Austin's P.O.V.

Austin was having a bad day.

It seemed like he was having a lot of those as of late.

"Dad can you please convince grandma to un-ground Annabeth? Pretty please? It's been forever since I've seen her - I'll die of boredom if I don't see her!" Thomas exclaimed rather melodramatically, flopping onto Austin's bed where the said blonde was trying - and failing - to write the bridge of his latest tune. He glared at his son rather unimpressed as his pen rolled off the bed.

"Absolutely not," Austin shook his head. "The two of you have caused me enough trouble as is. You can make it two more days without her."

Cue the dying-cat-like groan. "But dad!"

"No buts," Austin said strictly. "Why don't you call one of your brothers up to hang out?"

Thomas much,bled something into the pillow by Austin's leg. Something about Keenan and Kainoah actually attending their seminar, and Peter meeting up with Claire. Austin ran a hand through his locks in frustration.

"We'll I'm supposed to be meeting up with the others in a bit, and I'm supposed to have this song finished. Why don't you text Annabeth if you miss he so much."

Thomas rolled over heavily, covering his face with his arm when he did so. "Already tried. Grandma said if I texted her number again, she'd come over and ground me too."

Austin snorted. "I wouldn't push it then."

Thomas shot Austin an annoyed look, half-heartedly nudging him. Austin sighed at his son's futtlessness.

"Why don't you call your uncle Dez up? I'm sure he'll have something you can do."

"Oh yes," The boy deadpanned. "Cuz I so yearn to be dressed up in a giant chicken costume again. What was even the point of the short video?"

Austin shrugged. "Beats me. I don't pretend to know how your uncle thinks, I just go with it. His reasoning is for you aunt Trish to deal with," Austin collected his papers, setting them on his nightstand before standing up. "Either way, you better figure something out fast, cuz I need to get ready to go now."

"Yeah, yeah," Thomas bemoaned as he pushed himself up from his father's bed. "I think I'll just call up Elise and see if I can hang out with her."

"You do that," Austin chuckled slightly, as his son finally stalked out of his room.

Austin was just finishing a bowl of lucky charms - best not to ask - when there was a knock on his door. He opened it to find Sienna. "Hey Austin!" She smiled cheerfully. "Ready to go?"

Austin nodded before shouting, "Thomas I'm heading out now! Don't do anything stupid."

A muffled, "How can I? You're taking all the stupid with you." Came from the bathroom.

A small smile quirked it's way onto Austin's face as he stepped outside and shut his apartment door. He quickly followed Sienna. "Where are we going?"

"Jimmy and Ronny think we need a bit of inspiration, so they're ordering a drive around the city to see if anything sparks," She explained. "Don't worry, they're loaning us a company car, so we won't have to use yours."

"Couldn't use mine even if we wanted," Austin smiled ruefully as they reached the basement. "Thalia took my license."

"What did you do?" Sienna a looked at him curiously. He gave her a bashful smile.

"I may or may not have drunk myself into a stupor. Again."

The female tsked, but they arrived at a plain white car where Ally and Gavin were waiting. Ally's blonde hair had been curled and pulled up, and Austin thought she looked rather frigid in her mini skirt and crop top. Gavin was on his phone.

"Bout time you showed up," The other male complained. "Austin you're driving."

Austin started at Gavin's brusque tone. "No actually, I'm not. My kid grounded me in a manner of speaking by taking my license. Why don't you drive?"

Gavin rolled his eyes. "Forgot my wallet. And you're going to have to drive, because Sienna here doesn't have a license."

"Hey give me a break," Sienna defended herself. "This is downtown Miami, do you have any idea how expensive a parking stall is? Almost as bad as New York."

"Why can't Ally just drive?" Austin asked, pushing past Gavin and opening the shotgun door, he slipped in before anyone could argue.

Outside he was fairly aware of some arguing, most taking place due to Gavin. But he couldn't help his small smirk of satisfaction, when Ally slipped into the driver's seat beside him, and Sienna and Gavin climbed in the back.

He wasn't so smug once Ally started driving.

White knuckled Ally started by plunging out of the hotel parkway and into flowing traffic, earning several annoyed honks, and Austin heart hammering in his chest. He gasped for breath with wide eyes as he caught Gavin smirking in the mirror. "This is why Ally doesn't drive."

Austin's eyes swivelled over to the said woman, who's eyes were fixed dangerously on the road, her grip never loosening from the wheel. Austin gulped and she ran a stop sign. "Jeez Als, are you trying to kill us?"

Both froze as the name slipped out of his mouth. It was his turn to fix his gaze solidly on the road. She said nothing, turning her attention back to the road. Austin was faintly aware of Sienna and Gavin striking up conversation in the back. Ally took another sharp corner. "Slow down, will you?"

"Sorry," She said sheepishly, and Austin thought he could make out the faintest tinge of red on her cheeks. "It's been a while since I last drove."

Her fingers tightened. Austin's mouth went dry.

Don't do it, he warned himself.

He opened his mouth anyways. "Relax Ally. You're over thinking it."

"Easy for you to say," Her voice was tight, and Austin considered for the first time how uncomfortable she truly must've been.

He sighed. "And it'll be easy for you to do," He found himself promising. His voice lowered and he stared out the window as he said, " 1, 2, 3, remember?"

So many memories overwhelmed him with those three numbers, as his mind flew back to simpler, happier times. He could tell they affected her too, as something similar to a sob was constrained in her body. And then to his surprise, she caught his eye in the mirror.

"I know," A tear ran from the corner of her eye, but she smiled nonetheless. "I know because of 4, 3, 2."

Austin gave her a watery smile, and for that millisecond, they were just Austin and Ally again. They were sixteen with the world at their fingertips, and love snapping at their heels. Ally relaxed and her foot lightened on the gas.

They drove in silence after that, neither really sure what to say. It wasn't until Sienna shouted, "Oh my gosh stop the car!" That their bubble of time was broken, and reality dug into Austin once more.

"What is it?" Gavin asked as Ally pulled over to the curb. But Sienna was already out of the door. Austin and the others quickly followed suite.

"It's a street fair," Sienna smiled excitedly. "C'mon, we're bound to find something inspirational in there!"

She was off before anyone could protest, bounding over to a stall with jewelry. Gavin shrugged and slunk off to the beer garden, leaving Austin and Ally alone once more. Austin shoved his hands into his pockets.

"So what do you want to do?" He found himself asking, not quite willing to leave Ally alone. People began pointing and snapping photos of the two.

"Anywhere than stand here," She muttered.

"Agreed," Austin could already see the tabloid headlines. He led them over to a booth with hundreds of scarves.

"Wow, look at this one," Ally giggled, and it was the first time in a long time that Austin thought she sounded like her old self. An ache pulled in his chest.

"A little too vibrant with the blonde hair," He offered a tight smile as she put down the scarlet red scarf. That had been one of his favourite colours. Judging by the look on her face, she remembered.

As she reached for another - blue silk this time - Austin felt his phone buzz. Fishing it out he unlocked the screen, surprised when Peter's name popped up. He skimmed the text quickly.

Could I borrow some cash? Not for what you're thinking, I promise. I'm on 22nd.

Austin frowned, his eyes looking at the street number, and thinking it oddly familiar. He glanced up to confirm. Yup. Peter must've been at the Street Fair too. He quickly typed back, Should I even ask what you're doing at the SF? I'm in the scarf booth.

He put his phone back in his pocket, turning towards Ally. She was fingering a yellow one.

"That one looks nice," He found himself saying. She jumped slightly as he came up behind him.

"I know but they only take cash. It's thirty and all I have is a twenty," She frowned.

"I'll get it."

No, no you will not. You cannot go down this path again.

"Really?"

I hate you, Ally Dawson.

"Yeah," Austin smiled, though his mind told him not too. He handed a ten and a twenty to the teller, picking up the yellow scarf. Then before he could even think about how bad of an idea it was, he stepped forward, and tied it around her neck. He could see that she was just as surprised at the gesture, when her eyes widened comically.

"T-thanks, Austin," She lowered her eyes, and Austin almost thought she was blushing. "You didn't have to do that, you know."

Austin got the feeling that she was talking about a lot more than just buying the scarf for her. Austin swallowed, his heart hammering in his chest, and his mind calling him an idiot. "I know," He whispered.

And that's when he heard it.

"Dad?"

Austin froze, his stomach knotting and his heart stopping, his lungs not finding the oxygen he needed. He turned around quickly, only to find Peter there. His hair was actually brushed, and his clothes were clean and pressed. Claire stood awkwardly behind him.

And for the first time in forever, Peter's emotions were like an open book on his face, the way they used to be when he was a kid. But all Austin could think about was the pure look of hurt and betrayal in his son's eyes, which quickly was replaced with the well-known anger and hate.

"How could you?" His tone was sharp, his eyes never wavering from Austin's as his fists clenched. Austin took a step away from and Ally and towards Peter.

"Peter please," Austin begged. "It's not what it looks like."

"Oh yeah?" The incredulity in Peter's voice made Ally flinch in Austin's peripherals. "Cuz it sure looks like you're on a date with her."

Claire tried to grab Peter's arm, but he brushed her aside, eyes not fixated on Ally. Austin's eyes darted back and forth between the two. "That's not what's happening Peter," He tried to insist.

People were starting to look. Austin spotted several phones with the telltale red light of a recorder going. He went to grab his son's arm, but just as with Claire, he was brushed off. Austin's eyes went to Ally.

Her skin was devoid of all colour as she stared at Peter. The sheen on her eyes from pooling tears didn't escape his vision. He watched as she gulped and took a step forward. "Peter?" The name was like a forgotten promise on her tongue. And then Peter did something that shocked even Austin.

He began to cry.

"You were supposed to be here!" The teen shouted, turning any head which was previously occupied. The anger and hurt seeped through Peter's tone, almost as surely as the tears wept from his eyes. "You left."

"Peter," Austin said forcefully, stepping between Peter and Ally, not quite trusting what his son would do in such a state. "You need to calm down."

"And why are you defending her?" The anger turned on Austin, and he felt his heartbreak as he looked into his son's watery green eyes. "Why are you siding with her?"

"I'm not siding with anyone," He tried to reason. But Peter was having none of it, as his hands forcefully came up and pushed Austin back. Silence ensued as passerbys watched with baited breath, and Austin's eyes stayed trained on Peter. Finally said teen raised his head ever so slowly, allowing Austin to see the cold hostility in those green eyes.

"I hate both of you," The words dripped like venom.

And then he was gone.

Leaving Austin feeling like he had finally lost his son.

Hi guys! So sorry it took me so long to update, life is crazy. Senior year is crazier. Balancing the two? Yikes. Anyways, this chapter was kind of fun to write :-). And now next chapter we get... Ally's POV! Yup, finally some insight into her crazy little head.

Also about the Daredevil fabric I posted last night, I just want to say that it won't be a high priority story, so don't worry. This fic as well as OYTH shall get my main focus still. I just had to write something because Charlie Cox has stolen my life momentarily. For those of you who know who he is, I'm sure you understand.

Anyways, here's the answer to some of your questions :-)

Q. How many chapters do you have planned for this fic?

A. I really don't know, because I'm one of those writers who makes it up on the spot depending on what I'm feeling like. I'd say thirty, just because I'd say it'll be similar to the first one, but you never know. It might be shorter than that, or longer. We'll just have to see!

Q. What happened to the populars?

A. The same think that always happens when you graduate from high school... you grow up. Though we might have a run in with a few just for old times sake. But yes, after high school, Austin and Ally never really saw them again. Except for maybe Kira...

Q. CAN THOMAS AND ANNABETH KISS ALREADY?

A. Haha, all good things come to those who wait ;-) Do you guys really want them together that badly?

Well, as always thank you to all who reviewed and support this story. Just a special shout to Ausllyforever14, AnthonyRodriguez, and Caroline. All three of you had the sweetest reviews, and I just wanted to personally say thank you. And Caroline, while I do have a general idea of what's going to happen already, one of your ideas does sound really cool, so I'll try my best to incorporate it :-)

Thank you everyone, and I'll see you soon!