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Disclaimer – I only own the plot and any original characters


Chapter 23 – Epilogue

One Year Later…

'I am so late!' Gabi rushed around her room waiting for the car to take her to the church in Albuquerque.

'The bride is never late, sweetie,' Anna tried to calm down her daughter.

'There is late…and there is late!' Gabi muttered.

'You know, if you carry on rushing like that…you are going to ruin your dress!' Sharpay warned.

Gabi stopped moving. 'How?'

Sharpay tried to make up a reason but was interrupted by Taylor, 'Gabs, the car is here.'

'FINALLY!' Gabi huffed and made her way to the beautifully decorated car to take her to the church.


'Relax, man, she is going to come,' Chad said. Troy was extremely nervous. Gabi was already 15 minutes late and he was worried that she wasn't going to come. What if she got cold feet? He kept asking himself, then mentally smacks himself for thinking Gabi would do something like that.

'I know…but I hate waiting, I always have. I know, that's your problem,' Chad muttered and Troy smacked him on the back of his head. The church was filled with the sound of the string quartet beginning to play and Troy and Chad saw Taylor and Sharpay make their way down to the alter where Troy and Chad were standing with the priest. 'I told you so!' Chad whispered and Troy nudged his arm, smiling.


Once Tay and Shar left the mother and daughter to walk down the aisle, Gabriella and Anna hugged tightly. 'He would be so proud of you,' Anna whispered in Gabi's ear and Gabi nodded, smiling widely.

Gabi suddenly sensed something by the door and looked towards it, but saw nothing. I swear I felt Troy there…Gabi thought, but shook the thought away from her mind. She took hold of her mother's hand and started to walk down the aisle herself with Anna. Here we go…were Gabi's last thoughts.


Troy couldn't believe how stunning Gabriella looked as she walked down the aisle. The maids of honor looked fantastic wearing light pink dresses in different styles, but Gabi looked…breath-taking. The white dress she was wearing was strapless and was fitted well on the top and the skirt fanned out slightly, but not so it looked like a princess dress. Gabi smiled shyly at Troy as she was walking towards him which he returned proudly. The two women made it to the front and Anna kissed Gabi's cheek and made her way to the front pew. Troy took hold of Gabi's hands and they faced the priest as he started to talk.

'Dearly Beloved, we are gathered together here in the sign of God – and in the face of this company – to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony, which is commended to be honorable among all men; and therefore – is not by any – to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly – but reverently, discreetly, advisedly and solemnly. Into this holy estate these two persons present now come to be joined. If any person can show just cause why they may not be joined together – let them speak now or forever hold their peace.' The priest stopped talking and left a pause. After a moment or two passed, he continued, 'Troy Bolton and Gabriella Montez are about to embark on an amazing adventure that will have its ups and downs, but with the support from their friends and family, they will sail through. Troy and Gabriella have written their vows of their own, so Troy if you please begin.'

The priest gesticulated at Troy to begin and he took a deep breathe and started to speak, 'Brie, I have known you for so many years I have almost lost count. But no one in my whole life has made me happier than any other person that has been in my life…even more than Chad!' Everyone laughed. 'my promise involves making you happy, and I don't know if I can make you as happy as you have made me…but I am willing to spend the rest of my life trying to do just that. I love you more than there are words in the English dictionary and more than stars in the sky. And, for the b-ball dudes here, more than the number of baskets ever scored. You have made me the man I am today, and without you, I am lost,' Troy paused to wipe the small tears falling down Gabi's face, 'You helped me find my way when I was in the dark. One day I was face to face with death, but you, my darling, stopped me from being dragged down under. And for that, I will be permanently grateful. I love you Brie, and I always will till death do us part.' Everyone smiled at Troy as he finished his speech and Gabi nodded at him slowly.

'Thank you, Troy. And now Gabriella, please begin.' The priest said.

Gabi cleared her throat to get rid of any tears lurking around. 'I knew he was going to be basketball in there somewhere!' Gabi laughed then started her real vows, 'Troy, you have been my best friend from the age of just 3, and it took 9 years for us to finally get together! But it was completely worth every second I had to wait. I first knew that I loved you from the age of 15, when I broke up with my first boyfriend and you snuck into my room to comfort me. All the effort you went through was just so fantastic and I realized that you meant more to me than just a friend. For two years I was falling deeper and deeper and then one day I decided to let you know how you felt. I lost my father that day,' Gabi looked down at her hands which were folded within Troy's large ones, 'but I gained the love of my life just after. We got in a fight just before but as soon as you found out that I was in need, you no longer cared about what had happened and came rushing to my side to support me through one of the hardest moments of my life. You have thought for my honor and you have guided me through the mazes that my life has put me in. I love you so much, Troy, and I cannot imagine my life without you. I am willing to spend my life protecting you, just like you have protected me…till death do us part!' Gabi winked and Troy grinned at her. 'And one more thing…there will be no more teardrops on my guitar.' Troy smiled even wider at his wife-to-be.

'Do you, Troy Bolton take Gabriella Montez to be your wife – to live together after God's ordinance – in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health, for richer, for poorer, for better, for worse, in sadness and in joy, to cherish and continually bestow upon her your heart's deepest devotion, forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto her as long as you both shall live?' The priest asked.

'I do,' Troy answered confidently, not looking away from Gabriella's eyes.

'And do you, Gabriella Montez take Troy Bolton to be your husband – to live together after God's ordinance – in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health, for richer, for poorer, for better, for worse, in sadness and in joy, to cherish and continually bestow upon him your heart's deepest devotion, forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto him as long as you both shall live?'

Gabi took in a breath and looked at Troy and smiled as she said, 'I do.'

Chad took out the rings and handed them to the priest who blessed them. He handed one to Troy and said a sentence which Troy had to repeat. He then did the same for Gabriella. The priest started his closing speech and finished with 'And so, by the power vested in me by the State of New Mexico and Almighty God, I now pronounce you man and wife – and may your days be good and long upon the earth. You may now kiss the bride.' Troy grinned and took hold of Gabriella and lifted her high and kissed her, swinging her around. Gabi squealed and laughed once Troy set her onto the ground. They grabbed each other's hand and made their way to the back of the church only interested in each other.

They exited the church and Gabi dragged Troy away from the car and took him towards Carlos' grave. Gabi took her bouquet of flowers and placed them next to the headstone. 'Who needs tradition?' Gabi whispered to Troy and he smiled and wrapped his arm tight around her waist. 'Hi, Daddy, I'm sure you can guess what day it is today by what I am wearing. It has been the best day of my life, but I still wish you were here…' Gabi trailed off and Troy leaned in and kissed her cheek, still remaining silent. 'I love you, Daddy,' Gabi whispered and made her way to the car.

Troy looked at the grave and nodded saying, 'Thank you…for everything,' and went to catch up with his wife.


'May I present to you, newlyweds Mr. and Mrs. Troy Bolton!' Chad announced into the microphone and the couple walked in, arm in arm, wearing identical grins. If the wedding was small, the reception was massive. Troy and Gabi did not allow any paparazzi into the ceremony, but they did allow one photographer from a magazine into the reception.

Troy and Gabriella walked onto the dance floor for their first dance. The music started playing from the live band and Troy twirled Gabriella and dipped her before they swayed together. Troy looked deep into Gabi's eyes and sighed, 'I can't believe that after all this time we are married.'

'Regretting it already?!' Gabi joked.

'Never! Thank you, Brie,' Troy smiled and leaned in to give her a sweet kiss on the lips. Everyone smiled and the official photographer and the one from the magazine snapped away at the picture perfect moment.

After the sit down dinner Gabi got up and walked to the stage. 'Before Chad, Taylor and Sharpay completely humiliate Troy and I, I would like to get my own performance over with. This is a song I wrote specially for tonight, and will also be my new single.' The crowd started to applaud and the music started to play.

Every time our eyes meet
This feeling inside me
Is almost more than I can take
Baby when you touch me
I can feel how much you love me
And it just blows me away
I've never been this close to anyone or anything
I can hear your thoughts
I can see your dreams

I don't know how you do what you do
I'm so in love with you
It just keeps getting better
I wanna spend the rest of my life
With you by my side
Forever and ever
Every little thing that you do
Baby I'm amazed by you

The smell of your skin
The taste of your kiss
The way you whisper in the dark
Your hair all around me
Baby you surround me
You touch every place in my heart
Oh it feels like the first time every time
I wanna spend the whole night in your eyes

I don't know how you do what you do
I'm so in love with you
It just keeps getting better
I wanna spend the rest of my life
With you by my side
Forever and ever
Every little thing that you do
Baby I'm amazed by you

Every little thing that you do
I'm so in love with you
It just keeps getting better
I wanna spend the rest of my life
With you by my side
Forever and ever
Every little thing that you do
Oh, every little thing that you do
Baby I'm amazed by you

'I love you Troy,' Gabi said before she left the stage and made her way back towards the table. She sat down and Troy grinned at her and kissed her again.

'That was amazing…' he breathed.

'I try…' Gabi laughed.

Chad then stood up and tapped his glass with a knife and managed to crack the glass. 'Dude, do you have to be so…Chad?' Troy whispered as everybody, including Gabriella laughed at him.

'Sorry man,' Chad chuckled and started his speech. Once he had finished everyone was in fits of laughter except for Troy and Gabriella who were sunk in their seats with their faces in their hands. Taylor stood up and looked sympathetically at the couple and started her joint speech with Sharpay, which was a lot more flattering than Chad's was.


Gabi went up to change into her going away dress and Troy discreetly followed. She entered their gorgeous suite and began to reach for the zipper of her dress when her hands were covered by Troy's and he undid it for her. 'You know it is a rule that the Groom should always be there when the Bride takes off her wedding dress on her wedding night.' Gabi laughed and turned her head to kiss Troy. He slipped Gabi out of her dress and he walked over to the wardrobe with the dress and hung it up for her. She walked over to the wardrobe and tried to reach for the dress she was going to wear. Troy grabbed her and lifter her up and kissed her passionately. Gabi wrapped her legs round Troy's waist and kissed back. 'This really was…the best day…of my life…' Troy murmured between kisses.

'I love you so much Troy,' Gabriella whispered.


Later that night, after the evening had ended, Troy was asleep in their bed and Gabi was watching him sleep, gently stroking his cheek. Gabi smiled as Troy nodded his head against her hand in his sleep. Everything was worth it Gabi thought, All the pain I went through with Sharpay, with my father's death, with Derek…everything was worth it…just for moments like these. Gabi didn't know what was going to happen in the future, if they were going to have children or what is going to happen with their thriving careers, but Gabi knew that she couldn't wait to find out.
AN: That's all, folks! Thank you everyone, you have been absolutely fantastic!
I need ideas for stories though…so either put your ideas in the review box, or message me. So for one more time…please review!