Thank you for all your wonderful reviews. I'm glad so many people are taking an interest in this story. Again, this will be a rather short story, probably up for 5 chapters at the moment.

For anyone else who is also wondering, I had said before that I was also planning another HSM story called 'Forbidden'. A lot of people took a strong interest in that story plot, don't worry, 'Forbidden' is DEFINITELY on my agenda of stories to write, I just posted this story up first because 'Forbidden' will take a lot more time, research and effort to write since it is my first period drama.

Before Happily Ever After

Chapter 2: Our life

The streets of New York City bustled with its usual chaos. People rushed to their destinations without giving a second thought to their surroundings, and the ever present yellow cabs pushed through the unrelenting traffic. It was weird how the people of New York still found something to do when it was grey and gloomy outside. The wind howled and dried leaves rustled against the pavement, the biting cold chilling people's skins; a sign of a hash winter.

Among the scurries of people a young woman of twenty-one huddled against the cold, working her way through the crowds of people. Her soft brown curls whipped around her cheeks, as she wrapped a well worn pink scarf around her neck. Clutching her purse, Gabriella Bolton pushed her way through the crowd, occasionally catching the rare empty cab that passed her by, and her heart would unconsciously wish for the warmth within the yellow car, yet her mind chided her to reject the very idea. After all, why waste money when she would be home in five minutes?

Gabriella Bolton (born Montez) worked two part time jobs. If she didn't have classes, she would work as a secretary at a nearby, private doctor's office, in the evening she worked as a teacher's assistant at a close elementary school. Above all of that, she alternated with her husband to take care of her one year old son, Sean Bolton. Looking up, she turned left, leaving the hustle bustle of the crowd and the expensive boutiques and designer stores, and into a quieter, calmer street. There were lines of houses and a couple, low apartment buildings. She quickly buzzed herself into the closest apartment to her right, and walked up the stairs to the third level.

Her house was, by far, anything like what she had lived in when she grew up. The apartment she shared with Troy was a small, two room apartment, with a tiny kitchen and living room wide enough for one couch and a TV. With Troy and herself still in university, and their son to take care of, it was a wonder they were able to find a place to live once they decided they could no longer live on campus. It was a good thing the landlord was an elderly lady with several children (and even more grandchildren) of her own. She gave them the apartment at a price considerably lower than they had expected with a particular glint in her eyes, Gabriella suspected she had been in a situation similar to hers.

Regardless, Gabriella was just happy she and her family had a place to stay. Quickly walking in, she turned on the lights, and removed her long, faded pea coat, and her worn pink scarf. She was wearing a navy turtle neck, and faded blue jeans and worn out sneakers. She walked around her apartment, picking up the random toy and truck that littered the small house, and stopped in front of a picture of her and Troy on their wedding day.

It featured them together during their first dance, outside at Chad and Taylor's backyard. She had worn one of her white, church dresses for their wedding due to the fact she had cut off all communication with her parents and Troy was dressed in the same suit he had worn to their prom. Taylor had later delivered the pictures of their wedding during their first Christmas break as University students, seeing as Gabriella hadn't want to print any out to save money.

"Consider this your wedding gift from Chad,," Taylor had said, "he says it's the cheapest gift he could pick, but between you and me, he spent hours looking through the camera for the perfect pictures," Gabriella had been touched by Chad's considerable actions, and the next time she saw him, and crushed him in a thank you hug.

No matter how many times Gabriella looked through their wedding photos, it brought a smile to her lips, and a new wave of love to her heart. Having been married for two years, Gabriella still loved Troy as much as she had when she left her home and family for him, if not even more as they weathered through their difficulties together. True to her words, Gabriella severed all connections and communication between her mother and step-father and Troy held her through many nights as she cried herself to sleep. Isabella tried countless times to persuade her only daughter to return and every time, Gabriella refused so long as Greg refused to accept Troy as his son in law. Not long after, Isabella stopped coming entirely.

While it hurt, Gabriella went on with her life. Troy loved her to no end, and true to his word, he made it his life mission to make sure she was happy, and no matter how many times she told him that she was as long as she was with him, he continued to make sure she had everything she could hope for. Gabriella found it ironic that she had to be the one to remind him to save money. Sure they had their shares of fights, but what couple didn't?

Then there was the pride and joy of their life, Sean. Sean Gabriel Bolton was born near the end of their first year in university. Mid-way through her science exam, her water broke, and the entire exam was cancelled to take her to the hospital. Minutes later, Troy ran out of his math exam and rushed to her side as the university security delivered them to a nearby hospital, where Sean, weighing six and a half pounds came into the world. With dark fuzzes on his head and Gabriella's skin tone (and once he had been able to open his eyes, he displayed his shining blue gems), the new parents looked upon the most perfect creation they had ever seen.

The little boy took much after his father, just as active and just as stubborn. When he didn't like something, he cried, when he did like something, he would give you the most adorable smile you have ever seen, and then it would be hard to be mad at him for anything. It was an odd relationship, as Gabriella found herself as the strict parent, and Troy spoiled his son to no end. The couple soon drew out a schedule around their work and classes to take care of Sean, and for a moment, Gabriella had a panic attack when neither her husband nor son was in the house.

"Sean, Troy?" Gabriella called around the house, speeding up to the small nursery room where an empty crib stood. She quickly made a sweep of Sean's room, and then her and Troy's room to find it empty. "Troy, Sean!" Gabriella called, eyes now starting to fill with tears of worry. Her heart nearly exploded with fear when the front doors swung opened with a delighted squeal.

"Ma!!" Little Sean Bolton waved his arms wildly in the air (and narrowly missed his dad's nose) as Troy and Sean walked in, both faces flushed red with cold, and identical blue eyes blinking.

"Sean, oh thank god!" Gabriella sighed in relief as she rushed to take her son in her arms. Sean giggled gleefully, and latched himself to her, babbling against the crook of her neck of what Gabriella believed to be an exciting tale of the adventures he had with his father. Gabriella raised her eyes up and glared at Troy,

"You could've left me a note," she said,

"We didn't expect you to be back so soon," Troy defended himself, beginning to peel the winter jacket off his shoulder, "We just went out for a quick breather, right little buddy," Troy winked, Sean giggled and clapped his hands,

"And your quick breather involves bringing home two bags?" Gabriella raised her eyebrow, gesturing to the two bags in his left hand. She could literally see a new fire truck toy under the white plastic bag,

"It was a quick shop, it made him laugh," Troy defended, "Gabs, the toys he has are from his baby shower before he was even born, half of them aren't even recognizable, and the other half are missing parts,"

"Troy you know our situation," Gabriella said sternly, unconsciously tightening her grip on Sean, "You can't go spending money like that,"

"I can't even buy something for my own son?" Troy asked harshly,

"No, I'm not saying you can't, I'm saying you've got to be able to tell between something that is a need and something that is a want,"

"Sean's one Gabriella, he has a lot of needs!"

"A new fire truck isn't one of them!"

"I just want to make him happy, is that too damn much to ask?" Troy bit out coldly, "I know what kind of situation we're in, and you're not the only responsible one here,"

"I never said that,"

"You're implying it!" Troy said loudly. Sean blinked between his parents from his mother's arms,

"Ma…Da?" the little toddler squeaked out. Troy turned his furious gaze from Gabriella to Sean to see the happy smile gone, replaced with a confused frown. Troy softened slightly, and walked over to take Sean from Gabriella,

"I don't want to start another fight, I have class tonight, let's get Sean undressed, and we can just eat dinner," Troy said in a semi cool voice, refusing to make eye contact with his wife. Silently they took the mittens and coat off Sean and he toddled off, trying to make it on foot, but stumbling half way through and crawled the rest of his way to the center of the living room. Gabriella silently went off to the kitchen to prepare dinner, as Troy went to take care of their son. It was always like this…after an argument they never talk, never spoke and the argument was left unbothered. As Gabriella waited for the water to boil, she took a glimpse at her husband and son, and a smile of her own drifted to her face as Sean and Troy played with the new fire truck, and tears pricked her eyes.

-

-

Troy's class started at seven, so right after dinner, he quickly helped Gabriella put the dishes in the sink, ran into their room, grabbed his bag, gave Sean a quick kiss and hug, gave Gabriella a quick peck on the cheek and left. Gabriella then did the dishes while keeping an eye on Sean, who continued to be fascinated by the miniature version of the red rescue vehicle. At eight, Gabriella would take Sean to the bathroom, where the mother and son would wrestle for half an hour before the little toddler subjected to having his dark brown hair washed and cleaned, and gave his mother some more trouble before allowing her to put him into his starry, midnight blue footy pyjamas.

After putting Sean in bed at nine, Gabriella took a quick shower, and shrugged her nightgown on, her brown hair let loose and damp from the shower. She walked over to Sean's room, the little baby asleep in a serene manner and sat there, watching him, but deep in thought.

She and Troy had been in fights more than usual lately, and always about the same thing, their financial standards. She hated fighting about; it made her feel like her parents had been right when they told them they were to get married two years ago. She hated to think that maybe their love was fading and that they weren't feeling the same way about each other as they had when they started. She hated that what Greg Santos had said two years ago might be the truth, that they were foolish and stupid to get married at eighteen. Gabriella really hoped it wasn't that, because she knew she loved Troy with all her heart. For an hour, Gabriella sat in Sean's room, stroking her son's little hands as her thoughts contemplated about her and Troy. At quarter past ten, the front door quietly clicked opened and signalled Troy's arrival. Getting up quickly and quietly, Gabriella gave Sean a soft kiss, and headed for their room.

Troy sighed as he softly dropped his keys onto the kitchen counter, and dropped his school bag by the table. Class had been insanely boring and listening to his professor drone on and on about the different theories of math for three hours was about just as much as Troy could take. Half way through his notes, Troy stopped all together, and his thoughts drifted to the argument he had with Gabriella.

Troy hated arguing with his wife, he hated when they disagreed about things and he hated the look of disappointment and hurt on her face. It just brought back the words Greg Santos had said two years ago. It made him feel worthless, like a complete failure because Greg had been right. Troy hadn't been able to provide for Gabriella two years ago, what made him think he could now? Especially with university fee, and the money it took to raise a child? Every argument they had stabbed Troy in the heart because he was causing her pain, when he had swore to make her happy. For the entire three hours, that was all Troy could think about.

Silently, he walked towards his room; passing Sean's opened door, and smiling softly at the sleeping face of his son. As he past the washroom, the heat and faint sent of lilac meant that Gabriella had already taken her shower, and was in their room. As quietly as possible, Troy walked in to see the slender curve under the covers that showed Gabriella's hidden body. Softly, Troy walked towards their bed, and climbed onto it as slow as possible, though the inevitable dip in the bed from his weight would eventually notify Gabriella of his presence. Lying on his side, Troy traced the palm of his hands from her exposed shoulder and down the outline of the side of her body above the cover, stopping by the curve of her waist and the raise of her hips. Gabriella shuddered,

"I'm sorry," Troy whispered against her ears, kissing her earlobes softly, "I'm sorry," he repeated, kissing the side of her temple, he could see the flutter of her eyelids, "I'm really sorry," he whispered again, kissing the side of her chin. This time, he held there for a while longer, and he could feel the quiver of her chin. "I know you're awake, talk to me babe," Gabriella shuffled before she turned over to face him, her eyes opened with leaking tears,

"I'm sorry," Gabriella whispered, Troy drew her closer to him, letting her bury her face against his chest beneath his woolly turtle neck, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it, I don't like it when we argue,"

"You think I do?" Troy asked softly, brushing her brown locks, "But it's what couples do, it keeps it interesting," he joked hoping to relieve the tension,

"That's stupid," Gabriella said bluntly,

"I didn't mean to raise my voice, you know that argument didn't mean anything right? I still love you as much as I did when I first met you," Troy said, brushing the hair off her cheeks,

"I know… it didn't mean anything…I know," she said with a shuddering breath, a few tears still leaking unintentionally through her closed eyelids,

"Then why are you still crying?" Troy asked, brushing her tears away, "It kills me every time to see you cry, it makes me feel like I've failed,"

"No! Troy no you haven't, god being with you makes me happy,"

"It still doesn't mean I can't make you cry," Troy said, "It just…I feel like I'm failing you…that everything you step-dad said was true…that I can't take care of you,"

"Troy you have been taking care of me, better than Mom or Greg ever could," Gabriella said, "You really think I'd be happy if I stayed at home away from you?"

"You'd be sleeping in a house the size of half the street," Troy said,

"I don't care about material things, I'd trade them all in a second for you and Sean," Gabriella said strongly, Troy breathed deeply, letting the words sink in, "How is it that I came in to comfort you…yet now it's the other way around?"

"That's just life's mystery, learn to deal with it," Gabriella smiled. She brushed stray bangs off of Troy's eyes, "I love you,"

"I love you too, now get some sleep…you're going out with Sharpay and the girls tomorrow aren't you?" Troy asked, Gabriella nodded, "I'll leave some money on the table tomorrow morning—"

"Troy I don't want to take your money,"

"Our, our money,"

"No, your money, that's for your basketball camp you want to go to," Gabriella corrected his correction, "I have money saved over for personal uses." Gabriella left no room for argument, as she got out of bed, and flung his night clothes at him as an indication for him to get changed. After a quick wash and change, Troy came back to the room, and got into bed with his young wife. He quickly scooped her towards him, and spooned her against his body. He dropped a quick kiss on her head,

"We'll get through this," he whispered to her, Gabriella sighed,

"We will," She thought determinedly to herself, "We have to,"

A/N: A relatively short chapter, but it's just an introduction to Troy and Gabriella's new life. I hope you liked it, and before anyone asks, no, life ahead is NOT going to be any easier for Troy and Gabriella. That's just the way of life. Please review and let me know what you think!