Hi everybody, I thought I'd update this next chapter as soon as possible as we're having the living room done out and my mother is dismantling the computer so…you might not have a chapter tomorrow and maybe not the next day… Sorry!

Also, to AMournfulSoul, in my story Gabriella is really innocent, I see her as the innocent type, and I always have! In my story Gabriella is kind of a pushover, she see's Troy as a comfort zone, someone to care for her. She feels she has to stay with Richard even if he's abusing her and using her for his own sexual interests because she made a dedication to him. Troy is her escape route. I'm glad you're loving it and I hope you continue to read it, I try and answer all things like that so please enjoy the rest of the story, you're awesome lol, all of you are! I'm glad you took the time to think about what I wrote, that's what I set out to do!

Also Gabriella gave in so quickly because she doesn't think she can handle it anymore. She knows Troy wants to be with her and if she doesn't give in soon she's going to have no – one but Lupin for the rest of her life and that scares her.

Right, I'd better stop before I get many angry reviewers! xoxMusicalxox

Chapter 7 – Taking It Slow

BOTH Gabriella and Troy woke in the morning and Gabriella got dressed quickly as Troy showered. Troy made his way out of the bathroom and Gabriella pecked his cheek.

"I'm…you know…not leaving –"

"Richard? 'Troy finished her off, "I know." He nodded.

"I'm sorry it's just –"

"Gabriella, I know. You don't have to explain." Troy whispered to her kissing her forehead.

She felt lucky to have him, after getting changed himself they went downstairs to have some breakfast. Sharpay, Zeke and Damien were having breakfast. Sharpay passed the milk across the table to the couple and they thanked her.

Blizzard yawned in his sleep; he was sleeping peacefully in a large basket his tiny form just visible under the pillows and blankets. A real spoilt little pup!

"We'll be leaving this morning, I have to get Gabriella home." Troy said winking at Gabriella making her blush.

"Will we be seeing you soon?" Zeke queried.

Troy looked across at Gabriella and a smile played across both of their lips, "Yeah, we'll come and visit soon, as long as that's alright by you." Troy said.

"Of course it is, you're always welcome here." Sharpay said as she wiped some milk from Damien's mouth.

"Thank you." Gabriella said softly, she felt like she really had friends, people who cared about her.

Then it hit her, "Oh no, what about Lupin?"

"Don't worry, I made sure Henry left fresh milk and cat food outside the door every day and you left one of the windows open so he could go back and fore the house whenever he wanted." Troy said touching her hand, Zeke and Sharpay saw the quick but gentle action and smiled, perhaps Troy could bring out the life in Gabriella!

SHARPAY hugged Gabriella as Troy loaded their things into the car. Gabriella really couldn't help the tears cascading down her cheeks.

"You come back and see us soon!" Sharpay said.

"We will." Gabriella replied pulling away from Sharpay as Troy hugged her too.

Zeke hugged both of them and handed them two boxes, "One for each of you, its just some cakes. You'll love them, Baylor's specials."

"Thanks." Gabriella and Troy said in unison.

Then it was Damien's turn, after handing Sharpay a barking Blizzard Damien threw himself into Gabriella's arms. Troy watched as she clung to the little boy and started to cry gently into his shoulder.

"I'm going to miss you Auntie Gabi." Damien said to her.

"I'll miss you too Sweetheart." Gabriella said and she smiled when Damien kissed her cheek.

Damien moved to Troy and hugged him too; the little one kissed his cheek too and whispered, "I want you to marry Auntie Gabi?"

Everyone had heard it and everyone laughed though somewhere in the back of Gabriella's mind she wished so too.

"I'll see you soon little buddy, promise me you'll look after Blizzard and be good for your Mummy and Daddy?" Troy queried.

"I will." Damien promised.

"Good boy." Troy said and everyone started to wave as the pair got into the car and started to drive.

Gabriella was sure to turn and wave one more time before the Zeke, Sharpay and Damien Baylor disappeared from her view completely.

WHEN they arrived outside of Gabriella's a few hours later Troy wasn't sure what to do. Should he kiss? Would she invite him in? What would they do?

"I had an amazing weekend Troy." Gabriella said her eyes on the book of delicious cakes in her hand.

"I'm glad, 'Troy said and he reached a hand up to caress her cheek, "I really care about you."

"I care about you too." Gabriella whispered.

"When will we see each other again?" Troy asked.

"I'm not sure; Richard will be home in a few hours. Maybe we can arrange to meet up when I've got a next shopping trip or something?" Gabriella asked.

"Yes, that would be great." Troy said nodding enthusiastically.

"So I guess I should go in and…get…Ri…Richard's food started." Gabriella muttered.

"Yeah, I guess." Troy said and he felt Gabriella kiss her cheek.

She turned to open the door and was about to close it behind her when she heard Troy's voice frantically calling her.

"Gabriella, you do know that if you ever need a place…you know to stay or a person to run to…I'm here!" Troy exclaimed.

Gabriella stepped out of the house and she looked up at Troy her eyes casually darting to his lips with a rich undeniable desire burning in her eyes.

"Thank you." She answered before she hesitantly brought her lips up to his and they began to move together rhythmically. Troy brought his arms around her waist and pulled her closer to him feeling her melt in his arms.

She pulled away, somehow the thought of betraying Richard still burned through her mind, she felt terrible about it but somehow she couldn't take the pain she felt every time she was with him! She just wanted to be loved and when she was with Troy she felt it.

She felt Troy's hands inch down her back and she gasped images of Richard groping her flashing through her mind.

"Are you okay?" Troy queried nervously.

"Yeah, um…Troy…can we take it slow?" Gabriella asked, she half expected him to smack her across the face and tell her that 'she was his and he had a right to her body' but then she remembered that it was Troy.

Troy took her hand and kissed it, "We can take it as slow as you want." He said serenely and she smiled.

"I'll try and call you later." Gabriella said before she kissed his cheek and walked inside her stomach pulsing with butterflies.

She heard a soft meow and suddenly a very excited but rather chubby looking Lupin rushed towards her and leapt into her arms.

"Wow, Henry really fattened you up hey baby." She said stroking him as he licked her hand as if to say 'I love you' over and over again.

It was nice to come home to a quiet house, but how long would that last?

GABRIELLA was filled with an aching dread when she heard the door slam shut and the tell tale signs of Richard's shoes shuffling across the floor. He came back just hours after her giving her time to give the house an extra clean and to cook his dinner.

Gabriella set down the dinner in front of him and the first thing he said to her was, "What the hell happened to my slap up meal?"

"I assumed you…you know…you didn't want one when…we spoke on…the phone." Gabriella stammered.

"What I have to tell you when I want something now?" Richard said standing up; he seemed to be in the mood for an argument.

He walked through to the kitchen smacking into her shoulder as he went, he went into the fridge to get some drink, Gabriella closed her eyes tight, she hated it when he drunk, he was even more abusive. His eyes fell on the box of cakes from Zeke in the fridge.

"Where did you get these?" He demanded.

"Oh I just bought some, so you'd have a cake when you came home." Gabriella replied looking at her feet.

Richard stood retrieving only a beer, Gabriella felt relief pass over her, he hadn't done anything too damaging so far.

She watched as she grabbed the remote and put the television on. At that moment Lupin walked in purring around Gabriella's feet.

"What you fed that stupid dumb cat more than yourself?" Richard exclaimed harshly looking at Lupins immense size.

Gabriella didn't say anything, "You should be fat, where's my baby? Are you even pregnant yet?"

"No, 'Gabriella said shaking her head, "But it's not for the lack of trying." She said cleverly.

Richard smiled a little smile and nodded, "I suppose you're right, I demand sex everyday." He chuckled.

There was silence between the adults for a moment; the only noise that could be heard was the television in the background.

"It must be you then! There must be something wrong with you." Richard sniped for he could tell Gabriella didn't enjoy sex and was always unenthusiastic to participate when he was being sincere Which wasn't exactly often other women always praised his prowess as a man in bed but she just seemed to weaken under all his power. He liked that too occasionally.

"I'm sorry Richard." Gabriella muttered looking at his feet.

Richard stood suddenly not hungry and rammed the plate into her hand spilling some of the contents of gravy over her. She gasped it was still hot. He smacked her across the face hard and looked at her with a vicious serious look on her face.

"Stop your backtalk now or I'll be sewing up that PRETTY LITTLE MOUTH!" He bellowed.

Gabriella nodded and waited for the second blow to her face, it came with an almighty crack. She felt her cheek stinging and her eyes fill with tears, she suddenly missed Troy and his gentle nature.

"I've got some work to do so make yourself useful and clean up." Richard said and he sat down and started working through all the finances of the businesses he owned.

Gabriella went into the kitchen and began to clean the dishes and wipe the counters over. From her window she could see Troy's large lodge and she suddenly longed to be up there with him feeling his soft kisses and his tender words of affection. There was a big difference between Troy and Richard and Gabriella unfortunately had grown more attached to Troy than her husband to be. He was just so sweet and Gabriella was the ultimate sucker for sweet words and caresses.

She couldn't wait to see him, just to see the gentle smile on his handsome face. When Gabriella was finished she went into the living room where Richard sat still working on the finances.

"I'm going up to bed if that's alright with you?" Gabriella asked, she became very aware of the sting on her face again.

Richard nodded showing he had heard her and after putting Lupin into his basket to sleep she slipped upstairs quietly and changed into her pyjama's. She hardly realised she had changed into Troy's pyjama's until she was wearing them. She brought the pyjama top closer to her and took a deep breath. They smelt so wonderful, just like Troy! She felt so much safer with the pyjamas on and she lay down in bed pulling the blankets over her intending to sleep.

About an hour later Richard came up, he didn't wake her much to her relief, she pretended to be asleep, he nudged her for a moment but she still feigned sleep, she didn't want sex.

What happened next surprised her, she felt him feel for his mobile and dial numbers…

"Hey baby." He said in a flirty voice.

"Nah the bitch is asleep." He laughed.

Gabriella felt her eyes swell with tears, not because Richard was sleeping around with someone, he did that a lot and she had grown accustomed to it! It was what he had called her; sure he called her it all the time and worse but she was always a calm and respectful partner and did everything he wanted.

"I'll be asking her new best friend…um Troy Bolton…to come out with us tomorrow, I'll take her too! Then I'll ring and you can come and get me. Yeah, we'll have all night."

Gabriella could hear the faint chatter of some girl on the other end of the phone.

"Okay, yes…no…you bad girl." He laughed.

"Yeah, alright, I'll see you tomorrow before the prude wakes up! Bye!" Richard laughed and put the phone on the side of the bed.

He didn't bother to put his arms around her, he never did and when she heard his insanely annoying snoring Gabriella was sure he was asleep. It was then that she cried, she wanted a better life! She was fed up with Richard but she knew she had made a commitment and her father had always expected her to honour her commitments!

But it was there and then that she discovered how much she desired Troy Bolton!

So there you go! Another chapter done and gone!

Right, so please don't lose faith in this story! Two days tops the computer will be off and then it's back to story time but I can definitely tell you what the name of the chapter's going to be!

Chapter 8 – Super, Scrumptious, Strawberry Sunday!

Sounds a cracker don't it! Review! xoxMusicalxox