Zed's POV
"I know we talked about this before, but have you put anymore thought into fighting this in court? I mean, now that Kynzlee is almost here." Eliza asked as we rode up to Addy's floor in the elevator.
"Of course! I think about it everyday!" I sigh as I lean back against the elevator wall. "But we can't afford it. Even if I keep all the money from my job instead of giving it to Addy, and my dad pitched in, we still wouldn't be able to pay a lawyer."
"I guess you're right. But damn! There's still over nine years you'll have to wait until it's lifted! Kynz will be almost Zoey's age when you can finally be in her life like a real dad!" Eliza ranted. We've talked about this same topic countless times. Mostly because it's all I can think about. But our friends want us to be happy too. Bree is holding onto Bonzo's arm as they both just stay quiet and stare at the floor sadly.
I force myself to smile and step away from the wall. "Come on guys! Let's not talk about that right now. This is a happy occasion! Kynzlee's coming!" I exclaim happily. All of them smile but I can see the sympathy behind their eyes. The elevator dings as we reach our floor and I take in a deep breath. Bonzo puts a heavy hand on my shoulder and gives me a reassuring nod.
"Yeah. I got this." I agree, pumped up to finally see Addison without worry of being arrested.
The doors open and I'm the first to rush out and head for room 407.
XxX
This is horrible. How could I have done this to my Addy? Sure I knew giving birth was really painful and hard, but she feels like she's dying! And this is just labor. She hasn't even started pushing yet!
I sit at her bedside and hold her hand tightly, offering her the best support I can. She squeezes my hand as another contraction wracks through her body. They happen every couple minutes now. She's getting close to time.
"I'm so sorry Addy." I whisper, kissing her knuckles softly. Her breathing is labored from the pain.
"For what?" She says with a chuckle but stops short with a hiss of pain. I use my free hand to run up and down her forearm.
"This is my fault. You're in so much pain." I say as my voice shakes. She lifts her hand out of mine and cups my cheek. I press into her palm for comfort.
"This pain is all going to be worth it in a few hours." She assures me. Then she adds with an eyebrow wiggle, "And it takes two to tango."
I chuckle and kiss her palm just before another contraction hits.
"Addison! We brought you a heating pad for your back!" Her mother announces loudly as she barges into the room. Addy squeezes her eyes shut at her loud voice but puts on a fake smile. I scowl.
"Addy would really appreciate if everyone could keep their voices down, if you don't mind." I speak up. Addison squeezes my hand.
"Zed-" She tries to stop me.
"No, Addy. You're more uncomfortable when they waltz in here yelling like that." I argue.
"You should really keep to yourself, Zed." Her mother chimed, saying my name with venom in her tone.
"Tsk." I glare her way and she glares back.
"Enough!" Addy yells, yelping in pain right after. I bend down and retake her hand in mine. "Both of you stop it! This isn't about your feud right now!" She cries. I feel consumed with guilt immediately. I brush her hair out of her face and kiss her forehead affectionately.
"I'm sorry." I whisper into her skin. She nods slightly. I stand up straight and look back up to Missy. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped. I'm just on edge since Addy is in so much pain." I apologize. She crosses the room with her heels clicking against the tile.
"I'm sorry for yelling, dear. I should have thought of how you were feeling." She apologized to Addison. Of course she won't apologize to me. Dale comes in shortly after, loaded down with large very over-packed bags. He threw the bags down in the corner and saw all of us staring at him.
"What'd I miss?" He questioned in confusion. The three of us chuckle. Her parents and I try our best to be civil for Addison's sake the rest of her delivery.
XxX
I'm laying on the side of Addy's bed with her leaning tiredly against my side, our newborn daughter sleeping in my arms. She is absolutely perfect, her dark green hair like mine and warmer complexion than most zombies due to the heartbeat she received from her mother. I turn my head and kiss Addison softly on the lips.
"You did such a good job Addy." I whisper. She giggles, cuddling against me and reaching in the take Kynzlee's little hand into her fingers.
"She seems so small!" Addy says in awe. I rest my head on hers, my eyes never leaving the beautiful baby swaddled against my chest.
"She's perfect, just like you." I reply quietly to not wake the sleepy baby. I turn my attention back to Addy, I have to split my attention between my girls. I have to cherish our short time together. I kiss Addy's snow white hair. She looks up at me with a soft smile on her lips.
"I've missed you so much." I tell her. Her hand comes to rest on my cheek, her eyes warm and soft as they stare into mine.
"Not as much as I've missed you." She leans up and kisses me gently. I shift carefully to face her more, to give us better access to each other's lips. Addy is careful of the baby too, but our kiss is heated and passionately. Her hands fist my hair, her mouth is greedy with need. I don't deny her.
She has my all. And I will give her anything she wants. This is the love of my life, the mother of my child. My arms instinctively tighten ever-so-slightly around the infant I'm holding and a strangled whimper creeps up my throat. Addy separates our lips and presses together our foreheads as my eyes squeeze shut and the sobs escape me. She pulls my head down to cradle it in the crook of her neck.
"It's ok. I'm here with you." She whispers in my ear. Her words catch in the back of her throat as she cries with me. She wraps her outer arm around mine to cradle Kynzlee too. I don't want tomorrow to come. When I have to leave them, unsure of when I'll get to see them again.
I have to be in Kynzlee's life. I already love this little girl so much. It's in that moment that I made a decision. A decision to take my life into my own hands. I'm going to fight this restraining order wether I can afford a lawyer or not. I have to. I have to be with my family.
XxX
Normal POV
Eliza was beginning to worry. Zed didn't look good.
"Have you been eating?" She asks quietly as they sat in the library for study hall. He doesn't even lift his head from the thick legal book he was reading when he shakes his head no. Her brows knit together.
"Zed, you have to eat. You're way over working your body." She tells him in worry of his health.
"I don't need anything. I'm fine." He responds, still not looking up from the book he's reading furiously. Eliza's expression shifted from pure worry to angry frustration.
"Oh yeah? What would Addison think if she saw you right now?" She asked with attitude in her tone. Zed stopped and finally looked up at her.
"I'm eating when I get time. Now please stop bothering me while I study." He says, looking back down at the pages opened in front of him.
"Seriously?! Maybe I'll just give her a call and tell her that? And I might add the fact that your not sleeping either? The circles under your eyes are 10 times darker than usual, so don't tell me you have been." Eliza threatened. Zed looked up and glared at his friend.
"She doesn't need to worry about something as stupid as that." He said low. Eliza raised a brow at him as if to say 'try me'. Zed sighed.
"How can you expect me to worry about taking care of myself when I haven't seen my daughter or girlfriend in 3 months?!" He questioned in exasperation, trying his best to stay quiet. Eliza's face softens slightly.
"But what good will you be to them if you're not at your best?!" She pressed. "I'll make you a deal." She says, leaning back in her chair. "If you take better care of yourself this week, I'll help set up another meeting for you and Addy." Zed's eyes widen a fraction. Her offer is just about too good to pass up.
"Fine. But Kynzlee has to be there too." He agreed, closing the book to make it a point that he would hold up his end of the bargain. Eliza smirked and thrust her hand across the table and they shook on it.
XxX
Addison's POV
I was really excited when Bree gave me a hint that this evening's plans were just a cover. I dressed Kynzlee in her custom zombie coveralls Zed had made for her as I get us ready to go. I dress myself in a long, loose fitting dress that wouldn't draw too much attention from my parents. I pick up our baby girl with a coo and hug her affectionately as I head down the stairs.
I reach the bottom where Kynzlee's car seat was waiting and gently started strapping her in. My mom comes around the corner from the kitchen.
"Are you excited to go watch the cheer squad's practice?" She asked with a bright smile. Her enthusiasm over the trivialness of cheer practice makes me want to puke but I plaster on a smile and fake some excitement as well.
"Yeah! I'm way fired up!" I smile, clicking the last buckle on the car seat. Just then, a knock comes to the front door. I quickly hop to my feet. "That must be Bucky! See you later Mom! Don't wait up in case I hang out with the squad to catch up till late!" I tell her cheerfully.
"Don't keep the baby out too late Addison!" She calls as I picked Kynzlee's seat up and headed out the door. Sure enough, Bucky was waiting and offered me a smile as we walk to his van.
"How's it going Cous?" He asks me cheerfully, helping me get the car seat buckled in safely.
"Kynz has been doing really well! She's already starting to sleep more at night!" I tell him excitedly. Once we're sure the baby is secured to the seat, we hop in and Bucky quickly pulls out of the driveway.
"I was actually asking about you." He clarifies. I glance over at him and see his sympathetic expression. "How are you holding up? I overheard my mom talking with Aunt Missy saying that you're having a lot of breakdowns."
I drop my gaze to my hands folded on my lap. I didn't want it to get out that I was struggling. I wanted to seem like I was stronger, so it never got back to Zed that I need him so desperately. I don't want him to feel bad that he can't be there with us. It's not his fault.
"I'll get through this. My hormones aren't completely back to normal yet." I explain quietly. Bucky reaches a hand over and grabs mine, his eyes not leaving the road of course.
"I know how hard this has to be for you. I'll be here if you ever need someone to talk to." He tells me sincerely, glancing over to give me a reassuring smile. I return the gesture and nod. I'm so lucky to have such great friends. And even though most of my family sucks, Bucky is definitely my favorite family members.
The rest of the ride is pretty quiet and it doesn't take long before we pull up to the school. I jump out quickly and try to unbuckle Kynz as fast as I can. Bucky laughs.
"You don't have to rush! You're gonna have all evening with him!" He teases as he clicks the button I've been fighting with easily. I let out an embarrassed laugh but try to brush it off.
"I-I know! I'm just a little, anxious." I admit, picking up the car seat and closing the van door behind me.
Bucky laughs, taking the car seat to carry in for me. My pace is quick and I almost pass up Bucky as we walk in the front doors. All the cheerleaders are just inside and rush towards us to coo over Kynzlee who laughs and staring intently at the shiny pompoms a couple of them were holding.
My eyes meet the one set I've been longing to see though. Zed is smiling from ear to ear. I take off in a sprint in his direction. His arms eagerly wrap around me as soon as I'm close enough and he holds me tight against him, burying his nose in my hair.
"Hey Gorgeous." Zed whispers, muffled by my scalp. I giggle but don't respond, afraid the tears will fall if I speak. He pulls back and smiles down at me, then his eyes glance over to the car seat surrounded by pink and green uniforms then back to me.
"Go see her!" I encourage with a smile. His face brightens even more, if that's even possible, before he hurried over to his daughter. I watch as the crowd parts for him and he slowly bends down in front of Kynzlee. Then I feel a hand rest on my shoulder and look over to see Eliza watching with a grin as well beside me.
"He's missed you guys so much." She tells me. I smile, watching him again. But Eliza then turns me to look at her more directly.
"I guess I'm breaking our deal, but I think you need to know." She says, her eyes showing her worry and her smile faded. "Zed hasn't been taking care of himself. I bargained with him that if he took the time to eat proper meals and sleep well then I'd set this up. But I'm worried he'll go right back to depriving himself after tonight." I was surprised by her words.
Zed always seems fine over the phone at night. I look back over to him and now I can see how much slimmer he looks. He glances my way with a smile as he holds Kynzlee against his chest and I can see his dark circles around his slightly more sunken in eyes. His smile falls when he sees my expression and I motion for him to come to me.
"Thanks Eliza. I'll talk to him." I thank her, leaning in to hug her before Zed walks up with Kynzlee in one arm and her car seat in the other.
"What's wrong?" He asks, glancing between me and Eliza. I smile sadly up at him.
"Let's go somewhere more private." I say softly. He nods and I hold onto his arm as we walk to the Zombie Safe Room.