Summary: Coming out of a rough divorce between her and her estranged ex husband Lucas Friar, Maya finds herself living with her best friend and her husband while she tries to piece her life back together. Riley can see how much the divorce really hit Maya, and so she sets out to find her the perfect guy that will treat her right. In the process however, Maya and a familiar face reconnect, and when she said she was in it for the long game, she wasn't sure what she meant until now.

Beta: I don't have a beta, but if you're interested, let me know!

Warnings: There will be a few mildly graphic descriptions of violence/abuse, so if you are triggered at all by that, please read at your own digression. Other warnings will be posted in the Authors Notes before the chapters, so keep a look out for those if you need!)

Line Breaks:
How I usually do line breaks:
/-/ is time skip, or end of chapter/part
-/- is switching locations/scenes, or minor time skips.

Random stuff: I also have this posted on my AO3 (Anything_Really), so if you prefer AO3, you're welcome to read over there! Let me know if you think I should change anything, or have any suggestions to where you think/want the story to go! All reviews/criticisms (whether they be good or bad) are all encouraged and welcomed! I'll try to update this next Sunday, but I want to make sure I get the third chapter finished before I post the second.

Hope you enjoy this story, I've been working on it for a really long time, so I hope you guys like it!

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Prologue

Wheeling her suitcase away from the apartment building in the middle of the night came with a satisfaction she couldn't explain. It was getting ready to rain, but she didn't care. Her sneakers were soaked as she walked down the damp streets. Her face was damp, tears that she didn't understand flowing freely from her cheeks. ' It wasn't supposed to end like this. ' she thought to herself, It wasn't .

Maya shook her head, she couldn't think like that. I did everything I could. I tried my hardest, but sometimes that's not enough. Maya straightens her back, taking a deep breath of the cool New York air. She continues walking, squinting slightly as the lights blurred her vision. Her phone vibrated, but she ignored it. Not this time. Making her way down the street, she came to a halt in front of an apartment building she knew just as well as if it were her own. Her hands shook as a wave of nervousness came over her, but shaking it off, she retrieved her key card, swiping it in the scanner as she was allowed access to the building. Running a hand through her hair, she peered at the familiar lobby, and gave a slight wave to the night-shift security guard on duty. She knew everyone here by name, she had been here enough times. Making her way to the elevator, she presses the top floor, and watches as the high tech doors close. She took a deep breath, and waited.

Her best friend's apartment stood at the farthest point in the hallway. Her footfalls seemed heavy as she walked carefully down the pristine hall. They weren't expecting her, but she knew they would welcome her with open arms, even if it was close to eleven at night. Her arms were almost shaking as she came to a stop in front of the last door. Her emotions coming to the surface. Deep breath, then knock. It's simple. She took a deep breath, and raised her hand to knock on the door. Tears sprang to her eyes, and she yanked her hand back, wiping the tears that came to surface.Come on, Hart! Get it together! She took another shaky breath, and knocked firmly on the door. Oh god. I probably am bothering them at a bad time. I'm probably intruding. I should just go- Before she could finish her thought, the door opened, a worried brunette staring at the tearful Hart.

"Oh Maya," Riley says, opening the door wider so she could rush into her her best friend's arms. Keeping it together after that was impossible, as tears streamed down her face. "Oh god, Maya," She whispered, stroking her best friend's hair as she cried in her arms. Her best friend's husband peered from the door, and slid by his wife and best friend, grabbing her bag. Riley led Maya inside, closing the door behind both of them. "We've got you, Peaches. We've got you." She soothes, leading her away as she cries into her taller friends shoulder. "Everything is going to be just fine. We've got you."

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Chapter one

The morning light streamed through the curtains of Maya's room. Sunlight filled the room, catching the girl's blonde locks, making them shine. Sitting up in her place on the bed, she groaned slightly, looking at the clock on the bedside table It's too early to be alive, much less awake.Running a hand through her hair, throwing the blankets off of her warm body, she draped her feet off of the bed, feet barely touching the floor as a shiver ran up her spine. She glanced around the room, and sighed. Looking herself over, she stood, moving to the connected bathroom. Finishing with most of her morning activities, she takes a look at herself in the mirror, and touched her bruised face with her left hand. Her eyes catch the ring laid upon her finger, as her breath hitches. Glancing between the two, Maya takes her left hand with her right, and takes the ring off, putting it on the counter. Looking in the mirror again, she winces as she saw the tears streaming down her face, Stop crying because of this pathetic loser. He doesn't deserve the satisfaction! She wipes the tears away, and picks up the ring again, opening the medicine cabinet, placing the ring on one of the shelves. Closing the medicine cabinet, she is met with her broken appearance. She can't help but go back to what she told her best friends parents all those years ago. I'm a mess. Who's going to clean me up?

-/-

Applying product to her thick hair, she brushed it, all of it falling down her back, She too, was staring at her reflection. She couldn't help but be eat up with guilt. God, this is all my fault! I should have stopped this a long time ago . She looks back as her husband approaches. "Hey, Riles. You okay?"

"I'm fine. I feel really bad," Riley says, and Farkle's eyes widen.

"About…?" Farkle asked her, gesturing to her stomach area. She shakes her head.

"No, about Maya." Riley says, Farkle nods, suddenly feeling better, but worse at the same time.

""You think she's doing okay?" Farkle asked her, wrapping his arms around her waist. Riley merely shrugged.

"I think she's doing the best she can…" Riley trailed off. "She's still having a hard time. She hasn't taken her ring off yet." Farkle nodded.

"Well, it takes a little longer for some people. It's just, taking time. She's adjusting." Farkle tells her. Riley looked down, and looked at her own wedding ring. I couldn't imagine ever taking this off .

"The bruise hasn't healed…" Riley trailed off. "I can't imagine that's fun for her to have to deal with." Riley spoke sadly. "I wish I would have stopped this a long time ago."

"Riles," Farkle starts, before turning her slightly so their eyes were connected. "There is nothing you could have done. Your best friend was gettingabused by her husband , what were you supposed to do to stop it?" Farkle spoke with venom at the last couple of words. He hated that someone he used to call a friend, would do something like this. That would turn out like this .

"Nothing, I guess. I could have told her to leave sooner, but she didn't think that was a good idea when I had brought up the idea originally." Riley told him. He nodded.

"See? There wasn't anything you could have done." Farkle told her, rubbing circles into the hand he has grasped. "Don't beat yourself up, Riles. You have more important things to worry about." Farkle said, pointedly. "Speaking of, have you told Maya yet?"

"No," Riley shook her head. "I don't want to make her feel bad." Riley told him, he shook his head.

"That's really sweet of you, Riles, but you should tell her. She's going to be really happy for you. For us." Farkle told her. She shrugged.

"I just want to give it a little longer. I know how much she's hurting right now. Maybe after court today, or a bit later. I don't want to make everything about me. About us." Riley says, and Farkle nodded.

"It's up to you, Riles. I'll support you either way." Farkle says, kissing his wife's hand. "You hungry? Maybe we should make breakfast."

"That sounds like a wonderful idea, Farkle." Riley tells him. "Just let me get dressed, and i'll be right out, okay?" Farkle nods, kissing her on the forehead before getting up, and exiting their room. Riley takes a deep breath, and looks in the mirror again. It's not your fault. Farkle is right. It's not.

Somehow she believes and doesn't believe it at the same time.

-/-

Breakfast was really good, Maya was surprised Riley turned out to be such a good cook. She had always thought Riley's mother was an amazing cook, but Riley hadn't showed any of those skills until now. Maya finished her meal, sighing with delight. "Riles, that was amazing. Thank you so much."

Riley blushed, waving her off. "It's just French toast, Maya." Maya shook her head It's not just french toast.

"It's not." Maya tells her. "That's the best food I've had in a long, long time." She spoke, meaning every word. She hasn't had a home cooked meal (especially one like this) in a while. Lucas didn't like cooking, and Maya was too occupied with other things. She shuddered, and collected her plate, and bringing it to the sink. "I'll worry about the dishes, Riles. It's the least I can do."

"You're not putting us out, you know that?" Riley told her, looking at the back of her head. Maya turned around.

"I'm intruding." She says simply. Riley shook her head violently.

"You're not. We love having you here. We have plenty of room." Riley told her sincerely. Maya merely shrugged, but Riley could tell that she feels better, even after having this conversation. Maya nodded, and ran her left hand through her hair, Riley catching the bare finger. It brought a smile to her face, but was instantly replaced with a frown. She's gone through so much.

Finishing the dishes, she turns back around to see Riley standing with an outfit hung over her arm. "What's that, Riles?"

"It's something for you to wear to the trial today." Riley says simply, Maya nodded wordlessly. Right. The trial.

"Thank you, Riley." Maya told her, pulling her into a tight hug.

"Of course, Maya. Want to get ready together?" Maya nodded, and smiled.

"Of course I do." Maya answers. Riley smiles, and takes her best friends hand, dragging her off to Riley's room where they can get ready.

-/-

"Are you sure I look okay?" Maya asked her best friend for the third time. Riley nodded.

"You look perfect. You're going to do great, Maya." Riley tells her, she nods.

"You think Topanga will be able to convict him?" Maya asked. Riley, albeit taken back nods.

"I think so. You know she's the best lawyer in New York." Riley nods. "She's got this. She's going to make Lucas get what he deserves."

Maya nods, and looks down. "I hope so." Riley stands up, matching her stance.

"Maya, you've got this. You're a strong, independent woman, and you are going to take Lucas Friar down, and make him pay for everything he ever did to you, you understand?" Riley speaks firmly. Maya nods.

"Thank you, Riles. You're the best friend a girl could ever have." Maya told her. I hope she's right .

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Lucas was pissed, as his wife stood in front of him.

"Why the hell can't you just do what I ask you for once?"

"Because I don't have to obey you! I am not your child, and I am not your maid. I am your wife, and whether you like it or not, I do not have to listen to you!" Maya yelled, which only made Lucas even angrier.

"It was a simple request, Penelope." Lucas yelled, but Maya shook her head.

"I don't give a shit." She growled. "I don't have to listen to you. I don't have to do anything you 'request'. I am my own person." Anger was pouring off of the both of them.

"You're just a bitch. The only reason I married you was because I felt sorry for you. You don't deserve anything less than being a servant."

"Oh yeah? Then why don't I just leave? Why don't I just walk right the fuck out that door, and never come back?" Maya sneered.

"You aren't leaving." Lucas yelled. "You're not going anywhere. You're staying right, fucking, here." Lucas twisted his face in an angry way. Maya turned away from him, marching into their room, and packing a bag with most of the things she cares about, leaving the significant things that she couldn't do anything with right now.

"Oh yeah? I'm not leaving?" Maya yells, "Well what do you call this?" She takes the bag, and wheeling it out of the room. Lucas grabbed her arm, pulling her back.

"You're. Not. Going. Anywhere." Lucas angrily yelled. "You're a bitch, but you're my bitch."

"I am not your bitch." Maya growled. She pulls her arm from his grip. "Let me go." She sruggled for a minute, was stopped by a loud demanding voice.

"No." He growled, raising his hand.

"Lucas, I swear to god-" She started, but was cut off by a crack of a fist. A wave of pain came over her, and her vision blurred. She pulled her hand up to her eye, and winced. Her expression was a mix of fear and anger, she grimaced at him.

"Oh god- Maya-" Lucas snapped out of his anger. (This wasn't anything new.)

"No!" She yells, pushing him off of her. "Get the hell off of me, and never touch me ever again." She sternly spoke. "I hope you die in hell." Tears formed in her eyes, but she didn't let them fall.

She walks away, wheeling her suitcase behind her, as Lucas tried calling after her, apologizing.

"Not this time."

His apologies were met by a loud slam of their front door.

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