I'm so sorry again for the wait of this chapter, but thank you so much for the reviews. Over 20 reviews per chapter, that's just insane to me. And thank you for all your insight onto what you think of the story. Some of you want some things to happen, some of it might, some might not, but I promise you, this story will make everyone happy in a sense in the end, hopefully. Anyway, still can't believe how far this story has come. Honestly, guys. Constantly, I look at this and go "wow, when did this happen? When did I get this story so far... how did they get this story so far?" You guys. We're on the top reviews page. When you search top reviewed stories, we're there. I can't thank you enough for that. Some of the best stories this fandom has made are on that page. Thank you for letting me be there with them.

Anyway, this chapter is a two parter. This is the first part, the second part I will post in a couple of days. Don't worry, it won't be long. Maybe if you're all so awesome (come on, we already know you all are) it'll be posted really soon.

Please let me know what you think. Enjoy!


Ally didn't feel nervous. Her heart wasn't hammering out of her chest; she felt bizarrely calm despite all that was happening around her. Austin had come back quietly, telling her that she was next and she had walked wordlessly too towards his room. The door was open and there was only a few feet that separated her and the boy who nearly gave his life selflessly.

Crossing the door, she walked in and his eyes were on hers like he knew she was there. It still was a painful feeling to see the obvious exhaustion on his features. Still there was the boy she'd grown to over the last few months, and much like she predicted when her eyes filled with tears, he laughed at her with a smirk on his face.

"Come here," he said softly, shaking his head. "You're ridiculous. You're crying over me, you realize that, right?"

"I'm glad to hear your stupid comments," she choked out with a smile on her face. "How are you feeling?"

"Like I was shot," he said dryly.

"Talk like that to Trish and you might be in here longer than you wish."

"I wouldn't dare," he grinned.

Ally rolled her eyes and took a seat next to him.

"How is Austin holding up?" he asked after a moment. "He looked okay before but I couldn't talk to him about what happened in the court house." He looked guilty. "I know he wants to talk about it and I feel bad but I can't. What happens with Jimmy now, and everyone else?"

"He's okay," she admitted. "As for Jimmy and that entire situation, I'm not quite sure. What happened in the court house has left both the shelter and those involved with more questions. No one honestly knows why Stormie pulled the gun."

Rocky sighed, closing his eyes. "Is it weird that I knew? Her eyes gave her away. I knew what she was planning to do the moment she got up."

Ally didn't know what to say to that. "Why don't you want to talk about it? Rocky, that was incredibly brave of you and I can't say I understand it because it's something that only you know why you did."

"I don't want to be the hero, or thought of as one," he said simply. "I can see how you've reacted and I know it's going to be one after another coming in here like I'm some sort of great person for throwing myself in front of him. It's not like that at all. He's my family, don't you get it? He's the closest thing to family that I have. He's all I've got and he's the only one who really understands. Why wouldn't I risk my life for my brother?"

Ally found it much easier to plan his party later that night now that everyone knew that Rocky was going to be okay. He would spend several more days in the hospital, as he still had a lot to do when it came to healing, but he was going to be moved out of the ICU within a day or so, and doctors were hopeful that everything would go as planned. He was already complaining that the food sucked and that he wanted his guitar, so it was a sign that everything would be alright, not only to the adults, but to everyone.

But planning a party for someone who was now relieved was harder because hiding from Austin was like hiding from a curious puppy. He was everywhere, always in everything. And trying to keep a secret in the shelter was nearly impossible. Especially when Rydel was around. Ally had been helping Dez with the video gift when she came running into the room, her eyes wide and her mouth moving faster than what anyone could understand.

Dez tensed behind Ally.

"What?" she asked, trying to hold in her laughter.

"He found my cake!"

Ally almost cursed. "What do you mean he found your cake?" She had been put in charge of the baking, which included a cake and several dozen cupcakes for the boy. "Why did you leave it for him to find?"

"I didn't!" she muttered. "I mean, it wasn't in plain sight. It was in the bread cabinet. Why the heck would he look in there?"

"What did you tell him?"

Rydel blushed. "I ran away."

"Which means…"

"Austin!" Rydel squeaked as he walked into the room, looking confused. "What are you doing here?"

"You ran away from me," he reminded her. "Why is there a cake in the bread cabinet?"

"Why were you in the bread cabinet?" Ally tried, hoping to change the subject. She didn't want to make it on him, but maybe he would forget about it. But this was Austin and he didn't forget about things.

"I was hungry and was going to make a sandwich," he said evenly. He eyed both girls. "What's going on?"

"Oh crap," Rydel whined.

She wasn't making it any easier and it forced Ally to have to think on the spot. "Well, you see, here is what happened…" She had no idea what to say.

"It's for Rocky!" Dez suddenly exclaimed. Ally turned to face him with the biggest smile on her face. She mouthed thank you and turned back to the other boy.

"He's right. Sorry, we didn't want anyone else to know. You see, we're planning this thing for him. Since he's stuck in the hospital and all, we thought maybe we would bake him some cake, and make a video for him, let him know how appreciated he is."

"That's a great idea!" Austin grinned. "Can I help?"

Ally had Austin 'help' for a while and then distracted him by asking Rydel to show him something in the rec room. Hopefully her mouth could keep him occupied while she went to talk to Trish, considering their entire plan had just changed without her even knowing. In the short time he had been helping, Ally had told him that they were going to have a little party at the hospital and he expected everything to be there. So, that meant that Austin's party would be there. Which was better for everyone, since she knew the moment Rocky found out they had a party without him, he would whine about it for weeks.

"Good save," was all that Trish said, after shaking her head at the story. "I don't mind. Just check with the hospital first. I think he'll be in a normal room at that point, but if not, we might have to improvise."

"That's fine. I'm going to head to the hospital anyway, check in on him. I've got to do a little shopping as well." Trish eyed her volunteer, wondering what that could mean, but didn't say a word.

At the hospital, the reaction to Austin's birthday party went much like Ally had expected, between finding out it was his birthday tomorrow, and that the party would be held in his room. Rocky looked so much better already, and much to the relief of everyone, he would be moved into a regular room that night.

"I'm going to come by in the morning with the decorations and such before everyone wakes up. We're buying a few fake decorations so he has no idea. Try and get some rest tonight, you'll need your strength tomorrow. I don't want you hurting yourself because of this."

Rocky scowled. "What does that mean?"

She raised her eyebrows and he smirked. "You know what it means. Anyway, I thought you could be of some help for me. I need to get Austin a gift, but I have no idea what to get him. I was thinking of something music related, but also of his progress. Any advice?"

"Well, you write songs, right?"

"Yeah," she said, looking at him like he was on way too many pain drugs (which he was).

"Don't look at me like that," he countered. "Anyway, you must have a song you've written since this whole thing started. You know, something that he would really appreciate. I heard you playing a song once on the piano a few weeks ago. Something about friendship and all that. There is a place in the mall, near your old store that makes these… bracelets. They record a sound and use the sound wave to make a bracelet." She just stared at him. "Do you have your phone on you?"

She nodded and he looked up the website, showing her what he meant.

"Wow," she muttered. "These are awesome. And they're pretty cheap."

He nodded. "He'd love it. Get him one with the lyrics on it. Maybe not the entire thing, but the chorus or something. And maybe frame the lyrics to the entire song, so that he knows what it means."

"I never finished it, though. The song. I don't want to give him lyrics to something that he'll never get to hear."

Rocky leaned forward a bit, though it caused him pain. "Well, I'm hyped up on morphine right now, but I'm not completely useless. I know you carry that book of yours everywhere… maybe I can help."

Ally was leaving the hospital an hour later, only because Rocky had fallen asleep. The pain and the focus of staying awake to finish the song had taken a lot out of him, and he had dozed off right after she had written the last line. It was several minutes before the mall would close, but she knew the owner of the store Rocky was talking about. Hopefully, he would pull some strings and put a rush on what was going to be a very special gift.

The mall closed in five minutes. She rushed toward the store, running into it and seeing the owner put a huge smile on her face.

"Remember me?" she asked him.

"Little Ally!"

"Not so little anymore," she said back with a smile. "I need a favor. A huge one."

He looked at her for a moment, then nodded. "You were always so good as a kid. What can I do?"

She explained the situation as quickly as she could, and he nodded. "Alright. We close in a few minutes, but the bracelets only take about an hour to make. Tell you what. You help me close the store, and I'll make it for you tonight."

Ally felt the relief rush through her. "I owe you one."

The bracelet was something she had never thought she would see. Her words, sung on a recorder, onto a computer, that was now forever something he could cherish. And the words she had chosen were from the heart. And he would know that. It cost her a lot of money, but it had been worth it. He deserved it. He deserved to know that someone cared.

She went back to the shelter at nearly ten pm, walking into what seemed way too quiet. But what she found was the most calming thing she'd seen all week. The entire group, including two usually horrible teens, were all surrounding the TV, watching a movie. No one even noticed her come in, that was until someone pulled her into the room. She almost yelped, until she realized it was Dez.

"I'm sorry," he apologized. "I wanted to save your video for last."

"The video!" she whispered. She had almost forgotten about it. She sat down on his bed as he got the video camera ready, and she had to smile. This was going to make his entire day. As he continued to prepare, she thought about what she should say. There was so much to say, so much she could tell him, and so much he deserved to hear.

Dez raised the video camera. "Ready?"

"Ally, I can't find the card!" Rydel was whining the next morning as she tried to put everything together for the hospital. Ally turned around and put a finger to her lips, giving the girl a look. She quieted immediately. It was way too early to be up, but they had to get the things in the car and loaded before Austin woke up and realized what party was really going to happen that day. After she had left the shelter a second time the night before, Ally had gone shopping at the 24 hour grocery store, picking up food and other things needed and had left that in her car, but there were still decorations and such that needed to be put there before he noticed. Besides that, she still had to make pancakes for him, as it was his favorite thing in the entire world. And if she wasn't mistaken, as she had seen him up several hours before (because she didn't go to bed until late either) Dez had only finished the video late last night and it needed to be put away too.

"Okay, I found it," she whispered this time, holding it up. The group had somehow managed to make a card for Austin without him seeing it. Ally had bought one of her own, but the others decided they needed to do something themselves. She was so proud of them, much like Trish. They really came together this week. "Going to put it in the bag and go through the checklist one more time. If I need anything, I'll call you."

Ally nodded and walked into the kitchen, preparing to make the pancakes. She had about two dozen made (it was awesome feeding so many) when she heard someone come up beside her.

"Shh," the voice said. "I don't want to scare you."

Ally turned to see Jackson standing there. "What's up?"

"Just checking in. Trish is gathering the stuff she got him, and Ryland is trying to make sure everything is set for the day, so everyone is good to go. A couple of them are awake already. Are you almost ready to go?"

"Could you maybe help a little?" She motioned to the plates and such, including a hat that she found for cheap that was absolutely ridiculous looking but she hoped he would wear. Jackson quickly put the plates around the table and began to put the drinks and such together when Rydel came running into the kitchen.

"He's awake!" she shrieked quietly. "Get ready. We're all heading into the rec room."

Ally smiled as she turned off the stove and ran with the others into the rec room.

Austin was walking slowly out of his room when he caught the scent of the pancakes. "Hey, I smell pancakes," he said to himself. "Where is everyone?"

He walked into the rec room and the deafening 'Happy Birthday' he received nearly sent him into the ceiling. "What, whoa!" He started smiling widely at each of them standing there. Ally was first to run across the room and hug him. "How did you know?"

"Trish," she said quietly. "I'm guessing you didn't want to make a big deal, so sorry, but hey, it's your day."

"And you made pancakes," he said with a grin, which made her laugh. "Wow."

"Don't look so shocked," she giggled, and together everyone went into the kitchen while Ally finished the remaining ones. Together, they sat at the table and for the first time in weeks, it felt like it did before everything started. It was the closest thing to a family any of them had and it was almost perfect.