Shout-outs: VoniBerry, Discursus, GMWGirl, Lalaland, Guest, evergirl2000 and peachy007

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Rated: T

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Chapter 11

"You and my uncle," Riley said shaking her head in disbelief. "I thought you wanted a male free vacation!"

Maya smiled at Josh fondly. "What can I say? There was just something about him. . . I fell in love. For the first time ever, I really fell in love. And what about you? I thought you didn't want to meet anybody either! And you came home with Huckleberry, of all people!"

"Lucas and I are just friends," Riley answered. "Maybe one day, when the timing is right we'll become something more."

Maya snorted. "Yeah right! Mark my words, we'll be dancing at your wedding in a year. Two years, max!"

"Mark your words?" Riley repeated. "What makes you think you know me well enough to make that prediction?"

"Trust me, I know these things!" Maya told her, there was a buzz on the intercom and she gave the other girl a sheepish look. "I hope you don't mind but I invited Isadora and Farkle to stop by on their way home from Europe."

Riley sighed and went to let the couple in. "The more the merrier!"

Josh came up behind Maya and wrapped his arms around her waist, swaying with her to the Aretha Franklin song playing on Riley's record player. "I'm so glad you're here," he told her in a low voice.

Maya smiled and brought her hands up to his. "I'm glad to be here. With you."

He spun her around and was about to kiss her when Riley interrupted them.

"Save it for midnight, please!" She said.

"We're engaged!" Isadora announced as she floated through the apartment door with Farkle at her heels.

"I told you so," Maya answered, giving a pointed look to Riley. "Come over here and let me see the ring, Is!"

Isadora proudly showed off the diamond ring she was wearing. "He proposed Christmas Eve! And even though you kept saying it would happen, I was shocked."

"Well, I am happy for you!" Maya said, beckoning for Josh with her hand. "Isadora, this is Joshua Matthews."

Isadora pushed her glasses up on her nose and grinned. "Ah, the uncle! What a pleasure to finally meet you! We've been texting."

Maya blushed. "Isadora!"

"It looks like Riley got together with Lucas!" Isadora plunged onward. "Farkle and I called that one."

"Well, we hoped," Farkle said. "That isn't quite the same thing as calling it, my love."

"And they don't really have a thing," Josh said. "According to Riley, they are just going to be friends and see what happens down the road."

"But they really like each other," Maya added. "Who knows what could happen?"

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Almost One Year Later. . .

"And now by the power vested to me by the internet, I now pronounce you man and wife, you may kiss the bride!" Zay said.

Josh lifted Maya's cage veil away from her face and kissed her to seal the commitment they had just made to each other. She laughed and kissed him again, a little bit longer than the first time.

They both couldn't believe they had actually gotten to this day. The long-distance thing had been the biggest struggle of their relationship and then one day, Maya had showed up at his apartment and told him that she could write songs from anywhere.

All he could see was a woman in love standing in front of him, not the scared girl he had fallen for over the Christmas holiday. He had proposed the next day and she had said yes. He thought getting her down the aisle, trying to get her to commit would be his biggest problem. But she had come to him and told him that she wanted to get married on the day that they had met for the first time.

And even though he had been shocked at first because she was making wedding plans, he had been more than happy to oblige her.

The cheering of their friends and family brought Josh back to reality. He smiled a little stupidly at Maya and took her hands. "I love you," he whispered.

"I love you too," she whispered back.

"Um, guys, you do realize I need to announce you as Mr. and Mrs. Matthews," Zay told them, loud enough for all the guests to hear him.

"Well, do it then!" Maya growled.

"May I present to you for the very first time, Mr. and Mrs. Matthews!" Zay announced.

Laughing, Josh and Maya turned around and started up the aisle while everybody stood up and clapped and cheered for them some more. Beauty had been created from his ashes, he couldn't imagine a better way to start his life over again.

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"It was a lovely ceremony," Riley said to Lucas as they danced to "September" by Earth, Wind & Fire.

"It certainly was," Lucas answered, watching as the bride and groom slow danced together despite the track. "I don't think I've ever seen Maya this happy. But you know what, it suits her."

"I want what they have!" Riley blurted.

"Excuse me?"

"Listen, we both know we love each other," Riley replied. "I think we need to stop pretending to be friends and just do it."

Lucas stopped dancing and looked at her, stopping her from whirling around so they could look each other in the eyes. "Just do it?" He repeated.

"Be boyfriend and girlfriend. And then get married and maybe have a couple of kids," Riley said. "We said we'd talk about it again when I was ready. Well, I'm ready now. Are you?"

"I've been ready since the day I met you," Lucas answered, leaning in so he could kiss her. It was short and sweet and when it was over, he wrapped his arms around her and embraced her.

He wasn't going to let her go until he had to.

_The End_

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Author's Note:

I tried to make this longer than 900+ words but I failed. There wasn't much to say after I had tied everything together. If you are wondering, Farkle and Smackle got married and were pregnant with their first kid at the wedding. But since they weren't a main pairing in the story, I decided not to add it in.

My next multi-chapter story is something I am very excited about. But I might take a break this weekend or I might post Maya's version of "Ringtones", if I write it. I am busy planning a Sweet 16 for my youngest sister though. So, no promises!

And thank you again for reading. It meant a lot to me!

Lots of Love,

Holly, 1/5/2016_