It had been a week of Maya living with them, and Cory rolled into that Monday, feeling confident. That confidence only lasted until lunch, when he got an email from the girls gym teacher asking if him or Topanga could meet after work that day. Topanga must have been checking her email at the same time because his phone lit up.
"What do you think this is about?" She asked right away.
"Hello to you too, Darling." Cory joked.
"I'm sorry. Hello Cory, did you get the email from the girls gym teacher asking us to meet with him?" Topanga asked, frustrated.
"I did, I'm not sure what's up though." Cory told her. "I can check with Maya when her and Riley come in for history at the end of the day."
"Why would he not include what needs to be discussed?" Topanga asked.
"Because most parents won't come if they feel like they know all the information." Cory told her.
Topanga sighed in frustration. "I have a meeting at 430, so I will need to come right back to the office after, but I can be there."
"Okay, Honey, I will see you then." Cory told her. Hanging up. He resisted he urge to not email his friend back asking for a heads up, and just ate his lunch.
The girls came in for their second to last class of the day. "Maya," Cory called as everyone was taking their seats, "Come here for a second."
She walked up to his desk, and hesitated. "Yes?"
"Anything you want to tell me about your day?" Cory asked her.
Maya searched her mind for what could be wrong. "I don't think so."
"Anything happen in gym?" Cory asked.
Maya looked really confused by that. "No Sir."
"Your gym coach emailed me, and asked if Topanga and I can meet with him after school."
"I really don't know why." Maya promised him.
"Okay, Honey, well meet me here after your last class today and we will go see him together." Cory told her.
"Do I have to?" Maya asked.
"Yes ma'am. Topanga will be here when the bell rings." Cory told her.
"Aunt Topanga is coming?" Maya whined.
"Of course she is coming, one of your teachers wants to have a discussion with us." Cory told her.
Maya turned around to see Riley's concerned face. "Can Riley come?"
Cory wanted to say no at first, but also wanted Maya to feel safe. "If you don't mind her being there, then that's fine."
"Thank you." Maya went back to her seat and Cory started the lecture.
After school both girls walked to Cory's room. "Hey girls!" Topanga said, trying to keep her voice light. She pulled both girls in for a hug, "Alright are we ready to go?"
"Yes, Ma'am." Both girls said. The group of four walked down to the guys office by the gym.
"Coach!" Cory greeted.
"Hey, Matthews, good to see you." Coach Gleason said, standing to shake Topanga's hand. "Hey girls."
"Hi." They both said softly.
Cory and Topanga sat down in the chairs, and each pulled a girl in next to them. "So I know that Maya's living arrangements have shifted a little, and I wanted to talk to you as her current guardians."
"Of course, we want to be up to date in anything with the girls lives." Topanga assured him.
"Well, the volleyball and soccer seasons are starting, and I was wondering if Maya would be interested in joining either sport…" Coach Gleason told them.
Relief broke across Mayas face at the proclamation, "I don't have the money for that, is that all?"
Everyone in the room was taken aback by Maya's abruptness. Topanga pulled the girl around the side of the chair and into her lap. "Hush."
"I know that you haven't had the money before, but you have a real athletic gift, and I was hoping with the change in living arrangements…" He let it trail off awkwardly.
"That sounds fun Maya!" Riley said excitedly.
"I don't want to have to go to practice after school; I want to hang out with you and Farkle." Maya said.
"When are tryouts?" Topanga asked.
"Volleyball is Tomorrow and Wednesday, and Soccer is Thursday and Friday." He told them. "With budget cuts to the district, Coach Web is coaching both, and that's the case with many schools, so practices and games shouldn't overlap, if she wanted to try both."
"I don't even want to do one, why would I do both?" Maya grumbled.
Topanga leaned down to whisper in Maya's ear, "Enough. Apologize."
"I'm sorry Coach Gleason, I don't mean to be rude." Maya told him softly.
"I understand, Maya. That's all I wanted to put out there." He said, standing to let them know the conversation was over.
They walked back to Cory's classroom, and the second Cory had shut the door, Topanga spun Maya around and landed 3 swats to her bottom. "You know better than to disrespect a teacher like that, Maya Penelope."
"I'm sorry." Maya whined.
Topanga kissed her forehead, "I need to get back to work, but I want you to have your homework done and be ready to talk about this sports thing."
Cory waited for Topanga to back off, he needed her to calm down a little bit. "Do you two want to come with me to go get Auggie, or do you want to go home?"
"Home." Maya said, wanting to avoid a conversation.
"Alright, I will see you both soon."
"Homework, and chores." Topanga told them.
"Are we in trouble?" Riley asked.
"Of course not!" Topanga said, sounding surprised.
"Our curfew isn't until six, why do we have to go home and do our homework and chores right away?" Riley asked.
Topanga looked at the two confused girls, and shook her head. "You don't. I got caught up in checking things off of my mental checklist, I'm sorry." She kissed the top of Maya's head, pulled Riley in to do the same, and then kissed Cory's lips before heading out the door to be back at work.
"Are you sure it's okay for us to go out Uncle Cory?" Maya asked.
"Yes Honey, just make sure you two are home on time." Cory told them.
At six on the dot both girls came through the door and started on their chores, Cory made dinner while the three kids cleaned and when Topanga came home thirty minutes later she was able to just wash her hands and sit down. Dinner and homework went quickly and by 715 all three kids were laying in front of the tv.
"Why don't we go for a family walk?" Topanga suggested. The three kids looked over but showed no signs of moving. "We could walk down to the toy store. They should still be open." She tried again. Cory looked up from where he was grading papers to see what his wife's angle was.
"Yay!" Auggie said, jumping up.
"I'm saving for that keyboard, I don't want to spend any money." Maya told her.
"I'm soooo comfy." Riley responded.
"Alright then, I'm not asking, we are going on a walk." Topanga informed them, picking up the remote and turning the TV off.
"That's not fair!" Riley argued. "We did our chores and our homework. Its time to do what we want."
Maya watched anger starting to form on Topanga's face. She rolled off of the couch and pulled on Riley's arm. "Come on, let's go put our shoes on."
"Maya!" Riley argued.
"Riley…" Maya said slowly, "Do you want to get a spanking…" She put one hand out, "Or go to the toy store?" She put the other out, weighing them. "Is this really a question?"
"Fine." Riley sighed, standing as well.
"Thank you, Maya," Topanga said, pulling the girl into a hug, "You are a great big sister." The girls went to go grab their shoes. "Are you coming?" She asked Cory.
"What's your end game here?" Cory asked her.
"Don't you think we should be more active as a family?" Topanga asked him.
"I don't think hounding Maya about this sports thing is the right way to go about this Topanga." Cory told her.
"Are you coming or not?" Topanga asked.
"WHOA!" Auggie said coming out of his room, where he had grabbed his wallet. "That was a mean tone you used with Daddy."
"It was," Cory agreed, shooting his wife a frown.
"I'm sorry." Topanga said, walking over and kissing her husband.
"Uh huh." Cory said disbelieving. He stood up right as the girls came out. "Are we ready to go?"
"Ready!" Auggie cheered, the girls nodded.
The quick walk was filled with Auggie chattering in excitement at the routine break. The girls walked a little behind everyone else quietly.
When they got to the store Auggie and Cory went one direction, Riley and Maya went another and Topanga bee lined for the balls. She picked up a soccer ball and a volleyball before walking over to the girls. "What are you two looking at?"
Both girls turned around and their expressions quickly changed when they saw what she was holding. "Mom." Riley said.
"Aunt Topanga, I do not want to do sports." Maya told her firmly.
"I think that you should give it a try." Topanga told her.
"Well, I don't." Maya said flatly.
"Okay, well let me clear this up for you, I expect you to be at both tryouts, and to join at least one team." Topanga growled.
"And if I don't?" Maya asked, crossing her arms. Cory walked up with Auggie then. He had picked out the Yo-Yo trick book that he had been saving for.
"If you don't then you can just stick around the apartment instead of going out with your friends after school during the season." Topanga told her.
"Honey…" Cory started.
"Mom!" Riley said outraged, she knew coming here was a bad idea.
"Those are your choices, Maya." Topanga told her, walking over to pay for the balls.
Maya turned to walk out of the store, she needed space. "Maya!" Cory called. "Don't go out there, it's dark."
She growled in frustration. She missed having her space, but she stood obediently by the door. They walked back in silence to the apartment. While Cory and Topanga put Auggie to bed, Maya and Riley showered. Cory was surprised to see them sitting in their PJs in the bay window at 830. "It's early girls."
"We just want to talk tonight, Dad." Riley told him.
Cory sighed, but walked over and sat in between the two, "I know that you are both upset about how today has happened…"
"Why is mom being so crazy about this?" Riley asked.
"First, she's competitive, and second I think she sees a lot of herself in Maya and wants her to have the world." Cory told them.
"But that isn't the world I want." Maya said.
"How do you know that Maya, you've never gotten to explore that world." Cory told her.
Maya pulled her knees up to her chin and thought about that. "I guess that's true."
"Can we say goodnight now, Daddy?" Riley asked.
"Yeah, Honey, but when I knock on the door, I expect you two to crawl into bed and go to sleep." He told them.
"Yes Sir." Riley reached over and hugged her dad. "Goodnight Daddy."
"Goodnight, Uncle Cory." Maya said, still hugging her legs.
He kissed the top of her head, "Goodnight girls, I will send in Mommy."
"No, I don't want to see her." Riley said stubbornly.
Maya rested her chin on her knees and waited to see what Cory would say. "Riley, none of that. I am sending her in to say goodnight, or you can go to bed now with a sore bottom. Which is it?"
"Fine." Riley said.
"I'm getting really tired of hearing that word." Cory told her as he walked out of her room.
Topanga walked in a few moments later, she didn't look too thrilled to be there. "I heard you guys are saying goodnight early."
"Yes ma'am." Riley said cooly. Maya stayed quiet and watched her aunt.
Topanga walked over and kissed the top of both girls heads, "I love you both, and I will see you in the morning." She paused and tugged softly on Maya's hair. "I'm not trying to be the enemy here Maya, but I will be if means you have more opportunities."
Maya sighed, "I don't want to play sports."
"Why not?" Topanga asked.
"Because I want to spend time with Riley after school." Maya said.
"You are living here now, you see Riley literally all the time, in fact, it may keep the two of you from fighting." Topanga told her.
"And when I'm not living here anymore?" Maya asked.
Cory had been standing in the door way making sure things were going smoothly, and the question broke his heart a little. Topanga sat where Cory had just vacated. "I can almost promise you that you will be here through this sports season."
"We haven't really checked in with how you feel about that…" Cory said.
Maya felt tears sting the back of her eyes, she missed her mom, but Katy hadn't even called, and she wasn't answering Maya's calls either. She shook her head though, not allowing herself to go there. "What if my mom wants me back before then and I have to quit?"
"It's not about what she wants anymore, its about what you need." Topanga told her.
"But I don't need to do sports." Maya pleaded.
"I want you to at least try." Topanga told her. "Can you do that?"
"No." Maya said firmly. She stood up to put some space between her and the adults, walking over to her side of the bed.
Topanga stood up; she was beyond frustrated that this was a fight. She knew if Maya just gave it a chance, she would love it. "I'm not asking then. I am telling you that your behind better be at tryouts everyday this week."
Cory sighed. This didn't need to be a fight in his mind. "I'm not going." Maya told her.
"You do not tell me what you will or will not be doing, little girl." Topanga told her.
"Let's sleep on this." Cory told them both.
"I don't need to." Topanga said. "If I have to leave work to go to the tryout and make sure you are there, then I will."
"I won't be there." Maya threatened.
"I will walk you from your last class." Topanga said.
"I won't be there then." Maya challenged, crossing her arms.
"Maya." Cory cut in. "Not going to class is not an option, and you know that."
"Extreme times call for extreme measures." Maya said, lifting her chin in defiance.
"You're right Maya Penelope, you see what happens if your butt isn't at school or tryouts. This is not something you want to try me on little girl." Topanga growled.
"Yeah, God forbid you become unreasonable." Maya said.
"Hey!" Cory called before things really spiraled. "Topanga lets go, it's time to cool off Honey. Girls when I knock on the door?"
"Go to bed." They both said.
"Good. See you at breakfast." He waited for Topanga to walk out and then shut the door behind them.
Riley waited a second, "You are going to school tomorrow, right?"
Maya sat on the bed, frowning. "I'm not sure."
"Maya you will be in so much trouble if you don't go. Like so much trouble."
"I know. I probably will." Maya lied.
"Do you really not want to be in sports that badly?" Riley asked. "I mean you are good at it."
"I just don't want more pressure." Maya told her honestly.
"I think you should at least try it." Riley told her.
"I hear you." Maya said. "Can we go to sleep?"
Riley sighed, "sure Peaches."
When Cory came to check on them at nine -thirty both girls were passed out.
The next morning he made sure to be up and making breakfast in case anyone else woke up early. Maya was up first, as usual. He heard her in the kids bathroom, and waited for her to come out.
"Hey," she said softly.
"Hey, Honey, do you want some scrambled eggs?" He asked.
"Yes please." Maya said, sitting at the table. She could hear Riley moving around and wanted her to come out before Topanga did. Cory sat a plate with toast and eggs in front of the girl, omitting the bacon. He sat down with his own full plate. "Are you going to drive me to school?"
Cory kept eating, looking down at his plate for a moment. "Do I need to?"
"I don't want to go to tryouts." Maya told him.
Cory nodded at that, "If you can believe it, I heard that loud and clear last night." Maya smiled at that. "What would be wrong with trying out?"
"I don't want to spend every day at practice." Maya said.
"Well, that feels like a problem to worry about if you make the team. Right now we just want you to try out." Cory told her.
"Why do you want me to tryout, if I don't have to play?" Maya asked.
"I just want you to broaden your horizons." Cory told her.
Topanga came into the room then. "Hey." She said softly.
"Hey." Maya said back.
Topanga made up two plates of food and set one on at Riley's place and one at Auggie's place before making a plate and sitting down herself, "Can we call a truce?"
"Yes please!" Maya said.
"Good. What are we going to do about this problem?" Topanga asked.
"Is it really that important to you that I do this?" Maya asked.
"It really is." Topanga said, as Auggie and Riley came to the table.
"Then I guess I can at least go to tryouts, but if it's awful and I don't want to go tomorrow then I shouldn't have to." Maya said, offering up a compromise.
"How about you go to all four days of tryouts and if you hate it, then you don't have to play the season, my little lawyer?" Topanga asked.
"What if…I do volleyball tryouts and I hate it, then I don't have to do soccer?" Maya bartered, actually enjoying the back and forth.
Topanga paused, thinking about that, "Last offer…if you do not make the volleyball team, you do not have to tryout for soccer, but you have to try Maya."
She knew it was the best offer she was getting. "Okay, deal. But I don't have to join a team."
"We will cross that bridge if we come to it." Topanga told her.
"Are you going to come to school and walk me there?" Maya asked.
"Are you going to go to practice on your own?" Topanga asked back.
"Yes ma'am." Maya said.
"Then no, but I want to hear all about it at dinner." Topanga told her.
"Deal." Maya said.
"Thank goodness," Auggie sighed, ready to be done with the tension.
"You're telling me buddy." Cory agreed.