A/n: Thanks for the support always. You guys are very kind for taking your time to review the story and you got no idea how that helps me with my writing. It makes my day to know that you like the story and the way I'm writing this. THANKS!

Disclaimer: I don't own HSM or AJ Rafael lyrics.

"Left on a jet plane not too long ago,
Said out goodbyes by a taxi in the snow,
Ok, maybe it was rain but,
I like to think there wasn't so much pain,
Cuz snow is pure,
And that's what I thought we were.

Sitting here still without anything to do,
Maybe it's nothing but I gotta see through,
No, my feelings ain't nothing,
And I got so much to say,
But I wanted something else,
Not a lonely, lonely day."

ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO.
AUGUST 19, 2008.

"She looks exactly like Gabriella!"

Troy's head and ears perked up immediately at the sound of her name that was still so worshiped by his body, as if he was still 17 years old. Everything related to her never ceased to matter to him, even when they broke relation, he still worried about her. Truthfully, he couldn't think straight every time her name was pronounced, like once in NYC that he heard a little girl call her mother Gabriella and he turned around, praying it would be her and maybe her baby. For a minute, he couldn't process anything – so it didn't really matter if the girl looked like she was already 7, 8 years old, his heart still accelerated as he studied the dark haired mother. Unfortunately it wasn't her. Troy, on the inside, hoped he had a reason to go to her, even after three years. He still wished fate would make them bump into each other one day, for no reason, just to prove they still belonged to each other.

"Emmy looks so beautiful" Heather gushed, playing with a lock of her granddaughter's hair while she elbowed Robert Evans to join in the compliments. Troy was trying his best to have another glimpse at the little girl, but Evans was blocking her from his view. He had swear that for a second, as the baby looked at him, he saw his eyes and mouth. Troy saw his hair and the way she frowned as she studied the strangers was the way his father frowned every time he was worried about something. She looked damn familiar.

"I'm very happy she's back to Albuquerque, Ryan. I miss watching Emerson grow up. She's already two. Oh, time sure does fly"

Troy tried to pretend he was still interested in the bacon-wrapped-steak seated in front of him, but his ears were still trained on the sound of her name, even three years later. He could only hear Heather in the conversation, his mind tuned Ryan off automatically, probably because Troy was fighting the urge to just punch him in the face again, only to 'celebrate' old times.

He leaned forward, propping his elbows on the table. So she was back in Albuquerque? Fuck, what a coincidence! He had picked the same weekend she had to come back home. Alright, he was only there for a weekend and she was going to stay indefinitely, but that was even better for him. He wanted to approach her one more time, just to see how she looked like after three years, how she had grown, what she was doing.

"In the middle of the night? With a baby? Oh, that's dangerous, Ry!" Troy's heart constricted – it was in his nature to worry about her. Why she still mattered to him so much? Even after so long? Even after her cheating on him? That was probably a very cruel joke from destiny – to fall in love with someone that didn't give a damn about you anymore.

His head whirled with fantasies and dreams about her for so much time. Troy had wished she'd come back to him and tell it was all a joke, for revenge, just to hurt him the same way he hurt her – but Gabriella never approached him, she never looked for him to tell the words he wanted so much to hear. On the contrary, she accepted the fact he stopped talking to her, she didn't seem to miss him and she always looked disgusted when they bumped into each other in East High's corridors.

"Croissant?" Sharpay asked in a french accent, passing the golden plate full of bread and he snapped out of his thoughts, smiling at her politely, "Yeah, thanks"

Troy cringed at the sound of Ryan Evans's nervous laugh. Damn, why couldn't his mind keep blocking him? "Yeah… I know, mom. She's a big girl already"

"She looks so much like Gabriella. I can't believe it" Troy observed as Heather continued complimenting the little girl that still had her back to him. Evans was succeeding in trying to block her from him, the stupid fucker. "But her mouth it resembles so much…" she bit her bottom lip, thoughtfully and Troy could swear he saw Evans gulp, "Oh yeah. Your uncle Adam Astor Evans, he has the same smile"

"Adam Astor…" Troy mumbled to himself, biting the bottom of his lips and frowning. "What the hell?"

Ryan smirked, gazing at Troy quickly with the corner of his eyes. He could see the suspect on his expression, but yet, he didn't look like he was sure the baby was his too. Maybe if he could keep Emerson away from him during dinner and not give a chance to him to study her features better, he wouldn't jump into conclusions. He still might have a tiny chance of saving himself from Gabriella's fury.

He closed his eyes and swallowed quietly and as he reopened it, his green orbs met Troy's hypnotic blue ones. He could feel the ice in Troy's stare burring a hole in the middle of his forehead. Oh boy, if looks could kill…

"So Troy, how's playing for the Knicks?" Robert Evans asked, breaking the gaze from Troy to Emerson's back and Ryan's pale face. Fuck, something was going on and he needed to know what.

For now be polite Troy. You need to behave if you want to take a look at the baby again, he warned himself quietly and fake smiled, "Hmm, it's great sir. The guys are very cool"

"When Sharpay told me she run into you in the airport I couldn't believe it" Heather grinned sweetly, "Bumping into someone in huge NYC - that sounds like a movie"

"Maybe it's fate" Sharpay suspired tiny-softly, flirting helplessly with Troy. "Don't you think Troy?"

If bumping into you will lead me to Gabriella, then it's fine for me. "Maybe" he said slowly, nodding his head lazily, "Who would have thought a weekend home would have so many… uhm…" he looked at Ryan again and raised a single eyebrow, "Surprises"

"Oh, you are so sweet Troy" Sharpay exclaimed dramatically, leaning on him to peck him on the cheek. "Ohh, lipstick" she rubbed his cheek adoringly and he fought the urge to roll his eyes.

Same, old Sharpay Evans, he thought to himself. And you cheated on Gabriella for her… stupid, always so stupid. Troy closed his eyes for a second as he sunk in the image of Ryan Evans in front of him again and the bile rose to the back of his throat. He was so glad he was a grown up now or he wouldn't be able to control the anger that was boiling inside of him along with the images of the last time he talked with Gabriella. God, he was there again, holding the girl that was supposed to be his daughter, not his.

You've been there before, Troy. Don't do that again, he muttered internally again, knowing he should ignore the haunting presence of her daughter, the man and the past he had with Gabriella. Troy knew that he still loved her somehow, but he couldn't give himself the opportunity to think about her, not after three years – not after finally picking up the pieces of his heart. It took him too long to get here, to feel half complete again… to be able to breathe again. He was used to the cold already; he could live with it a few more years.

But again… something inside of him was commanding him to take another look at the baby, just one more. His body thirsted for it, the same way he once craved to introduce himself to Gabriella, to be with her. It was like his cold heart was begging for the little girl. So, so weird.

If there wasn't anything on her that was related to him, why feel this way? Ask about Gabriella, ask about the girl, please, he prayed quietly as he locked a urgently gaze with Heather Evans, but the middle aged woman just smiled contently at him, completely oblivious to his agony. Damn.

Ryan's cell phone rang loudly and the blond quickly searched for it inside his pocket, frowning when he checked the ID. "I gotta answer that" he excused himself and Troy wished he let the girl with his mother, at least to give full attention to his mobile, but he never let go of her. The blond put the baby on the floor and Troy watched hypnotized as her chestnut floppy hair fell on her eyes, covering the face he wanted so much to observe. The toddler looked up at Ryan and he bit the inside of his cheek as they clapped hands, Ryan grinning at the toddler, "It's mommy, princess"

Ah, Troy knew very well what he was feeling right now. It was once a very common sentiment: jealousy. He wanted to be the one Gabriella was calling. He wanted to be the one the girl was holding hands with. He wanted to have the two of them in his life. That's what you get for being a fucking cheater, Troy Bolton. You could be the one in his position. You could be wearing the same proud smirk he is.

"Fucking Evans" he mumbled quietly to himself as he watched the baby and Ryan disappearing from the room. His control was quickly vanishing…

"You said?" a yelp of surprise rolled off Troy's mouth as he recognized the high pitched tone of voice of Sharpay. He blushed immensely and locked gaze with her, "Uhm… the bathroom--" he cleared his throat, "Where's the bathroom, please?"

"Stay here, sweetie" Ryan instructed as he sat Emerson on the first step of the staircase, pressing the button 'yes' and greeting Gabriella charmingly. He laughed when she talked, getting lost in the conversation. The big hazel eyes looked up at him as he gesticulated and paced up and down the hall, having a heated conversation with Gabriella. Emerson's green orbs wandered around the hall, taking in the walls, paintings, arm chairs and…

Oops, what was that?

She narrowed her eyes and frowned deeply as a fluffy white tail moved slowly from under the arm chair. The thing that amazed her ran faster to another room and she found herself mouth opened. The toddler looked down and checked her stuffed toy she loved so much and then the blue cat on her I LOVE CATS shirt. Her tiny fingertips touched the soft material and she traced the tail with her hand. It looked exactly like the one that just ran from the hall. It was the kitten from the book. The kitten that confused the moon for a bowl of milk.

Oh, she loved that cat so, so much!

Emerson looked up, certifying herself that Ryan was still concentrated on the phone before standing up on her minuscule feet that was nicely covered with a pink Dora the Explorer sandal to storm after the so beautiful cat. She squealed in delight when she was alone with him in another room. Looking around, she sat on the floor and watched it stop. It was so brilliantly white. She slowly placed both of her hands on the floor, crawling lazily towards the animal. The cat stiffed, studying the toddler with his light green eyes before meowing. Emerson stopped, but instead of backing off to give it space, she clapped her hands animatedly. She copied his meow and giggled.

"Kitty" she sat closer to the cat that surprisingly stood in the same spot, as if he was waiting for the small girl to pat it. Emerson touched a finger to the sparkly pink collar around the cat's neck and he meowed again. She giggled as her tiny hand made contact with the soft fur and his tail wiggled calmly. It felt good, it was even softer than her so adored stuffed cat. Lifting her hand to her shirt and then her face, she sneezed quietly, giggling at the sound of it as she rubbed a small hand to her nose.

"Bless you"

The baby looked back, her big green-hazel eyes scanning the stranger that walked towards where she was and sat down beside her. Troy gasped for air as he finally had the opportunity to explore the little one's features. She was breathtakingly beautiful. Her big eyes watched him intently, a mix of light brown and dark green so unique he couldn't remember ever seeing before. The fact the color was amazing was not the only thing affecting him though, it was the shape too. He fucking knew those eyes very well – he saw it everyday when he checked himself on the mirror. It was exactly like his, only with a different color. Emerson looked at him through long, dark eyelashes for a whole minute and moved her attention back to the cat in front of her, her chestnut hair falling on her eyes again. She raised her hand to brush it off her face, but Troy stopped her, catching the hand before it went all the way up.

"Let me do it, huh?" he asked it, but the tone of his voice was like pleading. He not only wanted to touch her, but he needed to touch her. "You don't want fur in your eyes, do you kitty cat?"

"Kitty" she mumbled quietly, pointing to the animal and then her shirt, "Kitty cat"

"Do you like cats, eh?" Troy found himself making conversation automatically, as if his interior craved to have a relationship with the toddler beside him. He didn't want to fall in love with the baby, but it was practically impossible not to literally fall on his knees watching her. The emotions that were already filling his heart were scaring him. It was the same one he only felt for Gabriella. It was like he was deeply connected to the little girl. Damn it, he couldn't afford to care so deeply again. The disappointment of his first time was yet too meaningful to him, still fresh on his mind. He knew he couldn't do it all over again, but why did he feel like he was already falling for the baby's charm then?

Shit.

Troy's heart accelerated as Emerson touched again the cat's tail, her sweet baby giggle filling his ears like an angel's sound. God, it was already too late. He was mesmerized, impressed and unbelievably intrigued by the girl. His hand vibrated with the heat that came from her as she grabbed his fingers to make him touch the cat himself. The wave of warmth travelled up his arms extremely fast, and he could literally feel it satisfy his heart. It was a fire he didn't feel for a long time. So much time he couldn't really remember when the last time was.

Who you're trying to kid, Bolton. The last time he felt any kind of warmth on his body was with Gabriella, before he cheated on her with Sharpay. And now, this baby touching him was warming his body so powerfully that he could almost feel the flames again. He could almost imagine his life with fire again. Damn, it felt fucking amazing.

"Wow, that's a soft fur, kitten" Troy said playfully and Emerson smiled shyly at him, a tiny dimple forming on her angel face, her thin lips curling up contently. Oh, the familiar smile. His heart pounded violently against his ribcage, making his chest contract painfully and he couldn't help but fall in love with her. He stroked the back of his hand on her soft cheek, smiling in return, "you are so beautiful Emerson" he gushed, "Just like your mummy"

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING NEAR MY DAUGHTER?" Ryan Evans shouted from the doorway, running as fast as he could and scooping up the girl in his arms. His tone of voice scared her, along with the cat that disappeared from the room in less than a second. Emerson immediately started crying as she saw the cat gone and her stuffed toy still on the floor, "STAY AWAY FROM HER!"

Troy felt his heart constricting at the sound of the beautiful baby crying. His hands automatically balled into fists and he breathed through his nostrils. He slowly stood up from the floor, letting his body take the time to recompose or he would punch Ryan in the face for making the smile disappear from Emerson's face. Control was quickly gone everytime Evans was around and he couldn't find any good excuse not to smack the shit out of him like old times. He sure deserved one for freaking the baby out. Troy bent down and collected her stuffed toy, offering it back to her, only to have Ryan snap it out of his hand.

"Emerson Azalia, I asked you to wait for me" Ryan protested, as if the two-year-old could really understand him, "Not to run away"

"Kitty" she whispered and rubbed her crying eyes.

I'll kill him. I swear I'll kill him.

"You are stressing her out" Troy hissed between clenched teeth, knowing that something needed to be done, "Calm the fuck down, Evans"

Ryan's face turned to a scowl as he pondered on what 'his enemy' was saying. "You know nothing 'bout babies, Bolton" his neck and ears were getting red as he rocked the girl back and forth in an attempt to make her stop crying, "Shh, Emmy. It's okay"

"She was just patting the cat" Troy protested, his voice already getting a tone louder, "You are overreacting"

Calm the fuck down, Bolton.

"Emerson, what your mommy said about talking to strangers?"

She's only 2 years old, dumb ass.

The little girl looked at him through wet eyes and Troy found anger boiling inside his body. He was no fucking stranger. He had dated Gabriella. He had been with her. Her mother probably still had his name on her body. Fuck, Emerson was the spitting image of him. He was no fucking stranger, not at all.

"I'm not a stranger" Troy took a step towards Ryan and he backed one step against the wall. Emerson hugged her stuffed cat and squeezed her eyes shut. Not in front of the kid, Bolton, you'll scare her. Shit, he needed to use all his remaining energy to keep in control a few more minutes. Only till he could find some place to safely put Emerson and come back to punch Ryan fucking Evans.

Oh, he might be missing it…

"You still a stranger to her. Gabriella doesn't want you or Sharpay near Emmy. Stay away from my daughter"

Troy's heart skipped a beat at the sound of her name again, but it eased again as he studied Evans's nervous expression. It was like something inside of him told that he was lying. He was nervous for no fucking reason, after all he was only talking with the baby, he didn't do anything wrong. His heart was yelling that Emerson was his… his daughter with Gabriella. The possibility of her never cheating on him was surrounding his body with relief and heat, the heat he didn't feel for a long time now. He was breathlessly. Troy wanted his thought to be true. He wanted to feed his illusion. He didn't want to feel so cold inside anymore, he wanted her warmth, the baby's warmth.

Troy wanted the fire back to his life.

He looked at Ryan again and he obviously had something on his mind and it smelled like fear. Troy opened his mouth to finally say what he really thought, but he snapped his mouth shut as he watched Emerson's confused expression as she accompanied the argument. It was so ridiculously cute, yet disturbing that they were starting a useless argument in front of her that he knew he had to be the first one to stop it.

Evans was not the one he had to go to. He needed to see Gabriella.

She was the one to answer his questions.

Troy Bolton was going to be responsible this time. For the first time in his life.

"Just…" he breathed deeply through his mouth, struggling for the right words. How to be polite talking to fucking Evans? Was it even possible? Calm down, relax, he warned himself and scratched the back of his neck, "Can…" he cleared his throat. I can't do it, damn it. Troy looked again at Emerson and she was still pouting cutely. Ohh boy, she will be the death of me. "Can I hold her? Just… just for a minute, Evans?"

Ryan seemed to be shocked with his politeness and for a second that felt like decades he didn't say anything, as if he was balancing if he should or not let Troy hold the baby. He opened his mouth, but Troy interrupted him.

Fuck, kill me now. "Please?"

"No" Ryan frowned as he rubbed the baby's back gently, taking her far from Troy and midway out of the room. "Stay away from her. Don't touch Emerson again. I mean it, Bolton"

ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO.
AUGUST 21, 2008.

"Troy Bolton, this is unacceptable" a high-pitched feminine voice roared and Troy had to pull the phone from his ear if he wanted to still be listening to the rest of the conversation. He hated when she screamed. Why the fuck he needed so many drama queens in his life? "How come you're not coming back to NYC?"

"Kia" he sighed tiredly, pressing the phone to his ear again when she silenced, "Let me explain to you one more time. My mom, the woman that put me into the world, that took care of me my entire life needs me here for a few days. I don't fucking care if you're having a fucking stroke just because I won't be home tonight and you can't control my life, but I'm staying here. Do I need to be clearer than that or the cuss was enough to make you understand?"

He had to smirk when he heard the gasp through the phone and the resentment in her voice, "No, you made yourself very clear"

"Great"

"When you're coming back?"

Fucking controlling PR. shit. Avoiding the wish to say 'I'll come back when I want', Troy rolled his eyes and sighed deeply through his mouth. "In a week, Kia. That's all the time the coach gave me"

The fact he had already called the coach seemed to please her, and when she spoke again, her voice was already controlled and very pleasant. "Can you give me your hotel number in case I need to talk to you?"

"You have my cell number" he reminded her, "and I'm staying at my mom's. And no, I can't give you her phone number. She doesn't like you, remember?"

She scoffed and Troy could picture her rolling her eyes, "Why not?"

"Maybe because you're fucking controlling and you already call me a thousand times per day?"

"You are not grateful at all, Troy Bolton" Kia state calmly, "Behave, I don't need trouble to deal while you are away, agreed?"

"Goodbye Kia" he rolled his eyes and flicked his phone shut, breathing in relief when all he heard was silence, not Kia Uma's screams anymore. He liked the woman, he seriously did. She was the best PR he could have hired and she used to have his back all the time. But ever since he became one of the best players on the team, she had turned into a fucking psycho. Kia nagged all day long and Troy was exhausted of listening. He was tired of the pressure and tired of having 24 hours of his life observed. He just wanted a fucking day off.

At least a week.

"That's why you lied to her and the coach anyway" he mumbled to himself as he walked out of the hotel and into the parking area where his car was parked. Yes he had lied to them that his mother needed him, but it was for a good cause.

Troy needed to see Emerson again. He had to talk to Gabriella and discover if the girl was his or not. He couldn't help but think about the baby's eyes and that familiar smile of hers since the time he saw her two days ago. It was impossible to forget the sensation of suspecting she was his. It was like fate was giving him another chance to work things out with Gabriella. To have a family with her. He was not the stupid 17 year old boy that cheated on her anymore. He had grown up, he was mature now.

Fine, he was not the most responsible guy in the world, but he was trying. Troy still went out almost every night in NYC and he used to have every fucking pussy in the state – models, actress, singers, but he was tired of being like this. He wanted to settle down; he wanted to actually feel something for a girl. Not any ordinary girl, he wanted the one he still loved back. Troy wanted Gabriella.

He was keeping his promise of being away from trouble, but nobody seemed to have a little faith in him. Everybody was always suspecting, always advising and it was fucking boring. He knew how to take care of himself. It didn't matter if he had status, money and all the girls in the world now, he was still the same Bolton.

So what if he didn't like playing basketball when he moved to New York? All that mattered was that playing ball was the way he paid his bills now. When Jack said his time was over, what he expected? What he imagined his father would tell him to do? He wouldn't advise him being a poet or becoming a dancer. He would play ball. It was the only thing Troy Bolton was good at, it was the only thing that didn't bore him too much.

That was what he got for being so fucking confusing. All he did was fill the application to U of A and a year later, he was already in NYC. But what could he do? He couldn't think of anything fun, he still had this problem. It was like his life was over since Gabriella. Life was fucking boring without her.

He tried travelling but it didn't work. He tried dating someone else and nope, still nothing. So when Jack came home one night with his future decided, all Troy could do was accept. So here he was, three years later, a good basketball player, tons of money to spend and a top floor apartment in New York, the city that never sleeps. Alright, he was still alone, but at least he had a place to stay, a car to drive and money to buy video games. However, he wouldn't think twice if something he really wanted showed up and he had to give up his status. He'd abandon it all in a blink of an eye. That was the only good consequence of not choosing his future, he could walk away whenever he felt like he was tired of it, because in the end of the tunnel, it wouldn't be his dream he'd be crushing, it would be somebody else's.

Now it seemed that life was giving him another opportunity though… he had a powerful hope that his life was about to change drastically and he couldn't be happier about it. Retrieving his phone from his jeans pocket, Troy leaned against his rented black BMW X5 SUV, dialed the familiar number and waited. "Hey mama. Yeah, I'm still in Albuquerque" he smiled, nodding his head as he pushed off of the car and pressed the alarm to unlock it, "Yep, for another week" he laughed lightly, "Yeah, I knew you'd like it. Of course I'm having dinner with you, I just need to stop by a place very quickly on my way home. 'Kay, tell dad hi too. See you later"

Oh boy, another day.

Gabriella sighed as she walked down the stairs from her temporarily home on top of the store, the apartment her mother had lived in the beginning of her career, with Emerson firmly attached to her hip. She let her eyes wander around the now empty tattoo shop, studying a brown haired guy that was leaving the place with a huge white bandage on his forearm, smiling when Emmy's eyes focused on him too and she lifted her hand as they walked closer to the middle aged man to touch his newly made tattoo covered with gauze, whimpering when Gabriella held her hand to stop her midway.

"Wait mommy here, beautiful" she mumbled into her hair, sitting the little girl on the arm chair previously taken by the guy's wife. Emerson shrugged, sucking on her thumb as she watched her mother lean on top of the marble Skin Deep counter and greet Kelsi. "We have a baby situation. Emmy's sick"

"Is it contagious?" Kelsi grimaced, but Gabriella quickly shook her head. She didn't need her best friend afraid to get closer to her daughter, not when she planned to ask a favor in a couple of minutes. "Just a fever. I think Ry fed her too much ice cream"

Shrugging her shoulders, she smiled, "Probably. He spoils Azzy way too much"

"Yeah" Gabriella grinned, "But I gotta go to the bank for an hour. Could you take a look on her?"

"Sure. I'm free now" Kelsi turned the counter around, bending down next to the arm chair, "What's up?"

"I don't think she understands that, by the way" Gabriella giggled and retrieved her car keys from her back pocket, "I'll be back as soon as possible"

Emerson observed as her mother waved at her, blowing a kiss as she walked over the door and closed it with a loud thump. Her big eyes widened and her bottom lip trembled slightly, "Momma?"

"Your mom will be right back, Azzy" she grabbed the baby in her arms and sat her on the counter top, "Don't cry okay? We're gonna have fun"

As fast as she began whimpering, she shut up. Her eyes were concentrated on Kelsi's arm, making the older girl raise her eyebrows in suspicious, following her gaze to see what she looked so much at. Seeing nothing, she looked up at the girl again. A minute had passed and the little girl was still staring at her in complete silence.

"Emerson, what are you staring at?" she snapped her fingers in front of the toddler, trying to get her attention back, "Oh God. I didn't break you, did I? Oh crap, your mom is going to kill me if something happens to you" Kelsi lifted her head by her chin, her heart already accelerating, "Azzy, come on, don't play statue, not now please"

Her eyes focused on Kelsi's nervous expression and she reached her hand to touch a fingertip to the fairy tattoo on her arm, "Tinkerbell"

Oh, she's alive, she breathed in relief and as Gabriella's daughter smiled shyly at her, she couldn't help but grin. Was she finally getting comfortable to talk in front of what were considered strangers? Gosh, she hoped so. "Do you like fairies?"

The toddler nodded her tiny head up and down, her chestnut floppy hair moving frantically as she showed a sign of being excited because of Kelsi's tattoo. "Do you like tattoos?"

Emerson only nodded again and Kelsi's hope of having a conversation with her vanished as she seemed she just lost her voice again. She sighed; she had to understand that Gabriella's daughter was a very shy and quiet baby, always very nice, never crying or complaining about anything. Not that it was bad at all, she thought it was great, she had been a quiet child herself and look at her now. She was very sociable.

She had come to learn in those two years that Emerson was not a common baby. She was special for her age. She was nothing like the babies from the movies she watched her entire life. Those babies were bad, really bad; they yelled, threw food and fucked up designer shoes.

Kelsi looked down and smiled adoringly at her red stilettos that matched her stylish glasses. Looking up at Emerson again she saw her smiling a toothy smile at her. She was definitely unique. Firstly, she was polite, she almost never cried, only whined. Secondly, she was independent, if she wanted food, she'd ask. If she was tired, she'd just raise her arms and ask whoever was in front of her for a comfortable shoulder to lay her head and take a nap. Thirdly, she was, and Kelsi was a hundred percent sure of this now, a toddler with the soul of an old woman.

Whenever Gabriella had mentioned her that her daughter was way mature for her age, she'd think she was just exaggerating because, well, mothers did that, right? Every mother thought their baby was the most adorable, intelligent and sweet thing in the world, so her best friend wouldn't be different. But naw, Gabs wasn't lying. Azzy was one of a kind.

"I have other tattoos too" Kelsi said, lifting up her hair and turning around to show two little starts inked to her neck, "It's a star, see it?"

"Twinkle star" she touched her minuscule thumb across the yellow and blue starts, "Twinkle, twinkle little star"

"Yeah, just like the lullaby" Kelsi laughed, turning around and brushing a strand of hair out of her eyes, "hey, I'll tell you what. If you give me a nice big hug, I'll give you a prize"

Let Gabriella hear you are bargaining her two-year-old, Kelsi. Her hazel eyes blinked more than a star as the word prize came out of Kelsi's lips and she laughed again, "Ooh, you like presents, uh?"

The toddler nodded, "Tattoo"

She wrapped one arm around the tiny waist of the baby to hold her in place and leaned on the counter, to open a drawer and collect a purple box. "You know what I have here, Azzy?"

She looked hesitantly, but didn't respond. "One time there was this mom that came to the shop with her baby and the boy got stressed and cried very loud. Do you know what loud means?"

Emerson quickly covered her ears with her tiny hands and Kelsi smirked, "Exactly. So I decided I'd have something for kids here, too" she opened the box and offered the little girl, loving that she promptly searched for a piece of paper with a removable tattoo for kids inside of it, "I have a bird, the sun and a bug, what do you want?"

Her big eyes checked all the tattoos, as if she was considering what to get. Kelsi smirked, grabbing her in her arms. She yelled over her shoulder that she'd be back in a few minutes and the cleaning lady that constantly helped her to answer the phone when she was out, just nodded in understand. "Well, Azzy. I think we should go grab a drink. It seems like sugar could help you decide"

Ten minutes later they were back, hands clasped, a big grin on Emerson's face and a coffee for Gabriella. She spotted a black shiny SUV parked in front of the shop, but still no sign of Gabriella's red car. "Ha, your mom's not here yet" Kelsi swung their joined hands back and forth as they approached the front door, "She'll faint when she sees you"

"Tattoo" Emerson grinned, looking up at her new best friend that had just inked a removable tattoo to her small arm, "Yeah, she'll love it sweetheart"

Kelsi pushed the door open, leading the baby by the back of her head inside. Letting Emerson walk in first, she kicked the door closed with her foot, looking up as she observed a pair of black converses patting the floor impatiently. She smirked at the possibility of a new customer, but her smile faded away as soon as her green eyes locked with the floppy hair of no one else than Troy Bolton.

He was sitting on the arm chair, reading a magazine very calmly, as if he didn't know the place he was, nor the person that owned the store. He looked the same even though the last time she saw him was three years ago, at graduation day. Troy looked taller and more muscular now, but his dirty sandy hair and features were still gorgeous.

Troy moved his gaze abruptly to the girls as the door closed and he grinned sincerely as his eyes captured the small person dressed in dark skinny jeans, white converse and a yellow shirt with a fluffy gray cat on it. His eyes blinked in happiness as he put the magazine aside, standing up swiftly and crouching down in front of the toddler, "Hey kitty cat"

"Clip" Emerson patted her head lazily, smiling slyly. Troy laughed automatically, as if everything she done was the most incredible thing in the world and touched his index finger to the yellow hair clip that was holding securely the bangs he saw falling in her eyes two days ago, "You are looking very cute today, miss. Kitty cat"

Kelsi observed as he stroked the back of his hand on her cheek and Emerson smiled proudly. Troy looked up at her, like it was the most expected thing for him to do and greeted her calmly, "Hey Kelsi"

Her eyes were still widened and her chest rising up and down as she fought to normalize her breathing when her mouth opened. The first sound that came out of it was like a burp and she had to clear her throat. "H-how do you know her?"

"I was at the Evans house two days ago. I was impolitely introduced to Emerson" he added as a matter-of-fact, standing up straight again. Kelsi quickly scooped the girl up in her arms, wondering why the hell Ryan didn't tell Gabriella that Troy had seen the baby. God, she'd freak out.

She placed Emerson on the top of the marble counter, searching for a piece of paper and a pen with shaky hands, sliding it on the counter to her as soon as she found one she could use, "Sweetie, why don't you draw the cat you saw the other day? The one you were telling your mommy about?"

The toddler nodded fervently, grabbing the pen clumsy and the paper, "Tattoo?" she frowned adorably and Troy couldn't help but smile, "yeah, draw that too. Go ahead" she smiled warmly at her, "Our next client is coming any minute, make it beautiful alright Azzy?"

Troy observed as Emerson looked down at the paper, touching the red crayon and starting what he imagined was the tattoo, or the cat, or just... something. Still, even if he couldn't detect what she was doing, he thought it was amazing.

"She's mine, isn't she?" his husky voice made Kelsi gulp and she looked at him with the corner of her eyes for a second that lasted forever. She fixed her glasses back to her nose and shook her head slowly, "She's Ryan's, Troy. You always knew that"

"I'm not stupid Kelsi" he whispered to her, avoiding the urge to reach with his hand and touch the little girl's arm just to feel her warmth again. "I see myself in her. Gabriella lied, didn't she?"

"I don't know what you're talking about, Troy" Kelsi snapped nervously, "I don't know why you're here"

Troy shrugged, "It is a tattoo shop, isn't it? Maybe I want a tattoo"

"You could always go someplace else. It's Gabriella's store. She doesn't want to see you, she doesn't want you near her daughter"

"Why not?" he tilted his head to the side to study his ex-girlfriend's best friend's body language. He was absolutely sure they were hiding something from him, he just needed to prove that. "If Emerson is not my daughter, why doesn't she want me near her?"

"Because you hurt her very much" she hissed bitterly and Troy cringed, "Isn't it reason enough?"

"If that's the reason, she hurt me too" Troy said softly, running one hand through his hair, "Kelsi, listen. I need to talk to Gabriella"

"She's not here. You are not welcome here" she sighed, "Please go away Troy"

He shook his head stubbornly, "I want a tattoo. I'm a customer like everyone else"

"Crap" she muttered under her breath, rolling her eyes. "Fine. Do you want a tattoo? Then you'll get one"

He grinned, "Cool. You heard that kitty cat? I'll get a tattoo"

"Tattoo" Emmy pointed to her little arm and smiled proudly. Troy localized the ladybug on her and smirked, "Nice ladybug"

Emerson smiled and he saw the tiny dimple on her face again. Damn, she was so beautiful. He wanted her for him. "Buggy"

"Yeah" he chuckled quietly, "It's cool, really hardcore. Maybe I should make one too"

"Oh please" Kelsi muttered, shaking her head irritated. "Can't you just choose what you want and come back tomorrow? We don't ink people the same day"

"Sure" he shrugged his shoulders, "What do you have?"

"Where are those damn catalogues…" she searched around, sighing when she couldn't see any of the books with samples of tattoos, "Come with me, Azzy" she tried to pick her up, but the toddler shook her head, whining quietly and pointing to the piece of paper as she held the crayon tightly in her hand. She was obviously not finished and Troy liked it.

"I'll look after her" he offered, biting the inside of his cheek to avoid smiling at Kelsi's affected expression, "I won't steal her. She will be here when you come back. I promise"

Groaning she nodded once, before walking to the back of the store and into the little office. Troy looked at Emerson as she finished her drawing. "So, what's that?"

She looked up and gave him the paper, "Uhmm…" he tried to find any sense on her doodles, but it was all just ridiculously childish and sweet, "It's beautiful, what's that?"

"Kitty"

"Wow, you do love cats, eh?"

Emerson shrugged off and slid her left thumb inside her mouth, sucking it slowly. With her other hand she rubbed her sleepy eyes and stared at Troy with pleading puppy eyes. "What?" he gasped, frowning slightly when she lifted one arm, moving her little hand open and close, "Oh. You're tired, aren't you?"

He looked back, searching for any sign of Kelsi coming, but she was maybe having a hard time finding the catalogues. Thank God. Emerson whimpered, her hand balling into a fist as she sucked on her thumb rhythmically. Troy licked his bottom lip, taking a step closer to her. Picking her carefully in his arms, he awkwardly held her against his chest, trying to find the most comfortable place to let her snuggle.

The wave of heat collapsed on his body brusquely and Troy had to lean against the counter, afraid his legs wouldn't hold his whole weight. God, the little girl had such a different effect on him. He wondered if everybody felt like this or if it was only him. She moved her little head against his chest and the suck on her thumb grew gradually slower. Troy tried to stead his breath and nervousness just in case it would stress her. God, was he even holding her correctly? Damn his parents for never giving him a little brother or sister and his family for having no small kids.

"Is it better?" he asked as his nose nuzzled the top of her head, smiling slightly as she forced herself up and laid her head on his shoulder, one arm automatically wrapping around his neck. At least she did seem comfortable and she felt good against him. She was so perfect and he could only remember one person being as perfect as Emerson was in his arms... Gabriella Montez.

Jesus Christ, now more than ever, he missed her so, so much. It felt exactly like having her back.

It felt like being home after so much time away.

Emerson sighed tiredly, squeezing her eyes shut as she yawned, her thumb never leaving her mouth. Troy followed the instincts he didn't know were inside of him and rocked her back and forth, switching his weight from one foot to another till he heard the softly snore escaping from her slightly parted lips. Was she already sleeping?

Her finger that was in her mouth fell numb to the side of her body, together with her other arm that was around his neck. He took the opportunity to caress her little arm, taking in her beauty. "You are so freaking beautiful" he mumbled into her hair, rubbing his nose onto her forehead tenderly.

"Sorry it took so long, the phone rang—holy fuck" Kelsi gasped, "You made her sleep?"

"I didn't do anything, she just… slept" Troy said honestly, wrapping one arm protectively around the baby's body, feeling like his heart was growing twice its size as he held the girl he wanted so much to be his in his arms for the first time. "Kelsi please…" his voice was urgent, low and pleading. "Tell me she's mine"

"Troy—"

He reluctantly moved his gaze from the sleeping beauty to the brown haired woman next to him and she could notice his eyes were slightly wet with tears of sheer joy or maybe it was agony. Was he in pain?

"If she's mine I have the right to be with her. I want to be part of her life"

"She's…" Kelsi bit her bottom lip, studying his sincere expression. Was she the right person to tell Troy the truth about Emerson? That she was in fact his daughter, his own and flesh blood? Was she in the position to choose what was best for the baby? Kelsi knew Gabriella was the only one able to make a decision that big. Her best friend of all life was always very smart when it concerned her daughter's future. If she wanted Troy out of her baby's life, there was a reason to that. She had to stick to her friend, be loyal with the one she liked the most, the one that really knew what was best for little Emerson. She would have to let Gabriella deal with it by herself.

"Emerson's not yours, Troy. Seriously, get over it"

He nodded his head slowly and his mouth twisted in a hard line. Passing the asleep baby to Kelsi's arms he felt the warmth of the little girl's body against his vaporize. "She's precious" he brushed her chestnut hair from her forehead with his fingertips and sighed, "I'll be back, Kelsi. I'm convinced she's mine and I'm not giving up my daughter"

"Troy, please—"

Troy shook his head, interrupting her, "Tell Gabriella I'm not mad she's been lying for three fucking years. I think I understand why she did it," he said softly, rubbing one hand across his face and neck as he tried and massaged the tension away. Stepping closer to the door, he opened it before looking back at Kelsi, "I just want what's mine back. I'm not wasting any more time"

"There's gotta be more to this old city,
I wanna go back,
But things ain't so pretty back home,
You gave me a breath of fresh air, darlin',
But now I'm hoping for more than this.

Little piece of home, little piece I know,
Please don't let me go.
Little piece of home only thing I know,
I don't wanna be alone."

Sorry if there are no Troy and Gabby this chapter... I wanted to think of her emotions a bit longer... haha and yeah, give you guys a Troyson moment haha! Okay, next chapter things get craaaazy =)