A/N: This takes place a few months before Addison and Zed's first anniversary.
It was lunch time when Zed ran into the Cheer Lounge.
"Addy!" he called with a panicky voice.
"Over here!" she replied from the table. "What's wrong?"
"Your Dad called me. It's Nana E. She's in the hospital."
"Nana? What's the matter?" Addison asked, instantly standing.
"They don't know. They think it's a heart attack. Can we go now?"
"Yeah, absolutely!" She started towards the door.
"Addy, get your coat. It's cold out," Zed said, now worried about her as much as Eleanor.
She spun around and ran to where she kept her things and then rushed back. "Let's go!"
Bucky pulled her into a quick hug. "Give Big E our love, yeah?"
Even if they weren't really related, Bucky loved Eleanor as another grandmother and always referred to her as Big E and Otto as Oh-to.
"Of course," she replied. "I'll let you know what we find out!"
As she ran out, Bucky grabbed Zed's arm. "Watch out for her."
"Definitely." And then he ran after her.
Once they arrived at the hospital, they quickly found Addison's parents in the waiting room.
"How is she?" Addison asked before they even entered the room.
Dale hugged her close. "They don't know yet. But they're doing their best."
"What happened?" Zed asked as Addison latched onto him and he sat them both down.
A small voice from the corner answered. "She told me she was having chest pains, so I called the ambulance as quickly as I could."
Addison barely recognized her Papa. He looked so empty of the spark that usually filled him, holding his daughter's hand like a lifeline. Missy was holding back just as tightly.
"But she's going to be ok. I mean, she has to. She's Nana E. She's the toughest woman I know!" Addison said with a broken voice.
Zed held her a little closer. "She is a tough cookie. If anyone can beat this, it's her."
Dale sat on the other side of Missy and took her other hand. They all sat in silence for a while before Zed asked, "Ads, do you want something to drink or eat?"
She shook her head.
Dale stood then. "No, I think we could all use something. Zed, will you go to the cafeteria with me? Get some caffeine for us all?"
"Uh, yeah, Dale. I can do that." He stood but leaned down to Addison. "You gonna be ok for a few minutes, gorgeous?"
Addison nodded. "Yeah, I'm not going anywhere."
"Ok."
As they rode the elevator to the cafeteria, Zed turned to Dale. "Be real with me. How is she?"
Dale shook his head. "It's really a 50/50 shot. Otto called the ambulance really quickly, so that helped. But they don't know about any damage yet. Or at least, they didn't when we last spoke to the doctor."
Zed nodded. "How's Missy holding up?"
They exited the elevator and began to search for food. "She's completely in shock. I can barely get her to talk."
"And Papa O?"
"About the same. Keeps saying he should have noticed her pain sooner, should have done something sooner."
"He really couldn't have."
"Yeah, well, you know how stubborn they are."
"Just they?" Zed teased, hoping to lighten the mood.
"Touché, I suppose," Dale said with a chuckle. "Let's just bring back as much coffee and pastries as we can handle. I think we're in for the long haul."
When they returned to the waiting room, they found Missy holding a very still Otto. Addison was looking at the TV, but Zed knew she wasn't actually watching it.
"Any word?" Dale cautiously asked.
"They're taking her for surgery," Missy whispered.
Zed dropped everything he was carrying on the table, rushed to Addison and knelt in front of her. "You ok?"
Her eyes dropped from the TV to his face. "Yeah, I mean, she'll pull through, right?"
Zed didn't want to make promises he couldn't keep, but he couldn't discourage her, either. "She's Nana E! How could she let this beat her?"
Addison nodded. "Right."
Zed sat on the little couch with her and she snuggled into his side. "Thank you for being here," she mumbled.
"Nowhere else I'd be."
None of them were sure how long they sat there. Zed and Dale dragged everyone down to the cafeteria at some point for dinner. The meal was eaten in relative silence.
When they returned to the waiting room, Zed texted updates (or lack thereof) to all of their friends, as Addy catnapped on his shoulder. Dale and Missy attempted to play cards with a deck they bought in the gift shop. And Otto sat and prayed quietly by himself.
Finally, after what felt like hours upon hours, a doctor walked in.
"Are you Eleanor's family?"
"Yes!" Missy said as she stood quickly. "How is my mother?"
"The surgery went well and she's in recovery. It may take her awhile to wake up, but when she does, we'll let you know. Only 2 family members at a time, though."
"Thank you, very much," she sighed, sitting back down.
"So she's fine?" Addison asked.
"Well, I wouldn't say fine yet," Dale answered. "But she's on her way. You know your Nana. Tough as nails and way too stubborn to let this hold her back."
Addison nodded. She smiled when Zed hugged her close. "You'll come back with me when it's my turn, right?"
"Are you sure you don't want your Dad?" he quietly replied, hoping Dale wasn't listening.
"No, I want my husband."
"Ok, gorgeous. Whatever you need, I'm here for you." He kissed the top of her head and hoped for the best.
After some time, the doctor returned with a smile. "She said, and I quote, 'Go tell the sad sack in the waiting room that I want to see him.' I believe that's you," he said, smiling at Otto.
"That's my girl!" Otto said as he stood and began to hurry out.
"Dad! Wait for me!" Missy said, following closely.
"Well, she's already calling him names. So that's a good sigh," Dale chuckled. "You want to go next, Addy?"
"Yeah, I'm taking Zed with me, though," she replied.
"I kinda figured."
Addison smiled and hugged Zed's arm. "She's going to be ok. I can feel it."
"A little heart attack can't keep that lady down," Zed joked. "She's way too stubborn for that."
She began to pace as she waited for her grandfather and mother to return. Finally, Missy appeared in the doorway.
"Papa refused to leave her, but the nurses agreed for another 2, as long as you behave," she said with a grin.
"When have we ever misbehaved, gorgeous?" Zed teased.
"Always perfect, handsome!" she replied.
Missy rolled her eyes. "Just go see her."
Addison clutched Zed's hand tightly as they approached the little room her grandmother was in. She didn't know what to expect, so she expected the worst. She wasn't far off, but her Nana's smile definitely helped.
"There's my dove!" she said softly.
"Nana!" Addison whispered.
"Come here, my darling. You too, Zed," Eleanor said, gently lifting a hand to them.
"Nans, don't strain yourself," Zed scolded.
"Pfft! I'm the one that does the reprimanding around here!"
Zed laughed. "Fair enough." He leaned towards Addison. "Well, she's feeling better."
"I heard that!" Eleanor told them. "I may have had surgery, but I'm not deaf!"
"Much better then!" Zed teased.
Eleanor laughed. "I'm sorry I scared you both."
"You're forgiven as long as you promise not to pull that stunt again," Addison said, sitting gingerly on the bed.
Otto scoffed. "I told her the same thing!"
"Oh, you old worry wort!" Eleanor huffed. "I'll be out of here and better than ever. Quit your fretting!" She turned back to Addison. "Now, listen, dear heart, you quit your fretting too. I'm gonna be fine."
"I don't know if I can completely quit worrying about you," Addison admitted. "I'd say you gave me some gray hairs today, but well…" She pointed to her hair.
Eleanor pointed a finger at Addison. "I'd yell at you for that one, but it was actually pretty funny."
Addison placed a gentle hand on top of her grandmother's. "We should let you get some rest, Nana. But I am so glad that you're doing ok."
"It'll take more than a simple heart attack to bring this old broad down!" Eleanor announced.
Zed chuckled. "That's what I told Addy." He went to the other side of the bed opposite Addison. "Nana E, I'm happy to see you looking so well. Brug dreg razzubrag, zia zia." (Get well soon, grandma)
She didn't totally know what he said, but she knew they were caring words. "Gar-gargizaz, Zeddy," Eleanor said.
"Gar-gargizaz." He kissed her cheek and went for the door. "I'll see you out here, Ads."
Addison kissed her other cheek. "I love you, Nana. Don't scare me like that again, please?"
"I'll do my best, Addy. I'll do my best. Now, take your husband home. I can see you're both exhausted."
"You're worth it."
"I am, aren't I?" Eleanor teased.
"Absolutely."
"I love you, my dove."
"I love you too, Nana." Addison kissed her again and then hugged and kissed her grandfather. "We'll see you guys soon."
She left and met Zed in the hall. It was there that she finally broke down into sobs.
"Addy! Addy, it's ok. She's going to be fine!" he said as he held her close.
"I know, but we could have lost her! I could have lost her!"
He walked her to a couch by the elevators and sat them both down. "Look at me, gorgeous." He gently held her face and looked into her eyes. "She's still with us, so don't fret on what could have happened. Celebrate what did! She's going to recover from this and still rule the roost. Got it?"
Addison nodded. "You're right. You're right!"
"Now, let's go say bye to your parents and then we should get home. I think you could use some sleep."
"Yeah, I am pretty wiped out."
They went back to Missy and Dale.
"Well, she's instructed us to leave," Addison told them. "So, I think we will get some rest. You guys should do the same."
"I still need to see her," Dale said. "But I think maybe we will go after that. See if we can drag Papa out of here."
"Yeah, good luck with that," Zed said.
They all said their goodbyes and Zed and Addison left.
On the car ride home, Addison closed her eyes.
"You doing ok, cheerleader?" Zed asked.
"I don't even know. I mean, she is literally the strongest woman I know and to see her in that bed, looking so weak… I can't process that."
He reached over and took her hand. "I know. But remember, she's the strongest woman you know. She'll be out of there as soon as possible and teasing us all in no time. Ok?"
She nodded. "Ok. It might take me a little time, but I know perfectly well that she'd yell at me if I spent too much time worrying about it."
Zed laughed and took on his best Eleanor impression. "Listen here, Addison Elizabeth. I am doing just fine and one little set back isn't about to keep this old lady down. Now you get back to living your life with that handsome husband of yours!"
Addison giggled as he parked and led her into their apartment. "That was actually pretty on the mark."
"It really was. Now, come on. It's time for bed. Let's get some sleep and then we'll be rested to see her again tomorrow."
They quickly changed and crawled into bed. He pulled her close and she sighed. "Thank you so much for being with me today."
"Anything for you, gorgeous. Anything."
"I love you, zombie."
"I love you too, cheerleader."
And before he could say another word, she had already drifted off, finally relaxed in his arms.
A/N: This chapter is dedicated to my own Grandma who passed away recently. She was a big inspiration for Nana E, and her namesake.
