Title: Stand By Your Man

This is a continuation of the previous chapter. Thanks for all the awesome reviews.

Just like he had promised, the Bolton family received word that Greg Martin was attempting to bring charges against Troy for assault. Gabriella was with them when they received the news and felt guilty for what had happened. All three of the Boltons tried to assure that nothing had happened. That evening, the Bolton family as well as Ms. Montez and witnesses at the hospital were brought down to the police station for questioning. Troy would not be arrested but was required to be at the court house the following morning to see if the judge was going to bring charges against him.

Gabriella was sitting in her room waiting for Troy to come over. Her mother had already explained to her what was going to happen the next day. Gabriella knew that Troy was going to be terrified but was not going to show her. She texted Troy to come over after their parents had gone to bed. They didn't have to be in court until eleven the next morning. She was then brought out of her thoughts when she heard a knock on her balcony door. Gabriella opened the door and pulled Troy inside. She wrapped her arms around him and held him close.

"My mom told me." she whispered. "How are you feeling?"

"Truth is, I'm nervous as hell." Troy answered. "But I wouldn't change anything. I can't just walk away from someone who talks about you like that."

"Troy, people are going to be saying things like that no matter where we are. You just have to learn to ignore them. Please? One day it will get you into trouble if it didn't already. What will I do if that happens?"

"Will you help me?"

"You don't even have to ask." Gabriella told him tearfully as they lay down on her bed.

"I'm so scared, Gabby? I'm scared about being separated from you."

"You won't be, I'm going to stand by you no matter what."

The rest of the night, Gabriella comforted and soothed Troy until he finally fell asleep in her arms. Gabriella watched him sleep and the fear of him actually going to prison finally set in. She scolded herself for even thinking about it. Troy could never go to prison, he only did what he thought was right in protecting her. She could hope and wish the judge would see that way.

The next morning, the Boltons and Gabriella and her mother arrived at the courthouse. Troy took Gabriella by the hand as they entered the building. The Boltons attorney met them inside. Gabriella kissed Troy gently as she waited out in the hall as both parties explained to the judge the events leading up to the punch. As she waited, her thoughts drifted back to the past summer when she and Troy spent a week up at the Boltons' family lake house.

Flashback

"Come on, Gabby!" Troy called trying to get Gabriella into the water.

Normally Gabriella would have jumped in but since it was almost midnight now, she was slightly hesitant. She smiled and shook her head at Troy who was already in the water. Gabriella stood still on the dock.

"Too dark!" she explained.

"Come on! Chad and I used to do this all the time."

"Well that's all fine and dandy for you and Chad. I grew up in the city remember?"

"Baby, please get in the water. I'll even hold you if that will get you in."

"Alright." Gabriella finally relented.

Gabriella sat down on the dock as Troy swam over to her. Gabriella carefully slid into the water and into his arms. Troy quickly wrapped his arms around her and held her close to him as he moved them away from the dock.

"See, it's not so bad is it?" Troy asked her.

"I guess not." Gabriella said laughing quietly. "Troy?"

"Hmm?"

"What do you see in the future for us?"

"I see us happily married and with lots of little children running around." Troy answered. "What about you?"

"I see the same. Do you think that's a sign?"

"I think it's one, we both want the same things, with the same people. What about you?"

"I agree." Gabriella whispered before kissing him on the lips.

Flashback Ends

"Gabby?" Ms. Montez asked bringing her daughter out of her daydream.

"What?" Gabriella asked.

"You're allowed to be in here when the judge makes his decision."

Gabriella stood back up and walked into the room. Troy was sitting next to the family attorney and his parents were behind him. Coach Martin was across from them with his own attorney. Gabriella took her seat behind Troy who turned around and smiled gently at her.

"After listening to both parties present here, I've made my decision. Yes, Mr. Martin you did provoke Mr. Bolton over here by making vulgar remarks about a certain young lady. I will not be progressing the charges here. But Mr. Bolton, you will not be getting off completely. I'm going to order that you attend two months worth of anger management counseling in order to help you tame your temper. Yes it seems that it only your protective feelings towards your partner that brings it out, however no matter how valor your intentions are, it will get you into trouble. Your counseling begins next Thursday at five o'clock." the judge announced. "This court is adjourned."

Everyone stood up. Gabriella and Troy hugged each other in relief. Coach Bolton shook their attorney's hand thanking him. Gabriella pulled away from Troy to look at him.

"You're going to take those sessions seriously aren't you? I don't want to go through this ever again."

"I promise, I'm going to take them as serious as I do when it comes to anything to do with you. You won't ever have to go through anything like this again."

Gabriella smiled and kissed him happily. Troy then hugged his parents before leading Gabriella back outside to the car. They drove away from the courthouse and towards a place where they could celebrate on their own for the day, the Boltons' lake house.