Returned

Hi guys, thanks for the reviews. Just a note about chapter one, where Kelsi says that it was four years later, it's supposed to be five years, just a little mistake. Anyway here's chapter two, read it and tell me what you think.

Chapter 2

The gang and Troy stared at each other for the best part of five minutes, as if no one was exactly sure what to do now. Taylor was still in Troy's arms after he had helped her up from her fall.

Taylor took this time to study Troy. He may have been five years older, but to Taylor and the gang, 23 years old Troy Bolton had never looked better. The same ocean blue eyes shone through, if possible brighter than before and showing that he was just as happy, if not happier than ever. His shaggy brown hair still fell over his eyes, although the highlights were gone and his grey hat. Although Taylor was a married woman, she couldn't help but notice, and she knew that Sharpay and Kelsi were in the same boat too, from the way that they were staring at him, but Troy looked even better than his high school years in his grey t-shirt and black skinny jeans. (Picture in profile.) His style had definitely increased, from the usual sports attire and long sleeved tops that he would wear in high school.

Although a lot about him had stayed the same, Taylor realised that something was different, just from looking at him, Taylor could tell that Troy had become a lot more mature over the year that he had been gone, although what had caused this change in him remained a mystery to Taylor and the rest of the gang.

Chad suddenly couldn't take it anymore, realising that his best friend was back, he unexpectedly launched forwards, pushing his wife out of the way as he grabbed Troy into a massive bear hug. Troy looked stunned at first, but that expression was quickly replaced by a grin.

"Awww, I new you missed me really Chad, surprised that you could live without me," Troy laughed cockily, but in a good natured way, as the rest of the gang grinned, realising that Troy's sense of humour hadn't changed at all.

"Still cocky as ever then Bolton," Taylor said with a smile as she shoved Chad out of the way and seized Troy into a hug. Troy grinned as he held her in a tight hug.

"Good to see you to Tay-Tay," the other girls suddenly squealed and joined in the hug as the guys watched on, laughing as Troy tried to get out of the hug, squirming.

"Don't even think about it Bolton," Sharpay growled and Troy immediately stopped squirming and looked at the guys for help. They all shook their heads laughing at the predicament that Troy had found himself in.

"Don't look at us for help Troy, this is your punishment for disappearing on us for five years without so much as a phone call," Ryan stated, crossing his arms. Troy looked at them helplessly before huffing and allowing himself to be hugged by the girls, not that he had much choice in the matter.

A few minutes later, Troy managed to choke out, "girls I need to breath and I'm losing oxygen fast here, so please get off of me and I mean that in the nicest way possible." By this time Troy's face was bright red and the girls immediately released, watching him slowly return to his normal colour, each of them blushing furiously and mumbling a sorry.

Troy just laughed as he told them that he missed their bone crushing hugs and needed one after five years without them. He then turned to the guys and hugged each of them in turn before the gang sat down on and around the bench, each wondering where to start with the questions.

Jason decided to go first and as he looked at Troy, with almost pleading eyes he asked, "Troy," Troy turned to look at Jason and nodded to him to continue, "why did you and Gabby leave all those years ago, was it something that we did?"

Troy looked shocked before smiling, " I never thought that I'd hear a sensible question out of you Jason."

Kelsi frowned, "well it has been five years you know Troy we've all changed a lot in that time."

Troy nodded solemnly before continuing, "first of guys, it was nothing that any of you did and Ella and I would never want you to think that," all of the gang nodded and let out relieved sighs. "Secondly, I'm afraid I can't tell you why we left, at least not yet," he added seeing the hurt looks on their faces. "To tell you what went on, Ella deserves to be their too, I wouldn't feel right, just telling you by myself."

Sharpay's eyes suddenly zoomed in on Troy's wedding finger and she let out a gasp. Everyone's heads whipped round to look at her and Troy looked slightly panicked. "Don't worry Troy it's nothing that you just said," she started and Troy nodded slowly, looking confused. "It's just you're wearing a wedding ring and I was wondering…" she trailed of as the rest of the gang stared at his hand and Troy shifted uncomfortably. "AreyoumarriedtoBrie?" Sharpay let out in one big breath as the rest of the gang, Troy included, started laughing, before everyone turned pointedly to look at Troy.

Troy smiled, twiddling with his ring nervously, "I married the love of my life 3 ½ years ago now Shar," he smiled, "so in answer to your question yes Ella and I are married. Extremely happily as well I might add," he beamed as he looked around the rest of the group who were all grinning like maniacs.

Suddenly Zeke and Jason groaned as Chad and Ryan both laughed and held out their hands as they each received fifty dollars and their grins widened.

"You guys were betting on me and Ella?" Troy mused with a slight laugh.

The guys all nodded meekly and Chad proudly told Troy how he and Ryan had always believed that the two would be married when they returned. This earned each of the guys a slap around the back of their head from their wives/fiancé/sister.

Troy was now trying to contain his laughter and failing miserably as he choked out, "some things never change."

"Where is Gabby, Troy, is she hear?" Taylor asked, looking like a four year old on Christmas morning.

Troy laughed before replying, "she's trying to get the new house organised, we just moved here, but I got kicked out, apparently I was getting in the way and there was something else that needed sorting out anyway." He finished with a smile as the gang laughed.

"Sounds like Gabby," Kelsi laughed, before asking, "Why did you guys move back here? If you don't mind me asking of course." She finished blushing.

Troy smiled at her, "I don't mind at all Kelsi," he said laughing. "Actually I got the job as new P.E. teacher and basketball coach at East High and Gabby got a position as the new kindergarten teacher at the Elementary."

The gang's mouths were all wide open in shock.

"What?" Troy asked nervously.

"Well Troy," Sharpay started, "I'd like you to meet your assistant coach and the other male member of East High's P.E. staff Coach Danforth, East High's music teacher Mrs. Cross, East High's drama teacher Mr. Evans, one of East Elementary's second grade teachers Mr. Cross and lastly one of East Elementary's kindergarten teachers Mrs. Danforth."

Troy's mouth opened in shock before he laughed, "so we would have ended up meeting up anyway, damn its like fate really wants us all together isn't it."

The rest of the gang laughed before Ryan realised something.

"Troy," Troy looked at him again grinning, "what was the other thing that you said needed taking care of?"

Immediately the grin was wiped off of Troy's face and he started to stutter," well…umm…you see…" his arm reached around to the back of his neck as he looked at them all nervously.

"DADDY!" there came a sudden yell and instantly Troy stood up, his eyes scanning the surrounding area as the gang watched on bewildered. Troy's eyes found what they were looking for and a million dollar smile crept across his face as a little girl with long blonde hair that was tied up but still reached down past her shoulders came hurtling towards the waiting group.

Troy picked her up and spun her round as she reached them, planting a kiss to the top of her head.

"Hiya angel," he smiled as he put her down, and she giggled, straightening out her top as she looked at the people surrounding her.

"Wait for me, wait for me," there came a little cry of as another little girl came flying towards them, her black curls bouncing as she ran giggling loudly and attached herself to Troy's legs.

Troy smiled as he picked her up, "having fun at the park princess?" he asked as he kissed the top of her head and she pushed her hair out of her eyes with her small hands, before nodding, placing her thumb in her mouth, placing her head on Troy's shoulder and followed her sisters example by studying the people who were standing before her, clearly shocked.

Ryan studied the first little girl that had run up to them, she looked identical to the younger pictures that he had seen of Troy. She had long blonde hair that was tied up in a ponytail cascading down her back. A pink straw hat covered her head, to protect her from the hot Albuquerque sun and she was wearing a three-quarter length white top, with a long green pinafore top over the top and denim Capri cropped trousers. The only difference to the pictures of Troy when he was younger, Ryan realised, was that this small girl had deep brown chocolate coloured eyes.

Next, Ryan turned his attention to the second child that had come up to them, her head still resting on Troy's shoulder as she looked at him inquisitively. She had dark curls that flowed to her shoulders, mocha coloured skin, that seemed almost too perfect and she was wearing a three-quarter length cream top, only this time with a long brown embroidered pinafore dress that reached just before her knee. As Ryan studied the little girl, his eyes were drawn to hers and when he met them he found that they were the same brilliant sapphire blue of his best friends, the only difference was that this little girl was an exact duplicate of Gabriella. (Pictures of the outfits are in my profile, they're really cute.)

There was no doubt in any of the gang's mind about who these children could be and what Troy said next only confirmed their suspicions.

"You guys I'd like you to meet my four year old daughter Ashley Bolton," he said pointing to the blonde girl.

"Daddy you always said that it was rude to point!" Ashley said looking at her father, very confused, which made the gang and Troy smile.

"I did baby and I was right the first time," he said as he held out his hand, which she gladly took. "And this is my three year old daughter Victoria Bolton." He smiled at the little girl resting on his shoulder and she shot the gang one of her million dollar smiles, mirroring that of her father earlier.

"Daddy you can't call her Victoria no one ever calls her that," Ashley said with attitude as Troy tried not to laugh at his daughter. Ashley turned to the gang, "excuse my daddy he's easily con- con conf- daddy," she whined.

"Confused," Troy replied with a smile and she grinned.

"Yeah that word," she turned back to the gang, who still looked shocked, "this is my little sister Vixie."

"Well you guys these are mine and Ella's girls…" Troy trailed of looking nervously at the gang, awaiting their reactions.

So anyway tell me what you think I'm not too happy with this chapter, I think that the gang should have had more issues with Troy when he first turned up…