Once In a while
A/N: I'm glad for all the readers who loved the last chapters and left reviews. I really loved them, and I just updated my profile so that it has a little info on my upcoming fic "The Dip Sucks" as well as more personal info and pictures.
Last Time On "A Lost Past: Zack and Maddie's relationship has just survived the ghost of Zack's past and o Maddie's new found obsession with Zack. They have survived their Cold Day In Hell but just as they did so Zack has just been drafted. Will they stay together, would they hold out?
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Now Onto The Story
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As the two walked towards the bus station Zack was just telling Maddie about his daughter. "She takes after me a lot, my hair, my eyes, nose. As well as my ineptness in math." Zack said as he continued to walk with her to the bus stop to get a bus back home. It was already 11:30 PM, as Maddie continued to hear Zack speak of her the more she found out how much life has changed for Zack, because all these years she had waited she had literally put her life on hold. "So Zack, who would take care of her while you're gone?" Maddie asked, as she curiously wanted to find out where she'll stay. "With Cody, she'll be better there till things come back to usual." Zack answered until Maddie asked another question "So Cody's married, to whom?" "To Irma, you know her. You met in the prom six years ago."
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Zack answered only to get an unexpected answer from Maddie when she asked afterwards "What if Kylie stays with me, I mean I may need to bond with her." "No, absolutely not. Once, she heard of you and she took a negative response about it." Zack answered only to be rebuffed by Maddie when she stated "It's completely natural of her to take a negative view of me since she feels that I cannot replace her real mother, but maybe with a little bonding with her maybe she could accept me with you." Zack then replied teasingly "Have you've been reading those parenting books?" They had a good laugh afterwards as they boarded the bus.
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As they got to the apartment Zack was still talking, it's as if he couldn't stop. As they got to his floor he got his keys and opened the door, he realized that Kylie was at her slumber party and that Maddie couldn't meet her yet. The two of them then sat on the sofa, as they did Zack then stood up and paced to the kitchen. Once there, he put a bag of popcorn in the microwave to cook. As they waited, Maddie suggested that they watch something to pass the time.
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As they turned the TV on it was on a news channel. "On today's story Baghdad is under heavy attack by elements of the Mehdi army and operations there are under critical situations. The US embassy is evacuating all of its delegates and staff. Casualties this week has risen to eighty-five." The newscaster said before, he was cut off by Maddie switching the channel. "Mads, why did you switch the channel. I was watching that." Zack said after she started channel surfing. "Zack, it's very unpleasant to watch that knowing you'll be there in less than three weeks." Maddie answered as she turned the TV off and started looking for a DVD.
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As Zack went back to the kitchen to retrieve the popcorn, Maddie finally found a movie that they could watch. When Zack came back he opened the bag then sat down. After two hours Maddie fell asleep on Zack's shoulder and Zack, feeling drowsy himself fell asleep as well.
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Now inside Cody's new apartment
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"Two-hundred, five-hundred, eight-hundred, ah only seven-hundred dollars more then I could move back with Irma." Cody said as he counted the money he managed to save up. He then afterwards decided to call his mother, but as he grabbed his cell-phone it rang. When he answered it he just found out it was exactly the person he wanted to call. "Hey mom, how's it been. What? How?" Cody said as he answered the phone. The thing that his mom said put him through a state of disbelief. "Okay mom, bye."
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As Cody put down the phone crying, a death of a family member could be quite painful especially if that person was close. For Cody it wasn't that close or loved but she was his grandmother either way. Cody wept and cried for several hours, remembering all the things he used to do with their grandmother, good and bad. Like how she would spoil Cody or how her dentures would fall into their chocolate milk. Not only would her funeral be an important event for him but even more for Zack, since finally after six years their mother finally wished to talk to Zack. "I need to call Zack." Cody thought to himself as he picked up the phone.
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Zack's apartment, 2:30 AM
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As Zack fell asleep the phone suddenly rang, "Hello, Martin residence Zack speaking." Zack said as he answered the phone. "Hey Zack, this is Cody. I have terrible news our grandmother just passed away. She died peacefully in her sleep the funeral would be on Thursday." Cody said when Zack picked up the phone. There was a few seconds of silence, as Zack couldn't believe what he just heard. "Hello Zack, are you still there. Well anyway Mom wants to talk to you at last at the funeral I hope you could come, I'll invite Tapeworm, Bob, Warren and Jeremy." Cody said to break the silence before Zack only said a resounding "Ok, well bye then." Before he hung up the phone.
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Afterwards Zack just stood there, partly from extreme sadness, fear and anxiety. Who knew what his mom would finally tell him after all these years? After standing there for several minutes he walked a bit then collapsed on the sofa crying. His crying was so loud that it woke Maddie up. "What is it Zack, what's wrong?" Maddie asked Zack. Zack then sadly mumbled "Grandma just died." Before he broke into more tears. Maddie then rested his head on her shoulder and started to pat him on the back. "Shhh, shh, sh don't cry. Everything's gonna be alright." Maddie said as she continued to pat him. "Why her, why now?" Zack asked, full of distress and sorrow. Suddenly Maddie realized that Zack has never had the experience of a family member dying and tried to give him some comforting words
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"Well, Zack everyone has their time. Just like everything life doesn't last forever, it's the memories and love that person has experienced that make everything worthwhile. And in the end you never really worry about how long you've lived, you think about the things you've accomplished and the people who've been there for you." Maddie said. Zack then started to stop crying as Maddie wiped his tears from his deep blue eyes, reddened by crying. "Tell you what, what about I come with you to the funeral. You know for emotional support and to help you confront your mom." Maddie added. The two then fell asleep a few minutes later on the sofa.
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Later at around 7 AM
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Later that morning a van parked in front of the building, "Thank you Mrs. Prichards" Kylie said as she exited the vehicle. As she went to the elevator Zack and Maddie were still asleep on the sofa. As she got to their floor she opened the door and what she saw shocked her. She saw her father along with this other woman. "Dad? Dad!" She yelled out, waking the tired man. "Oh hey hun, how was the party?" Zack asked only to be given an answer in a rude tone. "Who's the woman?" she asked as Zack was fumbling a bit because he didn't know what to say. "Um Kylie, this is Maddie Fitzpatrick." Zack said hoping that Kylie didn't remember the time she found out about Maddie. "You mean that girl that you were in love with six years ago?" she inquisitively asked. All he could answer was "Yeah." "Dad how could you!" Kylie then shouted angrily at her own father.
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Zack was then pissed after getting yelled at, sure at first he could understand why Kylie could have a negative reaction to Maddie but this was too much. He had to control her, but how? Yell at her? Nah, it'll just make it worse. Try to reason with her? No, she is very stubborn. So what now? He then woke Maddie up "Maddie, this is Kylie." Zack said as she stretched out a bit, since she's still tired from last night. "Pleased to meet you." Maddie said as she put forward her hand to Kylie. "Yeah, yeah." Kylie said as she shook Maddie's hand. "So what about the two of you have some time to bond." Zack suggested as Maddie nodded her head in agreement.
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"No!" Kylie responded just before Maddie insisted. "What about I take you to the mall as your father here picks up his uniform from the recruitment centre." Maddie said before Kylie hastily replied "Dad, why are you going to the recruitment centre?" "Well, sorry to tell you this Kylie but I have to go." Zack answered. "Go, Where?" Kylie added as Zack tried to find a way on how to tell Kylie this. "Well I have to go, they called me up." Zack said as Kylie started to wonder why. "Please, just try to spend some time with Maddie, it would make daddy really happy. You may not see me for a long time once I leave and it would be nice if you tried to get along with her." Zack asked as he started to pout. "Okay, dad. Just to make you feel better." Kylie responded as she agreed to go with Maddie.
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Later, In The Recruitment Centre
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When Zack entered the building he was very shocked, he saw crowds upon crowds of young men, most were only nineteen, a few, lie about their age and were only sixteen. On the other side of the building came the biggest and most tragic surprise, many young men of the same age crippled, Missing limbs, mentally unstable and most of all wounded. They seem to be there to claim their army insurance pay out. As Zack came in there was a long line, after a few hours he finally got to the front of the line. He then checked up his name and given his unit and his list for equipment to be issued. He was now attached to the 10th Mobile Infantry Division to be stationed in southern Iraq. He will leave Maddie behind on Friday, just enough time to at least enjoy his time with her and his daughter. He then went off to the mall to do groceries.
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As he got there he dragged a cart, aisle after aisle passed and as every one of them went by his cart filled up even more with the daily everyday necessities. He was lucky that he had a job, otherwise he wouldn't be able to have paid for the stuff. As he walked by inside the mall he saw Maddie and Kylie coming out of a salon. He then went up behind Maddie and covered her eyes asking "Guess who?" "If I do I win a kiss?" Maddie replied as Zack uncovered her eyes. As they kissed each other Kylie decided to give the two some privacy as she ordered a soda from one of the stands. "So how was your outing?" Zack curiously asked Maddie as he assumed that it was quite a rough time.
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"It went pretty well actually, well at first she despised me but after a while we got to know each other and things ran smoothly after that." Maddie confidently answered. "Wow, and I thought it would be very hard. I guess you know your way around kids." Zack then stated only to be responded by Maddie who said "I used to baby-sit them." Obviously referring to the fact that she used to baby-sit Zack and Cody. As they called Kylie they thought about getting home and just talking.
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Later as Kylie got ready to sleep Zack entered the room kissing her good night. "Kylie, um I have something to tell you." Zack said as Kylie listened attentively to him. "Well I know you got along well with Maddie and I've known her for awhile." Zack added only to be responded with "So what is it already?" Kylie anxiously asked.
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"Well I just thought that since Maddie would only stay here for another three weeks that it would be okay with you if she live with us for a while." Zack answered as Kylie just listened. "Okay dad." She replied in a low voice as Zack then walked out the door. Kylie then heard voices outside her door. "So did she say yes?" Maddie asked. "Yeah" Zack replied happily as he added "She's never taken anyone in as easy as she did with you." Kylie then lay on her bed and thought about her mother. "What do I do now mum? I mean Maddie seems like a very nice person and she sure makes dad happy, but I don't know. I don't want her to replace you." Kylie thought to herself.
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The Next Morning
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As Kylie go up she smelt something, it was one of her favorites. As she went out of her room she saw Maddie in the kitchen cooking her favorite, blueberry pancakes. It was something she hadn't tasted since her mother was still alive since Zack didn't know how to make them. "Hey Kylie!" Maddie greeted as she saw her, Kylie then went to the bathroom and washed her face. It was a Sunday and she didn't have school, Maddie and Zack have decided that they would go on a date that night.
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Since Maddie had work Zack decided to watch her play and then have dinner afterwards. When she walked into the living room she saw a young lady enter the room, It was Tina, Maddie's understudy. "Oh great, Tina you're here. Well make sure you take care of her and be sure she's in bed by eight, we'll be back in the early morning." Maddie instructed. Zack then came out of the bathroom fully dressed and bathed ready to go, "So Maddie let's go." Zack said as Maddie took of the apron and went to the bathroom to dress and bathe. As she got out they got out of the apartment they hailed a cab to take them to shop in 5th avenue, and to have lunch.
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The two then went their way
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Zack now only has four days before he heads of for basic training.
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No one knows how he'll get along with his mother in the funeral on Tuesday.
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Until next chapter...
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A/N: Well that's it, that was chapter 6. I hope you guys liked it, I'll try to update within five days. I hope you guys review, I want to hear what you guys out there think of this. I'll probably post "The Dip Sucks" in the next week. If you read HSM fics you guys would like it, and if not it will be an interesting story nonetheless and I'm sure you'll be interested.
Well that's about it, Till next update
Diego