Chapter 11: Midnight Dive

Without them realizing it, the hours passed and before they knew it, it was almost dinner time. It was Barbara, who had gone to buy another round of milkshakes for them all and looked at her watch, seeing what time it really was.

"I don't believe it. It's almost 8 o'clock! Guys! It's almost dinner time!" –Barbara shouted at the others who were busy watching Zack and Cody killing Cy-Bugs on Hero's Duty.

Of course, the others did not hear her calling them. They were so focused in the game, following every step the twins' characters did, that a person could try and yell at them the world was ending that they would not hear it.

They had already spent an infinite amount of coins, and still, they were only halfway through the game. The twins had managed to do what many had tried, but had failed, and that was to complete half of the game in just about two hours, while getting the high score in every mini-boss and boss fight they came across. They were now on level 7, in the massive laboratory floor, where the scientists from the game's planet had begun to twitch with the Cy-Bugs, and the twins were having problems keeping up with all the enemies that kept showing up.

"On your left… no! On your right now!" –Zack exclaimed, as he blew up another pair of Cy-Bugs into oblivion.

"This is madness. For every one of these creatures that we blow up, another two take its place." –Cody said in exasperation.

"You guys need to find the weapons' vault and get your hands on some disintegration grenades, otherwise, you're going to be in some serious trouble." –Mark warned them.

"And where is that?!" –Cody asked, absolutely frustrated

"You just passed one, on your left." –Maddie pointed out. –"See? It's right there!"

"Hurry, before they get you!" –London exclaimed.

Since none of them heard her, Barbara had to walk to them and literally yell to their ears what was going on.

"Guys! Snap out of it! It's almost dinner time!" –Barbara yelled at them.

That yell of hers, snapped them out of their gaming session, making Zack and Cody also lose their focus, and as a result of it, turning into Cy-Bug food.

"Barbara, you made us lose the game." –Zack said, as he heard Tamora Calhoun saying her game over catchphrase: "It's game over for you, ladies! Come back when you learn how to shoot!"

"Good thing too, or we would stay here the rest of the day." –Cody told Zack. –"Glad at least one of us isn't always with his head in the clouds."

"Always happy to oblige, Cody." –Barbara smiled at her boyfriend.

"Time sure flies when we're having fun." –Maddie giggled. –"I don't even remember when it was the last time we all had fun like this."

"Still, I think it's safe to say that as long as we're aboard this ship, we'll have many more afternoons like this one." –London said.

"We better. I still want to beat that game over here." –Zack said.

"The Medal of Heroes will be yours one of these days, snookums'." –Max told Zack, as she rubbed her nose on his, giving him an Esquimo kiss, making the rest of the gang laugh. Zack loved when Max did that, but he felt so embarrassed right then.

"D-Don't call me that in front of the others…" –Zack hushed at her, as he became as red as bead.

"Come on, lovebirds, let's go." –Anastasia giggled, as she said that to Zack and Max.

Going back to their respective suites, they all got ready to call it a day, right after having dinner. Zack and Cody were both surprised by the fact of finding Carey there when they arrived.

"Hey, kids!"

"Hiya, mom!" –Zack saluted, at the same time his nose picked up a delicious aroma in the air. –"Are you cooking what I think you're cooking?"

"And what would that be, mister?" –Carey asked him.

"Honey Mustard Mozzarella Chicken, perhaps?" –Zack asked, almost certain he was right.

"That is right, accompanied by fired beans and rice. But you'll only get a taste of this, after a shower, both of you."

"Consider it done, mom. By the way, you'll be eating with us right?" –Cody asked her.

"Tonight I will, sweetie. My show only starts at 21:30, so I have enough time to have a decent meal with my two awesome sons, while also listening to them, as they tell me how they spent their day." –Carey gave them both a bear hug. They had not seen each other's for only a few hours, but to her, it had looked like an eternity since she saw them. –"Now, come on, hurry up with the showers. Dinner will be served in about 10 minutes."

At the same time, in the Plato Suite, Max and Barbara had each decided to talk to their parents by the Internet, before ordering their dinner. They both told their parents what had happened during their first day of school and that they were loving the cruise.

"So, all in all, everything is alright." –Barbara's mom asked her daughter.

"Yes, mom. Everything is alright."

"I hope you don't plan on spending your classes making little eyes to Zack." –Max's dad warned her.

"Don't worry, dad." –Max said bluntly. –"I'll only make little eyes to him, outside the classes."

Finally, when it came the time for them to order dinner, they could not agree on what to order, so Barbara suggested that they should try and cook something themselves; after all, both of them knew how to cook, and they would not want to always ordering their food, when they could themselves cook it. In the Goth Suite, Felicia had already finished cooking a home-made anchovies, mushroom and peppers pizza for Anastasia when she entered, and in the Hernan Cortez Suite, Stephen had prepared some gumbo for dinner.

At the same time, London and Maddie arrived at the Wonderland Suite, where they were welcomed by FRAN, whom this time was wearing a French maid outfit, giving her an extremely funny look. It just was not enough she looked and talked like Fran Drescher, but now, she also mimicked the actress's antics.

"So, girls, how was your afternoon? Did you have fun?" –FRAN asked them.

"It was a wonderful afternoon, FRAN." –London answered her.

"I can't believe we let it slip this kind of fun we love, and not doing this more often, you know?" –Maddie told London, as she sat on the couch.

"You're right. I really believe we don't deserve these friends we have. They've been our pillar of strength, who were always there for us." –London declared. –"I know that they're always saying that inviting them to come with us on this trip is beyond amazing and all, but I want to do more for them; they deserve it."

"You'll think of something, Princess. You always have such great ideas. Plus, if you need any help, my brain and my ideas are all yours… not to mention the rest of me." –Maddie whispered the last part to London's ear, in a very sensual tone. Licking her earlobe, it made the heiress giggle.

"S-Stop it, Maddie, that t-tickles." –

"If you girls want me to turn off, so you can have more privacy, I can do that." –FRAN warned them.

"No need for that, FRAN." –Maddie said. –"Besides, we got to go and make dinner, and tonight, London, you'll be the one to cook it. I'll only supervise, and help you out a little."

"I don't know, Blondie. Something tells me that it's going to be a disaster."

"Disaster, smashster, London." –Maddie laughed, as she got up and wrapped her arms around London's waist, pulling her against her chest. –"All you need is a little self-confidence. Remember when you told me that you didn't understand anything about The Raven form Poe, and then I helped you out? It'll be the same thing with this. Trust yourself and me, and everything will turn out alright."

"You're so good to me." –London said, as she slightly turned her head right and kissed Maddie on the lips. –"But, are you sure I won't just burn our dinner?"

"Trust me, we'll get you a simple recipe." –Maddie told her. –"FRAN, do you have any easy dinner recipes in your database?"

"Are you girls kidding?! I have like a cajillion of those in my database, not to mention that I can always surf on the web to find even a few more cajillions if needed." –FRAN declared to them. –"What exactly do you want to cook? A soup? A salad? Maybe a sandwich, or perhaps a quiche?"

"Something hot but that doesn't take too long to prepare. And has to have eggs. An omelette maybe?" –Maddie suggested.

"Excellent idea, dearie. You go right into the kitchen that I'll be there in a few seconds, with a delicious recipe, for your soul-mate to cook." –FRAN said, as she disappeared in front of their eyes.

"I know I've said it before, but I'll never get used to seeing her disappear in front of us like that." –Maddie said.

"Ditto on that." –London giggled.

When they reached the kitchen, FRAN's holographic persona was already there, waiting for them. This time, she was fully dressed in a chef's attire. Smiling at them, she said:

"I think I found the perfect omelette for beginners… a cheese, ham and mushrooms omelette. And to accompany it, a little bit of white rice." –she emphasized, as she showed a holographic version of the plate.

"It looks simple, and with the right seasoning, it will taste even better, Princess. Ready to start?"

"I guess so… so, what do I have to do first? Break the eggs?"

"No, silly, the first thing you do is curl up your sleeves, wash your hands, pick your ingredients and only then, do you start to prepare them and cook them." –Maddie explained her with a heart-warming smile.

Following Maddie's instructions, as well as the recipe, London began to cook their dinner. Whenever she made a mistake, Maddie would tell her, and then proceeded to teach her. When it came to mix the eggs, the heiress could not help but to laugh… she had never thought that cooking could be so easy and funny at the same moment.

"Okay, I think they're good. Now, we pour the ham and the cheese inside." –Maddie said, as she handed the plate with the ingredients to her girlfriend.

"I'm starting to believe that this will actually be edible." –London giggled.

"Of course it will, silly." –the blonde kissed London. –"It will be delicious, and it will look beautiful… which reminds me, I think the plate needs a little colour. I think I'll make a salad to go along with it."

Saying that, Maddie went to the fridge and grabbed a lettuce, four cherry tomatoes, a can of sweet corn and a cucumber.

Finally, the only thing that was left was to wait a little bit for the rice to finish cooking, before making the omelette. While waiting for it, they set the table. To make it look more like a romantic dinner, London went to one of the cabinets on the room next to the kitchen and brought two candles. Placing them on a candlestick and lighting them, it gave the table a nice touch. Maddie smiled silently at the vision.

"I guess the rice is ready." –London declared, as she tasted it.

"Then, let's do the last part… or better, you're going to do it. I want to see you accomplish this on your own."

"I don't know if I can do it… I'll probably ruin it, Maddie."

"Nonsense, you'll do just fine." –Maddie assured London; still, seeing in her eyes that she was a little afraid, she felt that she should help her a bit. –"But if it makes you feel better, I'll help you, but just a bit."

Placing herself behind London, she then placed her hands on top of hers, and whispered to her ear:

"Close your eyes, and let your instincts take control. You'll be my hands, and I'll be your hands. Remember, you can do this; just believe in it." –Maddie said, making London smile, as she took a deep breath and closed her eyes. If there was something that London had learned was to trust in Maddie. If she told her that she could do it, then she could… still, sometimes she needed to hear that to remind herself that she can accomplish anything she puts her mind to it.

When the omelette was finished, Maddie told London to open her eyes, which she did. Seeing the perfect that they had cooked together, London almost exploded with joy. Slicing it into two, they placed them on the plates along with the rice. The smell was just delicious.

"See what you can do when you put your mind to it?" –Maddie chuckled.

"Yes, and it still amazes me." –London admitted.

"Oh, it really looks delicious, girls. If I wasn't a computer who doesn't need to eat, I would totally steal both plates and eat them myself." –FRAN joked. –"Well, I'm going to leave you girls alone now. Bon apettit." –she said, as she once again disappeared.

Taking a seat, the girls took their time to gaze upon on each other's eyes, like they used to do on their first months of dating. It's not that they did not do that any longer, but it had been some time since the last time they took time to do that.

"You know what I love about your hazelnut eyes, Maddie? They're absolutely perfect… I love it when the light is reflected on them. It gives you an aura of mystery." –London sighed.

"And you know what I love about your almond-shaped eyes, London? The exoticness that they gave you. I could very well keep looking at them all day long, never getting tired." –Maddie sighed.

"Oh, you always say the sweetest of things to me." –London blushed, never taking her eyes off Maddie.

"Just because you also do that to me." –Maddie told her. Looking into her eyes, she saw everything that London was to her. You could say that to her, London's eyes were like an open book. –"But we shouldn't be here complimenting on each other's looks, while our food gets cold."

"You're right. We have time to flirt later." –London said.

They kept talking as they savoured the dinner, which tasted better than any of them could have anticipated. The omelette was practically melting in their mouths; being an explosion of flavours.

"I know I already told you this, but I must congratulate you for this dinner, London. If I didn't know you had never cooked an omelette before, I would say that you had been doing it your whole life." –Maddie said, praising the Asian beauty's culinary abilities.

"Oh, you're just being nice to me, that's all."

"No, I'm not just being nice to you, Princess. You know me; I'm many things, but I'm not a liar. You are a wonderful cook, don't think otherwise."

"Well, I do admit that I'm impressed with myself… of course, I had a little help from you. But you know what? I was really nervous about cooking dinner, but in the end, I felt relaxed." –she said, as she took a bite out of the omelette.

"My mom always told me that cooking is a wonderful way to relax and to find new ways to practice your creativity. Maybe in your case, cooking relaxes you." –Maddie told her.

"Well, it's not the spa, that's for sure… but it certainly is the next best thing. Still, I think I was only able to relax because you were by my side, while I was cooking." –London told her, refusing to take full credit for that dinner, which in Maddie's opinion was absolutely divine.

After they finished, they took the plates to the kitchen and London told Maddie she would take care of their desserts; she wanted to prepare something special for her girlfriend. Leaving her alone, Maddie went to the living room, and sat on one of the couches, waiting for the heiress to bring her the dessert.

London felt like they deserved a treat which was both hot and cold. Opening the fridge's icebox, she grabbed a box of Rocky Road ice cream and placed two big scoops each in two bowls, and then poured hot fudge on them.

"Hey, London! Are you making the ice cream or what?" –Maddie shouted in a playful tone.

"Patience, Maddie, putting ice cream in a bowl is an art." –London shouted playfully.

Finally, after a few more seconds, she appeared with two bowls of delicious ice cream with chocolate fudge, whipped cream and a cherry on top. Upon seeing them, Maddie licked her lips in a very wicked manner. London seeing it, could not help but to ask her the lamest, yet funniest question one can ask in those situation.

"Do you see anything you like?" –she winked her eye at Maddie.

"I don't know… I'm really not sure what to choose." –Maddie said, as she looked at London, with a mischievously smile on her face. –"I don't know if I'll choose the ice cream, or if I'll choose the gorgeous looking girl who's holding it."

"Why not both? I'm sure the ice cream won't mind." –London said playfully, as she sat on the couch, snuggling next to Maddie.

An ice cream never tasted so good to them, especially because they were sharing it with one another. They both left the cherry to be eaten last, and since they both had chocolate on their lips, the silently told each other by just looking into each other's eyes that the only way to clean them, was with a kiss. Placing the bowls on the coffee table in front of them, the girls then began kissing, making sure that not a drop of chocolate or ice cream would be wasted.

"Can your lips get any sweeter?" –London asked Maddie innocently.

"And can your jokes get any cornier?" –Maddie giggled.

Too tired to go and wash the dishes, the girls decided to just stay right there, snuggling against each other. Eventually, Maddie began to yawn, while trying to keep her eyes open.

"What's the matter, Blondie? Feeling sleepy?" –London asked her.

"A little… (yawn)… It's strange, I wasn't sleepy a few minutes ago."

"If you want to, you can just close your eyes, while rock you a little, so you can take a little nap." –London suggested.

"I don't know, I'm afraid if I do it, I won't be able to sleep later… besides, you told me you wanted to go for a walk." –Maddie told her, as she tried to keep her eyes open.

"It won't hurt you to sleep just a few minutes. Go on, close your eyes and sleep. I'll wake you in half an hour." –London told her, as she began to hum a little lullaby song to help Maddie fall asleep faster. –"Hush, little Maddie, don't say a word, London's gonna buy you a mockingbird. If that mockingbird won't sing, London's gonna buy you a diamond ring. If that diamond ring turns brass, London's gonna buy you a looking glass. If that looking glass gets broke, London's gonna buy you a billy goat, If that billy goat don't pull, London's gonna buy you a cart and bull.If that cart and bull turn over, London's gonna buy you a dog named Rover. If that dog named Rover won't bark, London's gonna buy you a horse and cart. If that horse and cart fall down, you'll be the sweetest little baby in town."

London's singing voice was ever so beautiful, and it did not take long for Maddie to surrender to her sleepiness, as she entered in the world of dreams.

Maddie kept dreaming, until she began to hear voices around her, but these voices seemed like they were muffled and the sound of multiple things beeping at the same time. Plus, she could hear what sounded like a kind of a loud gurgle. With her eyes still closed, she noticed she was not leaning against London. Still, she could hear her next to her. Slowly opening her eyes, she could not believe where she was.

Moving her eyes around, she tried to grasp what was going on. She was inside of what looked like a sci-fi machine. Analyzing the situation better, she assumed that she was either inside a spaceship, or a submarine. Looking outside through the glass front, the only thing she saw outside was absolute darkness. London was there with her, but still, when she fell asleep they were in their suite, and now they were somewhere else. All of a sudden, Maddie thought about the hypothesis of still being asleep and all of that being nothing more than a dream she was having. In order to find out if that was a dream, she pinched herself.

"Ouch!" –she cried, finding out that all of that was not a dream and that she was not asleep.

"Oh, you're awake, sleepyhead!" –London exclaimed, smiling at her.

"London, where are we, and how did we end up here?"

"Oh, don't worry, Maddie, it's okay, we're just in a submarine."

"A submarine?! And how in the blue blazes did we get inside a submarine? For any matters, where did you get a submarine?!" –Maddie asked her, with a sarcastic tone, expecting an answer.

"Oh, that's easy, silly. The ship is equipped with a fleet of mini-subs, a fleet of 26 mini-subs to be exact. When I said that this cruise was going to revolutionize the way of learning and teaching I really meant it. With these people will be able to explore the sea first hand."

"I see… but that doesn't explain what I'm doing inside one, or how I got inside it!" –Maddie said.

"Well, we're the ones responsible for that." –a voice was heard, coming from the radio-communicator. It was Cody's voice.

"Was that Cody I just heard?"

"Yes, it was. We're on the other submarine." –he replied.

"O-kay, now this is getting stranger by the minute. What is going on here, and who else is here?"

"That would be us, candy-girl." –another voiced was heard from the radio communicator. This time it was Anastasia's voice. –"Mark and I are also here."

"Hey, there!" –Mark said.

Looking out through both hatchways and saw three other mini-submarines. These were white and orange, with the Tipton Industries logo painted on the sides; of course, she was only able to know this, because of the powerful flashlights that had been installed all around the submarines, making them glow on that everlasting darkness. And looking out through the hatchways, were the twins, Max, Barbara, Mark and Anastasia.

"Alright, London; you and every last tone of you owes me an explanation, and I want it now. How I ended up here, and where are we going?"

"Okay, okay, okay, I'll explain everything to you, but you have to promise that you won't get mad at me or the others."

"I promise." –Maddie said with a neutral tone.

"I don't believe you." –London told her. –"Say that you promise you won't get mad at me or the others, with sprinkles and sugar plums on top." –the heiress asked her, while using her baby voice.

Sighing deeply, Maddie did as her girlfriend asked her.

"Alright, I promise that I won't get mad, with sprinkles and sugar plums on top." –Maddie told her, this time with a more casual and friendly tone.

"I believe you… well, this all started…"

(Flashback sequence)

As all of them exited the ship's bridge, London stayed behind in order to tell the captain a message from her dad, or at least that's what she wanted the rest of the gang to think.

"So, Miss Tipton, what is the message?"

"Actually, captain, it's not a message from my father. It's a request I want to make you." –London said, as she took a small piece of paper, along with a small sealed envelope from her jeans' back pocket.

When he looked at the piece of paper she handed him, the captain raised his brow, not understanding what she wanted. In the paper there were a bunch of numbers. Looking at it better, he noticed that they were not just a bunch of numbers; they were coordinates; 41°43′57″N 49°56′49″W.

"These are coordinates." –he said.

"Yes, I want to know when will we arrive to those specific coordinates, and if it's possible for you to stop the ship for a few hours? The reason why you need to do it is explained in that envelope."

Looking at London with a very serious look in his eyes, then looking at the piece of paper with the coordinates once again, he smiled. He did not know London, but being the daughter of his boss, and also being the one who organized that cruise, he knew that she would not ask him something like that unless it was something really important. Opening the envelope, he smiled as he found out what her intent was. Looking at her once again, he said.

"Well, if this is really important, you don't have to worry about it. We'll be at this particular location in just a few hours. You can count on our discretion too, and I'll give the orders for the technicians to have everything set for when the time comes."

"Thank you ever so much, captain. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go. My friends are expecting me."

"Very well, miss Tipton, and don't worry, everything will be done as you specified it."

Heading outside, she was greeted by Anastasia who was the first one to see her.

"Took you long enough." –Anastasia shot at her.

"Sorry, but my dad's message to the captain was really important and couldn't wait. Still, I was thinking on what we were going to do next, and I believe I just had a really wonderful idea." –the heiress told them.

(End of flashback sequence)

"So you lied to us about the message." –Maddie glared down at her.

"Well, yes and no… I really had to give the captain a message, just not from my dad." .London told her, as she looked at her making sad puppy eyes, just like a little girl. –"But the story ain't over yet."

"She's right. There's still more to be told." –Max said over the radio-communicator.

(Flashback sequence)

Maddie had fallen asleep faster than London had expected her to. Her light snoring, and the peaceful look on her face made her look like an angel to the heiress's eyes.

"Maybe I overdid with the crushed sleeping pills on her ice cream." –she thought to herself. –"Now, it's time for me to call the guys." –she said, as she grabbed her cellphone.

A few minutes later, the gang was knocking at the door. She answered the door, and told to come in. None of them actually knew why she had called them. The only thing they knew was that London told them that it was really super important, and they needed to come quickly. To the twins and their girlfriends it had been easy, and the same could be said for Mark, but Anastasia, she had to convince her mother that she would come back in a jiffy.

"Hey, don't tell me Maddie's already asleep?" –Barbara asked London, after seeing the blonde sound asleep on the sofa.

"Be quiet." –London hushed, begging them all to be really quiet. –"She can't wake up, or it will spoil the surprise."

"What surprise?" –Cody asked her.

"The surprise that I've been preparing for her and for you guys." –London whispered at them. –"I'll tell you everything when we're aboard the mini-submarines."

"Mini-submarines?!" –Mark asked her. –"London, what are you planning."

"I'll tell you everything when we get to Deck M, the Mermaid Deck. Now, help me get Maddie there. I can't get her there by myself." –London signalled them. –"Come on, Mark, she can piggyback on you."

"Why me?"

"Because you're stronger than either Zack or Cody; I mean, they could carry her together, but then she might wake up." –the heiress told him.

"Okay, okay, I'll do it… you two, give me a hand with her." –Mark said, as he approached the sleeping blonde and crouched next to her. –"Come on, gently grab Sleeping Beauty by her arms and wrapped them around my neck."

(End of flashback sequence)

"So, you're all into this?" –Maddie asked, knowing they were all listening.

"Pretty much, but she only revealed us what this was all about when we were already aboard these things." –Anastasia said.

"And where exactly are we going?"

Suddenly, a siren was heard, as well as the voice of a man Maddie did not know, over the radio.

"3827 meters. You're about to reach the ocean's floor; Miss Tipton. And then, after 13 meters you should see her."

"Understood." –London answered the man.

"But what exactly you should be seeing here, in the bottom of North Atlantic, at this depth, in the middle of the darkness, London?"

"Oh, come now, Maddie, by now you should have pieced this puzzle together." –London giggled. She was personally amazed of just how oblivious Maddie still was about where they were going to.

"Yeah, I mean, even I could have figured it out, sweet thang… eventually." –Zack told her.

"Maybe it's best if she sees it with her own eyes." –Mark suggested.

"You're right. Computer, activate outside lights, full power."

Obeying London's orders, all mini-submarines' lights turned on and illuminated everything around them. And just like that, they all saw what they had come to see… the wreckage of one of the world's most famous accidents; a sacred place that many believed should not be disturbed… the wreckage of the most famous vessel of all time, the Titanic, which now appeared to them, coming out of the darkness like a ghost ship.