written by Lena

...

"we could let our friends crash in the living room"

"Maya, Maya, Maya…" Lucas said in a calming voice. "Just chill out, everything is going as planned," He said while opening the oven. He pulled out a tray of cookies for the party the young couple would be throwing tomorrow.

"I can't relax! There's too much to do! Those cookies aren't decorated, the table isn't set, I don't know what channel Christmas music is on, and these antlers make me look fat…" She said with a sigh, her emotions raging.

"Maya," Lucas tried again. He set the tray down and took Maya's hands. "You look beautiful and this party is going to be great," Lucas reassured her. The two took steadying breaths and they continued preparing their home for the party.

With Lucas' help, the house was decorated from head to toe. As Maya had grown up, she has come to appreciate Christmas traditions her mother passed down to her.

People started arriving on schedule, Riley showing up first with a poinsettia plant for the couple and bags of presents wrapped in sparkly red and green paper decorated with phrases like Joy to the World and Winter Wonderland."Peaches!" she exclaimed.

"Sunshine!" Maya cried back. Riley set down the plant and pulled Maya into a hug. Maya returned it, happy to be in the arms of her best friend. Riley had been on a trip for the last few weeks, having graduated college, she was helping charities from finding puppies a forever home to cleaning up the beaches in California.

"How are you!? What's up? You have to tell me everything!" Maya exclaimed, walking over to the couch.

"Well, I've seen so much, remind me to show you pics of me by the hollywood sign. And snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef! Oh Maya, I wish you were doing this with me!" Riley exclaimed, excited.

"Ah, maybe someday, I've been pretty busy here," She gestured to the home.

"Oh, I know! The home looks beautiful! How are you two doing?" Riley looked around, pictures already dotting the walls and a bunch of mismatched furniture leaving the home with a warm, cozy feel.

"Oh, we're doing really well! It's almost anniversary soon and we're planning a trip to Texas right after Christmas." Maya replied, mirroring Riley's excitement.

"That's awesome! I'm so happy for you guys," Riley replied with a smile. The doorbell rang again and Maya opened to reveal Katy and Shawn with the Matthews in toe behind them.

They cheered, crying "Merry Christmas!" Their voices overlapping each other as they made their way through the small doorway. They shook the snow from their feet and from their coats.

"Welcome!" Lucas called, coming up behind Maya. He had been carving a turkey and still had on an embarrassing Kiss the Cook apron.

"Ahhh, hi!" The group called out. The small home was soon filled with several bodies. Farkle and Isadora showed up later and Zay was fashionably late as always.

As soon as he stepped through the door, he asked "When are we gonna start eating?" Riley was closest to the door and slapped him on the back of the head.

"Hey!" Zay exclaimed, giving Riley a look and rubbing the base of his skull. He didn't stay mad though.

"Okay, let's eat!" Lucas announced and the crowd went to the table. Paper plates and mismatched silverware was set out and the family shared stories of adventures. Riley captivated the table with tales of her expeditions, surprising and worrying Cory who hadn't realized the danger his little girl was putting herself into.

"Wait…that's what you meant by skydiving? I thought that was something else…" Cory cut off Riley who was regaling the weightless feeling of soaring, well falling through the sky. Topanga just patted her husband, worried for daughter as well but Riley had kept her a little more up to date than Cory.

The conversation drifted, several going at once about the newly weds, Cory's teaching, Topanga's law firm, Shawn and Katy's travels as well (him being a famous photographer and all). The room was filled with joyous laughter and happiness and love. Once everyone was as full as they could be on not only turkey, but also mashed potatoes, stuffing, and even the desserts of pie and santa cookies.

The group moved to the living room where all the gifts had been set down around the tree. "Is it time to open some gifts?" Maya announced with a smile.

"Yes!" Riley replied and the rest of the group grabbed their gifts and began passing them out. They all sat down and began to unwrap. Gifts of sweaters and mittens and jewelry were all involved. Maya and Lucas unwrapped several gifts for their home such as a nice set of fancy plates and some matching pjs. This may not have sounded exciting, but to Maya and Lucas, they loved them. It was exactly what they needed. Being reminded of their partnership in this world only brought tears and loving smiles to the couples faces.

Riley had trinkets from all her adventures, with decoration coral to a jar of seashells, it was clear she bought and saved everything from her trips. Whenever she saw something she bought it and saved it for this time of year.

Finally, the gifts were opened, the floor covered heavily in wrapping and tissue paper. Thank you's poured out of every mouth, everyone could feel the love and peace of the evening and wanted to express how lucky they felt to be surrounded by beautiful friends and family.

"We have one more surprise!" Lucas announced and Maya stood up from her seat to stand beside him. The crowd hushed and Maya and Lucas with gleaming faces, began passing out a series of red envelopes. Once they were all passed out, Maya told them they could open. Audible gasps rang through the living room, Katy put a hand to her mouth.

"Is this…?" Katy couldn't finish. Tears sprang to her eyes. Maya walked over and took her mother's hands.

"Yeah, I'm pregnant." Katy pulled Maya into a hug, sobbing into her shoulder.

"Oh, my baby girl's gonna have a baby girl...or boy!" She cried. Shawn had tears in his eyes as well, he was in shock. The rest of the crowd processed the news and Riley jumped up. Maya pulled away from her mother, smiling at the happy tears spilling over her mother's cheeks. Maya had tears as well. Having to keep the secret for so long, Maya was relieved.

Riley gave Maya and hug and the rest of the group lined. Zay and Shawn turned to Lucas and gave him a firm handshake, congratulating him. Lucas looked on the scene, tears coming to his eyes as well. In fact, there was not a dry eye in the room. Cory and Topanga couldn't believe how much Maya has grown up from the young girl who used to corrupt their good daughter.

That Christmas Eve, the air was filled with a warmth not from the fire crackling in the fireplace or from the sheer amount of body heat in the small home, but from the bonds between friends and family that no distance could ever weaken. Love was in the air, and much like the snow, it swirled around the home like a perfect little snowglobe.