A/N: Hello! This my new story, Minkus Interplanetary Space Corporation! Or MISC, for short. This is an AU in which they did NOT meet Lucas in 7th grade because Farkle was finishing a PhD at that point (young genius) and Riley was starting university (she's always just behind him). Their meeting will be explained later. I would tell you the ships, but that would be spoiling it all.
WORD COUNT: 2,122
Sorry for the long A/N. Now, ONWARD!
*.*.*
"Breaking news- Minkus Interplanetary Space Corporation, also known as MISC, has successfully sent a team of three people to the dwarf planet Pluto. This team, consisting of Dr. Riley Matthews, 18, Maya Hart, 19, and the founder of MISC, Dr. Farkle Minkus, 19, left in a secretive space shuttle at 3:28 in the morning. The space shuttle, built in only two years and costing a mere 265 million dollars, reached Pluto at exactly 8:04 AM this morning, just four and a half hours later. The team has sent us the following pictures, collected air and rock samples, and will be leaving sometime in the next two weeks."
"Can you believe it, Timothy? Four and a half hours to reach Pluto, 7.5 billion kilometers away. This new generation is amazing! Average New York City children, who changed the world as we know it. Dr. Minkus is a complete genius, having finished his PhD at the age of 14, quickly founding MISC a month after he graduated. It seems that genius runs in the family as his father is founder of Minkus International."
"Yes, Barbara, I have no doubt that the new generation will do great things. But Mr. Minkus is not the only one in the team to have received a doctorate early. Dr. Matthews finished her doctorate at 16 years old, though she was already assisting Dr. Minkus in the running of MISC. Unlike Dr. Minkus' father, her father is a public school teacher and her mother a lawyer."
"What do you know about the third team member?"
"It seems she was a high school dropout- very different from her coworkers. Ms. Hart started working at MISC as an intern during her junior year, like many other interns at the company. She tested and was qualified for the mission, though many disagreed."
"They hired a junior as an intern?"
"Surprisingly, yes. Dr. Minkus and Dr. Matthews encourage the pursuit of jobs in younger years."
"I'm speechless. How such young people could do something so life-altering… It puts my whole life into a different light."
"It sure does, Barbara. Though I do wonder: why Pluto?"
"Who knows? I hate to break off our conversation here, Timothy, but now to Richard with the weather!"
*.*.*
"Dr. Minkus! How does it feel to have the last five years of your work succeed?"
"Was Pluto everything we believed it to be?"
"Dr. Matthews, since you have already accomplished so much in your life, do you plan to settle down and have a family soon?"
"Why did you choose Pluto?"
"What is it like to be the most unqualified person on the team, Ms. Hart?"
"Are there any aliens on Pluto?"
*.*.*
"Riley, are you okay?"
There was only one person Dr. Farkle Minkus used a hesitant voice with, and that was his best friend in the whole universe: Dr. Riley Matthews, who was currently clenching her fists by her sides and shooting laser eyes at every reporter they walked past.
How she singled out every reporter of the millions crowding them, Farkle didn't know.
"Why is it that they ask you about your success, but I'm only asked about starting a family? And Maya's talked about like some idiot who won a drawing?"
Farkle sighed and shook his head slightly, though none of the surrounding reporters could tell. "Because…"
"Because of gender roles, that's why! I may be a doctor and co-CEO of MISC, I may be one of three people to step on Pluto, but what does that matter? I should end my career before it's truly begun because I've had two years of success so now it's time to take care of kids!"
"Dr. Matthews!" A reporter interrupted. "What are you telling Dr. Minkus?"
Riley schooled her features so she looked calm and composed, even though she wanted to scream about sexist pig reporters.
"I was saying to Dr. Minkus," she responded, her voice sugar-sweet and her smile identical to that of a Barbie's, "that I am so happy to have gone to Pluto and returned safely, all in time enough to spend the holidays with my family."
A collective "aww" chorused through the crowd as she melted their stone-cold hearts.
"Will you three spend your holidays together?"
Farkle answered the question. "Yes, we will spend some of the holidays together. Our company is holding a celebration after half a decade of hard work and an astounding success."
He paused, allowing the media to absorb his two-sentence reply. It was rare for the young genius to speak in such a public setting.
"Now," Farkle continued, "if you will excuse us. I would like to return home after being cramped on a shuttle for the past week and a half."
*.*.*
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RILEY!"
Said birthday girl stood frozen in the doorway of the apartment she lived in with her family, a goofy grin overtaking her face.
"I love surprises!" She giggled. "But, wait, it's not my birthday."
Behind her, Maya slammed the heel of her hand against her forehead. "How did you forget your own birthday, Riles?"
Riley held her hands up defensively. "We were on Pluto, Maya! I was too preoccupied to look at the date!"
Maya rolled her eyes while Farkle chuckled. There were scattered laughs amongst rest of Riley's friends and family.
"How's my favorite 19-year-old?" Riley's boyfriend, Lucas Friar, asked her playfully, giving her a hug.
Another giggle escaped Riley's mouth. "Hello, Lucas! Thank you!"
Lucas released her. "Don't thank me- I just helped set it up. Farkle and Auggie are the ones who made this all happen."
"Aw, thanks guys!" Riley cooed, giving Farkle a tight hug before wrapping herself around her little brother.
Auggie spun his sister around, even though he was still half a foot shorter than her when she was in heels. "Do you like it?"
"Like it? I love it! This is perfect!" Riley grinned. "Pluto themed, bright colors- everything I've ever wanted, and then some!"
Auggie glowed at her compliment, turning to Ava, his "wife."
"Did you hear that, Ava?" Auggie bragged. "It's everything she's ever wanted, and then some!"
Ava rolled her eyes, similar to how Maya had earlier. The silly Matthews kids, always joking and acting a bit ditsy.
Riley surveyed the room, seeing her parents, her aunts and uncles (including Uncle Josh, whom Maya was currently flirting with), and various friends from work and school.
But then, her eye landed on her favorite part. She gasped, her jaw dropped, and she turned to Farkle, gripping his arm.
"Cake!" She exclaimed.
He snickered. "Yeah, cake. Homemade by Auggie, Ava, and your father, using my own recipe."
Riley bounced up and down. "Thank you, thank you, thank you! You're my favorite person in the whole universe- first, you help me finish school early, then you hire me, then you take me to pluto, and now I get a Pluto cake? I love you, Farkle!"
She pulled Farkle down into a suffocating embrace, nearly choking him.
"And I love you," Farkle told her, his smile stretching from ear to ear. "Let's go eat some real food, then we'll have cake."
Riley pulled away, arms still around his neck, frowning. "Wait? For cake? Never! Let's have cake now!"
Farkle raised an eyebrow. "It's 1:48 in the morning."
Her contagious grin overtook her features again. "Cake at 1:48 in the morning- there's a first time for everything."
"Oh, fine. Whatever the birthday girl says," Farkle agreed. Riley kissed him on his cheek, though she only narrowly missed his mouth.
"Hurry up, slowpoke!" Riley shouted, pulling him along behind. "Before I eat all the cake!"
*.*.*
It was three in the afternoon. One of the three astronauts was awake.
All three had slept in the Matthews' home, Riley and Maya in her room, Farkle sharing with Auggie. Of course, the trio was completely exhausted after travelling at light speed to Pluto and back, not to mention studying on Pluto in a tiny shuttle.
Maya was having a nightmare about ballerinas pushing her into the empty abyss of space until a man with clear blue eyes came to save her.
Riley, on the other hand, was dreaming of shuttling people to Pluto and building a colony, showing Auggie different types of houses and letting him pick his favorite, helping her dad start a Plutonian school, watching her mom create a law firm, moving into a house with her husband along with blue-eye children and-
Riley shot awake. She hurriedly pushed her feet into bunny slippers and rushed down the hallway to the kitchen.
"I'm awake, I'm awake- am I late to work? Please tell me I'm not late! Farkle will kill me!" Riley shouted, still half asleep.
"I won't kill you this time, Riley."
Riley spun around, trying to find Farkle. Finally, she caught sight of him sitting at the kitchen table, laughing at her.
She staggered over to him, dizzy from twirling around, and plopped down next to him, groaning. "I'm tired."
"Is that all?" Farkle asked her, suppressing another bout of laughter.
"I feel nauseous."
Farkle didn't try to contain his laughter. "Maybe that's because you ate half a cake at 1:48 AM."
"It was really good!"
Cory, who had also been sitting at the table, finally broke into their conversation. "To be fair, Farkle, you almost hit Auggie when he woke you up because he thought you were having a seizure."
Riley lifted her head up, interest piqued. "Oh really? Why did Auggie think Farkle was having a seizure?"
Cory chuckled. "Maybe because Farkle was flinging his arms and kicking his legs everywhere."
"I was fighting off the Minotaur! He was trying to break into my space shuttle!" Farkle defended.
Riley giggled. "Do I get any breakfast, Mr. Theseus?"
Farkle blocked her hand from grabbing the cereal box. "That's Dr. Theseus to you, Matthews."
Riley stuck out her tongue."Fine then, Dr. Theseus. Now do I get my food?"
"Nope," Farkle smiled, popping the 'p' and doing his signature, "HA!"
"Daddy, tell Farkle to give me the cereal," Riley playfully huffed.
Cory pointed his finger at Farkle. 'Detention!" He commanded mock-seriously.
They all collapsed into fits of giggles.
"You woke me up," Maya whined from the entrance to the kitchen, rubbing her eyes. "And I'm hungry."
"Come sit down," Riley said. "We were just eating cereal."
*.*.*
Meet me at the park at 7. Love ya.
-Lucas
*.*.*
"Maya? Where are you going?" Riley wondered, watching as her friend buttoned up her coat and threw on a scarf.
Maya tugged her mittens up and pulled her hat down, grabbing her suitcase handle. "Putting my stuff away at home. See you tonight?"
Riley shook her head. "Date with Lucas. Tomorrow?"
Maya smiled at Riley. "Tomorrow."
*.*.*
"I'll be back by ten at the latest, Daddy," Riley called over her shoulder as she hurried to leave. "Love you, bye!"
"No funny business! Be safe! I love-"
Riley closed the door, running down the steps until she burst outside, taking in a deep breath and enjoying the crisp cold of winter in New York City.
Her giddiness showed through her wide grin. Sure, her first few dates with Lucas were awkward, but they grew out of that phase after two months and now, five years later, they were blossoming into the next Cory and Topanga.
"Hi, Mrs. Little!" Riley greeted the woman on the sidewalk. "How's Katherine?"
Mrs. Little winked at Riley. "She's always talking about how she wants to visit Pluto with her favorite babysitter Riley Matthews."
Riley laughed. "I have to see her soon. It's been too long."
Mrs. Little nodded. "Could you watch her tomorrow night? I was going to ask someone else, but since you offered…"
"Of course!" Riley accepted eagerly. "Text me the time, and I'll see you then!"
"See you then, Riley. And happy birthday!" Mrs. Little waved as Riley left.
*.*.*
Riley bounced all the way to the park, her smile never fading. Some people recognised her as Dr. Matthews and stopped her for a picture, but Riley still made it to the park two minutes early.
She didn't have to go far to spot Lucas on a bench-
Riley stopped dead in her tracks, smile gone.
Lucas was sitting on a bench, kissing another girl.
Lucas was sitting on a bench, kissing a blonde girl.
Lucas was sitting on a bench, kissing a blonde girl Riley knew to be Maya.
Boiling tears spilled onto her cheeks. Her boyfriends of five years, the Cory to her Topanga, was cheating on her with her best friend.
They finally pulled away, gasping for air, smiling softly at one another.
Riley turned on her heel and sprinted away, sick to her stomach.
Lucas and Maya didn't notice.