Learning to Let Go...
Zack Martin has been living without Cody for about 30 years now. In his late 60's he remembers past events that lead up to his brothers death. Told in Zack's POV.
Prologue: This is how our lives are
BOSTON MASSACHEUSETS SEVEN YEARS AFTER SEVEN SEAS HIGH
"I'll see you later dad!" James said as he hugged me tight.
"Have a great day at school buddy. I'll try to pick you up later o.k.?'
"O.k." James said as he ran off towards his friends.
I officially married Maya who happened to be my first love on board the S.S. Tipton. We went out for two years after graduation. Maya was perfect for me. She was kind, she was sweet, she cared about others, and she basically helped me get over the news that Maddie was going to get married to Trevor. At first, I thought I was going to die. But then, that same day Maya walked into my life. I would say that she totally changed my life forever. I'm working as a writer for a hit comedy show on the Teen Channel called Two Peas and a Pod. It was a story about two identical twins living with their parents going through the daily adventures of life. It was the story of me and Cody basically. I was whisked back into reality when I noticed that Cody was calling me.
"Hey Broseph what's up?"
"Nothing much. How's life been? I haven't seen you in like two weeks." Cody worked as a doctor and was working from Boston. I haven't seen him much because my job was just so demanding. I was an executive producer by the way.
"Sorry buddy. I was just so caught up with executive producer work." I explained.
"Well, it is a challenge. How's Maya?"
"She's great? Did you check Bailey for her check-up?"
"Yep. And the best news ever. I'm going to be a dad." Cody said. I could obviously tell that he was crying. We were 28 now. So it was about time.
"Good for you. I know your going to make a great dad. The way you take care of James and everything." I said grinning from ear to ear. I couldn't wait to be an uncle.
"Thanks Zack. How is he by the way?"
"Oh he started Junior Kindergarten today." I said smiling.
"Must be a big step for you." He laughed.
"Well he's growing up on me and Maya already. I swear, he was a lot taller than us when we were in JK." I laughed.
"If that's any indication for the future, I can't wait until he's sixteen." Cody laughed. "he'll be towering over all of us." Me and Cody laughed at that.
"He sure will." I stated as I pulled into the studio.
"Listen Zack are you available tonight?"
"I think so."
"Come over to me and Bailey's for dinner. It's been a while since I've seen the three of you."
"We'll be there by eight." It was a Friday so it was a given that we went late.
"Wait, don't you tape in front of an audience today?" Cody asked me.
"Yeah. We shoot at about 4:00 today." I explained. "Look I'll try to be there before 9:00."
"O.k. I have to go. I'll see you later." Cody said.
"See you soon." I said as I pulled onto the soundstage.
As I laid eyes on the house we used for a set I couldn't help but imagine that was the ideal family that me and Cody were supposed to have. I wanted to show a modern day family with twins. No divorces or anything out of the ordinary. This week was our biggest week yet. We just got a green light for season 3, and on top of that they confirmed a green light for a movie. This show was like my second child. Me and Maya had created it out of a simple concept and it simply took off.
"Hey you." Maya said as she kissed me on the cheek.
"Hey." I said bringing her in for a hug.
"Bring James to school this morning?" She asked as she handed me a new cup of freshly brewed coffee.
"Yeah." I smiled as I looked over the script for this weeks season finale.
"Man that boy is growing up on us really fast." Maya said as she looked over the movie contract.
"I know. Oh, Cody and Bailey invited us over for dinner tonight."
"Great! We haven't seen those two in a while now."
"We've been caught up doing the show."
"But the ratings do prove to us that it's for a good cause." Maya explained as we once again looked at the ratings. Number one for the tenth consecutive week.
"Guys you will not believe this!" Cameron our producer walked in.
"What's up dude?" I asked.
"We got nominated for an Emmy!" He screamed as the three of us got into a hug.
"That is amazing news!" Maya screamed.
"That settles it." I exclaimed. "This movie is going to be the best movie the fans have ever seen." I said as Maya and Cameron nodded. Pretty soon the rest of our writers walked in with a cake.
"Man. Four years of hard labour really does pay off." Maya said as we walked onto the set.
"I know right?" Cameron said.
"And there are our two stars right now! Mark, Lucas how are you guys?" Mark and Lucas Kimble were fifteen year old identical twins.
"Amazing! We got nominated for an Emmy!" Lucas the older one said.
"This is the biggest thing that's ever happened to us!" Mark said.
"Not as big as the news we're about to tell you." Maya said as me and Cameron nodded.
"What?" The twins asked.
"Well, Drake and Chris Palmer are hitting the big screen!" I exclaimed. Drake and Chris Palmer were the fake names for me and Cody.
"That's so cool!" Mark said.
"And a new season!" Lucas added. "By the way how many episodes for season three?"
"The network ordered 30." Cameron said.
"Wow." Maya said.
"I lost track of how many we've done." Lucas said.
"About 58 episodes now." I stated. "Including this weeks two part season finale."
"Man. Your finales are so good Zack." Lucas said. I told the boys to call me by my real name. I didn't feel comfortable with them calling me sir or anything like that. It made me fell...kind of old.
"Well, you never know what he'll come up with next." Cameron said smiling.
"O.k. people two more hours till show time!" Jake our stage manager said.
"O.k. guys. Why don't we rehearse the final scene where mom tells everyone that your all moving to London." Maya said. Maya, Cameron, and I wrote the cliff-hanger of an ending for the season. We wanted to end this season with a cliff-hanger. That way, more people would watch. More people=more chances of getting that Emmy.
TWO HOURS LATER
"And...Action!" I screamed as I watched my amazing cast emerge from the kitchen.
"O.k. Chris do you seriously have to be a nerd 24/7?" Everyone laughed. Lucas and Mark were just naturals at what they did.
The taping went extremely well. We had everyone hooked. Of course, they had the bad end of the finale, since we were only shooting part 1. The second part wasn't even written yet. The taping went on for three hours. Everyone was definitely getting into it.
"Stacy I need to tell you something." Mark playing Chris began to say.
"Oh god just pass the tissues out." Maya said while I rubbed her back. Stacy and Chris have been going out on the show since the beginning.
"What?" Stacy in character asked.
"I'm moving to London." The audience gasped as I turned off the lights.
"And cut!" I screamed as everyone began applauding.
As usual, the next 10 minutes the cast was signing autographs for the studio audience. I was so proud of my boys.
"Mommy! Daddy!" James said as he ran onto the set.
"Hey little guy!" Maya said picking him up and swinging him around.
"So, how was your first day of school buddy?" I asked after giving him a squeeze. Since we were filming, I had to ask the driver to pick him up from school. But that hardly ever happened.
"It was fun! I like it!" James said flashing us a toothy grin.
"Your turning into Uncle Cody already." I laughed.
"Hey, be nice about your brother. Speaking of which, we gotta go meet them for dinner." Maya said as she scooped James up and brought him towards her SUV.
"Thank you for driving him today Jamie." I said to our family driver.
"Anytime Mr. Martin." He replied as he brought my car home.
"James, are you excited to see Uncle Cody and Aunt Bailey?" I asked from the front of the car. He just clapped his hands in excitement.
"I think so." Maya said laughing.
MARTIN HOUSEHOLD
"Cody, I can't believe I'm pregnant." Bailey said as she held her stomach.
"I know, and I promise you. I am going to love you and this baby more than anything." Cody said as he kissed her sweetly on the lips. The doorbell rang a mere seconds later.
"I'll get it sweetie." Cody said getting up.
"Uncle Cody!" James screamed as he ran towards Cody for a hug.
"Hey buddy!" Cody said as he brought him in for a tight hug. "I missed you."
"I missed you too." James said as he ran into the kitchen to give Bailey a tight squeeze as well.
"Hey Cody!" Maya said giving Cody a huge hug.
"Hey. How are you?" Cody asked.
"Fine thanks. By the way, congratulations on the baby." Maya smiled.
"You told her already?" Cody asked.
"Sorry I was excited." I finally admitted it. I let it spill while we were busy rehearsing.
"Nice to see you again Zack. Congratulations a new season, a movie, what's next you guys being nominated for an Emmy?" Cody said as I pulled him in for a hug.
"Yes." I simply said.
"Oh god. Please say your kidding me." Cody said. Bailey had walked in on the news.
'It's true. Two Peas and a Pod got nominated for an Emmy." Maya said.
"Well surprise, surprise. I knew it would happen someday. That show is amazing!" Cody said bringing me and Maya into a hug.
"Well come on, dinners getting cold." Bailey said as the four of us left towards the kitchen.
The four of us had fun catching up. When we told James that he was going to have a cousin he simply just squeezed the living daylights out of Cody and Bailey. He was going to be a big cousin. That was a huge step for a kid like him. He was as excited as we were basically. Pretty soon it was midnight. We decided it was about time to call it a night.
"Bye Uncle Cody. Bye Aunt Bailey." James said as he hugged Cody and Bailey one last time.
We finally made it home by 1:00 in the morning. James had fallen asleep on the short thirty minute drive home. Thank god it was the weekend. Because I would not be in the right shape to go to work the next day.
"Goodnight buddy." I said as I kissed James goodnight. "I love you." Maya had already said goodnight to him since she carried him up to his room.
"Hey you." I said as I climbed into the bed with her.
"Hey." She said as she kissed me sweetly on the lips. "Can you believe our luck sweetie? An Emmy. A freakin Emmy!"
"I know. We worked hard for it though." I said smiling.
"We sure did." She said as she returned the smile.
"Just think, by next year Two Peas and a Pod will literally be a household name." I said smiling at the thought.
"When they show the finale , I swear the whole world will be in a state of shock." Maya said as she began to slowly let sleep overtake her.
"I love you sweetheart." I whispered to her as I wrapped my arms around her before I let sleep overtake me as well.
SIX WEEKS LATER...
"And... Action!" I screamed. Production for the movie had already began and we were shooting in Toronto. James was with us so were Cody and Bailey. Me and Maya decided that James would travel with us whenever we shot away from home. Thank god that a school had allowed that to happen. He was going to be gone for a few months. Cody and Bailey were on vacation for a few months as well to support my movie.
"This is going to be one heck of a movie." Maya whispered to Cody.
'I know. The script looks so good." Cody was always the one who would finalize the scripts for me since I would be busy either writing other scripts or making a deal with others.
"Man Lucas and Mark have grown up so fast since the last time we saw them." Bailey commented.
"I know right?" I whispered back.
Since the movie was set in mid-season three, the family was away from London and on vacation in Canada. But it was going to be a vacation they won't soon forget.
"Ewe! Get it off!" Chris in character said as a spider fell on him. Everyone laughed.
"Cody are you o.k.?" It was three hours after we shot the first scene.
'Oh my god! Uncle Cody's bleeding!" James screamed.
'Cody?" Bailey asked.
Cody fainted to the ground scaring the living daylights out of me.
"Cody!" We all screamed as we ran to him.
"Oh god...this can't be happening...oh god..." I said to myself.
T.B.C.