A/N: This is my first Across the Universe fanfiction and I'm not sure I'm gonna write anymore for this category since I loved the way the movie played out. Anyway, it's short…just a drabble-y ficlet of mine. It's basically a short continuation of the movie. Enjoy. R&R! Thanks! –Mac

Disclaimer: I don't own Across the Universe.

Twenty Minutes

"She loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah."

It was twenty minutes before he actually gets to touch her again. Twenty minutes. The longest damn twenty minutes of his life.

He stood there staring at her across the gap between the buildings, not averting his eyes for even a split second. He was almost terrified that if he even blinked she would disappear—that he would realize she isn't there, that he isn't even there, that he was still in his room an ocean away wishing he could see her one last time. But she was not adding away. She was still watching him just as intently. Now he just needed to touch her to be sure she was real. He needed to hold her in his arms, breathe her in, and taste her lips. His body was on fire with anticipation.

Sadie and JoJo finished up the song and the last few notes of music filtered away. Cheers erupted from everywhere—those gathered on the roof clapped for themselves and each other, people down below were screaming with abandon. The cops gave them a few seconds to celebrate before beginning to usher them toward the stairs so they could escort the group out of the building. He kept his eyes on Lucy up until the very last second when he had to turn to enter the stairwell. And once he hit the first stair, Max was at his side to propel him forward.

The two took the stairs two at a time, rushing past their friends. The cops made a few grunts of disapproval but made no move to stop them. Once out of the building, he had to shove his way through the crowd that had gathered in the street to listen. He couldn't see through the mass of bodies and though Max had initially been helping him clear a path, he eventually lost him in the sea of people. He couldn't spare a second to search for Max because his entire body was screaming at him to find her. He weaved through the dense crowd and was reminded swiftly of that last night at Columbia. He pushed it aside quickly though because he was there now and she was there and everything was going to be alright. So why dwell on the past?

Finally, he emerged in front of the building opposite him. It felt like he had traveled miles when in reality it was only so many feet. But he was standing right in front of her and he could reach out and touch her if he wanted. He wanted to touch her so badly, but a flicker of doubt flared up in him. Then before it could take hold, she lunged at him, falling into his arms where she fit so perfectly. One of his arms went around her waist and the other tangled in her hair to hold her in place.

And he knew then and there, he was never, ever going to let her go again.

It took twenty minutes, but as she kissed him with all she was with he knew it was worth every second to be able to hold her again forever.