Icehale: You guys, we're here. The last chapter of Inheritance. It's been a great two months with y'all and I'm actually really glad that I decided to write this (even though I think I failed). But school's starting and as it does, this story has officially ended. I'll do the disclaimer for the last chapter.

I do not own the rights to Girl Meets World. And with that, let's get on to the last chapter. I hope you guys like it. Thank you so much for reading.

—

Excerpt from Rosie McGee's Journal

I can't believe I'm saying this, but it's over. Mama and Papa have decided that we're leaving the city for good. I'm leaving home, the place I've known forever and a day, and I'm also leaving him. We thought we'd be here forever but I suppose this proves that nothing does last forever. This is where I leave, and as soon as I finish writing this, this journal will become a memory, a forgotten book in my memoir box. If someone,anyone, finds this, I'm glad you do. Don't make the same mistake I did and leave what you love. But I suppose that I am too meek to stand up for myself.

–September 7, 1964

—

It was officially Sunday, and Lucas had left the city for his beloved Texas.

Though everything looked and felt exactly the same, he knew that something had changed the moment he stepped off the plane. What exactly had changed, he couldn't say, but it was clear that his home was different.

And he didn't like it one bit.

—

Riley could tell on Monday that things were different in New York.

Sure, everything looked the same on the outside, but there was something missing that hadn't been before no matter where she looked. The only thing was, she couldn't tell what exactly had changed.

All Riley could do was hope that the change was for the better.

—

Another few weeks had passed, and Lucas was getting back into the swing of things.

He would have preferred to keep his mind in Texas, but the occasional call he got wouldn't let him do that. And in that very moment, his phone decided to ring with another one.

"Hey!" a cheerful voice greeted him from the other side of the phone. "How's it going?"

"Riley," Lucas acknowledged, a smile forming on his face. "I'm good. What about you?"

"I'm great!" Riley exclaimed. Lucas smothered a chuckle as he imagined the happiness oozing from her at that moment.

"I talked to Josh yesterday, and guess what!" she continued chattering. "He's planning on proposing! Maya's going to be engaged in a bit! Isn't that great? I'm so happy for her!"

"Really?" Lucas asked amazedly. "Pass on my congratulations to them when he does."

Riley laughed happily. "Of course I will," she promised. "So what's happening in Texas?"

"One of my horses gave birth yesterday," Lucas informed her, grinning proudly. "I had to help along with it because the vet was stuck halfway across town. Did you know that a foal stands up within the first couple of hours after it's born?"

"Really?" she asked wistfully. "I'd like to have seen that."

"I think I'm going to switch majors, Riley," he nearly whispered, glancing around to make sure no one could hear. "I'm going to become a veterinarian."

"You'd be an amazing vet," Riley assured him. "From what you've told me, I can tell you're great with animals."

"The city's changed me a little, I guess," Lucas admitted. "Mama wants me to be something respectable and a vet doesn't exactly cut it for her."

"You tell your mother that you're going to be a vet no matter what she says," Riley said decisively. "After all, what you decide will most likely be your career for the rest of your life, and you want to like what you do."

Lucas hesitated. "You're right, I suppose," he replied after a moment. "I just don't know how to tell her."

"You'll figure it out, I promise," she encouraged. "But I have to go now. Mom has this dinner thing that she's roped the family into coming to. I'll talk to you later though."

"Have a good time, Riley," Lucas said, scratching his head.

"Thanks," Riley replied. "Bye Lucas."

"Bye."

—

They did continue to keep in contact – for a little while, anyway. As they did, they learned quite a bit about each other. Riley learned of Lucas's obsession with Cuddle Bunnies, and Lucas found out that Riley was extremely insecure about herself.

Eventually, however, they fell out of contact as all long distance relationships, whether platonic or romantic, did. They forgot to call each other a couple of times, which doubled in number, and just stopped after a while. Neither Riley nor Lucas ever forgot about the other, however, and vowed to tell the story of the other.

One day.

—

It was a normal day in Philadelphia as twenty-seven year old Riley Matthews hurried along the street. She was quite nearly late for work, and unfortunately, they were greeting a new client that day.

"Hey Jenny," she greeted, passing the office's secretary on her way in. "Are they already up there?"

"You'd better hurry," Jenny told her, nodding in confirmation.

Riley mentally cursed, nearly running upstairs to the meeting room. She had taken a job at a company that helped other companies figure out how to improve their services and attract more people to their products. Her debriefing hadn't said much, just that it was for a veterinary health clinic.

Smoothing down her blouse, Riley ran through a mental checklist of what to do while speaking with a brand new client. Taking a breath, she finally stepped into Meeting Room C.

"Ms. Matthews," her boss called. "Thank you for joining us."

"I'm sorry Mr. Gold," Riley apologized, slipping into her seat. "It was just a busy morning."

He nodded before jerking his head towards the young man sitting next to him. "This is the clinic's representative, here from Texas," Gold told her. "Riley Matthews, I'd like to introduce you to Lucas Friar."

Riley choked on her breath and Lucas shot his head to her, both of them visibly startled.

Gold looked at the two curiously, but said nothing. "Mr. Friar is looking to build up the clinic's reputation and I informed him that I'd bring my best person to the job," he continued. "Would you like to tell her more about what you'd like to see, Mr. Friar?"

"I think you summed it all up well, Mr. Gold," Lucas replied, still staring at Riley.

Riley watched him just as fixedly as he was to her. She hadn't thought about Lucas in nearly five years and the change was astonishing.

He still had the same sandy blonde hair and green eyes as last time. But he seemed more open now, more kind hearted and hopeful.

"So shall we meet again later?" Gold asked awkwardly, already standing up to leave. "Perhaps you two can discuss some aspects of the project in the next twenty minutes and we'll get down to business tomorrow."

"That sounds perfect, Mr. Gold," Riley acknowledged with a nod. Gold inclined his head to the both of them before making a hasty retreat out.

Riley and Lucas continued to eye each other in surprise, neither of them daring to break the silence. A couple of minutes later, however, Lucas did.

"So we're working together on this, I guess?" he asked quietly, rubbing the back of his neck.

"I guess we are," Riley replied. She bit her lip uncertainly.

"If this'll make it easier, how about we just reintroduce ourselves to each other?" Lucas suggested. "It works on television if there's an awkward history between two people."

"We don't have an awkward history, just a lot of lack of contact," Riley shot back, a small smile quirking on her lips. "But I guess we can try it."

"Alright then," he said, holding out his hand with a smirk. "Hi. I'm Lucas."

"Hi," she said, shaking his hand. Letting the smile form, she continued her statement.

"I'm Riley."

—

"Thank you so much for helping out, Riley," Lucas said, giving his friend a quick hug. "The clinic is doing so much better now."

"It was no problem," Riley replied, returning his hug. "You and everyone else working there definitely deserved it – you're all such hardworking and kind people."

Riley and Lucas had been working to build up the veterinary clinic's reputation for almost four months by now. And as they approached the final stretch, both of them felt a bit torn at the thought of working together everyday, or just plain hanging out all the time, ending.

"You know," Lucas cut the silence developing. "The owner of the clinic is planning on expanding moving us out and building a couple more clinics around the country. He asked my and a couple of others' opinions on it."

Riley looked up at him, surprised. "What did you tell him?' she asked slowly, heart racing as she realized that he may be able to stay in Philly with her.

"I told him that if he was going to end up doing it, he should make sure to build one up on the upper east coast," he replied, grinning as widely as a little boy. "They're building a clinic here in Pennsylvania, Riley. I'm staying to help out a bit and work here when it's finished."

Riley squealed and hugged him once again, this time so exuberant as to give him a kiss on the cheek. The two paused for a moment awkwardly, before Lucas regained his composure and smile, retaliating with a kiss on her brow.

"I guess that means that you're happy about it," Lucas assumed with a small laugh.

"Lucas, you have no idea," Riley replied, taking his hand into hers and squeezing it tightly, sending all of her joy and hope for the future through it.

—

"Riley!" Lucas called for his girlfriend, staring at a package he had found. "Come look at this."

Lucas was unpacking a couple of boxes in the apartment he and Riley had just moved into. As he did so, he found the small package, neatly addressed to him in a very familiar handwriting.

"What's going on?" the brunette asked, setting down a smaller box and blowing a strand of hair out of her face.

Not daring to say a word, Lucas handed her the letter he had pulled out of the package. Riley took it and began to read, eyes widening as she got further and further down.

Looking up, Riley's face was the epitome of surprise and confusion. "So it was all set up from the beginning?" she asked.

"Afraid so," Lucas nodded. "But if it makes you feel any better, I did in fact like the results."

"You'd better have," Riley told him with a smirk, reaching up to give him a quick peck on the lips. "We'll go through the contents of the package later, but for now, help me out with these boxes, will you?"

"Of course I will," he assured her, laughing. "Let's get right down to it."

—

Letter from Merlin Scoggins to Lucas Friar

My boy,

I know you're probably incredibly angry with me for giving everything to a girl, one you've never met no less. But don't doubt me, for I am quite sure that you will understand why in due time.

I have known you since the moment you were born, Lucas. I watched you grow up to be a strong person, one who will not be thrown down. But I also watched the younger version of you retreat, until it was just gone one day.

I know that it was my fault, that my distancing caused your change in personality. But you must understand, I am but an old man, and I do not want to hurt too many when I inevitably die. If you are reading this, that moment has come.

A few days ago, I met a young girl, full of brightness and optimism. She seemed to be the one who would bring you back, and I can only hope now that it will happen. She is the granddaughter of my Rosie, you know. Rosie McGee, my first love.

I thought I would marry Rosie, Lucas. We loved each other so fully and so joyfully, that it only seemed natural to think we'd be together forever. But she left and eventually, married another.

I gave Riley Matthews everything I had in an attempt to get you two to meet. I know that you would endlessly look until you find her. The only thing I do not know for sure is what Riley would do. But if she is anything like my Rosie, I trust that she will heal your wounds and you two will compromise on the inheritance.

Trust Riley, my grandson. If you can learn to trust her, I know you can learn to hope again. I know that little boy from so many years ago can come back. Riley can help you, Lucas. I swear on the days of my remaining life.

I wonder how long it will be until you read this letter. If you never know about it, I will rest knowing that I made the attempt to contact you. And if you do and you're at this point, I hope that you are happy and at peace.

That is, after all, what I intended from the beginning.

—Merlin

Icehale: That's it, you guys. I mean, I'm pretty sure y'all understand why I literally never write stories with multiple chapters now. I literally fail while writing them. But I really hope you liked the story as a whole!

The ending was a bit all over the place, I know. But the point of this final chapter was to ease Riley and Lucas into a relationship, and then end with this letter. I really hope it seemed natural, and if not, I failed once again, sorry y'all.

But thank you so much to everyone who followed, favorited, and reviewed, or just read it at all, even if you didn't do any of the following! Leave me suggestions for another multi chaptered story or one shot, or just let me know what you thought! For the last time, Icehale out!