Disclaimer: Based on real events, but some things are made up to help the story. Slight AU. Goes in a different direction.

Chapter 34 - March 3rd, 2017

"Running in my bloodstream, these scars are the way that you loved me. I guess that you have to leave a tattoo to remind me." - Excerpt from Tattoo, Hilary Duff

"I thought you took the dogs out for a walk!"

"I did it yesterday!'

"Well, I was busy today! The studio—"

"Oh, is work all you care about now? What about me?"

"This coming from the guy waiting for us to just break up. Are you freaking serious?"

Demi shook her head, regretting coming over to Miley's house. It was only late afternoon, but she didn't understand how things could become so messed up already. Joe was by her side, and he exchanged a brief glance with her. Demi turned back to the fight between Liam and Miley. It was quite fascinating how things had progressed. They had been fine just a few hours ago—now, it seemed as if they were picking fights out of anything and everything.

She watched Miley glare at Liam. "God, what's gotten into you? Since yesterday... I didn't want to mention it because you already looked pissed off."

A scowl worked on Liam's jaw. "Are you serious?"

"Don't put this out on me," Miley retorted. "Why can't you just tell me what's going on?"

"Don't act like you don't know—you've obviously—"

"I what?" Miley demanded. "What did I do now? Because you're grasping at straws, and I have no idea what page you're on!"

"You guys, just shut the hell up!" Demi roared.

"You stay out of this," Liam hissed.

"Don't yell at Demi!" Miley thundered. "Just shut up! Ugh, I can't stand you!"

Liam threw his hands in the air. "Then break up with me! Or maybe I'll save you the trouble and break up with you instead!"

Demi stared, not knowing how to salvage their relationship—but, really, she wasn't sure she wanted to. Liam's hands were balled into fists, and Miley's gaze was ferocious and merciless. Those two wanted to hurt each other as much as they could. Demi exchanged a glance with Joe, and they stepped between Miley and Liam. "Miley, come on," Demi growled. "You're coming with me."

Miley didn't even argue. She shot one final dark look at Liam and walked with Demi. Demi took them to her car and began to drive. Then, once they were outside Demi's house, Demi parked. "Come on," Demi barked. "But you take your anger out on my house, I'll introduce my fist to your face." Miley shrugged a little and entered. Demi locked the door behind them. She grabbed two glasses of water and handed one to Miley. "Miley, what's with you and Liam?" Demi exclaimed.

Miley stared at her water. "I don't know. He's been off. And then, I made a joke about our relationship, and he got all mad..."

"Miley..."

Miley stared with seeing. "And then we just started fighting about everything and nothing at all! He's being unreasonable! It's like..." Miley bit her lip as a few tears rolled down her face. Sympathy washed down Demi's spine. She lightly touched the back of Miley's hand emphatically. "It's like we were fighting just to feel something," Miley whispered softly. "I don't know what to do anymore. We were fine earlier."

Demi stroked Miley's back. "Honey, I'm sure you guys didn't mean anything you said."

Miley sniffed. "We weren't even fighting about Nick that time."

Demi found that odd. Usually, the only thing—or rather, person—Miley and Liam would fight about was Nick. It was always Nick time and time again. Sure they quarreled a bit—but those things weren't big. Now, Miley and Liam were yelling at each other... about who walked the dogs? Demi didn't understand. She turned towards Miley. "But he's been acting weird all along, right?"

"I guess," Miley mumbled. "But everything kind of just—exploded."

"Huh..."

Miley shook her head. "For a second... when he said that thing about him breaking up with me... it looked like... well, like he really meant it."

Demi's eyes widened. "You can't think like that, Miles!"

"Come on. He looked so angry and hurt but... he also looked like he meant what he said."

Demi rolled her eyes. "That's just how things in a fight happen. You mean what you say in the heat of the anger and then gone—you regret it after."

"No..." Miley said slowly. "It was... different."

Demi watched Miley struggle to hide her emotions. Demi knew that Miley didn't mean to, it was just a natural habit, a weakness that Miley couldn't shake. Demi squeezed Miley's hand and murmured, "Hey... believe what you want, but I don't think it means anything. You've had many fights with Nick before. Words like 'I hate you' or 'you're the worst' were thrown, and you guys didn't mean a single word."

Miley shook her head. "But I did hate him. A little. For breaking me. Or maybe it wasn't hate. Maybe it was just anger." Miley turned to Demi. "He's been the only person to break me down completely—I guess that was because was just a teenager and new to everything: heartbreak, lies, secrecy, relationship love. It hits you just a little harder for the first time, but it never really gets easier."

"And you had Liam rebuild you," Demi murmured.

Miley nodded. "I was so grateful. And then that gratitude turned into something more..."

"Tell me the truth," Demi demanded. "Who makes you happier: Nick or Liam? Don't lie to me, and don't lie to yourself, more than anything."

Miley closed her eyes, troubled, but Demi didn't back down. She was sick of all the drama hurting her best friend, and surely it was time. Demi sure as hell didn't want another fight to wage on for another year, and she was sure Miley didn't want that, either. Liam was blatantly losing his patience—and perhaps his mind, too—and it wasn't fair to either Nick or Liam. Miley knew that, Demi knew she did.

But Miley's personality made her not want to hurt anyone, especially those she was closely associated with.

"I..." Miley stopped short and stared at her hands. She took a deep breath. "That's tough, Demi... But right now? It was great before. Liam and I... we were just... unstoppable. And then, I guess... somewhere before even Nick, we grew a little distant... So basically, Nick timed it just right. I don't..." Miley bit her lip. "Nick couldn't have know that Liam and I were having some problems..."

"So it's fate then," Demi decided.

"I love Liam," Miley murmured, "but I love Nick, too." Miley made a face. "This is just like Miley Stewart choosing between two incredibly amazing guys: Jake and Jesse." Miley groaned. "Why is life so hard?" Demi smiled at the words Miley had said. Yes, it was as if fate was summoning this up. But Miley Stewart had ended up with Jesse. She had met Jesse second. Miley had met Liam second.

But what if it could change?

Demi could tell that Miley was thinking about this, too. "To be honest, I think I'd be happier with Nick... right now, I mean. Ask me a few years back, and... I don't know. But now?" Miley shook her head slowly, a strange expression crossing her face. "Everything has changed. We've grown up a bit, and..." Miley shook her head and looked up at Demi. "I think if we tried, we could make it..."

"Then why is there doubt in your voice?" Demi challenged.

Miley took a deep breath. "I care so much for both of them... I guess it feels... strange. And people are going to talk."

"People always talk, sweetie." A wry smile crossed Demi's lips. "I thought if you two would ever get back together, it would be on June 11th."

Miley smiled. "The cliches that come with love... All the various June 11ths... But you're right about one thing, I guess. I'm still... still in love with Nick. And it's not fair keeping Liam trapped... I don't know. Maybe I could've completely written Nick off, but he made the sweetest gesture ever... I'm not sure if I want to get back with Nick just now, but I don't think I want to be with Liam anymore."

Demi grinned. "At least you're sure of something."

"I said 'I think.' But... if I do this, there would be no turning back."

"If it was going to happen anyway, what's the use of delaying it?"

Still In Love Somehow

"Dude, what's up?"

Liam stared at Joe. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Joe rolled his eyes. "Do I look like Kevin? I mean, I've got better hair, and I'm not nearly as oblivious—"

"God, Joe," Liam said, chuckling.

Joe smirked and crossed his arms. They were at Liam's and Miley's place (Joe had blatantly told Liam that he didn't want his furniture to pay the price of Liam was still feeling snappy), and they were on couches which were a hell of a lot more comfortable than Nick's. Joe put a wise scholar look on his face that made Liam roll his eyes. "Okay, Miley said that you were acting all weird since yesterday—judging by the, ahem, conversation."

Liam closed his eyes as if it hurt to open them. He winced. "Maybe... maybe something happened."

"YOU CHEATED ON MILEY?!"

"No! Of course not!" Liam exclaimed, eyes wide.

Joe nudged him in the ribs. "I'm just joking."

Liam glared. "That wasn't funny." Joe shrugged. Whatever Liam said, Joe knew his jokes were funny. Why wouldn't they be? He was Joe Jonas, for God's sake. Liam tilted his head thoughtfully. Then, a resigned expression crept on his face. "Maybe something did happen. Yesterday... yesterday I went to Nick's place..." Joe's eye bulged. "To talk, you know?" Liam said somewhat awkwardly.

Joe gasped. "You and Nick—in a room—and nothing exploded?!"

"This isn't the time for your jokes," Liam reminded him.

Joe rested his chin in the palm of his hand. "So what did you say? What did he say? And why the hell didn't I know?" Joe demanded.

"Not everything is about you, Joe," Liam said wearily. He shook his head. "We talked about Miley... He gave me some advice," Liam added in a dull, flat, emotionless voice. Joe raised a brow, and Liam sighed a little. "He told me that if I told Miley that I was waiting for her to break up with me, I should be break up with her myself... To show that I was ready."

"But..." Joe shook his head. "You're never going to be ready."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence."

"No," Joe said impatiently. "I meant that it's never going to get easier... things like this. Especially an engagement. This is a break up on a whole new level."

Liam closed his eyes. "I don't want to." He looked up. "But I don't have much of a choice, do I?"

Joe bit his lip. "When you think about it like that..." He pulled out his phone. "I'll call Demi... and we'll get Miles over..." Joe looked looked up. "I'm not going to ask you if you're ready because you're never going to be ready for this kind of thing, but... once you take one look at her face, you should know." Liam nodded slowly, and Joe called Demi. "Demi?" he murmured quietly. "Can you come? With Miles, of course."

Demi's answer was slow. "Of course." There was a pause. "It's time, isn't it?"

"I think so," Joe murmured.

Joe and Liam waited for a painful five minutes before Demi and Miley showed up. Both girls wore blank masks, gazes emotionless. Miley looked up at Liam once before turning back to Demi, looking... afraid. Joe headed to Miley's side and lowered his voice. "You okay?" he murmured. He locked gazes with her, and she nodded a little, shaking. Then, Joe held his hand out to Demi. Demi slipped her hand into his, and they stepped back.

Miley looked up at Liam. "Did you mean what you said?" Miley asked. Her voice didn't tremble, it was steady.

Pain filled Liam's gaze. "Yes," he whispered. Miley closed her eyes and looked at him, waiting. Joe watched countless emotions spread across Miley's face. He could see her right hand curled, and he knew that she was holding the ring. Liam reached out and touched Miley's face. "You understand?" he whispered, pained racked on his face. He looked absolutely stricken. He did love Miley. Why else would it hurt so much?

"Of course." Miley's voice cracked.

Joe felt Demi squeeze his fingers, and he squeezed back, hoping to reassure her. Joe turned towards Demi and saw tears streak down her face. Joe wrapped his arms around Demi as they both watched the scene play out, exactly like a movie. Demi leaned into his chest, and Joe felt like he was intruding on Miley and Liam. But if Demi wasn't leaving, he wasn't, either.

Miley reached forward and kissed Liam softly on the lips. Then, she curled her delicate fingers around his hand—with her left hand. "I love you," Miley whispered. Liam closed his eyes, and Miley hugged him. Joe could see tears streaking down the Australian's face as he held Miley close. When they pulled back from the embrace, Miley met his gaze. "Say it," she murmured.

"I don't think that... that we can work out," Liam choked out, anguish visible in his gaze.

Tears trailed down Miley's face. "Liam..."

"I think—" Liam closed his eyes briefly. "We need to break up, Miley." Both were crying pretty hard by now, and Joe felt tears streak down his own face. He knew Demi was already crying. And then, Liam was hugging Miley again, arms wrapped around her tightly. Joe was sure Miley was holding Liam just as tightly. Pain was etched over both of their faces, pain and hurt and regret and love.

"Liam," Miley whispered, and he pulled back from the hug. Then, Miley took his hand gently—with her right hand—and when she pulled her hand away, Joe could see the glistening diamond ring in Liam's palm. So that was it. The engagement—gone. Whatever wedding planned—gone. Their future—out the window. All it left them was pain, a horrible ache that filled up their hearts.

"I love you," Miley whispered. "I love you so much."

"So much yet not enough," Liam choked out. "I love you, I love you more than anything."

"We were good," Miley whispered, squeezing his hand.

"Unstoppable," Liam agreed quietly.

"Can we... can we still be friends?" Miley whispered. "I know that's a bullshit break up line, but..." Liam didn't respond. Instead, he wrapped his arms around Miley, embracing her. It made sense that Miley would ask that. Liam was her entire life for a long time, and she still needed him, just as she needed Nick. Joe had no doubt that Miley and Liam had loved each other very much. Perhaps in a different lifetime, Joe's idiot of a brother wouldn't make a gesture that would lead to the end of Miley and Liam.

Liam sighed, tears budding in his eyes. "You're the best," he whispered.

Miley placed her hand over his heart. "I'm sorry." She was still crying.

"Me, too."

Joe turned towards Demi and hugged her silently. They both knew it would end this way. So why had it hit them harder than ever?

Still In Love Somehow

"Are you okay?"

Miley looked up at Demi and Joe. "No, not really," Miley admitted. Why bother hiding her emotions anymore? They had both seen her cry.

"That's to be expected," Joe murmured. "So what're you guys going to do about the house?"

Miley sighed. "Well... we're probably going to sell it or something... Get our own places—but first actually buy other houses before selling it, you know? It'll take a while, and... I don't know... I don't want to leave him." Miley paused. "I don't want to promise him to be friends and then just... not call or anything at all. Living together still... I don't know. It's going to be hard."

Demi squeezed her arm. "What about Nick?"

A sudden pang erupted in Miley's chest. Emotions rushed in Miley's heart. She was sure she wanted a future with Nick—pretty sure, at least; why else break it off with Liam?—but it seemed so utterly twisted and wrong to just rush to Nick's side right after the break up. Miley was sure that it would hurt horribly, and she didn't want to do that to Liam. She still cared about Liam, and that just seemed wrong.

And the media was just going to make this even harder. People were bound to find out—they always did.

Miley closed her eyes tightly. "I..." Miley faltered.

Joe watched her, gaze intent. "Yeah, maybe we should leave that question for later." He shot a sharp look at Demi. "You going to be okay, Miles?"

Miley nodded but didn't speak. She stared at her hands and sighed. Thoughts raced through her mind. Nick, Liam, Nick, Liam. Over and over and over, the thoughts swarmed through her head, threatening to consume her. Miley closed her eyes and brushed her fingers against her rib cage, remembering the words Just Breathe tattooed there. Miley let out the breath she didn't realize she was holding.

She looked up at Demi's kind eyes and Joe's knowing ones. "I'm going to be fine," Miley mumbled.

Demi wrapped her arms around Miley. "It's going to get better," she promised.

Miley felt Joe join in on the hug. "Demi's right," Joe murmured.

They sounded so confident and empathetic...

And Miley believed them.

QotD: What do you think the sequel's title should be? What do you want it to be?

A/N: Hey, it's Darky! Mhm, intense chapter, right? I'm deciding... that the next chapter will be the last. I'm going to try to make it longer than normal, but a big decision factor was the whole 'good number' for the ending. I didn't want to end the story with, like, 34 chapters. For me, 35 seems a whole lot better. But I didn't think I should put everything in just one chapter, too. So Miam's done with. Will Niley happen? Tell me your thoughts?

And I know, I know, the ending for this chapter: just crappy. Could've done a lot better, I think... But oh well. And have you guys heard Noah Cyrus' new song? Stay Together. Haha, the whole Cyrus family is talented. Billy Ray - country star. Tish - film producer. Miley - need I write an explanation? Trace - guitarist in Metro Station. Braison - actor. Brandi - actress. Noah's going up there! ;)))

There is going to be a sequel! ;)) Don't know when, but I'll definitely tell you more about it! Maybe in the summer! Wouldn't that be awesome?

Check out my Niley videos on YT, which is VA darkwind! I think I have 5 total Niley videos! Give me more ideas?

Review your answer to the QotD! Tell me your thoughts? I appreciate it though you don't need to. But who doesn't love reviews? ;)

- Darky