Zac woke to the sound of Taylor, trying to tiptoe in. He leaned up and squinted at him. "Damn Tay...where the hell did you go? You reek.." he grouched. "Some dive Rick likes to go to, the owner doesn't enforce the no smoking law.." Tay shrugged as he wriggled himself out of his clothes. He knew he stunk and couldn't wait to get the smoke smell out of his hair. "Rick?" Zac questioned. "Umm Tay? Did you FORGET something?" Taylor looked at his brother. "What do you mean?" he asked, his heart pounding. "Dude.." Zac chuckled. "Deanna has been driving us crazy all night. If you're gonna break a date you're SUPPOSED to call...and at least leave a message in her voice mail if you're too chicken to actually talk to her." Taylor dropped his head back and squeezed his eyes shut. "Oh shit..." he groaned. "I COMPLETELY forgot that I made plans with her." Zac chuckled again, "You better come up with a good excuse bro.." he told him. "Well I did have a few too many beers last time we went out, that's when I made plans with her. That excuse will have to do." he grinned at Zac. "Nite bro.." Taylor told Zac and headed for the shower. When he was finished and came back into the bedroom, Zac was on his cell phone, talking to Emma by the sound of his voice. He quietly dried off, pulled on a clean pair of navy blue boxers and flopped into bed. Ike was already in his bed, lightly snoring. Taylor faced the wall and laid awake, listening to the soft tone of his brother's voice as he spoke to Emma, suddenly feeling a stab of guilt and a pang of jealousy. What the hell was that about? He breathed a silent sigh of relief as Zac said goodnight to Emma. He had realized that Emma must be home safe in her own bed and he was glad that Danny hadn't taken it upon himself to retailiate for that gash Emma sliced into his arm. Another stab of guilt and pang of jealousy later, he heard Zac say the words and flip the phone shut. Taylor told himself to get a grip, he knew from the way Emma had said it to him, there was no one but Zac for her. he sighed inwardly and tried to sleep, but it was a long time coming. Zac tried not to laugh as he listened to Taylor grovel and explain himself to Deanna as he got himself up and dressed. He was anxious to see Emma and make sure she knew he would miss her while he was away. She should know already though, she was about the only thing besides his career that could get him to drag his ass out of bed this early in the morning. He was also sure that Tay was already up, and kissing some major ass, because Zac woke him. He chuckled when he heard Taylor make definate plans to see Dea when they got back to L.A. on Saturday, complete with 'just you and me, we'll do something special..i promise' Taylor looked up at Zac and Zac couldn't resist balling his hand into a fist and making a kissing noise into the hole where his thumb wrapped around his knuckle. "Sucker.." he mouthed, trying not to laugh out loud. Tay shot Zac a dirty look and mouthed "Bite me" as he listened to Deanna ramble on and on about being hurt and humiliated. Taylor apologized profusely, rolling his eyes. How many times could he say he was sorry? He decided that he would keep the date he just made with her and then he was done. It wasn't like they were dating exclusively anyway, he wasn't really sure he liked her THAT much. That stab of guilt and jealous pang came back and he silently kicked himself. 'Get over it' he told himself. 'Look at Zac, makin'a big fuckin' dork of himself. He's in love with her and she feels exactly the same way about him. She said the words...to you...stupid' He sighed and said good bye to Deanna, finally, and decided as he hung up that Emma had nothing to do with his decision not to call Dea anymore. She'd nag him to his grave, given the chance. He set the phone down on the charger and Zac burst into laughter. "Hey Tay..you got somethin' on your nose, man.." he told his brother. "Kiss my ass, Zac." Taylor snapped and that made Zac laugh harder. "That seems to be your department.." "Aww that's it..." Taylor growled and lunged at Zac, grabbing his knees and knocking him to the ground. "Shit!" Zac muttered and then the war began as Ike woke up and decided to jump in on Zac's side, once Zac filled him in on the fact that Tay had to suck up to Dea big time, just to get her to shut up. "Aww you wus..." Ike groaned and held him down while Zac pretended to smother him with a pillow. "Let's just put him out of his misery, man.." Zac teased. The match was finally broken up when Walker came in, admonishing them to get their stuff together so they'd be ready to go on time. He gave an extra warning to Zac, to be back at the house in more than enough time to get to the airport. "I will, Dad. Emma has a class..." he said and then groaned when he saw the looks on his brothers' faces. Walker pressed his lips together in an effort not to laugh and left the room. Tay and Ike teased him relentlessly as Zac gathered his things and brushed his hair, pulling it into a ponytail. "Shut up dorks..." he grinned as he left the room.

The next few nights went relatively easy, considering Zac was out of town so Emma didn't have to worry. He did make her promise to call his cell as soon as she came in from work everynight, and he called her at home between classes and work. She spent a couple of evenings at Jenny's, feeling an intense need to talk and knowing she could trust her with anything. When Emma first told her she'd met somebody, Jenny jumped up and squealed, squuezing the life out of Emma in a big bear hug and waking the baby. Emma helped Jenny get little Hannah calmed down, and then sat answering all of Jenny's prying questions. Ones that would have been offensive coming from anyone but her best friend. "I knew filling in for me would be good for YOU someday." she said excitedly. "When do I get to meet him?" she asked. "Zac? Wait....you met him at the studio? Oh holy shit Emma! Zac HANSON!" she squealed and Emma clamped her hand over her mouth. "You're gonna wake up Hannah again.." she giggled. "Damn Emma! He's HOT..oh my god.." Jenny gushed. Emma rolled her eyes. "He's just as goofy as any other guy you ever met, Jenny." she said. "But he IS hot.." she allowed, then they both giggled like they were still in high school. "You know...his brothers are pretty, uh...." Jenny wiggled her eyebrows. "Yeah. Very sweet, too. Just like Zac." Emma agreed and actually thought of how Tay braved being seen in the bar, just to come talk to her, for Zac's sake. "He's out of town till Saturday, Jen. But yeah, I think I would like you to meet him. I'll talk to him when he gets back." Emma said thoughtfully. "Emma...you know you have to tell him soon." Jenny said quietly. Emma sighed. "I know...but Jen...god.." she held her breath and tried not to let the tears well up. "I can't take that look from him...I know I couldn't." "WHAT LOOK?" Jenny exploded, jumping to her feet. "Who's been giving you shit, Emma?" "Calm down, Rambo..." Emma sighed. "You know how Mom is...and Danny the asshole is getting worse. He knows about Zac, saw my picture in a tabloid with him, and he's pushing me to dance three or four nights a week instead of a couple a month.." "I should split that bastard's skull when I had the chance.." Jenny rumbled. "Yeah and lose Hannah, cause Danny is a sleaze like that." Emma remarked. "I just don't wanna see the look of disgust on Zac's face. I can take it from anyone else..but not Zac." Emma said softly. "Oh baby.." Jenny cupped the back of Emma's head and pulled her into an embrace. Emma hugged her back and burst into tears. "Shh sweetie.." Jenny soothed as she rocked her, "We'll get it figured out. You really DO love him, don't you?" Emma nodded and wiped her cheeks, then looked at Jenny. "You know I will do whatever I can, Emma. I love you girlfriend, the sister I never had.." she smiled and moved the curl out of Emma's eyes. "We'll think of something." Jenny told her friend. Emma stayed a bit longer, had a cup of coffee, then gathered her things and went to work.

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