Whoa, you're reviews are just so amazing! I know you're all wondering why I made Gabriella kiss Troy a little early but you'll all find out soon. Enjoy!

Chapter 5 – Meeting The Baylor's

WHAT had possessed her to do a thing like that? What was she thinking? Gabriella was furious with herself. She had gotten so caught up with the thought that someone might like her that she had gone and kissed Troy. She really wanted to avoid him today though he was coming by later to take her with him to see his friend!

She looked across at Lupin who was sitting beside her and sighed, "Richard is right, I'm a slut, a stupid slut." She said to him.

Lupin stood and purred lovingly as he touched his whiskery face to hers, she giggled and patted him tenderly.

"I know, you like me." She whispered to him.

The phone started to ring, she stood with Lupin still curled up in her arms and answered it.

"Hello?" She asked.

"Hi Gabriella, I'm going to be staying a little longer than I thought." It was Richard, he sounded breathless.

"What…what's the matter with your voice?" She queried confused.

"None of your damned business, look, just be a good partner for the first time in your life and don't argue." Richard said viciously.

"Okay, I'm sorry." Gabriella said dejectedly.

"I'll see you in a few days!" Richard said and he hung up.

RICHARD turned to the naked girl beside him, he didn't know her name and he didn't want to.

"Did she suspect anything?" The girl asked breathing deeply.

"She's too dumb!" Richard laughed before pulling her towards him…

GABRIELLA sighed and started to prepare herself dinner, another lonely day, another great lonely day! She was thrilled that Richard would be staying a little longer. She enjoyed the lonely nights where she could watch whatever she wanted to on the television. She was allowed to cook whatever she wanted without Richard's menacing stares and cruel remarks and she loved to stay up for as late as she wanted; Richard demanded she be in bed by ten.

"Come on Lupin, let's go and watch some television." She said picking up the pesky feline and taking him to the sofa with her.

She tried to get absorbed in 'A Walk To Remember' on sky movies but it was kind of hard, all that ran through her mind was Troy and their kiss!

TROY picked Gabriella up that afternoon to drive down to Albuquerque to visit Troy's friend. There was an embarrassed silence in the car, Troy was trying to buck up the courage to hold Gabriella's hand while Gabriella was trying to buck up the courage to tell him the kiss meant nothing…but it did!

"It'll be quite a long drive down." Troy exclaimed nervously looking at Gabriella's hand that rested on her lap.

"I love Albuquerque. My mother lives there!" Gabriella said softly.

"Oh, if you want we could go and see her." Troy answered smiling.

Gabriella shook her head, "Richard doesn't like…oh um…my mother and Richard don't get on." She said.

She was going to say that Richard didn't let her visiting her mother. Gabriella had spoken to her mother in three years; she had missed her so much.

"Oh…I see, but Richard isn't around." Troy said grinning.

"He…he wouldn't like it." Gabriella said quickly and she looked away not meeting his eyes.

"Okay, 'Troy answered, "Whatever you say."

They sat in silence for a little while but Troy's curiosity got the better of him, "So when's Richard coming back?"

"I'm not sure. When he goes away he can be gone for weeks. I think he'll be gone for a few days." Gabriella replied.

"I see. So, what do you do when he's away?" Troy asked.

"I try to be a faithful loving partner, when he comes back he'll find a meal waiting for him on the table, all his clothes ironed and pressed and the house spotlessly clean!" Gabriella exclaimed.

"Whoa, don't you just ever enjoy yourself when he's gone?" He queried.

"I'm supposed to be a good partner! He'd hate me if I wasn't!" Gabriella said coldly and Troy sensed the distress in her voice.

"Of course he wouldn't." Troy laughed.

Gabriella looked away and it was there that Troy saw a bruise up her arm, "Where did you get that bruise on your arm?"

Gabriella pulled her jacket over her so he could no longer see it and looked across at him seriously.

"I knocked into a cupboard." She lied.

"Why do you always do that?" Troy asked.

"What?" Gabriella queried trying to be nonchalant.

"Why do you always lie? What's really going on?" Troy demanded.

"Nothing, I'm not lying." She said shaking her head.

"Whatever you say!" Troy said and he turned his attention back to the road, why was she lying so much, something was definitely up.

WHEN they arrived in Albuquerque they pulled up outside a bakery shop called 'Baylor's Bakers' Troy helped Gabriella out of the car and they went inside. Behind the counter stood a young black man and a beautiful blonde headed white woman. They were giggling as they baked and Gabriella smiled feeling comfortable and at home immediately.

"Hey Zeke Baylor!" Troy said gladly.

The man looked up and grinned, "Well Troy Bolton, come and give me some love my friend." He said and Zeke and Troy embraced like brothers.

The woman coughed and Zeke laughed, "Oh Troy, you remember my beautiful wife." He said.

"Sharpay, come over here." Troy said and they both hugged warmly.

Sharpay when she pulled away from Troy saw Gabriella.

"And who's this?" She asked and Troy took Gabriella's hand and pulled her over and brought them over to meet them.

"Gabriella this is Zeke and Sharpay Baylor, Zeke, Sharpay, this is Gabriella Montez." Troy introduced them.

Zeke and Sharpay both hugged Gabriella warmly and she was shocked by their affection, "It's great to meet you." Sharpay said.

A little boy came rushing through the shop and Sharpay suddenly turned stern, "Hey, hey Mister. Where are your manners, its Uncle Troy." She said.

The little boy with his light blonde hair looked up at them and smiled, "Hi Uncle Troy." He said.

Troy took the little boy in his arms and tickled him.

"Hi Damien, how are you buddy?" He queried.

"I'm okay, I've been practising basketball. Can I show you later?" The little boy asked enthusiastically.

"Sure whatever you say!" Troy chuckled.

Damien looked over at Gabriella and smiled, "Who are you?"

"I'm Gabriella." Gabriella replied and Damien threw himself into her arms and hugged her.

"Are you Uncle Troy's girlfriend?" He asked.

Gabriella and Troy blushed, "No we're just good friends." Troy told the little one.

"You'll be staying tonight right?" Zeke asked them both.

"Oh I don't know, its going to be late and –"

"All the more reason to stay." Sharpay said.

Damien kissed Gabriella's cheek warmly and everyone laughed, "Can I call you Auntie Gabi?" He queried hopefully.

Sharpay nodded to Gabriella and Gabriella nuzzled her nose with Damien's, "Of course you can sweetie."

"If you want you two can go and freshen up before dinner and Sharpay will make something?" Zeke said wiping his hands.

"No! Its fine, actually I was wondering whether we could take Damien out for a hot dog and we could have food later?"

"Sure, if you want." Sharpay said nodding.

"Do you want to go out for a hotdog buddy?" Troy queried.

Damien nodded and he took Troy's hand and Gabriella's and they walked out the shop grinning and smiling at each other warmly.

Sharpay wrapped her arms around Zeke's waist and he kissed her forehead, "I like her, I think Troy's got a thing for her."

"Yeah, I wonder what was wrong with her lip. It looks like she's been punched." Zeke said.

"I know, I'll try and probe it from her later. I like Gabriella." Sharpay said nodding.

"UNCLE Troy, can I go on the swings?" Damien asked as they passed a park.

Troy looked at Gabriella and smiled, Damien was five years old, both Zeke and Sharpay had been nineteen years old when they had had him. He hadn't been planned at all but as soon as they had found out that Sharpay was pregnant they couldn't let it go. They would've kept the baby if they had been fifteen when having him.

"Go on then." Troy said and he and Gabriella sat down and watched the little boy dash over to the swings in a frenzied excitement.

"He's lovable isn't he?" Gabriella chuckled.

"Yeah, I love him so much; I'd do anything for him. Would you like children?" Troy queried.

"What?" Gabriella asked looking startled.

"No, No, um…not with me…I mean would you like them…one day?" Troy stammered suddenly feeling uncomfortable.

Gabriella thought about it for a moment, if she had been with any other man then yes, she would want children but she couldn't, not in such an abusive relationship. She wanted Children more than anything, to feel her child kick within her for the first time, to feel pride swell with her stomach! She'd love to see her baby for the first time and feel them tug at her breast for milk. It was her biggest desire, to have children.

"I'd like a family more than anything." She whispered looking across at him.

"Will you…have children with Richard?" The handsome young man queried.

Gabriella laughed foolishly, "Never." She muttered.

"Why not?" Troy asked.

"Its…it's complicated." She answered.

"You confuse me Gabriella Montez, 'Troy said moving closer to her so their hips brushed against each other making them both tremble, "I'd love to work you out."

"No – one ever will. Sometimes I just want to be alone." Gabriella said fighting to hold back tears, she stood and walked over to the swings and began to push Damien who giggled wildly.

Troy smiled sadly; he could tell there was a lot more to Gabriella that met the eye. She was an incredibly enigmatic young woman, one he wanted and intended to get close to. He smiled when he saw her smiling with Damien, she seemed to enjoy being around people. He also noted that she was very lonely and he was perplexed that she kept coming out in bruises and all the excuses she kept making up. He felt it; Gabriella Montez…was in an abusive relationship!

THEY returned back at the Baylor's later that night. Damien as they had driven home had fallen asleep on Gabriella's lap much to her delight. The music in the background soothed them pleasurably and they shared a tender smile as they turned another corner.

"I'm telling you Gabriella, Zeke makes the best cakes ever!" Troy laughed.

"I'm looking forward to trying them." Gabriella replied.

They pulled up outside and they carried little Damien back in, the dim lights of the bakery shop sparkled in Gabriella's eyes and Troy felt the immense desire to reach out and touch her cheek.

Zeke came out and smiled, he took Damien from Gabriella's arms and took him through as Gabriella and Troy followed him through.

After putting Damien to bed because he was too exhausted to eat, he had eaten a hotdog and chips when Gabriella and Troy had taken him out so he was okay, the four adults sat down for dinner.

"As you know you're welcome to stay but we only have one room so you two will have to share." Sharpay said as she cut through her meat.

Gabriella and Troy nearly choked and Sharpay and Zeke laughed.

"It's a comfortable bed, you'll be lovely and warm, 'Sharpay said, "So make yourself at home, you can stay as long as you like."

"Thanks." Troy said and Gabriella nodded.

"So…Gabriella I noticed there's a ring on your finger, who are you getting married to?" Sharpay asked.

"Oh his name's Richard Sullivan!" Gabriella said though all three adults heard the repugnance in her mellow voice.

"I don't believe I know him." Sharpay said interested.

"You're lucky." Gabriella mumbled.

"Pardon?" Zeke queried.

"Oh nothing." Gabriella answered.

The other three adults looked at each other perplexed, something defiantly wasn't right. Zeke and Sharpay had also seen Gabriella's bruise and they could tell she was filled with a great aching pain.

"I'm feeling kind of tired; I think I'll be going to bed." Gabriella said quickly.

"Okay, goodnight." They all said and they watched her walk up the stairs before they Sharpay turned to Troy.

"What's wrong with her Troy?" She asked.

"I…her partner Richard…he's not a nice guy. I think he's abusing her." Troy said.

"What are we going to do?" Zeke asked.

"Nothing, I'm just going to keep my eye on her." Troy answered.

"You like her don't you?" Sharpay asked laughing.

Troy nodded, "More than you know, I rescued her. She fell through ice and…I've kind of grown fond of her."

"You're too soft, 'Sharpay said softly, "Go up to bed and comfort her."

Troy laughed and stood, "Yes mom." He said and Sharpay laughed shaking her head.

TROY found Gabriella cuddled up in a large double bed when she went up. She was awake and when she looked up at him she smiled frightened.

"Hey! Um…if you don't want me to…you know I'll sleep on the floor." He stammered.

"No, its fine, come and sleep here." She said patting the bed, she went red.

He removed his shirt and climbed in beside her, the darkness was surrounding them but they could still see each other. They tried not to touch but it was hard. Gabriella wanted nothing more than to feel her body next to Troy's…she wanted him so badly.

"Gabriella, 'Troy asked and she turned and he suddenly swept her lips up into a kiss.

She rolled over to him still kissing, Troy ran his hands over her elegant body and he felt her flinch from under him. They pulled apart for a moment but before Gabriella could speak his lips were on hers again and their tongues were suddenly fighting a furious battle to dominate the other. Gabriella had never felt so alive but she knew it had to stop, she was betraying Richard! She pushed Troy off her though she felt the bulge in his trousers and saw the want in his eyes.

"What's the matter?" He queried perplexed.

Gabriella was breathless, "We can't…I'm getting married and its like having an affair."

Troy looked downhearted, "Then why did you kiss me last night?"

"It was a comfort kiss…I mean…I…it was just a comfort kiss." Gabriella protested.

"In order to have a comfort kiss Gabriella you need to have something wrong! What is your big secret, why don't you tell me?" Troy demanded.

"I can't." Gabriella replied and she began to cry and Troy feeling himself weaken under her sorrow pulled her close to him and allowed her to sob into his chest as he stroked her hair.

ABOUT half our later Troy felt Gabriella drop off to sleep, her head buried under his arm, their legs tangled together. He kissed her hand and let it rest around his stomach and there and then he realised that he wanted a wife, a family, a home, and love…he wanted Gabriella!

EEK! Whoa, so much to write!

I haven't corrected any of this because I want you guys to read it ASAP, so I'm really sorry if there's any mistakes in there, I won't do it with the next chapter, its just I'm in a rush, we've got to go see a family friend and my mother will kill me if I stay here writing! xoxMusicalxox hope you enjoy!