Happy New Year, Everyone! I'm glad to update. Unfortunately this story is coming close to an end, since I love the pairing the next chapters will be TrentxCourntey fluff. I barely deserve half the reviews I get. Thank you for being so wonderful and helping go in 2010 with 100 reviews. You're the best!

It was a cool Saturday morning. The sun rays barely peeked through the thick layer of gray clouds. Trent took in a deep breath without opening his eyes. Waking up with a free conscience felt good. His body tensed as he felt someone cuddling closer to him.

"Morning, Sunshine," Courtney dreamingly looked up at him.

"Morning," he jumped out of bed.

"You're full of energy today," she looked at him between her lashes. He was trembling. "Trent, are you okay?" she propped her head against her hand.

"You must think ill of me, but it was not my intention to dishonor you," he gravely said.

She had a tired and bored expression. "Take those pills of yours and stop giving me the impression that you're gay," she rolled on her back.

"Um, Courtney…" he hesitantly said.

She squeezed her eyes shut. "What now?"

"Why don't you go freshen up while I take a shower?" he suggested.

"Mind if I join you?" she crawled to the edge of the bed on all four.

"It's a rather small cabin," he gulped.

She laughed. "Fine, Prudy Prude," she got up. "I'm going…"

He waited for the door to close before he rushed to the bathroom and splashed a fistful of cold water in his face.

The thought of being Courtney's official boyfriend was sinking in deeper and deeper. He wanted to love her, but he knew that he would have to fight for her to even let him get her a coffee. How was he supposed to sweep Miss Independent off her feet? After all, Harold had thought him some valuable wisdom. He nervously walked up to her as she was waiting for him in the dining hall. He wanted to take her hand in his, but she walked away with a distracted look playing on her face.

"Look, Bridgette is waving at us," she smiled.

"Hey, guys!" Bridgette smiled inviting them to sit with them.

"Trent, what's happening?" Geoff cheered.

"I'd like strawberry yoghurt, please," Bridgette smiled in her boyfriend's direction.

Courtney looked at her boyfriend. "Think you can get me a coffee with-"

"I know how you drink it," Trent smirked.

"Yesterday she was allergic to strawberries. I'm confused, man!" Geoff spoke to himself earning a confused look from Trent.

"He knows the way you drink your coffee. That's so sweet!" Bridgette squealed.

"Or creepy," Courtney's eyebrows furrowed although she couldn't deny the warm feeling growing inside of her.

"I see you two sorted things out,' Bridgette optimistically said.

"We're quite the item, aren't we?" Courtney smirked appreciating her friend's honest joy.

"Aren't you excited about out parents visiting?" Bridgette asked.

"What?" Courtney's eyes snapped in her direction.

Bridgette grinned. "Oh, yeah, you two lovebirds escaped dinner last night to-"

"Stay focused, Bridge," Courtney urged her.

"Sorry," she apologetically said. "Last night, Chris said that today our parents are coming for a visit before the next season starts."

"When exactly are they coming?" Courtney asked.

"Cast mates!" Chris barged inside the dining hall. "Your parents will be arriving in about an hour or less so get your lies straight!" he announced.

Courtney looked for Trent among the others.

"Ouch! My groin!" he cried upon spilling a cup of coffee.

"Trent!" she rushed to him. "Are you okay?" she crouched next to him.

"Boiling…water…" he choked on his words.

"Let's get you to the infirmary," she helped him up.

"God, it's like those fingers are only good at dangling the guitar."

"I prefer the term 'making music'," he retorted.

"Aren't you the one to be quirky," she scoffed. "And that's two terms by the way."

"Whatever," he pouted.

"I'm loving the new attitude," she smirked.

"What new attitude?" he snapped.

The infirmary consisted of a small room with a bed and a large woman cleaning the dirt underneath her nails.

"What can I do for you?" she asked in a deep voice.

Trent pleadingly looked at his girlfriend.

"My friend spilled boiling water on his groin," she smirked.

"I see," the nurse got up. "Please wait outside."

"Sure thing," she turned on her heels and went for some vending machine coffee.

"Please, take off your pants, sir," she heard the nurse say before Trent's cries of despair.

She found him crouching on the bed.

"Please stop twitching your eye; it scares me," she said.

"The horror," he whispered.

Courtney giggled and planted a light peck on his lips. When no answer came from her boyfriend she executed another eight. He got up in a sitting position and took the plastic cup of coffee that Courtney had brought him.

"Much better," she chanted. He grimaced at the unappealing taste. "Hey, you weren't even able to get pass the hot water."

"You can say one thing, though," he smirked. "I'm hot now."

"Smoking hot," she leaned and kissed him. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her on the infirmary bed.

"No hanky-panky in the infirmary!" the strong nurse growled.

They exited the room both blushing.

"So aren't you going to ask me why I spilled hot water on my pants?" he shoved his hands in his pockets.

"I know you're a klutz, Trent," she answered.

"I was surprised to hear that our parents are visiting."

"Right," her eyebrows furrowed. "Any thoughts on that?"

"I'm scared out of my mind," he answered. "It's not that I don't want to see them, it's just that my father, well he won't give me the time of day and it really sucks when your old man tells you how disappointed he is about you after not seeing you for three months."

"It can't be that bad," Courtney encouraged him as they opened the door to the dining hall. It was three times busier and hectic.

"Oh, I have a feeling it will be," he shook his head.

"We very proud of you back home, ya hear?" Leshawna's mother hugged her daughter. "And yo daddy and yo brother see you every week in prison. Wish they were here!"

"Me too, mom!" Leshawana hugged back.

Harold cleared his throat. "Nice to finally meet you Mrs. Leshawna's mother."

"Who be this boy?" she asked her daughter.

"I'm Leshawna's boyfriend," he answered. "And this is for you," he gave her a white flower.

"Where'd you get that flower?" Leshawna scolded him.

"Flower pot on fifth floor," he whispered.

"Why thank you, young man," her mother smiled as Leshawna rolled her eyes.

"Are you going to introduce me as your boyfriend?" Noah asked Heather.

"Of course not," she sternly replied.

Noah shrugged and left for his family.

"Heather," Chris came up to her. "Your parents weren't able to make it, but they sent you this delicious upside down cake from your favorite pastry shop," he smiled.

Heather grumbled and walked away.

"Fine, suit yourself," he dipped his finger inside the cake. "Yummy!"

"Gwen!" her mother hugged her. "I'm so happy o see you!"

"I'm happy to see you too," she hugged back. "What's up, squirt?" she ruffled her brother's hair.

"You have to introduce me to all of your new friends!"

"Okay, mom," she smiled.

"Courtney!" her mother hugged her burying her face in her daughter's chest.

"Hey, mom," she ran a hand through her mother's long curly hair.

Her mother was a short plump woman with tan skin and wide black eyes, while her father was tall with wavy brown hair and fair skin.

"Missed you, pumpkin," he hugged her.

"Missed you too, daddy," she answered.

"Why don't you introduce us to your new friends?" he suggested. "Starting with that boyfriend you have; the one who won this season."

"George, you are not scouting for talents!" his wife scolded him.

"Juanita, please," he pouted. "Does the boy have a manager?"

"Erm…" Courtney's eyes rolled Duncan's direction. He was currently too busy making out with a girl she identified to be the receptionist to even speak with his parents or parole officer. "Duncan and I aren't dating anymore."

"That's a shame," her father shook his head as his wife elbowed him.

"Instead, I'd like you to meet someone else," she guided them towards Trent and his family.

The situation didn't seem at all cheery. What shocked Courtney the most was that neither Trent nor the little girl she thought to be his sister looked anything like their mother. She was a slim woman with short red hair and brown eyes whereas Trent's father was the exact replica of his son.

Carrie also had long black hair with thick bangs bordering her big green eyes. She was tightly clutching her Beth doll as her father carried on talking down to his son.

"Now, Burton, I think that's enough,' his mother interfered.

"I'm not done, yet-"he wanted to say. "Who are you?" he sized Courtney's family up.

"I'm Courtney-"

"Oh, I reckon we've done business with you," he smiled. "Ruthless girl; no need to thank me; all in a day's work."

"Actually I-"

"I don't give autographs," he continued.

"She's my girlfriend," Trent placed and arm around her.

"You're dating Trent now?" her mother incredulously asked.

"Weren't you fating that nice Gwen girl?" his mother said.

"Oh, you're the musician guy," Courtney's father piped up. "You're pretty good. We just need to work on your style," he said. "Do you have a manager?"

"None of this manager nonsense," his father hotly said.

"But the kid's got talent," Courtney's father argued.

"Nonsense. Back in my days I had to work for each and every dime, not mess around with a guitar!"

"Dad, please don't-"

"When are you going to start taking responsibilities?! Honestly, at your age I was already working part-time three jobs!"

His mother patted her husband's shoulder. "Burton-"

"What will my partners back at the firm say?!"

"That he's very passionate," Courtney interfered. "I know it's none of my business, but I have grown to know your son in six days better than you've known him in sixteen years! And his is passionate and determined to accomplish in what he's good at!

"I can't believe I'm hearing this from a whiny teenager!" Mr. Smith stormed out of the room.

"Young lady," Mrs. Smith pursed her lips. "I would appreciate it if you mind you own business in the future. Come, Trent!" she turned on her heels gripping Carrie's hand.

"I'm sorry," he apologetically said. "You have an amazing daughter."

Courtney weakly smiled.

Courtney's father gripped his shoulder. "Here's my card. In case you change your mind. I'm always happy to work with passionate artists."

"Wow, Courtney, you couldn't have picked a more spineless boy," her mother commented as Trent jogged after his family.

"He may be a spineless boy, but he's my spineless boy," Courtney hotly said with a determined look in her eyes.

He mother smiled.

"Girls, girls," Courtney's dad sneaked his arms around their waists. "Mojitos in the lounge."

"I can't believe you're doing this to us," Trent's mother scolded him.

"You like how that sounds?" Trent ran his fingers over the guitar strings. Carrie clapped her hands.

"Put that God forsaken thing away!" she angrily said. "Oh, I think I need an Advil," she rubbed her temples.

"I think you're exaggerating a bit, mom," Trent thoughtfully said.

"Oh, no! We haven't seen you in three months and you manage to anger your poor father the moment we arrive!"

"Be being myself?" he sarcastically asked.

"Don't be cheeky," she scolded him. "And you couldn't have picked a more ill educated girl!"

"You don't know Courtney," he insisted.

"I think she's pretty," Carrie chirped.

Her mother smiled at her before returning to her son. "Oh, I do know her, Trent. I've seen her on the show. All she does is treat people like dirt! She has brain washed you!"

"Hypocrite," he snorted.

"What's that?' she snapped/

"I know that she can be rather impulsive, but she's always been left out and doesn't know how to act-"

"Don't make up excuses!"

"She's caring with me," he grimly said.

His father came in the room. "Hey, we need to leave now if we want to catch the plane to Montreal."

"Father," Trent said.

"Son," Mr. Smith grimaced at the sight of the guitar.

"B-bye, Trent," Carrie sobbed hugging his leg.

"Don't cy, Carrie," he ruffled her hair. "We'll see each other soon. Until then, I'll be thinking of you."

"Me too," she took her mother's hand.

"Way to ruing things," she grumbled before exiting the room.

Trent sighed. Why did his parents have to be so difficult? He remembered how Courtney defended him. He rushed to her room and urgently knocked at her door.

Courtney was surprised to find Trent gasping. "Hey-"

He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her in a deep kiss.

"Wow…"she gasped.

"I love you," he simply said.

"Trent," she warily looked at him. "What has gotten into you?"

"You're amazing, Courtney. Don't let them tell you otherwise."

"I do realize," she tapped her lips. "That I've been rude and exaggerated. Your family probably hates me."

Trent nodded. "I appreciated what you did. It was unnecessary, but you did it. And they don't hate you. Carrie said you're pretty."

"Did she? That's really sweet!" she squealed.

"Want to know what I think?" he smirked.

"I'm actually curious," she locked her arms his neck.

"I think you're beautiful," he leaned and kissed her.

Heather heard someone knock at her door. Her fists balled up. She couldn't wait to finally yell at someone. She found Noah in the doorway holding a plate.

"What do you want?" she growled.

"You didn't come for dinner," he shrugged. "I figured you were hungry."

She let him in. After he placed on the table, she wrapped him in a tight hug.

"Thank you," she whispered.

He caressed her back. "Don't mention it!"

"Hey, cut it out!" Trent blushed as Courtney's leg brushed against his.

"What are you two doing?" Beth quizzically looked at them.

"Can't you see that Todd and Carla are in love?" Lindsay threw and arm around her friend's shoulder.

"Cast mates!" Chris got up from his table. "Tomorrow's you last day in this luxurious hotel so we're hosting a party!"

Everybody in the room cheered.

"Alright!" Geoff threw his fists in the air. "You're the man, Chris!"

"I love parties!" Lindsay kissed Tyler.

Trent and Courtney smiled at each other before she rested her head on his chest and his hand played in her hair.