A/N: Ok so thanks to those who reviewed! They were all sweet and encouraging. Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and an even better new years! So this is an update. YAY. I'm also in the process of finishing up a Niley one shot. It was kinda inspired by the holidays... Hopefully this break from school gives me more time to write, even though I have been super distracted. I'm really getting into Draco/Hermione fanfic. I'm completely addicted, so if anyone is an avid reader and have any good suggestions, please let me know. Though I think I read majority of the the Draco/Hermione fics. AndI gotta say so much of them are so smutty... AND I LOVE IT! haha. Ok here is your update. It's longer than the last one!

The days slowly passed as Nick fell into a familiar routine. He would wake up each and every morning, finding his way onto the deserted beach, strolling across the long stretch of white sand just to catch a glimpse of the mystery brunette. Always keeping his distance, he watched her from afar, he couldn't help but take in her sense of calm. Being near her brought back the familiar feelings he once felt the years before. When things made sense, when his music mattered.

All he wanted was to go back in time.

-

He watched as the long stream of tears fell from her once bright blue eyes, but watching her now, he saw the changes in her appearance. Her eyes were no longer filled with excitement, no longer bright. Now they were dull as if they lost the life behind the girl he once knew. Her body looked fatigued, her shoulder slumped as if it were a burden to carry her weight. Her arms were thin and frail, she no longer had the healthy body he once held. The girl that sat across the aisle was not the girl he once loved. She was nothing more than a mold, she was hollow. She was broken.

She turned her face as her eyes settled over to where he was seated, her eyes locked with his. He expected her to turn away in anger. Instead, she stared back at him almost as if she was pleading with him to take her away from all the pain.

His heart was pumping. He wanted nothing more than to take her in his arms and hold her, protect her from the harsh world. He stood there frozen as he watched the vulture attack her with endless strings of questions. He could see her resolve slowly breaking. He could hear his thoughts screaming out to him to save her, to take her away from the pain. To piece her back together. Nothing.

Nick's body sprang upright as the sweat poured down his forehead. His skin glistening with moisture as his eyes focused on the room around him. The sky outside his house was dark. He could see the streak of lightning falling from the sky. The loud sounds of thunder and the roaring waves mingling in the air. His heavy breath filled the air, his heart was beating fast, his hand placed across his bare chest in hopes of calming himself.

Slowly he buried his face into the palms of his hand as he broke out into a fit of sobs. He let her fall apart. He did nothing to help her and he was at fault. He couldn't push away the guilt he felt, the pain that he wish would ease away. Instead he was burden with the pain of knowing that he hurt her. The long trails of tears stream down his face as he broke down. He had let her down.

-

MIley couldn't explain her fascination with the gray, stormy sky. She loved the rain as it trickled down from the sky. She watched the roaring waves crashing against the shore with concentration. The sound of thunder and the bright flashes of lighting lit up the sky. She immersed herself in the thought that as the rain poured down, it was cleansing away the wrong in the world. That just beyond the worst of the storm, another day would come. That the sun would resurface and it would be a bright new day. It would be another beginning, free from the pass.

She felt at peace as the storm raged on because she knew that even at the worst of time, just the thought of a better tomorrow filled her with hope. That even as the world had pushed her down and tore her apart, she could only get stronger. She blamed no one for the cruel world outside her new life. She realized now that she may have lost the long strings of battle, but she won the war. She found herself and she found her peace. She forgave herself for all the imperfection she held. She was a better person.

But as she watched the trickles of rain falling from the sky, the sound of the rain drops hitting against the gutter systems that lined her house. She was brought back to a time she once held closed to her heart. She couldn't explain why he suddenly came running through her thoughts. Because in reality it had been a while since she last thought of him.

Miley sat crossed leg on the plush arm chair, her long lean legs exposed in the short pajama bottoms she wore. A white cotton t-shirt clung to her slender figure, her long tendrils of chestnut locks was pulled up into a messy bun, random strands falling loose from the hair tie. In her arms she cradled the acoustic guitar, her fingers strumming the metal strings as the sound of a faint melody filled the air. The words flowed out of her mouth as she gave it her heart and soul.

Just her and her guitar.

Her eyes were closed shut as she lost herself in the music, the way the words flowed and the melody laced with one another. It was an interlocking chain.

And as the last word echoed from wall to wall, the last key rang out and the melody faded into silence. Miley heard the sound of two hands clapping against one another. Immediately Miley's eyes fluttered opened, meeting the brown ones starring back at her.

"That was amazing..." Nick commented, his gaze still locked with Miley's.

Her cheeks flushed red, small smile appeared on her lips, her voice breathless, "Thanks."

She remembered the night so many years ago. They had been on tour with one another. Another night spent at a hotel in another city. The storm had kept her up, so she turned to her guitar. Looking back, she could remember even the obscure details of the single memory, it was imprinted in her mind. She couldn't explain why it came to mind, here and now. That was a time of her past, the past that she left behind her when she came here to create a new world for herself. Letting out a breath of air, Miley pushed herself off the wooden chair. Her bare feet grazed against the cool tiled floor until she reached the glass sliding door. Her hand firmly grasping the wooden handle, she tugged the door open as a strong gust of wind hit her body. The smell of the salty air mixed with the fresh pouring rain filled her nostrils as she stepped outside. Slowly she made her way down the slick wooden steps, the rain pouring down on her as she inched closer to the deserted beach.

Allowing her toes to dig into the wet sand, thick raindrops fell down from the dark sky. She allowed the raindrops to fall down on her, to wash away her thoughts and to free her mind. To cleanse her soul. She felt free.

Letting out a laugh she felt deep within the pit of her stomach, she spun her arms out, twirling in a circle. Allowing herself to embrace the rain. The sound of thunder and roaring waves could be heard above her laughter. Falling to the ground, her long chestnut locks matted against her neck, she slowly caught her breath. Her heart racing, as she finally glanced up.

Her eyes widen in recognition as she met the familiar warm brown starring at her. Her heart was racing. Even behind the fogged haze of raindrops and the dark sky, she knew. And as his eyes widen, even as the thunder raged on, she could swear that a pin drop could be heard in the silent trance they both found themselves in.

And before she knew it, he found his voice, the words came out in stutter of disbelief. Clear as day, she heard her name slipping through his perfect lips, "Mmm.. mmi... miley?"

A/N: Clifferhanger BABY! :) Reviews are always appreciated.