"Hart!" Coach Webb yelled again, as the ball zoomed past a distracted Maya. Maya shook her head and tried to refocus.

"I could kill Katy," Topanga said from the stands, it was hard watching the girl struggle.

"Why isn't she here Mom? She said she would be." Auggie said, confused.

"Maybe she got held up…" Topanga told the boy.

Just then Troy and Katy walked up the bleachers towards them. "Hey guys!" Katy said excitedly. Cory and Topanga stood to hug her and shake Troy's hands before they all sat back down. "How's our girl doing?"

"She's been looking for you, so she's been a little distracted." Riley said. Lucas and Topanga both glared at the girl. Riley shrugged unapologetically.

Cory pulled some cash from his wallet, "do you want to go grab some hot chocolate?"

"Sure," Riley said taking the cash.

"Take Auggie, and get one for your mom and I too. Katy, Troy, would you like a hot chocolate?" Cory offered.

"Does it have baileys in it?" Troy asked.

"Well since this is a middle school, I would say no." Topanga said, irritated.

"We're good, thank you!" Katy said, turning to Maya who seemed to have regained her focus now. "She's really good."

"Yeah Katy at lots of things." Topanga told her.

Twenty minutes later, a grinning Maya came running off the field from her win. "We won!" she cried as she picked up Auggie and spun in a circle with him.

"You did so good babygirl!" Katy told her. "Can Troy and I take you out to a celebration dinner?"

"Can Riley come?" Maya asked uncertainly. She looked behind them to Cory and Topanga.

"Your mom is…" Troy started.

"It's fine Troy." Katy cut him off. She turned to Cory and Topanga. "Would that be okay?"

"Hey guys, why don't you go get some energy out in the grass over there?" Topanga asked, pointing to the grass next to the bleachers. The five kids took off not wanting to be around for the tension.

"Look she is Katy's daughter…" Troy started.

"Right now she is our ward, and I do not feel comfortable with you two taking her alone." Topanga cut him off.

"Fine, we will take Riley too then." Troy growled.

"The hell you will take our daughter anywhere." Topanga shot back.

"What Topanga means is that we would feel more comfortable if time spent together right now involved everyone." Cory said. "Dinner sounds nice though, why don't we all go together."

Katy's face fell. "Everything doesn't need to be on your terms!" Troy snarled.

"Look Katy, Maya misses you and we don't want to keep you two apart. Show us that you can show up and be calm and consistent for a little while and we will work into you taking her alone some." Cory told her.

Katy wiped her tears. "Okay, I can do that."

"I know you can," Cory said, "Coming to the game was a good start."

Topanga nodded, "So dinner?"

"Sounds good to me!" Katy said. Troy grunted and they took that as a yes as they walked over to the kids.

"Farkle, Lucas do you want to ask your parents if you can come out to a celebration dinner with us?" Cory asked.

Maya looked up from where she was sprawled out on the grass. "Ready Babygirl?"

Maya stayed still as all eyes turned to her, "I..is everything okay?"

"Of course." Katy told her.

Maya's eyes were on Topanga though. Topanga offered the girl her hand and helped pull her up. "Everything is good Maya."

GMW_

Dinner had gone well and Katy had promised to be at her Volleyball game the next Wednesday. Maya collapsed in to bed.

"Gross Maya, go shower." Riley said scrunched her nose.

"Too tired…" Maya said.

"You did play really well today." Riley said looking through Mayas dresser for PJs.

Maya smiled at her, "thanks."

"Thank me by showering!" Riley said tossing the clothes at her.

Maya groaned but stood up to shower.

GMW_

Monday at school Missy Bradford was up to some nonsense that was driving Riley crazy. Maya was trying to ignore it, but Riley was getting more and more upset.

After hearing Maya say that she loathed Missy, Cory called her over. "Maya, you know that having a detention isn't going to be like it used to for you…" He cautioned.

"I know…" Maya said.

"Not just at our home, although if you put your hands on that girl you will be grounded and spanked, am I clear?"

Maya blushed and looked around to see if anyone heard. "Understood."

"You could be kicked off of your teams too, at the very least you would be benched for the week." Cory told her.

Maya bit her lip, she hadn't considered that. "I hear you Uncle Cory."

"Do you?" He asked.

"I do, It's just hard to see Riley so upset."

"I know but there are always going to be other girls, it's a good lesson to learn early." Cory told her. "Missy is also your volleyball teammate. You need to respect that bond too."

"Yes sir." Maya agreed.

At lunch when Missy and Lucas got detention, Riley really started going crazy. "Maya do something," she whined.

"I can't have detention right now Riles, what if they bench me?" Maya asked.

"They wont! Besides Monday is the only day you don't have practice or a game, so it's a good day!"

"Riley your dad has already told me to stay out of this." Maya said. "I don't want to be grounded either…and Missy is my teammate."

"I'm sorry you are too popular to help me now. I hate sports!" Riley pouted.

That was a knife in Maya's chest. She pulled Riley in for a hug. "Shhh…Honey, I will fix this, just give me time to think about how to do it without us getting in trouble."

"Really?" Riley asked.

"Really." Maya said, know it wad sealing her fate.

"Oh peaches! You're the best!" Riley said.

Maya had bid her time through the afternoon. She waited until art and tripped while putting away supplies and spilled red paint all over Missy's white shorts she had changed into after the "food fight".

"You did that on purpose!" Missy cried, pointing at Maya.

"I did not!" Maya said, and she worked hard to look innocent.

Miss Kossal walked up, "What happened here?"

"Maya poured this paint on me!" Missy cried.

"She tripped!" Riley defended.

"No she didn't!" Missy cried.

"It was an accident." Maya assured.

"Alright, let's get you cleaned up Missy." Miss Kossal turned to grab a towel, and Maya turned around to thumbs up Riley.

With both distracted, Missy grabbed a couple cups of paint and threw them on Maya "opps…that was an accident too." Missy said.

Before she could think Maya shoved Missy backwards. "You asshole!"

Missy shoved Maya back before the teacher could intervene. "Leave her alone, you….assclown!" Riley snapped. Trying to think of the worst thing she could call the other girl. Maya tried hard not to roll her eyes. She was suddenly realizing how serious this all was.

Lucas was holding Maya's arms to make sure that she didn't push back. Farkle hesitated behind Riley.

In seemingly no time the three girls were sitting on a bench outside of the principals office while he spoke to both sets of parents.

After about twenty minutes they called in all three. "Alright, girls." Mr. Yancy said. "We have come to an agreement. Riley for your part in this, you will have detention the rest of the week, we do not tolerate that language."

Riley looked like she wanted to object, but Topanga's firm grip kept her from speaking.

"Missy and Maya, you will both be benched the next two weeks from sports, and you will be suspended from school for the next three days. The sports suspension will start when you get back to school, so two weeks from Friday will be the first day you can play again, if the coach allows."

"Yes sir." Maya whispered. "I'm sorry." She turned to Missy, "I'm sorry Missy, it won't happen again."

"Mr. Yancy!" Missy snapped, "She spilled paint on me! I was defending myself!"

"Everyone in the room agreed that Maya tripped Missy." He told her.

"I can't miss that much volleyball!" Missy cried.

"Missy," Her dad started.

"It's not fair!" Missy cried.

"Thank you for your time, Mr. Yancy, Mr. and Mrs. Bradford, I assure you this will be taken care of and will never happen again." Topanga said. "Are we okay to go home and talk about this as a family?"

"Yes, of course, thank you both for coming down. Maya and Missy's teachers complied their homework, it should be with Miss Billings at the front desk."

"Maya will be gone for the full week, can you have the rest of her homework emailed to Cory?" Topanga asked.

"Uh…yes ma'am," He said. He wanted to point out that suspension wasn't a vacation, but Topanga wasn't someone to mess with.

"Thank you, I will make sure it's completed." Cory said darkly. Both adults shook the principals hand before steering the girls out of the office.

When they got out to the cars, Topanga stopped them. "Your dad is going to drop you both off at the apartment to shower while he goes to get Auggie. Riley, you will stand in the corner in our room after and wait for us to get home. Maya pack a bag for the week." Topanga told them.

"Are you sending her away?" Riley asked surprised.

"Have your bag packed." Topanga said again. She climbed into her car and drove away.

"Dad?" Riley asked uncertainly.

"Hush Riley, come on, lets go." Cory said, annoyed.

When the girls got to the apartment, they stopped in the doorway. "What are you thinking peaches?"

"That we need to shower, and I need to pack." Maya said, pulling away.

"Maya…" Riley called after her.

Maya sighed, "I'm okay Riles, wherever they send me I will be fine." Maya grabbed a pair of jeans and Janis Joplin shirt to change into after her shower and went to go clean off. Since she didn't know where she was going she packed both pants and shorts. Riley had tried to talk to her, but Maya had shooed her away and told her to listen to her parents. She was standing over her half packed duffle when a sigh made her jump and turn around.

Topanga reached out and pulled the girl into a hug, "How's packing going?"

Maya leaned into the comfort. "it would go better if I knew where I was going."

Topanga nodded at that. She sat on the girls bed and looked through the bag, still holding both of the girls arms. "I think this actually looks pretty good. Throw in a couple pairs of sneakers and you are golden." Maya started to pull away to grab the shoes, but Topanga kept her grip on the girl. "This is just a trip, Maya."

"Okay…" Maya said slowly.

" We are not sending you away, you are a part of this family. This is just a trip." Topanga told her again.

Maya's face burned with embarrassment at that statement. "Understood."

"No my love, look up at me." Topanga said. Maya slowly met her eyes. "You are so loved, and I really think this trip will be good for you. Cory isn't so sure, and you know how I hate when he's right." She reached out and swept Maya's hair from her face. "So do me a favor and try to make the best of this."

Maya smiled a little. "I will try."

Topanga pulled her in for another hug, "I know my warrior."

"Are you going to spank me before I go?" Maya rushed out the question running around her head.

"I was going to see if you still needed one when you came back." Topanga told her honestly.

Maya looked confused at this. "Are we ready?" Cory asked, "we need to leave soon."

Topanga stood up and reached into her pocket, pulling out a compass necklace and fastening it around Maya's neck. "I was going to give you this at the end of the sports season, but I think you may need it on this trip. Remember that your future is yours to make Maya." She kissed the side of the girls face. "Go grab those shoes, and then you'll be ready."

"Yes ma'am." Maya said, doing as she was bid before she zipped her bag up. "Can I say bye to Riley?"

"No," Topanga said. "If you and Riley can do good, then we will let you talk Wednesday night, but not before."

"But we will call you later tonight." Cory told her. "Let's go honey."

They rode in silence to the airport, and Maya was surprised to be there. "Am I going on a plane?" Maya asked.

"Yes." Cory said shortly. After he parked he turned to Maya, "I would like for you to give this a try, but if you get there and you need to come home, then we are only a phone call away. I will come for you Maya."

"Thank you, Uncle Cory." Maya said softly.

Cory walked her up to the security area. A tall man approached them. "Cory! How are you doing son?"

"Doing well Jed!" Cory said, squeezing the man back.

"Is this the famous Maya?" He asked, patting her shoulder.

"This is her. Alright, Jed. I told her that if she needs to, she can call and I will come and get her."

Jed patted Maya's back, "I'm sure she won't need to, in fact, why don't you hand your phone over honey."

"Uh…I'm not sure that's such a good idea…" Cory said.

"Cory, I raised up two girls without these fancy things. If she needs you, she can call from the house phone. Hand it over, honey."

Maya looked over at Cory confused. "Yes Sir." She took her phone out and gave it to Cory. "Where are we going?"

"We have a ranch down in North Carolina." The man said.

"I'm sorry, sir, but who is we?" Maya asked.

"Ah sorry, Maya, this is Jedidiah, Topanga's dad." Cory introduced.

"Oh, hello." Maya said nervously.

He laughed "Hello. You can call me Grandpa J or Jed."

"Alright Maya, we are going to fly out Saturday to come get you, and then we will all fly home Sunday night. Be good for Jed and his wife Amy, remember he raised Topanga and he has full rights to punish you if he needs to." Cory told her.

Maya looked wearily at the older man. "Yes sir."

"We will be fine son. Don't worry about us. We will see you all Saturday." Jed said.

Cory pulled Maya in for a tight hug, he wasn't sure how he had let Topanga talk him into this. "And you will call when you get to the ranch tonight?"

"Sure, sure."

"I love you Maya." Cory said, reluctantly letting go.

"Love you too Uncle Cory," Maya said. She got into line to go through security with Jed and Cory quickly left so that he wouldn't change his mind.