"Josh, are you even listening to anything we say?" asked Cory, closing in on me from my left. I didn't look his way, though. Instead, I stared aimlessly at the floor, willing it to be more interesting than the conversation I wanted to avoid having.

"Unfortunately, yes. I am," I answered without even glancing up. I was unbelievably bored.

"Because, it's very important that you understand what is at stake here," said Shawn, who was to my right. As soon as Maya and I broke the news to everyone, after the endless hugs and "I told you so's," Cory and Shawn almost immediately motioned me over to where they were seated on the couch. The only available spot was in between them and that's when I knew what I was in for.

Shawn leaned toward me a little too closely, the purpose of which was to come off as more intimidating. "So again, if you ever hurt her, if you ever even look at her the wrong way, if you ever-" A yawn escaped my lips, and I sighed. "Did you just yawn?!"

"Sorry," I replied, closing my mouth and resuming my staring match with the floor. It was obvious they had been planning this clearly rehearsed speech for awhile now, but they knew me, knew her, and knew I will take care of her rendering this entire conversation pointless.

"Unbelievable. Cory, he isn't even taking us seriously," Shawn said, throwing his hands up in the air, frustration clearly evident in his tone.

Cory sat back, contemplating the situation. Even I could admit, he was in an awkward position trying to make sure neither his little brother nor his (basically) adopted daughter got hurt. Eventually coming up with a solution, he leaned forward again.

"Maya, perhaps this would work out better for us if you left us alone with Josh," my brother suggested. "Just for a moment," he quickly added upon sensing her hesitation.

"I'm good," replied the gorgeous blonde who was currently snuggled up against my side, arms wrapped tight around me. I grinned at her reply as I continued to rub tiny, soothing circles against her shoulder. Seeing her face light up tugged at my heart in a way that made me feel ridiculously soft, but I was so past the point of caring. She refused to leave me alone with Cory and Shawn. It seemed that we were making up for lost time, having not seen each other most of today. I didn't mind in the slightest.

However, I could sense that now both Cory and Shawn were frustrated at having their plans thwarted by Maya and I, so I decided to go ahead and give them the moment they so desperately wanted. I turned my head down slightly, gently nudging Maya's temple with my nose. She took the hint and slowly lifted her head to look up at me.

"Maybe just give us five minutes?" I suggested, reaching forward to brush away that lone strand of hair that never wanted to stay put behind her ear.

She closed her eyes briefly at the touch before nodding. I had to suppress a groan at the sight of her nibbling gently on her bottom lip. She opened her eyes and smiled knowingly. Fully aware of what she was doing to me, she imperceptibly leaned closer, our faces just centimeters apart, before pushing herself up and heading towards Riley.

Minx.

I leaned back, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath in an attempt to clear my head of blonde hair, petal soft lips, and sea blue eyes that I never got tired of looking at. She was going to be the death of me. I just knew it.

I opened my eyes to see identical grins. I looked between the two, first Shawn, then Cory. "Shut up," I told them both.

"We didn't say anything," commented Shawn, his expression unchanging.

"Yeah. You didn't have to," I answered before jumping forward to sit on the edge of the couch. "Alright, let's get this over with." I clapped my hands together, ready to take on whatever they had to dish out, and dish it out they did.

To Cory and Shawn's triumph, I think I physically flinched a couple times. However, near the end when the threats turned ridiculous, I couldn't help but laugh.

"You two satisfied now?" I asked later, wiping a few tears away from laughing so hard.

"Yeah we're done. Thanks for playing along. We had been waiting a long time to do that," answered Shawn.

"Yeah," answered Cory, clapping me on the back. "Thanks for being a good sport." With that comment, he got off the couch, Shawn following after him. I got up and headed towards the kitchen, making sure to wink in Maya's direction as I passed. The answering blush that graced her cheeks gave me more satisfaction than she will ever know.

I strolled into the kitchen, ready to grab every piece of celery that was left when I noticed my sister-in-law flitting her head from shelf to shelf in the refrigerator in some sort of desperate search.

"What are you looking for?" I asked Topanga, amused.

"Oh, hey Josh," she said turning around and smiling before facing the fridge once more.

"I could have sworn I brought the girls a pan of my brownies, but I guess I left them at home," she answered with a nonchalant shrug, but I could tell this discovery made her uneasy.

"It's just that I made them especially for tonight," she said sadly. She wasn't the only one that was sad. Topanga's brownies were the best and she didn't make them just for anyone.

"I'll just go grab them real quick," she declared making up her mind and already heading toward the door, before I blocked her way. I held out a hand to stop her before she could pass me. She didn't have to go far, only a couple of blocks, but there was still no way I was letting her do this.

"It's almost 10 and you've had a long day, let me go get them," I told her. "It's really no big deal."

"Really, you would do that?" she asked beaming, already moving toward her bag to grab the key.

I shrugged. "Yeah, absolutely," I replied as she laid the key in my palm. "Be right back."

I approached Maya, whose back was turned to me as she was engrossed in some story Riley was telling. Before either of them were really aware of my presence, I wrapped an arm around Maya's waist, pulling her back against my chest as I leaned my head around to press my lips to her cheek.

"I'll be right back," I pulled back to whisper in her ear.

"Where are you going?" she asked, eyes worried as she glanced up at me. I smiled reassuringly.

"It's a secret," I told her with a grin. "But I really will be right back," I said before kissing her cheek again. This action seemed to placate her, as she was smiling again when I pulled away.

"Niece," I acknowledged Riley who was smiling at us both like an idiot. "Sorry to interrupt."

"Uncle," she shot back. "You're forgiven," she said as I untangled my arm from around Maya and started towards the door.

There was another reason why I volunteered for this particular errand. Walking down New York streets at night was probably my absolute favourite thing to do since I'd moved. I was almost disappointed when just ten minutes later, I had arrived at my destination.

Walking down the steps from my brother's place, brownies in hand, a familiar sight stopped me dead in my tracks. Well, not so much a familiar sight as a familiar someone.

There, across the street from me, was the one and only Lucas Friar. It had been almost four years since I had last seen him.

When did he move back?

Every part of me froze. I was unable to move or think, all I could do was stare slack jawed. All I could do was stare as I watched him pass by. Suddenly, I saw him look up and over at my brother's apartment above me. A look of deep regret and sorrow crossed his face, his expression pained.

Good. I got a strong sense of satisfaction from knowing he actually did feel like the piece of shit he was for cheating on my niece. At the same time, though, one look at his face and I couldn't help but feel sorry for him. It was a strange and I didn't have time to stand around trying to figure out how that could be.

He looked out in front of him again before continuing on his way. He never did notice me standing there.

When he rounded the corner and finally disappeared from my line of sight, I shook my head in an effort to clear it. Doing my best to put it out of my mind, I made my way back to the party.

"I can't believe she fell asleep," Riley commented later after the brownies had been devoured and everyone else had left. I looked over, slinging the dish towel I had been using to dry over my shoulder, and sure enough, Maya was passed out. I handed Riley the newly dried plate.

"I can. We had a long day," I shrugged.

"I'm sure you did," Riley said knowingly before placing the last remaining dish on the shelf. I shot her a look but she just smiled unabashed in return. She came over and kissed my cheek. "Happy for you, favorite uncle. I'm going to bed," she said before making her way over to the door that led to her bedroom.

"Thanks favorite niece. Goodnight."

"Goodnight," she said just before pushing her door shut.

I pushed myself off of their kitchen counter, walking over to sit on the edge of the sofa next to Maya. For a moment I simply admired her, taking in her peaceful expression as she slept, but before I crossed the threshold into creepy I reached forward, trailing my fingers along her cheek. Her eyelids slowly fluttered open as I moved my hand from her cheek to her hair, running my fingers through the silken strands.

"Hi," she whispered smiling once her eyes opened wide enough to realize who it was.

"Hi," I returned unable to help myself as I leaned down to taste her lips again.

I had meant for the kiss to be chaste, but Maya wasn't having any of that as her hand swept to the back of my head, holding me in place. I tried to suppress the sigh that threatened to escape me as her long nails started massaging my scalp. I was smiling as we pulled apart. I maneuvered my arm underneath her shoulder blades to help lift her into a more vertical position. She moved her legs around to sit next to me before resting her head against my shoulder.

"I didn't mean to fall asleep," she muttered sleepily. I grinned against the crown of her head as I inhaled the scent of sweet lilacs.

"Well you did wake up incredibly early this morning to run away from me." She leaned away and punched me in the arm for that comment. Vowing to never admit her punch actually hurt, I pulled her closer instead as we both laughed. Laughter dying down, Maya yawned again as her head fell back down onto my shoulder.

"Alright, come on," I said as I grasped both of her hands and pulled her into a standing position. "It's time for me to leave and for you to go to bed." She nodded as she walked with me to the front door. I turned upon reaching it to pull her close again only to see the most beautiful and vulnerable expression upon her face.

"I don't want you to go," she admitted softly.

I gently smiled before pulling her towards me, not happy about the idea of leaving her either. She wrapped her arms around my waist so tight that it was almost painful. Almost.

I buried my face in her hair before whispering "I'll see you first thing in the morning."

"You promise," she asked leaning back a bit, eyes still wide and vulnerable. I liked this side of her.

"I promise," I whispered.

I kept my promise too. The way her face lit up the next morning when she opened her apartment building door to see me waiting on the steps for her made the long trip to her favorite pastry shop totally worth it. I slipped my fingers through hers as we walked down the sidewalk together on our way to work.

A/N: So sorry for the delay! Life has been busy! Hope you enjoyed Joshua's POV.

Thank you to everyone for all of the love and support. I'm sorry that I haven't been able to reply to all of your reviews! I hope to soon! Keep those reviews coming.

Give some love to EmilyHelene by reviewing her Joshaya stories too! They're fabulous. We're going to have joint book signings one day. You know, as soon as I can write half as well as she can. Womp womp.