Things have been difficult for Shawn the past few weeks. His dad was gone after his mom took their mobile home and left. His dad was out looking for her and Shawn has been staying at the Matthews' place for two weeks now. But even though Cory was one of his best friends and has been there for him through thick and thin, he was starting to feel like he's overstaying his welcome. He wasn't used to how Cory and his family did things.

He didn't want to feel like a burden. So, he left one night and found himself in front of a familiar window. In Gwen's room, there's only a lamp on and she's curled up on her bed, reading a book. He hesitated, feeling bad for bothering her, but he had no one else to turn to. He knocked on the window softly, watching as Gwen's head snapped up, her eyes widening. But she soon calmed down and a fond smile formed on her face as she saw who was at her window. She put a bookmark in her book and set it down, getting up and opening the window for him.

"Hey." He greeted, climbing inside and standing awkwardly by her desk.

"Hey, Shawnie." Gwen replies, her voice soft and sweet like always. "What are you doing here? I thought you were at the Matthews'?"

"I was." He mumbles, shifting uncomfortably. "I just...I needed to get away for a bit. Clear my head."

"Are you okay?" Gwen asked, her eyes filled with concern.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just...It's nothing." He sighs, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have bothered you. I'll just-"

"No, it's okay. You're never a bother." She said quickly, stepping closer to him. "You can talk to me, Shawnie. What's going on?"

He hesitated, unsure if he should burden her with his problems. She had enough going on with her mom leaving. But he knew he could trust her, so he decided to confide in her. "It's just...I feel like I'm imposing on the Matthews. I've been staying there for weeks now, and I feel like they're getting tired of me. And I don't know what to do. My dad isn't back, he hadn't called at all like he said he would which isn't surprising, and I'm just lost."

"Oh, Shawnie..." Gwen says gently, her hand reaching up to cup his cheek. "You know the Matthews love you, right? They'll never get tired of you. But you don't have to go back tonight if you don't want to. You can stay here. Dad wouldn't mind." She promised, and Shawn knew she was telling the truth.

"Really? I don't want to bother you guys." He said, but his heart felt lighter. He knew he could always count on Gwen and her family.

"What did I just say, silly? You're not a bother. We love having you around." She smiles up at him, her eyes twinkling. "Come on." She grabbed his wrist and pulled him out of her room and to the living room where her dad was watching a movie.

"Hey, dad." She greeted, and Ian's head snapped up, a warm smile forming on his face as he spotted the two teenagers.

"Hey, pumpkin." He replied, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Shawn." He nodded in acknowledgment. "How are you doing?"

"He's gonna stay here tonight, if that's okay?" Gwen answered, answering the question before Shawn could even open his mouth.

Ian's expression didn't change. "Of course. You're always welcome here, Shawn." He said kindly, and Shawn's heart swelled with affection.

"Thanks, Mr. Calloway. I really appreciate it." He said earnestly.

"Anytime, kiddo. And please, you know you can call me Ian." Ian chuckles, shaking his head. Shawn nods, smiling sheepishly. "You kids want to join me? There's plenty of popcorn." He offered the bowl of popcorn he had with a smile.

"Heck yeah." Gwen grinned at him and eagerly sat by her dad, grabbing a handful of popcorn and tossing it in her mouth. After that, she turned to Shawn when she realized he hadn't joined her yet. He looked hesitant and awkward, standing awkwardly beside the couch. "Shawnie, it's okay. Sit." She patted the spot next to her.

Shawn finally relaxed and he sat down, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Thanks, Gwen." He said, and he didn't just mean for inviting him to join them, but also for everything. For being there for him, for accepting him into her life and her family.

"Anything for you." She responded, and the two shared a smile. Ian watched them fondly, glad to see them both happy. It had been a rough couple of weeks, and they deserved a night off. The three of them sat there, watching the movie and enjoying each other's company. It was nice, and Shawn felt a sense of peace and calm that he hadn't felt in a long time.

As the movie was coming to an end, Shawn could feel himself getting tired. It had been a long day, and the stress of the past few weeks had caught up to him. His eyelids were heavy, and his body was relaxed. Gwen was already passed out by him, her head resting on his shoulder. Ian chuckled fondly and got up from his spot, stretching.

"I'm gonna head to bed. You're welcome to take the guest room, Shawn. I'll get her to bed." He assured Shawn, but paused when Shawn stopped him.

"I got her, Ian." Shawn assured him. Ian raised an eyebrow, a knowing look in his eye. But he didn't say anything, only giving him a nod before heading to his room. Shawn gently nudged Gwen, who stirred, her eyes blinking open sleepily.

"Huh? Shawnie?" She questioned, yawning.

"Let's get you to bed." Shawn chuckled, and she nodded sleepily, standing up.

"Carry me?" She asked, pouting at him, and he rolled his eyes, smiling.

"Alright." He lifted her up bridal style and she wrapped her arms around his neck, nuzzling against him. His heart skipped a beat, and he carried her to her room, gently setting her down on the bed. She curled up, clutching her pillow, and he tucked her in, brushing a strand of hair out of her face.

"Goodnight, Shawnie." She whispered, her eyes already closed.

"Night, Neve." He murmured, and he leaned down, kissing her forehead. Her cheeks flushed pink and he smiled, straightening up and heading towards the door. Before he did, he stopped by her dresser and opened the bottom drawer, knowing he left some clothes here before. He then left the room quietly closing the door behind him. He met Ian in the hallway, who assured him he got the guest room ready for him and if he needed anymore pillows or blankets that they were in the closet down the hall.

"Thanks, Ian." Shawn said, and Ian smiled, patting him on the shoulder.

"Of course. Goodnight, Shawn. Sleep well." Ian said, and the two exchanged goodnights, heading off to their separate rooms. Shawn entered the guest room and quickly changed into his pajamas, turning off the light and climbing into bed.

It didn't take him long to fall asleep, the exhaustion of the day catching up to him.

****

The next morning before Ian went to work he checked on his daughter, like he normally did. She was still sleeping soundly, laying on her side and hugging her stuffed animal. It was a teddy bear that Shawn had given her years ago when they were eight and it was her favorite. It was brown with a blue bowtie and she named him Ted. She'd had him ever since and he was her comfort object.

Ian smiled fondly at the sight, glad that she was able to have something so special. He gently closed the door, not wanting to wake her, and went back down the hallway, pausing outside of the guest room. The door was slightly ajar, and he could see Shawn's head peeking out from the covers.

The poor kid had been through a lot lately, and he couldn't imagine how hard it must be for him. Losing his mom, losing his dad. Being left alone. Ian's heart ached for him, and he wished he could do more to help. But he knew that being there for him, having a place to stay, was the best he could do.

Ian noticed Shawn was still asleep, laying on his stomach and his face smushed against the pillow. He had his arms stretched out, he somehow took up the whole bed. Ian shook his head fondly, a small smile tugging at his lips. The boy was a mess, but he loved him. He was like a son to him, and he would do anything for him.

Ian then closed the door quietly and went to make himself a cup of coffee, preparing for his day at work. When Shawn and Gwen finally woke up, Ian had already left for work, and the two found themselves in the kitchen making breakfast. Shawn was making scrambled eggs while Gwen was working on the pancakes.

They worked in silence, but it was comfortable, the two of them moving around each other easily. When the food was done, they sat down and ate, enjoying the peaceful moment. They watched cartoons as they ate, the TV playing in the background. Shawn couldn't help but notice how domestic this all felt, like he was a part of the family. And the weirdest thing was, it didn't feel weird. It felt right.

After they finished eating, Shawn volunteered to clean up while Gwen went to take a shower. Once he finished, he flopped down on the couch, trying to decide what to do. He knew he couldn't hide out here forever, he probably needed to go back to the Matthews. As much as he didn't want to.

His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Gwen's footsteps as she came into the living room. She was dressed in leggings and an oversized hoodie, her damp hair braided. He couldn't help but notice how cute she looked.

"So, what are we gonna do today?" Gwen asked, sitting down next to him and tucking her feet under her.

"We?" Shawn raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, we." She said matter-of-factly. "You're stuck with me today."

"Stuck with you, huh?" Shawn chuckles. "That doesn't sound so bad."

"Good." Gwen grins, leaning back against the couch. "So, what should we do?"

"I don't know. Whatever you want to do, I guess." Shawn shrugged.

Gwen thought for a moment, before an idea popped into her head. "Let's go to the library!"

"The library?" Shawn wrinkled his nose, thinking of the quiet and serious atmosphere.

"Yes, the library. Come on, it'll be fun! I know you don't like to read and probably never read a book before, but I could read to you! You could pick out a book you find interesting, and I could read it to you." She offered, looking at him hopefully.

"You want to read to me?" He raised an eyebrow, amused. He also felt a warm feeling in his chest. He didn't think anyone would want to read to him, but Gwen did.

"Well, yeah. I used to do it when we were little." She reminded him. "Remember? When we would have sleepovers, I would read to you."

"Yeah, I remember." Shawn chuckles, thinking back to when they were kids. "Alright, fine. We can go to the library."

"Yes!" Gwen exclaims, jumping up from the couch. "Come on, let's go." She tugged on his hand, dragging him towards the door.

"Okay, okay. I'm coming." He laughs, letting her pull him along. "We gotta put our shoes on first."

"Oh, right." Gwen giggled, and the two quickly put on their shoes, heading out the door.

Soon enough they were at the library, and Gwen dragged him inside. She was beaming, clearly excited to be there. Shawn was clearly not as enthused, but he didn't mind. He would do anything to make her happy, even if that meant going to the library.

"Wow, you seem so excited." Shawn teased, nudging her.

"Shush, I am." She pouts at him, and he couldn't help but smile. "Now pick out a book." She told him, and he rolled his eyes, wandering over to the shelf of books.

Gwen followed him, keeping close as he browsed the shelves. His gaze scanned over the different titles, and he couldn't help but wonder if he would find a book he actually liked. He never was a fan of reading, and the only times he read was when he had to for school. But Gwen was here, and she was going to read to him, so maybe he would actually enjoy this.

"See anything you like?" She asked, peering over his shoulder.

"Not yet." He muttered, running his finger along the spines of the books.

"Take your time." She encourages, watching him carefully. "If you need any help, let me know." She smiled, and he returned it, his eyes still scanning the shelf.

Suddenly, a book caught his eye. It was a leather-bound book with gold lettering, and it looked old. He reached out and pulled it from the shelf, examining it.

"This one." He said, and Gwen's eyes widened.

"Wait, seriously?" She asked, surprised.

"Yeah. Why?" He raises an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Scared I'm going to make you read something inappropriate? You know I wouldn't."

"I know." She chuckles, rolling her eyes. "I'm just surprised you chose an actual book."

"What, I can't be interested in reading?" He asked, feigning offense.

"No, you can. It's just, well, you only really read comic books or magazines. So, this is a surprise." She replied, smiling up at him.

"Well, I'll have you know that I am full of surprises, Neve." He teased, and she giggled.

"Come on, let's go sit down." She took his hand, pulling him over to a secluded corner of the library. There was a cozy-looking couch and a couple of chairs, and it was the perfect spot for them.

They settled down on the couch, and Shawn handed her the book, letting her look at it.

"Treasure Island." She read aloud, examining the cover. "One of my favorites."

"Really? I never pegged you as a fan of pirates." He said, leaning back against the couch.

"I like adventure stories. This is one of my favorites. I've read it multiple times. You're gonna love it, I promise." She smiled at him.

"Alright, I trust you." He grinned, and she opened the book, starting to read.

As she read, Shawn couldn't help but be captivated by her voice. She was a great storyteller, and he could tell she was really into it. He found himself drawn in, her words capturing his attention. She was curled up against him, her head resting on his shoulder. He put his arm around her, pulling her closer.

He was actually eagerly listening to her, enjoying the story. He hadn't expected to like it so much, but he did. Maybe it was because she was reading it, but it was enjoyable. But eventually they left to go back to the apartment for lunch. Gwen rented out the book so they could finish the story.

They made lunch together, and then went back to the couch, curling up together to continue reading. Shawn was wrapped up in the story, his chin resting on top of her head. She was nestled against him, her head on his shoulder, his arm around her. They were a mess of limbs, but it was comfortable.

The rest of the day passed in a blur, the two of them lost in the story. When Ian got home from work, he was greeted by the sight of the two of them on the couch, both sound asleep. There was a book on the floor, and the TV was playing softly in the background. He smiled fondly, shaking his head.

"Well, I guess it was a good day." He chuckled to himself, and quietly grabbed a blanket, covering the two teenagers with it. He then turned off the TV and went to start on dinner.

When the two woke up, they were surprised to see Ian making dinner, and that it was dark out.

"Oh my gosh, how long have we been asleep?" Gwen asked, rubbing her eyes.

"Long enough." Ian chuckles. "Go get washed up, dinner will be ready soon."

Gwen yawns and gets up, picking up the book and placing it on the table. "Okay." She said as she stretched. Shawn got up too, and the two head to their rooms to freshen up.

When they return, Ian has dinner ready, and the three sit down to eat. "So, you guys were reading today, huh?" He asked, grinning.

"Yeah, Gwen wanted to read to me." Shawn said, a smile tugging at his lips. "Surprisingly, I enjoyed it."

"You did?" Gwen grins at him. "I knew you would."

"I think I'm starting to like reading. Or maybe I just like it when you read to me." He chuckles. "But I know I wanna know what happens next."

"Me too!" Gwen beams at him. "I haven't read it in a while, so it was nice to get back into it."

The three chat about the book, and the rest of the evening passes by in a pleasant manner. Ian had admitted he had called the Matthews earlier to let them know Shawn was safe and at their place since he had snuck out the night before and hadn't come back.

He explained that Shawn was spending the night again, and that tomorrow he would be back. They had agreed, and thanked him for looking after him. After they had finished dinner and cleaned up, Shawn and Gwen curled up on the couch again, continuing their book.

The hours ticked by, and soon enough it was getting late. Ian had already headed to bed, leaving the two alone. Gwen yawned, and Shawn suggested they go to bed, not wanting her to get too tired. She reluctantly agreed, and the two got ready for bed.

When Shawn climbed into the guest bed, he couldn't help but feel disappointed that Gwen wasn't sleeping next to him. But he pushed the feeling away, reminding himself that he could see her in the morning. Though he had to be honest he liked laying in bed with her. Waking up next to her was an added bonus.

He closed his eyes and tried to sleep, but he was surprised when he heard the door creak open. He looked up, seeing Gwen standing in the doorway, her hair down and wearing a hoodie and sweatpants.

"Hey." She said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you."

"You didn't. What's up?" He asked, sitting up.

"I, uh, I couldn't sleep." She admitted, fidgeting nervously. "I was wondering if, um, if you wouldn't mind me sleeping in here with you?"

Shawn felt his heart skip a beat, and he couldn't help the smile that formed on his lips. He didn't say anything and simply lifted the covers, patting the space next to him. Gwen grinned, closing the door and rushing over, climbing into the bed and snuggling up against him. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her close.

"Thank you." She whispered, and he chuckled, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

"Of course. Now get some sleep, Neve." He murmured, and he felt her smile against his chest.

"Goodnight, Shawnie." She mumbled, already half-asleep. He smiled, burying his face in her hair, the scent of lavender surrounding him.

"Goodnight." He said, holding her close as the two drifted off to sleep.

They slept soundly that night, the two of them in a peaceful slumber. The next morning when Ian woke up, he wasn't surprised to see that the two teenagers were asleep in the guest room, their limbs tangled together. He shook his head, a small smile on his lips. He decided to let them sleep in, knowing that Shawn would have to leave later.

He didn't want to wake them, knowing they could use the extra sleep. Plus, it was cute to see the two of them all cuddled up together. So he decided to leave them be and let them wake up on their own. He left a note letting them know where he was and that there was breakfast in the fridge. Then he left, heading to work.

When Shawn and Gwen finally woke up, they were surprised to see the note Ian had left. They quickly ate the breakfast he left them, before deciding what to do with the rest of their day.

"I don't want you to leave." Gwen admits, leaning her head against his shoulder. "You could stay here forever."

"I could." He hums. "But I gotta go back."

"I know." She sighs, fiddling with the strings of her hoodie, keeping her gaze on her lap. "Just wish you could stay. I'll miss you. I know we'll still see each other and stuff, but still. Won't be the same."

Shawn reaches over and gently tilts Gwen's chin up, meeting her gaze with his own. "Me too. I'll miss you too, Neve," He said softly. ""But we'll still see each other. And who knows, maybe I'll sneak over here sometimes when I need to get away." He grinned, trying to lighten the mood.

Gwen returns the grin, her face brightening. "I would be upset if you didn't." She teases. "Seriously though, you know you're always welcome here, right?"

"I know." He chuckles, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "I should head back. Before the Matthews call the police or something."

"Probably a good idea." She giggles, getting up. "I'll walk you out."

"Nah, I'm fine. You stay here. I'll see you later." He says, kissing her cheek before standing up. "Thanks for letting me crash here." He says, smiling at her. "I had fun."

"Me too. I'll see you soon." She replies, giving him a hug. "Be safe, okay?" She added, concern lacing her voice.

"Always am." He smirked, earning a playful eye-roll from Gwen. He chuckled and pressed another kiss to her forehead before heading out the door.

As he walked back to the Matthews', he couldn't help but wish he didn't have to leave. He would rather spend time with Gwen and her family. But he knew he couldn't, and he would just have to make the most of the time he did have with them. 

A/N i love shawn & gwen so much