Her Lost Father

Chapter 8: Unlikely Lovers in the Attic

Riley stumbled down the stairs of Emma and Killian's house. Since the three-headed dog had pretty much destroyed the Charming's apartment, they had all moved into Hook and Emma's home. They had more than enough room for everyone, surprisingly. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she yawned. Henry seized the opportunity to gently wrap an arm around her, seat her at the kitchen table, and make her a bowl of cereal. Riley smiled her adorable smile, and light shone through her eyes. No words were exchanged between the two teens as she quietly ate her breakfast. She finished, and couldn't break her gaze from his.

She stood up from her seat and began to walk towards him. Before she knew it, she was standing so close to him that his breath was light and soft on her face. Their foreheads gently touched and lips hovered over each other.

A glass shattered, and the sound exploded through the two brunette's ears. They sprang apart and turned to see Maya, mouth open wide, hand still shaped like it was holding a cup, but the glass was smashed go smithereens next to her feet. "Riley? Henry? What's..." She squeezed her eyes shut. Her head was spinning, "What's going on?"

Henry looked down. "I'm sorry Hart. I didn't mean for it to come to this. We should have got your blessing first." He apologized, and then quietly murmured so only Riley could hear, "I don't know, was that the right thing to say? I'm assuming in 'Girl Land' that's the right thing to say."

First Maya felt mad. How could Riley have not told her that she had feelings for Henry? But then, she saw the silver lining. There was no triangle between her, Riley and Lucas anymore..,!Her heart fluttered and she quickly blurted, "No, no. I'm happy for you guys! Just," she looked to her sister with a smile, "make sure to tell me next time, alright honey?" "Alright, peaches." Riley said.

Maya walked briskly out of the kitchen, and out of the house. What she saw took her breath away.

A beaten, bloodied, and bruised man was stumbling down the path, leaning heavily on Emma, his breath labored.

Maya stood, paralyzed. She didn't know what to do. This man was most likely her dad, and had obviously been tortured. She didn't want to put his emotions through just as much pain as he has been through physically. So what did she do? She ran into the house, past Riley and Henry (who were kissing in the kitchen, and it was revolting for her to watch, so she didn't), up the stairs, and straight into Lucas.

He opened his mouth to speak, but she clamped her hand over his lips and grabbed his hand. She tugged him up the stairs and shoved him into an empty room. "Don't speak," she hissed, and he obeyed.

She darted to the window and peered outside. She looked down to the pathway below, and saw Hook was stumbling into the house. She could hear her heart pounding in her ears, and her palms beginning to sweat. What was she going to do? She and Lucas couldn't just hide up here forever!

Oh. Right.

She turned around slowly to see Lucas wide-eyed in fear and confusion. He seemed so innocent. Too innocent. She mentally slapped herself for dragging him up here. He didn't need this! He didn't need her! God, if it wasn't for her, he wouldn't even be in this mess.

She couldn't possibly understand how wrong she was.

Lucas knew Maya as tough. Her gung-ho, fearless personality was always his rock, keeping him from drowning in a sea of drama. He knew the only thing that truly made her afraid was feeling vulnerable and emotional. So the more he thought about this, the more he realized what was making her look like a deer in headlights. Her father. His step brother. He was here.

"Is it Killian?" He whispered.

"I said be quiet, dumbass." She growled.

"Maya, you've never been one to hide. You fight or flee instinct is so deranged," he paused, squeezing his eyes shut, "that it's always set to fight," She smiled at that, "So what's different now?" Her smile faded.

"Lucas, before I really tell you how I feel about Killian, you, everything, I need to know," She was trending on thin ice and she knew it, "what are we?"

He was quiet as he considered her question.

The silence was deafening.

He moved closer to her, and let his hands slide to her waist. "I don't know. All I know is that... that when we were in Texas, that night at the campfire. I had never felt more alive." He sounded sure, yet he was stumbling on his words as he spoke.

Maya didn't know how to feel. His closeness was setting her skin on fire, and for a moment, she forgot all about Killian. It was only her and the boy holding her like she meant the world to him.

Her mind as spinning. She wanted to kiss him. She wanted to do kiss him more than she had ever wanted to do anything in her life. She heard the door of the living room open and then close, Riley and Henry's voices echoing worry and concern as they and Emma fussed over Hook. Snapping back to reality, she inhaled sharply. "Lucas, as much as I would like to let this go on, this isn't the time or place."

Lucas nodded and let his hands fall from her hips. "To answer you question," he said with a small smile, "Of course I like you. You're a great girl." A warm feeling of recognition spread through her body, remembering when she had said almost the exact same thing to him, so many nights ago.

She held his gaze in her own for a long time before sighing. "I've never had a dad. The one I was raised to think was my dad was a dick. He was an awful guy who left me and my mom to have a family of his own." She paused and took a shaky breath. "This one doesn't even know I exist. What if he doesn't want anything to do with me?" Her throat felt heavy and tears threatened to spill from her eyes.

It pained Lucas to see her like this, so vulnerable and insecure. "Maya, no matter what happens to you, you'll always have me, your mom, and the Matthews. That's never going to change. That aside, I have a feeling he will like you. You're amazing."

Maya sniffed and wiped her tears away with the sleeve of her sweater. "You think?"

"I know." He said with a warm smile. "Let's go meet your dad." And my step brother, he thought grimly.