Author's Notes: Alright gang here comes another chapter! Things are a bit further ahead now and the episode I will be altering is Girl Meets Master Plan. This was very tricky for me to do especially since it is when Shawn first meets Katy and I like the idea of them being together however for the sake of the story I will be changing it. I hope no one hates me for it! However my goal is to keep his strong relationship with Maya alive. Bear with me guys! Also I tried to stick as closely I can with the scenes that were in the show.

Will You Stay

Chapter 4: Happy Birthday

It was about seven in the morning and the sum was streaming through the skyscrapers. Ashley was sleeping comfortable after a late night at the restaurant when her phone started ringing. Her hand shuffled around multiple objects on her nightstand and finally found her phone. "Whoever this is you must have a death wish."

"Well good morning to you too honey. Did I wake you?"

"Yes you did. Also it's not such a good morning after only getting three hours of sleep."

"Oh I'm sorry honey. I was planning on stopping by Cory's place and wanted to know if you wanted to come, but I can tell that you need more sleep so I'll let you sleep."

"No I'll be fine. Just pick me up a coffee on your way here: grande caramel macchiato with vanilla and whipped cream thank you you're the best boyfriend in the world."

"Yes ma'am and honey it's my job to spoil you."

Shawn showed up at her placed with coffee in hand and she came out with a bag in her hand. She took the cup and gave him a kiss. "You are my hero."

"That's my power as super-boyfriend. What's with the bag?"

"It's a surprise."

"For me?"

"No. You'll just have to wait and see."

~*~*~*~*Thirty Minutes Later*~*~*~*~

They arrived at the apartment and Shawn pulled out a key. "How did you end up with a key to their apartment?"

"Cory loves me let's just leave it at that."

"Yeah I can never compete with that." She said and gave a sweet smile. She was fine with their relationship because they've been best friends forever.

The door opened and it seemed no one was home; he held her hand and led her to the couch. "Ashley Cory and I have our own relationship, but the relationship you and I have is on a different level. There are things that I can say and do with you that I could never do with Cory especially now since he's married and has children."

"Like?"

"Like how I can talk to you about deeper topics and how with you it's always a fun adventure. It's never a dull moment with us. Also I can kiss you anytime I want, and thinking about doing that with Cory just makes me feel nauseous."

"Well then how about we stop talking about it and actually do it."

"I don't know I love Cory but kissing is just too weird even for-."

Ashley shushed him with her finger tips then closed the space between them. Their sweet moment was cut off when the door opened and the girls came walking through. They broke apart as Riley walked right by them. Maya stopped in her tracks as she saw them, and Riley turned to Shawn. "Are you really here?"

"I'm really here." He stood up in front of her and Ashley stayed seated.

"Uncle Shawn!"

They hugged and then it was Maya's turn to get a hug. Ashley liked seeing Shawn like this towards the girls.

"It's her birthday squeeze her good!"

"Oh well happy birthday kiddo. Doing something special?" He hugged her again.

"This is it."

"Seriously Shawn you didn't know it was her birthday?"

"And you knew?"

"Duh. You think Cory and Topanga only talk to you?" She stood up and handed Maya a bag, "Happy birthday Maya I hope you like it." She opened the bag and pulled out a blue dress.

"Oh my gosh this is so beautiful!"

"Well Maya every girl deserves to feel like a princess on their birthday."

"Um Ms. Ashley just letting you know I have a birthday coming up to." said Riley as she came over to touch the dress.

"I know Riley and I have something planned for you."

"Yay!"

Maya sat down holding the dress to yourself looking a little sad. "What's wrong kiddo?" Asked Shawn just as the door opened and Cory walked in with a cake followed by Topanga. "Honey we have to hide the cake before Maya sees it."

"Don't you think we should've taken this to Maya's mother just in case she forgot to get one?" Topanga saw everybody including Maya and tried to shut him up. "Oh you think that could happen?"

"Honey I grew up with Shawn Hunter. Remember his mother? She forgot where she lived. See I'm worried that forgetting to get your kid a cake is the first step to forgetting where you live."

"Oh that's not your biggest worry anymore." The room grew quiet as he made his realization.

"She's standing right behind me isn't she. Why is everybody always behind me? Okay Maya I'm not going to turned around because I'm all embarrassed but you know how much I care about your mother."

"I know you do. That's why you always defend her."

"Because at least she's not…"

"No, everything's fine! Stop talking!"

"Shawn's mother. What a cuckoo. Ah it's Tuesday I better run away! You have to laugh, huh Topanga?" He laughed as Topanga gave him a face that only means he dug himself into a hole. "Nice face."

"You want to turn around or you want me to turn you around?"

"How you doin Shawn?"

"Well it ain't Tuesday so pretty good."

She knew what was coming next and prepared to dodge. Cory turned around and shouted "Shawny!" He tackled him to the couch and Ashley ended up on her butt on the floor. Topanga put down the cake and helped her up. "Yeah I'm going to have to teach you the safe escape route for whenever this happens."

"Yeah because if this keeps happening you'll need to have some cushions on the floor."

"How you doin buddy!" said Cory completely ignoring the injured girl.

"Just doing a photo essay-weekend in New York for under a hundred dollars. It's impossible. Can I stay here?"

"Why don't you stay at your girlfriend's place?" Asked Topanga. Shawn and Ashley looked at each other.

"I don't think that's such a good idea. Besides he'd much rather stay here with Cory."

"It's not that. I just think we're still in the early phases of our relationship."

It became quiet in the living room and was disrupted as Cory began talking. Just then her phone rang so she had to step away from the group as they continued talking.

"Hey Johnny how is everything?"

"It could be better. I just was wondering what to do when the baby is crying and covering his ear."

"He has a little ear infection and there should be some medicine in his diaper bag. Don't worry just put a few drops in his ear and he'll be fine."

"I'm such a terrible father. I don't even know how to stop my son from crying." Ashley could hear the sadness and worry in his voice.

"Johnny you're doing fine. Not every father got it on the first try. Just spend as much time as you can with him. I'll pick him up tomorrow." After she hung up she heard Shawn raise his voice and began trudging out the door. She ran after him wondering why he was so angry.

When they got in the car he fell silent and his face was going red. Ashley didn't know what to do or how to even ask what was wrong. "Shawn. What's going on?" She placed her hand on his shoulder and then he smacked her hand away. She was taken back by his actions and realized he needed to be alone. She was about to open the door to leave when he grabbed her hand. His hand was shaking and his breathing became shallow.

"I'm sorry that I did that. I didn't mean to do it. I'm just so furious right now and I took it out on you." He brought her hand up to his lips and placed a kiss on it. "Please forgive me."

She scooted over and kissed his cheek "Shawn you can never push me away. Yeah I was startled but I didn't take it personally. I just want you to be able to confide in me and let me in. Now what is making you so upset?"

"Maya's mother forgot her birthday. It just made me upset because she's a good kid and she doesn't deserve to be put through that. It reminded me of my own parents and how it made me feel; I don't want her to go through that ever. So now I'm going to fix their relationship."

"You're going to fix them? How do you plan on doing that?"

"I have my ways babe. You gonna help me?"

She intertwined her fingers with his "I'm your ride or die gal remember?"

They made it to the restaurant and Shawn went ahead in because Ashley had another call. Johnny wanted more help on taking care of the baby and so she gave her advice. She looked over and saw Katy with Shawn. She saw the way she looked at him almost in an enchanted way. She felt a bit uneasy but knew she could trust him. Just then she looked distressed almost angry with the conversation and suddenly she saw two people hiding behind menus walking out the door. Strangely they looked an awful lot like Riley and Cory. What could they possibly be up to?

She got out of the car and walked in to hear Shawn yelling at the lady about how he wouldn't have been there had he not been fond of Maya. Then they continue on about how they were both terrible with relationships. Then the lady turned to her and asked in an annoyed tone (not her fault) "Can I help you young lady?" Shawn turned around to see her and suddenly felt bad at what he was saying.

"I actually came in here for him."

"So Shawn I guess you do know something about kids."

"She's not my kid."

"So she's your sister? Cousin?"

"I'm actually his girlfriend." Katy's eyes practically shot open. She couldn't believe that she was with him.

"Terrible at relationships huh? Wonder how long this one will last. Especially since you're gone every weekend."

"I leave for my job I write about lots of places."

"See that's why I don't want Maya to get close to you if you're just going to leave. I don't want her to get hurt just like this poor girl."

"First of all I am not a leaver. I am a stayer. I'm the one who gets left!" Ashley came up behind him and hugged him from behind.

"And I'm doing everything I can so neither of us get hurt." He put his arm around her.

"Well I guess we have that in common too."

"Wait I thought Maya said you chased him away."

"A girl should think highly of her father."

They shared a stare but then he broke it and looked down at Ashley who kept staring at the floor eyes filled with sadness. He knew that his complaints were nothing compared to what she went through.. Shawn at least had both of his parents where she never knew who hers were. Katy talked about protecting her daughter from knowing the truth about her father and that struck something in her. "You know he doesn't deserve to be thought highly of if he was the one who left. She should think highly of you since you stayed and did everything you could to give her what she needs." Katy looked at her and smiled knowing that she was right. Ashley went around the counter to give Katy a quick hug.

Just then a woman came in with a black box in her hand. Turns out it was a locket for Maya's birthday. "She's going to love it. But I'm fifty dollars short. It'll take me an extra shift to pay you."

"It's a nice locket. Family photo going in there?" He reached into his jeans pocket.

"Yup just me and her."

"Well here you go." He gave Camille fifty dollars.

"Really?"

"It's her birthday. But you knew that."

Camille said in a semi-quiet voice "He's cute." Ashley just smiled at his grand gesture.

"I'll pay you back."

"You will. You'll let me take the photo."

After her shift Shawn offered her a ride to the apartment. She got in the back seat as Ashley took the passenger's seat. "You know that was a nice thing you just did." She said to him as he buckled his seat belt. "Well like I said I'm fond of the girl."

"Katy that's a very pretty locket. Maya's a very special girl."

"Yeah she is. From the stories I know you're pretty special yourself."

"Yeah she's pretty special." said Shawn and he held her hand. Katy was looking at this with a hint of disappointment in her eyes. Why wasn't she that lucky?

End Chapter 4

Well there you have it! Another chapter come and gone! I hope everyone enjoyed and hopefully this sparks some questions. Also sorry for it being so long. The next chapter will be a party scene for Maya's birthday so stick around!