12. Family Trees

Complete story — includes the ending

With Cory, Amy, and Morgan stressed out over the annual stress of planning Alan's birthday party, Eric takes over and decides to plan Alan's party. Shawn later arrives at the Matthews' residence together with a letter that he received from his mother, Virna, who ran away three years prior. Cory is reluctant to let Shawn open Virna's letter, but he does so anyway, and finds out that Virna is not his biological mother. Desperate for a family, Shawn and Jack search for his mother and come across a woman named Elaine, whom like Virna, doesn't want to be found. Hurt about this, Shawn pushes his friends away. Meanwhile, Alan is sulking due to no one remembering nor celebrating his birthday. The entire family, including Angela, Rachel, and Jack, surprise him, along with Eric, whom Amy planned to use as bait to lure Alan. After the surprise, Shawn arrives drunk; Alan attempts to talk to him and promises to be his father. Alan and Amy tell Shawn they plan to adopt him and make him an official members of the Matthews family. After hearing this, Shawn walks away and Cory chases him. Later, Shawn goes to the cemetery and talks to his late father, Chet. Chet's ghost advises him to take Amy and Alan's offer and to become a Matthews. Chet reveals that Shawn's biological mother was a stripper, who took off shortly after his birth. Chet reassures Shawn that Chet was the reason for why Shawn's biological mother and Virna's departed from their lives. Shawn reconciles with Chet telling him that he loved him and was an amazing father. Shawn returns to Matthews' house and apologizes for ruining Alan's birthday party. He also tells Amy and Alan that he cannot accept their offer to become a Matthews; but he is always going to be a member of their family. Shawn gives Alan a birthday present with his fingerprints, also thanking Alan for being a father-figure to him. Shawn asks a request to Alan - to yell at him and treat him like the way he treats Eric and Cory. Alan does so, making Shawn feel that he is really a Matthews. Guest stars: Blake Clark as Chet Hunter, Jeff Menell as Santa Absent: William Daniels as George Feeny