Thanks so much for the great reviews, everyone! Love ya! So I actually meant to post this chapter yesterday, but the site wasn't working for some reason so you're getting it today. Now, why don't we see how this confrontation goes...

Nick stared at the television screen, speechless. His eyes shifted to Miley, who looked like she was ready to cry. "Hey, it's going to be okay", he said softly, putting his arm around her. "We can put a stop to this."

Miley shook her head and stood up. "No, Nick. We can't! I can't believe I never considered something like this happening. How could I be so stupid?"

"Baby, you aren't stupid", he said, standing up to wrap her in an embrace. "Look, Hannah can just deny it at the next event she's at. Jake looks like a complete idiot and the problem's solved."

She pulled back. "It isn't that simple. He's going to blackmail me, okay? With the Hannah secret. He would've never done something like this if he wasn't. And if people find out...things will never be normal again. It's going to be like a media circus every day, Nick. For God only knows how long. Our life won't even be ours anymore."

He realized she was probably right. Jake knew they would do anything to keep that secret. He kept hoping something would come to him, some brilliant idea that would comfort her. That would take them out of this situation. But nothing did. It was give up her secret or go along with this. And giving up her secret would mean giving up life as they knew it.

"I shouldn't have done this", Miley said, a tear streaming down her cheek. "If I had just let Hannah stay buried, this wouldn't be happening right now."

Nick sighed and cupped her face in his hands. "Look at me. This isn't your fault. You deserve to be able to sing without being blackmailed for it. And if it wasn't this, it would've been something else. He has clearly shown that he's willing to do anything to tear us apart. My God, he had my ex-girlfriend faking cancer. Do you remember all of that?"

Oh, she did. When Nick told her about Jake hiring Macy to break them up, she had been stunned that he would try something so extreme. But looking back, it didn't surprise her in the least.

"I don't know why he can't just leave me alone!", she cried, raking both hands back through her hair. "I'm sure he would have no problem finding someone else. I can't be the only girl stupid enough to fall for his act."

"I'm sure you aren't. Most girls look at a guy like that and see dollar signs. They don't really consider the kind of person he is."

"It was never about the money for me", she said quietly, looking toward the fireplace. "I thought he understood me, you know. What it was like trying to be famous and a normal teenager at the same time. It was rewarding, but it was really stressful too. I liked that I finally found someone who I had that in common with. And I ignored that we were a complete mismatch in every other possible area."

"You were young."

"I was stupid. And I'm still stupid! Look at the mess I'm in now! I'm going to have to stand in front of a bunch of cameras and act like I don't despise him."

The visual made her nauseous. She would have to paste a fake smile on her face while he would probably have his hands all over her. And she would have to pretend to be completely fine with it. Then to make it worse, she would be seeing those images all over magazines and TV for weeks.

She put her hand over her mouth and dashed to the nearest bathroom.

A few hours later, they were standing on Jake's doorstep. Nick had already rang the doorbell four times, and there was still no answer.

"I know damn well he's here", Miley muttered. She peeked through the large living room window. "The kitchen light's on."

Nick moved over to look as well. He had never seen inside this house before. Now that he had a glimpse, he wasn't sure how Miley lived here so long. It looked so...formal. Uncomfortable, even.

"Well, I'm glad to see that it isn't strangers looking in my windows."

They both looked up to see Jake leaned up against the doorway, looking slightly amused. "Is there something I can help you with?"

"Yeah", Nick replied. "You can go to the press and tell them that you and Hannah Montana had an unfortunate break-up."

"How could you do something like that?", Miley asked, a quiet anger in her voice. "Oh, here let me answer that for you. Because you're a conniving bastard who won't be satisfied until you have made me as miserable as you are. Like I haven't suffered enough misery because of you as it is!"

"Whoa, calm down", Jake said, approaching them. Miley instinctively took a step back. Nick didn't.

"I know what you must be thinking, but I swear I didn't do that to hurt you."

She crossed her arms. "Why else would you possibly do it?"

"Because it was the only way I could think of to get you to talk to me again", Jake answered. "You kind of have a restraining order against me, Miley. I didn't know what else to do. Look, I owe you an apology...a big one. I know I did some messed up stuff because I didn't know how to deal with you leaving. And you have every right to hate me. But I get it now. You're happy. And I want you to know that I wish you all the best."

Miley couldn't believe what she was hearing. She looked at Nick, who looked just as surprised. Then, she looked at Jake again. "What's the catch?"

"There isn't one. I had my chance and I blew it. You moved on. Listen, I know our relationship wasn't healthy a lot of the time-"

"Try all of it", she said, cutting him off.

"Fine. All of it. But that doesn't mean I didn't love you. I get that you're with this guy now, okay? I'm going to respect that. I just want a chance to prove that I've changed. And maybe we could be friends."

Nick resisted the urge to laugh. "I'm sorry. You want to be her friend? After everything you put her through?"

"See, I might be more inclined to believe you if you hadn't used this line so many times before", Miley said. "You will never change. I accepted that a long time ago. So, no Jake. I have no interest in being your 'friend' or anything else."

"Even for Belle?", Jake asked. "Can't we at least be friends for her sake?"

"And since when are you concerned about Belle?", Miley shot back.

"Like I said, I'm trying to change. I just need somebody to believe in me, Miley. Just give me one chance", he implored. "That's all I'm asking for. Then, I'll break up with 'Hannah Montana'. And your secret will be safe for good. I don't want to have to go to the press, believe me."

Nick rolled his eyes. "I love how you're threatening her while you claim to be trying to change."

She glanced at Nick and then back at Jake. She didn't trust him, not in the least. But what was she going to do? Just watch as the life that she had worked so hard for went straight to hell? She couldn't let that happen.

"If I do this, how do I know you won't dangle Hannah in front of me the next time you want something?", Miley asked.

"I won't. I swear to you."

She glanced at Nick with a look that told him she was about to give in.

"Please don't tell me you're buying this, Mi", he said quietly, his eyes clouded with suspicion.

"I'm not, Nick. I'm not nearly as naive as I used to be." She turned to Jake. "Just get straight to the point. What exactly do I have to do for you to keep your mouth shut?"

"Well, for starters, you could do away with the restraining order."

"Not going to happen", Nick said, shooting the notion down immediately.

Jake crossed his arms and looked at Miley. She didn't know what to do. That restraining order was the only thing that had given her peace of mind that Jake couldn't mess with them anymore. He might be spouting off apologies now, but that could change in the blink of an eye. Maybe she would just be better off revealing herself to the world and letting the chips fall where they may. Then, she would never have a normal family though. She and Nick would constantly have a strain on their relationship. Belle would grow up with a camera always in her face. Miley didn't want to risk their life. But she would be doing the same thing if she decided to trust Jake again.

"No, I'm not going to do that."

He sighed. "Miley, you're gonna have to compromise a little here. I really don't want to hurt you. I'm just trying to make things right."

"What do you want from her?", Nick asked. "She had a damn good reason for getting that order in the first place. Now, you pull this BS about dating Hannah and claim you want to be her friend? Why in the world would she trust you?"

Jake kept his eyes on Miley. "Look, it's not like I'm asking to be a part of your everyday life. I just want us all to be able to get along, and I would really like to see my daughter every now and then. All I'm asking is for one chance. I'm trying to be a better person, Miley. Let me prove it to you."

She wanted to believe that he was telling the truth. That he wasn't going to try to hurt them anymore. That he was really trying to be a better person. He sounded sincere, sure. He always did. But how did she know if that was truly the case now?

"Fine, Jake", Miley uttered, holding one finger up. "One chance."

Nick let out a frustrated sigh. He knew she was only doing this to prevent complete and utter chaos from taking a hold of their lives. Still, he hated the idea of Jake being anywhere near them.

"But there are ground rules", she went on. "You are never to show up at our house-or any other place that you know we'll be-uninvited. Your time with Belle will be extremely limited, and one of us will always be present. You are going to break up with Hannah, and you won't ever use her against me again. You are not going to harrass my friends and family. In fact, you're not going to come anywhere near them. And you will respect mine and Nick's relationship and soon-to-be marriage. Are we clear on this?"

Jake nodded. "You have my word-on all of it."

Miley let out a deep breath and turned to Nick. "Then, we have nothing else to talk about. Let's go home."

"I don't like this", Nick said quietly on the car ride home. When Miley didn't respond, his eyes left the road long enough to glance at her. Her head rested against the car door, and she just looked tired.

"I do understand why you did it though", he sighed, taking one hand off the steering wheel and placing it over hers.

"Do you?", she asked, slowly lifting her head up. "I was trying so hard to do what was best for our family. And I know firsthand that life is a living hell when the paparazzi gets a hold of you. That's why I came up with the secret to begin with. So I could do what I love, and then go home to my normal life. I don't think I could deal with living in the spotlight all the time. That's how celebrities lose their minds, Nick. That's why no relationship they have ever lasts. It's too much pressure. We were building such an amazing life. I didn't want to risk losing that, losing you."

"You'll never lose me", he assured her, gently squeezing her hand.

Miley felt a wave of nausea pour over her from this whole situation. Knowing that it could've been prevented if she had just thought about the potential consequences beforehand. God, why didn't she ever just think?

"Oh, God. Pull over, Nick", she urged him, covering her mouth with her hand.

He gave her a confused look before realizing what was going on. Then, he quickly pulled over. He held Miley's hair back as she threw open the door and emptied the contents of her stomach into the grass.

"Baby, you aren't coming down with what me and Belle had, are you?", Nick asked in a concerned tone.

"The only thing that's made me feel sick recently is Jake", Miley muttered, closing the door and leaning her head back against the seat. She had felt perfectly fine before he manipulated his way back into their lives. A doctor would probably say she had the stomach virus, but as far as she was concerned, it was his fault.

"Well, I think he makes us all sick. Maybe not quite as much as you though."

She let out a humorless laugh. "I've dealt with it for a lot longer." They sat in silence for a moment before she spoke again. "I'm sorry. I know you didn't sign on for any of this."

"Hey, I think you warned me about the drama that came with being with you before we started dating", he reminded her.

"You should've listened."

He shook his head. "And miss out on you? No way."

She cracked a hint of a smile. "I love you."

"I love you more", he said softly, pressing his lips to hers. God knows that was the truth. No matter what Jake was planning this time (and Nick was sure he was indeed planning something), he wasn't going to let Miley and Belle get hurt. He was going to do everything in his power to protect them and just pray that, at the end of the day, it would be enough.

Ugh, got to feel bad for Miley, right? Having to deal with the wedding, Hannah, now Jake...and got the stomach virus on top of all that. Because what else could possibly be making her feel sick? *sarcasm* lol

Let me know what you think, and I hope you guys have an awesome Easter! :)