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Chapter Text

Riley and Maya were inseparable and are forever. From the day the little blonde came in through the window of the brunette's bedroom, who hummed happily by herself, their fates were intertwined. There was no Riley without Maya, and there was no Maya without Riley. In both destinies, the two would be together forever and ever or at least for as long as possible.

Riley was the most romantic between the two of them. She was waiting for a handsome Prince Charming who would take her off her feet, and they both would live happily ever after. On the other hand Maya, the more realistic of them, she'd be happy with just someone who at least bothered to let her know that it was over before he left her, something that displeased Riley Matthews.

In their sophomore year, Riley was in a two-year relationship with Lucas Friar, she was even wondering what would be the names of their kids, what bridesmaid dress Maya would wear at her wedding, and the dress she would wear on the christening of Lucas and Riley's children.

Unfortunately, things didn't work out between Lucas and Riley, and for Maya's unhappiness. They ended up breaking up in the fall, and Maya had to piece together the pieces of Riley's heart.

In the spring, there was a Cultural Week at their school. Maya was glad to be able to sleep on her desk for a week without being bothered by teachers. After lunch, Riley led Maya into the classroom where there would be a presentation by an exchange student that Riley had been helping at the beginning of the school year. Maya thought she would sleep for the next few hours, but Riley forced her to watch at least her friend's presentation while the blonde took little naps and ended up being awakened by the brunette's nudges. The only thing Maya remembered was that he talked about Brazil, something about royalty, independence, something about a father had said to his son, at last, the boy said in front of the classroom the following sentence:

"Se o Brasil for se separar de Portugal, antes seja para ti, que me hás de respeitar, do que para algum desses aventureiros. "

And he repeated it in English for everyone, it was something about Brazil wanting to become independent of Portugal and the King would rather have his son, who respects him, in command than any adventurer. Maya felt her friend stir at her side and Riley became impatient for the rest of the presentation. In the end, Riley leaned her head on her shoulder and praised her friend's work, Maya knew there was something else so she asked her to stop beating around the bush and say what she wanted.

"I just liked that quote that he said: "Pedro, if Brazil becomes independent, I would rather have you, who respects me, in command than any adventurer." Did you like it?"

"Yeah."

She said paying no attention at all.

"You know, the king kind of asks that his son, someone he knows very well, takes care of something as precious as a country to prevent another person who doesn't have so strong bond with the country and with him stay with the country and ruin it. I know I'm talking nonsense, but I kind of like that idea."

"Did you like it?"

"Maya, can I ask you something?"

She said a bit insecure and Maya turned to her friend.

"Sure!"

"I know, we're too young,  and this might sound stupid, but I kinda wanna ask you something. I know this sounds ridiculous, but I'd love it if you would agree to what I'm going to ask you..."

"Cut the crap and say it, Riles!"

"That quote he said really hit me. I trust you, Maya. I would trust my life to you, and everything that is more precious to me."

She said, holding Maya's hand, who rested her available hand on top of Riley's hand.

"Me too, Riley! You're the best thing that ever happened to me!"

"And you're the best thing that happened to me too.” She smiled lovingly at Maya. "So, I'd like you to take care of the most precious things in my life when I'm gone."

Confused, Maya looked at her after her best friend's words.

"What are you saying, Riles?"

"Like, in a good few years from now, when I die, I'd like you to take care of my kids and my husband like they’re your own."

Maya laughed at her best friend and Riley let out an embarrassed smile.

"Are you drunk?"

She knew that her friend had these crazy ideas, and that such a statement was something Riley Matthews would say on any ordinary day. But it was still something completely outlandish.

"No, stop laughing! I'm serious, Maya! If something happens to me, I want you, Maya Penelope Hunter, to marry my husband and be my children's mom. I want you to be the mom I won’t longer be able to be for my kids when I'm gone."

"Okay, you're out of your mind!”

"Please, Maya! You know me so well. You know my values and the qualities I admire most im others. And I know you. I know you would be an amazing mom and wife, and I know you are a great, a fantastic person. I'd rather you be with them than another woman who can't stand my kids and can hurt my future husband. I don’t want my kids to grow up seeing women coming in and out of their father’s life. I want her to be someone I trust, someone they already know and they feel comfortable with. Someone who loves them as much as I will love them. And who better than their godmother?"

"So, you want me to be with your husband and your kids just because you know me, and you think that I'm the best option compared to other women. You know this is insane, right? What if I'm married? What if I'm dead?"

"If you're married when I'm gone, at least promise me you’ll take good care of them. If you die first, I will do the same for  you. I will take care of your family as if they were my own, and I'll make them mine."

"What if I marry your uncle Josh?"

"Yuck! You're not marrying Josh!"

Said the brunette in disgust at the thought of her uncle and her proposal.

"But what if I married Josh?"

"I won't marry Josh, but I'll take care of your kids like they were my own."

"You know you're talking nonsense for me, right?"

"Pretty please, Maya! Promise me that you will marry my husband and take care of my kids. I will do the same for you!"

"Riley, what if I don't like your husband? If you don't like mine either?

"My love for you is all I will need and it will be enough. Promise me?"

Maya says reluctantly:

"Okay, whatever you want!"

Riley hugged her almost crushing Maya's bones happily at her friend's decision. Maya laughed at the nonsense that her friend had made her promise.

"Thank you, Maya!"

"Try not to die early. I want you at my funeral!"

"I don't want to be at your funeral!"

Said the sad brunette when the possibility of losing her best friend crossed her mind.

"Neither I want to be at your funeral!"

"Well, then we'll have to resort to Romeo's method."

"That's enough for today!"

Maya said cutting her best friend off. Riley rested her head comfortably on Maya's shoulders as Maya caressed her dark hair.

"I love you!"

"I love you too!"

That spring talk had been forgotten by Maya since she didn't think it was important to keep it. It was just one of her best friend's daydreams.

Years passed they graduated from high school, went to college, and never talked about it again. Riley had decided to go back to Lucas in their senior year of college and two years later they got married, living everything she had dreamed of. On the other hand, Maya was in an on-again, off-again relationship with Josh, something that upset Riley because she wanted her best friend to be happy something that was not happening. Riley and Maya even argued over this topic a few times, Riley wanted Maya to let Josh in her past, but Maya was not ready to do it yet.

Unfortunately, their dream of living close to each other didn't come true. Lucas and Riley moved to California due to a job offer Riley had got. The distance didn't end their friendship; it only strengthened their friendship even more. Whenever she could Maya would drop by in California and Riley in New York. A year after her friends had moved Maya was surprised by a request from Lucas and Riley, he asked her to be the godmother of their first kid and Maya cried her eyes out for not being able to be next to Riley at that important moment in her best friend's life.

Her first goddaughter was named Charlotte. She takes after her mother. She has Riley's eyes and dark hair; Maya even teased about the fact that the girl doesn't look like Lucas. Two years later, Lucas and Riley's second kid came, a boy named Matheo, who had the same deep green eyes as his father. Several texts, Skype calls, Facetime, and other forms of contact were exchanged between friends. Riley told her about her frustrations, despair, and fears, and Lucas did the same, which, sometimes, made Maya feel as if she knew more about their lives than she should know.

Everything was perfect. Everything was going swimmingly until a certain winter came. Maya would leave her parents to spend the beginning of the year with her friends in California. She was looking forward to it, counting down the days until the second week of January. However, that night, when her mother had popped up unannounced at her apartment she knew something was off. In fact, she had felt a few hours ago that something had happened, the pain in her chest and the anguish only had grown when she saw her mother standing at her door.

Riley had left her.

Riley had died in a traffic accident near San Francisco late that afternoon. Her car had been completely destroyed by a truck that had toppled on the highway. More than ten cars had been involved in that accident, four people had died in the wreckage, and she was one of them. Riley Matthews was just one more life taken in the deaths statistic in traffic. One more life that no one will remember as soon as the news stopped talking about the irresponsibility of an intoxicated driver who had decided it was time to go home, and that no one had cared enough to stop him from getting close to the steering wheel of his truck.

It was just a drink, and as the police were not there at the moment, he would not suffer any punishment. The life of a young woman full of plans, with a wonderful family, who was about to graduate with a master's degree focused on working with children with special needs, came to an end at four twenty-five in the afternoon, between Daly City and San Francisco.

The days after that moment had passed like a blur. Maya had never felt such pain in her life. She remembered taking a plane with Riley's parents to San Francisco, and then a friend of Lucas and Riley had picked them up at the airport, and after a few minutes on the road, they got into her best friend's beautiful home. Lucas was devastated in his room and the kids were playing in another room next to the wife of the guy who had picked them up at the airport. Charlotte recognized her as soon as she saw Maya and hugged her, her beautiful brown hair falling free across her shoulders as she merrily kissed her godmother's cheek.

"You are early, Aunt Maya! Mom said you would come next week. Mom will be so happy when she gets home and see you!"

Maya struggled against her tears and tried her best to smile at the little girl who still didn't know her mother would never come back home. Charlotte walked holding hands with her little brother to where Maya was and introduced him to their godmother:

"Matheo, this is Auntie Maya! You don't remember her because you were too small when she came here to see us!"

Maya twined her arms around the almost two-year-old baby and placed a kiss on his forehead. A tear streamed down her face as she realized that her best friend would never see her kids growing up, and they would never have the opportunity to grow up next to the incredible person that Riley was.

A woman approached Maya and the kids.

"Let your godmother get some rest. She must be very tired from the flight. How about we watch a movie together?"

Charlotte jumped excitedly at the idea.

"I choose!"

"Alright, my angel. Go ahead!"

She took the baby from Maya's arms and hugged her, wishing her condolences, walking away with the kids then.

Maya went to the living room and found Topanga in tears. She was hiding her face in her husband's chest, Cory was trying so hard to be strong, and give some stability to his wife. Auggie had stayed in New York to receive his grandparents for Riley's funeral. Topanga had insisted that her daughter's body should be taken to New York because that was where her family was, so they came to take care of the body transfer papers. They turned to Maya as she walked in.

"Where's Lucas?"

"In his bedroom."

Said the man who later introduced himself as Joe.

"Have you seen him yet?"

Maya said to the couple.

Topanga moved away from her husband's chest.

"No, I'm not ready yet, I can't ..."

She stopped in the middle of the sentence when she started crying so hard again and that hurt Maya so much. Maya got up and went up the stairs to the upper floor. The stairs ended in a small hall leading to the upper bedrooms, the sound of her footsteps on the floor sounding unnaturally high for her as they echoed against the walls. The top floor of the house was silent, she could smell the scent of flowers that Riley loved in the air, and that scent was trying to destroy that wall she had built as soon as she got the news of her best friend's death. She had to be strong for them, they needed her.

She stopped in front of the bedroom door, she raised her hand to knock on the door, but she stopped herself. As soon as she opened that door it would become too real, and she did not know if she was ready for it yet. Maya took a deep breath, it wasn't time for her feelings, it was time to try to help, and give them comfort.

The bedroom was dark and messy. Her eyes quickly spotted Lucas in the bedroom, he was sitting next to the closet with Riley's clothes in his hands. He seemed not to be there and didn't even notice that she had walked into his bedroom. Maya knelt down beside him and put a hand on his shoulder, and that was what had warned him of her presence there. Lucas turned his head toward her and he watched her for a few seconds, both silent not knowing what to say to each other.

"Hi!"

It was the only thing that came out of her mouth, and then Lucas pulled her to him and hugged her so tight. He started crying so fucking hard and Maya could no longer hold her tears and joined him. They stayed like that for a long time, Maya had lost track of time, and she did not know if it was day or night. The only thing she knew was Lucas's warmth around her keeping her close.

Lucas had stopped crying for a few minutes and they have been stared at Riley's dresses in the closet for a while.

"Can you forgive me, Maya?"

Maya turned to him without understanding what he was saying.

"Forgive you? Why do I have to forgive you, Lucas?"

"I told her not to go. I said we could go to that stupid store to buy that stupid mattress tomorrow..."

Maya interrupted him. The pain in his voice was destroying her even more.

"It wasn't your fault, Lucas!"

"It was my fault! If I hadn't fixed that stupid car in the morning, she would not have taken it, and she would still be here with us."

New tears streamed down his face, and Maya wiped them away.

"Lucas, it was an accident. You're not to blame for anything!"

"What am I going to do, Maya?" He said completely lost "How am I going to tell Charlotte and Matheo that their mom won't come back? What am I supposed to do?"

"You are not alone. You have your parents, Cory, Topanga, Auggie, Farkle and his family, my family and I. I will always be here for you. You can count on me for everything! OK?

He turned to her and hugged her tight. After a few minutes, Maya patted him on his back.

"Have you eaten anything?"

"I'm not hungry!"

He said with his face hidden in the curve of her neck.

"You have to eat something."

"But I can't!"

"You have to eat something, at least try it! Do it for your kids. They need you now, Lucas.

She pulled away and wiped the tears rolling down his face.

"Are they going to take her? Aren't they?"

Maya nodded.

"It's the best because your families are there."

Lucas nodded in agreement.

"I'll grab some food for you. OK?"

She laid a kiss on his cheek and slid her hand into his back, comforting him before leaving his bedroom.

Chapter Text

Lucas had accepted half of a sandwich that Maya had made for his dinner. His friends had left a few minutes ago because they needed to get back to their own kids, who were with their grandparents, so they could be there for him during this tough time. Since Topanga and Cory weren’t really in the right headspace to watch the kids, Maya decided to step in. She gave Charlotte and Matheo their baths, fed them, tucked them into bed, and even read them a story, leaving a kiss goodnight before closing the doors.

Maya found Lucas in bed, wrapped up in blankets. He turned when he noticed the light coming into the room, and when he saw her, Lucas lifted the blankets, silently asking her to join him in that big bed. Maya pulled the covers over her body, feeling his arms around her as she settled in. They stayed silent for a couple of minutes, just looking at each other.

“How are you holding up?” Lucas asked. Maya realized that he was the only one who’d asked how she was doing through all of this. Her mom had hugged her tight and let her cry for hours before taking her to the airport so she, Cory, and Topanga could fly to San Francisco. Shawn kissed her forehead, telling her everything would be okay and that time would help. Cory and Topanga barely spoke to her, lost in their own grief. It was Auggie who called her, asking if she could come with his parents to San Francisco, but he hadn’t said anything about what had happened.

“I’ll be okay... Eventually. And you?” Maya replied, her voice steady but distant.

“I can’t believe she’s not coming back. It’s like I’m stuck in this nightmare, one of those bad ones, and I just wanna wake up. I wanna wake up to her humming around the house in that flowery dress she loved so much...” Lucas trailed off, taking a deep breath as he fought back fresh tears.

“She loves you!” Maya said softly, caressing his face.

“I know. In her way, she loved me.” Lucas turned to look at the ceiling, staring at it for a while. Maya studied his face. The last time she saw him was seventy-two hours ago when he called about a dress he was thinking of buying for Charlotte, since he couldn’t reach Riley. He seemed older now. The light he usually had was gone, replaced by fatigue and grief. Maya wondered if he had slept at all in the past days.

“Thank you for being here, Maya!” Lucas said, breaking the silence.

“I would never leave you alone!” Maya responded firmly.

They stayed quiet for a while, and Lucas sighed, speaking again.

“My mom called. She bought our tickets for tomorrow night.”

“Are you staying at your parents’ place?”

“She said she got some extra mattresses for us.”

“If you need to, I’ve got a spare room.”

“Thanks, Maya!”

“You didn’t sleep, did you?”

“No, I couldn’t sleep in this giant bed, all by myself.” He turned to face her, and they were silent again for a while. Then Lucas started reminiscing about their teenage years, and they both ended up laughing. Those memories made them cry together for a couple of hours until the silence returned to the room. Maya felt Lucas’s arms around her as he held her, his face buried in her loose wavy blonde hair, his breath warm against the back of her neck. The steady rhythm of his breathing slowly told her that he had finally fallen asleep.

He woke up to the soft, golden rays of sunlight lazily streaming into his bedroom. With a groan, Lucas turned to the other side, his arms instinctively reaching out, searching for the warmth of the body next to him. But there was nothing. No wavy blonde hair, no quiet breathing beside him. Maya was gone. She must’ve gotten up earlier, or perhaps she had slipped away when he fell asleep the night before. Reluctantly, Lucas forced himself to get out of bed and get dressed.

As he descended the stairs, something caught his attention—a soft sound, growing louder with each step. A familiar hum, light and carefree, filled the air. Lucas froze at the kitchen doorway, unable to believe what his ears were telling him. There, leaning over the oven and pulling out a cookie sheet, was Riley. She was wearing her blue dress with pink flowers, giving her the delicate appearance of a porcelain doll, and she hummed to herself as if nothing had changed.

"Good morning, sleepyhead!"

She called out cheerfully, without even looking up at him.

Lucas stood there in shock, pale and disoriented, his mind struggling to comprehend what he was seeing.

"Riley?"

He whispered, his voice trembling as Riley turned to him, raising an eyebrow.

What’s wrong? Never seen me before, cowboy?"

She crossed her arms, the same mischievous glint in her eyes.

In an instant, Lucas ran to her and wrapped his arms around her tightly, pressing kisses all over her face, making her laugh. But as he tried to kiss her lips, Riley gently placed her hand on his chest, stopping him.

"Okay, okay, Cowboy, it's enough!"

she said with a teasing smile. But there was something in her voice, a subtle restraint that stopped him from kissing her lips.

They didn’t kiss. The absence of the kiss made something stir in Lucas. He didn’t remember the last time they kissed. Maybe it was when Matheo was born, and he caught her off guard. That moment felt like ages ago. In that moment, as he held her close, he could feel her warmth, smell her familiar perfume—Riley was here, alive, and everything was fine. Everything was just a bad dream, a nightmare he was now waking from.

"I'm so glad you're here!"  

He whispered, his voice thick with emotion, clinging to the fleeting moment.

Riley smiled, her eyes softening.

"Me too! I even made cookies from my great-grandmother's book. Did you hear me? From my great-grandmother's book because I know our kids love them." She turned back to the counter, placing the cookie sheet on the cooling rack. "And Maya likes them, too."

"She's coming, isn't she?"

Lucas asked, the words slipping out before he realized it. Riley laughed lightly, shaking her head.

"You've seen her before you slept, silly!"

She rolled her eyes, but Lucas was still confused. He didn’t understand what was going on. Everything felt too real. He didn’t doubt for a second that Riley was alive, standing there with him, smiling, baking cookies. It was everything he had wanted to hear, everything he needed to believe.

"I'm so glad she's here, and I want you to take care of her. Do you hear me?" Riley’s voice grew softer, more serious. "I don't want her to suffer for Josh anymore. I love him, but I love Maya more. And we both know he's not the right guy for her."

Lucas didn’t respond immediately. He just nodded, understanding exactly what Riley was asking. He had always known that Maya deserved someone who would be ready to give her the love she wanted, someone who would understand her heart. Josh wasn’t that person, no matter how much he cared for her. The constant back and forth had left Maya emotionally drained, and it was up to them to help her find peace.

He had seen the way Josh had treated Maya, how the relationship had always been uncertain. Josh wasn’t ready for something serious, but he also didn’t want to completely let go of Maya. That back-and-forth left her in a state of emotional limbo, unsure of where she stood, even when it was clear she deserved more.

Maya had loved Josh for as long as Lucas could remember. Not as a passing crush, but as someone she’d always dreamed of being with. To Maya, Josh was more than just Riley’s uncle—he was the one she wanted to marry one day, the "cool" guy she had always admired. But to Josh, Maya’s feelings were something he never truly acknowledged. He’d always thought of her affection as a phase, a crush she would eventually get over. He never took her feelings seriously, not realizing how deep they truly ran.

Riley had seen how happy she was with Lucas and wanted the same for her best friend. She had pushed Josh to go out with Maya, hoping that it would spark something more for them, something that would bring them both the kind of love Riley had found with Lucas. She had wanted Maya to feel that happiness, to be loved and cherished. So Riley had pushed her uncle Josh into taking Maya out on a date, thinking it would be good for both of them. It seemed harmless at first, and Josh, though reluctant, agreed. Maya had always been gorgeous, fun and full of life, and he didn’t want to hurt her. But things didn’t turn out the way she hoped. Josh had enjoyed spending time with Maya, but he wasn’t ready for a real commitment. He didn’t want the same things Maya did, even though he didn’t want to completely lose her either.

Lucas had never liked the idea of Josh and Maya together. He even tried to get this nonsense out of his girlfriend's head, but who could get something out of Riley's head? If love was in the air and she was happy with Lucas after that weekend with her classmates, why couldn't Maya be happy with Josh too? He saw how Maya was left heartbroken and confused after each time they tried to make it work. Riley had known this too, but she’d pushed it aside, thinking that maybe love would find a way. It wasn’t until she saw Maya crying in her room that Riley began to question her decisions. She never wanted her best friend to suffer like that.

"I think everything's done!"

Riley said, glancing at the cookies with satisfaction.

"I heard that Farkle's coming to San Francisco, and I thought about calling him to have dinner here."

Lucas watched Riley's smile falter, her face shifting subtly as she turned to the cookie sheets, attempting to hide the emotions that had surfaced.

Farkle Minkus. An inseparable friend who, in recent years, had become something more like a distant acquaintance. Lucas couldn't ignore the signs—the unspoken tension between Riley and Farkle. It had started back in their senior year of high school when the two of them had grown even closer. They started spending more time together, just the two of them, going to parties, movies, ice cream shops, parks, and even just walking around the city. Their bond deepened, and although everyone could see how connected they were, they always denied being a couple, and everyone pretended not to notice.

If Lucas had to guess, he'd say they'd been together for at least three years before a big fight tore them apart. Farkle had returned early from his college vacation, canceling plans to spend time with their friends. A couple of months later, he announced he was marrying Sophia, a woman he’d been living with in his apartment. It was the first time Lucas had seen Riley so cold toward someone. Sophia seemed like a nice person, but Riley didn’t want to meet her, and a few days later, Maya and Lucas had overheard a heated argument coming from Riley and Maya's apartment. Maya had opened the door, and moments later, they witnessed Farkle storming out of Riley’s room, apologizing quietly before leaving.

After that day, their friendship had unraveled. Lucas knew they tried to mend things a few times, but each attempt ended in misunderstandings that neither Riley nor Farkle were willing to talk about. Then came Farkle’s engagement, followed by marriage. Riley refused to be involved. When she learned about Farkle’s engagement, she immediately left for her grandparents’ house in Philadelphia for the weekend. When she returned, she told them that Farkle was going to be a father—news no one had expected.

In the years after, they saw each other only a handful of times. Lucas was even surprised when Riley asked him to contact Farkle and ask if he wanted to be Matheo's godfather. Lucas understood Farkle's absence, knowing how hard the past few years had been for him, especially after losing his wife and daughter in that tragic helicopter crash.

Lucas still remembered that night vividly. There were two couples in the room and the mood between the couple next to him and Riley was not one of the best. The atmosphere was heavy with tension due to Maya and Josh's argument just minutes before. Maya was sitting beside Lucas and Riley when Josh, visibly upset, stood up and left without saying a word. As the silence settled, Riley began flipping through TV channels absentmindedly, trying to distract herself from the tension. Suddenly, she stopped on a breaking news segment. The somber tone of the broadcast cut through the quiet, and images of a crashed helicopter filled the screen as she was texting her mom.

The reporter's voice caught Lucas's attention when the word "Minkus" echoed through the room. Riley froze, staring at the screen in disbelief. Lucas felt his stomach drop, and Maya, equally stunned, turned to him, as though silently expecting him to clarify that this was some kind of terrible mistake.

The reporter spoke of the crash having occurred an hour ago in a small town upstate, and the Minkus family was expected at a nearby property. The images on the screen flashed with wreckage and flames, and then, the faces of Sophia and Farkle appeared. The realization hit them hard—Farkle and his family might be among the victims.

Lucas heard the sound of the control hitting the ground, and Riley stood up abruptly, her phone in hand, frantically dialing Farkle’s number. She paced back and forth, her face contorting with disbelief as she tried calling him again and again, but her calls kept going straight to his voicemail. Her voice trembled with each failed attempt, and after ten tries, Riley stopped, pale, staring at her phone. Her body began to tremble, and before anyone could react, she collapsed into sobs in the middle of the living room.

Lucas rushed to her, wrapping his arms around her tightly, trying to comfort her, but nothing seemed to help. He had never seen Riley so broken. Maya, too, grabbed her phone, desperately trying to reach Farkle, but her calls also went unanswered. When Maya confirmed that Farkle wasn't answering either, Lucas felt Riley’s body go limp in his arms. The weight of the moment hit her, and before he could even react, Riley collapsed, unconscious in his embrace.

"Oh, is he coming?"

Riley asked, her voice distant, as her hands fidgeted uselessly on the cookie sheets. Then, she forced the biggest smile and turned to him.

"I still don't know if he's really coming to San Francisco."

"You three could go to the park and do boy things. I'm glad he'll be able to spend some time with Matheo. It's been months since the last time he came to visit him."

"You could join us this time."

Riley lowered her face, pretending to focus on something on the floor, avoiding his gaze.

"I can't!"

"Why not? Why don't you ever want to be with both of us?"

He had wanted to know that answer for the past few years, and he deserved to hear it, but he knew better than to expect it when she bit her lower lip, lowered her head, and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear.

"Because it's your men's time, and I don't want to disturb you three."

"That's not the answer I'm expecting, Riley." He was frustrated by the lack of communication that had crept into their marriage over the last few years. "Would you tell me..."

"Lucas!" Her sad voice interrupted him. "I can't. I'm not here anymore. If I may call it 'here.' Do you understand what I mean by 'here'? Or rather, I'm no longer alive, Lucas!"

He laughed at the brunette, who was staring at him, upset.

"Are you done?"

She crossed her arms, and Lucas laughed even harder, which earned him a fierce glare from Riley.

"If you're dead, then why am I seeing you stand right here? Why can I feel you?"

She stepped closer to him.

"Because it's all here," she said, pointing at his forehead. "In your head."

Lucas laughed again, shaking his head.

"Stop it, Riley! This isn't funny!"

"Maybe if I had listened to you, we wouldn't be like this. But, unfortunately, this is the reality, Lucas. You will have to go on without me from now on."

He looked at her seriously, and from the patient expression on her face, Lucas knew Riley was telling him the truth. A sharp pain shot through his chest, and he felt the tears beginning to well up in his eyes. Riley noticed the shift in his mood, and she approached him, cupping his face gently in her hands.

"Please, don't cry, Lucas!"

Her voice cracked as she spoke, and she placed a tender kiss on his cheek. Lucas pulled her closer by the waist, hugging her tightly. He could feel her tears soaking into his shirt, her body trembling as she tried—unsuccessfully—to hold herself together.

Riley pushed him away after a few minutes.

"I need you! We need you, Riley!"

"I can't do anything, Lucas. Unfortunately, it wasn't in the universe's plans that I stay with you for over sixty years. I won’t be able to see Charlotte and Matheo grow up. I won’t be there to take them on their first day of school. I won’t be able to make their lunches, throw Charlotte’s sweet sixteen party, or see her in her fancy princess dress. I won’t be there for their first teenage dramas, first crushes, and dates. I won’t be the one to hear them complain about not having anything to wear, even though their closet is full. I won’t be there to help heal their broken hearts, or see them get their driver's licenses. I won’t be the one to take them to college and make them feel embarrassed because their mom’s crying in the hallways. I won’t be there for their weddings, and I won’t see my grandchildren… among so many other things. And it hurts so much. But I know you won’t be alone. You have my parents, yours, our friends, and Maya. So, I know you'll be fine."

"It’s not the same, Riley!"

"I know." Her voice softened. "Lucas, do you remember the boxes I asked you not to touch?"

"Yeah, on the chest of drawers."

"Well, one of them is for you, and the other is for Maya. I left some things for you, but I’m asking you not to open or look at anything that doesn’t belong to you unless the person who owns it says it’s okay."

"Okay, I promise I won’t touch them."

"You can open yours, but you can’t read what’s inside. You can only read it in seven days. And I’m asking you to give Maya’s box to her in seven months. Can you do that?"

"Whatever you want."

"The first thing you’ll find when you open your box is a letter to Farkle. I’d like you to give it to him as soon as possible. And again—don’t read it."

"Why?"

"It’s personal, Lucas. Please don’t read it. I’ll be very disappointed if you betray my trust like that."

"I won’t read it."

Riley wiped away her tears and smiled.

"I'm gonna take a look at the kids." She planted a kiss on his cheek, then placed some cookies on a plate. "See you later, Lucas!"

With that, Riley practically ran toward the bedrooms, excited to see her kids again.

Lucas felt the warmth of her body beside him. When he opened his eyes, he saw the familiar confusion of blond waves in front of him. Maya was still asleep next to him. Lucas propped himself up to get a better look and saw Matheo resting in Maya's arms, almost like one of those perfect family ads that always seem to appear on television. Matheo’s tiny fingers clutched Maya's blond hair, just as he always did with his mom when he needed comfort to fall asleep.

Lucas knew he had to be strong for his kids. No matter how much it hurt, he had two children to raise on his own—two innocent little souls who would grow up without their mom’s presence. From now on, they were his only priority. It was time to forget about Lucas Friar and be only Charlotte's and Matheo’s dad.

Chapter Text

Everyone was gathered in the Matthews' apartment. Maya wasn’t ready to be overwhelmed by the memories of all the moments she had shared with Riley and her best friend’s family there. She stood frozen at the door for a few seconds, trying to summon the courage to knock. When it finally opened, she couldn’t hold back her tears. Her eyes met Auggie’s — those familiar brown eyes, so much like his sister’s, now red and puffy from earlier tears. Without a word, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a trembling hug as he began to sob again. Maya gently stroked his back, trying to comfort the boy who was no longer the little kid she had grown used to. He was now nineteen — and a full foot taller than she was. 

After a few minutes, Maya felt someone approach them. She opened her eyes and saw the blonde girl she had once opened up to about her parents’ divorce. Ava, now nineteen, had grown into a striking young woman — her beautiful curly hair framing a face full of strength and confidence. Her bold, fearless personality had never changed. She always spoke her mind, never hesitating to say exactly what she thought. Auggie was lucky to have her by his side through all these years. Ava had moved to Connecticut for college, earning a scholarship at a prestigious institution thanks to her determination and drive. Even though it was a school day, she was there — standing beside her boyfriend, supporting him through one of the hardest times in his life. 

Maya did her best to keep everything going as well as she could. She took care of the food, the drinks, and the kids, making sure the grandfathers had some time to themselves. Matheo clung to Maya, not wanting to leave her side, unsettled by all the unfamiliar faces around him. Riley’s grandmother had told Maya that they needed more food because what was there wouldn’t be enough for everyone, so Maya offered to get more supplies. She just had to ask Lucas to look after Matheo, who refused to stay with his great-grandmother. Lucas insisted on getting the food himself, and Maya understood—he needed some time away from the place, away from all those memories. Before leaving, Lucas handed her an envelope to pass on to Farkle if he had arrived before he returned. 

Riley’s presence felt overwhelming. Maya could almost see her friend studying at the dinner table, doing her best to improve her Spanish comprehension. She could see Riley sitting on the couch, where they had watched their favorite TV shows late into the night without Cory and Topanga knowing. Maya could swear that any moment Riley would walk down the hallway in her uniform, declaring she was going to try out for the cheerleading team again, just like she always did in middle school and high school. 

Maya walked through the living room with Matheo in her arms, passing by her parents sitting next to Farkle’s parents. Surprisingly, they were having a real conversation. Maya approached to greet the Minkus, whom she hadn’t seen in years. Mrs. Minkus stood up with a huge smile when she noticed Maya. 

"So, he’s the famous Matheo? Hi, Matheo! How are you?"  

She asked in a playful, childlike tone. Unlike with the others, Matheo didn’t hide his face in Maya’s hair when he saw Mrs. Minkus. Instead, he spread his arms toward her, inviting her to take him in her arms. 

"Isn’t he adorable, Stuart?"  

Mrs. Minkus gushed, her heart clearly melting as she held the little boy. 

"Yeah, he is!"  

Mr. Minkus agreed, watching the toddler with a fond expression. 

"Doesn’t he look like Farkle when he was a baby? Look at that blond hair!"  

Mrs. Minkus added with a chuckle. 

"Yeah! He really does. But those green eyes... I’ve seen them somewhere before."  

Mr. Minkus mused, trying to recall where. 

"They’re green like Lucas’s eyes."  

Maya answered, offering a soft smile. 

"Yeah, they are! But Matheo’s eyes, they remind me of someone else."  

Stuart said, his voice thoughtful, as he gazed at his wife, who was completely enchanted by the little boy. 

"They’re as green and intense as my mom’s eyes."  

Mrs. Minkus said, nodding. 

"Yeah, you’re right! His eyes are just like my mother-in-law’s."  

Agreed Mr. Minkus, a melancholic note in his voice. 

"Has Farkle arrived yet?"  

Maya asked. 

"Yeah, he did," Stuart answered, scanning the room. “But I haven’t seen him for a while.” 

"I saw him head toward the bedrooms."  

Katy said, biting her lower lip. She knew her daughter still hadn’t worked up the courage to go into Riley’s room—the place that held so many memories and was now a danger zone for her. 

"Okay, excuse me, I need to talk to him."  

Maya said, turning back to Mrs. Minkus to take Matheo in her arms. 

But Mrs. Minkus instinctively pulled the little boy closer to her chest, holding him with a tenderness that bordered on fragile desperation. Maya reached out for Matheo, but he only snuggled deeper into the older woman’s embrace, resting his head on her shoulder as if he, too, felt something unspoken. 

“Please... let him stay with us just a little longer?” 

Farkle’s mother asked, her voice barely above a whisper, hovering between a plea and a prayer. Her bright eyes shimmered, silently begging for permission. 

"I don’t want to bother you, Mrs. Minkus!"  

Maya said softly. 

"You won’t bother me at all. In fact, I’ve missed having a baby to sit on my lap. I can’t wait to have..."  

Mrs. Minkus stopped abruptly, realizing what she was about to say. She longed for grandchildren, but the joy was stolen from her when Charlotte was taken from them in the accident. A sad smile crossed her face, and Mr. Minkus gently comforted her by placing a hand on her back. 

"Alright, if he starts crying, just call me," Maya said with a soft sigh. "Okay? Excuse me." 

Maya took the envelope from her purse and walked toward her best friend's old bedroom. Her hand reached for the doorknob, but she hesitated, unable to bring herself to open the door. Her fingers traced the rough surface of the wood, and she could feel the familiar warmth of the place that had always been a comfort to her. If she closed her eyes, she could almost feel Riley on the other side of the door, probably lying on the bed, lost in thoughts about all the ways she could make people's lives better. A tear slipped down Maya's face, knowing that there was no one there now. Maybe Farkle was inside, but it wasn’t the same. 

With a deep breath, Maya finally opened the door. The blue still lingered in some parts of the room, contrasting with the exposed brick walls of the brownstone building. Photos of them at different stages of their lives were scattered across the walls. The bay window, once their favorite spot, stood empty, its cushions arranged neatly as they had always been. Maya heard a soft sob, and her gaze shifted to the bed. Farkle was lying there, clutching Riley's pillows. She quietly placed the envelope on the blue dresser near the door.  

"Farkle?"  

She said softly, and he pulled back the pillows to look at her, his red-rimmed eyes filled with grief. 

"Hi, Maya." 

He said, his voice hoarse. Maya moved closer and lay down beside him, feeling the weight of the sorrow in the air. 

"It’s been so many years… and it still smells just like her." Farkle whispered, wiping away his tears. He was right—the bed still smelled like Riley, as if she had just slept there the night before. 

"Yeah, it does!"  

Maya replied, her chest tightening. 

"I miss her, Maya. I miss her so much!"  

Farkle confessed, his voice breaking. 

"I know."  

Maya replied, her heart aching for him. 

"I have so many things I want to tell her. So many things that I can’t anymore..."  

His voice faltered as a sob caught in his throat. Maya could feel the weight of his words, the depth of his grief. Maya knew Farkle and Riley hadn't talked for a while, even though Riley had decided that Farkle would be Matheo's godfather they weren't as close as they had been before.  

"Whatever happened between the two of you. You know, Riley. She isn't... She wasn't a person who holds a grudge. Riley forgave you years ago." 

“I have so much left unsaid, Maya. So many words trapped inside me that it hurts — like this crushing weight on my chest, like I’m drowning in all the things I never said. It’s suffocating. This lump in my throat... it’s killing me. I just wish I had one more chance. Just one.” 

The depth of pain and desperation in his beautiful blue eyes was so overwhelming that Maya’s own tears sprang forth as she reached his hand. 

"She loved you, Farkle." 

"And I loved her, Maya. I really love her."  

The pain in his voice was unbearable, and it shattered Maya’s heart. Farkle’s body trembled as another wave of tears washed over him, and Maya found herself crying beside him on that bed. Both holding on to the memories of their lost friend, of Riley. 

They stayed there for what felt like hours, wrapped in a fragile silence. Maya lost track of time, holding Farkle close. The late afternoon sun poured through the window, casting golden rays that softened the room and gave the moment a bittersweet glow. 

“You turn gold.” 

The whisper of that memory carried her back to middle school, to the day she and her friends tried to save the arts program by performing for the school board. 

They danced, they sang, they acted — each of them showing what art meant to them. During the meeting, they even removed the paintings from the walls, one by one, leaving the room slowly stripped of color and meaning. It was a quiet, powerful way to show what a world without art would look like. 

Riley was terrible at all of it. Her dance was bizarre, her performance wildly exaggerated and confusing. But she did it anyway — all for Maya. Because Maya loved art, and Riley loved Maya. 

Maya’s eyes drifted back to  Farkle. 

“I got something for you!” Maya said, pulling away from him. She went to the blue dresser near the door and grabbed the envelope. “Actually, Lucas asked me to give you this.” 

Maya turned the envelope and saw the unmistakable handwriting of her best friend, who had written Farkle's name on the brown envelope. Farkle got up from the bed and took the envelope from Maya’s hands. As soon as he recognized Riley’s handwriting, Maya saw him turn pale. He sat on the edge of the bed, staring down at the envelope in his hands. His hands trembled as he held the letter. Maya didn’t know what was inside, but she could see how deeply it affected him — a silent reminder of everything left unsaid between them. 

After a few minutes of watching Farkle stare at the envelope without doing anything, Maya grew impatient. If it had been her in his place, if Riley had left something for her, Maya would have opened it right away to read her best friend’s last words, even knowing that it might be the last connection to her after opening that paper. 

“Are you going to open it?” 

Farkle seemed to have just now remembered Maya’s presence. Maya saw him blush as he cleared his throat. 

“I’m scared, Maya. I’m afraid of what’s inside. I don’t know if I really want to read it.” 

“Well, you’re lucky. You got a letter from her... I would love to get something like that, because it would mean she thought about me, that I was important enough for her to spend a few minutes of her life writing me a letter. Maybe it’ll ease the pain you’re feeling, Farkle. Maybe there are words you wished you’d heard from Riley in that letter.” 

Farkle finally focused on the envelope. His trembling fingers carefully opened it, pulling out the papers inside. Maya stepped back a little to give him some privacy. Her eyes wandered over the pictures on the walls, her fingers sliding across the frames as she tried to remember the days when those pictures had been taken. 

She turned back to Farkle and saw fresh tears rolling down his face as he finished reading Riley’s letter. Maya sat beside him, hugging him as he cried, holding the paper written by his best friend. Maya was curious about the content, but she would respect it if Farkle decided not to share it with her, knowing it might be too personal. 

“Riley asked me to forgive her,” he said, with a lost gaze. “And I can’t ask her forgiveness anymore, even if she already said she forgave me in this letter.” 

“Riley was never the type of person to hold a grudge or ill feelings toward anyone.”  

Maya said, placing a kiss on his forehead.  

After a few minutes of silence, Maya pulled away from Farkle and looked around the room. 

“Look, the rabbit lamp!” Maya exclaimed, pointing to the rabbit lamp that was hidden among Riley’s things. “She told me she was going to throw it away when we were decorating her room before high school.” 

Farkle got up from the bed and took one of the pictures from the wall. His feet led him to the bay window. He sat on the left side, a spot that had become his over the years. His right hand ran over the fabric of the cushions that had witnessed countless conversations, from silly things to more important matters. Maya followed him, sitting on the right side, leaving Riley’s traditional spot between them empty. Maya looked at the picture Farkle was holding. It was a picture of Riley when she was eighteen. Her warm brown eyes and shy smile were clear in the photo. Farkle had taken it in front of Topanga's bakery on a spring day, a couple of days before they said goodbye to high school. 

“Do you remember when you got that good grade in Spanish, and part of our group started excelling in something during our freshman year of high school?”  

Farkle asked, his gaze fixed on a spot on the floor, as if he could still see that version of Riley sitting there. 

“I do. Riley was upset for not being as good at Spanish.” 

“I wondered how she was dealing with everything, so I decided to stop by here. I found her sitting on the floor, thinking about that new reality we were in. We talked about how everything was affecting us and what we would do to handle it. I reminded her that she was better just being herself, being that girl who always had us with her courage, optimism, effort, and so many other qualities we all knew she had. Those grades were so important, but now they mean nothing. The most important thing is how we strive to make things right, how we keep our friendships and how we grow and learn from them. Those grades might get you into a great college, but they can’t give you the kind of knowledge we gain by being close to each other and caring for one another.” 

A knock on the door interrupted their conversation. Maya and Farkle turned to see the brunette with glasses standing in the doorway. 

“Hi, sorry to interrupt!”  

She said as she walked into the room. She walked up to Maya and gave her a tight hug, whispering her condolences for the loss of her best friend, and did the same with Farkle. 

“You came, Smackle!”  

“Of course! How could I not come and say my last goodbye to Riley?”  

Smackle replied with a smile, sitting next to Maya. 

“How are things? I hope everything is going well in California.”  

Maya asked. 

“Very well! We’re working on an important research project. I can’t wait to talk about it.” Smackle smiled as she saw the picture in Farkle's hands. Her dream of working at NASA had finally come true after a professor had recommended her for a job there following a standout internship. "How are you guys doing? It's been a long time since we saw each other, especially you, Maya!" 

“I am currently teaching at the cultural center.” 

“How are things going with you, Farkle? Are you still traveling, or rather, practically living on your private plane?” 

“I’m thinking about settling down somewhere, maybe moving here since everyone’s here.” 

And ‘By everyone’, they knew he meant his family and the graves of his daughter, and now Riley. 

“Excuse me?”  

The three of them turned to the sound of a voice coming from the door, finding a tall man with black hair dressed in a suit that didn’t match his personality at all. 

“Zay!”  

They all exclaimed in unison. Zay smiled and approached, hugging Farkle and Maya, offering his condolences, and then turning to Smackle. His smile widened when he saw her. 

“I hear you’re doing great, Izzy!”  

He said, hands in his pockets. 

“So, no hug for me?” 

Isadora questioned, her eyebrow raised and a shy, playful smile on her lips. 

“Of course, you get a hug!”  

Zay said, pulling Smackle into a tight embrace. He kissed her forehead lingeringly before pulling away quickly, blushing after doing so. 

“I’m Sorry! Was I too invasive?” 

“It’s fine, Zay! I’ve always felt comfortable around you. I also know you’re... You're doing really well.” 

 Smackle smiled back before him sitting next to Farkle. 

Almost all of their friend group was there, just like old times. Maya felt like at any moment Riley would walk through that door, and they would start discussing something they had learned in Cory’s “classes.” 

“I’m really grateful to you and Riley,” Smackle said. “I’ve never been good at making friends, as you guys know. People always thought I was weird, so they avoided me. And the ones who didn’t, ended up distancing themselves because I always wanted to be the best at everything I did, and because of that, I ended up offending them in some way. But somehow, I ended up in a group. I know, it was horrible of me to use Maya and Riley to win the debate, but you guys still kept me around after I was so selfish with you. Riley taught me so much. She helped me experience emotions I’d never known, helped me be with my first boyfriend, who I’m proud to say was Farkle Minkus, one of the smartest and most handsome boys inside and out I’ve ever known.” Farkle smiled at Smackle, who smiled back. “I don’t think you guys know how much having you all in my life changed everything for me, and I’m really grateful for that. And maybe all of this wouldn’t have happened if Riley hadn’t invited me for that afternoon, right here, in this bedroom. Thank you for still being my friends.” 

Everyone smiled at Smackle. The room fell into silence as they all looked around at the memories shared there. 

"You know," Zay started, "I think the best thing that ever happened to me was when my father was transferred to New York. If we had stayed in Texas, I would have missed the incredible opportunity to meet all of you. I wouldn’t have had the chance to meet the blonde beauty, the genius boy, and Riley Matthews – the sweetest, most naive, cheerful, optimistic, brave, and faithful girl, who would do anything for the happiness of those she loves... I feel so lucky to have had this chance. Riley once told me that our group only became complete when I joined, but the truth is, my life only became complete when I got to have all of you by my side. And when I say all of you, I mean you too, Smackle. Thank you, guys. Thank you so much!" 

"I still have the etiquette book you gave me, Zay. I carry it with me everywhere, and your words too." 

The two of them stood there silently, exchanging smiles for a moment. 

"So, you guys are here!" A voice called from the door, and the brown-haired man from Philadelphia entered with his niece on his back. "I just got here, my flight was delayed by three hours." 

He bent down to set the little brunette girl on the floor. Charlotte immediately ran to her godmother, sitting between Maya and Farkle. Everyone turned their attention to the little girl with long, dark hair like her mother, sitting in the place where Riley used to sit when they were younger. 

"So, this is the Bay window where you and Mom used to sit and talk about everything when you were kids?" 

Charlotte asked curiously. 

"Yeah, this place holds a lot of memories," Farkle replied with a smile. "It’s where we all felt comfortable and safe enough to talk about whatever was going on in our lives. We’re happy to have you here with us, Charlotte." 

Maya hugged Charlotte tightly and kissed her on the head.  

"Your mom would sit right there where you are now, and she would try to solve all the problems, no matter how complicated they were. And since you’re her daughter, I bet you’ll have the same urge to fix everything..." 

Smackle was interrupted when Auggie walked into the bedroom, holding hands with Ava. The couple stopped at the door and took a quick look around the room. 

"I just want to thank you all for being here," Auggie said with a sad tone that made Ava squeeze his hand in support. "Thank you for being a part of my sister’s life, for loving her, for making Riley happy. Thank you all for always being by her side, for protecting her, for loving her just the way she was... Riley loved each one of you, and so do I, because you became a part of my family, which was never just four people." Auggie took a deep breath. "Well, my grandmother is calling everyone to eat." 

Everyone took a last glance around the room before Maya got up to help Auggie and Riley's grandmother in the kitchen. Zay followed her with Josh and Charlotte, but Farkle and Smackle stayed behind in the bedroom. They sat quietly for a while, staring at the walls. 

"Thank you, Smackle," Farkle said softly. "Thank you for your words, I really appreciate them." 

"I was just being honest," Smackle replied. "You were the best boyfriend I could have had. You were patient and understanding, accepting me for who I am." 

"Thank you for being my first girlfriend and for helping me understand feelings, even when you didn’t understand them yourself." 

"I’m glad I could help!" Smackle smiled. "Farkle, I know this is really hard for you. I want you to know that I’m here for you." She placed her hand on his knee. "I always knew you love Riley, even though you said you loved them both the same way. That’s why I always had that nagging feeling when it came to you and Riley. I could see that between you and Maya, it was just friendship on both sides, but you and Riley... I knew there was something. I knew one day you two would end up together somehow." 

"I’m sorry if I hurt you, Smackle."  

Farkle said, placing his hand over hers and gently making circles on the back of her hand with his thumb. 

"Breaking up with you was the right thing to do, Farkle," Smackle replied softly. "I appreciate that you tried to make it work, but I learned from someone that we can’t control what we feel. The place I would have wanted to occupy was already taken – and still is, by the same person. But I don’t regret my decision, because if I hadn’t been selfless and let you go, you might never have had the chance to experience that happiness, that feeling you carried with you for those long years." 

Farkle reached out and hugged Smackle tightly, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead afterward. 

In the kitchen, Maya was alone, almost finished placing the sandwiches on the dishes when Josh walked in. Silently, he began helping her with the sandwiches. After a few minutes of quiet, he finally spoke up: 

"Hi!" 

"Hi!" 

"How are you?" 

"Good, and you?" 

"I’m still trying to digest it. How are you feeling, Maya?" 

"I don’t know... I still can’t believe this is happening." Maya took a deep breath as the pain in her chest intensified, and tears began to roll down her face again. "But I’ll be fine someday." 

Josh pulled her into a hug, and they stayed like that for a while. Maya cried in silence, missing the feeling of being wrapped in his arms and the comfort he always gave her. Despite all the fights they had, she knew she could always count on him. 

"I’m here for you. Anything you need, just call me. You can call me to tell me anything; do you hear me? Anything!" 

"Thank you, Josh!"  

Maya said, pulling away from him and wiping her tears. 

"I’m staying, Maya. This time, I’m staying." 

The way Josh said those words, and the way his eyes stayed locked on hers, made Maya feel that he wasn’t talking about staying in New York. He meant that maybe, for the first time, he really wanted to be with her — that this time he would try to make things work between them. 

"Well, I’m happy for you." 

Maya turned toward the living room, leaving Josh in the kitchen. As soon as she entered, her eyes met Lucas’s. He was sitting on the sofa, positioned so that he had a clear view of where she and Josh had been talking just moments before. Lucas wore a concerned expression, but as soon as he noticed that Maya had caught him watching, he softened and gave her a friendly smile. Maya returned the smile and set the dish on the coffee table. 

Her eyes scanned the room. Cory and Topanga were resting in their bedroom; Katy and Shawn were still chatting in a corner with Farkle’s father. Mrs. Minkus was sitting nearby, watching in wonder as Matheo slept peacefully in her arms. The silly smile on her face told Maya everything — she would be a wonderful grandmother if she ever had the chance again. 

Farkle had joined his mother, and they were talking about something related to Matheo, as Farkle’s eyes never left the toddler. Maya’s gaze then moved toward the door, where she saw Smackle leaning against the wall, talking to Zay. The way Zay’s body was leaning toward her made Maya fairly certain he was trying to flirt with her. 

Everyone was there for Riley, sharing stories about the amazing person she had been and how her brief time with them had impacted their lives. Maya knew her friend would be happy to know that she had made such a difference to everyone in that room. Riley is likely watching over them from wherever she may be, with a warm and gentle smile. Wishing she could hold them one more time, Maya would give anything to feel her warmth, even if just for a moment.