Chapter 16- Feeling Left Out

"Is this supposed to be the baby?" Riley was squinting at the ultrasound photo that Maya had handed to her. "It's so small." Maya laughed and took the picture back.

"It's only like a month old. The dark area is where the baby is at and that little blurb there", she pointed to the fuzzy, bean-like area in the middle of the photo, "That is the baby." Riley sat back on the couch and smiled at Maya.

"I can't believe that you are going to be a mom, Maya." Riley shook her head.

"Yeah, I am still trying to wrap my head around it myself." Maya replied. There was a knock at the door and Shawn let himself in. The girls waved from the couch.

"No, it's okay." He playfully remarked, "Don't get up." As he walked over to the couch and sat down, Maya handed him the photograph.

"Oh, it's a little peanut. Adorable." He observed as he handed the picture back. "So, how did the appointment go?"

"Everything is fine." Maya explained. "Little Bean is growing like it should. The doctor gave me a due date of around February 3. At the moment, I am 7 weeks and 2 days. I only have 33 weeks left."

"So, that would make you, what, 15 weeks at the end of August?" Shawn asked. Maya nodded.

"I will just be out of the first trimester, so I should be out of this morning sickness crap by then." She replied. Josh came in the living room at that moment and squeezed himself in between Riley and Maya.

"It was so awesome at the doctor's appointment. You could see the little flutter of the heartbeat. I think that is when it became, like really real." He looked to Maya for confirmation and she nodded in agreement. "The doctor measured the baby and she also started Maya on these prenatal vitamins that are supposed to reduce morning sickness. Oh, Maya, by the way, have you taken your vitamins today?"

"No, not yet. I have to eat something first." Maya replied. Josh jumped up from the couch.

"Let me make you something real quick. What would you like? Sandwich, soup, maybe both?" Josh headed for the kitchen and Maya called after him.

"A sandwich is fine. Tuna, if we have it." She shook her head and smiled.

"What?" Shawn asked.

"Ever since the doctor, Josh has been super attentive, almost to the point of annoying. But I love it, though."

"So, Maya," Riley said, changing the subject, "What do you think Texas will be like?"

"I think it will probably be hot and humid. So make sure to add sunscreen to the list." Maya replied.

"Do you think there will be a lot to do in Austin? I mean, I-" Riley was interrupted by Josh shouting from the kitchen.

"Maya, do you want pickle relish on your sandwich?"

"Only if it's sweet pickles." She replied. "You know what, I'll come in there and help you." Forgetting about Riley's question, Maya went to the kitchen to help with lunch. Shawn followed Maya into the kitchen, but only to walk to the door.

"I love you guys. I've gotta go to work." Shawn said. Maya looked at the wall calendar.

"But, it's Sunday." She replied.

"Yeah? Not everybody has a 9 to 5 job, Maya." He tousled her hair. "Riley, I am going to work. If you want to say goodbye, you better get in here." Riley bounded into the kitchen and tackled Shawn around the waist.

"Bye, Uncle Shawn. I love you." Shawn squeezed Riley in a hug and kissed the top of her head.

"Bye, kiddo, I love you, too. Be good for your parents." He replied with a wink and closed the door behind him. Turning back around to face Maya and Josh, Riley politely excused herself and went home. They wouldn't even notice she was gone. When she left, the two of them were holding each other in the kitchen and looking at each other like there was nobody else in the entire world. She decided to give them their privacy and talk to Maya later.

Later that night, Topanga came and sat with Riley in her room. Looking concerned, she stroked Riley's hair.

"How are you feeling, Rileybug?" Topanga asked, using Riley's childhood nickname. Riley leaned her head on her mom's shoulder and sighed, heavily.

"I am feeling a little abandoned over here."

"What do you mean?" Topanga asked.

"I get that Maya has a lot going on. I am not begging for attention. I just want to finish a conversation-" At that moment, the phone rang and Topanga jumped to answer it, stopping when she saw Riley's face.

"I'm sorry, Riley. Kneejerk reaction. Keep going, please." Topanga replied, apologetically. Riley shook her head.

"Never mind. My point was just proven." Riley snapped. She turned away from her mother and lay down with a pillow over her head. Speechless and ashamed, Topanga got up and left Riley alone. She had a conversation with Cory when he got home from his errands. Neither of them had any real solutions to this problem. They were just thankful that their daughter was smart and would not willingly get into a situation that may derail her plans for the future.

Maya's second appointment about a month later was much like the first. The same cold gel and transducer were placed on her belly to check the progress of the baby. This time, however, Josh and Maya were informed by the doctor that they would be able to hear the heartbeat of their baby. Katy had to work, and unfortunately could not come to the appointment, but they promised to record it, so she could hear it too. When the doctor found the baby's heartbeat, Josh and Maya were in awe and they both had tears in their eyes.

"It's a beautiful sound, isn't it?" The doctor asked, smiling warmly at the couple. They both nodded and Josh kissed Maya's hand. "At this point in your pregnancy, I am going to check to make sure that everything is progressing like it should. You are officially 12 weeks along and now in your second trimester. This is where the fun part starts, guys." The doctor checked a couple more measurements and handed Maya a paper towel to wipe the cold gel from her belly. "You might start noticing a belly bump fairly soon, but that is not the baby yet. Right now, your baby is only about the size of a plum. What you are noticing is the expansion of your uterus." Maya nodded, acknowledging this new information.

"Thank you doctor." Maya said, getting up and throwing away the paper towel. "See you next month."

"Actually," the doctor stopped her, "Your next appointment will be at 20 weeks. That would make it September 27. Does that work for you guys? I know that is right around the first day back at school." Maya hadn't even thought about that. She shook her head.

"No, it's fine. I will explain it to the principal, though by that point, an explanation might be redundant." She joked, gesturing to her belly.

"All right," the doctor replied, laughing lightly, "We will set it up for September. Take care until then." She exited the room and left Maya and Josh alone to gather their things.

The next few weeks went by fairly quickly. Josh was preparing to start another semester of online courses and he got a job at the movie theater, behind the concession stand. Maya started working part time at the diner with Katy. Maya had regained some energy and was excited for the trip to Texas, though the thought of a week without Josh was starting to sound like torture. Riley was still distancing herself from Maya and Josh. It was hard to feel left out, but she didn't feel right to complain about it. Maya was hoping that this trip to Texas would put her and Riley on the right track again. Tomorrow was the day of the trip and Maya was too excited to sleep. She tossed and turned all night. Finally, Josh woke her up to make sure she was all right. Maya shook her head.

"I just had the craziest dream." She replied groggily, rubbing her eyes. "We had the baby, but it had no face, just a white space where the face should be. We brought Little Bean home, but on the way we forgot to put the carseat in the car. Instead, we left it on top of the car. We drove for a long while before we realized. You slammed on the brakes and sent the carseat rolling into the middle of the road. We started to run toward the carseat, but suddenly, our newborn baby unbuckled the carseat and jumped out, then started doing the Moonwalk in the middle of the road." Josh burst out laughing and shaking his head.

"Wow, Maya." He managed to say between fits of laughter. He got up to get a drink of water, but Maya grabbed his arm.

Trigger Warning- sexual content below

"Don't leave, Josh. I need you." On her knees, she shuffled across the sheets until she was directly in front of Josh. He smiled down at her and softly kissed her lips. Maya grabbed the back of his head and kissed him back, hard. Slipping her tongue in between his lips, she felt that familiar tingle. As she craned her neck up, Josh left a trail of soft kisses down her neck and onto her chest. As he gently placed his mouth around her hardened nipple, she moaned softly. Maya laid down on the bed, pulling Josh on top of her. He found her vagina and entered her, gently. As he thrust in and out, her moans got louder. Josh paused and quietly shushed Maya, reminding her that Shawn and Katy were sleeping in the other room. He continued to thrust his hardened member in and out, until Maya tightened around him and he could not contain it any longer. He released inside of her and they came together. Maya smiled up at him and he kissed her passionately. He removed himself and put his boxers back on.

"Where are you going, now?" Maya whispered. Josh looked back at her as he put on his t shirt.

"I told you I was going to get water." He replied. Maya laughed quietly and rolled over to go back to sleep. When he got back to the room, he stood in the doorway for a moment, watching Maya sleep. She was snoring softly and he smiled. He walked over to the bed and kissed Maya gently on the cheek.

"I love you, Maya." He whispered quietly, rubbing her arm and slipping in bed beside her. "Good night."