Sometimes later can be good (J/A)

[jack edward riley]

Everything was good, that was the three words you could sum up pleasant now, and Jack's life in particular. He was happy where he was and especially who he was with. Ava and he had made it to the 2 year mark. It was different he never thought it would be like this. In his old scenarios it was him and Tory at the end with Adam but he knew even that was a stretch for him. When her divorce became final everything became less surreal. they were only still dating at this point but the ring was burning a hole through his pocket and he knew one day he would ask.

He still had the diner, and still had his pub, they kept him grounded when things got tough, and when things were good they were the two places where it showed the most. His sister lived with him in the apartment for a year before dorming with a roommate, she said he cramped her style. He still kept a tight leash on her and made sure she showed up for work ever day. With a full staff in each place now, it was back to what he remembered the diner and pub to be..they were bringing in good money and only added to his happiness.

The only downside in the two years was the passing of Jack's real father. He never made amends with him though he showed up outside the hospital room everyday, a step closer to the door knob each time. He never made it in though and he died from congestive heart failure.

Jack rounded the corner with hot plates in each hand, order pad sticking out the front of his pants, and a wash rag hanging out the back of his pocket. He dropped the order off at the table before heading back to the counter. He looked at his watch and smiled knowing that it was almost the time of day that Ava stopped in. He grabbed the coffee pot and made the rounds, talking to regulars, refilling cups, and taking orders.

[ava louise riley]

She was 21. Twenty one and a divorcee, but she didn't care. No, she was happy, perhaps the most happy she'd been in her entire life and she could honestly say that most of it was because of Jack Riley. He was one man who'd always believed in her and supported her, even when she doubted herself. She knew she loved him with all her heart. Being with him felt right..Who knew about forever, but she was living for now.

She was also busy juggling her senior year at PPU, as well as commitments at the pub. Yes, Ava had gone back shortly after dropping out only to realize that she'd always wanted to be a reporter and always would. She was now the editor in chief, which basically had her running the whole paper and she had a few promising internships lining up for after graduation. As for the Orchid, though it was mainly in Jack's hands, she helped out when she could, but mostly just to spent some more time with him since life got crazy sometimes.

What about Blake? Well, luckily Ava was able to keep a good friendship with her past love. They were never as close as they had been (for the obvious reason she was with Jack), but the two remained in contact about a year until Blake decided to leave town again. Ava kept Prince, the couple's Jack Russell and moved into her own apartment where she has basically lived ever since. She loves the place to death with its amazing vaulted ceilings and cozy fireplace in the living room area. She often throws parties there with her friends, including Rachel Miles who is still very much in her life.

Walking inside the diner at her usual time, she slid her car keys into the purse that hung off her shoulder and headed over to the counter. Putting her purse down and sliding off her jacket, wet from a sudden rain that had started only moments before as she was getting out of her car. Talk about timing, right? She looked around for Jack, but couldn't see him amongst the crowd, so she slipped behind the counter and started pouring herself a coffee.

[jack edward riley]

His constant habit of looking up whenever the door rang was getting in the way of service. So when Ava walked in it was almost completely ignored. It was weird, like a third sense but he knew where she was. He took an order from Herb and Selma Goldberg, regulars for years, before sauntering over. He stood at one end of the counter, shoving the order pad into the front of his pants. He folded his arms over his chest and tried not to smile. "Hey! What'd I tell you about coming back here?" He said finally smirking. "This," He said motioning with both hands to the area behind the counter,"Is my space whereas this," He said turning his attention to the other side," Is your free rein baby."He added.

[ava louise riley]

Ava looked at him, putting the coffee pot back down and picking up her cup with a small, teasing pout. "But I like being all in control and 'look at me, I work in a diner'." she teased, smirking before putting her cup down and leaning in close to kiss him, but not. "Isn't there any way to change your mind?" she asked, still smirking.

[jack edward riley]

He leaned a bit closer and looked down at her lips before looking back at her with a smirk," Go Go get." He said shooing her from behind the counter altogether before giving her a quick peck on the lips before heading over to the kitchen window. He pulled out his pad and relayed an order for a table of four. He put his pad back after a quick argument with his cook and shook his head with a smile. He never thought he'd be here, living the life that Scott had..but he was doing better than Scott, he had someone in his life. He looked over at Ava and suddenly the ring in his pocket felt like the weight of the world. If only he was good with words.

[ava louise riley]

Ava smirked a little as she took her coffee and headed back across the counter to take a seat on one of the stools. She watched him as he started telling the cook an order, smiling to herself. How had they gotten from two teenagers who couldn't work it out to here, two young adults in a serious loving relationship? She didn't know, but she was glad they had. Knowing he was busy, she didn't dare interrupt him, but waited for him to come back.

[jack edward riley]

He smiled and walked over to where she was sitting at the counter. Everything was okay with the diner now and he had some time to spend with her. It had been hectic the last few days, memorial day being monday and all. " Day good so far?" He asked her with a small smile. He was hoping everything was good so tonight would be perfect.

[ava louise riley]

"Busy, but good." She replied honestly, having just come from talking to one of her professors about a grade she'd needed to dispute. She'd been having a lot of trouble with this one professor that semester because he wasn't treating her equal to her peers. She knew, however, deep down that it was because he knew she was capable of more.

"How about yours? I didn't think you were working today.." she said, having been surprised to see him taking orders and everything when he had a full staff these days to do most of the work. She was really proud of him too for having kept the diner. He was doing a great job taking it over after Scott's death.

[jack edward riley]

"Good...everything's good here just uh needed to get out of the apartment, I had to much time on my hands." he replied honestly, with a nod as he looked over the crowd in the diner. It was unusually busy and since he didn't have anything to do he gave one of the older employees a much needed and deserved day off. He looked back across the counter at her, "So we still on for tonight then?" He asked. He was still working out all the kinks but he knew even if it ended up sucking it would still work out.

[ava louise riley]

If there was one thing that Ava lived for it was their date nights, so much so that she hadn't missed one to date..unless there was an emergency, but to her, nothing came before family or friends and she made time for them.It was important to her. "As always." she replied with a smile before sipping her coffee again. "So when should I come over?" she asked, assuming that they would just spend time in the apartment or something like that.

[jack edward riley]

"You know if you keep drinking that stuff it will lead to an early imminent death right?" He asked with a furrowed brow. After everything that happened a few years back he got back into his healthy eatting lifestyle and still and always discouraged her coffee habit. " Well I thought maybe you could meet me at the park, the area near where the elementary playground is?" He suggested.

[ava louise riley]

Ava looked at her coffee and shrugged, "True, but then I could also get hit by a car or attacked by a bear or hit by lightening.." She joked, smirking a little more before he started talking about where he wanted to meet. The park? Okay..? The idea confused her, but she liked surprises and Jack was a romantic so she didn't question it. "Sure, having a craving to go for a swing?" she teased.

[jack edward riley]

"Its okay though cause i do believe your insurance covers bear attacks...inm point pleasant, i hear they're running the streets like crazy this time of year." He commented sarcastically. "You know me, always trying to flip over that bar." He added with a smile. He knew the place was a bit strange but it meant something in their early relationship.

[ava louise riley]

"Ahh, thank goodness for bear insurance..what ever would I do without it?" she teased and drank some more of her coffee before putting it down again as her cell went off and she took it out of her purse. She read the text, then put it away again as he mentioned the bar. She laughed. "Well it's never too late to learn a new skill.." she replied, still not getting the significance of the park.

[jack edward riley]

"Probably get mauled." He said sarcastically as he picked up the coffee pot and refilled a few cups at the counter, purpously skipping over only her.He felt like such an asshole, partially because he was nervous and the other half being because he actually remembered all that time back at the park. " Yes that's exactly what I was thinking." He said as he moved back against he back counter and crossed his arms over his chest.