This is it! Thank you all so much for reading and reviewing. It means a lot:) I think I might end up doing what jaded river hussie has done and eventually make a new story that's a bunch of drabbles I post every so often as I don't usually write long fics.

Lyrics used in this are from Drake Bell's song "I Need You Now."

Thank you all again. Hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I did writing it! :)

A week after his "date" with Mindy, Drake stood nervously outside her door clutching his guitar case tightly in his hand. He was dressed up as far as Drake Parker standards went – he wore black pants, a blue dress shirt, and a black jacket. All these years later, he still didn't do ties.

He held his hand up to the door, bracing himself to knock, but he instead let his knuckles hover a few inches away. Taking a deep breath, Drake knocked on the door and waited for what seemed like an agonizing eternity before Mindy appeared. Her jaw dropped a little upon seeing Drake standing before her, but internally, she was thrilled he hadn't decided to let her get away. She wanted to see him so badly, but didn't know how to approach him. Now that he was standing at her door, she didn't know what to say. "Drake," she said gently. "Come in."

Drake smiled as he walked into her house, looking around. It was a nice place – prim and proper with lots of white furniture…very Mindy. "Hi."

"Do you want coffee or something? I can make you coffee. Or tea. I have tea. Um, I guess I'm unsure as to why you're here, though, Drake, especially since you're holding your guitar and one doesn't usually tote their guitar around unless there is some sort of purpose." Drake had never seen Mindy act so erratic, and he could feel her tension slowly making him more and more nervous. He watched as Mindy took a breath and ran her hand through her hair. "Why are you here?"

"I don't want coffee, but thanks," Drake laughed, trying not to sound as nervous as he was. "And the guitar…well, I told you I wrote songs about you."

"I don't need to be serenaded, but thank you," Mindy told him gently, motioning Drake toward the living room and sitting down on the couch. He reluctantly sat down next to her, smoothing out his shirt as he did. Mindy wasn't used to seeing Drake dressed up, and he looked good – damn good.

Drake smiled a little dejectedly, but quickly put down his guitar case and took the instrument out, placing it across his lap. "You do, though."

"I'd much rather talk to you than listen to a song." She saw a bit of hurt cloud his eyes and quickly said, "It's nothing against you or your music, but…" Mindy gave him a wry smile. "How have you been?"

Drake ignored her question with a shake of his head and started to play the guitar. "I hope you like this," he said gently, finishing the intro and starting to sing.

I can't have you,

You don't want me.

It's the ghost of you that haunts me.

It's the thought of you with someone else.

When I think of how he holds you,

I take back what I told you.

Still, in the end, I'm by myself.

There was something about Drake when he played guitar; for a few moments, watching him strum the strings with great ease, Mindy turned into one of the fangirls who fell at his feet the second he started playing music. His eyes were closed, his dark eyelashes contrasted against his light freckled cheeks, and his hair was falling slightly into his eyes. He looked so serene; he looked like his passion was back, and Mindy was glad that in some way, she had been the one to help him find it. She was responsible for his look of serenity, for his happiness, for finding love in music again.

As he sang, the words pulled on Mindy's heart.

If I told you what I'm thinking,

Would you tell me I should let it go now, let it go now?

Say what you want, but I won't give up.

I gave you my heart

Isn't that enough to show you I need you?

Drake looked up at Mindy with a slight smile after he finished the song, leaning his guitar on the arm of the couch. He couldn't read her; she had an excellent poker face and he knew that was because of her occupation. It annoyed him, though, because he couldn't place what she was thinking and he thoroughly wished he could.

"Oh, Drake." A grin spread across her face, and it didn't look broken like the last time Drake had seen her smile; it didn't look like she was hiding something – she actually looked happy. "That was beautiful. I don't know what to say…"

"Say you'll give me a chance," Drake replied, taking her hands and gazing into her deep eyes. "Say you'll give me one date. One. I know you're going out with Sam, I get that, but please, give me one date. That's all I'm asking you, and if we have nothing, then we can just be friends because I –"

"Drake!" Mindy barked, squeezing Drake's hand tightly. It felt right to be holding his hand; their connection was undeniable.

"No, let me finish," he told her, almost angry that she had tried to cut him off. "I'm sure this Sam guy is great, but if you'll…"

"I broke up with him, Drake! I broke up with him!"

He dropped her hands in shock. "What? You – what? Are you serious?"

Mindy nodded with a sigh, then a smile. "After we had lunch, I couldn't get you off my mind. We have something. We really do. And I thought long and hard about it, but I realized that every time I was with Sam, I'd be thinking of you, and it wasn't fair to him and it wasn't far to you, so I broke up with him."

Drake grinned, still trying to process everything. He couldn't believe that Mindy actually broke up with Sam; sure, he had hoped she would, but he didn't imagine that was the news he'd receive upon going to her house. "Why didn't you tell me before now?"

She sighed, taking his hand again and feeling a warmth surround her the second their fingers were intertwined. She looked into his chocolate eyes and saw happiness – a hint of surprise, but happiness. "When I told you I was dating someone, you looked as broken as you did the day we first reconnected, and I couldn't stand knowing I did that to you. I got together with Sam that night and broke up with him. I wanted to call you right away and let you know, but I figured you wouldn't want to see me. I'm sorry for the pain I caused you, Drake. I never meant to do that. I'm so glad that you didn't give up on me because…"

Mindy was cut off by Drake pressing his lips to hers – something he'd wanted to do for a very long time. It was their first kiss, and Mindy was sure she saw fireworks. His hands were slipping through her hair like butter, and her hands were sliding down his back in a way that sent shivers down Drake's spine. He felt Mindy's lips turn up into a smile against his, and he couldn't help but return the gesture. Mindy fell to the couch, pulling Drake will her feeling lightheaded with happiness. They fit together; it was easy to see with the way their bodies fell perfectly in line and the way all of it felt so right. They wondered why that had both denied this connection for so long; it was palpable and scary and real and raw and beautiful and exciting.

Suddenly remembering what Mindy said when they first reconnected, Drake pulled away causing Mindy to let out a yelp and open her eyes, lips still mid-pucker. "What?"

"Is this too fast?" Drake asked, knowing that for him, this most definitely wasn't. This was an incredibly slow pace for him because had it been anyone other than Mindy Crenshaw, her bra would be off by now and there would be a lot more than making out happening. "This first day you said this was all too fast…"

Mindy grinned, happy to see that Drake was willing to take her feelings into consideration. He wasn't the selfish guy she remembered; he really had changed his ways. "This is perfect," she declared, letting her lips touch Drake's again and making it his turn to smile.

Whatever this thing was between them thrilled them both. It was new, it was fresh, and it was exhilarating. It might last, it might not, but that was up to them to find out. There were twists and turns on the road ahead and sacrifices to be made, but they were ready to face them – together. Because when it came down to it, in a very unusual way, they made each other whole.