Eric's Revenge and Revelation: Completion of a tag ending, and more!!!

Seven Times Seventy, Will I Forgive

Cory and Topanga rode in silence on their way back to her apartment. She had come upon the scene in the club just in time to see Shawn and Jack pull the brothers apart, and Eric make his exit. Part of her was angry with Eric for telling Cory, and a larger part of her was relieved to have the secret out in the open. Her heart bled for Cory and Eric. Topanga felt that this was all her fault. If only she had stayed away from Eric-

When Cory parked the car, he acted the perfect gentleman, opening her door and walking her upstairs. He was still silent though.

"Cory, why don't you come in for a while?" Topanga asked quietly. "We need to talk- you were right." Her eyes were wide, and her hands were trembling.

Cory just looked at Topanga for a while. He was feeling even more betrayed than before. His own brother- how did this happen? Tears burned the backs of his eyes, but he refused their release. Tightness gripped his chest, but he ignored it. Finally Cory nodded, and followed Topanga inside. Even with everything he just learned- he still loved her. He could never stop loving her.

The apartment was empty, thankfully. Shawn had decided he should keep Angela out for a while, not knowing what Cory and Topanga were going to do.

"Want some coffee?" Topanga offered.

"I am really not in the mood for coffee, thanks." Cory sat on the couch and held her gaze. "Why Eric?" That was all he could say. The most obvious question, and it was holding his mind hostage- why Eric?

Topanga took a deep breath. How did she explain this? She had never thought she would have to. It was supposed to remain a secret. Topanga took a seat on the other side of the couch, and looked at her hands for a while before raising her eyes to meet Cory's pained stare.

"It just happened, Cory. I- I didn't want it to, at first, but it just felt so good to be held, to have someone to talk to and share with. I-," Topanga's tears began to fall silently, "I just needed someone, and he was there."

"Why couldn't you have just come to me?" Cory asked. There was mostly sadness in his voice, only a small hint of anger- which Topanga felt was justified.

"You were part of the problem, Cory. I couldn't let myself love anyone- or be loved by anyone. When I was with Eric, I knew it could never be serious, or last long. Neither one of us wanted to hurt you." Topanga wiped at her eyes.

"Do you love Eric?"

"I do care for him, I won't deny that. But Cory-," Topanga's voice picked up a note of desperation as she continued, "I have come to realize that I really do love you. I understand if you hate me now. But please, please- forgive Eric. He is your brother forever, Cory."

Cory shook his head. Disbelief ran through him like a flood. There was no way Topanga could love him, not after all the things she did. In his mind's eye he pictured Eric and Topanga together, with Eric holding her, taking what should have been Cory's. He shuddered.

"Topanga- how can you say that you still love me? You had sex with my brother!" Cory raised his voice, frightening Topanga.

"Don't say it that way Cory. You make it sound horrible. I had just found out what you had done, and sometimes when people are hurting, they do irrational things. You of all people should know that. Or did you plan to have sex with the tramp at the party?" Topanga had found her own anger now. How dare he reduce what she had done with Eric to 'sex'? No, there was love there, it was not 'sex'- it was lovemaking. At least she was close to Eric; Cory didn't even know the bimbo from the party.

"That was cold, Topanga. You know I wouldn't plan to do that to you." Cory ran his hands through his hair. "How do you know that you still love me?" He searched her face, longing for the truth.

Topanga felt a smile cross her face, "Cory, I was just scared. It took some amazing things happening to make me realize how much you mean to me- and even though we have been through some really rough times, we have always made it through before. I still want to be with you." She chanced reaching for his hand, fearful that he was still angry, but hoping he would accept her offer.

"Topy, you know how much I love you," Cory took her hand, "but I need to know that if we are together, there is no one else in the back of your mind. What is there between you and Eric?"

"Friendship-Cory- Just friendship." Topanga stared into his eyes with all the honesty in her heart, willing him to believe her. "You are the only man I want to be with Cory, but we need to take this slow. We have a lot of healing to work through," she cleared her throat, "Does this mean you can forgive Eric?"

"Ya, I think I can- you're hard for ME to resist, how can I blame him. I suppose this is the part where we forgive each other and hug, huh?" Cory was smiling now. The pain was fading with the prospect of reunion with Topanga.

"Ya, I guess it is," Topanga slid toward Cory on the couch and put her arms around him, "I am so sorry that I hurt you."

"And I am sorry that I hurt you," Cory whispered back to her, "It's all in the past now." He gave her a gentle kiss- the first kiss they had shared in months.

"Definitely." She whispered back against his lips. "Now call Eric."

Cory looked at her- he wasn't sure he was ready to face Eric. "Can I invite him here? I want you to be here when I talk to him." Cory's jaw rippled with tension.

"Ya, that would be fine, Cory- just no fighting, I don't want blood on the carpet- promise?" Topanga looked at him sideways, half playing, half serious.

~*~*~*~*~

The knock at the door came soon after Cory's call. Eric stood in the doorway when Topanga answered, his face was glum, but he couldn't help but smile a small one sided grin when he saw her.

"Come in-," Topanga told him, moving to the side and ushering him in.

Cory was seated on the couch, and rose to his feet when Eric entered the room. A very somber Cory greeted him with a nod.

"Cory, I- I am sorry." Eric said softly, digging his hands into his pockets. "I really overstepped my bounds with Topanga, I knew I shouldn't have and I did."

"Eric, its ok. Topanga and I have talked about it. I still don't like it- but it's in the past. You're my brother, and I forgive you. But you know I am never going to trust you with her again, don't you?" Cory raised his brows, trying to find a small amount of humor in this serious moment.

Eric walked over to Topanga, and reached to stroke her cheek with his thumb. "Cory- all I want is for Topanga to be happy. She is an amazing woman, and only deserves the best. I promise I will never be more than her friend from now on." He turned to Cory and extended his hand. "I swear if you ever hurt her again- I will have to kill you."

Cory took his hand and laughed, "I would expect nothing less."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A/N:

Ok, maybe a rather unrealistic and corny ending.... But this baby had to be put to bed.

I could not in good conscience leave everyone mad, but I also did not want to string this out any longer.

So here we are, Cory and Topanga working on repairing their relationship, and Eric being forgiven for his part in this twisted, soapy, saga.

And that- my dear readers- is THE END.

Peace,

Shawna