˗ˏˋ𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝𝐥𝐲ˊˎ˗
𝚒𝚒. 𝚏𝚊𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚢 𝚟𝚜. 𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚜
( S1E17 ) "girl meets game night"

Valentina POV

𝑨𝑼𝑮𝑮𝑰𝑬, Josh, and I walk into the apartment.

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

I smiled.

"Well, hello." Maya said to Josh

She twirled her hair. While Auggie mocked her. I giggled.

"Auggie didn't want to miss family game night, we never made it out of the city." I said

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

He handed Cory the rest of his money.

"Hey, this is a dollar, I gave you one hundred." Cory said

I laugh.

"We have that kind of money and aren't gonna buy steaks, are you crazy?" Josh asked him

Josh laughed.

"Thank you papa." Auggie said

He rubbed his stomach.

"You know what?" Cory asked

Cory stood up.

"My brother!" Cory yelled

"My brother!" Josh yelled back

"My sister!" Topanga yelled

"My sister!" I yelled back

"Listen, you're here for game night. You're family, you're in. You too Vale." Cory said

"Glad to hear, cause you know, it's not like I'm Topanga's sister or anything." I said

My comment goes ignored by Cory. But Josh chuckled and threw an arm on my shoulders. The intercom buzzed.

"Farkle." A boy said

"Lucas." Another boy said said

"Come on up." Riley said to them

She invited her friends?

"It's happening Topanga! She's choosing her friends over family!" Cory exclaimed

"I don't see why we can't just play with them." Topanga replied

"Because! This is family game night. But she's invited Dr. Turtleneck and Mr. Howdy into our compound!" Cory exclaimed

Cory turned to Riley.

"Riley, snookum's. Um, you're gonna have to start to prioritize what's more important to you. Your family, huh? Or your friends?" Cory asked

"Why do I..." Riley started

"Wrong answer." Cory said

"Have to choose..." Riley started

"Wrong answer." Cory repeated

"Let her finish." Topanga said

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

There was a knock on the door. She goes and answers it.

"Welcome to family game night, friends." Riley said

I sigh.

"Wrong, wrong, wrong answer." Cory said

Josh and I share a look.

"Maybe we can just come back another time." A boy said

I look to see a blonde boy sitting there with a boy wearing a turtleneck.

"Cory, you'll only make it worse." I said

I laughed.

"Dr. Turtleneck I presume?" I said

I shook his hand.

"How'd you know?" The boy wearing a turtleneck asked

"Well because you look like a doctor and because of the turtleneck." I said smiling

I moved onto Mr. Howdy.

"You are-" I started

"Howdy." He said smiling

He shook my hand.

"Well nice to meet you both I'm..." I started

"Valentina." They both said

"How'd you..." I started

I got cut off by Howdy.

"You're all Riley talks about. The awesome aunt." Howdy said

"Oh how nice." I said, smiling

I looked at Riley staring down at the boy. Wait a minute... Riley talks about this boy who is from Texas. Tell me it's howdy and not turtleneck.

"Hey, where are you from, Howdy?" I asked him

"Texas, ma'am." He replied, politely

"Oh no. None of that ma'am stuff. Call me Valentina." I said

I guess I was right.

"Valentina! Stop bonding!" Cory yelled

I turned to Cory and smiled.

"Look Cory. Just freak out and let's continue." I said

He ignored me and continued.

"Look. I bought the 'family' game. Not the friend game. I saw that game. I didn't buy that game. I bought the family game, because I used to have a family." Cory said, angrily

"Dad, you need to calm down. You're like the king who didn't want to let go of America." Riley said

"What now?" I asked confused

"That's what he taught today. He taught us about the American Revolution." Turtleneck replied

Man, I really got to get their names.

"Do you even know how to play the game?" Cory questioned

"Sassy." I said, laughing

"Here, I'll teach ya." Maya said

She pointed to Topanga.

"She always wins." Maya said

She pointed to Riley.

"She always eats too much popcorn and says she'll never eat it again." Maya said

"Huh." Cory said

"Uncle Josh can you be my partner?" Auggie asked him

"Try and stop me." Josh replied

"Okay, I'll stop you." Maya said

"He's my uncle." Auggie argued

He pulled Josh back.

"He's my husband." Maya said

"Congratulations." Auggie said

He retreated.

"How about you Auntie Vale?" Auggie asked

He turned to me.

"I don't see why not." I said

I smiled at him. And the doorbell rings.

"Hi Auggie! Hey! You're playing a game?!" Ava said

She came in and Auggie walked over to her.

"You're on your own pal, my woman's here." Auggie said

He walked over to his spot.

"Yeah, okay." I said, laughing

I see Josh walking by over to me and he sat down.

"I'm the game host now. And you're my co-game host." Josh said

"Aww. What? Couldn't handle being hit on?" I said, laughing

"Ha. Ha. Ha. Very funny." Josh said, sarcastically

"Why do we need game show hosts?" Farkle asked

"Cause game show hosts make sure everyone place fair and doesn't cheat." I said

I stood up.

"Especially this one." I said, about Ava

I watched her take fake money and stuff it into her pockets. I grabbed the money and held it up, showing everyone.

"Ava." Auggie scolded

"I'm doing this for us baby." Ava replied

I laugh. I love this kid.

"Okay. The object of the game is to create a family, protect it and get through the obstacles that will test how strong your family is." Josh explained

He read the directions.

"The winner of the short game is the first team to get to one of the success squares with a car and a house." I added

"Get me a house and a car." Ava said to Auggie

"Okay. I'm trying." Auggie replied

"Um, Maya and I up first, we'll go first." Cory said

I nod as I sit down next to Josh in the chair.

"Oh says who?" Riles asked

"Say the king of the castle." Cory replied

"Just because your the king doesn't mean you can make all the rules." Riley said to him

"Oh yeah? Well it's actually the first rule in the king's handbook." Cory said to her

I glance at the other players. Lucas was looking very uncomfortable. He stood up, Josh following.

"Well, its been a lovely evening. And now I need a hug from my mama." Lucas said

"Mama?" Josh asked

"Yeah. What do you call your mama?" Lucas asked him

"Ma!" Josh and I replied in unison

"Try it out." I said to Lucas

"Ma! Nah, she'd put me in the shed." Lucas said

I let out a small laugh.

"You know what dad, you may be the king, but I'm going first." Riley said

Cory gasped.

🥰

Later, Cory is playing his turn.

"Four, five, six, and as usual I will choose the fatherhood path. Bing, bing, bing. And the pink square means I get a daughter." Cory said

Cory landed on the spot.

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

I smirk, sharing a knowing look with Josh.

"So?" Cory asked them

"So, your daughters ours." Lucas replied

I saw Riley smiling brightly. I shake my head a little bit.

"Excuse me?" Cory asked

"Let him talk." Riley said

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

Riley stands and tries to walk to the young boy but Topanga stopped her.

"Josh! Valentina!" Cory yelled

He tried to get us to do something.

"She's not Riley Matthews anymore. My brother. She's now Miss. Dr. Howdy Turtleneck." Josh exclaimed

Cory held out the card but as Lucas tried to grab it, Cory wouldn't let go.

"Uh sir, you're holding on a little tight. You really need to let go sir." Lucas said

The card ripped in half.

"You killed my daughter." Cory said

He had a shocked expression across his face.

"My turn. I pick six." Ava said

She picked up her piece.

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

It goes ignored by the six year old.

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

She moved her piece.

"Tina, Josh objection." Topanga said

She stood up.

"I'm gonna allow it." Josh said

"Same." I agreed

"Why?" Topanga asked us

"Because she cracks me up." I said with a small laugh

Josh nods his head, agreeing.

"I get a Make Your Own Luck card. Take over someone's family business. Choose one player to send back to start." Ava read off the card

She tapped her chin.

"I choose... Hmm. One Topanga, two Topanga, three Topanga, four, five Topanga, six Topanga, seven Topanga. Or Topanga!" Ava said

She picked up Topanga's piece and brought it back to start.

"This stinks." Topanga said

"This had to be done mommy." Auggie said

Riley takes her turn.

"It's okay, my love bug. Luckily my team always wins. And my teammate has a turn and I'm sure she's gonna use it to help me. Right? Riley, Sweetheart?" Topanga asked

"Mom, I really hate to do this but I have a free go to Europe with a friend card." Riley said

Topanga gives Riley a blank stare.

"And you're all the way over there. And I'll never been to Europe." Riley said

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

"Get off my back!" Auggie yelled

"Wait, you're leaving me?" Topanga asked Riley

"Mom, it is not personal, I just got the card and..." Riley started

"You're leaving me?" Topanga asked

"Here it comes." Cory said

I lean back and Josh's arm was behind my shoulder, so I lean on his arm.

"I am your mother. I have your absolute love and loyalty. What do you think you're talking to, him?" Topanga asked her daughter, referring to her husband

"Hey, Farkle. How do you do that again?" Cory asked

"Hah!" Farkle said

"Hah!" Cory repeated

Topanga glares at him.

"Now you run, sir." Lucas said

"No actually I go right over there which is exactly where I belong." Cory said

He goes and sits in between his wife and daughter.

"Will the daughter go off on her own or will the mother hold on to her forever?" Josh asked

"I'm sorry, mommy." Riley said

She sits next to Maya.

"Partners?" Riley asked

"Forever." Maya replied

"Riley?" Topanga asked

"Mom I'm just playing the game. Isn't that what you want me to do? Win?" Riley asked

"Not without me." Topanga replied

"Hey, Topanga. You and me." Cory said

"You and me. Lets win this thing." Topanga said smiling.

"You and me. Lets win this thing." Maya said to Riley

"You and me." Farkle said to Lucas.

"I just wanna go home." Lucas replied

"You and me. It's way past our bedtime." Auggie said to Ava

The two cheer.

"You and me. Sleep after this." Josh whispered to me

"Hell yeah. I'm tired." I said

🥰

Once we reached the halfway mark, we took a small break. I looked over to Cory and Topanga, smiled, and walked out to Riley's room.

"We should got backpacking through Europe." I hear Maya say

"We should! And we can take Farkle and Lucas with us!" Riley said excitedly

"And we'll take your parents, aunt, and uncle." Maya said

"My aunt and uncle I get, but why would we take my parents?" Riley questioned

I walked in.

"Because this isn't a game to them at all. This is life. And there's times where in life, friends become family or strangers if you don't cherish them." I said

I sat next to them.

"Would you go with us?" Riley asked

"I've been. It's very beautiful. I would love to go again. And we'll take everyone with us." I said smiling

I walked back out to the living room.

🥰

Riley decided she was playing the long game.

"Tell me you're joking!" I exclaimed  

"Nope. We're playing the long game." Riley said

🥰

8 long hours later, the sun was coming up and I was wearing Josh's jacket and falling asleep.

"The sun paints a smiling face. The birds are chirping. The owl is settling in to sleep." Josh said

He came over to me and fixed me to where I'm comfortable.

"Yeah, okay. Upon eight tired game players, and two tired hosts. And if Auggie Matthews can roll a two, then we will finally find out what happens when you win the long game." I said

"Nobody can roll a two." Topanga said

"We pick 2." Ava said, tired

"You know what Ava, I finally like you." Topanga said

"Okay." Ava replied

She presses the button on the board. But only a small sound happened.

"I stayed up all night for that?" I ask.

It suddenly makes more noise. 

"Hold on." Cory said

We sat on the floor and watched the game board. The middle piece moved and lifted up. Some music plays then soon stops.

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

"Its not a game at all." Riley said

"What is it mommy?" Auggie asked

"Its life." Topanga replied

"Life is the long game?" Auggie asked

"Yeah bubba, life is the long game." Cory said

And we all watched what happens when you play the long game. I smiled and looked over to see Josh with Maya.

"Maya, you know I'm too old for you right?" Josh asked

"Yes, Josh. I do know that. But I'm in it for the long game." Maya said, smirking

I saw him sit there until everyone was gone. Then I went over to him and we left together.