Chapter Fourteen.

Miley.

"Okay we just need one more and then we are..."

I trailed off looking into the room a small smile spreading across my face. Joe was the first to fall, literally, he'd fallen asleep on his chair and toppled off it creating quite a mess in the process. I'd decided it wasn't worth the clean up or broken flowers to have him stick around, so he'd been sent home to get some much needed rest. Surprisingly Kevin was the next one to doze off still holding a box in his fingers, I gave him the boot too leaving me the last victim to my orders. Nick had finally fallen, head against the fridge in a balancing act with the chair which was slightly leaning a little too far to the left for my liking.

I moved over taking the roses he'd abandoned preferring sleep than cutting, as I gazed at him intrigued. There was generally one of the three brothers yawning at the least, but all three of them falling asleep was too much of a coincidence. It was obvious they'd been awake most of last night before they even got here just why? What was so important that all three of them would give up a night of sleep when it seemed they all so desperately needed it.

"Hey Miley, I got breakfast!" Brandi's voice shouted,

My eyes widened as Nick let out a murmur but didn't shift as I turned quickly rushing out into the hallway finding my flustered sister juggling coffee and a paper bag in her hands,

"Hey can you help me-"

"Shhh," I snapped at her.

I snatched the paper bag as Brandi quickly reestablished herself into a position of power over the goods she had been struggling with. Her eyes gave me a look as I motioned to the back room frowning,

"Nick's asleep"

"Asleep?"

"Yeah I sent Joe and Kevin home too because they were making more mistakes than progress due to sleep deprivation it appears."

Brandi just gave me a confused look and I shrugged, "I have no idea why they're so tired,"

"You didn't stay with Nick last night?" Brandi asked very carefully.

I looked at my sister taking a coffee shaking my head, "No I didn't, he said I couldn't stay over."

"He said that? After how hard-"

"I know," I responded.

"Hmm I wonder why?"

"You and me both. I have one more bouquet to finish, could you open up?"

Brandi suddenly looked at me kind of awkwardly but nodded, "Yeah I can, but Miles we need to talk."

"About?"

She gave a small laugh, "I'll tell you later okay?"

Before I could question her anymore she darted towards the front of the shop leaving me in the hallway. I looked into the bag seeing the pastries and then gazed at my coffee, I didn't want to give it up but I knew these were needed far less in my stomach than Nick's. I returned to the back room finding Nick still in the exact same position as I carefully put my breakfast on the bench moving over to him,

"Nick?" I called to him,

"Nick?"

I moved my hand gently placing it on his back rubbing it, "Nick? You need to get up."

His eyes fluttered open as Nick began to lean left heading towards toppling the chair over, I grabbed the side of it pushing the whole chair back to a stable and flat position. Nick still a little dazed looked at me for a moment and smiled,

"Hey beautiful,"

"Bye Nick, take the coffee and pastry and go home okay?" I ordered motioning to my breakfast.

Nick rubbed his eyes looking around for a moment, assessing his location only for his brown orbs to widen,

"Oh shit, I'm sorry I just-"

"It's fine, go home,"

"No, no I'm good now I only had one more to do." He announced standing up.

I grabbed his arm squeezing it gently, "I can do it okay? You just go home, you need your sleep clearly."

I didn't mean to put tone on the last word it just kind of came out, it's not like I was angry at him or his brother's for that matter I was more curious as to what was going on. Nick clearly heard my voice adjustment and sighed moving one hand out placing it on my shoulder, while his eyes stared directly into mine. "I'm sorry Miley, I shouldn't have fallen asleep nor should my brothers because we know you need the help, it's just..." I could see the look in his eyes, he was nervous, scared even. "I...I was...ummm, I was kind of at work last night."

"Work?" I murmured confused, "You quit."

Nick nodded looking at me, "I did for you, but this wasn't exactly work it was...well we were with the lawyers we got dad's case time and it's in a month so we-"

"Why didn't you just call, I could have done this on my own!" I announced giving a sigh,

Nick suddenly looked relieved as I stared at him confused, "I thought you'd be mad because I was choosing work over you again-"

"Nick!" I proclaimed slapping his arm, "That's not work, it's you dad and as much as you dislike him I'm happy you're helping with his case."

"I didn't have much choice, Joe and Kevin forced me into it."

I smiled at him and leaned up towards his lips, "Go home, get some rest, you need it."

"But I don't wanna leave without you,"

My smile only grew as I moved closer closing my eyes, "I wish I could but-"

"You can, go home."

Nick and me both turned to see Brandi at the door, standing there watching us. I gave her a confused look repeating the sentence in my head of what she'd jut announced.

"It's a saturday one our busiest days I-"

"I have Noah and Emily coming in, we'll handle it."

"But-"

"Look I'm doing you a favor here, you either take it or you let him leave." Brandi continued,

I looked at my sister analyzing her face, "I feel like you have an ulterior motive..."

Brandi gave an awkward one note laugh, "Uhuh...Which we will discuss tomorrow, you, me, Emily and Noah okay?"

"Okay, are you sure-"

"I'm sure, now both of you go home and get some sleep. You both look kind of like zombies and it's not a good way to promote the florist."

I opened my mouth to retort but nodded looking at Nick, "So you'll take me home?"

"No we'll go back to my place and-"

"And I'd rather not hear this, bye guys see you tomorrow. Miley remember we need to talk."

I waved her off my eyes now looking at Nick intrigued as he just gave a chuckle,

"And sleep."

"That was anti climatic," I responded smiling at him.

"Well trust me, I'm so exhausted and I don't think I'd stay awake no matter how seductive you are, plus we aren't going that far yet."

"We're not?"

"We're not." He stated kissing my forehead, "Waiting last time was good for us,"

"But last time we ended up in a fight after we finally did it."

"Well I don't have any other secret daughters so they'll be no more fights,"

I looked at Nick and nodded leaning up and pecking his lips, "Okay fine, we'll go back to your place ad sleep, but I wanted kisses-"

"And cuddles, I know," He spoke smirking at me, "Come on let's get out of here."

Nick.

I woke up with the pleasure of warmth around me, arms wrapped around my back, legs entangled and a slow breathing Miley tucked up against my chest. I didn't open my eyes wanting to stay like this forever, her body against mine fitting together like a jigsaw puzzle with only a few pieces still missing. To think I'd almost lost this, lost her for good scared me and although I loved the position we were currently in it created questions that needed to be answered. I knew we were together, however I still wasn't exactly sure where we stood, when would the right time be to try and ask the question I'd already got a yes in response to before everything went wrong.

I felt a shuffle behind me and frowned keeping my eyes closed as the sheets shifted and I felt something new press up against m back. My eyes flew open in panic only to realize it was now the afternoon which meant that the new bed invader was...

"Luce," I murmured relieved,

I heard her giggle and carefully turned a little to see my daughter now pressed up against me, her face grinning while her eyes were timidly locked on Miley.

"She's back." She whispered to me,

Her eyes darted to mine for confirmation as I nodded, "Yeah yeah she is..."

"For good?"

"I think so,"

"So she's going to move back in?"

"Ummm you'll have to ask her when she wakes up Luce."

"So you're going to get married?"

I looked at Luce and nodded again, a little unsure but at the same time I couldn't see this going wrong.

"Yeah I think so,"

Luce's grin dropped a little but smiled nodding, "Good, I missed Miley."

"Me too,"

"I missed seeing you this happy daddy."

"You're not the only one," I whispered looking back to her smoothing her hair with one hand, "So how's my little princess-"

"Hungry, can we make pancakes?"

"Pancakes?" I questioned and nodded, "Okay yeah sure I'll just wake-"

"No!" She hissed glaring at me, "Miley's tired daddy!"

"You woke me up,"

Luce climbed from the bed putting her hands on her hips glaring at me, "But I like her more than you daddy, plus mommy told me that if you two were in the bedroom I shouldn't even come in the room..." Luce announced frowning a little looking at me, "She said you might be sleeping together but the way she said it made her new boyfriend just laugh."

"New boyfriend?" I announced, "Another one?"

Lucy rolled her eyes, "Don't even go there daddy, mommy told me not to say anything because you'd judge her."

I couldn't help but give a small laugh, "And she's right I am, okay so how about pancakes?"

"Yes! But don't wake Miley up."

"I won't," I responded, "But daddy needs a shower, so can you start them without me? Just get the ingredients out."

"Sure thing daddy,"

"Kiss-"

"Ew no!" Luce proclaimed giving me a disgusted look,

She literally ran to the door as I sighed realising that this was just the start. Luce had always been my little girl, no matter what Selena said and she never once had rejected a kiss, but I guess she was growing up, kind of like I was. I looked at Miley and kissed her forehead carefully manoeuvring myself out of the bed, attempting to replace my body with a pillow. I looked at Miley and smiled feeling accomplished that at the present my life although complicated was pretty perfect. They were the two most important people in my life now, Luce and Miley, they came first and I finally understood that money and work definitely didn't bring happiness.

I went and had a shower, listening to Luce clatter around in the kitchen with god knows what and by the time I finally opened the bathroom door I wasn't exactly surprised to see the bed was now empty. I however was confused when I found Miley leaning over a cabinent, the top drawer open while her eyes were so apparently lost in the contents she hadn't even noticed I'd walked out.

I moved up behind her silently gazing to see she wasn't looking in the drawer but at her left hand, which now doted a ring...

Her engagement ring.

"Good afternoon,"

Miley jumped slamming the drawer and throwing her hand behind her back staring at me,

"I was just..."

She trailed off as I looked at her, "Being curious?"

"Trying to find some clean clothes actually," She whispered motioning to a t-shirt and sweats on the floor, "Which I found.."

"Good thing you didn't move all your clothes, find anything else in there?"

Miley just looked at me for a moment her cheeks reddening, "Ummm no, maybe? I-" Her eyes gazed away looking at the floor as I reached out grabbing her left elbow, the lowest part of her arm she hadn't managed to hide. I pulled it a little as she looked at me awkwardly and nodded, "Yeah, okay...I yes I did find it."

"It?"

I looked at her playing innocent as she just frowned, "Yes I found it, which I was surprised by considering-"

"You threw it at me? And you didn't think I'd go pick it up?" I asked,

Miley looked at me for a moment and nodded, "Yeah I suppose so, and I wanted to see what it looked like so I-"

"Tried it on?"

"Well it was mine," She murmured looking down again,

I finally pulled her left arm all the way out and looked down at her hand seeing the sparkling ring,

"It still is," I added turning my eyes back to her, "If you still want it of course..."

Miley looked hesitant for a moment as she opened her mouth only to stop, as I realised the position I was putting her in.

"Miley you don't have to wear it, I'm just saying you can keep it-"

"But I want to wear it," She murmured quietly,

My eyes widened as I stared at her, "You do?"

Miley stared at her hand and nodded, "I love this ring, I want to wear it I just don't want to-"

"Get married?"

I couldn't help but let the sadness fill my voice as Miley looked up at me and instantly shook her head, "No I do Nick, I do I just..." She looked at me pinching her lips together like she was trying to break the news to me slowly, "I want to get married to you, but last time everything just go so completely out of hand and...I don't want to do that ever again. I don't want to plan a wedding because honestly I hated every minute of organising it,"

I stared at her confused, "You never told me that-"

"You were never home," She whispered,

"But I thought you wanted a big wedding-"

Miley sighed leaning back against the cabinet her eyes staring at the ring, "I know I did too, but all I was doing was calling people, confirming reservations, doing fittings, picking bridesmaid dresses, practising flower arrangements when the whole time all I wanted to do was be with you." Miley announced truthfully, "I hated it."

I stared at her unable to speak, because I hadn't even been home enough to realise that she wasn't happy, when I should have just known.

"Miley I'm sorry-"

"No don't apologize,' She stated shaking her head, "That wasn't your fault, it was mine it's just I don't want to go through that again, not right now anyway and I know when we get married I will...because your Nick Gray and-"

"And what?" I stated catching her right hand in mine squeezing them both, "I quit Miley, I don't care-"

"But you do, your family-"

"Screw my family, the wedding was supposed to make us both happy and look what it did to us." I announced seriously,

Miley just looked at me and then back at the ring, "I want to wear it, I want to get married to you."

"Then wear it, I'm not going to stop you." I murmured as she gave me a small grin, "And we will get married- we'll have a small wedding"

"You know that's not even possible Nick, my family, your family-"

"We'll work it okay," I proclaimed smiling at her, "What ever it takes we'll get married happily this time."

"Promise?"

I nodded looking at her, "Of course I promise,"

"Oh my god!" A new voice yelled,

Both of our heads turned to Luce who was staring at Miley's hand, "You're wearing it you're-"

"I forgot she was coming over," I murmured turning back to Miley.

She just smiled and shrugged, "I don't mind-"

"Oh my god, so when is the wedding? Do I still get to be flower girl? Can I pick my own dress this time, not that I didn't like-"

"Lucy!" I hissed looking at her as she shrugged,

"What I just want-"

"Go start the mixing I'll be down in a minute,"

"But I want to stay with Miley-"

I gave her a look as she instantly huffed, "Mom gives me that look when she wants me to leave her alone with her boyfriend-"

"Yeah well your mom is right for once, please Luce."

"Fine, I'm leaving-"

She turned and glared at me, "I'll make you a pancake Miley,"

"Thanks Luce,"

We both watched as Lucy finally disappeared and I turned back to Miley, "Sorry-"

She pulled my hand stepping closer, "Don't be, it's fine,"

I leaned towards her brushing our noses, "I love you, you know that right?"

"I think I do," Miley responded closing her eyes, "I love you too."

Miley pressed her lips against mine as I released her hands, grasping one arm around her waist while moving the other to her cheek. The next thing I knew I was on my back against the bed Miley still kissing me, her fingers entangled in my hair as I held her closely against me never wanting to let go. It was then that suddenly the spark went off, it was so obvious that I felt stupid for not thinking it sooner. I was about to stop our kiss only to open my eyes and see Lucy's mouth hanging open standing at the door,

I broke away from Miley realising the position of my hand wasn't exactly G rated, "OH MY GOD LUCY I TOLD YOU TO-"

"Why have you got your hand up her top-"

Miley pushed me away giving an awkward laugh glaring at me, "He was just trying to...feel my heartbeat, right Nick?"

I turned and stared at Miley nodding as her cheeks started to flush, "Yes, yep that was exactly what-"

"What ever, I'm hungry can-"

"Okay, okay we're coming." I stated smiling at her,

"Well hurry up!"

Lucy turned and as I looked at Miley, "Feeling her heartbeat? She's going to go back and tell Selena that-"

Miley giggled and shrugged pulling her tank top down, "Well it was the best I could do instead of staring at her completely lost for words like you did, we're gonna have to be more careful Nick."

"I know, I know I just-"

"I'm going to have a shower, you know naked." Miley announced smirking at me,

"Don't do this to me,"

"And you said you wanted to wait," She snorted heading to the bathroom,

"I do I just-"

"Uhuh, let's see if you can wait till France, I doubt it."

"Fine I'll set the date, I believe I can make it to France without sex-"

The door slammed as I smirked shaking my head, France, the exact place where we could both be happy.