I think this is starting to get long; I hope no one's bored, yet. I cannot for the life of me manage to keep my scenes short, so I really hope you're all still enjoying this. So here it is, an early update, for all my lovely reviewers...


Chapter 7 – Weight of the World

"Who was known as the 'Birdman of Alcatraz'?"

Lilly scoffed, glaring at her dad incredulously, "Seriously, who knows this stuff?"

She grumbled and turned to look at her teammate. Miley gave her a sheepish look, "Robert Stroud?"

Robbie Ray groaned, "Doggone it, that girl's got it right again. Lilly, I think you're cheating."

He threw the little pie piece to Lilly, who gleefully added it to their already abundant collection. She grinned and shrugged, looking at her dad, "You're just jealous I picked the smartest person in this house to be on my team."

Miley looked down, blushing, "I just happen to have read the book about him; I'm not that smart."

"Right," Susan, Robbie and Lilly said almost simultaneously and burst out laughing. Miley looked at them and grinned. Lilly and she did have five pie pieces compared to Susan and Robbie's two.

Luann heaved a sigh and glanced at the clock again. It was sickening, watching them acting so…she couldn't even think of a word. She could tell Miley was loving it; having people to talk to, that clearly cared about her, that sat down just to spend time with her. Luann didn't begrudge her that; she just worried about what was going to happen when they went back to their mother. In nearly sixteen years of life Luann could not remember their mother ever sitting down to play a game with them.

The doorbell rang and Luann shot up off her seat. She was almost out of the room, when Robbie stopped her.

"Luann," he called out and she turned around, barely suppressing a groan, "you bring him inside first. I wanna meet this boy before you go out with him."

She clenched her teeth, "Oliver and I have been together for seven months; I think if he was trying to kill me he would've done so by now."

"That's great, but we still want to meet him. Your mom might have not cared who you're dating, but this is our house and our rules. So, bring him inside before he freezes to death outside," Robbie said matter-of-factly.

Luann rolled her eyes and left the room. Miley tried not to grin at the look on her sister's face. Maybe it was wrong of her, but she hoped Robbie and Susan heaped just half the amount of annoyance on Luann about her relationship as Luann did to Miley about her non-relationship with Lilly. It was several minutes, in which Susan and Robbie got another three questions wrong, before Luann returned. Behind her was a shaggy-haired boy of medium height, who looked incredibly nervous.

Miley got up to hug him, "Hey, Ollie."

He returned her hug and looked at everyone else, smiling sheepishly, "Hi, I'm Oliver."

Robbie stood and shook the boy's hand, motioning for him to sit on the sofa. Luann groaned and sat next to him. She could see Miley grinning from the corner of her eyes and vowed to get back at her sister later.

"So, Oliver," Robbie started, trying to sound intimidating. He'd never really had to do this before; Lilly had brought home a few girlfriends, but it just wasn't the same as scaring the crap out of a teenage boy. "How long have you and Luann been datin'?"

Oliver glanced nervously at Luann, but the look on her face said for him to just hurry this up, "Uh…about seven months…sir."

"You got your license?"

"Y-yeah…for about 6 months. I'm a very safe driver," Oliver said, wishing he could get out of there. He'd only met Luann's mom once the entire time they'd been dating and here these people were interrogating him after having her there for two weeks.

"That's good to know, son."

Susan tried not to laugh, at her husband or at the terrified look on the boy's face. She could tell Lilly felt the same next to her and nudged her slightly. "Where are you gonna go tonight?" Susan asked.

"Oh I…uh…I thought maybe dinner…a-and a movie…i-if that's okay."

Susan smiled and decided to take pity on him, "Alright, just have her home by curfew."

"Curfew?" Luann said incredulously.

"10:30, on the dot. Son, if she's late, I'm holding you accountable," Robbie said seriously, pointing a finger at Oliver.

"Oh no, sir, I'll have her home on time," Oliver said. Before anyone else could add anything, Luann had already grabbed his hand and was dragging him out the door. She did not want to sit there another second with those people interrogating her boyfriend.

When they heard the front door slam shut, Susan turned to her husband, "Robbie Ray, I swear…that poor boy."

"Oh, come on, Susan, you gotta put some fear into those teenagers. You can betcha she's gonna be home on time," Robbie said, smiling.

Susan shook her head, while Miley and Lilly looked at each other. The same thought was running through both their heads – what would he do if they ever went on a date, together?

* * *

Lilly looked down at the brunette stretched out on her bed, a ball of nervous energy assembling in her stomach. She sat on her bed, legs crossed, with her back to the wall so she could see the TV on the dresser set against the opposite side. Miley was lying on her back, head turned as they watched the movie. It was a twin size bed and as a result Miley's left arm was touching Lilly's legs where she sat. The bedroom door was closed, Luann was out on a date and the parents were watching some boring nature documentary with the younger girls downstairs. There couldn't have been a more perfect situation for her to get closer to Miley and Lilly was freaking out inside.

Miley laughed at something on screen and the blonde looked up, realizing she had hardly been paying attention. She had suggested watching a scary movie, really just a ruse to make Miley want to get closer to her, but the brunette had begged her to watch something else. Now they were watching 'Finding Nemo', and though Lilly loved the movie, it wasn't exactly romantic material. She heaved a sigh.

Miley turned to look at her, brows furrowed, "What's wrong?"

"Oh uh…nothing…I'm just thinking," Lilly said, berating herself for sighing out loud.

"What about?"

Lilly hesitated, not knowing what to say. She stared into Miley's blue eyes and felt her mind wander again. They were mesmerizing. She cleared her throat, "You."

Miley blushed, but didn't look away. She smiled at Lilly and reached out her left hand to take the blonde's. She intertwined their fingers and turned her head back to the movie. The ball of nervous energy in Lilly's stomach grew. They'd held hands a few times; at the movies, the one time in the living room, a few times out at the barn and one time right under Luann's nose while they'd been sharing a blanket. Lilly had been terrified then and it sort of felt like that now. She closed her eyes and listened to the thrumming of her heart. She had to do something and she had to do it now. Lilly bit her lip and spoke before she could change her mind.

"Hey Miles, turn on your side, I don't have any space to lie down," she said, voice sounding surprisingly normal.

Miley threw her a look, but turned onto her right side nevertheless. Lilly took a deep breath and moved down the bed until she was lying right beside the brunette. Her heart was thundering and she hesitated. She nearly scoffed at her cowardice. Lilly slid closer until she was pressed up against Miley's back and wrapped her left arm around the brunette's middle. Blood rushed in her ears, making her think she might pass out. She felt Miley stiffen against her and raised her head.

"Miley?"

The brunette swallowed. Her head was spinning so much she didn't even remember her own name, "Y-yeah?"

"Are you…am I…making you uncomfortable?" Lilly asked softly.

Miley let out the breath she'd been holding and forced herself to relax. Her heart was hammering and the familiar army of butterflies was stampeding through her insides. She took a deep breath and turned around to face Lilly. The blonde's arm never left her waist. They were almost face to face now, with Miley's head just a few inches below Lilly's, and their bodies so close they could feel the heat radiating off each other. Miley looked up to meet Lilly's eyes.

"I think…I've never been more comfortable in my life," the brunette half-whispered and Lilly grinned.

Lilly moved her hand from Miley's waist to her back and pulled the other girl tighter against her. The brunette's arms were trapped in between them, fists curled under Miley's chin. Lilly felt so warm and so soft against her body and Miley wanted nothing more than to get even closer to the blonde. She moved her head into the crook of Lilly's neck, resting her face against her shoulder. Lilly freed her right arm from underneath her and wrapped it around Miley as well. Somehow their legs ended up being intertwined and they could not have gotten any closer if they tried. Lilly's heart was soaring; she had never felt anything so amazing as having the brunette in her arms. Miley's heart was slowing its racing rhythm, letting her relax into the warm embrace that brought more comfort to her than anything ever had.

"Lilly?" Miley said softly. Lilly rested her cheek against the top of Miley's head.

"Yeah?" the blonde said, voice barely a whisper. She did not want to disturb this.

Miley sighed contently, "Let's not move ever."

Lilly grinned, "Or at least until your sister gets home."

The brunette chuckled against her. Miley closed her eyes, feeling all the stress and pain and worries ebb away. All there was left was warmth and happiness and drowsiness. Lilly noticed after several minutes Miley was asleep. Asleep in her arms. Lilly's stomach did a weird flip at the thought and she smiled. She vowed to stay awake, so as not to miss a single second of this feeling. She was asleep a few minutes later.

* * *

Luann opened the bedroom door as quietly as possible. Though she'd surprisingly made it back by curfew, it was still late enough for everyone in the house to be in their beds. Although, Robbie had been downstairs, 'making a snack', when she'd come in, but Luann figured he'd really been waiting for her. She wasn't sure how she felt about that.

The door opened quietly and she entered the near dark room. A small amount of light was coming from the TV, where the DVD menu was playing on loop. She moved to turn it off, not sure how anyone could sleep through the annoying music, when she saw them. Even in the darkness Luann had no problems seeing the position her sister and Lilly were in. Miley was wrapped up in Lilly's arms, her head against the blonde's chest. They were way too close and sleeping and in Lilly's bed and Luann had to take a deep breath just to keep herself from screaming.

She went up to the bed and grabbed Miley's shoulder, shaking her slightly and pulling her until she was almost on her back. Luann didn't even care if she woke Lilly, too; she'd give that horny blonde a piece of her mind.

Miley blinked her eyes open and started when she saw her sister above her. Even in the near darkness, she could tell Luann was furious.

"Miley, go to bed now," Luann ground out and pointed at the bunks to the right.

The younger girl was too terrified to even move. She couldn't believe they had gotten caught. She'd never meant to fall asleep, but she had been so comfortable and warm in Lilly's arms. Miley glanced at the blonde, who was still sleeping peacefully.

"Miley, I said now," Luann said, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Miley extricated herself from Lilly's warm embrace and got off the bed. She walked the few steps to the bunk bed, Luann's eyes following her every move. Miley stood in front of the beds and turned to face her sister.

"Luann…" She wanted to explain or make her sister understand.

Luann walked past Miley to the ladder attached to the end, "I have nothing to say to you right now."

Miley sat heavily on the bottom bunk, while Luann climbed up top. Luann got under the covers and stared at the ceiling with a heavy heart. She thought she heard Miley sniffling from underneath her and it made her heart ache. Miley had looked happy when Luann had pulled her away; why was she trying to ruin that for her sister? On the other hand, Miley had ignored every warning Luann had issued and gone straight into Lilly's bed as soon as her sister had left. She had been the one to comfort her sister their entire lives, why was Miley willing to just throw that away for some girl they'd known less than a month?

Part of her wanted to climb down and let Miley know it was okay, while the other part wanted to leave her alone so she'd know this was serious. She was torn. Luann turned onto her side and closed her eyes, trying to block out all sounds.