Reality Check

by I-Fizzy

Even though you think you can escape from your past...it pursues you - past is something you can't escape from but something you only have to accept and to learn to live with.

10. Chapter 10

A/N: Hey there! LAST chapter, people!! It's taken me A LOT to write that – I've started to write and then erased everything I've written uncountable times, I swear, but I think this is the definite version ;) I hope you'll enjoy it…and that you think it makes sense with how the story has been. I really hope it closes all the subplots, and also the main plot, of the story in a way you like…so please, tell me what you think :D

Thanks so so much for being there with that story; seriously, your unconditional support has been amazing and to know you all have enjoyed that story and have "found" the message I wanted for you all to find is something I cherish immensely. THANK YOU for reading that story; for thinking about it; for reviewing it; for adding it to your story lists; for opine about it; for follow it – just…thank you so much for everything. I won't forget, ever, you all :)

I really hope you'll like this last chapter but, like always, your opinions are more than welcomed.

Oh, my other two stories' updates will come within the next two weeks. Ending this one I'm going to be able to update the other two faster and also more regularly so I hope you'll be still there when those updates happen.

Here's chapter 10; enjoy! :)

---

"Logan jumps and catches the ball…he bounces it and passes while looking for one of his team mates…Bolton sprints up to him, takes the ball and…oh my god! It seems he's thinking about to throw the ball from the three points line while being surrounded by the opposite team, ladies and gentlemen!"

She was at the edge of her seat just behind the team's bench looking at her husband do what she knew he loved with all his heart - the passion he showed while being on the court giving everything he had inside of him; the huge smile that was plastered permanently on his face whenever the ball was in his hands; the way his eyes would look for hers randomly while he played as if convincing himself that she was still there; the way he would point at her whenever he scored; the way he would wrap his arms tightly around her before and after each game while telling her she was his lucky charm; the way he would tell her he loved her when the craziness died and he was Troy Bolton, the man she loved, again; the way he felt complete with having back something he thought he'd lost for good…were things that made her heart soar in peace, in happiness, in love, in that giddy feeling that put a smile on your face whether you wanted it or not.

"Bolton bounces the ball, he jumps…and he scores!"

Automatically, his eyes looked for hers and he winked at her with a wide smile on his face, placing his hand over where she knew his heart was, pointing at her with his free hand – the score was for her.

Like they always were.

"Go Troy!" Lucille shouted from beside her standing up like a crazy fangirl and clapping her hands enthusiastically though Gabriella barely heard for she was too busy smiling shyly at the love of her life, having one of their silent conversations with their eyes. "He's playing amazingly tonight!"

"Yeah," Gabriella breathed, blushing furiously when Troy mouthed I love you just before his concentration turned back to the game, already knowing she was still there and having the peace that this thought made him feel.

"You okay?" Lucille asked once she sat back again. "You seem to be deep in thought…"

"I am," Gabriella confirmed looking at her mother in law with a soft smile on her face. "I was just thinking about how much things have changed since Troy came back from Los Angeles."

"I know what you mean," Lucille nodded sharing the soft smile that adorned the petite brunette's features. "But I'm glad things are the way they are now."

Gabriella nodded. "Me too."

Lucille's concentration was drifted away from Gabriella to talk to Jack and Gabriella took that opportunity to walk back the memory line, until the day Troy confessed his love for her and she admitted that same feelings towards him – one of the best days of her life. Since that day, her relationship with Troy not only had gotten deeper and more passionate but also had become her most precious treasure; the tight friendship they shared until that moment became a thousand times more meaningful because what they had, what they shared, became the main thing in their lives due to having their best friend also as a lover.

Remembering what happened after they confessed their love for each other, Gabriella couldn't stop the blush that crept up to her cheeks…

---

Tightening his arm around her shoulders while pulling her body closer to his and also reassuring himself that she was actually curled into his chest, with her arm wrapped around his stomach and with her cheek pressed into his chest, Troy sighed comfortably. The rock of having his feelings for Gabriella buried deep inside of him had lifted off of his shoulders once he'd spoken the words that had changed not only his life but also hers as well; the thought of Gabriella knowing exactly what he felt for her…and also knowing what she felt for him made him feel, finally, in complete peace with his life. He'd been happy until that moment; he cherished all the moments he'd spent with his friends and family, with the kids back at school while teaching them how to play basketball, with his co-workers while being at their get-together each Thursday at Gabriella's club…but neither of those things held the same importance for him the way his friendship first, relationship in the end, with Gabriella did.

She'd become the centre of his universe, of his life, and he wouldn't have it wanted differently. To care about her, to make her happy, to make her forget her sadness whenever she thought about her mother, to put a smile on her face when her mood was down, to offer his shoulder whenever she needed a shoulder to lean on…everything involving Gabriella was his priority, his main priority, and knowing that Gabriella had never felt happier than she was at the moment, thanks to him according to her, was enough for him to want to raise his own bar so he never was one of the reasons for her discomfort, for her sadness, for her worry. To put a smile on her face was his daily goal…and he felt proud knowing that, minus once or twice, his goal had been reached every day.

"What are you thinking?" She whispered startling Troy who thought she'd fallen asleep.

His eyes looked down at her and he unwrapped his arm from around her shoulders, smiling softly when Gabriella whimpered and grunted a whine at his movement, turning his body so he was face to face with hers. He didn't answer right away; he took his time to really look at her beautiful face, at her gorgeous brown eyes, at her rounded cheeks, at her luscious lips…and couldn't help but lift his hand so he could frame that same face with his thumb in a sweet caress that put a soft smile in the goddess he had in front of him. "I was thinking about how…good, yeah I guess that's the closest correct way to put it but I'm not sure if it actually fits," her giggle at his rambling made him to blush and take a deep breath. "I was thinking about how perfect it feels to have you knowing how I feel for you…and having those same feelings reciprocated."

Her hand moved to grasp his and she laced their fingers together. "I know," she murmured against the skin of his knuckles, planting a soft kiss afterwards. "And I'd say perfect is the correct word to use…"

He leaned in with a smile and connected his lips with hers; the kiss was unhurried, slow, but passionate all the same…and soon it awoke the sleepy beast their feelings for each other were, making the kiss turn into a battle of tongues, of hands roaming along each other's bodies, of moans and grunts whenever each of them discovered a soft spot in the other…beginning their first make out session that left both of them breathless and panting, their chests connecting and both being able to feel how their heartbeats were in complete sync.

"Wow," Gabriella breathed when Troy pulled away from her looking down adoringly at her for he'd rolled them down pinning her into the soft towel he'd brought with them for their picnic at the beach. "That's been…"

"I'd say perfect suits again," Troy whispered interrupting her, a twinkle shining in his eyes, just before he connected their lips again, softly and innocently this time.

"I love your kisses," Gabriella said absently when he pulled away again while moving his hair out of his blue eyes.

Troy couldn't help but smile that soft smile that melted Gabriella's heart. "I love you."

The sureness in his voice, the softness in his tone, the intimacy of their pose made her smile. Her fingers tangled with his hair and she ended playing with his earlobe looking with pry how he closed his eyes and let out a soft throaty moan at her touch. Her body was on fire, and just discovering how her touch, how her lips, how her actions influenced Troy, Gabriella realized she wanted to discovered what was still a secret. It was weird, she'd never been one for jumping into bed with someone after their first date, but with Troy that thought never entered in her mind; being with him like that, alone and feeling the immense love they felt for each other was enough for her to trust her decision, to trust him and to trust their feelings so much that she just wanted to know what it was to feel wholly connected with him. She needed to reach that level with Troy that not only meant their souls were joined but also their bodies…but she didn't know how he felt about it.

"Hey," he cooed snapping her out of her trance when he saw her frown, caressing her skin with his now soft fingers trying to make it disappear. "What's wrong?"

Her eyes opened for they had closed at his caresses and Gabriella's breath itched in her throat when she read the pure worry in his eyes. Wanting nothing less than worry him, she offered a small smile. "Nothing's wrong," her arms wrapped around his neck and she lifted her head to peck his lips. "I was just thinking about….things…"

The reluctance in her voice made him lift his eyebrow – she didn't know how serious those "things" were, but he was sure as hell that he didn't want for her mood to go down, so he decided to joke about the situation they were in. "Way to make a man feel loved, babe…thinking about things while said man is kissing you. Flattering alright…"

The giggles that reverberated in her chest put a goofy smile on his face. "Shut up," she scolded with a very sincere smile on her face that relaxed him a bit. "I've already told you I love your kisses so no, I wasn't distracted but very much focused in your kiss…"

He grinned when he saw the frown completely disappear from her face. "Then?" His eyes widened when she blushed furiously. "Are you blushing?"

"No," she muttered pulling him down so she could bury her face in his neck.

"Baby," Troy said trying to pull away and sighing when she didn't move. "Come on," he urged. "What's up?"

"Nothing," her muffled voice came from his shoulder and Troy narrowed his eyes – what the hell was wrong?

Deciding to force the truth out of her, Troy rolled away from her but brought her body with his so she was lying on top of him, not leaving for her another option but to look down into his eyes. Grabbing either side of her face for good measure, Troy locked their eyes together and saw something there he couldn't understand – her usual brown eyes were darker than ever and her body began to shiver when they connected with his. "Baby," he reprimanded softly. "You know you can tell me everything…"

"I know that," she sighed. "But…I don't understand it myself…"

"If you don't explain yourself some more I don't understand you at all," he said, the confusion he was feeling very present in his voice.

Her fingers moved up towards the collar of his blue shirt in shyness. What could she tell him? That she wanted to spend the night with him? That she wanted to know what it was to feel the love between them she was feeling in a physical level? No. she couldn't say anything like that…so her only option was to show him what was wrong with her. Decidedly, Gabriella leaned down and connected their lips together, forcing his mouth open and plunging her tongue in his warm cavern; she could feel his first reticence and so she battled with double force – she needed for him to not think and just let it go…

Her fingers reached for his hands and she intertwined their fingers together while grinding her hips with his, earning a throaty grunt from him, that made her smirk against the skin of his neck, where she was lapping and sucking until she was sure a mark was beginning to appear. "Shit, Gabi…"

Troy was loosing control; with the way Gabriella was behaving he knew his strength to refrain his primary actions would be useless in seconds if he didn't stop her. He wanted nothing more that to make love to her but he thought it would be too soon for Gabriella; they had just gotten together and he didn't want to break the magic with proposing for them to go to her house or his apartment and just let their bodies do the talk neither of them knew how to put into words…but not because he didn't desire her but because he didn't want to ruin what they had desiring her too much too soon.

His hands tried to break free from her grasp against his own better judgement; he wanted to caress her body, he needed to touch her, to feel her body trembling under his touch…but Gabriella wanted nothing of that for her hold on him was too tight and he was too far gone to be able to "fight". His lips reached for hers again and Gabriella obliged joining them in a forceful lip-lock that made their heads spin, moment he used to free his hands and press her body down, closer to his so each one of her curves touched his. His fingers ran up and down her sides, lingering where he knew the lowest part of her breasts was, testing how it felt to touch her more intimately.

It felt even better than he'd imagined.

"I need to touch you," he breathed rolling them again and hovering her body with his, his pulsating groin going directly over her heated one. His lips descended down her neck and a strangled grunt left his throat when she bucked her hips upwards. "Baby…"

The desire was too much.

The passion was too much.

The need for the other was too much.

And soon Gabriella realized that they both were in the same page but that Troy was restraining himself – his darkest than ever eyes told her he was trying to not loose the control that was slipping away, his desperate voice told her than he needed more than what they were doing…and what she could feel pocking into her intimate entrance told her he desired her the same way she desired him. Deciding to make things easier for him, Gabriella grabbed his face with her both hands and waited until his full of lust eyes connected with hers for, when they did, speak in a husky voice she hoped would convince him for good. "I love you, Troy…and I need you," she stopped and took a deep breath watching how his eyes became darker and how his breath became even more laboured. "Make love to me."

That was all it took for Troy to let go of the tiny control that was still in his system and just let his body talk…showing Gabriella how much he loved her, how much he cared for her, how much he desired her…and how much he just needed her.

---

Thinking about it again made Gabriella blush; she still a hard time believing they had had sex at the isolated beach they had gone to for their very first date because their homes were too far and they were too gone for be able to think clearly. The passion that night had overcome their senses in a animalistic way that had astonished them both; the way they'd moved together, the way both had reached their peeks together while looking into the other's eyes, the way both had felt fireworks explode inside of them when their union had become total…and just the way the other's love had reached its maximum level, were enough for Gabriella to know that that experience may had been too risky but totally worthy at the same time.

A belief that turned into wholly convincement when they went to his apartment to spend the night just cuddled together, bare, with their legs tangled together and simply with the feeling of pure contentment overcoming them.

"And Bolton scores again!"

Hearing her husband's name, Gabriella snapped out of her daydreaming state and rushed to look out for him, knowing he would look at her. After relieving that first night together, the blush on her cheeks whenever he pointed at her while having his other hand over his heart just got more intense and when she saw how he lifted one of his eyebrows she knew he'd noticed the difference in her. Knowing they couldn't talk and that he wouldn't understand her mouthing anything, Gabriella just nodded once with a smile on her face and with her right hand on she knew her heart was.

She knew that would tell him that everything was okay and that they would talk later.

"Hey Gabs," Jack spoke from Gabriella's left and she turned her head to look at him. "What's with you tonight? You're usually focused in the game but…I've been looking at you and I'd say you haven't seen anything at all but Troy when he looks at you after each one of his baskets."

She shrugged not feeling like telling her father in law what she was thinking about and soon winced when Lucille's chirpy voice arrived at her ears too. "He's right, sweetie…are you sure you're feeling okay?"

"I'm okay," Gabriella smiled, touched by their concern. "I have my mind elsewhere but…I'm more than okay, I promise." Both Jack and Lucille shared a look that Gabriella knew meant neither of them believed her. "I swear I'm okay…but I have some things in my mind…"

Jack and Lucille Bolton knew Gabriella as if she was their daughter and both knew that, whatever was bothering Gabriella, would be known by Troy once she put in order her thoughts, which calmed them down a little – the last thing they wanted was for Gabriella to go back to her shell like she did when her mother died. Plus, they both knew very well to not push her if she didn't feel like talking…

"If you're sure…"

Lucille was the one who spoke and Gabriella couldn't help but grin and lean over her mother in law and kiss her cheek. "I'm more than sure." Lucille smiled and nodded and soon they focused again on the game…well, both Jack and Lucille did because Gabriella's mind drifted away from the present time and back to the old memories she had of her relationship with Troy.

Suddenly, a masculine voice came from her right side and Gabriella's head snapped up to meet an old man she's known for about three years, the man who not only helped Troy to enter again in the business but also Gabriella herself when she entered in that same world for the very first time.

"Hey there, Gabriella," he said while sitting beside her. "Amazing game you're husband is playing, uh?"

"Hey Michael," she answered leaning up to kiss his cheek. "I guess you can say that again." She grinned.

"I've seen you before the game talking with some journalists," he continued. "I'm still having a hard time seeing you talk to the press with the easiness with which you were talking…if I remember how you were the night before the first Annual Gala my Association did three years ago."

Gabriella blushed. "I know," she said turning to look at the court where she caught her husband's eyes and giggled quietly when she saw his wink. "But…Troy has helped me a lot…and well…you and Leonora also helped me as well. I guess I'm already used to that…craziness, I guess you could say, with having gone with Troy with so many different events by now…"

Michael nodded and then both fell silent remembering what happened three years ago…

---

"Gabriella!" Lucille hugged the girl she loved as if she was her daughter tightly into her chest. "How have you been? It's been years!"

Gabriella giggled and rolled her eyes at the exaggeration. "Hardly, we saw each other yesterday…and the day before that, and the week before…" she pulled away from the older woman trying to joke but feeling incapable to do so when she saw the same blue eyes Troy had. "I kinda need to talk to you, though…I need advice but I didn't want for Troy and Jack to know it…"

"Hey, what's wrong?" Lucille became concerned just hearing the desperate edge Gabriella's voice had. "And how come you don't want Troy know something is bothering you? You were glued at the hip before you got together but now that you're almost living together…"

"That's one of the reasons because of I haven't been able to talk to you sooner," Gabriella sighed and walked directly into the living room of the Bolton's household, sitting on a sofa and waiting for Lucille to imitate her, which she did sitting just beside her. "Troy knows something is off with me but I can't talk to him about it…not unless I have it figured out in my head first, but we're almost together every day."

"Gabriella you're worrying me," Lucille said softly. "Have you argued with him?" When Gabriella was about to answer Lucille eyes widened and her hands flew to her mouth. "You haven't broken up with him, have you?"

The younger woman's eyes widened in shock too at the blunt question that had just left Lucille's mouth. "Of course not!"

"Then?" Lucille pressed impatiently.

"The night we got together," Gabriella began softly, "he asked me to go with him to the annual Gala of the Sports 4 Fun Association, but…I don't know what to do…"

A soft smile appeared on Lucille's face at what Gabriella had just told her – she sure didn't know all the things that had happened that night, she just knew the basics (Troy and Gabriella were in love and together) but from what she'd observed and both had just randomly commented to her, she could guess that a lot of other very important things had happened. "You know Troy wouldn't force you to go, right?"

"I know," Gabriella sighed and leaned her head down on her knees. "I know he wants me there…but…the Gala is held in Los Angeles, press will be there and that same press will go wild and crazy when they see him there…and I just…I mean…what the hell I'm supposed to do there? I don't know how to behave with them, I don't know what to say or what to do…I wouldn't even know what I'm supposed to act like…"

"Gabriella breathe," Lucille grabbed Gabriella's upper arms and shook her knowing she was going into hysterics. "Hey, hey, hey…calm down," she said softly locking her eyes with Gabriella's. "You know what you're saying doesn't make any sense; you know how to behave and you know how to keep a mature conversation and everything you need to know to feel at ease there. The thing is if you want to be there or not."

"I want to be there for him," Gabriella answered. "Yet I don't want to be in front of that press and…with the world once was his surrounding me. I'm scared of what's going to happen and…and I don't want Troy feeling bad there because I'm stupid. That's part of him…and I know that now he says he's nervous but…I also know he loves to be under the spotlight from time to time…it's like he hasn't lost his thing with his past, you know?"

"Gabi," Lucille said softly. "Of course Troy loves to be in a place full of other players, of famous people and of beautiful people…but he loves you more. What I mean is that Troy is still going to be there when that Gala ends…"

"I know he won't go back to his old-self," Gabriella said embarrassed she'd made Lucille think she didn't trust Troy. "I didn't mean that, sorry…what I'm saying is that I don't want to spoil his fun there being uncomfortable and just…"

"Just with you by his side he'll be more than happy, Gabi, you know that," the older woman wrapped one of her arms around Gabriella's shoulders and squeezed her. "He wants to share with you this part of his life, this part of who he is…this part that made him value you and the reality you give to him even more. He's been going to events with press but not once you've freaked out like that…what has this one that has you this scared?"

"Is in LA, full of stars, full of gossip mags digging and creating rumours, models, celebrities…"

"Are you really worrying about that?" The incredulous voice that left Lucille's mouth made Gabriella wince. "Gabi, Troy loves you and he could never…"

Aware that she'd made the wrong impression again, Gabriella groaned. "I know he loves me, and I wasn't implying that I'm afraid he would cheat on me or leave me for a model or whatever…"

Lucille rubbed her forehead in frustration. "I swear I thought I could read you like a book but I'm completely lost now."

"What if while being there he discovers that I'm not what he wants," she whispered lowly, and just before Lucille could argue that back, she continued, "what I mean is, what if Troy realizes that I can't fit into that world? That what I can give him not even gets close to what any other woman could give him…that I'm only going to bring him down…"

The tears that had been threatening to fall since the date day and she'd been strong enough to keep just for herself fell then with full force making her body tremble in sobs. "I don't want to loose him…"

Lucille gasped at the sight she had in front of her and, without thinking, she pulled Gabriella into her chest and hugged her tightly, her own tears invading her eyes when she realized that the thing there was that Gabriella didn't want to be a burden in Troy's life, that she though so little of herself that she was scared that she wouldn't be able to be with Troy, to help him, the same way he'd helped her…when actually thanks to Gabriella the genuine Troy was back. Lucille knew that what Gabriella had done for Troy was much more than what many other people had sworn had done…yet the girl, the once confident girl, felt hopelessly scared because she didn't want to loose the source of the most precious feeling she'd ever felt – love.

----------

When silence invaded her living room, Lucille looked down at her son's girlfriend and realized she'd fell asleep with a disturbed face that made her heart break. With a sad sigh, Lucille lowered Gabriella's body until she was lying on the sofa, placing a kiss on her forehead and going to the kitchen to grab the phone. She needed to call Troy. She didn't want to impose her opinion over the couple's, but she knew he was the only one who could really help Gabriella and could really make her feel at peace again.

Clearing her throat, Lucille wiped the silent tears that were falling from her eyes and dialled her son's number, grabbing the item with so much force her knuckles were white.

He picked up at the second ring. "Hey mom!"

"Can you come over?" Lucille asked in a soft voice.

"Mom?" Troy asked, worry lacing his voice by then. "What's wrong?"

"Gabriella is here and…"

"What?" Troy asked confusedly. "But she's told me she had to go and run some errands for the club…"

"She's lied to you, son," Lucille shook her head. "She needed to talk to me but she didn't want for you to know that but…I don't mind to break her trust now because she needs you though she doesn't want to admit it."

"You're worrying me, mom," Troy muttered into the phone already grabbing his keys and his wallet. "What's happened?"

"Look, I don't want to talk about that over the phone, come here and…well, she's sleeping now, so once she wakes up you'll be able to talk to her," the tone she used was definitive and Troy knew better than argue with her.

"I'll be there in ten," he hung up and rushed for his car, slamming the door and trying to focus in the driving – he wanted and needed to see Gabriella, to know what the hell had happened to her…but he also knew that if he killed himself while going there he wouldn't be able to be there for her the way he wanted.

----------

Arriving at his parents' house, Troy left the car in the driveway and, not even locking it, he went directly to the front door of the house, which sprung open before he could reach the handle. "Where is she?"

"Living room," Lucille muttered, but before he could go there she grabbed his arm. "Let's go to the kitchen first so I can explain to you what's happened…"

Troy nodded silently wincing when he saw the sadness written in Gabriella's face though she was sleeping. "Okay…"

It pained him to see her sad and more with not knowing what had made her be that way, but he knew that, in order to help her, he needed to know some details because if on Gabriella depended, he wouldn't know the whole story at all with the excuse she didn't want to worry him.

Sitting in the kitchen's table, Troy sighed and rubbed tiredly his face. "What's happened, mom?"

"She's come over looking for…advice," Lucille began slowly. "She's…worried about that Sports 4 Fun gala you invited her to go to…"

Troy sighed. "I'm still waiting for her answer."

"She's afraid," Lucille interjected flatly.

"Afraid?" Troy was genuinely shocked. "Of what? Don't tell me she thinks I'm going to go back to the way I was before I came here…no mom, don't tell me she's thinking that!"

"Don't panic," Lucille sat beside her son and wrapped her arm around his tense shoulders. "She trusts you and she's not scared you're going to cheat on her or whatever if you go there…what scares her is…"

"Is what, mom?" Troy begged in desperation.

"To bring you down, to make you look like a fool, to just…she's afraid you're going to think she doesn't fit in your world, that you're going to realize you could do better…"

"What?" He said incredulously. "What the hell has that come from?"

"I have a guess about it but I don't know the whole story because she's begun to cry and then she's fallen asleep, and actually is not my place to tell you, it's hers," Lucille explained, the pain evident in her voice. "That's why I've called you…so you can talk to her and put some sense into her…"

Troy rubbed his face tiredly. He couldn't believe Gabriella really thought about her being the reason of him going down…hell, he couldn't understand why someone as perfect as her would even think about it in the first place! He needed to talk to her, and he needed it badly; though it was a pill hard to swallow, the truth is that it explained the pain and the fear he'd been able to read into her eyes those past few days…yet he hadn't been able to make her open up to him and explain to him which her worries and fears were.

"I need to talk to her," he said resolutely looking directly into his mother's eyes. "I can't believe she thinks so low about herself…but what bothers me is that she thinks I'm going to dump her if she doesn't "fit" or whatever word she's used when if I'm alive now is thanks to her."

"Don't get mad at her, Troy," Lucille said softly. "She doesn't doubt about you or your love for her, not at all, her fear is that whatever she can give you is not enough for her to keep you by her side…"

"That's it," Troy said waving his hand in front of him as if that proved his point. "I can't imagine myself without her…hell, I don't want to even imagine what would be to not have her beside me. At this point, mom, I know I want her…I know I need her…I know I love her…"

His last words, he realized, hit home when he saw the quick change in his mother's face, though he couldn't understand why…which confused him even more. "Argh, I need to talk to her…"

"Your father will be home late tonight," Lucille said softly while rubbing her son's back up and down in what she hoped was a soothing caress. "What about if you bring Gabriella to your old room and stay there with her so you can have some privacy when she wakes up…knowing her, she will freak out if she wakes up and sees all of us surrounding her…"

"You're right," Troy nodded. "Thank you, mom…"

His words were accompanied by the movement of his body to get closer to hers so he could wrap his arms tightly around her in a hug that meant to not only thank her but also take from her some strength to talk to Gabriella. Pulling away, Troy sighed and went to the living room leaving his mother in the kitchen; slowly, he walked towards the sofa and placed one of his hands under Gabriella's back while the other went under her knees, wincing when she whimpered when he lifted her. Stopping dead in his tracks, Troy sighed in relief when she just cuddled closer to his chest but didn't wake; he planted a soft kiss on her temple and then carried her bridal style towards his old room, where he lowered her body until it touched the mattress climbing after her so she didn't loose the heat coming from him. Wrapping an arm around her, he pulled her closer to him and then moved the sheets when she shivered so they covered them.

His arms were tight around her and he hoped, he just hoped, that would help her to find relief and safety in whatever place her mind was.

----------

Two hours passed; two long hours he'd been staring at her and caressing her face with his thumb the same way he did when they went to the beach for that first date…until she stirred and scrunched her nose up when his thumb tickled her skin there. His hand froze then; he knew she was waking up and so he stopped all his movement and locked his open eyes with her closed ones wanting and needing for her to see him there before anything more was said or happened.

Like he thought, Gabriella opened her eyes slowly and then blinked when she saw him looking at her with concern written all over his face. Her eyes, when she registered that Troy was actually lying beside her, widened and a gasp escaped from her mouth. "What's happened?" She whispered quietly – the last thing she remembered was to break down in front of Lucille at the Bolton's household.

"Mom's called me," he said lowly. "She's told me what's happened and then she's told me to come over because we needed to talk."

Gabriella's eyes lowered away from his when she read the hurt in his. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be," he sighed pulling her into his chest and hugging her for dear life. "I need to know what's wrong with you, baby, I can't stand to see you cry…and I definitely can't stand to know you're hurting or sad or…just feeling bad and I don't know how to help you…"

"I'm scared," she muttered, tears running down her cheeks again.

Troy tightened his hold on her and kissed her hair – he had to remain strong so he could help her…he couldn't break down though that was what he, what his body, needed to do. "Of what, baby?"

The tightness in his voice was unmistakeable yet Gabriella didn't pick on it too focused as she was in inhale the scent that was his, in feel his arms tight around her. "I…god, that's so difficult," she hiccupped looking at him, a hidden beg, a hidden plea in her eyes for him to take the pain away from her.

He leaned down and kissed her lips softly. "Baby, you can do it, I know you can…"

"I don't know how to start," she said sniffing.

"What about if you start from the very beginning?" He offered softly. "Try to explain that to me…but as if I was someone who is not as closer to you as I am."

She looked up to him and then lifted her hand, placing it on his cheek, smiling unstoppably when he leaned into her touch. "I love you so much, Troy."

"I love you too," he kissed her hand and then rubbed her back softly. "Come on, take a deep breath and begin from the very beginning…"

"Okay," she said while inhaling deeply, noticing her lungs fill with air that then she blew slowly. "You remember when you…when you asked me to go with you to the Gala?"

Her voice was low, shy, and for Troy it seemed he had hidden a fear of him getting mad. Trying to reassure her but not wanting to disturb her or put her focus away from the topic they had in hands, Troy nodded pulling a curl away from her face and behind her ear.

"Well since then…I've been thinking about it," Gabriella said burying her face in his chest and trying to be as closer to him as she could. "I wanted to give you an answer but…each new day I thought about it…the nerves and the fear increased…"

Her voice drifted off and Troy froze the hand of his that was caressing her back. "What has you afraid, baby?"

Gabriella only registered his tight voice then and couldn't help but feel her insides burn in regret at making him suffer over something the only one to blame for was her. She needed to reassure him that he hadn't done anything to make her be afraid; she needed for him to know that all the problems were in her because of her…not because of him. "First…I need to tell you that I love you…and that I know you love me so much, okay? Don't ever think I'm doubting about you…or about what we have because that's not the thing," her head lifted from its hidden place and she looked at him, her voice shivering in the end of her speech and she closed her eyes willing herself to breath. "Los Angeles is a foreign territory for me, Troy…and…and that territory was your home, your world some months ago, I mean…you know what it's like, how it is…but me…I don't have any idea but what I've read or seen about it on the television…"

Not having any clue or idea of what he was supposed to say, Troy decided to remain silent and wait for the rest of the story.

Gabriella sighed and then looked at some point behind Troy, avoiding to meet his eyes. "I'm not afraid of going there and find that there are a bunch of incredible women throwing themselves at you, and I'm not afraid you're going to dump me or cheat on me with one of them, either. I'm not afraid of you turning back to your old self because I know you've grown up and you've realized about which your mistakes back then were…what has me afraid, though, is that…you'll realize that the celebrities world is not for me, that I don't fit there, that I can only make you look like a looser or whatever…"

The way she talked while not looking directly into his eyes told Troy that there was more in the story that she was keeping hidden. Knowing Gabriella the way he did, he knew that she would try and hide them even further inside of her if he didn't face her over it, so he cleared his throat. "You know that's stupid," he argued back not mad but not happy, either, "now tell me the real thing that has you afraid."

She winced; closing her eyes when she realized he knew her too much for her to be able to lie, she tried to regulate her breath again. "I don't want to loose you…"

Her voice broke then and sobs erupted from her throat making her whole body tremble. Scared by the power of those sobs, Troy pulled her as closer to him as he could and peppered kisses on her hair. "You're not going to loose me, baby, I love you…I need you so much…god, I can't imagine my life without you in it, Gabi…I swear…I…you've taught me what it was to love, to feel loved and…" Startled when her sobs got even louder at his words, Troy gripped her upper arms and pulled her away from him. "Baby?"

She was shaking her head and fighting back so she could bury herself in him again.

But Troy wouldn't let her.

"No Gabi," he said forcefully. "You need to tell me what's put you in that state…and you need to tell me the truth so we can work on it together. It's just me; stop all those excuses and just let me know what's happening…"

Nothing.

He sighed and let her cry with her face buried into his chest knowing that being so distraught it was impossible for him to get the facts straight.

Another ten minutes passed and Gabriella's sobs subsided. "You've taught to me what to love was and what it was to feel loved, Troy…" She gasped, her voice raspy from all the crying she'd done in such short period of time. "Since my mom died…I love your parents like they were mine, I love Chad, Taylor, Sam, Sophie…but…the kind of love I feel for you is huger than all that. What you make me feel…the safety and the comfort, the peace and the care, the feeling of having someone 24/7 beside me and not feeling loneliness overcoming me…reminds me of what my mom made me feel and…I can't loose that again…not when I've just gotten it back thanks to you…I just…I just can't…"

"God baby," Troy said crushing her into him. "How come you've never told me that?"

"I didn't want to pressure you in being with me," she admitted lowly.

Troy kissed her neck then. "I'm with you because I want to be with you, and you won't loose my love…me, because I don't want…because I can't loose you, either. Not a model, an actress, fame, popularity or all the money in the world can compare with how you make me feel, with what you make me feel…and yeah, I love all that same people you've mentioned but you, you Gabriella, are the only thing that allows me to look my life and feel happy. I don't need anything more if I have you beside me…and nothing, absolutely nothing, can make me think differently."

His words were vehement; his voice sure; his eyes the proof he was being totally sincere…and Gabriella leaned up and kissed him not really knowing what to say but needing to show him somehow her appreciation at his words. He returned the kiss with equal fervour and rolled them so he hovered her body with his, deepening the kiss then and trying to pull himself as closer to her as he could. She moaned into the kiss when she felt his arousal poking into her thigh and he pulled away – they couldn't get carried away until everything was talked and the both of them felt happy and sure again. "As much as I'd like to continue that, we need to end that talk first, baby…" Her whimper made him smile and he pecked her luscious lips once more before falling flat onto his back again pulling her on him.

"What if…?" She proved again.

"Stop," Troy ordered. "Nothing and no one is going to make me see things differently. I want you there with me but there's no way I want you there feeling like crap; you're more important than all the things I can find in that Gala, Gabi, and I don't care about anything but you…so don't feel pressured by what I want. I promise you that you won't loose me, ever, even if you break up with me because I need you so damn much in my life, I don't want to just imagine what would be to not be able to see you, to talk to you…"

"I want to be there for you, Troy," Gabriella whispered into his chest. "I really do…but I don't want to…"

"Nothing," Troy interrupted her again. "Nothing you say and nothing you do are going to either make me look like a fool nor bring me down nor make me look bad nor make me question if I should be with you or not. And do you want to know how I know that?"

"Why?"

He smiled at the curiosity perched in her voice. "Because I know you're an amazing, strong, confident, extremely gorgeous, sexy as hell, intelligent, well behaved, mature, responsible…in a word, perfect. You couldn't make me look bad or like a fool or whatever even if you tried because you're too damn cute, too damn perfect for that. If anything, the one who's going to look out of place will be me because I haven't walked a red carpet in a while, because I haven't interacted with other celebrities in a while…and because I was a jerk back then. Now I have you, and I'd feel more than honoured, more than pleased, more than proud and mostly more than fortunate if you decide to come with me. Selfishly, I want to be there…I want to show them that Troy Bolton hasn't died and that he's changed for good…and I want to let them know that you're the one who's changed me, that you're the most precious thing I have in my world now…that you're the oxygen my lungs need, that you're the thing that keeps my heart beating…but only if you're convinced about coming with me."

"I want to come," she said lowly and with shyness. "I want to be there for you…but promise me that if I mess up, that if things go wrong because of me…we'll talk before you decide whatever you decide, okay?"

"Sure, promised." He said nonchalantly. "But just knew that you're not going to mess up and that, if anything, I'm going to decide to just ask you to go to a vacation with me."

She giggled and his heart swelled with pride and happiness at the sound. "I love you, Troy…"

"Love you too, baby," he muttered against her lips while rubbing their noses together, joining their lips afterwards in a passionate kiss that showed exactly how much they loved each other.

----------

"Troy, are you sure I look okay?"

Troy sighed when she heard Gabriella's anxious voice. "Baby," he said grabbing her hand and interlocking their fingers together. "I've already told you that you don't have to worry about anything; we're only going to have dinner with Michael and his wife…at his house. No press, no fans, nothing but we four having a nice and quiet dinner together."

"I know but…I…" Gabriella bit her lip. "God, I know but I guess I'm nervous about tomorrow too…"

The couple had just arrived to Los Angeles some hours ago and at the moment they were going to Michael Green's house, who'd invited them to have a quiet dinner so the Gala scheduled for the next evening wasn't as awkward as it'd probably be if Troy and Gabriella stepped into the crazy world all of a sudden. Troy called him one month ago telling him he'd be there…along with his girlfriend, a person who wasn't used to the celebrities' world; Michael talked with his wife and she thought about having them both for dinner before the Gala so Gabriella knew someone other than Troy there and also because that would be like a first step into the madness…something she'd have liked when she met Michael 20 years ago and then he became famous, finding herself in a turmoil of fame, paparazzis, gossip, rumours and everything in between.

"We're, here," the driver said starting the couple.

"Ready, babe?" Troy asked softly pecking Gabriella's lips.

"Not really," she answered, her voice trembling a little but willing herself to smile. "But I guess I won't ever be…"

"That's my girl," he grinned when he read the defeat in Gabriella's eyes yet the love she felt for him helping her to feel strong. "I love you so much, okay?"

"I love you too," Gabriella answered wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling herself closer to him. "Thanks for helping me…"

"Thanks for being here," Troy said returning the hug with equal force. "Come on, let's go…"

Stepping out of the car, both Troy and Gabriella were greeted by Michael and his wife, Leonora, who welcomed them warmly with hugs and wide smiles, making the both of them to feel easiness and calm washing over them.

"So, Troy," Michael said when they were in the living room after enjoying the dinner Leonora had prepared. "Nervous about tomorrow?"

Troy glanced and Gabriella, who squeezed his fingers softly and gave him a smile. "Frankly, I am." Troy sighed. "I don't know, I guess I've forgotten what is like to have press following each one of your moves, paps asking you question non-stop…and doesn't help the fact that I was a jerk myself when I was under the spotlight and that loads of people hated me by then."

Michael looked at him sympathetically. "Hey, I've been there too," he said softly turning to look at his wife. "But…well, what counts is the change you've done, your will to be a better person, each one of the events you've organized for the children and for people with less opportunities than yours…and I'm sure everyone has been able to see that change."

"I guess," Troy said shrugging his shoulders. "But that doesn't mean that the fear disappears. I know I've changed, and I can finally say that I'm more than happy with how my life is now; I have my real friends back, my family has my back 100%, I have Gabriella with me…"

His voice drifted off while he looked at his girlfriend and she leaned to connect her lips with his cheek in a soft kiss. "Everything is going to be okay tomorrow…and everyone will see how you're a better person now, how you care about the others, how you try and help the ones who are not as fortunate as you are…"

"She's right, you know?" Leonora said. "I'm not going to say Michael was a jerk back then because he wasn't, but he had fame and popularity maybe too deeply inside of him…caring too much about what the others, the ones who didn't matter, thought about him…and then his injury happened."

Gabriella felt Troy's hold tightening and she moved lightly so her side touched his, showing him her support. "Can I ask what happened?" Gabriella blushed. "I'm not too into sports and…well, I guess my knowledge of the history of basketball is the minimal…"

Leonora giggled and both men relaxed. "Hey, I'm still like you! I don't mind sports, I was a freaky math girl back in high school and the clumsiest one, may I add, but I love what the Association does, the smiles on the children's faces, the joy athletes who have to leave the sport they love because they can't play anymore feel once they bring their shoulders for other people to rely on…it's not about the sport but about the final goal we all have here – make the others happy. We use sport because we think that is something that join people's hearts, that is something that let people interact, that let people have fun forgetting their worries for a while…"

"And I can assure you your job is incredible," Troy interjected. "I'm more than honoured to be a part of that now…"

Michael laughed. "Hey now, don't get all emotional on us, Troy!" Then he turned to Gabriella. "I was in a car accident. A drunk driver bump into me and…well, I broke my arm very badly. I needed three surgeries and I'm not 100% recovered…well, I won't be, ever, but…I can still play once in a while…I mean, I can use my arm, but I can overuse it."

"I'm sorry to hear that," Gabriella said softly.

"Don't be," Michael waved his hand carelessly. "I'm happier now. Though I wasn't a jerk like Leonora says, I was a pretty self centred person, I mean…I was too absorbed with who I was and the fame I had and everything that I forgotten what it was to love, to laugh, to play just because I wanted to play…I mean…I forgotten what life was, and since that accident…I see things more clearly – now I don't care about anything but my family, but in help the others…and to know that I make people happy is the best reward I can have for. It sucked big time when it happened…but now I'm thankful because it was the most eye-opening thing that could have happened to me…and I'm sure that Troy will understand that some time in the future."

Troy gave the man a sad smile. "He already understands, Michael," he sighed. "Now I have things I've never dreamed of…and I wouldn't change my present life for anything…not even all the money, all the fame a person could have. I'm more than happy coaching little boys and teaching them not only how to play basketball but also how to love life; I have real friends and real family behind me…and I have the love of the woman I love. I wouldn't change anything now, absolutely anything."

Michael nodded. "I thought so…and that's the reason why I wrote you that letter."

The mood relaxed somehow after that, the four of them thinking about each thing that had been said.

"What are you going to wear, Gabi?" Leonora asked randomly in a pitchy voice, making the four adults to laugh, joke and talk normally again.

----------

"Wow!" Gabriella said really shocked when she saw the huge amount of people that were waiting for them where she knew the red carpet was. Suddenly, she felt Troy's fingers tightening around hers and she knew how nervous he was when she saw his stiffened pose, his locked jaw and his eyes becoming grey. "You okay, baby?" He nodded silently though his eyes told her differently. "Hey," she cooed kissing his jaw. "We're together in that okay? You can't shut me out now…it's okay to be nervous, but…just admit it to me so we can lean on each other and help each other…"

Troy smiled thankfully at her words. He couldn't believe he was about to go back to the hell he escaped from some months ago, nor that Gabriella would be by his side when he decided to go back…but he knew that whatever lucky star that was shining for him was helping him to have the best of his past life keeping his present (and way better) life untouched. "I know I wouldn't be able to be here if not because you're with me."

She smiled as well. "I'm where I want to be," she kissed his jaw again. "Just promise me you're not going to leave me alone there," she pleaded softly. "I know you're going to see people you know and…gorgeous people but…just…don't leave me back, please? I'm also nervous…"

Troy's free hand reached up and caressed her cheek, smiling warmly when she leaned into his touch. "I'm going to be beside you all night," Troy promised. "And…well, let me tell you one secret – the thing that helped me the most when I was about to walk a red carpet…was to just shut everything out and just be there, not really seeing anything or hearing anything."

"I can't do that!" Gabriella said blushing. "Only seeing that amount of cameras snapping pictures like crazy is making me feel ill," she whispered.

"I promise you I'm going to make you forget where you are," Troy said, a twinkle in his eyes that told Gabriella that his mind had a plan.

She narrowed her eyes. "What are you going to do?"

"You'll see…"

The car stopped then and Troy leaned in for a quick kiss. "I won't be able to do that for a while," he said grinning when he saw the dreamy face of Gabriella…

…and then the door was opened.

Stepping out of the car, Troy took a deep breath when the flashes and the screams began. He turned around and reached his hand to help Gabriella, whose breath itched in her throat when she saw all the cameras directed towards them. Troy saw her frozen state and leaned into her ear. "You look extremely gorgeous…I love you…"

His words were accompanied by a soft kiss under her ear and she felt her muscles relaxing. She squeezed his hand once and then looked at him. "I love you too…"

Slowly, the couple walked towards the red carpet; Troy's arm was tight around her waist and Gabriella relaxed feeling his warmness just by her side. The shouts were crazy and Gabriella couldn't comprehend a word the paps were saying; she felt unconscious knowing all the people that were looking at her, inspecting her dress, analyzing each one of her movements…and then she felt Troy's hand moving up and down her side, reassuring her that he was there. He then stopped and Gabriella looked at him with a questioning look; leaning down into her ear, Troy spoke. "Let me see your beautiful smile, baby…"

The softness with which he was talking melted her insides…and she smiled looking at him. The flashes went crazy then but both Troy and Gabriella were in their little world away from everyone. Randomly, Troy would move the hand of his that was around her waist, would whisper some words into her ear, would look at her as if he was seeing his world…and everything but he became blurred.

"I love red on you," he whispered with a mischievous smile knowing that she would blush at the compliment. "Is everything red there?"

A soft gasp escaped from her throat and she turned her face hiding it in his shoulder making him laugh. "I can't believe you've just said that," she muttered embarrassed looking at him with a playful glare when she recovered. "And move your hand, you jerk, you're almost touching my ass and that won't look good…"

"I think my hand is in the most perfect place, thank you very much," he winked at her and she couldn't help but smile at his goofiness. "I really love the dress, by the way…"

"Thank you," she said looking up to him…and then deciding that the two of them could play that game. "I think you'll like better what is under the dress, though…"

His eyes roamed up and down her body appreciating the view. The red, a perfect long bright red gown hugged her curves, the curves he knew by heart now, in the perfect places making her look like a goddess; she hadn't let him see the dress until she's stepped outside of the bathroom in their hotel room and he'd been speechless. He knew how incredible she looked in red – heck, he thought he'd died and that an angel dressed in red was his saviour the day of their first date – but this time Gabriella had really raised the bar; the dress not only was gorgeous, elegant and classy but also sexy – the bare back was the most tempting thing he could think of at the moment and the cleavage it showed was enough for the male population to drool…with only him really knowing what it hided.

It was perfect.

She was perfect.

They continued to tease each other while walking along the red carpet with Troy stopping randomly so paps could take the pics they wanted but neither him or Gabriella paid attention to what they said because they were too busy with each other to notice anything but the other. He knew Gabriella was more relaxed and he thanked the heavens that the idea of tease her, of make her forget where she was, had come to him while watching her sleep the night before; her smile was sincere, the mischievous glint of her eyes was sexy, her body language showed totally trust in him…and he couldn't be happier.

And then the red carpet was over.

"Wow," Gabriella breathed once they entered in the Salon and a waitress accompanied them towards their table. "I can't believe it's already over…"

"Why not?" Troy teased. "Eager to face them again?"

"Of course not," Gabriella giggled slapping his chest. "Is just that…I don't know, I haven't been aware of where we were…I mean…I've kinda forgotten each one of our movements was being pictured."

"That was the idea," Troy winked at her while he helped her to sit down on her chair. "I thought that put your mind away from them would help you."

She leaned in and pecked his lips softly. "It did, thank you."

Other couples began to fill the table and soon both Troy and Gabriella found themselves having easy conversations with other young people; Gabriella was more than pleased when she realized she actually had more than one thing in common with the other girls, and soon she saw herself interchanging phone numbers and joking about anything and everything while the boys talked about sports and whatnot.

Troy kept his promise and only left her side to go to the bathroom, keeping physical contact the rest of the time. If his hand wasn't on her thigh, his arm was around her chair, which helped Gabriella immensely.

"Hey Troy," she said when the dessert was about to be served.

Troy turned to look at her with a smile on his face. "What's up, gorgeous?"

She smiled but her smile faded. "Don't you think the press will be mad that you haven't answered any questions out there?" She bit her lip nervously. "You've been too focused in me and…you've kinda ignored them…"

He nodded. "Those were gossip magazines, babe, sports' press doesn't care about the red carpet. I'm not going to let anyone come into us, and to answer those personal questions would only mean for me to sell you, which I won't do, ever. You're way too important, and what we have is so special I wouldn't dare to do anything that could jeopardize it. No one needs to know who you are, if you're my girlfriend or not or how we met – that's only something that concerns me and you. I'm going to answer the questions that are about me as a basketball player, not about Troy Bolton the man. And that sports' press know they're going to be inside and that they can see all of us and ask whatever they want here…"

"I understand," Gabriella answered. "But I thought you would talk to them some time…"

"I don't think so," Troy shook his head and reached for her hand, intertwining their fingers together. "My personal life, my real life, is only mine…well, and yours…well, you know what I mean; it's not their business. I'm going to protect that real life with my life if needed because I don't want to loose what makes me as happy as I am."

He kissed her hand and Gabriella smiled. "You're the best…"

"Because I've learned from the best one," he replied winking at her.

----------

"Ladies and gentlemen," Michael said standing up with his glass of champagne in his hands. "This year we are proud to announce that we have a new member of our Association – Troy Bolton!"

The murmurs that filled the salon when his name was announced made Troy to grab Gabriella's hand tighter. Everyone was then looking at them and Troy gulped while looking at Gabriella, who gave him a reassuring smile. "Go up there, big boy, I'm proud of you…"

Her whispered words relaxed him somehow. He leaned into her and pecked her lips, standing up and going to stand beside Michael afterwards, while the whole ballroom erupted in a warm applause that made him blush.

"Thank you, Michael," Troy said taking the microphone from the older man. "And thank you so much to all of you for that warm welcome. I'm proud to say that I'm a member of this beautiful project and that I'm going to do my best so the message we want for the rest of the world to know and our goal – to make the others happy – are completely reached. I want you all to know that I'm so very sorry for how I behaved before my injury happened; I was a jerk who lost all comprehension of what life…of what real life was, and I even forgot I was a basketball player because I loved the sport. In the end, everything was about to win, to be the best one…only to realize that I was alone when I needed real people, when I needed reality, around me. I went back to Alburquerque, my hometown, and there, I guess you can say, I was born again – to play is fun, to try to be better is fun…but we can't loose the perspective of that the sport we play and love…is just a sport. People, feelings and emotions are better than that and…once you know the real meaning of them you realize about your mistake and you fight everyday for keeping them with you. I promise you all that I won't let anyone of you down."

Those last words were spoken while Troy looked at Michael, who stood up again and hugged him. "That's been beautiful, Troy, congratulations!"

"Thank you," Troy nodded. "For the Sports 4 Fun Association!" Troy said into the microphone again while lifting his glass of champagne, smiling when everyone there echoed his toast.

"Okay everyone," Michael took the microphone from Troy and chuckled. "This is a party so…go mingle and have fun!"

Troy went back to his table and hurried his steps when he saw Gabriella standing up waiting for him, embracing her in a bone crushing hug that made her giggle. "You've been phenomenal, Troy…that's been beautiful…and real…"

Her words, the ones that mattered the most, made his heart soar in peace. "Thank you." He pulled away and, not minding that they were surrounded by people, kissed his girlfriend with all the emotion and love he could muster; it was a tender kiss, but a kiss that held a promise of what would be happening once they left the Gala. "Wanna dance?"

"Of course," Gabriella answered following his lead towards where all the couples were dancing slow songs, wrapping her arms around his neck while his did the same but around her waist, pulling her as closer as he could. Their bodies were pressed together and they talked about their impressions of everything in whispers, along with interchanging adoration words and sweet kisses that made them forget where they were but simply enjoy the others' company.

After some songs, Gabriella complained about her feet hurting due to the stilettos she was wearing and Troy took her hand and went to their table, where they talked with the couples that were also having a rest of dancing. While they were there, a few journalists approached them and interviewed Troy, along with Gabriella when he talked about her, in a relaxed way – not digging into their personal lives but only about what Troy had been doing since he left Los Angeles, about what he was working on, about which his plans were…and Troy answered relaxed and with no worry; Gabriella's hand was between his and he felt as if he was in one of those charity events they had attended during the time he'd been living in Alburquerque.

----------

"I'm tired," Gabriella whispered leaning her head into Troy's shoulder.

He kissed her temple. "I'm too, what about if we call it a night already and we go back to the hotel?"

"Only if that's what you want; tonight is your big night, baby, and I want you to enjoy yourself," Gabriella answered closing her eyes when his lips touched her temple again.

"I kinda want to be alone with you now," Troy admitted in a whisper. "I think I need some time now to…register everything that has happened…"

She lifted her head and looked into his eyes. "I love you."

"I love you too," he said against his lips before he stood up and helped her to stand up too.

Together, and walking hand in hand, both went to look for Michael and Leonora, thanking them the chance to be there, the dinner the night before and the incredible nice time they had spent while being in Los Angeles thanks to them. Both promised to visit each other some time again, the four of them feeling the start of a close friendship that would join them in the future.

---

"Oh, you know what?" Michael asked all of a sudden snapping Gabriella out of her reverie. "Leonora has asked me if you wanted to come over Los Angeles in two weeks. It's our 25th anniversary and she's organizing a party. We'd love to have you two there…"

"Sure," Gabriella said smiling at the older man she loved as if he was her uncle. "I'll talk to Troy."

"About what?"

Both Michael and Gabriella turned and saw Troy standing there with a special glint in his eyes and a grin that only appeared on his face whenever he was in front of Gabriella. He walked towards them and shook the older man hand, greeted his parents and then pecked his wife's lips, sitting then on the players' bench but keeping himself between Gabriella's legs.

"Next month we're going to their 25th anniversary's party, Troy," Gabriella said while she massaged her husband's shoulders.

"Yes ma'am," he saluted as if he was in the Army.

"Don't be such a dork!" She said slapping his chest. "No worries Michael, we'll be there and I'll make sure that jerk behaves…"

"Hey there!" Troy defended himself. "I've been playing hard and I'm tired! You can't be mean to me! I need tender loving care, baby…"

"Sure you do," she rolled her eyes jokingly and winked at Troy's parents and Michael, who were looking the playful banter with soft smiles on their faces.

"I'm going to my seat again, guys," Michael said. "I'll see you both next month. Gabi, expect a call from Leonora with all the details, okay?"

"Sure," Gabriella said returning the kiss the man had planted in her cheek.

"Good luck out there, Troy," he said patting the younger man's back.

Troy shook his hand. "Thank you!"

The players were called to re-start the game again then and Troy took a sip of his water, kissing Gabriella afterwards. "I need my lucky kiss," he said winking at her.

"Good luck, baby!"

The enthusiasm that everyone with eyes could read in Troy's face made Gabriella smile. She felt so lucky and so happy with her new life, that everything they'd gone through had been totally worthy.

Of course the path had been full of obstacles and bad moments, but together both Troy and Gabriella had overcome then, getting over them with their strong love and with the purity of their feelings for each other, like the time Jack, Lucille, Sophie, Chad, Taylor and even Sam got mad at them because they had gotten married in secret.

They hadn't thought about how their wedding would be, it just happened. They had gone to Las Vegas one year ago for vacation and, while being there and in a spur of the moment, they decided they wanted to get married. It hadn't been planned or calculated, but they had been talking about it for a while…deciding that there wasn't best moment than the present one.

When they returned to Alburquerque, they broke the news to everyone at once and to say they were all surprised would be the understatement of the century. In the end, though, and after explaining to them how things had gone, everyone congratulated them…with one condition – to do a proper party some time later so they could all celebrate.

It had been a good anecdote that whatever they thought about put a smile on their faces.

"Excuse me," someone said from Gabriella's right snapping her out of her reverie.

Turning her head, Gabriella was met with a little girl, who blushed furiously when Gabriella looked at her. "Hey sweetie," she greeted her. "What's your name?"

"Come on, Dora," the mom urged. "Weren't you so eager to talk to Gabriella just some minutes ago?"

The little girl, adorable if you asked Gabriella, hid her face between her mother's legs. "Excuse her, Mrs. Bolton, she just wanted an autograph and to take a picture of you both together…"

Gabriella couldn't help but feel warmness invading her heart. "Hey sweetie," she said with a soft smile on her face kneeling down so she was at the girl's level. "What's your name?"

"Dora," the girl said, her forehead still between her mother's legs but her face sided somehow so Gabriella could see her face.

"Oh, that's a very pretty name!" Gabriella giggled at the blush on the little girl's cheeks. "So what's up, Dora? Your mom says you want an autograph, is that right?" The girl nodded and Gabriella imitated her. "Okay then, what about if you let me hear more of that cute voice of yours and ask yourself for it?"

The girl turned her face shyly and the mother sighed. "Dora, come on…you've always wanted to meet Gabriella…she's talking to you now, and she says that if you yourself ask for her autograph she's going to give it to you…"

Gabriella sat back on her seat and patted her lap. "Come on Dora, let me tell you one secret…"

That took the girl's curiosity, who looked confused at Gabriella and widened her eyes when she saw Gabriella meant she had to sit on her lap. "Can I, mom?"

"Of course, sweetie," the mother answered giving Gabriella a grateful smile and pushing her daughter a little so Gabriella could pick her up and sat her on her lap. "Okay Dora, are you comfortable now?"

"Yes," the girl said lowly, her shyness quite evident for Gabriella who couldn't help but smile and melt her insides.

"I'm going to tell you a secret, but you have to promise me you won't repeat what I say, never, uh!? It'll be our little secret…" Gabriella talked seriously and the girl widened her eyes in surprise, shock and adoration. "Do you promise me I can trust you?"

The girl nodded her head vigorously. "I promise!"

Jack and Lucille, who'd been watching the adorable scene laughed too and Gabriella turned around to glare at them. "See Dora, those are Troy's parents, Jack and Lucille. Tell them hi, come on…"

"Hi," the little girl said politely but without any hint of her nerves that time. "How are you?"

"Aw, she's adorable!" Lucille squealed. "Dora, you're really a very beautiful girl, uh? And very polite too…it's a huge pleasure to meet you," she said taking the girl's hand and shaking it softly. "What about you?"

"Sitting on Gabriella's lap," the girl answered quickly covering her mouth with her both hands, shocked at her blunt forwardness but blushing when all the adults around her laughed.

The mother shook her head. "Dora…"

"It's okay," Gabriella interrupted her with a smile. "I think she's the most adorable little girl I've ever seen…"

"Really?" Dora asked with a wide smile on her face. "Mommy, Gabriella says I'm adorable!"

The mother laughed. "I've heard, sweetie…but we should go now, I'm sure Gabriella and Troy's parents want to watch the game and we're interrupting them…"

"No worries," Gabriella said softly. "Dora, remember that what I'm going to tell you now can't be known by anyone, uh?"

Dora nodded and leaned up her right ear so Gabriella could whisper something into her ear so low no one but Dora could hear her.

"Really?" She squealed when Gabriella ended and pulled away.

Gabriella nodded. "Yes, it's completely true."

"Wow," Dora looked at Gabriella in awe. "And no one but me knows it?"

"No one," Gabriella shook her head. "Only you and I know that."

"I promise I won't tell anybody, Gabriella," the little girl nodded resolutely. "You can trust me."

"I know," Gabriella winked at her. "That's the reason why I've told you that. Now…what about if we take a picture of the two of us together?"

"Yes, please," Dora said clapping her hands making the adults laugh again.

"I have my cam ready," Dora's mother said. "Smile!"

Both Gabriella and Dora smiled for the camera…without noticing a pair of blue eyes that were observing the scene with the softest of the smiles plastered in his face – god, how much he loved that woman – before he resumed the game that had brought them both there.

He couldn't believe he was playing basketball again. It was different this time, and the pressure once was tied with the game wasn't there, so he just enjoyed those moments in the court bouncing the ball, passing the ball…and scoring. Each one of his scores was for Gabriella, and he always took the time to point at her dedicating her the score while covering his heart with his other hand – their secret way to tell the other how much they loved each other. No one but them knew that little ritual, though Troy was sure his parents had already figured it out, and he cherished that moment where no one but them existed, that moment where their connection was, once again, evident for everyone to see, though no one but them knew the exact meaning of it.

While playing, Troy couldn't help but remember how much Gabriella had helped him. Her support had been, always, unconditional; her love, always, immense; her company, always, his favourite thing; just her, always, his most precious treasure. It was incredible how deep their relationship was at the moment; they not only were lovers but also friends, the best of friends, and just knowing that after a hard day at work the other would be there was enough for the both of them to be happy. Sadness and pain were still in their lives – the anniversary of her mother's death was the worst day of the year for the both of them – but together they were able to get over everything bad and focus, only, in what their happy lives offered them. Neither of them took that happiness for granted; both worked their asses off to keep that happiness around them and to keep their love untouched and growing more with each day went by.

"And Troy Bolton grabs the ball and scores again!"

Doing his little ritual with Gabriella, Troy sighed deeply. Thanks to her he was playing basketball again, something he'd never thought would be possible, and she was not only there but had helped him to make his dream to come true…

---

"Baby," Troy sighed one day while they were lying on their bed cuddled together while watching an old movie.

His voice sounded weird and Gabriella pulled away her head from his shoulder to look at him. "What?"

"You know how the other day I woke you screaming because of a nightmare?" He waited until she nodded, concern evident in her face, and then continued. "Do you remember how I didn't want to tell you what it has been about because I wanted to work on it some more before I told you?"

She nodded again and placed her hand on his cheek. "Troy, what's wrong?"

"I need to play basketball again," he murmured. "To coach the guys is not the same…and…I know I can watch the game on the television or go to games but…the adrenaline, the rush, the…feeling of having control over the ball…I'm missing it so much…"

She sighed – she'd thought for a while it was strange for Troy to never bring up that subject. She was sure he was missing the game because it was something he loved with all his heart, yet each time she'd talked to him about it he'd changed the topic of the conversation.

"Oh, baby," she said sitting up and hugging him into her chest. "It's okay to miss the game, Troy, it's okay…" Something warm and wet touched her neck and she tightened her hold around his shoulders, whispering comforting words into his ear and rubbing his back in what she hoped was a soothing gesture.

After a while his sobs stopped and he pulled away. "I'm sorry…"

"Don't be," Gabriella said wiping his tears away. "I understand and…and…well, I'd like to help you…"

The edge in her voice, one he knew meant she had a secret, was picked up by Troy. "What do you mean?"

"I've been thinking about it for a while and…" Gabriella bit her lip in nervousness. "I've thought about a way for you to play again…but still respecting your doctors' orders."

Troy's eyes widened in shock. "Have you?"

She nodded. "What about…what about if we create an annual charity game here in Alburquerque? We could…we could create a team of ex basketball players so they can play against professional players…using the money for good causes, that is. I've already talked to Michael about it and he says it's a good idea and that the Association would be behind it 100%."

"Wow," Troy was speechless – that was something he'd never thought of…but it made sense and was something he knew he would enjoy a lot. "That's a very good idea…and you say you've talked to Mike about it?"

She nodded. "The other day while we were having dinner together," she explained. "You went to the bathroom and I explained to him the idea…that's the reason why you found us with huge grins on our faces and we told you Leonora was explaining some jokes…"

"I remember," Troy nodded, still in awe at the idea. "But how did you come up with something like that?"

"You were having nightmares, baby," she whispered. "And…well, I knew that something was up…but each time I tried to talk to you…you avoided to talk about it, until that night you woke up."

"I've been having nightmares?" Troy whispered feeling bad for having been worrying her without him knowing when, if he hadn't said anything, had been because he wanted to protect her. She nodded and he closed his eyes. "God, I'm sorry…"

"Hey, it's okay now, you've talked to me and…you know what?" Gabriella grabbed either side of his face with her hands and smiled. "We're together in this, so I'm going to be beside you every step you take."

His answer was to wrap his arms around her very tightly, trying to convey there all the feelings he couldn't voice. The hug became a hot kiss…and that hot kiss became in showing the other how much they loved each other.

---

Since that night, both him and Gabriella began to work in that project with Michael and Leonora's help. Gabriella offered to sponsor the team of ex players with her club and she even came up with a perfect name that fit the team, the project and also her life perfectly, and soon their plans became reality when the team was made, the excitement and enthusiasm of everything was there and the first game between ex-athletes and athletes was scheduled.

A lot of games had been scheduled since then; each time the cause was different but the aim of having as must money as possible so they could build schools, so they could help children from all around the world, so they could make people happier was always there.

Smiling, Troy ran towards one member of the opposite team to take the ball from him. Expertly, he took the sphere and began to run towards the basket knowing that just seconds were left of the game.

Everyone stood up and began to chant his name; he could feel the adrenaline running through his veins and his need to make the basket overcame him. He bounced the ball twice and then he threw the ball towards the net, smiling when the end of the game was announced.

"Bolton scores from the three point line again and Reality Check wins the game!"

---

"Hey baby," Troy said that night when they were preparing to go to bed.

"What?" Gabriella answered putting on a shirt of his she loved and claimed as hers almost three years ago.

"I've been observing you tonight," Troy cleared his throat while pushing the sheets away so he could climb on the bed. "And…well, and also lately. There's something different in you these days…and…I don't know, while I've seen you with that cute little girl…your face has become so sweet, so…soft, I don't know…"

She bit her lip. She knew what he meant…and she knew it was time for her to tell him the truth. "So," she began nonchalantly. "You've seen me with that little girl, uh?"

He nodded wrapping his arms around her. "To see you with her on your lap…I don't know, I've zoned out from the game observing you both…well, especially you, and it's made me smile. With the way you looked at her…and with how different you are these days…it's been something…almost spiritual I say; it's amazed me and…I don't know, I guess you've never looked more beautiful than in that moment. You always look gorgeous but tonight…gosh, I don't even know how to explain it…"

She smiled and bit her lip again. "I'm glad you think so."

"And why is that?" He asked against her lips, tugging at her lower one so she stopped biting it.

Gabriella knew that was the moment she'd been waiting for a while, the moment where the reality they both had been fighting to keep and make deeper would be even real. She felt ecstatic and happier than ever and she knew that Troy would share with her those same feelings. "Because you're going to see me with a little girl or a little boy in seven months."

"What?" He whispered, his eyes wide but a shocked and happy smile adorning his features.

"I'm pregnant, Troy," she whispered in a low voice, tears already forming in her eyes at the joy she knew them both were sharing.

"God, I love you," he said hugging her again and kissing her with all the love and with all the passion he could muster.

"I love you too."