Disclaimer: I do not own High School Musical or any other such thing involved! It belongs to Disney.

(November 26th)

Troy's POV-

I stood in the kitchen cutting up carrots in silence. All you could hear was the sound of the TV in the living room. On the television my dad had left on football for him and his buddies to watch when he arrived from picking them up. I pretty much had the house to myself until both my parents came home with their friend they invited over for our Thanksgiving dinner. My mom said it was okay to invite Gabriella over but I was afraid to because I knew my father never liked her and I didn't want her to feel uncomfortable just because my dad always thought it was okay to be an ass to her. But I wanted her here today. And believe I was still reluctant to talk to my parents about having move in with me. I tried to relax while I was on break since this would be the only alone time I had left with Gabriella until she had the baby but I couldn't seem to shake off my frustration that still had yet to forever keep clouding my mind.

"Hey, son" my mom said walking into the kitchen with a load of grocery bags.

"Hey" I said briefly.

"So did you ever decide what we should make to go with the turkey today?" she asked setting the bags on the counter as she stored the food in the fridge.

"Same thing we make every year, I guess" I sighed.

"Stuffing, macaroni, and veggie mix it is" she said cheerfully.

"Do you think I should check if the turkey is done yet or is it too soon?" she continued as she opened the oven.

"Do whatever you want, Mom!" I snapped. She shut the oven and looked at me with a shocked look on her face. I looked up at her and I immediately realized how brutal and disrespectful I sounded.

"I'm sorry" I apologized.

"You should be. What's gotten into you?" she asked coming closer toward me.

"I don't know, Mom. I just don't want Dad making Gabi feel awkward when I bring her here today. I've been dreading this day for a while now" I said scratching the back of my head.

My mom nodded in understanding and sighed as she crossed her arms, "Troy, your father and I wanted to wait to talk to you together but, I see you're really stressing about this so, I'm going to just tell you now" she said leading me to the kitchen table. Now I was more worried about what she was going to say.

"What's up?" I asked preparing for whatever talk or lecture was coming.

"Your dad and I have been talking. And you know how we've been remodeling the attic for the past two months?" she asked.

"Yeah, but what does that have to do with me?" I raised my eyebrow.

"Just listen. It was your dad's idea to remodel the attic so that you and Gabriella and the baby could live there. But it would only be a temporary thing. After you guys graduate, you're welcome to stay a little longer but we hope that the two of you had found your own place by then" she explained. Suddenly my stomach jumped with relief that there wasn't any bad news. But at the same time I was still trying to figure out if my ears were fooling me when she said that.

"Are you serious, Mom?" I asked.

"Yes. But under on condition" she said.

"Anything!" I said without hesitation.

"You have to make a promise that you're still going to go to school and attend practice until you graduate" she said.

"You bet, Mom! I can do that!" I said with excitement.

"Thank you so much!" I exclaimed.

"Well, it's really your dad you should thank. He knows he's pushed you really hard these last eight months but he always had a plan in mind. He just wanted to make sure that you were responsible enough" she smiled.

"I'll be sure to thank him later" I said back grabbing my car keys.

"Where are you going?" she asked.

"I'm going to get Gabi early so I can tell her the good news. She'll be so excited to hear it!" I said certain she would. My mom rolled her eyes at me as I left out the door.

I hopped into my car and drove off to Gabi's house. I was so eager to let her in on what would be happening in the next few weeks. I was finally going to have Gabriella living with me. I wanted that for the longest time. And now the time has come. I would not only be seeing her every day after school and practice but I would be able to feel her next to me every night, knowing that she was safe with me. And I wouldn't have to worry about her going into labor without me present. I pulled up next to her house and saw that her mother's van wasn't in the driveway. I figure since it was Thanksgiving that she would be with Brie right now. After all her mom was a busy bee anyway. I turned off the engine and honked my horn signaling Gabi to come outside. I saw the front door swing open and there she was. She waddled down the driveway to my car. She looked so beautiful. She was dressed in a violet long-sleeve shirt with maternity skinny jeans. Her belly was unreal. He was descended so beautifully it made her glow. As the wind blew, the long black curls of hair shifted in the same direction with it. She looked so graceful. Although, I noticed she was frowning. Usually she would be happy to get to spend the day with me but I was guessing she was nervous to be at my house with my dad there all day. But that would change as soon as I told her his plan for her and I.

I got out of the driver's seat and walked over to the other side to help her into the Yukon. It was a lot higher than my old truck so it required my helping her in every time I picked her up and took her places. I closed the door on her side and climbed into my seat. I turned the key in the ignition and felt my car start. I still noticed the morose expression on Gabi's face. I let it go and drove off. I loved driving the GMC. The feeling of it was amazing especially when it was in gear and ran. I knew Gabi loved it too. For her being so small, she loved being in bigger cars. I couldn't blame her, I loved it too. Once we reached my house I almost fainted being so excited to tell my girlfriend that she would be able to live with me. It was still hard to believe it was my dad's idea. And I always thought that he thought Gabriella was ruining my future. But like I said, things were finally turning around for me and her. I lead Gabi upstairs to my room. She was still unusually quiet but I tried to reassure her that my dad wouldn't give her a hard time today. But all she did was nod. If my mind wasn't fooling me I would say that there was something else bothering her.

"So we have things we need to talk about" I said smiling at her.

"We do need to talk" she finally spoke.

I frowned, "Well, what's going on?"

Tears were forming in her eyes as she seemed reluctant to say what was on her mind.

"Brie?" I asked holding her head up to look me in my eyes. Just then, she started to cry harder. I held her close to me reassuring her things would be alright. But then she shook her head.

"What's the matter, Brie?" I asked her.

She gave a heavy sigh before replying, "My Mom was offered a job"

"Why are you so upset then, that's great!" I said but then I was being cut off.

"In Phoenix, Troy!" She said before she broke out into more tears.

My heart stopped, "Phoenix. As in Phoenix, Arizona?"

She nodded and then buried her face into her hands as she sobbed. I let god of her and backed away.

"That's why she's not here today. She's in Phoenix right now looking at houses to rent" she continued.

I felt sick to my stomach. This wasn't happening. It couldn't be. The love of my life was being taken from me. And that, that came with her was my child. They were leaving me. I didn't know how to feel. I felt angry and sad all at the same time. I also wanted to cry because I was just about to tell her that she was going to be living with me and now I have to find out that she is moving to another state. I rubbed my hands on my face and almost was ready to full the hair out of my head. I was at this point heartbroken. How could she? How could she leave me and take my baby girl with her before I could even have a chance at seeing her be born. It felt like everything I had dreamed of and worked for was for nothing now. I just couldn't let her go. And I definitely couldn't let her take my daughter with her. They were my world. I needed them here with me. Without them, I wasn't whole. I couldn't let her leave me.

"Why, Gabriella!" I bursted out with anger deep in my voice.

"Why can't you talk to your mom and have her let you stay in Albuquerque?"

"I don't have a choice, Troy!" she cried literally.

"Yes, you do, Brie!" I said sitting her down on my bed as I said down next to her.

"Troy. If I stay here, where would I live?"

"With me!"

Gabriella stopped crying and looked at me with confusion. Her eyes were red and puffy and she had an expression on her face I couldn't describe. She looked at me as if I were crazy.

"What?" she asked.

"That's why I brought you up here, babe. To tell that that I talked to my parents and they agreed to let you move in with me" I explained. She still looked at my funny.

"What are you saying, Troy?" she asked.

"Both my mom and dad said that if I keep up in school and basketball then you can stay with me. We can finally be together like we wanted to, Gabriella. Just you, me, and our baby girl" I said softly stroking the pads of my thumbs across her teary cheeks.

"Are you for real?" she asked with more tears coming in her burning red eyes.

"Yeah. I mean it." I smiled at her. She sniffled a few times before she cried into my chest. I held her tight and rocker her slowly. I stoked the back of her head inhaling the scent of her hair. It smelled so sweet. It was only a moment later before she finally lifted her head back up and I released her from my arms and wiped the tears of off her cheeks. And for a moment I realized, I was scared. Scared she would leave me. The same look of fear in my eyes was the look she had in hers when she first came to me and told me she was pregnant. She was scared I would leave her. Today, I realized how she felt that very day. And I never wanted her to feel that way again. I could never leave her or my daughter, ever. I kissed her passionately on her lips.

"So does this mean you'll stay?" I asked.

"I could talk to my mom. I don't see a reason why I can't if I have a place to call home" she smiled. I smiled back at her, agreeing with her statement. Just having her here with me made this place home. The both of us heard my mom calling from down stairs telling us that dinner was ready and for us to come down. I lead Gabriella down stairs carefully before making our way into the kitchen to eat the delicious Thanksgiving dinner my mother had prepared. Then I saw my dad as he passed through the hall and then I pulled him aside to have a word with him. I motioned Brie toward the kitchen to go fix her plate already.

"What's up, son?" my dad asked raising one of his eyebrows.

"I just wanted to say thanks" I said.

"For what?" he asked looking confused.

"For agreeing to let Gabriella move in once you finish the attic" I said.

"Ah. So your mother told you my plan without me, huh?" he smiled. I chuckled as he ruffled my hair around.

"Son, you've really proved to me these last eight and a half months that you can be responsible. And so that's why I'm rewarding you with the privilege of letting Gabriella move it. But that means that you still have to stay on top of school and go to basketball practice to earn that scholarship, you hear me?"

"Yes, coach!" I said proudly.

"Good. Now let's get some food!" he said as the both of us raced to the kitchen.

My dad and his buddies as well as my mom had all fixed their plates and I was helping Gabriella fix her plate. Plates I should say since she was eating for two now. I gagged looking at one of the plates that she fixed. One plate was full of macaroni and steamed vegetables mixed in with it and buried under the mix was a turkey leg. I don't know if it was just me or the way I had saw it.

"Gabs, are you really going to it your dinner like this?" I asked nervously.

"Mm-hmm" She said piling another plate full of stuffing and mashed potatoes with more vegetables. Man, sometimes watching her satisfy her cravings was sickening to watch, literally.

All of us had sat down in the living room and my mom already being disgusted at how piggish my dad's friends were, eating before saying grace, had demanded him to say it before he had took a bite out of his macaroni.

"Father god, we thank you for bringing us together as a family once again another year. It is a favor you do for us everyday. We bless this food that my lovely wife has slaved over and prepared for us. And most of all, I thank you for keeping my son and the mother of his child and my grandchild strong. I'm thankful to spend this day with the people that matter most to me. And may the tradition carry on through many generations. Amen" my dad concluded as he said grace. I enjoyed my father's speech. I knew he wasn't just saying it just to say it. He was sincere. I knew it made him feel good to know that he did have a strong family. And Gabriella and I would be blessed with a child to grow with it.

It wasn't long before we all had dug into the delicious food my mom had prepared. We all sat together in the room and watched the rest of the football game on the television. While I was sitting on the side of the couch waiting for Gabriella to finish her food, I watched my dad and his friends shout needlessly at the TV, well, I have no room to talk because I was doing it too and every time we would, my mom and Gabi would chuckle at us being guys. Could I help it though. After we finished eating we all sat lazily on the couch letting the food digest.

"Thank you so much for preparing the food, honey" my dad said to my mother. Then the rest of his friends thanked her in unison as did Gabriella and I.

"No problem" she replied while she started to clean the kitchen. She wrapped the food up and put it away in the fridge.

Gabriella was leaned against me staring at the TV. She seemed really into the game this time. Either that or she was really tired. Then I noticed she had an uneasy look on her face and began rubbing her stomach.

"Are you hurting, honey?" my mom asked her.

"No, it's the baby" Gabi smiled patting her tummy.

"Oh, did it enjoy my cooking too?" my mom asked.

"Nah, it's just happy it got something to eat" I joked making my mom slap the back of my head with a dish towel. I rubbed Gabi's belly to try to calm the baby. She was punching around in Gabi's tummy a lot. I'm guessing she did enjoy the food too. I smiled and kissed her on the cheek. She lent her head down on my chest and closed her eyes. I knew she was tired.

"You wanna go upstairs and take a nap?" I whispered to her. I felt her nod. I took her hand and lead her upstairs to my room where we lay on my bed and took a nap for a few hours. I was feeling a little tired myself. One we were cozy on my bed with a blanket my grandmother had knitted pulled over us I finally got the chance to ask Gobi,

"Gabs?"

"Hmm?" she said nearly asleep.

"When you do you think you'll talk to your mom about moving in?" I asked stroking her long beautiful hair. She was cuddled next to me laying on my chest.

"When she gets back tomorrow" she said softly. Gabi would have to go home tomorrow before her mother returned from her trip. I hoped and prayed Maria would agree to let Brie live here. After all, she was having my child and her home was here. With me. I let my thoughts drift off as I slowly fell asleep with her next to me. There would be a day ahead of the both of us tomorrow. I wanted to be there when she talked to her mom. Just to support her. I wanted to make sure she wouldn't leave.

(November 27th)

I woke up to the sound of Gabriella's phone vibrating next to the bed. It was her mother calling. I was going to let it go to voice mail to avoid waking Gabriella up from her sleep but then the phone buzzed again less than a minute after the first.

"Brie" I said gently shaking her trying to wake her up. No reaction.

"Gabriella" I said louder. The vibration of the phone was so obnoxious, I was surprised it didn't wake her up. And she usually wasn't a heavy sleeper. Then she slowly opened her eyes and squinted them at the rare sunlight peaking through my window.

"What?" she replied deliriously.

"You're mom's calling you" I said handing her the vibrating phone.

"Crap!" she exclaimed. She shushed me quiet before answering.

"Hello?"

"Gabriella Montez, where are you?" her mother sounded furious.

"I'm safe, Mom. Don't worry" Gabi reassured her.

"No! Where are you?" Maria shouted over the phone.

"I'm..." she paused.

She looked at me frowning and I mouthed to her to just tell her mother the truth. I don't know why I did though, that would upset Maria even more. And the last thing I wanted was for her to be angry with Gabi before we got a chance to tell her what was going on.

"I'm at Troy's" she sighed as she shut her eyes tightly as her mother cursed in Spanish.

"Gabriella Marie Montez, you bring your little butt back home this instant!" Maria shouted as she hung up the phone furiously.

Gabriella bit the bottom of her lip and looked at me with anguish written on her face. I rubbed her back for comfort as she stared blankly at her feet while she sat up.

"I'd better get you home" I said.

"I don't want to leave, Troy. I already know what I'm in for the minute I go back" she said trying to keep herself from breaking down.

"You have to, Brie. Now is our chance. We have to tell her today. It's now or never" I said. She nodded in agreement. She then got out of bed and slipped on the clothes she had worn the day before and put her hair into a side braid. I was as hesitant to take her home as she was to even go but I knew confronting her mother was the right thing to do. I wasn't going to pass up this opportunity to have her living with me. Soon the sunshine had fell back to rain as the sky roared. The whole car ride back to Gabriella's house was silent. I sensed a lot of tension even though we weren't there yet. I kept looking over at Gabi. She looked terrified out of her mind. I never thought of her mother being that strict on her if she had broke a rule. But I guess I was about to find out how strict Maria truly was with her. We finally pulled up to Gabriella's house. She sighed as she got out of the car and waddled up to her front door as I followed behind her catching up to her. Once we walked through the door, that's where we saw her mother waiting on the couch. Her face burned with fury. She looked as if she were going to explode.

"What were you thinking?" she gutted out.

"I don't know, Mom" Gabi said timidly. I was a little scared myself.

"You don't know? Gabriella Marie, what have we talked about? Didn't I mention to you many months back that sleeping at a boy's house is not permitted? Huh?" Maria asked widening her eyes.

"You never seem to listen to me. Not only that, it's lie after lie after lie!" she continued.

"Mrs. Montez, It wasn't Gabi's fault, I invited her for dinner and-" I said quickly until Maria cut me off.

"Troy, this does not concern you, this is between me and my daughter" she pointed her finger in my face.

"Mom! Troy is trying to explain to you what happened if you care you care to listen at all!" Gabi raised her voice.

"Don't you take that tone with me, young lady, or you will find yourself in a heap of trouble!" Maria argued.

"Go ahead, Mom do what you like! I stayed at Troy's because I didn't want to be alone!" Gabi said.

"You don't want to be alone, you call one your girlfriends, not a boy!" Maria yelled.

"That boy is my boyfriend and the father of my child, Mom. Don't you get it!" Gabi shouted back. Maria grew silent and was on the verge of tears.

"I understand, Mija. But I need you to understand, that sleeping over at a boy's house at your age, pregnant or not, it's just not right if you're not married to him" Maria said with tears falling down her face.

"But Mama, I love him. Isn't that enough?" Gabriella said crying as well.

"I know you love him" she whispered.

"Then why can't I be with him? Why do I always have to keep moving away from people that I love? That I've grow close to and learned so much from. Why do you always want to take that away from me? Why can't I for once make the decision on my own?" Gabriella said softly with tears pouring down her face and her voice cracking.

"Gabriella, I love you. And I know you love Troy. But you have to realize that you are still to young to be her on your own" Maria said.

"I wouldn't be on my own, Mom. I would have Troy. And I would still have all my friends. Just please, don't make me move to Phoenix. I can't. Not when Troy and I are about to have our baby together. The way it should and always be" Gabi begged. I looked over at Maria whom wanted to cry some more but she had seemed like she hadn't anymore fight left in her with Gabriella.

"Don't you want me to be happy?" Gabriella asked.

"I do, baby. I really do. Come and sit. The three of us will talk about it" Maria said motioning over toward the kitchen table.

The three of us sat in silence for a moment. None of us knew where to begin. I know I sure didn't. I had never seen Gabriella so emotional before. She really loved me. She was willing to fight for us and for our baby girl to be a family. With her growing up without a father in the picture, she had wanted this her whole life. She didn't want our little family to be like hers growing up. Gabriella having to raise a child on her own, our daughter be separated from me while her and the baby moved every single year to different parts of the country. She wanted a stable life style. With a family.

"Troy?" Maria spoke. I poked my head up to look her in the eye.

"I didn't mean to interrupt earlier but Gabriella said you have something you want to talk to me about?" she resumed.

"Something we want to talk to you about, Mom" Gabriella said taking my hand as she faced her mother.

"Well, let's have it. I'm here and I'm all ears" Maria said.

"Troy's mom and dad did some planning" Gabriella started.

"Oh?" Maria replied.

"And they said if Troy stays on top of his school work and basket ball then I can move in with the Boltons" she finished.

"When exactly did they discuss this with you?" Maria asked.

"Yesterday before I went to Troy's" Gabriella replied.

Maria sighed. I knew she was truly against the idea of Gabriella living with someone she's not married to but I was desperate to have her in my life every day even if it meant to kill. But just as the both of us thought she was about to make her final decision, she gave in.

"Okay. Gabriella, I want you to go upstairs and pack all of your belongings" Maria said.

"So I have to move after all?" Gabriella sighed.

"Yes. You're moving all right." Maria said until a big smile came across her face.

"In with Troy" she finished.

"What?" Gabriella and I both said in unison.

"That's right. Troy, I want you to take care of my girl. She means everything to me" Maria said stroking my hand. I smiled at her. I promised I would take care of her. I knew I could. I would take the best care of both her and my baby girl. I was happy. My heart was pounding in the back of my neck as I tried to keep myself from jumping for joy and getting carried away. All of my dreams of having Gabriella with me at long last, was coming true. We were going to get to be the family she always dreamed of having. The both of us scurried up stairs to pack the things in her room and left a pile of things to donate or put in storage. This house would no longer be Gabriella's. She would be with me while her Mom lived in Arizona. After about an hour of packing, she and I had sat down on her stripped down bed to take a break.

"I'm proud of you, Gabs" I said.

"What for?" she smiled.

"For being brave and standing up to your mother. For fighting what you believe in" I smiled back at her as I kissed her cheek.

"It was worth the fight" she said as she snuggled up next to me.

"It sure was" I said talking into her hair.

"Troy, I'm hungry" she whined. I rolled my eyes.

"What are you hungry for?" I asked her.

"Peaches sound really good right now" she smiled.

"But, Gabs, those aren't even in season right now" I said.

Gabriella gave me puppy eyes but I wasn't going to give in.

"Troy, your daughter's hungry. I'm hungry too. Don't you love us?" she said quivering the bottom of her lip. I don't know what it was about every time Gabriella did that but somehow it worked. After running around Albuquerque trying to find fresh peaches to satisfy Gabi's craving we eventually piled her stuff into my car and took it over to my house and moved it into the attic. Unfortunately we had to do it that same day she confronted her mother because it was quick for Maria to find a house out in Phoenix and she was moving there today. The house was empty in less than two hours. My parents were surprised to see Gabi and I hauling things into the attic this early. Well it wasn't early anymore it was noon just about now.

"You're moving in already, Gabs?" my mom asked coming from the kitchen.

"She sure is, Mom" I smiled.

"Good. It will be so much fun having another girl in the house" My mom said.

"I'm glad to be here too, Mrs. Bolton" Gabriella said politely.

"Hey, why don't you guys go upstairs and change into some dry clothes. I don't want you guys getting sick now" My dad said coming down the stairs.

"You guys got here just in time, I just finished the attic for 'ya" he continued.

"Thanks, Dad!" I said. Gabriella and I rushed upstairs to my old room and put on dry clothes. Gabriella was quiet for a minute until she turned around and looked at me with a huge grin on her face.

"What?" I asked.

"We're living together now, Troy" she whispered.

"Yeah" I walked over and kissed her.

"I'm so happy" she said as she rested her four head on mine as I did with her and held her close to me.

"I am too. We get to be a family now" I said.

I kissed her. And I kissed her again on her soft lips. Things were going to be the way I wanted them. We were going to raise our family here at my parent's house. I was satisfied. I had my love in my life just like I wanted her to be. And in just a month, our daughter would be here with us. I really was happy. I thanked the Lord many times for giving me the opportunity to still have my family. I knew it would be a wonderful experience for me and Gabriella.