I've been a long-time shipper of Zayadora, and by long time I mean my first Zayadora fic came out in July 2016, a year that doesn't feel real. But, six years later, I'm still shipping them! And recently I made a joke on Tumblr that both of the Girl Meets World Love Triangles (Maya/Lucas/Riley and Farkle/Smackle/Zay) would be easily solved with polyamory. And since it's Pride month, I decided to do just that with Farkle, Smackle, and Zay.

This story specifically is set after the events of Girl Meets A Christmas Maya. Having, in July, just written a story called "No One Really Likes Change" about Zay and his identity, this story could also be considered an out-of-order sequel to that.

Enjoy!


Farkle had said that the game took seventeen years to play, which would give the three of them plenty of time to get to know each other. But what Farkle hadn't said was that Secret Santa had helped him figure something out about Isaiah Babineaux. Zay was the kind of person who cared deeply about people, and that caring was so charming, was so good, it made Farkle feel things. And it had clearly made Smackle feel things too, so as they were setting up their first session of the seventeen-year game, he brought up his observations to Isadora.

"Smackle, do you think it's possible that Zay has a crush on you?"

"Of course it's possible, I am very cute."

"Yes, you are."

"Why do you ask? Are you worried he'll make a move on me? I don't think he'd do that, he respects both of us too much. And besides, as handsome as he is, I have no intention of cheating on you. We're not a triangle. We're not even a quadrilateral."

"But we could be," Farkle said suddenly, "not a quadrilateral, but…" He fell silent, struggling to articulate it.

"But what? What's on your mind, Farkle? You know you can talk to me about anything."

"I think the problem of the triangle is that it ends in a line."

"You lost me, Farkle."

"Why should someone have to choose? If both choices are good, why shouldn't someone choose both? We see it all the time in our game, groups bonded through love and experience. Why couldn't that work in real life?"

"Well, for one thing, it's illegal. But people have done it, in real life. People have made it work…"

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Farkle asked hopefully.

"That we should be a triangle?" Isadora asked.

"Exactly."

"I didn't know you were into that kind of thing."

"Well, I only just started thinking about it, but what's so wrong about dating more than one person as long as all persons are consenting?"

"I didn't know you liked guys," Isadora said more bluntly.

Farkle blushed, "Oh, yeah. I guess I do. I guess I've been thinking about it since Zay came out as bi in eighth grade. He opened my eyes to what was possible."

"Is Zay the first guy you've ever liked?" Now it felt like he was being interrogated.

"That's a good question," Farkle said, firing back one of his own, "Are you okay with me being bisexual?"

"Of course, why wouldn't I be?"

"And are you okay with pursuing this… Triangle thing, if Zay is?"

"With you? I'd be happy to see where things go. I like Zay too, we could be a good little triangle. But we're coming back to the bisexual thing."

"I'd be happy to tell you everything once I figure it out for myself," Farkle promised, "But I'm still trying to figure myself out. I'm Jewish. I'm bi. I'm polyamorous. When will the surprises end?"

"I think probably after we ask Zay out," Smackle suggested, though Smackle was also still figuring herself out.

"Yeah… Are you ready to do that?"

"I think as ready as anyone ever is to add a third to their relationship."

"Don't say it like that. That makes me feel dirty. I just want to play it by ear, see where we stand with Zay, see if he'd be open to that kind of thing…"

"You're going to chicken out, aren't you?" Smackle assessed.

"Yes, I am."

"Then I'll ask him. He likes me, after all. He likes my voice and the way I flirt with everybody."

"And he's beginning to tolerate my theremin impersonation." It wasn't hard to imagine that Zay had a crush on Smackle, but Farkle was having a hard time believing that Zay could actually have a crush on him.

"I love your theremin impersonation," Smackle said earnestly.

"And I love you." Farkle leaned over to gently kiss Smackle, hesitating long enough to make sure she wanted a kiss before going in for it.

"Am I interrupting something?" Zay asked, knocking a little on the door frame before coming in.

"Want to join us?" Smackle asked.

Zay immediately looked flustered.

"What she meant to say is…" Farkle suddenly got a lump in his throat. He really was going to chicken out. Maybe he didn't deserve to date two awesome people. He was already so lucky to be able to date Smackle, one of the coolest girls he knew. Maybe he didn't deserve to date the coolest guy he knew as well. But he wouldn't know until he tried…

"Well, uh. We got you the game to get to know you better. But what we already know about you is that you're a cool, genuine, handsome guy. And so Smackle and I were thinking…" Farkle trailed off again, looking helplessly at Smackle for backup.

"Farkle and I want to know if you want to date us. Both of us, simultaneously."

"Both of you. Simultaneously?"

"Yes," Farkle said, taking a deep breath and looking for any sign of disgust or judgment in Zay's face.

"You're not pulling my leg?" Zay asked.

"No, of course not," Farkle said.

"You like me? Both of you?"

"We wouldn't be asking you to date us if we didn't," Smackle said.

"Wow…" Zay sank down onto a nearby couch, grinning like a fool. That was a good sign, Farkle thought.

"Two incredible people like and want to date me? I never thought that would happen in a million billion years. I'm not the kind of guy they put in love triangles."

"Well," Smackle said, coming to sit next to him, with Farkle coming to sit down on the other side of Zay, "this is better than a love triangle. Because you don't have to choose."

Zay looked back and forth between the two of them and broke out into a dazzling smile, "This is better, this is great. For the first time ever I'll have someone to ring in the new year with. Two someones. Wow…"

"So, did you want to join in on that kiss?" Farkle joked, loving his new boyfriend's excitement.

"Can I?" Zay asked.

"Of course. You're our boyfriend, aren't you?"

"I guess I am." Zay couldn't stop smiling. Farkle and Smackle exchanged a look, equally excited about their new triangle, and then leaned in at the same moment, each kissing Zay on one of his cheeks. He looked like he was going to swoon.

"Well, that's one way to get to know someone," he finally said, when his head came out of the clouds.

"We're still playing The Magical Gathering: The Dungeon Masters of Catan For Nerds," Farkle said.

"Okay, but do we have to call it 'For Nerds?'"

"No, we could call it The Dungeon Masters of Catan For People Who Just Started Dating Each Other," Smackle said.

"I like that a whole lot better." Later they'd discuss attending the New Year's Eve party as partners and their new relationship dynamics, as well as what they'd tell their friends, but for now, they decided to enjoy their time getting to know each other.