People finally began drifting out of the house; the only ones remaining were Aunt Dolly and mamaw, who were staying at the Stewart house.

"Does anyone know where Miley went?" Jake asked, worry in his voice.

"I think I know…I'll go find her. We need to talk." Robbie said, and ascended the stairs.

He found her just where he thought he would, in her old room, but was surprised to find her asleep.

He gently sat on the edge of the bed, and saw she was hugging the picture frame to her chest.

Smiling softly at that, then frowning at the tear stains on her cheeks, he gently shook her. "Miley, sweetie," He said, "It's time to wake up."

She moaned a little, and turned over, still holding the picture frame, before opening her eyes.

She looked confused, then she remembered why she was there and her face fell.

"You okay?" Robbie Ray asked, pushing her hair from her face.

She nodded, and sat up. "Sorry I fell asleep." She said, carefully setting the frame back on the nightstand.

"It's no big deal, honey."

Miley looked around the room. "How come you leave this like this, daddy? Even now, when I'm married?"

He was silent for a moment, looking around, before answering, "I guess…I like holding on to when you were younger. When you needed me. When you were my little girl…when you ran to me when you were hurt, instead of Jacob."

"Daddy, I'm still your little girl, I'm just…not little. And I'll always need you, dad. You're my daddy, I love you…it's just that, I'm twenty-three, not thirteen. Your little girl is growing up dad…you can't keep me little forever."

"Naw, they haven't found a way for parents to do that yet." He commented, and they both laughed, before he became serious again. "I remember the day you were born." He said. "I remember your first word, your first step, your first day of school. I remember you, after your mama died, Miley. You were so…fragile, so small. So lost. I remember going in your room the first day you were supposed to go back to school…you were curled up in a ball in the corner of your room, sobbing. 'I can't do it, daddy,' you said, 'She worked there. I can't go there. I don't even like being here. I miss her. I can't do this. I want her back, bring her back.' It was the first time I couldn't get you what you really truly wanted. It broke my heart, looking at you. My little girl so…empty. Then I remember the first time you got on that stage as Hannah…it's like life was in you again. You knew your mama would've wanted you to sing. And then I remember your first heartbreak. Jake. And so many after that, Miles. I hate seeing you hurting, baby, and I've seen it so much. I don't want to see it again, at the hands of Jake."

"He won't hurt me daddy. I know you care, I know you're concerned, but he's been so great to me. He loves me, Dad, and I love him. He's made me better. He's made me, me." She said. "I know I don't take to thing like…heart break and loss well, but he's not going to break my heart, and he's going to help me, dad. And I'd really like it if you would try to give him a chance. It means a lot to me daddy. Please. For me."

He sighed, but nodded, "Ok."

--

Jake looked up as Miley and Robbie Ray came down the stairs.

His arm was around his daughter's shoulder, but when they got downstairs, he kissed her forehead, hugged her, and let her go, announcing, "Miley said she and Jake are going to head home."

Miley nodded, "I'm pretty tired. We'll see ya'll tomorrow, at the…at church." She said, then quickly hugged her Grandmother, and godmother, and left the house.

"Is she alright?" Jake asked his father in law, looking after her.

"I think so. As ok as she can be right now." Robbie Ray said.

Jake nodded slowly. "We'll see you tomorrow."

"Jake, wait..." He said. Jake stopped, turning to face him again. Robbie sighed, and began to speak, "Look, son…I know I've been less then enthusiastic with your relationship and marriage to my daughter, and 5Robbie sighed, and began to speak, "Look, son…I know I've been less then enthusiastic with your relationship and marriage to my daughter, and I wanted to apologize. But please understand this from my perspective."

"I know," Jake said, "I know I've hurt her…a lot. But I don't intend to do it again, Mr. Stewart. I love her more then words can describe."

"Then you understand that all I want is to protect her."

"I do, but you need to understand that all I want to do is protect her, and love her, and be there for her." Jake countered.

Robbie nodded slowly for a while, and Jake eventually said, "She's out there, I don't want to keep her waiting. I'll see you tomorrow."

Once Jake reached the door, Robbie called, "Jake?"

He turned. "Yes?"

"No man on this Earth is good enough for my little girl." He said. "But I guess you come pretty close."

Jake smiled, and nodded at him, "Thank you." He said, then turned and left.

Miley was at the end of the driveway, staring out at the distant ocean.

Jake walked up behind her, slowly sliding his arms around her waist.

"Do you think there's an ocean in heaven?" She asked.

"Huh?" Jake asked, confused.

She repeated her question, and added, "Jackson loved the ocean. It's the one thing he didn't complain about when we moved here. He was mad at me at first, because I was so messed up, I couldn't stay in Tennessee after my mom died. Daddy moved us out here, and he was mad for a while. But he always loved the ocean. We didn't get the ocean in Nashville."

"I think that God knows that the ocean makes Jackson happy, so if there wasn't one before he got there, there is now." Jake said carefully.

Miley was silent for a while, before sighing, and asking, "Can you take me home? I want to sleep. I just…want to sleep."

Jake nodded, "Of course," He said, gently kissing the top of her head, "Let's go." He gently led her to the car, and after a while they were heading for Los Angeles.

After an almost hour-long drive, they Jake pulled in to their driveway just as the sun was beginning to set.

Jake got out, and once again, Miley stayed, staring ahead of her, as if in to nothing.

Opening her door, he knelt, reaching over and unbuckling the seat belt. "Miley," He said softly," He wouldn't want you to shut yourself down.

"I'm not." Miley denied, "I'm just tired, Jake. I'm so tired."

"Come on then," Jake said gently, taking her hand, "Let's go inside."

She slowly got out of the car, and Jake shut the door, putting his arm around her. She leant in to him, and they began heading for the door, when they heard their names being called.

"Miley, Jake, can I talk o you for a minute?"

Jake turned around, Miley turning with him, her arms around his waist.

"Charlie," Jake said, seeing their neighbor, "Now's not really a good time…"

Charlie squinted at Miley, "Is she ok, did something happen?"

"There was a loss in the family." Jake said.

"My brother." Miley stated, not moving from her position hanging on to Jake.

"I'm so sorry, Miley, and Jake." Charlie said, sincerity in his voice. "I just wanted to get this out of the way, it won't take long."

Jake nodded, as if to say 'go on, then.'

"Look, I know you guys don't have kids, and neither do I, but there are young children around here, and well, in a couple of weeks, my nieces are coming to stay for a few weeks. And there are things some kids just can't un-see, and things they shouldn't be seeing or even know about for a long time coming." Charlie said.

Jake looked at him blankly, "I'm sorry, I don't quite get where you're going with this…?"

"All I'm saying is it would be nice if you'd keep your sexcapades confined to the privacy of your home." Charlie stated.

Miley's eyes widened, and she looked up at Jake. His eyes narrowed at their neighbor, and he spoke. "Well, Charlie, not to be rude, but first: most children don't look outside in to another person's back yard in the dead of night. Second, the backyard of my house and the pool in it is part of my property; therefore, it's part of my home. Third, It's no one's business but mine and Miley's where and when we make love, and fourth, I really I think the most pressing point is why in the hell were you looking at us if you knew what we were doing?"

Charlie froze, before narrowing his eyes back, "Don't let me catch it again, or I'll have to book you for public indecency. Sorry for your loss," He hissed, before walking away.

--

I watched as the car pulled up in to the driveway as I watered my plants.

Jake got out of the car, and came around, opening her door, and squatting down. Did he cripple her or something so that she couldn't unbuckle her own seat belt?

After a minute or two, she slowly got out of the car, and Jake shut the door, putting his arm around her. She leant in to him, and they began heading for the door, but I called out, and they stopped.

"Miley, Jake, can I talk to you for a minute?"

Jake turned around, Miley turning with him, her arms around his waist. He's so freaking possessive of her. I bet that he told her if she wasn't hanging off of him at all times he'd beat the shit out of her.

"Charlie," Jake said nodding at me, "Now's not really a good time…"

I glanced at Miley's face in the darkening atmosphere, and saw she looked empty. What the FUCK did he do to her?! "Is she ok, did something happen?"

"There was a loss in the family." Jake said. Right, great cover.

"My brother." Miley stated, not moving from her position hanging on to Jake. I'll bet he killed her brother.

"I'm so sorry, Miley," I said, sincerity in my voice, then quickly added, "and Jake." I didn't want to seem unfriendly towards Jake. "I just wanted to get this out of the way, it won't take long."

Jake nodded, as if to say 'You aren't worth my time, but if you must.'

"Look, I know you guys don't have kids, and neither do I, but there are young children around here, and well, in a couple of weeks, my nieces are coming to stay for a few weeks. And there are things some kids just can't un-see, and things they shouldn't be seeing or even know about for a long time coming." I said, reciting my planned words.

Jake looked at me blankly, "I'm sorry, I don't quite get where you're going with this…?" Suuure, you keep playing dumb there pretty boy. Then again, maybe he isn't playing dumb…

"All I'm saying is it would be nice if you'd keep your sexcapades confined to the privacy of your home." I stated bluntly.

Miley's eyes widened, and she looked up at Jake. His eyes narrowed at me, and he spoke. "Well, Charlie, not to be rude, but first: most children don't look outside in to another person's back yard in the dead of night. Second, the backyard of my house and the pool in it is part of my property; therefore, it's part of my home. Third, It's no one's business but mine and Miley's where and when we make love, and fourth, I really I think the most pressing point is why in the hell were you looking at us if you knew what we were doing?"

I froze, before narrowing my own eyes back, "Don't let me catch it again, or I'll have to book you for public indecency. Sorry for your loss," I hissed, before walking away.

I quickly walked in to my house. Shit, shit, shit!

Now he's on to me. I'd have to get this plan well thought out.

And fast.

Now my sweet Miley is sad, and upset, and it's all his fault. Murderer. He murdered her brother, and he's murdering her from the inside, before he'll finally kill her! Then move on to another beautiful girl. They're all the same, and I had to get her away from him, show her what a real man was like, before it was too late.


1. What do you think about Mileys talk with Robbie Ray?

2. How about Robbie Rays words to Jake, just before Jake left to go take Miley home?

3. Miley's seemingly shutting herself down. Do you think she'll continue too, and how do you think this will affect the story?

4. What do you think of Jakes response to Charlie?

5. What do you think of Charlie believing Jake killed Jackson and is planning to kill Miley?

6. What do you think is going to happen next?

Answer in review, please. I enjoy hearing your opinion!

-Jen