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"Zed!" Zoey shouted as Eliza pulled into the driveway. As soon as the car was parked Zed jumped out and held his arms out to his little sister, picking her up into a huge hug.
"Hey little gremlin!" he said happily.
The younger zombie jumped up and down excitedly. "What did you bring me?" she asked.
Zed laughed. "Is that all you wanted? I bet you didn't even miss me," Zed accused teasingly.
"Oh no, I for sure missed you. Does that get me my present faster?" she asked playfully.
Zed rolled his eyes and handed her a small bag. Zoey grabbed it and gave her brother a quick kiss on the cheek before she opened it up. Inside was an assortment of homemade candies from the cafe that he had spent a lot of time at.
"Ooooh yum!" Zoey squealed excitedly.
Zevon laughed, "Hey, no candy before dinner!" he reminded her. Zoey sighed and took the candy inside.
Zevon walked over and hugged his son.
"I have a lot to talk about," Zed sighed quietly as he hugged his dad.
"I figured. We can talk after Zoey's in bed tonight," Pops said.
Zed looked over at Eliza and Bonzo.
"Okay, now I can show you guys," he laughed.
"Za!" Bonzo shouted, jumping over to where Zed and Zevon were standing.
"He made us wait to see the picture. He also knows if it is a boy or a girl and won't tell us! He said we had to wait until he told you too," Eliza explained to Zevon.
Zed got his backpack and pulled out the piece of paper.
"Come on! Let us see!" Eliza said impatiently.
Zed smirked at her and waited a few more seconds before flipping the picture over so they could see.
"It's a boy," he said proudly. He handed a copy to his dad and to both of his friends, giving Eliza an extra since he figured she would see the wolves before he did.
Bonzo jumped and pumped his fist in the air with a cheer. "That's fantastic, Zed!" he shouted as he nearly squashed Zed with a hug.
Eliza stared down at the picture in her hands and smiled at the little baby.
"Eliza, are those tears?" Zed teased.
Eliza wiped her eyes, a wide smile on her face. "Shut up," she said, playfully hitting him.
Zevon stared teary-eyed at the picture of his grandson. "Wow," he whispered.
Zed looked up at his dad. "You okay, Pops?" he asked.
"Yeah… I'm going to be a grandpa," Zevon said happily.
Zed grinned and hugged his dad again.
"Zozo! Get out here and come see the picture of your nephew!" Zed called up the front steps.
Zoey groaned and walked back outside. Zed handed her the picture.
"Wait… that's the baby?" she asked.
"Yep. A little boy," Zed told her.
Zoey let a ghost of a smile cross her face.
"Woah! I think she is genuinely smiling, Pops!" Zed teased.
The zombies all laughed and joked for a few more minutes before Eliza and Bonzo had to go to their homes.
The Necrodopolis family walked inside and enjoyed a family dinner together. Zoey asked all about how Addison was doing and Zed gave her short quick answers to her questions.
"Is she doing good in cheer?" Zoey asked.
"Probably. I didn't see her cheer," Zed replied.
"Does she have a baby bump yet?"
"Yeah, but it's small right now."
"What's the new boyfriend like?"
"Okay, my little zombie angel, it's time for bed," Zevon interrupted, ushering Zoey towards the stairs.
"I'm twelve, almost thirteen. Pretty sure I don't need a bedtime anymore," Zoey complained.
"Well, as long as you have that attitude I am going to assume it comes from lack of sleep," Zevon said.
Zoey rolled her eyes and trudged up the stairs.
Zed was in the living room and Zevon walked in and sat down with him.
"What happened? You were tense every time Zoey mentioned Addison," Zevon commented.
"I messed up…" Zed said softly, his eyes not leaving the tv.
"How so?"
Zed sighed and turned off the tv. "I kissed her… twice… One was just when we saw him on the screen the first time and she asked the doctor to change the last name from Wells to Necrodopolis. That one was okay. I'm not too worried about that kiss," Zed explained.
Zevon nodded silently. "And the second?" he asked.
"That's where I messed up. We were at her dorm and it got pretty heated… I felt really bad afterward because, I mean, she has a new boyfriend," Zed continued.
Zevon hummed in understanding. "Yeah, that was probably not the best thing you could have done. But she also kissed you back, right? So it was not all on you. What's the boyfriend like?" Zevon asked.
Zed still blamed himself. He didn't want to blame Addison for any of it. He hadn't been able to control himself as well as he thought he could.
He hated to think of Eric. "He's really nice. Too nice. And it infuriated me when he would touch her or kiss her. Hell, if he even just talked to her I wanted to punch him," Zed groaned.
Zevon gently rubbed his son's back in an attempt to comfort him.
"It's because you still love her," Zevon commented.
Zed ran his hand over his face and nodded. "I really do love her, Pops," he said quietly.
"Then you will just have to wait and see what happens. Just be there for her and for your son. If you and Addison are meant to be together, it will happen. And if not, then you will be able to move on and find somebody else," Zevon assured him.
"Thanks, Pops. I think I'm going to go to bed," Zed yawned as he stood up.
"Good idea. Sleep well. I'll see you in the morning, son."
"Goodnight, Pops."
In front of Zed, there was a nice white house. It wasn't too big, but it wasn't tiny either. There were two cars in the driveway and a bunch of little chalk drawings on the sidewalk leading up to the front door. He walked up to the door and knocked soundly.
He heard squealing and giggling inside and tiny footsteps racing to the door.
"Dada Zed!"
"Hey, buddy," Zed said, picking up his now about five-year-old son. The little boy had dark green hair like his dad but had his mother's warmer complexion and eyes.
"Dada Zed, Daddy made me a swing in the backyard!" the boy said excitedly.
Zed felt himself smile, even though he wished he could be the one making the swing for his son.
"Is that so? Let's go see it," he said.
Zed let the boy pull him outside where Addison and Eric were sitting. Addison was round with another child and Eric had his signature "nice guy" smile on his face.
"Hey, kiddo! Come on over! I'll push you on the swing!" Eric said, standing from his seat.
Zed suddenly felt the need to talk. "I'll push him. You stay there and relax," he said. The little boy got on the swing and Zed started pushing him.
He wasn't sure how it happened, but the little boy fell off the swing and landed with a loud "THUD."
He immediately started crying for Daddy.
"Hey, it's okay, daddy is right here," Zed told him soothingly.
"No! You aren't daddy!" the boy shouted at him.
Zed froze. He could hear the words echoing. He looked over at Eric who had a smirk on his face as if to say "I'm the one he loves and needs. Not you."
Zed held his hands to his head and yelled loudly.
Zed woke up drenched in sweat.
"Shit… it was just a dream," he muttered.
"Zed? You okay?" Zevon asked from the door.
Zed glanced at the clock and saw it was two in the morning.
"I'm fine. Just a nightmare," he said as he tried to catch his breath.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Zed asked with a yawn.
Zed groaned. "Just go back to bed… please, dad," he whispered.
Zevon nodded and turned to go back to his room.
Zed laid back down on his bed. There was no way in hell he would let that other man be the father to his kid.