That night saw the siblings asleep in the Boltons' two guest bedrooms, Lachlan and Chad sharing while Gabriella, Jasmine and Imogen shared like their normal arrangement. Troy laid awake in his room – unable to sleep – as his mind reeled with thoughts of the previous few days. His thoughts were interrupted by Gabriella's yelling.

"NO STOP DON'T TOUCH ME STOP!" Troy ran into their room and saw Gabriella thrashing around while the twins were looking at her, terrified. Troy sat down on the side of the bed as Chad and Lachlan came in, hugging the twins.

"Brie, wake up... Come on Baby, wake up."

Gabriella shot up and Troy placed his hand on her shoulder. Her eyes shot to him and she threw herself into his arms, gripping him tightly. He wrapped his arms around her as she buried herself into his chest and he kissed the top of her hair. "Shh Baby, it's ok, it was just a bad dream, you're safe Brie."

Gabriella wrapped her arms around his neck and tried to bury herself further into his chest. "I'm sorry."

"No Baby, no sorries. You did nothing wrong, you're ok." He moved his hand underneath the back of her shirt and gently scratched her lower back, noticing that the gesture seemed to calm her down. He leant down to her ear, whispering. "Do you want to stay with me tonight Brie?"

"Please." She whimpered.

He kissed the top of her head. "Ok you can stay with me." He turned his attention to Chad and Lachlan. "I'm gonna take her to my room for tonight, is that alright?" The two brothers nodded and Troy noticed that the twins still looked tense. "Jas, Imi, come here."

The girls slowly walked over to the juniors and climbed onto the bed. Jasmine looked at Gabriella. "Is Ella ok?" She whispered as both twins looked at their older sister worriedly.

"She'll be ok girls." He leant down to whisper to Gabriella. "I'll take you into my room soon Baby, I know you scared but do you wanna give your sisters a hug?"

Gabriella nodded against his chest before sitting up properly and taking the girls into her arms, the twins eagerly cuddling into their sister. She kissed the top of their heads. "Are you ok Ella?" Jasmine asked.

She smiled weakly. "I'm alright Angel. Don't worry about me, I love you both."

"Love you too." They responded.

Troy got the younger girls' attention. "Ella's gonna come stay in my room for tonight, is that ok?" They nodded and he spoke to the whole group. "Ok then, I'm going to take her now then. Good night everyone."

"Good night Troy." They responded.

Troy lifted Gabriella up and she wrapped her legs around his waist, he placed one arm under her thighs to hold her. He carried her into his room and placed her onto his bed before sitting down beside her, only for Gabriella to gently push him back so he was laying down and cuddled herself into his arms. "Are you alright Baby?"

She nodded slowly. "I'm ok, it just felt so real."

"Was it about Austin?" She only nodded in response. "Oh Baby, I'm so sorry. You'll never get hurt like that again, I promise, I won't let it happen."

She shyly kissed his cheek. "Thank you, I know you'll never let me get hurt."

"I just wish I could've protected you from him, then you wouldn't be hurting right now."

"I told you not to. I couldn't have lived with myself if something happened to Jas and knowing that he did that to me - and he might have done it to her if they'd taken her - I -"

He pulled her tighter into his arms. "Shh Baby, it's ok. Jas is ok, nothing happened to her, you protected her just like you always do and I promise that you'll never hurt like that again."

"I'm always safe with you."

"You know I'll never hurt you right? You know I'll never push you into anything, especially physical. I'm never gonna force you to let me touch you or kiss you or -"

She cupped his cheek. "I know Baby. You've been a gentleman the whole time I've known you and you've never once pushed me into anything. I - I know I'll probably be a bit funny with doing what Austin did to me and it might take me a while to be comfortable with it someday but I trust you, I still want you to hold me and kiss me. I want to get passed this and I want to learn everything with you."

"Of course Brie and we'll get to that, someday."

She looked down, refusing to make eye contact. "Can you... um..."

"What is it Baby, what are you asking?" She wouldn't lift her gaze so he lifted her chin, forcing their eyes to lock. "You never have to hide from me, you don't have to be shy, ask me anything."

"Can you kiss me, please. All I can think about are his hands on me and his mouth." She visibly cringed as she said the words. "I need you to kiss me, I need to remember that someone can touch me without wanting to be sick and that you could actually still want me."

"Baby, why wouldn't I still want you, you're beautiful and you're an amazing person and an amazing girlfriend."

"I'm damaged."

"Gabriella Montez, never say that. You are not damaged, did Austin say that to you?"

"He said to my mom before she left the room that he wouldn't... have sex with me well rape me because his standard weren't low enough to touch me. He called me the S word but I've never done any of it. He told me that I needed to shave and lose weight because I was disgusting and that no guy would've wanted to touch me before but even less now that I'm damaged."

Troy was shocked and saw red, wanting to make Austin take back every fowl word he ever said to Gabriella, but the tears in her eyes brought him back to reality and he kissed her forehead. "Don't listen to a word he said to you, it's all lies. You are not a sl*t, you are the furthest thing from it and you don't have to change anything, you're beautiful Sweetheart, please remember that. And I would be honoured to get the chance to be with you Baby, however you wanted. Just because he hurt you, doesn't mean your damaged."

"I love you Troy."

"I love you Brie." He looked in her eyes for permission before pressing his lips to hers, keeping one of his hands on her waist while the other rests on her neck. In a bold move from Gabriella, she ran her tongue over his bottom lip and took their kiss further. After a few seconds, Troy pulled away. "As much as I'd love to continue, it's getting late and if we're going to school tomorrow, we should get some sleep." Gabriella nodded and Troy laid them both down, keeping Gabriella in his arms. He allowed her to manoeuvre them into a comfortable position for both of them. Troy laid on his back and Gabriella laid on her side with her head resting on his chest. "Sweet dreams Baby, I love you."

"I love you Wildcat, sweet dreams."