A/N: Okay, it's official – you guys are amazing! If I could give you each a hug I totally would. What the heck, here's a cyber hug to each of you { x } the brackets are the hugging arms and in XOXO the Xs are hugs.

4.

"That's a bit concerning," Chad nodded towards the huddle of kids around the table. They were all outside eating ice cream and watching the ducks and assorted swans swim past in the pond. At one picnic table, Chad and Sonny sat enjoying their ice cream, at the other table, a group of conspiring little minds.

"Oh they are just talking," Sonny flicked her wrist in their direction, "At least they are all getting along."

"Yes but look at them – they look like a bunch of evil geniuses conspiring to take over the whole world."

"Oh don't be so melodramatic."

"Drama's my middle name, Munroe," Chad grinned.

"I thought Dylan was your middle name," Sonny retorted, "But Chad Drama Cooper does sort of has a ring to it, you know."

Chad shook his head, trying to hide a laugh, "So have you been having fun today?"

"Yes!" Sonny pointed to her hat, "Fun Zone – duh."

"That hat should be locked up and labeled a menace to society," Chad smirked, pulling on the lip of the ball cap so it sunk down below Sonny's eyes. She laughed and batted his hand away.

"It isn't so bad," she objected, fixing her hat, "Besides, it's bright and happy and cheery."

"Like you."

"Like me," Sonny smiled at what she accepted as a compliment.

"Exactly why it should be locked up and labeled a menace to society."

"Chad!" Sonny scoffed, "Three points deducted. Now you're down to zero and I'm at…"

"Zero."

"What? Why?" Sonny cried.

"You decked me down to zero – you know have zero also."

"Are you always such a…a dweeb?" Sonny asked.

"A dweeb, you say? No one calls Chad Dylan Cooper a dweeb – no one!" Chad glared.

"Well!" Sonny stood up, brushed off her jeans and gathered the kids around, "Who's ready to the reptile house?"

"YES!" All the little boys shouted as the little girls cringed.

"Sissies!" Callie scoffed, "I know I am ready to see the reptile house."

"Okay," Sonny laughed, let's go."

"Sure you aren't going to be scared, Munroe," Chad nudged her, "I heard they had a whole exhibit for tarantulas."

"Chad," Sonny scoffed, her voice going up an octave, "I am not scared of tarantulas or any other reptile or spider or bug or anything so there."

"You're voice just squeaked," Chad grinned.

"So?"

"So that means you're lying."

"How…how do you know that?" Sonny asked.

"I know you, Munroe, more so than you think," Chad winked at her before running to catch up with the kids.

"He totally likes you!" Callie grinned.

"What?" Sonny scoffed, "He does not!"

"Really because I think he does. Just look at the way he stares at you and he winked at you!"

"So?" Sonny laughed, trying to hide her blush and her squeaky voice.

"So that totally means he likes you! Trust me."

"It's just Chad. He's only trying to push my buttons."

"You have buttons?" Callie cocked her head to the side.

Sonny rolled her eyes and began to follow along, leading the kids towards the reptile house. She didn't understand how Callie could possibly think that Chad liked her. After all, Callie was just a little kid, a kindergartner for goodness' sakes! She didn't know relationships – the only thing she knew about love was that a prince on a white horse was supposed to sweep you away from dwarfs or evil step mothers and that certainly wasn't Chad.

Sonny could hardly picture the Chad she knew to hold doors open for her or talk to her with respect and admiration like the princes in Disney movies did. If he had to place a glass slipper upon her foot he would probably cringe in disgust – not that he had any reason too but he was still Chad and if there was a chance to humiliate her or make fun of her, he would take it.

But then again, he had been nice to her lately. But of course that was only because of the point system they had come up with. Sonny smirked, she should use that point system more often if it meant Chad being nice to her.

"I SEE IT!" Nathaniel cried, pointing at a large building with plastic reptiles on the sides.

"Great," Chad grinned, "Maybe we'll see the tarantulas."

"What are tarantulas?" Lizzie asked.

"Well," Chad smirked, "They are big, huge spiders bigger than your head with fuzzy little bodies and a gazillion eyes and if you aren't carefully they'll…bit!" Chad's arms clamped down on to hers causing her to scream.

"Cha-ad!" Lizzie cried.

"Chad," Sonny rolled her eyes at him, "You're scarring the kids. Stop it."

"You're just saying that 'cuz your scared too, huh Munroe. Admit it."

"Psh, yeah right."

Once inside the reptile house, they lined up the kids two by two (buddy next to buddy) and waited for the tour guide to come and take them around. A woman in a khaki safari shirt and shorts came out with a huge smile on her face and an even bigger python around her neck.

"Cool!" The little boys oogled.

"Hi, kids. I'm Meredith and this is Sookie. Sookie is a python and weighs almost a fifty pounds. She is three feet long. Now, can you tell me some things you guys have learned about snakes?"

"That Sonny is scared of them," Chad grinned.

"Am not," Sonny rolled her eyes again.

"I heard they are slimy!" Patrick said.

"Slimy? Well I hate to tell you this but they actually aren't slimy at all. It's their shimmery scales that make them look slimy. Now then, who's ready to go on a reptile safari?" The kids and clapped and cheered before being lead into the dark room, "This is where the lizards are kept."

"Scared yet?" Chad bumped into Sonny.

"No. Chad, I am not now or ever will be afraid of lizards, snakes, spiders, or anything you think I am. I don't know what even gave you the idea."

"I don't know, maybe the goose bumps on your arm."

"I do not have goose bumps…"

Chad nodded towards her arm and sure enough, there were goose bumps trailing her arms.

"Told you so," Chad smirked.

"I'm just…cold," Sonny retorted.

"Sure you are."

Sonny stayed clear of Chad and his stubbornness for the rest of the trip. Once the kids were all loaded back on the bus, most of them fell asleep. The ride was very quiet and Sonny couldn't help but feel her own head getting heavy as she titled it to the side.

"Tired, Munroe?" Chad asked.

"Mmhmm," Sonny yawned, "You?"

"Yeah. Tomorrow should be easier. We're just having a kickball competition – girls against boys."

"You are so going down, Cooper," Sonny tried to sound fierce but she yawned again, causing her to lose all signs of fierceness and causing Chad to laugh.

"We'll see about that."

"I can't wait to get back to the studio and take a nap."

"Well," Chad blushed, "We have an hour and you know, you're always welcome to my shoulder."

"Really?"

Chad nodded, "Really."

Sonny nestled her head upon his shoulder, "I think you deserve ten points for this."

"Yay, I'm winning again," Chad said gently, brushing a strand of hair from Sonny's face, "Just get some rest, okay Munroe."

"Thanks, Chad."

Chad smiled and placed his head gently upon hers. He had to admit, it felt nice and plus, he kind of missed the way her head fit perfectly on his shoulder. His mind instantly wandered to their fake date. He and Sonny just seemed to fit, even if the date was fake. Maybe we should go on fake dates more often…

"Look!" Callie hissed and pointed at Sonny and Chad, "I told you they liked each other."

"But they are too dumb to realize it," Nathan threw his hands up in the air.

"That's where we come in," Callie grinned.

"What's the plan?" Lizzie asked.

"Well, Nathan and Chad can hang out and a lot tomorrow and Nathan can tell Chad all the good things about Sonny and I can hang out a lot of with Sonny and tell her good things about Chad."

"Do you think that will really work?" Kimberly asked.

"It will have to."

"Look at them," Mia sighed, "It's like out of a movie. He's like her prince charming."

"We just have to make them realize," Callie said stubbornly, "Without us, they may never realize how much they need each other."