Do you ever talk to Zanessa or Troyella fans and story ideas just seem to come out of the blue? Does it seem like the conversations just seem to roll in your head as you chat back and forth? Well, that has been happening a lot between myself and fellow fanfic writer cncgrad. So, we decided to collaborate on a few of our conversations and actually develop them into story form. Some of them are our fave couple (Team Positive right here!) and some may come from the movie character realm.
This first chapter began with cnc's thought that a wedding, 25 years in the making, could certainly cause a woman to become a bridezilla. See what you think! As always, neither of us own anything other than HSM trinkets, magazines, well worn DVD's & CD's that keep our imaginations rolling. We love Zac and Vanessa, we wish them the best but, unfortunately, have no ties to them either. -sigh-
Thanks for reading. Reviews, PM's (to me or cncgrad) and e-mails are always welcome. We'll be sure to share with each other I promise. You feed our obsession and fuel our addiction!
KTZLF! True Love Always Finds Its Way Back! :) -adc & cnc
Thirty-nine year old Vanessa Hudgens stared out the window of her Bohemian room; the room that she had designed herself nearly two decades ago when she bought the house in Studio City, California. The pouring rain wasn't scheduled to last all day but it was certainly ruining the good attitude she was trying to portray.
This was the day she had waited for, for nearly a quarter century. A day that she thought would have happened long ago. And it had, in so many ways it had, just not officially. Today… Today they were supposed to make it official.
The knock on the door had been nearly constant since breakfast had ended abruptly with her family. First it was her aunt and cousin who had traveled from the Philippines for today's ceremony. Next it was her BnL…her term of endearment for her fiance's younger brother. Dylan had been followed by Monique and Corbin whose concern had finally sent Zac traipsing up the stairs.
He didn't try to go in the room, he didn't even knock. "Vanessa four o'clock is gonna roll around sooner than you think. It's already 11. I'm having them set stuff up in the dining and living rooms. If you don't like that idea you need to come out and tell us what you want."
"That's fine." She answered pointedly. "The back yard is obviously not an option thanks to the rain so just do whatever you think is best."
Her voice was a bit frustrated. Well, not a bit, more like completely frustrated…and hurt…and on the verge of just giving up. He recognized it but needed to make sure that the downstairs preparations were happening. He needed backup, and needed her to know that he was in no way giving up.
"Nessa, Baby, I love you. I'm gonna go back downstairs and kinda oversee what they're doing ok? I'll send Mama G up to you. And she's coming in to help you get things together. No arguing, got it?" He called through the dark wooden door.
He took just a couple of steps away from the door before he heard the latch unlock and the small crack appeared at the door frame.
"Zac?"
He stepped back toward her, shaking his head. "Yes, My Bride and Joy?"
She had to smile at the nickname he had been using off and on over the past six months as they planned their wedding. "I love you too. You promise you'll still want to marry me at 4:00?"
Zac pushed the door open just a little farther, just enough to bend his head and place a teasing kiss on her nose, and then one on her lips. "Four p.m. Not a moment later."
Vanessa finally smiled, albeit a bit nervously, but it was a smile. Zac's gaze was easy as he looked at her knowing that this ceremony didn't matter. It was all for show for their families and friends, to make them 'official'. In Zac and Vanessa's hearts the legalities really didn't matter. They had already been unofficially 'official' for over half of their lives. They knew they were destined to spend the rest of their lives with each other twenty-five years prior, when they first auditioned together.
The slight crashing noise below knocked out the tranquil moment. It was followed by Dylan's voice. "Whoa Little Girl, get back here. You know you aren't allowed upstairs until it's time to get your dress on."
"But Uncle Dyl…" the little voice protested.
"Daddy will be back down in a minute. Let's clean up this mess before he and Mommy figure out that you tried to get into the punch bowl, ok?"
They heard the small female voice whine and then laugh.
"Your daughter." Zac ran his thumb across Vanessa's cheek and smiled.
She grasped his wrist and tried to smile back at him. "Are you sure we have to do this today? Why does it have to rain now?" she complained.
"Vanessa Anne, we are doing this today, rain or shine. By four o'clock the rain will be gone. It will all be just fine, you'll see. Now, I'm going back downstairs and Mama G will be here in a minute. Don't fight with her, ok?"
"Fine." Vanessa huffed. "But tell her not to fight with me. I'm the bride. This is my day."
She accepted one more kiss from her fiancé and listened to the sound of Dylan talking to the youngest Efron child for just another moment before closing the door.
Note to self…Vanessa sighed in thought …in all honesty, it was Zac's idea to wait until he was 40 to get married. Why did I go along with it? And whose idea was it to stick to that plan, especially after Zaccy and Bella were born?
Vanessa shook her head as she walked back toward the window to watch the rain. Ultimately, she was the one that wanted the wedding. And even though Zac had proposed three years ago, on the night that Isabella Hudgens Efron was born, Vanessa had decided that October eighteenth of this year, Zac's 40th birthday, would be the perfect date for them to be married. And, he had agreed.
ZVZVZV
It was a few minutes before Gina Hudgens made her way up the stairs and stood outside that same portal. She loved her oldest daughter very much. She loved her almost –official son-in-law nearly as much, and the children they had made together were far more than just her pride and joy. However, on this banner day Gina was almost ready to get back into the car with Vanessa's father and head back home. Since the moment family members had set foot into Vanessa and Zac's house the bride of the day had whined, complained and griped to her fiancé worse than the three or five year olds that belonged to them.
It was unlike Vanessa. That's why Gina and Greg hadn't left. And the moment that Zac had cracked and Vanessa had gone storming up the stairs Gina knew it would take all of them to get through this day. Even as Zac rolled his eyes with a crying three year old in his arms Gina, Mama G, could see that he was a bit worried. No, the woman heading up the steps was not Vanessa. She was more like Bridezilla.
Like Zac, Gina didn't knock on the door. "Vanessa, Honey, are you decent?"
"You've seen me since birth Mother, what's stopping you now?" Vanessa questioned without turning around.
"Who said it was stopping me? It's just a question. At least I'm trying to take your feelings into consideration." Gina's attitude quickly dropped to match Vanessa's. The older Hudgens stepped through the door and mumbled a few expletives in her native Filipino language.
"You realize you have family members here from around the world, right? Family members who haven't seen you in years." Gina wasn't sure why that mattered at the moment but it's all she could think of to say. Her family made the effort to be there on this special day. The least her daughter could do was acknowledge that.
"Did they have to bring the typhoon with them? That's why it's raining on my wedding day." Vanessa spouted with head shaking from the sight of more rain on the window.
"Vanessa, they can't control the weather. They were lucky to get a break in the weather in order to fly off the island. Typhoon Gabriella sounds like she was a mess of a storm."
"Mom, I'm getting married today…" Vanessa continued, drawing her arms up to her chest defensively.
"Finally." A male voice commented from the doorway.
Gina and Vanessa both turned to see Greg Hudgens rolling his eyes at their small spat.
"Dad! Stop it!" Vanessa raised her voice almost angrily. Something else she normally wouldn't do. Looking back at her mother she continued their bickering. "I'm getting married today and if I say something is someone's fault then it's their fault."
The fourth member of the Hudgens family made herself present in the room. Stella hung her dress bag on the back of the door, placed one hand on her own back to massage the muscles, and her other on their father's shoulder for added support. All of them looked at the 33 year old woman, Gina and Greg with smiles and adoration, Vanessa with a near snarl.
"Stella why do you look pregnant in your dress?" Vanessa asked without another thought.
"Maybe because I am?" the younger sister retorted, rolling her eyes. "I just wanted to try it on again in case it needed any last second alterations. I'm not going to go give birth just so I'm not pregnant in your wedding pictures."
"Yeah but you're not supposed to look pregnant. You look pregnant, you look all cute in your dress and then all eyes are on you…not me. People are supposed to be looking at me today of all days." Vanessa's tirade began to trickle down the steps, once again rolling into her fiance's ears.
Vanessa's younger sister jerked the dress bag off the door and looked at her older sister. "Damn hard for people to see you when you're holed up in a room being unsociable. You know what? I was gonna ask Starla to let the waist out on my dress a little more…that way I'd just look fat during the ceremony…not pregnant. But now I don't think I'll do that? I think I want people to look at me. After all I'm pregnant with my first child and I'm beautiful too, right Daddy?"
"I'm in enough trouble with her Angel, don't pull me into this one." Greg pleaded quietly.
"You wouldn't!" Vanessa yelled back at her sister. "This is my wedding day Stella. You've had yours, don't even try…"
"AHEM…" came yet another voice as the door to the room opened again.
"WHAT?" Vanessa barked back and then shyly backed up as she realized that Zac was the latest addition to the Boho room family brawl. "It's my day. People are supposed to be looking at me, not my pregnant sister."
Without a word Zac rolled his eyes.
"What? They are…" Vanessa argued, not nearly as strongly.
Zac rolled his eyes again, making sure that Vanessa was watching.
"Fine." She rolled her own eyes. "At us. People are supposed to be looking at us." Vanessa looked back at her sister and pointed a finger in her direction. "Not at you and your pregnant self."
Vanessa took a determined breath and looked around the room at her family. "Don't you all have things to do? Are we not having a wedding ceremony here in less than five hours?"
She brushed past her mother, father, sister and fiancé – who simply held his hands in the air in near surrender – and headed down the stairs to the extended family members who were milling about and trying to bring an outdoor wedding indoors.
At the sight of her appearance, two children ran and grabbed hold of Vanessa's legs with small cries of "Mommy!" coming from both of them. With that a number of adults also came forward and planted their vision directly where Vanessa had requested, on her.
Vanessa looked down at her children with less than the soft features that she normally held for them. She placed a hand on each of their heads and then looked around the room.
"I'm going back up to my room. You all seem to think you've got things under control down here? Fine. Then handle them." With a look down at her son and daughter she used her index fingers to tilt their small chins up to look into her face.
"Zaccy, you will be with Grandpa Greg and Mimi G. Bella, you listen to Papa David and your Uncle Dylan." Her attention then turned back to Stella. "Starla, will you please let her dress out some? Momo, I'm going to need your help with my hair. I'll yell for you when I'm ready."
The mumbled "I'm sure you will." From Zac and Vanessa's long-time friend only fueled the fire coursing through Vanessa's veins.
"Mommy kiss?" came the innocent request from the little girl attached to her right leg. Vanessa pulled Bella up into her arms and gave the girl a small kiss on the cheek. "Mommy mad?" Bella asked.
Vanessa let a breath escape through her nose and glanced around at the sets of eyes that were still watching her. "No Baby Girl. I'm trying not to be. Mommy's just getting married today and I'm kinda stressed out. You stay with Papa and Uncle Dyl ok. Mommy's going back up to her room." She informed her daughter and son.
As she stepped onto the bottom step, Vanessa heard one comment from the two youngest members of the bridal party who still seemed to be oblivious to the day's planned events.
"Mommy's getting married today?" Bella looked at her older brother.
The five year old shrugged his shoulders and looked back at the little girl. "Wonder if Daddy knows that."
Leave it to my children…our children… Vanessa smiled to herself, a genuine smile. "He'd better." She answered to the kids and anyone else who may have still been paying attention….to her.
ZVZVZV
Another two hours passed with Vanessa behind the locked door on the second floor. Zac calmly helped move furniture and rearrange the portions of the wedding set that had come inside from the drenched back yard. The rain had tapered off and the sun was beginning to peek through. The now 40-year-old groom was hoping that little change might help brighten his bride's mood, before the ceremony was scheduled to happen.
With food preparations happening in their elaborate kitchen Zac wandered back into the living room. He breathed a little sigh of relief when he looked up the staircase and saw his dark haired love looking down on the working crew that surrounded him. Her eyes were trained on two men in particular standing out of the way watching the movement around them.
Vanessa made her way about halfway down the stairs and then called out to her fathers. "David? Where's your granddaughter?" Before Zac's father had a chance to answer Vanessa raised her voice towards Greg. "Dad? Where's my son?"
Zac stepped toward the men and cleared his throat to get all of their attention before someone gave an answer that Vanessa would surely not like. "Is there another little person I need to know about?" he tried to ask jokingly.
Vanessa shifted her eyes sarcastically. "Whatever…Dad where is our son? He doesn't have the rings does he? I gave specific instructions that he is not to have a hand on those rings until he walks with them down the aisle."
Stella stopped momentarily as she was heading back up the stairs to check on Starla and the dress alterations. "Rings? They aren't kuuipo rings are they? You know you can only buy and lose so many pairs of those before you have to actually commit to each other."
Vanessa looked at her sister with eyes blazing. Stella's joke fell flat on the stairs as it referenced four different sets of rings that Vanessa and Zac had purchased in Hawaii. Each set was meant to be worn until their marriage actually took place. But, one or the other of them had lost one of the rings from every set.
"One more comment like that and I will get married without a matron of honor. I knew I should've asked Ashley…speaking of Ashley…she was getting some water for me a half hour ago, did she have to dig the freaking well herself or is she trying to catch rainwater now that it's stopped raining?" Vanessa's mood obviously hadn't changed much to Zac's dismay.
Stella looked at the straining white knuckles on her sister's hands and shook her head. "Go back to your room Grumpy." She suggested defensively.
Vanessa snapped back at her with Zac, David and Greg all three watching. "Not until I know where my kids are. I left those two in charge of my son and daughter and yet I don't see either of the kids in here."
Zac sucked in a deep breath and did his best to keep the meaning of the day in the front of his mind. He climbed the stairs two at a time until he reached Vanessa and Stella.
"That's enough from both of you." He started calmly. He waited until Vanessa looked into his eyes before pointing her back up the stairs. "Believe it or not Sweetheart, things are under control down here. If you'll remember, you also gave Dylan and Mama G. kid duties. Zaccy and Bella are with them. Dad and Dad needed a break. Let them have one for a few minutes, ok?"
When Vanessa let out a nearly-angry sigh he placed a hand on her lower back and pushed gently until she turned and headed back to the 2nd floor hallway. When they reached the door of Vanessa's sanctuary Zac turned the doorknob. As he pushed the door open he offered a thought that had crossed his mind several times already on this birthday. "This is exactly why I said we should just take the easy route and have me and you and the priest and a couple of witnesses. For all we know Zaccy does have the wedding bands. And if that's the case we can just kiss them goodbye."
Vanessa felt his frustration, but in her own tension she certainly wasn't able to help him calm down. "I have waited for more than twenty years and given you two kids and you don't think I deserve a full blown wedding ceremony?"
The two of them looked at each other with less than loving gazes as Vanessa continued. "My family came from across the world Zac…not like they just drove three hours from upstate to get here you know."
Zac set his jaw and put his hands in the air in front of her after opening the door. Instead of stomping in the room Vanessa stood her ground in front of him with arms crossed across her chest. "You've had me Zachary…every part of me. Can you not just let me have my day?"
With that she moved through the open passage and slammed the heavy door behind her. Zac took a deep breath, closed his eyes and shook his head. He wiped a hand across his forehead, eyes and nose before letting it settle over his mouth. Her day. That's what it boiled down to. So far, somehow, her day was ruined.
He looked over the railing at the florist, family members and friends who were actually creating a beautiful setting on the first floor of their home. At some point over the next few hours he hoped he could help Vanessa take in the scene as he was, seeing the people that loved them putting together a day that they would remember for the rest of their lives.
ZVZVZV
With another deep breath Zac made his way back down the steps. He couldn't help but overhear their fathers still chatting about the job they had been given.
"How am I supposed to keep up with a four year old girl?" David posed the question to Greg. "There's still what, over an hour until the ceremony? She's not going to stay still for that length of time. I think the last I saw of her she was heading toward the playground outside."
Zac looked at his father with a cringing face. "Oh crap. Don't let Ness hear you say that and please tell me you aren't serious."
"I figured she'd be fine on the swings." David answered somewhat innocently. "I thought it might even make a cute wedding day picture for you if you can send the photographer over there."
"Dad, no...crap...now I'm an accessory to this. We are both gonna be in deep shit if you don't go get Bella off the playground." Zac's eyes were pleading with his father.
David's pout looked a lot like his granddaughter's. "Why do I have to do it. She loves me because I let her go to the playground. Why would I want to make her pitch a fit by dragging her off of it?"
Zac's eyes began to sear with the ire of a crossed father. "Perhaps because she's your granddaughter. Because you are supposed to be in charge of her. Because she is already in a flower-girl's dress and if there is any hint of grass or dirt on that dress you and I will both die at the hands of my lovely, Bride and Joy! I really, really thought I would get to enjoy my wedding night. But it's sure not shaping up that way now." He added under his breath.
"Then you should've married Vanessa before the kids came along." David suggested, sounding almost like his five year old grandson.
"You are not helping matters here." Zac commented. "Please go get your granddaughter."
David shrugged his shoulders and turned to trudge off toward the back yard. "Fine. But I'm bringing her to you when she starts screaming."
"Fine." Zac retorted. "I'm sending her home with you and mom anyway…if we live through this day, that is."
David turned to look at his oldest son and cocked his head to the side. "Now whose idea was that?" he questioned.
Zac took the opportunity to grin and shrug his own shoulders. "Mom's."
David let his shoulders sag knowing he had been defeated. "Who else?" He pressed his lips together as another plan to retrieve Bella entered his engineer's mind. "Starlaaaa? Starla dear...I neeed your help with something please..."
Zac watched as his father went in search of his mother before turning his attention to the balding, dark-haired man who still intimidated him after a quarter century.
"That's one kid down, one to go. Greg?" Zac was pleased when Greg nodded his head in agreement.
"Don't worry. I'm on it." Vanessa's father had begun to feel Zac's need to get everything under control. "In fact I think I saw Zaccy playing with Shadow Jr." He remembered the mental note that he made the last time he saw his grandson.
Zac froze as the thought of his son playing with their beloved pet poodle came into his mind. "Are you kidding me?" he asked rhetorically and waited for Greg to catch on. "He's got a white shirt on!"
The two shared another look with Zac holding a hand to his forehead. "Damn." Greg finally realized the problem. "Where's Ness? Did she just hear us talking about that?"
From the second floor landing the men heard a familiar voice speaking to the little boy who was now sitting next to the little black animal on the floor. "Zaccy, why do you have black hair all over you?"
Zac pointed up the stairs before nearly running away from his soon-to-be father-in-law. "Bye! This one's all on you!"
With panic in his voice Greg called after him, "Wait, Zac! Get back in here!"
Zac stopped long enough to look back at Mr. Hudgens with a slight grin on his face. "Greg, despite the fact that you still can scare the mess out of me, I feel like I've known you long enough and we've gotten close enough that I can say this to you. I'm leaving you in charge of explaining the dog hair. Why, you ask? 2 words... wedding night. Need I say more?"
Greg shook his head and grinned back at the now 40-year-old who still reminded him of the teenager he first met. "Zac, you and Baby V have given me two grandchildren already. I think that you two had a wedding night long ago. Why do you need to enjoy this one?" He watched Zac raise his eyebrows in defiance. "What if Gina and I refused to take Zaccy tonight?"
With a disbelieving look Zac raised his hands in surrender. "Well, just keep that in mind when you're talking to Ness." He pressed his lips together and pointed to an area behind Greg. "Here she comes; see ya!"
Vanessa held her son by the shoulders as they walked toward her father. She noticed the shy look on Greg's face as he turned to look at them. "What is this?"
Greg offered a smile in Zaccy's direction. "Your adorable son?" he tried to joke.
Vanessa shook her head and set her jaw in a matching fashion to the man she was about to marry. "Who has Shadow hair all over him! Dad, find a roller and get it off!" She pushed the little boy toward his grandfather. "Go see Grandpa. He'll help you."
Greg watched his daughter as she turned to walk away. Her shaking head and rolled fists were another sign that things just weren't going her way. The two males both heard Vanessa's comment as she headed back to her room of solace. "I knew it was a mistake to get married at my own house. Why did I let myself get talked into that idea?"
Zaccy's little face looked up at Greg's with a touch of worry in his own eyes. "Grandpa, why is Mommy being so mean today?"
Greg simply looked at his grandson and offered a gentle smile. "It'll all be fine once she and Daddy are married Buddy. Just hang in there…and stop playing with Shadow until after the wedding ceremony!"
ZVZVZV
Vanessa's mumbling continued as she walked back through the living room, to the steps and turned to look at the transformation that had actually happened there. Corbin walked up behind her and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"It looks beautiful doesn't it?" he commented with love in his voice.
"Yeah." Vanessa placed a hand over his and squeezed. "But I don't know Corbin. We're all going through hell trying to make this thing come together. If it was really meant to happen wouldn't things be going more smoothly? The rain, my attitude, Stella being pregnant and more beautiful than me…maybe it's all just a sign that this isn't supposed to happen after all."
She looked up into the face of a stunned man. Corbin quickly looked around seeing a shocked look on Monique's face and gratefully realizing that Zac wasn't nearby.
"I'm sorry, what did you just say?" Corbin placed a second hand on her other shoulder, turning Vanessa around fully to face him. "I don't think you meant what you just said."
Vanessa raised a hand over her eyes shaking her head. "I don't know what I mean. But come on Corbs…what couple in their right mind is together for 25 years and then decides to get married? Why does a ceremony even matter at this point?"
Corbin stood looking at Vanessa's face completely confused. The two stood quietly until Monique came over and grasped Vanessa's wrist, pulling her toward the staircase.
"We've got makeup to do and hair. Corbin, keep things moving down here. Vanessa and I need to chat." Monique gave the orders as Vanessa squirmed to get out of her grasp.
"Momo what the…" Vanessa began twisting her hand within her friend's fisted hold.
"You need to come with me." Momo looked at Vanessa's face. "No questions asked."
Vanessa followed her friend, being pulled along mostly against her will. As they passed Ashley she heard the exaggerated whisper come from Monique's lips. "She's having second thoughts. As though it's not enough that she's not even helping make decisions about all the rearranging, now she's not SURE they should be getting married."
The look in Ashley's eyes matched that of Monique's. She looked toward Vanessa with wide brown eyes and raised eyebrows. "Excuse me?" she noted in a voice that caught Zac's attention in the other room.
"Just come with us." Monique instructed.
Vanessa complained somewhat loudly to both of her bride's maids as they forced her up the stairs. Now she was almost certain that she was just ready to send everyone home and forget about this wedding. Maybe Zac was right…the two of them and a justice of the peace could serve the same purpose.
Zac walked to Corbin's side as the three women reached the upstairs room. The last thing they heard before the door slammed shut for the hundredth time was the sound of Vanessa's voice countering her friends, "I am not Bridezilla."
The groom looked toward the curly-haired man standing beside him. "Do I even want to know what that's about?" he asked, trying to smile.
Corbin nodded his head with a straight face showing. "You might. She's having serious second thoughts about the wedding."
ZVZVZV
Behind the closed door Monique practically forced Vanessa to sit down at the small mirrored dresser next to the door. She looked down at her and then over at Ashley as she tried to calm herself and gather her thoughts.
Vanessa and Zac had been through twenty-five years of ups and downs, physical separations due to movie roles and anxiety at the hands of the press as well as life in general. Monique knew Vanessa wasn't second guessing Zac, or their commitment. She took a deep breath as she decided that for some reason, Vanessa was feeling overwhelmed by the negatives of the day. Even though each and every one of them would go away at 4:00 when the couple exchanged vows.
She didn't smile at Vanessa when she looked down at her. But, like Corbin, she placed a reassuring hand on her friend's shoulder. "Honey," Monique began with her slightly southern accent shining through, "you marry the boy now or you don't do it. I don't care what the kids look like. We are not going through this again. Do you understand me? You think you've been waiting for twenty-five years for this? At least you had a good hint of what was happening all along. Try waiting from the outside. Try putting yourself in our shoes, or your parents shoes. We have waited twenty-five years for this. That's why we're all here…for you, and for Zac, and for us. If you don't do this now, then you don't do it at all."
Before Vanessa could even attempt to speak Ashley jumped on the bandwagon. "I'm sorry…not getting married is NOT an option here. There is no 'NEVER' to consider in this! I spent $1200 on this dress and my hair. We are doing this today! Your son can swallow the rings and your daughter can throw the flower petals from the swing-set with grass stain on her dress, I DON'T CARE! You ARE getting married today. This is when you're doing it! Do you hear me Hudgens!"
Vanessa stared at them both dumbfounded. She sat quietly looking back and forth between her two friends. She watched as Monique began to fuss with the curlers and plugged them in to begin heating.
She held her breath as Ashley unzipped the garment bag that held her wedding gown, a gown she had chosen two decades before. The same gown that she, Stella, Ashley and Monique had talked to the designer about directly, and met the designer in person to make sure Vanessa got exactly what she wanted.
And when the door of the room opened, with Zac entering through it, Vanessa turned silently and looked in the mirror. The stress of the day had come to a head. She could see it in her fiance's face and she had just heard it in her friends' voices. She watched the reflections through the silver glass. Without a word Zac ushered Monique and Ashley out of the room.
The bride and groom heard one word when Zac pushed Ashley completely out. "Today." Was the word their blonde friend repeated.
Zac walked behind Vanessa and placed his hands on the chair back to lean. He looked at her seriously, their eyes meeting in the mirror.
"Are we doing this?" he asked with a slight edge to his voice.
"Doing what, getting married?" she creased her eyebrows together, keeping her eyes focused on his face.
"Yes." He answered her simply. "Are we going through with it?"
Vanessa turned in the chair and looked up at him with wide eyes. She suddenly felt the strained vibes that had apparently been flowing out of her all day. Now they were returning to her, straight from the man who was supposed to be assuring her of their future.
"Is…is there something I should know about?" she asked with concern.
Zac knelt down beside her, placing his hands on her knees. "Only that I've never seen you act like this. We've been together twenty-five years Vanessa. Why are you freaking out now?" he tried to ask with a loving, yet frustrated and worried voice.
"Because no one is helping me do anything! I feel like I have to do everything myself. I simply asked for a glass of water and ended up having to get it myself. Then I just about spilled it all over the place." She attempted to answer as the tears formed in her eyes.
Zac didn't lift a hand to wipe her tears. Instead he raised his eyebrows and disagreed with her. "You're wrong. Vanessa, this show is no different than any movie you've done. You are the star of the day Ness. It's your show. Every person in this house, besides you, is working to make sure that this all comes together. Even with the things that have gone wrong, we are still trying to make your day as good as it can be."
He watched a couple of tears run down her cheeks before continuing. "Baby all you have to do is ask and then let us take care of things. It's your day. We all know that and we know you want it to be perfect. We're trying to make it perfect. I can't guarantee that will happen, but we're gonna do our damndest to try. Okay?"
Vanessa sniffed back the line of teardrops that were tickling her nose. She licked her lips as she looked down at Zac and placed a hand on his cheek. "I just…I just want it to be perfect Zac. I've waited for this day for over half of my life…you know?"
Zac leaned his face into her palm. "We've waited. And no matter what happens…no matter what our kids do, or who's taking care of them…no matter if the rings are lost – they aren't by the way – and no matter if I screw up or if anyone does…it's still OUR day. Your day, yes, and our day. We are a family already and nothing will change that. Do you believe me?"
Vanessa closed her eyes and let her body shake for just a moment before she nodded her head in agreement.
Zac wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tightly before pulling away and standing up. "By the way?" he waited for her to look up at him with her undivided attention.
"Yeah?" Vanessa swiped at her teary eyes.
"You look sooo absolutely beautiful." Zac smiled as she rolled her eyes at him.
"Zac. I'm not even dressed yet. My hair's not done, my makeup's not on and I'm not even in my dress…" she argued.
"I don't care." He interrupted. "You look beautiful in just sweats and a tee. I can't wait for 4:00 when I get to see you coming down those stairs to officially become my wife."
She sniffed again taking in his sentiment.
"You are still going to do that, aren't you?" he asked with a touch of insecurity.
Vanessa simply nodded and wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her head against his stomach.
Zac bent and placed a kiss on her head. In return she looked up at him and smiled softly.
"I love you." She whispered against his shirt.
"I know. And I love you too, no matter how crazy you get." Zac smiled as she looked up at him sharing his loving gaze.
She pulled away from his torso and then pointed her index finger at her lips. She grinned slightly until Zac bent his head and kissed her cheek instead of her mouth.
"I thought you said you'd do anything you could to give me whatever I want today." She pouted. "All I'm asking for here is a little kiss on the lips from my loving fiancé." She claimed.
Zac wrapped his arms around her neck and looked down into her eyes. "Mmm-hmmm. I kiss you on the lips, you wrap your arms around my neck, all of a sudden it quickly becomes more than a little kiss on the lips. You know me and I know you…" he grinned.
Vanessa nibbled on her bottom lip coyly. "But you do know that the grandparents are in charge of our children at the moment…we are in a room with a lockable door…and everyone is keenly aware that you need to do something to calm me down before I really go over the edge. Am I right?"
Zac had to agree with her. And he was right, she knew him, more than intimately. That would be the reason she began to let her fingers crawl up his chest and then stood to wrap her arms around his neck. He had to close his eyes in content and excitement as she began to fidget with the hair on the back of his neck.
With a wide grin forming on her face Vanessa leaned her left leg forward just enough to let her thigh and hip graze his groin. Her tongue raked over her teeth before she knowingly pulled her bottom lip in again.
"Why Mr. Efron…" she whispered against his neck. "I'm glad to know I can still do this to you after twenty-five years." She pressed her lips against his pulse knowing exactly the effect she was having.
His mind swayed as he tried to stay coherent. "V…wedding night…supposed to wait…" he mumbled as she sucked on his tingling skin.
Before she could make another move the sound of a tiny knock on the door caught their attention.
"Mommy?" the little voice began somewhat softly. "Mommy?" it grew just a bit louder before the sound of their son's voice paused. And then came the all-out pleading yell. "Mooooommmmmmmmmyyyyyyyyy?"
Vanessa sighed in frustration. She quickly removed her lips from Zac's neck, grasped the back of his head and pressed a determined kiss to his lips. "Do not make a sound and do not move." She ordered. "This is my day, remember?"
The two stood still with Zaccy's voice sounding outside the door. Zac was attempting not to laugh, and to get his body to come down from the high she always put him on. Then his mind wandered, knowing he should actually stay on that high because that was apparently what his fiancée wanted. Finally he gave her the promising, go-ahead nod that she was waiting for.
"Zaccy, what do you need?" she asked toward the door.
The little voice calmed a bit as he heard his mother respond. "I can't find Daddy. I need him."
Vanessa rolled her eyes and Zac felt her index finger press against his lips. "Why do you need him right now?"
"Cause Grandpa Greg won't let me go outside and play." Was the simple response that made Vanessa place her head on Zac's shoulder and shake it in motherly fashion.
"Zachary David Alexander Efron the second…" Vanessa scolded.
"Yes ma'am?" he asked timidly.
Vanessa breathed deeply before deciding to give him the most obvious of answers. "Grandpa is in charge of you right now. If he tells you 'no' he means 'no'. Daddy won't help you and neither will I. No go back to Grandpa and do what he says." She instructed.
"Can't I come in there with you?" Zaccy begged.
"Did you hear what I just said?" she asked, not really wanting an answer from her son.
Zac couldn't help but grin at his love's frustration but he wasn't amused at the tension that formed in her body when the doorknob jiggled and turned, meaning the door to their privacy was actually unlocked.
"I just wanna stay with you." The little curly, blond head peeked through the door immediately spotting his father standing like a statue and the dark piercing eyes of his mother.
Vanessa tried to keep her voice calm but both young and old Zac could feel her clenched teeth. "Zaccy, out. Close the door, turn your little body around and go find Grandpa Greg." She strained.
"But Daddy's in here." Zaccy offered.
"If I have to take one step toward that door Little Mister, you may have to go live with your Aunt Stella because right now I am not in the mood to argue with you. Do you hear me?" his mother's voice lowered an octave as well as a few decibels. She was angry and her five year old was about to be on the receiving end of the punishment.
Zac quickly caught his son's eye, raised his eyebrows and silently pointed his forehead toward the door. "Get out and get out now!" was the silent message he was sending to his namesake.
Still, the youngest Efron male didn't take the hint. "But Mooommmyyy…" he tried again.
His little body jerked slightly at the strangled yell that came from Vanessa's throat. "OUT!" her arm slung out with a single finger pointing beyond the door where Zaccy stood. "And tell your Grandpa Greg and anyone else who might want to wander up here to just keep their distance for a while! Daddy and I need to…" her lips clenched shut, thankfully, prior to finishing the line that was going through her mind that ended with 'have sex'.
After a calming breath Vanessa started again. "Daddy and I need to get some things straightened out."
She turned to look back at the older Zac who was trying his best not to laugh at the situation before him. It was typical. It was a day in their life. Only today was supposed to be special for both of them…whether their kids realized it or not.
Vanessa rested her head against Zac's chest knowing he was amused but holding it in. She let her arms relax in his hold and pointed her face toward his to begin their kiss again. An identical knocking sound made her want to absolutely scream.
"Mommy?" Zaccy dared to speak to his mother one last time.
"WHAT?" she answered, practically wanting to cry and scream at the same time.
"I love you lots. I miss you and Daddy right now." The little voice of innocence spoke loud and clear begging for her forgiveness.
Vanessa looked at her husband-to-be with a hint of tears in her eyes and an apologetic smile adorning her lips. He pouted at her slightly letting her know that their son was only trying to get their attention.
"I know Zaccy. Daddy and I love you too, and we miss you and Bella too. We just need a little time together right now, ok?" Her motherly voice returned, adding a hint of familiar calm to each of their thoughts.
"Ok." Zaccy accepted. "I'll tell Grandpa Greg."
The unwed couple waited just a minute to be sure that their son had actually walked away from the door this time before pressing their foreheads together and smiling at each other.
"You'd better lock that door if you're still thinking what I think you're thinking right now." Zac quipped.
"I'd say you're right," Vanessa raised her eyebrows, "but what are you thinking right now?"
"Well," Zac twisted his lips and shrugged his shoulders as she stepped toward the door, "I'm thinking that the bride's father still wouldn't like to know exactly what his son-in-law-to-be does to calm his daughter down. And neither he…nor our son for that matter…needs to see what we like to do to each other…or know how much either of us completely enjoys that kind of stuff… And the fact that we are getting closer to ceremony time tells me that Grandpa Greg is likely to come knocking once he locates his grandson again."
Vanessa stepped back toward him with a confused and amused look on her face. She placed her index finger over his lips to quiet his jumbled chatter. "You are thinking way too much…and talking way too much."
"I'm talking too much?" he joked as she wrapped her arms around his neck to try and start over. "Well then what do you recommend we do about that then?"
Vanessa toyed with his earlobe and felt him beginning to melt at the simple touch. "Do I really have to tell you that?"
"Well, you have reminded me that today is your day. Which…by the way…I have to ask again, isn't this our day? It is my fortieth birthday after all."
"Uh…" she gasped with a pout. "You mean I have to share? I'm the bride. I'm supposed to be the center of attention. I don't wanna share… But I am willing to start your birthday celebration a little early…if you'll just cheer me up." She flicked her tongue against his earlobe sending a streak of fire from his ear drum directly to his crotch.
Zac let his eyes shut and bit his lip as he sucked a breath through his nose. "You're just trying to get lucky aren't you?" he teased.
"Who me?" she breathed into his ear, feigning shock. "What?" she teased his ear again with just the tip of her tongue, tasting the salty skin she was so familiar with. "Do you want me to be tainted and have to wear a black gown today?"
Zac smiled at her attempt to rattle him. "If that's what it takes." He blew onto her neck.
The answer earned him a smack to his arm. "Ouch!" he let out a slight yelp. "Ok, I'm sorry." He retracted. "What can I do to make it up to you?"
Vanessa was more than eager to finally earn his concession. Without another word she tiptoed up to meet him halfway for the much needed kiss. It only took a second for tongues to meet and their moment of passion began. Vanessa moved her fingers through his hair as Zac cautiously moved their bodies toward a wall in the room. He lifted her slightly to pull her feet off the floor, allowing her to wrap her legs around him bringing them closer together.
Zac's lips shifted from her mouth to trail tantalizing kisses down her neck to the supple skin covering her collarbone. Her quiet moan sent his fingers to the tie of her robe tugging at the knot to free her body from the silkiness…
The knock on the door made him groan. The knob movement caused Vanessa to jerk. And the sound of Zac's mother caused them both to wince in sexual discomfort.
"Vanessa, Dear?" Starla's voice sounded a bit too soothing. "Have you seen Zac? Dylan's having a problem with…"
Vanessa jumped toward the door, securing her robe but forgetting about the tortured man she had left falling against the wall. She opened the door in near panic to face her second mom.
"What? What's going on? What's the problem?" she quickly reverted to the stressed bride-to-be.
Starla peeked into the room, knowing very well that her son was present there. "Nothing, really, Sweetheart. Everything's fine. Oh, look! Zac! Come with me please." She reached her hand forward motioning for Zac to join her.
Zac looked at his mother's calm face and then back at Vanessa with the frustrated, frightened expression. "Thanks Mom." He watched as Starla opened her eyes wider, pretending to be surprised by his sarcasm. "I had her on the verge of calming down. I appreciate the help here."
Both of them looked back at Vanessa one more time. As Starla tugged on Zac's arm he crumpled behind her, knowing that the woman he loved was pacing and struggling again. They passed Stella who had her own concerned look and was heading toward the dreaded room for what appeared to be more punishment.
"Stellz?" Zac questioned, trying to halt his mother's pull on him. The younger Hudgens' stressed look worried Zac even more when she came face to face with her older sister.
"Starla?" Vanessa called after them. "If there really isn't a problem with Dyl, I seriously need Zac to stay here with me."
Starla shook her head with the thought that she and Stella were breaking the same news to their family members…and fully expecting different reactions. Still she would rather it happen separately.
"My Sweet Girl, I will send him back in just a few minutes, I promise I will. This isn't a big deal, but it needs his attention." She tried to answer in a calming voice.
Stella looked back at the Efrons and then looked at her sister. "That's fine because I actually need Nessa's attention."
Zac and Vanessa shared yet another pleading glance before the door to the Boho room closed between them for the umpteenth time in that single day.
"Now what Stella?" Vanessa's voice turned on edge. "Can I not even get my dress on? Scratch that…can I not even catch just a little while alone with my husband?" she huffed.
"Technically he's not your husband yet." Stella commented.
"Don't remind me of that. I ask for one day. One day that needs to be perfect. Is that too much? Damn it." Vanessa cursed.
"Soooo…" Stella tried to ease into her unpracticed speech of bad news.
"What?" Vanessa's body slumped.
"The caterer just brought the cake. But…when they were setting it up in the back the cake top dropped and broke."
Vanessa's hands went directly to her hair and gripped on either side of her head. Her forehead stretched with stress as she stared at her little sister. "Tell me you are not serious. Tell me that." She let out a tortured breath. "Other than our wedding bands, that is the one thing that Zac really wanted to have a hand in picking out. He wanted it to be special for both of us. We ordered it from France and had it shipped here and it made it in one piece. Could they not just put it on the damned cake without breaking it? Do not lie to me about this Stella." Her tirade stopped momentarily.
Stella looked at her sister with eyebrows furrowed and gritting her own teeth. "That is enough! You've yelled at me and everyone else around here enough today. This one is not my fault. It was an accident. I am not going to lie to you about it. I'm sorry, but it's true."
Vanessa felt her sister's anger being thrown back at her. With tears in her eyes she covered her face with her hands. "No, no, no, no, no." she repeated. She lowered her hands to cup over her mouth. "I…I have to tell Zac. Is it…can it be put back together? Can it be glued? Is there any way we can still use it?"
Stella slowly shook her head, watching as Vanessa lowered her arms to cross them against her chest.
"I don't think so." Stella answered genuinely. "The caterer said they would repay you and they can go back and get one of the toppers that they keep on hand. Or, honestly, I'd say just leave it off. The cake looks beautiful, even without something to decorate the top. Really Ness, it's gorgeous. They did an awesome job on it." She tried to calm her sister.
"I need Zac." Vanessa uncrossed her arms and then wrapped them around herself.
"I'm sure he'll be back up here once Starla's done with him." Stella tried to assure her.
"No, I want him back up here now." Vanessa insisted.
"Ness, come on now. Even I didn't act like this on my wedding day." Stella countered.
"Well this one is mine, not yours, and I want Zac now!" Vanessa pushed again.
Stella rolled her eyes at the diva-esque quality that her sister was showing. It was something very rare, even to Vanessa's sister. "What is up with you? You are more moody than I am, and I'm five months pregnant, geez!"
"Don't even start with me Stella. I've got my own baby to worry about." Vanessa answered slightly under her breath.
"Fine." Stella gave in to Vanessa's ranting momentarily. "I'll go see if I can find Zac. But if I go into premature labor from all the stress you're putting…on…me…" her steps stalled and she turned to listen and look more closely at her sister. "Wait a minute. What did you just say?"
Vanessa looked at her with unbelieving eyes. "What? I need Zac."
Stella shook her head and walked back to her sister. "No. You just said you had your own baby to worry about."
Vanessa matched Stella's shaking head with a slow nod. "Yeah, Zac, my Baby Boo. He's gonna freak when he finds out about the cake topper." Her voice seemed to calm just a touch.
Still Stella continued shaking her head a bit more vigorously, even as Vanessa's anxiety eased. "Nope. Keep trying big sister. You're having hormonal freak-out tantrums here for another, completely different reason, aren't you?" She began to smile as the thought began to unfold in her head. "And you haven't put your dress on yet…"
"We are still a couple of hours from ceremony time. Please Stellz, will you just go get Zac? I need time to calm him down about the cake stuff before I can even think about getting dressed." She looked away from her sister to avoid the knowing eyes. "Maybe…maybe we should just call this whole thing off."
Stella's smile widened. "He doesn't know yet does he?" she asked directly.
Vanessa attempted to put on the frustrated tone against her sister. "What are you talking about? If you didn't tell him, and, well, I don't know…maybe that's what Starla needed to talk to him about. But I certainly haven't told him because I just found out about it." She rambled.
Stella stepped closer to her sister and finally put her hands on Vanessa's shoulders. She tightened her grip until Vanessa looked her in the eyes. "Will you just get over the damned cake topper? I'm through talking about it. Matter of fact, I'm through talking about this wedding…"
"WHAT?" Vanessa looked almost angrily at Stella.
"Just for a minute." Stella continued. "Forget the wedding. Forget being Bridezilla on everyone would you?"
"Stella, what the hell?" Vanessa let her mouth hang open as she tried to deny what Stella was pushing for.
V's younger sister eased the grip on her shoulders and simply massaged them as they stood face to face. "Ness, you know it's true. You've been wacked out all day today. Now I know why. Are you gonna admit it or not?"
Vanessa finally let her shoulders slouch as she released a breath. She looked toward the connected bathroom and then back at her sister.
"I'm right, aren't I?" Stella smiled.
"That depends…" Vanessa's voice drifted off.
"Oh don't even start. I'm right, I know I am. You know I am. Just say it!" she raised her eyebrows in expectation.
"Fine." Vanessa looked around the room and then back at Stella. "Yes, I'm pregnant…again."
Stella's excited smile covered her face but she managed to hold her squeal inside. "And Zac doesn't know yet. Does anyone else know?" she asked eagerly.
Vanessa blew a long breath through her lips and shook her head. "No. I just took the e.p.t. this morning. I figured if we could just get through the day and the ceremony then while Zaccy and Bella are with the grandparents then I could tell Zac about little Tres here.
Stella had to laugh. "Tres?"
Vanessa smiled along with her. "Yeah, you know, like three, in Spanish, Tres, for the third baby?" she explained.
Both women stood for a moment simply looking at their pregnant bellies, one somewhat obvious, the other completely hidden.
"Do you really need Zac up here?" Stella spoke after the silence.
Vanessa nodded shyly. "Yeah. I still don't want to tell him yet though, ok? Would you just find him and see if he knows about the cake topper? And…even if he does, just tell him that I really need him to finish what he started before Starla came in."
Stella watched her sister as Vanessa's eyes glazed over with the simple thought of her first and only true love. "From Bridezilla to insatiable bride…"
Vanessa giggled. "My day. I should get what I want."
"I'm gonna tell Zac that I was able to calm you down when he couldn't!" Stella poked.
"He didn't get to finish!" Vanessa defended.
Stella quickly stuck her fingers in her ears. "La-la-la-la…don't wanna know… You've got two kids and another on the way… I don't wanna hear about it… la-la-la…" her sing-song answer made Vanessa grin.
She watched as her sister walked out the door and headed downstairs to find Zac. Vanessa untied her robe and pulled the material away from her belly just enough to reach in and place both hands over top of her belly button.
"Hey Little Guy…Tres… Tonight I'll introduce you to Daddy, ok? But for now, we need to hang in here together. Third time's a charm, right? And you're our third baby. So we've gotta work together to make sure that me and Daddy take these vows officially today." She rubbed gently over the fluttering feeling inside her body. "I will be Mrs. Vanessa Efron…and it will happen today!"
ZVZVZV
Stella located Zac in the kitchen holding the pieces of the cake topper in his hands. She could see the tension in his face and noticed Starla simply patting him on the back.
Stella walked toward her big brother-in-law and laid a gentle hand on his shoulder. When he looked at her she smiled and reached out to take the broken pieces from him.
"Does she know about this?" He asked with a sigh.
Stella nodded and rubbed his shoulder. "Yeah. She's worried about your reaction to it, but she's ok."
Zac laughed under his breath. "Why is everything going wrong today of all days? Is it because we've waited so long for this that we expected perfection? We both knew it probably wouldn't go off exactly as planned, but the rain…the kids must've eaten a pound of raw sugar; look how hyper they are…and now this." He handed half of the broken crystal heart to Stella.
"Zac?" Stella moved her hand to his cheek noticing how worried he was. "Are you listening to me? Ness is ok. Really, she is. There's just one thing she's asking for right now."
"What's that?" Zac paid little attention to the amused look in Stella's eyes.
"Your wife-to-be needs you upstairs…now." She emphasized.
"Stellz, do you think I don't know that? I almost…almost…had her calmed down and then Mom pulled me away from her just as you were coming up the steps." Zac leaned his head back and looked toward his mother who had just taken a few steps away.
"She wanted to tell you about the broken cake top without Ness freaking out on you." Stella supplied the explanation.
"Yeah." He nodded. "From my point, it's fine. Nobody's hurt and it sure won't stop the wedding."
Stella smiled at him. "I told Ness you wouldn't be upset about it. You're just more worried about her."
"Exactly." Zac agreed. "I'm more upset that she's going crazy over every little thing." He sucked in a breath and held it as he thought and shook his head. "The only other time I've seen her even close to this was when she was pregnant with Zaccy. She was totally freaked out because she thought I'd be mad about the whole situation."
Stella froze at the mention of the 'p' word. She turned away from Zac and held a breath as she wondered if he would begin to put the equation together. When she realized it wasn't dawning on him she turned back, tilted her head, smiled softly at him and then quickly quirked her lips and raised her eyebrows.
"What?" Zac wondered at the various shifts in her demeanor.
"Soooo…what did you have to do to calm her down at that point?" Stella watched as Zac thought back.
"Well," Zac felt his face flush when the memory hit him throughout his body. "That was what, six years ago now? All I remember, really, was…" he paused as the heat rose in his cheeks. "…those were some very enjoyable months." His embarrassed face dropped toward the floor as the shy grin adorned it.
Stella laughed at him. "I don't need to know. Please. I've had twenty-five years of you guys enjoying each other. Believe me, I don't need a description."
She grabbed Zac's wrist to glance at the watch on his arm. "Look…you've still got an hour forty-five till show time here, right?"
Zac looked at Stella with a cautious stare.
"I'm pretty sure that Ness will need some help getting into her dress…"
"And you're supposed to help her, not me. So what are you getting at Stella?" Zac interrupted.
"If you would let me finish my thought…" she sighed as Zac closed his mouth and waited. "That means you've got…let's see…" she pondered, "I'll give you an hour to get her calmed down."
"Stellz that'll only leave her forty-five minutes to get dressed? She is gonna freak again if I only leave her forty-five minutes." Zac lowered his voice not wanting to draw attention to the conversation.
"First off," Stella noted, "You are wasting precious time. Can I just say she's ready and expecting you up there. Secondly, if you do your job right, she won't even have a clue that she's not married already…nor will she be worried about how she looks in her dress once it's on her. Third, just be ready to leave when I knock on the door. I'll take care of her from there. Got it?" She poked a finger into his chest and then pointed up the stairs.
Zac looked at the woman who had already played such an important role in his family. He grinned to match hers and felt her press a finger into his chest, urging him to move as she was instructing him.
"Just go, please." Stella pressed. "And don't worry…" she added as Zac stepped toward the stairs, "I'll do my best to keep everyone away from the danger zone."
Zac stopped at the foot of the stairs and looked over his shoulder at Stella. With a shake of his head he turned toward the room up the stairs.
"Oh, Zac!" Stella stopped him one last time. "Don't forget that you have to get dressed as well. One Hour! Lover-Boy/Groom of the day." Stella finished.
Zac gave her a thumbs-up of understanding and blew a kiss to her over his shoulder. He could do this. They could do this. And if they could just be left alone for that one hour, he would happily do away with Bridezilla and in return he would get exactly what he wanted…from his wife...for his birthday and wedding gift, un-wrapped, all in one…plus an added bonus package.
ZVZVZVZVZV