I do not own The Suite Life of Zack and Cody or any of it's characters. Those belong to Disney.

Author's Note: This story takes place after The Suite Life on Deck. The boys have returned to the Tipton and Moseby stayed on the ship. I hope to write follow up stories and possibly a London/Cody story as you will see hints of in this one.

Chapter 1: Home Sweet Home

The cab approached the Tipton Hotel slowly in the rush hour traffic. Two anxious 16 year old twin boys sat in the back, ready to be home after a year at sea on the SS Tipton. Zack looked ready to bound from his seat the moment the cab stopped, but Cody was just staring at the floor.

"Boy am I ready to be home," Zack said.

"You mean you're ready to see Maddie," Cody said without looking up.

Zack gave Cody a dirty look for a second before smirking and saying, "Okay...maybe that's one of the reasons I'm ready to be back. Don't say you haven't missed her too."

"Not as much as you I'm sure," Cody said with a hint of a laugh.

Zack noticed his brother was still sulking and asked, "You still upset over the whole Bailey thing?"

Cody just gave him a look that said 'duh'.

"Look both of you agreed that a long distance relationship just wouldn't work. At least you got to kiss her before we left," Zack said in an attempt to cheer his brother up.

"Yeah, but that's what makes this so hard to get over," Cody said and stared out the window at the passing cars.

"Well you got farther with your crush than I ever did," Zack said with a laugh and Cody couldn't help but laugh a little too at his brother's never ending crush on Maddie.

Finally the cab arrived at the Tipton and the boys burst from the cab as if fired by a gun. They were through the revolving door before the bellhop could even open the trunk for their bags. Suddenly Zack reappeared and handed the cab driver some money.

"Umm..sorry almost forgot," he said and just threw up his hands to say 'what the hey!'.

Cody was waiting impatiently for his brother as he turned around and they went through the revolving door together. The hotel was just as they had left it, except a new manager stood at the front desk. Zack had to do a double take when he saw who the new manager was.

"Esteban?" Zack said.

Esteban stood by the front desk dressed in a nice suit, which was drastically different from his old uniform. He spun around at the sound of his name being called.

"Little Blonde Peoples! You're back...and not so little anymore!" Esteban said.

"You're the new manager of the hotel?" Cody asked in surprise.

"Yup, Mr. Moseby had been training me for the job before he left. I love this, it's so much more fun to boss peoples around than to bell hop," he said.

"Congrats Esteban," Zack said and then began looking around the lobby for something. He scanned all the people and didn't see her. Millicent was standing at the candy counter and waved hello while helping a customer. Zack gave her a quick wave and continued looking.

"Who are you looking for Zack?" Esteban asked.

"Who do you think?" Cody said with a grin.

"Oh your Mom is still in her show right now," Esteban said.

"No Esteban he's looking for Maddie," Cody said and rolled his eyes.

"Oh she's around here somewhere I think," Esteban said and as if on cue a voice cut across the room, "Zack!! Cody! You're back!"

Zack whipped around so quickly you would think he got whiplash and he nearly fell over. There she was, as beautiful as he remembered her and she was beaming at him.

"Maddie!!" Zack cried and ran to her for a hug. She threw her arms around him and hugged him tight. Zack didn't want to let go at all.

"I missed you guys so much," she said and then broke apart with one arm still around Zack. "Look at you...oh my God you're as tall as me now," she said to Zack.

"That's cause I'm a man now baby!" Zack said with his eyebrows raised and Maddie just laughed and said, "Still the same old Zack."

Zack seemed a little taken back by her comment as she went to hug Cody. She put one arm around him and hugged him. "I got your email about Bailey. I'm so sorry Cody are you gonna be okay?"

"I'll be fine," Cody said, but he didn't look like he meant it.

"Cody!!" cried a voice across the room and suddenly London was hugging Cody from behind.

"Umm...London...you just saw us thirty minutes ago. We were on the ship together remember?" Cody said as London broke the hug.

"I know silly. I just saw everyone hugging and thought that was how we greeted each other now," she said with a smile and Cody couldn't help but find it amusing.

"Maddie!!" London cried and hugged her. At least this time London had it right.

"London I missed you! The hotel just isn't the same without you," Maddie said.

"Yeah it's a lot more quiet," Esteban said.

Maddie gave Esteban a dirty look and then walked off to talk with London for awhile. Zack looked kind of disappointed, but he still had bags to take to his room. Zack and Cody grabbed their bags and headed for the elevator, but before they could press the button they heard, "There's my boys!!"

Carey came walking out of the lounge in a sparkly looking dress and her arms outstretched for a hug. She grabbed them both into a big hug and said, "My little men are back!"

"Mom!!" both the boys said in unison.

"Look at the both of you. You've grown so much in the time you were gone," she said.

"Mom you saw us at Christmas remember," Zack said.

"I know, but I still can't get over it," she said and finally broke the hug.

Zack and Cody just rolled their eyes at their mom and grabbed their bags.

"Take your bags up to our suite and I'll see you guys up there in a bit. I just need to talk to Esteban for a second," Carey said.

The boys took their bags and headed up to the room.