Title: There's Always the Future
Ships: Zac Efron and Nikki Blonsky, all growed up.
Minor characters: Derek Nelson, Vanessa Hudgens, Scott Porter, Adam Shankman,
Fictional characters I've made up: Charlie Efron, Christa Nelson, Mitchell Porter and Annabelle Porter
Author: brit_ta_nee_kay
Rating: PG-13 for sexual innuendos
Chapters:1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15


Summary: The time and place is early October 2027. The set up is Nikki and Zac haven’t spoken to each other in five years, after Hairspray they both got married to other people and had children. Nikki just divorced from her husband of 19 years and is living in LA with her daughter and Nikki and Zac start a whole new friendship.

Disclaimer: I don't own them. This is obviously a fictional story I’ve only made up from my own wandering imagination. I own this story and my all powerful future seeing self. ;)





*******
“So how are the other kids and hubby?”

“They’re good, Corbin and I are happy.” Ashley sighed and leaned against the counter opposite of Zac. “What’s going on with you and Nikki? Vanessa tells me you guys are getting married?” Ashley raised an eyebrow and took a sip of her orange juice Zac handed her.

“Yeah we’re planning on it, no one really knows yet but we’re expecting a baby too.”

“Wow Zac, you haven’t changed a bit. How’s Charlie taking the break up? I was absolutely surprised to see Cambria when she showed up on our front porch last week.”

“Really hard, I mean except for the other night he went out with Christa he hadn’t left the house. I mean he was really moping around here.”

“Yeah, I think she’s just getting scared because they were getting so serious, and you know having Christa back in Charlie’s life was probably a bit different for awhile.”

“Yeah I suppose you can say Nikki and Christa definitely shook up our world a bit.” Nikki started down the stairs and could hear a woman’s voice talking to Zac, it wasn’t his mother, or her mother and it definitely wasn’t Christa since she had sulked off to her room. Nikki reached the landing and saw a small frame with long blonde hair. “Speaking of Nikki, good morning sweetie.” Zac spoke cheerfully hoping that Nikki could put their argument from the night before behind them “I’m making breakfast.”

“I can see that. Hello Ashley, how are you?” Nikki smiled and hugged Ashley before heading for the coffee pot.

“I’m good Nikki, Zac was just telling me the good news, about the baby and wedding. Congratulations.”

“Oh? Yeah I suppose it’s good news, the wedding is going to be Christmas wedding, I’m sure Zac will put you on the list, since he’s in charge of making the list and I have to clear everyone I want to invite by him. Zac honey, are my parents on the list?” Nikki batted her lashes and looked from Ashley’s stunned face to Zac’s uncomfortable grin.

“Oh Nikki, anyone you want to invite is more then welcome.”

“Well thanks Zac, I’m going to hold you to it, even after company leaves.” Nikki smiled at Ashley while Ashley felt the tension in the room. “If you two would just excuse me, I’m going to go shower and use the restroom, being pregnant makes you pee like a racehorse. Nice seeing you again Ashley.”

“You too Nikki.” Ashley smiled and Zac and her watched Nikki walk up the stairs and out of their sight.

“Sorry about that Ash, we had a bit of an argument last night, she invited Derek over for the holidays and it just made me uncomfortable.”

“As it should, that’s her ex-husband.” Ashley rolled her eyes, “If I had invited my two previous ex-husbands to Corbin and my wedding he would’ve flipped. If she really loves you she’s going to put Derek in her past.”

“Thank you, exactly what I was thinking.” Zac laughed and flipped his pancakes.
********
“Cambria I’ve missed you.” Charlie patted the spot on his bed next to him, the place where Christa had been moments before.

“Doesn’t seem like it.” Cambria wiped the tears from her face and sat next to Charlie.

“There is nothing going on between Christa and I, we were just keeping each other company since we’re alone.”

“You know I don’t want to believe the media, but what about that ksis?”

“That was nothing, they managed to take a picture at a moment when we pecked each other after dancing. It was absolutely nothing. Honesty, I love you, I’m in love with you. When you left me I was miserable, I am miserable.”

“That’s good to hear.” Cambria forced a smile. “I have to tell you why I left. I didn’t want to tell you but I have to. Just so you know, and so I’m not keeping secrets from you.”

“What happened?” Charlie saw the scared and hurt in Cambria’s eyes.

“I was, was being not anymore. I was pregnant. I left so I could--”

“Kill the baby?” Charlie growled, Cambria practically jumped at the intensity of Charlie’s statement and the fury in his eyes.

“The timing wasn’t right, I have the show going right now so--”

“You made a decision we should’ve made together!” Charlie practically screamed.

“It’s not your body!” Cambria shouted back.

“But it was my baby too! Well wasn’t it?” Cambria gasped.

“Of course it was, how could you accuse me off--”

“Having no heart? You need to leave now, and I mean now. I don’t want to say anything I’ll regret but I can’t look at you right now.” Charlie got up from the bed and walked over and opened the door for Cambria to leave. Cambria jumped from the bed and ran out the door. She ran down the stairs in tears and stopped in the kitchen as Zac and her mother stared at her.

“Mother, we need to leave. Sorry we can’t stay for breakfast.” Cambria ran towards the front door and Ashley gave Zac a pleading look then chased after her daughter.
********
Zac’s heart sank as he watched Cambria run out the door in tears. All he could remember was the day he had to tell Nikki he had gotten another girl pregnant. It was the same face she had had. Starla Efron sauntered down the stairs and entered the kitchen interrupting Zac’s inner thoughts.

“Man this house is full of noise at all hours of the day isn’t it?”

“Not usually, actually it was pretty quiet around here up until two months ago.”

“The noise isn’t wrong Zachary. It means people who love each other are living under one roof.” Starla smiled and poured herself some coffee. “Things okay with you and Nikki?”

“She’ll come around, I suppose.” I hope. “Can I ask your advice?”

“Of course, don’t know if it’ll be what you want to hear but I’ll tell you what I think.”

“Alright, well last night Nikki mentioned that she had invited Derek over for Christmas and I told her I wished she would’ve asked me before she just went ahead and invited him. I mean he’s her ex, if her and I want to make it work this time around we have to put the past behind us.”

“Zachary, are you going to cut off all communication with Vanessa?”

“Of course not, but its different with Vanessa and I?”

“How so?”

“Vanessa and I were always just friends, I mean even when I found out about Scott, we were never truly a married couple. Our relationship was always just a façade.”

“But you still slept with Vanessa, you still had a baby and a marriage with Vanessa. You know Nikki loved you very much when you broke her heart. You know that Nikki loved you very much when she married her husband, and yes she may have been in love with her husband but that doesn’t mean she can’t remain friendly with him Zachary. They have a child together, they will forever be connected.” Starla smiled at her son and rubbed his hand. “She loves you Zac, she honest to god is head over heels in love with you, the least you can do is treat her the same.”

“Will you excuse me for a moment?” Starla nodded and Zac ran for the stairs and took them two at a time until he barged into Nikki’s bathroom as he heard the shower going.
********
“Hey Christa, we need to talk.” Mitchell’s voice sounded heartbroken and defeated on the other end.

“I already don’t like where this is going.” Christa clutched her stomach as she sat up straighter on her bed. And held her breathe for what Mitchell had to say. She had overheard everything that Cambria and Charlie had said. They were over, Charlie would never forgive Cambria, the pregnancy would’ve have been a repeat of Zac and Vanessa just with a new generation. But would Mitchell and her be a repeat of her mother and father?

“It’s just that I’ve been thinking. Well the thing is…”

“Out with it Mithcell, you want to break up? You want to see other people?”

“Well yeah, the thing is I just see you and Charlie together and I realize that you’ll never look at me that way.”

“Mitchell I told you--”

“Yeah I know. Look I still really care for you, I’d love for us to be friends but I think we’re just better as friends.” Mitchell looked at the sleeping girl next to him. He had done wrong, he had taken back his high school sweetheart in a mere hesitation of feelings for Christa, and with a little help from some alcohol.

“We should definitely stay friends. If in like a year when my career is slowing down and Disney is ready to kick me out on my ass, I want to at least know you’ll be my friend.”

“Of course Christa, we will always be friends.” Mitchell closed his eyes and shut the phone. He was doing it for the sake of everyones heart. Telling Christa he had cheated on her would ruin his friendship with her and Charlie, just breaking up with her and letting her go to Charlie would be one of the best things he could’ve done.
********
“Nikki?”

“Zac what the hell are you doing? I’m taking a shower!” Nikki peeked from behind the shower curtain and Zac licked his upper lip while taking off his shirt. “What the hell do you think you’re doing Efron?”

“I’m joining you, cause they say the best part about breaking up is the make up sex.”

“We haven’t made up yet. Keep your pants on.”

“Let me come in there and make up with you then?” Zac raised an eyebrow and continued to work off his pants and boxers. Nikki watched, slowly his clothing came off and she felt her own arousal between her legs. Zac reached for the shower curtain and Nikki didn’t stop him. He pulled the shower curtain back and saw her wet glistening body under the water. “I’m sorry Nikki,” Zac reached out and pulled her naked body towards him until she was completely meshed against his own bare flesh. “I was being ridiculous, I’ve never been in a functional relationship before.” Zac lightly kissed Nikki’s lips and pushed his tongue into her mouth. Nikki opened her mouth willingly and slid her hands down Zac’s backside until she reached his butt.

Zac slid his hands from Nikki’s waist down her thigh and slipped two fingers inside her. He toyed and touched in all the right places and felt Nikki become wetter. He reached down with his lips and kissed along her jaw bone, then moved his kisses along her collarbone and down to her breast. Nikki moaned from her throat and grabbed Zac’s butt tighter. “Zac--” Nikki panted and widened her hips so Zac could slip himself inside her. Zac teased her nipple with his mouth and felt her body writhe beneath his touch. He felt his own need growing and his body pulsating with heat. He took Nikki’s hips in his hands and slipped himself inside her thrusting his hips in and out watching her face light up with pleasure. He reached for her face and locked his lips with hers, never wanting to let go. As they both reached their breaking points they leaned against the cool shower wall, absolutely exhausted and trying to catch their breath.

“God I love you.” Zac leaned close to Nikki’s ear and whispered into her neck.

“I love you too.” Zac felt his heart jump into his throat, still hearing her say the words made his heart swell. He had never wanted anything more then he wanted her.
*******
“So Mitchell broke up with me.” Christa walked quietly into Charlie’s room.

“Cambria and I are over, she was pregnant.”

“I know.” Christa looked quickly into Charlie’s eyes. She hadn’t meant to let him know that she had known about the pregnancy but she hadn’t stopped herself.

“As in you overheard or you knew all along?” Charlie searched Christa’s face for a recognition that she had only overheard Cambria’s and his earlier fight.

“I knew all along. I didn’t tell her to do what she did but I understand where she was coming from.”

“How did you not tell me?” Charlie felt his blood run hot and he felt the anger burning in his chest.

“I couldn’t, I swore to her.”

“When did your loyalties go to Cambria? You’ve known her all of 5 weeks now?” Charlie bitterly yelled at Christa.

“Come on Charlie, that’s not fair. She told me in confidence. I wanted to make things right with her considering. I didn’t know what she was doing and I didn’t know she was going to leave you like she did. I’m sorry.” Charlie saw the hurt in Christa’s face and he immediately felt guilty for yelling at her, it wasn’t her fault, he didn’t need to take out his anger for Cambria out on the one person who really did care about him.

“I’m sorry Christa, I shouldn’t be yelling at you. I’m just so--” he punched his pillow and leaned back against his head board and closed his eyes. “I feel like if she had been pregnant I would have repeated my dad’s own mistakes. And a part of me is thrilled she didn’t go through with the pregnancy. But then I feel worse because if my mom and dad had made that decision I wouldn’t even--” Charlie stopped and sucked in a breath.

“Don’t think like that Charlie.” Christa ran to Charlie’s side and laid down next to him. “It’s not like that.” Christa hugged Charlie tight and he squeezed her back, they would forever understand each other like no one else did.
*********
“So how are my two favorite children?” Karen Blonsky trotted down the stairs staring at the smiling faces of Nikki and Zac who were staring lovingly at each other.

“Perfect.” Nikki smiled at her mother and laid her head on Zac’s shoulders. “What about Joey? He’s not one of your favorite?” Nikki looked curiously at her mother’s smirk.

“Well we just won’t tell Joey about that little comment that slipped.” Karen laughed and patted Zac on the shoulders. “So have we thought of baby names?”

“Well Zac wants to do something silly, he wants to combine our names but I told him that would take me back to 2007 when it was ‘Summer of Zanessa’ and that’s just something I don’t want to relive.” Nikki cringed and shuddered at the thoughts of that summer.

“I think its cute, what do you think Karen, how would you like your little granddaughter to be called Zikki?”

Karen laughed and tried not to spit out the water she had just taken a sip of. “As much as I love you Zac, I’ve got to say naming your child that would be in poor taste I think.”

“Alright we’ll brainstorm some more. You know the summer of 2007 wasn’t all bad.” Zac smiled and remembered some good times they had together, but then again with the good came the bad.
********
“ Well I'll tell you basically my favorite part is the world is in love with Zac. They see him for, you know, his outer beauty. I know him for his inner beauty and it's four times as beautiful.” Nikki smiled and nodded her head at the reporter.

“That was good! Thank you! Did you hear what she said? That's four times man.” Zac looked from the reporter back to Nikki with a huge grin on his face.

“ He's four times.”

“ Talking about all this...” he made motions that swept in front of his own face and body.

“Like, all this hotness.” Nikki copied his hand gestures with a huge grin.

“ Times four.”

“ Times four! It's like, I couldn't sit next to him. I would blow up!” Nikki started laughing and just nodded in all her seriousness.

After the interview had been done Nikki and Zac headed for their hotel room. Walking hand in hand.

“I just can’t believe Vanessa’s having your baby.” Nikki stared past Zac, not wanting to meet his eyes.

“I know, but I get to be with you until the wedding.” Zac smiled down at Nikki and pressed her body against the hall wall. He leaned down and kissed her lightly on the mouth.

Someone cleared their throat next to the duo and they both looked up quickly. “Excuse me? Keep it in your pants Zac, you already have one on the way.” Elijah elbowed Zac in the ribs and smiled at Nikki. “Well at least take it into the room, we all know you two can’t really keep your hands off each other.”

“Until he’s actually married, he’s mine.” Nikki smiled wickedly and pulled Zac into her hotel room. She’d have her fun and then wait for hear heart to break when she had to hand Zac over to his future wife, the first mother of his baby.

After a long evening of groping and lip touching Nikki laid next to Zac curled up on her side.

“I’m really sad Nik, we only have four more weeks of promotions for Hairspray, which means only four more weeks together.” Zac sighed and kissed Nikki’s forehead.

“Zac I’m late.” Nikki whispered and kept her eyes closed tightly.

“For what?”

“For my-- I’m fucking late Zac.” Nikki couldn’t bare to say the words out loud.

“Oh god.” Zac sat up straight and looked down at Nikki’s clenched eyes. “Should you take a test? I mean are you certain?”

Nikki widened her eyes. “Well I’m certain I’m late, I don’t know if I’m pregnant Zac.” But I see how you feel about it.

“I didn’t mean anything by it, I just think we should be sure before we make any decisions, or call off the wedding.”

“You’d call of the wedding?” Nikki sat up and stared intently into Zac’s eyes.

“Well isn’t the only reason I’m marrying her is because of the baby? Why should I not marry you then?” Zac squeezed Nikki in a tight embrace and rested his chin upon the top of her head.
******
“You’re sure I’m pregnant then?” Nikki stared at the doctor and glanced quickly at Zac.

“Yep, looks like you’re about six weeks along.” The doctor patted Nikki’s arm and handed her the very first sonogram. “Now chances are you could have some complications, because of your height and weight but we’ll keep a close eye on you.”

“Thanks doctor.” Zac stuck his hand out to shake the doctor’s hand.

“I’ll give you two a minute then.” The doctor smiled and walked out of the room.

“Zac?”

“Yes gorgeous?” Zac leaned close and sniffed in deep Nikki’s scent.

“What are we going to do?”

“After this one is born, we’re going to make another one.” Zac link winked at her and rubbed her belly slightly.

“Well we know you are fertile enough! You have two girls pregnant!” Zac smiled and wrapped his hand in Nikki’s but on the inside he was terrified, the media backlash would be something he didn’t know if he could survive.
********
“Nicole Blonsky!” Karen Blonsky sat at the kitchen table in Zac’s apartment. “You two are too young for this. Nicole, you aren’t even 20 yet, you have your whole life ahead of you. And Zachary you already have Vanessa pregnant, did you have to take my daughters youth as well?” Karen glared at the both of them. “Nikki I don’t even know how we are supposed to tell your father.”

“Can we wait like a week? Zac can’t tell his parents for another week.” Nikki smiled shyly in hopes that her mom would understand.

“Keep this from your father?” Karen raised an eyebrow and shoved her hands on her hips. “You are delusional Nicole. You shouldn’t have told me. I didn’t even realize you two were--” Karen stopped herself and put her face in her hands.

“Momma I’m sorry.” Nikki reached for her mother’s hand and stroked the top of her fingers.
***********
Nikki was laying in Zac’s arms, they had just spent the night together again and were contemplating how they were going to tell her father and his parents the next day. Nikki’s stomach started hurting, shooting pains ached from her thighs up into her throat, and she felt a wave of nausea wash over her.

“Zac?” Nikki shook Zac slightly. “Ow ow ow.” Nikki tried to sit up but the pain only worsened. Nikki reached for her stomach and felt something wet touching her hand. She looked down and her underwear were soaked in blood. “Zac wake up please!” Nikki practically screamed and Zac shot up quickly.

“What’s a matter baby?”

“Hospital--” Nikki was breathing heavy and could barely get out the words. Zac looked down at where Nikki was staring and saw all the blood. His stomach dropped out and his heart rose to his throat.

“Oh god.” He picked Nikki up in his arms and carried her to the car wrapped in the blanket off his bed. He drove fast to the hospital and spent the next two hours pacing the waiting room, waiting for news. He hoped good news.

“Mr. Efron? Your wife is ready to see you now.” The unfamiliar doctor motioned towards Nikki’s room.

“Oh she’s not my--” Zac stopped. The doctor was just being nice. Zac sucked in a breath and followed the doctor towards Nikki’s room. “Hey gorgeous.” Zac raced to Nikki’s side and took her hand tightly in his own.

“Hey you.” Nikki faked a smile with her eyes closed.

“What happened to you.” Zac reached for her stomach and Nikki flinched at the touch of his hand.

“Miscarriage.” Nikki didn’t open her eyes but a single tear slid down her cheek and Zac knew she wasn’t okay.

“I’m so sorry Nikki, this is awful. We can try again.” As soon as Zac had said the words he knew he hadn’t meant them. He was sad about Nikki but the miscarriage would make things easier for him. For his career.

Nikki shook her head and kept her eyes closed. “Please just go Zac, my mom is on her way.”

“But--”

“No Zac, just leave, please.” Zac reached for Nikki’s hand but she pulled it away quickly. Zac leaned down and kissed her forehead.

“Goodbye gorgeous.” Zac walked out of the hospital with his head lowered and his soul defeated. He had hurt, basically broken the one girl in the entire world he never wanted to hurt.
********
“I’m terrified of losing this baby Zac.” Nikki leaned against Zac’s shoulder and he wrapped his around her tightly. “If I lost two babies in my teens and twenties just think of my risks now.”

“Let’s not think about those risks. Let’s think about our happy ending, remember?” Nikki nodded and put her warm hand to her belly.
********