gosh im sorry its been ages, ive had sooo many exams! ill probably update in like 2 days i promise it will be soon!

It's my fault my parents are dead.

Nick let the words repeat over and over again in his mind. It just didn't fit. While the girl in front of him could be a pain in the ass and frustrating as hell, there was nothing abouther that showed she didn't give it all for the people she cared about. She had proved that with her interaction with Zac on his first day of meeting her. This had to be based off some deep seated guilt because none of it fit.

"I don't understand," he said. "What happened?"

For a moment, he was sure she hadn't heard him. Her face while still trapped between his hands no longer held his attention. Her eyes were looking out the window, letting haunting memories bring her miles away from him. He could tell by the desolate look on her face that whatever she was thinking about had broken her beyond repair. She put on a good front but deep down inside Miley Cyrus was just trying to pick up the pieces of who she was before her parents death. Her big blue eyes turned back towards him, filled with unshed tears that gave reasoning to her silence. She needed the time to get herself together enough to confess this to him.

She was finally going to unravel the mystery of Miley Cyrus.

…Or at least she was.

Suddenly, as in without any warning, something small and hard came crashing against him and wrapped its frail little arms around his neck. With a quick jolt, Nick turned towards the offender to find the overly joyed Lily smiling up at him. The moment he dropped his hands from Miley's face he felt the connection break. Whatever ground he had crossed tonight with Miley was quickly being retreated as his arms began to encircle his favorite little goddaughter against him. He put up a mask quickly and looked at her, "Quite the entrance, Lee Lee. Igive it 4 ½ stars."

"No fair! That landing was perfect! Completely caught you off guard!" She stopped complaing when she heard Vanessa calling her name from the kitchen. "Ugh! Mom wanted me to tell you that dinner is ready."

Miley stood and patted her cousin on the head. "Thanks for letting us know, Lil." She bent down. "And by the way, I give it a 5." With a quick kiss to Lilly's head, she walked out of the room without so much as a backward glance. Nick could already feel her building up the holes in her defense that she had let down for him in this room. It wasn't until he walked into the dining room, holding Lily's hand that his thoughts were confirmed.

Throughout the entire meal Miley didn't look at him, acknowledge him and whenever she was somehow forced to talk to him, she replied with clipped, cordial answers. Whatever they had found in that room was lost now. Miley's moment of weakness in the familiarity of her family had already been armored. It wouldn't be as easy to get her to open up again.

It wasn't until he cornered her outside as she tried to rush herself and Braison into her Ford Escape that his assumptions were confirmed. "Are we going to talk about what you said?" he questioned.

Miley waited until Braison hopped into the car and began to fiddle with his iPod before turning back to him. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Really?" he admonished. "On the window seat? We were talking…. All cathartic feelings exposed?"

She turned back to the car. "I don't have time for this, Nick."

He reached out grabbing hold of her arm and halting her movements. "You want to forget about it? Fine. But I can't."

"It's none of your business, Nick. Just let it go." Her eyes challenged him as she turned towards him.

"You want me to just forget the first time we actually had any semblance of a normal conversation? Maybe if you'd open up to me you'd see that I understand you a little better than you think."

Miley pulled her arm free. "It was a moment of weakness. Let. It. Go."

She stomped her way toward the driver's side of her car and hopped in. In haste, she pulled out of the Efron's driveway and sped down the quiet street. Nick could only watch after her as the beginnings of another plan to Operation: Cyrus Wide Open began to form.

"Jonas? What are you doing down here in the dungeon?"

Liam Hemsworth was one of the top researchers for the FBI and just so happened to be the best secret keeper. His office was on one of the lowest levels of the building, typically called "the dungeon" due to its lack of windows. It was covered in monitors and flat screens and all other kinds of high tech stuff that Nick wouldn't know what to do with. Lights were flashing and papers were coming out from the fax yet the kid (and he called him a kid because that's exactly what he was—recruited fresh out of high school) still leaned back in his chair with the calm of a veteran stoner.

With a quick shake of his head, Nick sat beside Liam in front of one of the many flashing computers. "Can't I just come down here to visit?"

"Nope," Liam laughed. "What can I do you for? Official or off the record?"

Nick looked around, making sure there wasn't a soul in sight. There wouldn't be but it was better to be safe than sorry. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Off the record."

"Just a moment." Liam began to flip a bunch of switches and began typing away at his main computer before settling back in his chair, folded his hands behind his head. "What can I help you with?"

"I need information on the deaths of Miley Cyrus' parents."

A smile began to form on the kids face. "Your newest partner? Can't you just ask?"

"It's… complicated." Nick replied not really wanting to get into his creepy little obsession with knowing everything he could about this infuriating girl.

"That's code for you met a girl you couldn't charm the pants off of. Haven't had the pleasure of meeting her yet, but I like her already." Liam sat back up in his chair, and pulled his personal laptop free from his messenger bag. He opened it up and began typing. "I'll get to work on it right away. Same price as always?"

"You'll have the Braves' tickets the moment I have the information."

Without looking up from his laptop, Liam replied, "Pleasure doing business with you."

Nick stood, making his way to the door. "As always."

Nick rubbed at his face in an attempt to wake himself up. It had been a long exhausting day and Miley had worked him hard. Not in the fun way. With Joe's upcoming return, Miley was determined to know everything she could. In a shocking move, she had even asked Nick to quiz her about the details of the family connections and dealings. Miley was determined not to be a weak link in the take down.

She truly was a natural at this and he had never met anyone who rivaled his passion for this job. For the first time in a long time, he found himself actually seeing his partner as his equal. Miley was the first partner to come along that was on his playing field. Nick didn't need to compensate for what Miley was lacking or worry about her safety while on the job, he knew she had it covered. It was a welcomed relief but it only meant more work for them both.

And their similarities had only served to fuel his curiosity about her. He had his own darkness keeping him from truly being happy and he wondered if their shared that guilt too. Miley felt responsible for the death of a family member and Nick knew what that felt like to an extent. He found himself wanting to open up to her—a rarity of itself—but found that every time he went for it, work got in the way.

He sat knee deep in files with his computer laid out in front of him. The sound of the doorbell ringing snapped Nick out of his research. He downed what was left of his bourbon and stood, a little wobbly, and made his way to the front door. As he peeked at his security system, he shook his head at his luck. Today being the day it was, he wasn't sure he had the energy for this. Nick opened the door to reveal Olivia leaning against the door frame with a coat tucked around her body and a pair of heels that nearly brought her to his height. She wasted no time for pleasantries as she brushed past him and entered his home.

"Sure, Liv. Come right on in." Nick shut the door and turned towards her, crossing his arms over his chest.

Olivia strode towards him, sashaying her hips. Her manicured nail started to make a path down his chest as she whispered, "You haven't been answering my phone calls, Nicholas."

"I've been busy."

She shook her head, refusing to accept his excuse. "All work and no play makes Nicholas a boring boy."

Nick lowered his lids in a smoldering way. "I've never been boring."

"I could say otherwise," she replied, stepping away from him. Her hands began to undo the sash and buttons of her jacket. "This is why I thought I'd liven things up a little."

The jacket fell from her shoulders and revealed Olivia's naked body. Whatever energy he thought he was lacking suddenly started to build up and strain against his jeans. Work could wait till later. Much later.

The chime of his phone woke Nick up. Olivia groaned from beside him and rolled away from him, clutching the pillow to her chest. Slowly, to not wake her, Nick reached over to his bedside to retrieve his phone. He rubbed at his eyes and unlocked his phone to reveal several texts and calls from Miley.

From Miley Cyrus (4:09am): Joe and Demi just landed at Hartsfield-Jackson.

*Missed Call: Miley Cyrus – 4:15am*

From Miley Cyrus (4:20am): Nick, answer your damn phone! They got pulled into customs on suspected illegal transportation of artifacts. They can't hold them for long! They have permits.

From Miley Cyrus (4:38am): I'm not missing this chance because of you.

He immediately sat up and pulled on his briefs on and immediately started dialing Nick's number. She answered on the first ring.

"Where the hell are you?"

Nick cleared his voice as he began to walk towards the bathroom. "Home. I didn't hear my phone go off."

"It's 4:30 in the morning, Nick! Quiet down!" Olivia groaned now tugging his comforter over her head.

"Sorry, go back to sleep," he mumbled, trying to cover up the sound so Miley didn't hear.

"Overslept?" Miley repeated with an edge of skepticism. "Sure you did. Whatever. Just call me when you're on route. Leave last night's escapade at home."

She hung up with a click and Nick slammed his fist down on the porcelain sink. "Shit!"

All the work he had done to prove to Miley that he wasn't just a man whore had gone down the drain the moment Olivia's voice carried over the line. Did he ever catch a fucking break with this girl?