An: Wow, look at all these reviews! That's just amazing, thank you guys! Well, here I am with another chapter of Zachonne goodness. As I promised, this story does have a plot and there will be angst (good angst) in this chapter as well as fluff and some smut.

Once again, I'll thank my beta, Yumajii for being awesome as always!

R&R and perhaps if our will is strong enough, these two crazy kids will finally get together!

Chapter Three: Driven By Their Beating Hearts

"There's people, people going out of their minds. Right into each other's home, but I only want to be with you. There's people, people getting out of their cars. Driven by their beating hearts, but I only want to be with you,"—Driven By Their Beating Hearts, A Silent Film.

Chuck had finally come to an end. Or at least for the summer until the cast and crew would hopefully return to film for its fifth season. The wrap-up party had been the night before. Yvonne had her fare share of excitement during the festivities; she partied, danced, and drank until her vision doubled and standing upright became nearly impossible. This made each goodbye almost bearable. There were tears (both happy and sad) but the impact hadn't hurt her as much as it would have if she were still sober.

Zac was there, of course. He was the star after all. But he kept himself busy with literally everyone else but her. They exchanged pleasantries when forced to do so, but there was obvious hurt left between them that had Yvonne feeling petrified with guilt. She had yet to call Tim. Fear prevented her from the inevitable confrontation. She did not want to lose either man; while Time was her safety net, Zac was something new, foreign. He evoked a whole different side to her and she dreaded the moment when those passionate feelings would disperse all because she was too much of a coward to do anything about it.

Now it was around noon the following day. Yvonne woke up on her couch to the sound of rain tapping against the window pane of her apartment. She was still wearing her pastel dress with make-up caked onto her face. She normally never got so drunk, mostly because of the hangover that would surely follow, but it was worth it this time around. She needed to be numb that night.

The next few hours passed with Yvonne shedding her clothes and taking a nice, hot shower. She ate a late breakfast (orange juice, toast, and three aspirin) and then settled herself back to the couch where she scanned the television for something to watch. When the symptoms of the hangover diminished, and her mind cleared, Yvonne decided it was the perfect time to call Tim and end it once and for all.

She dialed his number and let it ring once before he heard his voice:

"Yvonne, hey love, what's up?"

Bile rose up in her throat when she replied in a mechanical voice:

"Tim, we need to talk…"

So the conversation should have ended with her breaking up with Tim. It was sure heading in that direction in the beginning. But then everything changed once the nerves got the best of her. From what was supposed to be the final termination of their relationship, it became a temporary separation. The phone call ended with Tim being unhappy but somewhat understanding while Yvonne sank into the couch, using a pillow as a soundboard as she screamed out her frustrations.

This was a dilemma.

And instead of redialing Tim and explaining what really was going on, Yvonne texted Zac instead. She could not handle him ignoring her any longer. It was painful to feel alone, both physically and emotionally. Therefore, she shot him a short, simple message that would surly end whatever grudge he held against her.

It's done.

Zac never returned the text and that worried her. She wondered if he had completely washed his hands of her or perhaps he was just unavailable. It did not take a genius to know that Zachary Levi kept himself busy at all times. Whether it'd be acting, playing videogames, engaging in extreme sports, going to a baseball or basketball game, and working on the Nerd Machine, he always had something to do.

Its ok, I'm sure he'll call me later when he's free to talk, Yvonne assured herself. The remainder of the day consisted in her choosing to stay home and relax, god knows she needed it. And so she occupied her thoughts with her movie library; watching film after film, hoping her phone would ring with Zac's face displayed on the screen.

But her phone remained dead.

Yvonne sighed. Once the credits began to roll, she popped in yet another movie before falling back into the couch with a loud huff.

Later that evening, (and five movies later) Yvonne heard someone knocking on the door. She was surprised to find Zac at her doorstep bearing two bottles of wine and a winning smile. By then the storm had subsided into a light drizzle. The sweet smell of fresh rain swept throughout Los Angeles; soaking the paved roads while the streetlights flickered, and twilight peaked overhead.

Her dogs (both had been munching on their dinner) were alerted of the new visitor and padded across the hardwood floor to the entrance where they sat obediently, tails wagging with excitement. Yvonne held the door partly ajar so that neither of them would escape.

"What are you doing here?" She asked in surprise.

"And hello to you too," replied Zac dryly. He was dripping wet and shaking. "Do you mind if I come in? It's sort of…cold out here."

Yvonne nodded and let him inside the apartment. She watched as he quickly set his gifts on the kitchen countertop and removed his favorite striped hoodie that had been soaked from the rain. His Nerd shirt was mostly dry as was his jeans and Chucks. He ran a hand through his damp, unkempt hair.

"Thank you," he said and gave her a kiss. "I didn't know if you were going to be home tonight or out doing something else." Glancing over her shoulder, he saw the soft glow of the television. He brought his attention to Yvonne, who was casually dressed a grey sweatshirt and a pair of shorts. "I see that you've been taking advantage of our first day off from work, huh?" Zac jested playfully.

Yvonne blushed once realizing how plain and unattractive she must have looked to him. "I felt like being lazy," was her half-hearted excuse.

"You're lucky. I wish I could've stayed home and immersed myself in videogames, instead I had to go to that Nerd Machine meeting I had rescheduled a few weeks ago, which is why I had trouble returning your text…."

The image of Zac pinning her to the hood of his car suddenly flashed before her eyes. Yvonne blinked, her cheeks burning as she recalled their first encounter in the parking garage. Her heart suddenly felt like it weighed a ton. While she was thrilled to have him there, it also reminded her of Tim and how her white lie was beginning to spiral out of control.

I need Zac to know the truth from me before he finds out some other way, Yvonne mused. But how am I supposed to do that exactly? Tim thinks that we will reconcile and try again while Zac believes we're in the clear to be a real couple. She inwardly cringed. How could she have let this get so bad, so quickly?

"—hello, Yvonne?" Zac waved a hand in her face, breaking Yvonne from her reverie. "Ok and we're back. Where would you like for me to put these?" He asked, indicating the bottles of wine.

Still in a daze, she answered: "Oh, you can put them in the refrigerator."

Zac stole a questioning glance before carrying the drinks to the kitchen. Chazzie and Wilbur followed; licking, pawing and nuzzling him as he opened the fridge and placed each bottle in their respective place. Just as he was about the close the door, he hesitated, an amused smile stretching across his lips.

"What's with the whipped cream?" He said, shaking the can while shooting Yvonne a wink. "We're you expecting something to happen tonight?"

I wasn't even expecting you to show up, Yvonne rolled her eyes and replied. "My parents came over for dinner a few nights ago. They brought some desert and we ended up having leftovers."

Zac tilted his head innocently, "Oh." And he proceeded to blast the desert topping into his open mouth. "So, what were you watching that had you reduced to couch-potato status all day?"

"I was having a movie marathon…you know, the classics: The Hills Have Eyes, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and A Nightmare on Elm Street…"

"I forgot you were a horror movie fanatic," Zac chuckled. "I can't really say I'm into the genre myself..."

Yvonne walked to him and snatched the can of whipped cream from out of his outstretched hand. He frowned like a petulant child. "Too bad, because you are going to either suck it up and watch," she smirked, "Or else I don't think you can spend the night—"

Zac's face lit up. "You know I was just playing around," he amended, chasing after Yvonne as she moved into the living room. "I'm obsessed with scary movies. I can't get enough of them."

"Really?" The Aussie raised a brow. "Well then I'm sure you'll be happy to know that we're going to be watching some of my favorites next."

Plopping onto the couch, he asked. "Yeah, and what would those be?"

Yvonne skimmed her shelf crammed with DVDs and picked out the three she was searching for. "These," She spun around and showed Zac, who's eyes grew in size.

"Scream," he gulped. "Nice choice."

"It's not just Scream, it's the entire trilogy!" Yvonne squealed gleefully. "They're seriously the best! They were my '90's—Wes Craven is the greatest horror director ever, and don't get me started on Neve Campbell! I totally idolize her; she's so tough as Sidney Prescott and I actually try emulating her characteristics when I play Sarah Walker."

"I had no idea you were this…passionate about these movies."

"It's my secret guilty pleasure," she explained. "Don't even get me started on Scream 4, the premier is next week and I would give an arm and leg to be able to go…" Suddenly, Yvonne appeared crestfallen. She shook her head, "Oh well, never mind. Did you want to pour us some wine? The glasses are in the cabinet above the fridge."

Zac nodded. "Sure," he said with a smile. As Yvonne got the DVD player set up for their Scream marathon, he went to the kitchen, noting how animated she became when discussing the movie premier. He filed this information away into his brain for future use.

After several glasses of wine and almost half of the can of whipped cream later, dusk had turned to night and the storm had returned with a vengeance. It was a torrential downpour; rain slamming into the roof of the apartment while thunder roared, wind howled and streaks of lightning illuminated the living room with a bright blue glow.

Yvonne was adamant that this was the ideal weather for watching horror movies. The atmosphere was unnaturally still and deathly quiet save for the racket outside and from the film itself. Zac was sitting on the couch with Yvonne lying across his lap, idly playing with his hands during the more frightening sequences in the movie.

They were now at the climax of the film. The Ghostface killers were revealed while the heroine, Sidney Prescott made her final confrontation.

"You sick fucks, you've seen one too many movies!" Sidney whispers while the killers begin stabbing each other in attempt to make themselves look like the true survivors.

"Now, Sid!" Billy Loomis yells, covered in blood, "Don't you dare blame the movies! Movies don't create psychos; they just make psychos more creative!"

He proceeds to stab his accomplice in the gut. Stu moans: "Would you stop it, Billy? I can't take it anymore. I'm feeling a little woozy here!"

"This is fucking insane," Zac muttered as the scene continued. "Why do you like this again?"

"Because," Yvonne replied seriously. "There is something really scary about a guy with a knife who just…snaps."

"And you like being scared?"

"It's good to be scared. It's primal instinct."

Zac smiled. "Yeah, well I suppose you're right."

Yvonne flipped onto her back and gazed up at him. Her cheeks were rosy from multiple glasses of wine as well as her eyes hazy and filled with a hint of lust. "Besides, scary movies are great foreplay…"

"Are they now, Ms. Horror-movie expert?"

She beamed and said nothing. Zac absently brushed errant curls over her ear, then concentrated back to the movie. The killers both appeared to be dead. One had been crushed by a TV while the other had been shot. Zac grabbed his glass of wine, taking a long sip while Sidney Prescott approached her psycho boyfriend's body, nudging him with her foot.

"This is the best part," Yvonne spoke lowly.

"Careful," Randy Meeks, the nerdy protagonist warns Sidney. "This is the moment when the supposedly dead killer comes back to life for one last scare."

Just then, Billy Loomis springs up, miraculously alive. He screams, drenched in blood. Everyone yelps in terror but Sidney levels her gun and shoots Billy in the forehead. He falls back, dead.

"Not in my movie," Sidney says with a smirk.

Zac had jumped in fright, spilling his wine on his shirt while Yvonne burst into laughter. She slipped off him and watched as he tried to clean himself up to no avail. While he recovered from his little scare, she had taken the opportunity to retrieve her phone.

"What's your favorite scary movie, Zac?"

His heart leapt into his throat at the voice which mimicked the Ghostface Killer. He glanced towards Yvonne, who held her IPhone to her lips, grinning evilly. He scowled, "What are you doing? Is that seriously an app now?"

She spoke again, "I want to play a little game, Zac. If you lose, you die. If you win, you die!"

"I think we should play a little game, but without the consequences of death of course."

Yvonne placed her phone on the table. She looked at him curiously. "Really, what kind of game?"

"A fun game," he replied and removed his wine-stained shirt.

She snorted. "So you're being strangely cryptic as you propose a game while taking off your shirt."

"Get your mind out of the gutter, Yvonne."

"I think I am being quite pragmatic concerning the circumstances."

Zac stood up and she watched him collect the wine glasses and take them to the sink. He was totally shirtless and Yvonne found herself being unable to look away. When he returned, she seized him by a belt loophole and yanked him towards her into a searing kiss. Yvonne tasted the bitterness of the wine and then the sweetness of the whipped cream on his tongue, causing her to moan. As she became more aggressive, Zac broke the kiss.

"Why did you stop?" She complained.

"Because I wanted to play the game, remember?"

Yvonne sighed exasperatedly; falling back into the couch with her head angled to the ceiling. "You're like a child, I swear." She told him and heard Zac chuckle.

"Why, because I like to have fun?"

She shot him an annoyed look. "That's exactly it," was her sarcastic reply. Taking the can of whipped cream, she shook it and then sprayed it at Zac, watching his expression change to shock in an instant.

His entire upper body was coated in the sticky cream. Zac wiped his face with the back of his hand and glared at Yvonne. There was a dangerous glint in his eye.

"What was that for?" He asked darkly.

Yvonne had no comeback. She merely swallowed as Zac took a daunting step towards the couch. She dropped the empty can of whipped cream and braced herself. A part of her was truly nervous while the other (more dominant) part was turned-on. Zac loomed over her, his chocolate eyes boring into blue.

Instead of him attacking her like she had initially anticipated, Zac surprised her by sinking onto his knees, nestling in between her with his hands resting on top of either leg. He pulled down her shorts without explanation, leaving her lower half bear with only her paper-thin panties covering her.

He glanced up at her and said. "This is the game we're going to play. The object is for you to call somebody randomly on the phone, and while you try to keep a conversation," he purposefully swept a finger across her panties causing Yvonne to squirm. Zac smirked, "I get to have my revenge down here…understand?"

It was not like she had a choice in the matter. And so Yvonne simply nodded an affirmative, her drunken haze making it difficult to tell what exactly Zac was droning on about. She was still captivated by the way he had touched her and demanded for more.

"Good, now pick up your phone. Close your eyes and scroll through the contact list," Zac instructed, adding with an impish grin, "and don't even think about peaking, Ms. Strahovski."

Yvonne shivered, but followed his orders exactly. She held the IPhone in her palm and blindly picked a phone number, and then hit the send button. The phone began to ring and Zac hooked his fingers around her panties, slowly tugging them down while she waited impatiently for the mystery person to answer.

On the second ring, she frowned and asked. "What if nobody picks up?"

The response she received was in the form of hot kisses pressing a fiery path into the inside of her thighs. She inhaled a sharp breath, her hand unconsciously curled around her phone once Zac became dangerously close to her center. The seconds dragged on and Yvonne felt Zac bury himself deep inside her. She was at his complete mercy and all she could do was peer through a half-lidded gaze and silently watch him work.

It was disturbing to know just how easily Zac could satisfy her. He was lazy, methodical and it drove her crazy. There was no rush. But she needed more. The desire for pleasure outweighed Zac and his juvenile game. And so she taunted him, "Is that…the best you can do?"

Zac perked up at the challenge. He lifted his head and stared at her with smoldering eyes; slowly teasing her clit with the tip of his tongue. The look he conveyed to her was carnivorous, lusting and it stole her breath away.

Yvonne felt her skin crawl with shivers of delight. Her arousal intensified—heart racing, her breath haggard and out of control, her entire body writhing under the mere flick of his tongue…

"God, you taste so good," Zac mumbled against her navel and she could barely hear him above the storm, the phone and the blood drumming into her ears. "Please come for me, Yvonne…"

She was about to submit, but a new voice broke her trance and answered: "Hello?"

It was her phone. Somebody had finally picked up. Yvonne took a calming breath and replied, "Um…hi?"

Zac chuckled lowly, sending vibrations through her body to where she collapsed into the couch with an audible gasp. Without hesitation, she felt the addition of his pinkie finger enter her and move in conjunction with his tongue. The sensation rendered her paralyzed; bolts of electricity shooting through her like the shock of lightning.

"Yvonne?" the familiar voice brought her back from the edge of oblivion, asking worriedly. "Eve, is that you?"

Eve. That was her nickname and only her parents, close friends, or significant other would call her. Like a fog at sea, her eyes cleared upon the terrible realization of who she had called. Yvonne exclaimed, "Tim?" leapt off the couch, knocking off Zac over in the process. He hit the ground with a hard thud.

The dogs woke up to the commotion. They waddled over to where Zac currently lay sprawled on his back and began to lap at the excess whipped cream still clinging to his hair and face. He came to, hissing in pain. Yvonne ignored him as she pulled up her panties while stepping over his body in her haste. Zac pushed himself forward and rubbed the newly formed lump on his head with watery eyes.

"What the hell?"Zac muttered under his breath. He saw as the half-naked blonde stood frozen in the middle of the room, a hand over her mouth.

"Why did you call me?" Tim Loden asked tiredly. "I just finally got to sleep."

"I'm so sorry," apologized Yvonne. "I must've dialed you by accident…"

"Of course, well before I go and lay in bed for another couple of hours, I wanted to tell you something I had on my mind. It's really important and—"

She shook her head, "No, no, Tim, you don't have to say anything."

"I do," he replied. "So please, Eve, just let me say what I need to say."

The use of her nickname made her sigh in resignation. "Fine," she conceded.

"Ok, well I had some time to think about your proposal, and I'll admit that I reacted…poorly." Tim admitted with bitterness in his tone, "But now I understand where you're coming from. You're in a demanding profession and being able to hold any sort of relationship—platonic or romantic, it would be hard to maintain."

Yvonne dipped her head in shame. "Tim, please…"

"—so, what I'm trying to say is that if you wanted a break from me, I get it and I'll back your decision no matter what. Just know that I'll always be here for you in case you're ready to try again."

"Thank you, Tim." She choked out whilst trying to separate herself from Zac. "But I need to tell you that—"

Tim cut her off: "Evy, I said my piece. All I want you to know before I hang up is that I still and always will love you."

Yvonne felt sick to her stomach. "I…I…" she stuttered unsurely.

"Good night, Yvonne."

The phone went dead. Everything became deafening silent: the storm had ceased once again, but the dial tone buzzed monotonously. Her heart was hammering unrelentingly; bile rising into her throat. Yvonne hugged the phone to her chest and squeezed her eyes shut.

Why was this happening to her?

It's now or never, I have to tell Zac.

"You lied to me," she turned around and saw Zac standing across the room. The anger and betrayal outlining his face flickered from the glow of the TV screen. He glared at her, his voice laced with disgust.

Her phone had been on speaker the entire time. Zac had been listening to her conversation with Tim. Oh no, no, no, no! "I tried breaking up with him, Zac, I swear, but—"she desperately tried to save what little respect he still had for her.

"—but what?" He snapped harshly. Yvonne flinched. "You told him that this was only a temporary break and that'd you try again later?" His voice was strained, borderline hysterical. Yvonne had never seen him so furious, so heartbroken before. "Did I really mean something to you or was I being used just because you were bored?"

"Zachary, it's not like that at all, just listen to me, please!" She begged. "I want to be with you, I honestly do with all my heart but…its—"

"Don't dare say it's complicated," he said coldly. "Because it's pretty damn simple: you have to choose between me and Tim. You can't have both. That's not how it works…"

When Yvonne was unable to answer, Zac shook his head in defeat. He pushed past her, grabbing his shirt, jacket and car keys while stopping briefly to get his shoes. He approached the front door when she summed enough courage to speak.

"Why did you even kiss me?" Yvonne wondered aloud. Her back to Zac, he stopped in mid-step. "Was there even a reason, or?"

"You know where I stand," Zac responded thickly. "I kissed you because it was stupid. Stupid in the sense that if I showed you how I truly felt then maybe you and I could have been something more than…this."

Yvonne faced him. "How do you truly feel about me?"

He held her gaze, and then confessed. "I feel like I'm in love with you and knowing that makes what you're doing that much worse."

She stared at him, speechless. "You…love me?" It sounded like the most ridiculous question but somehow made perfect sense. He loved her. Zachary Levi Pugh loved her. He suffered through a mindless fling because he wanted to pursue a relationship with her. He was never bored. He was never looking for an adrenaline rush. He was only looking for something real.

His first kiss, she recalled with awe. That was a dead-giveaway and I completely dismissed it in the heat of passion. That coupled with Zac going cold turkey for her, it should have been so obvious. He would have died for her if she asked.

Yvonne felt the tension leave her face and body, a smile at the corner of her lips. She took a tentative step towards him, repeating louder this time. "Zachary, you love me?"

Even in the shadows she could see his cheeks flushed bright red. He averted her gaze, looking away. "It was a mistake on my part," he whispered.

"No," she replied and closed the space between them. "It was not a mistake."

Yvonne cupped his face with both hands and pressed her body alongside his, claiming his lips in a deep kiss. Her fingers clenched in his unruly curls, the eager response of lips and tongue, and his skin, warm and bear against her hands. Zac let his clothes fall to the floor and attacked her with the same desperate fervor. When their bodies became entangled, he slid a hand through her hair and then broke the kiss.

"Yvonne…I can't keep doing this," he breathed.

She relaxed into his arms, nuzzling against his palm. "You don't have to," she mumbled, tilting her face up to his. "I love you, Zachary and I will not jeopardize that because I am afraid."

Zac stroked his thumb over her swollen lips, murmuring. "Why are you afraid?"

"It's absurd," she explained, feeling her eyes grow wet. "But I keep thinking that if I tell Tim the truth, and he leaves, that for some reason you'll end up leaving me too. I don't want to be alone and that's what scares me the most."

"I will never leave you, Yvonne." Zac promised, voice unwavering. "So do not ever feel like you're going to be alone when you have me right here, always."

She sniffed back tears and leaned into his chest. Zac wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. He rested his chin on top of her head while petting her head soothingly. "I am going to call Tim tomorrow and tell him the truth," she told him.

"I know," he replied. "Thank you."

They stayed like this until sometime later when Yvonne had calmed down. Zac asked quietly, "Do you want me to put in another movie, or do you just want to go to bed?"

"Bed," she told him, paused and added, "Will you stay with me?"

"Of course," he smiled. And he pressed his lips to her forehead before picking her up in his arms and carrying her into the bedroom. He kept the lights off; gently placed Yvonne onto her bed then joined her moments later. She instinctively curled into his body, her face in the crook of his shoulder.

Yvonne fell asleep soon thereafter. Zac held her protectively in his arms until he too dozed off. The storm had finally ended and all was quiet. The world was at peace and the remainder of the night was driven by their beating hearts.

An: Ok, so not much smut compared to the first two chapters I think, but I had to sacrifice the nasty for some plot development. I hope it still evoked some real emotion from you, dear reader, maybe you feel soulful, angry (at me for whatever reason) or perhaps you have that stupid blissful smile plastered to your face because everything is finally working out for the best. Either way, no matter what you feel, I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Fun times are ahead of us!

R&R