"Right, Riley? Sweetheart?" Topanga said, as Riley stared at the card in her hand.

"Mom, I really hate to do this but I have a go to Europe with a friend card." I gasped dramtically. "And you're all the way back there." She frowned. "And I've never been to Europe."

Ava turned to Auggie. "I want to go to Europe."

"Get off my back!"

I turned to Cory. "They act more like a married couple than you two do."

"Wait, you're leaving me?" Topanga gasped.

"Mom, it is not personal, I just got this card and..."

"Wait, you're leaving me?"

"Here it comes." Cory said, grimacing.

"I am your mother. I have your absolute love and loyalty. What do you think you're talking to him?" She said, pointing at Cory.

"Hey, Farkle. How do you that again?" He asked.

"Haaa!" Farkle exclaimed.

"Has!" Cory copied weakly.

"Now you run, sir." Farkle said.

"No, actually now I go right over here which is exactly where I belong."

"Well, this game just got real." I exclaimed in my announcer voice.

"Will the daughter go off on her own or does the mother hold on to her forever?" Josh said, as we stepped closer to them.

"I'm sorry, mommy."

"Partners?" Maya asked.

"Forever."

"Riley?" Topanga asked.

"Mom, I am just playing a game. Isn't that what you want me to do? Win?"

"Not without me."

"Hey, Topanga. You and me." Cory reassured her.

"You and me. Let's win this thing."

"You and me. Let's win this thing." Riley told Maya.

"You and me." Farkle told Lucas.

"I just want to go home."

"You and me. It's way past our bedtime." Ava exclaimed.

"Yeah!" They both yelled. 

~<3~

"So what happened with this Zay kid?" Josh asked me. The other teams each got a five minute break, so we were sitting by the kitchen table, waiting.

"How'd you hear about that?" I asked.

"I heard you and Howdy talking about it earlier."

"I hate him."

"Woah. Hate's a strong word... What'd he do?"

"Where do I even start. He's a blabbermouth. He spilled my secret out to the whole school, and within an hour people were making fun of me. Then he pretends like he didn't do anything! Like he has no clue what happened. It's infuriating."

"So you like him?" Josh teased, and I turned to him.

"There's something wrong with your mind, Matthews."

"That's not a no." I punched him in the arm. "Okay, okay. I'll shut up. Anyway, Riley and Maya are back. Game on!"

(Earlier that day)

"Game over. God bless America." Riley said, waving the USA flag.

"How could you do this?" Farkle groaned. "My kingdom. I have nothing left."

"Actually, you still have India, Ireland, Australia, Shakespeare, dickens, and the Beatles. Cory informed him.

"And don't forget Doctor Who, Sherlock, and Harry Potter." I added.

"Oh, yeah. Who needs you anyway?"

"You know you do." I said, putting my arm around him.

"I missed talking to you, Kenz. I'm sorry." He said, leaning on me.

"Me too. It's fine."

"Cousins?"

"Cousins."

"The revolutionary war ended in 1783 leaving a rift between england and the United States."

"But we love each other now, though, right?" Riley asked.

"We do, but it took some time. In fact, it wasn't until 1814, when another American helped mend that relationship. His name, Riley, was John Quincy Adams."

"Oh. That's what the kid did." I just know this will fit into our lives somehow.

"That's right. See, it took the next generation to bring everybody together."

"So people that go to war can actually become friends?" I asked.

"Revolution is a short moment in time. But if you play the long game correctly, everybody can end up just where they're supposed to be."

~<3~

"Someone has to get a 12." Topanga groaned.

"Anything but a 12."

"Nobody throw a 12."

Riley rolled. "12!"

"Oh, thank goodness. It's over." Lucas exclaimed.

"No, it's not. I'm not going for the success square. I'm going for the circle in the middle. We are going to play the long game."

"What? You could win."

"Dude, why would you do that?" Josh and I asked, sticking a whisk and a wooden spoon in her face.

"Because tonight the family game is not about winning."

"Uh, say what?" Topanga asked.

"Mom, I was only trying to beat you because I want you to be proud of me."

"You do?"

"Yeah, I want to be like you."

"You do?"

"A killer shark who always wins?" Riley asked in a 'duh' tone.

"That is the most beautiful thing I have ever heard." Topanga sighed.

"So tonight, let's find out what happens when you play the long game."

"I'm never gonna see my mama again." Lucas groaned.

"I wanted someone to land on the success square." Cory said. "I kind of wanted to hear." He pressed the button.

"I win! Seriously, help me." Topanga said.

"In the long game, the players all play together to conquer the game itself." Josh read.

"So we're all on one big team then?" Riley asked.

"If you'll let us be." Topanga said.

"And Dad, I promise that nobody is going anywhere."

"Well, Riley, you know what? If these are the people you've chosen to leave us for someday, they're welcome to play with us anytime. You've made some wonderful choices."

"You're gonna buy the friends game?" Riley asked excitedly.

"Yeah."

"Can we play that one with you guys?" Topanga asked.

"Anytime you want. You're a good king."

"You're a good John Quincy Adams."

"Oh, the kid who brought everyone together. Yeah."

"Told you." I said, smiling. Riley pressed the button.

"Who's joining us?"

"We are."

~<3~

"Well, birds are chirping." I said, yawning.

"Sounds of a sleepy city coming to life as the sun peeks its smiling face..." Maya smiled up at Josh. "Yeah, okay ...upon 8 tired game players."

"And if Auggie Matthews can roll a two, then we will finally find out what happens when you win the long game." I finished.

"Nobody can roll a two." Topanga groaned.

"We pick two." Ava said sleepily.

"You know what, Ava? I finally like you."

"Okay."

The game chimed. "That's it?" I asked. Then, it chimed again and whirred open, revealing a glowing light.

"And as everyone is joined together," Josh says. "We see that in the long game, friends become family."

"It's not a game at all." Riley said in awe.

"What is it, mommy?"

"It's life."

"Life is the long game?"

"Yeah, bubba. Life is the long game." Cory said, smiling.

Josh walked over to Maya. "Maya. You do understand I'm too old for you?"

"I do, Josh. I know that."

"Good."

"But I'm in it for the long game." She said, and I laughed.

"Do you like her?" I mocked and he looked at me.

"There's something wrong with your mind, Huxton."

"That isn't a no."

(Earlier that day)

"I'm glad we're all friends again." I said, smiling.

"Yeah, I'm glad I can take this off."

"It's amazing that people so close can go to war."

Lucas turned to Farkle. "Take off your crown."

"No. Luckily, it's all history and not our real lives."

"Hey. We're having family game night tonight. You guys want to come?"

"Sure, thanks, I'd love that. Take off your crown."

"No. I'd love that, thank you."

"So you're never going to take off your crown?"

"No."

"Don't you think you should ask your Dad?"

"Nah. What could possibly go wrong?"

I groaned. "Here we go again."

~<3~

Okay, so number one, I'm so glad that Farkle and Kenz are talking again. Just to clarify, Kenz and Josh DON'T have feelings or each other. I think of their relationship as a brotherly-sisterly one. Anyway.....

What do you think happened with Kenz and Zay?

Who do you think she likes?

Should I have some sort of thing with her dad? Like a custody battle kind of thing? ~Cassidy