Zella looked behind herself at the freezing market. She had been hiding out of the public eye more, but she needed provisions as well as frozen dinners at Zeph's insistent requests. Time was passing faster and she was beginning to show. Not being married, but having children, wasn't something others showed pride in.
She often shopped at the freezing market at the end of her block, but she knew from experience they didn't have Lasterian brand frozen dinners, so she had to drive to the upper class block's freezing market.
"Morning. Hey, you're new to the block." The owner hunched over her counter.
"No, I'm not from here, but I need something special," Zella confessed. "Lasterian frozen dinners?"
"Mmm..." The owner shook her. "Sorry, this block doesn't carry that. We've got nuthinlike's and poerts. To tell you the truth, I don't know where you'll find Lasterians in Fallensworth. I don't know..." Zella watched as the owner started to shout beside her at the vegetable marketer. "Martis! Do you know where to find Lasterian frozen dinners?"
Zella turned around to look at the vegetable marketer but he shook his head. He in turn asked the fruit marketer, and even the meat and dessert marketer.
"Sorry." The freezing market owner shrugged her shoulders at Zella.
Zella nodded to the owner. She should still buy something, maybe he'd try it? If he complained much more about her cooking, he'd have no choice. "I would like a container of-"
"I recognize her, that's Cattral. She's not married."
Zella stopped as she heard the evil gossip again. Couldn't guys leave her alone already? They wouldn't be speaking so loud had Zeph been there, but he'd studied all night and was still asleep. Besides, it was nice to get away from Yo-yo Zeph every once in awhile, even if it meant associating with less understand individuals. Although being ten blocks away, she thought a little less gossip would be heard. Guess she was flat out famous now.
"Ma'am?" the owner asked again.
Zella snapped out of her thoughts and looked back at the counter lady. "I need twenty poerts." Zella watched as the owner set about looking through her frozen containment doors. Zeph had better appreciate whatever I buy.
"Here you go." The clerk brought out a large cooler and shoved the various frozen dinners inside. "Ten coins dear."
"Ten coins?" Zella blinked. "Could you check that again?"
The owner chuckled, "Be lucky I didn't have Lasterians, they're ten coins each."
Zella sighed as she pulled out her money. Guard taste was damn expensive. She reached for the money to pay when she overheard another rude statement. She pressed on as if she had not heard it, but the clerk had to say something.
"Don't worry your little head about anything." The clerk took the coins from her hand tenderly. "I'm sure you'll find the one soon. For some it takes longer."
Zella looked at her, slightly puzzled. "What do you mean? I'm not even dating right now."
"You aren't?"
The comment was so loud and abrupt, Zella had to turn to see who said it.
"Gosh. Well, you better get with the program." A woman crossed her arms with a sour expression. "If you're having troubles, then go shell out some money and hire a Guard."
"She already has a Guard," one of the women from the back said. "She wanted Lasterians after all."
Now Zella was deeply confused. "What do you mean? My Guard doesn't even want me dating after the baby's born." She gave a light chuckle as she thought about Zeph. "He'd rather I never date again at all."
"Are you kidding?" An older man came up from behind the line. "Sorry, but I couldn't help overhearing your conversation." He flashed his former Guard license at her. Expired, but it still proved his experience. "What level is he? Is he confused about what to do when the client is already pregnant?"
"I don't know if my Guard has ever done pregnancy before," Zella admitted. "He's the highest level."
"The highest level?" The former Guard seemed quite shocked. "This A level Guard of yours knows how it works? Are you sure?" He crossed his arms in a manner that resembled the sour woman beside him. "If you are pushing him off, then that is not helping you."
"I don't understand." Zella's patience was starting to dwindle, nobody was making any sense. "What do you mean?"
Zella watched the way the former Guard stood. Oh great, she'd known Zeph long enough as a Guard to know what that stance meant. Here comes a speech that was meant for papers, not people. The much loved 'and/or' with run on sentences would most likely be used, depending on its seriousness.
"If you are pregnant," the former Guard began, "and there is no father willing to help out and/or known and/or not wanted slash wanting to help, then your Guard should be either helping you find someone through your pregnancy or waiting until after the babies are born to help you find someone with unclouded eyes." The Guard finally finished.
"Unclouded eyes?" Zella thought about his speech and tried to put it in general terms. Even though the words were, to say the least, a run on term paper, she still couldn't understand it. Surely Zeph knew what he was doing, right?
"Unclouded eyes. Guards will not find someone by looks and/or charm that females often mistake as good companions. They will judge by a combination of other factors and find someone who is deemed worthy to be with you and your children unconditionally by a written contract."
Zella looked stunned. She understood that. "Unconditionally? Why?"
"Because no one should raise children alone. Even within dens they are a handful." The Guard announced, "I think you should let your Guard know that you are ready. If you are in fact having twins, as the gossip around here is saying, it may not be smart to wait until after the babies are born."
Zella couldn't believe what she was hearing. Did Zeph really know about that? "Well, thank you former Guard. I'm sorry, I missed your name."
"Just call me Syo, I'm not a Guard anymore," He chuckled. "Now go talk to your Guard and work out whatever needs to be worked out."
Zella nodded, picked up her cooler and went on her way. He is an older original. Things may have changed since he'd been a Guard, she reasoned. I don't know. Come to think of it, maybe that is why kids always have two parents? It's just not spoken of? Zella bit her lip gently. Besides Marni, I really don't know who else would fit anymore. Having to raise my children unconditionally with him as well? She reached for her phone in her purse. Maybe Muin would know what to do?
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Zeph groaned as he reached for his phone. It was still early, the sun barely rising over the horizon out the window. "Hello?"
"Hi there, Zeph," Muin's voice chirped over the phone. Wake up, you sound sleepy."
Zeph pulled himself out of bed. "Muin? Anything wrong?" He headed to his closet and looked at his clothes selection.
Muin's voice had a higher tilt in it. "Mmmm…nothiiiinnnn'…is there a reason you won't let Zelly date? Watch what you say, you'll get in trouble."
Zeph hid his groan, not this again. "I told you before, okay? She has a lot on her plate."
"So are you going to help her after?" A smile could be heard right through the phone, a bad sign. "'Cause according to Zella, she talked to a former Guard toda-ay."
Zeph was busted. "I don't want to pile anything up on her right now."
"Yeah, but you keep telling her never to date, when you should be the one finding who she should."
"I'm not supposed to find someone for her to date. I'm…" Zeph pulled away from the phone a minute then began to talk again. It was too late, they already knew. "I'm going to find her someone who'll take care of her and the babies unconditionally."
"I knew it. Have you been working behind the scenes? What, you're just going to pop it up on her one day?"
Working behind the scenes? Heck, he didn't even want to think about it. "I wanted her to concentrate on the pregnancy. One thing at a time," Zeph lied.
"Uh huh, sure, yeah. Let me ask you, Zeph? Do you still blush when you play yo-yo with my big sister?"
Zeph felt his face burn over the phone. "I've never blushed."
"Eeee-wronnnng. I knew it. That's why you won't find anyone." Chanting could be heard through the other side. "You're in love with Ze-lly, you're in love with Ze-lly."
"What are you saying?" Zeph scoffed, that was ridiculous. "I'm her Guard, I'm not in love with her."
"Yeah, right. Uh huh." Laughter rang out through the phone causing Zeph to pull it away from his ear. "Face it fraidy pants. You're her Guard but that's not all you want to be."
"Will you stop this already?" Zeph growled, "Look, I'm a Guard and I don't fall in love."
"Uh huh. Sure. So, if you weren't a Guard, where exactly would you fit in with her and her babies?" Muin chuckled through the line. "Face it, you want to be the daddy and the hubby."
Zeph rolled his eyes. "Knock this off, Muiny."
"Why? Is the truth hurting?" Muin asked softly. "Zeph, if you want to be with her, then be with her. Zella wants to be with you, trust me."
Zeph took a moment to answer back, choosing to go with his official Guard clothes today. "Are you psycho? Zella wouldn't want me, I'm a Guard."
Muin groaned through his phone. "I thought you were supposed to be really smart."
"You. Don't. Get. It." Zeph growled through the phone as he slipped his clothes on. "Fine, alright? I'll start looking for candidates for her. Just don't bug me about this ever again Muinela." He hung up the phone, hard. The nerve. Like I'd be in love with Zella? I'm a Guard, I don't do that. I'm closer because we spent time together when we were younger. That and she's carrying my future children. He smacked his phone on his forehead. "Stupid, stupid, stupid."
"Zeph are you okay?" Zella's voice sounded from behind his door.
Zeph opened his door and saw Zella. "Oh. Yeah, fine." He turned his phone off and flung it on the bed. "Your sister drives me crazy."
Zella didn't even chuckle at the comment. "Mmm, ed? I ran into somebody today."
"I know." Zeph pointed to his phone. "I didn't want to start anything serious before the babies were born, and I didn't want to worry you."
"Oh. So, you're going to set me up?" Zella asked hesitantly. "Do you have to?"
"Unless you have someone else in mind to start with." Zeph felt a hard lump in his throat. "Do you have someone else in mind?"
"Well, I…" Zella rubbed her elbow. "You know, the only guy who'd ever really care to be would be Marni."
Oh, that was freaking great. "Anyone else?" Zeph pushed.
Zella shrugged her shoulders. "Not really. I didn't date that much."
"So?" Zeph felt the lump harder, maybe he was coming down with a sore throat. "Is this Marni one of the few you dated?"
"No." Zella shook her head. "He's always wanted to, and we tried one time, but Zeph? Do I have-"
"Well, why not start then?" Zeph interrupted. "It's a good place to start, you don't have to do anything until the babies are born, I'll just get to know the…I'll be back."
Zeph buttoned his vest and headed down the stairs without so much as a goodbye. Finding someone to take care of his future kids. Yeah, he was not gonna be in a good mood at all.
He reached Vallencio's and looked inside a moment, making sure Iri was nowhere in sight. He straightened his collar and pushed his way in, ready to get the damn thing over with. He saw the moron cleaning glasses behind the counter and headed toward him.
Marni smiled at him, then recognition dawned in his eyes. Hey, the idiot wasn't as dumb as he thought. "I didn't touch her, I swear."
Zeph reached over the counter, dragged him over it and into the seat. "Sit down," he said gruffly as he sat next to him. "What could you do for Zellaponia Cattral?"
"Uh, I c-could…what?" Marni's voice squeaked.
Wow what brilliance, Zeph thought. "You like Zellaponia Cattral, but why should you take care of her?"
"Oh." Marni coughed. "Well, I work here. I have for some time, it's steady pay."
Zeph put his elbow on the bar and his hand to his forehead. "And?"
"And?" Marni sighed with a slight shiver. "I don't know. I've always liked her."
"Kids? Babies? Do you know anything about them?" Zeph asked in a crisp voice. "Well? I haven't got all day."
"Babies and k-kids?" Marni spoke. "Well I've babysitted for my sister before several times."
"Fine." Zeph pulled out some papers. "List your ten worst and best dates, first and last name. List your complete name, your address, percent original, percent evolved, height, weight, career goals, pets, schooling, everything you can think of. Come back to Zellaponia Cattral's house in five hours and have it all filled out." He handed the papers to the idiot. "Mess up on so much as a name and you're application is out."
As the weeks wore on, things settled down. Zeph never mentioned much how anything was going on his search for her unconditional. Still, having someone always there would be nice, but without love? She let out a small sigh and continued to clean as one of her favorite songs plaZeph on the radio. She couldn't help as she rocked back and forth with it. She was interrupted though when Zeph surprised her from behind with a laugh.
"Are you trying to dance because that's not how you do it," Zeph teased her.
"You can't say that," Zella turned around. "You're a Guard. What do you know about dancing?"
Zeph didn't look so happy with her comment "I take offense," he said as he brought her closer to him and surprisingly started to dance. "I know a lot more than you think I do."
Zella looked at him in surprise as they began to dance. Step by step, he kept perfect rhythm and never messed up. "Where'd you learn this Guard?"
"I've guarded professional dancers, an actress, and even some singers," Zeph said with a chuckle. "You can't help but pick up a trick or two."
Zella smiled at him gently. "You're very good."
Zeph grinned smugly as he spun her away, then brought her back into him. "Eh, you're not too bad yourself."
Zella could feel her own heart beating rapidly. It felt so right dancing with Zeph. Then again, she could sense exactly how wrong it was too. He's a Guard. My Guard even, he can never be with me, even if he wanted to. Still, she couldn't help but wonder. In a different world and a different time? Would they have been together? Would he have liked her back?
Zella knew she had to get out of the predicament. Why in the world did they start dancing in the first place? I should try to get out of this dance, but the song's almost over.She snuggled a bit closer, not being able to resist.
When the song finally ended, neither one pulled away for a few seconds until an energetic, jazzy song began to play.
Zella really didn't know what to say. "You were trained pretty well."
Zeph had less problems in the talking department. He laughed in a quirky fashion. "A ha, yeah. Well, you can't really guard dancers without knowing at least a thing, or two or three, and that was fun, but you know, I really need to look over one of my old books in my room, that is located upstairs, so you know I'll see you later tomorrow tonight."
Zella watched as Zeph dashed up the stairs.
What the heck did he just say?
Zeph hit his room and looked at the cover of his Understanding and Ignoring Female Attraction. He threw it on the floor and banged his head on his study table. "It doesn't matter. Why even bother anymore?" He looked over at a picture he had recently taken with Zella. She was smiling so brightly, so perfectly in that photo. He laid his face on the desk. How? He thought back to the conversation with Muin on the phone earlier that week.
"Eeee-wronnnng. I knew it. That's why you won't find anyone." Chanting could be heard through the other side. "You're in love with Ze-lly, you're in love with Ze-lly."
"What are you saying?" Zeph scoffed, that was ridiculous. "I'm her Guard, I'm not in love with her." No way, Muin couldn't be right, I am not in love with her, am I? Zeph whined and groaned at the same time. He grabbed his head feeling so confused. "I read the book every time I dwindled. That's supposed to be enough, it's always been enough. Eight decade, eight decades learning to cope with feelings." He smacked his feet against the ground. I am not in love. "It can't be." He groaned. "Guards can't protect someone when they're in love, they just can't."
Just then, he heard the sound of a vase being knocked over.
Zeph's heart started to beat as if it were ready to explode out of his chest. He saw Zella looking at him with a bizarre expression. He had been in such a rush to get away he forgot to close the door. How much did she hear?
Zella made no movement to pick up the vase pieces.
Zeph sat on the chair. How much did he say out loud before she showed up?
"You know…" Zella slowly breathed as her fingers twitched. "...about my feelings?"
Zeph felt his eyes widen as he heard that statement. Zella had been in love with him?