This may become my best Christmas yet, Maya decided, getting off of the bus with a spring her step. She was already smiling and in an unusually optimistic frame of mind as she walked the last of the block between the bus stop and the Matthews' apartment building. The first real Christmas I've had in a long time, anyway.

The last thought threatened to do damage to the smile on her face, so she pushed away the gloomy fact as she stepped into the apartment building and stomped a few bits of snow off of her boots. The light flurries were probably going to be melted away within a few hours, and within a few seconds – with the help of a practiced mental shove – so was the last of her impending sadness.

It's finally Christmas, and I'm spending it with the Matthews, and I have every reason in the world to be happy about that!

And just like that her smile was back.

Up in her family's apartment, Riley helped decorate their tree and listened to her parents discussing the fact that it was the first time that they were hosting the holidays. That, she understood, was a big deal, yes, but for Riley, the even bigger deal was the fact that this was Maya's first time spending Christmas with them. And she said so.

"It's Maya's first time with us, and I need the holiday to go good for her."

"Well, I need the holiday to be good for your mother," her father replied.

Topanga whipped around towards him, accusing, "Liar!"

"Liar!" Cory agreed happily. "I need the holiday to be good for Shawn. Shawn's coming!"

Riley shook her head at her parents' antics – and her father's overabundance of love for Uncle Shawn – before she went back to decorating the tree.

The apartment buzzer went off and her father darted over to it, demanding, "Shawn?"

Riley grinned when instead he was told, "Maya."

Yet he tried again. "Shawn?"

And this time he got sarcasm from Riley's best friend. "Aw, what's the matter; your boyfriend's not here yet?"

"He's not my boyfriend!" Cory objected, to which Topanga asked, "Oh, then what are we going to do with this Cory and Shawn '4evah!' ornament?"

"Oh, that? That goes right in front of the Cory and Topanga wedding ornament.

Riley looked at her mother with arched eyebrows and Topanga answered the unasked question with, "My whole life."

Yeah. Well, Uncle Shawn's never really even bothered with me for my whole life, Riley thought glumly. Yet he was going to be here today… then again, so was Maya!

Even as the thought crossed her mind, the girl herself bounced into the room and Riley found her gloom sliding away. Maya was here! Yay!

Good mood or not today, Maya was a natural skeptic and she'd heard far too many really great things about this "Shawn" with far too few – in fact, no – sightings of him, and so, when she walked into the Matthews' apartment, she headed straight for Mr. Matthews and declared, "I don't even think he exists!"

Actually, she kind of automatically figured that he did, but Matthews was a fun tease, so why not?

"He's real, Maya," Matthews declared, taking the bait. "I've known the guy my whole life and he's real!"

"You're fun to play with," she declared before flouncing past him to Riley and declaring, "Riley, I got you a present."

She held out the homemade card and Riley accepted it, reading, "A donation's been made in your name to the 'Maya New Winter Coat Fund.'" And just like the best friend on the planet that she was, Riley went along with it when Maya turned to show off the coat. "Thank you, it's beautiful."

"I'm glad you like it," Maya declared with a little laugh. "I never know what to get people." Then she changed the subject, deciding to ask the person that she'd trust with her life, knowing without a thought that she'd hear the truth. "So, what's the deal on the mysterious Uncle Shawn?"

"I…" Riley looked past her for a second, her gaze darting downward nervously and setting off warning bells in Maya's head. "Don't see him a lot; I don't think he likes me."

Mr. Matthews broke in before Maya could, crying, "Riley!"

"How could someone not like you?" Maya asked with a broad smile.

Riley shrugged, obviously still nervous about the impending visit with Uncle Shawn. "Ask him and let me know."

Missionaccepted, Maya decided. She would ask this illusive Shawn what was going on, because it very obviously bothered Riley and that just wasn't alright in Maya's book.

But, when Mr. Matthews started talking to the Cory and Shawn ornament – what sort of bowl-cut did Shawn have on his head in that picture?! – Maya couldn't help but wonder what sort of a mess she was going to be getting herself into. Sure, she'd do anything for Riley, but really… what was she about to get started here?

Then Auggie opened the door for his grandparents and Maya was enfolded in a hug between Alan Matthews and Riley, and she couldn't help but smile. It was starting to feel a lot like Christmas.

Shawn Hunter came out of the elevator in Cory and Topanga's apartment building, automatically noticing that someone had left the apartment's door open. So he would be able to walk right in if he wanted to… He took a deep breath and let the air back out in a "whoosh." That was a scary thought after being so far apart for thirteen years!

And then to come back on Christmas, the day punctuated by good food, great families, and home… all of which were fantastic things, none of which he claimed to have. But it was his first time spending Christmas with his best friend here, and Cory had asked so nicely – almost desperate to see him again, if Shawn was going to be honest with himself – and so here he was.