Author's Note: Hi all! Here is the next chapter! Riley has now started school and meets a new friend… who could it be?

CHAPTER FIVE

It had been six years since Riley's birth, she had started school and was quite an outgoing child so they had no worries she wasn't going to make friends.

Topanga's career was continuing to flourish, Cory's as well as he finally qualified to become a middle school teacher. They'd also finally saved enough money to move out of their 'crappy' two bedroom apartment and into a lovely apartment complex, three large bedrooms and plenty of space for them all. They were finally happy.

Topanga went to pick Riley off, having the afternoon off for a change and Riley bounced out of school with a beaming smile.

"Mommy! Mommy!" Young Riley called out, causing a smile of her own to come out, "can my friend, Maya come round for a playdate tonight?" Topanga nodded, of course she wouldn't say no to her first playdate.

"Of course, Riley. I need to talk to her mom first, do you know where she is?" Riley nodded and took her mom's hand, leading her to Maya and her mother.

She took notice of the blonde mother, wearing a diner outfit and the little blonde girl who seemed slightly shy.

"This is Maya, mommy." Topanga smiled at the little blonde girl.

"It's very nice to meet you, Maya." Maya smiled shyly at her.

Topanga looked up at the mother, "are you Maya's mother?" She questioned.

"Yes, hi I'm Katy." She held out a hand and Topanga shook the offered hand.

"Topanga. Nice to meet you." She replied and changed the subject, "I assume Maya's told you about the playdate she wants to have with Riley?"

Katy nodded and smiled, "she has, you'd be doing me a huge favour actually as my husband was called into work and I have to go straight to work."

Topanga nodded, "well rest assured Maya is welcome in our house anytime."

Katy smiled gratefully and then bent down to say goodbye to Maya.

"Now babygirl, be good for Topanga and Riley. I'll pick you up at seven, okay?"

Maya nodded, "okay mommy." Katy hugged her daughter and kissed her on the cheek and stood up again, Topanga had given her a piece of paper.

"It has my address on so you know where to collect Maya." Katy smiled gratefully and said a final goodbye to them all, making her way hastily to work.

Topanga was wondering if she would've taken Maya to work with her, if she had, how long would she have stayed awake for before being home?

She shook her head of the thought and took Riley's hand and held out a hand for Maya to take which she did after a moment.

"So, what do you both want to do when we get home?" Topanga asked during their walk.

Maya surprisingly was the first to answer, "I want to play dress up." She said all giddy.

"Yeah, mommy. Can we?" Riley asked with puppy dog eyes that made Topanga cave every time.

"Of course, Riley, you have boxes of dress up in your room that you can use."

"Can we play with your clothes as well mommy?" Riley asked once again with the puppy dog eyes and Topanga caved.

The trio finally arrived home and Cory was already home, making dinner for the three of them not realising there was another mouth to feed.

"Daddy!" Riley shouted as soon as the door opened and Cory lifted the girl into his arms, hugging her tightly. "I made a new friend!" She announced.

Cory feigned shock, "you did?" Riley nodded, "what's their name?" He asked.

"Maya, she's right behind me daddy." Riley pointed out and Cory looked over and saw a small girl standing waiting for Riley to come play.

"I see," Cory said, "well, it's nice to meet you Maya." He greeted.

She smiled, "can we go play now Riley?" Maya asked, making Cory chuckle and Topanga smile.

"Sure," she said to Maya before turning back to her father, "can you put me down now daddy?" The little brunette girl asked.

Cory complied, "of course Princess Riley." He said, making her giggle.

She and Maya then ran off to her bedroom to play with the toys while Topanga walked over to Cory and gave him a hug.

"So," he began as he pulled away from his wife, "playdate, huh?"

"You don't mind do you?" She asked.

Cory shook his head, "not at all. It'll be nice for Riley to have friends and learn to share." He added, making Topanga smile, "because she'll have to start learning very very soon." He finished, placing a hand over his wife's stomach.

"I know, I know." She said, "when do you think the best time to tell her is?" The lawyer questioned.

Cory shrugged, "when is the best time to tell your child they're having a younger sibling?"

"Good point," Topanga began, "maybe we should tell her once Maya goes home." She suggested.

Cory went over to set the table with Topanga's help, "about that. What time is she staying with us until?"

"Her mom said she'd pick Maya up at seven." Cory nodded, "I'll call the girls in for dinner," she started walking when she stopped and turned back, "you have made enough for all of us, right?"

Cory nodded, "of course. I always cook too much food anyways."

"Fair point." She replied and headed off to Riley's bedroom to get the two girls.

The girls came bouncing into the room and Cory helped both girls to wash their hands prior to dinner. Maya seemed to be quite relaxed around Cory, maybe it was his charm.

They all sat at the dinner table, digging into their food. Maya seemed to not know how to use utensils properly, but then again she was only six. She had years to learn.

Cory opted to make conversation, "so, Maya," he called, grabbing her attention, "how're you liking your school?" He asked, taking another bite of his food.

"It's good. Esept for the learning." She said, making both parents chuckle at her bluntness and how cutely she said 'except'.

The conversation went on for a while longer until they had all finished at the table and it ended with Cory making Maya and Riley laugh to the point they couldn't breathe.

Topanga ushered the girls off to Riley's bedroom to play some more and Topanga cleared the table with the help of Cory.

"Maya's really something, isn't she?" Cory said, breaking the silence.

"She is," Topanga replied, "I'm not sure how much attention she gets at home though."

Cory furrowed his brow, "how do you mean?" He asked.

Topanga shrugged, "she just seemed so distant with her mom, or maybe it was just her excitement to have a playdate with Riley."

"Maybe." Was his reply.

They continued washing the dishes until collapsing on the couch, Cory cuddling Topanga while caressing her stomach much like he did when she was pregnant with Riley.

It was nearing seven and they laid there waiting for the doorbell to ring to see Maya off home, but no one rang. Time had passed, it was now nearing eight. Topanga was beginning to worry as Cory had already put Riley down to sleep which meant Maya had to sit with Topanga while he did that.

She sat there though, watching the television. Topanga noticed her eyes seemed to be getting heavier. It seemed she went through this a lot, from the way she was.

Cory soon re entered the room and sat down on the other side of Maya.

He mouthed to Topanga, 'has she called?'

Topanga shook her head and Cory turned to Maya, "Maya, sweetie." She turned to look at him, "do you have your mom's number?" She shook her head. "Does she usually finish late?"

Maya shrugged and Topanga called her name, "what time do you usually go to bed, honey?"

"Depends if my mommy or daddy is looking after me." Maya told her and Topanga looked over at Cory who had the same disturbed look.

'Was Maya getting properly taken care of?' They both wondered.

It wasn't too long later before the doorbell had rung, Topanga got up to answer the door and Katy entered, full of apologies.

"I am so sorry, my shift finished later than expected-." She cut herself off when she felt two small arms wrap around her legs, she leaned down and picked Maya up, cradling her in her arms. "Did you have fun, sweetie?" Maya nodded and rested her head on her mothers shoulder. Her eyes began to close.

"Well, thank you for having her." Katy said.

Topanga smiled, "don't mention it, she's welcome any time."

It was at this moment that Katy looked across the room and saw Cory Matthews. Her expression immediately changed from happy to horrified.

"Cory?" Katy called.

Topanga looked over at her husband who seemed shocked, "do you two know each other?" She asked, looking between them.

Katy shook her head, "no. No we don't." She turned to Topanga, "I think it's best Maya doesn't come here again. We best be going." Topanga blocked her path though.

"Hold on," she began, continuing to look between them, "we all need to talk."

Katy was looking at Cory who kept his gaze on the floor, "no we don't. There's nothing to say."

"Give Maya to me, she can stay in Riley's room while we talk." Katy was reluctant to give Topanga her daughter, all she wanted to do was turn around and never step foot in their apartment again. She shook her head and rubbed her daughters back as her breathing got heavier.

"You really want Maya to hear everything we're going to say?" She asked, quirking her brow. Katy looked at her almost nervously, and soon carefully handed over her blonde daughter. Topanga wrapped her arms around her and carried her to Riley's room, laying her down carefully on the bed and lifting the extra blanket over her.

She stood back and for a moment studied the child's face for a moment.

'Could she really be Cory's other daughter?'

She shook her head and headed back into the room to find the two standing in awkwardness.

"I'll ask again, how do you two know each other?" She asked and neither answered so she turned to Cory, "is she the one, Cory?"

He looked at his wife and nodded guilty.

Topanga couldn't form words as she was beginning to take it all in. Cory's other daughter was with their daughter, sleeping in the same bed. She looked over at Katy, "why did you write 'Sarah' on the picture if you called her Maya?" She wondered.

Katy stuttered a response, "I thought if I told Cory her real name, he would try to find her…" she trailed off at the look on the couples face and shook her head. "This was a bad idea, I should go." Katy exclaimed, going to get Maya.

"No." Cory said simply, she turned to look at him as did Topanga.

"Excuse me?"

"I didn't get my say all those years ago, but I do now." Cory stated.

Katy stood taller and waited for him to continue. This was where he grew nervous, but Topanga walked over to him and held his hand. She was doing this for him, no matter how crazy the situation was.

"I'm willing to compromise." Cory stated.

Katy raised her brow, "how so?"

Cory sighed, "if I continue as I am, never tell Maya that I'm her father, then you have to let Riley continue to see Maya." Katy looked at him in shock as did Topanga. She for sure thought he'd want Maya to know who he was.

"So you're willing to sacrifice knowing your daughter just so they can be friends?" Katy asked and he nodded his head. "Why?"

"Because, this way I still get to see my little girl grow up. Even if she doesn't know who I am, at least I will." Cory clarified.

"Are you sure, Cory?" Topanga asked from beside him.

Cory looked at her and gave her a sad smile before turning back to Katy, "it's been six years already. What's the rest of her life?"

Katy thought for a moment before hastily nodding, "okay. Maya can continue to see Riley."

Cory smiled, "thank you, Katy."

She nodded once, "I should get Maya and go."

"I'll get her." Topanga said and wandered to Riley's room leaving Cory and Katy alone to talk.

"Why are you willing to risk not knowing Maya for the sake of a friendship?" She asked.

Cory shrugged, "friendship to me was worth everything. I want that for Riley and for Maya. They will have each other now, sisters or not, they will have their bond for life."

Katy nodded and Topanga reappeared with Maya, passing her gently to Katy who mumbled a thanks.

She then left not long after that and Topanga walked over to Cory.

"Are you sure about this?" The lawyer asked.

Cory shook his head, "but they'll have each other. That's what they need, someone to rely on. I am going to make it my life's goal to be a father to Maya even if she doesn't know I am her dad."

Topanga smiles sadly and gives him a kiss on the cheek, "I'm heading to bed, you coming?" Cory nodded and took her offered hand to their bedroom. The only thing they did was cuddle the second they got into bed and fall asleep in the other's arms.

Thank you for reading! Riley has made a new friend, and it's Maya! Who was