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. And a few fans of older NBC/CBS television may recognize the people Maddie and Natalie are seated next to! LOL Threw them in there for fun, LOL By the way, I don't own them. And I also don't own the lyrics to 'On The Ride', that was written by Alyson and Amanda Michalka.

"Flyer's Remorse"

Maddie and Natalie stood in the line at the airport's Starbucks. Natalie was still steamed over Maddie's display in the cab, and Maddie was steamed because she didn't see the error in her ways. But Natalie was going to make her see it, even if she had to bend over backwards to do it.

Natalie stepped up to the counter, "Can I get a Grande Java Chip, a Vendi Latté , extra foam. Three blueberry muffins, a strawberry scone, and a caramel macchiato. Please."

"And your name?" the lady behind the counter asked, processing her order.

"Natalie."

"Alright, Natalie, that'll be twenty two seventy five."

"Okay," Natalie reaches into her handbag and takes out a light blue leather Dolce & Gabana wallet. Maddie's eyes widen, then yanks up her purse and rummages through it, then sighs. Natalie has her wallet.

Natalie takes out a twenty, two one's, and three quarters. Then zips it and returns it to her handbag. Maddie returns to searching her purse, and she comes upon a bright pink leather Roxy wallet.

"Well, she's clever, but she's not to bright," Maddie thinks as she smiles at the wallet.

Nat had taken Maddie's wallet, but instead of keeping her own, she switched the two. Maddie checked inside it to make sure she hadn't switched the contents, but she hadn't. Her Washington Middle School Identification was visible through the plastic window. With Natalie smiling away in the photograph on it, and FITZPATRICK, NATALIE M. printed next to it.

Natalie collected her three coffees intending to drink them all, and her bag of snack goods, and sat down at a table with them. Maddie eyed her, as she stepped up to the counter herself, order one of everything inside the scone window, two of some of them. And about twelve espresso shots in every coffee. She got two double tall Latté s, and one caramel macchiato.

"That'll be thirty two twenty seven. And your name?" the lady said.

"Maddie." she said, as she took out Natalie's wallet.

"Hey! I earned that money walking Mrs. Lewis' demon dog!" Natalie says.
"And I earned that money listening to Mrs. Camden hound me about everything I do day in and day out." she smiles, "Therefore, your crime was more malicious, my love."

Natalie scoffs, as she rolls her eyes. Maddie collects her now restaurant of assorted scones, and sits at a table next to Natalie. They ignore each other as they consume mass amounts of coffee.

They sit there in silence until two of the three coffees of Maddie's were consumed, and two and a half of the coffees of Natalie's were consumed when Maddie stood up, and said, "I think we should sit by the terminal, it's almost time for us to start boarding.

Natalie doesn't answer or even look up.

"You don't have to acknowledge it, just know I'll leave without you, and you'll have to find your own way back home and care until I get back in seven days."

That gets her attention, she doesn't jump up, but she does go with Maddie, taking her remaining scones, and the rest of her Latté with her.

The two of them walk along in silence as they reach the terminal, they sit down in chairs with one in between them.

"Okay, I know we're having a thing right now and you hate me, but will you at least talk to me." Maddie says.
"No." Natalie answers.

"Why not? Look, I'm sorry I was talking to the cab driver, and I'm sorry that I get all freaky twlightzoney when ever your Dad comes up in conversation, but come on."

"Look, I'm more mad at myself, and I'm taking it out on you." Natalie says.

"Why?"

"Because, look, you were thinking about 'y'knowing' with the cab driver, and I can't help but think it's my fault."

"Natalie, child, WHY do you feel this constant need to blame yourself for everything that happens? Trust me, you had nothing to do with that."

"Well, you can't get over Dad because you have me— "

"Ah-ah-ah, I can't get over your Dad because something keeps telling me things should've worked between us, plus, no other guys appeal to me right now,"

"Mom, you said yourself, half the guys smarter and better looking than the cab driver don't want to date you 'cause your twenty-nine and have an eleven year old!"

"Honey, that's there loss, and again, not your fault."

"Mom! I'm the eleven year old that keeps them away! Sounds like my fault to me!"
"Natalie! No, if they can't accept everything, every weird idiosyncrasy like I can't eat margarine, or that lawn gnomes freak me out, or after watching a scary movie, I can't sleep by myself. Or— "

"Really tall people in heels scare you." Natalie says with a smile.

Maddie shudders, "Yeah. If they can't accept my insane rich snob of a mother, the fact I like to eat soup through a straw, and my sweetheart best friend, then they aren't worth it."
"But— "

"Ah-ah! No but's. There's no questions or conjunctions involved here."

Natalie nods, "Did…did Dad accept all of that?"

"Lent me his straw once."

Natalie tilts her head and smiles, "Mom why'd you— "

"Let him go? I have no idea."

"But you two— "

"I know we were good together, but Natalie…he wasn't ready to be a father, and forcing him to take responsibility would have been…just dream shattering."

"It wasn't dream shattering for you."

"I know, but…Honey, he and I are very different."

"Am I like him?"

"Well…you have his smile…and his eyes. You also have his personality,"

"Really?"

"Mmhmm," Maddie nods, "In a way, once I got past the water obsession, I…think I loved him…"

"AHHHHHHHHH!" Natalie shrieks excitedly and jumps up. Various people sitting near them turn and stare at her, "Sorry." she says casually, and sits down.

"You LOVED him! Really!"

"Yes…"

"Wow…then why…why did you leave?"

"Nat, I just told you,"

"Okay…well…did he love you?"
"He said so…"

"OhmyGOSH!"

"Shhh…relax…"

"Mom! This is huge! I can't believe it!"
"Well, don't believe it quietly, people are staring."

"Oh, sorry."

"FLIGHT 272 TO BOSTON, MASS. FLIGHT 272 BOSTON, MASS. APPROACH THE GATE." came blaring on a speaker.

"That's us." Maddie says.

"Off to see London, Cody, Zack, and Dad!"

"Yes, now let's go before the plane leaves without us!"

They head onto the boarding ramp and head into the plane.

"Where's your seat?" Natalie asks her mother while struggling with a massive suitcase.

"21A, where's yours?" Maddie replies.

"22F."

"So we're no where near each other."
"Doesn't look like it."

"Aw, Man! I just knew something like this was going to happen!"

"I'll wave to you from the F's."

"Okay, come and talk to me when you can,"

"Sure."

They separate and wave to each other from their seats, Maddie sits down next to a very pale, dark haired woman in a suit.

"Hello."

The woman glances sideways from her book at Maddie. She gives her the once over sideways, then says primly, "Hello."

"I'm Maddie." Maddie says.

"Lillith, Dr. Lillith Sternan-Crane, if you're going to be formal."
"Alright then, Miss Madeline Fitzpatrick, if you're going to be formal." Maddie laughs.

Lillith smiles partially, then turns back to her book.

"So, why are you headed to Boston?"

"I live there."

"Oh, and what were you doing in L.A.?"

"It was a stop from Seattle, I was visiting my ex-husband."

"Huh…I used to live in Boston,"

"Oh really?" she asks, even though she sounds completely uninterested.

"Yeah, I moved out here 'cause I had a baby."

"Really?" again, not a hint of interest in her voice.

"Yes, she's sitting back there actually."

"You didn't want to sit with her?"

"No, I did, I just didn't get to."

"Oh."

Maddie pretty much gave up after that, this woman was just not that friendly. Meanwhile, Natalie sat down next to an older woman with dark grey hair, she had on a loose matching pants and shirt, and she was intently reading 'Education, Monthly.'

"Hi." Natalie says.

"Well, hello." The woman says with a smile.

"You headed to Boston?"

"Yes, my daughter has a new house her and I'm going to see it."

"Really? My mom moved away from here a long time ago and we're going back to because a friend— er— two friends are engaged."

"Oh how exciting!"

"Yeah, it's gonna be cool to see all the people she was friends with when she was a kid,"

"Oh yes, that's always fun. Oh, my how terribly rude of me, I'm Dorothy Zbornack." the woman says putting out her hand.

"I'm Natalie Fitzpatrick,"

"Fitzpatrick? Do you work at 'Camden, Louis, Reynolds, & Fitzpatrick'?"

"No, my Mom does."

"Ah! I can't believe it! I love their designs!"

"Yeah, my mom's really great at designing, she stops to draw clothes designs at the weirdest times, like once, we were at the bank, and she just started drawing, it was kinda hilarious."

"Oh, she sounds interesting."

"She is."

"And Madeline's her name?"

"Yes, well, Maddie."

"Ah-ha,"

Natalie laughs, she liked Dorothy. However, Maddie did not like Lillith.

"So…" Maddie says.

"Y'know, Maddie, I think we would get along a lot better if we were very quiet," she holds an index finger up to her lips, "Shhh…"

Maddie sneers, and turns to mouth, "HELP!" to Natalie. Of course, Natalie interprets it immediately and shrugs, while she mouths, "I'm Sorry!" Maddie shakes her head and scoffs as she mouths again, "Who are you sitting next to?" Natalie smiles as she mouths back, "Dorothy Zbornack, she's SO nice." Maddie pulls a face, like, "NOT fair," and turns back around.

Natalie rolls her eyes with a smile, as Dorothy laughs.

"What?"

"Who was that? You two like read each other's minds, I had no idea what you were even saying!"

"Yeah, we do. It's weird, it's like, we don't have to try to think the same thoughts, it's kinda like we just have a way of knowing everything's gonna be okay, we laugh until we cry, read each other's minds, live with a smile, make it all worth while. Because, life has moments, that are hard to describe, where you're feeling great and feeling alive, like you're never coming down from this mountain you're on, because the view is so clear and it's crazy up there because life is amazing with her on the ride."

"Oh…like the ride of the roller coaster of life? That's really beautiful."

"Thanks. It's a song I've been working on."

"Oh, can I hear it?"

"Sure, but it might sound a little off without any music, but I'll try…okay." she clears her throat, and begins singing, "We don't have to try To think the same thoughts We just have a way Of knowing everything's gonna be okay We'll laugh 'til we cry Read each others minds Live with a smile Make it all worthwhile Make it all worthwhile Life has moments hard to describe Feeling great and feeling alive Never coming down from this Mountain we're on Always knowing we're gonna be fine Feeling great and feeling alive Never coming down from this Mountain were on The view is so clear And it's crazy up here Life is amazing with you on the ride We don't wanna sleep Just wanna stay up There's so much to say And not enough hours in the day We'll laugh 'til we cry Read each others minds Live with a smile Make it all worthwhile Make it all worthwhile Life has moments hard to describe Feeling great and feeling alive Never coming down from this Mountain we're on Always knowing we're gonna be fine Feeling great and feeling alive Never coming down from this Mountain were on The view is so clear And it's crazy up here Life is amazing with you on the ride Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, No time to be lazy The journey is perfect The place is so crazy The race is so worth it I will be with you We'll do this together Always together Life has moments hard to describe Feeling great and feeling alive Never coming down from this Mountain we're on Mountain we're on Always knowing we're gonna be fine Feeling great and feeling alive Never coming down from this Never comin' down Never comin' down Never comin' down from this Always knowing were gonna be fine

Feeling great and feeling alive Never coming down from this Mountain were on Never coming down from this The views so clear and it's crazy up here Life is amazing with you on the ride The pace so is crazy The race is so worth it Life is amazing with you on the ride."

Dorothy applauds, "That was beautiful!"

"Thanks, I want to sing it to her if the wedding has entertainment!" Natalie laughs.

"Oh I'm sure you'd blow them all away! You have a lovely voice!"
"Thank-you. So does my mom,"
Maddie quickly got bored with Lillith, and decided a nap wouldn't hurt. She leaned her chair back a little and quickly dosed off. Her dream, however, was a tad disturbing.

All was dark, and what light could be seen was a window, so from where she was, was outside. All she could hear was screaming, but not suffering screaming, then came Lance's name, it was what was being screamed, then there was the sound of something banging against the wall, how odd…Maddie then heard her own name yelled, but by a male's voice. Maddie awoke abruptly when Lillith said, "Excuse me…?"

"Hm! What? Oh," she said when she realized she was resting her head on Lillith's shoulder, she jerked it up, and apologized.

"It's okay, disturbing dream? You were cringing."

"A little."
Maddie knew what was going on in the dream, that was when Natalie was conceived, but why was she dreaming about it? She hadn't thought about it in eleven years! She decided it was because she was going back to all of these old thoughts, fears, and wants that it was just all overwhelming.

Or at least, she hoped.

After many more doses off, and weird dreams of events from the past, the plane finally landed.

"Hallelujah! I never thought that would end!" Maddie says, she thought to Natalie as she collected her handbag and headed toward the boarding ramp.

"Alright, Dorothy, I have you're number, and e-mail and you have mine, we've gotta keep in touch. Have fun at your daughter's!" Natalie says to Dorothy.

"Absolutely, and thank you I will, have fun celebrating the engagement," Dorothy replies as they hugged goodbye.

"Thanks! Talk to you soon!" Natalie says

"Nat! Sounds like you had a nice flight,"

"Oh yeah! It was a blast! Oh! Dorothy, meet my mom. Mom this is Dorothy Zbornack, Dorothy, this is my mom, Maddie Fitzpatrick."

"Hi, nice to meet you," Maddie says shaking her hand.

"Oh my…the pleasure is all mine, Maddie Fitzpatrick, I cannot believe this!"

Maddie laughs, "It's really Ms. Camden that carries the business I just look better than she does."

"That's really true," Natalie says

"Well, it was nice meeting you, we better get going," Maddie says.

"Indeed, do have a great time celebrating your friend's engagement," Dorothy said

"Oh thank-you. And…I have no idea why you're in Boston, but enjoy the scenery,"

"I will, than-you,"

They all file off the plane and toward baggage claim.

"That flight was so much fun!" Natalie exclaims as they watch their luggage spin around on a conveyer belt.

"Ha! Maybe sitting where you were! I had a definite case of 'Flyer's remorse.'" Maddie says

Natalie laughs, "Who were you sitting next to, anyway?"
"This massively pale chick who was not a nice person."

Natalie laughs again, "Huh…"

"That Dorothy woman seemed very nice,"

"Oh she was! I've never had a Grandma, but if I did, I bet she'd be like her."

"Oh, you'll meet your grandmother, but I don't think you're gonna like her…"

"Why not?"

"Because. She's not a real…kind soul."

"Really?"

"Yeah, she's one of those Country Club dwellers who only care how much Gin is in their Martini, and which fake blonde is involved in the best scandal."

"Ouch…"

"Yup, starting to see why I left…?"
"A little."

"So please, don't get your hopes up that she's going to be this great human being, because chances are, she hasn't changed at all."

Natalie looks down as she nods, she was a little disappointed, she really wanted to have a good relationship with her grandmother, unlike the one Maddie had with her. She hoped and prayed that her grandmother would like her.

"So…if she doesn't like me, it's not about me?" Natalie asks as she yanks her suitcase off the conveyer belt.

"Right." Maddie says doing the same.

"Okay." Natalie smiles as she and Maddie head for the door.

They link arms as they walk.

"Boston, brace yourself for the Fitzpatrick Girls!" Maddie says as they head out the door and onto Boston ground.

A/N: Okay, I am aware the last thing on Maddie's mother's mind is the country club, but having her mom be a snob that likes country clubs is a lot easier to write why she left, and everything than if she were nice…lol So the next Tipton chapter is comin' up!

Regards,

Britannia