Chapter 35- Pause and Wait

It was two weeks after the incident at Evan's house, when Riley finally got a phone call from Evan. Riley felt like he was avoiding her because of what had transpired that day. She gave him his space and let him deal with this in his own way, but after about a week and half, she was starting to get nervous. She let out an audible sigh of relief that startled her mother when he finally called.

"Evan? Is that you?" Riley answered, waving her mother's concern away.

"Hi, Riley. Sorry I haven't called. We are in the process of figuring some things out."

"We?" Riley asked, her heart rate picking up. "Who's we?" She was afraid Lauren had wriggled her way around the legal system and had gotten released.

"My aunt and I." Evan explained. Riley sighed internally. "We are trying to contact Mom's legal team, but knowing what she did, they are reluctant to even touch her case. It has just been really crazy, and I didn't want to get you involved anymore than you already are."

"I get it, Evan. Just keep me in the loop. Text me and let me know that you are okay."

"Riley, I know you are grounded, but can I see you? It's really important."

"Hang on. Let me ask my mom." Riley placed the phone on the coffee table to go talk to her mom.

"Hey, Mom. Evan says he needs to talk to me. He says its really important. Please?" Riley begged her mother. Topanga pursed her lips and furrowed her brow.

"I don't know, Riley. Just because the parent meeting was cancelled, on account of crazy, does not negate the fact that you are still grounded." Riley made a puppy dog look at her mother and stuck out her bottom lip.

"Please, Mom?" Riley begged again. Topanga sighed.

"All right. But he has to come over here, and you have to stay in the living room." Topanga relented. Riley wrapped her arms around her mother's neck and kissed her cheek.

"Thank you, Mom!" Riley squealed. She picked up the phone and made sure Evan was still on the line.

"Evan? You there?"

"Yeah, still here."

"She said yes, but you have to come over here and we have to stay in the living room."

"That's fine. I'll be there in 20 minutes." Riley hung up the phone and headed to the bathroom to freshen up. She wasn't in the bathroom for more than five minutes, when there was a knock on the bathroom door.

"Riley, there is a very tired, extremely pregnant person here to see you." Topanga said from the other side of the door.

"Maya?" Riley exclaimed. "What is she doing here?" She quickly washed her face and ran out of the bathroom. Maya was laying across the sofa, with her head in Josh's lap. She looked uncomfortable and her face was red. Alarmed, Riley kneeled beside her.

"Maya? What's wrong?" Riley asked, concerned. Looking scared, Maya shook her head.

"I don't know. It feels like what they described as a contraction, but its too early, right? I'm not due for at least a week." Maya started to cry. "Mom is working, and your apartment was closer. Do you think your mom could take me to the hospital?" Riley looked to her mom, who had begun to gather her purse and keys.

"I have no problem taking you Maya, but why didn't you have Josh take you?" She nodded toward Josh. Maya shook her head again.

"He is not a good driver when he's panicking." Maya looked up at Josh, who appeared offended. "Sorry, hon, but its true." Maya looked back at Topanga. "Besides, if my mom isn't there, I want my second mom there with me." Touched with emotion, Topanga's eyes started to well up with tears. She shook them away and cleared her throat.

"All right, lets go then." Topanga said. Everybody filed out of the apartment and down the stairs. Just as they were pulling away, Riley saw Evan coming up the sidewalk. Waving at him, she asked her mother to stop the van.

"Evan, Maya might be in labor. We are headed to the hospital. Can we reschedule?" Riley explained. Noticing how disappointed he looked, Topanga pushed the open-door button to let him in. Once everyone was piled in, they made their way to the hospital.

Once at the hospital, everybody quickly exited the van. Riley called ahead, so there was a nurse with a wheelchair, waiting for Maya. She shook her head, refusing the wheelchair.

"I don't need that. I can walk." Maya said.

"It's protocol, sorry." The nurse explained. Sighing, Maya gave in and sat down, slowly. Everyone followed Maya and the nurse to the maternity floor. The nurse took Maya and Josh behind a set of big metal doors and the rest of the group was left to wait in the waiting room. After about 20 minutes, Katy, Auggie, and Cory came into the waiting room.

"Any news, yet?" Katy asked, out of breath. Topanga shook her head. Another 20 minutes passed before Josh came out. Everyone jumped up and rushed him for answers. He took a step back and threw his hands up.

"Everybody, calm down!" he shouted. Everyone was silent. "The doctor said it was just false labor, but he wants to keep her overnight, just to be safe. The baby is considered full term, so he would be safe if he were born tonight. But thank you to everyone for coming down. I am gonna go back with Maya. I will give you updates in about an hour." With that, he turned and went back through the metal doors. When everyone was settled again, Cory finally noticed that Evan was with them. He narrowed his eyes at Evan.

"What are you doing here? This is a family thing." Cory spat. Before Evan could open his mouth, Topanga interjected and jumped out of her chair.

"I invited him, Cory. So, cool it. Don't take out your frustrations about his mother on him. He had nothing to do with it. Besides, he is the father of your grandchild, so you might as well get used to him." Topanga sat back in her chair, and looked at Riley, who was just as shocked as Cory. For the rest of the night, Cory had nothing to say. He sat there pouting, until Josh brought out the next update. The metal door opened and Josh stepped through again.

"Nothing new, but I am gonna stay overnight with her. You guys can go home and get some rest. I will call with more updates, or tomorrow morning for a ride." Josh smiled and said his goodbyes, disappearing once more behind the metal doors. Topanga said she was heading home, and she would drop Evan off at home on the way. Riley tagged along and Cory and Auggie were stopping to get fast food. Katy elected to stay at the hospital, to wait for Maya.

On the way home, Riley and Evan were holding hands in the backseat. Riley squeezed his hand and he looked over at her.

"I'm sorry we didn't get to talk tonight. But we can talk now." Riley whispered.

"It's important, but it can wait. I just want to enjoy the quiet with you." Evan replied. He had a lot of work to do, before he even thought about bringing up the subject. Riley was worth the wait.