Author's Note: Hi all! Here is the next chapter! In this one we'll see what happens after Maya applies for college! Also if you have any other suggestions for stories, please don't hesitate to contact me or leave a review :)

CHAPTER TWELVE

Thank you for reading! Apologies for the extremely late chapter! So Maya has forgiven Katy and Cory for keeping the secret all those years… but one small detail Maya forgot to mention… Shawn visiting.

The week had passed, Maya fortunately was able to send in her application to college. Her birth certificate was now officially changed to have Cory Matthews as her father. She couldn't have been more happy.

Maya took a deep breath before knocking on the Matthews' front door, but then, shaking her head, she decided against it. Instead, she made her way around to the fire escape, climbing up to Riley's window like she always did.

She tapped against the glass, and within seconds, Riley appeared, opening it with a bright smile.

"Maya!" Riley cheered. She trailed off as Maya climbed inside, she barely managed to put two feet onto the floor before Riley tackled her into a hug, making her smile. When they pulled away, Riley noticed a serious expression on her face. "What's wrong?"

Maya pulled out a piece of paper from her jacket pocket and unfolded it. "I wanted you to be the first to see this," she said, handing it over.

Riley took it, her eyes scanning the document. Her jaw dropped. "Maya… your birth certificate… you—"

"I changed it," Maya confirmed, nodding. "I mean, not my whole name. I've always been a Hart, and I can't imagine being anything but a Hart. But… I since talking to my mom and… our dad, I decided it was time to stop running."

Riley's eyes flicked down to the spot where the father's name was listed: Cory Matthews.

"Oh, Maya…" Riley whispered, overwhelmed.

Maya gave a small smile. "You're not mad?"

"Mad? No! This just makes it even more real." Riley launched forward, hugging her. "You're really my sister now."

Maya giggled and held on tightly to Riley, her sister. She still couldn't believe it.

Riley pulled away, grinning. "Come on, let's show our dad." Maya grinned as well

The two girls rushed down the stairs and into the kitchen, where Cory was helping Auggie with his homework. Topanga stood by the stove, stirring something in a pot.

Cory looked up and smiled. "Maya! Didn't know you were coming over. Everything okay?"

Maya hesitated for a second before nodding. "Yeah. Actually, I wanted to show you something."

She handed him the birth certificate. Cory took it, his eyes narrowing in confusion as he read it. Then, as the realization sank in, his lips parted slightly.

"Maya…" He looked up at her, his voice full of emotion. "You— You really did this?"

Topanga looked over at the pair with furrowed brows, she could see the shocked and emotional look sat on her husband.

Maya shrugged. "Yeah. I mean… I don't know what it means in the grand scheme of things, but I know you're my dad. So, I figured it should be official."

Topanga smiled, realizing why Cory was acting this way. She let them have their moment.

Cory blinked rapidly, trying to keep his emotions in check. He set the paper down and stepped forward, wrapping his arms around Maya in a tight embrace. "You have no idea how much this means to me."

Maya, despite usually hating overly emotional moments, allowed herself to melt into the hug.

BAM!

Everyone jumped as Shawn Hunter stormed inside, his face red with fury. Behind him, Katy stood, looking guilty and nervous.

"You knew," Shawn seethed, pointing an accusing finger at Cory.

Cory sighed, already knowing where this was going. "Shawn—"

"Don't 'Shawn' me!" Shawn snapped. "You knew Maya was yours this whole time? You knew while I was dating Katy, while I was getting close to Maya, and you never told me?"

"Shawn, please," Topanga stepped in. "Let's talk about this calmly—"

"No, no, no," Shawn cut her off. "This is between me and Cory." He turned back to his best friend. "We tell each other everything. At least, I thought we did. But this? This is huge."

Cory rubbed his forehead. "I wanted to tell you, Shawn. But it wasn't my secret to tell."

Shawn let out a bitter laugh. "Oh, that's rich. So, what, you were just going to let me keep playing step-in dad while you sat back and watched?"

"Shawn, look. I'm sorry, okay?" Cory pleaded, "at the time we agreed it was everyone's best interest to not know. I didn't want to mess anything up between you and Katy."

"But I should have been told!" Shawn shouted. "Before I got attached to Maya! Before I proposed to Katy!"

Katy winced, looking down.

Shawn turned on her next. "And you. You should have told me the second we started getting serious. Or was I just some replacement for Cory? Someone to fill in while you kept this huge secret?"

Katy shook her head, eyes brimming with tears. "No, Shawn. It was never like that. I just… I was scared. I thought if I told you the truth, you'd leave."

"Well, guess what?" Shawn scoffed. "You still kept it from me, and now I don't know if I can stay." He stormed out of the apartment, not waiting for Katy to try and explain herself or his so called best friend.

Silence fell over the room.

Maya, who had been standing quietly, finally spoke.

"I'll go after him."

Cory turned to her, concerned. "Maya, maybe—"

"No," Maya interrupted. "Let me."

Without waiting for permission, she ran out after Shawn.

She caught up to him outside, where he was pacing on the sidewalk, running a hand through his hair.

"Shawn."

He turned, his expression softening slightly when he saw her. "Maya, I—"

"Don't," she said, cutting him off. "I get it. You're angry. You have every right to be. But don't let this ruin what you have with my mom."

Shawn let out a heavy sigh. "Maya… I just don't know how to move past this."

"I was angry too," Maya admitted. "For a long time. But I forgave my mom. Not because I understand why she did it, but because I love her. And I know you love her, too."

Shawn hesitated, then exhaled deeply. "I do love her. I wouldn't have been ready to propose if I didn't."

"Then don't throw it away because of this," Maya said firmly.

Shawn looked at her for a long moment. Then, finally, he nodded. "Okay. But I don't know if I can fix this overnight."

Maya smiled slightly. "I wouldn't expect you to."

He gave a short laugh, shaking his head. "You know, Maya, you've always been the closest thing to a daughter I had."

Maya's heart swelled at that. "And you've always been the closest thing to a dad I had."

Shawn's expression softened. "Guess we're family no matter what."

Maya smirked. "Looks like it."

They stood there for a moment before she held out her hand. "Come on. Let's go back."

Shawn took it, and together, they returned to the apartment.

When they walked back in, Katy was sitting on the couch, clutching the ring box, looking lost.

Shawn hesitated, then stepped forward. "Can we talk?"

Katy nodded eagerly, standing up. "Yes. Please."

They disappeared into the other room. The rest of the group waited anxiously.

Riley wandered over to Maya, reaching down to clasp her hand in her own. She really hoped this wouldn't be the end of her Uncle Shawn and her sisters mom, she really wanted a happy ending.

Minutes passed before the pair finally came back out.

Shawn looked at Katy, then at the ring box in her hands. She let out a sad laugh and passed it back to him, "I'm assuming you'll want this back."

His eyes lingered on the box before raising his gaze to look into Katy's eyes, the woman he fell on love with. He then turned to look over at Maya, the girl that showed him what being a family truly meant. He smiled softly at her before returning his eyes to Katy.

His hand reached for the box, holding it in his hand for a few seconds, almost pondering in thought before he finally made a decision.

Everyone held their breath as Shawn got down on one knee.

Katy gasped.

"Maya's right," Shawn said. "I don't want to run anymore. And I don't want to lose this. So, Katy Hart… will you marry me?"

Katy let out a choked laugh. "Yes," she said immediately.

The room erupted in cheers.

Maya watched as her mom and Shawn embraced, a genuine smile on her face.

For the first time in a long time, everything finally felt right.

Thanks for reading this chapter! Apologies for how long it's taken me to update. It's a short chapter but the next chapter we will see Maya adjusting to life with Cory Matthews officially on her birth certificate.