Zac and Dylan and Vanessa were the first ones to walk into the very-sanitized intensive care unit room. Both of the boys sucked in a shocked breath as they looked at their Grandmother for the first time in this condition. She wasn't awake, she wasn't moving. A tube in her throat and the numerous wires stringing from her body were her lifeline.

Both boys stepped closer to the bed. Zac reached out and took his Grandmother's fragile hand in his. Vanessa stood behind them both, a hand on Zac's shoulder. Vanessa felt him start to shake as he kissed Amanda's hand and let his tears fall onto her bruised skin.

Zac sat down in the chair at the bedside with Amanda's hand still in his. He knew there was something he wanted to tell this woman, besides goodbye. But he didn't want Dylan or Vanessa to hear him. He turned and looked at Vanessa. "I, I need just a minute with her, please. You don't need to go outside, but can you give me just a little space for a minute?"

Vanessa was surprised, but she did as Zac asked. She walked over close to the door with Dylan, both of them holding back tears. Vanessa barely knew this woman, but she knew how much her boyfriend loved, adored and respected her. His love for his grandmother was obvious to Vanessa. He gave her the same kind of look that he gave Vanessa, one that expressed his love and admiration for her.

Zac looked at his grandmother, trying to piece his words together. He patted his pocket and looked down at the outline of the box. "Grandma," he whispered closely, "I have the ring. I think you know who will be wearing it next. How do you and mom know these things?" He shook his head a little. "I'm still gonna need your help with this, though, Grandma. I'm too young, we're too young for this right now. So please, please help me know when the time is right. I know you'll be in a place where you'll be able to give me a sign of some kind. I'm a guy, Grandma, I'm kinda dense in the love area. So please, just help me know when the time is right to offer this to Vanessa. And Grandma, if you have any say in the matter, can you help Grandpa hang on to see me get married? I know if he's there that you'll be there too." Zac had just a few tears left in his eyes as he squeezed Amanda's hand. "I know I can trust in our future if you're watching over us Grandma. I love you." And with that he carefully placed her hand back on the bed and kissed her forehead.

Zac turned and walked back to Vanessa and Dylan. He wrapped his arms around Vanessa's petite body and they both cried together. After a couple of minutes they both let go of each other and turned their attention to Dylan again. The fourteen-year-old didn't look as lonely or hurt as he had earlier in the day. But he still needed some extra support.

Zac and Vanessa both put their hands on his shoulders and walked with him to the bedside. Dylan gingerly touched his grandmother's hand, stroking it around the wires that were attached there. He looked at Vanessa and Zac as he started speaking. The words came as a bit of a shock to Vanessa and Zac, but they could tell they were words that Dylan had gone over in his head throughout that day.

"Grandma, I'm gonna miss you. We're all gonna miss you. But I've been looking at our family all through the day and I know you would be proud of all of us. Grandpa and Mom are so strong, making these tough decisions. You raised them both and taught them well." He laughed just a little under his breath at the thought of his grandma 'raising' his grandfather. But it was true in a way. Without her in his life, their grandfather's success probably wouldn't have been. But with her by his side, his grandfather was focused and able to achieve at least some of his dreams, their dreams.

"Grandma, thank you for Mom, and for supporting her and Dad, and me and Zac. You've been there for us all the time. I can't imagine what it'll be like without you, but I know this is for the best." Vanessa and Zac wiped tears from their eyes as they listened to Dylan's profound words. But when he continued the couple was the most surprised.

"And Grandma, there's somebody else here with our family today. I know she's not officially part of the family yet. But we all know it's just a matter of time before she is. Grandma, I wish you had had more time to get to know Vanessa. I know you'd love her and welcome her into our family." Dylan looked at Vanessa and said, "I don't think Zac or I could get through this day without her here." Then he turned to Zac. "Grandma, I hope you can help me find a girl like her someday. And I hope her love with Zac and the love that I find will be able to last just like yours and Grandpa's has. Thank you Grandma, I love you."

Vanessa's tears had dried and her eyes now held a look of shock. Was her love for Zac that obvious, that even a fourteen year old could see it? She doubted that Zac had talked to his little brother about their future, but Dylan seemed to see the picture pretty clearly. All Vanessa could think to do was get closer to Zac at the moment. She loved what Dylan was saying and it just made her want to be as close to the man she loved as possible. She stepped around Dylan's back and put her arms around Zac's waist. He put his arms around her again as well and pulled her into a tight hug.

Dylan turned around to look at them. They didn't know what to say. It was a conversation they would talk about later after they had time to digest what Dyl had said. With tears in their eyes they all smiled at each other. None of them looked back at the fragile body they were leaving behind. They walked out of the room and allowed their parents and grandfather to have their time.

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For the first time that day, Vanessa was feeling overwhelmed. She wasn't feeling pressure, but she was beginning to understand that she already was a part of this family. And she was beginning to wonder if there were any expectations for her to live up to the examples that Amanda and Starla had both set in the previous generations.

She was still clinging to Zac as they walked back into the private family room that had been made available to them. Zac could see a different look on Vanessa's face now. It was one similar to what he had seen a few months ago after another trip they had made to Toluca Lake. He knew Vanessa wouldn't admit anything to him right now because of the situation with his grandmother. But he needed her to know that he could see the worry in her face and that she could open up to him, whenever she felt ready.

"Do you mind if I call my mom?" Vanessa looked at him through weary eyes.

"Of course not. Do you want to call her in here, or do you need to step outside?" Zac rubbed her back gently.

"No, I'll just go over here and sit in the corner. Are you and Dyl okay for a few minutes?" She tried to smile at Zac.

"Yeah, baby, we're fine. Are you sure you're okay?" His attention was now focusing again on Vanessa, knowing that there was nothing more he could do for his grandmother. He was here – they were here – and he had a feeling his grandma knew that.

"I will be. I just need to talk to mom." Vanessa sat down in the padded seat that was stationed in a back corner of the room. She noticed a Bible on the table beside her and the gentle floral pattern of the wallpaper next to her. She took out her cell phone and started to speed dial Gina and then stopped.

"Zac?" He had turned to walk away from her.

"Yeah Ness?" He turned back to her quickly.

"Any idea what will be done…I mean, funeral arrangements…will there be a wake in the next few days?" She was trying to be as gentle as possible with her choice of words. "I, I'm just wondering if you…if we'll be staying up here for the funeral, or will we be going home and coming back?"

Zac was amazed at her foresight. He was barely able to think about what was happening that minute, and she was already thinking ahead. And he loved that she was including herself in the plans. In the back of his mind Zac had worried that Vanessa would rush to get back to her own family after being pushed through this one day. He wanted her there with him. He had known that from the minute his dad had called him this morning. He wanted his Nessa at his side as girlfriend and best friend too.

"I'm really not sure," he started. "Grandma has one brother, Joseph, who needs to get over here from Idaho. Grandpa knew he couldn't get here today, but he called him earlier and told him about the situation. That's mom's only uncle, on Grandma's side at least. Uncle Joe would be the only other person involved in her arrangements, I think." Zac stared down at Vanessa for a minute.

"You, you will stay up here with me, if we need to, won't you?" He suddenly started worrying again as he watched Vanessa's facial expressions.

She stood up and put her arms around his neck. "I'm here Zac. I'm not going anywhere without you, unless you tell me to." She felt him relax a little and squeeze her tighter.

She pulled back and sat back down in the chair. Zac knelt down beside her. "I'm just wondering if we need to have dress clothes sent to us. You didn't think to bring a suit, and I certainly didn't have anything like that to bring up here on such short notice."

"Oh," Zac said quietly. Here she goes again…thinking of things that have just blown right by him. "I'm so glad you're here." He smiled at her.

"My grandma really likes that black Armani suit that I got last summer. That would probably be a good one to get. But how are you thinking we can get them?" Zac's questioning look softened as he realized that Vanessa already had a plan in her mind.

"Well, Ashley has a spare key to your apartment." Zac looked a little shocked.

"She does? When, how did she get that?" He noticed a little shy but sly smile form on Vanessa's lips. He knew he hadn't given their loving friend and supporting actress a key to his apartment. He now had a feeling that Vanessa had shared one with her to their apartment. The two living quarters just happened to be one and the same place.

"Um, I gave her a spare key after our last visit up here." Vanessa said matter-of-factly.

"I see." Zac replied, trying not to smile.

"I just figured that if you were gone sometime and if I decided to stay over anyway and if I needed help for some reason…she lives close by and could get there quickly." Vanessa had planned to tell Zac about giving Ashley a key, just not right away.

Zac just let it pass with another "Uh-huh…" and then went on. "So Ash has this key, how does that get our clothes to us. And how is she getting your clothes?"

"Well, I'm going to get mom's help too. She can get a dress for me from home and then meet Ashley at your place to make sure she gets the right suit. Then mom can overnight both of them to your mom and dad's house, or get a courier to bring them up here."

Zac stood up, leaned over and gave Vanessa a kiss on the forehead. He smiled at her as he said, "Make it happen."

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Vanessa hit the speed dial on her phone to check in with her mom. At the Hudgens' house, Greg recognized his daughter's number on the caller i.d. and answered immediately. "Baby, how is Zac's grandmother?"

Vanessa felt tears cover her eyes and her bottom lip started to quiver at the sound of her father's voice. The intensity of the day was catching up with her and she realized that she just wanted to be back home. "Daddy, she's not going to make it." Was all that she could mutter over the phone line before she started sniffling and the tears fell down her cheeks. Vanessa turned in the chair to face the wall hoping that Zac wouldn't see or hear her. She was trying to be strong for his family, especially for him.

"Sweetheart, I'm so sorry." Greg continued. He heard her sniffling and knew her emotions must be in overdrive. "Vanessa, is there anything I can do? Is Zac ok? Is his family ok that you're there with him?" Greg knew he would drive three hours to get his daughter if she wasn't wanted there. But he also knew that she probably needed to be there with Zac and his family. He knew how much she loved this young man, and how much Zac had comforted her already in this relationship. Vanessa was simply returning the favor.

Vanessa swallowed and breathed in a deep breath. "Dad, I've just never dealt with something like this before. I was doing pretty good, till I heard your voice." She said softly.

"I'm sorry sweetie, do you want to talk to your mom?"

"No, well yes, I'll need to talk to her in a minute. But I don't think it would've mattered who answered the phone. Sorry, everything is just catching up with me." Vanessa fought to regain control. She glanced around to see Zac sitting with Dylan. They were looking at each other, not at her. Good. As far as they knew she was fine.

"V, where are you? Are you still at the hospital?"

"Yeah. But I don't think we'll be here much longer. Mrs. Aames had a massive heart attack this morning. They brought her in and hooked her up to all the machines, and pretty much just kept her alive until Zac could get here. Right now Grandpa Aames and Starla and David are in there with her…saying goodbye. Once they've finished they're taking her off all the machines. The doctors say after that it will be just a matter of time."

"Oh Sweetheart, I'm so sorry." Greg was genuinely concerned for the family. He had already lost his mother and father years ago and knew it was a difficult time. But he was also worried about Vanessa being the only non-family member up there. "V, is Zac with his mom and dad? Are you by yourself? I don't want to sound petty, but are you ok?"

It took Vanessa a minute but she understood what her dad was trying to ask. "I, I'm pretty surprised about that, Dad. Everyone from Zac's grandfather to his brother has treated me like I'm already a part of this family. I don't know how to explain it, but I feel like I'm supposed to be here. I think I've helped Zac and his brother by just listening to them, or hugging them. And even Starla, dad she said she was glad I came up with Zac because she knows that he needs me here with him. It's a little overwhelming. I think that's why I'm so emotional. I'm sad for the family, but I'm thrilled at how they're accepting me in this situation. Does that make any sense?"

"It makes a lot of sense Baby V. It shows that they have already accepted you into their family, no matter what the situation. Honestly, I hope we can help Zac feel that way in our family. Although I still like it that he's a little scared of me. Makes a father proud!" Greg tried to lighten the mood and it worked.

Vanessa smiled into the phone and she noticed Zac watching her again. He could see she had been crying. He walked back over to her and knelt down beside her again, trying to wipe the tears from her cheek as she continued to talk to her dad. She pushed his hand away but then grabbed it and held it in her lap. "Dad, can I talk to mom now? I need a couple of favors from her. What? Oh, I know you could do this too, but it's wardrobe help. Yeah, I thought mom was the best choice too. Thanks Daddy, I love you."

Zac knew she was waiting on her mom to come to the phone so he wiped at the tears again and offered her a tissue. "Are you ok? Is your dad upset that you're here?" Zac worried.

"No, no, nothing like that. Just, just hearing his voice after all that's gone on today…I just got emotional, that's all." Vanessa tried to smile at him.

Zac laid his head in Vanessa's lap, still holding and caressing her hand by his cheek. "I'm sorry to put you through all this. I know it's gotta be hard. This isn't even your family…"

"But it is!" Vanessa interrupted quickly. "It's your family. So that makes it mine too."

They both just looked at each other. Neither smiled nor frowned, they just stared into each others' eyes. In the next moment Gina was on the phone and Vanessa had control once again over her emotions and the situation. Zac just sat and listened as Vanessa described the dress and shoes that she would need. And she also described to her mom where Zac's suit was in the closet. After a three-way call with Ashley they had found a time that evening to meet so that Gina could have everything together and ready to send to them tomorrow morning.

Once again Zac looked down at the ring box in his pocket and traced the outline with his finger. What's mine is yours. He thought to himself. He wondered if maybe this was the right time. Time to bring a little happiness into their sad hearts. If it was, it would have to wait a little longer. His parents and grandfather had just come back into the room.

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