The loud laughter and clashing of plates was a sound always familiar to the happy home. You could almost hear the loud shouts of happy cheer from outside as they buzzed around the kitchen. They were all lined up in front of the stove grabbing there dinner, and Shawn tried to subtly make his way in front of his sister , but Gabriella wasn't having any of that.

"Shawn! No cuts." Gabriella giggled as she pushed him out of line.

"Hey, I have a bigger appetite then you, meaning I should eat before you."

"That's not how it works."

"Shawn stop bugging your sister." There dad scolded and Gabriella looked at him triumphantly making him roll his eyes.

"Back of the line Shawn." Tim said and he groaned grabbing his plate and going to the back of the line causing Gabriella to giggle. Being the only girl paid off.

Of course she wasn't the only girl. She had cousins and aunts but she loved having only brothers. Most girls would hate it. Begging and pleading for a sister, but she loved the attention of being the only girl. Her dad always stood up for her against her older brothers, more against Shawn, and he always pouted saying it was because she was the baby.

"It's only cause it's Gabriella. If it was Tim, I'd have my food by now." He mumbled to Bill who chuckled.

"Gab!" Holly said excitedly coming down the stairs. "I thought you weren't coming today."

"Yeah well, business was slow so I just closed for the day."

"Is Troy here?" She asked and Gabriella shook her head sadly.

"No, he's still in Philadelphia."

"Sucky." The sixteen year old replied making her laugh.

"Yes, very sucky." She giggled. "Now, come on, stand in front of me, you need to eat." She said taking her shoulders gently and nudging her in front of her in line.

"Oh come on!" Shawn yelled and the family laughed.

They sat around the small dinner table, talking and laughing. Shawn set next to his wife Mona who sat next to Nicole, who sat next to Tim. Tim was sitting by Gabriella, who was sitting by Holly who was sitting by Bill, and Bill was situated next to Jeff.

"Um everyone." Shawn said, clearing his throat. "We have an announcement to make." He continued sharing an excited glance with his wife. "We were going to wait until everyone could be here, but since Gab decided to come, it seems like the perfect time."

"Would you just spit it out already." Tim said and Nicole nudged him. He rolled his eyes as Jeff gave his son a warning stare, and Shawn glared at his brother.

"Mona's pregnant." He finally said and the girls gasped standing from there seat rushing over to her while the men of the family smiled giving him a pat on the back, giving him there congratulations.

"Oh my god, how far are you?" Gabriella asked touching her thin stomach.

"Just a couple weeks." Mona smiled.

"This is so exciting." Nicole said as she also laid her hands on her stomach.

"Do you want a girl or a boy?"

"Well, I want a little girl but Shawn really wants a boy."

"Oh god, a little Shawn." Gabriella groaned making them giggle. "Hopefully it'll take after you."

"No kidding." Nicole added with a laugh.

"What about you Nicole?" Mona asked

"What about me?"

"You think Tim's going to take the next step anytime soon?"

"Like..an engagement?" She asked and the girls laughed at her response.

"That's usually what the next step considers." Gabriella replied.

"Oh, I don't know. I mean I'd love it if he.." She said breaking off awkwardly making them smile at her embaressment.

"Proposed." Mona filled in teasingly.

"Yeah. But I don't think he's going to."

"You never know, he might."

"Oh, I doubt it." She said with a shake of her head, a light blush playing on her cheeks. Both Mona and Gabriella found great amusement at the fact the word proposal couldn't be uttered off her tongue. As if they were talking about sex or...robbery.

"What ever say."

Gabriella got out of her car and smiled at the brown package waiting for her on the steps. Picking it up, she unlocked the door, not waiting a second as she ran up the stairs.

The apartment was just the way she left it before her trip to New Jersey. She turned on the lights bringing the apartment to life. She set the box on the counter and opened it eagerly. Excited to see what new and daring photos Troy had created.

She let a quiet laugh escape as she took out the photos. It was three framed pictures of the Philadelphia football stadium and a posed shot of Troy, pretending to throw the football. She giggled and held it close to her chest. Before grabbing the phone, and dialling the familiar number.

"Hello?"

"Hey."

"Hey baby." He replied excitedly. "How was your parents house?"

"Good. It was a lot of fun. Oh Troy, guess what."

"What?"

"Mona's pregnant!"

"No way!"

"Way." She teased with a giggle.

"A little Shawn." He chuckled.

"That's what I said." She giggled again as she paced back and forth. She looked around the apartment, at the painted walls while he spoke. Listening to the soft melody of his voice, she still clutched the humorous photo of Troy to her chest.

"And so they loved my photo's baby, you wouldn't believe it. Make sure you pick up the paper tomorrow, front page." He boasted.

"That's great Troy."

"I've been trying to get them in a gallery, but I don't think that's going to happen anytime soon."

"Baby, you'll get there. I know you will. Your so talented, they'd be crazy not to show your pictures."

"Thanks baby."

"Speaking of your beautiful photos, I got a package today."

"Oh really?"

"Mhm." She giggled. "I especially love the one of you." She added pulling the picture away from her chest and smiling at it.

"I thought you might." He laughed.

"Very Eli Manning of you." She said and he laughed.

"I had a nude one in there of me but I took it out at the last minute." He joked making her laugh. Her smile slowly faded as her eyes caught the wooden door. A room she hasn't been in since Troy left. "Baby, I got to go, but I love you and I'll call you first thing tomorrow okay?" He asked bringing her from her daze.

"Uh, yeah. I'll talk to you tomorrow." She mumbled, as her fingers played with the door knob gently. "Hey Troy?"

"Hm?"

I love you."

"I love you too Ella." He said happily. She sighed as she hung up the phone, her hand fully grasping the knob, but she paused reluctant to walk in the room.

It would hurt so bad to enter the dark room. She knew it would. She recently taught herself that crying every time she hung up the phone wasn't the best way to go. She was coping with the distance and she started to get used to it. Once the door opened, all the progress would go away. And it'd be like he left all over again. Her lungs filled with air as she took in a deep breath, her hand turned the handle hesitantly opening the wooden door, she saw the string that travelled from one side to the other. The buckets full of water, and developed photos hanging forgotten. She flicked on the light bravely and was surprised she was still standing as the red light lit up the room.

Flashback

"How do you do it?" She asked her eyes getting used to the red light, that was provided so he could develop his photos.

"Well," He started, positioning her in front of one of the buckets, her eyes glanced up to try to catch a glimpse of the pictures that were hanging in front of her seeing them still wet. He stood behind her taking a hold of her arm and making her pick up a pair of tongs. "You need to grab a photo." He said making her pick one up with the tongs. "And just let it sit in the bucket for a while. Just keep moving it around so it's completely wet." Gabriella did as she was told with Troy standing behind her looking over her shoulder as her delicate hands moved the photo back and forth. The red light making her skin glow. "Now all you have to do is pin it up." He said taking the photo and pinning it on the clothes line. "It takes a while for them to develop, though." He said and she nodded in understanding. "Here, I think some are actually starting to turn out." He walked around the table looking at all of his photos finding some that had the picture starting to come through. "See here, you always see this black line." He said pointing out the line with his pinkie finger, but being careful to not touch it. "Then you'll be able to see the outline of the picture." He then pointed to the one beside it, showing the outline of a man. "Before you know it, you got yourself a picture."

-

She turned around fully and he wrapped his arms around her waist. Her fingers traced his cheek bones looking into his eyes. The vibrant blue the only thing in her vision without a red tint. He leaned in and kissed her gently and she quickly kissed back. Her hands moved to wrap around his neck and he gripped her waist tightly pulling her as close as possible. His tongue ran tenderly over her lip and she parted her lips greeting his moist tongue. He felt his tongue explore her warm mouth moaning slightly at the feeling. He turned them around leaning her against the wall, his hand leaning on the wall above her head while the other was placed on her neck under her hair. She gripped his shirt feverishly and moaned into the kiss. They pulled back breathing deeply and Troy slipped the long sleeve shirt she was wearing off easily, throwing it where ever it decided to land. His lips immediately found hers again leaving no time for her to feel bashful which pleased her. Her hands cupped his neck, the tips of her finger dancing around the tiny hairs on his neck.

-

They both panted. The sweat from there bodies being electrified from the coloured light. Gabriella watched Troy's pants hit the hardwood floor and he smiled at her before kissing her. He slowly laid them on the floor hearing her giggle as he ripped the blanket from the window, seeing the usual lively New York, peaceful and quiet

End Flashback

She ran her fingertips over the counter before seating herself on the wooden stool. She smiled to herself remembering making fun of Troy for spending all his time in the dark room. Night and day he'd be in there and she used to always say he'd be seeing red for the rest of his life, if he stayed any longer.

She looked at the forgotten photos that were held in place by the small clothespin. Most were just of her. She was cooking in one, reading in another, and in one she was just looking at the camera unbelievingly.

One picture caused her to laugh quietly. Troy was sticking out his tongue playfully and Gabriella was laughing at her crazy boyfriend.

She thought she'd crash coming back into the room that held so many memories. She thought she'd start crying and throwing a fit, but she was surprisingly calm. She was happy. As if the room connected her with him in a way. She could still remember the look of the erratic red light glistening on his skin.

If she hasn't said it before, she missed him like crazy.

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