Riley's POV

Maya and I stood outside my front door. I miss it. I miss my room. I miss my bay window. I miss my friends climbing into my bay window. I miss Auggie. I miss cold spaghetti at midnight. I miss opening my closet door and seeing Maya's painting every time I pick out clothes.

Oh my gosh!

My father must have seen the painting when he packed my duffel bag. I can just hear him now, thinking "great, not only did she sleep with my daughter in her bed, but she painted how she looks when she wakes up. Fantastic." Another reminder of our deception.

I thought about bringing my duffel bag but Maya had warned me not to get my hopes up. "A dinner is just dinner. One step at a time," she said. I know she's right, I shouldn't be presumptuous. My father was extending an olive branch, and an olive branch would certainly snap under the weight of my duffel bag.

Maya took a deep breath. "Riles? You ready?"

I looked at her and reached out for her hand. She completed my hand with her own.

"No matter how this dinner goes, we're in this together, right?" I asked her.

Her eyes were giving me that "you already know" look. "Always," she said.

Maya's POV

We all sat and ate quietly. Topanga made mashed potatoes tonight. Smart move. Everyone knows how much Cory Matthews loves his mashed potatoes. They were bound to keep him in a good mood. Auggie broke the long, uninterrupted silence.

"Why is everyone so quiet?" He asked.

We all looked up at each other. No one seemed to have an answer.

"Nice lesson today, Mr. Matthews," I spoke up.

He smiled, "Thank you, Maya. You know, it was one that I really had to think long and hard about."

I smiled back and nodded.

"Riley," he started. Riley looked up and put down her fork. "When I was getting some clothes for Shawn to bring to you, I noticed the painting in your closet."

I dropped my fork. I could feel my face becoming flushed with embarrassment. He saw my painting of Riley? My cheeks must be bright red right now.

She replied, "I'm sorry, Dad. I know that must have felt like adding insult to injury." Riley was being rather calm, collected and diplomatic about the whole thing.

"Yeah, it stung a little at first," Mr. Matthews admitted.

"I'm really sorry," I started. "I swear I wasn't trying to be sneaky or disrespectful all those nights I slept over."

"Maya, do you remember what I said to you that day in the library?" He asked.

"The day you gave me my phone? Yeah, I remember." I answered.

Riley looked at her father, and then at me.

"What did he say?" She asked me.

I looked at him and then turned to Riley.

"He gave me a smartphone and colored pencils. He said 'You let me know everything that's going on with Riley and if something beautiful ever happens, paint me a picture,'" I explained.

Riley's eyebrows furrowed. She looked at her father. "The reason you gave Maya a phone was so she could spy on me?"

Without waiting for a response, she whipped her head around back to me and accusingly asked "You were spying on me?!"

"Oh, relax honey," I replied. "It's not like you and Ranger Rick ever did anything worth writing home to Daddy about. All you and Lucas ever did anyway was say 'hi...hey...hi...' back and forth awkwardly."

"That sounds boring," Auggie said.

I turned to him. "Oh it was Auggie. It was excruciating to watch."

I looked back at Riley. She was glaring at me.

Mr. Matthews continued, "I know that painting wasn't for me, but I'm still glad I got to see it, because it reminded me of that day in the library, and suddenly my anger didn't seem as valid anymore. Because it made me realize that what's happening between the two of you is actually something beautiful."

Riley's glare quickly dissolved into a big smile. I haven't seen her look this happy in a long time. I'm so relieved that her dad isn't angry with us anymore, and I'm glad my painting had something to do with it. What do ya know? Art heals.

He continued, "It pains me to know that you felt like you had to hide this from me, and I wish you didn't feel like the only way you could be together was behind my back, but I admire both of you for being true to yourselves," he said.

"I was afraid to tell you," Riley said looking at both of her parents.

"Why?" Topanga asked.

"Well I knew everything would change. I was afraid you would treat Maya differently. Dad, I know you're not really thrilled about the idea of me dating anyone. When I liked Lucas, you wouldn't let him be in my room. I was afraid you would keep Maya out of my room too. But mostly I was afraid to disappoint you," she revealed.

"Why would you think we'd be disappointed?" Mr. Matthews asked.

"Probably because my mom was," I answered, "or at least I thought she was at first, but she wasn't, actually."

"Well what about after you realized Katy wasn't disappointed, were you still afraid that we would be?" Topanga asked.

"Yes." Riley said.

Cory and Topanga exchanged looks of disbelief.

"Have ya even met us?" He asked.

"I just thought you guys had some kind of expectations about who I should turn out to be and what my life should be like," Riley explained.

"Our only expectation is that you tell us the truth and include us in what's going on in your life," Topanga said.

"Yeah, Riley, the only way you disappointed me was by making me the last to know," her father said.

I spoke up, "But I know that I disappointed you."

He and Topanga looked at each other and then looked at me. I could see it in their eyes.

"You were right. Riley and I always slept together before, when we were just friends. But once we were more than that, I should have stopped doing it. I know she's still your little girl and this is your home and I disrespected your rules and I'm sorry," I apologized sincerely.

"But just for the record," Riley started

Topanga immediately covered Auggie's ears. "All we did was kiss and cuddle. It was completely innocent."

"So the two of you aren't..." Topanga trailed off.

Is her mom seriously trying to ask us if we're having sex?

Just then the intercom rang. Saved by the bell.

"It's me, Katy," the voice in the speaker box announced.

Oh no. I think I know where this is going. Cory got up and answered the door. "I asked your mother to come by after she finished taking inventory at the bakery," he said.

Hmm. I wonder why.

"We don't need to order anymore flour for at least a month," my mom said as she walked in the door. "Hi, girls"

"Hi Mom," I said.

"Hi Katy," Riley said.

"So, Matthews, to what do we owe this parental ambush?" I asked.

He dodged my question. "Hey, Auggie! Let's go to your room and play candy land!"

"Yay!" Auggie cheered. Mr. Matthews grabbed Auggie's hand and they dashed out of the room.

Riley leaned in "Peaches, what's going on?"

"Oh, honey. Brace yourself," I replied.

"For what?"

"A whole lotta awkward."

Both of our Mom's sat directly across from us at the kitchen table. They looked at each other and then at us, and then back at each other again, neither of them knowing how to begin.

"You're gonna give us the talk now, aren't you?" I asked.

"The talk?" Riley asked.

"The sex talk." I said.

"Oooh that talk," Riley said.

"Well that's the plan," my mother said, still looking uncomfortable.

"Except I don't really know how to do this," Topanga admitted.

"What?!" Riley asked, astonished. "My mother, Topanga Matthews doesn't know something?" she teased.

"I would know what to say if you were dating a boy," Topanga said.

My mother looked at Topanga. "Didn't you do any experimenting in college?" she asked.

"I was already engaged to Cory by the time I went to college. We got married while we were in college," Topanga answered. Topanga then questioned my mother in return, "Did you experiment in college, Katy?"

"I dropped out after three days!" she replied.

"Kiss any women in those three days?" Topanga asked.

Riley facepalmed at her mother's question.

My mother shook her head and shrugged helplessly.

I turned to Riley. "I take back what I said about watching you and Lucas being excruciating. That's not even close to being as excruciating as this," I said.

"Well maybe we could ask Morgan," Topanga suggested.

"Aunt Morgan?" Riley asked incredulously.

"It couldn't hurt to ask," Topanga said as she reached over and grabbed the iPad.

Riley turned to me. She looked mortified. "My mom is about to video call my Aunt so she can talk to me about how to have sex with you. Is that really what's happening right now?"

I nodded, "Pretty much, yeah"

Wait. If we tell Morgan, does that mean-

"Josh isn't going to know is he?" I asked

"What? That Aunt Morgan is giving us the sex talk?" Riley asked, confused.

"No, I mean, she won't tell him about us, right?" I asked, concerned.

"Why wouldn't you want him to find out about us?" Riley questioned me.

"Because..." I trailed off. She continued to question me with her eyes.

"It would be awkward," I said.

"Why? You said you didn't even really like him, you were just projecting your feelings for me onto him." Riley said.

"Exactly. If he found that out, well, I don't know, I don't want to crush the guy's ego." I reasoned.

"He's not just some random older guy that you had a confused crush on. He's my uncle. He's going to find out at sooner or later." Riley said.

I relented with a sigh. "Ok, Pumpkin. Whatever you want."

She leaned in and planted a consolation kiss on my cheek.

"Morgan's not answering," Topanga put the iPad down.

She continued, "Ok, well I may not be able to speak from experience about this, and the conventional methods don't really apply here, but I do know that there are still precautions you need to take."

"Precautions?" Riley asked.

Topanga looked at my mother, "We should get them vaccinated for HPV."

My mother nodded, "Good idea."

Mr. Matthews peeked his head in the doorway. "How's it going?" he asked.

"Nowhere," I said.

"Please tell me the reason you have returned is because it's over." Riley pleaded.

"We tried. You want to take a shot Cory?" Topanga asked.

"Uhh, " he stammered. "Well…" he paused.

"At least you can't get each other pregnant," he smiled.

"That's right. You can't," my mother added. "No matter how hard you try."

And now it was my turn to facepalm at my mother's comment. Riley joined me in facepalming solidarity.

"We're not even trying, Mom," I said.

"But Dad, like you said, she can't, even if she tried, so can she sleep in my bed?" Riley asked.

"NO!" He affirmed. "Maya is sleeping on the couch tonight. Look, I even put out extra pillows and blankets for her." Mr. Matthews pointed to the couch.

"Thanks." I smiled graciously.

Wait. I'm sleeping here tonight? Riley and I looked at each other as we realized what this meant. She looked at her dad.

"So does that mean I can come back home?" she asked. Her hopeful smile revealed those adorable dimples.

"Please come home. I've really missed you, Riley," he said. She jumped up and threw her arms around him.

"I missed you too, Daddy! Let's never fight ever again!" Riley exclaimed.

"Sounds good to me," he said.