Forever's Not Supposed to End

Nathan's point of view

"So he hasn't even texted you?" asked Jenna as I checked my phone again.

"No... and I mean, it's two in the afternoon, I thought I would have heard from him or seen him by now..." I trailed off as my eyes spotted a familiar figure walking down the street towards us.

Jenna and I were sat outside a small coffee shop, just eating and drinking coffee.

Matthew was alone and his face gave nothing away as he noticed us and headed over. I noticed how tired he looked, and the fact he was wearing yesterdays clothes.

"So?"

"Oh, yeah, um, I didn't do it," he mumbled as he sat down next to me.

"Matthheewww," whined Jenna, punching his arm playfully.

"I know, I know, I got... distracted... several times," he said with a small smirk and I couldn't help but notice he looked completely exhausted.

"Damn did you sleep at all last night?" I asked as he yawned widely and stole my coffee, sipping from it.

He shrugged and drank from the coffee again.

"So where's Hayley?" asked Jenna, picking up her own coffee to protect it from Matthew who had finished mine and was looking at hers.

"She's with the band, they're doing press stuff and everything... they've got a new video coming out tomorrow, so, they're doing an interview I think," he said, tapping his fingertips on the table.

"You're so tired aren't you?" I said and he nodded quickly.

"I'll walk you back so you can crash out, be back soon," I said quickly kissing Jenna on the cheek and standing up with Matthew to walk him back to our hotel.

"So?" I hinted as we walked.

He sighed.

"I'm not talking about sex with you," he said stubbornly.

"Killjoy," I muttered.

"You should know by now that I'm a gentleman and don't discuss such things," he laughed.

"You're a prude, Matthew, plain and simple," I smirked and he rolled his eyes.

"Either that or you just did something so embarrassing you don't want to admit it," I laughed and he glared.

"Three times. One in the shower. And no, I don't want to know about your night," he said, causing me to smirk at him.

I shrugged and we continued to walk.

"So, you are going to ask her, right?" I asked as we entered the hotel.

"Tonight, at sunset," he nodded. He let us into his room, I noticed his hands were shaking.

"Good. I'll come wake you up in a bit," I told him as he kicked off his shoes and pulled off his coat.

"Mm, sounds good," he mumbled as he climbed into the bed.

I sighed and looked away from him, then turned and left the room.

I hated seeing him push himself to the limits of exhaustion just by living a normal life, doing normal things. I hated it, more than anything in the world I wished I could change places with him.

Leaving the hotel I didn't head back to the coffee shop, instead I walked in the opposite direction, trying not to think about Matthew.

I texted Jenna, telling her not to wait for me, to go and find something fun to do and she immediately called my phone.

I didn't pick it up, I just wanted to be alone.

I found myself wandering near the River Seine. On previous tours with Madina Lake in France Matthew and I had often walked by the river, and I found a spot where we had once sat.

I sighed and sat down alone, staring at the water.

"Hey stranger," came a familiar voice from behind me.

"Oh hey, shouldn't you be doing band stuff?" I asked Hayley as she came and sat down next to me.

"Yeah... probably. The thing is, there isn't going to be a band much longer. Josh and Zac just don't want anything to do with us, and I don't know how to fix it," she sighed, scratching her head.

I noticed she looked paler than usual and slightly uncomfortable.

"You feeling OK?" I asked and she smiled slightly.

"Am I that obvious?"

"I don't know, you look kinda pale," I muttered, looking away from her.

"Why is Matthew out here Nathan? What's he got going on? What's he planning?" she asked and I made sure I didn't look at her.

"Nothing, he just wanted to spend time with you," I lied.

"I... I need to tell him something, and it's really important," she said, shifting awkwardly.

"Yeah? Then tell him," I said. I was hardly even paying attention to her.

All I could think about was how much I wished I could be the one having to deal with what Matthew was dealing with, and that he could be OK again.

"Are you alright?" asked Hayley, walking around to directly in front of me so I had to look at her.

"I think so, I feel kind of... I don't know... weird, I guess," I shrugged and she narrowed her eyes at me.

"Let's go find your fiance and make sure you're not by yourself," she said, pulling me by the hand back towards the way I had walked from.

I just let her drag me along, not paying attention to anything, just numb to the world.

I was vaguely aware of Jenna hugging me tightly.

"Hey you, come on, snap out of it," she said quietly, sadly.

She hated it when I got like this. Almost as much as I did.

"I gotta-" I started and she nodded, knowing that right now, I needed to be with Matthew.

I left Hayley with Jenna and walked back to the hotel the long way.

I must have been walking for an hour before I got back to the hotel.

I took out the spare key card to his room and let myself in, being as quiet as I could so I didn't wake him.

He was in a deep sleep in the middle of his bed, exactly where I left him, except he was now curled up into a ball as he slept.

I smiled to myself and kicked off my shoes, hanging my coat over the back of a chair.

"I miss you sometimes," I sighed quietly, sitting down next to his sleeping form.

It wasn't long before I found myself curling up next to him for comfort.

I missed my old life. The life we had shared before all of this had happened.

The life of being on tour, in a different city every night. Not stuck at home in Chicago, waiting for him to feel better.

I had Jenna now, but I still felt incomplete somehow, like I was missing something.

I'd get terrible days of feeling so depressed I wished I could just disappear.

I watched him sleep, listening to him breathe. It reminded me of when he was in the hospital, and with every breath he took I was afraid he wouldn't take another one.

The bitter feeling inside if me wouldn't go away. I couldn't make it stop.

Matthew's point of view

"You're such a creep," I mumbled as I woke up to find Nathan staring at me, face only inches from mine.

"Sorry," he muttered, turning away.

"What's bothering you huh? I can tell," I said, stretching slightly.

My entire body was sore, but I didn't care. I'd had the most amazing night, and I knew tonight could only be better.

"Nothing, I just... I hate when you get tired and stuff..." he trailed off.

"Everybody gets tired Nathan," I sighed, hugging him tightly.

"Not like you do."

"No, maybe not. But its becoming manageable, you know?"

"Maybe. It's six a clock," he told me, still staring at the cieling.

"Damn? Really? I'd better get ready to go," I said, getting out of bed and going to take a quick shower.

Once I was done I walked back into the room wearing my towel, expecting Nathan to still be here.

Instead I found my bed made and my room cleaned up, clothed for me to wear laid out on the bed for me with a note in Nathan's handwriting.

Good luck, not that you need it. x.

I sent Hayley a text message, telling her to meet me by the river in half an hour, then dried my hair quickly and got dressed in the clothes Nathan had put out.

My favourite grey skinny jeans and a black button-down shirt.

He knew me too well, it had been what I was planning on wearing anyway.

I stared at the mirror and sighed. Something didn't look... right.

Deciding it was because my hair was too flat, I roughed it up just a bit with some product that held it in place, slightly messy, slightly spiky.

Realising I was running out of time, I hastily made sure the room was perfect for us coming back here and checked my pocket for the hundredth time for the ring.

I took a deep breath and pulled on my jacket and shoes, then headed out into the evening air.

***

"What are you planning Leone?" asked Hayley suspiciously as I led her by the hand towards the Eiffel tower.

"Nothing, I promise, just a nice night," I smiled and she kissed my cheek.

"Last night was... nice," she smirked and I rolled my eyes.

"You're a sexual predator," I laughed, poking her in the side.

"Hey! You started it the first time!" she protested.

"Yeah, and you finished it, every time," I laughed and she blushed.

"Aww, look who's gone all shy," I teased and she poked her tongue out.

I felt dizzy.

My heart was racing.

"Hey, are you OK? I mean, your hands are all sweaty?" she asked, looking at me carefully.

I took a deep breath.

"No. I'm not OK. And the reason I'm not is because I've been putting off doing something very important for way too long," I started and her eyes widened slightly.

"Matthew? What are you-" she started, but I cut her off, pressing my lips to hers in a gentle kiss.

We kissed for a few moments before I pulled away.

"Let's walk and talk," I smiled, I had a place in mind where I wanted to do this.

"OK? You're confusing me," she giggled nervously.

"No, don't be confused, I just want to show you something, you can see it from just up here," I promised, pulling her along by the hand.

"If you say so," she laughed, trying to keep up with me.

"I do say so. When have you not trusted me?"

"Never. I trust you completely. One hundred percent," she smiled and I couldn't help smile back. We reached the bridge over the river, an old iron bridge, painted in faded blue. The tower reflected perfectly onto the rippling waters surface below us, and the lights of the city reflected around.

"You look beautiful today, by the way, I don't know if its because I haven't seen you for a few weeks but you've got this... glow about you," I sighed, stopping walking in the middle of the bridge and turning around to face her, pushing her hair out of her face.

"Maybe it's this city, or maybe it's because I've got you making me smile," I couldn't help but kiss her again.

The kiss lingered, and I reluctantly broke it after a few long moments.

"So. I didn't fly all the way over here to hangout. I think you know that, and I think you know that I've got something on my mind," I said, trying to stop my voice from shaking.

"You do? Wait? What?" she asked, confused, screwing up her face in the adorable way she does.

"Hayley, my angel, my saviour, the person who picked me up when I was at a point so low I felt like giving up."

"Matthew," she giggled, blushing slightly. I squeezed her hand.

"I'm serious, let's be serious for a second," I said and her face completely changed. She knew what I was about to ask her.

"In the past few months, you've done more for me than I could ever have even dreamed of anyone ever doing. You've taken care of me, been so incredibly patient and loving and kind. I love you with all of my heart Hayley, and I want to spend the rest of my life making you feel as happy as you make me," I paused. Her face was completely serious, green eyes locked onto my blue ones. My heart was pounding so fast it felt like it was going to explode out of my chest.

"Hayley Nichole Williams," I said slowly, drawing out every syllable, and causing her to giggle as I did so.

I pulled the ring from my pocket with my other hand and dropped onto one knee.

"Will you marry me?"

She stared at me for a second before her eyes filled with tears.

"Did you even need to ask?" she cried, pulling me back to my feet.

I grinned so widely it was almost painful as she hugged me tightly.

"Is that a yes?"

"It's a big yes," she grinned, tears rolling down her cheeks as I kissed her softly.

"Hey, don't cry," I mumbled, wiping away her tears with my fingers.

"But I'm so happy," she grinned.

"Me too," I managed out as we separated slightly, I took her left hand and with trembling fingers slid the ring onto her finger.

I was so relieved it fit perfectly.

"You're shaking," she smiled, pulling me back into our hug.

"I'm nervous," I chuckled, kissing her neck and breathing in her intoxicating scent.

"It's a beautiful ring."

"For a beautiful woman," I countered quickly and she giggled.

"So... I'm thinking, dinner, champagne, maybe some bad dancing, then... back to my hotel?" I suggested.

"Sounds like an almost perfect plan," she smiled as we started to walk.

My stomach was still doing back flips as she admired the ring on her finger before stopping and pulling me close.

Our lips met again, more passionately this time, my tongue trailing over hers and making her whimper slightly into my mouth.

I smirked as the kiss broke.

"When you say almost perfect plan?" I asked.

"Well... what if we just went back to the hotel and got room service...?" she asked hesitantly.

"I think I love you even more for that idea!" I grinned as we turned around and started walking back the way we had come, back over the bridge and into the night.