AN: Seems like my muse is working overtime lately coz' I found myself writing a story, not just a one-shot this time. I never really thought I'd write anything, much less have several one-shots done in a span of a few days. Anyways, with this story, its going to be no more than ten chapters long. The plot is pretty much an overused one but I decided to give said cliche plot a try. Insert my own take on it so I hope its not too bad. This is just a prologue-of sorts so its not that long really. The way I'm writing these days, expect an update every week, hopefully. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

The Sharp Hint of New Tears

New York – March 17, 2008

Annie Dominguez was eager to finish checking up on her patients so she could go home to her kids. Carefully opening the door to her last destination before ending her shift, Annie quietly peeks inside the room and sees her favorite patients. A mother and child sleeping on the twin bed as the father (or who she thinks is the father) reclined on the adjacent chair. As soon as the father looks up from the papers he is reading and sends her a questioning stare with his lucent green eyes, Annie holds up a piece of paper to which he responds by pointing at the bed side table. Annie, as silently as she could, sets the paper on the table and leaves the room, but not before staring back again at the occupants of the bed.

The young mother, who could not have been more than nineteen, was one of the sweetest girl she has ever met, second only to her own children of course. Arriving at the hospital the night prior, the young woman, holding on to her pregnancy bag with one hand and clutching her stomach with the other, was calm and collected despite the painful contractions she's experiencing. Annie was more than impressed and intrigued by the girl's unruffled composure. Intrigue soon turned into interest and Annie soon found herself helping the young woman into a wheelchair, asking her how far apart her contractions were and providing the necessary paper work for her temporary stay in the hospital. Sixteen hours later, a bouncing baby boy, weighing seven pounds and 2 ounces, was born. It has been said, time and time again by every new mother out there, that their child is the most beautiful baby they've ever seen and it would certainly be an understatement to call this new baby as beautiful for his cherubic face topped with dark brown curls to his bright blue eyes, the child definitely was one of the cutest baby Annie has seen and unquestionably the loudest - wailing so loud that even the young mother and Annie herself were surprised upon hearing it. Soon after both the mother and child were settled back into their room, Annie cautiously brought up the issue of the missing father and before she could even get an answer, a young man appeared, tousled and disheveled in appearance, hurrying inside the room and awe-ing at the little boy in the young mother's arms. As inconspicuously as she could, Annie left the room to give the family some privacy, the same way she was leaving the room now to head home.

As the door closes, a gush a wind from the open window blows the paper out of bed side table, landing near the chair where the man was sitting down. He picks up the paper and looks at it, seeing, in big bold letters: Certificate of Live Birth and underneath, the name Tyler Alexander Montez. Giving the paper one last glance, he places it back on the table and leaves, in the same fashion as the nurse earlier left the room.

New York – March 17, 2013 (present time)

"Ry, you don't have to help me clean up. You've done enough."

"It's the least I can do. You have been slaving away all day in the kitchen making your adequate brownies, which by the way, are sorely lacking in chocola-… Hey, I did say they were adequate", Ryan replied while brushing off some of the chocolate chips that I threw at him.

"Adequate, my ass. If they were that adequate, how come you're still munching off them, huh?" I retorted back.

"Ok, ok, they're fabulous. But seriously, Gabs, at least let me help you. Cause this place looks like it has been hit by a tornado."

Looking around, I do have to admit that Ryan had a point. The living room, earlier looking amazing with all the birthday decorations, is now looking like a battle ground. Scraps of torn wrapping papers are littered about and countless of plastic plates and cups sit on top of the coffee and side tables, not to mention the stacks of toys that can be seen in every corner of the room. Sending Ryan a helpless glance, I start to pick up the trash and place them in the garbage bag I was carrying around. He did the same, taking care of the kitchen while I tackled the living room.

After what seemed like forever, but only a few hours in reality, Ryan and I finally put the loft in order. Going back into the kitchen to finally sate my grumbling stomach, Ryan joined me as I cut a piece of cake for myself.

"That was some party… I mean, that was a five year old boy's dream party. You definitely pulled out all the stops with this one. I mean, the Transformer's theme and the kick ass cake, Ty loved every minute of it." Ryan commented as he stole some of my cake.

Whacking his arm to stop him from eating the cake, I replied, "He's been badgering me for months and I figured with all the things that happened this year, Tyler deserved it."

Six months ago, my mother died of cancer. And considering that she and Tyler had been pretty close, my son took it pretty hard when I told him that he'll never see Grandma again. I don't know if he truly understands the concept of death but he's gradually getting used to the fact that Grandma doesn't visit anymore. As for me, I would have broken down had it not been for my baby boy. He needed me to be strong for him so the months following my mom's death, while Tyler was asleep, I would cry and reminisce about my past until I was exhausted enough to sleep. Waking up everyday and having reality set in that my mom was gone was hard but it's getting better.

"Hey…. It's going to be okay. You know I'm here for you and Tyler, always."

Sending him a grateful smile, I stand up and head towards the sink to wash the remaining dishes.

"Got an interesting call yesterday."

"Interesting? How so?" he asks.

"Your sister left a message… Had me wondering how she got my number." I replied while stealing a glance at him.

He looks up and he had this guilty look on his face as he said, "Well, remember that time when I visited her for the weekend… She kinda got hold of my phone without my knowing and before I knew it, she was asking me how I got you number and if the Gabriella in my phone was indeed 'the elusive Gabriella Montez' as she calls you now. I was gonna tell you but it must have slipped my mind…"

"Its okay, Ryan. It was just shocking when I first heard her voice demanding me to call her back, just like how she was back then." My forlorn tone must have been quite noticeable because before I knew it, Ryan was hugging me and trying to stop me from crying.

"I miss them you know. Especially at night when I put Tyler to sleep. He looks just like his father. Sometimes, when he would look right at me with his bright blue eyes, its just… it just reminds me of him and it hurts like hell, Ry. It hurts…."

And that's how Sharpay Evans walks in on us. With me wrapped around Ryan, sobbing incessantly on his shoulder.

Comments? Suggestions? Nothing too harsh, I hope.