Hey Guys-

Sorry it took so long to update. For some reason Middle chapters are the hardest for me to write. Anyway I hope you enjoy. I know with school starting and all it's harder to have time for reading this stuff but if you do please leave a review….I really do appreciate them.

The dinner-

Jake arrived at Kevin and Jenna's house just after dark. Jenna answered the door.

"JAKE!" "I'm so glad you came tonight. I've been going crazy not having anything to do but decorate the house!" She said as she gave him a hug.

Jake handed her a bottle of wonderful French wine. "This is for you. And THESE are for your so called HUSBAND." He said as he handed her a bag of black licorice, Kevin's most detested food.

Jenna looked at the bag of candy and back at Jake. "Ahhh….so you're the one he's been after huh? He's been walking around the house with a smirk for days and hasn't told me anything. What did he do this time?" She asked as she showed Jake into the house and took his jacket.

Kevin came in to join them in the living room and sat down next to his wife and smiled at Jake.

"So you haven't told your own wife your master plan to save my sorry life?" Jake said now being able to smile about the situation Kevin had weaseled him into.

Kevin just smiled back. "Well…it hasn't really gone into FULL effect yet so I wanted to wait until she could watch it happen herself."

Jake looked at him with a feeling of dread in his stomach. "What do you mean you want to wait until she can WATCH it happen?" Jake asked apprehensively.

Kevin opened his mouth to speak when the doorbell rang. Kevin's smile broadened.

Jake looked at him horrified. "You didn't."

Kevin just kept smiling. "I wonder who that could be?"

Jake looked at Jenna and poured himself a large glass of wine that was set out for them. He took a large drink then stared at Jenna. "I think I HATE your husband."

Jenna looked extremely confused.

In the corridor Jake could hear the voice that had wandered in and out of his waking on non waking dreams for years. She had laughed at something that Kevin had said and his heart ached. It was probably his favorite sound in the entire world. He took a deep breath for himself silently cursing Kevin and swearing to get back at him if it was the last thing he did. He stood up and turned to see her.

His airway closed. She was breathtaking.

She had worn dark black skinny jeans and a long form fitting baby blue sweater with an oversized neckline that showed off her perfect collar bones and silky skin. Her brown curls were brought over one shoulder in a way that was far too inviting for Jake to keep his concentration. God she was gorgeous.

Kevin walked in behind her and put hand on the small of her back.

"Jenna I want you to meet Miley Stewart. Miley this is my wife Jenna."

"It's nice to meet you" Miley said momentarily taking her eyes from Jake's to look at Jenna.

"And of course you know Jake." Kevin said with another smirk on his face.

Jake ignored Kevin's smile and gave Miley a small hug.

Miley smiled shyly. "Yeah…. I know Jake. We go way back."

For the second time in as many days Miley didn't know what to do or say around Jake. The aftershave he was wearing was enough to make her feel lightheaded. He looked amazing. He had filled out in all the right ways since high school. While he had been tall and skinny he was now tall and muscular. His new shorter hair made him look older and sophisticated but she was sure he could play the scruffy type if he wanted too (A/N In my mind the older Jake kinda looks a lot like Michael Vartan from Alias. Great eyes, hair AND body….in other words…HOT). Just looking into those hazel eyes had made her skin tingle in a way that it hadn't in a very long time. Miley took a deep breath and reluctantly pulled herself away from his arms.

They sat down on the couches Kevin next to Jenna and Miley next to Jake. Miley and Jake kept glancing back at each other trying to keep calm.

Luckily for the both of them Jenna seemed to notice their discomfort.

"Well Miley I hope you'll come by often. I'm usually the odd man out when Kevin and Jake here get together. It would be nice to have someone around who can put Jake in his place. You know… to even the playing field." She said with a sly smile on her face.

Miley laughed.

Miley looked back and forth between Kevin and Jake. "You two knew each other before this?" Miley said raising an eyebrow at Jake.

Before Jake could answer Kevin spoke up. "I uh…was nice enough to befriend Jake here Junior year of high school and I haven't been able to get rid of him since."

Jake gave Kevin a smirk that turned into a smile when Miley started to softly laugh besides him.

"Well I understand that one. I couldn't seem to get rid of him in high school." She said lightheartedly placing her hand on top of Jakes. The contact between their skin seemed to jolt something in Miley. She looked at Jake and caught his eyes. She started talking again as if they were the only one's in the room. "You were always following me around…asking me out." She said her eyes only seeing Jake's. It was like Kevin and Jenna didn't exist. "You were persistent weren't you?" Miley said softly still admiring Jake's hazel eyes.

Jenna had noticed the looks being given between Miley and Jake. She gave Kevin a silent questioning glance to which he nodded indicating that this was indeed THE Miley that they had heard so much about in College.

"So …Jake here wouldn't let you say no huh?" Jenna asked with a sly smirk on her face.

The outside voice seemed to shake them out of their personal connection. Miley looked away.

Jake shook his head to himself and tried to find his voice. "Um…actually….If I remember correctly she said no lots of times." "it was getting her to say yes that was difficult." He said softly catching Miley's eyes again in his.

Miley smiled shyly at Jake again remembering everything he had done to show her that he wanted to be with her.

"Well…in my own defense you never would have even noticed me if I had been like all those other girls and just thrown myself at you." Miley said raising her eyebrows and challenging Jake.

Jake smiled to himself. He and Miley had always enjoyed rubbing each other the wrong way. It had made making up even sweeter.

"Well…if it makes you feel better you keep telling yourself that. You know just as much as I did that you just enjoyed seeing me make a fool out of myself…again…and again….and again." Jake said still smiling as he took another sip of wine.

Jenna laughed. "Come on Jake…I doubt you really made a fool out of yourself."

Now it was Miley's turn to laugh. She raised her eyebrows. "Actually…you'd be surprised….he did run around Malibu in a suit of armor once trying to get me to go out with him." She said with a smile that reached her blue eyes.

Kevin seemed to perk up at this. "PLEASE tell me you have pictures." He said with his hands together pleading Miley.

She laughed. "No." "I don't have any pictures." She said kindly with laughter still in her voice.

Jenna turned and smacked Kevin across the shoulder. "Why couldn't you ever do anything that romantic?"

Kevin only responded with an "Owww." While rubbing his shoulder.

Now it was Jake's turn to laugh. "Serves you right."

Jenna seemed to take this as an opportunity to change gears. "I think before you both embarrass yourselves anymore we should have some dinner. Kevin can you help me? Oh… we're going to be eating in the atrium so you can go and make yourselves comfortable." Jenna said

With this Jake and Miley headed towards the beautiful glassed in room that seemed to bring the beauty of the outside in. There was a wooden table already dressed with linens, plates and dozens of tea light candles that put a warm glow about the room. The moon was almost full and the light lightly played upon the glasses and silverware on the table. There was even a small fire in the corner to keep them all warm. It was beautiful. The stereo was playing a soft jazzy music in the background that made Miley feel even warmer inside.

"Does this remind you of anything?" Miley asked as she tentatively approached Jake who was standing near the window looking at the moonlit garden.

Jake blushed and looked at her. "Yeah… I was just thinking it feels like it did on your birthday."

Miley had been thinking the exact same thing. The last birthday they had spent together Jake had rented out a small family owned restaurant overlooking the water. He had placed hundreds of candles all around. There had been soft music and the sound of the ocean but she could still remember how she felt that night as they watched the water splashing up onto the rocks and swayed to the music. She had thought that this was what life should feel like.

"You know…no one has ever even come close to spoiling me like you used too." She said standing next to Jake shoulder to shoulder looking out the window.

Jake looked at her seriously. He wanted to tell her what she had meant to him. He was tired of hiding himself away from everyone...especially her. "I…..I wasn't trying to spoil you." Jake said softly turning his head toward Miley.

He took a deep breath and took her hand in his.

"I think… I was just trying to show you how you made me feel." He said slightly squeezing her hand in his.

"And…. And I don't think I EVER did it justice." He said barely whispering out the last part. He locked his eyes with hers.

Something had changed between them. They both felt it.

Somehow she had closed the small distance between them and had placed her arms on top of his. His arms encircled her tiny waist bringing her closer to him. His forehead had come down to meet hers.

"I missed you terribly you know." Miley said feeling close to tears. All of the intimacy, attraction, and explosiveness was still there. All it took was being close to him and she felt whole again.

"You have no idea." He whispered out.

A clanging of dishes woke them from their haze. They brought their heads apart remaining close to each other. Kevin walked into the room carrying 3 huge platters of food.

He smiled. "So….what did I miss?"

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