And so we have reached the end of our story. Will Mac tell Caroline how he feels? Or will Caroline get the courage to tell Mac she loves him too much just to lose him to Holly? Find out in the last chapter (but for an epilogue) of "Never Say Never". Please r&r. Hope you enjoy!

Lin x

Forget About Your Fears Tonight, Listen To Your Heart

"When it feels like the beginning

And the story will unfold

There's a time to take your chances

Don't be scared of the unknown"

S Club – Love Ain't Gonna Wait For You

It was all starting all over again. Everything was new, he was feeling everything for the first time again. He had to take his chances, he had to be brave. He shouldn't be scared of the unknown. He should think about what he did know. He loved her. The story was waiting to unfold. And it was whatever he made it. He couldn't be afraid. He just had to trust the things that would never change. Caroline was the one. He loved her. She loved him. He was awake again after so long. He was alive again. He knew what they said - love isn't going to wait for you. But if what you think is love doesn't wait, then it isn't really love. He knew what was real now. Forever. That was how long he would love her. She him. He had to forget about his fears. Listen to his heart. But he could wait one more night. Before he could start to rewrite his life, he had to get a good night's sleep. He closed his eyes for a minute. Not sleeping yet, just thinking about sleep. But then there was a knock on his door. He felt his heart tense. But why? It only did that when...

----------

She looked at the door nervously and then took a deep breath. She needed courage, but standing outside Mac's door made her feel anything but confident. She had to snap out of it and just knock on the door. She had to say what she wanted to say before it was too late. And besides, what if he came out and found her there? Then what would she say? It shouldn't be this hard to just knock...except it was. It was one of the hardest things she had ever had to do. Forget about your fears tonight Caroline. Listen to your heart. Just listen to your heart and you'l be ok. She had said that so many times now, she had almost begun to believe it. She slowly reached out, knocking softly. Nervously. Her breath caught as he appeared in the doorway. She fumbled for words as she looked deep in to his eyes and saw the kindness there. The love.

"Mac...Mac I er"
"Breath slowly if it helps" he said softly, his eyes not moving from hers. He smiled gently, warmly. She wondered what had happened between him and Holly. How could she do this to him? What if he and Holly had got back together? How could she then go on to tell him this? But she took his advice and took long slow breaths. It relaxed her and gave her a minute feeling of courage.
"I want...I need to say something. I need to say this before I can't say it or before it's too late and you won't want to listen or just...just before."

She glanced away from him, pausing. But he didn't say anything. He kept his breath and his gaze steady. He stood still. He didn't smile broadly, but there was a trace of warmth on his lips.
"I...I'm not exactly stable...I know that. I'm probably not a first choice, or a second, or even a third. I'm neurotic, I'm confused, I'm haphazard, I'm accident prone, I can be irrational, I'm always too late or too early, I look like I'm homeless, I look wrong, I do the wrong things, I say the wrong things...and I make the wrong decisions, consider the wrong people...I'm sorry about going on that date with...never mind. I'm always making a mess of my life. And I need someone Mac. I need someone who will look after me, protect me, make me smile when it's all going wrong and I need someone who can see past the chaotic mess my life is and love me besides. When I come undone, I need someone to bring me back again. Someone to take me in to their arms and look after me. Someone who loves me forever. But you see...I don't need someone, I need you."

He was silent. But he was still half smiling at her. Fondly. And he still looked her in the eye. Good signs, surely. She felt tears stinging the back of her eyes, but she tried to hold them back. She looked away. He doesn't want me. She thought. I don't want to fall to pieces over you Mac, but I am. Can't you see? She closed her eyes, holding back the sobs.

"Hey, hey" Mac said gently. She felt his arms wrapping around her. He held her close to him and she buried her head in his chest.
"Now what's this in aid of?" he asked softly, not intending her to answer. She stayed silent, her sobs subsiding as she felt the safety of his arms, the warmth. The fabric of his shirt brushing gently against her skin. She was safe here. This is where she belonged, in his arms. She didn't know if she wanted him to say something or not. If he said something she didn't want to here, this moment would be ruined and she would be broken. But if he didn't say anything at all, she would never know if he loved her. After some time, he took a deep breath.

"I know what you're not Caroline. But I know what you are as well. You are different. You make me smile, make me forget everything that's happened and make me want to take my chances. When I saw you come undone, I was powerless to do anything but try to bring you back. I couldn't stand to see you break. But I need someone too. Someone to love me forever, someone I can trust to wait for me. Someone I love. Someone like you" he said, ever so quietly. Soft, gentle, slow. And she listened to the words, as if they weren't real. After all this.
"I love you Caroline" he said, looking down at her. She looked up, meeting his eyes. They were caught in each other's eyes once more. She smiled, partly in relief, partly in disbelief. He smiled one of those Mac smiles. Half amused, half caring. And then they kissed. Nothing could spoil this moment for Caroline. It was the perfect moment. His words were perfect, his smile was perfect, his kiss was perfect. And for once in her life, Caroline felt confident. Not just in her choices, but in her life, in herself. In everything. Mac made things right at last. He was the one. And this was a new beginning. A new story to unfold. New risks, new chances, new dreams. Same love though. "Thank you for not letting me fall to pieces over you anymore" she whispered to him. She knew he understood. Because even though they had never told each other before, how they really felt, they always knew. Secretly, they always knew.