A/N I DON'T OWN ANYTHING!

"No Troy let them in we have to tell them the news anyway."

Gabriella only hoped they weren't mad at her.

Troy sighed and nodded. He went over to the door and let his parents in. They saw the tears on Gabriella's face and turned to Troy.

"What happen?"

"We just found out because of what happen to her as a teen she can't have any babies."

"Oh no she must be devastated." Lucille said.

"She is."

"Poor Gabriella. Maybe I should talk to her."

"I don't know if she wants to."

"Well how shut down is she?"

"She isn't shut down as much as she clingy. She thinks I'm going to leave her because she can't have babies."

"I'm going to speak to her alone if that's ok."

"Of course. I'll be outside." Troy said,

He turned and walked away.

"He is hurting just as much as she is." Jack said.

"Yeah. Go talk to him. I'll take care of Gabriella."

Jack nodded and went outside. Lucille went over to the couch and sat down.

"Hey…I just heard. How are you?"

"I don't know." Gabriella whispered.

"Is there anything you'd like to talk about?"

Gabriella shook her head.

"Is there anything I can do?"

Gabriella looked at Lucille "How did you know I was the one you wanted to adopt? How did you know you would've rather have me and not a baby?"

"Honestly Gabriella I can't answer that question. When I first saw you I had this sudden need inside me to protect you and care for you and make you feel the way a sixteen your old was supposed to feel. I couldn't describe it and it honestly scared me. I had just met you and I felt this strange need to care for you."

"What did you do?"

Lucille gave her a strange look.

"I took you into my home."

"I mean did the cop I was with just let you take me? They didn't question you?"

"Of course they did. They questioned my background they questioned Jack's but I fought and I fought. I was not giving up until that cop agreed to let you stay with me. I fought with everything I had. Why are you suddenly so curious?"

Gabriella shrugged.

"Yes you do. You know. Tell baby girl. What's going on?"

"Did you handle a lot of abused victim's mom?"

"Yes...I still do."

"How old are they?"

"All different ages. Some are as young as five some are as old 90. It just all depends sweetie."

"How do you help them?"

"The same way I helped you. I ask them questions about their feelings give them small tasks to work on for their healing process."

Tears fell from Gabriella's eyes.

"Oh sweetie why are you suddenly so curious about all this?" Lucille asked wiping away her tears.

"Why did I have to be abused? Why was me? Why did my parents have to mess everything up for me?"

"Oh sweetie why are you asking stuff like this. What's going on? You haven't asked these kinds of questions since you were a teenager."

"There is this girl in my class that is being abused. I just found out today. I went to the principal thinking that was the best thing to do but he just called Claire McKnight and she took the child away from me and I'm not allowed to adopt her because everyone thinks I'll just abuse her."

"You know that's what they thought about Jack at first too?"

"What?"

"When Claire first came to our house and Jack and I were giving her a tour she questioned Jack about his background and that one of the reason she almost took you away from us but you know what. Jack never stopped fighting. He did whatever it took to make sure you got to stay with us. That's what you have to do. If you feel that strongly about this little girl then you go out there and you fight until you get what you want and you don't ever give up."

"I can't explain it mom. I just feel this connection to Ashley and I just feel like I have to protect with my life and I have to do everything I can to make sure she is never hurt."

"Funny because when I first met you I felt that same connection. If you really want Ashley you have to go out there and fight forever. Don't worry about anything else just go out there and get your little girl."

"Thanks mom."

"You're welcome baby."

Lucille and Gabriella hugged. Even at 24 years old Gabriella still felt the safest in her mother's arms. Jack and Troy came back inside.

"Everything ok in here?"

"Yep, everything is fine." Gabriella said.

"Are you ok?"

"Yeah I'm fine. Mom really helped me."

"Good then let's eat."

"You sound like Chad." Gabriella laughed.

"You sound like a woman who needs a punishment tonight." Troy teased.

Gabriella just giggled. They all went into the kitchen and enjoyed there dinner.

Later that night Troy left the bathroom ready for bed or as Gabriella liked to call it 'cuddle time' every night before actually going to sleep Troy and Gabriella cuddled together and talked mainly about their day or just lay cuddled in each other's arms and read. He saw his wife laying on her side her eyes wide open her legs curled behind her and her hands gripped her pillow. Troy got onto the bed and pulled Gabriella into him. She rested her head on his lap as he stroked her hair.

"What's going on in that head of yours?" he asked.

"Troy how would you feel about adopting?"

"Sure are we talking about a stranger or Ashley?"

"Ashley. Mom says I shouldn't let anyone stop me. If I want to adopt Ashley I have to fight for her until I get her."

"I do not want you to get upset by this question but…why Ashley?"
"Honestly Troy I don't know. I just feel this connection with her. I can't explain it. I don't feel like this with any other student or any other child in the world. Mom says she felt the same way when she first saw me. I have this connection with her Troy. I'm the only one she trusts and she needs me…I need her."

"All right then. Tomorrow we take a day off and go get Ashley what do you say?"

"I'd say you're the best husband ever."

Gabriella sat up and they kissed. She just hoped she wasn't too late to get Ashley. What if someone else already adopted her?

A/N next chapter Gabriella goes to see Ashley but is she worse than before? How will Ashley react to seeing Troy?