Hey guys-

WoW Thank you all for the reviews. I know it's hard to keep up with stories during school but I will try as hard as I can as long as you keep reading and reviewing. Here's the next chapter..not my most brilliant but I blame it on middle-chapteritis. Enjoy!

Chapter 7

The walk back to Miley's apartment was short, filled with excited talk about Jenna and Kevin and their new baby. Miley couldn't help but notice the looks and shy smiles that Jake gave her as they walked up the stairs to her apartment. She had had a great time all night and it hadn't escaped her notice that her favorite parts of the evening all had to do with Jake himself. She had loved how excited he had been for his friends. She had always loved how much heart he put into everything they had done together as a couple and she was glad that he had friends that could bring out that side of him as well.

"So…godfather…wanna come up and have some coffee? I think I'm a little too excited to get to bed just yet." Miley asked putting her keys into the large front door.

Jake smiled at the nickname "Sure…I am a bit cold at the moment and could use a little pick me up before heading the rest of the way home." He said as he pulled his collar on his wool jacket close to his neck.

Miley led him up the stairs to her not so little apartment and let him in.

"Wow. This is a great place." Jake said unbuttoning his jacket.

Miley smiled to herself. She really did love this place. "I know…they did such a beautiful job. I never knew this is what you got to come home to all those times you were off doing movies Jake…or else I would have given you a much harder time about it." Miley teased.

Jake smiled at her. "Actually I've never had a place this nice. You'll have to thank Jenna for it next time you see her. She was in charge of finding and furnishing all the actors apartments." Jake said looking around at all the modern and antique furnishings.

"You're kidding? Jenna did this? She really is amazing. Your friend Kevin is a ridiculously lucky man." She said still smiling at Jake.

Jake laughed to himself. "Yeah. He is. It only took him 2 years in college to convince her that he was good enough to take her on a date. But I guess the struggle has paid off for him." Jake finished as Miley handed him some coffee.

"So….where's Mark tonight Miles? I…uh…I was surprised to see you at Kevin's by yourself." Jake said acting casually even though his insides were turning circles.

Miley could feel the mood of the conversation changing. She and Jake had had a wonderful evening and she had purposefully put Mark out of her mind. She sipped at her coffee. 'Oh. Mark. Um…he said something about having to do a test shoot tonight at the mansion. They're supposed to be there all night."

Jake smiled to himself knowing that Kevin had control over all shoots. Jake knew he should be mad at Kevin for doing so much to get him and Miley alone but part of him wanted to hug him senseless for giving him some time to be with her on his own. He sighed to himself. He knew that Kevin wouldn't give up until Jake either told Miley how he felt of got over her. He wasn't sure which of those two things were more difficult.

"So…how are things between the two of you?" Jake asked again still trying to be casual.

Miley looked at Jake and could see through his act. She really didn't know what to tell him. Things between her and Mark were good when they were together the last time but that had been a long time ago and they hadn't really had time to get things back to 'normal.'

Miley sighed. "Things are good…I guess. Mark is really great but…we've been going out for almost a year and this is the first time we'll be in the same city at the same time. He takes his work very seriously…. which I understand because I've been there. But I don't know…maybe I've been at this too long…but… I think I'm ready for new things in my life."

Miley got up and walked towards the door leading to her balcony overlooking the city. 'I mean I don't even know Kevin and Jenna very much but I look at people like them or Lilly and Oliver and wish I had something like that…you know? Someone to share everything with…and I'm just not sure if Mark wants that too."

Jake's eyes dimmed as he heard this. H knew exactly what she was talking about. He had felt left out on so many occasions when with Kevin and Jenna that he knew he wanted to have someone to settle down with. But he knew that he wanted it with Miley…and here she was imagining the same thing…but with Mark.

Before Jake could think of what to say to her Miley continued. "I mean…I've spent so much time performing for others that I think I'm ready to put that on the back burner and start living a little more. I don't think I want to give it up completely but….I think after awhile you start to realize that if you don't have someone to share all the fame with….it's not worth as much. You know what I mean?"

Jake looked at the beautiful girl next to him and realized that he had never understood someone better than he understood Miley. In her eyes he could see everything. He could imagine a life with a beautiful house and kids exploring and sharing life together. He wanted to give her everything she had ever wanted in life. The sad part was that he knew he could. He could love her completely….if only she would let him.

"Miley…" He said coming up behind her and turning her towards him.

"I know you. If you want something in life you are the first one to have the courage to go out and take it. So if settling down and doing more normal things is what you want…you should do it. And if ….if Mark is too stupid to realize that you're offering him the best life possible then he's not worth it." Jake said passionately

Jake took a breath and lifted her head so that she looked him in the eyes. "If he can't love you that way….maybe…maybe it's better you find out now…so that you can find someone who does." Jake said softly caressing her cheek lovingly and staring into her blue eyes.

When he didn't see any signs of protesting he gathered his courage and continued. "Someone…someone who has loved you since the first time he saw you. Someone who can't imagine a life with anyone but you." He said with difficulty.

As Miley looked into his hazel green eyes there was no question what he was telling her. He still loved her.

By now Miley had tears in her eyes. She wanted to lean into him and tell him that she loved him too. She wanted to bring her lips to his and taste him again. But then she thought of all the time she had spent without Jake. She nearly didn't get over losing his love the first time he left her. She couldn't imagine trying to get over him again if lost him a second time.

She turned back to face the glass door. "Why now Jake?" She asked just above a whisper with a tear streaming down her face. "It's not like I was hiding anywhere. If…if you felt this way…why did you wait?" She asked tears still coming down her cheeks as she turned to face him.

Jake looked down in shame. He shook his head and ran his hand through his hair. "I…I honestly don't know. Breaking up with you…it…it destroyed me."

"I guess I just made myself believe that you were better off without me." He said sadly.

"And after awhile I….I was terrified to find out if I was right." Jake said putting his hand on the small of her back.

He leaned in closely placing his lips near her ear. "But I never stopped loving you. Never once." He said sadly into her ear.

Miley's eyes closed savoring the words she had longed and dreamed of hearing him say to her for so long.

Jake then moved away slightly and continued. "But…but if Mark is the one for you. You won't hear another word about this from me." "If…if you can see yourself with him forever…then you need to be with him. I need you to be happy Miley. Even….even if it's not with me." He said nearly whispering.

Miley was definitely crying now. She had never been so confused in her life. She still felt all the attraction and love that she had experienced for Jake when they were together. There was no question of that. But he had broken her heart. He had shattered her spirit and it had taken nearly 10 years to feel whole again. She couldn't let one great evening derail everything she had gained since getting over him.

"Jake….I….I don't know. You had so long….so very long to come back to me. And…you didn't."

Jake looked at Miley and saw the sadness in her eyes.

"I….I just don't know if I can get over that. I spent years getting over you. I can't let myself fall for you again just to have it end. I don't think I'd make it this time."

Jake was about to tell her that he would never do that again if he were given another chance but Miley interrupted him knowing that he would protest. "You had 10 years to come back….I'm going to need more than one day to decide if I can trust you with my heart again." She said tears still coming down your face. "I need some time. We…we need to get to know each other again without all the extra pressure of a relationship and I need to figure out how I feel about Mark."

"I need time." She said looking at his with all the honesty she had in her heart.

Jake nodded agreeing with her. He then put his hand under her chin. "I'll be here…whenever you decide. I…I just thought you should know." He said sadly but in a voice filled with love and tenderness. He leaned forward and kissed her on the forehead.

Jake went and put on his coat and quietly left the apartment giving her one last glance before he left.

Looking at the white door that Jake had just walked out of Miley closed her eyes again and leaned her head back onto the door. "I never stopped loving you either." Miley said to the empty apartment as she slid down the door and put her head in her arms letting her tears overcome her.

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