Shout-outs: Guest, evergirl2000, Guest, Guest, Rutabaga Parker(2), OSnapItsAli, skygazer13, lalaland, and Loulou

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Rated: K+

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Chapter 3

Maya looked up from the painting of the Eiffel Tower. She had decided that she preferred oil paints over photography. She still helped Shawn take photographs for his magazine but for the most part she devoted herself to painting French landscapes and the buildings and the people. She tried to concentrate on forgetting Lucas Matthews and for the most part she succeeded. But sometimes she still got swept away in the what ifs.

Maybe he would have finally woken up and realized that she was the one for him. But she knew it wasn't true. According to her mother, he had met a girl he was pretty serious about.

According to the letters Josh wrote her every once and awhile, Lucas didn't know he was serious about the girl named Riley Friar but she knew and she was going to make sure he went down the right path.

Maya sighed and folded Josh's letter. She knew he didn't write these things to hurt her, he was a man of few words but he still tried to keep her informed about the happenings at home. Apparently, one of the happenings was an impending engagement. She might even be coming home to a wedding.

She put the thought out of her head because nothing was final until they had said I do. Although, she wasn't entirely sure that Lucas would ever notice her. Not even when she came home taller and more stylish than she had ever been.

.

"There's a letter from Joshua and one from your mother too," Shawn said when she came home from painting the Eiffel Tower one late afternoon. "He sure writes you a lot."

"Josh!? I hear from him every other week," Maya replied primly as she hung up her art bag and took off her coat. "Besides, we've only ever been friends. I'm sure he doesn't think about me that way."

"Mmmh," Shawn answered. "Well, maybe you picked the wrong brother."

"Never!" Maya denied vehemently. "Josh is boring. He was practically born in a suit and tie and with a briefcase in his hand."

Shawn shrugged. "He's a good kid. We can't all be Lucas Matthews, you know. I've gotta go kiddo, I've got a meeting with the magazine. I'll be back in time for dinner."

Maya nodded. "Okay. I'll see you later."

When he was gone, she made herself an espresso and then sat down in the bay window to read her letters. She opened her mother's first and scanned the contents eagerly, her heart plummeting to the ground when she read it.

My Dearest Maya,

There is no good way to tell you this but you need to know. The other day, Lucas got engaged to Riley Friar. I know how strongly you feel about this honey and I am sorry. . .

Maya stuffed the letter back in the envelope and went to open Josh's even though she was sure his would bear the same news as her mom's. His handwriting was dependable and legible and he didn't waste space, so it was an easy read.

It started out like all his other ones. With an apology for the lateness of his letter, a general update about the family (life was good at Matthews Mansion, Topanga and Cory were expecting another baby and that his father's business was doing well and that he was going to get promoted to vice president. He'd be the youngest VP of a company in the country.

Finally the part she had been waiting for.

Riley and Lucas are engaged. It is an advantageous match. Mr. Friar is a businessman himself and all he can see are dollar signs in eyes. Since we will all be family eventually he wants to work on a merger with us. He is so preoccupied with occupation that he cannot see that this is all about love and not about business at all.

I know you think all I care about is the dotted line and the next six-figure deal but I can see that it's love.

I am sorry. I know how you feel about Lucas. But you can rest in the fact that he chose somebody who is a good fit for him.

Sincerely,

Joshua Matthews

Maya sighed and dropped the letter in her lap. There was nothing left to do, nothing left to say. Lucas was engaged and life was going to have to go on.

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"Did you know that Mr. Friar wants to do a merger with the company!?" Lucas demanded as he stormed into Josh's office.

Josh sighed. "Lucas, I'm in the middle of a meeting here. Can't this wait?"

"NO!"

Josh rattled something off in Mandarin and then they were alone. He looked at his younger brother wearily. "You know Mr. Friar. Everything's business with that man."

"If I had known, I would have never. . ."

"Proposed?" Josh interjected, rolling his eyes. "Come on Lucas. It isn't like she's going to be a burden to you. She's set to inherit her father's estate when he passes away and she's a doctor. It isn't like you do anything anyways. It's time you at least settle down."

"I resent that!" Lucas snapped.

"Oh come on. You know it's true! You've lived the life of a very educated, privileged young man but you don't do anything about it," Josh sniped back. "There are instruments you don't play, languages you don't speak. You went to law school but you never took the bar. You walked away from a good modeling contract."

"I didn't want to be boring like you!"

"Oh and playing for the Boston Pops would have been incredibly boring!"

"I hate Boston."

Josh sighed in exasperation, another retort was on the tip of his tongue but he didn't have the time or energy to argue with him. He was still in the middle of a very important meeting with Singapore and his brother was being petty.

"Dad agrees with it," Josh finally said even though it was a partial lie. Alan Matthews had no problem doing a merger with the other businessman but he preferred to wait until a year or two after the wedding was over to even begin talking about it.

Lucas sighed. "Fine."

"You're not having second thoughts, are you?" Josh asked.

"No. . ." Lucas answered cautiously, avoiding his eyes.

It was a tell Josh knew all too well, his brother was lying to him. It was time to do something about it, he couldn't let him hurt one of the sweetest girls in the world just because Lucas was getting cold feet or fearful of the impending boredom of married life.

"Come on Lucas," Josh said. "Riley Friar is a real catch! She's smart and funny and pretty as hell."

"Why don't you marry her then?" Lucas grumbled.

Josh shot him a look.

"I'm kidding, I'm kidding!" Lucas answered. "Are you coming to dinner tonight?"

"It's your engagement party, isn't it?" Josh asked.

"Yeah. I just thought you might have to get ready for your business trip to Singapore."

"I do," Josh replied. "But I always have time for you. You know that."

"I know. I'll see you tonight," Lucas said. "Thanks for taking the time to talk to me, Josh."

"You're welcome. You know you could stay, you do have a position at the company and I would love it if you did."

"Eh, it's fine. This is your scene, not mine. Besides, I promised Riley that I'd take her to lunch. We're sampling at a restaurant that wants to cater the wedding."

Josh grinned. "Have fun with that."

"Yeah. Sure."

Josh sat back in his chair and buzzed for his assistant to send the Chung Cooperation back into his office. He had a feeling this wouldn't be the only time that he had to talk Lucas out of dumping Riley.

Really, he wasn't going to find anybody better for him. Riley had the patience of a saint, she would keep him on the right track. He really hoped he wouldn't mess it up.

Be he wasn't going to count on anything not going wrong because knowing Lucas, something was bound to go wrong before the nuptials had even happened. As Josh struck up the meeting again, he couldn't imagine what it would be.

TBC. . .

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Author's Note:

I am going to try and do bi-weekly updates of this story. I know I am diverging from the movie-verse but I always want a story to be my own and for it to only be inspired by the movie. So, the changes to the plot where Josh writes Maya every once and awhile to keep her updated about life in New York and such. Also, I know Lucas is not like Lucas at all and I am sorry for that. I'm hoping he'll have character growth and become the boy we all love.

Next up is Maya's return to New York. Hope you'll stick around! Please tell me what you thought about this installment in the meantime.

Lots of Love,

Holly, 1/6/2016_