Omg, it's been two years, Psych-o's! I'm sorry for the wait, but as you can see I'm not abandoning this collection completely, haha. So what's been happening in the Psych world... I loved the movie 'This Is Gus', I mean, really loved it! The first one was great, the second one was still funny but a bit absurd at times, but the third one was fantastic! What do you think?

So, back to my next missing scene moment. This one was inspired by a request from the lovely SnydersOfHanover who I admire very much. I think her stories were one of the first I ever read on this site here!

Thanks to cosette141 for proofreading! I really feared I had lost touch with my inner Psych-o after such a long time, haha!

Missing Scene 8x10 "The Break-Up"

...

At the beginning of this last episode we see Shawn struggling to compile a video message to Gus, trying to explain his decision to move to San Francisco to be with Juliet. This is what could have happened before... when he visits his girlfriend over the weekend and realizes for the first time that he would put Jules over Gus.

...

Shawn squinted as the sun shone into his eyes. But the smile beneath was genuine, not just an involuntary effect that came with squinting. He breathed in deeply. The smell of the ocean just so outmatched the smell of petrol and exhaust when a breeze came from the left and tousled his hair around that stuck out from his helmet.

He remembered what he loved most about riding his motorcycle and smiled a little brighter. This was just perfect.

Or maybe what made him so happy was actually the fact that he got to see Jules again.

Just another hour until he'd reach San Francisco.

The stretch was surprisingly empty at the moment so Shawn gave a little manic laugh and accelerated to arrive there quicker.

He remembered last Sunday when he'd seen her last. An almost embarrassingly, cheesy goodbye at the door. Blown kisses and silly voices; the whole shebang. He'd promised to call as soon as he was home safe and it was indeed the first thing he did. It had been late, but Jules stayed awake, waiting for his call.

They talked for another hour. About nothing and everything. Just to hear the other one's voice. Just to feel close. Then they said a longing goodnight and called each other again the next evening.

Has that only been five days ago?

Today was Friday, so it must.

To Shawn it felt more like five years. He'd almost forgotten what his girlfriend looked like. Despite his photographic memory and the fact that he spent an awful lot of time gazing at her picture that he kept on his phone as a screensaver. It was getting harder finding excuses when Gus catches him staring so he wouldn't have to admit that he was turning into sappy, lovesick fool. Mental images, no matter how vivid, just weren't enough.

Shawn couldn't keep count of the times he was thinking of her, missing her, wondering what she was doing, what she would say to a funny quip he just made. Would she laugh? Would her eyes sparkle in that way they always do? Or would she roll them, fed up but nonetheless amused by his antics?

Shawn caught himself thinking of her once again. He sped around a car that was driving ahead and suddenly there was Jules' voice in his head, reminding him, as always, to drive carefully and he slowed down a little.

So often had he done that trip now that Shawn could probably drive it blindfolded. He found getting up there took him longer than driving back down, but that was just a trick his mind played on him.

It was just that he was looking forward to see Jules so much that the drive felt like an eternity.

The scenery was nice, though. There was nothing he used to enjoy more than riding his motorcycle up and down the coast. With the wind and the sun in his face and freedom in his heart.

Right now, the only thing in his heart was Jules and he'd have preferred sitting in the passenger seat of her little green Volkswagen with her beside him.

Funny, he thought, how much things can change.

Shawn flashed the turn signal and left the highway, heading towards the city of San Francisco.

His heart was doing an excited little flip. It wouldn't be long now. He could've arrived earlier but he had to listen to an overexcited rant of Gus first, because he apparently was offered a new, fancy job. Shawn only half-listened but Gus didn't seem to notice. He was too excited himself.

Now it was evening and the golden sun shone its light up the steep, straight San Francisco roads. Shawn passed the cable cars and the Golden Gate Bridge that was visible from almost everywhere and then he parked his motorcycle in front of a nice city loft and he practically skipped up the stairs to ring the doorbell.

He took off his helmet at the last second – he'd forgotten it in his hurry – and ran a hand through his dark-brown hair. That was the sight to which Jules opened the door. A huge smile on her face.

The California sun can suck it, Shawn decided, because his girlfriend was made out of sunshine.

He was absolutely sure.

"Hi, Sweetie." he said, matching her smile.

"Shawn." she answered and it sounded like a sigh. Like she was holding her breath, waiting for this moment. Then she wound her arms around his neck, stood on her tiptoes and kissed him hello.

It had been their routine for several weeks now. Almost two months actually. Sixty days and they've been seeing each other for a mere twenty of them. The weekends always passed in the blink of an eye, but they tried to make the most of it.

Sometimes they tumbled straight to bed, no matter what time of day. But that's not all they did.

Jules told him excitedly about her new police station, about her new position as Head Detective that she more than deserved and about her new junior partner. She'd already introduced them – a nice, timid guy named Sam – and she'd shown him around at the SFPD, giving him the opportunity to say hello to Chief Vick.

This evening Jules had prepared dinner. She normally wasn't one to cook. She would, but mostly she just didn't find the time to prepare an awful lot and then stand around in the kitchen for another hour. No, Jules had to have her food quick. So, if they didn't go out, then Shawn would do the cooking. He was quite good actually; Jules loved it.

Having dinner ready for him for once pleased her endlessly. Shawn smirked at her proud, red-cheeked grin and when they sat down to eat and she asked how it was, Shawn said that he loved the food... even though Jules had overdone it with the salt.

Her smile was worth the little white lie.

Then she plunged into the crime stories of the week. San Francisco was a great deal more exciting than Santa Barbara it seemed and her enthusiasm with which she narrated, further convinced Shawn that her heartbreaking decision to leave her old stomping ground was the right one.

She's happy here, Shawn recognized. I'll be happy, too, when I move here.

Whoa, wait for it. What am I thinking? Shawn swallowed around a bite of food and mentally stepped on the brakes.

It was the overactive, commitment-shy, impulsive part of his brain that was childishly acting up again. Shawn calmed it with a new inner voice that was maturer and growing stronger every day.

It's alright to move forward. It's alright as long as it's with Jules.

In fact, his instant first reaction to the news that Jules was taking Chief Vick's job offer had been to pack up and leave with her. He didn't want to be away from her. Not for a second. But Jules rationalized, something she could do so well, explaining why it would be more reasonable for him to stay behind and tie up loose ends first.

Well, to be honest, what he did in those weeks without her hadn't much to do with tying things up. There were cases and Gus and the sweevil new Head Detective for the SBPD and, of course, there was the anticipation of seeing his girlfriend on the weekends.

Shawn had grown accustomed to this new routine. He didn't really like it, but it quickly became the new normal.

Except, there was a gnawing feeling inside of him. Something that was growing and growing with each passing day. Something that had been subtly at the corner of his mind from the beginning, but by now constantly in the midst of his consciousness.

It was all about Jules.

The loss of not having her around weighed heavy on his heart.

Shawn was used to hide his true feelings. Not only about Jules, but about everything and everyone else, too. The Spencer men and their awkward refusal to talk about stuff. It never bothered Shawn much, except for when it really mattered and he wished it would be easier to say the things he wanted to say.

But his habit of living with the unsaid made it easier to ignore the gnawing pain.

"Just another few days. Soon I'll see her again. Gus will keep me busy. Work will keep me busy. Dad will keep me… on edge. And if worse comes to worse, Jules is only one phone call away."

Those were the things Shawn would tell himself during the week. To make the loss bearable.

Focusing on his weekend now made it all worth the wait. The silly conversations, the laughs and the love. It was all he wanted.

It was all he needed.

Shawn and Jules went to bed early but slept in the next day. They had breakfast in bed, made an adequately huge mess and Shawn would've liked nothing more than to stay in all day.

Jules dragged him out, however. They still weren't done exploring the city and she refused to do it without him. So Saturday was spent wandering the town, arms linked or clasped hands swinging between them, hopping on tourist buses or getting lost in the backstreets. As a cop Jules felt she had to know this town inside and out. It was always handy to know shortcuts.

Later, they were eating out. Never in the same restaurant twice. As a fan of delicious flavor Shawn felt he had to know this town inside and… well you get the idea. And it was always handy to know where one could get the best Quatro Quesos Dos Fritos or the largest pineapple smoothie.

Throughout the day Shawn's phone beeped with incoming messages from Gus. He took a glance at them but since Gus was still going on about his potential new job where he now secured an interview for Monday, Shawn figured a reply could wait until later. He was too distracted now.

Night came, the couple was getting cozy again and Shawn still hadn't answered. Other things on his mind. Could happen to anyone, right?

Sunday's were lazy. They hardly left the couch and fed on various, gigantic bowls of snacks. The TV was on, showing obscure films from Shawn's beloved Eighties or something romantic or alternatively something kick-ass for Jules. And they couldn't be happier, snuggling so tight they couldn't tell their limbs from one another. Breathing as one in contentment.

At least until it was getting late and Shawn knew if he'd wait any longer, he'd be too tired to make it all the way back to Santa Barbara. And he wondered, all of a sudden, why he even had to drive back at all.

Well… because of Gus, of course. And Dad. And Psych. Those cases won't solve itself. I have kittens to channel and Civil Wars to reenact… wait, did that already happen? Anyways…

That was why he had to get back. Right?

Shawn and Jules began the process of saying goodbye. He didn't bring much. Half his clothes were already here and Jules would wash them so he'd have something to wear the next time he came around.

They hugged for a long time, hands caressing each other's back, taking in the smell of one other. A kiss. Maybe two. Maybe more.

"Drive safe."

"I always drive safe, Jules."

"Will you call when you get home?"

"The second I open the door, I promise."

Words that were always exchanged. Final words, they knew, but this time something wasn't right. It never felt right to Shawn to leave her, but today the gnawing pain just blatantly refused to be pushed to the side or be fought down. No, it stayed there front and center and it hurt; it physically hurt him to turn away from Jules.

He stroked his knuckles over her cheek. She smiled, but there was already longing in her eyes and he hadn't even left yet. She would never say it, never pressure him, but her eyes were begging him to stay.

Shawn's stomach twisted with sudden, overwhelming unease that he couldn't exactly place. He kissed her one final time and turned away quickly, confused by his bubbling feelings.

Once more, Shawn was riding alongside the ocean. Southwards this time. Again the breeze in his face and the first stars were twinkling and guiding his way. But Shawn didn't take note of them. He zoomed down the road without any sense of time passing. Lost deep in his thoughts.

What was he doing here? How long should it go on like this? Burning petrol, driving up and down the 101 just because… what exactly? Because he couldn't decide where to live? Didn't he already know? Deep down in his heart. Didn't it tell him every day where his place was, screaming in pain whenever he left again. But it wasn't right. It couldn't be right. Gus wasn't there. Gus had always been there. As long as Shawn could think… Gus had been there. How could a place without his best friend in the whole world feel like home?

The phone in Shawn's pocket vibrated. His thoughts were derailed for a moment. Jules, he wondered, warmness blooming in his chest. But she wouldn't call when she knew he was driving. That was why he phoned her when he arrived.

Who else then?

Oh, probably Gus again. Seriously, how cool could this new job be that he was constantly feeling the need to inform him about it?

Suddenly, Shawn's eyes widened in realization. He almost fully hit the brakes, but luckily had enough sense to drive on, albeit a bit slower.

The whole time Gus had talked about his new job, Shawn hadn't really shown interest. To be fair, he did that often when his best friend started to rant about something boring. But this was something major, something Shawn was better off knowing a few things about since it was the job that he'd probably end up dragging Gus away from when his real job, in form of a new case, came in.

But Shawn hadn't paid attention. He hadn't even replied to any of Gus' text messages and only remembered that he got them right now. Uh, oh, would Gus be mad?

But he spent the weekend with Jules. Jules was always the exception. They only saw each other for two and a half days throughout a week. Gus had to understand that he had other things on his mind, right? He missed Jules. He missed her so much that she occupied most of his brain for the rest of the week anyway. Whereas, Shawn couldn't even remember how Gus came to this fancy job offer.

What is happening? Since when do I block out this lovable magic head so completely? I love Gus. Sure, I do. He's my buddy. Always has been. Of course I care about him and where he works.

But, Shawn realized, he hadn't missed him. Not like he missed Jules. He will miss Gus fiercely when he would be living up north permanently, because, let's face it, that was where all of this was leading, but… maybe… just possibly… he would eventually be able to live on without Gus by his side.

What he couldn't do was living without Jules.

It was the true reason, the root of this uneasy feeling inside of him. The conflict he didn't know he was fighting.

Because it felt wrong. Life without Gus felt wrong. Like a vital piece of him was missing. But Jules was his heart, his everything. He was forced to experience before how life would be without her when she found out the truth about his psychic abilities and it was something that Shawn never wanted to repeat.

Jules was home.

Gus was… security.

Shawn was thinking about his weekend. About how carefree and happy he felt in this city loft with Jules. Still a stranger in this town but perfectly happy and content. It was easy to imagine that it could go on like that forever.

Because he had all that he really needed.

Maybe he was ready to live without his safety net…

Shawn did almost miss his exit towards Santa Barbara. It felt strange coming back. Not quite real. His mind was racing, forming a thousand thoughts per second. But he couldn't find an answer to the dilemma he was facing now:

How on earth should he say goodbye to Gus?

That line that Jules "is made out of sunshine" is actually something James had said about Maggie once in a radio interview. It was so sweet I had to bring it into this story! :)

Thanks to everyone who's still reading! I'm going through my list of requests now to see what's next... but no promises, it could take a while...

In the meantime, I would love to know what you think about this missing scene, so please review lovely readers!