Love Overcomes it All

Chapter Eight.

Baby we're Invincible.

Summary: Love: Strong affection, unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for others. An emotion so strong, that when put to the test can overcome anything.

Disclaimer: This is simply my imagination at work. I do not own the characters, Disney, or any lyrics.

AN: Yeah, I know, I know it's been a while, it's been a lonnnngg while. So many things went wrong right when my muse was kickin' and I was ready to upload about 5 chapters. But then my laptop got a killer virus so all my docs, pictures, and videos, EVERYTHING was legit destroyed. I tried to transfer whatever I could to my email when I noticed how funny my laptop was acting, but of course with my luck that didn't work, and I couldn't save a lot. I went months without a laptop to go on , my only source being the crappiness of my cell phone. So any who my laptop finally got fixed and I was able to go back and get whatever docs I was able to save through email. Now I'm back at trying to finish this story, and while I'm writing/updating I figure I can go back and edit previous chapters that need work. Oh, and let my beta's know that I'm alive, since I haven't talked/sent anything to them in months. I'm going to try and get this story done. It WILL be completed, mark my words, I've put too much effort into this just to let it all go. No matter what this will have a little "completed" sign marked on it one day. I don't believe in going into hiatus with this because knowing me that would just keep fueling my excuses to not write/update. SO yeah, most likely I've lost all my readers, most likely you guys will not even bother to glance at this story every again, and I completely understand. In the end, working on this, uploading and getting that much closer to the finish line helps me. I write for me, to better myself. To throw myself into a relaxing world when my real one is hell. The 23 reviews I've received on this are way more then I can ask for, so thank you really. 3.

I think I mentioned this before, but I have another story that I'm working on. It's a side project, this is my main story (even though I love the other a ton more) so I'm not posting the other until this one is complete and I have at least 10-15 beta'd and ready to go chapter's of the other one. Anyway, I think that having this other story that I love so much will help me finish this one, because then I'll be able to hand the new one over to you guys! =). Notice I keep saying the "new one." I'm so set on not posting that one until this one is finished that I won't even say it's title. Hahah. Well guys enjoy this, like always, email or IM, or PM me anytime.

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"Sh!"

The shushing noise was heard once again in the dimly lit room. "Don't be too loud, I don't want her to wake up yet." Gabriella gestured to her daughter, who was soundly asleep in her room, her eyes telling her guests that she needed them to obey and quiet down.

"Chill, Gab, we won't wake her."

She turned her head towards the mumbling voices. "I know, I know. But you should have seen her, she was so exhausted, she literally slept all day yesterday." Gabriella twisted on her heels, turning away from the room, leading her guests into the living room. Once they had left Rachel's room, and were well down the hallway away from the sleeping girl, Gabriella allowed her voice to rise to normal level. "I still can't believe your here! How was your flight?"

"It was good, mild turbulence. You think she'll like her present?" Sharpay spoke. Referring to the surprise visit from her and her family.

"She'll be ecstatic when she sees you guys." Gabriella smiled fondly at her friends, extremely thankful for their kindness and support. "Come on, how about some breakfast, and I can tell you all about our plans for the day."

Sharpay nodded and Zeke spoke up on behalf of his wife and daughter. "Sounds good, Gabs." The group walked quietly into the kitchen. Talking, sipping coffee, and enjoying each others' company whilst they waited for Rachel to awake.

No longer than an hour after the Baylors had arrived. A creak was heard from the hallway, followed by Rachel walking into the kitchen.

"Morning Rach, Happy birthday!" Gabriella greeted, a wide grin on her face.

"Morning mom, thank-" Instead of finishing her sentence, she squealed and leaped over to receive ahug from Jasmine."Oh my god! What are guys doing here?" She exclaimed, the tired look she wore when she first entered the kitchen long gone, replaced by a bright smile.

"She disappoints me, really." Sharpay spoke, not to anyone in particular. Her dramatic antics humoring Gabriella and Zeke who laughed at his wife's craziness. "Like I would actually miss your birthday. Besides you need someone cool to chill with for the day, since your mom is totally not."

"Nice, Shar, really, love you too." Gabriella responded toward Sharpay's sarcasm.

"I'm glad you're here!" Rachel exclaimed, repeating her action and circling her arms around Jasmine in another hug. Her eyes shifted over to the stove and then widened. "Blueberry pancakes?"

"Yeah, how many?" Gabriella asked, spatula in hand ready to serve the pancakes.

"Two, thanks mom," She grinned and ran a hand through her hair, "So what-" Her thoughts were cut short when she felt something tickling her hand and looked down to see long strands of curly hair between her fingers.

"Oh god," Rachel mumbled as she lifted a shaky hand to run through her tresses again. Tears piercing her blue eyes when she pulled her hand away only to see more hair threaded between her fingers. Placing her palms onto the table to sturdy herself, Rachel jumped off of the breakfast stool, almost knocking it over in her panic, and raced to the nearest mirror.

She stopped in front of the shiny glass and looked at her blurry reflection, watching as more and more hair fell out each time her hand ran through her locks. She ignored the blonde hair reflecting in the mirror behind her. Her thoughts were narrowly focused on only herself.

She only met Sharpay's gaze through the mirror when she felt a soft hand place itself on her shoulder. The loving gaze she was receiving broke any composure that she had maintained and she let a tear slip down, before swiftly turning and allowing Sharpay to wrap her slender arms around her.The room was silent except for the ticking of the clock that was placed on the wall beside them. Rachel could smile as bright as possible and act like it was just another birthday spent with her family, but if she looked close enough into the mirror she could see the signs of her disease. The fatigue written in her eyes, no matter how bright they smiled. The red spots on her face and neck, something that occurred on her face only after an extreme amount of vomiting. The angry scars from the surgeries she had undergone. The only feature that had separated her from any other cancer patient was the luscious hair that fell down her back, the hair that she knew would not be there for much longer.

Sharpay's hand rubbed circles on Rachel's back as she bent her head down and whispered into Rachel's ear. "Come on, I have a feeling I might be able to help."

The wooden floors creaked as Rachel leaned back on her heels to get a better look at Sharpay. "How?" She spoke softly; afraid her voice would crack and give her every insecurity away.

The blonde looked back at Rachel, suddenly thinking back to when she was younger. Watching her and her own daughter play, being a part of every birthday. She had watched her grow into a young woman, through pain and happiness. Today was her day, and she deserved to shine. Sharpay was determined to help her do that.

She pulled away from their embrace and grasped onto Rachel's hand, turning on her heel and walking toward the girl's room. She pushed the wooden door open and dropped Rachel's hand as she walked over to her dresser. Her eyes scanned its contents and reached out to grab the items she sought, Sharpay walked back over to the bed a brush and hair piece in hand. Seeing what Sharpay had in mind Rachel's eyes widened. "No, what if more falls out."

Sharpay's consoling eyes searched Rachel's, attempting to reason with her, "Trust me, it will be better. Your hair will be tied, so you can't run your fingers through it, and the wind won't blow it around. Less will fall out this way."

"Okay," she agreed quietly, though a worried look was still upon her face. She walked over to sit in front of Sharpay and, let the blonde get work.

"Now," Sharpay stated as she lifted the brush up to Rachel's hair. "Some will fall out when I brush it, but I promise in the end it will be worth it." She received a nod in response. "'Kay, here goes." She warned as she run the brush through her hair luckily only a couple strands fell out which was a normal amount.

Soon she had Rachel's hair tangle free, only a few clumps had fallen out through the process. Sharpay reached up and pulled the brown hair into a ponytail making sure the slightly thinning parts were covered. No one would be able to tell the difference. When she finished she nudged Rachel off of the bed to look in the mirror. The image reminded her of the days she would play basketball; her hair would always be tied up exactly the way Sharpay had done it. It was a sense of normalcy that had vanished since her diagnosis.

She could almost see herself running down her home court, ball in hand, scoring, playing the game she loved with her best friends. The memories brought a tear to her eye and she turned back to Sharpay, only to have shock overcome her to find that Sharpay was crying. She ran back over to the bed and hugged Sharpay tightly.

"I'll be okay, I know it. Soon we'll be back in Florida and this will all be over."

"You're so brave you know that? It feels like you're my own daughter, and it just hurts me so much to see you going through this, but you..." She took a deep breath, not sure how to portray her jumbled feelings.

"I'm not any more brave then the next kid with cancer; I'm getting through this 'cause I've got amazing people in my life to help me through it. What would I do without you, my mom, Zeke, Jasmine and my da-" She quickly stopped when she realized what she was about to say. But she obviously didn't stop soon enough because Sharpay's head jerked up and her eyes were wide as they looked into Rachel's.

"What did you just say?"

"I said I have great people like you, my mom, Zeke, and Jasmine." Rachel said trying her best to sound as honest as possible, hoping that Sharpay would drop the subject.

"No, no, you were going to say 'my dad'. Rachel, you know-" She could not even finish her thoughts. The simple thought that Rachel could have met Troy, after all these years.When could that have happened? Why did she not know about it? Where was Gabriella, because she was about to get her ass kicked.

"I met my dad a little over a week ago..." She let her sentence trail off, not knowing what she should say.

"Honey, why don't you stay in here? I'm going to go have a nice talk with your mother."

"Sharpay!" Rachel called out, trying to stop the blonde. Her efforts were fruitless when all she saw was a flurry of angrily swinging hair storm out of the room. She winced when she heard the clicking of heels on the tile floor, meaning Sharpay had entered the kitchen. She braced herself for the yelling she knew would come.

Sharpay stomped angrily into the kitchen. This whole thing had better be a practical joke set up by Rachel or else a certain best friend of hers would have a whole lot of explaining to do. She could not believe that Troy was back in their lives.

Were they together, and if they were, for how long? Was she seeing him when they were living in Landon? Had they been having a secret relationship this whole time? Were they in touch all these years? She knew she was taking this way out of hand, but she could not help but to feel hurt.

Sharpay stopped right outside of the kitchen; she moved her body so she could not be seen. There was a place where the wall came out about two feet so she was hidden perfectly. She leaned her head against the wall and listened to the whispered conversation between Gabriella, Jasmine and Zeke. They were all discussing Rachel's birthday plans, and what Gabriella had gotten her. Her head moved away from the wall and she let her hands cup her face, she felt like such a fool. They told each other everything, how could she keep something as big as that from her? She realized there was one reason she was partially against Gabriella seeing Troy.

She just didn't want her to get hurt again.

She was there right after the breakup, through the tears, the endless tears that Sharpay just couldn't seem to stop. He had told her she was his number one that he would be there no matter what. That nothing would ever come between them.

Then when given the opportunity to go pro he chose the job over her. She was in the middle of college and he was scouted. She knew she was pregnant, for she had just found out about two days before. She had it all planned out, it was their anniversary when he asked her to be his girlfriend, and they had planned a special night. She was going to tell him then, she just knew that he would be ecstatic, but she never got the chance to tell him.

They had dreamed about having a life in New Mexico. They were already married and had planned on starting a family after college. She knew her pregnancy was sudden and unplanned, but she was happy with it. There would be a little her and Troy in the world, circumstances could not have been better. Until that night, he had gotten drunk in celebration of being picked by the Lakers, and when he had come home and told her they were moving to Los Angeles, she was shocked. That would mess up their whole plan, she tried to explain, tell him of her pregnancy but he wouldn't listen. Names were called, and he told her she was a non-supportive bitch, that she was jealous that his life was taking off, that if she didn't want a part of it she wasn't good enough for him. Basketball came before her, he filed for divorce and she never got to tell him they were expecting.

She was left without her love, and Sharpay stepped in to mend the broken pieces. Of course that was after the very angry and bitchy voice mail she left on Troy's phone, but Gabriella didn't have to know that. After all that pain, Gabriella was okay. Sure she was single, but she had dated, it just proved to be difficult since she was a single mother with a full time job. Her life was going well.

Then she found out her only child had cancer, that was certainty more than enough to break someone, but once again the strong Gabriella that Sharpay knew reared her head and proved she could get through it. But how would she deal with Troy on top of Rachel's cancer?

Sharpay groaned, Gabriella didn't need Bolton and his shit. She took a deep breath and placed her hand on the wall behind her to aid her in standing up. She winced as her feet ached, damn high heels.

When she walked into the kitchen she saw them talking quietly, probably worried about Rachel. Jasmine seemed very upset for her best friend. Speaking of best friends, Sharpay cleared her throat to get the attention of her own. All three heads turned in here direction, and Zeke sensing something was wrong grabbed Jasmine's hand and lead her out of the kitchen, leaving Sharpay and Gabriella to talk.

"Everything go okay with Rachel?" Gabriella asked immediately, concern evident in her voice.

Sharpay looked at her slightly confused, and then she realized what Gabriella was asking about. Her thoughts had so swiftly shifted from Rachel to Troy, so she and Gabriella were worried about two totally different concepts.

"Yeah, yeah, she's fine..."

"Then what's up? You seem upset?" Gabriella pondered. What else could have possibly been wrong?

Sharpay walked over to the table and stood in front of Gabriella. Her palms placed calmly onto the tabletop. The sun was shining in through an open window highlighting the anger in Sharpay's golden eyes.

"Troy Bolton." She stated his name and Gabriella's eyes widened though she tried to hide it.

"What about him?" She was trying her best to keep her cool, and Sharpay gave her props for her efforts, though she could see right through them. Gabriella was twisting a stray strand from her white top nervously around her index and middle finger, an act which gave her fear away. Her teeth pulled the corner of her bottom lip in between her teeth as she awaited Sharpay's answer.

The blonde's eyes narrowed. "You know exactly what I'm talking about. How long have you been seeing him and why didn't I know about it?" She was trying her best to keep her voice on a calm level.

"Seeing him? What do you mean by seeing him? 'Cause we certainly are not dating if that is what you are thinking."

"I don't know what to think Gab! How the hell.So you've seen him? He knows about Rachel? What's going on here?" She shook her head and began to pace the kitchen, causing Gabriella to call out and get her attention.

"Sharpay!...Shar!"

"What?" She exclaimed stepping over a certain spot on the floor causing it to squeak.

"Can you just listen, okay," She searched her friend's eyes before starting her story. "It happened about a week and a half ago-"

"It? It? What exactly is it?" Sharpay voiced, sounding like a parent scolding their child. But Gabriella knew her friend was just confused, and she would have probably acted in the same manner if their roles had been switched, so she just continued speaking as if nothing had interrupted her.

"We were at the hospital," She saw the look in Sharpay's eyes so she answered her unanswered question. "We meaning Rachel, myself, and Becca. Rachel was having a bad day, so I was going to find a nurse and see about a stronger dosage of pain medication for her. When I left the room I saw Troy in the same hallway, I was in shock, and he hugged me. Without realizing I said Rachel's name, he asked who she was, I told him the truth and then he fainted." She took a deep breath then continued, "When he woke up, he found Rachel's room and just walked in. Rachel of course knew who he was, but wasn't sure if he was aware of who she was, so you can imagine how confused she was feeling. I introduced them, then Rachel puked again, and, well, that's how they met."

She waited patiently for Sharpay to speak.

"So you've been seeing him regularly since?"

"Yeah, they've become very close. It's amazing how similar they are, and how well they get along. Depending on his work schedule and when practices take place, he is either at the hospital before or after practice."

"And you're fine with that? It's not awkward between you two?"

"No, not really, our main concern is Rachel and getting her better, we haven't even had one conversation about us."

"Sweetie, that's not good. You know you'll just wind up getting into a huge fight one day..."

"No, I think we are mature enough to solve any problems without fighting now. We were only nineteen when we were married. We are thirty-four years old now. I think we can handle it."

"This isn't good," Sharpay muttered into her hands, her nervous pacing starting again.

Gabriella walked up over to her and hugged her. "I know that out of all people this news is hard for you to hear, but Shar, I'm fine. You are an amazing friend and I cannot thank you enough for picking me back up when he left, but that was fifteen, almost sixteen years ago. I'm okay; I'm not going to break. How can I when I have someone as great as you to be there for me?"

No other words had to be spoken; the two just hugged knowing everything would be okay.