Reckless Love

Summary: Hanna & Maya. Two girls. Best friends in every way. That is until Jesus of Nazareth turns their lives upside down. Matthew/OC, Quintus/OC

Disclaimer: I do not own The Chosen. The wonderfully awesome Dallas Jenkins does.

Chapter 1

Maya sighed as she walked out onto the busy street of Capernaum, grateful to be out of her house. Her father wasn't exactly the best man and he treated her mother horribly. An alcoholic, he was always passed out during the day and that was when Maya knew her mother was safe, so she knew she could go out during the day and be with her dear friend Hanna who had been there for her since they were both 5-years-old. Now they were both eighteen and still inseparable despite their hardships.

She walked along the streets, ignoring the looks she got from people. It wasn't about her. She knew that. It was her father and her best friends. Hanna's brother Matthew had been disowned when Matthew had become a tax collector. Hanna as well because she had stood up for her brother.

The fact that Maya spent time with the two made her hated as well. But she was used to the hate. She had been hated her whole life. Even before her two friends had been disowned.

She made her way to Matthew's booth where her best friends were.

Hanna was standing next to Gaius, a man who had been like a father to her ever since her father turned her out of the house. He was the only Roman soldier who was nice to the two girls. In Hanna's mind the other soldiers just looked at her and her friend lecherously and didn't care for her. She had heard the praetor of the city, Quintus was the worst of them all.

Matthew straightened up a bit as he saw his childhood friend walk up to the booth. He had secretly loved her for years, but never thought himself worthy of her.

"Maya!" Hanna exclaimed, rushing over to hug the girl happily, ignoring the looks that she was getting from everyone. Maya's father was a disgrace and by extension so was his family. She hugged Maya happily and brought her over to Gauis and Matthew. His shift hadn't started yet and Matthew was glad because he wanted to see his friend.

Maya smiled and let go of Hanna, wrapping her arms around Matthew as well. She didn't get a hug back. She never did. But she always tried. She had always had feelings for him, but never knew how to tell him.

"I'd better go and get to work" Matthew said, scratching his head a little, smiling softly at Maya. She and Hanna were the only ones he smiled at.

"Where are you girls off to today?" Gaius asked, a protective look on his face when he looked over at Hanna. The girl just shook her head and smiled, linking arms with Maya.

"Probably just some shopping" Maya said. "I need to pick up some things for mom and Hanna I believe wanted to look at some jewelry I think."

Hanna rolled her eyes and sighed. "As if I don't have enough."

She could afford to dress nicely as her brother was a tax collector and had even bought Maya some things, but the other girl refused to wear them all the time. She didn't want to draw attention to herself. Especially since most people hated her.

"Well you be careful Hanna" Gaius said as he surprisingly reached out, hugging the girl to his chest, ignoring the looks he was getting from everyone. He cared for the girl as if she was his own and didn't care what people thought.

Matthew would have said something too, but he was too busy with people already. But his eyes fell on Maya for a second, a protective look on his face as if he wanted to say the same thing to her. What the four people didn't realize was that they were being watched from afar. By two people. One Roman man up on a horse, his sharp eyes trained on the girl being hugged by Gaius. And one man from Nazareth, a fatherly look on his face as he looked at Matthew and Maya.

"I'm telling you Maya! You can move in with Matthew and I. We wouldn't mind really. We have more than enough room!"

Maya sighed and shook her head. "Hanna I have to take care of Ima. I can't let my father hurt her."

Even though that had never happened, Maya always feared it. Her father had always been emotionally abusive to them both, but it never got physical. Though Maya always feared that it would. The girl sighed and looked over at her best friend as they looked through all kinds of fabrics and jewels. She wanted more than anything to get out of her situation, but she had to take care of her mother.

"I just can't Hanna" she said sadly, pushing some dark hair out of her face.

Hanna sighed and wrapped an arm around her friend, abandoning the jewelry she was about to purchase. "Maya you shouldn't have to put up with this forever."

"Well all I can do is hope for a miracle" Maya said as Hanna led her away.

"You're still coming for Shabbat tomorrow right?" Hanna asked hopefully. Matthew wants to check on our parents, so we'll have the house to ourselves. You can even spend the night if you want."

Maya smiled and nodded. "Yes definitely!"

It would be nice to at least have a night away. Maya's mother had told her not to worry that morning and she had prayed all through the night that her mother would be fine and she hoped that God would hear her.

There had been rumors of a coming Messiah from 'Crazy John' or John the Baptist as Maya always respectfully called him and she prayed that he would come and rescue her if he existed. Maya felt crazy for even praying that, but she wanted a better life than the one she had now. Maybe the Messiah would be a better father than her's was. She didn't even know why she longed for another father when she knew the chances of that happening were slim.

But she could still hope.

The moment Maya walked into her house with Hanna, both girls could tell something was off.

"Ima?" Maya called out as she dropped her bags on the kitchen table before racing to her mother's room and to her's. Hanna followed closely, hoping nothing bad had happened.

There in the middle of Maya's room, laid her mother. The teenager gasped and knelt down next to her mother. "Ima! Wake up please! Ima!"

It was clear she had died of a heart attack and not from her father's hand. But that didn't make the situation any less sad.

Hanna watched from the doorway sadly for a few minutes before pulling her friend off the floor. "Come on Maya. I'll get Gaius. He'll know how to deal with this."

She didn't want the girl's father to wake up and see his daughter. Hanna knew about the emotional abuse she suffered and didn't think she would be able to control herself if Maya's father were to find them. Gaius on the other hand would put the man in his place. He hated people who disowned and hated their children. Hanna and Matthew were proof of that.

It was night by the time the girls made it to Matthew's booth. He had just finished locking up when he saw Maya clearly distressed in front of him, Hanna holding her up. "What has happened?" he asked as he reached the girls.

Gaius walked up as well, a look of concern on his face. A look that he only reserved for the two girls.

"Ima...She's gone" Maya managed to get out as she fell into Matthew's arms, leaving Hanna and Gaius stunned. But what was even more shocking is that Matthew actually hugged her this time, lifting her into his arms as he did so. It shocked everyone around them. Everyone watched in shock as the misfit tax collector embraced the girl in his arms.

"You two get her home" Gaius said as he hugged Hanna gently, kissing her forehead. He could tell she was just as shaken up. "I'll bring some of Maya's belongings with me."

"I'll escort them Primi" a voice said behind Hanna, making her whirl around, her eyes wide. She snuggled into Gaius more, a little scared of the Roman in front of her.

"Hanna this is Quintus. He's the praetor. He'll escort you three home." He looked down at his adopted daughter and turned her to face him, seeing how scared she was.

"He won't hurt you. I promise." He kissed her forehead once more before turning back to Quintus. "Watch out for them."

Quintus felt a sting as Hanna watched Gaius walk down the street. This girl was scared of him. Just like the rest of the people. Normally he didn't care, so why did he care what this one person thought of him.

Matthew watched his sister, holding onto Maya as tight as he could. He wanted to protest as the man reached out and touched Hanna's shoulder gently, but he didn't want to upset Maya and he was a little scared himself.

He looked down at the girl he had adored from afar his whole life. His sister's best friend. His best friend. He wanted to take her pain for her, but he knew he couldn't do that. He didn't have that power.

"We should get going" Quintus said softly as Hanna turned around to face him.

"Okay" she said simply as she walked past him, avoiding eye contact.

Quintus sighed softly as he followed her. How was he going to break the ice on this girl?

AN: Now I realize the Romans are out of character. But only with Hanna. No one else. Just bear with me here. Other than that...I hope y'all like this first chapter. I was quite nervous to write this fic! God bless you all!