A/N: Uhh...happy reading :D lol. Don't own HSM
Chapter 9 – A night alone
Gabriella threw the crust of her last slice of pizza into the empty box and smiled across at Troy. "You know, I tell Allie off if she has ice cream before dinner."
"Well, Allie isn't here." He chuckled as she relaxed into his arms.
"No. But, the point is still there." She giggled. "I know I said that I wanted to tell you everything but I don't think I can."
Troy rubbed her arm and kissed her temple. "It's okay. I don't mind. I just want to be with you." He whispered.
She smiled slightly and nodded. "Thank you. I will tell you. At some point."
Troy nodded. "It's cool. And that reminds me: what do you want to be? Because 'girlfriend' sounds like we're in high school. 'Partners' makes us sound like we're doing a drama project together and that's as far as I got."
Gabriella suddenly burst out laughing and turned to him. "You're worried about what we'll be?"
He nodded. "Well, yeah."
She shook her head and leaned over to kiss him. "Just ask me out right here, right now." She whispered with a small smile on her lips.
"Okay." He muttered, avoiding her eyes.
"You're nervous. Do you not want to ask me out?" She asked quietly, getting to her feet and looking down at him.
Troy raised his eyebrows at her and slowly stood up, encasing her in his arms. "Gabby, I just said thirty seconds ago that I want to be with you. But, I love you and I don't know how to make it special."
She smiled slightly. "Troy, you're asking me to be your girlfriend – and, yes, I do want that title, not 'partners' or whatever – not proposing. Just ask me."
"Hold on. One second." He said hurriedly before he ran out of the lounge and into the dining room. He returned a moment later with a pink lily held delicately in his hand. "Sharpay mentioned that her sister-in-law hates roses when we were sorting the paperwork out a couple of months ago." He shrugged slightly.
Gabriella giggled and bit her lip gently in a cute way which made Troy lean forward and kiss the corner of her mouth sweetly. She closed her eyes slowly and opened them again, allowing herself to drown in Troy's pools of cerulean blue. "Well, go on." She urged softly.
Troy held the lily out to her and smiled gently. "Gabriella Anne Montez, you are amazing and I'd like to ask you to accompany me to dinner tomorrow evening and be my girlfriend."
Gabriella took the lily off of him, their fingers brushing against each other, before Gabriella lifted her fingers to stroke his cheek. "Promise me that you won't forget about Allie in this relationship. Because no matter if it's you or another guy, she will always come first. And it's going to be a big change for her. She's gone her whole life without a father and I don't want her to get hurt."
Troy reached up to interlock their fingers together but forced her hand to keep touching his cheek. "Gabby, Baby, I didn't want to tell you, and especially her, but, I love her. Not like I love Jenna or Kelsi, no, no, no. I love her like you love her. Just like I love you how my dad loves my mom." He took her hand and spun her around before he pulled her tightly against his body. "I swear." He whispered.
Gabriella frowned slightly up at him. "Troy, the last time someone said that, I got fired from my last job."
"I'm not firing you because I mean it. And, if it's okay with you, I'd like to spend Christmas with you and Allie." He said softly.
Gabriella shook her head. "I don't know, Troy."
Troy looked down and forced a smile, nodding slightly. "I understand."
"I mean, I'd have to ask Allie if it was alright." She finished slowly with a deep breath.
He lifted his head. "Did you just say yes?"
"I said maybe." She corrected. "Like I said, everything depends on Allie. I still have presents to buy for her. And with my new job starting Monday and everything. And we've only been together a few hours."
Troy nodded. "I know. Please tell me if I start rushing. I just can't help it when I'm with you."
She giggled and kissed him gently. "It's okay. And believe me, you'll know if you rush."
He chuckled and leaned down to bury his nose into her neck. "I do love you." He muttered quietly into her skin.
Gabriella softly – using a touch which could only be practiced with parenting, Troy was sure – ran her fingers through his hair and down his toned back. "I know, Troy." She whispered in his ear. "Just promise me you won't let me go."
"Never." He mumbled, kissing her tanned skin. He pulled back and brushed a curl behind her ear. "Have I ever told you how beautiful you are?"
"Maybe once or twice." She giggled. "Have I ever told you how handsome you look when you play with Allie?"
He smiled down on her and tightened his hold on her. "When do you want me to drop you home?"
Gabriella shrugged. "Well, I was thinking… It's been snowing real hard and while you were in the bathroom, I was watching the news and they said not to go out until the morning…"
Troy cocked an eyebrow. "Is that so?"
She nodded innocently. "That is so."
"You sure you just don't want to spend the night with me?" He teased.
"Troy…" She sighed, avoiding his eyes and letting her arms fall from his neck.
"Gabby, I was just joking. I've seen it outside. I didn't want you going outside but I didn't want to rush. Please, don't get mad at me!" He pleaded, nuzzling his nose into her neck.
She giggled and cautiously wrapped her arms around his neck. "I'm not mad at you." She whispered, kissing the tip of his ear lightly.
Troy smiled against her neck and straightened up to cup her cheek with one hand but keeping a firm grip on her waist with his other. "Good." He mumbled into her mouth before kissing her softly.
She pulled back and a gentle blush graced her cheeks. "But, I've got no pyjamas."
Troy took her hand and started leading her upstairs. "Which spare room do you want?"
"Well, which one is closest to you?" Gabriella asked nervously.
Troy helped her up the final step and kissed her forehead. "Would you rather me sleep on the couch? Because I can totally do that."
She shook her head. "No. It's okay."
He leaned down and kissed her again. He pulled back just enough so their lips were still touching. "You don't want this, do you?"
"What?" She mumbled into his mouth.
"Us." He whispered sadly.
She shook her head. "I do. I do want to be together but… Troy, it's difficult for me. It always has been. I've never been the 'boy crazy' type but then…"
Troy started to lead her down the hall and turned into a bedroom, sitting her down on the bed. "Shh… Just tell me what I have to do to make you trust me."
She rested her head tiredly on his shoulder and closed her eyes. "I was focussed on being a doctor. That's all I wanted in life. I didn't care about guys because I had Zeke, Chad and my dad. But, then I met Robert."
"Do you mind if I guess?" He asked, gently rubbing her arm.
"Go ahead." She mumbled.
"Allie's father?" He whispered into her hair before planting a sweet kiss there.
She nodded. "And I found out I was pregnant. I didn't know what I was feeling. I was only halfway through medical school and I was just twenty! So, I only told Sharpay. I told her not to tell anyone until I figured out how Robert would react and – more importantly – how my family would react."
Troy gave her hair comforting kisses as tears rolled down her cheeks. "Gabby, Baby, why don't I find you an old shirt, some shorts, you change into them and I go and make us some coffee?"
Gabriella shook her head and whimpered into Troy's neck. "I need to do this now." She whispered.
Troy shifted slightly to get more comfortable and then tilted her head upwards to brush his lips against hers before pushing a stray curl behind her ear. "Can we at least lie down or go downstairs to sit on the couch because my back is starting to hurt. When we go on a date, can you wear heels?"
Gabriella giggled slightly and flopped back so she was lying on the mattress with her legs dangling over the edge. She shuffled backwards and let her head fall gracefully onto the pillows. "These pillows smell like you." She muttered with her eyes closed.
Troy crawled up the bed and lay down next to her and wrapped his arms around her waist. "Is that good?"
"I love it." She muttered into his shoulder. "Anyway," She pulled back and swallowed loudly as Troy wiped her cheeks. "I finally pluck up the courage to tell him. I mean, I was three months gone so I was having real bad morning sickness and Zeke was getting tired of my cravings."
Troy laughed slightly and stroked her cheek gently. "Go on."
"And so, I finished my work at the hospital early – I was an intern there. And…I go to his flat. We weren't living together, it happened at my flat. Oh, wait, I forgot one part." She slapped her forehead fiercely.
"Gabby, Gabby, its okay. I don't mind. You can tell me in whatever order you want." He whispered, kissing her forehead before shifting to lie on his back, his arm still secured around her shoulders. "You okay?"
She nodded and snuggled into his side. "So, we agreed to have my first time on Valentine's day. It was romantic and it was my first and…So, yeah. But, when it came, I started doubting myself. If I was ready and if he was the one. But, I went ahead with it. Now I think back, he kind of made me feel guilty because of it. He did it so subtly that I didn't realise until I came back home. And we only did it once. I haven't even had my second time yet. How lame is that?"
Troy lifted her knuckles to his lips and felt her shake slightly with sobs. "Baby, he's the lame one."
"So, anyway, I went to his apartment and I let myself in. I had my own key and… Yeah. So, I went in and set my bag down and he was in bed…" She trailed off quietly, fiddling with the hem of Troy's shirt, letting her fingers brush against his toned abdomen.
"Oh, I'm sorry." Troy rushed out, sliding down the bed to hug her tightly, feeling her arms wrap around her torso.
She pulled back and breathed out deeply as she gained eye contact. "With another guy." She whimpered as tears fell from her eyes.
"Shh…Gabby…My precious Gabby…" He whispered, kissing her hair over and over again. "Did you tell him?" He mumbled in her ear.
Gabriella pulled back and managed to laugh. "Yes, through my swearing, cursing and throwing a vase, high-heeled shoe and a coffee machine at him."
"You go, Girl!" Troy exclaimed, grinning proudly. "And I assure you, I am straight. I mean, your love runs parallel to basketball but I'd choose you every time." He whispered with a sexy smile gracing his face.
She frowned slightly. "I thought you couldn't play anymore?"
"Well, I can. But, only one-on-one. Not too intense." He explained.
She nodded slightly and nuzzled her nose into his neck. "Troy, you mean so much to me." She whispered.
Troy rubbed her back and closed his as he sighed in happiness. "You mean everything to me."
* * *
Gabriella jolted out of her sleep to feel herself covered in a cold sweat. The sheets were tangled around her body and she saw lightning strike through the gap in the curtains. She jumped when she heard the thunder crack and whimpered in fear and as she remembered her very familiar nightmare. She scent of Troy which lingered in the room and his clothes soothed her immensely but she felt her body shake with sobs. The polo neck shirt – which he had said she could keep – and the basketball shorts she was wearing were clearly too big for her but he had apologised for having nothing smaller. She, on the other hand, had smiled shyly before kissing him goodnight and closing the door to the guest bedroom she was occupying.
She jumped when she heard another crack of thunder and the sound of rain and she groped around the bedside table to turn the light on. She squinted at the sudden light and quickly scrambled out of bed, nearly tripping over the blankets in the process. She threw the sheets angrily back onto the bed and rushed to the door, yanking it open and rushing to knock quietly on the door across from hers. "Troy?" She called quietly.
After a brief sound of movement, it fell silent again. She whimpered again at another crack of thunder and knocked more fiercely. "Troy, please wake up!" She pleaded through the door.
Suddenly, hope swelled deep within her stomach as she heard a loud groan and shuffling behind the door. She breathed a sigh of relief when the door was pulled open to reveal Troy. He rubbed his eyes furiously and leant against the doorway for support. She was not surprised when she saw he was just in a pair of plaid boxers, showing off his muscular chest. "Gabby?" He whispered, squinting through the sleep gathered in his eyes. "What time is it?"
"I don't know." She muttered embarrassingly.
"What's up?" He asked quietly, running a hand through his already dishevelled hair.
"Well, I-" She suddenly yelped when another crack of thunder was heard and she leapt forward, wrapping her arms around his torso.
He was momentarily caught off guard before shrugging to himself and wrapping his arms around her, using one to softly pat her hair. "Just guessing here but, are you, by any chance, afraid of thunderstorms?"
"Maybe." She mumbled into his chest.
He chuckled softly and held her even tighter. "You want some coffee?"
She shook her head.
"Watch some TV?" He tried again.
Another shake of the head.
"That doesn't give many more options at," He paused to twist his head and glance at his bedside clock, "quarter past one."
She looked up at him and blushed slightly before looking away.
"I mean, there is always me holding you while you slept but I figured it was rushing." He said with a soft sigh.
She bit her lip slightly and looked him in the eyes. "Well…"
"You want that?" He asked unsurely. "I'm giving you the option."
She nodded. "But, I've never had a guy like you hold me while I slept. Especially during a-" She screamed quietly at another crack of thunder.
He smiled slightly to himself and started leading her to his bed. "Baby, it's okay. Nothing will hurt you."
She lay down on his bed and giggled as he bent down to pick up the long-since-discarded sheets. "You're not fond of sheets?"
He shrugged, draping the blankets over her petite body. "Let's just say I prefer to be able to move." He pulled back the sheets on the other side of the bed and crawled under them before pulling them back over himself. He smiled as Gabriella jumped again at the thunder and snuggled into his chest. He held her tightly against his body and felt her nuzzle her nose into his shoulder. "God, I love it when you do that."
She giggled and pulled back enough to look him in the eyes. "Thank you for being here for me. I might actually end up liking thunderstorms if this is the result."
"Only with you." He murmured before pressing his lips softly against hers.
She giggled against his lips before pulling back to bury her nose into the pillows. She felt his nose nuzzle her neck and kiss the delicate skin. "Good. You know, don't you think this is rushing a tiny bit?" She felt his whole body pressed against hers and frowned slightly. "You don't want to sleep with me." She mumbled.
"I know you're not ready." He whispered, pulling back to brush a curl behind her ear.
Gabriella lifted her head and smiled up at him. "Troy, you are truly the most wonderful man I have ever known."
He smiled gently down at her. "I'm glad I'm your boss."
"Not for long." She teased.
"Long enough to let you have the rest of the week off to spend with your daughter before you start working at the hospital. But, you're still having dinner with me tomorrow night." He whispered.
"Allie." She said simply. "As much as she likes spending nights over at Zeke's and Shar's, she doesn't like it two nights in a row."
"She can come. Like you said, she's an important part in this relationship. And she seems to like me." He chuckled softly.
She nodded. "Yeah. So, it's not a date type date?"
Troy shrugged. "Just go out with me."
She giggled and nodded slightly. "Okay. Fancy or casual? Because I don't have that much of a selection of fancy clothes. Neither does Allie."
Troy smiled slightly and nodded. "It's okay. The limo will pick you up at six, okay?"
"It can't go on too late because of Allie. And I'll have to take some toys with me because she gets bored easily." She apologised. "Maybe its better we just don't go."
He shook his head. "Trust me. If you want, I'll make it five, okay?"
She nodded slightly and bit her lip. "A limo?"
"Hey, only the best for my girl." He teased.
"Ah…Girls." Gabriella corrected. "You've got a daughter now."
He chuckled and held her tighter. "Yeah. I like it."
"Me too." She whispered as he pressed a sweet kiss to her lips. She pulled back just as a yawn escaped her mouth. "I'm glad you're giving me the week off." She mumbled into his neck.
"Why?" He asked carefully, unsure as to where she was going with this.
"Too tired." She muttered.
He chuckled and squeezed her waist that little bit tighter. "Goodnight, Gabby."
As her breathing evened out, he suddenly panicked. When he was with her, he was helpless. He'd do anything for her – even wait to further their relationship to something deeper. He'd only ever had one real deep relationship and it didn't turn out so good. But, the main point was that he wasn't the dominant in the relationship and that was alienated territory. It wasn't that she was dominant, but she affected him in such a way that made him drop to his knees and kiss the ground she walked on. And Allie. God, Allie was so much like her mother. Maybe that was why he had started to love her like a daughter. He could see why Gabriella loved her – besides the fact she was her mother.
That was another thing: her motherly side she showed towards Allie made his love for her grow stronger. There was so much about her, so many perfections which he had never considered to be something he looked for in a woman. Like her innocence. He had never met a woman over nineteen who had an ice cream obsession and didn't want to rush into their relationship. He had only ever met women who wanted him because of his looks and, therefore, wanted him in bed. But, Gabriella's innocence was refreshing and made him want to protect her.
He sighed softly and kissed her forehead. He watched her reaction as she shifted closer to him and murmured incoherently, burying her nose into his neck. He chuckled quietly and tilted his head to kiss her hair gently. "I love you, Gabby."