Well, What Do Want to Do?

Between Boy Meets World and Girl Meets World. Riley is about seven years old, and Auggie is a baby.

"That's right, Bubba," Cory said as he fed his son his morning bottle. "Drink up." Cory smiled. He wasn't certain if it was a good thing or not that August Mathews had inherited Cory's very curly hair, but right now, with little Auggie snuggled up against him, he couldn't think of anything better.

"Mom, do I really have to eat this oatmeal?" Riley said with a sigh from the kitchen table.

"Riley, we've gone through this everyday this week," Topanga said from the sink as she washed the already piling morning dishes. "Yes, you need to eat your oatmeal, or you won't have enough energy for school. Now, I don't expect to explain this again."

Topanga had always scared Cory when she got aggressive like that. Images of her pushing him up against the lockers and threatening Mr. Feeny if she didn't get the grade she wanted flashed through his mind, and Cory tucked his head under his chin.

His wife was Godzilla.

Fortunately, Riley finished the rest of her oatmeal without anymore trouble, and Auggie finished his bottle. Somehow Topanga found a way to wash the bottle, and Riley and Cory's breakfast bowls before they all left for work, school, and daycare. He shouldn't have been surprised. Topanga may be Godzilla, but she was also amazing, and only become more so since she'd begun working at the law firm.

Too bad she didn't have time to give Cory a kiss before she dropped Auggie at daycare, and he left for John Quincy Adams Middle School.

OOOOOOOOOOO

Topanga didn't have time to kiss him when she got home, either. But that was understandable, wasn't it when Auggie's diaper had to be changed and dinner had to be prepared. Cory had papers to grade, anyway. Things should be better over the weekend.

OOOOOOOOOOO

Except that it wasn't better.

Topanga insisted on washing the floors Saturday afternoon, and Riley begged Cory to take her and Maya to Central Park. Cory loved seeing Riley and her friend play, and Auggie giggled as Cory pushed him in the stroller.

But the park still felt empty without Topanga's presence. Especially considering parks and playgrounds had always been "their spot." Cory's mind flashed back to the time when she encouraged him to jump from the monkey bars and when he'd given Topanga her engagement ring, and he sighed.

OOOOOOOOO

He still sighed that evening, as Topanga focused all of her energy on her next case instead of watching a movie with him. Even when she gave Auggie his evening bottle, her eyes were on her computer screen instead of Cory or The Dead Poet Society.

He loved to see Topanga focused on work or school. As Cory said in his interview for John Quincy Adams, he found her drive and intelligence inspiring. And he knew her ability to stay organized and multitask was a key to keeping their family running.

But would it kill her to fit their relationship into her schedule?

OOOOOOOOOO

That night, as they prepared for bed, Cory couldn't take it anymore. "When am I going to be a part of your schedule again, Topanga?" he said with a huff. "We could have gone to Central Park as a family, but you had to wash the floors. We could have cuddled up to The Dead Poet Society tonight, but you had to work at the same time as feeding the baby."

"Do you seriously have to be the center of attention all the time, Cory?" Topanga said, almost growling as she talked. "I'm an adult now, with responsibilities to my firm, the kids, and countless other things. Get over it.'

It was like she'd slapped him hard across his cheek.

"I'm not going to 'get over it,'" he said, screaming right in her face. "And I'm not asking to be the center of your attention all the time; I just want to be a priority in your life. We haven't even kissed goodbye or hello in a week."

Topanga lifted her head as Auggie began screaming as well. "Well, right now, Auggie is my priority, thanks to you waking him up." She all but ran out of their room, slamming the door as she disappeared.

OOOOOOOOOO

Topanga had yet to appear in their bedroom the next morning.

Fortunately, Cory found her sleeping in the living room, cuddled up with Auggie in her arms as he came out to get coffee in his bathrobe. "I'm sorry I made you stay up with the baby," he said softly to her. "Would you like some coffee?"

Both she and Auggie squirmed and stretched as they woke. "I suppose," she said with a yawn. "I've got to get a bottle ready for this one before he starts screaming again."

Topanga placed Auggie in his baby seat while she prepared his bottle. "About what we were arguing about last night. You realize I have less time because of the new baby, right?"

Cory fixed their coffee. "Yes, I know that, and I hope you know I love how you take care of him and Riley. All of us, really. And I think you do a great job at the firm, too. I just think you're trying to do… a bit too much for one person, Topanga. And our relationship ends up suffering. I miss kissing you and cuddling with you."

He poured two coffees and added milk to hers and handed it to her. Then he gave her a kiss on the cheek. The room was silent as he mixed the cream into his. He hoped this didn't lead to another argument. His Topie didn't like to be told she couldn't do everything she tried to do.

"Well, what do you want to do?" Topanga said as she gave Auggie his bottle.

Cory's heart melted that she was willing to try, and he beamed at her. "I was thinking about some kind of… hired help around the house."

Topanga paused to drink her coffee. "I don't see how that would help when Auggie is at daycare most of the day and Riley is with Maya half the time."

Cory nodded, sipping his own coffee. "I didn't necessarily mean help with the kids, although that's an option, too. Maybe hire someone to clean the apartment part-time. You know like the bathrooms or wash the floors." An image of Topanga spending all afternoon washing their floors instead of coming to Central Park with their family flashed through his mind. "I've heard a couple different people in this building have such cleaning ladies."

The room was silent for several moments, and Cory knew Topanga was weighing admitting she couldn't do everything verses making Cory happy and (hopefully) having more time with her husband. "All right," she said finally. "Let's give it a try."

Cory beamed at both her and Auggie, who had just finished his bottle and was preparing to burb. She wanted to do the same thing he did.