"Well, what can I do? She came here and told me she was scared and I told her to fall asleep and said dad! I don't know why!" Troy said shrugging.
"May be because she heard Zel calling you that and thought that it would be nice to call you dad! I don't think that she knows that you're not her dad but just a friend or her mum's date!" She said smiling.
"I don't care! I love Zai, just like I love Zel and the boys and you! I think you 5 people made my life!" Troy said smiling putting an arm on her shoulder while Gabriella rested her head on his shoulder.
"Thank you! That was another reason why I never dated. When men saw that I have 3 kids, they didn't want responsibility that wasn't theirs' but you…….you were different!" Gabi said sincerely locking eyes with him.
"Well, I said that if I had Zel from the very beginning I would like a woman to accept me for who I am and what I've got! That's why I never thought about it and your children brought me back to my life because I started playing b-ball because of stress and tension to get my mind off things. I had to be near your children whether I liked it or not! They're just as special as their mother!" Troy said smiling down at her.
"Yeah! They're all I have left except for my friends and well…….you!" Gabi said looking at him.
As they arrived at the airport, they were met with paparazzi. Troy held closely Zel and Zaida while the boys stayed close to their mother. A lot of questions were asked and a lot of noise was made that made Zel and Zaida cry with Troy there to soothe them. Every now and then, Troy would look behind him to check on Gabi and the boys.
"Are you and Gabriella together, Troy?"
"Is these your children?"
"Are you having a secret relationship all these years?"
As they passed the paparazzi, they entered in the waiting car ready to take them to their destination, the hotel. They were going to stay in a 5* hotel with all facilities. It was for free as the b-ball company paid for everything.
"Wow, mum look there is a games' room!" Miguel shouted.
"Miguel Karl!" she hissed. "Don't shout here!"
"Sorry mum!" Miguel apologized. Meanwhile, Troy was checking in.
Their rooms were conjugated to each other. Troy and Gabi in the middle with the girls and boys room attached to it.
"Children what do you have to say?" Gabriella asked talking about their manners.
"Thank you!" the children all chanted.
"You're welcome!" Troy smiled. "Now, come on, everyone in their room and start unpacking! Gabi you do the boys, I'll do the girls!" he told her as they smiled to each other.
"Sure! Let's go boys!"
With Gabi and the boys
"Mum, are you and Troy together?" Miguel asked as they were unpacking.
"Yeah! Is there something wrong?" Gabi asked confused.
"No, mum, not at all! Can we call Troy dad now?" Johann asked innocently.
"Listen boys! Let's have a quick talk about this! Troy is not your dad, you know that. He is your friend but as time goes by and you'll get more comfortable around him, we'll see by then!" Gabi explained.
"Mum, we know Troy isn't our dad but although I'm the oldest……." Miguel stopped.
"What's wrong?" Gabi asked concerned.
"Johann. Can I talk to mama alone, please?"
"Sure, bro!"
"Thanks!"
"What's wrong, baby?" Gabi asked sitting on the bed next to him and pulled him near her and just held him.
"Mum, I'm being bullied at school!" Miguel confessed.
"When? And why do they bully you?" Gabi asked pulling him closer.
"It started a week ago and they bully me because I don't have a dad! Last time, we were during English and we were discussing our family and I only mentioned you, Johann and lil Zai. The boys in the class started laughing at me because I don't have a dad!" Miguel said crying and sobbing.
"Baby, I'm sorry! Did you tell your teacher?" Gabi said trying to hold her tears back and be strong for him.
"No, because they like threatened me that if I tell anybody, they will hurt lil Zai and I don't want anyone hurt my Zai!" He said being protected of his sister.
"Miguel, look at me! After this weekend, I'll come and talk to your teacher because I don't want Zaida getting hurt, nor you or Johann! You're special to me more than my life!" Gabi said looking intently at him.
"I'm sorry mum that I ruined your holiday! I didn't mean to!" Miguel continued to cry.
"Sweetheart, you didn't ruin anything, don't worry!" she said as she hugged him.
After 1 hour they were all settled and since it was early morning, they decided to get some sleep. After Gabi made sure that Troy was asleep, she got up and went to the balcony for some fresh air. She started to remember the talk she had with Miguel and started crying softly not to wake any one up though it failed because Troy heard her and went near her.
"What are you doing up at this hour?" Troy asked whispering not to startle her.
"Nothing, just thinking!" She said while wiping her tears away although they continued to fall.
"What's wrong, Gab?" Troy asked as he closed the balcony door and sat down with her on the bench, as her tears subsided.
"Well, when I was with the boys unpacking, Miguel asked me if we were going out and I said yes. Then Johann asked me if we could call you dad now and I said we would talk about that later. Then Miguel confessed to me that he is being bullied at school because he doesn't have a dad and they threatened him that if he would tell someone, then they would hurt Zaida! I don't know what to do because I don't want any of my children getting hurt!" She finished as tears were running freely down her face once again.
"Hey, hey, if you want I can come with you to talk to the teacher and see why they are doing this!" Troy soothed rubbing her back as he pulled her close to him.
"Troy, I don't want you getting in this mess with me! I'll solve it!"
"As you wish but I'm here if you want to talk to someone and if you change your mind, I'll come with you no problem!" Troy said comforting her.
"Thank you so much, Troy!" Gabi said sincerely.
"You're welcome, Gab! Let's go to sleep!" He said taking her hand and leading them to their bed.
As the sun started rising, Troy woke up and got ready for the day. Tonight was his game and after he will have the date with Gab. He was nervous for tonight, it had to be special! He woke up Gabriella and got ready for the day and started to wake up the kids as Troy had to leave to practice for tonight.
"Gabriella, where is my daddy?" Zel asked innocently.
"He went to practice b-ball for the game tonight! He'll be back soon!" She said as they head down for breakfast and after heading to the mall.
After 4 hours at the mall, thy head back to the hotel to find Troy sleeping so they decided they would let him rest for the game tonight and hang out in the girls' room.
It was 5:00 p.m. and Gabi decided that it was time to wake Troy up.
"Hey Troy, wake up! It's time to get ready for your game!" She said as he started to wake up.
"Hey, Gab!" Troy said rubbing his eyes adjusting his eyes to the light.
"Hey, slept well?" Gabi asked as she got his clothes ready.
"Yeah! Are you ok, you know after this morning?" He asked concerned.
"Yeah! We went shopping and it seems that it took his mind off of this thing!" She said smiling a sad smile. "Here I have your clothes ready. Just take a shower and wear the sports gear! I'll get your after clothes with me!" She said giving him his gear as he walked in the shower.
"Thank you Gab! What would I do without you?" Troy asked jokingly.
"Probably just sleep and eat!" She said continuing their joke.
"Yeah, that's true!" He replied as they laughed at their small joke.
After his shower, he got his sports bag and bid goodbye to Gabriella, kissing her on the cheek and the children, giving them a kiss each.
"I'll see you at the game, guys!" Troy said as he left.
During the game, the boys didn't even move as they were in the mood of watching the Lakers playing live with their captain, Troy, leading the game. The Lakers won 88-58. After the small celebration they had, Troy met Gabriella at the bleachers and introduced them to his friends and their children.
Sharpay, a famous actress and singer, that Gabi already met and her husband Zeke a famous baker with his own TV program. They have a boy, Kurt, 6 years old and a girl, Kyra, 9 months old. Taylor, a famous scientist and her husband Chad, who she already met, a b-ball player with Troy. They have a girl, Aisha, 5 years old and Taylor was 5 months pregnant. Kelsi, a famous composer of the Broadway Musicals with her husband, Ryan, as an actor, Sharpay's brother. They just had twins, a boy named Daniel and a girl, Elisa, which were 3 months old. These friends were going to babysit the 4 children while Gabi and Troy were on their first date and the children did not object, seeing that there were children to play with.
After leaving the b-ball court with Troy all showered and ready for their date, Gabi said, "Thank you for everything, Troy! I may say this often but since you came into our lives, the children changed and I appreciate that! They finally met someone they could talk to other than me. You know, boys are not that comfortable talking to girls on their problems! I just want to thank you in the name of my children!" Gabi finished smiling a grateful smile.
"You're welcome, Gab! You know, it was destiny that we met and I am very grateful that it happened! First, I found a girlfriend and a really lovely 3 kids who got my heart. Second, with your help, I found my daughter!" Troy said taking her hand in his and started walking towards their car.
At the restaurant
"Troy, you didn't have to bring me here!" Gabi said amazed as they entered the restaurant. "It's expensive!"
"Don't worry! I want to repay you and for you to have a great night kids' free!" Troy said as she giggled.
"It was so long ago that I had one of those nights! Thank you!" Gabi said sitting down at the reserved table with Troy being a gentleman pulling her chair.
"Gab, you don't need to thank me for everything I do! Everything I do, it's all coming from my heart!" Troy said sitting down next to her. (A.N. – imagine a table for 4. he is not sitting opposite her but on her sides. Sorry for confusing you…..=])
"I know, but it has been very long when I last went out with a very handsome guy!" Gabi said smiling.
"Good evening! I am Madison, your waitress! These are your menus, would you like to order some drinks?" Madi asked.
"What would you like, Gab?" Troy asked politely.
"Water, please!"
"Make that 2 and a bottle of white wine please!" Troy said. "Thank you!"
"You're welcome, sir! I'll be right back with your orders!" Madi said smiling.
"So, what are you going to order?" Gabi asked Troy.
"I don't know! Everything looks so good!" He said grinning.
"Why don't you take a small portion of everything then?" Gabi joked giggling.
"May be I would but then I would be such a pig, don't you think?" Troy said looking at her with a fake serious look.
"Like I would let you eat all of this food? In your dreams!" Gabi said softly laughing
"Oh ok! Hey, why don't we take the platter for 2? It's number 23!" Troy asked showing her.
"Yeah, it looks delicious! That it is then!" Gabi said as Madi came with their drinks and took their orders.
"It's really nice here!" Gabi said looking around the place.
"Yeah, when my parents visited last summer, I brought them here and was very pleased because their son did something right for the first time!" Troy said chuckling.
"I find that hard to believe!" Gabi said softly shaking her head and giggling.
"Oh, believe whether you like it or not! The first thing I did that did not please them was dating Zel's mother. After that I did a lot of stupid things like started drinking, smoking but I got rid of them by time. I just got into a depression because I didn't know where my daughter was!" Troy confessed shrugging his shoulders.
"Well, everyone made mistakes! I did the biggest one in my life marrying my husband although something good came from it, my kids!" Gabi said.
"Hey, tonight is our night not our ex's! So let's enjoy it! Let's make a toast! To our friendship, kids and our relationship! Cheers!" Troy said.
"Cheers!" Gabi said smiling.
"Never in a million years would I have thought that I would find someone like you, ever!" Troy said.
"What do you mean?" Gabi said confused.
"Well, you are a very charismatic woman, mature, independent, sweet, caring, loving, helpful and in other words if I start I won't stop!" Troy said smiling.
"Thank you!" Gabi said blushing. "I never even thought that I would find someone that would accept me for who I am, Gabriella with 3 children, not what I am, Gabriella Montez the famous singer."
They continued making small talks till their food arrived. The food was delicious and Troy even fed her some food to make it more romantic. After dinner, they went to a walk on the beach. Although it was November, they still went as Troy had something planned.
"Troy, not that I didn't like this evening but you do realize it is November and you are leading me to a beach, right?" Gabi said uncertain.
"Relax, Gab! You're not going to die!" Troy joked.
"Well, if I die, my kids will definitely kill you and never forgive you!" Gabi said with a fake serious face.
"Oh my god! I'm scared, now! Don't worry; no one is going to die!" Troy smiled.
As they started walking on the sand, Troy squeezed her hand.
"Just trust me, ok?" Troy whispered.
"I trust you, don't worry!" Gabi said nodding her head.
As they walked a bit more, Gabi saw a picnic bag, a blanket and lots of candles.
"Troy! Oh my God! Thank you so much!" She said as she hugged him tightly. "You're welcome!" He whispered.
They sat down watching the stars and eating their desert.
"I never thought that the famous Troy Bolton was this romantic!" Gabi said jokingly.
"What is that suppose to mean?" He continued.
"That you are very romantic than I ever thought!" She said as they both laughed softly.
"It is a gift!" Troy said grinning wildly.
"You know, this has been the best night ever since I had the kids! Thank you for everything you did to my children, you have certainly changed them as you have certainly changed me!" Gabi sincerely said looking at him.
"Well, your children made a great impact on my life and you're most definitely welcome!" Troy smiled while he helped her to stand up.
"How about a walk on the beach and then we'll head to Chad's for the kids?" Troy asked.
"Yeah, sounds good!" Gabi said as they linked hands and started walking.
"I'm really glad that you came with me here!" Troy stated.
"Well, I'm glad you asked us to come along with you!" Gabi smiled.
"Gab, what do you see in the future ahead of you?" Troy asked suddenly after a few minutes of comfortable silence.
"Well, I definitely see my kids growing up, going to college. I see me doing some more shows and concerts and maybe getting married to someone devoted to me and to the kids!" Gabi said truthfully.
"Wow! That would be a nice future, don't you think?" Troy said looking at her as the sat down looking at the stars while Troy rapped his arm around her and she was resting her head on his shoulder.
"Yeah! What about you?"
"Well, I'm definitely looking forward to have Zel living with me. Maybe I'll continue some basketball and definitely getting married but to the right person." Troy said looking straight in her eyes as Gabi smiled.
Troy started leaning over and Gabi met him half way. They kissed slowly and gently but it was full of love and devotion to each other. As they pulled away for air, Troy rested his forehead on hers and looked at Gabi who still had her eyes closed but smiling. No words were needed to explain to each other what that kiss was about because looks were enough for that time.
"Gab, I think it's time to go for the children!" Troy said looking at his watch seeing the time was half past 10.
"Yeah! I think they will be sleeping already!" Gabi said as they got up and walked hand in hand to the car.
The ride was filled with silence but it wasn't awkward silence. They were both happy even if they hadn't said anything.
They arrived at the Danforth's house and knocked slightly on the door. The door was opened by Taylor and she just smiled as she let them in through her living room where the adults were watching a movie and a very scary one thank you. They were watching Saw 4 and to say the least, the girls were almost crying and the boys were trying to comfort them. Well it was certainly that Chad had chosen the film.
"Hey guys!" Troy said quietly.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaa!!!" Well, that was Sharpay shrieking because she hadn't heard them coming in.
"Shut up, Shar! You're going to wake the kids up!" Taylor quietly hissed.
"Sorry, Tay…" Sharpay was cut off with a crying and Gabi soon recognized to be Zai's cry. Troy seemed to notice too as he went running up the stairs.
"Hey, hey, hey! What's wrong dud?" Troy asked soothingly.
"I…..I wa-as slee-sleeping an-an-and I---I hear-d some-on-one sc-reaming an-and I ha-had a fright!" Zaida said now sobbing on Troy's shoulder.
"It was Sharpay that screamed because she didn't hear us coming in and I told them hello! Anyway, you want to come with me downstairs?" Troy asked her.
Zaida just nodded and Troy took her downstairs with him. As soon as Gabi saw them, she rushed to her kid and took her in her arms and began to soothing her. Troy led Gabi and Zaida to the Danforth's back garden and on the large swing. Troy sat down with Gabi near him and Zai on his lap. Little Zai soon went off to sleep again and Gabi just laid her head on his shoulder.
"You tired?" Troy whispered.
"Yeah a bit!" Gabi whispered back and sighed softly.
"I think it's better we head back to the hotel and sleep instead of taking a nap here!" Troy said. Gabi just nodded and got up and went to the others. As Troy put Zai on the sofa, they both went upstairs for Miguel, Johann and Zel.
As the kids were in the car still sleeping, Troy and Gabi went inside to thank the guys for baby-sit their children. Soon afterwards they were heading back to the hotel. On the ride back, Miguel and Johann woke up and noticed flashes coming from the car next to them.
"Not again!" Miguel murmured.
"What did you say, baby?" Gabi asked looking back at her kid.
"Paparazzi are taking pictures of us and is very annoying….." Miguel said sighing.
"And stupid I might add!" Johann continued.
"Well, we can't do anything about it! Just ignore it and don't make too noise, we might wake up the girls." Troy said softly.
"You know Troy," Johann whispered, "you played a great game tonight and we wanted to say thank you for inviting us with you here and I might say as well that we are very honored to say that we know you and that you're dating our mum!" Johann said smiling as Gabi blushed at her son's last comment.
"Well, you're most defiantly welcome. And I'm pleased that you decided to tag along!" Troy said softly from the rear mirror.
Gabi just smiled at Johann at his words and his appreciation and she just saw that she raise her kids well and very educated.
They arrived at the hotel but didn't go out of the car yet as Troy had something to say.
"Now, listen up guys! You two go and make a run for it to the hotel and don't talk to anyone while you wait for us. Gabi you grab Zaida and I'll grab Zel and just hold my hand, okay?" Troy said seriously looking at her seeing that there were about 50 paparazzi outside the entrance of the hotel with security guards trying to hold them from going in the hotel. The boys were long gone and Troy and Gabi watched as they went inside looking where they were going and not talking to anyone. Well, after Troy and Gabi made it safe back at the hotel with the girls, they headed up to their room as it was already half 11. They put the kids to their room and headed to their bed both tired form the long day they all had.