I would just like to repeat once again how much your feedback has been appreciated throughout this story's progress. Especially my now regular reviewers who have followed the story from the beginning! Chapter nine jumps ahead into a memory of Troyella in later life. Enjoy! :)

Troy Bolton awoke on the morning of his wedding anniversary with an ever-contented smile on his face. He glanced at his wife, still sleeping soundly, and felt that she looked as beautiful as the day he married her. What he couldn't believe was that that day was fifty years ago today.

He was interrupted from his thoughts when Gabriella began to stir. She opened her eyes to find her husband watching her. A smile also graced her lips as she remembered what day it was. "Happy anniversary," she greeted Troy. His eyes lit up at the sight of his wife's smile, which never failed to mesmerise him.

Today the couple were going to celebrate in a very special way. They were going to renew their wedding vows at their local church, and it had been decided that the event would be a small, intimate ceremony. Therefore, Troy and Gabriella had only invited their son and daughter, along with their own families. Lily and Matthew were both happily married themselves. Lily had become a doctor, and she and her husband Michael had two daughters. Matthew and his wife Lucy had three children - two sons and a daughter. Matthew was a high school teacher. His Diabetes had never held him back with his ambitions, and he had coped extremely well with his condition; just as his mother had.

After the ceremony, there was to be a party held at Matthew and Lucy's house. Matthew had organised it himself, with help from Lily. Now the family arrived together at the church, to be greeted by the reverend, who had met them all the week before when he had visited Troy and Gabriella. The purpose of the visit had been to hear about the couple's life together in their fifty years of marriage. It was the reverend's job to mention these special memories during the renewal ceremony.

He welcomed the family, and then began. The couple smiled at each other fondly as the reverend relayed the details of their first meeting. "I'm told that Troy and Gabriella met at a ski resort on new year's eve, where they were paired together to sing karaoke. They later met a second time when they realised they attended the same school." Then he talked about how they had become engaged at their favourite beach, and about their wedding day when Troy had surprised Gabriella by flying her grandparents over to be there. He mentioned the births of their children, as well as the difficult times they had faced together, including Gabriella's diagnosis of Diabetes.

Next came the vow renewals. After repeating their original wedding vows, The couple each had something else they wanted to say to each other. It was Troy's turn first, and he looked Gabriella in the eye before he began to speak directly to her. Before long, they felt as though they were the only ones in the room. "Gabriella, do you remember what I said to you the day I asked you to marry me? I said I wanted to grow old with you." She nodded tearfully. "Well, here we are, fifty years later, and it's been an amazing journey. Every day I fall in love with you just a little bit more."

Gabriella mouthed "I love you," to Troy before taking her turn. "Troy. Meeting you was one of the best things that ever happened to me. The other things only happened because of you," she told him, thinking of their children. "It has been an incredible fifty years. But it has also been an amazing fifty-eight years that we have known and loved each other." Troy was now the one trying to hold back tears. As the ceremony came to an end, Lily and Matthew also found themselves with tears in their eyes as they watched their parents beaming at each other.

Everyone made their way outside the church, and Lucy, who was a skilled photographer, began to take some photos of the couple. As they posed, they thought of the wonderful memories they had made together. Of course, life hadn't always run smoothly, but they had overcome every challenge they had faced.

Troy took both of Gabriella's hands in his, and they turned to face each other as the camera flashed again. One of many happy moments between them which was now captured forever.

Thanks for reading! One more chapter left...