Alex and Troy spent the morning and most of the afternoon at the zoo looking at all the animals. They saw the monkeys, gorillas, penguins, seals, lions and tigers. Troy made every moment count he hugged her whenever he could, he held her hand and made her laugh whenever possible. She was so innocent and pure, so smart and inquisitive. His daughter, the entire Scooby Doo fan club in one kid, he was amazed when she started rattling off facts and trivia about Scooby Doo and the gang of crime solvers.
"There was this one time my class had to write a report on our heroes and I wrote it on Scooby," she said holding his hand and swinging it back and forth.
"Really," Troy looked around at all the people going about their day, keeping an eye out for reporters. Normally when he was home things were alright, paparazzi stayed their distance and for the most part no one really cared. Unfortunately the rumbling of this latest scandal developing around Alex and Gabriella he been more careful lately about his surroundings. "That sounds awesome."
"I even got to wear my lucky ball cap, which is this one," she said pointing to her hat.
"What makes that your luck hat?"
"Grandpa gave it to me for my fifth birthday and he said he got it from a place called six flags when he was younger," she said excitedly. "In fact he said that getting this hat was the day grandma told grandpa about my mom."
"Wow," he said looking down again and taping the worn brim of the hat, "that is a lucky hat."
"Grandpa said it was the best day of his life, and then he said the second greatest day of his life was holding me in the hospital," she said holding squeezing his hand a little tighter in her grasp. "What was the greatest day of your life and you can't say the day you met me?"
"Wow, you ask lots of hard questions," he said with a raised brow.
"There only hard because you make them hard," she said watching a gathering of birds around an older woman as she tossed out crumbs of some kind.
"If I had to pick one day," Troy was quiet for a moment as he thought back on all his championship games and TV appearances. When he actually thought about all those things he considered them just to be good fortune. Nothing actually stuck out to him as the best day ever expect… "It would have to be Sadie Hawkins's dance during my sophomore year of high school."
"What made that dance so special?" Alex said looking up at him.
"It was the first time I ever asked your mother to dance," he said with a smile.
"Really?" she said looking up at him with a small frown, "What so special about that?"
"Are you kidding me?" Troy said with a laugh, "Your mother was the prettiest girl in our class, just walking up to her was an accomplishment." They both came to a stop on a bridge and looked down at the water where a family of ducks were swimming.
"She was?"
"Of course," Troy said bending down to rest his chin on his folded hands. "I still remember everything about that dance, the song, her dress, worrying about my hands being sweaty," he said with a small laugh.
"So you liked her?"
"Yup," he said hopeful, "I mean she looked like an angel that night. I remember that I was we all decided to go together and I'd been a little upset because I thought she was going to ask me."
"Girls don't asks boys to dances," Alex said looking up at him.
"For a Sadie Hawkins's Dance they do," Troy said looking down at her with a smile. "Luckily I noticed that during the couple's dance she was standing there alone so I took a deep breath counted to three and walked over to ask her if she wanted to dance."
"Were you a couple?"
"Nope," Troy said a little disappointed, "We were just friends, but that dance was so special," he looked back to the older woman who was feeding the birds.
For a while they just watched the water looking down at the momma duck teaching her babies how to swim. Alex climbed up on the beams of the bridge her small hand hanging on to the railing to keep her up as she looked over it.
Noticing her struggles Troy pulled her up and sat her down on the railing so she could see everything better. His hand securely resting on her hips as placed his chin lightly on her shoulder.
"What was the song?" Alex asked leaning her head on his.
"My endless love."
"That sounds romantic," she said with a sigh as she leaned on one of the benches.
"Yeah, we did have lots of romantic moments," Troy said with a soft sigh, "I guess I was just to chicken to make a move back then."
Her little body kind of slumped and then he felt her put her weight against him, "Troy?"
Troy eyes darted to see her profile, "Yeah."
"You should try making a move."
"Three steps ahead of you kiddo," he said with a small laugh. After another long pause Troy stood up straight, "How about, we get some ice cream?" He asked her.
"Yes, ice cream is cool?" she said excitedly turning to face him so he could help her down.
After a trip to the ice cream shop it was getting late and Troy didn't want to worry Gabriella. They talked about the interview scheduled for tomorrow and went over all the little things he wanted to prepare her for. After that he couldn't help but make a small trip to the build a bear workshop where they gave life to a Scooby doo doll she assured him would become her very knew favorite doll. He pulled up in front of the Montez's house puzzled by the sight of another car he didn't recognize.
"Oh no," Alex groaned as she looked at the car in front of them.
"What's wrong?" Troy asked following her eyes to the same car he was just looking at. "Who is that?" he asked looking at the blue car.
"Butthead."
"Oh," Troy said with a small frown as he put the car in park. The other guy currently competing for Gabriella's hand in marriage finally decided to step into ring. Good. Troy had been wanting to see what this guy looked like since the first time Gabriella uttered a word about another man in her life. "Why don't we both go in and say hi," Troy said with a fake smile as he opened his door and climbed out.
Troy braced his breath as climbed the stairs beside Alex who was dragging her feet a little more than usual. When they finally did get to the door Troy rang the doorbell and held a hand out to place on Alex's shoulder as she came to him, almost hiding behind him as the door opened and Maria appeared. "Troy, Alex," she said with unease, "Alex, Doug is here."
"We noticed," Troy said looking at the car behind them and then back at Maria. "Can we come in?" Troy asked motioning to both him and Alex. Something told him not to go in, but the voice in the back of his mind said to check out this Doug guy for himself.
Maria nodded keeping an eye on Troy the entire time, "I trust you can behave yourself?"
"Don't I always?" Troy said with a smirk as he walked past her and inside. Alex came in behind him fully prepared to drag her feet and try to avoid any if not all contact with butthead.
Voices were heard from the living room and Troy walked into the living room to see Gabriella sitting next to a thin man wearing glasses. He was shorter than her. He was a shade too pale and a size to scrawny. The man besides her was everything you'd expect out of a nerd. The suit he was wearing was a tweed texture and dark blue dress with light brown strips through the pants and jacket. His white shirt was unbuttoned a bit at the top.
"You must be Alex's father," he said standing up and extending a hand to Troy. Immediately Troy did not like this man. Shaking his hand he realized his grip was loose and weak. The man winced a bit under his grasp and Troy let go with a smirk on his lips.
"You must be Doug," he said tightly looking over at Gabriella and making a motion at his watch with a light tap.
Doug who over saw Troy little signal as no big deal stood up straighter and smiled. "Hey there little A."
"My name is Alex," she said looking at him with a raised eye brow.
"Troy," Gabriella said as she leaned forward, "Can I see you for a moment in the kitchen," she said walking past him.
"Sure," he said as he watched her walk past him. Following behind her Troy smiled, leaving Alex and Doug alone in the room with Luis and Maria.
As they entered the kitchen Gabriella turned around and smiled politely. "What are you doing here?"
"I gave you a day remember?" he said looking at her annoyed, "Besides I told Alex I would tuck her into bed every chance I got. The real question is what is he doing here?"
Gabriella shook her head, "He's my fiancé Troy, he doesn't need a reason," she said looking up at him. "He came all this way because he misses me."
"I find that hard to believe. The interview is tomorrow and he just happens to show up?" He said meeting her brown eyes, "I smell a rat."
"Well you do need a shower?" she said looking him up and down with an annoyed pointed look.
Taking two steps forward he cornered her between the counter and his body using both hands on either side of her to cage her in. "you weren't complaining last night when I had you on the hood of that Mercedes," he said with a smirk.
"Do you have to make everything so difficult," she whispered.
"I'm not the one who was begging for it last night," he whispered back as he came closer to the nook in her neck.
"Get over yourself," she said pushing him away from her. Troy grabbed her arm pulling her closer to him.
"Fine, message received. You want to be with him knock yourself out but Alex is my daughter," He said letting her go and watching as a look of hurt flashed across her face.
"Troy it's not that easy,"
"Like hell it's not," he huffed pushing himself away from the table and making his way back into the living room. Troy came to a stop in the door way as he looked into the living room to find Doug sitting and talking about the civil war with Louis who was interested but not quite captivated by the conversation.
Upon coming back into the room she could feel Troy's eyes on her burning into her as she walked past him and took her seat next to Doug. She wasn't sure what they were talking about, or that she had any interest in what he was saying but she quietly looked down at her ring which was now around her finger.
Was this the life she chose? Could she really handle a new life with Troy in it but not by her side? Looking back up and over at Alex who was slouched in corner with little guy on top of her lap as she stare off into the distance. Her eyes shifted to Troy who was staring at Alex with a mixture of worry and love. As if he could feel her gaze just as she felt his, his blue eyes shifted and she was caught with the intensity she found within them.
"I love Lincoln point blank, greatest president in my opinion," Doug said as he settled back on the couch and placed a possessive hand over Gabriella knee.
Gabriella shifted nervously removing his hand by taking it in hers. It didn't feel right to have him touch her. It didn't feel comforting to hear his voice, if anything having him here seemed to have her insides in knots.
With a sigh Doug held her hand a little tighter and smiled, "The wedding is going to be fantastic. We'll have white doves, a large reception, Alex could be a flower girl, to think I have a media crew ready to tape it all and take pictures," Doug said to Gabriella's mother.
"What?" Alex jerked out of her daze and sat upright in her seat looking at Doug in horror.
Gabriella placed a hand over her mouth, she completely had forgotten to tell Alex about the wedding. "Alex I-"
"The wedding," Doug began to explain, "princess, your mom and I are getting married and you're the flower girl," He said with a smile.
Alex stood from her seat "Don't call me princess," she said crossing her arms, "you're getting married and you didn't tell me?"
Troy couldn't help but smile a little at the image of that smug smile falling from Doug's face. Serves him right for being so smug and sure of himself. Crossing his arms he leaned back further into the wall. He wasn't sure what he was supposed to do. He watched as Louis and Maria looked at one another and then looked back at him.
"Alexandra, I am so sorry," Gabriella said getting off the couch and coming over to her. "With all that's been happening I forgot to talk to you about it." Gabriella held her daughters hands in her own as she looked at her with sympatric eyes. "I didn't want you to find out like this."
"You said he might be moving in, no one ever said anything about getting married," Alex said glaring at Doug. "You don't even like him mom, you like Troy."
"Alex," Gabriella said with warning.
"And don't for one second think that I'm not calling you dad because you're not my dad."
"Alex calm down," Gabriella told her as tears began to run down Alex's cheeks. "I would never want to hurt you or do anything that makes you uncomfortable," Gabriella said giving her hands a small tug.
"Then why are you marrying him?" she said choking back a sob.
"Now Alex, I love your mother very much," Doug said leaning forward a little, "And if you let me, we can be great-"
"I hate you," She glared at him as she pulled away from Gabriella, "and if you marry him I'll hate you too." Alex moved away from both of them all the way until she was standing by Troy's side, her arms wrapping around his waist.
"Alex, damn it." Doug got up from the couch as he began to walk towards her, "I have put up with that attitude for long enough," Doug said in a stern voice, "You will not talk to us this way."
"Doug," Gabriella pushed herself up from the floor holding out a hand to stop him, "It's alright,"
"Are you insane? This is Ludacris Gabriella, letting her talk freely and insult you like that," Doug said turning to face her. "You have never disciplined her and that is why she is going to be a handful," He said pointing a finger at Alex, "Once in a while a good spanking is necessary."
Louis stood form his chair, "that is my granddaughter you're talking about and my daughter your talking to," he said forcefully.
"Luis," Maria said placing a hand on his arm. "This is not our place," she said quietly looking around the room. Everyone was quiet as she laid her eyes on Gabriella, "Your father and I are going for a walk," she said looking at Troy. "When we get back I suppose this situation will be dealt with," glancing over at Gabriella, Maria nodded and she pushed Louis outside.
There was silence in the room as the four of them avoid each other eyes. As soon as the door closed behind her mother Gabriella looked over at Troy with a pleading expression, "Please take her upstairs to bed."
Troy searched her brown eyes for a moment not sure if he should step in on her daughter's behalf or remain silent on the situation unfolding before his eyes.
"Please Troy," she whispered.
With small sigh he nodded, "Fine," he said placing a hand on Alex's shoulder. "Come on sweetheart."
Troy led Alex up the stairs to her bedroom. He was curious about what was going on downstairs, his mind was humming with different scenarios of beating that smug look of Doug's face. Quietly without a word he waited at the foot of the bed as Alex got ready in the bathroom. His eyes traveled around the room resting on the picture sitting on the night stand. It was the picture from the mall. Troy with Alex in his arms smiling and standing next to Gabriella, the perfect image of his family. Troy shook his head and red the inscription he wrote on it. Best wishes on becoming a big time reporter, I owe you a one on one. Troy Bolton.
"I'm ready for bed," she said coming out of the bathroom and climbing into the bed. Troy nodded and shifted so he could pull up the covers to help her in.
"Okay my little monkey," he said once she was settled and he was tucking her in tightly. "You ready for tomorrow?" he asked quietly thinking about the interview and all the people who would be there to take pictures of them. "You know that a lot of things are going to change."
"Like what?"
"Well, like I said everyone is going to know who you are and your pictures going to be in the papers for a while," Troy said gently.
"What about Butthead?" she said a little frown of disappoint settling over her features.
"I don't know yet," Troy said with a small shrug. "If it helps, I'll be here with you every step of the way," he said giving her a kiss on her forehead.
Alex let out a sigh as she adjusted herself, "Adults are complicated. I mean you love her; she can't be part of the best day of your life if you don't love her," she said holding out her arms in frustration.
"Although, I agree with you on the Butthead part," he said with a smile as he held a finger up to his lips to indicate a secret. "I can't make your mom do anything," he added with a frown.
"But you love her right?" she asked looking up at Troy.
"With all my heart," he said lovingly.
"Do you love me?" she asked a bit more shyly.
"I love you a billion times to the moon and back," he said with a smile, "nothing will ever change that." Soothing some hair out of her face and tucking it behind the ear he paused and slowly tilted his head to the side, "You're the best thing that ever happened to me."
"You're the best thing to happen to me too," she said followed by a yawned as she begun to let her eyes drop slowly.
"Night my little monkey," he said leaning over and kissing her on the forehead again.
"Night daddy."
Leaving the door open a bit so the light from the hall could stream in, Troy smiled and slowly walked down the hall. As he got closer to the steps he could hear Doug and Gabriella arguing. He was suddenly filled with confusion about what he should do or how to handle the situation. Picking the better of two evils, Troy came down the stairs quietly making his way to the kitchen to fix himself something to drink and stay hidden until the coast was clear.
"You're not adopting my daughter," Gabriella huffed.
"Gabriella sweetheart, you know what I mean," Doug pleaded.
"Obviously I don't," Gabriella responded, "Doug I don't think this is going to work out."
"Is this because of him? Gabriella you barely know him."
"You barely know me," Gabriella countered, "Doug maybe this just isn't meant to be?"
"Gabriella you're just scared, you've been through a lot and I'm sorry I didn't come out here with you to begin with-"
"Doug I slept with him."
Doug was quiet as he watched her carefully, disappointment came over his features and he let out a breath, "Well he is a very rich man."
"It has nothing to do with the money."
"It has everything to do with money. Please," Doug said as he ran a hand through his hair. "You're a woman, everything is about money. This is what I have been trying to tell you, I can support you, I can give you everything he can."
"Doug," Gabriella said with quivering lip. "I love him."
"No, you love the idea of him," Doug corrected, "you're better than him Gabriella, you deserve more, you need more, he left you."
"For the record, I left him and I don't need you to tell me what I deserve."
Doug made a fist as he rolled his eyes, "Baby clam down, just relax, all I'm saying is that we would make a lot of money if we stood together."
Gabriella shook her head and walked past him making her way towards the kitchen, "Doug, I think you should go."
"No, I'm not leaving without you, I'm not leaving you here with him."
Gabriella reached for her ring and handed it out to him.
"No,"
"Doug. Please," she said with annoyance.
He was quiet as he watched her, waiting for her to agree with him, waiting for her to change her mind. Letting out a sigh he brought a hand up to his mouth. "You slut."
"Excuse me?" Gabriella said appalled.
"You stung me along all this time just so I could support you."
"That's not what happened," Gabriella said a little offended, "Doug I care about you."
"Right, sure you do," he sneered taking the ring from her fingers.
"Just go," Gabriella said as she turned to enter the kitchen.
"Gabriella," Doug said coming closer to her and grabbing her arm.
Troy was watching from the doorway his hands clenching slightly. "She told you to leave buddy," he said with a warning tone as he lifted his water glass for another sip.
"Right," Doug said with frown, "I bet you're really proud of yourself, stealing my girl." Doug let go of her arm and made his way into the kitchen, "Let me tell you something, while you've been living it up as a basketball superstar I've been raising and supporting your child. I have been taking care business while you play your stupid little games. The least you could do is show some respect."
"I'd thank you," Troy said placing his glass down, "But part of me thinks you only went through the trouble in hopes that you could exploit my child to increase your stupid book sales."
Doug eyes widen as he looked back at Gabriella then back at him, "Don't be ridiculous," turning towards Gabriella he let out a huff "Your nothing but an ungrateful bitch." Doug looked back at Doug. "I didn't drive all the way out here for nothing."
"You mean you didn't come out here just to see the woman you were supposed to be marrying out of the kindness of your heart?" Troy said with an arched brow.
"You know what my agent called and he said that it would be wise if you and I combined the interview so I could talk about my book and you can talk about Alex that way the whole family is involved." Doug said looking over at Troy.
Troy crossed his arms as he looked over at Gabriella, "Not happening."
"We had a good thing planned, think about it I adopt Alex and you get to keep your superstar lifestyle. Everything will just fall into place," Doug said.
"We are not a family," Gabriella yelled, "We're over Doug."
"Besides I never let you adopt my daughter," Troy said sternly, "she isn't some promotional prop for your book tour, she's my daughter."
"Don't be a fool about this," Doug said holding a hand up to Troy. "Think about the publicity and money that'll roll in," he said placing an arm on Troy shoulder. "I think we need to help each other when we can."
Gabriella couldn't believe what she was hearing. She couldn't grip the concept of Doug's logic the whole time he wanted to be a family he was just using her for publicity. Using her like some kind of accessory for his career.
"Are you crazy?" Troy questioned.
"What are you going to do fight for custody, you know as well as I do the judge will see fit that she remains with her mother and not some stranger," Doug said with a grin. "You might as well just give up, and realize that this is the only way things can work out."
"I cannot believe you would think for one moment that I would let you use my daughter as some prop," Gabriella yelled as he came closer to her. "I'm not marrying you. It's over. We're done."
"But Gabriella," he said coming closer to her and grabbing her arm.
Without hesitation Troy lunged forward and grabbed Doug's other hand. Twisting his arm and pulling it up so he could push it against his back and slam him into the kitchen wall.
"Let me go," Doug shouted, "This is between me and her."
"Correction, it was between you and her," he said jerking Doug's hand up higher, "Touch her again and I'll crack your neck and make you a vegetable," he said in harsh voice. Doug struggled for a moment before realizing that he was out matched.
Troy looked over at Gabriella who was soothing a strand of hair behind her ear. When she nodded Troy jerked Doug away from the wall and walked him to the door the whole time Doug winced in pain as he shuffled forward with his arm strained behind his back.
"This is assault," Doug said as they got to the door.
"Good." Troy said opening the door and shoving him outside. "Stay away from my family."
"You me my left overs," he sneered.
Troy paused just as he was about to shut the door and in one quick step his fist coiled with Doug's face in an explosion of blood.
Doug tripped backwards into the grass, stumbling left and right before getting his bearings, "I think you broke my nose!" Doug shouted as he gained his balance and brought his hand up to stop the bleeding.
"Send me fucking bill," Troy said as he slammed the door shut. Troy winced as he waved his hand clenching and unclenching his fist.
"Was hitting him necessary?" Gabriella said as she came up to him and took his hand. With a sigh she turned away from him and headed to the freezer for a bag of peas to stop the swelling.
"Sometimes I just can't help myself," Troy said following her and stopping at the table where he pulled out a chair and took seat.
"I mean seriously Troy," she said bringing the bag of peas out of the fridge, "He's probably going to press charges," coming up to him she placed the peas on his hand and looked down at him with a scowl.
"If it meant that the entire world would go against me, I'd still fight defending your honor," Troy said with a smirk.
"Yeah," she said with a frown, "Well he was just a history teacher from New York," she said lifting the bag of peas to get another look and then placing it down again. "Seriously sometimes you can be so-"
"Heroic?" Troy supplied looking up at her with a grin.
"Stupid," she finished letting go of the bag of peas and moving away from him.
Troy raised a brow as he shifted his hand and let the peas fall onto the table, "So," he started standing up and so he could stand behind her, "now that you're available," leaning in he placed a finger on her arm and slowly slid it down the length of her arm until he reached her fingers tips.
"Troy," she said exasperatedly, "I've been available for all of 3 minutes." The tingle of his touch was like a slow fire spreading through her. She didn't want him to see her smile, didn't want him to know it was that easy to corrupt her.
"Well," he said curling his right arm around her waist and resting his open hand over her abdomen, "I've been in love with you for all of 15 years," he whispered into her ear. Troy nipped lightly on her earlobe before firmly pressing her back against him, "I think I have a good reason for urgency. Don't you?"
"Right," Gabriella said arching her neck a little to allow him better access, "and none of this has to do with the kid that we share or the sex we had last night?" brow raised she glanced back at him over her shoulder.
"Marry me."
Gabriella felt both of his hands come to rest on her waist line. "I have to think about Troy," she said with a tight smile on her lips, "I could just be rebounding after all?"
Troy used his hands to spin her around so that she was facing him, her expression taken aback by his actions. Even more so when he lifted her from the floor and onto the countertop behind her.
"I'm not asking you," he said with smirk on his lips, "I'm simply letting you believe you have a choice by being traditional."
"Is that right?" she said spreading her legs a little to accommodate him.
"Yes, because actually I have every intention of kidnapping you and dragging you down to city hall if I have to."
"How romantic?" Gabriella teased.
"That's just the kind of guy I am," he said with a raised brow, "I don't make the same mistake twice."
"Bullshit," she said jerking back, "explain last season?"
"Oh hush," he said bringing a hand up to cover her mouth. With his other hand he reached into his back pocket and pulled out a ring. "Back to the matter at hand, you haven't officially accepted my proposal."
"That's because I haven't heard an official proposal yet?" she said pulling his hand down gently.
Troy raised a brow as he looked down at the ring in his hands and then back at her. "Alright," he said shifting his weight to lift her off the counter top and placing her on her feet. As soon as she was standing he bent down on one knee and looked up at her as he lifted the ring in a silent plea. "Gabriella? Will you marry me?"
"Say yes mom!"
Gabriella and Troy both jerked when they turned to see Alex standing in the door way barefoot and wide eyed as she bounced up and down in excitement.
"I should have known she'd be working alongside you," Gabriella said looking back at Troy with a surprised expression.
"What can I say, I fight dirty," he shrugged playfully.
"Say yes already! It not's real until you say yes mom," Alex urged.
"Oh my god," Gabriella said with a chuckle, "yes, yes a billion times yes."
Troy sprang up to his feet and placed the ring on her finger urgently before swooping down and crushing her lips against his in what was possibly the second best kiss of his life.