AN: I was re-reading all the reviews I've gotten for my stories, and it makes me very sad, because I haven't written at all for so long. I've already told you basically why, but because for all people who reviewed any of my stories, I feel a duty to complete these stories. So, being pressed for time and the want to complete, I give you the last chapter of After All This Time. I hope all the people who use to love me, will still love this last chapter, 'cause this is for all of you.

Only One

Yellowcard

"Broken, this fragile thing now

And I can't, I can't pick up the pieces

And I've thrown my words all around

But I can't, I can't give you a reason

I feel so broken up (so broken up)

And I give up (I give up)

I just want to tell you, so you know

Here I go, scream my lungs out and try to get to you

You are my only one

I let go, but there's just no one that gets me like you do

You are my only, my only one

Made my mistakes, let you down

And I can't, I can't hold on for too long

Ran my whole life in the ground

And I can't, I can't get up when you're gone

And something's breaking up (breaking up)

I feel like giving up (like giving up)

I won't walk out until you know

Here I go, scream my lungs out and try to get to you

You are my only one

I let go, but there's just no one who gets me like you do

You are my only my only one

Here I go, so dishonestly

Leave a note, for you my only one

And I know you can see right through me

So let me go and you will find someone

Here I go, scream my lungs out and try to get to you

You are my only one

I let go, but there's just no one, no one like you

You are my only, my only one

My only one

My only one

My only one

You are my only, my only one"

Michael's POV

It's seems like only yesterday I was sitting next to Mia at the theater with John on her other side. He remembered how beautiful she looked, and how he saw her being taken away from him. But it wasn't a pity though. John was a very nice man, and if Mia was to have an arranged marriage, I was glad she got a good guy. But it hadn't been me. As much as my heart speed up every moment with her, it was not going to be me that whisked away her veil at the church and the priest would not announce that I was a husband to this girl finally. But even so as the play neared the end, I knew it was now or never and I would never be able to live with myself, knowing that I had let her get away.

So as the Beast changed into the handsome prince before Bell, I grabbed Mia's hand. I heard her take in a sharp breath, and never in the dim theater, I could see him blush. I drew in closer to me, careful not to make John turn and see what I was doing. What I secretly really wanted to do was just kiss her, but no way when John was right there. So instead I whispered softly in her ear, "I love you."

The words pranced around like happy little bunnies being set free, so energized by the feeling of saying this. But when I noticed the fact Mia's face had even changed a bit, I felt like smashing the bunnies down with a mallet. Maybe I could cover up my words, say that what I had really said was "I love…. your…socks…". But I pulled myself together like solider. I was a man! I could conquer anything! Okay, everything but my one true love.

Mia sat completely still until finally all the actors had left the stage and the people seated in front of us began to stir. But she didn't even glance my way, and breaking my heart deeper, she turned and smiled broadly at John. "Didn't you just love that?" She exclaimed, her cheeks pushed and her dimples showing. John of course being the gentlemen that he is simply said, "I find it even more fascinating that you can sit through this a million times, but I admit, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be."

Mia punched him playfully in the arm flirtatiously, still grinning.

"You are mean." She said, and pretended to be very cold to him, giving him a pouty face, but then it once again turned into a smile. She went around him, wrapping her arms tightly across his chest. John titled his head and kissed her on the cheek. She giggled, yet no blush was visible. Even though it was nauseating to watch, it struck me as a little bit odd. They hadn't acting lovey dovey before, and now sudden after I had made the understatement of the decade that I loved her, she was completely attached to John. She probably detested me so much that John was looking a lot better then before.

John then looked directly at me and gave me a friendly smile.

"So Michael what'd you think?" He asked. Behind him, Mia didn't have to hide her hate against me, but maybe the presence of Lars lurking behind me stopped Mia from sticking her tongue out.

I shrugged. "Mia's loved this play forever, so I liked the fact I finally got to see what the hoopla was all about. But I probably couldn't see it again." Yeah because if I did, my heart would flutter with the knowledge that I had told Mia that I love her during it, but then it would get stomped on all over by her cold shoulder.

John thought took it at a hilarious joke and punched me in the shoulder as a man-to-man gesture. Mia then whispered something in John's ear and he nodded in response.

"The Princess," He announced. "would like to go now."

Lars put a hand on my shoulder now to slip by. "I'll call the driver to come pick us up. Come along Princess." Lars knew that Mia preferred to be called Mia by him, but the fact that he well knew of my love to Mia and the fact that she had cast it off so easily did not give him a great reason to feel friendly with her. He shot me a sympathetic glance as we exited the building confirming my suspicion.

We were waiting by the curb for the limo when all of a sudden a scrawny, pasty little guy with yellow hair jumped out of nowhere in front of us. He stood in awe in front of Mia and starting pumping her hand like a mad man before Lars could grab his tiny neck and break it like a toothpick.

"Oh my oh my oh my." He was saying now, still shaking her hand. Mia had no idea what was going on and looked to Lars. Lars was looking the little punk up and down, but didn't pounce on him. He gave Mia a "he's just a helpless admirer" look, but I could see the amusement in his eyes.

"I am your biggest fan Princess. I love you very very much, and a have all your posters and pictures covering my wall. I've watched your movie hundreds of times and know all about your mom and your best friend Lilly. Lilly wasn't as nearly as supportive of you as I am Princess." Okay, so now this punk wasn't so amusing anymore. He was more of a stalker then a fan.

I honestly don't know what got into me then, but I moved in and hoisted the puny kid over to the security guard and dropped him to his feet. The guard had seen everything and yanked the kid up and steered him away from Mia. The "fan" hadn't done anything wrong, so he wouldn't get in trouble but it was best he got away from Mia before his obsession escalated.

And I, like a true Hollywood hero, slid right into the limo as it pulled up. I felt like James Bond or something, even doing as much as pretending I had a smoking gun in my hand and blew away the smoke. John gave him another manly punch, this time with a serious face.
"Thanks there bud. You have a future as a bodyguard." This was meant as a compliment, but instead it stung. I didn't want to be Mia's bodyguard; I wanted to be her husband. But this smug, yet really nice jock would get the title instead of me.

But the fact that Mia gave me a smidgen of a smile and a mousy "thank you" before turning to gaze out the window washed all that sorrow away. For one fleeting second I analyzed this as a possible sign that she was saying she loved me back and that I was her hero. But then I felt too much like Lilly and shook it off. Even though Mia did not return my amor she still was a princess and princesses always said thank you to a good deed. Lars, seated in the passenger spot, turned around and patted my knee in appreciation.

In silence twenty minutes later they arrived at my parent's apartment where I was staying. As I bring up the latch to open the door Lars says, "Mia why don't you go up with Michael so you can say hello to Lilly. This weekends the big day and you might not have a chance to talk with her before you leave." I doubted this. Lilly would have tracked Mia down and made sure she said goodbye. But even so, Mia was at my side five seconds later journeying with me to the door.

We said nothing as we rose from ground level to the sixth. My heart wanted to ask the question that had been pounding in my head for an hour now, but I kept it at bay. Finally though as we exited the elevator, I grabbed Mia's hand and whirled her around. I could see her chest rising and falling faster and faster as stared at each other only a foot apart.

"Mia," I started gently, my heart beating too hard for my head to completely analyze if what I was doing was best. "Did you hear me earlier?" I knew fairly well she had, but I wanted to ask anyway. Maybe I was just asking to be crushed harder but nonetheless, I pressed on, staring her down till I got an answer.

"Yes I did." She finally said hotly. She leaned in a bit closer so her breath was felt on my neck. "I can't believe you had the nerve to say such a thing while John was right there! This is not high school anymore Michael, I am not a puppet to my grandmother. I am going to be queen soon and I cannot have this leaking right now! Sure, I'll admit it, I use to like you! Hell, I use to love you, but that's old Michael. I am not a common girl, I am the Princess of a country and I cannot let old love get in the way of my duty!"

I might have been broken then most people could be at that point, but I lashed out at her anyway, turning my grief into rage.

"That's what this is to you?" I yelled. Shrew the next door neighbors they had children that whined louder then we yelled. "What about what you said to Lil and Tina at the coffee shop. That you really don't love John!"

Then she got really mad, sucking in air, which she spat back at me.

"It doesn't matter! This is what I'm suppose to do!" She broke down crying and fell down to her knees. She wiped her tears and looked up at me. "You hurt me Michael. I loved you for so long, and you never said one thing. I waited for you, but you never came. I had to give up."
I went down to my knees and took in her hands. "You don't have to give up any longer Mia. I love you. Please Mia, don't marry this guy. He's nice, I see that, but he's not right for you."

I opened up my arms and swept in her into my chest. She sunk in and let all her tears fall freely. She collapsed and hugged me tight.

"I love you Michael, I do. But I can't leave John for you. It's my duty."

"Mia," I soothed, "you never before just went by what others wanted. You fought for what you knew was right."

"This isn't right though Michael. It's wrong. I'm sorry, but I have to go." She kissed me lightly on the cheek which inside hurt more then her coldness. "I'll see you this weekend at the wedding."

And with that she got up and walked swiftly to the stairs, not waiting for the elevator, leaving me there helpless and pained on the floor.

That infamous weekend had come, and even though I was supposed to be down at the Plaza for the wedding along with Lilly, the maid of honor, I was in my blue flannels and no shirt staring at the television. They were broadcasting live from Princess Mia's wedding, and I had thought this would be better for me then in a stuffy tux a few miles away watching the horror right in front of my own eyes. This would still be watching but this way it's through a screen, which I could pretend that this was just some not-suppose-to-happen ending to a crazy movie.

The phone rang ten minutes before the ceremony was suppose to start, and I knew it would be Lilly screaming in my ear about how even though I was dying slowly and painfully I was suppose to drag my sad little ass down there and be fake happy for Mia. But I couldn't, so I just let it ring and then turned up the volume really loud so that I couldn't hear Lilly's message.

Ten minutes had passed ten minutes later and the precession music began. I saw Mia holding tight to her father's arm, smiling. She glanced around the humungous crowd, probably looking for me. When she reached the alter, after being passed from father to future husband she turned slightly to Lilly behind her who had entered before Mia. Lilly whispered something back and Mia's face fell. But only for a moment because being the perfect princess she was, she would do as she called it, "duty to her country". She smiled, but knowing Mia for longer then most people did in that room, I knew it was completely fake. Mia's heart was catching up to her mind and they were playing tug of war. She kept it up until the priest looked to Mia and said, "And do you Amelia Mignonette Grimaldi Thermopolis Renaldo, Princess of Genvoia, take this man to be your husband, yadda yadda yadda?" Mia continued to smile and opened her mouth, I knew this was the moment of truth, when Mia would say "yes" and she would become not so available any more.

But then suddenly she whirled around and thrusted her bouquet of flowers to Lilly, whispered sorry to John, lifted up her wedding gown and ran out of the Plaza. Of course, the cameraman was all over this and tried his best to follow. I could see Mia running down the steps and into the streets where people immediately starting snapping pictures of the runaway bride.

"Amelia!" Someone screamed in a harsh tone in the background and I knew it had to be Grandmere, Mia's grandmother. Sooner or later the cameraman couldn't keep filming Mia so he turned his attention to the very confused crowd which included Grandmere, Mia's father, Lilly, Mia's mom, and of course the awestruck John.

As I pondered the guesses of where Mia's was headed in the wedding gown and white pumps, there was a heavy knock on the front door. I grinned and raced to open it.

There was the red face runaway bride standing in front of me, looking like she had no idea why she was here, but glad she was.

"You know," I teased, "You should have taken up the coaches' offer for the track team. I've never seen anyone run as fast in my life in Jimmy Choos.

She cast off the shoes, now eye level with me.

"Shut up and kiss me."

And oh boy and did.

AN: Woah, that went better then I thought it would. Yeah! Happy! Anyway, so I totally hope I satisfied all of everyone's want for me to continue. I'll be writing endings for my other PD fic but I don't know when. I'm still working hard on my fiction press story, which I hope everyone will read. Anyway, for this story, peace out, I love you all.

Thanks much for reading,

Snowflake-101 aka Ziarre on Fiction Press