It was a beautiful ceremony. Maya watched her two best friends tie the knot and she knew they would last. She knew since that first day in the subway. She was very happy for her best friend. She knew Riley found someone who loves her as much as Josh loves Maya. When Riley tossed the bouquet, Maya caught it. Josh laughed and asked her to dance.
"You're next." – He whispered in her ear.
"I hear Lucas's cousin is single. Maybe he'd like to marry me." Maya joked. Josh twirled her.
"You two would never last." Josh said to her.
"Are you jealous?" Maya teased him.
"No, but Lucas's cousin's boyfriend is." He said.
They laughed.
At around seven o'clock, a lot of people went home but a lot more were still dancing and drinking and having a good time. Riley and Lucas already went to the honeymoon suit that Maya and Josh payed for them as a wedding gift, because Riley and Lucas couldn't afford a real honeymoon right now. Maya took an opportunity when Josh was with his brothers, sister and parents to go to Farkle.
"I need to borrow him for a while." – She said to Smackle and grabbed Farkle's arm. – "I hope you don't mind."
"Not at all." Smackle responded.
"Maybe I mind." Farkle said as Maya dragged him away.
"I need you to come with me. It's important." Maya said seriously.
"Okay. I'll come." Farkle knew it was something serious by the tone in Maya's voice. He saw Maya a lot less for the last couple of years, but he still knew her very well. She was still the same girl. Maya led him to the parking lot, went to Shawn's car and sat in the driver's seat. Farkle sat next to her without a word. After a few minutes he finally said what was on his mind: "I love you Maya and I'll follow you anywhere but you are kind of freaking me out so you need to tell me where we're going."
"I can't tell Josh yet and it's Riley's wedding day so I don't want to bother her with this. So you are all I have at this moment." Maya said.
"How flattering." Farkle joked.
"I understand. You can tell me."
"I was talking to Riley before the wedding and she said something to me." Maya took in a deep breath. "She mentioned how people think she is getting married because she is pregnant."
"I don't get it." Farkle said.
"I'm late, Farkle." Maya explained.
"Late for what?" Farkle still didn't get it.
"No. My period is late." She explained.
"You're pregnant?" Farkle screamed after he realized what she was saying.
"Maybe. Maybe I'm pregnant. We don't know for sure." Maya said. "That's why we are here." Maya said as she parked the car. They were in front of a pharmacy. "I need to know."
"And this couldn't wait until tomorrow?" Farkle asked. Maya hit his arm.
"I'll take that as a no." He said and they both got out of the car.
Farkle saw Maya was nervous. He walked to her and hugged her tightly.
"It's going to be okay. No matter what." Farkle assured her. She put her head on his shoulder.
Maya was grateful he was there with her. She hoped Josh wouldn't be too mad that she didn't come to him first. She just wanted to make sure it was really happening and if it was she needed to understand how she felt about the whole thing before she dragged him with her into it.
Maya took a deep breath and they went into the store. It took them a while but they finally found the isle they were looking for.
"Which one?" Farkle asked looking at all of the different kind of tests.
"How should I know? I've never done this before." Maya sounded annoyed.
"Okay. Let's just take one of each and see what happens." Farkle offered a solution.
"There's like ten different ones." Maya found a hole in his plan.
"Your dad left you money." Farkle reminded her.
"I am sure he didn't mean for it to be spent like this." She mumbled as she took one of each pregnancy tests. Farkle helped her carry them all to the counter. Maya payed for the tests and they went back to the car.
"We need to get something to drink. I don't think I can pee on all of these." Maya complained as they went back on the road. The restaurant where the wedding reception was at, was only ten minutes away.
"Let's stop at a gas pump. I'll buy you some drinks and you can wait in the bathroom." Farkle suggested.
"I am not doing it at a gas station." Maya protested.
"You're peeing on a stick. How glamourous do you need it to be?" Farkle said.
Maya shot him a deadly look. "I took you with me for the support. Be supportive." She hissed.
"Fine. Let's just go back to the wedding. Thank god they have an open bar." Farkle set a new plan.
"What if Josh sees me?" Maya wasn't ready to talk to him yet.
"Just go straight to the bathroom and I'll bring you some drinks and make sure Josh doesn't see you."
"Okay." – Maya agreed. – "Remember no alcohol."
"Oh, I am definitely bringing some for myself." Farkle said.
XXXXXX
Maya drank three bottles of water and did her thing. Now all there was left was to wait. Farkle locked the bathroom floor and the two of them sat on the floor with ten sticks in front of them.
"Would it really be so horrible if you were pregnant?" – Farkle wondered. –"I mean you are with a men you are going to spend the rest of your life with. You're engaged. You will finish school by the time the baby is born. Money is not an issue. You're in a good place right now."
"But I am only 21. I am not ready." – Maya said. – "I want to have a life before I start taking care of another life. I know Josh wouldn't mind but I can't picture myself as a mother. I don't want a kid right now."
"it's probably nothing. Women are late all the time, right?" Farkle asked.
"Yeah." Maya held on tightly to the hope Farkle was offering. "It's probably just a false alarm. I mean we use protection all the time. What are the odds?" Maya asked rhetorically.
"One percent." Farkle said.
"That's practically nothing." Maya said. Her phone alarm rang after five minutes. "It's time."
Maya took in a deep breath and they both looked over all ten of the tests.
"I am the one percent." Maya said as fear flooded her.
"Only according to seven out of ten." – Farkle tried to stay optimistic. – "There's a thirty percent chance you are not a one percent."
"My life is over." – Maya said, not listening to anything Farkle was saying. – "I have to tell Josh now."
"What are you going to do about it?" Farkle asked.
"I don't know." Maya said. "I am scared."
"No matter what you decide, I'll be here for you." Farkle comforted her. He tried to be supportive. Maya smiled and placed her head on his shoulder.
"Can we stay here and avoid the rest of the world for a while?" Maya questioned.
"We can stay here for as long as you want." Farkle said.
XXXXXX
Maya and Farkle sat at the floor of a restaurant bathroom for the next 15 minutes. They sat in silence, with Maya's head on Farkle's shoulder. Farkle didn't know what to say to her. He held her hand and hoped that would be enough. Maya's head was spinning. She thought about all of her options and couldn't decide what was right for her. She knew she had to tell Josh but she wasn't ready yet. Still, she knew they had to go back to the wedding. They've been gone for 40 minutes and she knew Josh will be getting worried.
"We should get back." Maya said and got up. Farkle followed her lead.
"Are you sure?" He asked. "I don't mind staying a little longer."
Maya hugged her friend. "Thank you for not letting me do this alone."
"I'll never let you be alone." Farkle promised her.
"You should go back to your girlfriend." Maya reminded him. "I hope she doesn't get to mad at you. Make sure to explain to her you didn't ditch her. You can tell her the truth. I'll allow it."
"She is very understanding. I'm sure she trusts me enough to not feel treated." Farkle assured her.
"I'm glad you have someone like that with you." Maya said.
They walked out of the bathroom and Farkle went to find Smackle as Maya looked for Josh. She saw him dancing with Topanga to a fast song. She couldn't help but smile at the man she loved. She thought about the first time they danced together. He still had the same moves. Topanga was laughing with him and seeing him like that, Maya knew she didn't have to worry about anything as long as they were together. Josh saw her and smiled at her immediately. He bowed to Topanga and kissed her hand then ran over to Maya. He lifted her up and twirled her around.
"Where have you been? I looked everywhere for you." He asked.
"I was helping Farkle with some girl problems." Maya lied. She hoped Farkle wouldn't mind.
"Is everything okay?" Josh asked.
"It will be." Maya responded. This time she wasn't laying. "Want to go back to Riley and Lucas's? I'm exhausted." They were still staying at their apartment.
"Let's go." Josh didn't hesitate. They went to say goodbye to their family and friends. Cory and Topanga were sitting at a table with Shawn and Katy. Izzy was asleep in Shawn's arms. Maya looked at her sleeping face and she couldn't help but picture her own daughter in her arms. She wandered if she would love her as much as she loves Izzy. Or will she resent her for having her when she isn't ready.
"Do you ever regret it?" Maya asked Katy as she was saying goodbye. "Having Izzy? Or me?"
"Oh god no." Katy responded quickly. "I mean, I haven't slept in two years and she can be a handful. And no offence, but you were kind of a pain in the ass when you were growing up." They both laughed. "But the two of you were the best thing that ever happened to me. You'll understand when you have kids of your own. They are the biggest blessing you get in a lifetime."
"Were you ready when you had me?" Maya asked sheepishly.
"I am barely ready now." Katy responded. "You learn as you go. Nothing else can get you ready." Katy paused for a second. "Is everything okay? Are you and Josh planning…"
"No, no." Maya quickly interrupted. "I was just curious."
"If anything was going on, you'd tell me, right?" Her mother asked.
"Of course." They hugged. Maya said goodbye to everyone else and left with Josh.
She wanted to tell him tonight. She knew she had to. It was the right thing to do. They came back to the apartment. Maya took off her shoes first and Josh untied his tie. He went to the kitchen and poured them two glasses of wine.
"It was a really nice wedding." He said as he handed her the glass.
"I'm good, thanks." She passed on the wine.
"You okay babe?" Josh asked. "I've never seen you turn down wine before." Josh placed the two glassed down on the coffee table and sat on the couch. Maya saw her opening. It was now or never. She sat next to him, with her feet beneath her and turned to face him.
"Actually there is something I need to tell you." Maya started nervously.
"Okay, I'm listening." Josh nodded.
"It's okay if you freak out." – Maya assured him. – "I freaked out. I am still freaking out. It's a freaking out worthy news."
"Babe, just breathe and tell me." Josh said calmly.
Maya started to tear up a little. "I wasn't with Farkle because of his girl problems. He doesn't have any right now. I asked him to come with me because I had to do something."
"Okay." Josh said confused.
Maya took in a deep breath. She thought it would be better if she just showed him. She took her bag and pulled out ten pregnancy tests she bought with Farkle. Josh took one stick at the time and slowly processed the information.
"You're pregnant?" He asked quietly when he averted his eyes from pregnancy tests to Maya. Maya nodded.
"We're having a baby?" He asked more excitedly. Maya nodded again.
"We're having a baby!" He picked up Maya and twirled her around. Maya laughed at his reaction.
"You're not freaked out? Why aren't you freaked out." Maya asked him.
"Because it's a baby. We made a little you or a little me. I always wanted a family with you. This is sooner than I thought. A lot sooner." – He said. – "But it's still something I always wanted."
"I am not sure I want it." Maya let out what was bugging her. "I mean I want it. But some day. Down the road when we're married and employed and living in New York again. You know, after we traveled and lived a little." She explained herself. Josh put her down but still held his hands on her waist. Maya rested her hands on his forearm.
"What are you saying?" Josh was confused.
"We are so young. I am not sure I want a kid right now. I am still a kid. I can't raise a baby. And I can't have a baby out of guilt over what someone else might say. I think if I had this baby right now, I will end up resenting it and it wouldn't do any good for any of us." Maya tried to explain how she feels.
"So you already decided what you want to do?" Josh was angry. "So why even bother telling me?"
Maya put her hands on his face and looked him in the eyes while she spoke. "I haven't decided. That's why I'm telling you. I want us to talk about this and decide together. This is as much of your baby as it is mine."
"I want to keep it. And raise it. And protect it from the world. I want to put our little boy or girl to sleep and sing them lullabies. I want a little girl that has your eyes or a little boy who has your smile." Josh explained. "I want a family with you."
"And I want all of that." Maya assured him. "Just not now."
"Why not?" Josh took a step back, away from her.
"I am not ready." Maya desperately yelled.
"We'll never be ready." Josh tried to reason with her." It's something we learn along the way."
"I thought you were pro-choice?" Maya started to yell. She couldn't believe he didn't understand her point of view.
"Yes, for people who don't have other options. Not us." Josh couldn't believe how unreasonable she was being.
"I can't bring into this world a child I am not excited about. I grow up with a parent who didn't want me and it sucked." Maya tried to make him understand. Her voice was shaking and she was fighting back the tears.
"Don't make this about your dad." Josh said.
"It's not about my dad, it's about our child." Maya responded.
"I can't believe you are even considering this." Josh said more comely. He couldn't understand how she could feel like this.
"And I can't believe you are not even listening to me." Maya yelled.
"I am listening." Josh fired back.
"But you are not hearing me." Maya yelled.
"I think we should call it a night. Before we both say something we'll regret." Josh didn't want to hurt her feelings.
"I'll sleep on the couch tonight." Maya hated fighting with him. They barely ever fought. Never about something as big as this.
"No, you're taking the bed. I'm sleeping on the couch." Josh was determined. He grabbed a blanket and a pillow from the bedroom and prepared the couch for sleeping.
"Josh... this is just a fight, right? We'll work it out?" Maya asked on the verge of tears.
Josh walked to her and kissed her forehead. "I love you Maya. I just can't do this tonight."
Maya went to the bedroom and Josh slept on the couch. She cried herself to sleep, as they slept separately, for the first time in three years.
A/N: Hey guys. I hope you liked this chapter and I hope you can understand where both Josh and Maya are coming from. Let me know what you think. I always love to hear from you.