Chapter Twenty Three

Miley.

Three days and all I'd accomplished was reintegrating myself into the West Coast time zone...

Okay that was a lie because for the past three days I hadn't even shifted from my small apartments bed. I mean what was the point of getting up anyway? It's not like I had anywhere to be, it's not like anyone wanted to see me.

Okay that was also a lie, the police had wanted to see me but not anymore supposedly. I called yesterday and the smart talking detective had changed his mind, they'd already closed the case. Liam's fate was very much sealed and honestly I was happy with the end result. Apart from the Nick issue.

Nick that's all I could think about at the moment.

Today I'd planned on distracting myself, getting up early actually doing something, then I realised I couldn't go to work because there was no way I could run the florist on my own. I wasn't in the right mindset to see or talk to Nick and honestly I was content on just lying here in misery.

I deserved to be suffering right now.

I deserved to be utterly alone.

I knew I was being over dramatic, mentally I knew that, yet still my emotions weren't letting me deal with this. I didn't feel like there was any point doing anything right now. So I just stayed in bed, hour after hour watching the clock slowly ticking waiting for something to happen when I knew it wasn't going too. I don't know, I just didn't feel right and I couldn't put on my finger on why. Of course the obvious was Nick, not to mention my sister's but even now I kind of felt over it. I didn't care they quit, I didn't care about Nick setting Liam up, actually I was kind of thankful now.

I just didn't care about anything, which wasn't normal. I didn't feel myself.

The heavy knocking on my door woke me from my daze as I let my eyes skim towards the loud noise.

"Miley we know you're in there," Brandi's voice manifested as I closed my eyes.

"Miley, Nick told us you guys had a fight…" Emily continued as I listened intently, what had Nick told them because it couldn't have been the truth? "Look we're sorry about the whole 'we quit' thing, that wasn't how we wanted to tell you."

"And we're sorry about how we reacted about the wedding."

"I'm not," I heard Emily hiss, "She lied to us Brand-"

"Shut up! Miley please just let us in, dad's coming home today and we don't want to be the ones who have to tell him he didn't get to walk you down the aisle. Why don't you come over for dinner and tell dad yourself?" Brandi questioned as I frowned, was that meant to be a threat? Because it definitely sounded like one.

"Miley come on!" Emily demanded, "This is ridiculous you're acting like a child."

"We're telling dad tonight, with or without you there Miley."

"Miley come on, you can't stay mad at us forever."

"Or Nick, he's beating himself up about whatever happened between you two. He's kind of pissed too Miley, he said you left him in Paris, what the hell is going on with you?" Brandi pressed as I felt overwhelmingly angry,

Me? What was wrong with me? What the fuck was wrong with them? Did they realize how hard it was to get a job in this economy? How they were both dependent on the florist before they quit and now they were both incomeless! If they were expecting Nick, or me, for that matter to help out they could go to hell. I wasn't giving them any help from now on.

"Miley," Brandi sighed, "Please open the door."

"Maybe she's not home Brand," Em murmured.

"No she is, this is just like after the failed wedding she's listening, you just don't want to face us." Brandi stated her voice getting an octave louder with every word, "Which is childish Miley, you need to grow up and face the reality that the world doesn't revolve around you."

"And you told me to shut up! I'm sure she'll respond to that Brandi."

"She's just being so frustrating!" Brandi snapped.

"Let's just go."

I listened as the door suddenly slammed against its hinges, most likely from one or both of my angry sister's force. "We're telling dad Miley, and he's going to be pissed I can assure you this will be the start of a fight. I seriously have no idea what the hell is wrong with you right now, you're acting like a moody teenager."

"If you change your mind dinners at seven." Em added quietly.

I was happy when they left, their absence allowed me to fall easily back to sleep. When I woke up again it was nearing four in the afternoon and my stomach was not impressed by my disruption to its schedule seeing as I'd skipped both breakfast and lunch. After fighting it for thirty minutes I finally succumbed and dragged my body out of bed. The twenty-foot walk to the kitchen felt like a marathon as I collapsed onto a stool near the bench top.

My eyes skimmed around the room spotting a photo of Nick and me, I didn't know when it was but we were happy. I wanted to be happy again, I wanted to press my body up against his, I wanted to feel safe with him again. My lip quivered as I touched the photo, I wanted him so badly. Was there any point even being mad anymore? He was just trying to protect me. I looked away feeling guilty as my blurry eyes caught the large red number on my message machine.

Six missed calls.

Great

I pressed it reluctantly moving into the kitchen looking for food,

"Call received yesterday at 2.10am" A robotic voice announced as I grabbed the peanut butter, "Hey Miley…its urgh Nick." I moved back to the bench closing my eyes, "I know it's late, or early but I was lying in bed thinking about what you said and I know you need time but I really want to talk. I miss you, I'm mad, but I want you here with me Mi. Call me, please?" He sounded desperate.

I moved back towards the cupboard retrieving some jelly as the next message started,

"Miley call me back," Demi snapped, "Immediately."

"Message received yesterday 4.50pm."

"Miley Ray call me back or hell I will find another God mother for my child!"

I collected some bread listening, "Message received 6.17pm yesterday," I slopped the jelly onto the slice as I heard Demi's familiar sigh, "Miley please can you call me, I'm worried okay! Look if you just need someone to talk to or something I'm here for you, I promise you can tell me anything. Look Nick doesn't even have to know, I just…" She trailed off as I looked up, "You're my friend and I'm worried. Call me."

I finished making my sandwich and took a bite swallowing it,

"Hey Miles, I'm in Tokyo but I'm flying back tonight how about dinner, just the two of us? Wait…" Dad stated as I smiled listening to the loud airport sounds behind him, "Noah's calling hun I gotta go, but think about it okay? Love you."

I swallowed another mouthful only to suddenly feel my stomach give a distinct rumble. That wasn't good. A second later the feeling of sickness washed over me, the sandwich toppling from my hand. Next thing I knew I was face first in the toilet throwing up what I'd eaten. I gagged a few more times before sliding down onto the tiles next to the toilet, my whole body feverish.

"Miley?"

Oh god, who was that? I heard the knocking start again as I groaned, not now!

"Miles?"

"Okay open the fucking door or hell I will take it down." Demi's voice yelled as I heard something smash outside, my pot plant? Wait my spare key was buried in that, how did she even know that? Nick must have told her. Shit.

I tried to get up as my stomach said otherwise and I turned throwing up into the toilet again, the acidic flavor burning my throat. The front door opened as Demi heavily thumped around,

"Miley? Miley where are you?" She hissed.

"Miley?"

My eyes turned to the door as she walked past only to stop and slowly step back doing a double take. Her eyes widened, as I looked at my heavily pregnant best friend feeling half guilty I hadn't made the effort to see her since I got back while the other half honestly didn't want to have her anywhere near me.

Demi's eyes suddenly changed from confusion to glaring, her mouth opening,

"Are you drunk?" She yelled at me walking in.

I groaned shaking my head, "It's nice to see you too, and no I'm not I'm just sick."

"What for the past three days?" She hissed flushing the toilet disgruntled.

"No I-"

"Were too sick to call me back? Too sick to face me because you knew I'd be mad at you?" She mocked me as I felt the anger blossoming in my chest,

"Piss off Demi," I hissed wiping my mouth.

Her eyes scaled me up and down as she frowned, "What the hell is going on with you? You look a complete mess," She proclaimed glaring at me completely ignoring my insult, "Are you sure you're not hung-over because-"

"Smell my breath if you don't believe me." I retorted frustrated and she looked at me once again disgusted,

"No, I'd rather not." She stated still judging me with her eyes.

"I must have eaten something bad, look I was going to call you-"

"And you didn't," Demi cut off huffing. "Don't lie, you weren't going to either."

I nodded in agreement, "Fine I wasn't going to call you. I don't want to deal with this shit right now."

"That's why I came over," She announced glancing towards my bedroom, "Your sister's called Nick, who called me, and he informed me that you hadn't been seen in three days. He was going to call the cops and file a missing persons report, I however decided it would be much easier just to open your door with the spare key." Demi continued carefully stepping around like she was interrogating me.

"And Nick didn't want to come over and see for himself?" I questioned feeling the anger building in my core.

She looked at me confused, "Are you in a daze or something? You told him not to come by Miley, you told him to stay away. Plus he doesn't have the balls, I however do and I'm not sorry for what I'm about to say, I don't give a shit you're sick because your attitude lately has been closely linked if not worse than Selena's and that's saying something Miley. You're being a bitch."

"I think you should leave," I mumbled through gritted teeth closing my eyes, a headache beginning to emerge.

"No I haven't finished-"

"Demi you need to leave." I stated politely not opening my eyes. I had to be carefully I knew if I spoke truthfully towards her right now and told her to fuck off she'd lose it completely.

"No." She demanded.

I huffed clutching my forehead, "You could get what ever I have, it might cause problems with the baby and-"

"Baby…?" Demi whispered quietly to herself,

I opened one eye looking at her confused as she just stood there staring at me. "Yes that thing in your body, remember? Who's in an absent daze now?" I yelled at her, more loudly than I intended too as she just stood there.

"How long have you been sick?" She asked crossing her arms.

"Only just now, Demi I've asked you to leave would you just-"

"Have you been feeling tired?" She continued as I shrugged,

"I want to you to leave."

"Have you been tired?" She asked more slowly like I was a child.

"Yes I have been but what has that got to do with anything? Can't you just take the Goddamn fucking message I want you out of here? I want to be alone! Why can't anyone fucking understand that?" I felt myself yell not even looking at her, I was losing control and I didn't want too but I just couldn't take this anymore.

"I'm seeing a message Miley, but not the one you think I am! Your moody as hell Nick said you'd been acting strange even before you guys left France. It would make sense…" Demi murmured talking to herself as I just glared at her,

"What the hell are you talking about, I'm not moody I'm-"

"Miley" She looked at me deadly serious cutting me off once again, "When was your last period?" My eyes widened staring at her, what the hell? What kind of question was that? I stared at her infuriated this was an invasion of my personal life now.

"Get the fuck out!" I yelled pushing myself up.

"Miley-"

"I'm not pregnant!" I snapped at her leaving the bathroom trying to get away from her.

"Are you sure?" She continued following me, "Because-"

"I'm not going through this again! Remember the last fucking time you guys thought I was pregnant! I'm not."

"Miley are you-"

"No I can't be, I just…no that's not possible."

Demi laughed, "So you got married and then didn't have sex once while you were in France?" I clenched my fists trying to calm myself down but I was about to fall over the edge and I couldn't stop it.

I growled, "Of course we did Demi, but we used protection, he did!"

"Wait only Nick used protection?" She clarified

I nodded not looking at her, "Miley…" She whispered, "Are you sure?"

And at that moment I stopped and actually thought about it, and honestly I suddenly wasn't sure. Then the anger, the fury, the absolute hatred that had been rising in me suddenly burst and I let myself lose control.

Nick.

"I think it would be best if we just sold the vineyard it's productivity is down and honestly we've been offered a good price to sell it." Dad announced making his case to the board about one of our largest holdings in Australia,

"I disagree," I announced tapping my pen on the table looking around, specifically at Kevin who would make the final decision,

"Why Nick, it's a waste of-"

"Australia has had an unseasonable hot summer, that along with the sudden floods it was expected we'd have a bad year." I explained looking through the paperwork, "But if the weather stabilizes, which it will, the productivity will sky rocket again. Plus the price offered is ridiculously low, he thinks we're fools, and if we sell this land he'll make millions that could have been ours."

"I think you're wrong." Dad stated.

I looked at him and shrugged, "It's not you decision dad, I can have my opinion-"

"Your opinion is purely based on what you've got infornt of you, the research I have done while you have been off galabanting in France with your wife." Dad snapped at me,

"More like future ex wife," I heard Joe mumble beside me to a few laughs.

I turned glaring at my older brother, "That is personal Joe, this is business and that is completely uncalled for-"

"I agree with dad, he makes a point you haven't been here Nick." Kevin announced interrupting me as I noticed a few nodding heads around the table,

I looked at him insulted, since when had he become dad's little bitch? "So what? I go on my honeymoon and suddenly become public enemy number one? Or is this because I eloped and didn't tell any of you?" I snapped at Kevin who just watched me completely emotionless, "I've read the findings and I think selling would be a bad idea."

"It's not personal Nick," Kevin stated looking at me, "But right now I think I prefer the research and statistics dad has produced while your mind and logic is clearly elsewhere."

My eyes widened looking at him as he turned his sheets over,

"Okay onto our next matter," Kevin started.

I could have screamed, jumped straight across the table and tackled him but instead I slammed my mouth closed because I didn't have much choice. I knew I was right, but at the moment I was skating on very thin ice with my brothers and family in general. They were mad, I got that, and even if we tried to keep our personal and business life separate there was only so far that line could be drawn considering this was a family business.

I kept my mouth shut most of the meeting adding my two cents only when asked. When Joe's phone started blaring I looked to Kevin, expecting him to condemn my brother instead he continued on like he couldn't hear the ring tone. I turned instead scolding Joe who had the nerve to answer,

"Hey babe I'm in a meet- what was that?" Joe asked his eyes widening,

"She what?" He yelled his eyes directing onto me. "No, no I want you to go outside okay? Don't you dare stop her Demi okay? Just go outside and stay away from her. I'm sending Nick okay? Babe stay away from her, don't risk it."

Joe hung up his phone looking at me, "Your wife is throwing plates at my wife's head. I think you need to sort this shit out Nick."

I couldn't help the shock resonate across my expression because honestly I never thought I'd hear that sentence. I looked around to see the entire room was now focused on me as I awkwardly turned to Kevin swallowing the lump in my throat.

"Kevin-"

He sighed shaking his head, "Go," He stated holding up his hands not looking at me, "And don't bother coming back until you've either divorced her or completely solved your marital problems. Oh and apology wouldn't be bad either, to the entire family."

I rolled my eyes but didn't say anything as I got up and left the office while everyone watched like I was making a walk of shame. I clutched my hair as I got in the elevator completely confused, plates? She was throwing plates at Demi's head, what the hell was she thinking? Why was she acting like this? By the time I got to the car and got in I still hadn't made sense of what Miley was thinking. She was acting bipolar,

"My wife's apartment please," I requested to my driver who nodded confused.

"Not your house Sir?"

"No," I sighed, "The apartment, she's not living with me at the moment."

"Oh, I'm sorry."

"So am I."

The drive was silent as I prepared myself. I couldn't believe she was acting like this, I only set Liam up for her sake, because I loved her. I wanted to keep Miley safe and I had to rid Liam from our lives. I was just thankful at the moment that the police were no longer snooping around, I guess Miley hadn't bothered to contact them when she got back which wa s positive if anything. Would she tell them though? Honestly I didn't know from the way she was acting.

The second I got to the apartment I was faced by Demi standing on the lawn looking completely terrified,

"Nick," She yelled crossing the road as she practically threw herself at me.

I hugged my sister in law who pressed her head against my shoulder almost crying, "She's going insane in there." Demi mumbled breaking free looking at me apologetic, "Nick I didn't mean to make her upset it just made sense to me because this is was what I felt like, just I realized before she did and now I've scared the living hell out of her and-"

"What?" I asked completely confused as she groaned.

"Nick,"

"What's wrong with Miley?" I asked suddenly terrified.

Demi looked at me and sighed, "Nick I think she's pregnant."

And suddenly like that, everything made a lot more sense.

A/N: Sorry for the delay I'm back at uni...kill me now. :P Thanks for the reviews.