Title: My Favorite Mistake

Author: Britannia Eitwards

Summary: Madeline "Maddie" Fitzpatrick, and Lance the pool guy we're an item, then broke up, then London spread a rumor they got back together, which wasn't true, but Maddie's senior year she changed her mind about Lance, and later ended up with Natalie. She never told Lance Nat was his, she insisted she didn't know who it was. Eleven years later, after Maddie fled Boston, word of London's engagement, to someone surprising, sends Maddie and Natalie back to Boston for a week of wedding plans, reunions, and of course, insured Tipton chaos.

Rating: T

Disclaimer: I don't own The Suite Life Of Zack and Cody, though I wish I did. The title comes from the song: 'My Favorite Mistake,' by Sheryl Crow. I also do not own Starbucks, (I wish I did, I be sooooo rich) Frappaccino (best drinks ever, I wish I got credit for making those fabulous things part of the world!), or Starbucks' drink, 'Java chip,' my personal fave, again, wished I owned it!

"Always Somethin' There To Remind Me"

"When exactly is the wedding?" Natalie asks, as she's helping Maddie set the table for the two of them.

"Uh…" Maddie says, picking up the invitation for reference, "Three…months."

"Aw…" Natalie whines.

"Don't worry, they're engaged, and you know Cody, always has to have things prepared in advance."

"Yeah, but three months is a bit much…"

"Yeah…"

"So basically we're going to celebrate the engagement, then?"
"Yep."

"When?"

"Monday, they want us on a plane and flying fifty some miles for seven hours across the U.S. to Boston."

"I can't picture you an East Coast girl…"

"Yeah, well, that's why I became a West Coast girl."

"Seriously, is Pasadena where you imagined living when you worked in the hotel?"
"No. I imagined living across the street from Fenway Park."

"But you grew up across the street from Fenway— ohhh…"

"But it's okay, I'd rather be here with you than there with them."

"Really?"

"Um-hum."

"Mom…?"

"Yes, My Lovely." Maddie said as she began pouring water into two glasses.

"Are you ever gonna tell me about my dad?"

Maddie's hand slipped, resulting in spilling water everywhere, "Oh my God!"
"That was my bad…I shouldn't've asked," Natalie said jumping up to get a towel.

"No, no, it's alright that you asked, I just don't know what to give as answer. Because I've always been one-hundred percent honest with you, and now…I don't want to be…"
"Did he like…well, did he…I mean did…were you…okay, you knew him right?"

There was a long silence, and Natalie was dying of suspense.

"Well…"

"Okay, here's where a lie I told him, and the truth are going to collide, see, I don't want to say anything, because if you happen to see him— "

"If I happen to see him? What! You…you mean he might be there when we go to the Tipton?" Natalie asked, both excited and nervous.

"Possibly…"

"OH MY GODDDDD!" She screeched excitedly, "I can't believe it!"

"Nat…you can't act like he's your dad…"

"Why…" she asked, her expression immediately changing.

"Because…he doesn't know you're his…"
"You didn't tell him?"
"No."

"But…but…why not?"

"Because…I thought we'd be better off if he didn't know, he wanted to name his first child Chlorine, Nat. I think the decision was unanimous."

"But he still should've known. I mean come on, if it were me, I would wanna know if I had a kid in Pasadena!"

"Well, yeah, okay, I should've told him, but come on, Nat, he wasn't exactly…I mean…he didn't…he…"

"What…?"

"His intelligence level…was of an insect."

A horrible gasp comes from Natalie, "What!"

"I know! And I thank the Lord every day that you got my brains,"

"Wow Mom…me too!"
They hug, as Maddie's wondering how Natalie can go from being gaspy and upset one minute, to happy and hugging the next. That was definitely Lance.

They went about the rest of the evening normally, and before they knew it, it was Monday, and time for them to go back to Boston. Although Natalie couldn't have been more excited, Maddie was secretly dreading it. These were all the people she'd ran from as fast as she could eleven years ago, she couldn't believe she was actually going back voluntarily.

Maddie decided she wouldn't let Natalie know she didn't want to go back to Boston as she headed into the living room that morning. She found her daughter sitting on top of her suitcase, totally decked out in Diva travel wear.

"Geez, Nat, I know I said be sure you're ready by six, but it's only four thirty…how long have you been up?"

Natalie didn't give her answer, she sat there, with her chin in her hands, which were rested on her knees, silent.

"Uh…Nat!" Maddie said again, "Natalie!" this time, she walked over to her and removed her daughter's sunglasses, and as she suspected, she was asleep.

Maddie laughed lightly as she gently tapped her daughter.

"What…?" Natalie asked

"Honey, you fell asleep on your suitcase."

"Huh? No I didn't…"

"Yeah you did. Honey, we leave at six fifteen, it's four thirty, how long have you been up?"

"I dunno…two…"

"Nat…good thing we're flying really far, at least you can sleep on the plane."
"Yeah."

"Do you want anything?"

"Coffee!"

"You don't drink coffee."

"Yes…I drink 'ccino,"

"Oh, of course, there's one in the fridge."

"'Kay. I need like four." She said as she got her Frappaccino out of the refrigerator.

Maddie laughed, "Sorry, there's only one, I'll get you a caff fix at the airport, 'kay?"

"'Kay. Does Boston have a Starbucks?"

"Of course."

"Great, I can't live without Java Chips…"

"Girlie, I don't think any of us could!"

They both laugh at that, as Natalie downs about half of her Frappacinno.

"Whoa, slow down. It's not going anywhere."

"Yeah, but we are, and I need caffeine!"

"Wow, I have an eleven year old with a caffeine addiction, the Walton's would be furious."

Natalie just rolls her eyes and shakes her head with a laugh, she was very used to her mother's interesting sense of humor.

"So, y'think London'll like me?"

"Are you kidding? They'll all love you."

"You sure?"

"Yeah. Trust me My Lovely, everyone will see you as the fabulous, amazing, and well mannered kid I know's in there somewhere," she said with a laugh.

"Hey!"

"Kidding, kidding."

"Ha ha. Hey, are we staying in the Tipton?"

"Yeah."

"Really? Are Cody and London staying there?"
"Probably…"

"Cool, cool. Hey, how did London know our address?"

"I don't know…she probably had a comprehensive search done and someone follow me."

"Ugh!" Natalie shuddered, "Freaky."

"Well, that's London. Are you hungry?"

"No…not really,"

"You will be by the time we get to the airport, I mean, you're probably still digesting dinner."

"Yeah. Hey, when you came into the living room all ready and stuff, and woke me up, if we weren't 'sposed to be ready 'til six why were you coming out here?"

Uh-oh, busted.

"Because…" she pauses, "I was…"

"Nervous about Boston? Come on Mom, you can't keep stuff from me."

"Okay, fine I admit it."

"There ya go."

"I'm so nervous about going back, I mean I left all these people because of stigma, and of course, people looking at me like I'm the biggest social disaster there ever was, I mean, Pasadena was a new start, no one knew us, and despite I was eighteen and had a newborn, the people here treated me like I was worth listening to, unlike everyone else in Boston did. And, I'm just afraid everyone's going to think I've gotten nowhere."

"But you have gotten somewhere. Somewhere great, you're successful, we have money, and we live in the swanky side of Pasadena, like there is another side, but…Mom, as long as it's facts, and you know you've come far, that's all that matters."

"Thanks, Sweetie. But, look, if we go back…and what if Lance sees you? And sees me, and everything just…falls apart, and I run out of there like I did back then…"

"Mom, you're not gonna run out. 'Kay? I know you better than anyone, and I know you want to show those people up, and tell 'em they can't call Madeline Margaret Genevieve Catherine Fitzpatrick a social disaster because she's in the Fashion Industry, makes a ton of money, and lives in Pasadena."
"What did I do to deserve a daughter as great as you?"

"What did I do to deserve a mom as great as you?" Natalie said

"I love you, Nat." she said as she hugged her daughter.

"Love you too, Mom."

When they pulled back, Natalie asked, "So…are ya still nervous?"

"A little."

"Good, we improved. And a little nervous is good."

Maddie smiled and shook her head, "Good."

"Maybe we could hit the road a little early…give us some time to Starbucks it before we board…"

"And we can eat…I'd kill for a cinnamon bun…"

"Great let's hit it."

"Wait…it's five o'clock, we have to leave at six, and I don't think anything is open at five or even at six."

"Stuff in the airport is…"

"Yes, but we can't leave before six."

"Why not…?"

"Because, it's against social order, have I taught you nothing?"

"Social order? Have you switched bodies with Emily Gilmore?"

"Ha ha, very funny."

"Come on…I need more coffee,"

"You finished that entire Frappaccino?"

Natalie held up the empty bottle a jingled it around.

"Nice. Well, we can't leave until six."

"Five thirty, come on."

"Six."

"Five forty five."

"Six."

"Five fifty."

"Six."

"Five fifty five."

"Five fifty five."

"Five forty five."

"Six."

"Five fifty."

"Five fifty."

"Five forty five."

"Five fifty five."

"Five forty five."

"Fine. Five forty five."

"Five forty five?"

"Five forty five. Deal."
"Ye-essssssssssss!"

"You're so strange." Maddie said, with a good humored tone.

A/N: Kay: ) what did everyone think? Next chapter very soon!

Regards,

Britannia