Author's Note: Hi all! Here is the next chapter! This is based on another episode in Girl Meets World. They're all at the ski lodge, and Lucas finally works out who he likes with the help of Josh.

CHAPTER NINE

Maya and Riley finally reached high school. Maya recently celebrated her sixteenth birthday and Riley had big plans for her upcoming birthday.

But for now, here they all were in school, waiting to go on a trip to the ski lodge. One of Cory's worst nightmares - which was also becoming Maya, Riley and Lucas' worst nightmare due to the mention of the undefeated triangle.

Cory was going on a tangent about nature in front of the class, mainly human nature, when he approached his two daughters and the one guy they both liked.

"It's this three-headed creeping triangle that won't die that concerns me." He expressed, watching the dreaded look appear on all three faces.

"Why do you have to…" Riley started.

"Bring that up…" Maya continued.

"For." Lucas finished with a shrug, looking over at his teacher.

Cory looked around at the three kids, "because the triangle is going to the great outdoors. So we are gonna need some great chaperons." He concluded.

"We got this completely under control, Matthews," Maya began, "my human nature is completely under control," she continued pointing at herself, "and there's nothing or nobody who could ever change that." She finished, looking up at the older man, with a smile.

"Hey kiddies," Josh greeted entering the classroom with a beaming smile.

Maya looked over at him and immediately acted all giddy, giggling nervously as she said, "I'm wrong."

"Here we go," Riley sighed, clasping her hands together on her desk.

Lucas looked up at Josh with a hard stare, he didn't like the guy as it was. Maybe it was because Maya liked both him and Josh? He didn't know.

"You're my chaperone," Maya said, still giddy, Josh simply bowed slightly and smiled.

Topanga then walked in and stood next to Josh, "I invited him."

"I love you." Maya called, looking at the older woman with another beaming smile.

"I'm coming too," Topanga said, looking around at all the kids. Cory approached his wife and brother with a smile.

"I invited her," he looked over at the kids, "I'm smart."

"We'll be watching over you." Topanga said, crossing her arms.

Josh then spoke up, "my names Josh and I'll be with you all day and all night, so no monkey business." He finished pointing at them all.

Maya smiled and started imitating a monkey, Riley looked to the side with an almost cringe/concerned look. She really acted differently around guys she liked.

They soon piled onto the coach, Maya and Riley sat together (why wouldn't they), and Lucas sat on the opposite side of Maya and Riley with Zay, and Farkle and Smackle sat behind them all.

Eventually they made it to the ski lodge, unfortunately Riley managed to twist her ankle while getting off the coach. How? They did not know.

Riley noticed a bay window as soon as she got into the lodge and pulled Maya over to it, they both sat down with Lucas joining them.

The triangle was back on, confirmed by Maya finding herself again. When Lucas mentioned one slight problem, Josh was with them for the trip.

They all watched as Josh walked in behind the rest of the kids, and she looked over at Lucas and gripped his hoodie, pulling him slightly closer.

"Hey, Boing has nothing to do with this, okay? He's just a fantasy," she said, pointing over at the older guy, "you don't go out with a fantasy, you only think about him all the time, what's the matter with you?"

Lucas rolled his eyes, "yeah I'm really messed up." He sarcastically responded before Maya released her grip on his hoodie.

The next day came around, Maya was sitting alone at the bay window, she and Riley were trying to get to the bottom of the triangle once and for all which didn't work out too well.

"Mind if I join you?" Maya looked over and smiled when she saw Josh standing there, she nodded and he sat down beside her.

"What do you want to talk about?" She asked, clasping her hands together in her lap, looking at him.

He sighed, "why do you like me, Maya?"

She furrowed her brows at the question, "what?"

"Why do you like me?" He asked again, "and why do you like Lucas?"

Maya was speechless for a moment and shrugged, "I don't know… I guess you both are amazing guys who would do anything for anyone." She shook her head, "why're you asking me this?"

Josh frowned as he shrugged, "I just wanted to know what it was about us you liked."

The blonde nodded slowly, "right… and it has nothing to do with the fact you like me back."

Josh smiled as he glanced away, "you're smiling," Maya noticed, a smile of her own growing.

He looked back over at her, "you once said you were playing the long game."

Their eyes met, a gaze that could not be broken. "I like you, Josh." He somehow looked deeper into her eyes.

"I think I like you too," he admitted making Maya smile even more, "but I also know you like Lucas…" her smile faltered slightly. "So how about this…" he began, her ears immediately perked up. "I'm willing to play the long game."

She looked at him confused, "the long game?" She clarified.

Josh nodded, "I want you to enjoy high school, date people, be happy…and if it turns out Lucas likes you back then go for it…I don't want you to wait for me, Maya." He finished, reaching out to hold her hand.

Maya looked at their entwined hands and smiled before looking back up to his eyes, "long game?" She asked.

He looked down at their hands and back to her blue eyes, he sighed, "long game." He echoed, as long as Maya knew that the potential of something or nothing could happen, he was okay with that.

Their hands released as they shared a final smile, and Maya got up to walk away from him, a smile sitting on her face.

She walked past Cory who saw a moment of their interaction from the staircase, and he saw the smile she had. He knew something had happened, and he knew he had to stop it from escalating.

Josh watched her walk away and smiled, but before he could do anything else his brother was suddenly in his view sitting beside him where Maya was moments ago.

"What just happened between you and Maya?" He questioned, nervously.

"Nothing, not really anyway." He replied, wondering why his brother was acting so weird.

"You cannot pursue anything with Maya." Cory told him in a rush.

Josh appeared confused, "well you can relax for now because Maya's still sixteen and she likes Lucas as well." He responded, standing up from his seat.

Cory looked at him with worry, "for now?" He repeated.

The younger man nodded looking down at his older brother, "yeah, for now. We both know we like each other and three years isn't a lot when you're older. I've told her to have fun in high school… I don't want Maya to wait for something that may never happen. So, we've agreed to play the long game." He finished, cleaning the area of discarded books, completely missing Cory looking more nervous than ever.

Cory gulped, "Josh, you don't understand. You and Maya can never be a couple, never be together."

He finally looked back over at his brother in confusion, "why?"

The words were on the tip of his tongue, he wanted nothing more than to tell him the secret he'd been keeping for so long but doing so felt like the end of existence for him.

Josh simply huffed heading off upstairs but Cory stood up and held out his hands to stop him from leaving, "I need to talk to Topanga, wait here." Without room for argument, he bolted to his and Topanga's bedroom while a confused Josh sat back down.

He entered to find Topanga organising their clothes for their three day trip, he closed the door with a start behind him.

"Something awful has happened," Cory began watching his wife drop the clothes she was holding and give him her full attention.

"Are the kids okay? We didn't lose anyone did we?" She asked frantically.

Cory shook his head, "no, no. Nothing like that… or well I hope." Topanga rolled her eyes a little at him before picking up the clothes again, "it's about Maya."

"What about Maya? Did the triangle finally break?" She wondered, putting the clothes into the draw.

"No, not yet anyway. Something happened between Maya and Josh." This finally got her attention as her head whipped around to look at her husband, Cory would've thought she got whiplash from the action.

"What exactly happened between them?" She questioned while Cory paced frantically.

"They admitted they liked each other, they're playing the long game."

"The long game?"

Cory nodded, "they're on about eventually becoming a couple… when the time was right."

Topanga held her head in her hands, letting out a deep breath before looking back at her husband who stared intently at the floor. "You know what we have to do."

He looked back at his wife, shaking his head. "We can't, Topanga."

She sighed, "it's either we tell Josh the truth or let them become a couple." She stepped closer to him, "and you know how wrong it'll be if we let that happen." He let out a breath and nodded, they could do this, they had to do this.

"I'll go get Josh, we'll tell him in here. Where there will be no prying ears." Topanga said as she left the room to fetch Josh, who was even more confused when she ushered him into their room.

"What's going on?" Josh asked, seeing how worried his brother appeared to be.

Topanga closed the door behind them all, "take a seat, Josh." He looked at her confused but nonetheless sat down on the edge of their bed.

Cory didn't speak, his gaze resided on the floor.

"Cory?" Topanga called, he looked at his wife who gave him a reassuring smile telling him he could do this. This wasn't even the hard part.

He finally looked at his younger brother, closing his eyes briefly as he looked up at the ceiling, taking a deep breath before looking back at him. "There's something you need to know about Maya." Josh looked at him intrigued, "I'm not sure how you're going to react to this, but you have to promise me you won't tell anyone else about this. Especially Maya. This stays between the three of us."

Josh eyed him carefully but nodded along anyway, how bad could this be?

Cory glanced down at the ground one final time, "Riley isn't your only niece."

"What do you mean?" Josh asked even more confused. His brother didn't answer, "Cory?" Josh called.

Cory looked back at him, "Maya is also your niece."

Josh furrowed his brow, "if you mean Maya is like my niece, you know I've never seen her that way." He let out a sad laugh.

His older brother shook his head, "Maya… she's… she's my daughter."

The married couple watched as Josh turned from confused to shocked, neither knew what reaction to expect from him.

"You mean… Maya's really my niece?" Josh clarified, hoping he'd heard incorrectly.

Both of them nodded, and Topanga stepped forward. "Do you see why we haven't wanted either of you to pursue your relationship?"

Josh looked over at her but didn't say anything and looked back at his brother, "and you never told anyone else this secret? Not Maya, not Riley, not our parents?" Cory shook his head, looking down in shame. Josh suddenly stood up and rubbed the back of his head, "you cheated on your wife… with Katy?" Cory nodded, he felt too ashamed to look his brother in the eyes.

He let out another sad laugh as he ran his hands down his face, taking in the news. The girl he thought he liked was his niece. How wrong it would've been if they got together. He crossed his arms looking back at Cory.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner? I would've never got these feelings if you had just told me." Josh exclaimed, Cory knew he messed up big time. But he never thought his brother and daughter would have feelings for each other.

"We're sorry, Josh-" Topanga started but Josh cut her off, looking over at her.

"How can you be okay with this? Your husband cheated on you and got another woman pregnant! Who's best friends with your daughter!" He whisper yelled.

Topanga nodded, "I know how bad the situation sounds, and believe me I've had plenty of time to be angry with Cory. For my entire pregnancy I was mad at him," she explained before looking at him softly as she reached forward to hold her husband's hand, "but out of a horrible situation we got another little girl, who we both love to death." Cory looked at her with a smile. If you told him years ago Topanga would be okay with him after his affair, he wouldn't have believed you.

Josh nodded once, looking between his siblings. "Are you planning to ever tell Maya? After all, she deserves to know who her real father is."

Cory looked over at him, "we made a deal with Katy years ago…" he trailed off but shook his head, "I don't know how much longer this secret will stay a secret for, but Maya has us in her life. Whether she knows we're related to her or not, because to her we are and always will be a family. She just doesn't know how close we all really are, and for now we're keeping it that way."

"We just don't want you and Maya to continue with this. It cannot happen and you know that now." Josh nodded, looking down, "you don't have to tell her anything, just keep your distance until the feelings subside."

Josh smiled sadly, "I don't think I can do that, at least not without explaining to her why."

Topanga shook her head, "Josh you know you can't tell her anything about what we just told you." She explained.

"And I won't," Josh began, "but I need to tell her something… anything. Because you both know as well as I do that even if I stop liking Maya, she won't. You know her, you know what she's like."

Cory and Topanga looked at each other, they both knew even if they didn't see each other that Maya would continue pining over Josh. Especially if they're playing the long game. He was right, he needed to tell her something.

"Okay," Cory responded looking back at Josh, "but you need to think about what you're going to say to her without hurting her." Josh nodded.

"The last thing I ever want to do is hurt her," he concluded, beginning to head out of their bedroom before looking back at the couple, "thank you for telling me, Cory." He managed to smile a little before leaving and closing the door behind him.

Cory sighed and released his wife's hand, running them down his face as he felt he could finally breathe again.

"At least now we know nothing more will happen between them." Topanga stated, looking at her husband who still held his head in his hands, she reached up and rubbed his back soothingly.

He finally let go and rested his chin on his hand, "I should've told Josh sooner," he began, "then Maya wouldn't get hurt." Topanga shook her head.

"You couldn't have predicted that this would happen, Cory." Cory looked over at Topanga.

"But I did," she looked at him confused, "all those years ago when I first thought something was off between them… I knew something bad would happen if I didn't intervene then."

Topanga sadly smiled, "Maya was only thirteen at the time, Cory. We both knew nothing would happen because Josh was seventeen, and even if they weren't related, there was no way any of us would've allowed them to be together."

Cory nodded with a sigh, "I guess you're right."

"I always am," Topanga teased making Cory smile, she pulled him closer for a hug, she knew he needed one in that moment. In her own way she was proud of him for telling his brother, even if it was a long road until Maya found out, that was one more person who forgave Cory for his actions nearly two decades ago. Topanga was sure that even once the secret got out, everyone would eventually forgive him. Even Maya, because after all, Maya and Cory's relationship was powerful enough to overcome this.

Meanwhile, Josh went back to where he and Maya sat moments ago. He needed to think first before he spoke to Maya. He held his head in his hands knowing she was going to get hurt either way. It was the last thing he ever wanted to do but he knew it was for the best.

Lucas suddenly appeared and Josh looked up, "Lucas!" Josh called, ushering the younger man to him. Lucas walked over to him and sat down on the couch to the side of him.

"What's up?" Lucas asked, weary of where the conversation was going.

Josh silently gulped, this was the only way for Maya to stop liking him. If she knew Lucas returned her feelings.

"Have you chosen between Maya and Riley yet?" Lucas sighed and glanced down at the floor. He looked back at him and shook his head.

"When I think I finally know who I like… something else happens." He finished with a shrug.

Josh nodded, clasping his hands together. "Well the question is, who do you find yourself thinking you like more, most of the time?"

Lucas went to speak but nothing came out, he sighed with a shrug as he looked at Josh. "All I know is that I don't want to hurt either of them. They're my friends and that'll never change."

They were both silent for a moment until Josh spoke, "you're a good guy, Lucas." He began, "and you know if you hurt one of them, you hurt both of them. That's why you can't make a decision."

Lucas shrugged, "yeah, I guess so," he sat in thought for a moment before shaking his head and looked at Josh, "why do you care so much about this? I mean, I would've thought you would've been pushing me towards Riley."

Josh shook his head with a smile, "I care about them both, just like you do." He began before changing the subject, "I'm the youngest in my family, well with my siblings anyway." Lucas nodded, not knowing where the story was going, "and because I'm the youngest, I've learned how to observe people in a way that they can't even figure out themselves. I see a lot more than you think."

"What does that have to do with anything?" He asked.

"You found out Riley was speaking to that kid for the entire night and you didn't do anything. You didn't say anything, didn't get jealous. You just stood on the stairs, with your friends and Riley's parents, you seemed almost happy that she was talking to another guy, almost like you didn't care." Josh explained.

Lucas shook his head, "I did care, of course I did."

Josh leaned closer, "I believe you did, but not in the way you think." Lucas looked confused, and slightly agitated, "see you're a protector. You protect your friends and family, you always have. And Riley of course is one of your closest friends… and knowing some strange guy was with her when anything could've happened, that would shake me let alone you." Lucas slowly began nodding along.

Josh rested his hands on his knees, "you saw me with Maya… you've seen me with her before, and everytime you do you get a little more jealous. Whether it's the thought of you knowing Maya has feelings for me, or that she's talking to another guy," Josh shrugged, "but regardless you didn't like her being around me."

Lucas sat there, making no movement to speak as the words were slowly sinking in.

"You can tell me I'm wrong, but I think you know I'm not." Lucas looked over at him, "I just want Maya and Riley to be happy, and only you can give them that. Whoever you choose, don't do it for the right reasons, follow your heart." Josh stood up and patted him on his back before walking away, letting out a deep breath as he did.

Everything he said was true, he knew Lucas liked Maya over Riley. And he knew if he didn't say anything that Lucas would end up choosing Riley for safety. He wouldn't get hurt with Riley and of course she'd never get hurt by him.

Josh began walking up the stairs, pausing to look down at Lucas who was ultimately deciding on what to do. He sadly smiled, whether it was enough for the triangle to end he didn't know.

After dinner that evening, everyone sat together around the fireplace playing some stupid board game. Lucas, Riley and Maya seemed very disinterested. It wasn't long before everyone began heading up to bed, they'd probably have more fun sleeping than playing the game.

Riley yawned as she stood up, heading up the stairs to bed. Maya was about to follow when a hand on her arm held her back. She looked back to find Lucas there, he seemed nervous.

"You coming, Maya?" Riley called from the stairs, Lucas let go of Maya's arm which luckily for them Riley didn't see as she rubbed her tired eyes.

"I'll meet you up there." Maya called back with a smile, Riley said goodnight to her before continuing up the stairs.

The blonde looked back at Lucas, "what is it?" She asked, crossing her arms.

"We need to talk," Lucas began, "about us." Maya uncrossed her arms as Lucas pulled her to the couch, both sitting side by side.

Lucas didn't continue his speech, he didn't know how to form the words.

"You've chosen Riley, haven't you?" She questioned, looking at him. He turned to look at her.

"What?" He responded, almost as if he didn't hear her.

"You chose Riley," Maya repeated, "I get it. She's the one you like, the one you want to be with."

Lucas shifted himself to look directly at Maya while shaking his head, "no, Maya. You've got this wrong." He began, she stared at him waiting for him to continue. He looked down at her hands and made the brave move to take hold of her left hand. He looked back at her eyes, "it's not Riley I like, I know that now."

She stared into his eyes, "what're you saying?"

"I like you, Maya. I think I always have." He concluded, a slight smile tracing his lips.

Maya sat in shock, and wanted to respond but nothing came out.

He moved slightly closer, "I know you like me, and you like Josh," he gestured with his head, "and the last thing I want to do is put pressure on you to choose, after all I've been in your position." A small smile traced their lips, and he looked deeper into her eyes, "I just want you to be happy, Maya."

Maya closed her eyes briefly before opening them and shaking her head, "what about Riley?"

Lucas sighed, "I'm not going to lie and say I never had feelings for Riley, because I did, in the beginning."

"What changed?"

He smiled, "the campfire." Maya looked down for a moment, "I'm not sure when I started liking you, but that night… it just made me realise that there was another side to you that not even Riley gets to see, and I wanted to be that person."

Maya let out a sad laugh, "you sure that wasn't because I was turning into Riley?" He shook his head, "let me ask you this, now I'm me again, the complete opposite of Riley, do you still have feelings for me? See that part that of me no one else can?"

"Yes," he said without hesitation, Maya darted between his eyes. Lucas sighed, "I like Riley, of course I do but only as a friend. I think it's always just been friendship for us. And I know it's taken me a long time to realise you're the one I like but I'm here now, telling you I like you."

Maya half smiled, spending a moment getting lost in his eyes before pulling away from the blonde boy and moving away an inch or two. She looked at his confused face.

"I like you too…" he smiled, "and I like Josh," his smile faltered so slightly, "and I can't hurt Riley, neither of us can."

"So what are you saying?"

Maya sighed, "I'm saying that it's best if we end the triangle." Lucas looked away, "We both know how we feel, isn't that enough for now?" He looked back at her.

"The triangle has gone on for so long, Maya. All we've all wanted is for a decision to be made, and I've made it. I've chosen you, Maya."

Maya took hold of his hand again, "and I'm saying that I need time to figure out my feelings." He looked down at the floor, "Josh and I… we had a moment tonight." Lucas slowly looked up at the girl he liked.

"What kind of moment?"

Maya bit her lip, "Josh admitted he liked me, and we agreed to play the long game." Lucas appeared confused.

"The long game?"

The blonde nodded, "yeah, in time we see where we're at in life, and if something happens then something happens." She finished with a shrug.

Lucas was even more confused. "But Josh spoke to me tonight, he said… things, and I came to the realisation that it was you I have feelings for."

Now it was Maya's turn to be confused, "did Josh tell you to tell me about your decision?"

Lucas shrugged, "he told me to follow my heart," Maya nodded, "I think you need to talk to him about this, Maya." She looked over at him, "I want you to choose me, of course I do but I don't want you to make a decision when you don't know the full story."

Maya nodded again, before standing up and heading upstairs. Lucas watched her as she left him alone, he let out a deep breath before making his own way to his room that he shared with Farkle.

The blonde ended up heading to Josh's room and knocked on his door, he opened it and looked confused when he saw Maya there.

"Maya? Everything okay?" He asked, silently hoping she was there for an emergency reason.

She however didn't respond to his question, "can I come in?" Josh looked around.

"I don't think it's a good idea for you to be alone with me in my room." He replied letting out a nervous laugh.

"We need to talk." Maya stated, Josh sighed and opened his door further letting Maya enter his room. She stood in the middle as Josh closed the door behind him.

She crossed her arms, "why did you tell Lucas to choose me?"

Josh sighed to himself and shrugged, "I know Lucas likes you, Maya. Everyone knows it apart from you two," he shrugged, "I'm sure Riley suspects it as well."

She shakes her head at him, "what happened to all that stuff we talked about? Us playing the long game? You admitting to liking me?" She questioned, he glanced down at the floor.

"Okay," Josh began looking back at her, "yes, all of that still stands. I like you, Maya." She half smiled, "but I know Lucas likes you and you like him as well." Josh shrugged, "Maybe our time wasn't meant to be, maybe I'm meant to remain a fantasy to you."

Maya looked tearfully at him, he knew he was breaking her heart somehow. It was inevitable.

"What if it's not Lucas who I'm supposed to end up with? What if it is meant to be you and me?" She questioned.

Josh sighed, "it's only you who can decide that, Maya. You have to be honest to yourself, if you like Lucas as much as he likes you then go for it. Be together. Be happy."

Maya nodded and swallowed thickly, "what about you? What about us?"

He shrugged with a smile, "no matter what happens, I'll always want to be in your life, Maya. You're my friend, we're stuck with each other." Maya let out a small laugh.

Josh opened his arms to share a hug with her, she smiled before walking towards him, enveloping each other for a tight hug. Josh rested his chin on the top of her head, his smile faded momentarily, he knew he was doing the right thing and that these feelings for Maya would die in time. She was his niece after all.

They pulled away and smiled at each other before she walked to his door, she turned back to him. "Goodnight, Josh."

"Night, Maya." Josh responded and watched as the blonde left his room. He let out a deep breath as he fell back onto his bed, laying there looking up at the ceiling.

He just wanted Maya to be happy, and he knew Lucas well enough that he would look after Maya. That's all he wanted.

The final day of their trip came around; and much like when they first arrived, Lucas, Maya and Riley were all sitting together at the bay window.

"Have you decided?" Riley questioned Lucas, who looked over at Maya. They had discussed it and Maya didn't want to pursue a relationship with Lucas until she was sure Riley would be okay. He understood, considering they were still young, they had plenty of time to be a couple. But for now, they would sacrifice their feelings for the sake of their friendship.

Lucas nodded, looking back at Riley. "We're all friends," he stated, "that's never going to change. No matter how we all feel."

"We know," Riley commented.

He looked between the two girls, "I have decided that… I can't choose." Riley looked at him in confusion.

"What do you mean?"

Lucas shrugged, "our friendship is more important than any feelings we all have. And I don't want to make a decision while we're all still young and barely know what liking someone truly means. I want us all to be kids, not rush into any decisions."

Riley looked over at Maya who simply shrugged, she looked back over at Lucas and nodded. "Triangle over?"

"Triangle over." Lucas responded, Riley looked over at Maya.

Maya sighed, "triangle over." She echoed, looking at Lucas who seemed to feel lighter somehow. Even if he didn't end up with Maya, he was glad to know their friendship would survive this.

Thank you for reading! Lucas finally realised he likes Maya! Yes, I know in the show it is Riley and Lucas that end up together, but I've always been a Lucaya shipper. Josh also found out the truth about Maya and his brother, but also likes Maya romantically. Will these feelings go away?