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This is set when Zed is 18, I don't know how things work in America but in the UK you are a Legal adult at 18. Now I know that it is an incredibly rare occurrence for an 18-year-old to gain custody of their siblings but its fictions os roll with it. I haven't seen Zombies 2 so there will be no werewolves in this.

It happened overnight, one minute he was there and the next he wasn't. One minute Zed was an ordinary teenager, finishing high school and living his best life with Addison. The next he was a guardian; it wasn't an ideal situation by any standard. In fact, Zed almost let Zoey go into care, almost. It wasn't until he sat across from his girlfriend's father that he realised he couldn't do that to Zoey. She was nearly twelve, foster care would eat her alive. Still, he listened as Dale explained his options. He listened as he described how if Zed choose Zoey would be given the best possible life with a foster family and he could still see her. Zed had smiled wryly at that, he knew Dale was trying to convince him to put Zoey into care but it wouldn't work.
"Mr Wells, I understand why you think putting Zoey into care would be a good idea but I can't do that. You know as well as I do what happens to Zombies without guardians." By the look on Dales's face, he did indeed. It was very rare for a Zombie under the age of eighteen to be without a parental guardian. When it was the case however they became a ward of the state. Zombies were never treated fairly, even after they became allies of Seabrook. Zombies without parents however were treated like scum, they lived in a large house with the Zombie patrol unit, it was a boring and restrictive existence. He would not put Zoey into that situation.

Dale sighed
"Zed… you have to understand Zoey won't be an adult for another six years. You yourself have only just become one. You have a world of possibilities ahead of you, I know you and Addison have discussed what universities you would like to go to. Do you really want to throw all that away?" he asked. Zed could feel himself become angry, how dare this man suggest that Zoey would damage his future or that Addison wouldn't support him. He wanted to yell and scream at the man, but Dale only ploughed on.
"What about Money? You guys need to eat"
"My father bought the house, we own it and as for food, well Zoey gets free school meals, and I can pick up a part-time job after school. Look Mr Wells I am not naive, I know that this has nothing to do with my situation. With all due respect, you don't want your daughter dating a man that can barely make ends meet. You don't want me to drag her down, I understand your concern and I've already talked to her about it. I gave her a free pass to leave, she didn't take it. I am old enough to be Zoey's guardian and you know as well as I do that I would do a damn fine job too. I am not letting my sister be raised by someone else, end of." By the time he had finished Dale leaned back in shock. In the two years, Zed had dated his daughter he had never heard the Zombie raise his voice; it was quite nerve-wracking.

That didn't mean that he was about to put in his place by an eighteen-year-old. So he grabbed his pen and twiddled it between his fingers.
"I will give you a month Zed, you will be put under surveillance to make sure you are adequate enough to provide for that little girl. Make no mistake, I like you Zed, but I have a job to do."
"Which one, head of the patrol unit or Addison's father?" Zed asked, his eyes narrowed. Dale glared back at him and sent Zed on his way, slightly annoyed at the boys' defiant attitude.

When Zed got home he was tackled by a tiny Zombie, smiling he looked down to his little sister.
"Hey, you been good?" he asked, eyes twinkling. Zoey grinned
"Aren't I always?" she quipped; Zed rolled his eyes.
"Do I have to answer that honestly?" he asked. Zoey laughed, it was a nice change to the dull and dark day he had been having.
"So, what did Addie's daddy say?" she asked, silently praying that it would be the answer she hoped for. Zed smiled at her, eyes tired.
"I'll tell you in a minute but speaking of Addy, where is she?" he asked, scanning the room but seeing no one. Zoey shrugged
"She went outside to answer the phone, she should be back in a minute."

As if she could hear them Addison entered the room not a minute later, her eyes lit up when she saw her boyfriend.
"I was beginning to think I'd have to have a sleepover with Zoey" she quipped. Zed laughed at her
"Sorry, the meeting took longer than I thought it would" he admitted.

When he didn't elaborate both girls looked at him, trying to pull an answer out of him. Zed ran a hand through his hair
"Well Zoe… looks like you're stuck with me" he finally said. It took a moment for Zoey to understand but when she did, she squealed.
"Yes! I get to stay" she yelled. Zed laughed at her, he placed a hand on her hair and messed it up.
"Yes, you do, now go get changed. It's well past your bedtime. It's going to be a long day tomorrow, you need sleep" Zoey's face fell. She had forgotten all about tomorrow, Zed felt his heartbreak at the sad look on her face.

"Hey, no sad faces!. It'll be nice, just the send-off dad would've wanted!" Zoey looked up at her big brother and then to Addison.
"You'll be there too right?" she whispered. Addison smiled
"Yeah"
"Good because I think Zed will cry and I am not prepared to handle that" then before Zed could so much as blink Zoey rushed upstairs.

Addison smirked as she turned her attention to her boyfriend. Her smile turned to a frown as she drank him in. He looked so utterly defeated, his eyes were sunken, his clothes practically hung off him. He looked like he hadn't eaten in weeks. She knew that the past few weeks had been hard on him, from arranging the funeral to fighting for custody of Zoey. Yet he faced it all with an unwavering smile, now though she could tell how exhausted he was. So, she gently grabbed his hand and pulled him to the couch, she pushed him backwards gently and sat next to him. They sat in silence for a few minutes until Zed pulled his legs to his chest, shaking. Addison pulled him into a hug.
"You've got this Zed" she murmured into his hair. Zed didn't reply and Addison didn't push him, she just wished that she could chase all of his worries away.
"I love you" he whispered, Addison smiled.
"I love you too" she replied. Zed heaved a deep sigh, slowly he untangled himself from his girlfriend, once he was stood up he leant forward gently and placed a soft kiss on her plump lips. When he pulled back it was like nothing had happened, his body was steady, and a smile once again adorned his face.
"I best go and make sure she actually goes to bed" he said sadly. Addison smiled softly
"Good luck"
"Stay here, I'll be back in a minute," he said. Then he took off after his sister.

Addison stayed on the couch, waiting for her boyfriend to return, after twenty minutes though she decided to find out what was keeping him. When she reached Zoey's door she opened it slowly to find a sight that melted her heart. Zoey was lying in bed, clutching her dog, fast asleep. Zed, however, had fallen asleep in an armchair, a photobook on his lap. Silently she took the photo book and placed it on the bedside table, she grabbed a blanket off the floor and placed it on her boyfriend. Then as she turned to leave a hand grabbed her wrist, she stopped and turned back to Zed.
"Someday?" he said sleepily, Addison smiled at him lovingly.
"Someday" she leaned down and kissed his forehead, he shuffled slightly, trying to fight sleep. Addison laughed at him
"Sleep Zed, I'll be here around 9 AM tomorrow" she promised. Zed nodded and let go of her wrist. Addison started walking to towards the exit but stopped just before the door. She silently turned to her Boyfriend and his little sister, praying that they would be okay. Then as quiet as a mouse she left.