To all of those who don't know, I started my new story. It's called All You Need Is Love

And I am so sorry it has been a while since I have updated, I kind of got into All You Need Is Love. I didn't mean for that to happen. Sorry.

This story is coming to a close, I just have to finish up this chapter, and then they go off to college. I wish I could make this story longer, I just don't have it in me. The next (and final) chapter will have a lot of info and flashbacks I think will be sufficient to end it nicely.

I will be doing the sequel as soon as All You Need Is Love is done. Look for that in the future.

Anyways, review please.

Penultimate- The one before the last

I didn't sleep at Troy's house that night. My mom called me home to celebrate Serena's happy pregnancy. I realized that I am happy for her, she is going to be a great mother, and she is at the time in her life where having a baby is a good thing, not a bad one.

I woke up around ten, and instantly went into the shower and dressed myself so I could go see Troy. I put on a pair of blue skinny jeans, a red cami that has a lacy neckline, finishing it off with a tight black leather jacket that has sleeves to the elbows and is zipped up halfway. Plus black leather knee high boots.

Troy really does love his present. When ever we are touching each other, his hand always has to go down and touch it, I don't really mind though. I like that he does it. The one thing I do know, though, is that my brothers won't. So they cannot know, thank God Marc and Luke are at Duke, which they are loving. They are pledging a fraternity, like I didn't see that one coming. Their basketball team is doing great, and they actually like some of the classes they are taking. Weird. They are taking random courses because they don't know what they want to be yet.

It was around noon when I was done, I went slow, and began to make my way over to Troy's house. I already texted him when I woke up and said happy birthday, but I still wanted to see him. I walked right in the backdoor like normal. "Troy!" I called into the house, closing the door behind me.

"Babe, I'm right here," Troy answered, and I looked over to see him at the counter in the kitchen.

I smiled and walked over to him and proceeded to kiss him on the lips before speaking. "Happy Birthday," I said against his lips.

"Mm, best one so far," he replied, wrapping his arms around my waist to pull me tight against him.

I smiled wider and bit my lip. "Glad I can help," I told him, and he smiled too. "Where's your mom?" I questioned, noticing she wasn't around at the moment.

"She just went up to take a shower as you walked in. Nice timing, Montez," he answered, slipping his fingers under my shirt to feel my tattoo. "Before you ask, no I will never leave it alone," he informed me, a grin on his face. "I love it."

"Good. I want you happy on your birthday," I told him, grabbing onto the sides of his light blue open short sleeved dress shirt that he matched with a white t-shirt, blue jeans and black sneakers.

He nodded. "I am, I want today to last forever," he responded, pulling me closer if it was possible. "I don't want to see my father tomorrow," he explained, and rested his forehead against mine. "I was thinking last night, after you left," he murmured, his eyes soft.

"Yeah, about what?" I asked, moving one of my hands to run through his hair.

Troy took in a deep breath and looked me in the eye. "About how I don't want you to meet my dad," he confessed, and I opened my mouth to speak, but he started talking first. "He's a dick, Brie, I don't want you to meet him. He doesn't know I'm in love with you, mostly because I know he will go into this big speech about how you are a girl and I can't let girls affect me, and I have to focus on the game. And because he won't approve," he told me, his voice low.

"I get that, babe, I really do, but part of me wants to meet your dad even though he is a dick," I replied, and he nodded slightly. "Troy, we've handled my trying to bury my feelings for you, my family finding out we have sex, a car accident, Britney, me cheating on you, Robbie, and a miscarriage, I think we can handle your father," I added.

"It's not like I think him being a dick to you will break us up, it's me I'm worried about," he told me, and I looked at him with questioning eyes. "If he's who he is to you, I'm not just going to let him keep doing it," he explained.

I sighed. "Troy, if your dad says anything to me that is mean, I don't want you to start a fight with him or anything," I informed him. "What ever he does say, I'm not going to take it to heart, don't worry about it," I told him.

"No, he shouldn't say anything bad about you at all, Brie," he corrected. "He should see that you make me happy, that we're in love, that you're everything to me, not basketball. He should see that and deal with it, because it's never going to change," he told me. "I love you, Gabriella, and I'm going to spend the rest of my life with you whether my dad wants me to or not," he declared.

"Exactly," I agreed. "You do love me, and we are going to spend the rest of our lives together no matter what he says, so don't care what he says," I elaborated, running my hands down his chest and tugged on his arms to lace my hands with his. "Is it wrong that I kinda want your dad to accept us and me?" I asked a moment later, contradicting myself.

Troy dropped my hands and moved so his where on either side of my face and threaded into my hair. "No, it's not wrong, it's not wrong at all. I know you, Brie, you just said that we shouldn't care what he says and then you tell me you want him to accept us, which I get. I wanted your parents and sibling to accept us too, and they do. My dad isn't like your family though, he has a one track mind, and that track doesn't include you, even though it should," he told me.

"Can we stop talking about this?" I questioned, my voice a whisper. "It's your birthday, it's supposed to be happy, not filled with all this serious talk," I explained. "We're ganna go over Sharpay's tonight with the rest of our friends, and you are going to have a good time," I ordered in a stern voice.

"Yes, ma'am," Troy replied, a smile lighting up his face. "But we are going to have to finish this talk before he gets here tomorrow," he added, and I nodded.

"Wait, since he is going to be here for a week, does that mean you can't sneak out in the middle of the night and come to my house?" I asked, slipping my finger through his belt loops.

Troy shook his head. "I'm not going to let him take that away," he responded, and pressed his lips against mine.

"Oh, did I come down too early?" I heard Lucy ask behind me, and I instantly pulled away from Troy. "Hi, Gabi. Over to wish Troy a Happy Birthday, I assume?" she went on, smiling at us. I nodded and turned around so I was facing her, not Troy.

"Hi, Lucy," I greeted, and felt Troy wrap his arms around my waist from behind and pull me back so I was tight against him again. "Yeah, this is Troy's first birthday I've been around for, so I wanted to see him," I told her, and relaxed my body into Troy's.

She nodded. "That's right, Troy moved out here late November last year," she reminded herself, and smiled at us. "You two are so cute," she added in a coo.

"Mom," Troy whined behind me, and I chuckled.

"No, Troy, she's right, we are cute," I agreed with her and he let out a faint whine in my ear.

"Okay, it's not cool when you two gang up on me," he told me, slipping his hands into my front pockets. "We're going to my room," he informed Lucy and urged me along.

I laughed as he just about slammed his bedroom door. "But, babe, I was having fun making you uncomfortable in front of your mom," I told him, and he pushed lightly on my shoulders so I fell back onto his bed.

"Yeah, well, I wasn't and it's my birthday," he replied, and towered over me with a grin on his face. "And I want to enjoy my present a little," he said, and I smiled while looping my arms around his neck.

An hour and a half later found me and Troy getting dressed after one of our 'almosts' as I have to call them. I zipped up my high heeled boot and fell back onto the bed and threw my hand over my eyes. "I'm sorry," I whispered again, and felt him sit down next to me after putting his pants on.

"Baby, it's okay, we went over this yesterday," he reminded me, and I felt him run a hand up and down my side.

I removed my hand from my eyes and stared at the ceiling and shook my head. "No, I wanted to be able to do it for your birthday, and we were so close, Troy," I replied. "You can tell me all that you want that it doesn't bother you but you can handle it but I know that it is bull crap, I can barely handle it. I want to be with you again, all the way, I just.." I trailed off and got up onto my elbows.

"Stop pressuring yourself," he whispered against my lips before kissing me gently. Sharpay and Taylor told me the same thing yesterday at the park, but I can't help it.

"I can't help it, Troy, I want to be with you, I just can't get passed this stupid fear I have," I told him, and sat all the way up straight. "I know that my miscarriage happened for a reason, but sometimes I wish it never happened. All of it, that I never got pregnant, that I never had the miscarriage," I confessed, looking him in the eye.

He pushed a lock of hair behind my ear and cupped my cheek. "I know you do," he whispered, resting his forehead against mine. "Especially with Serena being pregnant, but it did happen. We can't change that, even if I wish I could go back in time so you didn't have to go through it alone, or at all. It did happen, we got through it, and now it's behind us. It's understandable that you're scared to have sex again, part of me is too," he told me, and I nodded slightly.

"You've never told me that," I responded, keeping my voice low.

"Yeah, well, I am, I guess my boy hormones out weigh my fears," he said, and I smiled and let out a half laugh. "I wish I could do something to make your fears go away, or guarantee that you won't get pregnant again, but I can't," he went on, being completely honest. "We're going to be as careful as we can, we have condoms and you're on birth control, you really can't get anymore protected than that," he told me.

"I know," I replied, scooting closer to him. "Hopefully my own hormones will kick in soon and they will out weigh my fears, too," I added, and he smiled.

"So, my party tonight," Troy started, pulling me closer. "Are we sleeping over Sharpay's, or.." he trailed off.

I shrugged. "Do you really want to go through this again tonight?" I asked, running a hand through his hair.

"First of all, we don't have to have sex tonight to have fun. Second of all, I want to wake up to your face tomorrow morning, and if we sleep here my dad will barge in on us, and if we sleep at your house someone in your family will barge in on us," he told me.

I nodded while smiling knowing this to be the truth. "So, sleeping at Sharpay's house," I said, and he grinned at me.

-

After extensive lying to my parents that sleeping over Sharpay's house will only be the girls, it's night and I'm at Sharpay's house. We, well Troy, decided to make the party low key, meaning just our friends and some alcohol. I didn't care if it was our friends, the entire school, or just me and Troy, as long as he was happy during it. And it looks like he is having fun, standing in the living room, laughing with Chad and a beer can in his hand. I don't care when he drinks, it's not like he is a bad drunk, and I'm not his mom. Gross.

I would be standing with him, or in his general area, but Sharpay insisted all the girls go into the dining room to do something. I wasn't really paying attention when she 'insisted. More like pull on Gabi's arm until she gets up and follows you. "Gabs, over here," I heard Taylor say and tug on my jacket so I looked over at them.

"Sorry," I apologized and picked up my cup that is filled with pop. "I was just looking at Troy, his dad is coming in tomorrow, remember?" I questioned, and took a sip of my drink.

"Wait, I didn't know that," Kelsi replied. Oh, yeah, she wasn't at the park yesterday, she was at the thing. "What's wrong with his dad?" she asked. She's so new.

"He's a dick," Sharpay answered for me. "But, I have better news. I had sex with Zeke," she told us, a wide smile on her face.

I chuckled at her. "That's great, Shar," I congratulated. What do you say to that? Way to go? Besides, it's not like I've had sex in a while, unfortunately.

"It was actually a couple weeks ago," Taylor informed us.

"And you didn't tell me? Why?" I questioned, turning to Sharpay who was glaring at Taylor who was just shrugging.

Kelsi had gone a little pink and was looking at anything besides us. She's never had sex, and is still a little shy about the subject. That was me like a year ago, but Troy changed that in me, I guess. "Well, you've been going through a lot lately, Gab. With the pregnancy, then miscarriage, and now with Serena being pregnant.. I don't know. I just figured that you didn't want to hear about my good news. Especially since you haven't been getting busy lately, if you know what I mean," she responded.

"Well, I still wanted to know," I told her. "It's a big deal for you, so it's a big deal to me," I added. "Maybe not as big, seeing as you know, it was you having the- oh, you know what I mean," I said, shaking my head.

"I have a question," Kelsi put in, and we all looked to her. "Is it true what they say about the shoe size thing? You know, that the size of their shoe is as big as.." she trailed off, pink flooding her cheeks, and we all laughed. "What? Stop laughing, Ryan's feet aren't that big," she told us, and we laughed more. After a minute, she started laughing too.

I felt an arm wrap around my shoulders, and looked over to see Chad. "So, what are we talking about?" he asked, and waited for an answer.

"Shoe sizes," Sharpay answered honestly, and Kelsi went pink again.

"Yeah, I'm an eight," I told him, and got a thank you smile from Kelsi. "So are Tay and Shar, so we all share shoes. Poor Kels is a seven, so when we share with her they are way too big," I explained to make the story more believable.

Chad didn't looked like he believed it. "I'm an eleven," he said, and we all tried to hide our laughs.

"Yes, yes you are," Taylor agreed, a grin on her face.

"Uh, okay. I think Birthday Boy misses you Ella," Chad told me, dropping his arm from around my shoulders. "Ryan is telling him about some disaster in the theatre, and Troy just keeps on staring at you. When I asked, he said he was staring at his present. I don't get it," he added.

I nodded. "Thanks Chad. Oh, and Troy's a twelve," I said before walking away, and caused more laughs. I came up behind Troy and looped on of my arms through his. "Hey," I greeted, a smile on my face. Ryan and Zeke instantly disappeared and Troy turned to me. "What's up with them?" I questioned, stepping in front of him.

Troy shrugged. "I don't know, they're letting me spend time with my girlfriend on my birthday," he answered, putting his hands on my hips. "Because ever since we got here it's been all of us together hanging out, not that you and Sharpay singing that cheer from Bring It On wasn't entertaining," he added and I laughed.

"It wasn't intentional, Taylor just brought it up, and once you start singing that song from the beginning in the movie, you have to finish it," I replied. "Are you having fun on your birthday?" I asked, wrapping my arms around his middle.

He nodded. "Yeah," he told me. "You're here, of course I'm having a good time. I didn't want the big house party thing anyways, just me, you, and our friends," he explained. "A little more of me and you."

"Well, if you want more me and you, let's go somewhere to be alone," I responded, and he grinned while picking me up and throwing me over his shoulder. "We'll be back, I think," I called to our friend as I passed by them. I noticed Troy was leading me outside, to the back porch. I was put down on her sleek metal picnic table that was a little high up leaving me just a little lower than Troy's head. "I've told you this many times, babe, and it is still true. I can walk myself," I told him, and he smiled.

"Yeah, but I like carrying you, and you're getting used to it. You didn't shriek this time," he replied, and slowly began to unzip my leather jacket and I let him. It's not that chilly out, and besides, Troy is here to warm me up.

I nodded in agreement. "Yep, and pretty soon I'll have to resort to you carrying me everywhere, successfully making my leg muscles weak, and when we go to college I'll be totally lost without you," I told him. "Not that I won't be lost without you anyways," I added.

"I don't think it will go that far," he said, and tugged my jacket off then proceeded to put it on the table behind me. "And we don't know if we'll be separating for college next year. Well, we will if my dad gets his way," he added.

"Hey, no dad talk," I reminded him of our agreement earlier. "He isn't coming until tomorrow, so we're going to worry about him then," I said, and pulled him further in between my legs.

Troy nodded. "Yeah, well, tomorrow is coming a whole lot sooner than I want it to," he replied.

I ran my hands up and down his arms. "I know, baby," I whispered, trying to sooth him. "But you have me now, so when your dad pisses you off, I'm there to help," I told him, and he smiled slightly. "I know a quick trick to calm you completely," I said with a small smirk, making him smile wider.

"I wouldn't say it is exactly quick, but it does do the job," he corrected, and kissed me on the lips.

"It depends on what situation we're in whether it's quick or not," I said as I pulled away, and he laughed at me. "Hey, I'm just saying, for the record, it's not always quick," I told him, and he grinned crookedly at me. "Promise me something," I ordered, looking up at him. "That if your dad does something that makes you mad, whether it is a comment about me, or your life, you tell me," I said.

He took in a deep breath and nodded. "Yeah, I promise," he confirmed aloud.

Two hours later found me and Troy in one of Sharpay and Ryan's guest rooms making out, half clothed, in a tangle of limbs underneath the covers with the lights off. "Troy," I moaned, pulling our lips apart, but he just continued kissing, only now it was down my neck. "Troy," I said again, trying to get attention, but there was smile on my face because of the feels he was sending through me.

"What?" he asked in between wet kisses and unclasping my bra.

"I'm ready," I told him, and he stopped momentarily. He looked up at me. "I don't know when I am ever going to get over my fear, but I think the only to start getting over it is to go all the way, so I'm ready," I explained, pulling my bra off and throwing it away from us.

He got up on his elbow so he was partly towering over me. "You're sure?" he questioned, running a hand down my bare side, and I nodded.

"I'm one hundred percent ready," I repeated, and he smiled before lowering himself on top of me.

-

xoxo

-

So, yeah, Troy saying his dad is a dick is kind of an understatement. He's a dick and an asshole combined. He got here on Sunday, and the first thing he told Troy was that he was losing tone, and needed to work out more. Um, this boy is not losing tone, I for one would know. And work out more? He runs almost every morning before school, lifts weights, and goes to basketball practice. And, when he saw me, he just looked me over and said hi. I was awkward and made Troy's jaw twitch. That isn't a good thing.

It's Wednesday now, and I've tried to avoid Jack when possible, but be supportive at the same time. Besides, all Jack wants to do is father and son things. All things that leave Troy overly sweaty and exhausted. On Monday, they went the park and practiced, on Tuesday, they went on a father and son run, and today it was a father and son work out. That man needs to work on his father and son activities.

Thankfully, Jack is staying at a hotel, so after they got back from their work out and Troy's shower, I came over to his house. Lucy tries to be in the house when Jack is over, but right now she is at the Danforth's. It's a good thing Jack isn't over, because I'm sitting on Troy's back as he lays belly down on the bed and I'm massaging him.

"I hate that I still feel like I am fifteen around him," Troy complained as I dug into his back, making him moan as I tried to sooth out a knot in his back. "I know before he got here I said I wouldn't take any of his shit, but I still feel powerless and fifteen. It pisses me off," he told me.

I nodded even though he couldn't see it. "I think a lot of kids feel that way. When my parents yell at me I still feel like a twelve year old who blushes at the word 'period'," I replied. "It's okay you have a hard time standing up to your dad, Troy," I added.

Troy made a move to turn over, so I got up onto my knees so he could. I lowered myself back down when he was settled. "No, it's not, because I'm not fifteen anymore. It's different when a parent is yelling at you, he isn't doing that, he's criticizing me. It's fucking annoying," he informed me. "On our run, I ran like three more miles than he did, and today when we worked out, he just told me what to do and watched me. It's wearing me out."

"I don't think that is the only thing wearing you out," I responded, making him laugh lightly. Since we started having sex again, um like four days ago, we do it all night every night. Which is not that good seeing as we have school, and his dad is working him like he is a robot. We just can't help it.

"That's true, I just don't mind the way you wear me out," he told me, a smile on his face.

I gave him a half smile and ran my finger tips along the bags under his eyes. "We're not sleeping together tonight," I announced, and he opened his mouth to protest but I covered it with my hand. "Okay, we can sleep in the same bed, but we will strictly be sleeping. You're exhausted, Troy, you need rest," I informed him.

"I'm fine, all I need is you," he replied. "I just happen to be wee bit more tired than normal," he told me.

I nodded. "And stressed out about that game on Friday," I added. "The fact that your dad is going to the game on Friday is worrying you. You know win or lose, which it will be a win, he'll continue criticizing you. You don't want him to, you want to do your best, and your worried that your best isn't good enough for him," I explained.

"I hate that you analyze me like that," he mumbled, running his hands up and down my legs. Today, I opted for a pair of blue skinny jeans, a white top that dipped low at the neck line and knee high brown boots that were a little flimsy and fell down a bit, but I took my boots off already.

I smiled. "Really? I love it," I commented and he gave me a fake glare. "Babe, you aren't the same guy he knew back in Arizona, you're better. When you moved here basketball ruled your life, I mean the first thing you did was join the team. That isn't you anymore, and your dad doesn't know that," I told him, and he nodded.

"I know, the only reason I still play is because of you," Troy murmured, rubbing my legs still. "He doesn't even know that I'm in love with you because you aren't around me when he is around, which I'm partly happy about. If you were around, he would say something, and I wouldn't feel like a fifteen year old, I'd be me and lash out and that wouldn't be good." I nodded and suddenly was lifted off him, and he was on his feet, shrugging on his shirt. "Put on your shoes," he said, putting his own shoes on.

I slipped my boots on. "What's going on?" I questioned, standing up only to have him lace my hand with his and start leading me out of his room and house all together. "Troy!" I exclaimed, getting into his car. "Where are we going?" I asked as he started the car.

"My dad's hotel," he answered, driving down the street. "He doesn't know we're in love, and you're the most important thing in my life, well he will in a couple minutes," he told me.

"I don't think this is a good idea," I confessed as he drove. We pulled into a parking space at Jack's hotel about five minutes later (he drove fast). "Babe, don't get me wrong I love that you are finally showing your dad who you are now, but I don't think you should do it when your mad and tense," I told him, walking at his side down the hall. Jack's room is on the first floor.

"Then go back to the car," Troy replied, knocking on Jack's door. "In fact, I would rather you do, there might be some yelling going on in here," he added.

I didn't get a chance to reply, Jack answered the door. "Troy," he said with a smile on his face. "And.." he trailed off forgetting my name. Nice, real nice.

"Gabriella," Troy filled in for him. Jack nodded as it clicked. "Dad, we need to talk," he told his father, walking in and pulling me with him.

I stood so half my body was being covered by Troy's. I don't think I'll be talking much anyways. I'm just here to calm down Troy if the situation demands. "About what?" Jack questioned, eyeing me carefully, curious on why I was here.

"Gabriella," Troy said again. "Do you know the reason why I play basketball is Dad?" he asked.

"Because it's a game we both love," Jack answered easily.

Troy shook his head. "No, that is the reason I used to play, you ruined that for me," he corrected. This conversation isn't going to go well. Troy didn't wait for Jack to respond. "God, Dad, do you know how hard it is to be your son?" he questioned. "I'm always doing something wrong, whether it has to do with my basketball training, or the way I work out, or what makes me happy. Maybe basketball isn't what makes me happy anymore, Dad," Troy told him.

"What are you saying, Troy?" Jack asked, crossing his arms.

"I'm saying that the only reason I play is because of Gabriella," Troy answered. I took a step closer to Troy's back and ran my hand up and down it. "She believes in me, she tells me I can be whatever I want to be, she tells me that if I don't end up a pro basketball player she'll still be proud of me," he told him. "When I left Arizona Dad, all I cared about was basketball, that's different now. Basketball isn't the most important thing in my life, she is," he confessed.

Jack was quiet for a moment. "You can't be serious," he said, and Troy didn't respond. "She's just a girl," Jack told him.

"No, she isn't just a girl," Troy replied. "She's everything to me," he told him.

"No, no she isn't," Jack informed him. "You may think she is right now, but Troy, you have to think of your future," he said, gesturing his hand to me.

"I am thinking of my future, my future includes her," Troy responded. "I'm going to spend the rest of my life with Gabriella, I love her," he told him, and laced my hand with his even though I was still behind him. I engulfed his hand in both of mine in a message that I'm here for him.

Jack laughed sarcastically. "Yeah, I thought that when I was eighteen too, and now look where I am," he replied.

That hit something within Troy. He made a move to go towards Jack, and I wasn't going to let that happen. I quickly stepped in front of Troy and pushed my body into his so he wouldn't do anything he would regret. Not wanting to hurt me in any way, Troy didn't shove forward as hard. "Troy don't," I said softly.

"Where you are is your fault, Dad, and you know it!" Troy shouted behind me. He can yell as much as he wants, as long as he doesn't physically harm his dad. He would hate that he did it later, and his mom would be a little pissed too. "You cheated on Mom, you broke up our family, you didn't even want joint custody when Mom asked you about it," he told him. Okay, I didn't know that last part, but I'll talk to him later about it. "You didn't even want me, and now you're here, telling me about how I have to work hard on basketball and nothing else? You shouldn't even have a fucking say on my future!"

I was still in front of Troy so he would lunge at his father. I didn't really have a part in this conversation, so I'm not going to say anything. "I just didn't see the point," Jack replied. "You were turning eighteen, and you lived in another state, it wasn't like I would see you anyways."

"I just turned eighteen! The divorce was over a year ago, you would have seen me plenty," Troy told him. "And the sad part of it is I'm glad I didn't see you," he added.

"What does that mean?" Jack asked.

"That means, Dad, that you're a dick, and that is never going to change. I've changed, I'm not the same Troy you knew in Arizona, and I'm damn proud of that fact," Troy explained.

"Yeah, you changed because of her," Jack told him. I'm guessing that 'her' meant me.

Troy's hands wrapped around my forearms and squeezed gently. "Yeah, I did," he replied. "I needed to change. When I moved here, I was becoming you. Letting basketball be my life, not caring about anyone or anything else. Basketball isn't my life anymore, I don't even know if I want to go to Duke anymore," Troy confessed.

"Troy, that's your dream," Jack reminded him.

"No, Dad, it was your dream, you just convinced me to believe in it," Troy corrected. He looked down at me for a second. "I only came here to tell you that Gabriella is the most important thing in my life, and I've done that, so I'm done here," he told him. "And if you ever want any kind of relationship with me, you're going to have to accept that," he said and we walked out of the hotel room.

We continued down the hall and turned the corner that led to the glass doors that lead outside, we didn't go outside though. Troy stepped, leaned against the wall, and slid down it. I crouched down beside him. "Hey," I said to get his attention, and he looked over at me. "I love you," I told him, and he leaned his forehead against mine.

"I know," he whispered, and I ran a hand through his hair.

"Why don't you let me drive home, well to your house, and we'll talk there," I murmured. "Or, if you don't want to talk yet, we'll just hang out together," I added, and he nodded before standing.

Troy was silent on the way home. I wasn't sure if it was because he didn't want to talk at all, or he didn't want to talk yet. We got to his house and found that his mom wasn't home yet, but that didn't stop us from going into his room and closing the door in case she does come home. I sat down at the top of the bed with my back against the wall, and Troy layed down and put his head on my legs.

"Do you feel like talking, or just sitting here?" I questioned softly, running my hands through his hair. He shrugged slightly and buried his head into my thigh. "You never told me about the joint custody option your mom gave your dad. I just thought your mom got custody of you," I mentioned.

He turned so his head was looking at the ceiling. "My mom told me about it a couple days before I moved out here. Part of me didn't care because he is a dick and a couple more months with him I probably would have killed someone. Part of me was let down because he's my father and didn't want me. I really didn't care after a while because me and you got together and I realized I could be a better person out here, I could have a better life out here," he told me. "If he is so interested in my future and me, then he would have at least tried for custody."

"I'm sorry your dad is like that with you," I whispered, Troy grabbed one of my hands and brought it forward to lay on his chest with one of his, and played with my fingers. "That he is so.. Dan Scott," I explained, and he chuckled lightly at the comparison between his dad and Dan from One Tree Hill.

"They are a lot alike," Troy replied. "I'm sorry that you had to see the fight, I should have at least let you stay in the car," he told me.

"It's okay, Troy. When you said that you wanted my family to accept you, I feel the same, only with your family. And your mom does accept me, that's enough for me," I responded. "And your grandpa, because I've talked to him on the phone once or twice," I added, and Troy smiled slightly.

"My mom doesn't just accept you, Brie, she loves you," Troy corrected, and I smiled back at him. "My grandpa calls you honey, which I think is a little weird, but then again Gramps is a little weird," he told me, and I laughed.

I bit my lip and ran my knuckled down his face. "I've seen pictures of your grandpa, he's a cute little old guy," I said, making him laugh too.

"I love that you just made me forget about it," he confessed, and I nodded.

"Apparently not that well because you just remembered," I commented, giving him a sympathetic look.

He shook his head. "It's not your fault, I just-" he stopped himself and I waited for him to finish. "I hate what he said about my mom," he told me. "That he was in love at our age, and what happened to him. It was his fault, if he never cheated- I don't know, maybe my family would still be together. But then, I look at my mom, and she is so happy now," he said.

"Like my mom," I cut in. "I mean, my parents were happy when I was a kid, really happy. Over the last couple years, though, they got to become more like best friends who sleep together," I told him, and he rolled his lips together to stop a laugh. "You know what I mean, they slept next to each other," I explained. "And I'm going into my parents when we're talking about yours," I told myself more than him.

"It's fine, babe," Troy assured me and I shook my head.

"Ever since we got together, we've only really dealt with my issues. My insecurities, my trying to hide my love for you, my jealousy, my not telling you things when I should, my parental problems, my cheating, my pregnancy. I'm finally the one taking care of you, and I want to keep it that way," I told him.

He got up so he was leaning on his hand and we were eye to eye. "I don't mind taking care of you at all, baby. It's like breathing, it's second nature. I know how to take care of you, I know how to make you feel better, I love that I can do that," he replied. "Plus, you have helped me, too, maybe I've helped you more, but you've still helped," he added.

"I know, that's why I want to help you now," I told him, putting my hands on his shoulders to push him back down so his head was in my lap again.

He didn't try to get back up and stayed down. "You are helping me," he murmured, looking up at me. "I love you," he told me.

I smiled at him. "I love you, too."

Finally! Here you go.

I realize that it isn't long, like at all, but I like it and it cleared up some things.

Sadly, the next chapter is the last, but when I finish All You Need Is Love I WILL be writing the sequel. When I start that I'll post it in here.

I know you're all pissed and wondering how I'm ending this, but I just can't write this story anymore, well, at this point in time I can't. I'm excited for the sequel, and I have a lot of ideas for that. It shouldn't be long before it is out, All You Need Is Love won't be nearly as long as this. That is ending at Senior Graduation.

Review please!

-- Kayleigh