Shout-outs: PilsMyFavoriteFood, Ajtan4, TheGirlThereReading, aliqueen16, originalguest, Discursus, DrizzyJ, OhSnapIt'sAnotherGMWFan, xoElle23 and katdvs

Rated: T

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

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Chapter 7 the Switch

"You'll have to call me as soon as you're settled!" Victoria commanded. "Or I'll call you, whatever works. I'm going to find out as much as I can about mom and dad. Once we know them better, we can put together a plan of action. If everything works out, they'll be back in each other's lives before school starts in September!"

Amelia nodded. "Sounds good," she answered, swinging Victoria's popsicle birdcage back and forth.

"Amelia Matthews! Your Uncle Joshua is here to pick you up!" Lindsey called.

"That's you," Amelia told Victoria, handing her the birdcage before hugging her. "Good luck!"

"Good luck to you too!" Victoria replied, hurrying to meet Josh. She stopped and quickly hugged Lindsey and Hayley goodbye, thanking them for everything they had done for her. Then it was just her and her great-uncle.

A peculiarly young great-uncle, she had to bite her lip to keep from laughing when she realized he was indeed terribly young.

"You have blonde in your hair," Josh said in way of greeting.

Victoria laughed. "Oh! It was just a silly prank! Some girl didn't like me and she put peroxide into my shampoo."

Josh lifted an eyebrow. "I can't say your mother will be too happy when she sees it."

"Yeah, I know."

Josh grabbed her into a hug. "I missed you kiddo. It certainly wasn't the same without you around this summer. Whatever happened to all those letters you promised to write us? Remember the night we spent pre-addressing and stamping those envelopes?"

Victoria laughed again. "Oh well, it was just one of those things. We meant to write but we got really busy."

"We?" Josh repeated, taking her birdcage and violin case. "Who's we?"

"Oh just this girl I met," Victoria replied casually. "Her name's Amanda. She and I shared a cabin for the last few weeks of camp. She was great, really."

"I see," Josh answered.

"She knew who you were," Victoria said. "Her aunt is a huge fan of your work. She has all your novels, actually. Every single one you've ever written, actually."

"Oh really?"

"Yup," Victoria confirmed. "I think Amanda said her aunt's name was Maya, actually."

"Maya?" Josh repeated, paling slightly as he slid into the driver's seat.

"Do you know somebody called Maya?" Victoria asked innocently.

"I-I used to," Josh replied. "It was a long time ago. I doubt they're even the same people. It's probably just a coincidence. Come on and get into the car. We've got a long drive ahead of us and your mother's anxious to have you home."

Victoria nodded. She was eager to meet her mother, the woman she hadn't ever heard anything about but had always known existed. Amelia had told her some stuff but she felt like there was so much more to discover about her. She could hardly wait to get to New York.

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Amelia would have recognized him anywhere. She had memorized his picture, she probably knew his face better than she knew her own.

"Dad?" She said, the word foreign on her tongue but all kinds of right.

"There you are Vic!" Lucas answered, picking her up and spinning her around.

Amelia hugged him tightly. "I missed you so much!"

"You too!" Lucas replied. "You're never leaving ever again!"

Amelia laughed. "Okay!" she agreed.

Lucas put her down and looked at her. "Did you have a good time at camp?"

"Yes," Amelia answered.

"Did you meet anybody nice?" Lucas asked.

"I met a few nice girls. There was on in particular I hit it off with," Amelia said. "Her name was. . . Vanna. We did everything together."

Lucas gathered up her suitcases. "That's nice. Maybe we could have Vanna come for a visit during Christmas vacation."

Amelia grinned. "I think she'd like that."

"Come on, Maya and Zay are dying to see you again! They're at the house waiting for us, I think Maya's cooking. You better hope she used a recipe this time. You and I both know her experiments usually turn out to be inedible."

Amelia smiled, Victoria had informed her all about Maya's cooking and had suggested she fill up on snacks before dinner because chances were she would go hungry if she didn't.

"We'll order take out if it isn't good," Lucas promised. "How does pizza sound?"

"Good," Amelia answered.

Pizza was rare in her house, a treat for a good grade or a job well done during a recital. Amelia, as much as she was looking forward to getting to know her father, she was looking forward to lighter rules too.

She was probably going to learn to live a little.

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Casa Friar-Hart-Babineaux was in full swing when Lucas and Amelia arrived. Celine Dion was playing full blast and tomato sauce was bubbling on the stove while a man, who had to be Zay, was dragging two kids down the hall by his ankles while another one was hanging from his back and a dog followed them, barking up a storm.

"Vic's home!" The girl shouted, scrambling to her feet and charging for Amelia.

"Hi Keisha!" Amelia said leaning down to embrace her.

She was bombarded with hugs by Zay, Maya and Marcus while Timothy screamed in her ear.

"Guys, give her some breathing space!" Lucas chided as he came into the entryway.

"You know, there's something different about you," Zay observed.

"I guess I'm a little taller," Amelia said. "I think I had a growth spurt at camp."

"No, it's definitely not that," Zay answered, following her to her bedroom while Maya dashed off to check on dinner, promising they'd catch up later.

"I'll be right back," Lucas said vaguely. "I have to check on something outside."

Maya frowned at him but didn't say anything as she cursed because her tomato sauce had burned in the few seconds she'd left it alone.

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"Did you miss us?" Zay asked as Amelia dumped all her clothes in the hamper.

"Yeah," Amelia answered. "Did you miss me?"

"A lot," Zay assured her. "But things weren't too boring around here while you were gone."

"Oh?"

Zay frowned. "You mean you're father didn't tell you? That man! He promised he would when you were face-to-face."

Amelia smiled as she retrieved her swimsuit. "What are you talking about Uncle Zay? Is it a surprise?"

"Oh it's a surprise alright!" Zay replied. "But it's none of my never mind. I'm not saying a word, not one single word!"

Amelia shrugged. "Okay then. I'm going to go for a swim before dinner."

Zay went into the kitchen, giving Amelia privacy so she could change into her swimsuit. His wife Vanessa was juggling their newborn and a cell phone while Maya was sheepishly cleaning up her mess.

"He didn't do it!" Zay informed both women.

Maya rolled her eyes. "I knew he wouldn't, coward!"

Vanessa narrowed her eyes. "You mean she still doesn't know? You didn't say anything, did you?"

"I'm not that stupid, Ness!" Zay retorted.

"Imma go make him tell her!" Maya threatened with her wooden spoon.

"Make who tell what?" Lucas asked, coming into the kitchen.

"I think you know what you need to tell her!" Maya answered, glaring at him.

The woman standing by his side frowned. "We talked about this! You promised you'd tell her, Luke!"

"I got distracted!" Lucas lied.

"You're a chicken, Huckleberry!" Maya retorted. "That's why you didn't tell her!"

"Tell me what?" Amelia asked as she came into the kitchen, she looked at the new addition to the group. "Wait a second, who's she?"

Lucas smiled sheepishly. "I have something to tell you Vic. . ."

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"Is that my Amelia? That tall gangly thing?"

Victoria laughed as her grandfather pulled her into a hug. She hadn't ever been hugged by a grandparent, she quite liked it.

Josh laughed too. "I found her on the side of the road and decided to take pity on her and bring her home."

"Well, I'm glad you did!" Cory hugged her again. "Did you have a good summer, kiddo?"

"Yes!" Victoria answered, holding onto him tightly and burying her face in his shirt.

Cory pulled away and looked at her. "What are you doing?"

"Making a memory," Victoria replied. "When I'm older, I want to remember you smelled like coffee and old books. And chalk. . ."

"And school isn't even in session," Josh teased.

"I've had summer school!" Cory insisted.

"Sure you have!" Josh said, nudging him.

"Go and find Topanga!" Cory ordered. "She'll want to know her granddaughter is home!"

"Where's mom?" Victoria asked. "I didn't think she had anything going on today?"

"I'm right here!"

Victoria turned around and was completely dumbstruck when she saw her mother actually standing in front of her in a tailored dress and heels. This was really happening, she was seeing her mother for the first time.

"Mom. . ."

"Amelia, it's so good to have you home!" Riley said, going over to her and hugging her.

"It's good to be here Mom," Victoria answered, closing her eyes and holding tight.

TBC. . .

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Author's Note:

Now that the switch is out of the way, we can get down to the bones of this story. I am looking forward to reuniting Rucas and Joshaya. I am sure you'll all be on board for that. In the meantime, I am looking forward to your reviews!

I will try not to use this space to complain about my life but believe me when I say my family is going through a hard time. I love writing for you, creating worlds with my beloved characters are my most relaxing time of the day. I will continue to produce and post stories! Thank you for your support.

Lots of love,

Holly, 10/14/2016