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This is BEFORE "Coming Home".

My Life. My Choice.

Maya opened her apartment door to her best friend rushing by passed her.

"Is Josh home?"

Maya looked at her friend questioningly as she closed the door. "No-"

"Is Andrew?"

"No-"

"Is Jas-"

"I'm home alone," Maya cut her off, watching relief wash over her best friend. "Riley, what's going on?" she asked as she followed her best friend into her and Josh's bedroom.

"Shut the door. We can't risk it."

Maya raised her eyebrows at her best friend but did as she was told. "Okay, now, can you tell me what's going on?"

Riley turned to look at her best friend before opening up her purse and slowly revealing a pregnancy test. "This."

Maya's eyes went wide before she shook her head, chuckling. "Riley, honey, I'm not pregnant when I told you I was suffering from a stomach virus, I really was."

"You may have been suffering from a stomach virus but I believe I'm suffering from this," Riley said, holding the test up higher.

Maya's mouth dropped open as she stood there stun for a moment. "You and Huckleberry?"

Riley nodded.

"You're pregnant?"

Riley winced. "I'm late. Really late."

"Wow," Maya breathed out. "Okay, so you don't know for sure?"

Riley shook her head.

"Okay," Maya nodded, nervously. "You need to take the test so we know and we can figure out what to do next."

"That's what I'm here for. I didn't want..."

"I understand," Maya nodded.

"Wish me luck?"

"Good luck."

Maya watched her best friend walk into her bathroom before going over to her bed to closed her book and put away the makeup products she had lying out on her bed that she was planning on doing first impression video on later for her Youtube channel to make way just in case Riley had a breakdown and needed a nap.

"Now we wait," Riley said as she walked back in and sat down. She glanced around her best friend and uncle's bedroom and still couldn't believe the two were married. Her eyes fell on a picture she took of the two embracing in a hug as Maya beamed while Josh kissed her cheek in front of the courthouse on their wedding day on the nightstand. "How are things between you and Uncle Josh?" she asked, feeling the two hadn't been able to spend much time alone since her and her uncle got married. She didn't mind. She knew the two were in the honeymoon stage and enjoying every minute they had free together which wasn't much lately with both in college and working. She watched a small smile come to her best friend's face.

"Great, I didn't think I could love him any more than I did but I do."

"So marriage is everything you thought it would be and more?"

"Yeah," Maya nodded. "It's definitely has it's ups and downs but that's expected, right? We are newlyweds and we're trying to figure out this marriage thing and it's been harder than I thought it would be," she admitted, softly.

Riley nodded. She didn't have to be married to know marriage wasn't easy. Relationships were hard enough.

"But Josh has been amazing and it definitely helps that everyone is standing behind us. My Mom is finally over the shock of me getting married and now is happy especially since I agreed to do the vow renewal so she gets to see me in a white gown and Shawn walk me down the aisle like she wants," Maya added, with an eye roll.

"I knew they would. You and Josh are happy and even though you haven't been marry long you two are showing people that you guys are making your marriage work. That's what everyone wants even if you shocked them by getting married. They want you two to make it."

Maya nodded, "We are and we will. I don't regret marrying Josh at all because I believe in us and in our love. I love being able to wake up to him every morning and go to sleep with him every night. I feel safe in his arms and know he would do anything for me like I would for him. I love the small things like being able to call him my husband when I introduce him to the big things like us trying figure out what steps to take next in our lives."

Riley smiled, listening to her best friend talk about her marriage.

"Right now, I do hate we don't have a lot of time together because of school and work and it's making us argue more than I would like but we are still happy and making it work and finding ways to make sure we have a little time for each other even though I feel it's not enough and that's why," she began, swallowing. "I'm thinking about not returning to NYU after this semester is over with."

Riley's eyes went wide as she thought her best friend had loss her mind. "What?! You are dropping out to spend time with Josh?"

"No," Maya shook her head before pondering for a moment. "Well, I mean, yes, kind of. It will definitely make it easier to have time to spend with Josh but the main reason is my Youtube channel has really started to take off. So, I was thinking of taking some time off from school and really concentrating on my channel instead of only when I have free time from school or waitressing so I can see what happens. I love making videos and I can make videos when Josh has a class or is at work so when he comes home it will allow me to have more time to spend with him."

Riley wasn't sure how she felt about her best friend's plan. She felt it was risky and if it failed it could make more trouble for the newlywed couple. "What does Josh think?" she asked.

"At first he was a little hesitant," she admitted. "He knows how important school is and he doesn't really like the part of putting our lives out there on the internet for people to see but he supports my decision. He understands this is an opportunity that not everyone has and I have it."

"What do you think your parents are going to say?"

"It doesn't matter what they say just like when it came to me marrying Josh. This is my life. My choice. And if I want to quit school to try Youtube then I will. It's not like I don't plan on going back to school eventually because I do. I know this Youtube path isn't forever but it is my right now and it could lead to something even bigger."

Riley sighed, knowing just like when Maya made her mind up about marrying Josh there was no way of talking her out of it just like there would be no way of talking her out of chasing this Youtube dream. "Okay, if that's what you want then you should do it."

"It is," Maya nodded.

"So, do you think the 'my life, my choice' thing will work if I'm pregnant on my parents?" she asked.

Maya shrugged, giving her best friend a sympathy look. "You and Huckleberry are meant to be and things in life happen that you don't plan but you two can make it. You have to believe in your love and you are going to have to be strong together because people will talk and not believe in your relationship and question your decisions and believe that you are ruining your life but like I said this is your life."

"Do you think if you and Josh were to have a baby right now it would ruin your life?"

Maya shook her head, a small smile coming to her face, "No. It would definitely change our plans but Josh and I would deal with it together like you and Huckleberry will."

"The difference between us is you and Josh are married and Lucas and I aren't. The next step for you two is a baby."

"I don't think that matters. Lucas is a good guy. I know he will be at your side if you are. We aren't even a hundred percent sure you are pregnant. Should we look?"

Riley nodded. The two walked into the bathroom. Riley took a deep breath before looking down at the test as Maya stood in the doorway. Riley looked over at her best friend and nodded.

Maya stood still, waiting for her Riley to react to the big news before she made any type of movement. She watched Riley put the test back in the box and walk pass her back into her bedroom and out to the living room. She quietly followed. "Are you okay?" she asked, softly, waiting for the news to sink in more to get a real reaction out of Riley.

Riley swallowed, sitting down on the couch. "I have to be. I'm going to have a baby."

Maya nodded. She watched as her best friend's hand went to her still flat stomach. "You know I'm here for you no matter what."

"I know," Riley nodded. "I can't believe I'm going to be a mommy."

"Me either," Maya breathed out, taking her best friend's hand and giving it a squeeze before sitting down on the chair. "You know I've always wanted to be aunt but did you have to make me a great aunt so fast?" she joked, causing the two to bust out laughing.

The two were cut off by the opening of the front door and a very tired looking Josh walking in.

"Hey Gorgeous," Josh greeted his wife, kissing her forehead before acknowledging Riley. "Niece," he said, kissing the top of her head. "I'm going to take a shower and try to wake up some."

Maya smiled watching her husband. She waited until she heard the door closed behind him before speaking. "I'm sorry I didn't know he would be home so early and you don't have to worry I won't say anything. It's not my place to tell."

Riley nodded, giving her a small smile before both of their eyes went wide when realization hit them where the pregnancy test was.

"The pregnancy test," Maya hissed as they both stood up, wondering what to do but before they could do anything a confused Josh entered back in the room.

"What's this?" Josh asked, holding up the pregnancy test box that contained the positive pregnancy test.

The best friends looked at each other.

"Maya?"

Maya looked over at her husband as her mouth hung open before glancing back at her friend and looking at her husband again. "Hmm, It's my-"

"It's mine, uncle Josh."

Josh narrowed his eyebrows, confused, "Your's?"

Riley nodded.

Josh looked at his wife for confirmation and Maya slowly nodded. "We aren't having a baby?"

Maya shook her head, "We're waiting," she murmured, watching her husband's reaction closely.

Josh nodded, his eyes on his wife before looking over at his niece. "Are you okay?"

"Let's hope so."

XOXOXOX

Riley sat in her room, waiting for doom. She was thankful her roommate was out of town for the weekend and didn't have to worry about her coming home. Lucas texted and told her he would be over within fifteen minutes and she knew she had to tell him right away to get it off of her chest and to make sure she didn't chicken out. Her heart started to pound faster at the sound of someone knocking on her dorm door. She swallowed, "Here goes nothing," she muttered to herself, standing up to answer.

"Hey," she greeted with a smile, pecking his lips.

"Hey," he greet back, walking over to her bed.

Riley bit her lip, confused watching the back of Lucas as he walked over and sat down on her bed. Her heart sunk when she saw Lucas stare straight ahead as his mind was somewhere else. Maybe today wasn't the day to tell him. No. She told herself. You have to do it today. This is too big and life changing to keep it to yourself. Just get it over and tell him. Her mind pumping her up. She looked over at her boyfriend. It's now or never.

"I have something I need to tell you."

Lucas looked up at Riley, swallowing. "I have something I need to tell you as well."

Riley bit her lip, as her heart sunk deeper because by the look in Lucas's eyes it wasn't good news. "Okay. Why, don't you go first."

Lucas remained quiet making Riley more nervous by the minute. He sighed before he finally spoke, "Riley, you're not going to like this," he began, making Riley's breathing get caught in her throat. "I'm dropping out of NYU to join the military."

Riley sat stun, not sure if she heard him correctly. This can't be real. First, Maya. Now, Lucas. What is it with the people in her life wanting to quit school? "You're what?"

"I'm dropping out of NYU. I want to join the military," Lucas repeated. "I haven't been happy at NYU and I feel this is my calling. I have to go with my gut and my gut is calling me to serve our great country."

Riley turned away from Lucas to regain her composure. She couldn't believe Lucas would just drop this bomb on her without talking to her about it. He never said a word to her about wanting to join the military or that he was so unhappy at NYU. She turned back to face the man she loved. The father of her unborn baby. She needed to do what was best for their relationship and more importantly their baby.

"I'm sorry," he said, softly. "I know this is a shock-"

"You think?"

Lucas swallowed, shaking his head. "Riley, I'm sorry. I know I should have told you how I was feeling and I know with me being in the military things are going to be hard. That's why," Lucas took in a deep breath and Riley felt her heart drop even further if that was possible at the look in his eye. "I love you enough to let you go-"

Riley shook her head, "Lucas stop!"

"No, Riley, I mean it. I'm going to be gone. Months at a time. I would never expect you to put your life on hold for me and wait around-"

"Lucas-"

"Riley this is for the best-"

"I'm pregnant."

"-and I know it's going to be hard-what?" Lucas stopped mid-sentence, looking over at Riley in disbelief. "Did you say you were pregnant?"

Riley nodded, biting her lip. "I took a test over Maya and Josh's and it came back positive."

Lucas remain quiet as the new sunk in for him. "Holy shit," he breathed out, sitting down on Riley's bed. "What are we going to do?"

"Well, I'm going to have the baby."

Lucas nodded, as his mind raced on what to do. He knew he had to take on his responsibilities. There was no way in hell he was walking from Riley and their baby. He could stay at NYU so he wouldn't have to miss out on anything.

"And you are going to join the military like you planned-"

"But-"

"No buts. Lucas, if this is really your dream then we can make it work. This is our life. Our choices. We get to decide the next steps for us. Is this all a shock? Yes but I'll support you anyway I can. I saw it in your eyes how much you want to join the military. It means a lot to you and I'm going to be at your side."

"It's going to be tough" Lucas murmured. "I'm going to be away a lot."

Riley nodded. "I know," she agreed. "We will work it out. We will come up with plan for what is best for our family."

Lucas stared at the woman he loved more than anything. "We can do it," he said causing Riley to nod and smile. "I want to give you and our baby the best life I can."

"And you will. It's me, you and our baby. Us three are going to take on the world together."

Riley laced their fingers together. Some of Maya's words replaying in her head. Believe in your love. Stay strong. She knew this pregnancy wasn't going to be easy and with Lucas joining the military they had a long hard road together but they could make it. She believed in their love and knew because of it they could stay strong and take on anything thrown at them.

I hope everyone enjoyed this one shot. I know it wasn't the best but please leave me a review with your thoughts.