This chapter is a week late and a little shorter than I usually post. . . but I have a hunch you will forgive me. Enjoy!

Derailed Chapter 15

. . .

Because she arrived earlier than originally planned in December, Ally had three whole weeks with the people she loved in Miami. She spent some time with her dad and Trish when Austin had to work or take his dad to a doctor appointment while Mimi worked. Mimi insisted on working a little and Ally suspected she needed some time out of the house with something else to keep her busy. Mike was recovering and his treatments were going well but the situation was still a little stressful for the family. Whenever Austin was free they were together and Ally ate more meals at his house than anywhere else during her visit home. Each day she spent with him Austin seemed to relax more and more.

Ally even convinced Austin to stop avoiding Jimmy Star's calls. Austin had an honest conversation with his producer that at the moment his family came first and while he did want to work on music, it was going to have to wait a little while. Jimmy was understanding and supportive of his long-time client which came as a huge relief to Austin. In some of their free time Austin and Ally played a little music and tinkered with a tune and some lyrics for a Christmas song. They tossed around the idea of finishing it and releasing it next year at Christmas time.

Before she knew it Christmas had come and gone. Ally enjoyed spending the day with her father again and they had a simple morning exchanging gifts and cooking breakfast together. They called Penny and spoke to her for a little while, wishing her a Merry Christmas. In the evening Austin stole Ally away for a surprise dinner date at an exclusive restaurant downtown. He was recognized a few times which he took in stride. It burst Ally from her little bubble and reminded her that she was in fact dating an international popstar. Not that she minded though, since he only had eyes for her.

Suddenly it was New Years Eve which was both exciting and a little sad for Ally. It was sad because it meant she only had a few days left before her return flight to London. She was beginning to wonder if she and Austin would ever have a time when there wasn't a deadline for one of them leaving.

Luckily that was overshadowed by the excitement of going to Jimmy Star's annual party with Austin and finally getting to kiss her boyfriend at midnight to ring in the New Year. She had never had someone special to spend that night with before. So they mingled and Ally met a lot of people Austin had worked with over the years. They danced and they kissed at midnight and Ally had a smile permanently etched on her face as she sleepily watched Austin drive her home that night. She wanted to savor the moment and memorize every detail so she had something to hold onto back at Oxford. Austin held her hand and smiled at her occasionally while he drove and they both wished the night wouldn't end. After parking in front of his house Austin walked Ally next door and stepped inside the house with her. He gave her one last tender kiss goodnight and went home. It was the perfect ending to Ally's quick visit home for the holidays.

. . .

In January things started looking up for Austin. Mike was doing so well he began working for a few hours once a week. He always went with Austin during one of his shifts and they looked over paperwork in the office together. Mimi was able to work a little more often as well by the end of January which had the entire Moon family feeling happy and relieved.

At the beginning of February Austin was able to cut back his hours at the mattress store and he met with Jimmy to make a plan and get Austin's singing career back on track. He began spending a few hours a week at the studio working on music and began recording two songs he and Ally wrote together.

Austin sat on his bed with his laptop and waited for Ally's face to appear on his screen. A few seconds later she did and he smiled.

"Hi beautiful. Happy Valentine's Day." he said.

"Happy Valentine's." Ally repeated, returning his smile. "And thanks again for the birthday present you sent last week. I loved it."

"Good. Anything for you. It's so good to see you, much better than just a phone call." Austin said.

"I agree. I just wish I could be with you in person." Ally said.

"Me too. But I was thinking we should do something like this more often." he suggested. "There are a few dates I want you to keep free for me."

"Oh really? Like when?" Ally asked. Her face lit up with a smile.

"Well, every friday night of course." Austin said and chuckled, knowing that most likely wouldn't work all the time. "But mostly I want you to keep March 30th free for me."

"That will be a year from your concert here." she noted.

"A year from the day I saw you again." he confirmed. "The day everything got better for me."

"Please, you were doing well without me: you had a great career and screaming fans. . ." Ally played it off.

"No. I was doing okay and I thought I was happy. I got used to getting by and having part of myself missing. On March 30th I got that all back and I want us to celebrate. So promise me you won't make any other plans for that day." Austin insisted.

"I promise."

"Good. Now, did you get the gift I sent you for today?" he asked.

"It came this morning but I haven't opened it." she said.

"Good. You can open it now."

She opened the box and held up each item for him to see. "Eclairs from my favorite bakery! How did you do it?" she set the pastries next to the bottle of sparkling juice and chocolate covered strawberries.

"I had a little help. James is a big fan of ours, you know."

Ally laughed lightly. "Yes he is. He asks about you all the time. I haven't figured out if he's trying to make sure you treat me right or checking up to make sure we're still together."

"Both." Austin said about his best guy friend in England. "Tell everyone I said hi okay? I miss them."

"I will."

"But I miss you most. Dad is doing better and working a little now. We're still watching his heart carefully but its getting better every day. I hope to get over there a little before you graduate and spend some time with you."

"I'd love that." Ally said. "Mom was asking me about my plans for this summer yesterday. My lease is up at the end of the school year and I know its four months away but I've got to figure some things out soon. Will you still be in Miami this summer?"

"Yeah I think so. I've been working with Jimmy a little and I told him we need to keep my touring to a minimum this summer, just some weekend shows so I can still be around for my parents and the store."

"Then I'll come to Miami too, that is, if you want me to." Ally said teasingly, already knowing the answer.

"I want you." Austin confirmed quickly. Ally's smile faltered for a moment at his words, missing him terribly. "I wish I could kiss you." he said.

"Me too. I just want to be like any other couple: go on dates, hold hands, live on the same continent. . . you know, the little stuff." she said and Austin laughed.

"We will be. I promise you'll have everything you want soon."

"We survived Africa right? What's a few more months?" Ally tried to joke.

"It's nothing. Summer will be here before you know it and we'll be together." he said with certainty.

"You won't change your mind or get bored with me?" Ally asked.

"Not possible." he said. "I love you Ally. That's never going to change."

They talked for two more hours until it got late for Ally and Austin had to get ready to work the afternoon shift at the store.

. . .

Austin was in the back office at Moon's Mattress Kingdom. He just finished going over the schedule for the next two weeks with Carl who promised to not let Mike do too much.

"Thanks Carl. I'm relying on you." Austin said as he got ready to leave.

"I've got it under control. Go have a good time." Carl urged.

"See you in two weeks." Austin said and then left through the back door.

Carl had become a good friend in the four months Austin had been back in Miami and working at the mattress store. He had been a little wary of the owners son suddenly showing up like the rest of the older employees, but Austin soon won him over with his hard work. Carl had gotten the others to calm down a bit as well and get behind Austin to work as a team like Mike always wanted. Austin was glad to have him as an ally among the staff and knew he could trust Carl to run things while he took two weeks off to go to London.

It was a surprise he had been working to set up for a while. Jimmy and Scarlett were a huge help and orchestrated getting the venue on the right date and everything. Now Austin just had to go home and finish packing for his flight in the morning. He was still a little concerned about his parents but with the entire staff of the store helping Mike and Mimi, along with Lester next door promising to watch out for them, he felt he could go. And he was a little more than anxious to see Ally again. She didn't know he was coming yet but he was sure she'd be happy to see him.

. . .

Ally left her final class of the day on Friday March 29th and walked across the green on her way home. She smiled and waved at a few friends as she went, thinking about her video chat date with Austin for tomorrow night. She couldn't believe it had been a whole year since they were reunited. In some ways it had flown by, in others it felt like a lifetime. But either way, she was happier than she'd ever been. Even with the distance separating them right now she felt confident in their relationship and she couldn't wait to go home to him this summer.

There were no plans for the future that would pull them apart again and she hoped for things to get more serious between them. They hadn't exactly talked about it yet, but she was moving to be with him which she thought said a lot. Plus his parents loved her and had dropped hints all during her Christmas break about wanting Ally to be part of the family. Nothing sounded better to Ally than the idea of marrying Austin. Then they would belong to each other and they would never have to be separated again.

Ally's musings were interrupted by the sudden appearance of a person walking beside her. She glanced to the side to see who had fallen in step beside her, expecting to see one of her friends. Instead she was met by the cocky grin of a certain blonde she happened to be in love with. She almost tripped in surprise.

"Austin!" she said and threw herself into his arms.

Austin laughed as he hugged her. "Hi babe." he said.

"What are you doing here?" she pulled back to look at him properly for a second and then hugged him tight again.

"Surprise! I had to see you in person and celebrate tomorrow." he said.

"I can't believe you're here. What about your parents?" Ally asked.

"They send their love and want you to know they are looking forward to seeing you this summer." Austin said.

"So we can go out on a real date tomorrow? This is so great!" Ally gushed.

"Well, we can go to dinner tomorrow but then I have a show. It's at the O2Academy again. Andrea and Scarlett are here too and Andrea can't wait to hang out with you during the concert."

"Oh, that makes sense. You came out here because of the show." Ally guessed, slightly disappointed.

"I came here for you. The show is something special I worked out with Jimmy. I told you we're working on a new record and I've got to get back in the spotlight again to help promote that when it's time. But they set this up for me because I asked them to."

"You want to do a concert on our anniversary?"

"Yes. Don't you see? It was a concert that brought us together again: what better way to celebrate that?" Austin said. He took Ally's hands and looked into her eyes. "You seem disappointed. Well I can make it up to you. I'll be here for two weeks and I'll take you to any museums or anything else you want to do whenever you aren't in class. You say the word and I'll take you anywhere you want to go. Okay?"

Ally nodded. "Okay. Sorry, the concert is a great idea. I'm just so surprised by all this."

"I know, but it's a good surprise, right?" Austin asked, snaking his arms around Ally's waist and pulling her closer.

"The best surprise." Ally wrapped her arms around his neck and rose up on her toes to meet him as he leaned in to kiss her.

After a few minutes and some catcalls from passers by Austin and Ally continued on their way to her house hand in hand. Ally dropped off her books and things in her room and they got in Austin's car which he left near her place and they went out to dinner.

The couple spent Saturday morning together after Austin insisted on picking Ally up for a pancake breakfast at a restaurant. They hung out that afternoon and finally ended up at the venue by 4pm for Austin to do sound check and get ready for the show. Andrea greeted Ally happily and told her Austin ordered them a dinner to eat in his dressing room right before the show. She also had Ally's favorite drinks and snacks on hand for her to munch on back stage during the show.

Earlier in the day they had dropped tickets off with their friends and Ally's roommates so they could come to the show which had sold out within 48 hours of the show being announced a few weeks earlier. Tickets had gone so fast there hadn't been much time for word to travel and Austin was glad because it kept everything a surprise for Ally. He'd always known there was a chance she would see the concert advertised and ask him about it but she'd been so busy and focused on school that she missed it.

While Austin was warming up backstage Ally met her friends at the front of the stage to talk a little. The auditorium was filling up and the crowd was noisy all around them.

"Well, this is different than last year isn't it?" James said loudly so Ally could hear him from her perch on the edge of the stage. He stood with an arm casually slung around Hailey. Katie, Peg and the others were huddled close.

"You aren't working and I'm not freaked out. Very different." Ally agreed.

"This concert came out of nowhere. Austin sure is one for surprises." Hailey noted.

"He was afraid I'd find out but I was clueless. I'm just happy he can stay for two weeks." Ally said.

"Which means we won't see you much for the next while." James nodded sagely.

"We'll be around and he likes hanging out with you guys too." Ally defended him and her friends all laughed.

"Just enjoy yourself. You two deserve it." Hailey said. The rest of them nodded in agreement.

Andrea came out to get Ally and take her backstage again. Austin was there and he pulled her into a tight hug.

"This has been the best year of my life and it's all because of you." he said into her ear and gave her another squeeze before pulling back. Scarlett was beginning to motion for Austin to go on stage and the crowd was deafening.

Ally grabbed Austin's arm before he could pull away fully. "Hey. I love you." she said and kissed him.

He gave her a goofy smile as Scarlett began to yell to be heard.

"Get out there!" Scarlett instructed.

Austin ran out on stage with his hands up to greet his fans. "Hello Oxford! I'm so glad to be back!"

Scarlett walked off, shouting instructions through her headset to the crew in charge of lights. Ally and Andrea cheered as they watched Austin begin the first song. Beyond the stage Ally could just make out her friends in the very front as they danced and sang along with her boyfriend's music. She might not be getting alone time with Austin that night, but being here and watching him do what he loved wasn't bad at all.

. . .

Near the end of the show Austin waved off his band from starting the second to last song. He took his mic and stood at the front of the stage, waiting for the crowd to quiet down a little.

"You might not know this, but tonight's show is very special to me. One year ago on this very stage I performed my most important show ever. Because that night a very special person to me was in the audience. Ally, come out here." He turned toward her and beckoned her to join him on stage.

She stared at him in shock and he waved to her again. "Please Ally." he said into the mic and the crowd cheered. With a look at Andrea who only shrugged but urged her to go out, Ally walked out onto stage and toward Austin who took her hand.

"Everyone say hi to Ally Dawson." Austin said. The crowd responded enthusiastically.

"I grew up next door to Ally since we were seven years old and she was my best friend until we turned fifteen and I asked her to be my girlfriend. We only got to go on one date though before she moved far away from our home town in Miami with her mom." the crowd awwed. "Then I didn't see her again until years later when I came here for my show exactly one year ago."

Austin pulled her a little closer so his arm was around her shoulders and he kissed her temple which only made the crowd scream louder. After several minutes they finally quieted down enough for Austin to continue.

"That night I made a promise to myself that I wouldn't waste my second chance and I would do anything in my power to make sure I never lost Ally again. I never told her that." he said, looking down into her eyes. "She wrote my very first song that went viral and started my career when we were fifteen. If you like the new songs I'm recording now and will release this summer you'll have her to thank as well. She is my best friend, my song writer, and the love of my life."

While the crowd responded Austin let Ally go and turned to face her as he pulled something from his pocket and knelt down in front of her. The crowd hushed.

"Ally, I know what it's like to be without you, and for the last year I've finally found out what it's like to be your boyfriend. I never want to live without you again. Will you marry me?" he asked and held out an open ring box toward her.

Overwhelmed and with tears of joy beginning to fall Ally nodded and said yes. Austin had a huge smile on his face as he took the ring from its box and slid it onto her hand. Then he stood and pulled her into his arms for a searing kiss while the crowd went crazy.

. . .