AN: New story :) This randomly came out the other day....and i hope you like it :)
Thanks to everyone who helped me along. Love ya!

Disclaimer: This is a derivate piece of fiction featuring real people. The author is not affiliated, nor knows any of the following people - including their friends and family - on a personal level - Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Corbin Bleu, Kenny Ortega, nor any other celebrity mentioned throughout this piece of work. This work is solely intended for posting on Fanfiction, for the benefit and enjoyment of its intended audience. No commercial or financial benefit accrues or is intended to accrue to the author as a result of said posting. Any unauthorized copying or redistribution of this work might subject the party responsible for such unauthorized copying or redistribution to legal action by the owners of the aforementioned copyrights and trademarks.

A lovers arms

Zac traced the outline of Vanessa's face with gentle fingers. Sleep had relaxed the muscles in her face and she looked more content now than she had in the past few hours. Closing his eyes briefly he took a deep breath before looking down at her again. Her eyelids nearly fluttered and her nose scrunched up as she dreamed and Zac was sure he had never laid eyes on anything quite as beautiful as her before. She's caught his eyes the first time he saw her, something about her personality and sparkling eyes had appealed to him, and now years later he was still mesmerized. His fingers moved down her neck and over her bare shoulder. Her arm was loosely wrapped over his waist as it had been almost all night. He wasn't quite sure how she had been able to fall asleep. His head was swirling with thoughts and he wasn't sure how he would be able to settle them enough to allow his body to relax.

The house was eerie quiet as Zac opened the front door. Scrunching his eyebrows he dropped his keys on a small table and kicked off his shoes.

"Vanessa? Shadow?"

Silence.

"Vanessa?"

Zac scratched the back of this neck. Something didn't feel right. Her car was parked in its usual spot and she knew he was coming over, yet she was nowhere to be seen. On the phone earlier in the day she had sounded distracted and the bad feeling he'd had since then only grew. Quickly fishing out his phone from his pocket her pressed speed dial one. The distinct buzzing from a vibrating phone sounded from the kitchen and Zac quickly hung up. She wouldn't leave the house without her phone. Feeling his heartbeat speed up he shoved his phone back into his pocket and headed for the stairs. Taking them two at the time he quickly walked towards her bedroom and reached for the doorknob.

It was locked. She never locked her door. He was the only one who had a key to her house and they were way past locking bedrooms doors because they were changing.

"Vanessa?" he asked, getting more worried by the second. This wasn't like Vanessa at all. Shadow scratched on the door and a quiet voice told her off for it.

"Vanessa, baby, open up."

"No…" Her voice was shaking and he felt his chest tighten.

"I'm not going anywhere you know. I'll sit here till you do."

He had learned long ago not to push her. No matter how worried he was, she would not be pushed, so instead he leaned against the door and slid down towards the floor. Something big was troubling her, but he didn't know what. It couldn't be more leaked pictures, she'd tell him about that. Sighing he ran a hand through his hair and closed his eyes. He really had no idea what could be bothering her, and that almost bothered him as much as being locked out did.

After what felt like hours he heard soft footsteps and sat up straight. The lock clicked and he scrambled to his feet. Suddenly feeling nervous, he hesitated slightly before turning the knob. Carefully opening the door he froze when he saw her. She was curled up in one of the chairs, her face tearstained and her hair in a messy bun on top of her head. Shadow sat silently on her lap and tilted her head slightly when she noticed him, but didn't leave her clearly distressed owner.

At that moment Zac silently thanked the heavens that they were at home and Vanessa had Shadow with her. A pet gave more comfort than a teddy ever would.

"Baby?"

"Hey," she nearly whispered; her voice raspy and hesitant. He softly closed the door behind him before walking towards her. She looked so defeated and he just wanted to hug her tight and tell her that whatever was bothering her would be alright.

"I'm ok, Zac." The words were low, almost inaudible, and her eyes never left her fingers which were toying with the hem of her spaghetti strapped top.

"You don't look ok," he said and stepped towards her; his mind trying to figure out what way to go about the situation. "What's going on, Vanessa?"

Her face stayed in the same position and he crouched down in front of her.

"Vanessa?"

Instead of an answer she let out a sob and Zac quickly grabbed a hold of her hands.

"Come here," he said gently and pulled her into a hug. Vanessa's face buried itself into his shirt as he rubbed her back comfortingly. Shadow had jumped onto the bed and watched the pair with curious eyes, silently wondering what Zac gave that she couldn't.

One of his hands moved towards her face and stroked her cheek gently.

"What's so horrible, baby?"

"I…" she trailed off.

"You what?" carefully he moved backwards until he could sit down in the abandoned chair. Vanessa had no other choice than to sit on his lap and she quickly snuggled into his embrace.

"I feel like an idiot," she whispered, lifting her eyes for the first time. Zac smiled down at her and wiped away a few tears.

"You're not an idiot, Van," he said, placing a soft kiss on her forehead.

"You don't even know what I'm upset about…"

"Doesn't matter, it doesn't make you an idiot."

She lowered her gaze and placed her head against his warm shoulder. Warm hands snuck around her waist and rested on her stomach.

"Zac…"

"Yeah?"

"I'm just going to come out and say it ok?"

"Ok," he knew he sounded weary, but he couldn't help it. There was something about this entire situation that felt so very different from everything else they had been through. Only something that would affect him as much as her would make her scared of telling him, and as she started playing with his fingers only one idea popped into his mind. An idea she confirmed seconds later.

"I'm pregnant."

Pregnant. Baby.

The words had swirled around in his head for the past few hours and he still couldn't quite believe it was true. A baby. There was a baby growing inside her that he had helped create. He had always been aware of how babies were made, how careful they had to be, yet now that she was actually pregnant he found it almost surreal. Vanessa smiled in her sleep and he carefully moved the arm that was draped over him. She turned onto her back and sighed softly. With gentle hands Zac pulled the duvet down and stared at Vanessa's flat stomach. There was absolutely nothing out of the ordinary, yet somewhere in there a little human being was growing; a human being that would change everything. Nothing would ever be the same again; they'd have to take care of another person. That baby would be totally dependent on them from the moment he or she was born. Zac sighed, but a small smile had crept onto his face. Maybe this change was a good one, yet he couldn't help but wonder if he was ready for it. He'd be the first to admit that he was selfish. He loved doing what he wanted, when he wanted, and he loved having Vanessa to himself. It wasn't like he didn't like spending time with their families, of course he did, but at the end of the day it was nice to be able to crawl into bed with her and just…be.

Next to him Vanessa made an incomprehensible sound and turned onto her stomach, her hand searching for the warm comfort of his body.

"Zac?" she whispered, voice laced with sleep.

"Hmm?" his hand reached out and tucked a curl behind her ear.

"What are you doing up?"

"Couldn't sleep," he admitted. Vanessa yawned and lifted her head, indicating that she wanted to use his chest as a pillow. He rolled over to his back and snuck his arm under Vanessa's body before pulling her close. She sighed softly and placed a kiss on the column of his neck. Her head had been jumbled up all day, not only thinking about what would happen if the test was positive, but what his reaction would be when she told him.

Vanessa stared at the box in her shaking hands. Never in her life had she been this scared of an item only a few inches long. Feeling warm tears well up in her eyes she threw the box across the room and let out a sob. After hitting a framed picture of herself and Zac, the small item landed with a quiet thud on the floor. She couldn't make herself do it. She couldn't take the test on her own. It would change everything. Her heart was beating hard against her ribcage as picked up her phone. Her fingers trembled as she pressed speed dial 5. It rang a few times and Vanessa held her breath, silently praying that her best friend would pick up.

"Hi, Nessa."

At the sound of Brittany's voice Vanessa let out an involuntary sob and closed her eyes

"Van, sweetie? What's wrong?"

"I...I…I can't do it," Vanessa said quietly.

"You can't do what?" Brittany asked, worry lacing every word she uttered.

"Take the test."

"Take what test, hon?"

Vanessa remained silent, unable to say the words out loud.

"Vanessa, honey are we talking about a life changing test?"

"Yeah…" she said; the answer almost inaudible. On the other end Brittany continued breathing calmly.

"Ok," she finally said.

"Ok?" Vanessa asked.

"Yeah."

"Ok…" Vanessa felt rather confused. In her head there was absolutely nothing 'ok' about the situation. Brushing away a few tears her eyes settled on the abandoned box on her living room floor.

"Sweetie are you at home?"

"Yeah,"

"And Zac?"

Vanessa bit her lip.

"Don't know…but…but he's coming over later."

"Do you want me to come over?"

"I don't know…I'm just…messed up," she admitted. Hoping Brittany could sort out the chaos in her head.

"I'd squeeze you tight if I was with you you know," Brittany said with a small sigh.

"I know."

"I don't really know what to tell you Van. I don't…"

"I'm scared," Vanessa said quietly.

"I know, hon, I know…How late are you?" she tentatively asked.

"About a week and a half."

"Take the test, Vanessa," Brittany urged carefully.

"I cant…"

"Why?"

"Cause then it's real…" Vanessa said as a few tears rolled down her cheek. She already knew the answer. Somehow she just knew what the test would confirm.

"But then you can let it sink in, instead of worrying about something that might not even be problem. Take it, Van."

Vanessa closed her eyes tight and another couple of tears escaped.

"What do I tell him Brit?"

"I'd go with the truth."

"He's going to freak. He doesn't want a baby. We're not ready for a baby…" her eyes filled with tears and she bit down on her lip.

"But he loves you," Brittany reminded her and she sniffled.

"Yeah…"

"Go take the test, Van."

"Ok."

She felt Zac's hand run up her back and sighed softly. This had been the longest day in her life, and although she felt content right at that moment, nothing had settled inside her.

"You alright, Babe?" Zac asked quietly.

"Uhu," she yawned, making him smile.

"Go back to sleep, Van. It's been a draining day," he whispered and brushed his fingers over her upper arm.

"But you're not sleeping."

"Doesn't mean you have to stay awake too."

"But it's my fault you're up…" she mumbled. Zac's eyes widened.

"Hey, now. It's not your fault, ok?" he said and looked down at her. No matter how torn he was feeling he would never put the responsibility on her.

"Look at me, Vanessa." It was a firm yet gentle command and she slowly tilted her face upwards. She looked almost scared and Zac quickly placed a kiss on her forehead.

"Don't take the blame for this, do you hear? You didn't do this on your own."

"But it feels like that," she whispered before hiding her face in the crook of his neck.

"But you didn't," he soothed, feeling a little lost about what exactly she needed from him. Her warm tears touched the skin of his neck and he hugged her close. He knew she was scared, probably more so than he was. It was her body that was changing, making room for a new life.

"You're not alone in this you know," he said quietly. "I'll always be here."

She let out a strangled sob and kissed the skin closest to her lips.

"You and me?" she asked.

"You and me," he confirmed. "And the baby. Always."

AN: There you have it :) Please tell me what you think.

till next time, xxx Caroline