Gabriella's feet hit the side walk as she jogged through the neighborhood. Her music buds in her ears as she listened to Christmas music. Her mind was far away thinking about her student loans that were coming up. What was she going to do? She'd only saved up so much. She really needed an income. There was no way she could ask her father for help, and she already filled out all the forms for economic hardship. All they did was lower her monthly payment, which was great and all if she had any kind of money coming in to pay the bill.

God, she needed a job.

Gabriella kept running letting her body feed off the nervous energy, she needed to be away from her body. She needed to get her mind off everything. She needed time to come up with a plan. Her phone chimed and she looked down at her phone's screen from its strapped position to her arm.

Can't wait to see you later today.

Her stomach fluttered and she frowned. "Shit," she muttered as she took a deep breath and jogged in place for a moment. She was just too vulnerable to him, whether she liked acknowledging it or not. This was fine. She could handle it. He was only back in town for two weeks then he was back off on his next mission.

She could do this.

When she came back up to her parent's driveway she noted Jason's car in the drive. Finally a distraction! She smiled wide as she hurried into the house. Once inside Gabriella took out her headsets and walked into the living room to find Jason talking to Michelle.

"Jason!" Gabriella smiled and ran over to throw her arms around him. Jason took her in his arms and smiled.

"Hey Gabi," he winced.

"Oh my god," Gabriella pulled away suddenly aware of her sweaty post jog body. "Eww, I'm all sweaty. Hey look, let me go upstairs and shower real quickly."

"Actually I got to go, I just came by to see if Michelle needed the ride to school?"

"And I've actually decided to take a personal day, we're going to go out to some place called beyond the limit so I can get hair dye." Michelle grabbed Jason by the sleeve and began dragging him out of the living room.

Gabriella bit down on her annoyance and tried to keep her voice calm. "Does mom and dad know your taking a day off from school to buy hair dye?" Her arms crossed and Jason placed his hands in his pockets.

Michelle shrugged. "It's not their business." She grabbed her back pack from its place where it sat by the door. "Come on Jason."

Gabriella stood in the doorway as she watched Jason and Michelle leave. Even when the sound of the front door shut she still couldn't believe what had just happened. What had just happened? Gabriella eyebrows shot up. Had she come back to crazy town? It seemed like the world was revolving around Michelle.

"Hey honey," Her mother voice surprised her as she came down the stairs.

"Mom? Did you know Michelle took the day off school to buy hair dye?"

Her mother shrugged. "She's your sister." Her mother held her hands up. "You know how she is."

"So that's it?" Gabriella arched her eye brows up and followed her mother into the kitchen. "She can just miss school if she wants too?"

"Are you ready for today?"

Gabriella lifted a hand to her temple still confused, "Are you guys just letting her hang out with twenty-seven year olds and just letting her do whatever she wants?"

Her mother let out a low laugh. "Gabriella those are your friends she hanging around and it's just one day off from school. What is the problem?"

Gabriella opened her mouth, then shut it. Seriously? What was the problem? Where on earth should she start? Shaking her head she turned around and made her way upstairs. "I'm going to go shower and get ready for my interview."

Troy looked up at Zeke who was sitting on the plane beside him. "So this girl you talk so much about?" Zeke said putting on his seat belt.

"What about her?" Troy adjusted himself in his seat.

Zeke leaned in a little, "So what's the plan? Are you just going show up after seven years and just give her a ring?"

Troy smiled, "No, no I guess that wouldn't work would it." He chuckled to himself. He wanted to give her everything, not that she'd take willingly. Oh no, not Miss Gabriella Montez. She was hardworking, earnest, and underestimated herself so much she allowed everybody else to underestimate her too. But Troy knew better. He knew her.

"You need a plan."

Troy nodded, "Gabriella isn't like most girls. She's special." Reaching into his pocket he pulled out the ring. She was sweeter than anyone he knew. He knew how she put herself down, made light of her perceived failures, preempting the judgment she was sure to come. "This proposal is going to take a magical kind of Christmas magic."

"You're one crazy dude, Brave Heart."

"Ease up on the Brave Heart while we're around the family." Troy let out a wince as he placed a hand over his sore torso. "My parents don't know about anything yet."

"Are you going to tell them?"

"I will, just not around the holidays."

Zeke raised a brow, "What are you going to do if this gets worse?"

"I have it under control for now." Troy leaned back in his chair, "there's no need to worry them."

He'd been released from the army with an honorable discharge due to his medical conditions and now he was on his way back home. Back to Gabriella, whether she knew it or not he'd been in love with her since she was thirteen and caught the most frogs at the country fair. Memories raced through his mind, causing a sensory overload.

Closing his eyes he thought about her smile, he had a crinkled up picture of her in his wallet and over the course of his tour there had been many times he brought it out just to keep him going. To feel her hope and warmth envelope him. Granted he practically gave up on them in high school after he'd settled for a lifelong friendship rather than ending their friendship altogether, but now after so much time he felt it was time to set things straight.

They made sense together, it felt right and he knew deep down she knew it too. He read it in the letters saw it in her penmanship, she might not know it but she was just as in love with him as he was with her. Troy smirked and closed the box. "I'm a man in love what can I say?"

"And if she's already dating someone?" Zeke said as he opened a magazine.

"Then I'll shoot just have to him."

Zeke chuckled and rolled his eyes. "Because that's romantic."

"That girl use to dump sand down my diaper, we're past romantic." Troy leaned back in his seat with amused smile.

Zeke let out a huff as he looked out the window. They had been his friend for the last five years working side by side in the army. That was until a mission went bad they'd been ambushed and now Zeke had a wooden prosthetic leg. Troy as the team lead jumped in front of open fire just to save two other men on his squad. In the process Troy got hurt pretty badly.

Zeke's dad was a well adjusted business man and Zeke had his army pay plus a trust fund, teaming up with Troy seemed like the best plan. They were going to open and bar and grill together, army buds coming home and running a business together, get their minds off the war.

"You sure your parents said it was okay for me to stay at your place for a little while?" Zeke asked leaning over as Troy got more comfortable.

"Yup, just don't go spilling the beans about why I'm home or that I'm home for good."

"You keep a lot of things from the people you supposedly love," Zeke narrowed his eyes at him.

"Timing is everything." Troy shut his eyes and leaned back in his chair, letting the music fill his ears and the images of Gabriella fill his dreams.

Gabriella took a deep breath as she looked through the crowd of travelers. Where was he? He should have been here by now. She was standing beside Sharpay who was currently raving about her latest show. She really needed to be a better friend. She should be listening to her and not wondering about Troy.

"So did you get the job?"

"Monday through Friday mornings," Gabriella nodded with relief. One less thing to worry about. She adjusted her yellow summer dress. She still couldn't figure why she'd gone through so much trouble to look her best. It was just Troy. But there was just a giddy feeling inside she couldn't get rid of and despite everything else weighing on her mind she just could let this moment be tainted by any of it. Troy was coming home and she hadn't seen him in five years.

She should have come home more. Worked less. Called more. Gabriella made a new mental list.

Keep her job at Mary's.

Find a place to live.

Tell parents the truth.

Avoid being alone with Troy.

Help little sister with college applications.

Be a better friend.

Be a better daughter.

"And you're willingly going to watch annoying brats who pick their noses all day," Sharpay conformed as she looked down at the screen on her blackberry.

"I don't really have a choice, I have bills you know."

Sharpay huffed. She swiped at her screen and let out an exasperated sigh, "God, I leave the place for a few hours and it's like I took every brain in the building with me," she mumbled as her fingers began to type.

Gabriella shook her head and looked back at the gate people were beginning to walk out of and she felt her heart beat a little faster. She didn't know how to explain it what to say or why she even felt the sweat on her palms. It was just there.

"So this friend he's been telling you about? He has a fake leg?" Sharpay's face scrunched up. "That's got to be so weird."

"Yes, Troy said he got it in a gunfight," Gabriella said taking her eyes off the gate to look back at Sharpay who was wearing a pink halter top and white pants. "So how is being a hot shot director working out for you?"

"You sound just like Michelle," Sharpay smiled and shrugged "It seems alright."

Gabriella raised her brow at the mention of Michelle's name again brought up by one of her friends. She never thought herself to be jealous but from what she remembered her friends hated dragging Michelle everywhere they went. Exactly what had happened while she was at college?

"Hey Montez!" the voice was booming and Gabriella jerked from her thought to turn and see Troy standing in the middle of the clearing his duffel bag at his feet. Everything in her went blank. Her heart pounding, her gaze swept over him, his battle dress uniform, military haircut, and light dusting of stubble on his firm jaw. Just the way he stood there all sexy and causal. And those wide blue piercing eyes staring straight at her.

"Troy," it might have been a whisper or a gasp she couldn't tell but her feet took off in a mad dash and she closed her eyes once she came into contact with his solid hard chest. His arms encased her wrapping around her and lifting her up spinning her around and Gabriella laughed as she hung on for her life. God he smelled so good.

"Hey there army rat," Sharpay said placing her phone in her purse. "Nice to see you home in one piece."

Troy placed Gabriella on floor his chest sore from the impact he smiled at her and took the vision of her in like an elixir of youth. She was better than he remembered, fuller, her beauty ran deeper now with age. Troy smiled at her and bopped his finger on her nose. "You're pictures do you no justice," he said narrowing his eyes. "You look different?"

"Highlights in my hair," she said after a moment. "I had them done for grad."

"No, that's not it." he said looking up at her hair. "Nice touch though? Did it get you lots of action?"

"Hardly no one noticed," she said shyly.

"It looks great." Zeke came up from behind him and held out his hand. "You must be Gabriella."

"Nice to meet you," Gabriella smiled and held out her hand. "This is my friend Sharpay."

Zeke nodded and smiled in her direction. "My name is Zeke, Zeke Baylor," he offered with a soft voice. Sharpay smiled and let his hand envelope hers.

"A pleasure." She said with a small smirk.

"Pleasure is all mine," Zeke offered.

"How about the kind of pleasure that gets us out of this airport?" Troy said as he picked up his bag. "I'm starving."

"Your mom is already in the kitchen," Gabriella grabbed his arm and they made their way out of the airport.

As kids ran in and out of room weaving through people Troy held one of his little cousins in his lap. The little girl was playing with Troy's dog tags and Troy looked down and smiled at her. "So for sure we have the place and all we have to do is sign the lease."

"Sounds like it's going to be a blast." Chad leaned back in his chair. "I'll finally have a spot where I'm considered a regular and get free drinks."

"On your birthday," Troy corrected. "I'm running a business man, not a Chad and grill."

"But doesn't that have a nicer ring to it?" Chad joked as he looked over at Zeke who was fiddling with his leg. "So how much tail do you get with a story like yours?"

Zeke wiggled his brow. "As soon as I put the moves on someone I'll let you know?"

"Well there's Sharpay, Gabriella and I'm not sure about Kelsi she might be debating on if she with or not with Ryan." Chad shrugged. "Human strobe light."

"Actually, Gabriella is off the table." Troy said in a low voice as he readjusted the little girl so she wasn't slipping.

Chad looked over at him with a smirk. "Dude, give it up you're in the friend zoned, you're the guy Gabriella goes to when she wants to pick out an outfit for her date with this guy." Chad pointed at Zeke and began to laugh.

"I'm not giving up just yet."

"Yeah because years of torture aren't enough for you," Chad leaned in towards Zeke. "I happen to know that her mother makes these mean brownies."

Zeke looked over at Troy and smiled. "She isn't really my type."

"She a female, bro she's every guy's type." Chad said with a laugh that carried between the three men.

"I think he's already on someone's list." Troy said discreetly motioning toward the other end of the room. "3 o'clock, check out the ice queen."

Chad looked across the room to see Sharpay talking to Michelle and biting her lip as she glanced over at Zeke.

"Oh that's not good."

Troy smiled and let the little one on his lap go to the floor watching as she ran over to her mother. Troy stood up and grabbed his beer. "I got to find mom, give her the good news about me being home for good."

"Dude you haven't told her," Chad eyes widen.

"Well what do you know," Zeke smirked, "You told someone."

Troy tilted his head and gave Zeke an annoyed look. "Of course I told him." Turning to Chad he let out a breath, "I've only been in town for three hours, and she has a house full of people. I don't really have a lot of wiggle room here."

Zeke took a deep breath and shook his head. "You're an idiot."

"Thanks," Troy nodded and began making his way to the kitchen.

Zeke smiled and he reached for his beer looking back at the blonde across the room.

Troy walked into the kitchen and found his mom serving plates of food. "Hey mom," he said placing his beer down and grabbing the plate from her hands help her serve and then hand it his uncle Peter.

"My son comes home and I haven't seen in him four two years you think he'd stop by his mother first?" she said to some of the ladies at the table.

"Aww mom I came straight home, I didn't know all these people were going to be here." He said wrapping his arms around her shoulder and pressing his cheek to hers. "Do you know how long it took me to get to the living room?" he laughed. "It's good to be home."

"When do you get shipped out again?" She said reaching for another plate. "Tell me please, do I get to keep you around longer than just a few weeks this time."

"Well," Troy said taking the plate from her and setting it down. "That's what I wanted to tell you."

"What is it?" His mother stopped in her tracks and turned to face her son. "They're not sending you back to Iraq are they?" her hand came up to her mouth and Troy shook his head. People around them were beginning to quiet down some. "Troy…" his mother had a stern tune in her voice and Troy smiled.

"I'm home for good mom."

The woman's arms flew up to her mouth and eruptions of gasps fell through the room like dominoes. "Is this a joke, I swear Troy don't you play with me?"

"United States army released me two days ago, I moving back home… if that's alright?"

His mother threw her hands up and around him. "If that's alright?" she laughed. "You didn't have choice, my baby is home for good!" people around them started clapping and Troy looped his arms around his mother. "Did your father know about this?"

Troy nodded, "I called him and asked if it was alright to keep it a secret I wanted to see your face when I told you."

A tear ran down her face as she pulled him to her again and Troy smiled. Things we're going to work out, it was only a matter of time. He didn't have to really tell anyone why he was back people where to busy rejoicing and celebrating. His father was already pouring shots for everyone, Troy smiled at his friends and family looking around to see their faces so proud of him and filled with love.

Troy looked around the room for the one face he didn't see picking up his beer he weaved through people to get to the back porch were he found her staring up at the tree house her yellow dress and curls shifting in the breeze as she stood there both hands on the railing. "Thought I might find you back here."

She jerked at the sound of his voice and turned around. She'd managed to steer clear of him once they arrived. Now here she was, trapped. Like a mouse in a cat's presence. "It not like I'm the subject of celebration." She said as she leaned against the banister. She needed physical distance to maintain the emotional distance. "How is it in there?"

"People left and right, a question every third step," he said lifting his beer to his lips.

"Must be rough just being you," She said looking down at her feet. Something felt different, almost weird; she could see the muscles in his shirt the set of his jaw. Troy had always been attractive; a few times in high school she had a crush on him. This however was a different feeling.

Troy let the cool liquid fall down his throat and he watched her fingers fidget. "Something up?"

Gabriella pulled her hands apart and looked up at him. "Not much, nothing I can't handle anyway."

Troy walked over to the banister and leaned on it so he was looking out at the old tree house. "Seems like yesterday we were up there, reading comics and talking about dreams."

Gabriella laughed a little and then turned to face it. "I was thinking about the time we let Michelle up and she colored all over the walls."

"That sister of seems to have grown up a lot." He said looking at her. "What is up with all the black and bright red highlights?"

"Self-expression?" Gabriella said standing up straight. "Besides you know she gets away with murder."

"Yeah, I always enjoyed being an only child." He said leaning up and smiling at her.

"Ha ha ha," Gabriella rolled her eyes and walked over to the bench to sit down. God, why did he have to look so good?

"There's something I have to tell you," he said

"What's wrong?" Gabriella felt herself go numb.

"Everything is okay," Troy said holding out a hand to settle the anxiety he saw in her eyes. "I'm just… home for good this time."

Silence crashed down all around them and Gabriella felt her stomach tighten. "You're what?"

"Home," he smiled nervously. "I sort of anticipated a smile here Brie?"

Gabriella forced herself to smile. "Right," shaking her head she brought a hand to her temple. "Of course I'm happy for you."

"I was surprise when you said you'd be here this year, I thought I was going to have to hop a plane to see you in San Francisco. I mean we can still do that, you could show me around all those almost restaurants you wrote about."

Gabriella felt herself inwardly cringe, "Yeah, about that."

"What's wrong?" he said with a frown.

Gabriella felt herself flush, the heat inside her bursting into an inferno of fire that raced through her system like an out of control blaze of humiliation. "I… got…fired." Biting her lip she looked back up at him.

"Oh."

"So I'm back home too," she continued. "Only mom and dad don't know it yet."

Troy's eyes widen. Not much he could say to that.

Gabriella let out a nervous laugh as she flipped her hair back. "So what did they send you home for, I thought you had three more years on your contract?"

Troy felt a nervous tick spread through his body, "Personal reasons," he said walking over to sit down by her. She was back. That changed …everything. He wondered briefly if she would let him wrap his arm around her.

"Is that Troy for 'I don't want to talk about it?'" she said placing her hands in her lap. "I'm not stupid you know," Gabriella's smile fell a little as she listened to the music inside get a little louder.

He reached out and covered her hand with his. "Where are you staying?"

"My old room," Gabriella shrugged, "It's only temporary."

"Right," Troy responded bringing his beer back up to his lips for another swig. She was back. "So are you dating any one?" Troy said with a tighter grip on his beer as he brought it down.

"God no," she said looking over at him. "Taylor has been talking about sex, babies and relationships ever since I got back. The whole thing just seems too soon."

"Sex huh?" Troy was silent for a moment. The idea of her naked body glowing and underneath him suddenly flash though his mind and he closed his legs a bit, feeling the blood surge. "So did college bring out the party animal in you?"

"Hardly," Gabriella let out a giggle. "I graduated in the top 5% and it took lots of hard work and effort," she shook her head. "I even finished a year early. Not that any of that has given me an edge because here I am, right back where I started."

"Aw come on now," Troy finished his beer and Gabriella gave him a small push. "Don't do that to yourself."

"All that effort and accomplishment," she said shrugging her shoulders. "Staying late nights, taking on extra shifts, working through the holidays instead of coming back home."

"Hey," Troy frowned as he put his beer down and moved to bring her closer to him. "You just have to stop once in a while and smell the flowers." His fingers slid across her skin and he fought desperately to hold on to his control and the willpower he had developed over the past several years. It wasn't easy. She smelled like cinnamon rolls fresh from the oven. Warm, soft, rich with sweetness.

"You know I don't get it, I don't think flowers have a very smell pretty at all. Why smell them, there purely aesthetic." Gabriella rolled her eyes and looked over into the yard, very aware of him being close to her. Of the warmth coming from his body, the solid feel of him beside her.

"Boy, did I miss you." He said with a chuckle. It was adorable how someone so smart could be so naïve.

"Well what about you, did you…" she paused and a small blush came to her cheeks. "Did you meet anyone?"

"Well I met a few someone's." He said solemnly.

Gabriella bit the corner of her lip. Troy didn't do commitment. He loved his job with the army. He loved women and he loved the freedom to enjoy both. There was no way she could lose his friendship just because she was having feelings.

"Don't worry, one day you'll meet the right someone," she kept the sudden disappointment from her voice. Something inside her snipped and she forced herself to smile.

"We need to talk," he said placing a on his thigh and the other on the back of the bench.

"About?"

"About what's next."

Gabriella stood up. "Look, if you're about to get on my case about a job I'm doing my best alright it's has not been easy trying to find something." She let her hands fall to her sides. God she hated this awkwardness. The disappointment was spreading.

Troy stood up and reach out his hand to take hold of her shoulders. "Your wound tighter than a top. How about a drink, you still drink right?"

"Yes," she said relaxing from his touch. "I'm not that lame."

"I'll be right back. Don't go anywhere."

Gabriella nodded, "Staying put."

As he left Michelle came out and Gabriella smiled. "Hey jelly bean."

"Just letting you know mom and dad decided to leave early," Michelle tucked her hands in her pockets. "And Jason and Chad are currently placing bets on how long before you and Troy sleep together."

"What?" Gabriella looked at her sister and crossed her arms. "That's ridiculous?"

"That's what I said." Michelle looked up at the tree house then back at Gabriella. "You're not that cool, but they don't believe me."

Gabriella's brow lifted a little and her arms transformed from annoyed to defensive. "We're friends." No matter how much his shoulders stood out or lips seemed to almost beg for attention.

"Yeah, hey, I don't know where he went but I have to tell you something." Michelle voice shifted and she pointed at the chair. "Maybe you should sit down for this."

Gabriella walked over to the bench and took a seat. "Are you alright? You're scaring me a little."

"I get that more than you think," she said sitting beside her.

"What's wrong?"

"I have no clue how to say this or how to start so ….." she paused and Gabriella felt a cold wave of fear blow through her. "We have another sister."

Gabriella's face scrunched up and she looked at Michelle. "What?" she smiled a little at Michelle, she was a bit of prankster. "Funny Michelle,"

"Dad had a kid before he met mom, and well just before your graduation she decide to find him." Michelle took a deep breath. "She's thirty years old, she has two kids and I think she might be married."

Gabriella felt her feet begin to tingle, felt her throat constrict her stomach fell into a free fall. "A sister?"

"Yeah, mom says she looks like you a little,"

"Mom told you." Gabriella swallowed air.

"Yeah it was after mom found out. She was venting and she just told me about it." Michelle sat up straighter. "Anyway I figured I'd soften the blow for you."

"Soften? Isn't that the blow?" Gabriella's eyes were wide as she started at her little sister. "You're pulling my leg right?"

"Wish I was, turns out dad has three girls not just two and he's a grandpa. Mom isn't taking it well. Their fighting all the time. She finds it total bullshit that she wasn't told about them meeting." Michelle pushed a red strand of hair behind her ear. "He just got up and left to go meet them but he didn't bother telling any of us."

"Mom knew about the kid through?"

"Yeah she knew about the kid, just never thought she'd come around, but apparently her mom married into dad's family and well one of our aunts found him and told her."

Gabriella leaned back on the bench her eyes wide, her mouth open and her brain blank. "So we have a new sister."

"Well Mom and dad might also be separating."

Her eyes watered and she looked over at her sister. "What?"

"Yeah mom isn't happy, dad feels ashamed, he wants to bring her around and meet us."

"Meet her?"

"We're aunts." Michelle shrugged her shoulders "And you're a little sister."

Gabriella felt the world spin. Correction it didn't just spin it damn near flipped. "Wow."

"I know it's a lot but I think dad's getting ready to tell you and I don't really think he can handle that look on your face."

"What look?"

"The one that looks like your puppy just died," She said standing up, turning around Michelle paused and stared at her "That look right there." she said pointing at her face.

Gabriella reached a hand up to her cheeks. Was she really making a face? If she was she couldn't help it. What was she supposed to do? How else was she supposed to handle this situation? Wasn't she supposed to be the big sister looking after Michelle and not the other way around?

"Look I'm sorry to break it to you like this, but if you know about it, and have time to take it in before he tells you." Michelle shrugged, "I think this might blow over quicker."

Gabriella nodded.

"I'm going to go put some money in that you and Troy pot," Michelle added making her way back to the door. "Why don't you have some fun tonight you know, since the pressures off of you to be perfect. I mean go figure it turns out there's someone else who went to college had two kids and did it already." Michelle let out a laugh.

Gabriella was quiet and she didn't notice her sister leave the porch, Gabriella thought about the fight she overheard. Thought about the quietness between her parents for the last few days. Slowly everything began to sink in. Gabriella took a deep breath and a beer appeared in front of her.

Gabriella reached for the beer in his hand and he watched in surprise as she guzzled it down.

"Here I thought I'd be nervous." He murmured as watched she continued to gulp it down. "Brie?"

Gabriella pulled the beer from her lips and she looked up at him. "I have a sister."

"Yeah I know," he reached to take the half empty beer from her hand. "I'm just going to take this."

"No, dad had a kid before he married mom I have an older sister,"

Troy handed her back her beer. "What?"

"Mom and dad are fighting and Michelle says they might be separating and we have to meet this girl who is my sister and she has two kids, and I'm an aunt, and I'm a middle child," Gabriella began to hyperventilate, "I'm not his oldest daughter?"

Troy handed her his beer. "I'll go get another around."