June 6, 2026

Josh stood there awkwardly in the airport by the luggage claim. He adjusts his rolled up sleeves on his button up shirt while his eyes scan the area.

It's hard to look for someone, especially when they're short, in a busy airport with people moving in any and every direction. He told Riley that he would be waiting by the front of the baggage claim for when she arrives downstairs.

Josh mainly kept his focus on the escalators not to far from him thinking she will probably descend from them. Riley should be here any minute; She texted Josh ten minutes ago that she had landed. Josh feels a buzz in his pocket. He checks his phone to see another from her saying, "im here!!"

Josh's head perks up in anticipation to see the blonde haired thirteen year old. And there she is gliding down the escalator as predicted.

A big smile grows on his face when he makes eye contact with his beloved daughter. As soon as Riley sees her father, she starts sprinting towards him and into his arms.

Reunited at last.

"Daddy, daddy, daddy!" she shouts, practically exploding on the inside.

"Oh my god, Riley." Josh huffs, nearly having the life knocked out of him from her hug. He couldn't be happier to have his daughter back in his possession for the first time in ten years. A moment of true father-daughter connection sparks when they didn't want to let go.

"Come on, daddy. We've gotta get my suitcases so I can go see, Simon." Riley tugs on her dad's hand. "Remember I've got two bags so keep an eye out."

Once they got her luggage, they swiftly exited the mess that is the airport.

"I have Simon and Freya in the car waiting for us." he mentions. "I figured since it's one (o'clock) we'd all go grab some lunch."

"Sounds good!" Riley gives a thumbs up. The nerves she was feeling last night must've stayed behind at home because she can't feel them anymore. She doesn't have a care in the world because right now, she's happy. "Daddy you don't have as many gray hairs compared to when I saw you at Christmas. Have you been using some root touch-up?"

"Oh shut up." Josh rolls his eyes. "You kids like to make us feel so old."

"Don't say that. It just makes you sound even older. You're supposed to be a cool dad not an old 'back in my day' dad."

"You're right. I apologize on my behalf and retract my comment. That was lame of me to say." Josh places his hand on his heart. Riley giggles at him. "And here we have my average looking silver car." he presents.

"Ooo, fancy."

"If you think so. I'll put you suitcases in the trunk/boot and you can sit in the back with, Freya." Josh instructs.

Riley hopped into the back behind the driver's seat. She settled her backpack between her legs and buckled up. When she looks up she can see Simon watching her through the rearview mirror. Simon twists his head to look at Riley in the back with the biggest smile on his face.

"Riley!" He stretches his arms out trying to reach her.

"Simon!" She does the same and they end up touching fingers. "I wish I could reach you."

"Me too. I really want to give you a hug." Simon pouts.

"Air hug?" Riley shrugs. They wrap their arms around themselves tightly.

"I'll hug you when we're free of our constraints." Simon promises. He's so ecstatic to finally be with his best buddy. Riley's the reason he became so open to having children. When Riley was a toddler, the two were inseparable and they still very much are. The distance between them is so hard to live with all year round. That's why this summer is so special to them. "Riley you're thirteen now. I'm not sure I can still call you babygirl anymore. You're not a baby!"

"No! Don't stop, please. It's our thing." Riley begs.

"Okay, okay. Only because you asked so nicely."

Riley glances over to her left and makes eye contact with Freya. They wave to each other and say hello. It wasn't hard for Riley to spot the very noticeable baby bump. She appreciates what Freya is doing for the boys. Although Riley doesn't know anything about the surrogate. Riley certainly doesn't remember her after only meeting her once ten years ago. She thinks Freya is only friend. After all, that's what Simon said she was.

Josh gets inside the car and before he starts the engine he asks,

"So, where are we going for lunch?"

"Chinese. Haven't had that in a while." Simon throws out.

"I like that." Josh nods.

"What about some Mexican?" Freya speaks up.

"Oh that's a good shout. That sounds really good. We could to that little authentic place by home, Si."

"I don't really want to..." Simon mutters.

"Yeah! Let's go." Freya cheers.

"I think we'll go there." Josh decides, going with Freya's choice. Simon furrows his eyebrows.

"Now Josh don't forget we have a fourth person in the car. Riley where do you want to go?" Simon drags Riley in as a tool to his defense since it seems Josh won't listen to him. He prays Riley is on his side.

"Honestly I'm craving Chinese." she says.

"Okay. We'll go to get Chinese." Josh begins backing out. Simon silently celebrates on the inside.

"But I want Mexican and so does the baby." Freya whines. Sometimes Josh isn't sure if it's the pregnancy or just her personality that makes her whiny all the time. So he just blames the raging hormones of pregnancy because it's easier to excuse.

"Freya, it's Riley's first day here so let's go somewhere she wants. We can get Mexican next time." Josh says calmly, sounding very much like a dad.

Freya huffs but stays quiet. The whole car was quiet for a few minutes while Josh navigated himself onto the main roads.

"So what's new with the rest of the Sidemen? What are they up to nowadays?" Riley wonders.

"Well, Vik and Tobi are the only two that are still religiously doing YouTube. Vik is also married and Tobi has a girlfriend now. JJ still sort of does YouTube but it's scarcer and just a lot of inspirational, motivational stuff. Ethan quit a while ago but he's still friends with all of us and uhh hell knows where Harry went. We all just kind of stopped talking to him at one point. Haven't heard from him since." Josh fills Riley in.

"Oh? Aren't you guys a little concerned about, Harry?" Riley questions.

"Meh." Simon shrugs. "Not really. I'm sure him and Calfreezy are living life like there's no tomorrow somewhere."

Riley slowly nods. At least the rest of the guys are all still in touch and good friends. She hopes she'll be able to see them again while she's visiting.

When they showed up at the restaurant, as soon as Josh set foot out of the car, Simon had rushed over and immediately attached himself to Josh's arm.

"Hey, Simon?"

"Yes?"

"Shouldn't you give Riley a hug?" It's clear Josh isn't the mood for a clingy husband.

"Oh, right." Simon lets go and walks over to Riley with his long arms extended in a welcoming manner.

"Josh?" Freya calls out. "Will you help me?" she asks, having trouble getting out of the car.

"Coming!" He rushes over. Simon freezes in his tracks and turns his head back, glaring at them. He doesn't move.

"Um, you good there, Simon?" Riley pokes him.

"Hm? Sorry." Simon gives Riley the loving hug he promised early.

Riley can sense something is wrong. Simon's odd behavior around Josh is setting off alarms in her head. Of course it continued into the restaurant and during the meal. Josh and Simon seemed to be struggling in general and when Riley came back from restroom after she excused herself from the awkwardness, she spotted the two playing footsies under the table.

However, when the quad arrived to the house, things started to get better.

"Here we are." Josh announces. "Home sweet home." He parks the car in the driveway. Riley peers out of the window and looks up at the big house. "We only bought a few months ago because we knew we'd need more space if two extra people were going to be living with us and soon a baby."

"But this isn't just any ol' house, Ri." Simon makes clear. "This is the original Sidemen house that you spent that one year with us. (I'm using the og home bc I know the interior layout so well) When me and Josh saw this place on the market, we knew it had to be ours once again."

Whilst Josh grabbed Riley's bags, Simon unlocked the front door alongside the two girls. He watches as Riley takes her first steps inside. Almost instantly she brain is overloaded with the ghost of memories she can't really see but knows they're there. It's a comforting, homey sensation.

The other three join her inside. Josh sets the luggage to the side for now and steps next to Simon. The taller man rests his head on the other's shoulder while his arm pulls him closer to his side. Josh and Simon reminisce together on baby Riley. They're so excited to have a child of their own running around the house like Riley is now. Josh smiles softly at Simon. Riley looks down at them from the top of stairs.

"This is going to be the best summer ever!"