"How is he doing, Grandma?" Miley asked as her grandmother came back from the desk.

"He's doing better, he's in ICU right now," she replied, "but they expect him to make a full recovery."

"Good," Miley said, obviously relieved. "I'm so glad. I was so worried."

"We all were, Miley," her grandmother replied. "Miley, I have a question for you."

"Go ahead, Grandma."

"How would you feel if I legally adopted both you and Jackson?"

--

Jackson moaned in pain as he awoke, utterly exhausted, tired, and just confused. There were days when things did not seem to go his way. Sure, he'd heard he was rescued, but he was probably just dreaming, or something. He turned his head to see Miley staring at him. "Miley?" he questioned. Had his father kidnapped her, too? Or was this some kind of reality? Had he been rescued?

"It's me," Miley said through tearstained eyes, and hugged him. "Oh, Jackson, I'm so sorry. I feel like this is all my fault--," she started, but Jackson interrupted her.

"Don't," he replied shortly, "it's not your fault, Miley; it's nobody's but Dad's and Dad's alone. Are you okay?" he asked quietly. "Am I--is it true, that you guys rescued me?"

"Well, technically, we didn't rescue you," Miley replied with a grin, "but yes, the cops did. They pressed quite a few charges on Daddy dear."

"Quite a few? Besides just abuse?" Jackson questioned, wondering what else his father had done wrong.

"Yes, they pressed several. I guess he had some outstanding warrants in Eastern California."

"Eastern California?"

"Don't ask me, I'm just the messenger," Miley replied easily. "You're going to get better, Jackson," she replied. "I promise."

-----

Six months later

"Miley Cyrus, do you want your grandmother to take custody of you?" the judge asked. "She would legally be your guardian. She would sign all documents, take care of all medical expenses and bills, and she would be legally responsible for you."

"Yes, I do."

"Jackson Cyrus, do you take your mother to be legal guardian for you? She would legally be your guardian, she would sign all documents, take care of all medical expenses and bills, and she would be legally responsible for you."

"Yes, I do."

"Miss Cyrus, do you take these children to be your children? You would be legally responsible for them by the court of law."

"Yes, I do."

And so it became that Jackson and Miley lived with their grandmother until they were eighteen, making this a happy-ending story. Jackson never had to live in fear again. Miley was happy, knowing that her brother was found and her father arrested. Her best friend, Roxanna, who had been in a similar situation as Miley, had found her brother, Jason, on his seventeenth birthday.

It was to be a happy ending for everyone.

FINIS