A/N: Yeah, poor Miley … do you think Lilly can make her feel better in this chapter? Thanks for the reviews again!!! Enjoy reading =)

Disclaimer: I don't own Disney, Hannah Montana or the characters and actors/actresses, songs or movies used in this story!

Bigger Than Us

A Hannah Montana Fanfiction. OOC, AU, Liley

Hold me

"Lilly, please, make it stop hurting!" Miley cries, she's squeezing me hard now, fighting not to fall. I support her until she finds a little strength to stand on her own there. Tears are still streaming down her face. I take her arm and put it around my shoulder, then I support her and help her into the house. I yell into the kitchen: "I'm in my room, mom!!"

I don't wait for an answer; I just drag us two up the stairs. It's not so easy, since I'm supporting mostly all of her weight. I mean, she's not fat or anything, not at all, but I'm not the strongest person either. I work out, but I don't do bodybuilding. I know she's trying to help, but the continuous crying is draining all of her strength. Oh god, I feel so sorry for her.

I open the door to my room and help her over to my bed, where I lay her down, carefully. She looks destroyed. Actually, more than that, she's pale, her eyes are red, and her imaginary walls are down. I sit down beside her and push back some hair, which fell into her face.

"Talk when you feel ready to. I'll be back in a moment." I tell her. I'm a bit worried she ran away from home and her dad doesn't know where she is. I better inform him. I run down the stairs, where I grab the phone. Wait … I haven't even got her home number. Great …

I grab the phone book and search through the numbers. Everything is happening in double speed! Are they already in that phone book?? They moved here like what, three months ago? Shit!!

I smash the receiver into the docking station. Shit! I can't leave Miley alone up there!

*riiiing* Great, who's calling now? I pick up: "Hello?" I try to sound calm.

"Lilly? Is this you?"

It's a male voice. Miley's dad? "Yeah, this is she."

"Is Miley at your place?"

"Mister Stewart?" I ask, carefully. I don't want the person on the other end to be a stalker or something. Oh great, now I'm being paranoid, just like my mom.

"Yes."

"Um, yes she's here. She's upset." I tell him.

"I know, and I'm sure you already know the reason."

"Yeah I do." I sigh. The poor girl.

"Good to know she's with you. She said she can't take it anymore at home and that she's going to your place. I just called to make sure she arrived safely."

"She did, Mister Stewart. Do you want her home at some time?" I ask.

"I'm sure she won't want to come home tonight, so … is it okay if she stays with you?"

"Yeah, sure. If she changes her mind, though, I'll bring her over."

"Thank you, Lilly."

He sounds a bit relieved, knowing his daughter is not out in the streets. I can make out in his voice that he's trying to keep himself from crying. "I'm sorry about your wife, Mister Stewart. She was a lovely woman."

"Thank you, Lilly. You're a good friend. I … I gotta go now."

He hangs up. I think his voice cracked. I know men always try to stay strong, so I don't wonder why he just hung up. The family needs time to recover from that shock, and I hope everybody recovers from it. Oh no, Miley!

I run to the stairs but my mom stops me: "Lilly, who was at the door and at the phone?"

"Miley's here, she's dealing with something huge right now. She's probably going to stay the night. And her dad called asking if she was really at my place." I explain and want to start running again, but my mom's still standing in the way.

"What is she dealing with?" my mom asks. Can she be nosy some other time? I don't want to explain everything to her, nor do I know if I even have the permission to do so. I roll my eyes, impatiently. "I'll tell you, mom, but not right now. Okay?"

"Alright, fine. Go to your friend upstairs. But promise to tell me?" she asks. Again, I roll my eyes and I storm up, yelling: "Yeah, promise!"

I run into my room, close it and lock it, just in case my mom intends to disrupt anything. Miley is still lying on the bed, eyes open, she's still sobbing quietly. I sit back down on the bed beside her. She looks at me expectantly.

"Your dad just called to make sure you arrived safely." I tell her. She frowns. "I don't want to go home." Her voice is hoarse. I smile lightly. "I didn't say that. You can stay as long as you want to."

She nods, then sits up. Her hair is a mess, her eyes are puffy and red and her face is tear-stained. She's scanning my eyes for something, but I don't know what. Comfort? Reassurance? Sympathy? I decide to give her a small smile again, letting my eyes match that smile. She seems comfortable with it because she starts talking: "I'm sorry I'm invading your time with your mom … I just couldn't stay at home, it was driving me crazy. I wanted to talk to you because you always make me feel better."

Aw, how cute. I'm glad I can make her feel better; I just hope it works again this time. "No, don't worry about my mom and me. You tell me what happened so I can start making you feel better."

"You're so sweet, Lilly … " she lets me know and then blushes shortly, but her expressions turns into a sad one very soon; her blush remains though. She stares onto my bed and mumbles: "C-can you hold me?"

Me? Holding her? Err, she needs it, Lilly, just do it, for god's sake! It's not like I haven't hugged her before. I move closer and put my arms around her shoulders, carefully pulling her a bit closer. She wraps her arms around my waist immediately, cuddling up a bit. My heart starts beating faster. Oh god, I love this feeling. No, I have to comfort her now, I said I'm going to make her feel better, not make myself go crazy about her. But she feels so warm up against my side. Everything inside me starts to tingle. I could really get used to this.

"The hospital c-called at five in the morning t-today." she starts, and she starts to sob again. I stroke through her hair encouragingly, waiting for her patiently to continue. "They said t-that they already f-found her, d-dead, in her b-bed. She d-died in her s-sleep."

A few harder sobs after that, but she's not breaking down, I think she cried enough for one day. She starts playing with the hem of my shirt to distract herself a bit. The only problem is I love how she does it; I can barely contain my excitement that she's doing this, but I can't flip out now! I just can't!

Miley's vulnerable voice brings me back to reality: "I'm just g-glad she died in p-peace."

She sighs, a bit relieved. I think that was all she had to say.

"Thank you for listening to me, Lilly. It already made me feel better." she tells. I smile. I'm glad. I'm happy when I can help by listening. "No biggie, Miley. You know I'll always be there for you if you need me, right?"

She squeezes me tighter and buries her face into my shoulder, sobbing again. Did I say the wrong thing? "Thank you so much, you're the best friend I ever had!"

Aw, she said that in such a cute tone, it even makes tears sting in my eyes. I look up to the ceiling. I love the feeling of Miley in my arms, knowing that I'm a good friend to her. I could definitely get used to this.

I let the time fly by, no talking. We just sit there, cuddled up; no words are spoken. Her sobs are getting less and less with every minute passing.

I take a glance at the watch. She should get some rest. I'm going to ditch school tomorrow to be there for her. Mom doesn't have to know anything about it. Oh, mom, she still needs an explanation.

"Miley? You can use my bathroom to take a shower and so. I'll go get you some clothes you can sleep in, alright?" I tell her, she lets go and looks at me, gratefully. I give her another smile.

"Thanks … I almost feel bad for having nothing in return." she says, blushing a bit. I shake my head, grinning. "You're a friend, Miley; you don't have to make up anything to me."

"Okay … " she replies and we both get up. I walk over to my closet and get her sweatpants and a comfortable T-Shirt, then I get a towel and hand it all to her. "There you go. Oh, by the way … my mom's being nosy, should I make up a lie?"

Miley shakes her head. "No, don't. Tell her what's going on. She'd find out eventually, anyways."

"Okay. I'll go talk to her, because I left her a bit clueless earlier." I tell and scratch the back of my head. Miley flashes me a smile and then turns and goes into the bathroom. I walk downstairs.

"Mom?" I yell out. It's not too late, she should be up.

"On the couch!" I get my answer, so I walk over there and plop down beside my mom. She's watching TV, no alcohol in optical range. I wonder if dad's slap – which we still have to report – made her change her mind about alcohol so radical. Or maybe she's still drinking, I'm not really sure.

"Sorry for being in a hurry earlier. I can tell you what's up with Miley now, if you want to." I say. Mom turns her attention from the TV-screen towards me now; she even turns the volume down. "Speak." she requests.

Okay, make it quick and painless … more or less: "Her mom died of cancer last night."

My mom's face turns expressionless. I think she got what I just said but … I just think she doesn't know what to say. I'd be speechless too.

"Wow that's um … shocking news. Is she okay up there?" my mom asks concerned. I nod and answer: "Yeah, more or less, I guess. She cried the whole day, you know."

"Well then I'll sign you out for tomorrow, huh?" my mom suggests. I look at her, surprised. "Err, mom?"

"What? As your mother I order you to take care of that poor girl up there … and by the way I know you and your habits with your friends; you would've ditched school tomorrow anyways. Am I right?" she explains. My mouth falls agape; I hope the drunken side of my mom never reappears!! I hug her fiercely. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!! You're the best, mom!!"

"I know, I know. Now go back up, make sure she's fine. I'll be home at six tomorrow, probably." she says and I jump up, happily. "Night, mom!!"

"Night, Lilly." she replies. I race up the stairs, into my room, take out my phone and dial Oliver's number.

"Hello?"

"Oliver!!" I shout into the phone. This is so cool, spending a whole day with Miley!!

"Chillax, Lilly! What's up?"

"Don't count me in for tomorrow at school, I'm staying at home." I tell him, grinning like a freak. Now I'm really excited about tomorrow!

"Hey, that's unfair! You're ditching and don't invite me?"

Stop complaining, boy! "I'm not ditching, my mom's signing me out!" I defend myself.

"How come?"

"Not my story to tell, but you'll find out eventually. Promise!" I reply. I hear Oliver sigh on the other end.

"Okay, fine. Have fun tomorrow … "

I know he's a bit sad, we always used to ditch together, but I really, really want it just to be Miley and me tomorrow. I feel like I'm obsessed with her! "Ollie, can you by a chance get my homework for me and drop it at my place?"

"Lilly? Homework? I'm sorry, I'm not sure if I'm speaking to Lilly Truscott right now!"

"Doughnut, just do it!! We'll ditch next time together … pleeeaase!!" I'm so excited I'm practically yelling the whole time.

"Yeah, yeah, I'll drop it off. I gotta go now. See you, Lils!"

"See ya, Ollie!" I shout into the phone and hang up. I grinned throughout the whole conversation, actually. I never thought I could grin that much anymore.

Miley walks out of the bathroom dressed in my clothes. Wow, it makes her look sexy. Those grey, loose sweatpants and that oversized black-and-white T-Shirt really fits her. She looks really cute!! But she still has this sad expression on her face, of course. Like that will go away quickly.

I hop up from my bed and walk to the bathroom. I can't sleep in my day-clothes, that would be way too uncomfortable. "I'll get ready for bed, too … um … do you want me to sleep on the couch so you can have the bed to yourself?"

"No, no!" she replies hastily, it almost surprises me, she blushes again. "P-please stay, I don't want to be alone."

My cheeks turn red as well. A night with Miley? In the same bed? How did I get so lucky? "Okay." I reply and walk into the bathroom, quickly brushing my teeth and putting on my PJs … done.

I walk back into my room. Miley is sitting on my bed, looking a bit unsure of what to do. She's examining my room. I walk over and pull back the sheets. I yawn; boy, I'm more tired than I thought! I hop under the covers in hold the sheets up for Miley to crawl in, too, which she does immediately.

"Night, Miley." I say and turn off the lights. "Night." she replies, sleepily. Like I could sleep right now, my heart is beating in super-speed. I'm nervous. Can't anybody tell me with which action I'd cross a line? Should I hug her? Would she let me hug her?

I feel Miley's hand on my back and I turn over to face her rapidly, a bit too fast probably. She immediately snuggles close to me and I automatically wrap my arms around her upper body and pull her in closer a bit. I breathe in her scent. She smells good.

"Is that okay?" she asks. I smile. That's more than okay! "Sure … " I reply. I hope I don't suffer from a heart-attack because my heart is beating so fast, and I can feel butterflies in my stomach. I'm pretty sure the smile won't go away so soon and I'm glad. Maybe she does like me back in just the same way.

I soon drift off into a deep slumber.

A/N: Don't you guys also think it starts to smell like Liley here? ;D Please leave your thoughts!!