Home is Where the Heart Lives

Chapter II

Troy parked the car a block from the Bolton residences and instructed Savannah to keep it quiet. They were going to sneak in and really give a surprise. Savannah grinned and followed her Dad. He positioned her by the doorbell while he unlatched the gate to the backyard. When the gate was open, he signaled to his daughter who rang the bell and ran as fast as she could while keeping quiet to the backyard. Jack Bolton opened the door and scowled.

"It must be some kid trying to prank us." he said to his wife who was in the kitchen.

"Kids these days…" Lucille said in a disappointed voice as Jack joined her in the kitchen.

Troy and Savannah were giggling as they crept to the doorway leading to the kitchen. They both peeked seeing the two older Boltons with their backs on them. They stood in the doorway and took a deep breath.

"SURPRISE!!!" father and daughter yelled causing Jack to turn so swiftly he fell of the chair and Lucille to clutch her heart and gape at them.

"Oh my goodness, Troy and Savannah, you scared us!" she cried and went to hug her son and granddaughter. Jack was still reeling from the shock and he stood up looking like he still didn't know what hit him. Then he stared blankly at his son and granddaughter.

"Am I dreaming?" he asked blankly and Savannah gave a high pitch giggle.

"No Grandpa! We're here for Thanksgiving!" she squealed and ran to give her grandfather a hug.

"Oomph! God you're heavy!" Jack said faking exhaustion after hugging her.

"Well I never! I am not heavy Grandpa Jack." Savannah said with mock indignation. Lucille and Troy giggled when Savannah stomped out of the room with Jack following her profusely apologizing. Lucille turned to her son.

"What brings you here early?" she asked, eyeing him suspiciously.

"What? I want to spend time with my family is all." Troy said, raising his eyebrows.

"Every year, you arrive in Albuquerque a day before Thanksgiving, not three days ahead. I know you in and out son; we aren't really the real reason. Just partially." Lucille said knowingly.

"Alright Mom, I'll admit it. I want to go to Lava Springs you know…" he trailed off.

"I don't even know why you divorced in the first place." Lucille said disappointedly.

"She wasn't ready to have a baby – she said her career came first." Troy told her flatly.

"Sharpay was just scared, actually terrified, of the fact that she was going to be a mother you know. And, if truth be told, you really didn't support her as much as a father would." Lucille said dispraisingly. Troy sighed, he knew she was right. At 24 he also wasn't ready to have a baby and opted to play harder for the Lakers than take care of his wife.

"So why do you want to go back to Lava Springs?" she asked bringing Troy back to earth.

"It's been 15 years Mom. I just knew she was the one – my second divorce told me so." Troy told her getting lost in his thoughts again. He made the mistake of remarrying when Savannah was 10 years of age. He rekindled his old flame with Gabriella and the marriage lasted two years before they called it quits. Gabriella couldn't stand being reminded of Sharpay in Savannah's form and his daughter hated her stepmother with a vengeance. To top it off, Troy still wasn't over Sharpay though she was hardly mentioned in his household.

"And all your other ex-girlfriends. Don't think that just because you live quite far away from us doesn't mean I don't get to know what goes on in your life." Lucille scolded her son.

"How did you…?" Troy looked at her, his cheeks beginning to redden.

"I call them thrice a month for you Dad." Savannah interrupted from the doorway with a smirk.

"Remember, you promise to call them?" she reminded him still smirking and Troy frowned at her, his daughter sometimes eavesdropped just for the heck of it.

"Where's Jack?" Lucille asked seeing the look on her son's face.

"Here I am." Jack said standing beside his granddaughter looking quite flushed.

"And why are you flushed?" Lucille asked, her eyes narrowing with suspicion.

"She…made me…chase her…" Jack said in between breaths.

"Dad, she's fifteen, why'd you chase her?" Troy cried crossing his arms and Savannah giggled.

"Son, she's the daughter I never had. You gotta understand." Jack explained wringing his hands and Lucille shot him a what-the-hell look.

"What Grandpa Jack was trying to say is – I'm his little girl and that he still doesn't want to see me grow up. And I didn't forgive him yet so I ran away and he chased me." Savannah explained and Jack smiled at her but frowned on the last part.

"But you're my little girl." Troy pouted and Savannah went over to her father and hugged him.

"I still am…" she assured him and Troy hugged her tightly. Jack and Lucille were touched at the sight. Savannah was Troy's sole reminder of the woman he loved with a fiery passion.

The moment was ruined when the doorbell sounded repeatedly making Jack dash to the front door with an angry look. Troy let go of his daughter reluctantly to follow his Dad. Jack was kind of unpredictable when pissed.

"What the hell –"Troy put a hand on his father's shoulder and told him that he'll be the one to answer the door. He opened it to find a tall dark boy with an afro bouncing a basketball while a little girl stood beside him closing her pocketbook.

"Uncle Troy?" the little dark girl looked up at him, surprise written all over her face and she squealed with delight as she threw herself onto him. Troy landed on his back with a thud.

"Hey Christine!" he said in a muffled voice as the little girl continued to squeeze the life out of him. He heard thumping at his side and glanced up to see the tall dark boy grinning down at him.

"Hey Uncle T! How's the LA Lakers?" he asked and Troy grinned up at him still trying to pry himself from Christine Monique Danforth's death grip.

"They're doing good Brian." Troy said in a muffled voice. Brian Corbin Danforth grinned at his father's bestfriend and decided to take pity on him.

"Yo Savannah!" he called out and winked at Troy. Savannah bounded into the hall and Christine immediately released Troy to hug her. Savannah hugged her back as hard as she could and the two girls went back to the kitchen. Troy stood up and dusted himself off, Brian watched him with an amused smile.

"Chad, I told you to go and lock up the car and watch the kids while I make a phone call!" Taylor was scolding her husband who looked at her sheepishly as they walked to the door.

"They're big children now Tay, Brian can take care of Christine, he's 17!" Chad tried to defend himself. Troy knew that the bickering won't stop until Taylor gets the final word and Chad would slouch with no more comebacks.

"Ahem." Troy said loudly and the couple looked over at him. Immediately Chad's face brightened and he gave Troy a manly hug while Taylor waited patiently for her turn and kissed his cheek. Troy led them to the kitchen and excused himself to properly park his car.

When he went back to his parent's house he found everyone gathered in the living room. Taylor looked excited about something as well as his mom. He sat beside his daughter on the couch and gave them a curious looked. Chad smiled at him and handed over a letter. It was an invitation for his batch's reunion. Troy gulped thinking that Sharpay might attend. He was distracted when his daughter snatched the letter from his hand and pointed out a line to him. The letter was encouraging them to bring over their family too, if they wanted and Savannah gave Troy a pleading look.

"You wanna come?" he asked her and Savannah nodded, giving him her best puppy dog look.

"Are you going to come?" Taylor asked and Troy looked over at her.

"Well…" he began and felt Savannah crossing her arms and huffing. She looked disappointed.

"You really wanna come?" he looked over at his daughter and she pouted at him.

"I just wanted to know more about you…" she said dramatically and Troy rolled his eyes.

"Alright, I'll go honey, only if you come with me…" Savannah instantly switched moods and hugged her father. Chad smirked, Savannah had her Daddy practically wrapped around her finger.

"Are you going too buddy?" Troy looked over at Chad and his bestfriend nodded.

"With Brian and Christine." Taylor said making her son roll his eyes.

"Yeah, like I haven't seen East High before." Brian remarked about his high school earning a glare from his mother.

"Don't start with me." Taylor hissed and her son instantly shut his mouth. Troy was impressed with Taylor's authority. Her kids behave the moment she opens her mouth but Savannah gets away with her puppy dog face most of the time, except when she's done something really major, which still hasn't happened yet.

"Alright, when will it be?" Lucille asked with a smile.

"Two days after Thanksgiving." Taylor replied and Jack looked at his son.

"How long will you be staying after Thanksgiving?" he asked.

"Around a week more." Troy told him and his parents beamed, they've missed him so much.

"Now that we've established that, can we eat?" Chad asked and his wife rolled her eyes. Lucille though beamed at him and beckoned everyone into the dining room.

"How come you have such perfect timing, dude?" Troy whispered to Chad.

"What do you mean?" he whispered back, his mouth filled with food.

"You visit my parents the exact day we arrive." Troy pointed out.

"Dude, Jason works for the airport you just landed in. He called us." Chad reminded Troy.

"Oh yeah, I forgot about that! Good thing he didn't call my parents…" Troy said. Savannah nudged him in the ribs.

"Dad, you do not talk with your mouth full." Savannah scolded her father much to the amusement of everyone.

"I'm sorry honey…" he swallowed and smiled at her.

"Ugh Dad, you told me to work on my etiquette and then you're a bad role model." Savannah huffed and everyone laughed as Troy looked at her sheepishly.

"I've raised her well, don't you think?" he looked around and beamed with pride at his daughter. The affection wasn't missed by his parents or his close friends. Troy was proud of his daughter and he obviously loved her so much. They just all secretly wished that her mother could feel the same way…

"Savannah honey, do you want to go shopping with me tomorrow?" Lucille asked.

"Yes!" she cried and smiled at Troy. He raised an eyebrow at her and nodded.

"Just don't max out my credit card," he said to her knowing full well she would – maybe.

"I'll keep her in check." Lucille assured her son and he smiled gratefully.

~***~

The limo pulled up in front of the Evans mansion and the attendants all hurried to assist its passengers. The butler greeted Sharpay, Ryan (he gave him a rather odd look) and Jacob and led the three to the veranda where Mr. and Mrs. Evans were waiting.

"Sharpay dearest!" Derby greeted her daughter. She hugged her and kissed her cheek.

"Ducky! Mommy missed you-"she was cut off when she saw her son's face.

"What on earth did you do to your face?!" she cried looking quite horrified. Vance stepped closer to inspect his son's face after hugging his daughter.

"Why? What's wrong?!" Ryan looked alarmed as Sharpay burst into laughter as she handed him her mirror. Ryan glanced at his face and scowled looking over to his nephew who was innocently chewing an apple from the fruit bowl in the middle of a huge table set for lunch.

"What did you do?" he hissed and Jacob burst into laughter. Sharpay put a protective arm around her son and stopped her brother who was advancing towards him.

"That was not funny." Ryan snapped and went off to wash his face. Vance faced his grandson.

"Are you up for a game of golf after lunch?" he asked Jacob, his brown eyes gleaming challengingly.

"You bet I am." Jacob said and puffed his chest giving his grandfather a proud smile.

"That's my boy!" Vance cried happily and sat himself at the head of the table. Derby smiled and took her seat at the other end while Sharpay sat beside her son.

"So princess, how's the theater business going?" Vance asked his daughter who launched into another tirade of amateur actors and starlets who act like they own the world once the crowd loved them after one show. Jacob excused himself from the table and asked the butler to call him when the food was served. He went to the music room and rifled through a few song sheets scattered about. He saw one that caught his interest. It was light pink with a letter on the back for his mom.

It was from Troy Bolton telling her that he will love her forever and ever. Jacob raised an eyebrow; Troy Bolton was a star player and now coach of the Lakers. Last he heard the guy was living in LA, how could he possibly know his mom?

Ryan cleared his throat and entered the music room. He looked at the pink song sheet and immediately read what was going through his nephew's mind.

"I still haven't forgiven you for that fake mustache and terrible lines on my face." Ryan said.

"It made you look human Uncle…" Jacob joked and Ryan shook his head.

"Why are you snooping around?" he asked.

"They've started talking about the theater." Jacob answered.

"It bores you doesn't it?" he patted Jacob's back and took the song sheet from him. He seated himself on the piano stool and started playing.

"'You' by the Carpenters? Uncle, that's like a very old song." Jacob said and rolled his eyes. Ryan however, was lost in the music and hardly thought about his answer.

"Troy was unique that way. He was sentimental and sweet; oh your mother would sing this song at the top of her lungs back then. It was one of the songs she wouldn't change into a livelier beat, she loved it just the way it was. The way she loved your father…" he trailed off.

"Troy Bolton is my father?" Jacob looked at his uncle who suddenly stopped playing.

"W-w-what?" he stammered as his nephew gazed at him with shock and anger.

"Troy Bolton is my father?" Jacob repeated clearly and Ryan hung his head.

"Yes…" he replied and saw the look of hurt plastered all over his nephew's face.

"Why didn't you tell me? I always thought he was dead or something…" Jacob looked pissed.

"He and your mother had a terribly bitter divorce and she hardly mentioned him. As far as I've heard she wasn't mentioned in his presence either." Ryan explained and tried to soothe him.

"I wanted to meet him for a long time and I was watching him all along." Jacob muttered, referring to the times when he watched him play.

"I'm sorry kid. You know your mother; just confront her about it when it looks like she's ready. And by that I mean after Thanksgiving…" Ryan patted Jacob's back and led him back to the veranda.

Sharpay glanced at her son and brother taking note of their somber expression that they tried to hide. She studied their faces but they acted like nothing happened and her parents didn't seem to notice anything. Lunch was more talk about theater, and then yoga. Vance was the only one who was able to relate to Jacob since he was the one who loved sports as much as the teen.

After lunch, Jacob left with grandfather to the country club to play golf and Derby went with them for her yoga classes. That left Ryan and Sharpay alone in the house for a while. Ryan was back in the music room and was playing Bach when Sharpay burst in.

"What did you talk about?" she asked in a calm voice but Ryan knew better.

"He wanted to wait until after Thanksgiving." Ryan answered her praying that she'd buy it.

"No, tell me now." Sharpay demanded, hands on her hips, giving her brother a glare.

"After Thanksgiving Shar… you know patience is a virtue." Ryan told her with a smile.

"That I never learn, and may never will." Sharpay said exasperatedly accompanied by a roll of her eyes.

"C'mon Ryan, spill!" she said loudly. Her brother knew that they could do this all day long, even in the middle of the night she can come creeping into his room just to wake him up and annoy him, or give him alcohol just so he'll say it in his moment of drunkeness. She's done it before so he decided to tell her.

"He knows…" her brother gave in and handed over the pink song sheet. Sharpay gasped dramatically and glared at her brother.

"How could you let this happen?!" she cried sinking into a sofa and Ryan gave her a look.

"I didn't, somehow fate did." Ryan told her and she rolled her eyes at him.

"You could've told him it was nothing, that he was an old flame!" she hissed. It was Ryan's turn to roll his eyes at her.

"An old flame? Do you expect him to believe that?" Ryan snapped.

"Why not? After all, you are his uncle." Sharpay snapped back.

"Shar, he deserves the truth. You should've seen his face when he found out! He was hurt-"

"That's why I never wanted him to know in the first place!"

"That doesn't make any sense. Someday he'll find out and you will wake up realizing that you broke your son's heart and he's too mad at you to forgive you."

"Just like his father broke mine. How could I let my own flesh and blood meet the ass who exchanged his wife for basketball?!"

"Troy was as scared as hell about having a baby. I admit his decision wasn't one of responsibility but…"

"Continue Ryan; c'mon, finish your sentence."

"You could've worked it out though…"

"Puh-leez Ry, like I've never heard that one before. You know what he said to me? Troy Bolton promised never to leave my side, through good times or bad. I must always come first. He went to his game the night I went into labor!"

"He went over the speed limit right after just to be there for you."

"That's not good enough!"

"It's always not good enough Shar! The man didn't know that that night was the night! He wanted to win because it meant a huge paycheck."

"Yeah like I didn't have one myself working as an actress."

"When you give birth, you couldn't possibly leave your babies at home and start working to get your figure back and your lines perfected."

"What's so important about his paycheck that he had to go for it?!"

"It meant food, shelter and security for your babies lives and yours and his too, if he didn't get his paycheck you'll starve Shar."

"You know fully well that I won't. I can always come back here; Daddy would make sure I won't starve along with my babies."

"Oh yeah, I forgot, your Daddy's little Princess. Tell me then, your royal highness, why you wanted to become independent in the first place against Dad's wishes?"

"I just wanted to know how it feels…"

"And so you did, you became independent. Then you married the Lakers' star player and just like any couple, the man felt the need to be the breadwinner. Is that a sin?"

"And miss me going into my first labor?!"

"Shar, he tried to be a good father for them, but you kept pushing him away."

"How can he ever be? Troy fainted when I told him I was pregnant."

"He did?"

"Like hell he did!"

"But then he got over it and tried to support you the best he could."

"Whenever he was at home that is, and that was very rare. He was always out."

"Training for the big game that would undoubtedly secure your future."

"Whatever! He had to go and he knew it. If he couldn't support me, what more the children?"

"Is that why you kicked him out and told him to go to hell?"

"He deserved it! I couldn't believe what he had done…"

"And it happened fourteen years ago, couldn't you give it a rest now?"

"Never Ryan, he has to pay the price."

"For what Sharpay – for trying to be a better man?"

Sharpay couldn't face her brother. She knew that what Ryan said made perfect sense. Troy tried so hard to make it up to her but she hardly gave him a chance. Instead, she threw his bags at him and gave him the most vicious tongue lasing he could ever have in his lifetime. Troy didn't leave without a fight saying that he wanted one of the twins with him. Sharpay knew she had to relent or else he'll give her hell. And when Troy Bolton raised hell, that was another matter.

"Sharpay?" Ryan asked her, she didn't even realize that she was crying.

"He hurt me so bad Ry, so bad…" she sobbed and Ryan took her in his arms.

"I know Shar… and I know that somewhere out there, Troy couldn't live with his guilt." Ryan soothed her while Sharpay cried out all the pain she felt fifteen years ago.

"But what about Jacob?" she sobbed in his arms. Ryan looked at her thoughtfully.

"I'm sure he'll forgive you." Ryan told her and held her until their parents and his nephew were home.

The Evans family was gathered in the great dining room for dinner. They were just having desert when the butler entered carrying a letter on a silver tray. He said that it was addressed to Sharpay and Ryan. Vance took the letter and handed it to his son. Ryan read it and looked a bit worriedly to Sharpay.

"Well Ducky, what does it say?" Derby asked eagerly.

"It's an invitation from East High Mother." Ryan replied and Derby looked eagerly at her children. Vance urged his son to continue while Sharpay's face was unreadable and Jacob didn't seem to want to hear it. He seemed distant since he got home.

"Our batch's having a reunion two days after Thanksgiving, and we could bring our families if we want to." Ryan said the facts and glanced at Sharpay.

"That would be exciting Ducky! You should go, and take Jacob with you." Derby beamed. Ryan nodded, he couldn't resist his mother and Sharpay nodded too, albeit reluctantly.

After desert, Derby said she wanted to talk to Ryan and Jacob said that he'll go to bed. Vance ushered his daughter into the study and indicated an armchair facing the huge fireplace. He sat down on the other armchair and looked thoughtfully at his daughter.

"You've been quite down during dinner, Princess, what's the matter?" he asked her.

"Jacob found out about Troy." Sharpay said and sniffled. Vance hardly looked surprised.

"Did he now? He's bound to know someday…" he told her thoughtfully and Sharpay frowned.

"You put that piece in there didn't you?" she said accusingly and her father sighed.

"You knew that he'd be bored to death when we start talking about the theater and knew that he'll go to the music room first because that's where he always goes ever since he could walk and…and… how could you?" she cried. Vance just looked at his daughter thoughtfully.

"He's not a little boy anymore and me and your mother don't think that it would do you good if he would find out too late and end up hating you. Jacob deserves the truth Princess, how would you feel if you grew up not knowing me at all?" Vance explained, his brown eyes trying to break the ice wall his daughter builds to protect herself, she is slipping her Ice Queen mask back on.

"Did Ryan know what you've done?" she asked coldly and her father shook his head.

"I've always tried to do what's right Princess…" he said sadly and sighed.

"Why Daddy?" she pouted and Vance looked at his daughter with sad eyes.

"I couldn't bear to see my Princess hide her pain. Every year I can see you looking forlornly at the fairways where you always looked when he played golf with me. I can see the longing in your face when your son gives you that grin your husband once gave you. I can see the anger in your eyes when you see him on television playing basketball being cheered by your son. I can see the guilt that eats you knowing that your child doesn't know that he is watching his father all along. I can still feel the hurt he has caused you after all these years. I can bear your pain Princess, and I always will, because I love you.

"But what I cannot bear to see is the longing on my grandson's face. He tries to hide the hurt he feels when he is left in the dark about his father. It is not right Princess, to leave him out of what he deserves to know… because the moment he turns from you, I fear I cannot be there when your world comes crashing down. To catch you as I once did… I couldn't bear to see you in pain Princess, I can never will…"

Sharpay was sobbing so hard for the second time that day. Here she was listening to her father's explanation understanding fully well what he meant. He was trying to protect her, like he always did. She was Daddy's little girl and she knew that it was a position she would forever get to keep. She wept and Vance held her and comforted her throughout the night.

Meanwhile, Ryan was having tea with his mother at the patio. Derby sipped her tea and looked at her son. She sighed and put down her cup.

"Are you going to the reunion Ducky?" she asked him. Ryan also put down his cup.

"Yes Mom, we are." he replied and Derby nodded her approval.

"Take care of your sister, alright?" she asked him and Ryan gave her a questioning look.

"I think, she'll meet him again." Derby replied.

"Do you think he'll be there?" he asked her and Derby smiled sadly.

"I have a feeling he will be…" she told him and Ryan gulped. His mother was hardly wrong.

"And what about Jacob?" Ryan asked thoughtfully.

"He will do what he thinks is right. You and Sharpay have raised him well." Derby said.

"What do you mean, mother?" her son asked confused. Then realization dawned upon him.

"You put the piece out didn't you?" he said and she nodded. He gaped at her.

"Ducky, your father and I didn't feel it appropriate that our only grandchild should grow up bitter against his family because he doesn't know who his father is." Derby explained.

"Your telling that to me – Sharpay's the one who doesn't want him mentioned." Ryan frowned.

"Ducky, you live with your sister and nephew, why didn't you then?" his mother countered.

"Shar didn't want me to…" he said in defeat and his mother raised an eyebrow.

"Just because she told you not to doesn't mean you must follow her orders." Derby said quite aghast. "You are not inferior to her…" she scolded him and Ryan nodded.

"I know that but at that time Jacob was just a little boy…" he said in defense.

"Now he isn't, he's growing and I think he waited long enough." Derby replied tersely.

"What's done is done Mother. Let's just see where this all takes us." he said and got his cup. Derby watched her son in the corner of her eye as he sipped his tea. She could feel herself shaking, whatever is coming, its going to make them spin a full 360.


This chapter is very dramatic (on Sharpay's part), but was it too much?
Please review! :)