Okay, a longer wait for the end of IP, I'm hopping over to this one, it's in more need of an update. I'll be right back to finishing IP soonish (when I feel like it).

This isn't the longest or the best chapter ever, and it's fluffy and kind of shorter than I wanted, but that seemed like the right place to leave it off.

Gabriella cuddled further into Troy's side at the sight of the blonde girl standing just outside the doors of the main building to the country club. She couldn't help but feel intimidated at the sight of her boyfriend's ex. Summer was gorgeous. She could have had any guy she wanted. They were all looking at her. Yet, the blonde's gaze was focused firmly on Troy as they approached.

"Hey." She grinned perkily, stepping in front of their path. "I was wondering if we could meet for lunch, we have so much to catch up on a figured, why wait until school?"

Gabriella froze, flinching when her boyfriend tensed up seconds later. He'd noticed her reaction.

"Gab and I already have plans." He lied, reasoning that they probably would have lunch together anyway. "Sorry. We can catch up some other time maybe?"

"Sure." Summer gave a fake smile. "Tomorrow maybe? I can come whenever you want."

"I think we have plans tomorrow too." He started, looking down at his girlfriend. "Isn't it tomorrow that you're coming to mine for dinner?"

Gabriella nodded, understanding what he was trying to do. "Yeah, tomorrow."

He looked back up at Summer. "Mom's been going on and on about how she never sees her, figured we'd put in an appearance."

He didn't wait for a response, knowing that Summer knew all too well that his mother didn't like her, he just quickly stepped around her and led his girlfriend inside towards their respective locker rooms.

He leant down, placing a soft kiss on her crown as they walked, the soothing gesture a clear attempt to comfort her. "You okay?"

She nodded. "I just need to get used to her being here."

He sat her down when they reached the kitchen, glancing around to see the almost empty room. No one was listening to their conversation, and their friends had obviously seen the seriousness in his eyes and decided to keep their distance.

"Gab." He waited until she looked up at him. "You haven't been sleeping."

She let out a frustrated groan, frowning as she observed him. "I am. Mom's just worrying too much." She flinched as he raised his eyebrows in disbelief. He always did know when she was lying. "The neighbours are really noisy."

"Gabs." He repeated. "What did I say?" She didn't answer, so he reminded her himself. "I said that I need you to tell me things, because I can't read your mind." She nodded, but continued to stubbornly refuse to open up. "What's going on?"

"It's no big deal." She tried, frowning as he sighed once again, placing his arms either side of her, trapping her in place. "It's stupid."

"It's not stupid if it's stopping you from sleeping." He pressed a kiss to her forehead, encouraging her to open up. "Talk to me."

"I just..." She tried, trailing off as she watched him. "I sleep better when you're there." She couldn't help but smile at the grin that broke out on his face. "It's not funny, it's pathetic and desperate, but, I don't know, I guess after everything, I just feel safer. If you're there I don't have nightmares."

He wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her up from the stool and into his arms. "You need me to be there when you go to sleep?" She nodded, making him chuckle slightly. "All you had to do was ask, you know."

"You can't be there every night." She complained, pulling back from him slightly. "My mom and your parents wouldn't let you, and it's not fair for you to have to stay at mine until I'm asleep and then go home really late."

"I'll figure something out." He promised, smiling softly. "Whatever you need, remember?" His smile dropped as he considered the other part of her statement. "What nightmares?"

She turned away from him, not wanting to see the look that she knew would be evident on his face. "Everyone leaves me. My dad, Taylor, you, even mom. Everyone leaves."

She felt his grip tighten. "I will never leave you, okay?" His voice was strong and certain. "Not for anything. Not again." The flinch following the final words was so small she almost didn't notice, but she knew him. "Your mom isn't going anywhere either, I can't speak for Taylor but I doubt she's planning on leaving you behind, you're her best friend. Your dad." He paused. "You're better off without him. You don't need him. It's his loss."

"I'm sorry I keep bringing this up." She frowned, feeling his fingers brush her chin, gently making her look at him. "It must be getting old."

"Hey." He sighed, running a hand through her hair. "If you need to talk about it, you need to talk about it. I'm here. If that's what you want to talk about, then it's what we'll talk about, okay?"

She smiled softly. "Okay."

"You'll tell me if you have anymore nightmares?" He asked. "Promise."

She nodded. "Promise." She hesitated. "I don't have them if you're there."

He brushed another kiss in her hair. "I told you, I'll figure something out."

"I can't ask you to be there every night." She complained again. "It's not fair."

"You're not asking." He chuckled, standing her up and pulling her into his body, holding her tightly to him. "I said I'd figure something out, and I will. I can't have you all sleep deprived now, can I?" He caught a glimpse of silver as she moved her arm up to his shoulder, attempting to twist in his arms to face him. Catching her hand, he smiled. "You can't wear this while you're working, you know." He fingered the charm bracelet on her wrist. "Don't want it getting lost."

"I don't want to take it off." She pouted, watching as he played with the bracelet before entwining their fingers. "Maybe I should have left it at home, it would have been safer." She looked up at him. "Mom loves it, by the way. ."

"She does?" He asked, watching as she nodded. "Have I managed to redeem myself with her?" He almost chuckled at her curious look. "Your mom has been a bit off with me since the whole Sharpay thing. I pretended not to notice, but she was."

"Oh, you noticed that." Gabriella bit her lip. "I was kind of hoping you hadn't."

"It's good." He assured her. "I kind of expected it. I'd be more weirded out if she hadn't been a little off with me for a while."

"She's just, protective." She pointed out. "She's okay now though. I think she is anyway. She did let you take me home the other day. Is that when she asked you about the sleeping? Just before we left?"

He nodded. "She's worried."

"She doesn't need to be." She pulled back slightly. "I'm fine."

"That's all I want." He commented, unsure as to whether or not he believed her. " I wasn't lying earlier. My mom really does want to see you. She says you don't come round enough."

Gabriella laughed. "I was there last week!"

"I think she means on your own, without all of the others there." He clarified. "You know, you come over while I'm watching the game with my dad and you and mom have conversations about stuff I don't even understand. I think she misses it."

"I miss it too." She admitted. "It's been a while."

"Saturday?" He asked. "There's no game, but I'm sure dad and I can find something to do for a couple of hours."

She nodded in agreement. "As long as your mom doesn't already have plans."

-MIR-

"I might be in a little bit of trouble."

Gabriella turned at the familiar voice, giving a weak smile at the sight of the man who had been standing behind her. "How so?"

"I used my real name to get in here." He confessed. "You know, cops are probably still looking out for my name appearing anywhere."

"How would that get you into trouble?" She queried. "You had a reason for not coming forward, right?"

"All the same." He commented. "It'll cause trouble with your dad."

"Don't call him that." She complained. "He's never been much of a father, and he doesn't deserve the chance. Not with me anyway."

""Gotcha." He responded. "He's going back to California anyway."

"Are you going too?"

"Not if I can avoid it." He changed the subject. "How's your mom?"

"Uncle Michael." Gabriella sighed. " Why don't you just tell the police what happened? They can't do anything to you anymore."

He frowned. "I made a deal, kid. They let your mom go, they kept me, and I cooperated."

"So why are you here?" She asked. "If there's nothing you can do?"

"Am I not allowed to see my niece?" He smiled faintly. "Still trying to get used to that word. Anna was 8 when I last saw her."

"You could come and see her again." Gabriella suggested. "She'd love to see you, so would your parents. She keeps asking me how I know you're okay. You have to let me tell her." He stayed quiet. "I told her what you did." She paused. "Not about Aaron, just about how you made them let her go in exchange for cooperation." He stayed silent, watching her carefully. "She gets it, I think, but she still has questions. I don't even know if she believes me, I think she does."

"We'll see what happens, okay?" He decided. "If I can figure out a way to stay. I'll see her. It wouldn't be fair to do that to her if I can't stay."

"It's okay to do this to me?"

"Gabriella." He warned. "You know that Aaron didn't give me a choice."

She rolled her eyes. "Yes."

He reached into his pocket, pulling out a collection of envelopes, holding it out to her. "Birthday cards. For your mom. One for every year I've been gone."

She took the envelopes from him, letting her hand drop by her side. "They won't stop her asking questions."

"It's all I can do right now." He checked his watch. "I should be going. Meant to be watching Alex this afternoon."

Gabriella nodded. "Bye."

"For now." Michael added. "I'll figure it out, okay."

She nodded again. "Okay."

He gave her an awkward one armed hug that almost made her smile before he walked away. He wasn't used to having a niece.

-MIR-

Gabriella shifted comfortably in her boyfriends arms, exhausted after her day at work. She was focusing on the movie currently blaring from the TV screen, well aware that he himself was not. He very rarely actually watched the movies they put on, he always said that he preferred to watch her and the funny facial expressions she made as a response to what was happening on the screen.

"You're watching me again." She stated, her eyes remaining on the screen. "You're missing the movie. Again."

"It's a bad movie."

He was right. "How would you know? You're not watching it."

"You get this look on your face when you think a movie is bad." He smiled. "You play with your hair a lot more, and you start to daydream."

She giggled. "You watch me way too much." Moving closer to him, she slipped a hand under his shirt, intent on resting it on the skin of his stomach, glancing up at him in curiousity when she did. "Troy." She paused, narrowing her eyes slightly. "Why are you wearing two shirts?"

"Because." He began, chuckling slightly. "As much as your neighbours love me, I don't think they want to see me walk out of here shirtless later tonight."

"Why would you be doing that?"

He leaned down and kissed her lightly. "I'm leaving one of these here." He ran a hand through her hair. "Just to see if it helps you sleep any better." He paused, taking in her reaction. "It could work."

She narrowed her eyes playfully. "What did you do?"

"What?"

"You're being sweet." Gabriella pointed out. "You didn't do anything weird?"

He laughed. "No, I didn't do anything weird. I just want you sleeping properly."

"Maybe Chad's right." She smirked, turning back to the movie. "Maybe you are whipped."

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