Demi

I felt Miley get up from the couch after I turned over. I wanted to reach up and grab her hand and ask her to stay but I didn't have the strength to open my eyes let alone reach out for her. Instead of doing so, I attempted to go back to sleep. A bit later, I smelled the coffee she was making and I could hear her working around the house, but again I just had no motivation to move. I finally drifted off to sleep after the lingering smell of her coffee vanished from the air. It wasn't until she opened the curtain across from the couch where I was sleeping that I finally opened my eyes. I groaned when I did.

"Come on Dem, time to get up." She said quietly from across the room. She was just loud enough for me to hear.

I groaned again and turned over. I buried my face in the couch cushion to block the blinding light streaming into the room.

"Demi-"

I shook my head furiously not wanting to hear what she had to say. I just wanted to lay here forever. I could just die here for all I cared. I hear her cross the room and it went silent. I knew though she had actually knelt beside the couch instead of leave the room. I just knew she was there. I could feel it, part of the connection we had.

"Look, I know you don't want to get up, but it's almost 3 in the afternoon. Your parents and sisters are going to be here soon and you need to cook." She put her hand on my shoulder but I shrugged her off.

"Demi-" she tried again.

I sat up facing her but I didn't look at her. I put my head in my hands instead.

"Demi, you can't cancel your dinner plans now. It is your family after all. Besides, He would want you to still celebrate with your family."

I knew she was purposefully not saying his name for my sake. I also knew she was right.

I nodded my head then. "Ok, ok, you're right." I rasped out. My voice was still tired from both sleep and sobbing. I slowly got up and made my way to the kitchen, Miley closely following behind. She decided to stay and help me cook. After we were finished, there was still a half hour before my family was due to arrive.

I soon realized something as Miley and I finished cleaning the mess we had made cooking. "Wait, is your family not coming today?"

"My mom called this morning. I told her what was going on and they agreed to wait and come tomorrow morning."

"Oh." I said quietly.

"I should probably get going though." She said then. "There's still things I need to do before they come."

"Alright." I still spoke quietly.

"Call me if you need anything and I'll be right over, ok?"

I nod.

"Promise?"

I nod again.

"Say it."

I smiled slightly at Miley's quirkiness despite myself. "Promise."

She smiled too. "Good. I'll be back over later tonight."

I nod as she hugs me tight. "I love you."

"I love you too." We stand there a moment just hugging. I love her hugs. After a bit, she let me go, flashed me a comforting smile and then left. At that moment, I decided to take a nap. I had only been awake for about an hour but I was just so emotionally exhausted it made me physically exhausted.

After climbing into bed, I pulled the covers up to my chin. I looked over to my nightstand where a picture of Nick and I sat.

"I miss you so much baby. Please come home safe." I whispered to the picture. A tear slipped down my face as I closed my eyes. I ended up silently crying myself to sleep.

"Demi, Demi, it's time to wake up! I want to eat so we can open presents! Deeeemmmiiii"

'I swear I just went to sleep 30 seconds ago.' I thought to myself as I heard my little sister Maddie trying to wake me up. When I didn't move, she decided to jump on me.

"Ooff!" I groaned when she landed on me. I gave her a small smile. "Hey, baby girl." I rasped. I kissed her forehead.

"I missed you." She said as she flung her arms around my neck.

"I missed you too baby girl." I hugged her back. She released me after a moment and looked into my eyes. "Dem, are you ok?"

"I-I'm fine. Why do you ask?" I know I was lying to my own little sister, but I just wasn't ready to share the news with everyone.

"You look like you've been crying."

"I'm ok, Maddie. Just dealing with some grown up stuff ok?"

"Demi," She almost sounded as if she was scolding me. "I'm thirteen years old now, not seven. That isn't going to work anymore."

I sighed, "I know, you're absolutely right. I'll tell you, mom, dad and Dallas when I am ready though, alright?"

"Alright."

"Good, now come on let's go eat. You're going to love what I got you for Christmas this year."

"Yay, presents!" She hurries past me and runs down the stairs. I giggled. Thirteen years old but still acts like she is six sometimes, I wonder who she got that from? I smirked to myself. I knew exactly who she got that from. Me.

It was just minutes before midnight when Miley came back over. I was sitting on the couch by myself just staring at the fire.

"Hey." She quietly said to me breaking me from my thoughts. I looked up at her and gave her a small fake smile. I stood up to face the fire. I wasn't trying to give Miley the cold shoulder but I was just too emotionally and physically drained to deal with anyone right now. She seemed to ignore my obvious action to ignore her as she came over and stood next to me.

"Where is everyone? I thought they usually stayed until after Christmas."

"I told my mom what happened and they left early."

"Oh, Demi" She moved to stand in front of me.

At that moment, the grandfather clock in my dining room began striking twelve catching us off guard but only for a moment. She reached forward to hug me.

I shook my head at her before she could do anything. "No, don't. No more pity parties. You go spend Christmas with your family and the man you love. Don't ask me to come because I know you will. I just don't want to spend Christmas with anyone this year."

"Not even me?" A voice said from behind me.

My mouth dropped. I knew that voice anywhere. Miley looked passed me and grinned. I slowly turned around and there he was standing in the living room door way. I felt the color drain from my face. It felt as if I was face to face with a ghost.

"H-how did-? I-I mean they said-" I couldn't even coherently finish a sentence as he approached me pulling me away from the fireplace and toward him.

"I told you I'd always come home to you." He then pulled me in for a kiss as the clock struck twelve.

He then rested his forehead on mine. "Merry Christmas baby." As we pulled away from each other, I could see Miley wiping away a tear from the corner of her eye.

I went over to Miley and wrapped my arms around her waist silently thanking her for being there. She went home soon after.

I turned around and faced him after Miley left, tears once again cascading down my face. "I-I never thought I'd see you again. H-how did you make it back?"

He smiled down at me. He wiped away my tears with his thumbs. "Come on." He said to me and lead me over to the couch. "When my camp was attacked, there were six total snipers in the area. We separated to make it harder for the snipers to take us out and to make it easier for us to sneak up on them. I was shot in the foot while trying to sneak up on a guy. My partner never knew I was shot. Some how we got separated and I ended up lost. I tripped and fell unconscious when I hit my head on a rock." It was then that I noticed the large boot on his foot. I was found early this morning wondering around incoherent. I was dehydrated as I was gone several days. I was given fluids and taken directly to surgery when I arrived to the main infirmary. I was in surgery for a couple of hours and when I awoke I over heard someone say I had been reported missing and that you knew. I was told I needed to stay a few days before I was allowed to go home but I refused to stay put. I knew I needed to get to you so you wouldn't be worried about me. I didn't want you to think I was dead." I smiled slightly at this as he continued. "It was just a huge series of unfortunate events that can happen sometimes."

"Baby, I'm so sorry." I whispered.

"Hey." He kissed my temple. "Don't be like that. I see this as a blessing in disguise. Now that I am injured, I can no longer be deployed."

"But you love being in the army."

"Yes, but I love you more. Being away from you and then thinking I was going to die and never be with you again made me realize I'd rather stay home anyway. I am never ever going to leave you again."

"Promise?"

"Promise." He pulled me into a hug as if to seal off the promise. My head was leaned on his chest. I sat for a moment listening to his heartbeat. The sound I was afraid I'd never hear again.

A little later, I showed him the photo album I made. We reminisced on our memories for a good hour. Afterwards, we went up to our room, where he reminded me of how much he loved me.

I lay down on his bare chest exhausted. He wrapped his arms tightly around my waist. I looked over again at the picture on the nightstand with my eyes barely opened. I smiled to myself. This had actually ended up being the best Christmas ever. and it had barely begun. I had received the best Christmas present anyone could have ever given me. My best friend back at my side again With that thought running through my head, I closed my eyes; the strong sound of Nick's heartbeat lulling me to sleep.