Part 6
"Hey..." Came Miley's tired voice as she spotted the figure in the doorway. Nick walked further into the room and smiled sweetly at her.
"Hey... how are you feeling?" He asked softly as he sat down on the chair at her bedside.
"Better... tired..." She extended her hand and he was quick to reach out for it and hold it in his larger one.
"Why aren't you sleeping then?" He brushed a few strands of her hair out of her face and let his hand stroke her face.
"I had a nightmare..." Her cheeks reddened as she realised what a baby she was being.
"Why are you blushing?" Nick chuckled. "You embarrassed, baby?" He smiled softly at her as she nodded.
"Yeah I feel a little stupid for calling you just because I had a nightmare..."
"Mi what's wrong?" He asked her seriously sensing that the content of the nightmare was truly bothering her.
"I just... dreamt that you asked me to marry you... and when I said no y-you l-left me..." Her voice started quivering by the end of her confession and Nick pulled her into a hug.
"It was just a dream, Miles... it's not gonna happen, ok?" He told her while pulling away to give her a kiss on the lips. Miley's hormones got the better of her in that moment and the tears started flowing down her cheeks. Nick held her tightly against him as she cried, murmuring reassuring words into her ear. When her tears finally stopped falling, Nick took a step backwards to take a good look at her.
"Are you ok?" Miley asked as she stroked his cheek, running her fingers over his tired looking features.
"You're the one in hospital, Mi!" Nick chuckled.
"I'm talking about what happened before..." Her voice trailed off and he quickly caught on.
"No more marriage talk, Mi... We have the rest of our lives to talk about that... let's just concentrate on bringing this baby safely into this world when it's time, alright?" He smiled at her, hoping to ease up her worries.
"We're going to talk about it Nick... if not now then tomorrow or the day after..." She replied stubbornly. She was the only one who could read the pain and the confusion in his eyes and she knew she owed him an explanation as to why she had rejected his proposal. Her heart broke whenever he was in pain and she wanted nothing but to fix everything but she knew now was not the time.
"We can talk about it as much as you want in a little over 4 months..." Nick told her as he pressed his lips to her forehead.
"Nick..."
"Not now, baby... We don't want a repeat of what happened earlier so please... just please sleep." He told her seriously, pleading with his eyes. She fell back onto her bed and sighed. "Come on babe, I'm just trying to look out for you... for us... for our family..." He smiled as he added the last sentence and covered her bulging tummy with his hand.
"I love you..." She smiled at him and he grinned in response. "And just so you know... that ring was gorgeous..." She told him sweetly, a smile never leaving her face.
"I love you..." He whispered as he rubbed her bump and pressed his lips to hers in a sweet kiss. "Now go to sleep..."
"Will you sing?" She asked cutely.
"A lullaby? Alright here it goes...
Rock-a-bye, baby, thy cradle is green"
Miley giggled as she silenced him by holding up her finger to his lips. Nick grinned boyishly and quickly changed songs:
"If time were still If it's you and me forever
The sun would never never find us
We could light up
The sky, tonight
I would see the world through your eyes
And leave it all behind
If it's you and me right now
That'd be alright
Be alright
If we chase the stars to lose our shadow
Peter Pan and Wendy turned out fine
So, won't you fly with me"
"Good night my Wendy..." He murmured against her forehead as he gave her one last kissed. He sang the chorus once again and smiled as her eyes dropped closed and she let sleep overtake her tired body. He kept her hand in his and laid his head on her bed to relieve his aching neck and shoulders.
..................
"Hey Mi-"
"Shhhh!" Miley put her finger to her mouth motioning for Demi to be quiet. She pointing her chin to the sleeping Nick who was in the same position as the night before: sitting on the chair at her bedside with his head lying on the bed. Miley's hand was tangled in his hair as she ran her fingers through it lightly enough not to wake him.
"Oh sorry!" Demi whispered as she walked to the other side of Miley's bed. "How are you doing?"
"Alright... slept a LOT." Miley giggled softly.
"How's the little one?" Demi motioned to the bump that could be seen through the white sheet covering most of Miley's body.
"Seems good... Kicking a bit." Miley smiled as she brought her free hand to rub her swollen tummy.
"That's good to hear... So... I believe you have something to tell me?" Demi wiggled her eyebrows suggestively and Miley stared back in confusion.
"Huh?"
"The guy you love asks you to marry him and you say NO?" Demi narrowed her eyes at her best friend who sighed.
"It's more complicated than that Dems."
"Oh really? How about you tell me about it cause I really don't get why you would say no and hurt him like that!" Demi's tone got a little louder as she crossed her arms over her chest, waiting for an answer. Miley motioned for her to keep it down so as not to wake Nick.
"I don't want to get married just because of the baby... I just feel like that's the only reason he asked me... otherwise he wouldn't have... he would have waited if at all he ever did ask me." Miley reasoned.
"Sweetie it doesn't matter! He loves you and it's clear that he's ready to have a family with you!" Demi told her stubborn best friend. "Miles I know you want to marry him just as much as he wants to marry you!" Demi told her, a smirk playing on her lips.
"Of course I want to marry him... just... not in these circumstances. I'm sure he only asked me because I'm pregnant."
"Then how would you explain that he bought the ring over 8 months ago?" Miley lifted her head up at the sound of Joe's deep voice. She hadn't even noticed him walking into the room.
"He w-what?" Miley's eyes were wide and her heart was pounding against her chest. Demi's mouth was gaping, she was almost as shocked as Miley.
"He bought it over 8 months ago. He was waiting for the right time Mile... he wanted to marry you before you even got pregnant." Joe whispered, making sure Nick was still sleeping and wouldn't hear the piece of information he had given away to Miley.
"B-but we had just turned 20 then..." Miley stuttered, still in shock about her discovery.
"But he loved you. He wanted people to know just how serious the both of you were about each other. He was thinking of having a long engagement if you didn't want to get married so young." Joe added. Demi remained quiet throughout Joe's confession and suddenly everything made sense. In the past 2 years Nick had taken so much more time off work, spending a lot more time with Miley and stopping by the set or the studio when she was working. He had become a lot more present in her life and made sure she didn't resent the fact that his career was this intense. When they had moved in together he had made sure to always come home before a certain time even if she didn't come home until later. The few times he had no choice but to work late he had always called to let her know and made sure she was alright with it. The efforts he had made were noticeable and Demi could tell that there was only one person who could pull Nicholas away from his music.
"I can't believe this... I'm so stupid..." Miley whimpered as she buried her face in her hands. How could she have doubted Nick? Of course he loved her... and he wanted to marry her because he wanted to be with her, baby or no baby.
"Miles? Are you ok?" She heard a sleepy voice ask her. She looked up to see Nick sitting up in his chair and looking worried. "Are you alright?" He repeated as he saw her pained expression. He brought his hand up to her cheek and stroked it lightly feeling her warn skin always seemed to calm him.
"I'm fine..." She smiled reassuringly as she relaxed under his touch. Joe and Demi took it as their cue to leave and Miley sent Joe a grateful smile as he winked at her before closing the door behind him and Demi.
"What was that about?" Nick frowned as he noticed the glances Joe and Miley had exchanged. Miley remained silent as she closed her eyes for a few seconds, taking in all that she had been told.
"Should I get a doctor?" He asked again, worried by her silence.
"Nick, I'm fine!" Miley laughed lightly at her overprotective boyfriend.
"You're so quiet..." He pointed out.
"I can't believe it." Miley spoke up as she glanced at her bare finger, the one on which an engagement ring could be if she hadn't been so stupid.
"Believe what?" Nick asked, a frown appearing on his tired face.
"I can't believe I said no. I should have known..." Her voice trailed off as she shook her head at herself.
"If this about what I asked you yesterday, we're not talking about it." Nick said firmly as he kissed her forehead.
"Babe, you're hurting. I can see it your eyes..." Miley said as her expression saddened.
"I'm alright, Mi." He smiled reassuringly but she could still see the hint of pain in his eyes.
"Don't lie to me." She pleaded as she took his hand in hers and stroked it lightly.
"Miles..."
"Tell me what you're feeling. Tell me how bad I hurt you." She wanted to feel his pain. She wanted to take it away.
"Mi that's not important right now."
"Tell me." Her voice hardened and he knew she was too stubborn to let it go.
"Alright... It hurt. I never imagined you would say no. We've talked about marriage before... and I remember you saying you wanted to meet me at the altar. I can't help but wonder if you changed your mind over the last few months... maybe you just don't see me as that man for you anymore." Nick admitted with difficulty. Miley's heart shattered as she realised just how much she had hurt him by trying to protect herself. How selfish could she be? She wiped away the tears before they could roll further down her cheeks. Nick remained quiet as he watched the pain in Miley's eyes. It was like his pain mirrored onto her.
"Why didn't you tell me?" She whispered as she finally got the courage to look into his eyes. "Why didn't you tell me you wanted to marry me long before I even got pregnant?"
He took a moment to realise that's what Joe had told her earlier on.
"I didn't think it mattered." He replied simply as he looked down at their intertwined hands.
"You're right. It shouldn't have mattered. Because you wanted to marry me for me... not just because I am carrying your child."
"Mi, it's ok... when the time is right it will happen..." He smiled softly at her before joining their lips in a passionate kiss. Miley let out all her emotions in that kiss and Nick could feel just how sorry she was. So just like her, he put his emotions in it as well and let her know that he loved her more than anything, no matter what.
"The time is right..." Miley told him with a smile when he pulled away and rested his forehead against hers.
"Huh?"
"The time is right. It's our time to be happy and get married." She told him before capturing his lips in another kiss.
"W-what?" He muttered in shock, when she finally pulled away to breathe.
"Let's get married..." She told him happily, a large grin plastered across her face.
"Miles..." Nick tried to say something but she cut him off.
"I wanna marry you... I would right now if I could!" Miley giggled at his bewildered expression.
"Y-you wanna marry me?" He asked, just to make sure he wasn't hearing things.
"I want to marry you." She repeated for the second time in the last minute.
"Miles are you sure?" He couldn't help but ask. Miley playfully rolled her eyes and pulled him in another breath taking kiss.
"Does that answer your question?" She asked him with a smile as she stared into his eyes.
"I j-just..." Nick was beyond shocked. She wanted to marry him. After all the scenarios he had imagined, she wanted to marry him. She wanted to become his wife. "So we're getting married?" Although it sounded like a question both knew that no answer was needed. They already knew the answer.
Nick fished in his pockets to pull out the ring he had showed her just over 15 hours earlier. Miley bit her lip as he pulled it out of its box and grabbed her left hand. His gaze met hers, as if asking permission, before sliding the beautiful band on her finger. It was a perfect fit, just like they were a perfect match for each other.
"I love you..." Miley's eyes became teary as she looked from the ring to Nick who was grinning from ear to ear.
"I love you so much..." He whispered against her lips as he placed a hand behind her neck and pulled her in for a passionate kiss. Miley placed his other hand on her stomach and they smiled into the kiss when they felt the small kicks of their baby. They heard a round of applause behind them and pulled away rather rapidly to find their respective families standing at the door watching the whole scene. Miley buried her blushing face into Nick's chest as he held her against him, smiling brightly at everybody who had piled into the room.
"Looks like we have a wedding to plan!" Demi squealed as she rushed over to Miley's side and pulled her into a hug. Miley giggled as more happy tears filled her bright blue eyes.
"Congrats bro... and sis!" Joe told them as he man hugged Nick and placed a kiss on Miley's head.
"I'm speechless..." Came Denise's motherly voice as she hugged both her son and her daughter in law to be. "I'm not going to tell you welcome to the family because you've always been a part of it!" Denise told Miley with a sweet smile.
"Thank you Denise. That means a lot." Miley sniffed as she hugged her again.
"Now dry up those tears..." Denise told her as she cupped the younger one's face and dabbed the tears away with her thumbs.
"Hormones..." Miley chocked out as another batch of tears rolled down her cheeks. Denise let Nick take her in his arms and kiss the tears away. Miley smiled through her tears and laughed at herself.