He's the Only One for Me

Between Boy Meets World and Girl Meets World. Riley is a toddler.

Topanga gathered her things after her last class of the day, wishing she didn't have to go home to a whiny Riley. Topanga loved her daughter, but Riley was at the age where she threw a tantrum every time, she didn't get her way.

It was a lot to deal with after a day of law school and her morning at Brown and Elliot. Or even half a day of law school and half of a day of waiting on customers at Svorki's bakery. "Topanga," said her classmate, Mike from behind her. "You look like you could use a break. How about stopping at Starbucks before we go home tonight?"

Topanga sighed, looking longingly towards the Starbucks on campus. "I wish I could, but I promised my husband I'd be home as soon as my class finished. Our daughter is a bit of a handful right now." She readjusted the briefcase on her shoulder.

"Come on, don't let your husband control you like that," Mike said, standing directly in front of her. "You deserve a break."

Scoffing, Topanga shook her head at the absurdity of that statement. "Cory isn't controlling me. In fact, he's usually fine with letting me make most of our decisions." Despite how weary she was right now, Topanga heart warmed at that.

Mike shook his head, still not moving. He dressed in a suit, and his briefcase hung at his shoulder, but he almost reminded her of a brick wall. Did he really think she would be intimidated that easily?

"Okay, but have you thought maybe there is more to your life than your baby?" he said a bit too carefully.

She had a feeling this was another guy who thought she and Cory had gotten married just because she had gotten pregnant. "I know there is more to life than Riley, that's why I'm in law school. But she's still an important part of my life." Topanga considered walking away from this idiot, but she hated to walk away from an argument.

Especially one she knew she could win, as it was about her and Cory.

Mike also apparently refused to walk away from an argument. "Of course, your daughter is important, and I should never have implied otherwise," his voice grew softer, but Topanga knew better than to believe him. Lulling someone into a false sense of security was a great way to build an argument. Did Mike truly think she didn't recognize what he was doing? "And if your daughter is that important, have you thought about how you'll pay for her needs as she becomes older? It would be a lot easier on two lawyer's salaries than one."

Topanga scoffed again. "I know teachers are underpaid, but I think Cory and I can handle it without him becoming a lawyer himself."

"A teacher," Mike said calmly, nodding his head. "That's a nice profession, but I wonder if you don't deserve someone with a more prestigious career. You're one of the smartest ones in our class, and I hope your husband doesn't bore you."

Sighing, Topanga wondered if people would ever stop thinking she was "too good" for Cory. When they had been teenagers, a lot of boys seemed to think she should date someone better-looking, which she thought was ridiculous as he was one of the most handsome men she'd ever known. Now that they were older, people often thought Topanga should be with someone smarter.

It didn't matter. She knew the truth.

"Cory doesn't bore me," Topanga said as she cracked her knuckles in excitement, knowing she would win this argument soon. "I actually love how humble he is, especially compared to those egotistical jerks I've gone to school with." Her mind flashed to boys who thought all they had to do was smile and she'd come running. Or men, she added to herself, as Mike grinned, apparently still expecting her to fall at his feet. Ugh.

"And Cory is actually smarter than people realize, especially since he's gotten his teaching certificate." A soft smile spread across her face as she remembered how Cory started earning "B"s their senior year in high school, and how he was praised for being such a great teacher by when he did his student teaching. "And he doesn't mind that I'm more intelligent than he is, which I know would be intimidating for a lot of guys. Furthermore, he's always helped me relax when I put too much pressure on myself. Most importantly, he's the best father in the world."

Topanga's heart swelled as she thought of Cory with Riley. She was looking forward to seeing them both a lot more than she'd thought tonight.

"Okay, but I still don't see why we can't stop at Starbucks for one cup of coffee," Mike said, his light blond hair flopping in his face in a way that made him look like a bigger idiot than he already was.

"I do," Topanga said firmly. "My husband is the only one for me, and now I cannot wait to see him." With that, she ran towards the subway entrance.