Yay! Another bonding chapter! Don't worry, though, the drama will come as the wedding comes closer...

Once again, don't own SWAC. The Wii is also mentioned again, and I don't own that either...

Chapter 8-You Changed Me

Chad's POV

"Sucka!" I laugh, bowling yet another strike. And Josh says I suck at this game.

I watch helplessly as Josh quits the game, and I scowl.

"Cheater!" I yell. He laughs.

"How about we see if I can beat you at basketball?" He says, and I shake my head.

"Uh…no." I say, "How do I know you won't cheat again?"

He shrugs, "You won't."

I laugh, "OK, then. You practice, I'll be there in a minute…"

"Where are you going?" He asks as I head to the stairs.

"Oh, I'm just going to check on your sister." I say, "But I'll be right back."

He smirks, "Don't trust Sonny alone with her?"

"Not funny, Josh." I say, running up the stairs to where a long hallway awaits me. But then, I've been here so much, I know where every room is.

I walk into Sonny's room, where a picture of us from our first date sits happily. Ah, young love. We were seventeen, I know that's only a year ago, but a lot can happen in a year. And it has. We've had some crazy times. About two or three break-ups, the fights, problems, but I wouldn't change a single thing.

We are perfect.

I hear Sonny's infectious laugh from across the hall, and I go over to see what's going on. I poke my head just through the door where I see my little sister in her bed, and Sonny sat at her side, smiling.

"I think you've been watching too much Christmas So Random." She says, and I try not to laugh. She has been obsessed with that episode over the last…year.

Abby smiles, before she stops and looks up at Sonny, blue eyes shining.

"Will my real Mommy ever come back?" She asks.

I suddenly feel tears block my sight. Abby doesn't understand. Mom can't come back. I mean, I've tried to explain death to her, but she's too young. And Dad was never gonna do it, was he?

It seems Sonny's handling it well though.

"Um, I don't know, sweetie," She says, stroking my little sister's blonde hair softly, "But trust me, whether she comes back or not, you'll always have your Daddy and Melanie. You'll have Josh too." Sadly, I doubt those. Maybe not Josh anymore, but still. Dad doesn't exactly have our backs. Sonny continues, "You'll always have me, and your big brother of course." I smile, "Me and Chad will never leave your side."

Now that's one I agree with. I wipe the tear from my eye and decide to stay strong for my little sister.

"I love Chad." Abby smiles, hugging a stuffed toy I gave her for her 2nd birthday, and I grin.

"Chad loves you too, sweet pea," Sonny says, smiling. She's got that one right.

"And I love you, too," Abby says, and I can't stop myself from beaming. Of course, everyone loves my Sonshine.

"I love you too." Sonny says, and I hear her sniff. I hope she's not crying…

"Sonny?" Abby frowns, "Are you OK?"

Sonny sniffs again, "I'm fine, sweet pea. I'm just tired, need some sleep…and so do you!"

She tickles Abby, who giggles sweetly, before hugging her big tiger and falling into a deep sleep. I walk in at this moment, up behind Sonny.

"She quite something, right?" I ask, and Sonny jumps, before seeing me and smiling.

"She's amazing." Sonny admits, "She makes me wish I has a younger sister…I just can't wait to have a daughter like her, some day."

I know what she's implying. And to be honest, I agree.

"Me too, Sonshine," I say, stroking her back, and she wipes a tear from her eye, "Me too."

Sonny sniffs again, and I hug her, "Are you sure you're OK?"

"It's just…what Abby said…I'm really sorry for her. And for you." She says, "No family should go through this."

I smile sadly, "But we do." I let her go from the hug, holding her in front of me, "But don't worry, OK? Because my life may be tough, but you make it better. And I mean that, Sonny. Don't you forget it. You pretty much saved my life back then – if you hadn't moved in…"

"Don't." She says, "You wouldn't have."

I smile, "And I didn't. OK? So don't worry about it. Everything's fine now – thanks to you."

She smiles, I just hope I'm not hugely putting pressure on her. Even though everything I'm saying is true. Who knows what would've happened to me if I hadn't found Sonny? I'd be what? A jerk? A pathetic excuse for a TV star who thought he was everything, when really, he was just a famous loser who happened to get girls coz he looked good and was famous.

And then what would I be if I hadn't got Sonny back? A loser once again, but this time I'd be a loser without a show. Maybe I'd be some sad-o who sits home all day. I'd be watching re-runs of myself on Mackenzie Falls, wishing I hadn't got so hung up over a girl that was never gonna take me back, coz then I'd have kept my job.

That's why I love reality. But why did my mother have to die to make this reality good?

"Sonny?" A voice comes from downstairs, "You home?"

Sonny smiles, "Mom."

We run down the stairs, smiling, and I try to keep my goody-two-shoes-boy act up. Sure, I'm a good enough guy, but I think Ms Munroe wants me to be the super kind guy, the complete opposite of what I was. That's why I keep up this act, and I think she buys it.

"Ms Munroe." I say, smiling, "Pleasure to see you again."

I kiss her hand and she laughs.

"Keep your hands to your own girlfriend, Cooper." She says.

"Will do, ma'am." I say, hugging Sonny, causing her to giggle.

"Blech!" A voice comes from the couch and we turn to see Josh, "I'm still here!" He goes up the stairs to his room, and we smile, watching him, before I turn back to Connie, who's holding a bunch of heavy stuff awkwardly. And the show goes on…

"Let me take those." I say, taking them off her, and she laughs.

"OK, Chad," She says, "I get it. You're trying to get on my good side, right?"

Sonny bursts out laughing, and I freeze. Wow, she's good!

"OK, you caught me," I say, handing the boxes back to her, but she refuses them.

"You wanna get on my good side?" She asks, and I nod, "You've still gotta take those upstairs for me."

I cringe, "All the way up?"

She nods.

Sonny laughs, "I'll help you."

She takes a box from me easily, and I gasp, my eyes open wide.

"What?" She asks.

"How can you do that easily but it almost breaks my arm?" I ask, and she laughs.

"Because you are a weak little Cooper." She smiles, and I follow her up the stairs, testing my guns the whole time. I'm not that weak…am I?

Well, when I'm with Sonny, I guess she does something to me.

That must be it…right?

Haha, of course, Chad ;)

plz review :)