A/N: This chapter is dedicated to -xGuiltyxPleasure- for giving me a lovely review that made my day! Sorry this chapter isn't longer but if I push myself, my writing just gets lazy (trust me you wouldn't want to read that!)

-ElisabethBennetUndiscovered-

After Sharpay climbed into bed, the hours seemed to drag by slower than usual. Her body ached for sleep but her mind wouldn't have it. She did not toss and turn. Instead she lay still on her back, chewing her fingers feverishly.

Meanwhile Troy stood on the blacktop, bouncing his basketball. Bending his knees, he threw the ball into the net perfectly. He felt drained of emotion, completely empty inside.

As he sprinted to grab the rebound, he wondered why he had been able to make the shot. The first time had to have been a fluke but three times more?

In the past when Troy would have a relationship problem, his game suffered. Now that his marriage—the love of his life—was hanging on the line, he made every shot. It didn't make sense; he wasn't even trying.

He dribbled the ball back behind the white chalk line and paused there, resting it on his hip. He inhaled and exhaled the cool fall air rapidly, watching his foggy breath hang in the air and then fade away. Troy thought of how love was like that too.

One second it was strong and visible to the unaided eye. The next second, it evaporated into thin air. He guessed maybe with a little faith you could hold onto that love; even though you could no longer see it, maybe it was still there. You just had to feel around a little and when you found it again, hold on tight.

He was still processing that thought as he raised the ball and threw it through the hoop. When it fell to the ground, Troy wasn't there to catch it.

-HSM-

Troy lifted the welcome mat on his front porch and found the spare key hidden there. He let himself in as quietly as possible so as not to wake Sharpay. But she was already lying awake in the bedroom down the hall.

She was listening intently as Troy almost imperceptibly relocked the front door. She listened as he sighed softly and hung his jacket up. She listened as he padded across the living room and gathered her misplaced jacket from the couch; he hung that up as well.

And then she could only hear her own heart beating as she left the master suite and tip-toed down the hall.

She wanted to apologize but she was terrified Troy might still be angry, might not be ready to make-up or might not want to make-up at all.

When she reached the kitchen, his back was facing her as he stood at the sink picking pieces of glass out of it. She tightened the sash of her robe and crossed her arms. If she took another step she'd be in his peripheral vision for sure, which would thwart her plan to sneak behind him, wrap her arms around him and tell him how much she really loved him.

When he finished collecting the pieces of the casserole dish, Troy placed them on the counter and picked up the plates he'd threatened to break earlier. He put them back in the cupboard.

Then he turned to face the trash receptacle and saw Sharpay standing in the archway. Fresh tears glistened in her eyes as she met his. She gestured with her hand, something similar to a wave. She licked her lips, trying not to burst into tears when she spoke. She rolled her eyes toward the ceiling, holding it in as best she could.

"I'm sorry," she finally spit out. Troy, who had been frozen halfway between the sink and his wife, was wrapped around her in one fluid movement. She pressed her hands on his chest, patting him as she tearfully repeated her apology.

"Shhh, it wasn't your fault. I'm the one who should be apologizing, not you. It's okay, Shar." She looked up at him in time to see tears welling in his eyes.

"Can you forgive me, Shar?" With a single hand, she pulled his face to hers and gave him her answer. The kiss was bittersweet as salty tears ran down their faces. When Troy pulled away, he rested his forehead against hers.

"Shar, I'm so sorry. I can't believe what a jerk I was being." She smiled softly and put her hand on his cheek.

"I can. I egged you on enough."

"Still, I went too far. I promise nothing like that will ever happen again." Her smile widened and they shared another kiss as the sun began to rise.

Troy and Sharpay spent another hour or so talking about their plans to work it out. It was close to 7 A.M. by the time they fell asleep.