All Again For You

After a grueling thirteen days of Mike being gone, he was finally home with Ludo and I. Tour was over for the year and he and I were stoked on spending some quiet time together before the hustle and bustle of his birthday and Christmas neared us. I was happy to be in his presence now especially since what happened the last time I saw him. He said that Alan had told Austin that I had got suspended for a few days, making him feel guilty. I didn't care much since finding out what he said about me.

Erasing my thoughts with each sip was the red wine sitting in my wine glass. Mike was determined to cook me a "gourmet meal" as he so put it, and I was happily watching him do so. "You're such a cute little chef, bug." I smirked as he cooked pasta and chicken.

He turned around with that famous grin of his and winked at me, "Oh, am I?" He covered one of the pots with a lid and walked over to me, bending down to my seating level and kissing my lips as softly as he could.

I nodded, with a smile still on my lips. "Yes, you sure are."

He took my hand and gently rubbed it with his, his thumb running over my left ring finger. "I can't wait to marry you, Lucy Garcia. It's the thing I'm most excited for in my life."

The happiness beamed off of me, running my hand over his stubbly cheeks. "It's the only thing that I've been looking forward to. Besides you coming home to me, of course. I always look forward to that."

A wide smirk formed upon his lips, "I love you."

"I love you too, Mikey." I winked, calling him the name I used to many years ago.

"Can I tell you a secret?" He said softly, looking down. The black beanie that was sitting on top of his head staying still. I nodded, and he continued to talk. "You won't believe me, but I fell in love with you after less than a week of knowing you."

I smiled, "Whatever, you are such a liar."

"Nope," He grinned innocently. "I really did. I remember meeting you and feeling like I couldn't breathe. That had to meansomething. Then, when you invited me to Shannon's party, I felt on top of the world with you. I felt this sort of completeness around you. I loved that you turned me down to get food on the day we met, then I loved that you liked MxPx just like I did. I remember going home to tell Vic everything about. He was so annoyed, but I think for the first time he was like, 'Oh my god, Mike might actually love somebody.' And well, he was right."

"Can I share a secret, too?" I questioned, and he nodded. "When I first met you, and we were talking about how long I was working there, something cut off my breathing too. Like, this force came over me, pushing my attention to you. I wasn't sure if I wanted something like that, but I was glad it happened, anyway." I finished talking, looking into his eyes.

His lips grew into a smile, "Maybe weweremeant to be?"

"Maybe so." I nodded, wrapping my arms around his neck and kissing him. "I'm so in love with you Michael, it drives me nuts."


--


"Hey guys," Vic greeted us as he opened his front door. Mike and I walked in, following him into the kitchen. It'd been three days since Mike had got home, and we wanted to see everyone.

"Hello my favorite Fuentes!" I said with a smile, giving him a hug.

"I always knew that I was the favorite." Vic grinned as he hugged me back. I sat on the bar stool at the island and Mike joined as he sat beside me. Vic was about to make tacos so he went back to the stove.

"What brings you to back to SD?" He questioned, turning back to us and leaning on the counter.

"We just wanted to visit. It's been awhile since we've been home. Well, except for Luce. She came while we were still on tour." Mike explained.

"How was your suspension?" Vic asked, taking a sip of his beer, then gesturing to us asking if we wanted one.

I sighed, "It was super boring. Everyone I know has a job and is busy during the week. So, I just came here and visited my grandma and your mom. And they were talking to me about the wedding." I gave the boys a look and they laughed. They knew I wasn't planning a wedding right now. I wanted to enjoy being engaged. I saw it as another step in mine and Mike's relationship. Plus, Mike and I thought there was no rush down the aisle.

"What were they asking about? Like when you wanted to get married or what?" Vic asked, handing Mike a beer.

"Yeah, and if I had any idea what I wanted my dress to look like and color palettes and food and this and that and I was about to have a panic attack, literally."

Vic chuckled, "We told mom, too. We told her that you guys were waiting a while and wanted to actually be engaged. I feel like you two just got engaged, also."

"We do too!" Mike agreed loudly. "I don't see the big rush to hurry up and get married."

"I don't either." I nodded along with Mike. "I haven't even picked up a wedding magazine, yet. I ain't stessin'." I said making them laugh again.

We spent most of the night with Vic at his house, just kind of talking about things with him. We didn't have family in LA, so seeing him every once in a while outside of the tour bus was nice. Before it got too late, we went over to my grandma's house since she was making her famous apple pie. We knocked on the door and Celina opened it holding a bigger Abby's hand as she was slowly walking. We hugged Celina and I instantly grabbed Abby and held her in my arms.

We walked to the kitchen and my grandma was up and baking, some of my cousins and family members here as well, watching her bake. "Hey guys!" I smiled greeting all my family, and Mike doing to same. Mike sat down as I stayed standing carrying Abby, making funny faces at her.

"When are you popping one out?" My cousin Ryan, asked me.

I made a face, "Not anytime soon, guys." Mike snickered at my tone in my comment and we both gave each other a 'What the fuck?" look. "Is it so wrong to enjoy being engaged? I just want to be able to have a no pressure relationship."

My grandma rolled her eyes but nodded, "You always were the different one, Lucy."

"How so?" I furrowed my eyebrows, jokingly.

"What do you mean, how so? You're the only one who left San Diego, you're the only one who's not pregnant or never had a baby, you're actually taking your time with Mike and no rushing into a wedding right now. And, you're the weird one." She smiled sweetly.

"Whateva, grams. Is the pie ready?" I changed the subject, handing Abby to Mike as I walked to the cooked pie that was sitting on the stove untouched.

"Do not touch that, Lucy! Let it cool down." My grandma warned me strictly.

I rolled my eyes, "Ugh. I just want pie." I whined as I sat down beside Mike. He had Abby sitting on the top of the table, with her little legs hanging off. He was holding her so she wouldn't fall, but not too tight, letting her wiggle a little. Her eyes were burned onto Mike; his features mesmerized her. His tattoos, his piercings, his hair, his hat, and his eyes. She was staring at him with a big smile on her face.

I smirked as I watched him making funny noises with his mouth and then she would laugh and then babble on about something that no one understood. Mike and I looked at each other and smiled, laughing softly as both of our noses scrunched up at how cute Abby was. The eyes of my grandma and cousins and an aunt was also burning into Mike and I, and we both felt it.

I looked at them and gave them a fair warning, "Do not start." Mike laughed, eyeing me eye my family. My cousin and grandma put their hands up and surrendered, not saying another word about what I knew they were going to say. We stayed for a little while longer, eating pie and talking about lots of things. I was happy to be there with Mike, back in San Diego, back where I felt like it all began. No one understands me more than him, and I don't think I could love anyone more than him.

I felt a wave of happiness at this point in my life. Even after that suspension, even after losing one of my best friends, Austin, and even after feeling some pressure about everything going on, I had nothing but amazing and incredible things to look forward to. I had my dream job, and I was engaged to be married to the absolute love of my life. We were living in our dream house, doing what we love and looking forward to what comes next; more touring for him, more writing for me, and more time to grow together.

I rested my head on Mike's shoulder as we were in the car, driving back to Vic's house to sleep for the night. I had a family with him, even if it meant not necessarily having a family at the moment. We had Ludo, and each other, and our families and friends by our side at all times. I thought back to what I had told Mike which now seems like ages ago.

“Someday, we’ll run into each other again, I know it. Maybe I’ll be older and smarter and just plain better. If that happens, that’s when I’ll deserve you. But now, at this moment, you can’t hook your boat to mine, because I’m liable to sink us both.”

I think I meant it more than I thought I would when I told him that cold and windy day at his old house. I wasn't ready for what was to come, I wasn't my best self. As amazing and beautiful of a person that he is, I couldn't have possibly deserved him at that time in my life. I was 21 and not nearly as prepared for life's strange ways. It was a heartbreaking risk to possibly lose out on the greatest love I've ever had, but it was worth it in the end.

I looked over to Mike and smiled softly. He seemed to take notice of my smile and silence while I was in my daydreaming mode. "What's going on in that head of yours, princess?" He smiled softly, looking from the road to me, and back again.

"I'm just thinking about how amazing things are. And how lucky I am to have you, especially after everything."

The smile on his lips grew ten miles wide, "That's the thing about true love, Lucy. It's something that not even time or distance can rip apart." He paused for a moment as he stepped on the breaks softly, as we had approached a red light. "I'm glad that we were both liable to sink each other's boats, because we're ten thousand times better now than we ever were back then." He referenced that quote. I completely agreed with him, I felt the same way.

"Mike Fuentes, I'm so in love you."

"I love you too, Luce. I love you more than anything." He placed a small and quick peck upon my lips as the light had turned green. We continued driving back to his old house, with our hands tangled with one another's.

I couldn't wait to see what the future held for us. Whatever it was, it was sure to be chaotic and beautiful.

Notes

THIS IS IT. THIS IS THE END.

After one 14-chapter story, and a 35-chapter sequel, the Kissing In Cars / All Again For You stories are done. I want to thank you guys so much for being heavily involved in the story and for leaving your thoughts throughout this saga of Lucy and Mike. And even more, thank you for being incredibly patient as there was a lot of pauses in this story on my behalf.

I absolutely love every single one of you, and am so appreciative of you guys reading along with me :)

Love you forever,
Amber