Chapter 4

Home Coming

"When is the surgery again sweetie?" Maddie asked

"Monday in the morning. I'll call you in the afternoon. Okay?"

"I just wish I was there." Maddie worried.

"I'll be alright and Miley will be there to take care of me."

"I know, but its not me."

"No. It's not you, but I know you want to be here to take care of me honey."

…beep…you have one minute left on you call…beep…

"I hate that announcement." Maddie complained.

"Yeah, I do too, but the call is free."

"That is the only thing that is keeping me from scream every time it goes off." Maddie laughed.

"I'll call you just as soon as I get in the house okay?"

"Yes and if you wait one second longer, I'll have to come out there and fix your little red wagon."

"Good. The axle is bent, the wheel is broken, and it needs a new coat of paint." Jackson laughed at his joke.

"Yeah, I'll get on that right away. Not."

"Ouch."

"I love you."

"I love you too."

"Bye." They said at the same time.

-----

Jackson hung up the phone and looked sad.

"Cheer up Jackson. You'll be seeing her at Christmas break."

"Sure rub it in Coop. You'll be seeing Helen when we get back home."

"And I can't wait. Oh, sorry about that." Cooper said as he saw Jackson's face.

"No, it's okay. I shouldn't be jealous of you. I should be happy. After all, you get to see your girl again. Maddie and I knew it would be like this when we started our relationship."

"Can't you just go and see her anytime you want. I mean you guys are rich after all."

"Well, we are and we aren't."

"What you talking about J-man? Your sister makes millions!"

"Yeah that's true, but 80 of the money is all tied up in trust funds and college funds. The other goes to paying for everything. Dad only takes enough for us to live on."

"Ouch! That's harsh."

"You get use to it."

"Wait a minute. You have a trust fund?"

"Yep. I happen to have enough not to work if I wanted too."

"Must be nice J-man."

"Yeah. That's why dad's doing all of this. He wants to teach us what it really takes to live in the world."

…knock…knock…knock…

Cooper went over and answered the door.

"What are you guys still doing here? I thought you were going to the farewell party." Kelly said as she walked in the door with Jenny and Stuart.

"Come on guys, it won't be a party without you."

"Uh oh, I think someone just got off the phone with his girlfriend." Jenny said looking at Jackson.

"Then the only thing to do is to drag him off to the party and make him have fun. Who's with me?" Stuart asked. Cooper, Jenny, Kelly and Stuart grabbed hold of Jackson and started to drag him out the door.

"Alright, you win. I'll go." Jackson laughed as his friends pulled him through the door.

-------------------------------------------------

Miley, Robbie Ray, Helen, and Mr. & Mrs. Lawson wait at the get as the plane parked. After what seemed like forever for Miley, the doors opened and the passengers started to leave the plane. Miley and Helen wait as best as they could as the follow continued. Miley hear her brother and Helen saw Cooper as both girls moved toward the gateway door. They both found their target at the same time

"Jackson!"

"Cooper!"

As Helen lead Cooper off to where his parents where, Robbie Ray moved over to his son.

"Welcome back son."

"Thanks dad. Uh, Miley, could you let go now?"

"But I missed you!" Miley pouted.

"I missed you to Miles, but I also missed dad too."

Miley ended the hug that she was giving her brother and gave her dad a hurt look as he gave Jackson a hug.

After hugs were given, everyone went to luggage calms to get their luggage. At the curb, good-byes were said and everyone went to their car to go home.

"What are you smiling at?"

"Who me?"

"Yes you Miles."

"Nothing. Nothing at all. Just…happy to have you home."

"O-kay." Jackson said as he turned his head to his dad.

"So dad, is everything set up for my surgery?"

"Yep. Everything from the Training Center got to the doctors just fine."

"Good. I don't want to put this off any longer."

Twenty minutes later, the came to a stop in front of their house.

"Boy, I missed this place." Jackson smiled as he got out of the car.

"That is how I feel when I got home from my last tour." Miley added. Everyone grabbed a bag and headed into the house. Once in the house, the bags were carried up to Jackson's room, and Jackson started to put his clothes away. Once done with that, he came back downstairs to the smell of something cooking on the grill. Robbie and Miley were in the kitchen getting the rest of the meal ready.

"Smells good dad. What are we having?" Jackson asked as he came into the kitchen.

"Watermelon, bake beans, potato salad, and hamburgers." Robbie answered Jackson.

"Hey Jackson, could you get the plates on the table please." Miley asked.

Miley stole a quick glance at her dad. They both smiled at each other.

"Hey, you got one too many plates Miles." Jackson said as he turned back to put the plate away.

"Oh sorry." Miley barely said with a straight face.

Next Jackson took the glasses.

"Yeah, you have one to many glasses too."

"Well, I didn't get the glasses out." Miley defended herself.

"Don't look at me." Robbie spoke up.

"Well one of you had to get the glasses out." Jackson accused.

"Don't look at me." Miley stated.

"Or me." Robbie insisted.

"Come on its just one glass. It's not like there is anyone else here." Jackson waited. Miley was beside herself trying not to laugh.

"Fine. Have it your way." With that, Jackson went back to setting the table.

"Uh, dad, aren't you going to check the burgers?"

"No."

"Miles?"

"I'm not cooking."

"Well if you're not cooking and you're not cooking, then who's cooking?"

"That would be me."

Jackson turned around and could not believe his eyes. He looked back to his dad that was smiling at him. Then he looked at Miley who had a huge smile on her face.

"Surprise." Miley said.

The hamburgers were sat on the table. She walked up to Jackson, took him in her arms and gave him a nice long kiss that was interrupted when Miley could no longer keep her mouth shut.

"Well you two get a room please."

They both broke apart and blushed.

"I can't believe you're here Maddie."

"It was all Miley's idea."

"Miles?"

"I convinced daddy to let me use some of my Hannah money to get a round trip ticket for Maddie to come out for the surgery." Miley was very pleased with herself.

"When did you get here?"

"This morning."

"And you couldn't tell me last night?"

"Then it wouldn't have been a surprise silly." Maddie peck his lips.

"If you two love birds are done, I'm hungry." Robbie Ray laughed.

"Aren't you going to eat sweetie?"

"Yes, why?"

"Well, I see places for your dad, Miley, and myself, but no place is set for you." Maddie smiled sweetly at Jackson.

"Right, I need to fix that. It's all their felt though." Jackson told Maddie as he pointed a finger at his dad and Miley. Jackson got a plate and a glass and went over to the table.

-----

After supper, Maddie and Jackson went for a walk on the beach as Miley and Robbie cleaned up.

"I have to hand it to you bud, that was a really good idea you had."

"Thanks daddy, it was a good one wasn't."

"Just don't let it go to your head."

"Who me?"

"Yes you."

"They do make a cute couple daddy." Miley said as she watched two figures in the distance kiss.

"That they do bud, that they do."