AN: Well here are the reactions, probably not what you would have expected. Also, there's a confrontation with Moose in this chapter. Enjoy.

Suite 2330

Zack and Cody were still speechless as the congratulations to their parents continued to pour in from their friends. As they continue to just stand there, two different thoughts were running through their minds.

Zack was ecstatic about his parents getting back together. Even though he always loved his dad's bachelor life, the past couple of months made him realize what a loving, supportive woman could do to a man's life. Now that his dad, his idol, was going to settle down and be with his first love, it cemented Zack's resolve that he had made the right decision in being with the woman he loved.

Cody on the other hand, wasn't as happy as his family would believe. On one hand, he was overjoyed that his secret desire since his parents divorced was coming true. On the other hand however, Cody had to dig deep to find that feeling again. After years of disappointment, Cody had realized that his parents probably would never get back together. Because of that sobering thought, he had buried that desire with cynicism and doubt, which are always hard to remove from a teenager's mind. Now, he must fight through all of that to regain the joy that he always wanted to feel from his parents getting back together. Before he could think any further, he was shaken out of his thoughts as Bailey touched his shoulder, giving him a concerned look.

"Are you ok?"

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" Cody replied with a sad smile.

"Because you look like someone just told you that you won second place in a culinary competition where as Zack is beaming with joy at your parents being back together. I would have thought you would be the happier one," Bailey said with concern.

Cody sighed, "I want to be, but a part of me doesn't know how to."

Kurt, Carey, & Zack heard what Cody said and walked over to him, wondering what was wrong with the younger twin. Zack put an arm around his little brother and said, "Hey buddy, what's wrong? I thought you would be happy that mom and dad are going to be back together."

"You all would think that, wouldn't you?" Cody snapped, which caused everyone to shift their glaze towards Cody. He got out of Zack's arm embrace and began to walk away from his family. As the parents were shocked at his reaction, Zack decided that he needed to take charge.

"HEY CODY! What's your deal?"

Cody spun around and looked at Zack in the eyes and tear up as he began to rant, "MY DEAL?? Do you really want to know Zack?? I'LL TELL YOU WHAT MY DEAL IS! AFTER SO MANY YEARS OF DISAPPOINTMENT FROM THOSE TWO, THEY FINALLY DECIDE TO GET BACK TOGETHER! WELL GUESS WHAT? I DON'T GIVE A DAMN ANYMORE! MOM AND DAD SURE AS HELL DIDN'T WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, HOPING AND AT TIMES PRACTICALLY BEGGING THAT THEY'LL GET BACK TOGETHER! NOW THEY FINALLY SEE THE LIGHT? WHAT IF IT'S JUST TEMPORARY AND THEY GET DIVORCED AGAIN? I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I'M DONE WITH THAT SHIT AND I'M NOT ABOUT TO GO THROUGH IT AGAIN!!"

"Honey, your father and I are…" Carey began before Zack raised his hand to silence his mother, letting her know that right now, no one, but him and possibly Bailey could get through to Cody.

"Cody, I know how you feel about that buddy. It's rough, but mom and dad do love one another and I'm pretty sure that they are for real about it this time."

"How would you know??"

"Because you said it yourself to Jeff a few weeks back. Nothing is for certain, but that doesn't keep us from trying. You told Jeff that everything in the future is uncertain…"

"EXACTLY! NOTHING IS FOR CERTAIN!" Cody exclaimed, cutting Zack off.

"If that's true then what about our love then Cody? What about that?" Bailey asked as she began to tear up as well. London was besides her, trying to keep Bailey calm.

"That…" Cody began.

"See Codes, you forgot about the rest of what you said to Jeff. That if there was one thing for certain, it was your love for Bailey and that it will never die. Mom and dad still love one another and if you believe in your love for Bailey, then believe in theirs," Zack reasoned as he walked closer towards his twin.

Cody sighed as he sat down on one of the love seats, letting Zack, London, Bailey, Carey, and Kurt walk towards him while everyone else hang back and watched. Carey was the first to put a hand on Cody's shoulder.

"Cody, your father and I have been seeing each other for almost a year already before we decided on anything. We thought about things and realized that the only reason why things didn't work out before was because things happened too fast."

"Buddy, we would never put you and Zack in a position where we weren't sure about things. Your mother and I loved each other very much when we first got married, but then you guys came a lot sooner than either one of us planned. Your mother had to grow up very quickly, but I didn't want to. In a case where I should have become more responsible, I decided to take the easy route and give up. We never stopped loving one another and with the spark coming back, we want to try again and be the family you and Zack deserved."

"So you're blaming us for the divorce?" Cody asked with a shocked face.

"CODY! Of course they aren't blaming us! Geez buddy, I thought you were the smart twin here. Dad is just merely stating a fact. Imagine if you and Bailey were married very early with the lifestyle that mom and dad were accustomed to. Then, not even halfway through your first year, you get news that Bailey's pregnant and with twins. 9 months later, you're still trying to adjust being married while having to deal with two screaming babies. Not many people would be able to handle that well and still come out sane," Zack explained.

"Cody, think about it. As calm and collected as you were with the whole pregnancy scare with Bailey, you can't tell any of us you weren't freaked out with what the future held. Imagine if Bailey was pregnant and you guys had to support a baby while getting through high school without any of our help? Times that by two and you get possibly a good idea of what your parents went through. At least in your case, we would have been there to support you, but your parents had to handle it on their own," London added.

"I guess both of you are right, but how do I know they won't just do it again?" Cody asked meekly.

"Baby, do you believe in the love Zack and London share? In the love that we share?" Bailey asked as she looked at Cody.

"Of course I do."

"Then believe in your parent's love for one another."

"I do believe, but it's hard for me to bring it all out. There's something else you should know about those two weeks we were married in Tutweiller's class. The reason why I was acting like such a jerk was because I wanted to test our relationship to see if it would last, even when we were at our worst. I was just so afraid of us ending up like my parents that I wanted to know if you would have stayed with me through thick and thin. Now I know that the whole idea was ill advised and that you already proven you would stick with me through both the good times and bad. I'm so sorry sweetie."

Cody began to cry as Bailey held him in her arms, while Zack, London, Carey and Kurt watched. Zack was smiling while holding London in his arms, knowing that his brother really had found someone who would take care of him and understand his every need. London looked at the couple with the biggest grin on her face. If there was any doubt about the survival of Cody and Bailey's relationship, this should wipe away all of it. Kurt was glad that his youngest was going to be in good hands and knowing Bailey for the time that he had, he was thanking God that Cody had been so lucky. Carey, albeit a little jealous of another woman taking over her spot in her little man's life, was crying tears of joy for the happiness that Cody had found. As she looked over to Zack holding London closely in his arms, Carey also knew that her younger son wasn't the only lucky one.

As Cody stopped crying and looked up at the rest of the group gathered in the suite, he gave a sheepish smile as he began to apologize, "I'm so sorry for the family dramatics everyone. Well, come on, this is still a party right? Let's liven thing up again."

With that declaration, the music started back up and the party resumed. As the group began to dance a bit around the small living room, Cody took a glance over towards his parents and began to see what everyone else saw when they first announced their second engagement. That look was one that Cody was familiar with; it was nothing, but love.

Tipton Lobby

It was a week after the twin's 17th birthday and the four friends were now in the lobby, waiting for London's limo to arrive to take them to the airport. They were going to fly to Kettlecorn to meet the rest of Bailey's family and stay there for a week before flying back to Boston to board the S.S. Tipton for Zack, Cody, and Bailey's senior year at Seven Seas High. As they continued to wait in the lobby, Zack was dead tired from bringing down London's bags for the trip.

"Babe, I don't mean to complain here, but what in the world would possess you to bring seven bags of luggage for a one week trip to Kansas?"

"I only packed the essentials just in case the Pickett Farm doesn't have them."

"Essentials??" Zack exclaimed while Bailey chimed in.

"You do realize we aren't as a backwards of a town as you think we are."

"I'm not trying to make fun of your hometown sis. It's just that I don't think your town would sell skin care products originated from France."

"Couldn't you just use a different brand of moisturizer?" Cody injected.

"Nope. My skin breaks out because it wouldn't be used to the types of ingredients other brands use," London explained, much to the shock of the other three.

"So you're telling me that one of these bags is full of skin care products?" Zack asked in a state of shock.

"Among other things like clothes, shoes, jewelry, and presents for Bailey's family. Now stop complaining."

"I will stop when I cease to become the next Esteban," Zack retorted, as Cody laughed at that statement, which caused Zack to glare at his brother.

"Why don't you try carrying these bags then Mr. Chuckles?"

"Because I'm not London's boyfriend and lucky for me, my girlfriend packs light."

Before Zack could retort, the limo arrived as they began to load the bags into the limo. Taking pity on his brother, Cody helped Zack with the load and the two of them were able to reach the limo with no major problem. Once everyone was seated, they were driven to the airport where they would fly out of Boston and headed towards Topeka, Kansas.

Pickett Farm

As the group arrived in Kansas, Jeff and one of Bailey's brothers-in-law, Russ, greeted them. Russ was married to Bailey's oldest sister, Candace and had three kids. The luggage was loaded into two pick up trucks as Zack and Cody rode with Jeff, while Bailey and London rode with Russ. They were soon at the Pickett Family Farm, where three young girls excitedly ran out to greet the new arrivals along with a trailing Sarah.

"BAILEY! BAILEY! YOU'RE HOME!!" all three of them cried as they jumped their older sister.

"UGH!" Bailey groaned as she was tackled to the ground, "You three have gotten stronger than a fully grown mustang."

"No we haven't. You just got weaker, probably from all that city living that you've been doing the past two years," the oldest one of the three said.

"Yeah! Exactly what Suzy said!" the youngest said. Bailey just laughed as she pushed her younger sisters off of her while Cody helped her up as she dusted off her clothes. She turned towards the trio from Boston and introduced the three newly arrived family members.

"Zack, London, Cody, I would like you three to meet Suzy, Mary, and Lily Pickett, my three younger sisters."

The six of them greeted one another before Lily, being the youngest one, asked Cody, "Are you Bailey's husband?"

Bailey blushed at the question and Sarah was about to reprimand her before Cody smiled and answered, "Not yet, but I certainly hope to be. Especially if your daddy and Bailey agree."

Lily looks up at Bailey and smiled, "I like him."

Bailey just laughed as Jeff and Russ ushered the guests into the house to have lunch and to meet the other members of the Pickett Clan.

Downtown Kettlecorn

It was the afternoon and Bailey was giving her friends a tour around town with Jeff since he needed to get some supplies from the hardware store. As the four of them were waiting outside of the store, Bailey ears perked up as she heard her name being called. As she looked towards the direction of the sound, her face fell into a deep frown. The others realizing Bailey's distress, look towards where her eyes were fixated on and frowned as well. Walking towards the four of them was none other than Moose himself with what looked like a posse right behind him.

"Should we go get your dad and get out of here?" Zack asked, knowing that Moose more than likely was going to be up to no good.

"No. Whatever he wants to talk about, we'll talk. I want to be civil here," Bailey answered.

"Civil? Sis, the jerk practically told you that he loves you and then moved onto the next girl just because you wouldn't go back home with him. I don't even know why I brought him onto the ship in the first place," London said as she started to get in between Bailey and Moose like Zack had done.

"You were just doing what you felt was right at the time London. Even I don't blame you for that anymore," Cody said as he looked at Bailey, "I'm right here with you baby."

Bailey smiled and nodded to Cody as Moose arrived right in front of them, with his posse of 3 other guys right behind him.

"Well, well, well, look what crawled into town. 2 city fellers, a spoiled princess, and a country brat who thinks she's too good for our fair little town," Moose said as he looked from one person to the other.

"What do you want Moose?" Zack said as he stood his ground. Even though Moose still looked the same and didn't grow much, both Zack and Cody had and they were now at eye level with him, with Cody an inch taller than him.

"Well, we heard that little Ms. Pickett was home and wanted to extend an invite for a welcome home party," Moose replied with a sleazy glaze towards Bailey.

"I don't know what you're thinking about, but it's not going to happen while I'm around," London said as she looked Moose in the eyes.

"Whoa now! I didn't know I would be met with such hostility. I thought you liked me."

"I was blind like everyone else besides her family in this town seem to be. Yet, now I see the real Moose and I have to say, you are definitely not someone I want for my friend."

"London, Zack, thanks. I appreciate your help, but this is my fight," Bailey said as she walked in front of the two.

"NO! It's not," Cody said as he got in front of Moose and pushed Bailey back, "It's mine. If there's any one among the four of us that he has a major issue with, it's with me. Speaking of which, I do not appreciate what you called me and my friends Moose, especially Bailey."

"Oh really? Just what are you going to do about it little feller?" Moose said as he pushed Cody onto the ground. "I see you are as weak as before when I won all those competition against you."

As Cody was getting up, the rest of the town had heard the commotion and was gathering around them, waiting to see what was going to happen. Secretly, every resident in Kettlecorn, minus the Picketts and their kin, were rooting for Moose. They believed that he was a hero being wronged by a city feller who feels as if he could anything he wanted and held a sense of entitlement. At least, that's what Moose had told them.

"Go back to your fancy city life you outsiders! All you city folk are the same! Feeling as if you are entitled to anything without putting any effort into things," one of the townspeople yelled.

"Moose won all those competition and deserved the Pickett girl. You lost little feller, so why don't you just give her up?" another one yelled.

Through all the yelling, Bailey could only cry as she began to re-live the memories of last summer when she had come home to face the same kind of discrimination. If only these people would understand that Cody was nothing like the way they described him. Before she knew what to do, London, Zack, and Cody stood in front of her and began to put up a front towards the townspeople and Moose.

London used her fingers to form a circle and began to make a whistling sound, allowing everyone to cease their yelling. As the town became silent, London began.

"How dare you? How dare ANYONE of you speak as if you knew ANYTHING about Cody and Bailey? I cannot believe that this is what Middle America is coming to. I was always taught that it was here where one can find true, honest values of love, compassion, friendship, and acceptance. You, of all people, ought to be ashamed of yourselves. There was always a pride being spoken of about people in the Midwest being hardworking, honest, kind, and very tolerant people. I thought a majority of you would be like the Picketts, a great example of what hardworking and compassionate folks from the country is all about. Country folks should be able to teach folks in the city a thing or two about loving your neighbor and never judging someone based on where they comee from, but by the strength of their hearts."

The townspeople were beginning to mutter among themselves, some hanging their head in shame as they began to realize the girl from the city was right. Instead of being the tolerant, kind hearted people they were suppose to be, they had let their emotions run wild and thus, creating a mob frenzy. Noticing that he was losing the support of the townspeople, Moose quickly took the lead and began to say his peace.

"Pretty speech London, but it doesn't negate the fact that this little feller thinks that he entitled to anything he wants when he lost the competitions. I mean, even his twin is a two timing womanizer. Are we going to allow that kind of folk to date our women?"

Before the townspeople could respond, Zack began his little speech.

"Ok Moose, that is going way out of line! If you knew anything at all, then you should know that Cody and I are not the same person even if we are identical twins. Cody has been nothing, but dedicated to Bailey the moment he was with her. He's never forced Bailey to do anything she didn't want, never forced his opinion on her, and has always taken her feelings into account before making any major decision. As for entitlement, our mother was a single woman during most of our childhood trying to raise enough money to support her family while trying to raise her two boys to become valued members of society. Granted some of her lessons tended to kick in slower than others, but she always did her best to raise us. Cody and I never had some golden childhood. Mom had to scrape and save every penny just to make sure we got by. We live in a suite at the Tipton only because mom works there as a lounge singer and our suite only has one bedroom. Mom gave us that room while she sleeps every night on a pulled out sofa. The only reason we were even able to go to Seven Seas High was because of mom's employee discount and even then, we barely had enough. We were never entitled to anything and Cody has achieved every one of his goals through hard work and dedication, something that Jeff told me the people of Kettlecorn truly valued."

The townspeople again were intrigued by what the outsider had said. The story of the twins life was compelling, even sympathetic as they were beginning to see that Zack and Cody were not the stereotypical city folk. They did not feel as if the world owed them anything minus what they had given in terms of their dedication, sacrifice, and hard work. Moose sensing he would soon lose all support made one final push.

"Hard working or not, he does not deserve Bailey! I'm the one that deserves her. I'm the one…" Moose's rant was soon cut off half way by Cody's interruption.

"You're the one that what, Moose, told Bailey that you loved her only to change your mind 10 minutes later because she wouldn't come back to Kettlecorn with you," Cody began as the revelation shocked the crowd, for they had no knowledge of this information, "You were the one that was always telling her what was right for her, never letting her speak and express her opinion about any situation or decision. You were the one that in the end said that Mary Lou was waiting for you to ask her out to the movies, TEN MINUTES AFTER YOU TOLD BAILEY YOU LOVED HER! That is not love Moose! I have no clue what you believe love is, but it's not that! You want to know what love really is Moose? Love is finding out that your lover is miserable and you do everything you can to make her smile, even if it means re-creating a Mulch Festival. Love is telling her to follow her heart, even if there was slightest of chance that it wouldn't lead back to you. It means finding every possible way to get tickets to a sold out concert of a major music artist that she loves, even if it means you have to risk your life against rabid fans. It means supporting them in a beauty contest hours after you had a major fight with them, knowing that contest means more to them than some stupid little fight the two of you had. Love is also going up against an evil spirit that has your beloved possessed, doing everything you possible could to restore them back to their former selves. Love is standing up to your lover's father, accepting full blame for any wrongs that you may have caused and taking responsibilities for your actions. Love is knowing when you've made mistakes in your journey with the one you love and do anything to rectify it."

The townspeople were now ashamed while of the women were tearing up from the speeches. They had truly misjudged these city folks and from all indication, it seems as if the only weasel in this whole situation was one of their own. Before any one could react any further, there was the sound of a person clapping. Everyone turned their heads toward the entrance of the hardware store to find Jeff Pickett standing there with tears in his eyes and a smile on his face.

"Well said Cody, definitely well said," Jeff said as he walked towards the group. He then scowled towards Moose, "Moose, I've listened to the whole exchange and the only thing I've heard coming out of your mouth was that you won the competition and therefore, deserve to have Bailey. I don't know what your definition is about love and relationships, but the first rule of anything is that no person in a relationship is the other's possession. You're treating my Bailey as a prize instead of the independent, intelligent, and beautiful woman that she is. You want to know what I love this little feller so much? It's because he treats Bailey the way she deserves, as a human being and a princess. Now, I suggest you run along now and don't show your face in this town again. I believe the people here have finally seen through your lies."

Moose looked around and saw that the people of Kettlecorn had turned sour on him. He knew that there was nothing else for him to do, but to walk shamefully home, knowing that he had lost a second time to Cody Martin. As the five of them watch Moose walk shamefully home, Jeff looked at the four friends and said, "Well, looks like it's been more then an eventful afternoon. Why don't we get out of here and head on back to the farm? I bet Sarah has been cooking up a mean dinner for us all."

The four friends smiled as they walked in front Jeff towards the pickup, with Zack holding London close by her waist, giving her a kiss on the cheek and whispering how proud he was of her for standing up to Moose and the townspeople the way she did. Cody on the other hand, realized how emotionally drained Bailey was by the whole ordeal, carried her bridal style back to the pickup. Jeff watched the seen before him, knowing that he had definitely made the right choice by allowing his daughter to be courted by this man. Also, he knew that Wilfred was definitely feeling the same way about his daughter's beau as well.

Next up: All Aboard the S.S. Tipton, with a few surprise