'I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride,'

Chad grinned devilishly, pulling his new wife into him roughly, their lips meeting in a passionate, not-appropriate-for-church kiss. The pews full of basketball players erupted into loud catcalls and Troy grinned at his new team mates. Sharpay tipped her head back cupping her mouth to emit a loud high pitched yell. Chad and Taylor pulled away grinning broadly, their arms wrapped around one another. This was definitely no ordinary wedding.

Kelsi was smiling proudly and Ryan and Zeke were cheering racously behind him. And then there was Gabriella. Giddy giggles were lifting from her chest as she clapped her hand, the musty church air painting a dusky glow over her youthful face.

The band struck up an upbeat song and Chad and Taylor with another cheer, set off down the aisle hand in hand. Troy followed, wrapping an arm around Gabriella as they met at the altar. She beamed up at him and they began their fast-paced trot down the aisle.

'Hey gorgeous,' he greeted softly, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

She nudged him in the stomach playfully, 'Ssshh… we're still in a church!'

'We won't be in a few seconds,'

True to his word, Gabriella and Troy emerged out the church doors a few seconds later. Chad and Taylor were standing in the middle of the green expanse, entwined, laughing. Gabriella shrieked and dashed towards them, 'You're married!'

Taylor turned, ripping away from her husband, 'Gabi I'm married!'

The two best friends met in an excited embrace spinning around together. Troy laughed, his eyes meeting with Chad's as they both studied their girls.

'Hey buddy,' Troy greeted, ambling over to him, 'How does it feel to be a married man?'

'Well I've been married for thirty seconds now and so far this has been my sight…' Chad shrugged, gesturing to the laughing girls.

The foursome were joined by Ryan and Kelsi who smiled as they saw the infectious euphoria pouring from the two girls. They were quickly followed by Zeke and Sharpay caught mid-kiss on their way out of the church.

'That was so beautiful!' Kelsi proclaimed.

Before anyone could say anything else a storm of people flooded out of the church, bustling and chattering. Their group moment would have to wait.

A few hours later after they all managed to arrive at the reception. For those torturous hours they had been forced to pose and smile and laugh at the camera for the sake of future nostalgia and it killed him. He had watched Gabriella in her green dress that hugged in just the right places posing and pouting playfully for the camera and he wasn't allowed to do a damn thing about it. He had stood on the sidelines staring hungrily without a single allowance for a reprieve. All he wanted was to get his hands on her, around her waist, feeling his body against his. When the photos had finished the bridesmaids and groomsmen were herded into different limousines much to his dismay.

When they arrived at the reception there was little time for anything other than sitting down for dinner. The guests were impatient, having waited after the ceremony for the wedding party to arrive. He managed to take his seat beside Gabriella and she smiled gently up at him.

Suddenly there was a microphone thrust in his direction and he blinked balefully. In his desperation for Gabriella had forgotten that he was supposed to announce the happy couple.

He got up from his seat quickly, looking around the group, 'Hi there everyone. Before dinner starts, and it will shortly I promise, I'd like to present to you all the new Mr and Mrs Danforth,'

Some cheesy upbeat song started and Taylor and Chad strolled in, still beaming. If Troy hadn't been looking closer he knew he would have missed Taylor's mussed hair and the smudge of lipstick on Chad's collar and he hoped that he was the only one who noticed that.

Chad strutted around cockily, Taylor rolling her eyes at him as they went. When they finally took a seat Chad leant over and kissed his bride again.

Not wishing to without food from a room full of athletes, Troy hurriedly nodded at the caterers who immediately brought forth food. After a brief moment in which they swapped their plates around (everyone who wanted chicken got fish and everyone who got fish wanted chicken) they settled down for the meal. The room swirled with amicable chatter, filling the air alongside the clanking of cutlery against the plates. Up on the bridal party's table, Sharpay trilled away to Gabriella, two seats down from her while Zeke tried fruitlessly to recapture her attention. Kelsi was concentrated wholeheartedly on her meal, answering only in vague murmurs to her attentive husband's questions and Chad and Taylor were lost in their own world to one another. That effectively left Troy alone to his own meal, despite his desperation to talk to or touch Gabriella. Although she was held captive to Sharpay's relentless conversation she made certain that he knew that she knew he was there. As she would cut a piece of her chicken her hand would brush against his and sometimes she would lean back whilst she was nodding interestedly, her shoulder gently bumping his. Still that wasn't enough, he needed all of her and it took all his willpower not to lean over and kiss her.

When the meal was finished it was time for speeches. They sat through Chad's father waxing lyrical about his son to which Chad only rolled his eyes playfully and they grimaced through Taylor's mother's tearful proclamations of love. Then it was their turn.

As the microphone was handed over to them, Troy reached out for Gabriella's hand. A ripple of laughter ran through the group as Gabriella daintily got to her feet, her fingers lacing with his.

'Wow…' she laughed nervously, surveying the gathered crowd, 'I really don't like speaking in public.'

Another murmur of appreciative laughter rippled through the crowd and Gabriella's tense shoulders relaxed a little.

'Taylor and I, we've known each other since junior year of high school. We bonded over the fact that we weren't cheerleaders and that we were strangers among our own people. The day that I met her, Taylor proclaimed that we were "sisters". I have to admit, at the time, I didn't believe her. I moved every summer and never saw any of my old friends again, there was no way I'd ever bond with someone deep enough for them to be my sister. But then… then things changed. She met Chad and despite everything she told me, everything she swore she hated about him, they fell in love. They both became my family and they were there when I needed them. They were there for the triumphs and the heartbreaks and even when I pushed them away they kept coming back. I've never met a couple so dynamic, so unlikely before,'

Gabriella paused for a moment, lifting her champagne flute, inclining her head at her two best friends, 'But nor have I ever met a couple so perfect. To Chad and Tay,'

'To Chad and Tay,' the crowd echoed.

Gabriella passed over the microphone to Troy and he laughed, 'Um, that's a tough speech to follow.'

Various teasing yells came from amongst the crowd and Troy laughed again, 'Ok, so… Chad and I have been brothers since preschool. I don't know why, I don't know how. He's just been one of those things that's always been a part of my life. We've seen each other through cooties and the Boogieman, through handmade Valentines and afternoon cartoons. We saw each other through… that horrid, awkward transition of girls and cars and all this crazy messed up stuff that neither of us understood. I was there, watching him pace back and forth in front of the mirror before his first date with Taylor as he almost tore his hair out with terror. I was there for a hell of a lot of stuff. And then I wasn't. Suddenly we played on opposite teams, and still… still somehow Chad found the power to forgive me. He found the power to be my best friend again when I needed him the most. Chad's my best friend and my brother and he's so lucky that he's found a girl like Taylor. Because no woman can keep him in line like she can,'

Taylor beamed proudly, murmuring, 'Damn straight,'

'So Chad, buddy, I'm proud of you. For being so much more than the basketball guy, for being man enough to love a girl like Taylor. I wish you both the world of happiness. A toast to Chad and Taylor,'

'To Chad and Taylor,'

Troy looked around, grinning suddenly, 'And that brings us to Chad's most anticipated event of this evening. He's been training for months and he's very ecstatic about being able to share this with all the hundreds of people at his wedding. So, ladies and gentleman, without further ado, I invite Taylor and Chad to the floor for their first dance,'

Chad swore under his breath, glaring at Troy murderously. Taylor grabbed his hand, pulling him to his feet, eyeing him down threateningly.

'You do not get out of this,' she hissed.

Chad continued to glare at Troy amid sniggers from the crowd as Taylor led him away from the bridal party's table towards the dance floor. As they went, the guests followed automatically.

'Bloody wanker,' Troy heard Chad murmur as he passed.

'Don't trip,' Troy jibed back.

Taylor kept it all very business like as she dragged him centre stage. His skin flushed an odd shade of puce and he fumbled to put his hands in the right position on Taylor's waist and shoulders. It looked as it was taking all of Taylor's strength not to slap his hands away and take the lead herself. With a nod at the orchestra a gentle song started up. Chad took one hesitant step and Taylor moved with him. It amused Troy that someone who was so agile on the basketball court struggled to dance even two steps. His movements were stiff and nervous but no one in that room could deny the pure adoration that shone from his eyes when he looked down at his new wife. Gently he twirled her out and when he didn't drop her, his confidence seemed to boost a little, his body relaxing. They danced together, gliding around the dance floor, but the concentration and determination never left Chad's face. He wasn't going to screw this up for his bride; this was supposed to be perfect for her. The chorus struck up and she twirled under his arm, glowing spectacularly as she smiled back up at him. Her hips sashayed and she loosened her grip on his neck and they took one final spin around the dance floor.

And then abruptly the cheesy, slow music stopped. The entire crowd stopped dead, waiting curiously for what would happen next. An anticipatory murmur ran through the crowd. And then…

Loud, pulsing techno beats began to pulse through the sound system, filling every crevice of the room, replacing the soppy song. Taylor tipped her head back and laughed as the group of rowdy basketball players flooded on the dance floor. Troy watched as she reached up on tip toes to press a kiss to her husband's cheek and he could read her lips moving to form 'thankyou'.

Troy looked around, ready to grab Gabriella for their first alone moment all evening. She had been standing next to him just moments before and now…

He spied her out on the floor, dancing with Sharpay. The slinky green material of her dress clung firmly along the luscious lines of her body as she shook her hips. Her hands were locked with Sharpay's and they both shimmied and twirled, giggling madly as they did. Her body moved fluidly to the pulsing beat of the music and Troy stared unabashedly, completely entranced.

'You're staring at her ass,'

Troy looked over to see Chad beside him, grinning from ear to ear as he surveyed his best friend.

Troy shrugged, returning the grin, completely unembarrassed, 'She's my girlfriend. I'll stare at her ass if I want to. Thank your wife for choosing that dress won't you?'

Chad rolled his eyes, 'Sure will,'

The music morphed into Cha-Cha Slide and there was a playful howl of protest even as storms of basketball players lined up to dance. Chad laughed, 'Yeah, I think I'll stay out for this one,'

Troy looked back at Gabriella who was being forcibly held there by Sharpay who was already bouncing along to the steps wholeheartedly. She was laughing at Sharpay who kept tugging on her arm, insisting she stay for the dance. Within seconds the whole dancefloor was writhing with bodies who for the most part were keeping up with the steps and Gabriella wasn't going to ruin that. It warmed Troy's heart to see the overwhelming grin on her face as she too joined in on the infectious dance.

All around her were his team, distinctive by the boyish grins and the bodies that towered over everyone else in the room. The ones with girlfriends were playfully tossing them around, the ones without were hitting on the waitresses shamelessly. In the past few months that he had been a part of their team Troy had felt nothing but brotherly affection for those guys and they had felt the same in return. All he could think was the stark contrast between his two lives on opposite sides of the country and how much his life had changed. With the Lakers he didn't like the guys and they didn't like him, he was lonely and spent his time after practices fleeing out the door before he was asked to join them for another drink. With these guys there was that camaraderie that felt so much like the Wildcats used to. There was no animosity, no jealously. They understood what it was to be a team. Gabriella, Taylor and the rest of the Knick's girlfriends and wives were as big a part of the team as the members themselves and they openly welcomed the girls whenever they were around. Troy watched as one of his team mates spied Gabriella, grabbing her by the waist and spinning her around. She squealed loudly, giggling and joined in the dance with him. This New York life was more than Troy could have ever wished for. It was perfect.

Somewhere in between dances Taylor was spun into Chad's arms for the first time in a long while. They had been kept apart by numerous well wishers who wanted to kiss their cheeks and spent hours talking about the joys of marriage despite their discomfort and escape attempts. So when Gabriella and Sharpay pushed her toward Chad she almost collapsed in relief. For a moment, in the middle of the dance floor, amongst a mass of people jostling against them as they danced, they were alone. Taylor curled her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. The music faded to background noise, the people weren't even there. It was just him and her, as they had always wanted it to be.

'We did it Chad,' she murmured into his chest.

He held her tightly, his nose nuzzling in her head, 'Yeah, we did,'

'It's taken…'

'So long,' he concluded, 'I know. But, we're married,'

The way the words rolled over his tongue sent delicious shivers curling up her spine. Married.

Married was the cornucopia, the holy grail for everything they had been fighting for. Through Gabriella's breakdown, through the loss of Troy, through college, through every little thing that they had encountered, and they had made it this far. That was a reason to celebrate.

'Chad! Taylor! Excellent! I wanted to talk to you!'

The sound of an animated guest, evidently tipsy from the open bar called them over loudly and there was nothing they could do. Their fingers laced tightly and they turned to face the new distraction. There would be alone time on the honeymoon.

After one particularly vigorous round of the Macarena Gabriella collapsed in a chair in the corner of the room. Her feet ached from the bouncing and the twisting she had done with the never-ending energy supply that belonged to Sharpay. She let out a breath, fanning herself with her hands. She needed a break.

Everything had gone as she had hoped it would. The wedding was beautiful, perfect for Taylor and Chad. There the casual air that only a room full of basketball players, athletes and East High graduates could bring. There was infectious, giddy spirit in the air from the free flowing champagne and the undeniable affection that the couple displayed.

'Hey there,'

For the first time all evening, Troy stood there in front of her. His grin was bemused as he studied her, sprawled out on an empty chair, panting.

'Hey,' she sighed.

He pulled up the chair beside her, sitting on it sideways, his blue eyes sparkling as he looked back at her, 'Looks like you had fun,'

Gabriella laughed, letting her head drop to his shoulder, 'I'm tired,'

Her high heeled sandals slid off and her throbbing feet thanked her. Troy reached out for one of her feet, cupping it in his hands carefully, his skilled fingers beginning to work the tired muscles.

Gabriella let out a groan, her eyes dropping shut, 'Good man,' she murmured.

Troy chuckled, 'So why are you so tired Ms Montez?'

She cracked her eyelids open just a little bit, 'Well, you see, my boyfriend stayed over at my house last night and he wouldn't stop talking. He was relentless,'

Troy waggled his eyebrows playfully, 'He sounds like a pretty boring boyfriend. What about the exciting stuff?'

'No,' Gabriella sighed with a huff, 'He's too much of a gentleman. He wants to "wait" whatever that means. He wants to take his time,'

'You might want to tell him to hurry himself up there,' Troy suggested teasingly.

Her eyes opened, fully this time to reveal intense, smouldering chocolate. She quirked an eyebrow, 'I might just do that,'

One eyelid dropped down in the sauciest wink he'd ever seen and Troy was overcome from a flush of heat spreading down his body. He released her foot quickly and sat bolt upright. Gabriella giggled, reaching out for him again.

The music stopped suddenly and the DJ's voice appeared over the loud speakers.

'Ok, we're going to slow it down for a moment… grab your sweethearts and head out on the floor.'

As a gentle piano song began, Troy looked back to his girlfriend, 'Would you like to dance,'

Gabriella smiled gently, 'I'd love to,'

His large hand encased hers and he led her out onto the floor. His hands cupped the delicate curve of her waist, pulling her into him as her hands looped around his neck. She leant her head against his chest and they gently began to sway. Their bodies moved in perfect synchronisation, giving themselves over to the music. All around them, they were surrounded by their friends; Kelsi and Ryan, Sharpay and Zeke and Taylor and Chad embracing tightly.

I finally stopped tripping on my youth
I finally got lost inside of you
I finally know I needed to grow
And finally my mate has met my soul

Troy's lips brushed against Gabriella's hair, expressing his adoration for her with every kiss. She would never know how blessed he felt, how in awe of her he was. After everything he had done, how could he still deserve to have her in his arms?

I couldn't comprehend
As I watched it unfold
This classic story told I left it in the cold
Walking through unopened doors that led me back to you
Each one unlocking more of the truth

The past few months had been bliss. Learning everything about one another, falling even further in love. The nights had been long and filled with one another, smiling, laughing and being the people they had always wanted to be.

Finally
Now my destiny can begin
Though we will have our differences
Something strange and new is happening

'I love you,' Gabriella whispered throatily.

For a moment he stopped swaying to look down at her. That was the first time she had said that to him. She knew that he loved her and she had always held a little reluctance to return the expression. She wanted to really mean it when she said it.

She stared back up at him, her chocolate eyes sparkling. Her lips upturned in the most perfect smile and he let out a sigh, crushing her tighter to him.

Finally
Now my life doesn't seem so bad
It's the best that I ever had
Gave my love to him finally

'I love you too,'

Their lips met in a tender kiss and Gabriella's eyes slid shut as they continued to sway. With her in his arms, he felt peaceful. He felt the most blissful he thought he could ever feel. He never wanted this night to end.

The reception continued to rage on for many hours. Gabriella and Troy found the rooftop terrace outside unoccupied and curled up in the chairs together, their bodies intertwined as he brushed kisses on her hair, cheeks, forehead, nose, over and over in a display of reverent love. They watched the sparkling skyline of New York City around them, the dark blanket of velvet above them. Fairy lights strung from every post twinkled brightly and for a moment they were completely alone.

'Hey,'

Troy twisted his head at the sound of Chad's voice. He and Taylor were hand in hand, both weary and sleepy as he led her out onto the rooftop.

Gabriella looked up, smiling gently, 'Hey,'

'Are we… are we interrupting anything?' Taylor asked quietly, 'We're hiding. We just want to sit down,'

Gabriella chuckled softly, 'Feel free. We're just sitting too,'

There was a rustle of fabric as Taylor swept over to one of the chairs, falling down into it helplessly. Chad joined her quickly, resting a lazy arm across her shoulders. Taylor kicked off her own shoes, leaning into Chad sleepily.

'Is this where the cool kids hang out?'

Zeke's voice was the next to rupture the cool night air. He was carrying a barefoot Sharpay in his arms, an amused smile on his face. Sharpay was already barefoot, nuzzled into her boyfriend's chest cutely.

'Something like that,' Chad murmured, a shadow of a grin on his face.

Zeke pulled up another chair, joining the haphazard circle that they were beginning to form. He sat down, pulling Sharpay onto his lap.

'I think the Macarena was the last straw,' he chuckled.

Sharpay slapped his chest balefully, 'Shut up,'

'Oh thank god, chairs,'

Troy wasn't even surprised when he heard Ryan's voice. He was leading his pregnant wife, one hand at her back, supporting as they walked out onto the roof.

'Chairs is something we have,' Gabriella smiled.

With Kelsi and Ryan sitting down they completed their circle; perfect and whole and for once they were all content.

Troy surveyed the circle around him and he saw his true family. He saw his brothers and sisters and the one woman he couldn't live without. He saw the people he almost lost forever.

There was Sharpay, half-asleep and tipsy, curled into the chest of the man who had loved her since elementary school. He no longer saw the high maintenance princess who scared all the guys and instead saw the fiercely loyal and protective girl who would do anything for her best friends.

There was Ryan and Kelsi, smiling with such gratification as their linked hands cradled her growing bump lovingly, their future never more real. There was Taylor and Chad married, grown up and so much in love. Chad's fingers brushed through her hair tenderly and Taylor's heavily lidded eyes shone with happiness as she sighed against him.

And then there was her. Gabriella, so perfect, the one he had been waiting for all this time. Her complicated updo was now mussed, loose tendrils curling around her face sweetly. Her feet were bare, her legs intertwined with his, every available inch of skin touching. He loved her and he never ever wanted to have to live without her again.

Who would have thought that they would wind up here? Eight high school kids, the most unlikely friends, the most unlikely allies. Two show poodles, two nerds, two jocks, a chef and a musician. Who would have ever thought?

At the age of seventeen, none of them would have thought that this would ever happen to them. Because, who would have believed that in eight years time Kelsi would be married and pregnant? Who would have thought that a chance meeting on New Years Eve would turn into an epic love that they could never forget? Who would have ever thought that anyone would be attending Chad Danforth and Taylor McKessie's wedding?

He would be idiotic to deny fate's hand in this whole ordeal. Everything had to happen for a reason, otherwise she wouldn't be there in his arms tonight. Since high school they had all changed, all grown and it still brought them back to this very spot no matter how long it took for them to get there. As he looked around he met the gentle, loving eyes of his family and he held Gabriella tight. It didn't matter that they had taken the long road, they were here now.

The music, faint and distant in the background changed to the undeniable opening strains of the chicken dance. Taylor's eyes flew open and Gabriella began to giggle hysterically in his arms.

Sharpay was suddenly alert, bouncing in Zeke's lap, her arms already mimicking the motions and Ryan was sliding down in his seat denying any DNA correlation between the two of them.

'We should fire the DJ,' Taylor remarked absently, picking at a loose thread on her skirt.

Troy laughed: no matter how much everything changed, some things always stayed the same.

The comfortable rise of familial chatter swirled around him and Gabriella twisted in his arms to kiss him fondly. After all this time he'd wound up where he needed to be. He was home.

You never know the biggest day of your life is your biggest day, not until it's happening. The day you commit to something or someone. The day you meet your soul mate. The day you realize there's not enough time because you wanna live forever. Those are the biggest days. The perfect days. You know, it was a beautiful day.

-Grey's Anatomy

THE END

There we have it, the denoument of my very first story, I can't believe it's over. Thankyou all so much for your support, I've appreciated every single piece of advice and encouragement you've given me. Big thankyou to . for the pep squad she'd provided me. I'll be back soon (hopefully), so watch out for me and I look forward to hearing from you all again!