A/N I DON'T OWN ANYTHING!

Troy left the room and headed to meet up with Gabriella. He couldn't wait to get started on his new life with his new family. Everything was going to be perfect right? He, Ashley and Gabriella they were going to be the perfect little family were they? Suddenly he had a funny feeling things weren't going to be so perfect but why? He was so deep in thought he didn't even noticed his wife standing in front of him.

"Troy? You hoo Troy?"

"Huh? Uh what?" Troy snapped out of it.

"What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing. So are you ready?"

"Yep. Let's take our daughter home but first…." Gabriella looked to the look girl who had her face buried in her shoulder and smiled. "Hey cutie can you look up for a second there is someone I want you to meet."

Ashley lifted her head and looked at Gabi.

"Ashley this is my husband Troy."

"Hello Ashley I've heard a lot about you." Troy said.

Ashley whimpered and clung tighter to Gabriella. "No! Mrs. Gabi." She cried burring her face back in Gabriella's shoulder.

Gabriella looked at Troy. "I'm sorry." She mouthed. She looked back to Ashley.

"It's ok sweetie Troy is very nice he won't hurt you in fact he is…." Gabriella trialed off and whispered something in Ashley's ear. Troy was confused. He saw Ashley's head jerk up and her eyes lit up. "Really?" she asked Gabriella. Gabriella just nodded. She put Ashley on the floor and Ashley walked over to him and tugged on his pants leg. He got down to her level.

"Um…Mr. Troy…" she asked shyly.

"Yes?"

"Will you give me tickles?"

Troy laughed and looked at Gabriella who was smiling. This girl was more and more like Gabriella every second.

"I'll tell you what let's get you home and settled then I'll give you tickles ok?"

"Ok. Mrs. Gabi said you were good at tickling."

"Well Mrs. Gabi is right just not right now ok?"

Ashley nodded and lifted her arm up to him. "Up please." Troy lifted her into his arms and stood back up. He and Gabriella headed out the door. They put Ashley into her car seat and head home.

They finally reached home and went inside. Gabriella put Ashley on the floor. Ashley whimpered and clung to Gabriella's leg.

"It's ok sweetie this is your new home."

Ashley whimpered again. "Mrs. Gabi." She reached her arms up to her."

Gabriella picked her back up. "What's wrong?"

"It's really big."

"I know Ash but you'll get used to it. You're very safe here. Why don't I take you to your new room?"

"Ok."

Gabriella and Troy went upstairs and into the guest room. Neither of them had been able to sleep the night before so they set up everything for Ashley. Her room was now fit for a child her age. Ashley giggled and squirmed in Gabriella's arms. Gabriella put her down and Ashley ran into the room and grabbed the big pink teddy bear and cuddled it to her and giggled as the fur tickled her face.

"Thank you Mrs. Gabi." She said.

"You're welcome."

"Daddy never let me have teddy bears he says I wasn't special enough."

Gabriella was hit with a flashback.

Flashback

Five year old Gabriella was walking in a store with her father and her eyes landed on something big fluffy and pink. Her eyes lit up at the sight of a stuffed pink teddy bear.

"Daddy I did all my work this morning may I please get that teddy?"

Her father backhanded her across the face.

"No! Only special kids get teddy bears you are not special enough. You are a piece of trash don't you dare ever ask again. Do you understand me?"

"Yes daddy…"

"I SAID DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?"

"Yes Sir."

"Good now shut up. I hate your voice it's so ugly. If someone could die from hearing your voice you'd already be a murderer."

"Daddy I…."

Her father hit her again. "I SAID SHUT UP! I HATE THE SOUND OF YOUR VOICE AND WHEN WE GET HOME YOU WILL BE GETTING PUNISHED!"

Gabriella whimpered and followed her father out of the store. When they got up her father grabbed his belt and whipped Gabriella in the face with her.

"Your voice is ugly and no one wants to hear it no one, so don't ever speak again ok? Do you understand you won't ever speak again?"

"Ye…s….dad….dy." she said as the belt whipped her mouth."

End flash back.

Gabriella bit back tears and covered her mouth with her hands. She looked at Ashley who was now laying on the bed as Troy took the bear and wiggled it against her stomach tickling her as Ashley laughed hysterically. She left the room not wanting to ruin the happy moment. Ashley deserved this. She on the other hand didn't. Her father had told her enough times she didn't deserve to be happy and he was right. That's why he made it impossible for her to carry a baby that's why he tried to kill Troy. She didn't deserve to be happy. She suddenly had the feeling that when child serves came next week she'd lose Ashley all over again. In the end she'd end up all alone because without children Troy wouldn't want her so she would be alone and unhappy just like her father wanted.

Gabriella went back down downstairs and sat on the couch she pulled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around her legs. Why couldn't she just be happy with Ashley? Why did all these memories have to come back now? How could she help Ashley if she couldn't help herself?

Back upstairs Ashley was still laughing hysterically only Troy was blowing raspberries on her stomach.

"Mr. Troy! Mr. Troy stop, stop!" she cried out.

Troy smiled and stopped.

"Mrs. Gabi was right you are a good tickler…where is Mrs. Gabi?"

Troy just noticed Gabriella was no longer in the room. He suddenly felt a surge of worry rush through him. Something wasn't right and he knew it. It was too quiet and that was never a good sign.

"Mr. Troy can we give Mrs. Gabi tickles?"

"Um….let's find her first ok. I'm going to check down stairs you stay up here in your room all right?"

"Ok Mr. Troy."

Troy went downstairs. He heard a soft sniffle and looked toward the couch his heart broke at the sight. He rushed to her side and pulled her into him.

"Baby what is it? I thought you would be happy. We have everything we ever wanted. We have a family; we have a daughter why are you upset?"

Gabriella didn't answer. That worried Troy even more. It had been years since she last shut him out.

"Baby please don't shut me out what's going on?"

Still Gabriella remained silent. Troy sighed.

"Please baby girl tell me what's going on?"

Gabriella sighed and signed back.

"I had a flashback of my father from when I was Ashley's age and he was whipping my mouth and yelling at me telling me how ugly my voice was and I just…I don't know I felt a sudden fear I hadn't felt in a long time and I suddenly felt like I didn't deserve to be happy."

"Baby I'm sorry but that's not true at all. I haven't heard you talk like this since you were a teenager."

"I haven't felt like that since then. Troy how can I help Ashley if I can't myself?"

"Because you are strong and you will get passed these memories and work on helping Ashley. I know this because I've seen you do it once. I know you can do it again. Now let me hear that beautiful voice."

"Thank you Troy. I love you."

"I love you too."

They shared a hug.

"So Ashley wants to do tickles with you. Care to join us?"

"As in I help give her tickles or you two give me tickles?"

"Either way I guess."

"Sure, where is she?"

"Her room. I made sure to put the safety gate up at the top of the gate."

"Good. Let's go."

They both went upstairs and saw Ashley sitting on the bed doing math homework. Troy laughed.

"I'm going to start calling her Mini Gabi."

Gabriella just giggled and they went inside.

"Hey cutie."

"Hi Mrs. Gabi and Mr. Troy. Are you ready to play tickles?"

"Of course. Do you want us to tickle you?" Gabriella asked.

"No I want me and Mr. Troy to tickle you."

"Sure." Troy smirked.

Gabriella and Troy went over to the bed and Gabriella laid down and lifted her arms.

"Just like old time huh Brie?" Troy teased.

She nodded. Ashley started to tickle her stomach Gabriella started to giggle. Troy started to tickle her sides making her squirm.

"Stop tickling." She giggled.

"Only if you say the magic words." Ashley laughed.

"Please stop!"

Ashley stopped.

"Troy stop it!" She pulled her hands down and tried to fight his away. Troy laughed with her. "Nope not unless you say Troy is best husband ever."

"Troy is the best husband ever."

Troy stopped. "Can we tickle Mr. Troy?"

"Oh no. That's not a good idea."

"Yes it is. I'll get his sides you get his tummy." Gabriella smirked.

Gabriella knocked Troy backwards and started to tickle him. Ashley tickled his stomach. "Stop!" he cried out in laughter.

"What should we make him say Ashley?" Gabriella asked.

"Girls rule and boys drool." Ashley giggled.

"Ok Troy you heard her. Say it."

"Girls rule and boys drool."

They stopped.

"Now it's our turn to tickle you." Gabriella said to Ashley.

"Ok."

She laid down and lifted her arm up giggling. Troy and Gabriella tickled her making her squirm in giggles.

After a few more minutes of tickle fighting they all called a truce.

"Ok Ashley time for your bath."

Ashley nodded. Gabriella lifted her up and brought her into the bathroom. After closing the door Gabriella helped Ashley take off her clothes. Gabriella had to fight back tears when she saw all Ashley's scars. She turned away and turned on the water. Ashley walked over and Gabriella lifted her into the tub. At first Ashley just stood there.

"Sit down baby it's ok." Gabriella said.

Ashley sat down. Gabriella turned to get the soap and when she turned back Ashley had tears falling down her face.

"What's wrong?" Gabriella asked.

Ashley just sniffed and shook her head.

"Baby something is wrong or you wouldn't be crying. Is the water too hot?"

Again Ashley shook her head but continued to cry.

"It is too cold? Baby please tell me."

Ashley shook her head. Gabriella reached over and wiped away her tears. "Tell me what's wrong so I can make it go away." Gabriella said.

Ashley shook her head sniffling and shaking. She looked scared to death. She would look at Gabriella and then back at the door.

"It's all right Ashley you're safe. The door is locked no one can get in. Did I do something to hurt you?"

Ashley shook her head.

"Are you cold? You want me to pour some of the warm water over you?"

Ashley shook her head.

"Please tell me baby. What can I do to make you feel better?"

Ashley just started to cry harder. She put her thumb in her mouth and curled her other three fingers into a fist while her pointer finger rested on the bridge of her nose. It was something Gabriella noticed Ashley did when she was nervous.

"What baby?" Gabriella asked.

Ashley reached her other hand out to Gabriella.

"You want out?"

Finally Ashley nodded.

"Ok stand up and I'll get you out."

Ashley went to stand up but slipped and fell back. Gabriella caught her before she hit her head but the shock from it all made Ashley hysterical. She burst into tears crying hysterically. During the fall her whole body had gotten wet and most of her head. Ashley screamed.

"I got you baby I got you hang on."

Gabriella reached behind her and grabbed a towel and wrapped it around Ashley. She lifted her from the water and hugged her closer rubbing her back. Ashley was still screaming in tears trying to gasp for breath.

"Shhh baby shhhh I got you. I'm here sweetie. Shhhhhh" Gabriella soothed rubbing her back.

She took her out of the bathroom and into her bedroom. She set her down on the bed. Gabriella grabbed her pjs and underwear and went back over to her. Ashley seemed to calm down a little more.

"Can I change you sweetie?"

Ashley nodded still sucking her thumb. Gabriella helped Ashley get dressed into her new pink footie pjs with the princesses on it. Then she grabbed her pink bear and gave it to her. Ashley cuddled to bear closer and closed her eyes. Gabriella picked her back up and held her close. She gently rocked her and soothed her until she fell asleep. Once she was sure Ashley was sleeping she set her down in bed and tucked her in. She left the room leaving her door open in case she woke up.

Troy was waiting in the hall. "Is she ok I heard screaming?"

"I don't know. I think she may be scared of water. The second she sat down she started to cry. Then she asked to get out so she slipped as she went to stand and her whole body got wet and she just screamed. She calmed down when I took her out but she was hysterical."

"It's only her first night she is still getting used to it here. I'm sure she'll be fine tomorrow."

Gabriella nodded.

"What's going on sweetie?"

"Troy…" Gabriella whispered trying to stay strong.

"What Angel what?"

"Her scars. Oh my gosh Troy her scars!"

Troy pulled her into his arms. "I got you baby shhhh it's ok. It's going to be ok I promise."

"Troy she has so many scars on her and she is only a baby. She is still a baby."

"Yeah and those scars will heal but she will never get any new ones. You got her away from the abuse. You saved her life. You saved her Gabriella."

"I know but it makes me sick having to look at what that monster did to her."

"I know it does. I've been there."

"I still have some Troy. There are some that will never heal and I'm sure that Ashley will have some scars for the rest of her life."

"You are both still beautiful nothing can change that."

"I love you Troy you always know just what to say.

Troy kissed her head."I love you too. Come on let's go to bed."

"Troy what are kids going to do tomorrow when they learned I adopted Ashley. She already gets teased for being smart."

"Don't worry you're a great teacher you'll stop everything before it starts."

"I hope so."

They crawled into bed and cuddled close to each other all night. Gabriella was worried about tomorrow. She had a funny feeling things would end up badly.

A/N phew longest chapter so far. Next chapter Gabriella and Ashley go back to school, will it end badly or will thing work out good for once?