A/N: Well, uh...thanks for all of the votes. The results are at the bottom with an exclusive preview of one of the chosen ones ;) Don't own HSM

Chapter 26 – Not coming home?

Gabriella turned the page of her book before returning her hand to Troy's head, which was resting in her lap, to run her fingers through his smooth, caramel locks. They had both had breakfast and dressed, leaving Maria and Lucas alone in the guestroom. Devon had come down a little while after they had returned from getting dressed and was now eating some cereal whilst watching cartoons.

"Bella?" Troy asked softly.

Gabriella rolled her eyes. "Troy, can't you just watch me read? You love doing that."

"He loves watching you, period." Devon commented.

"Hey!" Troy exclaimed, twisting his head to face the little boy. "You're six, so act like it. Watch the cheek."

"It's true." Devon muttered.

"Anyway," Troy began pointedly, "what's the deal with Maria and Lucas?"

Gabriella turned the page of her book again before continuing to stroke Troy's hair. "Well, they, uh," She glanced momentarily at Devon and then down at Troy, "they coloured some pictures a couple of weeks before my mom married Don's dad. I came along and that's it, really."

"Done." Devon said proudly as he jumped off of the armchair he was occupying and toddled out of the living room.

Gabriella heard him place the bowl clumsily onto the counter and then his footsteps were heard on the stairs. "He's going to get dressed, hopefully." She muttered.

Troy lifted her shirt up and rubbed his nose up and down her silky skin. "Baby, tell me what really happened." He mumbled as he kissed her stomach.

Gabriella sighed as she closed her book and set it beside her. She twisted Troy's head until he was looking into her eyes. She pulled her shirt back down and sighed again. Troy sat up and she smiled slightly as she reached for his hand. "Well, like I said my mom and dad – Lucas, not Aidan – slept with each other a couple of weeks before the wedding. She didn't tell anyone and neither did my dad. My mom married Aidan and then I came into the picture. My mom, being a doctor, figured out I was Dad's daughter, not Aidan's. It's been obvious ever since I realised what love is, but Dad loves her. He always has."

"And Maria?" Troy asked softly.

She sighed and shrugged. "My mom loves Aidan. But, I don't how far that love goes now. I think she's always felt something more than friends towards him but… I don't know, Troy."

He nodded in understanding and sighed, rubbing his thumb over her palm. "Big D will be okay, you know."

Gabriella smiled and leaned across to kiss his chin. "I love you."

"That was random." He chuckled. "I love you, too. Do you think Maria and Lucas are doing what we were doing a few hours ago?"

Gabriella creased her forehead and shuddered. "They better not be. The only one I think about stuff like that about is you and that's because you're mine."

He rolled his eyes dramatically. "Now that, the whole world knows. When are we telling our friends?"

"Tomorrow." She said confidently, trailing her hand down his arm, once again admiring his muscles.

"You sure?" He lifted her chin to gain her attention, knowing how easily distracted she was by his arms. "Positive?"

"Certain. Please, it's not like they don't support us. And I want to tell them everything. Especially about Aidan. It'll explain a lot." She whispered, brushing her fingers through his hair.

His eyes flickered to her lips and then back to her eyes. "You know our first kiss?"

"What about it?" She whispered breathlessly, knowing fully well what he was going to do.

"And you said you were proud of me? I'm proud of you, too. Immensely. You were so brave. A bravery I honestly didn't know you had. I know you felt weak and vulnerable and angry and whatever…but you did the right thing. Don't ever think otherwise, okay?" He said, holding her face in his hands.

She nodded and giggled. "I know. I just…I was brave because I knew you were there…beside me…like you said you would be. That means everything, to me, Troy." She leant her forehead against his and kissed his lips. "Troy, you are truly the most amazing boy – man – I have ever known."

He smiled widely at her. "You know, we've both grown up so much this past month."

"Can I ask you something?" She asked quietly.

Troy settled into the couch and brought her into his lap. "Of course, Sweetheart. Ask me anything you want."

Gabriella blushed and avoided his eyes. "Wildcat, you can't call me that."

"Why not? I called you that last night." He pointed out.

"Exactly." She whispered in embarrassment. "You called me Sweetheart and not Baby. You call me Sweetheart when we make love. Only when we make love."

Troy held his hands up. "Okay, okay. I'm sorry, Baby! What's this question?"

"Ummm…where are your parents buried?" She mumbled, finally lifting her head.

"Bella, Baby, my parents are in the ocean. My mom loved the ocean and said that when she died, she wanted her ashes to be scattered in the sea. My dad said the same thing – he wanted to be wherever my mom was." He whispered, staring at his hand which was resting on Gabriella's thigh.

Gabriella's mind quickly whirled through the last few days. It all made sense now. Troy's reason for being upset about her suggestion for drowning herself wasn't simply because he didn't want to lose her. His parents were in the ocean. Well, their ashes, at least. She rested her hand over his and kissed his forehead. "I'm so sorry." She whispered. "I didn't know."

"I know, Baby. Just…Just give me a second." He whispered as he closed his eyes.

(A/N: This is HSMandChelseaFCfan)

Gabriella knew he was trying to push back his tears before they spilled over. She knew the subject of his parents was still quite a sore topic but she was just glad that he was willing to talk to her about them and didn't want to forget their memories. Opening his eyes a few seconds later, Gabriella just gave him a small smile that did all the talking needed.

***

Devon had successfully dressed himself in his jeans and white singlet with a plaid shirt over the top; the exact same as what Troy was wearing. A couple of days ago when he and Troy had been hanging out while Gabriella was out shopping with the girls, Troy had taken him to the mall to buy him some new clothes since Devon had told Troy how cool he looked all the time and wanted to dress like him. Heading back downstairs to show Troy, he walked into his mom who was exiting their guest room with a man Devon had seen a few times before.

Maria plastered a small smile on her face seeing her son who was giving her his famous Montez smile. Everyone knew no matter how down you were, just seeing Devon's smile would make you feel better. "Hey, Honey. You remember Uncle Lucas?"

Devon nodded. "Hello."

"Nice to see you again, Devon. Gosh, you really have grown since I last saw you." Lucas told him.

Devon nodded. "Do you like my clothes? Troy brought them for me because he is so cool and I really want to look like him."

Lucas smiled. "You look just like him, but better looking." He winked at the little boy in front of him.

Devon giggled before walking off from the two adults. He really wanted to find Troy and Gabriella and entered the living room. "Eeeewwwww."

The two now-located teenagers pulled apart from their kiss – which had been getting deeper, admittedly – and blushed as the six year old ran closer to them. "You just had to do that, didn't you, Big D?" Troy asked as Devon nodded.

"It's yucky. I don't get why adults like it so much. I hate it when people try and kiss me on the cheek." Devon exclaimed, his face screwed up in disgust.

Troy and Gabriella laughed before making space for him to sit between them. "You'll understand someday, Don." Gabriella promised, kissing his forehead.

"Gavvy, do you like what I'm wearing?" Devon asked excitedly.

Taking in his appearance, Gabriella smirked. "Hmm, you remind me of someone dressed like that."

"Who?" Troy asked, hoping it was the older boy sitting next to him.

Gabriella shook her head at Devon's excitement. "Hmmm maybe that old man from down the road? No, it's not him. Hmm, maybe Chad? No you don't have the 'fro. I give up."

Devon laughed as Troy watched the two siblings in amusement. "Troy. Duh! Do I look cool like you, Troy?" He turned his head to look up at the older, sandy-haired boy.

Troy smiled. "You look even cooler than me, Big D."

"Really?"

"Yep." Troy chuckled at Devon's obvious happiness.

Devon grinned and turned back to his sister. "Yes! Gavvy, did you hear? Troy said I'm even cooler than him."

Gabriella nodded and let out some giggles. "Well, Troy's talking sense for once because you really do."

The blue eyed male raised his eyebrow. "For once? Bella, I'm hurt. Wasn't I talking sense when I told you how I felt about you? Wasn't I talking sense when we were colouring last night, Sweetheart."

Gabriella glared at her boyfriend, knowing what he was trying to do. "Don't even go there unless you want to face a very long time without colouring."

Devon looked between the two in confusion but didn't get chance to speak as Maria and Lucas appeared. Maria glanced at Lucas before she spoke up. "Troy, could Gabriella and I possibly have some time alone with Devon?"

Troy and Gabriella looked at each other in confusion before Gabriella clicked on to what was happening. She nodded at Troy who disappeared out the room and towards the kitchen with Lucas following him.

Maria sat down where Troy had been sitting just seconds before while Gabriella wrapped her arms around Devon, feeling like she needed to in order to give him some sort of shield even though she knew it was probably pointless. Maria lifted Devon's tiny hand to her lips and held back a sob. "Devon, Honey, I have to tell you something."

The young boy looked at his sister after seeing the tears in his mother's eyes, fearing what she was going to say. The house phone rang and the three ignored it, knowing Troy would get it. Gabriella bit her lip, trying not to cry, knowing she needed to be strong for her family. She lifted the young boy into her lap and held him tight as Maria tool a deep breath before continuing. "Daddy did a bad thing."

"Is that why you weren't happy last night?" Devon whispered.

Maria nodded. "Yes. Daddy isn't going to be living with us anymore because it was a really bad thing."

Devon's eyes filled with tears. "Does that mean I won't be able to see him anymore? Will he be coming home ever?"

Swallowing as she tried to keep her composure and not to break down in front of her son, she shook her head. "I honestly don't know whether or not you will see him. For now, no, you won't because he has to stay away for a while because he hurt Mommy really bad and Gabby too. Daddy won't ever be moving back home either. He and Mommy aren't going to be together again."

Gabriella felt Devon tugging on her arm almost as if he was asking her to tell her it wasn't true. Seeing the distraught look on his face, knowing his father was gone, Gabriella brought him closer to her chest as she rocked him back and forth trying to calm his heart breaking sobs. Maria moved closer and held her children as the three of them cried, all having been hurt by one man: Aidan Montez.

***

Troy and Lucas had left Maria, Gabriella and Devon alone. Lucas had told Troy what Maria was planning on doing and he couldn't help but wish he could have been there with them to comfort not only his girlfriend but also the young boy who was practically his own brother.

"You really love them all, don't you?" Lucas asked softly.

Troy turned and looked at him before sighing. "So much. They're all I have now and the thought of them hurting hurts me, knowing I can't do anything to take away that pain."

Lucas shook his head. "You are already doing so much for them. Trust me. If it weren't for you, Gabriella would have cracked as soon as she found out but she didn't and that was because of you. And Devon ... Devon idolises you. I'm glad that he has someone he can look up to and talk to no matter what. You're a good guy. Gabriella told me all about what happened when you first got here and how Devon trusted you instantly to tell you about the whole Chris thing. Most guys I know your age wouldn't want to sort out the problems of a six year old but you did. Plus Maria is so grateful that you are there for her kids and you don't give up on them. You're a decent guy, Troy, and I couldn't wish for a better guy for my daughter. Just promise you'll look after her. She's fragile and can bottle things up so just be careful." Lucas warned.

Troy smiled at Lucas' words, knowing he had his approval. "I promise. I love her too much to let her go or to do anything that could hurt her."

Before either male could speak again, the house phone rang. Troy picked it up since he was closest. "Hello?"

"Hello, Troy."

Troy felt his anger rise up. "What do you want? Didn't you do enough last night?"

Lucas snatched the phone from Troy's hand after figuring out who was on the end of the phone. "What the hell are you doing ringing here after everything you've done, Aidan?"

A confused tone filled Aidan's voice. "Lucas? What are you doing there?"

Lucas' last string of patience snapped. "Trying to help your family repair what they have left after you hurt them."

"You've been waiting for me to screw up, haven't you? Gives you the perfect opportunity to swoop in and turn them against me. I wouldn't be surprised if you were already moved in. Don't think I was stupid and completely oblivious about your true feelings towards my wife." Aidan growled.

"Ex-wife now. She doesn't want anything to do with you anymore." Lucas spat.

Troy stood next to Lucas, trying to hear what Aidan was saying. "They are still my family. I love them and I know they love me. I want to speak to Maria now. She can't keep me from seeing my kids." Aidan exclaimed.

Troy scoffed but Lucas gave him a look telling him to be quiet. "I wouldn't be so sure of that." Lucas said confidently.

Aidan was quiet for a few seconds. "What are you going on about?"

Before Lucas could say anymore, Troy stopped him. "Don't. For Gabriella's sake. Don't do this right now, she doesn't need it."

Lucas covered the mouthpiece so Aidan couldn't hear. "I know but he deserves to know. You and I both know how much she hates Aidan now after what he's done. Don't you think he should feel some of the pain he has caused her? Yes, I don't want to use her but don't you want Aidan to hurt the way he hurt them?"

Troy sighed knowing how right Lucas was. Yes, he wanted him to suffer what he made Gabriella suffer but was this necessarily the way he wanted it to happen? No, but what choice did he have? Giving a nod, Troy gave in. "Okay, but if Bella gets hurt, I'm blaming you." Troy pointed a warning finger at the older man.

Lucas nodded. "Deal." Uncovering the mouthpiece he heard Aidan asking him again what he meant. "Aidan, Gabriella hates you so much right now and you know what, she's relieved that you're not her biological father."

A noise which sounded like the phone being dropped could be heard before a shocked Aidan spoke. "What?"

Lucas felt slightly guilty but knew it needed to come out. And right now, he was the only one who could possible say it as neither Gabriella nor Maria seemed like they would be able to handle it. "That's right. Gabriella's not yours. Never has been and never will be. She's got her real father now."

"Who is her father then?" Aidan demanded.

Lucas smiled, thinking about how Gabriella had accepted him earlier. "Me."

"You?" Aidan voice was full of shock. "When?"

Lucas told about when it happened and as soon as he finished, Aidan hung up on him. "Well I think it's safe to say he was surprised by the revelation."

Troy shifted uncomfortably. "I still don't feel like we should have done that but I guess we will just have to deal with it now."

Lucas smiled at hearing the worry in Troy's voice. He knew his baby girl would always be safe in the hands of the young man in front of him no matter what. He ruffled Troy's hair and chuckled when he was swatted away. "Troy, you'll be fine. And Gabby will be, too. You just need each other more than you know."

A/N: right, so I have decided that I will write 'promises I can't keep' by myself and 'Troy and Gabriella' with HSMandChelseaFCfan, okay? She doesn't know I've written this but I've written the beginning of the prologue for 'Troy and Gabriella'

Prologue

Troy Bolton glared viciously at his opponent. It wasn't an official basketball game, exactly. Or at all actually. It was nine thirty on Friday night and he and his friends had come across them. Them being their rivals. Their enemies. Basically trouble. They were West High Knights. They literally hadn't said a word to each other but as long as they were within a ten feet radius of the other, a fight would surely break out. And if it wasn't a fight, which they saved for when they were no where near either campus, it was a game where it was guaranteed that someone – Troy refrained from thinking the name – would get a little too competitive and a fight would break out anyway.

Troy lifted his chin and a strangled growl escaped his throat. It had started out as a game, honestly it did. But…as always, as the game was drawing to a close and Carl Montez – West High's basketball captain – had realised that they were losing, a fight had broken out.

"Come on, Knight. Bring it on. I'm sure a damsel in distress is waiting to be rescued from me." Troy snarled sarcastically.

Carl glared from under his dark bangs at Troy's mocking of West High's mascot. "Guess what? Wildcats aren't the fiercest feline in the jungle. That title belongs to lions. Do your research."

"But, we have a bigger roar than you. And a bigger trophy." Troy's best friend, Chad Danforth, added from his stand-off position opposite one of Carl's many brothers, Landon. Landon – as all the Montez men had bee – West High's basketball captain.

"You better watch it, Danforth." Landon hissed. "You haven't got the trophy yet. It's anybody's."

"Have the last three years meant nothing to you?" Jason Cross, another of Troy's friends, asked sarcastically. "One year left before the class of two thousand and nine won the basketball championships for the full four years of their high school education."

Carl growled. "Please. There is no way you'll win. The Knights will make the mother of all comebacks."

"You want to bet on it?" Chad challenged.

"Hell yeah, we do!" Zeke Baylor, Carl's best friend who had been silent until now, exclaimed.

Carl's cell phone suddenly started ringing and the six teenagers froze. He looked at the caller ID and groaned, slowly flipping it open. "Hey, Bells. What's up?" He asked carefully.

Troy, Chad and Jason snickered at the angry female voice on the end. "Mommy wants you home?" Troy asked patronizingly.

"No, no, no, Bells. Please. We'll be home soon." Carl pleaded.

Landon rolled his eyes at Troy. "Why would he call our mom 'Bells'?"

Troy shrugged. "You have a disturbing relationship with her?"

Carl sighed. "Okay, so maybe we are about to fight some Wildcats. I'm sorry, Bells. We're sorry. We'll be home soon, I promise." He hung up and thrust his phone back into his pocket. He turned to Zeke and Landon and sighed. "Bella wants us home."

"Now?" Landon exclaimed.

Carl nodded. "Unfortunately." He turned back to Troy and glared. "Be thankful this ends now. You'd be in hospital within five seconds."

"Of course." Jason muttered sarcastically.