Chapter 14 – A Storm Is Coming

Zack sat back against the headboard watching Cody sleep. Cody had felt a headache coming on and decided to head upstairs right after dinner, effectively ending anymore talk concerning Theo and what else he might have said. It was something that didn't bode well with him because he had a pretty good idea where Cody's mind was wondering too. He knew these dreams were weighing heavily on his mind and also knew that he believed them to be some kind of a premonition of the end to their relationship.

He slid down the covers so that he was now spooning Cody and let his mind go blank. Exhausted from the day's events he closed his eyes and welcomed the slight reprieve sleep would provide. Within a few minutes Zack was lost to a world of dreams not realizing that his cousins were having a rather interesting discussion downstairs.

Tom looked up from the book he was reading when Mitch walked in. "Hey you missed dinner. Hungry?"

"No I'm good. I headed over to moms after leaving here and she fed me."

Tom smirked and went back to his textbook. "Cool what did you have?"

"You know mom, hamburger helper makes a great meal. Or in this case tuna helper," he replied with a slight smirk. "By the way, she has a guest staying with her."

"That's great. Anyone I know?"

"You could say that."

Tom pushed his book aside and gave his brother his undivided attention. "Care to share," he added curious to know who the person was.

"Aunt Carey."

"She's in town…huh."

"What are you thinking?" Mitch knew that look and answered his own question. "You think there could be some truth to what Cody is saying."

"It does make one wonder. It does seem a bit suspicious that Amber, Theo and their mom all show up not only around the same time, but on the same day."

"I couldn't stop thinking about that too," Mitch grabbed a root beer and took a seat on one of the countertops before continuing. "But to be honest it didn't seem like Carey would do anything else to hurt them. In fact from what I gathered she's really devastated and heartbroken over this."

"She's a good actress."

"Tom."

"You can't deny it," Tom replied getting up and grabbing his own drink before returning to his chair. "We've all seen the reviews, heard the stories and watched the home movies. She's amazing."

"Still I think if she were putting on some kind of an act, I of all people would see right through it."

"Maybe, it's just something doesn't add up right." Tom thought for a moment and then remembered something else. "By the way did you have the chance to execute your plan?"

"This Theo guy is telling the truth. He starts up at the college in the fall and from what I managed to find out he's been staying out of trouble since he was sent to military school."

"So nothing."

"Nothing."

"But…" Tom gave his brother a knowing smile.

"That doesn't mean we can't continue probing," Mitch exchanged a wide eyed smile with his twin which made Tom chuckle.

"You know little brother, I think you're in the wrong profession. I think you would have made a great private detective. You enjoy this stuff too much."

Mitch shrugged his shoulders in amusement. "Something to fall back on if this acting thing doesn't pan out I guess." There was a moment of silence and as if reading his thoughts Tom stated the obvious.

"I think it would be best to talk to Zack in the morning. This is such a sensitive issue with Cody I don't think he'd be able to handle it very well. Especially considering the fact that it may just give him a valid reason for feeling the way he does."

"Would it be such a terrible thing to say, I hope we're wrong."

"I was just thinking the same thing."

The next morning Zack was already at the kitchen table when Mitch and Tom joined him. Both still yawning from their late night discussion they sat down to two cups of coffee and some scrambled eggs.

"Thanks for making breakfast," Tom stated before grabbing the coffee creamer.

"Don't thank me, thank Codes."

"Where is he?" Mitch asked noting that he wasn't around and it could possibly be a good time to talk to him about his mother. "Early class?"

"No he needed to head over to Mel's to borrow something before class."

Mitch's fork clanked against his plate as it slipped from his hand causing both Tom and Zack to look his way. Tom already feeling a small panic begin exchanged a worried glance with his brother.

Zack felt like a fly on windshield. "Okay what aren't you two telling me?"

There was no other way to say it then to just say it. "Your moms in town," Tom replied.

"She's staying with Mel?"

Zack didn't need an answer. Before they had a chance to reply he had his jacket and keys in hand and was heading out the door. Tom and Mitch right behind him as they all hopped into Zack's car and headed over.

"He's not answering his cell phone, let me try the house." Tom pressed the corresponding numbers but got no answer. He was hoping that meant that everything was fine and Cody was in class. "No answer."

Fifteen minutes later they pulled up into the driveway and parked behind Cody's car. They could hear an argument before they walked into the living room. Zack gazing in the direction of the kitchen began to head that way when Mel stepped in front of him effectively blocking his path.

"What are you doing, I need to get in there."

"Zack please, leave them alone for a minute they need to work this out on their own," she pleaded hoping he would take her advisement to heart. Not one to be deterred, he tried to move around her. But again the movement was made in vain. "Five minutes. Give them that."

"Alright five minutes, no more."

Mel nodded and they all took a seat as the voices in the kitchen got louder.

Cody could not believe his misfortune when he opened the door and walked into his aunt's kitchen. He knew he should have called, but he figured that she would be out the door and on her way to work so he didn't want to bother her. No one could have prepared him for the surprise that awaited him, when he found both she and his mother sitting at the table having a cup of coffee.

"Hi honey, how are you?" she meekly asked apparently a bit taken back as well.

"What are you doing here?"

"Maybe I should give you both a chance to catch up a bit," Mel laid a comforting hand on his shoulder before leaving the room.

"Well?" Cody demanded and then thought better of it and turned to leave.

"Cody stop!" Carey rushed to stand in front of him. Her demeanor softened and she managed a smile. "You've gotten taller." Cody again tried to brush past, only to feel her place two strong hands on his shoulders. "You can't ignore me forever. Please you have to forgive me someday."

Cody stood still unable to answer his mother. After everything that happened he was still that hurt kid that left her over a year ago. Those last few lines still swam inside his heart and mind. Suddenly he wanted to be anywhere else.

"Cody don't shut me out. Talk to me."

He looked into the eyes of the woman who raised him and glared. "Talk to you, what exactly would you like me to say?" Cody offered. "In fact I'm surprised you would even want to be in the same room with me, considering how much I disgust you." This time he did brush past her and stood by the countertop, gripping the cold marble, hoping it would help to keep his anger at bay.

"Cody don't use that tone with me."

"I'm sorry, am I using a tone? That's not my intention. After all the last thing I would want to ever do is hurt your feelings or talk down to you. That would be cruel," he replied with as much venom as he could muster. "What are you doing here anyway?"

"My contract came up for renewal and I informed them that I wasn't interested in resigning. I told them I wanted to try and salvage my relationship with you and your brother."

"How commendable, except that you've forgotten one thing. As far as I'm concerned we don't have a relationship to salvage," Cody sneered causing Carey to flinch.

"Sweetheart, don't say that."

"Don't call me sweetheart."

Carey began to cry hoping that simple act would garner some sympathy. "Baby please, I'm sorry. I love you both so much. I didn't mean to hurt either one of you. You're my world." When Carey placed a hand on his arm he pulled away like he'd been burned. And in many ways he was.

"Your world huh, guess what, you shattered that world when you turned your back on me," Cody shouted causing Carey to cry harder.

"How could you say that to me?" she practically screamed. "After everything I've done for you. How could you be so cold hearted?"

"I can't believe your accusing me of being cold hearted after everything you did to try and destroy my relationship with Zack. Don't think I don't know what this is really about. You're up to something."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"You've been manipulating this relationship from the beginning. You set us up on dates, threatened to separate us, then you write a letter to gain our trust only to send that bitch in. Don't think I'm that stupid to believe that this is some sort of crazy coincidence that Amber is here. Did you send Theo in too?"

"Are you listening to yourself," Carey shouted. "Seriously take a step back and really listen to what you are saying before you accuse me of anything."

Carey looked into the eyes of her youngest son. She knew at this point there was nothing she could say to placate him but she took a breath and calmly began again. This time with a softer tone in her voice.

"Cody this year has been hard, and yes I admit I still don't understand this relationship you have with Zack. But I want my sons back, I know it won't be easy, but I love and need you both in my life. So I'm willing to tolerate this thing you have."

Cody was livid. "That's where your wrong. You don't have to tolerate a thing." Carey sighed.

"That's not what I meant."

"Save it," Cody growled.

"Don't walk away from me. You were always like that, even as a child," Carey said frustrated with the turn the conversation was taking. She thought this would be a lot easier.

"Like what?"

"Stubborn, pigheaded, opinionated, need I go on?"

"Yes, go on. I would like to hear what else you have to say."

"Fine, you think your right about everything. Life is so simple, black and white and no in between. Well guess what, your wrong. Life is not simple. People are cruel, they hate what they don't understand. I know because I'm one of those people. I hate knowing that the two of you are together. It's wrong, Cody!"

"What's wrong with being in love and wanting to share your life with the person you are in love with?"

"Because that person is your brother, your flesh and blood twin brother, this is a sin in all the books," she paused for a minute praying she could get through to him. "It's against the law."

Cody stared at the woman who gave him birth and didn't recognize her. The woman he had loved growing up and the woman standing before him were two different people. And suddenly he felt really sad for her. "I won't listen to this anymore. I'm leaving."

"Why are you so afraid?"

"I'm not afraid."

"Yes you are," she stated. "You want to know why that is. You're afraid of losing Zack because you're afraid of ending up alone. By giving him a chance at a normal life you will ultimately lose him and that scares you. You know deep down he deserves better, he deserves a family, a normal family with normal children and that's eating you up inside because that is the one thing you can never give him." Carey knew she had struck a chord. "You know that as long as he knows you love him, he'll never leave you. So you use that to your advantage. That is why Amber being here, scares you so much. Given the right circumstances, you know Zack would be with her. Tell me I'm wrong."

"That's not true."

"Think about your future?"

"I am his future." Carey looked up to see Zack in the doorway making his way over to them. "Who the hell do you think you are?" With one swift motion he took a hold of Cody's hand and led him out of the kitchen and into the living room, pausing only to signal to his cousins that they were leaving.

"Zack, honey, I'm doing this for you, for the both of you. This can't continue."

"A little advice, stay the hell away from us."

"Zack."

Zack turned on her and they were instantly toe to toe. "No!" Holding up their entwined hands he continued. "You see this. This right here is true and it's real. It's love. You can't hurt us. Nothing you can do will change this." Again he headed for the door pulling Cody behind when he suddenly stopped and in one swift motion pulled his better half toward him. Placing a hand behind his head he slammed their lips together. With that one passionate kiss he felt he'd said all he needed to say.

They were out the door before Carey could say another word.

AN: Hey everyone – surprised? LOL!

I just want to send a shout out to all my supporters who've waited quite awhile for this update. And I would like to thank "BlackKat10" for reminding me why I write fan fiction in the first place. You are all awesome! :)