AN: So this is a new oneshot. Which means new story, different universe/reality etc. A one off thing. This time it's happy though, don't worry!

Based off "Thousand Years" by Christina Perri. Hope you enjoy!

Heart beats fast

Colours and Promises

"We'll find each other." She assures him as she steps back. The fading sun edges round her body and the light flushes her cheeks. And Rhydian has made his promise and she has made hers. And his heart is still beating fast because how can this be happening and it's only just sunk in that she's leaving. Maddy's leaving and he will never see her again. Rhydian suddenly feels so empty without her and that's pathetic. This whole thing is pathetic. And now all he's seeing is red and grey.

She walks slowly and determinedly away, and she's making sure she doesn't look back and he's making sure he's not looking away. The Smiths disappear over the crest of the hill, fading into the browns and greens. And it's really annoying; this would be a beautiful day, otherwise. Any day but this one. Because the sunset is blurred out by tears, and there's this sickening drumming in his chest, that's made a home in his heart and it's trapped him.

How to brave?

How can I love when I'm afraid to fall?

Rhydian knows he should be brave. He needs to get over this because he's got his friends, he's got friends and family and a home.

But he's lost his family.

And maybe that's part of it. This torn in two kind of thing, because he has one family but he needs the other. Because Maddy wasn't just a crush, she was his friend and she made him feel at home when no one else could.

So how can he brave, really?

But he pulls a grimace, tries to stop the flow of tears. He should try for his other friends. Because he wants Shannon and Tom and his family but he also wants Maddy and that's all he can think about right now.

But he tries.

(And he melts when he hugs Shannon and Tom. He lets everything out and just wants to stay there). And then they're howling, all together, and Rhydian feels that precious feeling of belonging again, and he wants to try and fit in, to adapt, for his friends, but he's so terrified of falling. For everything to go wrong and everything to plummet and for him to lose everything again.

(And it's not like he wants to be scared. He doesn't. He wants to brave. Because Maddy's looking back, one last time, and he's fallen once and that was the only time he wanted to fall, and now...)

Rhydian's okay now, he thinks. He's got a good job, doing what he loves. And he's still surrounded by the people he loves. And after a few stumbles, he's okay. He hasn't fallen again (and he hasn't fallen out of love with Maddy. But that's just the norm now; brown eyes haunting dreams and this knife that twinges his heart, but he's enjoying life again). Maddy went to Canada, and that was a good thing for her. It meant she was safe, and it meant that, one day, she could maybe return. But Rhydian doesn't focus on that. He focuses on memories because those are more trustworthy, because, he's got to be honest; Maddy will never return and she'll never want him again anyway.

He's run out of milk. And Shannon's invited him round. She's just moved into a new house, with Tom (he knew it. He always knew it) and he supposed it would be good to get a house warming present. So, he's at the shops.

He's strolling the aisle with idle eyes, trying not to fill his head with the Harold what fruit do you want Do we have any roses What's the use by date. His eyes dart the shelves and the handle of the milk digs into his palm. And he likes this feeling of not having to be anywhere. It's a Saturday, nearly four, so there's barely anyone there. The twilight is blinded by the electric lights, but the air is cool and Rhydian can breathe.

But watching you stand alone,

All of my doubt suddenly goes away somehow

And that's when it happens. He spots a figure with brown hair and a curving body. And he got over this ages ago, or so he thought. But suddenly he's all excited, thinking about Maddy and having these stupid ideas that it could be here.

Because it could. It just isn't. Normally.

And she turns around. And Rhydian is so shocked, he could drop his milk (but that's what they do in films so he's not going to do that). His mouth hangs open slightly, and he can feel this drumming in his chest again, but this time it's different; it's more of a flutter, like an excited bird wanting to escape. And he has to stop and double check. But - yes.

It's her. It's Maddy.

This isn't how he thought it would go - he's in the middle of getting groceries for heavens sake. But he feels invigorated. He felt happy and he hadn't talked to her yet but everything felt the same again. He had missed seeing those eyes and her smile and just her in general. And he didn't feel worried or doubtful anymore. He felt hope.

And that was something he hasn't experienced in too long.

One step closer

She's alone and she's doing what he's doing, just browsing, her features relaxed, content, and for the first time in several years he's barely metres away from her. He can smell her scent again and he does what any normal person would do.

"Maddy!" He calls. The thrill is evident in his voice and he walks steadily towards her. She twists round, hair flying around her. She looks slightly confused at who's calling her, but Rhydian can see that almost permanent curl of her lips. Her eyes meet his, and Rhydian can feel his heartbeat accelerate.

There's a second or two - which feels like minutes - where she stares slightly blank at him. He worries if she's really forgotten.

"Rhydian?" She whispers incredulously. Maddy's face breaks into this amicable, joyful smile, her eyes light up and Rhydian's wrapping his arms round her. He lifts her off the floor in an enthusiastic hug, and he can hear her bubbling laugh and her accent and he's so happy. He nestles his head in her hair after kissing her head, breathing in her floral scent and just taking her in. (And he doesn't know if she feels the same but he doesn't care. Not yet.)

"I really missed you." She seems almost on the verge with tears, but a grateful smile is on her lips.

"I really missed you, too." Rhydian feels his voice cracking and he runs his fingers through his hair and then holds them in front of him, fiddling anxiously. He looks up as she hooks her fingers with is.

"We should get coffee." She grins again, and Rhydian chuckles.

"Right - yeah. Yeah, we should."

Ten minutes later, they're in the back of a coffee shop. The rich scent fills his nose and the rising and falling of speech and music surrounds them. Two steaming cups of beverage recline before them, and Rhydian feels like they'll be neglected. He's not sure what to do with himself, but then Maddy offers her hand; they're fingers now lie intertwined, and Rhydian's grinning, abashed.

I have died everyday waiting for you

He takes a shaking sip, the warmth scolding his throat slightly, and he looks over the brim at Maddy.

"I'd always thought you were a mocha kinda man." She teases lightly, and Rhydian shakes his head, laughing slightly.

"We never actually went out for coffee."

"Of course we didn't! Such an adult thing to do!" She mocks, before pausing and placing her mug on the table. "Oh my gosh, we're so old!" She realises, and the nostalgia which is troubling her is haunting Rhydian slightly. He gathers himself up enough to squeeze her hand.

"So much has changed." Her eyes flicker around the shop, to Rhydian and down to their hands.

"A lot of time passed." He agrees, glancing at her warily.

"Yeah..."

"And, Maddy? I'm sorry if this is all really soon or something. But I didn't forget, not really, and I did try to move on but I couldn't, and I was always waiting for you to return, and I feel a bit more alive after dying everyday for the past few years-" he's rambling. And that's so unlike him. Normally he keeps his words and wonderings to himself. He wasn't as moody anymore, but he is still that reserved teenager, most of the time. He's trying to step slowly over each word but they gush faster and faster as he tries to read Maddy's face. Squeezing his hand slightly, she smiles reassuringly at him until he finishes. He feels slightly better. But there's still that voice in his head, carrying worry and unease and he wants an answer, or something.

Darling don't be afraid I have loved you for a thousand years

"Rhydian..." she says tenderly, and he's running his hands through his hair. He can feel his heart beating again. He stares down at his lap.

He can feel soft fingers on his hands, restraining them, and his breath traps in his throat. He looks up, and is met with Maddy studying him, head tilted and eyes sparkling.

Leaning across the table, she rests her hand on his cheek (and it's nice to be looked after for once) before leaning in to kiss him.

Rhydian melts.

Everything feels right again. It had only happened once before but her soft, coffee tainted lips against his feel correct, and he feels safe again. They both smile against the other's lips, and eventually they have to pull away. Rhydian can't stop smiling.

"Don't worry. I still love you." She grins, nodding in confirmation. They're both nearly crying (how in sync they are) but it's happy tears. And that's a first.

I'll love you for a thousand more

"I love you, too. And I think I won't stop. Well, I don't want to..." Maddy giggles.

"We're so cheesy." She says after a minute. Rhydian chuckles and nods.

"Yeah. Yeah, we are."

Time stands still

Beauty in all she is

They continue to chat. Nearly every sentence is punctuated by laughs and jokes, and it feels so quintessentially them. Their eyes lock amidst laughs, and time pauses for a second. Outside, the sun fades behind concrete horizons and hunched buildings, dousing the pavement and shop with twilight dust.

Maddy's going to go with him to see Shannon and Tom. She's staying near by, and she's studying photography. She's not going anywhere, and everything feels like it's settling down.

Maddy looks good. Stunning in fact: much more than Rhydian could ever imagine or remember. Her face has matured and filled out, her brown eyes sparkling orbs framed with a gleaming smile. Hair swoops down in chocolate swirls over her flushed cheeks, and her casual wear of a jumper and jeans doesn't lower her bouncing tone at all.

I will be brave

I will not let anything take away

What's standing in front of me

"I'm not going to let anything take you away from me again." Rhydian randomly says in the lull of conversation. He's staring intently at her and he's completely serious, and she knows that. And he's convinced himself, too; he's going to be brave and do whatever it takes because he's lost things once and he's not going to let that happen again.

"I don't intend to go anywhere. Photography is much better taught in British colleges anyway."

"I was being serious."

"I know." She replies softly. "I just don't know what to say to that, really. Apart from I really love you."

Every breath

Every hour has come to this

Finally, they stand up. They have to, really; it's getting dark and the shop's empty and they both have a house warming party to get to. As soon as they've edged out from their seats, Rhydian loops his arm round her waist, pulling her closer. It feels good to hold her properly, after all that time, now that he knows where he stands. It seems like she agrees.

They step out into the street and are met with a rush of breeze and the flush of street lights.

"Follow me." She beckons, and he follows her curiously into an alley. Shadows are cramped into the corners. Maddy looks up at the sky, and Rhydian steps back slightly to watch her. He then follows her gaze.

"You brought me here to see the stars?"

"Yup. I would look at them every night. Wonder if you were also looking at them." Rhydian's heart melts. "And it's really pretty. Come on." She gestures him to come forward by holding out her hand.

One step closer

He grins and steps beside her, holding her close against him and kissing her forehead softly before copying her actions.

It remains like that for some time. Rhydian doesn't care that his neck starts to hurt because the stars wink and flare like a kind of dance, and he's got the person he loves most's hand intertwined with his - at last.

And all along I believed I would find you

Time has brought your heart to me

"Did you ever think we'd find each other again?" He whispers into her hair some time later.

"Of course I did. I made a promise, and I never intended to break it."

"Okay."

"And it took some time. But in the end, we're together, and that promise still stands. I didn't break it."

"And you're glad you didn't?"

"Very glad."

"Not as glad as I am."

"Oh my god." She shoves him, and he wiggles his eyebrows at her, laughing slightly.

"What?" He feigns innocence, and she rolls her eyes.

"You know exactly what!"

Rhydian frowns. (And he's surprised he can hold off the smile.) "Mmm, no I don't..."

"I hate you."

"No you don't."

"Yes I do. I despise you."

"Ouch."

"Feel the burn."

"You love me."

"...okay, maybe I do." They're both laughing a lot by this time and Rhydian lifts her off the ground. He spins her round once before setting her down gently. She reaches up on tiptoes to kiss him.

"I'll love you for a thousand years."

"I'll love you for longer."

I have loved you for a thousand years

I'll love you for a thousand more