Author's Note: Well it wasn't two months now was it? lol. I've been putting off writing the last part of this chapter for like two weeks. Ask any of my friends haha. "I have to write Chapter 9 today." lol. Every day. I swear. But uhhh this chapter's not really very long (in comparison to the previous one) but Chapter 10 should be longer. Anyways this chapter's just sort of a 'gate-way' chapter. Not exactly relevant but something to move the story along. Enjoy :)

Chapter 9: Grief

Zack spent most of the weekend in his room. He left merely for meals to use the bathroom. He refused to speak to anyone, which included Carey and Cody- who seemed mildly hurt by this. They abided his wishes, however, and left him alone.

Consumed and somewhat angered by the grief Martha'd left with him, Zack spent much of his time crying and thinking. Martha had been one of his best and most cherished friends, next to Cody and Rebecca and Raine. He'd only known her for four and a half months, but the connection had been great.

He'd wanted to take her to see the track team, because of her love for running. He'd never be able to now.

Rebecca and Raine came by on Saturday. He wore his voice hoarse screaming at them to leave. And when Cody'd finally managed to shoo them away, he'd settled down for yet another long cry.

But by late Sunday afternoon, he really had started to come around. He didn't scream at Cody to go away when he came into their room to grab a video game to ease his tired mind. And he didn't lash out when their mother asked him what he'd like for dinner. He talked a bit more at the dinner table, answering a few questions about feeling better, but ignoring those about Martha and the funeral.

And so, because of this, Carey figured she could take a risk and try to get through to him; try to talk to him.

"Zack, sweetheart?" Carey asked gently as she knocked on the twins' door a short while later. Cody had met up with Raine and Rebecca at Raine's to do homework (Zack had been invited, but he wasn't exactly eager about going…) and this was her chance to talk with him without Cody interfering.

"Zack?" She called again when she received no answer the first time. He might have fallen asleep, which she didn't doubt, or he might have just been ignoring her, which she also didn't doubt. Carey hesitated before turning the knob and opening the door.

Zack wasn't sleeping. For all Carey knew he might not have been ignoring her either. He was just sitting on his bed, staring at the wall blankly. He looked a mess, with his hair going every which way and his clothes all wrinkled. Carey frowned as she walked across the room, which was messier than Zack himself, and sat down next to him. He didn't seem to notice.

"Zack?" She asked, tentatively placing her hand on his shoulder. He turned to her slowly.

She supposed she hadn't taken a real good look at him the past two days, because if she had she would've noticed the sadness in his eyes. She would've noticed that this child sitting next to her wasn't the same boy she'd known just seven months ago. This boy was broken and breaking, if that was possible.

"Zack, I…" Carey trailed off as his gaze switched to the floor, or what was visible of it anyway. Suddenly, she was at a loss for words. Everything she'd planned to say disappeared.

"Mom…" Zack broke the penetrating silence. Carey glanced over to find him speaking to the floor, "Have you ever felt like…like there's this hole in…in your heart?"

Carey nodded, more to herself than Zack. She had felt that way. He glanced up at her.

"How do you fill it?"

Carey thought for a minute before answering.

"Well…" She began, wrapping her arms fully around him, gently pulling him closer to her, "You do something to take your mind off of it. You talk about it and…you let it heal; you let it fill, slowly, over time."

Zack nodded.

"I…I had...I had plans," he said softly, staring at the wall again, "I had plans."

"Well…" Carey started after a long pause, "Maybe you should come up with some new plans."

"What d'you mean?"

"Maybe we could do something for Martha's family. Buy flowers or…" That sentence didn't get finished as Carey caught the look on her son's face.

"I'll be right back!" He cried in an almost jubilant manner as he raced from the bedroom. Carey smiled as she heard the suite door slam, "Well that went well."

"Moseby!" Zack shouted, running up to the front desk. Mr. Moseby grimaced, partly because Zack was running through his perfect lobby, and partly because he was screaming his name.

"What do you want, Zack?" He asked, keeping his eyes on the papers on the desk in front of him.

"I need the ballroom for a…party," He burst out. Moseby glanced up at him.

"What kind of party?"

"A funeral reception," Zack said softly, fighting back tears. Moseby watched him struggle for a few minutes. Carey had mentioned Martha's death to him but he hadn't realized how much it had affected the poor boy. He swallowed hard before asking,

"How do you expect to pay for this?"

Zack thought fast and replied, "I'll work for it!"

Moseby rolled his eyes. That would never happen. Sighing, he made to leave. He had work to do.

"Moseby, please!" Zack cried, grabbing the manager's sleeve. He was ready to beg if necessary.

Moseby shook his head forcefully, "I'm sorry, Zack. I can't just throw free receptions!"

He started to leave as Zack reached for his sleeve once more.

"Please Mr. Moseby. It's really really important to me. I want to do something special for her. She…she was one of my best friends," Zack pleaded, looking Moseby straight in the eye.

Moseby stared back at Zack for several minutes, two sides of his mind having a grueling debate.

"Fine," He muttered after some time had passed, "You can have your reception."

Zack watched as he stalked away. Maybe things really would get better.

Author's Note:Yeah so like I said earlier. Gate-way chapter. Nothin more to say.

Goofs:

Typed tiwed instead of tired

Spelled Martha as Marthat...again.

Spelled same as sane

Spelled it as iit

Spelled going as goiing

Typed :Giw di instead of "How do.

Until next time...

Please Review :)

Fig