Chapter 10 – First Meeting

AN: OMG What a response to the last chapter! I can't believe it! It just made we want to get this chapter out to all of you as soon as possible.

I am posting this chapter a day later to wish all of you a very HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Thank you for all of the reviews I have gotten and for making my first every year at Fanfiction a wonderful experience. And don't worry, my new year's resolution is to update as soon as I possibly can for all of you!

Thank you all so much for an amazing 2008, and I wish you all the best in 2009!

As almost all of you will be very happy to know… Gabriella has finally woken up! And in this chapter, it's the first time that Troy and Gabriella will meet face to face! Exciting stuff!

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"Mr. Bolton, Gabriella just woke up."

I stood there frozen. For many days I had dreamed of that moment, and now I didn't know how to react. Isabella's mother was finally awake.

Then, my worried side kicked in.

What if Gabriella was furious and refused to let me see Isabella again. I had grown quite attached to her, like my own daughter, and I would die if I were separated from her. I prayed that wouldn't happen.

"Uhh, sir?" The doctor was waving a hand in front of my face.

"Sorry. Its just… wow."

"I know, it took everybody by surprise. We called you when her machines started going off like crazy. We honestly had no clue what was happening, but it could have gone either way. Either, she was waking up, or…" He didn't need to continue.

"Yeah. When did she wake up?"

"About twenty minutes ago. The doctors looked her over, but she hasn't been told anything about her daughter. We felt that it was your job to explain that part." I nodded.

"How is she?"

"Well, her legs are very weak, and I am afraid that she will have to re-learn how to walk over again. Her entire body will need to go to therapy, as she has almost no muscle mass. This will be a long process. Are you still willing to care for her?"

"Of course. I made a promise when I took in her daughter that I would be there for her and her daughter." He nodded.

"Right. Well, you can go in and see her if you want." He pointed to the door, and then walked down the hallway.

I took a deep breath, and then turned the knob. When the door was open, I stood in the doorway, staring at the scene.

The bed was in an upright position, and the woman was sitting in her bed, staring out the window. There were barely any machines around her, besides the IV and the wire monitoring her heart.

She looked like a whole new person.

When I closed the door behind me, the click turned her attention to me.

"H…hello?" A weak, raspy voice asked.

The voice I had been longing to hear for ages.

To me, it sounded like an angel's soft, delicate voice.

"Hi. It's nice to see you awake." I said sheepishly. Of all the times to be nervous, it was now.

She looked at me, as if pondering who I was.

"I…I recognize your voice."

"Really?" She nodded. A dry cough filled the room, and I quickly ran and grabbed the glass of water from her side table. I gently placed the straw in her mouth, allowing her to refresh her sore throat.

"Thanks." She whispered. I placed the cup down, and took a seat in the chair beside her. She continued to stare at me.

"You're… Troy Bolton." I nodded.

"Yes."

"I was heading to your restaurant, but… I never got there." She said, and looked down. Her hand was resting on her stomach delicately, and her face shot up to look at mine, a worried expression on her face.

"My baby… where is my baby girl?"

"She's fine. She is probably sleeping right now, but I'm sure that I can get my parents to bring Isabella here to see you."

"Isabella. How did you know I wanted to name her that?" I blushed.

"I, uh, found a picture of her in your purse. On the back was written "My Baby Girl, Isabella Montez". I just assumed that was what you wanted to call her." She looked at me, probably questioning as to why a stranger would be looking through her purse, but then let it go.

"W…why did you take my baby?" I sighed. How did I make this answer sound as least stalkerish as possible?

"Well, you see, I knew that both your parents were dead, and that your fiancé was killed as well, and I figured that you had no family. Once I got a hold of Sharpay Baylor, my thoughts were confirmed."

"You know Sharpay?" I smirked.

"I had the…pleasure of meeting her when I was arranging to take care of Isabella. She's feisty, let me tell you." Gabriella laughed. It was a beautiful sound.

"That she is. But she's also a very good friend."

"I know. She visits Isabella once a week."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I can't get rid of her, I'm afraid." Again, a giggle emitted from Gabriella's mouth. "Anyway, once I got all the papers signed, and Isabella was ready to leave the hospital, I took her home. She's been in my care ever since." Gabriella looked at me, as if in deep though. Suddenly, her eyes lit up.

"I know where you're from."

"Yeah, I own that restaurant that you were planning to go to – "

"It was you."

"Huh?" Now it was my turn to be confused.

"You talked to me. While I saw in a" she coughed, and again I placed the cup to her lips. While she was drinking, I finished saying what she was going to say.

"While you were in a coma. Yeah. I came to visit you everyday, with Isabella of course, and we would spend hours with you."

"She called me mama."

"You heard that?" She nodded.

"I remember everything that you said to me. All your worries, your praying that I would wake up soon, even the time you came in here telling me about how that Rogers guy was getting on your nerves with all his sucking up." I blushed again. "Don't be embarrassed. To be honest, it was that, that kept me going. I don't think I would have pulled through if it weren't for you. I owe you my life, Mr. Bolton."

"You can call me Troy." She nodded, smiling.

"Troy." We sat in silence for a bit.

"Once question, why?"

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Why did you do this for me? I didn't know you or anything."

"Because, when I saw that accident, I needed to do something. There was something about you that drew me to you, and I knew that I had to do something to help you." She smiled.

"Well thank you."

Again, silence.

"Umm…G, I mean, uh, Miss Mon –"

"Please… call me Gabriella. Or some people call me Gabs, or Gabby. My fiancé used to call me Ella…"

"Brie?" She grinned.

"Brie is fine."

"Alright well, Brie, would you like to see your daughter?" A sparkle shone in her eyes, and she eagerly nodded. "Alright." I grabbed my cell phone out of my jacket pocket, and quickly dialed the number to my house.

"Hello? Bolton Residence."

"Hey Mrs. Prince. Are my parents still there?"

"You gave us quite a scare, Sir. Would you care to explain what happened?"

"I'll explain later. Can I please talk to my mom?"

"Right away, sir." There was a pause on the phone, before my mother's melodic voice flowed through the receiver.

"Troy?"

"Hey mom."

"Honey! What happened? You just rushed out of there without explaining anything. What's going on?"

"I'll explain it all in time. Can you please come down to the nursing home with Bella? Oh, and please bring the albums."

"Fine son. But once I get there, you better tell me what's going on."

"Yup. See you then mom." I quickly hung up the phone before my mom could badger me anymore. Then I turned to Gabriella, and grabbed her hand delicately. She didn't flinch or pull back, which I took as a sign that she trusted me.

"They'll be here shortly."

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While waiting for my parents to arrive with Isabella, Gabriella and I talked. She told me everything about her childhood, and I did so in return. I found myself falling deeper and deeper into her enchantment, and didn't know how to get out.

Her blush was captivating.

Her smile was radiant.

Her personality was simply wonderful.

We became fast friends, probably because of the fact that I had taken care of her daughter while she was incapable. She continued to thank me for it, saying that she didn't deserve it and I was a Godsend. She already seemed to trust me with her life.

A knocking at the door broke our conversation.

"Thank must be them." I said, and released her hand as I headed for the door. When I got there, my parents confused faces and Isabella's beaming one greeted me.

"Dada." She said as I lifted her into my arms.

"Hey Bella." I touched my nose to hers, and she giggled.

"Troy Alexander Bolton, would you care to explain why you dragged us out here in the middle of the night."

"Why don't I just show you?" I walked back into the room, Isabella still in my arms. Gabriella's face brightened when she saw the tiny girl in my arms. Tears immediately began streaming down her face, and I could tell she was trying to figure out if it was reality or not.

"Brie, I would like you to meet your daughter, Isabella Maria Montez." I placed the baby in her mother's arms. The tiny girl was immediately pressed tightly to her mother's chest. Gabriella began kissing Isabella all over her face, as if making up for lost kisses. Tears continued to fall down her face.

"Oh my baby girl, look at you. You've gotten so big! I can't believe it!" Isabella looked at the woman in front of her, probably wondering why she was moving.

"Dada?" she asked me.

"It's okay Bella, you know her." Isabella looked up at her mother, then giggled and smiled.

"Mama!" She exclaimed, wrapped her arms around her mother's neck.

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AN: Well, what do you guys think? I am very happy that Gabriella has finally woken up; it is just amazing to have her up.

In the next chapter, you can look forward to Isabella/Gabriella bonding moments, as well as some Troyella bonding!!!

I love all of you so much, and thank you from the bottom of my heart for all of the support that you have given me!

Review if you want the next chapter!

Xoxo,

Lar