"You're kidding me, right?" Zoey sighed as she sat on the couch next to her brother. His face was in his hands in worried frustration. "What is the big deal?"

"Um, it's a life altering decision?" Zed snipped back as he raised his head.

"You're worried she's going to say no, aren't you?"

"No!" he replied, rather unconvincingly, and then sighed.

Zoey held back her laugh, but just barely. She raised her eyebrows in challenge.

Now a 16 year old sass, he didn't find her as cute as when she was 8 and claimed her big brother was her dog. She was right, though. He was definitely worried about rejection.

"Ok, fine," Zed relented. "What if she says no?"

Zoey put a hand on her brother's shoulder. "You have been with her for almost the last 8 years. You survived high school, evil cheerleaders, a possible zombie uprising, a bunch of school dances, college and dealing with the world outside of Zombie Town. Do you really think she's going to turn you down after investing so much time and effort into you thus far?"

"Hey!"

"She's probably been waiting for the question for months now!"

Zed's face dropped as he stood up quickly and began pacing. "Did I wait too long? I wanted to wait until college was almost finished, but maybe you're right… maybe I disappointed her! Maybe—"

"Or maybe," Zoey interrupted as she stood as well, grabbing both his arms. "Maybe you should just do it before your nerves get the best of you. You're gonna overheat your Z-band at this rate." She rolled her eyes, but she still had nothing but love for her brother on her face.

"And she'll say yes?" he asked quietly.

Zoey booped his nose. "Of course she will! Addison loves you! She told you first and in Zombie Tongue, you idiot!" She paused. "And if she doesn't say yes, I'll bite her, ok?"

Zed pulled his little sister into a hug. "Nah, don't do that. Thanks, munchkin."

"You're welcome. Now… who's a good boy?"

Zed pulled back and pointed a disapproving finger at Zoey.

He started to leave, but before he left the room, he turned back and said, "Me! Woof!" And promptly left before she could say anything else.

As he walked to his car, Zed really wished he could just walk to Addison's and clear his head on the way, but that wasn't very chivalrous to make your date – and hopefully your fiancée – walk all over town.

But before he could get into the car, a familiar voice caught his attention.

"Zed! You gonna ask tonight?" Eliza yelled as she walked over.

Zed rolled his eyes. "Gah! A little louder, E! I don't think they heard you over at Addy's place!"

"Calm down, you big softie! She'll say yes!"

Zed scoffed lamely. "I'm not worried about that!"

"Pfft!" Eliza laughed. "Please! You've got worried all over your face!"

"I… I do not!"

"Bonzo!" Eliza called. "C'mere!"

Zed pinched the bridge of his nose. This whole afternoon was really spiraling out of control.

"Za?" Bonzo asked, appearing from behind his latest artwork.

"Tell me, does our boy look worried about proposing to Addison?"

A grin split Bonzo's face as he joined them. "Za! Gro'z grat gazorryd!" (Yeah! He's really worried!)

"Thanks, Bonzo. You're a huge help," Zed drawled.

Bonzo shook his head. "Zedka, zra'ot gazorry. Addiska gargizat broo!" (Don't worry. Addy loves you.)

"I know she does, buddy, I know. This is going to go great, right?"

Bonzo and Eliza shared a look. Oh, their sweet little Zed.

"Get out of here, you cinnamon roll!" Eliza said, turning him back to the car. "Go on your date, ask your girl to marry you, and then bring her back here so we can celebrate!"

Zed gave a little smile and got into the car. "Ok, thanks, guys!" he called as he drove away.

Eliza looked up at Bonzo. "Go call Bree. We've got a party to plan!"

Zed pulled up to Addy's apartment and took a deep breath. "Who's the zombie? I'm the zombie." He sighed again. "I can do this, I can do this, I can do this."

He parked, gathered up the flowers, checked on the ring, and made his way up to her. He knew he should hurry, but he just needed those last few minutes to collect himself. Finally, he knocked on her door.

It opened to a surprised Addison.

"Since when do you knock?" she said, opening the door wider for Zed to enter.

"Since… um… I don't know. Just seemed like something I should do when presenting you with flowers," he said, pulling the bouquet from behind his back.

"Aw, Zed! They're beautiful!" Addison exclaimed, accepting the flowers and holding them up to her nose. "I love them! And I love you!" She pushed up on her tiptoes to give him a quick kiss before going to find a vase.

"You look gorgeous," he said, following her.

Addison giggled. "Well, at least I don't look delicious."

"Maybe a little of that too," Zed replied with a wink, trying to regain some of his usual swagger.

His girlfriend smiled and Zed knew what it was to be alive. This had to be what it felt like to have a racing heart.

Once the flowers were in their vase, Addison turned to him. "So, what happens next then?"

"Movies and long walks in the park?" Zed thought to himself with a chuckle. "Yes, that's exactly it."

"Walk in the park?" he asked, extending his hand.

She happily accepted it. "Lead the way."

The drive back to Zombie Town was quiet, but Addison didn't mention it. Once they got to the site of the old border, Zed parked and ran out to open Addy's door.

Luckily for him, Eliza's party preparations weren't in the way of their walk to the Light Garden.

Once they got into the illuminated room, Zed felt his palms getting sweaty. He swore somedays that Addison was turning him human.

"It's always so beautiful here," Addy said wistfully.

"Not as beautiful as you," he murmured in reply.

The blush that came to her cheeks made him smile brightly.

"I can't believe how things have changed since you first brought me here," Addison said as she wandered around, lightly dragging her fingers along the rails.

"Yeah. Hopefully Gus won't interrupt any kisses today," Zed replied as he hung back from following her and tried to calm down.

"Not if I have anything to say about it."

Zed laughed at her determination. "Or me," he thought as he sat down.

Addison turned and saw him further away. "Why are you over there?"

"Come join me?"

"Always," she said, eyes bright.

She sat down next to him and something instantly felt different. "Zed? Are you ok?"

"More than that, actually. I'm always best when you're with me. Addy, you have changed my life in so many ways and I don't have the words to even begin to explain it, in English or Zombie Tongue. I just know that I always want you by my side, making my life better. And I know that I really can't offer you much and that being by my side will always present challenges, but, Addison, I was wondering…" He got on one knee. "If you would… marry me?"

He quickly pulled out the ring box and opened it for her. Inside was a modest diamond ring, with a white opal on one side and an emerald on the other.

"I know it's not much, but I really—"

Addison cut him off with a kiss, a really wonderful kiss in his opinion. "Yes! Yes, of course I'll marry you!"

"You will?"

Addison resisted the urge to roll her eyes at her silly boyfriend. "Fiancé," she corrected herself.

"Yes, yes, yes! Gar-gargiza!"

Zed beamed. "Gar-gargiza, Addy."

He took the ring from the box and put it onto her waiting finger.

"It's beautiful," she sighed. "The opal and the emerald… are those for us?"

He nodded. "I know it's corny, but it's for our hair. One of the first things I loved about you, even if someone wouldn't let me see it."

She stuck her tongue out at him. "Well, I don't think it's corny at all. I think it's amazing."

"Broo'at zbonga," he whispered. (You're amazing)

"Broo'at zot zoll zir zaregar," she whispered back. (You're not so bad yourself)

As their lips met, Zed wondered just what he was worried about. This was true love after all. Too bad Zoey and Eliza would likely never let him live it down now.

Addy pulled back. "I like the way this date in the Light Garden ended much better than the first," she said with a giggle.

"Hey, any date that doesn't involve you punching me rates high in my book."

Addy brought her fist up, much like she did when they sang in the Zombie Safe Room, and then tapped him on the nose.

"Keep it up, zombie, and this date might have that too."

"Well, cheerleader, I was thinking dinner next, actually."

"Eh, that'll work too," she teased.

They walked out of the garden hand in hand, and were just about to discuss dinner plans when they heard, "Surprise!"

Addy shrieked and Zed jumped in front of her instinctively, before realizing that their friends were all there. Zoey, Eliza, Bonzo, Bree, and a few others from school were all looking at them with goofy grins.

"Well, you look pretty happy, so I'm assuming I'm getting a sister?" Zoey asked expectantly.

Zed stepped toward her and ruffled her hair. "Yes, you're getting a sister."

Zoey screamed with happiness and ran to Addison, hugging her tightly. "I'm so glad we're going to be family!"

Addison returned the hug. "Oh, Zoey, we've been family for a while now."

"Zend broo zatd gazorryd, eh?" Bonzo asked, slapping Zed on the back and hugging him from the side. (And you were worried, eh?)

"Fine, fine, I shouldn't have worried," Zed admitted. "But it's all good now."

"Come on!" Eliza said, waving for the couple to follow. "We've got a party all set for you down in the Mash Hall. But first, lemme see the ring!"

"He didn't show you?" Addy asked, surprised that Zed kept it hidden from his closest friends.

"Nope. Said he wanted you to be the first to see it."

His sweetness never failed to surprise Addy. She held out her hand and instantly everyone was oohing and aahing over it.

"White and green, it's so romantic!" Bree squealed. "When can we start planning the wedding?!"

"As soon as possible," Zed replied. "I can't wait to marry this woman."

He bent down and kissed her, hard.

"All right, all right," Eliza grumbled. "You can do that later. Right now, it's party time!"

They all went down to the party and celebrated the newly engaged couple. It wasn't the romantic dinner that Zed was planning, but it was even more perfect. Just like his fiancée.