My Zanessa senses are tingling! Thanks everyone for your thoughts and encouragement to me and cnc for these conversations! This one revolves around the day that a certain black Audi was seen pulling into parking space #1 at the six bedroom mansion owned by one V. Hudgens. :D So many reasons he might have been there. The first question that popped into my head though was 'How many "ex" boyfriends still have garage door openers to their girlfriend's home?' hehe hehe hehe I'm just glad he does! (And NO, I don't think he's an 'ex'!)

As usual, we don't have any connections to Zac or Vanessa or anyone related to them. We are just a couple of 'crazed fans' who love them and want to support them and share our addiction with you. :)

Bluebell and Greentopak thank you for your ideas! Please keep 'em coming! The suggestions you make sometimes spark wonderful story ideas and conversations! PM's, reviews and e-mails are certainly welcome. We love to hear what you have to say, and LOVE to talk about Zanessa! You feed our addiction and fuel our obsession!

As always, KTZLF! -True Love Always Finds Its Way! - adc & cnc


He stepped into the closet and kicked the t-shirt and boxers out of his way before reaching over to look at the two suits that hung randomly on the front of the rack.

Are you serious? The 23-year-old man shook his head. He glanced backwards at the digital alarm clock that sat on the table beside his bed. He sighed with a touch of relief and a bit of frustration.

I know I have more than two suits. When did my other suits get to Nessa's house? He smiled to himself as the vision of her soft brown eyes and dark hair entered his mind. Probably when she offered to pick up my dry cleaning... Or when I asked her to pick up my dry cleaning… Or when I got dressed – and undressed – at her place … he answered his own question with numerous potential answers. Why wouldn't my suits be at her house? Why aren't these two there as well? He tugged on the jacket sleeves of both outfits. Because she says I look like Grandpa when I wear these…not that that's a BAD thing…she would say.

He backed out of the closet and picked up the pieces of dirty laundry that were wrapping around his toes as he walked. He threw them in the hamper and noticed that the lid was beginning to bulge.

It's 10:00 in the morning. I can't go rummaging through her house without her knowing…or can I?

Zac looked back at the laundry container and glanced into the closet. He had numerous choices. But the simplistic plan that was forming in his head seemed far more tempting than the other options that required him to stay at his own house.

With a slight grin he picked up his phone and sent a text message to his girlfriend. Break or no break, that's what Vanessa was to him.

"Are you up yet?"

He left the message and began making up his bed, picking up other clothes that he had tossed about, and went back in the bathroom to finish getting ready. No matter what plan of action he chose, he only had until 3:30pm to find a suit and be dressed. At that point Charles would be buzzing the security code and pulling the limo into his driveway. And, knowing his personal driver, the sight of Zac – alone - would be enough to make him start tapping his watch and his toe in a 'let's get goin'' fashion.

KTZLF*TRUELOVEALWAYSFINDSITSWAY

His phone buzzed on the kitchen counter 45 minutes later as he flipped the eggs in the skillet. He had to smile knowing it would only be one person sending him a note.

"Just got done at the chiro's office. Wat'sup?"

Zac caught himself closing his eyes as he took a deep breath and began clicking the keys. "Just gettin breakfast. You ok?" he typed back simply.

He scooped the eggs onto a plate and headed back to the counter just in time for her response to come in. "Yeah…just tweeked my back somehow. Prob from climbing over rocks and junk on set."

He laughed to himself as he read her words. "Um sure…climbing rocks…nothing to do with dancing on the furniture at your bday party!"

He could practically hear her scoffing at him when her next text came through. "I did NOT!"

As much as he wanted to stop the texting and just call her on that lie he decided to continue the written conversation. "Don't lie Baby. Ash and Britt were there. I've talked to both of them. I KNOW u had a GOOD time dancing with them the club. ;) "

A few moments passed letting him consume a few bites before the device buzzed again. "Damn them for ratting me out. :P"

A few particles of food escaped his mouth as Zac let out a hearty "Hah!"

He loved it when he caught her in a fib. She always had a good excuse…or at least he was always led to believe that she did.

"What else r u up 2 2day?" he wondered with hopes that her answer just might coincide with his plan.

"Running to Mom & Dad's then home. No big plans. What u?"

Zac answered somewhat half-heartedly. She knew exactly what he was up to tonight. He had hoped she would join him but with the recent publicity about their supposed 'break', both had decided it might just be best for Zac to attend alone.

"PCA's tonight. That's it." His lips twitched as he sent the note.

"Ah." She responded. "Sry, gotta go…gotta drive. TTYL?"

Zac sighed. Would they talk later? He sure hoped so. "U bet. LY! Xoxoxo"

Vanessa smiled as she opened his final message and unlocked the door of her car. The cameras in front of her had captured her smile all through the electronic chat. Her heart beat just a little faster with the last few characters of her boyfriend's text message. Break or no break, that's what Zac was to her.

She quickly sent a line back to him before turning the key in the ignition. "LY2, lots! Xoxoxo"

KTZLF*TRUELOVEALWAYSFINDSITSWAY

Vanessa had barely put her coat in the closet and turned to pet her pup when she heard the buzz of the garage door opening. She quickly picked up Shadow and walked toward the mud room with her eyebrows creasing.

How on earth? I know I didn't hit anything…who… the questions mounted in her mind and then it dawned on her, making the lines on her forehead ease. Zac. He's the only other one with a garage door opener to my house. He could've warned me, that little sneak…

She pushed the silent conversation to the back of her mind as she tugged on the door and watched the black Audi pull into its familiar spot in her three car garage. The tight smile on her lips was only there because the presence of that third car just felt right in her heart.

"I still have clothes here, right?" Zac barely looked at Vanessa as he opened the shiny black door and stepped out of the car.

"Hi Van, hey Shadow…Sorry I didn't mention earlier that I was gonna come by. I hope that's ok." Vanessa put on her best male voice for the sarcastic phrase, placed her empty hand on her hip and raised her eyebrows in his direction with a shake of her head.

"Oh, sorry. Hi Van, hi Rat. I do still have some clothes over here, don't I?" he rushed with the informalities.

Vanessa rolled her eyes and watched as he pulled his laundry hamper from the back seat of the car.

"Whoa Mister. What is that?" she pointed at the overflowing wicker container. "Do not think you can just waltz over here and still have me do your laundry. Uh-uh. Not happening."

He tried to give her his best little boy face as he closed the doors and began to make his way toward her. "Clean clothes first and then I'll worry about these." He called out in a less than pleading tone.

Vanessa used Shadow's paw to point at him. "Well whatever you have in mind, if I find a pair of your boxers going through with my delicates you'll find them hanging off the garage door the next time you decide to just let yourself into my house."

Her bark was almost as convincing as the little dog's that she was holding in her arms. Vanessa and Zac both knew that her attempt to act angry or upset with him at this point needed more coaching before she would even be considered for that role.

The young man and woman stood for a moment and just looked at each other trying not to smile. Both wanted to drop what they were holding and wrap their arms around the other. For the moment though, they just looked.

Zac finally shook out of his daze and remembered why he was there. "Clothes, Van. You didn't answer my question. Do I still have clothes here?"

Her confusion at his presence mixed with the sentiment of the fact that neither of them had actually cleared their belongings from the others' house. It was just another bit of proof that their break was not a break-up.

"Yeah." She answered softly as he approached the door. "Unless you came and picked up stuff without telling me. I haven't moved anything."

He balanced the laundry basket on his thigh when he reached the door and reached down to let Shadow lick his fingers before scratching her chin. The little ball of fur let out a gentle, happy, 'yip' at the sight of her human dad.

Zac also took the opportunity to lean in and give Vanessa a soft kiss on the cheek before pushing past her. He set his dirty clothes next to the door that led into the laundry room and then made a beeline for the staircase.

Vanessa quickly put the dog down and followed behind him. "Zac? Zachary? What are you doing?" Shadow watched as her parents rushed away from her until she felt the coast was clear. The little diva dog had learned that a Vanessa and Zac rushing toward the stairs meant she would be kicked out of the bedroom sooner or later anyway…so why even attempt to follow them.

When Vanessa caught up to Zac he was already in the massive closet in her bedroom - their bedroom - which held more than a few items of his wardrobe.

"Good." She heard him say from inside the room that was initially meant to be office space connected to the bedroom. Instead Vanessa had had the wall knocked out between the closet and the 'office' to form the massive space that held her clothes…and shoes…and purses…and jewelry…

"Zac, what is going on?" she moved into the closet herself and found him standing in front of the rack that held his clothing.

He looked at her as though it should have been obvious. "I can't find…I don't have anything to wear at my house…for tonight…the awards thing."

Vanessa let out a slight sigh of relief at his revelation. She relaxed when she realized he wasn't there to collect his belongings and, in actuality, he probably needed her clothing expertise.

She let her eyes wander over his body, taking in the much shorter haircut he was sporting, the t-shirt that fit tightly across his pecs and the biceps that were sneaking out from under the sleeves of the cotton material. As her vision drifted farther down his body her lips pulled slightly upwards on the right side of her face.

Vanessa's eyes finally lifted back up and noticed him watching her. The look on her face told Zac that her mind had drifted into a place they would both rather be…but he wasn't ready to go there, just yet. So he waited for her to say something.

She quirked an eyebrow at him. "And you not having something to wear is a problem because…"

Zac meshed his lips together willing himself not to smile at her seductive voice and wandering eyes. "And you call me the pervert? The PCA's, Van. I need a suit for tonight." He attempted to focus her attention.

Vanessa ignored his attempt as her gaze set on his chest and upper arms. "You know, your biceps have bulked up so much from your movie training…"

She took the opportunity to step behind him and slowly moved her hands to his arms, squeezing the muscles gently. She felt him tense and heard him swallow verbally. "You may have to get some new suits, or shirts at least." She commented.

"Van…" he kept facing forward and stood as still as possible while her hands moved over his arms. "This is not helping matters here."

Vanessa stalled her movements for a moment and then began again. "Maybe not for you…" she quipped.

Zac sucked in a deep breath, closed his eyes and began speaking to himself, out loud, purposefully. "Trying to be good…trying to be good…I'm thinking about grandmas and puppies and baking cookies…" he pushed the breath out of his lips. "Ok, I'm fine. I can do this."

He breathed in and out once more before turning to face her and grasping her own upper arms to get her attention. With eyebrows raised he looked into her face. "Ok, seriously Van, I need help!"

Vanessa moved her hands and let out a frustrated sigh.

"Fine." She mumbled. "What time do you have to be there?"

Zac dropped his hands and went back to his search for a suit. "Charles is supposed to pick me up at 3:30."

Vanessa glanced at the clock. "Ok. It's 11:30 now. That gives you four hours. Plenty of time. Start trying on the suits that are there and let me see them. We may have to go shopping."

She wandered out of the closet while Zac turned toward her with his arms and hands reaching out toward her back trying to beckon for her assistance.

"I don't have time to go shopping." He called out behind her in frustration.

Vanessa shrugged her shoulders while she headed toward the bed. "If your suits don't fit then you don't have a choice now, do you? Now grab one of those and try it on." She situated herself on the edge of the bed to wait for him.

Zac finally emerged from his search with a suit-coat and pants on a hanger. He looked at Vanessa sitting patiently on the bed and then looked around the room. "Are…are you just gonna sit there and watch me change?" he asked with curiosity.

Vanessa tossed him a smug look. "Would you rather I help you undress?" She pointed toward the door to the bathroom before continuing. "You can always go in the bathroom or into another bedroom. There are five others to choose from you know."

Zac matched her smug look with his own and raised his eyebrows. "Fine." He crossed his arms and reached down to grasp the hem of his shirt. He pulled the material up over his head, exposing his bare chest and toned abdomen to her sight.

He heard the soft breath that Vanessa sucked in and worked hard not to wink or grin at her. So far so good PCA Plan A is going better than I ever expected! Zac thought to himself.

Zac tossed his shirt on the bed and then wrapped his arms around his chest as though he was feeling embarrassed. "Wait. I'm practically doing a striptease for you here. How is this helping me again?"

Vanessa licked her lips and couldn't help but stare at his body. She didn't even attempt to meet his eyes as she answered. "You are seeing if you have a suit that fits. I am simply seeing you…and benefiting from your suits still being at my house." She added with a soft, gravelly voice and a slight smirk.

Zac pointed an accusing finger in her direction. "You are the reason I don't have time to go shopping!"

Vanessa raised her hands in surrender and pulled her eyes up to meet his. "Hey, don't you dare try to pin this on me. You came over here asking me to help you find clothes. And you brought your dirty laundry. What's that about anyway? I'm just trying to help you find something that'll make you look even sexier than you already are…" her voice trailed off as she comprehended the words that had just come from her mouth.

"Well if you weren't such a –" Zac stopped short as her attention whipped back to him. He noticed her looking directly at his lips trying to decipher what word he was about to say.

"A what?" she felt a small flare ignite inside of her until she saw the playful twinkle in his eyes.

Zac placed his hands on his hips where his jeans were already beginning to ride lower and lower showing the band of his boxer briefs. Vanessa matched his stance with hands on her own hips and eyebrows raised at him.

"You know what I'm talking about. You're a…a temptress!" he kept his lips pinched together to stop the smile that wanted to stretch from cheek to cheek.

Vanessa stood straighter and turned on her heels showing him her tense back. Zac however took the offensive position in stride and enjoyed the lower view- the one showing her butt practically strutting in front of him. She let one hand shoot into the air to stop any other comments he might want to add.

"Just change Zac!" she scoffed with mouth open and eyes rolling.

Zac lowered his voice, deciding to play her game. "You sure you can handle this?" he teased.

Vanessa let out a breath and turned around with a more serious look on her face. "Now who's the tempting one? I think I've done a damn good job so far." She crossed her arms and waited for him to continue.

Zac hung the suit on the bedroom door hook and went back into the closet to grab a dress shirt. His full intention was to grab the first plain white shirt that he could locate. But once he was out of her sight their 'game' began to settle into his mind, heart and body.

Vanessa's voice interrupted his thoughts. "You ok in there?" she questioned humorously. "Your shirts are still in the same place as always."

"I know." Zac answered with his voice a bit more subdued. With a look over his body he realized that she had already had such an effect on him that it was noticeable. And, not only could he feel it…he knew, with one glance toward his jeans, that Vanessa would also be able to notice. He grabbed a shirt and held it in front of him as he returned to the bedroom.

Zac looked at Vanessa sitting innocently on the bed with legs criss-crossed in front of her. "You know, on second thought, I think I will change in the bathroom."

He ducked his head and took two steps toward the open door before Vanessa's slight 'ah' made him stop.

She leaned back on her hands on the bed and showed him her disbelief with surprised eyes and an open mouth. "I'm sorry?" she began. "You call me a temptress and now you don't want to change in front of me? I don't think so Mr. Efron."

She again climbed off the bed and stood up with arms across her chest hoping against hope that the redness in her cheeks wouldn't be noticeable to Zac.

"Off with it Efron."

"Van, no. Not a good idea right now." Zac tried.

Vanessa looked into his blue eyes, stepped toward him, and hooked a single finger into one of his belt loops. She glanced down toward the front of his jeans and lowered her voice.

"Do you think I don't know that you are already worked up, just from our little chat and the teasing? Do you think I'm not? I think we know each other pretty well by now, don't we? You were getting worked up before you even walked into my house. You were getting worked up when you texted me this morning…wondering if I was out of bed or not. I won't let you hide it Zac."

His glazed eyes watched as she uncrossed her arms and poked both of her index fingers directly into his shoulders. Both felt the fire that her touch always sent through each of their bodies.

"Honestly?" she moved backwards just one step and tilted her head with a soft look. "The temptress in me actually plans to take full advantage of it."

Zac groaned as she backed up farther and climbed onto the bed. He looked almost nervous as she lay down on her stomach, bent her legs at the knees and brought her feet up to dangle in mid air. She propped her elbows on the soft mattress with palms turned upwards as a resting place for her chin. Then she nibbled on her bottom lip before letting the sexy smirk find its way across her face.

Her body language was all too familiar to her boyfriend of five, plus, years. She was comfortable and ready for her show.

"Now, Stud, off with it," she demanded with a blush. "All of it!"

Zac took a moment to think about their current situation. Their 'break' sat at the forefront of his mind. As much as he wanted desperately to continue, he also wanted to make sure Vanessa was thinking about their present as well as their future.

She could see the thoughts written on his face. As he stepped to the bed she let her body slouch just a little. Zac reached out to touch her cheek with his warm hand.

"Nessa, Baby…" She closed her eyes and rested her face against his palm before letting her eyelids open to look up at him. "We haven't talked about this part of being…apart…yet. Not seriously anyway. During this 'break' thing, what happens when we reach this point? What happens when we're together and we want to be together? We both want this right now, don't we? It's not just me. I don't want us to be together now and then you regret it tomorrow. And I don't want to make things harder for either of us when you leave for North Carolina in a couple of weeks."

Vanessa pulled her cheek from his hand and breathed in, already missing the touch that was just inches away from her. "I…I want this, Zac. But do you? I need to know that you still want this part of us. This break is just because we are forced to be apart. It doesn't mean that I don't want you…or this."

She brought herself up on her knees and ran a single finger down the middle of his chest. Zac grabbed her hand before she could reach too low and simply held it.

"Baby, I'm always gonna want us. And I don't just mean the physical side. Well, I mean…let's be realistic here. I'm a guy, so yeah, I'm always gonna want the physical part of things between us." He grinned as Vanessa rolled her eyes at him.

He noticed that a genuine smile had formed on her face with their soft words to each other. "And Vanessa, I've gotta be honest. I want to be with you forever. You have to know that. When we get to the point where maybe the careers are more manageable and we're ready at the same time…" she watched as he lifted her hand and softly kissed the kuuipo ring on her finger. "…then this is getting replaced. You know I want to do that."

Vanessa held her breath for a second trying to keep the smile and force the tears back inside. Still she let out a sarcastic laugh and smacked her hand softly against her thigh. "Yeah, like when we're 80 and not good enough to do movies anymore. That'll be about the time when our schedules correspond again and we can talk about that little bit of forever that we might have left if we're both still alive."

Zac let her hand drop back onto the bed and put both of his against her cheeks. "Hey." He caught her attention seriously. "Do you have faith in us?" He looked directly through her brown eyes into her heart.

"I'm trying to," Vanessa answered with a noticeable sigh.

Zac shook his head gently. "You shouldn't have to try, Vanessa. It should just be there. Do you not have faith in me?"

Vanessa leaned against his palm. "Of course I do," She answered a bit stronger.

"Then what is it?" Zac asked.

"I don't know." Vanessa started and placed her hands on his wrists as he continued holding her face between his hands. Her next words were quiet and slow, to make sure he knew how important they really were. "I love you and I want you and I want us. I guess…maybe…I'm just scared."

Zac caressed her skin with his thumbs. "Scared of what, Baby?"

Vanessa shook her head slowly. "I don't know. Of…of being without you? Of what happens while we're apart? Of…just going through things alone?" she couldn't help the tears that escaped as she thought of the unknowns ahead of them.

He sat down next to her on the bed and pulled her against him, wrapping his arms around her. "But that's just it Vanessa. We're not alone. Physically, we may not be together for a period of time, but we're still doing this together. We aren't alone. We have each other."

"But Zac," she protested. "We've both seen what this business can do to people. I don't want us to end up like…I don't know, but like them."

Zac placed a kiss in her hair and ran his fingers up and down her arm. "Who's them?"

Vanessa shrugged her shoulders and lowered her chin. "The one's who can't make it work. No matter how hard they try, things just get worse and worse for them - personally and professionally - and then their names are just…they're just gone."

Zac pressed his lips against her temple as he thought of what to say to reassure her. He let out a breath against her skin. The only answer he could think of was so simple and yet held their lives' complications. With a finger he raised her chin so that he could see her eyes. He kissed her eyelids and felt the tears on his lips.

"Not us." He spoke out loud and promised with his heart. It was the only thing he knew to say, and Vanessa knew the words came from the deepest part of him. The part that also held his love for her.

"Now," Zac pressed his forehead against hers and nuzzled his nose against the tip of Vanessa's. "No more fears. Not about us." He shook his head slightly and licked his lips. "Let me show you how we're gonna make this work."

She closed her eyes as his hand slid to the back of her neck. A few more tears drifted down her cheeks as Zac's lips found hers and softly began to work the magic that she prayed she would know for the rest of her life.

Zac quickly felt her warmth spread through him. He began to smile as their lips connected over and over again. He nudged her gently until she leaned backwards against the pillows. Zac held his body up with his arms as she adjusted beneath him, still fully clothed.

Vanessa caught sight of his practically giddy smile when she got comfortable and lifted her head to resume their kisses. "What?" she grinned and crinkled her nose as she thought about what they were about to do and the time they had together.

Zac caught her bottom lip between his lips and left a teasing kiss before placing one on her nose as he breathed against her gently. "I've been home for nearly a month now - home here in L.A., home to Mom and Dad's - and something was missing. Something wasn't right. Now," he kissed her forehead and dipped his mouth down to hers pressing firmly against it before continuing. "I know there's a lot coming up and a lot of places to go and we may not be together… but now, with you, this very moment, I know I'm home."

Vanessa pressed her lips against his as she listened to him and watched him. "You have faith in us?" she asked softly.

"Yeah," he nodded.

"I do too." She nodded. "Me…" she kissed his jaw as her hands began to wander over his familiar chest. "…and you…" she moved her lips down to his neck and pulled just a bit of his skin between her lips to taste him. "…together."

Their reunion was slow, sure and passionate. In their loving whispers Zac took every chance to tell her how much love he felt in his heart and how much faith he had in them. Vanessa took the opportunity to let at least some of her fears slide away. She wanted to prove her faith by making sure he knew just exactly what home would be like, no matter where they were, together.

KTZLF*TRUE*LOVE*ALWAYS*FINDS*ITS*WAY