Katy came back to the house, and Shawn also came home. When they went to check on Maya, she asked not to be interrupted. She was madly working on her canvas, too busy to be bothered. It was urgent, the work demanded to be done. Yet there was a calmness about it, something almost melancholy in the brushstrokes. All Maya could hear was swirling sounds of music, songs fighting for her attention, bouncing from one lyric to another. Music had always been so crucial to her, and to understanding herself. Along with this came with of course her vast collection of band shirts, and an extensive vinyl collection and playlists on youtube.

One song lyric looping in her mind,

"The lady in red is dancing with me (cheek to cheek)

There's nobody here

It's just you and me

It's where I wanna be

But I hardly know this beauty by my side

I'll never forget the way you look tonight"

From Chris de Burgh's Lady in Red.

"I've never seen you looking so gorgeous as you did tonight

I've never seen you shine so bright, you were amazing

I've never seen so many people want to be there by your side

And when you turned to me and smiled, you took my breath away

I have never had such a feeling, such a feeling of complete and utter love"

One song lyric looping, "feeling of complete and utter love". There was no better way to describe it. The affection between them was always there, but in some ways, kissing Riley sent shockwaves through their relationship. Maya continued to paint, desperate to capture the feeling of the night before, to memorize it and make it tangible to her. Meanwhile, the dazed spacious tune of Chris Issaks' Wicked Games drifted between her ears, gently filling the room.

She almost spell bound, sang along once she noticed,

"The world was on fire, no one could save me but you

It's strange what desire will make foolish people do

I'd never dreamed that I'd love somebody like you

And I'd never dreamed that I'd lose somebody like you

No, I don't wanna fall in love

With you."

She was so tuned into the music, she didn't even notice that someone had come into the apartment.

Goodbye's were being exchanged in the front room quietly, since Gammy was sleeping.

"Shawn, is she doing okay?" Corey asked Shawn, with Topanga concerned looking on, everyone wiping some tears from their faces, all trying to smile through it.

Katy answered,

"She has barely left her room since getting home."

"Can I check on her?" Corey asked. Katy gestured towards Maya's room. Getting to her closed door, Corey could hear the final beats of a lovely song, and gently knocked. The music was paused, and the door cracked open.

"Hey Maya."

Maya stood, and opened the door a bit more to reveal her room. As soon as he entered, he noticed the art piece, which was turned away from the door, so upon coming in, one could only see the back and the easel holding it up.

"Working on something? I'm sure it will look great."

"Is she with you?" Maya curiously asked. Corey shook his head. She walked back to her piece, almost blocking it.

"We are on our way to get her. Maya, we will always be with you. Remember those words hung up in my class room? Those were my teacher's words to me. I now pass them to you. This is the part where we have met our dream, and it's our turn to go out and try. I hope we do good. I hope you follow your dreams Maya, and that everyday continues to teach you something."

Corey takes a small step toward Maya,

"I wish for you to let life continue to teach you everything it can. That you let it, and still believe things can happen."

Solemnly, Maya closes the space and gives him a short hug,

"Bye Mr. Matthews."

Auggie could be heard being shushed by Topanga and Katy, as he asked loudly to see Maya too. Corey looked at her, asking in a way, and she nodded. Topanga followed, ushering a somber and yet excited Auggie.

"Thank you for loving us Maya." He says, coming in and joining in their hug.

"I love you too Auggie."

"Maya, you have so much coming. I can't wait to hear and see what you do." Topanga says, in the most motherly way. Katy gets emotional and quickly says to Topanga, having followed from the living room,

"Thanks for supporting her when I couldn't. For giving my baby another home and family to be loved and welcomed in. We'll all miss you here."

"Hey what are you painting Maya," Auggie said, moving towards it. Maya immediately rushed him away from it. She didn't feel it was anyone else's business to know what was exchanged in her last exchange with Riley. Maya safely assumed Riley would not say anything either, again not because they were ashamed, rather because it was sacred.

"That's private Auggie." She said waving her arms to get everyone out of her room. As they all walked out, the sounds of Flightless Bird, American Mouth by Iron & Wine began to play. Maya paused for a moment, thinking it ironic. As that song was about a boy losing his innocence and having to be challenged to grow up too fast, and losing his dream and vision for his future. Seemed serendipitous.

So again, goodbyes were somberly exchanged, and before walking out the door, the Matthews stood in the doorway, taking a moment to take it in, with the Hunters/Hart's looking back. With a single exchange of feet through the threshold, they would be going. Katy and Shawn stayed in the apartment, as Katy hugged Shawn. Maya on the other hand, after the door had been closed, and the Matthews piled into the car, burst out the door, chasing after them. On the street, the last door had just been shut, Maya shouted,

"Wait!" Starting to cry, she begged, not being able to say anything else. Silence fell, or as much that be had out on a New York Street, though she picked up on that woeful tune of music coming from her bedroom.

"Have I found you, flightless bird?

Grounded, bleeding?"

Topanga got out of the car, walking to Maya, and held her face in her hands. Wiping away her tears, Topanga couldn't hold them in, and welled with her own tears.

Maya finally managed to speak,

"Tell her I love her.

I love her."

Maya closed her eyes and allowed the tears to come down her face.

Topanga held her, silently acknowledging, and responded firmly.

"I will. No matter where she is, or how long it's been, she will always know that Maya. You know it too."

A moment passed, and regretfully Corey called from the car, gently saying out the window.

"Topanga."

She turned back to him, still holding Maya's face, looking back at Maya, Maya knew it had to be done. So she hugged Topanga, who embraced her tightly back. Katy and Shawn had followed, and were watching not far behind.

Maya let go, and stepped back, and Katy held her hand. Topanga smiled at them, getting back in the car. As it drove away, Auggie waved, and nothing was left but the sounds of saddened hearts, and the remnants of notes as the song from above slowly finished.