Your Song (Shawn Mendes)

Chapter 17

Maria felt herself let out a breath as she collapsed onto the seat in the private jet. Shawn chuckled when he came in behind her. They had just finished their final show in Tokyo last night and Maria was so dead that she hadn't even bothered to change before they left for the airport. She still wore her tank top and shorts with the black and white kimono robe she had insisted on getting herself, her hair still in the braid she slept in.

She had all but demanded to stay on tour with Shawn after Noah's trial. He understood why. Music had always been her therapy and, to be honest, he wasn't eager to let her out of his sight after what had happened. He was just glad the bastard was in jail and couldn't hurt her anymore.

Shawn gently kissed her on the forehead before taking his own seat across from her. "You doing okay, Marilyn?" He asked with a smile.

She rolled her eyes. He'd gotten into the habit of calling her by classic film star names since he discovered her obsession with old movies. "Why did we have to be up so early?" She whined.

"It's a 12-hour flight." Shawn answered. He knew Maria wasn't exactly a morning person. "With the time differences, we had to do this early." She groaned again and he laughed a bit. "Go to sleep. If you wake up before we get there, we can watch movies til we land."

She smiled lazily at him before curling into a ball on her chair. "You know exactly what to say to a girl, Mendes." He smiled back and she closed her eyes.

Shawn watched her sleep for a moment before he felt Andrew's hand on her shoulder. He looked up at his manager curiously. "She doing alright?" He asked.

Shawn nodded. "As alright as she can be. She still refuses to talk about any nightmares or flashbacks she's gotten but that's normal."

Andrew nodded understandingly. He looked over and saw Maria's two signature rings glinting on her fingers. He smiled at the two of them before taking his seat. They were good for each other and that was hard to find in Shawn's life.

*******

Maria jolted awake when she felt the plane touch the ground. "Morning, sunshine." Shawn smirked from his spot across from her.

She groaned and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. "Are we in Toronto already?" She asked. He nodded and her eyes widened. "I slept for 12 hours?"

Shawn chuckled and took her hand, running a thumb over her knuckles. "Trust me, you needed it." He said. She nodded and squeezed his hand. She hated whenever she woke him up because of her nightmares. She was brought out of her thoughts when he tugged on her hand. She stood up and grabbed her violin case and backpack. "Before I forget, my mom wants to know if you and your moms would like to spend Christmas with us."

"'Spend Christmas with you'?" Maria repeated. He nodded with a smile. "I-I'd have to talk to them about it but... I'd love to."

He leaned down and pecked her on the lips. She smiled brightly at him and took his hand as he led them off the plane.

*******

Christmas had come faster than expected and before she knew it, Maria was in Nicole's car with Rachel on their way to Shawn's house. She smiled at the familiar Canadian streets covered in a blanket of white snow and reveled in the feeling of not having to look over her shoulder for the first time in years.

Maria couldn't help the bright smile on her face when they pulled up to Shawn's house. They hadn't been able to see each other much in the week since the tour ended due to him already starting to work on a new album. He had told her that he already had a few songs ready and was working with other writers to create the rest.

He wanted it to be his most personal album to date which is why he chose to call it 'Shawn Mendes'. She was proud of him and he was already insisting she be the guitarist on the album and on the tour that was sure to happen. 

The minute Maria stepped out of the car, she felt familiar arms pick her up in a hug. She laughed into Shawn's shoulder. "Shawn, put me down, dork!" Shawn complied only to pull her into a kiss when he set her down. She smiled into the kiss but pulled away. "Shawn, you literally saw me a week ago. Calm yourself down."

He smirked and pecked her on the lips before smiling at her moms. "Rachel, Nicole, always a pleasure." 

"Nice to see you again, Shawn." Nicole smiled back. Rachel pulled him into a gentle hug, smirking at her daughter.

Maria rolled her eyes and allowed Shawn to lead them to the house. "Maria!" Before she could blink, Aaliyah was wrapped around her waist in a hug. Maria chuckled and returned the hug tightly. "I can't wait for you to see what Shawn got you!"

"Hey!" Shawn interjected, pointing accusingly at her. "You stay quiet, little brat." Aaliyah rolled her eyes and grabbed Maria's hand, dragging her into the house.

Maria managed to escape Aaliyah's grip long enough to say hi to Karen and Manuel and give them a hug. "Okay, now that the guests are here, it's time to exchange presents!" Karen announced. Maria twisted her fingers nervously. She had a gift for all of them but she was worried if the one she got Shawn was good enough.

The gift exchange went relatively quickly. She got a vintage Journey concert t-shirt from Manuel, a copy of Casablanca from Karen, and a silver shooting star ear cuff from Aaliyah. They loved the gifts she had gotten them and now that just left her and Shawn to exchange. She handed him a small box and twisted her rings. "I hope you like it. I picked it up while we were in Japan."

He smiled reassuringly at her and opened it. His eyes widened when he saw the ring he had wanted back when they were in Japan. He couldn't get it before they were swarmed by fans but apparently, she had gotten it for him. "Maria, this is amazing." She blushed lightly and he pecked her on the lips.

"Now give her yours!" Aaliyah ordered. Shawn rolled his eyes and handed her a rectangular box. She slowly unwrapped it and let out a small gasp. "I'd told you she'd love it!"

Shawn had gotten her a gorgeous journal decorated with black and white posters of classic Hollywood films and a thin black ribbon to tie it closed. "You mentioned wanting to start the journalling routine I have and I saw this when I was out with Aaliyah. I immediately saw you." Shawn explained.

Maria smiled brightly. "This is beautiful! I love it!" She threw her arms around him in a hug.

"Shawn..." Karen started teasingly. "Aren't you gonna give her the other gift?"

"'Other gift'?" Maria sent him a curious look.

Shawn blushed lightly. "It's more for both of us." She raised an eyebrow and he smirked. "What's our song?"

"Your Song by Elton John, duh." She answered. "What does that have to do with anything?" He smiled t her and pulled an envelope from his pocket. She took it and cautiously opened it. She let out a gasp at the two pieces of paper inside. "We're seeing the Million Dollar Piano?!"

Shawn nodded and she squealed, throwing herself at him in a hug. He laughed and returned it, happy to see her so happy.