You're Important, Too

A couple of years after Girl Meets World ends.

Topanga stared at Riley, still trying to wrap her mind around the idea that Riley and Lucas had broken up. How could she not have seen this coming? When Riley suggested the three of them sit at her bay window, Topanga knew it would be something important, but she never expected this. Wasn't she supposed to notice everything and be prepared for anything?

Cory, on the other hand, wasted no time in responding. "I can't believe that kid," he said, shaking his head. "I thought he was a good one, and I was really trying to trust him. But then he breaks my daughter's heart." Cory's voice grew louder and louder until Auggie peaked into Riley's room with a concerned look on the boy's face.

"Dad, don't," Riley said, in her my-dad-is-overreacting-again voice. Ordinarily, Topanga might meet her daughter's eyes in understanding, as Cory's tendency to overreact was something she'd dealt with for most of her life. But tonight, Topanga was still struggling to understand why she hadn't noticed that Riley and Lucas were headed towards breaking up.

Certainly, she'd had a couple of big cases in the last two months, but she hadn't lost touch with her family that much, had she?

"Lucas didn't 'break my heart', honestly." Riley said. "We made a mutual agreement to just be friends. We should have broken up earlier, as it hasn't been feeling right for a while, but we were both afraid. I was…sort of scared of being alone again," she admitted, ducking her head.

"But honey, you aren't alone," Topanga said immediately, hurt that Riley would ever think otherwise. "You have us. And Maya, and the rest of your friends."

"And you'll always have us," Cory said, engulfing Riley in a big bear hug. Topanga joined in from the other side.

"And me!" Auggie said, running into the room to connect with the group hug.

Riley smiled at each member of her family in turn. "Thanks. I appreciate what you're doing, and I love you, but that's not what I meant. Me and Lucas as a couple… it was what I wanted for so long, you know? And it's comfortable. I don't what to do without that."

Riley had more confidence than Cory did as a teen, but sometimes she still reminded Topanga so much of her husband. Their daughter was struggling with a big change.

"That's understandable," she said, patting Riley's shoulder. "Give some time, and soon you'll be ready to date other boys."

Cory gave Topanga a horrified look at that, but Topanga pressed on. She was still reeling from the fact that she hadn't expected this breakup, but surely Topanga could still give her daughter advice on how to deal with it. "Of course, sometimes it's better to have just girl time for a while. Lots of girls enjoy rocky road ice cream at times like these, too.

"I could run out and get some right away," Cory said, brightening a little. Topanga's heart warmed, knowing how often he'd bought her ice cream over the years.

"No, Dad. I think I'd rather spend the night at Maya's, actually." Cory's face fell, and Topanga's heart dropped more than she'd expected. Their daughter didn't want their help through her first break – up?

Topanga forced a smile on her face and nodded. Riley was what was important now. If she wanted Maya, she could have Maya.

"And Dad," Riley said as she stood up. "Lucas said the main thing he was nervous about was your reaction to our break-up. So, promise me you'll remember it was a mutual agreement."

Cory scowled. But in the end, he nodded. "I promise."

OOOOOOOOOO

Cory drove Riley to Maya's for their "girls night" and Topanga stared at her computer screen, unable to concentrate on her latest case. Her mind flashed back to Riley and Lucas in the last couple of months. Eating snacks at the bakery after school. Hanging out in the Mathew's living room on weekends. Cory yelling at them for sitting too closely.

How could Topanga not have noticed that things were changing between them? Shouldn't she have been able to see that their spark was gone?

Shaking her head, Topanga focused her eyes on the computer screen again. She had a knew case that needed her attention. But somehow, all she could see was Riley's defeated face when she told them she and Lucas had broken up. And then her daughter said she'd rather spend the night at Maya's.

Even the sound of Auggie's latest favorite television show couldn't divert Topanga's attention from Riley's break-up.

"I still can't believe it," Cory's voice suddenly said from behind, and Topanga almost jumped. Had she been so lost in her thoughts she didn't even hear him come home? "Every instinct tells me I should yell at Lucas for breaking Riley's heart like that… but she swears he didn't, even though she's clearly not happy."

"Maya will help her," Topanga said, trying to sound more confident than she felt. "Teenagers need their friends more than their parents."

Cory shook his head as he sat next to her at the table. "But we should be able to help her."

Topanga nodded. "I still don't understand why I didn't see this coming. I knew for months before Lucas asked her out that they liked each other. I knew when Auggie stopped being afraid of the monster under his bed way before he told us it wasn't a problem anymore. I know exactly how to budget the bakery so it will make a profit and a fun place for the kids to hang out, and I can spot the smallest details that make all the difference in a case." She swallowed a lump in her throat, but she kept talking.

"But I couldn't realize Riley and Lucas weren't working as a couple anymore." She shook her head. "I'm her mother, Cory. I'm supposed to know these things before she does. Do you think I've been spending too much time on work lately?"

She almost didn't want to hear his answer, but she had to ask.

Wrapping his arms around her, Cory said "No, I don't, Topanga. I think Riley and Lucas both did a good job hiding it."

Topanga leaned into his embrace from behind. "It shouldn't matter what I think, anyway. Riley is what's important." She stared at their kitchen table, wishing their apartment didn't feel so empty.

Cory's hands gently pulled her face to look at him. "Of course she is, but you're important, too. You know that offer to get some rocky road still stands."

Topanga's heart melted faster than rocky road at that. "Thank you," she said, giving him a kiss. Her Cory had always been such a great comforter, and tonight proved it once again.