AN: As Michael and Miley are still trapped in the cabin, they take a stroll down memory lane, and Miley comes to terms with her feeling for Michael.

Chapter Five: Little Subtle Things That We Do

As the evening rolled around, Michael found himself sitting in front of the fireplace, calmly stroking the fire. He looked outside, and saw that the snow was gradually disappearing, slowly, but surely. He sat there, and thought about himself, and Miley. They have been through a lot, and he was glad that she was in his life. She was funny, smart, and really pretty. Again, Michael was hopelessly in love with her, and he couldn't do a thing about it, nor did he want to. He wanted to just take her in his arms, and plant one on her. Michael could never work up the nerve to, though, so that thought was fruitless and useless to think that he could do something like that, something that would require a lot of nerve to do.

Michael sat there, until he heard Miley leave her room. She came over, and joined him on the couch. Michael noticed that all she was wearing was a long t-shirt, like she was about to go to sleep when she joined him. Miley smiled, but he couldn't take his eyes off of how perfect she looked as the glow from fire highlighted her figure, especially her legs.

"What's going on?" Miley asked him.

"Nothing really. I'm just sitting here thinking." Michael answered her.

"Really? About what?" Miley asked, obviously curious about his thoughts.

"Miley, I help you out a lot, don't I?" Michael asked.

"Yeah, you do." Miley said. "I appreciate everything that you have done for me. Heck, you are the one that is keeping me sane while we are trapped here."

"I know that." Michael said. "I was just wondering, and don't get mad at me for asking this, but what do you seek when you look for a boyfriend?"

Miley thought about it for a minute, and then answered. "Well, I look for someone who is loyal, someone who knows a lot about me, including my likes and dislikes. Also, I want someone who will do anything for me. Someone like you, for example."

Michael felt his heart skip a beat. Miley just described himself, and he was all of those things that she described, and more. Michael watched as she wrapped her arms around his waist, placed her head on his shoulder, and go to sleep. Michael smiled as he closed his eyes as well.

ONE YEAR EARLIER...

Miley watched as Michael wading around in the pool. She was here because Michael promised that he would teach her how to swim, but she was afraid to get in the water, she was afraid of embarrassing herself in front of her friend, and she was more embarrassed on how she looked in her bikini.

"Miley, I am going to turn 17 before you get in the pool, are you coming?" Michael asked. Miley felt his helpful eyes look her over, and walked over to the pool to get in.

"Whoa, take off your clothes, first." Michael said. "You can't swim in their clothes."

"I'm embarrassed in how I look in my bikini." Miley said sadly. Michael sighed, and climbed out of the pool.

"Miley, listen to me." Michael said, taking her face in her hands. "I think that you look just fine. Don't worry about what everyone else thinks. Personally, I think that you look fine."

"Thanks. I needed that." Miley said. Michael smiled, and hopped back into the pool.

"Are you coming?" Michael asked, waving to her to come and join him.

Miley was apprehensive about joining him. Miley stood there for a minute, and eventually caved in. She slowly slid off her shorts, and removed her t-shirt. She stood there in her red bikini. Miley stood there, trying to cover her bare skin.

"How do I look?" Miley said, bashfully. Michael thought that she looked perfect, and his own body agreed apparently.

"See?" Michael said. "I don't know why you were so nervous about how you looked in your bikini. You so just fine, if not sexy."

"Thanks, I needed that." Miley said smiling. She climbed into the pool, and Michael waded over to her.

"Now. Hang on to me, as we head into the deep end." Michael said. Miley nodded, and he pulled her close, as he slowly moved towards the deep end of the pool. Miley looked nervous as they went along, because she did not want to make a complete fool out of herself. Miley closed her eyes, and calmly swam around, feeling a giant weight being lifted off of her. Miley smiled and opened her eyes, and realized that she swam right into the deep end alone. Michael was in the middle of the pool, smiling at her.

"See?" Michael said, smiling proudly. "Now you can swim."

Miley swam over, and gave Michael a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "Thanks for helping me."

"No problem." Michael smiled as he embraced her.

Miley woke up, and realized that she fell asleep right on top of Michael. Michael didn't seem to mind, and that made her smile. Since she was comfortable, she snuggled up against him once more, and went to sleep.

I wonder what Michael is thinking about. Miley thought as she drifted off into slumber. What Michael dreamed about was when the two of them took a trip to New Orleans and the predicament that they faced there...

ONE YEAR EARLIER

It was Miley's birthday, and she and Michael were in New Orleans to celebrate that special day of her turning 18. The young teens were on the well famed Bourbon Street, talking and having a good time. Both of them were new to the city, and their exploration of New Orleans lead them to a bar on Bourbon Street. Michael was at an arcade machine, busying playing Pac-Man. After about twenty minutes of playing that video game, Michael stopped playing. He then decided to find his friend. He found Miley face down on a bar counter, a glass with the remains of bourbon in it. Michael tried to snap Miley awake, which he finally did after a few results.

"Hey, is she alright?" Michael asked the bartender.

"Yeah, she's alright, but she is drunk." The bartender said. "You better get her home."

"Alright." Michael said. He carefully lifted Miley's head up, and she gave him a drunken look.

"Heyyy, sexy. Ready to go?" Miley said, slurring her words. Michael chalked up that 'sexy' comment to her being inebriated. He paid for her drink, slung one of her arms around his shoulders, and began to carry her back to the hotel room that they shared.

When they returned to their hotel room, Michael placed his friend on the bed. Miley landed with a thump, and she laughed as she landed.

"That was fun!" She slurred. "Michael, I never told you this but you have a really sexy body, and you are really cute!"

Michael ran his hand through his hair. What she said made him blush really bad, but at the same time, he knew that she was saying those things because of the alcohol she drunk. He knew that this wasn't going to be easy to settle her down.

"What am I going to do with you?" Michael asked her. Miley began to look at him in a suggestive way.

"You are looking sexy." Miley said. She stood up, and literally fell into his arms.

"Are you alright?" Michael asked. Miley smiled, and looked at her friend. Before Michael could act, Miley planted a kiss on him, forcing her tongue into his mouth. Michael let the feeling linger for a bit, and pulled her off of him.

"Wanna fool around?" Miley asked. Michael knew that he shouldn't, but the image of Miley sitting there in a mini skirt with a tight t-shirt on was really hard for him to resist.

"Miley, no. We can't do this. You're drunk, and I can't take advantage of you." Michael said. Miley sat on her bed, and playfully pouted.

"Okay." She said sadly. Michael watched as she fell back onto her bed, and went to sleep. Michael changed into his pajamas, and went to sleep as well.

It was around midnight when Michael awoke. His eyes snapped open to the image of Miley, dressed in only her pink bra and panties, climbing into bed with him.

"Miley! What are you doing?" Michael asked, shocked at what she was doing.

"It's lonely over there. Can I say over here with you?" Miley asked in a very sweet voice.

"Sure." Michael said, caving in. But before he could finish talking, Miley was already laying next to him, sleeping soundly with her head on his chest. Michael embraced her, and went to sleep.

When Michael awoken, Michael saw that Miley was still sleeping in his arms. Michael, careful as to not wake her, carried her into her room. Michael placed her in the bed, and covered her up. Before he left, Michael gave her a really small kiss on the lips.

"Goodnight, Miley." Michael said., shutting the door as he left.

AN: Next chapter, Michael will reveal his true feelings for Miley, and what happens next, Michael couldn't guess on his best day. R&R!