Everyone Can See It (Discontinued)

Topanga Lawrence-Matthews

Topanga's take on her daughter and her daughter's best friend.

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Topanga had always felt like life happened quickly for her and Cory. They met young, started dating as teenagers, got engaged during their high school graduation, got married while still in college, and started a family not too long after that. Some people would say, and have said, that they did everything too fast and should've slowed down. She was just glad they had more time together as a family.

Topanga wouldn't change a moment of their lives. And she knows Cory feels the same. Because while their journey hadn't been the smoothest, it ultimately led them to 6 AM on a chilly December morning where the precious cries of a newborn Riley Matthews could be heard all the way to the nurses station.

Riley was perfect in every way and a few years later, they would think the same of Auggie. She was a sweet-tempered baby who got up like clockwork at 1 and 4 AM and who thought any moment she wasn't being held was a moment wasted. Topanga didn't mind though, wanting to spend as much time with her baby girl as she could in between studying for the BAR exam and looking for jobs. And when she wasn't available, an unfortunate fact that became more frequent as she got more successful, Cory was all too happy to hold the angel that gave him the same smile on his face that he had when she walked down the aisle.

Or whenever he saw Shawn, which was dwindling as the years went by.

They knew they were spoiled with Riley and that if they had more children after her, which they both wanted to, it would not be as easy. She was kind, well mannered, barely had tantrums, and actually liked following rules. It was a dream come true for any parent. But Riley was also, and it broke Topanga's heart to even think this, very lonely. Cory and her had spent many nights talking about how to help her, even moving up their plans for having another baby so that both their children could grow up together. They knew Riley had an imaginary friend that protected her but they were never able to figure out what Riley thought she needed protection from. They just hoped that when she started school soon, she'd be able to open herself up enough to make friends.

Enter Maya Hart.

The day had started out like any other so Topanga had no reason to believe that their lives would be forever altered for the better. She had woken up and gone to work that day while leaving Riley in the care of Mrs. Svorski in the morning and Cory in the afternoon after he finished summer school, came home a little later than usual, checked on Riley who was playing quietly in her room like she normally did and helped Cory finish making dinner. It was just another simple day in the Matthews-Lawrence house. Until Topanga called Riley to come for dinner. She smiled when she saw her daughter appear from the doorway. And nearly screamed when she saw Riley holding the hand of a blonde little girl who was definitely not there when Topanga checked on her.

Unsurprisingly, Cory did scream.

"Mommy, Daddy!" Riley squealed. "This is Maya but I call her Peaches and we're going to be best friends forever and can she stay for dinner please?"

Topanga's heart was racing a mile a minute but she noticed that the young girl - Maya – was startled by Cory's outburst. She threw an oven mitt at him and bent down so she was eye level with the two girls.

"Hello, Maya. I'm Riley's Mommy. And that dope over there is Riley's Daddy. It's nice to meet you."

Topanga saw Maya glance at Riley, who gave an enthusiastic nod and she would be lying if she said it didn't melt her heart.

"You too."

Cory appeared next to her. "Hi, Maya. Sorry about before. We would love for you to stay for dinner but we have to ask your parents if it's okay. Can you give us their number?"