A/N: Happy Late Thanksgiving! I bet you all are so thankful that I decided to update this story! I know I was excited because I really got into these last few chapters with the help of my awesome friend Betsy. I know there are some of you are going to be quite sad though…there are only 4 more chapters left that I have to write and I'm not spoiling the ending for ANYONE. I'm going to save my big speech until the end because I know I'm going to cry when Chapter 25 is written.

A/N: WOW I can't believe that I have over 158 reviews! It seems only like yesterday that getting like 5 reviews in one day was a miracle. I can't believe how many people like this story. I still can't believe I get people e-mailing me all the time to tell me that I didn't write enough LOL!

A/N: I love reviews...heck I love reviews more than I love George Stults (well ok that's a lie). I'll accept any flames as long as they are nice flames (no making fun, mocking etc unless its in a nice form) I'm always able to take criticism as writer because the only way I can become a stronger, better writer is from your opinions!

A/N: Read the disclaimer on the front chapter and u will understand why I'm not rich and why The WB is!

Kevin groaned from his seat in the taxi that he was sharing with Lucy.

Lucy turned her head "What's wrong?"

"I think we have a problem" he told her.

Lucy scrunched up her nose "What kind of problem? Besides that both of our siblings left us in the restaurant?" she laughed.

Kevin kind of chucked but looked real serious "I mean it Lucy we have a problem…we still have to tell our parents…you know the ones that don't want us together?"

Lucy sunk back into the seat of the taxi cab "Eww…your right. How come I never thought of that?" she moaned. "What is my dad going to say? Oh he's so gonna kill me!"

Kevin glared at her "Kill you? I don't think so he'll kill me instead saying that I was the older one and should have known better" he exclaimed.

Lucy groaned out loud "What are we going to do?"

Kevin shrugged his shoulders "I don't know about you but I say we just tell them the truth and if they don't like it…oh well"

A small smile started to creep on Lucy's face "I think that's a brilliant idea!" she exclaimed as the taxi came to a halt in front of the hotel.

Eric's reading was interrupted by the sounds of the telephone. He looked up from his magazine, and leaning over, picked up the receiver. "Hello?"

"Hi dad!"

"Hi Luce!" Eric smiled at the sound of his daughter's voice. "How's Buffalo? How's Mary? How's the mall?"

"Buffalo's fine, Mary is evil, we didn't go to the mall, and I'm dating Kevin."

Eric blinked. "What?"

He heard Lucy take a deep breath. "Dad, look, it's a long story, and I'll tell you and mom all about it when I come home. But I'm in love with Kevin, and there's nothing you guys can say that's going to change my mind. I'm not a kid anymore. I have my whole life ahead of me, and I know who I want to spend it with."

"Luce..." Eric swallowed. Part of him wanted to tell Lucy that she was too young for Kevin. But as Eric sat there, the seconds seeming to crawl by at a snail's pace, he realized something: Lucy wasn't his little girl anymore. She was a grown woman. She and Kevin had gone through so much over the last few years; maybe they were finally going to get it right.

Eric smiled as another thought occurred to him: he would never have to listen to Lucy complain about Kevin again. Nor, for that matter, would he ever have to listen to Mary complain about Lucy complaining about Kevin again.

Eric's smile turned into a grin. What had he been thinking all these years? His daughter was in love, and this time it was for real.

Suddenly, Eric felt like he could dance for joy. "I'll have to speak to Kevin at some point, but I approve. I'm happy for you."

Lucy squealed into the phone. "Thank you thank you thank you! Ok dad, I have to go. Tell mom I love her. Bye!"

Eric heard the click at the other end of the line. Jumping out of the chair, he muttered a quick "thank you" towards the ceiling and dashed off to find Annie and tell her the good news as well.

Robbie had seen a lot of odd things in his life. Matt's bizarre taste in Hello Kitty decor. Mary and Lucy's beauty rituals. And his ex-girlfriend's bizarre troll collection. But the sight he saw upon entering the Camden kitchen trumped them all.

Eric and Annie were actually doing a jig around the kitchen island. Occasionally, one of them would stop and shout for pure glee.

Robbie hesitantly walked forward. "Um... Mr. Camden? Mrs. Camden? What's going on?"

Eric momentarily stopped jigging. "Robbie! It's finally happened! Lucy and Kevin are together!"

Eric hugged Robbie so enthusiastically that Robbie was actually lifted off the ground, and then went to rejoin Annie, who was now cha-chinging by the sink.

Robbie shrugged, and went to help himself to some leftover pizza.

As he left the kitchen, Annie called after him. "Robbie! Aren't you excited?"

Robbie shrugged, and shoved an entire slice of pizza into his mouth. "I fought the vere albeddy togeter."

He swallowed, and stared back at Annie. "You mean they weren't always dating?" Annie just shook her head pitifully.

Robbie shrugged again, and headed upstairs. Lucy and Kevin had just gotten together? And people said he was stupid.

Lucy hung up the phone, and spinning around launched herself into Kevin's arms. "They approved!" she squealed happily.

Kevin grinned, and lifted her off the ground. They looked into each other's eyes, seeing nothing but pure joy reflected. Just as they leaned in for a kiss, they were interrupted by a knocking on the door. Kevin groaned.

Setting Lucy down, he turned and walked over to the door of the hotel room where she had chosen to make her phone calls. Opening the door, he found Ben and Mary standing on the other side. They both walked in, and sat down on the bed.

"Come right in, why don't you," muttered Kevin, shutting the door behind them.

Lucy rolled her eyes. "Why are you guys here?"

"Cause we're hungry," Mary replied, grabbing Lucy's room service menu and beginning to leaf through it.

Ben, meanwhile, had stretched out on the bed and had propped his head up on Mary's lap.

Kevin sighed. "You're hungry?"

"Yep," said Mary, still staring at the menu. "I'm surprised you guys aren't starved, considering we didn't actually eat at the restaurant."

Kevin smiled at Lucy. "I didn't even notice," he said softly.

Lucy returned his smile. "Me neither."

"Well, we did," said Ben, once again interrupting the moment. "And I want some food. Like a pizza. Pizza is good..." Ben trailed off and closed his eyes.

Kevin walked towards his brother, frowning. "Are you drunk?"

Ben laughed. "Whoa, there, Officer Kevin. You're off duty, and I'm of legal age."

Kevin glared. "Out of our room. Now."

Mary grinned as she gently nudged Ben's head out of her way so she could stand up. "Oh, so it's 'our' room now?"

Lucy walked over and began to physically shove her sister towards the door. "Out. Now."

"Fine, fine," said Mary, who Lucy noticed was stumbling slightly. "Come on, Ben." Mary grabbed Ben's hand and pulled him towards the door

"But if you two get hungry, don't expect us to share --" Mary was cut off by Kevin shoving Mary and Ben into her room and shutting the door.

He clicked the lock before turning back to Lucy and smiled.

"Alright. I told my parents. Now it's your turn. Call your mom." Lucy picked up the receiver and held it towards Kevin.

Kevin approached her. "Well, I could call my mom. Or..." Kevin leaned down and kissed her.

Lucy kissed him back for a moment, but then pulled away. "Uh uh. Call your mom first." She grinned and stuck out her tongue at him.

"Fine, fine," Kevin grumbled, and dialed his house. The phone rang twice before Karen answered.

"Hello?"

"Hi mom."

"Hi honey! I'm so glad you called! I have some great news!"

"Mom, I have something to --" Kevin blinked, suddenly realizing what his mother had said.

"Huh?"

"Ok. Out of all the houses you looked at, which one was your favorite?"

Kevin frowned. "Um... the one on Lafayette Street. Remember, I told you about the nice backyard, and how I could install a patio on it."

"Well, honey, somebody put in a high bid on that house." Kevin felt his stomach drop.

"Mom, how is that great news? I really wanted that one. I thought that in that house..." Kevin trailed off. When he thought of that house, he could picture him and Lucy wrapped up in each other's arms on the front porch, while their children played in the front yard.

"I just really wanted it."

"Kevin!" His mom was laughing, which annoyed Kevin. He didn't really see anything funny about the situation.

"Kevin, you're as dense as Ben tonight! You had the high bid! You got the house!"

"I…I got the house?" Kevin repeated.

"Yes, you got the house Kevin. How many times do I have to repeat myself? All you need to do now is sign the papers and it's yours" Karen exclaimed feeling excited for her oldest son.

"Well…umm that's great" Kevin replied looking over at Lucy who was flipping through the T.V channels.

"Why aren't you more excited? It's your first house Kevin! You actually own something"

"Yeah, I'm excited mom but look that's not why I called"

"It's not?" Karen replied sounding confused.

"No it's not. Look there's something that I have to tell you. It's kind of important" he said looking at Lucy once more.

"You don't want the house do you?" Karen replied sounding disappointed.

"No! It's not that well…yes I don't want the house"

"Why not? What else could there be why you don't want this house?" Karen demanded. "I had Seth work day and night to help you find the kind of house you wanted and he found it and you put in a bid. And now you don't want it? What is wrong with you Kevin?"

Kevin could feel the blood starting to boil. "I'll tell you what's wrong with me. I'm in love with Lucy and—"

"Lucy, Lucy, Lucy is that all I am ever going to hear from you? It's been what? Almost two years since you have seen her and your still stuck on her? Haven't I told you many of times that you need to move on?" Karen practically screamed into the phone.

"I have moved on"

"Oh really? With who?"

"Lucy"

"What do you mean Lucy?"

"She came with Mary to Buffalo this weekend and we ran into each other."

"So?"

"So? We got step up is what. Her darling older sister and my pain in the ass younger brother decided to two time us to get back together and you know what? It worked"

Karen could feel her jaw drop. "You mean…The two of…when did…what did Eric have to…?"

"We talked tonight and she called Eric and told him that we decided to date and that there was nothing he could do about it"

"What did he say?"

"I don't think he has been this happy since Matt moved out of the house" Kevin chuckled.

A few moments of eerie silence fell between the two Kinkirks.

"Mom? You still there?"

Karen cleared her throat. "Yeah, I'm still here"

"Well?"

Karen sighed "Well what?" she replied knowing exactly where this was going.

"What do you think?"

Karen paused and then started to speak softly "I think it's about time the two of you had gotten together. Ever since you were Little Kevin Andrew Kinkirk you have always known that Lucy was the little girl you were going to marry and I don't want to be the one to ruin that dream"

Kevin smiled and looked over at Lucy who was watching the Home Shopping Channel intently as they were selling Coach Purses at a great price. He knew he'd better rescue her now from the shopping channel or else she wouldn't be able to pay attention the rest of the night.

"I have to go mom but when I come home tomorrow we can talk about the house and everything"

"All right Kev, I'll talk to you later"

"Love you mom"

"I love you to Kevin" Karen replied hanging up the phone.

For the first time in years a few tears slipped down her cheeks and they weren't sad tears this time…they were happy.

"Yeah. No, we want a large pepperoni pizza. Yeah. Uh huh, the cheesy bread too. And can you send up a big bottle of water? Ok. 20 minutes? Thanks."

Mary hung up the phone and stretched out on the bed. "It'll be here soon."

"Awesome." Ben sat down on the bed next to Mary, and handed her a glass.

"Final toast of the night."

Mary groaned and sat up, taking the drink Ben was offering... "Ok, but it has to really be the last one. I already feel like I'm gonna fall off the bed."

Ben gave her a slightly crooked grin. "Come on, you know I'd catch you." Mary felt her heart race slightly, and she clutched her fingers a little tighter around the glass. It's just the effects of the alcohol, she told herself.

Shaking her head slightly, she raised the drink. "So what are we toasting to?"

Ben held up his drink as well, and maneuvered himself so that he was sitting next to Mary. "To how totally kick ass we are for FINALLY getting those two idiots together."

Mary grinned as they touched glasses. "I'll drink to that." She gulped down the vodka in a straight shot, and then tossed the glass (which wasn't even glass, actually, just one of those clear plastic hotel cups) over the edge of the bed.

Suddenly, the alcohol hit her in a wave, and Mary felt the room spin. "Damn it, Ben," she muttered, leaning back on the bed.

"I really shouldn't have let you make me drink that." Ben laughed, and finished off his own drink in two sips.

"Come on, Camden. Don't tell me you're wimping out on me."

"Please," Mary replied, her eyes closed. "Don't mess with me. I'll put you in the hospital."

Ben laughed again, and Mary felt the bed shift as he lay down next to her. "You feeling ok?"

"Yeah, I just need to rest for a few minutes. I'll be fine once the pizza gets here."

"Whatever you say, you lush," Ben teased.

Mary started to giggle, which she knew she could blame entirely on the alcohol. She swung her arm towards him in a mock punch, but she must have been more drunk than she thought, because she felt her body swing crazily out of balance. She rolled over -- and found herself rolling right into Ben's chest.

Mary froze. Aside from the sudden feelings of nausea her bout of motion had produced, she was acutely aware that her face was buried in Ben's chest and that her hand was resting near his shoulder. Neither of them said anything for a moment.

"You gonna puke?" Ben asked quietly. Mary began to giggle again. She tried to stop, but found that she somehow couldn't. Finally, she took a deep breath.

"I really hope I don't puke on you. I think that would damage our friendship."

Ben laughed softly, and Mary could feel his chest vibrating.

"Don't worry about it. Just lay here for a minute until you feel better."

"Ok," Mary replied, her voice coming out so quiet it was almost a whisper. She was suddenly aware of Ben's arm wrapping around her and slowly stroking up and down her back.

Barely aware of what she was doing, Mary shifted her position until her face was level with Ben's. She stared into his eyes for what felt like an eternity.

"Ben," she whispered. "We work so well together."

"Yeah," Ben muttered, tightening his hold around Mary's waist. And then, suddenly, they were kissing. Mary had no idea who started it, but she did know that it was the best kiss she'd had in a long time.

Like, ever. Mary slowly ran her hand across Ben's cheek. There was no telling how long they would have kept kissing if there hadn't suddenly been a knock at the door.

Mary jumped off the bed, and promptly fell over, still unsure of her balance. Ben dashed over to the door and opened it, panting slightly. A bored looking bellhop handed him a large tray.

"Uh, thanks," Ben managed to say, and quickly closed the door as the bellhop walked down the hall.

Setting the food down on the table, Ben walked over to where Mary was sitting Indian style on the floor, her head buried in her hands.

Ben crouched down next to her. "Hey," he said, instantly feeling like it was the wrong thing to say.

"Ohmigod," Mary mumbled her voice barely audible. "I have a boyfriend. Wilson is going to kill me."

Ben froze, suddenly remembering Eryn, the girl he had been seeing recently. Mary looked at Ben, and he was slightly shocked to see tears in her eyes.

"Ben, what are we going to do?" Ben was still for a moment, trying to push the panicked thoughts out of his head. Finally, he stood up, reaching over and pulling Mary up with him in the process.

Mary wiped the tears of her cheeks and tried her hardest to avoid Ben's gaze.

"Mary," Ben said, placing his hand on her arm. "Mary, it's ok. Look, you were drunk. I was drunk. It was just a... mistake."

Mary blinked back tears again. Did Ben really think it was a mistake that they kissed? Well, if he felt that way, she wasn't going to make this any worse. "Yeah. You're right. It was a mistake."

Ben swallowed, feeling like he had been stabbed in the gut. Even though he had said it was a mistake... he wanted Mary to smack him and tell him that it was no mistake, she wanted to dump Wilson and be with him. But obviously, she didn't like him like that.

"Well..." Ben trailed off, and then forced himself to smile.

"The pizza's probably getting cold."

Mary smiled weakly. "Yeah."

Ben nodded, and then walked towards the table, even though for the first time he could remember, he really wasn't that hungry.

"Hey Ben?" Ben turned around, and Mary approached him. "I..." Mary took a deep breath. "We're still friends, right?"

Ben forced himself to smile. "Of course."

"Good," said Mary, and hesitantly leaned in to hug him. They stood there for a long moment, locked in an embrace, both knowing that it would probably never happen again.