Authors Notes: Thanks for all the reviews! I'm sorry this took so long to post…hopefully it won't disappoint. I know it's short…but I wanted to get this up…plus I didn't want anything else in this chapter. Slowly…things must progress slowly!

Early Christmas Present

"Come on Shawn! Christmas is in a week…you have to come home with us!" Corey exclaimed.

Shawn looked at the expectant looks on the faces of his friends. They decided enough was enough, he had to come home this year. He had stayed behind every other occasion, and it was time for him to see the city of brotherly love once more.

"I don't think that's such a good idea. I mean, you guys don't want to leave your apartment unattended right? What if your fish dies?"

"Shawn, it's a goldfish…it was fifty cents, I think we'll move on." Topanga replied.

"Fine, I'll go pack." Shawn huffed and left the apartment, making the long trek four rooms down.

He entered his apartment and fell onto the couch. There was no reason for him to dread going home. It's not like something bad would happen. His thoughts immediately jumped to Morgan, and he groaned. She couldn't possibly still have that crush on him could she? Was that why he hadn't gone back in nearly two years?

A knock at the door broke him from his reverie. Shawn threw himself off the couch and answered the door. Eric stood there with a smile.

"Hey Shawn!" He shouldered his way inside. "I hear you're finally coming home with us."

"Yeah, Corey got to me…"

"I figured as much. So, um, look…I know why you haven't gone back with us before." Eric sat down on the coffee table.

"And why is that?" Shawn's interests were peaked, so he decided to humor Eric and his latest off the wall idea.

"It's because of Morgan."

Shawn's heart stopped for a moment, and a lump formed in his throat.

"What? What are you talking about?"

"Let's just say it's amazing what you learn when everyone assumes you're stupid."

Shawn was completely speechless. Eric grinned, stood up, and patted Shawn on the shoulder.

"Be ready to leave in 20 minutes…"

Whatever Shawn had anticipated leaving Eric's lips that definitely was not it. He figured Eric would assume he didn't want to return home because of memories of Angela. That's what everyone else always seemed to think. That the reason he was secluded himself, his motivation for staying hidden in New York was a girl that walked out on him two years ago. If they only knew…

Morgan sighed as she cleaned up her room. Everyone was coming tonight, well almost everyone. She had grown to accept the fact that Shawn was avoiding her. The first Christmas after they left for New York was nearly traumatizing when Corey, Eric, and Topanga came skipping into the living room…without him.

A ringing phone snapped her from her reverie, and upon looking at the caller ID she snatched it up.

"Hello?" She asked cautiously.

"MORGAN!" Eric nearly yelled into the phone.

She let out a breath she didn't know she was holding.

"Hey Eric, what's going on?"

"Not much, just calling to let you all know we're on our way home. Just about 30 minutes away."

"You aren't driving are you? Because I would appreciate it if you got my brother and sister in law home safely." She joked.

"Oh no, Shawn's driving."

She froze, if this was some sort of a sick prank she'd stab Eric in the forehead.

"Um, excuse me?" Morgan could practically feel Eric's grin on the other end of the phone.

"You heard me Morg…Shawn's driving. Meaning, he's coming home for Christmas…meaning th"

"Eric, SHUT UP!"

"I was just going to say that Mom needs to set another place at the dinner table. Geez, what did you think I was implying?"

Morgan could picture the smirk gracing his features, and the playful twinkle shining in his eyes.

"I'm going to kill you one of these days, but until then…"

"Love ya Morg!" Eric said while hanging up.

"Um….so how's Morgan?" Shawn asked awkwardly, glancing at Eric who sat beside him in the car. Corey's curly head was visible two cars ahead of them.

"Just great actually. But next time, why don't you ask her yourself…okay Casanova?"

Morgan, at some point after Eric hung up the phone, had fallen on her bed. Her spread out form crinkled the sheets she had worked to straighten, and she carelessly knocked a few pillows off the bed. He was coming home. Shawn was actually coming home.