A/N I DON'T OWN ANYTHING! Sorry it took me so long to get this out. I'll try and get the next chapter out soon.

That weekend Gabriella met Carlos at a coffee shop. It was time for answers.

"All right what do you want to know?" Carlos asked.

"Tell me about my grandparents. Were they abusive?" Gabriella answered.

Of course they were abusive but he couldn't tell Gabriella that. His job was to make her doubt her father's love or her.

"No, no they weren't abusive. They never even raised their voice."

"Did you throw him out or did he leave on his own?"

"He left on his own."

"Why?"

"Because he was too stubborn to ask for help. He wanted to do everything on his own."

"Did my parents love each other?"

"No. They stayed together because of you. When Greg found out Maria was pregnant he didn't want you but he stayed because it was the right thing to do."

"So he could have had his family help him. Why did he leave? None of this makes sense Carlos."

"I know it doesn't. That's just the truth."

"You promise it's the truth?"

"Yes I promise."

"You swear on your brother's life?"

"Yes."

Gabriella sighed. Those were not the answers she had hoped for. Now she was even more confused. She had to figure this out now!

"Ok you know what rewind. I want you to tell me everything you know about my father starting from his birth."

"Gabriella is this really necessary? You're only going to be hurt by the answers. Do you really want to put yourself through that?"

"I need answers. I need to know about my past."

"Gabriella your father never wanted you. He hated the idea of having a baby. He stayed with your mother because he felt sorry for her. He didn't love her or care about her anymore. I would think him killing her in cold blood would be enough proof for you."

Gabriella tensed as the memory played in her mind.

"Don't…don't talk about that."

"But Gabriella if your father loved your mother why would he kill her?"

"She died protecting me."

"So he didn't love you either."

"No he said he did!"

"When? Right before he died? I told you Gabriella it was all an act. Your father doesn't love you nor does he love your mother. He never loved anyone. He didn't even love his own family. He was just one of those people who hated anyone and everyone. Even the mail man was hated by him."

"What you're telling me is the truth?"

"Yes every word."

"Why was my father that way?"

"I don't know. Look Gabriella your father didn't love you and he doesn't love your mother. I mean he shot her in cold blood. What more proof do you need?"

"Stop talking about that."

"I'm just trying to get you to understand the truth. When your father shot your mother he proved he didn't love her and when he tried to shoot you and when he beat you it should have proved to you that he didn't love you."

"Why would he plan to get shot? If he wanted to die why not just kill himself?"

"Because he didn't want to die unless you forgave him and the only way to do that is to make up some sob story and act nice."

"If he didn't love me why would he care if I forgave him or not?"

"I don't know. I believe he was sick in the head most of the time. None of what he did made sense. Like killing your mother."

"Stop!" Gabriella said.

"I'm just saying him killing your mother wasn't a sane think to do."

"Just stop talking about that. Please."

"Gabriella just because we don't talk about it doesn't mean it didn't happen. Your mother is dead Gabriella. Your un-loving father shot her in cold blood."

"STOP JUST STOP!"

Gabriella could take it anymore. She had to stop this the only way she knew house. Her whole body froze as she stared blankly ahead.

"Gabriella? Gabriela?" Carlos smirked. His plan had worked now he could trick Troy into thinking he was the good guy. He grabbed Gabriella's phone and called Troy. He told Troy to meet them and hung up. He looked at Gabriella and smiled.

"This was just too easy Gabriella."

He waited a few minutes until Troy arrived. He ran right in and over to Gabriella kneeling down in front of her.

"What happen?" he asked looking to Greg then back to Gabriella.

"I'm not sure. Some guy walked in and I guess he looked like someone she knew and scared her because she just froze."

Troy took her hands in his rubbing his thumb over her knuckles.

"What guy?"

"I don't know he came in got his coffee and left."

Something didn't sound right about this story. Unless this man actually made some sort of contact with Gabriella she wouldn't have pulled away like this would she?

"Did she say the name of who the man was?"

"No she just froze."

"Thank you for calling Carlos but I'm just going to take her home."

"Of course."

Carlos left with a smirk.

"He's gone baby. If you can hear me will you give me a sign?"

Gabriella squeezed his hands.

"All right baby girl. It's ok. Everything is ok."

He stood up when someone walked over to him.

"Excuse me Sir. I have no right butting into your business but I just feel I should tell you that everything that man has just told you was a lie. I saw the whole thing."

"What happen?"

"He was yelling at her. He was saying something about her father killing her mother and trying to kill her which meant he didn't love her. She yelled out for him to stop and she just froze up. I'm sorry I have no right butting into your business like this."

"No don't be sorry. Thank you for telling me."

"You're welcome. Is there anything I can do for your wife?"

"No thank you. I'm just going to take her home."

"Ok"

"Thank you for telling me the truth."

"You're welcome."

The man walked away. Troy lifted Gabriella bridal style and carried her to his car. He sat her down on her side and went out and got in on his side. He started the car and headed home. After a few moments he felt something trying to squeeze itself under his arm. He looked down and saw Gabriella trying to cuddle into his chest. He chuckled a little and lifted his arm for her. She crawled over and rested her head on his lap clinging to his pants leg as tight as she could. He stroked her hair.

"We're almost home sweetie. Hang in there."

He rubbed her back. Finally they reached home. Troy carried her inside and went right over to the couch. He sat down holding her tightly in his arms and just comforting her. He didn't ask anything. He just soothed her knowing when she was ready she would tell him what really happen and that's who he would believe no one else.

After about an hour of cuddles and soothing words Gabriella came back to him.

"I'm sorry. I know I shouldn't have done that."

"No baby you were uncomfortable and didn't know what else to do. Don't be sorry. Are you ok to tell me what happen?"

"What that man said was true. Carlos was yelling at me telling me my father didn't love me or my mom and I just couldn't take it. We can't trust him Troy. I don't want to be alone with him ever again."

"You won't have to be. I promise. We don't have to have contact with him ever again."

"What about Ashley she trusts him?"

"We'll have to stop it. She can't be near him."

Gabriella nodded.

"Oh sweetie. Are you ok?"

"I got answers today Troy and they weren't the ones I was hoping for."

"Do you want to tell me about it?"

"No I just want you to hold me." Gabriella voice cracked and she clung to him tighter.

"Shhhh baby I'm here. I'm here shhhhh" Troy soothed rubbing her back.

He was ready to kill Carlos. No one upset his Gabriella and got away with it. He didn't care what he had to do. He was going to make sure Carlos paid for hurting Gabriella.

A/N next chapter Gabriella and Troy cut contact with Carlos and spend the day as a family. More like a filler fluff chapter before the drama.