Chapter 45

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...

Cody and Bailey just stood there looking at each other, both unable to take their eyes off of the other. Bailey always thought Cody was handsome, but seeing him dressed in a tuxedo? She definitely approved. She had seen him dressed in a suit before and thought he looked amazing, but this was taking it to a whole another level. On the other hand, Cody couldn't help looking Bailey up and down. The dress she wore was like nothing he had ever seen before, and it was a vision he would not be forgetting any time soon. In his opinion, there just weren't words to describe how beautiful she looked. But, he wasn't the only one who was speechless as all either could do was look. But London was talking enough for everyone. Or at least they thought she was. Neither one was really focusing on anything she was saying. And if she hadn't tapped them on the shoulders and startled them out of their reveries, they would have stood there all afternoon.

"Hello?"

Cody shook his head and turned to London. He looked at her in confusion. "London, I don't understand. I thought you were going to put me in heels or put make up on me again..."

London shrugged. "Ehhh...What fun would that be? I mean, its like you said, Bailey was going to stand by you anyways. If I embarrassed you, what purpose would it serve? She's going to love you anyways. Besides, I thought this was a much better idea, and told Bailey as much..."

Cody whipped his head around to Bailey. "You knew about this?"

She smiled. "Well, sort of but not really. She told me she had a new idea, but I had no idea this is what she had in mind..."

London checked her watch. "Well, I have to go. I have a date."

Cody's eyebrows raised. "With who?"

London smiled. "A certain future dentist...He's flying in for a few days."

Cody smiled back. "Good luck..." He paused. "When should we get these outfits back to you?"

London shrugged. "You don't. They're yours now. Besides, there is a reservation for two for you tomorrow night at the best restaurant in St. Maarten, and its a definite black tie kind of place..."

Cody and Bailey just looked at each other in surprise. "But London...we're just poor college students. We can't afford a place like that."

London rolled her eyes. "Its in the Tipton Resort on the island. Everything is taken care of. Heck, take your new outfits with you in the morning and drop it off there, and they will hold it for you. They'll even let you borrow a suite to get cleaned up in. Now, I really have to be going..." And with that, London left.

Cody shook his head. "Okay...totally did not see this coming. I was expecting to walk out of here with blush and rouge...not Armani."

"I knew she was planning something, but I never would have imagined this..." Bailey started laughing. "I now have a dress worth more than the rest of my wardrobe combined..."

Cody laughed too. "Same here..." He stepped in front of a mirror. "Huh...I do look good in a tux though. I should wear one of these more often..."

Bailey smiled. "Yeah, you look amazing in it. But we should probably get out of these and keep them fresh for tomorrow night..."

Cody nodded. "You're right..." He paused and looked at Bailey one more time. "I just want to take a few more mental photographs of you in that dress. You got to see the pictures you wanted to see, and now I have one I want to see over and over..."

Fifteen minutes later, they were both back in their regular clothes again with their formal wear back in the bags. And when Bailey walked out of her dressing room, Cody smiled and whistled.

"Wow..."

Bailey shook her head. "But I took the dress off..."

"So? Doesn't mean I like the view any less..."

She just smiled. "Come on, lets get these back to our cabin. We still have some time to waste this afternoon. I saw where there was a laser tag area. You up for a round?"

Cody nodded. "Yeah, lets do it."

So, that's what they did. Of course, one round let to a best of five. And they had to forcibly make themselves stop in the middle of the fifth game or they would miss their reservations for dinner that night at the ships seafood restaurant. And as they sat across the table from each other, Cody was deep in thought. Of course, Bailey noticed.

"What's on your mind?"

"I was just realizing how competitive we are..."

Bailey smiled. "I know. We're pretty even competitors, don't you think?"

"I know, and while I enjoy having someone who I can go toe to toe with, part of me is a little worried..."

Bailey's smile quickly evaporated. "Why?"

"I just don't want our competitions to get in the way of us. Bails, I love competing with you. I finally have someone who can challenge me on all levels. But I don't want us to fall into a pattern of trying to one up the other in everything. You're the first person in my life that I've ever found to be my equal in everything. I don't want a stupid struggle for dominance in some inconsequential activity to cause us problems..."

Bailey paused to consider that. "I can see what you mean. You're the first person I've found too that is my equal in so many things. Its human nature to try gain the dominant hand in situations like that. And I don't want that either. I like how we're equal partners."

"So do I..."

She smiled. "How about this? We still compete with each other in games like these, but we have a safe word that if one of us thinks the other is going to far with something, we say it and stop what we're doing."

Cody smiled. "I like it. What's our word?"

Bailey paused to think. "How about daiquiri? A word that won't come up in our everyday lives, and its kind of a reminder not to be stupid again..."

Cody nodded. "I like it...Its very appropriate."

The next morning, they were up early again and off the boat into St. Maarten. The first stop was the Tipton resort. After waiting at the front desk, they explained to the manager what London had told them, and he immediately smiled and nodded. He took there garment bags and hung them up in his own office for them to get later. Once done, he handed them a note left for them by London.

Cody & Bailey,

Don't think I haven't noticed how you two have worn the same swimsuits everyday. If you are going to be my guests, I expect you to look the part. Head over the the ships boutique and get yourselves a couple more for the rest of your trip. I've asked for a couple to be set aside for you, but they may not be your style. But, for the love all of things sparkly, get at least two a piece!

London

Cody and Bailey looked at each other and shrugged. While they were happy with what they had, London was their host for their trip. So, they decided to just do what she asked. When they got into the boutique, they showed the salesperson London's note, and she smiled. Immediately, she showed them what London had set out.

When Cody saw one for him was a Speedo, his eyes bulged and he shook his head. "I don't think so!"

Bailey teased him. "Awwww...Come on, Codykins...Its very tropical. Get into the groove of the islands..."

Cody just gave her a look, but he got his revenge later. When the salesperson showed Bailey one London had picked out for her, her eyes popped out. There was basically just three tiny triangles and string.

"I don't think so!"

Cody grinned and teased her. "Awwww...Come on, Bails...Its very tropical. Get into the groove of the islands..."

Bailey just glared at him. "Okay, you've made your point..."

They both agreed that London's choices were not for them and began looking on their own. Since London demanded they get two a piece, they agreed to pick one they each liked for themselves and one they liked for the other (within reason). Cody was the easiest to shop for. Trunks were pretty much all the same, and the only difference was the pattern. For himself, he chose a pair of light green ones. Bailey teased him again and picked up a pair of hot pink ones.

"I like these..."

Cody shrugged. "Remember...you're the one who has to be seen with me..."

She paused. "True." She stopped and grabbed a pair of light blue ones. "I'll go with these instead." She smiled. "They match your eyes..."

Cody smiled. "I can live with that."

Next up was looking for Bailey. Cody was looking through the rack and grinned. He picked one up and showed it to her. "What do you think?"

Bailey just looked at him. "A houndstooth bikini? Really?"

Cody kept grinning. "What can I say? I'm a big fan of Sherlock Holmes..."

Bailey smiled back. "Cody, I love you, but no." She paused. "I'm surprised this shop would even carry something like that..."

Cody kept looking while Bailey did the same. She found one in a burnt orange that she liked.

"What do you think?"

Cody nodded. "I like it. It'll look great on you."

She smiled. "Your turn."

Cody kept looking and then he saw one he really liked. He held it up for her. "I like this one. For some reason, I think this color will look good on you..."

Bailey looked at it. "Lavender? You really think so?"

Cody smiled. "Oh yeah...I don't know why, but I can already tell you'll look amazing in it..."

Bailey shrugged. "Fine with me."

They both change into one of their new suits and then dropped off their bag from the store with the manager. And then, they were off to explore St. Maarten. They explored some of the local merchants, but as it turned out, Dutch was one of the languages that neither one of them spoke. Deciding they didn't want to carry around anything all day, they decided to hit the beach instead. And as they walked along hand in hand, they just talked.

"So, we're in St. Maarten..." Bailey grinned. "Any relation?"

Cody smiled. "I don't think so. Dad always told us we're were descended from these two viking brothers, Knut and Olaf Martin. Something about a bear and herring and they were banished from their village."

Bailey nodded. "I can see that. The blonde hair and blue eyes are very typical of those from Scandinavia."

"What about you? I've always wondered. Any relation to the Confederate General?"

Bailey paused. "Yeah, a distant cousin. Not fun having your name associated with one of the biggest colossal military blunders of all time..."

Cody smiled. "Not his fault. He was just following orders. The great Robert E. Lee was the one should be blamed for that."

She sighed. "I know that and you know that, but its not Lee's name on it..."

"Well, if it makes you feel better, I know any other Pickett Charges will be welcomed by this Yankee...And by that, I mean someone from a Northern state, not a member of the evil empire that plays baseball in the Bronx..."

Bailey smiled at him. "I know...And if you do have viking blood coursing through your veins, you can pillage and plunder me any time..."

"I just may do that..."

As they continued walking and chatting, they stopped and looked around.

"Ummm..Cody?"

Cody just looked and nodded. "I know..."

Bailey quickly turned around. "I didn't know they had nude beaches here..."

Cody did the same. "Me either..."

To be Continued...

AN: Someone asked if I was doing a post Graduation story. As much as I despised that episode and think it was a slap in the face to the fans of the show, I do have a follow up planned for it. I have everything mapped out in my head, but I just haven't had time to put it to paper or word processor as it may be.