I Understand

It was late, so late that it was technically now Wednesday morning but Gabriella didn't mind, she'd known it wouldn't be an easy process.

Troy had dropped the girls off on Tuesday afternoon, after they'd arrived home from school and before he needed to be at work, he'd left a little extra time in his before work routine to get them there and settled in. They wouldn't see each other until Friday afternoon now, when he worked nights he slept well into the afternoon and if the girls were to be at home he wouldn't have much time for them before they needed to be back at The Ranch and he needed to be at work and so they'd be staying with Gabriella for the next three nights. It would be the longest amount of time they'd been apart since Jennifer had died but he knew that once the first night was out of the way they'd settle into the routine of things just fine.

They'd all finished their homework with no fuss and after a simple dinner of Macaroni cheese which they'd shared with Zoe, a second grader who was also under Gabriella's care that afternoon, they'd all spent some free time chilling in the living room watching random cartoons or in Maddie's case scrolling through her phone.

Zoe had been picked up at seven and it was then that Gabriella had helped the girls get started with their evening routine. She'd left Maddie to her own devices, she'd given the teenager the bedroom which had been hers on visits to The Ranch. It had an en-suite, having been told by Troy that Maddie's room at home was the box room and that while the house did have two toilet's, it only had one shower and there was nearly always a fight between the girls as to who was getting in when. She figured giving Maddie her own bathroom left her with one less girl to deal with and allowed the teen some much needed time and privacy.

Summer and Amelia each had a room on opposite sides of the corridor at the front of the house, allowing them to be close to each other but also experience the privacy of having their own room. Summer had been happy to curl up in bed after her shower and read her book but it was clear that Amelia was starting to struggle with the realisation that they really were spending the night here. Gabriella had spent time with her, braiding her wet hair so that it would be wavy in the morning and cuddling with her in bed to read her two bed time stories but it was as she'd tried to turn off the light and leave the room that the little girl had clung tightly to her and the tears started to spill down her cheeks.

Gabriella had simply held her tight and swayed her from side to side, smiling when the elder two sisters had arrived to comfort Amelia, having heard her cries and knowing that out of all of them she was most nervous about this stay. They'd all settled onto the bed and simply talked about things they'd done that day to help distract Amelia. Ten minutes later and thanks to her sister's distracting words and Gabriella's comforting cuddle, Amelia's eyes had started to become heavy and she'd snuggled down under her covers, well on her way to sleep.

Gabriella had been up to check on the girls half an hour ago and they all seemed to have been fast asleep; or so she'd thought because just as she was heading into her own room, which was on the ground floor just off of the kitchen, she heard footsteps and looked up to see a sleepy Maddie coming down the stairs.

"Hey." She greeted Gabriella with a sleepy smile. "I couldn't sleep, just coming to get a glass of water."

"That's fine Maddie, help yourself...you doing okay?" Maddie nodded as she poured herself some water from the jug in the fridge and then took a big drink of it before speaking.

"Yeah...just not used to having so much space to myself, I only have a single bed at home, not sure wear to lay for the best to be honest." Gabriella smiled, she was happy that Maddison was allowing herself to be more open and honest with her.

"You're comfy though yeah?"

"So comfy, that bed is amazing, thank you for letting me have that room."

"You're welcome...now back up you go, it's late and you have school in the morning." Maddie smiled at Gabriella and bid her goodnight as she sleepily turned and headed back upstairs. She'd been reluctant about The Ranch at first but she was slowly letting her guard down, she liked seeing her sisters so happy and now that she'd let herself get to know Gabriella she'd realised that the place and the person really weren't all that bad.

TGTGTGTG

A week later and Maddison was in trouble; big trouble, more trouble than she'd ever been in before and Troy was beyond angry with her; he was furious.

They'd had to call him away from work, she'd asked them not to but they'd told her this was too serious and needed to be dealt with now.

She hadn't meant for this to happen but they just wouldn't stop; she'd tried to control herself but when she was pushed first the red mist descended and she'd lost all control.

She was suspended for the rest of the week, she would receive work via the school online portal and when she returned on Monday she and Troy would meet with the principal again to discuss exactly why this had taken place and why nothing like this would ever happen again.

Troy hadn't spoken a word to her since he'd arrived at East High and they'd met with Principal Davis and the other girl involved with her Mum. He hadn't spoken to her when they'd left East and gotten into his car and started driving, the silence was killing Maddie but she knew that speaking was probably only going to make things worse.

Staring out the window she started to realise where Troy was taking them and as they pulled into The Ranch she realised he must have spoken to Gabriella because she was out on the front porch waiting for them. Silently she got out of the car and followed him as they walked towards the house.

"I need to get back to work," he wouldn't look her in the eye as he finally spoke. "Gabi has been kind enough to have you here for the rest of the week when you should be at school but she's got work to be getting on with so I expect you to sit at the kitchen table and get your own work done there. You aren't to touch your phone until the school day is over and the others arrive back here and even then I suggest staying off social media and not messaging your friends. You are to help Gabi with anything she needs help with and not a single word of sass or attitude will leave you mouth, understood?" Maddie nodded, she figured talking still wouldn't help her much right now. "There will be repercussions from this Maddison you mark my words but right now I need to get back to work, you're lucky that it's been a quiet day so far and that Tim is so understanding. I'll see you both later, thank you again Gabi." And with that he was in the car and leaving through the gate and Maddie dared to lift her head and look Gabriella in the eye.

"He just needs time to calm down Maddie that's all. I need to finish off mucking out the stables but you get yourself set up at the table and get stuck into your work and in an hour or so I'll come back in and make us some lunch, sound fair?" Maddie nodded and returned the small smile Gabriella offered her as they headed inside. She hoped that by the time her Uncle came to pick them up that evening he'd be a lot calmer and they'd be able to talk properly; she didn't like knowing she'd made him so angry and she hated knowing just how disappointed he was in her.

TGTGTGTG

Troy was late picking them up that evening and as Maddie started to ask questions; Gabriella braced herself for what was to come. Troy had called her to tell her his plan and whilst she'd agreed and understood his reasoning behind it she was very aware that Maddie would not feel the same.

She watched as Troy pulled in through the front gate and the three girls made their way down the steps to get in the car but it was as he got out and then grabbed a bag from the back seat that the mood quickly changed.

"That's my overnight bag, Uncle Troy what's going on?" Maddie stopped her path to the car as Troy put the bag down at her feet.

"I've just worked two twelve hour shifts Mads and I've got two more to go before my working week is over, if you come home tonight we won't have time to talk properly and we'll just end up with things left unsaid and inevitably that'll just end in a fight and I don't want that and I know you don't either."

"Well no I obviously don't want to fight with you but what do you mean? I can't come home?"

"You're gonna stay here with Gabriella for the rest of the week, you'd be coming to do your school work here anyway and I just think it's best if we both have some space to properly think things through before we talk. I've packed a whole selection of your clothes along with toiletries and your school books and you'll still see the girls so you don't have to worry about them missing you but I will explain it to them once we get home."

"Uncle Troy, please!" Maddie was struggling to keep her emotions in check now and Gabriella knew she wasn't far away from a break down but she could also see how hard it was for Troy knowing he was the cause. "I promise I'll be on my best behaviour until you're done with work and we can talk; just please let me come home."

"I'm sorry Maddie, the decision is made, it's for the best." And with that he turned and got in the car where Summer and Amelia sat waiting, having been smart enough not to get involved in what was happening between their Uncle and sister.

As Troy's car left through the gate Maddie's hard exterior came down and the tears started to fall. Gabriella watched as she left her bags on the ground and turned and ran indoors; the sobs she'd been trying to keep in now coming out loud and fast. Silently Gabriella picked up the bags and followed the teen inside, Troy had told her to expect shouting and anger but what she saw instead was hurt and upset; she hadn't seen this side of Maddie before and she suspected that not a lot of people had.

The sobs were coming from the downstairs bathroom and so she took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

"Go away!"

"Maddie please just come out and we can talk."

"What's the point? Uncle Troy doesn't care so why bother?"

"That's not true and you know it, he cares very much and that's exactly why he's done this, so that when you do talk you'll both have had time to think and he won't be so tired from work." Gabriella could hear Maddie's sniffs coming through the door but she couldn't hear any movement, it was clear the teen intended on staying where she was for now. "Listen, I'm going to go and have a shower, you take that time to calm down and when I come back we will talk, okay?" She didn't expect a reply and so she headed towards her room for a shower knowing that the night ahead wasn't going to be easy.

TGTGTGTG

Half an hour later and Maddie walked into the living room; her hair was pulled up into a bun on the top of her head and she'd changed into her pj's; red and black checked bottoms and a grey oversized East High t-shirt. Her eyes were red and puffy and her cheeks still had evidence of tears on them, despite the fact Gabriella could tell the teen had attempted to wash them away.

"Come sit." Gabriella said patting the couch next to her where she sat curled up under a blanket in the corner. "I've got hot chocolate, cookies and tissues and we are gonna have a chat. How you feeling now?" Maddie shrugged as she picked up her hot chocolate and then settled herself next to Gabriella under the blanket.

"I'm okay." Maddie answered but in the same moment her bottom lip started to quiver and more tears managed to slip free, her emotions clearly betraying her.

"Oh sweetheart." Gabriella placed the tissues in the broken young girls lap and then wrapped her arm around her. "Something tells me that these tears are about more than just what happened today, am I right?" Maddie nodded as she used a tissue to blow her nose; she didn't attempt to dry her eyes, she could sense her tears weren't finished falling yet.

"Everything has kinda been building up for a while and I guess today I just couldn't take it any more."

"Talk to me Mads, tell me what's been bothering you." Maddie laughed under her breath.

"I don't even know where to start Gabi, my head just feels so jumbled up right now." Maddie wanted to talk to Gabriella, she'd needed this kind of girly talk for a while now.

"Tell me about today, what caused the fight? Was it a one off?"

"The fighting yeah, the thing that caused it; no not so much." Gabriella took one last sip of her drink before putting it on the coffee table and then settling back into the cushions of the couch; she needed Maddie to realise she was here for as long as she needed her to be, she had all the time in the world.

"I'm all ears, take your time and just start at the beginning."

"Last year I tried out for the cheer team at school; Mum was a cheerleader when she was there and she'd taught me the odd bit as I was growing up so she encouraged me to go for it, I was one of only two freshmen who made varsity, I was shocked but Mum just said she knew I could do it. The other girl, Sophie, is now my best friend, we bonded over our mutual love of action movies and of course cheer; she's also the only person who didn't shy away from me when Mum died."

"Sounds like a good friend to me." Maddie nodded as she sipped at her hot chocolate.

"She is. Anyway this year I tried out again, try outs were last week but no one knew about it apart from Sophie, she tried out with me and today the team sheet went up, we both made varsity again. I was a little emotional when I saw my name on the list just because I knew how proud of me Mum would be, if it wasn't for her I would never have tried out in the first place." Maddie stopped to wipe away a few tears but encouraged by Gabriella's soft smile she carried on. "At the same time as our cheer list going up the volley ball team sheet went up too and so there were a lot of people milling around the notice board. This girl on the volley ball team, Kate, she thinks she's the queen bee, her parents are divorced and as a result of that she's basically a spoilt brat, she's definitely the bitch in my year. She was getting annoyed because she couldn't get close enough to the notice board to see the sheet even though she'd clearly already seen it because she started squealing and jumping up and down. I had kinda zoned out while I was thinking about Mum and so when she started talking to me I didn't initially hear her, it wasn't until Sophie nudged me back into reality that I realised I was being spoken to. I apologised for being in the way and tried to move but there was so many people that I couldn't get away and Kate took advantage of this. She must have noticed my eyes were watery and so she called me out on it, I just said after a rough few months I was pleased to have made the team, she just smirked at me and said...she said 'what's wrong little orphan, missing your Mum?'" More tears slipped down Maddie's cheeks and Gabriella reached over to give her hand an encouraging squeeze.

"It's okay sweetheart, just take your time, there's no rush."

"The orphan thing wasn't a shock, it's been happening since Mum passed away to be honest."

"Wait a second, since your Mum passed away? You girls took some time off school when that happened and then it was the summer holidays, I didn't think you saw anyone until this school year started."

"I didn't, it all started online; it was all over the news when it happened and I guess people saw it and yeah that's how it started. Well that's when Kate started it."

"Okay, we'll get back to that in a minute, what happened after she said that today?"

"I tried to walk away again but there was still too many people and I couldn't move and Kate just kept going with the whole orphan thing; Sophie could tell I was struggling to keep my cool but there was nothing she could do. In the end I turned round, squared up to her and said 'please, just leave me alone.' I swear to you Gabi I tried so hard to keep my cool and not react but then she pushed me and I just snapped; I pushed her back, just to get her away from me more than anything but then she slapped me and pulled my hair and so I just kept pushing her, I just wanted her to leave me alone. I don't remember what really happened after that, in typical high school fashion everyone crowded around us and started shouting 'fight' over and over again and then teachers arrived and pulled us off each other."

"It sounds to me like you were provoked Maddie, did you tell your teachers that?"

"Yeah, the teacher who took my statement about it all is really nice and so I told her everything like I just told you."

"Everything? Including how long this orphan thing has been going on?"

"Yeah, I told her everything and I think they took it into account because when the meeting finished with Principal Davis he asked Kate and her Mum to stay back while Uncle Troy and I got to leave, I'm kinda hoping she gets into trouble over it, I can't be dealing with that any more."

"You shouldn't have to Maddie, I'm glad you told them everything." Maddie smiled at Gabriella as she moved to put her finished mug back on the coffee table and pick up a cookie.

"The thing is because of the fight there's a good chance I won't be allowed on the cheer team anyway, your behaviour around school is taken into account before anyone is allowed to be on any kind of team, I think I might have blown it." She popped the remains of the cookie into her mouth as she took a moment to think about what she wanted to say next. "The thing that annoys me most about all of this is that Kate doesn't realise how lucky she is; she plays the victim because she's had to watch her parents fight and is constantly moving between their two houses but the fact is she has her parents. Regardless of how horrible it is to watch them fight or how annoying it must be to move between two houses at least she has her parents, I'd give anything to have even just one more hour with my Mum...I miss my Mum Gabi, I miss her so so much." And with that the tears came tumbling back with force and the sobs violently wracked her body again as she finally admitted the truth.

"Maddie, sweetheart, come here, it's okay." Gabriella gathered the broken young lady into her arms and held her as everything she'd had bottled up for months finally came free. "Let it all out sweet girl, it's okay to cry, I've got you."

Ten minutes later and Maddie pulled away from the hug; she was embarrassed that she'd let Gabriella see her this way, she rarely let people see her this way.

"I'm sorry Gabi, I don't let people see me cry very often, I always look like such a mess when I do." She reached for a tissue and this time not only did she blow her nose but she dried her eyes too, she was done with crying.

"You look like someone who's just had a huge weight lifted off their shoulders, would I be correct?" Maddie nodded with a smile as she crumpled up the tissue in her hands.

"Thank you so much Gabi, I know I made things awkward when we first started coming here but I'm glad I let myself relax around you, you're a really lovely person, I hope you know that." Gabriella ducked her head at the compliment, an action that didn't go unnoticed by Maddie.

"You know you could have always spoken to Taylor or Sharpay about this stuff, I get why you haven't told Troy, even though I know he would have listened but those two are really good listeners and advice givers, I know from experience."

"I know but they would have just told Uncle Troy and as much as he's put us first, he didn't need more to worry about. Mum was his sister, he's grieving too." Gabriella was beginning to understand Maddie's tough exterior, it was simply all an act to protect the people around her from the hurt she was feeling inside.

"Well you should know that they would always listen and if they did tell Troy it would only be with your best interests at heart. I won't be telling him what we talked about but that's only because I get the feeling that you will be?"

"Yeah, I will be...thank you again Gabi, thank you so so much."

TGTGTGTG

Gabriella had woken up early the next morning; her chat with Maddie last night had brought up a lot of memories and emotions for her and she'd struggled to get to sleep. She can't of got more than three hours consecutive sleep and even that had been restless and full of not so nice dreams.

Now it was just after eight o'clock and having already been outside to let the animals out she'd come back in to start on breakfast; she'd didn't expect Maddie to be up for a while yet and so she was surprised when she heard footsteps and a bleary eyed teenager made herself known.

"Morning." Gabriella greeted quietly. "How you feeling today?"

"I'm okay." Maddie answered, her hands shoved into the pocket of her East High cheer team hoodie she'd put on over her pyjamas. "I erm...I don't suppose you've got any spare tampons or pads have you?" Gabriella nodded with a smile as she pointed through to her bedroom.

"In my bathroom in the cupboard under the sink, take whatever you need." Maddie smiled her thanks and headed in that direction, returning a few moments later as Gabriella put fresh fruit and pastries on the table.

"You didn't make those this morning did you?" Gabriella laughed as she handed Maddie a glass of juice.

"No, I'm not feeling much like baking today, they just come from the freezer, they're really good warm though. You feeling okay?" Maddie nodded as she took a seat at the table.

"Yeah, funnily enough Uncle Troy doesn't know my menstrual cycle so he didn't pack me any of those kind of supplies, the rest of the things he's packed are pretty impressive though."

"See, he does care." Gabriella said as she joined Maddie at the table. "If you want, at lunch time we can pop over to yours and you can grab you own period supplies and anything else you might need."

"That'd be good, thanks. I know Uncle Troy cares, I was just too emotional yesterday to realise it...and apparently also PMSing, which I apologise in advance for if I get moody, periods suck."

"You're telling me, there's a heat pad in the linen cupboard just outside my room if you need it. Your poor Uncle, in a few years time all three of you will have started your periods, can you imagine living with you three when you're all feeling hormonal." Maddie laughed as she pulled apart a croissant and shoved a small piece into her mouth.

"That sounds horrible, you might have to give him some advice when that time comes, I don't imagine he's even thought about that scenario." They sat in silence for a few minutes before Gabriella took a deep breath and lifted her head to look Maddie in the eye.

"There's something I want you to know but I need you to promise me that you won't tell your sisters, they don't need to know this yet."

"Okay, I promise."

"Have Sharpay or Taylor ever told you why I moved to Albuquerque?"

"You came to take over the running of this place after your parents passed away?" Maddie answered in a question.

"Yeah...did they tell you how my parents died?" Maddie shook her head.

"They never said anything but I kinda just assumed it was health reasons." Maddie could tell this conversation was about to get serious and so she curled herself up in her chair, she needed to show she was prepared to listen just like she'd been listened to last night.

"This Christmas will mark four years since they were both killed in a car crash, a business man had just made a really lucrative deal and he was on the phone to his mate bragging about it...he didn't see his light turn red and so he went sailing through, straight into my Mum and Dad." Maddison was shocked, Gabriella being so understanding suddenly made so much sense.

"Gabi I'm so sorry, I had no idea. Is that how you met Taylor? Was she at work when they were taken to the hospital?"

"Yeah...the crash itself happened on the morning of December twenty third, neither Mum nor Dad came out of it too well but they did both make it to the hospital and so when I was contacted by police and told how serious it was I was heart broken at the idea that they'd pass away before I could get here. The hospital staff however were amazing and placed Mum and Dad into induced comas, giving me enough time to book a flight, put the few possessions I had into a bag and just get here; I can't tell you why but I knew that I probably wouldn't leave Albuquerque again once I arrived." Gabriella swiped at her eyes to stop the forming tears from falling; she didn't want to cry in front of Maddie, this wasn't what this conversation was about.

"It was Christmas Eve by the time I arrived at the hospital and I went straight to the emergency room, I realised Mum and Dad had probably been moved somewhere else by then but I didn't know where else to go. The reception staff were really lovely, I think they could tell I was on the verge of a break down and I didn't have to wait long before a nurse came over to help me; that's when I met Taylor. She immediately put her arm around me and just told me that I wasn't alone; she was going to stay with me for as long as I needed her to." Gabriella took a shaky breath but smiled as Maddie reached over to hold her hand. "Long story short, Taylor took me to Mum and Dad and after I'd spent some time just sitting there holding their hands; I gave consent and their support machines were turned off. They passed away within minutes of each other on Christmas eve, needless to say I didn't really do much celebrating that year." They sat holding hands for a few minutes, both simply processing what had just happened. "I can see you have a question, it's okay to ask it."

"How did Taylor doing her job and helping you at the hospital lead to you guys all becoming friends?"

"Taylor knew that once I left the hospital I was going to be on my own and so she gave me her number; told me to call her anytime, day or night...I called her in tears the next day. The rest I'm not prepared to tell you right now but I'm sure you'll find out over time. Maddie I told you this because I want you to know that I understand what you're going through, I know how it feels to lose your parents in such a cruel way. I want you to know that you can talk to me about anything but especially about your Mum; or your Dad too if you want and just know that I understand that missing them means you're reliving it all and sometimes that just means you need space and sometimes that means you just need a hug...I just...I get it, okay?" Maddie nodded with a watery smile and rose to meet Gabriella in a hug.

"Thank you for telling me this Gabi, you didn't have to but I feel like it's going to bring us much closer, something I'd really like to happen, if you'll forgive me for any attitude I've already given you."

"Of course I forgive you, I've become quite fond of you and your sisters, I'm glad you're going to be more at ease here now; even if you will continue to deny how much the horses scare you."

TGTGTGTG

The following evening and Maddie was nervous; she'd finished all of the work she'd been set by the school with just one piece to finish off tomorrow morning and one homework assignment that wasn't due until the end of the next week left to do. She'd worked tirelessly, even though she technically only needed to work during school hours; she'd also spent her evenings working too, she wanted to have most of Friday free; she had a plan.

Gabriella smiled reassuringly at her as Troy pulled his car to a stop in front of the house, she knew Maddie's plan and was more than happy to go along with it.

"Evening ladies," he greeted as he climbed out of the car. "How are we all today?"

"We're amazing thank you Troy, very excited for the next couple of days. How about you? Tired?"

"Very but why are we excited, it's not someone's birthday or something is it?" Troy smiled at Gabriella as he feigned confusion over what the excitement could be over.

"You're silly Uncle Troy, you know it's my birthday tomorrow." Amelia laughed as Troy turned to her with a massive smile on his face.

"Oh yeah, I forgot about that for a second then, I guess that is something to be excited over."

"And the wedding on Saturday Uncle Troy, you do remember your shared best man duties, right?"

"Yes thank you Summer, I'm not that forgetful, Chad and I have been texting back and forth to get our speech finished." On Saturday, October first, Sharpay and Zeke were getting married and The Ranch was their chosen venue. Neither one of them could pick just one best man or maid of honour and so Chad and Troy were joint best man while Taylor and Gabriella were joint maid/matron of honour. "Now, are you two ready to go? I'm looking forward to a warm shower and my bed." Summer and Amelia nodded and after saying their goodbyes, loaded themselves into the car to greet Zeus.

"Uncle Troy!" Maddie called to stop Troy from getting in the car. "Just quickly before you go; I was wondering if you wanted to come here for lunch tomorrow? After you've seen those two off to school and had a chance to rest and relax of course."

"Yeah, okay sounds good, that is okay with you Gabriella?"

"Absolutely, we've got it all planned out, as well as a surprise for the birthday girl, would one o'clock work for you?" Troy smiled, happy that Gabriella and Maddie seemed to be getting on a whole lot better now.

"One o'clock sounds perfect, see you both then." Troy blew Maddie a kiss as he got into the car and headed for home.

"See," Gabriella told Maddie as they headed back inside. "Nothing to be nervous about at all, the same with tomorrow; it'll all be just fine." Gabriella knew tomorrow would likely lead to a very emotional chat between Uncle and Niece but it was one that was long over due.

TGTGTGTG

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