A/N: I'm already very much enjoying writing this little series. I love feedback, so please review! :-)

Warm Bodies belongs to Isaac Marion.

Chapter 2: Laughter

The first week was a bit of a mess. Nora was off working medical shifts, but she often came home early because Julie was restless and sad, and R was confused at everything. Sometimes she thought she was raising two children, though R didn't do much besides wander about the house examining things and sleep. He'll settle into a normal, human routine soon, Nora had to tell herself several times.

After the first week, though, things began to settle again, much to her relief. She came home every night at dinner, which Julie had made out of whatever she could find in the house. It usually wasn't bad, and it was nice to sit with them after a long day. Nora was also teaching R to read. He was picking it up quickly, studying the words intently, his brows knit together. He still stumbled over words, which was very frustrating to him, but he continued to learn because he knew he wanted to.

"R," Julie called from their room. He saw her sitting on the bed with a book. "I want you to read to me."

"I-I'm not very good yet." he shrugged.

She shook her head. "Nora said you've been getting really good. C'mere." He sat down close to her on the bed and took the book from her hands. It was a very old copy of perhaps a very old book. The Wizard of Oz. "It's kind of cheesy and old...well, really cheesy and old," Julie explained, a faint smile tugging up the corners of her lips. "But...I just love it. My mom...she read it to me." R opened his mouth to say something, but Julie silenced him by opening the book. "Shall we?" He nodded.

With her help, he stuttered and stumbled his way through the first chapter. It was a cute little story, as whimsical and unrealistic as it could be in this sort of world, but he found himself not caring. When he finished, he looked at Julie with hopeful eyes. She had a grin spreading across her face, but her eyes were teary. "You're doing such a good job," she sighed.

"Why are you cr-crying?"

"Oh, I don't know...just thinking about my mom I guess."

"Maybe we sh-shouldn't...read this one."

"No, no, R," she replied. "It's...good to remember the happy times."

"Are you h-happy now?" he asked, and she laughed, a real laugh as tears fell down her cheeks.

"I am so happy," she laughed. "I'm so happy I'm laughing for no reason! And I'm crying! God, I'm a mess." she continued to laugh, and R felt his own happiness bubble over as he began to laugh, which startled him at first, but he found the new sensation wonderful. An ache started in his stomach that felt better than any other ache, and his eyes burned as they laughed together for unknown reasons. Once it had died down, she leaned forward and kissed him, holding on tight.

Whatever happened that afternoon to cause such a plethora of emotion was always unknown to them, but they always remembered it fondly.