Author's Note: Hey everyone! Welcome back, and thank you for reading along! I hope you're having a great time following the adventures of our heroines Miley and Lilly, because I'm still enjoying bringing their stories to all of you. I hope their love is a source of inspiration for all my readers, because it certainly has provided a light for me on my darkest days. I've recently found another outstanding Liley story titled "The Long Way," by a writer named cutflowers here on this site. If you haven't read it or the preceding story "Amiss," please take some time to find those stories and read them. The emotional wealth and overall depth of the characters is breathtaking, and it's absolutely terrific writing.
Please see chapter 1 for my Standard Disclaimers! Since we're going back to Misty Hollow, Tennessee, let me remind everyone of the Stewart family members who might not be as familiar to readers (especially readers who haven't read "All I Want," which introduced most of these characters).
Cast of Characters (Miley's Family in Tennessee)
Ruthie Stewart – Miley's grandmother
Dolly Stewart and Vickie Burns – Miley's aunts, Robbie Ray's sisters
Bobby Ray Stewart – Luanne's daddy, Miley's uncle and Robbie Ray's twin brother
Noel Stewart – Bobby Ray's wife and Luanne's stepmother
Earl and Pearl Stewart – Robbie Ray's brother and sister-in-law, Miley's uncle and aunt
David Burns – Vickie's older son, Miley's cousin
Heath and Andy Burns – David's sons, now eight and six years old
Paul Burns – Vickie's younger son, Miley's cousin
Peyton and Melody Burns – Paul's daughters, now ten and nine years old
Todd Gentry – neighbor of the Stewarts who grew up with Miley, Jackson, and Luanne and held a crush on Miley for years.
This Is Our Life
by Jo P.
Chapter 21: Tennessee Summer
A true friend
You're here 'til the end
You pull me aside when something ain't right
Cover me now and into the night
'Til it's alright again
-Hannah Montana; "True Friend"
"I'll try to be nice, because I love you, not him!"
--Lola, as said to Hannah, on the Hannah Montana episode "He Ain't a Hottie, He's My Brother" (Just let our girls admit it already, Disney, please! They deserve to be happy!)
As the roar of the jet's engines reverberated through the small aircraft, Miley closed her eyes and leaned her head back against the pillow she had brought with her. Lilly was stretched out across the love seat, her head resting snugly in Miley's lap as the plane surged down the runway. Miley focused on her breathing as she felt the first thump of the front wheel leaving the ground, followed quickly by the firmer thump of the rear wheels doing the same, then her body felt the exciting sensation of the jet suddenly under its own power, its aerodynamics and engines somehow capable of keeping gravity at bay. As her stomach flipped slightly, she felt the jet change headings as it continued to slowly climb.
"You mind to toss me a pillow, Miley?" asked Luanne, sitting sideways in an oversized chair several feet away. "Please?" She belatedly added a smile, overly exaggerated but still charming in a roguish sort of way.
Miley grabbed a soft yellow pillow and tossed it to her sister. Luanne caught the pillow and realized it looked new. She squeezed it and was pleasantly surprised by how fluffy and soft it was. "This pillow feels new," she said. "Isn't it one of the ones on your bed?"
"It's one of our backups," Miley said as she grabbed a second pillow with a similar pastel yellow pillowcase. This pillow looked anything but new; it sagged in a few places and was obviously well-used.
"Miles, that old one will be great with me," Luanne said. "I mean, you brought this good pillow, so you two use it." She tossed the new pillow back to Miley, only to have her sister catch it and fling it right back to Luanne.
"Uh uh," Miley said, hugging the worn pillow to her chest. "This one's mine."
"Do you two mind to not be throwing things back and forth over my face?" Lilly said, only her lips moving as she continued to lie there with her eyes closed. "It makes me a bit nervous."
Miley smiled as she looked at her sister, who rolled her eyes and tucked the fluffy pillow behind her head as she curled up in the chair. It was going to be about a two and a half hour flight to Knoxville, maybe less if they could ride a good tailwind, and none of the girls were really awake yet. It wasn't quite seven in the morning Malibu time, and the three of them planned on sleeping most of the flight. Miley rested her head against the pillow, her face half buried in its comforting embrace, and immediately felt herself begin to relax. She idly stroked her lover's silky blonde hair with her left hand as she started to drift off.
"What's so special about that pillow anyway?"
Miley slightly opened her eyes, just enough to see Luanne staring at the two of them, her expression quite similar to that of a curious cat. "It smells like the woman I love," she said simply before she closed her eyes again and instantly fell asleep.
For a few seconds Luanne looked closely at the two people she knew would always be there for her, no matter what. She took in how peaceful they looked, Lilly's head in Miley's lap and Miley's arm resting on Lilly's chest, Miley's left hand and Lilly's right hand nestled together efficiently. Watching them together is proof that some of us really do have a true love out there somewhere. She smiled and closed her eyes as she started to think of Ron. It was still odd at times, feeling happy so much, but Luanne was finally allowing herself to enjoy it rather than dread the possibility of it all going away. He does care about me, and I care about him. Is that it, or is it going to grow into more? Do I want it to grow into more? Before she could untangle the truth from her subconscious, Luanne slipped into the peace of slumber, and this sleep was a gentle, peaceful one.
As the plane touched down in Knoxville, Lilly found herself excited again about seeing their extended family. The previous times she and Miley had spent time in Tennessee had been during the winter, and this was going to be the first summer she had spent any time in Misty Hollow. Miley had already filled her in on going to one of her favorite swimming holes, seeing the beauty of the Tennessee flowers and woods in full bloom, camping without having to huddle together because of the freezing cold...
Lilly frowned a bit there. The huddling together in a sleeping bag was pretty darn good. Maybe we could keep that part. As the plane came to a halt, she and Miley both hurriedly stood up, eager to get off the plane. However, one last lurch forward sent them tumbling together to the floor. As they fell, Lilly managed to grab Miley and soften her fall somewhat, resulting in them lying on the carpet of the jet together in a haphazard embrace. Lilly looked up into Miley's twinkling blue eyes, and without even looking at her wife's lips she knew that Miley had just a hint of a smile on her face. Oh, we are DEFINTELY keeping the huddling together in a sleeping bag part.
"Thanks," Miley said as she eased forward and gently kissed Lilly on the lips, lingering for a few seconds before she ever so slightly pulled back and gave a teasingly light lick to Lilly's warm lips.
"Welcome," Lilly said, unable to suppress either her own grin or her body's response to a kiss from her best friend. In fact, she had no desire to slow either response down whatsoever. She had grown to love the sensation of her heart speeding up at Miley's kisses or touches or grins, at her mouth alternating between watering or going bone dry when she felt the tender caress of her lover's fingertips on any part of her body. Those little signs were God's proof that Lilly needed Miley's touch to be truly alive, to feel whole and complete, and each shiver up her arm or down her back was a living testament to the intensity of the love between the two best friends.
"You gonna let me go?" Miley asked, the hint of a smile now evident as Lilly's eyes danced across Miley's cute face.
Lilly shook her head slowly. "Not a chance."
Luanne crouched down beside the two of them and whispered, "Get a room," then she jumped back out of reach, a smile on her face as Miley swung an open hand at her head but came up well short. "You two are so much fun to tease," she said, her eyes now twinkling much like Miley's had been just moments ago. She slipped on a cap, tucking her hair underneath it as she opened the door to the small cabin they had been traveling in. Miley and Lilly had already tucked their longer hair underneath their own caps, concealing their true identities from the crew of Hannah's private jet.
Miley stood, helping Lilly to her feet. "Yeah, but you still love us, sis." As soon as the word had slipped out her mouth, she reflexively shot a hand up to her mouth, trying to catch the words before they escaped but coming up a bit late. She nervously looked around the airplane, but no one seemed to be close enough to them to have heard. Sorry, she mouthed to Luanne and Lilly, but neither of them looked particularly upset.
Luanne simply shrugged, but the pale cast to her face indicated that she was significantly more nervous that her body language revealed. As she turned around to walk to the jet's door, she felt a firm hand grip her shoulder, then she felt first Lilly's arms and then Miley's arms hug her from behind. "It's okay," she whispered, more to herself than to Miley and Lilly. "It's okay."
As Luanne stepped forward and walked to the door of the jet, Miley turned and looked at Lilly, her face lined with guilt and worry.
"It's okay, hon," Lilly said, rubbing Miley's back. "Nobody heard, and even if they did, so what?"
Miley nodded and smiled. Lilly was right. If anyone had heard, he or she would assume that the girls were just talking symbolically, not literally. "Thanks," she said as she took her partner's hand as they walked to the jet's door and then out and down the steps. "Again."
As they touched the ground, Lilly hugged Miley as soon as the slightly taller girl stopped and turned around to face her wife. "You're welcome again," she said with a smile. "Has your dad told you anything yet about the surprise?"
Miley shook her head. "Not a darn thing. It must have something to do with Hannah and Lola, though. I mean, why else would he want us to bring an outfit of theirs?"
Lilly shook her head as the two of them walked over to where Luanne and Robbie Ray were standing, next to two Chevrolet Impalas, one silver and the other a midnight blue.
"Okay ladies," said Robbie Ray as he handed Miley and Lilly a clipboard, "you two sign for this here rental car, and then we can get on our way. I'm droppin' Anna Lee here off to get her car on the way."
Luanne smiled at the use of her Hannah name. She had adapted quickly to having an alter ego, and honestly she found that being allowed into Miley and Lilly's other world was one of the most caring, trusting gestures anyone had ever made to her. No surprise that it was Miley and Lilly who went out of their way to make me feel included. They've just got so much love in their hearts that they don't know what to do with it. And I'll always be thankful for that. "You two got big plans for today?" she asked Miley and Lilly.
"Don't we always?" answered Lilly quickly, a grin on her face.
Luanne nodded. "You got me there," she said pleasantly. She leaned forward, hugging Miley and Lilly. "Be careful, and I'll see you two afterwhile."
"Same to you," Miley said in reply. Lilly just smiled. She was content to let Miley speak for her at times, and the three of them understood that with no need for further explanation. She handed the clipboard with the rental car agreement now signed back to her father, who handed them a set of keys.
"You two be careful, alright?" he asked.
"Always," Miley answered. "Especially when I'm drivin' my wife around."
Lilly just smiled and hugged Miley tightly, right before she planted a kiss on her girlfriend's cheek. "You take good care of me, sweetheart. You always have."
Miley frowned just a bit. "Not always."
Lilly stepped forward just enough to get in front of Miley, her expression serious. "Yes, always. Whenever you had a little slip-up, you always made it up to me and then some. So as far as I'm concerned, you're perfect."
Robbie Ray watched the little exchange as he wrestled to maintain his poker face. It was quite difficult, given that his wife had said much the same to him once, a long time ago. He leaned over and softly said to his daughter, "It's best to just agree when you're in this situation, darlin'. Trust me."
Miley looked up at her father, then a grin spread across her face. "Okay," she said, then she turned back to Lilly, now smiling.
"Good. Smart girl." Lilly gave Miley a quick kiss on the lips, then she snatched the keys from her girlfriend's hand. "I'm driving." As Miley stepped to the side, Lilly smiled at her father-in-law. "Thanks," she said.
Robbie Ray smiled beneath his fake mustache. "My words of wisdom don't even earn a hug from my second daughter?" he teased.
Lilly stood still, seemingly deep in thought for a second or two, then she said, "I guess they've earned that." She stepped forward only to be wrapped up and picked off the ground by Robbie Ray.
"Thank you, darlin'," he said, his voice surprisingly emotional.
"For what?" Lilly asked, a bit caught off guard by his reaction. Being a foot off the ground didn't much help her composure either.
It took a long moment for Robbie Ray to continue, but finally he said, "A daddy wants only the best for all his kids, but especially for his little girl. And for my little girl, that's exactly what you are. The best she could ever have."
Lilly felt her eyes start to water as she looked down at the man who had been her second father long before she and Miley ever began dating. "Thanks," was all she could say, as the tears threatened to burst forth if she said anything more. She leaned forward and kissed him on the forehead, and in that simple gesture so much was conveyed.
"I got somethin' to show you two later this evenin'," Robbie Ray said as he placed Lilly back on her feet.
"Is it the surprise?" Miley asked, hurrying back over. She placed her hand in the small of Lilly's back as she stood beside the woman she loved.
Robbie Ray shook his head. "No, it ain't the surprise. But it's somethin' I've been wantin' to show you for a long time now. I had your Mamaw keep it for me, so you two wouldn't find it snoopin' around the house."
"We do not snoop!" said Miley as her expression became one of righteous indignation. Lilly and Robbie Ray both turned to look at her in silence. "Well, okay, maybe a little bit," she said in a much softer voice. "But I prefer to think of it as healthy curiosity!"
Lilly sputtered, just getting her head turned in time to keep from spraying Miley. As she wiped her mouth, she muttered, "Yeah. Healthy curiosity."
Miley turned to look at Lilly. She was finding it hard to keep her face serious at this point. "You're supposed to be supporting me, you know."
Lilly nodded. "Totally supportive," she said, standing up straight again. She moved to stand beside Miley as she slipped her arm around her wife. And then she pinched Miley's butt quite firmly.
"HEY!" yelled Miley, but before she even touched down from her leap forward, Lilly was already hurrying to the car. By the time Miley made it to the car, Lilly was safe and secure in the driver's seat, a cheeky grin on her face as she waved at Miley through the window. "Oooooh..." Miley said as she walked around the car to the passenger side.
"Be nice, bud," Robbie Ray said as he gave his daughter a hug as she opened the car door. "See you two at Mamaw's."
"Bye Daddy," Miley said, then she sat down in the car and closed the door. "I'm getting' you back for that one, you know," she said to Lilly.
Lilly just grinned. "I was counting on it," she replied pleasantly. "You want me face down or face up when you collect?" she added, a slight blush coloring her face as she smiled her naughty smile, the one that always sent Miley's blood pumping harder.
"We'll start with face down," Miley replied, swallowing a bit as her throat abruptly went dry. "I like how cute your butt is when it's up in the air just waiting on me to touch you. It's got this little shiver in it..."
Now both girls were blushing slightly as the foreplay was starting a bit earlier than either had planned. Being in Tennessee always put a thrill in their lovemaking, for several different reasons. The beauty of the area was romantic in itself, and it being different from where the girls spent most of their time also heightened the amorous feelings between the two young women. But for both of them, the most powerful reason that being in Tennessee intensified their desire for each other was that it very tangibly showed that Lilly was and always would be a part of the family. Here they were accepted, their love for each other known by all of Miley's family, and while there had been some bumps in the road from time to time with a few family members, by now everyone had seen just how powerful the love between the two young women truly was. Even if a member of the family still personally didn't understand or agree with their love for each other, that love was at the very least accepted and respected. It was simply part of who Miley and Lilly were, just like their height, their smiles or their personalities.
They moved forward to kiss, and there was no pretext of the kiss being a gentle one. They hungrily pressed their lips against each other, each wanting more of the other than could safely be given at this moment. After several seconds, Lilly came to her senses and pulled back. Their lips separated with a soft pop from the wetness of their mouths, making both girls lick their lips. While neither of them had reapplied their lip gloss since boarding the plane back in Los Angeles, Lilly could still taste a touch of Miley's orange-pineapple gloss, and she savored that hint of her lover's taste. "We need to get to Misty Hollow," Lilly said, her speech slightly strained as she worked to breathe.
"Yeah," said Miley, her pupils fully dilated with desire for her wife. "I want you," she said firmly, and the honesty of her words sent a shiver down Lilly's back.
"I want you too, Miles," Lilly replied as she stared into Miley's warm eyes. Here in the car it was once again safe to use names, as for now it was just the two of them. Anyone standing in the hangar outside the car had simply faded away, leaving only the two of them in their own world for this moment. "And you can do whatever you want with me when we get there."
Now it was Miley's turn to feel a cascade of shivers roll down her back. "Mmmm, I like that," she said. She could feel her body respond in yet another, more intimate way to Lilly's offer, and she unconsciously crossed her legs in response. "Hope Mamaw still has the quilts up along the walls."
"If she doesn't, then I bet she'll find something to do outside for a while," Lilly said with a grin. Last Christmas the girls had found that Ruthie had hung several thick quilts over the walls of the guest room that Miley and Lilly had always used when they came for the holidays. While nothing was said directly about the sound-insulating properties of the thick, fluffy quilts, both girls had instantly known why the quilts were there, and the two immediately fell laughing onto the bed, amused, embarrassed and grateful all at the same time.
As Lilly started the car, Miley smiled and buckled her seat belt. Lilly's was already in place, apparently buckled as soon as she had gotten into the car. "I can't help it that you turn me on so much, Mrs. Truscott," Miley said as she reached over and gently removed Lilly's cap once they were out of the hangar, doing the same with her own immediately afterward. "Ugh, I hate wearing those things. Not sure how you wear 'em so much."
"You get used to them," Lilly replied as they made their way out of the Knoxville airport and onto the main road. "But I don't wear 'em as much anymore."
"I noticed that a while back. Why not?"
Lilly glanced at Miley out of the corner of her eye quickly, then she hurriedly fixed her gaze back on the road. "Because I like it when you play with my hair," she admitted shyly. "I'm hungry," Lilly said abruptly.
"I like it when I play with your hair, too," Miley said, reaching over to gently tuck a few locks of Lilly's soft blonde hair behind her ear. "You want to stop and get anything to eat on the way to Mamaw's?"
Lilly shook her head. "Nope. Nothing's stopping this car until we're at your mamaw's."
"But--"
"I said I was hungry, Miley. I didn't say it was for food."
Miley turned her body to lean back in her seat as she felt the sweat beginning to start at the small of her back. "You are so bad."
Lilly smiled, then she quietly added, "I will be tonight."
The car was quiet for several minutes as the girls drove through the small town between the airport and Misty Hollow. Miley settled for holding Lilly's hand, using her other hand to gently trace little lines and patterns on the back of Lilly's hand.
As the houses finally began to separate, Lilly knew they were getting close to the foot of the mountain that shielded Misty Hollow from the rest of the county. "She's not going to mind us taking some time to make love first, Miley," Lilly tenderly said, squeezing Miley's hand as she spoke. "In fact, she'd probably be mad if we put if off, knowing her."
Miley laughed. Lilly had known exactly what she was thinking about. Whom she was thinking about. "Yeah, she probably would," Miley answered. Her gaze drifted outside the car, focusing on the looming mountain ahead of them. Today it was lush and green, quite different from the dark patchwork of browns and red that decorated it during the fall and winter.
"We can walk up there after we make love, if you'd like."
Miley turned to look at Lilly. Even with the special connection they shared, sometimes Lilly could still surprise her with just how well she understood Miley, especially at times when Miley didn't think she understood herself. "I'd like that a lot, Lilly," she said, her heart swelling with happiness. "Thanks."
Lilly could feel Miley's joy growing within her own chest, and the intensity of that joy nearly took her breath away. She saw what looked like an old store ahead on the right; she slowed and pulled into the parking lot, leaving the car running as she shifted into Park. This close she could see that the store had been closed up long ago, but Lilly hadn't stopped to buy anything anyway. She popped the latch on her seatbelt and leaned across the car, wrapping Miley up in her embrace.
As Miley closed her eyes and let herself go in the warm safety of Lilly's hug, she could feel the lingering sadness of her mother's death ebb away, replaced by the glowing purity of Lilly's love and friendship. During moments like these the empathic connection between the two girls became shockingly powerful, and even now Miley could feel the love she carried for Lilly buoyed by Lilly's returned love for her. For long moments all Miley could hear was Lilly's heartbeat and breathing, all she could smell was the faint strawberry scent of Lilly's hair and skin. The only sensations that existed were the comforting touch of Lilly against her body and the fire of their love deep inside her soul.
"I told you a long time ago, silly, you're never going to have to do this alone again," Lilly said, feeling the thrumming of two hearts beating as one. "Not coming here, not being sad, not feeling down... Nothing. I'm always going to be here."
Miley leaned back to wipe her tears, but Lilly reached up and kissed them away, first her right cheek, then her left. The simple gesture sent Miley's lower lip into a quiver, but she steeled herself so she could talk. "I still thank God every day that he made us for each other," she said in a near-whisper, "and that He let us find each other as fast as He did."
"Me too, Miley," Lilly said in a matching soft voice. "Me too."
Once the girls had composed themselves, they resumed their trip. It only took another fifteen minutes to cross the mountain and descend down into the valley. Lilly had made this trip three times now, and she knew the way by heart. As they drove by the small gravel road leading to the cemetery where Miley's mother was buried, Lilly felt Miley gently squeeze her hand. She gave a little squeeze in return. They had lost three hours due to the time change, but it was still quite early in the day. Plenty of time was left to pay their respects.
Just a minute later they saw first the large barn, then the stately farmhouse that belonged to Ruthie Stewart. Lilly slowed and turned into the driveway, crossing over the bridge that spanned the small creek running parallel to the road and then driving a bit more quickly up the long driveway.
"You in a hurry or somethin', hon?" Miley asked as she noted the cloud of dust Lilly was kicking up behind them as she hurried up the driveway.
"Something like that," Lilly answered, not taking her eyes off the driveway and the farmhouse that stood at the end of it. As they reached the house, Lilly hit the brakes hard enough to crunch gravel under the wheels and send them sliding forward slightly.
"Whoa!" Miley said, bouncing back and forth in her seat. "Sweetheart, I'm not goin' anywhere. We don't have to--" She was cut off by Lilly coming across the bench seat and pinning her against the passenger door with a fiery kiss.
After some frenzied kissing, Lilly relented enough to stare into Miley's eyes, now gleaming with passion. "You most certainly are going somewhere. That bed in there." Lilly pointed with her head, a single jerk in the direction of the house. "Now."
Miley fumbled behind her for the door release, quickly finding it and opening the door. Thanks to her grip on the door and Lilly's grip on her she didn't fall backwards, but it was close. Together they got out of the car and grabbed their suitcases out of the trunk. Miley slung their bathroom bag over her shoulder, then she tugged one of their big suitcases out of the trunk. However, Lilly simply threw their garment bag and shoe bag on top of the other big suitcase and then picked up the entire pile, leaving the trunk for Miley to close.
"Brat," Miley said playfully as she slammed the trunk closed and hurried after her girlfriend.
As they climbed the steps and then crossed the front porch, Lilly only hesitated a moment as she stood at the front door, then she opened the door to let Miley step inside. "Hey Ruthie!" she called out. "We made it!"
Miley smiled as she stepped inside. She and her grandmother had both told Lilly repeatedly that she didn't have to knock before she came into this house; she was family now, and she had as much right to be in this house as anyone else.
"Hello, little doodlebug!" called a voice from the room just inside the door. Lilly dropped her stack of bags and ran across the large living room to where Ruthie was sitting, sewing a quilt.
"We missed you, Mamaw," Lilly said as she dropped to her knees and gave Ruthie a warm hug. "It's good to be back here."
"It's good to have you two back," Ruthie said, patting Lilly on the back as she returned the hug. She peered up to see Miley kneeling down right before she wrapped her arms around both of them. "Glad I didn't have to wait 'til Christmas this time, Miley May," Ruthie said, giving Miley a serious look. "You two should visit more."
"We will, Mamaw, now that we're gonna have a bit more time," Miley said.
"But don't you slack on your studies," Ruthie added as Miley and Lilly stood. "College is very difficult, and you two need to have a backup plan in case the whole Hannah and Lola thing doesn't work out."
Lilly gave Miley an amused look, trying not to laugh. She and Miley could retire right then and live quite comfortably for the rest of their lives as well as take care of their future children and their children. But Miley simply nodded her head and said, "Yes, ma'am. That's what we're plannin' on doin'."
"Good girls. You two are just dears." Ruthie looked back down at her sewing and resumed her work on the quilt. "This quilt's for the two of you. Should be done with it before you leave to go back to California."
"Aw, that's so sweet!" Lilly said, reaching down to feel the fabric until a slap on the back of her hand made her jerk her arm back.
"Can't touch it 'til it's done," Ruthie said matter-of-factly. "Bad luck otherwise."
Miley was struggling to not laugh, which Lilly immediately noticed. Lilly shook her hand, which really hadn't been smacked that hard; it was more the surprise of it that startled her. But she's really treating me like one of her grandchildren. Lilly felt a faint smile creep across her lips as she considered that, but then she felt warm fingers take her stinging hand and gently lift it up. She looked up to see Miley raise Lilly's stinging hand to her lips and then gently place a lingering kiss on the back of her hand. Oh Miley, Miley, Miley. If only you knew what you were doing to me... But then every nerve in Lilly's body sprang to attention as she felt Miley give a sensual lick across the back of her hand. She met Miley's gaze, which was now smoldering with desire, desire echoed in Lilly's body as well. Lilly was speechless, held raptly by Miley's touch and gaze, but Miley managed to speak for both of them.
"We're gonna go lay down for a bit, Mamaw," Miley said, her voice a bit deeper than usual for conversation. She began to lead Lilly to the hallway that led to their guest bedroom, never releasing her grip on Lilly's hand.
All Lilly could do was silently follow where Miley led her. At least we got out there without Mamaw making some comment to embarrass Miley and me.
"I'll turn up the TV so you girls don't have to worry about me hearing anything!" Ruthie shouted from back in the living room, making both young women walk faster as they hurried to the bedroom.
As soon as they were inside the bedroom and the door was closed, Miley essentially attacked Lilly, throwing her onto the bed as they both shed their clothes. "I want you so bad," Miley breathed as she leaned down atop her wife, kissing her deeply.
"Then take me," Lilly answered as they parted for air, her pupils bright and full as they glanced across Miley's face, taking in all the tiny details of her lover and best friend that Lilly knew so well. "I'm yours, Miley... forever."
Miley paused for a moment, matching Lilly's intense stare into her eyes. "I know," she said seriously. "And I'll never make you regret it, Lilly Bear."
Lilly reached up and gently ran her fingertips over Miley's left cheek. "And I know that," she replied, smiling up to the woman she had always been destined to be with. The woman with whom she fit together perfectly, forming a pair so complete that there was no doubt they had been created only for each other. "The only thing I'm regretting right now is that you haven't gotten my pants off yet," Lilly said, sticking the tip of her tongue out and then pulling it back in quickly.
Miley grinned as she lifted Lilly's head up for another kiss, then she set to work dispelling her wife's sole regret.
After nearly two hours, Miley awoke from the light nap she and Lilly had fallen into after making love. She felt Lilly's legs wrapped around her own, one leg threaded between Miley's and pressing in a very pleasurable spot. Instinctively Miley slid her pelvis forward, eliciting a happy sigh from Lilly and triggering a surge of pleasure in herself.
"Naughty Miley," Lilly mumbled as she buried her left hand in the dark depths of Miley's hair and pulled her lover closer for another kiss. "You feel better now, hon?"
Miley nodded as she began to kiss Lilly's warm neck, her skin still slick with delicious sweat. "Much," Miley answered. "You're gonna be sore tomorrow," she added, a bit hesitantly.
In response Lilly just looked into Miley's eyes and smiled. "It'll be worth it. You love doing that, and I love letting you."
Miley hugged Lilly even closer than the two young women already were. "It's like everything we do when we make love is just..."
"Amazing? Exciting?"
"Ahhh, I can't find the right word for it!" Miley said before she sent a puff of air straight up out of her mouth, lifting a wispy curl of her hair momentarily. "Everything just feels good, like it's something that we're supposed to do."
Lilly tickled the tip of Miley's nose, getting a giggle from her girlfriend. "That's because everything we do to each other, we do it out of love, Miley. That's why it always feels so good. So right."
Miley opened her left eye and looked at Lilly out of its corner. "How'd some blonde surfer girl like you get so dang smart?" she asked teasingly.
Lilly reached down with her left hand and ran it gently across Miley's bare ribs, feeling more than hearing her wife's sharp intake of breath at her touch. Then she curled her fingers and tickled Miley, grinning at Miley's yelp and thrashing as she tried to escape Lilly's now-firm grasp on her.
"Lilly! AH!" Miley shouted as Lilly held fast with her legs, arms and body, refusing to be dislodged. "AHH! You stinker! STOP!" She rolled over, ceding being on top to Lilly as she tried to escape.
Lilly smiled and relented, ceasing her tickling and then kissing Miley on the nose. "Now that you're awake, let's go see your mom," she said as she tucked Miley's long curls out of her face.
Miley simply looked up and smiled. There was no fear now in seeing her mother, no trepidation. She had Lilly to thank for that, too. In fact, the more Miley thought about it, the more she realized just how much of her happiness was tied to the beautiful blonde tomboy leaning over her. Without Lilly, life would be...
Pushing that thought from her mind, Miley said, "Okay. I think she'll be happy to see us." As they got up from the bed and got dressed, Miley's mind completed her earlier thought unbidden. Without Lilly, life would be survival. Nothing more. No happiness, no joy, no anticipation of birthdays or anniversaries or parties or concerts. It would all collapse to nothing without Lilly. Miley shivered as she suppressed the unwanted imaginings of such a life as they sprang unbidden from her unconscious, clamoring for her attention.
"Hey," Lilly said as her head popped out of the neck hole in her shirt. "You okay, Miles?"
Miley nodded her head. "Yeah, I'm good. Just trying to push some negative thoughts back out'a my head."
Lilly looked at Miley knowingly. She had a very good idea at what type of thoughts would be bothering Miley right now, since they were getting ready to visit her mother's grave. She's still worried about something happening to me. She knows I'll never leave her, even that way, but she's still worrying. Lilly handed Miley her shirt as the slightly taller brunette finished fastening her powder blue bra. Lilly smiled to try and lighten the mood as she said, "Sweetheart, I swear you're never going to get rid of me. Even if something bad were to happen, I'll always be with you." Miley kept her head down as she pulled her shirt over her head. Lilly stepped over and tipped Miley's chin up until she was looking into Miley's eyes. "Hey," Lilly said, her smile now gone and her face serious. "Miley, please let me take this worry from you. You had thought your mom was gone too, but she still tries to look out for us, right?"
Miley nodded slowly, seeing Lilly's point. "I know you're never going to leave me, Lilly, but--"
"But nothing," Lilly interrupted. She put her arms across Miley's shoulders, crossing them at her wrists behind Miley's head so she was holding Miley. "I swore to love you and be with you forever, Miley May Stewart Truscott, and I'm keeping that promise. So stop worrying about that."
Miley looked a bit embarrassed. "Okay," she agreed. "I love you, Lilly. For everything that you do and everything that you say. For everything you are."
Lilly smiled. "Love you too. Now let's start walking. Your mom's waiting."
After telling Ruthie where they were going, Miley and Lilly set off for the cemetery, walking down the narrow, winding road that served the Hollow. It was barely big enough for two cars to pass, often with a bank, trees, a drop-off or some combination of the three along its edges. Lilly could see why this road was so dangerous during the winter, even before it started to ascend the mountain. Today, however, it was nothing short of beautiful. "Miley, is it like this all the time in the summer?" she asked, taking in all the trees and flowers surrounding them.
"Yeah, it's really cool, huh?" Miley answered, unable to keep a smile off her face. "See the squirrel?" she said, pointing off to the side of the road ahead of them.
"Oh, it's so adorable!" Lilly said, the pitch of her voice rising into the "cute zone," as Miley liked to call it. "It's eating a little nut!"
The squirrel stood a little straighter, then it abruptly took off, leaping twice before scampering up a nearby tree. Ahead of them the sound of a car signaled its approach.
"Scoot off the road a bit," Miley said. Lilly followed her, carefully watching her step.
The car turned a corner ahead of them, revealing itself to be a small red sedan of some sort. As it approached them, it began to slow, then finally stopped. "Miley Stewart?" said a woman's voice from inside the car, surprise lacing the words.
"Yeah..." Miley said, carefully stepping back into the road and walking around to the driver's window. Lilly followed behind her girlfriend, curious to see who this was. "Oh my gosh!" said Miley excitedly as she looked into the car. "Amy!"
"Yes!" said the teenager driving the car. She was roughly Miley's and Lilly's age, with short black hair and sunglasses pushed up on top of her head. "I thought you moved to Nashville!"
Miley turned to Lilly, grinning. "Lilly, this is Amy Hearon. We went to grade school together until I moved! We used to run around together all the time growin' up." Miley took Lilly's hand and pulled her forward until they were standing beside each other. "Amy, this is Lilly." Miley looked at Lilly and smiled. "The most amazing person in the entire world," she added.
"Hey Lilly. You two meet in Nashville?" Amy asked.
"No, California," Lilly clarified. "Malibu, where we live now."
"California?" Amy said, her eyes big. "Lord have mercy, what in the world made you move all the way out there, Miley?"
Miley scuffed her shoe on the rough paving of the road. "Daddy got a job out there writing songs, and then after Momma died, we just--"
"What?" Amy said hurriedly. "Oh Miley, I am so sorry. She was one of the finest ladies I ever met in my life."
"We're, uh, kind of on our way to see her now," Miley said. "She's buried in the cemetery up the road."
Lilly put her arm around Miley. This was easier for Miley than it used to be, but Lilly thought that it would probably never be easy. "We always stop and say hello to her whenever we come back here."
Amy looked a bit unsettled, and truthfully she was. She had been pleased to see her old friend, and the last thing she had wanted to do was dredge up painful memories. "I'll let you two go pay your respects, then. Some of us are goin' into West Town Mall and then the movies later this evenin'. Ya'll wanna come with us?"
Lilly gently said, "Whatever you want to do, Miles."
Miley considered for a minute, then her smile came back out. "That sounds like fun," she said. "What time?"
"Probably around five or so. We're not sure what we're gonna see yet."
"Okay, we'll meet you there. Nobody's gonna mind us taggin' along?" Miley asked.
Amy shook her hand and waved her left hand dismissively. "Heck no. Plus I bet that Jane and Kristy will be plumb tickled to see you again!"
Miley's mouth fell open. "Oh my gosh! You still run around with them?"
"'Fraid so," Amy said with a guilty smile. "May be a few others comin' tonight, too. Our graduation is Thursday, and those of us who got exempt from semester tests have a couple days off while everyone else is takin' theirs." She started her car back up. "I'll see you two later this evenin'." She waved at Lilly and added, "Nice to meet ya, Lilly! You take good care of this little troublemaker here."
"Oh, it's a full-time job," Lilly said happily, waving back with her free hand. As Amy drove off, Lilly and Miley resumed their walk. "I think I like her."
"Yeah, Amy was always great," Miley said. "Jane and Kristy were never really good friends with me, but we still played together. It might be nice to see them again."
They walked in silence for a while, finally reaching the gravel road leading to the small cemetery. As they followed the small road deeper into the woods, the sound of gravel crunching underneath their feet proved to be a steady companion for them. Lilly noted that Miley was quieter than usual. Normally she would talk, sometimes nervously, as they drove to the cemetery. But now she was quiet. "Penny for your thoughts," Lilly said, lightly bumping shoulders with Miley.
Miley sighed lightly before she answered. "I don't want anyone to say anything ugly to you tonight," she finally admitted.
"Why would they?" asked Lilly, confused as to why such an event would happen. After all, she was planning on behaving herself, because she was interested in meeting some of her wife's old friends and listening to—. "Oh," she said simply as she realized.
"Yeah," said Miley, her voice a bit glum. "I don't care what they say to me, but I don't want anyone being ugly to you, Lilly."
Lilly stopped suddenly, and with a tug on Miley's hand she spun her best friend around to face her. "Stop it, Miley," she said softly. "You do too care what they say to you, just like I care what they say to me. We're a lot more protective of each other than we are of ourselves when it comes to that, but it still hurts when people say cruel things. And with them being old friends that you grew up with, I can understand why you're worried about how they react when they find out we're together." Lilly hesitated before she continued. She hated to ask this question, because it went against what they believed in, but she was willing to make a sacrifice for her Miley. "Would you... like us to keep it a secret tonight? When we're with them?" she asked slowly.
Miley's face quivered for a second, but then she shook her head resolutely. "No. Absolutely not."
Lilly's heart soared again at Miley's honest answer. Thank you for not being ashamed of us. Of our love and our life together. "Okay," she said, smiling as she gave Miley a quick kiss on the cheek.
Miley took Lilly's hand as they began to slowly walk again. The crunching of the gravel gave way to the soft sounds of feet on a stone path as Miley moved behind Lilly and wrapped both her arms around her wife as they carefully walked. "I'm never going to hide our relationship, Lilly. It's part of who I am, and I'm proud to have such a terrific partner in my life."
"I like that word," Lilly said, leaning back against Miley slightly. "Partner. That sums it up really well. But I still like wife, too."
"You're both of 'em to me. Oh, and sex slave too."
"Pfff. You are my sex slave, woman. And you love it."
Miley grinned. "Yeah, I do. Now watch what you say, you might embarrass Momma."
Lilly looked down. Sure enough, there before them was the large headstone that marked the resting place of Brooke Stewart, Miley's mother. Lilly sat down in front on the large polished granite stone and kissed her fingers. She then pressed her fingertips against the carved name centered on the headstone. "Hi, Mrs. Stewart," Lilly said softly.
Miley knelt down as well, resting on her knees beside Lilly as she used her fingers to place her own kiss on her mother's headstone. "Hey Momma," Miley said, her voice soft but much more secure than it had been the first time Lilly had accompanied her here to this sacred place. "We just graduated high school. It still hasn't really sunk it yet, but we're gonna be goin' to college in a few months."
"We got into USC, which isn't too far from our house in Malibu," Lilly continued. "Miley's still not sure what she's going to major in, but I think she should go into finance or marketing."
Miley rolled her eyes. "Finance?"
"You do really good with managing our money, Miles."
"With Daddy's help."
"You've learned a lot from him, honey. But I still think you'd do great in marketing."
"Not singing?" Miley asked, a smirk on her face.
"Uh, no. Too obvious." Lilly took Miley's hand, then she looked back at the cool gray of the stone beside them. "I got accepted into the Acting program in the Performing Arts college."
Miley rubbed a soft patch of bright green moss beside the headstone. "Lilly thinks she might want to teach drama when it's time for us to retire from our other jobs, Momma. I think that she'd make a great teacher, and I bet you do too."
"Thanks," Lilly said, giving a glance at her friend. "I'll make sure Miley goes to class, Mrs. Stewart. Don't you worry about that."
"Oh, please!" Miley said, laughing. "Who blew off class the other day because she had surfed too hard the day before?"
Lilly snickered as she remembered that day clearly. "And who was cuddled up in bed with me that whole day?" she asked sweetly.
Miley smiled at Lilly. "You're a bad influence on me, Truscott."
"The worst," Lilly said as she leaned forward and captured Miley's lips in a deep kiss. "But I love you with all my heart and soul."
Miley shifted position, pulling Lilly into her lap as she leaned back against the smooth, cold stone. Words would have been inadequate to fully express her feelings at that moment, so instead she let her lips express them in a different way as she held her Lilly tightly.
In the woods just outside the boundary of the cemetery, a woman with long, chestnut-brown hair and sparkling eyes of blue smiled as she watched her daughter and daughter-in-law express their love and devotion for each other. Seeing what had been a place of tears for her daughter become a place of love brought tears of joy to her eyes, and she marveled again at how powerful the bond between the two young women in front of her had become. She composed herself after only a few tears had fallen, and she silently blew them both a kiss. The wind complied with her wishes, gathering itself into a light breeze that covered the peaceful cemetery, finally brushing lightly against Miley and Lilly.
The two young women stopped at the touch of the gentle breeze. "Do you think your mom's here?" Lilly asked as she looked into Miley's eyes.
Miley thought for a few seconds, then she said, "Yeah, I do."
"Me too," Lilly said, smiling at the Tennessee girl she loved more than anything else before she looked up at the blue sky. "We love you, Mrs. Stewart. Thanks for everything you've done for us."
Miley swallowed and said, "Love you, Momma. I promise we'll always make you proud of us."
As the faint figure of Brooke Stewart began to fade, she whispered, "You always have, girls. And I love you too."
Afterword: I wasn't expecting to cry when I started writing this chapter, but something about that cemetery always moves me deeply whenever Miley and Lilly are there. I think it's because of how intensely private a place it is for Miley, and how big a deal it is that she wants Lilly there with her. The intensity of Miley's feelings about her mother can be overwhelming to read or to write, and I often feel like I can't do an adequate job of conveying them with words. Just know that I'm doing my best. Next chapter we get to meet some of Miley's old friends. How exactly are they going to react when they realize the nature of our heroines' relationship?
Sorry about updates taking close to two weeks again. We had lots going on between this chapter and the last one, including moving my office to a much better (and affordable) location, but most of the moving headache is over now, thankfully. Still no Internet in my new office, but hopefully that'll be fixed sometime this week. I'll try to keep the updates as timely as possible, but I want to make sure that I've done the story justice before I post anything. See you soon, and hope life is treating you well!
Jo