Alrighty, folks. Few things:

I'm sorry, I suck! In my defense I'm pretty sure I warned in earlier chapters why I shouldn't do multi-chapter fics. I will finish this if it's the last thing I do darn it! I still love this pair and all the potential they could have had!

Next, some reactions from the last chapter, huh?

I can't write fluff all the time, that'd be exhausting. I've always been an emotional writer it's actually hard for me to write fluff, so if that's what you expect of me all the time I suggest looking to another writer.

So for those who don't like to read heavy, sad, or emotional this chapter isn't for you either.

However, all I can say now is-trust me.

Kissing Josh was euphorial. I could've kissed him for days in that hospital room had it not been for the lung infection he had contracted that made him short of breath, and the string of coughs that followed his gasps for air. I cringed at the sound of him coughing. He gently pressed me to his side as we both sat up. I rubbed slow circles along his back, unsure of how to help him because ultimately I knew I couldn't. He was hunched over- trying to overcome the coughs that interfered with his breathing.

He smiled at me weakly after he was finally able to calm his body.

"Maya, you should go-"

"No." I glared at him harshly for even suggesting it. He began to laugh, but was again interrupted by a cough. I could see the frustration in his eyes, as his veins began to pop out of his neck.

"Maya." His eyes traveled downcast knowing I would follow his gaze. I cringed at my clothes finally realizing what everyone was seeing when they saw me. I let my eyes wander back to him where he was silently pleading with me to go and clean up. I sighed in defeat. My legs straightened on the side of the hospital bed and my body lifted without me really thinking about doing anything. I rotated myself to face Josh and slowly brought my right hand to intertwine with his hair. I ran my fingers through his hair and brought my hand back around to cup his cheek. I smiled weakly at him before pressing a soft kiss to the edge of his mouth.

"Long game?" I finally whispered staring straight into his soul.

His smile illuminated the room. He nodded in agreement.

"Long game."

I turned away from him in tears and walked to the door. My hands shook as they went to embrace the door knob. I let out a silent sob while biting down on my cheek as hard as I could to prevent the tears from escaping. The long game was supposed to be for life. Life wasn't supposed to be this short.

"Maya?"

"Hmm?" I half-turned and forced a smile knowing full well he could see my tear-filled eyes.

"I'm sure Riley wouldn't mind if you cleaned up at her place." He was smiling, but I saw straight through it. He was worried.

I laughed nervously, almost manically at the suggestion.

"Actually, I think she would." I eagerly opened the door and closed it behind me refusing to hear his opinion on the matter. I leaned against the hospital door tilting my head upwards trying to control the emotions that were tearing me apart when I realized that my heart was broken, and not just because of Josh.

I climbed through her window and sat down next to her. She stilled at my presence and it only panged my heart further. She didn't speak and I was grateful. I didn't need to listen to what she had to say. I needed her to listen to what I had to say.

"I just-" My hands clutched on to the bay window cushion and paused unable to stop my tears. My eyes found the ceiling as I slowly attempted to let out a controlled breath to somewhat control my emotions. Riley let out a whimper as my attempt failed, and what escaped my mouth was a wail that was laced in desperation.

We sat there-me looking at the ceiling, blinking down tears and her covering her mouth to cover her pain- for what felt like hours before I finally was able to speak.

"He's why you were always so tired."

I couldn't look at her, not yet. My grip on the cushions let up enough to feel the blood rushing through my hands- a tingling sensation coursed through them. My eyes focused on the empty space in front of me. Silence enveloped the space around us broken every so often by, my or her, sniffling.

Slowly I began to put together the pieces, still not having looked at Riley. I began to nod my head as I spoke them out loud.

"That night we were all out and Josh picked you up. He said he was on 'Riley-Duty', but that's wrong isn't it?" I finally looked over at her and bit the inside of my cheek to feel something other than this.

"He wasn't on 'Riley-Duty'," Riley's hair curtained over her face and hid all of her facial features from me, but failed to hide the tear that ran down her nose onto her hands, "you were on 'Josh-Duty' weren't you?"

A strangled sound escaped from Riley, and I watched as she dug the nails of her right hand into her left bicep. A pang of sympathy hit me right where it hurt as I watched her try and fail, to keep her composure.

I found myself forcing her fingers to release her arm and slid my fingers between hers.

"Riley.." I whispered.

I turned to face her, our intertwined hands beneath my leg. The memory of this very same position with another Matthews screamed at me, but I pushed it back and placed my focus on this one. The minute her eyes met mine, I was flooded with guilt. Her eyes were not only rimmed with a dark-red, but were swollen both on top and bottom.

"We found out three months before that night," her voice was weak, " the doctor said he would be able to live a somewhat normal life for a while, but he'd gradually get weaker as time progressed." Her hand trembled in mine.

"When my grandparents found him on the floor, unresponsive for a few minutes- after they took him back to the doctor-we had decided as a family that we wouldn't leave Josh alone. There would be someone with him just in case. I just-I had been staying with him all week and I hadn't seen you, or Farkle, or anybody. I missed my life. And that sounds so wrong, but I did Peaches, I missed you." Guilt. Riley had been feeling guilty. I swallowed back tears and squeezed her hand in support.

"Josh is a legal adult it's not like we could make him do anything, right? But, he agreed to always have someone around, so he must've been feeling awful, right? But still, I missed you guys! And the night before he told us he was going to naturally beat this. I was so angry at him, so I skipped out that night. He showed up, and I just-but then something changed him Maya-you changed him. He did seem to be getting better. He was happier. He looked healthier."

"I begged him Peaches as soon as I realized it was you! But, please you have to understand that telling you about this wasn't my choice. I couldn't be the one to tell you and I'm so sorry if I hurt you Maya I never meant to." Her hair was stuck to her face. Her tears clinging onto her hair and head. I don't think I heard everything she said, and I think she knew that.

"Maya, please," she tugged our intertwined hands to the top of my knee.

I don't think I could even see her anymore.

"Maya?" She prodded again as she pulled on my arm.

I released her from my grip and let out a heated breath before I finally looked at her again.

And as calmly as I could, "Josh is refusing treatment?"

Short chapter.

I know. I'm sorry for being gone for so long I just kind of lost touch with my writing for a while, but I've been feeling inspired lately.

Now, I don't know much about cancer. I'll research as much as I can, but don't expect to read this material and use it as fact to what actually happens, can happen, or will happen.