Author's Note: I know you all want to shoot me. I haven't update in forever, I know. I'm really really really sorry. I've had this chapter in my head for awhile, and I was finally able to type it up. Thank you so much for the reviews and to brucas224 for the song idea! It really goes well, thanks again. [:


"Ready?" Troy asked the little three-year old girl. He had a bright grin on his face and his arms open.

Isabelle nodded. She was on the fourth step as Troy as on the main level. Dressed in a violet dress with her hair half up and half down, she was ready to go to. With a bright smile on her face, she was prepared to jump into her father's arms.

Gabriella stood by the door. She was dressed in a turquoise dress that reached her knees and accompanied it with silver heels. She gave Troy a worried look at the stunt he was about to pull with her daughter. She stared at them in worry, her glares were so strong, she could have probably could have burned a hole. She continued to play with the necklace Troy had given her, nervously.

"Troy," Gabriella said, putting on a 'grown-up' voice. "If my baby falls, I will personally have someone eat you." She said, in all seriousness.

Troy smiled at the threat and shook it off. "Don't worry, I'll catch her. Besides, no one can eat me, I'm beastly." He said, as Gabriella smiled and shook her head. He turned back to Isabelle and smile. "Okay, are you ready?"

Isabelle turned to Troy and frowned slightly, her bottom lip quivering. "W-Wait, i-is someone gonna eat U-Uncle Troy?!" she cried, her eyes bugging out of her face.

Troy laughed. "No, your mom was just trying to be funny…" he said, with a smile. "Are you ready, now?"

Isabelle nodded excitedly. For the first time in her life, she actually had a father figure. Sure, Josh subbed for a bit, maybe a few hours a week, but he was never there like Troy was for Isabelle. Troy slowly was proving to be the father of Isabelle, maybe because he truly is. She swung her arms happily preparing for her jump, then she turned her face toward her mother. "I-Is it o-okay, mama?"

"Erm," she said, softly. She looked at Troy, who gave her a loving smile. "Yeah, it's just fine." She said, with a nod.

Isabelle smiled happily. She swung her arms and jumped off the step. Troy caught her quickly, under her arms and swung her around. Isabelle let out giggles like crazy as Troy put her down. She wrapped her arms around his legs and smiled.

"Can I jump again?!" she cried, happily.

Troy smiled and bent down to her height. "Ah, I don't think so, kiddo. We have to get going to the party, remember? How about when we get home." he said.

Isabelle nodded and walked toward her mother, who held her coat. Gabriella put the coat on her daughter. The family got their things together and headed into the car. Gabriella placed Isabelle in her car seat then returned to the passenger's seat. Troy, who was in the driver's seat, started the car and they left the Bolton residence.


"Gabby!" Taylor cried as she wrapped her arms around her best friend once she entered the house. "How are you?" she asked, with a big smile. Dressed in a purple short sleeved dressed that hung over her knees and a typical matching headband, Taylor greeted her guests.

"Oh, I'm great. How are you?" Gabriella asked with a smile, as she looked at the Danforth's large house. It was brightly decorated supporting the New Year's Eve Theme. "Wow, looks bigger then I remember," she said with a laugh.

Taylor smiled and nodded. "I'll take that as a compliment I guess…" she said, with a subtle smile. She spotted Isabelle and smiled at her cute little face. "Oh, hey Isabelle!" she said, looking at Gabriella's daughter.

"Auntie Tay!" she said, hugging her legs.

Taylor smiled. "How are you munchkin?" she said, with a grin, stroking her curly light brown hair.

Isabelle frowned. "I-I'm not a donut or a little man made of shi!" she cried, a little defensive as she crossed her arms. She definitely took in what Sharpay had been teaching her, which sometimes weren't so great for a little three-year old girl.

Taylor knit her eyebrows in confusion and turned to Gabriella, who just shrugged it off but still kept a small smile. "Oh, I'm sorry, honey…I didn't know you didn't like them." She said, tapping her shoulder.

"Hey, guys." Troy said, just stepping into the house after parking the car. He gave Taylor and quick hug and smiled back.

"Hey, superstar." Chad asked, swooping in for Isabelle and picking her up, holding her on his hip. He smiled brightly at the three-year old. "Hey Gabs," he said, hugging her. "Hey, Troy." Chad said, pounding fists with his best friend. He turned to the little girl

Isabelle giggled happily as she was distracted by Chad's crazy locks. "Thsuper!" she said, giggling. "Mama, his hairs not long anymore! Where did it go?"

Chad sighed and rolled his eyes. "Well…Auntie Tay made me cut it…for the wedding…" he said, even though he still maintained an afro, it wasn't as crazy as it usually was. He gave Taylor a mockingly mean glare, who just laughed.

"Auntie Tay!" Isabelle frowned. "I l-liked it b-big and long! It was berry pretty. It was like a…bolcaynoe." She said, throwing her arms in the air for the effect of an eruption as the adults laughed at her cuteness.

"Yeah, maybe with this haircut, Chad will be able to work on his defense," Troy joked as his friend jokingly punched him in the arm.

Chad chuckled. "Well, man, if we played one on one, you'd notice my defense is killer now." He said, with a smug grin as the two guys walked out of the girls' presence.

"How's wedding planning going?" Gabriella asked with a smile to her best friend.

Taylor shook her head and widened her eyes. "It's crazy." She whispered. "But all in all, it's so hectic. Dresses here, flowers there, guests over there, and tons of croutons!" she said, shaking her head as she looked up to the ceiling.

Gabriella knit her eyebrows. "Um…croutons?"

"Croutons." Taylor said, shaking her head once more. "There's so many kinds! The chef he's so precise. Do I want it with butter or vegetable oil? Maybe some parsley or…lemon, but Chad doesn't like lemon…" Taylor said, fluttering her eyes, tiredly. "It's crazy. If no lemon, then maybe they'll be lightly roasted or we could use wheat instead of white bread…" she sighed.

Gabriella laughed at her friend's overreaction. "It's fine, it's not a big deal, it's just a bump on the road that you're going through…that you just happen to multiply over a thousand times," she said, laughing slightly.

Then the doorbell rang. Taylor went to the peephole to look for the incoming guest. "Oh, you'll love who's arriving." She said, with a smirk.

Gabriella knit her eyebrows. "Who is it? Tay, if it's Josh I will personally have someone eat y—" she was cut off by the familiar face at the door as Taylor opened it.

"Allie." Taylor said, with a smile, hugging her. "So nice of you to come," she said.

Allie smiled politely. Her short blonde hair was wavy, surrounding her circular face. Her make-up was neatly done, making her eyes vivid and bright. She was in a gold cocktail dress with a black bow under her bust. Of course, she looked like a model. "Thank you for inviting me," she said, smiling. "Lovely house," she said. Her green eye met Gabriella's chocolate brown. "Um, Gabriella, hi." She said, with a genuine smile as she slightly hugged her.

"Hey, Allie. How are you?" she said, crossing her arms over her chest, gracefully.

"Oh, I'm fine…" she said, with a soft smile. "How are you?"

Gabriella shrugged slightly. "Oh, I'm alright." She said, chuckling awkwardly.

Taylor felt a little awkward with these two girls by her side. She cleared her throat and awkward silence surrounded them. They eyeballed the room slowly, trying to avoid making any other awkward conversation.

"So, um, how's work?" Gabriella piped up with a soft smile.

Allie smiled. "Um, it's good. I recently did a photoshoot with H&M and Guess?" she said. "Yeah, so what about you?"

"Work's stressful…a little…you know how it is." Gabriella smiled.

"Well…it was nice seeing you, I'll let you guys chat." Allie said, with a tight lipped smile before she walked off into the living room where most of the guests were.

Gabriella looked at Taylor with wide bugging eyes of annoyance. "Taylor, I hate you."

She smiled, "I know."


"How about some karaoke?" Taylor said, talking into the microphone by her large-screen TV.

Her guests cheered in agreement and they all scanned the room for victims.

"Well, to start off the night, I'd like to call up Troy Bolton and Gabriella Montez." She said, as her guests cheered.

"Oh, Tay," Gabriella mumbled, crossing her arms. "Oh, Gosh." She said.

Isabella tugged her mother's arms. "Mama! It's you! It's you!" she cried, jumping up and down happily. "It's you! You!"

Gabriella blushed. "I know, sweetie. I-I'll be right back." She said, weaving through the crowd of guests. She walked up next to Taylor with an awkward smile. "I hate you, Tay," she whispered. "I really do," she said.

Taylor smirked and cocked her head. "Where's Troy Bolton?" she cried into the mic. "Did you guys know, these kids met through karaoke? Cool, huh?" she said, aloud.

Troy walked up to Taylor with an embarrassed and unsure look on his face. "Tay…I-I don't know about this…I haven't sung in years…" he confessed to her.

Gabriella smiled. "Yeah, and singing in the shower doesn't count." Gabriella said to her best friend.

Taylor rolled her eyes. "Oh please," she said, flicking her wrist in the air. She handed them both mics. "Have fun, kids." She said, smirking."

The two looked at each other embarrassed. They held the microphones awkwardly as the intro of the song began to play. Gabriella chuckled in embarrassment.

"Um." Troy said into the microphone. "Be aware, I haven't sung in years, but Brie's a killer." He said, turning to her.

Gabriella slightly rolled her eyes and smiled.

(Boldtogether italics Gabriella, underline Troy)

It's gonna be me, baby

It's gonna be you, baby

Gabriella sung, having the feeling of déjà vu again. She smiled back at Troy as the music played in the background. He smiled and winked back and turned back to the guests. He looked for Allie in the crowd, but he couldn't find her.

It's time, I've been patient for so long

How can I pretend to be so strong?

Looking at you, baby

Feeling it too, baby

Troy smiled, knowing that the lyrics he just sung were true. He did really wait for her. He secretly hoped Gabriella meant what she sung too.

If I'm asking you to hold me tight

Then it's gonna be alright

Gabriella said, seeing Taylor and Chad smile happily at each other with their arms around each other. She smiled.

It's gonna be love, it's gonna be great

It's gonna be more than I can take

It's gonna be free, it's gonna be real

It's gonna change everything I feel,

It's gonna be sad, it's gonna be true

It's gonna be me, baby

It's gonna be you, baby

It's gonna be…it's gonna be love

Gabriella smiled at the words Troy just sang. She slightly chuckled as the song continued to play. The guests cheered happily.

Times in my restless you're a fool

How can you pretend to be so cruel?

Maybe it's me, baby

Maybe it's true, baby

Maybe it's everything we're dreaming of

We've waited long enough

When Troy sang that last line, he was looking her straight in the eye. Gabriella had lost her breath and almost forgot to sing the next line.

It's gonna be love, it's gonna be great

It's gonna be more than I can take

It's gonna be real, it's gonna be free

It's gonna change everything I feel

It's gonna be sad, it's gonna be true

It's gonna be me, baby, it's gonna be you, baby

It's gonna be…it's gonna be love

Troy smiled at Gabriella, he meant every word he sang and he hoped she knew that he really did mean it.

The sooner you let to hearts beat together

The sooner you'll know this love is forever

It's gonna be love

Love needs time now or never

It's gonna be love

It's gonna be tough, you gotta believe

It's gonna be strong enough

Gabriella smiled, surprised she actually hit that note. She smirked at Troy. The song ended and the two of them smiled at each other as the crowd cheered happily for them. Troy walked up to Gabriella and smiled.

He stuck out his hand and smiled. "Troy," he said.

Gabriella laughed and took his hand and shook it. "Gabriella," she giggled. "Déjà vu," she smiled.

Too bad these kids didn't notice a familiar blonde walking out during the chorus.


"Mama! You were great!" Isabella said, hugging her mom tightly, as Gabriella held her. "You too Uncle Troy," she said, squeezing one of his cheeks.

Troy rubbed his red cheeks. "Thanks, Belle." He said, chuckling.

"But you're not as pwetty," she admitted.

The adults laughed at the three-year olds cute comment.

"TEN…NINE…EIGHT…SEVEN…SIX…FIVE…FOUR…THREE…TWO…ONE!" the whole crowd cheered happily as Isabella made squeaky noises with her noise maker. The guests cheered happily, hugging and smiling at each other.

"Happy New Year, Isabella." Gabriella said, kissing her daughter on the cheek.

"H-Happy New Year, Mama!" she said, wrapping her tiny arms around her mother's neck.

Troy smiled. "Happy New Year, Belle." He said, as Isabella reached her arms out for him and he held her against his side.

"H-Happy New Year, Uncle Troy!" she giggled.

"Happy New Year, Brie."

Gabriella smiled. "Happy New Year, Troy." She said, slowly leaning in toward him.

Their faces were close, inches apart. Isabella, in Troy's arms, watched in silence. They leaned in closer, feeling each other's breath. Gabriella broke out into a smile. Troy slightly brushed his lips against hers and they instantly felt sparks surging through their bodies. Gabriella looked into his icy blue eyes, as her fingers ran down the side of his face

And she slowly kissed him on the cheek.

She pivoted and walked away.

Troy stood there with his daughter, in disappointment.


Yeah, bummer. It gets bettter, I promise. I think two more chapters until they get married, 'kay? Okay.

- xlovelyloserface