Authors Note: So, I may as well as warn you now, there's no lockdown this update.

I know, I know, I said last update their probably would be one, but I ended up writing more "filler" than I had planned.

But I promise, at least the beginning of the next lockdown will be in the next update. :)

Hope you enjoy these chapters, and thank you to those of you who reviewed!

Chapter 63: Better Than Cake

Despite my warning, Zak wasn't able to fully protect himself in time.

He had seen the panicked look on my face, and turned around to see what I was looking at.

He barely got an arm up in time to protect his face, as the guy lashed out with the shard of glass, slashing the underside of Zak's forearm.

"Son of a bitch!" Zak exclaimed in shock and pain, momentarily grasping the gash, before lunging toward the guy.

Thankfully, security and Aaron intervened.

"Woah bro! Don't even think about it," Aaron said, stepping partially in front of Zak and grabbing him with both arms.

Two of the security guards had grabbed onto the guy, taking the shard of glass from him and pulled his arms behind his back.

"That's enough! Come on you," one of the guards said firmly, starting to lead the guy away, he and Zak glaring at each other.

I suddenly noticed the bartender appear with a small, folded towel in his hands.

"Here," he offered, handing the towel to Zak.

"Thanks bro," Zak said, taking the towel once Aaron let him go, and held it against his arm.

"Do you need us to call an ambulance, sir?" One of the security guards asked.

"No, I'll be fine," Zak said.

"You should at least go to the hospital," Cheryl suggested softly.

I stepped around to stand in front of Zak, gently taking his arm and lifting it up to examine the gash.

"It doesn't look deep," Aaron said, examining the gash as well.

"I still think we should go to the hospital," I said.

"It's not that bad, I'll just bandage it up at home," Zak said.

I gave him a look.

"Don't pull the stubborn, macho man act. We're flying to half way across the world tomorrow. What if it gets infected?" I said firmly.

Zak sighed, looking reluctant, but then nodded.

"Alright, I'll go," Zak said, pressing the towel against the gash again.

"I'll come with you," I said. "Give me your keys," I added, holding a hand out.

I was more than happy to go with Zak, I'd be worried about him the entire time if I didn't go.

And besides, I didn't want to be in the club anymore.

Zak looked momentarily shocked and horrified at the same time.

Aaron laughed.

"Zak doesn't let anyone drive his car," Aaron said.

I couldn't help but laugh, rolling my eyes.

"Oh come off it," I said.

Zak suddenly jumped.

"Hey! Watch it!" Zak yelped, and it was then I noticed that Cheryl had reached into a pocket of his jeans, and pulled out his keys.

I smiled as she handed them too me.

"Sheesh, get a grip on your woman bro," Zak teased.

Aaron and Cheryl laughed.

"Come on you," I said, motioning for Zak to come with me.

"Do you want us to come with you? We didn't really get to celebrate your birthday," Cheryl said, looking slightly upset.

I gave her a reassuring look.

"No, it's fine. You guys stay and have fun. I'm not really up to being here now anyway," I replied.

She nodded in understanding.

"Alright, take it easy…" she said.

I simply nodded then looked at Zak.

"Please let me drive," Zak said.

I jingled his keys.

"The keys just said 'nope'," I replied

He laughed, then jokingly sighed.

"Please don't hurt my baby…" He said.

Aaron, Cheryl and I all laughed.

Men and their cars. I thought.

Roughly an hour and a half later…

Zak closed the door behind us as we both walked into his place, Gracie galloping to the entrance, barking and wagging her tail.

Luckily, it hadn't been very busy at the hospital, and Zak had gotten in almost right away.

Thankfully, the gash wasn't as bad as it looked, and it didn't need stitches.

The doctor cleaned up the wound, and then used some steri-strips – small, adhesive bandages – to keep the wound closed, and then wrapped some white, gauze bandages around his forearm t o protect it for a few days.

"Hey Gracie," I said, smiling as she stood in front of me, wagging her tail.

Zak smiled, as I reached down to pet her.

"I think she loves you more than me," Zak jokingly pouted.

"Oh please, she does not," I replied. "You love your daddy, don't you Gracie?" I added.

Gracie's ears perked up at the word "daddy", and she turned and looked at Zak, her tail wagging more happily, her ears back, and a loving expression on her face.

I smiled.

"See?" I said.

Zak smiled and leaned down a bit to rub the scruff of her neck.

"I love you too Grace," Zak said.

I smiled as I watched them, and then proceeded in slipping off my heeled boots.

"Oh thank god, relief," I added in a mumble, relieved to finally be out of my heels.

Zak laughed as he stood back up normally, then looked a bit concerned.

"Are you okay…? I never really got to check on you," Zak said softly.

I nodded, tensing a bit at the memory of the nights events, and absentmindedly pulled on the hem of my skirt a bit.

"Yeah…I'll be okay. Thank you for the rescue…" I said softly.

Zak smiled a bit.

"Don't need to thank me doll. Let me jog upstairs and get something more comfortable for you to wear," Zak said, heading to the stairs.

I felt a bit taken back.

I did want to get out of this skirt, especially after the jerk at the club had gotten grabby with me, but I didn't want to make Zak think I didn't trust him or feel comfortable around him.

"You don't have to," I said.

He glanced back at he with a smile.

"It's no problem sweetheart," Zak said, before jogging up the stairs.

I smiled to myself as I kneeled down to give some affection to Gracie, rubbing my hands back and forth over her sides.

A few minutes later, Zak came back downstairs.

He had changed into a plain grey t-shirt, and a pair of black, white, and grey, camouflage pants.

He also had taken out his contacts and was wearing his black rimmed, "dorky" glasses.

He looks so adorable in those glasses…I thought.

As I stood up, he walked over to me and handed me a plain, black t-shirt, and a pair of black pyjama pants.

"I wasn't sure if you'd want to change your shirt or not," Zak commented.

I smiled as I took the t-shirt and pants.

"Thanks, I'll be right out," I replied, walking over to the first floor bathroom.

"No rush," Zak said with a smile.

I changed into Zak's t-shirt and pyjama pants, deciding I wanted to be completely free to relax.

The oversized clothes on my small frame felt more than comfortable, and they smelt like Zak.

However, I had to roll up the each pant leg quite a bit, so I wouldn't trip on them.

I then quickly washed my face, wanting to be free of the makeup.

Ahh, much better, I thought.

I folded up my own clothes and walked out of the bathroom and headed back to the entryway, setting my clothes down on a small table where I had set my clutch down when I came in.

I suddenly heard chuckling behind me.

I turned around and Zak was standing near the kitchen, with a smile on his face, trying not to laugh.

"What?" I questioned, looking down at myself.

Was there something wrong with my appearance that I had missed?

"You look even smaller. I didn't think it was possible," Zak said, still trying not to laugh.

I laughed as I looked up at him again.

"Well, you are a giant!" I teased.

Zak laughed.

"I could easily respond to that, but I don't think I should," Zak said, with a sly smirk on his face.

I felt my face flush, but couldn't help but laugh.

"Don't start Bagans," I muttered.

Zak laughed, then nodded his head back toward the kitchen.

"I have a surprise for you, cutie," Zak said.

Cutie…

I raised an eyebrow, curious, and walked over to him.

Did he really get me a gift?

He smiled and then stepped around behind me, and I suddenly felt his hands over my eyes.

"Oh for god sakes," I said, but then laughed.

Zak laughed too.

"Oh come on. It's not everyday I get to celebrate the birthday of a very special, and very beautiful woman," Zak said, keeping his hands over my eyes, and started walking us forward.

Very special and very beautiful…

"Fine," I jokingly grumbled, carefully putting one foot in front of the other.

I nearly jumped out of my skin when I suddenly heard Gracie bark.

"Jesus," I mumbled.

Zak laughed.

"Gracie!" Zak said. "Sorry," Zak added, laughing still.

I laughed.

"It's okay," I said, and stopped walking when I felt Zak stop.

"Keep your eyes closed," Zak said.

I rolled my eyes mentally, but smiled slightly to myself and played along with his mood.

"Alright," I replied.

I felt Zak pull his hands away, and fought the temptation to open my eyes.

I heard him move a few steps away from me, and then he spoke.

"Alright, open them," Zak said.

I opened my eyes to find myself standing on one side of the island in his kitchen.

Zak was on the other side, holding up his damn phone, ugh, and recording me, with Gracie standing up next to him, her two front paws on the edge of the counter.

On the counter in front of me, was a fairly large chocolate chip cookie on a plate, topped with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce, and it had one, lit, pink candle stuck in the middle.

I felt my insides melting.

"I'm sorry it's not a cake. We were going to go back to your place after the club, where Cheryl was going to bring out a cake she had gotten earlier. This is the best I could come up with," Zak said, looking a bit sheepish.

God…what did I do to deserve you? I thought.

I couldn't stop myself from smiling.

"It's perfect," I replied. "It's better than cake," I added, touched by his thoughtfulness.

Zak beamed as he continued filming me with his phone.

"Alright, sing with me Gracie," Zak said.

Oh no.

I hated people singing happy birthday to me, ever since I was a kid.

It made me all shy and embarrassed.

"Happy birthday to you," Zak started to sing.

I felt my face flush, which caused Zak to smile as he continued singing.

"Happy birthday to you,

Happy birthday dear Ali,"

I laughed when Gracie suddenly emitted some playful growls from the other side of the counter.

"Happy birthday to you!" Zak finished.

I couldn't help but smile, but still feeling embarrassed.

"Make a wish!" Zak said.

I laughed and then looked down at the candle for a moment as I thought about what to wish for.

It didn't take me long to realize what I wanted more than anything.

I leaned down, holding my hair back out of the way, and gently blew out the flickering flame.

I wish…to have you in my life, no matter if we remain friends, or become something more…for as long as I live.