Author's Note: Okay so first, thanks SO much for the reviews and the favorites and everything. I appreciate it a lot! Hope you enjoy this chapter!

Sonny's POV:

One of my legs stopped swinging in mid-air, stuck straight out. This was a curve ball I had not been expecting. "What?" My voice sounded like someone had just squeezed all of the air out of lungs.

My dad looked straight at me. "Sonny, a lot has changed. Things went differently then anyone expected. There's no reason why you shouldn't go back to So Random."

Actually there is. There's a really good reason that you can't even begin to understand. And his name is Chad Dylan Cooper. I hopped off the counter, feeling numb. "Dad, this is my life now. I'm happy with it. Lets just drop it, okay?" I tried to paste a happy "Sonny smile" on my face, but couldn't quite do it.

"Sunshine..." my dad trailed off and sighed, "after the accident I knew I needed to find you. I wasn't even sure how much longer I was going to live and I wanted to tell you how much I loved you before things got really bad."

My throat tightened. "I know Dad. And you found me. And now I'm here. End of story."

"Is it Sonny, is it really?" I looked up stricken, almost expecting to find Chad in my dad's place. But my dad continued, "Honey, you know about my battle with depression. You know how bad it got after the accident when I lost the use of my legs."

"Dad what is this? Re-live the most horrible memories in your life day?" I laughed huskily, even as I blinked back tears. I still remembered seeing my dad for the first time in ten years, leaning over his hospital bed as a smile grew on his battered face. That's when I had learned the truth about my dad. The depression. The addiction. The pills. The drinking. All the things that had torn him and my mom apart shortly after Heather was born. All the things that had made him leave, taking my little sister, then just a baby, with him.

His hand covered my own. "Sonny?" He said softly. I looked up, dispelling the bad memories as I looked in the eyes of my concerned father. "Just because those were bad times doesn't mean nothing good came out of them."

"Of course something good came out of them. You found me and now I know you and Heather." I smiled at him and squeezed his hand.

He nodded, but his smile faded. "Sonny, I've made a lot of mistakes in my life."

I shook my head. "You know it's okay. I forgive you."

He nodded again. "I know you do Sunshine. But when you came back into my life I promised myself that I'd tried my hardest not to make any more. And I think it would be a mistake for you to not go back to So Random."

I tensed. "Dad, I'm seventeen. I'm not a baby any more. I think I might have some idea of what's best for me too." I straightened, wanting to get away from the conversation.

"Sonny, what are you running from?"

The words were like a knife, slicing through my good intentions and excuses. Behind all of that there was only one reason I wasn't going back to So Random. I'm afraid.

"What am I running from?" I turned around, ashamed to find tears in my eyes. "I don't know, the endless questions? The awkward silences? All the changes? Cha-" I stopped. "I mean, people's reactions to my coming back?" I sat down hard in a kitchen chair. "But nothing important or anything."

My dad looked taken aback. There was a long moment of silence before he spoke. "Of course it's your decision. But above and beyond all those reasons you just listed for why you shouldn't go back, I have a reason that trumps all those why you should."

"Dad, if this is going to be one of those, 'Face Your Fears' speeches, I'm really not ready for that." I sighed.

My dad chuckled. "No, nothing like that." He rolled closer to me and looked me straight in the eye. "I think you should go back because you love it. It's a part of you Sonny. An important part. Sure, it's your work, your job, but it's also your life. Or at least it was until I wrote you that letter."

I shook my head violently. "You know I don't regret that. And I don't regret coming here. Or quitting So Random. You and Heather are way more important than my life in Hollywood."

"Thank you for saying that. I know you don't regret it, and I appreciate it. I don't think you should. But I do think you'll regret it if you don't go back. Sonny, you know you're not really happy here. Working at ShopMart, taking care of nosy customers, coming home to a family that you love of course, but your life can't revolve entirely around family. You haven't made friends, and you don't seem to like your highschool. I think its time you considered the fact that this might not be meant to be your life."

I ducked my head. All he was saying was just a little too true.

"What about you and Heather? I just found you guys. I can't leave you again." I protested.

He chuckled. "Don't worry. We won't let you forget us. We'll call you twice a day if you want. And you can come back for some holidays and breaks. I'm sure your mom won't mind."

I nodded. "But what about your depression?"

He smiled. "Sonny, you know its getting better. A lot better. The therapy has been working. My therapist thinks with a few more sessions I should be able to switch to just monthly sessions. I'm off the pain meds, and I'm just in a really good place right now. I think we should act on that." He glanced at me, as I searched my brain for more excuses. "You don't have to sign a contract in blood right this second. Just promise me that you'll call Marshall back and get some details. And then, just think about it."

I sighed and nodded. "Okay. I'll call him and think about it. Really think about it. But I can't promise anything."

"That's all I ask." My dad smiled at me.

The doorbell rang and I heard my little sister's feet on the stairs even as she screamed, "PIZZA'S HERE!"

I laughed and looked at my dad. "Looks like its time for some delicious pineapple pizza."

My dad made another face. "Gross."

I laughed again. "Complain all you want, but you're still paying!"

My dad sighed melodramatically. "The things I do for you girls."

As he moved out of the kitchen, I sighed and closed my eyes for a minute. Going back to So Random. Now that is one I wasn't expecting.

I flopped down on my bed, then groaned. My stomach was still a little full to be doing that. Slowly, I picked up my cellphone and stared at it. Might as well get this over with. I dialed Marshall's number and held my breath as it rang, part of me praying that I would get voicemail.

"Hello?" Crap.

"Hey Marshall. This is Sonny."

"SONNY!" His obvious excitement made me laugh in spite of myself.

"Yes, Sonny! I hope I'm not calling too late..."

"No, no, no it's fine." It sounded like Marshall took the phone away from his mouth for a second. "Just give me a minute, okay?" I heard someone murmur something in the background on the other side of the line.

"Oh, are you busy? I can just call back later." I said.

Marshall came back to our conversation. "What? Oh, no, I'm not busy. Just a little scheduling conflict I was trying to figure out. But nothing important. At least, nothing nearly as important as you calling me back."

I felt like it was time to warn him. "Marshall I'm just calling back for details. And mostly cause my dad wanted me too. This doesn't mean I'm coming back necessarily."

"Of course, of course. I understand completely. Well let me give you some details then. Everything would basically the same, except I've spoken to Mr. Condor and he's agreed to up your salary."

I bit my lip. Extra money would be good. My dad's therapy and treatment were expensive. "I have to admit that sounds tempting."

"Good! That's what I was going for." Marshall chuckled, then hesitated. "Uh, Sonny, have you watched So Random recently?"

I felt my spine tense, guessing what was coming, but I just laughed. "Of course I have! I rarely miss an episode. I have to make sure you guys are being funny enough without me."

Marshall laughed, then turned serious again. "So you know there are some... new cast members on the show?" His tone was careful, as if he knew this was probably a sensitive subject.

Oh gosh, just say it. Chad's on the show now. I know. You know. Everybody knows. Why not just say it? "Yeah. I know." I carefully kept my voice indifferent. "The new group of kids seem amazing. They're constantly cracking me up."

"So," Marshall hesitated again, "you don't, um, have a problem with any of the new additions?"

"Of course not! Why would there be a problem?" I lied.

"Oh, I don't know." Marshall said vaguely. "Just wondering."

"I just still don't know if I should come back. Do you think I'd be welcome?"

"YES!" I blinked, surprised by the vehemence of the response.
"Marshall was that you?"

"Uh, um, yeah, that was me. Just, uh, trying to convince you." Marshall's nervous laughter filled my ear.

"Uh, okay." I said, not completely convinced. On the other hand, who else could it have been?

"You know Sonny," Marshall said hastily, as if eager to change the subject, "you wouldn't necessarily have to come back to the show right away. We could have you as a guest star on one of the episodes. You know, so you could see how the new dynamic works for you."

I bit my lip and considered this. "No strings attached? No contracts or agents, just me coming back to the show to try it out?"

"Sure." Marshall said quickly.

"What would I have to do?" I said, still a little hesitant.

"We'd feature you in some of the sketches, probably more than the average guest star is featured in, but still not all. And then you could perform a song at the end. Be our musical guest as well."

I sighed as my dad's words flashed through my head. You love it Sonny. And he was right. Totally completely right. And I had missed it. So much. This offer seemed so perfect...

"Of course," Marshall continued, hearing my sigh and misinterpreting it, "if you don't want to sing, you don't have to."

"What? Oh, of course I want too! I was just trying to figure out if this was something I wanted to do."

"Well, Sonny, there's really no hurry. You don't have to make a decision right now. I know there may be some reasons you wouldn't want to come back to So Random."

I sat up quickly, my pride smarting from Marshall's sympathetic tone. If he thought Chad was going to keep me from being on my favorite show... he was extremely mistaken.

"Marshall I'll do it." I said, not giving myself time to think about it. I clapped my hand over my mouth immediately after, part of me wishing I could have those words back. No, this is a good thing. It'll work out. You just have to let yourself go with the flow.

"Really? Great! Fantastic! Wonderful!" Marshall's genuine happiness warmed my heart.

"When would you need me?" I said.

"Well... ideally as soon as possible. We need a guest star for next week's show and we'd need you up here for rehearsals and run-throughs and all that. Do you think you could swing that?"

I took a deep breath. "Yes."

"Perfect." As Marshall gave me some final travel information, I felt my mind reel. Am I really going to do this?

"Alright Marshall. Thanks so much." I said.

"No, Sonny, thank you!"

"Well, I guess I'll talk to you later." I said, feeling butterflies dancing in my stomach.

"Alright. Sure thing. Goodbye Sonny!"

"Bye Marshall!" I hung up and sat very still for a few minutes. Through all the chaos muddling my brain, one thought stood out, perfectly clear and frightening. What am I going to do about Chad?

Chad's POV:

"I don't believe this. She agreed?" I sat back in my chair which I had been on the edge of for the past five to ten minutes.

"Yep. She agreed." Marshall was grinning ear to ear. "No thanks to you, however. Nice job with the 'YES'."

I felt myself start to blush. "Hey, you weren't saying it fast enough." It's not like I completely lost control and yelled that in a desperate attempt to get Sonny back here or anything. No, nothing like that.

Marshall rolled his eyes. "Whatever."

I leaned back in my chair, a grin of my own starting to spread across my face. "I can't believe I get to see Sonny again for the first time in 378 days." Marshall gave me a weird look and I awkwardly coughed and sat up again. "Not that I've been counting or anything."

"Right." Marshall leaned towards me. "Chad, you're a pain-"

"Hey!" I said. "CDC is not a pain!"

Marshall sighed. "Well, a.) you didn't let me finish and b.) oh yes, CDC is a pain and Chad is only a slightly less big pain."

"Does this insult session have a point?" I asked quickly.

"I was going to say, you're a pain, but you also seem to be a pretty nice guy some of the time and I know how you feel about Sonny-"

"How do you know?" I said, nervously.

Marshall glared at me and continued without answering. "So I'm going to offer you some advice. Or, at least, a warning. You might want to be prepared for the fact that Sonny might not want to see you. I mean, not even a little bit."

I sagged back in my chair, feeling like someone had just punched me in the gut. "You think I don't know that?"

Marshall shrugged. "Just thought I'd warn you."

"Marshall?" I focused on a spot on the wall so I wouldn't have to look at his face while I said this. "Have you ever had someone who... well... you thought might be... like... your, uh, um, soulmate?" I muttered the last word, half-hoping he wouldn't hear.

"Well-" Marshall began, but I cut him off.

"Like, no matter how mad you get at them you know you'll always forgive them in the end because you know they have a piece of you. A piece you didn't even know you had until you met them?" I sighed and kept going. "And no matter how far away you are from them, they're always still near you, in your dreams, or your thoughts, or your imagination. And you can't shake this feeling that you're missing half of your heart or something." I focused back on Marshall's face. "You know what I mean?"

Marshall nodded. "I think they call that love."

I sighed and let my eyes drift away from him again. Do I? Do I really love Sonny? I pictured her long dark hair, falling down her back, the hair I had played with and run my fingers through. Her beautiful smile, the smile that still made my heart skip a beat in a very un-Chad like way. I thought of her pretty laugh, her sense of humor, her caring heart, and the feeling of complete happiness I had always felt when I had pulled her into my arms. And that's when I knew I had to get out of here.

"I got to go Marshall." I jumped up. "Sorry. I'll see you at the run-throughs in a couple of days. Bye."

"Chad-" he began, but I didn't wait to hear what he had to say. I dashed out of the room and ran down the hall towards the exit. As soon as I was outside I stopped and took a deep breath and started to walk slowly through the parking lot to my car. Yeah, the parking lot where Sonny pretty much re-dumped your sorry butt last year. I groaned and smacked my forehead. Was it my fault that literally everything reminded me of her?

My dressing room, where we had shared laughs and lunches on break. Where I had tried to get ready for our real first date. Emphasis on tried. The hallways, where I had constantly run into her, first accidentally, then more and more purposefully, though I wouldn't have admitted it for the world. The Mackenzie Falls set, where she had come to see me when we were dating, or come to bother me when we "hated" eachother. Even some of the So Random sets, like the carnival set where we had broken up and then shared our first kiss in the backwards way we always do things. My favorite sushi restaurant where I had taken her so many different times. The movies, where I had held her hand and, later in our relationship, completely forgotten the movie when I was kissing her. Even when I turned the on the TV I was reminded of her, whether it was re-runs of old So Random episodes or the kid's show "Pauly and Pals".

I reached my car and opened the door. Sonny' s coming back. What will I do when I see her again? In person? Can I handle that? I sighed as I started the car. This was sure to be another series of head games, awkward moments, and hiding my real feelings. Here we go again.

AN: Sooo first time writing in Chad's POV part of the time. What did you think? Every time I write for a new character I'm convinced its going to be really hard, but writing for Chad and Sonny has been pretty easy so far and definitely fun. Please review if you liked it!