A/N: Just updating on the chance that anyone is still curious about this story. Sorry it's been so long!

Courtbry- Thanks for the comment! Not exactly a quick update, but here's your answer lol

datia- Thanks for the comment! You find out in this chapter :)

*Maya*

Sitting on my closet floor, I close my eyes, and I can still remember the way it felt when I was trying to make that decision. It was like my heart was stuck in a tug of war. I didn't want to choose wrong because what if I didn't get the chance to make it right later on?

"And I thought being in a triangle sucked the first time," I muttered to Riley while we were sitting at the bay window.

"You just have to follow your heart," she told me. "No one will be mad at you, no matter what choice you make."

I sighed. It was true that both guys were being patient and understanding about the situation, but I didn't want to let this drag on too long. I loathed unnecessary drama.

"But my heart doesn't know WHAT it wants," I groaned. "I just need some kind of sign to tell me what I'm supposed to do."

Just then, someone knocked on Riley's bedroom door, and then it opened to reveal Lucas. The window was open, but I guess it would be kind of weird to come into your ex's bedroom like that.

"Riley, can I talk to Maya alone for a minute?" he asked. His voice shook a little, and there was a look of sadness in his green eyes. I frowned as Riley left the room, and Lucas sat down next to me.

"What happened to you?" I wondered.

He took my hand and sighed, "Maya, I have to go back to Texas."

"Okay," I said confused. "Like for a visit?"

He shook his head, "My parents want us to be closer to all my extended family right now. Pappy Joe...he was just diagnosed with lung cancer. Stage four. The doctors are saying six months, if we're lucky."

"What? Lucas, I'm so sorry," I whispered. I knew how much Lucas' grandfather meant to him, and my heart broke for him having to deal with this.

"Thank you," he whispered back. "We're leaving tomorrow. I'm coming back, but I can't say when that'll be."

My heart sank as I realized that he was telling me goodbye.

"I'm sorry," Lucas said. "I wouldn't have told you how I felt if I knew I'd have to leave anyway."

"It's not your fault," I assured quickly. "You should be there for your grandfather. I'll be fine. Besides, you said you're coming back. It's not like this is forever."

He nodded, "But I wouldn't ask you to wait. I know I'm not the only guy that you have feelings for. So, try things out with Josh. Maybe by the time I come back, he'll be out of your system for good."

I nodded, and tears fell down my face as Lucas gave me one last hug.

We always had the worst timing. Despite the fact that Lucas said he was coming back, I really took his leaving as a sign that Josh was the one I was supposed to be with.

I keep flipping through my photo album, and Josh starts popping up more often at my side. We started hanging out more that summer, and we were basically dating during the first part of my senior year. It wasn't official because Josh still had this thing about me being eighteen first, but we were always going places together and doing fun things. I smile at the picture of us at a Giants-Eagles football game. I didn't even watch football, but I wore Giants stuff just because Josh was an Eagles fan, and it wouldn't be fun if we rooted for the same team. Then again, it's also not fun when your team loses in embarrassing fashion...

"I change my mind. I want a new favorite team," I told Josh after looking at the 34-3 score.

He laughed, "You can't do that. When you pick a team, you're supposed to stay with them no matter what. It's like marriage."

"I disagree," I said as I took his Eagles cap, and placed it on my head. "How do I look?"

He stared at me, and then smiled, "I might have to let you keep that. You look like the most beautiful girl I've ever seen."

I blushed as I smiled back. I'd never felt like I was in a real relationship before, but Josh was now treating me more and more like a girlfriend than a friend. I didn't know why he was finally letting himself get close to me. Maybe because my birthday was so close, or because he realized that he could've lost me to Lucas. I didn't question it too much. All I knew was that Josh made me feel special, and I was falling for him harder and harder.

I tried not to think about the Lucas situation because that just confused me. I wasn't sure how I'd deal with it when he came back. Right now though, I was happy right where I was.

"Is this what it's going to be like when we're a legitimate couple?" I teased. "You taking me out all the time, treating me like a princess-"

Josh chuckled, "That's the plan. At least, until you run my bank account dry. Then, you might be getting some candlelight dinners with Domino's Pizza."

I giggled, and then I felt someone tap my shoulder. Josh and I looked up at the same time to see that our faces were showing on the kiss cam. We shared a smile, and I pulled him into a passionate kiss.

There were so many amazing little moments like that, leading up to my eighteenth birthday when me and Josh became an official couple. Everything was perfect between us at that time. Maybe it would've stayed that way if I'd been content with taking things slow. I needed slow. But I wanted fast.

Partly because I'd never been in an actual mature relationship before, and I felt like I was lagging behind everyone else my age. And partly because I was insecure. I finally had this amazing boyfriend that I'd crushed on forever. I didn't want him to get bored with me. So, I convinced myself (and Josh) that I was ready to take things to the next level. Here's the thing about sex though. It can lead to a lot of problems if you aren't insanely careful.

I blamed that doctor at first. The one I went to when I had a sinus infection that wouldn't go away. She prescribed me an antibiotic, never mentioning that it would reduce the effectiveness of my birth control pills. But it was just as much my fault. I was too lazy to read the paper that had the possible side effects listed. As a result, my entire life was flipped upside down...

"Maya, you have to look at the test," Riley urged. We were in her bathroom, and I'd just taken a pregnancy test because my period was three weeks late.

I shook my head, "I don't want to know. I'd rather just pretend that everything's fine until I start showing. Even then, I could just say that the weight gain is from me eating too much junk food-"

"Maya, this is not junk food," Riley said firmly as she pulled me over to the counter and made me face the little white stick with the word 'Pregnant' on it. Yeah, I figured that would be the result, so I wasn't surprised. It was still overwhelming though.

"I'm so screwed," I mumbled.

"No, Peaches, this isn't the end of the world," Riley assured. "You might not have planned on having a baby this young, but it's still an amazing gift. Think of how loved your baby will be."

"Riley, love doesn't put food on the table!" I snapped. "How am I supposed to take care of a kid when I haven't even learned how to take care of myself? I'm eighteen years old, I don't have a job, I still live with my parents...I'm in no position to be anyone's mother!"

"But you'll have so much support!" Riley insisted. "You won't be doing everything on your own. You'll have Josh, and me, and our friends, and your family. We'll always be here for you and the baby."

I wiped a tear away from my eye, "What if I decided not to have the baby? Would you still be here for me?"

Riley hugged me, "You're my best friend. Nothing could ever change that."

Abortion was the easiest option for sure, but I knew deep down that I wouldn't be able to go through with it. I quickly moved on to adoption as an alternative. It seemed ideal at first. I would give birth to the baby, then give it to some well to do couple who were ready to be parents. There was just one thing that I hadn't counted on, and that was Josh's reaction to my pregnancy.

While he was shocked and a little freaked out at first, he still thought that we should raise the baby ourselves. That idea terrified me for multiple reasons. I was already growing attached to my daughter, and it seemed like it got worse every time I heard her heartbeat or felt her moving inside me. I knew I loved her. I knew I wanted her to have the best childhood possible, but I didn't think she could have that with two very young parents who were still in a new relationship and unable to provide any financial stability.

I was so scared that I would ruin my baby's life. All my friends and family supported me, promised me that I would be a good mom and that I'd have tons of help...but it didn't make my fears go away...

"Please try to understand where I'm coming from," I said to Josh as we sat on the edge of my bed, "I didn't grow up like you did. I was raised by a single mom who had to struggle and scrap for everything we ever had. I know what it's like to worry about the lights being cut off, or where the next rent check was coming from. I can't do that to this baby."

"Maya, that won't happen," Josh promised. "We have families that won't let it happen. Besides, I'm only a year away from my degree. Then, we won't even need the extra help. I'm not saying it'll be easy, but I know we can be good parents. I already love this baby. I know you do too. You even named her already-"

"Eden is just a placeholder," I insisted. "It's what I called her in one of my dreams. I guess I just needed some name to attach to her."

Josh shook his head, "It's more than that. It's the way you talk to her when you think no one's around. It's this smile you get every time you feel her kick. Can you really tell me that you want to give her away to some strangers?"

"Of course I don't!" I admitted as tears sprung to my eyes. "But it's not about what I want. It's about what this baby needs. She needs a stable family, Josh."

"We can give her that," he said softly. "I get that you're scared. I get why. But I'm not anything like your father, Maya. I would never leave you or Eden."

Looking into his sincere eyes, I felt guilty for worrying about such a scenario. Josh had been a great boyfriend to me. He was also a great son, and brother, and uncle. Of course, he would make a good father too. Then, here I was, asking him to give his daughter up because of MY insecurities.

"I don't know how to be a mom," I said quietly. "What if I mess it all up?"

His fingers brushed away some tears from my cheeks, "We're GOING to mess up sometimes. All parents do. But this little girl will always know how loved she is, and that we'd do anything in the world to give her a good life. Please just trust me on this. You'll be amazing."

I stayed quiet for several seconds, thinking it over, and then I took a deep breath, "Well, we've only got three more months before Eden gets here. I guess we've got a lot of planning to do."

Josh gave me a huge smile, and I couldn't help but smile back as he kissed me.

When we broke apart, I felt both terrified and happy about my decision. Deep down, I did want to keep my daughter. I would just have to be so much more careful about my choices now that I had her well-being to consider. I couldn't let her down.

"So, since we're about to have a baby and all, maybe we should talk about taking the next step in our relationship," I suggested.

Josh nodded, "I agree. I mean, I was waiting for the perfect moment to ask-"

"Yes," I said with a smile. "The answer is yes."

He chuckled, "You're not even going to let me finish?"

"You already have my response," I shrugged playfully. "Although, you do realize this means you'll have to put up with me ALL the time, right? Me and all my random pregnancy cravings and mood swings..."

I stopped talking when I saw Josh open up a velvet box to reveal a diamond ring inside. He smiled, "Maya, there's nothing you can throw at me that I can't handle, because I'm already completely in love with you. I know things won't always be perfect, but the one promise I can make is that I'll stay by your side through all of it. The good times and the bad. And I'll do whatever it takes to make you happy."

As he slid the ring on my finger, I couldn't even register what just happened. I thought we were agreeing to move in together, when I'd actually just accepted a marriage proposal...

Josh and I were never particularly good with communication. Especially me. I should've realized that disappointing my boyfriend in the short-term would be better than stepping into a marriage I wasn't ready for. Instead, I convinced myself that, if I could handle being a new mom, I could also handle being a wife. I loved Josh, and I trusted him. What else do you need in a marriage?

As I glance over the pictures from my bridal shower, I hear my bedroom door creak open.

"Mom?" Eden says softly.

I peek my head out, "In here, E."

"Mom, something's wrong with the Wi-fi," Eden says as she walks into the closet with me. "Oh cool, old pictures!"

"Eden, why are you even awake? Do you know what time it is?" I ask, while she sits down next to me.

She shrugs, "I couldn't sleep. I was doing research for my book, but the Internet stopped working. Hey, is this when you were pregnant with me?" she questions, pointing to one of my bridal shower pictures.

I nod, "Looked pretty massive, didn't I? My water actually broke that night. You certainly knew how to make an entrance."

Eden giggles, "You should be grateful that I came early. It saved you from having to get married in a maternity dress."

"True," I concede as Eden smiles a little at one of the pictures.

"You and dad made a cute couple," she remarks. "It's actually kind of weird to see you guys together. Like I know you were married once, but I was too young to remember any of it. I wish things had worked out. No one deserves a happy ending more than you do."

I smile at my daughter, honestly feeling so proud of how she turned out. Yeah, she can be overdramatic, and way too naïve, but I've never met anyone more caring or compassionate.

"You were our happy ending," I tell her.

Eden sighs, "I mean the romantic kind of happy ending. Like Aunt Riley and Uncle Farkle, or Grandma and Grandpa. Mom, you're the coolest. Any guy would be lucky to be with you."

"I appreciate you saying that," I say as I give her a side hug and a kiss on the head. "But I'm feeling pretty tired now, so I think we both ought to head to bed. I'm not letting you sleep till noon tomorrow."

She smiles and rolls her eyes, "Just think about what I said. Please?"

"We'll see," I reply.

In the next chapter: Eden and Hunter hatch a scheme.