AUTHOR'S NOTE: Just a warning, this chapter is a bit heavy. I apologize in advance. Enjoy!

Thanksgiving Break

Wednesday

At 7am, Zevon nervously walked into his sons bedroom."Zed, wake up," he said softly, shaking his sons arm. "Zed..." he said a little louder, still with no luck. "Addison's here."

Zed's eyes opened and a smile spread across his face.

"Not really, son. Sorry. But I do really need you to wake up," he apologized as Zed's smile fell.

Sleepily, Zed sat up and let out a large yawn as he stretched his arms above his head. "What's up, Pops?"

"I have my Z-band check today. I need you to watch your sister, you know how she worries when any of us has to go in."

"Don't worry, Pops. I'll keep her occupied."

"Thanks, son. If all goes well, I'll be home before dinner. If not, well...you know."

"Don't talk like that. We'll see you for dinner."

"Alright. The transport bus will be here any minute. The car keys are on the kitchen table if you need them. I love you son."

"Love you too, Pops," Zed said as he gave his dad a hug. A few minutes later he heard the front door open and close. With a heavy sigh, Zed got himself out of bed. A shudder ran through his body. Although many things had improved for zombies over the last few years, Z-band checks were not one of them. His dad was in for one hell of a day. Zed grabbed his phone and headed downstairs to make breakfast.

As he waited for Zoey's favorite blueberry muffins to bake, he sat down at the kitchen table and called Addison.

"Hey! You're up early," Addison said as she answered the phone. Zed felt himself relax at the sound of her voice.

"Morning, gorgeous."

"So, my mom is still in Shoreline. Her meeting didn't get out until late last night and she has another one this morning."

"Oh, wow. Must be some important meeting. Did you get anything out of your dad?"

"No. He's not talking. But, as a result of Mom not being here today, I'm waiting for La Bella's to open to see if I can put in a catering order for tomorrow."

"Zed, do I smell blueberry muffins?" Zoey said as she walked into the kitchen.

"Morning, Zo," Zed smiled at his little sister. "They'll be ready in a few minutes."

"Tell Zoey I said hi!"

Zed laughed, "Zoey, Addison says hi."

"Hi, Addie!" Zoey called out loudly. "Where's dad?"

"He got called into work. He should be home before dinner," Zed said smoothly, hoping his sister didn't see through the lie.

"Okay, I'm going to get dressed before breakfast," she said as she walked out the kitchen and up the stairs.

"You are such a terrible liar," Addison laughed on the other end of the phone.

"As long as she believed it," he sighed heavily.

"Z, what's wrong?"

Zed ran a hand through his hair nervously. "Hang on a second, Addie," he said as he walked to the back door and into the backyard. "Pops has his Z-band check today."

"I'm on my way."

"Addie, you don't have to do that….Addie….hello?" Zed pulled his phone away from his ear and looked at the screen. Addison had already hung up. He walked back into the house just as the oven timer sounded. He pulled the muffins out to cool and went upstairs to get dressed.

Less than ten minutes later, Addison walked in through the front door.

"Hey, you two!" she said as she walked into the kitchen where Zed and Zoey were eating.

"Addie!" Zoey exclaimed.

Zed stood up from the table and pulled her into a big hug. "Thank you, gorgeous," he whispered into her ear.

"Addie, Zed made blueberry muffins. Want one?"

"Of course, peanut! Why do you think I rushed over." Addison giggled as she grabbed one of the large muffins sitting on the counter. The three sat and enjoyed their impromptu breakfast.

"So, what do you have planned today?" Addison asked as Zoey got up from the table.

"I have cheer practice at noon, but other than that I was just planning on watching Disney Channel while Zed starts cooking for tomorrow," she said with a shrug as she walked into the den and turned on the tv.

"I just had a great idea! Zed, would you have any interest in cooking a slightly larger Thanksgiving dinner?"

Zed laughed as he cleared the table."What are you plotting?"

"Well, I'm supposed to call La Bella's at noon to see about catering tomorrow, which I highly doubt will happen. And you're already planning to cook for Thanksgiving. What if we all have Thanksgiving together? We could have it at my house."

"I don't mind cooking if your parents are okay with it. I'm sure Pops won't mind."

"Let me text my Dad!"

A few moments later Addison's phone chimed. After reading the text, she showed it to Zed.

Sounds great, sweetheart. Zevon agrees.

Zed gave her a questioning look. Addison made sure Zoey was occupied in the other room.

"When I told my Dad why I was leaving the house so early, he insisted on dropping me off and sitting with your Dad while he was in containment," she whispered.

"Seriously?"

"Yeah, I couldn't believe it either."

"I'm definitely cooking tomorrow now," Zed laughed before he leaned in and kissed her. "Looks like we're heading to the grocery store while Zoey's at cheer. How many people were you expecting?"

"Me, Mom, Dad, Bucky, Aunt Kitty, and Uncle Trevor," she said, ticking the six names off on her fingers.

Zed shook his head and laughed. "Well, tomorrow should be interesting. Eliza's family was coming over here."

"Maybe I should text Bucky." Addison typed a quick message out on her phone. Almost instantly she received a reply. Addison laughed as she read it out loud to Zed. "Bucky says 'Perfect! Mom will be too scared surrounded by Zombies to give my girlfriend a hard time. Let me know if you need help. Heading to E's now'."

"Maybe if your Aunt and Uncle see how the two of them are together, they'll ease up a little."

Addison laughed. "That would be a Thanksgiving miracle."

"Is that a thing? I thought it was Christmas miracle."

"Why should Christmas have all the glory!" she giggled, leaning over and kissing his nose.

"Addie!" They heard Zoey exclaim from the den. "High School Musical Marathon!"

"Oh no," Zed groaned at the same time Addison started to jump up and down.

"Come on, let's go!"

"Why can't I tell either of you no?" he pouted as he let his girlfriend pull him into the other room.

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"Alright, Zo. As much as I'm enjoying the High School Musical marathon….note sarcasm...you need to go get ready for cheer practice" Zed said as he turned off the television.

"But I've got forty-five minutes!"

"Uh huh, but you've still got stretches to do before. Upstairs miss. Go get ready."

Zoey stuck her tongue out at him before marching up the stairs.

"Thank God," Zed mumbled.

"Aww. What's wrong," Addison smiled, "were you not enjoying the movie?"

"Addie, I love you, and I love my sister. But I can only handle the two of you fawning over Troy so much."

Addison laughed."Well, I appreciate you tolerating the movie for us." She threw her leg over him, straddling his lap. She ran her fingers through his hair before leaning down for a kiss. "I can promise you that Troy Bolton has nothing on Zed Necrodopolus."

Zed pulled her back down and kissed her again. His strong arms wrapped around her pulling her even closer to him. Addison moaned as he deepened their kiss.

"Barf!" Zoey said as she walked down the stairs. "I was coming to ask you if Zena could come over but now I'm just telling you. Zena's coming over to stretch and you're bringing us both to cheer practice." She held the phone back up to her ear. "Zed says it's fine. See you in a minute!" she said, walking back up to her room.

"Oops," Addison giggled, standing up.

"Come on gorgeous, let's go make out...a grocery list," he said with a wink, as he led her back into the kitchen.

Addison shook her head and laughed. "You're such a goofball!"

"But you love me!"

"Yes I do," she giggled, standing on her tiptoes and kissing him once again. "So, what's on the menu for tomorrow?"

"Well, turkey, obviously, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, cauliflower, and...what else?"

"Hmmm...mashed potatoes? OOOhhhhh…..and pie! We have to have pumpkin pie!"

Zed smiled. His girlfriend was absolutely adorable."I think we can manage that." He leaned down and kissed her once more.

"Can you guys stop smooching for like 5 seconds?" Zoey complained walking into the kitchen with Zena. "We're going in the backyard to stretch and warm up before practice."

"Alright, Zo. Just remember what Pops said," Zed reminded her as he ruffled her hair.

Zoey batted away his hand before he could mess up her ponytail. "I know, I know. No stunting on the concrete."

"Good. I don't want to have to drive you to the hospital," he called after his sister as they two young girls made their way into the backyard.

Zed and Addison watched them from the window in the kitchen.

"She's really gotten good, Z," Addison whispered.

"I know. She's been practicing non-stop. There have been nights when I come home from work and she's still outside practicing."

"Well, it's definitely paying off. I don't think I was that good at her age."

Zed laughed, hugging her to his side. "Don't tell her that!"

Addison's phone began to ring in her pocket.

"Hi Daddy, what's up?" Addison said as she answered the phone. "Yeah, he's right here. Hold on," she held the phone out to Zed. "My Dad needs to talk to you."

Zed took the phone from her. "Hello?... Sure, give me one second, sir," holding his hand over the phone he looked back to Addison. "Can you keep an eye on those two?"

"Absolutely."

"Sorry, Chief. I'm walking into the other room now," Zed said climbing the stairs up to his room.

Addison watched Zoey and Zara practice their routine from the window. She smiled as she watched Zoey complete a perfect double back handspring. Suddenly she heard Zed's voice upstairs.

"No! No, no, no, no. This can't be happening. Are you sure?"

She ran up the stairs two at a time and went straight into Zed's room. He was sitting on the bed still on the phone with his head in his hands, tears beginning to fill his eyes. She sat down beside him

and wrapped her arms around him.

"Please let me know." Zed handed Addison the phone.

"Dad?" Addison asked as she held the phone up to her ear. "What's going on?"

"Sweetheart, there were some complications with Zevon's Z-band. The electromagnetic current surged when it was re-administered, causing the zombie equivalent of a heart attack. The doctors are working to stabilize him." Addison dropped the phone and hugged Zed even closer to her.

"It's happening all over again," Zed said sadly as he wiped a tear from his eye.

"This has happened before?"

"Not exactly, but yeah."

"Zed, I'm so sorry. I don't understand."

"When my Mom was in labor with Zoey, her Z-band surged and her electromagnetic pulse rate skyrocketed. She was rushed into an emergency C-section. They saved Zoey, but there was nothing they could do for Mom."

"Oh, Zed," Addison said softly trying to hold back her own tears. "I'm so sorry. Your dad is going to pull through."

"He has to Addie," Zed whispered as he hugged her even tighter. "Oh, God. Zoey!"

Addison picked her phone up off the floor and called Bucky.

"Eliza? Are you with Bucky?"

"Yeah, we're over at my place. What's up?"

"Oh thank goodness. I need you to come over here. We're upstairs."

"Okay, now I'm worried. What's going on?"

Zed held his hand out for the phone.

"E," Zed said hoarsely, "there was a problem with Pops band...E?" Zed pulled the phone away and looked at the screen. "She hung up on me."

Thirty seconds later they heard the front door open and footsteps running up the stairs.

"Z? What happened?" Eliza cried rushing over to them. As Zed started to fill her in, Bucky ran into the room.

"She just took off," he said panting. "What is going on?"

"Mr. Zevon just had the zombie equivalent of a heart attack. The doctors are working on him now. We don't know anything else yet." Addison rushed out.

"Oh my god, Zed I'm so sorry. What can I do?"

Addison placed a hand on his shoulder. "Zoey and Zena are in the backyard practicing their cheers. She has no idea any of this is happening and I don't want her to know until we have answers. Can you bring them to cheer practice?"

Bucky smiled and shook his head. "If there's one thing I can do, it's cheer. I'll take care of them. Text me with any updates," he said before he walked out.

Eliza hugged Zed as hard as she could. "He's one of the toughest Zombies I know. He's going to be okay."

"Thanks, E." Zed smiled and leaned his head against hers.

"I should probably go fill my parent's in before they come running over here too. I kind of ran off with no explanation. I'll be back over in a bit. Call me the second you hear something."

"Thanks for coming over so quickly," Addison said as she gave Eliza a hug. "I'll call you when we have news."

Addison sat back down on the bed with Zed and wrapped her arms back around him.

"I knew Z-band checks could be dangerous, even painful, but I never knew this could happen," she whispered.

"Unfortunate side effect. It's extremely rare in younger zombies, but it does happen."

After a few moments of silence, Addison pulled back and looked up at Zed. "Can I ask you a question?"

"Shoot."

"How does a surge compare to what you did when you un-zombied to meet my parents?"

Zed let out a small humorless laugh. "It's a lot more similar than I care to think about. I was very lucky that the amount of electricity wasn't any higher. God was I stupid. No wonder Pops was so angry with me."

Addison stared at him, unable to believe what she had just heard. Tears began to fall freely from her eyes. "I can't believe you risked your life for me."

"I love you, gorgeous. Please don't cry," he whispered lifting her chin and kissing her softly.

"I love you too, which is why I'm going with you for your next check," she said drying her nose on Zed's shirt sleeve.

"Addie, your dad would never allow that. I won't allow it. Containment is not the kind of place I ever want you seeing and I don't want you seeing me full zom ever again."

"Zed, look at me. This is non-negotiable. I've seen you at your worst, and I loved you even then. So get over it. Do you know when your date is?"

Zed shook his head, yes. "Middle of next month."

Addison let out a sigh and scooched herself further up on the bed with her back against the headboard. "come here." Zed rested his head on her lap and hugged her waist as Addison gently ran her fingers through his hair. She softly began to hum, comforting him instantly and lulling him to sleep.

Thirty minutes later, Eliza walked back into the room.

"Shhhhhh…." Addison whispered, holding her finger up to her lips.

Eliza gave her a thumbs up and sat on the floor next to the bed. "Any update?" she whispered.

"Not yet. I've been checking my phone every five seconds. The only messages I've gotten were from Bonzo, asking for an update, and one from Bucky, saying that he was going to stay with Zoey and Zena at cheer practice."

Eliza looked sadly at Zed's sleeping figure. "It's a good thing he's sleeping now. I can't even imagine what he's going through. Losing one parent at 8 and now dealing with this at 18..."

"Today's the first time he ever told me what happened with his mom," Addison said softly as she gently ran her fingers through his hair.

Eliza sighed and shook her head. "He spent the night at my house the night his mom went into labor with Zoey. When we woke up the next morning, Zed was so excited to meet his baby sister and to see his mom. God, were they close. I'll never forget his face when my parents told him what had happened," she whispered, wiping a tear from her face and taking a ragged breath before she continued.

"Zoey was in the ZNICU for over a week. Pops refused to leave the hospital without her and Zed refused to go to the hospital to meet her. Bonzo and I took turns staying up with him all night. He was so worried that if he fell asleep, someone else was going to die. When they finally came home, Zed refused to go back. So, he kept staying with me. The day of the funeral, Pops told him he had to come home that night. Well, you know how much Zed loves being told what to do," she rolled her eyes.

"He somehow talked me and Bonzo into running away with him. We were all packed and ready to go. The plan was that when all the adults were busy at the funeral, we'd sneak off and camp out at the light garden." Eliza shook her head and smiled at the memory.

"So what happened?" Addison whispered.

"When we got to the funeral home he saw Zoey. She was just this tiny little thing with the same big blue eyes his mom had. She had him wrapped around her tiny finger from that very moment. Needless to say, he went home that night."

"What was his mom like?"

Eliza let out a quiet laugh. "A lot like Zed...and now that I think about it, a lot like you. She was one of the nicest people, fiercely loyal, and never afraid to stand up for what she believed in. And she made the best cookies in the entire world. She even made me my first stuffed animal."

"Do you still have it?"

"I do. Just don't tell Zoey," she laughed. "I have Zander's twin. Zed's mom made them for us for Christmas when we were 3."

"I didn't know Zander was Zed's," Addison whispered as she smiled down at her boyfriend asleep in her lap.

"Yep. He used to carry him around everywhere. Then one day, Zoey asked for him. Zed didn't even think twice before handing him to her."

"He really can't tell her no, can he?" Addison smiled.

"No, he can't. Pops knows that too. When Zed gave Zander to Zoey, Pops felt so bad that he gave Zed something else of his mom's to hold on to."

"What?"

"An old thread-bare Seabrook High Football shirt. His mom was wearing it when she was bitten. He'd probably never admit it, but that's why he plays. And deep down, it's probably the reason I helped him hack his band freshman year."

"I had no idea," Addison said quietly. "I wish I could just make this better."

"You already are, Addie," Eliza whispered pointing to Zed asleep in her lap.

The two girls sat in comfortable silence, both watching Zed sleep until Addison's phone finally rang, startling him awake. Addison fumbled with the phone, almost dropping it twice as she tried to answer it.

"Dad? Please tell me you have good news," she said as she put the phone on speaker.

"I do. Zed's father is stabilized. They're running a whole mess of tests right now, but it looks like there wasn't any permanent damage. He's not out of the woods yet, but they think he's going to be just fine."

Zed let out the breath he hadn't realized he was holding. "Thank you, Chief."

"You're welcome, Zed. I'll give you two a call as soon as they give me another update."

"Bye, Daddy," Addison said as she hung up the phone. She instantly threw her arms around Zed and hugged him as hard as she could.

Eliza lunged and tackled them both onto the bed with a hug as tears of joy began to fall.

Zed hugged them both back tightly. "Okay, seriously you two, my bed is going to break," he laughed as he stood up and pulled them both up with him.

"I'm going to go tell my parents!" Eliza said hugging him again. I'll be right back!"

As Eliza walked out the door, Zed pulled Addison closer to him.

"I know there's still a lot we don't know yet, but just knowing he's alive makes all the difference."

Addison smiled as she stood on her tiptoes and kissed him softly. "You know what I'd call this?"

"What, gorgeous?"

"A Thanksgiving Miracle!"

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A few hours later, Bucky and Zoey walked into the house.

"Honeys! We're home!"

"Hey, guys!" Addison smiled up at them from the couch. "How was cheer practice?"

Zoey smiled. "It was the best! Bucky helped coach! Then he brought me and Zena to Cheery On Top!"

"I'm glad you had such a good practice," Zed said as he got up from the couch and hugged

his little sister to him. "Hey, we need to talk about some stuff. Let's head upstairs for a minute."

"Okay," she agreed, noticing the serious look on her brothers face. Zed took her hand and led her up the stairs, Puppy following at their heels.

"So, Cheer Boots," Eliza said standing up to greet her boyfriend, "you helped coach?"

Addison shook her head and laughed as Bucky gave them a sheepish look.

"You just couldn't help yourself, could you?" Addison giggled.

Bucky laughed. "I had to, you guys. That coach is seriously incompetent. I'm amazed no one has gotten injured yet. What happened to Coach Hendricks? I thought she was the coach over there?"

"Maternity leave," Addison shrugged. "She hasn't coached since the beginning of the school year. Word has it she's not coming back."

"Well, someone has to do something. Those kids are the future of Seabrook Cheer. They deserve better. Besides, I don't want my girl risking her future cheer career. Zoey is really good. With the right coaching, she could be the best cheerleader this town has ever seen."

Eliza smiled and shook her head at her boyfriend. "Sounds like 'someone' should do something."

"You know, Bucky, they only practice twice a week..."

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Zed and Zoey walked into her bedroom and sat on her bed.

"Zoey, Pops wasn't called into work today."

"I know."

"How?"

"Really, Zed? You're a terrible liar. I'm guessing he had his Z-band check today."

"Yeah, he did."

"Something happened, didn't it?"

"Something did happen," he said as he pulled her in for the hug he knew she needed. "But, he's okay now. He's really tired, and a bit out of it, so the doctors are going to keep him there a little while just to make sure he's alright."

"Can you tell me what happened? Like what actually happened and not the version of events where you're trying to protect me?"

"But it's my job to protect you, Zoey."

"And you do a great job, but I really need to know. Please?" she asked as she gave him the big-eyed look she reserved for the rare occasion her big brother told her no.

"Put the eyes away, kid," Zed smiled, "You know you're getting your way." With a heavy sigh, he told her everything he knew so far. Pausing occasionally to hug her tighter or wipe away one of her tears.

"But he's really going to be okay?"

"He's really going to be okay. I promise," he smiled as he kissed the top of her head. "And tomorrow morning we're going to go to Addie's house for the day. You can even watch the parade with her and Bucky."

"Really?!"

"Really! And then after we eat, Chief Dale is going to bring us over to go see Pops."

"Zed?"

"Yes, Zo?"

"Can you sleep in here with me tonight? I don't want to be by myself."

"Well, I thought that might be the case," he said as he stood up. "I've got a surprise for you."

Zoey followed Zed back downstairs. In the short time, they had been gone, the den had been re-arranged and five sleeping bags were now neatly laid out on the ground.

"Zed?" Zoey asked, looking up at her brother for answers.

"Suprise!" Addison, Bucky, and Eliza shouted.

"We're having a sleepover!" Zed said as he wrapped his little sister up in a hug.

Zoey smiled as she hugged him back. "Thank you, Zed. I love you, big bro."

"I love you too, Zoey."

AUTHOR'S NOTE: **Runs and hides

Please don't hate me! I had to have this chapter so future chapters could happen.

So, I'm going to be off the grid on vacation and won't be able to update next Friday, but I promise to update the following Friday as soon as I get back! Any more thoughts on what's going on with Missy? Let me know!