A/N: Hey guys! I'm sorry that I haven't updated in a while, I've been busy with daily life but I'm back now!

Also, I apologise if the story seems to be dragging on, but I'd really rather it do that than rush it. It's my worst nightmare and I don't like rushed stories. But I promise Maya, baby Ember and Katy will be heading to NY in the next chapter. So that's something to look forward to!

Enjoy,

-CyanRibbons

Orlando FL

Gavin brushes the raindrops that have fallen onto his gray trench coat and hangs it on the hook. He smiles faintly as he caresses the pint-sized lilac coat that no doubt belongs to Ember.

With a tired exhale, he checks the time on his phone and sees that it's six thirty in the morning, and from what Maya tells him; he's aware that her baby typically begins to awaken around that time.

He quietly tiptoes—while simultaneously holding his breath—past Katy's bedroom and towards the staircase in which he ascends soundlessly.

He finds Ember's bedroom door ajar, the way Maya always leaves it; letting in a line of light shine onto the six-month-old's crib; and giving Gavin a good view of the baby who's sleeping on her back, arms and legs sprawled across the mattress.

He enters the room and lifts up the blinds, to reveal the sun that has just begun to rise; giving the sky a pinkish orange tint.

The slender boy reaches into the crib and carefully scoops Ember up and out. The little girl begins to whine at first but soon settles down with Gavin's hushing and rocking.

"Shh, Em. Go back to sleep." He whispers, gently lowering himself into the rocking chair that is painted lilac to match the room's color scheme.

The baby's breathing evens out, and she lays in the crook of Gavin's arm. He finds himself playing with Ember's blonde curls as a faint smile grows on his face.

"I'm sorry I disturbed you Em," He begins, cuddling the sleeping infant close. "I know you won't understand this, but today could be the last time I ever see you and your mommy."

Gavin pauses, and rises to hover on the rocking chair while he pulls one of Ember's stuffed animals from under him and drops it on the floor.

"I know she promised to keep in touch, but I can't help thinking that she stopped talking to her family back in New York, what makes her think she won't do the same with me? And my family aren't exactly considerate, I don't think they'll give me money to fly over there and see you guys, even if it doesn't cost that much..."

Gavin lightly traces the tiny beauty spot on the side of Ember's forehead with his thumb.

"I just wanted to tell you; and I know you won't remember this, or me for that matter. But I need to tell you that I've always loved you as if you were my daughter. God I can't believe that a few months ago you were Maya's tiny little bump, and well...look at you now! Ember Katherine Hart, wrapping us around your little finger since August sixth." Gavin smiles, moving his hand to brush Ember's soft hair back. "No matter what happens after you get on that plane tomorrow, you'll always be my little girl."

By now, Gavin is struggling to hold back his tears and it takes him a moment to gather himself before he presses a kiss to the six-month-old's head.

At that moment though, Ember's eyelids flutter open to reveal her blue-green eyes. Gavin isn't sure how the baby is going to react since she is just as unpredictable as her mom. Ember maintains her blank stare and a few seconds later, her face turns sour and she begins to whine.

Gavin chuckles, "that's not a very good way to wish someone a good morning." He lifts the baby up from the cradling position and onto his hip, and her whines turn to full blown wailing.

"Hey, hey, hey." He coos, helplessly glancing around his surroundings in search for a toy or a pacifier, anything that could potentially soothe the baby. He then remembers the time he caught Maya singing to the baby and how she'd gotten Ember—who'd only been a mere few weeks old at the time—soundly off to sleep.

Clearing his throat, Gavin begins to sing the first song that pops into his head, "There's antimony, arsenic, aluminium, selenium—"

"Are you seriously trying to calm my kid with Science?"

Gavin whirls around, and finds Maya leaning against the doorframe in her pyjamas, stretching out her arms tiredly.

"Ma-ma-mam." Ember babbles, mid-cry.

Maya frowns at the baby girl and reaches out to receive her, "Awh, we don't like uncle Gavin's need club songs do we?"

Once he hands the baby off to her mom, Gavin scratches the back of his head awkwardly, "Maya, how long were you standing there for? Did you hear anything...?"

"Hear what?" She asks, without taking her eyes of the baby, who is now starting to settle.

"Oh, never mind." Gavin replies, folding his arms across his skinny chest.

"Gav, you've gotta quit acting so weird if you're gonna come with me today," Maya smirks, schemingly.

"Come with you where?" Gavin asks, curiously.

Maya presses a kiss to her daughter's head, "you'll see."

—

The raven-haired boy winces as he witnesses a stranger fall flat on his back, rucking up pieces of ice with him as his skates slip from underneath him.

"Now I can see why you didn't bring Ember, this place is a death trap made to look like fun."

Maya smiles in anticipation before dragging him off in another direction by his sleeve, "c'mon let's go get us some skates."

Gavin groans loudly, "it's too early in the morning to die."

There not much Gavin can't do. He has a natural talent at being talented. He's exceptional in school and out, and could probably give Einstein a run for his money.

But when it comes to co-ordination, Gavin sucks at it.

After his knees hit the ice once again, the blonde girl halts to his side and pouts at him, mockingly. "Are you struggling, baby?"

Gavin scoffs, "shut up."

"Sorry to break it you Gav, but I'm beating your ass at this."

"Yeah, that's why you dragged me here. Just to prove a point before you leave tomorrow," he mutters. When he finally finds his balance Maya skates away from him a little.

"Just take it easy, I think you're trying too hard." She says. "One foot in front of the other. Push off, move carefully, and try not to think about—"

Gavin's legs suddenly slip up from under him and he's sent crashing into the hard ice again.

"Falling…" Maya finishes. She laughs as she glides back towards him, before helping him scramble to his feet.

Just then, a wild, buff looking cluster of hockey players come speeding towards the two best friends, Maya notices right away and moves out of their way. Whereas Gavin freezes. His best friend's warnings are going right over his head as he's sent crashing back onto the ice.

"Stupid jerks!" He yells across the rink, before ungracefully finding his feet again.

"Are you alright?" Maya snickers, stopping in front of Gavin who is now clinging to the rink's edge.

"You know, I think one of them has a piece of you stuck in their skate." She says, sardonically.

"Yeah, they did a fantastic job of rupturing my spleen, assholes!"

Maya notices how the players are sending Gavin dirty looks in his direction and since she is aware of her best friend's short fuse, she steps in before the lanky boy can start something he can't finish.

"And on that note," she says. "How about we ditch the ice, grab some hot cocoa?"

"Love to." Gavin growls, forcing himself to tear his eyes away from the hockey players as Maya guides him to the rink's exit.

New York City

Riley Matthews sits with her sketch pad on her knees and gnaws at the end of her pencil in deep thought. She hates art, and she's almost certain the ninth drawing of Lucas is going to end up screwed up into a tight ball. One thing that didn't help the sixteen-year-old is the fact that Lucas Friar can't stand still to save his life. So she thought that now, while he's sleeping would be perfect—but she can't seem to get his face right.

With an exasperated groan, she tosses the sketch pad aside and pulls her knees to her chest, looking down at him. They'd come to Central Park for their second make-up date after Riley was left upset because of what Lucas had said about Maya at Six Flags.

Take out containers from Taco Bell are strewn in the grass beside the blanket. Lucas hasn't eaten much, only picked at the basil in his taco before tossing the container aside.

Nobody's been the same since Maya left, but to Riley; it's Lucas that has seemingly been affected the most, especially whenever her name is mentioned. But Riley can't blame him, he lost a friend...they all lost a friend.

At that particular moment he begins to move. He starts to make small gasping sounds in his sleep, and his eyes begin darting back and fourth beneath his eyelids. Lucas's hand jerks and he clutches at his flannel shirt before bolting pright, so suddenly that he could've knocked the petite brunette over. And for a moment, he looks as if he's drifted into a world of his own.

"Lucas?" Riley can't conceal her concern.

His eyes move onto her, and he gives her a small smile. "Sorry Riles, bad dream."

Riley looks unsure, but nods her head anyway.

"Did you finish your project?" He asks, attempting to hide his shakiness.

It seems to Riley, his eyes are in one place yet his voice is in another.

"No, I couldn't get your face right." She responds, trying to figure out what it is about Lucas's voice that's throwing her.

"Ah, come on," he says, retrieving the sketchpad, "it's not that bad, hey at least you got my nose right."

Riley sighs, and the words slip out before she can stop them, "Maya could've done it way better."

Lucas inhales sharply, "Maya is a great artist, but Riley; remember what she always told you, each artist is unique."

Riley snorts, "Unique isn't the right word Lucas, I'm thinking more along the lines of hopeless."

"Hey, don't say that." He tells her, "how about we head to Starbucks huh? I'm sure a double chocolate and cream latte will get those creative juices flowing."

Riley smiles, and leans forward to press a kiss to Lucas's lips, "let's go!"