The month of May had to be one of the most exciting months of the year. The warm changes in the atmosphere as spring wound down and transformed into summer was one trait of the month enjoyed by almost anyone, making a walk in Central Park or a tour through downtown New York City nearly impossible for Cory and Topanga to turn down.

The previously bare trees had gone spring shopping and were now donning their dark green, healthy shade of summer leaves, some even releasing tiny pink petals that fell with the wind onto the sidewalks that others leisurely strolled across. The sun was beginning to stay up way past its original winter bedtime, giving Cory and Topanga plenty of light to study with outside in the comfortable temperatures of spring evenings.

As Topanga drew back the curtains of the windows in their apartment, a feather duster held in her free hand, she lifted the windows open and took a deep breath as the spring air began to seep in through the opening. The busy sounds of cars, taxis, and people below flowed in with the air, and as Topanga stuck her head out the window, she could hear bits and pieces of conversation among others.

In the midst of the unfamiliar voices, she heard the enthusiastic tone of her husband talking with Shawn. Topanga looked down just in time to see Cory open the doors of their apartment complex, his backpack bouncing on his back as he and Shawn entered the lobby, returning from a day of school and work.

Topanga had spent the day at home, resting and cleaning up the apartment in preparation for some anticipated guests that were coming into NYC later that evening. This day was only one of the multiple days that she had spent taking it easy, as she had been battling the last of her many gruesome bouts of morning sickness.

Nevertheless, it was all worth it, as her baby bump was growing along with the healthy growth of their baby. Only a few weeks earlier, the gender had finally been revealed to Cory and Topanga, and they were both overjoyed to discover a baby girl was due arrive in early December. Names were still up in the air, but Topanga was hoping to discuss names with Rachel and Angela, who were coming-along with Jack-to visit over the weekend.

Just on cue, Topanga heard a muffled whoop from out in the hallways. Cory, wearing a grin that stretched up to his ears, burst in through the door and spiked his backpack like a football onto the kitchen floor. Shawn came in behind him, smiling slightly while rolling his eyes at his best friend's childish excitement.

Cory triumphantly smiled at his wife as he blurted, "School is OUT! Which means no more college papers or stinking exams for nearly THREE MONTHS!"

Topanga laughed silently as she turned back to dusting, happy for her husband. Cory had definitely earned the upcoming break, considering he had nearly run himself ragged through working for his nearly flawless grades. If he kept this up, he would make a great teacher in no time.

"I mean, how could things get better than they already are?" Cory said, disappearing behind the fridge door as he grabbed a refreshment and made his way across the living room. "First off, summer is just around the corner, which secondly, means no school and plenty of time-" Cory fell back onto the couch and stretched his feet across the coffee table, releasing a contented breath as he finished, "relax."

"And prepare for the baby!" Topanga reminded, wagging her duster at him.

"Of course." Cory said, smiling as he watched Topanga dust around his outstretched legs on the coffee table. "And prepare for our precious, little darling."

"What are you guys naming her, anyways?" Shawn said, sitting next to Cory as he popped open a soda.

"We're waiting for Angela and Rachel to come so I can talk over names with them." Continuing to busy herself with dusting, Topanga finished with a squeal, "Oh, I just haven't seen them in forever, I can't wait to have some girl time!"

"And Shawnie, I bet your excited to see your girl? Huh?" Cory said, causing his friend to grin as he knudged him with his elbow. Angela's year spent in Europe with her father had ended, and they were hoping to welcome her back with Jack, Eric, and Rachel tomorrow.

"Yeah, I guess so." Shawn said, tilting his head back as he swallowed his soda.

Cory and Topanga paused everything they were doing, staring straight at Shawn, who had casually just dismissed the return of the love of his life-who he hadn't seen in one whole year.

"What?" Cory said, shifting his position on the couch so as to directly face Shawn, giving him a shocked chuckle and unblinking, squinted stare.

Shawn sighed, bracing himself for another of the many discussions and pep-talks from the man who seemed to constantly stick his nose too deep into his personal troubles. "I'm just afraid Angela won't be so excited to see me."

"Excuse me?" Cory said, using a sassy tone of voice. "Did I not go through almost anything to make sure my best friend and his girlfriend were always together?'

Shawn opened his mouth to answer, smiling in a way that showed he knew his best friend was a lunatic.

"Lemme go ahead and answer that for you-yes!" Cory said. "I did not just put this relationship together with the intentions of seeing your happiness extend for just a couple years. No, I did not!"

By this time, both Shawn and Topanga knew that Cory was getting into his sassy, preacher spirit, as he had risen to his feet and had brought out his pointer finger.

"I had the intentions and beliefs that this relationship was going to go a lot farther than just a couple years, pal!"

"Cory, shut up for just a second, okay?" Shawn said, trying to bring his friend's sanity back down to its normal levels. "Angela hasn't been very active in our relationship lately. That just makes me doubt that she'll be real happy to see me."

"Well, her father was injured, Shawn, she's probably just busy caring for him." Topanga said, trying to reassure him.

"Yeah, but that was five months ago, he should be better by now." Shawn said.

It seemed neither Cory nor Topanga could think of anything to say that would calm Shawn's doubts, because only silence spoke for a few moments afterwards. Shawn rose to his feet and headed for the kitchen, crushing the soda can in his hands before tossing it into the trash can.

"Hey, shouldn't we be on our way to pick up Eric?" Shawn said, hoping to break the silence by change of subject. "Jack and Rachel are flying in around seven, and it's already almost five thirty."

"Oh, you're right." Topanga said, turning back to her dusting and hurrying to sweep away any leftover particles. "Call him to let him know we're about to leave, okay, Cory?"

"You got it." Cory said, heading for the receiver mounted to the wall in the kitchen. He gave Shawn an encouraging pat on the back, bracing him with his grip as he looked into his face; even though Shawn was smiling, it was a mournful smile that tried to hide the dread he felt inside.

"Everything's gonna be okay, Shawnie. Angela loves you."