A/N: It may be the shortest chapter, but it's just in time for Christmas! Have a great holiday everyone!

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Blindsided Chapter 10: Illusion

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True to his word Austin saw Ally almost every day after school got out. She had to work and he had things to do to prepare for his tour, but they still had a significant amount of time together. They ended up playing music together most of the time. Mr. Dawson had recently developed a new habit of poking his head into the practice room at random times when they were alone and consequently he caught them kissing a few days after Austin graduated. It was an awkward moment which resulted in more of the impromptu visits from Ally's dad and much less kissing for the young couple. They were also joined by Trish and Dez whenever possible, cementing Sonic Boom's practice room as their preferred hang out.

Two days before the Fourth of July Austin walked into the practice room and greeted Ally with a kiss before her dad could follow him up and try starting a conversation about guitars or something. Ally was at the piano and she had him sit beside her on the bench.

"What were you playing just now as I came in? I've never heard it before but I like it." Austin asked.

"I hope you like it since it's for your next record." Ally said and began playing the song again.

"You're writing a song for me? Can I hear it?" he smiled brightly as she continued playing. Then she started to sing.

"When you're on your own, drowning, alone, and you need a rope that can pull you in someone'll throw it. And when you're afraid that you're gonna break and you need a way to feel strong again someone'll know it. And even when it hurts the most try to have a little hope that someone's gonna be there when you don't, when you don't." she sang with feeling and Austin was mesmerized by her and her voice as the chorus picked up. "If you wanna cry, I'll be your shoulder. If you wanna laugh, I'll be your smile. If you wanna fly, I will be your sky. Anything you need that's what I'll be. You can come to me."

She played for a moment before starting on the next verse and he could see her soul laid open before him in her words. "You struggle inside, losing your mind, fighting and trying to be yourself and somebody lets you. Out in the cold, but no where to go, feeling like no one can understand, then somebody gets you. So take a breath and let it go, try to have a little hope, 'cause someone's gonna be there when you don't, when you don't." She sang the chorus again and Austin began to hum along, harmonizing with her. Ally scooted slightly closer to him and nodded her approval as she continued into the bridge.

"Like a chain that never breaks, like a truth that never bends, like a glue that takes your broken heart and puts it back again. It's the feeling that you get, it's the moment that you know, like no matter what the future holds, you'll never be alone."

As she sang the chorus for the third time Austin joined her again, echoing the words as Ally sang them. When they finished she sang once more 'you can come to me' and then ended with a simple chord. They were still for a moment as what just happened washed over them.

"Wow. Ally that song is incredible!" Austin said.

"Thanks."

"You'll really let me sing it and show it to my producer Jimmy?"

"You better. Just treat it like the rest of the songs I've given you." Ally said.

"What songs? This is the first Ally Dawson original you've played for me." Austin was confused.

"Jimmy won't respond if you use that name. But if you tell him it's from Lady Snow then he'll set up the studio time for you."

Austin gaped at her. "What did you just say?"

"Tell Jimmy that Lady Snow wrote it." Ally said.

"How do you know that name? I've never said it have I? Jimmy is really protective of my songwriter and I promised not to tell anyone about her." Austin was searching his mind for a moment when he could have let it slip. He spent so much time with Ally, and even though he talked a little about his music with her, she never asked about it much so he didn't give details.

Ally's hand rested on his arm and brought him back to the present. "You kept the secret just like Jimmy wanted. Technically, I am the one in breach of my contract right now since I'm not supposed to tell anyone either, but there's only a week left so I don't think it will matter too much."

"What contract?"

"I'm Lady Snow. It's an anagram of my name, Ally Dawson, leaving out the duplicate a and l. My mom made it up when I was 13 and signed on as a songwriter for Star Records. I was giving guitar lessons to Jimmy's daughter Kira who I became friends with. We were goofing off and I taught her a song I made up, her dad heard her practicing it and was impressed. My parents were worried, like always, so they decided to keep me a mystery and insisted on the false name and that no one ever meet me. They didn't know how people would react to a blind 13 year old songwriter."

"Are you kidding? It's awesome!" Austin interjected.

Ally slid her hand into his. "Well, when I was younger very few people accepted me like you do. Anyway, Jimmy had me try out the emailing thing with some of his recording artists and it worked well so we stuck with it and set a contract that expires on my 18th birthday next week."

"So you wrote my whole record. . . and you knew it was me the whole time?"

"That first chat I freaked out and almost refused to do it when Jimmy told me he wanted a song for Austin Moon. I told him I already met you in person, but since we didn't even know if my songs would be a good fit he said to just treat it like any other job and keep the secret. And it was so easy to write with you. I already knew what it was like to play music with you and I had a feel for your taste in music and your voice and style. Songs just flowed easier and faster than with anyone else I've written for. I get new ideas for you all the time."

"And I love all of them. I had no idea it was you – maybe I should have figured it out, but. . . That's why it was so easy to work with Lady Snow . . . because she's you." Austin shook his head as he took in this information and everything it meant. "What about my birthday party? Jimmy knew exactly who you were and you had to pretend not to know each other didn't you? That must have been hard."

Ally laughed lightly. "It was strange. But it was nice too because it was my first time at a record release party and it was for my own music. I couldn't say it, but I felt like I was celebrating it with you and I wouldn't want to share that with anyone else. So, are you okay with this?"

"Ally." Austin hugged her. "I'm sorry you had to hide it. I wish you could have told me from the start. It would have been so much fun to write the songs together in person."

"Now we can." She said.

"Wow. This will take getting used to. And it means you already know about the surprise I had planned for the second record. Well, I hope you like 'No Ordinary Day'. Surprise." He said flatly.

Ally hugged him tight. "I love it. And I loved writing it with you." she kissed him.

Now he had everything. He had his girlfriend and favorite songwriter all in one. And Ally was kissing him. Perfect. Then he had an idea.

"The song you just sang: it's really good. But I think I know something that will make it even better." Austin said.

"What?"

"I think it should be a duet. I want you to sing it with me."

"I just did." Ally said.

"No, I mean for real, on the record."

"I don't know Austin."

"You have a beautiful voice, Ally. You should share it and be recognized for how awesome you are. " Austin asserted. He watched as she considered this. Hope and fear and so many emotions played across her face but he didn't push. She had to decide on her own.

"Okay, let's try it." Ally finally agreed.

"Yes!" Austin hugged her again. "It's going to be so good, you'll see."

"Maybe we can run it by Jimmy after my birthday and I change my contract." Ally said.

"Alright. So can we sing it again right now?" he asked hopefully.

Ally spent the next hour teaching Austin the words to 'You Can Come to Me'. Mr. Dawson only looked in on them once. Trish showed up and they stopped playing the song so they could talk to her. She wanted to plan something for Ally's birthday.

. . .

The following week Austin, Trish and Dez went to Ally's house for her party in the afternoon. They sang to her, ate cake and opened presents with her family. Then Austin took her out for a surprise, with a promise to call her parents if needed as always. One of her favorite local bands was performing a concert on the beach. They joined the crowd of fans and Austin kept Ally close. She enjoyed every moment and when the concert ended and the crowd dispersed he pulled her close and kissed her. They could hear the waves crashing nearby and a warm night breeze swirled around them as Austin kissed her freely with no worries of Mr. Dawson barging in, no thoughts other than Ally and her soft lips and her hands holding onto him just as tightly as he held her.

Eventually Austin pulled back, breathless, and kissed her forehead. She rested her head against his chest as they held each other in an embrace. He took a deep breath.

"I love you." he told her. The words were spoken quietly and truthfully.

"I love you too." Ally responded. And somehow, they found a way to hold each other even tighter.

They walked along the boardwalk, stopping to kiss occasionally, as they enjoyed this moment being young and free and in love. They didn't talk about Austin leaving on tour in a week. It was an unspoken agreement they had since neither of them was looking forward to being apart. Especially tonight when they were flying high on being together.

A month ago Austin had suggested that Ally come with him. He knew her parents would be against it, but he told Ally that his mom could be with her when he wasn't. She refused like he knew she would, but at least she knew he wanted her there with him. Since then they hadn't discussed it and simply focused on enjoying their time together.

Tonight Austin wanted to forget about his tour. He wanted to forget about everything but at 11pm Ally's Dad called him. He wanted to know where they were since the concert was long over. Austin explained that they were just walking around, talking and having a nice evening out. Before he could end the call he had to promise to take Ally straight home. He pulled her into a final kiss and drove her home as promised, telling himself that as soon as he was back from tour he would take Ally out like this all the time and her parents would simply have to get used to it.

Austin was sure of one thing: the next two months were going to drag by without his Ally.