A/N: Wow, thanks so much for all the reviews! I got the most reviews on the last chapter that I've ever gotten on one chapter before, and that made me soooo happy. I hope you guys keep it up! Anyway, here's the next chapter. Hope you like!

Miley awoke to the sound of thunder. She kept her eyes clamped shut, but the flashes of lightning continued to penetrate her eyelids. She could hear the raindrops madly hitting the patio outside of the guest room. Eventually, she gave up her attempt at sleep. She sat up in the bed, positioning her back against the headboard. It hurt a little, but she didn't care enough to move. She could see her phone light up a few feet away on the wooden nightstand. She didn't have to look at it. She knew it was Jake. When she did eventually look at her phone, she knew that she would have a dozen voicemails and text messages demanding to know where she was.

She hugged her knees against her chest, and looked back toward the window. The sound of rain was nice. She could do without the thunder and lightning, but she liked the rain. It calmed her. It was still strange to be sleeping in this new bed in this new house. But it gave her hope at the same time. Maybe now, she could have a real life. She could get a real job. Have real friends again. But it hurt her to know that she would never be able to love someone again. She was damaged, far too damaged for anyone to want. If she ever got into a new relationship, it would have to move at the speed of a tortoise. No guy would want that.

But it was probably for the best. What if she just wound up with a guy like Jake again? She couldn't take that chance. She didn't trust herself to take that chance. She was too messed up. Seriously, what kind of girl stays with a guy that repeatedly hurts her? What kind of mother stays with a guy that clearly resents her child? When she thought about everything that Belle had been through because of Jake, she loathed herself. Because she had let him do it.

"Mommy?"

Miley turned to see her daughter standing where the moonlight was hitting the door. "Hey, baby. You couldn't sleep either?"

Belle shook her head. "Can I sleep with you? Just for tonight?"

She smiled a bit. "I guess. Just for tonight."

Her daughter climbed up onto the bed, and wrapped her arms around her. "I love you, mommy."

"I love you too, baby girl." She paused for a moment. "Do you think you're gonna like living here for a little while? I know it's a lot different from what we're used to."

"I think. Aunt Lilly and Uncle Joe are really nice. They said I could call them that", Belle added. "And Myles is nice too. But I like Nick the best."

"Nick", Miley mused, remembering his warm eyes. The way he had smiled at her. The way he spoke with such softness in his voice. Like he was afraid that even too much sound could hurt her. Yes, she supposed she liked him too.

The sun rose, but Miley didn't pry herself from the bed until almost ten o' clock. She must have looked awful as she made her way into the kitchen. Her hair was piled up on top of her head in a messy bun. She was wearing a pair of sweatpants and a soft bathrobe that covered her baggy T-shirt. But for the first time in a long time, she didn't feel that she had to impress anyone. And that felt good.

"Good morning", she said in an almost-cheerful manner.

"Hey", Lilly smiled. "How did you sleep?"

"Good, except for the thunderstorm that was going on last night", she replied. She strained her neck to see behind the wall into the living room. "Do you know where Belle is?"

"Oh, yeah. She's in the backyard with Myles and Joe. I think she really likes Bessie."

"Who's Bessie?"

"Our yellow lab. We've had her since before Myles was born", Lilly informed her. "She's a sweet old dog."

Miley forced a hint of a smile. "Belle always wanted a pet. But Jake never wanted to deal with one."

Lilly's face took on a much more serious expression. "Have you heard anything from him yet?"

She pulled her phone out of the pocket of her robe, and set it down on the counter. "I'm sure he's left plenty of messages, but I don't really want to hear them. Do you think you could listen to them for me?"

Lilly grimaced at the thought, but she supposed she could handle Jake's yelling better than Miley could at the moment. She picked up the phone, and held it up to her ear. Several minutes later, she placed it back onto the counter.

"Well?", Miley prompted. "How bad was it?"

"Pretty bad", she admitted. It was actually worse than pretty bad. She was worried for Miley. No, worried didn't cover it. She was afraid for Miley.

"I'm gonna have to talk to him at some point", Miley sighed. "He'll wind up calling the police and Lord knows what else if I don't."

"I guess you're right", Lilly conceded. "But there's no way that you're going by yourself. Me and Joe are going with you."

"Thank you, Lilly", she said softly. She felt so lucky to be here with her best friend. She was truly being given a second chance. With trembling fingers, she typed a text message. Meet me...she paused before deciding the more public this meeting was, the better...in the Wal-Mart parking lot in one hour. The one on the east side of town.

Lilly snorted, glancing over the counter to read the text message. "Has Jake ever even been to a Wal-Mart?

Miley walked back into the living room after getting dressed. She wore a violet cardigan over a white tank top. At least, the rain had cooled things off a bit. But she longed for the day that she could wear normal clothes again.

The doorbell rang. She looked around before realizing there was no one else in the room. With a bit of nervousness, she opened it. An involuntary smile crept onto her face as her blue eyes locked with his brown ones. "Nick. Hi", she said softly.

"Hey", he uttered, though her presence had almost taken his breath away. He wasn't sure why. He knew that she would be there. But God, she was beautiful. It took him a second to realize that he was just standing there staring at her. "Oh, Joe asked me to come babysit. I'm kind of the go-to-guy for that kind of thing", he explained.

"Right", she smiled, closing the door after he had walked inside. "So, do you have kids?"

"Oh, no", he answered quickly. "Just a great little nephew."

"I can tell he really likes you. My daughter does too", she informed him.

"Well, I like her too. She's a great kid. She's obviously got a really great mom", Nick said, admiration clear in his voice. He barely knew this girl, and yet he found himself completely entranced by her. Her beauty, her strength, the way she loved her daughter more than anything in the world. He could tell from the way Belle had talked about Miley that she was an amazing person.

"Thanks for coming, Nick", Lilly said as she walked into the room. Joe followed her. She looked as nervous about the meeting as Miley felt.

"Oh, it's no problem."

Ordinarily, Miley would've been nervous to leave Belle alone with someone that she didn't really know. But Nick's demeanor put any fears that she may have had to rest. She had seen him with her and Myles yesterday. How kind and attentive he was to them. Lilly obviously thought very highly of him too. It gave Miley hope that maybe there were a few good guys left in the world.

She wiped the sweat from her palms. She really didn't want to do this. But at least, Lilly and Joe were with her for back-up. And they were in a public place. He couldn't really do anything to her. Still, she was sure it would be awful.

Her heart sank as she caught sight of the firetruck red Porsche. This was it. "That's him", she croaked.

"I figured", Lilly remarked. Joe steered the truck in that direction, and Miley reluctantly stepped out. Jake had already gotten out, and was leaning against the hood of his car. His expression said it all as he walked over to her. Lilly stood with Miley. Joe would stay in the truck unless things started to get out of hand.

Upon catching sight of Lilly, Jake's expression morphed into one of confusion. "Miley, where have you been?", he demanded, careful not to sound too angry in front of Lilly. "I've been worried sick about you."

"Nice to see you too, Jake", Lilly said with sarcasm. "And she's been with me."

"Lilly, I got this", Miley said calmly. But as she turned back to Jake, she began to feel nervous again. "I uh...I'm leaving."

"You're leaving", he repeated with amusement. "And where do you plan on going?"

"I'm going to stay at Lilly's for a while", she said, glancing at her best friend. "We're over."

Those two words came out like a quiet afterthought, but at least she had been able to say them. She tried to judge Jake's reaction. He shook his head in one of those "this-again?" ways, probably not thinking she was serious. Then again, how many times had she said those words before, and then take him back just a few weeks later?

"Lilly, could I have a second alone with my fiancee?", Jake asked in an annoyed tone.

"No", the blonde said stubbornly. "I know everything, Jake. I'm not about to leave Miley alone with you."

He gave Miley a glare that sent chills down her spine. "Oh, do you?"

"Please just let me go", Miley said quietly, practically begging him. "You can keep the house, and the cars, and I won't make you pay child support or anything. Just please don't make this hard on me."

"This is what you want? Fine. But you'll come running back. You always do."

He turned, and began to walk back to his car. Lilly gave her friend a relieved smile. "Wow, that wasn't as bad as I expected."

"I know", Miley agreed, still watching Jake with suspicion. "It's never been that easy. And that's what worries me."