By the end of the evening Troy couldn't eat another bite of food if there had been a gun to head. Maria had made all his favorite foods and had wanted to hear all about his plans after residency. He had known that coming back was going to be hard, but he hadn't imagined quite how torturous it would be. Sitting at the table with Nick and Sharpay, watching them glance at each other in love and touch hands every so often over the table.

His mother also kept an eye on him, cautious of everything he did. Reminding him every so often that he looked so much like his father, how his voice reminder her of him, his smile, his eyes. It was almost as if seeing her son brought back the ghost of her late husband into room and he could tell by the look in her eyes that she was happier than she'd been in a long time. However, the emotional toll was beginning to wear on him. He wanted to reminder her that he wasn't Jack. To tell her that Jack had passed away. But he also knew his mother state of mind. So he never said anything.

At that moment Sharpay's voice let out a laugh that came from deep within, a laugh that caught his attention and made the whole world shift just a little bit. He loved the sound of her laugh. He could see himself listening to it for hours. Growing old and hearing that laugh beside him as they watched their grandchildren play in the front yard.

He had many dreams for them, a single family home in the suburbs. A tabby cat just like the kind Sharpay use to have when she was younger. A few kids running around the house and her smile greeting him every day after a long day of surgeries.

But of course it was all just silly dreams.

Realizing that this wedding was going to happen had put his emotions through the ringer. If there was ever a man who needed to get his shit together and his head on straight it was him. Having fallen for his best friends girl, runaway from home so that he didn't have to watch her fall in love with his best friend, and now return all these years later to watch them be married. It hadn't been an easy pep talk to get here.

But he needed to let himself get over it. On his own terms. In his own time.

"Just didn't count on it taking six years," he muttered as he reached for the big glass of wine he'd snagged from the secret stash in the kitchen.

"Taking six years for what?" someone said in a soft southern accent.

Looking across the table he saw Louie's wife Rachel who'd plopped down across from him. "Just Residency and all that stuff," he lied.

Rachel nodded, "You decided where you're going to settle down, not going to lie. It would be nice if the boys had their own doctor in the family."

Troy smiled, "I'm considering it." Another lie, as soon as this wedding was over he was going to get as far away from Chicago as possible. The last thing he needed was to end up being little Nick Junior's Doctor. No thanks. He lifted his glass for another swig.

"You're a doctor?" came another female voice from the other end of the table.

Eddie, the second oldest Montez who was just getting settled into his new job, after having come back from his tour this last year, had taken an interest in coaching. Currently he was working at their old high school, probably crushing all the hearts of every prepubescent female in his tracks with his Italian charm and military stature.

He'd also introduced Gloria, to the family this evening. She was an inner-city girl, raised just as the Montez family had been by another big Italian crew a few blocks away from them. She was brash and bossy, confident and sexy. And from what it looked like so far she kept Eddie on a tight leash, through she let him pretend he was in charge.

Troy liked her. He also made a note to not like her too much. Let's not repeat history. "I'm a pediatric surgeon, I work with kids."

Regardless of Maria's habitual dinners that took place every Wednesday night, her family still chattered on as if they hadn't seen each other in ages. It had been a struggle sitting through dinner with all those faces turned up at him hanging off his every word, except for one.

Gabriella. It didn't take much for him to pick up on the fact that she was avoiding him. She wouldn't even look him in the eye.

As the conversation died down the men were conversing about pizza sauce and the women began cleaning off the table. Troy's eyes secretly followed every move Sharpay made as she helped Maria bring in coffee for the guest. His mind filled with all of the "what if's and could be's" of his life if things had been different between them. If only he had stayed in Chicago for his residency? If only he had invited her out for coffee that night after class instead of Nick?

Life would be different. If only.

His mind was struggling to stay in tune with the conversation the men were having about football, when he saw Gabriella removing the full trash bag from the garbage can in the kitchen. He got up from his seat and made his way over.

"Hey there stranger,"

It was as if an invisible wall had come down in front of her. She stopped dead. Froze. Then she slowly turned to face him. For a moment her face was as white as the polka dots on her cute retro top, but then her cheeks went as cherry-red as the background fabric.

"Hey," her voice came out like a squeak.

"Need a hand?"

"Depends," Gabriella said quietly as she tied the bag closed. "Are you going to turn into asshole afterwards?"

"So you are still mad at me," Troy countered. "Here I thought that was just a resting bitch face you perfected back there."

Gabriella stood up straight and let out sigh as she used the bottom of her palm to push some of her curls back and out her face. "Look. You want to take out the trash, knock yourself out. But if you just want state the obvious, I have better things to do."

Just as she was going to walk away his hand reach out and tugged her further into the kitchen away from prying eyes or listening ears. "Alright that's enough Gabriella."

Her eyes widen as she glared at him. "Don't speak to me like I'm a child."

Troy let out a sigh as he brought up a hand to point his finger at her and at the same time Gabriella eyes narrowed as she shrugged out of his grasp. She might look every bit of full grown woman but behind those chocolate eyes was the passionate little girl he remembered fighting with on a daily bases.

"The last time I was in town I was in a really shitty place." Troy began to explain, "I was trying to get over someone and the last thing I would ever want to do is use you to do that. My reaction that morning was not about you. It was about myself."

At first she didn't say anything. The information simply hung out there for her to take in. Until she shifted her weight, crossing her arms in a way that emphasized her breast. A pair of perfectly round breast that he'd taken notice of the last time he was in town. Breast he was going to stop looking at this instant, unless he wanted Eddie and Nick picking his eyeballs out with a dinner fork.

"Who were you trying to get over?" Gabriella asked with a raised brow.

This time Troy's eyes widen as he tried to reach for something to say. His mouth open and then closed moments passed before he spoke again, "I really don't think that's important."

"Are you seeing someone?"

Troy raised a brow, "What difference does it make?"

Gabriella shrugged her shoulders, "I might be a little more forgiving of your jack-ass tendencies if you thought you just cheated on your girlfriend."

"But I didn't cheat," Troy eyed her questioningly, "I mean we were too drunk to let that happen. Right?"

"So you do have a girlfriend." Gabriella said trying to follow the conversation.

"You have a girlfriend!" Lucille's voice boomed from behind them and Gabriella jerked out of the way as his mother came in to wrap her arms around Troy who eyes were wide open in horror.

"Uh, I-I-I" Troy voice stuttered as he moved back and forth within his mother arms. "Hold on,"

"Well which is it do you, or don't you?" Gabriella crossed her arms as she watched his mother release Troy.

"Gabriella stop teasing the boy," Maria came into the kitchen with another bag full of trash.

"I'm not teasing Ma," Gabriella muttered as she reached for some of the plates that were on the counter.

"Troy has a girlfriend," Lucile smiled at Maria, "Soon I'll have a wedding of my own to plan."

"Mom," Troy said quietly.

"I bet the girls fight over you back there in New York." Lucile eyes filled with tears, "You're father was always a heartbreaker with his smile."

Gabriella's eyes dropped to the floor as if deflecting the shine that came from his smile. His mother was right, that smile was a real heart stopper. Almost as dangerous as a loaded gun in the wrong hands, and she should know. He'd aimed that smile at her and like a fool she'd fallen for it. No second thoughts or concerns, she just opened herself up to him.

"So who is she," Maria interjected placing some dishes in the sink. "This woman who stole your heart?"

Gabriella tried to breath as the question left her mother's lips. She swallowed an irritating lump in her throat. She could handle this. If Troy had someone in his life, she could do this on her own. Single moms were a dime a dozen. It was like a super power. Besides she would be all that single. She had a fridge. Perfect place to find comfort food and in time loads of wine.

"Actually," Troy finally muttered out, "I'm not seeing anyone at the moment. I spend a lot of time at the hospital and it kind of takes priority right now."

Relief flooded through Gabriella as she crossed her arms. So she wasn't a home wrecker. That's a plus for the 'things to feel good about' list. Right up there with believing that soon she'd be too fat to kidnap.

"But now that you've taken the bar, surely you can ease up on your hours?" Maria asked.

"Maybe," Troy said quietly, "Where ever I go, I'll be considered the new guy. I'll have to prove myself. It's hard."

"Honestly?" Lucile said leaning in as if about to reveal a secret, "You're a doctor, it should be easy for you to find a good wife."

"Well, let's just take it one day at a time." Troy said a little shyly. "I want to live life, travel and maybe do things. I don't know yet."

What could she say to that? Everything Troy said was within his right. Troy could live his live however he pleases. Gabriella swallowed thickly. All her confusion, crazy thoughts and outrageous scenarios she'd gone thought these past few days flashed though her mind. The choice was simple. He wouldn't want a baby. She most certainly didn't, she couldn't fault him for feeling the same.

"There is nothing wrong with that," Maria interjected, "You have all your life to have babies."

Gabriella shrugged her shoulders, "Yeah, all your life." She muttered quietly.

"You can take your time too," Maria smiled, "I see plenty of grandchildren in the future and I'm going to love them all just as much as the last."

Gabriella swallowed hard as she fought the urge to place a hand over her stomach. Too late for that advice. Gabriella let out a breath as she reached for a new trash bag from the box in the pantry.

"Making the decision to have children is momentous." Lucile advised. "It's basically making a choice to forever have your heart go walking around outside your body." She smiled warmly as she lifted her glass of wine.

"It's okay," Maria smiled as she placed a hand on Troy's cheek, "You'll both find that special someone."

"I'm sure I will," Troy looked over at Gabriella. "What about you?" he said standing up a little straighter. "How's your love life these days?"

Gabriella was going to say no. Of course she was. She hadn't dated anyone seriously in long time; in fact her last long relationship was from High School. Of course she was going to say no. Men don't exactly line up when you're pregnant with another man's child, Gabriella thought. "I date."

"Yes, but Gabi doesn't date the good boys," Maria said quietly.

"Well if you haven't noticed they have to a little tough if they're going to survive the family line up." Gabriella muttered as she picked up the trash bag.

"No they have to be tough if they're going to survive you," Maria smiled. "So stubborn Gabriella, you get that from your father."

"Good to know," she murmured on her way out the back door.

"Troy can you throw this out too?" Maria handed him another bag full of bottles, "Make sure you put it in the blue trash can."

"Sure," Troy took the bag and headed out back following Gabriella.

Gabriella lifted her bag into the trashcan, tossing it in with such force that the garbage can rocked back a little. Motherhood she thought, I'm participating in the most beautiful cycle that this earth will allow. Who cares if I put on weight for a few months or a year or two years? Gabriella kicked the trash can. "Great I'm going to be single, fat and-"

"You're not fat."

Her entire body jumped at the sound of his voice. "Why are you following me?"

"Because someone has to be concerned for this trashcan's well being," Troy stepped into the alley and over to the blue bin dropping the bottles inside of it. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Gabriella moved to walk away from him.

"We use to be able to talk about stuff," he called out to her. "That was our thing. Talking."

Gabriella let out a breath as she looked up at the night sky, "It's been a really long day Troy," she said quietly. "What do you want to talk about?"

"The last time you were fine George Whelchel tried to kiss you in the stairwell," Troy smirked.

"And I kneed him didn't I?"

Troy nodded his head, Troy had also had a talk of his own with George, but till this day he kept that part of the story to himself. Gabriella had a thing for being rescued… she hated it. "I remember, he used to wince whenever he saw you coming."

"So I'm quite capable of handling things on my own."

Troy nodded, "You're a fascinating woman. I'd kill to have a family like yours. To have a ban of people in my corner, you're the least lonely person on the planet."

"You have no idea what's it's like to be me," Gabriella snarled. "I love my family, I appreciate them, and I care for them. You've been gone for five years, you have no right to just waltz right in here and tell me who I am or how I feel."

"You're right," Troy added quickly, "I'm sorry if it came off that way."

Gabriella let out a sigh, as she leaned against the fence in the gang way. She should tell him, but the words wouldn't fester from inside her. "Shit."

"Hey," Troy said with genuine concern, coming up to her he opened his arms. "Come here."

Gabriella hesitated at first before slowly coming into his open arms and leaning her body against his. Such awareness caused a spark of sorts inside of her. All she could feel in her skin was him. For the first time since they met, talk between them stilled, a real tension having sprung up, an air of anticipation hanging, ready to be taken.

His hug was solid, warm, encasing, and as soon as he pulled away a pain flooded her because she hadn't even know that she'd been craving his touch until he touch her.

"We should head back inside before they think we got mugged out here," Troy said with a soft smile.

Just as he moved to leave, Gabriella's hand suddenly had a mind of its own and reach for him.

A pulse along his jaw line throbbed, his Adam's apple rising and falling as he stared at her curiously. "What is it?"

She leaned forward onto her toes, placing her hands onto his shoulders, moisture filling her mouth as she anticipated what she was about to do.

His chest rose, and his lips clamped together, a deep breath expelling from his noise. He placed a hand loosely on her hip. "Gabriella what are you doing?"

"Just a kiss," she placed her lips to his cheek, breathing in his scent, the wine and musk natural smell of his skin played with her senses. She was delighted when she felt his mouth brush against her own cheek.

What would those still firmly, clamped lips feel like against her own? She wondered, moving her mouth to press lightly against them and discover for herself.

He didn't move, his breaths coming even deeper, his body as rigid as a board.

The fingers holding her hip tightened, a subtle movement that enticed her to press herself closer so all that separated them were the clothes they wore.

She felt the slightest of softening in his unyielding form, enough to embolden her further to slip her fingers beneath the collar of his shirt and gently graze his smooth warm skin, her lips still chastely placed against his.

A guttural noise came from his throat, a groan that reverberated through her skin and seeped down low, right into her pelvis. She scraped the nape of his neck with her nails, breathing him in more deeply, his masculine scent filling her senses in the most delicious way.

And all at once the statue came to life, his hand rising to clasp the back of her head in a firm, hard, grip, his lips parting. Then he was kissing her, kissing her with a violence that made the pulsations deep in her core enflame with delight and her heart beat like a thousand drums had been set off inside her.

He felt her arms wrap around his neck as if they belonged there. She groaned, opened up for him and was gone.

Then there was a flash of familiarity. A vision. A fantasy. No it was a memory.

Troy's dragged himself away from the kiss, confusion fogging his clarity, giving himself a moment to think. He shouldn't have memories of Gabriella. He shouldn't know the sound of her groan, or remember an urge to be inside her.

The moment was gone and her lips were back on his in long, hot, unbelievable kiss, he felt her hands everywhere, tugging at his clothing sweeping against his skin and with each touch a memory fired off in his brain like electric burst of pleasurable torture.

Ripping himself away from her he pushed her back into the fence holding out his hands against her chest to keep them apart. His eyes narrowed as he looked at those dark brown eyes as they looked at him almost bleeding black with passion.

This was not happening.

"Go inside Gabriella."

"Troy-"

"Now!" she jerked at the rise in his voice. Neither of them had expected it but thankfully she didn't fight him further. He stood there in the gang way after she'd gone. All he could hear was the sound of his own panting while he took deep breaths until he was sure he could control himself again, till he could think clearly, or at least at all.

He was a dead man.