Sorry this is a day late, I really tried to get it out yesterday! Haven't even started on Chapter four, so we'll see how long that takes to get published. I'm not really happy with this chapter, it was a little rushed, but I hope you enjoy nevertheless. Sorry no Josh yet, we'll get there, I promise. (Maybe in the next two chapters ;))

Thanks for reading, and hope you all enjoy!

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Chapter three

By the time they arrived back at Farkle and Riley's apartment, the sun had moved to the edge of the horizon. There was an odd feel in the air as Maya stepped into her best friends' apartment. A fresh feeling that she couldn't explain washed over her, and she smiled as she glanced at the people around her, sighing in almost content.

"Hey, you okay?" Farkle asked her, sitting down beside her on the couch as she looked at Riley and Topanga's interactions. Maya turned her head, glancing at one of her best friends.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Maya nods. "It's just super surreal. I'm not, stuck, anymore." Maya told him. He understood what she meant, having witnessed the events over the last few years. She looked at him,and smiled. "I bet it's surreal for you too, huh? You've got a baby on the way, afterall."

Farkle smiled. "She told you?" He gestured to his wife. Maya nodded, a smile on her face. "It's really unbelievable. I didn't know how much I looked forward to being a father until she gave me the news."

"I'm really happy for you two. You guys have waited so long, and you're going to be amazing parents." Maya told him truthfully. "And when Riles gets to be too much for you, you've got me here for the time being, I can take over. Farkle laughed, rolling his eyes.

"You're honestly a better husband than I could ever be." Farkle joked, Maya shrugs, giving him a classic sassy Maya' smile.

"Don't you think I know that, Minkie?" Maya says, Farkle groans at that nickname.

"Still can't come up with a better nickname, I see." Farkle raised his eyebrows smugly. Maya rolled her eyes.

"Don't fix what's not broken." Maya recited almost robotically, she shrugged, turning her attention back to Riley. Farkle shook his head, his thoughts wandering back over what she had just said. It seemed like a common enough phrase, but the way she said it, he couldn't help but get this awful feeling in his stomach. He thought about all of the possibilities, he ran his mind over every single possibility as to why she had said it like that, and even him, a genius, couldn't wrap his head around it. He knew he wouldn't be able to think about anything but for the rest of the night.

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"This place is so perfect." Maya whispered to herself as she glanced around the empty apartment. Lucas came behind her, smiling, wrapping his arms around her.

"It is, isn't it?" Lucas says, smiling at the place. Maya turned towards him, kissing him on the lips. She turned again,and walked away, running her hands across the walls, amazed that this place was theirs.

"It could use a paint job," Maya remarked, looking at the few spots on the ugly brown wall.

"As my pappy says, don't fix what's not broken. I think it gives this place character, don't you?" Lucas asks his wife, who merely shrugs.

"Not really, but I guess I can hang some artwork up or something." Maya shrugs. Lucas stands in the living room.

"You think our 60 inch will fit on this wall?" Lucas asks her, looking at the wall in front of him, above the makeshift fireplace. Maya appears beside him, studying the wall.

"I think so." Maya nods. "What about the sofa going here?" She smiles, gesturing the the spot they were standing.

"I think that sounds like a great idea." Lucas smiles, stepping over to where she was, wrapping an arm around her.

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Maya was shaken out of the memory with a knock at the door. Riley bounced over, opening it to reveal her father. She threw her arms around him, and ushered him inside. Maya stoof up, Cory's eyes falling upon her. She smiled.

"Thanks for letting me borrow your wife, Matthews." Maya smiled, Cory hugged her, holding her close.

"I'm so proud of you, Maya. You're so brave, and if I ever see him again, I promise to you-" He says when they part, and Maya stops him.

"It's okay, Mr. Matthews. It's all over now." Maya nodded, he put his hand on her shoulder. "He won't ever be coming back."

Cory wordlessly nods, and pats her shoulder in a comforting way before walking away to his wife. He has never been the greatest with words, but she knew that he tried his best, and that's all that mattered to her. She turned, looking at the family she has here, and smiles, going over to where her best friend was standing at the bar of her kitchen. "Hey Peaches," Riley greets, Maya gives her a warm smile.

"Hey Honey." Maya greeted, sliding next to her, Riley gave her a warm smile. "I think I'm going to turn in, I don't feel too well." Riley frowned.

"But it's 7:00pm! You never go to bed this early." Riley shoots her a sympathetic look of concern.

"I probably won't go to sleep right away, but I really want to be alone for a bit." Maya tells her, and Riley nods.

"Go Peaches, Everyone understands that. I'll let everyone know." Riley tells the tired blonde. She nods, pulling her best friend into a hug.

"Thanks Honey, I'll see you tomorrow, or later, okay?" Maya tells her, breaking away, Riley nods, gesturing for her to go. Maya nods to her, and then turns to exit the room. She stops in her tracks, before turning back. "Riles?"

"Yes Maya?" Riley looked at her best friend.

"I love you. Thank you." Maya says, almost so softly that Riley could hardly hear. Riley's heart broke for her best friend. She gave her a small smile.

"I love you too, Maya. You have nothing to thank me for." Riley told her honestly. Maya nodded, and then turned to leave again, this time actually making it out of the room, and into her room.

Shutting the door behind her, she leaned up against it, and sighed, letting the events of the day finally sink in. Tears sprang to her eyes before she could even blink. She didn't bother to try and stop them. Her body shook as she took a seat on her bed, sobs erupting from her throat. Kicking off her heals, she brought her legs up to her chest, crying into her knees. She hated that she was letting this get to her. She hated that he broke her so much that it felt impossible to be happy again. She knew, rationally, that she shouldn't let this crush everything that she's tried to build for herself. She shouldn't let her ex husband ruin her hope. She decided right then and there that she wouldn't let anyone, ever, take advantage of her again. She wouldn't let this be the end. She would be happy again. She knew she would.

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An inconsiderate knocking woke Maya up from her deep sleep, she rubbed her sore red eyes, calling out to whomever was at the door. Her voice was scratchy from the previous night, and as she glanced down at her clothes, she was wearing what she put on yesterday morning.

Her best friend's chipper voice called through the door. "Breakfast is ready! Don't forget we're going to the DMV in a bit!" Maya groaned, and fell back on the bed where a groan escaped her lips. She groaned again, and rolled over so she was staring at the ceiling. She sighed, staring at the white boards on the ceiling, and decided that if she was ever going to get up, she needed to do it now.

Getting up, she ran a hand through her hair, and glanced at the large window in the room. Sun was pouring in through the window, and lights the room with a natural glow. Getting up, and stretching a bit, she moves to the bathroom, and prepares for her day, curling her hair and applying a thin layer of makeup, she made it out of the bathroom, and switched her clothes from a the pencil skirt and blouse to a plain t-shirt and a pair of jeans.

She exited her room, grabbing her phone off the charger and shoving it in her back pocket as she went.

Riley was sitting at the kitchen table, Farkle was moving around and organizing the food when Maya entered. "Morning." Maya spoke, taking a seat next to her best friend.

"Morning Maya! I made your favorite!" Riley spoke, gesturing to the food. "I helped." Farkle laughed, "and made sure she kept our little one safe."

"I'm sure you did, mother Minkus." Maya rolled her eyes. "So Riles, what time are you planning on going to the DMV?"

"About 11:00am?" Riley suggested, Maya nodded. Riley nodded. "I'll be right back." Riley told them, getting up and running away from the two. Farkle turned to Maya.

"Maya, please don't let Riley overwork herself. Make her sit down while you wait or what not. She's stubborn, and doesn't want to listen to me." Farkle told Maya, Maya rolled her eyes.

"I'll make sure, Farkley." Maya jokes. "I'm not going to let her jeopardize my god child."

Farkle rolled his eyes. "Please. She always tries to act like she can handle everything, but she can't, and it's not good for the baby."

Maya nodded knowingly, she spoke seriously. "Don't worry, Farkle. I can handle her. I won't let her overwork herself, or stand up for too long. I've got this. Trust me."

Farkle nodded. "Maya, I trust you more than I trust anyone I know. Especially with Riley." Maya smiled at that. Speaking of, Riley bounced back in the room, and sat down at the table.

"What were you two talking about?" Riley asked, Farkle and Maya shook their heads.

"Just talking about how crowded the DMV is going to be." Maya says, eating a piece of bacon from her plate. Riley nodded, eating from her plate as well. Both of them finished, and went their separate ways, both meeting back when it was around 11am.

"You ready?" Maya asked, Riley nodded, grabbing her purse before they both headed out the door, Riley leaving a kiss on Farkle's lips as she went.

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Their walk to the NYC DMV was uneventful. They usually would have taken the subway, but Farkle and Riley's apartment was only a couple of blocks away, so deciding to save time and walking seemed like the best idea.

As they arrived, the lines stretched almost out the doors. Maya sighed, looking down at her high heel boots. "Riles, why don't you go sit down? I've got this." Maya told her, which makes Riley groan.

"Mayaa, come on. I'm fine waiting like everyone else-" Riley tries to reason, but Maya shakes her head. "Go take a seat, Riles. There's literally no reason for you to be standing when you don't have to." This earns another groan from the Matthews-Minkus girl, who sulks off to do as her best friend says. Maya smiles smugly, turning to the line.

As she stood in line, she groaned. She really didn't want to stand in line for this long, but she figured it was a necessity. The took the phone out of her pocket, and glanced at it. There were no messages from anyone except her mother, apologizing for not being able to come to the trial the day before. Maya shrugged that off. It wasn't like it was necessary that she was there. It would have been nice, but not necessary.

Glancing behind her for a second, her eyes caught someone familiar. "Zay!" Maya called out to him, who was in line a bit back. Zay glanced back, and grinned seeing Maya.

"Maya!" Zay says, as he gets out of line to come up and hug her.

"Hey! When did you move back? I thought you and Vanessa liked it in Texas?" Maya asked him, and Zay shrugs. "We couldn't stay away. I love the city, and this is really where we wanted to raise our kids someday. We got in on Monday, it's been really hectic, that's why we didn't call." Zay told her, Maya smiled.

"Aw. I understand. Well it's great to have you back!" Maya told him. Zay nodded, giving her a warm smile.

"So, how are things with you and Lucas? I haven't seen you guys since the wedding, or a little bit after." Zay told her. Maya stiffened up a bit, but tried to shake it off.

"Oh, uhm, we just got divorced, actually." Maya told him, looking down a bit. "He was, uhm, abusive, and it hasn't been a very fun year and a half."

"Oh my god, i'm so sorry!" Zay told her. "I had no idea." Zay shook his head, not wanting to upset her any more. "I can't believe he would do that."

Maya nodded, understanding what he was saying.

"It's okay. It still hurts, but pain will only dull with time." Maya told him. "But enough about me, how is Vanessa?"

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They talked for another hour or so, both moving up in the line as they went. "Oh, Riley is here, I totally forgot. I'm getting as bad as her." Maya told Zay. He looked confused as to why she wasn't standing with her.

"Where is she?" Zay asked, looking in the direction Maya was looking.

"I sent her to sit down." Maya shrugged. "Farkle's worried that she's going to hurt their baby, which doesn't make sense, but I didn't want her standing up for that long either." Zay raised his eyebrows in surprise.

"Riles is pregnant? How far along?" Zay asked Maya, who turned back to him. She shrugs, giving him a small smile.

"Only a couple of months. Farkle is flipping his shit. He's so overprotective of her." Maya shakes her head. "I'll be right back." Maya tells him, walking away in her high heel boots. Zay shakes his head as he watches her run off, bringing Riley with her.

"Zay! It's amazing to see you!" Riley told him, hugging him.

"Hey Riles! Congratulations, Maya just told me the good news." Zay told her.

"Aw thanks, Zay." Riley smiles to him. "When did you get back into town?"

"Monday." Zay nodded. "Vanessa and I just couldn't stay away."

"Well, it's amazing to have you back. We should go out tonight to celebrate!" Riley suggested, Zay nodded.

"Definitely! I'll text Vanessa and ask her. I'm sure she'll be down for it, she loves you guys." Zay smiles, and Maya and Riley follow suit.

Just as they were going to discuss a location, Zay was called up, as he was standing in front of them. Riley gave him another warm smile. "I'll call you later, and we can discuss a location, yeah?" Zay nodded, walking away from the girls. Maya sighed, turning to Riley.

"He asked about Lucas. I forgot he hasn't seen either of us since the wedding." Maya bit her lip a bit. Riley gave her a sympathetic smile. They didn't have much time to talk about it, as the next person was called, which Maya insisted it be Riley. Maya followed shortly after.

It felt weird to know that her name was Maya Hart again. She had never stopped calling herself that, but it felt surreal to be able to legally be called that again. She sighed as she signed her name again. Maya Hart.

She gathered her paperwork, thanked the woman at the desk and went to find Riley, who had finished a bit before her. Maya held her temporary license up, and smiled. Riley pulled her into a big hug. Everything was looking up.

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Thanks to anyone who has read/reviewed/followed/favored! Love you all, until next time!