AN: So, this takes place right after the sex part. I'm not writing any sex scenes in the story. So, yeah. Enjoy!

Summary: Their plane crashes. Some are rescued, but not all. Who says behind? Troy and Gabriella. How will they cope when the nights are deathly cold? Troyella. Alternate Universe.

For How Long?

Afterwards, Troy held Gabriella close as she lay sleeping in his arms. Troy knew, from many people, that they were just in a 'relationship' for the sex. Many people had boasted about their sex in the countless bars he had been to. He managed, just barely, to contain his anger at whatever lover had taken Gabriella before him. From the way she had responded to him, he could tell that they had taken her without any regard to her pleasure, which, if it came at all, was possibly accidental and/or secondary to the man's.

He could not help but feel sorry for her. She had missed out on so much of her life. Before now, she hadn't experienced fully, what was, to him, the most beautiful of acts, because of her uncaring partners. No wonder she had buried herself in her work and had never gave into him. She hadn't known any better!

Looking at Gabriella once again, he just admired her. The way she was so relaxed in her sleep, the beauty of her, and the softness of her hair. Tom stilled his hand and untangled the bedding from where it was twisted beneath them. Nudging Gabriella closer to him, he spread the three blankets over them both. As she lay there, he couldn't help but trail light kisses along the back of her neck. He relaxed his own body to fit the along the contours of hers. They fit perfectly, he noticed. Troy nestled close, allowing his own mind to wander as he enjoyed the feeling of just being with someone that he cared so much about.

A little while later, as Troy lay with Gabriella in his arms after their first time together, he realized he had already made a lifetime commitment to her.

A commitment to make her happy.

And he would treasure her forever.

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As Gabriella returned to consciousness, she noticed that it had cooled off a bit. However, her hips were still pleasantly warm as she was pressed up against Troy. She was fixing the blanket to cover herself more and then she noticed that her movements were having an effect on Troy. She heard his breathing pattern change and then she felt his body stretch against hers. Thinking that she had already disturbed him, Gabriella turned herslef around to face him. Already awake, Troy opened his arms for her, allowing her to snuggle up against him and wrap her own arms around him.

Gabriella rested her head on his firm chest, the steady beating of his heart and the rise and fall of his chest with each breath relaxed her again. Gabriella decided that if she had to be stranded on a deserted island with anybody, she would have picked him.

And his chest hair. She tried to resist the urge to run her fingertips through it again, but that was soon too much to deny herself. As she rubbed her fingers along his chest and down, she remembered what he could do to her.

"Wanna play?" he asked just above a whisper.

He was definitely awake now.

Yes, Gabriella wanted to play.

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"Hey, Troy?"

"Mhmm?" he said as he stroked her hair.

"How come you always acted like an idiot? Like I know you're not really like that. So why put up a fake personality?"

"What makes you think it's fake?"

"Troy, please. You dated Sharpay, remember? She told me how you acted in private. You just put up this wall around you so no one can get too close."

"I could say the same about you. Although you don't act like a – what was it? An idiot. You still have a wall around you. You never let anyone get too close, especially a man."

She contemplated telling him why she had put walls up around her. Well, maybe if she opened up to him, he would open up to her. It was worth a try.

"My dad left me when I was eight. I was such a daddy's girl so it really got to me. I thought it was my fault that he left. That if I had done something different, maybe he would still be with me."

"I'm sorry," Troy whispered.

She continued, "I don't want to let anybody in because I know they'll leave and then I'll have to live in that moment all over again. Oh, God. I cried for days. I knew my mom and dad's relationship wasn't going good. So I thought maybe that if I still cared about him, he'd stay. That wasn't the case. I went to bed one night and the next morning he was gone. We moved a week later, you know, so he couldn't fine us. My mom thought he might come and take me from her. I don't think he would've. It was my fault. And I haven't seen him since."

"Gabriella, sweetheart, how is that your fault?"

"I told him to leave," she whispered.

"What do you mean, 'you told him to leave'?"

"Just what it sounds like. One night my mom was out and my dad and I were watching a movie. Then my uncle phoned and my dad was talking to him. He was talking about how had made a mistake when he married my mom, and when she got pregnant with me, it was just another mistake."

"Baby, I'm sure he didn't mean it like that. Are you sure you didn't misunderstand him?"

"No! I know what I heard!"

They were silent for a moment and when Gabriella got herself under control, she spoke again.

"So when he came back in the room, I told him that he didn't love my mother anymore. And then I persisted to tell him that he didn't love me either."

"Maybe you were wrong. Maybe you misunderstood."

"No. I know what I heard. I was so angry, but so said at the same time."

"You had every right to be. But he didn't leave just because you told him to," Troy said.

"You don't know that," she was in tears now. Just a few leaking out of the corners of her eyes, but he could see it.

"Nothing you could have said would make him leave because of you."

"It's not about what he said!" she yelled. He looked at her, waiting for the rest of the story. "It's what I said."

"What did you say?"

She shook her head, unwilling to tell him anymore.

"C'mon. Tell me. You're obviously upset, just tell me. It'll help to talk about it."

"You want a direct quote or just about what I said?" she asked.

"Direct. That way I'll know."

She took a deep breath, "I said: If you can't stand living with us, then why don't you just leave."

A few more tears leaked out.

"And that's exactly what he did. Four days later. And he never came back," she whispered tearfully.

"Come here, baby."

She slid over to him and began sobbing into his shoulder.

"Look, whatever the reason was, I know it was a horrible thing for you to live with. Even if it was or wasn't your fault."

She slid out of his embrace and stood up, walking to the other side of the hut. He looked at her, considering what she might be thinking. Then he realized…

"Wait. You don't think..?" he let out a sigh. This was the reason she was so upset. "Gabriella, I'm never going to leave you. I love you."

She looked at him in surprise and whispered, "You love me?"

He stood up and walked over to her. He wrapped his arms around her from behind and said, "Yes. I love you."

She smiled, "Really?"

He smiled back, "Really really."

She turned around and kissed him. And then that led to other things.

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AN: Tada! That is the fourth chapter! Did you like it? Huh? Huh? Review Please! Thanxx.