A/N: Thanks for the reviews, follows, and favorites! Sorry this chapter took a little while. I'll try to post sooner from now on.

Iconic Star Child- Thanks! I'm so glad you like it!

Jenny- Thanks, I'm glad you like it! Here's the next chapter for you!

chase125291- Here's your update! Glad you liked the start of the story, and I'm sure most of your questions will be answered very soon!

* Maya POV*

After I finish my coffee, I go back inside and sketch for a little while. Then, I start making breakfast. Chocolate chip pancakes. Hunter's favorite, since I made Eden's favorite yesterday. I've figured out that you have to keep everything as even as possible when you have kids who are so close in age. They do a lot of competing with each other. For example, I've been listening to them fight over the TV remote for the past ten minutes.

After I finish cooking, I step into the living room as Hunter snaps to his sister, "Isn't it time for you to move out yet?"

Eden shoots back with, "Isn't it time for you to start watching more cultured television than ESPN? You're literally just watching grown men run into each other all day."

"Oh, because your chick flicks are so much more cultured. Gone With the Wind? Seriously?"

"We live in the south now! I want to immerse myself in the culture. Besides, Tristan and Avery's love story takes place in rural Georgia. These movies give me very useful ideas."

I smile to myself. These kids keep me entertained, that's for sure. What can I say about them? Well, Eden looks a lot like me and has a personality that's a lot like her "Aunt" Riley's. Bubbly, innocent, optimistic. Eden loves reading, writing, and anything romantic. Tristan and Avery are the lead characters in the book she's writing.

Hunter...well, Hunter is a typical twelve year old boy. He likes sports, video games, and eating everything in sight. You'd think one of the kids would've inherited my art-loving gene, but not really. Hunter's personality does remind me of mine at that age sometimes though. I guess he had to get something from me because he's physically a clone of his dad.

I continue to watch with amusement as the kids bicker, at least until they start physically wrestling over the remote control. That's when my concern for the remote kicks in.

"Okay, break it up!" I demand. "Do you two want breakfast or not?"

Then, they look at me, drop the remote, and race to the small table in the breakfast area. I chuckle to myself, and go to join them. We have a formal dining room in the apartment, but we don't ever eat in there. I figure we'll only use it for holidays when the whole family comes over.

Honestly, I splurged a little bit when I picked out this place. It has a lot of features that we don't really need. I was just so excited that I could finally afford something nice with my own money. The apartment has hardwood floors throughout, exposed brick walls, high ceilings, a chef's kitchen with granite countertops, an art studio for me, and a huge luxury shower in the master bathroom. It's perfect.

While our family of three eats breakfast, the kids move from one conversation topic to the next. Eden talking about ideas for her book, Hunter enlightening us on the history of the New Orleans Saints- AKA his new favorite football team, Eden wanting to know about the school I'm planning on enrolling her in, Hunter trying (unsuccessfully) to convince me that we need a dog to complete our family...and finally, I mention the banquet that Tulane is holding in a few days to introduce me and a few other new hires to all the faculty.

"I'm going to the mall later to pick out an outfit to wear," I say. "You two can come along and do the same, or you can just wear your Easter clothes if you want."

Hunter tilts his head, "Why can't you just wear that fancy dress that you bought like a week ago?"

"Because that dress got ruined in the washing machine when a certain son of mine decided not to read the label that said that the dress couldn't be washed with anything else," I remind him.

"Oh. At least I did the laundry though," Hunter points out, and I roll my eyes.

Eden speaks up, "Mom, aren't you supposed to have a date for fancy banquets like this? As much as we love you, your kids don't count as dates."

Hunter nods, "That's my sister's way of saying that these banquet things are boring, and we'd rather not go."

"Sometimes, we have to do things we don't want to do," I shrug. "You were almost nine pounds when you were born. You think I wanted to push you out? Nope. I was begging the doctor to cut me open. I think that part's in the birthing video. You want to watch it?"

"No, please not the birth video!" Hunter pleads as Eden giggles. Both of their births were recorded, so I let them watch me in the agony of childbirth from time to time when I want to get them to do something.

"We'll totally be at your banquet if you want, mom," Eden says. "But I still wish you'd find a nice guy to go with. Just give dating a chance. You have to start preparing for life after we're away at college. Look, there are all kinds of dating sites out there. eHarmony, -"

"Eden, I don't want to date," I say firmly. "I have enough going on in my life without trying to juggle a relationship. While we're on the subject, I also don't appreciate you giving my phone number to Mr. Lewis from downstairs."

"He seems nice. I thought you might like him," Eden replies.

"Child, the man's in his fifties," I point out. "I need you to focus more on your own romantic life, and less on mine."

Hunter chuckles, "What romantic life? Eden's never even gone out with anyone."

"She's fourteen," I say. "It'll happen soon. She'll meet some boy who'll make her smile constantly. He'll make her heart beat faster. She'll think about him all the time..."

Eden smiles, "Is that how it was with you and dad? When you were young?"

"Yeah," I say thoughtfully as I remember the butterflies in my stomach when he told me that I was special to him, when he kissed me for the first time, when I became a woman in his tangled bedsheets. It all happened so fast. Only later did I realize that I wasn't ready. First loves are exciting, but I hope that Eden isn't as reckless as I was.

I notice that the kids are looking at me like they're waiting for me to keep talking. They like hearing about my teenage years, but I always leave certain parts out of the stories. I don't want to relive the regrets or the what-ifs. My life played out the way it's supposed to. I have to believe that.

"Okay, I need to get ready," I say as I stand up from the table. "Anyone going to the mall with me needs to be ready in about an hour."

Then, I walk to my room.

In the next chapter: Maya takes a walk down memory lane. (Most of your questions will be answered!)