Chapter 10
Disclaimer: You guys are awesome, like seriously awesome. And as usual, I own nothing but what you see here. And you're quote of the day. "No, you're the voice of Irritation." "Oh, I'm that too." My mom and me a few weeks ago.
Shortly after George Feeny's declaration to the entire Matthews clan and extended family, pandemonium broke out in the living room. The ladies either started crying or fainting aside from Morgan who found the whole thing funny as heck, the men acted like their heads were cut off with no clue of what to do, and Katy, Gammy Hart, Maya, Auggie, Farkle, Lucas, and Deanna were all confused as heck with the whole thing! Okay, so the ladies weren't actually fainting or crying and the men weren't exactly running about like chickens with their heads cut off. But Topanga sure had tears in her eyes over her long time teacher's surprising words as it reminded her of when Eric had tried to get him to tell them how he felt about them shortly before they left for New York.
"I KNEW IT!" Shouted Eric gleefully and made his way over to Mr. Feeny with a tight hug to the side of him and a huge watery smile on the Senator's face.
Mr. Feeny soon found himself covered in hugs by a tearful Topanga who wasn't alone in that area where Cory and Shawn were concerned as the three hugged the older man. Those in the room couldn't help but smile at the touching scene, even the more confused bunch of the group as well. "See? You really are pretty much everyone's grandfather." Spoke up Riley happily.
"Well, its a role I certainly don't mind." Admitted George as he couldn't think of a better bunch to be a grandfather or perhaps great-grandfather of then those in the living room he stood in.
"What took ya so long to even tell us that?" Asked Morgan curiously.
"Ah he was just scared is all." Spoke up Eric from his spot.
His remark however made George somewhat indignant. "I was not! I was still pretty much your teacher then and it didn't feel appropriate to say at the time!" Even if he did say the words after they left…
Lila however knew full well that wasn't the case but she wasn't about to say anything as it his place to do so. "The important thing is that we all know now." Came Topanga's slightly muffled voice and it was something everybody could agree on.
It'd take around 20 minutes before the four were able to compose themselves, along with getting pulled off Mr. Feeny as well in Eric's case since he didn't want to let go. Tommy couldn't help but ask what he thought the media would say about it and Eric countered that they would see a young man giving his grandfather a hug and nothing more. A response Tommy couldn't quite argue with as it was pretty much true. Though he knew there would be some who would try and spin it in a very wrong way. After Mr. Feeny returned to his wife's side, Shawn wound up going next for the gift giving. He gave Cory access to a free lifetime supply of rolls thanks to a friend of his through Hit The Road much to the other man's immense happiness while Topanga rolled her eyes in fake exasperation.
For Topanga, he gave her a book on meditation that he picked up on his travels and she loved it a great deal. Riley and Maya both got books on photography and art with a note by him saying to create something wonderful together when possible, he gave Katy a necklace with the Kanji symbols Strength and Love on it, something that got him a big ol' kiss from the lovely mother as well. A scene that also got a bunch of cute little awws from everybody til he stuck his tongue at them playfully after the kiss ended. He gave Auggie a new first edition Mr. Googly bear that talked when you squeezed it. For Alan and Amy, they received a book of poetry filled with poems about family that he himself had written. "You guys were the best example I ever had about good families, and its because of that that I made you two that book." There was emotion heard in his voice and the two hugged him.
"Shawn, Alan and I are happy to have given you that example. And I hope we will continue to do so in the years to come."
"And I hope that you will be able to pass that example on to whoever winds up in your life son."
Looking at both of them, he gratefully smiled at them as his heart swelled up in happiness over the two he considered parents to him just as they saw him as a son. "Thank you, I really hope I'll be able to do that."
"I think you'll do us proud Shawn." Alan told him with a strong grip on his shoulder and a wide smile on his face.
Shawn certainly hoped so and wondered if he would be doing something like that with Katy and Maya, even though she likely already had a pretty great example of a really good family thanks to Cory and Topanga. A few minutes later would see him giving matching tweed jackets to Mr. Feeny and Lila and the jackets looked exactly like the one Mr. Feeny always seemed to wear over the years he taught them. Lila had gotten a chuckle out of that as she herself had always been rather fond of it. Shawn then gave each of them a hug. For Jack, he got him a Mick Foley documentary while Eric received a detailed how to dvd on how NOT to get beaten up by girls while trying to defend yourself against them. Something the two rolled their eyes over while Topanga laughed over it as she remembered that particular day pretty well.
Afterwards, he looked at Gammy Hart, Josh, the Minkus clan, the Friars, Jessica, Deanna, and Tommy with an apologetic look on his face. "Sorry guys, I really wasn't sure what to get any of you." They were quick to tell him not to worry too much about it as it was understandable. Though Josh told him what he did at the hospital with the others prior to coming in and seeing him was the only gift he needed.
Something he appreciated hearing. "Alright, I've got one more gift. Its more of a gift for everybody and something of an announcement."
"You've decided to finally become a plumber?" Stuart's question got him a slap to the arm by Jennifer but Shawn knew he wasn't being serious.
"Sorry to disappoint Mr. Suck Up, but no." Stuart snapped his fingers in fake disappointment, causing for laughter to happen.
Shawn took a deep breath before continuing with what he was about to say. "Alright… So you all know I pretty much travel all around these days and even found Katy and Maya in the process thanks to certain meddlers. Yeah, none of you fooled me for a second but its okay as it has been worth it."
After all, he was one half of the King of Schemes and he could smell a scheme from a mile away. "Hey, it was all Riley buddy! I retired but she pulled me right back in!"
"Oh you loved it daddy and you know it!"
Cory shrugged, as she had him there! "Yeah, yeah I did." Admitted the man with a smile while Shawn shook his head in amusement.
"Anyways… Moving on before you two get all huggy and sugary. I have finally decided to stop traveling all over the place and settle down." He was interrupted when Cory himself let out a loud yay in response to that bit of happy news.
Chuckling, Shawn continued on and he couldn't help but notice his two girls were leaning in their seats in anticipation of what he was about to say next. "The guys at Hit The Road weren't exactly happy but they understood the reasons behind it and helped me get a local writing/photography gig in New York."
"OH YAY!" Cheered Cory happily who was practically hopping up and down in sheer joy and Maya promised to use that against him at some point in the future. Though she couldn't deny she was happy as can be about Hunter's words as it meant she and her mother would be able to see him more now!
Katy herself was hardly believing what she was hearing but she couldn't deny the surge of happiness that practically wanted to burst out of her heart. "And last but not least, a certain apartment above Cory and his family's is now taken by me and Little Cory."
"You still have that pig!?" Asked Jack in shock.
Shawn looked to him in amusement but in the corner of his eye he could see Katy practically shaking. "Well yeah man of course I do. That little guy has got years in him yet."
Riley thought it was weird her uncle has a pig named after her dad, but then again those two were a level of weird only they could achieve. Topanga turned her attention to her husband as she was curious about why he hadn't said anything yet. And considering the shocked state he was in told her why that was. "Aren't you gonna say 'yay' again honey?" Which wow, okay! Talk about deja vu there!
Cory tried to say something but all that got out was a squeak and a little movement of his arms. "YES!" Screamed out Katy in sheer excitement as she jumped out of her seat, hugged the life out of her man, and then kissed him soundly!
Something he was all too happy to return! Maya herself was brimming with excitement and Lucas had a soft smile in the girl's direction as he knew the Blonde Beauty was happier then can be at this particular point in time. Riley leaned over with a smile of her own. "Let loose Peaches!"
"YYYYAAAAAAYYY!" Shouted the girl in pure happiness, which broke her mom and Shawn out of the very enjoyable and soul searing kiss and motioned for her to join them. Something she happily did without hesitation.
I told her she was going to get everything she ever wanted in life!
And what do ya know? She was being proven right! After the hug ended, the three stayed closely together as neither wanted to be a part from the other while further presents were given out. Thankfully for Stuart, when he told Amy and Alan that he and his wife paid off the medical bill they were no doubt going to get for Josh's time in the hospital, the reactions had been a lot better then hoped for. His explanation for their being so willing to welcome him into their home back when he was younger had been a primary motivation for him and he wanted to return the kindness they gave him. The two elder Matthews' wound up even giving him a hug and pretty much said that he and his family were part of their family now. More so now then what they already were as it is due to Farkle and Riley's friendship. The Minkus clan greatly appreciated that and were proud to be part of such a fantastic and welcoming family.
Shortly after the presents were all given out, dinner preparations began and Josh went up to his room to rest a little after all the excitement. It'd be around thirty minutes later when Cory finally broke out of his state of shock and hugged the ever loving crap out of his best friend much to everybody else's amusement and laughter. This Christmas in everyone's view was pretty much the best darn one ever and they all couldn't wait to see what happened next. The Christmas dinner they all had that night was also a particularly fantastic one as well with quite a few pictures taken at various points to capture all the great moments during the dinner and afterwards.
Author's Notes: I wasn't planning on updating so soon, but I had the day off yesterday and I stay up all night so I tend to have a lot of free time on my hands. Hope you all enjoyed this one! As well as a few certain nods to the BMW days! Coming up next will be the final chapter for this story and with it, a pretty big moment will happen! Also, for those of you who use Facebook, feel free to add me on there but message me first so I know who you are! I go by Rob Wrecks there as well. R and R!