A/N: Grab the tissues! It's the end. Aw! So sad. NO SEQUEL!!!! HSMandChelseaFCfan is super busy so I don't think we'll be co-writing in the near future but I still owe her a lot for helping me with this and simply putting up with my impatience and moaning when my life seemed screwed. So, thank you :)

Anyway, without further ado...enjoy :)

Don't own HSM x

Epilogue

A light autumnal evening breeze swayed the few crispen leaves that remained on the trees in the backyard. The male sat on the back patio swing chair enjoying the peaceful surroundings he was currently in. It was rare for him to take time to enjoy moments like this; in fact it was rare if he found time in his hectic life for moments like this. Not that he would change his life for anything. In his whole thirty years of living, he couldn't remember ever feeling so content with the way his life was turning out.

***

Summer had passed and before long, Troy and Gabriella found themselves moving away to California, Gabriella to Stanford and Troy to Berkley. After having pratically been living together back in Albuquerque, the young couple were now thinking that may have been a bad idea since being away from each other was painful. Sure they'd spoken to each other constantly and their fellow dormmates all seemed like normal, friendly people but there was an ache in their hearts at being seperated.

As time passed in their first year, it slowly got easier but it never got any less hard whenever they had to say goodbye after spending time together. Things were made worse, however, once basketball season started for Troy as the very limited time they found to spend together became even more restricted. Gabriella tried to get to Berkley whenever she could if they knew Troy had been selected in the team. Being a first year, it was rare for anyone to get picked very often for the main team but Troy seemed to fast becoming one of their up and coming rising stars. And this made it impossible for Gabrilela to cheer Troy on at all his home games. Not that he minded because he knew she would try her best to be there when she could.

By the end of their first year, everyone who knew the couple were amazed they'd made it through the first year without living with each other. Six months ago it would have been a sure bet that they'd both fail their first years without being together twenty four seven. Thankfully all their friends had successfully passed their first years too allowing everyone to spend their summer catching up with friends and family.

Before heading back to California at the end of their summer, Troy and Gabriella were given quite the surprise. Their parents had found them a small apartment that was conveiniently located in the middle of Stanford and Berkley.

"Are you guys serious?" Troy exclaimed in pure shock.

Jack Bolton and Greg Montez just laughed at their children's reactions. "We saw how hard it has been for you guys and as long as you two contribute towards the upkeep of the apartment, we're happy to help pay for it."

A nineteen year old Gabriella twisted out of Troy's embrace and ran into her father's arms. "Thank you, Daddy, Mr Bolton."

"Just one rule that we want to reinforce." The young couple turned to Jack. "Still way too early for any grandkids."

Gabriella rolled her eyes while Troy shook his head before trying to move away from the obvious statement his father had made seconds ago. "So, when can we move in?"

***

Weeks passed and before anyone knew it, Troy and Gabriella were finally settled into their new apartment. They'd spent the last few weeks getting it decorated to their own taste and moving in their belongings. Their parents had been pretty good with letting the couple do things their way rather than trying to interfere too much. Carl and the rest of their friends had all been around to help out when they could because it also gave them all chance to catch up.

"I still can't believe you guys are going to be living together. I mean pratically every hour you two have free, I just know you'll be at it like rabbits; this is just easy access for you both. And definitely plenty of new areas to try out," Chad commented as the girls scoffed as his comment.

Carl choked and glared at the bushy haired male from his place to the side of him where he was leaning against the back of the sofa. "Dude, that's my sister you're talking about." He pushed Chad's shoulder, knocking him down into one of the sofas.

"Ok, time for you to all go. We really appreciated all your help but now it's time for us to enjoy this place alone. Plus if you miss your flight home then we'll be stuck with you all." Troy tried hurrying them out the door as Gabriella gave him a secret smirk knowing it had been a long two weeks since they had any proper time alone together. Their parents had returned home the previous day and now it was time for all the others to go.

Sharpay moved around Troy and went to hug her best friend. "You better call me soon and inform me on everything and let me know how you're getting on living with him twenty-four seven."

Gabriella laughed. "I will do. And you better promise me that you'll try not to kill Chad or Carl on the journey home."

The blonde smirked. "I don't make promises I can't be certain to keep."

"Bye, Shar." After exchanging farewells with everyone, Gabriella collapsed next to Troy on their soft new sofa.

"Welcome home, baby," Troy murmured.

"I can't believe we're finally sorted and living on our own. This is definitely so much better than living in dorms on campus with only weekend visits every now and then and it's even better still than when we were living together with our parents." Gabriella tilted her head to look at him.

Troy placed a gentle kiss a top of his finace's head as he looked down at her lovingly. "Just you and me."

"Forever and always."

"Now, how about we follow tradition and christen each and every room, fully." Gabriella gigged in delight as Troy climbed above her, a knowing glint present in his eyes that was just about obvious under all the love that was shining through.

***

"Somebody's deep in thought." Troy smiled hearing the angelic voice appear from behind him. His wife of seven years wrapped her tanned arms around his shoulders while he brought her hands up to his lips and placed a delicate kiss on them.

"Just enjoying the silence. Where are the kids?" Troy pulled Gabriella round so she could sit down next to him.

Gabriella rested her head on his shoulder; the two could cuddling up together, enjoying the rare opportunity to do so without being interrupted. "The grandparents called to say they got a bit delayed but will have our kids back to us sometime tonight."

"Wow you mean we have the whole house to ourselves?!" Gabriella laughed at her husband's comment. "Why is it I don't feel like I want to move from this position then?"

"Because you know you're just too comfy a pillow to want to disturb your lovely wife."

Troy rolled his eyes as he drifted back off into thought.

His life now was so much more different than anyone would have every imagined it would be. For a start, he wasn't living in some multi-million dollar mansion that most people expected; instead he lived in a modest four bedroom house in their hometown of Albuquerque, right in the middle of the west and east sides of town. He hadn't become the international superstar everyone knew he could have been, not that he didn't have the chance to.

***

Hanging up the phone, he knew that the answer he'd given was the right one. He didn't need time to think about the offer because he knew what he would lose if he took it up. For him, the brunette in front of him was not only his true love but she was his life. The thought of having to spend even a day without her was too much to even think about.

"Who was that?" she asked from her position on the couch, a book spread open in her lap and a pair of small reading glasses perched on her nose.

Troy shrugged. "No one important."

"Troy," Gabriella said in a serious tone, knowing he was hiding something. She shut her book and took her glasses off, setting them both on the coffee table as she stood up to walk over to him. She held his hands in hers. "Tell me."

"Mr Simms," he muttered as if it wasn't anybody important.

Gabriella's eyes widened. "You mean the Mr Simms who you saw the other day after your game with the guys? The one who wanted to meet up with you to arrange a trial for you?" she asked excitedly.

Troy shrugged as he rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "Yeah."

"What did he want?" she asked excitedly, practically jumping up and down from enthusiasm.

"He just said he wanted to arrange a meeting to see if we could come to some sort of an agreement for the basis of a pre-contract with the Lakers if I did well at the trial," he replied, deadpan, as Gabriella's jaw dropped.

"Are you serious? Troy, this is huge. This could finally be your big break," she exclaimed, throwing her arms around him.

Troy shook his head. "I turned him down."

"You did what now?" Gabriella asked in shock as she pulled back from him.

"I turned him down. Gabi, you and our daughter mean the world to me. I'm not leaving. I'm so happy just coaching at East High," he explained seriously, his blue eyes unwavering from her mocha ones.

Gabriella interrupted him. "But this is your dream. You could get the chance to show the world your talent, baby. You know we'd support you everywhere you go because we're your family. I don't want you to regret this decision."

"Gabi, stop trying to push me into this. It's almost like you want me to be this big shot. Is it because you're not proud that I'm just stuck coaching at some high school and I'm not doing what everyone thinks I should be? Are you ashamed of me?" Troy yelled, stepping closer to her as Gabriella glared at him.

"You know it's nothing like that. I love you and I'll never be ashamed of you. I just want you to have what you deserve," she cried.

Troy could see she was close to tears as his anger continued growing. "Well, I've made my decision and it's final. If you can't deal with that then that's your problem."

Storming towards the door, Gabriella grabbed his arm before he could walk away. "Don't walk away from me, Troy Bolton. We're not done here."

"Yes. We. Are," Troy hissed as he tried to keep his anger under control. He couldn't remember the last time he'd been so angry or even why he felt this way right now. Sure, they'd had their fair share of disagreements but not to this level. Troy had never raised his voice at her before. They glared fiercely at each other, their chests rising and falling unnaturally. Before either could comprehend what was happening, Troy pinned Gabriella up against the wall and was ferociously kissing her as their anger boiled over within each other.

***

Troy laughed at the memory. That night was the night the couple conceived their second child. When their passion had finally died down and after apologies were given, both realised that through their anger they'd forgotten all about their daughter and were just grateful she hadn't been at home that night and had been staying with Gabriella's parents because it would have no doubt scared her because it scared both of them how frustrated they could get. Troy knew that the decision he made that day was one he never regretted because it had meant he could be around everyday and watch his kids grow up; a dream that not even basketball could replace.

Troy rubbed Gabriella's arm and kissed her temple. He knew that Gabriella was still, to this day, sceptical about the choice he made but he stuck to it. What could compare to waking up every morning to the beauty that was in his arms right now? If there was anything, he was curious as to what it was. His life maybe wasn't what he'd been planning, but it was much better than that.

"What's funny?" Gabriella asked quietly, tracing invisible patterns on Troy's still muscular chest.

"Thinking about when Drake happened," he mumbled quietly.

She released an uncontrollable giggle. "I still think you're crazy."

"Why?" he asked seriously. "Because I love you so much I can't bear to be away from you?"

She nodded. "Yeah." She sighed and sat up. It wasn't the first time they'd had this conversation but she couldn't help it. "I still don't get that, to be honest. I didn't get it twelve years ago and I'm none the wiser now."

He stroked her cheek and frowned at her. "Now, don't start talking insanities. You're the super smart, beautiful girl who went to Stanford. I'm just...nothing. What can I do, really? I can shoot a free throw and chest pass to other players and be voted MVP for three consecutive seasons but...what else?"

She considered this. "Well, you're nice, funny, caring, honest, charming..." she trailed a hand down his arm, "handsome, talented, a singer, guitarist...and you know when something's wrong."

He smiled across at her, certain that the same memory had just occurred to her as well.

* * *

A twenty three year old Troy let out another frustrated grunt as he lifted the king sized mattress of his and Gabriella's bed up. He took a quick glance before realising that his notes for the theory lesson he was teaching at East High the following day could not have possibly snuck under the mattress. How he had come to conclude they'd be in the bedroom, anyway? He had started in his office but that was a disaster area, anyway. It wasn't surprising it was lost. The thought that he had got through high school, much less college, was surprising to himself as much as everybody else.

He ran a hand through his hair. It just had to be in here. It couldn't be anywhere else, could it? Kitchen? Nothing lasted two seconds in the kitchen he shared with Gabriella, even though it was his fault. Den? Nah. Not possible. Neither he or Gabriella took work into the den.

Speaking of Gabriella, where was she? She had been sick the past week and he had ordered her to lie on the sofa in the den, drinking plenty of water, snuggled in one of his shirts and a comforter and watching A Walk To Remember. But, he doubted she would be. She had been complaining that this needed cleaning or that needed washing. But, he didn't want her straining herself.

He shook the thoughts from his head. Thinking about his wife in the bedroom surely wasn't smart. They graduated college together and moved back to Albuquerque buying a small house slap bang in the middle of Albuquerque. They had got married a year ago and they were simply ecstatic with their life.

Troy walked to the Gabriella's side and pulled open the top drawer and rummaged through a few books and papers before realising his plans weren't there. His theory was that Gabriella could've found them and put them in her cabinet. He pulled the second drawer open and, once again, moved a few books and papers...and froze.

Six white sticks looked up at him. He tentatively reached in and picked one out, slowly turning it over. Positive. He reached in and quickly consulted the other five. Positive. Gabriella was pregnant. That was...amazing. He was going to be a dad. He was a father...with Gabriella. His wife.

He needed her.

He ran out of the room, still holding the pregnancy tests, and towards the den. He groaned to himself. The DVD was paused and the sofa was empty. "Brie?"

"In here," a quiet voice called back.

Troy headed towards her office, the six pregnancy tests in his hand, and pushed the door open. Gabriella was curled up in the far corner, behind her desk, hugging her knees to her chest with Troy's shirt pulled over them. She looked up at him and his heart broke.

Her cheeks were streaked with tears and she was trembling. She looked up at him with sorrowful eyes and she reached up to brush a tangled lock of hair away from her face. "Hi," she sniffled.

Troy rushed over to her, successfully hiding the pregnancy tests from her line of view, and sat down next to her, pulling her into his loving embrace. He kissed her head and sighed softly. "Baby, what's wrong?"

"You'll hate me," she muttered into his shoulder.

He rubbed her back soothingly and glanced at the pregnancy tests. "No. That's not true and you know it. What's wrong?" He pulled back and brushed some hair from her face. He looked deeply into her mocha eyes and leaned forward to kiss her softly.

She pulled back and wiped her nose with the back of her eyes. She wasn't exactly the image of femininity at the minute but she was still gorgeous to Troy. She stretched her tanned legs out in front of her and she sighed. "I...oh, I don't know what I'm doing. I should've told you."

He kept his arm around her shoulders and he kissed her just behind her ear. "Come on, Baby. Just tell me."

She took a shaky breath and looked him in the eye. "Troy, remember when you went to Stanford for the last week of the honours programme? When you won me back?"

Troy nodded, his face serious. "How could I not? You were amazing."

She smiled weakly. "We talked about kids one day and starting a family."

He nodded again. "Yeah?" He had to force himself not to just yell out in happiness right that second.

"Well," she whispered, "I'm pregnant."

"I know," he exclaimed excitedly as he leaned forward and kissed her passionately, pushing her down so that they were both lying on the soft carpet of her office.

She pushed him back from the kiss and looked up at him with a confused expression. "What?"

He held his hand up, showing her the tests. He set them off to the side and turned back to her, looking down on her lovingly. "I was looking for my lesson plans, which I still haven't found," he muttered absently.

"On my desk," she interrupted. "You gave them to me to look over, remember?"

"Oh," he muttered. "Your office didn't occur to me. Oh well. And I thought they could be in your bedside cabinet because I was running out of theories. I found the tests."

She nodded. "I did them two weeks ago. My period was late. So I got three sets of tests, two tests in a set. All positive. Then I went to the hospital for them to just confirm it." She shrugged. "I just...I don't know why I didn't tell you."

Troy's hands wandered to the hem of his shirt she was wearing. "It's okay." He pulled it slowly over her head and stared down at her. "I bet you'll never be able to work in this office ever again."

"Yes I will. You're forgetting that we christened our first apartment and this house the same way. If it was going to affect me, don't you think it would've by now?" she asked.

His hands slipped behind her to unclasp her bra. "Maybe," he murmured. "I love you so much." He moved down her body and pressed light kisses to her stomach. "And I love you, too, baby Bolton."

* * *

"I don't know why you're laughing," Gabriella protested. "I was scared."

He chuckled. "I know you were. You didn't have to be. But, you know that now, seven years later. And Allie takes after you, you know."

"She's the spitting image of you," she cried.

"Maybe physically. But, mentally? Brie, she's the smartest girl in her grade," he pointed out.

She shrugged. "It's not my fault. You just can't cope with anything that exceeds two plus two."

"Hey," he whined.

She giggled and kissed him softly. "You know I love you."

He smiled and nodded. "I know."

Just then, their two dogs, Spike and Lily, trotted into the garden to greet their owners. Sadly, Daisy had been put to sleep due to cancer in her womb and a week later, Blitzen had died in his sleep. It had been an emotional few weeks for the entire family: Troy, Gabriella, Allie and Carl. But, they had been okay because of Spike and Lily, two of Daisy's and Blitzen's puppies.

* * *

Troy and Gabriella were lying on their couch in their apartment, watching the TV during their sophomore year of college. Well, neither of them were really watching the TV. Troy was busy kissing Gabriella's neck and running his hand beneath her dress. Gabriella wasn't reacting to his acts of affection, instead, she was frowning and studying Daisy and Blitzen who were lying together on the carpet in front of the TV. Daisy was lying on her side while Blitzen was lying beside her, licking her stomach. Something didn't seem right. Daisy hadn't been her usual self lately and Gabriella had noticed that she'd been walking funny and Blitzen wasn't his usual hyper self.

Gabriella pushed Troy's hands away and crawled slowly towards Daisy. Blitzen growled protectively. She raised her eyebrows. "You think I'm scared of you? If I want to look at Daisy, I will," she warned. Blitzen whined in protest but relented. "Hey baby," she murmured to Daisy.

Troy sat up in confusion. "You pushed me away for our dogs?"

"Shhh..." Gabriella waved him off. She slowly massaged Daisy's stomach and smiled gently. "You okay, Daisy?" Daisy whined and looked over at Blitzen. A smile slowly spread across Gabriella's face. "Troy, come here, hurry," she whispered and waved her fiancé over.

Troy knelt next to her and fussed Blitzen's head. "What's up?" he whispered.

Gabriella smiled at him and took his hand, placing it over Daisy's stomach. "We're grandparents."

Troy frowned. "Really? But, you're not a vet."

She sighed. "It's not that hard to figure out. Look at her stomach. She's been walking funny and Blitzen is more protective than ever. She's pregnant."

He grinned and kissed Gabriella's cheek. "Wow." He immediately jumped at Blitzen, fussing his dog all over. Caught up in the excitement, Blitzen began licking Troy all over his face. Troy pushed him away and caught his breath. "Wow, buddy, you finally did it. You knew what to do. Who knew?"

Gabriella giggled and kissed Daisy's head. "He probably got it from his father."

* * *

Gabriella and Troy fussed both Spike and Lily. Troy stood up and stretched his stiff back muscles. He held his hands out and pulled Gabriella up, suddenly feeling the urge to kiss her. He pressed his lips sweetly to hers, sending her into a state of shock. He pulled back and smiled lovingly at her. "Hi, Mrs Bolton."

"What was that for?" she asked.

He shrugged. "The last twelve years of my life," he whispered. "It's because of you that I'm so happy and our children are so beautiful. And East and West have finally settled."

Gabriella smiled and nodded, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Yeah. I know." Tears trickled over her cheeks. "You made me so happy. And I know that I'm the luckiest girl in the world simply because you love me. That day at the park? The greatest day of my life."

"Not for me," he said thoughtfully. He chuckled at her upset face. "Every day that I get to wake up to is the greatest day of my life."