A/N: Okay! I've officially decided to continue writing just because I've found you guys do like it; I think the core problem is my updating habit. For all my other stories, I did update quite often, and this one is different because it was started around the holidays and I just recently had my school finals. But now, I've worked out my schedule enough so that I can update at least every three days. The length of time between updates can vary as much as one days to four days, considering there are times when I don't have as much access to the computer—example: my mother's concern about my math final. That ended up getting resolved and now I have time. :)

Since I didn't want to keep the author's note as a chapter, I'm replacing it with this, like a bonus chapter: a flashback. It's completely set in the past, but I won't italicize it since I know that can get annoying to read. So just note: it's not set in Troy and Gabriella's present day.

Yeesh, this is a really long A/N. I hope the effort is worth it, like you guys said. Thank you very much for your suggestions and your support. -love- Desireé

P.S. I. Am. So. So. So. Sorry. This is way late, I was trying to get up so often this past week, but I've been really sick with the flu again. :( Hopefully the bonus chapter makes up for it?

Chapter Ten, Memoir

But things just get so crazy living life gets hard to do

Sunday morning rain is falling and I'm calling out to you

Singing Sunday it'll bring me back to you

Find a way to bring myself back home to you

-'Sunday Morning', Maroon 5

It was Halloween of the next year, and things hadn't changed much since 'Baby's First Christmas' with the exception that Gabriella—much to her relief—got her figure back in shape and Harris was an entire year older. His mother tended to him often, and his father reminded her just as frequently that pampering him wouldn't do any good. They were a happy family, and the young parents were finally getting a break as Taylor and Chad came to visit and acted as the babysitters.

Still, their reason to go out wasn't exactly Troy's idea of fun. "Why do we have to go this party that Sharpay is hosting?" he sighed, looking down at his attire. It was four-thirty in the afternoon, and the Danforths had just arrived (neither would be very disappointed that they had not warranted an invitation to the soiree when they saw Troy's getup); they were now cooing over Harris in the living room of the loft. The father, in the bedroom, shook one leg and grimaced at his pants. "I look like a clown, Gabriella! Who would wear this? Honestly, not even for Halloween! It's atrocious!"

Sticking a gold good in her ear, she smiled idly at him. "You're overreacting, honey, I know because you just used the word 'atrocious' and besides, I think you come off very cute. It makes perfect sense—I've got looks that just scream Jasmine, and with a little black spray paint and a fez, you are exactly like Aladdin! You know the party invitation specifically says to dress as a Disney character, and if you're going with a date, then a couple! And you also know there's going to be a billion Ariels and Erics and Cinderellas and Prince Charmings, so we're going to be smart and go as the uncommon lovers." Gabriella adjusted her very slight, turquoise top and nodded firmly.

He wasn't convinced, despite the brief but impressive display of her chest. "I don't see why there has to be a theme for a Halloween party," he grumbled, mouth puckered. "It's Halloween! You dress up in a costume of your choice, go around asking for free candy, and that's it!"

The girl smiled and shrugged, coming up to stand before him and make last minute adjustments to his ensemble. He paid no mind to her aggravated glances when he didn't make the effort to help. "Well, if you're good tonight and can impress everyone—even Sharpay—by being kind and respectful, then I'll reward you, like any good woman should to her boyfriend," she murmured in his ear. Troy craned his neck so his chin came to her eye level, but she could see his impatient enthusiasm. Childbirth didn't change everything.

When the two finally walked out into the living room, Chad burst out laughing. Troy folded his arms over his chest and scowled, piqued to be the subject of such amusement. Taylor smiled and, Harris balanced on her hip, came over to stand before Gabriella. "You both look very darling," she remarked with a chuckle. The baby she held rested his head on her shoulder. "But I don't think your date looks too happy to be wearing what he's wearing, however entertaining it is."

The black-haired girl grinned. "Well I gave him a choice between Aladdin's peasant outfit or the big, beige royal-looking hat and jumper he wears at the end; he then begrudgingly took the peasant option on the condition that he didn't have to carry around a fake Abu." Both women laughed and their boyfriends, an approximate ten feet away, had a similar conversation.

"Aren't you just a cute little Hallmark card?" Chad taunted, smirking as he leaned against the wall and observed Troy crossly pick at his purple vest. "Crap, she actually convinced you to wear that, dude? You've gone soft on me."

Taylor glanced at him. "Don't think for one minute I couldn't do the same thing, Mr. Danforth," she warned, and Chad blushed.

"Hah, so we're in the same boat then," Troy said proudly, but his curly-haired friend shook his head.

"On the contrary, kind fellow, you are the one wearing the puffy white pants with a gold waistband," Chad goaded, smiling smugly like they were still in high school.

"We'll, I'll be getting some tonight. And you'll be babysitting Harris," Troy shot back lamely, knowing he was losing the argument quite radically.

"Whatever you say, man. I'm still the one wearing regular jeans."

TYWY

Gabriella Montez was always right.

No matter how much Troy Bolton hated to admit it.

At Sharpay's party, located in the penthouse she and her brother had inherited from some distant dead uncle, everyone was dressed as Belle and the Beast (this costume did not require much more than lack of a Gillette razor and a frilly shirt), or Snow White and… her prince, who did not have a name, according to IMDb. Anyway, the party was high profile, and it took Troy all his arm strength to elbow his way through the living room and finally reach the snacks table, Gabriella in tow. He was about to pick up a brownie bite when she nudged him and whispered, "Eating is not impressive. Food later. Socializing now."

He rolled his eyes but obeyed, glaring at any other guy who dare give him a double take. "Aladdin!" a voice squeaked finally and he winced. Sharpay appeared, Ryan behind her. "And Jasmine! Oh, that's brilliant." She wore a fairly altered pink dress, much like the one in Sleeping Beauty, with a white crown combed through her hair; she stood proudly with her cleavage on display like a piece at an art museum. Troy stared awkwardly and Ryan cleared his throat before Gabriella noticed; it would be much, much later in life that the basketball hotshot would realize that being an Evans didn't always mean you were evil.

"And you are, Ryan?" Gabriella asked, turning to the blond boy. He smiled and bowed, his long-sleeved black tee stretching over his purposefully flexed muscles and his red cape falling down on either side of him. "Prince Phillip never looked better."

"Of course not when he's got me for arm candy," Sharpay put in, kissing her brother's cheek. She finally looked at Troy for more than a moment, and had to stifle a laugh. "Aladdin, you look… dashing." Her face screwed up and she finally gave into the giggles. Troy glared at Gabriella, who smiled with closed lips, squeezed his hand reassuringly and mouthed Reward.

TYWY

The couple got home around midnight, tired and worn out and both a little forgetful of Gabriella's earlier promise. Taylor and Chad were smiling at the television, which was playing something Troy didn't recognize at first. "What are you guys watching?"

"The graduation video your dad taped," Chad supplied, taking his feet down off the coffee table when he received a look from Gabriella. The girl—still dressed like Jasmine—crawled tiredly onto Troy's lap and grinned at the TV screen as she saw their younger selves waving at the camera. High School Troy swooped High School Gabriella into his arms and ravished her with a kiss, before Lucile Bolton kindly reprimanded them and her husband Jack gave an obvious thumbs-up. "We found it in your box of keepsakes in the hallway closet."

"Why were you looking in the hallway closet?" Gabriella asked, lifting her head from where it had rested on her boyfriend's shoulder. Troy glanced over her head to stare at his best friend.

Chad blanched. "I, um—"

Taylor caught him before he could kill it any further by smiling at the other two people across from them and folding her hands together. "Well, there are these things called curiosity and boredom," she explained in a droning voice, and both Gabriella and Troy pursed their lips to keep from smiling, "and your son is too good of a baby to go to sleep right away, but he did so we had nothing to do but, well, quite frankly, snoop."

Another three hours passed before any of them realized how late it was and the older they got, the earlier the bedtime became (especially with the feature of a child in Troy's and Gabriella's lives). One yawn from Chad made Taylor look at her watch and smile, saying they'd flag down a taxi and go stay at a hotel until the morning, but Gabriella shook her head and insisted they stay at the loft.

At that moment, nothing was different. They were still all friends, they were only twenty years old, and things like hurt and anger and dishonesty were mythical terms used to describe the shitty lives of others, people they did not know.

People they would, inevitably, become.