A/N: I love you guys. You are so sweet to me. Usually at the end of my stories, I thank each reviewer individually, but I don't typically get a lot of reviews. There are a lot more of you guys than I'm used to, so I'll do a blanket thank you. Thank you to every reader, reviewer, favorite, and follow! You guys are so incredibly amazing, and if at any point anyone reading this wants me to read their story, just PM me and I will respond, even if this story has been finished for like a year or something. You are all so great, so thank you. I love you. So, without further ado, here is the last chapter.
Disclaimer: For the last time (with this story at least *winks*), I do not own Austin and Ally or anything mentioned in this story.
Chapter 29
"We, the jury, find Dallas Smith (?) guilty on all charges."
Ally's eyes widened in shock as the words she'd wanted to hear most echoed through the otherwise silent courtroom. She wasn't entirely sure how she should be feeling. Relief? Joy? Unbridled happiness? She'd just sent her ex-fiancée to jail and she couldn't help but find it strange that those were what she was feeling. Very few other girls would want to send their fiancées to jail.
Very few others had gone through what Ally had though.
Amidst the confusion and the rustling in the courtroom, Ally locked eyes with the handsome former stranger across the courtroom. Instantly, her feelings of confusion melted away into ones of contentment.
At least the next time her life went crazy, she'd have him.
His face broke into a lazy smile that exuded nothing but the confidence she desperately needed. He was good at that. Knowing what she needed and giving it to her seemed to come naturally to him.
She smiled back at him hesitantly, glad that he was there for her.
Dallas was dragged from the stand by several armed guards and led out of the court room, seething as he tried desperately to retain some semblance of dignity.
He locked eyes with Ally on her way out and sent her a look that a few short months ago would have left Ally undone.
But she was stronger now and Dallas's once overpowering affect had weakened considerable. He now no longer had any power over her and her future, a fact of which she was most proud.
Ally shook her lawyer's hand and thanked him for his assistance, although with the amount of evidence she held against Austin the assistance was practically unnecessary. The lawyer, a woman in her late 50s, squeezed her hand gently and gave her a broad, strong smile. A smile that showed her complete confidence that they'd win.
Her confidence had paid off and they had won. None more so than Ally.
She left the prosecutor's bench and scanned the crowd for her boyfriend, only stopping when she felt a strong pair of arms encircle her waist and pull her close. Instantly, the smell of Austin's cologne invaded her senses and she smiled softly in response, leaning in to him.
He leaned forward and whispered in her ear, "You did great."
She turned in his arms to face him and offered him a wide smile.
"I mean, I think it was my testimony that sealed the deal, but you did okay too," he added, a mischievous twinkle in his eye.
In no mood to spoil his fun, Ally fake gasped and smacked him on the arm, earning herself an adorably repentant look.
"I'm s-so sorry, Ally. P-please. Just d-don't hit m-me again," he whimpered, shrinking away from her as if she could ever overpower him.
Ally rolled her eyes jovially and observed, "Someone is in a good mood."
This time, it was his turn to roll his eyes. He did so and quipped, "Why wouldn't I be? There's one less killer on the streets, your ghost is behind bars, and I'm holding the girl I love right this very moment. I don't know why you're not happier."
"I don't know if I can even get happier. Everything just feels right with me for the first time in forever. This all just feels so natural. Like it was meant to happen," she replied, her voice calm and relaxed.
"Well, I'm glad that you're so happy then because I need pancakes," he grabbed her hand and began to lead her to the door before pausing and adding, "I know that those two thoughts have nothing to do with each other. I just really want pancakes."
Ally let out a loud happy laugh, pleased with how her life was turning out.
She really meant it before. Everything was as it was meant to be.
For once, Ally Dawson's life was perfect.
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Austin Monica Moon.
Comic book nerd. Genius. Dork. Hero. Charmer. Swoon-worthy. Musician. Cop.
He'd saved her in so many ways. He saved her from being murdered by her fiancée. He saved her from more nightmares and sleepless nights. He saved her from feeling inferior (because who could honestly feel inferior when someone like Austin Moon loved them?). He saved her from becoming a supporting character in her own life.
But she'd saved him too.
No one would acknowledge it. It would never be said. She'd never receive any medals or plaques or ribbons or lunches with mayors (like he had). By all accounts, the saving was one-sided.
But she could see it in the lightness of his eyes and the easiness in his smile. Where there had once been pain, she only found happiness. She saved him from loneliness and bitterness and fear. She saved him from living his life only for other people.
Ally Dawson.
Book-worm. Pickle freak. Worry-wart. Bad-ass. Smarty-pants. Musician.
And maybe she was a hero, too.
A/N: I know it was short, but I think I said everything that needed to be said. I feel good about this resolution. I really hope you guys do too. Please leave me any last reviews. If you've never reviewed but have been following, now would be an awesome time to sum up your feelings about this story. If you're a constant reviewer, I'd appreciate another one. Criticisms always welcome. Review just to give me some final thoughts! I'm going to post another Auslly story soon, that will hopefully stay different from other Auslly stories, which is why you guys like this one so much I think. I'll leave the summary of that one and I really hope you'll check it out. Uhm… Thanks so much you guys. You have been great. I reiterate: If you want me to read your stuff, PM me. Please leave a review! Please check out my next story. :3 I love you all!
Title: Not As It Seems
Pairing: Auslly obviously
Rating: T
Summary: When the princess of the kingdom, Gendar, goes missing, it is instantly blamed on the neighboring kingdom, Aberon, and a deadly war seems inevitable. But when young soldier, Austin, finds something interesting in the dungeon while on patrol, he learns that everything is not as it seems. AU