"How could we let this happen? Who was the last one to see her?" Diana panicked. "You were hired to keep an eye on them, how could this happen?" Walker asked the sitter. "I'm sorry, I was chasing after Mackenzie and when I came back I just assumed she was with you. I have no idea where she went." the sitter apologized. "Jessie didn't you see her? When is the last time you saw Avie?" Diana asked as Walker and the guys split up heading in different directions to cover the Mall looking for Avie. "Please sir, I need to report a missing girl, nine, blonde, 4' 5", 72# wearing bluejeans, light pink tee with matching sweater and platform tennis shoes." Diana said to a security guard, who called the information into the office and then escorted Diana and the children to the security office to fill out a report, leaving the sitter to wait for the others. "Why not rain on me too? Sheesh what a day." Cody said making a made dash to the entrance to the Mall, shaking off the rain once inside the doors. She had tried everything without being rude to let the guy in her Trig class know that she wasn't interested but Ken was persistent and she finally agreed to meet him for a movie. "Great I'm late. This should give him the idea I'm not interested." she mumbled to herself making her way to the Theatre not seeing him but noticing the little girl dressed exactly like she was. "Hey you're dressed like me." Avie said noticing her. "Tell me about it. I was going this mirror makes me look so much younger I like." Cody teased and Avie laughed. "Hey did a dweeb like hit on you calling you Cody?" she asked. "No. Why?" Avie asked and she explained her lousy day, "I mean it has just been the pits and now he'll think I ditched him. Guys can be so cruel sometimes, I know he'll like talk bad about me." Cody explained. "Guys sure can be a pain." Avie added. "You got guy troubles already. Man when I was you age I was definitely not into guys. What are you eight, nine? You got years and years to be having boy troubles, I say let's have some fun. Want to see a movie?" Cody asked and Avie agreed and they took in the Pokemon movie together. "So you ever going to tell me who you are and why you're not with someone?" Cody asked. "Promise not to get mad?" Avie asked. "Tell me about it and then I'll answer you." Cody insisted as they grabbed something to eat and Avie described her lousy day, not being able to go with her friend, not being able to shop, and "When I said I had to go to the bathroom, they acted like I was lying to get attention so when they weren't looking, I just took off and found the bathroom then I went shopping." Avie explained. "Man I guess my day wasn't so lousy after all." Cody expressed. "Tell me about it." Avie replied. "Here, I know you're angry at them, but I can't imagine the terror they're going through thinking of what may have happened to you, do you know how to reach them." Cody asked laying a cell phone by her thrilled when she reached for it. "It doesn't work." Avie said. "Probably because where inside, let's head outside." Cody answered picking up their trash and Avie carried the phone and once outside, she tried again but when she heard her father's voice she got scared. "What it still doesn't work?" Cody asked picking up the phone hearing him say hello over and over. "Hello. Hi, I'm sorry someone just lost her nerve. I thought I had convinced her to call and let you know she was okay." Cody said. "Avery? You have Avery?" Walker asked. "You know I never did ask her name. 4' tall blonde, beautiful, pink tee and matching sweater, blue jeans and angry because nobody had time to take her to the bathroom when she needed to go." Cody answered. "Avery. God bless you. She's all right then?" Walker asked. "Umm physically yes, emotionally we're working on it." Cody answered him before speaking to Avie, "So it's Avery huh? They'd love to hear from you that you're okay." "No don't make me. I'll runaway." Avie warned. "Can't have that. Hey I love talking to people, anything I should tell him for you?" Cody asked. "I'm sorry." Avie whispered. "Tell me about it. Don't you just hate when you know you're wrong. I'm sure Daddy knows you're sorry but I don't know if he understands why you can't talk to him and just say Daddy, I'm sorry." Cody said bringing the phone close. Avie looked at the phone, then at Cody, "Cody promise me you'll stay with me?" Avie asked. "You have my word. Friends?" Cody asked. "Best Friends." Avie answered hugging her then picking up the phone. "Daddy I'm sorry. I was angry at you, all of you and I just decided to take care of myself. I'm okay. I have a new friend. She looks just like me but she's old." Avie said, adding, "Oops. Not like you Daddy, more like Isaac." "Tell me about. Ahhh, such a crick in the neck I get." Cody teased not hearing the more like Isaac part. "Avie baby I'm so glad you're okay and found someone to take care of you. I'm so sorry you felt like noone had time for sweetie." Walker apologized. "Felt like, you didn't, admit it." Avie insisted. "Young lady, I don't appreciate that tone." Walker shared. "I don't care for yours either." Avie snapped back. "Time out." Cody said taking the phone. "But Cody.." Avie started to say but Cody stopped her, "I said Time Out. Grasp the concept, Stop what you are doing. That means no talking." Cody shared. "Tell me about it." Avie answered sarcastically. "Well Miss Queen of Time Out, meet the former title holder. Man I gave my folks a run for the money, mouthy, whee!!" Cody shared. "Tell me about it?" Walker asked. "Oh you are funny." Cody answered. "Cody is it? Do you have time for this, I'd feel terrible if we were imposing. You've been so kind." Walker expressed. "Hey one thing I know, Miss Queen of Time Outs is our future and I decided a long time ago, I can always make time to insure my future. Avery is a cool kid, I've enjoyed spending time with her, no you aren't imposing. I was having a lousy day up until I meet your daughter and she managed to make me forget about it. She's been a good friend, cheered me right up." Cody explained. "Thank you Cody. You know if you have time, I'll pay you, I can't believe I feel so confident in a total stranger when I had a sitter watching the kids so this never happened." Walker shared and Cody could hear the hurt in his voice. "Whoa. Bummer. Avery didn't mention that, I assumed just you and the Mrs. and a passle of kids." Cody said watching Avie's reaction to what she'd heard. "From her reaction I'd say there's definite problems between her and the sitter. I take it she thinks she's bossy and the one who accused her of not having to go to the bathroom, treating her like a child." Cody interpretted Avie's display. "Interesting. Cody can I hire you for say two, three hours to help Avery work through this?" Walker asked. "Like I said, we're getting along well, Umm you got paper and pencil? Here's where I live, my phone number and cell number, my driver's license and social security numbers so you can track me, and my name is Cody Wyoming Matthews, you can tell where my folks were nine months before I was born. I'm a student, Oral Roberts University and I think we'll head to my place, I have some studying I can do and maybe I can persuade my best friend here to talk to me." Cody explained. "Bless you Cody. I'll be in touch." Walker said. "So what's it going to be girlfriend, want to hang with me for a little while?" Cody asked and the two loaded up and headed out. "Great place. Cool can I touch." Avie asked of her angel collection. "Of course you can, each one is special, they were all gifts." Cody explained, sharing the story behind the angel as she lifted each one. "They're all from kids like me, your special friends huh?" Avie asked. "Yeah sweetie, I've been really blessed." Cody replied heading to the phone. "Matthews residence." Cody answered. "Cody? This is Avie's mom. Thank you so much for caring." Diana shared fighting the tears. "No problem, she's special. Such a joy to be with, thank you." Cody replied. "She is. Could you ask her if she'd talk to me? I was so scared, the thoughts that went through my mind." Diana gasped becoming quiet but you could hear the whimpers, "Hang on, let me ask and see what I can do." Cody answered, heading to Avie. "Hey girlfriend someone's Mom was really scared when she split, remember how I said I can't image the terror they felt, Avery I can hear it in your Mom's voice sweetie, she's so scared still. For me, could you talk to you Mom and let her know you're okay?" Cody asked. "Oh Cody." Avie pouted. "Don't be scared, she doesn't want to be angry right now, she doesn't want to talk about whys, she only needs to hear that her baby is okay." Cody insisted. "Mommy I'm okay. I'm with Cody and she's real nice Mommy." Avie said picking up the phone. "Baby I'm so glad you're all right." Diana said starting to cry. "Mommy don't cry. I had to go to the bathroom and she said no, that I was just a spoiled brat trying to get attention. Mommy I had to go, so I guess I just did. I was mad." Avie explained. "Baby I'm so sorry. She's fired right now I won't have anyone treating you that way. I'm sorry Avie." Diana said still crying as Avie started to cry, "Me too Mommy. I'm sorry." Avie hugged Cody tight as she cried. "Making progress here now Mom, she's sorry at least." Cody shared. "It's me again, my wife's crying." Walker said. "So's my best friend here." Cody shared. "Well I say we hang up and wipe some tears and try this again in a little while." Walker suggested. "Good plan. Talk to you then." Cody responded and hung up. Soon she and Avie were goofing around, painting their nails, doing their hair before baking brownies for a snack. As they waited for them to cool the phone rang again, "Matthews residence." Cody answered. "So where were you?" Ken asked angrily. "I was at the theatre, watched Pokemon with my new little friend, you probably saw here, pink sweater set just like mine. I wasn't that late." Cody insisted. "So you saw Pokemon?" Ken asked. "My friend is only nine, what other choice did we have?" Cody asked sarcastically. "You could have been on time." Ken insisted. "True but then I would have dumped you for my new little friend and you would have really gotten angry." Cody replied, adding, "I figure I had to be late, because helping Avery was what I was meant to do, not watch some movie with you." "Yeah, well call me when you're done rescuing kids and want to be with a man." Ken said angrily. "Let me know when you grow up and start acting like one. Goodbye." Cody replied and hung up. "Way to go, you told him." Avie said high fiving her. "Nineteen and acting like a two year old." Cody shared. "Tell me about it." Avie said and they both laughed before Cody described Ken and most of the other losers she'd dated. "They have no idea what a turn off it is when they don't have the time of day for an innocent kid." Cody shared as the phone rang again. Avie's mind was reeling with what Cody had shared and she had the perfect solution. "Avery, did you hear me? You're a million miles away. The phone is for you, it's your Mom again." Cody said handing her the phone. "Mommy I miss you. I know you're busy but could you, no I'd be scared." Avie said stopping. "Sweetie don't be scared. I'm not mad, we're not mad, just so relieved you okay." Diana stated. "Yeah right. I sure would like a hug though." Avie said as Cody sat beside her and hugged her. "Thanks Cody." Avie said, "I needed that." she finished. "Whatever you need girlfriend." Cody said. "Mommy is Isaac mad at me?" Avie asked. "No Avie, I'm not mad, neither is your father." Diana insisted. "I don't know. Mommy do you think Isaac would come talk to me? Nah he's too busy for me." Avie pouted. "Hey sis, what do you mean I'm too busy for you. Avie I love you, I'd do anything for you." Isaac assured her. "Isaac I'm sorry. I want to see you. Please." Avie said crying, hugging Cody, dropping the phone in her lap. "Hello. Avie. Hello." she heared as she picked it up. "Sorry you made her cry. Just a minute let me try talking to her again." Cody said talking to Avie, getting nowhere except that she wanted to see him."I got nowhere with her, I don't understand but could you please come talk to her?" Cody asked and gave him directions to her place."I'll be right there, tell her not to cry, I'm coming." Isaac answered and was soon on his way. "I just don't get it Avie, what's with not talking to your parents?" Cody asked. "They'll punish me. I broke the rules."Avie explained. "Oh I get it and Isaac can't punish you so you'll speak to him. Smart." Cody expressed as someone rang the doorbell. "Yes?" Cody asked opening the door then stared "You're, you're,.." Cody was so thrown she coulldn't speak. "Isaac." Avie squealed running to his arms. "Oh sis, I'm so sorry you felt bad. Are you okay? What do you need, just say the word." Isaac said picking her up and hugging her tight. "I love you Isaac. Your the best big brother." Avie declared hugging him tight. "Come on in, please." Cody finally said closing the doors behind them and watched as he held her, talked to her, kissed her and finally made her laugh. She was entranced by the sight, a man showing emotions, she wondered, racked her brain trying to ever remember seeing such a sight and was suddenly overcome by saddness at the realization she had to work so hard at remembering such a beautiful sight. "Cody are you okay?" Avie asked looking at the sadness on her face."Sure sweetie." she answered, adding, "Avie no I'm not okay. I was just watching the two of you and I was trying to remember the last time I saw a man show emotions, true emotions. It was sad, how hard I was racking my brain only to come up empty handed is all, that's what you saw. Sweetie I'm happy you love your brother enough he can help you." Cody said making it to them kissing Avie's cheek. "Can we have brownies, Isaac loves brownies. Don't you big brother, we baked them, well Cody did, I licked the spoon." Avie said giggling. "Hey that's my job." Isaac teased. "I know but you weren't here." Avie said giggling again. "You two are silly. Thanks for making her laugh, would you care for a brownie?" Cody asked. "Me turn down a brownie, never." Isaac answered with a big smile. "Come on then, it's brownie time." Cody declared and the three made their way to the kitchen creating extreme brownies. "Isaac you don't have to eat it honest, man you'd scrape me off the walls if I ate that, mega sugar rush." Cody exclaimed. "We get bored on the road and do some pretty extreme eating." Isaac shared. "I remember the Da Crunch and Da Sog, your specialty." Cody teased and they laughed together. "Cody you're a party pooper eating a plain brownie, get dangerous, live." Avie teased. "Not you too." Cody pouted. "Boring." they teased. "Boo hoo." Cody pouted. "Sorry." Avie said hugging her then ushed her towards Isaac. "Sorry Cody." Isaac said wrapping her in his arms, kissing her forehead, then hugging her tight. "As long as you're sorry." Cody said lightly kissing his cheek. "I'm so sorry I never met you before this." Isaac whispered. "Tell me about it." Cody whispered gazing into his warm brown eyes, smiling at him uncontrollably. "What you want to drink?" Cody asked. "Milk if you got it." Isaac asked and Cody grabbed the milk as Isaac got the glasses and the three sat to their brownies, talking, laughing, enjoying getting to know each other. After they sat watching a movie together all three on the couch, Avie between them, hugging one then the other, back and forth before finally falling asleep in Cody's lap. "I didn't realize it was this late. How do you think your folks will feel about her spending the night?" Cody asked. "She couldn't be safer if she was home in her own bed." Isaac answered picking up the phone and dialing home, explaining, and it was agreed that Avie would spend the night. "Isaac could you carry her into the spare room for me?" Cody asked and as he lifted his sister, Cody removed her shoes, then led him to the spare room where Cody pulled back the covers then managed to remove her sweater and jeans without waking her, covering her then kissing her forehead and wishing her sweet dreams. As she headed to the door, Cody looked back to find Isaac kneeling next to his sister, praying before rising and kissing her forehead, making his way towards Cody, stopping to look at his sister one last time before closing the door. "You know this can't be easy on your folks, a total stranger with your child, maybe they'd feel better if you spent the night too, there's two more bedrooms upstairs." Cody offered and Isaac called home one more time, letting them know he was also staying. "Cody my mother would like to talk to you." Isaac said handing her the phone, "Yes Mrs. Hanson." Cody answered. "Cody dear are you sure about Isaac staying, I honestly trust you with Avie." Diana shared. "I offered more for Avie, I would feel terrible if she woke frightened or something. With Isaac here, she should be okay. I can't believe how close the two are. You've done a great job raising your children." Cody shared. "Promise we'll meet?" Diana asked. "Yes I promise we'll meet. Hopefully Isaac and I will be able to convince her to come home in the morning." Cody shared before saying goodnight and she locked up then showed Isaac to the spare rooms upstairs. "See you in the morning." Cody said turning to leave. "Cody, thanks again for caring so much. You're really something special." Isaac shared as they said their goodnights.
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