AN: Jackson and Miley have finally had enough of their abusive father, and decided to make a run for it. They make a run for Michael and Melody's place.

Chapter VI: Love and Secrets Revealed

Michael was laying on his couch, thinking about Miley. He knew that he really cared about her, but he was scared to admit his feelings for two obvious reasons. One, he didn't want to risk losing a really good friend he already had, a friend who helped him out a lot when he first moved out here. Second, was the fear of rejection. He knew that if he told Miley how he really felt and she rejected him, it would just kill him. Also, there was the fact that Miley and Jackson were getting smacked around by their own father, Robby, and he found out that Robby was beating his kids recently. What he was going to do about that was still up in the air.

Michael closed his eyes, but he bolted up when he heard frantic knocking at the door. Michael hopped up, and went to answer it. Michael opened the door, and saw to his horror, Jackson standing on his porch, with a unconscious Miley in his arms.

"Jackson, what the hell happened?" Michael asked as he helped them in.

"I don't know, I walked into the house, and I found her like this." Jackson answered. "Where can I lay her down?"

"In my room. Up the stairs, and to the right." Michael said. Jackson watched as he carried his sister up the stairs. Michael knew that Robby was behind this, and he knew that he wasn't going to stop just because of this.

Jackson closed Michael's bedroom door behind him, as Michael came up the steps. Jackson smiled as he saw his friend.

"Jackson, what happened?" Michael asked him.

"I really don't know." Jackson answered. Michael looked away, and out of nowhere, he pushed Jackson up against the wall, looking at him with an ice cold stare.

"Jackson, I know what Robby Ray is doing to you two, so don't give me any bullshit lie. Now what happened!?" Michael growled.

"I think that dad beat her badly, when I came home, I saw her like that." Jackson said, pushing his friend off of him. Jackson saw that Michael calmed down at his response.

"Sorry, man." Michael told Jackson. "It's just...I don't like seeing Miley in trouble. I care about her, you know."

"I know." Jackson said. "Is Melody home?"

"She's in her room sleep." Michael said, motioning to the room across from his. "A World War couldn't wake her up. Look, what are you going to do? Robby probably knows that you are gone, and he is probably really super pissed at you now."

"I have no idea about that." Jackson said. "What are we going to do? Can Charles help us?"

"When he gets back from St. Louis, yeah, probably." Michael said. "You can stay here until I think of something."

"Thanks, man." Jackson said.

"You're welcome." Michael said.

"Melody? Melody, wake up." Michael whispered, shaking his stepsister. The black haired teen sat up, and shoved Michael off of her bed.

"What in the hell do you want?" Melody asked, voice sounding drowsy.

"Jackson and Miley are here." Michael whispered. Melody's eyes widened, and she jumped off of her bed.

"Really? What are they doing here?" Melody asked. Michael locked Melody's door, and looked at his stepsister.

"What's up?" Melody asked him. Michael had a look on his face that said that he was about to reveal some bad news.

"Robby Ray has been beating Jackson and Miley." Michael whispered. Melody looked wide eyed at her stepbrother.

"What!? Are you sure? Who told you?" Melody asked him.

"I saw it a few days ago for myself." Michael said. "We got to help them, but are we going to do?"

"I don't know," Melody said. "I can't believe it. How long has this been going on?"

"A while I guess." Michael said. "Look, I am going to check on Miley. Can you keep Jackson company?"

"Sure." Melody answered, a smile on her face.

"Thanks." Michael said.

Jackson sat on the living room couch, looking around at Michael and Melody's living room. It was pretty nice, and Charles knew how to live. Michael had once told him that his main job was to keep the house clean, and that was easy, because the only places he really went besides his room was the kitchen and the living room, which he went in sparingly. Jackson sighed as Melody sat next to him.

"Jackson, don't get offended at this, but how could you let your own father do this to you?" Melody asked.

"I had to." Jackson answered. "I have nowhere to go, I had to stay there and protect Miley. I could take the beatings that he gave me, but I knew that he was hurting Miley more. She can only take it for a short while."

"Jackson, it's only going to be a matter of time before he hurts you to a point that you or Miley can't recover." Melody said. "Look at what he did to Miley. He beat her unconscious. What if he hurt her worse? What were you going to do then?"

"I don't know!" Jackson exclaimed. "It's just that when Mom died, he turned into... started to act like that. He changed for the worse, and I just want him to change back."

Jackson put his face into his hands. Melody leaned over and gave him a hug.

"Thanks, Melody." Jackson said softly.

"No problem." Melody answered. Melody leaned over and gave Jackson a light kiss on the cheek. Jackson's face grew red as Melody smiled at him. Jackson leaned in and returned the kiss.

Michael watched as Miley slept in his bed. Michael couldn't get over how beautiful she looked as she slept. Michael leaned over her, and brushed a strand of hair out of her face. Miley turned so that she was facing Michael. He began to lean in, but at the last second, he snatched his face away.

What in the hell am I doing? I can't kiss my best friend, no matter how hot she is. Michael thought to himself. Michael looked out over his balcony, and saw Melody and Jackson making out on his living room couch.

Gross. Michael thought. Melody had a lot more guts and nerve than he did, and Michael had no guts to make a move on Miley. He went back into his room, sat on the edge of his bed, and began to stare at his own Sleeping Beauty.

AN: Jackson and Melody became a couple, but Michael and Miley have yet to cross that line. Next time, Michael tells Miley how he feels, and Robby makes an appearance. R&R!