He managed to pull her away from the flurry of family members asking questions into her mother's den, closing and locking the door behind them. She went and sat down on the little loveseat in the corner as decoration, he followed in beside her.
"I hate the holidays." She grumbled leaned against his side. He wrapped a comforting arm around her shoulders as she continued. "All the preparation of decorations and food and dressing up to try and look perfect. And all the judgement because you're not perfect. All the family members you forgot even existed because the only time you ever see them is on the holidays. And having to listen to criticisms about your life choices when you don't even care about their opinions!" She sighed, peeking up at him from under his arm. "I hate everything about the holidays, except you. I love doing anything if it's with you."
He smiled sadly down at her, sympathizing with how she felt. He'd been criticized his entire life by humans, but he could only imagine how Addison felt to have her own family criticize her every move. And he knew that her decision to be with him, a zombie, definitely didn't help her situation.
"And I love anything if you're there too." He agrees. "I'm sorry for making things more difficult for you." He brings his outer hand up to gently caress her cheek in comfort. She gladly accepted, leaning into his touch as she closed her eyes.
"None of this is your fault Zed. Please don't feel that way." She begged, peeking up at him again. He softened.
"Ok Addy." He surrendered, then added. "I just wish I could help you not feel this way."
She leaned more heavily into his palm again. "I think you could figure out something." She said with a hint of suggestion in her voice. Zed chuckled and leaned forward to kiss her, pressing her back into the small loveseats cushions.
She held his face as they laughed softly into more gentle kisses as they slowly turned more heated. Their hands roaming over each other's bodies, clothing getting disheveled and hair slightly a mess.
"Addison Honey? Are you in her— Oh my god!" Missy suddenly burst into the office in search of her daughter.
"M-Mom!" Addison screeched. Zed jumped off her and sat up to straighten his clothes. Missy sighed dramatically and pinched the bridge of her nose to avoid looking at the teens as they fixed themselves.
"Do you really think the family Christmas party is the best time to be doing that?" She retorted. Addison shot her mom a glare. Missy sighed again, walking over to stand in front of the recollected teens. "Listen Kids, I know this isn't exactly a fun party for you two, but you at least need to show face for our relatives. They expect to spend time with you!" Addison leapt to her feet with a defiant scowl on her face.
"You mean they expect to get the chance to talk shit about Zed and my hair?"
"Addison! Language!" She scolded her daughter. Addison rolled her eyes.
"I'm not going to sit around and listen to their ignorant bullshit anymore Mom!" Addison continued to argue. Missy took a step forward and wrapped her little girl in a hug, which surprised her into silence.
"Addison Dear, you know that I am beyond proud of how much you've grown and everything you've done with our community, including helping with the zombie integration." She said, then pulled back to look at her, hands still firmly on her daughter's shoulders. "And that's why I feel it's important for you and Zed to show face at the party."
Addison proceeded what her mother was saying for a moment before the lightbulb went off in her head, realization hitting her like a ton of bricks. She threw herself at her mother for another tight hug.
"You want us to change their minds. Thanks Mom." She whispered before pulled back and grabbing Zed's hand to rush back out into the dreaded array of prejudice family members.
Missy sighed again, shaking her head with a smile on her face. That girl was going to change the world someday. She just needed a little help along the way.