Author's note: I'm trying to finish the story as soon as possible! Thanx for being so patient!! Please continue to R&R! It really helps me know how I'm doing with the story!

Chapter 10: The Ride

Topanga shifted restlessly in her seat, looking around the cabin for any source of entertainment. So far, she had been in the air for over forty-five minutes without any communication with anyone, and without any disturbances from Minkus.

The latter sat stock still, staring blankly out the window or resting his eyes for a minutes at a time. He acted as if the entire ordeal was just another business trip, calculated and without hassle. Minkus even had the nerve to sigh occasionally, as if the flight was giving him strain. It was a turbulence free flight lacking any annoying neighbors or obnoxious screaming babies, save for the child at the beginning of the flight.

Something struck Topanga as odd about the flight- she had hardly seen a stewardess the entire time. She had seen a glimpse of a stewardess once, but she was wondering if that was just a figment of her idle mind. After all, the stewardess had remarkably resembled Angela, which was absurd. Topanga knew that Angela was back at college with everyone else. There was little chance of her seeing them for many weeks. Once again, it came back to that thought. She was leaving them all for a world she chose not to be apart of, with a man she did not even have the warmest regard for. She let out a sigh, not realizing there was a stewardess at her shoulder.

"Excuse me ma'am, but what will you be having to drink this afternoon?" the cheery woman asked her. Topanga glanced up, and was relieved to find it was not the Angela-look alike, but a much older woman.

Beside her Minkus stirred, and saw that drinks were being ordered. "We'll both have a Coke," he said for Topanga. The stewardess smiled at them, as if they were a cute couple on their honeymoon. The smile made Topanga feel sick to her stomach. Minkus gave her a side long look, and said,

"Relax, we'll be in New York in an hour,"

*********************************************************************************

Angela found that after take off, there was little to do. She wandered up and down the back aisle giving Corey and Shawn two pillows and a blanket each. Each time she kept mentioning the lavatory at the front of the plane, near first class. However, both men were unable to move, due to their neighbors. It was going to be up to Angela to find Topanga, but she did not know how she could do so without Minkus seeing her. As she paced up and down the aisle, she thought of ways to reach Topanga. Her thought process was interrupted by the order to start asking about mid-flight drinks. Then it occurred to her that Angela could contact Topanga that way. If she knew which drink was Topanga's, she could write a note on the bottom of the napkin that went with the drink, and then Topanga was bound to see it.

Angela found out that there was a map of the seats on the plane and on each seat a person was to write the drink order. As Angela made her own rounds starting from the back on the plane, she tried to catch a glimpse of Topanga, and finally did on her last row of ordering. She memorized the row and seat and then went back to Corey.

"Sir, may I borrow a pen," she asked him, motioning the act of writing on a napkin. Corey did not quite catch her drift but gave her one anyway.

"Thank you," Angela said, "now I can remember those darn first class orders,"

Corey's eyes widened and then he nodded. Shawn caught on more quickly, and encourage Angela to write for Topanga to come to the back of the plane after finishing her drink. After this was written, the plan was put into action.

*************************************************************************************************************

The drinks rolled by around ten minutes later, and Topanga was grateful for the distraction. As she grabbed her coke, she saw something written on the napkin. Glancing at Minkus, she found her was engrossed in one of the airplane's magazines. So she started to read the napkin. It read that she was to come to the back of the plane after she got her drink. Not wanting mass chaos to ensue, Topanga obeyed, and excused herself to the bathroom. Passing by the rows, she saw that she knew no one onboard, until she got the back. There she found two very familiar men pretending to wait in line for the bathroom along with one very conspicuous stewardess.

"What are you doing here?" Topanga demanded, grabbing the dark haired man's arm. Corey turned to her, trying to appear apologetic.

"There was an opening on the flight?" he offered hesitantly.

"You decided to buy a ticket to follow me? Do you not trust me, Corey?"

"No! I really don't. All this time we were married and you never told me about your child. I wouldn't have reacted the way I did if you hadn't lied to me for so many years!" Corey explained, flushing.

"What my friend's trying to say here," Shawn interjected, "is that we are all concerned about you."

Angela nodded her agreement. "I was so worried I illegally got on this plane,"

Topanga smiled a little, but then looked back towards first class. "You guys, I appreciate you coming, but I honestly need to do this with Stewart. It's not something you would understand. Please enjoy your trip to New York, and catch a flight home in time for school in two days, okay?"

"I'm not leaving without you," Corey promised, gazing into Topanga's eyes. Startled, Topanga pulled back.

"Please sit down before Minkus sees you. I don't want him to do anything to hurt you," she directed the last part at Angela, who took the hint and disappeared. Shawn also sat down, leaving Corey and Topanga alone.

"I'm your husband, Topanga, and I still love you." he told her, trying to make her comprehend his words.

Topanga's eyes watered. "Do you think I would question that, Corey? I know you mean well but you just don't understand,"

Corey's back stiffened. "What is there not to understand?"

"To this child, you are no one, but Minkus is a father. I am this child's mother, and that gives Minkus and I a bond that you can not know. When we have children, then you will see, but until then, you have to let me do this with Minkus." Topanga begged.

Corey didn't respond, and Topanga whispered in his ear, "Just leave, Corey. It will be better for us both right now,"

Corey's eyes watered and he turned from her angrily. Topanga found she had to use the bathroom to wipe away her own tears before returning to sit down with Minkus.

The rest of the flight went smoothly, and soon the plane had landed in New York. Topanga hurried Minkus off, so that neither would bump into Angela. Minkus was surprised at her sudden vigor to leave, but pleasantly so. He would win her over, of this he was sure.

****************************************************************************************

As for Corey and Shawn, they found themselves with only petty cash and without anything but the clothes on their back in New York. Shawn's credit card was almost without credit, the ticket price had been very steep. They both decided on hailing a cab and renting a hotel room, to decide on what to do next. Angela they left to get out of her trouble with the airlines, who had suspected her of stealing her uniform. She was detained at the airport but promised that she could get away without any law suits in no time. Her father would straighten things out, with his high connections. If anything she could feign insanity and get away with a reprimand. Sitting in the cab, Corey glanced out the window and wondered what his wife would do without him in the large city. His anger boiled over after that thought, and he realized that he could care less what she did.