Of Princes and Princesses

AvalonReeseFanFics

A/N: Happy Saturday my wonderful readers! Just six more chapters and this story is done! Are you guys excited? Cause I am! So we have more of the actual movie happening here, we're so close to getting Louis and Lyla together. I can't wait for you guys to read about that part too. As always, don't forget to leave a review and I'll see you guys next week!

32.

If you hadn't found me… I would have found you. I would have found you.

Aw jeeze, that princess of his was still his muse. Still had him writing heartbroken songs.

Marshall hadn't heard the lyrics to the song yet, but he had been given the music. So, hearing those lyrics had surprised him only because he knew who they were meant for.

Great, he was going to have to talk to his baby bro after the show. Try to heal his broken heart once more.

It took most of the afternoon but he got the story from Louis. About how he had gone all the way to Chicago only to find out that his Lyla had gotten married and was on her honeymoon.

As soon as he had gotten the story Marshall had tried to call Kate. Problem was, he hadn't been able to get a hold of her. Granted he knew she was at work, but that didn't mean that she couldn't call him back on her breaks.

She had always done that before.

He couldn't help but be worried. He really hoped that something bad wasn't happening at her hospital. There wasn't some tragedy that was keeping her from him… right? Because… just because she was in pediatric care, sometimes, if kids were involved, she'd get pulled down to the ER. Usually by Rose.

He was trying not to think about it. Trying not to worry about Kate. He was just trying to focus on the music he had just learned how to play. God he had forgotten what it was like. He forgot how hot it was under the stage lights, and how the lights at the edge of the stage blinded him. He forgot how loud the roar of the crowd could be, especially if they liked the song.

Woooooooo! That's my boyfriend!

What? Who the hell was saying that? None of the his bandmates had their girlfriends in the city with them. It was supposed to be a boy's trip. Louis was single. Nick's wife was at home seeing as she had a baby on the way. Manix still wasn't admitting he was gay and had no girl with him either. His girlfriend was supposed to be at work, or at home in bed so… so…

Marshall forced himself to look past the glare of the stage lights. And there, right in front of him, done up as the sexiest fucking groupie he had ever seen in his life, was his Kate. Her hair was up in a tight ponytail and her make up all done up in smokey eyes and red lips. She had a wristband, which meant she payed for cover. She was in a custom made t-shirt that said: "I'm in love with a Connelly Brother," and her ripped up black jeans. Her jacket was tied around her waist and she was dancing and cheering with the rest of them.

She had come! She had… how had she…?

She must have gotten the shift off and not told him. She must have wanted to surprise him. God he wished she hadn't, she wouldn't have had to pay cover, he would have gotten her in.

But hey, this explained why he hadn't been able to get a hold of her. She had been on a plane to get to him.

God he was so fucking happy to see her that he was certain he was about to cry right up on that stage in front of everyone. Instead, his eyes stayed on her, watching her sway to the music, and scream-cheer for him and him alone, and he played his heart out. Just for her.

They finished the song, and Marshall stepped forward, reaching a hand out to Kate. Without a second thought, she put her hand in his, and let him tug her up onto the stage.

"Hello handsome guitar man," she said to him. "I love your vibe."

"I love you," he said to her and then, with the lights on them, and everyone watching, he kissed the girl he loved to the roar of the crowd.

Now that… that was how you ended a gig.

-AR-AR-AR-AR-

Marshall and Kate made out for a solid twenty minutes both on and off the stage. It got so bad that Louis actually came over to pull them apart just to get help with loading up the van with all their instruments.

Marshall still had traces of her blood red lipstick along his jaw and the corners of his mouth but he didn't seem to care. He clearly wanted to wear those lipstick smudges with pride.

Then it was time to head to the airport. And my god was that van lively. There were a million voices overlapping, all of them were on the post-gig rush. She liked it on them. They all seemed more alive now.

"How much longer till we get to the airport?"

"Brings you back to the old days doesn't it, Louis."

Kate watched him, he looked sad, subdued. The rest of the boys, Marshall included, were all on a post-show high, but Louis wasn't. He didn't seem to care and Kate was certain that wasn't right. Even if Louis had always been the more reserved one.

Marshall hadn't taken his arm from around her shoulders since he got off the stage. He was going home to a groupie tonight and he looked super pleased about it. They were probably going to punch another ticket in the Mile-high club tonight too.

The laughing continued, they all cracked their post show beers, which was a tradition for the band apparently, and kept patting each other on the back in excitement.

Louis just sat there staring out the window.

Kate put a soft hand to his shoulder. "You alright?" she asked, but the man started and turned to her. He had been so lost in thought that he hadn't heard her. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," he said and then turned back to the window.

Kate turned to Marshall who winced. "I'm gonna deal with that once we get to the airport," he whispered to her.

Good he better, because the boy looked past dejected. Then again, how would she have felt if she went looking for Marshall and found that he married someone else? Probably just as horrid.

Suddenly, over the din, the soft sound of orchestral music was heard. That was weird, that wasn't the radio was it?

And just like that Louis was alive again, sitting up and tapping the driver.

"Hey, what's that?"

"Concert's in the Park every spring."

Oh, that was cool. Too bad they were going to the airport and wouldn't be able to see it. Kate snuggled into Marshall's side and was rewarded with a kiss to her temple.

But only a few minutes later, Louis was suddenly ramrod straight again. "Let me out," he ordered. "Let me out! Let me out!"

And then he just bolted from their van. "What the…"

Kate poked her head out of the door and saw what Louis had seen. A pennant handing from a near by light pole, it was advertising the concert in the park. One of the performers' names caught her eye. Lyla Novacek.

Kate went to follow him but Marshall grabbed her. "Are you insane? Where are you going?"

"Lyla's in the park, he's gone after her!"

"So? You're not going to go running through traffic like that idiot! I'm not letting you get hit by a car!"

"But… don't you want to see how it ends?"

"She's married! It's going to end in disaster!"

"You don't know that," she said. But Marshall wasn't about to move and he wasn't going to let her go either. "Fine, stay here, but I wanna see how it ends."

And with that she wrenched her arm out of his grip, jumped from the van and raced off through traffic after Louis.