Pick me up from school? I want to go somewhere with you. It's important.

That one text message was how he found himself wondering the halls of Abigail Adams High, looking for his wayward girlfriend.

He smiled goofily to himself.

He like the sound of that.

Following her directions, he found himself at the girl's locker.

She was pulling an envelope from her locker.

"Hello Girlfriend person." He said saddling up next to her.

"Hello boyfriend person." Maya greeted with a smile.

She quickly frowned.

"Oh god we're turning into Mr. and Mrs. Matthew! Gross!" She fretted.

"I dunno. They're kind of the map of a healthy relationship for me." Josh said with a shrugged.

Maya gave a nod of concession.

"Hey Maya who's your friend?"

A pretty black girl came up behind them.

"Hi I'm Josh." Josh greeted.

The girl batted her eyes at him.

"I'm Sage. I haven't seen you around here before. Where do you go to school?" She asked.

"I'm a freshman at NYU." Josh said.

Sage straight up licked her lips.

"A college boy at our dinky high school?" She purred and Josh felt incredibly awkward.

"Um yeah. Me and Maya are going somewhere." He said.

"So are you Maya's brother or something?" She asked.

Maya shifted next to him, glaring.

"He's Riley's Uncle." She said.

"Really?" Sage asked surprised.

"I was a surprise." Josh said with a laugh.

"You know I'm going to be going to NYU next year. Maybe you could show me around campus?" The girl flirted.

"I'm sorry Sage you seem like a really nice girl but I have a girlfriend." Josh said, letting her down gently.

At least he thought her did.

The girl let a huff before storming away.

"What a bitch." Maya sneered.

"Not a fan then?" Josh asked as they walked out of the school.

"Sage tried to convince me and Riley that everyone hooked up on Friday and break up on Monday." Maya said rolling her eyes.

"What a load of shit. Riley ate it up?"

"Like a stack of pancakes."

Josh laughed led her to the old station wagon he called his vehicle.

"This is your car?" Maya asked with a raised eyebrow.

"My parents insisted that I bring a vehicle with me when moved out here. You know so that I could drive home sometimes. I'm thinking about selling it and getting a motorcycle." Josh said off handly.

Maya froze.

"Oh god please." She pleaded and Josh laughed.

The two got in the car and Josh paused before starting the car.

"Want to tell me what this is all about?" He asked.

Maya sighed and pulled the papers she had been carrying, handing them to Josh.

"There ya go boing. My massteer plan."

Josh looked over the papers.

"Adoption paper?" He asked.

Maya looked timid.

"Well you know how Shawn and my mom are getting married right?"

Josh nodded.

"I want Shawn to adopt me. I'm going to give him the papers at the wedding. It's… It's going to be his wedding present." She said blushing.

Josh smiled and took her hand.

"I think that's an amazing present Maya. So what are we going to go do today?" He asked.

"In order for Shawn to adopt me I have to get Kermit to sign away his parental rights." Maya revealed, handing him another paper.

"You decided to bring me with you to do this? Not Riley?" Josh asked, surprised.

"I brought you because Riley has this thing where she likes to see the best in people. She would do her best to try and talk me out of this. To give Kermit a second chance or something." Maya said, rolling her eyes.

"And you think I won't?" Josh asked.

Maya took a deep breath.

"I think that you understand that you get to choose the people you surround yourself with."

Kermit Hart lived in a more suburban part of New York, just at the edge of the city.

Maya was shaking.

"Hey it's going to be ok." Josh assured, wrapping his arm around her waist.

"What if he says no?" Maya whispered.

"Then I know a really kickass lawer lady who can get it taken care of."

He crouched down and looked up at Maya.

"Maya you are the strongest person I know. Nothing can stop you when you put your mind to it." He said.

Maya smiled and briefly kissed him.

"Thank you."

She walked up the steps of the brownstone and knocked.

A tall, willowy woman answered the door.

"Can I help you?" She said, her dark eyes looking down at Maya through dark eye lashes.

"I'm here to see Kermit." Maya said, her voice steely.

"And you are?" The woman asked.

"Maya. His daughter."

The woman gave Maya a look of distain but called out for Kermit.

"Who is it Anita… Maya?" He asked.

"I need to talk to you." Maya said roughly.

"Of course. Come on in."

He led the two into an home office.

"It's nice to see you Maya… I'm afraid I don't know you." Kermit said, looking at Josh.

"Josh Matthews." Josh said, barely with holding contempt.

"Are you related to Riley?" Kermit asked.

"Mom's getting married." Maya interrupted.

Kermit blinked.

"She is?" He asked.

"Yeah. His name is Shawn and he's really amazing." Maya gushed.

Kermit let out a forced smile.

"That's great. I'm glad she found happiness but I don't think that is why you're here." He said.

Maya handed him the paper.

"I need you to sign that." She said.

Kermit read the paper.

"You want me to give up my parental rights?" He asked.

"You did that a long time ago. This is just a technicality." Maya said bitterly.

Kermit frowned.

"Is this really what you want Maya?" He asked.

Maya sighed.

"I'm not angry at you anymore. Because I wasn't abandoned by my father. You aren't my father." She said.

If that effected Kermit, he didn't show it.

"Being a father is so much more than just being biologically related. It's about being there! Shawn might not be biologically related to me but he showed me more kindness than you ever thought about. He helped me with my homework and listens to my problems and loves me. He was ready for me." Maya said.

She handed Kermit the pen.

"I don't feel any attachments to you anymore. You're nothing to me. You're just a guy who lives in a brownstone in New York that has nothing to do with me." She said.

Kermit bit his lip and signed the paper.

"For what it's worth Maya I did… I do care about you. I just wasn't ready yet." He said handing her the papers.

"For what it's worth that does mean something to me."

"Want to talk about it?" Josh asked as they sat in the New York traffic.

"Not really."

Josh looked at her and she groaned.

"God Riley's puppy dog eyes are genatic!" She said.

Josh shrugged.

"If it gets you to talk to me then… Worth it." He said.

Maya sighed.

"Harts leave. I don't want to leave." She said.

"And in your mind Hunters stay." He said with realization.

Maya nodded.

"Babe I hate to tell you this but they don't." He said.

Maya blinked at him.

Josh sighed.

"I've heard the stories my whole life Maya. Shawn's parents left so often it was ridiculous. Hunters leave too. Hell even Matthews leave. My Nana Bernie ran off constantly on my dad. It doesn't matter if your left. It doesn't matter if your last name is Hart or Hunter or Matthews. It matters if you break the cycle." He said.

Maya took his hand.

"I'm going to break it for me. For you." She swore and Josh felt himself beam.

"I'm glad to hear it." He hummed.

Maya smiled mischievously.

"So how long do I have to wait till I can change my last name to Matthews?"

"Maya!"