It's been ten minutes. Maya and Josh have been sitting on the couch in Maya's living room for the past ten minutes and Shawn still hasn't said a word. He sat in the chair across from them in silence. Maya was wearing Josh's shirt and Josh was in his boxers with a blanket wrapped around him. They were wearing the same thing they fell asleep in. After Shawn saw them in bed together he quickly closed the door. I am not her father. - He thought. - I don't have the right...Screw it.

-Living room. Living room right now! - He screamed.

Maya and Josh looked at each other. Josh grabbed the blanket and they both ran out into the living room.

He is not my father. - Maya thought. - I don't have to justify myself to him...Oh screw it.

-I am 18 years old. And we've been daring for a while and we knew each other a lot longer. I have nothing to be sorry for. This was not a mistake. - Maya said all in one breath.

-Shawn, you've known me my whole life. I love this girl and you know I would never do anything to hurt her. - Josh said.

-Did you use protection? - Shawn asked with a low voice.

-Yes. - Said Maya.

-Of course. - Added Josh at the same time.

They sat there in silence for a couple of moments. Maya tried to decrypt the look on Shawn's face. And Josh tried to plan the perfect exit strategy. Then Shawn interrupted their thoughts by saying: "I am not your father. I know that. But I care about you. And sex is complicated. It's messy and it is not something you should share with just anybody. But I trust you. Both of you. I trust that you love each other and that you are mature enough to handle this. But I am going to tell your mother and we'll see what she has to say about this."

Maya and Josh were relieved. And then Shawn added: „And Josh…I might know you your whole life but if you hurt her in any way I will not care that your brother is my best friend and I will forget that I like you. I will kill you and bury your body so deep, no one will ever find it. Are we clear?"

-Yes. – Josh answered with a frightened whisper. Maya was mad at Shawn for talking to them like they were two children caught with their hands in the cookie jar, but only for a second. And then she realized she was glad she had someone in her life that cared enough to talk to her like that. They both stood up to go to the room and get dress and then Maya suddenly remembered something: "Wait a minute." – She said, "What are you doing here?"
-What? – Shawn said clearly uncomfortable.

-Why did you come here? And how did you get in? – Maya wondered.

-The door was unlocked. And I am here…um…to see you. – Shawn answered nervously.

-Liar. – Maya continued. – You said Katy when you came in. You called for her first…You were here to see my mother.

-No…I… - Shawn tried to interrupt.

-You were here to see my mother…Why were you here to see my mother?

-Maya…

-You still like her, don't you? – Maya continued. – You want her back.

-It's not that easy. – Shawn started. – I was here to see her, yes but…

-I knew it! – Maya exclaimed. – You still love her!

-Maya…I can't….I walked out. I wasn't ready…I ran.

-So why are you here now? – Maya asked.

-I don't know. – Shawn made a pause and then continued. – Maybe I'm tired of things not working out. Maybe I want more…I am ready for more. You know, after we had that talk I wanted to keep my promise. I wanted to stop running. I screwed up last time. I got scared. It's not that your mother and I didn't work out. I just… I care about you and I care about your mother. A lot. But I couldn't be for you what you needed me to be. And your mother was scared too. We just didn't know how to let ourselves be happy. But I want it all. I want a family. I want you as my family.

-What makes you ready now? What is stopping you from running away again? – Maya had to know.

-I made you a promise. – He answered. – And I never lied to you.

-"Don't be afraid of your fears. They're not there to scare you. They're there to let you know that something is worth it." – Maya mumbled.

-What is that? – Shawn asked.

-It's just something I once read somewhere. – Maya said. – I never really understood it until now.

-And what does it mean to you now? – Shawn wanted to know.

-It means that I trust you. – She answered. – Maybe I am ready for more too.

-I'm so glad you two have everything figured out. – Katy's voice reached them from the door. They all turned towards her.

-We should really start locking those doors. – Maya broke the silence.

-Katy…How long have you been standing there? – Shawn wondered.

-Long enough. – Katy shortly answered.

-We're…um…going to go now.– Maya said and guided Josh back to her room.

There was a long pause before either one of them spoke. Shawn looked at Katy. She was even more beautiful than the last time he saw her. Even her tiered and worried eyes lit up when she saw him.

-It's been awhile. – Shawn started.

-What are you doing here Shawn? - Katy asked.

-I was just passing by. – Shawn said. – So…how's everything?

-It's the same. Nothing's changed really. – Shawn could see restrain on her face. She didn't want to have this conversation. Maybe she didn't even want to see him. But he had to tell her.

-I'm stalling, sorry. I had something I needed to say.

-Am I going to need a drink for this? – Katy joked.

-Hopefully not. – Shawn said. – I had this whole speech planed out. I even practiced it in the mirror. But I can't remember a single word now. I do remember the point of the speech. I wanted you to know that I am sorry about everything that went down between us.

-People break up all the time. – Katy assured him. – It's not your fault. It's not anybody's fault. – She crossed her arms on her chest.

-People brake up when they have a reason. When someone is cheating or when they fall out of love, but that never happened with us. We were just scared. And I don't want to be scared anymore. I am tiered of running. I want to have a life with you.

-What about what I want? – Katy asked.

-What do you want? – Shawn wanted to know.

-I want someone who is not a flight risk. I want some stability. For me and for Maya. I want someone who will stay. You went away. – A tear started to roll down her eyes.

-And you let me. – Shawn added. – We both made a mistake.

-You didn't come back.

-I'm here now.

-Why?

-Because I love you. – Shawn said.

Katy took a deep breath. She wiped away her tears and said: „Maybe love is not enough. We tried it already, remember? Just love and it didn't work out."

-We weren't ready.

-And we are now? – Katy wondered.

-Yes. – Shawn assured her. – We are. I love you and I know you love me too.

-What makes you so sure? Why is this time any different?

-I quit my job. – Shawn said. – I am not going to travel anymore. I am staying here and I am going to write articles from New York. Maybe start writing a book.

-So I made you give up your dream? – Katy said in a sad voice.

-Don't you get it? That is not my dream anymore. This right here is. You and Maya are my dream. - Shawn wanted to scream those words. He wanted to embed them in Katy's heart so she never forgets them. – I never fought for anything in my life but I am here now fighting for you.

-Really? – Katy finally dropped her gard.

-Really. – Shawn said and stepped closer to her.

-I love you too. – She said and kissed him. Everything felt right in that moment.

In the other room Maya and Josh got dressed but they didn't dare leave the room.

-What do you think they are talking about? – Maya wanted to know. She paced in circles.

-I don't know. Do you think they are getting back together? – Josh wondered. He was sitting on her bed.

-Maybe.

-Do you want them to get together? – He asked her.

-I don't know. – Maya answered honestly. – They were good together. But I couldn't watch them break up again. I lost a dad twice.

Josh stood up and hugged her. He couldn't even pretend he understood what she was going through. He wished he could take all of her pain away. But he couldn't. All he could do was hold her and hope that it was enough. "You'll be okay. Everything is going to be okay." – He said. And Maya believed him.

Maya heard her mom calling her name. "Could you come here for a second honey?"

-Want me to come with you or stay here? – Josh asked.

- Stay with me. – She answered.

She took his hand and they walked in the living room together. Shawn and Katy were sitting on the couch so Maya sat in one of the chairs across from them and Josh sat in the other one.

Katy and Shawn were both smiling. Maya knew instantly. They were back together. But she didn't knew how she felt about it. She should be happy. Her mom looked happy. Shawn was back in their lives for good. She wondered what was wrong with her. Even though Maya Hart would never admit it out loud, she was scared. Scared that for the first time in a long time she had something to lose. She knew her story doesn't have a happy ending. First she got together with Josh and now Shawn and Katy. Something bad was coming next. Maya could feel it.

Katy told them the good news.

-Congratulation. – Josh screamed excitedly.

-Congratulation. – Maya repeated with what fake excitement she could gather. She put on her best smile and hugged both Shawn and Katy. "I am so happy for you." Her voice sounded sincere and Shawn and Katy took it as truth, but if they could have seen her face, they would have seen her lip quiver as she bit the inside of her cheeks to stop herself from crying and they would notice the worry in her eyes. She stepped back and repainted the smile on her face.

-How about we all go out for a celebratory breakfast? – Shawn suggested.

-Yes. It will be fun. Josh join us. – Katy added.

But before Josh could accept the invitation, Maya interrupted: "You know what? You guys should go. You haven't seen each other in so long. You have a lot to catch up on. We'll stay here and then we can all do something fun together when you get back."

-Okay. We can do that. – Katy confirmed. She walked toward her daughter, kissed her on her forehead and said: "And we are going to have a talk about birds and bees when I get back, young lady."

-Love you. – Maya said.

-Love you more. –Katy responded.

Maya and Josh were left alone.

-You are not so happy, are you? – Josh knew. He always knows.

-I'm fine. – Maya tried to hide it.

-Don't do this. Don't shut down on me. Don't build up walls. I am here for you. Talk to me.

-No. – Maya said. – I'm a horrible person and an even worst daughter. What is wrong with me? Why am I not happy for them?

-I see it sometimes even with me. You get so happy and then you pull back because you think it can't last. And I get it. Your past is messy and I would have a hard time getting over it too. But that's what it is, a past and you have to stop going back to it. If you need time that's fine but you need to learn how to be happy and just happy. No waiting for the other shoe to drop. Your life can be good. And I would never let anything bad happen to you. And it's not something that happens over a night, it's a process.

-I don't know where to start. – Maya said.

-You can start with me. You can trust that I will never hurt you and I will always be there for you. Okay?

-Okay. – Maya smiled. – I trust you.

A couple of days past. Maya tried her best to put on her happy face. And it worked. Only Josh could see through her cover. He would hold her hand under the table during family dinners and they would exchange meaningful glances when no one else was watching. After awhile, Maya didn't pretend anymore. She finally believed that she could be happy and wanted to try. They would go on picnics, movies, even just walks through the park. Just the three of them. But Maya liked it best when they all stayed in and Shawn would tell some horrible joke that made them both laugh and Maya would tell them about her day and Katy would give her advice and sometimes Maya would just sit there with a smile and listen. Just listen. It sounded like joy. It felt comfortable. It felt safe. And Maya needed safe. Only other times she felt safe was when she was with Josh. Finally it sank in to Maya that this was the life she was meant to have. Everything was falling into its place. Her mom and Shawn were great together, she was happy with Josh and her friendship with Riley and the rest of the gang was never better.

One time she even accidentally called Shawn dad.

-I'm sorry. – She said the second after that.

-It's okay. I don't mind. – He responded with a smile.

-You don't? – She asked.

-Maya I will never replace your father. Even if I could, I would never know how. And you may not have my DNA, but you are every bit of mine as you are his. And if you want to call me dad, I am fine with it. And if you are not ready yet and this was just an accidental slip up, that's okay too.

Maya smiled. She liked that she had someone to call dad. She liked it a lot. Maya was happy and she trusted the universe that the other shoe will never drop.

XXXXXX

-I'll open it. - Maya yelled when she heared the door ringing. Katy was making dinner and Josh was in her room. They were playing video games. Maya was happy. Ecstatic even. But life is not a fairy tale. Just when we hope for the best, life throws us a curve ball.

-Hi Maya. - the guy at the door answered. Maya didn't know who it was. Or at least she did not want to know. But she recognized his voice. It sounded a lot nicer then she remembered it but it still sent chills down her spine. She remembered all the times he took her to a playground or tossed a ball with her but she also remembered how he used to scream at her and fight with her mom. But most of all, she remembered how he left.

-Dad? – She asked with a quivering voice, fighting back the tears. She will not cry over him again.

The universe sucks. – She thought.

A/N: Sorry for the delay, hope the long chapter makes up for it. I love all your comment, they mean the world to me so keep them coming and enjoy :)