Miley's POV:

I couldn't talk. I didn't know what to say. Here she was, and I couldn't believe I had forgotten about her again. Was my life really that hectic?

She smiled at me and I wondered how she could still smile.

"Luann…I…"

She didn't know I forgot about her. She didn't have to know. I could keep that my secret. I hugged her. She seemed surprised and hugged back.

She knew what I had been going through. She was the only one. She hadn't abandoned me in my time of need. She'd saved me.

Then, to my amazement, she started crying on my shoulder.

"I'm sorry, Miley! I'm so sorry! He wouldn't stop! I couldn't think, I couldn't breathe…then when he found me and told me you were dead I couldn't forgive myself! I'm sorry I did that to you!" She wailed.

What…?

"Parents don't by bastards from hell houses for one," I said, "And for two, how did you know where I was?"

He examined his nails, "I beat it out of Luann. Took a while too, She might even be dead right now. She wasn't going to tell me, but when you are getting killed your pain overrides your heart."

She thought it was her fault. She felt guilty for telling Luke where I lived.

"NO!" I screamed. She looked surprised.

"It's not your fault, I promise!! Please don't feel that way! If anyone should feel guilty it should be me! I kept forgetting about you! And I feel absolutely horrible about it! So if anyone should not forgive themselves it should and will be me!"

It was silent for a second when suddenly, she laughed. It was quiet but gained momentum. I wasn't sure what was funny, but I couldn't keep from laughing myself. Five minutes later, and we were still laughing. We couldn't

In my eyes, there was confusion. I couldn't decide if I had a reason to laugh or not. If I have a reason to be happy or not…

Yes, I decided after a second. Lilly is gone, yes, but she'll come back. She has to. Luann is back, and Jake and I are alive, together, and happy. Cole and Emily are growing up, and Oliver is started to act like an adult.

But I also had reasons to be upset. Where was my Dad? What did Luann mean when she knew he wouldn't be here? And where was my key?

Our laughter calmed down the occasional giggle and Luann said suddenly, "this is what it is about."

I stared at her.

"Family and being there for each other." She stated simply. I didn't really feel like I'd done a great job of being there for her, but I just smiled and agreed.

"Now, where is my dad?" I asked her fearfully. Her smile faltered so fast, that I wasn't sure it had.

"Oh, he's at Jackson's new dorm." She answered.

What?

"Jackson's new dorm? Why wouldn't he tell me that? I was just over for dinner last night!"

"Jackson asked him to early this morning and they both misplaced their keys so Jackson used his spare."

"His spare!" I scoffed with my arms crossed over my chest, "but how did you know?"

"I came by earlier." She answered quickly.

"Oh…"

Why was I feeling suspicious about everyone?! I must have a problem or something! Luann wouldn't lie to me and that's that!

"You look great by the way, how did you lose all that weight so fast?!" She asked in surprise. It took me a minute to remember the last time she saw me was when I was pregnant.

"You know, I don't really know. Once the baby was out…everything just kind of left." I replied lamely.

She laughed and I said, "Wait! You haven't seen Cole yet!!! Come on!!"

I grabbed her hand and dragged her to my car. This was going to be fun!

3 3 3 3

"I'm so excited to see him! I bet he's gorgeous!" Luann exclaimed as she unbuckled her seatbelt. I put the car in park and grinned,

"He is. Looks just like Jake though, not at all like me. Well, he kinda has my nose if you squint some. I just wish I could spend more time with him, you know? I mean, I'm always so busy!"

"Time will get more manageable." Luann said as she opened her door and climbed out. I followed in suit and pulled the keys out of my pocket. I noticed the scars that were still visible on her, and I wondered how many were noticeable on me. I moved the key to the keyhole and tried to enter it. It wouldn't.

"That's odd," I murmured as I tried again.

"What?" Luann asked.

"The key doesn't fit…" I replied as I looked more closely at it. It was the right one. It was engraved with a small heart in the upper right corner.

"Maybe it's for the back door," she offered as she looked at it also.

"No…it's this one." I stated as I tried it again.

She bent over and lifted up the welcome mat.

"Try this one." She said as she help up a new and very shiny silver key. I took it doubtfully and tried it in the lock. It worked. I turned it and heard the satisfying click. The door swung open and a gust of cool air came over us.

We stepped over the threshold and into the foyer. Sitting on a small table beside the door was a hammer, nails, and a new lock. So Jake had changed the locks.

Why would he do that? That makes absolutely no sense.

"Why would Jake change the locks?" I asked Luann curiously as I pointed. She looked and shrugged,

"Maybe he lost his key somewhere and decided it would be safest to get a new lock system."

That sounds like Jake. I'm sure that's what happened.

"Jake?" I called into the house as I slipped my shoes off and walked into the living room, "where are you?"

No reply.

"That's strange, I know he's here." I stated as I walked into the kitchen. Luann followed in suit.

"I'll be right back." I told her as I realized he wasn't in here, "help yourself to anything you want. Oliver and Jake went shopping so I can guarantee there are plenty of potato chips."

She nodded and sat down in a kitchen chair. I pulled an elastic hair tie from the drawer and pulled my hair back into a ponytail before exiting the kitchen. I walked down the hall and into the bedroom, where the door was shut. Odd.

I quietly opened the door.

"Jake?" I whispered. No answer. I opened it all the way.

Jake was sleeping silently in the bed. Weird.

I quietly climbed in the bed and crawled over to where Jake was. I sat up beside him and pushed his hair back from his forehead. It was burning up. I drew my hand back quickly.

"Jake," I whispered softly as I kissed his forehead again to see if it was still as hot. It was.

Surprisingly, his eyes opened a little. I stroked his face as I said,

"Are you sick?"

"Yes," he croaked out.

"What hurts?" I whispered.

"My head," he struggled out, "really bad."

"I'm sorry, did you hit it?" I asked him.

"No, just a headache." He answered. I kissed his cheek gently and asked,

"Did you take some medicine?"

"No, I couldn't…it hurts…" he stopped as his eyes drifted again. I felt nervous then.

"Should I take you to the ER?" I asked him nervously as I felt panic and held his hand.

"No, I'll be fine."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive."

I stroked his face gently again while his eyes shut once more.

"I'll be right back," I whispered to him, "Luann wanted to see Cole so I'll let her see him then come right back."

"You might get sick…" He said so quietly I could barely hear it.

"I don't care. I'll be back." I kissed him softly for a moment before getting up and leaving the room. I walked into the kitchen where Luann was watching TV and eating a pickle.

Once a southern girl, always a southern girl.

"Hey," I said as I walked up to her, "Jake's sick."

She looked up with worry, "Oh no, is he alright?"

"I don't know. He says he doesn't need to go to the ER but I'm not so sure."

"Who's going to watch Cole?" She asked nervously.

"I can see if Oliver will stay here with Emily until Jake is feeling better. I'm sure he won't mind; he likes staying places where the water isn't brown.

She laughed and I said, "So I'll let you visit Cole for a moment then let you leave so you don't get sick too."

She nodded and stood up. I washed my hands thoroughly to keep from making Cole sick and I led her up the stairs to Cole's room. I pushed the door open quietly.

The first thing I saw was Cole sleeping soundly in his cradle that was set up on my side of the bed. I tiptoed over to the cradle and stroked Cole's blond hair. His little chest was moving up and down steadily and he seemed to be frowning in his sleep. I gently kissed his head.

Luann was standing cautiously by the doorway.

"You can come in," I whispered. She walked in and stood beside me. She gasped,

"He's so beautiful."

I smiled proudly, "I know. You'll have to come over tomorrow or whenever Jake is feeling better so you can hold him and stuff."

She nodded and said, "Yea I will. I'll see you later?"

I nodded and said, "Where are you staying?"

"Holiday Inn Express. Room 219." She replied. I nodded and she hugged me quickly before leaving. I kissed Cole again after she left, made sure he was still sound asleep, and walked down the stairs.

I poured an ice-cold glass of water, grabbed the Advil, and placed a washcloth under some cool water. After that, I walked down the hall and slipped into the bedroom.

Jake was still in the same position and didn't stir as I placed the water and Advil on his bedside table. I sat beside him in the bed and gently placed the washcloth to his forehead. His eyes opened a little and he smiled at me.

"I brought some water and Advil if you feel up to taking it." I whispered to him. He nodded and I helped him sit up. As he swallowed some Advil and a few sips of the water, I felt myself panicking. What was wrong with him? What if he had a bad sickness?!

He smiled again at me as he laid back down and I laid down beside him. As I kept the washcloth on his forehead and stroked his hair back, he looked up at me.

"I love you, you know that right?"

His voice was so small that it broke my heart. I smiled softly and replied,

"Of course. I love you, too."

He gently grabbed my forearm and lowered my hand so he could grasp it.

"Whatever happens, whatever I say, whatever I do, wherever I go…I will always love you. Promise me you will remember that." He was so serious that it almost made me scared. I kissed his head before replying with,

"I promise."

He seemed satisfied with that. He softly pressed his lips to the back of my hand and held on to it as he drifted off to sleep. I stayed with him the whole night and only got up to periodically check on Cole.