You're Not Alone.

*Matt's POV*

"Last show!"

Jackie, Hanna, Lacey, and Leana all ran into the dressing room with giant smiles on their faces. Their group just didn't look the same without Cori... or Marie. But Marie was coming tonight, which was the only thing making this show, the last show of the tour, less saddening.

"Why so sad, Shads?" Jackie walked over and sat down, staring at me. Her green eyes scanning mine, she had this thing of like 'reading' you. I think all girls did it, but with her you knew when she was reading you. She had this look.

"Marie's coming tonight."

"Ok... why so sad?" She laughed, her eyes still in that look "If Marie's coming .... shouldn't you be happy?"

I shrugged "I'm happy she's coming, but Lora talked to her this morning before she got on the plane, and she said she sounded like a mess, like it was just yesterday and all this went down." I waved my hands around as Jackie nodded.

"Well.... you know what you have to do right? Don't expect welcome home sex." She poked my arm "She's gunna need lots of hugs and kisses."

"That I can do." I laughed as she rolled her eyes.

~*~*~

"Good night Hutington!"

We always, always always always, ended tour with a hometown show. It was.. tradition. Corinne had suggested it.

I walked off the stage and looked around, Marie was no where to be found. I sighed a little, but when shouting began from the gate a smile spread over my face.

"Hey! Bitch! Let me fucking in!" Marie.

"Kid, we can't! Just back off!" Jason Berry shouted.

I walked over and placed my hand on his shoulder, moving him to the side and picking Marie up "Hello baby doll."

"Told you." She stuck her tongue out at Jason, but that light in her eyes was barely there. It worried me.

"Dude.." Jason stared at me "It'd be nice to be informed of things." He walked away while shaking his head.

I smiled and turned my attention to Marie as she gently poked at my cheeks "Why hello." I smiled at her.

She placed her finger in the center of my face, pressing onto my nose "Hi..." She whispered. Her voice was so innocent, not the loud silly voice that I knew so well. "I watched the show. You guys were amazing." The smile she offered was small and light, not wide and overwhelming.

I placed my lips against her's gently, but her kiss back was usual, the same, fireworks and I wanted to just have her right here. "I missed you... I'm so sorry." I whispered, somewhat confused as what to say to her.

"I missed you too." Once again, her voice was lacking her spark. I set her down and she looked around the venue "So..."

"So." I smiled and took her hand "Well, everyone wants to see you. Come on." I tugged on her hand.

"Matt... wait." She took a deep breath and pulled me back. I redirected myself and turned to her.

"Yah? What's wrong?" I asked.

She collected her words and stared up at me with wide eyes, the shining green was gone and replaced by a duller, more serious hazel "Do..." She paused, making a frown and furrowing her eyebrows together "Do you still.." She sighed in frustration and clenched her fists, I could see tears forming in her eyes.

"Hey... heeeyy." I took her hands in one of mine and used my free hand to tip her chin so her eyes set on mine "What's the matter? Why are you so frustrated?"

"I don't know!" She shook her head and took a few deep breaths "I'm so confused about everything..." She looked around again "Lora... Lora told me something on the phone," She paused and my heart sank a little "Last night, about Eric. He was backing out. Of marrying me. Backing out completely."

"Marie," I Paused as she held her hand up.

"I know you know, and I'm glad you waited for her to tell me and not just blurt it out. She trusts you and that... was a big step but I don't want to get so attatched to someone again and have them back out." She closed her eyes tight and clenched her jaw, I could see her struggling not to cry "I'm losing everyone. I lost Eric, what'd I do? What did I do wrong?" Her voice was so broken that I swear my heart broke in two, which it probably did "I lost my Oma, she was the only person who'd actually listen to me... and I feel like..." She looked up at me "I'm losing you."

"No no no no nooo.." I pulled her into a hug, wrapping my arms around her. I wanted them to go more, to go around her forever, never to let her go "You aren't losing me, why would you think that?" She mumbled something against my chest "I can't hear you, Marie."

She pushed back and giggled "Well, Mr. Stretch-Arm-Strong." She poked my arms with each of her hands "I can't speak when my face is burried into your skin." She laughed again but yet she wrapped her arms around me and looked up "Because I've been gone for so long... I feel like I ruined us. I feel like we have to start all over again..."

I sighed and once again hugged her close, feeling her laugh against me as she snuggled closer "You didn't lose me. We don't need to start over, and even if we did... I wouldn't mind. So don't be afraid ok? Because as long as I'm breathing, you have nothing to be afraid of. Because I will kick any monster's ass who even dares to hide under your bed."

She looked up at me with wide eyes "I think that's the sexiest thing anyone's ever said to me." Her face was completely serious, and I couldn't help but laugh "Who told you what and I know you know what I mean." She was visibly trying to understand herself now.

"Jackie told me not to expect welcome home sex." I shrugged "So I'm not."

Marie smirked and jumped up, wrapping her legs around me. My hands instinctively went to support her. "Well then, it'll be one hell of a surprise. Unless you don't want any, because I'm all up for it. I mean... just because I'm mopey and depressed doesn't mean I'm any worse, or my sex drive is any less. Like I said, unless you don't want any-"

"Marie." I pressed my index finger against her lips "Of course I want welcome home sex. I just didn't want to make you feel awkward."

"Awkward skwarkward." She rolled her eyes "For some reason, nothing's awkward with you. I mean, the feeling that I want to jump you right here and right now might be a touch on the awkward side... but other than that." She pressed her lips to mine, I kissed back and soon pressed her against a wall "Nothing's awkward."

"Well good. But you better stop now, unless you feel like having public sex. Because I'm using every muscle in my body not to drop you right here and fuck you sensless." I smirked as her jaw dropped.

"And who says I'd protest?" She asked, removing her hands from my shoulders and placing them on her hips, balancing herself skillfully in my hands "Hmm?"

"Well, for one... we would."

She peered over my shoulder and smiled, but her smile was still duller than usual "LORA! JOHN! GRANT! KEVIN! BRIAN! ZACK! JIMMY! JOHNNY! JACKIE! HANNA! LACEY! LEANA!" She panted "Damn you guys needs one big nickname!" She hopped down from my arms, kissed my cheek, and ran over to the big group of people awaiting her. She jumped into them as if she was a baseball player jumping into her team at homeplate after she hit a walk off home run... Damnit, Zack's baseball nonesense has got to my brain!

"Helllooo Stretch Arm Strong, wanna join us?" Marie smiled over at me and waved me to come over. I rolled my eyes and walked over, joining their big group hug. Some were crying, some were welcoming her home, but through it all Marie's arms were wrapped tight around my waist as she whispered things into my chest. What she was saying, I couldn't hear over the commotion around us, but I was loving each moment.