Coming Home

"That should be the last of it." Troy closed the now empty luggage. They had just gotten back from their trip, and he was assigned the duty of unpacking, since his wife packed. It was quite easy, since all the clothes were in the dirty laundry hamper.

"I didn't even notice you were wearing that shirt I got you for your birthday," Sharpay glanced at him. She was sitting on their bed cuddling with Logan, making up for the long three days they were away. "You look great in it, babe."

Troy got up from the floor, and went over to the bed. "I missed him."

"I'm sure he missed daddy too," Sharpay smiled at their son. She began cooing. "Did you miss, Daddy?"

"Dudda!" The one year old smiled. Sharpay and Troy looked at their son in disbelief. He finally said daddy. Not as clear as they were hoping but he said it.

Sharpay kissed her husband on the cheek, and laid back down with their son. Troy was about to lay down with his wife and son, but Sharpay shooed him off.

"Go check on William. I'm sure he missed you." Sharpay said, half asleep.

It was nearly one in the morning. They didn't like getting home in the middle of the night but their flight was delayed. They were supposed to arrive at nine, but ended up waiting another hour for their transfer, and that was a two hour flight. They didn't even tell Ryan they were at home. He was peacefully asleep in the guest suite.

"Are you sure he's still up?" Troy questioned. He didn't want to wake him up if he was asleep, just to say they were home.

"I'm sure, baby," Sharpay said faintly. "I heard him and Robert talking when I got Logan from his room."

"Okay," Troy slipped a shirt on, and his slippers. "Be right back."

He walked down the hall and knocked once on his son's door, but when there was no answer, he decided to open it.

He gasped at what was in front of him. There he was. William Troy Bolton, kissing his best friend.

"William." Troy coughed. That was awkward.

Will pulled away and went red. "Dad," he said after a while. "Ryan said you weren't going to be home til tomorrow."

Troy took a deep breath. "Your mother and I's flight was delayed. We were thinking of staying in Chicago for the night but we hopped on the plane. Uh."

"Dad," William looked nervous. Like he was about to cry. "I'm sorry."

Robert had a guilty look on his face as he got up and sat on an arm chair, away from Will.

"Don't be." Troy said, and without another word, he left the bedroom and went back to his wife.

"I'm gonna go check on Daddy, you boys," she smiled at Graham and Logan who were playing in the pool with Berta and Ryan. "Momma will be right back."

"Bye, Mommy!" Graham Bolton squirted water at her as she walked away, covering herself with her white see-through cover.

She stopped at the basement door and went down. That was where the older ones hung out. It was great. There was a flat screen, couches, a pool table and an Xbox down there for when they had company. It was just like what she had as a teenager. Except she didn't use hers due to the fact she was a bitch, and rarely had friends.

"Baby," Sharpay reached the bottom of the stairs, looking at William. "I'm heading to Walmart later. Do you need anything?"

Robert moved away from William as he paused the game they were playing. "Um," Will thought. "Deodorant, and can you pick up some cologne for me?"

"Armani?" Sharpay asked.

"That's my favorite," Robert smiled, but immediately stopped. "I like that stuff. Makes me smell good for the ladies."

William coughed. "Same. Thanks, Mom."

"Love you, darling." Sharpay awkwardly made her way back up the stairs and this time, went to do what she said she would do.

She opened the double doors to the master bedroom and found her husband laying in the bed, holding her pillow, just laying there. He wasn't sleeping, nor doing anything in particular.

"You don't need to cuddle that," Sharpay giggled and climbed in bed with him replacing the pillows with herself. "You have me."

Troy said nothing.

"Babe," Sharpay looked at him. "What's wrong?"

Troy looked at her. "It's Will."

"What?" Sharpay was confused. What about Will? He was perfectly fine.

"I walked into something last night," he began. "I didn't know how to respond."

Sharpay squeezed him tighter, encouraging him to go on. "And?"

"Sharpay," Troy coughed. "My son's gay."

Sharpay pulled away and sat up. "How come you're saying it like that's a bad thing?"

"I'm not, I swear," Troy rubbed his fingers through his hair. "I just. I feel bad that he didn't tell us about Robert. Does he think we won't accept him? And what if I outed him before he was ready?"

Sharpay climbed onto his lap, smiling. "It's okay, Troy. Don't beat yourself up over it."

"Do we tell her?" Troy asked.

"Tell who?" Sharpay raised her eyebrows. If he was talking about their parents, she was confused as to why they needed to tell them. It was none of their business, nor was it their own. It was their son's business.

"Gabriella." Troy finally spit out.

Sharpay pulled away and huffed. "Troy, why are you finding so many excuses to talk to her?"

"I'm not," Troy tried holding her, but she pulled away. "I love you."

"Whatever." Sharpay said with no emotion and went into her closet.

He knew she wouldn't come out until he was gone.

Gabriella shoved her cases folders in the back of the SUV, and hopped in the front seat. She was about to back out of the driveway when her phone rang. It was an unknown number.

"Gabriella Montez, how may I help you?" she answered in a professional tone.

"It's Troy." A man's voice said on the other line.

"Troy!" Gabriella said in a much more excited tone than she would have hoped. "Uh, why are you contacting me?"

"Um," there was a pause. "I need to talk to you about William."

Was he finally going to let her see her son? She smiled, although he could not see it. Instead of getting her hopes up, she casually replied. "What's up?"

"I need to talk to you in person. Meet me at the cafe on Murrow in about twenty minutes. See you." Without a response, he hung up.

Gabriella sighed and shoved her phone back in her pocket. "Please God." She said go herself.

She hoped it would be about visitation or something. She wanted to be in her son's life. Not even as a mother, but as an acquaint. Like a family friend.

She took the long way to the cafe, hoping to calm herself down before seeing Troy.

He was so handsome. He was always dressed tip-top, and he was muscular. His hair was styled in a way that would give teenage girls 'orgasms', and he had a beard. He was every woman's dream. That could've been hers. If she just hadn't left.

"Are you coming?" Troy asked a still upset Sharpay, who was driving. He didn't want her to get uncomfortable or the wrong idea, so he brought her along.

She pulled her Mercedes SUV into a parking space. "I'll wait in here." She huffed.

Troy leaned in for a kiss, to which she did not comply to. He sighed and placed his hand on her bare thigh. "I love you."

Sharpay simply huffed again. Her signature thing to do when upset. After earning a pouty face from Troy she gave him a forced kiss on the cheek. "I know."

He wanted to laugh at her cuteness. She was so cute when she was mad. He knew she liked being the dominant one; the one in charge, so instead of saying how cute she was, he got out and made his way into the building.

"Troy!" Gabriella called from a window seat.

"Gabriella." Troy nodded as he sat across from her.

He raised his hand for a waiter when she reached over and pulled it down. "I already ordered."

He pulled his arm away, and looked at her. "Okay. What'd you get me?"

"Iced coffee." She said. "It's your favorite."

Troy nodded and glanced around their surroundings. "So.."

"What do you want to tell me?" She asked, as the waiter placed their drinks in front of them.

Troy was silent as he sipped his drink and stared at her. How was he going to tell a proud Catholic-raised Latina that her son was gay? He personally seen no issue for it, but he knew how religious Gabriella was raised. She didn't throw her religion around and didn't talk about it much but everyone knew about it.

"Okay, look," Gabriella was sick of the silence. "I'm just going to come right out and say it. I love you. I still love you. Nothing will change the way I feel about you."

Troy took a long breath. He didn't want to be hearing this. Not now. Not ever.

He was with Sharpay. They had three kids together. They built a life together. Truth is, if she would have said she loved him ten years ago, he would have accepted her back, no matter what. He was in too deep now. Quite frankly, he didn't want her back anymore.

He loved his family. They were his pride and joy. He wasn't going to let his past ruin it. That's what Gabriella was now. His past. An ex. Someone who he didn't want in his life.

He had no choice but to have her in his life now. He hated that. He wished she just stay away from him and his family. But she couldn't. He had a child with her. A child that would bound them together for life.

"Gabriella," Troy looked into her deep brown eyes. He didn't just look at them, he looked in them. Like he saw her soul all over again. "I'm sorry."

"I'm the one who should be sorry," she bit her lip. "I swear, I never meant to stay away for good. I just wanted a break. I never meant to stay away."

"Then why did you?" he asked, still looking into her eyes.

"Alicia," Gabriella's mind lead to the day she found out she was carrying a beautiful baby girl. It was the day she was planning on booking a flight and heading back to Albuquerque. That was until she put together the pieces. Morning sickness. Sore feet. Hormones going wild. "I couldn't put you through that."

"She's my daughter?" Troy scrunched his nose. Wow. That was his.

"No," Gabriella told him, although she wasn't 100% sure. "Well, I was with a guy."

"Wait, how long after you left did you give birth?" Troy asked. It was over a decade ago but he needed to know if she was having an affair.

"Eight months." She gave him an apologetic look.

"So while you were with me," he looked at his coffee and back at her. "You weren't faithful?"

"I'm sorry." Gabriella felt a tear fall from her eye. It was soon followed by a lot, not only from her right, but from her left as well.

"I can't believe you." Troy said with little emotion. He didn't care but he felt slight betrayal. All those times she was 'working late', she was probably with a different man.

"Troy," she began, wiping her tears with a tissue. "I never meant for you to find out or to hurt you."

"You hurt me the day you left," Troy played with his wedding band, finding a bit of comfort while doing so. "I don't care anymore."

"Okay." was all that came out of her trembling mouth.

Troy stood up, placing a twenty dollar bill on the table. "I should get going. That should cover it."

"Troy," Gabriella rushed after him, finally stopping him at the exit. "I'm sorry. I love you."

"And I love you," Troy replied, looking at her. She was his son's mother. He could never hate her after all she has done. "I always will. You gave me my son. I can never not love you."

Gabriella stared at him for a couple of seconds and then stood on her tiptoes and planted a soft kiss on his lips.

Troy didn't comply but he also didn't push her away.

After a few seconds, a loud door slammed, followed by the shouts of the angry blonde.

"What the hell!" She screamed. "After all we've been through, you still chose her over me!"

"Sharpay-" Troy said calmly, reaching over to hold her.

"Don't you dare touch me." She said coldly, and then looked at Gabriella for a short second, smacking her across the face.

Troy stood in shock. Gabriella held her face. They both watched as an angry Sharpay got into her expensive SUV, flicking them off before driving away.