Authors Note: There's another link up on my profile for the tattoo described in this chapter. Although if you're a fan of Zak, you probably already know what it looks like. But there's no harm in looking again, right? ;)

Chapter 38: Tattoo and Video Games

Zak and I had finished eating the soup, which was delicious and had soothed my throat tremendously.

But Zak hadn't believed me on the delicious part.

"You're just saying that so you won't hurt my manly ego," Zak joked.

I laughed quietly, trying my best not to laugh too hard, since it caused me pain.

"I'm not just saying it! It was really good. Best soup I've had in a long time," I replied softly.

Zak smiled at me.

"Really?" Zak asked.

I smiled and nodded.

"Yes, really," I said softly.

Zak's smile brightened.

"Well, I'm glad you enjoyed it," Zak said. "I know my mom will be glad you enjoyed it too," Zak added.

Holy shit. His mother? What?

"Your mother knows about me?" I asked softly, still in shock.

Zak realized his mistake.

"Um…possibly," Zak said with a smile, before standing up and gathering our empty bowls.

"I can get-" I started, but he shook his head no. "Alright, then tell me what you mean by 'possibly'" I said softly.

Zak laughed and sighed, as he picked up the two empty glasses and carried all four dishes over to the sink, setting them down on the counter and started filling the sink with warm water.

I would of argued that he could of just put the dishes in the dish washer, but I decided to let him do what he wanted.

I was more interested in what he'd told his mother about me.

Zak squirted some soap into the running water, and grabbed the pot from the stove and set it in the water.

"Well, she knew we had to get a woman for the show. She didn't really ask much until she saw the photoshoot we did," Zak said, as he waited for the sink to fill up.

I stayed sitting on the stool, but had turned to watch Zak and had my elbows up on the edge of the counter.

"And…?" I asked, feeling nervous.

Zak looked back at me with a rather big smile on his face.

"I believe her exact phrase was 'She's gorgeous!'" Zak said, imitating what I assumed was his mother's voice.

I laughed at his imitation, trying not to wince, and also felt my face flush.

"Oh for fuck sakes," I mumbled in embarrassment.

Zak laughed as he turned off the water, and started washing our dishes.

"You did tell her I don't look like that on a daily basis?" I said softly, laughing somewhat.

"Well, when she started asking more about you as time went on, I texted her that picture I took of you and Gracie. She replied saying you were 'cute and adorable'," Zak said. "And just because you don't have your hair and makeup done, doesn't mean you aren't beautiful," Zak added.

My face flushed again.

"And what did you tell her about me?" I asked softly, finding my stomach in knots.

God, now I know why couples get so freaked out meeting each other's parents. I thought.

Zak continued washing up and drying the dishes as he answered.

"That you're nice, friendly, smart, funny, caring, beautiful…" Zak somewhat trailed off.

I smiled despite my flushed face.

Before I could reply, Zak spoke up.

"She also told me I'd be the biggest airhead on the planet if I let you get away…" Zak said, glancing back over his shoulder at me.

"We've been friends again less than an hour, and you already having me blushing almost constantly," I mumbled shyly.

Zak laughed and smiled.

As Zak was putting the dishes and pot away and wiped off the counter and the island, I put the bread and crackers away.

I noticed there was still some soup left in the container he had brought.

I picked up the container, planning to give it back to him.

"No, you keep that," Zak said.

"Are you sure?" I asked softly.

"Yeah, if you were honest about liking it," Zak teased.

I laughed quietly and smiled.

"Alright, thank you," I said softly. "I'll get the container back to you," I added softly.

I walked over to the fridge and put the container on one of the shelves.

"It's alright, no rush," Zak said. "What should we do now?" Zak added, as he headed to the living room.

It was then that I noticed something.

He had two dark, pointed marks on the back of his neck, seemingly sticking out from under his shirt.

I started walking over to him.

"Zak, what's on the back of your neck?" I asked softly.

I saw him grab the back of his neck as if I had just told him he had a snake, one of Zak's fears, on the back of it.

Then he laughed.

"I'm an idiot," Zak said.

I couldn't help but laugh quietly, but was still confused.

"I got a new tattoo, late at night, after we landed the other day," Zak explained.

I was kind of surprised, but for all I knew, he could have been planning it for a while.

He must of seen the curiosity on my face, because he smiled slyly.

"Want to see it?" Zak asked. "Although my skin might be peeling a bit, takes a while to heal. I washed it before I came over, so hopefully it's not to bad," Zak explained.

I had absolutely no clue how the process of getting and caring for a new tattoo went, so I'm glad Zak elaborated these details before hand.

It was then I realized that in order to see this new tattoo, he'd have to take his shirt off, at least partially.

I felt my heart start beating faster.

Calm yourself fool, I thought.

"Yeah, sure," I said softly, managing to sound calm.

Zak smiled a bit and turned around so his back was to me, and then reached up over his head and grabbed onto his shirt at the shoulders. He then proceeded to pull his shirt up and off over just his head, his arms still in the sleeves and the shirt covering his torso.

Woah…

The tattoo was larger than I expected.

It depicted a robed, half man, half skeletal figure with wings. The top tips of the wings were the part of the tattoo that I had seen peeking out from his shirt. The figure was holding both his hands out to the sides, holding a skull in one hand, the other holding a halo. Where his feet should be, was the very end of a knife, with some blood dripping off it.

It was incredible.

"Does it have any meaning…?" I asked softly.

Zak hesitated slightly before responding.

"What happened in Poveglia inspired it…it symbolizes the fight between good and evil," Zak explained.

I was stunned, but it made perfect sense.

"It's amazing…" I said, taken away by how something, upon first glance, could look so morbid. But once the story behind the tattoo was explained, it wasn't morbid at all.

I watched as Zak pulled his shirt back over his head and let it fall down over his back, then turned to look at me.

"You really think so?" Zak asked.

I smiled slightly and nodded.

"I do," I said softly.

Zak smiled.

"So, what were you doing before I interrupted?" Zak asked, glancing around the living room. He notified a Playstation 4 controller on the coffee table. "Playing video games?" He asked.

"I was earlier, but then I was going to catch up on some TV shows," I said softly.

"Which show?" Zak asked.

Oh boy.

"'The Vampire Diaries'," I replied softly.

Zak jokingly made an "ick" face.

I couldn't help but laugh quietly, and tried not to wince.

"Yeah I know, it doesn't compare to your precious 'Dracula'," I teased softly.

Zak laughed.

"Damn straight. What game were you playing?" Zak asked.

"'Tomb Raider'," I replied softly.

I had already played through the entire game on my Playstation 3, but after I bought my Playstation 4, I picked up the PS4 copy of the game, knowing the graphics would be enhanced.

Yes, I was that much of a nerd.

"Turn it on," Zak said.

"Are you sure? It's only one player, unless we take turns or something," I said.

Zak smiled.

"Either way is fine. I actually haven't played it yet. I don't mind watching my cute little gamer girl play," Zak said with a smile. "Only if we can sit on that! It looks super comfy," Zak added.

. .girl…

I blinked and looked to what he was motioning at.

My super large, adult sized, bean bag chair.

I laughed quietly.

"I'm not sure how the two of us can sit on it," I replied.

Zak smirked.

"I have an idea," Zak said, walking over to the corner of the room and pulling the bean bag chair to the centre of the room.

I smiled slightly at his enthusiasm.

"If you say so," I said, picking up the PS4 controller from the table and pressing the button to wake the console from it's standby mode.

I watched as Zak plopped back onto the bean bag chair, wiggling his hips back and forth to sink lower into it.

I had to try very hard not to laugh.

Once he got himself comfortable, he spread his legs enough that there would be room for me to sit between them.

Damn you Bagans.

Zak smiled up at me and held a hand out to me.

I put my hand in his and kneeled down until I could turn around and sit on the bean bag chair, sitting in between his thighs.

I could feel my face flushing and was thankful I had my hair down today, it hid my face from his view.

As I clicked the start button on the "Tomb Raider" icon on the screen to boot up the game, I suddenly felt Zak's arms around me.

"Don't be silly, your back and neck will get sore sitting forward like that," Zak said.

He then proceeded to gently pull my body backwards until my back was resting along his torso, and because he was sitting slightly more upright, I could rest the back of my head on his upper chest and shoulder area, without it straining my neck or my view of the television.

I felt him bring up one hand and gently sweep my hair back over my shoulder and to one side, along with the rest of my hair, so that he could see my face.

"There, much better," Zak said softly, resting his arms loosely over my stomach.

I smiled and enjoyed the moment of just sitting with him, in his arms again, before starting up the game.

Authors Note: So that's it for this update. Isn't it wonderful to have Zak and Alicia spending time together again? I know it is for me, from a writing perspective. :) hope you enjoyed the update!