Disclaimer: I do not own SBTB or any characters but the ones in my mind.
On the next afternoon Slater, Carla, Leslie, Mike, Screech, and Alex came over to the apartment with energy to paint and have fun with their friends. Zack and Kelly thanked them for coming over to help them fix the place up and make it presentable to people besides them. Slater and Carla were the first to arrive at the apartment.
(Ding Dong)
"I got it." Said Zack.
(Banging on the Door)
"What!" Said Zack knowing who it was.
"Open the door, or should we come back later, preppie."
"Get in here, Hi Carla."
"Hi Zack, how are you?"
"Fine. Kel, Slater and Carla are here."
"Hey Guys." Said Kelly.
"Hey, Kel." Said Slater.
"Where's everyone else?" Asked Zack.
"Back at the dorm. They'll be here soon." Said Carla.
A couple minutes later Mike, Screech, Leslie, and Alex arrived at the apartment. The group of people chatted for a little while and then Kelly told everyone that the paint colors were all ready in the rooms where they belonged, everyone separated into twos and started painting, Zack and Slater took the bedroom, Kelly and Leslie took the bathroom, Screech and Mike started on the living room, and Alex and Carla in the kitchen.
"Hey Slater you think it's safe to have Carla and Alex in the kitchen alone?" Asked Zack.
"Yeah, I mean Carla already traded notes with Jessie at the wedding, so it can't be that bad."
"Yeah, that's true." Said Zack thinking that he was glad he had known Kelly for so long because they had been there for each other through every relationship and break-up including their own with each other.
By the end of the 3rd hour people had begun to switch rooms and soon Kelly and Carla were painting the bedroom and talking about Slater.
"Kelly, I have a question for you."
"Okay."
"How many girlfriends has Slater had?" Asked Carla.
"Um… 2 major girlfriends since he's known Zack and I. Jessie and Alex, why?"
"Just curious. After Freddie can't be too careful." Said Carla.
Kelly smiled at how they all met Carla in Las Vegas, running from her gangster ex-boyfriend Freddie Silver and his two goons. She left the room to find out how everyone was doing in the other rooms, she was surprised to find the bathroom was all done and the kitchen had one more wall including the wall and door Zack and Slater had decided to put up to separate the kitchen and living room which because it was the largest was taking longer and Alex and Screech had moved from the bathroom to the living room with Leslie and Mike.
"How's it going?" Asked Kelly.
"Fine just a couple more walls and the whole place will be done." Said Mike.
"How's it going in here?" She asked as she walked over to the kitchen area.
"We just got to paint this side and the kitchen will be done." Said Slater.
"Well Carla and I are almost done in the bedroom and the bathroom is done, so we pretty much just have to finish the living room and then this place will be ready for furniture in just a few short hours."
"Let's hope so. Oh by the way I called the phone company they'll be here on Monday at 12." Said Zack remembering the appointment.
"Okay, and the cable will be here on Tuesday at 3." Said Kelly remembering the appointment she had made.
Every thing was finished by 9 pm and they had dinner, by 10 everyone was gone and Zack and Kelly were left with a finished apartment. Now their attention moved to the fact that they had to buy a bed next and it had to happen before Zack's parents arrived. So the next day Zack and Kelly set out to find a bed.
They went to 6 different stores before they found a bed that they both agreed on, the saleswoman knocked down the price 200, and threw in free delivery and set up that day for them.
"Are you sure you won't get in trouble with your boss?" Asked Kelly concerned.
"No, besides it's kind of hard to fire myself, considering I own the place." Said the saleswoman name Kathryn.
"Thank-you so much for everything." Said Kelly.
"You are so welcome, I got married younger than you guys, and I just hope you are luckier than I was."
"We are lucky." Said Zack.
Zack and Kelly had the truck follow them home and showed the guys where they wanted the bed, the guys had it set up in no time, congratulated the couple and went on their way. The young couple then when to the linen store with their gift certificate that Leslie gave them for a wedding present and bought sheets, comforter and some pillows. They were happy to be almost done furnishing their apartment.
The next two weeks passed by uneventfully with the exception that Zack and Kelly were both working full-time at the bank and the student health center. By Wednesday they were both getting anxious for the visit from Zack's parents more Kelly than Zack. Zack asked Slater and Mike to help them with the furniture since he was sure that it would go smoother with a couple more people there. By Friday Kelly was in a flurry of preparation from the moment she woke up and inadvertently made the bed while Zack was still sleeping which woke him up.
"Hey Kel?"
"Yeah?"
"What are you doing, come back to bed." He said as he pulled back her side of the covers.
"What are you doing, I just made the bed?" Said Kelly
"Yeah, you made the bed with me in it still, Kel we cleaned last night until 11pm to make sure everything was okay. Just come back to bed and don't worry anymore." Said Zack.
"I'm sorry, I'm just nervous. I mean this is the first time I'm seeing your mom as your wife, and not just your girlfriend." Said Kelly
"Well actually it's not the first time, cause see you saw her at the reception." Said Zack.
"Zack, you know what I mean."
"I know Hon, but just think everyone said we were crazy and look what we accomplished in just a few weeks."
At around noontime Slater and Mike arrived at Zack and Kelly's to help with the furniture.
"Hey man. How are you?" Said Mike.
"Good, just waiting for my folks to call and say they're here." Said Zack as he shut the door. Just then the phone rang and Kelly answered it.
"Hello?"
"Hi, Kelly we are outside your building I think. Oh Derek there's Zack's car." Said Zack's mom.
" Alright I'll meet you downstairs." Said Kelly as she hung up.
"Your parents are here." Said Kelly.
"Great, where are you going?" Asked Zack.
"I'm going down to meet them so they know what apartment we're in."
"Oh." Said Zack.
Kelly went downstairs and met Zack's parents and showed them upstairs to their apartment. When Kelly and Mr. and Mrs. Morris made it upstairs they said hello to their son and friends and were amazed at the progress of the apartment and soon decided that it was time to move the furniture from the truck. The men went downstairs and started to move all the furniture and soon had it done by dinner. Zack's parents decided they wanted to spring for dinner at a restaurant, but Zack suggested just getting Chinese, which everyone decided they wanted. Zack's parents stayed the weekend. They got the grand tour of the campus and saw the dorm and met Leslie who they missed at the wedding. Everyone enjoyed themselves that weekend including Zack's father who had been against the marriage in the beginning, he had since embraced it and enjoyed the fact that he now had a daughter-in-law. On Sunday afternoon Mr. and Mrs. Morris prepared to leave.
"Kids we had a great time visiting with you and seeing your life here. But know you always have a home in LA." Said Mr. Morris.
"I know Dad, thanks for everything." Said Zack as he hugged his father.
"Thank you so much." Said Kelly as she hugged her in-laws.
Zack's parents left. When they got home to LA, Mrs. Morris found a note in her bag in Kelly's handwriting it read:
Dear Mom,
Zack doesn't know I'm writing this, but I just wanted to thank you for everything you and Dad have done for us all our lives. Thank you so much!
Love always,
Kelly
Zack's mom cried a little and hid the note in her drawer as a keepsake.
End of Chapter 4
