Return of the Disclaimer: Ah yes, NO I DO NOT OWN SHAUN OF THE DEAD!!! ARGH!! Anyway...I'm better now. So this chapter slips back into ROMCOM territory along with ZOM thrown into the mix. I kept this fairly clean boys and girls, so let me know if you prefer smutty or not in case our hapless couple gets a chance to have some fun later. I doubt it, but let me know. I like to appeal to everyone's tastes.

I'm a firm believer that good characters need to suffer. Kinda like Sam Raimi's philosophy that the innocent must suffer. Shaun is a very good character. And Simon plays angst so well in the movie it makes me hurt. So Shaun must cry a bit...because he's a damn good crier with those big pretty eyes of his. Then I can kiss it and make it better...but that's a totally different kind of fic J

Shaun opened the front gate to the flat and gestured her inside. She liked the little yard, it was homey.

He was nervous. God, did he leave anything lying around on the couch? Clothes? Food? For the life of him he couldn't remember what the inside had looked like when he left that afternoon.

With a tiny prayer he unlocked the front door and switched on the light. Thank heaven...it looked neat.

Emily looked around at the numerous posters from different bands and concerts that adorned the walls. There was a large TV with a Playstation hooked up to it and a comfy looking couch. On the coffee table were some newer issues of X-men and Judge Dredd.

Shaun took off his coat, tossing it over the stairs banister and dropped his back pack on the floor. "Take your jacket?" He asked her.

"Oh yeah, here you go." She shrugged it off and placed her bag next to his. "This is a nice place." She walked further into the living room and he followed her.

"Yeah, I actually bought it a while back. You get used to something I guess you hold on." His voice took on that tone she was starting to recognize. It meant memories were getting to him.

She turned around and gave him a smile. "So where's this legendary record collection at?"

That brought him back. He gave her a grin and pointed towards a large chest of drawers that took up a good chunk of a wall. On top of it sat a nice turntable and speakers. Shaun moved to stand in front of it, hand on the top right drawer. "Shield your eyes from the beauty." He said and then pulled it open.

Inside she saw just one section of the alphabet, records in alphabetical order by artist and then by year. "Holy shit..." she said softly.

"Yeah...impressive huh?" He was obviously cocky about this.

In this section alone were the original printings of Kiss's solo albums, in mint condition. Pink Floyd first editions, all in perfect shape. It was awe inspiring. "I'd say..." She started to flip through them, her eyes going large at the sight in front of her.

Shaun couldn't help the smirk that crossed his face. "Well then, I'll leave you to ogle while I go make the tea."

"Sure...yeah." She'd found the Sex Pistols and was in worship mode.

With a bit of swagger to his step Shaun went into the kitchen and started the kettle. He pulled the good cups from the cupboard and placed the spoons, sugar, honey, and cream on a tray. He placed the tea in the cups just as the kettle started to whistle. He poured the steaming water in, double checked everything was there, and brought it into the room as the first sounds of Etta James came from his speakers.

He looked up and saw Emily with a guilty look on her face. "I couldn't help it...I was really really careful...I just love her."

Shaun smiled, putting the tray down on the coffee table. "Don't worry; I was going to ask if you wanted to listen to anything. Good choice. Come and have some tea."

She walked over and sat beside him on the couch as the smooth voice surrounded them. Emily took two sugars and popped them in the delicate mug. Shaun took a sip of his and let the chamomile do its work.

He glanced over at his guest and saw that she had her eyes closed and was swaying slightly in time to the bluesy jazz, her hand wrapped around her mug of tea. Her eyes opened after a moment and she blushed, quite prettily. "Sorry, zoning out there. It's been a long day."

"It's alright, I know what you mean." He took another drink of tea and sat the mug on the table. "It must be close to four in the morning...I probably should be beaten for asking you to come over so late but I was having a great time...didn't really want it to e..."

He didn't get a chance to finish his sentence because she had grasped his shirt in her hands and had pulled him on top of her, smothering any words with her mouth.

So maybe she wasn't sore with him inviting her over so late. And maybe there were side effects to chamomile that he didn't know about...because he was suddenly very much awake.

Sunlight filtered through the curtains some time later. It illuminated the clothing that now in fact did cover spots on the couch and floor. The throw that had been on the back of the couch was wrapped around Shaun and Emily, who were sleeping a well earned rest on the cushions. Emily was facing the couch and Shaun was spooned up against her, his arm holding her to him.

His sleep was dreamless and restful for a while and then the nightmare slipped in like a silent viper ready to strike.

He was running...he had that damn cricket bat again. His white shirt was splattered with the blood of god knew how many zombies. He was yelling her name...desperate to find her. He was inside the club, Drama! Zombies came at him and he batted them aside, one after another...And then he found her. She stumbled from the shadows but before he could reach her, the weasel with the leather jacket was upon her, his face now pale and blue veined, his eyes dead. He sank his teeth into her neck and Shawn cried out for him to stop. The fiend looked up at the sound and hissed at him, his lips dripping with Emily's blood, he let her drop to the ground.

Shaun slammed the bat upside the things skull hard enough that the head flew off into the darkness. The body dropped backwards, the neck squirting black gore high into the air, the hands scrambling trying to find its own head for a few horrific moments before they fell lifeless at its sides.

Shaun dropped the cricket bat and ran to Emily'. She was so pale...so pale..." God no...not again...please no." He cried out, knowing there was no chance. None...He picked her up and held her against his chest, powerless.

"Shaun..." Her voice was weak already...the blood gushing from her wounded throat across his shirt. Her fingers touched his cheek, cold and trembling against his skin. "If you love me....kill me."

"No...no I can't...please don't make me..." He begged, tears streaming down his cheeks.

"Shaun I love you....let me die..." She started to shake and convulse against him. He held her tighter trying to stop it, knowing it was something he couldn't fight.

"Please...don't." He whispered against her ear. When her head fell back, he felt the last breath brush against his cheek and he knew she was gone.

He laid her down gently on the floor, his eyes taking in the sight of her white skin, stained crimson. Her eyes closed, her lips the color of ivory. He saw that beside her lay the Winchester, and he knew the gun would be loaded. Shaun felt the fury, the pain well up within him and he reared back, his soul crying out "NO!!!!!!!!!!!!" And then her lifeless eyes opened.

Shaun jerked awake, his eyes wide, lips parted in a silent scream. The movement stirred Emily slightly, and she burrowed up closer to him with a slight sigh.

He looked around him, lifting himself up on an elbow, eyes darting around the room. He remembered to breathe, and his heart rate slowed down. "Just a dream..." he said aloud. He looked down at the sleeping girl beside him, his fingers running down her arm. She was warm and she was alive. Shaun leaned down and kissed her bare shoulder, and put his arm around her again. He laid his head back down next to hers and simply held her. He wouldn't be going to sleep any time soon.