It had been a pretty crazy ten years, for both of them.
Movies, record deals, TV shows, band tours, concert tours, and band breakups. Dating Maia. Dating Parker. Breaking up. Breaking up again. Finding each other. Getting married, quietly.
'Austin & Ally' had wrapped eight years ago. But they're still together.
At least, Laura thought, in theory.
It was almost midnight now. It was still raining quite hard. She thought Miami was supposed to be a sunny place. The seaside view from their beachfront home's window was wasted in her opinion.
And he still wasn't home.
The last leg of the last R5 tour (the 'breakup tour', they mused) was in Florida. But they hadn't seen each other in months. She missed him terribly.
Wiping a lone tear, she walked to the closet and shrugged out of her clothes. While browsing through her pajamas, she notices what seemed to be a clean shirt on the floor. Probably fell when I was putting his stuff away, she thought. Then she put it on. She hugged herself tight, feeling the fabric, and inhaling whatever faint scent Ross had left on it.
After one last check on her phone, she decided to call it a night and climbed under the covers.
It was before two in the morning before the lock finally turned. Careful not to wake his sleeping wife, Ross set his bags and guitar case on the thickly carpeted floor.
Too young to feel this exhausted, he thought, chuckling, as he got into the shower.
This kind of past-faced lifestyle had certainly taken its toll on him, on both of them – on their relationship. They couldn't even have kids because of how busy they both were. And he missed Laura so much, every single day.
At least it would all be over for now, ever just for a little while.
He put on some boxers and climbed onto their bed, his arm snaking around his wife's waist. He propped himself up on his elbow and just gazed at her.
Her makeup was pretty much gone, except for the bit of glitter left on her eyelids. Her hair was brushed but was still curly, probably from earlier that day. As he pushed back a random lock of hair that managed to find its way on her face, she mumbled, and then slowly opened her eyes.
"Ross," she said sleepily, rubbing her eyes, smiling. "Hey," he said quietly, his hand on her cheek. She caught it with her own and turned on her side to face him. His hair was ruffled as it always was (and always will be). His eyes had somewhat dark circles underneath them. His eyes were threatening to close like hers. But he smiled.
Sensing how she was gonna start talking – because when she started it would be a while before she stopped - and sensing how tired she was as well, he planted a gentle kiss on her lips and said, "We can talk tomorrow, Laur. I know how tired you are." She smiled and yawned, hugging him tight. "I missed you." He kissed her head and said, "I know. I missed you too." He paused, then said, "Don't let go just yet." She chuckled and said, "I wasn't going to."
It was a while before he thought she was already asleep.
"Laur?"
"Hmm?"
"Isn't that my shirt?"
"…"
"Yep."
He smiled. "You can have it."