AN: Here's the first of a series of drabbles. Enjoy.

Chapter Title: Without You

Disclaimer: I don't own HSM, Nineteen Minutes, Jodi Picoult, or Law and Order: SVU.

Gabriella hated the end of books.

She hated the way it felt to look at the cover, and know what was behind the pages. She hated how, even when the book had a happy ending, something always wasn't right; her mind had already drawn out the conclusion in a whole other way. She hated how the book always felt lighter in her hands, as if now that she had devoured the contents, only the leftovers remained. It was like closing the cover on a whole other world.

When Gabriella finished Nineteen Minutes, by Jodi Picoult, she was mad. A scowl erupted on her face as she threw the book into Troy's lap and plopped down stiffly beside him, his bed sinking under their weight.

"Something wrong, Gabs?" Troy chuckled slightly at her antics, and then put his hand around the curve of her waist.

Gabriella loved the feeling of Troy. Of his strong basketball hands holding hers, his thickly sculpted body rubbing against hers, his hair in the crease of her neck. She smiled at his touch, and shrugged in response to his question.

"I guess I just hate sad endings."

"You hate all endings, Gabs."

She shrugged again, this time smiling widely as he kissed her jaw line.

"I don't know, I guess this one's different."

"Why? I mean, it was basically the script to a Law and Order: SVU episode." He kissed the corner of her mouth, then moved back down to her neck.

She pushed him away. "Is that all you got from it, Troy?" Her eyes stared into his. "Jodi Picoult wrote fantastically about a controversial and real topic involving murder, and yet you're comparing it to a TV show? God, Troy sometimes I just can't be-," His lips met her before she could finish.

He pulled away smiling. "I love making you like this."

"Like what?"

"Like you're fighting for something you believe in."

Gabriella blushed. "You know, Troy…this book, this story…it could happen anywhere."

"I know."

She shifted herself so that she fit onto his lap and then looked up at him. "Troy, I don't think I could live without you."

He kissed her gently. "Gabriella, I know I can't live without you."