Northern Constellations

Summary: Explore a year in the life of Joshua Matthews and Maya Hart as they discover the wonders and woes of young parenthood.

Chapter Two

As a freshman in college, Joshua Matthews forgot what it felt like to be truly alone. So when he walked into his floor's communal restroom and saw it empty, he couldn't help but think that the world was coming to an end. He put his money on a zombie apocalypse or even a shortage of pizza in the dining hall.

After falling into routine, adjusting to life away from home felt like second nature. With that being said, however, he never got over his need for privacy. Back home, his parents had been especially lax. In exchange for good grades and respect, they provided Josh with enough space to grow and flourish on his own. The world was his to meet, after all.

As soon as the lights switched on, the brunette found himself searching for the furthest stall from the entrance, toiletry and clothing in hand. Normally, he wouldn't shower more than once so early in the day, but he couldn't bear his roommate's endless carping. According to the infamous Isaac Reeves, Josh reeked of cigarette smoke, aging library books and bad decisions. Isaac's complaints were humorous at the end of the day, but he refused to stand down until Josh obliged.

After stripping himself, Josh stepped into the shower to get the water running. He preferred it cold, especially since the freezing temperatures discouraged the clandestine thoughts he had about the pretty little blonde who lived off of Greenwich and Houston. She often occupied his mind during times like these. He loved her big blue eyes and stubbornness, but the shape of her hips and her full lips would be the death of him. He tried—he tried to cleanse his mind of impure thoughts and treasured memories—but all of his attempts were made in vain.

Even after everything they had been through, he insisted that they should continue playing the long game. He wanted her to be able to live her life. She was a teenager, and it was imperative for her to meet new people and explore her own reckless spontaneity. Rushing into a relationship wouldn't be fair to her. Maya deserved a normal adolescence, and that was something she couldn't get with him.

Still, none of that seemed to matter when they were together. The first few weeks following their night together hadn't been the most pleasant, but they finally came to a mutual understanding.

One day.

Someday.

Eventually.

Maya was worth the extra mile. Sometimes, however, he wished that he had the slightest bit of control over his feelings. He presumed that life would be so much easier then. As soon as Josh washed the soap off his body and rinsed shampoo from his hair, he turned the water off and began to dress himself. His outfits were becoming a bit repetitive, so he made a mental note to head over to his older brother's apartment to throw a load in the wash and grab a bite to eat.

About four minutes later, he finished getting ready, but instead of rushing back to his infuriating roommate, he decided to stick around. He looked at himself in one of the full body mirrors and sighed. He thought back to the days where he didn't have a care in the world, but refused to dwell on them.

Those days were long gone. He was an adult now.

When Josh arrived at his brother's apartment, he wasn't all too surprised to see his sister-in-law lounging in front of the television with a plate of leftovers in hand. She was dressed in her normal business attire, flattering yet professional, her eyes glued screen in hopes of finishing an episode before heading back to work.

"Topanga!" Josh greeted, locking the door behind him. The Matthews Family often left it unlocked, but he decided to take precautions anyways. With his laundry sack in hand, he began to walk toward the stairwell but not before peaking at the television. "Ah, yes. Gilmore Girls. Great choice. I love this show."

"What do you know about the Gilmore Girls?" Topanga laughed, keeping her eyes locked on the final scene between Stars Hollow's fast-talking princess and the local grocery boy.

"Ask Morgan," Josh winked, reminiscing the long, grueling hours he spent binge watching the show with his older sister a couple of years ago. Morgan had been twenty-seven at the time, single and recently unemployed, so she decided to move back home in order to regroup. Living at home only lasted about four months, but Josh enjoyed spending time with his big sister. "Looks like season one. Don't tell me this is your first time watching."

"This is my first time, thank you very much," Topanga shot back, fighting the argue to ridicule his tone. Her in-laws were definitely something else, but she loved them. She had known Josh since the day he was born and saw him as as the annoying, grown-up little brother she never had. "You know, for high school kids, these kids kiss a lot. Is this how it is nowadays? Should I have a talk with Riley?"

"Riley? No," Josh chuckled. He couldn't quite picture his fifteen-year-old niece interlocking lips with her somewhat insecure western hero of a boyfriend on a daily basis. She was just so innocent. Besides, Lucas Friar knew better than to push his boundaries. Cory, Josh, Shawn, and even Farkle would hunt him down to the ends of the earth if he dared to break her heart again. "Auggie, on the other hand, maybe. Rumor has it that he's ready to settle down and start a family of his own."

"Oh, shush," Topanga shot back, chucking one of her decorative pillows in his direction. Despite being caught off guard, Josh dodged the hit and caught the pillow instead. He tossed to the other side of the couch, careful not to aim anywhere near the wrath of Topanga Lawrence-Matthews. As soon as the end credits rolled, the older woman abandoned the couch, plate in hand and headed toward the kitchen. "First you, now my babies. Stay nineteen forever please."

"No promises," Josh poked fun at her remark. Nineteen wasn't his finest age. He was still underage in terms of alcohol and theoretical adulthood. "But I'll try."

"As much as I hate to leave you alone," Topanga began, placing her dish in the sink. She turned on the faucet for a moment, allowing the water to flow freely. Then she shut it off, leaving her dish unwashed."I, sadly, have to get back to the office. I'm in charge of Louise Van der Veen's caseload for the next two months. She's on maternity leave, and I pulled the short straw. Wish me luck. Oh! Since you're already here, can you do me a favor?"

"Sure," Josh shrugged, setting his laundry bag on the bottom step. He really didn't have much to do anyways. "You want me to wash the dishes?"

"I wasn't going to ask you that, but yes, that too," Topanga went on to explain, her voice raising several octaves. "Would you mind picking up Auggie after school? He gets out around three. I normally pick him up, but I have to meet with another witness, so I don't think I'll be able to make it in time. I'd ask your brother, but fourth period doesn't end until three thirty."

"Oh, I don't mind at all," Josh said without hesitation. He loved spending time with his nephew. Auggie Matthews was the closest thing to a little brother he'd ever have. "I'll take him to that ice cream parlor on the way back and maybe even help him with the ladies."

"If Ava's mom can't make it—as always—just take her with you, okay?" Topanga added, picking up her pace. She retrieved her purse and a large, black briefcase before walking toward the door. "I don't think she'll cause too much trouble...but she's Ava. Only time will tell."

"Thanks for the heads up," Josh nodded, turning on the dishwasher. "Ice cream, yes. Ladies, no."

"Yeah, good luck with that."

Maya learned the hard way that walking a mile in uncomfortable shoes while pregnant felt a lot like finishing a half-marathon. She debated on hailing a taxi, but that would've been a waste of time and money, and she didn't want to use her baby as an easy way out. She needed the exercise and a reminder of the consequences.

She mentally scolded herself for not taking any precautions. Before leaving the apartment, she dressed for cold weather. With their domestic heater set to sixty-one, she slipped on attire that was not meant for the sun. She walked out of her building wearing her favorite Bowie tee, ripped boyfriend jeans and a long yellow cardigan she stole from her best friend. That was her first mistake, but what really bugged her were her shoes. While converse were much more comfortable than platform heels and knee-highs, her worn sneakers weren't padded enough for an any long distance walking. Her feet were sore, but that was expected.

The walk to her best friend's home wasn't very long, but it felt never-ending. Maya tried to suppress her doubts before climbing through Riley's bedroom window but failed with great indignation. The same questions haunted her and she needed answers. Maya proceeded to walk through the apartment with caution, unsure if they were alone. When she made came across the living room, her heart stopped. Josh sat perched in front of a laundry basket, folding clothes and stuffing them back into his sack.

"Josh," Maya gulped, stepping into the living room. She inched closer and closer to the couch, placing her hands on the backing.

"Maya," Josh reciprocated with equal gusto. He turned around to come face-to-face with the pretty blonde that always occupied his thoughts. Their conversations were often filled with innocent flirtation. "Shouldn't you be at school with Riley? Or is she here too?"

"She's still at school," Maya said barely louder than a whisper. "I skipped today. I haven't been feeling all too great lately. Shawn lets me stay home sometimes."

"Oh," Josh mouthed, grabbing an armful of his remaining clothing to make room for her to sit. "You're sick. Here, sit down."

Settling onto the couch cushion adjacent to his, the blonde took in a deep breath. She didn't know how to go about speaking the very words that changed her entire life's orbit. They would change his too. In all honesty, Maya feared his reaction almost as much as her mother's.

"It's not like that," Maya admitted, looking down at her shoes. She couldn't afford to look into his eyes. They were a beautiful blue, even lighter than hers, and she was sure that they would destroy her. "Not really. I'm not sick. Whatever I feel right now comes and goes, but some things will last forever. Life kinda hates me which sucks because I kinda thought we were on good terms now."

"Why does life hate you?" Josh asked incredulously, intrigued by her statement. The glint in her eyes made her seem like a child, and he couldn't help but laugh. Maya Hart was a beauty, for sure. It broke his heart that they had to wait.

"I mean this year started out pretty stressful, but I got over that fast," Maya explained, twiddling her thumbs. "Riley brainwashed me into believing that hope isn't for suckers, and I'm not gonna lie...that helped me through a lot. But this?"

"What are you talking about?" Josh pressed, impulsively placing a hand in her lap to interlock their fingers. It didn't take a genius to see that something was bothering her.

"Do you remember that time I invited you over?"

"I've been to your house on multiple occasions," Josh implied, hoping to get some type of hint out of her. "You have to be specific."

"Oh, okay," Maya deadpanned, subconsciously tightening her grip on his hand. "How about this...you remember when we slept together?"

"Alright, there's the Maya I know and love," Josh chuckled, hoping diffusing the awkward tension building between the two. "Stop. You're killing me with those eyes."

"I know what you're doing," Maya sighed, retracting her hand from his with one swift pull. It was then that she realized that she bit off more than she could chew. Her mind advised her to wait, but she chose to follow her heart. "You're trying to distract me with your boyish charm, but that's not gonna stop me, Matthews. We need to talk about this. We need to talk about us."

"We talk about us every time we see each other, Maya," Josh said, chewing at the fleshy insides of his cheek. "When I promised you the long game, I meant it. I want you to live your life. I want you to go out and meet the world, meet boys, meet yourself. You deserve choices."

"You either feel really sorry for me or guilty," Maya thought aloud, instantly regretting her choice of words. "We're playing the long game, I know. You want me to be a normal teenager, I get it. But I didn't come here to talk about that."

"Then what do you want to talk about?"

"Condoms, maybe," Maya answered, shrugging her shoulders as if it were nothing. "And why you decided it was a smart move not to use them. I guess the thought never occurred to me because, you know, it was my first time and all. You pulled out, but I guess that didn't do the trick."

"Jesus Christ," Josh exasperated, catching on fairly quickly. "Are you sure?"

"My doctor confirmed it," Maya smiled weakly. She hardly considered their dilemma as smile worthy, but she wanted to stay optimistic. "I walked in clueless and came out as a mother. Can't believe it? Good because neither can I."

"You're pregnant," Josh repeated to himself, trying to wrap his head around their frightening new ordeal.

"I'm pregnant," Maya repeated, carefully reading the expression on the brunette's face before he put his head in his hands.

"You're sixteen," Josh added, silently grateful for the younger girl's silent comfort. She placed a hand on his shoulder, softly rubbing to reassure him that she was still okay.

"Looks like we have a winner here. Thanks for stating the obvious, Matthews. I'm sixteen and pregnant. Pretty cliche if you ask me."

"We aren't ready for this," Josh sat up after a few minutes worth of semi-deep contemplation. Surely, two minutes hadn't been enough time, but at least his thoughts were in the right place. "You're a freshman in high school and I'm a freshman in college. Maya, you have so much going for you. We aren't ready. This is really all my fault. I'm sorry."

"We aren't ready," Maya agreed, ignoring his inclination to take the blame for their actions. "I understand that, Josh, I really do. I want to try anyways. Yeah, this sucks, and it feels like the entire universe is plotting against us, but it is what it is. This is my life now. As of right now, I have nothing to show for. I don't know how to be a parent, hell, I've never made a dime on my own, but I can change that. My biological father walked out on me because he felt like he wasn't ready for me. I know that it sounds crazy, but I refuse to do the same."

"I see where you're coming from," Josh consoled, thinking of ways to get his point across. Similarly to Maya's parents and everyone who cared, he wanted the best for her. "I don't doubt for a second that you'll be an amazing mother, but think about it this way: you have a life to live, school to attend and friends that look up to you. Wouldn't a kid get in the way of that? I'm in college now. High school? Been there, done that. You haven't."

"I don't want to argue with you, Josh," Maya began. "I always follow my heart even if it gets me into trouble. You should know that by now. I know what I want and nothing will ever change that. You're either in or you're out. That's all up to you. No hard feelings whatsoever." That was partially a lie, of course. She would care. A lot.

"I wasn't trying to start an argument with you," Josh clarified, taking a deep breath. "In the long game, I want what's best for you. If you really want to do this, I'll be there every step of the way. I care about you, Maya...more than you'll ever know."

Around three o'clock, Joshua Matthews and Maya Hart found themselves lounging on the steps in front of Franklin Delano Roosevelt Elementary School, their hands intertwined and minds twisted. As the duo awaited the sound of the dismissal bell, they couldn't help but picture themselves as parents to school aged children in the near future. Maya cringed at the thought. It was a bit difficult to picture herself as a doting mother picking up her child after school, but things would have to change.

Moments later, the bell rang and students began pouring out by the dozens. Maya watched as children greeted their parents with toothy smiles or bitter complaints. The kids at Franklin Delano were incredibly diverse in looks and demeanor. She knew that most parents raised their children in their own image, and that scared Maya half to death.

"Uncle Josh!" August Matthews exclaimed, running into eyesight, his short curls bouncing in the wind. A young girl followed behind him, struggling to catch up after being caught up in the crowd. Even without seeing her face clearly, Maya and Josh knew exactly who she was. Auggie Matthews and Ava Morganstern were quite the pair.

"Mr. Auggie!" Josh greeted, abandoning his spot on the concrete steps to welcome his young nephew with a manly embrace. The younger Matthews insisted that they were strictly bros in public, especially in the presence of his ball and chain. "Your mom's still at work, so I guess I'm in charge. Lucky you."

"Best day ever," Auggie cheered to himself, bumping knuckles with his favorite uncle. Josh and Auggie were exceptionally close before the big move. Now that Josh lived in Manhattan, their bond was stronger than ever. "Oh, you brought Maya?"

"Yeah," Josh answered, taking note of the suspicion in his nephew's eyes. "I brought Maya. What about you? You plan on bringing Ava?"

"Do you even have to ask?" Ava Morganstern beamed, making her presence known as soon as she caught up with the bunch. Without prior warning, she discarded her backpack and dropped it onto Maya's lap, startling her in the process.

"She's my wife," Auggie added, linking arms with the pretty little girl to his right. "What kind of husband would I be if I left her behind? A bad one, that's what."

"Take notes, Joshie," Ava teased, flinging her hair over one shoulder. Before trailing down the stairs, she winked at the tall brunette and gave him a soft nudge with her elbow. "Don't worry, Maya. I got your back."

"You guys are ridiculous," Maya rolled her eyes, failing to suppress a laugh. She stood up, backpack in hand, and followed the tiny girl down to the sidewalk.

"Ice cream?" Josh proposed, catching up with the girls. At the mention of ice cream, both children looked at each other with wide eyes. Auggie fist-pumped midair while Ava flashed one of her genuine smiles. Kids were funny like that.

"Wow, Uncle Josh, you're the best!"

"I'm not your uncle, Ava," Josh explained, taking a moment to sneak a glance at the pretty blonde accompanying them.

Maya. It had always been Maya.

"Alright, kiddies," Josh began, looking down at the two younglings. Auggie and Ava peered into the coolers to check out the large ice cream tubs on display. There were so many flavors to choose from. Both Auggie and his father, Cory Matthews, made it a life goal to try every flavor in the shop. "Do you guys know what you want to order?"

Chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, pralines and cream. There were just too many options and too many possibilities. While Auggie wasn't quite sure which route to take, Ava held herself with confidence. Before Auggie could open his mouth to speak, Ava interjected, making an extravagant gesture with her arms.

"Pineapple sorbet," Ava answered as if it were obvious. "One kids scoop in a cup. Definitely not a cone. I hate those. Please and thank you."

"Please and thank you?" Auggie shot back, placing a hand to his chest for dramatic effect. "Who are you and what have you done with my wife?"

"Oh, shush," Ava shooed off his remark, imitating the matriarch of his little clan. Ever since her parents' separation, Ava had grown closer to the entire Matthews family. She was practically one of their own now. "You know, if there's one thing my mom taught me, it's that sometimes you have to play nice to get what you want."

"Only sometimes?" Maya raised an eyebrow, peaking her head over the cooler to get a better glimpse at the ice cream. She wanted something small, but she couldn't pinpoint which flavor she was craving.

"All the time, maybe," Ava shrugged. "She's probably playing nice with one of her boyfriends right now, but I don't mind. I like spending time with you guys. It's kind of like a double date. Right, Auggie Doggie?"

"Well, I guess," Auggie said in a hushed tone, glancing back at the older pair lingering closely behind them. Josh and Maya were definitely close, but everyone seemed to fuss over their age difference. Someday, he recalled. They weren't dating now, but someday was a possibility. Besides, if they were together, he would've been one of the first to know. Their family didn't entertain secrets. "Maya and Uncle Josh aren't dating though. That'd be weird."

"You sure about that?" Ava whispered, a deviant smirk apparent on her porcelain features. Topanga believed that Ava Morganstern was always up to no good and was peculiarly one step ahead of the game.

"Yes."

"Really?"

"Alright, fine, no," the younger boy caved in, the suggestiveness in his best friend's voice swaying him in favor of her speculation. He trusted that, as his father hoped, the chemistry between blonde and brunette remain untouched until they were matured enough for an actual relationship. But sometimes, some things don't go according to plan. He saw the way his uncle looked at his surrogate sister, not to mention the fact that she was here with them instead of resting at home or at school with her own friends.

"Aren't you curious?" Ava questioned, rubbing her hands together. Oh yes, he was definitely curious now, more so than ever. "I have a plan, don't worry. I'll take Maya, you take Josh. Order for me, okay?"

"Wait what?"

"Just go with it," Ava pressed before turning her attention to the petite blonde nearly four feet away. In all honestly, Ava looked up to the headstrong young woman. Maya had been through a lot during her sixteen years of life and she grew stronger by the day. Though she'd never admit it, she hoped to become someone as resilient as Maya Hart. "Maya?"

"What do you want?" Maya poked fun, her witty tone making a quick comeback before retreating back into her shell of anxiety.

"Can you walk with me to the bathroom?" Ava asked, yawning. Her acting abilities came naturally. She swore that she had the potential to be an academy award winning star.

"Huh? Alright."

"Hey, Maya, before you go," Josh said, building up the courage to stop her from leaving. Their relationship—or lack of relationship—was still on the rocks, so he settled on being extra careful in her presence. "What do you want? I'm about to order."

"Surprise me, boing," Maya shrugged.

He always does.

"Uncle Josh?" August Matthews narrowed his eyes at the towering brunette after he finished ordering for the foursome. Instead of digging into his pistachio goodness, Auggie seemed to be lost in thought. His thoughts were more than distracting. He just had to know.

"Yeah, Aug?"

"We need to talk," Auggie said seriously, suddenly disinterested in his cup. He ignored the tiny droplets of green liquid dripping down the sides, but a little melted ice cream never hurt anyone. He decided to let it be for the time being.

"Trouble in paradise?" Josh asked, raising an eyebrow. He could usually read his nephew's emotions like an open book, but he drew a blank. He didn't even know what he was feeling anymore, so how could he decipher the mood of another?

"You wish," Auggie snorted, snapping back to reality for a brief moment. His relationship with Ava was going swell. They were meant to be together. They were practically soulmates. That's all that seemed to matter in the long game. "I mean, it is about Ava, but it's mainly about you."

"Alright," the older boy began as if he already knew the words that were going to spill from his nephew's mouth. "I don't know what Ava told you, but I am not out to steal your girl. I can promise you that."

"Oh, please," Auggie stopped Josh from continuing, slapping his thigh at the thought. "Like that's possible, but okay. I wanted to ask about you and Maya. You and Maya? What's up with that?"

"We're friends, Aug," Josh hesitated for a brief moment, shrugging his shoulders as if it were nothing. In reality, she was everything. "Me and Maya? You say that like it's a bad thing. I thought you liked her."

"I do like her," Auggie corrected. In truth, he liked her very much. They were family. "That's why I'm worried. Uncle Josh, I just want you to know that I love you. I've known you my entire life, but..."

"It kind of feels like you're breaking up with me," Josh sighed, exaggerating his words greatly to add comedic relief. "But what?"

"I love Maya too," Auggie finished, rushing to the point. He didn't want to sugar coat anything. "Mommy and daddy gave me one sister, but somehow I grew up with two. It used to bother me, but now I'm glad. I'm glad that I have Riley and Maya."

"Where are you going with this?"

"I know that you guys are friends," Auggie continued. "Ava thinks that you aren't. I just want to know if you guys are together?"

"We're friends," Josh let out a breathy laugh, taking a swig from his water bottle. "She's here because we had some stuff to talk about. I asked her to come with me. Four is always a party. I didn't want to be a third wheel."

"You don't sound convincing to me," Auggie pointed out, finally digging into his ice cream with his plastic spoon. "Maya likes you. I know that you know."

"Yeah, you're right. I do know."

"And you like her too?"

"What's gotten into you, Aug?"

"I just don't want to be left out of the loop this time. Riley doesn't tell me anything. Maya doesn't tell me anything. Mommy and daddy keep things from me too. You're different though. You always tell me things—no matter what—but Ava said that there's a lot going on behind the scenes."

Josh sighed. "To answer your question, I do like Maya. I like her very much. But are we together? No. Not yet."

"Someday?" Auggie answered for him.

"Yeah, someday."

Crumbling the water bottle in his hands, Josh couldn't help but think that their someday came much sooner than expected.