Hello, I am back! I know I said this in an Author's Note but I wanted to say again that this story is about a journey with friends and family. There are going to be ups and downs. There will be horrible awful things happening to the characters because let's face it life isn't perfect. Their life will not be perfect and flaws, as we know it, are our downfalls. Our flaws shape us and destroy us and that's what I want to portray. Things are rough before they get better and things will be rough in this story before they get better. Yes, this isn't a Rucas story because I am not a fan and I will tell you guys why I am not a fan of Rucas later. This story is a Joshaya and RileyxOC story. Sorry to disappoint but I have my reasons why I don't have Lucas and Riley together in this story and Positively Fine if you guys are reading that story as well. I will later explain why but for now onto the story!

Disclaimer: Same as others...

Enjoy...

We let the waters rise

We drifted to survive

I needed you to stay

But I let you drift away

My love where are you? My love where are you?

Whenever you're ready (Whenever you're ready)

Whenever you're ready (Whenever you're ready)

Can we, can we surrender

Can we, can we surrender

I surrender

- Surrender, Natalie Taylor (2015)


It has been two days since that day at the hospital and Maya felt lost. She felt anger and she didn't know how to release it yet, so, she was currently sitting in her bathtub drinking a bottle of Jack Daniels. Yup, good ole Daniels became her best friend over the years. Can't say that her life has been all sunshine and rainbows but when she left it got more crappy. She had just lost her baby and she was a struggling singer and actress but not like her mom. Let's just say she had it rougher than Maya did. It took her years to get a role and it took Maya at least three to four months to get a kickstart on the successful career she has now. But none of that matters now because she doesn't have the love of her life by her side and her best friend, the one person that's forever, is dying. She felt like a sinking ship and she didn't have an anchor.

Josh was her anchor, her love, her heart and to tell the truth her heart still aches for him. She misses him and loves him and wishes he was there. She wishes for him to comfort her and to love her and to kiss her behind the ear in that sweet way he used to do. She wishes he would take all the aches away from her body with just his kiss or his touch.

She doesn't know if it's the alcohol speaking or manipulating her but she wanted to talk to Josh and hear his voice.

His phone rings three times before he answers, "Hello, Maya?"

She giggles, "Joshie! What are you doing?" From the phone, she can hear him groan and mutter, "God, she's been drinking." She hears rustling in the background and shuffling.

"Maya, where are you? I am coming over."

"At the hotel two blocks from your place," she says automatically.

After ten minutes passed, there were three knocks on her suite's door. She rushed to open it and when she did she almost fell over. In all his glory stood Joshua Matthews, the only man she truly loved. She gulped another mouthful of Jack and walked to her bed. He let himself in closing the door and stood awkwardly at the door. She lied down on the floor next to her fireplace and looked at him expectingly.

"Aren't going to sit?" she asked.

"Yeah, everything okay?" she snorted and held up her almost empty bottle of Jack Daniels.

"Does it look like I am okay?"

"Maya-"

"Josh, I am sorry. I shouldn't have run and I shouldn't have blamed you. I should have s-stayed." A few tears escaped her eyes as well as a cry from her trembling lips. The sight before him broke his heart because the woman he knew was gone and this broken shattered woman was stood in her place. He loved Maya with all his being and if he could have her again, he would have her in a heartbeat.

"What do you want, Maya?" He knew what she wanted. Temporary comfort, but could he give that to her. Could he be that temporary fix? Could he do that to himself? The answer was yes. He just wanted her close in any shape or form, so he knelt in front of her and took the empty bottle of Jack from her and picked her up. He took her to the bed and decided to make sure it was a night that would be on her mind forever.


Maya and Josh lay awake under her sheets finally calm after their morning of passion. Maya felt the world had just righted itself and she found her anchor again. She hoped and she rarely ever did that. Josh was surprised and relieved that he could keep up with his wife after all this time. He forgot how ferocious she was in bed and he was almost out of breath towards the end of their lovemaking.

They stayed in companionable silence. Each in their own thoughts and feelings. They both wanted to continued whatever it was that was between them but was hesitant to ask. Though they slowly came to the conclusion that if one called the other would come no questions asked.

They weren't ready to give it a full go at their relationship because they were different people and their relationship changed over the course of six years. But they wanted to mend their broken friendship and relationship and maybe start something new and different.

That's what they discussed as they took a shower together, ate breakfast, and arrived at Topanga's.


Riley was at home when she decided to take a walk to Topanga's. She felt relieved and hopeful for the future. She didn't know why but she felt something good coming and it would change their lives forever. She was excited to be a single woman again and she could finally breathe but she wanted Jake and knew that she probably wouldn't have a chance at it again. She regretted that she chose Lucas over him and wanted to make it up to him. She knew that he sometimes helped at Topanga's with her mom because he was a business major and businessman and it truly helped her mom. She was very nervous because she didn't know if he was there or not.

She didn't know how to approach him about what she wanted and expected of him. Did she want their previous relationship? Of course! But could she handle it?

"What's on your mind, dulce?" asked the person she wanted to disappear.

"Um, you actually." She looked up to see Jake with a grin on his face, "What could possibly be on your mind at this time of the day to be thinking about me?" He wriggled his eyebrows and she laughed.

"That is not what is going on in my head entirely." he gave her a smirk and sat next to her.

"Riley, I will not pressure you into anything, but I do want you to have the best last days of your life. So if there was an old itch that you needed scratch, I would be happy to scratch it for you." his voice low as he bent his head ready to kiss her. The kiss was slow and promising.

"Dulce? Is that a yes?"

"Of course, it is, but I need a little help with Maya."

"What is it?"

"Well, I want to help her and my Uncle Josh get closer-"

"Well, it seems they already beat you to it, my sweet." Riley turned her head to a table in the back of Topanga's next to a bookshelf was Maya and Josh talking and laughing and giving an occasional kiss.

"Are they?" Riley asked and Jake shook his head giving off a big smirk. Riley had to stop her shiver thinking about her best friend and her uncle doing the nasty, but she smiled. They would come together by themselves.


Hope you enjoyed... Please hit the bottom and leave a comment... I would really love to read what you guys think of where I am taking things.