A/N I DON'T OWN ANYTHING!

"I work at an orphanage and I was wondering what I would have to do if I wanted to adopt one of the kids that live there she asked?

"Well the same as a normal person. There are files that need to be filled out a background check has to be done and if everything is clean then someone signs off on it and you bring the papers to back here and it's done" the lady said.

"What kind of thing would be unclean in a background check" she asked?

"Well if you were ever in jail or arrested something like that" the lady answered.

"My parents were murdered. The man who did it is behind bars but I've been in foster care my whole life with different foster families who did horrible things to me. I've never done wrong in a case like that but could my past make it so I can't adopt" she asked?

"Well as long as we see no prove that you are a danger to the child then no" the lady told her.

"Thank you. One last question when you said someone has to sign off what does that mean" she asked?

"Well some else that works at the orphanage has to sign away saying they agree to letting you take this child" the lady said.

"Ok thanks" Gabriella said.

She turned around and left. Her dreams just went down the drain. No one she worked with would sign Emma away to her. They hate her. She sighed and got back into the car. She drove back to the gas station she was suppose to meet Troy at. She parked her car and got out. She looked around and saw Emma in Troy's lap in the front seat of his car dancing to music. The was parked and off so Emma was in no danger. She walked over and knocked on the window. Troy opened the door and got out.

"Hey you feeling better" he asked?

"Yeah a lot better thanks Troy" she said.

"Miss Gabi I had a great time" Emma said.

"Well that's a good thing. I think you and I need to go home and get ready for tonight" Gabriella said.

"Ok bye Troy" Emma said.

"Bye" Troy said.

After the goodbyes Gabriella took Emma's car seat and Emma and got her settled. She drove back home to get ready.

It was six and Gabriella was at Troy's house with Emma in her arms. From the front window Emma saw Sharpay inside and got scared. She though Gabriella was going to leave her there with Sharpay. She started to wiggle in Gabriella's arms. "No Miss Gabi no" she whimpered.

"It's all right Emma its Troy's house" she said.

"No Miss Gabi" she cried.

"Sweetie why are you scared" Gabriella asked?

"That bad lady is in there" she cried.

"I won't let her touch you Emma you're very safe here".

"Don't leave me here" Emma said and burst into tears.

"Emma I'm not going to leave you here" Gabriella said shocked.

Emma clung to Gabriella tightly. Gabriella saw Troy in the window and gave him a little wave and he came over.

"Hey what's going on out here"? He asked?

"Emma is scared" Gabriella said.

Troy tried to take her from Gabriella so he could help comfort her but she whimpered and pulled away from his touch. She buried her face in Gabriella neck.

"She thinks I'm going to leave her here" Gabriella said.

"Why would she…." But then it clicked.

Emma had no idea that Troy and Sharpay weren't together anymore. Troy didn't even like Sharpay anymore. He put up with her because she was dating one of his teammates. The last time Troy had talked to Emma about going to his house it was live with him and Sharpay. He told Gabriella and rubbed Emma's back.

"Gabriella isn't going to leave you here Emma. I don't even like that bad lady she is here because one of the other guys invited her but you don't have to be scared because I won't let her hurt you" Troy said.

"NO" Emma cried.

Troy sighed but then got an idea. "Wait here" he said and ran inside. He came back out with a care bear doll in his hands.

"Emma can you look at me for a second" he asked?

Emma looked up at Troy. He showed her the doll.

"This is brave heart the lion. He isn't scared of anything and he is really good at protecting people so how about you hold on to him and if you get scared he will take care of you ok" he said.

Emma took the doll and cuddled it close to her and nodded. Gabriella and Troy went inside. Gabriella followed Troy into his living room.

"Guys this is my friend Gabriella. Gabriella this is Chad, Zeke, Jason, Ryan, Kelsi, Martha, Taylor, and of course you know Sharpay" Troy said pointing to each person.

"It's nice to meet all of you. Troy has told me so much about you" Gabriella said shyly.

"He has told us about you too who is the cutie in your arms" Taylor asked?

"Oh this is Emma, Emma say hi" Gabriella said.

Emma hid her face back into Gabriella's shoulder.

"Awwww" the girls cooed.

Gabriella went and joined the other and sat down keeping Emma in her lap.

"So how do you all know each other" Gabriella asked?

"Well the guys are all on my basketball team with me. Sharpay is Zeke's girlfriend. We agreed to put aside our difference for the better of the team. Taylor is Chad's girlfriend, Martha is Jason's boyfriend. Ryan is Sharpay's brother and Kelsi is like a little sister to me. We have been friend since we were in diapers" Troy said.

"How did you two meet" Taylor asked?

"Well Troy came in to the orphanage looking for a child and Emma fell in love with him but then events happen and he couldn't take her but Emma wanted to see him more and he and I just became friends" Gabriella said.

"That's awesome. Troy always wanted to be a father" Kelsi said.

"He is a good father figure for her. Her real father…well wasn't very nice" Gabriella said.

"He beat her" Sharpay said.

Gabriella put her hands on Emma's ears.

"He beat her and killed her mother but that doesn't matter because she is away from him" Gabriella snapped.

"Ok new topic" Troy said.

"I want to know more about Emma" Kelsi said.

'She is a major cutie" Troy smiled. He reached his arm out to her. "Come here cutie" he said

Emma reached out to him and he took her into his arms.

"She is really smart for her age. She is the nicest little girl I know and she has the best giggle and the most ticklish tummy" Troy said. He laid her down on his lap lifted her shirt a little and blew raspberries into her stomach and she giggled.

"Troy no tickles" she laughed.

Everyone smiled at how cute she was. Troy let her sit up and held her on his lap.

"How old are you Emma" Taylor asked?

Emma held up three fingers.

"Wow you're a big girl now" Martha said.

"She acts like a big baby" Sharpay said.

"Oh shut up Shar" Troy said.

"Troy don't say bad words" Emma whispered.

"I'm sorry forgive me" he asked looking down at her.

"Yes" she smiled.

"Well how was the game" Gabriella asked

"IT WAS AWESOME! WE TOTALLY KICKED THE WEST HIGH BUTT" Chad yelled.

Emma's hands flew up to her ears.

"Chad we have sensitive ears. No yelling" Troy said.

"Why did you invite her" Chad asked?

"Yeah why is she even here" Sharpay asked?

"Because Emma in my friend and I like her" Troy said.

Emma yawned. Gabriella smiled and looked at the time.

"We should be going its late" Gabriella said.

"Oh no you just got here. I have a room she can sleep in" Troy said. He picked her up and Gabriella followed him upstairs.

Upstairs Troy put Emma down in a little bed with bars on the side. She shot back up. She shook her head. Gabriella came over and laid her back down.

"It's all right Emma I won't leave you here just sleep" Gabriella said laying her on her stomach and rubbing her back. Troy watched on the side and smiled. She was a great mother to Emma.

"Miss Gabi can you sing" Emma asked?

"Sure baby girl" Gabriella said. "What song" she asked?

"The one you wrote for your mommy and daddy" Emma answered.

"Found myself today

Oh I found myself and ran away

Something pulled me back

The voice of reason I forgot I had

All I know is you're not here to say

What you always used to say

But it's written in the sky tonight

So I won't give up

No I won't break down

Sooner than it seems life turns around

And I will be strong

Even if it all goes wrong

When I'm standing in the dark I'll still believe

Someone's watching over me

Seen that ray of light

And it's shining on my destiny

Shining all the time

And I wont be afraid

To follow everywhere it's taking me

All I know is yesterday is gone

And right now I belong

To this moment to my dreams

So I won't give up

No I won't break down

Sooner than it seems life turns around

And I will be strong

Even if it all goes wrong

When I'm standing in the dark I'll still believe

Someone's watching over me

It doesn't matter what people say

And it doesn't matter how long it takes

Believe in yourself and you'll fly high

And it only matters how true you are

Be true to yourself and follow your heart

So I won't give up

No I won't break down

Sooner than it seems life turns around

And I will be strong

Even if it all goes wrong

When I'm standing in the dark I'll still believe

That I won't give up

No I won't break down

Sooner than it seems life turns around

And I will be strong

Even when it all goes wrong

When I'm standing in the dark I'll still believe

That someone's watching over

Someone's watching over

Someone's watching over me

Someone's watching over me" Gabriella sang. Emma was sound asleep. Gabriella walked over to Troy.

"That was beautiful" he said.

"Thanks" she said with a blush.

"You have a great voice" he added.

She blushed even more.

"So I guess we both have the hidden talent huh" she asked?

"Yeah but you're never going to hear me sing" he said.

"What if Emma's asks" Gabriella wondered?

"Then I will sing" he said.

They both just smiled and Gabriella asked "How do you have a room so fit for a child"?

"This has been my home since I was born. My parents died only a few years ago so I was old enough to take care of myself so I moved in here. This room used to belong to my little brother" he said as his voice cracked.

"I'm sorry Troy I shouldn't have asked" Gabriella said quickly.

"No its ok. It's just hard you know. Thinking about them" he sighed.

"I do know Troy. Trust me I know" she said and hugged him. He hugged back. They stood there holding each other. Then they went down stairs. At the bottom of the stairs Kelsi was standing there in tears.

"Baby sister what is it" Troy asked pulling her into his arms.

Kelsi cried into his chest clinging to him for dear life.

"What is it baby sister" Troy asked?

Kelsi sniffed and looked up at him.

"Nothing Troy I'm just being a baby" she said.

"Which is why you're my baby sister so tell me what's wrong and the tickle monster will figure it out" Troy said.

"Sharpay was just being herself. Some of what she said upset me though and Troy it just…really hurt" Kelsi said cried into his chest again.

"Kel what did she say to you" Troy asked?

"Well she was going on and on about her mom and dad and how they buy her everything and anything she wants and that they are the best parents because they have the most money and I opened my big mouth and said just because a parents has a lot of money doesn't make the great it what makes them great is the love and care they you and she said….she said…." Kelsi trailed off into tears.

"Baby sister shhhhh its ok I'm here. What did she say please tell me" Troy begged.

"Sh-sh-she said "What would you know about loving parents yours went and got blown up in a car crash and left you that isn't a loving parent" Kelsi cried tears pouring down her face.

"Shhhhh baby sister shhhhh. Sharpay is a looser. You know your mom and dad love you very much. She is just a jerk" Troy said.

"I know it's not true but it hurt. I hate when people talk about my parents because they aren't even here to defend themselves and I am too scared to defend them from Sharpay" she said.

"I know the feeling" Gabriella said.

"We both do. Don't let Sharpay get to you Kels she is just a jerk" Troy said.

"I think I'm going to go upstairs to be" she said. She pulled away from Troy and went upstairs.

"I feel so bad for her" Gabriella said.

"I'm going to kill Sharpay" Troy said and went into the living room. As he walked in he got an idea on how to get back at Sharpay.

"Hey wildcats come here" he called. All the guys rushed over. Troy told him the plan and they all smirked…even Zeke. Gabriella smiled as Troy told her the plan. She told Taylor and Martha. The guys tacked Sharpay and pinned her down.

A/N Song is "Someone's Watching Over Me" by Hilary Duff.