Addison took the lead, walking towards her house with purpose as she held tight on Zed's hand. She could do this. They had planned this. She wasn't alone. We got this she thought, taking the final steps to the door.

Next to her, Zed was fighting the building tension within. He wasn't an idiot. He saw the tightness around the eyes of Addison's father, the way he stood just that little bit taller and, more importantly, the way he reached his hand to his side where his electromagnetic pulse firearm would have been had he been on duty.

"Addison?" Her father asked cautiously.
"Hey dad." She said nervously. "I'd like you to meet Zed."

Zed gulped as her father turned to him, but he held out his hand.

"It's nice to meet you, Chief." Zed greeted politely.

Addison's father looked at Zed's outstretch hand, never reaching out with his own before looking the young man from head to toes, disdain unmistakable on his face. He finally settled his cold stare on his daughter, clearly waiting for an explanation as to why there was a zombie on his porch.

"Dad, Zed is my new boyfriend."
"MISSY!" Her dad yelled, stomping back into the house.
"DAD!" She screamed uselessly at his retreating form.

Zed looked at his still outstretched hand for a second before finally putting it down embarrassed. Once more grateful that zombies couldn't blush and therefore could hide how ashamed he felt, he glanced down at Addison. She looked on the verge of tears.

"Addie?"
"I'm sorry Zed! I didn't think it would be this bad."

She wouldn't look at him. He was probably mad about her dad, and he'd be absolutely right to be. She hadn't even defended him. She felt like crying. Worried, Zed brought his free hand to Addison's face, the other still intertwined with hers. The soft cool touch prompted her to look up at him. She couldn't see any anger on his face.

"At least he didn't arrest me?" He teased.

She huffed, but smiled softy, dying to lean into his touch. If Zed was going to take it as joke, Addison was going to get herself together.

"You know what!? You're absolutely right. Come on!"

Zed let himself be pulled inside the Wells' house, more than ever ready to follow her anywhere. Stepping inside her house, he couldn't help but notice how perfect everything was. Nothing was out of place, like a picture in a magazine. The entire thing felt cold and detached to him, like the house wasn't lived in. It held none of the homey feeling Zed was used from the houses in Zombietown. The open concept of the house offered a perfect view of the kitchen and dining room from the hall which gave Zed a perfect view of Addison's parents arguing in hushed tones in the kitchen. Addison cleared her throat, startling her parents. They looked at her, before staring at Zed.

"Dad, that was rude!" Addison complained, letting go of Zed's hand to cross her arms on her chest.

Zed could hear anger in her tone. While it brought butterflies to his stomach, he also knew that her temper could send thing spiralling the wrong way and fast. He laid a hand on her shoulder to soothe her. It seemed to work, Addison deflating slightly. She glanced his way then walked in the kitchen to stand in front of her parents, Zed following her closely. He resisted the urge to put his hand on her back or lace his fingers with hers, certain her parents wouldn't appreciate the gesture.

"Mom, dad, this is my new boyfriend, Zed. Zed, these are my parents, Missy and Dale." Addison tried a second time.

Once again Zed was the first to extend his hand.

"Mayor, Chief. It's nice to meet you."

This time, Chief Wells shook his hand albeit quickly which Zed still thought was improvement. His wife shook his hand next, a politician's smile firmly stuck on her lips.

"Good morning, Zed. I must apologize, this entire situation is quite unexpected. You see, we didn't even know that our daughter was seeing someone." Addison's mother said.
"I understand. I mean, it's still pretty new." Zed conceded, sending a smile to Addison.

It looked like they were avoiding the zombie thing. Zed wasn't going to complain about that.

"How did the two of you meet?" Missy continued.
"Yes, I didn't know that Addison had any zombie friends."
"DAD!" Addison yelled, hiding her face in her hands.
"Dale!" His wife whispered harshly to him, elbowing him hard.

So, they weren't avoiding the zombie thing. It was just Zed's luck.

"Well, I guess that takes care of the elephant in the room." He whispered in Addison's ear, taking advantage of her parents' distraction.
"No shit!" She replied, fighting the urge to lean into the boy.

It seemed Missy was done berating her husband because she invited them to sit on the couch, offering them lemonade. Addison and Zed moved towards the living room, Missy pushing her husband after them. As her mother got refreshments ready, Addison sat down on one of their pristine white couches, motioning for Zed to sit next to her. He sat down awkwardly, trying to mimic Addison's perfect posture. Her father sat opposite of them, straight as a ramrod.

He was observing them, Zed knew it. He'd done everything right: he'd been polite, used their official titles, offered to shake their hand and while he was sitting close to Addison but at a more than appropriate distance. None of that seemed to matter to her father because at the end of the day all he saw was a zombie. Zed knew it was bound to happen, but it hurt nonetheless. He couldn't help but think that even if he performed miracles and managed Addison to agree to a date, he would never get her father's approval.

The silence was tense, but none of them were going to be the first one to talk. Addison's mother finally came back with four tall glasses on a tray. She placed one in font of everyone, smile tight but still present. She sent a warning glare to her husband before breaking the ice.

"Now, you kids were about to tell us how you met?"
"We shared a class this semester." Zed started, interrupting himself as he saw the Chief raise an eyebrow at him.
"And that's how you started dating my daughter?"
"Dad!"
"That's where I started talking to your daughter, sir. We'd crossed paths for years. She's the best cheerleader on the squad and I'm on the football team."
"Like a real-life teenage love story." Mayor Wells smiled.

Zed had a feeling she didn't see that as a good thing. Addison looked ready to come to his defense, so he continued.

"I guess that's one way to see it." He looked at Addison next to him with a smile. "I just thought it was fate."

Addison beamed at Zed, not aware of the uncomfortable, but polite chuckles coming from her parents. Fate. Maybe it was faith that had put Zed on her path, but she wasn't lucky enough to keep him. Zed tried as best as he could to liven up the mood, but the four of them had stilted conversations. They wouldn't get more than a few sentences on any subject: university, cheer squad, football team, Missy Wells re-election for yet another term.

It was clear to anyone present what they were all avoiding now: bringing up the fact that Zed was a zombie. Addison thought her fake-boyfriend plan was bound to crash and burn until Zed brought up the family holiday plans. Her mother launched into the never-ending list of festivities, activities and chores that were planned until Christmas day. Nothing but a would get her mother started quite like the holidays. Addison had years of practice and could recite most of this speech by heart, but Zed was starting to look dizzy from all the information. She tried to divert her mother's attention and successfully brought her to realize they were late according to the schedule which prompted her to delegate chores. Her father sent Addison a look, letting her know he knew exactly what she'd just done, but he seemed glad to be spared his wife's entire spiel.

Before long, Addison and Zed were sent outside to install the inflatable displays and hang the lights on the house. They were both glad for the reprieve and they got to work, chatting as they went. In an unspoken agreement, they didn't talk about their plan on the off chance her parents were spying on them. Instead, Zed had asked her about her favorite Christmas things.

Addison launched into stories after stories of past Christmases. She told him about how her favourite thing as a child was meeting Santa Claus and getting her picture taken. Her mother would dress her up in a new scratchy red dress and a pair of uncomfortable shiny shoes, but Addison didn't care in the slightest. She got to see Santa at the mall. Seabrook only got the best and if that meant hiring someone out of town to play Santa so it would be. As it was Santaland at the mall held a special kind of magic, from the glittery fake snow to the plastic wooden house that hosted animatronic reindeers and a Santa that could rivalled any movie. But the most magical thing for Addison were the elves. Boys and girls clad in green and red with pointy ears and tinsel decorated snow-white hair. She now knew those elves were high school and college students in wigs, but as a child, they brought hope that maybe she wasn't so different from everyone else. She always told Santa how much she liked the elves' hair and he'd laugh and tell her she was an amazing little girl. There was never a picture of Addison where she smiled as brightly as her annual picture with Santa. Her mother had been the one to told Addison that Santa wasn't real the spring before her 10th birthday. She'd decided that 10 years old was too old to believe and she didn't want Addison to make her fool of herself. Addison never got her picture taken that year. Instead, that year and every that followed, they would take a family picture which would be proudly displayed on the living room mantle for all to see. Unbeknownst to her mother, Addison kept a copy of her 9th years old self on Santa lap in her room as a memento of her fondest memories.

Zed couldn't help the foolish grin on his face as Addison recounted her story. Addison clearly had been the cutest child ever. He still thought the story was bittersweet and even though he understood her mother's reasoning, he still thought it was sad. He didn't get to dwell on it though as Addison asked him about his own experience with Santa. Zed started to tell her all about his pictures with Santa, not in the mall, but in one of the zombie light garden which he promised to explain later. It had been magical for him too, even considering that their Santaland was more or less cobbled together. He must have been six when he'd questioned his parents about the fact that Santa always looked human in movies whereas the Santa in Santaland had been a zombie.

His mother had told him that Santa was a magical being, he couldn't expect him to look only one way. She had explained that Santa took on a familiar face whenever he interacted with children. Seeing as humans were still scared of zombies, he'd appear human to them but would appear a zombie in Zombietown. Humans had probably never seen zombie Santa so they couldn't be expected to make a movie with a zombie Santa. Zed had kept on believing in Santa for another three or four years. Seeing as Zoey was so much younger than him, the pictures with Santa hadn't stopped for him.

"Your mom sounds like an amazing woman." Addison said as she put the final touches on the Christmas display.
"She really was. I miss her everyday." Zed admitted,

Addison laid her hand on his forearm and gave it a light squeeze. He turned to look at her and they shared a soft smile.

"Alright Miss Wells, outside decorations are all taken care of. What's next on the list?" Zed asked.
"Only the best part!"

Zed looked at her quizzically. Addison laughed and spun on her heels, looking at him over her shoulder as she answered.

"Time to get a tree!"

AZAZAZ

Apparently, the tree was a big thing. They'd piled inside Missy's car to head to the Christmas tree lot. Zed's legs were folded up from the lack of space – an unfortunate side-effect of being so tall – but at least he wasn't sitting in the back of a Z-patrol cruiser. There was no way they could bring back a tree on top of that car, so Zed wondered idly what the plan was. Personally, he thought that the 17th was early to get a tree, most of Zombietown got theirs a day or two before Christmas Eve; but Addison was almost buzzing with frantic energy at the thought. Hell, he would have agreed to get a tree in October if it was going to make her this happy. Her cheeks were flushed with excitement and she was all smiles, filling the silence with the tree she wanted to get this time.

"Addison, we're about to arrive. Will you please tone it down? You are not a child anymore. Really dear, sometimes I wonder what you're thinking?"
"Yes mom." Addison whispered, hunching over herself.
"I think it's cute! More people should enjoy the magic of Christmas. I think the world would be a nicer place, don't you guys think?"

Her mother bristled at his comment and her father made a non-committal noise, making Zed smirk. Addison grabbed Zed's hand on the seat, intertwining her fingers through his. She looked up at him through her eyelashes and smiled shyly at him. A flash of heat engulfed his insides. She had no idea how good she looked. Zed was certain of one thing. Addison Wells was going to be the death of him.

AZAZAZ

When they got to the lot, Zed got his share of weary looks. For a brief instant, he was convinced they were going to throw him out, but then Chief Wells turned to talk to Addison and him and everyone looked away. Guess there were perks to being out with the mayor and the chief. Still keeping an eye on the people milling about, Zed didn't realize the conversation was over until Addison was pulling him away.

"You okay there?"
"Yeah sorry, Addie. Just thinking. What's going on?"
"Huh huh… We get to pick the tree!"
"What about your parents?"
"I presume they'll be talking to the owners. That's what they usually do."

Even though he couldn't see it, Zed could hear the eye roll that accompanied that sentence. He shrugged. He wasn't going to complain about getting more alone time with Addison. They walked through the aisles in a comfortable silence, ignoring the few looks being thrown their way. They were almost at the end of the lot when Addison turned to Zed.

"Zed?"
"Yeah?"
"Thank you for before. And not just about the car, like all day."
"No problem. I meant what I said." He assured her. "And that's why I'm here right? To get them off your back!"
"Still my parents were super rude, especially my dad."
"He hasn't shot me, threw me out or arrested me, yet. I'd say we're off to a good start." He tried to convince her. If he was being honest, he was trying to convince himself too.

Addison shook her head in disbelief.

"Come Addie! What kind of tree are we looking for, today?"
"I want a Blue Spruce this year. Mom usually makes me choose a tree with a stronger scent. But with how they've been acting today, I can probably get my way for once!" Addison smiled cheekily.
"Addie! I'm shocked! I didn't think you had a scheming bone in your body." Zed teased her.
"Oh my god! Shut up and help me choose a tree!"

AZAZAZ

By the time they had picked a tree and Addison's parents were paying and arranging for delivery, Zed was exhausted. Not only was he tired, but he was starting to really feel the cold seeping into his body. He knew he'd been out in the cold for too long. Zombies body temperatures were lower than a human's average body temperature. It also meant that zombies bodies weren't the best for regulating temperature. He couldn't help but visibly shiver as they stood in the cold. The sun had set at some point during their search of the tree lot and the lack of sunshine was not doing him any favors. He blew in his hands and sighed when it didn't help, berating himself for not bringing thicker gloves. Addison shot him a worried look.

"Zombie thing." He offered, hoping to keep it at that.

Addison raised an eyebrow at him, letting him know that his answer wasn't going to cut it. He had a feeling she would argue and that wasn't a conversation he wanted to have around her parents. Zed sighed.

"What's the human body temperature?" He asked.
"Around 98-99. Why?"
"Mine is about 10 degrees lower than that. If yours was to dip that low, you'd probably pass out. But it means temperatures affect me more." Zed tried to shrug it off.
"We were outside most of the day!" Addison hissed accusingly.
"I'm fine. I should have worn an extra layer, that's all." He said, still trying to downplay the entire situation.

Addison narrowed her eyes at him.

"Addie, I swear I'll be fine. We're going inside, right? What's left on the list?"
"Only dinner. But you're sure you're okay." She asked, biting her bottom lip.
"I promise." He rolled his eyes playfully. "You guys are not trimming the tree?"

Addison snorted. "Like mom would accept anything less than perfection. She hires someone to do it every year."
"That's just sad."
"Yeah, I know." She sighed. "At least I get to help choose the tree."
"Yeah. Well, when we get the one at my place, you can come over and help."
"Thanks Zed, I'd really like that."

She's about to say something else when her parents walked up to them. Missy inquired politely, if with little subtlety, about their dinner plans. Addison refrained herself to roll her eyes and told them Zed had to go home. He almost objected, but he'd be really glad to be home where he could warm up properly. He would definitely need to talk with Addison though.

AZAZAZ

Addison was driving home, already dreading the conversation that was awaiting her home. Once they'd gotten back to their house, Zed had tried to insist on walking home, as if Addison was going to let him win this one. They'd argued for a bit until Addison's dad actually sided with Zed. He didn't want her driving in an unfamiliar place at night. She managed not to snap at her father that he only worried because it was Zombietown. However, Zed getting in her parents' good graces was more important at the moment, so she compromised.

She had just dropped him at the barrier. She had left after double-checking with him that yes he was fine, that he'd text her to tell her he'd made him home and that she'd see him the next day. He promised her that her parents had not scared him away.

For a minute, she wished they didn't have to spend the night apart, but the simple thought made her cheeks burn redder than ever before. That was a new train of thought she wasn't sure she wanted to explore. Thankfully, she was pulling up in her driveway. She knew she couldn't afford any more distractions, she had to keep it together. Her parents were waiting for her and she couldn't let anything slip that would bring to light the fact that she wasn't really dating Zed. She gathered her things and pushed open her front door. Her parents were sitting on the couch, the scene reminiscing the same morning. As usual, they presented a unified front; there'd be no escaping this.

It was time to face the music.

Addison plopped herself down on the couch, wishing Zed was sitting next to her again. She felt stronger with him next to her.

"Let's get this over with," Addison sighed.
"Very well, then. Addison, are you completely out of your mind?" Her father asked.

Addison rolled her eyes. Missy put a hand on her husband knee, giving him a warning look.

"Addison, what your father means is that was quite an unexpected surprise this morning." Missy tried diplomatically.
"Why? Because I have a boyfriend or because he's a zombie?" Addison retorted.
"You can't date a zombie. They're not safe!"
"Don't you think you're overreacting dad? Zed has been nothing but nice and kind."
"He could change in a second and bite your face off!" Dale shouted.
"Really dad! That's your big argument? Zombies have been in college for almost 3 years and there hasn't been a single accident." Addison huffed.
"And I'm not about to let you be the first one! I've seen how dangerous these monsters can be!"

As they kept going, their argument got progressively louder, both father and daughter on their feet; Missy called a time-out. She sent her husband out for a walk and made Addison sit back down on the couch. Armed with her most winning politician's smile, she sat back as well to try and reason with her daughter.

"Now, Addison my dear. Your father's concerns are perfectly reasonable."

Addison opened her mouth to interject something put a pointed look from her mother kept her silent.

"Furthermore, you have never shown interest in zombies before. You can't fault us for being surprised."
"Surprised? You were super rude to him. I like Zed because of who he is, zombie or not. He's kind and sweet and funny."
"Very well. Funny can be good. But you've had your fun, now it's time to be realistic, Addison."

She looked at her mother, confusion written all over her face. She had so much to say, but as always, her mother got her way.

"You can't just stay with a zombie." Her mother explained. "Not only would people talk but think about your future. What kind of life can he offer you? It's not like you can marry him! And what about children? Addison, darling, let's just be reasonable. You've had your little rebellion."
"My what?"
"Just apologize to Warner and he'll take you back." Her mother ignored her.
"I'm not going to apologize for being myself. Warner hates my hair, mom."
"Don't be overdramatic, Addison! Of course, he hates it! It's such a dreadful color. You'll wear your wig again and everything will be just fine. It's not like it's a big deal. Remember, wives that don't take proper care of their appearance will lose their husbands to affairs. You can't expect Warner to find you attractive like this. Or anyone else for that matter."

Missy finished her tirade and looked at Addison, expecting her daughter to agree with her. Addison was speechless at her mother's words. Sure, it was different, but she was learning to love her hair, white or not. Zed made her love her hair.

"Zed loves my hair" Addison protested in a small voice, tears welling up in her eyes.
"He would say that. Don't you understand, Addison? As our daughter, you're the biggest catch that boy will ever get. He doesn't care about you, he wants to use you. Of course, he'll say that he loves your hair if it means you'll stay with him…"

Addison's heart shattered. Ignoring her mother's calls, she ran up the stairs to her bedroom and locked herself inside. She collapsed in bed, curling herself in a tight ball and hiding under her blankets. Her mother had it all wrong. Zed was doing her a favor. He liked her. He might not like like her like she did him, but he genuinely liked her. She was sure of it. He had to. A sob wrecked her small body. For the first time in years, Addison cried herself to sleep.

I'm so sorry, please don't hate me! It's totally necessary, I swear!

I wrote most of this Sunday during the snowstorm. I don't think I've ever wrote a chapter this fast. Or wrote a chapter this long. Don't expect the next one to be this quick!

Anyway, I really hope you liked this chapter and you know comments always make my day so let me know what you think!