A/N: Okay, so a lot happens in this chapter, try to keep up, and then let me know what you think! I apologize for any grammar errors or spelling mistakes. I just got a new laptop and I'm still figuring it out. Also, if anyone is wondering why I haven't updated Ice Princess, please know that I am getting to it, I just have a lot ideas for this bad boy to finish first. Also, in the transition for copying all of my documents over to my new computer I somehow managed to delete the most recent chapter I had finished on Ice Princess - Convenient, right? I'll get to it.

Anyways, happy reading! :)

(Last time in Iridescence)

"I do," Maya replied. Lucas turned back to Maya, "That's Riley. That's the Riley you never knew. It's the Riley I grew up with. The Riley who taught me, Maya Hart how to ride a bike because I just had to feel what it felt to have the wind blowing through my hair. It's the Riley who would cancel all of her plans because she heard that the local animal shelter needed volunteers. She's amazing, and you finally get to see full blown Riley Matthews in the flesh. I'm sorry it took so long for you to meet her." Lucas twisted his brows in confusion. "That would be my fault."

"Maya,-"

"She's the best person you'll ever know. Don't forget that," Maya interrupted. Lucas analyzed her carefully.

"You said you weren't going to give up on her," Lucas warned. Maya sighed, Lucas was too nosey and she didn't like that. Sure he cared, but there was such thing as minding his own business.

"She doesn't need me anymore. She's got you," Maya explained.

X

"What happened?" Riley asked.

"I told her that I'm taking a year off school to travel."

"What?" Riley asked, a large smile spreading across her face. "Are you serious?"

Farkle nodded. "I hoped that she would understand, but just like my father, she doesn't."

"Oh, I'm sorry Farkle." Farkle nodded, and finally turned to Riley, who still wore a thrilled smile, making Farkle smile right back at her. "I think travelling is such an amazing idea, Farkle. It's exactly what you need."

"I know it's what I need. I just wish everyone else would see it the same way," Farkle admitted.

Chapter 11: Reconciliation

"I would like to call a family meeting," Riley Matthews declared as she walked into the kitchen with a folder in hand. She stood firmly in front of the kitchen table where her mother was helping Auggie with his homework and her father was reading the newspaper. They all looked up, completely unsure of where Riley would be taking this evening. She gave them a reassuring smile.

"What is this meeting about, Riley?" Topanga replied curiously, tearing her attention away from Auggie's math homework. She did not falter, in fact, she used her excitement in her advantage. She had nothing to be afraid of. Riley Matthews had the best parents in the world. They were always supportive.

"It's about my future," she explained. "And I prepared a presentation, complete with graphs and charts." The parent's exchanged an impressed look, and Riley had to smirk, she was so excited to share her plans with them.

"Wow, Riley. You're really serious about this," Cory smiled, removing his glasses.

"I'm always serious about my future."

Cory nodded and smiled, "Okay, you may begin you're presentation."

"Okay. So you two know how much I've been thinking about what I am going to do after high school. About what my talents are, and about what I want to do with the rest of my life. I always thought that there was sometime wrong with not know what I wanted to do for my entire life, because everyone else seems to have it figured out for themselves. But I think I finally figured it out."

Riley open her folder on the table and took out two papers, handing one to each of her parents.

Cory dug right in and began reading the pamphlet in front of him. "Ship Board Education. Apply to study abroad on one of our award winning student vessels travelling the world," Cory said out loud. "Riley what is this?"

"Actually, Farkle gave me the idea. He's taking a year off school because he doesn't know what he wants to do yet either. He was just planning on travelling, but the only way his father would let him leave the country at all was if he found some sort of tour like this one. So Farkle and I sat down and did some research, and I found the perfect solution. These kids, they learn all about history from a first hand experience, they learn responsibility because they have to clean the ship, take turns preparing meals, and teaching each other about the world. It's amazing."

"Hold on," Topanga said, holding up her hand. "So, essentially you live on a boat for eight months and travel the world-

"With a bunch of hooligans, and basically no adult supervision. Riley, this is ridiculous," Cory finished, placing his pamphlet back on the table.

"What?" she whispered hoarsely.

"Cory," Topanga hissed. Cory turned to his wife.

"She's not going. She needs to go to college, so that she can get a sustainable job. If she takes a year off, then she will never want to go back. Honey, I'm a teacher, I see it all the time. No one wants to go back to school after they've seen the world like that. She's not going." Riley away from her father, tears forming in her eyes.

"Riley, sweetie, why don't you go to your room and let your father and I talk about this for a while."

Riley nodded in acknowledgement although not happy with how the conversation turned out, and she walked back to her room, listening to her mother scold her father.

"Cory Matthews, what the hell was that? She's obviously serious about this and you shot her down without even listening to her talk at all. Not to mention you know she doesn't respond well to verbal assaults. Seriously, what were you thinking."

"I was thinking that I am her father and the world is an extremely dangerous and exotic place. She's not ready for something like this."

"She's not, or you're not?" Topping replied. "We owe it to her to at least think about it. Maybe it's exactly what she needs."

There was silence for a few moments and Riley wondered if maybe they really were considering the trip, even just for a moment.

"I always hoped she would decide to studying in New York and take after me to be a teacher."

Topanga chuckled. "You two are a lot a like, but I think you need to start to let her make her own decisions. It's the only way she's going to learn."

Riley sighed, and closed her bedroom door without a sound. She sat on the floor, against the door hugging her legs to her chest and closed her eyes. She prayed that her mother would be able to convince her father even the slightest, because this was all she had at the moment. She didn't know what else to do with her future, and knew in her heart that sailing the world was just the beginning for her.

X

The next morning, Riley felt optimistic. She had lived a life without optimism, and that life was not a life she wanted to live. She loved hope. Hope looked good on her. So, instead of feeling frustrated with her family and the world, she held her head high. She nearly jumped out of bed, to turn on the radio and beginning to get ready for the day. Brushing her hair, changing out of her pyjamas and applying a small amount of make up. She grabbed her notebooks stacked on her desk, and put them in her backpack, zipping it up.

And just as she was about to leave her room, she looked back in checking to see if she forgot anything. Everything seemed to be in check, except- except for the bay window. She smiled and crossed the room. She reached across the bench, and wondered why she hadn't done it sooner. Her fingers found the lock and she unlatched the lock, opening her window wide for the first time in over a week. She breathed in the New York air, and grinned.

Her room just seemed a little bit brighter when ever the window was open and maybe just maybe, Maya would come around.

Riley went down the stairs two at a time, inhaling the smell of fresh waffles. It wasn't every day that her mother made waffles, so Riley had to wonder what was different about that morning. Topanga was a busy mother, being a lawyer meant for a packed schedule, and she tried hard to frequent the kitchen like a normal family with her cooking. Unlike Cory who avoided cooking like the plague.

Riley walked slowly into the kitchen, unsure of what to really expect when she entered.

Auggie was nearly inhaling three waffles, while Cory sat next to him, sipping coffee and reading the newspaper as usual. Topanga on the other hand, smiled softly at Riley as she entered the kitchen, offering her a stack of waffles and the whip cream.

"Good morning, sweetheart," she greeted.

"Hi," Riley replied, still unsure.

Riley looked down at the kitchen table and saw a stack of papers with the brochure from the Ship Board Education sitting on top.

"A-Are you bribing me?" Riley asked, shocked.

"No! No, of course not honey," Topanga replied, eyes wide. "These are apology waffles, from you're father," she eyed Cory.

Cory huffed and looked up from his newspaper, while Riley patiently awaited an explanation. Cory was a stubborn man; really her whole family was and Riley had inherited that trait. "Riley, I'm sorry that I didn't listen to you last night. You've obviously put a lot of thought into your presentation and I shot it down. I'm sorry. Please accept these waffles as a-

"Cory!" Topanga hissed.

Cory finally stood up walking over to Riley who still had wide eyes.

"My behaviour last night was unacceptable, you had a lot to say and I didn't listen," he tried again, this time smiling warmly. "I'm ready to listen." He wrapped his arms around Riley, who still stood there stiffly. "It's just going to be hard watching you leave off for school no matter where you go, let alone on a boat for eight months. Who am I going to go to poetry slams with? Who am I going to embarrass in class now?"

"I'm going to miss you no matter where I end up, dad. And you've still got Auggie," Riley smiled, joining him in the hug. "I'm going to come back though," she assured him.

He sighed. "I know," he said. "I wish you would've staying little forever," Cory pouted.

"Dad," she laughed, hugging him tighter.

"I love you, kiddo."

"I love you, too."

Riley sat down at her plate and began to pour syrup onto the waffles her mother had already given her. She took a sip of her orange juice, a bite of the waffles and smiled in satisfaction. When she looked up at her parent's they were both smiling at her.

"What?" she asked mid bite.

Topanga chuckled at her daughter. "So your father and I did some research on the Ship Board Education. It looks like an incredible experience to me. twenty three countries in eight months, there are still exams when you finish, but obviously not as tedious as college. I think it would be a fantastic transition to college, especially since you don't know what you want to study yet."

"Really?" Riley asked shocked, completely forgetting about the food left half chewed in her mouth, and almost spitting it on the floor.

"Absolutely. Obviously there is still a lot to talk about and we would need to call Stewart Minkus, and coordinate things-"

"Are you serious right now?" Riley swallowed her food and interrupted her mother. The parent's exchanged a knowing smile.

"And you need to working again and save up some more money, because you would be paying for half-" Cory started, stopping when he saw that Riley was beginning to bounce in her seat. Amused, he watched as she broke into a giant smile and crinkled her nose.

"Yaaaaaaaaay," shouted, running around the table to embrace both of her parents, forgetting about the forgiveness waffles altogether.

X

Riley weighed her options for a very long time. She stood outside the art room for almost ten minutes at lunch time, knowing that Maya would be on the other side of the door. Screw the letters, Riley didn't care anymore, she just wanted her best friend back. She wanted to be able to tell her everything that happened, and everything that was going to happen.

But she couldn't be a pushover. If she went to Maya, then it wouldn't be the end of what had happened, and it would be just as easy for it to happen all over again.

Then there was her insecurity. Right there in the back of her mind. She couldn't help it. She could still be optimistic and insecure. There was still doubt in the part of her that was convinced that Maya would still be waiting for her and in the part that was convinced that Maya's apology was genuine. Those parts fell to the floor as she waited outside the art room for just one reason that she should believe that Maya still cared. Lucas had shown her the side of her that she thought she lost forever; but she still wasn't convinced that Maya hadn't betrayed her.

Riley let the good memories dominate the few bad ones, but she wasn't sure that she would be able to be the one to initiate to their reunion. That had to be Maya.

Riley smiled to herself as she walked away slowly, praying that she didn't leave behind a stranger in the art room.

Just as she turned the corner of the hallway, Riley looked back at the art room, seeing a frozen Maya staring back at her, complete with a colourful apron decorated from the years of experience it had in painting. Riley gave her a small smile lingering for just a moment longer and continued down the hallway.

Riley was certain about one thing.

Life was better when you had someone to share your greatest triumphs with.

X

When Riley got home that night, she was slightly worn out. She and Farkle had spent the better part of their afternoon researching Ship Board Education; wanting to knowing every possible detail about the application process, and each stop along the way.

Riley actually let herself get excited about her upcoming year, because she knew it would be a year of incredible journeys and that she would discover a lot about herself.

So Riley went to Farkle's house after school and they collected all the information they could. She was so thankful for her friendship with Farkle; he was forever loyal and for that she would be eternally grateful. There was no maintenance involved with their friendship; they were just always there for each other.

Needless to say, she was exhausted and fully prepared to slip on a comfortable pair of sweats, make some hot cocoa and enjoy some Netflix.

So when Riley walked into her room at seven o'clock that night, she was very unprepared to see Maya Hart sitting in her Bay window. Maya noticed her immediately, sitting up straighter.

"Maya," Riley whispered, gathering herself. "What are you doing here?"

"You unlocked your window," Maya replied. "I saw that as a welcome."

"How long have you been here?" Riley asked curiously and slightly concerned. She through her backpack on the floor and sat across from Maya on her bed.

"Since school let out," Maya replied slightly ashamed of herself.

"Since three?" she asked surprised. Maya nodded and avoided Riley's gaze.

"I wasn't sure when you would be back, but I had to see you." Riley watched the girl in front of her. Maya had never been a mystery to her, Riley could always predict what was going through her mind. But right now, Riley had no idea where things the conversation could possibly be going. So she just went with it.

"Okay," Riley nodded, sitting more comfortably on the bed. "What's on your mind?" she asked politely.

Maya took in a deep breath, and nodded. "Okay, well you know I've never been as good with words as you. But I do have art, so I made you something," Maya turned away for a moment and pulled a large canvas frame out of her backpack, sitting at her feet. Slowly, she handed it to Riley and awaited a reaction.

Riley flipped the canvas in her hands, holding onto the gift and her breath to keep from gasping. Her eyes widened, and she blinked back the tears forming in her eyes. In front of her was a gold painting; a portrait of Riley. Every detail of her face, a small smile catching her lips in an upward curve, the glow of her eyes, her wind blown hair. It could have been a Michelangelo, or Van Gogh. It was that breathtaking. Every inch of the painting was a different shade of gold. She had never seen anything like it.

Riley looked up at Maya, who could only wait for Riley to say something; anything.

"At five thirty-" Riley started.

"You turn gold," Maya finished smiling sadly. "Yeah, it's not perfect, but i've spent the past three weeks working on it." Riley nodded and looked back at the picture, contemplating her entire life. Wait-

"It's only been two weeks since-

"I know, I started before that," Maya replied. Riley watched Maya, trying to figure her out. Instead she tried to clear her mind again.

"It's amazing Maya, really, I don't have any words," Riley replied, still in awe from Maya's gesture.

"Then let me," Maya offered standing up from her position at the bay window. "You've always had hope Riley, you're just like your dad. He always knew that he and you're mom would be together forever. Just like you always knew that we would be friends forever. And I trusted that hope. I love that hope," Maya said softly. "I'm insecure too, Riley. I forget that things can't last forever if you don't let them. I knew what Missy and her friends were saying was wrong; they stay stuff like that all the time about anyone. What I didn't know was that you were right there."

Maya's hands were animated as she explained herself. "Missy was only ever around because she has friends who are in my art class. She doesn't even like art, she only likes people who like art, if that makes any sense. So when the girls asked if we could work on some posters for the student counsel, I didn't really question it, because Missy's the Vice President or whatever, but she was just there. I don't even like her. I-"

"Maya," Riley interrupted Maya's rant. She had to smile because Maya never went off on a rant.

"Yeah?"

"I'm not mad at what Missy said," Riley replied. "I'm not even mad at you anymore."

"You're not?"

Riley shook he head.

"You've been my friend longer than anyone else. You know me inside and out. I can't stay angry. That's not me. But I was upset that you couldn't see that I was hurting. From Charlie, Missy, their words and their actions. I guess all the small things really added up."

"I noticed that you were different, but I wondered if maybe that was just you growing up. You never told me anything Riley, you aren't as transparent as you used to be. I thought that maybe you were just growing up and getting older."

"Really?" Riley asked.

"Yes," Maya replied honestly.

"I didn't know," Riley said looking down at her hands still holding the painting in front of her. She placed the painting down on her bed.

"I'm sorry I couldn't see it, Riley. Actually I'm sorry about a lot of things. I made a list," Maya replied, pulling out a notebook from her backpack.

Riled smiled at the gesture.

"I have something for you too," she said, walking over to her desk, and pulling open a drawer revealing the box of envelopes holding all the letters Riley had written but never sent to Maya.

"You weren't here, so I wrote it all down. Everything. What I was feeling what happened. Who made me feel like I was special. I didn't want to miss anything."

"I want to hear it all."

"The good and the bad?"

"All of it."

Riley smiled, and sat down next to Maya on the bay window putting the papers in between them.

Riley looked up from the seat. "You better stay the night."

X

Maya stayed over night at Riley's. She had been keeping an overnight bag at the Matthews for years, so she had everything she needed for the night. The night was emotional for both girls, as they stayed up into the ungodly hours of the night, just like they always had. There were tears shed, memories exchanged, promises kept and futures planned. It was like things were almost back to normal again. Normal being a relative term.

When the girls walked down stairs for breakfast that morning, they once again acted like things had never changed. Laughing as they descended the stairs.

"Morning," Riley greeted, crossing the kitchen to pour herself a glass of orange juice and put some bread in the toaster. Riley sat on the counter and watched her family.

"Hey girls," Topanga said, suspiciously eyeing her surrogate daughter that had been M.I.A. for the past three weeks. Topanga had always been fond of Maya, up until the point where she hurt her biological daughter and even Topanga had to question the girls' loyalties slightly.

"Good morning Riley, oh it's Maya. It's good to see you around again, Maya," Cory said, once again sipping at his cup of coffee and a New York Times newspaper.

Maya nodded. She had prepared for this. She stepped forward and held her hands together in front of her, a little nervous. Cory, Maya could deal with. He was always predictable. But Topanga? She was a fierce shark lawyer; she had seen things Maya couldn't even imagine and that scared her.

"I wanted to apologize to both of you for the way I've acted. You two have always been so generous to me, even when I don't deserve it. I took not only Riley for granted, but both of you. You guys are my second family," Maya said, motioning to everyone in the room, "I don't know what I was thinking."

This time, Cory was the one to make an advance first; he crossed the kitchen to Maya and gave her a hug. "It's easy to lose yourself Maya, we're glad you found your way back."

Maya smiled weakly and nodded before turning to Topanga, who was leaning against the counter with her own coffee. Maya waited for her to say something. Maya had always valued her opinion.

"That's very thoughtful of you Maya," Topanga said after a minute. "We missed you around here."

A smile broke across her face and Maya gave her a big hug, slightly surprising Topanga. Then Maya turned to Auggie, and raised her eye brows.

"What do you think, buddy?" Maya asked.

Auggie looked around the room at his family members, lingering on each one individually, and then stopping at Riley. Riley gave him a small smile of encouragement.

"If Riley can forgive you, than so can I. She had the biggest heart in the world, and I want to be just like her," Auggie said.

Maya sighed in relief and took Auggie by surprise, wrapping her arms around him.

Maya turned back at her second family and smiled.

"Thank you," she said. "For not giving up on me."

A/N: Do you forgive Maya?