Chapter Two: Pancakes

When he was seventeen years old, Troy Bolton decided that he'd rather die than turn forty.

Now, at forty-two - a husband of eighteen years and four children later - he still felt like the energetic teenager who loved nothing better than to cause mischief, to live on basketball and live for his girlfriend.

He couldn't have been any more happy with how his life had turned out. Nearly two decades of marriage and he was still falling more and more in love with Gabriella - the woman he'd considered his soulmate since he was sixteen, the woman he never thought he deserved, who was so out of his league… yet she was the same woman who professed her own love for him everyday, standing by her vows, and spending every moment making him more happy than he could have imagined.

He had retired from playing professional basketball with the LA Lakers when he was thirty-nine after a strong and historic thirteen years as part of the team. He'd done his father proud; a notion that he'd never forget. He was still known as 'Hoops Dude' even after all these years. But what most stood out in his career was each and every game he played where his wife and children were sat watching in the first row, cheering him on.

As of now, Troy was working as a personal trainer to the team, and sometimes assistant coach with the mindset of taking over the main job once the current coach retired. He had been pencilled in for the job for years, even before he retired, by the press and hardcore fans. Chad had sadly retired at thirty-two after a knee injury ended his dream. But he was never too sad; he'd been offered the trainer job as soon as he'd left and was welcomed with a standing ovation from the arena the first time he'd stepped onto the court as the team's physio, which had left him quite emotional at the time.

Troy was always astonished at how quickly Gabriella had taken to his beloved sport after they first started dating - she'd officially been bitten by the basketball bug and it had inevitably been passed down to their children.

Lydia had expressed her love for it from an early age. And nothing had made Troy feel so proud and so emotional when she first picked up a basketball and attempted, quite badly, to shoot a net that was six feet taller than she was. She'd grown up a tomboy - a basketball fanatic who thought of her father as her hero. She'd attended every game of his she could, getting star-struck at his famous team-mates and wearing her own Bolton jersey.

She'd had a hard time at her elementary and her middle school when there had been no girls team to join and play with - her own dreams of playing professional tainted when even after some furious student council protests, she still hadn't managed to achieve what she wanted. It wasn't until she'd started at Sunhill High that she finally became Point Guard for the Sunhill Tigers Girls Squad.

Lydia was his angel. Though not their first-born, Troy thought of her as his angel. After he and Gabriella had suffered the physical and emotional trauma after their first child, Jack, was born sleeping all those years ago, things had looked bleak and future children hadn't seemed a possibility. When Gabriella fell pregnant again, they'd never felt more on edge, more weary and frightened at the prospect of a repeat of their heartbreak. But as soon as Lydia came into the world, ever fear left and was replaced by unconditional love. It was as though she was the final piece of the puzzle that saved them.

Aislinn was his comedic genius. It seemed the only thing she'd inherited from him were his eyes and his sense of humour and love for mischief. She never failed to bring a smile to his face every single day. She was beyond hilarious and so intelligent that Gabriella often felt she was put to shame. She also never failed to bring Jack Bolton to his knees in uncontrollable laughter - from her witty comments, to her insane ideas about what she'd do when - not if, when - she became president of the United States, and how she'd affectionately make her dad Vice-President, purely because she thought he was the most amazing guy in the whole world.

Matthew was his star. His Little Dude. And he looked so much like Jack did when he was born that - although it brought back painful memories - Troy and Gabriella had only seen it as a positive. It was as though they were looking at Jack through Matthew, now knowing - or having at least some inclination - of what their baby boy would have looked like. But Matthew had his own uniqueness. He was the spitting image of his father, and although he complained that he hated having three sisters, he was awfully close to them - especially Aislinn, who'd appointed herself his protector from the moment he was born.

Though he'd adopted the obvious love for basketball, Mattie's main passion was baseball… and he had a natural talent for it. He was eleven years old and Troy could already envision him playing pro. He was also the official 'ladies man' of his year - something that was both hysterical and gave Troy pride. His legacy had indeed continued.

Ayla was his munchkin. Adorable in each and every way, but so incredibly shy. She was often attached to her parents like glue - particularly around people she didn't know. Gabriella often worried about her - about how her reserved and timid nature had prevented her from making any friends at kindergarten. She did make the effort now and then to sit with Sharpay and Zeke Baylor's ten year old twins, Poppy and Ryan, but at their age, it was natural for them to think hanging around with a six year old was uncool. Alexander Danforth was only five, and again, Ayla was at that age where she thought the only boy in the entire world who didn't have cooties was her father.

Troy often tried to ease Gabriella's worries; tell her that Ayla was going through a phase and would easily grow out of it and would be making so many friends, she'd lose count. His own insecurities about her was diminished by his adoration and love for his youngest. She was like a delicate doll just bursting to come into her own.

It was late when Troy finally made it home that night. Exhausted and only wanting to fall into bed, he couldn't help but walk up the stairs and wander down the darkened hallway, poking his head into each of his children's rooms and smiling to himself upon seeing they were all fast asleep and dreaming.

He'd never get over that feeling - the feeling of rapture and unconditional love; a constant need to protect and for them to know he'd always keep them safe. He could never go to sleep without making sure they were all secure in their bedrooms, all snuggled up warm and sleeping contentedly.

Finally making his way into the bedroom he shared with his wife, Troy smiled when he saw her propped up in their bed, fast asleep but surrounded by a multitude of paperwork - her features highlighted by the dim light of her bedside lamp. She was always the same Gabriella; the same girl who never understood what too much work meant and when to stop. He wanted to laugh at her posture - a red marking pen still sitting in her loose grasp.

She'd been a full time math and chemistry professor at UCLA for the last four years - straight after her maternity leave ended after giving birth to Ayla. Her career had been through its ups and downs - baring four children meant that for the last seventeen years, her work life had been put on hold… only returning for part time work over the years so she could put her family first. Everything had to have been at a constant, and when Ayla turned two, she decided she wanted to do the job she'd dreamed of doing and taught aspiring and intelligent young people everything she knew in the world of math and science.

Troy braced his hands on the bed slowly, as to not disturb her as he brushed his nose against her forehead, smelling her hair and pressing a kiss into her locks. She shifted slightly in her sleep causing her paperwork to slip and Troy to reach out and catch it before it all fell to the ground. Setting it on the bedside table just in front of their framed photograph of Jack, he chuckled when his wife gently stirred, murmuring something indecipherable. He could successfully guess it had something to do with academics. He loved how her subconscious mind worked.

As he began to undress whilst trying to walk around to his side of the bed, Gabriella's eyes fluttered open, taking only a few seconds to adjust to the dim lighting. She was almost disorientated - her last conscious memory being marking yet another paper - and was confused by the time of night and seeing Troy sitting on the edge of the bed.

"What time is it?" Her voice was groggy as she turned her head to look for the papers that had been on her lap.

Troy turned around upon hearing her voice, and smiled at her sleepy state. "Eleven-thirty," he responded in a low voice. "Sorry I'm late."

Gabriella just groaned and itched closer to him on the bed. Troy responded by sinking into the covers and lifting them up so she could snuggle up at his side; his arm coming around her waist to press her against him as she kissed the flesh of skin on his chest that was most accessible to her. "Disaster diverted?"

Troy let out a tired chuckle and closed his eyes. "Eventually. You know Sharpay. Anything that's meant to go smoothly never actually ends up going smoothly."

Gabriella smiled sleepily. "I'm so glad we decided not to go to that function tonight. I'm way too tired to handle Sharpay in a serious situation. I think tonight would have killed me."

"Those last two hours nearly killed me! Zeke was panicking, Sharpay was ranting… and the guests were all expecting some sort of murder to take place. Then I told Zeke he can officially discount me as a friend from now on. Everytime there's some freaking emergency with those two, they always call us. Why?!"

"Because you can fix it."

"I'm recently starting to think of the appeals of being able to unfix things."

There was a brief moment of silence. Both eyes were shut but neither made any attempt to move and switch off the light. Troy ran his fingers delicately up and down Gabriella's arm; their breaths even and slowly slipping into slumber.

"Hey, Troy?"

"Mmm?"

He felt the bed shift with her movements as she propped herself up on her forearm to look at his face. "I kinda had to tell you something tonight. You know, before Zeke called?"

Troy cracked one eye open to look at his wife curiously. She seemed on edge, tentative… her features said it all. "Okay…"

Gabriella lowered her head, her eyes glued to his naked chest as she swirled her fingertip around his skin, gently forming invisible patterns. "You have to promise me you won't freak out, okay?" Her head lifted back to his and a small smile graced her lips as his other eye popped open.

"Can't promise anything until you tell me."

"Troy." Her voice was reprimanding. "All I'm asking is that you don't start over-reacting and proceed in waking up the entire household before we actually have a conversation about it."

"About what?" Troy moved to sit up against the pillows but was held back by Gabriella's stare. "Okay, okay, I promise. About what?"

His impatience always made her laugh. "I was talking to Lydia earlier, just before you came home with Chad and the kids. She was a little upset, but I guess more nervous about something - something which I managed to get out of her just before you came home."

"Which was?" Troy raised a questioning brow.

Gabriella took a breath before speaking. "She's started seeing this guy at school." She ignored Troy's automatic look of shock. "And she really likes him. I didn't get much more out of her than that, but I do know how nervous she was in telling me… and especially you."

Troy sat up, his mouth opening to speak but nothing emerging. If the situation wasn't so important to her eldest child, Gabriella would have laughed at the look on her husband's face. Memories of him bouncing a baby Lydia on his knee whilst he declared he'd always be her favourite guy clouded her mind and she knew that in his mind, all that was slowly slipping away.

"Who is he?"

"He's called Mike. She's really taken with him too. He's on the basketball team in her year at school. And apparently you're his hero."

"Mike." Troy tested the name out. "No," he concluded, shaking his head. "Nope. No go."

Gabriella rolled her eyes. "Troy, you can't make a judgement based on his name!"

"Gabs, I have a fatherly feeling."

"A fatherly feeling?" Her eyebrows show up to the top of her head. "And that is…"

"A feeling felt by only a father at a time when his child is involved in something which is a definite no-no." He ran his hand through his matted hair. "Did she say how long she'd been seeing him? Are they together? What's the deal?"

"She didn't say. And does it really matter? What you should be focusing on is the fact that our daughter has finally found someone she likes and that he likes her too."

"Finally? What do you mean, finally? I thought we agreed on never."

"We? We didn't agree. You agreed on never."

"So did Lyddie."

"Lyddie was five at the time."

"She pinkie promised." Troy sank back onto the bed in a sulk.

Gabriella scooted over to get closer to him, determined to put him in the right frame of mind. This was exactly what Lydia was worried about. She'd always shared a close bond with her parents, and for them to not be in the same place as her when something as big as this deal was for her would destroy her.

"She really likes him, Troy. She's so excited about this relationship - or whatever she classes it as at this moment in time. She just beamed… Apparently he's the most popular guy in her year, and she's so smitten that he chose her over any other girl."

"Why the hell wouldn't he?" Troy's face turned sour. "She's beautiful. It's not that much of a surprise he'd like her."

"But it is to Lydia, Troy. You know how she's always been the tomboy - never caring about other boys or worrying about fashion and make-up. And now the guy every girl gushes over has picked her out of the entire bunch. She has insecurities, every girl does. And I know how she feels." Here, she wound her arms around her husband's waist and rested her cheek against his shoulder. "I never ever thought you'd look twice at me. As far as social standing was at high school, you were everything and I was nothing. Lydia feels the same way about this Mike. I know what she's feeling right now; I remember what she's feeling right now. But above all that social standing crap… I actually got the feeling that she genuinely likes him."

Troy just shook his head solemnly. The day he'd feared since she was born was finally upon him, and he didn't know how to take it. "It's not about that, Gabi. She'll get hurt one way or another."

"You can't be certain this guy will hurt her. You've not even met him yet."

"People always get hurt." He turned to look at her. "I mean, I hit the jackpot when I met you. But before you, I got hurt - I was cheated on, I was lied to… all by girls who I thought actually liked me back and at least respected me enough to stay loyal. Yeah, I wasn't serious about anyone until I met you but it still hurt me. It hurt me so much I used to sit at home and think for reasons of why you'd ever want to be with me. To be honest, it's still surreal to me that we're sat here now having this conversation, all these years later. But all these feelings stem from those bitches who thought it would be fun to screw around with me; they showed me just how easy it was to hurt someone."

"Troy…" Gabriella let out a soft sigh, placing her hand on his arm comfortably and pressing a kiss to his shoulder. "I went through it too, you know. Everybody has or will. You might have been my first boyfriend but that doesn't mean I wasn't hurt by people before I met you. Everybody goes through that same hurt - it's one of those horrible facts of life. We can't protect our kids from it no matter how hard we try."

Troy shook his head again. "I don't wanna give this guy the opportunity."

"Baby." Gabriella wanted to melt inside at how protective he was acting, and even though her mind was set similar to his, realistically, she knew that she had to make him see sense. "It'll hurt Lydia if we don't try. He could be the best thing that ever happened to her or he could be a complete asshole… but we've got to let Lydia discover these things out for herself. We only learn from our mistakes and we can't keep her cooped up in some invisible cage her entire life. I don't want to give any guy or girl the opportunity to hurt my children… but they have to stand on their own two feet to discover the bad one's from the good."

Troy's face softened, only slightly, as he leaned his head down to place a kiss on her temple. "When you get all smart and say things like that, you make my stubbornness want to go away. But I'm not happy with this, Gabi. I know it's a part of life and blah blah blah, but she's still our baby girl, you know? Frankly, I think she's still too young for this."

"I was sixteen when I met you!"

"That was different."

"How so?"

"Because I know me. And me would never hurt you. Me fell for you right away and was prepared to change the world for you - or, well, you know, the school at that time. I don't know this Mike guy."

"Which is why you meet him and you try for Lyddie's sake. And not filled with all this negativity either. You go in with a positive mind and an outlook to like him… whilst still maintaining that wariness in case our baby girl does come home one day in floods of tears and a broken heart. Because, then and only then do we relish in the opportunity to be there for her and pick up the pieces. That's all we can do. There's something in this guy that she likes and we have to respect her judge of character."

Troy Bolton was a stubborn soul, and his wife knew it all too well.

"Troy…" Gabriella half-smiled.

"What?"

She batted her eyelashes. "Please?"

Troy looked at her then quickly ripped his eyes away before he could fall under her spell. He knew she was right, he knew she was speaking logically. Still, he'd neither agree nor disagree, keeping in his own happy medium. Instead of answering, he wrapped his arms back around her body and pulled her back with him into the sheets, covering them up and snuggling before he reached over and switched off the lamp, resulting in darkness.

"Troy?"

"Shh, baby. Sleeping."

"No you're not."

Troy remained silent, kissing her temple softly and lingering there.

"I'll tell Lydia tomorrow that you're perfectly okay with meeting her boyfriend. And that we can invite him to the barbeque next week when your parents come over to stay for the weekend."

Troy closed his eyes and felt Gabriella's body shake with soft giggles in the dark. He wiggled his fingertips in her hair to show her he could feel her silent laughter, and that he wasn't amused, but it only made her more giddy in his arms.

"I'll take your silence as a fully committing yes."

She had to cover her mouth to stifle her laughter as a growl escaped her husband's throat.

"Go to sleep, Bolton."

---

Lydia was on edge early that next morning. The previous evening had given her uncontrollable flutters in her stomach just imagining what her dad would say once he found out about Mike. Sharpay and Zeke Baylor had managed to unknowingly buy her time when they called Troy in an emergency when their 'special guest' had failed to turn up at Zeke's restaurant function and Troy was - according to Sharpay - a last resort.

She had never been that much of a basketball fan.

Lydia had an inkling her mom would have spoken to him after he returned home and her nerves were aflutter. And her two younger sisters weren't exactly helping her cause.

"I'm hungry," Ayla whined, pulling herself up to sit beside her. "I want pancakes."

"There are no pancakes," Aislinn replied from opposite the breakfast bar, her head in a Jane Austen novel and a bowl of cheerio's sitting in front of her. "Mattie ate all the pancakes yesterday."

"We should go to the store and buy more."

Lydia rolled her eyes. "We can't, Ayla. We need to get ready for school."

The youngest Bolton pouted and folded her arms indignantly. "I hate kindergarten."

"No you don't."

"Yes I do. There's too many boys."

Aislinn lowered her book with a devilish stare. "You'll realise, young Ayla, that that is not a bad thing when you're a big girl."

Lydia narrowed her eyes at the girl across the bar. "Don't encourage her, Ash."

"Please," Aislinn placed her book on the countertop and took a spoonful of cereal. "Like you're one to talk. You think I didn't hear you and mom talking last night? Dad's gonna flip!"

"I'm glad you find it funny, Ash." Lydia deadpanned. "Really."

"I do, actually. So, come on, who is he? Is he hot?"

"Very, as a matter of fact. Most popular guy in our year." Lydia couldn't help but feel smug. Even though she knew her sister would never feel any bout of jealousy towards her; Aislinn was popular amongst the boys at her middle school but enjoyed "making them work" and never allowed herself to succumb to any of their charms. Her behaviour both frightened and impressed Troy, though he'd never admit it. He'd simply nod along without a word as Gabriella would chuckle silently beside him.

"Wow." Aislinn pretended to be impressed. "He must be a fantastic guy! You know all the popular guys at my school are all jerks?"

"So?"

"So I'd be more impressed if he was a nice guy, perhaps? Easy on the eyes, knows a thing or two outside of sport?"

"He is a nice guy, Ash. He's not like the other jerks at school. He's not shallow, he's not a jock and he respects me. It wouldn't kill you to actually be nice and lose the sarcasm once in a while."

Aislinn took another spoonful of cheerio's and smiled a big smile at her sister in response. Sometimes her behaviour really irritated Lydia to the point where she wondered why her parents ever thought having another child would be a good thing.

"I'll decide after I meet him, thank you very much."

Lydia's eyes bulged and her mouth gaped open wide. "I don't think so somehow!"

"I do. Mom and dad get to meet him; why not the rest of us?"

"Because I don't want to send him to rehab for manic depression on the first day he comes here! It's gonna be bad enough when dad threatens to kill him with a steamroller and then bury his flattened body under the floorboards… but meeting you and Mattie too? Hell no!"

"I'm nice," Ayla stated.

Lydia's face softened as she turned to look at her. "You are, sweetie. I don't mean you. You want some breakfast?"

Ayla nodded quickly. "Pancakes, please."

"There are no pancakes."

"I only eat pancakes," Ayla huffed. "With extra syrup."

Lydia got up out of her chair and proceeded in pulling her curls into a messy ponytail. She quickly glanced down at her figure, covered by a pair of dark blue boot cut jeans and a light blue sweater - an outfit that was very rarely seen on her form. Her usual attire of basketball jerseys and baggy t-shirts were to become a thing of the past, something she'd decided late that previous night. She owned very little feminine clothing, bought for her by her mother who insisted she needed at lease something girly. One lone dress hung in her closet in her bedroom and that had only been worn once last year at Grandpa Jack and Grandma Lucy's wedding anniversary.

"You know that's not true, Ayla." Lydia pulled open the bread basket and reached for two slices which were then placed in the toaster. "You love toast."

"Not anymore."

She ignored her stubborn nature and walked back to the breakfast bar to put away her own bowl and finished off her glass of orange juice. Aislinn had stuck her nose back into her book and pulled surprised expressions as she read, although she'd already read it a thousand times and Lydia wondered why she was still shocked at the happenings that occurred between Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy.

Ayla had watched as her big sister placed the slices of toast into the toaster but chose not to say a word. In the midst of the sudden silence which had taken place between the three Bolton girls, the front door opened and closed and suddenly Jayden Baylor was casually making his way into the kitchen, reaching for the orange juice which was sat on the counter as he entered.

"Morning to all."

"Jay!" Aislinn's book was soon forgotten as her ice-blue eyes twinkled upon seeing the eldest Baylor child. Her crush on him was no secret and not comfortable to witness. Lydia's eyes darkened upon seeing him and she sat herself down once again, pretended to be focused on her cellphone that was resting on top of the table.

"Hey, Ash. Hey, Ayla." He affectionately rubbed Ayla's hair and she giggled up at him shyly in response. Jayden couldn't help but laugh at the nonchalant look on Lydia's face as she refused to acknowledge his presence. "Are you at least going to look at me, loser?" He smiled a boyish smile. "I am here to give you a ride to school after all."

"Yeah, well, nobody asked you," Lydia snarled at him. "I still hate you."

"The feelings mutual, Bolton, but I'm always the ever-considerate gentleman. You know I won't get any sleep tonight if I just leave you to walk all the way to school by yourself."

"I'll hitch a ride with dad. I don't need you."

Aislinn's eyes narrowed at her sister. "You're a maniac, woman!" She hissed. "It's Jayden!"

"He's annoying."

Jayden smirked at her which only caused her anger to soar. "I can wait all day."

"Do what you want, Jay. I'm still hitching a ride with dad."

Jayden sat himself down at the breakfast bar, picking up the morning newspaper and flicking it open before reaching for Aislinn's untouched half-slice of toast. She smiled dreamily at him and allowed him to consume her food without protest. "Yeah, that'll be good. Then you can discuss Snape all the way to school and maybe he'll even forbid you from seeing him before you leave."

"Who's Snake?" Ayla asked as the toaster popped.

"Snape. Close, Ayla-Baby, but not quite." Jayden smiled as Lydia huffed loudly and stomped over to the toaster to fish out Ayla's breakfast.

"I'm not eating that." The young girl protested softly, confident that her demands would be met. "I'm having pancakes."

"We don't have pancakes!"

"Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god!" Their mother's chanting stopped the impending bicker that would inevitably occur and all four sets of eyes looked up to see Gabriella jogging into the kitchen, running her fingers through her curls frustratingly. "Oh, Lyds, you're all sorted; I'm sorry."

Lydia raised an eyebrow. "You're sorry?"

"Mommy, there's no pancakes, you know."

Gabriella looked from side to side erratically, trying to get her bearings. "I - we - overslept," she answered in a fluster. "I never oversleep. Ever."

Lydia finished buttering Ayla's toast and put the small plate in front of her sister, to which she scrunched up her nose and pushed her breakfast away. "I don't want it."

"You eat it or you starve."

"Momma, there's no pancakes, you know."

"I know, baby, I know," Gabriella squeezed Ayla's shoulders affectionately and pulled the plate back in front of her. "I promise I'll buy some after I finish work but only if you'll eat Lyddie's toast for me?"

"It's too toasty."

Jayden laughed out loud and Gabriella snapped her head up. "Oh, sorry, Jay! I didn't see you there."

"It's okay, Gabs. I just stopped by to collect Lyds but she's refusing my so very kind offer for a ride."

"Which technically means that now you should buzz off," Lydia put in.

"I don't think Jay should buzz off anywhere," Aislinn sighed, shooting Lydia a disapproving stare.

Gabriella shook her hands violently mid-air, sensing her daughter's were to be set off again. "Lydia, I think you can put aside whatever it is you're mad at Jayden for for today. You always end up doing so anyway. Ayla, eat your toast, baby, and Ash? Pride and Prejudice again?" Aislinn nodded her head quickly before resuming to her page. Gabriella looked around the kitchen again. "Is Mattie not out of bed yet?"

"I hit him with a pillow earlier," Aislinn responded, her eyes never leaving her book. "He's awake."

Gabriella checked her watch. "But he's not even eaten and he should be leaving soon to meet Sammy for the bus." Stomping through the kitchen and towards the staircase, Gabriella yelled for her son and growled low in her throat when Matthew shouted back that he was coming. "And where's your father?" She asked breathlessly as she walked back through to the kitchen. "Surely he can't still be showering?"

Now it was Lydia's turn to check her watch. "He needs to hurry. I'll be late for school."

Gabriella quickly placed four slices of toast into the toaster and smoothed her hands down her white blouse and accompanying black knee-length skirt. Low heeled back shoes sat on her feet and clapped against the tiled kitchen floor as she paced; her mind refusing to calm and sort out the chaotic mess that was occurring that morning. "Lyddie, your dad can't take you to school. I'll need him to take Ayla for me; I'm running too late to take her myself."

"But, mom…"

"No 'buts'. Aislinn, would you please go up and collect your brother?"

"It's Ash, and he's coming!"

Before Gabriella could let out a growl of frustration, the four slices of toast popped out of the toaster and Matthew slid down the staircase banister, ignoring his mother's look of despair as he did so. "Morning!" He called cheerily, placing his Lakers baseball cap on his head backwards.

"You're going to be late, Mattie; here!" Gabriella thrust a plate of two buttered slices of toast to her son. "Eat up. You'll be keeping Sammy waiting."

Matthew made a point of shoving one full slice into his mouth and sticking his thumb into the air, causing Gabriella to smile a small smile and roll her eyes heavenwards. He was so like his father, it was almost disturbing. "No sweat, ma. Chad's giving us a ride."

"Seriously?" Aislinn stood up and threw her book into her backpack. "Can I hitch a ride too? I don't want to ride the smelly old school bus."

"You ask him politely, Ash. Don't you dare go round there and expect or demand a ride to school."

"But it's only a few blocks from their school," Aislinn protested. "And Chad won't mind. He never minds."

"As long as you're not taking advantage."

Troy chose that time to make his grand entrance, dressed in his warm-up tracksuit and his hair still damp from the shower. Lydia immediately tensed up, anxious to what he'd say - if her mother had in fact spoken to him already as promised. He casually greeted each member of his family and offered Jayden a high-five and asking in regards to Sharpay Baylor's blood pressure and if she'd managed to kill his father before the restaurant function was over.

"Now I'm running late!" Gabriella squealed, quickly finishing the last of her breakfast and pulling on a light jacket before reaching for her bag and laptop case. "Troy, could you take Ayla to school?"

Lydia wanted to add "and me" to the equation but held back upon seeing the triumphant smirk on Jayden's face. Her mind officially declared war. He was dead.

"Yes, dear." He smiled when he saw his wife clearly wasn't in the mood for his old martial couple comments.

"Her book bag is by the front door and her packed lunch--"

"--is in the refrigerator but needs an apple adding to it." Troy rolled his eyes. "Baby, I know!"

Gabriella shot him an apologetic smile and pulled her curls into a loose ponytail; checking her appearance quickly in the mirror and deciding she'd have to do. "I'll collect her when I finish work. Mattie, Ash, are you on your way?"

"Yeah, yeah," Matthew waved her off and swung his bag onto his back. "I'll see you later, parental unit!"

Troy chuckled at his son's mannerisms. "Later, children!" He shot back and Aislinn shot him a sarcastic smile before the two made their way to the front door and left for the Danforth residence. When his eyes directed to his eldest and saw she was deliberately avoiding eye contact, he felt bad for a brief second for already harbouring bad feelings about this "boyfriend" that had appeared out of the blue.

Lydia felt his eyes on her and cleared her throat. Jayden somehow sensed her uneasiness and stood up to help her out in a rare form of charity. "Come on, Bolton. Are we making tracks?"

"Yes!" Lydia jumped out of her seat, grasping her gym bag as she did so. "Absolutely, Jay. Absolutely."

Jayden shared a smirk with Gabriella who'd stopped her chaotic mind for the brief moment to observe Troy's behaviour. So far, he was passing the test, but then he'd hadn't actually managed to say anything to his daughter yet to fully qualify. Gabriella knew, however, that this nervousness Lydia was experiencing would only dent Troy's ego as a doting father and knew that it couldn't be easy for him.

"So, you forgive me?" Jayden broke the thick air with another shot at digging at her.

Lydia responded with murderous eyes and a need to pound him over the head with a bat. "Yes," she seethed through gritted teeth. "I forgive you. I can't live without you. You rock my world. Now, let's go."

"Something I said?" Troy enquired softly, finally meeting his daughter's eye.

"No, dad." Lydia managed a smile. "We'll just be late, is all."

Gabriella intervened. "We all will if we don't get a move on." Hastily, she walked over to Troy and pressed a kiss to his cheek as Lydia and Jayden bolted for the door. "We'll talk about it later, okay?" She breathed softly over his chin. "I'm going to be so late…"

Troy grinned at her and patted his hand against her lower back affectionately. "Go, Gabi, go! I'll take care of Ayla… just make sure you get there… and in one piece, please."

"Promise." She smiled and kissed his cheek again, earning one back in return. "Love you." She moved past him and kissed Ayla on the top of her head; handbag and laptop bag in hand, she was all set for a day of teaching to the mass of mathematic and chemistry students that attended UCLA.

"Love you too!" Troy called back to her just before she disappeared out of the front door.

Now faced with a silent kitchen - a rarity in the Bolton household - Troy looked down at his youngest who was slowly chomping on a small chunk of toast.

"Nearly ready, munchkin?" He asked as he reached inside the fridge for Ayla's Disney princess packed lunch box.

Ayla looked deep in thought for a moment and then pushed her unfinished plate away. "Daddy, I'm still hungry. Can we have pancakes?"

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