Author's Note: My apologies for the lack of updates these last few weeks! This month has been insanely busy.

In this chapter, we get a look at Zed's family's refurbished home, and Bonzo has an unfortunate conversation with Eliza. Spoken Zombie Tongue with be written in italics in order to avoid confusion.

You are all wonderful!

ZzZzZzZ

By the time Addison, Bree and Bonzo arrived at the Zambie household, the 'small celebration' had basically turned into a miniature block party. Multiple families on the street had cooked dishes and snacks, setting them out on their stoops for friends and family to grab as desired. The zombie light gardens were all lit in the various front yards, bathing the street in glowing, multicolored beams.

The new houses, which were all on the far end of the street, now had shiny new roofs, complete with solar panels to assist in using as much clean energy as possible. The new structures had also been re-bricked, giving them a sleek but retro look. The main difference of the exterior of the homes was that the porches on each house had been enlarged. Now, they each had enough space for several zombies to sit outside comfortably. The yards had also been decorated with new light gardens in front of each home, glowing brightly with the promises of new beginnings.

Zed had spent the entire afternoon napping on Eliza's couch, and he now felt practically back to normal. Of course, he still hadn't regained any memory from the night before, and he had no idea if he ever would. The thought was frustrating. But, there was nothing to be done for it, and so he tried to put it out of his mind. For the time being, at least.

"Hey!" said a familiar voice behind him, making him grin.

"Aren't you supposed to be resting on the couch, Zed?" Addison asked.

He turned, looking down to her face and smiling. She was still in her cheer uniform, and as always, was absolutely breathtaking. She smiled back at him, in spite of the stern expression she was trying to wear.

"I'll get back on the couch in a minute." Zed said, reaching out to take her hand. "But first, I want to show you something."

He winked flirtatiously, making her giggle as he pulled her down from the stoop and through Eliza's front lawn.

"Okay, but where are you taking me?" Addison asked.

"Let's go check out the new house!" Zed whispered excitedly. He had only seen the outside of his refurbished home since its completion this afternoon. However, he had snuck the new key from his dad's coverall pocket, so that he and Addison could take a peek. Addison had not seen inside the house since they had stripped out the damaged walls and wood. So her last memories of the interior of the home would be an empty, broken up mess of wood and brick.

"Okay!" She squeaked with enthusiasm, bouncing up and down a little with her anticipation.

In truth, Zed still felt a deep sense of grief for the loss of his "old" home. It was comfy and eclectic, and full of memories of his mom. No amount of new house could replace what had been lost. But still, it was always exciting when something new happened, and he was determined to look on the bright side and enjoy the refurbished house.

Together, they slipped quietly through the crowds of zombies, people, wolves, and even a few Lunites as they made their way to his front yard. The bike wheels that had adorned the front gate and fence had been festively re-painted in a rainbow of different colors. Lights from the light garden reflected beautifully across the exterior of the home. The old mailbox, which had been made of a large plastic jug with a hole cut into it, was now replaced with a large, vintage metal mailbox. It was a bright, cheerful yellow, with the name "Necrodopolis" neatly written in maroon lettering along the side of it.

The porch now took up the entire width of the home, and had a large overhang to prevent rain from falling on anyone who might want to sit outside in inclement weather. A maroon swing and two old grey metal chairs were situated along the porch. They were nestled in between two large fern plants on sideways milk crates, which had been converted into plant stands.

"Oh my gosh, Zed, it looks amazing!" Addison breathed.

"Wait until you see the inside." he replied with a grin. Walking up the steps, Zed briskly opened the door, waving her in as he quickly and quietly shut the door behind them. He didn't want anyone to see them sneaking in, since they weren't technically supposed to be in the house until tomorrow. Reaching to his left, he flipped on the light switch, and they both gasped.

It was like whoever designed and decorated this house had somehow taken both zombie decor and human decor, and combined it into one new, amazing look.

The walls were a very light mint green color, with large sections of exposed red brick visible throughout the space. Their old Formica table and its mismatched chairs were visible from the hallway, and the sight brought a smile to Zed's face. He was glad the table and chairs had been salvageable.

The living room was adorned with vintage artwork, as well as a few photos and drawings of Zoey's that had survived the fire. The family photo that Zed had grabbed the night of the fires now hung proudly above a sleek, electric fireplace. The stainless steel hearth was surrounded by more brickwork, and an old wooden beam served as the mantle above it.

A slate gray couch with a modern design somehow blended perfectly with the two vintage orange wingback chairs next to it. Both were separated from one another by a large, dark wooden coffee table, which looked like it was made from an old door. The entire first story of the home now displayed the original hardwood floors, no longer hidden by shaggy old carpeting. They were stained a deep mahogany color.

"This looks amazing, Zed." Addison breathed.

"It really does." He replied, eyes still wandering the room in awe. He swallowed back the wave of emotion that briefly overtook him. It was touching, how much the community had come together to help his family, and the other zombies, in their time of need. The beauty of his new home was a testament to how greatly Seabrook had really changed in the past few years.

"Come on,"Zed said, gently pulling at her hand, again. "Let's go see my room!"

Together, they bounded softly up the freshly carpeted steps, switching on the new hall light once they reached the second floor. Zed's room was the first door, and he reached out, eagerly grabbing the doorknob and twisting it.

The inside of the room, much like the rest of the house, smelled of fresh paint and clean linens. Switching on the light, Zed let out a short laugh of amazement.

"Oh, wow." He breathed.

The room, painted a light pewter grey, was festively adorned with antique and vintage Seabrook sports memorabilia. He had been saddened to learn that much of his collection had been destroyed, after the fire. But now, it was like he had an entirely new collection on display around the room. There were two old Seabrook banners arranged across the walls. His bed had a simple but retro-looking iron frame, and above the bed on a shelf were a vintage football helmet and an old pair of cleats. There were also several framed photos hanging about the room, of Zed's family and friends. The wood floors were the same deep mahogany color as the ones downstairs, and a large, circular pink and green rug covered a large section of the space. A few other pieces of antique athletic equipment were tastefully placed about the room.

"This is amazing!" He said as they entered the room, taking in the new appearance. "How in the world did they get this stuff? And the pictures!"

He turned to look down at Addison, only to see that her eyes were alight with mischief.

"Actually," she replied. "Most of the sports stuff is from my parents. Old family heirlooms, that my dad and grandparents had stored in their attics."

Zed gaped at her. He couldn't formulate the right words to convey his combined gratitude and shock. He knew that her parents had, more or less, accepted him, even if he was a zombie. But Addison's surviving grandparents were another matter altogether. Her maternal grandfather was deceased, but her mom's mom and both of her dad's parents were still living. And so great was their dislike of him that they had never actually met him, despite the fact that Addison had now been dating him for years.

Addison seemed to understand his aghast expression, and laughed. "Okay, so my grandparents technically donated everything to the Zombietown Fire Fundraiser, and not to you specifically. But still, even that is a big improvement from how they have been."

"I'll say," Zed replied. "This is so perfect, Addy!"

"It really is." She nodded.

They stood for a moment in the silence of the clean, freshly painted room, taking in the many updates and improvements.

Zed was about to suggest that they head back to Eliza's before someone went looking for them, when he heard the sudden pounding of boots quickly ascending the stairs. Addison heard it as well, and they both turned in surprise to face the door.

Eliza burst into the room without knocking, covering her eyes with one hand to block her own vision.

"Whatever you're doing," Eliza grumbled loudly, "Just cut it out, you two!"

"Eliza," Addison laughed, "We aren't doing anything."

Zed arched an eyebrow and grinned towards his best friend, who hesitantly peeked between her fingers to ensure that she wouldn't see anything she didn't want to see. After a short second, she lowered her hand, sighing in brief relief. Then, worry overcame her features.

"You guys need to get back to my house." Eliza stated. A look of guilt crossed her face then, and she looked at Addison. "Addy, I did something stupid."

ZzZzZzZ

Bonzo smiled as he sat on the stoop of Eliza's house, watching his girlfriend teaching several zombie some basic cheer leading moves. As she demonstrated the High-V jump, her eyes met his, and they sparkled with joy and amusement. They smiled at one another, silently communicating their love for one another before she turned her attention back to the many kids now surrounding her.

His girlfriend really was the most amazing person he had ever met. Looking at her now, laughing and playing with the neighborhood kids, one would never know that her home had just burned to the ground. She looked perfectly content, when most people their age would have been falling to pieces. He certainly had, the first day or so after the Zombietown fires. But not his Bree. She was definitely the toughest of the two of them, and he would be the first to admit it.

Next to him, there was a shuffling sound as Eliza plopped down next to him. Her feet dangled next to his off of the side of the stoop. Bonzo turned to grin down at her, but was surprised to see a rather morose expression on his best friend's face. She was frowning out towards the street, her unhappy eyes resting on Bree and the group of zombie children who were now practicing cartwheels on the pavement.

"Elizika?" He asked, hearing the slight concern in his own voice. He couldn't remember the last time he'd seen his friend look so down. "What's wrong?"

Eliza looked up to meet his eyes, shooting him a pained expression before lowering her gaze quickly away. "Nothing's wrong, Bonzo." She replied far too hastily in their native language.

Bonzo's brows dipped inward as he stared her down.

"Nice try, Lizka." Bonzo said with a slight roll of his eyes. Eliza could be so annoyingly difficult to talk to, sometimes. Still, he loved her, and was he was now determined to get to the bottom of her somber facial expression.

"I know you well enough to know when you're lying." He continued stubbornly. "So you might as well tell me."

At this, Eliza's eyes met his briefly. She looked downright agonized.

"I'm not sure that's a good idea." She admitted, this time in English.

"Why?" He asked. "Come on, Eliza. It's not good to keep your problems all bottled up. It's always better to get it out in the open."

She grimaced at this, but didn't reply right away. She seemed to be pondering his words, nervously fidgeting with a chain that dangled from the bottom of her sweatshirt. A cool breeze blew past them, rustling the tassels and beads on several of the lampshades that decorated the front of the house. Bonzo shivered involuntarily.

"I'm worried it will upset you." She finally said, gathering her arms tighter around herself to ward off the sudden chill in the air. Zombies may not have been as sensitive to temperature changes as other beings, but they still felt it when it happened.

"What is it?" He said, feeling a slight frown cross his face as he met her eyes. He hated that something was bothering his friend so much, and wanted her to talk it out. It would make her feel better.

"I... heard something about Zen, today." Eliza said, trying for nonchalance but failing miserably.

Bonzo froze.

He hadn't heard anyone say his father's name aloud in years. And aside from the occasional nightmare or flashback, he really hadn't thought about the man in years, either. There was no point. The monster was dead and gone, and had hurt the last person he would ever hurt ten years ago. Bonzo felt his hand clench into an involuntary fist. That his father's last act had been to murder a human child was despicable. Hatred wasn't a feeling Bonzo really ever felt. But if he harbored any amount of hatred in his heart, it was definitely directed towards Zen.

He looked over, trying to mask the pained expression on his face as he looked at Eliza, who seemed to be refusing to make eye contact with him.

"...Okay." He finally replied in English. He wasn't sure what to say to this.

What had she heard about him? Probably nothing good. There was never anything good to say, when it came to the subject of his dad. Bonzo was beginning to get the feeling that he was not going to like this conversation one little bit.

Eliza took a breath and continued. "Actually, I found out something about the human that he.. you know... killed."

Bonzo winced, and the words felt like a physical punch to his gut.

He had purposely never read or sought out any details about the Zen Incident. Not even after integration had happened, and he had access to more information. He knew that Zen had murdered a child, and that Z-Patrol had shot him dead for it when he was caught. Bonzo had no desire to know any more details than that. And if he'd had the choice, he'd rather not have known those bits of information, either. He hated what had happened, and was also sure that had the circumstances been only slightly different, he very well could have ended up being the dead child in this story instead of that poor human.

"Elizika..." He started, unsure what to say. Bonzo was certain that he did not want to hear whatever his best friend was about it say.

"I found out her name." She continued, and finally looked up to meet his eyes.

He flinched again. He had never known it was a little girl.

Even though he didn't want to know, he asked anyway.

"What was her name?" He whispered, barely audible over the voices and music around them.

"...Bailey Brighten." Eliza said, eyes wide and sad.

Bonzo cocked his head to one side, the information not immediately clicking into place.

"Brighten?" He asked, momentarily confused. "But that's Bree's—"

He stopped mid-sentence, suddenly recalling a long-ago conversation with his girlfriend. It was after Prawn, when they had ended up wandering to the playground at the nearby elementary school. They had sat together on a set of swings, talking for hours and sharing some of their deepest secrets and fears. It was that night that Bree had told him that she had once had a little sister, named Bailey.

"Where is Bailey, now?" He had asked her, though he had already known, from the tone of her voice, where her sister was.

"She's gone," Bree had replied, simply. "She's been gone for ten years, now."

He had nodded, understanding that she did not want to elaborate. He, too, had relatives who were gone.

At the time, he hadn't made the connection that both his father and Bree's sister had died around the same time. Why would he? What were the odds that the two events were connected?

Now, he stared back at Eliza, feeling his hands begin to tremble.

What were the odds?

He glanced back to the street, where Bree was still playing with the zombie kids and showing them different cheer moves. His beautiful beam of sunshine had dealt with more pain than he'd ever known.

"You're saying," He gasped with some difficulty. "That my dad killed Bree's little sister."

"I'm so, so sorry Bonzo." Eliza replied, looking absolutely stricken. "I didn't want to tell you, but I didn't want to lie to you, either."

He shook his head, feeling a tear slide down his cheekbone. The tear moved along a small scar, from the time Zen had thrown him into a doorway for not moving out of his way fast enough. Would Zen never stop hurting him? Even dead, he was still managing to destroy Bonzo's life.

"I... glad you did." Bonzo replied in rough, broken English, though he wasn't sure he'd ever feel glad about anything again. Because he knew what he needed to do, and it was going to burn worse than any fire.

"Thanks for telling me." He mumbled, standing abruptly. She looked up at him, alarmed by his sudden movement.

"Bonzo—" Eliza started, but he was already walking away from her, making long, rapid strides to where Bree stood laughing in the road. Looking at her was almost physically painful.

"Hey, handsome!" Bree giggled as he approached, but her face quickly morphed from happiness to worry. "What's wrong, Bonzo?"

Her lovely eyes were suddenly wide with concern as she reached out to take his hands. He immediately pulled his own hands away, and met her eyes for the briefest moment before he spoke.

"I'm breaking up with you." Bonzo said, the words cutting him up like shards of glass as they left his mouth.

Before he could register the hurt and shock on Bree's beautiful face, Bonzo then turned, and fled into the night.