So here is the sequel to 'Tears of a Hunter'. I guess it's not entirely necessary to read the first one, but it kind of is... Anywho, I finished it a couple weeks ago, but I was selfish and haven't posted it because that would mean that I really am done with Shawn's story and I didn't want to be done. So here is the first chapter. I will probably be posting a couple each day as I do a final edit. 10 chapters. Please review and let me know what you think, either as I upload or when I finish posting. Thanks.

Shawn Hunter had been in college for about a month when he received a plane ticket in the mail and a phone call from Jonathan Turner. Turner's parents paid for the plane ticket and Shawn would stay in the hotel where the wedding was going to be held, for 2 nights. The wedding was a week away. After hanging up the phone, Shawn looked at the ticket. He felt bad about costing these people money. He had only met Jon's parents once when he was visiting California over spring break. They were nice people and they had the money, but Shawn never liked being a charity case. Jon's wedding was more important than Shawn's pride though, so Shawn put the ticket inside his duffle bag so he wouldn't forget it later.

Shawn really was excited for Jon and was happy to go to the wedding and see him again, but he wasn't really in the wedding mood. He and Angela had broken up at the start of the school year and Shawn wasn't sure of what he wanted. He didn't really want to break up with Angela. He loved her. But he didn't really know how to be in the relationship any more. He went back to his 2 week rule and started meeting new women at Penn Brook. He never got too close to them but he knew he had to act like he was moving on.

On the day of Shawn's flight, Jack drove him to the airport. Shawn had never been on a plane before and was kind of nervous. Luckily he found himself sitting next to a cute 20-year-old girl who was going to California to become an actress, so he flirted with her and kept his mind off the traveling.

Jon and his father met Shawn at the airport. It was the day before the wedding and they needed to still pick up the suits and check into the hotel. Shawn was in the wedding party as a groomsman. He liked that he was so important to Jon. As the day went on and more of Jon's actual relatives showed up for the wedding, Shawn felt more out of place than he had before. He didn't know any of these people and he was only there because he and Jon had pretended to be a family for a couple years. Shawn tried to keep out of the way of things but Jon kept introducing him to everyone and making sure he was sociable. He liked meeting Jon's real family and the people that would now be part of Jon's life instead of Shawn.

That night, Shawn slept very little. When he found himself waking up in a cold sweat, he was thankful that he had a hotel room to himself. He tried to figure out why his nightmares would be back tonight. He knew he wasn't going to fall asleep again soon. It was almost 2:30 a.m. and he had to be awake at 9. He turned on the light next to his bed and sat up. He knew he was feeling unstable. He felt the need to hurt himself, but he didn't want to bother Jon on the night before his wedding. But, he also didn't want to hurt himself. Jon would be upset with himself for not being able to stop Shawn. He sighed and got up to change from a t-shirt into a long sleeve shirt. Normally he didn't mind his scars, but sometimes they triggered him just by being there. He took out his notebook and went back to his bed to try and write. He had filled up his journal soon after graduation and he started using an old school notebook. He figured he would buy a new journal soon. He just hadn't gotten around to it.

As he sat on his bed with his back against the headboard, his thoughts began to pour out. He began to realize the emotions that had triggered his nightmare and woken him up. Life was changing again and even though Jon had been living in California for a little over a year, he had still made sure to be involved in Shawn's life. But now he was actually moving on. He didn't need Shawn to be a sort of 'practice child'. He was forming his own family and Shawn knew that he wasn't included. He knew Turner would be there for him for the next couple years on the phone or if tragedy really struck, but Shawn wasn't officially part of Turner's life anymore and Shawn didn't want to admit that that scared him a bit. Jon was the first guy who actually took care of Shawn and made Shawn a priority in his life.

Shawn placed his notebook off to the side with the pen still inside to mark the page. He closed his eyes, not knowing if he would fall asleep again or not.

At 9 o' clock there was a knock on Shawn's hotel room door. He rubbed his eyes and walked over to open the door. He had fallen asleep again sometime around 3 that morning. He saw Jon as he opened the door and let him in the room. Shawn yawned as Jon was saying something about the schedule for the day. They had 6 hours until the wedding but they had to meet everyone for breakfast in an hour and a half. Then they had to make sure everything was set up before meeting for lunch and going to the reception hall and making sure everything was in order there. Shawn walked into the bathroom and began to brush his teeth as Jon rambled on about what was happening. Jon was nervous. Everything had to be perfect. Both his parents and Melanie's parents were paying a lot of money for everything to go right. Shawn nodded and made sure Turner knew he was paying attention. He spit the toothpaste into the sink and noticed Jon had gotten quiet. He wiped his mouth on a towel and walked back to Jon. He was nervous when he saw Jon had Shawn's journal in his hand.

"What… Don't read that…" Shawn muttered. He wasn't angry, but he just didn't want Jon to have to deal with Shawn's problems anymore.

"Shawn… I didn't mean to," he placed the book down and looked to Shawn. "Talk to me Hunter."

Shawn sat on the edge of the bed, facing away from Jon. It was too early in the morning to deal with this.

"I'm fine… I just had a nightmare last night, and I am… I don't know. Things are going to be different and that's fine, I just have to get used to it. It's just… you were the first person to save me. I mean, the Matthews were there, but they have their own family. I was never their priority. You made me a priority and I've never had that. I don't want to lose that. It's selfish, I know-"

Jon sighed. He knew this might happen. "Nothing is going to change between us Shawn. I'm just getting married. You are still important to me and I still want you to call me about anything in your life, good or bad. Life always makes things different, but that's part of growing up. Don't think that just because I might have kids someday in the future, that makes you less important to me. You're my first kid Shawn, and I don't want that to change."

Shawn was silent for a while. He waited to speak until he knew he wasn't going to cry. "Thanks Jon… I'm just not all that great at dealing with big changes…"

"Don't worry about it kid. We have a big day ahead. Go get ready and I'll meet you downstairs. Everything is going to be alright." Jon smiled and hugged Shawn before leaving the room.

Shawn took a shower and got ready for the day.

Jon's wedding day went perfectly. The wedding was beautiful and the reception was more fun than Shawn thought it would be. He was, of course, the center of attention for all the young women. Jon smiled as he watched Shawn effortlessly flirt his way through the female side of the guest list. Melanie smiled as she watched her husband. She loved that he cared so much about this young man who had started off as being another random student in Jon's English class and who had now become such a huge part of Jon's life.

She thought back to the first time she went to see Jon in Philadelphia and she asked about Shawn. She didn't quite understand why Shawn was so important to Jon at the time. She thought he was just being a good guy and taking care of a needy kid. But eventually after he moved to California and they started seriously dating again, she saw the impact that Shawn had made on Jon. Shawn never found this out, but Jon was kind of a wreck for a while without Shawn.

Melanie remembered watching Jon sit on the couch and watch TV after a day at work. It didn't seem like he actually wanted to watch anything. He seemed to be missing something as he sat quietly, aimlessly watching whatever was on. After a couple weeks, she asked him about it. It turned out, Jon always used to watch TV with Shawn after he got home from school. Jon usually got home around 5 and Shawn had already hung out with Cory and would be sitting at home waiting to watch TV and eat dinner with Jon. Jon didn't like watching TV. He just liked being with Shawn.

Shawn took a seat next to Jon and Melanie at the wedding table and smiled. He had been dancing with girls all evening and the reception was almost over.

"Shawn, can I talk to you for a minute?" Melanie asked as she got up from the table.

Jon shrugged when Shawn looked at him, almost as if asking what she could want with him. Shawn got up from the table. "Of course," he said, following her off towards the perimeter of the room.

"I really like you Shawn."

"Whoa Mel, I'm flattered but I think you're a bit late. I do believe you're a married woman now," Shawn laughed.

Melanie smiled and ruffled Shawn's hair. "What I mean is, you need to stay in our lives Shawn. Jon needs you. He's always needed you and I know that you and he come together. I am glad to call you part of my family now too."

Shawn smiled but was unsure she knew what she was talking about. "I think it's always been me that's needed him. I know we're going to stay in touch like we always have. I'm not leaving Philly, but I still need Jon too."

"You had a bigger effect on Jon than you know of Shawn. You gave him something to believe in and someone to love. I saw what he was like when he first moved out here. He never wanted to leave you Shawn. He will never really leave you."

"I… don't know what to say. I'm really glad he has you Mel."

She hugged him and they walked back to the table. Jon smiled as they both sat down.

"Don't go stealing my woman now Shawn, you can have any of the other women here, just not this one." Jon winked and took Melanie's hand as she smiled at him.

Shawn laughed and looked at the two of them. He was genuinely happy and he always cherished the few moments in his life when he knew he was happy.

The end of the night came far too soon for everyone at the wedding. The party seemed to never want to end, but eventually everyone left. Shawn's flight was the next day. Jon's parents were going to drive the newlyweds and Shawn to the airport in the morning. Jon and Melanie were going to Hawaii and Shawn had to get home.

At the airport they said their goodbyes. Melanie went to check in for the couple's flight and left Jon to talk with Shawn.

"Keep me updated on what's happening with you Shawn, and I'll do the same."

Shawn nodded and chuckled. "Yeah, and ya know it wouldn't kill you if you two came out for a visit."

Jon smiled. "I'll let you know. We'll get out there sometime soon, don't worry."

As Melanie was approaching the two men hugged. Shawn then hugged Melanie and looked at the couple.

"Congratulations you guys. And thanks for everything."

They parted ways and weren't sure when they would really see each other again.