A/N: I planned on getting this chapter up yesterday, but me and my Beta went to Stadium of Fire last night to see Miley perform. She was AWESOME too might I add. Okay enough bragging on with the chapter.

Chapter 7: Accident

"Mom, Dad, hurry up let's go!" an excited RJ screamed from the bottom of the stairs. He was already dressed in his swimming suit and had his towel thrown over his shoulder and his toys in hand has he bounced jubilantly.

"Someone's sure in a good mood," Lilly told her son as she descended the stairs, patting him on the head.

"Uh huh. I haven't gotten to go swimin' in forever."

Between him going to kindergarten and the business they hadn't had time to go to the beach in awhile. Since it was a holiday though the store was closed and RJ had the day off from school. It was the first day they'd get to spend together as a family in awhile.

"I know sweetie. Come help me pack lunch while we wait for Daddy to get ready. He should be down in a few minutes."

RJ put his stuff down and went to help his mother pack up their lunch for a picnic. The two quickly got everything ready while waiting for Jackson to come down. Jackson wasn't a morning person, but that was especially true on the mornings after the two of them had spent an intimate night together.

Lilly thought back to the night before. She was amazed that even after all this time it could still get better each time. They were closer than they ever had been before. Their relationship was growing stronger everyday too.

Jackson came down the stairs just as the other two were placing everything into a bag so that it would be ready to go. They were going to a specific spot on the beach but they had decided to walk even though it was a little ways away. It was such a nice day they didn't want to waste it and didn't see the point in driving just a ways down the beach.

Jackson picked up the bag and soon the three were on their way. They reached their favorite spot and Lilly laid the blanket out she was carrying.

As soon as RJ had thrown his stuff onto the ground he was off racing towards the water. "Don't worry I got him," Jackson told his wife before chasing after their son. Catching up with him, Jackson picked him up and playfully threw him into the ocean.

Lilly sat back, smiling as she watched the two people she loved most splashing each other. She could just sit and watch those two for hours and never get tired. She had decided she'd only 

swim for a little bit, wanting to take it easy because of the baby. She was happy to just be the audience today.

After they had been there closer to an hour, she began setting their lunch out, getting it all ready to eat. Knowing Jackson and RJ they would go from content to starving within minutes here soon. They always worked up quite an appetite at the beach.

As soon as everything was laid out she shouted for them to come eat. Watching she saw Jackson bend over and whisper something in RJ's ear. She smiled and waved at them as they began making the trek back.

Turning her attention back to the food she didn't pay much attention to their approach. So when Jackson and RJ hugged her tight from both sides, getting her wet as well, she let out a shriek of surprise. "Oh you two are going to get it."

"We just wanted to give you a hug Mama," RJ exclaimed with a puppy dog face.

"Your Dad told you to say that too didn't he?" Not knowing how to respond to the question RJ gave his mother a look that confirmed she was right. "Shame on you trying to get the kid to do your dirty work." The smile on her face when she said it though told them she wasn't really mad.

The three of them ate their lunch, using the time to catch each other up on what had been going on in their lives. RJ went on and on about all the friends he was making in kindergarten. Lilly was glad to see he was getting settled in so well. She missed having her little boy around all the time, but knew that he was growing up and she just had to get used to it.

After cleaning up, all three of them head out to the water. The three splashed and played together for awhile. Walking over to Jackson, she gave him a small kiss with their son looking on. One of her favorite places to kiss her husband is standing in the middle of the ocean.

Pulling away from him she went to sit just outside the water, so when the tide came in it washed over her legs that were out stretched. She watched as the two boys played for awhile, and she did mean boys since Jackson was acting like one right then.

Before long it was time for them to start heading back. RJ was reluctant to leave the beach but Lilly told him they had a surprise for him. Her and Jackson had decided last night that they would stop for ice cream on the way home and that it would serve as dinner, wanting to do something different.

At first he didn't want to believe his parents, but upon entering their favorite ice cream parlor his excitement grew. The table grew quiet as they devoured their favorite treat. They sat back enjoying the moment.



The sun was starting to set and Lilly told them it was time to go. She felt a bit reluctant to leave, but shrugged it off not wanting to walk home in the dark. Jackson grabbed their garbage and threw it away. Coming back he helped his wife out of the chair before reaching to hold her hand. Lilly did the same with RJ and the three made started their journey home.

About half way home Jackson's phone went off. He stopped to pull it out of his pocket while the other two kept on walking, knowing he would catch up in a minute. He'd make the call quick or tell the person he'd call them back in a few, not one to like to talk while walking.

By the time he hung up the phone his wife and son were a ways ahead of him. They were already crossing the street a block ahead of him. Jackson got a sick feeling in his stomach and started to run their direction. But he was too late and could only watch what happened before him.

Lilly and RJ we about half way across the street when a car heading towards them didn't stop at the red light. Quickly reacting Lilly threw RJ to the side, but wasn't able to move herself out of the way before she felt like she was flying through the air. By the time she had finally landed back on the ground she was unconscious.

Jackson watched again as the car kept going until a telephone pole stopped its movement. He dialed 911 as he reached his family. He gave the operator their location and general information then sat the phone down not caring that someone was still talking to him on the other end.

He quickly scanned RJ and assured him he was fine before moving his attention to Lilly. Sitting beside her, he looked her over. She had blood coming out of several cuts and hoped that would be the worst of it. He wanted to pull her into his arms, but knew better than to move her.

He heard the sirens just seconds before they turned a corner heading right for them. As soon as the vehicle was stopped Jackson was moved out of the way and they went to work. A second ambulance pulled up next to the car and went to work on the driver.

After being pushed away from his wife, Jackson walked over to RJ and picked him up. The little boy was crying for his mommy. Whispering to him that everything was going to be okay, he started to calm down, but sensing his father's heartache he didn't entirely believe him.

Once Lilly was loaded into the ambulance, the allowed the two to ride to the hospital with her. As soon as they pulled into the emergency entrance they took off with the stretcher not letting Jackson go with it. Instead he stood in the lobby and quickly called his father telling him to get to the hospital quick.

As soon as he hung up, he was directed to where he could wait for news. Sitting RJ on a chair in the waiting room, he began pacing back and forth in front of him. He began muttering over and over again that everything had to be alright.



Within twenty minutes Robbie Ray entered the room with Miley right behind him. "What happened son?"

"Lilly… she ah…walking home…car didn't stop…she was hit." Through the broken sentence they were able to put together what happened fairly easily.

Robbie Ray pulled his son into his arms tightly, while Miley sat down beside RJ and pulled him into her lap. Giving him a kiss to his head, she held him firmly telling him it was going to be okay.

An officer, who had been at the scene, came and found them then. He went over with them their findings so far. The driver of the car was an older gentleman who had suffered a heart attack while driving. He had barely been hanging onto life when they reached him, but he was still unconscious. The officer left after getting a call and they were left on their own again.

"Did you call Lilly's parents?" Robbie Ray asked his son.

"No, I didn't think about it," Jackson answered honestly.

Patting him on the shoulder comfortingly, "It's okay, I'll do it."

"Thanks dad." The waiting room went from four people to six soon after.

It had been more than two hours since the accident and they hadn't heard anything yet. Jackson didn't understand what could be taking so long. Heather Truscott had tried to take her grandson from Miley's lap but he would have none of it. He insisted on staying with his aunt until he could see his mom, and soon was asleep in her arms.

Another agonizing half hour went by before a doctor finally entered the room. "Are you Lilly Stewarts family?" The doctor saw them all nod their heads, all too afraid to speak. "Well I have some good news and some bad news is. She's awake now. She has a few broken ribs, but other than that all she has is a few cuts and bruises. So she's going to be in pain for awhile. We'll give her medication to help with the pain." He paused allowing them to digest this before he delivered the rest.

"Well that doesn't sound so bad, I mean she's okay." It took a minute to sink in. "Wait, the baby, she can't have medication." When the doctor didn't respond Jackson started to get worried again. "You didn't mention the baby. Doctor how's the baby?"

He always hated this part. "I'm sorry, there was nothing we could do. Most of the impact from the car hit her stomach. She lost the baby. I'm sorry Mr. Stewart."

"How can she lose a baby it's in her tummy?" RJ asked innocently having woke up during the conversation and heard everything. Miley quietly explained everything to him. "So I don't get to be a big brother anymore?"



Hearing his son, Jackson couldn't hold back his emotion any longer and started to sob. "Can I see her?"

"Of course. She was asking for you. But I wouldn't advise taking your son back there just yet."

"I'll stay with him don't worry," Miley piped in.

"But I wanna see Mommy."

Miley hugged him tight. "You will, just not yet. We have to let Daddy see her first. He'll make sure she knows how much you love her."

Jackson just nodded at his son before following the doctor down the hall where he gave him directions to her room before leaving him to visit his wife alone.

When he entered the room, Lilly was looking up at the ceiling with a blank look on her face. There were IV's hooked in her left arm. She didn't notice Jackson until he had come around to the other side of her.

As soon as she felt his hand on her she began to sob. Jackson sat on the bed beside her, pulling her close and she let the tears loose. "She's gone. I've wanted her for so long and now our baby is gone."

"I know sweetie, I know." The two just held each other as they both cried over what was lost.

A/N: Okay so you probably all hate me right now. Sorry but this has been the plan for the story from the very beginning. I will explain why but not until next chapter as I don't want to give too much away.

Oh and there's one more chapter left as well as an epilogue and then this series is complete.