The week passed and it was now the weekend, the weekend Dominic was coming to Albuquerque. Troy had noticed that Gabriella's behaviour had improved around him, what he didn't know was that her anxiety was heightened now that she felt that she couldn't talk to him about it. He came downstairs to find Gabriella with Isabella on her lap as they watched a movie. He sat down beside them and placed a kiss on both their cheeks. Isabella hugged him before turning her attention back to the movie so he focused on his girlfriend.

"So Brie, you know Dom is coming today, are you ready to meet him."

She paled, "umm it's ok, I'll uh just stay here with Bella."

"Come on Baby, I was really excited to introduce you to my cousin."

She bit her lip, not wanting to disappoint him but she had to stand by what she was feeling. "I don't want to leave Bella alone, I'll meet him next time."

"Brie, if it means that much to you, just bring Bella. I really want you to meet him."

"I don't know Troy, I just don't feel up to it."

Troy sighed, "ok, I'll drop it for now. How about we take Bella to the park? She had a lot of fun on the weekend."

Gabriella reluctantly agreed, internally not liking the idea but she knew that Troy was becoming frustrated with her. "Ok Wildcat, let's go."

They played at the park with Isabella for a few hours. Gabriella became so carefree as she watched Troy play with her daughter and played with Isabella herself. The contagious happiness from the toddler flushed through Gabriella and she couldn't help but smile at the little family they had created.

As she watched Troy push Isabella on the swing, she don't know what possessed her to look up, but it was a mistake. The two boys were coming towards her, and she panicked. She ran over to Troy. "Troy stop, we have to leave."

He looked at her, a mixture of shock and confusion covering his face as he slowed down Isabella's swing only for Gabriella to start undoing the buckle and take the girl into her arms. He gently grabbed Gabriella's forearm and turned her towards him. "Brie, calm down Baby, what's going on?"

"Please, please Troy, we have to leave, we have to leave now."

He looked around the park and saw his cousin and another guy - Troy assumed it was his friend - coming towards them. "We can't leave now, Dom is right there."

She looked up at him pleadingly, tears filling her eyes. "Please Troy."

He was about to respond but Dominic's voice interrupted him. "Troy, hey man." The two boys stopped in front of the couple.

Gabriella held Isabella tightly to him, not making eye contact with the group around her. Her grip on Isabella was so tight that her knuckles were turning white, but she did it so that the toddler couldn't feel it. Troy, unaware of his girlfriend's state smiled at his cousin. "Dom, it's been too long dude, how are you?"

"Good, good. Troy, this is my mate Ashton, Ash, this is my cousin Troy."

Troy shook his hand then made the connection. He inwardly cursed. He placed his arm around Gabriella's shoulder, not surprised when he felt how tense she was.

Dominic spoke again. "So Troy, care to introduce us to your friend."

He felt Gabriella instantly freeze and he sighed, wishing he had listened to her. He responded. "Dom, this is Gabriella."

Before Dominic could answer, Ashton smirked. "Well well well if it isn't little Gabriella Montez, long time no see Babe."

She visibly cringed and Troy tightened his arm around her, trying but failing to offer any form of comfort. Dominic looked between the two. "You two know each other?"

"Oh Gabriella and I go way back. We were on the decathlon team together before I realised it was a waste of time. But she was fun, for the one time I got."

Dominic frowned at his words and Gabriella whimpered. "I was 13."

Upon hearing the fear in her mother's voice, Isabella looked up. "Mommy?"

Dominic, hoping to steer the conversation in another direction, turned to the little girl. "Hey Sweetie, what's your name?"

Isabella looked at him nervously, timidly responding, "Isabella," before burying her face in her mother's neck.

Ashton spoke up. "Oh this is too good. Gabriella Montez a mother. Now either she's mine or you are a s**t you little b**ch." Gabriella didn't respond, frustrating the boy. He slapped her across the cheek, causing her to look up. "No words now huh b**ch."

Troy pulled Gabriella behind him and narrowed his eyes on Ashton. "Get the hell out of here now."

"Or what pretty boy."

"Dominic I swear to god, both of you leave now."

Seeing the anger in his cousin's face and stance, he dragged the boy away. Troy turned to Gabriella, the bruise forming from Ashton's hand but her grip still tightly on Isabella. He took her into his arms hoping for a response but didn't receive one. He kissed her forehead. "I'm so sorry Baby, I should've listened to you. I'm so sorry."

He got no response, her expression was blank. Troy sighed and went to take Isabella out of her arms, shocked when she tightened her grip on the girl and the fire in her eyes as she glared at him, it almost scared him. He instead guided her back to the truck and drove them home.

Later that afternoon, Gabriella still hadn't said a word unless it was to Isabella. She didn't let the girl out of arms reach. Troy watched from the couch, smiling as he watched his girlfriend and daughter play. His thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door and he got up to answer it. He opened the door to reveal a male police officer in uniform.

"May I help you?"

"I'm looking for Gabriella Montez."

Troy's blood ran cold. "Wh-what why?"

"I cannot disclose that information, is she here?"

Troy nodded wordlessly and let the officer in, following behind him as he walked into the living room. "Are you Gabriella Montez?"

She nodded to the officer.

"We've received a call that you ran away with this child when you were pregnant, effectively taking the child away from its father. I have been informed to take the child out of this home for the fear of its safety as a result of possible abuse."

"You-you can't, she's safe with me, I can protect her, I won't let him hurt her." The officer looked towards Troy but Gabriella kept talking. "No, not him, Ashton. He raped me, he's going to hurt her." Gabriella cried.

The officer sighed, feeling pity for the girl, not wanting to take her daughter away. "Your daughter will not be with him, there will be a trial that will decide who the suitable parent is."

"Please, you can't take her. She's only ever spent one night away from me, please. I promise I won't run, I'll stay and we'll do the trial. Please don't take my baby away."

Troy's heart broke watching his girlfriend break down, which was also getting Isabella upset as she started whimpering. "Mama." He knew that Gabriella was going to hate him for this, but he had to do the right thing if she wanted her daughter back. He lifted Isabella into his arms and hugged her in attempt to sooth her before turning back to the officer. "Is there any way that she would be able to stay with me, I know the other client, he's my cousin's best mate."

The officer shook his head. "I'm sorry young man, but I was instructed to take the child out of this home and that is what I must do."

Troy sighed and nodded, he turned his attention to his daughter and kissed her forehead. "I'm sorry Baby Girl, please don't hate me. I love you Angel." With one final squeeze, he gave the girl over to the officer and Isabella immediately started whimpering.

"Mama, mama."

The officer started walking away and Gabriella went after to him to try and comfort her daughter. Troy grabbed her around the waist and held her tightly so she couldn't escape his grasp despite her fighting to get free.

When the door shut and she heard the car drive away, she froze...