AN-And so Thanksgiving continues. Where did Katie go to escape her family? Well, read to find out.

P. S. Fans of D2 The New Ducks will recognize a character in here.

''Charlie! Will you stop.'' Casey complained, as her son tried to sneak some food.

''Mom, I'm starving. When will the turkey be ready?'' he asked.

''Soon, go watch the game with Scott.'' Casey said.

Charlie rolled his eyes and went into the living room, plopping down onto the couch, next to her step-father.

''What's the score?'' he asked.

''12-7. We're winning.'' Scott said, not looking away from the T. V.

Just then, their team scored and Charlie and Scott traded high fives. Then, they heard a knocking. With a puzzled look, Charlie got up to open it.

''Katie?'' he questioned.

Sure enough, Katie Banks was standing in front of him, soaking wet.

''Hey Charlie. Can I come in?'' she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

''Sure.'' Charlie said.

''Who's at the door...Katie, what are you doing here? Honey you're soaking wet.'' Casey said, as she walked over.

''Really. I didn't even notice.'' Katie replied.

Charlie glanced out the window at the obvious storm brewing outside. How could she not notice. He shared a look with his mother, who look just as concerned.

''Kat, are you ok?'' Charlie asked.

Katie nodded softly.

''Katie, let's get you changed into something warmer. I'm sure Charlie can find something for you to wear.'' Casey said, shooting Charlie a look.

He nodded, putting his hand on the small of her back, and gently led Katie to his room. Once there, he handed her one of his older hoodies, a pair of socks and a pair of sweat pants.

"You can change in the bathroom, Kat.'' he said, and led her over. ''Once you change out of your clothes, drape them over the shower.''

Katie nodded again and went inside, closing the door behind her. Charlie leaned against the opposite wall, worried.

Once she was changed, Katie followed Charlie's instructions and draped her clothes over the shower. She opened the bathroom door and stepped out.

''Hey Charlie.'' she said, her voice sounding stronger.

Charlie smiled softly at her. ''How are you Kat?''

''I'm fine.'' she said.

''Right, I'm sure you are. Just do me a favor, go in my room and get under the covers to warm up. My mom's orders.'' he said.

Katie nodded and Charlie guided her to his room. She slipped under the covers and leaned against his pillows.

''Kat, what happened.'' Charlie asked, urgently, as he dragged his chair over to the bed.

''Thanksgiving. Mom and dad, they just wouldn't stop snapping at each other and when I spoke up, they just blamed my ''bad behavior'' on the other one. I finally just threw one of mom's expensive plates at the wall and walked out.''

Charlie grinned. ''You sure showed them.''

Katie laughed softly, just as Casey was entering the room.

"Well, you sound better. How ya feeling, sweetie?''

''I'm fine, thank you Ms. Conway.'' Katie said.

Despite her marriage to Scott, all the kids still called her Ms. Conway,

''Here, I made you some hot cocoa, it should help warm you up.'' Casey said, handing her the mug.

Katie took a sip, and Charlie glanced at his mom.

''Hey, where's my hot cocoa.'' he complained.

Katie giggled, and Charlie smiled brightly at her. Casey just smiled, knowingly and left the room.

''I'm glad you came here.'' Charlie said.

''So am I.'' Katie whispered.

Once Katie was feeling stronger, Charlie led her out to the living room, where Scott graciously handed over the remote.

''I should have you over more often, he never does that.'' Charlie remarked, as he started channel surfing for something they could both watch. He landed on an episode of Scooby-Doo

''I love this show.'' Katie remarked, grinning brightly.

''Well, what's not to love. You got a talking dog, scary villains, and one guy who always has the munchies.'' Charlie joked.

''I'll have you know, that rumor was started by people who are bored with their own lives.'' Katie said, hitting his arm.

''Yea, and it's probably true. I mean, come on, what else can they be giving that dog to make him talk.'' Charlie said.

Katie's mouth dropped open and she started hitting Charlie, playfully. Charlie grabbed her hands and grinned mischievously at her.

''I'll give you 5 seconds.'' he said.

Katie grinned and got up quickly, running down the hallway. Five seconds later, she heard Charlie's feet as he chased after her. She ran into Charlie's room and he followed, grabbing her around the waist. The two fell on the bed in a jumbled mess of limbs.

Their laugher died down slowly, and they lay their heads on the pillow, their eyes locking.

''Charlie.'' Katie whispered. ''I'm really glad I came here.''

Charlie smiled, softly, and reached over, stroking her cheek gently. She closed her eyes as the sensations washed over her.

''I'm really glad you came here too.'' he whispered.

Her eyes fluttered open and Charlie swallowed hard. Without thinking about it, without even planning it, their heads gravitated towards each other.

It was a surprise when their lips met, but as they pressed against each other, all reasoning went out the window. Katie forgot her parents fight. She forgot this horrible day. She forgot everything as his lips slid over hers with skill.

Charlie forgot they were lying in his bed. He forgot that his mom and step-dad were just down the hallway. All he was focusing on was the beautiful woman that he was kissing. Katie's hand rested on his cheek, while his made its way to her waist, slowing stroking the line of bare skin between the hoodie and the sweat pants.

Suddenly, her eyes popped open and she broke the kiss. The moment her lips left his, Charlie's eyes opened as well. They lay there, breathing heavily.

"Kat I-''

''Kids, dinner's ready.'' they heard Casey shout as she made her way down the hall.

The both sat up quickly, smoothing out their clothing and hair. Casey walked in.

''Katie, I'm sure you're going to stay, until the storm ends at least.'' Casey said.

''If you don't mind.'' Katie said.

''Of course not. Come on you two, let's eat.'' Casey said.

Katie and Charlie shared one final look before following Casey, careful to keep their distance from each other.

The dinner in the Conway home that night was perfect, in Katie's opinion. There was no yelling, no screaming, and no throwing of any plates.

Casey and Scott joked around with each other, and Charlie threw his two sense in whenever he felt like it. Sitting here, staring at these people, Katie felt safe, warm. This was what she wanted her family to be like. Was that so wrong?

''Katie, what do think?'' Scott asked.

Katie looked up, surprised. ''What?''

Charlie chuckled. "Spacing out again, Kat?''

Katie smirked at him. ''At least I don't do it during class, like some people I know.''

''Oh, it's come down to that huh? Ratting me out to my own mother. I feel so hurt.'' Charlie said.

Katie rolled her eyes and grinned. ''So dramatic Spazway.''

Casey watched the two interact with a gleam in her eye.

After dinner, Katie stayed behind and offered to help with the dishes.

''Oh, Katie you don't have to help.'' Casey said.

''I insist, it's the least I can do.'' she said.

Casey smiled and the two woman began to wash.

''So, may I ask why you walked over here?'' Casey wondered.

"Well, my parents decided to have Thanksgiving be all four of us, even though they are going through a bitter divorce. Their attitudes were obvious. I freaked out and left.'' Katie explained.

''I don't blame you, '' offered Casey, "I'm just curious as to why you came here.''

Katie blushed. ''Well, Charlie lives closest to my house and plus, Maddie's gone for the holidays.''

As she was trying to explain all this to Casey, the plate she was holding slipped from her grasp and landed on the floor, breaking into pieces. She gasped and leaned down to pick them up, and, in her hurry, cut herself.

''Ow.'' she cried.

Charlie, who had heard the crash, walked into the kitchen.

''Kat, what happened, are you ok?'' he asked, stepping over to her quickly.

''Yea, I just cut my finger, no big deal.'' she said.

''Come here, wash it off.'' Charlie said, he helped her stand up and ran her cut underneath the water. ''Wait here.'' he said, and then he left the kitchen.

''Ms. Conway, I am so-''

''If you say sorry, I'm going to forbid you from ever coming here. It was an accident, they happen sweetie.'' Casey said, giving the girl a reassuring smile.

Charlie came back in with the first aid kit. ''Here, let me clean that for you.''

''Charlie, I'm ok. You don't to fuss over me.'' Katie protested, as he shut the water off and began to clean her cut.

Once he was done, she grinned at him. ''Maybe you should be a doctor, Spazway.''

''Maybe I should.'' he agreed, softly.

Their eyes locked once more, and Katie had the overwhelming urge to kiss him right then and there. She might have too, if it weren't for the fact that Casey was standing in the kitchen with them.

Once the dishes were done, Casey and Katie joined the boys in the living room. Katie sat down next to Charlie and he glanced over at her finger.

''This must be your best Thanksgiving ever, huh?'' he asked.

Katie nodded. ''Oh totally. I will remember this one for the rest of my life.''

Everyone had to chuckle at that one.

As the night wore on, Katie could feel her eyes drooping. She yawned quietly, and leaned her head against Charlie's shoulder. Soon her eyes fluttered shut, and soon, she was asleep.

Charlie glanced down to see Katie's peacefully sleeping form. She was beautiful. He brushed his lips gently against her forehead.

Suddenly, her eyes popped open and her head popped up.

''Oh my God, what time is it?'' she asked.

''It's around 11, Kat. You didn't fall asleep too long.'' Charlie assured her.

''I should probably go. I don't need another reason for them to freak out on me.'' she said.

She really didn't want to go, and from the look in Charlie's eyes, he didn't want her to go.

''Alright, go get your clothes, they should be dry by now, and I'll walk you home.'' he said.

Katie nodded and went into the bathroom to change. Once she had changed, she gave Charlie back his clothes and the two set off.

They walked down the cold streets, the wind waking the leaves once more. The two teens stood a few inches more then necessary from each other.

''So, Kat...about earlier.'' Charlie said.

Katie closed her eyes and groaned inwardly. She had really been hoping that he wouldn't bring that up.

''Charlie, I just want to forget everything about this day.'' she said.

Charlie stopped, and grabbed her arm, stopping her as well. ''Everything?''

He was so close to her now. She could breath in his scent, especially when he leaned his forehead against hers.

''Charlie.'' she murmured. Unable to stop herself, she leaned up and pressed her lips to his. Her hands rested upon his shoulders, his on her waist.

When he tried to deepen the kiss, she freaked and pushed him away.

''Kat?'' he wondered.

She shook her head and kept walking. He caught up with her immediately.

''Kat, please. Talk to me, tell me what your feeling.'' he said.

Katie turned towards him, biting her lip softly.

''Today was one of the worst days of my life. I really don't want it coinciding with...this.'' she said, gesturing between the two of them.

Charlie grinned. ''But you do want a...this.'' he said, repeating her previous gesture.

Katie smiled. ''Yes..but not at this moment in time. Right now, I need a friend.''

Charlie nodded. ''Then I'll be that.'' he said.

They finally made it to the Banks house.

''Thank you Charlie. For everything.'' Katie said.

''I'm always here, Kat.'' he said.

He kissed her forehead softly, and headed home.

Katie walked up to her front door and Adam opened it.

''Mom and dad are pissed at you.'' he warned.

Katie just shrugged. ''I really don't care.''

Maddie Thomas was laying on her hotel room bed when her cell phone rang. She glanced at the number and grinned, answering it quickly.

''Hey, Kat. How did it go?'' she asked.

''Wonderful. They insulted, I snapped and I felt.''

Maddie was shocked. ''Are you serious?''

''Yea, I went to Charlie's. He took care of me.'' she said.

''Charlie's? And what exactly happened?'' she asked.

Katie sighed. ''We kissed.''

Maddie's mouth dropped open. ''Are you serious?!'' she screamed.

''Yea, but I kinda pushed him away.''

''What do you mean?'' Maddie asked.

''I told him that, I just needed a friend right now. He understood.'' Katie said.

''You little chicken.'' Maddie said.

''Excuse me?'' Katie asked.

''Kat, you've liked him since you were 9. He just kissed you and you just wanna be friends. I know you, you're scared, terrified that this guy feels the same way. Don't fight it, embrace it!'' Maddie told her.

''I can't Mads. I'm not you ok, I'm not totally comfortable with who I am. I'm not the girlfriend type.''

''Kat...you're his type. That's all that matters.'' Maddie insisted.

Katie was silent, but Maddie didn't expect an answer, she knew Katie needed time to process it.

''I have to go Mads, the rents grounded me off the phone for my ''attitude'', so I'll talk to you when you get back.''

''Alright Kat. I'll talk to you later.''

Katie hung up the phone and lay down onto her bed. She wondered why Charlie wanted to be with her. She wasn't a super model. She wasn't popular. She was just Katie Banks, the extreme tomboy and little sister to Adam.

Katie didn't know that miles away, Charlie was laying on his bed thinking about her, just simple Katie Banks.

In his eyes, that's all she needed to be.

AN-And that finishes the Thanksgiving holiday, no clue what's coming next. I might skip to Christmas, idk yet, but for now, enjoy this one!