Chapter 4

"Yeah, sure," Farkle replied breezily before asking more carefully, "Is that okay?"

Maya nodded even though she wasn't really sure how she felt about the idea, admitting only, "I just haven't told my mom, is all."

He shrugged, offering, "I don't mind if you don't want to."

"I will soon," she promised with a casual shake of her head. After all, the new thought occurred to her. She and Riley had promised each other they'd never settle for anything less than Farkle; wouldn't that make this fake "marriage" something to be happy about?

Farkle was smiling faintly at her in confusion as he asked, "Why are you smiling like that?"

She hadn't even realized she was smiling at all, but – oh yeah, I guess I am. She shrugged, replying fondly, "I guess I'm just really happy to be Mrs. Minkus all of a sudden."

"You are?"

"I am," she nodded at his shocked expression, smile widening. "And you know what? I really would like to meet your family if you want me to."

"After we finish our supper?" he suggested.

She nodded her agreement, and this time, when he took her hand, she just squeezed his hand right back and continued to eat her food. When their sandwiches and pasta salad were gone, Farkle opened the strawberries and held one out to her.

Maya arched an eyebrow, smirking as she leaned forward and bit off the flesh of the strawberry while he still held the stem. His entire face flamed, and maybe amusement was the wrong thing to feel, but Maya burst out laughing when she realized that he'd only meant to hand the fruit to her.

"What's the matter, sweetie? I thought this was supposed to be a honeymoon," she said faux-innocently, grinning impishly the entire time. She held a strawberry up for him, asking with a raised eyebrow, "Want it?"

He plucked it delicately from her hand, managing to say "Yeah, thanks," before he popped the fruit into his mouth.

Maya's smirk stayed firmly in place as she shook her head and reached for another strawberry, asking, "What? No chocolate syrup, Farkle?"

"There's some in the fridge, if you want me to get it," he replied instantly.

"I'm teasing, Farkle," she reminded him with a friendly grin.

"I know," Farkle replied, his wide gaze heartbreakingly innocent as he explained, "But I want you to be comfortable here, and treated liked you're as special as you actually are."

"Farkle…" Maya started – but she really wasn't sure what to say to that. So she settled for a simple,
"Thank you."

He smiled sweetly back at her. "You're welcome." Then they lapsed into a comfortable silence until they were done eating, and Farkle asked, "Do you think you're ready to meet my family?"

Maya shrugged casually. "Sure. I've already met your dad. How bad could your mom and brother be?"

Farkle grinned as he jumped to his feet and gave Maya a hand to hers. The two of them started to clean up their picnic together as he answered, "Neither of them are… exceptionally smart, like Dad and I. Seamus is actually pretty… normal." He shrugged, "He's just a happy, eight-year-old kid."

"What about your mom?"

He sucked in a breath, seeming to consider that a little longer than Maya thought was strictly necessary before he said, "You'll just have to meet her, I think."

"Oh, that's concerning," Maya drawled.

"Not really," Farkle brushed away her concern. "She's just… unique. Fierce. Sometimes Mrs. Matthews reminds me of her, actually," he admitted before looking around to make sure everything was as they'd found it. For all that Farkle could be eclectic, Maya suddenly got the feeling he was meticulous about this lab. "You'll be fine. I think you guys could get along great. She's just… determined. Strong-willed. Kind of…" he seemed like he was choosing his words very carefully. "Bossy," he finally admitted. "And moody. Depending on whether or not she and my dad are… having a good day." Maya hot him a sympathetic look, but Farkle shook himself out of it, smiling at her as he asked, "So, are you ready to meet the rest of the Minkus's?"

She took a deep breath, suddenly nervous as she declared, "I am if you are."

"You'll be fine," he repeated calmly, reaching to give her hand a squeeze before gesturing her towards the exit.

She forced herself to relax and give him a smile that she wasn't convinced he bought. "Sure," she answered easily, heading for the exit.

Farkle came down after her, and when his feet hit the ground, he looked where Maya's gaze had strayed. "Pretty sunset," he remarked.

Maya smiled, looking from the riotous blaze of color in the sky to Farkle as she told him, "You're gold."

He looked at her in confusion, though he smiled as he asked, "What?"

"The lighting," Maya explained, nodding towards the sunset. "Everything turns gold at this time of day. Including you," she grinned.

"Huh." Farkle looked back at the sunset, considering that as he gazed around the yard, seeing the way it was bathed in the golden light. There was wonder in his eyes as he asked her softly, "Are you going to draw it later?"

Maya looked at Farkle, studying the way he was half-silhouetted by the sunset with that innocent awe in his eyes, and mused, "Yeah, I think I'll draw that when I get home."

They stood there together in silence, watching the sunset until the sky turned a murky gray. Then they looked at each other and he asked, "Ready now?"

Watching the sunset really had relaxed her, Maya realized, and her smile was genuine as she said for a second time, "Sure."

Farkle smiled, nodding firmly as he offered her his hand with the question in his eyes: Did she need or want that extra bolstering going into this? She didn't, not really, but she was pretty sure he'd enjoyed holding her hand so far, so she smiled a little and clasped his hand.

He was grinning as they approached his house, and it was apparently an infectious expression because Maya found herself doing the same thing. It was surprisingly easy, she realized with a bit of a jolt, because she actually kind of felt like she'd just been on a real date.

A fake real date… with Farkle, she reasoned feebly. This is all fake – of course it was – including a dinner date.

She knew all of that, absolutely she did, and it did feel fake. Well, she admitted to herself, glancing at the boy holding her hand. This date felt fake… almost.