DISCLAIMER: Don't own it.

A/N: What is this – a new chapter in a week? What's happening?

Thank you all for your reviews, I appreciate it so much and it makes me want to update lot faster than I would usually. I wanna thank the awesome Lissia, who continues to listen while I talk about my stories and stuff. See Liss, I updated just like I said I would. And once again thank you Molly for editing!

Enjoy!

Troy could remember the dayhis mother died very clearly. If he wanted to, he could close his eyes and play it behind his eyelids like a movie.

He could see himself being woken up by his mother hitting him with a pillow and yelling at him when he still wouldn't wake up. He could see himself finally walking downstairs and having freshly made pancakes on the table. He could hear his mother in the bathroom, because of her morning sickness, and when she was finally finished throwing up she came back to the kitchen, kissed the top of his head and said in a gentle voice "Took you long enough honey – I was ready to put on the fire alarm." She then went to sit in the opposite chair of his and open the news paper while asking Troy why John wasn't already eating all the pancakes. He shrugged at her question and then realizes that he was late. So, he quickly snatched his back bag and answer with a "Ditto, mom!" when his mother yells that she loves him only because no other woman does.

That was the last time he saw her. His father didn't let him or John to see her corpse, because he would rather that they'd remember their mother as the most beautiful woman on earth rather then a car crash victim, whose face was seriously damaged. He hated his father for a while because of that, but now he was grateful of his dad decision.

In a way he thought that he was lucky – at least his mother knew he loved her, and the last memory of her face was when she was smiling with her hand resting on her swollen stomach contentedly.

But that didn't erase the pain he still felt till this day. He missed his mom a lot, especially when he was having troubles. At first he used to talk to his mom, imagining what she would say to him if she was alive.

"Mom, I'm thinking about asking Debra out – how should I do it?"

"Honey, it doesn't matter how you're going to ask her – she's still going to say no."

Her mother was his favourite person in the world, and even though she wouldn't have ever chosen favourites between her boys, both Troy and John knew it was Troy – the same way they knew that their father's favourite was John.

And because of all this he knew exactly what Gabriella was feeling right now. She was sobbing against his chest while they were in a taxi driving towards the hospital where Maria Montez was taken, and Troy was running his hand up on down on her back whispering words like 'It's going to be alright', and 'It's okay, shh… we're almost there – it's okay.

He didn't care a bit that his favourite shirt was getting wetter by the second, he didn't care that Gabriella was holding so tight to his arm that he was pretty sure there wasn't any blood left in his fingers. All her cared about was Gabriella, and the fact that she was upset and needed somebody.

"Shh…It's okay," he whispered again.

She was sobbing so hard, "B-but what if it's not T-Troy? What i-if she's going to d--" her voice broke before she got the sentence finished.

He squeezed the arm that was wrapped around her shoulders little tighter, "You can't think like that, okay? You have to think that she's going to make it. If she sees you like this before she goes into surgery, she might herself believe she's not going to make it." Gabriella let out a louder sob and Troy was holding her now so tight that someone would wonder how she could still breath, "I'm sorry that I'm sounding so harsh right now, but when you see your mother you have to be strong, and after that you can cry your body dry, okay?" when he felt her slightly nodding against his chest he smiled a little.

"Okay, I can do this", she said and tried to control her sobs, "I can do this."

He slightly kissed the top of her head and murmured against it, "I know you can angel."

She let a shaky laugh out at the sound of her nickname, and Troy just kissed her head and tightened his hold on her a little more, and it was almost too tight for her. But she wasn't complaining, because at that moment; she felt that Troy was the only person she could rely on.

Soon the cab stopped in front of the hospital and Troy gave the gab driver a bunch of dollars and didn't even care that he just gave away 200 bucks. He and Gabriella quickly made their way to the reception where Troy explained the situation when Gabriella couldn't even talk. The nurse told them the room number but when Troy was leaving to the right direction, Gabriella just stood still.

"Angel?" he questioned gently, "The room is this way, are you coming?"

Gabriella looked at him with a broken expression and Troy went to her side and wrapped once again an arm around her.

"I can't do this, Troy", she started sobbing again, "If I go to that room all I'm going to think about is that it might be the last time I'm going to see my mother!" The tears were running down her face more quickly then before, even though no one could see them 'cause her face was pressed against Troy's already wet chest.

He lowered his head till her lips were next to her ear, "Gabi, I can't tell you how this surgery is going to go, but in both cases you're going to regret if you don't go see her now. She's probably just as scared as you are, but there's no one to comfort her and that's why she needs you now." He pressed his lips against her temple twice, before detaching himself from her and gripping her hand, "Shall we?"

She laced her fingers with his and gripped just as tight, "We shall."

---

Her mother was a strong person, Gabriella knew that. And even if she didn't, she sure did now. Maria Montez was about to have a serious heart surgery, but there she was talking to the doctor with a smile on her face. The only things that were different was her pale face and the dark circles under her eyes.

She felt Troy squeezing her hand and she turned her head to meet Troy's brilliant blue eyes. He gestured towards the room with his head, smiled at her reassuringly and then let go of her hand and started backing away. Gabriella quickly reached for his arm.

"Where are you doing?" she asked anxiously.

"I just thought I'd give you and your mom some alone time."

Gabriella shook her head, "No, I can't handle this alone. I need you there with me," she didn't care that she was begging now, "Please, Troy."

Troy smiled gently, and answered by opening the door for her. Gabriella took a deep breath before going in, Troy close behind her.

Maria's head turned to the door just in time to see Troy caressing her arm in a supportive way. She lifted her eyebrows at the sight – who was this man?

"Hey mommy", Gabriella said quietly before coming next to the bed and hugging her. Maria patted her daughters back, while still keeping her eyes on the boy who was awkwardly standing by the door.

"Hey honey", she kissed her cheek, "You didn't have to come here, you know – but I'm glad you did."

Gabriella pulled back and rolled her red and puffy eyes, "Of course I came, mom, you're about to have a major heart surgery!"

"Heart surgery?!" Both Maria and Gabriella looked at Troy who was now blushing furiously, because of his outburst, "I'm sorry – it's just that you're so young and I was surprised that some one in her later forties is about to have a heart surgery."

Maria was flattered, "Oh, honey – I'm 58." The genuine surprise in Troy's eyes made Maria like him before she even knew his name, and that made her look at Gabriella and say, "So you finally broke up with that James?"

Gabriella blushed and Troy started coughing, "Not exactly mom."

"If that's so then who's this?" She asked confusedly and gestured Troy, who started coughing harder.

"That's Troy, Mom – John's little brother," she rubbed her neck, something that Maria had never seen her do before; "Actually John and I are engaged."

Her mouth dropped open, and Gabriella became nervous, "Say something mom."

Maria was silent for another moment, and then finally remembered how to speak, "When's the wedding?"

"…weeks", Gabriella murmured and Maria frowned.

"Sorry, didn't get the first part."

"In five weeks."

She opened her mouth and then closed it again and looked at Troy, "Troy, could you give us a moment?" she asked sweetly, which made Gabriella sweat.

"S-sure", Troy stuttered, "I'm going to get some coffee, umm…you want one Gabi?"

Gabriella gave Troy a little smile, "Sure, Troy."

Troy smiled at the both before exiting the room and Gabriella turned slowly to face her mother.

"How long have you two been engaged?" She asked with no emotion in her voice.

"About two weeks", Gabriella said and her mother took deep breath.

She turned to look at her daughter, "What's the rush, sweetie? You're going to marry him after seven weeks of being engaged – that's not you", she placed her hand on top of Gabriella's.

Gabriella sighed, "I know mom, but it's what John wants – a small wedding in the garden."

"It should be what you want too", she smiled at her with sympathy, "You should have your dream wedding, I know you always wanted a big church wedding, it's all you talked about when you were little."

Gabriella knew she was right, "We don't have to talk about this now, mom – you should be getting ready for you surgery."

"Just think about it, okay hun?"

"Okay mom."

Maria sighed in relief, "So where is John, and how did his brother end up coming with you?"

Gabriella sat on the edge of the bed, "John's on a business trip in New York – he left this morning – and Troy's staying with us for couple of days because he just had surgery. So when doctor Peterson called Troy was with me, and he called and paid the cab to get us here."

Maria's eyebrows rose, "He came with you in the middle of the night, even though he didn't have to?"

Gabriella shifted her gaze awkwardly, "Yes, so?"

Her mother just smiled mysteriously, "Nothing."

Gabriella was about to ask what her mother meant, but doctor Peterson came in that same time – Troy following him, "Okay, Ms. Montez, we're ready to take you in."

Immediately tears sprung in Gabriella's eyes, and she leaned in to kiss her mother cheek, "I'll see you after the surgery mom, okay? I love you."

Maria smiled fondly to her only child, "I love you too honey, see you soon." Then they started to wheel her out leaving a teary eyed Gabriella, and concerned Troy behind. The moment the doors closed Gabriella broke down again with sobs, and Troy quickly wrapped his arms around her and walked her to the couch.

"Shh...it's okay, angel. It's going to be okay." He stroked her hair out of her face, "In a way I know how you feel right now."

Gabriella hiccupped lightly, "How?" was all she could say in the between her sobs.

Troy sighed, "Has John ever mentioned our mom?" He felt Gabriella shake her head against his chest, "That's because our mom died when we were little."

She lifted her head to see blurred Troy – because of her tears – smiling sadly, "I'm sorry, Troy."

He shrugged and caressed her cheek, "It's okay." Gabriella lowered her head against his chest again.

"It's just that I don't know how to live without my mom," more tears slipped from her eyes, "I can't imagine not being able to call her when I have problems", after that she started sobbing so bad she couldn't speak anymore. Troy sat there with her rubbing her back and stroking her hair.

"It's okay, you can cry."

Gabriella was there, being consoled by Troy when she finally let herself realize something. No matter how hard she tried to fight it, she couldn't lie to herself.

She was in love with Troy – her fiancées little brother.

And there was only one thing she could do about it.

---

John's plane had just landed and he was tiredly trying to stop a cab to get him to the nearest hotel, so far his efforts were in vain. Finally he got some driver's attention and quickly climbed in. John had only been in the cab for five minutes when his cell phone rang and he answered it without looking at the screen.

"Hello?"

All he could hear was sobbing on the other end and finally a quiet; "John?"

"Gabriella?" he asked concerned, "What's wrong?"

The sobbing increased, "Can you come home? I really need you right now."

"Of course I can."

"Thank you", then all he heard was dial tone and then he put his phone back to his pocket. "Can you go back?" He asked the driver.

Gabriella's now in love with Troy, but don't forget that she's in love with John too. So John's coming back and Lexie, you're going to get her John and Gabriella. ;)

Review, please – they make my day!