Aww Glistening Shadow you always bring me up! I love you! And Whurmy, I love your enthusiasm, lets go blow up Oliver! And HBO im sorry you're confused… Jake is Miley's husband, their sons' names are Riley and Jordan. Lucas is Joannie's husband. Hope that cleared it up. If ur confused again feel free to ask and ill clear it up

The next day had Lily sitting in her porch chair, with a mug of coffee, breathing in the hazy air that was five am in the morning. Her thoughts relentlessly drifted to Miley. Her kindness met no boundary, and was completely undeserved. And yet, she offered it on any encounter.

As though fate had taken control, she noticed the fuzzy form of a female walking down the sidewalk, a shock of chestnut curls blowing in the lazy breeze. The figure stopped, looking deeply at the house Lily occupied, before noticing her and beginning her ascent up the long pathway. She climbed the broken cobblestone path, passing dead grass and layers of weeds. It almost had the blonde feeling shame for lack of care.

To meet the brunette, Lily hopped from her chair and made her way to meet Miley. It was uncomfortable to have her intruding, uninvited, and coming toward the porch. Yet, obliviously, as they came face to face, Miley began to engage conversation.

"Hiya Lily. You're up awful early."

"I could say the same for you Miley. What brings you out?"

"I couldn't sleep, so I just got up to take a walk."

"Ah, I see."

"Doesn't explain why you're up so early."

"Oh, I always get up around this time. Sometimes a quant bit earlier, other times a tad bit later. But in the vicinity of the early hours."

Almost immediately, Lily was upset with herself for confirming with Miley that she'd be there every morning. What if the girl began making visitations to her home to talk? Soon, she'd run out of pointless banter. And then this makeshift friendship would have to be compromised.

"Wow that must be tough. Is there a reason why?"

"I just like the morning. It's a time for a clear mind, uninterrupted and unbiased by the events of the day. They are the hours for the mind to be contently sane in its naivety." Miley looked shocked at the poetic explanation.

"My Lily, you are very cryptic. And yet, you make even confusion sound intelligent and poetic. No wonder you're a writer. You must be fantastic."

A small pink tint graced her cheeks as she took in the compliment. The last person to ever comment on her writing was her Editor. And it was strictly business. Though, as she felt happiness swimming through her thoughts, she remembered that the only compliments she liked came from him. They had meaning. They had love behind them. A love that no one else could meet.

"Thank you." She said simply. But she didn't want to invite anymore kindness so she added. "It would make no sense for me to have poor linguistics when I am paid to be otherwise better."

Miley nodded, a bit of confusion on her face.

"Lily, I notice how you speak uptight and formal. Gosh, you called me Mrs. Stewart for the longest while. But, with me, you can just speak normal ya know. Just relaxed and such."

"Alright." The reply was uncomfortable, formality helped to keep people at a distance.

"Are you okay Lily you look a bit dodgy." She felt her hand to Lily's forehead, and she flinched away from the contact. A worried look came over Miley's face.

"Come to think of it, I don't feel very well, will you excuse me Miley? Have a nice a day. It was a pleasure talking to you."

"Yeah same here. Uh bye Lil?" She looked utterly confused, and more than a little hurt at the avoidance. But the blonde didn't give time to understand her expression; instead, she simply waved and walked back up to her porch.

---*---

Lily sat at her dining room table, observing the brunette. She had dismissed herself only moments ago, and Miley was yet to overcome the abrupt stop and leave the lot. Slowly she turned, giving a last glare toward the house, and began her descent. Lily's eyes stayed plastered on her every step until she was swallowed by the fog.

Miley's steps were laden with the burdens of a heavy mind. It was noticeable, even from within a tinted window, that she was walking with an overflowing cup. Lily sighed. She knew Miley was trying to figure her out. She was trying to connect the dots. Hopefully, she was as airheaded as she looked, and her endeavor to discovery would be fruitless. And yet, something told her that the little brunette simply wouldn't stop until she understood.

Another sigh was emitted when her visual had blended with the fallen clouds, and she sat back, thinking about the compliment. Why it stuck in her head, she didn't know. It must've been because she hadn't heard a genuine kindness directed at her in so long. But, what hurt her the most was the joy that filled her. It wasn't normal. And it was another broken vow.

The wind bellowed, suddenly, about the house. It was tangling in her Oak's leaves, and it was banging into her walls. It was so random that it frightened her. That is, until she heard its whistled words. You're disappointing me. You're breaking away from me. Why aren't you waiting for me? Why aren't you waiting for me? Why aren't you waiting for me…? She clamped her ears to silence the words, but they replayed tauntingly in her head. They had settled into her nerves and she felt the burning of a migraine coming on. She reached for Extra Strength Aspirin and took her Anti-Depressants four at a time.

As she felt them sliding down her throat, she sat back in her chair. She looked out at the scenery being bustled by the crazy onslaught of wind. Nothing could distract her memory as she was suddenly sucked back into her past.

The door opened and closed and Lily emerged from the kitchen, adorned in her finest black silk dress. At the door, Oliver stood, his hair gelled in perfection, his young face clean shaven and flawless. He was in his usual suit, and he smelled of a day's work and worn cologne as Lily came to embrace him. For the first time in three months, he put his arms back around her.

"Are you ready to head out Ollie pop?

"Yes Lillian. And please don't call me that, it's demeaning."

"It's cute. I always used to call you that, and you always used to call me Lily Pop."

"Lillian, please." His voice had turned from exhausted to serious. Lily dropped the conversation immediately. This was the first time he would take her out in two months, and she didn't want to begin the night with a quarrel.

"Sorry." She said simply and reluctantly let go of him when his hands put pressure on her shoulders.

"What restaurant are we going to?"He attempted to break the silence.

"Anywhere you want to go."

"Alright." He opened to door for her and led her out.

"Your dress looks nice Lillian."

"Thank you Oliver."

That was the greatest she'd felt in a long time. Hearing him say something kind to her was a rare but irreplaceable treasure. That night had been spent in silence. To Lily, it was blissful silence. Her attempts to start conversation were shot down and answered with one word or a simple phrase. She didn't dare mention work. The topic hurt them both, he was quite aware she knew, and she was quite aware that he would never talk to her again if she brought it up.

So they were without anything to say. He hardly looked her in the eyes. But he held the door for, put his coat around her, pulled her chair out for her, and paid for her. He was nothing less than the perfect gentleman. He'd always been. Even when he was young and goofy. Lately, he wasn't the Lovesick-Hopeless-Romantic he used to be. He wasn't creative with his jokes or sincere with his comments and his gifts. He said obligatory compliments to please her, bought her what she wanted whenever a day of obligation came up. In fact, he was nothing but a stereotypical husband fulfilling obligation after obligation. Love wasn't for sale, nor was it an obligation. And, unfortunately, those were the only two things he knew. And love was the only thing she wanted.