Like a chain that never breaks,
Like a truth that never bends, ❤

The music's blaring so loud that she feels it vibrate through her chest all the way to the soles of her feet.

And it's all so surreal...and incredible, and how is this her life now?

But the answer to that's easy.

It's because of him.

All of this is because of him.

(She's grateful, and awestruck, and happy, but all the same really, really, angry at the universe right now.)

She takes a few deep breathes, smoothing over her deep red dress with her hands, and decides she needs – she just needs some air.

Walking past the crowd, she sets a beeline for the door and makes it outside to the venue's garden, taking a seat on the cold marble bench.

Within minutes of sitting she hears rustling behind her.

"You know...they say it's rude to ditch your own party."

Turning her head, she offers a strained smile and an eye-roll purely for show.

"I expected more from you, Ally," he finishes, lips curved, as he takes the seat beside her.

At that she actually laughs, shaking her head on a sigh. "I just needed a breather."

He nudges her shoulder with his. "This about Maroon 5? 'Cause I know you were really excited––"

She tilts her head at him with a glare, because he knows it's not about the stupid band (okay, they're amazing, and she did really wish they could have played tonight, but that is so not the issue.)

When she angles herself fully towards him, the moonlight catches her fair skin, just a glint across her face and literally makes his breath hitch.

"This really sucks," he finally whispers.

He'd honestly thought the party would help.

That celebrating together before he left would somehow make it a little better, instead all it's doing is making things worse.

Letting out a humorless laugh, she nods her head. "Yeah, it kinda does."

"You're gonna blow them away on tour, Austin," she suddenly exclaims. "I am so excited for you."

"And you're going to rock it in the studio," he returns, smiling, "–being the you that I always saw."

He takes a breath, before slowly resting his hand over hers gently, making her meet his eyes.

"Do you have any idea how proud I am of you?"

Because, this girl, this wonderful, formerly neurotic, shy, stickler for the rules, hair-bitter, who would duck out of sight at the sign of any attention ––

––is now the fun-loving, confident, (slightly less neurotic), take-on-one-of-the-hugest-crowds-in-Miami, performer that he always knew she could be.

Her face lights up, cheeks slightly flushed. "Thank you," she whispers.

"Man, it seems like just yesterday, I could barely get you to sing in front of your stuffed animals," he muses, a light teasing in his voice.

"They were staring at me!"

He chuckles at that, and she huffs, pretending to be offended. "Luckily, not a problem for you anymore," he quips, giving her hand a squeeze."You were amazing."

She beams up at him, a thick pause, and a flash of something, he can't quite grasp in her eyes before she finally speaks again –

"I meant what I said, you know," she whispers. "Our partnership...really is the best thing that's ever happened to me."

"Ally," he starts, and God – did his voice just crack? "Me too–"

"I mean, you're always saying how much I've done for you, and how you wouldn't be where you are without me––"

"––I wouldn't."

"But," she interrupts, "I don't think you realize just how much you've done for me too."

She licks her lips, and he waits for her to continue, his chest heavy, and with every word she says, he gets closer and closer to wanting to say screw it and telling Jimmy that he can't go on this tour until Ally can come with him.

None of this means anything without her.

"Before you, my songs were just words on paper – that no one ever get to hear, or feel, and you came crashing into my life...and you – you gave my music a voice, before I could find my own again."

"I –" He's speechless, and finds the only articulate response he can manage, isn't so articulate at all– because his hand, on its own volition, has cupped her face –– and he's leaning in and kissing her.

It's soft and hesitant at first, somewhere in the back of his mind he resisters her startled, 'meep,' before a sharp intake of breath, and then her hands are laced through the hair at the base of his neck, and she's kissing him back.

They haven't spoken about their last kiss, the one they chalked up to acting, that moment bringing back everything he's been trying to keep buried down, that ever since left him aching for a chance to do it again.

It's one of his biggest regrets of the brief time that they dated; he should have kissed her more.

Ally pulls away, slightly stunned, her lips warm and tingling as she lightly places her fingers to her lips.

What just happened?

"That...that was–" she stutters, at a complete loss for words, and likewise a coherent thought.

He shakes his head, putting his hands up quickly. "Ally – I'm so sorry. I–"

"No, no– don't be!" The forcefulness in her words surprises them both, and his eyes widen.

"...I'm not," she finishes, softly.

Relief washes over his face, and he gives her that sweet, ridiculously cute loop-sided grin of his before he nods his head.

"Good."

She'd been scared about where they'd stand after his tour, that their feelings could change after all that time apart – but now, in this moment, knowing that he still feels the same way she does – it's enough.

The music from inside slows, a soft ballad she hasn't heard before, and it causes them both to look up.

"You wanna dance with me?" she asks, biting her lip.

She smiles brightly when he nods and finds her hand again."Of course."

He leads her a few steps away, gently wrapping her up in his arms, hers draped around his neck.

They sway together for awhile, and it scares her a little just how much they just fit. Closing her eyes, she inhales his scent, that she can never get enough of whenever they hug, and leans in closer to rest her head on his shoulder.

"So what now?" he asks, his voice quiet, slightly muffled by her hair.

She's sure that everything else, with their futures, and them, no matter what happens next, will work itself out –– because she met him––

She takes a breath and smiles against him. "We just keep dancing."

"Good," he whispers. "Cause I'm still not letting you go."

–– Because he's her goose, her muse – her best friend and partner, always.

It's the feeling that you get, it's the moment that you know.
That no matter what the future holds,
You'll never be alone.❤