Hey people. I get a mixed feeling about the response for this story so I hope you are still enjoying it even if you are finding some aspects odd/rushed/crap lol.

Keep feeding back to me what you enjoyed/think is ridiculous so I can keep improving ;)

p.s the Christmas one shot I promised is in the bag; I haven't decided when I will post it yet, either on my b/day (22nd) or Christmas eve!

Bluebell: How was your Birthday tea?

Seth- well done in your races :D

Cncgrad: I think Dex did enough big brother threatening of people, I was surprised when you said in your review you only got to see that side of him a little bit…still there is plenty more drama ahead and like I mentioned before, this wasn't really aiming to be a dramatic/conflict story for Troy and Gabi. I have plenty of those coming up lol. Thank you for your feedback, though, I do appreciate what you are saying :)

Chapter 12

They had held hands as they talked to their friends and each other. They had frequented looks at each other; taking in the other's outfit, wondering if the feelings were still there that existed before their fight.

They even danced, close and intimate while their friends watched on, complaining of their sickly sweetness together.

"Why haven't we done this before?" Troy wondered, looking into Gabi's face as he wrapped one arm around her and cupped the other over hers that lay on his chest.

"Because we didn't want everyone watching us?" She suggested.

"Hm," he considered this. "Probably."

"They're all staring."

"Because you're beautiful," he complimented.

She'd chosen some fitted indigo jeans; with shoe-boots and a racer-back sequin vest for her celebration outfit.

She rolled her eyes. "I doubt that's why."

"It's why I'm staring," he shared, tightening his arm so that she was even closer if that were possible.

"It's not like you don't know how I look," she pointed out.

"It still amazes me every time that you're here with me," he argued.

"I already told you how…" she paused, about to use the word 'cute'. "How incredibly good-looking you are," she finished dutifully.

"I'm the luckiest guy alive," he decided charmingly.

She pursed her lips, tilting her head up to kiss him very quickly, then blushing as it was in front of their friends.

"Nice recovery." She commended.

He squinted. "I'm forgiven?"

She shrugged. "I guess so…"

His smile was slow and oh-so-sexy and she opened her mouth to protest when he leaned down to kiss her; but she couldn't stop him, so she pressed her palms to his chest instead to try and hold him back.

"Hey!" Dex called across to them as they swayed on the dance floor. "That's my sister you're groping!"

Troy looked up and chuckled at the abuse thrown at them from their jealous on-lookers.

"We should go back to the table and celebrate together."

Gabi licked her lips. "We should."

"Do I get to celebrate with you later…alone?" He whispered.

She thought on this. "Maybe for a little bit."

"Maybe?" He opened his mouth in shock as she left him hanging on the dancefloor to go join the table.

Chad slapped him on the shoulder as he came to sit down. "What's up dude?"

"She just put me in my place," he acknowledged.

"Good girl," Chad high-fived Gabi and she giggled.

"To being a driver!" She toasted.

"To my new rival…" Dex added with a grin.

"To the winning team!" Troy toasted back and they all clinked glasses together.

/

"Oops…oh shit," Gabi sucked her teeth as she went over in her heels for the hundredth time on their walk home.

"Hey, is he looking after you?" Chad asked as he flicked a look to the drunken Gabi, and his friend, walking behind her and holding her up. "Because we can swap places…"

Troy looked over to his friend and smirked. "My pleasure, Danforth.."

"Hey!" Gabi complained. "I'm not that bad! I can walk, okay?"

Troy lifted his brows and let her take two steps alone, then quickly supported her again when she went to collapse.

"Okay, maybe not…" she grumbled.

"Just pick her up and be done with it," Chad sighed. "It's gonna take us all night if you don't."

"Look, you go ahead buddy, we'll follow up right behind you," Troy assured, knowing it would take some convincing for Gabi to accept a lift.

"Couples!" Chad rolled his eyes. "Just don't wake me up when you come crashing in…"

"I swear we'll be as quiet as mice," Troy called as his friend walked on without them.

"Quiet as mice?" Gabi giggled. "That's so cute!"

"What do you say, Montez? Work with me here…" He offered.

She pressed her lips in and focused on him with cross-eyes. "Fine. Carry me."

"That was easy…" he frowned.

"I accept I am not as competent on my feet as I could be…" she sighed as he bent to scoop her up and she kicked her legs as she anchored her hands at his neck.

"This is fun!"

"Sit still, huh, beautiful?" He begged, struggling to hold her wriggling form.

"You're amazing," she hugged him around the neck suddenly. "I love you."

"I love you too, sweetheart, just please don't wriggle any more…"

"#And I'm free! Free fallin', yeah I'm free! Free fallin'#," Gabi sang, flinging her arm out for effect.

"Shit!" Troy crumpled beneath her as his knee gave way and they both landed on the pavement; Troy cushioning her fall.

Gabi's giggle pierced the night. "Oops!"

"Ouch," Troy grumbled teasingly.

"Your bad knee!" She gasped, suddenly realising.

"Yeah…I did warn you…"

She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him quickly. "I'm sorry."

"Just quit struggling," he begged as he got them both upright and steadied her in his arms again.

"I promise," she rubbed her cheek against his chest.

"Mm," he smiled at her co-operation.

"Troy?" She asked in a loud whisper as they came inside the apartment.

"Yes, Gabi?"

"Can we share your bed tonight?"

"I think we can arrange that," he husked, taking her up the stairs as carefully as he could manage.

Once they were settled, he felt her snuggle into his back with a little sigh. "I'm a real-life race car driver," she whispered. "Thank you."

"You did it all yourself, beautiful. Sweet dreams."

/

"Wakey wakey, rise and shine…" Chad banged on Troy's door and woke both he and Gabi rudely with his loud knocking.

"Owwww," Gabi grabbed a pillow and jammed it over her head, leaving Troy to open the door and admonish his friend.

"Dude, not cool," Troy frowned.

"Hey, bro's over hoes," Chad complained. "I have my doctor's meeting today…"

Troy closed his eyes and sighed out. "Oh, dude, of course. I'm sorry. I'll be right down…"

"Hey," Chad checked. "You still want to go? You can stay with Gabi if you want to…"

"I'm coming, Chad," Troy assured. "Just give me time to kiss my woman awake."

"Ew…oh man, now I'm feeling sick…I was fine until you said that…" Chad grumbled as he hobbled down the stairs; his headscarf firmly in place.

"Has it gone?" Gabi groaned from under her cover.

Troy rolled back onto the bed and stroked her back with tender care. "He's gone."

"Everything hurts;" she complained.

"That's all the wine you drank…" he remarked.

"Oh god, was I an annoying drunk?" She feared.

Troy cleared his throat and debated lying.

"Ah…not entirely…"

"Oh god, I didn't strip did I?" Her face paled as she looked up at him, then winced at her fast movement.

"You strip when your drunk?" His lips curved into an entirely inappropriate smile.

"Ok so I didn't strip…" She sighed thankfully.

"Can we go back and try again?"

"Troy," she frowned.

"I can deal with a stripping drunk…"

"I bet you can," she derided.

"Maybe now?" He suggested. "You feel a little like stripping now?"

"No, Troy," she flopped onto her back. "I feel like my brain is exploding."

"Not even a little…" He walked his fingers up her belly and she caught them, giving him a death-stare.

"No. Stop being weird…"

He sighed. "Okay, well I have to go out now so…"

"That's what this was about?" She mused.

"Well it is a long time until I get to see you again," he reasoned.

"How long are you going for?" She panicked.

He shrugged. "Coupla hours."

She tilted her head and giggled at him. "You're so cute…"

He smiled wanly. "And that's my cue…"

She waited until he had climbed back out of the bed until she called him. He looked back and smiled at her sleepy form.

"I love you, Montez. Don't be going anywhere…"

"Tell Chad I hope today goes good," she offered, ignoring his come-on.

"I will, see you later little miss lush…"

/

"Oh, you're home!" Gabi called as she heard the door shut and she ran out of the kitchen to meet Troy and Chad in the living room. "I made dinner…and pudding…And it's edible…it's really nice…" She trailed off as Troy shook his head and Chad walked beside him, a slumped form.

She read the sadness in Troy's eyes and ached inside. "What happened?"

Troy deposited Chad on the sofa with a caring hand to his shoulder and then led Gabi back out to the kitchen while he made a hot drink for his friend.

She wrung her hands until he cleared his throat to speak.

"They said it's working, the chemo," he began and her face lit up; and in that moment, he loved that she cared as much as he did.

"That's great news!"

"Yeah, it is…but the cancer is still there, Gabi. He has to have more sessions…it's going to make him worse."

Gabi gasped and covered her mouth with her hands. "I don't understand if it's working then why…?"

Troy shrugged. "They don't always know how it's going to react. It's taking longer than they expected…"

"It's going to make him so tired," she worried.

Troy nodded. "And prone to illness. They might have to hospitalise him if the treatment weakens his body."

"Oh, god," she sighed and instantly hugged her arms around his neck in comfort.

Troy licked his lips and hugged her back. "He's taking it really badly and I don't know what to do…Up until now, he's been the strong one. He's set the bar and we've all gone along with it. I can't deal with him being upset…"

Gabi took a breath and pulled away, bracing his arms. "We're gonna get through this. All of us. If you want me here," she added.

"I just don't know if I can cope…" He frowned. "Looking after Chad is my priority now, I can't ask you to give up everything, too."

"You're not. And I won't. But I am going to help. You'll be there for Chad. I'll be here for you," she promised.

Troy shook his head, tears coming to his eyes. "I can't protect you."

"No," she agreed, meeting his eyes. "But I can protect you."

And with that she hugged him again.

"I love you," he whispered and she pulled away.

"I know. Now make some hot chocolate with lots of sugar. I'm going to talk to Chad…"

"Gabi…" Troy called her back and she looked over her shoulder. "Thank you. I needed this."

She nodded and went through to the living room.