Austin's P.O.V.

Austin was humiliated, to say the least. Before he even woke up the next morning, he was wincing as he ran the previous nights events through his mind. Guilt surged through him as he looked over at Ally's sleeping form, to see a greenish blue tint to the skin along the left side of her jaw bone. He had done that. He had. Austin.

Digusted with himself he rose early, trying to put as much space between himself and Ally as possible. With everything that happened... he just needed some space at the moment.

The air was surprisingly chilly as he stepped out of the tent. The light was dim, and the sun had yet to peek over the rim of the canyon. His clothes from yesterday were surprisingly clean after his quick rinse in the river, and his shorts were dry. He walked a ways from the camp and sat down on a large stone by the wters edge. on this side the water was moving smooth and lethargically, much like Austin's thoughts. He ran his hands through his hair and over his eyes, letting out an exhasperrated sigh.

"What's wrong Austin?"

Austin's head snapped up and his eyes flashed open at the voice breaking his silence. His honey hazel eyes landed on none other than Peter in only his pajama shorts, his red hair sticking up in all directions as though he had just rolled out of bed.

"What are you doing up Peter?" Austin asked instead, gesturing for the little boy to join him. "Come over here, you'll freeze."

The little boy followed obediently, clambering onto Austin's lap. Austin took his hands and ran them up and down Peter's skinny arms in an attempt to warm him, before he gave up and circled his arms around the child in an embrace, trying to keep as much of his body heat directed at Peter as possible.

"Dez and Trish snore," He stated simply, playing with his fingers as he stared out at the water. He quickly squirmed in Austin's arms, turning his upper body so he could look at Austin square in the eyes. Austin had never realized how intimidating Peter's green eyes could be until that point. "What about you?"

He opened his mouth to tell Peter it was nothing, but something in the little boy's eyes stopped him. He took a deep breath.

"I hit Ally last night," He murmered quietly. The little boy's eyes widened, but not in judgement. Rather, his brow cinched with curiousity.

"Why?"

Austin almost laughed at the question. Rather, he smiled grimly. "I was having a nightmare, and Ally tried to wake me up. I hit her without realizing it was her."

"So," Peter asked slowly, "It was an accident?"

"If only it was as simple as that," Austin sighed sadly as he looked out at the river again.

"Well, you didn't want to hit Miss Ally, right?" Peter asked. "It was your nightmare that hit her."

Austin smiled truly for a moment, looking back down at Peter. "Ally said the same thing."

Peter shrugged like all children do, before he started swinging his legs carefree. "That's cause it's true. You can't blame yourself for something you did when you were sleeping. For all you could've known, she could have beenone of the Kindly Ones coming to kill you while you slept!"

Austin outright laughed at that one, running a hand fondly through Peter's hair. "You sure love that series, don't you?"

"Uh-huh," Peter mumbled. "It was what finally made us a family."

"REading together you mean?"

"No," Peter admitted. "Like, yes, it was very good for that, but not everything. What I meant was that it was what got you and Ally your first kiss."

Austin stared at the little boy in wonderment. "You remember that?" Austin breathed.

Peter nodded firmly. "Yup. You had a special copy of the book. And Ally wanted to touch it, but you wouldn't let her. And then she said that she would do anything if it meant you would let her touch your book. And you said-"

"Kiss me," Austin smiled at the memory, cutting Peter off who just smiled at him.

"Yeah. And I think if everyone was honest, you were much happier after you kissed Ally."

"And why was that?" Austin raised his eyebrow at the happy young child. Peter all of a sudden turned solemn though, and looked down at his fiddling fingers in his lap.

"Austin, I might've never been loved by my parents, and I might've never had a family, but I still know what it is. It's what you and Ally have when you smile at eachother, or the way your eyes light up as she laughs, or like how she's happier with even the mention of your name." Peter said determindely. "It's the fact that even when you had left us, and even when Ally does something silly, you two always return to eachother. It's because you belong there."

For a moment, Austin was transported in a whirlwind of memories, little things he had thought no one would ever notice. And yet someone did. And that someone was currently sitting on his lap, lecturing him on why he loved Ally. Why he was happier with Ally.

"You really are observant, aren't you bud?" Austin asked quietly. Peter shrugged.

"I see the truth, Austin. You need Ally, and she needs you. Winter Break wasn't a coincidence Austin," Peter continued. "It was an opportunity for you to fill the whole in your life. And you took it, no matter how much it hurt. That's why I know you're perfect with Ally. Because no matter how many wrongs you do eachother, and how hurt you get in the process, you always go back for her."

"That he does."

Both Austin and Peter looked up from their own little conversation to see Ally standing a few feet off, her arms crossed. Austin could right away tell that she was cold, which was funny because it wasn't like she was outwardly showing it. But from the way she let her hair drape across her shoulders, instead of pining it back, and the way she was hunched ever so slightly told of the cold she was feeling. Austin couldn't blame her. Her shorts were rather, well, short, and her night tank top rather flimsy. She smiled warily at him, like she was afraid he would run again if she moved too fast.

"I should get back to my tent," Peter said slyly, slipping off of Austin's knee. "Trish'll start blaming Dez that he's lost me again if I'm not there when she wakes up."

Peter started to run back to camp.

"Hey Peter?" Austin called, raising his voice to be sure he was heard. The little boy stopped running and turned back, a question lighting up his dancing green eyes. Austin smiled kindly at him. "I know I can't replace your parents, but I want you to know that you'll always be a part of my family. Okay bud?"

"Okay," Peter smiled in return, before turning on his heel and running towards the tents. Austin smiled fondly after him, as Ally made her way over to Austin. She sat down a foot away from him, eyeing his reaction to her presence. He had a feeling she knew that he was out here to have space from her. For a moment, neither did anything. But finally Austin just shook his head, a rueful smile on his lips as he reached his arm our to Ally.

"Come on," He smiled knowingly.

A smile finally broke out across Ally's face as she scooched over beside him. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders protectively, and she sidled upclose to him, loving the way he drove out the cold and promised the warmth. She leaned her head on his shoulder, content in the early morning air. For a moment they sat like that, frozen in time.

"Austin, please don't blame yourself for last night," Ally finally begged him. Austin tensed for a moment, before sighing and releasing his guilt.

"That's a rather large request," He joked instead, shooting her a playful look. His face turned solemn as it caught sight of the bruise. "Does it hurt?"

Ally shook her head, a sad smile on her lips. "Not as much as the pain knowing that you go through those on a regular basis. Why didn't you tell me your nightmares were that bad?"

Austin hung his head partly in shame. "Because that wasn't bad. That was better. I used to wake up in the middle of the night screaming. It would take my mom hours to calm me down at a time. I didn't want to tell you, because I didn't want you to worry. Also the fact that Dez had the site up, and Trish was actually arranging us stuff, everything finally seemed to be falling into place. I didn't want to ruin that."

Ally sighed, and leaned forward to kiss his cheek. "You wouldn't have ruined it Austin. But I'm glad I know now. Is there anything else I could do to help?"

Austin offered her a tight smile. "Don't wake me up when it's happening?" He asked weakly. She gave him an amused look.

"No luck there, buddy boy," She told him. "I don't care how many bruises it takes. I will not let you go through that alone anymore."

"Then I guess we're at a standstill," Austin chuckled, throwing his head back to look at the brightening sky. Even in the lighter blue tones though, a couple lone, winking stars still stood out amongst the night. "Make a wish Ally," He said quietly.

She raised her head to stare at the sky with him, a smile gracing her features when she saw what he was referring to. "I wish that I could have a star all to myself," She murmered. "Then we could have all the wishes we want."

"Yeah?" Austin grinned down at her. Ally grinned back up at him.

"Yeah," She confirmed.

"Well then," Austin declared. "I'm going to bring you a star someday, Ally Dawson. One just for you."

"Promise?" Ally laughed, her eyes sparkling in the early light. Austin smiled and leaned his head down, brushing his lips against hers.

"I promise."

Hello out there, we're on the air, it's update night tonight!

Hehe, that's for all you hockey fans out there. Anyways, I hope you liked this chapter. I really am sorry I'm so inconsisted with my updates, I wish I could change that, but unfortunately I don't have enough stars to do that :) Anyways, I was asked about Austin's revenge on Ally, and when it will be. Probably not till later in the story. I've gotten tons of marvelous ideas, I just need to figure out exactly when and how I'm going to use them. Thanks so much for your reviews, and hopefully I'll see you guys soon.

Bye :)

(P.S. I had my first preparation for another story in this chapter tonight. If you have any ideas what you think I'm planning, I'd love to know :) )