RAIN

"Are you insane?" Liam yelled at me, running out into the rain.

"It's nice out here." I called back, twirling around and around.

"You're gonna get sick." Liam argued, his strong hands on my arms.

"Dance with me." I decided, hopefully in the rain he couldn't see my tears.

"Come on, Beautiful, I don't want you to get sick." Liam prompted, his blue eyes soft and caring through the falling water surrounding us.

"Okay." I whispered, looking down, I didn't mean to make him worry so much. The rain pattering against my skin made me feel something. I let Liam take me inside. My Dad was out of town with Jackson on a father/son camping trip that they both hated, but did every year anyway. They'd been gone for three days, and wouldn't be back for another four.

"Go get in dry clothes and I'll make you some cocoa." Liam instructed firmly.

"I can take care of myself, Li." I mumbled.

"Go." Liam said, gently guiding me to the stairs. "Let me take care of you, Baby." I smiled at how sweet he was and obeyed. I quickly took a warm shower and dressed in sweats before going downstairs. Liam had made a little fire in the seldom-used fireplace, and made cocoa as well. "Come on, I don't want you to get sick." Liam gestured for me to sit next to him. I started to, we'd hugged and stuffed, and he'd held me since 'the incident', but I was still aprehensive even though I knew he would never hurt me like Joe Lucas. This time though, I cuddled right up to him, enjoying his warmth. Maybe spending all that time in the rain hadn't been a good idea after all.

"Thank-you." I whispered. What was I thanking him for? For warming me up? For taking care of me? For putting up with me? For loving me? For saving me?

"I love you." Liam murmured in response, stroking my chair.

"I love you too." I kissed his cheek. I slowly drank my cocoa and watched the glowing embers in the fire burn. "Will you stay with me tonight?" I requested softly, turning my eyes up to his face.

"Do-do you want me to?" Liam asked nervously. I thought about it; why did I ask? What would it mean? Was it the right thing?

"Yes." I whispered, snuggling against him again. Liam kissed my hair and I felt him smiling.

"Then, I'll stay." He replied. We stayed in silence for a while until my cocoa was gone and I had a warm fuzzy feeling inside. Thunder crashed loudly outside and I jumped, when did that start? Okay, I wasn't exactly a whimp, but I wasn't the biggest fan of thunder and lightening storms either.

"Wanna watch a movie?" I suggested out of the blue.

"Sure." Liam agreed and I got up, going to the DVD cabinet.

"Avatar?" I asked, looking through the selections.

I cuddled against Liam as we watched the movie. It was one of the first movies we watched together when we first started dating. Liam kissed my cheek when they started having sex and I blushed, the first time we watched this we ended up making out. I bit my lip before turning to him and pecking his lips; once, twice. The third time was a full kiss and after a few moment his prised mine apart. I smiled against him, moving to a better position. I straddled Liam as our kissing escelated into making and he unconsciously grinded up against me. I pulled away and looked at him, nervous, his face glowing in the light of the TV and the flashes of lightening. I smiled, I knew this man, this was the man I love, not someone who would hurt me.

I absently paused the TV and kissed him again, my lips firm against his. Liam was loving as he cradled me to him, his hands gentle as he laid me back on the floor in front of the fire.

"Liam." I gasped when he nibbled my sweet spot on my neck.

"Stop me." Liam murmured against my searing skin. I knew what he meant; stop him if he went too far, stop him when I was uncomfortable. I didn't stop him.

"More." I insisted, he lifted his head, his blue eyes instense in the glow of the fire.

"Miley-" Liam started, sounding a little choked, nervous, aprehensive.

"Liam." I interrupted, cupping his cheek lovingly. "I know." I knew what I was saying. "I'm sure." I wanted this, I was more sure about this than anything. "Please?" I insisted. Liam laid me down again, his lips ghosting softly against me as our clothes peeled away, the glow of the fire our source of light. I kissed him and moaned against his touch. His name fell from my lips as we made love, as I gave him my virginity that had once almost been stolen.

The pattered against the house as I let myself go, as I let go of the past, of the hurt and the pain. Liam was gentle, always attentive and caring as he touched me in a way I had never been touched. I revelled in the feel of our bodies together as we made love for the first time as the rain fell in tinkering rivets around us, creating a musical backdrop to our love.