Topanga Lawrence-Matthews (missuscory) wrote in madisonvalley, @ 2017-03-07 09:10:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, !completed gdoc, !log, ~2017 march, ~25 points, ~~liz evans (mrsevans), ~~~topanga lawrence-matthews (missuscory |
WHO: Topanga Lawrence-Matthews and Liz Evans
WHERE: At the house
WHEN: February 27th
WHAT: Cooking dinner together
RATING: PG
STATUS: log; completed
Topanga had only been back for less than a day but had already resumed things as if she hadn’t left. She had re-occupied her office and taken a few case files home with her. She had shopped at Wal-Mart while thinking about what or if she would tell anyone of what she remembered from being home. She made sure to buy a variety of fruits and vegetables, and had decided on a simple chicken stir fry dish to make.
Coming home, she washed everything, including her hands twice and began to prep the vegetables first. She was so in the zone she hadn’t heard the door open, or close. She did think she heard footsteps.
“Riley? Maya?” she called out. “I’m getting dinner ready” she said without turning around.
***
"It's me. I was going in to do the same" Liz told her with a small laugh as she walked over to the sink and washed her hands.
Tuesday were Liz's day off, which allowed her to make a good dinner after her last class of the day but she didn't mind sharing the kitchen. She had been the only adult woman in the house since she moved in so Topanga living here was something she would have to adjust to but she knew it wouldn't be that hard. Two of them had gotten along decently before she was sent home so there was that at least.
"What's on the menu?" She wondered as she walked over to where the woman was to see what she could do to help. She almost used her powers to make the cutting process easier but refrained remembering that Topanga had no idea of her alien status like Shawn did. The last thing she wanted to do was freak her out.
***
"Chicken stir fry" Topanga said with an instant smile. Shawn had told her how close he had gotten with her, a major departure from when she left - though with the events with Shawn at home, she knew that things would work out. At least she hoped they did.
"Protein and vegetables all in the same dish. And the sauce always worked for" she said, halting to a stop. Even though she knew that things were ok back home, it was still a departure from the norm. There was no Cory. Or Auggie. "For everyone" she said, finishing her statement.
"I heard things are going well for you and Shawn" she said.
***
"Sounds delicious" She replied as she moved to help cut now that she knew what was being made. It made her think of the times she was a prep cook for her dad at the Crashdown when she was a kid and how much fun that was. She noticed the pause but said nothing about it, figuring it happened for a reason. When she brought up things going well with her and Shawn. "You could say that. Did he tell you we thought we were married last week? I did enjoy it but I'm not ready for that yet and he isn't either"
***
"He did" Topanga said. "And he said the same thing about not being ready. That you both weren't ready. And I think I told him I was proud of him for that" she said. "And you too" she said, giving another smile this time aimed directly at Liz. "But how was it? Being married? Everything you expected? More? Worse?"
***
"I bet you made his day telling him that" Because who didn't love to hear that someone they cared about was proud of them? Shawn especially needed to hear it sometimes. "Everything I expected and more. I never thought I'd ever get married again, you know? But with Shawn ... it just felt so right" She replied, a dreamy sort of smile and look on her face as she thought about how it was being married to him. For a second marriage, it was pretty good and it made her forward to really being his wife when they were ready.
***
"Well, barring any unnatural circumstances, hopefully it will happen here" Topanga said. "And I heard you were going to be adopting Maya with Shawn. That is a very big thing. Are you ready for that?" Topanga asked.
****
"This is Madison Valley we're talking about. There's always unnatural circumstances" She commented with a laugh. Expect the unexpected in this place was a lesson she had learned a long time ago. She was used to that kind of thing, though. Normal went out the window for her the day Max Evans healed her and she never looked back. "That was another thing that felt right when everything was going on - Maya calling me mom. When she asked if she could after it was all over with, I was so happy. Adopting her with Shawn seemed like the most natural next step"
***
"Wow" Topanga said, stopping what she was doing. "She called you mom, and Shawn dad" she said, more as a statement than a question. "That is incredible" Topanga said, almost shaking her head in disbelief.
"I'm glad. For all of you" Topanga said.
***
"I can't wait to be a family with them officially" She told her with an excited smile. Adopting a child before getting married was kind of backwards but she didn't care. It was working out how it was supposed to. "And now that you're here, Riley has her family too. I know she's really been missing you. I've tried to include her in things as much as I could to make her feel like she belongs in this house but I could only do so much, you know? She's going to be so much happier with you here"
***
Topanga nodded. Shawn had told her as much - and more. She and Riley had already spent time together but Topanga hadn't broached the subject with her just yet.
"I've heard that things had gotten tense she said, for a lack of a better word "with Riley. And I'm sorry, though I can understand a bit."
***
"I don't think she likes me very much" She mused as she moved the knife over the vegetables. Getting into her head a bit, she didn't pay attention to what was doing and cut her finger. "Ouch!" She cried out, immediately dropping the knife and holding onto her finger so she couldn't bleed all over their food. Moving away from the counter, she moved over to the sink to disinfect it before she put on a band aide.
***
"Oh my goodness" Topanga said, putting her knife down. She rushed over to Liz. "Are you ok?" she asked, trying to get a look at the cut before Liz applied the band aid. "Do you need me to take you to a doctor?"
***
"Oh I'm fine. Really. It's just a small one" She replied, letting Topanga check her out before she put patched herself up. At the doctor question, she shook her head. "Not needed but thank you for the offer. I'll keep an eye on it and if I have to, I'll get it check out when I go to work" There were perks to working at the clinic. "Maybe I should start on the sauce?" She suggested, not wanting to risk cutting herself again as she went back to her prep cook position.
***
"Sure, the sauce" Topanga said. "So, Riley" she said. "Why wouldn't she like you? She likes literally everyone. Even the people who don't like her" Topanga said, an eyebrow raising. "Nothing happened here, right? I'm not accusing you, it just seems strange and out of character for her"
***
"What's in it?" She asked, having never made a stir fry herself. She wasn't sure what all went to it so she stood back for now and just let her adrenaline rush from getting cut go away. At the question, she shrugged her shoulders. "No, nothing has happened. Not that I'm aware of, anyway. It's just the vibe I get. I'm not sure why it's there but it's there. It's subtle but it's here"
***
"Huh" Topanga said. She shrugged her shoulders. "Oh, everything is over there" she said, motioning towards the counter. "Start with the cornstarch and water and then mix in the stuff in the small bowl" she said. "It's not hard. Just don't over due it on the soy sauce or it will get too salty"
***
Without a word, she moved over and began mixing things together as she said to, being careful not to use her bandaged finger. Better safe than sorry. "You were gone for quite some time here. Was it that long for you at home?" She wondered, tasting it as she went along. She didn't want to talk about herself anymore, she wanted to hear all about what happened with Topanga while she was gone.
***
"It was about a year" Topanga said, off hand. "It was. It is" she said, starting and stopping for a moment. "It was a roller coaster at home for Riley. And Maya. And all of us. But things worked out" she said with a nod.
***
"Got to love those roller coasters. I'm glad things worked out for you" She commented as she mixed the sauce together. After it was done, she set it aside and turned around to lean against the counter. "Are you happy to be back?" She asked as she reached out to move some hair out of her face. She knew it had to be hard to be there without her husband, who didn't return with her. Liz had been in her shoes before so she knew how she felt.
***
"I'm glad I remember my time here before. It makes it easier, this time. And I'm happy to be back with the girls of course" Topanga said. It was still hard being without Cory and Auggie, but what she said was true. Remembering her first time here was making it easier. "I'm just glad I can help everyone" she said, smiling at Liz.
***
"You're lucky. I was here once before and came back but I didn't remember anything" She told her as she dropped her hand back down to her side. "We're glad too. And I will happily let you take over the matriarch role in the house. You're much more suited for it" She offered with a smile. She had a feeling Topanga would take over anyway so she might was well give her permission ahead of time.
***
“I think we can coexist” Topanga said, offering Liz a smile. “I mean, you’ve been in the role since I’ve been gone. I’d hate to just come back and push you out” she said. “Well, I think we’re ready to cook” she said, seeing everything chopped, and the sauce ready to go. “Have this house smelling good when the kids eventually do make it home.”