"Hey, Katy! Thanks for coming," Cory said, walking over to give Katy a polite hug.

"Well, sure!" Katy answered. "Happy birthday, Cory."

"Thanks," he replied.

"Hello, Katy," Shawn greeted her.

Maya looked over at Riley, biting her lip with nervousness. She still had a lot of hope that somehow her wish would come true and Shawn would become family. Riley smiled faintly at Maya, hoping for the same thing.

"Hello, Shawn," Katy answered. "I hope all is well with you."

"Yeah, you too," he replied awkwardly.

"Please sit down," Topanga said, smiling, saving the day with her motherly instinct.

"Thank you," Katy replied. She took her jacket off, set it down on the chair, and sat down.

"So I hear you've had an exciting couple weeks," Katy said to Riley.

"Oh, yes, I have," Riley said, fondly remembering her wonderful first date with Lucas.

"Why, what happened?" Shawn asked.

Riley looked up and Shawn and said, "I went on a date!"

Shawn looked at Cory. "You let her go on a date?!" he asked incredulously.

"Yeah? So?" Cory answered, trying to get the attention off of him.

"You let your only daughter go on a date?!" he asked again.

"Why is that so hard to believe?" Riley asked.

"Well, when you've known your father as long as I have, you begin to realize that he's very protective over the ones he loves."

"Yeah, I know. Mom helped me convince him. Right, Mom?" she asked, grinning at Topanga.

Topanga smiled back at Riley.

"Wait, so who's this guy that you went on a date with?" Shawn questioned.

"Lucas Friar," Maya answered, teasing Riley and making her blush.

"Well, he must be a good guy if your dad actually let you go," Shawn said, smiling to himself.

"He is," Riley answered, dreamy-eyed.

"Uh, oh," Shawn said jokingly, looking at Riley. "You'd better watch this one!" he said to Cory, laughing.

"If you think that's bad, you should see her when she's actually with him!" Maya said, laughing.

"You know," Shawn said teasingly. "She kind of reminds me of you guys…" Shawn said, gesturing toward Cory and Topanga.

Cory glared at Shawn.

"Oh, you're right. There's only room for two freaks who've loved each other their whole lives," Shawn said laughing.

"Really?" Maya said, interested. "You guys have loved each other your whole lives?" she asked, looking at Cory and Topanga.

"Well, we were raised together," Topanga said. "And we always knew we had each other," she said, looking lovingly at Cory. He leaned over to kiss her

"Ew!" Auggie yelled as he covered his eyes. Cory and Topanga started laughing.

Katy looked down and began to think about her own relationship with her ex-husband. It hadn't worked out at all. In fact, she was surprised it lasted as long as it did. Why did they stay together for their whole lives when she couldn't stay with the same man for even ten years?

Shawn also looked away sadly. Watching them did remind him of what he didn't have. Riley was right. And it had been that way for many years. He loved these people completely, but it hurt him so much to be there that it made him want to leave again. It didn't help that now Angela was coming. He would be forced to see her, probably married with kids, and witness firsthand the life that he was supposed to have.