"This is not my fault."

I glared at him.

"It's not!"

More glaring.

It wasn't two seconds after the door had been opened for us, my arms outstretched and waiting, only to have my little sister run into his arms. Not mine.

Mom came over to help. "Lily, let go." she cooed. "Maya is here!" Mom put her hands on Lily's shoulders to help pull her off, but the child simply tightened her little arms around him. "Joshy" her small voice said, smiling as she attempted to snuggle in even deeper against him. I growled.

Oh, he is a dead man!

His eyes widened in fear. I am my sister's favorite. Everyone knows that! Shawn sensing the impending danger, ran over. "Ok!" he said, laughing nervously. "Let's uh -" he caught a glimpse of my angry expression, his eyes becoming as wide as saucers. "Let's uh - let's eat. Yes. That's it. Let's eat." he said putting his arm around me and leading me to the table. I looked over my shoulder to send another dark look in Joshua's direction, yanking his gloves off of my hands and pelting them at his head.

He caught them. Darn.

Mom managed to get Lily loose somehow. Josh's eyes never once leaving me as he took off his coat and attempted to smooth out his now wrinkled shirt. He looked genuinely terrified. Good.

"How does she even remember him! She was two the last time!" I whispered harshly to Shawn, throwing, more like slamming, my coat on the back of a chair. He simply nodded in agreement and sat me down at the table. Shawn knew when it was best to remain silent.

Josh came over and cautiously took the seat next to mine. I considered choking him with his own scarf, but instead I just yanked it off and chucked that at him too.

Suddenly, an energetic mass of blonde hair jumped into my lap. "Sissy!" squealed Lily, throwing her little arms around my neck and squeezing tight. My resolve along with my heart melted at the action. I smiled, closing my eyes and inhaling her sweet scent, as I squeezed her back.

Josh let out a huge sigh of relief. He would live. This time. I set Lily down into the chair next to mine.

"Joshua Matthews, I haven't seen you since your college graduation." said my mother. "You look good" she said, eyes roaming up and down. "Mom!" I cried out, horrified. Shawn just laughed. So did Josh. I was the only one left blushing.

"Sorry, Mrs. Hunter, I mean Katy" he corrected after seeing her pointed look. "Life took off at full speed after that." He handed me the rolls. "But I have missed seeing you, all of you." He glanced over at me at that last part. I looked over at my mother to see a knowing smile upon her face.

"So you're at the MOMA now. Shawn told me you were recently promoted?" she asked.

"Yeah, but the job is pretty much the same as the one I had when hired on" he explained. "A little bit better pay and a new boss. I like my new boss better." I nodded along. I like him too. "Basically I'm just a little bit higher on the food chain." he joked.

"Cory said you replaced some girl above you." I passed the chicken over to Josh. "What's the story with that?" asked Shawn.

I whipped my head around to face him, suddenly intrigued. I didn't know any of this.

"She and my former boss were there one day and fired the next. I can't go into the details, but it definitely worked out for me." he replied smirking.

Interesting.

"Maya!" said mom, breaking into my thoughts about the matter. I turned towards her. "Have you seen the runway photos yet?"

From that point on, mom and I talked about fashion week, while she cut up chicken for Lily, and Josh and Shawn spoke about some motorcycle they had both seen on the street. Dinner was a rather enjoyable, peaceful affair of simply catching up on each other's lives or at least it was until Josh stole the last drumstick.

"My FORK was in it! How dare you!" I cried out. You don't steal the last drumstick from me. You just don't.

"You knew I was looking at that last piece and you tried to take it!"

"Ok lovebirds!" interjected Shawn. Oh no he did not. Shawn took one of his untouched chicken legs and tossed it onto my plate. I pouted like a four year old but relented. Shawn rolled his eyes at my behavior while Josh just looked smug over his victory.

"Baby girl, how's the job?" mom asked, changing the subject. "They treating you well?" They are now.

"All except for this one." I answered, motioning towards Josh. All but Josh laughed.

I glanced over to see him looking down at his plate, frowning slightly. It hurt to know he still felt guilty about what had occurred between me and Dr. Tate, especially since it was me who hadn't told anyone. Before I could stop myself, I reached for his hand under the table where no one could see, squeezing his fingers slightly. I'm sorry. He turned toward me and grinned, squeezing mine back in return.

"Joshy, will you marry me?" That would be my sweet five year old sister. We all turned towards the little girl with a dreamy expression upon her face. I recognized it. It was the same look I had sent in his direction when I was 13. And 14. And 15. And... Ok! We're done here!

"Of course I will" he answered with a wink. She giggled and tried to hide her face. I smiled, releasing my hand from his.

"Sorry Maya, looks like your sister is going first." joked Shawn. "You'll have to hurry to catch up." I shrugged. "I do have a date on Friday actually" I stated.

From the corner of my eye, I thought I saw Josh's expression fall, but when I turned to look at him, he appeared normal. Must have just imagined it.

"Who's the lucky guy?" asked Shawn, eyes darting between me and Josh. I didn't understand why.

"His name is Garrett. I met him today." I said.

"You agreed to a date with a guy you just met?! What were you-" my mom elbowed Shawn in the ribs to get him to shut up. I wasn't angry. I knew he only wanted to protect me and I appreciated it. "Well I'm happy for you sweetheart." said my mom.

"Thanks mom" I smiled.

"Lily, let's go put your pj's on" she said grabbing my yawning sister from the table. The rest of us cleared the table and moved into the living room, Josh and I taking up the sofa.

Lily ran back in after changing into her pajamas and immediately crawled into Joshua's lap. His eyes widening again as he lifted both of his hands up in surrender, terrified once more.

"This is still not my fault."

"Whatever" I sighed, annoyed. Inside though, I was smiling. He and my sister were kind of adorable together. I would never admit that out loud though.

"Greatest fear?" I had turned the tables and was now asking the questions. We were currently on the floor in the living room by ourselves attempting to put together one of Lily's many puzzles while my parents attempted to put her to bed.

"Clowns" he answered, not missing a beat.

"No, I mean real fears! Things that keep you up at night, questioning the meaning of life. Stuff like that!" I explained.

He thought about it. "Clowns" he answered again. I sat back against the front of the couch defeated. He started laughing when he noted my expression. "Well, what's yours?" he asked through his laughter. I shrugged. "Same as every girl I guess."

"And what is that?" he asked, handing me a puzzle piece that went with the one I just laid down.

"Abandonment" I pressed the piece down into the right spot.

He nodded. "Have you spoken to your dad lately?" I shook my head. "He calls every few months to catch up or whatever, but those conversations never last more than two minutes."

"I'm so sorry, Maya."

I shrugged. "It's not your fault." I laid another puzzle piece down.

"It's not yours either." I looked away from the puzzle and up towards him. "I don't get it. I don't understand how anyone could not want you in their life." he continued.

The sincerity I found in his eyes was almost too much. "Thank you, Josh." A slow smile was forming across my lips. "Are you going to tell me your biggest fear now?" I asked, challenging him.

He smiled. "Nope." I rolled my eyes.

We sat in silence for a little while after that, picking up and placing puzzle pieces in the right spots. "So you and Garrett, huh?" he asked.

"Yeah" I answered, smiling shyly. "He's a good guy, right?" I asked, noticing he was slightly uneasy. "I mean, you probably know him better..." I trailed off.

"He is." he admitted, somewhat reluctantly. "He's a great guy actually. I like him a lot." he finished.

"So why the frown?" I asked.

He shook his head. "I just-" he paused. "I just can't imagine anyone being worthy of you. That's all."

"Please" I scoffed, rolling my eyes, fitting a corner piece into its place.

"I'm serious" he said softly. I looked up at him. He was.

"You're being very complimentary tonight" I noted, a blush starting to form across my cheeks.

"Just speaking the truth." he said with a gentle smile. We stared at each other for a moment.

Then Shawn decided to join us, effectively breaking whatever kind of moment Josh and I had been sharing. "She now has to have a minimum of three stories every single night!" Shawn slumped down exhausted in the chair next to me. I giggled.

"Yeah, that sounds like a Hart girl." Josh said with a wink in my direction. I pretended to punch him in the arm. Shawn shook his head. "That grandmother of hers must have spoiled her while we were away."

"Oh like you don't do any of that yourself." I exclaimed.

"Here we are!" My mom came out the door carrying a tray of her homemade mint hot chocolate.

"Mom, you are the best!" I said, getting up to sit on the couch and folding my fingers around my cup. I closed my eyes and inhaled the drink's sweet aroma.

"Thanks Katy" said Josh taking his own from her. Mom then took a seat by me on the couch and folded me into her arms. Shawn began telling a story from their trip. These were my favorite moments, in my mom's arms just relaxing and being with those I love most. It was nice having Josh here too. I kind of just wished I could do this every single night.

Ten o'clock came too quickly. Mom and Shawn had just gone to bed, leaving me and Josh to finish picking up. Typical.

"You ready for me to walk you home?" Josh asked.

I smiled apologetically. "I actually told them I would stay here tonight. Promised a little someone that I would make her banana pancakes in the morning."

"Well I'm jealous" he said, starting to pull on his gloves.

"Thank you" I said "for letting me where those tonight. You certainly didn't have to."

"Anything for you, Maya. I definitely wasn't going to let you freeze." he said, turning towards me and grinning. I returned his grin and walked over with him towards the door.

He opened the door then turned to face me again. "Goodnight Maya."

"Goodnight Josh" I whispered. He slipped out.

I closed the door after him and leaned against it, resting the back of my head against the wood and wondering what this new aching feeling was in my chest. It seemed familiar.

Yet it also seemed brand new.

A/N: Let me know what you think! Reviews make me update faster. ;)