What would you think of me now,

So lucky, so strong, so proud?

Never said thank you for that

Now I'll never have the chance

Present Day

The next day Chad woke up. Taylor was asleep in the bed next to him when the monitors rang out. Some doctors called it miraculous; others patted themselves on the back crediting science and medicine. Taylor just knew it was hope, and that it wasn't Chad's time to go just yet.

Two weeks later, he was released from the hospital…in a wheelchair. Within minutes after he had woken up he knew his legs were gone. He thrashed about in the bed, but Taylor's tears gave him enough truth. Now, he was sitting at the front door of the hospital in his moving device with a grim look on his face. He had an envelope with information about physical therapy, counseling, support groups, etc. Several balloons that were tied onto one of the handles kept bobbing in front of his face, causing him to become increasingly annoyed.

"Thank you so much, I think we can take it from here." He heard his ex-wife humbly thanks the nurses at the front desk before she appeared in front of him. "Ready to go home?" Recently she had taken up the habit of talking to him like he was a child. His mind wasn't paralyzed, just his legs.

"Are you taking me to LA?" They had only shared a few words together, but no one spoke about thanksgiving or offered an apology.

She looked at him confused. "Why would I take you to LA? You're going home with us."

"I want to go to my home." On his own, he began spinning the wheels beneath his hands, heading out the front door.

"Chad you need our help. You're coming home with us, okay." She was chasing behind him, arms full of his belongings.

"Stop talking to me like I'm a baby, Taylor." He kept forging ahead, now driving out into the parking lot. "I don't need your help. I'm going home."

She stopped and stared at him. "Chad you can't walk. How are you going to take care of yourself?"

"Like I have for the last year. You're not my mother, Taylor. I don't need you to baby me."

Taylor just stood there trying to decide whether to run after him or go get a nurse. "Your mother didn't baby you PERIOD."

He kept on rolling, reaching the edge of the driveway and onto a broken sidewalk. "Whatever."

"Where are you going?" Several people in the parking lot seemed to be surprised by her yelling across the road. "You can't wheel your way to Los Angeles, Chad."

"Watch me!" He yelled back at her, still focused on pushing the wheel chair down the road.

Minutes later, Taylor was steering her big, black navigator slowly down the right hand lane watching her tormented husband. Not daring to drive faster than he could roll, she just let the cars honk and drive past her. Finally, about one mile into his marathon: Chad stopped. She slammed on the breaks so hard it was surprising that no one rammed into the back of her.

He cupped his face in his hands and was sobbing when Taylor walked over to him on the sidewalk. "Chad?" she asked carefully.

"What?" His anger and sadness, mixed with tears, startled her.

"What happened?" Instead of saying anything, he lifted his head and showed her his now blistered palms. Rough calices were sprouting up, and a few had already turned into festering blisters. She took a step closer to his chair, before sitting down on her knees. "Come home with me, please."
He shook his head 'no.' "Why should I? I don't deserve your help."

Taylor felt her bottom lip quiver. She had never, EVER, seen Chad Danforth cry before. Even when his mother died four years ago, he didn't cry. But now, he was like a child crying over a boo-boo.

"Chad, you don't have to earn my help. I want to help you."

"Why?" He frowned. "I've been so awful."

"Because Chad…" Delicately kissing one of his sore hands, she gleamed "that's what you do when you love someone."

"I can't do this Taylor." Chad was looking down at his weak legs.

"Yes you can, I know it. Now lets go home, Matthew and Maddie are there waiting on you." Some how, the mention of their children seemed to make him even more upset.

In between sobs, he confessed "I don't want people to see me like this."

"Chad Danforth, you look at me. Troy and Gabriella have been worried sick over you. I mean literally, Gabriella got the stomach flu from staying at the hospital. Troy's blaming himself, and every one else is just all around upset. Now you need to show them that you're gong to be okay." She relaxed her voice. "There's nothing to be afraid of."

"Taylor," after a long pause he looked at her. She had a huge set of dark circles under her eyes, her hair was a mess and she genuinely looked distraught. "I'm so sorry…for everything. I never meant things to happen like this."

And then it happened. Taylor's heart was mended. Her sadness disappeared and elation filled her heart. She no longer had any pent up anger or hurt from everything that had happened.

"That's all I ever wanted to hear, Chad. That's all I wanted to hear." She let one last tear fall down her cheek before vowing never to cry again. Grabbing the handles of his wheel chair, she pushed him to the car. "So I think we're going to need to make some improvements to the house… and car… and everything. But I'm pretty sure we can do this."

If Taylor had turned around just then, she would have seen a smile escape Chad's lips.

May Angels lead you in

Hear you me my friends

Oh sleepless roads, the sleepless go

May Angels lead in

Chad's friends welcomed him home with warm greetings and enthusiasm. Even though he could tell they were putting on a 'happy face', he appreciated it all the same. Gabriella was the first to walk up to him, like always. She was the same Gabriella as ever, quick to forgive.

"Hey sweetie," she smiled. "Zeke and I made you a huge dinner… I know your starving. Hospital food is the worse thing ever." Showering him with hugs and kisses, Chad felt really guilty for all the suffering he had caused her. "I'm so glad your home Chad, stay with us this time, okay?"

Sharpay and her baking husband were next in line. Her huge, swollen belly got in the way of her bending down to give her friend a hug, instead, she kissed him on the forehead. "Listen, this little guy…or girl… has to have an uncle Chad. I mean everyone has to have an uncle Chad."

Zeke joined in "yeah man, plus I'm going to need your mad parenting skills."

After Jason and Kelsi said their hellos, three people were standing at the back of the line on the doorstep of Taylor's house. Troy was holding Maddie in his arms and holding onto Matthew's little hand. The trio looked very apprehensive about going up and saying anything to their loved one. But as soon as Matthew saw his daddy, he ran up to him like always, giving him the best greeting of all.

"Daddy!" He squealed. "Daddy where were you? Mommy said you had a boo-boo. The last time I had a boo-boo, Mommy kissed it and made it better. Did she kiss it for you?"

The group of friends laughed, "Not yet," Chad smiled. "I'll be sure to ask her to later." When he looked up, Taylor was blushing a light shade of pink.

"Daddy can we play basketball now, please? Mr. Troy taught me a new move, I want to show you. Please daddy, please!" Everyone fell silent afraid of how Chad was going to respond. There had been no mention of basketball over the last few days in fear of upsetting him.

He was definitely not going to cry in front of his friends, so instead Chad just frowned. "Listen buddy, Daddy can't play basketball for a while. Until he gets better… so you're going to have to play with Uncle Troy and Zeke and Jason, okay?"

"I missed you daddy."

"I missed you too buddy." And then, Matthew leaned forward and kissed Chad right on the cheek.

"I love you daddy." Climbing off of his fathers lap, the little boy ran over to his mother's arms, who picked him up in a huge hug. Chad suddenly remembered his best friend that was standing there holding his daughter in his arms.

"So um… Troy." But before he could finish, Troy walked over, plopped Madeline in his lap and interrupted him.

"You want to come inside and get something to eat? It smells really good."

"Uh, sure." Chad stuttered. And then, Troy walked behind him, grabbed the handles of his wheel chair and pushed him inside the house, without another word.

And if you were with me tonight

I'd sing to you just one last time

A song for a heart so big

God couldn't let it live

So yah'll are pretty much the best. No lie. You have no idea how much it meant to get all the help and suggestions from everyone! If I could give you guys presents, I totally would. I have something you can participate with, though. Ryan is in a broadway musical right, well I totally need a good one to be included in the story! And don't worry-- you'll definetly get a shout out .. or your name may be used as a character! So just let me know in your review the name of your favorite musical. This is going to be a BIG part of the story--- cough cough future. mrs. zac. efron. ... so please participate!

Also, I really want to thank everyone-- and it's so hard to do... Anyways, I've added all of my favorite stories to my profile.. and everyone should really take a look. (A lot of you are actually the authors) Seriously though, their writing is like 10 times better than mine and you should really check it out!

Thanks again-- look for three very good, fluffy upcoming chapters! okay!

Also, Troyella fans-- you are about to have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS! ;)