Topanga found Edwin Venturi completely by accident.
And by accident she meant Stuart Minkus.
She and Minkus had always had an odd relationship.
She knew that he had been enamored with her when they were children.
If Cory hadn't existed, then maybe they would have ended up together.
But as it was he did and Minkus distanced himself from the three of them and eventually disappeared from their lives completely.
That was until Topanga had her three-month sonogram and met Jennifer Basset in the waiting room as she sat there to have her confirmation sonogram.
One thing led to another and another and Minkus was back in their lives and somehow it was better for the old friends.
Cory's teasing of the other boy had been out of jealousy of Minkus' friendship with Topanga and Shawn's was out of solidarity.
But Cory had Topanga now.
And Minkus had never been that to Topanga.
Because while Cory had Shawn, Topanga had Stuart.
"So where is Cory today?" Minkus asked as the two entered Topanga's.
"I sent him to Canada." Topanga said.
Minkus snorted.
"I thought he was banned from Canada." He said.
"Just Toronto. Shawn's the one banned from the whole country."
"So why is Cory in Canada? Send him on a Tim Hortons run? Haven't you told him that there's one in New York?" Minkus said.
"Cory has this friend at work that he's adopted as his 'work wife'," Minus snorted, "that he's convinced is unhappy without her family."
Minkus nodded in understanding.
"So now he wants to fix it." He said.
"Actually it was my idea." Topanga said proudly.
"Congrats on being like your husband." Minkus deadpanned.
Topanga's face fell before she smirked.
"Does that mean you've become a monster?" She snarked.
"Only in the business world sweetheart."
The two laughed.
"Anyways I met her husband when he brought their daughter over to have a playdate with Auggie. Apparently Derek and Casey's parent got married when the two of them were teens and eventually the two of them fell in love and got married. Their parents haven't talked to them since."
Minkus whistled.
"Damn and here I thought you had a fucked up family tree."
Topanga swatted him.
"They're a lovely couple! Very much in love. I like the Venturis. I'm hoping they'll be my in-laws in the future." She said.
Minkus furrowed his brow.
"What's with the look Stuart?" Topanga asked.
That look only ever crossed his face when him and Cory or him and Shawn or all three of them were up to something.
Usually involving her.
"That last name… I'm currently courting a young mathematician in DC to come work for me. His last name is Venturi." He said finally.
"What's his first name?" Topanga asked.
"Edwin I believe. He's quite smart. Very good with numbers." Minkus said.
"Sounds like the brother that Derek described."
Derek hadn't been able to shut up about how smart Edwin was.
"Want to go see if it's him?" Minkus offered.
"You want to go to DC?" Topanga asked.
"Sure. Why let Cory and Shawn have all the fun adventures? We can take my helicopter."
Topanga loved DC.
She, however, hated college students.
Well… college students not named Josh and Andrew.
She and Minkus arrived at the apartment of one Edwin Venturi and knocked on the door.
It quickly opened and a half naked man came out.
His eyes widened at the sight of the two before he ran off.
A dark man walked lazily to the door.
"Have fun with your Republican friends! Hope they don't find out about how you really had a stick up your ass last night!" He called cheerfully.
He noticed Minkus and Topanga.
He scanned Topanga briefly before dismissing her and turning to Minkus.
"Mr. Minkus, pleasure to see you as always." He said.
Topanga let out a sound of indignation.
Minkus eyed her wearily.
"I'm afraid, Mr. Venturi, that you may have just made your last mistake." He said as he stepped back.
Edwin looked her up and down and his face turned worried.
"It is in my experience that tiny brunettes with that expression are quite dangerous." He said.
Topanga took a calming breath.
"Then stop dismissing me based on that." She said sweetly.
"Dually noted. So what's up Mr. Minkus? I didn't think we had another meeting until next month." Edwin asked.
"Edwin I would like to introduce you to my personal lawyer and personal bestie Topanga Matthews." Minkus said.
"Don't ever say that again man. You sound like a ten-year-old girl." Edwin said.
"Well I do have a few of those running around."
Topanga shook Edwin's hand.
"We're actually here on personal business." She said.
"Sorry but I'm not really into chicks this week." He said.
Topanga made a face.
"Umm no. Does the name Derek Venturi mean anything to you?"
All the color drain from Edwin's face.
"Is something wrong with him?" Edwin demanded.
"Nothing is wrong with Derek." Topanga assured gently.
Edwin let out a breath.
"Thank god. Do… do you know where he is?" Edwin asked.
Topanga nodded.
"He's living in New York."
Edwin sat on the ground.
"Your telling me that all this time he's been an hour away?" He asked numbly.
Topanga sat next to him.
"He misses you you know." She said.
Edwin looked at the ground.
"I spent every day of the last seven years wondering where he was and I never even bothered to look." He said.
"He has a good life." Topanga said.
Edwin opened his mouth but was cut off by his phone ringing.
He looked at it and groaned.
"Damn it Liz." He cursed as he answered the phone.
He was silent for a minute before screaming, "What did you do?"
He sighed and rubbed his eyes.
"I'll be there in ten."
He stood.
"I'm afraid I need to cut this short but I have to go bail my stepsister out of jail. She got arrested at a protest."
It sounded like it wasn't the first time he had to do so.
Topanga's eye lit up and Minkus groaned.
That look only came on her face when she found a new cause.
"Good thing you have a lawyer on hand."