You Give Me Courage
Between Boy Meets World and Girl Meets World.
Topanga smiled as Cory finished putting on his tie. He was so handsome in his new navy suit and all clean-shaven. "You look great," she said. "Already for student teaching." Almost without thinking, her lips touched his.
"Am I, though?" Cory said with a sigh as they withdrew. "What am I thinking, Topanga? What if I can't make it as a teacher? I could never be as great as Mr. Feeny." He stared at their bedroom floor as if it had answers.
Cory had always been susceptible to nervousness, so Topanga should have been expecting this. She pulled his face toward hers so he would look at her again. "Cory, you've been studying education for two and a half years now. You've always loved helping and influencing people. You can do this."
Shaking his head, Cory said, "I love you for trying, Topie, but I'm still no Mr. Feeny. Maybe I should just stay home and help you with Riley." He looked over to their baby's crib in the corner of the bedroom.
Topanga glanced at Riley's crib as well. At any moment she might wake up and start fussing. The rest of the day would be a constant battle to keep the baby fed, clean, and happy. Being a mother was much harder than Topanga had expected, and a part of her wanted to say "yes" to Cory's offer to stay home with her and Riley.
But at the end of the day, it wasn't right. It wasn't what Cory needed to hear.
"No, Cory, you've already made a commitment to student teaching. And you don't need to try to be Mr. Feeny. Just be the best teacher as Mr. Mathews you can be."
Cory was quiet for a moment. "I suppose you're right. Education today seems to favor more interactive teaching than Mr. Feeny preferred when he taught us, anyway." He smiled. "Ever since I can remember you've given me courage, Topanga. How do you do that?"
Topanga kissed him again, her mouth watering as she inhaled his aftershave. "I know how to believe in you." Then another kiss. "And how to keep your fears from overwhelming you." And her lips pressed against his warm neck.
His hot lips touched hers after that.
"I have to catch the subway if I'm going to go to my student teaching appointment, after all," Cory said finally.
Topanga nodded. As he disappeared out the door, Riley began wailing. And Topanga briefly thought about asking Cory to stay home, after all. But he was already out the door. "Hi, Riley" she said, trying to sound cheerful. "Are you ready for breakfast?" Topanga could do this. She could be a good mother.
Riley appeared to disagree with her tiny face scowling and wiggling in discomfort. And she wailed again.