Chapter 22

I don't own these characters, but it would be nice if I did.

Wait...In this story, I actually created some of them, so I do own them.

Anyways, I do promise to keep them true to themselves.

And as for the ones I did create, who they are is up to me, so...

A jet soared through the sky heading back east. But on the ground outside of the Martin home, Kurt, Cody and Zack were all busy loading up Kurt's jeep to go on their camping trip. Ever since their confrontation in the hotel that morning, neither Cody nor Zack were doing anything to possibly tip off who was who. And as they were packing the jeep, Meredith pulled up in her car. And seeing them packing, she frowned and immediately got out to find out what was going on.

"Kurt! What are you doing?"

He turned around and paused. "Ummm. Well, we have kind of a family emergency here we're trying to solve. The boys won't tell us which is which until we all get back from a family camping trip..."

About that time, Carey was coming out the front door and saw Meredith. And Carey knew she wasn't happy.

Meredith glared at Kurt. "Family camping trip?" She looked over and noticed Carey standing there. "What is she doing here?"

Kurt sighed. "That's the deal. The four of us go camping."

"What are you? The Brady Bunch now?"

Carey walked over to Meredith and smiled. "Is everything okay?"

Meredith plastered a fake smile on her face. "Actually, no its not. I didn't know you were going on this trip. In fact, I don't think I like this one bit!"

Carey kept smiling. "I couldn't agree more. I'm sure the ex-wife in the next sleeping bag would be kind of awkward. That's why I insist on you going with us."

Kurt just shook his head and laughed. "Carey..."

"No, Kurt. I really do insist. I mean, I've completely ruined all of the plans you two have made. Its the least I can do."

A little while later, Cody and Zack were helping Kurt finish loading the jeep when Meredith and Carey walked out of the house. And Meredith had changed in to more camping friendly clothes. Cody frowned.

"Dad, what is Meredith doing here?"

He smiled. "You're mother invited her to join us. So...be nice."

Cody and Zack climbed into the back of the jeep while Meredith took her place in the passenger seat and Kurt in the driver's seat. Carey walked over to them.

"Well, looks like you guys are all packed. I hope you all have fun."

Zack and Cody looked at each other. "But that wasn't part of the plan, Mom!"

Carey smiled. "Oh, it'll be alright. You'll have much more fun without me anyways..."

Meredith went to unbuckle her seat belt. "Well, if she's not going, there's no need for me to go either. I'm not much of a nature girl anyways."

Carey kept smiling. "Oh, but you really should. You and Kurt really should spend some time before your big day. Plus, this is a wonderful chance for you to really get to know the boys. I mean...before long, they will be half yours..."

Kurt just shook his head, laughed and put on his sunglasses. He put the jeep in drive and pulled out as Carey waved goodbye to everyone. A couple of hours later, they had all crossed into British Columbia and made their way to their usual camping area. Of course, to get to the lake that they camped along, there was a two hour hike ahead of them. And when she found out about this, Meredith was not happy. An hour later, she began complaining about needing a break.

Kurt sighed. "Alright, lets take a break so Meredith can catch her breath..."

Zack sighed. "Dad, if we don't get back on pace, it'll take us three hours to get there at this pace..."

"Relax. We'll be there in plenty of time."

Meredith was sitting on a rock relaxing. Cody grinned and took the opportunity to start slipping rocks into her backpack. Was it a little bit juvenile? Of course it was, but he couldn't think of anyone who deserved it more. But she was completely oblivious.

"Where is my bottle of water?"

Zack grinned. "Let me get that for you, Mer."

Zack walked over and found her bottle of water lying on the ground. And right next to it, was a little salamander. He grinned and picked it up. After placing it on the the water bottle, he handed it to Meredith. Without noticing, she unscrewed the top and began taking a drink. Of course, when she saw the salamander looking back at her, she began freaking out. She dropped the bottle of water and began jumping around shrieking.

Kurt turned around. "What's wrong?"

She screamed. "There was a lizard on my bottle of water!"

He went over to pick it up and began laughing. "This little guy? He's harmless."

Meredith composed herself. "I know. I was just startled, that's all..."

Kurt shrugged. "I'm going to take the lead. Boys, hang back and help Meredith, okay?"

Cody just grinned. "Sure thing, Dad."

Meredith picked up her backpack and groaned. "This thing weighs a ton..."

Zack grinned. "Need a hand, Mer?"

She turned around and glared at the both of them. "Not from either of you. I'm not fooled by your angelic faces. You two would give me a help off a cliff if one was around. But, you two will soon learn who is really in charge around her. One more little trick from either of you, and I promise to make your lives a living hell from the day I say 'I do'..."

Back at the Martin house

Carey was keeping herself busy around the house, but there wasn't much she could do. So, she just sighed and sat down at the kitchen table. She just sipped on a cup of coffee when she heard a knock at the back door. She got up to answer it and found Bailey standing there.

"Bailey, right?"

Bailey smiled. "That's right, Ms. Martin. I was stopping by to see if Addison was here."

Carey sighed. "She and Woody went off for a picnic down by the lake...about eight hours ago."

"Oh..."

Carey paused. "Actually, if you don't mind. I'd like to talk to you. I'm get the impression that Cody really likes you."

Bailey smiled again. "I promise you that the feeling is mutual."

"Come on in then. I should get to know a little about you then."

They sat down at the kitchen table, and Bailey began telling Carey a little about herself. And as she sat there listening, Carey could definitely see why Cody was drawn to her.

"I must say...I should be thanking you."

Bailey paused. "For what?"

"Well, I don't know if Cody told you about Barbara..."

Bailey cut her off. "I know all about her. That's one of the things Cody bonded over. We've both had relationships that weren't good for us."

Carey smiled. "I think we've all been there...but I was afraid Cody was snake bitten around girls after what happened. Obviously, I can see that I was wrong about that..."

"Well, Ms. Martin, I just wanted you to know that I really do like him. I can just be myself around him, and its okay. He actually appreciates that I'm smart. We went to the Pacific Science Center together, and even though I've been there numerous times, it was so much more fun being there with him. He's smart, sweet, kind..."

Carey laughed. "I think I get the picture." She paused. "But at some point, Cody is going to have to go back to Boston with me..."

Bailey nodded. "I understand that is a possibility, but that doesn't matter to me. I know that he is actually there, and I can wait for him. We've even already talked about applying to the same colleges together."

"I see. I wish I could make things easier for you both..."

"I know, but aren't the best things in life worth waiting for?"

Carey smiled. "Yeah, they are..."

"Like say...about fifteen years worth of waiting?"

She paused. "Oh...ummm...well...I don't know about all of that."

"Well, that would be up to you...But it seems like a waste to deny what you really want. I may only be fifteen myself, but I already know to go for what you want."

Carey just looked at her. "Okay, I can definitely see why my son is drawn to you. You speak your mind, don't you?"

Bailey smiled. "Never let go unsaid what you will regret not saying later..."

Carey just nodded. "That's definitely something to think about..."

Back in the Woods

Everyone had finally arrived at the campsite on the lack, put up their tents and gathered wood for the fire. Once that was done, they did some fishing and caught some trout. While Kurt was busy getting the fire going, Cody began cleaning the fish and preparing them to be cooked with his pocket spice rack. By the time the fire was going, the fish were ready. And when they were done cooking, they sat down around the fire to eat.

Kurt sighed. "This is amazing..." He turned to the boys. "Whichever one of you is Cody, I'm guessing I have you to thank for this, huh?"

Both boys just grinned at him and spoke. "You're welcome."

Zack turned to Meredith. "Don't you want some, Mer?"

She turned her nose up at it. "No thank you. I'll wait till breakfast to eat. What are we having then?"

The other three just looked at her. "Trout..."

She sighed and swatted at her arm. "Well, at least the mosquitoes are eating well." She pulled out her insect repellant. "I swear...I don't think this stuff in working."

Zack whispered to Cody. "What did you do to it?"

Cody whispered back. "I added a chemical compound to it that counteracts the repellant and actually turns it into a sugar. So, instead of repelling the mosquitoes, it actually attracts them..."

Zack shook his head. "You really are a nerd, aren't you? What did you do to the bottle of bear repellant you gave her?"

"Nothing. I want to have some fun with her, but even I know better than to tempt drawing bears to us..."

Kurt grabbed the bottle of repellant and sprayed some on his arm. He smelled it and shook his head. "Well, it smell like normal repellant. Maybe you just got a bad bottle? Where did you get it anyways?"

"The boys gave it to me..." Meredith bit her tongue and calmed herself as she glared at the boys. "Well...in any case, I think I'm going to take a full sleeping pill and go to bed." She glared at the boys once again before she leaned down and placed a big kiss on Kurt. Once she was done, she just turned and smiled back at the boys.

Once she was in her tent, Kurt shook his head at the boys. "Guys...Lay off. This isn't her thing. Try to be nice..."

That night, after everyone else was asleep, Cody and Zack sneaked out of their tent and over to Meredith's.

Cody whispered to Zack. "Are you sure about this?"

Zack grinned and whispered back. "I'm positive. Besides, this will be child's play compared to what we did to each other in Texas."

Cody had to nod at this. If they had more warning Meredith was coming, they could have really prepared something better.

They opened up her tent and began dragging Meredith out on her air mattress. At one point, she began to stir, but her sleeping pill had really knocked her out. So, they continued to drag her until her air mattress was floating on the lake. Once that was done, they both headed back to their tent to get some sleep.

The next morning, Meredith slowly woke up to a bird sitting on her and pecking at her face. She shooed it away and open her eyes. And that was when she noticed she was floating in the middle of the lake. Immediately, she began screaming at the top of her lungs. And being freaked out, she began flailing around and yelling for Kurt.

Of course, this woke up Kurt, Zack and Cody. The three of them quickly exited their tents and saw Meredith out in the middle of the lake. Kurt sighed, but by then it was too late. Meredith had been flailing out of control and ended up falling into the lake. The three of them just watched as she reemerged from the water and made her way to the shore. And immediately, she stormed up to Kurt. He just looked at her.

"What's going on?"

She just glared at him. "Here's what's going on. The day we get married, I'm shipping those two brats off to military school! Get the picture? Its me or them...take your pick!"

Kurt looked over at his boys and smiled. He turned back to Meredith. "Them."

She looked at him incredulously. "Excuse me?"

"T-H-E-M...them. Get the picture?"

Meredith just screamed again and stormed off. Well, due to the recent events, Kurt decided that that the camping trip was going to be cut short. The hike back to the car and the drive back were silent ones until they dropped Meredith off. But once they did, Kurt chastised and scolded the boys all the way back home. And when they got there, Carey was outside and looked at them oddly.

"Back home so soon?"

Kurt nodded. "Uh huh."

"Where's Meredith?"

"Gone. She asked me to do the impossible. She wanted me to choose her over my boys..."

Zack sighed. "Though, he did say we were grounded until we graduated from high school..."

Kurt smirked. "Uh huh. Up to your room, boys and stay there."

Cody and Zack sighed and made their way inside and up the stairs to Zack's room. Carey just watched them leave and began laughing.

"Okay, what in the world happened?"

"Lets just say our boys played a few tricks on Meredith that sent her over the edge..."

Carey held her hand to her mouth. "Oh my gosh. This is all my fault. I was the one who suggested she go with you all..."

Kurt grinned. "I believe the word you are looking for is tricked. Well, like mother like sons. Its no wonder where they get that from..."

Carey laughed. "I am so sorry..."

Kurt laughed. "Don't worry about..." He sighed. "I need to remember to thank them for this someday..."

To be Continued...