DISCLAIMER - I DON'T OWN ANYTHING TO DO WITH CAMP ROCK OR THE PEOPLE IN CAMP ROCK. DISNEY OWNS CAMP ROCK, AND I DON'T. PLAIN AND SIMPLE.

A/N - I'm really appreciating the feedback. It's always great to hear what you guys think about a particular part of the story or..the whole story.

Thanks to Lauren, 0Twisted-Symphony6, and Shona (it's not letting me put your penname..sorry!) for reviewing on the last chapter!

Chapter 10 : Years, It's Been So Many Years

After the concert, Mom was pacing around the dressing room, trying to figure everything out, and I was sitting on the couch. I felt kind of bad for her because I know I just complicated her life even more.

"Mom, this arrangement really sucks." I said truthfully.

Mom stopped pacing for a few seconds and let out a deep sigh. "Now that you know your dad, I can't really keep you away from him, can I?"

"No." I bluntly stated.

"I didn't think so."

"I guess we'll just have to fly back to New York, see Dad, and work this whole thing out." I tried, and much to my surprise, she actually went along with it.

"I guess we will."

"Will you be nervous about seeing Dad again?" Because, truth be told, I'm kind of nervous about you two seeing each other again.

"No, of course not." Mom answered quickly, as if it was preposterous. "I can handle seeing Shane Gray after all these years. People see their exes all the time, don't they? Don't worry, Shiloh. I'll take care of everything."

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-Steven's POV-

I entered Mitchie's hotel room with freshly pressed clothes, and saw that she was a mess. In all the years that I've worked for her, I haven't ever seen her in such a distressed state.

She was wearing a silk blouse over jeans and a few Velcro rollers just on the top of her head. Open luggage was laid out on the bed behind her, yet hardly anything was in it. I looked around for a few seconds and saw that Shiloh was nowhere to be found.

"I'm sorry, I can't handle this." She confessed once she noticed that I had walked in the room. "I haven't seen or heard from Shane Gray in almost eighteen years and suddenly I'm flying halfway across the world. I'm not mature enough for this!" She cried. She took a shaky breath, and I could tell that she was already nervous about the trip. "If the man didn't make me so nuts, I might be married to him by now." She began pulling out rollers and abruptly turned to me. "Look at me, Steven. Have you ever seen me like this?"

I opened my mouth to answer, but she cut me off. "No, don't answer that." She began pacing, which had become sort of a regular thing for her since I had arrived yesterday. "What if he doesn't recognize me? Be honest, Steven, how old do I look?" I opened my mouth again, but she shook her head. "No, don't answer that either. What am I so worried about?" She looked up at the ceiling, and I figured I may be able to get a word in now.

"Actually, Shiloh says her Dad is still, and I quote, 'quite the hunk'. And never married, either. Just like you, ma'am." I said, trying to calm her down a little bit.

I put the clothes on her bed, and she just looked at me.

"Steven, I'm not married by choice." She said with a slight laugh in her voice that told me she was trying to stop herself from crying. "I've had my opportunities. Not lately, of course. But I've had my share of gentlemen callers."

"Not lately." I repeated, and Mitchie's eyes turned darker than they already were, meaning I was upsetting her.

"I just said that!" She yelled, and when she saw the shock on my face, she sighed and slightly smiled. "So..Shi said he was still a hunk, huh?" She sat down on the bed, and got a look in her eyes like she was remembering everything. "He was pretty charming. He used to make me go weak in the knees, if you can imagine that."

She stood back up and looked in the mirror just as Shiloh entered the room with her bags.

"All set, Mom." She said happily.

Mitchie suddenly became more composed than she had been the entire time I'd been here. "Good. Me too. Almost."

Shiloh looked at me, because she knew it wasn't true -as I did-, and then at her mother's suitcase. "Mom, your suitcase is totally empty."

"Oh, right. Did you speak to your father?"

I looked over at Shiloh. She locked eyes with me for an instant, then turned back to Mitchie.

"Uh, yeah. I just hung up with him, actually. He said he's really anxious to see you." Mitchie's eyes went wide, and Shiloh smiled.

"He did? Was it anxious-nervous, like he's totally dreading it or anxious-excited, like he's looking forward to it?"

"Anxious-excited, definitely."

I squinted at Shiloh, knowing she was lying, but since her mother was my boss, I didn't say anything at the risk of getting fired.

"He said he'll meet us tomorrow at noon at the Omni Berkshire Place in New York City." Shiloh continued.

"Tomorrow? That's awfully soon, isn't it?" Mitchie panicked, and Shiloh nodded. "Well, uh.. why don't you gather our tickets while I finish up here?"

Shiloh started out of the room, and I followed her.

I walked next to her, and quietly asked, "So, who was it really? Nate or Jason?"

"Oh, Steven, could you come back for a moment, please?" I heard Mitchie's voice calling me.

Shiloh raised her finger to her lips to 'Shh" me. I swear, sometimes she acts like she's five again, as she just demonstrated.

I walked back into Mitchie's hotel room, and she looked up when I walked in.

"I have a really ridiculous, somewhat childish request to make. Steven, you know you're more than a butler. You're like a lovable brother who just happens to wait on us and..."

I nodded modestly, letting her continue.

"Anyway, I was wondering if..."

"I'd accompany you to make the trip a bit easier?" I finished for her.

"Would you, Steven? I'd be forever grateful. And you don't even have to go as our butler. Just as a friend." She looked hopeful, as if she was hoping I wouldn't say no.

"Madame, I'd be honored." Mitchie smiled an actual smile and I walked toward her closet. "And as a friend, may I say, if I were seeing my ex after almost eighteen years and I had your legs..." My voice dropped off as I pulled out her little black dress. "I'd wear this little baby."

Mitchie just looked at me, as if she couldn't believe what I had just suggested. She shook her head, but put it in her suitcase anyway.

She must have seen the small smile on my face because she pointed at me, to make something clear. "Just in case."

I nodded and left to go check on Shiloh.

This was going to be.. to say the least, an interesting trip.

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-ImAnUnderdog