Coming Home:
This is sort of a continuation of 'Graduation' from an earlier chapter.

"I can't believe it's been so long." She muttered as she looked around.

"It's been what…5 years."

"5 years, 3 months, and 4 days since we graduated. 5 years and 2 months since we left."

"Wow. I knew you were the freaky math girl for a reason."

"Hey, be nice to me." Gabriella Bolton said looking at her husband.

"GABI! TROY!" They heard as they turned they saw Troy's mother, Lucy, coming out of the house.

"Hi mom." Troy said hugging her.

Lucy said, "Look at you. It's so good to see you."

"It's good to see you two." Troy said

Gabriella was the next one to be hugged, Lucy said, "It's great to have you back in Albuquerque."

"It's good to be back." Troy said

"Mommy? Daddy?" They heard from behind them

Gabriella turned to the car; there in the back seat was their 3-year-old son, Nathan. "Coming baby." She got him unbuckled and went to lift him.

"I don't think so. I got him." Troy said, lifted the little boy out of his boaster seat.

"Troy, Gabi!" Jack said with a smile when they walked in. "Did she attack you the second you pulled up?"

"I'm allowed to do that. I'm the mother, and grandmother." Lucy said

"How are you?" Jack asked Gabi as he hugged her

"Good. A little better, since the terrible two's are over. Was Troy ever this bad as a two year old?"

"He was horrible. He got into everything he could get his hands on. We had locks on everything thing."

"I know it's like you have to unlock everything in the house."

Troy butted in, "Hey, I wasn't that bad and neither is Nathan."

"That's cause every time he gets into trouble, he picks up a basketball and says 'play' and you turn to mush."

"Sounds like someone else I know." Lucy said mumbled to Gabi while laughing.

Jack said, "I didn't give him everything he wanted."

"Whatever you say honey." Lucy said walking into the kitchen.

"I didn't." Jack followed her into the kitchen.

Troy sat Nathan down on the floor with his toy "You ready to go back?"

"I want to see everyone…but I feel so guilty that we haven't kept in touch. We said we'd be friends forever and I don't even know were Taylor or Sharpay or Kelsi even lives."

"At least we get to see Chad on the TV." Troy said trying to make her feel better.

"It's not that same. I miss his little comments that would make me laugh when I was feeling down."

"Well you have me."

"And I'm very thankful for you. Cause I don't what I would do if you weren't in my life but I still miss them."

"Well, we'll get to see them tomorrow night."

"If they show."

"Right."

The next day Gabriella was standing in front of the mirror, trying to tie the back of her halter dress. She felt hands take the two ends and when she looked up, she saw Troy behind her. She grinned at him and he just grinned back. Tonight was their 5-year high school reunion and Gabi was beyond nervous. She had not seen any of her friends in 5 years, when they all left at the airport. Gabi could still remember that day in mid June; she could still remember all the tears. The hugs they gave them, the whispered promises that were broken.

Flashback:

"Babe? You wake?"

Gabi heard a voice and opened her eyes to see Troy standing over her. "Troy, what are you doing in my bedroom at…" She looked over at the clock, "7 am. If you don't remember we stayed up late last night and I'm tired."

"I remember. Gabi…it's June 14th."

"That really doesn't help get me out of bed."

"Gabi…"

"No I don't want them to leave. Maybe if I stay in bed, they'll come here to see what's wrong and they'll miss their plane where they have to stay."

"Brie, I thought we talked about this. We're all going in different directions but we'll always have each other, that isn't going to change just because there are miles between us. Now get your cute little ass out of bed before I throw you in a cold shower."

Gabriella sat up, "I'm up, I'm up."

A half hour later, they were at the airport. Sharpay looked like she was ready to cry, "Don't you cry, because if you start, I'll start." Kelsi warned her.

Troy held on to Gabi's hand when they heard, "Flight 463, Flight 463 is now boarding."

Jason grabbed his carry on, "That's me." Jason shared a manly hug with all the guys.

When he hugged Gabriella she said, "Call every once in a while, tell us how your doing in the Sunshine State."

"I will." Then he turned to Kelsi. The group let them share a private goodbye. "I'll be sure to keep in touch." He said as he walked towards his plane.

A few minutes later they heard, "Flight 422, Flight 422 is now boarding."

Sharpay said, "That's the three of us." She said

Gabriella looked at her two friends and said, "We can still do girly talk across the phone, all four of us."

"Okay. I'm gonna hold you to that." Another round of hugs and goodbyes later, Ryan, Sharpay, and Kelsi got on the plane to New York.

"I'm gonna miss them so much." Gabriella said

"We all will." Troy said

Chad said, "Excuse maybe her squealing, I think I could live without that."

Gabriella watched the clock hands, hoping that they would just stop, before she knew it Zeke had boarded his plane and now they were calling Chad and Taylor's. "I don't want you to go." She told her best friend.

Taylor said, "We'll always be friends. Remember…sisters from another mother."

"You were my first friend here, it's gonna be hard not to see you everyday."

"Well that's what phone and the internet is for."

Gabi just smiled and they switched where she was hugging Chad, "Take care of yourself out there in LA, okay?"

"I will. You take care of yourself."

"I can't lose my big brother."

"You aren't losing me…I'm just going away for a while. I love you Gabi, and I always will."

"I love you too Chad. You're the best big brother anyone can ask for."

"Thanks."

Gabi watched them walk away. When they were out of site, she turned to Troy, "And then there was only two."

"You gonna be okay?"

"Yeah, we'll always be friends right?"

"Right."

End of Flashback:

"Gabi…you ready?"

Gabriella turned to her husband, "Ready when you are."

They walked down stairs to see Jack playing with Nathan. Troy said, "Hey dad, we're going to head out."

"Okay, have fun and be safe."

Gabi walked over to her son, "You be good for grandpa and we'll see you in the morning, incase we aren't here to tuck you in."

"Love you mommy."

"I love you too baby." Gabriella kissed him on top of the head.

Troy lifted his son up and kissed his son on the head, "Love you buddy."

"Love you more daddy."

"Not possible. I love you more."

"More then basketball?"

"More then anything in the world." Troy said

Gabriella loved watching them they were a trip. "Baby, we're going to be late."

"Right." Troy put his son down

When the pulled up to the school, Gabriella was suddenly very nervous again. She hadn't seen these people in 5 years, would they recognize her, and would she recognize them. Troy met her at the hood and took her hand in his. They walked into the school and it immediately felt different. Right outside the gym there was a table with none of then Mrs. Darbus sitting behind it. She looked older but was still brightly dressed and still had the same personality as the day they left.

"Troy Bolton! Gabriella Montez!" She said when she saw them.

Gabriella said, "Actually it's Mrs. Bolton, now."

"I should have figured." She gave them there nametags. "Oh Mrs. Bolton?" She called as they turned to walk away

Gabriella turned to face her former teacher, "Yeah?"

"Confused and Hopeless really thanks for the advice."

Gabriella nodded and said, "Tell her your welcome." Before walking with Troy into the packed gym. "I think we were the last to arrive."

"I think so." Troy said, as he went to turn he bumped into someone, "Excuse me."

"It's alright." The person said looking up, "Troy? Gabi!"

The couple looked really close, "KELSI!" Gabriella squealed, hugging her friend.

"Oh my god, how are you two?"

"Wonderful, yourself."

"Can't complain."

"How's Jason?" Gabriella asked

Kelsi lost her smile, "Umm…we broke after freshman year in college. The long distance thing just wasn't working for us."

"Oh Kelsi, I'm so sorry."

"It's okay; it's been 4 years, the pains dulled."

"Is anyone else here?" Troy asked

Kelsi said, "I almost forgot. Taylor and Chad are here. Come on follow me." She led the couple to a table.

At the table sat the older versions of Chad and Taylor. Taylor visible pregnant and they were fighting, like normal. "I can't believe you called me fat."

"I didn't call you fat. You said your were big, I was agreeing with you. I tried tonight to tell you, you looked beautiful and you yelled at me and called me a liar."

"I could just slap you." Taylor told him.

Gabriella laughed and said, "Please don't hit him."

Taylor turned, her frown not forgotten, "GABI!" The two friends hugged each other tight. While the guys hugged.

Gabriella hugged Chad and said, "It's so good to see you."

"It's good to see you too." Chad said

"The Evan's Twins have arrived, with two people."

Gabriella turned to see Ryan holding the hand of a woman, and Sharpay and Zeke. "Sharpie!"

"Gabi!" The blonde-haired woman and brown-haired woman hugged each other tight. "You look so different."

"Every one says motherhood agrees with me."

"Motherhood? When did that happen?"

"3 years ago. I gave birth to a very healthy bouncing baby boy."

"Oh my god, that is so amazing." Sharpay said and then she walked over to Troy, "Alright proud papa, I know you have some pictures and I want to see them."

Gabriella walked over to Ryan, "How are you?" She hugged him.

As he hugged back he said, "Great." When he pulled back him said, "Gabriella this is my wife Abbey. Abbey, baby, this is one of my best friends from high school, Gabriella."

The two woman exchanged pleasantries and Sharpay said, "Oh my god, Gabi he is so adorable."

"Thank you."

Gabriella watched her friends thought out the night, "There's only one of the originals missing."

"Are you talking about me?" A deep voice said from behind them

Gabriella watched Kelsi turn and said, "Jason."

"Kelsi." He said standing in front of her.

Gabriella said, "Why don't we get out of here and go to the park?"

"Sure." They all agreed and soon all 10 of them were at the park.

Gabriella said, "It's still the same. God I can still remember all the nights we came here after games."

"Did the two of you stay in Arizona after college?"

Gabriella nodded and said, "Yeah, over the first 4 years, it started to feel somewhat like home."

"What are you doing now?" Sharpay asked

"I'm an advice columnist for an Arizona newspaper."

"Doesn't Mrs. Darbus live there now?"

"Yeah." Taylor said nodding

Sharpay looked at Troy, "So what are you doing?"

"I'm an athletic trainer. After I blew my knee out, I decided I still want to be involved in the sport, so when the college offered me a job, I took it." Troy said playing with Gabi's rings, "I hear you're taking Broadway by storm." Troy said grinning at Sharpay

Taylor looked at Zeke, "Oh and you, I love that recipe for the chicken. That was really good. I watch your show religiously."

"Because she can't cook a damn thing." Chad said putting in.

Sharpay said, "We'll I'll give you a hint to his next show. It involves candles, romance, and a pretty diamond ring." She said holding up her hand.

"Congratulations." Was thrown around at the couple.

"Thank you." Sharpay and Zeke said

Kelsi turned to Chad, "I see you on TV all time, Mr. LA Laker."

"I also knew you would get there." Gabriella said

Chad said, "I know. Taylor, my beautiful chemistry teacher, tells me that I shouldn't let it get to me head."

Gabriella looked at Taylor, "You're a chemistry teacher? I should have figured it suits you."

"Just doesn't suit the kids in LA. I swear I like small town kids better then those brats."

Kelsi said, "When's the baby due?"

"They are due in about 3 months?"

"They?"

"We're having twins." Taylor said

Ryan laughed and said, "I wish the two of you the best of luck. Abbey's and I are one and they are like a united pair. I now know what my parents when through wit me and Sharpay."

Taylor said, "I see you on TV too, even if it is across the country."

"Right, you're the Yankee."

Abbey laughed and said, "You should have seen him the day he started. He was so happy I think all of New York heard him when he shouted it from the roof of our apartment."

As the friends reconnected, they learned the Kelsi was currently living back in Albuquerque and was a music teacher at East High. Jason himself was still living in Florida, more pacifically in Fort Lauderdale. He was a running his own studio and doing well from himself. Gabriella watched all her friends interact, as if they had never been apart for 5 years. Sure, there was a new group member, but she was already part of the family. As they told her about Ryan's high school days.

Gabriella said, "Hey guys."

"Yeah."
Gabriella grinned up at Troy before she said, "Troy and I are moving back here."

Kelsi said, "Oh my god, this is so great, I'll finally have someone to talk to." She said

Jason said, "Can I be counted. I was looking for a quieter place for a studio and there's one right here in Albuquerque."

"Your never gonna believe this, Zeke's doing a home cooking show and were doing it here in Albuquerque." Sharpay said

Gabriella said, "What about Broadway?"

"I'm ready to become a mommy and a wife. I'd never though I would turn down Broadway but I'm finding living life in the lime light isn't all that great."

"Specking of being a mommy. I'm 3 months pregnant." Gabriella said

"That's so great." Taylor said

Chad said, "I'm getting trade to the Albuquerque Wings." (A/N: For this story, the Albuquerque Wings are a team in the NBA)

Taylor said, "East High offered me a position as a teacher."

Troy looked at Ryan and Abbey, "What about you two?"

"I gave baseball a try. I'm ready to come home. I miss this place to much. We'll be moved in by the end of the week." Ryan said.

"So what are you going to do?" Chad asked

"I'm gonna teach drama at East High."

Gabriella looked around and said, "We're all coming home."

"No…we are home."

Now I know, that normally wouldn't happen, but this is my story and I can make anything I want happen. Regrettably, there won't be many more updates, I'm still working on one or two more but that's it. Please review and tell me what you think.

Thanks

---SexyPunk54---