A/N: Well this is it, this is the last chapter/epilogue. Thank you so much for everyone who has read my stories, I think the stats are something crazy like thousands of people have read both stories, and to everyone who has left me a review or note, they really make me so happy when I get them, and it definitely motivates me to write more. I had to come full circle with the songs and content in this chapter to bring it back to Everlong. It's been a long road with these stories, but thank you all so much for reading.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything, not the shows/movies, not the characters, not the songs. I am not affiliated with nor have met anyone depicted in this fictional story. Song credits to the Lumineers and Foo Fighters (acoustic).

Rating: M for mature themes and language

Times Like These

19: I belong with you, you belong with me

If everything could ever feel this real forever
If anything could ever be this good again
The only thing I'll ever ask of you
You've got to promise not to stop when I say when

-Everlong, Foo Fighters

"You look so far away," she whispered, taking his hand into hers.

"I'm right here, always right beside you."

She tilted her head and chided, "Cheesy."

"I know," he agreed with a smirk and a kiss of her cheek.

"Really, what were you thinking about?"

"I was actually thinking about the first day we met, the call back audition."

"Oh yeah, do you remember that cocky kid who walked in there acting like he owned the place? What was his name, Russ Lunch? I'm glad he didn't get the job," she teased.

"Very funny, dorky girl in glasses and Ugg boots," he returned.

"Hey, those boots are really comfortable, Jealous. And aww, you remembered what I wore."

"Of course, how could I forget?"

"Well, I don't know, it was like thirteen years ago."

"Do you remember what I wore?"

She smiled, "Yeah, a blue flannel over a white t-shirt and jeans. And your black converse, of course."

He smiled, giving her a kiss on the cheek. "Aww, we're cute."

"We are cute. We were back then, too. It was a long time ago," her eyes sparkled.

"I knew it that day."

"Knew what?"

"That we were going to be together."

"Oh, you did," she rolled her eyes, crossing her arms. "Well, what took you so long?"

"Well, life's not very interesting if it doesn't have some twists and turns."

"Well then honey, our lives have been very interesting." She paused, "Are you ready for the next stage, a boring life with me? No twists, no turns, no winding roads except to our house."

"I've been waiting forever, and I can't think of anything that I want more." He brought her hand to his mouth to kiss the rings that adorned her finger. They sat underneath a canopy of fairy lights, enjoying the private moment, just the two of them.

"Ross, Laura, ready for the first dance?" Rocky interrupted, pulling them both back to reality.

"Yeah, in a second. Wait, no actually, can I make a little speech before?"

"Speech? This isn't on the itinerary," Laura commented, her eyes widening. She had gotten used to some of his surprises, but that didn't mean she always loved them.

"I'm going off the grid, I'm a wedding rebel. Trust me."

He led her out to the middle of the makeshift dance floor that had been set up in the backyard of Calum's house, the secluded, sweeping views of the city making it the perfect venue. It was a small wedding, just as they wanted it, intimate, only with close friends and family. The fairy lights were strung in a criss-cross pattern from the treetops. It was like a wonderland, the way he had always dreamed. By the look in her eyes, it was what she had imagined, too.

Grabbing the microphone from his brother, he started, "Hey everyone. I'd like to just take a few minutes to thank you all for coming out and celebrating with Laura and I tonight. You've been waiting for a long time, trust me, we have been, too."

There were scattered chuckles throughout the crowd made mostly of people who knew their storied romance.

"It's about time you two, the over under ended like five years ago!" Calum shouted from a corner of the party.

"Mr. Calum Worthy, everyone, he's here all night. Literally, this is his house, so he is here. Thanks Calum for lending us your beautiful home, it is incredible and I couldn't think of a better place to get married. Thanks again, man," Ross chuckled. "Anyway, I realized that some of you may not know the history that this lovely woman and I shared. We met on the set of a television show, Austin & Ally, thanks to those two men over there, Kevin Kopelow and Heath Seifort." The guests clapped and whistled as the two embarrassed men waved his shout out off. "Come on, don't try to hide, guys. They had the foresight to bring two awkward teenagers together because they saw some spark between us. Now, because we were two teenagers, we didn't quite realize it ourselves until a few years later. But we eventually did, I mean, how could I not, have you seen her?" he gestured to his bride as she rolled her eyes with a brilliant smile.

He continued, "Life took us in a few different directions for a little while, but I truly believe that fate and faith brought us together again. And I'm also going to say that I prophesized that this was going to happen, when I was 17."

Laura shot him a confused look, drawing some laughs from the crowd.

"See, she's still got her comedic timing. Hold on babe, I'm going somewhere with this. So, when I was 17, I was asked if I ever saw myself dating my co-star. At that time, we weren't dating, so I said, and I actually looked up the article today, so I quote, 'Just because I'm working with her and we have to have that chemistry and all that stuff, I don't see it happening in the near future. But you never know what's going to happen in 10 years.'"

There was a whistle and applause through the revelers.

"Thanks. Well, it's 2023, ten years later, and here we are. If there's something I learned in these last ten years, it's that maybe you never know, but sometimes you do, deep down you know. I know I already stated my vows, but Laura, I promise you that I will spend everyday of the rest of my life trying to be good enough for you. But I know there's one thing that I don't have to try to do and that's love you. Because I do love you, I've loved you since we were kids, and even though it seemed impossible at times, I love you more now than I did then." The crowd collectively swooned at his words, leaving her speechless. Of course, he then handed her the microphone. "Your turn," he said playfully.

"Of course, well how do I follow that up? There are no words to describe how blessed and fortunate I am to be standing here with the man I love, to be able to call him my husband," she blushed. He looked at her adoringly, appreciating how beautiful she looked in her fitted mermaid-style gown. This was happening, finally. She read his mind, adding, "I honestly never thought this day would come, and now that it's here and it's happening, it feels like all of my wildest dreams have come true. I think the only thing I can say to all of you is thank you all again for being here with us, and enjoy yourselves tonight. Thank you so much!"

The DJ started up a very familiar song as he swept her up in his arms.

"Really, Ross?" She wrapped her arms around his neck, and he around her lower back, careful to not unhook the lace bustle.

He feigned ignorance, "What, you know this song?"

"I may have heard it a few times. I'll tell you a secret, I like your version better," she whispered.

"In the name of David Eric Grohl, that is blasphemy." He buried his face into her hair, which was twisted up into some intricate hairstyle off her neck. He didn't know what it was called, but he knew how soft and gorgeous she looked. He ran his hands up and down the trail of buttons on the back of her dress. She was so sexy and she was his.

"It's true. I'm biased. I am married to you and not him, but you never know what will happen in ten years right?" she winked.

"Are you mad that I brought up the thing?" Ross asked, slowly swaying with her.

"It's been ten years, and we're married now, so I think I can let it go."

"That's why I love you. You're endlessly kind, forgiving, patient, loving, beautiful, generous, and I can go on, but I don't want to give you a big head or anything."

"Yeah, save that for the honeymoon suite, right?"

He shook his head as he let out a chuckle, "Oh my god, I didn't think I could love you more. And then you come at me with that sexual innuendo, you've changed. You're too much, Laura Marano Lynch."

Her mouth erupted into a huge grin, hearing her new name. "I love you."

"I love you, always have, always will." He squeezed her tightly, seeing her eyes tear up. There was nothing that would ever compare to this moment and he would remember it, forever long. "And I wonder if everything could ever feel this real forever," he softly sang.

"If anything could ever be this good again…" she returned, gazing into his eyes.

"The only thing I ever ask of you, you've gotta promise not to stop when I say when…" they harmonized, the last strum of the guitar punctuating the end of one chapter of their lives and leading to the beginning of another.

The End

A/N: Well, that's it, did you like it? Is that how you thought it was going to end? Were you expecting me to bring back the 2023 thing from Everlong? I'm trying to subtly tell you to review ;) Don't know when I'm going to publish my next multichapter story, it's an Auslly one, but you can follow me on tumblr at standingoncanalandbowery, usually I post teasers and updates on there. I will be posting a oneshot Raura story in honor on Ross' bday hopefully tomorrow, M rated, so keep an eye out for that one! Thank you so much again for reading these two stories, and hope you liked the ending!