The next morning, Addison woke to the very familiar chords of "Someday" being played softly on a guitar.
"Good morning, my gorgeous cheerleader," Zed whispered as he played and walked toward her.
"Why hello, my handsome Zombie," she replied with a smile, gazing at her shirtless guitarist. "What's all this about?"
"Addy, I don't know that I can ever really thank you enough for staying by my side yesterday. I have never had a checkup go that well and you are the only reason it did."
"You don't have to thank—"
"But I'm going to," he interrupted. "There just happens to be a hit song from the 80s that at least begins to say how I feel about you." He sat next to her and began to play Chicago's "You're the Inspiration." (A/N: feel free to youtube this and listen along)
You know our love was meant to be
The kind of love to last forever
And I want you here with me
From tonight until the end of time
Addison put her hands to her mouth and tried to keep from happy crying.
You should know
Everywhere I go
Always on my mind
In my heart
In my soul
Baby
You're the meaning in my life
You're the inspiration
You bring feeling to my life
You're the inspiration
Want to have you near me
I want to have you hear me saying
"No one needs you more than I need you"
Zed put down the guitar and stood, offering his hand to Addison. She happily took it and he began to sing acapella to her as they danced around the bedroom.
And I know (And I know)
Yes I know that it's plain to see
So in love when we're together
Now I know (Now I know)
That I need you here with me
From tonight until the end of time
You should know (Yes, you need to know)
Everywhere I go
You're always on my mind
You're in my heart
In my soul
He playfully turned her under his arm and pulled her close again, gently swaying her while continuing to sing.
You're the meaning in my life
You're the inspiration
You bring feeling to my life
You're the inspiration
Want to have you near me
I want to have you hear me saying
"No one needs you more than I need you"
He cut the song off a little early and dipped her instead.
As she came back up, she put a hand to his cheek. "Zed… I… I don't even know what to say. I love you so much and I can't believe you did all that."
"Well, Peter Cetera did the hard work," he said with a grin.
"You know what I mean!" She stood up on her tip toes and began to kiss him.
"Gorgeous," he murmured. "There's breakfast waiting downstairs."
Addison leaned back just enough to breathe. "It's going to get cold," she whispered as she began to walk him backwards towards the bed.
As his knees hit the edge of the mattress, suddenly breakfast was the last thing on his mind.
Later, after breakfast was reheated and enjoyed, Zed looked to his wife.
"So, I was thinking—"
"Now you'd like to take me on a date night?" she interjected.
She grinned at his shocked expression. "Still easy to read, my love," she said, patting his cheek.
"Ok, well, maybe I am. But it doesn't change the fact that I want to spoil you tonight."
"Zed, I went to one doctor's appointment. You certainly don't have to do all of this!"
"It's not just the doctor's appointment, though, that was the catalyst for all of this. Actually I am due and over due to show you just how in love with you I am."
Before she could say how unnecessary that was, he continued. "I'll put it like this. When did you know you loved me?"
"Well, I told you at the Cheer Championship Freshman year."
"Ok, but really knew. Really knew."
"Senior prom. I told Eliza that I was going to marry you someday."
"Ok, well, I knew Sophomore year. It was summer and you were at Cheer Camp. I wandered through the high school and the Wall of Fame. All I could see was our picture up there. And it occurred to me then and there, that was that."
"Oh, Zed!" Addison squealed. "You're so adorable! Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
"Well, I didn't want to freak you out. Like, 'Hey Adds, welcome back from camp! Wanna get married? I'm head over heels in love with you!' I didn't know if you were that sure. Humans don't have that same feeling as Zombies."
"Still, though! I can't believe you waited so long!"
"I'm a patient man, Addy. And it was all worth the wait! I'm here with you now. After everything we went through, it got us here."
"Gonna start singing "After All" now? Make it a true Peter Cetera morning?"
"I'm more of a "Glory of Love" fan, if you want a trifecta," he said with a smile so bright it melted her.
"I love you, Zed Necrodopolous."
His breath caught for a second. He would never, ever, tire of those words. "I love you, too, Addison Necrodopolous. And I do love saying that. Couldn't wait to do it officially!"
"Well, there are plenty of notebooks somewhere that have it written all over it," she said with an embarrassed giggle.
"Hold up! Girls really do that?"
"Um, yeah. All the hearts and "Zed and Addison"s and "Mr. & Mrs. Necrodopolous"s. Not even going to deny it!"
"And I hope you never do!"
She beamed at him. "So, talk to me about this date."
"I thought I was easy to read," he teased. "You don't know already?"
Addison stuck her tongue out. "Something needs left to mystery!"
"Fair enough. Well, I'm torn between big fancy dinner or candlelight in the Light Garden."
She tilted her head, letting him know exactly where she wanted to go.
"Big fancy dinner, I thought so," he said with a cheeky grin.
She nudged his shoulder. "Ugh! You're impossible!"
"But you love me anyway!"
"Fine. Ok, so Light Garden. Picnic?"
"Naturally."
"Movie first?"
"Movies and long walks in the park? Where have I heard that one before?"
"Dunno, you'll figure it out someday," she said with a wink.
"Haha. Ok, you go look at the listings, I'll call Izzy's for some takeout later."
"Sounds like a game plan, handsome," Addison said before giving him a quick kiss and pulling out her phone to check for movies.
Zed left the room to make the call to Izzy's under the pretense that he didn't want to disrupt her search, but in reality wanted to make sure they would make the heart shaped pizza.
Anything for the woman he was lucky enough to call his wife.
A/N: Ok, so the last chapter was almost an excuse to write this chapter (Though, it took on a life of its own eventually). After watching the Zombies 2 sneak peak of "We Got This" and that sweet bridge in the middle where Zed is singing at the Prawn Wall of Fame, I had to write a marshmallowy Zed chapter. And the 80s always makes me happy too! (I, of course, do not own "You're the Inspiration" or any Chicago / Cetera song. Or anything from Zombies. What bummers…)
The new Zombies trailers are helping the creativity, but I'm pretty anxious waiting for the movie!
Oh, and I need a gif of Zed's eyebrow rising for those "seriously?" moments.