"Four, five, six, and as usual I will choose the fatherhood path," Cory announced to the group as he took his turn. He was still considered to be a pain in the butt to a majority of people in the room, but now that he was in game mode it made him easier to deal with. "Bing, bing, bing, bing. And the pink square means...I get a daughter."
"Actually sir, Farkle and I already own that square," Lucas pointed out. They had purchased that square two turns ago per Farkle's instance for total domination over the game. Lucas had wondered if he had gotten the game confused with Monopoly.
"So?" Cory questioned, not understanding the big deal.
"So, your daughter is ours," Lucas continued. Riley smiled widened at the thought of her being Lucas'.
"Excuse me," Cory said. He thought by having Riley on his team that meant he protected her from leaving him to go with her friends. Though he did not loose Riley, only his fake daughter in the game, the implication of losing his daughter to friends let alone boys terrified him, especially Lucas. He had noticed Riley and Lucas making googly eyes during class.
"Let him talk," Riley insisted, shushing her father to listen to Lucas.
"According to the game, we get your daughter," Lucas explained.
"Josh!" Cory exclaimed, hoping his son would clear this up or at least lie in his favor.
"She's not Riley Matthews anymore, my dear old Dad," Josh began. "She's now Mrs. Dr. Howdy Turtleneck."
Cory was fuming. He was ready to pounce on Farkle and Lucas. Cory lunged towards the boys and had to be restrained by Josh, Riley, Maya, and Shawn. He put up a good fight, Shawn had to acknowledge. Cory was about to rip someone's head off. Shawn pushed Cory back down to his seat.
"My turn," Ava said, tired of Cory's antics. It was her turn anyway and she came to play and win. "I pick six."
"Uh, Ava you need to roll the dice," Topanga reminded. This wasn't the first time during the night that Ava had decided to pick a number rather than roll the dice. Ava's disregard for the rules had bothered Topanga.
Topanga played fairly and won every time by playing by the rules. Ava was cheating and Topanga was losing because of it. She knew her son could not stand cheaters. He absolutely hated when Maya cheated in games. Therefore, Topanga could not believe that Auggie was condoning Ava's behavior.
"One, two, three four five six," Ava said, moving her game piece on the board.
"Josh, objection!" Topanga exclaimed, turning to her oldest. While Cory's objection earlier was uncalled for, Topanga's had basis as there was a lack of rule following.
"I'm going to allow it," Josh replied.
"Why?" Topanga questioned. There were no grounds for picking your own number. The dice had to be rolled. It was how the game worked. So why was Josh choosing Ava's side rather than hers?
"Because she cracks me up," Josh admitted. Auggie sure knew how to pick women. Ava was something else. There interactions all night had added some lighthearted humor amongst the craziness his father had put him through.
"I get a..." Ava trailed, selecting a card from the nearby pile. "Make your own luck card. Take over someone's family business. Choose one player to send back to start. I choose...hmm..." Ava grinned and smiled at Topanga. Topanga rolled her eyes; she should have known this was coming. "One Topanga, two Topanga, three Topanga, four. Five Topanga, six Topanga, seven Topanga, or...Topanga!"
The vein on Topanga's forehead was ready to pop out and burst. She never wanted to violently hurt another human being, except maybe Eric on occasion, but Ava was making it very hard.
"Topanga, does someone need to calm down?" Cory asked, poking fun. He had heard those words earlier in the night from his wife. It was nice for once to see how the tables had turned since that rarely happened.
"I do not need to calm down," Topanga insisted as she practiced the breathing exercise she learned in birthing class years ago.
"Just breathe," Katy coached, helping Topanga. Topanga was supposed to be the grounded one with her. Katy couldn't be the only one who hadn't gone insane by the end of the night.
"This had to be done, mommy," Auggie said, patting his mother on the arm. There comes a point in every man's life where he must break away from his family and forage his own path with a family of his own. Today was that day for August Matthews.
"It's okay, my lovebug," Topanga assured. Though she was angry at Ava, she could not be angry at Auggie. He was simply too cute. "Luckily, my team always wins. And speaking of teams, it looks like Shawn and Maya are up."
"You're turn kiddo," Shawn said to Maya, urging her to make a play. Maya rolled the dice and took a corresponding card. She didn't say much which confused Shawn. "Everything okay?"
"Dad, you know how much I love you right," Maya began.
"What does the card say?" Shawn asked, cutting all the crap Maya was laying on. He knew his daughter loved him, but when she made a comment like that in the middle of the game, he knew it was no good. Something bad must have happened. "Get to the point."
"I have a go to Europe with a friend card. Riley's ahead of us and I've never been to Europe. Therefore, I am going to Europe," Maya said leaving her father's side and going to Riley's. She was in it to win and right now, Riley was winning.
"Wait, you're leaving me?" Shawn clarified.
"Yup," Maya nodded. She didn't she the point, it was just a game.
"Wait, you're leaving me?" Shawn repeated.
"Oh no," Maya complained. She had realized that perhaps she had gone too far, but it was too later to turn back. She made her bed and now she must lie in it. And she was in for it with Shawn. The last time she saw her dad this way was when he had thought she was skipping Cyclone Day for a school dance. Shawn never was one to freak out like Cory, but it was inevitable at this point. "Here it comes."
"I am your father. I have your absolute love and loyalty. Therefore, why would you ever leave me? What do your friends offer that I can't? My whole life for the past thirteen years has been dedicated to you," Shawn rattled off. It was just a silly game, but now he understood where Cory's concerns were coming from.
"Well, this game just got real," Josh commented as the role of game show host required him to. "Will the daughter go off on her own or does the father hold on to her forever?"
"Partners?" Maya asked Riley.
"Forever," Riley assured her friend.
"Maya?" Shawn asked as a last ditch effort to convince her to stay.
"Dad, get a grip. It's just a game. I'm doing what we were set on doing which is win," Maya explained. She knew once the words left her mouth that it was not just a game and maybe winning didn't mean everything, but it was too late to take any of it back.
"Not without me," Shawn pointed out, pouting. Sure, Shawn wanted to win, but the win would have meant so much more if he could have done it with Maya.
"Hey, Shawnie," Cory smiled softly. With Maya taking his spot as Riley's partner that left Cory to go back to his original teammate. "You and me. Let's win this thing."
"Okay, with the recent shake up in teams, we will have a five minute break for team strategy talk," Josh announced. When he noticed no one left their spots in the living room, he gave them an extra push. "Which means you cannot waste another second."
The teams departed from the living room and split up to devise a new game plan. Depending on how they played it, the next round could determine who wins and who loses.
"What do you got?" Riley asked, eagerly. Her and Maya were going to curse everyone else.
"We're destroying our parents," Maya pointed out. Cory was at his wits end. Topanga was going to murder Ava. And Shawn was only in the beginning stages of his massive freak out. The only one who seemed unaffected and knew that this was only a game was Katy.
"That's the object of the game," Riley argued. Yes, Maya did want to win, but she could see the ramifications it was having. It had gone too far. "Oh, come on, Maya. It's not like we're actually going backpacking through Europe. We should definitely go backpacking through Europe. And we'll bring Lucas and Farkle to Europe."
"Yeah, and we'll bring our parents," Maya added.
"Why would you want to bring our parents...oh. I get it. This isn't a game to them at all, is it?" Riley asked for clarification. They were afraid of them growing up just like Cyclone Day.
"No, it isn't," Maya confirmed. While Riley had two other brothers, Maya just had herself. She was her parent's only kid and they loved and doted on her. So the thought of losing her scared Shawn and Katy, but more so Shawn than his wife, to death. And with Riley being the only girl of the Matthews, Cory and Topanga felt similarly.
"Then how do we possibly win?" Riley asked. She knew Maya wanted to win, it would be virtually impossible to do so if they appeased their parents.
"You don't win," Maya said. Sometimes winning wasn't everything. She couldn't believe she was saying that. "You just play with them, Riley. It's game night. Their favorite night of the month."
"I just thought you get more time with them," Shawn said freaking out. He didn't understand why Cory was freaking out earlier until it happened to him. Who knew game night could bring out so many fears and emotions.
"Their twelve, and then their gonna be gone in a blink," Cory aided in Shawn's freak out. It was never a good thing when both of them were in turmoil together.
"We were a team and now she's run off with her friends," Shawn said. Cory occupied Shawn's spot as partner every game night and was excited when he got the opportunity to be paired up with his daughter, even if he was her second choice to Josh. It was more time Shawn could spend with her. "How do we deal with it?"
"Shawn, we've been a team all our lives, so now we're a team in this game. Cory and Shawn. That's not so bad, is it?" Cory asked, trying to take on the role as the calm one.
"You just get so much time with them. You see the girls during the morning, afternoon, and night practically everyday. I'm lucky if I can see Maya at night. I miss so much, Cor, cause of my job. I'm not ready for her to go," Shawn admitted. Though he didn't out right say it, he was jealous of Cory. Cory's job was more typical and a rigid schedule. There were even the perks of seeing his daughter. Due to Shawn's unconventional job, he was traveling and would go days without seeing his daughter sometimes. "I just want to know that I've made an impression on her."
"Ha," Cory laughed. "I think out of the two of us, you have made the most impression on your child. I would even argue that you made a bigger impression on Josh than me, but Maya is you. She's the reimagined version of Shawn Hunter, the trailer park kid from Philadelphia." Cory paused. "Every parent I know who has kids this age tells me this is when they head towards their friends. But eventually, they make their way back."
"Then why the freak out?" Shawn questioned. If Cory knew all this then why was throwing such a childish tantrum earlier.
"Have you met me? I can't take my own advice," Cory admitted. Though he knew everything would be alright, it didn't make the pain any less. "Oh, look at that. They're already back."
"Break's over. Game on!" Josh announced, calling everyone back to the living room.
After a couple turns and fair playing, the group was growing anxious. They were close to the end and they were on the edge of their seat to see who would win and would finally end the game.
"Someone has to get a twelve," Lucas said. He was tired and wanted to go home to see his mama.
"Anything but a twelve," Cory hoped. Him and Shawn weren't too far behind Riley and Maya and the girls were on their turn.
"Nobody throw a twelve," Topanga insisted. She did not want to lose. Although, she was proud that her daughter had learned from her and used her skills to win.
"Twelve!" Riley cheered.
"Oh, thank goodness. It's over," Lucas said happily, about ready for his head to collapse off the coffee table.
"No, it's not," Riley clarified. During her team meeting with Maya, they decided that maybe tonight was the night the played the long game. Their fathers obviously valued family game night, why not extend it. It wasn't always about winning. "We're not going for the success square. We're going for the circle in the middle."
"We are going to play the long game," Maya smiled.
"What? You could have win," Topanga asked. Maybe she did not teach her daughter well.
"Dude, why would you do that?" Josh asked, bring his ladle between the girls hoping they would put in their input.
"Because tonight the family game is not about winning," Riley explained.
"What?!" Shawn and Topanga questioned.
"Mom and Uncle Shawn, we were only trying to beat you because we want you guys to be proud of us," Riley answered.
"You do?" Topanga asked, flattered.
"Is that true kiddo?" Shawn implored.
"Yeah," Maya reluctantly acknowledged. She hated being open and all mushy gushy, especially with her feelings. "I want to be like you."
"You do?" Shawn asked.
"Yeah, I mean I've heard the stories about the kid who blew up that mailbox and would do anything for his friends, including dressing up as Veronica for his best friend's column in the school paper," Maya explained.
"Veronica?" Josh questioned.
"I told you to tell no one about that," Shawn said in a hushed tone. Of course Katy, Cory, and Topanga knew, but he didn't want the kids to think of him as less than cool for dressing up like a woman to help Cory's column.
"I know," Maya teased. Even in a sentimental moment, she liked to cause mayhem.
"So tonight, let's find out what happens when you play the long game," Riley said, turning everyone's attention back to the game.
"I'm never gonna see my mama again," Lucas complained. In retrospect, he probably shouldn't have accepted Riley's offer to game night. He would be safely at home and not under the scrutiny of Mr. Matthews if he just stayed far away.
"In the long game, the players all play together to conquer the game itself," Josh said, reading the directions from the back of the box as he never played the long game before.
"So we're all on one big team then?" Auggie asked.
"If you'll let us be," Maya smiled.
"And Dad, I promise that nobody is going anywhere," Riley assured Cory.
"Well, Riley, you know what?" Cory looked over to Maya, Lucas, and Farkle who were waiting patiently to begin the long game. "If these are the people you've chosen to leave us for someday, they're welcome to play with us anytime."
"You've made some wonderful choices," Topanga said. Maya was already apart of the family. Farkle had known the family since he was a baby. And though Lucas was new to the friend group, he was the fourth member the trio needed in their lives, often acting as the level headed one in the craziness, kind of like her.
"You're gonna buy the friends game?" Riley asked ever so hopeful that her father changed his mind.
"Yeah," Cory agreed. Maybe it was time for a new game every once in a while.
"Can we play that one with you guys?" Auggie asked. He loved game night and like playing with Riley and her friends. They made it more fun and made his dad act funny. Auggie liked when he was funny.
"Anytime you want," Maya replied. "So who's joining us?"
Everyone agreed to play the long game and its name did not disappoint. They had started game night late that night, but the long game had taken them into the morning. The kids and parents were trying their hardest to stay awake. It was not going too well, except for one eager game show host.
"Well, birds are chirping," Josh said, softly because if he spoke too loudly again, his dad would throw another pillow at him. He walked around the living room and everyone tried their hardest to fight off sleep. "Sounds of a sleepy city coming to life as the sun peeks its smiling face..." Maya smiled at Josh in her sleep daze. "Yeah, okay." Josh continued with his previous statement. "...upon ten tired game players. And if Auggie Matthews can roll a two, then we will finally find out what happens when you win the long game."
"Nobody can roll a two," Farkle said. While there was a possibility that a two could be rolled, a one out of six chance was not very likely.
"We pick two," Ava decided.
"You know what, Ava?" Topanga said. "I finally like you."
"Okay," Ava shrugged.
The game was finally over after ten grueling hours. Thus being signified with the game chiming.
"That's it?" Katy cocked her head. Not that impressive, if you asked her.
But that wasn't it. The game chimed again and it began to whir. The success squares had lightened up with color and the triumphant sound was replaced with mystical music.
"And as everyone is joined together, we see that in the long game, friends become family," Josh said, ending his bout as game show host.
"It's not a game at all. What is it, mommy?" Auggie asked.
"It's life," Topanga answered.
"Life is the long game?" Auggie clarified, not sure what that meant.
"Yeah, bubba," Topanga smiled. "Life is the long game."
"Maya," Josh addressed the young blonde and sat down next to her. "You do understand I'm too old for you?"
"I do, Josh, I know that," Maya acknowledged. She never once had not known that. Josh always reminded her of it. A thirteen-year-old and a fifteen-year-old just didn't sound right.
"Good," Josh smiled. Finally after years of trying to get it through Maya's head she understood what he was trying to say. Truthfully he never thought this day would come. Relieved, he sat down beside her.
"But I'm in it for the long game," Maya grinned. It didn't matter if it was tomorrow, a year from now, or ten years from now, she would wait as long as it took for Josh Matthews to see her the way she saw him.