"Just gimme her purse Zac, you're already carrying her.." Taylor advised as he and Ike moved the seat so they could get Emma's limp body out of the car. "Here..." Zac grunted, trying to hand it to him without waking her. "I dunno why you just don't wake her up, Zac. She wasn't that bad off.." Ike complained. "I know she wasn't. But she still can't drive and I KNOW her. She'll insist. I'll drive her home and then grab a cab, okay?" Zac told his brothers. "Just let him do it, Ike. He'll be alright." Taylor said as he looked quickly through Emma's purse and found her keys. He also make a discreet check to make sure there was nothing from Danny's in there, just in case Zac needed to get in her bag for something else. He unlocked her car, opened the passenger side and tilted her seat all the way back, then Zac, laid her in it. She stirred, opened her eyes and looked at Zac and smiled slightly. "Hi.." she breathed. "Hi Em. Feel better?" he asked her softly. "I'm fine, Zac. Just tired.." she sighed. "Okay." he kissed her forehead and covered her with both her jacket and his. "I'm gonna drive you home, Em. You just sleep." he told her, his voice low. "Mmmhmm..Thanks, Zac. I don't feel like driving.." she whispered and closed her eyes, tucking her hands under her cheek. Zac turned her so she was facing the driver's seat instead of the door, kissed her cheek and then thanked his brothers for coming out with them. "It was fun, Zac. Kim said when I dropped her off that she really likes Emma. We'll have to do it again." Ike said.  "Yeah, bro. She actually got Dea to relax," Tay said. "That's a miracle in itself." he rolled his eyes. "Be careful, man." Taylor squeezed Zac's shoulder, then he and Ike watched as Zac pulled out of the parking lot before they headed for home.
		Zac got out on the highway and realized that he had absolutely NO idea where Emma lived. he thought about it and so far everytime they had gotten together she had some excuse as to why he couldn't pick her up at home. He'd heard her talk about her mother, even spoken to her a few times, and decided that he and Emma had to talk, NOW. He turned off at the exit that would take him to the beach. He let Emma sleep until he found a small parking area in one of the smaller, less populated (if there WAS such a thing in Southern California) neighborhoods that looked out over a small stretch of beach. It was flanked on either side by old beach houses and most of the beach was markd by signs that read 'PRIVATE, RESIDENTS AND GUESTS ONLY'. Once he had the car parked in the tiny public space, he gave her a gentle shake. "Em, wake up baby.." he said softly. She stretched, rubbed her eyes and sat up slowly. Her eyes focused on Zac and she gave him a small smile. "Hi.." "Hi Em. You feeling alright?" he asked and squeezed her hand. Emma sighed heavily, "Yeah. I'm fine, Zac. Sober, too, if that's what you're asking." she said. "Really?" he looked closely at her. "Yes. Really. I just needed to sleep a little." she told him. "That's what I get for drinking like a fish.." she shook her head and rubbed her eyes again. "I AM sorry, Zac." she apologized. "I wasn't paying attention either, Em." he grinned. "I just don't want to take you home like that. Your mom already doesn't like me." "Why would you say a goofy thing like that?" Emma asked. "I've spoken to her, Em. She's usually sounds like she's pissed that I'm calling you." he told her. Emma sighed loudly. "I apologize for that Zac. She probably thinks you are one of the jerks that manages to get my number at the bar I tend. I'll talk to her." Emma said. "Well.." he began, slowly. "Would it help if I picked you up at home the next time we go out, babe? I mean..she's talked to me, but maybe if we met she wouldn't give you, OR ME," he grinned, "such a hard time." "Zac..." Emma had no idea what to say. She did want her mom to know Zac. She knew that her mother would like him, and would be glad that Emma was actually dating someone. But she was sure all this happiness was over first thing in the morning. As soon as Taylor told Zac about Danny's. "What's the problem Em?" Zac asked, trying not to become angry, but failing. "Your mom got something against you dating musicians or something?" "No. Zac. Not hardly." Emma said flatly. "My mom has just been difficult to live with since my Dad split. I was trying to spare you her bitter attitude toward everything. That's all." Emma said softly. Zac cupped the back of her head in his hand and made her look at him. "I'm sorry Em. I just..." he sighed. He didn't know what he meant to say, he only knew that all he thought about was being with her and he didn't want anything to stand in their way. "It's alright, Zac. I don't talk much about my Dad either. No point, we don't know where he is. She's still angry so all men are lined up at the end of her shotgun right now. But I would like her to know you.." she said and stopped. 'Yeah right Emma.' she thought to herself, 'he's long gone tomorrow anyway'. Zac chuckled. "Now is probably NOT a good time, Em. Not after I let you have too much to drink and it's three o'clock in the morning." he told her. "I KNOW that silly. I was trying to think of when would be a good time." she said, telling herself she didn't need to, really. One conversation with Taylor and all plans would be cancelled. "How 'bout next weekend, Zac?" she asked. "My work schedule sucks this week.. Brit..well anyway, I have to work more than usual." she told him, not wanting to lie, but not knowing what to tell him. She wasn't prepared.
		"Okay, Em. Are you tending bar all week? Or filling in for Jenny?" he asked. "Tending bar.." Emma groaned inwardly, she knew what was coming. "It's not THAT busy during the week is it? I hate to wait all week to see you." Zac asked hopefully. Emma laid herhand on his cheek. "Baby, I would LOVE to have you keep me company at the bar all night, BUT..." and her heart ached at the look of disappointment on his face, she felt it too, "but it's a seedy dive. No respectable person would be caught dead there and the crowd is kind of rough. You DEFINATELY don't want pictures of you in that dump floating around." she told him. 'You ain't just a'whistlin' dixie either, Emma you moron' she chastised herself. "It can't be all bad, Em." he said, "YOU work there." Emma closed her eyes not wanting him to see her anguish. "Zac. It's a DUMP, okay? The only reason I work there is because drunk morons will tip me just to watch me try and wash shot glasses that no one has been able to see through in about five years. The owner is a jerk, I KNOW, I went to school with him," she continued. "He gave me the job when my dad left because my mom and I were in a bad way. Soon as I finish school in December, I am OUT OF THERE. And trust me, you DON'T want your picture taken in there. Your father would have a stroke." she finished. "I'll take that excuse for now, Em." Zac said slowly, "But only beacuse we have to go out of town on Tuesday and we won't be back until Saturday afternoon. But I don't like this Emma." he took her face in his hands and made her look into his eyes. "I LOVE you. I wasn't just saying that because.." he stopped and searched her suddenly expressionless stare. "Do you hear me, Em? I LOVE you." Emma looked back at Zac and wanted to get out of the car and run. If he knew what else she did to make tips at that hole, the beautiful expression on his face right now what change to pure disgust. She couldn't even look at herself in the mirror after a night she had to dance. She desperately did NOT want to see that. "Emma, talk to me. What is it?" he shook her out of her thoughts. "Nothing Zac. I love you. I wasn't just saying that either." she said softly and the tears began to stream down her face. "I do love you. I don't want to hurt you. Ever." she said and hugged him tightly. "It's late, Em. I better take you home. I don't want to have this conversation at 3 in the morning, not sure if you are completely sober. Tell me how to get to your house." he said and brushed her hair out of her face. "Go to your house, Zac. I can't go home at this hour again. My mom will give me so much shit I'll never hear the end of it. I'll go to Jenny's and shower there. If the baby's not sick I can get a couple hours sleep too." she said. "Emma.." Zac started to get angry, but realized she had a point. He couldn't keep her out all night everytime he was with her and expect her mother to welcome him with open arms. "Never mind. I get it." he sighed and started the car. "Zac.." she laid her hand on his arm. "I don't wanna end this night like this. Please." Tears flowed down her cheeks and she did TRY to find the words, but the fear of what she would see in his eyes froze her tongue in her mouth. "God Emma..." he groaned and shut the car off. "It's okay, baby.." he murmured as he pulled her into his arms. Emma clung to him, having convinced herself this would be the last night she ever spent in his arms. She'd be selfish this one night and let Taylor break it to him, so at least she didn't have to see his face when he found out what she really was. A fucking two-bit table dancer, with a bare minimum college education and a sleazy, blackmailing son-of-a-bitch for a boss.
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