FLASHBACK

The entire East High gang sat dressed in their red and white caps and gowns on the auditorium stage. It was the day they had anticipated since the end of the summer of their Junior year, Graduation. All of them, and I mean all including the Drama Queen herself, had nice bright smiles set upon their faces. As the names were bring called out…

"Troy Bolton"

"Jason Cross"

"Chad Danforth"

A smiled crept across the face of Gabriella Montez as her gaze set out of the massive audience they had before them. Her mother, her grandmother, Troy's family, and of course Shana; she and Trevor had flown back from New York to attend the East High Graduation. Gabriella met each of their eyes with a smile, her eyes for a second reverted back to Jack Bolton, a smirked found it's way to her face and she shut her eyes remembering the memory.

FLASHBACK

Knock, knock, knock.

Jack Bolton came to the front door and pulled it open.

"Hey Mr. Bolton."

"Hello Gabriella, Troy's not home. Anna sent them to the market. It should be interesting when they come home." Jack smiled, thinking of what his sons would bring home from the market.

"Gabriella! I thought I heard the door." Anna had walked in from the kitchen, "The boys went to the market." Anna's voice went a little sour, "would you like to come in and wait?" Anna offered regaining her composure and a smile.

"Umm?" Gabriella hesitated at the front door.

"Yeah why don't you come in and wait?" Jack stepped aside to let Gabriella pass after receiving a look from his wife.

"Well I'm not exactly sure what the boys will bring back but you're welcome to stay dinner, and if it's not edible I'll order something." Anna smiled at the brunette.

"Oh no, no thank you I don't want to intrude, besides my mom…" Gabriella's voice trailed off.

"Well Troy said you're mother was away on business for the month, something about making sure you two wouldn't have to keep moving around a lot." Anna looked at the girl.

"Well yes, but.."

"You staying home alone? A young lady your age should be home alone." Jack said in almost a fatherish tone.

Gabriella sensed concern but at the same time misjudged it for an accusation, "My mother trusts me to be home alone, we have a good relationship."

"Gabriella I didn't mean anything like that." The both knew when she thought he was referring to, "I just meant that, God forbid, someone tried to break into the house and you were there alone."

Was she wrong had Jack really come to terms with her and Troy's relationship?

"Look Gabriella I'm sorry I'm a father I worry. I will always worry about my own sons, I still worry about Trevor living alone in New York and he's going to be 21 years old. I'm not suggesting your mother's irresponsible; it's just that I'm sure she worries too."

Gabriella's face was unreadable, so Jack just sighed and walked out to the backyard, a minute later a basketball could be heard pounding the pavement. Gabriella built up all the courage she could muster and charged out the backdoor.

"Why do you hate me so much? What did I ever do to you? I've tried to keep Troy focused on Basketball, I play with him so he can practice, keep his arms from stiffening up. I make sure he studies, and passes. What else do you want from me?" Gabriella shouted. Jack just stood there mid throw staring at her.

"Gabriella, I don't hate you." She was expecting him to yell at her for yelling at him, but instead Jack's voice was calm and gentle, "I'll admit that I wasn't too fond of you when you and Troy first met and I saw the looks he gave you. I was worried that he'd throw away his talents for some girl that liked him for his popular status in school and you being the gorgeous new girl wanted him for an edge. I also thought that his grades were slipping in school because he started spending so much time with you, but then when I saw his report cards I knew different. But you were, you are, still beautiful and I thought that if Troy spent enough time looking at you he'd never be looking elsewhere. I was afraid that I'd lose him, just like I lost Trevor." Gabriella was in shock, she never knew Jack Bolton was so deep or that he would ever share that depth with her, his son's girlfriend, almost a prefect stranger.

"I'm sorry." Was all Gabriella could let out. Jack threw her the ball and Gabi caught it, "Come on, you and me, one on one."

"I'm not really good at it." Gabriella stuttered.

"Sure you are, I've seen you and Troy play back here. And sometimes I seen him get a little upset because you get a couple of points on him."

"OK fine." Gabriella threw the ball back to him, "Let's make this interesting then."

Jack looked at her, "Interesting how?"

"I win, you lighten up on Troy."

"And if I win?" Jack inquired.

"That's up to you." Gabriella looked him square in the eye.

"Play to 25?" Jack began to dribble the ball.

"You're on Wildcat." Gabriella snatched the ball out of his hand and made a perfect basket, "Or should I say former Wildcat?" Gabriella's lips curled into a thin smirk.

Jack knew exactly what she was doing; she was trying to rattle his cage, so he decided to play along.

"Well then I guess that's one zip." Jack made a turn and took the ball from her once more. There was a few minutes of silence and soon the game was tied 24 to 24, Jack was slightly out of breath, this girl played hard. Gabriella had the ball and was dribbling in back and forth between her legs, Jack made to take it from her but then Gabriella pulled a move that Jack hadn't seen in years and it shocked him; shocked him so much that Gabriella made her way with the ball and did a jump shot right into the basket. The ball fell through and Jack turned to face the almost 18 year old, shock was still on his face, but that quickly vanished when he saw the look on Gabriella's face. He wasn't sure if it was from the shock of winning or from being about four feet off the ground hanging by her hands from the basket; Jack broke out in laughter.

"Well that's the first time that move has ever been used to beat me at a game." Jack walked over to the basket, "Can you get down?"

"I think I might break something." Gabriella's voice was strained and nervous. Jack laughed some more, he reached his hands up and put them around Gabriella's waist, "Ok sweetheart let go."

Gabriella was hesitant at first, but then did as she was told and instead of velocity taking over and being forced to the ground by gravity, she was placed gently back on solid land.

"Thank you." Gabriella was rubbing her arms trying to regain the feeling.

"Are you ok?" Gabriella slowly nodded her head, when she heard Jack speak again, "Ok well then I guess that's it, you won, I won't ride Troy so hard. If he wants to make basketball his future or a hobby that's his choice and what ever he does decide to do I'll support him."

Gabriella smiled, but then thought for a moment, "What did you mean that was the first time that move's ever been used to beat you? Troy says he uses that only when he thinks he can't make the basket."

"I know, and I used that same move to win the 1977 Wildcat Basketball State Championship. My senior year and I went down as the captain to win the game with almost no time left on the clock."

"That was your move?"

"Mhm. I went on to play in college and was about to go pro in 1983, but then during the final game someone had dropped a bottle of water during break, the left side of the court. I didn't noticed it until it was too late, I slipped, went down on my knee. Cracked my knee cap in half and vibrations from that caused my shin bone to shatter."

"Oh my god that's terrible."

"I know I was horribly disappointed. I couldn't play anymore, not pro anyway, too much pressure on the body, if it would have happened today, with all the medical advances, I probably could have but now I'm too old."

"You're not old." Gabriella gave him a sympathetic smile.

"I'm older than you."

"Your shin bone shattered?"

"Yep I've got a metal rod in my left leg and about seven screws in my kneecap."

"Oooh"

"I guess I just wanted Troy to have the shot I never did, especially since Trevor was more into football."

"But you can't live your dream through your son; he has to live his own dreams."

"I know but I just thought that if I… well I know that I can't do that now. But I just wanted him to have options if he really wanted that, you know."

"And you were afraid I'd ruin those options?"

"Yes, but not anymore Gabriella, you have made him, play better if that's even possible. You are his good luck charm, you take the pressure off him, you help him focus, you make sure he eats the right things before his games, better then his mother and I ever could. You help him train while still making him study and you help him do most of this without him even realizing it. You're not like the other girls Troy has brought home. You really do care about him, and that's all I wanted for him; someone who cared about him enough not to change everything about him but be able to find a way to be compatible. I know you don't force him to do things he doesn't want to, of course there aren't very many things a teenage boy doesn't want to do. Except carry his lady's purse when shopping; Troy doesn't make you do things you don't want to do, does he?" Jack eyed her.

"No, of course not he let's me do what I want. He supports everything I do or want to do. He's such a sweetheart." Gabriella rambled until she looked at Jack again and realized that's not what he was asking. Redness crept up Gabriella's cheeks, and a slight laugh escaped from her mouth, "What exactly are you asking?"

"You're a smart girl, you figure it out." Jack looked her in the eye.

Gabriella knew the truth as far as the two of them were concerned, however Troy's previous behavior with his past girlfriends, well that would be a subject the two of them would tackle later, "For as long as I've known Troy, he's always been a perfect gentleman." Gabriella smiled.

"You would tell me the truth wouldn't you?" Jack looked at her again, but knew that she was telling him the truth.

"That is the truth." Gabriella's face was still slightly red.

"Good boy." Jack said more to himself than to Gabriella.

"So wait a minute, if that's your move than you must have known how to block it?"

"Well yes I suppose I do, but I was in such shock that you even knew it."

"So I didn't really win?"

"No Gabriella, you won."

"Two out of three?" Gabriella snatched the ball from his hand and shot another basket.

"You're on."

&

"Hey mom."

"Hey mom."

Troy and Trevor Bolton said upon entering the kitchen with grocery bags.

"Mmmmm, I'm almost afraid to see what you two bought." Anna said while peering into the bags.

"Don't worry Mrs. Bolton I helped out." Chad came bounding in with some more bags.

"Oh dear" Anna said under her breath, it had been Jack's idea to see what the boys would get if they were sent to the market, or more precisely to see how Trevor's been eating, and if Troy ever left the state for college, how he'd eat too. "Well thank you Chad, that was very nice of you to help the boys out." It was obvious her voice was forced, but her eyes were shock when she saw that nearly everything on her list had been purchased plus a few other things that weren't total junk food.

"Coffee, crackers, did you buy fruit?" Anna stared at her sons.

"Yes after a small argument, but I think they still need to be taught that Fruit loops and Trix don't quite qualify as mixed fruit." Kelsi walked in with some more bags.

"Yes and the fact that they may eat it for lunch, most normal people don't survive on bologna and hot dogs." Taylor followed bringing in more bags.

"Well then why do they show pictures of fruit on the box if there is no fruit in them?" Chad looked at Taylor , like he'd just won the argument.

"Well honey there is fruit in there but it pails in comparison to the amounts of sugar, red dye, and corn syrup that are added to these things." Taylor looked at her boyfriend.

Anna just started laughing, "Thank you girls for helping these boys find their way out of a paper bag. Did you buy meat?"

Troy snapped him fingers and looked at his brother, "I knew we forgot something."

"Mhm" Anna handed a few more things to Kelsi, who put them away, "Ok kids how about something really healthy, Pizza all around?"

"Yeah!" the kids shouted.

"Oh you think you can beat me?" said a voice from outside.

"According to you I already did. Ha take that." Gabriella cheered as she made another basket.

"What's going on out there?" Kelsi looked out the window.

"Oh Troy Gabriella came over, she playing basketball with your father." Anna said while dialing the phone.

"Gabi's playing ball with dad?" Trevor was in shock and they all went to the window.

"Ha in your face, miss science queen."

"Oh yeah? Try this one on for size." Gabriella threw the ball over her head backwards and made the shot with ease.

"Hmm. You should be on the team." Jack said stealing the ball for another throw.

With jaws hitting the floor the five teens ran out to the yard.

"Dad? Gabi what are you doing?" Troy called out to them.

"Hey boys back from the market?"

"Hey guys" Gabriella flashed a smiled before making another basket, "I'm playing your dad, two out of three. He's won one I've won one."

"Yep next basket wins." Jack and Gabriella stood facing each other, Jack had the ball and Gabriella went to take it from him, when all of the sudden, "Oh God ow, ow, ow."

"Oh God what happened?" Gabriella's voice was worried, "Your knee?"

Jack's faced was full of pain, but then suddenly a smiled appeared on his face, Jack stood up and made the basket right over Gabriella's head. This time it was Gabi's turn for her jaw to hit the floor, "Cheat. You are a cheat Jack Bolton" Gabriella tried to be serious but it wasn't working, she started laughing.

"What you want another game?" Jack asked. Troy stepped in, "Why don't we agree to disagree, Dad had to fake an old injury just to beat a girl?"

"Hmm I can live with that." Gabriella flashed a smiled, "Ok Mr. Bolton since the points say you 'technically won'." Gabriella used air quotes, "What do I have to do?"

"What?" Trevor and Troy asked at the same time, "What are you talking about?" Troy looked back and forth between his father and his girlfriend.

"Well we made a deal that if I won, your dad would lighten up on riding you so hard and if he won then well we never got that far." Gabriella looked at Jack was still smiling.

Trevor and Troy looked at each other and then at their father, both afraid of what he might say, but what he did say surprised them all.

"That was some game you played Gabi." Gabi?, he'd never called her Gabi, "Anyway you won the first game, and like I promised, Troy you do what you want if you want basketball as nothing more than a hobby I'll be behind you 100 son." Jack put an arm on his son, "It's your life, and a very intelligent young lady made me understand that you can't live my dream, you can only live yours."

Gabriella smiled at this.

"Dad you really mean that?" Troy asked him.

"Yes I do, as for you Gabriella. Since I won this is what you have to do." Jack turned back to her, "You must convince my son that there is more to life than basketball, make him try out for another school musical, keep him focused on his school work, and when ever you don't have Science Club, you should be at practice and you must be present for every single game from now until the end of the year, considering that you are his good luck charm." Jack gave her a wink, tossed her the ball and went to go inside. It was there he met his wife, "Yes?"

"Why Jack Bolton are you warming up to Gabriella?"

"She's good for him Anna, I've been trying to tell you that all along, why won't you ever listen to me?" Jack smiled at his wife, while she looked dumbfounded.

END FLASHBACK

"Malcolm Doberman"

"Marla Dinane"

Troy was again seated after receiving his diploma, he looked over to his brother who gave him a wink, and Shana who blew him a kiss. He smiled and thought about how much Shana had already become apart of their family, about how in love his brother was and that maybe sometime soon he'd have a new big sister. His mind wondered back to about two months ago right before the end of his final Basketball season as an East High Wildcat. How his family and she had made sure he had what he needed to pull his team through this game, his good luck charm.

FLASHBACK

Buzzer

"And number 14, Captain Troy Bolton does not seem to be at the top of his game." said the announcer at the State Finals Championship.

"Yes can he pulled himself out of this rut going into the second period?" the second announcer said.

"What's going on captain?" Chad asked.

"Just not focusing."

"Gabriella?" Jack asked his son

"It's just we had to go out of state for the finals and she's been gone for the Decathlon and then everything else. It's just a lot on my mind dad."

"OK well listen, the faster and better you play, the faster we can win, we can go home and you can celebrate." Jack patted his son on the back, "Now get out there and play your heart out son. Chad keep an eye on him out there." Jack whispered to his son's best friend.

"And we're back with the second period of the game." The first announcer was saying.

"Did you get her?" Jack walked into the stand, for once giving his back to the game.

"Yeah, yeah hold on." Shana held up a finger to Jack, "Gabi, Gabi listen to me are home? Did you get HOME!? You did? Great when? OK, ok."

"Can I have that please?" Shana handed the phone off to Jack.

"Hey Gabriella, you got back to town last night? Good listen, Trevor's going to pick you up. Troy's having a really bad game and I think it has something to do with his good luck charm M.I.A…What? Ok, ok, yeah bring them too we'll have a victory party. That's great ok. Bye bye."

"She's home?" Trevor asked the two. They nodded, "Ok I'll go get her. Wanna come with?"

"Right behind you, tell us how the game goes." Shana followed Trevor out of the crowded arena. Jack and Anna bid them a fair well.

"Come on; come on hurry up you guys." Trevor was ushering the girls towards the door. Shana was way ahead of them, "Hi, umm do you think I could borrow that for a second?" Shana didn't wait for an answer, he yanked the mic out of his hand as Jack called for a time out.

The referee blew his whistle and the East High Wildcats poured over to their bench, Shana handed Gabriella the mic and it was all that was needed to boost the Captain for the final quarter of the game.

"Hey Wildcat, Get'cha Head in the Game!" Gabriella yelled into the mic, "What team?"

"WILDCATS!" a mass cheer erupted from the East High team and stands.

"What team?"

"WILDCATS!"

"Wildcats!"

"GET'CHA HEAD IN THE GAME!"

Gabriella smiled and Troy's face lit up, she handed Shana the mic and took off running right into his arms where Troy picked her up with ease and spun her around, before pulling her into a tight hug.

"You… you're here?" Troy was still in shock.

"Yep we won, now it's time for you to do the same."

"How a kiss for luck." Troy went to kiss her but she put a finger to his lips.

"Win us the big game and I will give you the biggest kiss of your life."

"But I want one now." Troy pouted.

"You want a kiss from me Wildcat?" Gabriella blew him a kiss, "I only kiss winners. Win me the game and I'll let you kiss me." Gabi winked at him. Troy knew what she was playing at.

Accepting his defeat the team captain shouted, "What team?"

"WILDCATS"

"Wildcats!"

"GET'CHA HEAD IN THE GAME!"

"Let's go." The team piled out into the arena, more pumped an excited then ever even with the score Wildcats 64, Stingrays 96, they were down by 32 points, well if they wanted to win technically it was 33, with only 15 minutes left in the game.

"Well it looks like number 14, the East High Wildcats Captain Troy Bolton, has had a sudden change of heart."

"That's right Chet and according to this beautiful brunette sitting next to me, it's because his good luck charm has finally arrived."

"Everybody let's be good sports and welcome this beautiful young lady, Miss Shana Evans, now Shana Troy really doesn't believe in good luck charms does he?"

"Well I don't know whether or not he believe it but we all know he has one, according to his coach he's never played better."

"And what is this good luck Charm is it you?" Chet asked her.

"Oh no, no, no." Shana's face was red, ever since she took the mic from him; he wouldn't let her go sit down.

"No actually she's my good luck charm." Trevor walked over to them; he could tell Shana was uncomfortable.

"And you are?" Dan the other announcer asked.

"Her boyfriend." Trevor towered over Dan, with his massive 6'4, finely built, toned, and muscular frame.

"And you are a very big man aren't you." Chet was barely six feet tall and was built nothing compared to Trevor. The audience broke out into laughter at Chet's remark.

"He's a football player" Shana whispered into his ear.

"Actually you see the other pretty brunette in the room, the one standing on the bleachers. That's Troy's good luck charm"

With less than 15 seconds left on the clock and the score 94 to 96, Chad passed the ball to Zeke, who passed it to Troy and then back to Chad, making an almost perfect three pointer. Chad shot the ball and it spun on the rim nearly falling out, in out, in out, in, just as it was about to fall out again, it was like a miracle. Just as the buzzer rang the ball fell right through the hoop, bounced and Troy caught it; the game ball that won the State Championship Finals, with the score Wildcats 97, Stingrays 96.

Cheers erupted from the side of the arena lined with Wildcats fans alike, Chad being celebrated like a king, for shooting the winning shot.

Taylor came running over to Chad; the team put Chad down and was about to give Taylor a kiss, when Troy thinking it would be funny, jumped in between them.

"Hey man nice shot, Team Captain presents his number one player with the game ball." Troy put the ball between them.

"Yeah thanks man." Chad gritted his teeth, obviously upset and, Troy smiling back knew it.

Troy turned around and saw Gabriella, standing on the bleachers smirking, she knew why he did it and she too thought it was funny.

"Hey Wildcat."

"So we won the big game, where's my kiss."

"Ahh but if you and I were watching the same game I believe Chad won the game."

Troy looked at her his eyes shocked, "But, but, but we won!" Troy was like a five year old asking for candy.

Gabriella laughed, "Troy I'm kidding. You ready for the best kiss of your life." Troy nodded eagerly making Gabi laugh again.

"Ugh" Shana made a face before smiling again.

"Yuck man!" Trevor was holding Shana in front of him, "Why don't you two get a room?"

Troy and Gabriela collapsed in laughter, Gabi resting her head on his chest.

"Absolutely not." Anna face was stern. Troy and Gabi laughed harder at this but Anna never broke, not one single trace of laughter was visible on her face.

"Aww come on ma, we're big boys now." Trevor told him mother, but Anna's face never softened. Shana noticing this made that oh my god look with her face and went red staring at Gabriella. Gabriella's laughter had returned and when Shana held out her hand Gabi took it and the two of them went off to join Kelsi and Jason.

"Jack you better come have a talk with your boys." Anna walked off to find her husband.

"Mom!!" Troy and Trevor ran off after their mother.

"Trevor I don't know what it is you're doing out in New York. I knew that letting move out of the house was a bad idea."

"Mom!" Trevor was running after his mother, Troy in tow.

"Jack!" Anna called again, " Get over here and talk to your sons. NOW! And I should be having a talk with little miss Shana over there. And Gabriella your mother."

"What did I do?" Shana was taken aback.

"My mother, what?"

After Anna was out of ear shot, Troy turned to his brother, "So what have been doing out in New York?"

"What nothing."

"Mhm."

"Oh really, so what are you and Gabi doing back here in Albuquerque?"

"Nothing. Hey man, back off."

"Ok little brother, if I'm doing nothing in New York and you're doing nothing in Albuquerque, why is mom so uptight?"

"She's mom?" Troy offered.

"So nothing?" Trevor asked

"Nothing like mom's thinking. You?"

"Same, not what she's thinking."

"So should we tell her that?" Troy asked his big brother.

"What and give her more reason to be uptight? Are you out of it or something?" Trevor slapped his baby brother on the back of his head.

"Don't hit me."

"I'm your big brother, I'll hit you if I feel like it."

The two started wrestling and then broke out laughing.

END FLASHBACK

Troy had to bite his tongue hard to keep from laughing out loud, the memory still fresh in his mind.

"Ryan Evans" Ryan got up form his seat and made his way to the podium where he hook the principal's hand, took his diploma and made his way back to his seat.

"Sharpay Evans" Sharpay walked up to the podium, shook hands with the principal, took her diploma but did not go to sit down. Instead she mumbled an 'excuse me' to the principal and stood in front of the podium.

"Umm Hello everyone." Sharpay began, "Most of you all know who I am, but for those who don't, my name is Sharpay Renee Evans. You know my brother Ryan." Sharpay extended a hand to where Ryan was seated, and then she continued,

"I know that it is probably too late for me to be up here saying all this, but I would like to apologize for my behavior for the last well I guess 13 or 14 years. I have been very snobby, pushy, and rude but not anymore because I have learned something this year. Umm for those of you who don't know I was very bad this summer and my grandfather cut me off and demanded that I learn a very important and valuable lesson that I believe I will carry though my life. This year I was not allowed to go shopping instead I was made to get a job, as a dishwasher." Several gasps were heard, as if this was unbelievable to their ears, "I was also made to work in homeless shelters and soup kitchens. I have never seen so many people in my life that had barely anything, so many people who were just trying to get by in the world. These people did things for themselves, using their own hands; they didn't spend hours in salons getting their hair and nails done. They didn't have the luxury to go shopping everyday and get whatever they wanted whenever they wanted and if you can believe or not I have made some very good and faithful friends. They don't care about how much money I have or whose name is on the label of my shirt, in fact I still work for my money, even though my allowance has been given back to me. Instead I donate my allowance to several charities, I've learned that if you can have the money to do good things with why not do them? My friends and I work in a clothing store, and this entire outfit that I am wearing under my gown came from Wal-Mart." More gasps were heard, and several of the other popular girls shouted 'Oh No Sharpay!'

"Money isn't everything, and I know that I treated a lot of you like you were lower than myself and for that I apologize. I'm not trying to make you feel sorry for me or pat me on the back for what I've done. I just wanted you to know that I've changed and I'm proud of myself and I like who I've become. That I intend on staying this way and that I really hope you can all forgive me for my actions over the past years. Thank You."

Ryan knowing how hard that was for his sister to stand there and ask forgiveness, clapped, followed by Gabriella, then Troy, Taylor, Kelsi, Chad, Jason, Zeke, and the rest of the graduating Wildcat class, then the auditorium. Taylor stood up and pulled Sharpay into a tight hug and Gabriella and Kelsi joined her, soon Sharpay was covered in an entire team of Wildcats.

Graduation Day for the Wildcats had been a wild one, that had been the day Sharpay's parents had disowned her completely, followed in suit her brother too for he had sided with his new transformation of his sister. Almost 13 years had passed since their parents had spoken to either one of them; the Wildcat gang was around 30. Sharpay and Ryan's grandfather paid for their college education, Sharpay had really shocked everyone at their 10 year reunion. She had become a fashion designer, but she didn't just do her drawings she actually stitched prototypes by hand. She did everything herself, from grocery shopping to laundry, gardening to painting; even though Zeke helped a lot and did all the cooking. They were very happy together and lived in a three bedroom house with their two daughters, Zoey and Chloe.

Ryan had met a very non-conservative woman, whose parents had lived in the seventies. They lived in the times where people didn't marry and passed the same values on to her. They had been dating for 6 years and had a two year old son, James. He had asked her several times to marry him, but each and every time she turned him down, it wasn't that she didn't love him; she just didn't want to be married. Ryan accepted that, and they lived happily in a two bedroom apartment, in Greenwich Village, New York City. Where Ryan was currently performing on Braodway.

Troy and Gabriella's relationship had never failed; they had been married the, well almost, longest…8 years. They had five children, their oldest a son, Tyler, their daughter Natasha, their other daughter, Eliza, and their twin daughters Jorja and Carolina.

Their relationship had yet to surpass that of Trevor and Shana. They had been married 10 years, they had announced their engagement right after the graduation and were married four months later; they couldn't stand being away from each other. Shana had been dying to start a family, and for a while, three years to be exact, they tried but sadly to no avail. So they decided to adopt. About a year later they adopted two adorable kids a 4 year old girl from Sweden, Marina and a 2 year old boy from Russia, Dmitri.

Of course Jack and Anna couldn't have been happier, they had their own two sons, their incredibly smart daughters-in –law, plus they received a set of twins. Yes their new additions were about eighteen years old when they joined the family, but they were loved all the same. Ryan and Sharpay were loved and welcomed right into the family.

So yes Anna and Jack were ecstatic, they had all their highly successful children and their ten grandchildren; adopted, added and all.

Jack smiled to himself every so often, he loved having barbecues in the summer and family gatherings for the holidays.

Thanksgiving 2039

Trevor yanked the front door open to his parents house, "Hey little sis." Trevor said as he engulfed Sharpay in a hug.

"Hey Trev" Sharpay hugged him back.

"Uncle Trevor!" An ecstatic cheer could be heard coming from Zoey and Chloe.

"My favorite rhyming nieces!" Trevor picked both of them up with a groan.

"Don't be throwing your back out; I still want you to be of some use to me." Shana came out of the kitchen followed by Anna.

"If these boys are anything like their father he'll still have it in him another 30 years." Anna told her.

"Really?" Gabriella was mixing up the cranberries.

"Oh yes."

"Well Ma at least we know what you do in your spare time." Sharpay smiled at Anna while Shana and Gabriella laughed at the expressions on Zeke, Ryan, Trevor, and Troy's faces.

"Alright Wildcats who's up for some hoops?" Jack shouted. This was his favorite part; he had enough grandchildren to create his own basketball team.

A massive cheer could be heard as his grandchildren raced to the back yard.

"Oh Jack dinner is going to be ready is ten minutes." Anna shouted.

"Ten minutes, huh?" Gabriella looked over at Sharpay and Shana.

"Girls against Guys!" Sharpay and Shana shouted as they ran for the back yard.

"What, wait a second?" Troy got up off the couch and raced out back. The rest of the Wildcats followed suit. Ryan smiled, as Anna stood holding the bowl of cranberries.

"Come on Ma, I'll help you finish dinner." Ryan took the bowl from Anna.

"Me, too." Zeke added carrying box of freshly prepared food, "Ryan I have another box in the car."

"I got it." Ryan doubled back to the car. Ryan had really become a family man. He loved his girlfriend, Leslie, his son, James, and his entire new family. Their grandfather had passed away about three months after James was born, but Ryan really knew where his loyalties lied.

"Yes, so will we." Leslie said while picking up James and following her boyfriend into the kitchen.

"Come on sweetie." Ryan kissed the top of his girlfriends' head.

"Aren't the two of you cute?" Anna remarked, "And you, you are just adorable aren't you?" Anna had taken James and was cooing all over him.

"She does love him doesn't she?" Leslie looked at her boyfriend.

"Yeah, she does." Ryan kissed her again and the two made their way into the kitchen.

"DINNER!" Anna shouted into the back yard and then she jumped back as a thunderous herd of children, friends and grandchildren alike stormed into the house. Jack was the last one to enter, he walked over to his wife and wrapped his arms around her. Anna sighed.

"What's the matter honey?" Jack asked.

"I never thought I could ever be happier than the days when our boys were born."

"And you're happier now?"

"Ecstatic." Anna hugged her husband.

"Why don't we all say what we're thankful for?" Sharpay offered.

"Marvelous, I'll go first." Anna spoke up. "I am thankful that I have such a wonderful family. My loving husband. My grandchildren, I never thought I'd get to have ten of them. I was lucky enough to not only get another son, but a daughter that I've always wanted. I am thankful that they were able to choose partners that to love and support them in life, love and everything else. Also my own two boys, who were just a pleasure to raise…sometimes. Always such good boys, and I am very thankful that we were able to instill such high values, honesty and truthfulness."

It was then Chad had to try hard to stifle a snigger.

"What's the matter Chad?" Anna looked at him, along with everyone else at the table.

"N…nothing" Chad stuttered.

"You're lying."

"No."

"So why the sniggering when I said…"

"Oh come on Chad just spill it." Trevor said suddenly.

"What is it Trevor?" Jack asked.

Troy gave Trevor a stern look, "Oh come on Troy it was what 11, 12 years ago?"

"What happened?" Anna asked.

"Chad laughing because in high school he used say Troy was sleeping over at his house, when he and Gabi used to go out to the desert."

"Oh really and what did you two used to do out in the desert?" Anna rounded on her youngest son and his, now, wife.

"Watch the stars?" Gabriella offered.

"Oh I'm sure you saw stars." Trevor mumbled under his breath and Shana smacked him on the back of his head.

"Oh boy" Ryan buried his face in his wine glass.

Anna's stares were firm, but Jack eventually smiled and looked away.

"Oh, oh please, like you and Shana were being all naughty in New York. After convinced mom butter could melt in you mouth."

Troy and Trevor were haunched face to face at the table.

"Oh Troy, get off it." Shana sat Trevor back down. "Of Anna knew what we were doing, she knows what we do now, and she knows you do it too. She's just going to be all motherly and disappointed in you because you're her baby."

Troy looked over at his mother and his mother-in-law, "I married her."

Everyone at the table burst out laughing, red faced Gabriella buried her head in her mother's shoulder.

"Of course you did" Maria said while patting her daughter's back.

"How come you're not embarrassed?" Gabriella asked Shana.

"Why should I be? It's a natural part of life, you're kids are going to do it someday too." Shana looked over at her sister-in-law.

"Do what?" Troy and Gabi's son asked.

Everyone laughed more.

"Are you still happy?" Jack whispered in his wife's ear.

"Ecstatic." Anna replied as they watched their children, grandchildren and friends enjoy their holiday together.

Who knew that a summer job at Lava Springs country club could have lead to this wonderful family life? Even with all the ups, the downs, the arguments, the fights, and the threats to never talk to each other again; it was truly impossible to break the Wildcat team. Life certainly couldn't get any better than this.