Potentially Explosive

Disclaimer: An idea of mine where instead of ending up with Topanga, Cory ended up with Theresa T.K. Keiner instead. Plus, an excuse to do something funny and actually bring this fic out of the mothballs and the like for the first time in awhile.

Summary: Riley finally asks her dad a very important question regarding certain things she's noticed regarding him.

"Daddy?" Began Riley Keiner-Matthews in a low voice as she leaned towards him while it was just her and him at the dinner table.

Her mother off showing something or other to a new neighbor with a kid of their own that Riley and her friends had recently befriended. "Yeah, sweetheart?"

"You're doing that thing again."

Confusedly, he asked her what she meant by that. "You know, that thing where you look sweaty and nervous while mom's talking with someone new. As if you're expecting something bad to happen at any minute."

Sure, she knew her dad could be a little high strung at times but it was like he took it to a whole other level when they had new people around her mother. There had even been times when her dad made remarks that he was so glad she hadn't inherited her mom's temper. Which confused her as Riley had never seen her mom have a temper! "What!? That's, that's crazy talk! I'm not, I'm not doing that!" Protested Cory as he looked around nervously to ensure Theresa wasn't near by.

Unfortunately for him, his little girl just gave him a look that told him she wasn't buying that one bit. "See!? You're looking around like a crazy person!" Riley declared knowingly.

Causing him to sigh in defeat. "Riley, my sweet Riley. It is time you know of a secret about your mother. One that has made me nervous on many an occasion and why your Uncle Shawn chose to end up living with your Aunt Katy instead of us."

"I thought it was because he fell in love with her and the Stork brought them Maya because of that love?"

"Well, there's that too." He quickly told her.

Sensing doubt from his daughter, Cory quickly hurried on. "Riley… Your mother… She, she has an explosive temper. And it usually only comes out whenever something doesn't go exactly the way she wants it or if someone really pushes her buttons. Anger Management has tried and failed on more then one occasion to cure this condition of her's."

Cory had to shudder as he thought of the last therapist that had tried working with his wife on her problem. And how that had ended up with the poor guy needing years of physical therapy just to walk again. Cory had long suspected her temper had formed due to the abandonment her father had caused her and it was believed by past therapists that if she were ever to confront the man, that temper would finally fade away. Theresa had on occasion made searches for her father but quickly gave up each time as she felt fearful of what might happen. And he'd been there to hold her each time and of course, be a little nervous of what she might do while the thought of that man was at the fore front of her mind. Which was why he had been quietly looking into her dad's whereabouts with help from Eric and Harley. That was one of the reasons Theresa had bonded so well with Shawn, and later, Katy Hart. Now Katy Hart-Hunter. This was also why she bonded pretty well with Maya and even Lucas much to Cory's shock. Not that Riley really knew any of that as certain stories had been told about how Maya came to be where Shawn and Katy were concerned.

"Seriously?" Asked Riley finally after several seconds of silent shock and surprise.

"Yep! Mind blowing isn't it? Especially since you didn't get that trait from your mother!"

Though he personally thought it had to do with the fact that they had turned to one of their best friends, Topanga Lawrence to be a surrogate for them as complications at the time had kept Theresa from getting pregnant. "Definitely mind blowing." Agreed the girl as the schemer in her wondered if her mom would be up to a little pranking fun where her dad was concerned…

Author's Notes: Oh my, that's probably not good for Cory!