Shawn closed his laptop after finishing that last round of editing. Rubbing his eyes, he checked the time and discovered he'd quite lost track of it. After brushing his teeth, Shawn got into his cold empty bed. Though it was a double, he couldn't bring himself to sleep on her side, or even in the middle. Had hotel beds always been this cold? How quickly he'd gotten used to sleeping beside her. Turning his head, Shawn reached out his hand and laid it across the cold empty place where his wife should be. He hated sleeping alone, hated it more and more each time. The grey speckled hotel ceiling filled his vision as Shawn tried to get comfortable alone. Then again, maybe it was the rough sheets and hard mattress that was his problem. What was missing your family compared to lumpy mattresses anyway?

With a groan, Shawn rolled over trying to get comfortable enough to at least doze. He pulled an extra pillow closer and hugged it, which helped a little, but the pillow was no substitute for Katy.

With a sudden moment of clarity, Shawn sat up in bed. What the hell was he doing here? Working? It just wasn't enough of a reason. If he was this miserable then it was time to do something about it. Shawn was half out of bed before he remembered that it was the middle of the night. Instead he laid back down with a fierce determination burning bright inside him, and no hope of a good night's sleep. Shawn tried to sleep just enough so he would be safe to drive tomorrow.

His dreams were fractured and his sleep horrible, but when morning finally came, Shawn jumped out of bed and packed up his truck without a moment's hesitation. It felt good to be moving, moving towards what he wanted for a change.

Arriving exactly where he wanted to be, Shawn parked the truck and ran inside. He saw her at once and he smiled without meaning to, like he always did when she was around.

"Katy!" Shawn called, running towards her.

"Shawn?" his wife's voice was stunned, her eyes wide as she saw him.

Reaching her, Shawn wrapped his arms around his wife and spun her around lifting her into the air.

"I thought you were going to be out on that story for at least a week?" Katy asked, but her smile said it all.

"I quit!" Shawn exclaimed.

"You quit your job?" Katy asked for confirmation as he set her down.

"Yep," Shawn grinned.

"Don't you think this is something we are suppose to talk about first?" Katy asked.

"Oh right," Shawn said, his excitement dying down a little. She didn't look mad though. In fact, she was giggling a little at him. "What's so funny?"

"You're crazy," Katy told him easily. "You know that, right?"

"Crazy for you," Shawn told her, smiling. He reached out to take her hands and look her in the eyes before adding. "I hate leaving almost as much as I hate being away from my family."

"I love you too," Katy told him. Then she kissed him. Shawn took the invitation to kiss her more deeply, his hands pulling her close. He kissed down her neck as his hands moved up her back. He heard that soft moan from deep in her throat. Shawn grinned into their kiss. He wasn't surprised when he felt her hands at his belt.

Shawn couldn't remember ever being so comfortable. The world was a better place in his own bed, his wife asleep in his arms. Her shoulders were bare - much like the rest of her - and he traced his fingers gently over her perfect skin, smiling to himself.

"You know it's creepy watching people sleep," Katy said.

"Then I'm creepy," Shawn replied easily. He paused for a moment before adding. "I've never hated hotel beds so much before I got used to sleep beside youuu." Shawn tried and failed to stifle a huge yawn as he finished speaking.

"Did you get any sleep last night?" she asked.

"Some," he said, his energy from seeing Katy again fading as comfort took over.

"And then you drove all day," Katy sighed. "It's a wonder you made it home without driving off a cliff."

"Home," Shawn mumbled, snuggling in and closing his eyes.

"If you weren't so damn adorable I'd have to be mad you made such an important decision without consulting me," Katy said.

"You have to admit, it was romantic," Shawn added, grinning with his eyes still shut tight.

"Yes fine," Katy sighed. "But what are you gonna do now?"

"I emailed my boss that I couldn't do the long trips anymore," Shawn mumbled. "If they don't need local work than I'll just look for something." He sensed himself falling asleep as he said, "Missed my bed."

"Well, I have things to do before Maya gets home," Katy began. Shawn felt her move as if she were leaving, and reached out to hold her there.

"You have your bed," Katy chuckled.

"Missed my wife," Shawn corrected his previous statement. He felt her surrender as she settled down into his arms, letting him hold her as he fell asleep.

Shawn woke up in an empty bed, but it was his bed. The room was full of Katy's things and he was home. Checking his phone, Shawn saw an email from his boss and read it quickly. He couldn't say he was surprised by any of it. They wanted the article he'd been working on, then he was off the hook. Luckily, before his crazy dash home, Shawn had finished all the leg work. He only had editing left, and resolved to finish that this morning. The email said they didn't need only local writers, but if the opportunity arose, they'd contact him.

Stretching, Shawn sat up unable to keep a smile off his face. He never had to get in his car and drive away from home ever again. His smile faltered as he noticed the dripping sound coming from the wall. Walking over, Shawn went to investigate. Looking up, Shawn saw the water damage had gotten worse since he'd last been home. Shawn needed to make some money and he needed to do it now. They were getting out of this place, and he knew just where they needed to go.

The next few weeks flow by. When he wasn't handing out resumes, Shawn was trying to fix leaky pipes at home. Even unemployed they weren't too bad off since Katy was being paid better on the movie set than at Topanga's cafe. With her two jobs still intact, Shawn didn't see as much of his wife as he'd like, but Maya was home and Shawn often found himself at Cory's. It was there that he voiced his plan to his best friend. Shawn was hardly surprised by Cory's reaction, after all, it had been Cory who'd come up with it years ago.

"I'm so excited!" Cory giggled. "Oh, and Riley will do her 'it's a great day to be a Riley' thing! This is brilliant Shawny!"

"Breath, bubby," Shawn chuckled. "Breath."

The more jobs Shawn applied for, the more he realized he wasn't qualified for anything that didn't involve photos or writing, which was greatly limiting his options. Shawn remembered working in the dark room at the end of high school, developing photos. The modern digital camera had quite destroyed that industry now. It was rather amazing to think of the changes that come with time.

"You know who you should talk to," Cory said suddenly. "Jack!"

"Jack?" Shawn asked incredulously. "Why?"

"To get a job," Cory explained.

"I think I'd rather be unemployed than work for his company," Shawn replied.

"Fair enough," Cory sighed.

"Have you told Katy about your plan?" Cory asked.

"No," Shawn said. "And don't you go telling your wife about it you big blabbermouth. Women talk."

"Wait, are you asking me to keep a secret from Topanga?" Cory asked shocked.

"No, I'm asking you not to tell her something," Shawn rephrased.

"I'm not sure I can do that Shawny," Cory said seriously.

"You're useless," Shawn grumbled.

"I can't help it," Cory whined. "I'll be excited, and she'll ask why and I will just spill all the beans."

"Don't look excited then?" Shawn offered, but he knew he was asking the impossible.

Shawn decided to hold out hope that at least Topanga could keep her mouth shut for a few days while he thought about how to pitch the idea to Katy. Him having a job would definitely help, but alas he hadn't quite managed this yet. Though it wasn't for lack of trying.

His folder of resumes empty, Shawn decided to call it quits early and go home. Maybe he'd apply for a few more jobs online tonight after dinner.

When Shawn opened his front door, he was about to call out to his wife but he noticed something sitting on the table by the door. The small box was technically in Katy's purse, but enough of it was sticking out for Shawn to read the writing on it. He froze. His mind trying and failing to process the meaning of the item.

"You're home early," it was Katy's voice, but Shawn didn't look away from her purse. He heard her soft 'oh' as she most likely noticed where he was looking.

"Were you going to tell me?" Shawn asked slowly.

"Nothing to tell," Katy explained. "I kinda lost track, so I thought I'd check. It's no big thing."

Shawn finally looked away from the box and turned to face her. "It is a big thing," Shawn whispered. "Big emotional thing."

"I just forgot to write down my last cycle, is all," Katy defended herself. "It feels like it's been longer than it should so I wanted to check. I didn't want to worry you in case it was nothing."

Moving forward to take her hands in his, Shawn looked his wife in the eyes before speaking. "No matter how small the worry, I always want to know. Even if there is nothing to tell, if there is something to worry about I want to be right there worrying with you. Okay?"

"Okay," Katy whispered, he eyes glossy. Shawn gently kissed her, before reaching behind him and handing her the box.

"I kinda thought you'd be more freaked out," Katy admitted as she opened the box.

"Me too," Shawn answered. "But I'm not." It was a strange feeling, this sense of calm. He wasn't sure what to make of it.

Katy walked to the bathroom with the little stick in her hand, and Shawn stood outside the door waiting. A few minutes later they were sitting on the couch counting the seconds until they'd know.

It was strange how many thoughts you can have in just three minutes. The pieces in his head were all fitting together, clicking into place. They'd have an even better reason to move. Maybe he wouldn't need a job, but could stay home. What would Maya think? Would he be any good at it? Had Shawn learned enough from Maya, or was Shawn destined to end up like his father? The timing could be better with him unemployed and their rental falling apart, but there was no such thing as a perfect time so...

"Negative."

The word didn't quite register all at once. Shawn's mind had to come back from imagining the future to exist in the present.

"See, I told you it was nothing to worry about," Katy smiled at him.

"Yeah," Shawn mumbled. "Right." He felt strange. The calm that had held him before was gone, replace with something else he didn't much care for.

"That's with that face?" Katy asked.

"What face?" Shawn replied, trying to push away the unwanted feeling.

"Oh my god!" Katy gasped, her hands over her mouth in shock. "You're disappointed."

"I-" Shawn began, about to deny it, but he couldn't. She's perfectly identified the feeling he hadn't been able to name.

"We've never talked about kids before," Shawn whispered. "I don't want you to feel pressured or anything. I didn't even realize until just now-"

"That you want to have a baby," Katy finished his sentence for him.

Shawn's throat was too thick with emotion to speak so he nodded. He was suddenly so scared. Shawn closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around her, tightly.

"I love you," he whispered in her ear.

"I love you too," Katy whispered back. She tried to pull out of the hug, but he clung on. He realized in that moment that it wasn't so much that he wanted a kid, it was more that he wanted one with her.

"Shh, it's okay," Katy tried to soothe him. "Just listen to me." Slowly Shawn moved back to look at her face while she spoke.

"In my experience, having a child with someone leads to losing them," Katy said. "Maya's father and I never fought so much before Maya was born."

"I-" Shawn began, wanting to deny this ever happening to them.

"But," Katy continued cutting him off with a smile. "I know that won't happen with us."

"What are you saying?" Shawn asked, his heart pounding.

"I'm saying we'll have to figure out how it's going to work," Katy smiled. "I'm not exactly twenty anymore, and I don't even know if we will be able to, but let's stop trying to prevent it."

Shawn was sure the pounding of his heart was making him light headed, but he didn't care. Pulling her into his arms, Shawn kissed his wife like he'd never kissed her before. His hands trailed over her skin in that way he knew drove her crazy.

"Oh you want to start now, do you?" Katy laughed.

"I've got it all worked out," Shawn said as he skinned her collarbones. "We are moving into Cory's building. There's a vacant apartment across from theirs. I was going to wait and tell you after I had a job, but-" His hands were trying to part her with her clothes now, as he enjoyed her soft moans.

"But what?" Katy asked.

"How would you like a stay at home dad?" Shawn chuckled as he teased her, kissing down her neck.

"At the moment I want my husband to stop teasing me," Katy gasped. And Shawn did as he was bid, carrying her off to their bedroom.

Thoughts? Comments? Leave me a review! Next chapter is finished and should be up soon. I am trying to wrap this thing up.

Sneak Peek Chapter 12

Katy jumped, then ran for the door. The man who stood there resembled Katy far more than Shawn had expected. They had the same mouth and nose. Katy's hair was lighter than her father's, but the similarities were unmistakable.

"Hey dad," Katy smiled.

"Come here kid," Paul said, moving forward to scoop her up into his arms. "It's been too long!"

"And this must be Shawn," Paul said, extending his hand to shake Shawn's.

"That's me," Shawn said, not sure what to make of the man. He'd so far made a very different impression than Katy had described.

"It's so nice not to have a son-in-law named Kermit," Paul chuckled. "Let me tell you."

"I must confess to laughing a little when I heard the name as well," Shaw admitted.

"I like you, kid," Paul said, throwing an arm around Shawn's shoulders as he walked further into the apartment.