Chapter 14

Reconciliation

Claire awoke, the early morning light was filtering in through the venician blinds in the hotel window. Josh and Megan were soundly sleeping in the bed across from her. Drake's was awake next to her, contently watching her breath. It was enough for him to know that she was here, safe for another day.

She turned over to see him awake, watching her. She smiled, he smiled too. He kissed her, sustaining the need for now.

"Would you two stop with the PDA already?" Josh joked as he got up. Drake and Claire just smiled and kissed again. Josh laughed too.

"I'm going to take a shower." Claire stated as she got up out of the bed. She'd fallen asleep in her clothes, so had Drake.

Claire gathered her things and headed into the bathroom. The sound of the falling water was all that filled the room.

"You love her don't you?" Josh questioned sitting on the bed next to his brother.

"Yeah. I really do." Drake admited. It gave him a good feeling to say it.

"Can you believe we're in L.A. All of us?" Josh asked, sighing.

"Yeah, this past year has been so crazy. I should have seen this comming." Drake laughed slightly.

"It has. Hey, it's our last summer ever." Josh reminded his brother. Drake didn't need it, this was his last summer without a permanent responsibility.

"mmm..."

"Where has it all gone?"

"No idea, soon we'll be adults." Drake added. That pending transition from adolescence to adutlhood was nearing that corner fast. In the next 6 months Drake would ascend that ladder to almost peak maturity, if he hadn't already done so yet.

"Yeah...What do you think we'll be doing in ten years?" Josh asked. "I want to be a doctor." Josh stated sticking his chest out. Drake couldn't help but notice how much weight his brother had lost.

"Why be a doctor?"

"Because you get to help people. They were the people who tried to save Mindy." Josh whispered, a breif wave of depression washed over him.

"oh. I want to be a rock star." Drake muttered.

"We all know that Drake." Josh said as he gently punched his brothers arm. "And to be honest, I'd beat you up if you didn't at least try." Josh threatened jokingly. Drake just smiled.

"You honestly think I'm that good?" Drake asked weary of his own talent.

"Drake, you've won the talent show three years in a row. That's talent." Josh stated.

"You helped me win that last one." Drake said solomnly

"But Drake, you're amazing." Josh told his brother. "Well you think about that one, I'm going to see if Mom and Dad are awake." Josh left the room. His mom, dad, and Mrs. Johnson sitting there sipping on coffee.

"Hey." Josh said as he sat down at the desk.

"Josh, we're going to go eat breakfast in a few minutes. Everyone ready? Megan up?" Audrey questioned her step son.

"Claire's in the shower, but Drake's up. Want me to go get Megan up?"

"Sure, tell them we'll be leaving in 15 minutes and to dress for walking, we're going to spend a few days in the city." She informed Josh.

"Will do. Drake you hear that?" Josh asked walking into the room. Josh grabbed a pair of jeans out of his duffle and grabbed a short sleeved black tee and a track jacket. He quickly dressed while Claire was still in the bathroom. He sat down and pulled on his tennis shoes. Josh had changed a lot too. He'd grown out of his shell and he'd also dropped a 150 lbs, which was an amazing task. After Mindy's death he just felt the need to do something and instead of taking his greif out in eating, he worked out. He devoted the rest of his time here making himself feel better. He thanked Mindy for that. He looked over at his brother who was also pulling on his shoes.

Josh knew that Drake was a man of few words, but the words that came out in due time were always meaningfull. Drake was like that, sort of the silent, yet rambunctious type. He lived vicariously through his music, his music, his guitar was his sole and Josh knew better than to second judge whatever Drake told him. Drake was that kind of person that would tell you something only when he a) trusted you b) felt it was time. Josh respected it. Both the boys had grown up over this past year, leaving their antics of Marrying foreign girls, making bets about who could give up junk food and video games the longest, driving dune buggys when they weren't allowed, fighting over stupid foam fingers, and using the other for their own benifits.

Claire walked out of the bathroom to see the two boys sitting down in silence.

"Claire, we're spending the day in L.A. wear comfortable clothing." Drake said as he went over to wake Megan up.

"Megan." He said softly as he shook her awake.

"What do you want you boob?" She questioned as she rolled over away from him.

"Mom wants you to wake up and get dressed. We're spending the day in L.A." Drake told his sister. He got up and pulled out a pair of her pants and a short sleeved shirt and sweater for her. He laid them down next to the bed. Megan'd had a long night and Drake was hungry anyway. Megan walked into the bathroom and got dressed quickly. Claire smiled, Drake had just proven that he was father material by being the nice older brother to Megan. If that's what she had to look foward too, she was glad.

"Let's go." Mrs. Parker yelled as the whole gang congregated in the one room. "Everyone here?" She asked as she got nods of approval.

They all ate breakfast at an IHOP right next to the beach. Audrey was never a big fan of hotel breakfasts anyway. For one moment everyone at the table was content, for one moment nothing could go wrong, nothing seemed impossilbe, for once everyone was happy, healthy, and there weren't any fears, regrets, or shame. The sun rose higher, it was going to be a beautiful day in L.A.

After breakfast they all walked down the streets, looking at the little boutiques, the thrift stores, the big chains. Claire and Drake walked hand in hand, so did Audrey and Walter, Josh carried Megan on his shoulders, Abbie walked alone, but not out of the group.

"How about we all stop here and get something?" Audrey said as she pointed out a little gift shop. "We can all get a shirt or something." She stated as she handed everyone a $20. "It's on me. Don't worry." She said as she met Abbies gaze. The two women shared simillarities. Both had this unspoken acceptance of the other and an understanding of their childrens love.

They each picked out something and went to the beach to relax. Claire's mother bought her a swim suit and Walter bought everyone in his clan one. Claire and Josh were looking for seashells with Megan. Both starting a deep friendship in the process. Drake hung back on the beach. Never one to like the water much. Audrey and Walter went to go get lunch for everyone, Mrs. Johnson stayed back on the beach, left with Drake.

"Just so you know Drake, I appreciate what you've done for my daughter." Mrs. Johnson said as she turned towards Drake who was digging his toes in the sand.

"What do you mean?" He asked. There was a lot he'd done for Claire, he didn't know what she ment.

"I mean, being here for her now. Drake I'm not sure if you realize what kind of impact you've had on her. You're her world, don't go breaking her heart now. She needs you." She said turing serious, giving Drake that don't-mess-with-me mother look.

"I don't plan on it. Ever." Drake said back in all seriousness.

"Good. You two will make it. You've got two support systems to fall back on. That's what your parents and I talked about this morning while you were sleeping. I'm sorry Claire's father jumped to conclusions. Sorry he did what he did." She appologized.

"Thank you." was all Drake managed to say.

He watched as the waves rolled on the sand, the sun high in the sky. This was the city where dreams were made, where dreams and lives were shattered. He didn't want anyone to become the Hollywood girl in his song. He didn't want to be the one to stop believing in believing.

Hate to tell you all that the end is near...but Christmas vaca...actually Thanksgiving Vaca. is comming up...so maybe I'll try my hand at another fic...but to warn you...this is prolly my bestest one EVER...so um...yeah. Maybe I'll do a sequel type thing...but that'd be hard...really hard...but um...I'll try. Expect like 5 maybe 6 more chapters at the most. Sorry if this one doesn't seem very interesting... I'm in the midsts of a transistion thing.

-Mo