The family!ArcadiaGays spin-off series is a go. I suggest reading my Life is Warm Bodies series before reading this. I will provide a very brief summary but there are references you probably won't understand unless you read the Life is Warm Bodies and Life is Warm Bodies – The Untold Chapters – (at least Chapters 10 and 11).

Summary: Basically it's a story based off of Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion, which I continued after I had finished using the book as a guide. Max and Kate are recovering zombies. Chloe, Max, Kate and Victoria go to an adoption place after a cure has been found, because there are so many kids without parents now. Kate and Victoria adopt a 7 year old girl, who is also a recovering zombie, called Emily, while Chloe and Max adopt an 8 year old girl called Lisa. This story follows the Arcadia Gays, their parenting skills and the developing relationship between Emily and Lisa.

If you guys have any ideas for this story, feel free to send them. I love seeing different possibilities for a story.

Emily and Lisa are older in this chapter. Emily is 13 and Lisa is 14. Multi-POV.

Chasemarsh/Pricefield/(not sure what I would call Emily and Lisa – any ideas guys?)

Life is Warm Bodies – family!ArcadiaGays

Chapter 1 – Fearless

(Emily's POV)

The school bell rings. Thank god. It's the end of classes for today. I need to time this right. If I don't…

'Oh look, it's the corpse.'

Damn it.

'What are you doing here? No-one wants you around.'

'Why don't you just go back to being dead, no one cares.'

I am pushed up against a wall by a boy, who I assume is the leader.

'Please, leave me alone.'

'Oh, I don't think so. We don't want corpses round here, right guys?'

His followers nod in agreement

'I'm not a corpse, not anymore.'

'Oh please. My dad says you never stop being a corpse. It's only a matter of time before you all rise up and kill us.'

'I would never…'

'Yeah right.'

I am shoved into some lockers.

'Not so tough now are you, corpse. You're not even a little bit scary. Pathetic. You can't even…'

SLAM

The kid in front of me stumbles backwards, looking dumbfounded. What happened? I turn to see Lisa. She looks furious.

'Don't you dare touch her ever again, freak!'

The boy shakes his head. He looks to me.

'Oh look, you're so pathetic you can't even fight your own battles.'

He must be at least 16.

'Run along kid. There is no need for you to get dragged into this.'

He turns back to me. His friends sneer.

(Lisa's POV)

'I said, get away from her.'

'You don't want to fuck with us, kid. Last chance.'

THUD

I grab the nearest thing I could find, which happened to be a football, and lob it at the boys head. He turns to me, looking furious.

'What the fuck? You are going to pay for that bitch. You want to play the hero, huh? Want to appear brave in front of your little girlfriend? That's fine by me.'

He charges towards me. I dodge out of the way. He almost falls over.

'That is it. Whore.'

He swings at me. I duck and knee him in the groin.

'Oof.'

One of his friends lunge at me. I punch him in the face. He howls in pain. Damn it feels good to beat these fuckers up.

I feel something grab my ankle. It pulls me to the floor.

'Oh, now you've done it.'

The boy pins me to the ground. I squirm, but he has my arms pinned underneath his body.

'You are going to be sorry that you ever…'

THUD

The boy writhes in pain.

'My face.'

I am grabbed and dragged along.

…

(Max's POV)

KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!

Who could that be? I wonder if it's Lisa. She is a bit late today.

KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!

'Ok, I'm coming, just give me a minute.'

Can't I have a single moment to myself? I open the door.

'Hi Mrs Caulfield.'

'Emily?

'Hi mum.'

'Lisa?'

My eyes widen.

'What happened to your face?'

Lisa tries to grin at me but winces.

'It's kind of a long story. Can we come in?'

The girls waltz in. Lisa flops onto the couch. Emily perches herself on the arm of the couch.

Chloe walks in.

'Hey, you guys are back late…'

She freezes.

'Lisa, your face…'

'I get it. My face looks like shit.'

'How?'

'She saved me.'

Chloe and I turn to face Emily.

'I was being bullied and she stopped them, but…but… Lisa got hurt.'

I shake my head.

'Like mother, like daughter.'

Chloe looks indignant.

'Hey, I feel like that was a direct dig at me.'

'Come on. Let's get you cleaned up.'

I still remember when I did this for Chloe. I'm glad Lisa takes after Chloe in this respect. She is fearless, brave and loyal, she doesn't even need rewind powers to be like this.

'Ms Caulfield, I should do this. It's my fault Lisa got hurt.'

I smile at her.

'Well, I guess that's up to Lisa.'

I look to her.

'I'm cool with that.'

These two are so cute.

'Ok then, feel free. I'll call Kate and Victoria so they don't freak out.'

…

(Emily's POV)

'Ouch.'

'Sorry.'

Lisa turns to me.

'It's cool. It's not your fault.'

I try to hold back the tears. It is all my fault. If I had a backbone and could stand up for myself…

'Hey, it's ok.'

Lisa leans over and hugs me.

'They're gone now.'

'But you got hurt. I'm useless.'

'No way girl, you're the reason I got away as well as I did. If you hadn't have intervened, I would have be eating liquidised mash potato for 3 weeks.'

'Ew, gross.'

'Exactly.'

I squeeze her tighter. Lisa guides us both into a laying position.

'I'll always be here to help you. No matter what.'

I look into her eyes. They are determined.

'I'll always be here for you too. Even if I'm not as brave as you.'

Lisa laughs.

'Sure you are. I believe in you.'

She smiles.

How can she has so much faith in me?

'Why?'

'Why not?'

'All I've done is be a burden to you. You could have been so popular if you didn't hang around with a loser like me…'

'Stop right there.'

'But…'

'I mean it. Don't you dare continue. I chose you to be my best friend, and I couldn't have picked a better person. If you keep shitting on yourself, then you're also shitting on my taste in friends.'

She brushes a strand of hair from my face.

'You are the best friend I could ever have.'

I smile.

'Thanks, but you are a way better friend.'

'Let's call it a draw. Deal?'

She holds out her hand.

'Deal.'

…

(Kate's POV)

The door opens.

'Oh Emily, honey, I was so worried.'

Emily hugs me tight.

'I'm sorry.'

'Shh. It's ok.'

She releases me and turns to Ms Caulfield.

'Thank you so much for calling. Victoria and I were worried sick.'

'Don't mention it Kate.'

Lisa is at the door. She has a few bruises and cuts.

'What happened?'

'Mum, so guys tried to bully me, but Lisa rescued me.'

I look to Lisa. I smile.

'Thank you for helping her.'

Lisa shrugs.

'No worries Mrs Marsh.'

She acts so tough and nonchalant, just like Chloe.

'Truly, I mean it.'

Lisa nods.

'See you tomorrow Emily.'

Emily looks over at me and then walks forward and gives Lisa a huge hug.

'Thank you.' She whispers.

I see Lisa smile. She waves as we leave. Emily grabs my hand as we walk.

'We are lucky, aren't we Emily.'

'Huh?'

'I understand what you're going through. I…I was bullied too. I felt so alone, like I didn't have anyone to turn to. I went to some pretty dark places. The only person that got me through it was Max.'

'Ms Caulfield?'

'That's right. Without her, I probably wouldn't be here with you.'

Emily tightens her grip on my hand.

'I wouldn't want that.'

I smile.

'Neither would I. My point being that you have Lisa, just like I had Max. Max could have ignored all the bullying, like everyone else, but she didn't. She tried her hardest to help me. The small things she did for me got me through. She was there for me when no-one else was. She saved me.'

Emily looks at me.

'Mum, you're crying.'

I wipe at my eyes.

'It's emotional thinking about it.'

Emily nods.

'As long as you have Lisa at you're side, you don't need to be afraid. If she is anything like Max, she will move heaven and earth to help her friends. Also, Lisa is just as fearless as Chloe. Chloe never backs down from a challenge to her friends. I'm always here to talk too, as is Victoria. My mother basically disowned me when I was going through everything.'

I stop and look Emily in the eyes.

'I won't ever do that to you. I promise. You are my beautiful, adorable daughter, and I wouldn't trade you for anything.'

Emily grins at me.

'I wouldn't want any other parents. You guys are the best.'

'Come on, let's get home. Victoria will be mad if we take too long.'

'Ok.'

Emily grabs my hand again. We hold hands all the way home.

…

I open the door. We are nearly knocked over.

'Emily, thank god you're safe.'

She hugs us tight.

'V…Victoria. C…can't breathe.'

She lets go and rubs the back of her neck.

'Sorry.'

I give Victoria a quick peck on the lips.

'Ew.'

I laugh.

'Are you jealous? Come here. Let me give you a sloppy kiss too.'

Emily squeals and runs.

This was so nice to write. I have a feeling that I'm going to enjoy writing this spin-off series. I hope you guys liked it.

Remember, if you have any ideas for this or any other of my stories, feel free to send them either via PM, comment or on Tumblr – nothing-you-can-prove (I have an ask box now). Have an awesome day and see you next time.