As a 21st birthday present from me to you all...here is chapter 38. I don't have time for much of an A/N coz we have visitors from NZ arriving ready for the big party!

Thanks for the amazing reviews on the last chapter – I beat my record by ten whole reviews! 48 woohoo!! Nearly at a thousand!

Go on, make it an even better birthday for me ;)

Hehe.

Charli xox


Chapter 38

"She'll have to have blood drawn every week for a while, then every fortnight and so on. But her central line will come out in about eight weeks, once she doesn't need blood drawn so often, and when they remove that they will do a bone marrow biopsy while she's under anaesthetic to check everything is still clear. Hopefully she will weigh enough by then to have the NG tube pulled at the same time. Then she'll have an oncologist appointment, bone marrow biopsy and MRI every three months for a year, every six months after then, then after about two years just one visit a year unless she starts to show any symptoms that are a cause for concern. After five years off treatment, she's given the 'all clear'," Maria explained. After an afternoon celebration, everyone else had gradually made their way home. Now just Maria, Gabriella remained at the Bolton's, where they had been invited to stay for dinner.

Lucille pulled her friend into a hug. "Oh Maria," she sighed happily. "I knew she could do it. I never doubted that girl for one second – if anyone had the strength to come through all this it was Gabi."

"I'm just so relieved," said Maria. "I don't think a day will go by where I don't worry that the cancer will come back, but it is something we will learn to live with. Every sickness, every ache and pain, every time she feels fatigued...it'll scare me to death. But it's just another thing we have to handle. For now...oh, I'm just so happy."

"We're very proud of her," Lucille told Maria earnestly. "We're proud of the both of you. Honestly...you are one amazing woman, Maria Montez. I'm not sure I could have dealt with everything you have so well."

Maria shook her head. "You can't help but cope – you just...I don't know, you have no choice. You find that you bumble your way through each day the best way that you know how. And you become very good at masking your emotions," she admitted.

"Well I still think you're a Supermom," Lucille said firmly. "Isn't she, Jack?"

The two women looked at Jack as they heard a sniffle. Both were surprised to see him with tears in his eyes.

"I know I might not have seemed very accepting of Gabriella when I first met her, but she's...she's had such a big impact on our lives. She makes our Troy so happy, and we have come to think of her as a daughter. I'm just so glad she's alright."

"Oh honey," Lucille smiled warmly, comforting her husband.

"So what about the rest of the tests, Maria – did they say anything about lasting damage from the chemo?"

Maria nodded. "Her hearing isn't what it used to be, but only as far as sensing higher pitched sound. So she can hear fine during a normal conversation, but when it comes to whistles, alarms...Sharpay..." everyone laughed, "...things become a little muffled. But her heart and kidneys are fine so we can deal with losing her high-pitched hearing."

Lucille nodded. "Still, it's sad that the drugs they had to use to save her live will continue to affect her in other ways. It's almost cruel. But she's still here with us so that is a blessing in itself."

Maria smiled. "She's my miracle that girl. There are still other problems that could crop up down the track – secondary cancers, and hormone and fertility related issues, but for now those are a wait and see game. We need to give her body time to heal before we will be able to tell if any further testing is necessary. For now, though, I'm just going to appreciate and make the most of every single second we have together."

Upstairs, Troy and Gabriella were lying cuddled up together on his bed. Gabriella had her eyes closed - a contented smile settled on her lips – whilst Troy ran his hand over and over her head, feeling the soft fuzz of new growth beneath his fingers.

"You know," Gabriella murmured. "There's no place in the world I'd rather be right now than right here in your arms."

Troy grinned and kissed her on top of her head. "Well you know what? There's no place in the world I'd rather you be than in my arms"

Gabriella opened her eyes and smiled up at him. "You're my rock, you know that? I'm still here today because of you. I owe you my life, Troy."

Troy just smiled, tilted his head and captured her lips in a sweet kiss. "I didn't do anything that you wouldn't have done for me, Brie. Plus, you did all the hard work – I just held your hand while you did it."

Gabriella shook her head and slid her arms around his neck as he slipped his arms around her waist, resting his hands in the small of her back and pulling her impossibly close to him. "You were amazing, and I love you."

Troy rested his lips against hers, closed his eyes and whispered his reply."I love you too."

Their lips met properly, and Gabriella sighed happily. After a few moments their kisses were becoming more heated. Slow but deep, their tongues exploring. Gabriella felt Troy shift slightly as he pulled her on top of him, never breaking their kiss. She moaned softly and Troy smiled against her lips.

Gabriella moved her hands from the back of his neck and rested one against his cheek, the other trailing up and down his side. Encouraged, Troy slid his hands under her t-shirt, brushing them softly 

up her back. She moaned again and Troy moved his hands to grip the shirt's hem, inching it up slightly.

Gabriella's eyes suddenly snapped open and she crawled off Troy quickly, pulling her shirt down. Troy looked at her with concern, lifting a hand to stroke her cheek.

"Hey, are you ok?" he asked.

Gabriella flinched as his hand caressed her skin.

"Uh...y...yeah..." she stammered. "I just...I thought your Mom called us..."

Fortunately for Gabriella, a few seconds later Lucille actually did call up the stairs.

"Troy, Gabi – dinner's ready."

"Well well well, anyone would think I was the one with the hearing loss," Troy joked and Gabriella forced a smile before following Troy out of his room, her arms folded self-consciously across her body.

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"Hi Tay," Gabriella said softly when her friend answered her phone later that night.

"Hey Gabs! Have you come down off Cloud 9 yet?"

Gabriella smiled. "It was pretty exciting news, huh?"

"The best news ever," Taylor agreed. "Now are you going to tell me what's up, or do I have to come over there and drag it out of you?"

Gabriella shook her head in amazement. "How did you know?"

"They don't call me your best friend for nothing," Taylor replied with a smirk. "Now spill."

"Actually Tay, would you mind if I came over tomorrow or something to talk to you in person?

"Oh...yeah, of course," Taylor replied. "I'm just going to be here studying, so come whenever you like."

"Ok...thanks Tay. I'll see you tomorrow then?"

"See you tomorrow girl."

Gabriella hung the phone up and flopped back on her bed, throwing her arm over her face, sighing and chastising herself out loud.

"Gabriella Montez, why are you such a doofus?"

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"Call me when you're ready to come home, ok? Don't push yourself – if you start to feel tired or sick, call me and I'll be right over. Don't forget to..."

"Mom," Gabriella smiled, placing a hand on her mother's face. "It's just Taylor's house. I'm not going bungee jumping. I'll be fine," she kissed her on the cheek. "I'll call you later, ok?"

Maria nodded. "Ok sweetheart, I'll see you later. Have a nice time."

Gabriella smiled at her mother and climbed out of the car, blowing a kiss as she drove away. Turning to face her best friend's house, she took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

"Hey!" Taylor greeted as she opened the door and wrapped Gabriella in a hug. "Now get your butt up to my room and tell me what all this is about, I've been worrying about you all night," she scolded as they made their way upstairs.

Gabriella laughed softly as Taylor closed her bedroom door and sat cross legged next to Gabriella on her b ed. "It's nothing to worry about...it's just me being...stupid..." she trailed off with a sigh and Taylor frowned.

"Continue..." she prompted, and Gabriella sighed again.

"Well it's about Troy...well, not Troy – he hasn't done anything, it's just me and my stupid insecurities."

Taylor shook her head. "I don't get it. What's he done..or not done?"

Gabriella pinched the bridge of her nose between her thumb and her forefinger. "This is so embarrassing...ok, before I got sick, things were starting to get a little more...heated...between me and Troy – nothing major, just...I don't know, just like...a little heavier than innocent kisses. More 'touchy feely', y'know."

Taylor nodded slowly. "Okay," she replied, still not a hundred percent certain exactly where this was headed. "He's not pressuring you for something is he?"

"Oh – no, no, god no. But since I started treatment, every time he tries to get close to me I freeze up and make some lame excuse to get away. Like...kisses and cuddles are fine, but the second things get heavier than that my head just freaks out – my body is not exactly beautiful right now – it's scarred and scrawny, it has tubes hanging from it, I'm still practically bald...I just can't stand the thought of him seeing me like that."

"Oh honey," Taylor sighed, pulling Gabriella into a hug. "I know you might be uncomfortable with your looks right now but let me tell you, you have no reason to be – you're beautiful and you always will be. Troy doesn't see anything but beauty when he looks at you, because he loves Gabriella the person. Sure, it doesn't hurt that you're absolutely gorgeous but Troy loves you for you. No matter how different you look you're the same Gabriella underneath," Taylor rubbed her friend's arm comfortingly as she noticed tears were rolling down her face. "Besides, you should be wearing your scars with pride – they are a badge of what you have overcome. If you didn't have those scars, you wouldn't be here today, Gabs."

Gabriella nodded tearfully and wiped at her eyes. "I'm such an idiot."

Taylor smiled and hugged her again. "Do you want to take things further with Troy?"

Gabriella blushed a little. "I guess...maybe not right away, but eventually...yeah..."

"Just talk to him, Gabs. Let him know how you feel. Otherwise he's probably gonna start thinking there's something wrong with him if you pull away every time you're in the heat of the moment."

Gabriella giggled embarrassedly. "Poor Troy. The last thing I want is for him to think he's done something wrong. I'll talk to him, I promise. Thanks Taylor."

Turns out, however, things didn't go exactly to plan for Gabriella.

She spent the rest of the day planning precisely what she was going to say to Troy when she saw him that afternoon. When he arrived at her house, she answered the door with nervous butterflies in her stomach.

"Hey beautiful," Troy greeted her with a smile and a gentle kiss on the cheek. Her nervous butterflies changed to the kind she got every time she saw him.

"Hey," she returned his smile, taking his hand and leading him through to the lounge room. Before they even made it to the couch, Maria came in with the phone.

"Gabi, phone for you honey. Oh, hi Troy," she smiled as she passed Gabriella the phone with a shrug. "It's Rhiannon someone-or-other from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society."

"Hello?" Gabriella said into the mouth piece.

"Hello Gabriella. My names Rhiannon Sheldrick and I'm from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. We're currently working on a fundraiser for paediatric cancer research, and we were wondering if you would like to be involved," Rhiannon explained. "I emailed the nursing staff at University of New Mexico Hospital to ask for their advice, and they recommended you for the project."

"Oh?" Gabriella replied, surprised. "It sounds good – what's the project?"

"We've actually been putting together a track listing for a CD called 'Songs of Hope'. We've signed on some big names to lay down tracks for us, but we are also featuring several childhood cancer patients. We were wondering if you would be interested in recording two songs for the album."

"Umm...my goodness...it sounds amazing, but I haven't really sung much in the past 10 months - since I was diagnosed. I don't know how I'll sound..."

"It's completely up to you, but I'm sure your voice is amazing," Rhiannon replied kindly. "The only thing is, we would need you to record this weekend if you decide you want to sing on the CD. I know its short notice, but the recording studio has pushed the date forward and we can't change it."

Gabriella looked over at Troy, who smiled at her and gave her hand a squeeze – reassuring her without even realising he was. She then remembered that one of her backup wishes with Make A Wish was to record a song. She could do this.

"I'll do it," Gabriella told Rhiannon confidently.

Gabriella heard relief in Rhiannon's voice. "Fantastic," she said happily. "I'll email you through the track we have picked out for you to learn right now, but for the second song you can record something of your own choice – a song that means something to you. Perhaps one that inspired you or helped you through your treatment? You can have a day to think about it, and if you could give me a call tomorrow and let me know what you have decided on."

"Ok," Gabriella agreed. "Oh, and thank you so much for this opportunity!"

"My pleasure," Rhiannon replied. "Thank you for agreeing to be a part of this – it's going to be a fantastic project."

"Sounds like it. Well, I'll download your email as soon as it comes through and start learning the song, and I'll give you a call tomorrow and let you know my second song."

"Wonderful. I've put all the other details you need to know in the email, like time and place etcetera but if you have any other questions feel free to ask."

"I will. Bye."

"Bye Gabriella."

Gabriella hung the phone up with a huge smile on her face. Troy and Maria were almost exploding with curiosity as she put the phone down and squealed with excitement.

"Gabi! What? What's happening? You're killing us here!" Maria and Troy laughed.

"The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society are putting together a CD as a fundraiser for paediatric cancer research, and they want me to be a part of it!" she said elatedly.

"Oh Gabi, that's wonderful sweetheart! Congratulations!" Maria gushed. "That's such an honour!"

"That's amazing news, Gab!" Troy grinned, hugging her. "My girlfriend, the recording superstar – don't forget me when you're a huge celebrity, will you?" he teased.

Gabriella laughed. "Oh no, no, no – you will be my personal body guard. Who better to beat off all those hunky guys that throw themselves at me," she teased.

"Ooooook, I'll personally ensure I'm the ONLY hunky guy that throws himself at you," Troy said sternly. "Besides, I'm already your number one fan."

"Of course you are," Gabriella giggled, patting his cheek.

Maria rolled her eyes with a smile. "You two..." she laughed, shaking her head.

Gabriella sprang off the lounge and headed towards her room. "Rhiannon is emailing me the track they have chosen for me to record, and I have to pick one more song I already know...Oh GOD, I have 2 and a half days to learn a song – oh god, oh god, oh god," she muttered, rushing off to her laptop.

Troy followed behind. "You'll be fine, Gabs – you're a natural. And hey – if Kelsi can teach me 'Everyday' in like, 5 minutes...you will have no worries," he joked.

"But I don't even know how my voice will sound – I haven't sung for ages and Dr Frazer said the radiation might damage my voice, and..."

"Gab, chill," Troy said, placing his hands on her arms, forcing her to look at him. "Yeah you're voice went a little croaky during radiation but it's fine now, so I'm sure your singing voice will be fine too. And I'll bet the other kids they've picked can't sing half as well as you anyway – you're amazing. Now, let's see what track you're singing. Do you have any ideas for what other song you're going to do?"

Gabriella looked thoughtful for a moment, before a smile spread across her face.

"Yeah, actually – I do."

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Saturday morning Gabriella was a bundle of nerves as she changed her outfit approximately seven times before settling on a yellow baby doll top, white three quarter white Capri pants and yellow ballet flats, a white baker-boy cap – the peak tilted slightly to the side – on her head.

Troy was sitting on the floor in the hallway, his back against her bedroom door.

"Come oooon Gabi," he said in a bored tone, yawning loudly. "You're going to be la...WOAH!" he exclaimed as he fell backwards when the door opened.

Gabriella laughed. "You goofball," she grinned as she took his hands and helped him to his feet.

"No – don't tell me?!" Troy exclaimed dramatically as he brushed his clothes off. "She's finally ready?!"

Gabriella rolled her eyes and slapped his chest as she tucked a folder under her arm and started down the stairs.

"Are you coming or are you going to stay here and talk to yourself all day?"

"Hey!" Troy exclaimed indignantly. As he started down the stairs after her, though, he smiled to himself. Day by day, little by little, slowly but surely...his Gabriella was returning.

Rhiannon had told them a car would be sent to collect the three of them around 8am Saturday morning. What they didn't expect to see was a white stretch limousine turning the corner and entering the Montez's street at 7.55am.

"Wooow," Troy whistled. "Riding in style for the celebrity, huh?"

Maria smiled as Gabriella's eyes lit up. "This is incredible!" she exclaimed excitedly, gripping Troy's hand.

After almost an hour's drive, the limo pulled up at the recording studio where the patient participants in the project would be laying down their tracks. Gabriella climbed out of the car and stretched. The doors of the studio suddenly swung open, and a tall, attractive woman in her twenties emerged. She had dark blonde curls that tumbled to almost half way down her back, dark 

blue-green eyes, and was wearing dark grey skinny jeans with white flats and pale blue off the shoulder t-shirt.

"You must be Gabriella," she said with a smile. "I'm Rhiannon. It's an honour to meet you."

Gabriella smiled back and accepted her hand as she extended it. "Thank you for inviting me. This is my Mom, Maria, and my boyfriend Troy."

"It's our pleasure, sweetheart. And welcome Maria, Troy. Thanks for coming out here. Now, let's get inside and have some fun!"

Over the next half an hour the other girls who were recording songs for the album arrived. Including Gabriella, there were six survivors of either Leukemia or Lymphoma in total, all in various stages of treatment.

Renee was twelve and had been in remission from Hodgkin's Lymphoma for three years. Demi was fifteen and was five months into her treatment for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). Tiarna was just five, and was battling her way through a relapse of Acute Myelocytic Leukemia (AML). Cara was twenty two and four years post-transplant after also fighting AML twice in her life. Finally, there was Jasmine, who was seven and half way through treatment for ALL.

Each girl was to record a song they had chosen that meant something to them in their cancer battle, but Gabriella and Cara had been selected to record specially-chosen as well as their personal choice.

The song that Rhiannon had sent to Gabriella to learn was by an Australian singer – Delta Goodrem – and was called 'Be Strong'. Gabriella had fallen in love with it the moment she had heard the first verse. The song was particularly poignant, as Delta – Gabriella learned – had been diagnosed with Lymphoma at age 18, and had written the song during her treatment for a fellow Australian celebrity – Belinda Emmet – who had been battling secondary bone cancer at the time. Belinda had since passed away, but the legacy of both the young women's brave battles lived on through the words of the song.

Cara would be recording a song originally by Allen Alesbury, called 'Somebody's Praying me Through'. Gabriella had heard the song before – she recognised it from the CD Troy had made her during her treatment. It had a beautiful message and made Gabriella feel the love surrounding her every time she heard it.

Rhiannon worked with each of the girls to record their songs, Gabriella and Cara left until last as they would be recording two tracks each. Every girl reduced at least one person to tears as they entered the studio and sang their song – there was something so emotional yet inspiring about seeing those brave warriors don the earphones and sing their heart out – whether they were in tune or not. Tiarna in particular brought the house down, with her sweet five year old version of 'You Are My Sunshine'. Her mother Tracy explained that she always sang the song to Tiarna whenever she was having a bad day, and it would always make her smile. The tiny girl didn't have a hair on her head, her cheeks were pale, her eyes were dark and the earphones were so big on her little head that they kept slipping off, but she had more spirit in her than anyone Gabriella could ever remember meeting.

Finally it was Gabriella's turn to enter the recording booth to record her first song – Be Strong. Maria gave her a hug and wished her luck before Troy kissed her forehead.

"Go get 'em, Superstar," he said with a wink.

Gabriella grinned and followed Rhiannon into the booth where she was shown how the equipment worked, and was given the chance to have a practice with a short warm up song. She sounded a little shaky with nerves at first, but soon cleared her throat and sounded fantastic.

Within a few minutes her voice was warmed up and she was ready to start on her first song. Rhiannon explained to her how it would work – she would sing the whole song straight through first, and then they would go back and record any sections of it that were to be layered over the base track.

Gabriella gave the thumbs up through the glass to signal she was ready, and cleared her throat nervously as the introduction music started. She looked up at Troy who winked at her, and she smiled, cleared her throat once more, and began to sing.

Are you swimming upstream in oceans of blue?
Do you feel like your sinking?
Are you sick of the rain after all you've been through?
Well I know what you're thinking
When you can't take it
You can make it
Sometime soon I know you'll see

'cause when you're in your darkest hour
And all of the light just fades away
When you're like a single flower whose colours have turned to shades of gray
Well hang on and be strong

Where taking each step one day at a time
You can't lose your spirit
Let live and let live forget and forgive
It's all how you see it
And just remember keep it together
Don't you know you're never alone

'cause when you're in your darkest hour
And all of the light just fades away
When you're like a single flower whose colours have turned to shades of gray
Well hang on, and be strong

No you're not defeated
And soon you'll be smiling once again
Then you won't have to feel it
Let it go with the wind


Time passes us by
And know that you're allowed to cry

'cause when you're in your darkest hour
And all of the light just fades away
When you're like a single flower whose colours have turned to shades of gray
Well hang on and be strong...

Hold on and be strong...

As Gabriella held the final note and the song drew to a close, everyone outside the booth stood, awestruck. Maria and Troy had tears of pride in their eyes, and almost every other mother had dampness on their cheeks also.

"She's incredible," Troy heard one of the recording professionals say.

Gabriella bit her lip nervously. "Umm...was that ok?" she asked quietly.

Troy smiled to himself. 'That's my modest little Gabi,' he thought.

"Ok? Gabriella, that was absolutely amazing!" Rhiannon exclaimed.

Gabriella blushed. "Thank you," she replied quietly.

"Just remember where it all started when you're a big celebrity one day, huh?"

Gabriella laughed. "Oh I will," she looked out at Troy and her mother who were grinning proudly. They saw the energy and delight in her eyes, and couldn't have been happier.

After two more run throughs, Be Strong was wrapped, and Cara entered the booth to record Somebody's Praying me Through. Gabriella rushed out into Troy's waiting arms and he kissed her on the cheek.

"That was awesome, Gabs – I'm so proud of you!" he exclaimed.

"Me too," Maria chipped in. "You sang beautifully, sweetheart. Did you have fun?"

Gabriella nodded eagerly. "Yes! It was so much fun! I was a bit nervous at first, but after a few minutes I just took a deep breath and relaxed and it was just the best thing ever!"

"So that's one song down, one to go," Troy commented. "What are you singing next?"

Gabriella grinned cheekily. "You'll just have to wait and see," she replied. Troy had been trying to find out what other song she had chosen for the past two and a half days, and had not succeeded in finding out – Gabriella had kept her lips tight shut.

She sat happily wrapped in Troy's arms, chatting to him and her mother for the next little while as Cara went through her recording session, before Rhiannon called her back into the booth.

"Ready to go again?" she asked with a smile. "After hearing your first song, I'm excited to hear this one!"

Gabriella giggled shyly. "I'm ready," she replied, putting the headphones on for the second time.

She took a deep breath before exhaling, and waiting for the opening bars of music to play. She shivered with excitement as the introductory music drew to a close and she took another breath before she began to sing...

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me -
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now, I see.

T'was Grace that taught -
my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear -
the hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares -
we have already come.
T'was Grace that brought us safe thus far -
and Grace will lead us home.

The Lord has promised good to me -
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be -
as long as life endures.

When we've been here ten thousand years -
bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise -
then when we've first begun.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me -
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now, I see.

Troy found himself choked up before Gabriella had even got one line of the song out. By the time she finished singing, he was an emotional wreck, and no one else in the room was much better. Seeing her in that recording studio, singing her heart out, having the time of her life, but knowing everything she had been through the past ten months was just so inspiring...there were no words to describe the shining beacon of hope she had become for cancer sufferers everywhere in those brief moments.

He was so caught up his thoughts that he didn't realise Gabriella was done recording until he felt her tiny arms wrap around his waist.

"Hey, why the tears?" she asked with concern in her voice.

"They're good tears, I promise," Troy smiled at her through the salty water running down his face. "I just love you so god-damned much! You were perfect in there, Gabs," he leaned down to her and brushed her nose against his. "You're beautiful."

Gabriella smiled up at him with eyes full of adoration. "Thank you," she whispered.

"For what?" Troy asked. "It's the truth."

And with that, he pulled her to him and held her close to his chest, breathing in her scent and thanking god for the day his amazing grace came into his life, and for the fact that she was still there with him.


Yay for happy times!

Next up: A special graduation!

Go and click that little button and let me know what you thought of Gabriella's special project!

P.S – 2 more and an epilogue to go!

P.P.S - The first song is Be Strong by Delta Goodrem - I reccommend you check it out, it is my inspiration and my motto in life pretty much :)