A/N: You know what? Troy and Gabriella were never supposed to end together. Why I'm always a sucker for happy endings? But well, this is the last chapter, so thanks so much for sticking around for this long - I can't even thank enough for your patience and love for my characters. This chapter is small and I wrote like three different endings for this story, but yeah - I like this one best. Hope you guys are not disappointed with the lack of drama - I think we had way too much drama already, lol. But maybe... maybe... hmm. So I'll do something - since you guys are so amazing, you decide! Epilogue or not?

About Wakareru and Brantwoods' Cowboy - I understand and completely admit that I've been crap with updatings, lol. It's just so much been going on, I've been working lots and studying, and well.. it's tiring. At the end of the day all I want to do is sleep. But since I had a day off today, you get Inked. I don't think I'll give up on Waka or BC - it just might take a while till I finish the story, but yeah... maybe not. I just got my muse back, so maybe we'll have plenty of chapters now that I've finished another story. That makes me feel good! Okay, on with the story and I'll shush for now. Take care and see y'all later! xx, M

Disclaimer: I don't own HSM or Luke Bryan.

"Baby I'm not who I was,
You gave me your love and it woke me up.
And made me more aware of something deep inside."

NEW YORK CITY, NY
SEPTEMBER 07, 2008.

The bed was warm, his room had an intimate atmosphere, the rain was pouring insistently against the window, a consistent tap-tap echoing in the darkness and lulling them to peacefulness. A sweet ballad played in the background, low and sexy. In the glow of the flickering yellow candles, she looked like a goddess. Gabriella was soft under and around him. Soft and fragile, delicate as a flower. Guards completely down. She had been defenseless in bed, asking him to possess, begging to be loved by him. And he had loved her, twice already.

She had been eager, inviting, passionate, and he had given her his everything, all the best he had inside for her, taking her to her climax, to their heaven. And being with her in a bed after so long, being inside of her again, had only confirmed where he needed to be next, what he had to do with his life. To her, to Emerson, to their family.

Still drowning in her love, he could picture their happy ending. The way his life would be in a few years, the joy in his eyes and the love in his heart. He had found that fate had worked to bring him back to his true love after all, knowing he could not exist without her. Knowing his life was worthless before he met her and then again, when he lost her. She was his and always would be. They had each other tattooed on their bodies, but also in their souls – a permanent mark that remembered everything they've been through and why being together was so worth in the end.

Without a sound, he moved inside of her again, testing and preparing her body. She arched her back, pushing towards him, helpless, pleading. The powerful sensation of being connected, linked again traveled from one to the other and their moans got lost in the music. His calloused hand was gentle against her, caressing and exploring the body he'd never get tired of seeing and touching. I love you, he repeated inside his head over and over again, scared that if he voiced his feelings now, he'd melt down and cry in happiness.

Unlike his slow movements, the pressure on her lower belly was increasing rapidly. The fire that rose from the tip of her toes with every new thrust was building fast her release and as much as she wanted to make this moment last, she knew their bodies were still needy. He was pulsing inside of her and she heard herself cry out as he twisted his hips to reach deeper, so deep she felt as though he touched her soul.

When Troy fulfilled her long-felt need, and hot, thick liquid dripped down her thighs, they connect mouths again in a hungry, yet sweet kiss. His blue orbs locked on her brown ones and as she grinned in satisfaction, he touched the tip of his nose to her cheek.

"Marry me"

His voice was so low and soft that she could only identify his words when his mouth traced the proposal against her jaw. "Troy-"

"Not now" his lips moved to her ear, his teeth tracing the skin. "In a month, NYC, New Mexico, Vegas, you choose, just marry me"

"Troy, are you crazy?" he interrupted her shocked lips with a kiss. When she spoke again, her voice was uncertain and fragile, "I'm tired of playing games. It wouldn't work Troy, you live here and I... I live there"

"I'll quit" he said calmly, his fingertips lingering on her left breast, around her rosy nipple. "This was never my dream, Gabriella. If you don't mind to live a normal life, please accept me. I love you"

She blinked the tears away, his proposal making her heart beat madly. "What if you get tired of us? What if it's not the life you want?"

"You are my dream and my priority, Gabriella. I want to make you happy" he kissed her bottom lip and melted in her touch when she ran her fingers through his hair, "I want you, I want Emerson, I want more babies. Marry me. Be with me forever"

Troy laid his head on her breasts, feeling her heart beat faster and the hair in her body raise. He squeezed his eyes shut and concentrated on her breathing, his fingers lazily stroking the top of her tattoo. Gabriella kissed his hair and ran a hand down his back. He opened his eyes and looked up, just to meet her shiny ones observing him. As Troy linked their fingers, she whispered, "Yes, I'll marry you"

ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO
SEPTEMBER 08, 2008.

"Skin deep, good afternoon?" Kelsi asked in her cheerful voice, predicting it would be Gabriella again worried about business. She had laughed not even thirty minutes ago when her best friend called, all ashamed and bothered, saying she'd be staying in NYC for one more day because they had things to solve before she left. By they she imagined, at first, Gabriella and Emerson, but as to certify herself, she had asked what she meant by 'they'. When she explained that Troy had decided to quit and go to Albuquerque and that, they actually were engaged since last night, she realized her head was spinning.

And then she laughed again, happy about her friend. Kelsi suggested Gabriella should stay for a week at least, that she could handle her clients, but as stubborn as ever, she had promised to be back home by tomorrow. Kelsi insisted she'd stay and enjoy herself, but as usual, her friend was worried about work, so she gave up. And now, every time the phone rang, she could always image Gabriella scratching the back of her neck, cheeks red as she called again to ask how things were going.

"I want to talk to Gabriella, please"

"She's away on a trip to New York city. Do you want to leave a message?"

The man cleared his throat, a bit impatient, "When she's back?"

Kelsi grabbed a pen and tapped it against the front counter, "Tomorrow. Do you need a tattoo?"

"Hmm, maybe. I'll stop by tomorrow. Thanks, honey"

ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO
SEPTEMBER 09, 2008.

His body was leaned back against a shiny blue car parked in front of the shop, his shoulders slouched, his long legs crossed at the ankles. He wore a long-sleeved red shirt and black jeans, his blond hair covered under a baseball cap, his expression tired and anxious. It was his first time in Albuquerque, but he had easily found Gabriella's shop and heard from the cleaning lady that she lived on the second floor of the shop with her baby. According to the woman, Gabriella had traveled to New York on the weekend, but had called and said she'd be back today, so it was just a matter of time. He'd wait the whole day if it was necessary.

There was one thing that Greg Reynolds never did, and that was ask for forgiveness. In his reasoning, he was always right and people needed to recognize it. But he also knew when something was good for him, and that was Gabriella. He had been happy with her, he had grown to love Azzy as his own daughter and he missed both of them. So the least he could do was declare himself sorry and try to understand that Emerson's dad would always be important to Gabriella, but that didn't mean she didn't like him as well. Because she loved him, she had said that several times, and he couldn't wait to surprise her and take her home.

Gabriella was going to be over the moon.

His eyes focused on the black SUV that drove in the parking lot. The car came to a stop and he waited with his heart drumming wildly against his ribcage. When she appeared, he felt he lost his world. Gabriella was so freaking pretty. She was using her hair down and wavy, like the first time they went out on a date. Her purple short dress was flirty and sexy, showing her well toned legs. She was laughing her sweet giggle when she jumped off the car, her hand moving fast to the backseat door. He was so hypnotized by her beauty and the pleasurable twist in his heart that he never saw the tall, sandy-haired guy that approached her and wrapped his arms around her.

For a second, he debated if he should go there and beat the crap out of him for touching his woman when she didn't want to. But when Gabriella laughed and linked her arms around his neck to kiss his mouth, he paled automatically. Greg observed how the unfamiliar man nuzzled her neck and she threw her head back, laughing loud, like she never did with him. She saw how she touched her lips to his chest and looked up at him, with more love than she ever showed him. They looked like they belonged together and that made him want to vomit.

It was impossible for Gabriella to fall in love with someone so easily, because it took forever for her to fall in love with him. Was she cheating on him all this time with that tall guy? What did he have that he didn't? How could he make her look at him like this, when he tried for a year and a half without success?

Greg froze in his spot, watching as they interact, the way the guy put his hand on top of Gabriella's as she opened the backseat door. He playfully wrapped one arm around her waist and brought her back to his side with no effort and a stupid grin on his face. He said something that made her roll her eyes and laugh as he leaned inside the car to appear back with Emerson in his arms. His Azzy... his babygirl smiled when she saw the guy and the white cat he collected from inside the car as well. He kissed her cheek and then her baby lips sweetly, as if he was part of the family. The guy had both of his girls wrapped around his finger and he couldn't take it anymore.

"Gabriella!"

The three of them turned, and Gabriella paled immediately. She was completely taken back when she saw Greg Reynolds, her ex boyfriend that had kicked her and her baby out of his house in front of her, looking partly sad and partly mad at her. She couldn't understand what the heck was he doing in Albuquerque now, not today that she was so happy.

Troy looked at her curiously when he felt her hand tremble on his and Emerson hid her face in the crook of her daddy's neck. Gabriella swallowed and looked at her now-fiancee, cupping his cheek to glue her lips to his for a brief second, "I'll be right back okay?"

"Do you know him?"

"An old friend," she said truthfully, "Can you wait for me here, please?" when Troy frowned at her, she smiled and brought up his hand that had a new gold band wrapped around his finger and kissed it, "I'll be okay, just wait for me, alright?"

As he nodded, she rubbed Emerson's back up and down soothingly, and the little baby looked at her, her arms still wrapped around Troy's neck, "Stay here with your daddy, alright?"

Emerson nodded, "Dada... I, here"

Greg was standing there, only five feet away from her, and as she took her time to close the gap between them, she couldn't help but wish he was not there to cause trouble, not when Troy was there. Only she knew what a big mess would be if her ex-boyfriend tried something. Troy would literally kill Greg.

The seconds passed by slowly as she walked and her hands became sweaty. Gabriella breathed deeply through her mouth when she stopped in front of him.

"What you're doing here?"

"Who's he?" Greg motioned with his head, his arms crossing in front of his body protectively when Troy shot him a look from afar.

"He-," she stopped, knowing that saying boyfriend or fiancee sounded stupid. Troy was always more than that to her, "He is mine...I'm his" she heard herself saying as she raised her hand to show her engagement ring. "We're happy"

"Already?" Greg seemed surprise and she ignored the sarcastic tone of his voice, "Azzy?"

"My baby is fine with her daddy"

When the word 'daddy' rolled off her tongue, Greg understood it all – the looks of love, the ring she had, the family vibe. His eyes went straight to Troy's face and then the baby's. Hair, shape of eyes, smile – Emerson was the spitting image of him. They looked good together, he had to admit, two of a kind. The way the little girl was holding to Troy like he was the air she breathed and how he had his arm possessively around her as well just made him more envious. He had longed for this kind of relationship with her, he had wanted to be Troy for them, to please both of them. For a long time, he had wished he didn't exist, so he couldn't feel insecure about Troy showing up one day and taking them from him. And that's what had happened. He had let Gabriella go for a short while, and he had lost her already.

Greg was always right. She never forgot him.

The bitter laugh that escaped his lips made Gabriella take a step back, but he just shook his head. "So he's Troy. I came here because I want you back"

"You dumped me, Greg" she reminded him.

"I know, I made a mistake"

Gabriella massaged her temples, "I'm happy, Greg. I love Troy"

"What if he hurts you again?"

"That's not your business, but even if he does, I won't be running back to your arms" she said decisively. "It's over, Greg"

Gabriella felt a hand squeeze her shoulder and she was automatically safe. She placed her hand on top of Troy's and backed off, till she was in his arms again. Troy cleared his throat as to indicate the conversation was over, his arm around her stomach as he hugged her from behind to show that she was his, intimidating successfully the blond guy.

"Goodbye, Greg"

He nodded slowly, mechanically. "Take care of Azzy and... be happy Gabriella"

"I will" she assured him, turning around to wrap her arms around Troy and Emerson. Greg got in his car and disappeared down the road and the tension on her shoulders went with him. She breathed in relief, wanting to laugh at herself for thinking, even for five minutes, that Greg would do something crazy with her or her family.

Family, she mused, looking up to press a kiss to Emerson's cheek and then Troy's. She had a family now.

"You'll have to explain me what the heck was going on later" he kissed the side of her head.

"Yes, I will" Gabriella agreed, "But not now, we have a long time for that"

Troy traced a fingertip along her jaw, "Yes, we have forever"

The word buzzed in her ears, ringing over and over again, and she felt the happiest woman alive. "Are you sure we're worth it?"

"Believe me," Troy started, linking their fingers together as they walked towards the Tattoo shop and their new life together, "you're worth it"

She smiled and as he looked down at her, his grin mirrored hers, "I love you, Troy"

"We're gonna be happy, baby" he sealed his promise with a kiss, "And... what about a kitten?"

Hearing that, Emerson squealed with joy.

"Something that I have, a life I wanna share.
And I'll remember this as long as I love,
Every note, every word, every single kiss."

So, epilogue or not? you decide! :-)