Author's Note- I do not own anything related to High School Musical. This is my plot.

Chapter Ten-

As the sound of glasses, utensils and vases that held one single flower, were being correctly placed on the other surrounding tables, Gabriella couldn't help but feel like she was about to have lunch with the Devil. Albeit her parents were far from the man who was painted to be dressed all in red and held a pitchfork, but when push came to shove, the two older Montez's were a force to be reckoned with. They were very protective of their 'little girl' and always tried their best to ensure her safety and made sure that no one would ever hurt her. Especially Gabriella's Father.

Gregorio Montez was a man who you did not want to cross paths with when he was in one of his moods. Although he was caring, attentive and loving with his family, he was one to be intimidated and even feared of by others.

When Troy had first been introduced to Mr Montez, he was practically shaking in his boots. But over the years that Gregorio watched as his daughter's happiness intensified and her love for the 'Bolton Boy' did nothing but strengthen, he couldn't help but finally come around to taking a liking to Troy after two or so years. The trust developed and grew and then took their relationship to Father and Son.

Gregorio admired Troy for following in what he believed in. He respected the relationship that his daughter and 'son' had. They kept most of their lives to themselves and only told others what they wanted to tell. They saw each other as equals and kept each other balanced. The relationship as a whole wasn't perfect, no relationship ever was, but they trudged through and ended up happily married for six years. Until Gabriella's little fairytale came crashing down and she awoke from the fantasy world she had been living in for so long.

Gabriella heard the familiar deep and throaty voice that belonged to her Father and stood up as soon as she saw her two loving parents coming through the crowd to greet her. Gabriella smiled widely as her Father finally reached her and quickly took in her smaller figure and wrapped his muscled arms around her.

"Ella." It was long ago that Gregorio had given his little girl a nickname for himself and no one else. He only saw fit that he could be the only one to name her something short and sweet. The exact way he saw Gabriella. "How are you sweetie?"

Gabriella gave them most encouraging smile she could muster and kissed her Father on the cheek. "I'm good Dad. Thank you for coming today." Gabriella kept her hold onto her Father, the man she admired and adored the most and tried her best to keep her hormones intact. Gabriella turned her head to see her Mother beaming towards her. Gabriella couldn't help the wide smile that never quite reached her eyes, overtake her face.

Maria Montez was a sight for sore eyes. To Gabriella, her Mother was her idol. Her inspiration and biggest influence. In Gabriella's eyes, Maria was an angel. When Gabriella was younger she watched on in amazement as her Mother was able to juggle the many tasks of looking after everyone. Not just a growing Gabriella or a hard working Gregorio, but also her two elderly parents who lived just next door, who were growing old with age and both had been diagnosed with Dementia.

It pained everyone, especially Maria, to see her two parents slowly start to forget who they were and what they were doing most of the time. As their minds started to deteriorate more, it became harder to balance everything in her life, but Maria stayed strong and still took care of her family.

When Gabriella was fourteen, both her Grandparents had died within the same month. The deaths of Diego and Estella Herrera hit the Montez family very hard. Gregorio did his best to comfort and console his wife and daughter. And that's all they could of asked for. Was each other's support and comfort. They all relied on each other and made sure that they tried their hardest to move forward and overcome such a tragedy. In time their love for one another overtook the pain and suffering of the two deaths and soon became a whole again. Living with her family and having them surround her all the time, was one of the happiest times of Gabriella's life.

Maria Montez stood on the side as she watched the loving interaction between her husband and daughter. For so long all their schedules had clashed and were not able to visit each other a whole lot of the time. To Maria and her husband all they wanted to see was their 'little girl' happy and healthy, but now they were seeing her only half smiling and a small version of being happy. And it pained Maria to know that the reason behind the fake smile was because of the 'son' she had once loved, as if he were her own.

Gabriella hugged her Father once more and made her way to her smiling Mother. Who in turn, opened her arms wide and anticipated the feel of her daughter in her arms again.

"How are you Mija?" Maria pulled her daughter into her embrace and hugged her like her life depended on it. Maria looked up to see that her husband had left and given them a moment for themselves. She pulled away and grabbed Gabriella's soft face within in her grasp. "I can tell by the half smile that something is bothering you. Is Troy giving you problems with the divorce. It's been a while now hasn't it? Last we talked everything…was…well not perfect, but the settlement and everything was going well, yes?"

Gabriella pulled away from her Mother and lead her to their table. She saw that her Father was coming back from the bar and was balancing three cold beverages, and was so unsure about how her parents were going to react to her news.

"Everything is fine Mama. I just…something has changed and I didn't want to tell you over the phone." Gabriella saw the look of confusion cross her Mother's face and knew exactly what she was thinking.

"You're not…you didn't take him back did you Mija?" Although Maria loved Troy, she couldn't believe he could hurt Gabriella. The women that he vowed to love for the rest of his life in front of his friends and family. In front of her and Gregorio. And although she would want nothing more for her daughter to be happy again, she wasn't sure if being with Troy was going to do that.

Gabriella shook her head 'no' and gave a small laugh at how well she knew her Mother. Gabriella told her Mother that she would explain as soon as Mr Montez was seated. After just waiting a few minutes, Gregorio eyed his two special women warily and then sat down.

"What did I miss? A tear-fest?" Gabriella laughed her Father's joke, while Maria just rolled her eyes and took her husband's hand.

"Oh honey, when are you going to learn? Never ridicule the woman who makes your meals everyday." Maria and Gabriella shared a laugh when Gregorio's eyes widened and he shut his mouth immediately. "So Gabriella, sweetie? What is it you wanted to share with us? You have me quite worried."

Gabriella didn't mean any harm towards her parents or wished for their sympathy. She had felt like the 'poor little cheated wife' from everyone. Although they never said anything of the kind, Gabriella could feel the sympathy looks and the tilted head nods from her friends and work colleagues. She knew her parents cared for her and of course, would act the same, she just wished she didn't have to endure it much longer.

"Ok…well…like I said before to Mama, was that…something has changed now and…it has to do with Troy and I."

Gregorio eyed his daughter carefully. He always wanted the best for his only child. What parent wouldn't? And as he was always so protective of her, he felt like no man was ever good enough for her. But he finally gave in after much time and started to see Troy as a good man and one that loved his daughter. And now he felt nothing towards him. Hate was such a powerful word to Gregorio and he didn't have the heart to say he hated Troy, but he felt deeply disappointed and angry.

When he first heard the news of Troy's betrayal, Gregorio had nearly been tied up by his wife just so he wouldn't travel all the way to the City and smash Troy to a bloody pulp. Gregorio didn't want to hear the pain in his daughter's voice ever again, but he could see it so blatantly on her face and in her eyes. He just hoped that whatever she was going to say, was going to make her happy and no longer feel hurt or in pain.

"What is it sweetie? Nothing you can say can make us dislike that boy any further." Commented Maria. She too, couldn't hate Troy. But she could feel anger and hurt towards him.

"Ok…well…" Gabriella felt her hands start to sweat and the pace of her heartbeat quicken. She took a deep breath and looked towards her parents who were looking at her curiously and patiently. "…Troy and I are…well…I'm…Oh God." Gabriella tried her best to shake the feeling that they were going to be angry with her and forced the words out of her mouth. "Mom. Dad. I'm…pregnant. There. Troy and I are having a baby." Gabriella let out the deep breath of air she had subconsciously taken and waited for her parents reactions.

Maria was the first to react. She erupted in squeals and rushed out of her seat to pull a shocked Gabriella to her and hugged her carefully and placed kisses all over her daughter's face. "Oh my Lord. I'm going to be a Grandmother. Oh my…this is…this is wonderful Gabriella. My little girl is growing up."

Gabriella rolled her eyes, but couldn't help but feel them tear up also. She expected her Mother to be a bit more angrier about the situation of the pregnancy, but she was just glad that her Mother was ok with the prospect of becoming a Grandmother. Even though she was still in her late forties. Gabriella being a child that was born while Maria had just turned twenty and Gregorio was twenty-seven.

Gabriella pulled away from her excited Mother and saw her Father still sitting in his chair, looking deep in thought. "Dad? Daddy is everything ok?"

Even though Gabriella was now twenty-six, turning another year older in a few more months, she still felt the need to call her Father 'Daddy' sometimes. Both held a connection very deep for each other. She would always be a 'Daddy's Girl'.

Gregorio looked up from his intense gaze on his plate to his awaiting daughter and wife and felt his eyebrows lower and narrow together. "What about Troy? What's his view on this?"

Maria was about to go smack her husband over the head but stood in place as she watched Gabriella sit down beside her Father and take his hand. Maria allowed a small smile to cover her face and sat down in the seat that Gabriella was once occupying.

"Well…when he found out it wasn't really the way I wanted it to be." Gabriella saw her Father tilt his head in confusion, silently asking what she meant. "To be honest, the day I found out I was pregnant was the day I came home and found Troy with…well…her, and I couldn't tell him. I was so hurt and confused and angry at him that I thought he didn't deserve the right to have this child in his life, just to end up hurting them too. But…I guess that was just all my anger and hurt talking and soon realized that he had to know soon. But a week or so passed and I still hadn't told him, but then…I still don't quite know how, but he found out and he came over to Chad and Sharpay's and…well…we fought…a lot, but then I was finally able to let everything out and tell him how bad he hurt me."

"Hope you gave him a real piece of your mind sweetheart." Gabriella couldn't help but give a smirk to her Father's comment.

"Yeah I did Dad. I laid everything out and told him how I felt. We technically haven't really talked about what's going to happen with the baby. It's been a week or so since then and I haven't seen or heard from him, but…I know we do have to talk about this. It's only fair and right."

"I have to agree with you there sweetie. Although I can't stand the damn man right now, he does have the right to have his child in his life." Maria spoke softly.

"I know he does Mama, but I'm just so confused on what has to happen. I never imagined to be pregnant and raise a baby all by myself. For so long, I imagined it to be Troy, me and a baby. Now it's just…me and the baby. This is far different from what I envisioned." Gabriell looked up when she felt her Father's warm hand take hers and softly rubbed circles into her skin.

"Darling I know you must feel over a hundred thousand mixed emotions. Hell, even I do. But you have to put yourself first for once. I have watched you become the most selfless and caring person in the world. I have never been so proud of anything or anyone in my life. I know you are going to make a great Mother. Even if, in the end, you will be a single Mother, it doesn't matter. You'll still be one hell of a Mom." Gregorio wiped the small tears that escaped his daughter's eyes and gave her one of his warm and sincere smiles. He loved his daughter and he would do anything for her.

"Thank you Dad." Gabriella looked back to her Mother once the small flood of tears vanished and gave Maria a warm smile. "Mom. You're my Mother and idol. I'm lucky enough to call you a best friend even. I know you're going to be a wonderful Grandmother. But I just want you to know that if I do end up being a good Mother…I want you to know it's because of you. You have been and always will be my role model."

Maria felt her heart fill with love and joy. She always knew that her daughter was one of the most giving people she knew, but she never really knew that Gabriella saw her as an idol. Maria had the thought, that if she were to die that day she knew she would die happily with the thought of having such a wonderful daughter like Gabriella.

Soon the table filled with the three Montez's finally moved onto happier and more cheerful subjects and ordered their lunch and talked about the new prospect of Gabriella being pregnant. Ideas and opinions for baby names were soon started being thrown around. Some were very beautiful and made Gabriella smile with the thought of her baby having such a beautiful name. Some not-so serious ones were being made by Gregorio and had Gabriella and Maria in hysterics. Soon enough the naming game started to get tiring and all three realized that lunch had now gone all the way into the early beginning of dinner. Time really flew when you were surrounded by laughter and happiness.

"So I'll be seeing you in another week or two, correct?" Asked Gabriella from her comfy leather chair in the front of her white BMW M3. It had been a present from Troy for last years Christmas. Gabriella didn't seem to have the heart to sell it or throw it away.

"We promise sweetie. With your pregnancy, you'll be seeing more of us. I can promise you that." Spoke Gregorio.

"Take care darling. And look after yourself and the baby. I'll call you once we reach home." Maria bent down and placed one more kiss on her daughter's cheek and lowered her forehead onto Gabriella's. "I love you Mija."

Gabriella smiled and watched as her Maria pulled her head back from out the window and allowed her husband to wrap his arm around her waist. "Love you to Mom. And you Dad." Gabriella smiled once more and took one last look at her parents. They meant the world to her and she knew she wouldn't be the person today if it weren't for them. She thanked God for them everyday.

Gabriella watched from her rear-view mirror as her parents waved once last time and then made their own way to their car. Gabriella turned her gaze back to the road and oncoming traffic. So many thoughts and unanswered questions had been running through her head for the past few days and especially the last few hours. She felt like her head was about to explode with all the wrong or right answers. She was going crazy with worry and fear. And she knew the only person she could get the answers from was on the other side of town. With one quick decision, Gabriella made a sharp U-turn and made her way to the last place she wanted to be.

"Wow. This place is practically dead."

Troy rolled his eyes once more and felt like if he were about to do it again, they were going to roll out. Jason had made himself welcome over an hour ago and still hadn't dropped the subject about how empty the place looked with all of Gabriella's belongings gone.

"Jase man. Seriously. I know. You don't have to keep reminding me." There was some tension and slight annoyance laced within his voice but he couldn't help it. The pain of not being whole and incomplete with Gabriella was eating him away as every new day passed.

"Can't help it man. Kelsi told me to give you hell." Jason sent a sly smirk in Troy's direction and felt a little bad once he saw the look of guilt cross his face, but he ignored it and reminded himself that Troy deserved some slaps in the face.

"Oh…uh…how is Kelsi doing these days?" Asked a curious Troy. He wasn't really close with Kelsi. They called each other friends. They talked and conversed on numerous occasions. But deep down, Troy knew he only ever did any of that was because of Gabriella and Jason.

A year or so after the mutual break-up of Kelsi and Ryan, she had hesitantly and nervously asked for Ryan's help into asking out Jason. Although she wasn't a person who was all that shy or quiet, but how exactly could one ask their ex for help to seek out one of their friends? Once Kelsi quickly mumbled her request from Ryan, he was more than happy to help her. Telling her that he couldn't imagine someone better. Jason and Ryan were close friends. They were co-captains on the baseball team in High School. So he had no problem in helping Kelsi with her dilemma.

Jason of course was oblivious to all the constant flirting that Kelsi was making. He never thought of himself as the type of person who could be wanted by another. Although he had harboured a secret crush on Kelsi long ago, he never told anyone, due to the fact that the beautiful petite brunette was going out with his best mate.

Finally after months of failed attempts to gain his attention, even though she already had it, Jason was enlightened with the knowledge of Kelsi's feelings by a pissed off Sharpay, who was tired of the constant dancing around.

After a blissful and romantic month of dating, Jason finally found the courage to ask Kelsi to be his steady girlfriend, which she happily accepted.

"She's doing ok. She was helping Gabriella with the move the other day. Her place looks good." Jason carelessly mentioned.

Troy looked at his friend, what felt like his only friend, and had a look of surprise and disbelief on his face. "Gabriella…she's moved into her own place?" He watched as Jason nodded as he opened the fridge to grab a beer. "I thought she was living with Chad and Sharpay. Where they could keep an eye on her. What if something happens? What if she falls and nobody will even know? What if-"

"Whoa, whoa. Troy man, calm down. Everything's cool." Jason put down his beer and grabbed a hold of Troy's shaking shoulders. "Gabriella is a grown woman and she is perfectly capable of looking after herself. This is something she wanted to do and even though everyone didn't like the idea at first, they supported her decision."

Troy numbly nodded his head and then slowly slid down the hard wood cabinets. He distantly heard Jason open his fridge again and then close it. He was taken aback when a beer bottle was shoved into his face and forced into his hand.

"Thought you might need one." Jason slid down onto the ground too and took a sip from his cold beverage. "Look Troy…with everything going on, I know I probably shouldn't say something but…you're my mate and everyone else seems to know."

Troy took a large gulp of his beer and turned to look at his long-time friend. "Jase, you can say and tell me anything. Whatever it is…I'll be cool with it. What's going on man?"

Jason took another swig from his drink and then placed the now empty bottle on the ground beside him. "Well…Kelsi and I…well…uh…"

Troy watched as Jason was internally battling with himself and shook his head with a slight laugh. "Seriously Jase. It's cool. Just tell me."

Jason looked at Troy and saw that he was calm and relaxed. More than he was a few minutes ago. He wasn't sure how he could tell him. But he had a right to know. "Ok…well…Kelsi and I are…last week I…" Jason closed his mouth and then took a deep breath and quickly spoke the words he was worried about telling Troy. "…I proposed to Kelsi and she said yes." Jason spoke so fast he wasn't sure that Troy understood him. But once he saw the look of shock cross his face, he knew Troy understood perfectly well.

"Wow man…I uhh…" Troy let out a small breath of air and a low whistle. "…Congrads." Troy saw Jason look unsteady and unsure and gave a small laugh. "Seriously Jason. It's cool. I'm happy for you. Just don't uhh…fuck it up like I did."

"No offence Troy…but I don't plan to. Kelsi's it for me. I've loved her for a long time and I can't imagine myself with someone else. She's my life and future from now on."

Troy looked at Jason and saw the familiar look of love across his face. He use to wear that look everyday. He use to see that look everyday with Gabriella. Troy closed his eyes and tried his hardest to forget his moment of self-pity and focus on his friend's happiness.

"You deserve it man. So does Kelsi. You're perfect for each other." Troy remembered Jason's words. Kelsi was it for him. She was his life now. Just like Gabriella use to be to him. Like she still was to him. But how could he convince her and everyone else that it was still true? And were they the only ones needing convincing?

Troy was pulled out of his thoughts when the sound of his doorbell started to ring through his ears. Troy looked at Jason, who was looking at him. Both unsure of what to do. Both knew no one else was coming. And Troy's parents now had a key to his place. So he wasn't ambushed by Lucille ever again.

Troy stood from his position when he heard the doorbell ring again and then a loud knock was heard. Whoever it was, was being very persistent. Troy walked out of his kitchen, but not before placing his beer on the passing counter and then dragged Jason with him to the front door.

"Why are you pulling me with you?" Hissed Jason. Who was trying to pull out of his tight grip.

"The last time I had an unknown person at my door it was my screeching Mother. God only knows who the next maniac could be." Troy and Jason finally reached the door and both looked back at each other. They were both full grown men, and yet they were slightly worried of what was standing behind the other side of the door.

Another loud knock was heard and Troy finally pulled himself together and reached to open the door. What, or who, was standing on the other side was not the person he was expecting.
"Gabriella?" Troy had to close his eyes and squeeze them shut for a few seconds and then open them wide to see if she was real.

Jason stood with wide eyes. He wasn't sure what was going to happen. He wasn't sure if he wanted to stay and find out. But he could definitely feel the new found tension that had entered with Gabriella.

Gabriella shifted nervously from one foot to another. She knew Troy hadn't been alone. As she saw Jason's car out front in her old parking spot in the driveway. A place she was never going to park in again.

Her dress was clinging to her and making her perfect curves shine with grace and elegance. Her hair was slightly up and had small curls hanging around her tanned face. To Troy she looked beautiful. Her sight was enticing and alluring. Her scent was flowing through his nostrils and couldn't help smile once he smelled her familiar lavender scented shampoo. Her favourite. His too.

"I'm sorry for intruding in on your…guys day or whatever…but…I really need to talk to you Troy."

Troy still stood there in slight shock. But once he heard the desperation and slight fear and worry laced in her voice, he immediately shook out of it. "No, of course you're not intruding. Right Jason?" Troy looked back at Jason expectantly and saw Jason's eyes widen more then before but shake his head vigorously.

"We were just…chillin Gabs. Nothing important. But I'll…uhh…get out of your hair and let you two…talk." Jason turned around and quickly went back into the lounge room to grab his jacket and gave a quick man hug to Troy and then turned back to a nervous Gabriella. "Nice seeing you again Gabs. I'll see you this weekend, yeah?"

Gabriella wore a small smile and gave a bashful nod. Although Troy and Jason were closer friends, Jason and her still had a close connection. He had helped her so much in her growing career and his advice was shockingly helpful and perfect every time she needed.

Gabriella gave a tight hug to him and felt his lips give a quick kiss on her cheek. "Yeah Jase. See you Sunday. Tell Kelsi I said 'hi'."

Jason pulled back and nodded his head at her request. He threw one last goodbye to his friends and soon enough he had reached his car. Once he sat himself in the comfy front seat, he watched as a curios and nervous Troy lead a more nervous and tense Gabriella into their home. Once the door was closed, Jason prayed to God that nothing bad was going to happen between the two separating ex-lovers.

I'm sorry if some of you are upset or disgruntled with my lack of updating, lately I have had some lame excuse, college or work, but this time it was just because I couldn't write anything out. The past week or so have been very draining and problematic. My family have been through a very rough time and affected us all. I try hard to update this as much as I can. And in my free time, writing this story is all I do. I am sorry for late updates but I'm doing my best here and please stick by. I can't thank you all enough for taking the time and actually reading this and reviewing. I have already started the next chapter and just checking it over and will hopefully be up in the next few days, I know I may have said that before, but I will do my best to make my promise. Thanks so much everyone for still reading and enjoying this story. Cheers.