It's raining. Zed could already hear the soft pitter patter of rain drops against the roof.
But Addison was fuming. "What do you mean you don't have any belongings of his?!" She exclaimed at the Patrol officer.
"I'm sorry Miss Addison, but we couldn't salvage even his clothes when he was brought in from the blood." The officer tries to apologize.
Zed squeezes her hand. He hadn't let go of her, in one away or another, since they left his Containment cell. She looks back at him and saw his wide, fearful eyes staring down at her. She quickly turned back to glare at the officer.
"I guess he'll be leaving in the rags you've provided then." She spat, spun on her heels and gently pulled Zed aside. Once they were a few feet away, she immediately tugged him down for a hug. He welcomes the contact and buries his face in the crook of her neck. He sighs and relaxes against her.
It's been the first time in months that his zombie seems calm and doesn't seem to be attacking him every second of the day. Like there was finally a little sunshine back in his life that even his zombie missed. When she was gone to them. A warmth inside him that was absent when she was away. When he thought he had killed her.
"Hey! You're ok!" Addison assured him. When had he started crying? She thought it was from that comment affecting him but, good Z, she will never know the truth tormenting his mind. He sniffed back his tears and smiled into her skin, only nodding as a response. She pulled back and smiled at his slowly lightening eyes. She grinned a little wider as the dark vein continued their slow receding back to his normal complexion. "We're in this together." Zed's shoulders relaxed and he nodded again, lightly squeezing her hand that he refused to let go of.
How had he ever gotten this lucky? Being blessed by such an angel for forgiving him? Though he was pretty certain that what happened really was an accident. The way his zombie has settled back after Addy returned and embraced him. Even after what his zombie did to her. He had a feeling that his zombie's overpowering rage and outbursts since the incident were actually from sadness and regret. And he was almost positive his zombie would never do that to Addy again.
When he feels her weakly pull on his hand, he realizes that he had zoned out. She tugs again. He follows her lead but notes how lacking in strength she seemed. He watched her face closely. "Addy?" He quietly asked to stop her. She turned back her breathing slightly heavy.
"Yeah?" His brows furrowed.
"Are you ok?" He stepped closer with concern written over his expression. She cleared her throat and tried her best to hide her exhaustion behind a smile.
"I'm good! Are you ready to go?" She said breathlessly, pulling his hand to avoid any further questioning but he doesn't budge. He grips her hand tightly and anchors his feet from proceeding until she gives him an explanation.
"Addy, what's going on?" He presses. Addison sighs and steps closer.
"I'm really ok. I'm just, tired." She says. When he doesn't respond she continues. "I'm still recovering. I was in a coma for 3 months. I have to rebuild my strength." His face shows his heartbreak but Addison is quick to pull him into a hug with one arm and the other drawing his head down to press their foreheads together.
"But I'm ok!" She locked her eyes with his. "I'm going to keep working hard to get back to normal. With you by my side." She whispered lovingly. Zed sighs but couldn't stop the grin from forming on his lips.
"I'll stay by your side as long as you want me." He responds. Addison giggles and Zed thought it was the sweetest noise he'd ever heard.
"Forever then."
"Forever." He repeated breathlessly, for a different reason then she had earlier. She closed the gap and kissed his lips gently. He savored her taste.
"Ah hum." Chief Dale cleared his throat. Zed jumped but Addison kept ahold of him and just glared at her father. "If you two a done sucking face, we need to continue along." He urges with dramatic arm motions.
"What are you in such a rush for? Do you have somewhere else to be?" Addison retorted. Dale looked at his daughter smugly.
"As Chief of the Zombie Patrol, I'm going to escort Zed back to Zombietown." He informed. Addison was in shock.
"What-?" She started to ask but her father continued anyways.
"Sure, Zed's a free zombie. He can go anywhere zombies can go. And there are no zombies allowed in Seabrook. Period." Dale clarified. Addison's jaw hung on its henges. She glance over to Bree, who was sadly staring at the ground, then to Mr. Harrison, who was shaking his head as confirmation that there was nothing he could do about that.
"No zombies allowed in Seabrook? But we have an apartment together!" Addison argues.
"Had, an apartment together." Dale corrected. "After what happened, the landlord graciously voided your lease rather than charging you for the four months you've been hospitalized." Her heart began to race in a panic. And Zed could hear it loud and clear. He squeezed her hand in comfort. She turned to face him, he gently cupped her cheek in reassurance.
"It's ok, Addy. I'll find my way back to you." He told her softly, just loud enough for the others to hear. But she grabbed his hand resting on her cheek and squeezed it as tight as she could.
"No. You won't have to." She said with determination in her tone. Everyone stared in surprised. Zed felt a tinge of hurt, wondering if this was it. If she's calling it quits because their house was no longer a home. They had no home. Was this too hard? But then she gives him a soft smile. "I'll go wherever you have to go." She declares. His eyes widen.
"I'm sorry, what?!" Missy exclaimed. Addison just stared up at Zed with a smile.
"I'm going to Zombietown with Zed." To make it clear, she stepped forward and hugged him around the torso. He returned her gesture with teary eyes.
Mr. Harrison shrugged when Dale and Missy both looked to him. "Zombies aren't allowed in Seabrook, but nothing says a human cannot go into Zombietown on their own accord." He defended. Addison did a glance over her shoulder to see her parents with loose jaws while Bree beamed happily.
And just like that, her parents had no leverage once again. Chief Dale huffed as he marched past everyone towards the doors, Missy close on his tail.
"Shall we?" Addy asked jokingly. Zed laughed sincerely for the first time in a long time.
"We shall." He teased back. The young lovers following Bree and her father towards the exit Addison's parents had just used, Mr. Harrison kindly holding up an umbrella for the them as they stepped outside.
The media had falsely informed all of Seabrook about the incident to spread fear of zombies. That much was clear. But they never expected for news to travel so fast across town.
Out front of Zombie Containment was a large crowd of people. A mixture of news crews and protesting humans, all shouting at the previously incarcerated zombie and previously hospitalized human in a combination of harsh questioning and offensive slurs. Enough that there were over a dozen Patrol Officers holding back everyone from rushing them.
She also noted the 'escort' her father had mentioned. Two large Patrol vans in front of and behind her father's car. Geez, he wasn't kidding. But the groups of humans grabbed her attention again as they protested her boyfriend's release.
Addison immediately tugged Zed down to 'hide' behind her to keep him as much out of the camera's view as possible, trying to protect him from the hateful humans but failing miserably. Zed had never cursed his 6 foot 3 height so much until now, crouching behind his tiny girlfriend. Addison took a second approach and wrapped her arms around his shoulders and hustling towards the car, the two squeezing through the small path the Patrol had made.
"Addison! Addison! Why would you defend the monster that almost killed you?!" One reported questioned.
"Throw the beast back in Containment!" An angry man screamed, earning multiple 'yeah's in agreement.
Addison did her best to just ignore it all as she quickly shoved Zed into the back of her father's Patrol car. But she couldn't resist shooting a glare at the crowd as she sat in herself. Bree's dad leaned his head in before leaving.
"If you need my help with anything, you have my number." He said.
"Thank you for everything, Mr. Harrison." Addison thanked. He smiled and nodded before closing the patrol car door.
Zed immediately clung to her side when the door shut, fresh tears flowing down his cheeks.
"Shh, it's ok Zed. They don't know what they're talking about." She soothed. His sobs subsided the closer they got to Zombietown. Addison could tell her father was taking the drive at a leisurely pace, not ready to allow his only daughter to stay in a town full of zombies.
Not that Addison cared. She would be spending this time curling up with Zed either way, as long as Zevon was ok with her staying with them. And god was she praying he'd be ok with her staying with them. It was, after all, technically her fault that Zed was locked up in the first place.
A wave of fear hit her like a freight train and her arms tightened around Zed. What if Zevon won't welcome her into their home? What will she do then? Go back with her parents? Could she and Zed find a new home in Zombietown? Would Zed turn his back on his family because of her? That thought alone made her sick to her stomach.
Zed noticed her shift in mood and pulled her face to look at him, searching her eyes for answers as not to verbalize their issues out loud with her parents in the front seat. He could see the fear all over her face. Opting for comfort over explanation, he planted his lips to hers. She kissed him back roughly, like he could disappear at any moment. She laced her fingers in his messy hair and gripped tightly. He softly groaned into her mouth.
He pulled back for a breath and pressed their foreheads together. "I'm with you. No matter what." He whispered in reassurance. Addison visibly relaxed and nodded. Zed leaned his back into the seat and pulled her against his chest to hold her. She snuggled into his arms as the barrier passed by their windows.
Addison sat up and leaned towards the glass in complete awe, Zed's face mirroring hers. News not only traveled fast in Seabrook but also in Zombietown. The streets were lined with zombies of all ages. All standing, silently, with respect as the Patrol vehicles passed. Some with umbrellas, some without. Tears pricked Addison's eyes at the support Zed was receiving from his friends and fellow zombies. She laid back against Zed's chest and hugged him tightly.
It wasn't long before they pulled up in front of the Necrodopolous house. Unsurprisingly, Zevon and Zoey were standing under the cover of the front porch out of the drizzling rain, both with glossy eyes as the car came to a stop. Dale got out and opened the back door, Addison climbing out first and Zed quickly followed.
"Zed!" His 12 year old sister exclaimed. He turned to see her sprinting in his direction before barreling into him.
"Hey Zoe!" He happily hugged her back. Then she pulled back and turned to the white haired human.
"Addison, I-I'm really happy to see you. That you're ok." Zoey said shyly, wondering if she would be afraid or hateful of zombies after what happened. Addison's threatening tears finally spilled over her lids with the soft laugh that left her. She took a step forward and pulled the preteen into a hug.
"I missed you too Zoey." She whispered tearfully.
Missy got out of the car as well, her wide-brimmed, black hat acting as an umbrella, and came to stand beside Dale. "We'd like to have a word with your father, Zed, before we leave." Missy said. Zed's face turned emotionless as he looked up at Addison's parents.
"Sure. But I suggest not trying to 'persuade' him into not letting Addy stay here." Zed warned. Dale stepped up to get in Zed's face.
"Was that a threat, Necrodopolous?" He angrily asked. Zed audibly growled. Missy pulled her husband back while Addison took hold of Zed's bicep, rubbing it gently to calm him down.
"We don't plan to try and change any of your minds because we know it won't happen." Missy assured bitterly.
"Fine then." Zed agreed, leading the way to the front porch. Zevon met him in the walkway and pulled him into a tight hug.
"Thank Z you're ok!" Zevon said, holding back the cry the constricted his throat.
"I'm fine Dad." Zed assured his father. Then the older zombie turned to Addison and hugged her as well.
"And you. Thank you so much Addison. For forgiving my son." Zevon told her softly beside her ear. Addison just hugged him back and nodded, scared she'd start crying again if she opened her mouth.
"Mr. Necrodopolous." Dale spoke up. Zevon released Addison and turned to the Chief of Zombie Patrol. "Your son has been released due to lack of a trial and charges from the victim. Since his previous living arrangements have been compromised by these unfortunate circumstances, he will be placed back in your care until he can find a new place to live. Do you agree to these arrangements?" Addison could tell he was using his Chief voice to try and sound like he was in control of the situation even though he was powerless.
He nodded without hesitation. "My son will always be welcomed into my home." He said. Then it was Missy who spoke.
"And our daughter doesn't have a place to stay either, since she refuses to return home with us-" Addison cut her mother off before she could continue.
"I want to stay by Zed's side." She interjected. Zevon looked to her. "I was hoping I could stay here with him until we can find a place again?" She asked sheepishly.
Zevon furrowed his brows in confusion. "Of course! I consider you to be my second daughter. You're just as welcome here as my other kids." He told her sincerely. Addison didn't think she could cry anymore than she has today. Zed put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her to his side, kissing her head affectionately as she cried again into his tattered white jacket.
But Addison didn't miss the sharp inhale of her mother. "I guess it's settled then." The Mayor got choked up as fresh tears filled her own eyes. Addison wiped her face and stepped towards her parents.
"Nothing is settled!" She yelled. Everyone startled by her angry tone. Zombies from the other nearby houses came closer to listen as the young girl, they had all been told was dead, spoke loud enough for everyone to hear. "I don't want to disown you guys as my parents. I love you. But you've given me no other choice!" Dale hugged Missy around her shoulders as they look at their daughter ashamed.
"When are you going to see that zombies aren't monsters?! They're people just like us! Yes, there's is always a risk if the Z-bands malfunction." She grabbed Zed's hand and entwined their fingers. "But any of that would be an accident! Just like any human can have a lapse of judgement and hurt someone. It's called an accident for a reason! Plus, I've heard that you plan to fix the Z-bands so we don't have these kinds of problem again, right? So that all the zombies can return to being integrated into Seabrook?" She asked mockingly. Both her parents look away from her. "That's what I thought."
Addison took the opportunity to turn and look around at the zombies gathered nearby. "All of the things that's have been said about Zed are false. And they've said some pretty horrible things about zombies in general. But," she paused and looks to the reunited Necrodopolous family behind her, "I'm sure that not everyone agrees with them." She smiles and turns back to the growing crowd of zombies. "Things will change! We just have to stick together and show them how wrong they are! That none of you are monsters! And I'll be there every step of the way." She assured all of them.
The smiles and applause erupted through the streets of Zombietown. Zed leaned down and pressed a kiss to her temple, a grin hidden against her skin. "You are literally the best Addy." He whispered. She giggled but before she could respond, they were interrupted.
"Addison." Dale said to cut through the noise and get her attention. "We don't want to loose you." He said. It's quite possibly the first time she's ever heard her dad sound so vulnerable. Missy placed a hand on his shoulder.
"We will work towards change." Missy agreed. "Because we believe in you." She told her daughter sincerely with a smile.
Then, she stepped towards them, doing something no one expected her to do, hug Zed. He was just as surprised as anyone but hesitantly returned the embrace.
"I know you lost your way before, but Addy trusts you." Missy whispered, "Please take care of our little girl."
"I wouldn't dream of hurting a hair on her head ever again." Zed softly promised. Missy pulled back and smiled.
"We believe you." She said before turning and hugging Addison quickly. Then, returning to Dale's side as they got back in the patrol car to leave. The caravan of vehicles drove off out of Zombietown as the rain seemed to worsen. And, just like that, the zombies on the street started to go back into their homes to seek shelter from the growing storm.
Zed looked up at the grey cloudy sky. Not bothered by the raindrops hitting his cheeks, or the fact that he and Addison were the only two left outside at this point.
This is the first time he's seen the sky at all in four months. But even though he had fresh air and hope for sunshine someday, it was like the weather was portraying how he had felt inside. How he'd felt the entire time in Containment. All of his emotions from the past four months raining down on him.
He looks back down beside him to see Addison's eyes up where his just were with a serene smile on her lips. A heat grew in his chest. Pride, maybe? Then he realized something.
It's not warm when she's away. Ain't no sunshine when she's gone. Only darkness every day.
The rain wasn't representing all his sadness today. No. It was washing it all away. To start anew.
She looked up at him and he swore his heart thudded in his chest. With one look she was always able to completely disarm him. How had things gone so wrong before?
Addison could see the struggle beginning to take hold in his eyes and yanked on his hand to pull him to her.
His thoughts derailed and she had his full attention. She smiled up at him and giggled as she slipped her shoes off before running into the street to splash in a big puddle, kicking some droplets his way. A smile broke out across his face as he began laughing like a child and joined her in the water.
After a few minutes the strenuous jumping and splashing began to wear on Addison's stamina. She laughed more out of breath and gripped onto Zed's arms for support. He settled his laughter and held onto her tightly.
He couldn't remember a time that he'd felt this care free and happy. Even before the whole nightmare happened, he always had worries or something on his mind. But right now, with Addison alive and happy in his arms, nothing in the world could bring him down. Well, maybe just one thing.
Without warning, Zed pulled back out of Addison's embrace. She furrowed her brows in confusion. "I know it might be crazy, but did you hear the story?~" Zed sang. Addison beamed.
"I think I heard it vaguely~"
"A girl and a zombie~" He pointed between them.
"Oh tell me more boy, sounds like a fantasy~"
"Oh what could go so wrong with a girl and a zombie?~" They sang in perfect harmony. Then he used his hands to create a butterfly.
"You're from the perfect paradise~" Then his fingers began to twitch like they were fake possessed trying to eat his face. "And I'm livin' on the darker side~"
"Ooh I got a feelin' if you get to know me!~" She giggled. Zed gave her a wink.
"Right from the start you caught my eye, and somethin' inside me came to life~"
"Ooh I got a feelin' if you get to know me~" Addison's smile faded and her voice trailed off when she watched Zed kneeling down before her.
"Addison, I saw what like was like without you and I definitely don't want to ever feel that way again. Will you marry me and we can make our someday today?" He asked hopefully. Addison let the tears that had built up in her eye fall freely.
"Yes." She cried. Zed jumped to his feel and engulfed her in a tight but gentle hug. She squeezed him as hard as she could.
Addison hooked her arms around his neck to pull him down to her level and kissed him softly. He was glad to assist by lifting her up off the ground and wrapping her legs around his waist. Addison sighed against his lips.
"What are people gonna say about you marrying the zombie that nearly killed you?" Zed asked when they finally broke apart for some much needed air.
"Let them talk if they wanna!~" She sang with a wide smile. Zed laughed heartily.
"I love you so much."
Addison kisses him again. "I love you too."
Zevon was the one to snap them out of their lovestruck bubble. "You kids need to get inside! Addison, you'll catch a cold!" He called from the doorway, leaving it open as he returned inside himself.
The young lovers laughed quietly between themselves. Zed sat Addison down on her feet before intwining their fingers and walking up the steps to Zed's childhood home.
Life wasn't going to be easy for them. But was it ever? Easy is boring. This girl and her zombie were looking for something a little more extraordinary.