Disclaimer : I do not own anything but the plot !

Chapter 13 : Walking On Snow

Miley's pov

I rushed around the office, distributing notes to all the employees that worked for me, 'barking' orders to each one with the frantic voice I had grown accustomed to during the day. It seemed like there was a lot more to do before I could finally take off – literally.

"That fuchsia dress needs to be altered and delivered to Scarlett Johansson. Yes, tonight!" I instructed to the employee looking at me with bright, questioning eyes. I gave her a warm smile as she nodded and jolted down all my orders. Finally, somebody was taking me seriously! I had a very friendly relationship with the employees but they knew how to 'deal' with me when I was stressed and barking last minute instructions. I was truly grateful for that or my day would have been a lot worse.

"Miles!" Demi's excited voice called out to me from one of the trying rooms.

"Does it fit?" I yelled out to her, wondering if I had gotten her measurements right the first time.

"It's perfect!" She waltzed towards me, showing off the orangish pink dress I had designed with her in mind. It lay loose on her shoulders and cleavage, showing off the appropriate amount of skin for an occasion such as the Grammys. The 'belt of sequins' wrapped around her petite waist and the ample material flowed to her knees. She was perched up on golden stilettos giving a look of richness to the complete outfit.

"You look good, Dem!" I sent her a thumbs up with a weak smile as I went back to the task at hand: matching fabric that would be sent to the tailors.

"I look good? Nick, tell her I look awesome!" She huffed, dramatically. Nick? Had she just... A pair of colds hands made contact with my shoulders and I instantly knew it was him from the jolt of tingles running through my body as soon as his skin came in contact with mine.

"Things look a little... crazy in here." I could hear the smile in his voice and turned around so he could see my dramatic eye roll. "The dress looks great." He smirked, his eyes moving over to Demi and back to me.

"I know the dress looks great! I was asking about how it looks on me!" Demi whined from her spot, a smile never leaving her face at the sight of Nick's hand still resting on my shoulder, rubbing small circles on my tensed muscles.

"Well I was just informing Miley her designs are great." He replied, poking his tongue out childishly at the huffing Demi.

"You look beautiful, Demi. Don't listen to him." I smiled, deciding I wasn't up for their playful banter when I had work to complete before leaving.

"Thank you, Mile! See Nick? She knows how to please a woman, you should take example on her!"

"Oh trust me, I know how to please a woman." His fingers squeezed the flesh they were resting on and I instantly found my cheeks flushing a dark shade of crimson. Had he just... no, I was definitely the one thinking dirty, he wouldn't have made such a reference to erm...

"Are you gonna be ready to go soon?" Nick's voice brought me out of my world.

"Huh? Oh, um, yeah, just need to give Charlie last minute directives and I should be done." And with that, I hurried out of the room, eager to get a breath of fresh air when my whole body was warming up by his simple touch. How was I going to survive, four entire days with him in LA?

My eyes opened lazily as I took in my surroundings... a cabin... first class airplane seats... Of course, I was on my way to LA with-

"Slept well?"

I turned my head just enough to see Nick, smiling down at me from his spot beside me.

"Um, yeah." I mumbled, suddenly feeling embarrassed about him seeing me sleep. But then again, it wasn't very long ago I had fallen asleep on his lap... Thanks to Demi and Taylor I had been filled in on all the details of that night. How he had been so attentive to me while I slept, how his fingers had rested on my waist as I snuggled my head into his lap, how he had scooped me up into his strong arms and taken me to one of the guest rooms...

"I'm sorry... I-" I blushed when I realised my head had been resting on his shoulder once again. "I seem to be making a habit of that." I was positive that my cheeks were matching my red cardigan by the time I finished that sentence.

"You won't hear me complaining." He chuckled. "You looked comfy, so why not?" He reassured with a teasing smile. I was left tongue tied by the way he always made me feel at ease, even in the most awkward moments. I mean, it had to be difficult for him too, right? Hanging out with your ex, planning your brother's wedding with her and now flying out to LA?! "Miley, we need to talk-"

"Right now?" I asked a bit sharply, suddenly feeling trapped between the walls of the cabin. There was nowhere to run to and hide from my past-

"Well, I thought it would be better if we had the same story... you know just so that you don't feel overwhelmed with all the paparazzi. I mean, I know you've always been great with them, it's just that with what happened over the years I wouldn't want them to pressure you into talking and asking things you are uncomfortable with. I just-"

"Oh you meant that kind of talking!" I laughed at myself, suddenly feeling stupid for thinking Nick would pressurise me into talking and having The talk...

"What? Oh you thought I was-"

"Yeah, sorry." I bit down on my lip and shook my head lightly. "Don't worry about paparazzi. I'll be okay." I smiled warmly, suddenly feeling very grateful to him for the way he thought of the smallest little things that could affect me, negatively.

"I have no doubt you will do fine... I just thought... you know, we haven't been seen together in a very long time. Questions are gonna arise and I just want to make sure you're okay with that."

"And we'll say the truth. We're friends." I bit my lip to keep myself from frowning. Nick and I, Me and Nick, Friends? No, it didn't fit together... I didn't want it to fit, I realised with a sinking stomach. I thought I saw a flash of disappointment appear on his face but if at all I hadn't been imagining things, it had disappeared as soon as it had appeared.

"Yeah, friends." He mumbled, leaning his head back against the head rest. Had I... missed something?

"Did you have something in mind?" I coaxed gently upon noticing his distant look. He shrugged his shoulders carelessly. "Nick, it's me you're talking to right here. You know I won't back down until you tell me." I grinned at the sight of his eye roll. I had definitely just made my point.

"I thought we could just say we reconnected and we're just hanging out as friends. Helping out Joe and Taylor with wedding preparations."

"Sounds good." I replied with a warm smile.

"Are you sure?"

"Nick!" I laughed. "It's the truth." I returned his shy smile. "For once." I muttered as an afterthought, not for him to hear.

"We had become quite good liars to the media back then, huh?" I guess he had heard me...

"Yeah." I sighed. "Our lives were so crazy."

"They still are, Miles." His crooked smile mirrored onto my face as I nodded in agreement.

"Have you thought about going to-" He shook his head, stopping himself from going any further.

"Going to?" I raised my eyebrows.

"Nevermind, it doesn't matter." He scratched his nonexistent beard in a nervous gesture.

"Nick." I warned, half mockingly.

"I was wondering if you thought of going back to your house?" He asked hesitantly, his eyes searching mine. "You're dad's house." He specified. "The guys told me you hadn't been there in a while..." He explained softly. Of course, Kevin and Joe were bound to tell him those kinds of things...

"Yeah." I sighed. "It's been far too long."

"Why?" His eyes widened and he quickly added: "You don't have to answer that, I didn't mean to-"

"Because LA comes with a lot of baggage for me. A lot of memories." I told him truthfully, unable to stop myself from confiding in him.

"About... your father?" He questioned softly.

"Yeah... about my father, my old life... us." I added the last word, biting my lip as soon as it had escaped my lips.

"Us?" His eyebrows shot up in confusion. I nodded, hiding behind the pieces of hair that had fallen in my face. I looked up hesitantly to see him smiling encouragingly. "We have memories all over the States, even Europe, Miley."

"That's true." I agreed. "But most of them are here." It was his turn to nod and we both fell silent as the captain announced our descent on LA. Just a few minutes and I would be setting my foot in a city I hadn't been in 5 five whole years.

"Home sweet home." Nick exclaimed as soon as we had settled on his living room couch, feeling exhausted from the hours of flight and the crazy schedule preceding it. It was close to midnight and Nick – who hadn't slept in the plane – was already dozing on the comfortable leather couch. I, on the other hand, was almost bouncing off the wall, wanting a detailed tour of the house. Of course, I had seen pictures of the villa on some gossip website when he had purchased it, a year earlier, but there was nothing like having a real life tour.

"Come on, show me! I need to know my way around if we're going to be housemates for the next few days." I grinned, using the best arguments to win him over. "You wouldn't want me walking in while you shower, would you?" As expected, his eyes popped open, looking widely at me. "I need a tour." I stated for the hundredth time.

"And I need sleep. Preferably on a bed!" He insisted, stretching himself out on the couch. His legs ended up on my lap and I huffed at the movement.

"Get your stinky feet off of me."

"They are not stinky." He protested, wiggling his toes for illustration.

"Nick!" I whined.

"Fine." He caved, rolling his eyes tiredly. "I'll show you the kitchen, your room, the bathroom. That's all you need to know for tonight."

"Fine."

Twenty minutes later, I was dressed in ample pyjama pants and a tank top and my hair sat tied up on the top of my head: I was ready for bed. I looked up as soon as I heard the soft knock on the wooden door.

"If you need anything I'm just across the hall." Nick informed me. "Think you can manage?" He narrowed his eyes playfully and giggles erupted from me. Funny man.

"I'll let you know if I hear you snoring from here." I teased, making my way over to him to envelop him in a hug. It was my way of saying thank you for unknowingly giving me the courage to face my past. Coming back to LA was step 1 and something told me he would be there through every step, whether I asked or not.

He shook his head at my childish ways, laughing to himself. "Night, Mi."

"Night, Nick." I replied, stifling a yawn.

..................

"It looks fine!" I cried out exasperatedly, straightening myself out after having stuck pins in the hem of Nick's dress pants. He was trying out his suit for the Grammys and of course, was not happy with it. Who knew men could be so picky?

"It doesn't feel fine!" He replied, feeling almost as frustrated as I was. "It's not even." He pointed at the mirror that was reflecting his image. "It doesn't land properly on the shoes!" He explained poorly.

"Nick." I growled. "Listen. Not to sound conceited... I am Miley Stewart, fashion icon. I know what I am doing! And believe me when I tell you these pants are long enough as they are!" I told him sternly.

"Fine, you win." He surrendered. "But if all the fashion critics pick on me, I'm pinning it on you. Do you hear me?" He told me half seriously.

"Nobody is going to pick on you. They will love you. Now shut up and put the goddamn shirt on." I instructed. He had been standing shirtless for far too long, much longer than I could take without getting distracted by his toned muscles, perfectly outlined abs and appealing-

"You're one authoritative woman." He mumbled.

"You're worse than a girl." I countered. "It's too short! I need it to be longer." I used a high pitch voice, mocking him.

"Miley." He warned.

"Sorry." I smiled a very fake grin. "What?! You are hard to please!" I defended under his narrowing eyes.

"Don't make me answer that." He grinned mischievously, making my mouth drop in shock. Had he just? Oh yes he had... another allusion to that. Who ever knew Nick Gray was a bad boy under that neat gentleman image?

They are slowly getting closer, starting to talk about the past... it's moving slowly but surely!! I wanted to get this out as soon as possible when I saw how amazing the feedback was, I hope you guys like it!

I created a poll on my profile, asking if you guys wanted this story to remain a T rated story or if you'd rather have it be an M rated story. I have no idea how old my readers are and have no idea how sensitive you are! So let me know in a review, or take a vote on the poll in my profile!!

xoxo