Hi everyone. This is my newest FF and I'm not too sure about it, as it features Troyella and the gang as adults and will have an M rating.  Am posting the prologue anyway and if you like it let me know and I'll carry on, if not then I will delete it. Love Tink xx.

Troy! He was back! He was here!

Gabriella Montez felt her heart beating so rapidly in her chest, she was sure that everyone could hear it, above the noise of the wedding reception.

He was still as handsome as ever, even with his face masked in hatred. His cobalt blue eyes narrowed in anger, his beautifully expressive mouth curled in a sneer, as he took in her appearance, across the crowded hall. He was staring at her with hatred that bordered on disgust and she felt a stab of pain, at the expression on his face. Gabriella would never have believed that she would see that look, on the face of her once best friend. She felt suddenly nauseous.

 In a gesture as unconscious as it was maternal, Gabriella wrapped her arms around her swollen stomach, as if to guard the precious life within. She stroked her tummy lightly, hoping to still the frantic kicks of her unborn daughter, as the baby reacted to Gabriella's sudden stress. She murmured soft soothing words of comfort, but they were more to distract herself than anything else.

From the corner of her eye she could see Taylor hurrying towards her, pushing her way through the crowds, muttering insincere apologies as she went.

"Gab, have you seen him?" Taylor asked looking concerned, indicating to where Troy stood deep in conversation with the bride and groom, his face now wreathed in smiles.

She took a shaky breath and nodded, glancing over to find him glaring at her again.

Taylor whistled under her breath "Shit Gabi, whatever you two fought about, he still hasn't forgotten…girl if looks could kill…"

Gabriella felt tears welling up behind her eyes, she wanted so much to tell Taylor the real reason they had fallen out but without Troy's blessing she couldn't. 

It was private, between them and had to stay between them, until Troy either changed his mind or came to his senses.

"He still hates me," she murmured sadly, but with a trace of anger.

Taylor placed an arm around her shoulders and hugged her close to her side.

"Don't get yourself upset Gab, it's not good for the baby…He'll come around you'll see"

Taylor said hoping she was right. Nobody in their tight knit circle of friends knew the reason why Troy and Gabriella had gone from being best friends to worst enemies, just six short months ago.

All anybody knew was there had been a big fight and then Troy had announced he was leaving, moving across country, accepting an offer from a very famous basketball team in California.

Chad had been so worried about Troy but then they all had, he had not been himself for a long time. He had changed so much since college, going from a happy go lucky, warm and friendly guy to a bitter, love em and leave em lothario. Taylor secretly thought that fame had gone to his head.

For such a player he seemed to hate women and refused to completely trust any of them, except Gabriella.

  Just after leaving college Troy had been cheated on by his girlfriend of five years, whom he was engaged to.  With only weeks to go, before his wedding Troy was devastated to find her in bed with one of his teammates. After that he had only casual, no strings, relationships, he was just in it for a sexual release The media had dubbed him golden balls, not just for his ability on the court but also for the frequency of which he changed his girl friends.

 To Taylor it came as no real surprise that he had issues with women. Most of the women he dated only wanted to be with him for the money and the fame. She had hoped that in time he would change and go back to the guy he was once was, but it wasn't to be. Now at the age of twenty-seven, he seemed more determined than ever to be involved in fruitless relationships with brainless bimbos. Like the one he had brought with him to Sharpay and Zeke's wedding, Taylor thought, watching as she cuddled up to Troy across the room.

"Why does he pick them Gab?" Taylor mused as they studied the couple.

Gabriella shrugged, feeling like a big, fat beached whale, compared to the statuesque blond with the golden skin, long legs and haunting green eyes, wearing a skimpy cream dress. 

She must be a size 6, if that, Gabriella decided, looking her up and down, watching the interplay between her and Troy.

He didn't look happy, Gabriella surmised. He looked tired and a little drawn, his smiles didn't reach his eyes and he laughed just a bit too long and a bit too loud.

 To Gabriella, who knew him really well, his unhappiness was so obvious. It hurt her to see him like that, because as much as he had broken her heart, she still loved him, now more than ever.

"Guys, C'mere" Sharpay squealed and beckoned Gabriella and Taylor over with her bouquet. Sharpay wore a corseted, white organza gown with a full white skirt; her blond hair was curled and piled high into a tiara on her head. She looked every inch the princess she wanted to be, Gabriella thought, before she remembered why she was being called over to join them, Sharpay was obviously scheming.

Gabriella felt the blood rush from her face and she went pale, swaying slightly on her feet, feeling faint.

"Gab, are you ok?" Taylor asked looking down into her friend bloodless face, as all the color drained from her.

Gabriella nodded again "I'm just a bit tired, it's been a long day and I still feel sick in the mornings" she finished with a rueful grin

"Sharpay wants us to go over, are you up to it?"

She took a deep breath and nodded, clutching the posy of cream roses she carried in front of her tummy. She started forward, conscious of Troy's eyes narrowing in hatred as she waddled towards him.

With every step she took, she felt like turning and running away, away from him, away from his hate, away from his denial, away from the pain he'd caused when he'd told her he didn't trust her, didn't believe her. But she didn't, steadily she put one foot in front of the other until she reached the small group, who had all eyes on her.

Troy watched Gabriella in disbelief as she made her way towards them and felt a surge of hatred so strong, that it surprised him. After what she had done to him, he shouldn't be surprised that he could still hate her, but he was. Gabriella was once the only person in the world he knew he could trust and she had betrayed him in the worst way possible.

She looked no different to when he left six months ago, except for her rapidly expanding waistline and belly. Stood before him, a vision in pink satin, draped elegantly over her bump, he couldn't help but think how beautiful she still was, now more than ever. It was true what they said about pregnant women, Gabriella did seem to have a glow about her, he thought bitterly. He cursed himself for noticing how beautiful she was, how deceptively innocent she looked.

Sharpay noticing the tension between the two, made some hasty introductions with a nervous smile,

"Taylor, Gabriella, this is Troy's partner Summer"

Gabriella watched as Summer looked her up and down and gave her a half smile "You seem to be blooming " she said with a sickly sweet smile, making it sound like an insult and Gabriella felt like slapping her.

"Thanks" she smiled back just as sweetly, determined not to look at Troy and see the censure in his eyes, determined not to let him see the pain, anger and disappointment in her own.

Summer took a drink and wrapped her arm through Troy's in an unmistakable gesture of possession "So when are you due Gail?"

Gabriella frowned at the incorrect name and stroked a hand over her bump, her frown changing to a smile when she felt an answering kick.

"Six weeks and I can't wait, its been a long pregnancy" she sighed, feeling tired, her lower back and tummy aching.

"I can imagine, being so fat for so long" she said, giving a delicate shudder of distaste.

Gabriella felt the barb where it was intended and seethed. Taylor and Sharpay glared at Troy, he had stood by and let his girlfriend insult Gabriella.

Troy returned their looks coolly, his eyes ice blue and frozen. They were unaware of Gabriella's duplicity and he saw no reason to enlighten them but he was damned if he was gonna defend the lying little slut.

Gabriella said nothing and an awkward silence came over the group, Gabriella and Troy refusing to acknowledge each other's existence.

"Well if you'll excuse me, I'm going to the powder room, my daughter likes to use my bladder as a trampoline" Gabriella said brightly with a large false smile and without waiting for a response she waddled away as quickly as she could.?

Troy blanched. Gabriella was having a girl? His mind was suddenly filled with images of a baby with curly dark hair and beautifully dark eyes, with a smile as sweet as her mothers. But what about the father? What part would his genes play, Troy wondered bitterly.

Taylor waited until she was out of earshot and then turned a furious look on Troy, one that had taught him from past experience meant trouble.

"Um Summer, do you mind if I steal Troy away for a dance" she asked with a falsely sweet smile.

Summer shook her head, taking another healthy swig from her champagne glass, smiling at them.

Taylor took Troy by the hand and practically dragged him onto the dance floor, mixing in with the other couples, who swayed in time with the music, before turning to him with a glare.

"Troy Alexander Bolton, just what in the hell do you think you are doing?" she snarled, all pretense of politeness gone.

Troy looked down at her, his expression blank "What you bitchin about Tay?"

"I'm talking about Gabriella, you can't treat her like this Troy, she's pregnant for Gods sake"

"I am aware of that Taylor, your point is?"

"You can't treat her that way Troy, it's not fair-"

"No Tay what's not fair is the fact I did nothing wrong, and now all my friends are siding with her! I'm the injured party here Tay, not her"

Taylor looked up at her friend and reading the pain, anger and hurt in his eyes she felt a pang of sympathy for him.

"What happened between you two Troy? One minute you're the best of friends and the next minute, she's your worst enemy and you leave us," she said softly, trying to break through the defenses he had constructed around himself.

"It's none of your business so just drop it. Gabriella and I will never be friends again Tay, get over it" he said wearily, turning her and dancing back to where Summer stood holding yet another glass of champagne.

 Hours later Troy hid a sigh; it had been a long night. He knew when he returned he would have to see Gabriella again, but he hadn't banked on the fact it would hurt as much as it did.

Seeing her belly rounded with child, knowing she was carrying another mans baby, knowing that someone else had touched her, knowing she had lied to him, deceived him, made him so furious he wanted to scream.

She had promised him the world and then had snatched it all back from him. It was harder to deal with than he had expected. 

In his mind he could still see the shock on her face when she had first spotted him across the hall, it was as though all the life drained out of her, she was like a flower shutting down at sunset, for a few seconds but then she seemed to rally, gather herself.

He'd watched as she stroked her stomach tenderly, seen the expression of love cross her delicate features as she talked to her tummy, to her baby. He felt jealous, bitter and so angry he wanted to howl. Even now he watched her, as she sat in the corner, with some of the other Bridesmaids, rubbing her lower back and then her bump, looking uncomfortable, looking tired out, but she was still beautiful to him. As much as he hated her he had missed her, missed her presence in his life but she had done the unforgivable.

Gabriella, unaware of Troy's scrutiny, struggled to her feet with another half smile and crossed the dance floor to the exit. Looking at her watch with a sigh, she was pleased the reception was nearly over, Sharpay and Zeke had sneaked off somewhere, probably to their room and Gabriella knew it would be the last anyone saw of them that night. It would probably be breakfast before they emerged again. She waved at Taylor who was dancing with Chad and tapped her own watch as she passed. Gabriella nodded, knowing it meant that Tay and Chad were planning on leaving pretty soon. She was grateful, that meant she would be able to retire to her hotel room soon. Although Chad and Taylor were going home, Gabriella had opted to stay the night in the hotel where the reception was held, so she could rest when she wanted to, not have to worry about the drive home. Heading for the bathroom, she rubbed her back again as she felt the muscles at the base of her spine ache in protest, at her having been on her feet for most of the day.

Troy turned expecting to see Summer bedside him but she had disappeared to the bar again. He'd realized she was a party girl when he met her but he didn't think she would go so far as to get drunk at his friend wedding. Still the sex was good and she wasn't too demanding on his time, he had noticed the animosity she seemed to have towards Gabriella but since Troy hated her too, he didn't mind her catty tendencies.

Deciding to take a quick pee break he made his way across the crowded room and headed for the bathroom. The halls were pretty much deserted as the hour grew late; many of the guests would be leaving soon and so were now dancing to the final song of the evening. After taking care of business, he washed his hands and splashed a little water on his face staring at his own reflection in the mirror, noting the dark circles under his eyes, a testament to the fact he wasn't sleeping well and hadn't really since his argument with Gabriella. He was tired, working too hard, pushing himself to his limits in a bid to forget what had happened between them and it was beginning to show. After his last scrimmage he worked himself so hard he was sick, the coach warning him to slow his game down a little. It was all Gabriella's fault, Gabriella and her pretense of innocence.

In the ladies bathroom Gabriella washed her hands and rubbed the base of her back feeling uncomfortable, she just wanted to get to bed with a hot water bottle and sleep forever. She looked at her watch and saw that within the next few minutes' the remaining guests would be leaving and her official duties as Bridesmaid would be over. That meant Troy and Summer would be leaving and he would be disappearing out of her life again, back to Los Angeles.

She blinked back tears that had suddenly formed, it was for the best, he had the power to hurt her too much, especially now. With a deep sigh she checked her dress was right, opened the bathroom door and headed down the hall. Head down, eyes on the floor she turned a corner and walked into something solid.

"Sorry" she murmured, with an apologetic grin that froze on her face when she saw who had bumped into.

Troy stood glaring down at her, as though she had done it purposefully, his expression harsh.

"You should be more careful," he snapped, refusing to meet her eyes or even look at her bump.

"I am being careful" she snapped back "Anyway, not your problem, right Troy?"

"Don't start with me Gabriella, I haven't done anything wrong"

"Neither have I" she asserted with quiet dignity, looking up at him, noticing his mouth was set in a stubborn line.

"Don't lie to me Gabriella, out of everyone, I trusted you the most and you're just like all the rest, just like that bitch Missy" he snarled.

"I did not lie to you Troy," she cried, tears springing to her eyes, tears of frustration, anger and hurt.

"Save it for someone who cares" he said and turned to walk away.

"You cared onc-" Gabriella began, when suddenly she felt the most bizarre sensation.

Almost like a little pop inside her, then wet, lots of wetness, running down the inside of her legs, ruining her dress. Her voice changed to a cry as she realized her waters had broken.

"Troy!" she cried, her panic so evident in her voice that he turned around to look at her, puzzled.

He stared at her for a second, not understanding what had made her cry out like that but then he saw it, the rapidly expanding dark stain on her dress.

"Gabriella?"

Her eyes filled with tears "I think, I think my water just broke" she said biting her lip, terrified, she was only thirty four weeks pregnant, the baby couldn't come this early, she wasn't ready!

Troy looked at her, seeing the fear, the terror on her face, the panic in her eyes and knew he couldn't turn away from her now.

"You need to get to the ER," he said starting forward when suddenly she clutched her stomach and winced.

Gabriella felt as though an invisible band was tightening around her stomach, getting tighter with each second. And just when she thought she could take it no longer, it abated as suddenly as it had begun. If Gabriella didn't know better then she would say that she'd had a contraction and was probably in labor, premature labor. Panic gripped her as she realized what was happening, her baby wasn't due for another six weeks.

"Troy!" she exclaimed, clutching her stomach, bending double as pain seized her.

Within seconds he was by her side, a supporting arm around her waist as he helped her walk along the hall.

Gabriella felt her head spinning it was all too much! She was in labor and Troy was here, by her side. She could feel the heat of him through her dress, the comforting weight of his arm around her waist. She could smell his familiar cologne and strangely enough it made her feel better. As scared and as hurt as she was, Gabriella was glad that he was with her.

Troy said nothing as he walked beside her, taking her weight as she leaned into him. His mind was racing, he was with Gabriella again, but she was having another mans child. He wanted to walk away but he knew he couldn't, she had been his best friend for so long that he couldn't turn his back on her now.

"I need my bag," she said, gasping as another pain hit her, her hand clenching on his arm where it rested.

"Fuck" he cursed, "Can't you do without it?" he almost snarled, his fear, his worry making him angry, making him snap at her.

Gabriella shook her head, her teeth biting into her lip as the pain built again, making her hold her breath.

"It's got my notes in, I need them" she managed to get out.

"Where is it?" he asked curtly, steering them towards the lobby

"My room? Its 27, first floor"

Troy looked down at Gabriella, who apart from her bright red cheeks was pale and shaky, not to mention the stained and damp dress she wore, realized she wasn't in any fit state to go anywhere.

"Give me the damn key," he said holding out his hand refusing to meet her eyes "What's it look like?"

"Pi- Pink" she said softly, handing him the key to her room and resting against the wall behind her, her eyes closing as another pain began.

Troy took the key from her hand without a word and turned on his heels, within seconds he had disappeared in the direction of the elevators.

Gabriella stood against the wall, her whole body shaking, she had never felt so afraid in her entire life, afraid for her baby, afraid of what was going to happen to her, afraid of Troy's reaction.

She stroked her tummy gently and as she felt another pain grip her, tried to remember what she had been taught at Lamaze about breathing, but with the all the pain she was in, it was difficult to concentrate.

She could barely focus enough to remember her own name, let alone some stupid breathing routine that she had a feeling wouldn't help anyway.

This wasn't supposed to happen this way, she thought, she should have had plenty of warning to get used to the idea that her baby was on it's way. She wanted to be happy, excited but all she felt was scared, scared that something was going to go wrong with the baby.

 Gabriella had thought she would be excited to realize she was in labor but she was wrong. Tears welled in her eyes as she stood in her ruined dress, still clinging damply around her thighs. Any minute now the reception would be over and the hall way would be filled with people all gaping at her, she hated it when people stared at her.

Troy pressed the button in the elevator and cursed as it went first down to the basement, before returning to the ground floor and then heading to the first floor. Hurrying down the hallway he located Gabriella's room and flinging the door open, he looked around spotting her pink over night bag, he grabbed it and hurried back to the elevator.

Seeing it was already headed to the penthouse he made his way to the stairs and jogged down them. Keeping his body busy, so his mind wasn't.

He found Gabriella doubled over in pain, panting slightly. Troy didn't want to admit it but he was as scared as she was. He didn't know the first thing about labor or birth but he knew that it happening this early was not good.

He had to keep her calm and to do that he had to stay calm too, no matter how scared he felt or how much this was affecting him.

Gabriella looked up at his approach, her beautiful brown eyes shimmering with tears and wide with fear.

"We'll take my car, we're not too far from The General" Troy said with a calm, he was far from feeling.

Gabriella didn't argue she just nodded trying to concentrate on her breathing and followed as he walked.

The journey to the parking lot and then to the hospital seemed to take forever, as Gabriella had to stop every few minutes because of a contraction. Once safely inside the car, Troy drove like a mad man, cursing as they hit every red light and stop sign on route.

To Gabriella the ride felt like an eternity as the pains were getting more frequent and more uncomfortable. Troy glanced over at her every now and then but he barley spoke to her, Gabriella seemed to be in her own world, dealing with the pain as best as she could. She tensed when a pain hit and her breath would hold for a few seconds before hissing out again at the end of the contraction.

As they pulled up outside the ER he hurried around the car and opened the door, helping her out. Once inside he found her a wheelchair and went to the nurse's station, where a super friendly nurse took some details from them, and smiled broadly at Troy, a lot. Within minutes of arrival Gabriella was being whisked upstairs to the labor ward and ushered into a delivery suite.

Gabriella was changed into a gown and helped onto the bed as Troy stood and watched, feeling suddenly helpless, scared to go to her. He could see she was scared and in pain but couldn't do a thing to help her, he was frozen to the spot.

"C'mon over here honey, we don't bite" he became aware of large burly nurse smiling at him from across the room. She beckoned him over to Gabriella's side, where she held her hand.

"Think Daddy is in a bit of shock" she said in the same jovial tone to Gabriella who was frowning in pain as another contraction gripped her.

Troy stared at them, feeling the urge to run, the walls were closing in around him and he felt panicky. He had to get out of here, he couldn't be here, couldn't see this. He couldn't stand by and watch as she gave birth to another mans child, not after everything that had happened between them, he thought.

And without a backward glance at the brunette writing in pain on the bed, he turned and fled.