Date: Fri, 18 Jun 2004 08:18:47 -0700 (PDT)
From: Lillian <lilli_luthor1961@yahoo.com>
Subject: Mr. Matthews - Chapter 2- Second Thoughts

Fandom: Boy Meets World
Pairing:  Jack Hunter/Alan Matthews
Disclaimer:  BMW is owned and copyrighted by Michael Jacobs Productions and
Touchstone Television.


Alan Matthews sat quietly through dinner with his family.  Corey and
Topanga had plans to go out with Shawn and Angela, but had stopped by for
dinner.  Morgan was chatting excitedly about a planned trip to the mall to
shop for bridesmaid's dresses with her future sister-in-law.  Eric popped
in and for a brief minute the senior Matthews panicked, wondering if Jack
had told his son about his advances.  But as Eric plopped down at the
table, helping himself to sumptuous feast before him, his father breathed a
sigh of relief, confident that his secret was safe. Alan smiled watching
his son eat. "Nothing," Alan mused, "not even a date could stand between
his eldest son and a home cooked meal."

Alan sat observing the family scene taking place around the kitchen table.
He felt a pang of guilt as he thought about his plans for tonight.  He'd
lied to his wife, telling her he was going to the bar to shoot some pool
and have a few beers.  He felt even worst when she hadn't gotten upset or
questioned him.  Amy trusted him completely and that made it all the worst.

"Don't go," he kept telling himself, as lively banter continued around the
dinner table. His eldest son Eric was being his usual witty self, keeping
the family in stitches with his stories.  Alan knew his son was smart, but
preferred to hide behind a mask of being a clown.  "We're not that much
different," Alan thought.  He wore the mask of a good family man to all
that knew him.  He had a wonderful wife, three terrific children and a
secret he had kept hidden even from himself until this afternoon.

"Alan, are you alright?"

He offered his wife a fake smile and nodded.  "Just a lot happening at the
store."

He glanced at the clock briefly before turning his attention back to his
family.  The rest of the meal went by amiably.  He listened to Corey and
Topanga's wedding plans and even offered some advice to cut back on
expenses.

When Corey, Topanga and Eric finally left, Alan sat with his wife and
daughter watching television for a while.  He had all but decided to stand
Jack up.  After all, he wasn't even sure if the teen even wanted him to
show up.  He had practically accosted and solicited the young man with no
provocation nor did he stick around to find out if his feelings were
reciprocated.

"Stay home with your family."

"Alan, are you ready for dessert or are you leaving soon?"

Alan hesitated. "It's decision time," he thought, "Go after a boy who may
or may not want you, or stay home with your family that loves you."

"I'll have dessert when I get back."

He kissed his wife and daughter goodbye, grabbed his jacket and headed out
the door.  Even in his car, he tried to convince himself to turn back.  He
thought of a thousand reasons why he shouldn't pursue this but only one
thing spurred him on.  "I want this," he murmured out loud.

He parked his car a block away from the building and sat for a few minutes
trying to get up the courage to go through with it.  "What if he's not
home?"  He felt like a teen on his very first date.  He toyed with the key,
debating whether to turn on the ignition and get the hell out of there
before he did any real damage.  Before he knew it, he was out of the car
and in the building stabbing at the elevator button.  "Here goes
everything," he sighed as he rode the elevator up to the third floor.