Shout-outs: Dancer1768, Sara, Guest, Michelle, IceBeautyQueen, pinkplushiebobo, Guest, meg5300, Hammer21, Tomboy22, Jen, jessbesublime, AmmoMck, kitawolf12, Guest, Karkoolka, Original-fanfic-for-you, aliqueen16, Lynn, Guest, BoldBraveBubbly16, Anilovesbooks123, FreakyFreckledGirl11, Rachael S, katdvs and ShortyStarRose

Rated: T

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

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Chapter 4

Maya was tense all through dinner. She could hardly enjoy her lobster tail or the white wine that Chuck had especially selected to go with the meal. Baxter was watching her every move and it was making her uneasy. She had never thought he had any ill-intentions towards her before but now she wasn't so sure.

He was a sore loser at best and she wasn't sure she'd be able to deal with working with him anymore.

"Relax," Josh whispered, sensing her mood. He covered her hand with his and she started to calm down until Blair asked them how they'd gotten together.

Maya had been hoping they'd be able to avoid the question. She pushed her steak around her plate and floundered for something to say. But she was drawing a blank even though she knew their history really well and they'd agreed to tell half-truths when asked.

"We met a really long time ago," Josh answered, picking up the slack for her. "When we were kids. My niece is her best friend and they were joined at the hip when they were little girls. So, naturally they brought Maya down to Philadelphia when they came for a visit one Labor Day weekend."

"Did you know then?" Blair asked eagerly. "Did you know that you were in love with her when you were a little boy?"

"No. I was too young then, I wasn't interested in girls. As far as I was concerned all girls had cooties. I wasn't in the market for a girlfriend but she kept coming around and one day, I realized that I liked her. I didn't ask her out right away, we both decided waiting a while would be a good idea. I was a freshman in college and she was a freshman in high school when we both said we liked each other."

Maya found her voice then. "Except I had been telling you that I liked you for years before you reciprocated," she reminded him.

"I liked her even when I never said it back and I was telling her that she was three years younger than me," Josh said.

Maya felt a little shockwave go through her. She wanted to say 'really?' or 'why didn't you tell me!?' but she didn't want to risk blowing their cover, they were doing so well building their deception.

"And!?" Blair pressed.

"She told me she was going to play the long game once and then 18 months later, I told her that I was going to play the long game too," Josh continued. "And then we were together, I forget the rest."

"That is just one the cutest thing ever!" Blair gushed, not a hint of her well-known sarcasm was laced in her words.

Baxter swirled the ice around in his drink and rolled his eyes. "It's hardly the cutest thing ever."

"I'd like it if you didn't correct my wife," Chuck said sharply. "Not in front of everybody, not ever really!"

Baxter was silenced by his employer's reprimand but he didn't apologize to Blair or Josh for his poor behavior. He just made matters worse by getting up and stalking off sullenly, his hands were balled into fists as he stormed away like a little boy who had gotten his favorite toy taken away from him.

Not even Chuck Bass himself could fill the awkward silence that ensued in Baxter's wake.

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"I'm sorry about tonight," Maya apologized as she opened the French doors to their ocean view, she sucked in the salty sea air and turned around to look at Josh.

"Don't ask for forgiveness for Baxter's sake," Josh answered, sitting down and undoing his bow tie before removing his socks and shoes. "He's definitely not sorry. You shouldn't have to carry the weight of his wrongs."

"I brought you out here though," Maya said. "I thought he'd accept defeat like a gracious loser. Yeah, she's off the market, I might as well move on. Stupid, stupid Maya! Always using your heart and never your head!"

"Don't beat yourself up about it," Josh replied sympathetically. "I went to school with dozens of Baxters. They all want what they want, when they want it. They are all so used to getting what they demand. They can't stand it when they don't get it. The loss eats them up and they'll stop at nothing until they get it. At that point, they're above the law so they'll go to any lengths to get it."

"You know this from experience?"

"I've had to deal with a few Baxters," Josh admitted. "All of them trust fund babies, fourth generation lawyers, New England royalty. I stole a coveted internship from one of the most popular guys at Harvard and it cost me. He didn't take a hissy fit like your Baxter did. He extracted revenge and it was terrible."

"He's not my Baxter!" Maya protested, making a face and kicking off her shoes before slumping into a chaise lounge in a very unladylike manner. "Is this really worth it? We're clearly way out of our league here."

"Baxter doesn't seem to think you're out of his league," Josh teased.

Maya glared at him. "Would you stop joking Josh? This isn't really a joking matter. I trust Baxter even less now than I did last week."

"Believe me, if I stopped joking, I'd allow myself to be angry enough to go beat that guy into the ground," Josh said. "And violence wouldn't solve anything."

"This narrative is clearly not solving anything either," Maya reminded him. "Baxter seems to think I am fair game even though I am clearly much attached."

"Stop worrying Maya, I've got a plan!" Josh told her as their door swung open and a portly woman, who was most likely Blair's maid, came in with a pile of fluffy towels in an array of summer colors.

"I come to bring towels for your morning shower," she announced. "And to turn down the bed."

"You really don't have to do that!" Josh protested.

"Ah! But I do, Mr. Joshua. It is my job," she answered as she disappeared into the bathroom. "If I don't give you towels, you will be dripping wet tomorrow and have no way to get dry."

"I was talking about turning down the bed. . ." Josh trailed off, realizing no matter how accustomed he was to the royal treatment, he would have to do as the Romans did.

"Thank you!" Maya said, smoothing things over for him.

"It is really no problem!" She answered, reemerging from the bathroom and going over to the bed to take off the various throw pillows before pulling down the covers. "Sleep well Miss Maya, Mr. Joshua. Goodnight!"

"Goodnight!" Josh and Maya chorused together as she left the room.

They didn't stay up much longer afterwards, Josh was being secretive and Maya was ready to go to sleep so they would be one day closer to the weekend ending. They got ready for bed, climbed in on their respective sides and said goodnight to each other.

They had trouble drifting off to sleep. Josh because he was formulating a plan, changing the words in the script he was writing and Maya because he was in bed beside her but under different circumstances than she had ever imagined.

It was a long night for the both of them.

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The next day, Maya rose with the sun, leaving a dozing Josh behind in bed. She showered and braided her hair in a thick fishtail braid before donning a red gingham sundress, octopus necklace and espadrilles. She snuck out quietly and went to sit out on the deck.

Blair was already awake and outside, sipping an iced latte and reading a debut novel. She smiled when she saw Maya coming towards her. "Good morning! I trust you slept well!"

"I slept fine!" Maya lied. "Thank you."

"Want some coffee?" Blair asked getting up and going over to a pitcher of the brew, she plunked some ice into a glass and poured some before Maya could say yes or no.

"Thank you," Maya said, taking a sip and appreciating the way the caffeine hit her veins almost right away.

It wasn't long before the other weekenders joined them, Josh included. He made a show of kissing Maya on the ear in way of saying good morning and then he cleared his throat in a way that was so obviously to get everybody's attention.

Maya frowned at him, she was sure he was about to go off script but she didn't know how. When everybody was looking at them expectantly, Josh dropped to both his knees and clasped her hand in his.

"Josh, what are you doing?" Maya asked.

"Something I've wanted to do for a very long time," Josh answered. "I know this is crazy, doing this in front of everybody here. But everything about us IS crazy! We've known each other for so long, you're my niece's best friend. Sometimes you meet the person you're meant to be with for the rest of your life when you're a little boy and Maya, I am pretty sure that person is you. So, I was wondering. . . would you do me the great honor of being my wife?"

TBC. . .

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Author's Note:

I'm BACK! I was on vacation for two weeks, I did NOT abandon my readers or this story. In fact, I wrote some flash fics while I was there and am in the process of finishing a Ski Lodge tag. This chapter was also written all the places I've been the last 15 days, including my public library this afternoon.

I had a good trip, met a girl from the fandom, watched Ski Lodge twice and had fun visiting my old stomping grounds. My uncle made me homemade ice cream! The lowlight was our van breaking down the first leg of the journey going on vacation and coming home with a cold. But that is life. I'm here at least! And JOSHAYA AND RUCAS ARE CANON!

Anyways, I am rambling. If you are so inclined, please drop me a review and tell me what you thought. I am looking forward to hearing from all of you. I missed you while I was gone.

Until Next Time!

Lots of Love,

Holly, 8/6/2016