Chapter 2: Fears.

Sun finally hit her eyes. She couldn't sleep, she was too afraid of that. If she closed her eyes just for a while, the memories of the last month would haunt her again. So she found a way to spend the night. Watch the video of her wedding. 3 years ago. It was a September 1st of 2013, when everything was perfect. She watched it over and over. At 3 AM, Vanessa decided to see all the scrapbooks that contained tons of pictures, since their very first year of dating 'til now. Of course tears roll down her face and at 5:45 AM her laptop turn on and she log on Youtube to watch videos of them, which their fans created. When it was 9:50 Greg Hudgens knock the door.

"Sweetheart, are you asleep?"

His voice scared her so she close the laptop and laid "No" she said simply, at the moment when her father came in she pretend to yawn and shut her eyes.

"Did I wake you up?" He asked concerned.

"Nope daddy, I was already awake." Her lips faked a smile.

Mr. H -as Zac used to call him- notice all the items in the huge bed and he sigh. "I'm really sorry, Nessa"

His daughter returned him a confused look. "Sorry, about what?"

"He's gone"

"I'll get over it, don't worry" Her sight directed to somewhere else.

He realized she wasn't ready to talk about that subject, so he tried to change the topic. "Ohm… Starla send me to tell you that you should get ready to the funeral"

Vanessa only nodded her head and get up from the bed and attempt to go to the bathroom.

Greg walked to his always little girl and stop her. He gave her a tight hug and kissed her forehead. "Someday you'll forget all, sweetheart, you'll move on." He leaved the room and left his girl destroyed inside.

And all her thoughts appeared again. What if she does forget him? What if she does move on? What if in a couple of years she get married again? What if she stops loving him?

No. That was the answer for all that thoughts. Never. It just wasn't going to happen. She wasn't going to forget her husband, she's his. Perrot.

Her reflect on a broken mirror caught her attention. Then she looked at a picture that was rested on the bed, a really old one, when they act like Aurora and Phillip, and a smile appear in her features. Vanessa remembered all the sweet things he whispered in her ear. And fear kidnapped her. She felt insecure. Before she cried, she directed to the bathroom again and followed her father's instructions.

The resent widow was finishing getting dressed in black outfit and then her mother interrupted all her thoughts. "Nessa"

"Yes." She looked at Gina. "I'm ready, just let me change Layla and I'll go down."

"I want to talk about that." The petite woman set on the mattress. "I don't think it's a good idea that you go to Zac's funeral."

"Why?" The brunette turned her body to see her mom directly in the eyes.

"Well, it's obviously you're not ok, Vanessa"

"Because I said I was seeing my dead husband last night? Mom, I'm not crazy."

"We already told you, you aren't crazy it's just the state of your condition isn't ok."

Vanessa shook her head. "And which condition should I have?" Sarcasm was in her voice, her hands rested in her hips. "My 27 year old husband is dead mom, the love of my life, the dad of my angel, he's dead. We were suppose to stay together until we turn old and grey, see our grandchild playing outside our beach house. Mom you're lucky that dad still holds you at nights, kiss you, whisper sweet things, but I don't." Something was pulling down her voice, tears again. "And he didn't even die in peace, Zac died thinking that I hate him, that I didn't love him anymore. He died because a fucking bullet hit his chest instead of mine, so please mom, don't come here and tell me what the fuck feel!"

"Watch your language; I didn't raise you to talk to me like that!" Gina demand. The words of her daughter crumble her heart and her eyes spill tears too. "I understand that you don't fell well but it's just our opinion."

"Well? Of course I don't feel well, I feel destroyed, guilty, heartbroken, and sad, I feel horror and pain, and words can't describe my feelings, so please Mom just stay out of my life please."

"Vanessa." The older woman was worthless. How her little girl that always was happy and singing turn into a woman full of fears. When the little girl became se dependent from a boy that now is dead? Gina Hudgens was worthless.

"Just get out Mom; I'm not in the mood." She tried to avoid eye contact to her mother. "Sorry"

Mrs. Hudgens nodded and go out.

"She's just worried princess, that's all." The ghost of Zac was next to Layla, trying to hold his daughter.

The girl in tears, jump a little scared.

Zac looked at her. "Don't worry, I already know I'm dead, I just don't remember why." He explained.

"Why you don't remember?" Vanessa dared to ask, her feet froze right where she was standing.

"I don't know." He shrugged it off. "And I don't care, as long as I have you and my little angel, I'm fine."

"But you have to remember." She insisted.

"No, I'm perfect like this, just you, me and Lay."

"And how is that?"

He smile like if he had a master plan, like if nothing was wrong. "You'll see remember all the plans we made before Layla came?"

She nodded.

"We're going to realize them, just like we wanted, going back to San Luis Obispo, going to college." His smile makes her see everything again. "Everything is going to be perfectly fine."

But that dreams faded as soon as they came. "Zac" She took a deep breath. "What makes you think that I want that?" Her tone was soft, trying to not hurt him even more.

"It's our second chance, to be together" His arms settle around her waist after putting the sleepy baby on bed. "You said that we were leaving L.A., quit acting, going to college; raise Layla like a normal child." His thumb stoked her cheek. "We were going to open a studio, you were going to a professional photographer, and I was going to be an architect."

Negativity filled her. "Babe" Her small hand remained where once she hit his cheek. "How are we going to do that if you are dead, if I'm alone, how are you going to be an architect? Zac it just can't happen."

Reality reflected in her eyes, she isn't the same; her glow was fading away, just like his hopes. "We can still do them."

"How" The million dollars question. "What if I can't see you? What if growing up Lay can't see you? Zac this isn't real."

A light knock ran though the room making the presence of Zac disappeared. Stella Hudgens get in the room. "Need some help?"

The older sister turned to face her little sister. "Umh…yes…with…can you...change Layla?"

"Sure" Stella grabbed her niece and put on her a black little dress. "Zac was here?"

Vanessa's eyes grew wider.

The 20th year old laughed at her sister reaction. "I believe you, me and Starla, it's all about fate." She finished dressing the baby and gave a warming smile to the woman in black. "No makeup?"

The black curls shake slightly. "No, Zac said that I look prettier without it." A little smile took avenge of the memory and steal her lips.

"You do." The younger one agreed and asked permeation to take Layla downstairs and get out of the room with her sister.

After baring Zac's body, Vanessa stood in front his grave, the stroller where the blue eyed baby was behind her. She was overwhelmed. People who she hasn't seen in ages were saying 'Sorry about your lost.' The preacher talked about love, forgiveness, life and death. Dylan even played a video of his brother's life. Friends of the friends who aren't even her friends keep telling her that he loved her, like if they knew them. She didn't cry during the ceremony, until a really crazy fan of Zac sneak in and yell in her face that she was reason of his death.

"I didn't realize that today he'll be 28." A voice said randomly. "And today Layla turns 4 months."

"You weren't here." Her eyes didn't move.

"I was right behind you Vanessa."

Her mochas directed to where the male voice was coming, and find the best friend of her husband looking confused. "Sorry, I thought you were Z… someone else."

"You were going to say Zac." Bubba Lewis spoke.

"No I wasn't." Vanessa could see, talk, touch, kiss and feel Zac, but her mind was still in denial.

"C'mon Efron, I know you, tell me."

"Nothing, I'm just…" A sigh escape from her thin lips, Bubba was right, he knows her when it's about Zac. "You won't understand"

The god-father of her baby smiled. "He loves you, that's why he's here." His eyes fixed at the grave.

She groaned frustrated. "I KNOW! I'm sick that in 2 fucking hours, everyone in this graveyard told me that he loves me, I KNOW!"

"Van, calm down" Zac said softly in her ear, hugging her from behind. "He's trying to help."

Last night Zac and Vanessa discovered that he could hear Vanessa's thoughts, and for them it was great because now she didn't have to speak out loud without her mother trying to take her to the doctor.

'Leave me alone.' The brunette thought. Her body moved so she could get free from the invisible grip.

"Sorry." Bubba said looking down, a little annoyed.

Vanessa sighed again. "No, I'm sorry I don't know why I'm snapping on people like this, it's just hard that's all."

"It's ok, I understand." His long arms pull her against his chest and his hands took place above her waist, pushing her as close as he could.

Zac's fists clench. Jealousy dominated him, making a thunder sound from the cloudy sky. Causing Vanessa to jump out of the arms of his suppose best friend.

'Stop it, he's just hugging me.' Her mind spoke for the man on the grave. 'He's our friend, remember?'

"I hug you and you pull me apart!" The jealous one said out loud.

"You want me to drive you home?" The alive one sounded more interested then helpful.

"Umh… I don't think the stroller fits on your car." She faked a smile. "Plus I have my car."

"Sure." His breathe hiss. "Are you staying?" A nod from her was all he needed to leave. The cemetery was empty, just a widow, a ghost and an orphan.

"I can't believe he's doing this." Zac say shooking his head, following his wife and push the stroller.

"He's trying to help Zac." Her eyes looked at his. "You say it."

The blue orbs rolled. The silence appeared. And they keep walking.

"Did you think about what I told you?" His muscles relaxed and he finally look at her.

"No."

"Why?"

Now she was the one who couldn't look at him. A knot in her throat formed, trying to omit her voice but she knew too well her husband and if he didn't get an answer soon he'd start to get anxious and angry. "It's not possible Zachary, and you know it."

His feet stop, his fingers take her chin and made her look at him. "You wanna throw away everything we have done?"

No response.

"Van, we have the most beautiful relationship in the word, we have the most beautiful daughter, we have a gorgeous home in the beach waiting for us, and we have an extremely breathe-taking, amazing, wonderful, thing. And you want to throw it away." He thought his little speech will convince her but she stepping apart from his grip again proved him wrong.

"Fine, let's say that I take your offer and I leave everything behind." Her voice turned in defense mode. "What am I going to do if the money runs out?"

"It's like 360 billion dollars; I don't think they run out fast."

"What if Layla growing up can't see you or hear you?"

"We'll figure it out if it happens." Zac reach for her hand and lace their fingers. "Stop saying what if, that hasn't happened, let's live our present."

"But Zac, I'm not going to stay like his forever either Layla, you can stay 'young' but I don't."

He groaned. "Stop it Vanessa, This is a life time opportunity, people pray for this every single day and you keep putting buts and what ifs. We get a second chance, it's our fate."

"You don't get it!" She yelled and cried again.

"Can't you remember our vows? We promise to be together until death…" The words stop, he realized.

"Say it! Death! It has already torn us apart, don't you see it? We have to move on." She was hurt, physically and emotionally, she had to blow up at some point. "Zac I watch you die in my arms, I had your blood on my hands I feel your heart stop beating and I breath your last breathe" Her emotions were too heavy, she fall in the green grass and out of sudden rain start falling. "I had his smirk recorded on my head, I was crying, Layla was crying, the 3 of us were on the floor were on the floor, You were saying goodbye to our daughter cause that moron shoot you, she was looking at you, like if she knew what was going on. And he was beating you, and you were there, laid in the floor, and I couldn't help you. Then you say 'I love you Vanessa' and he shoot you again, and he smile, like if he had earn some price, you were still alive and he made you watch how he rape me. Then the police came and he escaped. And we were still there, on the floor and the last thing you did was kiss Lay's forehead and mine and say that you love both of us" Her teary eyes look at his, het body start getting soaked.

He extended his hand to help her up. "C'mon, I don't want that you or Layla get sick."

"You don't remember."

"Take my hand."

"You don't remember." She repeated.

"A little bit, yes, now, take my hand." He ordered.

She took it and get up. They get into the car and she was about to race it when he stop her.

"You're not driving in this rain, much less crying" Zac pull her in his lap and hold her tight. "Talk to me, if you want to talk, I'm going to listen Princess. Tell me, what's bothering you?"

Vanessa buried her face in his chest, and touch where his heart it's supposed to beat. "There's no heart beat."
"That's what you want to talk about?"

"No."

"Then tell me."

She let out a heavy sigh before express her feelings. "I'm afraid that that when she grows up, she question me about why I let Jason came back in our lives, I'm afraid that she yell me that I ruin her life when she was just 4 months old."

He made her look at him. "It's not your fault."

"It is, because I was so stupid all I wanted was that you spend more time in home with us and I ended up killing you!" Vanessa cried.

"Shh, stay calm, you didn't kill me ok, it's not your fault." His soft lips kissed the little tears that dropped her eyes quietly.

"It's my fault that she won't have a father to fight with; it's my fault that you won't be on her fist day at school, when someone breaks her heart, when she needs a man that tell her how beautiful she is, someone who over protect her from the boys, someone who walks her down the aisle, She's going to hate me, Zac."

His eyes were closed and he cupped her face in his hands. "Listen close, Vanessa, I need that you understand this" He waited for her to nod. "Stop saying it's your fault. I was protecting the most beautiful gift, life could have give me, stop saying Layla is going to hate you, she just turn 4 months today."

She nodded again.

"I don't remember hoe I died, just that I was fighting with Jason and that's it. I don't know is this is going to last but I want to enjoy every second I've had whit you and our baby, I'm not going to push you into something you don't want to do, if you don't want to go back to San Luis Obispo that's fine with me."

"Za…"

"I'm talking" He interrupted softly. "Layla is going to be perfect with or without me, because you're an amazing mother since the day we find out that she was inside you, you stayed alone with her for 2 months and she's ok, I don't regret this." His perfect smile hypnotized her. "I'm actually glad I did it, because otherwise our angel would have never met her awesome mommy, and I'm proud of it, the only thing I regret is that I let Jason back in our life, because I spend more time working then with you and Lay, and when I finally intervene it was too late."

"What on earth we did wrong? Why this is happening to us, Zac. I don't want to live without you, please forgive me, please." Her tears couldn't stop, she just let out everything.

Yes, he's dead. But that didn't stop him to cry, he hold her tight not wanting to let her go ever again.

"I'm scared Zac, I'm so scared."

"I'm here, I won't leave you, I'm here Princess, I won't let someone touch you again, I promise you I'll protect you and Layla from everything."

And he wasn't kidding; no one was going to touch his wife again. He was going to make sure of that.

"I promise."

Thank you for waiting and I hope you like it, I promise that chapte 3 will be better. :)