A Dream with missing pieces

After a successful dinner at the Matthews, Josh, Riley and Maya had retreated to Riley's old bay window. Maya couldn't even remember the last time that they'd used it. It still held that familiar feeling of home to her, but as she looked down at her hand that was intertwined with Josh's she felt as if something had shifted. She'd always felt like this was a place that was meant for solving problems, but now it felt just as right to be here with Josh, completely content.

"So, I hope that mom didn't drive you too crazy this year?" Riley asked. While everyone else had been focused on simply enjoying the meal and the company that they were in, Topanga had been running circles around herself trying making sure that everything was right.

"Nah, just the average amount as usual. I think she was actually less freaked out than usual now that my mother wasn't here. Honestly Riley, it was great, but I think we're always going to end up tired after dinner on Christmas eve.

"Yeah, you're probably right. Speaking of, shouldn't you two get going over to Maya's for the presents before you get too tired to do it tonight?"

"We're not in any kind of rush right?" Maya asked Josh who nodded in reply, "Have you opened up your gift from Lucas yet?"

"No, I kind of wanted to call him and open it with him on facetime."

"Oh, so that's what this is about? We'll give you and your boytoy time to open your gifts together then." Maya assured Riley.

"I'm sure that he's opened his gift already Maya."

"You two are so alike that there is no way that he didn't have the same idea, he's probably just waiting for you to call him."

"You're probably right. Make sure to give me all the details tomorrow morning then, okay Maya?"

"Likewise" Maya answered back and stood up dragging Josh with her out the door.

"Okay then, let me go first then." Maya said as she opened her bedside drawer and took out the gift that had been perfectly wrapped up. "Here's your gift Josh."

"Hm, it feels heavy. Should I be able to guess what it is?"

"Maybe, but I'm hoping that you'll end up at least a little bit surprised. Half the fun is gone if you know what it is before you open it right?"

"I agree, and since I do I suppose I'll have to open it before I start guessing what it is." Josh said and started unwrapping the gift. "Wow" he said as the wrappings came off and he realized what it was. "Thank you so much Maya, this is great."

"Shawn told me that you needed one of these, but that you were hesitant to put that much money into your photographing. I figured I'd do it for you."

"Thank you Maya, you're the best, I love you." He said and pulled her in closer to give her a kiss.

"Are you ready for your Christmas present Maya?" Josh asked. Maya didn't think that she could be any happier than she was in that moment, she didn't need a present when she had him.

"Josh, you didn't have to get me a present, just being able to spend Christmas with you is good enough for me." Maya insisted, but Josh held up a hand to silence her.

"Now I could choose to believe that, but that would make the lousiest boyfriend in the world wouldn't it?"

"Not really, in my eyes you're still the best guy I could ever ask for."

"I know that you feel that way and believe me that makes me really happy, but I really like making you happy so I felt like giving you this." Josh handed her a small box and Maya eagerly opened it. Inside she found a charm bracelet. The bracelet had two charms already added on to it. One said Josh and the other was a paint brush.

"How did you get this?" Maya asked as she looked from the charm bracelet over to Josh.

"Is there something wrong?" Josh asked, he'd hoped that she would be happy with his gift, but he wasn't sure what the shocked and slightly panicked expression that she had meant. The last time that he'd seen here like this they'd broken up.

"Just answer the question Josh. Please, just answer it." Josh could hear the desperation in her voice. Something was really wrong.

"You remember after the ski lodge trip where we made the promise to wait? We started hanging out a lot more and one day we walked by a jewelry store where something caught your eye. It didn't have these two charms on it, but I figured it should be okay for me to add them. Anyway, I bought this after we got back together." Josh finished explaining and took her free hand. "Now could you please tell me what's wrong?"

"I had a dream, about this very moment. You gave me that exact bracelet, with those two charms. I don't know how I dreamed about that, I think that I somehow remembered the bracelet, although I didn't realize it until now. I just don't see how I dreamed about those two charms."

"That's actually crazy, but I still don't see why you freaked out. Was there anything else that happened in the dream?"

"Yeah, you remember the text from earlier today?"

"Of course I do, why?"

"In my dream I took it a step further. Just now, when I opened up the gift, I realized that I'm still not ready to do that."

"Oh, Maya I'm so sorry if it felt like I pushed you just now. I didn't realize that the gift would make you feel like that."

"It's not your fault, you couldn't have known Josh. Seriously, that dream is one of the best I've ever had and I just hope that the day comes when I'll be able to fill in the missing pieces."

"You're sure that you're okay with this Maya?"

"Are you kidding me?" Maya said as she put the box with the bracelet in on her nightstand. "This is the best Christmas I've ever had Josh. Now come over here." Maya told him as she grabbed him and pulled him in for a long kiss.

Well, my exams are done so now I'm visiting my parents for a few weeks. I'm hoping to eventually find a good routine for writing that I'm able to keep while I'm here. I figured that I had to at least get this one out to you seeing as you've waited for far too long. I was kind of surprised that none of you managed to guess what Josh's gift was, but then again that means that the hint that I initially put in about 15 chapters ago was subtle enough for you all to forget. I have plans for that bracelet in the future.

Now for a question, What was the chapter that was best named in your opinion?

See you next week I hope.