A/N I DON'T OWN ANYTHING!

Gabriella, Troy and Ashley were sitting on the couch watching TV laughing together just like a family should. Suddenly there was a knock at the door. Gabriella got up and looked through the peek hole. She gasped at who it was.

"Troy it's child servers." She said.

"Let them in we have nothing to hide." Troy said soothingly.

Gabriella opened the door and Claire McKnight walked in.

"Hello Gabriella."

"Ms. McKnight come in."

Claire walked in. Time seemed to go by fast after that. There was a tour and Claire asked Ashley some questions and finally Claire looked at Gabriella and said "You are the worst mother in history. You will never be allowed to adopted again. Ashley is going to live with someone else."

"NO! Ashley no!" Gabriella screamed.

Claire walked out with Ashley. She turned to Troy for comfort but to her surprise he pushed her away.

"Don't touch me!" he said.

"What?"

"I don't want you. You can't give me a baby and you aren't able to adopt, you're useless. I'm getting a divorce as soon as possible. You're on your own Gabriella. I am leaving you and you'll never see me again."

"NO! TROY!"

"TROY PLEASE NO! DON'T LEAVE ME TROY PLEASE! PLEASE TROY NO!" Gabriella screamed.

"Gabriella wake up!" Troy said shaking her.

They had both been sleeping when Troy heard her crying out.

"TROY COME BACK! TROY COME BACK! TROY! TROY! TROY PLEASE!"

Gabriella was hysterical.

"GABRIELLA WAKE UP NOW!" Troy yelled.

He never yelled at her but he didn't see any other way. Gabriella shot up in bed panting and crying screaming for Troy. Troy pulled her into his arms rubbing her back.

"Shhh baby shhh I'm here I'm here. I'm not leaving I'm right here shhhhh." Troy soothed.

Gabriella clung to him tighter. "Stay" she whimpered.

"I'm not going anywhere baby girl. Just calm down. Try and breathe for me ok."

Gabriella started to calm down. "Good girl. That's my girl calm down. It's all right. It was a bad dream. I'm not leaving you."

When Gabriella was finally calmed down she looked up at Troy. "I had the worst dream. Child serves came and took Ashley away. Then you said I was useless because I couldn't give you a child and you left me"

"Baby I've told you I am not leaving you. I love you so much and nothing will make me leave you. Plus when child serves comes we will be ready for them. We have nothing to hide."

"Troy don't say that!" Gabriella cried out burring her face in his chest again clinging to him tighter.

"Whoa, baby I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you. I was being honest."

"That's what you said in my dreams and Ashley still got taken away."

"Ashley won't be taken away from us I promise. I will make sure of it."

"Troy if they won't let me adopt her promise you will divorce me and take Ashley in for yourself."

"What?" Troy asked shocked.

"Just an 'if' Troy."

Troy sighed. He loved Ashley but he would never be happy without Gabriella in his life. Plus he could always get his parents to take her.

"No. I do not promise that. No matter what happens Gabriella Bolton I will stay by your side. Just like our wedding vow, for richer and poorer and what else?"

"Sickness and in health"

"What else?"

"Better or for worse."

"Yep so we are going through the worse right now and I'll stick by you till we get to the better. I promise Gabriella Bolton!"

"I'm scared Troy."

"I know you are baby. I know you are. I am too. I've grown very fond of Ashley these last few days and I'd hate to lose her and that's why we will do everything in our power to keep her. Just like my mom told you. We will fight until we get what we want."

"Thank you Troy."

"I love you baby."

"I love you too Troy."

They shared a kiss.

"Will you be ok going back to sleep?"

"As long as I get to cling to you all night."

"Cling to me all you want."

They laid back down and closed their eyes. They were out within seconds.

That next week Troy and Ashley were outside playing basketball while Gabriella watched from the window. Things had gotten better at school. No one teased Ashley anymore and the memories seemed to stop for a while which made Gabriella very happy. Life seemed…well perfect. There was nothing that could ruin it now. Thunder crashed making Gabriella jump. She looked up at the sky and saw a flash of lighting. Looking back at Troy she noticed he was leading Ashley back inside. Ashley ran over to her.

Mrs. Gabi Mrs. Gabi did you see, did you see?" she asked.

"Yes I saw. You are doing very well. Maybe one day you'll be able to play for the Lakers."

"Yeah and Mr. Troy can be my teacher."

"Yep."

It soon started to rain outside and thunder more. Ashley let lose a whimper. "I don't like those sounds Mrs. Gabi!"

"It's all right sweetie you're safe inside with me and Troy."

"But the rain is scary."

"It's not scary it's just…..it's just your mommy." Troy said suddenly

"Huh?"
"You're mommy is up in Heaven and she is bowling with the other Angels and when she gets a strike it makes that big boom sound."

"What about the lighting?"

"It's a spot light. Whenever your mommy gets a really good score they shine a spot light on her."

Just then thunder hit again this time Ashley squealed and started to jump up and down. "Go mommy go!" she cheered.

Gabriella giggled. She had no idea where Troy came up with something like that but she was glad he did.

Thunder hit and lighting struck this time make making a CRACK sound. It left everyone in darkness.

"Mrs. Gabi!" Ashley cried.

"It's ok sweetie. Just stay where you are ok." Gabriella said calmly even though her voice was shaking.

"I'm scared!" Ashley cried tears streaming down her face.

"I know you are baby but hang in there ok Mr. Troy went to get some lights."

Just then a small light lit up the room. Gabriella looked and saw Troy. He had his cell phone opened. He walked over to Ashley and picked her up. He walked back over to Gabriella and handed Ashley to her. Gabriella took her in her arms hugging her close.

"You two just stay right here. I'm going to get some flashlights."

He left his cell phone with Gabriella so Ashley wasn't upset and walked off.

"Why did mommy make the lights go off Mrs. Gabi?"

"Because….because your mommy is doing so good that they need more light to shine on her so they are taking some of ours."

"But I don't like the dark Mrs. Gabi. I don't like the dark!"

"I know sweetie. It's ok you're safe."

Ashley rested her head on Gabriella's shoulder putting her thumb inside her mouth. Gabriella rubbed Ashley's back and whispered soothing things in her ear. Troy came back with some flashlights. He gave one to Gabriella.

"I put a call into mom and dad using your cell phone. They don't have power either. It looks like the whole town is out of power." Troy told her.

"That's ok. Ashley is calming down."

"Are you ok? I know you aren't a big fan of the dark either."

"I'm ok. I know you're here and I'm safe at home so I'm ok."

"Good."

Just then there was a knock at the door. "Who could that be in this weather?"

Troy went over to the door and looked through the peek hole. He gasped.

"Who is it Troy?" Gabriella asked.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

Troy opened the door and the person walked in. Gabriella gasped. She clutched tighter to Ashley. Standing in the doorway dripping wet was none other than Sharpay Even their old high school bully.

"Bout time you opened the door. Look at me I'm soaked!" she cried.

"What are you doing here in this weather….what are you doing here at all?" Troy asked.

"I'm here to check out Ashley's new home."

"You're…you're…you're child serves?" Gabriella asked.

"Yep that's me."

Both Gabriella and Troy looked at each other. There was either going to be really good or really bad.

"Now let's have a look at the little Princess."

Sharpay we over to Gabriella and put her face close to Ashley's. Ashley whimpered and turned her head away. "NO!" she whined.

"Tear stains? What's the matter baby girl. Did Gabriella do something to make you sad?" Sharpay asked.

"Of course not. She is scared of the storm." Gabriella answered.

"I was asking the child."

Sharpay went over to the other side of Ashley and got close to her face again.

"Tell Auntie Sharpay why you're sad."

"NO!" Ashley cried out burring her face in Gabriella's neck.

"Will you leave her alone!" Troy growled. She is five years old and scared by the thunder storm plus in case you haven't noticed we have no power so she is scared it has nothing to do with Gabriella."

"Fine. Give me a tour of the house."

Troy sighed trying to keep his cool. "All right follow me." Troy took Sharpay upstairs. Gabriella sat down on the couch with Ashley on her lap. "It's going to be ok baby. It's going to be ok." Gabriella said more to herself.

A little bit later Troy and Sharpay came back down. "Now I need to speak with the child alone."

"She has finally calmed down." Gabriella said.

"Good so let her go."

"I mean if I let her go she'll get upset again."

"Well she and I need to talk alone so…."

Gabriella sighed. She was able to convince Ashley to go with Sharpay and it wasn't long before Ashley came back.

"I'm going to hate saying this but….Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Bolton you are now the adoptive parents of Ashley Green." Sharpay groaned.

Gabriella screamed and hugged Troy. They finished signing the last few papers and Sharpay left. Just then the power went back on and the storm stopped. Everyone just hugged happy to finally have what they all always wanted….a family.

A/N Ashley meets Lucille and Jack for the first time.