I don't own anything.

A/N: Alright I know it's been quite awhile, but this last semester of college completely KO'ed me till the very end. I'm sorry I haven't update in a while, but I'm officially back now and I'm going to finish this story. Again sorry for the long delay and I hope you all enjoy this story and please remember to review.

Baby S

Chapter Eight

Troy was absolutely furious as he drove away from Taylor's home. That bastard Darius Combs had tried to turn her away from him all the while trying to display himself as her loyal and trustworthy friend. He knew that what Chad did to her had wounded her deeply but for her to even attempt to compare him and his wayward friend hurt. He didn't want her to doubt him; he didn't want her to ever have to doubt him and his feelings, as new as they were. They were real, and he wasn't a man that felt like using women to make himself feel good. Clenching his steering wheel tightly he glared out into the night. Darius was really starting to piss him off, and he didn't really know how to pull Taylor away from his hold. She defended the man more than an offensive line defended their quarterback. As he hit the expressway he frowned, there was no way he was hiding home at this hour. Nope, he had more important things to take care. In fact he had a very important matter to address.

Darius was furious to say the least; he stood inside of his office pacing back and forth in front of his desk while Julius, who just happened to be there, watched him. Julius followed Darius' motions like a spectator at a tennis match his head turning back and forth as Darius marched back and forth in the room. Clearing his throat he spoke up. "You keep this up and you're going to ruin that African rug." He stated coolly wondering just how upset his friend and business partner was at the moment. He was positive that it had to do with Tay-Ann and Troy. To what extent he wasn't sure, all he knew was that the moment he came in tonight to discuss simple business Darius had been up and angry mumbling about Troy and Tay-Ann. He didn't know what happen today at the recording session, he just knew that whatever had happened had effectively pissed Darius off.

At Julius' words, Darius paused and looked down at his rug before looking back up at him and sneering. "Who cares about this rug…I'm losing money as we speak, especially if I can't maintain," he trailed off and lifted a hand to rub over his face. He didn't really know if he should voice his concern that if he lost control and by control he meant complete control over Taylor, he would lose his wealth. He had built her image of a sex vixen. A woman every man can dream about, and didn't want that image to take a nose dive just because her heart went a little bit faster in the presence of one Troy Bolton. He seen it happen, the appeal disappears the moment an artist is tied down. As long as they present themselves as a sex for the masses they sell records. He could tell he was losing that with Taylor, especially as she spent more and more time with Troy Bolton. Julius watched him expectedly as he continued. "Look, I'm just angry that Troy left the recording session, that's money down the drain…and now I have to try and find another time for him to get back in the studio and hope he doesn't run out of here like a fool again." He muttered, Julius leaned back in his chair and watched Darius.

"Carlos told me he went after Tay-Ann?" He curiously watched Darius' reaction before continuing "Was there something wrong with that?"

"Yes there is…see this is why I don't think I want my artists dating." He replied sharply as he shook his head. "There's too much trouble in that."

"Dee, they are grown people…hell they're just a few years younger than us. You can't force them to obey that rule. It's absurd." He stated wondering why Darius was going on like this. He was obsessed over the relationship that Troy had with Tay-Ann, and to be truthful he had never seen Darius so angry and aggravated before. The whole situation was unsettling. "Wait do you like her?" he asked bluntly as he looked at Darius whose eyes widened at the words. Running a hand over the back of his neck, Darius thought things over. Taylor had never been his cup of tea, especially when he first met her. She was the typical black nerd girl. Socially awkward, and displeasing to the eyes, but he knew that her voice was amazing and therefore he got her to be his friend and eventually his artist. So yeah, he liked her…liked her for the money she brought in for him.

"No I don't like her like that." He stated dismissively as if Julius should have known. "You've seen the women I date, do you really think I'd have her on my arm as anything other than my artist." Julius' mouth dropped open at the statement.

"That…that's not right man." Julius replied as he looked at Darius as if he had grown several large heads.

"Don't get me wrong, I care for Tay-Ann. But dating her would be like dating a relative." He stated trying to clean things up as he saw that Julius was not at all happen with his earlier statement. "She's like my little sister man." Julius just watched him for a moment before sighing.

"Whatever, look we really need to talk about these tours for the summer and who's going on which tour." Darius nodded his head and quickly sat down happy for the change in topic. Before Julius could continue they heard loud yelling from the hallway and then the door to the office slammed open. They both watched as the door smacked into the wall and swung back only to be stopped by Troy Bolton's large slightly tanned hand. Before either of them could register what was happening Tory had rushed into the room and slammed his fist into Darius' face. The impact sent the other man stumbling back into his trophy case where the glass shattered on impact. Troy watched as he slumped to the ground, just before Julius rushed in and forcefully placed himself in front of Troy who had moved forward to attack Darius again.

"What da hell is going on here?" he snapped as he looked over at Troy, cause he wasn't really sure Darius was up to answering any questions. Troy, however ignored him and his question and glared down at Darius.

"What did you say to her you piece of shit?" Troy yelled out, spittle flying form his mouth as he tried to reach Darius so he could tear him apart with his bare hands. Darius scrambled up from the floor and glared at Troy as if he was nothing.

"You know you done messed up now boy." He snapped out, Troy's eyes darkened at the insult and he forcefully shoved Julius out of the way before charging at Darius who was prepared this time. They met each other like two raging bulls, colliding together all the while sending a fury of fists flying every which way. By the time security and Julius were able to recover and separated them, both men had sustained pretty good licks. Julius forced his way into the middle again as security held on to them both. Troy and Darius glared at one another while silently watching that their glares would send the other man into flames.

"Okay so does someone want to tell me just what da hell is going on here…between you both?" Julius exclaimed as he forcefully pushed Darius back, while Troy continued to glare at the other man while lifting his arms up in an act of surrender.

"I'm cool…I'm cool." He muttered, the guard gave him a look that plainly promised him an harsh retaliation if he chose to attack Darius again before releasing him. Once he was free, he touched a finger to his lip and sighed as he felt a little bit of blood at the corner of his mouth. Glaring over at Darius he spoke his voice low and cold. "What did you say to her?" he asked again. Darius narrowed his eyes in defiance before answering.

"What she needed to hear? What she needed to know?" Troy took a step forward and pointed a finger at him.

"Answer my damn question?"

"I told her…what you won't even admit to yourself. You still care about this woman named Gabrielle. I just merely pointed it out to her because I know that you wouldn't, and I'm not going to let you use Tay-Ann for a cheap thrill."

"Use her…oh you're one to talk. I'm not using her," Troy snapped. "Is that why you had me singing that bullshit song today huh…," he lifted his hands and used air quotes. "So you could help Tay-Ann wake up."

"Yes I did." He replied proudly not the least bit ashamed, as he looked across at him. Troy clenched his jaw, and nodded his head before striking out at the other man. Darius certainly wasn't expecting the hit and fell like a sack of potatoes. Troy stood over him and glared at him for a moment before speaking.

"Do it again…and I will do more than just beat your ass…I'm not going to allow you to continually mindfuck Tay…," he yelled as he pushed himself away from the guards. Once he was free he spoke up again. "I'm going to fulfill my contract and then I'm out of here." He looked over at Julius and then the guards before he turned on his heel and walked away. Julius gave the guards a few instructions before taking off after Troy. Entering the hallway, he saw Troy heading towards the elevator, rushing over he grabbed his forearm silently thanking God that the other man had stopped.

"Have you lost your damn mind?" he exclaimed as he looked at the younger man who just looked at him as if he was lower than scum.

"No…I haven't," he turned and looked Julius directly in the eye. "What I want to know is how can you allow him," he paused and pointed in the direction of the office. "How can you all him to continually mess with Tay's mind like that. How do you sleep at night knowing that your boss and friends is doing that to someone you consider a friend." Julius' mouth dropped open and it took him a few moments to close it.

"Yeah, you don't have anything to say now do you." He snapped out angrily as he looked down at the shorter man. Julius shook his head as he looked up at Troy as he tried to wrap his mind around what the man was saying to him.

"Troy look I don't know what you think has happened?

"She questions everything," Troy admitted in frustration. "Except his supposed love for her, what did you do to her, huh? What did he do to her." He asked angrily as he looked down at Julius. "Brainwashing seems a bit extreme but I'm not quite I'd put it pass you guys. So, is that what happened, did he do it while you stood back and watched." Troy snapped out.

"What?" Julius replied in shock as he looked at Troy wondering just how much he knew. How he knew the darkest secret he kept to himself. The guilt the felt all these years had been unimaginable. He knew what he had allowed Darius to do wasn't right, but he had went along with it by telling himself that in the end it would be better for her. He was guilty of everything that Troy was accusing him of and more. He lifted his head and saw Troy watching him with distrust and hate. Troy looked as if he could see every dark secret Julius was hiding and then he sneered openly at him.

"I better go before I don't something else." He muttered, Julius watched as he stepped onto the elevator, and he remained standing there until the door closed. Heading back to Darius' office, he silently wondered if their chickens were coming home to roost. He'd be a fool to think that Troy was simply going to walk away from her, and as far as the using accusation went he knew Troy didn't have that trait in his character. Opening the door to the office, Julius looked at Darius who was now seated on the sofa whose glazed was fixated on his now broken trophy case. As Julius closed the door, Darius looked up with a frown on his face.

"Where is he?" he asked coldly as he looked at his friend and business partner. Julius sighed and moved over to a chair that was facing Darius.

"Gone." He whispered as he rubbed a hand over his face, not really knowing what exactly to do now. Things just seemed to be getting out of hand and he didn't want to even think about what would happen once Troy found out the real truth behind their relationship with Taylor.

Instead of heading back to his home, Troy drove back over to Taylor's home. He knew he just had to see her, because at the moment he was just to upset to even think straight. Pulling up outside of her home he got out of the car and headed towards the front door. He barely knocked before the door opened and Maria stood there looking at him as if he was crazy and that was when she noticed his face. "Oh my God Troy what happened?" he touched a finger to lip and winced before shrugging his shoulders.

"I got in a fight…but don't worry I believe that the other guy got more damage." He replied as he gave her a small smile as she pulled him into the house instantly fussing over him like he was sure his mother would have done if she had seen him.

"I can't believe you got into a fight," she replied as she dragged him into the kitchen and sat him down on the stool. "I'm glad I stayed over a bit longer tonight, now hold this over your eye so it would go black." She replied as she produced a cold pack of peas for him to hold over his left eye. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," he chuckled as he received a look from her and spoke again hoping this time he could reassure her that he was actually okay. "Really, Maria…I'm fine."

"Well, what in the world possessed you to do something like that, Troy." She admonished as she looked up at him. Troy just shrugged his shoulders not really sure if he wanted to talk about his fight with Maria…after all didn't Darius pay her. Just as Maria was about to question him some more, Taylor's voice sounded from the stairs.

"Maria what is all that noise…I can hear you fussing from all the way upstairs." Troy lifted his glaze from Maria's face towards the kitchen's entrance just as Maria looked over as well. Taylor stood in the doorway with a shocked expression on her face. She was basically stunned to see Troy in her home looking like he had been in a fight. Rushing over she gently cupped Troy's face between her hands while sparing a glance over in Maria's direction.

"What happened?"

"All he told me was that he got into a fight." Maria answered smoothly as she stepped back allowing Taylor to get as close to Troy as possible. Taylor gently brushed her fingers along the cuts and bruises on his face.

"Troy, what happened?" He looked down into her eyes and sighed, he truly didn't want to discuss any of this with her. He wasn't sure how she would take it, knowing that he fought with the man that she currently sees as her only family within the entire world. Maria gave them both a look, and Troy was almost positive that she knew what had happened.

"I'd better head on home," she replied softly before looking over at Taylor. "You're going to take care of him right." Taylor looked over at her and nodded her head.

"Of course and I'm also going to get some answers too." She replied as she spoke the last part she sent a hard look Troy's way. Troy met her stare for a moment before turning to look at Maria.

"Thanks for the help…and I'll see you tomorrow." He replied softly. Maria nodded her head and grabbed her bag and headed out of the kitchen. Troy and Taylor remained in the kitchen both of them silent until they heard the door slam close outside. Once they were alone, Taylor took off the frozen pea pack and winced.

"Ouch! What in the world happened Troy?" she asked as she lifted a hand and tenderly touched the bruised area.

"I ran into the door." He replied with a roll of his eyes only to have Taylor pinch him on his side. "Oww! Okay I guess you're not in a joking mood."

"Not when you look like Rocky." She exclaimed, Troy's eyes brightened as he shook his head furiously.

"I don't like Rocky." He replied with a sigh, he released a soft breath as Taylor pulled him closed and placed a gentle kiss along his bruised eye. "Damn, that's better than any medicine I've ever had." She smiled as she pulled away from him.

"That's good to know…so are you going to tell me what happened?"

"I got into a fight." He answered in a monotone way that had Taylor itching to pinch him again. Sighing he leaned back in the chair and looked at her. "I had a fight with Darius."

"What!"

"I was angry about what happened this afternoon at the studio. He tried to…he lied to you about me and my feelings towards Gabrielle and that wasn't right. He basically drove you to tears and that is something I'm not going to stand for."

"So you went and fought him?"

"At first I was going to threaten him…but I changed my mind when I saw him, it was a pure spur of the moment thing." He replied with a dismissive gesture. "Nobody was injured."

"If you look like this I can only imagine what he looks like. Troy how could you?" she cried as she stepped away from him. "Darius didn't do it to be spiteful, he was probably looking out for my interest, and you had no right to do that to him." Troy watched as she turned her back to him, hopping off the stool he walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her waist and held her to him. He looked at her for a moment before speaking softly into her ear.

"I care about…and I have every right to be angry at someone that causes you to cry. He tried to turn you away from me, I do not care if his," he paused for a moment in thought before continuing. "I do not care if his intentions were good, cause he still caused you pain and that is something I'll never stand for."

"It doesn't give you to the right to start fist fights."

"Maybe you're right…and for that I'm sorry." He replied softly not really feeling any regret for laying into Darius.

"He's probably gonna try and get you off the label." She stated as she turned around in his arms and looked up at him.

"Fine…he can do whatever." He replied again as he looked at her. "Cause you matter more than the career."

"You don't mean that?" she replied in disbelief. "You don't mean any of that." Troy lowered his head until his forehead was resting against her.

"I mean any and everything I say to you especially when it's about you or us." Taylor gulped and stepped back. She hadn't had a conversation this tense in forever. All the men in her past aside from Chad and been quick rolls in the sack, the only tense conversation she had lately had been with Troy. He wasn't one of those men that agree to her terms and he certainly wasn't one of those men that would allow her to go through the motions with her while keeping herself completely guarded. She hadn't felt anything for a man intimately in a long time, but Troy…he had been changing that from the moment he stepped on the scene. Lifting a hand she cupped his cheek and sighed.

"Come on you need to rest." She stepped back and tugged on his hand. Troy looked down at their hands and then back up at her. "And I promise not to do anything… I want take advantage of you." He smirked at her words and chuckled.

"Take advantage of me huh." Troy smiled down at her and winked. "Oh I like the sound of that." She rolled her eyes at him good naturedly and just sighed.

"Oh I bet you would," she paused and turned to look at him. "But no funny business…you need your rest." Troy looked down at her and smiled for a moment before speaking.

"Of course no funny business…I wouldn't dream of doing something like that to you." He replied with a deep chuckle. "But can I at least hold you." Taylor tapped her finger along the bottom of her chin and nodding her head.

"I think so." She replied with a bright smile as she led him upstairs, Troy followed behind her slowly while holding on to the railing with his other hand. Once they were in the bedroom, Taylor helped Troy lay down and then climbed onto the bed beside him. Snuggling into him, she wrapped an arm around his chest and sighed. Troy rubbed her lower back with his hands and sighed for a moment before speaking.

"Thank you for taking me in tonight" he whispered as he kissed the top of her head, she snuggled deeper into his embrace and sighed.

"Troy, why wouldn't I?"

"Cause I was fighting Darius." He replied softly, Taylor shook her head as she popped her head up and looked down at her and found him looking at her silently, his injured eye trying to stay open as he watched her silently. She bent down and kissed him on the eye again before speaking.

"I'm not happy about it Troy…I don't know what the problem is between you two but I don't like it alright. You both mean," she paused and looked down at his chest. Troy lifted his free arm and placed it underneath her chin. She looked him in the eyes and sighed. "You both mean something to me and I don't want you to fighting." He closed his eyes at her admission and nodded his head slowly.

"Fine…I'll try, Taylor…I'll try not to fight with him, but that's all I can promise you." She smiled then and kissed him softly on the lips.

"That's all I'm asking for." She whispered before kissing him again before lying back down so they could finally get some sleep. Troy held onto her tightly, as he watched her nod off and fall asleep. He couldn't shake the feeling that these moments between them were only going to last for only a little while before Darius could effectively turn her against him; because he was sure Darius would eventually succeed in separating them, but Troy knew he could only allow that to happen for a little while. He was a winner and he wasn't going to lose Taylor.

A/N:

Thanks again for reading and please remember to review. P.S. and for those of you that sent me PMs I'm sorry I didn't reply but I asked my friend to block the site and emails so I wouldn't get distracted as I did my work this last semester so please don't think I didn't reply on purpose. Again I am sorry.

I'm also thinking about starting a story that focuses on the characters of Bonnie and Damon for the Vampire Diaries. I think that could be out sometime this summer. I just wanted to know if any of you followed that show and if you would be interested in a fanfiction for that pairing.

Baby S