Hey Guys- Sorry it took so long for me to post but I was having reverse writers block….I had so many ideas of how to go from here that I didn't know which to use. This isn't quite the end but it is definitely winding down for now. I think I need a break from this story soon so even if I do some sort of sequel it won't be for awhile. Anyway I need to give you all a big THANK YOU for all the reviews. They were amazing. I'm really happy you all enjoyed the last chapter…it was one of my favorites to write. Anyway you gave me 27 reviews for that last chapter which is by FAR the most I've ever gotten for a single chapter. Y'all ROCK. Enjoy!

He felt trapped…like if he didn't tell her exactly how he felt he'd regret it for the rest of his life.

Miley noted the change in his eyes. They were strong and soft with a hint of desperation behind them. She needed to know what would do this to her Jake…her rock.

"What is it? You can tell me anything…you know that right?" Miley whispered feeling somewhat fearful of what he might say.

Jake leaned down and placed his forehead on hers never breaking eye contact. He brought his right hand up and tucked a loose curl behind her ear. Then in barely a whisper he did it.

Not a question, not a demand…a wish.

"Marry Me."

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Miley looked at Jake a sense of shock and amazement running through her. Her fingers were tingling against Jake's chest. She was breathing hard searching his eyes for something, anything that would tell her that she wasn't imagining it that Jake….her Jake….had just asked her the question her heart had been aching to hear her entire life.

Her mind was racing so quickly that she couldn't tell if she had imagined it up or not. As her eyes searched his she found her voice again. "Say that again?" She got out quietly not believing this was happening.

Jake looked into the eyes he loved more than anything and smiled. He needed her to be his. He took her hand in his. Feeling her fingers automatically entwine with his his heart and confidence soared. His eyes shined down at the beautiful woman in front of him. "You heard me." He said his forehead still against hers and his mouth drawn up in a slight smirk.

Miley had heard him. Her mind began racing. Those words….she had dreamed of him saying those fantastic words since she was 13 and here she was in front of him…the most incredible…most romantic…most perfect man she had ever met and he was asking HER….to marry him. Her heart was banging against her chest.

She closed her eyes never relinquishing her hold on Jake's hand. She felt him rubbing his thumb over the top of her hand and she could feel the goosebumps erupting along her forearms.

Things were happening so fast. She and Jake had just gotten together. Could they do this? Could they be together….forever?

Miley opened her eyes and found Jake's waiting to find hers.

Jake looked in her eyes and recognized the emotions swimming through those crystal blue eyes. She had given him the same look when he asked her to be more than friends when they were 14. He knew in her heart that she wanted them to be together just as much as he did but there was the other side of her that was still scared of having her heart broken.

"Miley." He whispered huskily. He bent down and kissed her passionately.

He released her head slowly pulling his back a few inches from hers. "I have loved you since the moment you first insulted me in middle school."

Miley smiled and laughed slightly still feeling tears forming under her lidded eyes.

"And in my entire life I have only ever been in love with you." Jake stated kissing her on the cheek and forehead.

Cupping her face gently with one of his hands he felt his heart racing. He had wanted to tell her exactly what she had meant to him since the moment he saw her again and now he knew she needed to hear it.

He stroked her cheek lightly and spoke softly "I know… I don't deserve you. I don't deserve a second chance. I was so stupid to have EVER let you go. But that day…that terrible day that we broke up I lost everything that made my life good and meaningful."

"And I have spent 10 years throwing myself into the lives of characters because being myself without you….just wasn't worth it anymore." Jake said feeling tears welling up in his eyes.

Tears were already streaming down Miley's cheeks. She went to him wrapping her arms around him and wiping away the tear that had fallen across his beautiful face. She brought her face closer to his. "You never lost me." She whispered wanting to take away the pain he had felt.

Jake shook his head holding onto her as tightly as he could. "I was nothing without you." He said finding her gorgeous eyes once again.

Jake breathed deeply and continued. "And the worst of it was that I didn't have the courage to come and find you myself. You meant so much to me….but I was so terrified that you wouldn't need me that…."

Jake had to stop talking.

"I had to have my best friend force us together again to realize what I had done to myself." Jake said with sadness and self hate in his voice. Miley tightened her arms around Jake's waist not being able to bear the pain he was feeling. She had felt it too. She had never gone to find him. She had told herself that she was over him. She had lied to herself for years trying to find peace without him. And it hadn't worked.

It was then that she realized she would never be complete without Jake in her life. She needed him….she needed this incredible closeness the rest of her life.

Jake looked at Miley again and felt the realization of what it would have been like never to have seen her again hit him like a truck. He could barely breathe.

"And…And if Kevin hadn't butted in and messed around with my personal life I would never have seen you again." He said looking at what he could have lost.

Miley was hugging him tightly now. "We were both wrong Jake. It wasn't just you." Miley said in between tears.

Jake took a deep breath resigning himself. He held Miley out at arms length. "I was so wrong not to come and find you…not to tell you every minute of every day how much I missed you and how I NEVER stopped loving you."

Miley looked at Jake and saw the desperation in his eyes. She knew he meant every word he was saying.

He stepped closer and tilted his head down towards hers. "And that's why I don't want to wait anymore. I've waited 10 years to find love…to find you again and I don't want to spend another second of my life without you in it." Searching her eyes he finished. "You are the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes on and everyday that we're together I find myself falling even more desperately in love with you than I was before." Jake finished stroking Miley's cheek and breathing heavily.

Then finding his smile again Jake smirked. "And you know I'm hard to get rid of so if you turn me down now I'll just keep asking until you say yes."

Miley smiled widely and wiped away the tears that had fallen to her cheeks.

Jake took her hand and looked at her with all the love he had. "Marry Me."

Miley put her hand to her chest trying to keep her heart from beating uncontrollably.

Jake was looking at her with fear of rejection and excitement written in his face. She wanted to tell him how she had always been his, how they had both been stupid and foolish to let each other go, and how this past week had been like someone had breathed new life into her soul. But seeing the desperation in his eyes begging her to answer she realized she didn't need to say any of that. There was only one thing she needed to tell him.

Holding his gaze with hers, tears still in her eyes she whispered her answer.

"Yes." She said smiling widely her eyes sparkling with tears and unbridled happiness.

Jake took her in his arms in hugging her tightly lifting her off the ground and turning her around on nothing but pure relief that she had actually said yes. Miley's smile kept growing, the happiness she was feeling radiating around her. The minute Miley's feet touched the ground Jake kissed her. Miley melted into him feeling him kiss her everywhere.

Miley pulled back and smiled broadly still with tears in her eyes. She laughed softly knowing that this was the best decision she had ever made. Knowing that Jake felt the same she jokingly asked "Are you sure about this?"

Jake kissed the top of her forehead wrapping his arms around the woman who had been destined to be his. "Miley….I'm not sure of anything BUT this." He answered smiling just as widely.

She hugged him and found comfort in feeling her heart pounding against her chest knowing that her heart and her mind were finally on the same page. She had found the man she was going to spend the rest of her life with and she'd never let him go.

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