Chapter 18: Bless the Broken Road

Epilogue: Newport, California...

After the talent show passed, the final weeks of the school year went by quickly and soon afterwards, summer vacation arrived. Gabriella's parents spent weeks finalizing the details for the wedding and the they decided on a summer wedding in July. Since Lava Springs wasn't available for the Montezs to host their wedding they decided for a wedding in Newport which didn't bother Gabriella at all. Troy and Gabriella have the spent the summer inseparable except during some of the days she would have to fly back to Manhattan to help her dad move the last of his stuff to New Mexico in their house and to Newport to help with the wedding plans. Once July came around the corner it was time for Gabriella's parents to get married once again and with that they all flew out to Newport to stay with her Aunt Rosa for the wedding. Troy flew out with the Montezs with his parents permission and his parents and their friends were going to be arriving for the day of the wedding.

When the day of the wedding came, Gabriella and her aunt helped her mother get ready while her father was at the country club where the wedding was taking place. She was happy for two reasons, the first being that her family was going to be reunited once again and second that finally things between her and Troy were working out. During the wedding ceremony, everyone watched as Miguel and Lucille Montez renewed their wedding vows and Gabriella and Troy couldn't take their eyes off of each other. Both their parents sense that their kids were once again happy. After the ceremony it was time for the reception where after making rounds with her parents on hearing congratulations from various relatives and friends, Gabriella headed towards the table where Troy and their friends were sitting.

"Hey you did great for a bridesmaid," Taylor and Chad said, "And thanks for inviting us to your parents' wedding. So this is what your world was like for the last twelve years."

"You could say that...pretty similar to Ryan and Sharpay's lifestyle," Gabriella added, "Wouldn't you say guys?"

"Don't say that...besides Gabi here does have money but I gotta say she doesn't show it off much," Sharpay said, "I'm surprise though my parents love to tell everyone in Albuquerque that our family owns Lava Springs, the most expensive country club in New Mexico. Zeke texted me this morning saying that he's enjoying his family vacation in the Caribbean."

"We're sorry that the club was fully booked for your parents to have their wedding at Lava Springs," Ryan added.

"It's not a problem besides my parents wanted to get remarried in the city they first met after he finished his first year at Berkley," Gabriella smiled looking at her parents, "My mom was at Stanford and one summer both of them were on vacation here. Both of them met at an open mic event at this club one night and the two of them hit it off. When school came, they had to return but they made a promise to always meet at halfway. Newport for them was their halfway point that's why this place was important for them...it was where it all began."

"Everyone always has this thing about going back to the beginning," Troy replied, "It kind of sucks that not all of us couldn't make it."

"I know but I don't want to blame them for wanting to have fun this summer Troy. With Sharpay telling us that Zeke is having fun in the Carribean with his family, you can also think that Jason and Kelsi are also having fun touring Europe with Jason's older brother and his girlfriend. Then there's Martha who took that summer internship abroad in Australia for college recommendations. So you see everyone is enjoying their summer."

"You know Gabi you still look beautiful...even more beautiful than a blushing bride," Troy smiled as the two of them kissed, "Our parents were slightly glancing at us because I couldn't take my eyes off of you the whole entire ceremony."

"You're making me blush Wildcat...and this is my parents' special day."

"It was cute seeing you two walk down the aisle during the wedding procession and I heard Gabriella's father saying that his daughter and Troy looked like a cute couple walking down the aisle," Chad commented, "He told that to Gabriella's uncle and then when her mom came down the aisle they said that you two look like you're about to get hitch sooner or later. And Gabi I got to say you pulled off your little Katherine Heigl style as a bridesmaid."

"Why thank you Chad you stole my taglines for my girlfriend," Troy joked, "If you excuse me I like to spend some quality time with my blushing bridesmaid girlfriend here if you guys don't mind? Well shall we milady?"

"Why certainly kind sir," Gabriella smiled as she did a mock curtsy and Troy did a mock bow as they headed away from the gang and the two headed towards Gabriella's parents.

"So I'm guessing you two lovebirds have finally reunited," Mrs. Montez replied, "And don't worry Troy you get to spend the rest of the summer with our daughter once we leave for our honeymoon. Your parents are more than please to let Gabi stay with you guys while we're gone. Everything is all set that you'll be heading back home with the Boltons in a few days."

"Let me guess you guys are heading to Venice?" Gabriella asked, "Trying to recreate the first honeymoon all over again huh daddy?"

"Venice first then we head off to la Paris," Mr. Montez smiled, "I got to say Gabi that you look beautiful today and I'm happy that the Montezs are back in business. Your Uncle Drake was saying to me while you and Troy were heading down the aisle during the procession that you two looked like a cute little couple coming down the aisle. He made a joke saying that we were planning a double wedding but we just told him that you are seventeen years old and in love."

"That sure is the thing right now," the two of them smiled holding hands, "We're not looking that far ahead...right now we just want to be seventeen and in love. Maybe one day...but all we got to do is wait and see."

"Troy's parents said you two have come a very long way since the orphanage over twelve years ago and that you two are kindred spirits," Mr. and Mrs. Montez added, "The sight of you two are causing our relatives to make loving comments about how the two of you are going to be the next in line to be hitched one day." After they finished talking with Gabriella's parents, one of the relatives dedicated a song to Gabriella's parents as the guests watch them dance on the floor again and afterwards many couples soon joined them on the dancefloor.

I set out on a narrow way many years ago
Hoping I would find true love along the broken road
But I got lost a time or two
Wiped my brow and kept pushing through
I couldn't see how every sign pointed straight to you

Every long lost dream led me to where you are
Others who broke my heart they were like Northern stars
Pointing me on my way into your loving arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you

"So may I request a dance from the daughter of the bride and groom?" Troy asked as he stuck out his hand for Gabriella.

"The honor is all mine," Gabriella said as he lead her on the dance floor as the music continued. Their friends watched on the dance floor as Troy and Gabriella danced together holding each other as they looked like they were the happy married couple.

"That looks like one happy couple out there," Taylor said to Chad as they danced, "Those two are a match made in heaven."

"Yeah they sure do babe," Chad replied as they continued to dance.

I think about the years I spent just passing through
I'd like to have the time I lost and give it back to you
But you just smile and take my hand
You've been there you understand
It's all part of a grander plan that is coming true

Every long lost dream led me to where you are
Others who broke my heart they were like Northern stars
Pointing me on my way into your loving arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you

"I was thinking about something Troy," Gabriella replied dancing with Troy.

"What are you thinking about?" Troy asked.

"I was thinking about how much a lot has changed since the last six months when I first moved to Albuquerque to live with my mom. I never expected my parents getting back together, I never expected them getting remarried again and I never in my wildest dreams imagine seeing you again after more than twelve years apart. We have history together and that is something that is special. You will always be a big part of my life because if I haven't met you all those years ago I don't know what would happen now. I never thought fate could work in mysterious ways and within these last six months we survived a lot that people would face within years together."

"Six months doesn't seem like a long time we reunited and met each other again but being apart for all those years apart of me still remembered you after all those years Gabriella. I never realized that when I was five years old I found the person who inspires my heart and meant the world to me. I never thought when I was five years old that the day I got adopted I thought I lost a piece of my heart when I left you at St. Luke's. Twelve years later when you came to East High, I regain the part of my heart I thought I left behind. We survived years apart, we survived anything that got thrown at us and now I'm happy that we can finally move forward."

"And I have the part of my past, present and future here dancing with me as proof that this is what I love most in this world," Gabriella smiled, "What matters is right now."

"Right here, right now and I just want to say that I love you Gabriella Montez," Troy smiled as they kissed again, "Do you know what we can do right now?"

"I love you too Troy Bolton," Gabriella said, "And what should we do right now?"

"Let's just be seventeen and in love," Troy replied as they continued to dance, "That's all I ask for."

Now I'm just rolling home
Into my lover's arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you

That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you.

Los Angeles, California...

Three days later, Gabriella's parents left for their honeymoon and she was going to spend the rest of the summer with the Boltons while her parents were away. She left Newport and stayed with Troy and his parents at their hotel for the rest of their stay. On the Boltons' last day in California they went to Los Angeles to do a bit of sightseeing before leaving the next day and heading back home. Troy's parents gave them permission to do a bit of sightseeing together for a little while before meeting up for dinner near the boardwalk in LA. While Troy and Gabriella finished touring downtown Los Angeles, they were walking to the bustop to head to the boardwalk when they found themselves walking pass the same orphange they met all those years ago...St. Luke's. Troy and Gabriella stopped as they spotted the children playing outside in the courtyard on a sunny afternoon having fun while they spotted the nuns making their usual runs around the courtyard.

"Some things don't change do they?" Gabriella replied, "It seems like yesterday we were behind theses gates like one of those kids inside there playing and waiting to be adopted."

"Yeah and just yesterday we were five years old playing in that same courtyard with all those other kids," Troy said holding her hand, "Why does it seem like whenever we make our way to Los Angeles we find ourselves here at the place where it all began?"

"You could say that this our halfway point...whenever we were apart we made a promise to somehow always come back to this place because despite moving forward St. Luke's will always have a special place in our hearts."

"It does because it was on days like this where you find special friends for life," Troy and Gabriella stared at two little kids who looked about five years of age playing catch. They stared at the little girl with caramel brown hair and a boy with dark brown hair laughing and playing with each other. They both smiled at the kids as they thought back to the same time all those years ago. "It does seem like yesterday...I'm suddenly staring at a reflection of how it all began all those years ago."

FLASHBACK...

"Thank you…Troy," Gabriella slowly smiled, "Thank you…for getting my ball back."

"You're very welcome," Troy smiled, "Why are you playing alone? Don't you have any friends?"

"People don't like to be my friend because they treat me different," Gabriella sighed, "Unlike you…other kids like you Troy and I don't want to be alone without any friends. Other kids pick on me a lot because I don't like to say much and they hurt my feelings."

"That's wrong for other kids to do that to you Gabi they shouldn't and it's mean for them. I don't like it when other kids say mean things about me and it hurts my feelings…but they shouldn't do that to you too. You don't let other kids hurt your feelings okay Gabi?"

"Okay then I won't Troy…I'll try to be brave like you."

"If other kids pick on you…then you tell me and I will protect you okay? I'll be your friend from now on and I will not let other kids make you feel sad and you don't have to be alone anymore promise? I promise I won't let anyone make fun of you and I will protect you Gabi?"

"Does that mean…we're friends from now on? Will you be there no matter what Troy?"

"It's a promise…that since we're here from now on I'll be your friend and you can talk to me all you want okay," Troy smiled as he and Gabriella continued to play ball. After the two of them finished playing, they went to the playground away from the other kids alone as the two were sitting watching the other kids play.

END OF FLASHBACK

"Excuse me mister can I have my ball back please?" Troy looked down at his feet as he saw the little girl they were staring at standing in front of the gate look at them, "My red ball is at your feet can you give it to me please?"

"Oh yeah I'm sorry here you go," Troy smiled handing the ball back to the girl, "Hope you have fun kid."

"Thank you," the girl smiled as she turned to her friend, "Hey Tommy I got the ball back!"

"Come on Kimberly let's play again I still have to keep count!" they heard the little boy yell back to the girl, "Thank you for giving my friend back her ball!"

"Hope you have fun," Gabriella replied as the girl named Kimberly ran back to her friend Tommy who was waiting in the courtyard, "Now that seems like a similar scene all those years ago doesn't it Wildcat? Feels like yesterday is suddenly painting a picture in front of us."

"Come to think of it reminds me of someone I knew long ago Gabi. It reminded me of two kids long ago who became lifetime friends thanks to a simple ball. Now look at us twelve years later on the other side of the fence looking back at yesterday doesn't it?"

"It's always about yesterday and the day before that," the two turned to find a nun as she collected some mail from the mailbox that the staff forgot to collect this morning, "Sometimes fate has a way of making people travel back to the beginning. Children like young Tommy and Kimberly have special bonds that extend beyond love and friendship that I feel will last a lifetiime and for all eternity."

"So much you can learn about that huh?" Troy asked, "We could say we found ourselves in a similar place like all those kids years ago."

"It was great because being back here it seems like everything comes full circle once again." Gabriella smiled at the nun, "Someone reminded us years ago that God has special plans for all of us and that one day we'll understand what they are. I believe that once you find out what it is then you come back and thank him for that."

"That's what all the children here believe and they would always ask me...Sister Kathryn," the nun replied as the both of them stared at the nun they met all those years ago, "Like Tommy and Kimberly I too have been blessed to met many children but I could never forget two children in particular who formed a special bond and I prayed every night if those two children ever found each other again."

"You could say for them everything came full circle," they both replied, "And that God did have plans for them to somehow find their kindred spirits back to each other."

"Thank you for reassuring me I hope everything worked out for them," Sister Kathryn replied as she smiled at Troy and Gabriella walking back to the courtyard, "Hope that the one upstairs did succeed...it was a pleasure to have known that somehow Troy and Gabriella are a living example of that."

"Well what do you know...I think she knew that someday we make our way back here," Troy smiled holding Gabriella's hand, "So much for Sister Kathryn and her talks of God's plans for us."

"She is right about us being the living example of fate and kindred spirits," Gabriella smiled as they kissed, "Come on let's catch the bus before we're late of meeting your parents for dinner."

"Yeah mom and dad would flip if we're so are you ready?" Troy asked.

"Of course I think we're done here for now," Gabriella said as the two started walking away from the orphanage and heading towards the bustop. Inside of St. Luke's as the nuns were gathering the chidren inside the building, Sister Kathryn looked out to the street at Troy and Gabriella walking hand in hand rememebering back to the days of two children who were inseparable now together and living the future together.

"I'm glad things worked out for you children," Sister Kathryn smiled, "May God continue have plans for you in the future to be happy and in love."

The End

(Author's Notes: So that is it folks the story is finally complete. I hope you all enjoyed it and thank you for all the reviews sent in. I had a fun time writing this and I will miss writing this story.)