Nick's POV
I carefully parked Miley's Porsche in front of the beach house. If I so much as scratched it, she will unleash the full wrath of her hormones on me. She loves her cars as much as guys do, oddly enough.
I locked the car and walked up the path leading to the house, heading straight to the backyard. Three large white tents decorated in pink and yellow had been set up, complete with balloons, streamers and uncountable bouquets of sweet-smelling flowers. The round tables were covered in white cloth, along with the chairs; where Noah had insisted on tying pink and yellow bows at the backs. An "It's a Girl" banner adorned the entrance to the yard, where an impressively-sized moon bounce had been blown up. The interior of the house had also been cleaned, neatened up and decorated. The waiters, DJ and kids' entertainer were busy setting up their things.
"Hi, Nick!" Demi looked up from the flowers she was arranging in a crystal vase. I waved, "Hey, Dem," and made my way over to her. "How's everything going?" I queried, eyeing the backyard in pleasure. Brandi assured me, "Everything's great. Did Miley expect anything?" I shook my head, "Nope. Well, if she did, she's not letting on." I shrugged as she half-smiled.
Miley's POV
I dressed in a floral, pink-themed chiffon gown and gold high heels for the album-launching party. I put on minimal make-up; consisting of only mascara, a little blush and a simple coat of peach-flavored lip gloss.
"Hey, Nick, you're back," I greeted my husband as he entered the front door. He smiled, "You look wonderful." I flushed, before responding teasingly, "Well, I could've said the same to you, but you're not even dressed yet. I laid out your pants and peach shirt on the bed. Hope you don't mind." I winked. Laughing, he replied, "Of course I don't. I'll be right back."
General's POV
"Alright, quiet down, please. They're parking the car now," Demi called out over the hubbub of the crowd. Obligingly, the audience quieted down. The front door opened, and they heard Miley's voice, "Nick, where's everyone?"
"The party's in the backyard, babe."
"But why is it so qui—" her sentence was cut off by the crowd, yelling, "SURPRISE!"
Miley's POV
"Oh my God!" I screamed. I looked up into Nick's dark brown eyes, "I can't believe you'd do this for me?" He whispered, "I'd do anything for you." He slipped his hand into mine and dragged me toward the guests.
I hugged everybody and everyone, marveling over everything. I was talking to Selena when I noticed three faces in the crowd I didn't expect to see.
"Mom? Dad? Braison?" I said in disbelief. I ran over and threw my arms around them. "I missed you so much!" Mom exclaimed as she wrapped me in her arms. I admonished half-heartedly, "You should've informed me you were coming." My younger brother rolled his eyes, "It wouldn't be a surprise if we told you we were coming, Miles." I slapped the back of his head playfully.
I chatted with them for a while, until Nick came over and reminded me gently, "You have other guests, sweetie." I excused myself from my family and entertained the other guests. I caught sight of my friends huddled together under the maple tree. "Hey, you guys," I grinned widely as I caught up with them.
"Hey, Miles! Did you like it?" Taylor hugged me tightly. I gushed, "I love it! Thank you so much!" I tried to get them all in a group hug, but I ended up using my fingers to pull Kevin's shirt and Taylor's locks to include them in a hug.
"Miley Ray, ow."
"Sorry."
Nick's POV
As the shower was nearly ending, I nervously scanned the crowd of guests for Miley. I finally spotted her sitting on a stone bench, rubbing her swollen ankles. I sat next to her and carefully pulled her into my lap, "Are you alright?" She flashed me her trademark smile, "Yeah, just that my back hurts a bit." She knew that I knew they were hurting a lot.
"Maybe we should head home," I suggested firmly. She scowled, "No, Nick. People are having so much fun! We can't leave our own party." I rolled my eyes, "The only people who're still here are our family and the workers; and even then, they're doing the cleaning up."
"Nick, I'm fine!" In indignation, she stood up quickly, but immediately regretted it as her back and feet ached. A small groan escaped her lips from the pain. I winced, "Miley, please; I can't watch this." She pouted, "Fine. But you, mister, are sleeping on the floor tonight." I stuck my tongue out childishly, "Fine."
One month later
Miley is now in her seventh month, and her mood swings are less constant. She's almost like the way she was before, except for the occasional chewing-out.
I was watching TV with her when the doorbell rang. "I'll get that," I offered, getting off her lap and headed to the front door. "Hi!" Demi and Selena beamed up at me. I grinned, "Hey, you guys. Come on in." Miley was right behind me, happy to see the girls. "Hey, why don't you two wait in the den with Nick while I get Teresa to bring us something to drink?" she suggested. Demi piped up, "I'll come with you." The duo went to the kitchen, while I led Selena to the den.
"So, how's everything going?" she started conversationally. I replied politely, "Everything's fine." She nodded briefly before continuing, "So, the baby's a girl, huh?" I nodded; why was she asking questions she already knew the answer to?
Suddenly, she cupped my face in her hands and kissed me, hard. I tried to pull back, but her urgent caress was much too powerful. I thrashed furiously, but that only caused her to wound her fingers in my hair tighter. In a last effort to get her off me, I tried to push her off by pushing against her upper arms, but she took it as a gesture that I wanted more. My hands fell accidentally onto her lap. All of a sudden, a noise rang in my ears. A sound that I will never forget for as long as I live.
The glasses and pitcher hit the floor with a loud crash, spilling juice everywhere.
"How could you do this to me!?" Miley screamed, tears gushing from her eyes. I pulled away quickly, "Miley, I can explain. It's not what you think it is!" Her eyes blazed with hurt and anger. "I'm never going to trust you again! Both of you!" she sobbed before bolting from the room. Demi sighed, her expression sorrowful.
"You should go after her, Nick," she said softly, silently signaling Selena to get off the couch and follow her to the door. Selena did and walked over to the door. Before they left, she turned to me with tear-filled eyes, "I'm so sorry, Nick."
I ran to our bedroom and tried the door—it was locked. "Miley, please open the door, sweetie," I begged. She yelled, "Leave me alone, Nick!" I sighed, "I can explain."
"I hate you! Go with her, and leave me—this pathetic excuse of a wife! Go to hell and leave me! I wish I'd never met you!" she screamed, before breaking down in hysterical tears. Hearing her harsh words did it. I fell to the ground, tears stinging my eyes. I slid down to the floor against the door, crying for all I was worth. I hurt my true love, and now I lost everything.
Miley's POV
I've forgotten. I allowed myself to forget every single guy who loved me for Nick; I have done it my entire life. He was the one person I trusted to never hurt me—he just did. Tears overflowed and spilled as I stared at my ever-expanding stomach. This miracle that we share; isn't it enough? I gave him my heart, my soul and my all, and he betrayed me. I walked into my dressing-room and stood in front of a shelf. In a split second, my luggage was pulled off the rack.
Nick's POV
It had been roughly thirty minutes, and I was still against the door. Suddenly, it opened and I quickly stood up and came face to face with my wife. "Miley, please listen—" I drifted off when I saw that she was carrying a luggage bag and her handbag. She pushed past me silently and walked down the stairs.
"Where are you going?" I asked sorrowfully. "I'm staying over at Ashley's for a few days, maybe a week. I need to clear my head, and most importantly—don't come after me, Nick," Miley's soft, gentle blue eyes took in my expression. I wasn't able to utter a word; she had left me speechless. She grabbed her car keys and was out the door in a flash. I had lost her.
In a daze, I headed to the kitchen; where Teresa, Elsa and Dane stood, eyeing me in sympathy. "All of you should take the week off," I tried to sound cheerful, but failed miserably; and they saw right through me. "Of course." Dane nodded obligingly and ushered the two ladies out to the servants' quarters.
I slowly made my way upstairs into our bedroom and stood against the wall. A picture of Miley, laughing, caught my eye and slowly dissolved as tears blurred my vision. I slid against the wall to the floor. Top to bottom. Just what my life had turned into.
"Nick," was all Demi could say when I answered the door. She was on my doorstep; along with my brothers, Danielle, Maya and Taylor. "What happened?" Maya finished in a whisper, her soft dark eyes slowly filling with tears. I ignored all of them and headed back to the den; my solitude for the last five days since Miley had left.
"Why are you doing this to yourself?" Kevin inquired bleakly, his eyes filled with sympathy for me. I retorted, "Nothing's worth it anymore." Joe shook his head, "Nick, she'll come back. She just needs some time to think it over." Furious, I turned to him, "Don't you fucking understand? I screwed things up! She will never come back!"
The room was silent. Being the sweet, caring person that she is, Taylor spoke up softly, "We'll talk later, okay? Right now, follow me to the kitchen, Nick. I'll make you something to eat." I weakly got up to follow her, but suddenly, the room spun, there wasn't enough air and I fell to the floor as instant darkness surrounded me.
Miley's POV
"Do you think she was telling the truth?" Vanessa asked gently, rubbing my hand. I shrugged, "I don't know." There was something in her eyes that gave it away—she knew Selena was telling the truth. "Last night, she seemed really regretful. I honestly think she was telling you the truth. Nick could never, ever cheat on you. She said it was all her, and I believe that," she continued. I shrugged again, turning my head away; avoiding my problem.
Suddenly, Ashley burst into the room; her face troubled. "Miley, there's somebody downstairs to see you," she announced half-heartedly. With hope that Nick came, I slowly made my way down the stairs; meeting the worried faces of Demi, Taylor, Selena and Danielle. I smiled at them, but it was not returned. Instead, Taylor announced softly, "Nick's in the hospital."
My stomach lurched. "What?" my voice was barely above a whisper, tears starting to overflow. Demi cleared her throat as she sat beside me and took my clammy hands in hers, "After you left, Nick took up drinking and wasn't eating right. Therefore, his sugar level has gone whack. Now, he desperately needs you."
"It's all my fault," I sobbed, my face in my hands. Danielle wrapped me in her arms, "It's not. It's just been a terrible misunderstanding. He needs you right now, sweetie." I wiped my face quickly, "Right. Can you take me to the hospital, please?" Suddenly, tears flooded Selena's dark eyes and spilled over.
"If it's anyone's fault, it should be mine," she wept, "I'm so sorry, Miles, I thought that by doing that, I would make him happy, but I couldn't be more wrong in my life." Her chin trembled and she cried more. I touched her shoulder, "For now, let's just forget. I have more pressing matters at hand." She nodded ruefully and whispered, "Thank you."
"Of course."
I spotted Nick's family at the end of the hallway. As soon as I reached them, I ran into Denise's arms and apologized, "I'm so sorry, Denise; it was all my fault." Her dark eyes grew wide; I could see the tears glistening in them. "Oh, honey, no. It wasn't your fault at all," she pressed me against her chest in a motherly hug.
"How is he?" I managed to choke out. Joe answered, his voice lifeless, "He's still unconscious, but they've stabilized him." I managed a weak nod. "Can I go see him?" I asked timidly. Paul nodded sadly, "Of course, but he won't be able to respond." I nodded again and stepped into the private ward.
Nick, my usually so strong Prince Charming, was lying still in the bed, unconscious. He looked pale as if frozen by death. Machines and IV drips were hooked onto every single available patch on his body. I put my hand over my mouth in shock. I sat down next to the bed silently and slipped my warm hand into his cold one; praying that he would wake up.
Nick's POV
I slowly opened my heavy eyes. I stared up at a white ceiling. I was sore everywhere. I looked around the lavishly-decorated room in confusion, until I noticed the pressure on my hand. I found myself looking down at my wife, her hand in mine. She was asleep on our intertwined hands. I knew that I'd hurt her, but there was nothing more that I wanted than to have her here with me.
"You're awake," Miley's red-rimmed eyes shone as she awoke from her sleep and noticed that I was up. "Where am I?" I asked quietly. She replied, "You're at the hospital; you fell sick." I sighed, "Life had no meaning for me without you. I was better off dead." She stroked my knuckles with her thumb, "You're crazy." I joked, "If this makes everything better, maybe I should get sick more often.
Suddenly, her expression changed; and she spat, "Don't you dare let me hear you say those words ever again. This has been the most awful week of my entire life, Nick, and you are not letting me go through this again." I muttered, "Okay, okay. I'm sorry."
"That's fine. Do you want some water?" Miley offered. I nodded. She walked over to the bedside table and poured me a glass of water, popping a straw into the cup in the process. She handed the glass to me, and I drank from the straw, feeling deeply embarrassed.
"There's no need to be embarrassed, Nicky," she giggled. I raised an eyebrow; she punched my shoulder, reminding me, "I can always tell what you're thinking." I grinned sheepishly. She stood up to straighten her cardigan; and I rested my hand on her swollen belly. "I missed her," I said softly.
"Yup, she missed you, too. I'm guessing that by the kicks she performs," Miley teased. I sighed, "You have no idea how sorry I am. I get it if you'll never trust me again." She replied simply, "Selena explained everything. And I believed her." I raised an eyebrow again in disbelief.
"Seeing you here—sick—was the worst thing I've ever went through, and I couldn't let it happen anymore. I can't afford to lose you." A single tear slid down across her soft cheek. I gently wiped it away, "I love you. Always." She nodded and smiled, "I know. I love you, too."
Aw, I think that was pretty sweet. I told you, I'm NOT gonna make Selena a bitch in this series! I love her, lol. R&R! XOXO.