So here we are…. the journey back up. Hoping you are all going to enjoy these last few chapters and I promise no drama. A little warning though, this chapter is VERY heavy on dialogue, as it didn't seem right for them not to talk….I think it's important to the story and the characters…..Thanks so much for all the reviews, it's great to know you're all enjoying this as much as me. You know the drill by now, so please share a few of your thoughts with me if you have the time…. Oh by the way am off to London next week to watch the stars on the red carpet of HSM3….Maybe see you there? Love Tink. xxxxxxxxxxx

Gabriella felt the dampness of her tears as they rolled down her face but she didn't care, she didn't care about anything. She couldn't hide her pain and torment from Troy anymore. She doubled over as the agony of the last few moments hit her and she tried to catch her breath, silent sobs wracking her slender frame.

Troy stared at her taken aback by the strength of her reaction, confused. She looked devastated, broken, no light in her beautiful tawny eyes, the mascara she had so painstakingly applied only hours before, now running in dark rivulets down her cheeks.

She lifted her head slowly and stared at Troy, her heart on her face, unable to her hide her feelings, unwilling to hide herself from him any longer. The initial heart wrenching pain she had felt was beginning to abate and creeping in its place was anger. How could he do this to her again? To Ana? How many times was he going to do this to her? How many times was he going to just walk in and out of her life? And how many times was she going let him?

"How dare you?" she hissed, her amber eyes flashing fire, as they held his, letting him see her pain, her torment twisting like a serpent inside her.

"What?" he asked warily, not sure what she was talking about. Was she talking about their kiss? He thought she had wanted as much as him.

"How dare you do this to me again! I'm a person…I have feelings you know…. I'm your wife for Christ's' sake" she cried, her voice rising as she finally gave vent to the feelings she'd held inside for so long.

"I know that Brie" he said his tone placating "but this isn't working for me anymore"

She barked out a humorless laugh "For you? Not working out for you…what about your daughter… what about me, you heartless bastard" she seethed, her arms crossed her chest, looking at him for long moments.

"Heartless?" he shook his head, wishing she knew the truth "This is hard for me too Gab"

"Hard!" she shrieked, nearly loosing it "Hard! You are one selfish son of a bitch Troy Bolton"

"Selfish, I'm not fucking selfish…I'm doing this for you" he yelled, his own anger mounting in the face of her accusations.

"You are doing this for me, tell me Troy…How exactly is tearing our family apart for my benefit?"

Troy rubbed his hands over his face, breathing deeply and attempted to get a grip on his temper, not wanting to argue in front of his daughter even if she was sleeping.

"I'm giving you your freedom back Brie… I can't bear to see your eyes get bleaker every time I touch you… you're not happy and neither am I…I'm doing this for you, no matter how hard it is, no matter how much it hurts" he asserted, pinning her with his pained blue gaze. But Gabriella was too far-gone to pay attention to something as subtle as body language.

"Don't make me fucking laugh…you don't know what hurt is…hurt is having you walk out on me again but this time it's worse because this time you're not just walking out on me, you're walking out on our daughter too…you don't know what hurt is you selfish bastard"

"Stop saying that!" he ground out, his hands clenching at his sides with the urge to take her by the shoulders and shake her till she understood how bad it was for him.

"No!" she spat out venomously "It's true, you're always running away when you can't cope… You ran away when you found out I was pregnant, you dressed it up as though it was my fault but it was really just an excuse for you to get away…. you ran away when she was born… and now you think you can just walk away and leave me shattered again, but this time it's not just my pieces I have to pick up, it's Ana's too" she shouted, her beautiful features contorted in misery, her entire body taught with fury.

"What about me Brie? Have you thought about what it's gonna be like for me…don't you think I've thought this through… that if there was any other way I would have taken it…Can you imagine waking up each day knowing that you can't even see your baby, let alone touch her, hold her close" he said his voice hoarse, his cerulean blue eyes clouding with tears.

"This is your choice Troy! Yours…You are doing this not me… don't give me the 'poor Troy'… this is hard bullshit…you're taking the easy way out"

"Easy? Easy?" he repeated, throwing his hands in the air, incredulous that she couldn't see his pain, his own torment and misery.

"Yeah easy" she said bracing her hands on her hips "Ana loves you and you're sending us away"

"It's for you, don't you get that… I love Ana… I'm cutting myself off from her, for you!"

"Why Troy? What's the real reason… is it that you only just realized sex isn't worth the inconvenience of marriage?"

"That's bullshit and you know it," he snarled.

"So enlighten me you selfish prick" she provoked, past the point of caring, determined to get to the bottom of this, unwilling to let him do this to her or their daughter.

"I am not selfish," he yelled, his handsome face flushed with anger, frustrated that she wasn't listening to what he was telling her.

"Then why Troy? Why are you doing this, why?" she cried, pushing, still pushing, unable to understand, needing to know before she walked out of his life for good.

"Because I Fucking Love You, that's why" he yelled, running his hands through his already tousled hair, his true feelings exposed for the first time, the words torn reluctantly and in anger, from deep inside him.

Gabriella was stunned into silence, the only sounds in the silent room their harsh and labored breathing, and the air around them so full of tension it was palpable.  He loved her? Troy loved her? Her entire body trembled; her heart raced in her chest and she felt weak at the knees.

"You….love….me?" she whispered raggedly, her voice shaking, tears coming immediately to her eyes.

Troy caught the note of hope in her voice and his own anger disappeared in a heartbeat, hope flaring to life inside him at her incredulous expression. A slow but sheepish grin transforming his face, he stared at her, breathing raggedly.

"Yeah I do" he admitted gruffly "I Love You Gabriella Montez"

Tears leaked from her eyes, tears of joy, tears of disbelief and her entire face lit up like the fourth of July.

"I Love You too Troy, so much" she said suddenly laughing, unable to keep the bubbles of happiness inside herself, all her dreams were coming true at last and she launched herself across the room.

Troy caught her as she threw herself at him, wrapping her legs around his waist, her hands cupping his cheeks as she peppered his face with kisses, his hands finding her derriere. She kissed him feverently for a few more seconds until she pulled back to look at him, her face shining with happiness.

Troy wiped away her tears with fingers that shook, not caring that he was now crying too, committing this movement to memory. He couldn't believe what he was finally hearing. She loved him!

"How long" he muttered, his eyes clinging to hers, loving hers, seeing and understanding.

"Forever" she admitted, her love for him plain to see in her eyes . He wondered briefly how he could have missed it and how many more missed chances had there been for this to happen. He'd nearly fucked up again!

Unable to stand it for a second longer, he closed the minute distance between them and when she would have spoken he stole her breath with his kiss. Trembling she opened her mouth her under his as she kissed her and tasted the salt of their combined tears. Gabriella opened her mouth fully to intensify the exploration of his thrusting tongue, her fingers sinking into his hair. She forgot to think, to breathe. There was nothing but this endless kiss and the joy of knowledge that Troy loved her! He deliberately and slowly explored her lips, letting his tongue play with hers, teasing lightly, wickedly, then soothing her. He whispered his love softly against her mouth, taking his time, in no hurry now he was certain of her feelings.

"Da Da" a tinkling gurgle, penetrated through the haze of love, which surrounded them. Troy's mouth stilled against hers and as he pulled away slightly, his eyes opened and he saw Gabriella's flutter open too.

"Hi" she breathed, her love for him shining from her eyes like a beacon.

"Hi" he smiled and she felt it against her lips "I think our Princess is awake"

They turned their heads together, foreheads resting against each other to see their daughter moving around.

"I think so" she smiled regretfully, seductively, not wanting to separate herself from this new found heaven.

"Later" he promised, a wicked smile curving his lips.

"Later" she agreed and untangled herself from him.

Hand in hand they lent down and picked up their daughter, drawing her into the circle of their love, a trio of hearts now beating in time, as one.

It was some hours later before they had the chance to be alone again, Ana seemed very unsettled by all the recent upheaval. She was particularly anxious and clingy around Troy, getting visibly upset if he was out of her sight or earshot. He felt her anxiety as pain deep in his heart, knowing that he had caused it. She seemed insecure around him and it hurt so badly, the guilt feeling as though it would overwhelm him at times.

Gabriella had spent most of the day unpacking and canceling her flight arrangements, but every now and again she would look up and find Troy watching her a knowing smile on his face and her whole body would sing with need. She never lost an opportunity if he was close by to touch him, kiss him, tell him she loved him and watch the goofy grin spread across his face. 

When at last all was done and settled and Ana was snoring softly in her crib, Gabriella strolled back into the den to find it strewn with candles, the light flickering softly against the walls. She caught her breath in surprise and with the beauty of it.

"Like it?" Troy questioned from across the room, a glass of wine in his hand, which he held out to her.

She nodded, thinking how wonderful and romantic her husband was, and crossed the room to join him, her lips claiming his, before she had even claimed the glass he held. For long seconds they kissed, reassuring themselves that the other was real, and here with them. It was Troy who finally pulled away and led her to the sofa, disappointing her, when instead of drawing her close; he set her away from him. Looking deep into her eyes he stroked her cheek softly, his gaze telling her how much he loved her.

"Gab, we need to talk," he murmured as she leaned towards him trying to capture his mouth.

"No!" she pouted, "Talk later" she mumbled, as he turned his head to avoid her questing mouth.

"Gabriella" he warned half heartedly, as her mouth got closer to his, his libido beginning to work overtime, his heartbeat increasing, his blood pounding.

"Please Troy, it's been so long, I miss you…miss you till I ache" she breathed, licking his bottom lip seductively.

"Soon Gabi, soon, but first we need to talk, to straighten things out, so there won't be any more misunderstandings" he said leaning away from the heat and proximity of her delicate frame where it brushed his.

Gabriella scowled at him comically but allowed him to move away from her again.

He shot her a sideways glanced, amused by her little fit of pique. There was nothing he wanted more, than to take her in his arms and love her all night but he wanted to make things right between them first, to get over all the misunderstandings. He wanted to tell her he was sorry, he needed to be forgiven.

"You know I'm right Gab," he reasoned, with what he hoped was a charming smile and knew he had succeeded when she returned a little smile of her own.

"I suppose so," she pouted with a sigh "Okay so talk"

She turned on the large plush sofa and crossed her legs and resting her chin on her hands, she waited for him to begin with an expectant look.

"You're not gonna make this easy for me are you?" he asked suspiciously, his eyebrows rising at the wicked grin that curved her lips.

"Not on your life buster" she grinned, "I'm waiting " she sing-songed and pretended to look at her non-existent watch.

Troy exhaled deeply and rubbed the back of his neck, telling Gabriella immediately that he was uncomfortable or nervous about what he was going to say next.

"I know I've fucked up Gab-"

"-That's the understatement of the century" she butted in good-naturedly.

"Please Brie… don't interrupt…I know I haven't been the easiest person to be with at times and have treated you so badly but you have to know… through all of it, I've loved you…. even when I hated you I still loved you, so goddamned much" he turned his head to look at her, his emotions written all over his face.

Gabriella could see the contrition on his face, the sorrow and pain in his eyes, the honesty of his feelings burning away the suspicion of lies that had once stood between them. She felt her eyes prickle in response to his pain and willed the tears not to come, this wasn't about her feeling sad, this was about Troy explaining what happened for him.

"You were all I could think about, day and night…when you told me you were pregnant and I thought you had betrayed me, I thought it was the worst pain in the world….I was wrong, that was having to let you go when we had just found each other again…I'm so sorry for not believing you Gab, but I had always been told I was sterile….it was awful, my heart wanted to believe you but my head just couldn't" he spoke softly, hesitantly, measuring his words carefully, so she would know how he truly felt.

Gabriella nodded, understanding and accepting him, accepting why he'd acted as he had. If she loved him she had to.

"I know Troy" she whispered and reached out to squeeze his hand, telling him without words, she understood and forgave him.

"Then when I saw you again at Sharpay and Zekes' wedding, it was like it had just happened and the pain was so bad… I hated you so much for the way you'd hurt me… I swore it would never happen again…You're right I did want to run but I just couldn't leave you" he admitted quietly, gripping her hand tightly in his, his thumb stroking the back of her hand absentmindedly, as he spoke lost in memories, his beautiful blue eyes looking but not really seeing.

"I'm glad you didn't," she offered with a shy smile, looking like the girl he'd known in high school.

"I just couldn't leave like that…and then when I found out you were alone, I wanted to leave so badly but I couldn't do that to you…it was one of the hardest things I've ever done…I thought I was watching you have another man's child, it was like I was being made to watch your infidelity…and inside I wanted to shout and yell, she should have been mine…" his voice cracked with emotion as he remembered how much it had hurt.

"She always was," she asserted in a hushed tone.

"Then to see her" he paused and shook his head remembering the awe, the wonder " when I found out she had blue eyes, I was so full of hope, she had to be mine, they had to be wrong…until that nurse said all babies have blue eyes when they born…it was like loosing you both all over again"

Gabriella sucked in a shaky breath and decided now was a time for honesty, even if that honesty stung a little.

"I thought you hated us both and that made me angry…she was your daughter and everybody but you could see it…. I hurt not just for me but for Ana too… I could handle you rejecting me but not rejecting Ana…it was too much and then the first time I saw you together and that you were bonding with her, it was like fireworks inside me, there she was in your arms so tiny and defenseless, I knew I had to make you see sense for her sake" she said her eyes filling with tears as she remembered the emotions associated with Ana's birth, the fear, the pain and worst of all the feeling of being alone and rejected by Troy.

"Is that why you let me stay when I asked you?"

Gabriella nodded hesitantly, chewing her bottom lip "Partly, I was so worried that something would happen to her and then you would never know your daughter but I also found it terrifying that suddenly I would be alone with her, it was so scary"

He stared at her for long seconds, amazed that this women he loved so much was so selfless, putting aside her pain and feelings for the good of their child, a child he denied, a child she wanted him to bond with, even though he had hurt her unbearably, accused of the worst possible sin.

"I wanted her to be mine so badly ya know, kind like an ache, that second morning I'd already decided I wanted you both, didn't matter to me that she wasn't mine"

Gabriella rolled her eyes and shot him a look, that told him she wasn't impressed "I know you told me remember, it was like a double slap in the face, you said it didn't matter but it did to me! You hurt me so much, I wanted to kill you…I'd had enough"

"I know that now Brie, I was an idiot, I wish I could take it back, all of it," he said in a pained whisper.

Gabriella could see how much he been hurting, but he had hurt her too and he needed to know that, she simply smiled at him tenderly.

"When I came to LA I was so confused"

"You were confused?"

"You know what I mean…. when you kissed me I wanted to kill you, I was determined you weren't going to do this to me anymore"

He shrugged and looked sheepish for the second time that day " I couldn't help myself, I've never been able to around you"

She tilted her head slightly and looked at him curiously her eyes wide

"Is that why you pushed the marriage?"

He nodded "When I found out Ana was mine, it was like all my dreams come true, I could have you and Ana but then you did something I didn't expect… you rejected me….and it was the only thing I could think of to keep you in my life for good"

"If that was the case why did you try and send me away? That nearly killed me Troy…I don't think I could live through that if you decide this isn't what you want," she said sadly, uncertain suddenly, what if he changed his mind?

Troy watched the play of emotion cross her face, he could see the insecurity and guilt flooded him, to know he had done this to her. Reaching across he cupped her face in both his hands and brushed his mouth over hers, once, twice and then a third time, an apology, a declaration of love, a supplication.

"Believe me when I tell you I love you, I'm not gonna change my mind" he said against her mouth, brushing his hands through her hair, stroking the silken but tangled curls from her face.

"How do I know that? I'm always gonna feel as though you only married me to be with Ana" she admitted sadly, saying what she had been afraid since he'd admitted he loved her.

Troy stared deep into her amber eyes, watching her pupils dilate in response to his nearness, as he stroked his thumbs across her face. She looked so stunningly beautiful in the candle light, that he couldn't believe she was real and she was his.  How could he prove to her he loved her that he hadn't married her to be with Ana? He grinned suddenly as a light bulb flickered on inside his head and he pressed a kiss to Gabriella's forehead.

"Marry Me," he said, his tone deep and husky.

Gabriella paused when she heard Troy asking her to marry him. Had he lost his mind? They were already married. Confused she shook her head and looked at him as though he was crazy.

"Troy, honey, we're already married"

He grinned again and rolled his eyes with a silly grin "Okay, so marry me again"

"What?" she stared as he released her and dropped down onto one knee on the floor before her, still clutching one of her hands in his.

"Marry me again…. Gabriella Montez, I love you…will you please marry me?" he asked, staring into her eyes.

Gabriella felt a bubble of laughter escape her, it was the perfect solution but she didn't quite understand how they could do it without divorcing.

"Yes I'll marry you Troy Bolton" she said and flung her arms around his neck, clinging to him, tears spilling over onto her cheeks. Gabriella had never cried so much since Troy had come back into her life but for once they were happy tears.

Troy held her to him, grateful to whoever it was up above who had allowed Gabriella to give him a second chance, vowing that he would spend the rest of his days proving to her how much he loved and how sorry he was for ever doubting her. He ran his hands down her back and then back up again, feeling her shiver in response, within seconds his own body reacting to hers.

"Enough talking" he muttered and captured her mouth in a deep, hot, wet kiss, his tongue dueling with hers, feeling his body harden instantly. It had been so long since he'd held her like this that he felt as though he couldn't wait to be inside her.

Gabriella allowed herself to respond to his kiss for a few seconds, giving into the need, which coursed through her, before pulling her mouth from his.

"Not tonight Troy…. if we are getting married again I want to do this properly" she said with what could only be described as a sassy grin.

Troy dragged in a deep breath and reached for her again, his entire body aching for her touch "What d'ya mean properly?"

She braced her hands against his chest, feeling his heart thundering beneath her palms, making them tingle with the urge to stroke him through his clothes.

"Properly…I mean I want to wait until our wedding night," she said trying not to laugh at the horror on his face.

"But that could be months away, do you know how long these things take to arrange" he protested, stroking her hands persuasively.

Gabriella shook her head, smiling impishly "I was thinking me, you, Ana, a few close friends and family and a beach in Hawaii, maybe Ana's first birthday" she said and as she spoke, she walked her fingers seductively up his chest.

Troy had to admit it sounded perfect, but Ana's first birthday was nearly eight and half weeks away! Did she really expect him to wait that long, when she was around him, driving him to distraction?

"Please Troy, I'll make it worth your while" she pouted adorably and he could feel himself melting "Just think how perfect it will be, how beautiful, we could tell everyone it's a vow renewal…but this time I'll be your wife for real…think of it our first time together as man and wife"

Troy wanted to groan aloud at the sudden erotic images filtering through his brain and down into his pants, hardening him even more.

He knew it was what she wanted and after everything he had done, she deserved to get what she wanted, but to wait all that time, it would kill him!

"Can't we bring it forward a few weeks maybe a month?" he appealed.

Gabriella shook her head "No I want to do it on Ana's birthday, she's the reason we're here today, I think it would be special…please Troy?" she wheedled and turned her pleading eyes on him. He never could resist that look.  He was a goner and he knew it, but if he was going down he was damn sure it was gonna be just hard on her as it was on him.

"Alright Brie, we'll wait….We can start making arrangements tomorrow"

Gabriella clapped her hands and let out an excited little scream, hugging him and then thrusting him back as though burned.

"But Gab" he interrupted, sending her a hot look that made her shiver "I'm not promising I won't try to change your mind…and Brie?"

"Uh huh?" she asked staring at him, her heart suddenly racing at the dangerous look on his face.

"I play dirty….very, very dirty"

Gabriella gulped…. God she hoped so.