Hello Again!

I offer you Chapter 5 of What Are You Doing New Year's Eve. I know it has been a bit since my last update, but I hope you all will enjoy this chapter, I will also be posting the sixth chapter today, so stay tuned! In this chapter we begin the count down to midnight, and you can guess what will happen at 12 o'clock midnight ;).

This chapter contains mild to explicit language, implied sexual content (very, very mild reference to a shirtless Zach, Violet saying she helped Zach undress and cuddled with him, Gourmand makes a crude joke asking what went on in the bedroom, Violet tells Gourmand to keep his hands in an appropriate location while dancing, and Gourmand and Violet talking/thinking about kissing at midnight), implied alcohol abuse/ alcoholism, and implied child abuse (Gourmand's father used to think it was funny to make his son drink a hangover cocktail).

As before, I do not own Wild Kratts, any associated character, or any other component of this universe. All rights belong to Martin and Chris Kratt.

"…Wonder whose arms will hold you good and tight

When it's exactly 12 o'clock, midnight

Welcoming in the New Year, New Year's Eve…

…Oh, maybe I'm crazy to suppose

That I'd ever be the one you chose

Out of the thousand invitations you receive…

…Oh, but in case I stand one little chance

Here comes the jackpot question in advance

What are you doing New Year's, New Year's Eve?"

What Are You Doing New Year's Eve; By: Frank Loesser (I prefer Kacey Musgraves' recording of it)

I eventually drifted off to sleep and awoke to an extremely sweaty Zach shivering next to me. I reached my hand out and felt his forehead, he did not have a fever, but his forehead and hair were drenched from his sweat. I pushed his hair away from his face and smoothed it behind his ear. I pulled the covers back up over his bare chest and tucked them around him.

"My poor boy," I murmured, forcing myself to detach from Zach and get out of his bed. I was completely satisfied with laying by his side and comforting him, but I knew he would need something to deal with the aftereffects of his drinking, and I had to bid our guests farewell.

I pulled my dress back on, looked at the clock on Zach's desk and saw that it was 10:00 PM. I picked up Zach's remote for the Zachbots and called a couple into the room. "Override Code: Violet Virginia Tyler, Vi, 12. Zachbots, one of you will come with me, and you two will stay here and watch Zach. If something happens regarding his health, let me know immediately."

The Zachbots beeped in response, and I left the room with the one Zachbot obediently following me. I headed to the kitchen to gather some medicine, supplements, and fluids to give to Zach.

"You were gone for a while, what went on in there?" Donita giggled as I walked past them.

"I helped Zach take his clothes off, we laid down in his bed, and…" I commented, giving a slight pause.

"And what? What happened next? Did Zach taste your honey?" Gourmand asked, slamming a fist against the table as he laughed heartily.

"Not exactly, after we got into his bed, I wrapped my arms around him, pulled him tightly against me… and…he went to sleep!" I shouted the last part, and dramatically threw my arms out, kicking the door to the kitchen open.

I went to the cabinet where we kept our medicine and supplements, and I picked out a few items. I grabbed a glass and added a couple types of liquid supplements to it before I went to the refrigerator and grabbed some grape juice to mask the taste of the supplements.

Zach never hesitated to tell me it tasted like death, but since it usually helped him feel better when he overdrank, had a headache or migraine, or was sick in general, he would drink it. I mixed the supplements and juice together, then I got a tray and handed it to the Zachbot. I placed the "cocktail" I had just created, some saltine crackers, a bottle of Advil, and a pitcher of water with a clean glass on the tray. "Let's go back to Zach," I told the Zachbot.

I walked out of the kitchen and Gourmand came up to me like an excited puppy, "what did you make, Violet?"

"Nothing you would want, my aunt Amy devised this concoction for her ex-husband after he went on drinking binges, she swears he left her because of it." I replied and was surprised when Gourmand picked the glass up and sniffed it, he made a disgusted face.

"It smells like what my momma made for my daddy when he drank, and he used to think it was funny to make me drink it instead," Gourmand shuttered and continued, "you're right, I'm good."

"I thought so, I will give this to Zach, and then I will be right back. I'm sorry for how this night has gone, everyone, but I appreciate you all coming! Oh, there is some dessert in the fridge, you can serve it Gourmand, I'm sure you will plate it better than I or the Zachbots could," I said as I returned to Zach's bedroom.

VvvvvvVvvvvvV

Once I was back in Zach's room, I noticed he was stretched out onto his back in the bed, with an arm slug over his eyes.

I was unsure if he was asleep, so I quietly took the tray from the Zachbot and placed it on the nightstand to the left of his bed. I whispered my instructions to the Zachbots, "Zachbots, make sure he drinks the cocktail, then ensure he takes the Advil, two pills only, have him eat a few crackers, and have him drink plenty of water, he needs to replenish his fluids. Do not force him to drink, eat, or take any of it, encourage it only, if he will not do it, let me know."

"Yes, mommy," I heard Zach draw out.

"I'm not your mommy, Zachary," I stated teasingly.

"You sure act like it, mommy, but I'm not complaining," Zach said as he sat up in bed with a heavy sigh. He cradled his head in his hands as he leaned against the bed's headboard. It was then that I noticed he had his pajama shirt on.

"You got out of bed, didn't you?" I asked, handing him the cocktail.

Zach took it from me with a scowl and pinched his nose shut and chugged the fowl beverage down.

"That's fucking disgusting, and yeah, I took a shower," Zach passed the glass back to me and took the two pills I handed him and the glass of water.

"I told the Zachbots to…" I started to say, but Zach had swallowed the pills and drained the glass of water by that point, granting him the opportunity to best me, one of his favorite past times.

He shook his head at me and said, "No, your override code was for them to watch me and inform you of any issues with my health. Not that they had to keep me in bed."

"But you could have fallen, Zach. You should have waited until I came back, and I could have helped you…" I started wringing my hands nervously, and Zach patted a spot on the bed next to him.

"If I'd fallen it would have been related to my health, and they would have alerted you, you did everything you needed to, don't worry your pretty little head about it." Zach spoke gently to me, as he looked into my eyes and kissed my temple.

I gave him a half smile and reached for the crackers. I placed the sleeve between us and started handing them to him one at a time. Zach ate the crackers in silence, and he slung an arm around my shoulders and started playing with my hair, coiling the ringlets around his thin fingers, and releasing them.

Once Zach finished half the sleeve, he motioned for me to stop with his hand, I pulled out of his embrace, poured him more water, and handed him the glass. After he drank his fill, he handed the glass back to me and told me, "you can go back to the party. You don't have to make them leave yet, they can stay until midnight at least, but I don't want them here all night keeping you away from me, I want you back in bed with me as soon as they leave. Oh, by the way, you need to cancel your override code."

"Right…Sorry, I forgot, Cancel Override Code: Violet Virginia Tyler, Vi, 12. Reset Code: Oct, April, 17, 12. Are you sure Zach? I don't mind telling them to leave, and you know I don't mind being with you," I said as I watched him fluff his pillows and nestle down under the covers again.

"Yes, I know how important this was to you, I'm sorry I fucked it up." Zach looked up at me with his pitiful, bloodshot eyes, and there was no doubt in my mind that he genuinely was sorry for his actions.

"It's okay Zach; I'd rather stay here and sleep with you…" I tried to say, and Zach's frustrated voice cut me off.

"NO! I will make the Zachbots drag you out there and make you stay until midnight if you don't go back willingly." I could see the fury on his face, and I knew better than to test him.

"Yes sir, but if you need me, send a Zachbot immediately," I looked at him with raised eyebrows, and he scoffed, turning away from me onto his right side.

"Whatever, mommy."

VvvvvvVvvvvvV

By the time I returned to the party it was 11:00 PM.

"How's Zachy?" Gourmand asked.

"He is grumpy and sassy as usual; he threatened to send me back out here in a Zachbot's grasp, so I think he's feeling better," I answered, and I reclaimed my seat at the table.

"So, Zach wanted you to come back to the party?" Donita inquired as she got up and came to where I was sitting.

"Yes…"

"Well then, he obviously wants you to have a good time, come on get up, dance, sing, and celebrate! We only have an hour left of this year, and none of us are getting any younger, we need to make every minute count!" Donita declared as she grabbed my hands and helped me out of my seat.

Donita released my hands and told me to ask the Zachbots to play some music, I followed her instructions, and I felt Gourmand's arm wrap around my shoulders, "do you think Zach will mind if I dance with you?"

"I am sure he would, but if you are a nice southern gentleman, I don't think I would mind," I smiled and held my hand out to Gourmand. Although we had a rocky start when we first met, he had become one of my closest friends. I knew it was because he made me feel like I was at home whenever we were together, since we were both southerners who had similar upbringings, which was a very comforting feeling for me.

"Well little sugar, that is good enough for me," Gourmand placed his right hand on my back and held my right hand in his left hand.

I laid my left hand on his shoulder, and we laughed as I said, "just keep your hands where they are, if they go below the equator or anywhere else aside from where they are presently, I will personally get Zach to come out and take care of you."

"I'll make sure to mind my manners then. Now, getting back to the subject of kissing at midnight…" Gourmand trailed off, noticing the look I was giving him.

"I don't think that is a good idea Gourmand, but maybe we can come up with a compromise?" I said, not wanting to hurt him, but not wanting to admit I only wanted Zach to kiss me at midnight, and I wanted to be the only one to kiss Zach at midnight.

"Oh, what do you have in mind?" Gourmand asked, taking the opportunity to dip me.

"I have an idea…" I answered, giving him a sly smile.

Welp, there is Chapter 5 everyone! It was another fun one to write, I love the Violet and Gourmand interactions in this one, and of course Zach calling Violet mommy...I love when he says mommy in the show, lol.

I hinted at Violet and Gourmand's initial rocky relationship, something I will address in depth in Wild Violets, if you all have any guesses as to why they do not get along at first, feel free to comment/review with your speculations. You are also welcome to comment/ review with any feedback :).

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, and as I said, I will be getting the sixth chapter out today as well. Just know it is the big one, with a ton of stuff going on, and it is by far my favorite.