Echo Part II

Ashley's point of view, occurs at the same time as the last chapter except at the end, it'll be obvious though.

I arrive at the venue and can't help but laugh at all of the young girls that are Angie's age wearing T-shirts with Craig's face on them and holding signs with colored paint and glitter proclaiming their love for him. Hmm…maybe I should've thought of that. But that's okay, something tells me I don't need anything showy. As I walk past various staff members I feel like they're eyeing me more than one would normally expect but it doesn't seem to be a bad thing so I just shake it off.

I have to pick up my pace when I hear very loud cheering signifying to me that Craig must be onstage. I make it inside just in time to hear his opening welcome to the crowd. He says the first song is for a special person and when the words "she knows who she is" come out of his mouth I smile and hear a chorus of disappointed "awws" coming from the girls surrounding me. Sorry girls, but I'm here to claim my guy.

Close my eyes, let the whole thing pass me by
There is no time to waste asking why
I'll run away with you by my side
I'll run away with you by my side
I need to let go, let go, let go, let go of this pride
Asking why

I remember this song. When I first heard it I did know what it was about. How could I not? At the time it definitely made me feel guilty and sad but I was still in denial, now I can't keep pushing the feelings back. As I continue making my way through the crowd I see that he's scanning it, trying to find me I suppose. He finally looks directly to the spot I'm at and our eyes meet. I remember all the times I've looked into his eyes and run my hands through his curly hair. Every time I see him after being apart for a while it strikes me how handsome he is.

I think about your face, and how I fall into your eyes
The outline that I trace, around the one that I call mine
A time that called for space, unclear where you drew the line
I don't need to solve this case, and I don't need to look behind
I'm reminded of that first time I left him to go to England. It killed me at the time and when we had finally met again a year later I could see that the pain had not yet subsided. I have no doubt in my mind that he was finished with everything else that second time we were together, that he really would've married me. Deep down I know I felt, feel, the same way but I guess I thought we both needed space and time to be sure. Well, we've certainly had that, and of course we've ended up back in the same place.

Do I expect to change the past I hold inside
With all the words I say repeating over in my mind
Some things you can't erase, no matter how hard you try
An exit to escape is all there is left to find

My emotions overcome me and I feel a tear escape my eye. It's not that I'm sad but I guess I have a tendency to cry when I'm overwhelmed with feelings of happiness and in this case, nostalgia. I can't take the slow pace anymore so I push harder to get through the crowd. When I finally reach the front and move to get a guards attention he surprisingly approaches me first. He addresses me as "that important chick" and tells me to follow him.

So I
Close my eyes, let the whole thing pass me by
There is no time to waste asking why
I'll run away with you by my side
I'll run away with you by my side
I need to let go, let go, let go, let go of this pride
Until this echo, echo, echo, echo in my mind
Until this echo, echo, echo, echo can subside

By the time Craig finishes the song I've reached the side of the stage and for a moment, I do feel important to be "backstage". He looks over and smiles at me and despite myself I melt just a little more, God, now I feel like a groupie. But I know that's impossible, I'm way more than that. I'm so anxious to actually talk to him but I know I must wait until they get to take a break. It's too big of a moment to occur between songs.

When he announces that they're going to take a short break I feel my nerves start to bundle in my stomach again. I exhale sharply and before I know it he's standing directly in front of me. It takes me a while to get myself together as we keep looking at each other. I finally manage to get those three words I've been meaning to say out. I see that this was the right thing to say as his reaction is clearly a happy one.

I begin to laugh after he picks me up and spins us around, mostly because I can tell he managed to make himself dizzy by that move. I definitely feel that way but I'm not sure if it's from the spinning or his presence. Nevertheless, I get more words out, apologizing for my distance for so long and thanking him for sticking around for this moment.

He takes hold of my face and I take the opportunity to gaze back into his eyes. He tells me he loves me too and though I know it and he's said it many times before it never fails to make my heart flutter just a bit. He leans in to kiss me I know that if either of us were still even a little bit unsure, all those feelings are gone now through this kiss.

Our moment is over for now as it's time for him to go back on and continue his concert. I squeeze his hand before letting go and he watches me until he gets back to his spot on stage. I continue to wait on the side until it's over.

Amidst the applause and cheers, well more accurately, screams, Craig returns to me and gives me a much sweatier hug and kiss this time. But I don't mind and we share a look reminded of the time he once threatened to "smother me in sweat".

I accompany him to his makeshift dressing room and we sit on the couch talking with his bandmates and basking in the glory of our rekindled love. After a not so subtle request from Craig for us to be alone the rest of the band exits. I move to sit on his lap facing him and put my arms around his neck.

"So, Mr. Manning, now that you've got me what do you plan to do with me?"

Craig laughs and gives me a mischievous look, "Well that's a loaded question."

I join in the laughter and give him a sly smile, "One we'll have plenty of time to explore."

I rest my head on his shoulder and he stokes my hair, for the first time in a while I finally feel at home.

A/N: Hope everyone liked it and I highly reccommend all the songs used...they're beautiful: )