"DID YOU tell them yet?" Maya asked.

The two girls barged into the apartment.

"Did he freak? Did she tell you?" Sophia asked.

"Did you freak? Show me what you did." Maya said.

"Freak out for me." They said.

"Why would I freak out? I don't freak out." Mr. Matthews said.

"What did you do?!" He asked Riley.

"Family game night, now with extra family." She said.

She walked towards her friends.

"Well, hello." Josh said walking in with Auggie on top of him.

"Well, hello." Auggie repeated.

"Auggie didn't want to miss the game night." He said.

"We never made it out of the city."

"Oh, here's your money." Josh said.

He gave him a dollar.

"Hey, this is a dollar. I gave you a hundred." Mr. Matthews said.

"With that kind of money, you think we're not gonna buy steaks?"

"Thank you, papa." Auggie said.

"You know what?" Mr. Matthews asked, "My brother!"

"My brother!"

"Listen, you're here for game night." Mr. Matthews told him, "You're family, you're in."

The intercom buzzed.

"Farkle."

"Thomas."

"And Lucas."

The Family Game, now with more family.

"Come on up." Riley said.

Not long after Maya, Thomas, Sophia, Lucas, Farkle, Auggie, and Josh day on the floor.

"Riley, shnookums. Um, you're gonna have to start to prioritize what's more important to you, your family, huh? Or your friends? There is only one right answer."

"Why do I-"

"Wrong answer."

"- have to choose between -"

"Wrong answer."

"I love my friends and I want to hang out with my friends." She said.

"Welcome to family game night, friends."

"Wrong, wrong, wrong answer." Mr. Matthews said, "Get rid of them."

"Why do you have to be you all the time?" Riley asked.

"You think it's easy? Say goodbye to your daughter, honey. She has chosen her friends over her family."

"Why can't we just play with her friends." Topanga asked.

"Because Topanga, the second she allowed Dr. Turtleneck, Mr.
Howdy and Mr. Canadian into our household, our family was compromised by interlopers." He said.

Sophia stood up.

"Maybe we could just come back another time."

"Oh, yeah, we don't have walls." He said turning around.

"I told you we needed walls, Topanga." He said.

Josh looked over at Farkle.

"Dr. Turtleneck, I presume."

"How could you tell?" Farkle asked.

"Oh, because you just seem like a doctor to me." He said.

He loved over at Lucas.

"And you must be Howdy," He said, "and Mr. Canadian."

"See this? The family game.
The game for families." Cory said.

"Not the friends game, a game for friends. I saw that game. I didn't buy that game. I bought this one because I used to have a family." Mr. Matthews said.

"Will you stop?" Topanga asked.

"How could she choose her friends over us? I mean, did they burp her? Did they change her diapers?"

"We haven't yet, but we will when she's old." Farkle said.

"Speak for yourself, honey. I know that I have the absolute love and loyalty of my children who like me fine and always will." He said.

"Everybody's here. Everybody plays." Riley said.

"Cory, flipping out is only gonna make things worse." Topanga said, "Do you really want to drive her away?"

"Yeah, dad."

"It's like what you were teaching today." Sophia said.

"I was teaching about the American revolution, Sophia. How is this anything like the American revolution?"

Sophia stood up.

"How? Let's think."

Earlier That Day

"The American Revolution.
Imagine England as a father." Sophia said.

She and Lucas were narrating the story of the American Revolution.

"And America, it's child.
Knowing it's time to break away." He said.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the Revolutionary War." Sophia said.

"Subjects. It is I, King George III, ruler of the British empire. Now, where is that rebellious John Adams? Who dares chooses his American friends over his king?" Farkle asked.

"Here I am! John Quincy Adams." Riley said.

"Riley, uh, you're actually John Adams." Mr. Matthews said.

"Who's that?" She asked.

"John Adams was the father of John Quincy Adams." Sophia told her.

"But our school is John Quincy Adams." She said.

"My school was John Adams." Mr. Matthews said.

"Your school was the father of my school?" She asked.

"Does that make sense to you?" Sophia asked.

"None of this does."

"I'm also gonna be your teacher next year." Mr. Matthews said.

"You're kidding me."

"Now back to our story." Sophia said.

"It is I, John not Quincy Adams.
Wait, why'd they name the school after this guy? I mean, he must have done something." Riley asked.

"He did." Lucas said.

"He did something, we're gonna get to it." Sophia said, "So, John Adams, where are your rebel friends?"

"With me as always."

Thomas walked inside the classroom.

"Hark! Here's one right now." Riley said.

"Looking good, Georgie Washington." She whispered, kinda.

"John, you're embarrassing me." He whispered.

"Good! Now, may I introduce, he is crazy smart, he's rocking granny glasses, the old kite flyer himself, Benjamin Franklin." She said.

Maya was supposed to walk out but never did.

"I'm not doing this." Maya said.

"Come on, we can't start the revolution without you." Lucas said.

"Fine, but nobody looks at me." She said.

"Okay, nobody look at Maya!" Riley said.

"Why, Benjamin Franklin, can you feel the electricity between us?" Farkle asked.

"When do we get rid of this guy?" She asked.

"Right now! King George, the American colonies want their freedom." Riley said.

"You belong to me, and I will never let you go. It's the king's law." Farkle said.

Matthews Residents

"You belong to me until you're eighteen. It's the law." Mr. Matthews said.

"Whatever you say, King George." Riley said.

"Stop calling me that."

"What's the matter? Pops doesn't like pops' lesson?" Maya asked.

"Yeah." Riley said.

"Listen, guys, not everything I teach you in class applies to our lives." He said.

The group sat down.

"It does, every time, sir." Lucas said.

"Okay, game is all set up." Josh said.

"We doing this thing, or what?"

"No." Mr. Matthews said.

"Yes." Riley said.

"Do you guys even know how to play the family game?" Mr. Matthews asked.

"Let me teach you." Maya said.

She and Sophia stood up.

Sophia pusher Mr. Matthews down.

"Okay." He said.

"Because we're always here, and you can't get rid of us." Maya said.

"Always wins." Sophia said.

The two pointed towards Topanga.

"Always eats too much popcorn and says, "I'm never eating popcorn again."

"But it's so delicious." Riley said stuffing her mouth.

"Would you be on my team, Uncle Josh?" Auggie asked.

"Try and stop me." Josh said.

"Okay, I'll stop you." Maya said, "You're on my team."

"He's my Uncle."

"He's my husband."

"Congratulations." Auggie said letting go.

"It says here the goal is to get into one of the four success squares with your teammate." Farkle read.

"And then you win. It makes this sound." Auggie said pushing the buttons.

"I win! Oh, it hasn't happened yet." Topanga said.

"What's the big circle in the middle for?" Thomas asked.

"Oh, we don't go there." Riley said.

"If even one person goes in there, then you have to play the long game." Sophia added.

"What's the long game?" Farkle asked.

"I don't know. We've never played it." Riley said.

"Intriguing. Should we find out?" He asked.

"No, it takes forever." Topanga said.

"And you don't get to hear this." Mr. Matthews said pushing the button.

"I win! Oh, something's wrong with me." Topanga said sitting back down again.

The doorbell rang and Topanga got back up again.

"I win! Oh, my goodness." She said sitting down again.

"Now who could that be?" Mr. Matthews asked as Auggie got the door.

"Hi, Auggie." Ava said walking in, "Hey, you're playing a game? Can I be on your team?"

"You're on your own, pal. My woman's here." He said to Josh.

"Sure, Auggie. Bring your woman in." Mr. Matthews said.

"Let's bring in everybody. Why don't we put up signs on the telephone poles next to the cats and the dogs. Matthews family game night. Only not really, it's kind of everybody family game night. Isn't it? Huh? Isn't it?" He asked.

"There's the freakout. Best show in town." Maya said.

"Do you feel better now, buddy?" Sophia asked.

"I do, thank you." He said.

"Thank you." Maya and Sophia thanked.

Let the games begin.

"Well, well." Maya said.

"Looks like everybody's all partnered up except for lil ol' us."

It was Auggie and Ava, Farkle and Thomas, Lucas and Sophia, Topanga and Riley.

So now it's just Maya, Josh, and Mr. Matthews.

"I could pick you." She said looking at Josh.

"Or I could pick you." Looking at Mr. Matthews.

"Or I could pick you."

"Or I could pick you."

"Yeah, well, you see, you represent homework and no fun." She said looking at Mr. Matthews.

"While you are so handsome it kind of makes my eyes hurt."

"Okay, here's what I'm gonna do.
I'm gonna be the game show host, is what I'm gonna do." Josh said.

"'Cause they stand." He said and Maya got up.

"And they move." He said walking away but Maya started walking but Mr. Matthews pulled her down.

"Hiya, partner."

"Oh, boy."

"And game show hosts make sure everyone follows the rules and plays fair." He said.

"Especially this one." He said looking at Ava.

"Ava! Shh."

"I'm doing this for us, baby."

"Okay."

"The object of this game is to create a family, protect it, and get safely through a world of obstacles that will test how strong your family is." Josh said, "The winner of the short game is the first team to end up in one of the four success squares with a car and a house."

"Get me a car and a house." Ava told Auggie.

"I'm trying."

"Okay. Um, Maya and I up first." Mr. Matthews said.

"Oh, says who?" Riley asked.

"Says the king of the castle."

"Just because you're the king, doesn't mean you get to make all of the rules."

"Oh, yeah? That's actually the first rule in the king's handbook."

"Well, it's been a lovely evening. And now I need a hug from my mama." Lucas said getting up.

"Mama?" Sophia asked.

"Yeah."

"What do you call your mama?" He asked as Josh walked behind her.

"Ma." Josh said.

"Try it out." Sophia said.

"Ma." Lucas said.

She smiled.

"Nah, she'd put me in the shed." He said.

"You know what, dad, you may be the king, but I am going first." She said throwing the dice.

Earlier

"You are staging an act of open rebellion against your king." Farkle said.

"You have left the colonies no choice but to break away from you and become independent." Riley said.

"Because you're fighting for the sake of your families." Mr. Matthews said walking behind.

"And friends."

"And family is the most important thing in the world."

"And friends."

"Riley, you don't think family should come first?" He asked her.

"I cannot do this right now. I am in the middle of a rebellion." She said.

"Oh, yeah." He said turning her around.

"Oh, yeah. Let's see how your little rebellion fares against the might of the British empire." Farkle said.

He opened the door and a cannon was there.

"Whoa, Farkle. Where'd you get the cannon?" Sophia asked.

"From my cannon guy." He said.

"Yes, general Washington." Mr. Matthews said as he saw Thomas's hand.

"You really have to wonder if the king wasn't so stubborn, could something have been worked out so America would still be in the British family?" He asked.

"A nation or a family, can only remain united if its leaders govern fairly and address the needs of all of its members both old and young." He said.

"Well, I'm not gonna. So let's get this party started." Farkle said, "Is this thing loaded?"

Farkle slid into the cannon.

"It is now." Maya said jumping up with a sparkler in her hand, "Happy fourth of July, everybody."

"Maya, the war hasn't even started yet." Sophia said.

"You're gonna love Boston." Maya said.

"When am I going to Boston?" Farkle asked.

"In five, four, three." She said about to light the cannon.

Lucas grabbed Sophia by her shoulders and pulled her aside.

Matthews Residents

"Four, five, six, and as usual I will choose the fatherhood path." Mr. Matthews said.

"Bing, bing, bing, bing." He said moving his piece, "And the pink square means I get a daughter."

"Actually sir, Farkle and I already own that square." Thomas said.

"So, your daughter's ours." Farkle said.

"Excuse me." He said.

"Let him talk." Riley said.

"According to the game, we get your daughter." Thomas said.

Riley pounced up but was pulled back down.

"Josh!" Mr. Matthews said.

She's not Riley Matthews anymore, my brother." Josh said, "She's now Mrs., Dr. Turtleneck-Canadian."

Thomas went to take the card from Mr. Matthews.

"Uh, sir, you're holding on a little tight."

"You really need to let go, sir." Farkle said.

Then the card ripped in half.

"You killed my daughter." He said.

"My turn." Ava said, "I pick six."

"Uh, Ava you need to roll the dice." Topanga said.

"One, two, three, four, five, six."

"Josh, objection." Topanga said looking up at him.

"I'm going to allow it."

"Why?"

"Because she cracks me up."

"I get a make your own luck card." Ava said, "Take over someone's family business. Choose one player to send back to start."

She started to sing.

"I choose, hmm, one Topanga, two Topanga, three Topanga, four.
Five Topanga, six Topanga, seven Topanga, or Topanga!"

She took her piece and put it back at the start.

"This stinks." She said.

"This had to be done, mommy."

"It's okay, my lovebug. Luckily, my team always wins." Topanga said.

"And my teammate has a turn, and I'm sure she's going to use it to help me." She said, "Right, Riley? Sweetheart?"

"Mom, I really hate to do this but I have a go-to Europe with friends card." She said, "And you're all the way back there, and I've never been to Europe."

"I want to go to Europe." Ava said.

"Get off my back!" Auggie said.

"Wait, you're leaving me?"

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

Topanga cut her off, "You're leaving me?"

"Here it comes." Mr. Matthews muttered.

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

"Hey, Farkle. How do you that again?" He asks and Farkle made that weird noise and Mr. Matthews repeated it.

"Now you run, sir." Farkle said.

"No, actually now I go right over here which is exactly where I belong." He said getting up and sitting beside Topanga.

"Well, this game just got real. Will the daughter go off on her own or does the mother hold on to her forever?" Josh asked.

"I'm sorry, mommy." Riley said.

She stood up and sat with Maya and Sophia.

"Partners?"

"Forever."

"Riley?" Her mom asked.

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

"Not without me."

"Hey, Topanga."

"You and me."

"You and me."

"Let's win this thing."

"You and me." Maya said.

"Let's win this thing." Sophia said.

"You and me." Farkle said joining in.

"I just want to go home." Lucas said.

"You and me."

"It's way past our bedtime." Auggie told Ava.

The two of the just screamed.

Bay Window

"Okay, we have a five minute break for new team strategy talk." Riley said, "Which means we can not waste a second. What do you got?"

"You're destroying your parents." Sophia said.

"That's the object of the game. Oh, come on, Maya and Sophia. It's not like we're actually going backpacking through Europe."

"We should definitely go backpacking through Europe." Maya told her.

"And we'll bring Thomas, Lucas, and Farkle to Europe." She said.

"Yeah, and we'll bring your parents." Sophia said.

"Why would you want to bring my parents? Oh." She said, "I get it. This isn't a game to them at all, is it?" She asked.

"No, it isn't." Sophia said.

"Then how do we possibly win?" She asked.

"You don't win." Maya said.

"You just play with them, Riley." Sophia said.

"It's game night. Their favorite night of the month." Maya said.

The three of them made it downstairs.

"Oh, look at that." Mr. Matthews said, "They're already back."

"Break's over. Game on!" Josh said.

Earlier

"Game over. God bless America." Riley said.

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

He was laying on the floor.

"Actually, you still have India, Ireland, Australia, Shakespeare, Dickens, and the Beatles." Sophia told him.

She grabbed his hand and helped him off the floor.

"Oh, yeah. Who needs you anyway?" Farkle said.

"You know you do."

The group sat on top of their desk.

"The Revolutionary War ended in seventeen eighty-three leaving a rift between England and the United States." Mr. Matthews said.

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

"We do, but it took some time.
In fact, it wasn't until helped mend that relationship. His name, Riley, was John Quincy Adams." Mr. Matthews told her.

"Oh. That's what the kid did." She said.

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

"So people that go to war can actually become friends?" She 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." Mr. Matthews said.

Matthews Residents

"Someone has to get a twelve.
Anything but a twelve. Nobody throws a twelve." Mr. Matthews said.

Sophia threw the dice on the board, "Twelve."

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

"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." Sophia said.

"What?" Lucas asked.

"You could win." Topanga told her.

"Dude, why would you do that?" Josh asked.

He shoved a whisk in her face.

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

"Uh, say what?" Topanga said.

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

"You do?"

"Yeah, I want to be like you."

"You do?"

"A killer shark who always wins?"

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

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

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

"I wanted someone to land on the success square. I kind of wanted to hear." Mr. Matthews pushed the button.

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

"In the long game, the players all play together to conquer the game itself." Josh said reading the box.

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

"If you'll let us be. 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?" Sophia asked.

"Yeah."

"Can we play that one with you guys?" Topanga said getting up.

"Anytime you want." Maya said.

"You're a good king."

"You're a good John Quincy Adams." Mr. Matthews said:

"Oh, the kid who brought everyone together." She said.

"Yeah."

"Told you."

Sophia moves her piece to the yellow square.

"Who's joining us?" Sophia asked.

"We are." Topanga said rolling the dice.

It was getting late and everyone was tired.

"Well, birds are chirping. Sounds of a sleepy city coming to life as the sun peeks its smiling face." Josh said and Maya looked up
and smiled at him.

"Yeah, okay."

"Upon nine 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." He said.

"Nobody can roll a two." Topanga said.

Ava sat up, "We pick two."

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

"Okay."

Auggie moves his blue piece to the center.

The board made a noise.

"That's it?" Riley asked.

"Hold on." Matthews said getting up from the chair.

The centerpiece went up into the air and slowly back down.

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

"It's not a game at all." Sophia said.

"What is it, mommy?" Auggie asked.

"It's life."

"Life is the long game?" He asked.

"Yeah, bubba. Life is the long game."

"Maya. You do understand I'm too old for you?" Josh asked.

"I do, Josh. I know that." She said.

"Good."

"But I'm in it for the long game."

"Yeah, me too." Riley said sitting beside Sophia.

After the game was over Lucas and Sophia decided to go home.

"Why did you want to walk me home?" She asked.

"Just because." He said.

"There's always a reason for something Lucas."

"Is there now?"

"Yep."

He grabbed her hand and swung it back and forth.

Maybe this life thing isn't so bad.

Word Count: 3549

Updated on: November 3rd, 2018

Hey so...

Josh can't go out with Sophia because he's not in a lot of episodes

Also FUCK JOSH OKAY

Thomas and Sophia can't go out because Riley and Maya do some stuff with him

Farkle and Sophia can't go out because you know Smakle

So any thoughts on this Chapter or anything I should change if so let me know

Also thanks for 7k reads you guys are amazing

See ya soon

Shoutout too:
@kelly183
@klos4ever
@anglesalwaysfly1
@_sunny_18_
@loveshawnforever
Y'all had great ideas