Disclaimer: I do not own Suite Life on Deck so please do not sue me.

A/N: Since I am loved today by my superfantastic boyfriend on Valentine's Day, I figured you all needed some Suite Life Fanfiction love. :D I have actually had this written for two days, but I didn't want to update too soon. I was going to at least wait an entire week. But, I'm feeling the love. I do hope you enjoy this rather quick update! I have barely put a dent into chapter 19, so odds are I won't have it up in less than a week. But I promise it won't be more than a month! Oh, and I'll have you know that I have decided HOW I WILL END THIS STORY. I was looking at two possible endings, and in writing the last chapter, it hit me. I knew how I could make an awesome ending. So, option three became option one! Gah, enough of my author note, enjoy! ~Love, boysinabooth.

High Tides
Chapter 18: Equilibrium

My hands haphazardly reach into yet another dresser drawer in my room. I just had those stupid trunks the other day when I went swimming with Maddie. They couldn't have gotten too far, could they? Oh, wait a second. That's right, Maddie. I thump myself in the head harshly. How could I have been so stupid? Obviously they're still in her room! This is just charming. I don't even know if she is in there, since she has to do all her Harvard research. I'd feel intrusive just by waltzing in there without any discretion whatsoever in desperation to find my trunks just so I can urinate in the Mediterranean. Also, now that the thought crosses my mind, it does sound a bit childish. But, I told Cody I'd get out of my room too. I don't want him back down my throat about staying in my room and sulking. Guess this means I am going to try the former and cross my fingers that Maddie isn't in her room when I pick the lock on her door.

I open my closet and search for one of two simple items that will help me achieve this - a bobby pin. This isn't just any bobby pin though, this is a very treasured bobby pin that fell out of Maddie's hair during her prom when I was the only one there to dance with her. Gosh, I remember that moment as if it just happened. It feels so fresh in my mind. I know I was only a kid back then, but those silly butterflies in my gut didn't leave until well after the dance Maddie and I shared that night. I blink my eyes a few times, curious as to why I am still standing in my closet, and I remember my mission. Leaning over to my desk, I grab one of the paperclips that I stole from Cody's big organizer binder. If one of these doesn't work, then the other will. Most of the locks on the S.S. Tipton are pretty similar.

As I shove these items into my pocket, I casually exit my bedroom. I have no one to hide from or anything. Just don't want to look suspicious is all. I begin the familiar walk down to Maddie's room and I'm feeling nostalgic as to the first time I snuck this way to check in on her. A smile tugs at the corner of my lips and it's hard to contain. I take the long way - the stairs - and meander through the hallway. Two rooms on the left, and here we are.

Just to see if I'm lucky, I soundlessly attempt to open the door. Locked. Of course. I first try my luck with the paperclip, mainly because it's more effective than my elusive bobby pin. Damn. It's not budging in the slightest. Giving the bobby pin a peck, I gently shove it in the keyhole. Click. Got it. Without hesitation, I open the door.

"What the-" I hear the frightened voice of Maddie. Hmm, something is telling me that I should have tried knocking first. As my eyes glance into the room, there she is clad in her underwear and no top on. Oh gosh, am I going to look like a creeper for this one. I close my eyes and place my hands over my face in some attempt to make it look as if I didn't see anything. "ZACK! WHAT THE HELL?"

"Sorry...I needed my trunks." I murmur, blindly walking into the room with one hand guiding the way to ensure I don't run into anything. Smack. Smack. Smack! "Ouch! What was that for?"

"For walking in on me. Gheeze, what were you thinking picking my door?" She exclaims right into my ears. The sound causes me to open my eyes and she's still there, one arm covering her bare breasts and the other has a fist waiting for me. Part of me is turned on, and part of me wants to run screaming. Instead of acting on my fear impulse, I respond to the bulge beginning to form in my pants and take her sweet face in my hands and kiss her tenderly. I peek out of the corner of my eye to see her fist tighten - oh shit - but it soon loosens up and I see the same hand grasp the back of my head to pull me in closer.

I'm not going to lie, I'm really turned on right now. My blonde haired beauty has dropped her once defensive guard and now she has both of her hands ravishing my hair. Our lips are in a battle and, woah, did she just slip her tongue in my mouth? I wasn't really expecting that and I feel a moan coming from my throat. She's completely doing this to torture me, I just know it. If she keeps kissing me and coming closer to me, then I may just spontaneously combust or something. My hormones are beginning to overwhelm what little logic I have left, and I feel my left hand twitching toward Maddie's glorious bare chest. Temptation is really pushing me, and I give in, I gently cup her bosom in my hand.

"Zack!" she half says and half moans. I pull her in closer to me and we tumble onto the bed softly. Oh gosh, I have wanted this for a long time. The girl of my dreams is practically naked on top of me and it isn't a dream. I hate to sound cheesy, but it's magical. Like, sparks fly magical. She straddles my waist and her fingers begin to play with the end of my shirt. Just how far are we going to go here?

"Hey, babe," I whisper, breaking away from her very tantalizing lips. She looks a bit sad with desire and lust mixed in her eyes, but I ignore it and finish my thought, "What are we doing? Just what are you wanting from this?"

"Just you," she whispers back into my ear, her tongue darting in for only a second. No girl has ever done that to me before, and to say the least I am turned on even more than before. As much as I would love to just ravish her and completely lose my inhibition right now. But, considering Maddie's fragile state after Mitch's death and my current diagnosis, I regrettably place a hand on either side of her waist and move her to the opposite side of the bed. I don't want her to do this and later regret it.

"No, we shouldn't babe," I tell her and roll over, my back against her. I can only imagine the look on her face, her eyebrows furrowing at me and a pouty grin. It would clearly be a face of seduction, hence why I rolled opposite her. I allow a soft sigh to escape my lips and I am just waiting for her to say something back. Instead, I am getting nothing but silence from her and this silence is seriously killing me. It's worse than her crying even. "Maddie?"

"Just go then," she says, without any anger or hurt in her voice. She is completely unreadable.

I guess that it'd be smarter for me to do what she says than to try and retort with anything else. I quietly push myself off the bed and glance around the room quickly to see if my trunks are in sight. Sure enough, they are and I subtly reach for them before leaving the room.

Should I feel bad for just walking out? I don't really know. I'm guessing that if this were a movie, then I wouldn't have walked out and instead I would have stayed. But, it didn't feel right to stay there. I just hope that Maddie is okay. I think it probably was best to leave anyways, to leave her to her thoughts.

I'm back to my room now and I can't waste anymore time. I am ready to get out of this cruise ship so that I can pee in the Mediterranean. That's all I want to do. It doesn't take me too long to undress and get in the trunks that I went searching for only moments ago and I am out of my room once more to venture into France. I'm actually really excited, I've never been to France before, so this is definitely going to be a good stop the ship made.

"Hey Zack, come with us!" I hear the familiar voice of Woody call out. His arms are flailing around the air ridiculously. I fight the urge to roll my eyes and wave back and - against my better judgement - decide to go toward Woody. It seems that Cody and Bailey are also coming along with Woody. "Cody told me that you wanted to get to the Mediterranean. There's a tour starting up in just a few minutes. Come on!"

"Well," I say glancing at all their eager faces. How could I say no to that, seriously? "I guess I'll tag along with you guys."

"Good, we were afraid you would want to go shopping with London and Maddie," Bailey mutters a little grudgingly. I watch as my brother harshly elbows her in the side. "Ouch, what was th- oh..."

"Do you honestly believe that I would go shopping?" I inquire. Cody opened his mouth as if to speak, "Dude, rhetorical question! Do you have to take everything so seriously?"

"Well you shouldn't ask questions if you don't expect a reply," he states sheepishly. I roll my eyes and lightly punch his shoulder. "So you're coming?"

"Of course!" I exclaim, somewhat exasperated with my twin brother. It's obvious that we're not always in sync. Doesn't mean I don't love him any less. My thoughts are interrupted as I see a woman who is dressed in a khaki nightmare from head to toe. Khaki hat, khaki shirt, khaki shorts, khaki socks, and khaki shoes. I wouldn't be surprised if she was wearing khaki undergarments. She whistled with her hand in her mouth to catch the entire group's attention, and it sure as hell worked really well!

"Hello everyone! Welcome to France, I do hope you enjoy zis tour I have for you!" she says with this completely fake smile across her face. I really don't care to hear about the history of this place. Regardless of such, I am forced to hear the tour guide continue her rant, "My name is Elise, so have you any questions you ask my name."

Luckily for me, the tour didn't last more than 10 minutes until we made it to the Mediterranean. I was extremely glad to get away from the tour and just relax in the sea. Didn't help that I really needed to go to the bathroom. For some reason, Cody, Bailey, and even Woody wouldn't come within 10 feet of me in the water. I guess they didn't want to feel the after effects of me marking my spot on the Mediterranean. I know it sounds immature, but it's something I have done since Cody and I were little. Cody used to participate in this ritual with me, but then he got all anti-germ on me. So, now I forgo it alone. Ah well, he's missing out.

Relaxing in the water is just more of a remedy I need to help me cope with my new diagnosis. As badly as I would love to just be able to block all this information out of my mind, I physically and mentally can't. It sucks. I never had any problems with my heart, and now since I've found out about this Hypertrophic Cardiomyopapthy (yes! I remembered!) every little chest pain has me worried out of my mind. It's just not natural. I shouldn't be afraid of getting a heart-attack at the age of 16!

"You okay?" I hear the familiar voice of Bailey say, waking me from my trance. I nod in response, not feeling the need to speak. "You know, I've never told anyone on the S.S. Tipton this, but when I was really little, I got Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever from a tick. I was really sick, I had a horrible fever, rashes all over me, and I felt like I was going to die. But, I remember telling myself that I needed to hold on, 'cause mama and papa were gonna need me to help around the farm and I couldn't stay sick. Despite having the odds against me, I'm here today. You don't have to let this become you."

"Wow, Bailey, I never knew." I mumble under my breath. I would have never guessed that Bailey went through something so drastic in her childhood. Yet, like she said, she's here. She's a strong girl, that's for sure. I feel a little guilty for how I have treated her in the past. If Bailey could get through all of that at a young age, then certainly I can live with this disease. "Thanks. Really, thanks. You really put things into a different perspective for me."

"That's what I'm here for Zack, don't worry about it." she says giving me pat on the back. "Just, don't tell anyone, okay? Kind of a personal story."

"Gotcha," I promise. Bailey smiles sincerely at me and swims back over to where Cody and Woody are. I have the best friends in the world.