AN: Sorry for the long Update but I'm probably only going to be able to update once a week because I have so much going on. I haven't gotten any new reviews so if I don't get any, then I'm going to stop writing.

Chapter 2 I awoke the next morning to a knock on our bedroom door. Troy groaned beside me as I grabbed my robe, to put over my gown, on the way to the door. I opened it to see the kids standing there, fully dressed, and looking excited. "Mama!" Zac exclaimed, right away. "Can we take Belle for a walk this morning before the party? Pleeeese!" Rose and Lily joined him on the last part. I looked at Troy, who had come up behind me and was now snaking his arms around my waist. He nodded at me and I looked back down at the kids, who were now staring at me expectantly. "Okay, sure, after breakfast. We'll walk to the park and back. You have to be ready for breakfast in 30 minutes." Zac looked like he was about to say that they were already ready but I cut him off before he had a chance to respond. "That means beds made, rooms cleaned, clothes in the laundry room and the present is by the door ready to go when we come back." I had barely finished my sentence before the three turned and ran off. I grinned into Troy's lips as he placed them on mine. When we broke apart, I headed back into the room, Troy coming in behind me and closing the door so we could get ready to go. I came downstairs after getting ready for the day to find Troy and the kids sitting at the table munching on toast and cereal. There was already a plate of toast set at my place at the table so, I sat down and began to eat. "Ready to go?" I asked, after everyone had put his or her plates in the dishwasher. "Yeah!" I took the leash off the hook by the door and fastened it to Belle's sky blue collar as everyone grabbed a sweater. Troy helped me into my jacket and we stepped out into the crisp fall morning, heading towards the park. Getting this dog was truly a wonderful idea, I thought, walking down the street, hand in hand with Troy, the kids walking beside the dog, a little ahead of us. It was a great way for the family to just relax, have some fun and spend some more time together. We had a great time on our walk, playing a small game of fetch with Belle once we arrived at the park. It was a nice way to relax before the school year started. At 11:30, an hour and a half after we had left the house, we walked in the front door. The kids all ran upstairs to change their clothes for the birthday party as Troy and I hung up our coats and put some food in Belle's dish. Then we headed to our bedroom to get ready ourselves. "You look beautiful." Troy commented in awe as I came out of the bathroom a few minutes later, wearing a dark blue, spaghetti strapped, knee length dress. I laughed at his stunned expression and spun around, ending in a pose, to show it off. He smiled at me before walking over to where I was standing and capturing me in a passionate kiss. As we broke apart, I looked him up and down. He must have noticed, for he spread his arms wide and also turned, showing off his dark wash jeans and new dark blue button-up shirt. I giggled at him and was about to lean in for another kiss when, the door banged open and Rose and Zac marched in; I suppose Lily was still getting ready. "What's so funny?" Zac asked. "And were you two about to kiss again?" Rose questioned, seeing our position. Troy kissed me lightly, much to the twins' displeasure, before answering both the questions. "I am and yes, is there anything wrong with that?" Rose rolled her eyes at her father. Troy told me that that was exactly what I looked like when I did that. "What those eyes young lady." I warned. "Sorry Mama." I looked at the time as the kids left the room. It was 12:15 PM. Just enough time to get to Taylor's before the party started at 12:30. "Let's go!" I called down the hall. Everyone came out of their rooms and headed for the stairs. We arrived at Taylor's five minutes before the party was set to start. We walked up to the door and rang the bell. Taylor answered. "Come in. The kids are in the living room with the guys." We stepped into the spacious porch, taking off our shoes. The kids raced off into the living room to see their friends and Troy and I followed. Taylor and Chad's home was about the same as Troy's and mine. There was a library and office, a pool and deck, a basketball court as well as all the basics, like a living room, kitchen, basement, den, etc. The only difference was that this house had less bedrooms and bathrooms.

"Lily!" Sara exclaimed, racing over to embrace her best friend, while Zac ran over to the boys. Allison, Emma and Hannah were close behind her. The five were the best of friends, sharing many interests. They waltzed over to the corner of the room and sat around a plastic table, set with a tea set, and started giggling about something or other. Lily also walked over to her friends, book in hand. Alice and Nancy were already reading quietly and stopped to greet her. In a matter of moments, they were showing the books to each other and swapping stories.

I told Troy that I was going to the kitchen to talk to the girls. He nodded and kissed me before I walked towards the door. As I was about to leave the room, Zac stopped me.

"Mom, can I go out on the court with the other guys? Please."

"Sure go ahead."

"Thanks," was the hurried reply as he ran off with James and Warren. Those three loved basketball. If they continued this way, I thought with a smile, they would be the basketball stars of East High. I took one last glance at Troy before going out into the kitchen to join the girls.

For the next two hours, the kids played board games, watched TV and played basketball. Then, we served them pizza and next the cake. Zeke had outdone himself once again. The cake was marvelous, almost to good to eat, although Sharpay almost ate the cake herself while Taylor was putting the candles on.

"Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday dear Sara. Happy Birthday to yooou!" We all sang. Sara made a wish and blew out the candles. Taylor the brought the cake from the dinning room to the kitchen where she cut the cake, and then I passed it out.

"This is great Zeke!" I told him, taking a bite of Troy's piece of cake. Everyone agreed.

"I helped him, didn't I daddy?" Allison exclaimed.

"Yes you did." Zeke replied.

"Well," I told her, "you did an excellent job." She smiled up at me, happy to hear she was great at the thing she loved.

"That's my girl! She'll me a cook, just like her daddy. She'll bring me cookies and cakes when I'm older and Zeke can't make them anymore!" Sharpay exclaimed. Everyone laughed and Zeke gave Sharpay a kiss.

After cake, Sara opened her presents. Her family gave her several dolls and books for Taylor to read to her. Although Sara loved to dance, sing and act, like Lily, she liked books as well. We gave her a Cinderella costume. This was to go with her friends' other princess costumes. Kelsi and Jason gave her a Barbie, Sharpay and Zeke a new ballet suit. Lastly, Ryan and Heather gave her a ballet Barbie movie. We stayed a while longer while Lily and her friends watched the movie, the boys played basketball, and Rose and her friends played hide and go seek outside, then we went home.

Once we got home, the family played a game of basketball, Lily, Rose and I against Troy and Zac. My team won but Zac was saying it was only because of the 'distraction' I caused. This was when Troy had the ball, I would run up to him and give him a wink or a small kiss that would cause him to lose his senses for a moment so I could take the ball. I had been doing this since high school but Troy still hadn't gotten used to it.

"You made a mistake when you taught me how to play basketball, Troy. You'll never win unless we're on the same team. You're not the basketball player I thought you were." I taunted him, after the game was over. We were sitting in the kitchen while the kids were getting cleaned up for supper.

" Hey, it's not my fault that you're so amazing. Take that Back!" He ordered playfully.

"No!" I defied, sticking out my tongue at him.

"Don't you stick that tongue at me, young lady. You'll have to pay for that one." He answered, rising from his chair and slowly walking over to where I was perched on the counter.

'Oh, no' I thought to myself. I tried to get away but as soon as I prepared to jump off the counter top, Troy had reached my sides with his hands.

"Take it back!"

"No!" I squealed as I squirmed in Troy's tickling grasp.

"Take it back!" Troy warned.

"Fine, fine, I take it back!" I relented, gasping for breath.

" Good. Now say, 'Troy is the best basketball player in the whole entire universe!'"

"Never!" I screeched, and the tickling increased. What neither Troy nor I noticed was at that very moment, the kids, having heard me laughing, had come downstairs and were standing in the doorway, watching the scene unfold with fists in their mouths to stop the giggling. Troy and I didn't see them, nor could we hear them over my squeals of laughter.

"Say it!" Troy demanded again after a few more seconds.

"Okay, okay." I breathed. " Troy is the best basketball player in the whole entire universe!" The tickling stopped immediately. 0nly as I was catching my breath did I hear the laughter from the doorway. Troy and I looked over to see our three children rolling on the floor in laughter after seeing their parents acting the way they did. Troy and I laughed at the sight of them. A few minutes later, the food was ready and we all sat down to homemade macaroni and cheese.

After dinner, the whole family sat down in the family room to watch one of my favorite movies, 'Aladdin', before the kids went to bed.

A few minutes after tucking them in, Troy and I lay down on our bed.

"I love that movie. Whenever I see the part where they're singing 'A Whole New World', I always think of our wedding. Thank-you for picking it for us to sing."

"No problem, Gabi. I love you." Said Troy, kissing me passionately.

"I love you too." I managed to get out before we kissed again. I got up and locked the door before laying back into bed with Troy, leaning into him again.

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