"So, just where are we going?" Zed asked, he was surprised that Addison was driving them out of town.

"We're not going far," Addison promised, "there's just this really cool place I want to show you. And I'm hoping we'll be able to get some guaranteed alone time."

"Alone time huh? And just what does the birthday girl want this alone time for?"

"I'm sure we'll think of something." Addison grinned at him, she turned on the radio and neither of them could help singing along as they kept driving.

"We could be alone together, sitting over there in the corner, where nobody else can see keeping each other's company-" Zed and Addison sang together in perfect harmony with the radio as they drove along.

"And we're here." Addison smiled and parked the car, coming to a stop next to an old wooden fence.

"So what is this place?" Zed slid out of the car and looked around, there were plenty of trees surrounding them, but in front of them where the fence was, the ground quickly fell away on the edge of a cliff, he could just hear the waves crashing against the shore below.

"I don't really know what it is. Addison sighed in relaxation and leaned forward, putting her hands against the fence. I've been here with my parents a few times, as far as I know, it's just a spot to park and look over the ocean. Just beautiful for the sake of being beautiful, I guess."

"So why are we here?"

"Cause I wanted to really go somewhere with you, and somewhere we could be guaranteed to be alone." Addison giggled, leaning into his embrace as he stepped closer to her.

"I always want to be alone together with you." Zed smiled down at her.

Addison pulled herself up on top of the fence. "Come on Zed."

"You sure? This thing looks older than Zombietown."

"Well, I'm sure just like a certain zombie I know, it's so much tougher and stronger than it looks."

"Oh really? You saying I don't look strong?" Zed raised his eyebrow playfully while he sat down on the fence beside Addison. It did creak a little but once he steadied himself with his arm around Addison, it seemed stable, for now at least.

"Want to play a game?" Addison asked.

"Sure, what game?"

"How about would you rather?"

"What's that? How do you play?"

"So basically, I give you two insane choices, you choose one, and then you tell me why."

"Sounds cool. Hit me Addison." Zed said.

"Would you rather…if you weren't a football player, would you rather join the cheer squad or the cross country team?"

"Hmm, while that is a hard decision, cause on one hand I'd have Wyatt, Willa, and Ryan as my teammates, or it would be Bucky, Bree, Bonzo, the Aceys, and you… I love Ryan, but I think the cheer squad's captain is much cuter. Plus I've got moves, and I would have the best mini-coach at home with Zoey teaching me how to do everything. I'd be on the cheer squad in a heartbeat, assuming Bucky lets me on the team."

"Good to know. And you are of course welcome to join anytime, assuming you can do a funky chicken mashed potato split with a robot down powering finish." Addison promised him.

"As fun as that would be you know I can't do that, Coach would break down in tears."

"Fine, you're safe, for now. Now you go." Addison nudged him with her shoulder.

"OK, Addison, if you didn't live in Seabrook, would you rather live in Zombietown, or in the Wild Wood with the werewolves? Wow, I dare you to say that five times fast." Zed joked.

"Zombietown, no contest. Addison leaned her head on his shoulder, 'cause either A, I would be your neighbor and we'd never have to go anywhere without the other, or B, I'd definitely be staying at your house every night if I could."

"I'm happy to hear you say that. As much as I wish, I know that isn't happening anytime soon."

"Someday though?" Addison looked up into his eyes.

"Someday," Zed promised with a kiss. "And hey, speaking of someday…do you still have your charm bracelet?"

"Of course I do silly." Addison held her wrist up, letting the silver links sparkle in the sunlight, "I almost never take it off."

"And do you still remember what each one if for?"

"How can I forget?" Addison sighed in happiness, "Every time I look at it, I think of you."

"Mind if I tell you again anyway?" Zed asked.

"Of course, I don't mind." Addison held her wrist out to him, he gently held her wrist and pointed to each charm in turn.

"A is for Addison, and how awesome and amazing you are. Z is for me because I will always be with you. A lightbulb for the light garden, still our favorite place in the entire world, nothing will ever be able to bury that place. A fist for our first punch, and how you are always ready to fight for what's right. Pom-poms, for being the best cheerleader on the planet. And a siren for the saferoom where we first met, for our first kiss, and where we both said Gar Gar Gaza for the first time."

"I know, I think about all those things every time I see it, and I fall even more in love with you. Gar Gar Gaza Zed." Addison stretched up to kiss him.

"Gar Gar Gaza Addie, your birthday wouldn't be complete without me giving you a gift too." Zed pulled a small silver-colored box wrapped in a ribbon out of his pocket and handed it over.

"What did you do?" Addison asked reverently as she opened the box. On the inside were more charms for her bracelet, all of them were beautiful, and she could guess what most of them meant immediately, but she wanted Zed to tell her.

"They're beautiful, what do they mean?" Addison asked softly. Holding the box between them.

Zed carefully pointed at each one in turn. "A moon, for everything we've done with the wolves, and how thanks to them, and us, Seabrook is better than ever. A heart, to remind you how you saved my heart, and also to remind you that your heartbeat will always be the sweetest sound in the world to me. And ever since I got my necklace, I've had the pleasure of hearing it every single day I'm with you. A crown, to remember Prawn night, and the fact that everyone agrees that you are a queen, but you are my queen. A trophy, to remember the cheer championships, and all the other countless wins we have had ever since school started. Just another reminder that nothing can stand in our way when we're together."

Zed paused for a second, "OK, now I know this one is an ice cream cone, but let's pretend it's froyo alright?"

"Of course, why froyo?" Addison laughed.

"To remind us of this summer, which has already been the best summer ever in my book, not gonna lie, and also so we can remember to not let anything silly keep us apart, and to always talk to each other when we're worried." Zed leaned over and kissed her gently for a few moments.

"I love them all, but nowhere near as much as I love you Zed." Addison said softly before kissing him again.

When they separated, Addison took off her bracelet so she could add the new charms to it. She glanced over all of them once she put her bracelet back on her wrist. "I love them all Zed, you are spot on with all of them, every single one is a part of me, and a part of us."

"I'm just happy you like it."

"How could I not, when you're the sweetest guy in the universe?"

"Why do you think I gave it to you now? I think we know Eliza would have a different reaction if gave my whole speech in front of her and everyone else."

"Let her talk is she wants, let anyone talk if they want. It's perfect, and you're perfect."

"And so are you." Zed leaned down to press his forehead against hers for a few moments. "So what do you want to do now?"

"Well, we still have a few hours until we have to go meet everyone else again."

"So what does the birthday girl want to do?"

"Let's just stay here, and do absolutely nothing!" Addison declared.

"Nothing?"

"Yeah, we're always doing something, let's just do nothing for a change."

"Whatever you want Gorgeous, but what does nothing entail?"

"I don't really know," Addison shrugged her shoulders, "but I have a few ideas…" Addison grinned up at him with a sparkle in her eyes.

"I've got a feeling I'm going to like all your ideas today." Zed grinned back at her.

A few hours later Zed and Addison pulled up to the Flat Pie Red Eye, Zombietown's pizza place. They got out of the car and walked hand in hand, all their friends excitedly cheered "HAPPY BIRTHDAY ADDISON!"

"Awe, thanks so much you guys." Addison was so touched she raised her hand over her heart in gratitude.

"So I assume you two had fun all afternoon?" Eliza raised her eyebrow out them, "I'm surprised you didn't break into the saferoom."

"Who says we didn't?"

"No, we didn't." Addison playfully slapped Zed's shoulder as they sat down between Bree and Bucky. "We tried but the school was locked up tight for the weekend."

"Ha! I knew it!" Willa howled with glee.

"So have you guys ordered already? I'm starving." Zed asked them.

"Well, we weren't going to wait all night for you."

"It's 6:05, we were five minutes late." Zed pointed at his watch. "In fact, I would say we were fashionably late."

"I don't think that's how it works." Eliza shot Zed down teasingly.

"So Addison, do you want to open your presents now, or after we eat?" Bree asked her, interrupting Zed and Eliza's banter.

"Sure, let's do it now," Addison smiled brightly, "but you guys didn't need to get me anything."

"That's what friends are for." Wynter grinned and bared her fangs, "and you are going to love what we got you!"

Everyone suddenly brought out a bunch of bags hidden beneath the table.

"Wow, I don't even know what to start with!"

"Here do mine bestie! It's from me and Bonzo!" Bree pulled her baby blue bag right in front of Addison.

"You got it bestie." Addison reached in to pull out the tissue paper, handing it over to Zed until she pulled out a scrapbook titled, Our Year. As she slowly started thumbing through the pages and she felt tears gathering in her eyes. There were so many pictures of all the fun things she, Bree, Zed, and everyone else had done since school started, from Bree and Addison's first selfies in their cheer uniforms all the way to Prawn, dancing at the wolf den, the cheer Championship, and even a few she recognized from just a few weeks ago, every page artfully decorated and heartfelt notes written everywhere.

"Bree, Bonzo. This is so beautiful you're going to make me start crying." Addison said, only half joking as she reached over to Bree to surround her in a hug.

"I'm glad you like it, Addison. I made one for me, and once I started I knew you would want one too, and Bonzo of course helped me make them even better."

"Bonzo come over here. This is so great." Addison stood and Bonzo happily spread his arms to surround her too. "Everything you make is so beautiful, and this is no exception. Grazias Bonzka."

"Gru Zada Cumpleanoz Addiska!"

Addison sat down and dried her moist eyes before any tears could actually escape. "OK, who's next?"

"Well, I hate to be the sucker to go after that," Eliza said sarcastically, "but here you go." Eliza pushed her green bag closer to Addison.

Addison again dug through the bag and found a small wooden box at the bottom. She opened the box to reveal a bunch of random objects, each stuck into the foam at the bottom of the box. "What are they Eliza?"

"Well cheerleader, those are all zombie-style earrings. A bunch of the ones you tried on a few weeks ago on our shopping spree, and also a few of my own designs. I know its not as emotional as Bree and Bonzo's but-"

"Be quiet Zom-bae. I love them just as much. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart." Addison smiled, and once again stood up to hug Eliza tightly.

"OK cheerleader, I think that's enough." Eliza joked after Addison kept holding on for several seconds.

"Come on Eliza, we all know even your heart isn't as dead as you try to act like it is," Wyatt whispered in her ear and squeezed her hand under the table.

"Yeah yeah Fido. So what do you wolves got?"

"Oh you're gonna love it so much, you'll howl at the moon!" Wynter promised Addison.

Willa passed over a gift wrapped in purple wrapping paper and Addison once again started tearing off the paper to reveal the box beneath. She then opened the box and revealed several items tucked inside.

"What is all this?" Addison asked excitedly as she pulled out two clay jars.

"Those are our all-natural shampoo and conditioner. When you have hair as great as yours, or ours, its important to keep it healthy."

"Thanks Willa. This is so cool. But what's this?" Addison pulled out a leatherbound notebook.

Wyatt explained, "Since you especially are always asking us a million questions about werewolf culture, we thought you'd appreciate some of our history. Its full of random facts about us, some of our traditions and legends. A lot like the stuff we told you already, but we really thought you'd like it."

"Of course I like it, it's amazing!" Addison cheered, already thumbing reverently through the pages.

"Hey Addison, can I borrow that when you're done?"

"Of course, you can Eliza."

"What do you want to know? You can always ask me?" Wyatt grinned at Eliza.

"I know I can, but knowledge is power, and the more ways I can find how werewolves and zombies are similar, the better."

"Ohh, there's one thing left in there!" Wynter reminded Addison since she was momentarily distracted by skimming through the pages of her new notebook.

"Oh, OK." Addison reached in one more time to pull out a tiny gray jar, with a purple-colored paw print shape in the middle. "What in the world is this?"

"It's the same shade of nail polish you rocked a few weeks ago, and while you are welcome back for a manicure with us anytime, you can do it on your own whenever you want now too."

"Thanks, Wynter, this really is great. Thank you all so much." Addison smiled at all of them.

"And now, saving the best for last!" The Aceys all cheered loudly and pushed a large bright pink giftbag towards Addison.

Addison reached in one more time and pulled out a bunch of different Seabrook Cheer T-shirts, sweatpants, shorts, and a sweatshirt. All of it proudly labeled Captain Addison somewhere.

"Thanks you guys. All of you here are part of the best team ever!"

"Go, Mighty Shrimp! You got that right!" Bucky cheered proudly.

"All of your gifts are so amazing, I can't thank you enough!" Addison said.

"Wait, we know Bucky gave you his already, but what about you Zed?" Eliza asked him.

"Simple, I knew how much you would all complain about me being too cavity-inducing like usual, so I already gave Addison her present when we were alone."

"So what you get her?" Bree asked.

Addison held up her wrist and giddily displayed her bracelet. "These."

"Wasn't that your Christmas present?" Eliza asked.

"Yes, it was, he got me more charms though and every single on is just as perfect as Zed is." Addison kissed his cheek.

"And as perfect as you are." Zed kissed her cheek right back. "And Bamm!"

"What?"

"That was sixteen birthday kisses. I promised myself I would kiss you at least sixteen times to celebrate today."

"I'm sure that was really difficult for you." Eliza rolled her eyes at him.

"Of course not, it was the easiest thing in the world."

"That isn't a limit though. Right?" Addison smiled up at him.

"Of course not, I'm just getting started," Zed whispered back.

"OK, back on topic, don't leave me in suspense, what do your new charms mean?" Bree asked, her voice high-pitched with excitement.

So Addison held out her wrist to make sure everyone could see while she and Zed explained what all the charms meant, and everyone, even Eliza gave their shining approval.

"While I agree you two are still always brain rotting, I swear you two share a brain." Eliza shook her head with a chuckle.

"So Addison, what's your favorite gift you've gotten?"

"Well, while I love all your gifts, I have to admit, it's a tie between Zed's and my new car." Addison admitted.

"Really? Not even the megaphone Cuz?" Bucky asked jokingly.

"Afraid so."

"Don't worry I'm just messing with you." Bucky smiled brightly.

"Do you even need a car? Seabrook isn't that big?" Willa asked.

"Probably not, but I'm sure we can all think of some things we can use it for." Addison glanced at Zed for a moment with a slight twinkle in her eye, until that moment was broken when their waiter brought over all their pizzas, including choices of meat lovers, vegetarian, cheese, or pepperoni. But with a large group of teenagers, it wasn't long before not even the crust remained sitting on the table."

They decided to all stay a while longer just hanging out, and even ordering a dessert pizza or two.

Finally, a few hours later, everyone was ready to head home. Addison made sure to thank everyone one more time for all their gifts with a hug, and then Zed helped her carry everything out to her car.

"So, where to now?"

"I don't know about you, but I don't want this night to end anytime soon," Addison admitted.

"I'm glad we're in agreement, plus you still have like four more hours of your birthday." Zed glanced down at his watch after setting everything in the backseat. "And I say what the birthday girl wants, the birthday girl gets."

"Good, because I only want you," Addison said as she slid into the driver's seat and Zed hopped in next to her.

"Is that all?" Zed asked.

"Mhm." Addison nodded. "I know exactly where to go."

"Why are we at school?" Zed asked a few minutes later as Addison pulled into the parking lot.

Addison just smiled at him, "It's Saturday night in the middle of summer. This was the best place I could think of we could have guaranteed privacy."

"As much as I hate to admit it, I don't think we can get in the saferoom tonight Addie."

"I know that, but for tonight at least, we don't need the saferoom."

"We don't?"

"Nope, I think we have everything we need right here," Addison unbuckled her seatbelt.

"You're right, I think we do." Zed smiled right back, unbuckling his as well.

Addison leaned closer to Zed over the center console, while Zed mirrored her movements, they met in the middle for a sweet, tender kiss full of affection, but it quickly grew into so much more. Addison reached out to hold onto Zed's shoulder with one hand and started softly running her other hand through his short green hair.

Zed followed suit, his own hand gently caressing her cheek with his fingertips playing through her white locks. And at the same time, both of them started growing more heated and pushing harder against each other. Both of their hands started traveling up and down their sides, and both felt the need to be closer.

After breaking apart for a quick breath, Addison decided she needed more, so she crawled over the center console and Zed pulled her into his lap.

"Better Gorgeous?" Zed smiled down at her as his hands encircled her waist.

"Much better, Handsome." Addison batted her eyes at him cutely and then lunged forward to capture his lips again, and even more quickly, she got a taste of Zed as their tongues danced together in their mouths.

Addison's hands traveled from being pressed against Zed's firm chest to gliding up and down his back and then back again, while his cool hands kept pulling her closer to him, locked around her waist in a hug.

"I love you," Addison whispered when they took a breather for a few moments.

"I love you too." Zed paused and stared directly into her eyes, both of them panting slightly, but with the brightest of smiles on their faces. "I think this is a new one for us isn't it?"

"I think it is, and I think I like it." Addison leaned forward quick to peck his cheek.

"So, are you saying this could be a regular thing?"

"Yeah, all we need now is an excuse to be somewhere that's just you and me together."

"Something tells me it won't be that hard for us. And hey when school starts again, this can just give us some extra time in the mornings." Zed wiggled his eyebrows flirtatiously.

"I think that sounds like a great idea, although we'd have to find somewhere besides the school parking lot to park." Addison giggled.

"We'll figure it out, we always do," Zed promised her and hugged her tightly against his chest, Addison resting her chin on his shoulder. "So how does today rank on the birthday scale?"

"Literally the best day ever." Addison hugged him even tighter and rested her head over his slow, but strong beating heart. "In fact, there's only one thing that could possibly make it better."

"And what is it? Whatever you want, I promise I'll do my best to go find it. Zed pecked her cheek."

"I only want you. What do you say to a sleepover tonight?"

"I would say you're still the birthday girl, and what the birthday girl wants, the birthday girl gets. But any day of the year, my answer will always be the same. I'll be choosing you every time."

"Every every time?" Addison teased him.

"Every every time," Zed promised with finality.

"Good answer, well we better get going then." Addison tried to crawl her way back over to the driver's side, but Zed pulled her down for one more kiss before letting her go.

"That's enough for now." Addison smiled at him while she settled back in her seat.

"Does that mean I get more later?"

"Only if you behave."

"Oh, of course, I'll be on my best behavior." Zed covered his heart with his hand.

Addison just shook her head and laughed at him before starting the car again and pulling away back to her house.

They pulled up in her driveway, parking right outside the garage, and Addison leaned over to kiss Zed one more time. "Give me five minutes?"

"You got it Gorgeous, see you in five minutes," Zed promised.

Addison stepped out first, and then Zed crawled out on his side, the porchlight was on, and Addison was pretty sure her parents couldn't really look out the window to see him, but they weren't taking chances, and Addison would be lying to herself if she said the sneaking around didn't make it a little fun.

Addison walked in the front door, her hands full of all of her gifts. She set them down near the staircase and then was greeted with hugs from her parents.

"So Addison, how was the rest of your birthday?"

"It was great Mom." Addison smiled. "We all had so much fun getting pizza, and the Aceys even came and joined us. And everyone was so thoughtful with their gifts."

"I'm sure they were, so what did Zed get you? I'm sure it was something cute right?" Missy asked her.

"He got me more charms for my bracelet." Addison held out her wrist and once again explained what each charm represented.

"Zed is just too good to be true, isn't he?" Missy gushed while shaking her head teasingly.

"Yeah, he really is." Addison sighed in happiness.

"I'll say, he's making me look bad." Dale joked.

"Oh stop it. You have nothing to worry about." Missy said, leaning into his side.

"So, I assume you got Zed home safe and sound?" Dale asked.

"Yep. This has been one of the greatest days ever, but I really should go hit the sack. Thank you again so much, for everything today." Addison stepped forward to hug both of her parents.

"There's no need to thank us. You're out little girl, even if you keep growing up on us." Dale smiled down at her and pressed a kiss to her temple.

"Goodnight Addison," Missy said, pressing a quick peck of her own.

"Goodnight, Mom and Dad." Addison grabbed her gifts once more and then ran up to her room.

She set everything down, turned on the lights, and made sure her door was closed, before running to her window and throwing it open. She glanced down, and she could just barely see Zed's eyes shining beneath her window.

"There you are." Zed whispered.

"What are you waiting for?"

"Well, I was waiting for you," Zed replied with a grin as he started pulling himself up the side of her house. Only a few moments later Addison helped pull him through her window and then they once again melted into each other for a hug.

"Come on," Addison broke away from Zed walked over to her dresser, and then tossed him some very familiar clothes.

"Hmm, I was wondering where this went." Zed grinned at Addison, holding up one of his own T-shirts.

"See my stash is a good thing, I'll always be prepared for you to sleep over." Addison grinned back at him. "You can change into your pj's out here. I'll be right back." Addison promised, carrying her own bundle while she walked into her bathroom.

"You got it." Zed smiled.

After quickly changing her clothes and freshening up, Addison crept back into her room, to find Zed sitting on the side of her bed, looking through Bree's scrapbook.

She walked to his side and leaned into him so she could watch as he slowly turned the pages.

"You know totally honest, I think I'm a little jealous now. I think I need to ask Bree to make me one of these." Zed joked. "Mostly because I could have even more pictures of you looking absolutely adorable."

"I'm sure she would if you asked," Addison said. "All of you are literally the best. I couldn't ask for better friends."

'I know, me neither." Zed nodded. "So you think we're still masters of stealth?"

"I told Mom and Dad I got you home safe and sound, so I don't think they're worried about anything."

"Good, then I think that means we've got all night." Zed set the scrapbook on Addison's nightstand.

"All night for what?"

"Of me holding you in my arms, which always makes me feel great, and I hope it always makes you feel great."

"Of course, there's nowhere else on Earth I'd rather be than in your arms," Addison promised him.

"Then let's get to it, shall we?" Zed grinned and pulled her down on the bed. Addison had to stifle her laughter. After getting situated under the blankets, they both hugged each other close, both were lying on their sides, with only a few inches separating their lips, but that space didn't last very long.

"Happy birthday Addison."

"Thanks, everyone, but you especially made this the best day ever. I woke up with you, and now I'm falling asleep with you. I really don't need anything else."

"As long as we're in agreement then." Zed smiled and pressed his lips to hers. Addison started pushing back until they were both startled by Addison's phone pinging with a text message.

"Sorry, forgot to turn my phone off. I'm sure it's probably just Bree or something." Addison reached over to grab her phone from her nightstand.

"No problem." Zed watched her silently until she froze. "Addie, what's wrong? Is Bree in trouble or something?"

"No, it's not Bree," Addison said quietly, looking scared. She turned her phone towards Zed, and he read the text too. Mom: Tell Zed he's welcome to join us for breakfast tomorrow.

His blood ran cold too. "Do you think they know I'm here?"

"I think so," Addison said nervously.

"What should we do?"

"Well…considering neither of them are bursting in here, maybe it means their ok with it? Right?"

"Do you really think so?" Zed couldn't help glancing at the door, sure it would slam open at any second.

"I'm sure if Mom and Dad really thought you being here was a problem, they would tell me and you. Plus you aren't allowed to leave me tonight." Addison set her phone to the side and hugged Zed tighter.

"How can I ever tell you no?"

"You can't."

"You got that right. As long as they aren't kicking me out, I'm not going anywhere." Zed pulled her even closer to himself.

"See, I told you they love you."

"I know. But nowhere near as much as I love you, Addison. Gar Gar Gaza."

"Gar Gar Gaza Zed." Addison kissed him. "By chance how many kisses do you think we've had today?"

"Too many to count, you think I could keep track after sixteen? Especially with all the alone time we've had today."

"Shh, don't want to risk anything remember?"

Zed whispered a bit quieter, "You're right. But I'm sure they wouldn't be surprised."

"I love you Zed."

"I love you too Addie."

Zed tightened his grip around her shoulders, while Addison burrowed closer against him, her head tucked just beneath his chin, and her nose lightly pressed against his neck. Within a few minutes of listening to one another's hearts beating with love and happiness for their other halves, they both drifted off into dreams that couldn't bear to match reality.