Fragility – They do try. Pick up the pieces and place them back together. Yet even the strongest glue may fail. For the cracks only widen… They will never disappear.

A/N: Hey guys! I'm so sorry! I just lost my muse suddenly. I tried to write but no words came to mind.

It was like trying to ride a bicycle with one of the wheels missing, screeching and groaning against the ground while making little to no progress.

You guys know the feeling of 'Should I update?' or 'Should I not?' that you get when you've written a chapter and really put in a lot of effort into it, but then you feel like something's missing? I decided that I should just update, because if I don't, I might take weeks more to just get this chapter done and be satisfied with it.

Please know I badly wanted to update, and that no matter how long I take to do it, I certainly will. I don't think nicely of writing something and leaving it undone. I'm sure you guys know the feeling of reading a fic halfway and BAM! The writer has disappeared into thin air with no signs of coming back...

Anyway, after spending so much time reading and re-reading my fics, the reviews, other fics, storybooks, and doing schoolwork, hanging out with people, and wrote five different drafts… Ta-daa~

This chapter was almost torture but I tried my best. I hope you guys like it!

P.S. Dear writer of Blood in the Bathroom, please update. You're killing me with the wait. Are you coming back anytime soon? *sniffs* I need to know what happens!

Disclaimer: I do not own the Suite Life Series nor any of its characters.

~ x ~ x ~ x ~ x ~ x ~

"Remember: the time you feel lonely is the time you most need to be by yourself. Life's cruelest irony." - Douglas Coupland, Shampoo Planet

~ x ~ x ~ x ~ x ~ x ~

Cody sat up all night, his hands gripping the edges of the blanket loosely, staring at the unmoving heap that was his brother.

Zack had only finally succumbed to the ravages of sleep. If it weren't for the grimaces that took hold of his features now and then, Cody would have thought his brother seemed peaceful. He felt almost guilty at the relief that washed through him every time his twin was once again within the clutches of a horrible nightmare. He had to check several times if Zack was breathing.

Cody didn't want to wake him. He knew Zack wouldn't fall asleep again if he did. The sleeping twin mumbled something that vaguely resembled his earlier words and Cody let out a shuddered breath, recalling the pure terror he had felt at his brother's sudden cry. Neither did he think he could forget how unprepared he was when Zack had proceeded to pull madly at his hair.

Cody would have to lie if he said he wasn't freaked.

It's my fault.

The same haunting words grated at his ears.

My fault.

As Cody hunched over his pulled up knees, he wondered to himself: What exactly was Zack's fault? What had he done?

There was a short moment of sinking sensation. And as the clock toiled slowly into the next second, minute, hour, Cody became afraid.

…

Surely that accident hadn't been his twin's fault?

Before he could allow himself to dwell on his increasingly vivid imagination, Zack stirred, a frown marring his features. The corners of his lips curled downwards, before his face went lax.

Biting back a sigh, Cody reached out and touched his dark mop of sleep-tousled hair, tracing the strands lightly. His brother may be well and fine, but the younger twin couldn't shake off this...feeling that tugged at the edges of his mind.

Zack…

I'm worried about you.

His gaze never left his brother's form.

~ x ~ x ~ x ~ x ~ x ~

[Morning]

Zack silently handed Cody a clean shirt. His gaze was turned away, directed at his bare feet. Cody gave the blue cloth a brief glance before taking it from his brother's grip. He fingered the clothing for a moment, then eyed his twin for the thousandth time that morning.

If Cody didn't know his brother, he could have sworn he saw a bright light gleam in his twin's eyes through the curtain of blonde locks that fell over Zack's features.

But then, Cody wasn't sure he knew his brother anymore. At least…not as he had 24 hours before.

"Are you going to stare at me all day or put on that shirt so we can go to class?"

Cody flushed. "Huh? Oh. I mean, right. Sorry," he mumbled. He pulled the top over his head and tugged at the end 'till it covered his skin. He forced himself to speak. "I'm going to go use the bathroom first, if you don't mind."

"Yeah, sure. Whatever."

The two stood there for a moment. Cody bit his lip. He nodded to himself and entered the bathroom, closing the door with a gentle push so it wouldn't startle his brother.

He emerged a few minutes later, his hair combed, his teeth brushed. He resisted the urge to look at his twin as Zack entered the now vacant bathroom.

The door closed with a soft click.

Cody went to sit on the bed, lightly bouncing on it as the mattress sunk under his weight. He half-thought of heading to his cabin to grab his bag, but thought the better of it. He didn't want to leave Zack alone. Not even for a moment.

After the heart attack he had nearly gotten the day before, Cody didn't think he could bear to let his brother out of his sight. It was more for his peace of mind as much as it was Zack's.

He kept his eyes trained on the bathroom door.

That was when he heard a crash.

~ x ~ x ~ x ~ x ~ x ~

He was finally away from the prying eyes of his twin. Zack almost heaved a sigh of relief.

Sure it felt nice that Cody actually, well, cared. But still…

Zack found himself staring at his reflection, silent and still. His dull gaze trailed over the tresses of golden hair that hung wildly over his face, then moved to the dark bags under his eyes. He closed his eyes as his hands gripped the edges of the sink tightly.

The same voices raked through his mind again, screeching against his consciousness, tearing whatever peace of mind he had managed to hold on to. Your fault… Your fault…

He couldn't do this. He just couldn't.

Sickening, taunting, gruesome thoughts – images – flashed before his mind's eye, disappearing just as quickly to be replaced by another, each more haunting, more…pained. His imagination didn't help quell the headache either. Zack let out a soft moan. The frantic pounding that hammered at his head only worsened when he laid out the day that he had to go through.

He cracked his eyelids open and squinted at the mirror, the edges of his vision blurring, darkening slightly. Zack shook his head as if that would push the heaviness that he felt away, realizing a bit late that it only contributed to his aching head.

Another moan left his parted lips. He didn't freaking need this.

His hands let go of his death grip on the sink and unintentionally sent the sink's residents into the air before they landed on the tiled floor with a loud thump-thud-thud.

Zack shut his eyes firmly, letting out a loose sigh, as he sunk to the floor. Round 2. The brother goes all hysterical on me.

"Zack? Zack!" There was a shuffling on the other side before Cody's voice rang through the door, his voice firm. "I'm coming in."

The older twin looked up as the door opened, his face drawing up a complete blank. His weary gaze meeting a pair of worried – huh, he mentally scoffed, try frenzied – ones as both of them stared at each other; Zack waiting, Cody raking in his brother's form in shocked silence.

"Are you…" Cody took two big strides and knelt by his brother. "You okay?" he asked, his eyebrows furrowing.

Zack took a moment to answer. He watched Cody look him over, feeling a sense of detached amusement and wonder at his actions. He almost allowed himself to smile. "I'm fine, Codes."

Cody's head snapped up, startled. Confusion clouded his greenish-blue eyes. "But…you" – he swallowed – "why are you on the floor?" Cody glanced at the fallen bottles of bathroom supplies, his eyebrow lifting questioningly.

Zack seemed to freeze. What was he to say to that? "Um…I uh fell."

Cody shot him a look of disbelief. "Right." His features switched back to concern… He tugged at Zack's arm. "Come on, sitting on the floor can't be good for you."

Zack snorted. He pulled himself to his feet, allowing himself to lean on Cody for a moment. They entered the bedroom and Zack let himself fall headfirst onto his bed. He almost whimpered as the throbbing in his head intensified.

"My head is killing me," he muttered. His hand reached up to grab his tousled hair and was about to tug it in frustration when something warm settled over his fist.

The familiar voice trailed into his ears, hard. "No, Zack."

Zack tilted his head to stare in surprise at his twin. They seemed to stare a lot at each other that morning. "What?"

Cody's eyes hardened. He pulled his brother's hand away from his head and glared heatedly at his twin, daring him to even touch a strand of his hair. "No," he repeated. "Not again." He paused for an infinitesimal second, hesitant. "Don't make me witness something like that. Please. Not ever again." His voice nearly cracked at the end.

Zack stiffened. He inwardly groaned. I don't want to deal with this. He saw the plea in his twin's gaze. But I have to, the back of his mind lamented.

He sucked in a deep breath. "Look, Cody. Last night…" he trailed off, willing away the gory images that practically flew at his throbbing mind. He swallowed and continued, "I just had a bad nightmare, okay? It's nothing to worry about."

"Don't lie to me." Cody sounded exasperated. "Do you know how freaked out I was? How could you expect me not to worry?"

Zack rolled his eyes. "You've never worried before. I don't see the problem now."

Cody's blue eyes narrowed. "So I'm supposed to just accept whatever you say even though it's blatantly obvious you're lying through your teeth?"

Zack shrugged, careful to keep his voice from wavering. "Well, yeah! Can you just let it go?" He watched as Cody rubbed the back of his neck.

"I can't, Zack! Can you blame me if I worry about you? You're family."

"Cody…"

The younger twin seemed to be on a roll. "How did you think I feel? Waking up in the middle of the night with you screaming and tearing at your hair with that…" He struggled to find the right words, "-that look on your face? You aren't making this easy for me."

A sudden surge of white hot anger burst in the older's chest. "How you feel?" Zack repeated in disbelief. "How do you think I feel? You don't know anything! So lay off of me!"

He shot Cody a heated look. He got to his feet and pulled out a clean shirt and a pair of jeans from his dresser. Turning his back on his twin, he went back into the bathroom and slammed the door.

He emerged ten minutes later, pretending not to notice the relief that had fallen over his twin's countenance and instead picked up his bag by his bedside. His hand was on the doorknob when his younger sibling spoke up.

"Where are you going?"

Again, he pretended not to hear the tremor in Cody's voice. "Class."

"You…Aren't you tired? Maybe you should stay in-"

"I'm not tired," Zack snapped. Without another word, he let himself out of his cabin and the door closed with a loud bang.

~ x ~ x ~ x ~ x ~ x ~

Just how selfish could someone be?

Zack didn't walk far until he stopped, swaying lightly on his feet. Of course his headache had come back with a vengeance. It felt like his head was being used as target practice for throwing knives from the inside. His hand shot up and braced itself against the wall.

How did you think I feel?

Cody's voice reverberated through his already ringing mind.

…easy for me!

The hell? He was already having a bad morning as it is. He didn't need nor want his brother harping on him on every singly detail. Couldn't he get that Zack didn't want to talk about it?

And they call him insensitive. Zack almost snorted.

He backed himself against the wall, his bag now forgotten on the floor. The anger that had assaulted his mind melted into nothingness, leaving only frustration and tiredness in its wake. It didn't take long for the voices to come back. Mr Moseby's, Cody's…Amanda's. Her dad's.

Zack wasn't a genius, but he figured way back that life would be so much easier if one couldn't feel.

When you can't feel, you'd never feel the pain either.

He let out a long, shuddering sigh.

"Shut up," he muttered. Those voices in his head… Great, now I have them haunting me with a splitting headache to boot.

He half-wanted to turn back and sleep it all off – he mentally scoffed at that; he wasn't ready for another nightmare – half-wanted to do nothing at all. Perhaps, maybe wanted to go to class with Cody so he could have some normalcy and know that his brother was there backing him up. His sibling somehow always made things better for him.

A small drop of guilt sneaked into his veins. He knew his brother had only been worried. Sure, overly worried but still... It wasn't as if something was going to fall on him and kill – he internally winced – him. It was strange how, just a few days back, Zack had wanted Cody to spend more time with him. Just the two of them. He stared at his shoes and wiggled his toes. He didn't understand himself sometimes.

…

Most of the time.

The guilt increased tenfold.

Promise me, Zack.

Promise me you'll always be safe.

Cody had never been so worried before. Zack lifted a hand and covered his face, his shoulders trembling. Not even when he had once been rushed to the hospital after falling off a tree and knocked his head against a badly-placed stone.

He blinked rapidly. Why had he blown up at his brother? Couldn't he see Cody only wanted to help?

What was wrong with him?

Maybe it was his guilt talking, or perhaps he just didn't want to be alone, but the teenager pushed himself off the wall, picked up his bag and headed back to his cabin, trying to ignore the wild throbbing that was his head.

Zack wondered how much longer he could stay on his feet. And he hadn't even gone for class yet.

~ x ~ x ~ x ~ x ~ x ~

[In class]

"Now class, we're going to do what I'd like to call" – Miss Tutweiler lifted her hand in a dramatic fashion – "the Buddy System."

Bailey raised an eyebrow questioningly. "The Buddy System?" she repeated, skeptical.

Miss Tutweiler's lips twitched and she stared hard at her students. Placing the clipboard on her table, she turned back to the class, her fingers twiddling against each other. "Now, you will have to break into pairs." The class broke into a hushed whispering and the teacher coughed, regaining their attention. "Since more than half the class is practically failing their subjects, this system will require one partner to tutor the weaker of the two and to take charge of both your academics. And-"

"Sorry we're late!"

Everyone looked up to look at the twins who had only just entered.

Cody offered the teacher an apologetic smile, though his gaze quickly darted back to Zack who had side-stepped him to head for his table. The older twin didn't say a word or meet anyone's eye. He dropped his bag on the floor and fell into his seat.

"Nice of you to join us, Cody, Zack." Miss Tutweiler shifted her gaze from Cody to Zack and back to Cody. A bemused expression fell onto her features.

"Sorry, Miss Tutweiler," Cody began. He avoided her gaze. "We uh overslept, that's all." There were audible gasps at this.

"Since when did the two of you come to class together?" London piped up, her eyes wide and curious.

Cody stiffened and began to stammer, "We uh…Well…you see-"

Zack interjected dryly, "We're brothers. Can't we come to class together, London?"

London raised an elegant eyebrow, processed the words, and shrugged. "Okay."

The teacher shot him an unreadable look but gestured Cody to his chair. He nodded and, like Zack, settled down, his gaze upturned expectantly.

Bailey leaned over, trying to be discreet. "So where were you, Cody?"

Cody turned to her. "Huh?"

"You're never late for class," Bailey answered and added, "Ever."

"We did oversleep… Kind off."

Bailey frowned, and then reached out to touch his arm. "Is everything okay?" she whispered.

He nodded, and offered her a grateful smile. Thanks, he mouthed. Bailey smiled at him then turned back to the teacher.

"…like I was saying, a buddy system. Before you get all excited about whom to pair with, I already have a list of who's going to go with whom." The class groaned. Miss Tutweiler flipped through the papers on her clipboard and nodded to herself when she found the page. "Okay, first off-"

Cody raised his hand.

"No, Cody. You will not be paired with Bailey, and don't even try to change my mind."

"But-"

Miss Tutweiler wagged her finger at him, her face stern. "No. If I pair you to together, there wouldn't be any point to this system."

"I want to pair with Zack."

Everyone fell silent.

Miss Tutweiler lifted her head to stare, incredulous, at him. She vaguely noticed the surprised look on Zack's face. "What did you say?"

Cody met her gaze. His voice was firm and unyielding. "I want to pair with Zack," he repeated. When he didn't get a response, he continued, "That won't be a problem, would it? I think we'd be a great pair and I could definitely help him a lot." A thought occurred to him, and he paused. He glanced at his twin, taken aback to see Zack staring straight at him. Cody fidgeted uneasily, trying to ignore the unspoken question between them. "I mean, of course…as long as-"

"I don't mind." Zack leaned back against his chair, his hands draped across his chest. His expression was unreadable.

Miss Tutweiler made a humming noise under her breath. She nodded to herself, processing the idea given to her. She flicked her gaze between the brothers and inwardly shrugged. It didn't seem as if Cody would take no for an answer anyway.

"Well, you'll be seeing each other a lot."

And that settled it.

~ x ~ x ~ x ~ x ~ x ~

"So what was that about?" Zack asked.

Cody hooked his fingers together. He glanced at his brother and pointedly looked away. "Nothing," he lied.

Zack snorted. "Yeah right. You've never- Cody, look at me."

Cody hesitated at the not so casual tone, but complied. The two pairs of identical blue eyes met.

Zack stared hard at his twin, searching his face for any indication of what he was up to. Finding nothing other than apprehension, the older Martin settled back against his chair. "Well," he started, his gaze never leaving Cody's, "you've never volunteered to be paired with me before. What's up?"

Cody lifted his shoulders and let them fall. "I just…wanted to spend more time with my brother." He mentally clapped himself on the shoulder. That was part truth.

Zack arched an eyebrow. He began drumming his fingers on the table, allowing a somewhat awkward silence to fall between them.

Both of them had pulled their desks together, as had everyone else with their respective partners. Apparently, the original arrangement was for Cody was to coach both Zack and Woody, but the cold stare that Zack had sent their teacher, coupled with his brother's immediate protest, had convinced Miss Tutweiler to just accept it and move on.

Not that Woody had taken it extremely well. He had pouted at the twins and said, "Hurtful."

Miss Tutweiler swept past and handed them their assignments. They didn't notice her curious glance before she walked away.

"So…" Cody began, uncertain. "Let's start."

Zack nodded.

…

[End of Class]

"So, just sum this up with this number, multiply it by ten and you get the answer." Cody leaned back and gave a satisfied sigh.

"Huh. That's how you do it?" Zack muttered under his breath. He twirled his pen in his hand as he bent to stare harder at the piece of paper. He frowned.

"Is something wrong?"

Zack shook his head. "Nothing." He reached up to brush the hair out of his eyes but his hand froze mid-air. His eyes shifted to stare at his brother, who had looked away, his posture unnaturally rigid and straight. Right.

Rule number 1. No touching of anything related to head or hair. Consequence? A usually calm brother turned furious to deal with, Zack reminded himself.

His hand dropped.

"So, you gonna tell me why we're in the same team?"

Cody averted his gaze. When he offered no response, he felt a finger prod at his shoulder. He ignored it. This went on for the next couple of minutes, each push and tug getting stronger. Cody finally gave in. "Do you really have a problem with me as your partner, Zack?" he asked, an exasperated tinge to his voice.

"No," he answered, careful. "I just wonder why you insisted that we are paired together." Zack shrugged. "I don't see how it'll benefit you."

Cody tensed. Benefit? "For one thing, you also contributed to us being paired. And benefit? Seriously, Zack?"

"What? Am I wrong?" Zack shot back.

Cody glared at his twin. "I'm your brother. What must I do to knock that into your head?"

"You've never willingly team up with me on school assignments. It's always Bailey!" Zack hissed. His hands balled into a fist on his lap. His head pounded, he felt tired, and he just wanted to get out of the classroom and go home, which sadly wasn't the cabin that was on the ship. "Granted, Miss Tutweiler wouldn't have allowed it but still!"

Cody exhaled, slow and controlled. He bit his lip and tried to ease the annoyance that came with the being called Zachary Martin. "And? The one time I want to pair with you, you go all suspicious and defensive! What's up with that?"

"Why don't you answer my question before I answer yours?" Zack snapped.

"Can't you just accept it and work with me here?"

Zack huffed loudly. "Yeah, well, why would I want to work with you?"

Hurt crossed the younger's complexion. Cody shifted away from his brother, eyes wide and confused. "What's wrong with you?"

A touch of guilt clung to him, but then Zack felt frustration well up in him. He covered his head with his hands. "Look, I don't know, okay? Everything's messed up, and my head hurts and I don't even freaking know what's going on!"

Cody hesitated, then reached and squeezed his twin's arm. Zack looked up then, his face hopeful and sheepish.

"It's okay, Zack. I'm sorry I got all defensive myself back there too." Cody offered him a small smile and was gratified when his sibling returned it.

"Me too."

There was a moment's silence.

"Zack?" The said person looked up and Cody had to suck in a deep breath before he could continue. "I just…I'm sorry. I know I should probably just tell you. I mean, why I wanted us together for this assignment. And I-"

Zack cut in. "You don't have to if you don't want to, Cody."

Cody shook his head. "No, I do want to. There're a few reasons, I guess. What's with everything that happened yesterday, I just thought-"

A new voice interrupted their conversation.

"Hey Zack, hey Cody!" London waved at them, a cheerful grin on her sharp features. Bailey stood beside her, shooting Cody an apologetic glance.

"Hey London," Zack greeted, a bit too cheerful.

London touched her hair delicately. "I heard about what happened yesterday! I can't believe" – she gave Bailey an accusing glare – "none of you called me to tell me!"

"About what?"

London rolled her eyes. "About the accident, of course!"

Cody stared at Bailey. He mouthed, you told her?

Bailey shook her head and answered, Woody.

Cody pinched the bridge of his nose. Great. Exactly what they needed right now.

"You know about the accident?" Zack asked, his face blank.

London waved the question away dismissively. "Like that would escape me." She looked him up and down. "Huh, can't blame the driver though. I mean, he probably saw you wearing something like that and couldn't help but try to run you over!"

"London…" Bailey tugged at her arm in warning.

"What? It's true! Can't you see what he's wearing?" London pointed at Zack's outfit and laughed.

Zack's facial features darkened. He stood up. "Wow, thanks, London," he began, putting in extra effort to pepper his words with sarcasm. "Next time, I'll be sure to stand in front of the car and not move so he wouldn't waste his efforts by missing and killing somebody else in the process."

The three seemed taken aback by the venom in his words.

A strange look appeared on London's face. "I mean, of course we're happy you're alive and kicking. Just warning you how to avoid future accid-"

Bailey drove an elbow into her side and she shrieked. London whipped round to protest but quieted at her friend's warning look.

A thought occurred to Cody. "Wait, you mean, you didn't cause the car to crash?" His eyes widened the moment the words escaped his mouth, realizing too late how his sibling would take it.

Zack jerked his head towards his brother, disbelief dominating his eyes. "What?"

Cody tried to backpedal his way out of it. He shook his hands wildly. "No! I mean, that came out all wrong. I didn't mean that you caused caused it, but that you were uh…I mean-"

By then, Zack's blue eyes had grown ice cold. "Yeah, I get it, Cody. I understand," he deadpanned. "All of you think it was my fault."

Bailey looked horrified. "No! Of course not!"

"Well," London began but Cody shot her a withering glare. Couldn't she see how riled up Zack was?

"Zack, that's not what I meant."

"Then what did you mean?" Zack burst out. He swallowed and clenched his eyes shut for a moment. "None of you ever take more than a damned second before pinning the blame on me. Every time! So why should this be any different?" He started to back away from them.

Cody reached out to him but he slapped the hand away. A wild look gleamed in his eyes, a strange mixture of anger, defiance, and what Cody thought to be hints of guilt.

He glowered at Cody. "Maybe I should have died back there. Then I wouldn't have to deal with all this crap."

Cody let out an inaudible noise. "Shut up, Zack," he snapped.

Zack scoffed. "Or what? You'd throw me in front of a car?"

Cody looked frustrated. "What is wrong with you? You didn't do it, alright? We get it!"

"No, you don't! I-" Zack stopped but then continued, his voice low, "You know what? I don't even want to talk to you anymore."

Cody sucked in a deep, steadying breath. His brother probably was stressed out. That must be it.

"Come on, both of you." Bailey shot the twins pleading looks. "We shouldn't be fighting over this. And, Zack, don't talk like that. You should be grateful you're okay."

Zack shoved a fisted hand at his hair in frustration. "Grateful?" he repeated. "Why should I be grateful?" His leg hit the side of a desk and he stopped himself from backing away any further.

London seemed confused. "Why wouldn't you be?"

"Because it should have been me!" Zack practically screamed at them then. "I shouldn't be standing here! Talking, walking, breathing. Why don't you get it? I shouldn't be alive!" The end seemed almost pained.

Cody, Bailey and London stared at him, stunned.

Zack breathed heavily, and the energy that had coursed through his veins moments ago deserted him. His shoulders slumped. "You don't know how much I wish it was me," he whispered.

He met his brother's eye. "It was my time to go."

And Zack promptly ran from the room.

~ x ~ x ~ x ~ x ~ x ~

"The problem with surviving was that you ended up with the ghosts of everyone you'd ever left behind riding on your shoulders." – Paolo Bacigalupi, The Drowned Cities

~ x ~ x ~ x ~ x ~ x ~

Thank you for the reviews! I really appreciate it. :)

Replies:

To purple909: Thank you for your review. I'm glad you liked the Chapter 3. :) I know how you feel. There just is too little fics on Zack and Cody, and most of the ones I read are quite predictable, though I love to read them all the same. You don't know how much I loved your review. I hope you like this chapter. It's nothing much, but I hope it's not too boring. :)

To owlhero: Thanks for reviewing again! I hope you didn't wait too long for this one. Noted and I hope I didn't have the thoughts of the characters mixed up and confused here. When you're the writer, and you know what you're writing, you tend to not realize if anything is confusing since it's all so clear to you. Thank you for pointing my mistake out! I really appreciate it. :)

I always wondered how Cody would react with Zack if something happened to Zack. The show doesn't exactly show him to be prone to separation anxiety as much as Zack is. Cruel it is, but I hope the accident didn't put you off from reading!

Hope you enjoyed this chapter!

To serpent: Thanks for your review! Hope you liked this chapter! :)

To Slinky Flower the Lovatic: Thanks for reviewing! Sorry for the very late update. :(

To flufflekinz8188: Thanks for reviewing! I'm glad I managed to create the impression that something tragic had happened to Zack successfully. Though I would never hurt Zack that way (I hope). Your review made me so happy. *dabs at eyes*

I'm sorry, but I'm kind of confused here. Conscientiousness? I went back to my fic and tried to see if I mistook conscientiousness for consciousness, or if I misspelt it, but I can't locate any anywhere. Where was my mistake?

Anyway, I really hope you like this chapter! :D

To lozmcdoz: Thank you for reviewing! Hoped you like this chapter!

To the-lovely-anomaly: Thank you for your review! :) I truly appreciate it. Notes taken! I hope this chapter wasn't too bad. A major part of my writing flaws comes from the characters being OOC. I did try to keep them true to themselves here. What do you think?

Thanks again for taking the time to help me improve. I hope you liked this chapter.

Cheers.

To Zackster: Thank you for reviewing! I'm sorry I updated so late. Hope you liked this chapter!

To Narnia's Princess: Thanks for the review! I know. I just melt at brotherly love. Glad to know I'm not the only one. :) Hope you liked this chapter.

Well…if it isn't too much, could I get 12 reviews before I update next please? Feel free to offer constructive criticism. :)

Thank you!