needed to happen.
Currently, the kids were out for Halloween, the only people that were home were Elodie and Lexie - exactly why he left soon after the kids left. Now he was at a clam part of the beach, sitting… thinking… hurting. The light had started disappearing from the night sky and part of him just wanted to stay out here until sunrise… but another part of him was pushing him to go back.
Taking a deep breath, the man drove back home - sitting in his car longer than he should have… simply staring at the front door. Riker didn’t know how long he sat there, but no light remained in the night sky beside the dim moonlight. He didn’t know what finally made him work the nerve to go to the door, open it up, and walk towards the kitchen. He saw Elodie standing there trying to breastfeed their little girl who was now crying. “She likes formula now,” he sighed, walking towards the fridge and getting a fresh bottle out as he went to the microwave to heat it up. He said no other words to her as she looked at him… barely glancing back as her as he took the bottle out of the microwave and tested it on his hand to make sure it didn’t burn her. With that, he handed Elo the bottle and watched as Lexie immediately started drinking out of it. “Guess that’s… what happens when her mother leaves for four months,” he stated.