She spent a night by herself in the truck.

It had been over 24 hours since she arrived on Earth.

Was she there to stay?

Troy came outside first thing in the morning to check on her. He kissed her head and brushed her hair back as she woke.

"Morning, beautiful." He rubbed her back. "I brought two little helpers with me."

She sat up and yawned, then looked over at Talon and Lyle. "Have you told your mom and dad about me yet?"

"What's the point if you aren't staying?" Troy handed her a tray of breakfast. "I made you some waffles, I knew you had to be hungry."

She took the tray from him and set it on the dashboard.

"You two want to eat with me?" She smiled at the boys, who both returned the smile.

Troy lifted Talon and Lyle into the cab of the truck. Both boys sat beside Gabriella, waiting for a bite.

Troy watched as Gabriella and the boys ate, but wondered how it was possible she was still on Earth.

She handed Talon the fork. "My hair is all greasy and I feel disgusting. Do you think I could sneak inside and take a shower?"

"Boys, you can't tell asshole-bitch, grandma, grandpa, Jake, or any of their kids about mommy. It's a secret."

Lyle got excited. "Asshole-bitch be mad?"

"Yeah, she'll get mad and daddy is going to get a time out. So don't tell asshole-bitch."

Gabriella laughed so hard she spit her food out. "Troy, what the hell are you teaching these kids?"

"It was a joke and he made up a name for my sister Julie. Who does he remind you of?" Troy grinned.

"I don't know, a guy named Troy Bolton maybe?" Gabriella pulled Lyle on to her lap. "So, can I take a shower?"

Troy looked over at the house. "Talon, go make sure nobody is awake."

Talon looked over at Gabriella. "But I want to stay with mommy... "

"She is going to come inside if you go check and see if nobody is awake."

Talon leaned against Gabriella with a sad look on his face. "I don't want to... "

Lyle struggled to get off Gabriella's lap. "Me do it!"

Troy chuckled a little and grabbed Lyle out of the truck, setting him on the ground. "Come back and tell me, okay?"

Lyle ran into the house.

"That kid... " Gabriella shook her head. "He's 100% you."

"I know it." Troy got into the truck with Gabriella. Do you know what day it is today?"

She shook her head.

"It's Christmas eve." Troy messed around with the steering wheel. "The kids want you to help them open presents tomorrow... "

She wrapped an arm around Talon and kissed the top of his head. "I wish I could, Talon... " Gabriella looked down at him and smiled. "I don't know if I'll be here for Christmas. I really wish I could, sweetheart."

Talon sobbed. "I don't want you to leave... "

"I don't want to leave either. I want to stay with you and Aubrey, Lyle, and daddy." She sighed.

Talon buried his head into her side. "I love you mommy... "

"I love you too, baby." She ran her fingers up and down his back and looked over at Troy, who was looking at her.

"Are you going to be okay when I leave?" She said worriedly.

Truly, he knew he would have to be okay.

"What does it matter? I've been raising three kids by myself." He shrugged. "I'm used to it."

Tears fell down Gabriella's cheeks and hit the top of Talon's head. "I love you Troy... "

He reached for her hand and grabbed it, kissing it while tears ran down his cheeks also. "I love you too, Gabriella."

Lyle ran outside with a big smile.

"Is anyone awake?" Troy wiped his face and looked over at Lyle.

Lyle shook his head from side to side. "No wake."

"Okay, come on." He got out of the truck and shut the door.

Gabriella got out of the other side and pulled Talon out with her. She lifted him on to her hip and kissed his head. "Are you okay?"

He shook his head and buried it into her shoulder.

"Don't worry, okay? I'll try to stay for the rest of today."

"I want you to stay forever."

She looked at Troy helplessly.

"Let's just go, okay?" He opened the front door.

Gabriella followed Troy into the house. He looked around, making sure Lyle wasn't lying to him.

"Okay, upstairs... " He grabbed Gabriella's hand and pulled her towards the stairs.

They approached the steps.

"HOLD IT!"

"DAMN IT!" Troy cursed and turned around.

His parents were sitting at the kitchen counter. Lyle was in Jack's arms.

"Lyle, you said- "

"No wake." Kay crossed her arms. "I told him to tell you. He came up to me and asked if anyone was awake."

He looked at Gabriella. "See what I mean?"

"Who's your little girlfriend?" Kay got up and walked towards them.

Gabriella sighed and turned around.

...

Gabriella found some of her old clothes in Troy's dresser after she took a shower. She dug through them as she listened to Aubrey snore.

She was sick with the flu.

Troy opened his bedroom door and shut it. "I told them I had to take care of Aubrey. I've got five minutes and then I have to start explaining... "

"I'll take care of her. What do you need to know about Apex?"

"Absolutely nothing." He glanced over at Talon, who sat in Troy's armchair. "Talon, can you go get me Aubrey's medicine?"

"Where is it?"

"In the bathroom by the sink." Troy sat in the chair and sighed. "I'm not telling them anything about Apex."

"You might as well blow the entire thing open." Gabriella searched through Troy's suitcase for Aubrey's clothes.

"Gabriella, you don't have to do anything for Aubrey. I can get her going- "

"I didn't get to take care of my baby. Please?"

Troy chuckled. "If you want. She has a diaper on because when she gets sick, she pees all over the bed. So change her, then make her sit up and give her a half a syringe of liquid medicine. Don't let her fall back asleep. Take her to the toilet and wait for a while. Then get her dressed. Her clean clothes are on the right side of the suitcase."

"Do you want me to bring her downstairs or what?" Gabriella looked over at him.

"She needs to eat something, so yeah." Troy got up from the chair. "Talon will help you. He knows the routine."

"Just tell them everything, okay?"

"I will. If you have any trouble with Brie, let me know." He stood up.

Gabriella knelt beside Aubrey and looked up at him. "She's such a little angel. Look at how beautiful she is... "

"I know, she is just a baby." Troy opened the bedroom door. "Well, here I go."

"Good luck. I'm glad I don't have to do it."