Sorry about the long wait. I lost all sense of where I was going with this story for a bit so I apologize. I sort of like this chapter, plus it fills in some stuff for next chapter and sets up the next chapter so yeah. Enjoy!!

Chapter 9

June 19th 12:34 A.M. Montez Home

I sat on the familiar bed and watched her. She looked so flawless as she stood in the connecting bathroom and carefully brushed out every inch of her hair. There's no doubt in this world that I love her and always will. I noticed the sides of her lips curve into smile. My heart skipped a beat.

"You're staring at me." She chuckled without even glancing over at me. Still, I noticed her cheeks flush a bright red with embarrassment. It's amazing to me how she's oblivious to what she does to me.

"I'm sorry." My gaze still never left her. I feel tranced in her presence.

Her smile widened as she grabbed a hair tie from the sink and started to pull her hair back into a messy bun. When she finished, she turned and looked over at me. She was wearing Tinker Bell Pajama bottoms and a green tank top.

She started to play with her hair again. "What? Is there something on my face?"

I chuckled and, using my head, motioned for her to come over. She smiled and cut the bedroom lights before heading over towards me. She carefully kneeled between my legs and smiled up at me. Her face sparkled as the moonlight danced across her face.

"Is everything o.k.?" She asked, her voice barely over a whisper.

Carefully, I moved a hair that threatened to cover her beautiful face and tucked it behind a ear. I glanced down and noticed the 'T'. Reaching down, I rubbed my thumb over the red stone and smiled.

"I remember when I gave this to you. I was so nervous, but I wanted to claim you as mine." I chuckled. "I'd have been dammed if any other guy was going to even glance at you that summer."

She slipped her hand into mine and kissed the back of my hand. My breath hitched in my throat. "I'll never forget that summer. I relationship shook a little at the beginning but it ended up being the best summer ever." She glanced up at me and smiled. "It was my first summer in one place and I got to spend it with you."

I smiled and kissed her hand. "I really am sorry about that. I was such a jerk and I never meant to hurt you. That's the thing I would ever want to do. I was young and just plain stupid."

She stood up and before I knew it, her lips were on mine. Just as soon as they were, they were off again. "I love you Wildcat."

I placed my hand on her cheek using my thumb to stroke the side of her face. I still can't believe that I have her back. "I love you too Gabriella. I always have and always will." I leaned over and rested my head against her stomach. I smiled as I felt her stoke the back of my head.

She turned away after a few seconds and smiled at me. "We should probably get some sleep. If we're going to meet your mom tomorrow, then we'll need some rest."

I smiled back and followed her lead as she crawled onto the bed, getting under the covers. I laid down next to her. After settling herself beneath the sheets, she cuddled up to me and laid her head on my chest, a small arm wrapped around my stomach. I had one arm wrapped around her and the other comfortably behind my head. I slowly breathed in her scent, her hair smelling of vanilla and coconuts again. I love it.

There's something in the way she simply is that drives me crazy. Even the smallest things like the way she subconsciously plays with a single strand of hair when she's thinking or the way her cheeks redden when she's embarrassed like she did tonight. Even now as she sleeps, there's a small smile on her lips. All of it amazes me and all of it is mine. Mine to love till the day I die.

I smiled as I remembered that I not only have Brie to love till the day I die, but also Belle. In so many ways, Belle is like me. She'll scratch the back of her neck when she's nervous. Her smile is even a little crooked just like mine. Let's not forget the fact that her eyes are as blue, if not even bluer, than mine, along with her dirty blonde hair.

With as similar as she is to me, she's even more like her mother. She has her curly hair and her Giggle. She has Brie's high pitched voice and is strong just like her. She knows just how to make me smile and knows when I'm sad.

"Big Blue! Big Blue!!" Belle's cries could be heard from across the hall. From the sound of her voice, she obviously had a bad dream. This was my chance to do my first big fatherly act. Saving my baby girl from a bad dream.

Carefully as not to wake Brie, I slipped out of bed and quickly made my way over to her bedroom. It broke my heart to see her sitting there, tears streaming down her delicate cheeks. Quickly, I made my way over to her bed and sat down. She crawled into my lap and cried into my shoulder. I wanted to cry just seeing her like this.

"Shh, shh, baby what's wrong?" I stroked her hair trying to calm her sobs.

"A-are y-you l-leaving big b-blue?" She cried into shoulder.

My heart literally broke. She dreamed that I had left. "No, no, of course not baby girl. I would never leave you." I held her closer to my body as the thought of even attempting to leave her or her leave me entered my mind. "Not for anything in the world. I love you too much."

She pulled away and I used my thumb to wipe away her tears. "Big Blue really REALLY love little blue?" She asked making sure I wasn't lying.

I whipped away a new tear that rolled down her cheek. "Of course I do. I love you more than anything in the whole world."

She smiled and sniffed. "Even more than Auntie Sharpie?"

I chuckled. "Even more than Auntie Sharpie." It was cute how should couldn't pronounce Sharpay's name right.

I chuckled again as she looked down deep in thought. "Even more than food?"

"I would starve for you." Using my index finger I poked her nose and she giggled. My heart skipped 2 beats.

June 19th 1:12 A.M. Montez Home

I frowned as I reached over and noticed the empty space that filled Troy's spot on the bed. I had fallen asleep in his arms and now he was gone.

"Pst, Gabriella." My mom's voice silently filled the room. I turned over and saw her standing in the doorway a large smile on her face. "You have to come see this."

I shrugged and hopped out of bed. "What's going on?"

"Shh, quiet." She took my hand and started to lead me to Belle's door.

"IS she o.k.?" I quickly whispered, afraid of something being wrong with her.

My mom smiled back at me and shook her head. "Yes, now listen."I gave her a questioning look before focusing my ears in the room.

"Even more than food?"

"I would starve for you."

I shot a look at my mom. Why was Troy telling her that he would starve for her? What was going on? I heard her giggle and Troy chuckle.

"Even more than basketball?"

"Even more than basketball."

"Even more than ice cream?"

I heard Troy chuckle again. "Little Blue, I love you more than life itself."

I gasped as I realized what was going on. She was asking him how much he loved her and he was answering every question.

"And big blue will never leave me?" She asked, her voice so small and innocent.

There was a small pause and I heard Troy take a deep breath. "Baby girl, I would never leave you." His voice was shaking as if he was trying to hold back crying. My heart broke. That question meant more to Troy than Belle would ever know. Him leaving her wasn't an issue. The issue was he feared I would leave him again. The truth was, I don't think I ever could that again, I think. I hope not.

From the sound of it, Troy had decided to stay in her room and sleep there. I turned to my mom and saw tears in her eyes. "Mom, what's wrong?"

He shook her head and motioned for me to go back into my old bedroom. When we reached the room, she shut the door and cried some more. I made my way over to her and pulled her into a hug. "Momma, what's wrong?"

She sniffed. "He reminds me of your father. Your father would always wake up when he heard you crying and would comfort you." I closed my eyes remembering those nights when I was little. I was such a daddy's girl. Sometimes I would just cry so he would come and spend the night with me. I loved him so much. It killed me when he died. "I'll never forget this one night." She pulled away and made her way over to my bed and sat down. I sat down next to her. "You were about Belle's age so it was around the time that he was gone a lot traveling. He had just gotten home and we were just laying in the bed when you started crying for him. He couldn't have gotten out of bed faster to comfort you. I silently followed him and listened to your conversation."

I may have only been about 5, but I still remembered that night.

Gabriella jerked awake from a bad dream and started crying instantly. What felt like seconds, her father burst into the room and made his way over to her.

"Baby girl, what's wrong?"

She crawled into his arms and hugged him tight. "Daddy gonna leave me!"

He held her tighter and kissed her head. He couldn't tell her no because he would have to leave again for work, but he wanted to reassure her that he would always be with her. "I'll never leave you."

"But why daddy leave all the time?"

He sighed and looked her in the eyes. "I may leave for a little while, but I'll always come back." He shifted her in his lap so she was sitting sideways across him and forced her to lean her head against his chest. "You hear that?"

"Yeah."

"That's my heart. It only beats for you."

She used her small hand to reach and touch where her own heart would be. "And mine?"

"What do you think?" He asked, smiling big.

She smiled up at him. "It to only beat for daddy."

He smiled and hugged her tight. "That's my girl."

I miss him soo much. I still can't believe that he's been gone for almost 17 years now. Ican't help but smile knowing that Troy and Belle will have a close relationship just like mine and my fathers.

"You see, Belle woke up crying because she thought Troy had left and he told her he could never do that because he loved her too much." She smiled at me. "There's nothing more important than a father daughter relationship. I have no doubts that Troy will be a great father."

I smiled back at my mom. "Me neither mom. Me neither."

She smiled back at me and started to head back to her room. "Try and get some sleep. You look exhausted." I just nodded my head and watched her as she left the room.

I stood in my place for what felt like forever before I finally decided to go back to her room. As quietly as I could, I opened her bedroom door and smiled. Troy was sprawled out on the small bed while Belle cuddled into his side, her small arms trying to wrap around his body. I knew he was still awake because he smiled at me while he played with bells curls.

"Hey." He whispered.

"Hey." Silently, I shut the door and tiptoed over to the bed. There was some space between him and the wall so I crawled up the bed till I was right next to him. Making myself comfortable, I snaked my arm around him as well and rested my head on his shoulder. It was just the three of us, one family together. I only hope that we can stay like this forever.

June 19th 12:43 p.m. Bolton House

My heart raced with excitement as I jogged up the familiar pathway. It has been 5 years since I've really seen my parents and I've missed them like crazy.

"Big Blue, slow down!" Belle giggled as she bounced in my arms. She was going to get to meet her other grandparents. This has to be one of my most proudest moments ever. Today, I'm going to get to show off my daughter to my parents, though she will come as a great shock. Knowing my mother though, she'll warm up to Belle immediately.

"Troy, wait up!" Brie giggled a short distance behind me.

I was just so happy. I had the best night of my life, I'm getting to see my parents again and It's just a beautiful day. "Sorry." I stopped at the door and smiled back at Brie.

She giggled again. "You can't forget about me!"

I wrapped an arm around her waist and kissed her forehead. "I could never forget you."

She just giggled and so did Belle. "Big blue silly!" I poked her nose and she giggled.

"Here" I handed Brie Belle and smiled. "I'm going in first, than when I give the signal, put Belle down." I looked at Belle and smiled. "When mommy puts you down, I want you to run into the house and jump into my arms, o.k."

She just giggled. "O tay Big blue!"

I chuckled again and took a deep breath. "Troy, don't you think that maybe your mom will have a heart attack with a grown man barging into her house?!"

I smiled again and grabbed the door knob, letting myself into the house. I really should tell my mom that she needs to keep the house locked up. Just as I opened the door, I could hear my mom in the kitchen.

"Jack? Is that you?" She called. I smiled big knowing she would freak when she realized it was me walking into the house. Quietly I made my way over to the entrance to the kitchen and stopped, but swung my arm out so she could see that someone was standing there. "Jack?" She sounded worried.

I took one last big breath and stepped into the entry way. "Hey mom. Make any good snacks today?" I casually made my way to the counter and waited for her to freak.

By the time I made it to the counter, which didn't take long, she screamed. "TROY!!" I don't know how she did it, but she was in my arms in seconds. I held her tight. I missed my mom soo much it's not even funny. I feel bad for having pushed them out of my life, but now that I have a family of my own, I will make sure they are a part of everything.

"Hey mom. I missed you." She was shorter than me so I had to lean down a bit to speak into her ear.

"Oh my god, Troy! My baby boy! You're home!" I could tell by the sound of her voice that she was crying. I pulled back and saw that my assumption was correct.

"Yes I am."

She cupped my face with her hands and smiled again, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I missed you soo much."

I smiled. Then she smacked my arm. "Hey! What was that for?"

She whipped her tears and pointed a finger at me. "That's for not calling or visiting."

I smiled and so did she. "I'm sorry mommy."

She chuckled. "What do you want?!" We both laughed remembering all the times back in high school that I would call her mommy to try and get something. We gave each other another hug. "So, what has my basketball superstar son been up to?"

I smiled big. "Well, actually, I have someone I would like you to meet. She means the absolute world to me and I know she will to you too." I looked over at the kitchen entry way and smiled. "Belle!"

She looked at me confused as I stepped to the side and waited for her to come running. I smiled big as I heard her small footsteps quickly make their way into the kitchen. She giggled when she saw me and I kneeled down so she could run into my arms. She jumped into them and I lifted her up before spinning around in a circle. When I stopped, I turned and looked at my mother. Her eyes were locked on Belle, confusion, yet understanding in her eyes.

"Mom, I would like you to meet Isabelle, my daughter."

My mom's eyes shot up to meet mine. "You, you, your da-daughter?"

She looked at the two of them. She had his eyes, his nose, his chin even. Her hair was the same color and she had his smile. She fit perfectly against his hip and rested her head on his shoulder as she stared back at her grandmother.

"Yeah, mom. She's my daughter." My voice was softer.

She took a deep breath and shook her head in amazement. "But, I mean, wow, I mean, how?"

I chuckled. "Well, when a man and a woman love each other…"

She chuckled. "I know how it happened, but I mean…"

I chuckled again. "I know." I looked over at the kitchen entry way and saw Brie standing there, nervous. "Mom, you remember Gabriella right?"

She turned around and looked at Brie. "Wow, Gabriella?! I thought you left?"

Brie turned her gaze to her feet and sighed. "I did, but Troy found me, and Belle." She looked back up at me and I gave her an encouraging smile.

I could see my mom was struggling a bit with all the info, so I decided to step in. "And now I have Belle." I tickled her and she busted out into giggles.

"Big blue! Stop it!" She giggled.

My mom chuckled and I looked up at her. "Belle, this is your other grandma."

In excitement, Belle lifted her head off my shoulder and giggled. "I have two gammas!?"

"Yep!" I set her down and she grabbed onto my leg, unsure of what to think of my mom.

My mom kneeled down and held her arms out for Belle. "Hey Belle, I'm your grandma."

I guess the softness of my mom's voce was enough for her because she released her grip on my legs and ran over to her. My mom lifted her up into the air and set her on her hip.

Belle took about a minute to look over this new person and smiled. "Me like gamma." With that, she threw her arms around her and giggled. "I love you gamma."

I sighed and smiled as my mom hugged her back. Finally, everyone knew everyone and things were at peace. There were no more secrets, except the fact that Belle still didn't know that I was her father. Hopefully that issue will be taken care of and soon.

June 20th 1:44 P.M. Tree House

I closed my eyes and let the sounds of the music fill my ears. 'Just Wanna be with you' played out of the stereo. I remembered recording the song with Troy when we were doing rehearsals for the spring musical senior year. No one but us knew that we recorded it, along with a few others that we had remembered and wrote ourselves. We ended up putting them all on this CD that Troy found in his closet along with his other high school memorabilia. My favorite song was next. It was the song that both Troy and I wrote ourselves. It was also the song that he sang to me when he showed up at Stanford for Prom. I'll never forget that night.

I could feel Troy's breath on the back of my neck as we both leaned up against the far wall and listened to the music. It was Troy's idea to come up here after putting Belle down for a quick nap. The last couple of days have been crazy for all of us. She had fallen asleep early and we wanted to have some time by ourselves. Troy and his dad were supposed to play some basketball later and his mom was doing some last minute cooking for father's day tomorrow.

I can't help but feel sad. I know that Troy's hurting. He has been since his mother brought up the fact that tomorrow was father's day. He's a father, but the one person he wants to have recognize that is Belle and she still doesn't know. Maybe by some act of god she will realize that Troy's her father and we won't have to try and have that awkward conversation with a 4 year old. I know it's too much to ask, but maybe. Anything's possible right?

I leaned back closer to Troy and sighed. Neither of us has spoken for a couple of minutes, we're just taking in each other's presence. The song changed and I smiled. We haven't made it official, but both of us recognize this song as our song; the song that we will dance to at our wedding, which I hope happens. I sang along, somehow remembering every word.

"Take my hand, take a breath, pull me close and take one step."

I felt Troy move from behind me and stand up. He reached out his hand and I took it standing up as well.

"Keep your eyes locked on mine, and let the music be your guide."

He positioned our arms in the right spot and started to dance the familiar steps.

"Now won't you promise me, that you'll never forget, to keep dancing wherever we go next. It's like catching lightning the chances of finding someone like you. It's one in a million of chances of feeling the way we do. And with every step together, we just keep on getting better. So can I have this dance, can I have this dance."

Just as he was about to sing his verse, the memory of the first night he sang this to me filled my mind. It was at Stanford and he was so handsome in his black suite that I had picked out for him. It was the perfect prom.

"Take my hand, I'll take the lead, and every turn, will be safe with me. Don't be afraid, afraid to fall. You know I'll catch you through it all. And you can't keep us apart, 'cause my heart is wherever you are."

This song means so much to the both of us, even now. When we had written it, we just wanted reassurance that the struggles of senior year and graduation couldn't break us apart, but now it means our love can survive anything, even 5 years apart. We have a real true love and nothing can break us apart.

We continued to dance and sing to the song till it ended. When it did, we both stared into each others eyes. It's as if being silent said everything. We didn't need to speak to one another to know we cared about the other. We both just smiled and I rested my cheek against his heart. I felt his lips on my head and I smiled again. We were going to be just fine, I just knew it.

June 19th 4:27 P.M. Bolton House

"Ha! 8-15!" I caught the ball as it fell through the net and smiled at my dad.

"Nice, but you do realize that I have the 15 right?!" I chuckled.

"Yeah, I know, but 8 is allot for me right now. I'm not the same man I was 10 years ago!" He laughed and made his way over to the side lines to grab his water bottle. "Man I wish I was your age again!"

We both laughed and I took a seat next to him on the ground. "Nah, your still the same guy, just 10 years older." I chuckled.

He cringed. "Thanks. I wanted to remember that I'm an old fart!"

We laughed again and I shook my head. "You're exactly that same as I remember. I'm sorry about loosing contact with you and mom. I have no excuse."

He sighed and looked over at me. "Troy, there's two things I learned from you while you were in high school. One, was the fact that no matter how hard I tried, you were always going to better at basketball than me, and Two." He paused and looked me right in the eyes. "That you and Gabriella were meant to be." He shook his head. "I saw how you were together than and I see how you are now and it just makes sense. I can't even imagine the amount of pain you must have been in when she left out of the blue like that. I'm sure I would have acted the same way you did. I'm sure we reminded you of her in some way and just wanted to keep as far a distance form Albuquerque as possible. I don't blame you." He sighed again and shoved my arm with his elbow. "Just don't push us out again, got it?!"

I chuckled again. "Got it."

"Alright!" He slowly got up from the ground and picked up the basketball, shooting a nice three pointer. "You see, I can do it without you, then you show up and I'm thrown all out of wack!" I chuckled again and stood up as well. He looked at me. "So, what's the deal again with Belle only calling you Big Blue? And what's with the nickname?"

I sighed and looked away. "Long story short, um, I ran into her at a resort in Wisconsin and shed couldn't remember my name so she just called me big blue because of my eyes. It was so cute, and at the time I didn't know she was my daughter so ya, the name stuck."

He nodded. "O.k., so why doesn't she call you dad?"

I took a deep breath. "Well, she doesn't know that I'm her dad."

"What?! How could she not know? Why haven't you told her?!" He was extremely confused.

I shook my head and switched my stance so I was putting all my weight on my right foot. "She thinks her father is someone else. She has my senior picture and in the picture my hair is pulled back and now it's just down. She doesn't understand and she's in so much love with Big blue that I'm afraid she'll hate me when she finds out Big blue is her father." I could feel tears starting to well up in my eyes so I quickly blinked hoping they will disappear.

He walked over to me and placed a hand on my shoulder, gently squeezing it. "If she loves you that much, she won't hate you. No matter who you are, as long as you're in her life, I'm sure it won't matter."

I smiled at him. "Thanks dad."

"No problem." Wanting to lighten the mood, he bounced the basketball and smiled. "Now let's see if you can still shoot more free throws than your old man!"

June 20th 5:02 P.M. Bolton House

Bell had finally woken up from her nap and slowly tiptoed out of the room. She was about to make her way into the living room when she noticed a picture up high on the wall. It was a picture of her father, the same one her mommy had given her. Belle smiled. Sure the man in the picture was her daddy, but big blue was like a daddy to her. He did things with her that her friends from schoo,d daddy's did with them. He took her to the park and played with her all the time. He called her his baby girl and everything. Belle liked being called his baby girl and didn't bother to correct him that her nick name was little blue. Big blue told her he loved her and so did her friends daddy's. He might as well just be her daddy.

"You like the pictures?" A voice asked from behind her.

She jumped a little and smiled when she saw her new gamma standing behind her. She held her arms up for her gamma to pick her up and smiled when she did. "Gamma, why daddy on your wall?"

"Well, that's because I'm your daddy's mommy."

"You are? But I saught you was big blues mommy?" She was confused? How could her daddy and big blue have the same mommy?

"Baby." She sighed and looked Belle right in the eyes. "Big blue is daddy."

"No he not, Big blue is big blue. Daddy is daddy. They not same person."

She smiled at Belles observation. "Baby, what is your daddy's name?"

"Daddy name Troy."

"Yes, and what is big blue's name?"

Belle didn't know what to say. She only knew Big blue as bog blue. Then she remembered how her mommy was always calling Big blue Troy and Troy was her daddy's name.

Her gamma smiled. "Big blue's name is Troy too. You see Belle, Big Blue and Daddy are the same person."

Belle looked outside and saw Big blue playing basketball outside. He used his hand to move some hair out of face and Belle's eyes went wide. Big Blue looked just like daddy. No, Big blue was daddy. She wondered if Big blue knew he was her daddy.

"Does Big blue know?" She asked.

"Does big Blue know what?"

"That he my daddy?"

Her gamma smiled big. "I don't know Belle. You should ask him."

Belle smiled big and shook her head. "No, me wait to tell him."

O.k. so I was going to keep going this chapter, but I'm going to wait to put it on the next chapter. I apologize again for the long wait, but the next chapter should be out tonight if not tomorrow afternoon. Part of it is already written so ya. So yeah, tell me what you think of this chapter.

Also, High School's Past should be updated soon. I'm working on it right now. I wish I could love you is also a working progress. Bringing down the man Chapter 2 is almost finished so yeah.

PLEASE REVIEW!!! It helps get the chapters out faster!! Thanks!! SuzzieD