A/N: This is the sequel to my story, Shattered Pieces of the Tipton! I hope you like it! This pretty much picks up where the other one left off. If you haven't read the first story I suggest you read it. Now, without further ado I present, Picking up the Pieces! Thoughts will be in Italics

Summary: Maddie and Cody are back at the Tipton from Rehab. They are trying to deal with people who hate them from a distance, a father who is fighting the fact that he abused his own son, and a romance between two people that could probably never work out. Sequel to 'Shattered Pieces of the Tipton'.

Disclaimer: I own nothing. Bet that didn't shock you…

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Picking Up The Pieces

Chapter Four

"Take that, little boy!" Maddie laughed. She had just won the game that she and Zack were playing.

"Wow, I haven't been playing games for a long time and… I've lost my mojo!" Zack cried sarcastically.

"Poor Zack! Whatever shall you do?" Maddie said, mocking his sarcasm. Zack stuck his tongue out at her. "Oh, that's really mature." Maddie teased.

Zack looked at his watch and groaned. "What is it?" Maddie asked.

"Oh, Mom has this thing now about being home at a certain time. I'm already late… and so is Cody!" Zack exclaimed. He raced out of the arcade, Maddie close behind him. They got into the lobby and saw Cody walking in the door with London.

"Cody!" Zack called. "We have to go! Mom's waiting." He told his twin. Cody quickly said good-bye to London and ran to the elevator that Zack already had waiting. They pressed the button for the 23rd floor and the elevator doors closed.

When the elevator stopped, the two boys hurried to their suite. Carrie opened the door just as they got there. "Where have you two been? You were supposed to be back half an hour ago!" she cried.

"Sorry, we lost track of time." Zack apologized.

"It's okay. Just make sure it doesn't happen again." Carrie sighed. "Get in here, I need to talk to you guys."

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"What's up, Mom?" Cody asked as he and Zack sat down at the table. Carrie stood by the table and looked at both of them intently.

"Well, as you both know, I'm suing your dad for abusing Cody." She said quietly.

"What's going on, Mom?" Zack asked wearily.

"He's… fighting the trial." She began. "He's saying that he never did anything to Cody and now he's trying to win custody, of both of you." She finished. Zack and Cody's eyes grew huge and they jumped off the couch.

"He can't do that! I won't go, ever!" Cody shouted.

"Neither will I!" Zack exclaimed and they both ran into their room, leaving Carrie standing alone in the kitchen.

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London walked up to Maddie at the candy counter and sighed. Maddie didn't speak so London sighed again. When Maddie once again didn't say anything, London sighed heavily. Maddie flipped a page in her magazine.

"Maddie!" London screeched.

"What?" Maddie asked sounding surprised as she jumped.

"Didn't you notice me here?" London asked irritably.

"Oh, you were the one who kept sighing? Whew, glad you stopped. That was getting annoying!" Maddie giggled.

"Maddie! This is important!" London whined. Maddie set down the magazine she had been looking at and stared at London expectantly. "Well," London continued, "At the mall, Cody and I were at the food court and we were talking. Then, we both stood up to throw away our trays and we bumped into each other and sort of, kind of, kissed." London explained, saying the last part quietly so no one else would hear. Maddie gasped and placed a hand over her mouth.

"Ohmigosh, you're kidding right?" She said unbelievingly.

"No, I'm not!" London whispered.

"You and Cody? Aw, how cute! My little girl's growing up!" Maddie teased.

"It's not funny, Madeline!" London said, using her friend's full name. Maddie stopped laughing and glared.

Just then, Zack and Cody stormed out of the elevator. "Here's your lover now!" Maddie whispered teasingly. London spun to glare at her but then turned and smiled at the twins.

Before Maddie or London could speak, Zack started talking. "This is sick! It's crazy! How could he do that? This cannot happen!"

"What are you talking about, Zack? What's wrong?" Maddie asked.

"Our dad is fighting the trial about abusing Cody!" Zack cried.

"What? How can he do that?" London asked, appalled.

"That's not the worst part." Cody added. "He's also trying to win custody of both of us!"

"No way! He can't do that! He'd kill you both!" Maddie exclaimed. Zack and Cody nodded in agreement. "I'm sorry, guys." Maddie added sympathetically.

"Thanks Maddie." Zack replied.

"Is there anything we could do to help?" London asked. Cody shook his head.

"No, that's actually the worst part. Now, Zack and I both have to go and testify saying that he did abuse me and that we don't wanna go with him. I don't even wanna see him!" Cody said sadly. London smiled sympathetically at him and his brother.

"I just wish there was something we could do." London whispered.

"If you need me to testify, I will." Maddie offered suddenly.

"What do you mean, Maddie?" Zack asked. "All you know is what Cody did at the party." Zack said, using air-quotes when he said party.

"Not quite, Zack." Cody said quietly. Zack looked at him confused. "You know how I was gone for so long? Well, I was with Maddie. She let me stay with her because I just didn't want to have to face anyone here so I was at her house." Cody whispered. Maddie simply nodded.

"I saw the bruises and everything. I'll say something if you need me to." She offered again.

"Maybe. We'll see okay? Now, we have to go back to our suite." Cody said. He walked to the elevator and pushed the button. The doors opened and he stepped in. Zack still stood at the candy counter, thinking. He looked at Maddie and then at Cody. How could they keep something like this from me? Zack thought.

"Zachary!" Cody called to his brother.

"Coming Codery!" he called back. Zack got in the elevator and they headed back up to their suite.

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All right, there it is! The long awaited chapter four! Sorry it took me so long but I had horrible writer's block and I've had a lot going on in my family. I just couldn't get myself to write some of my stories. The point, though, is that it's here now and you loved it! Things are gonna get a lot worse than they are now so be prepared for tragedy! Just so you know, the next chapter is all about Maddie. It's going to start with her leaving the Tipton and going home so it won't really have too much to do with Zack and Cody or London. Well, review time! Click the button and write nice things about my story! Love you all! See ya next chapter!

God bless,

Kelsi

((KelsiLovesLucas))