Title: It's Time
Rating: G
Summary: Life isn't measured by the breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away.
Type of fic: Story
Disclaimer: Miranda, Gordo, and all Lizzie McGuire related stuff belongs to Disney and…whoever else has rights to them.
Author's notes: I was listening to Michael Buble's It's Time, and I've always wanted to try writing a story based around an album, and straight away I knew this was the album. And that it was to be Miranda/Gordo. As for the summary, I was going to go with "Gordo falls in love, but is it too late?" – but it seemed too trite. Instead, I went with the quote. :)

-

Go and have your fun
Laugh and sing
But while we're apart
Don't give your heart
To anyone
- "Save The Last Dance For Me"

'I'm coming!' Miranda called out, racing down the stairs and towards the front door. 'Hang on! Hang on!' She slammed against the door and, breathing heavily, flung it open. Her eyes widened. 'Ethan!'

The tall man smiled at her with his patented Ethan grin. 'Hey, Belle. This a bad time?'

Miranda threw herself at him, tightly wrapping her arms around her old friend. 'No of course not!' She stepped back, looking up at him almost in wonder. 'It's really good to see you, Ethan.'

'You too. Glad I caught you at home.'

She took a step back, all but pulling him inside. 'Like I would be anywhere else,' she said. 'What are you doing here? I thought you weren't getting in til next week?'

Ethan shrugged. 'Yeah, well, waves weren't all that great so I decided to come home early. And, of course, to see my favourite gal.'

Miranda fluttered her lashes in mock coyness. 'Missed me, huh?'

He laughed. 'Always.' He just looked at her for a moment, his brow furrowing together slightly. 'How are you doing, Isabelle?'

She frowned in confusion at Ethan's sudden change of tone. 'I'm fine. How are you?'

'I'm hangin', as always,' he replied. 'Really, how are you doing? How are things with Gordon?'

Miranda remembered that she hadn't spoken with Ethan since his phone call from London. 'Gordo is…in Europe, filming.' Despite the feeling of loss that swept through her, she smiled softly with pride. 'His big break.'

Ethan looked incredulous. 'He left you?'

'No! No, he didn't want to, not really. I…I told him to go.' Miranda felt as if she was being scrutinised. 'I mean, he said he didn't want to go, but I could tell how much he really wanted it. It's a huge opportunity for him.'

'How long is he gone for?'

'Four months. He'll be away for another twelve and a half weeks. Give or take a day or so.'

'Miranda-'

'Don't say it,' she interrupted, shaking her head. He rarely ever used her first name anymore. 'Just- I don't want to be kept reminded, okay? I'll get through these next three months and then see what happens from there.'

-

'Hello?'

'Lizzie? It's me.'

'Hey, Gordo! What's up? I didn't expect-'

'Sorry to be rude, but is Miranda there?'

'Miranda? No, why? Should she be?'

'I don't know. I've been trying to call her, but she's not answering at her house or her cell phone.'

'Oh, then she's probably out with Ethan. They're-'

'Ethan?'

'Didn't you- I thought you knew? Oh, Gordo. I'm sorry!

'No, no… It's not your fault. I gotta go. Thanks, Lizzie.'

-

"Just as long as you don't fall in love with anyone else while I'm gone."

"That's a promise."

Words exchanged during their goodbyes. Gordo had been completely serious, at loss with what to do if he lost all chances with Miranda by taking the Bloom/Knightley offer. As for Miranda's gravity in her response? Well, that was another matter.

Miranda and Ethan.

Gordo shook his head, clearing it. No. Miranda had told him often enough that they were just friends. She had been hurt when Ethan had broken it off to follow his "life in the extreme" dream. But then she had met Ryan The Lifeguard during the summer holidays, and that had been that. Life moved on. With the separation, Miranda and Ethan had actually grown closer.

How close?

His jaw clenched involuntarily. He had no claim on Miranda. If she wanted to see other men, then it was none of his business. After all, what did he expect her to do? To just sit around and brood? Did he actually expect her to wait for him?

No. Miranda, ever the passionate and spontaneous one, would not wait for life to come to her. Instead she would reach out, take possession of it, and she would live. It was one of the many reasons he loved about his bestfriend.

And now it seemed the cause for her escaping from his already slippery grasp.

Gordo sighed softly, closing his eyes. He had to face reality. Miranda cared for him as a friend - and only as a friend. They were the best of friends, but only ever friends.

With Miranda across the Atlantic, so far away from him and seemingly out of reach, Gordo wondered if maybe it was time to give up.

-

'Miranda?'

Miranda looked at Lizzie expectantly. 'What's up?'

Her bestfriend seemed nervous. 'Gordo called me, and, uh…'

'What is it?'

'I think I…did something bad.'

Miranda suddenly grew wary. 'Lizzie, tell me.'

'Well, Gordo called me earlier today, and…' Lizzie stopped, and sighed heavily. 'He was looking for you. I told him that you were with Ethan, and I think he got the wrong idea.'

'I was with Ethan.'

Lizzie looked at her. 'As in with Ethan.'

Miranda's eyes widened, and she slowly started to shake her head. 'No, no, no. He knows Ethan and I are just friends. He knows!'

Lizzie bit her bottom lip. 'I'm sorry, Miranda. I didn't mean anything by it. I wasn't thinking…'

Her stomach turned a slow somersault as she realised the implications of what Lizzie had done. 'What did he say?'

'He cut off the call and hung up on me.' Lizzie was unmistakably upset. 'Oh, Miranda, I am so sorry. I should never have said anything.'

'It's not your fault, Lizzie,' Miranda said. 'I should have made sure my cell was charged. I should have…' She shook her head. 'Dinner still on tonight?'

'Miranda-'

'I need this distraction, Lizzie,' she interrupted. She forced a smile. 'Besides, wasn't it you who always used to obsess about having Ethan Craft over for dinner? Now's your chance.'

'Hey! I'm a married woman now, you know.'

'Ethan Craft and Danny Kessler all to ourselves for the whole night,' she continued. 'Come on, Lizzie. You know you want to.'

Lizzie giggled. 'Okay, okay! You got me. Dinner tonight.'

Miranda allowed herself a laugh. 'Good.'

-

'Lizzie's cooking wasn't really that bad, was it?'

Miranda turned and looked at Ethan, his outline only visible from the dull glow of the dashboard lights. 'What?'

Ethan turned his head to glance at her before returning his focus to the road. 'You didn't eat much at all. And you've been distracted all night.'

'Have I?'

'Uh, yeah! What's wrong?'

She knew she couldn't lie, nor did she want to. Everyone knew the cause for her current disheartened state. 'I knew I would miss him. I guess I just never knew how much.'

'When did you last talk to him?'

'Last week, a couple of days before you came home.' She looked down at her lap, unable to see her fingers intertwining. 'It…it hurts. I wanted to tell him, at the airport, how I felt, but he was so excited about this opportunity. I couldn't do it. What if he meets someone else and I miss my chance with him?'

'From what you've said, he really loves you, Isabelle,' Ethan replied. 'He's not going to give up on you.'

'But…but-' She stopped, making a noise of frustration. 'I don't get why I'm like this! I should be looking for a job and not moping around for him! Or I should go to-' Miranda was cut short as Ethan squealed into a sharp U-turn. 'What the-'

'The airport is behind us,' Ethan said.

'What? Now?'

'Why not now?'

'But-'

'You love Gordo. You want to tell Gordo how you feel. Gordo is in Europe. Therefore, you go to Europe.' He chuckled. 'Makes sense, see?'

'Ethan-'

'Come on, Belle. Gordon did the same for you, didn't he? Now it's your turn.'

Miranda opened her mouth to protest, but nothing came out. She closed her mouth, pressing her lips together. Her heart had suddenly started beating very fast.

end part eight.

-

Author's notes: As always, thank you for the lovely reviews. Black Knight, I'm very flattered that you consider this one of your favourites. I love your MG stories! I know I take a little while with updating each chapter, but I will finish. :)