Maddie pulled her suitcase through the doors of the Tipton and looked around the familiar setting. She watched the girl behind the sweet counter hurriedly handing over candy and dropping coins clumsily and smiled, seeing her fifteen year old self all over again. When her hair was almost brown, she thought that clogs were extremely fashionable and she spent all her time with-

"MADDIE FITZPATRICK?"

"London!" she smiled, London Tipton looked identical to how she had 4 years before. She was wearing a pink kaftan and flicked her jet black hair over her petite shoulders; it seemed London had never made it to college. No surprises.

"You look very…old" said London with raised eyebrows.

"Thanks, London" said Maddie with a laugh, "you haven't changed one bit"

London shrugged and threw her a winning smile.

"Get a move on, Madeline!"

"Madeline?" London cocked her head to the side.

Maxxie Fitzpatrick shot her a million watt smile, her bouncy blonde hair tied up in red ribbons appearing from behind Maddie. She was an identical younger version of Maddie, but with whiter teeth and darker skin. She was taller than Maddie by a few inches and her white summer dress made her look simply angelic, next to Maddie's Yale hoody she hadn't quite been able to take off since her graduation.

Maddie grimaced at her, "My sister; Maxxie" She introduced reluctantly.

Zack and Cody bounded out of the elevator and Maddie dropped her case with a clatter.

"BOYS!"

"MADDIE!"

The lanky teenagers looked older and taller even than they had done the previous Christmas, it seemed they never stopped growing. They also looked less similar to each other, Cody's face was skinnier and gaunter than ever and Zack's had lost his puppy fat but was covered in manly stubble.

"Hey sweet thang" Zack winked.

"How was graduation?" Cody asked excitedly, "what was it like? I can't believe you were the valedictorian of Yale!"

Zack made a face, "Yeah, who knew Maddie was a dork like you!"

Maddie grinned at her boys; it had only been 6 months but being away from them made her want to stay in Boston for ever.

"It'll be you in a few years time, Cody" she smiled ruffling his hair, "and you…"

Zack grinned hopefully, his face lit up with cheekiness and the orthodontists good work twinkling out at her like white pearls, "I'll just try to get to through college, shall I?"

Maddie laughed, "Maybe, but Zack you could do so well if you just appl-"

But she'd lost Zack's attention already; his eyes were like big round saucers and his jaw was hanging open as if a fly could take up residence on his tongue and he might not even notice.

"Who is THAT?" he whispered, following his gaze she sighed dramatically.

"I have to meet her, how can I get her attention?" He wondered aloud.

"Here" said Maddie with a groan, "I'll show you, MAXXIE!"

Maxxie looked up from her cell phone and scowled at her sister angrily, "What?"

"Get over here"

"I'm busy?" she snapped and put her phone back to her ear.

"Billy Fisher, ninth grade" Maddie called.

Maxxie clicked her phone off in an instant, "Always a pleasure, Madeline"

As Maxxie approached Zack made an involuntary whimper, "She's gorgeous" he muttered. Cody shrugged disinterestedly, but Zack was enthralled.

"This is my sister, Maxxie this is Zack and Cody Martin, the boys I told you about?"

Maxxie cocked her head to the side, "the kids from the hotel? Madeline I hate to tell you but these boys aren't kids, are they the right ones? "

Zack nodded, "Damn right, pretty lady. And how old would you be?"

She smiled, "I'm 18, are you too?"

"19, gorgeous" Zack took her arm, "Why haven't I seen you around?"

Maddie watched Zack, who was a good head taller than her little sister, guide her off into the dining hall, whilst Maxxie's perfectly lacquered hair bobbed up and down with flirtatious giggles.

Why didn't that surprise her? Maxxie had only been there ten minutes and she was going to get into someone's pants.

"Madeline?" Her mother waved her case in the air.

Her heart sank, she'd almost forgotten this was a family holiday; she was back in the past. Her mother chided her and she joined the rest of her family. Jenny, Liam, Catherine and Michael crowded around in mindless chatter but Maxxie was no where to be seen.

"Madeline, where is Maxine?" her father asked impatiently.

Maddie shrugged, she was tired of being bossed around by her family. She was 22 years old, for Pete's sake, it was pathetic. "I'm not her babysitter" she snapped and stalked off, her suitcase dragging behind her.

Zack watched as beautiful Maxxie Fitzpatrick tossed her hair and laughed shrilly, sipping through a straw as the swimming pool reflected in her grey eyes. All the boys, and men, around the pool were watching her as she leaned in towards Zack, putting her hand on his knee and pouted through her cherry coloured lips.

"Oh, Zack, you're so funny" she cried.

"I try my best" he winked, putting his hands behind his head and leaning back, knowing she'd be watching him if he looked out over the pool. After years of knowing just what women wanted, Zack Martin was a woman's dream, unlike Cody who was still clueless.

"So there's a concert tonight, my favourite band are playing, you wanna come?" Maxxie asked touching Zack's leg slightly. Bingo.

Zack thought it was terribly uncanny how this confident, flirtatious 18 year old looked so much like Maddie, but acted so different. Maddie would have been rapped up in a hoody, through fear of getting burnt, whereas Maxxie had already stripped off her top and showed a lean stomach, Maddie would not have a belly piercing either. What's more, Maddie would never have been so forward. Zack thought all of his Christmases had come at once.