Hey everyone, I decided to update 'Love Never Ends' and then I'm going to try and update 'Husband And Wife' tonight so bear with me okay.

Also, for all those who has forgotten who Loretta (HATE HER) Williams is and I won't mention any names cough Di Nguyen cough lol only joking, Loretta is the woman Taylor introduced to Troy in Monique's party hoping he would like her. As you can all see Loretta is very interested in Troy and see's Gabriella as a obstacle in her way to happiness. I'm glad we're all on the same page though, we all hate her! YAY! Everyone dance:D

Anyway, the same old, same old, I'll just get on and say I don't Own High School Musical…blah…blah…blah. We all know the drill, right:P

Chapter 5 – Just A Little Closer

GABRIELLA'S heart literally leapt in her throat on the first Monday back to school for Katie. The weekend was over and Katie was dressed neatly in her uniform looking ever so smart. Gabriella fought back the urge to run at her and throw her arms around her telling her dear little one how proud she was…and she was proud! Very!

Katie stood in front of the mirror as Troy plaited her hair a look of love etched on his face with fantastical detail. Gabriella couldn't help it, she sat on the armchair behind Troy and watched enthralled. She was still confused, how did they interact so brilliantly? How did Troy learn to plait hair? How did they trust each other so eternally? The mere thought astounded Gabriella. It was enough to make her intelligent mind work for hours upon hours at end.

"Do you like my hair?" Katie asked turning breaking Gabriella away from her pensive inspection.

Gabriella took her little one in and nodded smiling, "It's lovely. Your Daddy's so clever."

She watched Troy blush and muttering something about coffee he stumbled out of the room looking devastatingly naïve. Katie turned to look at her Mother and she giggled mischievously.

"What are you laughing about?" Gabriella questioned smiling.

Katie brought her fingers to her mouth trying to hide her infectious giggle, "You made Daddy's cheeks go red."

Gabriella stood and turned around looking at the kitchen door as if she could almost see through it, she smiled softly.

"I guess I did." She chuckled suddenly proud.

Katie looked awkward for a moment as if she didn't know what to say. Gabriella sensed it and knelt down so she was level with the little girl in front of her. She anxiously reached up and touched her arms rubbing her shoulders, trying to comfort Katie though Gabriella had no idea whether Katie understood the simple gesture.

"What's wrong?" Gabriella whispered.

"You won't leave will you?" Katie asked nervously.

Gabriella was confused, "What do you mean?"

"You won't leave us again will you, 'Katie mumbled embarrassingly, "I don't want you to leave see and I don't think Daddy wants you to leave either. I'm frightened you're going to go again. I want you to stay and be my Mummy."

Gabriella could no longer fight the urge; she threw her arms around Katie and held her tight. For a moment the little girl stood rigid for Gabriella and Katie had never really been so close but she soon melted into the hug wrapping her arms around Gabriella and burying her head into her shoulder. Gabriella smiled softly; she took in everything, the feel of her child in her arms and her scent that was so alluringly beautiful that it could bring tears to your eyes in a second. She felt Katie's warm breath on her neck and when she pulled away Gabriella realised that tears were falling down her cheeks.

"Please don't cry, 'Gabriella exclaimed lovingly wiping a tear away that had fallen down her cheek and was rolling quickly into the curve of her tiny nose, "I'm not going to leave you. Not ever. You're stuck with me for good now."

Katie looked slightly reassured, "Promise?" She whimpered.

"I promise." Gabriella nodded her head resolutely.

Katie grinned looking much more relieved; she stepped closer to Gabriella and wrapped her arms around her again. Gabriella picked her up balancing her on her right hip. She shushed her gently and Katie whimpered a little nuzzling into the side of her breast as if the sound of her Mother's heartbeat gave her comfort.

"I'm never leaving." Gabriella said again soothingly stroking Katie's carefully plaited hair.

Katie looked up at Gabriella her ultramarine eyes glimmering tenderly, "You won't leave again because when you left Daddy was always sad and he isn't sad anymore. He's happy."

Gabriella held Katie closer; a self-conscious pang of guilt was riddling its way through her heart, she knew she had to make things better.

AFTER dropping Katie off at School Troy and Gabriella found their walk home to be unbelievably awkward and uncomfortable. They tried to avoid bumping into one another or allowing any part of their eager bodies to brush past the other no matter how dangerously pleasurable felt.

There was a strange appeal of lust in the air, both could feel it, both hungered for it. After about five minutes or so of the aching need to talk, Troy bucked up the courage to start a conversation.

"So…apart from working what else did you do in New York?" Troy asked, he wanted to know as much about her as he could, what she did in New York, who she'd met in New York, did she like New York or were there any random boyfriends in New York. She had told him she had touched no one but what if she'd been lying as not to make him angry or upset?

"Not much, 'Gabriella answered shrugging her shoulders, "I did a lot of work in New York. I did have a few friends from the PND Group, there was this one woman Katherine North who helped me a lot. She had a little girl too named Frankie. She told me all kinds of things…things that are so horrible." Gabriella shuddered.

"Like what?" Troy queried frowning.

"She tried to throw Frankie out the window once, 'Gabriella said, she looked pale and Troy was worried, "It wasn't her fault but she just wanted rid of Frankie. That was one of the reason I stayed away from you and Katie for so long. In fear of hurting her."

"I can understand that, 'Troy exclaimed nodding, "But I still don't understand why you left. I never expected it."

Gabriella sighed, "I was glad it was something you didn't expect, then you wouldn't have stopped me. I never wanted to leave, I hope my letter explained that but it seemed like the best thing to do at the time."

They stopped and looked at each other, a sad sort of smile played on Troy's lips, he leaned across and touched Gabriella's cheek. She closed her eyes, it felt so wonderful, his skin on hers; she wanted all of him there and then.

"I'm glad you're back." He said in a hushed voice.

"Back for good." Gabriella muttered.

Troy dropped his hand suddenly as if aware of his affection, he looked at Gabriella coldly before he started walking again, she followed him with excitement gushing in her stomach.

"You know Katie really suffered the affects of not having you around. She tried to pretend it didn't bother her but it did. I could see." Troy told Gabriella.

"I know, I feel bad about that. There is nothing I regret more, believe me. I want to make it up to Katie. I'm going to be around for her, I want to be a good mother, 'Gabriella hesitated, "And a good wife too, 'Troy's eyes flashed to hers, "If you'd let me." She mumbled.

They were looking at each other again, staring into each other's eyes and suddenly Troy was leaning down and Gabriella had stepped closer and had dipped her head up. Their lips were getting closer, Troy could smell the sweetest of Gabriella's breath, how he wanted her, his lips were about to touch hers when…

"TROY!" A high pitched annoying voice called out.

Troy and Gabriella jumped apart to find Loretta Williams waving to them frantically, a condescending smirk written on her face. She dashed towards them and pushed her way in between Gabriella and Troy. She turned her back on Gabriella as if to shun her way and smiled up at Troy seductively.

"It's such a lovely day isn't it and you look so handsome." She giggled irksomely.

"Yeah it's a great day." Troy muttered.

She was dressed terribly, Troy noted, in sharp red high heels and a short white skirt. Her red top was decorated in sequins and she wore a thick silver chain around her neck. Her face was smeared in make up, she looked as if she had been in a fight, her nose looked slightly bruised and it appeared as if she had tried to hide it up with an obscene amount of foundation. Her lips were thick with bright red lipstick and her eyes with dazzling red eye shadow though it did not hide the black eye. Her honey blonde hair hung loose down her back, dull and boring in Troy's opinion.

Troy then took the time to take in Gabriella as Loretta babbled on insanely about something rather unimportant. Gabriella was beautiful and simple. She wore a pair of blue jeans and a small barely noticeable white belt. A thin soft looking white jumper hung to her, showing off her superb figure. A necklace with the letter 'T' hung around her neck, Troy's heart cried out in joy; it was the same necklace he had given her ten years ago when they had been eighteen. Her face was attractive, make up free. Gabriella could get by without such messy stuff! (I hate makeup, no joke! :( It makes me so angry!) Her soft curled hair was arranged into a tight bobble, the curls splashed down her back, soft and so brown that Troy could spend all day running his fingers through them. She was perfection, she was his!

"So do you want to?" Loretta asked eagerly.

Troy broke free of his thoughts, "Huh? Want to what?"

Loretta giggled playfully smacking him on the chest, "Go out for a drink tomorrow silly."

Troy saw the tears in Gabriella's eyes though she tried to disguise them by looking the other way.

"Um…no thanks Loretta, 'He said, then he added, "I'm sure you've mean Gabriella. My wife."

Loretta turned and looked at Gabriella with disgust, "Oh yes, Hello. I believe we've met." She said with no interest whatsoever.

"Yes." Gabriella grumbled.

Loretta turned back to look at Troy, "So, how about that drink Troyie? I'm sure Isabella could take care of your daughter Kimmy for a while."

Troy frowned, "I said no thank you, 'He watched Gabriella brushed past them, she looked upset, he watched her walk on down the street, her shoulders hunched and shaking, Troy knew she was crying, he turned to Loretta, "If you haven't noticed Gabriella not Isabella and I are still married and I want to work on it with her. I still love her and its Katie not Kimmy."

Loretta looked shocked, "But…she…and…she left you." She stammered in surprise.

"And she's back now and I'm determined to make our relationship work again." Troy said.

Loretta screamed and stormed off without so much as a goodbye, Troy was pleased. He decided it was best to catch up with Gabriella. He took off running.

TROY found Gabriella in one of the parks outside of their house. She was sitting on one of the benches with her face in her hands sobbing. Troy came and sat beside her and took her hand away from her face revealing her beautiful eyes.

"Hi." He said softly.

"Where's Loretta?" Gabriella asked.

"Gone." Troy said simply.

Gabriella stood and started to walk across the park, Troy followed her keeping pace with her all the while.

"I'll baby-sit Katie tomorrow if you'd like, I could even ask Sharpay if we could spend the night over hers…and let you have the house to yourselves." Gabriella whimpered.

"What?" Troy gasped.

"You know so you and Loretta can –"

"I don't want to go out with her Gabriella." Troy said firmly.

Gabriella stopped and looked at Troy in surprise though he saw the flash of relief glint in her eyes, "You don't."

"No! You're my wife Gabriella. I…lov…I wouldn't do that to you." Troy told her.

Gabriella smiled and Troy slipped his arms around her waist and pulled her to him, he held her close, she rested her head on his chest feeling safe with him.

"We'll make it work Gabriella. I don't want Loretta." Troy exclaimed stroking her hair.

Gabriella hiccupped back a tear and smiled, "I believe you."

LATER that evening Katie was getting ready for bed. After reading a book with Gabriella she settled down upon her Mother's lap.

Troy walked past and Katie stopped him touching his hand, "Daddy, I'm tired."

"Okay, I'm getting ready to go to bed anyway. I'll put you down to sleep." Troy said, he took Katie in his arms and tickled her stomach affectionately.

He looked at Gabriella, "We're turning in, okay."

Gabriella nodded and stood, "So am I, I'm exhausted."

After switching off the lights they made their way upstairs. Troy was about to take Katie to her room when she stopped him quickly.

"Daddy, can I sleep in with you tonight?" She asked him with bold doe eyes.

Troy laughed.

"Alright, just for tonight." The young man said firmly.

Katie was thrilled and looking at her Mother she said, "Can Mummy sleep in with us too?"

Troy and Gabriella looked at one another, confused. They hadn't slept so close in such a while, the thought made their inside's tickle.

"If she wants to." Troy spluttered fretfully.

So all three, Father, Mother and daughter made their way into Troy's bedroom. Katie jumped onto the double bed and giggled playfully.

"Okay so I'll sleep on the inside and Mummy can hold me and then Mummy will sleep in the middle and Daddy must hold her. Okay!" She stated indomitably.

They didn't argue with her, Katie cuddled up onto the inside of the bed and Gabriella slipped her arms around her waist and held her. Troy came and lay beside Gabriella, his body fitting perfectly into her back. He tensely held onto her, his hand on her waist, his fingers under her pyjama shirt and caressing the skin on her stomach. It felt wonderful. He buried his nose into her hair and took in the scent that was Gabriella. Life was getting better for them all.

"Goodnight." Katie said before she drifted off to sleep.

"Goodnight." Gabriella and Troy said in unison and just before Gabriella succumbed to sleep she was sure she felt Troy's lips on the back of her ear, lulling her into a full sense of security.

YAY! A full Troyella chapter with just enough Gabriella/Katie bonding to finish it off. I haven't spellchecked this chapter because I'm going to the opticians with my Grandmother. So, If there are mistakes there, sorry.

I hope you enjoyed this guys. I loved writing it, review please. xoxMusicalxox/Si xxx