Alright, here's a new story for you guys, I really hope you like it.

I don't own anything! None of it at all! Except the plot that is!

Meeting the Family

Jack and Lucille Bolton had always wanted a big family, they'd never come up with an exact number of children, they just knew they wanted a lot.

Their family was complete now, with seven children making up the Bolton family. They'd never seen a family quite like theirs before and they'd definitely describe themselves as different, but they wouldn't change any of it for the world.

You see, Jack and Lucille's first child was a son, but the rest of them were all twins, five girls and one boy, leaving their eldest, Troy, without that special sibling to turn to for the rest of his life.

Troy Alexander Bolton is the eldest of the Bolton children at seventeen and is a senior at East High school. He inherited his looks from Jack, the sandy brown hair, the piercing blue eyes and his amazing physique. He did inherit Lucille's personality though, her calm, considerate and patient nature could all be seen in Troy as he grew up, and are still present to this day.

Jessica Lucille and Jasmine Rose Bolton are next in line and the first set of twins for Jack and Lucille; they're fifteen and are sophomores at East High. The girls are identical in every which way possible, with Jack's hair and blue eyes and Lucille's facial features. It was a nightmare to tell them apart when they were younger, but as they grew up, so did they're personalities. Now, they're two very different people, Jessica being sporty and loud and Jasmine being academic and quiet.

Amber Lucille and Lillie Joanna Bolton come next and are the second set of twins to join the Bolton family; they're nine and are in fourth grade at East Albuquerque Elementary school. Unlike they're older sisters; the girls aren't identical, making life a lot easier for everyone involved. They both share Jack's hair colour and Lucille's facial features, but Lillie is taller with Jack's blue eyes, while Amber is shorter with Lucille's electric green eyes. Amber is the only Bolton child to have Lucille's eye colour and is often picked on about that and her height at school. But her parents always reassure her, and tell her that her green eyes make her very special, and that most importantly great things come in small packages, this never fails to cheer her up.

Sophie Marie and Samuel Jack Bolton bring the family to nine, they may only be one, but are complete bundles of energy. When they found out they were having another set of twins, Jack and Lucille really wanted at least one boy, Jack and Troy were starting to feel outnumbered, so when Samuel came along they were more than happy. Sophie and Samuel aren't old enough to go to school, so they go to day care or their Grandparents are brave enough to have them. They both share Jack's hair and eye colours, but like many of their siblings have Lucille's facial features.

When it came to naming their children, Jack and Lucille didn't want any funny names that rhymed, but they did want their names involved. Which is why, one twin from each set has one of their names, while Troy gained Jack's middle name.

You'd think being in a big family would mean a crazy household, right? Not with the Bolton's, they're incredibly close and although the odd argument does occur every now and then, their house is usually a reasonably calm place to be.

TGTGTGTG

Troy sat down on the wall that surrounded the school fountain, as he waited for two of his sisters to join him, so that he could drive them home. He'd had a long week of exams, lessons and basketball training and he just wanted to go home, relax and enjoy the start of his four day weekend.

"Troy!" Upon hearing his name, Troy looked up to find his best friend Chad Danthorth and his girlfriend Taylor Mckessie, walking towards him hand in hand.

"Hey guys, what's up?" Troy asked, as the pair came to a stop in front of him.

"You're waiting for the girl's right?" Chad asked, moving his arm to wrap round Taylor's waist.

"Yeah, why? What are they up to now?"

"Well, I'm not sure which one, but one of them is sat under that tree over there," Chad said, pointing to a tree near the school's pain entrance.

"Do you have any idea which one?" Troy asked, as he picked up his bag and stood up.

"I think it was Jasmine, she had her hair tied back this morning, right?" Troy nodded. "I'm pretty sure it was her then, but be careful Troy, she looked kinda upset and Jessica wasn't with her, so something must be going on." Taylor warned.

"Alright, thanks guys, I'll go speak to her, speak to you in the morning?"

The pair nodded and waved, as they walked away and Troy made his way over to his sibling.

As he got closer Troy was able to tell that it was indeed Jasmine sat under the tree and she was definitely upset, she was crying.

"Jasmine?" Troy was cautious as he approached. "Sis? You okay?"

Jasmine looked up to see Troy standing in front of her and quickly wiped away her tears, she didn't want him to see her crying.

"I'm fine Troy."

"Yeah, 'cause trying to hide your tears really convinces me, what's up?" Troy asked, as he sat down next to Jasmine.

"You can't tell Mum and Dad."

"Okay I won't, what's going on Jaz?"

"Jessie ditched me again."

"Again? Has she done this before? Where is she now for that matter?" Jasmine couldn't answer Troy, as more tears began to fall and she hid her face in her hands.

"Hey now little sis, no crying, it's okay," Troy tried to comfort his sister, as he wrapped his arms around her and held her close. He knew Jasmine didn't cry, at all if she could help it, so he knew something serious must be going on for her to be crying at school.

"Okay Jaz, no more tears, please sweetie. I'm not gonna tell Mum and Dad, but I need you to tell me what's happening, if you don't I'll have to tell them, and you know I hate to see you cry Jaz. Please Jazzy, talk to me?"

"It's been happening for a couple of weeks now, at first I thought she was just having a couple of bad days, but things only got worse. She stole my homework from my bag on Monday evening, she and her new little friends copied it exactly as I'd done it. The teacher obviously noticed and asked me what happened 'cause she figured I'd be honest, I was and so she spoke to the girls on Tuesday morning. That just made everything worse because now Jessie only speaks to me at home, and that's only because we share a room. These last few days have been horrible; they follow me everywhere and call me names, I hate it Troy, she's supposed to be my sister, my twin sister."

"Jaz it's okay, we'll work it out. How come the teacher had your work if Jessie took it?"

"She gave it back; she put it through the vent in my locker hoping I wouldn't realise she'd even taken it. Obviously I had, I even did it again anyway, just in case she didn't give it back. I don't mind helping her with her work Troy, she knows that, but I don't like her copying it and I really don't like them copying it. I know we're allowed other friends; we'd go mad if we didn't, but she's my sister Troy and she's barely talking to me, I haven't even done anything wrong."

"I know you haven't Jazzy, where's Jessie now? She isn't by my car and Dad wants us home by four, did you get the text?"

Jasmine nodded. "Yeah just now, house meeting it said; as long as Mum isn't pregnant again, I don't care."

Troy chuckled. "Same here, so where is Jessie?"

"She's taking the bus home with her new friends, Jemma and Jenna, who knows if she'll be home by four, they don't even live near us. I know she got Dad's text though, she read it in class; he must've sent it to all three of us at the same time."

"Yeah I think he did, listen, you got much homework over the weekend?"

"No, I've either done it or teachers haven't given any. I'm glad; I just wanna enjoy our four days off from school."

"Same here, I'm so glad the school needs repair work, I need some time off, I need to catch up on sleep, I've been revising too much, but exams are over now so it's okay. Anyway, neither of us have any homework so; wanna have a Troy and Jazzy night? Just the two of us, you can choose the movie."

Jasmine turned her head to look at her brother and smiled. "Yeah, that'd be nice; we haven't spent much time together recently."

"I know and that's partly my fault, but that's the past and we can't change it so, my room about eight-ish? Give us a chance to shower and change after dinner, alright? Jasmine nodded and Troy gave her one final squeeze, before pulling her up and over to his car, so they could head home and see what today's house meeting was all about.

TGTGTGTG

Troy and Jasmine arrived home to find two of their younger sisters, Lillie and Amber, sat in the front living room, or the quiet room as it was called, doing their homework.

"Hey guys," Troy greeted, as he put his bag at the bottom of the stairs and his shoes in the cupboard underneath them. "What homework you doing?"

"Maths," Lillie answered. "But it's hard."

"Can you help us Troy?" Amber asked.

"I need to go and speak to Dad about something, but Jazzy will help you. She's great at maths, aren't ya Jaz?"

Jasmine, who had been putting her shoes away nodded and made her way over to the others. "Yeah I'll help, I'm much better than Troy anyway. What we doing today then girls?"

Troy smiled knowing Jasmine was in her element, so he left and went in search of their Dad. He'd promised Jasmine he wouldn't tell their parents what was going on, and he wouldn't, he didn't break promises. But he needed to at least tell him that Jasmine had had a tough day and that he had absolutely no idea where Jessica was.

Troy left the front room and bypassed the kitchen and dining room, before arriving at the main living room of the house, where he'd heard the sequels of his brother and sister.

The living room spread from the front to the back of the house, with the doorway in the middle on one side, kind of splitting the room in half, something the family had taken advantage of.

The right hand side of the doorway is crazy and colourful, with pretty much every electronic you can think of, while the left side is slightly more peaceful. It's a place for watching the telly, a place to cuddle up on the corner piece couch and the place where all house meetings are held.

Troy stood in the doorway and watched, as Jack sat in the middle of the floor, his arms out to his sides, still decked out in his wildcat coaching gear, as Samuel and Sophie ran up and down the room bashing into his arms, effectively knocking them over, something they both seemed to find hilarious.

"What on earth's going on in here?" Troy asked, causing his brother and sister to stop their game and run over to him, pulling on his hands until he came to sit with Jack.

"Hey son," Jack greeted Troy, as he sat down opposite him. "Good day?"

"Yeah not too bad, the exam wasn't too bad and training wasn't too tiring, which was nice of you, so all in all, not too bad. I need to catch up on sleep now though; I've stay up too late some nights."

"I know, I've seen you, hopefully it'll pay off though. What are you two doing over there?" Jack asked his youngest, who'd gone in search of a game or toy of some sort to play with.

"Dada!" Sophie exclaimed, as she and Samuel returned with their mini basketball set.

"Alright then, come here," Jack pulled Sophie onto his lap, while Sam situated himself on Troy's ready to play.

"Did the three of you get my text? It took ages to get your replies and I still haven't gotten one from Jessie."

"Yeah, about that, Jazzy and I aren't really sure where Jessie is right now, she got the bus home with two other girls, but they don't live near here, so we aren't sure when she'll be back. You should also know that Jazzy and Jessie aren't really talking right now. I can't tell you why, I promised Jazzy I wouldn't, but she is really upset about it Dad, so please be gently with her. I told her we could have a Troy and Jazzy night, that's alright with you isn't it?"

Jack sighed. "Yeah it's fine with me, just check with your Mum when she gets back, alright?" Troy nodded and helped Sam throw the soft ball into the mini hoop.

Lucille is a social worker and is based at a children's home about half an hour's drive away from the Bolton residence. The home is specialised in looking after children under the age of twelve, although Lucille does work with children of any age out of the home. She often gets emergency calls when children suddenly need social services help for somewhere to stay, and she's often returned home with an upset and frightened child who needs a home for the night, before she can find them a more permanent place to move into in the morning.

Troy, being the oldest, is used to his Mum's whacky working hours and knows that when she isn't around, especially at night, he needs to step up and help Jack out, something he doesn't mind, one little bit.

"Why don't you go and get changed Dad? I'll watch these while you do and don't worry, it's still only ten to four, Jessie's still got ten minutes to get here."

"Yeah I know, but I just have a feeling she won't be and I need you all here at four, it's really important, your Mum's getting here a little after."

"Okay Dad, stop worrying. If Jessie gets here, then great, if she doesn't, then you punish her or whatever later, just deal with what is happening at four first, okay?"

Jack nodded and stood up. "Round them up will ya, or at least get them all in this room."

"Alright Dad, I'll do it, now go!" Jack saluted Troy and left to go and get changed; knowing Troy was more than capable of doing as he'd asked.

TGTGTGTG

Fifteen minutes later, Jack arrived back in the living room, to find all of his children sat on the couch waiting for him.

"Sorry I'm a bit late guys, I phoned your Mum to find out what's happening and we were on the phone for longer than we planned to be, nice of you to join us Jessie." Jack commented to Jessie, who was sat at the end of the couch away from the others, texting quickly on her phone.

"Yeah hi Dad, can I sleep over at Jenna's tonight? Jemma's Mum said she could go, please?"

"Ask your Mum when she gets back, she might want you here. Do you not want to spend time with Jazzy then?" Jack knew he wasn't supposed to know about the girls' falling out, and he wasn't gonna make it obvious he knew, he just wanted to see Jessie's reaction.

"No, Jenna and Jemma are much better than her."

"Okay then, just remember to ask your Mum and put your phone away please, this is important stuff, I need your full attention for this."

Jessie sighed, but still put her phone away in her pocket, as Jack took a seat in between her and her siblings.

"You all know that your Mum sometimes has to work with children who haven't got any family left, and you also know she sometimes needs to bring them back here for the night. It's doesn't happen very often, and it isn't usually for very long, but today's a little different."

"Okay Dad, just get to the point will ya? I've got better things to do," Jessie said, replying to yet another text.

"Jessie this is important, sp please give me the phone and stop with the attitude, especially towards Jazzy." Jessie sighed, but gave Jack the phone, making sure to give Jasmine the evil eye as she did so.

"Your Mum has known this young lady for a while now, coming on ten years, her name is Gabriella, she's seventeen and she now has no family left. Her Dad died when she was five, from cancer, and her Mum was killed in a car accident two years later. Your Mum met her then, and was able to contact Gabriella's grandparents so that she could live with them. Unfortunately last night; they were involved in car accident. Her Grandma died at the scene, but Gabriella and her Grandpa were okay and were taken to hospital. Sadly, her Grandpa later died from a heart attack, leaving Gabriella with no one."

"Is she hurt Daddy?" Amber asked from her spot next to Troy, her twin sat on his other side, with his arms wrapped around them both.

"She's got lots of cuts and bruises, and a special Velcro cast on her left wrist for a tiny break, but most of all she's really frightened of what's going to happen to her next."

"What is gonna happen to her next Dad?" Jasmine asked from her spot on the couch, her feet pulled under her and a cushion cuddled to her chest.

"She's gonna come and stay with us for a while, we're not sure how long for, but right now the only person she feels safe to be around is your Mum. It's not gonna be easy for her, moving into a house with seven crazy children in because she's used to only living with two other people and doing everything around the house. So, although we will ask her to help out eventually, right now she needs to recover, so no giving her your chores to do, understand?" The children all nodded so Jack continued.

"Your Mum wants you all to meet her, just to say hi and so that she can put names to faces, after that you're free to go, apart from you Troy. It's gonna take us a couple of days to sort out the box room, so 'til then Gabriella's gonna sleep in your room on the floor. She's your age and will be in your year when she starts going to school, so it would be nice if she could feel safe around you as well. That way she's got someone other than your Mum to turn to, that okay with you?"

"Yeah, 'course it is Dad, anything I can do to help."

"Thanks son," Jack was about to continue when they heard the front door open and Lucille's voice making its way through the house.

"Just be nice guys," Jack warned, as he stood to greet his wife and guest. "That's all I ask." The children old enough to understand nodded, before talking amongst themselves, apart from Jessie that was, who'd been given her phone back. The chatter stopped a few minutes later though, when the children felt their parents' presence in the room.

"Hey guys," Lucille greeted her children. "You can have your hugs in a minute girls, but first I'd like you to meet Gabriella, come here honey." The children waited patiently, as Lucille left the room and returned moments later with a scared looking girl, who had her eyes fixed on the ground.

Troy managed to meet eyes with Gabriella and smiled at her. She looked to be something just over five foot, had long black-y brown hair, brown eyes and seemed to be shaking.

"Gabi honey, these are my children who I've told you about, this is Troy, he' s seventeen like you, next to him is Jasmine and over there her twin Jessica, they're fifteen. Cuddled up next to Troy are my next two Amber and Lillie, they're nine. And these two cuties on the floor are Sophie and Samuel, it's pretty obvious which is which with them, they're one."

Gabriella looked up from her staring at the floor to find nine pairs of Bolton eyes on her, something she couldn't take, and so turned and ran back the way she'd come, and out through a door she'd seen on the way in, one she presumed led to the back garden.

"Sorry guys, she's still a little shaken right now, I'll go and talk to her."

"Can I go Mum?" Troy asked. "I won't make her do anything she doesn't wanna do, I'll just take this blanket to wrap round her and sit with her, I swear. I'll come to get you straight away if things get out of hand."

"Alright Troy, you can go and speak to her, it'll be nice for her to speak to someone other than me for a bit, not that she'll actually do much talking."

"It's okay Mum, I'll look after her, I promise," Troy said, as he grabbed the blanket from the back of the couch and made his way towards the back door, in search of the clearly frightened and shaken brunette.

TGTGTGTG

Gabriella was scared and frightened and all she wanted to do was curl up in a ball, cry and forget about the world around her. But she couldn't, they were everywhere, and as much as she was grateful towards them for letting her come into their home, right now she just wanted to be alone. But, saying that, she knew Lucille would follow her, and as much as she was grateful towards Lucille for everything she'd done for her since last night, right now Lucille was the last person she wanted to see.

Lucille just wouldn't leave her alone, she knew she was just trying to be helpful, but Gabriella didn't really see what help she could be given, her grandparents are both dead, she has no family left, what help out there for her is there?

She'd sat herself down at the top of the steps that led from the back porch, down into the back garden. She was going to keep going, go and sit under the big tree they had in the garden, but she couldn't make it that far, her legs had given out on her where she was, right when the tears began to fall. She hadn't cried at all since the accident, even the pain in her wrist didn't seem to bother her. She was in too much shock, with too much going on around her. But now, as she sat alone on the steps and was able to collect her thoughts, reality set in, and the tears began to fall.

She sat on the top step, her knees pulled to her chest, her chin resting on them and her tears blurring her vision, until a blanket was draped round her shoulders. She didn't look up, she just expected it to be Lucille, so she pulled the blanket tightly around herself and continued to stare off into space.

It was a few minutes later, when she hadn't yet heard Lucille's voice, that she turned round to see who it was.

"Troy?" She asked, wondering what he was doing standing a few feet away from her.

"That's me, sorry if I startled you I didn't mean to, mind if I sit?" Troy asked.

Gabriella shook her head. "Go ahead, you are Troy, right?"

Troy nodded as he sat down. "I wouldn't have said that's me if I wasn't, would I? Besides there's only me and Sam when it comes to boys, you've got a fifty-fifty chance of getting it right; it's the girls you'll have fun with."

"Yeah, I'm confused already; the older two are identical, right?"

"Yep, Jessie and Jazzy as we call them, you'll get there eventually; they don't look as alike as they used to. Amber and Lillie are easier to tell apart."

"Yeah I think I'm okay with them, they seem to adore you though."

"Yeah, I don't know why though," Troy laughed to himself. "Are you okay? Stupid question I know, but you were crying and I've already had Jazzy cry on me today, I seem to be attracted to upset people today."

Gabriella sighed and let more tears fall, Troy knew she was upset now, there was no point in trying to hide it.

"Okay, you're obviously not okay, but I really have no idea what to say. I'm so sorry Gabriella; I can't begin to imagine what you're going through right now."

"It's okay, I'm still trying to figure it out myself," Gabriella responded, as her teeth began to chatter because she was cold, due to her only wearing a t-shirt and some shorts.

"Is it okay if I give you a hug? If we're gonna sit out here, at least let me help you stay warm."

"A hug would be nice thanks, I couldn't cope inside, there were just too many people for me to cope with."

"It's okay," Troy said, as he wrapped his right arm round Gabriella and gently pulled her so that she was now leaning against him, her head eventually resting on his shoulder. "We aren't together that often, mainly only at meal times, Dad called a house meeting to tell us about you, otherwise you probably wouldn't have met Jessie yet, she'd still be coming home from school."

"Yeah what's with her? It's like you were all sat together cuddled up and she was by herself texting."

"Yeah, she's not talking to Jazzy; it's all her own fault though. Jazzy is really upset about it, she hasn't even done anything and then her twin stops talking to her, she's just a bit shocked, they've always been close, but recently Jessie's been drifting off with other people. We were gonna have a Troy and Jazzy night tonight, but I'm not sure if we'll be allowed anymore, cause you here, and we're sharing a room and such, a bet you're tired, aren't you?"

"Yeah, I won't be able to sleep though, I'll just lay there and think, I just need somewhere quiet to go, seems that'll be hard in your house."

Troy smiled. "It can be, but if you're willing to trust me I can take you somewhere quiet."

"Yeah that'd be nice, thanks Troy, it's been nice to talk to you and not your Mum, she's the only person I've talked to since the accident, and even then I didn't say very much, I feel kinda bad now."

"It's okay she'll understand, she always does, she's great like that. Now come on, I'll take you somewhere quiet." Troy said, as he stood up and held a hand out to Gabriella. Hesitantly she took hold of his hand and allowed him to lead her back into the house, his hand not once leaving hers, constantly giving her the reassurance she'd been searching for.

TGTGTGTG

Jack and Lucille didn't say anything as the back door opened and Troy and Gabriella walked back in hand in hand. They knew Troy had obviously done something pretty amazing for Gabriella to trust him enough to be holding his hand, but they didn't comment, they could tell Troy was on a mission.

They watched as he led Gabriella through the kitchen and into the hallway and then to their amazement he opened the basement door and led her down the stairs. They shared confused looks, but didn't even attempt to ask Troy what he was up to, they knew he'd come back up and explain in his own time.

They continued clearing round the kitchen and keeping an eye on their younger four, for a few more minutes until footsteps were heard and Troy appeared in the kitchen doorway.

"Care to explain?" Jack asked, as he finished putting away the last few things from the dishwasher.

Troy shrugged. "She didn't want to be in the house because it was too much for her, so she went outside where it was quiet, but she got cold and just wanted somewhere quiet to be. I told her if she trusted me I could take her somewhere quiet, she said she did, so I took her down to the basement, it's quiet down there."

The basement was Troy's place, somewhere he and his friends could go to get away from the mayhem of the household. The basement wasn't originally his, but when he began to bring friends home and they went to play video games in his room, nine times out of ten they were disrupted by the younger Bolton's. So, Troy was given the basement on the condition that he kept it clean and tidy and in return none of his siblings were allowed down there, unless Troy said otherwise.

"That's really good of you Troy, is she okay?" Lucille asked, pleased that Troy had been able to get through to Gabriella.

"I think so, I'm not really sure, and I don't think she knows either, that's why I took her down there, she wanted somewhere quiet to go and just think. "

"I'm not surprised, she's been through a lot to take it all in at once, did you want me to come and speak to her?"

"No, she's fine Mum she feels bad for ignoring you at the hospital as it is, I told her you'd understand though. I just came up to find her some warmer clothes, she's really cold, I'm gonna see if Jazzy's got some sweat she can borrow, I reckon they're about the same size."

"Yeah I'd say so," Lucille answered. "Just be careful Troy, Jessie blew off in her face about Jenna and Jemma being better to be with. I've only let her go to the sleep over so they could be apart, it think that'll be best for everyone, especially Gabriella."

"Yeah, I don't think she'd appreciate the shouting, she's already picked up on something not being right. Is Jazzy upset then?"

"Yeah, I think she was crying, but she went and sat in the quiet room while Jessie went to get her things, then she went upstairs, she wouldn't let me see her face, so I'm pretty convinced she was crying, reckon you can deal with that again?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine, I'm gonna sleep on the floor tonight and then Gabriella and Jazzy can share my bed, if that's okay with Gabriella of course, if not I'm sure Jazzy will sleep on the floor as well, I don't think she'll want to be by herself tonight."

"I think you're right there Troy, just keep them both as happy as they can be right now and you're doing something right. Thank you though Troy, you've really helped me out."

"It's nothing Mum, I care is all, I'm gonna go and find Jazzy and probably take her down to meet Gabriella again, I think they'll get on really well, call us when dinner's ready?"

"Will do son." Troy gave his parents a quick hug, before heading upstairs to try and find Jazzy so he could cheer her up for the second time in one day, today just wasn't going well for her.

TGTGTGTG

Troy stuck his head round Jessie and Jazzy's bedroom door, fully expecting to see Jazzy curled up on her bed crying, but she wasn't, the room was completely empty.

As he carried on along the corridor that led to his bedroom he realised his bedroom door was open, he always shut it and if one of his parents went in, they always shut it as well, all bedroom doors were kept shut in the Bolton household, it's just how it was.

That's when it dawned on him, Jazzy was in his room, that's where she always went when she was really upset, more to the point she'd be on his balcony, the only one in the house.

Walking into his bedroom he found his balcony doors open and Jazzy standing there, staring off into space.

"Jaz? You're not crying on me again are ya?" Troy asked, as he went out to join Jazzy on his balcony.

"Yeah, you got a problem with that? If you have I'll leave, I just thought seeing as my twin has pretty much ditched me I could rely on you to cheer me up, but apparently not." Jasmine said, as she turned to leave, but stopped when Troy caught her by the arm.

"You know I don't want to leave, stop being silly, I need your help anyway." Troy said, as he pulled his still crying sister into a hug.

"Yeah? What with?"

"Looking after Gabriella, she needs some friendly faces, and in case you haven't noticed, I haven't exactly got the best looking face, although she hasn't seemed to have noticed. Anyway, have you got any sweats she can borrow? She's really cold."

"Yeah sure, what about a hoodie or something?"

"Nah, she can borrow one of my wildcat ones, go grab those sweats and I'll meet you at the top of the stairs." Troy told Jasmine, as he gave her one last tight squeeze.

"And Jaz," Troy waited until she turned to look at him. "Please stop crying, we're gonna enjoy our four days off okay, an enjoying them means no crying, got it?"

Jasmine nodded and managed to smile slightly at Troy, before turning back around and heading towards her room.

A few moments later and the pair were heading back down stairs and then down the stairs that led to the basement.

"I feel so special coming down here, thanks Troy."

Troy laughed at Jasmine's excitement. "No problem kiddo. Hey Gabriella, you awake?"

Gabriella was curled up on the couch with the blanket draped over her and her eyes closed, and it wasn't obvious whether she was asleep or not. But the problem was soon solved when she opened her eyes to look at Troy.

"Yeah I'm awake, I was just trying to think, it's nice and quiet down here, thanks Troy."

"Will people stop thanking me, I care is all. Anyway, Gabriella, this one is Jazzy, you okay with her being here? She's a bit upset and it's kinda hard for me to cheer you both up when you're in different places."

Gabriella smiled softly as she sat up. "It's fine Troy, you seem to be the quiet one Jazzy, I like quiet people, and for the record, your twin will come round, it'll just take her a while to realise she needs you more."

Jasmine smiled as she took a seat next to Gabriella. "Thanks Gabi, is it okay to call you that?"

"Its fine, Gabriella is kinda long."

Jasmine smiled."It's a pretty name though, anyway these are for you," Jasmine said, as she handed Gabriella the sweats she found for her. "Troy said you were cold and I haven't worn these in a while, so you can have 'em."

"Thanks," Gabriella said, as she took the bottoms from Jasmine and then started to look between them and Troy, something Jasmine managed to pick up on.

"Troy, give me the hoodie them go and find out what's for dinner, I'm hungry." Troy sighed, but gave Jasmine the hoodie before heading upstairs, suddenly realising why she'd gotten him to leave.

"Thanks Jazzy," Gabriella said quietly as she began to slip on the borrowed clothing.

"No problem, he was in a world of his own, he hadn't figured why I wanted him to go instead of going myself, I think he'll of worked it out by now though."

Gabriella laughed as she slipped Troy's hoodie over her head. "It's okay now anyway, I'm changed."

"Good, you mind if the telly's on, or you want it to be silent down here?"

"Nah, you can put the telly on, I can't think anyway, there's way too much to think about." Gabriella answered, as she settled herself back against the couch and pulled the blanket back over herself, realising that maybe being here wasn't going to be that bad after all.

TGTGTGTG

Jasmine stretched out her whole body, as the movie finished and Troy got up to take the DVD out of the player. Between them, Gabriella and Jasmine had decided on watching 'The Simpsons Movie,' one they decided would make them laugh and smile, even if just for a bit.

"Alright you two, time for bed, it's late enough as it is," Troy said, as he put the DVD back in its box and placed it on his desk to take back down to the basement with the rest of his collection.

"Can I stay in here tonight Troy? I don't wanna be by myself." Jasmine said, as she and Gabriella stood up to stretch their legs.

"Yeah, I thought you'd ask, so I'll take the floor if you two are okay to share my bed, it is a double."

"That's okay with me, I can get my duvet and use that so Gabi can use yours, that alright with you Gabi?"

"I honestly don't mind sleeping on the floor, it's where I'm gonna be for a bit."

"No you're not," Troy responded. "I'll sleep on the floor, you can't sleep on the hard floor with your injuries, and even if you weren't injured I'd still take the floor, it's just the way it is."

"Well if you're sure Troy, then I'm fine to share the bed with you Jazzy, although getting your duvet is probably a good idea, I tend to burrow under mine, I doubt you'd get any if we shared."

Jasmine laughed. "Yeah, I do that, I'll go get my duvet, I won't be long." Jasmine said, as she yawned before walking out of the room, leaving Troy and Gabriella alone.

"You alright?" Troy asked, Gabriella, as he began to set up the extra blankets and sleeping bag Lucille and left for him to use as a make shift bed.

"What if I can't sleep Troy? I'm so unbelievably tired, but every time I close my eyes it all comes flashing back."

"It's really late now Gabi, I reckon you're more tired than you think, just snuggle down under the covers and rest your eyes, you'll probably drift off quicker than you think."

"But what if I don't? I don't wanna wake up Jazzy with all my tossing and turning." Gabriella said, as she took a seat on the left side of the bed, the side she wanted to sleep on and the side that she'd discovered smelt soothingly like Troy, just like his hoodie, she had yet to take off.

Troy finished what he was doing and went to sit next to Gabriella. "Okay I'll do you a deal, if you wake up then you can wake me up and I'll talk to you or hug you, or whatever you feel like, okay? But you need to at least try and go to sleep first, alright?"

"Are you sure? I don't wanna disturb you or Jazzy."

"Gabi you won't, Jazzy's tired herself out from crying today and it takes a lot to wake her up as it is. And I'm a light sleeper, so you won't have to shout at me to wake me up. Do we have a deal?"

Gabriella nodded. "Thanks Troy."

"It's okay, but I think you should get yourself settled before Jazzy comes back, she may be small, but she takes up a lot of room."

"Hey I heard that!" Jasmine exclaimed, as she came back into the room, her duvet in her arms.

"I know, that was the point. Just get yourselves comfy will ya, I wanna go to sleep."

Jasmine stuck her tongue out at Troy, while Gabriella reluctantly took off Troy's hoodie and placed it behind her pillows, before getting under her covers and snuggling down, allowing Jasmine to do the same.

"Alright ladies, if you want me, either of you, just wake me up and I'll look after ya, now if you don't mind I'm tired, as I reckon you both are, so sleep and we'll see what tomorrow brings us."

"Troy, just shut up and go to sleep please, some of us are getting bored of your voice." Jasmine said, as she turned off the light, before settling down properly under her duvet.

"I love you too little sister, I love you too." Troy muttered, before rolling over with a loud huff.

Gabriella smiled to herself, as she quietly grabbed Troy's hoodie from behind her pillows and cuddled it to her chest, before allowing the much needed sleep to take over her body, realising that maybe, just maybe, although it was going to be a slow process, everything was going to be alright, as long as she didn't need to do it alone.

TGTGTGTG

There it is people, the first chapter of What I've Been Looking For, I hope you liked it!

This one's a long one, and if you'd like me to continue, then they probably won't all be this long.

Anyway:

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE REVIEW! THANK YOU!