Warm Bodies: Awakening

What's In A Name?

"R?"

His eyes flicked open.

Julie?

He jerked up and immediately groaned, squeezing his eyes shut as he grabbed his head. Ow ow ow...

"Careful son, just take it easy." His father's voice. A hand pressed gently against his shoulder, pushing him back against what felt like a bed. He didn't resist.

He opened his eyes again, and found himself in a room with a bunch of cots, many of which were full, though the occupants seemed to be sleeping. Around him sat Julie, his Dad, and his brother Brandon.

He smiled, his heart swelling suddenly at seeing them all together. Then he frowned slightly, confused. Wait... why were they all together? He must have passed out. For god's sake, this was getting to be a habit.

"Hey," Julie said softly, and grinned at him. She was holding his hand. He looked down and smiled, rubbing his thumb over the soft webbing between her thumb and forefinger.

"Hey," he said back, then his face fell as he looked up, the words rushing from him, "Oh god Julie, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to do that to you, I just-"

Julie squeezed his hand, interrupting him, "It's okay R, it's okay."

He shook his head urgently, then winced, "No, it's not okay, I just lost it and ran out and left you there and-"

"And found your dad, and your brother..." she finished, and grinned.

He stopped, then slowly smiled. "Well... yeah." He turned to look at his family and his smile grew into a grin.

"This is Julie," he told them, squeezing her hand as he introduced her. Then he turned back to look her in the eye and say the words that were long overdue. "I love her."

Her face burst into the most beautiful smile, her eyes softening, and he continued because she had to know, had to understand. "I've loved her since I first saw her. She's the reason I'm here, the reason I'm alive, and she is everything to me."

Tears were making little trails down her cheek as he spoke, and he reached out to brush them aside.

"Somehow, we picked up on that," his brother said with a smirk. "And we've already met."

His dad smiled and nodded at Julie. "She picked us up son, helped us get to the hospital quicker. We've done the introductions already."

"Well too bad, I'm going to do them anyway," he said and grinned. He gestured to his father, "Julie, this is my dad, his name's Mark. Dad, Julie."

Julie laughed, and nodded at his father. "Hi Mark."

"Hi Julie, it's good to meet you. Properly." His father's eyes wrinkled as he grinned.

"And this is Brandon, my brother."

Brandon threw a little salute her way and smirked. "I'm the one who bashed his head in, oh wait, you already knew that."

He gave his brother a little kick from the bed, and his brother laughed, "Sorry."

"Brandon, this is Julie."

She smiled and waved to his brother.

"The girl I'm going to marry."

Julie gasped then, and squeezed his hand tightly. He turned to her with a shy grin, "Unless.. they don't do that anymore?"

"No... no... they still do that..." she whispered, her face flushed, and they drew together in a gentle kiss.

He pulled back and smiled at her, and his family, his heart incredibly happy.

"There's one more person I have to introduce you to," he said.

She raised an eyebrow, "There is?" She glanced at Mark and Brandon, who just shrugged.

"Yeah."

"Who?"

"Me."

"R..." she gasped, her eyes full of wonder. "You remember your name?"

He grinned and nodded. "Yeah."

"Guess what it is."

Julie laughed. "Didn't we already play this game?"

"Yeah, but I know what it is now! There's a chance you can win!"

"Is it... Romeo?" she said with a grin.

He laughed. "Romeo? Heck no. Where'd you come up with that?"

Julie shrugged, "I dunno, it just seemed to fit, you know, two people in love, from different worlds, struggling to..." she trailed off with a giggle. "Anyway, I already know what your name is."

His mouth fell open. "What? How?"

"Your dad told me."

He turned to his father, his mouth still open. "Dad!"

His father shrugged, "What? She pulled up, called you R, and I corrected her."

"You corrected her?" he asked, incredulous.

"Yeah. I didn't know you had some silly name thing going on!" His dad laughed.

Julie pulled him back, and stared into his eyes. "I'd still like to meet you properly though."

He smiled at her then, and let out a big sigh. Staring back into the vivid blue eyes of the girl he loved, this incredible woman that he'd clawed his way back from death to be with, surrounded by his family, he realized that his mom had been right after all.

Everything's going to be okay.

"Hi Julie," he said, "it's amazing to meet you. My name's..."

He paused. This was the first time he'd said his own name in eight years. It was a little... strange.

"...Rowan."

Julie's eyes welled with tears as he spoke, and she smiled softly.

"Good to meet you Rowan. I know this might seem a little forward, since we've only just met, but I think I'm going to kiss you."

"You think so, huh?"

"I know so."

Grinning, he leaned in as she pressed her lips against his, and cradled her jaw with his palm. The kiss felt like warm sunshine after a storm, and he lost himself in it, everything else falling away as he pulled her close.

"Uh guys," Brandon spoke up.

"Get a room?"

FINIS.

 —-

Hope everyone enjoyed the story. I had an amazing time writing it. It's really the first fanfic I've ever finished, and the first to take such a strong hold of me. It literally would not let me go until it was done. I got to see the characters I loved doing so much more than in the book, and the movie, and I'm totally grateful for that. Whether or not I've communicated it as well as I saw it, I'm not sure ;)

If you've come this far, thank you, hope you enjoyed the ride, and I hope you'll leave a little review to let me know what you thought.

Regarding R's name. I was actually pretty torn between two, but I chose Rowan as it's very closely associated with the color red, and it's just a beautiful name. ;) Brandon's name is also a little celtic. The nickname they use for him, Bran, means raven in gaelic.

You know, I never liked zombies before Warm Bodies. And really, I still don't. But I've certainly surrounded myself with everything zombie since then. Thanks a lot Isaac and Jonathan! Sheesh!

Take care all!

- Jen

(there are two more fics (one of 120K, the other of 160K) that continues this story, I'm posting Warm Bodies: The Little Brown Bear, will hopefully post the last soon)