Crossing the Line
A/N: So I finally made it to the epilogue. Sorry I didn't update yesterday or Wednesday but I passed my driving test Wednesday so was out and then had exam results yesterday (I got into my first choice thankfully) and was busy doing stuff. But here it is and I'll let you read since I left you guys on a bit of a downer last chapter. I do have to give a shout-out to BubbleGum236 for reviewing every single chapter and making me laugh with her reviews. Anyway please read and review! Thanks.
Disclaimer: I own nothing
Chapter 18 – Epilogue
Three years had passed since Troy and Gabriella had first met. A lot had happened since then.
Firstly, after their argument the day their relationship had been revealed and the couple were suspended turned out to be the last face to face conversation the two had, had. Troy was given a second chance by the board but was warned by the school board that one slip and he was gone. Gabriella had come to an agreement with the board after handing in her resignation. It came as a shock but they accepted the decision eventually rather than them having to sack her.
Secondly, both were moving forward in their own successful careers. Troy had been drafted into the NBA; a letter from Tony Montez himself recommending him sealed his fate if his talent alone wasn't good enough. Turned out Tony, who'd gone back into the sport as a coach, would be Troy's new coach when he officially joined the LA Lakers – a lifelong dream of his that would finally be fulfilled.
Gabriella, meanwhile, quit education altogether and decided to go travelling for a while before coming back to the states and moving to LA with her family to manage her dad's business affairs aka his personal agent who he knew wouldn't screw him over like his last one had.
Finally, the one thing that hadn't changed, the love each felt for the other. No matter how many times each tried to move on, they always found the other person wasn't the one person they wanted.
Troy had flown up to LA after his graduation to finalise some of his paperwork. Tony had invited him to stay with Ramona and himself during his stay as Gabriella had her own place now and wouldn't be around while he was in town.
"Troy, it's so good to see you again. My, haven't you grown into such a handsome young man." Ramona gushed as Troy rubbed the back of his neck as Ramona greeted him. "Not that you weren't before." She quickly added. "Oh, I better go let your mom know you've arrived. Tony will show you to the guest room."
Before he could blink, she'd gone as Tony laughed at his wife. "You'll have to forgive her. She gets excited when people come to stay."
"Are you sure you still want me to stay? I mean I'm happy enough to go find a hotel if it's going to cause any problems." Troy offered still unsure about staying with the Montez's since the last time he spoke to them, Tony at least had wanted to rip him to shreds.
Tony shook his head. "I told you already that I forgave you a long time ago. What happened happened and there is nothing I can do to change that but I do know at the time, you had my daughter's best interests at heart which I thank you for."
Troy was slightly confused at Tony's willingness to forgive him but he smiled anyway. "You know I'd do anything if it meant she'd be happy. Anything."
"I know, Troy. I know."
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Gabriella walked into her parent's house after getting a call from her mom asking her around for dinner. The instant aroma of her mother's cooking hit her nose as she entered.
"That smells amazing, Mom."
Ramona smiled. "Thanks. Take a seat, it won't be long. I'm just about to dish up."
Gabriella nodded and headed towards the dining room. She wondered if she was intruding as the table was set for two people, two candles lit on the top with low music playing in the background.
"Tony, dinner." Gabriella sat down questioning if she should go when she heard her mother call her father.
Tony soon entered the room with another person following before her mom carried in two plates. Looking up, Gabriella felt her stomach flip at the sight of the twenty two year old male in front of her.
Troy's mouth dropped when his cyan eyes connected with the very familiar twenty six year old brunette.
"Sit." Tony pushed Troy onto the other chair. "Now listen, you two are finally going to talk and sort out how you feel once and for all because we all know how madly in love with each other you are but you are both too stubborn to admit it. We're going out and when we come back all this better be sorted."
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The two ate in silence, each refusing to start the conversation. Once they'd both finished, Gabriella stood and took the empty plates to the kitchen. Troy followed knowing he couldn't stay quiet any longer.
"Ella?" Gabriella turned hearing the nickname she hadn't heard in a long time, along with his husky voice. "We need to talk."
"Ok." Taking his hand, she led him through to the main room.
Sitting side by side, Troy took her hands in his. "Tell me what I have to do to make you realise I'm in love with you and that's never going to change?"
Gabriella sighed. "Troy."
"I'll do anything. Shave my hair, shout it from the rooftop how I feel, run naked around any city while proclaiming my love for you? Anything, just name it and it'll be done."
Gabriella refused to meet his eye contact. "It isn't that simple, Troy."
"Yes it is. Don't you get it? I only want you." Troy suddenly moved onto his knee as an idea came to mind. "Marry me, Gabriella Montez. Make me the happiest guy alive and marry me?"
Gabriella closed her eyes before letting out a deep breath. "Get up." Troy sat back on the sofa. "I'm not going to marry you, Troy." He knew he'd blown it and she really didn't want him. As soon as she said the words, he'd be gone and he'd leave her alone for good if it meant she'd be happy. "Not now at least." She added in a timid voice.
Troy's head shot back to her face, shock written clearly across it. "What?"
"Troy, can I speak now?" Troy nodded. "We've both changed a lot since we were last together. Things are different now. I need to get to know you again and you me before we even start any kind of relationship. I'm sorry."
"You're saying there is a chance though? For us?"
"Maybe but right now I need some space. I'm gonna go." She stood up and turned away from Troy.
"Ella, wait."
She shook her head. "I'm sorry, Troy. Please, just give me time."
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Troy lay in bed that night unable to sleep. His head kept going over and over everything Gabriella said to him. knowing he couldn't let her slip through his fingers again, he chucked on the first clothes he found and headed downstairs in search of Gabriella's address knowing it would be around this house somewhere.
"Looking for this?" Troy jumped, startled, as Tony held up a piece of paper with Gabriella's address. "Don't hurt her again. She needs you more than she's willing to accept."
Troy smiled and darted out the house and into the first taxi he found. One way or another, Gabriella was going to listen to him, really listen to him.
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Opening the door, Gabriella was shocked to see Troy waiting outside. She pulled him inside quickly before rubbing the sleep out of her eyes and patting down her hair which was all over the place.
"What are you doing here?"
"To make you see sense."
Gabriella scoffed not really feeling like doing this again right now but felt her heart pounding as she lost control of her body once she looked into his eyes. "Is that right?"
"Yeah that's right."
Before Troy could say anything else, she launched herself at him, her arms wrapping tightly around his neck as his strong arms lifted her up allowing her legs to wrap around him.
"Bedroom." Gabriella mumbled as she broke away from the kiss to breath, Troy's lips just moving down to her sensitive area on her neck.
Troy carried her up the stairs, their lips re-attaching in a hurried urgency before they entered the first room, which happened luckily to be Gabriella's, slamming the door shut with his foot, neither having to worry for the first time ever about anyone seeing or hearing them.
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Gabriella lay naked still but curled up into Troy's strong hold as the daylight filtered in through her closed shutters. She knew Troy was awake and could feel his stare on her as she lifted her head and sighed.
"I'm sorry about yesterday. I think I was still in shock at being set up that I didn't even want to see what was right before me but I'm glad you are you and you didn't give up on me. Thank you."
Troy smiled down at her and placed a kiss on her forehead. "Well thanks for not chucking me straight out of your apartment. Although, I didn't exactly see much of it last night."
Gabriella rolled her eyes. "So, are you here alone?"
"Yeah, why?"
Smiling, she pulled herself up and closer to him as her breasts touched his bare skin and he could feel the heat radiating of her womanly region as she hovered above his erection. "I was thinking," she started, her lips moved closely to his as her warm breath tingled his lips, "after we get your stuff from my parents, we could spend all day together, in bed or not."
Troy smirked his lips moving even closer to hers, barely any space between. "I love the sound of that but more importantly, I love you."
Her eyes sparkled as he spoke the words that filled her heart with so much happiness. "I love you too, Troy. So much." Their lips crashed together as that they let their love take them to their own little world.
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After his time in LA where he finalised all the paperwork he needed, he headed home but with Gabriella in tow to tell his parents of their re-ignited relationship, although they were already pretty certain his family probably knew as Ramona hadn't stopped gushing over how happy they looked and how perfect they looked for each other now. Gabriella had also returned to Albuquerque to help him pack his stuff ready for his move to LA; Troy and Gabriella had come to a decision where they would take things slowly and test out the possibility of the two living together, with the aim of it becoming permanent if things were working out. If not, Troy would look to get himself a place once he was accustomed more with the city and had money coming in. They both knew living together was a big step and a challenge but both felt ready to give it ago and knew if at the minute it didn't work out, it didn't necessarily mean it wouldn't in the future.
That had been two years ago now and all the worry that had been there disappeared within the first week of living together. Six months after that day, Troy had once again proposed to Gabriella; - after receiving the ok from Tony this time - she'd said yes this time knowing their relationship was a lot more stable than when Troy suddenly proposed to her back when they first saw each other again.
Their wedding had taken place back in Albuquerque, away from all their everyday craziness they faced. The press was obsessed with Troy's talent and it made him even more interesting that he was dating his coach's daughter who was older than him – he'd also received some stick from some of his teammates when they'd found out but not in a bad way, more a teasing way.
Their first year of marriage had flown by so quickly for both of them. Luckily, they spent very little time apart as Gabriella always travelled with the team not only as Troy's wife but as agent to her father still.
And that's where she was now as she looked out at the grey dull sky. Florida may have been warm but it was very wet and the rain didn't look like it would be easing. The team were practising all day on and off and doing some sort of team bonding exercise that her dad was obsessed with. Knowing there was no point in going shopping since she didn't want to get wet, she slipped into a bikini, chucking a pair of shorts and one of Troy's tee's on and headed downstairs to the hotel pool. It wasn't that busy but enough people were around. She slipped off her clothes and flip-flops and slipped into the pool. Other people around smiled at her in recognition but didn't say anything as they carried on like normal. Stopping at the other end of the pool, she watched as a mother carried her small baby into the pool and sat the little girl in a small rubber ring. The small girl's squeals as she made contact with the water made Gabriella smile.
She always wanted kids of her own one day but it wasn't something Troy wanted, not yet at least. They'd discussed the prospect of having their own kids one day but Troy said he wanted to wait a few years so he was more settled in his career as it was still early on and he didn't need to be stressed out with having a baby around to look after too. Gabriella knew he would be a great father as she'd seen him several times with his nephew, Ryan – Christina tended to use Troy and herself as babysitters if Janelle wasn't around because they all knew as much as Jack and Lucille loved their grandson, he was hard work. And they didn't mind in the slightest having him as Troy didn't get to see his family as often as he liked so when Christina was in LA for work, he'd be there.
Gabriella's stance broke as she heard a few wolf whistles and saw her father, Troy and a few of the guys sliding into the pool obviously for a relax. Shaking her head, she swam towards Troy, smiling at her father as she passed him.
"Hello." Troy greeted, wrapping his arms around his wife's waist.
"Hey," she leaned up and placed a kiss on his lips, ignoring the hoots and cheers coming from behind them but did notice they soon stopped after she heard her father's voice.
"How's your day been?"
"Boring. I hate the rain." She complained.
Troy laughed. "I know but hey at least I'm here now."
"Speaking of that, I thought you guys were going to be gone all day?"
Troy shrugged. "Apparently whatever your father had planned got cancelled because of the weather. We were all so disappointed we couldn't have yet another team bonding afternoon."
Gabriella giggled at his sarcasm. "Don't be mean. But I'm glad your back." Laying her head against his solid chest, she sighed in contentment.
"Hey, mija." Gabriella smiled at her father as she stayed in her position. "You ok?"
Gabriella nodded. "Just bored and tired."
"I'm sorry. I know you hate travelling and being alone for so many hours."
She shook her head at her father. "It's ok. I just wish I had some other kind of distraction because there are only so many times you can go shopping."
Tony laughed as he looked at his son-in-law who was rolling his eyes. They both looked at Gabriella who had disappeared into her own little world. Troy couldn't see her face fully but Tony could and followed her line of vision to see her watching a mother and daughter playing in the water, sadness in her eyes.
"Troy, would you mind if I stole my daughter for a while? Just want to do some catching up." Troy nodded as Gabriella let go of him as he headed towards the guys and Tony let her out.
"What's going on, dad?"
Tony shook his head. "Get your stuff. I don't think this is the best place to discuss some stuff I need you to answer."
Gabriella didn't see anything strange about his answer as she slid her clothes back on; her father was always one who wanted things about his life to stay as personal as possible.
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Tony followed behind as Gabriella flopped down on the bed in her father's hotel room. She'd dried herself off slightly when in the elevator and the heat around her helped do the rest.
"Gabi, sweetie, I feel like I've been neglecting you of late. How are you doing?"
Confusion spread on her face not expecting this. "I'm ok."
"Things still ok between you and Troy?"
Gabriella nodded. "Yeah. Why? Has he said something?"
Tony shook his head and sat next to her as she sat up and lay her head on his shoulder. "No, I was just asking. Don't snap at me for asking this, I'm only doing this because I care but are you honestly happy?"
Gabriella sighed. "Dad, I've never been happier. Troy's so sweet to me and I love him more than anything." Seeing her father hesitate, she grabbed his hand with her much smaller one. "Go on. Whatever you say, I won't take it personally."
"You don't seem happy. It's almost as though there is something your heart is missing out on that you know about but yet you won't do anything to fix it. I know I may be completely wrong but that's just how I see you. You know, if there is anything, you can always come to me or your mother."
Gabriella smiled as she lifted his arm to cuddle closer to him as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder, remembering all the times he'd cuddled her when she was younger whether it be because a big monster was in her room at age four or when she'd broken her arm at fifteen, he'd always been the one she turned to when she was scared or wanted comfort. But yet that had disappeared as she grew older and became even less still once she'd met Troy but he knew Troy was doing just as good a job. "Daddy, I promise you, it's nothing so don't worry about it."
He closed his eyes, something in his gut making him nervous at thinking about his little girl wanting this. "Gabi, answer me honestly. Downstairs, I saw you. You were watching that mother and daughter pair intensely. Are you pregnant?"
"No!" Tony gave her a stern look. "Dad, honestly, I'm not pregnant. Trust me; you'd know if I was."
"Well then what was that all about downstairs? Your eyes were sad when you were watching them."
Gabriella sighed. "I can't believe I'm talking about this with you."
"What is it?"
"I think, no I know, I'm ready to have a baby but Troy's not. I want a baby so badly, someone who I can hold in my arms and know was made from our love but it's never going to happen. Troy wants to wait a few more years, maybe even until he's thirty but I'm not getting younger, dad. I'm twenty eight now. If I were to get pregnant now I'd be twenty nine by the time the baby would be due. I don't know if I can wait as long as Troy because by then I'll be thirty four and the chances of falling pregnant are a lot less likely while the chances of the pregnancy going wrong increase. Dad, what do I do?"
Tony looked at his little girl and although it scared him the thought of her wanting her own little girl or boy, he knew she'd be a perfect mother just like his wife had been to her. Ramona and Tony had had Gabriella young, never regretting it, and always wanted to give her a sibling but Ramona had fallen ill and told she never could have anymore babies naturally without threatening her own life so they were grateful for their miracle, their little Gabriella. "Mija, this isn't something I can decide for you. You have to talk to Troy, tell him how you feel and then you need to think once you've spoken. Just remember though, whatever you choose to do, I'll always be here, backing you every step just like your mom will be."
Gabriella tried to push back her tears. "I love you, daddy."
"I love you too, Princess."
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Gabriella walked into her room that evening after returning from a dinner with her father. Troy had told her that she should just go and enjoy some time with her father and he'd be fine with the guys. Smiling, the brunette, placed her clutch on the table and wrapped her arms around Troy from behind as he sat at the end of the bed watching some basketball game – she recognised the team playing was his best friend, Chad's, team (thankfully Chad, Zeke and Jason had supported Troy all along in his decision to pursue his feelings for Gabriella).
"Hey. How was your evening?"
Troy pulled her round so she was sitting on his lap. "It was ok. How was dinner?"
"It was nice. I can't remember the last time I spent so much time alone with my dad where work wasn't once mentioned. I liked it."
Troy smiled as he kissed her neck. "Good." Troy kept his head against her shoulder as he sighed.
Gabriella looked at him worried. "What's wrong?"
"I have to confess something." Gabriella felt herself grow nervous hearing how serious his voice sounded. "Earlier today, after you and your dad disappeared, I kind of followed. Neither of you saw me but I heard everything you said because the door never shut properly." Gabriella's eyes went wide. "Why didn't you tell me how you felt? You should have told me. I'm your husband."
Gabriella looked towards the TV not being able to look at Troy, scared of how he would react. Wiping away the tear that fell, she spoke. "I'm sorry."
Standing up Gabriella moved away feeling ashamed knowing there was a good chance she'd just caused a huge problem, something that threatened her marriage. Troy let a deep breath as he dragged her back in his embrace. "Don't be. I'm sorry you didn't feel you could come to me." Troy was quiet for a minute. "How long have you felt like this?"
Gabriella leaned into his chest as she listened to his heartbeat. "Probably since we got married."
Troy felt shocked at her honesty. "That long?"
"Yeah. Look, Troy, I don't want this to change anything between us. I know how you feel and I'm just being silly. I'm happy to wait until we're both ready."
Troy tilted her head up so she was looking at him. He could hear the disappointment in her voice. "Ella," she smiled at the nickname, "if you're ready to have a baby then so am I."
Gabriella's eyes widened. "What?"
Troy couldn't help but let out a chuckle at the look on her face. "Baby, I would do anything to make you happy and if you're ready then so am I. Yeah it scares the shit out of me the thought of us bringing another life into this world and if I was with anyone other than you then I don't think I could do it but I know in my heart us having a baby is something I could handle as long as I have you by my side."
Gabriella turned so she was straddling Troy, his hands on either thigh, her arms around his neck. "So does this mean we're trying?" She asked trying to hold her smile.
Troy grinned and kissed her lips. "It means we're trying."
No matter the struggles they would face in their future, it was clear that with their love they could conquer anything.
A/N: What did you think? I hope everyone liked it. I just want to take the chance to thank every single person (sorry I'm not listing you all but it would take too long to do and thought I better hurry and get this up)who took the time to review and in particular those who have stuck with me since the beginning even though it has taken over two years to finish this story. I love each and every one of you. Anyway, please review one last time and let me know your thoughts. Thanks.
Luc xx