A/N: So, this chapter goes back in time to the Cheer Competition.


"Gar-garziga!" Addison shouted.

The surprise and the happiness were evident in Zed's eyes. "Yeah, I gar-gargiza you too!"

They embraced as the other zombies and cheerleaders celebrated around them. Eventually, Bree shooed them off the stage so the next team could compete.

As soon as they were off to the side, they found Zed's father and sister.

"Zoey!" Zed said as he lifted her onto his hip and hugged her. "You were awesome! When did you get that brave?"

The little girl jumped down in front of Addison. "When Addison showed off her hair. I thought if she could be brave, so could I!"

Addison knelt down and gave her pompoms to Zoey. "You are a fabulous cheerleader! I couldn't be more proud of you!"

"I know, right?" a voice came from behind them. It was Bucky and he was actually smiling a genuine smile, not the fake one he usually had. He almost knocked Addison out of the way in his haste. "Zoey, that was some grade-A cheering! Seabrook is going to need cheerleaders like you. Do you know what a protégé is?"

Zed grinned as he pulled Addison away, hoping to find somewhere to be alone and talk, but there were people everywhere! Finally, he went to the area that they talked Eliza out of sabotage. There were still some zombies hanging out there, but Zed asked them for some privacy.

"So…" he began as he pulled her close.

"Yes?" Addison asked. They were so close that she needed to tilt her head way back to look at him. He realized then that he was going to have to start dealing with back pain since he'd be bending down to her a lot. Or maybe he'd get her a step stool. Either way…

He couldn't help but laugh at her position and she cocked her head in confusion.

Zed tried to stop laughing. "I'm sorry… But you're just so short."

"Short? I'll have you know that I'm adorable and petite. It's not my fault that you are ridiculously tall."

"Well, I'll have you know," he began, but he stopped at the fire in her eyes. "I'll have you know… that I just really want to kiss you right now. May I?"

She was slightly caught off guard by his question and simply nodded her response.

He looked into her eyes again. Oh yeah, he was definitely a goner.

"Gar-gargiza," he whispered as he began to lean in...

"There you guys are!" Bree yelled, startling the two apart. "We've been looking everywhere! Um, oops!" She had the decency to look embarrassed at her disruption, but continued anyway. "Well, since I've already interrupted, c'mon! They're going to announce the winners soon!"

She grabbed Addison's hand and began to drag her away. Addison caught Zed's hand just in time and the three of them ran to the main floor. Addison began thinking of ways to kill Bree for ruining that moment…

Seabrook didn't win, and it wasn't too much of a surprise, even though the Poms and Zoms routine was pretty awesome. Bucky accepted the loss as gracefully as he could and everyone went home, except Addison, who went to Zed's, with the unexpected ok from her parents.

They sat on the couch and watched as Zoey played in the living room. It felt surprisingly domestic and comfortable.

"I'm really sorry," Addison whispered.

"Sorry? For what?" Zed replied.

She put her head against his shoulder. "For all the time I wasted this year. I felt so pressured to choose cheerleading and I did, and I chose it over you. It was completely selfish of me."

"Addy, Bucky put you in a lousy position. I don't hold it against you. I picked football over a bunch of smarter decisions. The point is, we're where we need to be now."

"Yeah, I guess we are."

"But it does make me want to ask you something."

"Hmm?" Addison lifted her head again to look at him.

"Well, apparently it's ok to like zombies and cheerleading now, so I'm hoping Bucky lets you back on the squad. And I'll probably be allowed to play football again. So, would you… I mean, do you think you'd want…"

Zoey rolled her eyes. "He wants you to be his girlfriend," she said as she went into a back walkover.

Zed let his head fall back on the couch. "Yes, that's exactly what I'm asking."

"Aww, Zed! Yes! I'd love to be your girlfriend!" She leaned up and kissed his cheek.

"You're welcome," Zoey muttered as she went into the kitchen.

Zed sighed. "I'd yell at her for doing gymnastics in the house if she didn't just help me out."

"You would have gotten it out eventually," Addison said with a giggle.

"Eventually, sure. I'm just happy you said yes."

"What else would I have said? You might have noticed that I'm kind of fond of you. I might have mentioned it to you… in Zombie Tongue."

"Yeah, that was kinda nice. And, if I'm being honest, kinda hot."

She blushed at that. "Really?"

"Mmm-hmm," he replied. And just as he leaned in to finally kiss her, Zevon's voice came from the doorway. "Kids! Dinner!"

Zed's head fell back once more. "Ok… the interruptions are getting old! That's 3 now! Gus, Bree, and Pops are on my list!"

Addison giggled. "It's fine. There will be a perfect moment and we'll know it when it happens."

He pressed a quick kiss to her forehead. "I'll take what I can get. Let's go eat dinner. I think Pops made his special dessert. It's seriously the only thing non-Zombie food he makes, but it's so freaking good!"

He stood and helped her stand as well, then happily led her to the kitchen. He loved that she was going to have a meal with his family.

Addison spent the rest of the day at Zed's, having her first meal of cauliflower brains and trying Zevon's special chocolate dessert ("To die for, no pun intended, cake"). She really liked Zed's family.


Two days later at dinner, Missy informed her daughter that the wall between Seabrook and Zombietown was going to be removed. Addison was blown away! Her parents just seemed very pensive about it. They liked Zed and were impressed at all he was doing to unite the two communities. But they weren't thrilled about their daughter dating a zombie. Baby steps, she supposed.

She called Zed immediately after dinner to give him the good news, but the leaders of Zombietown had already told them.

"Can you believe it?" Zed asked. "I think the curfew is going away too."

"They're talking about it, yeah," she replied as she began to undo her French braid.

"This is going to change things for us. In a really good way."

"Hey, I think we were pretty good before this," she teased.

"We are completely awesome! Now everyone else is getting on board."

"Yeah… they are getting on board," Addison said slowly.

"Addy? What's that tone mean?"

"Well, maybe we should give everyone a little push. What if we had a gigantic party?"

"Like a block party?"

"A what?"

Zed sighed as he flopped back onto his bed. There was just so little fun on the human side. "A block party. It's pretty much just a gathering of the entire neighborhood out in the street."

"That sounds amazing! We have very structured parties."

"Ew. Well, we could definitely have a party here. I mean, I'd have to talk to some people, but if the leaders are open to it, I say we totally have a block party and invite the lovely citizens of Seabrook to this side of the wall."

"Yes! Let's show Seabrook just how great you guys are!"

And the two began to plan. They brought it up to the respective leaders and eventually finalized details for the block party.


And then the ban on pets got removed. Addison talked to Zed and Zevon about getting Zoey a dog and both were completely good with it. She scoured the internet looking for cute dogs in nearby shelters and finally she showed Zed the one she was thinking about.

"He's adorable!" she squealed.

"I think he's perfect," Zed told her.

They went to the shelter the next day and picked the sweet dog up. He stayed at Addison's for the rest of the day until the party and even got along with her dog, Charlie.

Everyone came to the party, from Missy and Dale, to Bucky and the Aceys. And Addison saw her father and Zevon talking too. It was surreal and wonderful. There was music and dancing. It completely thrilled Addison when she danced with the zombies and Zed did a routine with the cheerleaders to Bamm. It was better than either of them had even hoped.

Addison and Zed knew there were plenty of challenges ahead of them. It would be foolish not to. But the party gave them hope. Maybe just maybe, there would be a day where this would be ordinary.