Forever Her Boy

…

Ally shook her head as she looked down at the list of performers she held. What were the odds that her husband would be playing at the same music festival as her ex- boyfriend who also happened to be the father of her oldest child?

But there they were: the names of the two men who had impacted her life forever, side by side.

Gavin and Austin.

How a rocker and a country star ended up on the same stage was beyond her. Ally looked down at the blond five year old boy who grasped her hand as he watched the bustling of musicians and crew off stage. Then she smiled down at the brunette twin toddlers playing with their trucks on the ground. She loved her boys so much. And she would forever be grateful for her husband who loved his three sons and had supported her through college and following her dreams. True, his music career gave him the freedom to care for the kids while she did classes, but she still marveled sometimes that he was willing to do it. Heaven knew what a handful they could be!

Austin and Gavin.

She looked at the names again. Austin had been her best friend and, for several years during her teens, her 'what if'. But their careers and personal lives didn't seem to ever match up. Gavin had been her boyfriend senior year of high school and their easy relationship was undeniable- they were so alike! Both men had loved her song writing. Both men had known her dreams and plans.

Then came the big break up.

No one knew what to do when Ally was left with a goodbye and a 'how about we get married if we're both still single at 24?' Especially not Ally. She took the pregnancy test a week after he left town. He never once took her calls, returned her messages, or came back to town and she hadn't had a chance to tell him what he left behind. There were only two people on earth who knew the truth about 5 year old Andrew: Ally and her husband.

Even after the shock of the break up very few people questioned the quick wedding to someone else. Ally's parents were thrilled about her husband because no one could deny their chemistry or that they loved one another. And he'd been by her side almost every moment since the jerk had left. Even if any family or friends had tried to do the math about how quickly Andrew came after the honeymoon, no one was sure if he'd been slightly premature or had come from cheating, or the other man. And no one would ever dare question it after seeing Ally's husband with the baby, because no other new father could have been more happy. Then when Ally had the twins two years later the family was cemented and any lingering doubts vanished.

So Ally had graduated high school as a newlywed with a baby bump. She followed her college plans during a second pregnancy while writing songs for her husband whose music career continued to grow. And now she was more than happy to support him and take the kids along to all his gigs to cheer for daddy. This was her life and she was happy with it. Only now, looking at those two names together was she thrown for a loop, thinking how her life might have been different with the other man. But with each passing moment she became more and more sure of herself, of her path, and of her life being the right one for her.

That's why she was able to smile serenely when she looked up to see the man who left her behind coming her way.

He had just finished his set and walked off stage. His guitar still slung around his shoulder, he paused in surprise to see Ally standing there backstage. He almost didn't notice the three children at her feet, she was so radiantly beautiful, just like he remembered.

"Hi Ally." He nodded at her.

"Hello." She responded.

Just then one of the kids yelled "daddy" and ran past him, causing the other two to look around excitedly and reach for someone behind him.

"How's my little man? Are you ready to watch daddy rock?" Austin asked as he stepped around Gavin with Andrew perched on his hip. "Hey honey. Everything ok back here?" he greeted Ally with a kiss.

"Everything is great. Are you ready?" Ally asked as she took Andrew from him and Austin bent down to kiss the heads of the twins.

"Yeah. I just talked to the band and we'll go set up once the stage is clear." He rose to his full six foot height and turned around. "Gavin. It's been a long time." He finally acknowledged the other man standing near his family with a nod.

"Yes it has. So you two worked things out, huh?" Gavin asked, nodding at the the couple and their kids.

"We did. Everything worked out like it was supposed to." Ally answered confidently. Austin slipped a supportive arm around her and she naturally turned into him, an unconscious and effortless move built from years together. Her left hand rose to Austin's chest and the unmistakable flash of a diamond on her ring finger winked in the afternoon sun.

Gavin nodded and swallowed thickly. "Well congratulations. And break a leg Austin."

"Thanks." Austin accepted the wish of good luck and turned to his wife. "So I'll see you after. Love you." He gave her another quick kiss and ruffled the hair of each of his sons before hurrying toward the stage. She watched him go with a swell of gratitude for having such an amazing man in her life. Gavin's voice brought her back.

"Well, I never thought you were the type to settle down so young. What happened to all your college plans?" he asked.

Ally turned to see him standing a few feet away looking at her and the three little boys playing with their toy cars in the grass.

"I received my bachelor's degree two months ago. Austin helped with the kids a lot so I could do it. He's been an incredible support to me." She said.

"He really did that? Wow. And you two finally worked out your relationship. I never thought I'd see the day." Gavin knew all about the early tries and fails Austin and Ally experienced in their personal relationship, himself being one of the barriers to them working out for a time.

"When you left Austin was there to pick me up again and we had some serious talks about what really matters. I re-evaluated my life and we have you to partially thank for the last five years of marriage."

"And three sons." he pointed out, still in slight shock.

Ally smiled. "And three sons." She agreed. He had no idea.

"I'm surprised you didn't wait until after school to have kids." Gavin said.

"I was surprised too. But I wouldn't change anything. Oh, and you can be the first to congratulate me this time." Ally rubbed her flat belly meaningfully. It was cathartic and healing to be able to actually tell him about a pregnancy. "As much as I love my little men, I'm hoping for a girl this time."

Gavin's eyes widened and he coughed uncomfortably. "Sure. I hope you get your wish Ally. Austin doesn't know?"

"I only found out this morning and I'm going to tell him after the show. He would be a mess if he found out before performing and I didn't want to throw off his music. He will be over the moon when I tell him."

"He's a lucky man."

"He's a good man and he's stood by me through everything. I think I'm the lucky one." She said.

They heard the crowd cheer as Austin took the stage and the music began. Andrew patted his mom's leg to get her attention.

"Mommy can we go watch?"

"Of course sweetheart. Let's move closer." She bent to address her son and set the twins on their feet, gathering the toy cars into a small backpack. When she stood up Gavin was gone. Again. This time she was neither hurt nor surprised. Because just like the first time, she had a man who loved her and would never leave her side. She had Austin.

….

So this was a strange little combination of Austin & Ally and the movie "forever my girl" which I saw a while ago. Yes the movie was kind of cute how they worked everything out but part of me hates that she waited around for him to come back. So I started to wonder 'what if she moved on' and had help from someone other than her brother?... and it led me here. Hope you like it!

weesh