The Punk and the Princess (A Dave Grohl Fanfiction)

Ch. 33 - No Dead End In Sight

You return to Dave's house late that night, around one or two am, and immediately crawl into bed next to him and hold his warm body close.

"Hi" He murmurs, kissing you softly in greeting.

"Hi" You say back, "I'm sorry to wake you"

"Its alright" He replies in a sleepy tone, "How was Courtney?"

"I can't even talk about it" You let out a large sigh and pull him closer.

He intertwines his hand with yours and kisses it gently, "I missed you" He whispers and your heart breaks.

"I missed you too. I'm sorry I wasn't with you" You say, feeling extremely guilty.

"Don't be Julia" He says, sitting up all of a sudden, "She needed you"

You sit up too but aren't ready to separate, so instead you nuzzle your head into his shoulder and he puts his arm around you, turning on a light and fumbling for his pack of cigarettes.

"She said something that really floored me, it was like the only thing she said the whole time I was there" You say and he looks at you questioningly.

"Well what was it?"

"She said to me 'hold on to those you love, because you never know when you won't have a fucking chance to again.'" You say as he lights his cigarette and doesn't say anything for a second.

"I can't even imagine what she's going through...I know we don't always see eye to eye but losing the person you love the most...I can't even imagine life if you were gone" He says and his words stir up something inside you you'd been wanting to say since you'd arrived for the funeral.

"Listen Dave, I was thinking after I graduate I come up here with you, take the bar exam in Washington instead of California." You say and he turns to you with an incredulous look on his face.

"But your job offer? You have a life all set up in California." He states the obvious but you just shake your head.

"This whole thing, especially Courtney's words, but all of it has made me realize that what truly matters isn't having the best job, I can have a job anywhere now that I'm basically a lawyer. What matters are the people I love and being here for you, with you whenever you need me. I want to move to Seattle Dave, I need to be with you" You say and he grins widely.

"So does this mean you'll finally marry me?" He asks and you snort, snuggling closer to him and taking a drag of his cigarette.

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves Davey" You sigh, "One day though, yes. I need to stop denying that you're the person I want to spend the rest of my life with. We've been at this in-between point the entire time I've been in law school, knowing we love each other and acting like a couple but living apart and dating other people. Now that we're finally grown up and adults we need to act like it"

"I love you Julia" He says with a huge smile on his face.

"I love you too baby" You whisper.

"I hate that we spent all this time in between the two extremes. I love being friends with you, you're my best friend Jules, but I should've fought for us to have more. You're the only constant in my life and I didn't wake up and recognize how much you've done for me, I don't know why I wasted my time trying to date anyone else" He says and you shake your head.

"No, don't you remember what I said to you in 1992, it's all about timing Dave. All that time apart may seem wasted but we got something out of it, I went to one of the best law schools in the country, you toured the world and lived on your own without a ball and chain at home holding you back—" You attempt to explain and he tries to cut in.

"But you would never have been a ball and chain Jules! You've never held me back, not in the whole time we've been together, you always have made me better just by being there and encouraging me" He says and you shake your head.

"If we'd been in a relationship things would've been different, all the dynamics would've changed and though you don't want to admit it we'd probably resent each other for putting some of the things we achieved before another. You'd want me to go out with you instead of studying for my exams and I'd probably hate that you and the guys moved to Minnesota in the dead of winter to record an album." You continue.

"Everything happens for a reason Dave" You remind him.

"You're always right Jules" He sighs, putting out his cigarette and lying down next to you.

"I'm glad you've finally realized that after all these years" You giggle, "Now let's get some sleep."

The next morning you wake up early to go catch a flight back to Los Angeles for your exams. You feel sick to your stomach all morning because Dave truly seems panicked that you're leaving.

"Its only for a couple days," You reassure him, "I talked to my teachers, I'm gonna take a few of my tests early. I'll be back here in four days, max"

"I know" He says, a couple tears falling from his cheeks, "I just don't want to be without you for any amount of time Jules. I'm so scared to be alone right now"

Your heart breaks at his words, you know how hard it will be for him without you. You didn't want to go either but you didn't have a choice.

"I'm gonna be back as soon as possible. I just need to do this and then I'm done, I'm coming back here and staying for good" You say, your voice becoming strained as you try not to cry, "I know your mom goes home tomorrow but promise me you'll call someone to hang out with you—Krist, Pat, anyone"

"Ok" He says, looking down at the ground and you wipe his tears away and kiss him softly.

"I will be back soon, just stay strong baby. Remember that if things were any different I would be here with you nonstop" You promise him. You start crying harder as the cab arrives at Dave's house.

"Wait for me" He says and you're confused, what would you even be waiting for?

"Of course" You say, kissing him one last time before going out to the car, still crying for what seems like the thousandth time this week.