Ah, finally! It's been so long, but yeah. I already said my reasoning for being late on this in the previous author's note...

Disclaimer: You know, I wonder it'd be like to own a TV show... Since, I obviously don't own one...

Austin

After about a long lasting minute or so, I pull my lips apart from Ally's gently, while letting out a tiny exhale. Everything feels so right again – we're friends again, eventually and hopefully partners again, and maybe one day in a relationship. I know I'm getting ahead of myself, but one can always dream, can't he?

I beam at the brunette when she pulls away as well, and for a moment we stand. Just stand there, looking at each other sweetly.

Honestly, I don't even know what to say. In all my life, I had never been so happy; despite the singes of pain I still have from those injuries. Right now, I feel like it's Christmas morning in a way – the mood so full of jolly cheeriness, and I just got the best present ever.

Though, that is true in a way. Ally is my friend again – and that's the best present I could ever ask for.

Then, for the billionth time now, there's a mini white flash, and the small ball of light again transforms into two dream ghosts.

"Aww..." Dez gushes. "You guys made up!" He curls his fingers into a shape of a heart, to which I roll my eyes playfully at.

Trish on the other hand, pushes the topic away. But, I can see her warmth through that cold shoulder on the subject. "Yeah, yeah, enough gushy love stuff. I think it's about time," the girl stretches out her hands, cracking her knuckles. "We get these two back into the real world."

"Oh, right! I almost forgot about that!" The redhead too, for whatever reason, cracks his knuckles. He takes ahold of Trish's hand, and opens up his mouth, but stops himself. "Wait, you guys ready for this?"

Looking to Ally, I nod; signifying my readiness. She nods also. We don't even have to say anything, yet we know exactly what the other would say and mean by it.

Trish takes a deep breath. "Alright, let's do this."

Again, in somewhat of a monotone chant, the dream ghosts say, "By the power of dreams, we bring these two back to the most modern of many memories, amazing adventures, and drastic disasters, back to the gift of the present." That white flash appears again, and I immediately shut my eyes to prevent from being blinded. But, I hear this weird crackle, and I can see through the lids of my eyes that the brightness of the gleam is gone. Meaning, I open my eyes again, but one at a time to see if everything's okay.

"That's... Weird." Trish says confused. "What happened?"

Dez has the same puzzled look as the Latina. "I don't know... Let's try that again." The other ghost agrees with him. Ally and I don't say anything, brushing off any worries in us.

"By the power of dreams, we bring these two back to the most modern of many memories, amazing adventures, and drastic disasters, back to the gift of the present."

The flash comes again, but this time, it vanishes even quicker than before. Well, that is weird and scary – it's weird scary. Funny, I said that when I first woke up in this place. It was always a phrase I used when I was confused about something, but I guess I used it less and less as time went on during my life.

Though, that meaning Trish and Dez try again.

"By the power of dreams, we bring these two back to the most modern of many memories, amazing adventures, and drastic disasters, back to the gift of the present."

Yet again, nothing happens. We're all still here; stuck in a pit of darkness. Nothing's happening, but why is that? Still though, they keep on trying – chanting the same sentence repeatedly.

But, it is no use. After numerous amounts of tries, I start to worry myself, and I can tell that Ally might have it worse than I do. I speak up nervously, nearly stumbling on my words, "W-what's wrong?"

Trish and Dez look to each other, and I realize that they know something. What could be wrong?

Dez gulps. "Well, the reason that our powers aren't working is because... Because..." His last word fades into silence, and I wait for a response. But, he doesn't speak up again. Instead, he scratches the back of his neck, to which I also take notice of the paleness on his face.

So, Trish continues on, but the news... They aren't exactly the greatest.

"The reason our powers aren't working is because... You can't go back."

Sensing the choke in the brunette's voice, she speaks up, "W-what? What do you mean we can't go back?"

At this point, Dez is able to talk again. His face has somewhat returned to normal color. "Well, the thing is, only one of you can go back at this point of time."

"And, well," I take notice of a lot of things, but they've been saying 'well' a lot lately... "The person who's only able to go back is..." Again with the pauses.

Meanwhile all this is happening; my knees are literally shaking, my teeth chattering, my heart beating a mile a minute, my brain trying to process and prepare for who's able to go back. Who does get to go back?

Because, if only one of us can go back into the real world, it means... I guess it really what it means by what it says. Only one can go back.

The question throbs in my head as if it were blood pulsing through my body. Who does get to go back?

Tautly, I glimpse at Ally, watching her facial expression. It's full of anxiety and fear; I can easily read that she has the same thought provoking concerns as I do.

"Ally."

For a moment, I let myself think. Just to think. Ally. Ally's going back.

But I'm not.

In response, Ally says, "W-what? What about Austin?" The brunette looks to me – the concern easily seen in her sparkling eyes. I mouth to her that I'll be fine, but I doubt she believes me, considering her still worrisome facial expression.

"So, what happens now?" I ask the two ghosts. Ally may be going back to the real world, but what would become of me?

Trish sighs again. "Well, when Ally goes back to the real world, Austin, you'll still be here."

Ally's face grows even more anxious. I know she doesn't want to leave me, and I know I don't want her to leave. After being apart for so long in the real world, and being reunited in the dream one, we have to be separated. Again.

"You mean I'll just be here? For how long exactly?"

"Well..." Dez starts. "The time is indefinite." Trish nods in agreement.

"Oh." Trying to avoid glancing at Ally, I fail. I can't help myself to see what she may think about all this. Her facial expression mimics mine. Full of shock.

Not knowing what else to do, I step a few feet back to allow the ghosts to transport Ally back. Right as they start to speak though, Ally stops them. "Wait."

"What?" There's a slight annoyance in Trish's voice.

Gaping, I don't believe what the brunette says at first. "Take Austin back instead of me."

"What?! No, you don't have to do that for me," I protested. I can tell she's about to protest back, but I cut her off. "Ally, all of this is my fault. You have to go back."

"B-but, Austin..." She's trying to find some good excuse for me to go instead of her, but I already know that she can't come up with anything. Nothing.

And all I tell her to do is, "Go."

This time, the brunette doesn't try to stop. She knows that I wouldn't change her mind. But, before going, she hugs me, to which I hug her back. We practically squeeze each other to death in each other's arms, but I can't help it. If my time here is indefinite, then who knows how long it'll actually be before I'm back with Ally in the real world.

Our hug is long-lasting, and neither of us let go at first, but when Trish coughs – obnoxiously that is – to signify the time, I'm the first to release the girl from my arms. We each whisper a short "see you later" instead of goodbyes because we know that it really isn't forever. I know that this isn't the end.

I know that in due time we'll see each other again.

And with that, the ghosts emitted a white flash after saying that chant again to bring Ally back. My eyes are connected with Ally's throughout the entire thing, and they don't leave her sight until she truly disappears with the flash. The ghosts are only gone for a few seconds, and when they are finished, they say only a few words to me.

"We didn't want to tell you this when you were with Ally, Austin, but the reason she got to go instead of you..." They pause in unison. "Is because even though both of you were in the same accident, you're both in critical condition in your comas. But, your condition is more severe than Ally's, and we don't have enough power to send you back."

I don't say a word.

"We don't know if we'll ever have enough power to send you back."

Ugh, this chapter is so short... ._. I apologize for that, since this is one of the biggest turning points in the story, and I couldn't come up with much for this chapter. :|

By the way... Happy Thanksgiving! And happy early 18th birthday Laura! :) :D

Also, things are starting to come to a close... Only a few more chapters to go like I said previously, but I want to say that I liked writing this fanfic. It's different from other ones, and I like different. Thanks for all the support you guys have given me. :)

One more thing... I don't know when I'll update after this... After Thanksgiving break, I have to start preparing for finals before winter break, so that means more homework for me. Yay... x_x Though, I'll try my best to update as soon as possible. :D