'I Believe' - chapter 4

One and a half of Cody's Christmas wishes were taken care of. He got Bailey, and Zack wouldn't worry quite so much. Unfortunately, Zack had no way of fulfilling the last wish. He had the same wish actually. He decided to write Santa a quick note too and see if he could help.

It was well after midnight by the time Zack got back to his room to write his letter, so he laid down on his bed with a pad of paper and started writing; he was running out of time.

(Zack's letter)

Dear Santa,

I'm sorry I didn't write this sooner, but I just now figured out what I want for Christmas. I sure hope I'm not on the naughty list this year. Although, I know if it were up to Mr. Moseby I would be on that list permanently.

Anyway Sir, you know my brother Cody? Well, I was really hoping that you could give him what he asked for in his letter to you. That's all I really want. You know he hasn't really believed in you for a long time now, it would be so awesome if he could. I would love to see him happy for a change at Christmastime like when we were little kids.

I did try to help you out some with his wishes. I think I have the Bailey one covered. I hooked she and Cody up and they seem pretty happy. Although if you could keep them from knowing how that happened I would be really grateful.

I left the hardest wish for you to take care of, cause I know you can figure out a way for him to see our parents for Christmas.

Now that I think of it, I would kind of like to see them myself. I hope this isn't asking too much of you Sir. I would really appreciate it; he is my best friend.

Thank you so much sir,

Zachary

When he finished writing his letter he tore it out of the notepad. He got up, left his room, as he started folding it, and headed for the sky deck; by the time he got there he had a pretty nice paper airplane made. He walked up to the railing of the ship and let it go watching it sail off over the ocean waves until he couldn't see it any longer. As he stood there he remembered when he used to fly his Santa letters off the roof of the Tipton, and before that the roof of their two story house (if his parents found out they'd kill him), every year. He had his own private ritual and he never told anyone about it, not even Cody, because he didn't want to be made fun of. He really hoped it would work like it used to, since he wasn't home anymore.

'Later at the party'

When Zack stood at the door of the party with his date on his arm he noticed what a great job he and the girls did on the decorating. They had decided on a snow theme and everywhere you looked there were snowflakes. There was a snowman in the corner by the snack table and a big Christmas tree by the DJ station. They were lucky to get one of the biggest rooms for the party; it sometimes doubled as the gym.

He looked towards his date and wondered how he got so lucky to find such a hot date at the last minute.

'Earlier'

He had almost forgotten about the party, he was concentrating so hard on helping Cody get his girl. However, as luck would have it he saw this amazing girl up on the sky deck that morning after he sent his letter. She was looking out at the ocean with a kind of sad expression, so Zack went up to ask her if she was alright.

"Excuse me, I couldn't help noticing that you looked kind of down. Is there anything I can help you with?" Zack asked her hopefully.

He couldn't help staring at her a little; she was so beautiful. She stood only about 5'1" and had beautiful wavy chocolate brown hair that went down to her waist. When she looked at him he got lost in her gorgeous eyes that were such a dark green they almost looked black, except they faded towards the iris and there they were almost a mint green. Zack was so fascinated he almost didn't hear her answer.

"I was just thinking about what I was going to do tonight, its no fun hanging out alone at Christmas," she answered looking up into his blue-green eyes thru her long dark eyelashes.

He stuck out his hand to shake hers, thinking that this was the perfect opportunity to ask her for a date.

"M-My name is Zack, and yours is?" he asked clearing his throat. 'Get a hold of yourself Zack, girls don't make you nervous.'

"Angel. It's nice to meet you Zack. Are you one of the students on the ship?" she asked him.

"Angel… that's a beautiful name. Yes, I go to school here, it's cool. Are you a passenger here for the holidays?" he asked.

"Unfortunately no, I am here to start school after New Years, my parents went on an extended holiday and decided to send me here early," She said sadly.

"Wow, so you are all alone. Well, we can't have that. All the other students and I are having a Christmas party tonight since we are all stuck here. Would you like to go with me?" he asked her hopefully.

"You don't have a date already?" She asked him, confused, he was such a hot guy surely he had a girlfriend.

"Nope, I was waiting for the perfect girl to go with me," he said smoothly.

"Oh, well, okay then, it sounds like fun. Thanks," she said smiling shyly at him.

"Wow, I mean uh, cool. I will pick you up at 8:00, where is your room?" he asked as he grinned back at her.

She told him and it ended up she was across the hall from London and Bailey's room. She had a room all to herself like he did.

They decided to hang out for a while on deck. She told him about her family and how lonely she was because they were always gone, mostly for business. He understood a little because he always missed his dad while he was on the road. He told her about his family and that his parents were divorced, and told her about Cody, how worried he was about him at Christmas and how he hoped that would change this year.

She thought that was so sweet that he cared so much for his brother. She then told him that if he needed any help she would be glad to help him with his brothers Christmas. He thanked her and dropped her off at her room, he wished he could stay with her until the party but he had a short shift at the smoothie bar he had to do first, so he leaned in and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek before he left.

"Okay… (Sigh) I'll see you at eight," he said smiling at her as he turned to leave.

"Zack?" Angel called out to him as he headed down the hall.

"Yeah?" he asked as he turned around still grinning like an idiot.

"Thanks for a great day," she smiled back at him, then turned and went inside her room.

'A Perfect day,' he thought, as he walked down the hall still smiling.

'Back at the Party'

Zack and Angel walked into the party and Zack looked around for Cody and Bailey. He found them in the corner with their arms wrapped around each other. They were slow dancing with their foreheads leaned against each other staring into each other's eyes.

He saw Woody and Addison at the snack table getting food. London was holding court with about six guys by the Christmas tree. Everything was as it should be.

Zack smiled and took Angels hand; he led her to the middle of the dance floor and pulled her close for a slow dance. As they swayed to the music Zack got lost in the smell of Angels hair, she must have used a vanilla scented shampoo because he thought she smelled like warm sugar cookies. He definitely had Christmas on the brain.

Zack wasn't really sure how long they had been dancing, but he happened to look up and just caught Cody's back as he ran out the door. He looked over and saw Bailey watching him with a sad look on her face.

"Bailey what happened?" he asked as he and Angel rushed up to her.

"I'm not really sure Zack. I thought we were having a great time he seemed so happy tonight. We were in the middle of that last dance and all of a sudden Cody looked at his watch and then he got a strange pained expression on his face, apologized and ran out the door," Bailey explained.

Zack looked at his own watch and saw that the digital numbers read 12:31:06AM and 12/25/09. He knew exactly what happened, so he told Angel he needed to go after his brother. She told him to go, she would be all right. Zack gave her a hug and thanked her for being so understanding; he then told Bailey not to worry and went to find his brother.

Cody had been having the best time he'd had in a very long time. He and Bailey were dancing and enjoying each other's company, just being close was so nice. They hadn't let go of each other all night, until Cody happened to glance at his watch and saw the time. It was like a jolt of reality hit him upside of the head. He stopped dancing, apologized to Bailey, and ran out of the party. He ran 'til he was out of breath. When he stopped he looked around and saw that he was up on the sky deck so he sat on the covered hot tub and tried to stop the tears that were threatening to fall.

As Zack came up onto the sky deck and looked around for his brother, he found him sitting on the hot tub staring off into the distance, he wasn't crying yet but he was very close.

"Cody, are you alright?" Zack asked, him as he walked over and put his hand on his back.

"Zack you shouldn't have come up here, you should be with your date. I'll be alright."

"I believe you buddy, I just wanted to get some air," Zack said as he hopped up beside him. He then leaned over and looked into his little brother's eyes. "Seriously Codes, you know we really need to talk about what happens to you at this time of year."

"What do you mean, what happens to me?" Cody asked hoping he didn't mean what he thought he did.

"Codes, you know what I'm talking about, ever since we were little you've had a really hard time with Christmas," Zack started to explain. "Why won't you talk to me about what's wrong? You keep it all bottled up and are always miserable. Dude I just want you to be happy."

"I know Zack and I was having a really great time with Bailey. She is so awesome, by the way," Cody explained. "I just miss Mom and Dad, we should be with them for Christmas."

"Yeah I know Buddy, I miss them too," Zack agreed with him.

Unknown to the twins, their dates followed Zack when he left them to find his brother. They were hiding by the girl's bathroom listening to the boys talk. Bailey was so worried about Cody she couldn't stay at the party, and Angel wouldn't let Bailey follow by herself incase she got too upset. She really wanted to be there in case Zack needed her too. As they stood there listening to the boys talking they started to hear something.

"Do you hear bells?" Bailey asked.

"Oh good you hear them too, I thought I was hearing things."

"Cody do you hear bells?" Zack asked.

"Yeah I think so," the younger twin replied. "Where do you think they're coming from?"

"I'm not sure, but I think they are getting louder."

"Hey, I think I hear a horse or something, I must be going crazy," Cody said confused by the sound.

"Uh… Cody… that's not a horse, look up," Zack said, staring at the sky in awe.

Zack was sitting with his eyes transfixed on the site above him. He had the biggest smile on his face and had never been so happy to see anything in his life. Cody finally looked up and he almost fell off the hot tub. He absolutely couldn't believe what he was seeing.

'It can't… there's no way… he's not real,' he thought.

When he looked up he saw nine reindeer, and it looked like they were pulling a sleigh, Santa was flying over the ship and he was trying to land.

"I can't believe it…" Cody whispered.

"Yeah, Bro! He's real! I knew it!" Zack yelled as he ran to the railing.

The sleigh circled a few more times as it got closer and then the reindeer landed by the pool. They ended up wrapping around one whole end as they came to a stop. When they did, the boys saw that there were three people inside the sleigh.

Cody jumped off the hot tub and ran as fast as he could to the sleigh. There he helped his Mom out onto the deck of the ship. His Dad jumping out behind her.

"How… here… how?" Cody asked as he hugged them both.

"Well, Santa came and said that the only thing in your letter that you didn't already have was to spend Christmas with us. He also said that your brother only asked for one thing in his letter." She looked at Zack with tears in her eyes as she walked over and squeezed all the air out of his lungs.

"Zack, my man I am so proud of you," Kurt said to his oldest son as he hugged him too.

Cody was looking at the hug fest wondering what Zack had done when he heard a very deep voice come from the sleigh.

"Cody, come sit with me for a minute son," Santa said to him.

Zack patted him on the back and then gave him a little push, as Santa smiled down at him. Cody climbed in the sleigh and sat by Santa. He never felt so small and humbled in his whole life.

Santa looked like he was at least seven feet tall and huge, not really fat like all the stories say, but just a really, really big man. There was a couple things that all the stories had right though, he did have a twinkle in his eyes that made him look like he was the grandfather for the whole world. His beard was definitely pure white and it looked so soft, just like a snowdrift. He just couldn't believe that this was really happening

"Cody, I hope this settles whether I'm real or not, I haven't heard from you in years. If it wasn't for your roommate Woodrow I wouldn't have heard from you this year either I'm afraid." Santa said softly to him.

"Woody?" Cody asked.

"Yes Cody, Woody sent me your letter. That's how I could bring you what you truly wanted this year," he answered.

"Wait my letter? My letter is in my room. I never let anyone see it, and I sure didn't send it anywhere. How?" Cody asked totally confused.

"You'll have to discuss that with Woody," Santa said to the confused boy.

"Santa, I'm so sorry that I lost faith in you. I just never could find any proof that you really existed," Cody said quietly to him.

"Cody, does it really make a huge difference to your life whether I am real or not? You know that you have some of the most important people you will ever have in your life already. You have friends that love you, a wonderful family that loves you and always will; and in that family you have a brother that would give up everything just to see you happy," Santa told him.

"I don't usually do this, but it is only fair, as Woody gave Zack a copy of the letter that you wrote," Santa explained.

"He what? How could he, I am…" Cody growled.

"Now don't get mad at Woody, he was just trying to help you. He is another person that you have to realize is always going to be there for you if you need him," Santa told him after he saw the look on his face. "Anyway, here is your brother's letter to me this year."

Cody took the letter and read it.

Dear Santa,

I'm sorry I didn't write this sooner, but I just now figured out what I want for Christmas. I sure hope I'm not on the naughty list this year. Although, I know if it were up to Mr. Moseby I would be on that list permanently.

Anyway Sir, you know my brother Cody? Well, I was really hoping that you could give him what he asked for in his letter to you. That's all I really want for Christmas. You know he hasn't really believed in you for a long time now, it would be so awesome if he could. I would love to see him happy for a change at Christmastime like when we were little kids.

I know you can figure out a way for him to see our parents for Christmas.

Now that I think of it, I would kind of like to see them myself. I hope this isn't asking too much of you Sir. I would really appreciate it; he is my best friend.

Thank you so much sir,

Zachary

Santa had made sure that the part Zack didn't want Cody to know about was missing in the letter. As Cody read the letter he started to cry, he couldn't believe that Zack would do something like that for him.

"Cody, I don't want you to forget what happened here tonight, and I don't mean seeing me. I mean that you figured out that you are going to be okay and you have the best support system that you could ever have," Santa told him gently. "So many people out there are lucky if they have just one person care for them and look how many you have that love and care for you. You are a special person son, now go be with your family."

"Thank you Santa, I will always remember what you showed me tonight. Thank you so much for bringing my parents to see Zack and I, can they stay?" Cody asked.

"Yes Son, they can stay for a while, I believe your next stop on the ship will be close to home," Santa said.

Cody reached out and gave Santa a big hug. He then jumped out of the sleigh and hugged his parents while Zack walked over to talk to Santa real quick.

"Santa, sir, thank you for bringing our parents here. I knew you could do it. I don't know what you said to Cody but he already seems different."

"Son, I don't get many letters asking for others gifts to be given instead of their own, I truly am proud of you Zachary Martin. You are a great brother, never change," Santa told him.

"Thank you sir, I won't," Zack promised humbly.

When Zack left the sleigh Cody grabbed him and gave him a huge bear hug.

"Thank you Zack."

"Your welcome Codes, what did I do?"

"You are always there for me, even when I don't deserve it. I just wanted you to know I really appreciate everything you do for me. A-And to tell you that I-I love you," Cody said, clearing his throat as he started to tear up again.

"Cody, dude, I would do anything for you just like I know you would do anything for me. I love you too, little bro," Zack said, as he squeezed him back, clearing his throat too, and fighting a few tears of his own.

Nobody noticed, but the girls had come up and were standing by the hot tub watching everything with a look of wonder on their faces.

"Bailey, you take care of Cody. He really loves you. He will watch out for you too. Angel, your parents do love you, and they will realize soon everything they have missed with you. Stay with Zack and help Cody keep him out of trouble. I know he can chase away those lonely blues you've been experiencing," Santa told the girls.

The boys looked over and saw the girls standing there in shock, so they walked over and put their arms around them.

"Merry Christmas to you all!" Santa said loudly as he flicked his reins.

The reindeer started to run around the pool and up they went. Santa circled the ship once and then he was gone. The six people on the sky deck stood there for a long time watching even though they couldn't see him anymore.

All of a sudden they were all really tired so they went to bed, Kurt bunked with Zack and Cody in Zack's room, and Angel let Carrie stay in her extra bed.

The next morning very loud yelling could be heard from across the hall in Woody and Cody's room.

Zack and Cody jumped up and ran next door to see if he was all right. When Cody opened the door, he saw Woody in his footy P.J.'s jumping up and down on his bed like a little kid.

"Woody, what's going on?" Zack asked.

"Guys you will never believe, I got my ice cream maker! I got my ICE CREAM MAKER! It was over there by my desk with all the ingredients to last for 3 months. That was the number one thing on my list to Santa; I never get the number one thing on my list. I always get the number two or three things. I can't believe it and I can't believe Santa found me here!" Woody said excitedly.

Zack and Cody just looked at each other and smiled.

'The End'