A/N: Hey, guys! Sorry I haven't updated in a while. It's just been tough to find the time or energy because life has been so insane lately. However, I am really hoping that it will calm down a little bit soon. Anyway, here is the latest chapter.

Days turned into weeks, each one passing with surprising quickness. It was cold now, but life was slowly returning to normal. Miley was beginning to put all the crap with Jake behind her, mostly thanks to a restraining order. Unfortunately, she couldn't have him charged with Belle's kidnapping because they couldn't find sufficient evidence. Maybe he wasn't even the one that actually took her, since Belle was having trouble remembering the events of that night. That was of great concern to Miley, but there was little she could do except try to move on.

The holidays were quickly approaching. Christmas would be here before she knew it. Hard to believe, really. She could hardly contain her excitement. This would be the first Christmas in years that she got to spend with people that truly loved her.

She couldn't help but notice that Nick had been acting a bit strange though. Not enough for most people to notice. Just a little...secretive, maybe? Or like he was always thinking long and hard about something. Looking through the french doors, she spotted him on the patio with this same brooding expression. She decided to approach him about it.

"Hey", she stated, shutting the doors behind her. "What are you doing?"

He turned around, and gave her a slight shrug. "Just thinking."

Miley smiled a bit. "You always seem to be thinking."

Nick couldn't help but smile back at her. "True enough, I guess. You probably should go back inside though. I don't want you to get sick or anything."

"I'll get sick from being in the cold, but you won't? That's strange."

He gave a relenting sigh, knowing that she would do whatever she wanted anyway. He knew it was only a matter of time before she realized what he was planning. But he wanted to make sure he thought out every detail, so everything would be perfect. So she would say yes.

"You're not going to tell me what you're thinking, are you?", she remarked, pulling her jacket tighter to her body.

"No, I'm not", he replied. "But it's nothing bad. I promise."

Miley relaxed a bit at his assurance, and decided to change the subject. "I can't wait for Christmas. I have a feeling it's going to be amazing this year. Our first Christmas together."

Nick just nodded. He knew that this would be the best Christmas ever. And he would do everything in his power to make sure of it.

"Our first Christmas", he repeated with a smile, kissing her lightly on the cheek.

The malls were growing busier and busier with their biggest moneymaker of the year only a few weeks away. Miley and Lilly decided to go Christmas shopping before everywhere was too terribly packed. They walked from department store to department store, attempting to find the perfect gifts for their significant others. Easier said than done.

"You know, guys have it so much easier", Lilly pointed out as they left yet another store empty-handed. "All they have to do is get us a piece of jewelry and we're happy. But I never know what to get Joe."

"Yeah, I don't know what to get Nick either", Miley sighed. "He won't tell me anything that he wants."

"They never do."

"So, do you think the kids will like the bike idea?", she wondered aloud.

"I sure hope so", Lilly answered. "Gosh, Christmas will probably be so different this year for you and Belle, huh?"

Miley thought back to previous Christmases. The extravagant gifts. The fake smiles that adorned annual Christmas cards. The pointless parties with a bunch of people that she didn't know. How she spent the whole day wishing that she was with her family and friends.

"Yeah, it always felt so cold and formal, you know? Nothing like Christmas is supposed to feel. So, I think me and Belle are both looking forward to this year."

"Do you want to invite your family?", Lilly asked cautiously. "I mean, my parents and Joe's family will be there. If you wanted to invite your dad and Jackson, that would be fine."

Miley lowered her gaze to the floor. She would love to see her father and brother again. But it had been so long since she had seen them. What if they didn't want to see her? She couldn't really blame them after everything that she said all those years ago. Or maybe she just didn't want to hear them say "I told you so."

"I'll think about it", she finally replied.

Nick sat on his couch with his laptop in front of him. He had sifted through articles for two hours, and these so-called experts' advice had helped him little. He was almost relieved when the doorbell rang. He quickly got up to answer it.

"Hi, Nick."

"Hey, Macy", he said, attempting to keep suspicion out of his voice. He had been seeing less and less of her over the past few weeks, even as her treatments had begun. And every time he offered to go with her, she turned him down.

"Can I come in?", she asked quietly.

He moved out of the doorway, and closed the door behind her. "What's going on?"

"I'm leaving town. But I wanted to say goodbye first."

Nick's expression reflected his surprise. "You're leaving town? Now?"

Macy nodded. She knew that Jake had to be extremely careful now that Miley had a restraining order against him. There was little plotting that he could do. Now was the time for her to take her money and get out, while she was still able to.

"Nick, I can't leave without telling you the truth about everything. Including why I came here in the first place."

"What do you mean?"

She sighed, and sat down on the couch. "I was having a very tough time financially before I came back. I couldn't find a job. I was scared that I might end up on the streets."

His eyes widened, and he sat down beside her. "What? Why didn't you come to me before? I could've helped you."

"Because I didn't want to be some kind of burden to you. Which is ironic because that's exactly what happened. Anyway, I was offered a job that sent me back here. To you."

He shook his head. "I don't under-"

"Jake came to me", she cut him off. "He offered me a hundred grand if I could break you and Miley up."

The realization cut through Nick like a knife. Macy had been on Jake's payroll this entire time. He stood up, and began to pace the room. He didn't want to believe what he had just heard.

"I needed the money, Nick", Macy said in a desperate tone. "I didn't know what kind of a person he was. I didn't know everything that he did to Miley. I guess it started out as some kind of miracle for me. I got a chance to get back on my feet and...a chance to get you back. It seemed like a good idea at the time."

"I don't believe this. Were you in on Belle's kidnapping?", he asked, his voice more spiteful than he intended.

"No!", she exclaimed. "I mean, not really. I didn't know what he was going to do, or I would've gone straight to you, I swear!"

"Tell me what you know.", he demanded. "Now."

"I didn't know anything! I...I saw him at the Halloween carnival. He pulled me aside for like a second. Just long enough to tell me not to interfere. I had no idea what he was talking about at the time."

Nick turned away from her as he began to put the pieces together. "You came to town around the same time that Jake first started to cause trouble."

Macy nodded in a guilty fashion. "He forced me to be someone that I'm not. I'm not a conniving bitch that tries to ruin relationships or help abusive exes. And I'm certainly not someone who lies about having cancer. That's not me! You know that's not me!"

His eyes widened. "You lied about your cancer too? Oh my God. I'm not even sure if I know who you are anymore!"

"Nick, I-"

"I need you to go, Macy. Please just go."

Not bothering to protest, she walked to the front door. She looked back at him one last time. "Goodbye, Nick. And for what it's worth, I am sorry. For everything."

"What about Kaylee?", Lilly suggested as she poured over a baby name book. After a few seconds, she glanced at her husband who was paying no attention.

"Joe!", she exclaimed, very impatient at this point.

His head snapped up in response. "Huh? Oh yeah...Casey...that's fine with me."

She narrowed her eyes at him. "Kaylee."

"That's fine too."

Lilly rolled her eyes. "I'm beginning to think that I'm going to have to pick our daughter's name by myself. Because you are no help at all."

Joe sighed. He was having a bit more trouble concentrating on this particular day. He had just been informed that morning of his brother's proposal plans. Not that he wouldn't be happy for Nick and Miley. Of course he would. However, he was concerned that Nick might be jumping the gun a little bit. Miley might not be ready for that step yet.

"Can you keep a secret?", he asked his annoyed wife.

"What?"

He looked around to make sure that there were no curious kids eavesdropping before turning back to his wife. "Nick's going to propose to Miley."

The blonde's eyes nearly bugged out of her head. "WHAT? Are you serious?"

"Yeah."

"Wow", Lilly breathed, putting the book to the side. "I'm not really sure what to say to that."

"I wasn't either", Joe sighed. "It makes me a little nervous, to tell you the truth. They haven't been together for very long, and I know Nick will be devastated if Miley says no."

"But Miley doesn't need to feel pressured into saying yes", she pointed out. "I'm not saying that they aren't absolutely perfect together, but I don't get why Nick is in such a hurry to propose."

"Because he's crazy about her?", he shrugged. "We had only been dating seven months when I proposed to you."

Lilly sighed. Her husband had a point. Who knows? Maybe Miley and Nick were ready to take this next step. But it was up to them. She and Joe couldn't interfere, no matter how much they may want to. Miley and Nick's relationship had enough interference as it was.

Jake stared at the giant diamond ring in his hands. The one that he was determined to get back on Miley's finger. He should've married her when he had the chance. A marriage was a whole lot harder to get out of than an engagement, after all.

If he had gone that route, maybe he wouldn't have to resort to all of these schemes that weren't even working. His first mistake was recruiting that wishy-washy ex-girlfriend of Nick's. He should've known from the beginning that she would crumble under the pressure. Too damn softhearted. His other partner would have probably been much more effective.

But because of her past connection to Nick, he had enlisted Macy to seduce him. And she had failed miserably. By now, she had probably skipped town with the forty grand that he had already given her. But he wouldn't dwell on the money. He had more than enough of that. Besides, it would all be worth it when he got Miley back.

And he would get her back. Sure, he would play nice and abide by the law for now. After all, he couldn't win her back if he was in a prison cell. But he would get another chance. And when it came, he would be ready.

Let me know what you think, please!