A/N: Sorry it took so long. I've been busy and I'm pretty sure HSMandChelseaFCfan has been, too. Last chapter before epilogue :( I don't know how long the epilogue will take. I want to talk to HSMandChelseaFCfan about the epilogue.

Don't own HSM x

"Baby Brie," a voice murmured as two lips attached themselves to Gabriella's neck.

She groaned and pushed him away. She rolled over, away from Troy. "Go away."

Troy chuckled. "Let me kiss you."

"Don't wanna," she muttered. "Sleepy."

He wrapped his arms around her from behind. "Okay," he whispered. "Let me hold you."

She sighed. "You're not supposed to be here," she murmured.

"I can't stay away." He kissed her hair.

She groaned and turned in his arms to face him. She couldn't open her eyes but leaned forward and kissed whatever part of his face she came into contact with which was the corner of his mouth. "I'm graduating tomorrow," she muttered as she snaked her arms around him and snuggled into him, burying her face into his neck.

He ran his hands over her back, feeling her body that he'd missed in just the few hours they'd been apart. "So am I," he whispered.

"We said we'd spend the night apart so we wouldn't be rushing in the morning." She pulled back and her eyes fluttered open.

He smirked. "Do you really think I'd abide by that?"

She giggled tiredly. "I guess not. I missed you."

He kissed her sweetly. "I missed you, too. You have to make a speech, right? Because you're valedictorian."

She nodded against his neck. He'd obviously stripped down to his boxers before he'd got into her bed and the comforter was acting as a barrier between them. They'd decided for Blitzen to stay with Gabriella and Daisy and the two dogs were still curled up in the corner, fast asleep. "Yeah," she murmured. "You, too?"

He kissed her hair. "Yeah."

"Will you think of me?" she asked quietly.

He pulled her closer and sighed gently into her ear. "Of course. You?"

She giggled softly under her breath. "You know I will."

Troy pressed a kiss to her temple and then another to her forehead. He trailed kisses over the curve of her cheek until he connected their lips in a sweet, tender caress of lips. He rolled them over until he was straddling her and running his hands hurriedly up and down her sides. Their tongues battled passionately together as they released the pent up love that had built up from just a couple of hours apart. They were struggling to breathe but couldn't part. They knew they would get way too loud and they were enjoying the physical contact too much.

Troy eventually pulled back and trailed his kisses down to her slender neck. He sucked and nibbled gently on her skin as he listened to her moans and whimpers that she was desperately trying to muffle. The last week had been simply fantastic. After the engagement party, they had gone over to Sharpay's cabin and had made love. It had been the first week Troy and Gabriella had been living together and it had gone wonderfully. Troy, Greg, Carl, Zeke and Landon spent a lot of their time playing basketball together and they were getting on better as well. Of course, Troy had to spend some time with Jack and Lucille and would go over to his house straight after school to hang out with his parents and friends.

His hands wandered down her sides to slide underneath his shirt. She pushed his hands away as she struggled to calm her breathing. "Troy, we can't," she whispered.

Troy stopped his ministrations and sighed against her collarbone. He wasn't angry or annoyed…he was proud. Even when they the house was occupied but silent, the occupants sleeping, and they were halfway to making love, she wouldn't. He knew that had their graduation not been in the morning, they would've been on their way to Sharpay's cabin. However, they were graduating and he knew they didn't have time for that. He also knew that she wasn't willing to jeopardise the trust that she and Greg had rebuilt.

He pressed a final kiss to her neck and propped himself up on his elbows. "I know. It was worth a shot, though," he added cheekily.

She stroked his hair. "You know I'd willingly make love to you but I don't want to get caught."

Troy suddenly shuddered. "Being caught by your dad…that's good enough contraception, thank you very much."

"He's not that bad now. He's loosened up a bit," she defended.

He smiled softly. "I know. Do you think I can join you under these covers?"

She nodded and pulled the covers back. She welcomed Troy's loving embrace when he climbed under the covers and snuggled into him. "Why do our graduations have to be on the same day at the same time?"

Troy rubbed her arm that was draped over his stomach. "I don't know."

She sighed gently, allowing her eyes to flutter shut. "I really love you, Troy," she murmured.

"Wow. We've never said that before," he murmured sarcastically.

She giggled tiredly. "Hmmmm…"

"And I love you, too," he whispered as he kissed her forehead.

"Have you thought about who your best man is going to be?" she whispered.

"Yeah, I have. Chad. I could've asked Jason but-"

"Why don't you ask them both?" she asked, tilting her head to look at him.

"You're okay with that?" he asked in amazement.

She nodded. "I know they both mean a lot to you. But," she warned, "don't lose the rings."

Troy gasped in shock. "Would we do that?"

"I've met Chad and Jason and bundle both of them with you and getting ready…Yeah, you would," she exclaimed. "And you're having your bachelor party two weeks before our wedding."

"Shouldn't it be the night before?" he asked slowly.

"And risk having the groom and two groomsmen stumble in late with hangovers? No," she muttered.

He rolled his eyes. "Nice to know you have faith in us. What about you? You thought about your maid of honour?"

She raised her eyebrows.

"Sharpay," he realised.

"Yeah," she whispered. "She's like my sister. When we met, it was so refreshing. I mean, we were five years old when we met. To be honest, I was scared of her. She was so…pink. But, then we started talking and we've been best friends ever since."

Troy kissed her temple. "Yeah." He chuckled lowly. "I don't blame you for being scared."

She glared. "Shut up." She settled back into his embrace and sighed against him. "Are you and your parents still coming back here after graduation?"

He nodded. "Of course. Now, get some sleep. We've got a big day ahead of us. Sweet dreams, baby Brie."

"Sweet dreams, Wildcat," she murmured sleepily.

* * *

Gabriella looked in the floor length mirror and sighed as she smoothed the skirt of her white summer dress. Troy had left after her alarm had gone off, leaving enough time for both of them to show and dress. She'd decided on a spaghetti strap white summer dress. It had lace across the chest and then flowed out towards just above her knees. Her hair was arranged in a messy bun with a few strands framing her face. She had decided on a silver pair of small stiletto heels that gave her a few extra inches but not much.

She walked over to her bed and pulled on her blue graduation gown. She draped the gold band over her shoulders and finally walked over to her mirror to place her cap on her head. It was weird. She was leaving West High for good. It wasn't just a three week programme that she'd just return to West High. She had to grow up and fend for herself…and Troy. What if she wasn't ready? What if she failed? What if she couldn't make it as a doctor? Sure, she was smart but, she wasn't going to be the freaky genius girl, anymore. There were going to be people just as, if not more, smart as she was.

But, she knew one thing: Troy was with her. No matter what happened, she knew that Troy was behind her and so was Greg and Carl and all of her family. That's what was giving her strength. She knew that she had people who loved her.

Her phone suddenly started ringing on her dresser and she walked over to pick it up. "Troy Bolton, you're supposed to be getting ready."

"I am," he defended. "I'm waiting for my mom, Kels and Kels' mom."

"Oh," she whispered. "Are you excited?"

"Yeah. I wish you could be with me," he mumbled.

She sighed. "Me too."

"You nervous?" Troy asked.

"Gabriella," Maria called.

Gabriella made her way out of her room and down the stairs towards the lounge where her parents, brothers and Zeke were gathered. Zeke and Carl were wearing their own blue graduation gowns. "Beyond. This speech is driving me crazy. You know, I should've run through it before today."

"You could've ran through it with me," he suggested.

"You would've said it was good, regardless!" she exclaimed.

"Gabi, we want to take pictures," Greg said, waving his camera at her.

Gabriella sighed regretfully. "I have to go. I love you."

Carl snatched the phone off her. "I love you, too, Bolton."

"Aw, that's so sweet, Carl. Love you, too," Troy replied.

Gabriella snatched it back. "Carl, I hate you." She held her phone to her ear. "I love you."

"I love you, too. I'll see you later, okay?" Troy asked.

"You better. I'll miss you."

"Bye, baby," he whispered before they hung up. Gabriella set her phone on the coffee table and sighed. "Well, come on. Let's do these pictures."

Carl stood by her and wrapped an arm around her waist. "We made it, sis."

She looked up at him. Beneath his blue graduation gown, he was wearing a white button up shirt, black dress trousers and a blue and yellow tie. It was unusual to see him in such smart attire. "Yeah, we did." She turned back to the camera and smiled widely.

Greg held the camera up but then frowned and lowered it, keeping his eyes on his youngest children.

"Dad?" Gabriella asked. "You okay?"

Greg nodded. "Yeah. It's just my baby girl shouldn't be old enough to graduate high school."

She sighed. "Daddy, we've been over this."

He smiled. "I know."

They took pictures of Carl and Gabriella together, with Zeke, and finally with all of the Montez brothers joining them. They set off from the Montez household and headed to West High.

* * *

"And now, Gabriella Montez, valedictorian," the principal introduced.

Gabriella walked up onto the stage in all her blue glory and stood at the podium. "Well, Knights, we finally made it. We're even taking the championship with us."

"Yeah!" Carl yelled out.

"Thank you, Carl," she muttered, making the audience chuckle.

"Sorry," he mumbled.

She shrugged. "High school was tough for a lot of us. I know it was tough for me. There were so many expectations because of my brothers. They set high standards because of their basketball. But, I beat them because I actually got passed a B." The audience chuckled again. "But, that didn't stop me from enjoying my time here. I'll look back and smile at my four years at West High. I've made some really awesome friends that I know will never leave me. I got through West High with my brothers, Carl's best friend, Zeke, and my sister, Sharpay. I couldn't have got through it without them.

She took a deep breath. "I know I let a lot of you down because I went behind your back to be with Troy Bolton and I'm sorry. I feel terrible, honestly. But, my daddy has finally let us be together and if he can do it, so can everybody else. I love Troy Bolton with all of my heart and I always will. And I hope you'll all someday find someone like that." Her eyes sought out Sharpay and Zeke, Carl and Stacy and finally Greg and Maria. "So, let us graduate in glory. We got the championship, we overcame so many problems: fights with wildcats, exams, being broken up with, my brothers kicking the guy's butts for hurting me...and me. But, remember, once a Knight...always a Knight."

The audience stood up and applauded Gabriella as she walked towards the principal, shook his hand and received her diploma. She moved the tassel of her cap to the other side and descended the steps so she could mingle with everyone who was congratulating their friends and family. She weaved her way through the crowd, receiving 'good speech, Montez' from various people on the way, towards Carl, Stacy, Ryan, Martha, Zeke and Sharpay. "Hey, guys."

Carl hugged her immediately. "Well done, Bells. You were great."

She pulled back and smiled at him. "Thanks, Carl." She hugged Ryan, Martha, Zeke and Stacy and then turned to Sharpay. "Sisters?"

"Forever," she giggled as they embraced.

"We finally made it, Shar," Gabriella muttered. "By the way, I want you to be my maid of honour."

Sharpay suddenly pulled back and squealed so loud, everyone fell quiet. "Are you serious?"

"Would I ask anyone else?" Gabriella asked.

"I'm Gabriella's maid of honour!" she yelled excitedly before the two friends embraced again.

Gabriella suddenly felt her phone vibrate in the pocket of her dress and pulled it out, sliding it up. "Hey, Wildcat,"

"Hi, baby. Are you enjoying yourself?" he asked softly.

"Beyond. It's so amazing. I wish you were here," she whispered.

"Your wish is my command," he murmured.

"What do you mean?" she asked in confusion.

"Turn around," he commanded gently.

Gabriella slowly turned around and smiled in disbelief at Troy standing there in his red graduation gown. She slid her phone shut and returned it to her pocket as she made her way through the crowd and looked up at him in amazement. "What are you doing here?"

He shrugged. "I thought I'd surprise my beautiful fiancé. I wanted to hear your speech."

"How was yours?"

He sighed. "Nothing interesting." He wrapped his arms around her and winked. "Now I get to look forward to the greatest adventure of all with you by my side."

"What's that?" she asked as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

"The future," he whispered before he watched her eyes fluttered shut. He leaned down and kissed her softly in amongst the crowd of celebrating West High graduates.

* * *

"Cheers!" everyone chorused as they clinked their champagne glasses together.

Gabriella looked around at the people surrounding her: Greg, Maria, Jack, Lucille, Carl and Troy. Landon was staying at his girlfriend's house and the rest of her brothers had gone back to their families. Zeke's parents had surprised him by returning from their cruise. She sighed softly looked up at Troy. "You know what this means don't you?"

"What?" Lucille asked.

Gabriella pulled Carl towards her and giggled. "We're the future of the country."

"What have we let ourselves in for?" Maria asked, rolling her eyes.

Carl chuckled. "I could be the president."

The room fell silent.

"Okay, so that's a negative. I can dream, can't I?" I exclaimed.

Gabriella sighed. "My brother, ladies and gentlemen. It's hard to believe we have the same genes."

"At least I didn't fall for a Bolton," he sneered.

"I'm glad you didn't, otherwise you've got to come out of the closet so...there!" Gabriella exclaimed before she and Carl poked their tongues out at each other.

"Once again: the future of our country," Greg muttered.

Gabriella sighed. "Well, you can laugh but I'll be saving lives like Mama."

Troy pulled her closer. "And you'll do great." He kissed her temple.

She blushed deeply and looked at the floor. "Thank you."

Troy suddenly set his glass on the bookshelf behind him and took Gabriella's off her, too. "Come on, Brie."

"What? Where are we going?" she asked.

He raised his eyebrows. "Brie..."

"Oh," she muttered before she turned to her family. "Daddy?"

Greg sighed. "Go ahead."

Gabriella disentangled herself from Troy and kissed his cheek. "Te amo, Daddy."

"Te amo, mi hija." He smiled at her and kissed her forehead.

Gabriella slipped her hand into Troy's and allowed him to pull her out of the house. She immediately shivered in the cooling evening air. "Troy," she whined, "can't we just go up to my room?"

He shook his head. "No." He pulled Gabriella towards his truck and lifted her up onto the hood. "I needed to be alone with you," he murmured as he ran his nose up and down her throat. "We've been surrounded all day."

"We graduated. Can you blame them?" she whispered.

He pulled back to look in her eyes. "I guess not. But, it didn't stop my mind wandering."

She gasped. "Troy!"

He groaned, pressing his cheek against hers and wrapping his arms around her. "Sue me."

She sighed. "I'm not a hypocrite."

He pulled back in shock. "Miss Montez!"

She rolled her eyes. "I know, I know, it's shocking that the innocent Gabriella Montez had thoughts about my future husband's body."

He smirked. "Well, how about we try to fix that?" He took her down from the hood and took her hand. He pulled the door open and brought out a pillow and some blankets.

Gabriella laughed. "What are you doing?"

He grabbed her hand and pulled her to the end of the bed. He helped Gabriella onto the bed of the truck and then threw the pillow and blankets in after her. He climbed into the bed and gathered her into his arms. "I want to watch the stars."

"That's incredibly random," she murmured as Troy set pillow against the corner of the bed and lay down. He got comfy and opened his arms. She sighed and lay down next to him, resting her head on his chest. She draped an arm over his stomach as Troy pulled the blankets over them. "This is nice."

"Yeah," he whispered. "It is."

"Peaceful," she murmured.

"Yeah," he whispered. "It is."

She sighed and leant up on one hand to look down on him. "Okay, what's on your mind? You don't drag me away from my family for anything, even to be alone. What's up?"

He stroked her cheek. "I wanted you to know that we'll be okay."

She smiled and leaned down to kiss him. "We will. I know. We'll be fine." She kissed him one last time before settling into his arms. She felt him kiss her head as they looked up at the stars together. "Did you know that stars are suns billions of light years away? They're not that close at all."

"Wow," he whispered. "Makes you think twice about how insignificant we are when compares to the rest of the universe."

"No to me," she whispered. "You're...you're my world, my everything."

"You're my entire life," he agreed.

They were silent for a moment before she suddenly pointed at a star that was shining brighter than the others. "That's Venus. It's the only planet in the solar system to be named after a woman. Venus was Aphrodite's roman name. She was the goddess of love, beauty and fertility."

"Well, that's basically you in the form of a star, right?" he mumbled.

"You're such a charmer. But, I think it's you, too," she whispered as she leaned her head back to look at him. "We'll be fine."