The excitement briefly calmed down after awhile, as exhaustion began to catch up with the family.
Just as eight o' clock in the morning rolled around, the friends and families started to return to their apartments and hotel rooms to sleep awhile, as more relatives would be coming into NYC later that day. Only Shawn stayed, sharing some special alone time with Cory as they watched Riley sleep inside the nursery.
They leaned into the glass windows in silence for awhile, thoughtfully noticing the rising and falling of Riley's tiny chest. She had survived through the meetings with her family and friends-sleeping through all of the thrill-and was now wrapped up in a pink blanket, a small beanie of the same color warming her head.
"Congratulations, Cory." Shawn grinned, gripping his shoulder's as he slapped his back. "I can't believe you're actually a dad now."
"Neither can I." Cory said, still gazing at his daughter with a smile. "I can't believe I have a daughter lying right across from me."
"You're pretty blessed, huh? Pretty blessed..." Shawn's voice trailed off, remembering that they were now a family. He hadn't told Cory about his decision he had made in the waiting room, but unfortunately, now would be his only opportunity to tell him.
"You three are a family, and I couldn't be happier for you. I really couldn't." Shawn began. "But, it's time for me to move out."
Cory finally stopped looking at his daughter, turning to Shawn and saying, "Move out of the apartment? You don't have to do that, Shawn, you're not in the way."
"Yeah, I am." Shawn said. "When one door closes, another door opens. And when one door opens, another door closes. A new life is starting for you and Topanga, and I need to give you both some space."
Cory appeared solemn as he silently listened to Shawn. He didn't protest as he usually did, he just listened.
Shawn noticed his reaction, and he realized that Cory didn't argue because, unlike he usually did when it came to these kind of decisions, he was agreeing with him. "I'm leaving New York City today."
Glancing up at Shawn's serious, somber expression, Cory reached out his hand and pulled them both into a long, quiet hug.
"I'll really miss you, Shawn."
"I'll miss you too, Cor."
After a few moments, Shawn ended the hug with a final pat as he stepped away, smiling at Cory. "I'll see you at Christmas in a couple weeks."
With a little sniffle and a smile, Cory nodded. What Shawn had said was right, and the door to the relationship they had had forever closed today. It would still open, as they would always be best friends, but things wouldn't ever be like they had been.
Shawn turned around and headed for the elevator at the end of the hall, and the final ding once it reached the ground floor signaled his exit.
