Author's Note: I know that a few of you readers have been waiting on this chapter. I hope this measures up to what you were expecting from me. I found this chapter was hard for me to write. WARNING:(you know who YOU is) Tissues needed.

Chapter 8

The Worse Year Of My Life

"If you don't want to talk about what happen then that's okay great-grandma." Jill wasn't sure if she wanted to hear about this.

"No, it's okay. For the longest time I couldn't talk about it. Not even to my best friends Oliver and Lilly."

"Are you sure?" Jill asked one more time.

"I'm sure sweetie. It was May and we had high hopes of…"

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"If you win this next talent contest Miley, we can get a demo set up and maybe even a record deal." Tori told Miley as they drove home from opening for a small club in Nashville.

"You really think so?"

"Marty Klein, your dad's old manger, says your starting to create quiet a stir in the music world. Plus I've had a few phone calls from some record companies about you. No big ones yet, but some nibbles."

"WOW! Do you think I'm going to make it?"

"Looks like you're about ready to take off Miley."

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Hannah was standing on the stage at the Grand Ole Opry. She was holding hands with the only other contestant that was left. Reba McEntire was getting ready to announce the winner as the third place winner left the stage.

"And the winner of the 2002 Nashville's Young Singer Competition is," Reba opened the envelop and read the name, "HANNAH MONTANA!"

Hannah screamed and hugged her fellow contestant and then run over to Reba and hugged her. Reba handed Hannah a trophy.

"Congratulations Hannah."

"Thank you."

"The word on the street is that some big record companies are out there looking at you. Any word on that?"

"My manger tells me she's been getting a few nibbles. But a few have been waiting to see how I did here."

"Well then I look forward you seeing you on the charts soon. Although I must say I'm glad it wouldn't be on the country charts. Lord knows I don't need anymore competition."

"Thanks. Hearing you say that really means a lot to me."

Hannah left the stage as Reba ended the show.

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Backstage, her mom was waiting for her. Robbie and Jackson were in the audience. Hannah and her mom hugged each other.

"You did great honey!"

"Thanks mom."

"Oh, by the way, tomorrow after school, we have an appointment with Hollywood Records."

"Are you serious?" Hannah squealed.

"She looks serious to me." Reba said as she came up behind them.

"Hi Reba and yes I am Hannah."

"How is Robbie Ray doing Tori?"

"He couldn't be happier. Robbie really enjoys being able to watch Miley and Jackson grow-up."

"Does he plan on making a come back?"

"Not right now."

"To bad, but it's great that he knows what he wants."

"It is nice having him at home."

"Congratulations on the offer from Hollywood Records Tori. Seems like you have yourself a winner with Hannah here."

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Life as an up and coming pop star was a busy life. Hollywood Records plan was to go all out with Hannah Montana and the fact that school was now out for the summer worked well with their plan. They viewed her as the complete package since she already had a proven songwriter in her corner in the form of Robbie Ray Stewart and a young and very talented band. The first thing they did was to get Hannah into the studio to cut her first album. Once the album was done, a large publicity campaign was planned. This included the talk show circuit, radio talk show circuit and all the music TV shows. With in months of signing with Hollywood Records, Hannah Montana was blitzing the airwaves and climbing the charts. With the first part of the campaign in action, Hollywood Records turn their attention to the second part of their campaign.

The first part of the campaign took place over the summer. So, when Miley returned to school that fall, she was in for a very big surprise. Hannah Montana Mania had taken hold of her school, just like it had everywhere else. Miley was very glad that no one knew that she was Hannah Montana. Miley smiled secretly to herself as she remember how some of the "in crowd" that would not give her the time of day had thrown their selves at Hannah at some of the CD signings. Yes, her mom's plan of creating Hannah Montana was working very nicely. She still had her friends, no one was trying to get her to be on their side because of who she was and best of all, she was still just plain old Miley Stewart to everyone at school.

Hollywood Records next move was to get Hannah out in the public eye. The best way to do that was with all the fall award shows and their red carpet interviews. For the shows, Hannah would either sing, present an award or both. Then it was time for Christmas specials. Once again, Hollywood Records got Hannah on as many specials as possible. As winter break started to draw near, rumors were started to get the word out that Hannah was going to do a small one-week tour to start the New Year out with a bang. This was only confirmed when Hannah herself confirmed the rumor on a late night talk show. It was a simple concert tour of five cities: Cincinnati, Ohio, Louisville, Kentucky, Evansville, Indiana, Memphis, Tennessee, and Nashville, Tennessee. The tour was to kick off on New Year's Eve in Cincinnati on TV and end seven days later in Nashville.

Miley's first tour was to be a simple bus tour. Hannah was going to give a New Year's Eve concert that would be televised. Everything was going great in Cincinnati, but there were some problems in Louisville. Tori went to find Miley to let her know what was going to happen.

"Miley, there is some problems with the union workers in Louisville."

"Is it going to cancel the concert mom?"

"No. Nancy (the Hollywood Record rep) and I are going to drive there and get it work out."

"Are you going to be back in time for the concert mom?"

"I wouldn't miss it for the world honey. I promise."

"Thanks mom."

"Where's your dad at?"

"He and Jackson are inside the arena."

"Just remember not to let anyone on the bus if you don't have your wig on and don't leave the bus without your wig."

"Yes mom. I love you."

"See you on stage dear." Tori smiled at Miley and left the bus.

Tori and Nancy rented a car and set out for Louisville, a three-hour drive.

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As they drove, they listen to the radio and the weather reports that were coming over the airwaves. A winter storm warning was out and warning people to use caution when it came to long distance traveling. Tori and Nancy got to Louisville with no problems three hours later. The meeting with the union reps and the concert hall reps took a lot longer than Tori or Nancy thought they would. When the problems where solved, it was around seven o'clock at night. Tori and Nancy hurried back to the car to head back to Cincinnati. As they drove back the weather system that had been forecast for, the night started to hit the area.

"Where is mom at? She promised that she would be here." Miley was talking to her dad.

"Don't worry bud. Your mom will get here when she gets here. Now you have to get ready. The fans with backstage passes will be getting here in an hour."

"Okay daddy."

Miley went back to her bedroom in the tour bus and started to get ready. After she was ready, Hannah, Robbie Ray and Jackson went into the arena.

Hannah noticed that it was lightly snowing. She loved the snow. One of the most favorite things she liked to do in the snow was to make snow angels with her mom. Hannah looked to the parking lot entrance wondering where her mom was. She never broke a promise.

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The snow was coming down heavy now making visibility very bad. The snowplows were keeping up with the snow, barely. Conditions were supposed to be getting better the closer to Cincinnati you got, but that was still over two hours away.

"I don't know Nancy, maybe we should stop and wait out the storm." Tori put voice to her concern.

"I don't know Tori. Do you want to stop?"

"Not really."

"Me either. What say we think about it again in thirty minutes."

"Okay, that sounds good."

Tori searched the radio stations for more information on the storm.

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Hannah was backstage in her dressing room when the first fans started to show up. She put her best face on for her fans, but deep inside all she could do was worry about where her mom was. Every now and then, Hannah would look to Robbie Ray as he would came back into the dressing room and he would noticed that Hannah was looking at him for information. He would just shake his head in response.

No one really knew how or where it started, all they knew for sure was that it happen. The other thing that everyone was sure of was that the weather played a big part in it. By the time, everything was cleaned up and the count was done, sixty-four cars were involved one way or another. However, before any of that happen, the emergency crews where just starting to show up.

"Okay everyone, time to clear out so Hannah can get ready for the concert." Robbie Ray and some security guards started to move the crowd out of the dressing room. Once the room was cleared, Hannah asked her dad again about her mom. Once again, Robbie told her that there was no news. What Robbie didn't tell Hannah was that he was worried sick. Robbie, unlike Hannah, had been listening to the weather reports and was hanging by the phones waiting for his wife to call and tell him that she was safe in some motel or some place. He just couldn't show his fear to Hannah or Jackson. He had to be strong for his kids.

The rescue and clean-up operation was going on now for two hours when a paramedic came to a car with two women in it. They were both dead. Checking for identification in the purses, she made a discovery that hit close to home. In both purses were passes for the Hannah Montana tour identifying that both of the women were part of the tour; the tour that was giving a New Year Eve concert in half an hour; the very same tour that she was going to take her kids to tomorrow night. She got on her radio and called this in to her chief.

"Hello Cincinnati! Are you ready to rock in the New Year?" Hannah yelled to the crowd. The returning roar filled the arena. Meanwhile, a messenger found Robbie Ray and took him to the office. There in the office, his life as he knew it came to an end. Out on the stage, Hannah sang to the crowds delight.

"Thank you Cincinnati! I really enjoyed bring in the New Year with y'all. Everyone take care and drive home safely. Good Night!"

Hannah came off the stage and looked for her mom, she didn't know yet. She hurried to her dressing room to see if her mom was there and also because of backstage passes her fans had. When Hannah opened the door, all she found was Jackson.

"Where's mom?"

"I don't know. Dad asked me to wait here for you."

"Just remember I'm Hannah and not Miley."

"Yes Hannah I know."

There was a knock on the door.

"That will be my fans. Remember, I'm Hannah."

Hannah got up, went to the door, and open it to find her band.

"What are you does doing here already and where are the fans at?" A confused Hannah asked.

"Your dad asked that we come back here." David, her guitarist, told her.

"He say why?"

"No."

Hannah closed the door after her band was in the room. Everyone started to talk about the concert until Robbie came into the dressing room.

Jackson was the first one to notice the look on his dad's face.

"What's wrong dad?"

Everyone else in the dressing room got quiet.

"Miley. Jackson…" Robbie faltered.

"What's wrong daddy? Where's mom?" Miley asked with a sinking feeling.

"There was a big pile-up caused by the storm and…"

"NO!" Miley stated firmly.

"Your mom and Nancy…"

"They're going to be alright! Right daddy?" Tears were starting to fall.

Jackson was just sitting there on the couch shaking his head not really seeing anything.

"No Miley…" tears where coming down Robbie's face now.

"Your wrong daddy! YOUR WRONG!"

"I'm sorry Miley, but she's gone."

Miley stood up, pulled her wig off, threw it at her dad, ran into the restroom, and locked the door. With her back on the door, Miley slide down to the floor crying. The death of Hannah Montana's manger and the wife of Robbie Ray Stewart in the multi-car pile-up was the lead story for the news the next morning. No one was surprised that the rest of the stops were cancelled.

The funerals proved to be a test of Miley's endurance. Hannah had gone to Nancy's funeral with no problem. The problem was that Hannah and Miley needed to be at Tori's funeral. Dolly was the one that found the solution for everyone. Luann would be Miley. No one would want to talk to Miley. The press would be trying to talk to Hannah. Luckily, the security was tight enough and the press never got close enough to ask any questions.

As time went by, Miley started to withdrawal. Her grades started to fall. Music was gone from her life. Miley hadn't sung at all since finding out about her mom. Robbie was getting very worried about her. Everything came to a head when the nightmares started. Robbie set out to find help for his girl before he lost her too.

Robbie found the answer he was looking for in two forms. One was Dr. Carol Jones. The other was her mom's diaries. Talking with Dr. Jones got her and the family through most of the grieving process, but it was Tori's diary that restored the music to Miley's life.

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"You mean to tell me that you almost stopped being Hannah Montana." Jill asked.

"Yes, I almost stopped being Hannah. It was my mom's loving words in her diaries that reawake the music that was in my heart. I still have her diaries with me back home. They're my most prized procession."

That night as Jill lay in bed, she thought about how what happen to her great-grandma affected the rest of her family. However, the more she thought about it, the more she realized how the writings of one person affected the rest of the world.

A/N: I hope you approved of my version of this sad time in Miley's life. Thanks RJB