A/N: Another fluffy flashback chapter because i like writing these now, give me feedback if you like these sweet scenes, wasn't sure how people felt about the last chapter-except for those who always review, you know who you are, thanks! It'll be getting more dramatic here in a little bit-there's lots of foreshadowing in this chapter. I won't be able to update in a while, I'm out of town for this whole week again, but I will try my best. Enjoy.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything, not the show, not the characters, not the songs. I am not affiliated with nor have I ever met anyone depicted in this fictional story. Song credits to Maroon 5 and Hole.

Rating: M for language and themes

Times Like These

3: my last glance that will soon be memory

And the sun goes down,
I watch you slip away
And the sun goes down
I walk into the waves
And the sun goes down
I watch you slip away
And I know love will tear you apart
Oh and I know the darkest secret of your heart

-Malibu, Hole

He looked over at her, she was happily singing along to some song on the radio.

"What?" she giggled as he turned back towards the winding stretch of PCH in front of them.

"Nothing, just looking at you, kid."

"Kid? I'm older than you."

"By a month! And you still act like a child," he teased.

"Are we there yet?" she answered right back, having already asked him that multiple times. She was antsy, anticipating the surprise destination.

"Almost, can't you just relax and enjoy the scenery?"

She lifted her arms and touched the roof of his car to stretch. She manually rolled down the vintage car's windows, letting the salty air invade their small space.

"Mmm, I love the ocean breeze." She inhaled deeply, and sputtered when her hair flew into her mouth.

He laughed. "Classic Marano. Never change."

She pursed her lips, as she rolled the windows back up. "Wasn't planning to."

After another few songs on the radio, he stopped the car in front of a large wrought iron gate. With a click of the borrowed remote, the gates opened revealing a sprawling driveway in front of a very large home.

"Wow, this is it? What is happening right now?"

He met her on her side of the car, helping her out. "Welcome to Malibu, where all the dreams of the rich and the famous come true," he stated in an English accent.

"I can see that," she looked up at wonderment at the mansion made of glass. "This is insane."

"One day, but for now, we can only dream. He said we could get to the private beach from the backyard." He dangled the key in his fingers. One of the higher up Disney executives had let him have access to his second home, without asking any questions. These were the perks of being Disney's current 'it boy.'

They snaked through the backyard, careful to not disrupt anything, knowing that everything there was probably worth more than their lives. He held her hand as he led her down the steep stairs to the exclusive beach that made this area so highly sought after.

He laid down a blanket for them to sit on to watch the sunset. It was a far drive from their homes in the Valley, but it was worth it to see her excited face bathed in the glow of the pink sun. He would drive anywhere, go anywhere just to be alone with her. He wished they could be a normal couple and do normal couple things, but they hadn't ever been on a real date, instead having to enjoy these few and far between private moments. He wanted to take her out so badly, show everyone, but she was hesitant.

He knew it wasn't that she was embarrassed. He knew she felt the way about him as he did about her. She told him it was because she didn't want it affecting the show in any way, but he knew she was more worried about the potential backlash.

They had to hide themselves away. They couldn't be seen in public together lest their relationship be exposed. He hated that they had to keep it a secret, but he understood why she didn't want to go public just yet. She had barely wanted to tell their friends and family, which was sort of a kick in the nuts, but she was being careful.

He was much less so.

If he had a choice, he would yell his feelings from the rooftops so everyone could know.

He sat her down next to him on the blanket, and opened up a picnic basket, pulling out assorted food items. He propped his iPhone up, turning his lighter app on. The tiny flame flickered between them.

"Why are you so cute? iPhone light picnic at sunset on the beach? Who are you right now? You didn't have to go to the trouble."

"Hey, I told you I was going to take you on a proper date, and I'm making good on my promise. One day, I'll take you out on the best date ever, but for now, a candle light dinner at sunset will have to do."

"This is the best date ever, as long as I'm with you."

"Aww, now who's being cute?"

She blushed as she continued to rummage through the picnic basket. She pulled out a Tupperware container. "Are these heart-shaped salamis and pickles?"

"Maybe."

"Ross!" she yelped, her mouth agape.

"Laura!" he falsely mocked. "You better love those things, the salamis were a bitch to cut out."

"I do love them. I love everything about this. Oh, and there's pasta, ooh and a little vino? And gogurt! You do know the way to an Italian girl's heart."

He laughed as she got more and more excited. "Is it that easy?" he gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"Only for you." Her eyes shone and she took his breath away.

He may have not been able to take her out, but he was sure going to make this night special for her. He wanted to make every day count especially since it would be a while before they could see each other again. They laughed and talked and kissed and it was everything he needed before he had to say goodbye.

"I love you," she whispered into his neck, leaning her head on his shoulder.

"I love you, too."

Sometimes she thought it was a little too quick to be jumping so headfirst into this thing with him, but then he looked at her and said those words and it was okay. He was Ross, she'd known him for years. She felt safe with him. He loved her. She'd never felt this way about anything, much less anyone before.

"I literally will never get tired of saying that, or hearing it for that matter."

He kissed the top of her head. "There's a few things I literally will never get tired of doing with you."

She smiled as she caught his lips with hers, the rough edges of their tongues rubbing against each other. His hand found its way into her hair, holding her close to him. Her hands tugged at his shirt, feeling the ripples of his abdominal muscles.

He broke for air, flopping backwards onto his back. "This is perfect."

She snuggled up to him as he wrapped his arm around her, holding her close. "This is such a beautiful sunset. I wish it didn't mean that our last night was coming. I wish we had more time. Everything has gone by so fast."

Her summer had been a blur. Everything was a whirlwind, but it had been the best month of her life. But now he was about to leave for Puerto Rico for six weeks, and she'd be alone. She already missed him. He held such a strong presence in her life, it was scary, but exhilarating at the same time. She'd never known love could feel like this.

She was just afraid that the time apart would change things. He was going away to an exotic filming location. He'd be surrounded by beautiful girls in the most idyllic setting. She trusted him and his feelings for her, but she didn't trust other girls around him. Six weeks was a really long time. A lot could change in that time. Feelings could change. She tried to push away the insecurities, but they were always there, just simmering under the surface. She tried to not let the haters get to her, tried to not even pay attention to them, but maybe they were right. Maybe Ross could do better. It was only a matter of time before he realized that truth.

That was the thing, people didn't even know they were dating, and his fans already hated her. That was partly why she wanted to keep things quiet. She wasn't quite emotionally ready to deal with all of the negativity.

"What are you thinking about? You look like you're a hundred miles away," he whispered as he nibbled on her ear.

"Just how much I'm going to miss you," she sighed.

He brushed a hair out of her eyes. "Aww, let's not talk about it. It'll only be a few short weeks, then you'll visit me in Puerto Rico and I can show you all the sights. You will love it."

She smiled. She wasn't going to bring him down. "I'm so excited, I can't wait. Why can't it already be three weeks from now?"

"Because then how would you have time to miss me?"

"Who said I was looking forward to the trip for you? They have great shopping there!"

He gave her a look of mock hurt before attacking her waist with his hands. "You're gonna pay for that one, Laura Marano!"

She squealed as he tickled her, "STOP! OH MY GOD, STOP. PLEASE!" She somehow got up and starting running down the beach, but her short legs were no match for his much longer ones. He caught her and picked her up, fireman's carry.

"Put me down!" she insisted, laughing the whole time.

He lowered her close to the ground and dropped her, just as the tide pulled in, soaking her.

Her mouth dropped open in surprise. She scrambled to her feet and chased after him, kicking water at him. He held his hand out to avert the water splashes from himself as he ran away from her.

She jumped on his back, wrapping her arms around his neck, pulling him down to the ground. Her lips met his in a blistering kiss. She loved the way time stood still when they were together like this.

She pouted as he broke contact. "You got me all wet."

"Yeah, I did," he winked as she slapped his arm.

"You're freaking impossible."

"You like it," he replied cockily.

"Yeah, I do." They trudged back to their little stretch of the beach, the sun starting its slow fade. Unbeknownst to the pair, at some point, their hands found one another like destined soul mates that fit together like puzzle pieces. And neither was going to be letting go any time soon.

"Ugh, I don't want to go tomorrow, maybe I just stay and spend the whole summer with you." He stretched, watching her from the corner of his eye. She was wearing his shirt, since he'd soaked her clothes. It was laughable how the shirt hung down to her knees. "I want to make this last forever. Make it an endless summer with you."

She gave him a look, then let her eyes wander down his bare chest. Her clothes were actually fairly dry. She just wanted to see him shirtless. "I wish, but you know career comes first. Plus, like you said, how will I have time to miss you then?" She had made him promise that nothing was going to get in the way of their careers. He'd stupidly agreed.

"Who cares about work when I've got everything I need here?"

"You say that now."

"I mean it. Just you, me, the beach. That's all we need. That's everything."

"I do love it up here. Could you imagine living here? Wake up to the salty sea air, be able to just walk outside and have the ocean be at your doorstep."

"I thought you hated the beach."

"Ally hates the beach. Laura doesn't mind it. Especially when her company is amazing."

"That settles it then. We'll get a house up here some day."

She rolled her eyes. "Getting ahead of yourself."

"I mean it, I promise."

"O-kay, well, we have to work to be able to afford something like this. So I guess you're going to Puerto Rico after all."

"Ugh, you're right. I hate that you're so right all the time," he kissed her on the nose.

"Get used to it."

He dragged his feet getting them back home. He could spend hours with her and it wouldn't be enough. It was never enough, he didn't know how he was going to get through the next few weeks without her. How had he done without her before?

He parked outside her sister's apartment complex, shielding her as she changed back into her shirt. "You don't have to put this back on," she stated as he held open the door for her, grabbing the shirt.

"Yeah, I do, your sister's elderly neighbor is like having her way with me with her eyes."

"Can you blame her?" she smirked a he wrapped his arms around her. "I already miss you. Text me when you get to the airport. Message me when you get to Puerto Rico and we can Facetime."

"Okay. Love you." She stood on her tiptoes and pressed her lips into his for a toe-curling kiss. His hands roamed down her back, rubbing circles into it, traveling lower, lower…

"Hey, you two lovebirds, get a room!" Vanessa yelled from her deck.

"Can we use yours?" he yelled back, giving her a quick wave.

"Yeah, let me ask my Dad how he feels about that," she quipped.

His jaw grew slack, stepping away from Laura, "Is he really here?"

Vanessa erupted into a fit of laughter. She loved messing with him. He was still so afraid of their father. He had reason to be, but still, he was so easy.

"No, you're safe for one more night," she replied before retreating into the apartment.

He let out a sigh of relief then squeezed Laura's butt surreptitiously.

"Ross!" she said sternly.

"Laura!" he returned in the same tone. "Did you ever consider that your butt touched my hand?"

"Likely story. I'll have to have a talk with it about impulse control."

"You do that, but don't be too harsh, it can't help itself."

She rolled her eyes again. "I love you. I'll talk to you later, okay? Text me when you get home." He kissed her briefly on the lips as she walked towards her sister's open door. She turned and gave a little wave before disappearing.

He sighed. It was his least favorite thing in the world, seeing her walk away from him.

A/N: Reviews make me more motivated to update...just sayin'.