Miley smiled at Nick in the morning the next day, waking up.

"Good morning, Sunshine," she giggled as he squinted at the penetrating light casting into the room.

"Morning," he yawned, sleepy.

"How are ya?"

"Tired. What time is it?"

His girlfriend laughed once again. He always wondered how she had so much energy. Inside though, she was feeling horrible. She hated showing emotion so last night when Mrs. Gray saw her crying in the kitchen Miley felt horrible. She didn't show weakness, or emotion. She always at least acted happy. It was her duty; as a friend, as a girlfriend, as a sister, as a daughter, and even as a mother. She tried to ignore, bottling them up. Somehow it seemed so much easier than talking about it.

"It's eight."

"Too early," he said, whacking her with a pillow. She bent down and softly pricked his lips.

"All better?"

He nodded, pulling her back in. She wrapped his arms around his neck, him doing likewise, pulling her closer. She was his warmth in this world. Her smile was priceless, her kisses even better. He would do anything if it meant even seeing her. She was his light.

"Ahem," his mom coughed. Miley quickly jumped away, madly blushing red. Her entire face slowly turned a crimson. "What would you two like for breakfast?"

"I'll make it," Miley stood up, smiling.

"That's okay, Dear. I - "

"It's fine, Mrs. Gray. I owe you big time for last night," she said. "Now, you relax. But before I go, what do y'all want for breakfast?"

"Can you make pancakes?" Nick asked.

"Sure thing, Stud. See y'all in a few."

"What did you do for her last night?" she heard Nick murmur on her way out.

"She kept me entertained while some people snored. Loudly," she winked. It wasn't a lie. Miley made sure to never tell a complete lie. That was simply not the entire truth. She did keep her entertained, just not in the way most mothers do. She talked about how her son's boyfriend had already had sex – every mother's dream conversation.

Miley went into the kitchen, opening the pantry. She had no problem finding anything really. Vegetable oil took her awhile more to find but other than that it was fine. She knew this house like the back of her hand. She had been here more times to count and she loved food so usually they spent a great deal of the time in the kitchen. Nick joined her after a couple minutes.

"I missed you," he whispered seductively.

"I've been gone for what, two minutes?"

He smiled, resting her chin on her shoulder. "Two minutes and thirty four seconds. Any minute without you is a minute wasted though."

Miley turned, smiling at him. She gradually leaned in towards his lips. "Aw. That's so," she flicked flour in his face last minute, pulling away from the kiss. "cheesy!"

"I love you, what can I say?" he shrugged. She laughed, rolling her eyes. "Now come give your boyfriend a kiss." she sighed, giving in.

"No kissing while making my breakfast, please!" Joe yelled from the other room, causing them both to quickly pull away. Joe was now up, they knew that much.

She set the table for seven, knowing everyone would eventually get up for breakfast. She got out the silverware, and condiments they would need. Soon enough everyone in the house was gathered for breakfast, a pancake steaming on each plate with a stack more in the center.

"What are you doing?" Joe asked, looking at her like a maniac as she put her favorite topping on the pancake.

"Putting on peanut-butter. Is that a problem Joseph?"

He shook his head quickly, backing away in fear.

"Your a good cook, Miley!" Frankie smiled up at her cheekily.

"Thanks," she blushed at the attention. She felt a pair of eyes on her and looked up to see Mr. Gray staring at her. She sighed facing back to her food, knowing that Denise must have told him. She couldn't exactly blame her, he was her husband.

"You okay, Mi?" Nick asked, concerned.

"What?" she jumped. "Oh, yeah. I'm fine."

"Okay," he said unconvinced. Miley simply flashed her bold smile at him.

"Miley, do you know if Noah's at home today?" Miley laughed at his vivid interest in her little sister.

"Yeah, I'll send her here when I get home."

"Can I walk you?" Nick asked hopeful. He knew the answer, though. It was always the same, and while he felt like she was pulling him in then pushing him away, he couldn't stop trying. That would be giving up on love.

"Nope."

"Why not?" he whined. Mrs. Jonas looked at her, eyebrows raised. She was curious to hear her explanation as well. She had never heard her excuses before. Inside Miley got nervous, palms sweaty but on the outside she kept her cool. She winked at him.

"I have priorities," she obnoxiously teased him, pronouncing it clearly, smiling cutely at her boyfriend while batting her eyes. It was true.

"And what are these 'priorities'?"

"It's a...." she searched for the word. She couldn't say secret, but she couldn't say nothing either. "surprise."

"For me?"

"I guess you'll have to wait and find out," she smirked, knowing she had won. After three years of excuses you became pretty good at it, to the point that you could get yourself out of anything without suspicion.

"fine then," he grinned, discreetly wrapping his arm around my waist. "I guess I'll have to wait and see."

I smiled. "Believe me, you'll eventually find out."

"Good," he pecked her temple, the rest of the family mixing in a chorus of 'ew' and 'aw'.

"I love you," she whispered to him, keeping her voice low. "always remember that."

"I will always love you, Babydoll."

She smiled, blushing furiously. It was the corny moments like these she loved the most. It was never an 'I love you' out of habit. Each time the three words came out she felt the power of them, meaning them each time as well. The butterflies returned. She had only one wish; that it could stay like that forever. It wouldn't though, because it couldn't. But no matter where life took her, Miley did really believe that her love for Nicholas Gray would never fade.

Miley sighed, looking at her guitar. She felt the urge to suddenly play only one song that she wrote so long ago. Why did this all have to happen to her, what did she do? Was she bad to God once, was this some type of... revenge? Or was it a blessing, she couldn't tell.

Finally she gave in, starting to warm up before playing the memorized notes. They were inclined into her heart, not because she still loved who it was about, but because she had to remember the causes of actions. That she had to listen when people said no because they were probably right. The lyrics poured out of her mouth, one word followed by another.

I said don't do it babe,
said it ain't worth it, babe,
but you did it anyways,
four or five drinks any you were on your way...

She officially hated alcohol and every effect it had. Slowly the chord faded away into nothing. She got up, going downstairs. As much as she wanted to isolate herself days like these to stop and think, she knew that she couldn't. She had other responsibilities to attend first. She was about to walk into Caitlin's room when her dad stopped her, calling her over. She didn't want to go, but obeyed anyways. She always did, after all.

"Miley, when are you going to tell Nick?"

"When the time is right," she nodded. She had been telling herself that for the past nine months.

"The time is never going to be right. You need to be brave and tell him anyways, though. His Mom knows, isn't it only fair that he should know too? You can't hide forever."

"But I can try."

"You have until Friday."