Authors Note: Put another link up in my profile with a picture of Zak's gift, for those not familiar with it.

Without spoiling what it is, I don't know any real facts about the item. The stuff I wrote about it is just from my own imagination.

Hope you enjoyed this update! The next one, most likely, will contain the first lockdown. :) Thanks for reading!

Chapter 17: A Special Gift

Zak and I were sitting in silence again, but he was still holding my hand, stroking the top of it with his thumb.

I found it comforting, as I tried to wrap my head around the news.

Gracie must have sensed my anxiety, because she had rested her head on my leg again.

She was looking up at me and slowly wagging her tail, as if trying to say "it's okay", but was unsure if things really were okay.

After I had settled my nerves a bit, I gently started petting the scruff of her neck.

Her tail wagged more happily and I couldn't help but smile.

I didn't notice that Zak was watching us with a smile on his face.

"Are you okay?" Zak asked.

I nodded.

"I'll survive," I replied, giving him a reassuring smile.

He smiled in return.

"Would it be too weird or uncomfortable if I had something I wanted to give you?" Zak asked.

I looked at him in surprise.

"You got me something?" I asked.

"It's something I had lying around," he replied.

I jokingly narrowed my eyes.

"It's not a human skull is it?" I teased.

He laughed.

"No," he was still laughing. "Unless that's something you'd like…then yes," he added.

I laughed.

"Um, thanks, but I don't think it would match Cheryl's décor," I joked.

He laughed.

"Seriously, would it bother you?" He asked.

I felt unsure.

If it was something he already had, then it couldn't be something major. But somehow, I sensed how important it meant to him.

"No, it's okay," I replied.

He smiled brightly.

"I'll be right back," He said, standing up and walked back inside.

I smiled despite my slight nervousness.

"Your daddy is silly," I said, looking down at Gracie.

She wagged her tail, as if agreeing with me.

I laughed.

A few minutes later, Zak returned and sat back down in his chair.

He held out a long, thin, rectangular box.

Perfectly shaped to be holding a piece of jewellery.

My eyes widened as I looked up at him.

"You said you had it lying around…" I started.

"I did," Zak replied honestly. "Just trust me, please?" He added.

How could I resist that face?

I sighed slightly but took the box.

I held the box with one hand, and carefully lifted the lid off and set it on the table. I carefully pulled open the tissue paper and my eyes widened in shock at what was resting inside.

"Zak…" I said softly.

I recognized the piece of jewellery.

It was a cross necklace that Zak could be seen wearing on the cover of his latest book, "I Am Haunted".

It was a silver piece, the chain made up of small crosses, one after another. It joined in the middle with a silver skull, which had more chain hanging down from it. That ended with a fairly large, beautiful, diamond encrusted cross.

I knew by looking at it, it had to of cost a fortune. There was no way I could accept it.

Before I could speak another word, Zak reached over and lifted the necklace out of the box. He undid the clasp and then leaned over and proceeded to put the necklace on me.

"You can't be serious…" I said.

He simply smiled at me as he fastened the clasp at the back of my neck.

"I'm entirely serious," he replied.

He pulled his hands back as the necklace settled on me, the cross resting on my stomach.

"I can get the chain shortened, if it's too long for you," Zak said.

I didn't respond.

I didn't want to upset him, but this was too much.

"Zak…it must of cost a fortune-" I started.

He shrugged, still smiling, looking entirely innocent.

I started to reach back to undo the clasp, despite the fact I could of just as easily lifted it off over my head.

I felt him grab my hands and stop me.

"Zak," I started to protest.

He held my hands still and gently squeezed them.

"I know it's probably too much, but it would mean a lot to me if you'd keep it," Zak said.

Damn you Bagans.

"Why? It looks like it's custom made-" I started.

"It is," Zak replied honestly.

That made me feel more guilty.

"Then you should keep it…" I said.

He shook his head.

"I don't wear it that often," He said.

I gave him a look.

"That's not the point," I said.

He chuckled.

"Just hear me out first, okay?" He asked.

I sighed and nodded.

"I won't lie, it was expensive, and it was custom made for me. But I've never felt comfortable wearing it. A lot of the negative experiences we've gone through are because I call out the spirits intentionally," Zak started.

I wasn't happy hearing it was expensive, but I let him continue.

"When you and I started getting closer…and I realized how hard it is for you to talk about your experiences, I started worrying about taking you on investigations with us…" Zak admitted.

He was worried about me?

"You're not forcing me to go. I signed up for this," I said softly.

Zak nodded.

"I know, but I'm still worried about exposing you to the darker stuff," Zak started. "I had the necklace blessed by Father Ashcraft shortly after I had it made." Zak explained.

I recognized the name.

Father Ashcraft had been in a few episodes of the show.

"Then you should be wearing it, for yourself," I said softly.

Zak shook his head.

"Like I said, I never felt right wearing it," Zak said. "Besides…I think I've found a better form of protection," Zak added softly, looking at me intently.

He was talking about me.

I smiled despite my uneasiness of accepting the necklace.

I didn't know what to say or do.

"You don't have to wear it all the time if you don't want to," Zak started. "But it would mean a lot to me if you wore it on investigations. And if you ever take it off, I'll know for sure something serious is wrong," Zak added.

I looked down at the cross.

This was crazy. We were basically only friends of just a three week period, and he was giving me this huge gift.

"Please?" Zak asked, "For me?" He added.

I signed inwardly.

Once again I found myself unable to say no to him.

"Alright," I said softly.

Zak smiled brightly, then leaned over and gently kissed my cheek.

"Thank you," he said softly, looking relieved I had accepted this huge gesture.

He squeezed my hands gently before letting them go.

I nodded, then said to tease him. "It's a good thing you're cute, Bagans."

He looked away in embarrassment.

I blinked.

"Did I just make Zachary Bagans blush?" I asked, smiling proudly.

He laughed.

"Don't make me throw you in the pool," Zak joked.

I laughed.

"You wouldn't dare," I retorted.

He looked back at me with an eyebrow raised.

Before I cold react, he was on his feet in front of me. He leaned down and quickly and easily picked me up, carrying me in his arms as he walked to the pool, entering the shallow area and heading toward the deeper section.

I yelped in shocked and grabbed onto his shirt, as if that would stop him from throwing me in.

Gracie came running after us, barking and wagging her tail.

"Zak! Don't even!" I protested.

He just laughed.