A/N: I don't typically post multi-chaptered fics until they are either finished or have a few good chapters under them. However, I wanted some feedback/encouragement to continue this.

1988 - Flashback

Shawn ran down the stairs, as his suitcase flopped around behind him. He slammed on the brakes just as soon as his feet hit the kitchen floor causing the top of suitcase to raise up and slam into his back. Shawn whined for a moment before Henry came around the corner.

"None of that, Shawn. I saw you run down those stairs knowing that your suitcase wasn't closed correctly."

Shawn pouted slightly, his bottom lip sticking out further then his top. "I couldn't get it to close." His foot kicked at an imaginary clump of dirt.

Henry sighed, as he knelt down and shoved the clothing that was strewn haphazardly in and around his suitcase, back into it. Shoving the top down, and leaning his weight into it, Henry snapped the suitcase closed.

"There."

Shawn grinned at his father. "Thanks, dad."

Henry nodded, as he stood up. "Listen, Shawn. There is something very important I want you to remember. You're not used to colder climates, so take what I say to heart, Shawn. Promise me." Henry stood there, waiting for Shawn's answer.

"Okay, dad. I promise."

Henry led Shawn to one of the kitchen chairs, and waited until he was sitting before taking his own chair.

"Remember to always wear layers. I cannot stress this enough, Shawn. If you get caught outside for whatever reason, you'll be able to keep your body heat up."

Shawn nodded his head. "Is that all?"

Henry sighed. "Yes." If Henry was being honest, he didn't have a lot of experience with colder climates either. He had nothing else to share, not really. He hadn't really had time to research any other survival tips to pass on. Plus, Shawn was going with the Guster family, obviously he wasn't going to be in any danger.

"Seriously, Shawn. You're going on a three day vacation, not planning for the apocalypse." Gus huffed slightly at the sight of Shawn's bedroom.

Clothes were strewn haphazardly around the room. His first suitcase was so full that it was barely closed, and his second was well on it's way to past capacity as well. No one had taught the poor man how to pack correctly. Gus knew he had to correct this, for his best friend's benefit.

"Shawn, just—let me—move!"

Shawn grunted at Gus, as he shoved Gus out of the way with his shoulder. "Dude, let me do this! I know what I'm doing."

Gus groaned. "Of course you do. Oh wait, no you don't, Shawn! Do you not remember every other trip that we took. When we went to Mexico for a week you under packed-"

Shawn glared at Gus. "That was not my fault! I might have been slightly drunk when I packed for that trip. Besides Gus, do you not remember that skiing trip that your parents took us on?"

Gus sighed, nodding in acknowledgment. Shawn's over-packing had actually helped Gus greatly. "We got locked out of the hotel for what, three hours? If I hadn't packed, three coats-"

Gus groaned. "Fine! Pack you're way. Just don't call me crying when Juliet makes fun of you!"

Shawn grinned. "Believe me, buddy. She's the reason that I'm over-killing on the packing. I mean—what if something happens and she doesn't have enough warm clothes? I'll be her knight in clothing armor."

Gus ran a hand over his face. "It's knight in shining armor, Shawn."

Shawn shrugged, a smile on his face. "I've heard it both ways. Besides, Gussy boy—clothing armor makes so much more sense for my predicament." Shawn tossed in a couple more items of clothing, followed quickly by a black velvet box that Shawn carefully placed in a hideaway pocket.

"Wait a minute-"

Shawn's head snapped toward Gus. He had been fairly certain that Gus's attention had been elsewhere—like not on the very noticeable box that he had hidden, hopefully, from Juliet.

"Yes, my good man?" Shawn quirked an eyebrow.

"Are you going to?"

"Let's just say that I have definite expectations for this vacation."

Gus's mouth bobbed open for a moment. "Wow," was all he could force from his mouth.

"Dude, you'll totally catch a fly if you leave your mouth hanging open like that." Gus promptly shut it. "Look, it's just. You know that I've had this for a while now. Every since our last vacation—though I still firmly believe it didn't go well—and I think now is the right time."

Gus was able to finally put it altogether. The reason for the getaway to the mountains for some 'light sporting activity' as Shawn had said to Juliet. It was really just for the romantic view of the mountains glowing in the moonlight—Wait, Shawn Spencer was ready to settle down? Since when had that happened?

"Shawn, you're all grown up!" Shawn poked Gus in the chest as he moved forward to hug him.

"Are you crying? Really—Gus?" Shawn sighed, as he pushed the top down on his suitcase. Applying pressure, with one hand, he zipped it closed with another. "Grow up, dude." Shawn fought a smile, as he hefted both bags in his arms. "Jules is waiting." Shawn stood awkwardly for a moment as Gus threw his arms around his shoulders. "So, I'm just going to-" Shawn's sentence trailed off as he sidestepped Gus, and walked toward the front of his make-shift apartment.

Shawn grinned at Juliet, as he threw his two suitcases into the trunk. Turning back toward his front door, he winked and waved at Gus who was standing at the door. Quickly, he threw the door open and clamored inside. Shutting the door, he threw his seat belt on before turning to face Juliet.

"So—ski much, Jules?" His eyebrow quirked slightly.

"I've actually only been skiing once or twice. How about you?" Her free hand reached out to grab his hand. The warmness of it surprised her. Santa Barbara wasn't exactly known for it's cold winter's, however for Californian's, the winter's were pretty chilly.

"So—full disclosure?" Shawn paused, and laughed lightly at the look on her face. "I've only been skiing once. I was eleven, and I went with Gus and his family. It was an epic failure. Funny story, Gus and I actually got locked out of our hotel. Like the entire building. We were stuck outside for two hours, until Mrs. Guster finally realized that we were missing-"

Juliet's eyebrow quirked questionably. "My dad—well you've met him. He wouldn't let me go on the trip unless I promised to pack encase of disaster. Luckily, I had three winter coats that had been packed. Otherwise, we might have frozen to death."

Juliet's hand squeezed Shawn's slightly. "Well, I'm very grateful that you didn't freeze to death."

Shawn smiled her favorite crooked smiled. "Yeah, me too. I've heard that's not a fun way to die. You know me, I'm all about the fun."

Juliet laughed lightly. "Oh, don't I know it."

Shawn practically skipped his way up the stairs of the ski resort. His two suitcases were locked tightly in his fists, with Juliet's two duffel bags slung over each of his shoulders.

"I can carry my own bags, Shawn." Juliet spoke as she rubbed her hands together. Those gloves were sounding more and more inviting with each new blow of ice cold air.

"You're my lady, Jules. It's the gentleman—gentlemanly-thing to do."

Juliet shook her head, as she followed Shawn up the remainder of the steps. Upon entering the toasty warm building, Juliet wondered over to the check-in desk. Shawn walked up behind her.

"Reservation for Spencer." Shawn watched in silence as the young attendant typed on the keyboard for a moment, before a thin smile crossed his lips.

"A-ha. Mr. and Mrs. Spencer, please follow me to your room."

Juliet chuckled uncomfortably, as Shawn nudged her forward with his shoulder, a smile on his face. Once they entered the elevator, an uncomfortable silence fell upon the three occupants. Each floor level they passed, the elevator dinged until it shuddered to a stop and opened the chamber to release it's occupants. Following the young man down the hall, he stopped at the corner and unlocked the door with a key card before turning back to Shawn and Juliet.

"This is you're key card. Make sure to keep it on you at all times. Have fun and visit us again!" With that the young man disappeared down the hall as Shawn shoved the door open.

"Shawn! This room is gorgeous."

Shawn smiled. "Only the best for my lady." Which caused Juliet to turn back toward him and kiss his lips lightly.

"I think I like being you're lady."

Shawn's grin widen, as he walked in further, depositing their bags. Working the zipper on overstuffed bag number one, Shawn squealed when the suitcase seemed to explode it's contents all over him.

"Shawn! How long exactly did you think we were staying?" Shawn eyed her for a moment.

"Do you not remember the Gus story? I come prepared."

Juliet hid a giggle. "I see that. Apparently you thought the world would end tonight."

Shawn growled, even as a smile tugged at his lips. "Not cool, Jules."

Juliet moved forward, enveloping him in a hug. "Does that help, my wounded knight?"

"A little," Shawn said, as he pulled her in closer to him.

"Shawn! Come on, it's after ten."

Shawn shook his head. "Come on, Jules. It's just embarrassing that a grown man can't at least stand on his skies long enough to make it down the bunny trail!"

Shawn huffed. He moved his feet forward just enough to get his skies moving when he lost his footing and he flailed backwards, landing ass first in the snow.

Juliet suppressed a laugh, as she slowly moved forward to check on Shawn who still hadn't moved from falling down—again.

"Shawn, honey, are you okay?" As she got closer, she saw his shoulders shaking. The sound of laughter finally penetrated the cold night air.

"Apparently skiing is not my thing. Give me a hand, Jules?"

Juliet hovered in front of him for a moment, as she eyed him suspiciously. "If you drag me down into that snow with you-"

Shawn held up a hand in mock horror. "I would never!"

"Yeah, right." Juliet feigned annoyance, while trying to hide the smile that was creeping onto her lips.

Leaning forward only slightly, Juliet extended her hand to Shawn. He clasped it tightly, as he used his other hand to shove himself upward. Once he was standing, he smiled at Juliet.

"I'll make you a promise, Jules."

Juliet wiped the snow off her gloves, as she eyed him carefully. "I'm listening."

Shawn's smile grew, "One more attempt down the trail, and we'll go inside warm up-"

Juliet smiled this time. "Okay, fine. I'm going with you though, just in case you bust your head or something."

Shawn sighed, "Not cool, Jules." But the smile gave him away.

"Let's get this over with, Shawn. I'm freezing!"

Shawn nodded, as he started to move himself forward. Juliet followed suit. Though she wasn't overly fantastic at skiing, she had gotten the hang of it better than Shawn had. She watched in horror as he swerved around the trail, one of his poles catching a rock flipped him. Shawn tumbled down the remainder of the trail, and she lost sight of him. However the scream that pierced the still night air was enough to make her pick up speed, as she headed down to where she had last saw Shawn.

A/N: Evil cliffy? Yeah, it's kinda how I roll. Review, review, review. I can probably have this knocked out by the end of the week if I'm properly motivated!