As Cody and Bailey were on their way to get Bailey settled in into her hotel room, Zack dragged his but back into his and Cody's room to get dressed for the day. He fashioned black vans, skin tight black jeans and a green shirt and a red zip-up sweatshirt. He scudded over to the bathroom and combed his hair and brushed his teeth. Once he was gone getting ready for the day, Zack walked over to the door and left the suite to go to the arcade downstairs. He went down the elevator and hobbled across the lobby all the way to the arcade. While on his way to the arcade, Zack yawned. Once he got to arcade, he saw that he suddenly didn't feel like playing any video games so he walked back out to the lobby. The moment that Zack arrived back to the lobby, he spotted Maddie walking around. He suddenly developed a smile on his face and strutted over to where she was standing.

"Hello, Maddie. How are you today?"

"Oh. Hi, Zack. I'm fine. How are you?"

"I'm better now that I've seen you."

Maddie giggled at the flattering comment that her friend made. She knew that Zack had the biggest and longest crush on her when he was younger and that she finally kissed him but she knew in her heart that nothing would happen between her and him.

"Oh, Zack, you're so funny."

"But, I wasn't trying to be funny that time."

"Oh, never mind, Zack."

The moment Maddie spoke her last words to Zack, Cody and Bailey came out of the elevator, arm-in-arm, walking towards Zack and Maddie with smiles on their faces. They were obviously happy to see Maddie and even Zack.

"Hi, guys. How are you two?"

"Hi, Bailey. Zack and I were just talking."

"We're just fine. I was bored until I saw Maddie walking around the lobby."

"Why were you bored, Zack?"

"I don't know why, Cody. I guess I'm still regaining energy from taking those finals and playing that basketball game before break."

"Well, I really hope you regain your energy, bro."

"Thanks, Code Red. What are you and Bailey planning to do for the day?"

"Well, we were just coming down to talk to Maddie but I guess we have more to talk about since you're here."

"Nope. Sorry, Broseph. I don't walk to get stuck ending hearing about science and math. I suddenly have more energy and I think I'm going to shoot some hoops at the park. See you two nerds later. Bye Maddie."

Zack went up the elevator in a mad dash and left the three intelligent young adults to mingle with each other. Maddie had an expression on her face that half confusion and half hurt. Bailey and Cody looked at each other and snickered.

"Wow, Cody, you sure know how to repel your brother."

"I know. I wasn't planning to repel him until later but I guess it's better that he's gone now than later."

"What are you guys talking about?"

"When Cody and I were on our way down in the elevator, we thought that maybe we should buy time to get started on our Christmas shopping. We plan to share the expenses for some of the gifts while others, we will make."

"Oh. That makes sense. Which reminds me, I have to go out and go shopping as well."

"Do you want to come with us?"

"Um, no thank you, Cody. I think I should go shopping on my own."

"Okay, Maddie. I understand. Bailey and I will be out soon as well. We'll wait for you to go out first so we don't see where you go."

"Thanks, Cody. Bye guys."

"Bye Maddie."

Maddie turned around on her heels and left the hotel lobby. Cody and Bailey looked at each other and smiled.

"We sure have improved on saying things at the same time, Cody Kitten."

"We sure have, Bailey Bunny."

"When do you think we can leave after Maddie?"

"I would say about five minutes, just in case."

"Good plan, Cody."

Just as Cody and Bailey finished their short yet direct conversation, London came marching through the front doors into the lobby. She sauntered down the steps in her one-of-a-kind Arturo Vitali diamond studded high-heels. Cody and Bailey felt a shining reflection from the diamond studs blind them and were forced to turn their heads in London's direction. Once they could focus eyesight again, they rolled their eyes as they saw London with her shining high-heels on. They weren't surprised what she came in wearing. London was looking around the lobby in hopes that she would find someone that she knew. Just as soon as when London was looking around the lobby for someone familiar, Bailey began to wave her free hand over in London's direction, hoping that London would spot her waving hand, which she did. London happily recognized Bailey's flailing hand and walked right over to her and Cody.

"Hi, guys."

"Hi, London. How are you?"

"I'm fine. I just came back from shopping. I just finished my Christmas shopping."

"For what?"

"For presents that I'm going to give to you guys. Duh, Cody!"

"Oh."

"London, you really remember to get us gifts this year?"

"Well, yeah, farm girl. I mean I don't to end up alone and unwanted in the future. I mean I still remember my lesson from last year on the boat when you and Cody were 'just friends' after you two broke up."

"Um, right, London. Well Cody and I have to go shopping now. We'll see you later."

"Okay. See you and brain boy later."

"Bye, London."

Bailey felt so flustered from the memory from the previous Christmas that she unconsciously detached herself from Cody and walked ahead of him out of the hotel. Cody walked behind bailey, trying to catch up with her. London saw Bailey left with Cody awkwardly trailing behind her. London did wonder if she had hit a nerve in Bailey but knew that Bailey would be fine and that she needed to wrap her presents that she got for her close friends whom she considers to be like her family, a real family. London took the elevator and went all the way up to her penthouse to wrap the presents that she got for her friends.

While London went up to her penthouse, Cody was catching up to Bailey who out on the curb of the street, ready to cross the crosswalk. Cody caught Bailey before she could take another step away from him. He gently yet firmly pulled her back and twirled her around to face him. Her face was pointing down and her head faced a direction that wasn't the same direction as his face. Cody caught a glimpse of a pretty crimson color covering Bailey's cheeks and the bridge of her nose and knew that she must feel embarrassed and maybe even ashamed. Cody furrowed his eyebrows together. He held Bailey tight in his hands and used his right hand to make Bailey turn her head to face him. Once their heads were aligned, Bailey momentarily averted her eyes away from Cody's before finding some courage to look at him straight in the eye. Cody was confused and concern about his girlfriend's abrupt behavior.

"Bailey what's wrong?"

"Oh, Cody, I just feel so embarrassed. I guess London accidentally hit a nerve in me when she said 'just friends' when she was referring to last Christmas after we were broken up. The ship was in South America and you and I were doing a toy drive for the orphans. I was Santa and you were an elf with your compression pants on. I remember that by the end when London had that weird dream of hers that she gave all the orphans presents and we complimented each other how e played a part as well and then well we hugged."

"Yeah. How did that hit a nerve in you?"

"It's because I felt so happy in your arms again even if it was just that we were 'just friends'. I felt like I belonged in your arms and that I was thinking why it was taking us so long to realize that made a mistake of breaking up with each other. Last Christmas was a good moment for us after we broke up because things went downhill again until you came after me when the twister hit. It's just that I wished that didn't have to happen and…and-"

Bailey was silenced by Cody gently pressing two fingers on her lips.

"Shhh. It's alright, Bailey. I know that we both wished that weren't idiots and let go of each other and just listen to each other but we aren't perfect and we have flaws and shouldn't worry. No matter how much we wished it didn't happen, there's nothing we can do about it now. Last Christmas is in the past, this Christmas is now and it'll be different because we're together. We can make this Christmas great."

Cody released his fingers from Bailey's lips and held her hands down by their sides.

"You're right, Cody and I'm sorry that I walked far ahead of you."

"It's okay, Bailey. You felt a sting of the painful memory of last Christmas but now it's gone and I'm here."

Bailey titled her head up and kissed Cody on the cheek. She leaned back and smiled at him.

"I think we better get going if we want to get our shopping down and be back at the hotel at a reasonable time."

"I think we should go ahead and go shopping."

Cody beamed back at Bailey as he agreed with her proposal of getting their shopping down.

"Great! Now let's go."

Bailey spun on her heels to face the street again and looped her arms back into Cody left one. She then laced her fingers with his fingers so that she couldn't get away from him again and that he couldn't slip away from her until it was needed to do so. Cody led Bailey over to the crosswalk and hit a button on a pole to make sure that they would receive an electric walking pedestrian sign. Once the sign glowed and the cars stopped at the stop light, Cody and Bailey walked across the street with other pedestrians and were on their way to the mall to begin their Christmas shopping.