A/N: Okay, this is set on Sunday, okay? Ummm...HSMandChelseaFCfan didn't write anything from this because I'm greedy lol. You meet Lucas. If you forgot, you'll figure it out in the chapter... Don't own HSM

Chapter 25 – Lucas

Troy groaned and his eyes fluttered open. He patted the spot next to him and sat up. He glanced at the clock and saw that it was eight thirty. He knew that Gabriella wouldn't have left the house but curiosity got the better of him. He pushed the covers off, remembering their early morning activities. Gabriella had been right – as always. It had been so much better than the previous times. It wasn't that he didn't enjoy the previous times, he was just happy that Gabriella hadn't been in pain this time. She had clung to him tightly and buried her face into his neck in an attempt to muffle her moans and whimpers of pleasure.

He shook the thoughts from his head and climbed out of the bed to begin searching for his boxers. Gabriella had been so excited to make love again that he had no idea as to where his boxers were. Soon realising that he wouldn't find them anytime soon, he approached the closet and pulled it open. He pulled on a clean pair of boxers and then reached for a wife beater. After pulling it over his head, he reached for his red East High basketball shorts. He pulled them up to his hips and then made his way out of their room.

He noticed that the guest bedroom – which had finally been decorated, though Troy refused to move there – door was shut and guessed that Maria had moved upstairs but didn't want to sleep in the room she had once shared with Aidan. Devon's bedroom door was still shut and he sighed, knowing that his girlfriend would get worked up again over what to tell her brother.

He wandered down the stairs and leaned against the kitchen doorframe as he watched the love of his life in amusement. Now he knew exactly where his boxers were. Gabriella was dressed in his shirt – no surprises – but instead of his jeans, his boxers were hanging from her hips.

She was singing softly to herself, oblivious to his presence, and dancing gracefully around the island as she prepared breakfast. He smirked to himself at the obvious affect he had on her as she spun around in front of him and he stepped forward to wrap his arms around her waist, joining her in her dance. He grinned down at her as her eyes flung open and he kissed her cheek in greeting. "Good morning, Miss Montez. Now, why, I have to question, did you leave me all alone in that big bed of yours?"

Gabriella stopped her movements and shrugged as she reached up to smooth down his dishevelled hair. "Well, Mr Bolton, I wanted to make you breakfast in thanks for doing everything you did yesterday."

He smiled in approval and turned his head to the side. He tilted his cheek towards her and smiled when she giggled. As she leaned up to kiss his cheek, he twisted his head so they caught the corner of the other's mouth. He pulled back and turned to the island where Gabriella's breakfast preparations were lying. "What are you making?"

"I was making scrambled eggs with chocolate sauce. But then I decided to make bacon sandwiches instead." She explained, running her hands down her favourite part of his anatomy – his arms. If there was one thing Troy could show her to make her sigh in happiness, it was his arms.

He smiled once again in amusement at her gesture. "You know, some girls would appreciate something else which is reserved for only you."

"Do you not know me at all?" She whispered as she let go of his biceps and hugged him affectionately. "I don't think like that – unlike someone I know." She poked his chest.

He smirked and rolled his eyes. "That isn't what you said last night."

She poked her tongue out and broke from his arms and wandered back over to the island to resume her cooking. "So, are you helping or are you just going to watch?"

Troy leant against the island next to her and smiled lazily across at her. "Watch you." He said simply as he curled a lock of hair around his finger.

Gabriella shook her head slightly as she picked up the knife she had placed on the counter and continued to spread butter onto the fluffy bread. "You'd probably burn our kitchen anyway."

He nodded seriously. "Probably. Nice boxers."

She blushed and glanced down at the plaid boxers which fell to just below her knees. "Don't give me that look!"

"Bella, Baby," He murmured as he leaned over to her ear, "you're turning into a kleptomaniac."

"No!" She exclaimed, turning to face him. "Only to you. Your clothes smell nice."

"So do yours." He whispered as his fingers traced her cheek. "I can't wear them though."

"Why is that?" She wondered out loud, turning back to the bread in front of her. "Why is it romantic when a girl wears her boyfriend's shirt but disturbing when a guy where's his girlfriend's clothes?"

Troy stared at her in disbelief. "Well, your clothes won't fit me because you're so small." He ignored the glare she was sending him. "And everyone already thinks my ass is whipped. Why would I walk around in a pink blouse?"

"Because you love me?" She grinned at him and kissed him.

He pulled back, his finger still curling her hair. He shot her look of fake shock. "I would've thought you'd know that by now, Gabriella."

She finally turned to him, leaving the bread lying on the counter. Her arms wound around his neck and she sighed in pleasure. "I do. And I love you, too."

He nodded and licked his lips. "So, anyway, how are you feeling?"

She sighed and kissed his neck quickly. "I'm okay. I'm much better. I'm just worried about Devon is all. But, he has you. That means so much to me. That he has someone to fall back on, you know? Someone that can give him that little bit of masculine feeling so he doesn't feel overpowered by the oestrogen."

He chuckled and nodded. "I'll tell you what. After everything has calmed down and he understands everything, how about we have some sleepovers? You and all the girls can get together and you can get interrogated by them and me, Big D and all the guys can get together. What do you think?" He cupped her cheek and saw her uncertain expression.

"Troy, that's sweet but what about Mom? I don't think she should be alone right now." She whispered.

The phone started ringing and Troy grabbed it from the island, one arm still around Gabriella. "Hello?"

Gabriella's ears pricked at the familiar voice on the other line and she snatched the phone from him. "Uncle Luc?"

"Gabby, it's me." She giggled at the familiar voice on the other end.

"What's up?" She questioned.

"Hey, um, is your mom there?" Lucas asked quietly.

"She's sleeping." Gabriella sighed.

"Still? Isn't she working today?"

Gabriella rested her cheek against Troy's chest and closed her eyes. "Not today."

"That's understandable." Lucas replied quietly.

Gabriella held the phone out for Troy, knowing she couldn't continue the conversation. Her lip trembled, making her stutter. "Can you please talk to him? I don't think I can."

Troy took the phone off of her and rubbed her back soothingly. Her arms locked around his torso and he held in an angry growl. He shook his head slightly and held the phone to his ear. "Hello?"

"Hey, where's Gabby? Where'd she go?" Lucas asked frantically.

"She's a little upset right now. She's right here but doesn't want to talk." Troy explained.

"Well, I don't mean to sound rude or anything but, who are you?" Lucas asked politely.

"I'm Troy Bolton, Gabriella's boyfriend. I'm guessing you're her Uncle Lucas who I've heard loads about." Troy said brightly.

"Troy Bolton?" Lucas asked in amazement. "You were her best friend when you were six?"

"That's me." Troy chuckled gently.

"I'm sorry about your parents." He said quietly. "I heard all about it."

Troy sucked in a deep breath. "No worries. I got people to help me. Bella, Big D, Maria and all of our friends. I'm not alone."

"Bella?" Lucas asked in amusement.

"Long story?" Troy asked.

"Hey, listen, Aidan called me just now and told me what happened. I'm coming round. Is everyone, you know, decent?" Lucas asked.

"Well, we're both clothed…" Troy mumbled.

"That'll do." Lucas muttered before her hung up.

Troy placed the phone on the counter and they both turned when they heard a key in the lock and the door open. Troy smiled when he saw a tall man with brown hair – a shade somewhere between Troy and Gabriella – which was slightly messy. The creased shirt and jeans added to his appearance of just getting out of bed. It didn't surprise Troy. From what Gabriella said about what Lucas felt for Maria and what had happened seventeen years ago – plus Lucas knowing what Aidan did – it was pretty much common sense that he would be in the house.

Lucas shut the door and jogged into the kitchen. "Hey." He opened his arms and Gabriella moved into them. "Hey, Troy. Nice to meet you again. The last time I saw you, you were two were two years old."

Troy smiled brightly as he shook the older man's hand. "Same here."

Lucas rubbed Gabriella's back – just like Troy had done moments ago – and sighed. "Gabby, Honey, I'm sorry I haven't been around. You know how crazy it is being a doctor. Well, you should do. I mean, your mom's one, isn't she?"

Gabriella turned to Troy and smiled when he immediately wiped her cheeks. "Uncle Luc is a doctor like my mom."

Lucas glanced at the half-prepared breakfast. "You two okay?"

Gabriella nodded. "Yeah. We're fine. But, there's a woman upstairs who isn't. She's in the guestroom."

Lucas nodded but then smirked. "Nice outfit, Gabby."

Gabriella groaned in embarrassment and glared playfully. "Go and comfort my mom. She needs you more than I do. I've already got my Romeo."

"I don't want to be your mom's Romeo." Lucas protested.

"Then why'd you come here?" Gabriella asked quietly. "I know you're not just my godfather. Mom told me a few months back."

"Yeah?" Lucas whispered.

Gabriella nodded as she stepped towards him again. "Yeah. I've always wondered why I have attached earlobes but neither Mom nor Aidan does." She smiled slightly and shrugged.

Lucas reached out and brushed some hair behind her ear as his eyes became watery. "My daughter?"

She nodded as tears leaked from her eyes. "Daddy?"

He nodded and then she embraced him, crying into his chest. "Gabby, its okay, I promise. I know a lot has happened in the last couple of years, I know."

She pulled back and shook her head. "It's not that. You've been here more than Aidan has…ever."

He nodded, smiling slightly. "I know, Baby Girl, but that's because I knew you were mine. I knew you were my baby girl and I wanted to be here as much as possible. I love you, Gabriella."

"I love you, too, Daddy." She whispered through a giggle.

They heard floorboards squeaking upstairs and Lucas sighed. "Can I go and comfort Maria now. We can totally talk later. We need to talk about Troy."

Gabriella groaned. "Daddy," The word slipped surprisingly easily off of her tongue, "we've already talked to Mom."

"And now you'll talk to me." He grinned. "It's not that I don't approve, I do. I just want to talk."

She smiled slightly. "Aidan still doesn't know we're together."

Lucas kissed her forehead. "It's okay. It's over now. But, I really want to talk to Maria so, I'll talk to you later."

Gabriella nodded and smiled as her father rushed to the stairs. She turned around and realised that her boyfriend was gone. She skipped into the living room to see him sitting on the couch. "Hey, Troy," He turned to face her and she sat next to him.

"Did you sort everything out?" He asked, his arm sliding around her waist.

She nodded, smiling. "Yeah. We did. Thanks for giving us some privacy." She whispered.

He pecked her lips and shrugged. "Hey, no worries."

Gabriella took a deep breath and felt her smile widen. "My dad is comforting my mom as we speak. He's winning her over. If I'm honest, he doesn't have to fight that hard. My mom's feelings have changed just like Aidan's did. Except, she still loves him. Just not as much as she used to. Does that make sense?" She looked at him, her eyebrows creased together.

Troy nodded. "I get it. People change, Bella. Feelings change. Things change and there's nothing you can do about it. You've just got to hope that someone's there to help you through it."

Gabriella reached up to brush his bangs out of his eyes and smiled slightly. "I've got you." She whispered.

He nodded, relieved she didn't break down crying for fear that Troy's feelings would change or he would change, himself. "And I have you." He whispered in reply.

* * *

Lucas paused slightly as he raised his hand to tap the guestroom door. Maybe he should let her rest and think things through. Just because he and Gabriella had now turned their relationship to how it was supposed to be – father and daughter – doesn't mean that he and Maria can just pick up where they left off seventeen years ago. And what about Devon? What would he think? About any of it: Aidan, his new relationship with Gabriella, and his possible relationship with Maria.

His thoughts were interrupted when the door was cracked open and he saw Maria looking up at him with wide eyes, telling him how vulnerable she was feeding. Tears tracks stained her cheeks and her eyes became watery again at the sight of him. Her hair was in a messy ponytail and had slept in her clothes from the previous day. "Hey, Maria."

She blew her nose into the tissue she was holding in her balled up hand. "Lucas? What are you doing here?"

"Making sure you're okay. Aidan called me and told me everything, from Gabriella running away to California to why you kicked him out." He smiled slightly and shrugged. "As you can see, I didn't take all that long to get ready."

She managed a quiet giggle but then collapsed into tears. "How could he do that?"

Lucas shrugged. "I honestly don't know. All these years, he's been the luckiest man alive. At least I thought so."

Maria's lip trembled as a sob escaped. "You were always there, weren't you?"

He nodded. "I tried to be. Part of it was Gabby…part of it was you."

She looked down and took a deep breath. "What about you and him?"

Lucas stepped forward and lifted her chin with two fingers. "Do you think I care?"

"I don't want you to care." She whispered. "But, do you?"

Lucas chuckled softly and shook his head. "No. Of course not. How could I? Maria, you have to believe me. I didn't know anything. I was as clueless as you were."

She nodded silently and took his hand in her own. "What hurts me the most is that I wasn't the only one he hurt. What about Gabby and Devvy? And because Gabby was hurt, Troy was! I want to hate him and I think a part of me does. But, I still love him."

If Lucas' heart wasn't broken enough from the sigh of the woman in front of him, it broke that little bit more. "I know. Come on, I want you to talk." He took her hand and led her back into the guestroom, shutting the door.