Chapter 21

Four hours and 25 minutes after sound check, Miley was rushed through the hallway leading to the stage. She gulped nervously as she heard the loud cheers erupting from the other side of the wall. She loved performing and she was more than excited to perform Before the Storm with Nick but she had to admit that she was nervous. She knew a lot of people hated her for being close to the three brothers, especially Nick. She had never been this nervous. Performing on her own tour was another story since she knew the people watching her were truly her fans and were there to see her and only her. Tonight, the people out there were the Gray Brothers' fans, not hers. What if the performance just gave them another reason to hate her? She brushed away the negative thoughts and concentrated on Nick's words: "We have a story and want to share it with our fans... if they don't want to share it with us it's their problem, not ours." She knew he was right but she had always been sensitive to haters.

"We hope you guys are having a great time tonight... Before we wrap up this amazing evening I would like to present you with a special guest!" Joe's voice echoed through the arena.

"Are you all ready to find out who our special guest for tonight is?" Loud squeals were heard all across the audience as Nick spoke up. Miley's nerves seemed to relax when she heard his voice. She smiled as she thought of how good it would feel to be up there with Nick, singing together. Nothing seemed to get to either of them while they sung; they always gave their best to their fans.

"I'll give you a hint... She's a really close friend of ours and like Nick once said, we've been through a lot with this person..."

"It's a song we recorded recently with her, a song that gave closure to our relationship and allowed us to share our story with you guys..." Nick continued.

"Have you guys guessed yet?" Kevin spoke up, laughing at his brothers' lame hints. Cheers erupted louder this time and the smile on Nick's face grew at the enthusiastic response. They could clearly make out the fans yelling "Miley Stewart!"

"What's that? I couldn't quite make out what you said?" Joe asked playfully. The fans screamed louder this time, chanting her name. During that time, Nick had gone to the basement so that he would come up on the rotating platform with Miley. His smile brightened as he saw her trying to calm her nerves. He laughed to himself as he watched her.

"You're gonna do great, stop worrying!" He whispered as he neared her and pulled her into a hug.

"Of course you'd say that!" She rolled her eyes playfully and crunched up her nose when she felt her hands come in contact with his sweaty neck and hair. He laughed again before placing a small kiss on her lips and squeezing her hand. He grabbed the acoustic guitar that was being handed to him and swung it around his neck, making sure it was in place. Miley smiled at him as she took one last deep breath. This is it! They both thought, their eyes locked into each other's as the platform rode higher and higher.

"Yeah" Nick's voice came booming through the whole arena and Miley felt her heart swell at the sound of his angelic voice.
"Woah" She responded, her ears taking in the loud cheers coming from the audience. And just like that, magically, all her doubts vanished. She was here to sing and the loud sounds of appreciation she heard coming from the Gray Brothers' fans let her know that they were as excited as she and Nick were for sharing their story. Nick gave her an encouraging smile as she took a deep breath to sing the first verse:

"I know this isn't what I wanted
I never thought it'd come this far
Just thinkin' back to where we started
And how we lost all that we are." Her thoughts went to the difficult times they had spent apart, the times when she had cried herself to sleep just thinking that he had never loved her, that it had all been a lie... that everything she had felt in their relationship was only one sided. Those thoughts no longer made her sad... because she knew that everything that had happened to them had contributed in making them stronger and more mature person, bringing them where they were now. She knew, deep down in her heart, that they would learn more as they would grow older and go down this beautiful path of together for a long, long time.

"We were young and times were easy
But I could see it's not the same
I'm standing here but you don't see me
I'd give it all for that to change"

She smiled inwardly as she realised how much meaning those words had... how true they had been. Nick's velvety voice made her heart melt and she gulped as she felt her throat closing in on her, her emotions getting the better of her.

And I don't want to lose her
Don't wanna let her go

Nick's eyes bore straight into hers as he sung the two lines, making sure she heard them and believed them. And she did. He could see the sparkle in her eyes as she sent a discreet smile his way. The look Nick gave her gave her wings and the fear of not being able to sing the chorus disappeared:

"I'm standing out in the rain
I need to know if it's over
Cause I will leave you alone"

She looked at him as he took over:


"Flooded with all this pain
Knowing that I'll never hold her

His voice sounded a little tired but it didn't take away the beauty of it. Her powerful voice melted with his as they sung:


"Like I did before the storm (yeah)"

"Miley Cyrus, everybody!" Nick spoke up in his mic, stretching his hand out to give Miley an ovation.He smiled as he heard the loud cheering of the public, telling him that they were enjoying every minute of their performance, just like they were enjoying performing for them.

"Before the storm" Miley's voice was heard and Nick noticed her flushed cheeks, making her look adorable.


"With every strike of lightning" He paused as he waited for her to sing her line:

"Comes a memory that lasts"

Once again, their voices melted together as they belted out:
And not a word is left unspoken
"As the thunder starts to crash"

Her voice became softer as she sung:
"Maybe I should give up."


She smiled as she continued with a powerful voice:


"I'm standing out in the rain
I need to know if it's over
Cause I will leave you alone"

Nick could feel the pain he had felt during the time he had been away from her... the time when she had been somebody else's. The pain that had made him grow into the better person he was today made his voice that much more beautiful as he sung:


"Flooded with all this pain
Knowing that I'll never hold her
Like I did before the storm"

She flashed him her Miley smile as she took over:
"Trying to keep the lights from going out"


Her fingers found their way to his back in a comforting gesture as his voice joined hers:

"And the clouds from ripping out my broken heart"

Miley's voice overpowered his but he didn't mind... his throat was achy from all the singing he had done and there was no voice he liked to hear more than hers.
"We always say,
A heart is not a whole
Without the one who gets you through the storm"

The glance they shared in that moment went unnoticed by the spectators but the few people who were looking intently at their expressions, such as Paul, Denise and Joe let them know that what Nick and Miley shared was beyond what anybody thought. It wasn't a simple teenage love story. It was their love story, it was something that was so rare to find and they had the luck to find it at such a young age; they were truly blessed.


"Standin' out in the rain
Knowing that it's really over
Please don't leave me alone.
I'm flooded with all this pain,
Knowing that I'll never hold you
Like I did before the storm

Yeah
Like I did before,
The storm."

Nick felt Miley's body tremble slightly as he reached out for a one armed hug, aware of the frenzy it would send the crowd in. His proud smile did not go unnoticed by her and she felt her eyes lit up all the more. His gentle squeeze made her smile and she waved to the whole arena as the rotating platform began its descent towards the basement.

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

No words where needed when Nick came jogging down the hallway to meet Miley. Their arms automatically found their way around each other's bodies, holding on tightly. Miley didn't even realise he was all sweaty until he pulled away and gave her an apologetic smile.

"I should really take a shower..."

"Hmmm..." She didn't pay attention to his words and found her place back in his arms, kissing his neck lightly.

"That was awesome..." He finally spoke up as they pulled away just enough to look into each other's eyes.

"Yeah it really was... you rocked their world tonight!" She smiled genuinely.

"I was talking about the duet..." Nick laughed.

"Oh right..." She laughed a little before looking up into his eyes. She felt her knees weaken as she noticed the intensity of his gaze, the love emanating from them was overwhelming.

"I'm so glad we made it through the storm..." He whispered as he pecked her lips and nuzzled his face in her hair.

"A heart is not a whole without the one who gets you through the storm!" She quoted, laughing at her own cockiness.

"So true, so true..." Nick mumbled against her hair. Miley closed her eyes and took in the beauty of the moment.

"Ok you can go take a shower now..." She laughed as he stuck out his lower lip. "Go on... I'm not gonna mysteriously disappear!" She joked before kissing his lips.

"Fine fine, a man can tell when he's not wanted!" He joked back as he headed towards the shower. She laughed as she waved him off and found her seat back on the couch. Leaning her head against it, she closed her eyes and tried to relax her tired muscles and calm down her racing heart. Tonight had been an incredible experience.

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

"Room service! Who wants what?" Joe asked as he tossed the room service menu to Kevin. Nick and Miley looked over his shoulder to get a glimpse of the available foods and settled on zucchini lasagna and cheese pizza. Joe made the quick phone call and turned back to his brothers and little 'sister'.

"I meant to tell you guys that concert was totally awesome!!" Miley spoke up.

"You mean because you were part of it?" Joe teased.

"Shut up, Joe." She glared. "Your tour is going to be the biggest even of the year!" She added with a smile.

"We all had a blast and looks like the fans did too, so I guess we should be proud!" Kevin smiled.

"Thanks guys... you know for helping with the whole surprise thing... I owe you big time!" Nick told his brothers as his arm went around Miley's waist.

"No offense bro but it wasn't all for you... we wanted to see her too!!" Joe laughed.

"Whatever. Thank you anyways!" Nick laughed.

"It was no problem, bro." Kevin smiled at the two as they cuddled on the couch.

"Hey Miles, aren't you going on tour soon?" Joe asked as he looked through the content of his suitcase.

"My EP is coming out end of August... so sometime after that. I'm not sure about the dates yet." She replied with a shrug of her shoulders.

"We'll be in Canada then..." Kevin said, absent mindedly.

"Yup... shooting Camp Rock!" Joe grinned. They all failed to notice the frown that had appeared on Nick's face at the mention of it. Not only was he going to have a bigger role in this movie than he had in the first but he was supposed to act like he liked a girl... how was he supposed to do that? The first time he had done that was when shooting JONAS and it had been pretty tough considering he wasn't as easy going as Joe when it came to acting and girls. How he was supposed to act like he liked a girl other than Miley seemed impossible to him... A lot of work was awaiting him, he knew that.

"Any smooching in the sequel?" Miley brought Nick out of his thoughts as she teased Joe.

"I'm not sure... maybe..." Joe said mysteriously.

"Come on, tell me!" She begged.

"I really don't know. I think it's up to us." Joe told her as he continued rummaging through his clothes.

"Then definitely, there will be a kiss!" Miley giggled as she watched Joe whip his head in her direction, narrowing his eyes at her.

"What are you trying to say?" He asked suspiciously.

"Everyone knows you and Demi have been dying to kiss each other!" She giggled as Joe glared at her.

"Looks like you're busted!" Kevin said in a sing song voice, earning a glare from Joe.

"Dude, just admit it already!" Nick spoke up, high fiving his girlfriend in the process.

"No!!! I'm not admitting something that isn't true..." He scowled.

"Oh come on she's gorgeous and funny! Who wouldn't want to kiss Demi Lovato?" Miley winked at the boys.

"Not me!" Nick laughed as he pecked Miley's lips.

"Not me!" Kevin spoke up at the same time. They all turned to Joe who hadn't said anything.

"Yeah, uh- not me..." He finally replied, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. His two brothers and Miley narrowed their eyes at him and burst out laughing when they saw his cheeks redden.

"You can't deny it any longer, Joey... We totally tricked you!" Miley laughed.

"Your girlfriend's evil!" Joe told Nick as he stomped off to the closest bathroom.

"Love you too, Joey!" She laughed as he shut the door.

"What's all this teasing with Demi?" Kevin laughed.

"Oh nothing..." Miley smiled innocently.

"Why does it sound like you know something we don't?" Kevin narrowed his eyes at her.

"Because I do? I mean... because um... No! I don't know anything!" She replied nervously. Kevin and Nick laughed at her as her cheeks reddened. "Please don't ask... I'm not supposed to say anything!!!" She begged. "I promised her!" Nick put his hand over her mouth and whispered in her ear:

"You're giving it all away, babe!" He uncovered her mouth and placed a kiss on her temple.

"Gosh I'm dumb... just please don't tell Joe anything..."

"Tell Joe what?" Kevin played along, winking at her.

"Thanks..." She breathed a sigh of relief.

"Demi likes Joe, doesn't she?" Nick whispered in Miley's ear and she nodded.

"But you better not say a word... she will kill me if she knows I told you!"

"Don't worry, I'll make sure you stay alive!" He joked, earning a smack on his chest. "Alright fine. I won't say anything... I promise!" He added the last sentence when Miley gave him a disbelieving look.

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

Miley moaned in Nick's mouth as his hands found their way up her dress, riding up her legs and onto her tummy.

"I- love- you!" He whispered in between kisses as his mouth found her jaw line and then her neck.

"I love you, too..." She whispered, her chest heaving from the lack of oxygen. Her fingers fought with the few shirt buttons she tried to open and she slipped her fingers under his shirt, feelings his strong back. His hands had travelled higher under her dress, drawing patterns on her bare stomach and ribs. How much he had longed to feel her! How much he had longed to kiss her with all the passion in him... with all the desire and the love he had for her. His lips found hers again and this time he plunged his tongue into her mouth, not bothering to ask for permission. She dug her nails in his back as the kiss became more intense, their tongues swirling in a heated kiss. She shivered as his hands came in contact with her bra and unhooked it. His hands were quick to find their way under the cups of the material and feel her soft breast. She moaned at the sudden contact and he immediately reattached his lips to hers to muffle her sweet noises of appreciation.

"N-not h-here..." She said in between kisses. He pulled away worriedly and gave her a questioning look. "Y-your mom could walk in at any moment..." She let out a shaky breath and smiled softly at him. She caressed his cheek lovingly as she noticed the disappointed look on his face, the one that made her melt. "I'm sorry... I just don't want to give her a reason not to trust us..." She whispered, an apologetic smile on her lips.

"It's not your fault..." He finally showed her his million dollar smile and leaned down to kiss her lips one last time. He helped her hook her bra back in place and rolled off of her. He placed a soft kiss against her toned tummy before pulling her dress down to cover her hips and legs. "You look beautiful..." He whispered. She smiled warmly at him before snuggling against his chest.

"Thank you... for this whole amazing afternoon and night..." She mumbled as her heavy eyelids began to close. He smiled as he began rubbing her tired shoulders and back. He noticed how much flying made her back sore and massaging it was his way of thanking her for making the trip; he knew how much she hated long plane rides.

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

Denise knocked softly on the door of the large suite. Not hearing any sounds from the other side of the door, she walked in to find Joe and Kevin sound asleep on the two large beds. She smiled at the sight and walked further into the room to knock on the adjoining room door. No answer... She opened the door slightly and peeked. Not hearing anything suspicious she decided to walk further in to make sure Nick was asleep seeing as it was late and they had to wake up relatively early the next morning.

Her heart melted at the sight of the two teens' intertwined bodies. Their eyes fluttered from the dreams they were lost in and their chest rose with every intake of oxygen. Their smiles mirrored the happiness they felt when reunited. Nick face was buried in Miley's neck and hair while his arms held her protectively and his legs were entangled with hers. Their bodies were locked into each other's in a perfect fit, as if they had been made for each other and for each other only.

Although she knew her boys wouldn't stay true to their promises forever, she did have the wish that Nick and Miley would wait just a little bit longer before taking such a big step as making love to each other. But she also knew that all she could do was warn them... if they decided to take that step there wasn't much she could do to stop them.

What mattered most to her was their happiness... She had been a teenager once and remembered perfectly how tricky it was to resist temptation. She also knew what it was like to want to give yourself to the person you love the most, even at the age of 16. She had met Paul when she was just 15 years old... Nobody wanted to believe she had found true love and she recalled the many years during which she had suffered from the jokes, everybody thinking she was still a clueless child. She had promised to herself to always take her children's words seriously, no matter how young they were. Not only did she believe Nick loved Miley more than anything, she had also witnessed the misery he had gone through when he had been without her. Similarly, she had witnessed the return of the happy Nick when Miley had forgiven him for the hurt he had put them through and when the two had gotten back together. She had grown to understand that music was no longer his life... It was only a part of it because, really, Miley was his whole life. Not making a sound, the mother exited the room, closing the door softly behind her as she made her way back to her husband's side.

Hello my lovely readers! Lol. Thank you so much for all the sweet reviews, seriously I don't feel like I deserve them!! You guys are way too nice :

I know the whole Before the storm performance doesn't sound exactly like it happened in real life, I just wanted them to be more obvious... You know, giving hints to their fans by being a little more affectionate. I don't know if it worked... whatever!!!!

I got most reviews for this story on the last chapter so I decided to update it... I think I'm going to concentrate on this one for a while unless you guys have any objections and want me to update my other stories soon... It's up to you really!!