Zacharias cringed a little bit at the mention of the biggest hug in the history of hugs. He had nothing against hugs in theory, and he certainly had nothing against Stacey. He just wasn't always comfortable with touching. However, he didn't mind hugging Stacey. It was just a knee-jerk reaction for him, and he sighed a little bit, pulling out a container from the ice box and putting it on the kitchen counter.
"I'm home," he called, heading from the kitchen to the front of the house. He smirked a little bit at a squak, looking down to see Pippin trying to run on her short legs to the front door. He paused momentarily to pick her up, cradling her carefully, thinking Stacey wouldn't risk squishing the cat all for the sake of a hug. He also wasn't sure Pippin could get there as fast as she seemed to want to on her own. He scratched behind her ears as he approached Stacey, shaking his head slightly at the sight of Merlin.
"They really missed you," he said in reference to the cats. "And so did I," he added, giving her a small smile. He really had been worried something was going to happen to her, and he was glad to have his friend back in town, safe from whatever her mum may or may not have been up to.