A.N. I want to clear up one thing: Macey (The original one) is Cammie's cousin in this story. In the last chapter, Little Macey is Zach and Cammie's daughter! This is not a Zacey story. And don't worry, once you find out Little Macey's nickname it won't be as confusing as to which Macey the characters are referring to.
Chapter Two
~Zachary Goode~
I heard her walk down the hallway towards me. She wrapped her arms around my waist from behind, her cheek resting on my back.
"Hey," she said softly with that melting smile of hers.
"First day as seniors," I commented, closing my locker. I turned in her embrace to wrap my arms around her waist. "Hey, beautiful."
She pecked me on the cheek. We didn't care about what the people around us thought. We were just two people in love. They could stuff it up their a-
"I've applied to Boston University, Majoring in Forensics and Pre-Law," she grinned and I couldn't help but smile back.
"You make me feel lazy! I haven't finished my applications," she rolled her eyes and slapped my chest.
"What am I going to do with you, Mr. Zachary," she pretended to look troubled but I could see the amusement in her eyes.
"You know you love me," I said smugly.
"Daddy?"
"Yeah, I do..." her eyes glistened, "So much."
"Hey, Daddy wake up!"
I became serious as I said, "I love you more than anything, Cookie," I wiped a strand of hair behind her ear.
She wrapped her arms around my neck and placed a chaste kiss.
So soft.
"Daddy, why are you crying while you sleep?"
Pain. Pain. Pain.
"Do you have nightmare too, Daddy?" Macey's green eyes were the first thing I saw as I woke up.
You can't cry in front of her. You have to be strong for her.
I didn't bother wiping my tears as I said in a surprisingly steady voice, "How about we get you ready for the day, MC."
She bit her bottom lip and wrinkled her nose as she thought.
So much like you, baby.
"Alwight, but do you has to go to the cot today, Daddy?" I bit back a laugh as I stared at her crazy bedhead. Her hair was matted at the top, making her look like Frankenstein's wife.
"It's pronounced, court, baby," I laughed as she rolled her eyes.
"Thas' what I say Daddy!"
She's so stubborn. Just like you, Love.
"Whatever you say, darlin'. Let's get that crazy hair of yours tamed before Aunt Macey comes over with your cousin, what do ya say?" I ask.
She jumps into my arms and I actually feel genuinely happy. The pain in the pit of my stomach lessens with my baby girl in my arms. I'm not a complete whole. But I'm getting there.
I need you to be whole, baby. Please tell me where you are.
"Zach, they assigned me to a new case. A BIG case. This could make my career, babe!" She told me one morning in the kitchen. I sipped my coffee.
"But, Love, don't you think you should take some time off to recover from labor?" Macey Cameron Goode was born only a week ago. She was sleeping soundly in the crib in the nursery Rachel, Macey, Mom, and our neighbor Grant helped me build in the spare guest room.
"But I feel great! Really. But I hate sitting around all day. Seriously, babe, our little one is low maintenance. How did we get so lucky?" she joked. "Plus, it'll only be a few days in Minnesota. My Mom said she would be able to help you with MC."
I sighed, giving my best pout, "But who's gonna take care of me?"
She laughed. I love her laugh. And slapped my chest playfully.
"Oh, babe, you're worse than the baby," she came over and kissed my cheek. "Just don't spoil MC too much while I'm away. That's my job."
I smiled contentedly and pulled her onto my lap. I nuzzled my face into her neck and breathed her in. Intoxicating. It was Cammie. Just Cammie.
"I love you Cookie. You and MC are my everything, you know that?" I traced her jaw with the tip of my nose, leaving Eskimo kisses until I met her lips. Her breath fanned my face.
Coffee and Cammie.
Cammie.
"Mmmm," she could say anything coherent. I smirked smugly.
"When you come back..." I placed a kiss on her lips, "I have a surprise." I kissed her again, harder, "And we'll celebrate..." kiss, "MC..." kiss, "And your career," kiss,"Right Cookie?"
I pulled away so she could confirm.
"I promise, Zachy-O," she played with the hair at the nape of my neck. "I love you, Zach."
"I love you, too, Cam,"
We never did celebrate. There was nothing to celebrate anymore.
XxxXxxXxxX
MC was crying. She's been crying for hours and Rachel (Cammie's mom) and I didn't know what to do.
She missed her mom.
I missed her too.
It's been three weeks instead of three days like it was initially. She called everyday to check up on us. To tell us she loved us and that things were difficult with the case. She couldn't give us details about the case, just saying that some murderer was on the loose. And who do you call when there's a murderer? Cameron Goode. Investigator Cameron Goode.
I was so fucking proud of how far she got with her Major in college. I did too, of course. I was a partner of one of the biggest Law Firms in Boston.
But she hasn't called in two days. Almost three.
But we did get a call later that day.
"Mr. Goode?" a firm, gruff voice asked over the phone.
"Yes?" I asked skeptically.
"Mr. Zachary Goode?" he asked again.
"Yes." I was growing impatient.
"Your wife is Investigator Cameron Goode, yes?"
Oh, God.
"Yes..." I'm nervous.
"I see."
Pain.
"Well, your wife has been reported missing."
Pain.
"She was last seen two days ago at the crime sight."
Pain. Pain.
"But, she hasn't been in her hotel room for three days."
Pain. Pain. Pain.
"Nor can we locate the tracking device on her phone."
I'm numb.
"We found her FBI badge 3.2 miles away from the crime sight. We think she's been kidnapped..."
I drop the phone.
"Mr. Goode?"
MC is crying. She just keeps crying.
"Mr. Goode are you still there?"
Why do my cheeks feel wet?
"I-I'm h-here," I stumble through my words.
"We would like you to come out to Minnesota so you can be question by the police about your wife."
Pain. Pain. Pain
"Hey Daddy?" we were sitting on the couch in the living room. Our house was large for a family of three. The reason being that we wanted at least two more children. There was the master bedroom with the bathroom. The nursery for MC that turned into her own room when she turned five. Two other guest rooms and an office with two desks. We didn't use the other office because when we weren't at work, we wanted to have time together. Always Cam and me.
God, Cam. Will we ever have the big family like we always planned?
"Yeah, baby girl?" I asked softly. I tried to be happy for her. I'm only happy with her.
"Can I have blue frosting on my birthday cake tomorrow?" she asked, her green eyes wide, there was a hint of blue near the irises. Her shade of blue.
"Sure thing sweet cakes," I said tickling her stomach. "Anything for the Birthday Girl!"
"AGH! NO, Daddy, stoppit!" she said through giggles as I tickled her tummy.
"What? What did you say, MC?" I joked, tickling her chubby little tummy senseless.
"I say STOP DADDY!" a small little fist came up and knocked me right in the jaw.
"Oh! I'm sorry Daddy! I di'nt mean it!" she said cupping my face with her small hands and gave me a big sloppy kiss on my cheek.
God, I only need you for this moment to be perfect, Love.
"All better Daddy?" she asked even though it didn't hurt a bit.
"All better, baby," I pulled tightly to me before I fell apart. My tears spilling into my little girl's beautiful hair.
MC wrapped her petite arms around my neck, burying her face into my neck. "I'm sorry, Daddy. Don't cwy. I'm so-sowwy Daddy," she kissed my neck and I nearly broke down.
I need you Cam. I'm not strong enough. Please, Love.
Pain. Pain. Pain.
"Knock, knock, anybody home?" came a familiar voice from the hallway.
"Aunt Macey!" MC wiggled out of my arms and ran out of the room and into the hallway.
It gave me time to pull myself together. I didn't want them to see me so unstable.
"Hey, munchkin! What happened to your hair?" I heard Macey chuckle.
"Um, um, Daddy tickled me on the couch, and I punched him!"
Booming laughter came from the hallway as I deemed myself ready. I walked down the hall to see my wife's cousin and her husband talking to my little angel.
"Hey, Zach, I heard you got put in your place, eh? I'm so proud of my little niece," Nick Hansen, Macey's husband, roared with laughter.
I smirked and nodded, taking MC from Macey and holding her as close as possible.
"Uncle Nick, where is cousin Matt?" Macey's son and MC were very close, although they loved to compete with each other.
"Sorry, Little Munchkin Mace, Matt's at a friends house today," Nick said but then added, "Hey, how about I take you over there and you can all play together?"
Please say no.
She bit her bottom lip and wrinkled her nose. She looks so much like you it hurts, baby.
"Um, um, I want to make blue frosting wif Daddy for my cake tomorrow, Uncle Nick," I let out a sigh of relief.
"Why don't you and Aunt Macey go get the candles so Uncle Nick and I start the barbecue, okay, munchkin?" I placed her down on the floor so she could take her Aunt's hand to walk into the kitchen.
"Okay, love you Daddy," she tugged on my shirt until I knelt down to her level. She grabbed my face in her hands and gave me a kiss on my forehead, pulling away with a 'pop'. She giggled and ran ahead of Macey and into the kitchen, her long hair swaying from side to side.
Her hair is so long, and her legs are so tiny I'm afraid she'll trip, baby. But I don't have the heart to cut it. It looks just yours.
I take deep breaths as my anchor to this world isn't secure in my arms. I turn reluctantly to see Nick gazing at me in worry but doesn't comment on it.
We walk outside with a couple of beers in our hands, silent but not uncomfortable. Macey met Nick the same year I lost Cammie. Macey was a wreck at the time so I was grateful that she had someone who could comfort her. Nick had become one of my best friends over the years along with some of the neighbors.
You would approve of your cousin's choice, Cookie.
He started to heat up the grill as I glanced around the yard. We had a patio out back for the hot summers, though right now everything was wet since it was the beginning of winter in Boston. Beyond the patio was a fair sized field with MC's play apparatus and swing set we bought when we first realized we were going to have a baby. The field was even big enough for a dog to run around.
That's why I'm getting my little angel a yellow Labrador puppy for her seventh birthday. She's been asking for a pet since she turned three.
You told me not to spoil her, Cookie. You said that was your job.
"Zach..." Nick pulled me away from my thoughts, "You okay man?"
I stared at him in confusion, "Why wouldn't I be?"
"Since, you know, Cammie's anniversary is coming up."
I snorted. I knew damn well her 'anniversary' was coming up. The day she never came back. But how is that a fucking date to celebrate by calling it 'Cammie's Anniversary'? To me it was the worst day of my life. It has been for the past almost seven years.
It hurts, Cam. It hurts so fucking much.
"You should move on, Zach...it's not healthy for you or for MC," Nick said quietly.
Oh, fuck, no.
I hit rock bottom.
I slammed my empty beer bottle on the patio table and stared at him with what I hope were raging eyes.
"What the fuck do you know, Nick? What the FUCK do you know?" I yelled. My hands were trembling.
I miss you, baby.
"You didn't know her! She's my life! Macey and Cameron are my life! How can I fucking MOVE ON? You didn't know her like I did. HELL you didn't even meet her! You don't know what she did for me! For everyone in this Goddamn world! FU-"
"Daddy?" I heard a soft voice behind me.
I didn't realize I was crying.
I noticed my angel was crying.
"I's okay, Daddy," MC ran up to me as I bent down, cradling her to me.
We both cried. For everything.
I miss you so much, it hurts so bad, Cammie.
2nd chapter in one day! :D Review?