The next morning Addison woke up with a smile on her face, just as brightly as always. She looked over at Zed's still-sleeping face resting beside hers. She had a lot of reasons to enjoy being up on the spaceship, and all of those reasons began and ended with Zed, she honestly had no idea how she could have survived without him. For about the millionth time since they left, she silently thanked him in her head for being crazy enough to stay with her no matter what anybody else said.
You're welcome. Zed thought back at her, and she cuddled up closer to him, both physically, and mentally as he began to wake up as well.
"Good morning Beautiful." Zed smiled at her, his warm brown eyes were still slightly thick with sleep.
"Good morning to you too. Did you have any good dreams?"
"Not any that I remember." Zed shrugged his shoulders. "Hey, can you hear my dreams?"
"Sometimes I do, but usually I only notice if I wake up before you and you're still dreaming. But who knows, maybe we can even share our dreams together now."
"That would be amazing, but speaking of dreams coming true, I do still have to get some stuff ready for today."
"I can tell, all I can hear from your head is Bamm right now." Addison giggled.
"As long as that means it's working, but as much as I would love to stay here in this bed with you all day. I also don't want to wait any longer than I have to, so I'm going to get cleaned up in the bathroom, and then you can take your turn, then we can get breakfast, and then I need to talk to A-Lan to make sure everything is ready."
"A-Lan? Why him?" Addison asked.
"He's been my sounding board for ideas during our workouts, and while I had to explain in depth how romance and proposals and everything works on Earth, once he understood he agreed that my idea is going to be awesome."
"Then I can't wait." Smiling, Addison shoved him to the side of the bed. "Now go get in the shower, you're torturing me with all this anticipation."
"Oh really?" Zed smirked at her as he slowly stood up from the bed.
"Yes really, you're lucky I haven't just stolen the ring and proposed to you by now. And I will do it if you take too long in the shower."
"Ok, ok. I'm going." Zed chuckled and grabbed some clothes to take with him. "But only because my plan is so amazing I don't want you to take it away from me."
Addison just smiled at him as he entered their bathroom, and while she didn't try to pry into his head, she couldn't stop herself from nodding her head to the music Zed was mentally singing in the shower.
Addison glanced over at his duffel bag sitting in the corner of the room, according to his memories, the ring was in the bottom right pocket of it, and while Addison was seriously tempted to sneak a peek or even use it herself if Zed kept her in suspense for much longer, she also really wanted to see Zed's big surprise. She knew this would be the happiest day of her life already.
So she did her best to distract herself with other thoughts, which didn't help much, the more she thought about what was coming, the more she wanted to scream her happiness to the world or at least the entire ship. Without anything else to keep her occupied, she began pacing around the room until Zed stepped out of the bathroom wearing a pair of jeans and no shirt.
And just like always seeing Zed's bare gray chest was just the distraction she needed. All her nervous excitement disappeared as she took in the view.
"Ha ha, like what you see Gorgeous?" Zed flexed his muscles, and she knew that he knew he was teasing her.
"You know, I'm thinking I should have surprise proposed to you in the shower if you looked like that. Heck, I would say yes to whatever you ask me right now." Addison stepped closer to hug Zed around his chest and pressed a kiss to his lips.
"Nope, you aren't breaking me, I know I have the perfect plan and nothing's going to stop me."
"Fine." Addison pulled herself away regretfully, "but you are on a countdown buster, and I'll warn you the only thing more deadly than my high kick is my low kick."
"Duly noted. I promise I don't want to get low kicked, so how about you head in the bathroom and we can get a move on?"
"I think that sounds like an amazing plan Zed. I promise I won't take too long."
"Take all the time you need, I want you to look perfect for our big day. But that should be easy for you since you're you."
"You got it. I'll see you in a few minutes." Addison walked into the bathroom and closed the door behind, still listening to Zed's brain as he finished getting ready, but she still had no clues as to what he had planned.
Soon enough after they both were completely ready and looking their best, Addison was wearing an alien-styled dress with a white top, a blue skirt, and silver leggings, and Zed was now wearing a pair of dark jeans and his green flannel over a gray t-shirt, they had both quickly ate breakfast together, more like wolfed it down in their equally rising anticipation.
Then Zed led her down to one of the larger rooms on the ship. When they stopped at the door, Both A-Lan and A-Spen were waiting for them.
"We received your message Zed. What did you need us here for?" A-Lan asked.
"Today I'm going to be doing something really special. After how great yesterday was, I don't want to wait any longer. A-Lan, today's the day."
"Oh, I understand now." A-Lan nodded along.
"I see." A-Spen nodded as well, likely reading A-Lan's mind to get filled in on the plan.
"So, A-Lan I need you to help me set everything up, and A-Spen, your job is to wait with Addison out here so she doesn't interrupt us before everything's ready."
"OK, I understand." A-Spen nodded once again.
"So just how long am I supposed to wait out here?"
"A-Lan?" Zed asked.
"I have already prepared the program to your specifications, assuming you approve because my work is flawless, it should only take us a few minutes."
"Ok then, I promise you don't need to wait too long Gorgeous." Zed turned to Addison and wrapped her up in a hug.
"OK, but you better not keep me waiting, and next time I see you, you better get right to the point."
"Don't worry I'll do my best. I love you."
"I love you too." Addison and Zed kissed one more time and then A-Lan and Zed entered the room, leaving Addison and A-Spen alone outside.
"So, Addison are you excited for this proposal?"
"Oh more than anything A-Spen," Addison answered, she could barely keep herself from jumping up and down in excitement.
"And if I understand correctly this is how Earthlings decide their soulmates?"
"Yes, and no. No one on Earth has literal soulmates like you guys used to, but yes, this is how we officially choose the one person we'll spend the rest of our lives with. Now obviously I'm going to say yes to Zed and then probably in a few years, depending on when we get back to Earth, we'll have a wedding with all our friends and then everything will be official that we'll be together forever.
"I see, this whole process seems very…emotional."
"Oh, it definitely is." Addison nodded, "I can already guarantee today is going to be one of the happiest days of my life."
"Then we are all happy for you two as well," A-Spen promised.
Finally, Zed walked out of the door with a smile on his face. "OK, everything's ready. Milady?" Zed held out his hand to Addison in a gentlemanly fashion. His mind was happy and excited but kept carefully blank.
"Yes Zed?"
"Come with me, but close your eyes first," Zed whispered.
"Whatever you say." Addison closed her eyes obediently and felt Zed slowly lead her into the room. "A-Spen, A-Li, you two can join us too, the more the merrier." Zed said.
Zed stopped pulling on her hands when it felt like they were in the middle of the room and then paused. "Ok, Addison, just listen to me." He squeezed her hands tighter for a moment and then he fully opened his mind to hers, she quickly recognized the melody playing in his head, and she mentally joined in as well.
I know it might be crazy but did you hear the story? I think I heard it vaguely, a girl and a zombie.
Then she saw a vision of herself, back when she wore her blonde wig, and she was wearing a familiar pastel blue dress, it had to be from the first day of school freshman year, a chain link fence separated her from Zed, but it couldn't hide her brilliant smile. Beautiful, this is gonna be my year.
Oh, tell me more boy, sounds like a fantasy. Oh, what could go so wrong with a girl and a zombie?
The lights flashed on, interrupting the darkness. "Ahh! Zombie!" She saw her fist flash out and strike Zed in the face. "What? Zed I'm so sorry, my parents have always told me that zombies are disgusting dead-eyed freaks…but you're not hideous at all." She was smiling and blushing at him.
"Thanks, I'll take it," Zed said slowly.
"My parents have always hated zombies ever since one bit my grandpa's ear off," Addison explained nervously.
"But now we'll just talk your ear off."
"Ha ha." Addison laughed, and that sound filled him with nothing but happiness.
You're from the perfect paradise, and I'm living on the darker side. Ooh, I've got a feeling if you get to know me.
Addison was standing in front of the door to the basement, looking surprised and guilty at what she was seeing as Zed slowly walked up to her with a guarded look on his face.
"Addison, what are you doing here?"
"Apologizing, my cousin is a jerk about zombies, and last night was cheer initiation. Not that that's an excuse. I'm sorry."
"What if Bucky sees us talking?"
"Then we'll make sure he doesn't find out." Addison smiled, and Zed's slow heartbeat seemed to speed up as he smiled back at her.
Right from the start you caught my eye, something inside me came to life. Ooh, I've got a feeling if you get to know me.
She saw herself flying through the air, and the sound of hundreds of heartbeats pounding in her head, but one was stronger, brighter, and more enticing then all the rest. "Addison!" She saw as Zed ran through the crowded bleachers and fell on his knees to catch her before she hit the ground. Once she was in his arms, he immediately calmed down. She was safe as she threw her arms over his neck. He saved her. He would always save her.
"Hey."
"Hey."
Someday, this could be this could be ordinary, someday could we be something extraordinary.
Addison slowly walked over to the zombies' table with the entire cafeteria watching her in silent surprise. "Um, as they say in old zombietongue, Gazar nutty zar zangar stick."
"Um, you just thanked me for rubbing peanut butter all over your umbrella." Zed smiled at her. The rest of the table burst into laughter.
"Oh, I meant welcome to the cafeteria."
"Thanks." Zed smiled.
You and me side by side, out in the broad daylight, if they laugh we'll say. We're gonna be someday.
Then they were dancing together in the saferoom, promising each other someday.
"Someday, someday, we're gonna be someday."
Girl you look delicious, oh I mean gorgeous. Now you're getting fearless. I'm just rooting for us.
"Yes!" Addison ran up to Zed as he pulled his helmet off after a game. "You were amazing out there!"
"Thanks, awesome cheers."
Addison couldn't contain herself from jumping forward to and hugging him tight. "You are so amazing." Zed wrapped his arms around him in turn. It's official human high school is awesome.
If different was a superpower, we'd be so flawless.
Then they were in the light garden, their lips inches away from meeting for the first time when Zed pulled out a strand of her real hair, and Addison backed away.
"Zed, no. I can't- I'm sorry. I can fix it."
"It's beautiful, you're beautiful," Zed said softly, looking directly into her eyes, nothing but love shining within them, and making her forget all her fears.
Addison dropped slowly dropped her hands and leaned in again.
Yeah we could make these two worlds ours, I'm rooting for us.
Addison was standing in front of the bleachers filled with an angry crowd. "Hey you! You did this to him! All of you! He was your monster. You made him feel like he had to risk his life to belong! Because you couldn't deal with someone different! I'm gonna stand strong nothing's stopping me!" And she pulled off her wig, revealing her true self to the world for all to see, and Zed felt nothing but pride and affection for her. She is so beautiful.
Two lonely hearts meet in the dark, imagine it now they start a spark.
They had just finished their routine at the cheer championships and confetti and cheers were surrounding them.
"Gar Gar Ziga!" Addison shouted.
"Yeah, I gar gar gaza you too." Zed smiled back, and then they hugged and basked in even more cheers.
You've got my attention, what happens next then?
Zed got down on one knee in front of her. "Addison, will you make me the happiest zombie…and be my date to Prawn?"
Movies and long walks in the park, hanging out anywhere we want. I like the way you're thinking I can almost see it.
"You're a leader Addison. You make others belong. At camp, at cheer practice, and even when protesting for what's right. You bring people together." And then they were dancing the night away at Prawn, with all their friends, but the most important thing was that they were together.
Someday, this could be this could be ordinary, someday, could we be something extraordinary. You and me side by side, out in the broad daylight, if they laugh we'll say.
Then Zed and Addison were dancing through the school hallways, promising themselves and each other that they would be together forever, no matter what.
"We're gonna be fine, so fine. Ain't no doubt about it. I'm feeling alright, alright. All I'm thinking 'bout is how everything's gonna be ok, no complications in our way. It's fine, we're fine. Ain't no doubt about it."
We're gonna be someday, someday, someday. We're gonna be someday, someday someday. We're gonna be someday.
"Zed, I believe in you, you're exceptional, and I know you can do this." Addison did her best to reassure him as she pinned an orange carnation to his lapel.
"I can do this." Zed nodded back.
"You can do this."
"I can do this."
"You can do this," Addison said once more and turned Zed's shoulder to see the smiling crowd ready to keep cheering him on.
So let them talk if they wanna. If they wanna, if they wanna. Let them talk if they're gonna.
"I'm an Alien!" Addison declared to the crowd. A brilliant flash of light surrounded her for a moment, blinding everyone, and when Zed lowered his hands from his eyes, all he could think was OMZ, she really is an alien. This is what she's been searching her whole life for. And she already looks so happy, so excited. Addison, I love you OMZ girl you look delicious, oh I mean gorgeous.
We're gonna do what we wanna. Let them talk let them talk. If they wanna, they wanna.
"I don't want to leave, but if I don't the aliens will never find their home." She had to stand strong, not even Zed could stop her from doing this, she would never forgive herself if she backed out.
"Yeah, I know," Zed nodded, "which is why...I'm coming with you!" Zed held up the duffel bag he had slung over his shoulder, and his excitement finally broke through Addison's own cloud of misery and sorrow.
"What? Yes! That's amazing!"
Someday, this could be this could be ordinary. Someday, could we be something extraordinary? You and me side by side, under the broad daylight, if they laugh we'll say. We're gonna be someday. Someday, someday. We're gonna be someday. Someday, someday. We're gonna be someday.
Zed let go of her hands for a moment and then thought to her. You can open your eyes Beautiful.
Addison did so, and she could feel her face break into the biggest smile ever even with the tears of joy that were threatening to fall, seeing Zed down on one knee in front of her. But she also turned away to look around, because once she caught sight of their surroundings she couldn't believe her eyes.
Instead of the featureless white walls of the Mothership surrounding them, the room was instead darkened and lit up by dozens of holograms of light bulbs glowing softly golden. It looked just like the light garden.
"Zed…" Addison turned her attention back to him after only a moment.
"Addison, ever since we had our first punch, I knew you were the one for me. No matter who or what tried to keep us apart, nothing could stop us from being together. Because if there is one thing that I know in this universe, it's that we belong together. Little did we know how much a girl and a zombie can change the world, and now I'm ready to live our happily ever after."
"From the moment I first saw you outside the school that first day of freshman year, I thought you were the most beautiful girl in the world, and no matter what changes, that fact will never change. To me, you get more beautiful every day. I am so honored to have helped you see it too, and I also want to thank you. None of the greatest things in my life would be possible without you, and none of it means anything to me without you in it. You've helped prove to me, and the world that I'm not a monster. We've both learned we don't need to change ourselves when the world needs to change."
"Thank you for always forgiving me no matter how stupid I am, whether that's hacking Z-bands, stealing moonstones, or risking my life to be with you. Even when I'm an idiot, I'm your idiot. I promise you that every day I will do my best to make you smile, make you laugh, make your heart race. I will do anything to make you happy. Because you deserve all the happiness in the universe."
"And now we're soulmates. I could have told you that years ago, but now we have undeniable proof. My heart has been yours since freshman year and I know yours has been mine. I can see it in your heart, and your mind to know that everything I'm saying is just as true for you as it is for me. I love you more than anything."
"So, without any more rambling." Zed reached into his pocket and pulled out a small black box, and held the ring up in front of her, "Addison Rosaline Wells, will you make me the happiest zombie in the universe, and marry me?"
Addison had to wipe her eyes which were blurry with tears of joy, but then she screamed. "YES!" At the top of her lungs and fell on her knees to hug Zed as tightly as she could. "I love you Zed! Yes, I will marry you. Gar Gar Gaza!" Then she kissed him hard on the lips and kept up an internal chorus of I love yous until they separated for breath.
"Gar Gar Gaza Addison," Zed repeated to her. "So, may I?"
"Yes, you may." Addison held out her hand and Zed slowly slid the ring onto her finger.
Addison held up her hand to examine it in the half-light of the light garden surrounding them. It was a gold band with perfectly clear diamonds all along its face.
"Do you like it?" Zed asked, and Addison could detect a twinge of nervousness from him.
"Of course I do! I love it. This just became my most prized possession of all time because of everything you mean to me. I love it Zed, but not as much as I love you."
"Good. So, did you like this whole thing?"
"Zed that was so amazing! This is so amazing. You are so amazing! You rebuilt the light garden a million miles away. We haven't even been there since it was destroyed. I love it. It looks perfect. And sharing all our memories together. You are so amazing, and I can't wait to marry you!" Addison kissed him again.
"I'm happy you're happy, but remember I did promise your parents we'd wait until we go back home so…"
"I know, and as much as I want to marry you right now, I know we can't do it without all our friends and family. I just love you so much."
"I know." Zed smiled, and then he looked past her. "OK guys, you can stop filming."
"Filming? What?" Addison asked as the aliens all walked up to them.
"Congratulations!" The three aliens all said in unison.
"Thank you, but what are you filming?"
A-Spen explained, "Zed asked us to record this so that we could send a long-range message back to Earth so all your friends and family can see it, plus so you can have a record of this important day yourselves."
"Wait, can we talk to Earth still? I thought we couldn't?"
A-Li explained. "Due to Earth's primitive technology, and even with Eliza's far more advanced technology, we are too far away to maintain a two-way communication, but we can send a transmission towards Earth to Eliza, and she should be able to share it with all your friends. But you can record your own message too to send them, in addition to what we have just gathered."
"Alright. But A-Lan thank you for helping Zed, this place looks amazing." Addison didn't know where to look, at Zed's handsome face, the beautiful room, or the perfect ring on her finger.
"Why thank you. It was my pleasure, even with our emotional inhibitors turned on we can still sense how happy you two are. Now I understand that the proposal of marriage is a big deal, but is marriage a big deal as well?"
"Yes, we do not have marriage. So can you explain it to us?" A-Spen asked too.
"Yes, it is definitely a big deal. It's basically when two people love each other, they promise that they will always be together no matter what. So then they can live together for the rest of their lives, and eventually start a family, and lots of other things." Addison explained.
"I see." A-Spen nodded. "So now you two will get married, but not until you return to Earth?"
"Yeah, see a wedding is a very special ceremony that all our friends and family come to celebrate with us, so I couldn't even imagine doing it up here. But we can be patient."
"Not that we would mind you guys finding Utopia pretty soon." Zed added, "but depending on when we get back our parents will probably have some requirements again."
"I don't care, I'd spend forever as your fiancée." Addison giggled and kissed his cheek.
"Fiancée huh? You know I like the sound of that." Zed replied and leaned in for a kiss of his own.
"We will see what we can do. But I take it after you left yesterday, your soulmate connection is indeed stronger than ever?" A-Spen asked them.
"Oh yeah, way stronger." Addison and Zed smiled at each other.
"It's only been a day, but I already can't imagine going back to the way things were before. Feeling Addie's emotions just like they're my own, it feels right, like we're finally everything we're supposed to be. And I wouldn't have it any other way."
"Yesterday, was just like an endless feedback loop of our love and happiness. And even more so today. I don't think it's possible for us to be any happier."
"Understandable, this is truly a momentous occasion then." A-Spen summarized succinctly. "If we go back to the command bridge, we can record and send the rest of your message back to Earth, and then we can all celebrate."
"All?"
"Of course Zed, after you told me today was the big day, I obviously had to let everyone else know. Everyone is currently waiting in the cafeteria to throw you guys an engagement party. That is something you do on Earth correct?"
"Yes, it is. Thank you so much. Let's get going!" Addison cheered and as they followed the three aliens through the ship, Zed and Addison naturally started a silent conversation between themselves like they had been doing it all their lives.
Seriously Zed that was the best thing ever. I love you so much.
Hey, it wouldn't be possible without you and your powers. Like we've always told each other different is a superpower.
I know. I'm just so happy! I love you so much.
I love you too. Zed promised.
They eventually made it to the command center and A-Li pressed some of the spheres on the console. "OK, whenever you're ready."
"So are you planning to send this to Eliza first right and we'll tell her to share it with everyone?" Addison asked.
"Correct." A-Li nodded.
"So where do we look?" Zed asked.
"You can look wherever you wish." Mothership will scan you using a holographic camera that we can convert into a video that can be seen on Earth technology." A-Li explained.
"OK then, do you want to start Addie?"
"Sure thing." Addison agreed.
Addison put on her best cheer smile and squeezed Zed's hand one more time. "Hi Eliza, we wanted to send you this message to fill you in because we have some big news. So after you watch this share it with everyone, and especially our parents."
"So we're still looking for Utopia, but the aliens are having some difficulties decoding the coordinates so right now we're heading towards Proxima Centauri, in the hopes, that's where the planet Grandma Angie found is, but things are still going great, I've gotten really good at using most of my alien powers."
"I'm doing great too. We've both been learning so much from the aliens. Including their language and history, so don't worry we've still had plenty of schooling for the past month. But the reason we're sending this today is that I had to ask Addie a very important question."
Addison held up her hand so her ring could sparkle in the light. "Zed proposed and I said yes obviously! So now we're engaged! When this little clip is done you can all watch it, because it is the most romantic thing ever, even if you can't see most of it, I wouldn't change a thing though."
"Long story short, thanks to the aliens, Addison and I found out were soulmates, and thanks to Addison's powers we're now closer than ever, which is why I proposed today."
"We can hear each other's thoughts and emotions as clearly as if they're our own."
"So trust me when I say it was difficult to keep this a secret up here, but I wouldn't change a thing about how it turned out. Zed squeezed Addison closer to him for a moment.
"The main thing we learned is just how strong and unbreakable our love is for one another. Nothing will ever tear us apart ever again."
"But Pops, Missy, Dale, we promise we will not be getting married until we're back on Earth, so don't worry about that. We can't wait to see you as soon as possible though. We couldn't imagine not having everyone we love there with us."
"We love you all and we can't wait to see you again. I hope you all have plenty of cheer back home. This is all for now, but you are all always in our thoughts."
"Trust us, we both know that." Zed joked. "So, we're signing off for now, but you can still see my charming smile.
"Oh yes, just one of the million reasons I said yes. Goodbye for now, and maybe look out for more of these messages in the future."
"We love you!" Zed and Addison both said in unison.
"Alright." A-Li pressed a few more buttons. "And there I added it to your proposal recording and have just transmitted the message to Eliza's computer."
"Thank you A-Li." Addison smiled.
"So, are you ready to party? We'll even let loose our emotional inhibitors so we can all be as excited as you two are to celebrate." A-Spen told them.
"Oh yeah, I bet the party will be out of this world." Zed joked.
"We have hurried to study Earth engagement customs so I hope everything will be satisfactory," A-Spen said.
"It's the thought that really matters A-Spen, so don't worry. We know you all care, and this is already the happiest day of my life. Nothing could possibly ruin it…In fact…" Addison thought to Zed.
"What is it Addie?" Zed thought back to her.
"Let's celebrate today, you gave me this beautiful ring and brought us one step closer to someday…tomorrow, there's something I want to give to you."