Chapter 11 – California Living

A year had gone by since the twins took off for the sunshine state. They were now in college attending classes with Tom and Mitch at the University of California. Their cousins hadn't exaggerated when they said they'd bought a big house. The place had five bedrooms an indoor gym and a pool outback.

The twins shared one room, Tom had another and Mitch had another one as well. The fifth bedroom downstairs which was originally the master bedroom became a game room. Plus the short commute allotted them time to work part time and still make it to classes without too much difficulty. Something that Cody was thankful for since he and his brother had each taken a jobs on campus to help pay the bills. He worked at one of the bookstores while Zack was a campus security guard. So he was always nearby on breaks and they always walked to and from school and their shifts together.

But today was an exception, Zack had just come in from one of his morning classes and was about to work out in the gym when he heard Cody call out.

"Hey, Codes what are you doing home?" he asked coming up behind him and wrapping his arms around his waist. "I thought you'd be in your philosophy class."

"It got cancelled, I left you a message," Cody smiled leaning into him as he placed a kiss on his neck.

"I'm sorry I turned off my phone in class and forgot to turn it back on," Zack added while he nibbled on his earlobe. "I'll check my messages a little later."

"Zack the guys went to get some snacks and things for that poker game tonight and so I promised to set up the table and clean up a bit."

"Yeah, and?"

"I can't do that if your distracting me."

"Codes come on it's been awhile since we've been home alone and even longer since we've had some us time."

"Zack we were together this morning."

"What's your point," he smiled mischievously while grabbing his ass. "A man can only go so long without some of this."

"Zack!"

"What, oh come on Codes."

"They're going to be home any minute."

"The game doesn't start for a few hours and you know Tom and Mitch always stop for a bite before they head to the grocery store. Your going to make me beg aren't you," he said with a pout.

Cody smiled as a picture popped into his head. "Maybe later," he laughed. "But as for now we have things to do."

"Your cruel, you know that?"

"Oh yeah," Cody winked pulling him in for a much needed kiss.

Zack responded by wrapping his arms around him and returning the kiss. Unfortunately they were interrupted a minute later by Tom who walked in with two bags in his hands. Mitch followed with half a dozen in his. Zack reluctantly let go of Cody in order to help his cousins with the bags.

Cody began rummaging through the bags in search of all the ingredients he'd need for their appetizers. "Did you guys get all the stuff I need for the sauces for the cocktail weenies?" he asked as he set aside the makings for his famous guacamole dip.

"It's all there," Tom told his cousin as he motioned for Zack to follow him.

When they were safely out of earshot in the other room Tom handed Zack an envelope. "This came in the mail today." Zack looked at the name on the letter and frowned. "Knowing how sensitive Cody is on the subject, we thought it would be better if you read it first."

"Thanks man," Zack said. "I appreciate that," then thinking about it a bit he added. "Hey do me a favor, don't say anything to Codes tonight. I'll talk to him about it in the morning."

"No problem," Tom replied as he headed back into the kitchen.

Zack took the envelope and headed up the stairs into his room choosing to lock the door behind him so he wouldn't be interrupted. As he opened the letter and began to read his mothers words his body flooded with several different emotions.

My Dearest boys,

I can't believe it's been nearly a year since I last saw you both. Nearly a year without communication of any kind and I can't say I blame you. I know you are both very strong willed and determined to live a life apart from me, but I have to admit I still hope that you'll change your mind one day and come home.

I know college is a big step and I'm so proud. It's nice that you are staying with your cousins and living close to your grandmother and Aunt. So I guess I really don't have too much cause to worry. But, I can't help it. It's a parent thing I suppose. After all I am your mother even if I wasn't acting like too much of one. I was terrified and confused and I couldn't accept something I couldn't understand. So I tried to destroy it. But that's no excuse for hurting you.

I made the situation about me and in the process ruined the close relationship I had with you and your brother. I tried. I want you to believe that. I did try to understand your relationship. I just couldn't. The truth is I still can't. But that's not why I'm writing this too you.

If I know my boys and I do, I know Zack that your reading this first. You've always been so protective of your little brother, I guess not so little anymore, making sure he doesn't get hurt. I admire that about you. Deep down I've always known the profound affection you hold for him. How much you adore and love him. I'm thankful for that. Even if it's not the kind of love I want for you.

But most importantly you make one another very happy. And although I don't understand your intimate relationship I do admire that aspect. I just hope someday we can go back to the way things were. That is if you ever decide to forgive me. I've missed you both, so very much.

In fact I was hoping I could come see you. If you let me I'd like to redeem myself. Please, give me one day, or one afternoon to state my case. And if you decide that you don't want to see me again I'll comply. I don't expect an answer right away. But I'll pray for one.

Love Always,

Mom

Zack folded up the letter and placed it back into the envelope. Choking back a tear he put it in the top drawer of their desk and took a deep breath.

"Zack you okay?" Cody's voice came through the door as Zack unlocked it. "What were you doing?" Cody asked a little concerned.

Zack never locked the door unless they were in here together. "I'm great." Zack stated pulling his brother in for a hug. "Have I told you lately how much I adore you and how happy I am that we're together," he grinned picking his twin up off the floor and laying over him on the bed.

"Not in the last ten minutes," Cody smiled. "Zack…"

"I know, I know," Zack replied pulling him into a standing position before thoroughly kissing him.

At Cody's insistence they broke apart and he smiled as they left their room and headed back downstairs. Causing Zack to pout the whole way down.

The younger twin figured he'd better remedy that before they turned the corner. "So are you ready to lose?" Cody turned to Zack who raised an eyebrow.

"Maybe if there was anyone here tonight, that was actually good enough to beat me," Zack challenged.

"Are you challenging me?" Cody whispered through half closed eye lids.

"Count on it," he grinned placing a kiss on Cody's shoulder then sending him into the room with a firm slap on his butt. Tom and Mitch smiled as their cousins walked over to help them set up the card table. More comfortable with their obvious affection toward one another.

"Come on Tom, Call or fold?" Cody stared down his opponent as if they were two card sharks playing in a saloon in the old west. Everyone else had folded and it was down to Cody and Tom and neither one was going down without a fight.

"Come on guys do something, I need to pee," Woody told his friends sitting around the table.

"Rules are rules, no one leaves the table until the round is finished," Bob explained.

"Unless someone else has to go to the bathroom," Woody asked pleading with his friends. "Right?" he added complete anguish on his face making the others laugh.

"Right!" the rest chorused.

They laughed as he then stood up and ran for the nearest bathroom.

"Seriously guys, plan on finishing the hand before we graduate from college?" Zack sniped.

"Fine, call," Tom shouted as they both laid their cards on the table.

Cody jumped up for joy when he realized his straight beat his cousins full house. "I won, I won." Cody chanted.

"Oh grow up," Tom pouted.

"I'm sorry did I hear someone whining?" Cody snickered placing a hand behind his ear and leaning forward. "Is that what that was?"

"Shut up," Tom scolded but snickered a minute later.

"Okay, now it's my turn," Cody announced. "I've been holding it for the last half an hour."

Cody headed toward the bathroom that Woody had just vacated and had to hold on to the doorknob before he fainted from the foul order. "Holy crap," everyone looked over to him. "What have you had to eat?" The boys all smiled watching the interaction.

"Only some nachos, and two bean burritos, and some weenies oh and a couple of tacos earlier…and…um…"

"Okay, okay I get it, we'll air that one out. I'm sure after a month it'll smell like roses," Cody sighed. "In the meantime I'm using the other one," he added sprinting up to the second floor.

Everyone hollered with laughter and as the night went on. It was apparent they were all enjoying themselves. Cody was the big winner for the night and whispered to Zack that they would be sharing a lobster and steak dinner sometime later in the week. To which he winked in reply.

Before they knew it, it was close to two o'clock and everyone was exhausted. Because of the late hour Charlie and Woody decided to stay over and crash on the couches.

"All I can say is thank God tomorrow is Saturday," Mitch exclaimed.

"Yup, and I'm sleeping in until one," Tom told his brother as they headed up the stairs.

"Oh, Zack don't let Cody clean up, i'll do it in the morning."

"I don't think he's up for it anyway," glancing over at his brother slouched over the table quietly snoring.

"Night guys," Mitch laughed as he rounded the stairs.

After making sure Bob and Woody had enough blankets and were comfortable he made his rounds locking up and turning off the lights. Then he headed over to Cody and picked him up, carrying him into the bedroom, then quietly closing and locking the door behind them. He set him down laying him across the bed so that he could remove his clothing. A few minutes later Cody was snuggled up tight underneath the blankets in only his boxers.

Zack watched him sleep for a moment and left a slight kiss on his forehead before he sat down at his desk. He took the letter out and read it twice before putting it back. Throughout the night his mind kept wondering back to their mother, but most of all Cody. He knew how sensitive he was about what happened with her. He could still see the heartbreak in his eyes when they'd overheard her that morning.

A few minutes later he got undressed and joined him under the covers. Leaning over he kissed his cheek and turned off the lamp. Lying in bed facing the ceiling he knew sleep would not come easily.

Zack finally fell asleep around five am only to wake up to his brothers restless movements. From the way he was moving around crying he knew it wasn't a pleasant dream he was having. So he wrapped his arms around him and softly began to shake him awake.

"Codes, baby wake up," Zack whispered trying to coax his brother out of sleep. "Shh…I'm here."

Zack sat up and pulled his brother toward him, while putting his arm around his shoulder, and running his hand through Cody's hair. A minute or so later, Cody stopped shivering and relaxed against him. He waited as Cody wiped the sleep out of his eyes.

"You wanna tell me about it?" Zack asked as he caressed Cody's temple.

"It was awful. I couldn't find you. I called out, but you weren't around. Only faces, a lot of faces, strangers with frowns. But the worst thing was when I finally found you, you didn't know who I was. You looked right threw me, like you'd never seen me before. When I tried to tell you who I was, you walked away and disappeared behind all the faces. I couldn't find you again."

"It was just a dream," Zack told him. "It's not real because that would never happen. I wouldn't let it."

"I've been having this dream on and off for months. I think it's trying to tell me something."

Zack wiped the tears from his eyes and placed a gentle kiss on his cheek. "Codes…"

"No Zack, I know what you're going to say. But I think this dream is trying to warn us to be careful. Someone is trying to sabotage our relationship. I know it." He added pleading with him to understand.

The older twin looked toward the desk and thought about the letter they'd received the day before. "Zack?" Cody questioned as he walked over and retrieved the piece of parchment before returning to his seat and turning on the bedside lamp.

"Codes this letter came yesterday and I wanted to wait for the best time to show it to you," he said handing it to him.

Cody looked at the name on the envelope and stayed silent for a minute. "Cody you okay?"

"No," Cody told him.

"Baby nothing she can do or say will ever take me away from you."

"But she tried once, what if she tries again and is successful?" Cody cried. "What if this time she wins?"

"She won't."

"How do you know?"

"Because, we won't let her," Zack closed his eyes and pressed their foreheads gently together. "Baby, read the letter."

"Zack."

"Please, for me," he pleaded. "Who knows maybe it will bring you some closure."

"I can't, I can't forget what she said that morning."

"Read the letter and if you don't want to see her or talk to her again then it's done. You won't have to." Zack saw such an ache in those eyes that he felt a part of his heart shatter. "Codes, I'm not asking you to forgive her, or forget what she said, that's not my place, just read what she has to say and then make up your mind. That's all I want you to do. No matter what happens I'll stand beside you."

"How can you forgive her so easily?"

"I forgave her for the simple fact that she can't change how she feels anymore than we can. I hate how she feels, even if I can't hate her for feeling it."

Zack leaned back against the headboard bringing Cody with him so that he sat with his back to him. Wrapped up within the folds of his arms Cody finally began to read.

AN: Late in coming but hopefully this makes up for it. This chapter is a stepping stone to what comes next so I'm afraid it's rather boring. But, hopefully it'll give you a bit of insight into the rest of the story. :)