I don't own anything.

A/N: Alright I'm sorry I didn't post last week, but I was really sick and I just couldn't get to my computer in fact I didn't touch it until late Wednesday night of this week. I want to thank my reviewers from last time, and you all know who you are. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter and please remember to review. Please excuse any errors I'm still a little under the weather.

Baby S

Chapter Nine

A Few Months Later...

"I don't know why you couldn't just let me go shopping by myself, and just to be truthful this has never happened to me before." Troy replied as he reluctantly allowed Taylor to drag him through the empty clothing store. Thankfully she had called ahead and had the store emptied so they could shop without being disturbed or mobbed by crazed fans.

"Oh please...nothing is wrong with me helping you shop." she replied with a bright smile as she looked back at him as if he had said the most craziest thing. Rolling his eyes, he allowed her to maneuver him around the clothing racks. "Besides...I'm sure you'll like whatever I pick out."

"The only reason I'm doing this is because this will be your party, but seriously how hard can it be to pick a black suit out." he asked with a shake of his head as he looked at the display along the wall. He seriously didn't understand how this one store could have so many black dress suits. As they rounded the corner an attendant appeared with a bright smile on his face.

"Well hello, there...Ms. McKessie and who is this young man with you." Troy looked down at Taylor and wondered what she would say. They'd been a couple in private for quite awhile, but to everyone else it just appeared like he cared for her a great deal. Well, everyone that didn't witness his office brawl with Darius which took place a couple of months back. She looked back up at him and smiled and leaned into his arm.

"This is my boyfriend Troy Bolton." Troy watched as the other man's eyes widened in recognition, he still wasn't used to it, but he just hoped that over time it would happen. The man clasped his hands in excitement and nodded his head.

"I've heard your songs my girlfriend loves you...um I hate to be like this but is there a way I could get your autograph before you leave. I know she would absolutely love it." Troy smiled and nodded his head.

"Yeah, that's fine no problem." The man pumped his fist and then looked back at Taylor who was patiently waiting for them to finish. "Sorry," he began sheepishly, "So um what exactly are you looking for?"

"A nice suit for my album launch party." she replied with pride. The attendant nodded his head and pointed to the right.

"Over here we have quite a good selection of party suits, um do you have a color choice, is he going to be matching you." Taylor just nodded her head for a moment before speaking up.

"He should get black...that's the color of my dress."

"Alright so what we're really talking about is vest colors huh." he replied with a nod, as he walked over to the side of the rack and pulled out a lower rack which had been settled beneath the suits. "Here's our collection of vest, and I'm think a silver or gold vest will be good for him. It makes for a classy look."

"I like classy." Taylor looked over the vest, as Troy stood by silently just watching as Taylor went about picking out his clothing. The truth was he liked the intimacy of this whole process, as he had stated to her earlier he had never done anything like this before. However, the idea of sharing intimacy like this with her felt good. Taylor looked up at the attendant with a smile on her face and spoke up. "So do you have a dressing room. We have to make sure these things fit quite nicely. I don't want it to tight and I don't want it to baggy."

"Of course, and I'm going to go ahead and open the modeling room. Cause I'm assuming you want to see him in these outfits and not in some cramped room."

"That would be great." she replied with a smile. The attendant helped them pick out several outfits and then let them into the dressing room where he quickly disappeared. Troy looked at the unbelievable pile of clothing in the chair next to Taylor and pinched the bridge of his nose in disbelief.

"I know women like to shop but come on baby...twelve suits...don't you think that's a bit much." Taylor just picked up the first suit and handed it to him and then pointed to the lone dressing room in the area. Sighing, he quickly walked inside and and began changing.

"I think you're trying to get a look at my goods." he called out with a slight laugh as he took off his shirt. "You know...no matter how much you beg I won't give you a striptease."

"Oh ha-ha...please knowing you and your freaky self I wouldn't have to beg." she called back as she settled on her chair. "Now get dressed so I see you." Troy just smirked and did as he was told. He slipped on his clothing and looked himself over once before opening the door and walking out so that Taylor could see him. Inside he was hoping for a quick approval cause he certainly wasn't looking forward to trying on every single outfit that she had picked out for him to wear.

Taylor looked up from her phone as he walked out of the room and smiled at him for a moment before standing up and walking over to him. She raised an eyebrow at his outfit and slowly looked him over knowing that he was probably nervous and praying that she would like the first outfit, which she did, but that didn't mean she couldn't have any fun with him. Troy looked down at her and sighed for a moment before speaking up. "So what do you think?" he asked as she stopped right in front of him and sighed. She didn't want to tell him that he looked incredibly handsome, she just didn't want their trip to end so soon.

"It's alright...but I think we might need to try on some of the other suits before I can officially make my decision." Troy's shoulders slumped at the news and he looked at her as if she had effectively lost her mind. Giggling she looked back up at him and placed her hands on his forearms.

"You promised me that you would allow me to pick out the outfit, after all as you pointed out back at my house this is my launch party and you are my escort." Troy just nodded his head and bent down to kiss her softly on the lips.

"Alright alright...but you owe me." he replied as he stepped back with a certain look in his eyes that sent Taylor's heart fluttering in her chest. Troy winked and reached out and picked up the next suit on the pile. He looked down at the huge pile that didn't seem to lower and then back at her with a shake of his head he spoke. "Oh yeah, you owe me big."

"I'm looking forward to it." she replied saucily as he smiled brightly at her retort and then back down at the suit in his hands.

"Oh yeah I am most certainly looking forward to that," he walked back to the dressing room and paused for a moment before turning around and looking at her. "Can you owe me tonight?" he asked with hopeful smile on his features. Shaking her head, she looked at him and shrugged her shoulders while pointing at the dressing room door.

"I don't know...you need to go and get dressed, and then I'll decide." he gave her another look and then disappeared into the dressing room. As soon as the door closed, Troy's voice came out carrying a hint of amusement.

"You know I never considered clothes shopping to be foreplay...and I always considered myself to be an experimenter..." he trailed off and Taylor took that moment to speak up. Giggling she called back to him.

"So what do you think?" she paused for a moment. "What do you think about shopping foreplay?" she asked as she released an unfeminine snort as she finished her question. Troy smirked at the question as he shrugged off the pervious suit jacket.

"Oh I like it...and I'm thinking of a next time, except then we go to my favorite stores and while there we act accordingly." Taylor blushed and lowered her head into her hands and just smiled brightly at his words. Ever since they had officially hooked, well at least as far as they were concern they had become quite the couple. They weren't clingy but they didn't feel like they were crowding each other by being around one another all the time. It was something she appreciated and something she was quite certain that she had never had. Companionship, with a man that loved and cared for her. Sure Darius was like her family, but Troy was her man and she had never felt that way about anyone before. It was like she was experiencing love for the first time. Leaning back in her chair she allowed herself to released her most relaxed smile, one that she didn't even know that she had, while she waited on him to get finished trying on the suit.

After their shopping was finished, Troy drove them back to Taylor's home. "I can't believe my song is number 2." he pouted as he paused a red light, Taylor just smiled as she looked over at him and started to nod her head to the opening beats of her own song.

"I can...look, sweetie I've been on the scene for a long while so really did you think you would or could possibly take the number 1 spot from me on your first single." she asked with a cocky smile as she looked over at Troy, who in turn just rolled his eyes.

"Whatever...it's only a matter of time...just a matter of time."

"Yeah, in your dreams though." she mumbled loudly knowing that he would hear her. He chanced a glance over at her and frowned.

"See...I'm so going to get you back for that, Taylor. First off all you make me try on all those suits only to pick the very first one that I put on-."

"I liked it better than the others, I just needed to be sure." she replied back with a giggle as Troy waved his hand in the arm dismissively.

"Yeah, yeah whatever, and then you start dissing me and my first single." he stated, as he turned to look at her with a playful twinkle in his eyes instantly letting her know that he was alright and that he wasn't really angry. "I'm gonna get you back for that just you wait and see." he replied with a shake of his head as he pulled up outside of her home with a smile on his face as he listened to her giggle. Once the car was off, he looked at her and sighed. "So we still got plenty of day to kill what do you want to do?"

"Let's go swimming."

"In November." he asked as he looked at her. " You do know that there is frost on the ground right now." he stated while looking at her as if she had completely lost her mind. Taylor just smiled and looked at him.

"You do realize that I have two pools...one outside and one indoors," opening her door she got out and allowed the chilly wind wrap around her. Releasing a shiver, she looked back at Troy and smiled brightly for a moment before speaking. "Come on we're wasting time." Troy just rolled his eyes and got out of the car behind her and followed her inside. Once inside they were greeted by Maria who just smiled at them.

"So Troy how was the shopping?" she asked knowingly, "Did she run you ragged?"

"Naw, I handled it." he replied with a smile, as Taylor took his hand. She looked over at Maria and smiled at the woman.

"Did I have any calls."

"None." she replied smoothly. "Remember Darius is giving you the day off before the party...but Troy did have a message." she replied as she looked over at Troy who looked quite surprised at the news. He didn't understand why someone would call Taylor's home in order to leave him a message. He didn't think he spent that much time over here. Maria laughed at the shock on his face and just shook her head.

"Oh please...you do know that you're over here more than me right." he blushed at her words and just shook his head.

"No...I hadn't realized that." he replied with a shy chuckle. Taylor watched him for a moment before tugging on his hand.

"Come on...you can return that call later," she looked over at Maria and smiled for a brief moment. "We're heading to the pool and please don't disturb us." Taylor replied as she bodily pulled Troy from the room. Maria rolled her eyes and called out after them.

"TMI, Taylor...TMI."

When they entered the pool room, Troy looked at his clothing and then over at Taylor. "Um, please tell me you have some bathing suits here." he questioned with a sigh as he looked at her for a moment before shaking his head. "Cause...believe it or not I'm not going skinny dipping." Taylor just smiled at him and then pointed over towards the restrooms.

"There are some in there...I asked Maria to get your some a couple of weeks ago." he raised an eyebrow at that and just smiled.

"Oh so you bought me some huh. So I guess you planned this."

"No not the swimming part...maybe when we were ready an interlude in the pool." Troy just smiled and the looked back at the restroom. "I think I better go ahead and change up." he muttered softly. Taylor watched as he headed away from her, before allowing the frown to appear on her face. Why did he get so uncomfortable whenever she brought up the idea of them having sex. As she headed into the changing room she decided that this afternoon she would get him to talk about it.

Troy had noticed the slightly standoffish behavior that Taylor had adopted as soon as they both returned from the dressing room, and for the life of him he couldn't figure out what had happened between the time of him changing and coming back out and getting into the pool. He waded in the water for a bit while keeping his eyes on her as she sat on the pool's edge dangling her feet in the water. "Aren't you going to come on in...I don't think I have to tell you that the water is fine."

"I'm alright over here, Troy." she replied back, as she bite down on her lower lip and looked over at him. Unable to stand it any longer Troy swam over to her and settled himself down in from of her. He watched her for a few moments before placing his hands on the side of the pool and speaking up his voice calm and clear.

"What's the problem?" he asked softly, "and please don't tell me that it's nothing cause I'll know that you're lying." Taylor studied him for a moment before sighing and speaking up her voice cool as she watched him.

"Why haven't we slept together...do you not want me?" she asked, Troy froze at her words and looked into her eyes. He could see exactly where her reasoning and thoughts were going at the moment and he just wanted to end this now. He wanted to stop the doubts and end this line of thought before she took it to far.

"Can I ask you a question?" he asked, this new direction completely throwing Taylor off as he placed his hands on her hips and lifted her off the edge of the pool and into the water so that he was looking her more directly into the eyes. After she nodded her head giving her consent to continue he spoke. "I want you to answer truly...these past few months that we've been together can you honestly say that I don't want you. When I look at you do you really think that I don't want you. That I don't love you, cause believe me I do. I want you and I love you." He paused and waited for her to realize what he had just said. As her eyes widened in shock, she lifted her hands and pushed herself away from his embrace.

"Do you really mean that?"

"Of course I do...," he paused and walked towards her his arms down by his sides as he looked at her for a moment. "See this is why we haven't slept together yet."

"Because you love me?" Troy studied her for a moment before speaking his voice cool and calm as he waded through the water and back over to her.

"Yes, that's exactly why. I love you...and God knows just how much I want you but I also understand what happened between you and Chad," he paused as he said the name and then reached out beneath the water and grabbed her hand. "And what type of relationship you've had with men since then. I didn't want to," he paused again and looked up towards the ceiling as he tried to find the right words to say. "I didn't want to create a bond or a relationship that you would question. I wanted to show you that I love you and it's not because of the physical but because of what's in here. I see that you allow people the physical with you before you established a real emotional bond with them. That's what I want with you...I want us to be linked up on an emotional level so you will never mistake me being with you for something physical."

"But you get so uncomfortable when I mention it." she stated softly as she lowered her eyes to their hands that were still clasped together beneath the surface. Releasing one of her hands, he placed it beneath her chin and gently lifted her face to his and spoke.

"You really don't realize what it is that you do to me do you?" he asked softly. "You really don't get it do you." He smiled and shook his head. "We you say things like that...when you mention it my imagination goes wild. I desire you, Taylor make no mistake about that."

"Then why won't you do something now...we've been together for months and you have to know that we've built an emotional bond, you know I care for you...," she paused at the look he gave her and sighed. "I can't say it, Troy. The last time I said it to someone he ripped my heart apart and didn't care as he did it."

"I understand, Tay." he replied back as he looked down at her.

"But what I want to understand is why haven't we done..." she trailed off in embarrassment, Troy just smiled and spoke up.

"Cause when we do, do it...when we do make love," he replied softly as he looked at her for a moment. "I want it to be special...I want it to feel like the first time for you." she blushed and tucked her head at the statement and Troy just smiled brightly at the scene before him. He had made the diva Tay-Ann blush more times than once.

"My aren't we sure of ourselves."

"I'm not really sure of myself...I'm more sure of our feelings for one another." he whispered as he looked at her. "I want things to be special and I just know they will. I care about you Taylor...I love you and I want us to do things right," he bent his knees slightly so that he was looking her in the face. "Is that okay baby." Taylor just nodded her head and smiled before wrapping her arms around his broad neck and kissing him quickly on the lips. She giggled as Troy pulled her closed and held onto her tightly. Nuzzling her neck he spoke again his voice muffled against the tender brown flesh of her neck. "Is that okay, baby?"

"It's okay." she replied softly as she wrapped her arms around him and allowed herself to feel the love that he was willing giving her. Troy just closed his eyes and held onto her tightly as she clung to him. He was glad they were able to get over this issue, and he was also glad he was able to make her see his side of things.

"Man this monkey suit is killing me." Troy mumbled as he once again began fooling around with his tie. Taylor who was leaning on his shoulder just looked up at him before reaching out and tugging his hand down.

"Don't mess with it Troy? You look fine, and even if I do say so myself we certainly make a striking couple." Troy glanced down at her black dress and nodded his head as the limo rode through the streets of downtown New York. Taylor snuggled deeper into his embrace and sighed as she wrapped an arm around his waist. "Don't be so nervous?"

"I'm trying not to be but I know what's awaiting us when we get to the club and I'm probably not really ready for it." he admitted as he looked down at her. Taylor just smiled and sat up, he watched as she shifted closer to him and grinned up at him before cupping his face between his hands.

"Relax...and follow my lead, and I guarantee you that you'll do fine." Troy just nodded as he felt the limo roll to a stop. He quickly looked himself over one last time and then looked at Taylor who seemed to be getting excited, but then again he knew that she had been living this life for half a decade longer than him. As soon as the door opened he stepped out and grabbed hold of hand and helped her out of the chair while silently thanking Taylor for making him wear sunglasses cause he was pretty sure that if he didn't he would have been blinded by now by all the flashing lights. He could hear people chanting Taylor's stage name, they were screaming for her and it still amazed Troy how her fans reacted whenever they saw her and just how Taylor took it all in stride. They quickly made their way inside with Taylor only stopping a few times to wave at some fans . Once inside their jackets were taken and they were led upstairs to the VIP room where Darius and Julius and along with other recording artist were currently waiting. Taylor looked between Troy and Darius and instantly noticed the frown that marred both of their faces. It wasn't really a surprise, ever since the fight the two men couldn't seem to get along at all. "Behave."

"I'm always behaving." Troy replied with a chuckle as he looked at Darius with a small smirk playing across his lips. The only reason Darius didn't let him go is because his singles had led to a pretty impressive debut album. He sighed at the fierce look that Taylor sent him and sighed. "Okay okay." he murmured as he looked down at her before looking back up as they made their way closer to the group. Darius quickly stepped forward and embraced Taylor and held her tightly.

"Hey baby girl." he replied with a small chuckle. "I hope you're liking the party so far." he asked brightly as he looked her over. Troy sneered at the sight and tried his best not to reach over and smack Darius again.

"Hey, Dee...and you did an awesome job by the way this is completely better than my last album launch party."

"We've got to improve each and every time just like you do on your albums for your fans." He replied with a smile. He looked over at Troy and gave him a small head nod. "How are you doing?"

"Good...and you." Troy replied back trying his best to keep the coldness out of his voice.

"I'm doing good too." Darius replied. "Business on the label is booming, but of course you know that mister gold record." he replied with a fake smile. He returned his attention back to Taylor and kissed on her the cheek before taking a microphone from Julius and walking over to the balcony. Troy and Taylor watched as he quieted the crowd and spoke.

"The woman of the hour is here," he paused and motioned for Taylor to come to his side. Troy reluctantly let her go and watched as she moved to the other's man side. "Let's all have a good time and believe me...Taylor is gonna show us all what we can expect from this album but until that time everyone please enjoy themselves so in other words let's get this party started."