A/N: Three exams tomorrow. I should probably be cramming, but I don't wanna. Sorry for not updating this over the weekend guys! It took a little longer to write than I expected (for reasons lol). I don't like this sappy chapter, I got really lazy, but when I go back through this whole story in the future and do full revision, I'll fix it.

I made this chapter dramatic, because there has to be some over-the-top theatrical drama in a western, right? ;3 Posse, love, I don't think I'll be able to put another cameo though, sorry! I can try, but these remaining chapters aren't very flexible.

Thank you for the kind reviews! I appreciate it very much and I'm happy that you guys are looking forward to the progression of the story! Once again, sorry for taking that two month break, but I promise I will finish this story this week to make up for it! I thank you for all of your patience and the time you've sacrificed for this wacky tale! :)

Disclaimer: I do not own GMW otherwise Maya would be kicking asses for real.

Maya rummaged through her chest at the foot of her bed, trying to ignore the pain in her chest as saw the stacks of dime novels inside that she'd won from Auggie whenever they played Shoot 'Em Up. There were also some of her and Riley's old dolls and dresses and their nursing blankets from when they were younger. Underneath those were doilies Riley had made when she'd recognized her natural talent in crafting. And deeper still were all the damaged clothes and old pistols Maya had collected in her adventures disguising herself as a male.

She pulled those clothes out and stuffed them in her travel sack and made sure to take all the pistols. Maya sniffled slightly as she pulled out two dime novels and one of the little dolls out, stuffing them in her bag as well. She wished she could take everything with her, but she knew she wouldn't be able to with what space she had left in her bag. Plus, she wanted to leave her family something to remember her by.

Most of the stuff in her and Riley's chest was already gone since Riley had probably already cleared out what she needed when they escaped. As Maya took out the last of the pistols, a note fell out from its position wedged between two of them and fluttered to the ground. She stooped to pick it up, recognizing Riley's graceful cursive on the paper.

Maya.

I'm sorry we never got the chance to properly say goodbye before we left. Circumstances were dire. But Billy told us that you were with Lucas, and though we don't know what happened, we're glad you're safe. We're heading to Mister Hunter's in the next town over. When it's safe, we're planning to return. Please be careful, Maya. I promise we'll return and come back for you. Until then, wait for us and take care of yourself.

Love, Riley

Maya stared at the note, her eyes pricking with tears. She felt like shit. She knew damn well she would be long gone before they returned. She was leaving with her mother as soon as the stuff with Jed was finally sorted out and finished. And she wasn'tplanning on ever coming back. She flipped the note to the back and fished out something to write with from her chest.

Dear Riley, Auggie, Mama, and Papa,

If you're reading this, I've already left for New York with my real mother, Katy. She's been alive this whole time, you know? Stuck at Bull's Sleaze with no possible way of getting out. But we managed to free her.

And I decided to leave with her.

I'm never coming back. There are too many bad memories here that I just need to get away from. I wish I could explain more to you, but honestly, I think it would be best if I left it at this.

I love you all and care for you so much. But I found my mother. And I've decided it's time I got my own family and created my own life. I will never forget all you have done for me, but I'm leaving it all behind. I need a fresh start.

Auggie, I took two of the dime novels with me to always remember you, but the rest are yours. Become an excellent sharpshooter so that one day you can finally beat me. Riley, you don't need me to become an extraordinary woman. You've got that charisma all on your own. You're already extraordinary, so show the world now. Mama, Papa, I'll always see you as my parents, the woman and man who raised me and took me in without hesitation. Who gave me a home and provided for me a happy childhood. You protected me and I am forever grateful for that.

All of you have been there for me and have been a family for me after mine got so mercilessly broken, and I thank you for that. No matter what may happen in the future, I will always love you all. Never forget that.

Love, Maya

By the time she signed the bottom, Maya's vision had blurred, tears welling in her eyes. She wiped at them roughly, willing herself not to cry over this. It was strange. Once upon a time, Maya had been so ready to leave the Matthews ranch behind and start a new life, but now that she'd come to that point, it was much harder to leave it in the past than she had expected. She hadn't even gotten the chance to at least see them one last time, and that—above all—was tearing her apart.

It saddened her that she would miss Riley's future marriage and children and being there to watch Auggie's sharp shooting improve. She would also miss Billy, who she wanted to see prosper and marry the woman of his dreams. He'd become a friend, and she cared about knowing whether or not he was successful in his endeavours.

The only one she wouldn't miss though, was Lucas.

Maya grit her teeth in annoyance, limping over to her dresser and yanking out whatever clothes of hers were left, taking them back to her sac to stuff inside. She'd been wrong. So, so wrong. She thought, of all the fuckers in this town, that at least Lucas wouldn't be like them. But he was no different than them.

"He's the worst."

"By 'he', I'm assuming you mean me, right?"

Maya nearly jumped out of her skin, gasping softly and spinning around in surprise. Lucas was leaning against the doorway, watching her and looking minutely amused. Her eyes narrowed, and she turned her back on him, finishing up stuffing the rest of the stuff into her travel sack.

"What do you want?" Maya sighed, tired of seeing him and being reminded of how she'd stupidly let her judgement get clouded.

He'd made up his mind. And she'd made up hers. There was nothing left to say.

"To talk," he said simply.

"And what exactly will that solve? You've made your decision to die. And I'm leaving anyway. There is quite literally nothing to say." Maya shook her head, rolling her eyes as she grabbed a handful of undergarments from her dresser to add to her luggage. "I don't get you, you know. You've already won, yet you still want to kill him and die doing it. What is the point?"

"The point is it's my responsibility. He's my blood uncle. I have this obligation." Lucas responded, staring at the wall, his eyes flashing with that familiar vengeful, deep rooted anger. It infuriated Maya how he always acted this way. Like this was just protocol. A means to his end. "He killed his own family in cold blood. He needs to suffer for his crimes and die painfully."

"You think I don't want to kill him either?! Look at me. I'm a damn mess all because I tried to seek revenge! He killed my real father, soiled my real mother, tried to kill my family, tried to kill me! The list goes on and on. And other people have suffered and lost something because of him too. I get that he's your family and you may or may not feel some sort of guilt or something, but everyone's turned on him. He's lost, and he's going to die one way or another."

"I need to kill him myself," Lucas muttered.

"But why?" Maya slapped the linens on her bed, spinning around and facing him angrily. "I don't understand why you should, if you know he's going to die anyway! He's ruined. There's no way anyone in town is going to protect him, and even his own men have stopped supporting him! What the fuck is wrong with you?!"

"There's this rage burning in my soul!" Lucas barked, straightening from the wall, his eyes glinting furiously. "It's not a question of whether I should or not, I need to kill him! I need to find peace otherwise I can never let my past go! I've had this rage burning in me for fifteen years. All-encompassing rage I couldn't do anything about. I can't grieve because I'm so angry; I can't be angry because I want to grieve! For fifteen years. Fifteen years waiting for the chance to kill him and end this bullshit once and for all. You can't understand that?"

"No! I don't understand! I don't understand why you're still so obsessed with this man; I don't understand your self-destructive tendencies. I don't understand why you want to stop at nothing, even risk your own life to kill him and I don't understand why you want to try to die to kill him so much when you have a chance to live for something. When you have a chance to move on with your life. When you have people to live for!" Maya yelled. "You're not alone in this world, you know? If not for Billy, then at least live for me!"

And Maya stopped talking abruptly, realizing what came out of her mouth when Lucas' brows rose slightly in surprise at her admittance. She cursed under her breath, turning around when his sea foam gaze softened as he calmly watched her.

"You want me to live."

"It's not like it was so hard to notice, you dumbass. Dammit… why are you so fucking dense?" Maya glanced over her shoulder, annoyed to see that he honestly looked so surprised. And it made her even angrier that he was so utterly clueless. Was he really that stupid that he couldn't understand that? "I don't even know why I care about you. But I do, okay? For some reason, I fucking do."

He walked over to her, and Maya stiffened, averting her gaze once again. "Maya."

"And you want to leave and walk out that door and get yourself killed, and I fucking gave you my innocence—I don't even know why—and now you're trampling all over it like it meant nothing! And I've never liked someone so much, and I barely know you but for some reason I can't even understand, I see you and I…"

She took a deep breath, closing her eyes momentarily and running a hand through her hair. She turned around, steeling her expression and when she saw he'd opened his mouth to say something she put her finger up, raising a dangerous brow.

"Shut the fuck up. Don't say anything. I hate your stinking guts, you insufferable piece of shit."

She fought the pain in her leg and urge to wince and held her head up high as she brushed past him to leave the room. She knew she was limping substantially, and the shocks of pain travelling up her injured leg were making her bite her tongue to keep from crying out, but she refused to get her cane or look any kind of weak in front of Lucas. He wouldn't ever get to see her vulnerable again. She was shutting him out of her life for good.

But she didn't get far past him. Lucas reached out and caught her wrist, stopping her from leaving. Maya bristled, inhaling a bit sharply from the look on his face, goosebumps rising on her arm from his touch.

"Maya," he said again.

"Don't," she said indignantly. "Whatever you have to say, I don't want to hear it."

Lucas stared at her, that same stupid apologetic, regretful look on his face though he didn't say a word. But she knew he was apologizing because he was still leaving anyway and she hated that she was so disappointed. She hated that she wanted to see him and wanted to spend time with him. She hated that she'd made herself believe he had the same desire because she'd been stupid enough to bed him in the first place when clearly it hadn't meant anything to him. She hated that it bothered her more than she wanted to admit.

She hated it so much.

"When the fuck will you finally stop being such an idiot and realize there is value in your life to the people who care about you?"

"I know. Don't you think I realize that?" Lucas said softly, his thumb lightly caressing her wrist. "Why do you think I told you I wanted to die?"

"Because you're revenge obsessed, and I can't stay here knowing that, so I decided to go with my mother. So stop talking to me. Please. There is nothing you could say that could possibly change anything."

"Maya, I told you I wanted to die because you make me want to make it out of this alive. But I know what going after Jed will entail. This isn't going to end well for either of us. I'm going to die," he said. "And I couldn't leave you hoping for anything knowing that. I didn't want to put either of us through that pain from whatever feelings we might have. So I tried to push you away."

Except that.

Maya's heart skipped a beat in her chest, her eyes widening as she stared up at him, her pulse thrumming wildly and heart nearly bursting out of her chest. She couldn't detect anything but honesty in his gaze and expression. He was telling the truth. Which meant he cared about her too. Which made it even worse that he was still choosing to go and die.

"What the hell? Th-that's not fair…" Maya spat, snatching her wrist out of his grasp. "Don't I get a say in how I want to feel?! If I have feelings for you—which I don't—then you don't have the right to decide you think it's a bad idea and tell me some bullshit lies to put distance between us. I'm not a child! Let me feel what I want to feel and get hurt if I want to get hurt. That is not your decision and has nothing to do with you."

"You know what?" Lucas sighed in exasperation, looking fed up. "I tried to be honest and fix this shit, but I'm done. You're right. It does have nothing to do with me. Dawn will break soon. I have an appointment with Jed to get to. Goodbye, Maya."

Lucas turned around and began to leave the room, and suddenly Maya felt apprehensive, fear running through her body as she watched his retreating figure. The kind of fear that told her that the next time she saw him, he'd be a dead body drifting down the river. It was very real now. Lucas was about to leave to go fight Jed. And he didn't intend to survive regardless of what she'd said.

And she panicked.

"That's right! Go ahead and leave and go die like the fucking coward you are," she spat. "Hell will be the perfect place for you."

He bristled, stilling in the doorway of her room, his fists clenched and obviously very irate. He exhaled slowly and turned back around, his gaze furious as he walked back over to her.

"What the fuck do you want from me?" he growled. "I said all I needed to say. We're done here!"

"Yeah, I guess we are." She sniffled, hating that her eyes were pricking with tears as she stared up at him. "You insufferable, despicable sack of goat shit."

"You're a pain in the ass."

"You're a stupid son of a bitch."

His gaze softened. "That all you got?"

She chewed on her lower lip to try to stop its trembling. "Cocksucking prick."

"Nothing new at this point," he murmured, his gaze intense on her lips.

They fell silent, staring at each other heatedly.

Then Maya reached up and hooked her fingers into the lapel of her shirt, tugging him down sharply and mindlessly crushing her lips to his. Lucas didn't move at first, stiff and unyielding. But he relaxed, returning her kiss with the same urgency. Maya sighed into the kiss, pressing herself against him as his hands found her waist, dragging her closer to him. Her heart felt like it was about to burst out of her chest.

Maya, what the fuck are you doing?

She broke the kiss with a gasp, pushing him away from her and trying to catch her breath. Lucas didn't say anything, no reaction or change whatsoever to his expression. There was a heat in his eyes, something heavy and heady that made Maya's heart start racing in her chest and goosebumps rise on her skin. And in the midst of that, there was that same wistful, apologetic look in his eyes that she couldn't stand to see.

"I hate you."

"I know."

He pulled her flush against him, reclaiming her mouth in an intoxicating kiss that left her breathless. It was intense and almost frantic, a sense of urgency between them. He held her close, his arms winding around her waist, fingers gently caressing the small of her back. Maya whimpered in his mouth, draping an arm around his shoulder, her other hand threading into the hairs at the nape of his neck.

Maya grew lost in the sensation, dizzy from his kiss. Almost helpless. She couldn't stop what she knew was about to happen. She knew it was a terrible idea to bed him again after this whole mess had happened, but she couldn't help it. There was something about him—as he undressed her, as he laid her on the bed, as his hands roamed down her overheated skin, as he drove her insane—that she realized she couldn't let go of.

It hurt.

The way he kissed her, slow and provocative, like he was engraving every inch of her in his memory. The way he gazed down at her, like he was trying to savour the moment, the way she looked, the way she felt in his arms. The way he stroked her face, apologizing without words for what they both knew was the end of something that never even got a chance to truly start.

Maya knew it was a goodbye in a way, but she refused to let herself cry. Or at least, she tried to keep herself from crying, even though the pain steadily continued to build with each kiss. And when he buried himself deep inside her, she couldn't help but cry out at the focused intensity of the pleasure coursing through her body. She could barely breathe. She was short of breath, her chest constricting with each of Lucas' rhythmic motions. She arched her body into his and hooked her legs around his waist, moaning long and low, shuddering as she lost control from his slow thrusts inside her.

Tears welled in her eyes as she held his warm gaze, her heart squeezing tightly in her chest, her breathing unsteady and coming out in punctuated gasps. She didn't know which hurt more. The pain from her injuries or the pain from knowing she was about to lose Lucas. It wrecked her more than she wanted to admit and when the tears tumbled down her cheeks, she couldn't stop it even if she tried. She didn't know why she was crying in the first place. And it frustrated her even more.

"I hate you," she cried, her nails digging into his back. "I hate you so much."

"I know…" he murmured in her ear, his breathing a bit heavy as he caressed her waist gently.

He kissed away her tears, and she clung to him, her body quivering as she lost herself to the feel of him moving insistently inside her.