Serving His Country:

Gabriella Bolton, barley 19, stared at the ceiling watch the fan as it went twirled, creating a light breeze on this warm summer day. It had been almost a year since her husband, Troy Bolton, had left for his tour of duty in Iraq as a Marine. She could still remember it like it was yesterday. She could still remember that day a year ago when her then boyfriend told her that he was leaving.

Flashback:

Gabi walked into the Bolton household. "Troy?"

"Hey babe."

Gabi turned to Troy and said, "Hey." When she leaned up to give him a kiss, he pulled away. "What's wrong?"

"Can you come with me?"

"Anywhere."

Troy took her up to his bedroom, motioning towards his bed, "Please sit."

When she did she said, "What's wrong?"

"There's something I have to tell you."

"You know you can tell me anything."

"In 2 weeks…I'm gonna leave for Iraq."

"What? No, in 2 weeks were going to college. We're supposed to go to NYU together with our friends."

"Sweetheart please don't cry." Troy said wiping her tears away.

"What about all our plans?"

"Please understand this is something I have to do."

Gabi sniffled, looking him dead in the eyes, and tried to smile, "Okay, whatever happens, whatever you want to do. I'll always be by your side."

End of Flashback:

Gabi watched as Troy went through basic training, coming home with bruises and cuts, mentally and physically tired. She watched the bags under his eyes, from staying up at night watching her sleep when he thought she was a sleep. A week before Troy had to deploy; the couple had gotten married at the justice of the peace. That way if anything happened to Troy, Gabi would be taken care of and protected. Troy promised her a real wedding when he came back. Their families didn't know anything, the ones there was Taylor and Chad, who were there for support.

Flashback:

"You ready men?"

"I've been ready since the day I met her." Troy said, his dog tags shinning proudly around his neck

"No doubt." Chad said, "What do you think the girls are doing?"

"Getting beautiful." Troy said

Meanwhile Taylor and Gabi were in the ladies room getting ready. "Damn girl Troy is gonna drop dead when he sees you."

"Can please not say that."

"Sorry."

"No, I'm just a little jumpy. It's being so close to his deployment and all."

"It's okay." The two friends hugged

Gabi nodded and said, "My hair look okay?"

"Prefect." Taylor said

Gabi was wearing a knee length silk white dress with her hair in curls. "Could you send in Chad please and get Troy ready?"

"Sure." Taylor said leaving the bathroom.

Gabi looked at herself in the mirror, a few minutes later she heard. "Wow, little sister I must say you look absolutely amazing."

Gabi looked at Chad and said, "Not so bad yourself big brother." Chad, her big brother, was walking her to Troy.

"Why thank you."

"You ready?"

"Shouldn't I be asking you that?"

"I guess so but I know I'm ready."

Chad offered his arms and said, "For milady."

"You thank you kind sir."

Taylor stuck her head back in and said, "Troy's all ready, we're waiting on you."

"Thank you Tay." Gabi said

"Your welcome." Then she left.

When Chad started to walk Gabi said, "Wait."

"What's wrong?"

"I really want to thank you for doing this. You don't have to walk me down."

"It's my pleasure to walk you to my best friend."

"Thank you." Gabi said wiping the stray tear away. "Let's go get me married."

"Let's." Chad leads her out of the bathroom and to Troy.

Troy's breath left his body when he saw her. He mouthed. 'I love you'

She smiled and mouthed back 'I love you too'

The man doing there ceremony, Andrew, said, "Who here stands witness to this union?"

"We do." Chad said

The ceremony continued until Andrew said, "The couple has written their own vows. Troy please proceeds."

"Gabi…since the day I met you I knew I wanted to marry you. You are so bright, warm, compassionate, and strong. I love you more then words can say but I promise you right now. That you will never doubt that, I love you. You are the light in my life and without you; everything for me would be dark. Even though I may be leaving, only my body will be going because my heart will be here with you, always has been and always will be. In this life or the next, I'll always be your husband, your lover, your best friend."

"Gabriella, you may proceed."

"Troy there has never been a doubting in my mind that you don't love me. You've been my rock, something I can hold onto when my world is falling apart. You change my life for the better and I couldn't image my life without you in it. With Chad and Taylor here, watching us there is something you should know. You maybe leaving your heart with me, but you're taking my heart with you. In this life or the next, I'll always be your wife, your lover, your best friend."

The couple exchanged rings and then Andrew said, "I know pronounce you husband and wife. Troy you may kiss the bride." Troy pulled Gabi to him, laying one on her. When they pulled apart, Andrew said, "It's my pleasure to announce you Mr. and Mrs. Troy Bolton."

"I love you." Troy said

"I love you too."

End of Flashback:

The rest of the week was spent in pure bliss. The newlyweds spent most of their time locked in their apartment. They simply enjoyed each other, memorizing each other, not knowing when they would see each other again. To Gabi that Sunday morning came all too soon. The day she watched her husband left would forever be in her memory. Him standing there in his gear, seconds away from getting on the plane, with the other Marines hugging their wives. Troy was trying to memorize her face. So no matter how far apart, when he closed his eyes he would always see her smiling face.

Flashback:

"Gabi…babe it's time to get up."

Gabi opened her eyes, "It's Sunday it isn't it?"

"Yeah." Troy said watching her.

Gabi knew Troy didn't want her crying he could never handle that. "Okay." Gabi nodded trying to put a believable smile on. "How much time do we have before we have to leave?"

"An hour. I packed while you were asleep; everything is waiting in the car."

Gabi nodded and pulled his body on hers "Please make love to me one more time before you go."

"I love you." Troy whispered into her ear as he made love to her.

An hour and a half later, they were at the base. "God where did the time go." Gabi said

"Lost inside our apartment."

"Don't do anything crazy."

"Do I look like Chad?"

"No." Gabi said. "It's gonna be so hard without you here with me."

"Gabi listen to me…if I don' come back…"

"NO! You're coming back to me."

"Listen if I don't come back, I don't want you to close yourself off. Find a really nice guy and settle down."

"Now you listen here. You are the only man I will ever be married too. You are the only man I'm gonna love. And you're coming back to me. Remember or vows, you promise me a lifetime with you and I'm not excepting anything else."

He pulled her into a bone crushing hug and said, "I'm gonna miss you so much."

"I'm gonna miss more."

"Not possible Mrs. Bolton." Troy kissed her and said, "I love you Gabriella Bolton, don't forget that."

"I won't. I love you too Troy Bolton, don't you forget that."

Gabi watched Troy make his way to the plane. He stopped turned and yelled. "I LOVE YOU!"

The 2 months following his departure, Gabi mused, they exchanged letters. Telling each other how much they missed each other, how they could wait to be in each other's arms again. Two months in Iraq Troy got a letter that made him a little homesick. He his friends teased him about the letters but this one letter she sent made him want to come home more then anything.

Flashback:

"Hello?"

"Gabriella Bolton?"

"Specking."

"I'm Lynn Smith from Albuquerque General."

"Yes."

"We have your test results back…congratulations you're pregnant."

"Pregnant, really?"

"Yup, you're right around 2 months along."

"Thank you so much."

"We've set you up for your first appointment on the 3rd."

"Sure." Gabi said as she hung up. "I'm pregnant." She rested a hand on her flat tummy and pulled out a piece of paper.

A week later in Iraq the mail carrier came in and said, "Bolton mail."

Troy got the letter, "Yes."

Brice Mitchell, a fellow Marine and one of Troy's friends said, "Lookie, Troy's got a letter from the wifey.

"Come on Troy, read it aloud." Elliot Thompson said

"This could be private."

"Just read." Kacy Epps told his friend

"Fine." He opened the letter and started to read, "Dear, Troy. You don't know how much I've missed you. I'm sitting here trying to get some homework done but I can't seem to get you off my brain. I've also got a call a few minutes ago, that got me distracted. You left me a special present when you left that morning 2 months ago. Honey, I'm 2 months pregnant. SURPRISE! Love, Gabi." Troy's face broke out in a grin. "I'm gonna be a daddy. I'M GONNA BE A DADDY!"

Michael Donaldson slapped Troy on the back, "Well congratulations kid." Michael was on his 5 tour of duty, and was about 30, the oldest of their little group.

End of Flashback:

Gabi suddenly sat up, braking away from the past. She took Troy's pillow wrapping her arms around it, trying to pretend that he was still there with her. After the letter she had wrote to him about the baby. She started spending a special one with a new sonogram picture in it. Jack and MaryAnn became a big help after Maria had to move away for her job. Jack sort of filled in for Troy, going to all Gabi's doctors appointments. Gabi's eyes started to tear up, so she left the safe haven of her bed and walked into the next door. The room was a pale blue, decorated by Gabi and the work done by Jack. Lying by the window was a wood crib. In that crib was Gabi and Troy's greatest accomplishment, their 2 months old son Alexander Troy Bolton, or Alex.

Gabi smiled down at her son. "I love you so much my sweet baby boy."

Gabi heard the door open and then "Gabi?"

"Up here." She called running a fingertip over her baby's cheek. When he opened, his eyes there was no denying he was Troy's, Alex had the same deep blue eyes.

Jack walked up to the nursery. "You aren't you dressed."
Gabi looked at him. You could tell what the weeks have done to him. "I'm not going." Gabi said, Jack was trying to be strong for her but that didn't mean she had to be strong. "If I don't go, it's not true."

"Honey…"

"No." Gabi tears started to fall. "I can pretend that he's still here with me. But if I go and see him that means it really and he isn't coming back."

"It's okay." Jack tried to comfort her as he held her.

"It's not okay." Gabi whispered. "He isn't here."

Flashback:

Gabriella Bolton rubbed her baby's back soothingly, trying to get him to go back to sleep. The one month old only like to sleep and eat. Gabi had just sent a photo of their newborn to Troy in a letter while she was in the hospital. Gabi raised her head when there was a knock on her door. Seeing as it was only 8:30, Gabi thought it was only Jack checking up on her. She sat her sleeping baby in his playpen and walked to the door. Gabi opened the door, knowing immediately what they were going to say.

"Mrs. Bolton, I'm Michael Donaldson, this is Brice Mitchell, Kacy Epps, Brain Allengale, and Elliot Thompson. We served with Troy in Iraq…"

"Oh god."

Brice pulled out Troy's dog tags. "I'm so sorry Mrs. Bolton, Troy isn't coming home."

Kacy took a step forward and said, "Your husband died a hero. He was saving us when he died."

Gabi shook her head. "Please this has to be a joke. A very bad and sick joke. Maybe it's a dream, please just wake me up."

"I'm so sorry, this isn't a dream."
Kacy said, "If there is anything you need…" Gabi looked up at him with tears. "Give one of us a call and we'll be here before you can snap your fingers."

"Troy's our brother and your now our sister, anything we can do to help. Just ask and we'll be there." Brice told her.

"GABI!" Jack jumped out of his car. He saw the five Marines and Gabi's state. "Oh god no." He looked at the Marines with his own tears. "Troy's…"

"I'm sorry, he isn't coming home."

End of Flashback:

Gabi, 2 hours later, with much pleading from Jack sat in front of the casket that held her husband. There were people coming up to her, touching her, telling her how sorry they were. The whole gang from high school sat behind her while Troy's 5 Marine friends stood off to the side of the casket, guns in hand, standing tall. Gabi zoned everything out, staring down at her baby boy who was no fatherless. He already looked so much like Troy.

"Let's hope you're just like him." Gabi whispered to the baby. As the ceremony began, Gabi got lost in time and space.

Flashbacks:

"Troy, your gonna get me in trouble if my mother finds out."

"Why do you think I wait till her light is out before climbing up your balcony?"

---------------

"Here's to the future." Gabi said smiling.

"No here's to right now." Troy said with a grin of his own

---------------

"You're the biggest jerk I've met."

"I defend you and I'm the jerk. He was hitting on you Gabi."

"That man was just being nice."

"Okay." Troy said sarcastically

"Plus you hit him first."

"That's because he was hitting on you."

"God you're so infuriating."

"Come on Gabi, you know you can't stay mad at me for long."

"Oh really."

Troy pulled her closer and said, "Really." Then he kissed her

Gabi pulled back a few minutes later when air became an issue. "Damn you Troy Bolton and your kisses."

End of Flashbacks:

"Troy's wife, Gabi, would like to say a few words in memory of her husband."

Gabi took a deep breath, handing her baby to MaryAnn and walked up in front of everyone. "Troy wasn't just a Marine; he was my husband, my best friend, my rock, the father of my beautiful baby boy who we will never get to met in person. When he left a year ago, the last words Troy spoke to me face-to-face, was 'I love you' and I just grinned. He screamed as he was getting on the plane. I now have 2 month old son, who someday I'm gonna have to sit down with, when he asks, and tell him where his daddy is." Gabi took a deep breath, brushing away the tears that hadn't stopped since the car ride. She looked at all the people and said, "Troy told me that just body would be going to Iraq because I would always have his heart. And I'm keep that heart and when Alex gets older I'm gonna tell him that he's daddy died defending his country. I'm gonna tell Alex, that he's daddy was a hero and a wonderful man."

Gabi could not get anymore out she broke down in tears. Jack got her and sat her down, letting her bury her head in his chest, sobs racking her body. All four Marines stood at attention, saluting, as the flag was gently and slowly folding over his casket. Gabi raised her head, watching in slow motion as Michael brought her the flag. She reached out with shaky fingers and took the flag, clutching it to her chest. When he handed her the dog tags, Gabi took Alex back, wrapping them around his neck. Michael stood back in line, saluting Troy one last time. Gabi closed her eyes, jumping slightly when they guns rang and it felt like a bullet in her heart.

Gabi stood the Marine's saluting as she laid the last rose on Troy's coffin. "I love you so much baby, you'll always be in my heart.

While people where leaving Elliot came up to her, "Gabriella?"

Gabi looked up and said, "Yeah."

"Troy wanted me to give you this." He handed her a letter. "He gave it to me right before…you know. I'm sorry it's so late, I forgot it in my jacket when everything happened."

"Thank you." Gabi took the letter from him, tucking it in the flag.

Jack came from behind her and said, "Ready?"

Gabi nodded and said, "Can you put Alex in his car seat for me?"
"Sure." Jack said, taking the baby.

Gabi looked up at the sky. "I promise he'll always know who you are, what you stood for."

With that Gabi turned, shaking hands with Troy's Marine friends, thanking them. With the flag still clutching to her, she got in the car and watched the trees past on their way to the apartment. Gabi saw the letter sticking out of the top. Later, when she could handle it, she would sit down and read that last words Troy would every tell her. For now, she had a baby boy to raise, college that she could focus on to keep her mind from the pain, but also she needed time to grieve privately. Something that would never change was her last name and her wedding ring would never leave her fingers. Troy died for his country, his body being lowered into the ground and his spirit with God in heaven. However, the memories that the couple shared, the words Gabi could still hear him say, would forever be with Gabi.

"I love you Gabriella."

"I love you too Troy." As the couple leaned down to share a kiss.

The End. What did you think about it? I really felt very strongly about this and this story touched my heart, hopefully it touched yours as well. Review and let me know if it was good or bad.

---SexyPunk54---