Chapter 40- Reunions

"My brother!" Josh pulled him in for a hug.

"My brother!" Eric returned Josh's hug. Maya walked into the kitchen with Gabriel, who was a little fussy. Eric turned and gave her a wide grin. "Mimi! You guys had a baby?" Maya laughed at Eric's comment.

"It's still Maya, and yes. This is Gabriel." Maya replied, turning the baby to face Eric.

"I have a cousin?" Eric asked, tears welling up in his eyes. Maya, confused, was about to correct him, but Josh shook his head and put a finger to his lips. Maya closed her mouth and nodded.

"Yes, Eric." She replied. "Do you want to hold him?" Eric looked up at Maya.

"Really?" he asked, hopeful. Maya nodded again.

"Of course. Just wash your hands first, please." Maya requested. He obliged and washed his hands, sitting in the kitchen chair. Maya gently placed Gabriel, who was still fussing, in Eric's arms and he instantly quieted and looked up into Eric's face with awe. Eric looked down at Gabriel and smiled.

"Hello, cousin Gabriel." Eric gently stroked the top of Gabriel's head. "I am Eric. When you get older, I am gonna teach you all about the world and all the places I have seen and lived in. I am also here to give you advice. Like, no matter what they tell you, putting a piece of bread in one hand and fork in the other, does not make toast when you put the fork in the wall outlet. No matter how many times you try it." He paused and chuckled. "I will not try that ever again." He bent down and kissed Gabriel on the top of his head, before handing him back to Maya. "You guys made a beautiful baby, that's for sure."

"Well, thank you, Eric." Maya replied. After she put Gabriel back in his crib, she returned to the kitchen. "So what have you been up to lately? It's been so long."

"Well," Eric leaned back in the kitchen chair, "I have been living in St. Upid for the last 5 years, as their mayor."

"You're still the mayor up there?" Josh interjected. Sighing, Eric shook his head.

"No, they had another election and I was outvoted." He replied, sadly. "For the last year, I have been traveling around the country, revisiting places I have already been to. I want to settle down now and have a family, too." He stopped for a moment. "Speaking of family, where is Cory?" Alan looked at Eric, confused.

"Eric, this is not Cory's house. He and Topanga don't even know you are in town, yet." Alan replied.

"Ah, I see." Eric said. "Well, let's go see him then." He stood up and grabbed the keys, but Josh stopped him.

"How about we call them and have them come over here?" Josh offered. "So you don't have to find another parking spot. It's within walking distance anyway." Eric smiled, seeming to agree with Josh's logic, and sat back down.

"That's why you're the smart one, Joshy." Eric replied, winking at his parents. "Right, Mom and Dad?" Amy and Alan did not say a word. Josh pulled out his phone and dialed Cory.

"Hey," Josh said, "why don't you guys come over and hang out with us and the baby?"

"Oh, we finally get to see little Roly-Poly?" Cory lightly teased. "Of course. We will be there in about 20 minutes. See you then." Josh hung up the phone and nodded.

"They'll be here in like 20 minutes." Josh said. "You guys want to order lunch in?" Everybody seemed to think it was a good idea, so they decided to order pizza when Cory and his family arrived. Suddenly, there was a key turning in the lock and the door opened. Everybody turned and saw Katy and Shawn come in the door and abruptly stop.

"I didn't realize we were having company." Katy said, smiling. "Welcome. I trust Josh and Maya have made you feel at home." She looked at Eric, not recognizing him. "And who is this?" Suddenly, Shawn stepped out from behind Katy.

"Eric? Is that you?" he asked, incredulously. Eric jumped up, wrapping Shawn in a hug.

"Trailer Boy! How have you been?" Eric exclaimed excitedly, squeezing Shawn tightly.

"I've been good. Life is getting better. What about you? Are you still going by Plays-With-Squirrels?" Shawn asked. Katy, super confused, threw her hands up in the air.

"I give up." She said, laughing. "Your family is nuts." Shaking her head, she headed for her room to change out of her work uniform.

"Of course." Eric replied, answering Shawn's question. "I only go by Eric with family. Cause that's how they know it's me." Eric grinned proudly.

About ten minutes later, there was a knock at the door and Maya got up to answer it, smiling when she saw Riley and her family waiting to come in. She opened the door a little wider to let them in. As they all filed into the kitchen, they saw Eric, sitting at the kitchen table, grinning broadly.

"Uncle Eric!" Auggie shouted and jumped into Eric's lap.

"Cousin Auggie!" Eric replied and hugged Auggie tightly, before putting him back on the floor, so he could stand.

"My brother!" Eric exclaimed, holding out his arms to Cory, who was still in shock.

"My brother!" Cory replied, accepting the hug from his big brother. Releasing the hug, Eric noticed Riley standing next to Topanga, looking all of 6 months pregnant.

"Riley?" Eric asked. "My niche is having a baby?" Katy came back into the kitchen at that moment.

"You mean, niece?" Katy corrected. Eric turned toward her, confused.

"Yeah, niece. Sure." Eric replied sarcastically, gesturing that she was crazy to the rest of the family.

"Yes, Uncle Eric. I am having a baby." Riley replied, expecting a lecture from her uncle. Surprisingly, he smiled widely.

"I'm so happy for you, Riley. I can't wait to meet my new cousin. I have so much to teach these new babies." He wrapped Riley in a hug and kissed the top of her head.

"Pangers?" Eric grabbed Topanga in a hug, squeezing her tightly. "Did you miss me?"

"Not much." Topanga teased, hugging him back. He turned and grabbed Katy in a hug.

"I don't know who you are," Eric said, "but everyone needs a hug." Sighing, Katy relented and hugged him back, laughing.

"I hate to ruin the love-fest, but I need to know what everyone wants on their pizza, so I can order it." Josh interjected.

"I want cheese!" Auggie piped up.

"Pepperoni!" Cory and Topanga added.

"How about pepperoni and mushroom?" Maya suggested. Riley nodded her head.

"I like that one." She replied.

"Pineapple and peanut butter." Eric added in, causing everyone to turn and look at him. "What? You guys don't eat that here?" He shrugged. "Fine. Sausage and pepperoni then."

"Mom? Dad?" Maya asked, turning toward Katy and Shawn. "What about you guys?" Shawn and Katy looked at each other.

"We'll do Canadian bacon and pineapple." Shawn suggested, after confirming with Katy. Maya left the kitchen to check on Gabriel, who had started fussing.

"He probably needs to be changed." Josh explained after Maya had left. She came back a few minutes later, holding Gabriel. After requesting that Cory and Topanga wash their hands, she handed him off to the two of them, so they could meet him. Maya felt a tugging on her shirt and looked down.

"Maya," Auggie said sadly, "does this mean you don't like me anymore?" Everyone turned in shock at Auggie's question.

"Auggie, what would make you say that?" Maya asked.

"Because, we don't hang out anymore. And you have barely talked to me at all since the baby came." Tears started to well up in his eyes.

"Oh, Auggie." Maya scooped him up and hugged him. "I am so sorry I ever made you feel like that. Having a new baby has made my brain a little crazy. But I will always love you, Auggie. And we will hang out more, ok?" Auggie looked into Maya's face and nodded happily. She placed him back on the floor, kissing his cheek and tousling his hair. "Hey, do you wanna hold Gabriel?" Auggie's face lit up and he nodded excitedly.

"Oh, can I?" Auggie was jumping up and down. Maya smiled and instructed him to wash his hands and sit calmly in the kitchen chair. When he was finally seated, Topanga handed Gabriel to Maya, who carefully placed him in Auggie's arms. Auggie didn't seem impressed.

"Why is he so…small?" Auggie asked, grimacing. "And smelly?" He wrinkled his nose and Maya giggled.

"Well, Auggie," she explained, "Gabriel is a newborn. He will get bigger and then you guys can play together." Auggie's eyes widened with excitement.

"When?" he asked.

"When he gets older. He's a little young right now, Auggie." Maya explained. Gabriel started to cry and she took him from Auggie to change and feed him. He watched, wide-eyed, while Maya changed his diaper and even offered to throw away the dirty diaper.

"Thank you, Auggie." Maya said. "For being such a big helper. I am gonna feed him now, so can you go out and visit with the rest of the family?" Auggie looked up at Maya, slightly offended at being pushed out of the room. He looked down at the floor.

"Okay." He quietly replied. Maya could tell he was feeling hurt, so she called him back.

"Auggie." Maya called to him. Hopeful, he turned around. "I'm not mad. It's just…" she tried to explain it to him delicately and simply, without providing too much information. "I am going to feed him and put him to bed. Boring, right?" Auggie seemed to agree with this. "Wouldn't you rather be out there with Eric, eating pizza with everyone else?" At the mention of Eric and pizza, his face lit up. He bounded out the door without a backward glance. Maya shook her head and smiled to herself. She sat in her rocking chair and sang Gabriel into a milk induced coma, gently kissing his forehead before gently placing him back in his crib.