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Life has been good – great, even, since Cory had confessed to Shawn and Shawn had kissed him in Vermont. They had opted to take things slow, but there had definitely been a lot of exploration that they were quite happily playing around with.
It was different in a good way. Shawn already knew that he hadn’t gotten passed first base with Topanga, and that he was already nervous about all that, especially with Shawn being far more experienced with women, but he’s not a woman, and they were both new to fooling around with a man. It made it easier and less nerve-wrecking that they were on the same page and same level of experience.
Sex wasn’t off the table, just not ready, yet.
Kissing Shawn was definitely, amazingly, on the table. He loves making out with the makeout king. He loves feelings Shawn’s beard against his skin. He loves the easy way that his hands can wander down his chest and in his hair without worrying about crossing a boundary and upsetting him.
It’s, honestly, just ridiculously easy being with him.
Except, of course, the next part of this.
He and Shawn had been together for nearly three months, they’d sent postcards and deliberately only left messages for Cory’s parents when they knew they’d be at work or too busy to answer. The one time he had gotten on the phone with them, he’d been a nervous wreck talking about him and Shawn because he wasn’t sure how to come out to them, especially since they were already mad that he’d quit school to play around with his video camera, traveling the country with Shawn.
And, well, they never exactly talked about the possibility of kids – their kids – being not straight. It was always assumed especially with him that he was straight, and he would eventually marry Topanga.
Would his parents accept it? Would they accept Shawn as more than Cory’s best friend?
He’s not sure.
“It’s going to be okay, Cor,” Shawn assures him as he navigates through the snowstorm on their way to Philly for Christmas. “Whatever happens, your parents love you and we’ve proven over the last six months that we can make good money doing what we’re doing.”
Cory nods, glancing back at the trailer, which they’ve spruced up quite a bit. It’s a lot cleaner and more organized and it looks good for their home. A lot better than it did when Chet had it.
“I just – I don’t know if they’re going to be okay with you and me. I am worried that they’ll think you’re corrupting me or something and – and I know that they love you, too, but it’s –”
“I know,” Shawn offers. “But they made a point of telling us all about my stocking on the mantle, and how I’m family, too, and that they want us both to come home for the holidays.”
“Home is with you,” Cory says, honestly. Yes, his parents’ place is a bit of a home, too, but he truly feels at home with Shawn.
“Cute, Cor,” Shawn replies, sending him a grin before focusing on the road. “But we both know that when your mom says home – she means, her home – the one you grew up in and the one that I spent all of my childhood sneaking in and out of your window.”
Cory huffs. “Fine, but I just – how are we supposed to tell them?”
“Very carefully. Just take our time, when the moment is right, it’ll work out.”
Cory is usually the optimist between them, but clearly, there’s been something good about the last six months or so since going on this cross-country trip and re-finding their passions together that has ignited Shawn’s optimism.
“If you say so.”
“Don’t make things worse with assumptions, Cory,” Shawn states, giving him a sidelong glance. “Just hope for the best and if the worst happens – you’ll always have me.”
There’s a warmth that passes over him at that thought, always have Shawn, he has no idea what he’d do without him.
“I like the sound of that.”
“Good, then, you should stop worrying.”
“I’ll do my best.”
***
It’s nearly midnight when they finally make it to Cory’s childhood home. There’s a part of him that thinks maybe he should just sleep in the trailer, but the second that they pull up, the door opens, and he can hear Morgan’s “Mom, Dad, Cory and Shawn are home,” from inside the trailer.
Shawn laughs as they exit the cab and Cory shushes her. “It’s midnight, let them sleep.”
“Come on, Cory, you know they’ve been up all night waiting on you,” Morgan retorts as he gets close enough to the door to give him a hug.
She hugs Shawn, too, as Amy appears and hugs him, tightly. “My baby’s home!”
He can hear Shawn laughing behind him as he says, “Pretty sure Eric or Joshua should be –”
“You’re all my babies, Cory,” Amy retorts, as she lets him go. “Even Shawn is like one of my babies,” she adds as she pulls him in for a hug.
Alan hugs Cory, then Shawn, too.
Cory likes the smile on Shawn’s face as Alan lets go. “Your mother has been making a midnight snack, so don’t tell us that you’re too tired.”
“We’d love to have a midnight snack, Mr. Matthews,” Shawn offers.
“Alan,” Alan offers, putting an arm around Shawn’s shoulders. “Now, tell us all about your travels.”
“Gladly.”
***
It’s going well, even though everyone’s a bit sleepy.
Cory’s feeling pretty good about being home, his parents are happy and smiling at him and Shawn, and talking about how they’d been nervous, but proud of them for basically starting their own business that has been going very well.
That is until Morgan asks, “So, have you heard from Topanga?”
“Morgan,” Amy admonishes.
“What?” she asks but doesn’t get an answer.
“Actually, Morgan, I decided that it was for the best that we split up,” Cory states. “Mom was right, we should have spent high school exploring, maybe realizing a few things.”
He tries to resist looking at Shawn, but he knows that Shawn’s giving him a soft look. That hopelessly in love look that he’s come to completely adore over the last few months. He nudges him with his leg, but it’s too late, Morgan’s already giving them the most gleeful look, and Amy’s got her hands over her mouth.
Only Alan is looking confused, but the soft, slightly understanding look in her eyes prompts him to say, “Uh, well, it seems like Morgan and Mom have already sorted it out, but,” he glances at Shawn, who is giving him a very supportive smile and a slight nod. “… I spent a lot of time since the breakup thinking about why I wasn’t as hurt as I should’ve been, why I wasn’t as determined as I was when the thing with Lauren happened to make it all better, and why there was a part of me that was… frankly, relieved. And then, I realized something about myself and a few months ago when we were watching the leaves change in Vermont…” he takes Shawn’s hand in his and can see that it’s clicked for Alan.
He blinks, once, twice, three times before he starts to awkwardly laugh until Amy hits him on the arm.
“Sorry, sorry, I don’t – don’t mean to laugh,” Alan offers. “I – I am not really surprised… more surprised that it took so long, but –”
“What does that mean?” Cory asks. “Surprised it took so long?”
“Cory, every time you and Shawn got in a fight and tried to end your friendship, you acted heartbroken,” Amy offers. “It wasn’t exactly the same response that Eric had about Jason. It was more like your response to your breakups with Topanga except worse in some cases.”
“Yeah, well, losing Shawn…” he doesn’t exactly have the words, but maybe they make a good point. “… you’re… okay then?”
“Of course, Cory, we love you – both of you – no matter what,” Alan assures him, clapping his hand on his shoulder.
Cory lets out the breath that he didn’t even realize he’d been holding and smiles at Shawn as he squeezes his hand. “Good, that’s good. I was – kinda worried.”
“We understand,” Amy assures him. “But we’re happy for you.”
“Good,” Cory says, glancing at Shawn. “Because he makes me pretty happy.”
“We’re glad.”
***
The rest of the holidays go smoothly.
When Eric finally appears, sometime over the visit, all he says is, “About damn time,” in response, which is a good feeling.
By the time that they’re saying goodbye at the end of the holidays, Cory and Shawn can leave home completely content, knowing that the whole world is open for them, and they get to enjoy it together.
Which is utterly perfect.