Living The Long Game || on hold ||

Chapter 1

Maya's POV:

"Josh, baby, I know you're out there, you're not gone, they keep telling me to think you are but you're not, I'd know, I'd feel it. Josh I need you to come home, you've still got to receive your surprise, this one isn't going away. I love you so much, and I miss you more than words can describe, Boing." I say, tears racing down my face as I look out across the city from the rooftop, gentle caressing my secret baby bump, it wants it's daddy, I can tell. I hear footsteps coming up the stairs and approaching me so I stop what I'm doing. I look around, it's Riley, her eyes are glossy-she knows something.
"Maya..." She says, her voice soft and cracking. No. I rush up to her and hug her tightly, sobbing loudly.
"What's happened? What has happened to him Riley?" I beg for information.
"Mom got a phone call, and she said to come and get you because it was urgent, that's all I know Peaches, I'm sorry." She replies hugging me tightly. I grip my shaky hand in hers before walking back to the Matthews' apartment, dreading the news I was about to hear.
Everyone is sat in the living room, pale and glossy eyed.
"No, he's not gone, I know he's not, I'd know, I'd feel it. So tell me what has happened to him!" I cry, convincing myself.
"No, he's not gone." Cory whispers.
"What?" I say in disbelief.
"They found him. He is on his way to hospital, but he was unconscious when they found him." Topanga confirms, Riley squeezes my hand and sighs in relief. I let go of her hand and grab my car keys and quickly leave the apartment, my dad chases after me.
"Where do you think you're going?" He asks.
"The hospital. Josh. He's there, he can't be alone."
"I know, but you can't seriously think you're going to drive there?"
"Why not? I have to go!"
"Maya, I'll drive you, you're not in any fit state to drive, look at how much you are shaking." He explains to me and I give in, chucking him the keys.
We arrive at the hospital in a record amount of time and rush to the front desk.
"My-my husband, Joshua M-Matthews, was just brought in?" I ask, and the receptionist checks the computer.
"Floor 6, room 28." They say in a monotone and dad and I rush to the lift and then his room.
There he is, he looks to weak and fragile, a doctor soon comes over to us.
"Are you Maya Matthews?"
"Yes, is my husband okay?"
"He has been hit on the head several times over the course of the week, and he has suffered major malnutrition, he also has lots of cuts and bruises and he is currently in a coma, unfortunately there is no saying when or if he'll wake up. I'm sorry." They explain and leave. I collapse into my dad's arms crying as I process everything.
"I need to see him." I say pulling away from my dad and rushing into Josh's room.
"Josh." I whisper, stroking his face gently and kiss his forehead. His skin is pale and covered in cuts and bruises, it causes me a physical pain to see him like this. I sit down and take his hand.
"I've missed you so much Joshua, please wake up already, I love you so much and I can't live without you, this last week has been hell for everyone." I kiss his hand. "I can't even begin to imagine what she did to you." I add.
After an hours of just watching him, and the rest of the family coming and seeing him, I decide it is time to tell him as we are finally alone again.
"Josh, I need to tell you something that will maybe wake you up, the surprise that was waiting for you at home, it was-is-I am-uh-I'm pregnant. We're gonna have another baby, we are getting a second chance Josh, but I can't do it alone so please wake up. We need you, I can't do this alone. It's a boy, we're gonna have a son, he's already started kicking, I think he wants his daddy. I love you so much Josh. And remember that it takes two to play the Long Game, and you promised to never leave me, so please don't. I love you." I explain to him, sobbing, and placing his hand on my rounded stomach, he kicks as I do so and I feel Josh's hand flinch so I move it back to next to him. He stirs slightly and then slowly flutters his eyes open.
"Josh!" I exclaim, happy and relieved he is awake.
"Maya!" He says, sounding happy but his voice is weak. "You're pregnant?" He asks in disbelief.
"Yeah, Happy 'late' Birthday and Valentine's Day Joshua."
"We're gonna have a son?" He asks.
"Yeah, are you happy?"
"I'm ecstatic."
"I'm gonna go tell the doctor you're awake." I tell him and head for the door.
"I love you Maya." Josh says before I leave.
"I love you too Josh." I reply, looking back at him.
I get the doctor and he checks Josh over and then leaves us alone again.
"Wanna come onto the bed?" Josh asks me, shuffling over. I nod, gladly excepting.
"It feels so good to be back in your arms." I tell him.
"It feels so good to have you back in my arms." He replies.
"I missed you so, so much Joshua." I explain, my voice cracking.
"I missed you too My. I love you so much."
"I love you too. How do you feel?" I ask him, concerned.
"I ache all over and I feel really weak."
"What did she do to you Josh?" I ask, looking into his eyes that seem to have lost all their colour.
"I only had 3 glasses of water, no food, and she beat me."
"That's not the only thing, what aren't you telling me?"
"She-she dr-drugged me and made me get things so she could do things. I'm sorry Maya." He sobs, I hold him tightly.
"Sshhh, it's okay you have nothing to be sorry for. She forced you to do those things. I love you." I assure him as he cries.
"I hated it, I felt paralysed, she tied me down."
"We'll get through this Josh, I promise, I love you. Never forget that, I love you." I tell him, looking him in the eyes.
"I love you more Maya." He replies, and kisses me. We lay back on the bed and hold each other and slowly drift off to sleep.