I know that most sane people wouldn't dare to try and plan a wedding in three months (if you have, then more power to you; I'm impressed!), but in my mind, if you're rich- which Ashley undoubtably is- and can afford to hire a wedding planner, then you can have her (or him in today's society!) do all the work and have it done in three months. Just go with it, okay? Oh, and enjoy while you're at it. Remember, the story doesn't revolve around the wedding. Just the people involved. And just so you know, I don't own the people involved or anything having to do with them; I just own the plot.

Chapter 9

The time that was left before Ashley and Scott's wedding was all a blur. The time was filled with final dress fittings, final cake and food tastings, and final meetings with the officiant and reception hall administrator. They had a meeting set up with the site manager at the gardens where the couple had decided to hold the ceremony during this time as well. The list of songs that they wanted played at the reception had been compiled and given to the dj during the meeting. The final details were the most stressful, and the wedding planner had just booked a new client, so Ashley and Scott had enlisted the help of their friends who were standing up for them on their wedding day. The six friends had been split up in groups of two and each group had been given different responsibilities. Ashley had debated on pairing up Zac and Vanessa, but finally decided against it. The final decision to keep them apart until the rehearsal, which was being held the day before the ceremony, had ultimately been made by Scott, much to Ashley's dismay.

"But if we wait until then for them to finally see each other and talk it could be a disaster! I love them, but if they ruin my wedding, I will personally kill them both!" she argued.

"Babe, I don't think it'll get to that point. She told you herself that she wanted to talk, but wasn't quite ready. Give her just a little bit more time, and maybe by the reception they'll be talking. Don't push them into something before they're both ready," he reassured her, taking her in his arms as an act of comfort.

She sighed as she took in his words. "I guess you're right. I'll have her and MoMo running errands and put Zac with Corbin."

"There you go. That sounds good."

Which was why Vanessa and Monique were now in the car, making stops all over town. The last two stops the girls made were to the tuxedo shop and the bridal shop, to pick up the tuxes for the guys and the dresses for the girls. They made a stop at Scott's to drop off the tuxes and Vanessa was thankful that Zac and Corbin were also out, feeling the familiar mixed emotions of being glad that she was able to avoid seeing him yet again, and yet upset at the same time that she'd have wait.

When they got back to Ashley's, the four girls had an impromptu meeting about the events for the rest of the week. It was decided that the bridesmaids' luncheon would be on Friday morning, hosted by Jennifer- one of her many duties as the maid of honor- and held at Vanessa's. The rest of Friday would be held at a local spa getting manicures, pedicures, massages, and facials for Ashley and the other three girls and the flower girl would join later in the day before carpooling with the older ladies to the gardens for the rehearsal.

The rehearsal was the one point in all the festivities that caused Vanessa the most anxiety. It meant that, ready or not, she now had to face Zac. She knew this moment would come eventually, but had been so busy since she returned from her promotional travels helping Ashley that she hadn't even thought about seeing him for the first time. Now, however, the nerves were there to remind her of exactly what was about to happen and the various outcomes that it represented.

Not wanting to stress Ashley with more than she needed today but needing to talk to someone, Vanessa pulled Monique aside and out of earshot. She didn't want Ashley to overhear and possibly freak out, so the two of them walked away from the chaos of the luncheon and stepped outside onto Vanessa's back patio and took a stroll around the pool. Monique, always the voice of reason who could calm Vanessa's nerves about anything, was quick to point out the voice mail that Vanessa received from Zac while in London.

"Sweetie, I think that after that voice mail, he won't pull away from you. He'll be there waiting with open arms and you know it. You're just making more out of this than there is."

So now here she sat, sandwiched between Jennifer and Monique, in one of the chairs that had been set up for the guests to sit in tomorrow at the ceremony. She was trying hard to listen to what the wedding planner was saying, but the feel of the bright blue eyes staring straight at her made it hard to concentrate.

"So now let's have the bridesmaids and groomsmen line up at the back of the aisle, please. I'll pair you up when we get back there," the planner announced. Everyone stood up and made their way to the back, Vanessa trying hard to stay next to Monique. She held her breath when she saw Zac approach her.

"Hey," he said quietly.

"Hi," she replied, giving him a small smile. Corbin and Monique watched as the two of them spoke for the first time in a month and a half, showing the silent support that they knew their friends needed.

"Can we-" he began, pointing at an area a few feet away from everyone else where they could have just a little bit of privacy, but she cut him off.

"Not right now." Seeing the disappointment pass through his eyes, she quickly added "Soon."

"Vanessa-" he started again, only this time, the wedding planner cut him off.

"Okay, let's have Monique and Corbin line up first, then Vanessa and Zac, followed by Jennifer. The best man Bradley will be with Scott up front…"

The day continued on with directions being given and followed. The group ran through the ceremony twice and then departed for the rehearsal dinner. And as much as he wanted to, Zac was unable to get a few minutes alone with Vanessa. He stood watching as she interacted with Scott's little cousins who were acting as the flower girl and ring bearer and couldn't help the one thought that ran through his mind. "She looks good with those kids." He sighed as he continued to watch her and was just about to take a sip of his drink when Corbin approached him.

"What are you going to do about it?"

"About what?" he asked, playing ignorance.

"Dude, don't play dumb. You know what I'm talking about. What are you going to do about Vanessa?"

Zac let out a sigh, still watching her and trying to figure out the answer to his friend's question himself. "I don't know, man. She said she wants to talk, but that she's just not ready yet. I want to respect that and give her the time she needs, but I'm afraid that if I give her too much time, it'll be too late."

"Piece of advice?" Corbin asked. He continued without waiting on Zac's permission to do so. "Don't let tomorrow pass without doing so."

That was why Zac now stood, at the back of the aisle in his tuxedo, waiting for the ceremony to start and the moment when he would escort his bridesmaid girlfriend down the aisle. He and Corbin turned to look at the sound of the girls coming around the corner in their blue dresses when they heard their laughter.

He felt his breath catch in his throat when he saw her for the first time that day. She was absolutely breathtaking in the dress that Ashley carefully picked out for her attendants in the shade of blue that was close to the same shade as Zac's eyes, and with her hair swept in a loose bun off the to the side. Vanessa picked out the hairstyle herself; she liked the hairstyle from the prom scene in the third High School Musical so much, that she decided to have it done that way again for the wedding.

Their eyes met as she took him in as well. She had obviously seen him in a tuxedo before, but there was something about this time. He is beyond good looking, he is- Her thoughts were interrupted by the music changing and the wedding planner told the five adults and two children to line up and get ready.

As Zac approached Vanessa and offered her his arm, they exchanged a look with each other as she reached up and took it. They couldn't deny the sparks that they felt rushing through them as soon as they touched for the first time since everything fell apart. She gave him a small smile and he returned the gesture.

They made their way down the aisle, and the two of them took their places, Vanessa on the left and Zac on the right directly across from her.

As the music changed once again and Ashley appeared at the end of the aisle, everyone stood and turned to watch as she made her way on her father's arm toward Scott- all but two of her best friends, whose eyes were on each other. The two of them were in their own world and didn't even notice anything else going on around them throughout the ceremony.

As Ashley took her place at the alter and Scott beside her, Zac and Vanessa found themselves in their own world- a world that consisted of just the two of them and no one else. The minister began his lines…

"Dearly beloved, we're gathered here today…"

Vanessa stood there looking at Zac, with all their favorite memories playing over and over in her mind. Their audition for High School Musical when they met, the times of them joking around on set during the dance rehearsals, their first trip to Hawaii together, their performance at the Oscars, all the promotional tours they went on together to all of their favorite cities all over the world, the time they spent together in Vancouver during the summer… Her mind was working overtime. Little did she know, so was Zac's.

He was reliving the moment when he bought the exquisite diamond ring for her. He remembered how nervous he was just thinking about buying the ring. His mind wandered through all their most private, most romantic moments together. Their first kiss, the first moment when he realized that he loved her and told her so, the first time they made love, the times they spent laying in bed and either just talking or watching TV, the moments spent with each others' families. Oh, how he hoped it wasn't too late to call the Hudgens his in-laws and Stella his sister! It just so happened that she had the same thought about his family as well… even Dylan.

"I can't believe that I was pushing her away and didn't even see the signs!"

"Please, God, don't let it be too late for me and Zac!"

"Do you, Scott, take Ashley as your wife? Do you promise to love her and to cherish her, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, for richer, for poorer, for as long as you both live?" the minister asked.

Scott looked deep in his fiancée's eyes and said "I do". Zac, too, looked Vanessa in the eyes and used their telepathic abilities they managed to have with each other to make her understand that he planned to someday make the same vow to her. Then it was Ashley's turn.

"And do you, Ashley, take Scott as your husband? Do you promise to love him and to cherish him, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, for richer, for poorer, for as long as you both live?" As Ashley answered, Vanessa kept her eyes fixed on Zac's and gave just the slightest nod, just enough for him to know that she, too, was in on his plan for their future. He released the breath he didn't know he was holding when he spotted her simple sign to him.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife. Scott, you may kiss your new wife." As Scott leaned in to give Ashley the kiss he'd been waiting for all day long, Zac mouthed a simple "I love you" to Vanessa, and she smiled at him in return. The new couple turned and was introduced to the congregation and started to make their way up the aisle, followed by their siblings.

As Zac and Vanessa walked toward each other, she reached up to wipe a few of the tears that she'd felt building throughout the ceremony off her cheek and he once again offered her his arm. She took it lovingly and the two of them made their way up the aisle. When they were out of the way of the others, they walked to a corner and turned to face each other. Just as Vanessa opened her mouth to speak to her lover, the wedding planner spoke up instead, forcing Vanessa to once again wait.

"Okay, everybody, gather over here. Once the guests have cleared out, we'll go back for the pictures and then you're all free to go party."

Zac offered Vanessa his hand not sure if she would take it or not, but was ecstatic when she did and laced their fingers together. The two of them stayed close to each other throughout the photographer's instructions, sharing the simplest of touches, and sat next to each other in the limo during the ride to the reception, holding hands for the duration. They had yet to find time to have the talk that the two of them knew they very much needed. Zac had gotten an idea of how to sneak away with her for just a few minutes, and couldn't wait to put said plan into action at the reception.


The reception was the epitome of the perfect party in Ashley's eyes. Everyone was eating, drinking, dancing, and having fun. That was all she wanted. Well, that and for her two best friends to finally have their much required time alone.

That moment came not long into the reception. Ashley and Scott had shared their first dance as a married couple and Scott had his dance with him mom, and even stopped halfway through to pull Ashley's mom into his arms to dance with her. After that, Ashley and her dad shared their dance. The next song was a slow one, too, and Greg looked over at his older daughter and saw her sitting in a chair off to the side of the dance floor, with her legs crossed, her elbow propped up on the table, and resting her chin in her hand. He noticed the melancholy look on her face and took that moment to approach Vanessa.

"Baby V, may I have this dance?" he asked his oldest daughter. She looked up at him and gave him a smile, reaching up to take the hand that he had outstretched in her direction and stood next to her father.

"Absolutely," she told him with a slight smile and let him lead her out onto the dance floor, while "My Girl" by The Temptations played through the speakers.

"What's on your mind?" he started the much needed father/ daughter talk that he considered necessary.

"What are you talking about?" she asked, wrinkling her eyebrows together in confusion at her father's words.

"Sweetie, you know what I mean. You haven't told your mom and I much about it, but we can see the way you two are looking at each other. You had an argument and you both are afraid to talk about it. So, with that being said, what's going on?"

"I don't know, Dad. Things are so messed up right now," she finally admitted.

"You guys look like you're on your way to being okay again. I noticed the looks you two shared during the ceremony," he pointed out.

"Sort of. I mean, yeah, we had a disagreement, but I think things got blown out of proportion on both sides. We haven't been able to talk things out yet, but-"

"-but I think you're about to get your chance."

"What do you mean?" she asked, confused.

Greg nodded over his daughter's shoulder and she turned her head and followed his gaze just in time to see Zac stand from his chair and start the walk towards his girlfriend and her father. She dropped her arms from around Greg's neck and fully turned. Greg stepped off to the side to watch the outcome of what all of Zac and Vanessa's friends wanted to happen for a month and a half now. As Zac got closer he held his right hand out in Greg's direction, and the older gentleman took it in his right, giving Zac's hand a firm shake.

"Greg, do you mind if I cut in?" he asked, almost timidly, which Greg noticed was uncharacteristic of his daughter's boyfriend.

"Zac, I don't mind at all. In fact, I insist on it." He took Vanessa's right hand, placed a gentle kiss on the back of it, and placed it in Zac's left as he walked away. Vanessa watched as her dad sat back down in his chair next to his wife. Gina leaned forward in her chair and placed her hands around Greg's shoulders, giving him a soft squeeze, and a kiss on his cheek.

"Are they okay?" she asked.

"They will be after tonight," he reassured her.

They watched as Zac placed his arms around Vanessa's waist and she reached up to rest her arms around his shoulders. The two of them began to move to the soft tune, and as they danced, he took her hand in his once again and held it between them.

"I don't know where to start," she told him, finally breaking the silence.

"I can start by saying that I'm sorry."

They stopped dancing and she just looked him in the eyes and felt herself melting once again, as she always did when she looked in his crystal blues. They didn't say anything else as the song continued. No other words were needed at the moment. The Temptations were saying it all.

When the song ended, Vanessa gave Zac a slight smile. She looked out onto the patio, and then let her gaze fall on him once again. She walked away to the champagne fountain on a nearby table, picked up a glass, and placed it under the stream of pink liquid, knowing that Zac was watching her every move. Once her glass was full, she walked out onto the patio and stood near the cement railing, looking out over the gardens below, which had been decked out in twinkling, white lights. She was pulled from her daze as she felt a jacket being wrapped across her bare shoulders. She turned and saw Zac standing ten feet in front of her with his hands in his pockets. The two stood looking at each other, taking in the sight that they had each longed to see for the past several weeks. Finally, Zac took a deep breath and broke the silence first this time.

"You look beautiful. You always manage to take my breath away, no matter what you're wearing, but this… This is absolutely amazing." He moved his eyes down her body, taking in the full effect, and brought them back up to meet her brown eyes once again.

"Van, I was pushing you away. I never meant to hurt you. I didn't realize that things had gotten to the point they did. I know I messed up royally and I want the chance to be able to fix them."

"Zac, you're not the only one who messed up," she told him. "I should have said something to you about my feelings long before. I shouldn't have held everything in like I did."

"You know, Van, we promised each other long ago to always talk things out whenever something was bothering us." He looked at her pointedly and watched her slowly nod her head.

"I know." Vanessa felt the lump form in her throat at her boyfriend's words, knowing what he was about to say next. She leaned with her back against the cement railing that was nearby for support.

"Why didn't you?"

She shrugged her shoulders. "I was scared." Her voice came out in a whisper, causing her to choke on her words, but keeping her gaze focused on his.

"Of what?" he questioned, taking a step closer to her at the first clue of her tears.

"I was afraid that I would push you away with all the pressure I would be putting on you. I didn't want you to feel like I was forcing you into something that you weren't ready for." She turned her face away from his as the tears began to fall. This time, however, she didn't try to stop them.

"Van, I told you before that I was ready. You wouldn't have been forcing me into something that I didn't want. I've wanted this for a long time, and had a huge plan that was in the process of being played out. Now before you say anything about that-" he rushed on, holding his hand out in front of him to stop her before she said anything, when he saw her open her mouth "-I think I'm ready for you to know about my massive plan."

Vanessa watched as he reached up to wipe her tears away, feeling a shiver pass through her at the feel of his hands on her body once more. He continued talking as she watched him.

"Do you remember our trip to Utah?"

"Is that still on?" she asked with a slight smirk. When he just looked at her, she apologized. "Sorry. You know that's how I deal with things, I joke about them."

He offered her a small smile before continuing. "Yeah. Well, it is still on. I told Bart that I may need to postpone for awhile, but I think we still may be able to go during the time we're supposed to."

"What does Bart have to do with all this?"

Zac looked down at his feet and took a breath. "Baby, the name of the resort is the Johnson Mill." He looked up to watch as the realization occurred to her.

"You mean, the resort-"

"-belongs to Bart. He owns a high-end Bed & Breakfast in Midway, Utah. He told me about it during the filming of the third movie. I had told him that I thought I was getting closer to wanting to propose to you but wanted it to be somewhere extremely special. He then gave me the website to this place and while you were filming one night, I pulled out the laptop and looked it up. Just looking at the pictures, I fell in love with this place and knew it was the perfect place to ask you to be with me forever."

She had been silent throughout his mini speech, taking in all that he was saying. Finally, after a moment, she pushed herself off the wall she'd been leaning against and slowly walked to where he was standing.

"Why didn't you just tell me about this place?" she asked softly.

"I wanted to surprise you. You've always said that you wanted your engagement to be a surprise, something that you weren't expecting. I was afraid that if I told you too much about the resort, you might suspect something. Instead, in the process of trying to do something right and make it extremely special, I totally screwed it up. I love you, Vanessa. I never meant to hurt you, stringing you along like I did, making you think that it was never going to happen."

The two of them stood there, looking at each other. All of the emotions of the past month and a half came rushing back, and Vanessa's tears came even harder.

"Baby, don't cry," Zac pleaded, wrapping his arms around her. "I love you so much. I'm so sorry. Please, don't cry." He continued to whisper comforting words into her hair until he finally heard her tears subside and she gave a small sniffle.

"I'm sorry. I can't help it," she said with another sniffle. "Zac, I love you so much. I never should have clammed up like I did. I should have talked to you about everything I was thinking and feeling." She paused as she looked at him again. She reached up with her hand, rubbing it gently across his left cheek. "How's your cheek?" she asked, concerned.

Zac just gave out a chuckle. "Better." He turned his head to place a gentle kiss on the palm of her hand. "I'm telling you, though, those Seals did a great job at training you. You really had some force behind that slap! Remind me to never piss you off again!"

Her eyes got wide as she looked at him in shock. "Baby, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to do that to you. It was just an impulse. I didn't think, I just-"

"Reacted to my calling you selfish and self-absorbed. Empty words, Van. They meant nothing. You know that, right? You know I think that you're absolutely amazing and you are the most selfless person I know."

"I know," she said, rubbing his cheek again. After a moment of silence, Vanessa moved her hand to behind his head, and asked the question that they both had been dying to know the answer to. "Are we okay?"

"Yeah," he said, looking deep in her chocolate eyes. "Yeah, Baby, we're okay."

The two of them looked at each other for a moment, and Vanessa stood on her tiptoes tangling her fingers through his hair, and pulled his face towards hers. He allowed his head to be pulled down and their lips met in a kiss that was full of all the love, all the promises of the future that the two of them knew was coming, and they both felt the familiar sparks. As their lips moved together, he let his tongue slip out and sweep across her lower lip, begging to be let in. She opened her mouth, granting him access to the deep caverns of within. Their tongues battled for dominance, and just as they were about to be swept away with the passion the two had missed for so long, they were reluctantly pulled apart by the sound of a wolf whistle and slight applause. They broke apart, and looked back over their shoulders at the door, seeing Corbin, Monique, Jennifer, Stella, Dylan, Ashley, and Scott watching. Ashley's face broke into a big grin, and she gave her two best friends a thumbs up sign and walked away, pulling her new husband behind her.

"About damn time," they heard Corbin say, and the rest of the group laughed, as they all turned and walked away, leaving Zac and Vanessa alone once again, to make up for lost time.


After their make up session, or at least as much of a make up session as they could have considering where they were, the two made their way back inside. They enjoyed themselves the rest of the evening, eating, drinking, dancing, and having fun with everyone. Every few moments, Zac would stop and give Vanessa a gentle kisses on various places- her cheek, her temple, her hairline as they were dancing, her lips- and the two of them found it very difficult to not run off and find the nearest coat closet. The only thing keeping them from doing so was that fact that they both knew Ashley would kick their butts as soon as she found out. When it was announced that the bride was about to toss the bouquet, Vanessa of course was reluctantly pushed to the front of the crowd by Monique.

"I have no reason to have it," Monique told her. "I'm just out here because I was forced to be by Corbin! You, however…"

So there Vanessa stood, reluctantly, waiting for Ashley to throw her flowers. Not planning on catching it, she stood with her arms crossed, which caused Ashley to glare at her.

"Play fair, Hudgens!"

"Fine!" Vanessa shouted back, uncrossing her arms with a roll of her eyes.

"Okay, ladies! Get ready," the dj stated, and began the countdown. "Here she goes! 1…2…3!"

Instead of tossing the bouquet, as was tradition, Ashley simply turned back to face the group of ladies in front of her, ran up to Vanessa, took her hands, and placed the flowers in them, closing her friend's fist around the stems. The rest of the crowd bust into laughter, Zac included, while Vanessa simply play pouted.

"Tizzy!" she shouted.

"Uh-uh! It's Speer now!"

Vanessa laughed and reached out to give her best friend a hug. "Thank you for believing in us," she whispered.

"I knew you two would find your way back eventually. You just needed a little push, that's all."

And when they got back to Vanessa's later that night, find their way back is just what they did. All… night… long.

Okay, so the big plan is (sort of) revealed. And before anyone asks... yes, the resort is a real place. I included a little free advertising for our friend Mr. Bart Johnson, aka Daddy Jack! If you want to check it out for yourself, the web address is .com. Teaser for the next chapter... If I were you, I'd check the place out before chapter 10 gets posted!