Phew! So now it's the epilogue.. Goodness, it's like no time has been spent on this story at all. Thanks so much EVERYONE who read and reviewed! It truly makes my day when I read all the reviews! Thank so much. I was determined to finish this story before school starts again, or else I'll be caught up again! Please review!!!!

For the last time on this story- Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognize!
Cheers, everyone!!


Good Comes Last

by Laugh, in laughnsmile96

Chapter Twenty: Ever Ever After


To ever ever after
Forever could even start today
Ever ever after
Maybe it's just one wish away
Your ever ever after

Carrie Underwood, Ever Ever After

70.6 percent of all children who are accurately diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia do not survive from the deadly disease. Jayden Bolton was part of the 29.4 percent of children that did survive. And with death rates going drastically up in the time that little Jay had been discharged from the Los Angeles Childrens Hospital, his story was a complete miracle. It took two months for Jayden to heal entirely after the day that he had gotten his mother back. He was at the peak of his disease when suddenly, his sickness disappeared over the course of the next month. The next whole month, Jayden was kept in the hospital to regain his strength. On September 9 of the that year, Jayden was finally released from the hospital back into the loving arms of his family. His arrival back home sent out millions of happy cheers and called for a celebration.


TWO YEARS LATER

Everyone sat still in the hospital corridor, waiting for any response from the doctors. The wait was incredibly long and patience was wearing down. The walls of the hospital had gotten accustomed to the frequent visits of this particular group but this time it glowed in ecstasy. Because this time no one was hurt. This time no one was suffering from a head trauma or being operated for a fatal kidney transplant. This time no little boy was crying in absolute fear of death. Because this time a new life was being welcomed into the world. As Troy held his wife's slippery hand and bared the high frequency shrieks that she sent out, he was forced to be shipped back two years ago when he and Gabriella finally reunited in the hospital after one month's torture.

--------

Troy slowly pulled back from Gabriella's mouth to meet her eyes. He kissed her forehead sincerely and then pressed his lips everywhere that his wet lips could reach. With her fingers tangled in Troy's hair, Gabriella closed her eyes in pure bliss as he sprinkled kisses on her face.

"Don't you ever leave me like that again," she ordered once her eyes were wide open again. Troy nodded once and leaned down to kiss her lips again.

"Never!" he whispered in her ear and rested his head at the nape of her neck. She hopped down from his waist and returned the hug faithfully.

"If you ever do, I am going to come down there myself and demand a reason before I pull you back into my arms," Gabriella threatened into her boyfriend's chest.

Troy chuckled and tightened the grip on her sides. He nuzzled her neck and looked around the hallway. Troy noticed that his traveling audience were still staring googly-eyed at the scene if front of them. He pulled back just a bit before waving a hand at all of them.

"Nothing to see here!" he announced. "Just another couple in love, embracing like they should," Gabriella giggled. Troy watched as they all reluctantly returned to their respective stations and continued their work. Gabriella cupped his cheek and brought his face back to fill his lips with hers.

"Baby," he said before seizing her lips again. "I love you so much. Ever since we first met. I found your number on the sheets and I was so stupid to-"

"Shh, it's okay, honey," Gabriella brushed her thumb against his perfectly carved cheek. "I love you too, Troy. And right now..," she put her head near his heart again and gave out a heavy sigh, wrapping her arms around his waist. "that's all that matters" Troy and Gabriella stayed like that for a good fifteen minutes before a nurse slipped out of Room 414.

"Gabriella?" the nurse said. Both of them landed their eyes on the nurse. "He is awake," Gabriella smiled. She looked back up at Troy and took both his hands in hers. She lifted herself on her toes and pecked Troy on the lips. "I believe you have to meet your son," Troy smiled and his eyes widened, his stomach flip flopping in his abdomen. He gulped.

"Don't worry. He is like the younger version of you," Troy chuckled nervously and followed his love inside the room.

"Jayden?" there was a shuffle and a squeak from the bed that Troy's son rested on. Troy carefully strolled into Jayden's view and suddenly when their eyes met, Troy was forced to smile brightly.

"Hey, Jayden," Troy greeted. Gabriella pushed him along and made him go further while she stayed back and watched them meet. Troy delicately sat on the bed watching for Jayden's feet. "I'm Troy," he placed his hand on his son's, Troy's large hand engulfing Jayden's puny one.. Suddenly, his whole world turned over and as soon as the shock surged through his nerves, Troy immediately knew that even if he was or wasn't his own son, he would love him like one. "I'm your-"

"father," Jayden finished for him. He smiled proudly at his discovery. "She told me," he pointed to his mother. Troy's lip trembled as tears of joy fill his eyes. He looked over and Gabriella and back at Jayden. Gabriella covered her mouth as the tears already flowed. Jayden spread his arms out towards Troy to invite him for a hug. Troy beamed.

"I felt that too," Jayden whispered in Troy's ear as they embraced. The little boy pulled away from Troy and turned to his mother. "Mom?" he held his hand out to her and before he knew it, the family of three had finally joined as one.

Three months later, Gabriella stood on the shore of the Pacific Ocean, bare feet and in a strapless flowing wedding dress. The Hawaiian breeze swept through the beach and the sun was just about to slip under the horizon. She looked deeply into her love's eyes and knew that this was a moment to remember. She had probably waited forever for this time when she finally became Gabriella Bolton. She was now finally his. And Gabriella couldn't ask for more.

Troy's parents sat in the first row of the white benches, smiling like two proud parents would be. They had visited once after Jayden came back from the hospital to find a mighty surprise waiting for them in California. The whole story was explained to them and all they had was sincere happiness for their children. And for Gabriella, their gratitude. Because she had saved their son's life. Jack and Lucille Bolton gladly welcomed Gabriella into their family completely.

Next to them, was her son, Jayden. His was entirely excited about having a family. Jayden was going to start school again after the marriage ceremony was finished and they had reached safely back in California. After Troy and Jayden met three months ago, their relationship bloomed into a beautiful flower. All three of them were like puzzle pieces that fit perfectly together and made a beautiful picture. And that is what Jayden loved about family. He had been through a tragic experience, one that he would never forget of course. Even though at such a young age, Jayden had learned so much about life. And even if the disease were to hit him again, Jayden knew that his family would take care of him.

Chad stood behind Troy in his respective spot as the best man, distantly gazing at the ceremony that was taking place. His eyes soon fell on Taylor. Her hand was wrapped around a bouquet which held a diamond ring that indicated a sign of marriage. Just three weeks after Jayden had returned home, Chad was immersed in his love for Taylor and decided to step up a notch. So, at a winning basketball game against the Chicago Bulls, Chad proposed to Taylor in front of everyone single audience member. Taylor connected their eyes and smiled at Chad, who returned it with a wink.

Behind Taylor was Sharpay, one of the pretty bridesmaids. With a tilted head and an equally satisfied smile on her lips, she -like everyone else-, watched the wedding. She played with her fingers and caught a glimpse of her one and only, Zeke, who sat next to Jayden. He had a protective arm around Troy's son and played a fabulous uncle. Sharpay's heart bloomed in her chest. She had a secret yet to tell anybody. Sharpay was finally bearing a child. The married couple was going to have a baby. Seeing Jayden back with his family and after Taylor had announced she was pregnant, Sharpay was sickened by the thought of being not being a mother. But it was only a week before the wedding that she had woken up one morning with a complaining stomach. Zeke was the only one who knew and both had agreed to disclose the news after marriage.

And amongst them all, Troy who stood amazed at the beauty in front of him. His life was finally knotting up together in one pleasant of fulfillment. He listened as the priest continued to make vows of matrimony but couldn't help but be distracted by Gabriella. He had no words to describe how much in love he was with her. As Chad would call him; "whipped". Troy couldn't deny it. Gabriella was the one he was waiting for all his life and finally she was all his. The old priest stopped and waited for Troy to answer. Troy wasn't going to hesitate. He wouldn't dare.

"I do".

----

"Brie," a velvet voice pulled Gabriella out of her dreams. She opened her eyes carefully and smiled at Troy's face.

"Troy," she croaked, her mouth dry from all the screams of giving birth. Troy nuzzled her nose and caressed her cheek with his hand before plunging down to kiss her lips. Troy lifted his legs from the ground and carefully place them beside Gabriella's. He put his head next to her heart and listened to the beat that kept two souls alive.

"I love you," Gabriella held his face in her hands and said the three words that made his heart flutter.

"Mmmmh, I love you too," he breathed into her hair in a relaxed happiness. They were together for sometime before a nurse knocked and walked into the room. She held a pink bundle in her arms with a happy smile on her face.

"Do you two want to meet your daughter?" Gabriella gasped in sheer joy. Troy smiled and held his hands out toward the nurse. She walked before him and placed the baby girl into his large arms. His smile brightened at the sight of a new born beauty.

"I want to see! Give her to me!" Gabriella whined like a little child. Troy chuckled lightly and carefully handed the baby to his wife. Gabriella gave a slow gasp and a wide smile as the little girl rested in her arms.

"Oh, Troy!," she gloated. "She's so beautiful," Troy still lay beside Gabriella and gazed at his daughter. He kissed the top of her forehead.

"I am gonna go get Jayden, okay?" Gabriella nodded and after Troy splattered a kiss on her ear, whizzed out of the room gracefully.

"Dad!" Jayden yelled just as soon as his eyes sat on Troy. "Is she here yet?"

"Yes," Troy replied confidently. "She's here, alright," Troy lifted took the hand of his son's and dragged him along to the hospital bedroom.

"Where is she?!" Jayden was hyperactive, completely hysterical to meet his new magically arrived sister. Ever since the day his mother became unusually large and Troy and Gabriella were just bound to tell him, he was over excited. Finally, when his Uncle Chad came to pick up from school, he went entirely berserk.

"Wow!," Jayden said, amazed at the new attendant of the Bolton family. Jayden put his index finger into the tiny loop of her fingers. "She's so little," Gabriella giggled.

"Jays, you were just as shrimp when you were baby," She snorted again. " Smaller even," Troy watched in silence as Jayden interacted with his younger sister and resumed his spot beside Gabriella.

"What is her name, mom?" he asked. Gabriella glanced at Troy to recieve a reassuring nod.

"Jordan," Gabriella stated. " Jordan Camilla Bolton,". Jayden leaped onto the bed with his parents. He spread out his hands so that he could hold her.

"Hiya Jordan," Troy and Gabriella watched as Jayden conversed with his little sister as she dozed off into sleep. He rattled on about things from school, his friends, or what the mean janitor was yelling at other students for. All the while, Troy discretely, put his arms around Gabriella and his lips next to her ear.

"I love you," Gabriella shivered as she heard the three little words that she adored the most. She looked up at Troy and captured his lips for two seconds.

"I love you, too, Troy,"

Like always, that was all they needed. That was all that mattered. Because love is behind every happy being. Love is like a dream, where there are no impossibilities. Love is that which exists as the universe for nothing magnificent could be done without. Love is the thing that always hope because in the end, you know that everything will be alright. You know that you can have your happily ever after with that person you love. For Troy and Gabriella, it seemed like forever until their true bliss overpowered. But in the end they knew, it was all worth the risk.

"When a heart finds another, what's a cloud more or less in the sky?"
--Wolf and Page


Screams!!! It's all OVER! Wow, that was a great ending don't ya think? But I can't believe it was done. Thank you all so much for reading this story. And for one LAST time, please please please review!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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