Author's Note: Okay, time to pick a winner on the show. Thanks for the kind reviews for the previous chapter; I do appreciate them. Lilly and Miley also appreciate everyone wishing for Lilly to do well. Something tells me that she'll do just fine. Oh, since in this story and on the TV show it's not public knowledge that Hannah really is Miley, for this and subsequent stories I'm saying that the Meet Miley Cyrus album was released as Hannah Montana's third album, titled Three. Not trying to confuse anyone, but I wanted to clear up that annoying little conflict.
Please see Chapter 1 for my standard disclaimers! Also, I make no claims on a certain blonde actress/singer who very briefly cameos in this chapter, nor do I intend any copyright infringement on her. Enjoy!
All I Want
by Jo P.
Chapter 4: You Gotta Believe
Maybe it's your time to lift up and fly
You won't know if you never try
I will be there with you all of the way
You'll be fine
--Hannah Montana"Make Some Noise"
"I've never hosted a television show before!" Lilly said somewhat frantically.
"Lola, you'll do great, I know it," Miley said with total confidence. "I know you can do this, because I've seen how great you are with people, how your personality shines in everything you do, and how fast you can think on your feet. Plus, you've been here before when the show's been filmed, remember? You know how it works, how the show moves, and what to do. You can step right in front of the camera and make this happen." Miley stepped directly in front of Lilly, looked her in the eyes and said, "You can do this. All you have to do is believe."
Lilly still looked unsure, but she said, "Just believe?"
Miley nodded. "Like you believe in us," she said softly.
Lilly smiled slightly as she said, "Well, that's a lot of belief right there."
Miley smiled back. "I know without a doubt that you can do this and do it right. You're going to be amazing."
Lilly searched Miley's eyes for any sign of doubt. There was absolutely none to be found. She is convinced I can do this. And if she believes in me that strongly, then I can do it. If not for me, then for her. For us. Lilly gathered all her confidence, drawing from Miley's love, channeling her lover's belief in them into courage. "You're right, Hannah. I can do this, and I'm going to do it right." She turned to the assembled producers, all looking like they were about to collapse with anxiety. "You've got yourself a host!" she said, smiling proudly.
The three producers looked at each other. Colleen, who was the youngest producer present, looked to be in her early thirties, but she spoke with the tone of a Hollywood veteran. "Give her the mike," she said, her voice resolute.
The other two producers, both men, looked stunned. The older one, Steve Reznick, was slightly rotund with a receding hairline, but by the way he carried himself it was obvious he was the senior producer on Singing With the Stars. "I'm not sure this is the best idea, Colleen," he said.
The other man was younger than Reznick but still appeared to be in his early forties. He had sandy blonde hair with a scruffy beard, and his green t-shirt and khaki pants implied he was overly casual, but all the crew of the show had total confidence in Pete Halvey. He had first pitched the idea of the show four years ago, and he had personally crafted it into a hit over those years. Getting Hannah Montana last year was his biggest accomplishment yet, and that episode had scored the show's highest ratings ever. Now he was faced with Hannah's return, three contestants who had all been flown in from around the country, a full studio audience, no host and no time to find a new one. There really was no sane choice. So he made an insane one. "Do it," he said.
"What?" said Reznick. "Pete, you can't be serious!"
"Yes I can, Steve! We don't have a host, and the show starts in five minutes! Have you forgotten that we're live today? For Hannah's performance?" Halvey yelled.
Colleen spoke up as well. "Steve, I saw how Lola handled herself when she and Hannah were in Las Vegas, both on Oprah and during that massive press crush that followed the show. She can do it. Plus, like Hannah pointed out, she's been here before, she knows how the show works, and she's seen what the host has to do."
Miley smiled at the vote of confidence the producer was giving Lilly. She caught Lilly's eye and gave her a wink.
You can do it, sweetheart.
Lilly smiled at Miley, but inside she was nowhere near as confident as she was acting. Okay Truscott, you can do this. You can do this for Miley. "Okay, I'm ready," she said, striding to the mark on the floor where the host stands to start the show. "Let's roll!"
"Uh, Lola?" Miley said. "You might want to get the microphone first." She gently pointed at the microphone, still on the stand beside the camera.
"Right!" Lilly said, bounding off the stage and grabbing the microphone. She looked at it and said, "How do you turn it on?"
"We'll turn it on, Lola," Halvey said. "You just hold it, okay?" he said, smiling.
"Hold it, gotcha!" Lilly said. Her heart was fluttering, and she was sure she was going to pass out, she just wasn't sure how long it would take before it happened.
Miley saw the pallor of Lilly's face, and she knew she had to do something. She stepped onto the stage as someone called out, "We're live in one minute!" She grabbed Lilly's head with both of her hands and pulled her into a deep kiss. As they kissed, Lilly wrapped her arms around Miley, holding her tightly. Miley could feel the tension in Lilly's arms and neck slowly release with their kiss, the heat of their love burning away Lilly's fears like matches tossed into a bonfire.
As their lips slowly separated, Lilly gently opened her eyes, in time to see Miley slowly open her own eyes, a look of pleasure on her face. "Thank you, Hannah," she said to her lover. "See you in a minute, now go get behind the panel! Go go go!" she said, shooing her away. Miley grinned and ran behind the opaque panel used to introduce the celebrity guest for each show.
"We're live in five, four, three, two..."
Lilly held the microphone steady and she looked directly into the camera, a warm smile now securely on her face. "Hi everyone, and welcome to Singing With the Stars! I'm your special guest host tonight, Lola Luftnagle, for a very special show. Tonight we are broadcasting live from our studios in Burbank, California, in honor of our most popular celebrity guest ever. Ladies and gentlemen, girls and boys, welcome back the Teen Queen of Pop, Hannah Montana!!"
The spotlight centered on the panel, which swiftly rose up, revealing Hannah, beaming with excitement. "Hi everyone! I'm Hannah Montana, and I am so excited to be back here!" She walked over to Lola, giving her a hug and a quick kiss on the lips. She turned to face the camera and said, "Maybe this time I won't get blasted with green paint!," drawing a laugh from the studio audience.
Lilly kept grinning as she said, "You're such a kidder, Hannah!" She covered the microphone with her hand and whispered, "I said I was sorry!"
Miley whispered back, "Sorry, couldn't resist."
Lilly held the microphone back up and said, "Well Hannah, I'm afraid it's time for you to disappear for a few minutes, so we can meet tonight's contestants and hear what songs of yours they're going to sing." Miley waved to the audience and the camera, squeezing Lilly's hand and smiling at her girlfriend as she walked off the stage.
As Miley exited the stage, she hurriedly ran into the wings, where she could watch and support Lilly. As she found a good vantage point in the shadows, it dawned on her at how complete a role reversal this had become: Miley was now the one beside the stage, watching the young woman she loved give everything she had to her performance. Surprisingly, it felt much better than Miley had ever expected.
As the show went on, Lilly found her rhythm quickly. After the opening segment, Lilly started to interview the contestants. By random selection, Miriam had been chosen to go first. As she walked onto the stage, her nervousness was quite obvious. Lilly introduced her, reading the information off the cue cards, then she turned her back on the cue cards entirely.
"What's she doing?" hissed Reznick. "She's not following the cards!"
Miley moved closer, so she could better hear the discussion between the producers. At that time, Lilly asked Miriam, "Miriam, what is it that Hannah Montana represents to you?" Miriam looked stunned, but then Lilly said, "Just think about it for a minute, and say what your heart tells you," smiling kindly at the dark-haired girl.
Lilly's smile had a profound effect on Miriam. She started to say something, then she closed her mouth quickly. She then tried again. "Well, Lola, what Hannah means to me has changed over the last few hours. When I first auditioned for this show, I thought Hannah stood for success, for being famous and having people all across the country look up to you. But after a conversation with two remarkable women just a few minutes ago," she said as she gave Lilly a knowing look, "I now think that Hannah represents standing up for something you believe in. Whether it's the music you sing or the person you love, she stands for the courage to put your heart on the line and do your best, and that's what I hope I can do tonight."
"That's beautiful, Miriam!" Lilly said, meaning every word of it. "What song are you going to sing tonight?"
Miriam looked out into the audience as she said, "I'm singing 'As I Am,' and I'd like to dedicate it to someone very special to me. Someone who until right now didn't know just how special she was to me. Tracy, I mean every word in this song, because I'm singing it to you. I love you."
Lilly looked like she was fighting back tears, but then Miriam turned back to her and said, "I know how special this song is to you and Hannah, Lola, and I hope I can make you two and Tracy proud."
As the music started, Lilly stepped back off the stage, wiping her eyes. Someone offered her a tissue, which she gladly took, wiping her eyes. But then arms wrapped around her chest, startling her for a second until she recognized a scent now intimately familiar. "I was wondering where you had run off to, sweetheart," Lilly said.
"I was listening to the producers discuss whether they've made a horrible mistake or a brilliant choice," she said, nuzzling the back of Lilly's neck.
"Ha! So what's the running vote so far?" Lilly asked, goosebumps rising across her neck and back from Miley's touch.
"Two to one in favor of brilliance, at the moment," Miley said. "But you've got time to make it three to nothing."
Lilly focused on Miriam's singing for a minute. "Her voice isn't as pure as yours, but she's definitely singing from her heart," she said to Miley.
Miley nodded her head, which Lilly felt rather than saw. "Yeah, that's giving her performance a real punch, too. You can see that she's feeling the words as she's singing them." She kissed Lilly on the cheek, then said, "Looks like our first contestant has gotten off to a strong start."
Lilly turned to look at Miley now. "I thought what she said was so sweet! You've inspired her to come out and take a chance with her friend," she said.
"Lola, that wasn't me who inspired her to do that, it was you," Miley said with a smile.
"How about us?" Lilly offered. "Compromise? Because I'm going to say that you're the inspiring one."
"Just like I'm going to say that you're the one who inspired me," agreed Miley. "Compromise it is. Us." She looked back at the stage, listening to where Miriam was in the song. "She's finishing, and she's going to be totally drained when she's done. Get ready to go back on so she can get off the stage before she collapses. I'll help her when you're back on." Miley moved back into the wings, changing position so she was closer to Miriam.
As Miriam finished her song, the audience exploded in applause and cheers. Lilly quickly got back on stage and gave Miriam a hug, then she helped the nervous girl to the side of the stage, where Miley helped her step off and find a seat. Lilly turned back to the camera and said, "Wow! What a heartfelt performance! It looks like our other two contestants have got high standards to live up to tonight. We'll be right back to meet contestant number two, right after this."
A voice called, "And... we're clear!"
Lilly rushed to the side of the side of the stage where Miley was waiting. "Is Miriam okay?" she asked Miley worriedly.
Miley smiled and said, "Oh, I think she's fine," taking Lilly's hand and leading her down a corridor. As they turned a corner, they saw Miriam and a girl roughly her age with blonde hair streaked with green and pink highlights sitting in the floor, kissing softly.
"Aww," whispered Lilly. "I guess this would be Tracy."
"That would be my guess too," whispered Miley. "Let's let them have some time alone before they see us," she said, leading Lilly back around the corner. As they approached the stage, Miley said, "You're doing great! I'm so proud of you, Lola!"
Lilly leaned into Miley's embrace and said, "Thanks sweetheart. It was kinda scary at first, but now it's just fun, really."
Miley grinned. "Perfect. That's how I feel now when I perform." She hugged Lilly tightly, then looked into her eyes as she said, "I'm glad I can share these feelings with you now that you've experienced 'em."
Lilly smiled and quickly kissed Miley on the lips. "I'm glad we can share them now too. Who knows, I might start to like this," she said as she pulled away, walking back to the stage.
Miley watched the woman who held her heart in her hands walk back onto the stage. You have no idea, sweetheart.
Lilly picked the microphone back up and asked, "When are we back?"
Colleen said, "Fifteen seconds, Lola. You're doing great, by the way," giving her a smile.
Lilly smiled back and said, "Thanks! I'm really having fun now; it's not scary any more."
Colleen held up her hand, all fingers extended, then slowly ticked them off to count down their return to broadcasting live.
"Welcome back to Singing With the Stars!" Lilly said cheerfully. "Now it's time to meet our second contestant. James, come on out!"
As the audience politely applauded, the red-headed young man walked over to Lilly. "Okay James, how long have you been singing?"
With only slight hesitation, he answered, "I was singing as long as I can remember, but I'm been singing for others since I was six. I started in church, then in school events, and now I'm trying to make a career in music."
Lilly smiled as he grew more comfortable talking about something he was familiar with. She had hoped that giving him a more grounded question would ease her nervousness, and it appeared to work. "Well, what song are you going to sing for us today, James?"
"I'm going to sing 'Right Here'," he answered simply, not offered any further exposition.
Lilly asked, "What made you pick that particular song?"
He thought for a minute, then answered, "Well, some of Hannah's songs really are hard to sing for most male singers, with some of the notes that have to be hit and held. Last year, I started singing 'Right Here' for some of my friends and family, and I got really comfortable with it the way I sing it. I'm hoping everyone else will like it, too."
Lilly smiled at him as she said, "There's only one way to find out! You ready to sing for Hannah, James?" He nodded. Lilly looked back at the camera and said, "Let's hear it for James, then, as he sings his version of 'Right Here'!" She stepped back as he began, his voice much richer than would be expected by looking at him. He sang with a honeyed tenor voice, giving the song a different sound indeed, making it more resonant as he sang. All too soon, the song was over, but the audience cheered loudly for him, applauding his effort.
Lilly walked back over and said, "Wow, that was great! I never even thought about that song being sung that way, but it sounded really good!" She led James off the stage, then she turned to the audience and said, "Of course, I'm still partial to the original singer, but then I am thoroughly biased since I'm madly in love with her," getting a solid laugh and a few cheers from the audience. "Alright, time for our last contestant today. Clarissa, will you come on out, please?"
The pixie-like blonde girl with her hair in pigtails bounded onto the stage, her energy barely contained in her small frame. "Hi Lola!" she said, full of excitement.
Lilly smiled as she knelt down before the tween. "How old are you, Clarissa?"
"You already asked me that backstage, Lola," she said, grinning as she got a chuckle from the audience.
Lilly laughed too, then said, "Yeah, I did, but the audience wasn't there, so they don't know."
Clarissa looked at the audience and said, "I turn thirteen next month!" proudly.
Lilly then asked the girl, "Were you excited to meet Hannah today?"
"Golly gee, you bet I was! I nearly peed on myself when I saw you and her!" As everyone in the building laughed at that honest statement, Clarissa looked a bit embarrassed, but she recovered quickly. "I love all of her songs, and I hope I can sing well enough to get a chance to sing with her today!"
Still on her knees in front of the small girl, Lilly said, "So what are you going to sing for us today, Clarissa?"
Clarissa said with supreme confidence, "I'm gonna sing, 'I'm a Rock Star'!"
Lilly grinned as she stood and said, "Then 'Rock Star' it is! Hit it, girl!" As the music started, she moved to the side of the stage, where Miley came over and stood beside her.
When Clarissa opened her mouth to sing, both Miley's and Lilly's eyes widened at the powerful voice coming from the girl standing in front of them. Clarissa's voice had a stunning impact, and she sang with great vocal range, effortlessly bouncing from one octave to another as she sang. "My gosh," whispered Miley.
"Uh huh," echoed Lilly, her eyes fixated on the tiny singer. "How is that voice coming from that little thing?"
Miley was thoroughly impressed. "Look at how she's focusing on the audience, too. She's got 'em, this early into the song. She's got a career ahead of her."
"It's gonna be tough to decide between her and Miriam," Lilly said. "I mean, Clarissa has the better voice and is the better singer, but Miriam sang from her heart and felt every bit of the song. James was good, but he's just not in their class."
Miley turned to look at Lilly, impressed with her judging. "I agree totally. You have a hard decision to make, Ms. Host."
Lilly looked a bit perplexed. Just then, a soft voice behind the girls got them both to turn suddenly. "Excuse me," Miriam said. As Miley and Lilly whirled to see her, they saw her friend Tracy was standing there with her. Miriam guided Tracy forward and said, "This is my friend—I mean, my girlfriend Tracy. Tracy, this is Hannah Montana, and her fiancée Lola Luftnagle."
"It's good to meet you, Tracy," Miley said, smiling as she shook Tracy's hand.
Lilly likewise smiled, but immediately after she said hello and shook Tracy's hand, she gave Miriam a hug. "Congratulations, Miriam, looks like being honest worked for you, too," she said.
"Yeah, it worked better than I ever had dreamed," Miriam said, her eyes wet with tears of joy. Tracy leaned in close and hugged Miriam, who said, "Thank you two for giving me the courage to do that. I don't care if I ever accomplish anything in singing ever again, now that I have Tracy with me."
Lilly turned and looked at Miley, giving her an inquisitive look. Miley returned the look, thinking that Miriam's statement had probably sealed Lilly's decision for the show. Miley said, "Miriam, you're probably not going to win tonight, but how would you like to sing backup for me at a show in the next few weeks?"
"Seriously?" Miriam said, excitedly. "Backup for you?" Miley nodded. "Wow, I'd love it!"
Miley was thrilled. She looked to Lola and said, "The little powerhouse is about to finish, so you need to get back over there, hon." Lilly nodded and moved back onto the stage right as Clarissa finished.
Miley continued, "Stick around after the show, and I'll find my manager and have him talk to you and your parents, Miriam, okay?"
"Okay Hannah," Miriam said, shaking with excitement. "And thank you and Lola again, from both of us."
"You're welcome, you two," Miley said. "Be thankful for every day you have together."
"We will," Miriam and Tracy both said, simultaneously.
Miley smiled, then she turned around to watch Lilly, who was just telling the audience they'd be right back after commercial to declare a winner. As everyone took a quick break to get a drink, Lilly stood in place, as the producers had told her it would be only a one-minute break. Quickly, they gave her the countdown, and then they were live again.
Lilly said, "Welcome back!" She turned to the audience and said, "Time to declare a winner, but all three of our contestants did a great job tonight. So, after lots of consideration, tonights' winner is ... Clarissa!" As the little girl jumped up and down, the audience went wild. Lilly politely hugged James and Miriam, who had to be pushed back onto the stage by Miley to leave Tracy long enough to take her hug. Lilly then turned to Clarissa and said, "You ready to sing with Hannah Montana, Clarissa?"
Clarissa shouted, "YES! YES!" as she jumped up and down.
Lilly laughed and said, "Then, get on out here, Hannah, let's not keep our winner waiting!"
Miley hopped up onto the stage and crossed over, stopping to give her girlfriend a hug on the way. Lilly smiled at Miley and whispered, "Knock 'em dead, lover." Miley winked at her in return, then she took Clarissa's hand and said, "You know my new single G.N.O., Clarissa?" The young girl nodded vigorously. Miley whispered, "If you need the words, they're on the prompter right beside the camera, okay?" Clarissa nodded again but said, "I don't need 'em, Hannah, I love that song." Miley grinned and said, "Then let's burn it up, girl!"
As the music started, that's exactly what they did. Miley and Clarissa made a good duo, their voices complimenting each other very nicely throughout the whole song. Both of them got totally into the song, laughing as they sang together like they had been doing it for years. As they finished, the audience stood, giving them a grand ovation.
Lilly stepped back onto the stage, putting her arms around Miley as she said, "That's it for tonight's Singing With the Stars, everyone! Tune in next time for our next celebrity guest star..." Lilly pointed to the opaque panel, with a silhouette of a young woman standing behind it. As Lilly finished, the panel rose up, a beautiful blonde girl cheerily said, "Me, Ashley Tisdale!"
As the music rolled, a voice yelled, "Audio is OFF!" The audience continued to cheer though, and Lilly really couldn't help herself as she gave Miley a soft kiss on the lips, holding it for just a second or two and getting a grin and laugh from Miley. Clarissa offered the statement, "Well, at least you're not kissing a boy. Yuck!" That got a solid laugh from everyone around the stage, then a voice said, "And, we're clear!"
All the producers hurried over to where Clarissa, Miley and Lilly were standing. Colleen was the first to speak. "Lola, you were incredible! You've never hosted a show before?"
Lilly shook her head. "Nope, but I could be persuaded to do it again, I think," she said with a grin.
Colleen smiled as she said, "Well, if you have some free time next week, I'm looking for a few more special guests for Sesame Street, and I think you'd be wonderful with kids." She handed Lilly a business card and said, "Think about it, and give me a call in the next few days."
Lilly took the card and said, "Thanks! I used to love Sesame Street when I was a kid, so I'd love to do it!"
Colleen patted her on the back and said, "Like I said, call me in a few days. And again, nice job today, young lady. I see a future for you in Hollywood."
Lilly laughed as the producer walked off, saying, "That'll be the day." She looked at the card, thinking for a bit as she waited on Miley to finish talking with Ashley Tisdale. "Although, this was pretty fun..."
After a few minutes, Miley and Lilly met up backstage. Miley saw Lilly talking with Robbie Ray next to their dressing room, so she hurried over there. "Hi my two favorite people in the world!" she said.
Lilly hugged Miley and said, "Thank you so much for bringing me! I had a blast today!" She looked to Robbie Ray and said, "It was so neat!"
Robbie Ray said, "I got to watch some of it, and you did one heck of a job, Lola. And Hannah, you did great too. I'm proud of you two girls."
Miley said, "Oh, Daddy, did you get a chance to talk to Miriam about being a backup singer for me next month?"
Robbie Ray nodded. "Yeah, I'm gonna talk to her mom and dad sometime next week. If they give her the okay, I'll send out a contract for 'em to look over."
"Thanks, Daddy!" Miley said, giving him a hug. "Now I think it's time we got on the road," she then said, steering Lilly toward the exit.
Lilly was tired too. It had been a very long day, and the adrenaline was starting to wear off. Lilly could feel the crash building. She yawned and said, "Okay, let's hit the road, crew." Miley smiled at her comment as she took Lilly's hand and led her outside to the limousine. The girls climbed into the back section, immediately stretching out on the long leather bench seat.
Robbie Ray smiled as he closed the door for them. He figured they'd be asleep before he ever pulled out of the studio lot. He hadn't been entirely honest with Miley and Lilly tonight; he had actually watched quite a bit of the show, and he had been very, very impressed with how Lilly handled herself. Her time as Lola had given her enough exposure to the celebrity world to become fairly comfortable with it. That comfort zone and her own bright personality made for a powerful combination. He expected that before long, either Lilly or Miley—or both— would be asking him to manage a second career. When that occurred, he knew he'd be happy to say yes. After all, Lilly had always been like another daughter to him, and that was true even more so now.
The drive back home went quickly, and within a half hour they were back inside the parking garage. He opened the door, smiling at how Miley and Lilly were twisted together on the large back seat. Miley's head was resting on Lilly's shoulder, while Lilly had her right arm protectively wrapped around Miley's back, holding her tightly. He leaned in and gently shook Miley's leg. "Miley! Lilly!" he said, his voice slightly raised. "Let's go girls, time to change and switch cars." He heard Miley groan, then she rolled backward off the seat. Before she could fall, Lilly reflexively pulled her back against her, causing both girls to jump with a start.
"Nice save," Miley said sleepily. "My hero."
Lilly yawned in response. Once she was finished, she said, "Happy to save you, sweetheart."
Robbie Ray said, "Okay girls, get changed," then he closed the door so he could get changed himself. When he had finished, he tossed his suit into the Suburban. Shortly, Miley and Lilly climbed out of the limo, their bags in their arms. Robbie Ray took the bags and tossed them into the back of the Suburban, then he helped them into the back seats. Once they were ready, he started the car and left the garage. Soon enough, they had reached Lilly's house. "Lilly, darlin', we're at your house. Tell Miley good night, so I can get you inside."
Miley grumbled about not wanting to leave Lilly, but Lilly hushed her with a soft kiss. "We've spent the day together hon, and it is a school night, remember?"
Miley still wasn't entirely happy. "Well, when we're married, then we won't have to be apart during the school week," she said with a sour look on her face.
"Awww, is my sweet little pookie upset?" Lilly said with a silly voice. "Does her miss her wuggums?"
Miley played along, sticking out her lower lip. "Yes, I do miss my wuggums when I don't get to snuggle up to her at night," she said with a pitiful voice.
Lilly laughed, unable to hold a straight face any longer. "You're so cute when you pout, Miley," she said. "Okay, time for me to get to bed." She kissed Miley good night, with the kiss starting gently then heating up. Before they let things get too far, Lilly pulled back. "Good night, Miley," she said, smiling at her lover.
"Good night, Lil," Miley said, reining in her passion for Lilly. "See you tomorrow, hon."
Lilly stepped out of the Suburban as she said, "Always," smiling at Miley. Robbie Ray walked around the car and escorted Lilly up to her door, where she produced her key and unlocked the door. "Thank you, Mr. Stewart," she said, giving him a good night hug.
"You're welcome, Lilly," Robbie Ray said. "And you did one heck of a job tonight, girl."
"Thanks," she said, waving as she stepped inside and closed and locked the door. She watched him get back into the vehicle and drive away, already missing Miley but sure that they needed to stay in their respective houses tonight, since it was a school night. Lilly walked into the den, plopping down on the couch as she said, "Hi Mom, Dad," to her parents, who were watching television.
"Hello Lilly," her mother said, while her dad said, "Evening sweetheart!" Her mother looked at Lilly and said, "Did you and Miley have fun tonight?"
Lilly hadn't told either of her parents any details about where she and Miley were going. Her father knew nothing of his daughter's double life as Lola Luftnagle, but Lilly and Miley had let Lilly's mother in on The Secret two months ago. Since then, she hadn't asked once about any details of what Hannah and Lola were up, but then, she really didn't need to, since the girls were all over the local news most of the time. By the look her mother was giving her, Lilly knew that she suspected that her daughter had been up to something exciting this evening. She tried to act as nonchalant as possible. "Yeah, we had a good time, Mom. Thanks for letting me go on a school night." As she spoke, Lilly remembered that she had an algebra quiz tomorrow. "Shoot, I need to go study for my algebra quiz!" she said, jumping up and running upstairs.
After studying for about thirty minutes, Lilly was beyond tired. She brushed her teeth, used the bathroom, put on one of Miley's long shirts, which she had taken for just such a purpose, turned off the light and crawled into bed. Before she fell asleep, she heard a knock on the door. "Yeah?" she said softly.
The door to her room cracked open, letting a shaft of light stab into the darkness covering the floor. "Lilly?" her mother said quietly.
"What is it, Mom?" Lilly asked, unsure of why her mother was there.
She stepped inside the door, closing it behind her. In the dark, she slowly walked over to Lilly's bed, then she put her hand down onto Lilly's forehead. "I was very proud of you tonight, Lilly," she said, a smile in her voice.
"What are you talking about, Mom?" Lilly asked, so tired she could barely think.
Her mother said, "I watched Hannah and Lola on Singing With the Stars tonight. Needless to say, I was rather surprised, but you did so well."
Lilly couldn't help but smile as she said, "Thanks, Mom. Hannah gave a great performance, too, though."
"Yes, she did, but I do think that Lola will be the talk of the town tomorrow after the fabulous job she did."
Lilly wasn't sure about how she would feel about becoming more popular in her own right, but she did have to admit that it felt really good to have the opportunity to do so; it also felt good to be given a challenge and come through. Maybe there would be a career in show business for her. But honestly, Lilly was content to just be Hannah's companion, as long as she could be there with her. However, the more she thought about it, Lilly realized that while Miley would always accept her even if she did nothing but stay at home and take care of their house (and later their children), it would be nice to be a provider just like Miley was. That would truly make them partners in all things, rather than Miley be the sole breadwinner. Lilly liked the thought of being able to earn money on her own, to equally contribute to her and Miley's relationship in all ways.
She looked back up to where her mother was standing, his shape dimly visible in the dark. "Thanks, Mom. I love you."
Her mother bent down and gave Lilly a kiss on the forehead. "Good night, Lilly," she said. "And congratulations. I think that one day Lola will be a star in her own right."
Lilly grinned as her mother left the room, closing the door behind her. As she turned over in bed, she silently said good night to Miley, sending her love to her girlfriend mentally. She then quickly said her prayers, thankful for all she had been given, for the opportunities presented to her, and for her family and lover. As she drifted into sleep, she could swear that she felt a warmth on the back of her neck. I bet that's Miley sending me her good night love, Lilly thought with a smile, then she dismissed the notion as silly as she fell asleep.
When Miley got home, she was asleep again. Robbie Ray pulled the car into the driveway, then said, "We're home, bud," as he turned off the engine. Not getting any response, he turned and said, "Miley! We're home, darlin'." That got her to stir, though not too quickly.
"Alright, getting' up," Miley mumbled. She slowly sat up, groping her way to the door handle, since she hadn't opened her eyes yet. As she stepped outside, the cool air helped her wake up a bit, and she finally looked around. "Where's Lil?" she asked, as if in a daze.
"Bud, we dropped Lilly off at her house a few minutes ago. You gave her a good night kiss, and I walked her in while you went back to sleep."
"I did?" Miley said.
"Yup," Robbie Ray answered. "Now get inside, you need to get to bed. You've got school tomorrow."
Miley nodded as she yawned, then she turned and stumbled inside. As she walked in, she saw Jackson sitting on the couch, watching television as he talked on the phone. He turned to regard Miley and said into the phone, "Miley just walked in the door, so looks like she and Dad got back a bit late. I need to go, Kaela. See you tomorrow?" He smiled, then added, "Night!"
By the time he clicked the phone off, Miley had already made it to the stairs and was slowly climbing them. "Tell Kaela I said hello," she said sleepily.
"Can't do that, Miles, since I already hung up the phone," Jackson, smiling at his sister's delayed reaction. "Hi Dad!" he said as Robbie Ray walked in the door.
"Hey, Jackson," his father said. "You get the dishes done like I had asked you?"
"Yep," Jackson answered, "I sure did."
Robbie Ray was pleased with how Jackson had grown up over the last few months. It seems that Miley's romance with Lilly had triggered a spark inside her brother, making him realize just how important loving someone and being loved in return truly was. And Robbie Ray had to admit, he did like Jackson's girlfriend Kaela. She was sweet, smart, and she did seem to really care about Jackson. Lord knows, that's hard to do sometimes, he thought. But for all Jackson's quirks, he was a good person. He had been brought up well, and he loved his family, no matter how many times he and Miley butted heads. While Robbie Ray suspected a little of that was jealously of his sister's celebrity, he knew that most of it was the simple conflict inherent to brothers and sisters, a perfect example of a love/hate relationship at the age his children were.
For her part, Miley had done very well recently of not rubbing anything in regarding Hannah's accomplishments and wealth. Indeed, since she and Lilly had gotten engaged, Miley had been very considerate of others, even more so than usual. That made Robbie Ray's decision to let her buy Lilly's birthday present easier. He still controlled access to Hannah's millions, and he followed it closely, knowing what a resource it was for his family. However, he had no illusions about whose money it truly was. When Miley was eighteen, she would gain full control over Hannah's fortune; all Robbie Ray wanted was for it to be enough to support her in whatever she and Lilly wanted. He knew that Miley would take care of all of her family, so he had no worries about his financial future. He had been paid enough by Hannah to establish his own financial portfolio independent of hers, and making money grow and last was a talent of his.
As Robbie Ray returned his focus to Jackson, he realized that his son had been speaking to him. "What'd you say, son?"
"I said, I called to double-check our room at the motel for Friday night. Everything's good," Jackson said. "Is your mind goin', old man?" he said playfully.
Robbie Ray grinned. "Nice job getting your chores done, Jackson. Now get yourself in bed. School's tomorrow," he said, patting Jackson on the back as he walked by.
Miley finished using the bathroom and brushing her teeth, shedding her clothes and getting into one of Lilly's t-shirts as she crawled into bed. She closed her eyes and said her prayers, thanking God for sending Lilly into her life and for everything she had blessed with. As she finished, she felt a warm feeling crawl up her back. She smiled as she thought, I love you too, Lilly, sending the same warm love back to her girlfriend. Sweet dreams, sweetheart.
Author's Afterword: These chapters are a bit trickier to work on, but I'm trying to stay on a twice a week schedule. Thanks for being patient, and thanks even more for reading! More from our heroines as soon as possible, I promise!
-- Jo --
