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Troy chuckled as he walked down the stairs, following the delicious smelling aromas but more so the happy humming that was calling to him. A grin that had been on his lips for most of the morning still lingered there, growing impossibly so as he thought back to waking up with Gabriella in his arms the first time in the early morning.
Gabriella stirred awake, feeling impossibly warm, only to find the source for her warmth to not only be the still blazing fireplace but also being so snugly wrapped in Troy's arms, being heated and kept protected in his strong, loving limbs. She slowly turned her head and saw that it was still dark outside, knowing it was most likely still early morning. 'Wow, what a way to start the new year off right.'
She giggled a little, realizing then that they had been in the middle of their love making when midnight struck, surprised in some ways that they hadn't been interrupted at all but relieved that they hadn't been. The soreness in her body sank into her consciousness as she tried to stretch without disturbing Troy, failing when she heard his steady breathing change before she felt his lips in her tousled hair.
"You all right?" he asked, bringing Gabriella's eyes up to meet his own.
"Couldn't be better," she replied, meeting his lips in a kiss. "I do kind of feel sticky."
Troy chuckled, feeling the same way himself. "You made me sweat quite a bit too just so you know. How about a bath? I'm sure the fire in there has kept that room nice and warm. Let me go start it and I'll be back for you all right?"
Gabriella just nodded, a content smile on her lips as Troy slipped out of the bed, leaving Gabriella feeling immediately empty without him right there with her. Minutes later after hearing the water of the tub flowing, Troy reappeared by the bed with a loveable grin on his face. Without a word, Troy slid his arms under her body and carried Gabriella to the bathroom, slowly easing her into the tub full of water scented with lavender before he followed right behind her, resting his back against the side of the tub. They helped wash each other with a washcloth each with bath gel, Troy taking extra care with her thighs that had some dried blood.
"Are you sure I didn't hurt you Gabriella?" he asked, now uncertain as washed away the marks.
Gabriella smiled at his concern. "I'm wonderful Troy, thank you. I love you."
"I love you too Gabriella. Oh and Brie? Happy New Year," he murmured, kissing her on the lips before pulling her back against his chest again, hearing her echo his new year greeting back, both content to just soak there together.
'Then that was followed by learning even more about each other's bodies, a lesson I don't think I'll ever tire of,' remarked Troy in his head as he finally turned the last corner and entered the kitchen, leaning against a counter as he watched Gabriella happily go about her cooking, dressed in a pair of sweats and a t-shirt of his. "Baby, you look delicious."
"I'm glad you like the smell Wildcat," she started, pausing as Gabriella realized exactly what he said and blushed, turning around for a moment to see Troy advancing on her. "I'm not the food!"
"Perhaps but you will always be delicious, sexy, stunning, and beautiful in my mind," he replied, slipping his arms around her waist and nuzzling her neck as she went back to her cooking. "Always have and always will if last night and this morning was any indication."
Gabriella giggled as Troy caused a fresh round of tingles to shoot through her body like live electricity. "I think I could say the exact same about you but swap beautiful for handsome."
"Thanks babe," he replied, his morning stubble tickling her cheek next, careful not to push too hard against her skin. "I don't think I'll ever look at the falling snow the same way again."
"Me either," agreed Gabriella, thinking back to the second time they woke up.
Gabriella awoke to lips trailing down her neck, letting out a low moan she couldn't suppress, causing a chuckle to escape Troy's own throat. "Morning Brie," he greeted, his light blue eyes twinkling with happiness.
"Good morning Wildcat," replied Gabriella, savoring the taste of his lips, finding it amusing that they both didn't seem to mind their morning breath.
Their third time making love had been even more enjoyable than the first two times, leaving Gabriella wondering exactly how she could have thought this experience would be otherwise, especially with Troy Bolton, the man she was sure could do no wrong. As they laid together, both catching their breaths, Gabriella's back pressed against Troy's chest, she watched as the sky began to get lighter, realizing that the sunlight was filling the sky despite the constant cover of clouds that were producing snowflakes.
"That looks so pretty," she commented, feeling his arms tighten around her waist.
"Let's get a closer look," he suggested, reluctantly getting out of the bed and padding towards the wardrobe where there were two robes hanging. Troy slipped one on and tied it closed before walking back with the other one, helping Gabriella ease into it and tying it together for her, chuckling some as he noticed how she almost swam in it. Before they approached the glass doors, Troy found some bedroom slippers and slid them on both of their feet before they opened one of the doors and walked through, both taking in a deep breath as the cold air slapped them in the face in contrast to the heat inside.
Troy closed the door behind them and walked with Gabriella out onto the balcony, his arm firmly wrapped around her waist in case she slipped, keeping it there as they approached a railing. Gabriella stopped and smiled some as Troy's arms extended out on each side of her, his hands resting on the snow covered railing.
"Isn't that cold?" she wondered.
Troy shrugged. "Eh, not really."
"Warm blooded guy," muttered Gabriella, both of them laughing as Troy's hands abandoned the railing and instead rested on her stomach as his arms held her tightly against him. Her eyes took in the softly falling snow, enjoying the sheer quiet minus their breathing and beating hearts, taking in the way the snow made everything look so clean and peaceful.
Similar thoughts ran through Troy's head, knowing this was for sure an experience for the books. His mind though drifted to the last twelve hours, how they brought in the new year, both with their friends at the resort and on their own here at the chateau. Troy couldn't help but compare his experience with Gabriella against his past lovers and was simply amazed how different and more special it was with her. A part of him felt bad, recognizing that he was made only for her, but Troy inwardly shrugged, knowing that there wasn't anything he could do about the past and knowing that in some ways, he wouldn't do anything different except for sparing Celeste the pain she felt.
Thoughts of his ex fiancé left his head as Gabriella turned her body so that she was facing him, burying her head into his chest, her ear pressed against his beating heart, reminding him how blessed he was to have this opportunity again with the one that got away years ago. Troy glanced down and watched as Gabriella continued to stare out into the forest that surrounded them, gazing at the falling snow, some of which was starting to stick to her dark hair and her face. "Utterly adorable."
Her face turned up at this, smiling back up at him. "Me?"
Troy laughed. "Yes you, silly woman."
Gabriella's tiny pink tongue stuck out at him, catching a few falling snowflakes to her unexpected delight. Chuckling, Troy shook his head, loving how her giggle always made his heart soar, wondering what he would do if she was ever not by his side. Realization hit him then, reminding him that although Gabriella was his fiancé that it wasn't public nor truly set in stone. If it came down to Gabriella losing her royal birthright for him, Troy knew he would struggle with that, knowing he needed her in his life but also acknowledging how big a part of Gabriella being a princess and leading a country already was. His grip around her unconsciously tightened as he thought of the possibility of what could still come at them when they returned to Copanvy.
"Can we stay here forever?" Troy heard Gabriella ask, almost as if she was reading his thoughts.
"If only we could Gabriella, if only we could," he murmured, kissing the top of her head before burying his nose into her hair, breathing in her scent.
"We do live in a tough reality," remarked Gabriella, looking at Troy again for a moment before looking back down at the breakfast she was cooking for the gang.
"But, as we agreed before we came back inside, we'll make it through this together, one way or another," promised Troy.
They shared a quick kiss before Gabriella went back to cooking, finding a comfort in having Troy's arms still snugly wrapped around her waist in between helping her get things ready, both deciding silently to focus on the happier things.
That was the state in which Sharpay and Taylor found them, both Troy and Gabriella seeming to radiate a certain glow and spark between them that neither woman had seen before around the couple, a feat they thought impossible where Troy and Gabriella were concerned. Sharpay narrowed her eyes suspiciously as Taylor just grinned, happy for her best friend and her husband's childhood best friend. "Don't say anything or do anything. I'll be right back," whispered Taylor, knowing neither Gabriella or Troy would notice their presence in the mood they were in.
Sharpay just nodded, tilting her head to the side as she continued to analyze what was going on, what had changed. Seeing Troy nip at Gabriella's neck and hearing her answering giggle sparked something in Sharpay's mind, knowledge hitting her like a bolt of lightning. A smile crept onto her lips as she could only imagine how Gabriella and Troy celebrated the new year together, secluded in their master suite, away from the others who were celebrating together by drinking even more, Sharpay recalling Chris and Tessa sneaking off shortly after midnight for their own festivities.
No one back at East High would have ever suspected that Sharpay could be this content and happy knowing that her friends, who weren't her normal crowd before Gabriella, were happy and not needing a man in her life to make her feel that way. Though Sharpay sometimes felt lonely, she had come to realize that her nature sometimes thrived better being independent, letting her shop and date at her own will and not someone else's rules. Sharpay was about to disobey Taylor's orders to not move, suddenly feeling the need to get some more water into her system, the reason why she had stumbled out of bed already, when Taylor showed back up with her camera.
Sharpay just rolled her eyes as Taylor managed to take a few shots before Troy turned his head, hearing the sounds of the camera. He too rolled his eyes at Taylor's actions, the grin never slipping a centimeter.
"Private paparazzi on the loose," he teased, causing Gabriella to look too and smile at her friends.
"I'd say private photographer. She's nowhere as intrusive and is keeping a respectable distance," added Gabriella, laughing as Sharpay and Taylor finally came into the kitchen, Sharpay getting that glass of water she wanted. "Happy New Year! Hung over much Sharpay?"
"Some but those pills I took before we started drinking definitely is helping. Amazing things they come out with these days," replied Sharpay, finishing the glass and refilling it. "Oh and Happy New Year."
"Happy New Year! What's cooking?" asked Taylor, setting the camera on a nearby counter. "Can I help with anything?"
Gabriella gave Taylor a smile, flipping the eggs over before turning the waffle maker over. "Waffles, blueberry pancakes, sausage, bacon, and eggs, both scrambled and over medium. Figured that would feed everyone. If you want, you can get the coffee started."
"Holiday Cheer sounds amazing right now," commented Ryan, also joining the small crowd gathered in the kitchen. "Morning everyone!"
Sharpay scoffed. "Only you like Holiday Cheer coffee Ryan. That stuff is so cheap."
"Hey, I like it too!" protested Troy, seeing Ryan smile at him. "Maybe it is cheaper than your high end coffee but I bet it tastes way better."
"And you'd have to end at that bet cause Shar doesn't share that stuff," stated Ryan, chuckling at the exasperated expression his twin had. "What can I do to help Gabs? Looks like you and Troy have the cooking handled."
"Actually, it's just Gabriella cooking. I'm here as a personal heater," offered Troy, smirking as Ryan chuckled again and Gabriella rolled her eyes this time.
"If you want, you can set the table with napkins, utensils, and plates," suggested Gabriella, knowing Ryan would want to be doing something unlike Sharpay, who was content with just watching everyone around her move around.
Ryan smiled. "Great. Hey Sharpay, want to get off your lazy butt and help?"
"Ugh, you are so lucky you are my brother," returned Sharpay, putting her glass down to get the utensils out while Ryan took out the plates.
In another twenty minutes, all the food was on the table with freshly brewed Holiday Cheer in a coffee jug and orange juice in all the glasses on the table. Ryan and Troy had split up five minutes earlier to wake up everyone so Chucky, Chad, and Amy were also at the table, joining the group of friends in eating the wonderful breakfast they gave Gabriella credit for making.
When everyone was done, with not a single crumb left, in large part due to the guys, the men surprised the women by taking initiative and doing the dishes, leaving Amy, Sharpay, Taylor, and Gabriella free to settle into the couches in the living room, in front of the fireplace that was currently on.
"Do you honestly think that Chris and Tessa are going at it with all of us literally yards away from their room?" asked Sharpay, curious as to what was keeping both away now that it was very late in the morning. "I mean, Chris is a guy who loves his food like the others."
Amy laughed. "Who knows? They are after all rabbits as you called them right?"
"We all call them that," answered Taylor with her own giggle. "They are rather cute together, even if they are nymphomaniacs."
Sharpay watched Gabriella try to keep a neutral expression on her face, seeing that her hypothesis about the glow she and Troy both had proved true as the blush appeared on Gabriella's cheeks. "You little minx! I knew it!"
Gabriella's startled eyes met Sharpay's light brown orbs. "What? I don't know what you are talking about Sharpay."
Sharpay only smirked. "Sure you don't."
This got both Taylor's and Amy's attention. "Gabriella, what's going on?" asked Amy curiously.
"No clue," Gabriella murmured, now turning her face so she could see the snow falling outside.
Taylor looked at an embarrassed Gabriella back to a victorious looking Sharpay and then back again. "Hold up! Something is going on and somehow Sharpay seems to have caught the gist of it. What has happened?"
"Oh, only the most amazing thing!" exclaimed Sharpay excitedly, laughing a little as Gabriella's cheeks became even more pink. "Haven't you two noticed the glow about Gabriella and Troy both this morning? I know you have Taylor."
Amy thought about it, recalling a small notice on her part of how very happy both of them appeared that morning but dismissed it to them being in love. "Nothing all that unusual. Just them being all in love with each other."
"Oh, there's so definitely more to it than that, trust me Amy," replied Sharpay.
"Pay, please, will you stop?" begged Gabriella, finding the courage to look at Sharpay directly.
"Do you admit it?" questioned Sharpay, knowing this was too good to let go. "I'll drop it if you admit it."
With a sigh, Gabriella realized she was caught in a rock and a hard place all right. "Fine, yes. Okay? Now issue is closed."
Taylor and Amy both tried to quickly decipher the conversation the two other women were having, both of them just looking at each other, one looking totally uncomfortable while the other looked ecstatic. "What are you two coding here?" asked Taylor.
"Only the best thing to happen I think, well one of the best things anyway. If you believe Gab though, nothing has happened," answered Sharpay, giving Gabriella a satisfied smile.
Amy and Taylor watched as the tension became larger instead of better between the blonde and brunette, trying to piece together the puzzle. It wasn't until Tessa stumbled into the room still a bit hung over that they got the major missing piece.
Sharpay crinkled her nose as Tessa walked by her and plopped down on the big armchair nearest the fire. "Eww, gross! Tessa, you smell impossibly like alcohol and sex! Gabriella doesn't smell at all rank and yet you manage to! What did you do, have sex in a pool of vodka?"
Everyone else in the room froze, echoes of Sharpay's third sentence hanging in the room. Tessa ignored Sharpay's jab and immediately looked at Gabriella, who was suddenly finding the high wooden ceiling very interesting, a blush on her cheeks. "OH MY GOD! GAB! YOU DID IT!"
Gabriella couldn't help but cringe, hating how much attention this and she herself was getting. Before she knew it, the room was filled with excited squeals and demanding questions, none of which she wanted to answer.
"Was it good? Hell, it's Bolton we are talking about. How great was it?" demanded Tessa.
"How many times? How big is the guy anyway?" questioned Sharpay.
Amy left it simple. "When did this happen?"
Gabriella waited for a few moments before opening her eyes, looking at Taylor, who was just looking at her with a small smile on her face. "Nothing from you?"
Taylor shook her head, shrugging her shoulders. "The fact that you are clearly happy and are glowing says it all. We don't need to know the details, especially as I know how big this is for you both."
Tessa and Sharpay both groaned. "TAYLOR! Stop being such a goodie goodie! We want details!" exclaimed Tessa.
"Seriously, you all sound like Chad and the guys. I bet they are grilling Troy right now too," commented Taylor.
Ideas formed in Tessa's and Sharpay's minds together, driving them to get up from where they were sitting to seek out where the guys were most likely talking, all still in the kitchen. Amy, Gabriella, and Taylor all exchanged a look, silently agreeing to follow the other two to make sure they didn't get into too much trouble. Relieved that she was left alone for now, Gabriella happily went along, thankful she was off the hook, letting her keep everything that happened special and private, the way she wanted it.
As all five women hid on the other side of the wall closest to the kitchen, the voices of the guys inside were loud enough to expose that they were indeed grilling Troy as Sharpay, Tessa, and Amy had tried with Gabriella moments before.
"Perfect," whispered Sharpay, grinning as she focused on listening to the conversation happening yards away.
"What are you talking about? You can't just hold out on us like this!" complained Chad, crossing his arms across his chest. "This is huge dude!"
"Yeah it is and that is exactly why you aren't getting anything out of me!" returned Troy, feeling very cornered, even physically as he was sitting up on the corner where two counters met while Chad, Chucky, Ryan, and Chris all stared at him. "It's none of your fucking business Chad!"
"Oh come on, we tell each other everything! I was the one you talked to when you lost your v-card to that chick back in college in freshman year!" stated Chad, annoyed that Troy was holding back on him.
"Danforth, shut it!" exclaimed Troy, flushed at the memory of his own first time, which was not even close to how wonderful or special it was with Gabriella.
Chucky, seeing the tension build at a quickly increasing rate, decided it was time to step in. "All right, all right, enough you two. Troy, Chad is just curious, as I think the rest of us are as to how it went considering everything. Chad, if Troy doesn't want to tell us, that's his prerogative. You two have shared everything since kindergarten but some things are just sacred like that."
Chad rolled his eyes. "And there goes the older, wiser brother crap. Seriously Chucky, you need to get yourself laid."
Chris barely stifled a laugh, knowing not to get in the middle of this one just as Ryan watched a few feet away. Chucky just shook his head, irritated with his younger brother. "Not everything is about sex little man and you as a husband should know that!"
This time Chris couldn't control it. "Little man? Chad, is there something you'd like us to know?"
Annoyed, Chad grabbed the nearest thing at hand that wouldn't cause permanent damage and threw the dish towel nearby at Chris's head. "Shut up! I'll have you know that my wife is very satisfied. Shouldn't you be careful with what you are saying yourself dude? After all, you can't be all that large, prancing around with tights for all the world to see."
"Oh shit you did not just go there!" declared Chris, leaving Ryan to cover his face.
"Guys! This is ridiculous! How did this go from 'Happy New Year!' to sex lives and each other's packages?" demanded Ryan. "Honestly, you sound like a bunch of women! Actually, no. A bunch of girls!"
"Says the actor," commented Chris dryly.
Ryan threw up his hands. "Real mature Chris, real mature."
Troy listened to the growing banter and realized that his limit on all this nonsense had been met. "Enough! Guys, this is ridiculous! It's New Year's Day, we're all here together in Colorado for only a few more days before we all return back to jobs, careers, and other places of living. What did or did not happen between me and Brie is between me and her. This isn't high school nor do I kiss and tell, not when it really matters. Let's just call it all even and just have fun with each other while we can, okay? I really don't want to have this trip interrupted by this because this is a time I know I treasure because we're all hanging out, something that's rare these days with three of us living in Copanvy, one in California, and the rest of you busy with your work even being in the same city."
The room was quiet as everyone digested what Troy had just said, knowing he was right. "All right man, you have a point. As much as I'd love to hear all about it, I guess I can respect you not wanting the world to know."
"Thanks Chad," replied Troy, bumping fists with his childhood best friend.
From where the women were still hiding, Gabriella grinned, proud of Troy. Taylor saw that look and smiled too, completely understanding what Gabriella was thinking most likely in that moment. "We better get back before they catch us," she whispered, Amy and Gabriella agreeing immediately.
The three snuck back to the living room and sat down on the couches again, not all that surprised that Tessa and Sharpay hadn't come back with them.
"Wow, Troy can be a real diplomat when he wants to. Guess that's fitting with the slight possibility of what he may become one day," remarked Amy, thinking of the chance her cousin had to become part of the royal family of Copanvy. "Gabriella, I don't want to intrude but have you really thought about what you are going to do, when you have to go back in a week?"
Gabriella bit the corner of her lower lip as she listened to Amy's question, finding that it wasn't all that far off from where her own thoughts had been, especially this morning. "I have a meeting with the council when I get back and I'm hoping that they determine that Troy is a suitable candidate because I can't see my life without him now. It was hard enough before but now, well, I've just realized that living without Troy again would be like living without my better half."
There was a familiar chuckle from the entrance of the room followed by Troy sitting down on the couch next to Gabriella, instantly wrapping his arm around her shoulders and kissing her temple. "I appreciate your words but I am certainly not the better half of the two of us, you are."
"But you've dealt with so much crap because of me Troy. It takes a lot of dedication and real desire to want us to have done what you have. Your sacrifice, your passion, your love… It hasn't gone unnoticed," remarked Gabriella, lacing her fingers with his hand that was hanging over her shoulder. "Without you, well, we all know how much I sucked without you."
"Ditto," replied Troy, smiling down at her before sharing in a quick, soft kiss. "We'll cross everything together and there will be no separation of us, not if I can help it and you want it too. The way I see it, nothing can tear us apart but each other at this point and I really don't think that'll happen in the near future."
Taylor smiled at the couple, seeing the glow return at Troy's reassurance, smiling even at her own husband as Chad took a seat on the couch next to her, watching their best friends talk softly to each other before engaging Amy in a discussion.
"They really are going to make it this time, right?" noted Chad, looking at his wife.
"I really hope so Chad, I really hope so," murmured Taylor, shivering as Chad wrapped his own arm around her, allowing Taylor to lay her head on his shoulder, wishing Troy and Gabriella the same happiness in marriage that she had found with Chad.