Addison's birthday was fast approaching and Zed had no idea what to do for her. Zara was over 2 years old now, and wasn't a complete help.
"Zar-bar, what should we get for Mommy for her birthday?" he asked as they built a block castle.
"Something pretty!" Zara answered.
"Like jewelry?"
"Yeah!"
"Well, that's not a bad idea, but Mommy doesn't like jewelry as much as other mommies do. Your Mommy likes simple things."
"A pony?" she offered, carefully placing another block.
Zed chuckled. "I think maybe you're going in the wrong direction there, princess."
"A toy pony?"
"Better. But what about a special breakfast in bed?"
Zara looked very pensive for a moment. "Yeah, that'll be ok too."
"Good. We'll plan for that!"
He wanted to get her something else, too. Maybe a spa day? But for now, this was a good start.
Two weeks later, Zed crept out of bed and went to Zara's room, finding her (not surprisingly) awake.
"Come on, princess! Time to make breakfast for Mama's birthday!"
"Yay!" the toddler cried.
"Shhh!"
"Yay!" she whispered.
Zed hurried around the kitchen making all the foods he knew Addison loved. Zara mostly sat in the chair and watched and cheered him on. Though, she did push the handle down on the toaster and attempted to butter the toast as well.
Addison giggled as she heard the racket downstairs. She knew that Zara and Zed were attempting to make breakfast for her birthday and keep it a surprise.
She assumed that Zed knew there was very little chance they would get away with it, but Addison decided to play along.
The smell reached her and she braced herself. Soon enough, Zara came in as quietly as she could then leaped onto the bed.
"Happy Birthday, Mama!" she squealed.
Addison laughed as she opened her eyes and pulled the 2-year-old close. "Thank you, sweetheart!"
"We made you breakfast!"
"Did you really? What's on the menu?" Addison asked as she sat up.
Zed entered with the tray of food. "Eggs, bacon, toast and fresh orange juice."
"Well, well, Mr. Necrodopolous. You've certainly got talents in all the rooms, don't you?"
His smirk was all the answer she needed.
Addison took a bite of the bacon and sighed appreciatively. "This is delicious!"
"Daddy made it," Zara admitted. "I pushed toaster button!"
"And she buttered it," Zed warned.
"Well, let's try that then!" Addison took a bite of the toast. It was a little dry, but nothing she couldn't fake her way through. "Whoa! This is the best toast I think I've ever had!"
Zara beamed with delight.
"Sweet girl, scoot over so I can join you guys," Zed said, trying to sit with his girls.
Their daughter cuddled closer to her mother and Zed couldn't help but smile at the sight.
"Those flowers are from her as well," he mentioned, pointing at the tiny daisies on the tray.
"I couldn't ask for a better birthday!" Addison exclaimed, forcing down another bite of toast.
But she knew that it certainly could get bigger.
She had been waiting for today to tell Zed about their expanding family.
Later that evening, the 3 of them went to a big dinner at Izzy's with their whole family to celebrate Addison. It was getting more and more difficult for her to hide her symptoms, especially from Zed, so she was glad tonight was the night she planned to tell him.
After returning, it was time to put Zara to bed. Zed had to send a quick email about work, so Addison took that opportunity to set her plan into motion.
"Princess, wanna surprise Daddy?" she asked the little girl as she helped her out of the tub.
"Yeah!"
"Ok, let's put your PJs on, and then I have a something special for you too."
She got Zara ready for bed and then put a shirt over the pajamas. It said, "I'm the Big Sister!"
"What it say, Mama?" Zara asked.
"Let's let Daddy figure that out. It's part of the surprise, ok?"
Zara didn't look completely ok with that, but went along with it anyway.
"Ok, sweetie, go get Daddy for story time! He's in Mommy and Daddy's room," Addison said.
The toddler hurried off and returned alone.
"He coming."
"Did he see your shirt?"
"Nope."
Addison rolled her eyes. "Ok, well, pick a book and we'll start without him."
Zara picked her favorite book about a pink puppy and cuddled close to Addison as she read.
Just as the story was finishing, Zed wandered in. "Sorry, ladies! Mishap in the lab with the maintenance team but it's all taken care of now." He saw the book that Addison was reading. "Did Pinky find her way home?"
"Well, if some folks would let me finish reading," Addison teased.
"Terribly sorry!"
Addison continued the story then smiled as she closed the book. "Whew! Looks like Pinky did make it home!"
"Yay!" Zara cheered, her green hair flying as she jumped and then flopped onto her back, easily bouncing back to her feet.
"Hey, there Miss Zara!" Zed reprimanded. "The bed isn't a trampoline or a power plant floor!"
"Sorry, Daddy," Zara whispered as she sat down.
It was then that Zed caught a glimpse of her shirt.
"Zara… why are you wearing an extra shirt?"
She merely shrugged.
"And what does it say?"
"I dunno! I can't read! And Mommy said you do it."
He stretched out her arms and finally took notice of the words. "Addy. Something you want to share with the group?"
"Congratulations, Daddy," she softly replied.
Zed's eyes widened as it all clicked. "I can't believe it! A baby?"
"You think you're ready to handle two?"
"I think you and I can handle anything!" he said, pulling her close and kissing her soundly. He leaned down to Addison's tummy. "Hello, little one currently with no nickname! We love you!"
"Daddy!" Zara giggled. "Why you talking to Mama's tummy?"
"Well, princess, as it just so happens, there's a little brother or sister for you in there."
She tilted her head in confusion.
Addison smiled. "You're going to be a big sister! Another baby is on the way!"
Zara smiled back, but her parents could tell that she still didn't totally follow.
"It's ok, Zara. You'll figure it out soon enough," Zed said, pulling her onto his lap.
"Ok, Daddy!" Then she gave a big yawn.
"Well, it is definitely some little princess' bed time. So, let's go!" Addison said, pulling down the covers.
Zara jumped from Zed's lap to her pillow and snuggled down. They all gave hugs and kisses and said gar-gargizaz and good night. Addison turned on the night light and left the room with Zed.
Once they got to their room, Zed spun Addison around.
"I can't even believe it, gorgeous! We're having another baby!"
"I know! And the nausea is starting so let's not spin!" Addison said nervously.
"Oh! I'm sorry!" He gingerly placed her on the bed. "What do you need? Ginger ale? Some crackers? Foot rub?"
She sighed. Over-attentive Zed was back in full force.
"Zed! Settle down! I'm good!"
He sat next to her. "So... Help me out here. When? I mean we only just decided to start trying for another kid."
"About a month ago."
"Really? You've hid it that long?" He got quiet for a moment. "A month… Oh my God, Addy. Are we having an anniversary baby?"
She giggled. "Yeah, I think so."
Zed chuckled. "Well, there you go. This baby apparently doesn't want to make us wait as long as Zara did!" He ran a hand through his hair. "Oh! With all the crap going on at work, and trying to remember to make a fabulous breakfast, I completely forgot your other present. I'm so sorry!"
"It's really ok, zombie." She put a hand on her midsection. "I think you gave me a pretty good gift."
"Well, I did work really hard to make it," he said, waggling his eyebrows.
"Very hard, indeed," she whispered.
He suddenly had a very dry mouth, but the look in her eyes made him want to kiss her right then. He kissed her with every ounce of love he could and then gently nudged her back onto the bed.
"I love you so much, Addy. I can't begin to tell you how much," he said, gazing deep into her eyes.
"I love you too, Zed."
He began to kiss down her neck before he stopped suddenly and leaned back to look at her.
"Ok, but in all seriousness, I was going to get you a spa day for your birthday. And you really deserve it now! So I'll do that tomorrow and—"
"Zed! I appreciate that, but you can worry about it later. Much later."
"Yeah! Yeah, definitely!" And he resumed his kissing and they celebrated their love and their growing family.
A/N: So, a chunk of this story was blatantly ripped off from another story of mine from a different fandom. (Sara and Leonard from Legends of Tomorrow. They were my big ship before that ship sunk. Boo to that.) But I really thought the plot line would work here too. It's not plagiarizing if it's your own work, right? LOL ;-)
