Everyone's Your Friend In New York City

When Nebula checked in on Topanga before she left for the airport she wasn't surprised to see her little sister's room empty. Not after that way she'd been looking at the handsome blonde from last night. Nebula heaved a little sigh. She had been hoping she would get to say goodbye before she left. She would just have to call later and hope that Topanga would be able to email her about what had happened.

Nebula got to the airport at 6:00 am, bought an over priced but completely delicious banana nut muffin at 6:30, and was settled into her terminal by 6:45. Her flight didn't leave until 8:00 so passed the time by people watching and eavesdropping on interesting cell phone conversations. At 7:55 it was announced that her flight had been pushed back to 9:30. It took Nebula until 8:35 to find out about the storm that had pushed back the flight. At 9:20 her flight was cancelled all together. It was nearly 11:00 before she had gotten her luggage back and found out how to exchange her ticket for a flight to Paraguay today for a ticket that would get her to Paraguay two days from now. She would have to fly to Mexico, then Columbia, then Brazil and then finally land in Paraguay but it was either that or wait another week. It was nearly 1:00 in the afternoon by the time she managed to get back to her apartment.

Once she dumped her suitcases in her room, made herself lunch and settled into the couch with a book she was actually delighted about the whole thing. She had two days with no plans made and no work to do. She would get to meet Cory and hear all about Topanga's little fling. Well, probably not that last part. But she could hope, she thought with a smile .

Eric was starting to wish that he had just stayed in the apartment with Cory and Shawn, bought ear plugs and locked himself in his room for the next couple of days. He and Topanga had driven in gloomy silence until they had a little over half and hour left to drive. That was when Topanga finally started to cry. Unsure of what else he could do Eric asked if he could get her something to eat. Topanga nodded and he found a gas station with a Subway in it. She cried in the car while he went in.

"Thank you," She sniffed when he came back with her vegetarian sub.

"No problem," Eric climbed back into the car, and handed her something else, "I thought you might need this too."

"What is this?" Topanga asked.

"It's a calling card," he said, "I'm sorta broke so it's only for 20 minutes, but I thought you might need to talk to Angela."

"Angela already knows," Topanga said.

"I know," he turned the key in the ignition, "I told her."

"I had to think about it for a while too when he told me," Angela had said.. So that's how she'd found out. Topanga stared at Eric.

This was the goofy older brother that had been running around in the background of her life for so long. This was Eric. He didn't mean any harm. So she bit her tongue and tried to count to ten and be the bigger person again, but she exploded at about five because she had to explode at someone and unlike Cory and Shawn, Eric was here.

"You told Angela? When was someone going to tell me Eric!" She bellowed, hitting him in the face with her sandwich.

"Heyheyhey, don't whack the driver." Eric said, "I was going to tell you Topanga. I was."

"But you didn't!" She whacked him again.

"Kay, I understand you're upset and that's why I'm not taking the sandwich away from you," Eric said. Topanga slapped the sandwich on her lap emphatically.

"Why didn't you tell me! Why didn't you tell me years ago? Why didn't you tell me before I married your goddamn brother, or at least before I tried to drag him to New York?" She shrieked.

"Topanga, look," Eric started in a tone entirely too firm for Eric, "I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier. If I'd known what was actually happening I would have said something. But you have to understand that I didn't really know that they were together until a couple months before the wedding,"

Topanga hit him with the sandwich again, "I don't believe you!"

"Ow, that one hurt!" Eric growled, "I'm serious. The first time I walked in on Cory and Shawn was years ago when you and Cory were on and off a lot and I figured it was none of business and things would work out. Then I never caught them while you and Cory were engaged and then one night I heard them talking, there was nothing on TV so I thought I'd eavesdrop. Basically they agreed that since Shawn was in love with Angela and Cory was getting married that it was over, which is the first time I knew there was anything to end," he said, "Okay? I swear. If I'd thought there was a reason to tell you before the wedding I would have." He winced, much the way Cory had, but Topanga didn't hit him again.

"So why did you tell Angela?" She demanded, her voice still harsh.

"Why do you think?" He asked sarcastically, "Right after Angela left, like that night, I came back to the apartment and... there were Cory and Shawn. And then the next day Angela called looking for Shawn, and I had to tell her. And I was going to tell you before you left for New York. I really was. But that's just not how it worked out," Eric sighed, "I'm sorry. But Cory's my brother you know? What was I supposed to do?"

"Turn here," Topanga replied harshly.

They sat in silence as Eric looked for and miraculously found a place to park. Topanga stepped out of the car without saying a word to him and he followed her up to the apartment. Maybe things would've been better all around if he'd spoken up earlier. But honestly? Even if he'd said something who would've believed stupid, crazy Eric?

Nebula was making tea in the kitchen when Topanga walked in with Eric behind her.

"Hey!" Nebula exclaimed, "You must be Cory!" she scurried over and hugged Eric, "I'm making tea. It's hibiscus rosehip from the herbalist down the street. Good for the soul. Enough for everyone."

"Nebbie, what are you doing here?" Topanga asked huskily, tears were welling up in her eyes again.

"Ugh. So I get to the airport and it turns out that there was some really tremendous storm over, I don't know, all of Paraguay, apparently. My flight has been pushed back a couple days and now instead of a straight flight, I'm going to end up puddle jumping over most of South America. But now I actually get to meet this husband of yours!" Nebula said excitedly as she took three mugs down from the cupboard. Then she saw the look on Topanga's face, "What's the matter?"

"Why don't you tell her too, Eric?" Topanga spat, "I'm going to call Angela."

"Topanga?" Nebula called, but her sister stormed off to her room and slammed the door behind her. Nebula moved as if to follow her but Eric grabbed her shoulder gently.

"I'd let her go if I was you," Eric advised.

Nebula turned to Eric, "What the hell is going on? What's wrong with her? And who are you?"

"I'm Eric Matthew's. I'm Cory's older brother. It's a really long story."

"Wait, your Cory's brother? Where's Cory?"

"He's in Philadelphia," Eric said, "With Shawn. His boyfriend."

"Oh my god," Nebula exclaimed her hand shooting to her mouth, "Oh my god. So her husband is... oh my god. Is she alright? Well no, obviously," Nebula answered her own question, "What the hell happened? How did she find out? Who's Angela? What are you doing here?" She asked pouring out the tea, handing Eric a cup and ushering him to the couch.

Eric explained what had happened in the Matthew's yard and kitchen as best he could while Nebula listened with wide eyed concern.

"I feel awful," Eric finished, "This is all my fault."

"Oh, honey," Nebula said patting his shoulder, "You can't blame yourself for this. These things happen."

"Yeah but..." Eric exhaled sharply, "I knew about it. I knew and I didn't tell anyone. Not even Topanga. I should've have told Topanga." He tried to explain to Nebula the reasoning he'd given to Topanga and was slightly relieved when Nebula nodded.

"Well, yeah. He's your brother. What else could you have done?" she bit her lip, "But hell. What do I know about it? I'm a terrible sister."

"I'm sure you're not a terrible sister," Eric assured her.

"I've hardly talked to Topanga since I left for college. I don't know anything about her. She's a completely different person than she was the last time I saw her. She's going through something really traumatic right now, and I'm sitting out here talking to you because I have absolutely no idea how to help her," Nebula started to tear up and Eric put a comforting arm around her shoulder, "You're her brother-in-law, you know her better than I do. What should I do?" Nebula asked him.

"Honestly? I'd let her talk to Angela and get some sleep. Topanga is a tough chick. I think she'll be okay."

Meanwhile, in the room that she had planned would be hers and Cory's but now was just hers, Topanga crawled into her pajamas and wept for the loss of her youth, for her lost opportunities, for the loss of the husband who had never been hers to begin with.

She lamented for leaving her home behind, and not just Philadelphia, but her whole concept of Philadelphia. Everything her hometown had ever meant to her had been corrupted and she wept for that too.

Eventually she calmed down enough to call Angela and the two betrayed girls began a long circular conversation trying to pinpoint why they should had known and what should have tipped them off and why no one had told them until they had run through both the both of their calling card limits. Finally Topanga started to get to tired to keep track of their conversation and promising to email her tomorrow, said goodbye to Angela and soon after that, trying not to imagine where Cory and Shawn might be, fell asleep.

Topanga slept deeply, as one does after crying oneself to sleep. She awoke feeling surprisingly rejuvenated. The ugliness and unpleasantness of the day before still clung to her, but the grip was distinctly weaker. She got ready quickly and walked out in the living room where Eric and Nebula were asleep on the couch, heads on opposite sides and feet tangled in the middle. They slept the same way, one hand on the chest, one leg extended and the other bent at the knee. They were actually mirror images of each other Topanga noticed with a smile. She wrote a quick note so they wouldn't worry, set it on the coffee table in front of the couch and left, unsure of where she was going.

She found herself in a deli with a scone and a latte before long, staring at her purse. Stewart's phone number was in there. He'd said to call if she needed anything. Anything. But what was she going to tell him? She didn't want to just jump from Cory to Stewart. She didn't want to cry on his shoulder and end up in his bed. She didn't want to rebound. She wanted to be single for a while, and figure out what it was like to be just Topanga, not half of Topanga-and-Cory. She didn't want a boyfriend right now. She just wanted a friend. But her best friend was in Paris, and her only other friend was in Nigeria, completely incommunicado for all intents and purposes.

She grabbed her purse, fished out a folded piece of paper and her cell phone and dialed. It only rang once.

"Yo. What can I do ya for?"

"Hey, Butterfly? This is Topanga."

"Hey Topanga!" Butterfly replied excitedly, "What's going on?"

"You wouldn't even believe it," Topanga sighed, "But I'll tell you anyway. Do you want to meet me somewhere? Maybe go shopping?" Topanga had been itching to change her wardrobe for the last two days. She was sick of feeling so plain and ordinary, especially now.

"Totally! I know the best place too!" Butterfly trilled.

It was exactly what Topanga had been hoping for. A funky little hole in the wall shop that smelled strongly of incense and just slightly of marijuana. She and Butterfly dug through the racks of wild, colorful, and earthy clothes while Topanga related everything that had happened to her in the last couple of days to Butterfly as the latter accumulated an armful of purple clothes.

"Chica, that's messed up," Butterfly said when Topanga finished. Despite her self Topanga laughed, "Isn't it?"

"You gonna take this Cory bastard for all he's worth in the divorce?" Butterfly inquired.

"He doesn't actually have anything," Topanga sighed, "Nothing I want anyway."

"There has to be some way of getting him to pay alimony or whatever. Emotional damages, or something."

"I don't need his money and I'd rather just let it be over and not have go to court and then read his name on a check every month," Topanga sighed, "I'm more worried about what to do about Stewart."

Butterfly smirked, "Kay, I'm sorry hon, I know you're, like, suffering a big emotional blow, but I have got to ask. How is he?"

"What?"

"How is Stew in bed?" Butterfly asked a little mischievously.

"Why?" Topanga asked, shocked.

"Cause one time we were over at his place and Esther and I found black satin sheets in his closet. And in my experience," She waggled her eyebrows suggestively, "That means a guy is either a master of his craft, or a total wannabe. Esther and I have a bet. So which is it?"

Topanga blushed, but had to smile, "The first one," she giggled.

"Alright, Esther owes me 20 bucks," Butterfly laughed.

"Black satin sheets? That seems so sleazy," Topanga said.

"Really? I think it's hot," Butterfly said. Topanga thought about it, "Well... Maybe." she admitted.

"Sorry, back to our regularly scheduled drama," Butterfly said in mock seriousness. Topanga was glad she'd called Butterfly. They were having fun. She didn't talk about things like this in public with her friends. They barely talked about them in private to tell the truth.

"Okay," Topanga laughed, "Where were we?"

"You don't know what to do about Stewart," Butterfly supplied.

"Yeah. What do you think? You know him better than I do,"

"Well, from what I saw between you two the other night and what I've heard from both of you, you two totally clicked. But if I were you, I sure as hell wouldn't want to get into a serious relationship for a while."

"So what do I do?"

"Talk to Stew. Explain what happened. Tell him how you feel. I mean, your whole dealio is complicated enough without lying about it and making it even worse."

"So, do I tell him over the phone, or meet him somewhere, or what?"

"Tell you what, I'm having a party tonight to celebrate losing my apartment, everyone's coming, including Stewart, why don't you come? If you just run into him then you don't create this high pressure prearranged meeting vibe. Plus it's a party, so it can't get, like, weepy serious."

"Why are you celebrating losing your apartment?"

"Cause it's a crap-hole, and I hate my roommate, and one of the perks of the party is that she is out of town and I'm going to leave the mess for her to clean up," Butterfly grinned, " So you coming?"

"Are you sure this is a good idea?"

"Not entirely sure. Sure enough. Not a terrible idea," Butterfly said.

And even though going to Butterfly's party and hoping to run into Stewart and tell him about her gay husband and impending divorce was not a perfect plan, or a well thought out plan, or even a good plan, Topanga was okay with it.

"Yeah, I'll be there," She said.