#lamberson

Ping.

Miranda's phone went off. She groaned and pulled her blanket further over her head as she rolled over.

Ping.

This time, she reached for her phone, which she'd thrown on the table by her head. She had a text from her boyfriend, which instantly lit up her face with a smile.

'Hope you got to Texas okay. Kill it with George tonight, I love you.'

He really was the sweetest man she'd ever met in her entire life. She was playing a benefit concert with George Strait, one of her heroes, tonight in Texas. He'd wanted to be there with her, he'd planned to be there with her, but he'd gotten an opportunity to play at a Spotify studio in Oregon. He'd known she was nervous and wanted to be there for her, but she couldn't let him pass it up, they were too supportive of each other's careers. She missed him while he was gone, wishing she could've woken up with her head on his chest, but that was just how life was.

She typed back a message.

"We made it. Long trip. I'll kill it with George if you kill it in Oregon...I love you too."

She tried to put her phone down, tried to go back to sleep, but it was no use. Her phone beeped with another response before her head even hit the pillow again.

'You know what today is?'

She did, in fact. And a million memories flashed through her head.

Two years worth of memories.

///////////////////////

September 12, 2015.

A pretty insignificant day, if you asked Miranda Lambert.

She'd spent time with her dogs throughout the day, still not really feeling up to going out in public.

But her friend was playing a show in Nashville, and back before her entire world had exploded, she'd promised she'd go. And she wasn't really one to back out of promises.

So she showered and got ready, leaving her shorter hair down and wavy. She pulled on dark jeans and boots and a white t-shirt that ended up being a lot more see through than she'd intended, but what did it matter? She grabbed a jacket, just in case, and her purse and patted Bellamy's head as she waited by the front door.

She watched as the car pulled into her driveway, sighing and running a hand through her hair and she locked the front door behind her and made her way to the vehicle.

After being at Live On The Green for approximately ten minutes, she already wanted to leave, but she knew she at least needed to tough it out for Spencer's sake.

He was amazing, but she'd already known that. When she finally located her friends to let them know she was ready to leave, someone else was onstage, and as she made eye contact with him, her heart skipped about twelve beats. She had no idea who this man was, but suddenly she wanted to find out.

//////////////////////////

Miranda found Spencer to congratulate him on an amazing set, but she couldn't get her mind off that guy.

"Spencer, you were amazing!" Miranda said, pulling him into a hug.

"Thanks for coming, Ran, it means a lot." He said, pulling back and looking her in the eyes. "Seriously, I mean it!"

She nodded, looking around her friend in hopes of finding the mystery man.

"Are you looking for someone?" Spencer asked, raising an eyebrow.

"No. I mean. Kind of. Whoever performed after you...I don't know, there was just something about him that makes me feel like I need to know him." She said honestly, not enjoying being this vulnerable.

"Oh, that's Anderson, he's a really cool guy," Spencer said, "I can introduce you if you want?"

"I'd like that." She said, and Spencer grabbed her hand and led her backstage, squeezing it in reassurance.

"Anderson, hey." Spencer said, shaking his hand.

"Hey man." Anderson said, "who's your friend?"

"This is Miranda, my boss."

Miranda didn't miss the way his eyes lit up as they were introduced.

"Well then, hi Miranda, I'm Anderson." He reached out his hand and she took it, not missing the sparks that seemed to surge through her hand at his touch.

"It's nice to meet you, Anderson." She said, smiling up at his familiar blue eyes.

It seemed as if they looked at each other for years before he finally spoke again.

"I understand I may be crossing some sort of line, so feel free to say no, but I was wondering if you'd like to get to know me." He said, matter-of-factly.

"Get to know you?" She questioned.

"Would you like to go on a date?" He offered. "It can be whenever you want and wherever you like."

She thought about it for a minute, before she smiled again.

"I'd love to."

////////////////////

That was two years ago. Countless things had happened since then. From red carpets to new albums to traveling the world...they'd done it all together.

It was later that night when she was finishing her makeup before she headed to the stage for the show when her phone beeped again.

She smiled when she saw the familiar name on her screen.

She slid her thumb across and held it up to her ear.

"Hey babe!" She said, her smile growing wider as she heard his voice.

'Hey darlin', what are you up to?'

"Finishing my makeup. Gotta look good for Texas." She joked.

'You always look good!' He said, laughing, knowing how hard she was probably smiling.

Two years and he was still as cheesy.

Just then, there was a knock on her door.

"Hold on babe, someone's at the door." She said as she pressed the phone to her shoulder with the side of her head, pulling the door open.

She gasped and jumped down the steps, realizing who was standing on the pavement.

"You're here?!?!" She said in amazement, throwing her arms around his neck.

"I figured we should get to spend our second anniversary together instead of states apart. It's been awhile since we met, Lambert." He whispered, kissing her temple.

"I love you so much." Miranda whispered. "Thank you for surprising me. I've never felt this much love from someone or for someone. You never stop making me smile. I never would've thought you'd show up here today so we could be together."

He wiped a tear from her cheek as he spoke.

"There's nowhere I'd rather be, sweetheart."

Miranda gripped the back of his neck and pulled him in for one more kiss before taking his hand and walking towards the venue.

He knew he was meant to be by her side for the long haul, and suddenly, the ring in his pocket didn't seem so heavy. He had a feeling September 12th would always be their day.

"Good luck, baby. I'll be here waiting when you're done." He said, kissing her cheek as he sent her to the stage.

Synopsis: Miranda and Anderson celebrate a big anniversary.

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“Looks like we made it, look how far we’ve come my baby.”

Miranda sighed, her eyes fluttering open. There was sun starting to peek through the blinds, and she smiled into her husband’s chest. Husband. After five years it still sounded weird rolling off of her tongue. She pressed a kiss to his shoulder, his own eyes blinking open a moment later. The grin that spread across his face the first time he saw her each morning was by far one of her favorite things. 

“Morning, darlin’.” 

That simple phrase still melted her heart.

“Morning.” she whispered sleepily, burying her head into his shoulder.

Anderson pressed a kiss to her head, coaxing his wife to remove her head from his shoulder, and brushed a few strands of her long blonde hair out of her face.

“You’re still as beautiful as the day we met.” he said.

Miranda smiled, leaning in to lock lips with the love of her life. 

As she pulled away, she spoke.

“Five years, huh?” she said, twirling the band and ring around her finger on her left hand as she watched the sun catch the diamond.

“I know...it doesn’t seem like it’s been this long.” her husband said, placing his hand over hers.

“Looks like we made it...” Miranda whispered, her teary eyes locking with Anderson’s.

“Yeah, and look how far we’ve come.” he replied, his strong hand reaching out to wipe her eyes.

“We mighta took the long way, we knew we’d get there someday.”

“Tell me again. This story is my favorite from your point of view.”

They were curled up in bed, her head on his chest and their feet tangled together. He pressed a kiss to her forehead.

“Well, I thought it’d just be like any other show, and then I saw you in the crowd. You were gorgeous, with the sunset reflecting off of your face. In that moment, I knew I wanted to know you, not as Miranda Lambert, but as Miranda. That’s why I couldn’t stop looking at you; I didn’t want to lose you in the crowd.”

“And then what happened?” she pressed, as if she hadn’t heard him tell her this a million times since it’d happened.

“And then I ran into Spencer backstage, and I knew he worked for you, so I asked him to introduce me to you. But he told me you’d already asked him to introduce you to me. I guess we both took a liking to each other. As soon as I met you, it was as if I instantly knew you were the one. You were genuinely interested in me, as a fan of my music, and I was genuinely interest in Miranda. I promised myself that day that I’d do whatever it took to keep you in my life.”

“I don’t know why I cry every time you tell the story.” she laughed, wiping at her eyes again. 

She pretended the story was the reason for the tears, but he knew the real one was that this was five years. She’d desperately wanted to make it past that four year mark after her last marriage imploded, and he knew that she could finally breathe now.

Anderson just pulled her closer, breathing in the smell of her shampoo for the millionth time and thanking God for five years with this woman.

Five years of marriage with the woman of his dreams. Sure, they’d taken the long way, dating for almost four years before getting engaged, but he’d needed her to be ready and to know he wasn’t going anywhere. There wasn’t a doubt in his mind they’d get there someday.

“They said ‘I bet they’ll never make it’ but just look at us holding on. We’re still together, still going strong.”

It was later that night, and after spending most of the day in bed, their dinner reservation awaited.

Anderson opened his wife’s door, shutting it for her and walking around to the other side.

A few minutes into their car ride, the radio tuned to a country station and turned down low, Miranda spoke up.

“Do you remember how crazy everyone thought we were?”

He reached over to grab her hand, squeezing it.

“How could I forget? Your band thought you were insane when we walked in together, and I think your parents hated me when we showed up together and you introduced me as your boyfriend.” he laughed.

“I guess no one thought I’d be ready so soon,” she shrugged, “but it’s not about how much time passes, it’s about how happy you feel, and I knew that I was happiest when I was with you. I didn’t see a reason to wait to date you when it was clear how I felt.”

“Everyone doubted us.” 

“Magazine articles and reports every other month about how we’d broken up.”

“But just look at us!” 

“I think we surprised everyone the moment we got married. And then there were stories about our divorce. But here we are, five years later, still together, still happy, still going strong.” she said.

He squeezed her hand again, smiling.

“I have a feeling we’ll still be going strong in sixty years.”

“You’re still the one I run to, the one that I belong to, you’re still the one I want for life.”

Holding hands across the table, they laughed through their dinner at all of the crazy memories they’d made in their nine year relationship.

“Remember when you came to Europe with me because I had no clue what I was doing?” Miranda said, smiling at the thought.

“Yeah, and you dragged me into every tourist shop in the city.” he laughed.

“I did not!” she exclaimed, pulling her hand away.

“Okay, fine, maybe not EVERY shop, but most of them.” he said, winking.

She just smiled.

God, he could’ve sworn he smile was the eighth wonder of the world.

He reached for her hand again, and she placed it in his grasp so he could bring it to his lips and kiss her knuckles.

“You’re still the one I turn to for everything. Whether I’m having a bad day and need comforting or something amazing happens, you’re the first person I call and the first person I tell. You’re still the one I belong to, and I always will, we both know that. Nothing could ever come between us. You’re still the one I want for the rest of my life, Mike. I can promise I never thought it was possible to be this in love after five years, but I still feel as strongly as I did when we met.” 

“You’re still the one that I love, the only one I dream of, you’re still the one I kiss goodnight.”

It took every fiber of his being to not make out with his wife in the middle of the restaurant, because with all the love radiating between them, it almost seemed as if they were the only ones there though the placed was packed.

“Miranda Leigh, you’re still the one. In so many ways, you’re still the one. You’re still the one that I love - the only one that I’ll ever love - and God, you wouldn’t believe how many times I dream of your pretty face when we’re apart. I’ve been kissing you goodnight for nine years and every kiss is still as electrifying as that first one in the sunset. I love you and I know that I’ll love you for however many years we have left. I promised you sixty, and you’ll get them.” 

Miranda didn’t care who saw as she leaned across the table to kiss her husband. She figured people were pretty used to them by now. After all, they’d had nine years to get used to them.

“Ain’t nothin’ better, we beat the odds together.”

Miranda lay breathless next to her husband, her legs intertwining with his. They couldn’t celebrate their anniversary without celebrating their anniversary. 

At this point, all Miranda could think of was how lucky she felt as Anderson’s hand ran through her long hair.

“You know, there isn’t anything better than this.” she said, rolling onto her side and propping her head up on her elbow.

“There’s nothing better than sex with my wife? I’d have to agree with that.”

“No! I mean there’s nothing better than knowing we beat the odds and proved everyone wrong.” 

He smiled. She had a point.

“I’m glad we didn’t listen, look at what we would be missin’.”

Anderson could hear Miranda’s breathing slow, so he pushed her hair out of her face.

“Honey.” he whispered, shaking her shoulder.

She smiled up drowsily, clearly ready for sleep.

“I have something for you.” he said, smiling as he reached over and pulled a small box out of the drawer.

Her eyes widened as he handed it to her.

“Go ahead, open it!” 

She unwrapped the box, and immediately cried at what she saw.

He took the box from her, pulling a new wedding band out of it.

Taking her old one off with a shaky hand, he replaced it with the new one.

“I’m glad we didn’t listen to everyone. Just look at what we’d be missing.” Anderson whispered, leaning in to kiss his favorite person in the entire world.