diff --git a/docs/changelog/7.x.x.txt b/docs/changelog/7.x.x.txt
index dffb2dd09..ac97d672c 100644
--- a/docs/changelog/7.x.x.txt
+++ b/docs/changelog/7.x.x.txt
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 7.10.8
+ - rfe #12016 for the top story as well
 
 7.10.7
  - rfe #10521: Use monospaced font in template edit textarea
diff --git a/lib/WebGUI/Asset/Wobject/StoryTopic.pm b/lib/WebGUI/Asset/Wobject/StoryTopic.pm
index d79fd0a2e..ba234f9bc 100644
--- a/lib/WebGUI/Asset/Wobject/StoryTopic.pm
+++ b/lib/WebGUI/Asset/Wobject/StoryTopic.pm
@@ -236,6 +236,7 @@ sub viewTemplateVariables {
         my $topStoryVars = shift @{ $var->{story_loop} };
         ##Note, this could have saved from the loop above, but this looks more clean and encapsulated to me.
         my $topStory   = WebGUI::Asset->new($session, $topStoryData->{assetId}, $topStoryData->{className}, $topStoryData->{revisionDate});
+        $var->{topStory}               = $topStoryVars;
         $var->{topStoryTitle}          = $topStory->getTitle;
         $var->{topStorySubtitle}       = $topStory->get('subtitle');
         $var->{topStoryUrl}            = $session->url->append($self->getUrl, 'func=viewStory;assetId='.$topStoryData->{assetId}),
diff --git a/lib/WebGUI/Help/Asset_StoryTopic.pm b/lib/WebGUI/Help/Asset_StoryTopic.pm
index 81e8edbde..5becb08ad 100644
--- a/lib/WebGUI/Help/Asset_StoryTopic.pm
+++ b/lib/WebGUI/Help/Asset_StoryTopic.pm
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ our $HELP = {
                 { name => 'editIcon' },
               ],
             },
+            { name => 'topStory' },
             { name => 'topStoryDeleteIcon',
               description => 'deleteIcon', },
             { name => 'topStoryEditIcon',
diff --git a/lib/WebGUI/i18n/English/Asset_StoryTopic.pm b/lib/WebGUI/i18n/English/Asset_StoryTopic.pm
index 31626a8e1..fbce2b096 100644
--- a/lib/WebGUI/i18n/English/Asset_StoryTopic.pm
+++ b/lib/WebGUI/i18n/English/Asset_StoryTopic.pm
@@ -93,6 +93,12 @@ our $I18N = {
         lastUpdated => 1248191575,
     },
 
+    'topStory' => {
+        message => 'Variable containing the same kind of values as story_loop, but for the topStory.  Accessible via topStory.hasPhotos, etc.',
+        context => 'Template variable.',
+        lastUpdated => 1294761543,
+    },
+
     'topStoryUrl' => {
         message => q|The URL to view the top story.|,
         context => q|Template variable.|,