Walking the next morning to the Matthew's was almost worse than getting the spanking Maya felt like, and she was going to have to pretend. She stood outside of their apartment and took a few deep breath before going in.

When she approached the table she noticed that there was a gift bag on her plate instead of food. "It's not Christmas."

"Good morning to you too." Topanga told the girl.

Maya blushed, but was happy to see that Topanga was smiling, "Sorry. Good Morning."

Maya bit her lip, not wanting to sit. "Well," Cory said, plopping Auggie down in his chair, "Are you going to open it?"

"Uh…why is…it?" Maya asked uncertainly.

Riley came out of her room and instantly relaxed at seeing her best friend. "Sometimes a random treat is nice."

Topanga smiled at the girl and put some eggs on her daughter's plate. "Open it Maya so I can put your food on your plate."

"I'm not hungry," Maya said automatically, but she sat and picked up the bag.

Topanga pulled the plate further away. "I wasn't asking, meals are not an option, Maya."

"Yes, Ma'am." Maya sighed. She pulled a thin box out of the bag and looked over at Cory questioning.

"To draw us some beautiful pictures." He told her.

Auggie popped out of his chair then. Maya watched him run over to the picture frames, the bottom one already holding a picture Auggie had drawn. "Look, we each got a frame to put our artwork in too." He pointed to the top one, "that one is yours."

"That's super cool! Thank you guys!" Maya said, touched to be included.

Auggie went back to the table, "There is something else in there too."

Maya nodded, and reached into the bag again. She slowly pulled out a larger box and gasped. "No way!"

"We will go over the rules that come with the phone when you stay the night Friday," Topanga told the girl.

"This is too much!" Maya said, starting to put it back in the bag.

"That isn't for you to decide." Cory told her.

Maya shook her head, "I can save for this."

"Maya, it has a family tracking app, so we can keep track of you and Riley, it's more for our peace of mind than your enjoyment," Cory told her.

"I don't think that's entirely true." Maya said.

"Well, it mostly is." Cory told her.

"Thank you both!" Maya said, pulling the box back out of the bag.

"Eat your breakfast, honey." Topanga said. Her voice was gentle, but firm.

"Yes, Ma'am." Maya said. She picked up her fork and picked at her food.

"I missed you yesterday." Riley told her.

"I missed you too." Maya told her.

Riley set her phone on the table, "I picked out matching phone cases for us."

Maya opened the box and saw that. "I love it Riles."

"Maybe we can get all your numbers transferred over after school today," Riley said.

"I have to go with Troy, Riley." Maya reminded her.

"We will do it Friday," Topanga told them. "Maya, I won't tell you to eat again."

Maya picked up her fork and started eating her eggs. She didn't see what the big deal was, but didn't need Topanga spanking her too. "Maybe I can go over to your place after school!" Riley said excitedly.

"Uh…" Maya said, trying to think quickly. "I don't think that Troy would like that."

"Are you safe with Troy?" Cory asked.

"Yes." Maya lied.

"Then Riley would be safe there?" Cory pressed.

"Yeah, but I don't think Troy will like it."

"I will take care of that." Topanga told her.

"Maya…" Cory said firmly.

Maya knew what he was saying without him saying the full thing. "She will be safe."

"Okay." Cory told her.

--GMW--

When Troy pulled in front of the school he was already scowling. Cory again appeared from no where. "My wife said she called Katy…"

"Yeah, I heard, I'm taking both girls." Troy snapped.

"If you have a problem, they can both come home with me." Cory told him.

"No, it's fine. What time should I send her home?"

"My wife will be around to get her a little before nine." Cory told him.

Troy looked like he wanted to object, but one look at Cory's face, and he changed his mind.

The girls did their homework in Mayas room and danced and sang in there while they talked about school and Lucas.

About an hour after being home Troy pounded on Mayas door. "Get out here and make dinner."

Riley looked confused, "By yourself?"

"Shh…just stay in here, Riley." Maya told her.

"No, I will come help you cook." Riley told her.

Maya knew that anytime Troy spent with them was dangerous. "Riles…"

"Now, Maya!" Troy shouted from the living room.

"Please." Maya said.

"Maya, I'm coming out with you." She said with more bravery than she felt.

Maya grabbed her friends arms, "whatever happens, stay out of the way."

"What's going to happen?" Riley asked, her voice shaking.

"MAYA!"

"Promise me!" Maya hissed.

"I promise Peaches!" Riley assured.

Maya sighed and walked into the kitchen, with Riley trailing behind. "Are you deaf?!" Troy roared.

"No, Sir. We were putting away what we pulled out before we came out." Maya lied smoothly.

Troy was stood in front of Maya, already with his belt off. "I already told you that you were going to learn the rules."

"What's going on?" Riley asked.

"You stay out of this," Troy said waving the belt at her, "I can't wallop you, but you can both go without dinner."

"You shouldn't hit Maya with that either…" Riley said firmly.

"Riley!" Maya snapped. "Shhhh…I'm sorry for not coming right away. "

Troy pointed to the spot in front of him and Maya walked over. She resolved to try and not cry this time, so that Riley wouldn't panic. He laid in hard and fast with the belt again though. Even though she couldn't stop the tears, she did manage to not sob loudly like she did the night before, but it hurt so much worse. She was convinced her legs were bleeding. After a few minutes, Troy let her go.

"What are you going to do next time I call for you?!" He asked shaking her.

"C…come…I promise." Maya told him.

"You will learn." He snapped, landing three more swats to her bottom.

"Yes, Sir." Maya said.

"No dinner for you two, off to your room until her mom gets here." Troy told them.

Riley went to reach out to help Maya, but the 13 year old straightened her shoulders and shook her head. She grabbed Rileys hand as she walked by her, and lead her to her room. By the time they got to her room Riley was crying.

Maya pulled her best friend into a hug and rocked back and forth. "Shhh…"

Riley started to pull away, "I'm calling my mom."

Maya's arms tightened around the girl, "No. You can't tell them. My mom needs him to be here."

"Fine Maya, then they can live here together, and you can come live with us." Riley told her.

God that felt tempting. "Riley, promise me that you wont."

Tears started new in Riley's eyes, but Maya watched as her look switched from sadness to determination, "Let me see your butt."

"What?!" Maya asked, blushing furiously.

"If you don't want me to tell, let me see your butt." Riley told her.

Maya sighed, but she turned around and pulled her shorts and leggings down. Maya heard the sob that escaped her friend and quickly pulled them back up. She pulled Riley back into a hug. "I'm okay Riley."

"Did he do this yesterday?" Riley asked.

Maya didn't think she could stand anymore, so she took Rileys hand and pulled her over to her bed. She laid down and Riley laid down, facing her. "Did he?"

"Yes, but my mom needs this, please don't tell, Riley." Maya begged, tears coming back into her own eyes.

Riley knew they were in way over their heads, but she didn't know how to help this one, right now her friend was upset and she needed to help be the calm, "shhh peaches, I won't tell for now."

With that assurance, Maya closed her eyes and fell asleep. Riley stayed awake running her fingers through her friends hair and thinking about all of her options. When Maya woke up an hour later she was beyond sore. She sat up and found things to try and take Riley's mind off of the day.

At 9 there was a knock on the front door. As Riley got her stuff together, they could hear low tones in the living room. A few minutes later there was a knock on Mayas door. When she opened it she immediately backed up. If looks could kill, her and Riley would both be dead.

"Where is your mom, Maya?" Topanga asked, sitting on the girls bed.

"She called an hour ago and said next shift didn't come in so she had to stay late tonight." Maya lied.

Topanga nodded, her eyes never leaving the girls face, "Was she late last night?"

"No ma'am."

"Did you two have fun today?" Topanga asked trying to keep her voice neutral.

"yeah." Riley said, "I want to come over tomorrow."

"The thing is Troy said that the two of you were mouthy today and that you weren't invited back this week." Topanga said, "What happened?"

"We were putting away the guitar and our homework before we came out to help with dinner." Maya told her.

"Did you tell him that?"

"Yes, he's very strict." Riley said.

"He said his punishment was that Riley was banned the rest of the week, did he add any other punishment?" Topanga asked. Honestly it seemed like a misunderstanding to her.

"No ma'am." Maya told her.

"Riley?" Topanga asked.

"No Mommy." Riley said.

"Okay, Maya, go get your PJs on and brush your teeth." Topanga ordered.

Maya rushed through her bedtime routine without the shower. When she got back to her room, Topanga tucked her in and Riley kissed her forehead, clearly upset about leaving her.

Riley was silent on the ride home, and she too skipped her shower, opting for PJs and just climbing into bed. When her parents came in to say goodnight she had tears in her eyes. "What's the matter Honey?" Cory asked.

"Nothing, Daddy. Can I just be alone tonight?" Riley asked.

Both parents were shocked by this request. "Riley, did something happen?"

"Please Daddy." Riley begged.

"Okay, baby." Topanga said. Both parents kissed the top of the girls head and left the room. They stood outside of her door as Riley started sobbing.

"Do you think he…?" Cory let the question hang.

"I don't know." Topanga whispered.

"I will kill him," Cory growled.

Topanga looked at her husband, looking every bit as sad as their daughter sounded. She pulled on his shirt as she slid down the wall, and Cory joined her on the floor. "I don't think anyone involved in this is going to crack, we are just going to have to be open and safe when one of the girls is ready to talk."

"That's a horrible idea." Cory snapped.

"I don't like it either, but I do not think there is another way this time." Topanga told him.

"What if he…what if…Topanga." Cory shook his head.

"Look something has happened, and it is done already. We keep Riley away from him, and we keep Maya here as much as possible." Topanga told him. "At this point our only choice is damage control."

"And when they confirm our worst fears?!" Cory asked.

"When they tell us anything, we press charges, and file to keep Maya here. It probably wouldn't be a bad idea to start looking into being foster parents."

"Agreed." Cory said.

They waited in silence until they heard the tears stop. They both kissed the top of her head. Cory went to their room, and grabbed his pillow and blankets. He fell asleep in the bay window and Topanga fell asleep snuggled next to Riley.