I began sobbing uncontrollably as the words Joe had just said upon me inviting him inside echoed in my head.

"Demi, I don't know how to tell you this but we've received word that Nick has gone missing after an accident. They've listed him as MIA until they can find him or his remains but it doesn't look good."

My knees buckled and I fell to the ground as Joe continued to explain what had happened. My best friend, my world, my everything was missing. Joe fell with me stopping mid sentence as his hands had been on my arms. He caught me as my knees his my floor. I tried to shove him away immediately but he was stronger than I was. His arms were much like Nick's in size, strength and gentleness but there was only one pair of Johnson arms I wanted around me right now; the only pair that made me feel at home in only a hug and they weren't Joe's. Joe soon released me though as he noticed my struggle to get free from his grasp.

"I'm so sorry, Demi. Really I am. Is there anyone I can call to stay with you. I would myself but I need to get back to my mom. I left her alone to come give you the news. Kevin can't fly in until tomorrow and Dad is still with Uncle Dave until he recovers from knee replacement surgery. Besides I doubt it's me you want to stay with." He was rambling a little but he kind of had a point. Things had been a little awkward between us since a stupid fight I had had with his girlfriend, Blanda. He had of course taken her side and said things he didn't mean but were still hurtful. Blanda and I had made up since then while Joe and I still had work to do on our relationship.

"No, it's fine. I'll call someone." I had somehow managed to calm down enough to speak. How I did so is beyond me.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I got it. Go be with your mom. I'm sure she's as heart-broken as I am, if not more.

"Ok, if you're sure." He got up from his kneeling position and looked down at me. He had a look on his face as if he were unsure if he should actually leave or not.

I gestured for him to go on. "Go." I added to the gesture.

"Alright, bye Demi." With that he walked out of my house.

I sat on the floor a moment and let out a few more sobs as I hugged myself around my chest. Moments later, I pulled myself together enough to at least get up from the floor and find my phone. I only wanted one person to be with me right now; the only one that lived close by and could get here quickly. My best friend since childhood.

Next, the hard part, was getting the girl to understand me in between my sobs. I found my phone, unlocked it and pressed speed dial number 3. It rang three times before a sleepy voice came over the other end.

"Hello?"

It wasn't until then that I actually remembered how late it probably was. Time had gone out the window in the last five minutes. I glanced at the wall clock. It read 10:30 pm. My friend usually went to bed early in the days before Christmas. Her family would show up to her house either on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day and they always came early. I quickly waved my worry. I needed her here and I needed her now.

"Miley?" My voice cracked.

"Demi? What's wrong?" She was wide awake now and I imagined she was now sitting up in bed having heard me sob.

"Come please? I can't-" I cut myself off as hard sobs began to erupt in my chest. I was very quickly losing what composer I had some how gained and now it was getting harder to breathe.

"I'll be right over." With that I hung up the phone. Normally she would want to stay on the phone with me until she arrived. This time though I just couldn't. I collapsed on the couch and began to cry more. I sat there for a moment then I wiped my tears as I became angry. Thoughts invaded my mind that I couldn't control.

'He always promised to come back to me.'

'How could he do this to me?'

I looked around my house at all my decorations. To me it now represented happiness. A feeling that now seemed like a stranger to me though I was just feeling it ten minutes ago.

'I fucking hate Christmas.'

The next thing I know my Christmas tree is on the ground with the glass ornaments smashed. Stockings are thrown around the room with their nails lying around the carpet. My wreath is in pieces and the mistletoe was thrown into the fire. I even picked up my now empty mug and threw it across the room. It crashed into the wall and shattered into a bunch of pieces. I collapsed to the ground again breathing heavy. Now guilt filled my conscience, and I began to sob again.

Minutes later my door flew open revealing Miley. She had her own key that I had given to her ages ago. She looked around the room shocked at the disaster area I had created. Then her eyes landed on me and whatever she had thought at the time was no longer important.

"Oh, honey." I got up and ran to her. She gathered me into her arms, and we slowly fell to the floor. She pulled me onto her lap. She rocked back and forth as I sobbed into her neck. She ran her fingers through my hair while whispering into my ear. Things like 'It will be ok', 'shh' and 'I love you Dem.'

We stayed like that for a while until my sobs settled and were just loud sniffles and a hiccup here or there. I was actually about to fall asleep where I was curled up against Miley. It was close to midnight by now I figured and I had tired myself out. Before I could doze off though, she pulled me gently off her shoulder and looked at me. She wiped my remaining tears with her thumbs.

"Demi what happened?" She asked gently. I looked down as more tears filled my eyes. She slowly lifted my chin with her finger so I was looking in her eyes again.

"You don't have to tell me now if you don't want to." I shook my head. It needed to be now. I needed to get this off my chest before I got myself angry again. Who knows what would happen.

I took in a shaky breath. "H-he's missing-" I cut myself off not even able to say his name.

"Who? Who is missing?"

I fiddled with my engagement ring still unable to udder his name. Miley immediately picked up on what I was implying and gently took my hands in hers. She rubbed her thumbs on the back of my hands encouraging me to continue.

"A few days ago, there was an accident at Nick's camp. I paused for a moment swallowing hard trying to keep another sob from escaping. For a moment there was silence while I composed myself. Miley said nothing. She just waited patiently for me to continue.

I soon sighed and continued. "I didn't hear much of what Joe said as the shock of the news that Nick was missing made me block out the rest of the explanation. Something about a snipers and they are still looking for him even though it's already been a week since it happened.

I began to cry again once I finished. Miley still stayed silent. She didn't need to say anything and she knew that too. All I needed was for her to be there for me. After a moment, she lifted me from the floor and brought me over to the couch. She sat first and then I lay across the couch, my head in her lap. I silently cried to myself as she ran her fingers through my hair.

After another half hour, my crying once again turned into sniffles. I yawned and quickly was finding it harder and harder to keep my eyes open.

Miley seemed to take notice. "Dem, go ahead and sleep. I'll still be here when you wake up."

"W-what about your family?" I wondered aloud.

"Don't worry; right now you're more important. They'll understand."

I felt guilty for a moment. She needed to spend time with her family and her own love. She hadn't seen her family in a long while, but I nodded instead of protesting; knowing I wouldn't win.

I quickly slipped into a restless sleep to the comforting touch of my best friend's hand running through my hair.

Miley

I sat quietly listening to Demi's breathing; my hand still running through her hair. Her breathing soon deepened and I knew she was sound asleep. I had a feeling though her sleeping wouldn't last very long. She was notorious for having nightmares when bad things in her life happened. At the moment though, I looked around the room. Christmas decorations were lying around in disarray. 'Damn.' I thought to myself. I knew if anything did happen to Nick, she'd hate Christmas forever.

I slowly got up from the couch, lifting Demi's head carefully to not wake her. I needed to clean up this mess. I wasn't the only one that would have family over to celebrate Christmas tomorrow or later today as it was now 1 a.m. Demi's mom, dad and two sisters always came over every year for a Christmas dinner and opening presents. Her younger sister didn't need to see this.

I started with the fallen tree first. It was a fake tree so it wasn't too difficult to deal with and it was small as well. I picked it up from the ground and placed it back on the stand. I replaced the branches that were torn off in Demi's fiery rage and sadness. I straightened the lights and replaced the plastic ornaments that had fallen off. Once that was done, I got a broom and swept up the glass from the glass ornaments. I then picked up the stockings from the floor and the nails that were lying around everywhere. Still not wanting to wake her I chose to tape the stockings to the fireplace and I'd nail them in the morning. I put them in order the way I knew Demi liked it, starting with her father and her mother and finishing with her younger sister's stocking at the end. I sighed when I noticed the pieces of what I knew was once the wreath lying in a pile, the big bow on top. It amazed me how everything else was thrown around while that was not. I knew there was no way I could put it back together so I tossed the pieces in the trash. I had an extra one I'd bring over later. After further examination, I noticed that her mistletoe, her favorite decoration since Nick and Demi began dating, was missing. I looked around everywhere and that's when I saw the fire. I had a pretty good idea what happened at that point. I sighed again. I guess she won't have mistletoe this year.

I looked around the room impressed with my work. Suddenly, I heard a whimper. I looked over and saw Demi her head lifted up blindly feeling around the couch in her sleep. I hurried over to her grabbing her hand. She squeezed it in her sleep and I rubbed her back.

"Shh, Demi, its ok I'm still here." I whispered quietly in her ear. This seemed to settle her as she laid her head back down on the couch. I soon decided I needed to sleep as well. This time I tried to wake Demi so we could move to her bed and have a more comfortable night sleep. But instead of waking, she whined and turned her head away from me. I sighed and tried again but she still didn't budge. I chose then to admit defeat and I climbed onto the couch and laid down behind Demi. There was no way I was going to leave her alone in the state she was in. I could have chosen the chair but in my now sleepy stupor, I didn't think about it. Thankfully, for the both of us, she had a fairly wide couch. I draped one arm around Demi's waist and upon feeling me there Demi subconsciously lifted her head and I tucked my arm around her shoulder so it rested under her chin. She snuggled into me as I settled down. Anyone on the outside looking in would probably question our actions, but this is how Demi and I are. How we have always been. She is my sister, my best friend and I will always protect her; comfort her and that action is mutual.

I soon closed my eyes and slowly fell asleep, my face snuggled in Demi's hair.

I slowly opened my eyes the next morning to the sun shining through the window. I looked down at the girl lying next to me. She was now facing me, snuggled into my neck. Her right hand clung to my t-shirt like she was scared I would disappear as well if she let go. I laid there for a moment and then my phone began to ring. I reached above my head and got my phone off the side table. My mom's name flashed on the screen. I answered quickly so the ring tone wouldn't wake Demi though it did cause her to stir. My mom was calling to say they'd be on the way in an hour. I told her they needed to wait and when I explained to her what was going on, she agreed they'd wait and come the following morning instead. I hung up the phone a moment later. Demi stirred again as I placed my phone back where I had it. She began to whimper again as well. I softly rubbed her back and combed my fingers through her hair much like the night before. After a bit, she settled down again and turned over facing away from me.

Once I knew she was asleep again, I figured I should get up to further inspect the house other than just the living room. Normally, today for her would be cleaning day, for her family's arrival tonight. She always liked to do things at the last possible moment.

To get up from the couch, I slowly sat up from my laying position behind Demi. Then I very slowly and carefully, climbed over the sleeping girl's feet. I wobbled as I stood up from the couch having been at a weird angle for climbing over her feet. As I stretched, some joints popped. I guess I should have tried harder to get Demi to move to her huge king sized bed rather than sleeping in a right space on the couch.

I slowly made my way to the kitchen while trying to rub a crick out of my neck. I had pretty much slept in the same position all night. I put on a pot of coffee and checked the time. 8:45 a.m. the clock on Demi's stove read. Her family would be here in about 7 hours for dinner. I made my cup of coffee and sat at the table.

Usually, right now I'd be engaging in some sort of conversation with Demi if I was here or if I was at home I'd be watching tv or doing chores. This time though, I just sat in my usual spot in silence. I sipped my coffee just thinking. I thought about Demi and I, but mostly I thought about Demi and her fiancé. This should not be happening to her of all people. When New Years came, as Nick was supposed to come home a couple of days after Christmas, she needed to be sharing yet another New Year's kiss with the one she loved not worrying over him. I mean she has barely started her life with the guy! I have no idea how I would stand this if the same happened to Cole, my boyfriend of three years. A silent tear escaped my eye as I thought about this. I quickly wiped it away before it could make its way down my cheek. Now was not the time for wallowing for Demi, chores needed to be done. I finished the last of my coffee and got to work.