A/N: Just a warning, in case it's not your thing – this chapter contains the M-rated scene that I mentioned before. :)

"So, are you going on vacation this summer?"

Ah yes, the million dollar question she has been trying to avoid ever since she booked her flight to Albuquerque. Of course it would come eventually – after all, it is summer vacation and he's even more tied to those few blissful weeks than she is –, but she still feels bad that she's going to have to lie to him.

"Other than that business trip, no," she says with a shake of her head. "How about you?"

Of course she isn't going to tell him that there is no business trip and that she's coming to visit him – if she finds the courage to actually see him in the flesh, that is – but that's just a detail. She just hopes that he isn't going away when she's coming to New Mexico. It would be just her luck.

Hence, she nearly sighs a breath of relief when Troy shrugs and answers, "Nope, just staying in Albuquerque this year."

Then, he blinks, as if astonished. "You know, I just realized that I'd actually rather be in Albuquerque than anywhere else. What has happened to me?"

Gabriella giggles, before raising her eyebrows playfully. "You wouldn't even be with me?"

The words are out before she knows it and she feels herself flush as Troy immediately reaches up to rub the back of his neck. He looks down for a second, before smiling as he looks back up, the intensity of his eyes making her breath hitch. "I mean, yeah, I'd obviously enjoy your company."

"Good," she mutters as she pushes a curl behind her ear.

"You should come visit me, though," he says resolutely, regaining his composure quicker than she does. "I'm sure your mom misses you and my mom keeps saying that she'd like to see you as well."

"You're talking about me to your mom?" Gabriella asks, feeling a bit warm inside at the thought of her occupying his mind enough that he talks about her to his mother. She doesn't know why she enjoys that thought so much, but it's a nice feeling.

"Of course," Troy says matter-of-factly. "You're my friend, and therefore a part of my life."

Friend. There's that dreaded word. Sometimes, when Troy looks at her with that intense gaze or when he speaks to her fondly, she swear her feelings are returned, but then he calls her friend, and she's not sure of anything anymore.

She knows it was a mutual decision to just stay friends despite the physical attraction that was obviously still present, and she knows that it was for the best, but she keeps finding herself wishing that they weren't just friends anymore.

"Are you okay?"

She hasn't noticed that she's been quiet or that her face has formed a tight frown until Troy's concerned words float into her ears, and she quickly recovers and shakes her head. "Yeah, fine."

Then, she returns to her cheeky smile. She wiggles her eyebrows as she asks, "So I only have to return for our mothers' sake?"

Now, Troy is more confident, no signs of embarrassment on his face as he smirks. "Nah, it's mostly for mine."

"Thought so," she quips with a giggle.

He rolls his eyes playfully in response, before turning serious again. "You know what's weird? We talk every day, often multiple times in one day, and I still really miss you."

Gabriella feels weak in the knees as she sees that wonder in his eyes again, and she blushes slightly as she softly says, "I miss you too."

A soft grin appears on his face and his cheeks turn pink. "Good to know."

They stay silent for a moment, revelling in their admissions and their longing, before he says, determination in his words, "Just so you know, when we do see each other, I'm going to give you the best hug you've ever had."

Gabriella feels a tingle run down her spine at the very thought. Troy has always been a great hugger, his embrace warm, firm and comforting. She imagines his arms wrapped around her, his head resting on her shoulder, his cologne infiltrating her senses, and she feels her heart ache at the knowledge that he's so far away and that they can't make it a reality.

Yet.

Soon, she'll be in Albuquerque. And if she doesn't freak herself out, she'll be with him. And she'll have that hug. That prospect brings a smile to her face and makes her stomach flip with anticipation.

So, sincerely, she tells him, "I can't wait."

In the days after Gabriella arrives in Albuquerque, she doesn't made much progress on the Troy front, as she has spent all of her time here holed up in her mother's house. She hasn't even spoken to Troy since she boarded her flight.

She knows that this is the wrong thing to do, to ghost Troy like this, and not to take the small leap to actually see him in person, but she's frightened. Frightened of her own feelings and frightened of a possible rejection.

Therefore, she has tried making up excuses for the last two days. She's been wanting to sleep off the jetlag – which is practically non-existent, because there is not much difference between California and New Mexico – and to spend time with her mother, is what she's told herself.

But her mother knows her better than she knows herself, and therefore, has repeatedly told her to go see Troy. All Gabriella's objections that she didn't come here for Troy and that she wants some mother-daughter quality time have been met with raised eyebrows and disappointed headshakes, but Maria has let it slide so far.

Until now, that is.

Gabriella is pretty sure that Maria has just made up a lame excuse to get out of the house and let Gabriella to her own devices – an impromptu dinner with a friend is a classic – but it has been effective nevertheless.

Because right now, Gabriella is lying on her bed, staring at the ceiling and so bored out of her mind that she starts to come to the conclusion that she should throw caution to the wind and try finding Troy.

There is only one problem, though. She has no clue where he lives. She has seen most of the interior of his apartment by now through FaceTime, but she has no address. Part of her thinks her mother might know it – apparently, Maria has grown close to Troy, too – but she also feels like she might be pushing her luck if she were to ask her. She's sure Maria wouldn't let her live it down, no matter the outcome of Gabriella's visit.

Then, she remembers what Troy said to her not too long ago. His mother would like to see her, too.

She feels a lump grow in her throat as she considers this possibility of paying his parents an impromptu visit. She knows his parents have always adored her throughout their relationship, but she still feels a bit awkward randomly stopping by. After all, she did break their son's heart, and despite Troy's words and their continued friendship with Maria, she's not sure she believes that her parents won't slightly resent her for that.

However, if she wants to visit him, his parents are her only option to make that happen.

And deep down, seeing him is the thing her heart most desires. And sometimes, she's just got to let her heart speak.

So, before she can change her mind and let her brain win, she's out the door and walking a familiar road towards the Bolton residence.

"Gabriella Montez, as I live and breathe!"

Lucille Bolton has – understandably – aged in the past ten years, her hair a little greyer and wrinkles appearing under her eyes, but somehow, she hasn't changed a bit. She still has that same kind smile and that same twinkle in her eye that makes Gabriella feel like she has come home.

"Hi Mrs. Bolton," Gabriella says politely, offering Lucille a smile, and the older woman immediately shakes her head.

"I know we haven't seen each other in a while, but I'm still Lucille," she states firmly, her eyes roaming over Gabriella's entire appearance and taking her in. When her eyes meet Gabriella's again, her grin grows smaller and softer. "It's really good to see you, Gabriella. What brings you here?"

Gabriella fiddles with her hands awkwardly and shrugs. "I'm looking for Troy."

"Oh sweetie, Troy doesn't live here anymore," Lucille says apologetically. "Didn't he tell you? I know you two have been in contact lately."

"Oh, he has! I just don't have his address and I figured you must have it."

"And you came all the way here instead of calling?" Lucille asks with a raised eyebrow.

Gabriella shrugs again. She smiles cheekily as she innocently says, "Troy told me that you've been wanting to see me."

Lucille laughs and winks. "Well, that's true."

Gabriella narrows her eyes as the two women stare at each other silently for a second. The mischievous look on Lucille's face tells Gabriella that there's something she's not telling her and it sets off her natural curiosity, but before she can inquire, Lucille opens up the door further. "Would you like to come in for a cup of tea?"

Deciding to let Lucille's expression slide, Gabriella smiles. "I'd love to."

Lucille is positively giddy as she ushers Gabriella in and her voice is filled with exhilaration as she announces to her husband, "Look who's at the door!"

Jack Bolton has not aged a day since Gabriella last saw him. There's not a grey hair in sight, and he's apparently still as energetic as ever, because as he spots her, he immediately jumps from his spot on the couch and engulfs her in a strong hug.

"Gabriella!"

Gabriella giggles as she pats him on the back. "Hi, Coach Bolton."

"Please, it's Jack. You're not one of my students anymore," he says as he releases her from his grip, before winking at her. "Although you've never been just a student to me anyway."

Gabriella blushes a little as she shrugs, and she feels a warmth course through her as Jack leads her to the couch and immediately starts firing questions at her about what she's been up to the past ten years, while Lucille scurries off to the kitchen to make tea.

Despite Jack's overly enthusiastic inquisition, it feels good to be here and it fills her with joy that both Troy's parents are so welcoming to her. Her fears that they might blame her for what happened between her and Troy have completely vanished, and they are replaced with a feeling of utter relief and contentment.

"So, what brings you to Albuquerque?" Lucille asks as she returns and hands Gabriella a cup of hot tea.

Gabriella just shrugs as she folds her hands around the cup and lets the heat seep into her palms. "I just missed home."

She doesn't miss the knowing look that Jack and Lucille share, but she chooses to ignore it as they fall back into their recounting of the time that has passed. At least ten minutes pass before Lucille broaches the subject of Gabriella's reason for being here. Conversation has halted slightly when she says, "You know how you said you missed home? Troy misses you too."

Gabriella immediately flushes beet red as she can see Jack nodding from the corner of her eye and she pushes a stray curl behind her ear as she just smiles, unsure what to say.

"I actually want to thank you," Lucille admits as Gabriella stays quiet, and the latter furrows her eyebrows in confusion. Lucille smiles as she shakes her head. "You have no idea, do you? How happy you make our son."

"It's true," Jack supplies. "I haven't seen him this happy since… well, since you were still his girlfriend."

Gabriella feels her cheeks heat up and lets out an awkward chuckle.

"But why would you thank me?" she asks, her face contorting into a confused frown. "I also took his happiness away."

Lucille grimaces at that, her frown lines visible, and Gabriella immediately shrinks a little in regret and guilt as she imagines what Lucille must have gone through when Troy was heartbroken over her. She knows all too well what her own mother had to go through – it wasn't pretty.

"I know," Lucille agrees, "And that makes what you two are doing very dangerous. I hope you're careful with each other's hearts this time. But I still see that sparkle in his eyes whenever he talks about you and it thrills me, Gabriella. You mean so much to him, I hope you know that."

"He means a lot to me too," Gabriella admits softly and Lucille's smile returns at that statement.

"I know. You have that sparkle too."

The room goes silent for a minute after that, the depth of what was said sinking in. It has been very clear to Gabriella that she and Troy mean a lot to each other, but hearing those words from his mother's mouth makes her heart beat a little faster and causes hope to bloom within her.

She must proceed with caution, but the longer she considers it, the more certain she is that whatever it is that is blossoming between them, could become something beautiful.

She drinks the last sip from her teacup, and after she does, Lucille immediately leaves her seat. "I'll write down Troy's address for you."

As Lucille scurries away again, Gabriella's eyes falls on a picture on the mantle, one showing her own face. It's a graduation picture of her and Troy in their red robes smiling proudly into the camera. She's sure that the photograph is in her box of memories too.

"You still have that picture up?" she asks Jack curiously and he smiles gently as he nods.

"It's a good one, isn't it?" he says wistfully, and Gabriella feels a little warm inside as she yet again realizes how much this family truly loves her.

Then, Jack clears his throat and Gabriella raises an eyebrow as she returns her gaze to meet his bright blue eyes, reminiscent of his son's.

"Lucille really is right," he says solemnly, his face serious yet kind. "You two make each other happy."

Gabriella blushes again, but before she can say anything, Lucille returns and pushes a scrap of paper in her hand.

"Go to him!" she says excitedly and Gabriella's face blossoms into a wide grin as she looks back and forth between Troy's parents a couple of times.

"Thank you," she simply says, and if she were to judge on facial expressions alone, she'd say that both Jack and Lucille understand that she doesn't just mean for the address.

And when she's on her way to Troy, butterflies swarming her stomach as she prepares herself to put her heart on the line, she realizes his parents' words really are true.

Thinking of Troy, she feels happy.

When Gabriella finds herself standing in front of Troy's door, she's suddenly not all that happy anymore. What if he doesn't enjoy her surprise? He could be having other people over. He could not even be home. Jack and Lucille probably wouldn't even know his every plan.

However, before fear can get the best of her yet again, she finds herself knocking on the door and bracing herself as she waits for a response.

His reaction is better than anything she could have hoped for.

When Troy opens the door, her first observation is that he's shirtless. However, she has no time to take note of how his bare chest looks, because she's immediately engulfed in a hug.

"Gabriella?!" he exclaims giddily. Gabriella trembles a little at the sound of his voice next to her ear, no phones and no distance between them, as she smiles and wraps her arms around him.

They stand there for a minute too long, and Gabriella sighs in contentment as she snuggles into him, his solid chest warm against her softer form.

When they finally let go of each other, Gabriella immediately feels cold and wraps her arms around her own torso awkwardly. Troy, however, doesn't seem to notice, for he's looking at her in complete awe.

"Am I dreaming?"

Gabriella giggles and shakes her head, before taking his hand in hers, squeezing it softly as she revels in how easy and comfortable it feels to touch him now. "You're not."

His face breaks into a brilliant grin that makes her heart flutter as he squeezes her hand back. "What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be on your trip?"

"This is my trip," she admits, suddenly feeling bashful as she offers him a meek smile and pushes a curl behind her ear. "I wanted to surprise you."

Troy stares at her a moment longer, before shaking his head in disbelief and pulling at their joined hands, hugging her again. She squeals gleefully as he lifts her off her feet and spins her around.

"I'm guessing you like the surprise?" she laughs as he puts her back on the ground and Troy chuckles giddily as he runs a hand through his hair after he lets go of her.

"I'm so happy," he says earnestly, and her heart skips a beat as she recalls her earlier conversation with his parents.

She looks into his eyes and she can't help but grin as she notices the sparkle that his parents talked about. It makes something within her gut flutter pleasantly.

"Good," she says. "I wasn't sure whether you'd even have time for me tonight, so I'm glad you're okay with me being here."

Troy's exhilaration turns into something gentler, more serious. Softly, he says, "I'm always okay with you being here."

Feeling herself flush at the tender sound of his voice, she merely nods, an act which Troy mirrors.

"However," he then says with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes, "I did just come out of the shower, so I'm sorry for… well, this."

As he gestures to his bare chest, Gabriella finally gets a chance to take a good look at it and the sight sets off a tingle in her core. He was already quite built when they were together, but it's obviously he's been training. His biceps are large and strong, and his abs looks as if they were chiselled by the gods themselves, but he's not large enough for it to be too much. It's just perfect.

For a brief moment, she wonders what it would be like to touch it or kiss it, but she quickly puts that thought away.

"Nothing to be sorry for," she says with a coy smile she hasn't used for a while as she looks back up in his eyes. For some reason she can't figure out, Troy's mouth falls slightly open for a moment and she watches as his eyes darken while they search hers for something she can't name.

For a moment, they stand there, eyes locked, their gazes burning, but then, Troy blinks and smiles at her teasingly. "Thanks."

Then, he takes her hand again and leads her to his living room, where she's immediately met with Lola, who is happily barking and wagging her tail. Gabriella laughs as she reaches down to pet the dog, which immediately reaches up to lick her face.

"Now make yourself comfortable, I'll go get a shirt. Maybe we can watch a movie?"

Gabriella smiles and nods as she pulls away from Lola. "That sounds great."

Although she wouldn't mind if he kept the shirt off either, her traitorous mind supplies.

"Wonderful," he says with another smile, falling silent for another moment as he continues to stare at her incredulously. Then, he blinks again and moves away from her. Once he's outside the living room, he yells at her, "Pick a movie on Netflix, I'll make popcorn!"

Grabbing the remote, Gabriella sits down on his sofa and smiles to herself as Lola jumps up to lie next to her.

"Are you glad I'm here?" she asks the dog as she strokes her fur. Lola wags her tail in response and Gabriella laughs. "Me too."

She really is.

A while into the movie, Lola disappears, but Gabriella barely notices because she's too focused on the dog's owner. It turns out to be dangerous, sitting next to Troy with nothing to keep them apart, because they keep migrating closer to each other, ending up sitting side by side, their thighs touching.

It's a strange feeling, to be so close to him, and she'd be lying if she said her entire body didn't heat up due to their proximity. If Troy feels the same, he doesn't show it, because he's just staring at the TV unbothered and munching on popcorn.

The silence between them is not uncomfortable by any means, but Gabriella still feels tense as she wonders if they will ever address the elephant in the room and what will happen if they do.

She almost breathes a sigh of relief when Troy finally breaks the silence. "Remember that game we used to play when we had our picnics?"

Gabriella raises an eyebrow as she turns to look at him. "The one where we tried to throw grapes into each other's mouths?"

Troy meets her gaze and then nods eagerly, a playful glint in his eyes. "Let's do that. Just for old time's sake."

"You're an idiot," she says, her voice filled with amusement and fondness, as she moves to the other side of the couch. Troy grabs a piece of popcorn, the movie forgotten.

He throws it into her mouth perfectly and both cheer and break out in laughter. Gabriella motions for him to hand her the bowl of popcorn and Troy closes his eyes as he opens his mouth.

Suddenly, another memory of this little game comes to mind, and a sweet feeling of vengeance overcomes Gabriella as she takes several pieces and throws them at him. He catches none of them.

As his eyes open, he gasps in indignation. "You did not just pull my own trick on me."

"I did," she says, batting her eyelashes innocently, and he roars with laughter as he lunges forward and pushes both of them down onto the couch, trapping her beneath his body.

She has no time to react as his fingers dive into her sides and start tickling her. She squirms in his arms and both are giggling loudly as he exclaims, "Admit defeat!"

"Never!" she responds through her laughter, but her joy dies out quickly thereafter as she accidentally moves her hip in such a way that their pelvises grind together.

Both of them stop laughing and stare at each other wide-eyed as they realize the rather compromising position they've found themselves in – him on top of her and their legs entangled, his hands just over her hips and hers bunching up his T-shirt in her fists.

She gulps and her heartbeat picks up speed as his eyes flicker down to her lips, not unlike that night at the reunion. As his face is suddenly drawing closer to hers, her mind screams at her to say or do something, to stop this before it goes too far, before someone gets hurt.

However, her heart wins and instead of putting a stop to what's happening between them, she leans up to meet his lips halfway. Her hands release his shirt and move up to caress the hair at the back of his neck.

His kisses are still as wonderful as ever. Soft, yet passionate. Sweet, yet seductive. The touch of his lips to hers makes her entire body come alive and fill with heat as she realizes just how much she loves him and how much she wants and needs him.

His tongue probes its way into her mouth and they both let out a moan as his hands fall down to her hips, his fingertips slightly grazing her behind.

This is euphoria. It's magic. She's on cloud nine and she never wants to come back down.

However, suddenly Troy stops and leans back, his eyes searching her face, a mixture of desire and utter panic swimming in his blue irises.

"Brie," he whispers softly, but he doesn't say anything more. She wonders what's on the tip of his tongue. An apology? A rejection?

After a moment, she realizes it's neither of those things. It's a question of consent. He's asking for permission to go to a point of no return.

This is the moment where her mind can take over and halt it before she gets lost in him. However, as she stares up at him, her heart wins out yet again.

Without saying anything, she reaches up and kisses him again, her hands continuing to caress his neck lovingly as they sink back into their passionate embrace.

After a moment, Troy pulls away again. This time, he asks her explicitly, murmuring his question huskily against her neck as his lips barely touch the skin there. "Are you okay with this?"

"Yes," she replies in something that is right between a sigh and moan, and she groans as he presses his lips against her collarbone more harshly and sucks. "Yes, I want this. So badly."

Troy chuckles against her skin before leaning up to look her in the eyes, his eyes dark and intense. "Me too. You have no idea how much."

And with that, one of the most intimate nights of Gabriella's life begins. Although it all passes in a blissful blur, there are moments that will be ingrained in her mind for the rest of her life, memories that will overwhelm her for years to come when she recalls them.

She remembers the way his touch ghosts over her bare torso after both of their shirts have been thrown to the floor.

He takes her in with hungry eyes, a twinkle in the blue depths as his fingers softly trace a line over the skin just above her purple bra, making her shiver in response.

"Pretty," he comments on the garment, before expertly reaching behind her and unclasping the bra to remove it.

When her breasts are bared to him, he immediately dives in and takes a nipple into his mouth while he kneads the other breast. She moans at the feeling and grabs his head, gently pulling at his hair in pleasure.

"Troy."

He releases the bud for a moment to say, huskily, "I love it when you say my name like that."

She feels herself grin at his comment, and makes sure to repeat his name in that same breathy voice when he dives back in.

"I've missed you," she sighs, and she feels a bit lightheaded as she realizes in how many ways that statement is true.

He just looks up at her and smirks, and she knows that he feels the exact same way.

She remembers marvelling at how well he still knows her as his fingers bring her to the precipice of something wonderful.

His fingers still know exactly what to do, how and where to push, to send her to a state of bliss. She moans with every thrust of his finger and every rub of her clit. She whimpers with every butterfly kiss he places on her neck. She sighs when he inserts a second finger and increases the speed. She gasps as he tells her how wet she is.

She grabs onto his shoulders tightly when she feels herself come undone, trashing and moaning as wave after wave of pleasure overcomes her.

"Hi," he says when she comes down from the high and opens her eyes to him, that adorably goofy, lop-sided smile present on his face as he removes his fingers from her vagina.

"Hi," she whispers back as he presses a sweet kiss to her cheek, before lowering his mouth to suck on her neck and finally reaching back up to fuse their lips together.

She can't help but giggle into his kiss as she thinks back to those many times she dreamed about this moment, even back when she didn't allow herself to long for him.

Reality is much better, she decides.

She remembers the way he looks at her as she takes him into her mouth.

It's a filthy position to be in, kneeling on the bed with her lips sliding up and down over his cock, but there's something about his eyes as she looks up at him during the act.

His eyes are glazed over with a layer of obvious desire and pure sex as he groans and curses, but there's also something else there. Something akin to awe, akin to wonder, as if he can't quite believe that she's really here and that they're really doing this.

Yet another emotion materializes in his gaze as they keep their eyes locked while she continues to blow him. It's utter adoration, pure affection for her, and the very notion of that soft, loving gaze aimed at her again after all those years almost makes her stop in her tracks.

As he gently twirls a strand of her hair around his finger, she feels like her heart might burst out of her chest – that's how overwhelmed she feels with all the emotions he evokes within her.

She sucks a little harder and swirls her tongue around, keen to show him how much she adores him, and he throws his head back and grunts loudly.

Watching as he desperately grabs the sheets in fits of passion while she continues, she considers how much she truly affects him. It sends a tingle down her spine as a sense of pride rises within her.

She does that to him. She makes him feel this way.

She means as much to him as he does to her.

She remembers how the insecurities and fears seep in for just one small moment as he grabs a condom.

It makes her wonder if he's ever done something like this with anyone else. He must have – it's been ten years – but the idea of Troy doing this with someone else, kissing and touching them in such an intimate, loving way, makes her feel uneasy and awakens a green and ugly emotion within her.

When he comes back to her, hovering over her, something flickers in his eyes and she feels herself flush with embarrassment as she realizes that he knows exactly what she's thinking.

"It's only you and me," he tells her, his voice strained due to the sensations of it all, and he presses his lips to hers, roughly probing his tongue into her mouth as if he's trying to kiss all her fears and anxieties away.

It works, because after that, she doesn't focus on anything else but him and the feelings he evokes within her. There's only him. There's only them.

She remembers how a sense of peace overcomes her as he enters her, a feeling as if their bodies are made for each other.

There's a desperation to the way he pushes in and out of her, and she meets every thrust with one of her own, just as she meets his every groan with a frantic cry.

She wants this feeling to last forever, she doesn't want it to end, so she tries to hold on as long as she possibly can, something that doesn't go unnoticed by Troy.

Her eyes are screwed shut as he tips her chin up and urges her to look at him. He's smiling at her adoringly and his hand gently cradles her cheek, but there's something dirty in both his dark gaze and the tremor in his voice as he says, "Cum for me, Gabriella."

The combination of his harsh thrusts, his gentle touches, his intense gaze and his dirty words is what ends up sending her over the edge.

It's possibly the most intense orgasm she's ever had, her body overflowing with love and pleasure as she completely loses all control. She squirms and screams as she rides the wave, desperately clawing at him as she trembles and moving to sink her teeth into his shoulder in an attempt to muffle her sounds of pleasure.

He hisses in response to her teeth in a mixture of pleasure and pain, before increasing his speed even further with desperate grunts, before his breath stutters and he releases as he joins her in heaven, calling out her name as he does so.

Whilst they catch their breath, he gently nuzzles her nose, and she revels in the feeling of complete satisfaction.

That was incredible. He is incredible.

She remembers how they lie next to each other afterwards, their hands intertwined as they both gaze up at the ceiling silently.

She turns her head to glance at him, and she feels a warmth in her chest that she can barely contain as she stares at him and the sight of him consumes her.

He feels her gaze on her, for he turns his head to her, and both faces blossom into small, tender smiles as their eyes meet. As if they're magnets drawn to one another, their bodies fully turn to lie on their sides so they face each other, the gaze never breaking.

Gabriella sighs happily, maybe even swoons, as she realizes the gravity of what just happened and the depth of her feelings for Troy. This man means everything to her. He's so beautiful, so kind, so brilliant, so perfect. And despite everything that has happened between them all those years ago, he's still here. He's still hers, at least for tonight. That thought makes her stomach do a somersault and it makes her heart flutter.

They stay like this for a while, just staring at each other like love-struck fools, before Troy yawns, a flash of disappointment in his eyes, as if he's scared he just ruined the moment.

He didn't, she assures him wordlessly, reaching up to brush his hair out of his face.

As it becomes harder for both of them to keep their eyes open, he reaches for her waist and pulls her into him. Their bodies entangle with one another perfectly, and they both slip off into a peaceful slumber, completely sated, completely content, completely happy.

She remembers how through every moment, every kiss, every touch, there is one thought that continues to linger at the back of her mind. She never voices it, but it's always there.

This man is the love of her life.

A/N: So… Yeah… This is the first time I've ever written a sex scene, and while I'm very happy with how it turned out, I'm also very, very nervous. I hope you enjoyed it!