Disclaimer: For the last time, I own nothing

"There's something wrong with me," Gabriella sighed exasperatedly into the phone.

"Gabi," Maria rolled her eyes from the other end of the phone line, "There is nothing wrong with you."

"Yes there is Ma," Gabriella tried to hold the phone to her ear using her shoulder, "There's a month until the wedding and I'm not nervous, not one bit."

"There's nothing to be nervous about," Maria comforted, "You love Troy, he loves you. Always has, always will."

"I know," Gabriella finally gave up on her google search, "It's not that, it's just, isn't there something I should be nervous about?"

"You sound plenty nervous to me," Maria chuckled, "Everyone gets nervous at some point, whether it be a year before the wedding, a month, a week, a day, an hour, or not until you're standing up there sliding rings on each other's fingers. Don't worry."

"I just want everything to be perfect," Gabriella mumbled, glancing around the empty apartment.

"Everyone does honey," Maria sympathized, "And let me tell you something, there's always going to be something that goes wrong."

Gabriella let a long stream of air blow out of her mouth, "I guess."

"Where's Troy?" Maria questioned, it only seemed to be when he wasn't home that she got worried calls from Gabriella.

"The gym," She explained, "The pumas are playing their last game and if they win they get to go to state. He's practicing with them."

"I see," Maria nodded, "I've got to go but don't worry about anything, okay? Everything's going to be just fine and perfect in its own way."

"Okay, thanks Mom," Gabriella sighed, "I'll see you soon. Bye."

After hanging up the phone, Gabriella practically slammed the lid of her laptop down and shoved it next to her on the couch. It was quiet in the apartment, a quiet that had once been very familiar but now was not as common as when Troy was gone. She flipped on the television, hoping to make her feel more comfortable while Troy was gone.

A half hour into an episode of Sex in the City Gabriella heard Troy's tennis shoes pounding against the floor of their apartment, "Ella, are you home?"

"In the living room," She responded before deciding to meet him halfway.

"Hey," Troy chuckled as she wrapped her arms around his waist, "I smell."

Gabriella giggled and turned her head away from his chest, "I know."

Troy tightened his arms around her anyway, "You seem awfully excited to see me."

"It was quiet here alone," Since Troy had started working again, they'd been trying to get home around the same time, to ensure the absolute maximum amount of time together each night. It wasn't always realistic, with Troy finishing work so early in the afternoon, but at least they had a set goal.

"Well I'm home now," Troy pressed a quick, soft, kiss to her lips, "I'm going to go shower. Maybe you could be an amazing fiancé and make me dinner?"

Gabriella sighed, "I'm not going to be a house wife Troy, you know that."

"I know, I know," He held up his hands in innocence as he walked back toward their bathroom, "But once, please?"

"I guess," She gave up after realizing she couldn't remember the last time that she made dinner.

"Thank you," Troy pointed at her, "You are awesome. Keep that in mind."

She sent him a fake smile, "Thanks."

Shuffling her feet, she walked into the kitchen, trying to figure out what she could make that wasn't cereal.

"Ella, ella, ella, eh eh eh," Troy sung along to the words of an old Rihanna song in a restaurant that Gabriella and him were dining at with some friends. Of course their friends weren't there yet, if they were he wouldn't be singing. At least, he wouldn't be singing sober.

"Troy, people are staring," Gabriella glared at him from across the top of her menu. No one would ever guess that Troy was a war veteran of just a few months.

"Am I embarrassing you," Troy took a dramatic pause and said her name a little too loud, "Ella?"

"Oh my God," Gabriella pulled her hand away as he tried to hold it from across the table.

"C'mon El," Troy coaxed, "Relax a little. It's the beginning of a long weekend. Stop being so stressed."

Her head dropped back against the back of the tall chair she was sitting in and didn't respond.

"Don't be mad at me," Troy nudged her foot under the table, hoping she'd give some effort to communicate with him, "Baby, relax."

"How am I supposed to? I've got all these cases and the wedding is in like three weeks," She pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Gabriella," Troy demanded the attention from her, "Give somebody else one of the cases."

"No, I can't do that," She shook her head, "There's a reason my clients come to me and if I simply hand them over to someone else, they'll never hire me again."

"Explain to them that you're very busy at the moment and that it's nothing personal, you just can't take another case at the moment," Troy guided, "I haven't even heard you mention anything about the wedding in a week now."

"I'm sorry," She snapped at him, "I'm just trying to do my job."

Troy took his own turn holding the menu over his face, "I'm not trying to piss you off."

Before Gabriella could respond, she heard the overly cheery voice of someone behind her, "Gabriella! Troy! Sorry we're late we got caught up in-"

Gabriella shucked her boots off her feet and hung her coat over the doorknob of their coat closet without saying a word to Troy. She trudged to their bedroom, unbuttoning her skinny jeans on the way. After changing her top and sliding on a pair of pajama pants, she went to brush her teeth before heading out to the living room.

Troy followed suit, however at a slower pace, watching as she purposefully avoided him. Instead of following her to the living room, he decided to wait for her in bed, picking up the book his sophomore class was currently reading to get through a few chapters to refresh his memory.

A half hour later he realized Gabriella had no intentions of caving anytime soon and his eyes began to droop. Standing up, he shuffled his half naked body to the living room. Leaning against the wall the couch was on, he decided to make himself noticed, "Are you coming to bed anytime soon?"

Gabriella continued typing on her computer and shook her head.

"Fine," Troy grumbled and walked away, instead of turning left to their bedroom, he turned right into the kitchen. He grabbed the carton of Ben and Jerry's from the freezer as well as a single spoon. He returned to the living room and sat down next to her. Gently, he let his head drop down onto her shoulder as he flicked the television on.

Troy felt her stiff body soften as she sighed, "What are you doing?"

"If you're not going to bed, neither am I," His head remained on her shoulder as he opened the carton and began eating straight out of it.

"Do you really have to eat out of the carton?" Gabriella suggested as she kept typing, acting as though his actions weren't really affecting her.

"What does it matter?" He responded, "You and me are the only ones who are going to eat it."

Gabriella didn't respond and he flipped to a late night sports recap, "You don't have to wait for me."

Troy pretended she wasn't sending him a hint to leave, "I'm not going to bed alone."

Gabriella's fingers continued dashing over her keyboard. Troy held up a spoonful of ice cream for her to eat and she shook her head, "I just brushed my teeth."

"So did I," Troy glided the spoon in her mouth anyway and turned his head so he was able to kiss her shoulder, "I'm sorry for making you mad."

Troy could feel her shoulders tense up, "I'm sorry too, I'm just really stressed."

"I know," Troy wrapped his arms around her in a hug, restricting her typing, "Which is why I seriously want you to consider passing a case onto one of your colleagues."

Gabriella sighed and ran her hand through her hair, "I've never done that though."

"How many times have your colleagues passed on cases to you?"

"A lot," She responded.

"Exactly," Troy confirmed, "One time won't screw over your career Ella."

"Okay," She confirmed, knowing it would relieve some tension, "I'll consider it."

"Good," Troy released her, only to shut her laptop, "Now get up and in my bed. I can't sleep without you."

Gabriella giggled and playfully rolled her eyes as Troy placed his hands on her shoulders and guided the way, "That or you want to have sex."

"Hey," Troy said offensively, "I have not mentioned or suggested sex all night. So let's go get in bed and go to sleep."

"And cuddle," Gabriella added.

Troy chuckled in that manly way, not wanting to confirm what she said, "Whatever."

Troy kicked the door closed and nudged the light switch with his elbow as Gabriella dove onto the bed. He followed closely, pulling back the sheets and sliding under. Her leg quickly wrapped over the top of his and he pulled her back into his chest, brushing her hair away from her neck to press a light, not sexual, kiss to her neck. His arm tightened around her waist, making it seem like there was no space left between them.

"Please, please, Ella?" Troy begged over the phone, like always he'd made dinner everynight the past two weeks. Gabriella had taken the day off work, mostly so that she could pack for him before they left for Albuquerque oddly enough, "I love your cereal dinners."

Yes, that one night about a month ago she hadn't been able to come up with anything better than cereal, "Are you sure Troy?"

"It's one dinner," Troy shook his head, "We can survive eating cereal."

"Well if that's what you want," She sighed, glancing around their torn up room. Troy probably wouldn't be to happy about it when he arrived home, it certainly hadn't looked like this when he left.

"How's the packing going?" Troy asked, knowing she was more than stressed.

Lying, she responded, "Good."

Troy read right through it, "Relax Gabriella, relax."

They were leaving tomorrow for Albuquerque. To get married, "I can't."

"Shouldn't you be off getting your nails done or a massage or something? You should go and do that and relax," Troy attempted, she'd been on edge for a week now.

"No," She responded snappily, "I'm getting my nails done with our moms on Monday and we are getting massages on Wednesday, together, before we separate for the wedding. Don't you remember Troy?" She almost weepily responded.

"Gabriella, I do remember," He assured, trying to make her feel better, "Calm down, leave the packing for when I get home and go do something."

"I have to get this done Troy," She grumbled, not finding her clothing or rather lingerie collection good enough for their mini-honeymoon after the wedding.

"It won't be that hard for us to do when I get home," Troy spun around in his spinny chair when he thought he heard someone enter his door, "Why don't you go shopping for a new bikini for San Diego or something?"

That's where they were going for their mini-honeymoon. A little resort they had discovered while living in California and attending USC. They were headed down to Albuquerque tomorrow, Saturday, getting married on Thursday, and hopping on a plane Friday morning. Since it was a tight schedule from work, they planned on taking a longer vacation in the summer.

"I don't know Troy," It wasn't a bad idea necessarily, maybe she could get some new lingerie instead.

"Just go Gabriella," Troy smiled and teased, "I know you want to."

Gabriella laughed, "Okay, okay, I'll go."

"Good," Troy affirmed, "Don't worry about a thing."

"I'll try my best," Gabriella nodded as though he was in the room, "I love you."

"I love you too," Troy repeated, "I'll see you soon."

"Troy, I can't," Gabriella argued. It had been a while since he dropped her off at her mother's doorstep with the intent of not sleeping together for the night.

"It's one night baby," Troy gripped both of her hands, "I'll see you tomorrow at eleven."

"I know," Gabriella wined, "Please stay."

Troy held his arms out, "I wish I could but it'll make tomorrow all that much more special."

Gabriella stepped into his comforting hug, "Why do you have to be such an amazing almost husband?"

"Because," Troy chuckled, "You're an even more amazing almost wife."

"Can't you just come in for a little while?" She begged.

"You know if I come in, I won't leave," Troy said with sense.

"That's the point," She tugged on his hand.

"Ella," He pulled her right back and kissed her, "I love you."

"I love you too," She assured and buried her head into his chest, "I'm so scared for tomorrow."

"Why?" Troy rubbed circles on her back.

She just shrugged her shoulders, she honestly didn't know why she was scared.

"I will see you tomorrow, looking beautiful, walking down the aisle in a gorgeous white dress, okay?" Troy tugged her chin up so she was looking him in the eyes.

"Okay," Gabriella bit her lip, "Are you going to cry?"

"Maybe," Troy confessed, "Probably."

"I'm gonna cry," She collapsed back into his chest.

"I know you are," Troy comfortingly kissed her forehead, "Who would've though nineteen years ago, when I sat on the bus and offered you a seat, I'd be marrying the same person?"

"It seems so surreal," Gabriella nodded, "Do you have to go?"

"I do," Troy pulled back, "But I don't want to. Trust me."

"I love you," She cupped his cheeks and placed multiple kisses to his lips.

Troy reciprocated the actions, "I love you too."

"See you tomorrow?" She questioned as he pulled away.

Troy nodded his head in confirmation, "See you tomorrow."

Gabriella walked through the doorframe of her mother's house and watched Troy retreat to his car, waiting until he pulled out of the driveway before heading upstairs to talk with her mother before she went to bed.

"Troy, honey, I'm so proud of you," Troy watched as his mother went into the spiel she did before every major moment in his life.

"I know Ma," Troy confirmed, trying to straighten his tie for the millionth time.

Lucille laughed, "It looks fine honey, really, it does."

Troy kept at it, keeping himself busy.

"Stand up," Lucille ordered, in her own blue dress.

Troy followed suit, standing up in front of the mirror. Lucille brushed off his shoulders, fixing any possible wrinkles that could have been left in the suit.

"Now, you are going to stand at that alter, looking like the most love-struck man on this planet, alright?" Lucille ordered, trying to make him loosenup.

"I don't need to look like the most love struck man on the planet," He took one tug at the bottom of his jacket, "I am the most love struck man on the planet."

Lucille nodded, "Good, I did a good job raising you. Now, are you ready?"

Troy sent her a nervous look.

"Ready as you'll ever be, got it," Lucille held the door open for him, "Let's go."

Troy took his time, walking through the church to the front. He took a deep breath, looking at the small group of family and friends they had invited. Soon, his older brother and best man joined him, who squeezed his shoulder with a smile on his face, "You ready for this bro?"

Troy shook a shaky nod.

"She's the one dude," Matt only confirmed what he already knew, "Since you were thirteen I've been teasing you about this."

Troy chuckled and wrung his hands together, "I know."

"You're lucky though," He nudged Troy, "She's always been there and you always knew she loved you, whether it be as a friend or more."

"Yeah, I am," Troy confirmed, taking a step back as music began to play. It was now or never.

He watched as her cousin floated down the aisle, followed by two of their close friends before the music stopped and switched to the formal bridal march. Everyone stood and Troy felt his mouth drop as she turned the corner in a white, flowy dress that suited her style perfectly. It was strapless and had a flower underneath her breast line. Sinching at her waist, it flowed out perfectly in her usual beachy style.

What he loved the most was she looked exactly like herself. She wasn't wearing a ton of makeup and left her hair down in its usual curly locks.

All the worries he'd ever had were gone as she walked down the aisle, arm and arm with her mother. His fear of loosing her to an eating disorder, of leaving for separate colleges, finding somewhere to live, and even war all disappeared.

All because Troy knew that he Gabriella, and he always would.

A/N: I can't believe this day has come. Pardon the long author's note.

Wow, I can't believe I'm uploading the last chapter to my very first story. This has held so much emotional attatchment to me and I can't believe it's over. I feel like I have evolved so much as a writer since my first chapter and this story will always mean so much to me as I continue with my other stories.

I would obviously like to thank my loyal readers but also my reviewers. You all are so amazing and I appreciate every single review/subscribe/favorite story. It means so much to me, it really does, and I can't stress that enough.

Special thank you's are deserved for Bluebell140, my very first and possibly most loyal reviewer. Thank you so much. And also to pumpkinking5, EmilyJZ, mbaby45, babycakes101, yogaluva, dreamoutloud27, 05115mel519, palmbeach, addyD90, bubzchoc, and MilitaryBrat10, all of whom have review almost if not every chapter. I love you all so much, thanks for taking the time to click that little button in the corner of your screen.

Keep an eye out for the epilogue, hopefully sometime next week!