A/N I DON'T OWN ANYTHING!

The next morning everyone went back to their daily lives. Troy went to his job and Gabriella went back to school.

Everything went well for the first half of the morning. Then it was time for recess. Gabriella was standing on the side talking with her friends Taylor and Kelsi her high school friends who also became teachers.

"So after that she finally settled down but I've never seen a child more scared of water in my life."

"I'm sure she will get better." Kelsi said

"I hope so."

"Hey you got better and you dealt with the abuse longer then she did. Taylor told her.

"Yeah that's another thing all the memories are coming back now and I can't stop them."

"Which ones?"

"Most of them are from when I was Ashley's age but others are from after I moved in with Troy."

"Does Troy know?"

"Yeah but he can't do anything about it. I just have to live with it."

Just then she felt a tug on her pants leg. She looked down and saw Ashley sucking her thumb again.

"Everything ok?' Gabriella asked.

"Mrs. Gabi the kids won't let me play with them."

"Why not?"

"They said kid whose daddies kill there mommies can't play with them."

"How did they find out about that?"

"I don't know but I'm sad."
"Don't be sad come here."

Gabriella picked Ashley up and put her on her hip.

"You can hang out with the grownups."

"Ok. Where is Mr. Troy?"

"He is at work."

"Oh ok."

"You'll see him after school."

"All right."

Ashley rested her head on Gabriella's shoulder. The girls continued to talk until they called everyone back inside. Once everyone was seated again Gabriella said "Now I heard some news at recess today that shocked me. I heard that some girls weren't allowing other child to play just because her parents were different. I am very disappointed in all of you. You know better than that."

"Mrs. Gabi is it true your daddy killed your mommy too?" a girl asked raising her hand.

Gabriella froze. "How did you hear that?"

"I heard one of the other teachers talking about it. So is it true?"

"Yes, it is true. My father killed my mother just like Ashley but…"

She was cut off y student asking questions.

"Did he push her down the stairs?"

"Did he choke her?"

"Why'd he kill her?"

"Did he poison her?"

"Did he shoot her?"

"How'd she die?"

"Did you see the murder?"

"Did you tell the cops?"

"ENOUGH! Yes both Ashley and I watched as our fathers killed our mothers but that doesn't mean you can be mean to her. You all are going to spend the next five minutes with your heads down and the lights off and no talking."

She went over to the light switch and turned it off. Then she leaned against the wall. She felt sick and dizzy. Her knees were giving out but she forced herself to stay standing as the memories of her mother's murder flashed through her head.

Flashback

Gabriella thought about it and nodded. She sat up and followed her mother out the door when Greg appeared.

"What are you doing?"

"Taking Gabriella out of here. She has seen too much. She was never supposed to be a part of this life Greg. That's why we left. She needs to go back to Jack and Lucille. They can give her better. We should have given her up for adoption after she was born. We were stupid to thing we could raise a kid and be in the mob. Gabriella doesn't belong here. She needs to be free let me get her out of here."

"I can't just let her leave. She has seen too much."

"Greg Gabriella has already been through enough let her go."

"No one witnesses what she has and leaves. We have to get rid of her."

"Greg no you can't."

"I have to. She has seen too much."

Greg took out his gun and aimed it at Gabriella. Then…BANG!

Gabriella waited for pain but she didn't feel anything. She looked down at herself and noticed she hadn't gotten hit. Who did? Gabriella looked for her mom and saw her on the ground.

"NO!"

She went to run to her mother when Greg grabbed her he threw her back into the room and threw his wife too.

"Don't you dare tell anyone what you saw Gabriella."

Then he left. Gabriella crawled over to her mom.

"Mom…"

"Gab…ella….sorry…..love you…..hate me…."

"Mom it's ok. I forgive you. I love you too and I'm sorry. Please don't die."

"I…have…to….don't…forget I love you Gabriella."

Gabriella watched in horror as her mom coughed up blood and then took her last breath. Gabriella broke out into tears. She looked around at all the dead bodies and screamed. It was all too much. She crawled into the back corner and pulled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around her legs. With her body shaking she rocked back and forth staring into space.

End flashback

"Mrs. Gabi? Mrs. Gabi!"

Gabriella turned at the sound of the voice it was Ashley.

"What sweetie?"

"It's been five minutes."

"Ok then everyone look back up."

She turned the lights back on and went over to her desk.

"Now I want all of you to take out your math books and do the work on page 34. Ask me if you need help."

All the children did as they were told and Gabriella took a deep breath and calmed herself down. She couldn't lose it not here not now. Forcing herself to remain calm she looked back at the kids. Ashley was sitting quietly at her desk. Gabriella went over to her.

"Are you ok sweetie?"

"Yes Mrs. Gabi I'm finished."

"Already?"

Ashley nodded.

"Ok good job we will go over it in just a few minutes ok."

"Ok Mrs. Gabi."

Gabriella sat down back at her desk. She was able to keep herself together the rest of the day. She knew today would be bad but she never knew it would cause such horrible memories. Finally the school day was over. She and Ashley went home.

"Troy were home?" Gabriella called. She saw the back door opened and heard the sound of a ball bouncing on the ground.

"I'm outback!" he answered.

"Why don't you go join him Ashley I'll be there in just a second." Gabriella said to Ashley.

Ashley ran outside. Gabriella went up stairs went upstairs to her room and went to her box of jewelry and took out her parents wedding rings.

Flashback

"I love you too dad. I understand why you did what you did and I forgive you. Please don't turn yourself into the cops. We can talk to Jack and Lucille and work something out." She cried.

"I'm glad you forgive me but I have to turn myself in. It's the right thing to do. Knowing you forgive me though makes me feel a lot better. Would it be all right if I hugged you?"

Gabriella nodded. She and Her father shared a hug. They were both so happy that neither of them noticed the police hiding behind Greg. Stone saw Greg but also saw Gabriella in his arms so he charged.

"FREEZE LET GO OF THE GIRL AND PUT YOUR HANDS ON YOUR HEAD!"

He and the other cops ran over. Greg panicked and grabbed his gun and held it to Gabriella. The cops stopped.

"It's ok. Everyone just calm down. My dad agrees to go quietly and will accept whatever punishment you give him. He just told me so. Put your guns down and he will put his down."

"Is this true Greg?" Stone asked.

"Yes Sir. I'm tired of running." Greg answered.

"All right. Men weapons down."

All the cops lowered their guns. Greg dropped his to the floor.

"Before I go though I want to give something to you Gabriella." Greg said.

He reached into his pockets but before he could pull his hand out…..

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Gabriella was in shock for a moment as three gun shots were fired. She looked at herself and saw she wasn't hit then she looked over at her father. His hand was holding his chest, blooding was dripping through his finger. He removed his hand and Gabriella saw three small holes. She gasped. Her father fell to the floor right in front of her.

"Gab…Brie…Ella…I…Love…You…" Greg choked out.

"Dad no!"

Gabriella bent down next to her father.

"Dad no! No!"

"Take…these…remember…us."

Gabriella looked at her father's hand and gasped. He was giving her, his and her mother's wedding rings. She took them and put them in her pocket. She looked at the cops.

"What did you do that for? He promised he'd go quietly!"

"He was reaching for a weapon." A cop said.

"NO HE WAS REACHING FOR THE RINGS! YOU SHOT HIM! YOU KILLED HIM! COPS ARE SUPPOSED TO HELP YOU NOT KILL YOU!"

Gabriella turned to her father.

"Daddy I love you. Please know that."

"I…do…I…love…you…too…forgive…me…"

"I do dad. I do forgive you."

"Thank…you…"

"Goodbye daddy I love you so much."

"I…love…you…too…my…Angel…."

Greg took his last breath blowing Gabriella a kiss. Gabriella burst into tears and screamed. She had finally made peace with her father and now he was gone.

End flashback

She choked out a sob and curled up on her bed. She had finally made peace with her parents but then they were murdered right in front of her and that was something she'd never be able to forget. Till this day she had a hard time trusting cops all because of what they did. She pulled herself together and got back up. She put the rings back and went into the bathroom washing her face. The last thing she needed was Troy finding out she was crying. As she made her way down stairs Troy and Ashley were coming back inside. Of course she forgot Troy could read her like an open book. He took one look at her and knew something was wrong. She walked into the kitchen ignoring his looks and got both him and Ashley some water.

"Ashley why don't you go lay down on the couch and watch some TV before dinner." Troy said.

Ashley nodded and left the kitchen with her sippy cup in hand. Troy went over to Gabriella and wrapped his arms around her.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"I know you too well to know it's not nothing."

"I'm fine Troy just a rough day at school."

"Did the kids give Ashley a hard time?"

"Yeah…"

"She seems to be ok. She was laughing so hard outside. She is a natural at basketball."

"Good. I'm glad she's happy."

"So why aren't you?"
"I am happy."

"No you're not. I can see it in your eyes. What's wrong?"

"Nothing Troy."

"Gabriella Bolton you look me in the eyes right now."

Gabriella turned and looked at Troy.

"What's wrong?"

Gabriella looked away from Troy. "Nothing."

Troy took her chin in his hands and forced her to look at him. He knew she couldn't lie to his face.

"What's wrong?"

"They won't stop Troy. They just won't stop!"

"What won't baby?"

"The flashbacks. They keep coming back. I can't escape them."

"Which one was it this time?"

"Their murders. Both of them. Mom was first. I had to tell the kids so they'd stop teasing Ashley then I went upstairs and got their wedding rings and that brought back my father's murder."

"I'm sorry baby. I wish I could do something."

"There is nothing you can do."

"I can make you smile again."

"Doubt it."

"Fine I'll prove it."

Troy lifted her arm up and put it around his shoulder then tickled her underarms. She screamed and squirmed.

"No, no, no, no, no" she said trying to get away

"Tickle, tickle, tickle" Troy sang in her ear.

"Stop, stop!" she gasped fighting to hold in her laughter.

"Nope not until I hear that beautiful laugh."

"No."

"Fine then you've left me with no other choice."

Troy stopped tickling her and blew a raspberry. She screamed and finally started to laugh. Troy tickled her again.

"Stop, Stop Troy!" she laughed.

She tried to grab his hand pushing him away but it didn't work.

"Troy please! Please I can't breathe!"

Troy stopped. "Feel better?"

"Yes. Thanks Troy."

"You're welcome baby."

"Troy child serves is coming next week. We have to bathe Ashley before then. How are we going to help her?"

"We can wash her without putting her in water. Just use a cloth."

"I guess."

"Don't worry no one is taking Ashley away from us."

Gabriella nodded but inside she was scared to death. She had the worst feeling that child servers would take Ashley away from her again.

A/N next chapter child serves come and it's not Claire McKnight but someone else Troy and Gabriella know. Will she makes things harder or easier for them to keep Ashley and who is it?