A/N I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING! I ONLY OWN THIS PLOT!
He knew Gabriella better than anyone and he knew how to help Gabriella. He carried her into the bed and sat down on to bed keeping Gabriella on his lap. He just gently stroked her hair and placed soft kisses to her hair as he rubbed her back. Gabriella didn't speak, she wouldn't speak Troy knew when she was ready she's speak. Until then he'd just have to wait and continue to comfort her, which wasn't a problem. He just hoped Maria was ok, Gabriella would never survive the loss of another parent.
After a little while Gabriella looked up from Troy's neck. She looked around trying to figure out where she was. Once she figured it out she looked to Troy before resting her head on his shoulder. Troy gave a small smile and kissed her forehead. He gently opened the water and put it to her lips. Gabriella opened her mouth a little and Troy tipped the water up carefully not wanting to spill any on her. She had a few sips before closing her mouth and pushing the water away. Troy removed the water and put the lid back on it.
"Does your hand hurt?" he asked softly.
Gabriella looked confused. She looked to her hand and sat a deep red mark across her knuckles. She had been so shocked by it all and so worried about her mother that she didn't even realize she had gotten hurt. Now that her brain could register it though she noticed her hand did hurt. She nodded softly but quickly clung to Troy's shirt not wanting him to leave her. He chuckled and kissed her head. "Don't worry. I'm not going anywhere." He stood and lifted her carrying her bridal style into the kitchen.
He put her down on the island. She whimpered when he let go. He gave a small smile and kissed her head. "It's ok. I'm right here." He reached into one of the draws and grabbed a small sandwich bag and filled it with ice. He sealed it back up and handed it to Gabriella. "Put that on your hand. It will help." Gabriella took the ice and gently touched it to her knuckles. Troy lifted her back up and carried her into the living room and sat down on the couch. He turned on the tv and looked for something for them to watch.
After finding nothing he sighed and turned it off. "Well that was a good idea." He groaned. He looked at Gabriella. She was just watching him. Waiting to see what he would do next. He smiled as an idea came to him.
"Well, since there is nothing on tv I guess we can play my favorite game. It's called tickle Gabriella."
Gabriella curled up on his lap hoping to protect herself. He chuckled and rubbed her back. "I'm just teasing baby girl. No tickle attacks today."
"Troy…" Gabriella finally spoke, but it was so softly Troy wasn't even sure he heard right.
"What my sweetness?"
"Call…"
"Call? Call who?"
"Call, Troy, call."
Troy understood what she was talking about. He grabbed the phone and dialed the hospital. He put the phone on speaker.
"Hello, this is Mary Beth how may I help you?"
"Hello, I was wondering if you could check on someone for me?"
"Are you family?"
"It's my girlfriend's mother….does that count?"
"Is your name Troy Bolton?"
"Yes, that's me."
"Peter told me you'd call. He said you were allowed to hear information."
"Great,"
"Just remind me on the name."
"Maria Montez, she was in a fire."
"Ah yes her. Ok, let me check my computer one moment please….Ah yes here we are Maria Montez."
"Just tell us the basic will she live?"
"Yes, she's going to be fire. She suffered some server smoke inhalation and she's going to be just fine. At the most she will feel like she had strep throat. The worst is over there. I'm going to keep her in the hospital overnight just to keep an eye on her."
"Thank you very much."
"You're welcome. Anything else I can do for you?"
Troy looked to Gabriella and she shook her head.
"No, that's all right."
"All right you have a good night."
"You too."
Troy hung up. He looked to Gabriella who had finally stopped shaking.
"She's going to be all right. The doctors are going to take good care of you. Peter is with her so she isn't scared."
Gabriella nodded. "Troy I'm sleepy."
"Come on let's get to bed."
Troy lifted her up and carried her back into the bedroom. He laid her down on the bed.
"I've got a surprise for you." He said.
He turned away from the bed and reached into his gym back. "You left her at Chad's house so I figured I'd bring her home with me." Troy turned back around and Gabriella's eyes lit up. A smile appeared on her face and reached out to Troy who was holding her teddy bear.
"I thought she was destroyed."
"Nope, she might smell like my lucky gym socks but she's fine."
Gabriella giggled and took the bear and hugged it closer to his chest. Troy smiled and kissed her head. "Good night sweetie. Sleep well."
He climbed in next to her and pulled Gabriella in him. She cuddled Troy and held her bear close to her and fell asleep fast. Troy followed behind just happy she physically survived the fire. He felt better knowing Maria survived too.
"HELP! HELP! HELP! SOMONE HELP ME!"
Troy jerked away to the sound of Gabriella screaming. He looked over at her and saw her tossing and turning in bed. She had tears streaming down her cheeks.
"HELP! HELP! HELP! PLEASE HELP ME!"
Troy shook her shoulder. "Brie, Brie wake up."
Gabriella shot up in bed with a gasp. She panted as she looked around Troy's room."
"Hey, hey, hey, it's ok. You're ok. You're ok." Troy said pulling her into his chest. "It was just a nightmare. You're safe."
"The…the fire…and…and nobody came….I…I was alone….Mommy…mommy di-died…you…you di-di-died too." Gabriella stuttered.
"Hey, hey, hey, it's all right. I'm safe. You're mother is safe too Peter is with her. Everything is ok. Nobody was badly injured. It was all a bad dream. I'm right here."
Gabriella snuggled deeper into his chest. "Sorry I woke you."
"It's ok. I'm sorry you're having nightmares. Do you think you can get back to sleep?"
"Will you sing a little bit first?"
"Of course."
They both laid back down and Gabriella laid on Troy's chest. He rubbed her back as he softly started to sing to her. She quickly and easily fell back into a deep sleep. Troy followed behind her.
"RING, RING, RING!" Troy jumped awake at the sound of his cell phone ringing. He quickly answered it.
"Ello?"
"TROY OH MY GOSH HAVE YOU SEEN THE NEWS! GABRIELLA WAS IN A FIRE AND HER HOUSE BURNED TO THE GROUND! I'VE TRIED CALLING HER CELL SHE ISN'T ANSWERING SHE ISN'T AT SCHOOL I'M FREAKING OUT PLEASE TELL ME YOU HAVE SEEN OR HEARD FROM HER!"
Troy held the phone away from his ear until she was done screaming.
"Taylor calm down! Gabriella is here with me. She's physically fine. She's really shaken but she's not hurt."
"How come you guys aren't at school?"
"Long night. We're staying home today. My dad is going to get our work we missed."
"Ok, that makes sense."
"Do me a favor Tay, tell the others Gabriella is ok and not to worry."
"Of course, Troy I'll talk to you later."
"Thanks. Tay bye."
Troy hung up and looked over at Gabriella. She looked half asleep and half awake.
"It's ok sweetie. It was just my phone. You can go back to sleep."
Gabriella sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes.
"I'm not tired anymore." She lied.
"You look tired."
"I just need a few minutes to wake up. I'm fine."
"How about some breakfast then?"
Gabriella nodded and they climbed out of bed and went into the kitchen. Gabriella sat on the island stool.
"What do you feel like?" Troy asked.
Gabriella shrugged and rested her head on her hands on the table. Troy chuckled and went over to her. He stroked her hair that had fallen in front of her face.
"Why don't you go back to bed baby girl. You were up half the night."
"No, I'm not sleepy."
"Says, the girl who is falling asleep on my counter." He teased giving her a small poke in the side. She squirmed and whined. "Come on Brie, you and I were both up half the night. We could use more sleep."
"I'm not sleepy." Gabriella muttered as she closed her eyes.
Troy smiled and was quiet for a second. Then he spoke. "Brie?"
"Hmmm?" she mumbled.
Troy chuckled. "Are you awake?"
"mmhmm"
He laughed. "Sounds like it. Are you sure you aren't tried?"
"Yeah, um wide away."
"Um wide awake?" he teased.
"I'm" she corrected.
He laughed. "Brie, you're not fooling anyone. You're exhausted. Let's go back to sleep. I'll turn off my phone and my alarm clock. We can close the blinds and just sleep all morning."
"No, no, um up."
Troy chuckled. "Hey, Come on Brie, let's go back to bed."
He lifted her from the chair. She rested her head on his shoulder. He kissed her forehead. He gently rocked her side to side as he softly started to sing.
Gabriella fought off the sleep as hard as she could but in the end she lost and ended up falling asleep in Troy's arms. He walked back into his bedroom and laid her down on the bed and tucked her in. He sat by her side and gently stroked her hair.
A few hours later Troy's phone vibrated. He looked at the number and answered it.
"Hello?"
"Troy?"
"This is he, who is this?"
"It's Peter, Maria gave me your number."
"Oh, Peter hey, how is Maria?"
"Fine, she was released from the hospital so I took her back to my house and she's resting comfortably. I just wanted to let Gabriella know."
"That's nice of you thank you. Gabriella is still sleeping but I'll give her the message when she wakes up. Thanks for calling."
"Anytime, goodbye."
"Bye." Troy hung up.
Troy looked to Gabriella and smiled. She was just starting to wake up. Her eyes slowly opened.
"Morning, Beautiful, did you sleep ok?"
She nodded and looked around. "Where am I?" she asked softly.
"You're at my house." He told her.
Whenever she first woke up she was always little disoriented.
"How long was I sleeping for?"
"A few hours but it's ok. You needed it."
"Have you heard from my mom?"
"Just spoke to Peter actually. She was released from the hospital and so Peter took your mom to his house and he's caring for her there."
"Is she sick?"
"Just a bit of strep throat, nothing too serious."
"Can I go see her?"
"Of course, do you know where Peter lives?"
Gabriella shook her head. "Can you call him?"
"Sure, when would you like to visit?"
"Well, I should shower and change maybe have something to eat so say about an hour or so."
"Ok, why don't you hop in the shower and I'll give him a call."
"Ok."
Gabriella got out of bed and went into the bathroom.
After Gabriella's cold shower she got out and put on some clothes Troy had left on the counter for her. Once she was dressed and looked….well normal again. She went back into the bedroom. Troy wasn't there. She suddenly smelled pancakes. She smiled and walked into the kitchen.
"Something smells good Wildcat." She said as she walked over to him.
"Double chocolate chip pancakes."
"My favorite."
He turned from the pan and hugged Gabriella, placing a kiss to her forehead.
"Whoa, Brie you're ice cold. Are you all right?"
Gabriella nodded. "I took a cold shower."
"Why? Was there no hot water?"
"No, no there was hot water I just…" Gabriella shrugged. "I didn't like the hot water on my skin. It…it hurt and…and made me think of…of…"
"Hey. It's ok. I understand."
Gabriella just looked down. "I'm sorry."
"Whatever for? Baby, you haven't done anything wrong."
"I'm acting like a baby."
"Gabriella look at me."
Gabriella just shook her head.
"Gabriella Montez look at me."
Gabriella shook her head.
"Hey," Troy lifted her chin to make her look at him. "Listen to me, you ARE NOT acting like a baby. You almost died and your mother almost died it's ok for you to be shaken by it. Give it a few day, maybe even a few weeks and you'll be able to shower in hot water again."
Gabriella nodded and smiled softly. "Thank you Troy."
He kissed her on the lips and she kissed back. They pulled away and Troy turned back to the food.
"Are we going to see my mom?"
"Yep, after we eat. Peter gave me instructions to his house so we can go after we eat."
"How is she?"
"She's fine Brie. I promise."
"I'm sorry I keep asking I just…"
"Gabriella you have to stop explaining yourself to me. I understand why you're worrying. The last you saw of your mom she was being taken away in an ambulance with ash all over her face. I'm sure you just want to see your mom normal and happy again."
Gabriella nodded.
"Come, on let's eat on the go."
Gabriella's eyes lit up and smiled. Troy smiled and they both left the house.
They finally arrived at Peter's house. Gabriella and Troy got out of the car.
"Are you sure this is the right house?"
"Yes. The address is right."
Gabriella went up to the door and knocked. Peter answered the door.
"Gabriella, Troy, good to see you please come in."
They both walked inside.
"How is my mom?" Gabriella asked.
"Stubborn." Peter answered.
Troy and Gabriella followed Peter as he went upstairs.
"I've been trying to get her to take her medicine but it's not working. She's acting like a little kid. I've tried everything."
Gabriella giggled. "We Montez's were horrible at taking medicine. My daddy and I are the same way."
"Maybe you can convince her to take it." Peter said as they walked into the room. Gabriella rushed over and hugged her mother tightly.
"I missed you so much mommy. I was soo scared I had lost you."
"You haven't lost me baby girl."
Gabriella and Maria smiled. Maria had been cleaned of all the ash and now she looked a lot better. She had a few burn marks but nothing that wouldn't heal with time.
"Peter, told me you're giving him a hard time." Gabriella spoke in her most stern voice.
"Not you too!" Maria groaned.
Gabriella giggled. "Mommy, if you want to get better you need to take your medicine just like the big girls." Gabriella mocked her mother from when she was a young girl.
"Gabriella Montez, do not mock me."
Gabriella giggled harder.
"Come on, Maria, just open up and let's get this over with." Peter said.
"No." Maria whined.
"Any idea Gabriella? What did your dad do to get you to take medicine. According to your mother he was the only one." Peter said.
Gabriella thought about it for a minute. She smiled and whispered something in Peter's ear.
"Really? I've wasted all this time fighting with her and all this time I could have just done that?"
Gabriella nodded.
"Are you sure it works?"
"It's works on me."
"Ok."
Peter turned to Maria. "All right Maria this is your last chance. Either open up and take your medicine or I'm going to have to take drastic measures."
Maria pressed her lips together and shook her head.
"Fine, you leave me no choice."
Peter reached out and tickled her sides. Maria squeezed her eyes shut and pressed her lips tighter together. She shook her head.
"Fine, you're asking for it."
Peter looked to Gabriella. "Help me, where is her weak spot?"
"No Gabriella don…." Maria was cut off when Peter put the spoon in her mouth. She groaned as she swallowed the horrible tasting medicine. "That was cruel."
"You asked for it." Peter laughed.
"Yeah, plus I could have gotten you back for all the times your and daddy tickled me when I wouldn't take my medicine."
Troy smiled as he watched on standing by the door. He didn't want to interrupt the bonding time. Plus he knew that this meant Gabriella trusted Peter now.
Maria shook her head and looked to Gabriella. "How are you?"
"Better, I burnt my hand but it isn't too bad. I'm still shaky but I'm getting better. How are you?"
"As you can see Peter is taking good care of me."
Gabriella smiled at Peter. "Thank you for taking care of her."
"Of course."
"How did the fire even get started anyway."
Maria sighed and looked down at her hands.
"Maria, stop!" Peter ordered.
"It's all my fault." Maria whispered.
"Maria, we've been over this. It isn't your fault!" Peter said sternly.
"What happen?" Gabriella asked.
"Remember yesterday, I called and told you Peter canceled on me?"
"Yes, that's why we got to spend the day together."
"Well, while I was doing my hair he called. I put the hair straighten down on the hand towel and went to answer the phone. After he canceled I felt no need to finish my hair so I just went to get dressed and ready for you. I never unplugged it."
"So it burned from your bathroom all the way to my bedroom?" Gabriella asked.
"Yes, by the time I noticed the fire I was trapped on my bed because everywhere else was covered in flames."
"What I don't understand is, how was it not noticed sooner?" Peter asked. "Why didn't your smoke alarms go off? Why didn't you smell it?"
"We must have had defective alarms." Maria shrugged.
"What brand do you have?"
"Smokey's?" (made up name)
Peter groaned. "Maria, seriously?"
"What?"
"Smokey's fire alarms were recalled last month. Several others had the same problem and the realized they weren't legally made or something."
"So, this really is all my fault." Maria sighed. "I didn't make sure my home was child safe."
"No, Maria, this isn't your fault. Last month was hard on both of you. You were too distracted to watch the news or care about smoke alarms."
"I left the stupid hair thing plugged in. I didn't even check the smoke alarms! I'm an awful mother. I should have died in that fire! I should be punished! I should have…." Maria trialed off into a coughing fit.
"Shhh, shhh easy, easy calm down." Peter order handing her a glass of water. "You need to calm down."
"How can you even look at me?" Maria asked. "I'm a terrible person! I should have died in that fire!"
"NO!" Gabriella screamed as tears fell down her cheeks. "NO YOU SHOULDN'T! STOP SAYING THAT! PLEASE STOP SAYING THAT! ALL LAST NIGHT I HAD DREAMS THAT YOU DID DIE IN THE FIRE AND IT WAS A NIGHTMARE! I CAN'T LOSE YOU MOMMY! PLEASE! I CAN'T LOSE YOU TOO PLEASE STOP SAYING THAT!"
Troy took this moment to walk over. He sat down by Gabriella and rubbed her back.
"Shhh, it's ok sweetie. Shhh."
"Maria Montez you look at me right now." Peter ordered.
Maria looked at him. "This is NOT your fault. You should NOT have been killed in that fire and you are NOT a terrible mother! Do you hear me? You are NONE of those things you just said. Now you stop that negative talk right now. Parents make mistakes it's how we learn but that doesn't mean you're a bad mother."
"You're the best mother in the world. I love you so much, mommy, please don't blame yourself please." Gabriella whimpered.
"Ok, you're right. I'm sorry. Come here."
Maria and Gabriella hugged. "I'm just glad you're ok."
"Me too." Gabriella wiped her eyes as she pulled away. "So what happens to us now?"
"I'm going to be staying here at Peter's house until I can find something for us. I've spoken to Troy's parents if you're all right with it you can stay there. If not you're welcome to stay here with Peter and I."
"I pick Troy…" she giggled.
"I figured."
"What about our money and all our important papers?"
"Safe, I had them all hidden in a fire proof safe. The Fire men recovered it and brought it here. I'll need to get some new checks and credit/debit cards and all that but all that is replaceable. You and I aren't."
Gabriella nodded and smiled.
"We still have enough money to survive Gabriella. That's what matters."
"All though, I'm sure we can use some money to buy you some new clothes." Maria chuckled seeing her daughter in Troy's clothes.
"Why?" Gabriella pouted. "Troy's clothe are comfy."
Troy laughed and tickled her sides. "Because I'll need those clothes back at some point."
Gabriella giggled wiggled. "You'll still have clothes."
"Not if you steal them all you little clothes stealer."
"Sto-stop tickl-tickling me." Gabriella giggled harder when he moved up to her underarms.
"Say sorry for stealing my clothes. Say sorry!"
"Sor-sorry…SORRY!" she screamed in laughter.
"For what?"
He moved one hand and piched her knee as the other hand continued to tickle her underarms. Gabriella screamed laughing harder as he attacked her two most ticklish spots.
"Stea-steal-stealing yo-you-your clo-clothe-clothes!" Gabriella laughed.
Troy laughed and tickled her another second longer before he stopped. Everyone laughed as she got her breath back.
"I'm just teasing. I really don't mind her wearing my clothes."
"I know but we can afford a few new things."
"But mommy I just got a new shirt yesterday it…."Gabriella sighed and looked down. She had been so excited to show Troy her knew shirt but it had been ruined in the fire. "Never mind."
"We can always get you a new one." Maria said rubbing her daughter's leg comfortingly.
"It was $100 mom, we can't afford that now."
"Honey, we will find a way ok. I promise we will find a way to survive this."
Gabriella nodded.
"Hey, cheer up, don't make me tickle you again." Troy warned his hands slowly going towards her sides.
"I'll help him this time." Peter said.
"Me too." Maria nodded.
Gabriella giggled and nodded. "I'm cheered up."
They spent the rest of the day there, laughing, talking, teasing, tickling, just having a good time.
Gabriella yawned making Troy smiled.
"We better be getting home." Troy said.
"No, Troy, I want to stay."
"Baby, we need to get you to bed. We don't want to repeat this morning do we?" he asked.
"Um not sleepy." She muttered.
Troy laughed. "Looks like we already are. Do you want to stay here Brie?"
Gabriella shook her head.
"Ok, let's get home."
After saying goodbyes Troy and Gabriella turned to leave.
"Wait." Peter said.
Gabriella turned back around. Peter reached into his pocket. "One of the fire men found this buried in the ash. I thought you should have it." He pulled out a gold wedding band. Gabriella gasped. It had belonged to her father, when he died he had given it to her. Gabriella took it.
"Thank you. This means so much to me." She went over and hugged Peter tightly. He hugged her back. "You're welcome."
Gabriella pulled away and put the ring onto her finger. She and Troy left the house. As they were getting into the car Gabriella said the three words Troy had been hoping she'd say all day.
"I trust him." Gabriella said.
Troy smiled "I'm glad."
They both got into the car and made their way home. Gabriella was happy her life was finally perfect again.
That weekend was the big game. Just like the last game it was tied all the way through. Troy hated when it was like that because that meant everyone was counting on him to win the game. It was all up to him to win against West High, knowing if he failed he'd be letting down his father, his teammates and the entire East High school…so no pressure.
Now, normally when someone say 'no pressure' it adds more pressure. Here Troy was standing a few feet from the hoop with the ball in his hands. All he had to do was score three shots and he'd win the game, it was a free throw so no one could try and stop him. It was easy right? So why was he so nervous? Troy gulped as he looked toward the hoop. He closed his eyes and tried to focus. He saw Gabriella's smiling face in his mind and opened his eyes. He let out a deep breath and shot the ball in the air. It went through the hoop. Everyone cheered. Two more points and he could win this game. Two more points and this was over. Troy looked into the crowd and saw Gabriella. She blew him a kiss and he smiled and winked at her. She giggled softly. Troy turned back to the net and shot the ball. He scored again. It was now down to the last shot. If he scored he'd win the game. If he lost…well let's just say there would be a lot of angry wildcats after him. He took a deep breath and let it out. He focused on the hoop and shot the ball into the air and….it went through.
Everyone screamed as they stood up and cheered. Gabriella rushed down to him.
"You did it Wildcat you won!" She squealed.
He wrapped his arms around her and spun her around. She squealed in giggles.
He set her down. "I couldn't have done it without you Brie, thank you for always being my good lucky charm."
"Always Wildcat." She smiled. "Now go shower you stink." She teased.
He chuckled and poked her making her squeal and then giggle. He quickly rushed off into the lockers. Gabriella giggled. As she turned she crashed into Hunter Kingston the West High captain, Troy arch enemy.
"What do you want?" she asked.
"Is that anyway to talk to your step-brother?"
Gabriella laughed. "Excuse me? You aren't my step-brother. You aren't even my brother."
"I am now, you haven't heard the news. Our parents are dating."
Gabriella laughed harder. "My mother would never date your father."
Hunter laughed. "She's been living with us for almost a week now. Ever since your house burned down in that fire."
Gabriella stopped laughing. "How did you hear about that?"
"My dad told me."
"Who is your father?"
"Peter."
Gabriella shook her head. "No, no, it's…it's not possible. You and I we can't be…no I don't believe you!"
"Gabriella," Maria said as she and Peter walked over. "It's true."
"What?"
"Hunter is Peter's son. He's going to be your new step-brother because we're going to be moving in with Peter permanently."
Gabriella turned white as her eyes went wide and felt her whole perfect world come crashing down around her.
A/N who was surprised by Peter's son? A few of you were actually able to guess who it was before so congrats to you. What do you think will happen now? Will Gabriella's bond between her mother and Peter be ruined or will she be able to find a way to bond with her new step-brother? How will Troy feel with his girlfriend living with his arch enemy? Leave me your thoughts in a review. Thanks guys :)