Hey guys! Thanks for all of the reviews! Sorry about the wait, and sorry that the last chapter was so short, btu I made this one extra long to make up for it! :) Hope you like this chapter, please keep reviewing! :D

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot line :(

Chapter 36

Ally POV

That night was probably the longest night of my life. I couldn't sleep, mostly because Austin wasn't there with me, (we had thought it was best of he stayed away tonight, if my mom was suspicious), but also because I couldn't help but think about the night before and how amazing it was and how much I hate to admit it but I wish it could happen again. I knew he loved me, but I had had my doubts, like every other girl. It was great to know that he wasn't just going to run away with some other girl once I gave him everything.

When I finally managed to get some sleep, all I dreamt about was Austin, and the night before, and other things I am too shy to admit to…

I woke up to hear Dez and what sounded like Penelope shouting downstairs. I quickly jumped out of bed and slid out of my bedroom quietly.

"Well, you should have told me about him earlier!" Dez was yelling. Penelope sounded tearful.

"I thought he would leave me alone. I didn't want to make problems between the two of us." She yelled back.

"Yeah, well, now we have a huge problem, don't we?"

"I'm sorry, but he just wants to see Liam!"

"Fuck that! I'm not letting that man anywhere near my son, and shame on you if you would!" Dez yelled, his voice hoarse. I ran down the stairs and into the room, worried.

"Guys, guys! Calm down and tell me what the hell is going on in here!" I shouted at them. They were right up in each other's faces, but when I came in Penelope turned away and burst into tears. Dez sighed.

"Stay out of this Ally, it doesn't concern you." He sighed, sitting down on the couch and resting his head in his hands.

"Don't you dare give me that shit! There's obviously something serious going on, and it obviously concerns my brother, my nephew and my soon-to-be sister-in-law. Now spill." I said sternly. He sighed but nodded.

"Actually, Dez, I think I should explain this one." Penelope spoke up. I looked at her, then back to Dez. He hesitated then nodded, lying back on the couch looking shattered.

"Go on then Pen." I said impatiently. I was worried about what she was about to tell me, sure it was something huge that was going to end badly.

"Well, basically, the reason I came back here wasn't because I wanted Liam to know his father, or because I missed Dez. Both of those things were true, but they weren't the reasons I came back. The real reason was…while I was away, I met a guy. At first he was great. Caring, sweet, loved the fact that I was pregnant. Then I had the baby, and it all went wrong. He started…hitting me, and eventually it got so bad that I ran away. Back here. I didn't want Dez to get angry. You know what he's like. So I didn't tell him. But this guy, Gary, ran into Dez and I a couple days ago. He wants me and Liam back, and he's a pretty scary guy. Dez is worried about what he might do." She explained, looking devastated. I suppose she expected me to be angry, and I was. But she had been through so much crap already, I decided to do the one thing she was least expecting. I hugged her. She was so surprised that she started crying, and hugged me back tightly as she could.

"I'm so sorry about all the shit you've been through, Pen. So sorry. Anything I can do to help, I'll do it. This guy isn't getting anywhere near my nephew, or my sister. Okay?" I said, pulling away to look her in the eyes so she knew I was serious. I saw her smile momentarily when I called her my sister.

"Thanks so much Ally. But I'm afraid your brother doesn't see things that way. And I don't blame him. Maybe it's best if I just go somewhere else, somewhere that he won't be able to find me. If that's possible, anyway." She sighed, getting to her feet. Dez shot up.

"No! I mean, yeah I'm angry. But I love you, Pen. I don't want you to go anywhere. You, me and Liam. We're a family. Nothing is going to separate us, especially not Gary. Okay?" he said, his anger evaporated. Penelope started crying all over again, but this time it was happy tears, and she nodded. Dez held out his arms, and she ran to him. The moment seemed so intimate that I just had to look away.

"Erm, Dez, where's mom and Austin?" I asked when they were done. He linked his fingers through Penelope's and smiled.

"Mom went out with Liam. She can't get enough of her grandson. I said she could spend the day with him, while Penelope and I can spend some time trying to sort out this mess."

"I'll help you guys think, if you want." I offered. They both shook their heads.

"It's fine. You spend some time with Austin. We're just about to leave. He's still in bed, by the way. Oh, yeah, tell him I left him a present in his dresser, middle drawer." Dez said, stifling laughter. I wondered why, but shrugged it off.

"What present?" I asked him. He grinned.

"Something he'll need. Trust me." He said, and even Penelope was laughing now. I still didn't get the joke, so I just shrugged and hugged them both goodbye. They left eventually, and I sighed and trudged upstairs to wake Austin. He was actually under the covers this time, so I decided to surprise him and pull them off. I grabbed the bottom, counted to three, and pulled. Then I squealed and closed my eyes, turning away, embarrassed as hell. Apparently, he had slept naked. He shot up, looking around wildly before a minute, before noticing me and laughing.

"What's wrong Ally?" he asked innocently. I grunted.

"You know what's wrong! Put some frikking clothes on!" I said sternly, trying to get my breathing back under control. He just laughed more.

"Oh come on Ally, you've seen it all before. Or have you forgotten already?" he asked. I picked up the closest thing to me, which happened to be a stuffed dolphin, and threw it at him. I heard him grunt, then laugh even harder.

"Just shut up and get dressed!" I shouted.

"Throw me some clothes from the drawer then." He managed to say between chuckles. I opened the drawers and pulled out a clean-looking shirt and some shorts. I waited for him to change before finally turning around again. He grinned, patting the bed beside him. I went over and sat down, still blushing. He smiled, shaking his head at me, and kissed me gently. I melted into the kiss, slowly pulling him down on top of me as I lay down on the bed. He moaned, and I shivered at the feelings it gave me. He slid his hands under my body and pulled me closer. After a minute or two I pulled away, gasping for breath. He smiled, sitting up again.

"So, what do you want to do today?" I asked him cheerily.

"Well, I'm not in the mood to go anywhere. I think I just want to stay here all day." He said, smiling. I grinned, nodding in agreement.

"Same. Everyone's out." I said, before realising how it sounded and blushing. He just grinned.

"Great. Want any breakfast?" he asked. I shook my head, then remembered what Dez had said.

"Oh, by the way, Dez said he left you a present in the middle drawer of your dresser." I said. He frowned, confused, but leant over to open the drawer. Then he slammed it shut almost instantly and looked at me, his face bright red.

"Great. Tell him I said thanks. And I hate him." He said, looking embarrassed as hell. I grinned slyly, looking over at the drawer with my eyebrows raised.

"What is it? An embarrassing photo?" I asked.

"No, nothing like that."

"Let me see!" I said, reaching for the drawer. He stopped me, sliding off the bed to sit in front of the drawer to block me, still blushing.

"No, it's nothing. Really."

"Well obviously it's something, else you wouldn't be so embarrassed." I said, rolling my eyes. He thought for a second, then sighed.

"Please just forget about it, Ally. It's embarrassing." He whined. I sighed.

"Fine." I agreed, putting my hands up and climbing off the bed, making as if to leave the room. He sighed, relieved, then stood up to follow me. When he was just behind me I turned and ran across the room to the dresser and pulled it open, looking down. I froze. I wish it could have been something, anything else but that. But there was only one thing in the drawer. So that must have been Dez's present. I sighed, closing the drawer and leaning against it, resting my head on my hands. Austin sat beside me, smiling sheepishly.

"Well, at least he's not mad…"

"Yeah. Oh screw this, I'm calling him. I'm going to kill him." I said, standing up and pulling out my phone. I speed-dialled him and he answered on the first ring.

"Hey Ally. I'm guessing Austin found his present." He said, stifling giggles.

"Yeah, he did. Really, Dez, really? A box of condoms? How old are you?"

"Old enough to be able to tell when my little sister loses a certain something…which, by the way, I'm pretty angry about."

"If you're so angry why the hell did you make a joke about it?" I huffed, embarrassed that he knew.

"I thought it would be embarrassed. But don't worry ,I'm not going to kill Austin. I know he loves you, and-"

"Okay, I'm going to stop you there, before this gets any more awkward." I sighed, cutting him off. He laughed.

"Okay, good. Speak to you later Als." He said.

"I won't be speaking to you. I'll be stabbing you in the heart with a carving knife." I muttered, hanging up when I heard him burst out laughing. Austin looked at me, trying not to smile.

"OH God, don't you start laughing too!" I groaned, falling dramatically backwards onto the bed. He chuckled.

"Sorry. Anyway…we wouldn't want to let Dez's present go to waste, now, would we?" he said hopefully, raising his eyebrows. I threw a pillow at him.

"I hate you." I muttered.

"I love you too." He said, laughing ,as he bent over me to kiss me again. I smiled into his lips. I had thought I wouldn't fall in love until I was at least twenty, maybe even never. But I had fallen in love at the tender age of sixteen, and thank God, he loved me back.

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