Yolo! My people, guess what?! I finished ALL of my exams! Yay, I'm free and survived my first semester of college! Oh yeah, I'm a superstar! Ha, BTR song moment there sorry! But that means that all day tomorrow I'm free! Meaning I can update both this story and 'Love the Way You Lie' tomorrow! Yay, I'm free and ready to go home until January 12th! But anyway enough of my banter, time for the new chapter! I was literally scared when I saw the reviews for the last chapter, I had no idea everyone would be so mad! B-but I promise this chapter will make it all better! At least I hope...! Okay onward! Thank you to everyone for reviewing and supporting this story! Spread the word about it, it would be great to see what others think too! Remember, a review isn't just your opinion; it is also a way for this writer here to get better and better what she loves to do! Okay, enjoy and please don't be made anymore, everyone! Oh, the song 'Far Away' by Nickelback inspired this chapter a LOT, so props to the band! Disclaimer: I don't own Big Time Rush, sadly! :( I am just the proud owner of some BTR merchandise but that's about it! I only own the plot of this story! Again, enjoy! Also, there are flashbacks (in italics) in this one, but they are repeated flashbacks from previous chapters! The only NEW flashback is towards the end!

A whole year has passed.

Time sure did fly by.

Especially when you've been waiting for a miracle all this time.

For a miracle to happen, to make everything right again...

-Page Break-

Kendall fished out the dead flowers, a mix of poppies and roses, from the vase and replaced them with new ones, making sure the water was still good. He adjusted the pillows under James' head, careful not to shift him too much, and drew back the curtains of the brunette's hospital room; a dark navy sky greeted him from outside, with a full moon among fluffy white-gray clouds and fresh falling snow.

It was December again, only a year later. Kendall was sixteen years old now.

After that night a year ago, James fell into a coma. He had suffered immense blood loss from the bullet wound to his stomach and even with being rushed to the hospital by his friends and fiancee in less than ten minutes afterwards, the doctor in charge of him confirmed he was in a deep comatose state. His body had shut down in order to recover from the shock and damage done, and from that resulted in a still breathing but dead-like James.

When Kendall heard the word 'comatose' leave the doctor's lips, his heart froze over.

From there, a whole year passed. In that whole year, so many things took place: Jett, Lucy, Camille and James were able avoid going to a maximum security prison away from Sherwood for the numerous murder charges they were facing by the police after they were able to prove their innocence. Thanks to the hidden cameras around Griffin's building that proved their plea of self-defense (since after shooting James, Griffin tried to kill Jett and Lucy before Camille took him down) and Kelly(who was cleared of any charges she might have had to face due to her connection with Griffin) who had collected a lot of evidence over the years against her ex-boss, the four were ruled out as mere victims of this whole conspiracy and free to go. They even free of murder charges out of the Sherwood police jurisdiction; the gang had worked long and hard for this battle, faced trial even, but in the end proved they had been tools to a sick man's plans.

Of course, of all of this went on with James in the hospital...

Once they were free to go, Lucy and Camille, along with Jett and Dak, decided to move to Sherwood to stay close to Kendall and James. They couldn't bear the thought of leaving the poor blonde to deal with this alone. They provided support by explaining everything to Kendall's mom and sister, James' mom and their friends Carlos and Logan. It took a while, considering they had to repeat the story over and over, but since it was to help the dirty blonde they didn't mind in the slightest.

Jett was the one who told Brooke. He told her about how Griffin forced him to kill her first ex-husband Michael, so in case James confessed to her his step-dad's dirty little secret they would have no one to count on. He told her about how when the four (James, him, Lucy and Camille) were only thirteen, Griffin began experimenting on them with his little drug. He told her how Griffin threatened Dak's life to keep the brown-eyed blonde in line, and how he kidnapped Camille and kept her under confinement for almost three years so Lucy wouldn't try anything to leave the mercenary gig. He told her about how her now second ex-husband used her to keep James from running away, how he used her as a leash to keep his step-son in this sick game. He told her about all the people the four have been forced to kill, like Mercedes and Gustavo. And finally, he told her about how Griffin used Kendall to completely destroy James, yet how the brunette thanks to Kendall was able to regain his sanity in the end. Jett didn't leave out any details, though his heart ached when seeing the horrified, teary-eyed expression that overcame Brooke's face at hearing the horror her one and only son has been put through for so long.

It was the same face Jen, Katie, Carlos and Logan had when his teammates told them the story too.

After hearing that nightmare, Brooke rarely left her son's side. She constantly apologized to everyone, even Kendall who didn't blame her for isolating her son after their break-up; it was a mother's instinct to protect her children, he was sure his mom would have down the same if the roles were reversed. Speaking of his mother, she was still a little rattled for all the hell Kendall went through that night, but was immensely thankful to the group for saving her son, especially James. Even though the brunette has proved countless times how much he loved the younger boy, taking the bullet meant for him...Jen wouldn't be able to the strong enough words to thank him for what he did.

That is, when and if James woke up...

Katie was also thankful her brother was safe and sound, albeit the few scratches and cut he got in his side, which were stitched up the night James was brought to the hospital. What she did to support her brother was to bring in one of the cots they had in the attic (after giving it a good clean, of course) to the hospital, stand in for Kendall at the hospital when he, Carlos and Logan were at hockey practice, and texted them of any updates. She wanted Kendall to know she had his back, which he already knew since they were closer than other siblings, but he was still grateful for her help.

As for Carlos and Logan, they were still the best friends that James and Kendall loved. They stood by the blonde, defended him when some kids wouldn't mind their own damn business at school, and rarely left him alone. They got along well with Jett, Dak, Lucy and Camille, so the group of four grew to one of eight tightly-knitted, best friends.

'No, not best friends; we're a family now.' Kendall thought with a light smile, sighing as he took his seat back at James' side.

As for Kendall, a lot has happened to him too: he was sixteen years old, a senior in high school. He's been promoted to captain of the school's hockey team (though he only accepted to take the post while his fiancee was in the hospital) and his grades were great. He's always been offered several scholarships to well-known universities, both in Sherwood and out of state. He was now president of the art and guitar clubs. He had a steady job at the grocery store not far from his house, to help pay the bills and have some extra cash on him, plus he now had his license.

He's grown and matured a lot in the past year: he was a little taller, with a built less lanky and more of a runner's. His eyebrows were still thick and bushy, but his hair was shorter and spikier, still a dirty blonde color. He's filled out more around his face, his eyes were now a brighter green, and he had started growing facial hair (though he shaved every two weeks or so) He was still cute, but looked more like a young man than a boy now.

He's changed so much, sometimes he couldn't recognize himself in the mirror.

'And still, I have a hard time smile and really meaning it even now.' He thought a bit sadly, reaching out to stroke James' perfect face.

The brunette has changed a little too while in his comatose state: his usual cinnamon scent was gone, thanks to the sterile environment of the hospital. His hair had grown out a little and he had some stubble on his chin, yet he was beautiful all the same. He was nineteen now; everyone tried their best to make his birthday special, even in the present situation. His clothes nowadays were white paper gowns, IV in one arm while a breathing/feeding tube was between his thin, pale lips. He couldn't breath on his own too well, and his hands had grown cold.

But he wasn't dead, he wasn't dead. Kendall could see his chest faintly rising and falling, and the monitor beeped in tune of his slow, yet steady heartbeats.

"Wow, a whole year has gone by and it's December again; it's December, Jamie, it's the 24th. Christmas is in...an hour." Kendall said, checking his wristwatch.

Even though the doctor said there were low chances of James being able to hear or feel anything, Kendall still talked to him, still took his hand. It was a way of comfort to the blonde, and he couldn't shake the sensation that James was still holding on because of his voice, because of his touches.

'I just...just think you can hear me, and remember me...' Kendall thought, pressing a kiss to James' cool knuckles.

"Kendall, you're the one person in the world that keeps me on the edge, sane. I'd lose my mind without you!"

"You're not just beautiful, Emerald! You're sweet, loving, kind, smart, talented, may I go on? I wish I could find the right word to describe just how perfect you really are, because I can't believe you can't see it for yourself!"

"Yes, and it is true you know: I will love you, I will always love you; I will love you forever, Kendall."

"I-I love you, James."

"I love you too, Kendall."

"I love you, James. And all I want...is for you to come back to me." Kendall whispered, tears shining in his eyes. This year has made him stronger, way stronger; when it came to the brunette, however, his heart was easily touched.

Touched, and broken.

Kendall jumped when he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket, he reaching into his jacket and undoing the lock pattern to check who texted him.

We just wanted to tell you that we're all wishing for James to come home soon. It's been tough, especially on you, but hold on buddy. Miracles take their time, but they do happen.

The text came from Logan's phone, but was signed by him, Carlos, Camille, Lucy, Dak, and Jett.

'I know guys, but just how long to I have to wait until that miracle comes along?' Kendall thought, sighing and ignoring the other texts he got from his mom and sister, and Brooke; all said the same anyway, and for him to take care of himself that night while in the hospital.

Kendall insisted on spending Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day, with James and no one tried to argue. They knew it was pointless, plus they were all praying for the same thing: for James to wake up.

"Only ten minutes left until Christmas!" Kendall heard a nurse say outside in the hall; ten minutes, wow those memories must have taken over him longer than he thought.

"Only ten minutes, huh? Is it too late to make a wish?" He sighed and took both of James' hands in his, closing his eyes and pressing his forehead to his fiancee's gently.

"Listen, Big Guy up in the Sky. I know I don't talk to You much and sometimes I forget You're even there, but...but I'm here to ask You to make my wish come true. I don't want gifts, I don't want a tree or anything else of the sort...what I do want is that, is that James wakes up. People say You don't love gay people or bi and such, but I don't think that. You love everyone, that's how my mom raised me, and I only have one thing to ask You: p-please bring James back to me. Please, bring him back to his mom, his friends, to me. Bring him back to everyone who loves him, and I promise to never ask for anything else ever again; I promise to never ask anything of You again, just please...please bring back my Jamie. Please bring back my fiancee, my best friend..." Kendall prayed, ending the prayer with an 'Amen' under his breath and a kiss to James' forehead.

'Please, bring him back to me.'

"We'll always be together, right?" Kendall asked, eleven years old.

James smiled and laced their fingers together, pressing a kiss to the younger boy's cheek.

"Together forever and forever, no matter what."

"MERRY CHRISTMAS!" Kendall heard cheers throughout the whole hospital, he sighing.

"I should call everyone and wish them a 'Merry Christmas'..." He said, about to head out into the hallway to first call his mom and sister, then his friends.

But something wouldn't let him go. Or better to say, someone.

A gasp left him, he turning around to see one of James' hands tight around one of his, and getting a firmer grip by the second.

At first Kendall was going to brush it off as a reflex from deep within James' subconsciousness, when his eyes caught something that made the held back tears spill down his cheeks.

James' eyes. They were open. They were open; they were looking around the room, obviously confused, but when his gentle hazel-green eyes met Kendall's, they grew wide in recognition.

Kendall felt his heart jump and stop in his chest.

"J-James...?" Said brunette blinked in response, tightening his hold on the blonde's hand.

'O-o my God...!'

"James!" Kendall said in happy whisper, stumbling back into his chair and stroking James' hair.

James responded by tightening his hold on Kendall again, eyes...wet as well.

He was crying.

His eyes were practically screaming Kendall's name.

"James!" Kendall laughed and buried his face into James' lap, crying but never letting go of James. The brunette stiffly raised his other hand and tangled it in Kendall's wild, soft locks, massaging his scalp.

"James..."

"K-Ken-dall..." James managed around the tube in his mouth.

'Oh God, thank you!'

"We'll always be together, right?"

"Together forever and forever, no matter what."

"Just never let me, Kenny Rabbit. Never let me go, and I'll always be with you..."

'Always..'