A/N: Hey! Thanks for the reviews on the last chapter, you're all amazing, as I say everytime! :) It's true though! I'm updating earlier than I thought, but I have exams now and last minute assignments to do since the first semester is ending, so the next update may not be for a while. Sorry about that guys, but I'll try really hard! :)

Enjoy this chapter, it's a bit shorter than the others, but it's rather good, I think :) It'll make you all happy! I hope... haha

Disclaimer: Don't own A&A, although I do own Jace.

Austin POV

"Hey Ally?" I called up the stairs.

She appeared at the top a few seconds later. "What's up?"

"Dez just called me and asked if I could go over to his place and help him fix a leaky sink." I immediately felt guilty for lying to her, but I needed a reason to go over there.

Ally started down the stairs. "Oh, okay. I'll probably be gone to another meeting for the bullying video by the time you get back, so I'll pick something up for supper on my way home after I get Maci from your parents' place."

"I won't be that long, hopefully. Fixing a sink shouldn't take longer than an hour," I said, mentally slapping myself. Actually, it was more like a mental punch. "But you know Dez," I added, laughing nervously.

She looked at me curiously. "Are you okay, Austin?"

"Oh yeah, I'm fine! Never been better," I told her quickly before bending to kiss her. "I'll see you later."

"Alright," she said slowly, still watching me. I had to get out of there before I blew it.

I grabbed my jacket and keys in the hallway before hurrying out the door to my SUV. As soon as I was in the driver's seat, I sped off to Dez's.

I hated lying to anyone, especially Ally, but I wouldn't have had a reason to leave the house so suddenly if I hadn't. I did need to see Dez, yes, but it wasn't about a leaky sink. It was about something much more important than that, and I was freaking out over it.

When I hit a red light, I pulled out my phone and tapped Jace's number in. He picked up on the third ring.

"Hey Austin, what's up?" He said.

"Do you think you could go over to Dez's right now?" I asked.

"Uh, yeah, sure. What's wrong, man?"

"Nothing's wrong. Well, not really, but it's not bad. Well, not really bad, but-"

"Dude, you're freaking me out. Look, I'll be there in fifteen," Jace cut me off.

"Thanks Jay, I owe you."

"No problem." We hung up and I waited for a bit before the light finally turned green.

When I got to Dez's, I pulled into his driveway and jumped out. He opened the front door before I had time to knock. "Hey buddy."

"How'd you know I was here?"

"Jace called and said you told him to come over here so I figured something's on your mind. I was watching out the window." He opened the door wider so I could pass by him. His turkey that I can never remember the name of ran past my feet into the living room, followed by Jeffrey, his pig.

"Penelope Frances Barbara Louise Turkeyson!" Dez yelled. That's the name. God, I have to write that down somewhere. "You do not peck at Jeffrey's tail! It is not a curly fry; we've been over this many times before!" Dez looked at me. "Kids. They never learn. I mean, do you know how hard it is to be a mother?"

"Dez. I'm a dad of an actually human baby!"

"I'm a mother of a turkey and pig. You're point?"

I just shook my head and went into the dining room.

Dez opened the fridge and tossed me a root beer. "How'd you manage to get out of the house?"

"I told Ally I was fixing a leaky sink at your place," I admitted.

"And she bought it?" He asked disbelievingly.

"Yeah," I said slowly.

"Dude, when have I ever fixed a leaky sink? Or when have you, for that matter." He sat down at the table and cracked open his coke.

"Damn, you're right. Well, it didn't faze her and she bought it, so let's just leave it at that."

There was a knock at the door and Dez yelled, "Yeah!"

Jace came into the dining room a few seconds later. "Hey."

"Hey man," we greeted. Dez handed him a drink as well.

"So what's the important news, Austin?" Jace asked. "You sounded crazy on the phone."

"I, uh, I'm..." I looked down at my hands before muttering the rest of my sentence incoherently. I couldn't do it.

"What?" Dez asked as him and Jace strained to hear.

"I said! I'm..."

"Dude, speak up!"

"I'm thinking about proposing to Ally!" I burst out. After realizing what I did, I cleared me throat and laughed nervously.

I looked at the other two, who were staring at me with shocked expressions. I rubbed the back of my neck. "Uh, now would be a good time for you guys to say something. Anything."

"Wow," Dez said.

I jumped up. "Seriously? That's all you have to say?" Dude, I'm ready to ask my girlfriend to marry me and you say wow?!"

"Austin, breathe," Jace told me.

"I can't; I'm freaking out. This just hit me out of the blue, guys!" I flopped back down onto my seat.

"That's awesome for you and Ally. I'm happy for you guys," Dez grinned.

"She hasn't said yes yet," I pointed out. "And I haven't even asked her. I don't even know if I should do it."

"Austin, come on. You know she's going to say yes. This is Ally we're talking about; she loves you!" he said.

"Exactly, Dez, this is Ally we're talking about. Allyson Dawson. I mean, I know she loves me and everything, but you know what she's like. She'd rather get her life in order before she even thinks about marriage, and now that we've got Maci, she'll want to wait until she's older." I sighed. "Plus, she's got that music video to worry about. Adding a wedding will push her over the edge and she'll end up in the hospital."

"Well, think of the pros and cons," Jace started.

"Oh god, you sound like Ally," I said.

"I love pros and cons lists."

"Now you sound exactly like Ally!"

"Just work with me here. The pros." He started ticking things off on his fingers. "You get Ally as your wife. She's all yours. You, Ally, and Maci will be one big happy family. Getting married could help now that you have a baby."

"Not really seeing the cons here," Dez spoke up.

Jace continued. "The main con: you're really young. Marriage is a big deal; you guys just turned 21. I'm not saying you guys won't work out in the end, but marriage changes people, especially young people, and I'd rather you guys have a great and healthy relationship for a long time than have a strained one early on."

Mother of god, that one con pretty much counts for twenty cons versus the four pros. Well, that makes me feel awesome, sarcasm completely intended.

"This is harder than I thought it was going to be," I groaned, putting my head in my hands.

"If I had to make the decision, I'd say go for it," Dez said. "It's obvious you and Ally are meant to be together forever, and if anything, I think marriage would strengthen your bond with each other."

Jace and I stared at him. "That was one of the deepest things you have ever said in your life," I told him.

Dez patted himself on the shoulder. "Yes, I do have a soft spot, if I do say so myself."

"Well, I've got one guy that says I should do it, one that thinks it might not be such a good idea, and another who doesn't even know." I nodded. "Alright. I'm basically right where I started."

We were quiet for a minute before Jace quietly said, "So, what are you going to do?"

"I have no idea," I sighed. "Part of me thinks I should really go for it, but the other part is still unsure."

"That's two against one!" Dez exclaimed.

"Huh?" Jace asked.

"I think Austin should propose and part of him thinks he should too, but you think they should wait, so that's two against one. It's settled, Austin proposes!"

"Part of him thinks he should wait, so it's actually a tie," Jace corrected.

"Awe, ham cakes! I thought I made a smarticle point there," Dez pouted.

"Ham c-?" Jace started, but I cut him off.

"Dude, leave it." I stared at the wall. "This is so hard."

"I know, man," Jace said sympathetically. "But if it helps, either way, you and Ally are meant to be. Marriage or not."

I gave a small smile. "Thanks."

While the three of us sat in silence, thinking, I ran my hands down my face. This was probably the hardest decision I've ever had to make in my entire life. And everyone knows how bad I am at making decisions.

"Who wants to make hats out of cheese?" Dez spoke.

"Dez!"

A/N: :) How was it? I know there was no Ally or Maci in it, but I think it's good to show Austin's side of things once in a while. Some of you are probably freaking out after this chapter. In a good way, I hope :) Update will be as soon as I can.

Review! ... While I patiently wait for G&G to premiere next weekend... :( So mad some of you have already seen it haha, I'm not a patient person. and I live in Canada, so I just watch the episodes on the computer after they premiere in the US :p

Joelle xx

twitter? joelleR5_

Oh yeah, who saw R5 on TV for that skating show!? I didn't...I wish I could have though haha, let me know how it was! I love talking to you guys! :)