Hi! This is my first fanfiction so we'll see where it goes... Anywho... On with the disclaimer...

Disclaimer: I don't own Austin & Ally. Now, on with the story...

Ally POV

"Bryn honey! It's already 7! You're going to be late if you don't hurry up!" I yell up the stairs to my daughter.

"I'm sorry, Mom. I'll be down in a second," I hear her sleepily respond.

"Okay, but your pancakes are getting cold," I shout back one more time, knowing that will get her down here faster than anything. Sure enough, in less than 30 seconds, I hear her come down the stairs two at a time. "Aubryn Harmony Dawson, how many times have I told you to not run down the stairs?" I reprimand her.

"Um... At least 392," she replies with a hint of sarcasm in her voice as she butters her stack of pancakes before adding syrup.

"Well, let's try not to reach 400". I tell her my proposal while I spoon some yogurt out into a bowl and pour out some granola to mix in. I join my daughter at the bar and we say a quick grace before digging in to our respective breakfasts.

10 minutes, two stacks of pancakes and a bowlful of yogurt later, I'm placing the dishes into the dishwasher while Bryn runs upstairs to finish getting ready. Since I'm already doing the dishes, I decide to go ahead and give the kitchen a quick clean. Right as I finish wiping off the last countertop, my phone chimes, signaling I have a new text. I quickly dry my hands off on a dish towel before grabbing and unlocking my phone. The text is from my second best friend. Even though I haven't seen her in a little less than 15 years, I'll always consider Trish de la Rosa my BFF. After Trish comes Elizabeth Coppage, AKA my second best friend AKA the person I just got a text from. I hurriedly scan the message after I saw the time on my home screen. All it said was "good morning", nothing that important. The important thing however was that my daughter was about to be late for the bus. She must have realized that also because I hear her coming down the stairs, once again two at a time.

"393," I tell her as she rushes by me on a hunt for her bag. "Your bag is in the foyer and your lunch is waiting on the counter," I call to her.

"Thanks Mom," she respond kissing my cheek on her way out.

"Have a great day," we both say at the same time.

"Ally!" I hear an unmistakable voice call out as a person enters the house.

"In my bedroom Lizzy!" I shout back. A loud thud resonates throughout the house as Liz drops her bags in the foyer and then walks up the steps and enters my room.

"Hey! How have you been?" I turn around and ask her before going back to the mirror to pull my hair into a decent ponytail.

"I'm good. Nothing much has happened since I last saw you on Friday."

"Same. Well, I got to get going. I'll see you tonight then," I tell her. Even though Aubryn doesn't need "babysat" anymore, Elizabeth still comes in the afternoons on weekdays to be there when Bryn gets home since I'm at work. I work at a restaurant. It sounds like a pretty crappy job that doesn't pay too much but it's actually a very expensive place to eat at and the manager treats us employees well. "Bye Lizzy".

"Bye Ally! See you soon!"

"Hello! My name is Ally and I'll be serving you on this fine evening. What would you like to drink?" I greet a couple that just say down at one of my tables. Business tonight isn't to terribly fast but it could be slower for my liking. I write down their orders and hurry on to the next table. After making to about 4 other tables, I head over to the kitchen to give the orders to the chefs and get drinks for some customers. Once I deliver the drinks to the right people, I scurry back to the kitchen and grab the food that was ready for a certain table. This for me is pretty much normal. Thankfully, I don't tire easily and I'm able to get through the night without a problem. By the time I get home, it's 11 o'clock and Aubryn should be in bed. But knowing her, she's probably on her phone doing who knows what. I trust her though. Bryn is an incredibly smart and obedient young lady and she wouldn't do anything that could get her into trouble.

I slowly unlock the front door of my house and step into the foyer. I remove my black tennis shoes and set my bag down before continuing on into the guest room. Or as I call it, the place where Lizzy crashes. I shake her awake before heading into the kitchen to grab a small snack.

"Hey," Lizzy says sleepily walking in.

"Hi," I chuckle back.

"Listen I don't know what it is but I'm a lot more tired than usual. I think I might head home unless you need me," Lizzy states.

"It's fine. Go home. Do you need me to drive you?"

"No it's okay. I'll see you tomorrow. Bye Ally".

"Bye Liz". I reply before ushering her out the door. I shut and lock it before turning around and heading up to my bedroom. I pause at Bryn's room and say a quiet "goodnight" and then continue on to the door at the end of the hall. I softly open it and step inside the room before turning on the light. I go about my nightly routine and then I pull back the covers and get ready to get into the bed. However, before I do, I see a beautiful diamond ring. A ring that brings back a whole lot of memories...

The next chapter will be a flashback. So, if you're confused, hopefully you won't be by the end of the next chapter. Please review... just remember I have feelings too. :)

-Reagan Maree