Chapter 26

I don't own these characters, but it would be nice if I did.

Wait...In this story, I actually created some of them, so I do own them.

Anyways, I do promise to keep them true to themselves.

And as for the ones I did create, who they are is up to me, so...

After seeing everything they wanted to see at the Boston Seaquarium, Bailey and Cody began to head back to the Tipton in hopes of a quiet evening at home. Of course, they did make one stop one the way home. They decided to drive past Harvard and point and laugh in a show of school spirit. And once they got back to the hotel, they both just fell back into the couch. And with Zack at his new dorm room and Carey out either at rehearsal or performing, they were finally all alone again. Cody even cooked Bailey dinner again in what he called their second official date. And both were relieved that their new relationship hadn't really changed much between them. There was still the constant jokes and teasing they both had grown so accustomed to before. Their comfort level together had even grown as they could now be completely open with each other. And yes...being able to kiss the other whenever they wanted was nice too. In fact, that whole evening and next day, the only time they weren't together is when Eunice called Bailey and Cody slipped out to run an errand.

The night before they left, they did have dinner with Carey in the hotel's restaurant. And to Carey's chagrin, they had invited Arwin to join them. When Arwin got up to go to the bathroom, Carey looked over at them.

"What are you two up to?"

Cody just smiled. "You helped set us up, we're just returning the favor. With Zack and I both gone now and without our own girlfriends, we thought it was time you got back into the game too. So, we decided to give you a little push."

Carey shook her head and signed. "I think I like it better with you two focusing your energies on your studies and not my love life. Though, I guess turnabout is fair play."

And by the next morning, it was time to head back to school. With a potential blizzard due to hit New England late Friday evening/early Saturday morning, Cody and Bailey were packed and ready to head off back towards New Haven early that morning. They wanted to make sure they had the time do what they needed to do before the weather hit. Carey hugged them both goodbye once again, but this time her advice to them was a little different.

"Cody, I know you two love each other. Just remember she is the woman you love and respect her. Remember you are a gentleman and there is no need to push or rush things. You have something special here."

Cody nodded. "I know."

Carey hugged Bailey. "Please keep taking care of my son for me."

"I will."

"I know we both said he can be a pain sometimes, but..."

Bailey interrupted her. "But neither of us can imagine life without him..."

Carey smiled. "Exactly. I feel a thousand times better knowing he's with you now. You're good for him...really good."

"I feel the same way about him. And I promise to take real good care of him." She smiled. "I'll try to keep him out of trouble."

Carey grinned. "I wish you luck then..." She paused. "I know, I may be biased, but I think my son is really special..."

Bailey nodded. "I know he is..."

And with that, they were off back to school. And three hours later, they were back in New Haven for the first time in several weeks.

Bailey smiled. "You know...It kind of feels like were home now."

Cody nodded. "It does, doesn't it? Its good to be home."

Bailey nodded, and they began unloading their things. They dropped off Cody's bags first before loading themselves up with Bailey's things. Making their back up to her room, they found the door already unlocked and Monica already back from break. She sat up from her bed and smiled at them when they came in.

"Good. You're back."

Bailey smiled back. "Yeah, I'm here. Hope you had a good break."

"I did...How was yours?"

Bailey turned to Cody and grinned. "Very memorable..."

Cody grinned back at her. "That goes double for me."

Monica looked back and forth between them. "Something's different, isn't it?"

Bailey nodded. "Yeah...You were right all along. We both finally admitted how much we love each other."

"Its about time!"

Bailey had a small smile on her face. "We know. And if you want to say 'I told you so', I deserve it..." And with that, Bailey told Monica everything that happened in Kettlecorn over the semester break.

"I'm just happy for you both..." She shook her head and laughed. "All of those other girls around here are going to be so disappointed."

Cody frowned. "What other girls?"

Bailey turned to him and gave him her best innocent look. "Well...Seems there are other girls around here wanted a shot at you too..."

Cody paused. "So, you didn't tell me this just so you would have me all to yourself?"

Bailey nodded. "I wouldn't admit it to myself, but...pretty much."

Cody grinned and leaned in to give her a peck on the lips. "Thank you." He turned to Monica. "And thank you for constantly pushing my girl here and for telling her not to give up hope. I owe you one."

Monica smiled. "Don't worry about it. My reward will be not to have to deal with Bailey first in denial and then as a lovesick puppy."

Cody leaned in and kissed Bailey's cheek. "Well, Sweetie, I'm going to head down to unpack my things. When you're ready to head over to advising, just knock..."

Bailey smiled at him. "I will..."

Cody paused. "On second thought..." He reached in his pocket and pulled out a Yale key chain with a single key on it. "...why don't you just come on in?"

Bailey looked at Cody in surprise. "A key to your room?"

Cody smiled. "I already told you mi case es su casa. Now, it really is."

Bailey smiled back at him and kissed him again. "Now its my turn to thank you."

"Well, I'll leave you ladies be. See you in a little bit...Bailey Bunny."

Bailey laughed. "Count on it, Cody Kitten..."

And with that, Cody left to go unpack his own things. Bailey just stood there looking at the key in her hand and smiling.

"Unbelievable!"

Bailey turned to find Monica smirking at her. "What?"

"He just gave you a key to his room. I can't even get my boyfriend to open a door for me! And what's with these pet names? I am so going to have a talk with my boyfriend!"

Bailey just smiled. "Go easy on him."

Monica shook her head. "Well, I guess I'll see even less of you this semester than I did the last one..."

"Why do you say that?"

"You have a key to his room now. I'm expecting you'll be spending more nights there."

Bailey paused. "I don't know about all of that. I mean, we did just start dating..."

Monica laughed. "Get your mind out of the gutter girl. I don't mean like that. Besides, I get the feeling Cody isn't the type to pressure you to do anything."

"No, he's not."

"I just meant that with some of your late night studying sessions, it would just make sense for you to stay down in his room if you got tired again."

"Well..." Bailey stopped to think about that. "I wouldn't want to inconvenience him any more. I bet his desk chair wasn't very comfortable..."

Monica shook her head again. "I don't mean that either. You did just tell me about you two taking a nap together all cuddled up on New Year's Eve."

"So?"

"Think about it!"

Bailey frowned and then it hit her. "Oh..."

"Exactly!"

"I would have to talk to Cody about that. I'm not one to pressure him into anything he's not ready for either."

Monica smiled. "I'm confident you two will figure everything out."

Bailey continued to unpack her bags and put away all of her things. Once she was done, she made sure she had her student ID card and headed down to the basement. She was about to knock when she decided against it. Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out the key Cody gave her and unlocked the door. Opening it up, she poked her head inside.

"Cody?"

But she didn't see him anywhere. So, she stepped into his room.

"Cody?"

That's when she heard his voice. "Just a minute!"

Bailey turned and saw his bathroom door was closed with light coming from the bottom of it. Next thing she knew, she heard a flush and then the sink turn on. Cody stepped out of his bathroom with an embarrassed look on his face.

"Hey...Sorry I wasn't out here to properly welcome you."

Bailey laughed. "Not a problem."

"You ready to get out of her?

"Yeah, lets get this done before the weather hits."

They immediately headed for their adviser's office, and an hour later, they walked out with identical schedules that would further them along toward their degrees. And a stop by the campus bookstore was next on the agenda. And once again, both walked out with almost a thousand dollars in books and supplies for which Yale was picking up the tab. As they were driving back to the dorm, they decided to make a run to a local grocery store so they would have drinks and snacks in their rooms. While they were inside, the storm clouds began rolling in to New Haven. And when they came outside, the snow was already beginning to fall pretty good.

Cody turned to Bailey. "I say we get back to the dorm and call it a day. This looks like it could get nasty."

Bailey nodded. "I think that would be a good idea."

Once back, they lugged their books and groceries up to their respective rooms. And as Bailey was organizing her things, there was a knock at her door. She opened it to find Cody holding a single rose again and smiling.

"I was hoping the beautiful young lady would accompany me to the dining room so I may have the honor and privilege of her company for dinner."

Bailey smiled. "The young lady would be delighted to accompany the handsome gentleman for dinner."

Cody extended his arm. "Shall we?"

Bailey took Cody's arm. "We shall."

Of course, after being gone several weeks, eating in the dining room was bitter sweet. They had shared so many meals there before, and it felt so natural. But they had forgotten how bad the food could be. Bailey did happen to notice some of the other girls there giving her dirty looks when they left hand in hand, but her attention was diverted when Cody turned to her.

"So, what do you want to do tonight?"

Bailey paused. "Well, whatever it is, it will have to be indoors."

"We can watch some TV or a movie or borrow some of the dorm's board games..."

Bailey grinned. "Board games, huh? You're on!"

"Tell you what. I'll go see what they have, and you go grab something to get comfortable in. If we're going to lounge around, we might as well do it right!"

Bailey laughed. "Alright."

A few hours later, Cody and Bailey were sitting back on his bed, their arms wrapped around each other. Bailey was shaking her head.

"I can't believe you beat me at Trivial Pursuit. I've never lost at Trivial Pursuit before..."

Cody looked at her. "Well, you beat me at Scrabble. I've never lost at Scrabble before..."

Bailey looked up at him and they both started laughing.

Cody teased her. "You know I'm going to have to get you for that..."

"Oh yeah? How are you going to do that?"

"Like this!" And with that, Cody began tickling her. Bailey was starting to laugh and trying to escape from his clutches.

"Cody!"

Bailey did the only thing she could think of and began tickling Cody back. Of course, he began laughing too as they both continued to try to outdo the other. And as they were squirming about, Bailey ended up on top of Cody with them both looking into the other's eyes.

"Draw?"

Cody nodded. "I can live with that."

"Me too."

"You know what I can't live without now?"

"What?"

"These..." Cody leaned up and stole a kiss.

Bailey smiled at him. "Is that so?"

"Uh huh..."

"Well, I suppose I can live with that too."

She leaned down and stole one from him. When Bailey tried to pull back, Cody wrapped his arms around her and wouldn't let her. But finally, both did need air.

"Smooth, Mr. Martin..."

Cody grinned. "I couldn't help myself..."

Bailey sighed in contentment and snuggled herself against Cody's side. "I don't want tonight to end and have to go back up to my room..."

"You know you don't have to, right?"

Bailey looked up at him. "Cody..."

He grinned. "I didn't mean that. I just meant I don't want you to go back to your room tonight. I want you to be here beside me when I go to sleep, and I want you to be here beside me when I wake up. You know...like that nap we took only longer. I liked waking up with you there right next to me."

"Really?"

"Yeah..." He paused. "But if you don't want to, I completely understand. I would never push you to do anything you don't want to do."

Bailey smiled at him. "I know. And I want to fall asleep and wake up next to you too. I enjoyed it too."

Cody was tentative. "Well...it is getting late."

Bailey nodded. "Yeah...it is."

"I'll get the lights if you turn down the bed."

A few minutes later, both were back in bed, all cuddled up together under the covers. Cody leaned over and kissed Bailey. "Good night, Bails...I love you."

Bailey kissed him back. "Good night...I love you too, Codykins..."

Cody smiled at her. "You're really not going to give that up, are you?"

To be Continued...