Josh was happy, that much he knew. He did not however, know if that happiness was a result of his finally being able to do something useful or the amount of drugs that were circulating through his veins, probably the later. Nevertheless, an emergency at the hospital meant they had to push his impending surgery so he was stuck in this state of goofiness for a while yet.
"You look pretty" he said to Maya as she walked in with a glass of water for him.
"I've been here for ten hours, I look terrible"
"You could never look bad you're like a princess" all around him he could hear snickers irrupting from his family but he didn't care, Maya deserved to know.
"Thank you" she said as she leaned over him to fluff his pillows
"And you smell really good"
"I hope you don't remember any of this tomorrow son" Allen added patting his leg as he did so.
"As if I'll ever let him forget it" his sister joked from the corner.
"I don't care!" he yelled "Maya is like the most prefectest girl in the world. Everyone should know that"
"This is going to be an interesting night" Amy joked, curled up in a chair by the window.
"This is going to be a long night" Shawn corrected from the doorway.
"Why don't you like me?" he asked sadly "Is it because I'm cooler than you know?"
"I do like you kid. I just don't like you alone with my daughter"
"I really like her"
"I know kid, she's like a princess and she smells good"
"She's like the coolest girl ever. She's all tough and sarcastic. She's cool and she's hot. She's awesome"
"Oh God!" Maya groaned.
"You are! Plus your kisses are the best. Kisses! I want more kisses Maya"
"How about we wait until you wake up and aren't surrounded by your entire family" she answered, not oblivious that the redness in Shawn's face.
"Please" he pouted.
"You can have as many as you want as soon as we're alone, I promise"
"That's if I ever let you leave the house again"
"I would never stop kissing you. Except to hear you laugh, your laugh is like sunshine"
"That's really sweet, thank you"
"And your kisses are like summer storms. Imagine what it'll be like when we actually have-"
"I get it babe" she interrupted him before he put his foot in it any further.
"I'll kill him" Shawn said to no one in particular.
"You can trust me Shawn. I really really really like Maya. She's so cool"
"Oh god!" Maya covered her face with her hands, more embarrassed than touched by Josh's outburst of affection"
"I think that's enough son" Allen said in an attempt to save what was left of his son's dignity.
"It'll NEVER be enough for Maya is the sun and I am the east"
"Oh my God! Someone grab my phone I need to record this" Morgan bust out laughing.
"Don't you think you're a bit old for that?" her mother scolded.
"No, he still holds that stupid graduation video over me"
"Oh that was sooo funny" Josh giggled
"I will take out your tween pictures Josh, Bieber haircut and all"
"You're so mean! Trying to make me look bad in front of the girl I lo-like" he slipped, he was drugged but he wasn't that drugged. "What kind of a sister are you?"
"The kind that should really go find a hotel so that she can rest" James said "we wouldn't want to risk hurting your little niece or nephew right?"
"Don't be silly" Katie added "You can stay in our guest room. We should probably be leaving too"
"They're right" Amy said "both of you are carrying around other people and besides who knows how long it'll take for him to wake up after"
"Don't go Maya" Josh cried.
"I'm not going anywhere" she grabbed his hand.
"Baby, the Mathews probably want to be alone" Katie warned her daughter "you shouldn't impose"
"She's not!" Amy quickly came to the young girl's defence "we want her here. All of us"
"Yeah and this will probably be really entertaining with Josh babbling on about her all night" Riley joked. "Augie" she later added on a more serious note "you should go with them. Mom and Dad will be more relaxed knowing you're being taken care of"
"I want to stay!" he complained.
"Augie buddy" Josh called "I don't want to go under and have to worry about you" he joked "I have enough on my plate"
"We promise we'll bring you back first thing in the morning" Katie assured the young boy in a soothing voice.
"We'll bring you your favourite pie from the bakery on tenth"
"Come on sweetie" Katie grabbed the young boy's hand.
"I'm going to stay with Cory, Topanga and Lilly" Shawn said. "I'll see you in the morning"
"Of course honey" she kissed him and with that the Reid's, Katie and Augie set way for Maya's home to rest. After everyone left, the room fell quiet.
"I feel so helpless" Riley whispered "I just want to help my parents"
"You are honey" Amy assured "the best thing you can do is let them know you're fine so that they can focus on Lilly"
"As long as you're all here I'll be fine"
"Provided Josh doesn't say anything else inappropriate" Allen joked.
"You know what?" Amy asked "I think I'm going to have fun with this. What happened to my favourite vase Josh? It wasn't Feeny's cat was it?"
"No. It was a girl I had over!"
"A girl huh?" Maya raised her eyebrow.
"She meant nothing to me I swear"
"Relax Josh we weren't even dating"
"But I still liked you"
"Okay"
"Really!" he whined "I always liked you Maya! Ever since that Christmas but my stupid brother made me promise not to say anything"
"What?" Riley asked raising her brow, obviously happy about getting some gossip, and blackmail ammo.
"It makes me so happy to see you and Maya friends again"
"Me too" Amy added "at least one good thing came out of this horrible situation"
"Me too" the young girls answered at the same time and smiled.
"Maya" Josh whispered seriously "I'm scared. What if I can't help Lilly?"
"You will." She assured "and it's okay to be afraid, that's what makes you brave, doing it in spite of fear"
Amy had never been the biggest supporter of Cory and Topanga's fast and passionate love while they were growing up but sitting here watching her baby confide in his girlfriend she knew that history was going to repeat itself. Maya, a girl notorious for being emotionally unavailable, was now looking at her son with such love that she could have sworn they were Cory and Topanga. She had never seen her baby boy be this attentive and worried about a girl. Sure girls had come and gone, and he had always been the perfect gentleman she raised him to be, but she had never seen him be so affectionate and caring. She was losing her baby boy and surprisingly, she was okay with it. She knew Maya would hold her son's heart with more care than anyone else in the world could. The young girl had come a long way since she had first met her and Amy couldn't think of a better companion for her baby. Her suspicions were only reaffirmed when the doctors came by announcing that they were taking josh to the OR.
"Promise you'll be the first face I see when I wake up?" he asked, desperation evident in his face.
"Of course" shooting a quick apologetic glance at his family beforehand, Maya leaned over and kissed a gentle kiss on her boyfriend's lips "promise you'll be okay"
"I promise" he whispered "wish me luck" he then said to his parents and brother.
"Good luck honey" Amy answered "we'll be right here when you wake up" and with that they wheeled josh off to the OR. It wasn't until several hours later and even more crying fits from both Cory and Topanga, that josh was brought back into the room.
"Everything went well" the doctor explained as everyone sighed in relief "they still have a few hours left on Lilly but baring any complications things should be fine and Mr. Mathews should wakeup within the next few hours" she smiled.
"Thank you doctor" Amy said. "Why don't you try and sleep a little bit Maya? Riley's with Cory and Topanga and it could be hours before he wakes".
"No thanks I don't think I could even if I wanted to" she assured the older woman "Why don't the two of you take the cot? I'll wake you up as soon as anything happens"
"Are you sure you'll be alright?"
"Of course" Later when Amy and Allen had fallen asleep, Maya sat at her boyfriend's bedside with his hand in hers. Looking at Josh, lying there deep in dreams, Maya pondered just how lucky she was to have him in her life. He was a great guy and she couldn't wait for their future together.
"I don't know if you can hear me Josh" she whispered to his sleeping form "but about what you were saying before. I really like you too. I'm trusting you with my heart so please don't break it. I know we haven't even been dating for a week, but I think I'm falling for you. No, I know I am. So please just don't hurt me because I don't know what I would do if I knew I couldn't have you" Little did she know that both Shawn and Cory were listening to her from the hallway.
"Wow" Cory said "I didn't know she had it in her"
"I did. This is it. I'm losing her"
"You'll never lose her Shawn; she'll always be your baby"
"Okay tell me that when Riley starts seeing Ranger Rick again"
"A: that's never happening and B: Ranger Rick? You've been spending too much time with Maya"
"Not possible"
"I know. I told you, your life starts with them"
"And to think I have another one coming"
"I'd be happy enough if mine comes out okay from this surgery"
"She will Cory"
"I don't know what to do. I've never seen Topanga so broken."
"Just be Cory that's all she needs, that's all she's ever needed. Come on, let's grab some coffee and bring it to her. You're going to need it"
"Thanks for staying Shawny"
"There's nowhere else I would be. Come on"
Back in the room Allen was being woken from his sleep by the soothing sound of Maya singing to josh as she stroked his hair.
"I never knew you could sing"
"Mr. Mathews" she said, obviously embarrassed "I'm so sorry if I woke you"
"Please, I would love to wake up like that every day. Your voice is beautiful."
"Thanks. I just… I don't really know what to do"
"I think just being here is enough for him. I've never seen him so infatuated"
"I think that had more to do with the morphine than me"
"I don't, he likes you Maya, always has. I'm sure you're sick of hearing this but I am really happy you guys are together"
"Thanks, me too" she grabbed the sleeping boy's hand.
"Do you remember the first time you and Josh met?"
"I was ten and we came to your house for a family barbeque. Except we stead up in his room and he introduced me to The Smiths"
"He doesn't just share his music with anyone" the older man smiled "you're special Maya, believe it"
"When I'm with him, I do"
"Good" It was then that Maya began to feel Josh's fingers move and he started to stir. She shot up to face him as Allen raced over to wake his wife.
"Hey, welcome back to the land of the living" she kissed him.
"I feel like roadkill"
"I'm pretty sure that's normal when they take a chunk of your liver out of you" she got up as his parents approached.
"Where are you going?" he asked worried.
"Just to get the doctor and some water for you. I'll be right back." Seconds Later Maya reappeared with the doctor and a glass of water as promised.
"How do you feel Mr Mathews?"
"I'm in pain but I'm okay. How's my niece?"
"I was just coming to tell your parents actually, she just got out of surgery and she's fine. You did a good thing today"
"Thanks" Not long after Cory and Topanga came in crying and thanking josh.
"We'll never be able to make it up to you Josh" his sister in-law told him for the umpteenth time.
"There's nothing to make up. She's my niece, I love her"
"It was still a great thing to do" Shawn said.
"She's okay though?"
"Sound asleep and her vitals are great"
"Thank God"
"Amy, Allen Why don't you take Riley home and get some sleep? It's late and Katie and Morgan will be here any minute. It's almost three in the afternoon you must be exhausted"
"If you're okay son I think we might" Josh nodded noticing the bags in both his parents eyes. "You too Erik you look terrible"
"I could use some sleep anyway" Josh said.
"We should probably go too kiddo" Shawn put his hand on Maya's shoulder.
"I think I'll stay until mom and Augie get here"
"I don't know, I seem to remember a promise of as many kisses a he wanted as soon as you were left alone I'm not sure I like that"
"Oh no" Josh groaned "it's all coming back now" he covered his face but quickly turned to Maya "I am so sorry"
"Don't worry" she squeezed his hand "It's forgotten and don't worry Shawn. Mom will be here any minute we can't get up to too much trouble.
"Okay" they all began to leave but Shawn turned to his best friend "don't leave them alone".
"Come on" Topanga grabbed Cory's hand as soon as the room had cleared "we're going to check on Lilly"
"But Shawn…"
"We are not chaperoning two adults"
"Thanks Mrs. Mathews" Maya smiled.
"Come on" Josh patted the space in the bed next to him as soon as his brother and sister-in-law left. Maya happily obliged and jumped up next to him.
"I thought we'd never be left alone" she leaned in and kissed him, a kiss he quickly deepened. The two lay on his bed heavily kissing, until Josh tried to get up to lean over Maya, he fell back and groaned in pain. "I'm sorry"
"Don't be, it was worth it but can I maybe take you up on that promise when my stiches heal"
"Of course, you should try and get some sleep"
"You too, you haven't slept in thirty six hours"
"It's okay, I'll wait for you"
"Sing to me, I liked that" Mayas jaw dropped and she sat up.
"You remember that?"
"Yes, I never knew you had such a beautiful voice"
"What else do you remember?" she asked panicked.
"You were talking with my dad. Why? What else is there to remember?" he smirked.
"Nothing" she tried to backtrack "what do you want to hear?"
"The one from before" he smiled.
"Okay" she began slowly humming to him but they both drifted off to sleep quickly. And that was how Mrs Hunter found them an hour later, wrapped in one another, deep asleep and happier than she had seen either of them in years.
There goes chapter four and don't worry this story is far from over. Riley still has to earn Maya's trust back plus what's going to happen between her and Lucas? I am planning a little conflict between Josh and Maya but don't worry it will mostly be playful I' more interested in developing that kind of dynamic between the group of friends because it's been so long. Also I don't know if any of you think that Maya and josh are moving really quickly but when you start a relationship with someone you've known them for so long it really does go fast because you already know so much about each other. Anyway, as always please review and let me know what you think.
