My apologies for the delay. There was quite a bit of severe weather in my area and my power was out for a good chunk of the past two days. On the negative side, I learned I would've been useless in pioneer days, lol, but on the positive- yay, electricity! Now, onto the important matters you actually care about. Like I promised, Jack, Rachel and the kids are in Philadelphia. Topanga will be working her way back soon. And as I always say (and sincerely mean) I appreciate the kind reviews. And it's always cool to hear from people who are new to the story. Very cool to have more readers along for the ride with this crazy pairing. :-)
"Angela, come on! We were supposed to leave twenty minutes ago. I want my Easter basket!" Eric was on the couch shining a laser light on the wall for Thor to chase around while waiting for Angela to finish getting ready. "I'm sure mom made one for you, too, and if we leave now, we'll have time for pre-dinner candy."
"Do my ankles look fat," she asked as she came into the room and stood in front of him.
"Huh?" Not the fat question. There was no good answer to the fat question. It was the ultimate trap. But wait, her ankles? "Your ankles?"
"Yes." Angela rolled her eyes. "My ankles. My fingers have been swelling a little bit in the evenings for the past few days and I had to buckle these sandals a little looser than I did when I wore them last summer."
Eric bit his tongue to keep himself from giving the obvious response that she's pregnant now and wasn't last summer, so of course things are bigger. He didn't see that ending well for him.
"It's taking you a little too long to answer."
"Sorry, but you look great and I don't think I've ever really paid attention to your ankles. I've been too blinded by the rest of you." He smirked and scanned the laser light across her body.
"Is that a yes or a no?"
He sighed. "It's a no. You look amazing, every part of you- ankles and all. Can we go?" Eric watched as she twisted the ring she wore on her right hand- Angela seemed to do that whenever she was nervous or uncomfortable about something. She never took the ring off. "If your fingers are swelling I'll buy you a chain for it and you can wear the ring around your neck."
"No, then I would have to take off the pendant you gave me," she exclaimed, touching the jewelry Eric had given her for Valentine's Day. It hadn't left her neck since she took it out of the box. "Besides, I've been thinking about not wearing the ring anymore anyway. I should just tuck it in a box someplace."
"Why? It's obviously important to you. I haven't seen you without it since you came back to town. What, is it from another guy," he joked.
Angela stared at him. "Yes, Eric. I'm having your baby, agreed to live with you, and told you I love you all while wearing another guy's ring. I'm that kind of person." She shook her head and turned toward the door. "We should get going. I know how much you want to get your Easter basket."
He would swear he got a chill from her icy tone. Eric reached out and grabbed her wrist before she got too far. "I was joking. I'm sorry." He pulled her down so she was sitting in his lap. "You don't have to tell me about the ring if you don't want to."
"It's not a big deal." She held out her hand and stared at the ring. "My dad gave it to me when I graduated college, or university as it's called over there."
"It's pretty. What is it, an amethyst?"
"No, it's an Alexandrite- technically my birthstone."
"Technically?"
"June has a few of them. I never said anything to my dad, and I really do love the ring, but I always thought a pearl ring would be cool. You'd expect it with earrings, necklaces, even bracelets, but I rarely see it in a ring. He must've read my mind." Angela laughed as she remembered the details. "Because as soon as I put it on he said he would've gotten me a pearl, but he thought a pearl ring would be too impractical."
He clasped their hands together. "If you love the ring so much, why would you ever stop wearing it?"
"It hurts too much." She leaned her head against Eric's shoulder and tried to find the words to explain it to him. "As much as I love the ring and the sentiment behind the gift, the man that gave it to me doesn't exist anymore and neither does our relationship. He's turned us into strangers." Angela held onto his hand a little tighter. "Before I overheard the truth, I could look at this ring and smile and remember the good times we had together. Now," she sighed, "now it just hurts."
"I guess now my question is: why are you still wearing it?"
She shrugged helplessly. "My dad gave it to me."
/
/
Cory paced in front of the train station waiting for Eric to pick him up. His brother was surprised to hear that he needed a ride, but once Cory told him that Topanga was in Pittsburgh with her mother no further explanation was required. He had thought about staying home, partly because he still wasn't ready to explain to his family what was going on and partly because he was just so tired- physically and emotionally drained. He had done so much traveling over the past few days and he had to go back to work tomorrow. Maybe he should've stayed home.
Eric honked his horn to get his brother's attention. He snapped out of whatever trance he seemed to be in and got into the SUV. "I know I'm a few minutes late. Angela..."
"I don't need an explanation."
"Sorry I didn't answer my phone yesterday. I didn't even look at it until this morning."
Cory nodded. "Did you drop Angela off at mom and dad's first?"
"No, she drove her car. We have to pick up Jack, Rachel, and the kids at the airport later and we'll need both our cars for them and their stuff. Angela's hooking them up with a rental in the morning. Rachel said they'll want to get the kids settled at the hotel before anything else tonight."
He banged his head on the headrest. He had forgotten all about Jack and Rachel coming to town with the kids. They would be in New York in a few days. "Right."
"So, what happened with Topanga?"
"She's in Pittsburgh with her mom. What do you think happened?"
"I'm sorry, stupid question, of course you guys got into a huge fight and she left."
"Actually," Cory began, still amazed at how things went down himself, "that's not really what happened." He told Eric everything he told Topanga, everything Topanga said, and how she said she needed to get away for a few days.
"You think her real reaction will come when she gets back home?"
"That's what I'm thinking."
"What are you going to tell mom and dad when they ask where she is?"
He sighed. "I don't know. I think I'm just going to say her mom needed her help with something. I'm not ready to tell everybody yet."
"I haven't said anything to Angela."
"Really?" His eyebrows shot up and he looked at Eric. "I was under the impression you guys told each other everything."
"Yes, when it concerns each other or the baby, but not other people."
"Okay, thanks."
"No problem. One more thing," Eric said as he pulled into a parking space behind Angela's car, "if you don't want anyone to know anything is going on, you'd better cheer up or at least fake it."
"You're telling me to cheer up?"
"Do you know how depressing it is to hang around with you lately?" He got out of the car and started walking toward the house.
"Well, gee, Eric, I'm sorry if my martial problems have been bringing you down," Cory fired back sarcastically. "It must be so easy to be to be cheerful and optimistic when everything in life is handed to you and things are going your way."
Eric stopped at the door and took a deep breath. He knew Cory needed to argue with someone and was just trying to bait him into an argument. He wanted to help, but he wasn't going to be Cory's verbal punching bag either. "If you say one more word you're going to have to find a new ride to the train station and explain to them why your wife isn't here." He turned back to look at his brother. "Got it?"
Cory held up his hands in defeat. "Loud and clear."
"And don't forget, be nice..."
"Be nice to Angela and don't upset her," he jumped in and finished the sentence. "Don't worry about that either. That message is burned into my brain."
/
/
Angela sat outside on the bench in the Matthews' backyard. She had been helping Amy in the kitchen but the heat from the oven and the smells of all the different foods cooking had become a bit much, so she came outside for some air. She smiled when she saw Lila exit her house to make her way over.
"Hi, Lila."
"Hello, Angela. Oh, you look wonderful. Pregnancy certainly agrees with you. How have you been feeling?"
"I've been pretty good. My energy finally seems to be returning. Don't get me wrong, I'm not running a marathon anytime soon and I'd kill for at least one nap most days, but I'm not falling over exhausted like I was before."
"That's good to hear. Has the baby become more active?"
"Oh, that's right, you haven't felt Tadpole kick yet." The Feenys' had already left for their trip by the time the baby's kicks could be felt on the outside and had only just returned. "Baby's awake now." She stood. "Do you want to feel?"
"You're sure it's okay?" Lila set the appetizer tray she was bringing over down on the bench.
"Of course." Angela placed her hand on her ever growing stomach to pinpoint the baby's exact location. "Give me your hand." She had to blink back tears at Lila's expression when Tadpole moved. It meant the world to her to know that her child was going to be loved by so many people.
"A-ha!" Mr Feeny exclaimed when he crossed backyards, causing both Lila and Angela to jump. "You owe me twenty dollars, lady."
"What on earth are you talking about, George?"
"I said it would take you less than an hour to be bothering Angela and have your hands all over her stomach. You denied it, but unless I'm mistaken, you haven't even made it inside the house and here you are."
"It was by invitation, Mr. Feeny." Angela laughed. "Tadpole's awake and kicking and Lila hadn't felt it yet."
"You mean to tell me it's actually moving around...right now?" He pointed at Angela's stomach.
"Yes. You want to feel it?"
He shook his head and held up his hands. "Oh, now I hardly think that's appropriate. I mean, there are boundary issues to consider. I was your teacher, your principal. You were my student."
"Right and now I'm naming my baby after you."
Lila retrieved the appetizer tray off of the bench. "I should probably get these into the house before Amy thinks I've forgotten all about them." She disappeared quickly into the house.
"I know Eric is the one who wants to name the baby after me," Mr. Feeny began as he shifted his weight from one foot to the other and rubbed the back of his neck. "Why, I don't know, but you are very kind to go along with the foolishness."
Angela took a few steps closer to her former teacher. "It may be true that Eric was the one who first suggested naming the baby after you, but I agreed with it because there is no one more worthy of a namesake. You've done so much and not just for Eric. And just so you know it was my idea to name the baby after you whether it is a boy or a girl. Eric's original thought was to just name it after you if it was a boy. When I first suggested Georgia he asked why I was bringing up the state." They both smiled.
"Well," he exhaled. "Isn't that...that's very...thank you."
"You're welcome," she said quietly. "Come on, you want to say hello to little George or Georgia? Baby will probably be going to sleep soon until at least after I eat."
"Maybe just for a moment," Mr. Feeny gave in. He was still slightly uneasy as Angela took his hand and rested it on her stomach. The uneasiness disappeared, however, when he felt the light pressure against his hand. "Oh, my."
"I know," Angela beamed. "It's incredible, right?"
"That's one way to put it."
"Hey, Feeny, no putting the moves on my girlfriend." Eric grinned as he exited the back door of his parents' home. "You're a married man."
Mr. Feeny took a few steps back away from Angela. "I was just..."
"Experiencing the coolest thing ever?" He wrapped his arm around Angela's shoulders and rested his other hand on her bump. Eric had originally been looking for her to have a few minutes of peace after his ride with Cory. Finding her with Feeny was an added bonus, the perfect Cory detox. "Awesome, Tadpole's awake." He kissed Angela's cheek.
"Yeah, has been for a while."
"What do you think, Feeny, pretty cool, huh?"
"Yes," he smiled at Eric's enthusiasm, "definitely cool."
"All right, you said cool with a straight face. I'm rubbing off on you."
"I don't know if I would go that far."
"How was Cory," Angela asked.
Eric rolled his eyes. "Boy, do you know how to kill a good time."
"I want to be sure he's not going to ruin the whole day. You won't tell me why you had to pick him up at the train station or why Topanga's not with him."
"Topanga isn't here? Why not?"
"It beats me, Mr. Feeny. She's not answering her cell phone and Eric won't tell me."
"It's between Cory and Topanga," Eric insisted. "I promised I wouldn't say anything."
"Fair enough."
"But how is he acting," she questioned. "On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the Coriest?"
"I think I talked him down to a 5.5 or 6 on the Cory Scale."
"Well," Angela sighed, "it's not like we haven't dealt with worse."
/
/
"I will give you one hundred dollars to find out if the baby is a girl or a boy on Friday."
"Morgan!" Angela laughed as the teen actually tossed a handful of cash on the table.
"Hey, wait a minute, let's see how high she's willing to go," Eric said as he moved to grab the money. "We could make a nice profit here. Anyone else willing to make an offer?"
"Am I seriously the only one who wants to know whether or not we're finally going to get another girl around here? Mom, I know you want to know."
"I can wait until the baby is born." Amy looked across the table at Eric and Angela. "I can wait."
"Please," Morgan rolled her eyes, "I heard you and Mrs. Feeny complaining about having to stick to the boring colors for your knitting projects."
"Morgan, why are you trying to make trouble," Alan asked his daughter.
"I want to know," she whined.
"Tough," Angela told her with a smile. "We're waiting. Eric, give her back her money."
"What money?"
"Eric..."
"Fine," he sighed and handed over the cash. "Here, Weasel."
"Wait, what if we flip a coin- heads you find out and tails you don't."
"Technically wouldn't it make more sense for us to find out if it lands on tails?"
"Classy, Eric." Angela rolled her eyes.
"What? It's true."
"Cory, what happened to Topanga," Lila asked. "I certainly miss the taco salad she always makes."
"Huh?" Cory had managed to zone out during talk of the baby. "Oh, she went to see her mom. She called Topanga yesterday and said she needed her help with something so Topanga drove down."
"Will she be coming here later?"
He shifted uncomfortably in his chair. "Um, no. She's going to be in Pittsburgh for a few days at least."
"There's nothing wrong, is there," Amy asked. Though she had a feeling the issue wasn't with Topanga's mother.
"No, mom, I don't think so." Cory knew he couldn't keep talking about Topanga. "So, Mr. and Mrs. Feeny, how was your trip? How was the California Wine Country?"
"Oh, absolutely beautiful," Lila gushed. "If I didn't love living here, I would live there. Isn't that right, George?"
"Yes, it was a very relaxing trip. We brought wine for all and baked goods for those not old enough to drink.
Eric noticed Angela looking at her phone. "Everything okay?"
"Yeah, I'm just tracking Jack and Rachel's flight. Everything seems to be right on schedule. So, we should leave in about an hour."
He nodded. "Sounds good."
"How old are the kids they're fostering again," Amy asked.
"Seth is seven, Nina is four, and I believe the baby, Milo, is ten months old now," Angela answered.
"That is a lot to take on all at once."
"Yes, but I talked to them recently, and they were as prepared as they could be," Mr. Feeny said.
"Rachel seemed so excited."
"Do you know what the kids like? I wanted to get some gifts for them, but I wasn't sure what they enjoy."
Angela shook her head. "All I know is that Nina is obsessed with magic and is always wearing this blue cape. Seth is pretty quiet and keeps to himself still and I'm guessing the baby is a typical baby," she shrugged, "though he's very bonded to Rachel from what she said while Nina has attached herself to Jack."
"Maybe we'll have time to fit in a little shopping trip while they're here and I can get the kids something," Amy said.
"What," Alan laughed, "you want to practice shopping for grandchildren? A little spoiling warm up? As if you need help shopping."
"Who's ready for dessert?" Cory got up from the table and went to the kitchen.
"That's about a 7 on the Cory scale," Eric whispered to Angela.
/
/
"Tired?" Eric came up behind Angela and started rubbing her shoulders.
"A little, but I'm fine. What took you so long?"
"Cory couldn't decide if he wanted me to take him to the train station or ride with here and take the train back to the city with Shawn. I eventually made the choice for him. He's sitting over there."
"Great." She kept her eyes on the flight board watching for Jack and Rachel's flight. "Ooh, they just landed." She bounced back on her heels. Angela looked over at the row of chairs and saw Cory sitting there with his arms crossed, staring at the floor. "Which one of us is going to go talk to him?"
"Huh, about what?"
"He can't act like that around those kids."
"Oh, you're right." He sighed and rolled his eyes. "I'll try, but I'm all Cory-ed out."
She put her hand on his arm. "No, I've got this."
"Angela..."
"Eric, no. This situation requires tough love." He looked at her. "Trust me."
"Fine, you want to try, go ahead, but if you come back depressed, with a headache, and the urge to get drunk or eat tons of ice cream don't blame me."
"Cory," Angela said as she approached the rows of chairs, "what's up?" She hit his leg as she sat down beside him.
"Excuse me?"
"We have to talk."
"About what?"
"You and this absolutely charming attitude you've had going on all day long."
"You have no idea what you're talking about. I don't have to sit here and..." He was surprised when Angela pulled him back into the chair when he tried to leave. "What are you doing?"
"I don't know exactly what's going on with you and Topanga because Eric hasn't said a word. All I know is that being around you is bumming out the man I love."
"Love? You guys said I love you?"
"Yeah, but that's not the point right now. Bumming out Eric is one thing, but I'm not going to let you bum out Jack and Rachel's kids- innocent kids who I can guarantee have been through more challenging things than whatever shit you and Topanga have created for yourselves."
Cory was quiet for a minute. "I guess I never thought about it like that."
"They've had rough lives or else they wouldn't have been in foster care in the first place. They are here to meet people who are supposed to be happy to see them. I don't care if you plaster on a fake smile that you have to have surgically removed later- you will be smiling when they walk through that gate and you will be happy. The kids deserve it. Are we clear?"
"Yes."
"Good." Angela got up and started to walk away, but turned back before she got too far. "Cory?"
"Yeah?"
"I do hope you Topanga work things out."
"Thanks."
/
"Well, that's certainly different," Eric smiled as Jack and Rachel finally entered the baggage claim area with the kids. Rachel was holding the baby who was fussing slightly, Nina was passed out on Jack's shoulder, and Shawn and Seth were bringing up the rear with the carry-on and Milo's empty car seat.
"Hey, just wait until your first airplane ride with the baby," Jack said. "It will be interesting."
He watched as Rachel tried to soothe the baby. "Rough flight?"
"It was interesting," Jack repeated. "Milo cried and pulled on his ears because of the pressure changes, Nina knocked out as soon as we took off- which was surprising, and Seth," he turned back to look at Seth. "What did you think, Seth? You liked it, right?"
"It was cool. The bathrooms were too small, but Uncle Shawn let me take pictures of the clouds with his camera."
That made Cory smile. What else was going to leave an impression on a seven year old other than bathrooms and clouds? "Did you guys need help with anything?"
"Oh, Cory, you're here." Rachel was surprised. She hadn't seen him standing behind Eric and Angela. "Where's Topanga?"
"She's with her mom in Pittsburgh."
"Oh...well, okay." She didn't have time for that conversation. "Could you guys get our luggage? Shawn, why don't you put Milo's car seat on one of the chairs and I'll get him in. He may not be happy in the seat, but I'll be able to make him a bottle."
"I can do it," Shawn said as he took Milo from Rachel. "He doesn't fuss when I strap him in, but he screams when you do because he wonders why you are not holding him."
"Good point. He's all yours'."
"Should we try to wake her up?" Jack motioned to Nina on his shoulder.
"I don't know," Rachel smiled, "she looks peaceful and quiet right now. It beats her wanting to run all around the airport exploring like she did while we were waiting to takeoff."
"True."
"Okay, let me look at you," Rachel grinned and turned her attention to Angela. "Oh, wow, you look beautiful." She tightly embraced her friend.
"Thanks."
"Can I..." she gestured towards Angela's stomach.
"Sure, go ahead. You'd be surprised how many people don't ask and just cop a feel."
"Strangers?"
"Complete strangers."
"I hope you tell them off."
"I've made people cry," she smiled.
"Good. Aw man, I don't feel anything," Rachel pouted as she moved her hand around Angela's bump. "I thought you said Toad was kicking."
"First, it's Tadpole," Angela laughed, "and I think he or she is sleeping right now."
"Not fair." She leaned her face closer to Angela's stomach. "Time to wake up, little one. Auntie Rachel's here to play."
"Rach, are you disturbing my baby," Eric asked as he and Cory came back over with the suitcases.
"I'm just trying to wake it up to feel it kick."
"Wait until Angela eats something. Tadpole should be awake after that."
"You want a vending machine candy bar?"
"No, I'm good."
Nina started to stir on Jack's shoulder. She looked around at the unfamiliar faces and tightly wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Oh, hey, it's okay, Nina," Jack said softly. "These are our friends that we told you about. That's Eric, and Angela, and that's Cory."
"Hi, Nina," Angela waved at her. "I like your shoes. I wish I had shoes that sparkled like that."
She moved one arm from around Jack's neck to reach for her cape. "It matches my magic cape."
/
/
A while later, Shawn and Cory had said good-bye to everyone and were waiting for their train.
"So, you know how to buckle a baby into a car seat now, huh? That's cool."
"Cory, what the hell is going on?"
"What do you mean?"
"What do I- cut the crap. Why is Topanga in Pittsburgh? What happened? And don't even try lying to me."
Cory looked down the track and could see the train approaching. "Why try to cram the explanation into two minutes when we'll have two hours?"
"Will I want to hurt you when you're done talking?"
"Probably. I do."
/
/
"Okay, so who is going in what car?"
"We should have a boy car and a girl car," Nina exclaimed and jumped back and forth between the group. It hadn't taken her long to wake up and warm up to her new surroundings.
"That's fine with me," Rachel said. "Milo might be a bit fussy," she said to Jack.
"Milo's always a bit fussy," he laughed.
"All right, so we'll just meet up at the hotel," Angela said.
"Hey, Jack, why don't you let Eric take a crack at putting the car seat in," Rachel smirked.
"Don't you think that's kind of mean to do for the first time in the dark?"
"Not mean, more challenging."
"Why is it so cold," Seth asked as they stepped outside.
"I'm gonna turn into a popsicle," Nina proclaimed.
"It's not that cold," Rachel said, "but you guys are just used to Texas weather. I thought those jackets would be enough, but we can buy heavier ones tomorrow."
"Let my mom know when you want to shop, she wants to buy a little something for the kids."
"Oh, that's sweet."
"Presents?"
"None of your business, Nina."
"And maybe after you're done shopping, you can come visit me at work and I can show you how all the computers and the cameras work."
Seth looked up at Eric. "You work on TV?"
"Yes, I'm a meteorologist and do the weather reports on TV."
"Wow, that's cool."
"Yeah, it is a pretty cool job to have."
"Mommy, I'm hungry."
"We'll order some food when we get to the hotel, okay?"
"And you never know, the Easter Bunny might've left some baskets in the hotel room for you," Angela smiled. Amy had given them baskets to give to the kids and they had dropped them off at the hotel before going to the airport.
"We can have candy?" The kids' eyes lit up.
"Just one piece. It's getting late. We need to eat actual food."
"Only one piece?" Nina pouted at Jack while Seth stared at him silently.
Jack tried to be strong, but it was so hard to deny the kids anything- Nina especially once she pouted. "I don't know, Rach, I mean, it is a special occasion."
Rachel didn't know whether to roll her eyes or laugh. Jack always gave in. "Maybe two, but no more. I mean it." She turned to Angela. "You see what your future holds? Remember when Jack was the tough one?"
