A/N High School Musical Settings and Characters all belong to Kenny Ortega and Disney. Any original characters and this story are copyright © 2011-2018 to Hopelessromanticgurl, all rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author.

A/N Camp Rock Settings and Characters all belong to Matthew Diamond and the Disney. Any original characters and this story are copyright © 2011-2018 to Hopelessromanticgurl, all rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author.


The nightmares continued all throughout the week; they also got worse. They got so bad Gabriella would end up sleeping on the floor in Connie and Steve's room.

Her behavior changed too. She worked overtime to behave like the perfect daughter and never make a single mistake. She always wanted to please them and make them proud. If she made even the slightest mistake, she'd have a panic attack and beg them not to send her away.

She always used her allowance money to buy things for them as payment for keeping her around. They never accepted it.

They decided it was time for a family day, to help Gabriella realize just how much she was apart of their family. They told Gabriella all about it on Friday. It was a special day where they didn't hang with their friends or go on dates. They stayed home together and spent the day together as a family.

Gabriella was so excited she couldn't wait. She had never had a family day before.


Saturday morning Gabriella woke up extra early and took a shower. She got dressed in one of the nicest dresses she owned. Her hair was done up in a nice bun, and her make-up was done so nicely it looked professionally done.

Once she was ready, she went out into the kitchen where she had heard the others.

As she walked into the kitchen, she stopped dead in her tracks and turned 50 shades redder. Everyone was still in their pj's with bed head. She was way too over dressed.

"Gabriella, Honey, you look beautiful." Steve said. "But where are you going?"

"Family Day?" it was more of a question than an answer.

"You didn't need to get dressed up for Family Day. We normally hang out at the house in our PJs." Connie said.

"Oh…"

"It's ok. It's sweet that you wanted to be all dressed up for a big day. You can stay dressed like that if you want to. You can also go change; it's your choice."

"PJs are more comfortable." Gabriella said.

"So go change. Then we can have a music lesson while Connie and Mitchie make breakfast." Steve said.

Gabriella nodded and quickly rushed back to her room.

Once she was back in comfortable clothes, She went back into the kitchen. She and Steve went into the living room to have her music lesson.

"You're doing so well." Steve said with a huge smile.

"Thank you." Gabriella said softly. Maybe if she got really good at playing music he'd agree to keep her around even once the money stopped coming in.

"I mean, you're picking this up quick. But it doesn't surprise me. I may hate the man, but your father knows good music." Steve said.

Gabriella looked confused. "Why do you hate yourself?"

"What do you mean?"

"You just said you hate my father; you're my father."

Steve smiled hearing that. "You're right. I am. I do not hate myself. I was talking about…you know what, never mind. Forget I said that."

Gabriella giggled. "You're my father, Daddy. Axel is…" Gabriella shrugged. "I haven't considered him a father since I was a little girl."

"I love you too, Sweetheart." Steve kissed her forehead. "I will always be your father."

"At least for now." Gabriella said softly.

"Hey, no, don't think about that, Angel." Steve said. "Only happy thoughts today."

"But Shelly…"

"No, No, Shelly. Today is about us, as a family."

Gabriella nodded.

"Is that why you've been sleeping in our room? You're scared Shelly will take you away?"

Gabriella nodded. "I want to be close to you guys in case something bad happens. Are you mad?" Maybe they didn't like her sleeping in their room all the time. Maybe they thought she was babyish. Maybe they would send her away because they didn't like it.

"No, actually I'm honored."

"Why?" Gabriella was shocked.

"Well, think about it, a few months ago, what would you have done if you had a nightmare?"

"Called Troy to come over."

"Exactly. Now you trust Connie and I enough to just come to us when you're feeling scared. It makes me so happy."

"That's why I can't be taken away!" Gabriella cried, her eyes filling with tears. "It's taken me so long to finally feel comfortable here and feel like a part of the family! I don't know if I can do that again!"

"You won't have to," Steve said pulling her into a hug and rubbing her back. "Listen to me, Gabriella, Shelly comes here to make sure we aren't physically hurting, or neglecting you. She comes to make sure you are being treated the way you deserve to be treated. We are doing that. We have nothing to hide. When Shelly comes next time, she will see that."

"But the past two times have been awful!"

"If they were that awful Shelly would have removed you right then a there. The first two times she saw things she didn't agree with, but it doesn't mean she thinks we are bad parents."

"What if she does?"

"She can't take you away unless she has hard evidence that proves we are unfit. Can you think of anything that makes us unfit?"

"No."

"So try not to worry. The only thing that is going to happen when Shelly comes is we're going to sign the adoption papers, and you will be legally our daughter."

"Promise?" Gabriella asked looking him in the eyes. "You're going to sign the papers? You won't change your mind and send me away?"

"I promise." Steve nodded. "We'd never send you away. We love you too much."

"Even if the money stops coming in?"

Steve looked shocked but nodded. "The money never meant anything to us. We've refused to accept any money they gave us to take care of you."

Gabriella believed him but was still scared. She snuggled into her father's arms; she always felt so safe there.

Steve kissed her forehead and rubbed her back. "Why are you suddenly so scared that we are going to send you away? You've never mentioned this fear to us before."

Gabriella opened her mouth to speak but was cut off.

"Breakfast is ready," Connie called.

"Daddy, can we keep this conversation between us?" Gabriella asked softly.

"Of course," Steve said.

Together the two of them went back into the kitchen. They talked and laughed the entire time.


After breakfast, they decided to watch a movie, Dirty Dancing. Gabriella had never seen it before. They all snuggled on the couch and watched the movie together.

When the movie was over, Steve turned it off.

"So what did you think?" Mitchie asked.

"I loved it. I think that's my new favorite movie." Gabriella smiled. "Although I think he was doing it on purpose."

"What?"

"He kept tickling her armpit to tease her and make her mess up the dance move."

Mitchie and Connie laughed. "He wasn't even tickling her; she was just ticklish," Connie explained.

"I think he did it on purpose. Maybe not the first time but after the second time. I know I saw his fingers move."

"You mean like this..." Mitchie quickly lifted her arm and tickled her armpit.

Gabriella squealed and tried to pull away. "Daddy help!" She giggled.

Steve went over and started to tickle Mitchie. Mitchie screamed and burst into giggles herself. Mommy help!"

Connie giggled. She went over and started to tickle Steve. It was one big tickle fight filled with laughter.

"Ok! Ok!" Gabriella cried out in giggles. "Stop please!"

Just like that everyone stopped.

"Are you ok?" Connie asked Gabriella.

Gabriella nodded. "It was fun. I just need to catch my breath."

"Hey, you know what, Girls?" Steve said. "Mitchie you tickled Gabriella, I tickled you and your mother tickled me. Do you know what that means?" Steve asked.

"Steve don't even think about it." Connie said.

Mitchie giggled. "Mommy needs to be tickled too!"

"Oh no! Don't you dare!" Steve gently brought her down on the floor and started to tickle her. She screamed and laughed. Mitchie jumped down and helped her father.

Gabriella sat on the couch a little shocked. Should she help Steve tickle her or make Steve stop.

"Gabriella, are you ok?" Steve asked.

"I don't know what I'm supposed to do. Do I help you or mommy?"

"Whoever you want." Steve said. Then he remembered their conversation from earlier. He knew part of her fear was that if she didn't help Connie she'd send her away, or if she didn't him then he'd send her away. He smiled reassuringly at her. "It's all in good fun."

"Ok."

"But just so you know if you help Connie you just might be tickled again," Steve said.

Gabriella giggled and nodded. She jumped off the couch and ran over and jumped on Steve's back.

Steve laughed and reached behind him to tickle her.

She screamed in giggles but didn't let go. Mitchie continued to tickle her mother.

"Stop!" Gabriella begged.

Everyone stopped just like that.

"No more tickles for me," Gabriella said.

"Ok. Fair enough." Connie said.

Gabriella moved back onto the couch. "Can I ask you guys something?"

"Of course." Connie said.

"Anything." Steve nodded.

"Well...Daddy, you said that when Shelly comes, here again, we are going to sign the papers to make me legally your daughter."

"That's true," Connie said.

"Even if we don't get money anymore?"

Connie shook her head. "The money never meant anything to us. We've been refusing the money we get from the second you moved in with us."

Gabriella nodded and slowly started to believe them.

"Well... I was just wondering if maybe...maybe if you guys don't mind I could... I could change my last name?"

"You want to be Torress?" Steve asked.

Gabriella nodded. "I don't want to be a Montez or Turner."

"Yes. We'd love for you to become Gabriella Torress. I'll make some calls and get those papers drawn up." Connie said. She quickly rushed into the kitchen to make the calls. The doorbell rang suddenly and Connie went to answer it, but nobody thought much of it.

"How long have you been thinking about this?" Steve asked. "And why do you keep thinking we will send you away once we are no longer getting paid to foster you?"

Gabriella shrugged shyly. "A few days." She purposely ignored his second question.

"Does this have anything to do what happen at school with Zeke and Charlott?e?" Mitchie asked.

Gabriella blushed and nodded looking down with tears in her eyes.

"What did Zeke do? Who is Charlotte?"Steve said.

"Charlotte is a new girl at school. She told Gabriella she wouldn't be her friend because her last name is Montez." Mitchie said.

"What did Zeke do?" Steve asked.

Gabriella didn't speak.

"Can I tell him, Gabriella?" Mitchie asked.

She nodded.

"Zeke told Gabriella that she was nothing more than a money maker to us. As soon as we could no longer foster her, and we were no longer getting money for her we were going to send her away. This whole time we've just been using her to get more money."

"That's a lie," Steve said.

"I know. That's what I tried to tell him but he didn't listen to me. He kept verbally attacking Gabriella until she ran out of the room crying."

Steve sighed, keeping his anger in check. "That's why the nightmares got worse, and that's why Gabriella has been trying so hard to never make a mistake and has been trying to pay us for "keeping her around." That's why she's changed so much over such a short time."

Mitchie nodded. "Troy and I keep trying to tell her that Zeke is a liar, but she doesn't believe us."

Steve stood up and sat back on the couch. Then he gently took Gabriella and moved her onto his lap. He gently lifted her chin to make her look at him. "Gabriella you are so much more than a money maker. You have only made this family better by joining it. You know I love you and Mitchie equally, but it's no surprise that Mitchie is very much a mommy's girl. I was always a little jealous of that. But now I have you, and you are a total daddy's girl." he gently tickled her stomach making her giggle. "We never told you this, Gabriella but there were complications when Mitchie was born. We were told that we would never have another child again. It broke our hearts because we had always wanted a big family and Mitchie always wanted a sister. Now because of you, we were able to have a second child, and Mitchie was able to get her sister. You were our miracle child, Gabriella. Money or no money we would have always taken you into our home. Money or no money we will always keep you in our family. When Shelly comes with those papers we're going to sign them, and you will be legally our daughter. Even if your last name is Montez, you will be our daughter forever and ever."

Gabriella buried her face into Steve's shoulder and cried. He rubbed her back and kissed her head. "I love you so much, Gabriella."

"I love you so much too, Daddy." she whimpered.

Steven gently pulled away so he could look at her face once more. "Now tell me the truth. Do you want to be a Torress because you really want to change your name, or do you want to change your name to get approval from bullies at school?"

Gabriella sniffed and shook her head. "I want to be a Torres; I want to have your last name. It will help me feel more like a member of this family."

"Then you shall be." a voice said making them jump.

They all looked to the doorway to see Shelly and Connie.

"How long have you been standing there," Steve asked.

"Long enough to know that I was wrong."

Gabriella whimpered. Steve hugged her tighter.


A/N What do you think Shelly was wrong about? Leave me your thoughts in a review. Those who review with an account will get a sneak peek at the next chapter so please review!

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