Author's Note: This is how I envision a BMW and GMW television film would be like. It would air on ABC instead of Disney Channel and it's rated TV-14. The BMW characters would have the A stories while GMW has the B stories. There's going to be callbacks to Boy Meets World as well.

December 20th

There was an undeniable pep in Cory's walk as he left the school and headed for the parking garage across the street. School was only a half day due to the Christmas break but that wasn't why he was excited. He was on route to the apartment building across the street from his and Topanga's home. Shawn was finally moving back to the city and wanted his help in trying to find the right apartment. Cory's landlord also owned the apartments across the street and she adored him. So, he was confident that his best friend would soon be his neighbor.

Using his mobile phone, Shawn took photos of the one bedroom apartment and asked the grandmotherly landlord questions. He politely excused himself when Cory sent him a text informing him that he was two minutes away. After replying to him, Shawn then asked the landlord if he could see the two bedroom apartment across the hall where he planned to wait for Cory. She obliged and led the way.

When he entered the brownstone, Cory kindly greeted the landlord and handed her a box full of her favorite pastries. She politely accepted the pastries and left the pair in the apartment.

"Shawny!" Cory beamed as he held out his arms and approached him.

"Hey Cor!" he grinned and accepted his hug. Despite living out of a suitcase for the past couple of years he always felt at home whenever he was around Cory, Topanga or anyone else in his Philadelphia family.

"So, how was Texas?"

"Big, hot, loud but there was never a dull moment. Where's the missus?"

"She's having lunch with a client, doing whatever lawyers do."

"What'd you tell her?"

"That I was getting lunch with you and going Christmas shopping. You know me and lies, keeping it simple is best. Anything else lands me on the couch for the night."

He nodded, "Thanks, I know you hate doing it but I really want this to be a surprise."

Cory's brows curiously furrowed as he eyed the apartment, "This isn't the one bedroom..and there's a nook. What's going on?"

"Yeah..uh, the thing is, that's not the only surprise that I have in mind."

"Are you getting a roommate..oh god, you made a new best friend, didn't you?!"

"What? No! Cory, nothing will ever change our friendship."

"Then why are we here?"

"OK..you gotta promise me that you'll keep this between us and that you won't freak out. It's about me and Angela."

"Oh Shawn, you know that when it comes to you two I can't promise the last part," he said with a slow head shake and chuckle.

Shawn scoffed too and said, "Who was I kidding? Anyway, a couple weeks back, we were both in LA just by chance and had dinner that night-.."

"YAY!" Cory clapped his hands.

He continued to speak, "And since then we've been Skyping, texting, and calling each other..we're back on."

"SUPER YAY! Why didn't you tell me?!"

"Because things are going well..I didn't want to jinx it. And you're a budinski."

"Guilty as charged," he smiled.

"Since she's gonna be working in Global Grind's offices instead of on the road.. I'm gonna ask her to move in with me."

"WOOHOO!"

"No yay?"

"I don't like to be predictable," he shrugged before hugging him again; "this is so amazing!"

"I know and kinda crazy but it feels right."

"You two are soul mates and I never liked that Eljor guy she dated. Seriously, what kind of parents names their son that?"

With an arched brow and a sarcastic tone, he replied, "You're one to talk Cornelius ANGUS Matthews."

Obvious paranoia and concern was in his voice when he spoke, "SSSHH! Even Topanga doesn't know!"

He couldn't help but laugh at his friend, "Anyway, we've been doing well..although.."

"I don't like the sound of that…"

"Calm down, I still want to hear your pitch for this place."

"Why would you think I'd have one?"

"Cory…" he didn't hide the doubt in his voice.

"Oh you know me too well," he playfully waved him off before stating why Shawn should live there.

After giving him a golf clap he stated, "You sound like a realtor."

"I wear many hats, teacher, husband, father, close up magician, friend and others you don't know about," he spoke with smugness on his face and in his tone.

"Of course you do," Shawn was unconvinced.

Cory looked around the apartment and then back at him, "Everything is falling into place for the both of us! You and Angela are back together, you're both gonna live here and we're all celebrating Christmas together! And to top it off, I have this coupon for a free cinnamon bun!" He held up his phone while beaming.

He was amused at how the little things pleased Cory, "Good for you!"

"Thanks! And at least your first place won't be a dump like ours was."

"Yeah, well, you haven't spent the past year taking every crappy writing job that comes your way just to afford this place and to go Christmas shopping. I had to write instructions on how to use manual toothbrushes, floss, and body lotion."

"I love reading those whenever I'm in the bathroom! Sometimes I'll call the 800 number on back; Gwen from Crest is very delightful."

He gave his best friend a peculiar grin and put his arm around him as they walked out, "Aw Cor, you are wonderfully weird..don't ever change."

The hostess politely and quickly led Topanga to the table where Angela waited. They happily embraced and complimented each other's appearances before taking their seats.

"Thanks again for not telling Cory and Shawn that I'm here a day early. I wanted some girl time with you," Angela crossed her legs and smiled at her best friend.

"Oh don't mention it. It's kind of fun and the only secrets I keep from Cory are my clients'."

After looking at their menus, they waved down their waitress and she took their orders.

"So, how were the protests? They looked really intense online," Topanga said after taking a sip of her wine.

"Sometimes they were but most days, it was really calm and great to see so many people fighting for justice-anyway, enough about work. Do you know where we're staying?"

She gave a small shrug, "Amy and Alan just said that it could take all of us in and they're renting it. She also told us to pack swimsuits. They were both really secretive which I like because it's exciting but Cory is.."

"Terrified?"

"Oh yeah but he's trying to keep an open mind and it helps that we're all going to be together for the first time in forever."

"We are and some of my favorite Christmas memories have been with you guys."

"Aww, mine are too! Just think about it, it's the holidays and for the first time in years we're going to be together. You, me, your boyfriend, and my husband who's also your boyfriend's boyfriend are all going to be there!"

Angela let out a joyous laugh, "I can't argue with that. But I wish Rachel could be with us, I miss that girl."

"Yeah, me too but she's on the other side of the country in Portland and couldn't afford the tickets for her and Robbie. I did promise her that we'd Skype Christmas so that she can see us opening up her presents."

After a light exhale she held up her phone and said, "Remember when we saw Clueless for the first time?"

"I could never forget, we wanted their cell phones so badly and now everyone has them."

"And now we're texting, tweeting, Instagramming and Skyping," she saw Topanga scoff and asked her, "What's going on in that mind of yours?"

"Well, last week, Maya was asked out and the boy asked her if he could call her. She, uh, she said that he was creepy because he wanted to hear her voice without her being in the room or on a screen."

She chuckled, "Wow, that's all we had back then!"

"Exactly! These kids today..but it is nice to actually see you whenever we talk."

"It is and it's made things with Shawn easier."

"That's really great to hear. You two..you earned this second chance."

A sweet yet wistful smile across her lips, "We did…I just wish my dad was here to see it."

Topanga reached across the table and held her hand, "He is..just not on our level."

She squeezed her hand, "Thanks."

A brief grin came to her full lips, "I'm so happy to have you back and for good this time."

"I am too. Traveling is fun and it was great to see the world. I met new people and experienced their cultures but this feels like home."

"Aww, likewise." She squeezed her friend's hand again. As Topanga withdrew her hand, she knocked over Angela's purse causing some of its contents to spill onto the table.

"Ugh, I'm sorry Angela, I'll get this.."

Panic came to Angela's face as she tried to quickly put everything back in her purse. It was too late; Topanga had gotten a hold of the bottle of pills and read its label.

Her green eyes grew large when she read the label then saw her best friend's worried face, "Angela! This is…why didn't you-does anyone know?!"

"Of course not! I was waiting until the right time.."

"This is serious! You can't hide it forever!"

"I'm not planning to but you have to keep it secret until then, OK?"

Topanga didn't like keeping secrets but she saw the concern on her best friend's face.

"Topanga..please?"

"..I won't say anything but you can't drag this out."

"I know, I won't. Thanks.." she nodded and then chuckled.

"What?"

"This is the second Christmas where you have to keep a big secret from everyone including Cory."

She smiled, "It is but let's hope that he won't have one too, he's really bad at keeping them."

"The worst!"

They shared a laugh and spoke about their day until their lunches arrived.

Seated at their usual booth in Svorski's, Riley, Maya, Lucas and Farkle talked about their plans for Christmas break.

Farkle spoke first, "We're going to Colorado this year because my dad bought a chalet there. The ski bunnies of Aspen are gonna meet The Farkle!"

"They don't know what they're in for," Maya dryly stated.

"I know, isn't it great?!" he eagerly answered back.

Riley chimed in, "I can't wait for Christmas! Maya and I are and the rest of my family are staying somewhere upstate. My dad's all worried but I'm so excited! "

"It's gonna be a very Matthews Christmas, that's for sure." Maya said.

Lucas spoke, "Sounds fun. Both my grandparents are going to be out of the country and my Dad he-uh, he has to work. So, my mom and I are gonna have our first big city Christmas."

Maya couldn't resist and commented, "Aww, you're not gonna be able to hog tie reindeer this year."

"You just keep on chirping mocking bird," he retorted with a small grin.

"I will break you, if it's the last thing I do, I will!"

Riley just shook her head at them.

"Maya, is your mom going too?" Farkle asked.

"Nope, she's working but she's tried to get out of it. All week, she's been arguing on the phone with her boss but she's stuck. It's OK, I'm used to it."

"He could change his mind?" Riley sweetly offered and grinned when Maya gave her a side hug.

Farkle reached in his backpack as he talked, "Well, it's good that we're exchanging presents now!"

Following his lead, Lucas took out the present that he and the girls had bought for him, "Open ours first."

Farkle's eyes lit up after he removed the wrapping paper, "A Geek Grab Box! I tried to get a subscription but they sold out in ten minutes!"

"Well I beat you to it and it's why I cancelled going to the movies. I spent all day refreshing the screen." Lucas happily told him and looked at Riley.

She took that as her cue, "We put our money together and got you a three month subscription."

"I supervised," Maya added.

He removed some of the contents which included a comic book, pins, a t-shirt and a mini poster.

"Guys, this is so cool! This month is all about sci-fi. And it has an exclusive FunKo POP! Thanks so much!"

The three of them smiled back at him and were pleased to see how happy he was.

"My turn!" He handed them three velvet boxes.

The three of them opened the boxes and gasped. Each box had a platinum puzzle piece pendent with a silver bead necklace and bracelet.

"Farkle, this is beautiful!" Riley marveled at the pendant.

"This is real platinum and silver..what's the market price on this?" Maya asked him.

"Maya!" Riley nearly shouted.

"Relax Riles, I'm playing around…although if times get tough.." she joked.

Lucas asked, "This is great buddy, how did you think of this?"

"Well, we're like these puzzle pieces. We're all different but," he gently brought the pendants into his hand and the magnetic strips on caused them to link together, "we fit in together."

"Aawwwww!" His friends said before they got up from their seats to hug him.

After they finished their pastries, they got up and went their separate ways. Maya headed to her mother's diner. Farkle was on his way to his father's offices while Lucas offered to walk Riley home. She had noticed his expression falter a bit when he received a text.

"Lucas, is something wrong?"

"Riley, I'm fine."

"You may be Mr. Perfect but you're a horrible liar."

He knew that she was right, "I don't want to talk about it."

"Are you sure? "

"Just drop it."

"But we're not gonna see each until New Year 's Day, we should talk now-.."

"I already told you that I don't want to." His tone was snappy.

She stopped in her tracks and blinked, "Lucas, there's no need to be so rude."

"Well you don't have to be so nosy and pushy, Riley!"

Her dark eyes widen, he had never raised his voice to her before, "I'm being a good friend but the same can't be said for you right now!"

He saw the shock in her gaze turn to pain but before he could say anything she quickly walked onto her street.