Chapter 3

Everyone was all packed up and ready to go; the only person they were waiting for was Jack. Lately he'd been going out quite often, sometimes spending many days away. He wasn't late or anything, they just wanted to make sure that they all left together. Shawn was starting to get frantic.

Shawn: Oh come on! Where is he? We've got a lot of ground to cover, if he messes this up I'm gonna—

Cory: You know? It's nice to be the one keeping it together, for a change.

Shawn: You think he's with Corinna?

Eric: Nope, she's on tour already. Left two days after the show.

Rachel: So, if he hasn't been with her, where's he been?

As they sat there, trying to figure out where he's been going, he walks through the front door.

Jack: Hey guys, you ready to get this show on the road?

Angela: We've just been waiting for you.

Topanga: halfway there we've got to stop at a restaurant.

Shawn: Why?

Angela: I agree with her Shawn.

Cory: I'm gonna have to say that we listen to them.

Shawn: Cory, we still have so much to do, we can make it to Philadelphia much faster—

Cory: Shawn, we're dealing with two pregnant women here. You don't want to mess with them.

Shawn looked over at Topanga and Angela; the look they had on their faces was utterly terrifying.

Shawn: You are absolutely right.

Cory: (gleefully) it's fun being the rational one.

Eric: Well, we've still got a couple of hours before we head out. Everyone do a final check before we go.

His phone rang, and he answered, walking into the kitchen to take the call. Shawn turned his attention to Jack.

Shawn: Where have you been lately?

Jack: Out, I've needed some time to figure stuff out.

Shawn: Like what? We've been bonding a lot more lately, and I've actually missed you.

Jack: I know; I've just had some important things to do. I promise I'll tell you about all of it; But enough about me. Rachel, Angela, Topanga, you guys mind leaving us alone for a bit?

Angela: Sure, do that whole "guy time" bit.

The girls left to give them some privacy. By this time Eric was off the phone. And he had rejoined the rest of the guys.

Eric: So Shawn, freaking out yet?

Shawn: (nervously) No, I'm perfectly fine. Everything is going just fine. You hear me guys, fine.

Jack: (looking at Cory) Weird being the one with his composure intact?

Cory: No it's actually fun. This is a treat for me.

Eric: Hunter, can I call you Hunter?

Shawn: Just call me Shawn, like you always have.

Eric: Hunter, you'll be okay, it's all going to go just right, and we'll be back home, deal?

Jack: We'll be back before you know it. And then we'll be figuring the next chapter of our lives.

Cory: I hate to cut this short, but we should hang with our women now. We are taking separate cars for the trip. The guys in one car; the girls in the other.

Shawn: (calming) yeah, yeah; all of you are right. I'm just afraid that, everything will go wrong. I mean, come on guys, this is me. Every time I'm happy, things go wrong, completely wrong. I don't want to lose her. I don't want to lose anyone ever again.

Jack: Listen to me, we lost our father, but we got closer.

Cory: You let her go to Europe, to spend time with her father. And you lost touch.

Eric: And I found her.

Shawn: I know guys; but what's the point?

Jack: The point is that, yeah you've had it hard; but you also had us.

Cory: We're not going to let anything happen. We'll just take it as it comes.

Eric: And beat the crap out of it! (Goofily profound) For we are, the mighty Matthews-Hunter clan, indomitable to fate.

At that, all the men went to join their respective women, for the final hour. Each, just comfortable, in each other's arms. When the time had finally arrived, they loaded all their suitcases into the cars, gave hugs and kisses, and then started for the highway. Save for the pit-stop, they'd be back in Philadelphia in no time.