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Monday, April 30, 2012

A to Z Challenge - Z is for Zero

This is the end of an ongoing story throughout the Challenge.
If you're just joining me now, please start with A is for Abby.

Z IS FOR ZERO
"Are you sure you're ready?" Demetrius kept his arms firmly locked around her. Abby didn't protest. She'd stay in his arms for the rest of her days if she could.

"I'm fine. I need to work. I have to pay the bills somehow." She kissed him and ran her fingers along the side of his face. He needed to shave, but she wasn't complaining. She never thought stubble could be such a turn-on.

"I'm going to ask my cousin if I can work with him. He's a park warden not far from here. Then you can stay home--"

"And do what?" Abby kissed him again and smiled. "I want to work. I like tutoring kids. And the monsters aren't all going to disappear because I killed the one inside of Burrows' head. There're still children out there that need me to protect them." She wouldn't abandon her duty because she fell in love. She didn't have to hear him say it to know he admired that about her even if he wanted to fight every fight for her. It was going to be difficult to do without Tawa to guide her, but wouldn't let the monsters take one more child on her watch.

Dang right they need you. Tawa's voice was sudden and loud. How long have I been gone? You better have been out there doing your duty rather than lazing around in bed with that troublesome fae.

"Tawa!" Abby cried, freeing herself from Demetrius and turning around in a circle as if she could spot the stuffed hippo. "Where are you?"

"I've been trying to get her to laze around in bed." Demetrius smirked.

I'm in your backpack. Where else would I be? Get me out of here. Tawa demanded.

"I can't believe you're alive! When you were eaten by that monster, I thought you were gone forever." Abby snatched her backpack off the hook near her front door and bounced around with happiness. She unzipped it, but there was no hippo inside. She checked all the pouches. There was a pad of paper, pencils, and a calculator. She frowned. "Where are you?"

Right here. Tawa huffed and Abby could now pinpoint the source of her voice. I just needed to get situated into a new vessel after the last one was destroyed.

"My calculator?" Abby gaped. Demetrius burst into a fit of laughter.

Yes, how absolutely embarrassing for you and horrifying for me. Worse than that stuffed toy.

"Hey, I've had this calculator since I was in high school. I really love it." As Abby said it, she realized why Tawa now found herself in the device. Abby had few material objects she valued, and being a math nerd, well, this was one of them. Her cheeks went a bit pink, but she grinned.

I want you to get attached to a respectable object and then destroy this thing so I can move into a proper vessel, Tawa said with every ounce of her self that Abby knew and loved.

"You've lost..." Abby punched a few keys on the calculator. "Zero percent of your bossiness." She hugged the device as Tawa snorted. "I missed you. I'm so glad you're back."

Demetrius came up behind Abby and hugged her from behind. He kissed the top of her head, still chuckling. "I've a few objects that I can help Abby get attached to."

Oh no. No way. Tawa was the expert at vocally shaking her head. I told you he was trouble, Abby. Hey, what about the blood oath? Was it repaid?

"Yes, it was." Abby smiled and turned her head to kiss him. "And now he's working on repaying the second one which I'm determined to take a very long time."

50 comments:

  1. Gotta love a happy ending! <3 I have loved every second of this story, it's been wonderful!

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    1. Thank you so much. I really appreciate all the wonderful things you've said. I'm happy to have gotten a chance to follow your Challenge posts too. :)

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  2. Well done, Christine! And now? Now it's time to go back to A and read them all back to back to back to back to...

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    1. Thank you! I'm happy you enjoyed it and that you want to read it again.

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  3. Happy ending! This story has been great, Christine. Well done.

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    1. Thanks! I'm pleased I could hook the captain of the ninjas with my story. :)

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  4. awwww that's a great ending---i will be back!!

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    1. Thank you! I've enjoyed your Challenge posts too. :)

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  5. Great ending Christine! I absolutely LOVED reading this - it's been so fun! :)

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    1. Thank you very much! I'm happy you had as much fun reading it as I did writing it.

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  6. Glad to see Abby got a happy ending. This has been a lot of fun to read this month, Christine. Nice job!!

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    1. Thank you! I couldn't deny Abby her happy ending. She deserved it! :)

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  7. A fascinating way to use the A to Z challenge and a great ending.

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    1. Thanks! And you totally read my mind with a title for it. Your preferred title was exactly the one I was thinking of. :)

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  9. Christine, this has been without a shadow of a doubt, the highlight of the A-Z Challenge.

    I'm so glad that I came across your blog in the first place. You are so talented and I look forward to reading more stories from you in the near future. :)

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    1. I'm blushing. Thank you so much. And I'm happy you found me too. I love reading your blog. You make me laugh, and I greatly needed it.

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  10. Three cheers! I really enjoyed this.

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  11. Yay, I'm so glad Tawa made it after all. And having her in the calculator now is too funny.

    Thanks for sharing this wonderful story, it's been such a fun read and I've really enjoyed your posts!

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    1. I had to think of something a math nerd might get attached to and it just fit. :) Thanks for reading and all your wonderful comments.

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  12. Great job with the challenge and congrats on completing it! Thanks for visiting my blog!
    -MJ http://creativelyspiltink.blogspot.com/

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  13. I really like this! Love the dialogue. :)

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  14. I'm glad they have a happy ending. :)

    Congratulations on finishing the A-Z Challenge! Your story was amazing.

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    1. Thank you very much. I'm so happy you enjoyed it. :)

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  15. Aww, Tawa's back. I missed her, too. lol In a calculator. You have a great imagination, Christine.

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    1. Thank you! I thought a calculator fitting for Abby. :)

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  16. No matter how dark a story is, happy endings always work for me:) Well done on an awesome story Christine:)

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    1. Thanks! I'm glad you liked it. I'll be having a bunch of stories done in a similar vein sent your way this year. ;)

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    2. Cool... can't wait;)

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  17. Hi Christine,
    I read your story the last three days, will definetly hop by and read the rest, because I LOVED it!
    Congrats on completing the caallnenge! :)

    Thanks for stopping by, following and commenting :)

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  18. Well, we made it all the way to Z. I hope you had as much fun with the challenge as I did.

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    1. It was great fun! Thank you so much for stopping by.

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  19. I enjoyed your story and will check back to see what else you come up with! Happy May!

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    1. Thank you! Happy May to you too. :) We're starting off the month with a thunderstorm here.

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  20. Well done! Great job on this challenge and your story.
    Heather

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  21. Yay! Tawa's back! Loved this story the entire way through and the ending is no exception. Well done!

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    1. Thanks! I was happy to bring Tawa back. I'm a little sad that the stuffed hippo is gone, though.

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  22. i love happy endings! and a special friend calculator! and possibilities! yay!

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    1. Thank you! Calculators are just so... lovable. Heh.

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  23. Firstly congratulations on completeing the A-Z challenge and secondly well done on such a superb and unique way of doing it.

    I read the whole story from start to finish last night and loved every minute of it.

    You have gained a new fan!

    Looking forward to more of your posts.

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    1. Thank you and welcome! It makes me giddy when people get excited about my stories. You've made my day. :)

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  24. Clever twist. Hmmm- I have a calculator on my desk that I think I've had over 20 years.


    Congratulations on making it through the A to Z Challenge. Join us on May 7th with your Challenge Reflections post.

    Lee
    A Faraway View
    An A to Z Co-host blog

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    1. Thank you, Lee! It was great fun. I'll be doing a Reflections post next week. My husband has a calculator he's had since high school too. He's very fond of it!

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