The Daily Adventures of Zash

[Oracle]

The Ferrari

Zach escorted Zizi down to the car. What with these men and their fast cars? He helped her into the passenger seat and then folded her chair and put it in the trunk. They started to drive, and the silence was killing Zizi.

"So, what is it that you need help with?"

"So, I want to take Ash out on a very special date. I'll need your help figuring out what kind of dress to buy for her, and you know, like shoes and other things too."

Zizi looked at him. Though Ashley wearing a dress wasn't unheard of, it still wasn't exactly her bag.

"You do know she'd be happy with McDonald's, or pizza and beer at home?"

They were heading uptown, and somehow traffic just seemed to melt away from the Ferrari. He managed to find a parking space on 5th just outside of Tiffany. That was lucky. He must be intending to go to Bergdorf's, which was a good choice, except...

"I just don't want her to be peeved that she has to wear a dress."

She thought about it.

"Though honestly, probably whatever YOU'D like to see her in, she would like just fine."

Zach got out and retrieved her chair from the trunk, and helped her back into it. She swiveled her head to see which direction he was going to go.

"But, before we go clothes shopping...you wouldn't happen to know her ring size, would you?"

Her eyes took in the store in front of them, and went wide.

"HOLD IT!"

It came out as more of screech than she intended.

"You don't mean... You're not intending to... Zach: just what kind of ring are you looking to buy her?"

 

[Orion]

Tiffany & Co. -- Fifth Avenue

Ziz: You do know she'd be happy with McDonald's, or pizza and beer at home?

Zach smiled softly at that suggestion.

"Yeah, I know...."

Zizi: I just don't want her to be peeved that she has to wear a dress.

Zach looked over at Zizi. Clearly she didn't fully appreciate what he meant when he said very special date. The place he was going, the night he was planning, you needed to be dressed to the nines for. And if HE was going to sign up to be fondled by Sally so he could wear a tux, then it was only fair to get to see Ash in something worthy of her beauty.

Zizi: Though honestly, probably whatever YOU'D like to see her in, she would like just fine.

"Ziz.... it's not that I don't like what she usually wears, because she always looks great. It's just... I've never taken her out on a real date before. I want to do this right. And if it makes her miserable, we'll never have to do it again, but for this one, I want to go the extra mile. I don't want her to think I don't want to do these kinds of things with her, or that I don't think she's worth the effort."

He explained, as he helped her move from the car to her regular wheels. That was when he asked Zizi if she happened to know Ash's ring size, and started to cross the street. She emitted a sense of alarm, and the way she shrieked, he thought he was about to get hit by a bus, and so he stopped abruptly and looked both ways. Nope, the street was still clear. What was she so freaked out about?

Zizi: You don't mean... You're not intending to... Zach: just what kind of ring are you looking to buy her?

He smiled, turning to look at her.

"Exactly the kind you think. Help me pick out the perfect one. I'll buy you lunch!"

He promised, leading her across the street when traffic allowed, and then holding the door open for her. They were the first customers here, and the whole place glittered.

 

[Oracle]

Tiffany

"Ziz.... it's not that I don't like what she usually wears, because she always looks great. It's just... I've never taken her out on a real date before. I want to do this right. And if it makes her miserable, we'll never have to do it again, but for this one, I want to go the extra mile. I don't want her to think I don't want to do these kinds of things with her, or that I don't think she's worth the effort."

Zizi sat there and thought about it for a long moment. She actually could see Ashley thinking he wanted to hide her away in his apartment and never be seen in public with her. That's the kind of thing she would come up with. So finally she nodded.

"Okay. So how dressy are we talking - cocktail dress, gown? And where do you want to start looking - Bergdorf's, Henri Bendel? Something more boutique? Do you have a budget?"

Zach then casually threw out asking if she knew Ashley's ring size. Oh no. No no no. You did not sneak attack someone like that. She asked him just exactly what kind of ring he wanted to buy.

"Exactly the kind you think. Help me pick out the perfect one. I'll buy you lunch!"

She couldn't facepalm because he was already helping her across the street and she didn't want to end her life as a pancake. But when they got across and he was holding the door, she looked up at him with concern.

"Zach, don't you think maybe we should sit down and talk about this? Dean & DeLuca's just across the street..."

 

[Orion]

Tiffany & Co -- Fifth Avenue

Zizi: Okay. So how dressy are we talking - cocktail dress, gown?

Uh.....

Zizi: And where do you want to start looking - Bergdorf's, Henri Bendel? Something more boutique?

"What's the nicest?"

This was usually stuff his assistant handled. All he ever had to do was say what kind of event it would be.

Zizi: Do you have a budget?

"What's that?"

He asked, and it was hard to tell if he was being serious. And then she realized what they were really here for, and she emanated concern. They were standing right at the door, but she put the brakes on the whole operation.

Zizi: Zach, don't you think maybe we should sit down and talk about this? Dean & DeLuca's just across the street...

"Why, are you hungry now? Because I have a feeling this place will get busy quickly, if we wait until after lunch."

He said, but he could tell that wasn't it. But what was it? Sometimes he wished he could read minds.

"Zizi," He started patiently, "You know I've done this before. And it took me ten years to figure out that it wasn't quite right. With Ashley, I know it's right, I can feel it."

 

[Oracle]

Fifth Avenue

She was trying to get an idea about what he was looking for for this dress he wanted to buy Ashley.

"What's the nicest?"

"Depends what you're looking for. Bergdorf's will probably have the best selection."

She paused. This whole thing felt sort of strange, and had Zizi a little flustered. How did you pick a dress for someone else, and make sure it fit and everything? She was feeling like it would be just as nice a surprise if he brought Ashley out to shop, letting her pick the dress, and almost said so. But she soldiered on, asking him next what his budget was.

"What's that?"

She couldn't tell whether he was joking, so she just said:

"Do you know how much you want to spend?"

And then he let it slip why they were really shopping - that they were actually going to Tiffany. Zizi suggested maybe they take a step back and have a seat and talk about this.

"Why, are you hungry now? Because I have a feeling this place will get busy quickly, if we wait until after lunch."

"No, I'm not hungry, uh-"

Zizi stammered. This was not a conversation she was prepared to have. And certainly not standing in the doorway of Tiffany.

"Zizi," He started patiently, "You know I've done this before. And it took me ten years to figure out that it wasn't quite right. With Ashley, I know it's right, I can feel it."

She sighed, giving him a sympathetic smile.

"Look, I am rooting for the two of you, really I am. I am so happy that you've found each other and that you make each other happy and I am happy to help you with this date and the ring and whatever else you need, but...isn't this moving just a little bit fast? You've been dating, what, a month?"

She looked up at him compassionately, not wanting him to think she wasn't supportive. She just wanted him to be sure, really sure, about what he was doing. He didn't want either of them to be hurt. The idea of Zach and Ashley getting married - it sounded like a bad joke or the result of too much tequila. It didn't sound like something either of them would do, not right now. They barely left the house, how could they possibly know each other well enough to know if they wanted to be man and wife?

"If you do this, and then in six months or a year or ten years you decide it's not working out - that will destroy her, Zach. She's not built like you or me, when she says forever she means it. Do you think you know her well enough? All her quirkiness that's so endearing to you now, will it start to annoy you, will you try to change her? Make her more like everyone else?"

She gave him another small smile.

"This is not something to do on a whim, honey. It's a big deal."

 

[Orion]

Tiffany & Co. -- Fifth Avenue

Zizi was uncertain, because it had only been a month since Zach and Ash had started their relationship. But Zach just smiled, because Zizi didn't know what that month had been like -- she didn't know what last night had been like.

"Best month of my life."

He replied sincerely. And had it only been a month? It felt like it had been several. Anyway, all he knew was that they spent every night together, and he had no wish for that to ever end. Zizi wasn't going through the door. Zach could tell out of his peripheral vision that people were starting to stare curiously, so he finally let the door close, for the moment.

Zizi: If you do this, and then in six months or a year or ten years you decide it's not working out - that will destroy her, Zach. She's not built like you or me, when she says forever she means it.

"So do I."

He said, somewhat defensively. He tried not to take the implication personally. He understood that she was just looking out for her friend. But just what kind of guy did she think he WAS? It wasn't like he had Cameron King's reputation. He wasn't perfect, but he wasn't a womanizer either, and since he and Ash had gotten serious, he barely even noticed other women now.

Zizi: Do you think you know her well enough? All her quirkiness that's so endearing to you now, will it start to annoy you, will you try to change her? Make her more like everyone else?

"I love her because she's nothing like everyone else."

Zizi: This is not something to do on a whim, honey. It's a big deal.

Zach looked at her, considerately. For a moment he could see this from her perspective, and he knew she felt obligated to be the voice of reason. Gods bless her, she just wanted to make sure no one would get hurt. Ten years from now, they'd look back at this moment and laugh. He'd tease her about how hard she'd tried to talk him out of it. Or maybe not, because it was probably equally likely that he wouldn't survive the next ten years.

"It's a big deal, I agree. I'm saying I want to spend the rest of my life with her, with only her."

That was easy, of course he wanted that. So what was the rush then?

"Ziz, I almost died a couple weeks ago. Not just once, either. I am only human, a mortal man. Life is brutally short, unless Sawbones can finally figure out how to make us stop aging. Even still, if I stopped helping the Birds, and didn't fight for what I believe in, I could still die on the way home from work, because somebody else ran a red light. I don't want to waste another day. I want her to know, without a doubt, that I am this serious about us."

 

[Oracle]

Fifth Avenue

They were standing outside the jewelry store, talking about the rest of Zach's life.

"I love her because she's nothing like everyone else."

She knew that people often reacted to Ashley with either avoidance or a strange sort of fascination, like she was an exotic animal the zoo, waiting to see what she did next. But she knew that fascination was likely to wear off, and where would they be then? She told him that marriage was not something one did on a whim.

"It's a big deal, I agree. I'm saying I want to spend the rest of my life with her, with only her."

"Have you really thought about this?"

"Ziz, I almost died a couple weeks ago. Not just once, either. I am only human, a mortal man. Life is brutally short, unless Sawbones can finally figure out how to make us stop aging. Even still, if I stopped helping the Birds, and didn't fight for what I believe in, I could still die on the way home from work, because somebody else ran a red light. I don't want to waste another day. I want her to know, without a doubt, that I am this serious about us."

Zizi sat there on the sidewalk looking up at Zach for a long time. And then she nodded.

"Okay then. So with Ashley, she doesn't normally wear any jewelry. So you don't want anything too flashy or elaborate. Simple...elegant..."

She motioned for him to hold the door.

 

[Orion]

Tiffany & Co. -- Fifth Avenue

Even after he agreed it was big deal, Zizi asked if he'd thought about it, like really thought about it. He had, and he took the time to explain to her that it wasn't just a romantic whimsical fairytale thing he'd dreamed up, but that he was actually quite serious about it. She stared at him for a while and then, to his relief, she nodded and gestured for the door. He practically yanked it open.

Zizi: Okay then. So with Ashley, she doesn't normally wear any jewelry. So you don't want anything too flashy or elaborate. Simple...elegant...

He thought about all the adventures Ashley liked to get herself into.

"Indestructible or at least well-insured....."

He joked, as he followed her into the lobby. They were greeted by a salesman immediately, who asked politely what he could help them with.

"An engagement ring, please."

Zach said simply. The salesman smiled, looking at Zach and then Zizi, commented on how exciting it was, and began to lead them in the right direction. The salesman started with a question about the price range. Oh, everyone was killing Zach with this whole cost thing today. What was his budget, they wanted to know.

"There isn't one."

He said, hoping they could get over this hurdle and move on to the more important details. The salesman did a decent job accepting that answer with a steady expression, but Zach could tell from the subtle way he phrased his next question that he was still trying to gauge the sale. He wanted to know if they had an idea of how many carats they were interested in.

"How many do you have?"

Zach quipped with a smooth smile. The salesman appraised that answer, and then inquired about the style. Zach glanced at Zizi, since this was exactly the kind of thing he needed her help with.

"What do you think Ziz? The classic, single stone Tiffany ring? With a round, or princess cut? Or maybe a three stone setting?"

 

[Oracle]

Fifth Avenue

Zach held the door for her and she wheeled inside, not quite able to quash her misgivings but determined to help Zach because he was her friend, and so was Ashley. She started "profiling" Ashley, telling him that she wouldn't like anything gaudy. That it should be classic.

"Indestructible or at least well-insured....."

Zizi scoffed and gave him a look.

"Yeah."

A salesman came to help them, and Zizi's eyes traveled around to all the cases. Zach told the salesman that money was no object. Zizi looked at him, and half wondered if maybe he'd gone insane. Yes, he drove a Ferrari, but most people didn't jump into things they'd thought through with such a no holds barred attitude. She was betting the salesman thought they were messing with him, and asked about number of carats.

"How many do you have?"

Now he just sounded naive. But she'd told him she would help him.

"We're interested in getting the right look, not dependent on the number of carats."

Zach turned to her as the salesman inquired further into what they were looking for.

"What do you think Ziz? The classic, single stone Tiffany ring? With a round, or princess cut? Or maybe a three stone setting?"

Zizi bit her lip, her brow crinkling, as she tried to decipher what Ashley would choose if she were here.

"Well, my inclination would be a square cut - to match her personality. Maybe something like that one?"

She pointed to a square stone with diamonds set into the band. Hey, if Zach thought he had no budget, then why not go all out?

"Or that one, see how it looks like a snowflake? Or have you ever thought about maybe a blue diamond?"

She looked up questioningly at Zach. She was here to help, but in the end he had to make the decision.

 

[Orion]

Tiffany & Co. -- Fifth Avenue

Nobody appreciated his smarmy quips. Oh well. Zizi diplomatically offered the salesman a better answer to the carat question.

Zizi: We're interested in getting the right look, not dependent on the number of carats.

Not dependent on any kind of limitations, he wanted to add, but he held it for now. Soon enough they'd realize he wasn't joking. To him, Ash was worth more than all the money he had, and he had more money than he knew what to do with. Then they got to talking about the style. Zach threw out a few suggestions to get the ball rolling, his idea of nothing too flashy or elaborate, as Zizi had established that already. But even still there were lots of different shapes.

Zizi: Well, my inclination would be a square cut - to match her personality. Maybe something like that one?

She pointed on out, a nice cushion cut, with diamonds set into the band. Zach leaned over the counter to get a closer look.

"That's nice, let's see it, please. And look, it's paired with a beautiful wedding band to match, diamond studded all around."

He replied, when the salesman lifted the set from the case and put it on the counter. Zach took a moment to admire it, and try to imagine it on Ash's finger.

"Okay, now seriously, how many carats is too many to comfortably wear?"

He asked honestly. He realized there was such a thing as too much, in fact, part of him had wondered if that was the reason Haleigh had never put hers back on after they got back together, if that was the reason she had insisted he keep it in his safe, or if she just plain really didn't want to marry him. Of course he realized it was for the best, that he was better off now, but still, ten years had been a very long term investment for net-zero return. Had it been his fault from the beginning? Would he drive Ashley away the same way he had Haleigh? And now she was off at Hellfire doing gods-only-know-what with the same asshole that had hurt Ash so badly. Talk about some heavy fucking baggage. Zizi rescued him from those depressing thoughts when she pulled his attention to other options.

Zizi: Or that one, see how it looks like a snowflake?

"Well which one would SHE like better?"

Zizi: Or have you ever thought about maybe a blue diamond?

Zach compared the three side by side. He liked the blue one, a diamond as unique as her, but...

"I don't know Ziz, would she think this one a bit too fanciful? I mean we're talking about a woman who actually likes to eat at McDonald's."

He said, with an expression that made it clear he'd only eat food from THAT scary place if he was starving. He looked back at the salesman for his next question.

"Tell me about the clarity here. I'm pretty dead-set on Flawless."

He said, not willing to accept anything less than the best. The salesman seemed surprised that Zach knew what the hell 'clarity' even was, and then he cautioned that 'absolutely flawless' diamonds were exceedingly rare, and that in fact there were no known blues in the world to be that perfect. Zach's mild sigh and the flat stretch of his mouth expressed his disappointment with that fact. He kind of wished he'd brought Ashley along for this, but then that would ruin the surprise, so that was a no go. He decided that he'd tell her she could swap her ring out for whichever she really liked without hurting his feelings. That'd be a good backup plan, he figured.

"Help me Ziz, I just want her to be happy."

 

[Oracle]

Tiffany

She made a few suggestions, and Zach had the salesman start to pull out some options for a closer look.

"That's nice, let's see it, please. And look, it's paired with a beautiful wedding band to match, diamond studded all around."

Now, Zizi wasn't poor, but Zach was looking at dropping some serious cash. It was a little bit shocking, to be sitting here picking out something so incredibly expensive, even if it wasn't for her. Especially since it was for the one women who couldn't care less about how much it cost.

"Okay, now seriously, how many carats is too many to comfortably wear?"

When it is bigger than your finger or you can't bend your finger with it on, it's too big."

She sighed.

"Though there are some women who say you can never have too many."

The salesman laid out the square, the snowflake and the blue. Zach seemed intrigued by the blue.

"I don't know Ziz, would she think this one a bit too fanciful? I mean we're talking about a woman who actually likes to eat at McDonald's."

Her mouth turned up into a half smile.

"Zach, you're spending tens of thousands of dollars, here - I think we might be past that."

She looked at the ring in question again.

"But it might be a little large for her taste."

Zach asked for the clarity and was not satisfied by the answer, so that narrowed it down to two.

"Help me Ziz, I just want her to be happy."

She turned to him, and reached up to put her hand over his.

"YOU make her happy, Zach. You already do that. She doesn't need a ring or proposal to be happy."

Zizi laughed.

"You could probably get a ring out of gumball machine and she would think it was the greatest."

She looked apologetically at the sales assistant.

"She worships the ground you walk on, Zach."

Zizi looked back at the two rings. How could she possibly choose another woman's engagement ring? She thanked her lucky stars Gabe had never asked her to pick out jewelry for another woman.

"I think if you're going to buy her a Tiffany engagement ring, you should buy her a Tiffany engagement ring."

She put her finger in front of the one with the Tiffany Setting.

"And maybe this one will remind her of the snow in her homeland."

She smiled up at him, warmly this time.

"She'll look like a ice princess wearing it."

 

[Orion]

Tiffany & Co. -- Fifth Avenue

Zizi discussed some sensible standards with regards to size, and Zach nodded. He guessed that sounded about right. He worried aloud if the blue one was too fanciful for Ashley.

Zizi: Zach, you're spending tens of thousands of dollars, here - I think we might be past that.

He chuckled at that.

"Touché."

He allowed, and then Zizi said something about it being too large for Ash's taste. Zach couldn't hide his smirk. She likes it large... He thought, but before he said it, he realized he was with Zizi, and making an inappropriate joke about size to her just seemed so wrong. Maybe if he was with Ash, or one of the guys.

He focused on quality, and didn't particularly care to make any concessions in that regard. He pleaded with Zizi for help. All he wanted was for Ash to be happy. Zizi reassured him that Ash was happy, and joked that she'd even be pleased with a ring from a gumball machine, which made Zach laugh, especially when he saw how the salesman's face fell flat.

Zizi: I think if you're going to buy her a Tiffany engagement ring, you should buy her a Tiffany engagement ring.

"Good point."

Zizi: And maybe this one will remind her of the snow in her homeland. She'll look like a ice princess wearing it.

The idea of that brought a smile to Zach's face, and he nodded.

"See, this is exactly why I brought you along. Thanks Z. Now to figure out the carats. I'll be embarrassed if I give her anything less than three."

The salesman, with a smooth smile, helpfully told them that the style they were looking at went all the way up to Six. Zach got a bright idea.

"Let's see 3, 4, 5 & 6. Zizi, try them all on, your hands are close in size to Ash's, and you can tell us if it's too heavy or clunky to be practical."

 

[Oracle]

Midtown

At Tiffany, Zizi tried on all the diamond sizes and told Zach that 5 & 6 carats were way too big, but that 3 and 4 were reasonable and it all depended on the look he wanted from there. He made his selection and had the happy salesman wrapped the ring in the iconic blue box and white ribbon. Zizi was into things by now, pleased to be included in Zach & Ashley's happiness.

Now for the second part of Zach's request. She and Zach walked and wheeled up to 58th street and crossed over to Bergdorf's department store. Finding a dress to suit someone who doesn't see the point in wearing dresses was not an easy task, but Zizi was able to select something that would suit her. It was up to Zach to get her to wear it. Zizi made sure to pick up all the things Ashley wouldn't be likely to have at Zach's, including a pair of Jimmy Choo's.

As they left the store, Zizi looked up at Zach.

"Promise me that if she doesn't kill you, you'll take a picture."

She smiled.

"And if she does kill you, it's been nice knowing you, honey."

Zach was going all out on this excursion, and lunch was no exception, the two of them finding a table in the garden room at Michael's. When their server had taken their drink orders, Zizi leaned across the table towards Zach.

"So, when are you planning on surprising her?"

 

[Orion]

Tiffany & Co. -- Fifth Avenue

Zizi gamely tried the sizes and compared them, narrowing it down to two choices for Zach, who naturally picked the bigger one and produced a metallic black credit card. A little box, a little bag, and Zach was brainstorming places to hide this evidence until the proposal as they left the jewelry store.

The next stop was Bergdorf's, and thankfully, Zizi never spoke the word 'budget' again. Zach patiently participated in the endeavor, weighing in when Zizi presented him with options, but ultimately he left it up to Zizi to find something for Ash to wear.

Zizi: Promise me that if she doesn't kill you, you'll take a picture. And if she does kill you, it's been nice knowing you, honey.

Zach laughed at that, then gave Zizi a serious look.

"Why would she kill me? If she doesn't like any of it, I'm totally going to blame YOU."

Zach ordered the salmon, and admitted to being starving. He shouldn't have skipped breakfast, but it was worth it.

Zizi: So, when are you planning on surprising her?

A smile spread across his lips as he thought of it.

"Tonight. You honestly think I could keep this secret much longer than that?"

He replied, and drained his water.

"Thank you so much for helping me with this, Ziz. I couldn't have done it without you."

He said sincerely. There was a pause in which Zach seemed to be considering something he was unsure he should say, but he honestly cared to know.

"So, how are things going with Gabe?"

 

[Oracle]

Michael's

Once they were seated at the restaurant, Zizi asked Zach when he was going to surprise Ash.

"Tonight. You honestly think I could keep this secret much longer than that?"

She watched him drink his entire glass of water with interest.

"Are you nervous, Zach?"

"Thank you so much for helping me with this, Ziz. I couldn't have done it without you."

"Sure you could have, but it was nice to have been asked."

She smiled warmly and reached out to pat his hand.

"And I'm sorry for being skeptical in the beginning. I must admit, it was a little bit of a shock. But I just want you both to be happy. And I'm so happy for you."

And she was. But still, she'd make sure there were clean sheets on Ashley's bed at the Clocktower. Trying to predict what she would do was the path to madness.

"Neither of us came from happy marriages, so I guess I'm just...cautious."

They were silent for a little bit before Zach spoke up again.

"So, how are things going with Gabe?"

"Good. They're good. He helped me with a new security system for the Clocktower.

She took a drink of her iced tea.

"He's had to go back to Wales, his mother's not doing well. He wanted me to go with him, but I couldn't leave things here right now, the way things are. Obviously."

She looked off into the distance. Their relationship continued to be just as filled with twists and turns as it had started out. She looked back at Zach and smiled half heartedly.

"But we talk on the phone, and Face Time and stuff. You know."

She took another drink.

"So, how are you explaining your absence to Ashley? I know she doesn't like to let you out of her sight."

Zizi chuckled. To say they were attached to each other was the understatement of the year.

 

[Orion]

Michael's -- Midtown

Zizi: Are you nervous, Zach?

"Excited."

He answered confidently. He thanked her for her assistance, and admitted that he couldn't have done it without her, but she insisted that he could have, and was just happy to be included.

"Well, you're her best friend, you know."

Zizi: And I'm sorry for being skeptical in the beginning. I must admit, it was a little bit of a shock.

Zach smiled sheepishly and gave her a little nod.

"Yeah, sorry I kind of sprang it on you."

Zizi: But I just want you both to be happy. And I'm so happy for you.

"Thanks Ziz. It means a lot to have your support. I promise it's not just a fleeting thought, I really do cherish her."

Zizi: Neither of us came from happy marriages, so I guess I'm just...cautious.

"Yeah, damn if we didn't learn what NOT to do."

He replied, and there was a pause, as Zach considered if he should ask about Gabe, or if that was a sore subject. Hauling off and hitting the guy after jumping to conclusions had not been good, and once he'd calmed down, following a talk with Zizi -- and worked with Gabe to try and save Jake, Zach realized he'd been wrong. He'd apologized, but then steered clear of the subject. Now he wasn't sure if it was water under the bridge, or if she'd get upset with him for asking. He cared, though, so he kept his tone relaxed. She said it was good -- twice. Good, but not great, he noted. Zach watched her mood for more insight, and she elaborated.

Zizi: He's had to go back to Wales, his mother's not doing well. He wanted me to go with him, but I couldn't leave things here right now, the way things are. Obviously.

"Ah, right. I DO sometimes feel like disaster is going to strike any minute."

He said, as the food was delivered. Zach's mouth watered as soon as the plate hit the table. He unrolled the silverware bundle and laid the linen in his lap as he eyed his lunch appreciatively.

Zizi: But we talk on the phone, and Face Time and stuff. You know.

"Yeah, long-distance can be difficult, though. I'm sure he misses you like crazy. Hey, if you ever want to get away for the weekend, let me know, I can hook you up with one of the business jets to charter you across the pond."

Zizi: So, how are you explaining your absence to Ashley? I know she doesn't like to let you out of her sight.

Zach gave her a sly smile as he finished a bite.

"Oh, I got Steele to call her in, and make it sound important. Although if she catches me out of the house, I will confess to having lunch with you, as an alibi, so be prepared to corroborate my story until tomorrow."

 

[Oracle]

Michael's

Zizi was watching Zach carefully, and she noticed him fidgeting a bit, so she asked if he was nervous.

"Excited."

She smiled, warmly. It was nice to see how much he wanted to be doing this. It didn't seem like he thought he had to, or that he just wanted to surprise her with something big. Zizi could see that he loved her, and she knew for a fact that Ashley loved Zach. Almost too much. Still it was difficult to imagine them in married life - they were completely the opposite of a boring married couple.

"Well, you're her best friend, you know."

Zizi beamed.

"And I suppose she's mine as well. Who would have thought it, the day she just wound up on my doorstep."

Zizi looked up at Zach.

"Though I suspect that honor might have shifted to you by now. She thinks the world of you."

She took a hasty drink.

"She loves you, Zach. No matter what happens tonight, she loves you. When the Unloved attacked you, and she thought you were dead...I've never seen her like that. It was like someone was ripping her soul out."

She apologized to him for not being entirely supportive when he first told her what he was doing, and told him that she loved that they had found each other..

"Thanks Ziz. It means a lot to have your support. I promise it's not just a fleeting thought, I really do cherish her."

She smiled warmly again.

"I know."

Zach asked about Gabe, which was very thoughtful of him, and she told him he had gone out of the country.

"Ah, right. I DO sometimes feel like disaster is going to strike any minute."

"I couldn't leave you all blind. And I couldn't put Gabe and his family in that kind of danger, should they take the opportunity to come at me."

Her walnut apple salad came, and looked terrific. She took a dainty bite, and it tasted as good as it looked. She didn't know what they had put in the dressing, but it was like a party in her mouth.

"Yeah, long-distance can be difficult, though. I'm sure he misses you like crazy. Hey, if you ever want to get away for the weekend, let me know, I can hook you up with one of the business jets to charter you across the pond."

She reached out and grabbed his hand.

"Aw, thank you Zach, honey. I really appreciate that. It's so thoughtful of you."

She missed Gabe terribly - despite what she'd said, phone calls weren't enough. They never had been, even before they'd started dating and Gabe had been jet setting all over the world. But she couldn't go away and leave the others to deal with Hellfire, as in danger as they all were. She changed the subject to asking how he had gotten away from Ashley's eagle eye for this errand run.

"Oh, I got Steele to call her in, and make it sound important. Although if she catches me out of the house, I will confess to having lunch with you, as an alibi, so be prepared to corroborate my story until tomorrow."

"I'll tell her I bribed you with lunch to help me test the new security system."

She smiled, taking another bite.

"This really is fantastic, Zach, thank you."

 

[Orion]

Michael's -- Midtown

Zach told Zizi that she was definitely Ash's best friend, and he could tell that she was happy to hear it, which made him smile.

Zizi: And I suppose she's mine as well. Who would have thought it, the day she just wound up on my doorstep.

"Life is full of the most wonderful surprises."

Zach replied warmly. It was so nice to spend time with Zizi. She was as positive as he was, and it created a pleasantly optimistic atmosphere.

Zizi: Though I suspect that honor might have shifted to you by now. She thinks the world of you.

"Oh, I'm sure you'll be the first one she calls when I inevitably do or say something totally boneheaded. I'd deeply appreciate it if, in the future, you talk her out of strangling her darling husband."

He said, and he was only half joking. His lunch was delicious, and disappeared too quickly, but at least it was mostly satisfying. He went back to finish off the appetizer, wondering if he could convince Zizi to get dessert when she finished with her salad. Certainly nobody got a fruity salad as their main course until they were planning on getting dessert, right?

Zizi: She loves you, Zach. No matter what happens tonight, she loves you. When the Unloved attacked you, and she thought you were dead...I've never seen her like that. It was like someone was ripping her soul out.

Zach nodded sadly. He wished he could relieve that fear of Ashley's, or at least soften that pain, but some things were beyond even his skills. He didn't really know what to say to that, he only knew it made him want to hold Ash tight and never let go. He covered his silence with a long draw from his drink, and let the the topic shift, as Zizi apologized for her initial reluctance to get on board today's train, but Zach understood she'd only been concerned because she cared. He thanked her for her support, and assured Zizi that he loved Ash very much. He eased into the topic of Gabe, and it DID seem like she'd forgiven him for going overboard on her boyfriend that one time. She lamented the long distance situation, and he offered the jet if she ever wanted to break away for the weekend.

Zizi: Aw, thank you Zach, honey. I really appreciate that. It's so thoughtful of you.

She touched his hand, and for the moment he was steeped in gratitude. He gave her a sincere smile and a downplaying shrug.

"It's the least I could do, really."

Next she asked him just how he escaped from Ashley's supervision in order to do this, and he told her about how John was a co-conspirator. He also warned her that she might need to back up his alibi, at least long enough to pull off the surprise.

Zizi: I'll tell her I bribed you with lunch to help me test the new security system.

"Yeah, okay. As long as you don't actually think you're getting the check for this."

He told her, with a playful warning 'glare'.

"I have to say I'm a bit surprised to hear you have no objections to the deception, though. Could it be our dear, innocent Zizi is not the Girl Scout we all assume she is?"

He asked with a raised eyebrow.

Zizi: This really is fantastic, Zach, thank you.

"It's been my pleasure, truly. And do ensure you save room for the Raspberry Opera Cake."

 

[Oracle]

Michael's

"Oh, I'm sure you'll be the first one she calls when I inevitably do or say something totally boneheaded. I'd deeply appreciate it if, in the future, you talk her out of strangling her darling husband."

It sounded so odd, hearing Zach talk about himself as Ashley's husband.

"I'm pretty sure you can do no wrong in her eyes."

She gave him a knowing smile.

"But still, try not to do anything boneheaded."

She asked Zach how he got away from Ashley secretly, and he said he'd enlisted John's help, but that he might still need to say he had lunch with her.

"I have to say I'm a bit surprised to hear you have no objections to the deception, though. Could it be our dear, innocent Zizi is not the Girl Scout we all assume she is?"

Zizi blushed, taking a quick sip of iced tea.

"Well, we did have lunch together, so it's not a big lie. And you did help me test my security system, you just didn't know you were doing it."

She smiled.

"And we'll tel the truth after she gets the surprise, so I think it's okay."

She thanked him for lunch - it had been really nice to get out and have a nice meal. A fantastic one, actually.

"It's been my pleasure, truly. And do ensure you save room for the Raspberry Opera Cake."

"This lunch has already been too much - you're spoiling me."

She looked at him with pursed lips.

"But if you insist..."

 

[Orion]

Michael's -- Midtown

Zach teased Zizi about her willingness to be deceitful, which made her blush adorably.

Zizi: Well, we did have lunch together, so it's not a big lie.

"Oh no, of course not. It's barely a lie at all...."

He allowed, his smirk sly behind the rim of his glass.

Zizi: And you did help me test my security system, you just didn't know you were doing it.

"Uh huh....."

He agreed, but his tone was still mischievous.

Zizi: And we'll tell the truth after she gets the surprise, so I think it's okay.

"And you only have to fudge the details until after dinner. It'll be our little secret until then, yes?"

He assured her, and then she thanked him for lunch, but he insisted it was his pleasure, and suggested dessert for her.

Zizi: This lunch has already been too much - you're spoiling me. But if you insist...

"It's not possible to be spoiled by a salad. Was there even protein on that thing? And anyways, if YOU get cake, I don't have to feel guilty about créme brûlée."

She gave in, much to his delight. After their plates were cleared and they ordered dessert, Zach turned to Zizi again with another curiosity.

"Have you heard from the Amazons, or Rose? I think they needed a break from me after our last mission...."