Chapter 23- Back Home

When they got off the plane in New York, the whole family was waiting for them. Riley saw her parents and her little brother and ran straight for them. She jumped into her mother and father's waiting arms, knocking Auggie over in the process.

"I'm sorry, Auggie." Riley apologized, helping him off the ground. He laughed and hugged her waist.

"It's okay, I'm fine." Auggie replied, brushing dirt off the back of his shorts. Topanga looked at Riley, curiously. Somehow she looked…different. She dismissed the thought as just Riley being gone. Cory didn't seem to notice anything different. He grabbed his daughter for another hug.

"Don't ever leave again, Riley. We missed you too much." Cory said.

"What about college, Dad?" Riley replied, playfully. "I can't stay in the house forever." Cory shook his head.

"You can do college from home. Like Josh." Cory joked, jerking his head toward Josh. Josh laughed and playfully pushed his brother. Maya stood up on her tiptoes and kissed Josh as he rubbed her belly bump. He kneeled on the ground and put his ear to Maya's stomach.

"Hey there, Little Bean. I missed you." Josh kissed her belly. "You been good for your mama?" Maya looked down at Josh and smiled, tousling his hair. He stood back up and kissed Maya's forehead. "I missed you Maya. One week was too long." Maya buried her face in his t-shirt and breathed him in.

"I missed you too, Josh. I miss your smell." Josh pulled back.

"Now you like my smell?" he replied, amused. "Last month, I literally made you sick. Now you're breathing it in like air." Maya shrugged.

"I guess I don't mind anymore." She replied, casually, holding him tightly once more. Shawn and Katy just held each other for a silent moment. She could tell he had something to say by the way his eyes were fixed downward, but she was not going to bring it up now. There would be plenty of time when they got home to talk. Right now, she was savoring in the calm before the storm.

After the group got the 'we missed you' and 'welcome backs' out of the way, everybody agreed to going out for dinner after everyone had rested and unpacked. Everyone packed into their respective vehicles and drove home. Riley, Auggie and their parents walked into the apartment and Riley headed straight to her room. Topanga, suspicious, followed behind while Cory got Auggie settled in for lunch.

"Riley, is everything okay?" Topanga asked, concerned. Riley was lying on her bed, facing the window.

"No, everything's fine. Why?" Riley replied, turning over in bed to face her mother.

"I don't know, honey. You just seem…off." Topanga put her wrist to Riley's forehead. Riley shook her head.

"I'm just tired, Mom. It was a long flight. I will be fine after a nap." Topanga kissed her forehead and left the room, closing the door after her. Once her mother had left, Riley pulled out her phone and texted Evan.

'Hey, Its Riley. Im back from Texas.'

'Lol. I didn't realize you were out of town. So, how wuz it?'

'Hot!'

'LOL! That's Texas in August, I guess!'

'IKR! What u been up to?'

'NM. Hangin out with friends. I have a back to school party planned the end of the week. If you want, you can come. ?￢ﾀﾙ

'Kewl. Can maya come too?'

'Yah, she can come. The partys on the 30th '

'Awesome! C U There! ?￢ﾀﾙ Riley smiled to herself and rolled over. She would tell Maya about the party at dinner tonight. For now, she was going to take a nap.

Maya and Josh opted to go for a walk when she got home, to give Katy and Shawn some time alone to talk. Katy quietly closed the door to their bedroom. She slowly sat on the bed and waited for Shawn to sit next to her. Instead, he paced the floor, debating on how to bring up the dreaded topic.

"Shawn, please sit down." Katy patted the empty space next to her. "All that pacing is making me nervous." Sighing, Shawn kneeled down in front of her. She placed a hand on his shoulder. "Is it that bad?" Her eyes filled with tears, anticipating what he was trying to say. He shook his head.

"It's not like that, Katy. I just- I-" Shawn stammered before blurting it out. "I drank in Texas and I got drunk. I'm sorry, baby. I promised I would not do this again and I know I really screwed it up." Shawn had tears rolling down his cheeks as he looked up at Katy, pleading with her for forgiveness. Katy let out a huge sigh of relief.

"Oh, Thank God." She whispered. Shawn looked at her, confused. Katy noticed his confusion and smiled. "I thought for sure you were going to tell me that you cheated or something." Shawn vehemently shook his head.

"No. I would never cheat on you, Katy. I love you so much." Shawn kissed her hands. Katy leaned down and gently kissed the top of his head.

"I love you too, Shawn. But I can't let this go. What kind of example would I be setting for Maya if I did?" Shawn looked at Katy in complete shock.

"But I thought-" Shawn started to speak, but was cut off by Katy.

"You thought what? That you would apologize, and everything would be okay?" Katy shook her head, tears flowing out of her eyes. "I'm sorry, but you can't be here right now. You gotta go." She held open the bedroom and waited for Shawn to walk through it. Once he was on the other side, she closed and locked it, with him flabbergasted staring at the closed door. She leaned her back against the door and slid to the floor, crying with her head in her hands.

Shawn was paralyzed with shock. He was unsure of what just happened. He crossed the room to sit on the couch for a while. Through tear-filled eyes, he dialed Cory on the phone in his hand.

"Shawnie? What's up?" Cory cheerfully answered. Shawn sniffed back tears and cleared his throat.

"You got any room on your couch for a while?" He hinted at Cory. There was silence for a moment.

"Of course, Shawn. You can have the couch for as long as you need." Cory replied sincerely, no questions asked.

When Maya and Josh returned to the house, Katy was setting Shawn's suitcase outside on the porch. Seeing Maya, she quickly wiped away a tear and put on a fake smile.

"What's going on, Mom?" Maya asked, concerned.

"Shawn knew the rule. No more drinking. He broke the rule and now I have to do what is best for us, Maya. I'm sorry." Maya sighed sadly, nodding her head.

"I know, I remember the rule. I just hope he isn't gone for as long as before. Where did he go, then?" Maya looked around. Katy shrugged.

"Right now, I don't care. I am too upset right now to care." She whipped around and headed back into the house, slamming the door behind her. Josh and Maya looked at each other, shocked.

"I think I may know where he is." Josh offered. "99% chance, he is at Cory and Topanga's." Maya nodded in agreement.

"Only one way to find out for sure. Let's go." Maya replied, and they headed off in the direction of the Matthews' apartment.