A/N: I recently realized what a novel idea an author's note is. Anyway, since I only have a few more chapters left, I might be updating with between 1-3 chapters. This time, I think only one. Just to see what you guys think of it. I was particularly nervous about this chapter, which is why it took me so long to update. As usual, tell me what you think:

Last Thing On Earth

Shawn picked up the phone and headed to his room. The last thing on earth he wanted to do was face Stacey again, but he knew it was right.

He fished through his drawers until he found an old composition notebook. He searched for her number and slowly dialed it in.

Ring.

Maybe she wouldn't answer.

Ring.

Maybe he had dreamed all of this.

Ring.

"Hello?"

"Stacey, this is Shawn. I know I hung up on you the other day, but my girlfriend was in the room."

"Did you tell her?" she questioned.

"Yes, just a while ago," Shawn replied. "And that's what I need to talk to you about."

There was silence on the other end.

"I'm so sorry about what I did to you. I wish I could go back in time, and make it so that it never happened. But I can't. All I can do is assure you that it meant nothing to me. Stacey, you know I can sometimes be impulsive with my emotions. That's exactly what happened. And nothing more. I really care about you. I always have cared for you, like an older sister. But I don't love you. I've never loved anyone until I met Angela. She was the only reason I could wake up every morning and know that the world was still spinning the way it always has. I love her. That's all there is to it. But now that I've ruined my relationship with her, I don't know what else I have to live for."

"I'm sorry, Shawn," Stacey said solemnly. "It was all my fault."

"No," Shawn insisted. "It was just as much my fault."

"Anyway," Stacey began, her voice growing stronger, "I don't want you to have to decide what to do 'til the baby comes. It'll be better that way. And it'll give you some more time to think. Ok, Shawn?"

He nodded absentmindedly, but said into the phone: "I'll visit you as much as I can. Goodbye."

And he hung up.

"Did you mean it?"

Shawn spun around. "What?"

"Did you mean it? Everything you said about loving me."

"Angela, when did you get here?" Shawn asked, slowly approaching her.

She backed away. "You didn't answer my question."

"Of course," he reassured her. "I'm not foolish enough to lie to you again."

"Shawn, you could never know how hurt I feel." Angela moved in closer.

"Maybe I don't know how you feel, Angela," Shawn responded, taking her hands and holding them tightly in his. "All I know is that I feel awful for having done this to you. And it's killing me."

"I know. But if, hypothetically, we get back together, we don't know what this is going to do to our relationship. No matter what you do or how any of us feel, you still have an obligation to that girl and your child. That's never going to change."

"I realize that." Shawn sighed. He looked straight into her eyes, but said nothing else.

"So I guess this is it," Angela said finally.

"I guess," Shawn replied, loosening his grip on Angela.

"Well, I should leave then." She smiled weakly.

"I'll never forget what you did for me, Angela," he said, and walked back into his room.

"Wait," Angela said. She walked up to him, took him by his shoulders, and pressed her lips against his.

Shawn's head spun as he closed his eyes and took in her touch.

She let go.

"What was that?" Shawn stammered.

"Your second chance," Angela answered.

"But..."

Angela put her finger to his lips and shook her head. "Too many important people have walked out of you in your life. I'm not going to be the next."

"But Angela..."

Angela interrupted again. "You know as well as I do that this is not going to be easy, but I care for you far too much to give up on us." She gently pushed a strand of hair out of his face and stroked the side of his cheek.

"I love you," she said at last. "I don't think I could ever really show it to you."

Shawn kissed her softly. "I think you already have."

A/N: Aww. How sweet. Maybe you think it's unrealistic, but I can't see it any other way. Maybe in the sequel, if there is one, this whole ordeal will cause further problems... For my 3 regular readers, thanks for commenting, and if anyone else is reading this and has not commented, please just jot down a quick thought. I would appreciate it a lot :)