On the way to Miley's dad's house the next morning, Jake slowly spoke. "I'm sorry…about yesterday."
Miley only nodded.
"I know you want a baby, Miley, but I just don't think it's the right time. Maybe in a few years or so, we can start a family. But right now can't we be happy with just us?"
Miley shrugged.
"And I'm sorry I hung up on you. And…I'm sorry about Jackson, baby."
"It's ok. And it's not your fault. I just…can't believe he's gone." Miley whimpered. "He's only twenty five, he's to young to die."
"Only the good die young," Jake said softly, taking her hand.
Miley remained silent for a while, and only spoke once they reached her dad's house, where cars were parked up and down the street.
Jake got out, and went around the car and opened Miley's door. She made no move to get out, and he crouched down taking her hands in his, and pressing his lips to one of them, then the other.
"I'm sorry too." She whispered.
"I know," He said quietly.
"I don't want to do this, Jake." She whimpered. "I don't want everyone's sympathy, I just want my brother."
"I know you do baby, but he's up there now," He said quietly, pointing up at the sky.
"We always fought. But I do love him, I love him so much."
"And he knew that, Miley. He still does. Now come on, I'm sure your dad, and Lily and Oliver are waiting for you. And on the phone your dad said your grandmothers had flown out overnight, and your aunt Dolly. And your aunts and uncles, and cousins."
She let him gently pull her out of the car, and lead her up to the house. Ringing the bell, she said, "I love you."
"I love you too," He said softly, kissing her forehead.
Robbie Ray opened the door, and instantly pulled Miley in to his arms.
She hugged him back, resolved in tears once again.
"I'm so sorry, Miley." He said, his voice broken. "I'm sorry about what I did and what I said."
"I'm sorry too," She whispered, crying, "I shouldn't have said what I did."
"Maybe not, but I needed to hear it." He said quietly. "We'll talk later."
Miley nodded, and hugged him tightly. He kissed the top of her head before letting her go, and she stepped in to the house. Robbie Ray shook Jake's hand, and Jake followed Miley in.
Lily and Oliver were waiting, and Lily immediately pulled Miley in to her arms, and both girls cried.
"I'm so sorry Miley," Lily cried, "I can't believe he's gone!"
"Don't apologize," Miley pleaded, hugging her best friend tightly, "And neither can I," She choked out.
After hugging Oliver, and Lily hugging Jake, Miley found her father, talking to a distant family member she didn't remember.
"Daddy," She said, still crying, grabbing on to his arm. "H-how did it happen, you never told me how it h-h-happened."
Robbie Ray sighed. "Remember when Jackson went on a vacation?" When Miley nodded, he went on. "Well he met a girl, who'd just been in Mexico. She had the Swine Flu, she gave it to him and…he didn't realize it until it was too late."
(A/N: She made me do it)
"Did he suffer?" She asked quietly, wiping at her eyes.
He shook his head, and softly told her no.
She nodded, the one small little ray on sun in what had become a storm.
--
The morning drug on, and more and more of Jackson's friends became mixing with the family members. Miley, overwhelmed by the apologies and sorrow, ventured upstairs.
She paused at her old room, and went in.
When she and her brother had left, her father had kept their rooms in the state they left them in. "In case you need somewhere to come home too," He'd told them.
Miley walked in, and shut the door behind her.
Kicking off her shoes, she lay in the bed, and stared up at the ceiling. She picked up a picture of her, Jackson, and their mother, and held it in front of her.
"Well mama, I guess he's up there with you now," She said softly, "Or he's on his way there. Take good care of him, Mommy. Tell him I…tell him I love him. I love both of you. It's just me and daddy now, our little family of four now just two."
The tears renewed themselves, and fell steadily.
It always took Miley long periods of time to recover from a loved ones death.
Her mother died when she was twelve, she was in therapy until she was sixteen. On the anniversary of her mother's death, Miley stay in bed. She wouldn't get up. She slept all day, she cried all day, but she wouldn't get up.
After the first year, her dad had stopped trying to get her to go to school. He didn't go to work, and he stayed with her.
Her pappy had died before her mother had. She was young then, though, and it didn't affect her as much as it would have if she were older, and had understood it more.
As she cried, she simply knew the next months wouldn't be easy. She prayed to God, that whatever he had in store for her, that she didn't loose Jake, her father, Lily, Oliver – that she didn't loose the family she had left.
But deep down she knew.
She knew, something was going to happen.
It was an empty feeling that settled in to the pit of her stomach. At the time, she associated it with Jackson's death. But she was right. Something was going to happen.
Something bad.
This one is quite short. But the previous was quite long, so I guess it evens out?
Sorry about the corny ending.
What do you think of the story so far? What do you think about Jackson's death? What do you think about how Miley's sadness will affect her relationship with Jake, how the creeper will take it? What do you think about Miley's feeling? What do you think the 'something bad' is?
Answer my questions via review!
Also, just a heads up, this story most likley wont me more then fifteen chapters, MAX. But, never fear, a sequel is planned as of now.
Please PLEASE review, I beg you.
-Jen