A/n: Apologies all around for the slowness of the update. This chapter was a real challenge. I knew what I wanted to say but I wanted to say it just the right way, if that makes any sense. I think it turned out magnificently. I think you'll understand after you read it.

"She's Everything"

April 20th

Ever since my near-break-up with Keely a couple of days ago, I've been a little...well...distracted. It has nothing to do with Keely and me, really, our relationship is stronger than ever. What's been on my mind is more about my whole situation. It was all really starting to get to me until last night when I had a long, unexpected conversation with Mom.

I couldn't sleep at all last night. I tried, but my mind just wouldn't shut itself off. Finally, a little after 1, I got up and went downstairs. I made myself a cup of hot chocolate and sat down at the kitchen table where I found the "21st Century" scrapbook Mom started about a year ago and has been adding to ever since.

I opened and started to flipping through it, stopping when I got the "Phil & Keely" section. I couldn't help but smile at how awkward we looked in some of pictures that were taken before we started dating.

I hadn't been looking at the book longer than about fifteen minutes when Mom came into the kitchen. "What are you doing up, Phil?" She asked me as as started to fix herself a cup of tea.

"I couldn't sleep," I replied as she sat down at the table with me. "What about you?"

"Oh, your father was snoring again."

We both fell into a silence, me drinking my hot chocolate and Mom, her tea. She studied me for a minute and finally said, "Phil, is there anything on your mind you might want to talk about?"

I looked at her for a second and briefly considered telling her I was fine, but then realized she probably already knew I wasn't and decided to tell her what was going on.

"I don't think I could do it, Mom."

"Do what, sweetie?"

"Go back to the future."

She glanced over at the pages the scrapbook was open to in front of me and a look of understanding crossed her face.

"This is about Keely, isn't it?"

I nodded. "I don't think I could ever just up and leave her, especially not now. I love her so much, Mom, I can't imagine my life without her, and don't want to. I still may not know what I want to do with the rest of my life, but I do know I want to spend it with Keely."

"You know what I think, Phil?"

"What?"

I was expecting something about how I should remember we wouldn't always be here, etc, so what Mom said next took me completely by surprise. "I think you're right. I think you should spend the rest of your life with her."

"You do?"

Mom nodded. "Phil, when I look at you and Keely, I see two people who have had to go through so much in order to maintain a friendship, much less a serious romantic relationship. Because of our...unique...situation, you two have had to deal with more than your share of difficulties in order to be together and it's not fair, I know, but you both have dealt with it admirably. Watching you two together these three years, I don't think you'd have gone through everything you have, and been willing to go through even more, if you didn't really love each other."

I stared at her, speechless. I know I should be used to the incredible insight Mom has by now, but it never fails to catch me off guard.

When I didn't say anything Mom said, "Phil, what I'm trying to say is, you and Keely have something very special and I don't think you're ever going to find anyone else like her, in any century."

I smiled. "That much I know." I looked down at the photographs in front of me and my smile disagreed. "I don't think I could ever say good-bye, Mom. Not now, not after...everything." I looked back up at Mom. "I love her so much, I just don't think I could do it. And not just because I don't think I could ever stand not being with her. I could never bring myself to break her heart like that."

Mom smiled and put a hand on my arm. "Just between us, Phil, I honestly don't think we're ever going to leave. In the very slight off-chance that we do leave, you'll have a difficult decision to make, I know that you knew that going into this relationship. Just remember, Phil, you'll always have your family, but true love only comes along once in a life time."

"Do you really think Keely and I will be together for the rest of our lives?"

"You know, they say there's no such thing as a sure thing in life, but I'm pretty sure they'll have to make an exception in your case."

My smiled returned as I shut the scrapbook. "Well, I think I'm going to head to bed. Good night, Mom."

"'Night, Phil."

I got up and started towards the stairs but stopped when Mom said, "Phil?"

I turned back around "Yeah, Mom?"

"Just make sure you take good care of her, okay?" She said with a smile and a wink.

I returned the smile. "I'm planning on it."

This morning when I found Keely waiting for me at her locker, I pulled her into a long hug without so much as a "good morning."

When I finally let her go, she raised her eyebrows at me quizzically and asked, "Is everything alright, Phil?"

"Keely, will you do me a favor?" I said in response.

"Of course. Name it."

"Never stop loving me."

She smiled that smile I know she saves just for me. "Only if you do the same for me."

I smiled back and pulled her into my arms again. "Just try and stop me."

She leaned in and kissed me and I felt that, despite the faint uncertainty in my life, everything was going to turn for the best. Mom was right; true love only comes along once in a lifetime and now that I've found it, I'm never letting it go.

A/n: One funny note about this chapter: At one point while I was working on this, I was also reading some article about Harry Potter online and I accidently typed "Hermione" instead of "Keely." It made me laugh because it made me think what a ridiculous cross-over that would be. Hermione Granger, Via's childhood friend from back home in England, maybe? Anyway, like always leave me a review and stay tuned for the next chapter: "Lost in You."