Disclaimer: I do not own Degrassi. If I did Maya and Owen would interact more.
Author Note: Surprise another plot has popped into my head and would not go away. A big thank you to Halawen for all your help in everything. This would have been up yesterday but life got in the way. Let me know what you guys think or if you what will happen next.
Maya's POV
"It's great that were getting paid extra for working overtime for this Hockey Team to come." Zig said wiping down the counters since it was clear of customers that wanted drinks.
"I know I just hope NHL Players tip big, we could use the money." I tell him cleaning up the drink glasses.
"I know and rents due Friday." Zig said finishing up and coming over and leaning against the bar and looking at me.
"I know I got enough for my share of it but I still need some more money to pay for some of my tuition and of course Jace is growing even more so he needs new clothes and of course food and I need to pay Becky since were working later so she has to babysit longer." I ramble on pushing harder onto the cup with the sponge.
"Maya… Maya!" Zig said couple times then grabbed my arm stopping me from what I was doing and turning me to him and started talking "Maya you need to relax and calm down. Everything will be ok. We have one more year of school left and then were done. Your scholarships are covering everything so you only have to pay for your books and it will be over in a year and your all caught up on it. As for Jace you're taking great care of him and you do have money saved up and Becky wouldn't want you to pay her you know that. She loves that boy as much as you do. And for the last time anytime you need help I'm here and so is Becky and Luke. Luke's over helping watch Jace now anyway. So everything is fine."
"I know I just hate asking for help since even though we live in the same town my family gave up on me along with Jace's father." I say leaning in for a hug.
"It doesn't hurt for help Maya." Zig said letting go of the hug.
"I know but I might look for a second job tomorrow anyway since Luke said he'd watch Jace in the morning for me before he has afternoon class." I said getting to go move to the other side.
"Maya you don't….' Zig try saying on me not looking for another job when our boss came up to us.
"Guys the Team is here and up in the VIP area and I want the two of you to go up and run it up there. Get whatever they want and anything they ask for." Chris said ushering us to the stairs of the VIP.
"Well he's in a good mood." I tell Zig laughing as we walked up the steps together.
"What do you expect he's making lots of money tonight with rich people around." Zig says reaching the doors of the VIP and opening them and us walking in and seeing it crowded with people mostly the team players and others who were I guess part of the organization team.
"Why don't you go setup everything behind the bar and help Jessica with the drinks that some are already ordering and I go and get some of the people's orders?" Zig said waving his hand at the bar where the new girl was trying to get everyone's orders together.
"Ok." I said walking over to behind the counter and stared taking drink orders "Hi what would you like?" I ask someone.
"3 beers please." The first guy said and I got his drinks ready and handed them off since I know there order were going on a tab and would be paid at the end of the night an continued on with more people.
After about 20 minutes everything was all caught up at the bar and I could leave Jessica alone, even after her spilling a lot of drinks for a bit so I decided to go look for Zig who has yet to make an appearance at the bar. Pushing my way through the people who were getting drunker by the drink I found Zig in the corner talking to someone and looking shocked. So I made my way over and made my presence known.
"Zig how long does it take you to get people's orders?" I ask walking up to him paying no attention to the other person.
"Sorry. I kind of ran into someone we know." Zig said rubbing the back of his head causing me to turn and look at the other guy and see that it was Owen Milligan.
"Owen?" I asked surprised to see him since we haven't seen him since he graduated from Degrassi.
"Matlin?" he said surprised that I was standing there in front of him before smirking and looking me up and down " You sure have grown up."
"Yeah I forgot to tell you Maya works here too." Zig said to him
"Still cocky I see. But it's good to see you again. What you doing here anyway?" I said folding my arms.
"I'm on the team and we made the Western Conferences so we came here to celebrate." Owen said surprising me that he made it to the NHL, even from the games I watched him in he was a great player.
"That's great dude Congrats." Zig said patting him on the back.
"Thanks. So what have you guys been up to since graduating Tris hardly tells me shit unless it has to do with Tori the annoying and them wanting to take over Broadway." Owen said rolling his eyes.
"A lot." Zig and I said in unison.
"I'd say we should catch up but it's really loud in here right now," Owen says.
"Yeah and Maya and me have to work." Zig spoke up.
"Well maybe I'll catch you guys later," Owen says just as someone calls his last name to get him to look over.
"Yeah sure, hey Zig did you get orders I need to get back to the bar and Jessica." I say as Owen walks away.
Zig gives me some papers with some orders on it and I walk back to the bar.
The next three hours were very busy with us getting a never ending stream of beer and cocktails and when it was finally time for them to leave and us to start cleaning I was exhausted. I plopped down on one of the bar stools with Zig and sighed.
"That was a lot of hassle. Never thought so many people could drink so much." Zig said shaking his head.
"I know. Let's just clean up and get home its already after 2 and everyone's probably asleep already." Zig said standing up as we started seeing people leave out the doors.
"Sounds good. Let's hope Jessica didn't make such a mess in the back to clean up." I told him standing up to and turn to see Owen walking up to us.
"Hey you guys still up for catching up now?" Owen asked stopping in front of us.
"Yeah sure. Maya why don't you take him to our lounge and I'll check the back and meet you back there." Zig said walking into the back of the bar.
"Ok. Come on." I said then waved Owen to follow me to the lounge which was downstairs.
"So when did the two of you start working here anyway?" Owen asked as we made our way down the stairs.
"Our Sophomore year at TU. It's a great place to work because Chris is understanding with shifts since we both go to school to." I tell him as we stopped at the end of the stairs and I changed course towards the lounge that was on the side of the bar, opened the door and brought him in.
"It looks like a good place to work, not like those shitty ones down a few miles." Owen said looking around as I start gathering mine and Zig's stuff as Zig walked in.
"I'd like to know why Chris hired that pain in the ass girl." Zig asked walking in mumbling.
"Who knows? Hey do you have your keys? I think I left mine at home and I don't want to wake anyone by pounding on the door." I tell him digging through my purse.
"Yeah I got them." Zig said then walked over to Owen who was stopped in front of the wall that hold pictures of families that work here, "See anything interesting dude?"
"Who's your girl dude?" I looked up and see Owen point at a picture and I walked over to join them.
"Look a little closer you know her." I say stopping next to him.
"Holy shit Becky Baker?" How?" Owen asked looking at Zig.
"We met up in a class together and that was history. Been together for three years now." Zig said smiling at the picture of him and Becky.
I was looking at all the pictures to see if Chris added more for a minute when I heard Owen say something.
"What?" I ask looking and seeing him look back at me.
"I said you have a kid?" and I look to see the pic he was talking about and saw the one of Jace and I at his 3rd birthday party.
"Yeah Jace he'll be 4 in November." I tell him adoringly of the thought of my son.
"So you had him after your guy's senior year." Owen asked shocked.
"Yeah at graduation I was 5 months pregnant." I tell him.
"You want to follow us to the apartment dude?" Zig said.
"You live together?" Owen asked looking between us.
"Yeah Zig, Becky, me and Jace have a nice condo, it's cheaper that way. Luke's over all the time too." I tell Owen.
"What about Jace's father?" Owen inquires.
"He's never been in the picture; I don't want to talk about it. We just need to lock up and then you can follow us to our place. If Becky's still awake she's going to really surprised to see you." I say pulling Zig down the hall so we could lock up and get home.
Owen's POV
I parked behind Maya and Zig following them into the apartment building, the whole drive over all I could think was that I've been out of touch too long. I turned pro hockey and went on the road, I really hadn't talked to any of my old friends in years. I talked to my family though, I called mom once a month and I spoke with Tris every few weeks but he never told me any of this. He never mentioned Zig dating Becky or the two of them sharing an apartment with Maya not to mention that Maya has a son! How the hell could some jack ass get her pregnant and then ditch her?! It made me wonder how everyone else's lives had turned out. Bianca and Drew for example, I didn't even know if they had ever gotten married. Yeah I was way out of the loop.
We take the elevator up a few stories and I follow them down the hall, Zig unlocks the door and we go in.
"Hey you guys are home and you brought company at this hour," Becky comments appearing near the door and kissing Zig.
"Becky you remember Owen Milligan he was on the Ice Hounds with Luke," Zig says as Maya closes and locks the front door behind us.
"Hey double B it's been a while." I wave to her.
She squints her head eyes and looks at me a minute. "Wow Owen it's been…ages. What are you doing here? I mean the apartment not Toronto, I heard you were on the Maple Leafs. I can't believe you're here, oh my god Luke is going to flip he was so jealous when you made the team. Hey Luke," she calls back into the apartment.
Luke comes down the stairs with a slightly annoyed face. "Becks hush you…fuck Owen is that you no way it's been forever dude!" He says taking notice of me finally.
We shake hands and he waves me farther into the apartment. "Yeah I know I don't get home as often as I like, I've lost touch with pretty much everybody except Tris and Tori but only because they live together and she just has to talk to me when I call. Of course Tris doesn't update me on anybody."
"Yeah that's Tori for you. Doesn't know when she's not wanted." Zig said as everyone went to sit on the couch except Maya who went into the kitchen and grabbed drinks for everyone which was really pop but I didn't care.
"I know I never liked talking to her years ago and I don't now." I tell them shaking my head before speaking again "So what's been going on with you guys?" I ask the Baker siblings.
"I got into TU on a hockey scholarship which was cool and I was having a great time until junior year when I got body checked and wrenched my knee tearing the ACL so badly I couldn't play anymore. Zig and Maya were at TU by then and I moved in with them while I healed, Becky had just started dating Zig and that's when I found out Maya was pregnant with Jace. I went back to TU the next semester on an academic scholarship." Luke says telling on what went on with him.
"Shit dude that sucks so bad. At least you still got to finish school what degree are you going for?" I ask him.
"Real Estate and I actually get my license to sell homes and show them next month." Luke said with a smile.
"Well at least I can go to you to help me find a house after the season over with." I tell him with a smirk.
"Of course dude." He nodded back.
"Good but if Maya told me she was 5 months pregnant at graduation how did you not know she was pregnant when you guys saw her for the first time." I ask them all.
"I wasn't ready for everyone else to really know yet and I didn't know how they would react so when Zig said he ran into Becky and found out Luke was going there to so I wore baggy clothes that didn't show my stomach or anything. Neither one knew until I was 7 months when Luke moved in." Maya explained of her hiding her pregnancy.
"How he find out?" I ask raising an eyebrow and seeing both Baker and Maya faces go red as Becky and Zig started laughing loudly.
"Shut up guys you're going to wake up Jace!" Maya tried quieting them quickly but apparently it was a little late since I heard a small voice from the stairwell.
"Mommy?" the voice who must have been Jace came quietly. I looked but I couldn't see him just a shadow as Maya got up and went over to him.
"Baby what are you doing up?" Maya asked crouching down to the kid's level.
"I was thirsty and wanted to get a drink and I heard your voice." Jace said softly.
"Ok baby I'll get you your water and bring it up to you while Uncle Luke takes you back to bed." Maya says standing up and heading into the kitchen while Baker stands and picks up the kid and carries him up the stairs to what I guess is where the bedrooms whereas Maya came back out and followed.
"They're close now I take it." I ask the two remaining and nod towards the hall.
"Yeah but just as brother and sister. Luke became extremely protective when he found out Jace's father ditched her." Zig said putting his arm around Becky.
"Can't blame him I don't even know the whole story and I already want to find the punk." I said getting pissed.
"Don't worry she'll tell you when she's ready. She went through a lot the rest of senior year." Becky said just as Maya and Baker came back down and sat in their seats.
"So are you going to tell me how you found out she was pregnant or not." I say smirking at there once again red faces.
"Ok so I was still on crutches and didn't know Maya was home since I just woke up and headed to the bathroom. What I didn't know was the water just turned off and opened the door Maya was getting out of the shower and hadn't put on a towel and all I saw was her big round stomach." Luke said embarrassed and Maya looking down to.
"So what about you double B.? What's been going on with you?" I turn to look at the couple cuddled into each other, which they actually do make a cute couple.
"I got into TU along with Luke on an academic scholarship and I want to get my teaching degree for Early Childhood teaching for a Kindergarten teacher, of course you know me keeping my grades but and all bubbled and stuff. Come Junior Year I walked into my Writing class I was taking and I bumped into someone and it happened to be Zig and it just went from there. I learned around the same time about Maya and we became really close and I was ok with the two living together. Last year I moved in with them and now here we are." Becky rambled on.
"Wow. It's great that you want to become a teacher and you and Zig look good together." I tell her smiling at her story of everything as I took a drink and put my arm around Mayas shoulder without realizing it really.
"Now on to me I guess. You know all about the whole Tori and I fiasco Freshmen Year so we never really became anything more from that but I still was friends with Tris and Maya and through the rest of High School Maya was basically my best friend and we were always there so when I found out Maya was pregnant I stuck by her along with the others and helped her out any way I could by also getting her a job at moms store and moved in together when we started Freshmen Year at TU. I'm going for to become a Music Teacher and graduate next year, and of course Becky already talked about us." Zig said a quick catch up with him and kissed Becky.
"That's pretty cool dude I know how much you always loved music. Can't blame you on the Tori thing she always had to have it about her." I tell him then turn to Maya and wait for hers.
"Well I guess it's my turn, I found out I was pregnant and my family turned their backs on me and kicked me out. Katie was gone at University of course but after telling her I was pregnant and Mom and Dad kicked me out she told me I made a huge mistake and now I was paying for it. So my family was no help but because Jake had dated Katie Clare and I became really good friends, she was going to York on a writing scholarship and had an off campus apartment with two bedrooms and she let me stay in the extra room without even charging me rent until Zig and I graduated and got a place together. I got into TU on a music scholarship but after having Jace my priorities changed and I changed my major, so now I'm going for a nursing degree to be an RN." Maya tells me without really looking at me very much.
"That was really nice of Clare, are you still in touch with her?" I question noticing that she's still avoiding the topic of Jace's father and doesn't want to talk about her family much.
"Yeah she's over all the time, she works for the Toronto Interpreter now. Aside from these three and the occasional phone call from Tris she's really the only the person we've kept up with." Maya replies.
"I hear from Jenna occasionally and she married Connor so I get updated on him. Clare keeps up with almost everyone though even people she wasn't that close to in high school." Becky tells me.
"Really? I never would have guessed that, she didn't seem like the social butterfly type in school." I comment.
"I think it has a lot to do with her job, if you want to see her we can probably have dinner with her tomorrow night. If you're in town and available. Zig and I don't work until nine tomorrow night and Zig's mom or the Baker parents can watch Jace." Maya suggests.
"Yeah I'll be in town that would be cool." I reply.
"I'll call her tomorrow and make sure she's free." Becky says as Maya yawns.
"It's pretty late I should go so you guys can get to sleep." I remark.
"Yeah I'm beat it was good seeing you though and we'll see you tomorrow for dinner, Clare will make time." Maya says giving me a hug and quick kiss in the cheek.
I say goodbye to the others and leave the condo going back to my car and driving to home to my apartment. I really didn't live that far from Maya, Zig and Becky but I wasn't home very often and even when I was home in Toronto I was visiting the folks, training or doing other things. I didn't get out around this part of town much. Everything they'd told me tonight, everything Maya was still keeping from me it was all rushing through my mind and I took a long time to get to sleep.
Maya POV
"This is a nice place," Owen said looking around the restaurant we were all meeting Clare at for dinner.
Zig and I didn't have to be into work until nine which gave us three hours for dinner and Jace was being watched by Mr. & Mrs. Baker so we could all enjoy a night out together which was a rare occurrence.
"Yeah we hang out here a lot, we started in college when we became too old to hang out at the Dot." Zig tells him.
"It sure beats the Dot, so where's Clare it's like a quarter after six I'm pretty sure she was one of those annoyingly punctual people in high school." Owen remarks.
"She'll be here, she's not late necessarily she probably got caught up at the paper or interviewing someone important." I tell Owen.
"Here she comes," Luke says nodding to the door.
Clare is there talking into headset for her cell phone and dressed in a grey business suit and white blouse. Zig whistles so that she sees us and she comes over sitting between Zig and Owen because that's where they left the open spot.
"No I can't do Wednesday I'm flying to Ottawa for an interview with the Prime Minister. Okay Ginny I have to go now we can figure this out when I get back I'm having dinner with my friends now. Bye Ginny." Clare says hanging up then turns to Owen with a big smile and hugs him; he embraces her back and smiles too. "Hi Owen sorry about that and for being late I left the office as soon as I could. It's good to see you, it's been forever. I know you got drafted to the Maple Leafs and you guys have been doing well. Dylan our sports reporter keeps me updated. Hi everybody." Clare says finally taking a breath.
Owen looks at her and blinks a couple of times, Clare's fast paced life has made her faster than Becky in the last couple of years. For me, Zig, Becky and Luke who have been around her almost every day for the last few years it was a slow progression and we had time to adjust to it. Anyone that hasn't seen her for a while or even people that only see her once or twice a year have to adjust to it.
"Hi Clare, you look good and talk really fast now and I thought double B was bad." Owen laughs a little.
"You should hear the two of them together," Luke remarks.
"Sorry it's a sort of side effect from the business the only time I talk slow is when I'm doing interviews. I'll try to remember to slow down," Clare smiles slowing down a little as the waiter comes over.
"We told Owen you could tell him what everyone else has been up to since you keep in touch with them." I tell her after we've given our orders and the waiter leaves.
"I can do that who would you like to know about?" Clare asks him.
"Uh well let's start with the obvious first are you and Eli still together?" Owen questions.
"No we broke up during his first year at NYU but we stayed friends. He lives in New York still writing for graphic novels and working on his horror novel. He's engaged to an avant-garde artist named Astrid. The wedding is set for April. He comes to visit every year, usually around May." Clare tells him.
"Okay how about Adam?" Owen questions.
"He's doing great, he lives in L.A. now with his own syndicated radio show as well as running a foundation for transgender youth. He also plays bass as a contract musician for gosh he's played with just about every musician you can name. I see him when I manage to make it out to L.A. but usually we meet in New York when we see Eli and of course we go on our yearly vacation together every October. He's been through a string of relationships but I really like his new girlfriend Carol, she's so sweet. She's a secretary at the radio station." Clare informs him.
"Geez you really do know everything okay how about Drew?" Owen queries.
"Well you know he married Bianca because you were at the wedding. They live in Philadelphia now in a beautiful downtown converted loft. He's working at an ad agency as one of their top executives. Bianca got her PHD and became a therapist specializing in counseling at risk youth at she's two months pregnant with their first child. Audra is both excited and terrified at the prospect of being a grandmother and is trying to convince Omar to move to Philly so they can see their grandchild." Clare enlightens him.
"Geez B is pregnant? Okay uh Becky said something about Jenna and Connor." Owen says as our food is brought to the table.
"They got married last year in a small ceremony on the beach. Connor works for NASA which is why they live in Florida. Jenna is a very popular children's musician and writes songs for other artists. They don't ever make it to Toronto but Becky and I go down to see them once a year. They're talking about having kids but Connor doesn't want kids for several years but Jenna misses being a mom so we'll see." Clare smiles.
"Is there anyone you haven't kept up with?" Owen inquires.
"Just Alli she got stressed out in Biology program at MIT and turned to drugs then dropped off the map. She's had three kids and given them all up and last I knew she was living in a halfway house in Oklahoma. Sav on the other hand is happily married to a very beautiful Indian girl; they live in Chicago and have two children. He's a musician and composer and I see them whenever they come up to see his parents." Clare enlightens him.
"Okay how about K.C. what's he up to?" Owen inquires.
"K.C. is a research scientist with a pharmacy company in Vancouver. He's kept very busy in his job but he was able to buy his mom an apartment and one for himself not too far away and they've had no contact with his dad. He's only had one steady girlfriend since leaving DeGrassi, Haley but they've been on and off for years so I give them two years before they're married. Let's see Dave is in L.A. married to a lovely girl named Allison, he's an assistant basketball coach at UCLA and a frequent guest on Adam's radio show. Jake moved to Ottawa and expanded Martin contracting he's dating this girl Rhonda that I have my doubts about. You already know about these four and your brother I'm assuming." Clare remarks.
"Yeah him and Tori although apparently he doesn't tell me anything, I didn't know any of the stuff about Maya, Zig, the Bakers or you." Owen says with a look that says to me he's going to yell at Tris next time he talks to him.
"Well let's see Mo got married to Marisol and they moved to Jamaica. He teaches music and she's a waitress still. Fitz and Dallas still live in town; they're the only ones besides those of us at the table." Clare comments.
"You keep in touch with Dallas and Fitz?" Owen questions with dubious look.
"Not really but I do run into them. Fitz manages a pool hall now, which is only a slight step up from his work at the Dot. Dallas is an assistant coach for the Ice Hounds now and neither has had a steady girlfriend or any relationship." Clare says.
"And you're a very busy fast talking star reporter," Owen remarks.
"That's star investigative reporter for the Interpreter." Luke corrects him. "Clare covers all the hard stories and exposes people and company. She also interviews all the celebrities and VIP's that come through so she's either dressed up all hot to go to some VIP party or digging through trash to expose some slum lord."
"Yeah speaking of when are working tomorrow night Zig?" Clare questions.
"Maya and I both work seven to close," Zig tells her.
"I'll be there around eight then, got an interview with the CEO of Hampton foundry to question him about the allegations of working conditions and environmental hazards at his company." Clare replies.
"Let me guess he thinks he's taking you on a date and doesn't realize who you are so you're bringing him to the bar in case you need a save." Zig says and Clare nods.
"In that case I'll be at the bar around eight too." Luke says.
"Huh?" Owen asks as he's become lost in the conversation.
"One of Clare's favorite ploys to getting to male targets for her expose's is to entice them into a date. They think they're taking out a pretty girl and then she confronts them with hard questions. It works pretty well but on occasion some of them have tried to hurt her so she comes to the bar so Zig can keep an eye on her. If Luke knows about them he usually comes too just in case." I explain to Owen.
"Okay I'll be there too then." Owen replies.