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Disclaimer: Sadly, I don't own anything you recognize.
Ella and Sharpay walked into the diner, named T&C's diner, and walked up to the hostess stand. Sharpay smiled at the young teenager, probably 16 years old, and shifted Ella to sit on her other hip. "Welcome to T&C's diner, how many?" she asked, smiling at Sharpay politely before crossing her eyes while sticking her tongue out at Ella. Ella giggled and hid her face in Sharpay's neck.
Sharpay laughed and rubbed Ella's back gently. "I think the person we're meeting might be here already." She said as she looked around the diner, smiling when she saw Ryan.
Ella looked up at the hostess and smiled. "We're meeting my Uncle Ryan here for lunch today. He's so much fun. I haven't seen him in a few days." She kept on talking to the hostess as they walked to table. Sharpay giggled at her daughter before waving to her brother as they made it to the table.
The hostess sat the menus down on the table before helping Sharpay by grabbing her bag as Sharpay sat Ella down on Ryan's lap. "UNLCE RYAN!!!" Ella shrieked, wrapping her tiny arms around his neck. She gave him a sloppy kiss on his cheek before giggling like crazy.
Sharpay took her bag from the hostess and smiled at her. "Thank you."
The hostess smiled and nodded at her. "Your waitress will be here shortly." She smiled one last time and made a funny face at Ella before walking back to the hostess stand to greet an older couple.
"Is this my Ella Bear?" Ryan asked with fake shock. He looked at Ella and shook his head. He looked at Sharpay and pointed to Ella. "This can't be my precious niece. This girl is too grown up to be my Ella bear." He teased.
Ella gasped and started jumping on his lap. "It's me Uncle Ryan, it really is! I can prove it! Last year, you were babysitting me and I fell down and scrapped my knee. Remember? You put a band aid on it and kissed it for me!" she desperately pleaded, not knowing that he was kidding. She pouted and started to cry softly. "Don't you remember?"
Ryan immediately felt guilty and pulled her in for a hug, rubbing her back gently. "Of course I remember sweetie. I was just teasing you Ella Bear." He kissed the top of her head and rubbed her back until she calmed down. Sharpay smiled at Ryan and mouthed 'She'll be ok'
After a few minutes, Ella calmed down and looked up at her Uncle Ryan. "You were?" she asked, wiping her eyes with her tiny fist.
"I was. I'm sorry Ella." He kissed her forehead.
"It's ok." She sniffled
The hostess came back to the table and handed Ella some crayons and a coloring book. "Do you like to color sweetie?" she asked Ella who looked at her and nodded her head. Ella took the items from her and mumbled a 'thank you.' Sharpay smiled gratefully at her before the hostess walked away.
Once Ella as distracted with her crayons, Ryan and Sharpay started talking. "Payday, you look great." He complimented, taking a sip of his water that he ordered.
Sharpay smiled and smoothed down her shirt. "Thank you. You do to. How's Broadway treating you?" she asked. Ryan had started Broadway after attending Julliard for college. He, Sharpay and Ella moved to New York so Ryan could be close to his sister and niece. He starred on Broadway while Sharpay had a job as a secretary at a fashion boutique.
Ryan smiled, obviously thinking about his career. "Awesome. It's been great Payday. I just wish you were starring alongside me like the good ole days." He smiled sadly and grabbed her hand.
She looked away from him to look at her beautiful daughter, who was engrossed in her coloring, her tongue sticking out of her mouth a bit in concentration. Sharpay smiled again, turning back to Ryan. "Well, I had something else much more important to take care of." She took another glance at Ella.
"You're doing great with her Pay. She's an incredible little girl you're raising."
"Thanks Ry. It's nice to hear that sometimes." She smiled at Ryan and grabbed her menu, looking for something good to eat. She skimmed over it before finally deciding something. "I think I'll have a Caesar salad." She smiled as she closed her menu and set it o the side. Ryan did the same and subconsciously started stroking Ella's hair; that was still on his lap.
Sharpay smiled at the love that shone through her brother's eyes when he looked at his niece. He really loved her and she had her Uncle Ryan wrapped around her finger. "I'm going to have the steak." He licked his lips in anticipation. Sharpay rolled her eyes at her brother and giggled quietly.
The waitress finally came over and pulled a pad of paper out of her apron and a pen from behind her ear. "Hi, I'm Julie and I'll be your waitress for this afternoon. Can I get you guys something to drink?"
Sharpay nodded. "Can I have a diet Pepsi please?" she asked nicely and Julie nodded.
"And what about this little cutie?" Julie asked, nodding her head in Ella's direction. Ella looked at her mom.
Sharpay shook her head at Ella's shyness and ordered for her. "She'll have a small glass of chocolate milk please."
Julie nodded again. "Alright I'll be right back with those." She walked away towards the kitchen as Sharpay sighed.
Ryan looked at her, concern written all over his face. "Are you ok Pay? Is something wrong?" he grabbed her hand again and gave it a light squeeze.
Sharpay rubbed her head. "I'm fine. I'm just getting a slight headache. I'll be ok." She looked at Ryan gave him an encouraging smile.
He nodded his head hesitantly, "If you're sure."
"I am."
A man, who was not their waitress, came over with their drinks and he set them on the table. He looked at the first drink and looked back up at the family. "Ok, I've got a Pepsi here." He said cheerfully, holding up the cup and looking at Ryan and Sharpay. He looked at Ryan a little more carefully and his face instantly broke out in to a smile. "Evans?" he asked, setting the drink down and looking at the older Evans.
Ryan looked at the man with confusion before the realization sunk in. "Oh my gosh, Chad Danforth?" Ryan asked incredulously. Chad nodded his head furiously before sticking his hand out for Ryan to shake.
Ryan grasped Chad's hand and shook it. "What is the amazing Ryan Evans, huge Broadway star, doing here in this little diner?" he asked, grabbing a chair from another table and sitting at the head of the table.
Ryan shook his head and chuckled. "Amazing Ryan Evans? Does Chad Danforth follow Broadway?" he asked, looking at Chad with disbelief.
Chad rolled his eyes and looked to his right where Sharpay was sitting. He turned back to Ryan but did a double take at Sharpay and looked wide-eyed at her. He leaned in until his face was centimeters from hers. He squinted her eyes, as if he was observing her. "Sharpay?!" he asked, loudly and obnoxiously.
Sharpay put her hand on his face and pushed it back. "Back off Danforth." Sharpay hissed and swatted the air in front of her. "God, you need a tic-tac."
Chad wiped his face off like there were cooties on it. "Don't touch me Ice Queen." He demanded, dragging his chair a little closer to Ryan's side of the table. He glared at Sharpay which she happily glared back.
Ryan looked between the two uncomfortably. "So, Danforth what are you doing here?" he asked, distracting him from Sharpay's glare.
Chad turned to Ryan and smiled proudly. "I co-own this diner." He stated just as proudly as him smile. He opened his arms up wide, gesturing to the place.
Ryan and Sharpay looked at him in shock, again. "Seriously? You own this place Danforth?" Sharpay asked, not believing him one bit.
Chad rolled his eyes. "Yes, Evans, I own this place. Well co-own."
"Who owns it with you?" Ryan asked, fully interested.
"Hoops." He simply answered.
Sharpay and Ryan looked at each other with confusion; but that confusion changed to shock when they realized who he meant. "Bolton?" Sharpay screeched, looking incredibly angry and worried at the same time.
"Well, I prefer to be called Troy, but I guess I'll let 'Bolton' slide." Said a voice from behind her. She turned around slowly and saw Troy walking up to the table. He stopped and stood next to Chad's chair and looked at the Evans twins. "Ryan." He nodded at Ryan, who nodded back. He turned to Sharpay and smiled a cocky smile. "Well, well, well if it isn't the Ice Queen herself, in the flesh." He said and she looked at him with her mouth agape. She looked to Ryan worriedly and glanced at Ella, silently telling him that she didn't want Troy to know about her. Ryan got the message and gulped nervously.
Sharpay turned back to look at Troy, trying not to catch his eye though. Troy noticed and his smirk disappeared and was replaced by confusion. His eyebrows scrunched together. Where was the Sharpay that went to High school with him? The sarcastic, manipulative one?
"Mama!" Ella exclaimed happily. Sharpay turned to her daughter and her face immediately softened. "I made you a picture!" she held up the picture and gave it to Sharpay. Ella started bouncing in her seat excitedly, waiting for her mother to say how beautiful it was.
Sharpay looked up at Ella and smiled. "I love it Care Bear. It's beautiful."
Out of the corner of her eye, Sharpay saw Troy and Chad's eyes widen at the word 'mama.' They looked at each other and mouthed 'Mama?' to each other. They shrugged and turned back to Sharpay.
Ella shrieked with happiness and sat on her Uncle Ryan's lap again. "Did you hear Uncle Ryan? Mama liked my picture!" she exclaimed, wrapping her arms around his neck.
Ryan chuckled and shook his head at his crazy niece. "I heard. Can you make me one?" he asked, and made a puppy dog pout. Ella giggled and kissed his cheek.
"Of course I can!" she got off his lap and sat on the seat next to him. She found another page to color from her book and started coloring. She looked up at Chad and Troy and smiled. "Do you want me to color one for you guys?" she asked politely.
Troy and Chad looked at each other again, with the same wide eyes. They shrugged their shoulders at each other, not knowing what to say to the beautiful girl. Troy looked back at Ella and smiled softly. "I would love one." He walked over to the edge of her seat and crouched down to her level. He smiled and looked at the picture that she started to color for Ryan. "That looks great so far." He complimented.
Ella giggled her adorable giggle and shook her head at him. "I haven't even finished yet silly." She giggled again and Troy couldn't help but smile at her. She was simply adorable to him.
"Well, it still looks good so far." He said. She held out a green crayon to him. "Do you want to help me color?" she asked innocently. He looked at her and noticed she looked exactly like Sharpay; the blonde hair, cute button nose, same wide eyes.
Troy smiled softy again and took the crayon from her tiny hand. "Of course I would like to help." He sat on the bench near the outside next to her and started coloring the background.
Sharpay looked between the two and couldn't wipe away the smile on her face. The fact that Troy Bolton, East High's playboy, could be so gentle and caring to her little girl was unbelievable. He was laughing and coloring with his child. The child he doesn't know is his. Sharpay thought back to the day when she gave birth to her again.
Sharpay was currently rocking little Ella in her arms. She had just given birth to her about 3 hours ago and wanted nothing more than to hold her. Ryan was sitting in the chair next to her bed, smiling proudly at his little sister. "She looks just like you Pay." He whispered.
Sharpay looked up from Ella and smiled softly at her brother. "Thank you." She looked back down at Ella. "She has his eyes though." She sighed sadly. She ran her thumb down Ella's cheek and started crying silently.
Ryan noticed and grabbed his sisters hand. "It's ok to cry Shar." He said soothingly, just as she started sobbing. He took little Ella from her arms and laid her down gently in the little bassinet the nurses had in there. He walked back over to Sharpay and pulled her in for a huge hug. "Are you going to tell him?" he asked quietly.
Sharpay stopped crying after a few minutes and looked up at Ryan. "No."
"No?!" Ryan as incredulously, shaking his head at her. "You have to tell him Shar. You can't keep this a secret from him. He has a right to know."
Sharpay shook her head this time and pulled away from Ryan. "I can't Ry. What happened between us was a drunken mistake. He wouldn't want anything to do with Ella. Please don't tell him Ry. He doesn't deserve to know." She pleaded, on the verge or more tears.
Ryan had never seen his sister in this state. She was actually begging him. He sighed, but nodded his head at the same time. "Alright Pay, I promise. I won't tell him about Ella." He whispered and pulled her in for another hug. "But I promise to be there for you every step of the way with Ella. Anything you need, just tell me and I'll get it for you." He promised and kissed the top of her head.
Sharpay looked up at him and smiled. "Thanks Ry."
"Pay?" Ryan asked, tapping her on her shoulder gently. Sharpay shook out of her flashback and smiled slightly at Ryan.
"Sorry. I guess I zoned out." She looked back at Troy and Ella and saw Troy looking at her with worry. Troy Bolton, looking at her with worry? Once he saw her look at him, he turned his head away and continued coloring with Ella.
Chad was looking between Ella and Sharpay with shock. "You have a daughter?" he asked
Sharpay rolled her eyes again. "Well it seems as if nothings changed- you're just as slow as you were in high school." She muttered but had enough energy to muster up a smirk. It slowly faded when she started to feel a little dizzy. She put a hand to her head and squeezed her eyes shut. She leaned her elbows on the table and still held her head.
"Mama?" Ella asked frantically. Sharpay ignored her. Not only was she feeling dizzy but she the headache she has was getting worse.
"Pay?" Ryan asked worriedly. He scooted around to Sharpay on the booth seat and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. She hissed in pain and her eyes started to water. She heard Troy and Chad call her name before everything went black.
Well, I don't quite know what to add after this point so I'm going to stop there. Thank you so much for your reviews from the last chapter! I loved them!!