DISCLAIMER: I do not own 'High School Musical' or any related characters.
A/N: The final chapter of 'Convincing You To Fall', sniff, I'm actually quite sad that this is finishing; I totally adored writing this and reading all your reviews! I really do love this story, it was really a pleasure to write and it was so much fun writing something that was drama-free! This leads me to another important decision…before any of you ask there will NOT be a sequel to this story. I'm leaving it at this. So, enjoy the epilogue of 'Convincing You To Fall'! Also, I hope some of you noted the little thing between Taylor and Chad last chapter, because that comes into play in this one too.
Convincing You To Fall
EPILOGUE
Twenty-four year old Troy walked through the gates at Albuquerque airport and glanced around, grinning slightly when he saw people hugging and laughing as they saw people that they hadn't seen, in a month, week, few days. It didn't really matter how long they'd been gone, Troy thought, as long as they always came back to the people they loved. Thinking this Troy looked around again, pushing his sunglasses on top of his head he looked for the telltale curls of his girlfriend, who had promised to pick him up from the airport. Sighing, Troy began to make his way towards the luggage carousal, keeping his eye out for the brunette he was almost positive had gotten caught up in the preparations for her parents fiftieth wedding anniversary. Stopping at the carousal, Troy kept his eye out for his sports bag and continued looking for his girlfriend. Rolling his eyes, when he couldn't see her in the people milling around, Troy turned his full attention to the carousal. As his bag came around, Troy felt two arms slip around him and grinned. So like her to show up just as his bag did. Bending down, Troy grabbed the Lakers sports bag and dropped it on the ground next to him before turning around to look down at a twenty-two year old Gabriella.
"Hi Superstar!" She squealed and Troy raised his eyebrows as she lifted her face to his for a kiss. Troy settled for a light peck before studying her carefully.
"Started on the drinks a bit early Brie?" He asked and Gabriella glared at him as she slipped her arms around his neck.
"No!" She said defensively and Troy chuckled slightly before she continued. "I just got really excited that I was seeing my boyfriend for the first time in what? Three weeks?" She said and Troy winced slightly at her tone. He couldn't help it if he had three away games in a row.
"Yep. Three weeks. You know, you would have seen me earlier if you'd hung around home for a little longer." Troy said, referring to their apartment they'd moved into when Gabriella had moved out to LA to attend UCLA. Gabriella frowned at him and then shrugged.
"Well, classes finished earlier then I expected and it was stupid of me to hang around at home when everyone was out here." Gabriella said, winding some of Troy's hair around her fingers.
"True. How's Tay?" Troy asked and Gabriella grinned at his question.
"Missing Chad like crazy. Can you honestly say that they would have gotten together when we moved out to LA?" Gabriella asked, referring to Taylor and Chad's two year relationship that had stunned everyone when they'd announced they were together, leaving everyone confused as to when and where the feelings for each other originated and why Chad had decided to dive headfirst into a relationship, when the longest one he'd ever been in had lasted all of two weeks.
"No. I still have no idea why he chose Taylor. I mean last time I checked, they barely spoke to each other during high school." Troy said shaking his head and Gabriella giggled slightly.
"Well, apparently, they've had a long time to get to know each other because of all our little…distractions." Gabriella grinned sheepishly as she referred to her and Troy's habit to become too involved with each other to remember that there were other people in the room. Troy chuckled slightly before, leaning down and grabbing the bag. Throwing it over his shoulder, Troy looked down at Gabriella who was frowning slightly. Leaning down he pressed a kiss to her forehead, looking up at him Gabriella's face softened into a smile and she hugged him close, burying her face in his chest.
"I missed you." She mumbled and Troy grinned, running a hand through her hair.
"I missed you too. Now come on, we've got to go." He said and Gabriella giggled and together they began to walk towards the exit. Gabriella keeping close to Troy's side and Troy's arm tight and possessive.
HSM-HSM-HSM-HSM
Glancing over at his girlfriend, who was concentrating intently on the road, Troy's hand slipped into his pocket and he fingered the small, square velvet box that was nestled there. Grinning slightly, Troy glanced over at Gabriella again; she was biting her lip as she tried to navigate the traffic. Glancing towards the road, Troy looked back at her and suddenly had an urge to touch her.
"Pull over up here Brie." He said suddenly and Gabriella glanced at him, wanting to tell him that she would do no such thing and then saw the look on his face. Switching to the slow lane, Gabriella slowed the car as the side of the road widened and pulled into it when there was enough space for the car to sit there comfortably.
Turning it off, Gabriella turned to Troy to ask what he wanted and then blushed when he patted his lap. Understanding what he wanted, she undid her seatbelt; and crawled over the glove box and gear stick, to straddle his lap. Slipping her arms around his neck, Gabriella and Troy looked at each other for a split second before his mouth crushed hers, his hand slipping beneath her shirt as Gabriella pushed him deeper into his seat. Feeling the weeks of aching to feel his mouth against hers and his body pressed tightly against her own melt, Gabriella moaned slightly as he pulled away for a breath, Troy brushed a curl away from her face before pressing his mouth back to hers. Being away from her for three weeks was hard and thinking back on it, Troy still had no idea how he had survived two years of college without her. Feeling her sigh against his mouth, he sat up a little straighter and she drew back.
"What?" He asked when he saw the curiosity in her eyes. Gabriella's eyes flicked down to his pocket as he shifted and she felt something hard bang against her knee again.
"What's in your pocket?" She asked and then wondered why Troy paled. Shrugging, Troy opened his mouth to laugh it off when he stopped, knowing he wouldn't get her off his back if he laughed it off. Sighing, he reached into his pocket and, with some difficulty, produced the black velvet box he'd been carrying around in his pocket for the last two weeks. Gabriella's eyes widened when she saw it and she had to swallow as she sat back onto his legs.
"What is it?" She whispered, praying that it was what she thought it was. Flicking it open, Troy stared at it for a moment and then turned the box to face Gabriella, who was biting her lip.
"It's a ring." Troy said quietly, watching as Gabriella's eyes filled with tears as she stared at the brilliant blue heart-shaped sapphire, flanked by two diamonds. Her eyes moved to meet his and Troy turned his head and pressed a kiss to her arm.
"What's it for?" She asked and Troy glanced at it for a moment before looking back at her and meeting her eye.
"It's for you." He replied and took a deep breath as he saw a tear trickle down her face. "Brie, I've known you since I was seven. I grew up with you and you were the best friend I ever had then. You were always there when it mattered and some of the memories we made when we were little are things that I like to think about when I'm away from you. Like when you climbed up that tree because you thought I ate your ice-cream." Troy paused for a moment as another tear fell down her cheek. "Then when I was sixteen, I fell for you. I fell for you hard too. In my eyes you were as perfect then as you are now. I spent two years after that trying to convince myself you wouldn't feel the same way and then I managed to ask you to prom. It was then, when we were by the pool, that I realized how much I loved you. Watching you pull away from me when I told you I loved you, was enough to make me hang on." Taking a deep breath, Troy swallowed slightly as more tears fell down Gabriella's face. "Gabriella, I told you after the prom that I wouldn't ever want anyone else and it's true. I've never wanted anyone else. For the past six years, you've been everything I wanted and more. Nothing has ever changed that fact and nothing ever will." Glancing down at the ring once more Troy took a breath and looked up, his eyes dark and serious. "Gabriella Elizabeth Montez, I love you, I would give the world for you, I would do anything you wanted me to do, as long as I can be with you and now I need to know if you will give me your hand in marriage." Troy finished quietly as tears cascaded down Gabriella face. He'd never felt so nervous, never wanted to run as much as he did right now. But looking at her, knowing that his entire future was staring at him through tear stained eyes was enough to keep him sitting.
Gabriella took a deep breath as she stared at Troy. He was her everything and right now he was offering her the chance to be hers forever. To be her everything for the rest of her life. Sniffling slightly, Gabriella wiped her tears away even as more fell.
"Yes." She nodded vigorously, before burying her face in his neck. Troy closed his eyes as the one word he'd been praying to hear left her mouth, relief washed over him as she sniffled against his neck. Turning his head, Troy placed kisses a long her neck as they sat in silence. After a few minutes of silence Gabriella pulled away from him and smiled.
"You know, I think I need to put that on." She said, nodding towards the ring and Troy chuckled.
"Of course you do." He agreed, slipping it onto the third finger of her left hand before kissing the back of it. When his head raised, Gabriella closed her eyes and rested her forehead against his.
"I love you Troy." She whispered softly and Troy closed his own eyes, knowing that nothing in his life would compare to this moment right now.
"I love you Gabriella." He replied softly and she smiled as she sealed her promise with a kiss.
Twenty-six year old Troy smiled softly at the memory as he walked into their apartment. He could hear the sounds of the Los Angeles traffic scream back and forth as he dropped his bag near the front door and kicked off his shoes. Walking as quietly as he could through the dark rooms, Troy felt his way into the master bedroom he shared with a twenty-four year old Gabriella. Staring at her form, which was highlighted by a sliver of moonlight that fell through the curtains, Troy still wasn't certain how he'd managed to propose to her in a car next to the main highway in Albuquerque and get away with it. Pulling off his shirt, Troy walked into the room and threw away his shirt and tracksuit pants, before slipping into bed next to his wife of one year. Settling back against the pillows, Troy made a movement to wrap his arm around her. When Gabriella rolled over and snuggled into his side. Troy let out a surprised laugh before kissing her head.
"You were meant to be back hours ago." She mumbled sleepily against his chest and Troy sighed.
"I know. I know. Our plane was delayed by a couple of hours and them some of the others were late in boarding. It was a mess getting home Brie." He sighed and Gabriella nodded.
"I figured. Congratulations on winning. What does that mean?" Gabriella asked becoming more awake by the second. Troy grinned, in all the years he'd known her, she still didn't understand a thing about basketball.
"It means that I have home games for the rest of the season. Pending semi-finals and stuff." He said and Gabriella shot up to look down at him. Her eyes wide with disbelief and hope.
"Really? You're home for the rest of the season?" She asked and Troy nodded, still grinning as he watched his wife giggle like a schoolgirl before throwing herself down on top of him and kissing him fiercely. Troy moved his hand to the back of her head and rolled them, so he was settled above her. He pulled away and wanted to laugh at the contentment on Gabriella's face as her eyes remained closed.
"Really. What did you do while I was away Mrs Bolton?" Troy inquired and Gabriella opened her eyes, sighing happily at the name that left his mouth when he spoke. No matter how many times people called her Mrs Bolton; she would never get tired of hearing it.
"I saw Chad and Taylor," She started and raised her eyebrows when Troy snorted. "What?" She asked and Troy kissed her before replying.
"Chad's probably still complaining about his injury." He muttered and Gabriella giggled, running her hands over his back as she nodded.
"Yeah. He is. But Taylor's keeping him busy. It's still really weird that they're together. I'm not sure I'll ever get over the shock. I saw Sharpay too actually. She and Zeke are in the middle of a fight." Gabriella frowned slightly as she remembered her friend's distress. Troy raised his eyebrows at her and then rolled his eyes.
"What happened this time?" Troy asked and Gabriella made a face.
"Not sure actually. He said something and the press got hold of it and then she blew up as he tried to explain it. It seemed routine." Gabriella said and Troy burst into laughter at the look on her face, knowing that she would have had to deal with Sharpay's dramatics full on.
"Ten bucks says she ends up back with Zeke within the month." Troy said and Gabriella hit his shoulder as she laughed. If she agreed, she'd be out of money.
"Of course she will. She loves him to damn much to run out on him. Besides, her new movie's coming out and having her and Zeke as a happy couple, is good publicity. I swear, I never thought she would get this dramatic when she became an actress. God help us when she has kids." Gabriella groaned and Troy laughed at her own dramatics. It was true though, when Sharpay had announced her intentions of becoming an actress full time, most of them had rolled their eyes and said she would end up a bitter drama teacher. None of them had actually thought she would become as in demand as she was today and none of them had certainly expected her to stay with Zeke once she hit the big time. But they were all proved wrong when Sharpay not only got the a major part in a production, but she married Zeke as well a few months after and now their lives were of complete fascination to everyone in the world. Except their friends, who often hid when they had an argument and begged them not to involve them.
"That'll be interesting to watch." Troy commented, burying his face in the curve of Gabriella's neck. They were both silent for a moment, Gabriella was absently stroking Troy's hair as she pressed her lips to his shoulder every so often. She loved her life. Everything about it was absolutely perfect, as a sixteen year old she sometime fantasized what it would be like to be married to Troy and she knew that nothing could compare to the real thing. There was something…special about being able to wake up nearly every morning with his arm wrapped tightly around her, there was something thrilling about being able to tell people that she was Troy's wife. It was as amazing as it was scary to say that she belonged to someone, was his heart and soul and knowing that his heart and soul was hers in return.
"I love you." She murmured and Troy raised his head and looked at her. His eyes smiled at her as he lowered his lips to hers and kissed her for a long moment.
"I love you too." He whispered and Gabriella sighed.
"Missed you, lots, and lots, and lots." She mumbled as she kissed him gently and Troy responded to her kisses readily. He loved this, he really did. He loved being able to hold her, he loved the way she acted like a small child every time he came home, he loved the way she touched his face when she needed to kiss him. Adjusting himself on top of her slightly, Troy looked down at her and then cocked his head to one side. There was something different about her. Something different about her eyes, he decided, maybe even her whole face.
"What's wrong with you?" He asked and Gabriella's eyes filled with surprise as she looked up at him. Looking away shyly, Gabriella bit her lip before looking up at him again, her eyes shining as she kissed arm.
"Um, well, I went to the doctors the other day. You know how I've been sick lately? Well, they did some tests and…" Gabriella trailed off, not really sure how to put it. She hadn't thought to speak to Troy about something like this before, hadn't ever considered this happening while she was so young.
"And what?" Troy asked suspiciously as he watched her go into deep thought. Gabriella snapped out of it and then smiled up at him.
"And I got the results today. Troy, I'm…we're having a baby." Gabriella said and Troy looked at her in shock. Gabriella bit her lip and somewhere in the back of her mind, he registered she looked very much like a child who had done something wrong. Suddenly a grin erupted on his face and he leaned down and kissed her exuberantly. Catching her off guard as he rolled off her and pulled her tightly against him, his face buried in her hair as he laughed.
"You're serious, right?" He asked and Gabriella struggled to pull away from him. Looking up at him, she laughed at the expression on his face. Feeling very much like she was sixteen again and he had just presented her with his first gift as her boyfriend.
"As serious as I ever will be." She replied and suddenly her eyes changed and Troy smiled at her. She'd barely changed since she was sixteen, her curls still tumbled down her back, her skin still glowed and her smile was exactly the same. But it was her eyes that gave it away, every time he saw them he was aware of what an amazing woman she really was and how beautiful she was on the inside and the out. But even then she was still the beautiful sixteen year old that had stood in front of him during the prom, her eyes begging him to tell her that what he had said was true.
"God, I love you." He said and Gabriella smiled, looking at him. He hadn't changed; his hair was a little shorter maybe, his face a bit more defined, his build stronger and more toned. But his eyes were still the same and she knew that every time she looked at them, she would see the eighteen year old boy by the pool, his blue eyes open, honest and full of love as he tried to convince her how much he loved her.
"I love you too. Are you happy?" She asked, and Troy rolled his eyes and kissed her once more.
"I'm married to the woman I love more than anything, I have a job I love, family that's always there and," Troy rested his forehead on Gabriella's and closed his eyes. "My wife just told me I'm going to be a father. Brie, I'm happy. More than happy." He said and Gabriella snuggled into him, her mouth lifting to kiss him softly before burying her face in his chest.
"Me too Troy," She sighed. "Me too." She repeated and knew that nothing would ever top the feeling of being held by the man she loved more than anything in the world or the knowledge that whatever would came next, no matter what it was, no matter whether she was unsure about it, or he wasn't certain. Every time they came across something where one needed convincing, they would always, always, convince each other to fall from the edge with the promise of them being there to catch them.
A/N: THE END!! Aww, its over, sad now. Anyway, I know most authors thank everyone that reviewed but there was just so many of you that I'm afraid I'll miss out someone and hurt them. So and ENORMOUS thank you goes to everyone that reviewed, or even read this story! I hope you all loved it and had as much fun reading it as I did writing it, because I love this story beyond belief! Thank you all so much! (I hope the ending wasn't to lame. I tried to get as much detail in as possible!).