'What?' Josh signed silently, his eyes widening in alarm.

Riley paused, glancing back down at Maya. 'In our hotel room. I could see you guys in the mirror.'

'Riley,' Josh began, but Riley held up her hand.

'I thought about it and I don't care if you guys date or… whatever it is you're doing,' Riley signed slowly, hoping he would understand every word. 'Do you like her?'

'Yeah,' Josh admitted, his eyes glancing to Maya, who was asleep.

'How long?' Riley asked.

'We've been meeting for a few months, but nothing ever happened until two nights ago,' Josh signed slowly, leaving some signs out but generally doing much better than he used to. He paused. 'Are you sure you're okay with this?'

Riley shrugged. Honestly, she was a little weirded out, but more disappointed to find out that her best friend had been keeping this from her for months. She had thought they told each other everything. She wasn't sure she wanted Maya to date Josh, but she knew that she shouldn't keep them apart if they liked each other that much. And she'd rather have it out in the open, and know about Maya's life, than have them continue to date in secret.

Besides, Maya had been more than supportive and excited for Riley's first relationship, and it was only right that she do the same.

'I'll deal,' Riley signed. 'If you guys want to date, I'll be happy for you.'

Josh smiled in relief. 'I was nervous of how you would react when you found out. Thanks for being cool with it.'

'Now take her out on a real date,' Riley pushed with a small smile, kicking him lightly from across the space between their two benches.

'I will,' Josh promised. He glanced over to Maya again, this time taking on a small smile of his own as he marveled at how beautiful she really was.

Now that they had Riley's blessing, he was excited to take the leap with her.

Lucas stared at himself in the mirror, and pushed his fingers through his hair, trying to give himself a 'cool messy' look. It didn't work. His hair was still perfect.

"Why isn't this easier?" He muttered to himself. He turned, scrutinizing his own outfit. He had gone with dark jeans and a nice, white collared shirt under a black blazer. Now, he was wondering if even this was too casual for where they were going. He shook his head and glanced down at his watch. It would have to do.

He didn't know why he was so nervous; he and Riley had been dating for months, and gone on countless dates. Maybe it was that it was their first holiday together, or what he was planning on asking. That reminded him.

He went to his bed to grab his gift for her - a small box wrapped in holiday paper and tied with a beautiful satin ribbon.

He shook his arms out, trying to get some of his nerves to calm before he pulled on his thick winter coat and left, giving a quick smile to his mom.

"Good luck!" She called as he let the door shut behind him.

Riley came out to the kitchen and knocked a beat on the table to get her mom's attention. Topanga turned from where he had been doing the dishes, grabbing a dish towel to dry her hands as she scanned Riley and smiled.

Riley twirled to show off her outfit, beaming as she faced her mom again. 'Think he'll like it?'

"Beautiful," Topanga said and signed, smiling.

Riley had chosen a red dress with a lace sweetheart neckline and short sleeves that flared out at the waist and fell almost to her knees, and tall black boots that reached half-way up her calves. She had curled her long dark hair and clipped it on one side so that it stayed draped over the other shoulder, showing off her collarbones and one of her silver earrings. She had opted for a simpler makeup look, with a light pink eyeshadow look, mascara, and pink lipgloss.

She went to the door to shrug on her coat, and pulled her hair out of her collar before picking up her present for Lucas and waving to her mom. They had agreed to meet downstairs at the entrance to her building - so her dad couldn't keep them there with a tantrum and make them miss their reservation.

As she opened the door to the sidewalk, Lucas turned around from where he had been waiting a few feet away, and paused.

"Wow," he said out loud, breathlessly, before he signed, 'you look amazing.'

Riley blushed. 'Thanks.'

Lucas offered his arm out to her, and she hooked hers into it, as they made their way down the sidewalk together.

Josh and Maya dropped Riley off at her apartment and then hopped back on the subway to head to Maya's house, both teens quiet as they were lost in their own heads. As they exited the subway and ascended the stairs to the street, Josh's hand found Maya's, and she squeezed it timidly, a smile lighting up her face, although neither of them spoke as they reached Maya's apartment and they headed up together.

As they approached her front door, Josh stopped, and, Maya still linked to him through their clasped hands, stopped too and turned around.

"Maya," Josh started, hoping his hands weren't sweating as much as he thought they were as he fell silent, unsure what he had been planning to say.

"When are you going home to spend time with your parents?" Maya asked, when he didn't say anything.

"Tuesday morning," he admitted. "I'm staying for Christmas, but I'll be back on the 30th before New Years Eve."

"Are we going to meet before you leave?" Maya questioned softly, her eyes searching his. Honestly, she was a little nervous that he was going to back out of this. He had said he would take the leap; he had kissed her. But maybe it had just been the vacation away from home that had made him feel like maybe it was okay to move forward.

"That's what I wanted to ask you," Josh confessed, his heart pounding. He had never felt like this - nervous about a girl. Normally he was cool and smooth; all his high school girlfriends had been easy. The fact that he was so anxious about Maya made him think that maybe, it was because he was nervous that their feelings were much more real. "Do you want to go out tomorrow night?" He rushed out, then waited, studying her face to get an idea of what she was thinking.

"Like… on a date?" Maya clarified hesitantly, her intense blue gaze keeping him captive.

"Only if you want it to be," Josh offered, hoping that she did.

Maya's face broke out in a smile as she nodded. "I'd love to." Then her expression changed. "But what about Riley?"

"I got Riley's blessing," Josh assured her.

Maya's eyebrows raised. "When did you talk to her about us?"

"On the train; you were asleep." Josh smiled. "She said she's okay with us dating.

Maya beamed, her stomach leaping in excitement. "That's amazing."

"So it's a yes to the date tomorrow?" Josh clarified.

"Yes, absolutely," Maya confirmed, her face feeling like it might just crack open with how big she was smiling. She had never expected this - not so soon anyways. But she was so glad, excited, that it was.

"I'll see you tomorrow then," Josh suggested. "I'll text you a plan?"

Maya nodded, raising up on her toes to kiss his cheek, but Josh put a hand to the side of her head and turned her to dip a deep kiss to her lips instead. As they broke apart, Josh smiled.

Maya escaped into her apartment before she could squeal with excitement.

A/N: I hope my ship-centered update makes up for the last short chapter?

Riley isn't happy per se about Joshaya, but she's open to it. She'll get more okay with it in later chapters, maybe even a double date is in their future. Joshaya is so fluffy in this chapter! I also gave you guys a little cliffhanger with what Lucas will be asking Riley, and what his gift for her is :)

I've actually got a lot of ideas written out for the next few chapters, so you might get the next one within the next week (no promises though).

Please review! I love feedback/ideas!

Kisses,

C