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. :)

-

It's not just sentimental
She has her grief and her care
But a word so soft and gentle
Makes it easier to bear
- "Try A Little Tenderness"

'David?'

'Yeah…?' Gordo replied automatically, distractedly.

'David!'

He jerked his head up sharply. 'What?'

Valla looked reproachfully at him. 'What's wrong with you? This is your movie. You are the director, but you've been really unfocused this past couple of weeks. People are starting to talk.'

Gordo frowned. 'What are they saying?'

'That you're not the right person for the job. That you should never have been considered at all in the first place.'

He grew instantly infuriated. 'I didn't ask for this! Yes, it's a great opportunity and-' He broke off, narrowing his eyes at his assistant. He sighed, realising what she was doing. 'Okay, okay. Maybe I've been a little distracted. I can't afford to be, I know, but…'

As was now a habit, his thoughts turned to Miranda. He missed her desperately. Was all this worth losing his one chance at true happiness? What was the point of being a world famous, highly sought after director if Miranda were not by his side? Even Steven Spielberg has Kate Capshaw.

No. He had accepted this job, and he was going to go through with it. He would just have to wait until after to deal with Miranda.

If there was still a Miranda to deal with.

Gordo forced a smile. 'Thanks for the kick up the butt, Valla. I don't know what I would do without you.'

'You'd be a starving artist, that's what,' Valla retorted, softening her words with a fond smile.

-

'I guess that's it then.'

'We're sorry to lose you, Miranda,' Tara Norman said, shaking her head. 'We've all missed having you around these past few months.'

Miranda smiled at her old superintendent. 'I'm gonna miss this place, too, Tara. Thanks for not having sold off my stuff.'

'Hey, you'd paid your rent in full. What could I do?'

'If I remember, that payment covered only until last month,' she pointed out.

Tara laughed. 'True, but you were one of my best tenants. I couldn't do that to you.'

'You're a doll.' The two of them made their way to the sidewalk. 'Do you think-'

'Miranda?'

She felt her heart skip a beat at the familiar voice, and she turned to face him. 'Hi. Connor.'

He'd changed. Nothing as dramatic as shaving off his hair or losing a lot of weight, but Miranda felt as if she was looking at a stranger. He wore clothes that were more preppy, almost conservative. He stood straighter, too, his shoulders back and his head high. 'I never thought I'd see you again.'

'Oh. I was just, uh, finishing up my lease on the apartment, and packing up the rest of my stuff,' she replied. Miranda smiled softly at him. 'You look good, Connor.'

His smile was genuine, and for that she was happy. 'Thank you. You and-' Connor broke off, tempering his smile. 'It was good to see you, Miranda.' And with that, he walked away.

Miranda watched him, sighing softly.

'He really missed you, you know,' Tara said.

'He's a great guy,' she said.

'Yes, well. So, where are you staying while in town, Miranda?'

She had a feeling Tara was changing the subject, and she gladly complied. 'Actually, I'm not even sure how long I'll be around. If my friend is…'

'He's crazy if he turns you down,' Tara said, nodding wisely.

Miranda looked at the other woman in amazed amusement. 'Since when did you become Little Miss Psychic?'

'Come on, Miranda. It's not hard to figure out that the only reason you would ever leave behind the amazing life you had here was for a guy. Now, let me guess. Ironically, he's over here at the moment and that's why you've come back. Am I right so far?'

She had to laugh. 'So far, yes.'

Tara grinned. 'If he doesn't appreciate how much you've given up for him, then I suggest you send him my way and I'll see what I can do.'

Impulsively, Miranda stepped forward and threw her arms around Tara. 'You've been a great super, and an even better friend, Tara. I'm really going to miss you.'

'Just don't forget to send a wedding invitation my way!'

-

'Hello?'

'Hey. Is Miranda there?'

'Gordo?'

'Yeah. Is she there?'

Lizzie frowned, struggling to sit up in bed and blinking at the blue figures on her bedside. 'It's 3:20 in the morning over here. What-'

'I'm really sorry, Lizzie, I am-'

'Honey? Who is it?' Danny asked sleepily beside her.

'-can't seem to get hold of Miranda. Her parents aren't answering-'

'It's okay, go back to sleep,' Lizzie whispered back to her husband, getting out of bed and moving towards the hallway.

'-voice message when I call her cell phone. I'm-'

'Being a real pain right now is what you're being,' Lizzie interrupted gruffly, now fully awake. 'Gordo, calm down for a minute, okay?'

'I don't know where Miranda is! Don't you get that? I have absolutely no idea where she is.'

Lizzie shook her head. She wished that her two friends would just get together and be done with it. She could clearly see how deeply they cared for each other, and despite all the time they spent looking at each other neither of them seemed to realise it. 'Last time I saw her was a couple of nights ago. She and Ethan were over here for dinner, and I haven't spoken to her since then.'

There was silence on the other end for a moment. 'Ethan?'

She closed her eyes, suddenly remembering Gordo's mistaken belief of the relationship between Miranda and Ethan.

'Gordo-'

'They've been spending a lot of time together.'

'It's not what-'

'I'm sorry for waking you,' Gordo said abruptly, then hung up.

With a sigh, Lizzie pressed the end button. She loved her friends dearly, but at times she just wanted to knock their heads together. This was definitely one of those times.

-

'Good evening, and welcome to The Palace. How may I help you?'

Miranda smiled at the receptionist behind the desk. 'Hi. I was wondering if you could please tell me which room David Gordon's is. I'm a friend of his.'

The man looked at her briefly, and then deciding that she was trustworthy, nodded. 'Certainly.' He bent down and typed something on a keyboard.

'Excuse me,' a voice sounded from behind her, and Miranda turned to face a woman. 'I don't mean to eavesdrop, but I hear you're looking for David Gordon?'

She frowned slightly. 'Yes, I am. Do you know him?'

The woman smiled. 'My name is Valla, I'm David's assistant. Maybe there's something I can help you with?'

-

'David.'

Gordo's frown deepened, but he didn't take his eyes off the script in front of him. 'What is it, Valla?'

'David.'

'What?'

'Gordo.'

He froze. Then slowly lifted his head. She stood right in front of him. The one he'd been searching for during the past few days. 'Miranda?'

She smiled at him. 'Hi.'

'I'll, uh, leave you guys to it,' Valla said.

Gordo couldn't take his eyes off the woman before him, and barely noticed his assistant walk away. 'What are you doing here?'

'Oh, you know, finishing up my lease, packing the rest of my stuff,' she replied, her tone flippant. But her eyes conveyed the seriousness of the situation. 'I came to see you, Gordo.'

He remembered the reason why it was that he had found it impossible to reach her. 'Where's Ethan?'

A small frown marred her features. 'Gordo.'

'I know, I know. You're friends. But…' He trailed off, uncomfortable sensations deep in the pit of stomach – which he grudgingly recognised as jealousy – beginning to scramble his logic. 'You guys look good together. You're the only one he keeps in touch with from school. He has so many nicknames for you. He and you are close…'

'He calls me Isabelle.'

'And Izzy. Belle. Bella.' Gordo looked away. 'He calls you beautiful.'

'Gee, thank you. Way to make a girl feel attractive.'

'No, I meant, it's just, it's…' He bit his lower lip. 'I used to make fun of Ethan for…well, you know. And yet he managed to realise something long before I ever did. He saw how beautiful you are, how unique. How important you are to his life. To me.'

'Gordo-'

'It's okay, I know.'

Miranda blinked at him, surprised. 'You know…?'

'I don't blame you, Mir. Ethan is a great guy. And-'

'Gordo!'

'Miranda-'

'Damnit will you shut up?' she interrupted, her tone sharp.

Taken aback, Gordo actually took a step back from her. 'I'm sorry.'

Miranda shook her head, all traces of frustration gone. 'No, I'm sorry. I'm just a bit tense.' She looked at him. 'Why do you think I came all this way, Gordo?'

'To tell me in person that you and Ethan-'

'No. To tell you that you were right. You were never the man of my dreams.'

His jaw clenched. The truth hurt.

She took a step towards him, her eyes compelling him to keep from looking away. 'I never needed to dream of you, Gordo. Because you've always been here, right beside me.'

end part nine.

-

Author's notes: Yes, finally! A new chapter! My apologies for the super long delay – "offline life" has been super hectic these past couple of months, not to mention my problem with writer's block. Anyway, here it is. Hope it's up to scratch. :)