"Say it again, please?!"

Vanessa and Zac were walking along the beach, just like he had promised they would. It was Monday evening. The previous day the 18 and 19 year olds had had an eventful car ride together and ended up telling one another that they loved each other.

"Just one more time, please?" Vanessa asked with a smile on her face and a sparkle in her eye. Zac couldn't turn her down. "I – love – you!" he said, and emphasized each word with a kiss to her forehead and cheeks. Vanessa looked out at the waves with the smile plastered on her face and clung to Zac's arm as they walked in the sand.

They had hardly said anything else to each other since they had started walking. Both just kept looking at each other enjoying the company. During their Sunday confessions, Zac had told Vanessa that he wanted to bring her to the beach to let her know how he really felt about her. So, true to his word, he packed a picnic basket, blankets and a chilled bottle of sparkling grape juice and had headed to Vanessa's house to pick her up.

Zac's heart had dropped just a little bit when Vanessa's father had answered their door. "Oh hey, Mr. Hudgens. Um, I just wanted to take Vanessa out for some dinner. Is she home?"

Greg Hudgens' face softened into a near smile as he saw how uncomfortable his daughter's boyfriend seemed. Greg and Vanessa had had a heart to heart talk Sunday night after Zac brought her home. Greg was realizing that his little girl was growing up. And after making Zac squirm for the past year of their relationship, Greg got the feeling that he'd better start welcoming this young man into the family.

"Of course she's here Zachary. Didn't you just get off the phone with her an hour ago? She warned me that you were coming by and that she wouldn't be home for dinner tonight."

"Oh, yes sir, we talked not too long ago. I didn't know if she'd told you that I was coming by." Zac was still nervous, even though he did notice a change in Greg's demeanor.

"Before I tell her you're here, come in and chat with me a minute," Greg instructed. Of course Vanessa already knew Zac was there. She'd seen his car pull up in front of the house from the bedroom window. But Greg had instructed her to stay in her room until he called for her. He wanted to have a chat with Zac.

Zac was nervous. He knew after talking to Vanessa on the phone Sunday night that he was probably in for a 'chat' with her dad at some point. He wasn't quite as scared of Greg Hudgens now as he had been, but his stomach still held a bundle of quivering nerves.

"I did it Zac!" Vanessa had quickly said when Zac answered his phone the night before. "I had a heart-to-heart talk with my dad on an adult level."

"And just how much 'adult' stuff came out in this talk Nessa? It doesn't sound like I need to come pick you up. You don't even sound upset."

"I'm not Zac. That's just it. I got to tell him about our trip to Hawaii, how it all came about, and he listened. He asked questions and I answered them straight out, I looked him straight in the eye and answered them. Then he looked back at me and talked to me like an eighteen year old, not a ten year old." Vanessa was beaming, even through the phone lines Zac could hear it in her voice. She hadn't talked this openly or happily about her father since she and Zac had first met during auditions.

"So none of his questions upset you?" Zac was still curious.

"I think I covered the upsetting topics and explained them before he had to ask any questions. The hardest thing I had to talk about was us sharing the bed in Hawaii." Vanessa admitted.

"You told him what we did and he's still letting you talk to me??!" Vanessa could feel Zac blushing through the phone.

"Zac, we didn't do anything wrong. But NO, I didn't give my father the details of what we did. I think the word I used was 'exploring'. I don't need him having nightmares, especially when he finally believes that we're both still virgins."

"Well the truth is the truth. 'Exploring?' Yeah, I'd say that's a good description…wait, you told your dad about us BOTH still being virgins. Geez woman, what got into you?" Zac didn't know if he should be shocked, relieved or even a bit intimidated by his girlfriend.

"I guess you got into me, Zac." Vanessa said softly. "At least you're in my heart and in my head. I just went into the conversation with Dad knowing that he was NOT going to make me second-guess myself. Not when it came to falling in love with you! And I figured that if I needed to be straight-forward and blunt about things, then that was what I was going to do. And I did."

"And yet we're still talking on the phone and he's not headed to my apartment with a weapon of some sort?"

"Zac, no. He may be outside my room right now eavesdropping on our conversation…but he's not headed to your house."

"What? Eavesdropping…is your father known for that?"

"Well, he wasn't until tonight. But that's something we'll talk about later. Have you unpacked yet?"

"Whatever you say Ness, whatever you say. No, I haven't unpacked yet. Why, did you put some of your stuff in my suitcase again?" Zac grinned as the subject changed.

"No,my sweet love, well at least I don't think I did. But I've gotta go unpack too. I'd almost hoped that dad was upset and that you'd have to come get me…just so I could see you again. I miss you." Vanessa leaned back on her pillows.

"I miss you too! But it's only been a couple of hours. And I'll see you tomorrow night, right?!"

"Absolutely! Call me?"

"You know I will. Nessa…I love you!" Zac smiled. The words were still new to him, yet for her they rolled gently off his tongue.

"I love you too Zac!" Vanessa beamed. "Sweet Dreams!"

Now here was Zac in the Hudgens' living room where Vanessa had conquered her fears last night. Here he was standing in front of the same man who could bless their relationship or break it apart with just a few words. Zac could only hope that Vanessa's dad would offer him the same sincerity that he afforded his daughter the night before. Was there a chance of that? Slim to none.

"Would you like a drink?" Greg offered to Zac.

"Um, a water would be great if you don't mind, Mr. Hudgens." Zac could feel his throat going dry with every word. He and Greg had talked a few times but the words were very few and they usually revolved around sporting events on the tv. On this particular evening, the tv wasn't even on.

Greg retrieved a bottle of water from the refrigerator for Zac and a glass of tea for himself. Then he strolled back into the living room and sat down in his chair. "Have a seat Zac." Greg directed.

"Yes sir." Zac replied and sat down.

"My Baby V and I had a nice conversation last night after you brought her home. Did she tell you about that?" Greg glanced at Zac over top of his reading glasses.

"Yes sir, she did tell me, when she called me last night. She seemed very, well, very happy at how it went." Zac took a drink of his water.

Greg took his glasses off. "I was very happy at how it went as well. Zac, you seem to be a positive influence on my daughter at the moment."

"Well I hope to be one for longer than a moment." Zac interrupted unintentionally.

"So I understand," Greg responded. "We just need to get a few things straight, and make sure we understand each other, and some ground rules. Would you agree?"

"Yes sir." Zac took another drink and clamped his mouth shut to listen intently to what Greg was about to say.

Neither man knew that their significant others had come to the door to listen. Gina and Vanessa both felt they had a vested interest in the conversation. And both wanted to make sure that Greg didn't scare the living daylight out of poor, unsuspecting Zachary.

Greg continued. "You've already shared a bed with my daughter and told her that you loved her…in that order. You've met each other's families and spent more time traveling with each other than many circus acts do. You've been thrown into the public eye and have stood up to the test. Would you say that I'm correct so far?"

Zac felt his own courage building. "Yes sir, I would say all of that is correct."

"When my daughter was caught off guard, and made a fool of by an absolute idiot, how did that make you feel?" Greg was jumping around on his subjects, but he knew what he was trying to get from Zac…an honest, heart-felt reaction…and something besides 'Yes sir'.

"You're looking for an honest answer from me sir? Something that will tell you how I feel about Vanessa, right?" Zac tensed.

"Yes Zac, just honestly tell me what you felt."

"Mr. Hudgens, I first wanted to get on the next flight from Australia and back here to California as soon as possible. I wanted to wrap Vanessa in my arms and make all the hurt go away. When I heard her crying on the phone, so many times, I just wanted to hide her away somewhere to get her away from all the crap that she was going through. Second, I wanted to get my hands on that son of a…sorry, whatever, idiot and kill him for doing this to her! How could anyone want to hurt her? What has she done that was worth exposing her like that." Zac took a breath. "And third…since I'm speaking honestly…I wanted to come up here and confront you for raising your voice to her the night that she sat down to talk to you and Gina. She was opening up to you Mr. Hudgens. And I know you didn't like the trip that we took to Hawaii, but she's still your little girl, and she needed your comfort that night." Zac had looked Greg straight in the eyes with this answer, just as Vanessa had done on Sunday with their conversation. Zac leaned back on the couch and took another sip of water.

He kept looking at Greg's face. "I won't, I can't apologize for those feelings. You want my honest answer, there it is. I love your daughter Mr. Hudgens. We may have only admitted that to each other yesterday, but it's been coming for a long time now. I think I loved her since after we filmed the first movie. As we shot the last scene, all I could think about was whether or not I'd get to see Vanessa again. The other kids, we're all friends, but I was worried about losing Vanessa. I know I've never felt like this for any other girl. I know when I'm around her I'm happy. And I even know that my mom has seen something different in me over the past year…Mom's the one who told me I was in love with her, cause I didn't know what I was feeling." Zac felt a presence sit down beside him and turned to see Vanessa with tears in her eyes.

Greg felt Gina wrap her arms around his neck from behind his chair. He looked up to find her with tears in her eyes as well. Then he looked back at Zac who had wrapped his arm around Vanessa's shoulders and pulled her head to his neck. As Vanessa wiped the tears from her eyes she met her father's gaze. Through the lump in his throat Greg said, "Go. Wherever you two are headed, go and have fun…you know what I mean!" He cleared his throat as Zac and Vanessa stood up. Greg walked them both to the door.

"By the way, Zac," Greg said as they opened the door. "You can call me Greg now."

The two kids just smiled. Zac took Vanessa's hand as they headed to his car.

Greg and Gina stood at the door and watched them drive away. "So he passes your test?" Gina smiled at her husband.

"I'd say I'd have to give that young man an 'A'." Greg took his wife by the hand and they closed the door behind them.

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"That wasn't as bad as I expected," Zac said as he spread the blanket out on the beach. Vanessa handed him the picnic basket and sat down on the blanket as Zac started pulling out their food. "What can I say, I softened him up for you yesterday." Vanessa smiled.

"Yeah, but he had last night and all day today to think about it all over again. He could've had second thoughts about everything and sent me screaming out of your house." Zac shuddered a little.

"Zac, my dad's not a monster you know." Vanessa pouted. "He's just protective of me. And from what you told him, you are too." She glanced over at him as he pulled two sandwiches from the basket.

"I am, and I plan to continue for a very long time." Zac handed her a sandwich and poured some of the sparkling grape juice into her glass. "I meant what I told your dad Nessa. Yes, I've probably practiced that speech a dozen times in my head…the part about loving you. He threw me a curve ball though, asking about the picture mess. But you know, what I said about that, it's all true. You know that don't you? If you had said the word, I would've been back here with you. Screw my 'contractual duties'. If you wanted me here I would've been here."

"I know." Vanessa looked away from Zac. "I did want you here Zac. You know that don't you?" She glanced back at him to see him staring at the blanket. "The night that I talked to Mom and Dad and then called you. I wanted to be with you that night, more than anything." She stopped for a minute and sighed remembering it again.

"That's the night that Dad said he was eavesdropping on our phone conversation. He came up to my room to make amends and heard me on the phone with you. Then he sat and listened to the conversation."

"Did you know this all along?" Zac looked back at her.

"Nope, just found out last night. This was part of our father/daughter chat." Vanessa smiled.

"Are you sure you should be sharing it with me?" Zac rubbed her hand on the blanket as he pushed some hair out of her eyes with his other hand.

"I think it'll give you a little more insight about my father." Vanessa said as she leaned her head into Zac's hand. "Dad says that's the night he knew you had my heart."

"Those were his words?" Zac was a little amused.

"Yeah, his words, not mine." Vanessa said seriously. "Even though he only heard my side of our conversation, he said he could tell that you were soothing me and comforting me, even from thousands of miles away." Vanessa looked down at her feet which were curled underneath her on the blanket. "He said that made him a little jealous of you. That you could comfort me that night and he couldn't."

They both just looked at each other. Zac scooted closer to her and took her in his arms. "He came into my room later that night and we hugged, and he told me that he loved me. That certainly helped me sleep that night. But Zac, if you hadn't calmed me down, just talking to me…I don't know what I would've done."

Zac pulled her onto his lap and put his hands on her cheeks gently coaxing her to look at him. "Your father loves you, and will go to the end of the earth to protect you. The only difference between me and Greg Hudgens is that my love is new to you. I will love you physically when the time is right. But right now your dad and I love you with all of our hearts and we will never let you be hurt like that again."

Vanessa leaned her head onto Zac's chest and just listened to his heartbeat for a minute. She looked back up at him and smiled. "Let's walk before we eat, okay?" She asked.

Zac nodded. Vanessa climbed off his lap and helped him to his feet. As they headed down the beach she took hold of his arm with both hands, leaning on him.

"Say it again, please?!"

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She wasn't about to let this night be marred by a mess that they had put behind them. She and Zac had let the photo scandal go long ago. And now, her father was doing the same thing. Zac had just completely stunned her by vowing to team with her dad to fight any issues like this that might rear its ugly head in the future.

They had walked for about fifteen minutes with Vanessa just asking Zac over and over again to tell her that he loved her. And every time she asked, Zac was happy to oblige.

Neither of them could believe where they were in their relationship. What started so slowly over a year before suddenly seemed to be moving ahead so quickly. Zac was a little shocked at how forward he had been with Vanessa's dad. The conversation was really just coming back to him. But he liked what he was remembering. He was actually quite proud of himself for the maturity he had shown. He had left Mr. Hudgens nearly speechless. He knew he would likely pay for that eventually. Zac was sure there were more questions that Greg would want to ask. He had skipped the one question that Zac had practiced for. "What are your intentions for my daughter?"

Zac chuckled to himself as he pictured Greg asking that question. They were walking back to their picnic when Vanessa heard him laugh. "What's so funny," she inquired. "Oh, I'm just running back through the conversation with your dad. I think I still have some questions to answer at some point." Zac planted another kiss on the top of Vanessa's head as they walked.

"Well with the answers you gave tonight, I don't see dad asking you anything else. What else would there be?" Vanessa gazed up at him.

"Oh, I'm just picturing him asking me what my 'intentions' are for you." Zac smiled again. "I practiced my answer for that one!"

"Care to fill me in on your answer and why it's so amusing?" Now Vanessa was really curious.

"Well, the answer I practiced wasn't funny at all." Zac looked at her with a serious face that soon softened. "But knowing now that your dad's okay with me and you, I just thought of another answer."

"Okay, give me the not so serious answer first then." Vanessa stopped and turned to look at Zac.

"Oh, I just thought when he asks what my intentions are, I could tell him that I 'intend to take you back to Hawaii and share a bed with you again.'" Zac smirked.

"Zachary David! You're making me blush. Please promise me you won't actually say that to my father! I'd really like to have you live through another q and a session with him." Vanessa laughed to herself, thinking of how her father might react to an answer like that. "So what was your serious answer going to be? Any future plans you want to share with me yet?" She sounded a little hopeful.

"Well I really don't think that I'd tell him how I intend to make love to you someday." That earned a strong smack to his arm.

"Zac! Seriously!" Vanessa refused to take his hand again.

"I seriously wanted to tell him that I intend to have you at my side for a long time and enjoy our time together. I wanted to let him know that I intend to marry you eventually, if you agree to that, and I hope that someday we'll be able to bless him and Gina, and my mom and dad with grandchildren." Zac took Vanessa's hand again and kissed it.

"Are my intentions lining up with yours at all?" Zac looked into her eyes.

"I think your intentions and my intentions are following the same path." Vanessa stood on her tiptoes to plant a kiss on Zac's lips. He wrapped his arms around her waist to support her and the kiss.

Both had smiles on their faces as they wandered back to their picnic basket and blanket.

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