A/N: So, first off, I saw Colton Dixon in concert today (well, since it's two am, yesterday, but that's beside the point) for the first time, and OH. MY. GOSH. AMAZING. Also, I knew I needed to get a video of part of "Brand New Life" just for this, so check that clip out in the media section. 😉 Anyway, I won't go on and on, but I just wanted to say that he was completely and totally awesome. Now I'll write this baby so that I can actually get a little sleep tonight... this morning... whatever.

Alexis

The sharp screeching of brakes destroys my moment to jump off.

I look over my shoulder in fear, and feel my stomach drop.

John Cooper is sprinting towards me from the car that just skidded to a halt.

How could he just be here?

And I suddenly remember. Skillet is joining everyone for tonight's show. They were on their way to the very venue that is down the same road we're on.

I can't let him stop me. I just have to do it.

I turn around again, edging myself to the brink, but, just as I do, strong arms wrap around me, and I'm trapped. No. That can't have just happened.

He pulls me to the ground, but my knees give in under me, and his arms are the only things keeping me upright.

"Alexis," he gasps desperately. "Alexis, what are you doing?"

The question breaks the last thing inside of me, and I burst into tears. "I'm so sorry!" I choke out. "I just... I... I'm not who you think I am, and you all would be better off without me, and..."

He cuts me off quickly, turning me to face him and putting both hands on my shoulders. "Alexis, Sweetheart, none of that is true. I don't know what made you think that you had to leave, but we would not be better off without you. We need you. The world needs you."

"You just don't know," I sob. "You just..."

It's another voice, feminine and accented, that cuts me off this time.

"Alexis, Love," Jen says as she, Seth, and Korey slowly join us. "It doesn't matter what we don't know. Nothing will ever ruin God's plan for you."

"Except for you being gone," Seth adds gently. "Where's Colton, Honey?"

As if on cue, my phone starts "Rise" yet again.

John looks at it, and squeezes my shoulder gently. "Come on, Girl. Just answer it."

I shake my head frantically. "I... I just can't. He'll hate me! He'll..."

"No, he won't," Seth says steadily. "In fact, he's gonna be sick with worry."

I try to take a step back, but John's gentle yet firm grasp hold keeps me in place.

Korey finally steps forward and holds out her hand. "I'll answer it if you can't. We just have to tell him you're alright."

I'm shaking, but I nod, handing her my phone.

"Colton, it's Korey," she says in greeting. "And I'm guessing that you don't know where Alexis is and you're freaking out."

I can hear his faint reply. "Please tell me she's with you!"

"Yeah, we just found her, and she's okay," she says steadily.

"Oh, thank you Jesus!" he gasps.

And it's the last piece for me. How could he still care about me that much? My tears come in fresh flow, and John gently pulls me back into his embrace, pressing my face into his shoulder, as he begins to quietly sing.

You come to me with scars on your wrist

You tell me this will be the

Last night feeling like this.

Jen joins in softly.

I just came to say goodbye.

Didn't want you to see me cry,

I'm fine.

I continue to cry as John takes over once more

But I know it's a lie.

This is the last night you'll spend alone.

Look me in the eye I know you know

I'm everywhere you want me to be.

The last night you'll spend alone.

I'll wrap you in my arms, and I won't let go,

I'm everything you need me to be.

The last night away from me.

As he finished the first chorus, Korey hangs up and hands my phone back to me.

"We're meeting them at the venue," she says. "And Colton is sick with worry, so I think we should have mercy and get there as soon as we can."

I try to back away, fear flooding over me once more at the mention of facing Colton. But John still doesn't let me go, keeping one arm wrapped around me as he leads me back to the car. Without them having to discuss it, Korey takes the driver's seat, and John gets in the back with me, still not releasing me.

He doesn't for the entire short drive back to the venue.

Finally, we're there, and with a gentle push, I step out of the car.

And I see Colton sprinting towards me. He's here before I can get away, wrapping me in the fiercest hug I've ever felt.

I'm crying again, and I can tell he is too.

"Colton, I... I'm so sorry," I sob. "I..."

But he stops me, pulling back and kneeling, his hands on my shoulders bringing me down as well.

"Lexi..." He chokes and starts again. "Lexi, Alan told me what he found out, okay?"

I look away, but his gentle hand brings my chin back up to point towards him.

"But, listen," he adds, still crying. "The fact that you thought you had to do that, and that you were too scared to come to me about it, breaks my heart, alright? But I have never loved you more. I mean that, Baby."

"How?" I ask desperately.

"Because this is what love feels like," he says softly. "It doesn't matter what you do or how far you run. You are absolutely precious to me and you always will be. A world without you is not one I want to face."

"That goes for both of us." I look up to see Annie kneeling down next to her husband, and I realize he must have either called her, or she just came to meet up with him for a quick rehearsal of "Through All of It".

"I... I just don't understand that," I choke out.

"I know, Lexi,' Colton whispers. "I know. Grace is something humans really can't understand. But that doesn't make it any less true."

"We all need grace, so how could we withhold it from others?" Annie adds softly. "Especially when you love someone as much as we love you."

"So," Colton continues. "I know you're hurting. I know how broken your past makes you feel. And I know you've never had any way to handle all of that except to hurt yourself. But now you do. So, please, just give me a chance to help you stop, and help you cope."

"I..." I shake my head slowly. "You couldn't want to do that."

His eyes fill with fresh tears. "Lexi, please. There isn't something I've ever wanted to do more except marry Annie. Just give me a chance, please!"

I hesitate for a long moment before finally looking up at him. "You're asking me to be honest with you, right?"

He nods slowly.

"Then promise me you'll do the same thing. If you ever get sick of me, if you ever don't want me around anymore, you have to tell me."

He leans forward. "That is a promise that I am completely unafraid to make, because it is never going to happen."

"But if it does," I press.

"Then I promise I will tell you."

I bite my lip hard, and Colton leans forward, squeezing my shoulders urgently.

"Please, Lexi!" he says, his tears running freely down his cheeks.

I let out a long sigh. "Okay. I... I'll try."

And I'm in his arms once more.

We don't say anything as Colton pulls Annie in as well, and we just stay here, all of us crying, for longer than I know.

Finally, I pull back slowly, and I feel the usual shame start creeping over me.

Colton looks me in the, reaching out and taking my hand.

"Don't pull away, Lexi," he whispers. "Please don't."

I blink back tears. "I'll try," I whisper.

"And Lexi?" he asks softly. "If you ever feel like you'd be better off dead again, please, come to me, no matter what, right away."

"I'll try," I say for the third time today.

"I love you, Lexi," he adds simply.

"I love you too," I murmur.

He pulls me into one more quick hug, gently kissing my hair line before letting me go. I rise and turn around, and find several people waiting for me.

I hear Colton behind me, turning to John and others, thanking them with desperation in his voice.

Luke is the first one to step forward, wordlessly wrapping me in a gentle hug.

"Darling," he finally says, his voice soft and tear-filled. "I love you."

I'm too ashamed to respond, but he finally steps back, and Joel replaces him, hugging me quickly before pulling back and gently beginning to roll back my sleeve. I try to pull away, but he looks up at me with tears in his eyes.

"Please, Love," he whispers, and I don't have the strength to fight him. He inhales sharply as he reaches the fresh scars, and "Oh, Darling," is softly uttered from his mouth, but he doesn't look away. Instead, he holds it gently, and his free hand comes up with something in it. It isn't until I feel the tip of the marker on my skin that I realize what he's doing.

I look up sharply, and feel myself break as I see what he's writing. A few more seconds, and, right over the layered scars, fresh and old, in black sharpie, is the word "Priceless". 

A/N#2: So, I know it was probably slightly stalkerish, but I honestly don't care, because I am very proud of this picture that I got of Colton when he supposedly wasn't on stage yet.