The leaves on the trees outside Troy and Celeste's apartment were turning orange, red, and brown, the colors that signified that fall was starting to push summer aside during the first week of September. Troy dragged his attention from the window and refocused on the many magazines spread out in front of both him and his fiancé, each set of pages sporting different flowers that ranged in that difference from color to size to scent to meanings. He tried to discreetly look at his watch and suppressed a groan that surfaced from the back of his throat as he realized that they had been sitting at their dining room table for over three hours looking at these floral arrangements.

"Troy? What do you think if we have white roses with white lilies for the tables?" asked Celeste, pulling Troy out of his inner thoughts.

He reached up and rubbed the back of his neck as he tried to quickly think of an answer. "Umm, isn't that a bit, well, colorless?"

Celeste paused for a moment, giving his input some thought before she nodded her agreement. "That's an excellent point Troy. I'm so glad that you are one of those guys who actually want to help with the wedding. There are just so many choices here! What about adding some carnations?"

"Umm, sure?" he offered, not knowing what Celeste was really envisioning at this point. "Hey, do you want something to drink or maybe for me to order some Chinese? It's getting late, about 7."

She paused from flipping a page in one of the many magazines to smile back at him. "That would be great. Can you make sure to get the scallion pancakes and orange chicken for me?"

"But of course," replied Troy as he leaned over and kissed Celeste before he got up and grabbed the Chinese delivery menu from the folder they kept in the kitchen with the other takeout and delivery menus. Troy dialed the number on the paper and peeked around the corner to see Celeste deep in thought while she continued to figure out the best flower combinations for the floral center pieces for the reception.

When the restaurant picked up, Troy quickly gave them their order for delivery to their apartment consisting of scallion pancakes, orange chicken, chicken fried rice, and sweet and sour pork. Just as he had flipped his cell closed, it started ringing, a sweet picture greeting him in the front window. He quickly looked around the corner again and saw that Celeste was still deep in thought so he walked over to their bedroom and closed the door most of the way before he sat down on the bed and answered the phone.

"Hey Brie," he greeted softly, wondering if she could tell that he was grinning like the stupid fool he was.

"Hi Wildcat," returned Gabriella in her own quiet voice. "I hope I'm not interrupting."

"No, not at all," lied Troy. 'Well, it's not really lying considering all I'm doing is sitting there watching Celeste pick and choose things for the wedding.'

He heard a little sigh come from here followed by an unmistakable sniffle. "So what are you doing then?" she asked.

"No, no questions from you before you give an answer. What's wrong Brie?" Troy questioned, knowing in his gut that something was wrong. "Something is wrong and I can tell."

Gabriella let out another little sigh. "I just, I needed to talk to someone Troy, someone who still gets me."

"Well you've got him. What's going on Brie?" he asked, worry in his voice.

"I just, my life has just gotten so busy with ballet rehearsals and volunteering and helping chair this new program and attending all these royal functions. Troy, I just feel like I'm being pulled in so many directions only to have that heightened by the pressure I feel all the time to be this perfect princess that little girls can look up to and who represents her family well at all times of the day," confessed Gabriella, actually feeling better at being able to voice this out loud. "I can't even talk to Emma or Chris and especially Paul about any of this as they'll just want to take something away from me but I love what I do but I just feel like it's just too much. Not to mention that Paul would then be under the obligation to tell my grandparents and that's not a good idea."

"Whoa, Gabriella, slow down. Now you say that you love all these things. Where are you feeling the pressure from then?" prodded Troy, trying to understand what the brunette woman on the other side was going through.

There was silence for a few moments, which made Troy think that they had lost their connection before she spoke again. "Just, to be perfect, to behave how I'm expected to behave, to do what I should do to fulfill royal duties. I know this all probably doesn't make sense to you Troy and I'm sorry but you were one of the first ones I thought of to talk to, especially after this dream I just had."

Troy quickly looked at his watch and calculated what time it was in Copanvy. "Brie, it's past 1 AM over there. Was it a nightmare or something?"

"Sort of," replied Gabriella. "I think all of this building up in me has led me to have anxiety in my sleep in some ways."

"What did you dream of?" pushed Troy.

After a few more moments of silence, Troy got his answer. "It started out as a dream about the opening performance and getting dropped by Chris and then moved to the dining room back in our original home in Albuquerque and that fatal night with Riley. I know I was thrashing in my bed because my covers when I woke were twisted and pushed down and the teddy bear you gave me was on the floor…"

"You still have him?" interrupted Troy, grinning at this tidbit.

"Well yeah, what was I going to do with him? Suffocate him in a box just because you weren't my boyfriend anymore? How wrong of me would that have been? Anyway, to finish this story, after the nightmare of the rape, you came into my dream and made it all disappear. What's funny is with your appearance, a sense of security and calmness came over me, just like you holding me always used to work. Maybe that's why I'm calling you, I'm taking it as a sign from fate that I needed to talk to you just now. It would explain why I just confessed that I dreamt of you," concluded Gabriella, thinking about this possibility.

Troy sat in stunned silence, not knowing what to say to Gabriella. "Troy, are you there?" he heard Gabriella call out.

Clearing his throat, Troy replied, "I'm here, just a bit blown away."

"I knew I shouldn't have told you all that, I scared you didn't I?" returned Gabriella. "I'm sorry Troy."

"No! Don't be, it's a good thing," stated Troy. "I guess I'm glad that in your subconscious I am still there as a comfort and protector figure. That means a lot to me Brie, honest. So what are these royal duties though that you are talking about?"

"Oh, just attending events and balls and some other things," replied Gabriella, dropping off suddenly.

Troy knew Gabriella too well still to know that she was purposely hiding something now. "Gabriella, what are you hiding now?"

Silence was his answer though as she seemed to not want to freely divulge the last item she had on her chest and on her mind. When Troy was about to try to pull it out of her, there was a knock on the door before Celeste popped her head in. "Troy, is the food going to be here soon?"

Troy looked down at his watch and realized it should be at their apartment any minute now. "Should be, yes. There are two twenties in my wallet on the dresser if you don't mind paying the delivery person."

"Sure," answered Celeste, moving into the bedroom to taking the money out of his wallet. "Who are you talking to?"

Without hesitation, Troy replied, "Oh, just a good friend."

"Which friend?" pushed Celeste, raising an eyebrow as she looked at him inquisitively.

"Chad," he stated without missing a beat, instantly wondering why he didn't tell Celeste the truth.

"Oh, okay. Tell him I said hi and welcome back from their honeymoon," said Celeste before she ducked back out of the room, leaving the door open.

"You still there?" asked Troy, hearing nothing but silence on the other line.

There was a long pause before Gabriella questioned his recent actions. "Why did you just lie Wildcat? Does Celeste not want you to talk to me?"

"No, it's isn't like that at all, I don't know why I did," confessed Troy, feeling as confused as he probably sounded.

"If she did, I could totally understand and will accept not talking to you if it means making her happier," offered Gabriella.

"Don't be ridiculous, it's totally not like that. Honestly, I don't know why what just happened did," admitted Troy. "Anyway, you were just about to tell me what this all important royal responsibility is that has you stressed out the most."

There was another sigh before Gabriella replied. "It's nothing for you to worry about Troy. I just need to accept it and move on. Speaking of, I better let you go so you can eat your dinner with your fiancé. Thanks for listening Wildcat and for not laughing at me."

Troy felt that something important was still being hidden from him and wondered if it had anything to do with Patrick, the guy Troy now recognized as someone that Gabriella was seeing, at least according to the information Troy found on the internet. "You're welcome, anytime you need me I'm here. You sure you don't want to talk more?"

"No, I'm good," replied Gabriella. "Good night Wildcat."

"Night," returned Troy before he flipped his phone closed, just as there was a knock on their apartment door signaling that their food had arrived.

After going through some more floral choices and then starting in on the general color scheme of their wedding right after dinner, Celeste finally stood up from the table and stretched. "Well, I think that's about all I can handle for tonight. You ready for bed Troy?"

Troy raised his eyes to look into hers before he shook his head. "I still have some energy in me. I think I'll stay in the living room for a bit so I won't disturb you."

"All right then," replied Celeste, leaning down and kissing Troy soundly. "Good night Troy."

"Night Celeste," he returned, watching as she disappeared into their bedroom and then shut the door.

Troy slowly got up from the table and flipped the dining room light off before he padded through the apartment to the living room, turning on a light and letting himself fall back onto the couch, laying down on his back with an arm covering his eyes despite the lack of light. For the past few hours Troy had battled to keep at least a semblance of paying attention to Celeste and the wedding choices while his mind was really thinking about Gabriella and what he had learned earlier on that night.

'Something else is definitely weighing in on her mind and her heart even, I can sense it but she won't tell me yet easily confesses everything else to me, even dreaming of me. And that means what for you Bolton? You know you've been dreaming of her too.'

He groaned as his thoughts turned on himself and decided he needed a distraction. Spying the stereo remote on the coffee table, Troy grabbed it and turned on the stereo, making sure to turn the volume down so not to disturb Celeste. 'Ah, now you are getting to the center of all this. What exactly do you feel for Celeste compared to what you still feel for Brie Bolton? Why is it that you were so much more excited about marrying this woman in the next room before you went to New Mexico the first time this past summer than you are now? Stop lying, you know the excitement has gone down.'

As Troy continued the internal debate he was having with himself, he cringed at one point as he heard a song playing on the radio that seemed to sum up his current mood and state so perfectly.

Honey why you calling me so late?
It's kinda hard to talk right now.
Honey why are you crying? Is everything okay?
I gotta whisper 'cause I can't be too loud
Well, my girl's in the next room
Sometimes I wish she was you
I guess we never really moved on
It's really good to hear your voice say my name
It sounds so sweet
Coming from the lips of an angel
Hearing those words it makes me weak
And I never wanna say goodbye
But girl you make it hard to be faithful
With the lips of an angel

It's funny that you're calling me tonight
And, yes, I've dreamt of you too
And does he know you're talking to me
Will it start a fight
No I don't think she has a clue

'Well except for the fact that Brie has no idea that I still feel this way for her and that she's constantly in my thoughts. I think she would freak out and not talk to me if she did, for the sake of a woman who I'm engaged to that Gabriella barely knows. Thank you Hinder for performing a song like "Lips of an Angel" to express this turmoil, meaning I am not alone in these feelings. Maybe I should get in touch with the writer, find out what he did,' thought Troy as he sighed again, hating this feeling of not knowing what to do as he continued to listen to the song.

In summary, Troy felt like he was the world's biggest jerk for not being straightforward and honest with both women. However, he knew by doing this that he would hurt at least one of them if not both and that was the sole reason why Troy had dragged his feet in even confronting himself with what was really going on. Troy had heard what Chucky, Chad, and Ryan had to say to him in New Mexico, even what Zeke and Jason had offered, but didn't let himself really acknowledge the truth to their words until he came back home to New York and felt that things with Celeste were quite a bit different than they had been at the start of summer.

'Even though I'm still in love with Brie though, there isn't anything I can do right? She's a princess of a foreign country and I'm a lowly aspiring professional basketball player who isn't amounting to anything at the moment. Brie has so much more going for her and deserves someone who can offer her the same caliber in his own life,' mused Troy. 'And Celeste, I do love her but the spark that has always been there between us seems to have faded. How much that has to do with seeing Gabriella again I'm not sure. Even if I don't have a chance with Gabriella, can I really string Celeste along, marry her, when she deserves to marry someone who can give her his whole heart completely?'

Troy continued to think long and hard about his situation while various songs continued to play on the radio, a few hitting close to home while others didn't, none though summarizing his situation as well as "Lips of an Angel" did. Eventually, having agonized for over two straight hours, caught up comparing memories with Celeste with those with Gabriella, Troy drifted off into a tortured sleep, his unconsciousness now taking on the role of continuing this debate between the two women in his heart while his conscious mind was resting.

Early the next morning, Celeste awoke to find cold sheets next to her, where Troy normally would have been. 'Where is he?' she wondered, looking over at the clock and seeing it was definitely mid-morning, 4 AM to be exact.

After she stretched a little, Celeste got up and out of bed and walked into the hallway, first checking the bathroom and then the dining room. She heard a soft mumble and followed it to the living room where she saw Troy sound asleep, talking a little in his sleep. Celeste grabbed a nearby blanket and spread it out over his body to keep him warm for the rest of the night, not having the heart to wake him, but was also curious as to what he was saying. As she drew the blanket up, Celeste paused near his lips and heard the last thing she had wanted to hear pass through his lips at that point in time of their relationship.

"Brie, I love you…"

"Mmm, Mom, a girls' day is totally what I need right now. This was a fantastic idea!" exclaimed Gabriella as she laid down on the towel she had just placed on the bench in the steam room.

"And having it in a spa was an even better idea," added Emma from where she was sitting against the corner of the steam room, a cool towel over her face.

Annette laughed as she laid down herself on another part of the bench. "Well I thought it was well overdue and was in need as I know both of you have been busy with the Big Sibling program for the teen center. I'm just glad that it is taking off so well."

"So are we, trust me Annette," replied Emma, letting out a sigh of relaxation at the same time. "I think we're both actually overwhelmed with the response we got from people who want to volunteer. I've never seen the teen center as populated as it is now."

"Neither have I," agreed Gabriella, placing a cucumber on each eye before placing the cold, wet towel over them. "We even had enough response to send some to the existing Big Sibling program at the children's center in Louvis who gratefully took the volunteers. I'm just so happy that it seems to be brightening the mood in the center. Not only did we get volunteers though but we also got donations of money and things the teenagers at the center love to utilize and even attracted more teenagers who would otherwise be doing whatever else they would be."

"And this is why I said you two need a break. It was a successful launch with a great public relations campaign led by my very own daughter. As I've said before Gabriella, you never cease to amaze me," replied Annette with a smile on her face, despite knowing her daughter couldn't see her.

Gabriella felt a grin on her own face. "I'm just glad that even Grandmother and Grandfather are happy. I can tell they really are trying to be less critical now of me and I think that has a lot to do with you and Dad. Am I right?"

There was a pause before Annette responded to her daughter. "It may be but I think your grandparents also saw that dealing with you as an adult works better than trying to direct your life like you're a clueless child. Who knows though with your grandparents, I certainly don't."

Emma laughed at this. "I don't think anyone in Copanvy does, your highness."

"Emma, you were doing so well just calling me Annette!" scolded Annette, laughing a little as Emma quickly apologized.

"Sorry, force of habit!" replied Emma. "I know, even after all these years I slip. So Gabriella, how are rehearsals going?"

Gabriella let out a sigh as she thought of all the complicated dance moves that Chris and she still had to master before October. Rodger had officially choreographed the entire ballet but that didn't mean that Chris and Gabriella as the leads had perfected it yet. Gabriella unconsciously rubbed her bruised left side as she thought of all this, a large bruise that she earned after a failed catch on Chris' part a few days ago. "If we don't kill each other first, we should be good come October. We have most of it down, we just need to really concentrate and focus to get everything done in time and to perfection. I don't want to let anyone down."

"And you won't," replied Annette. "What is this though about trying not killing each other?"

Emma giggled a little. "Don't worry Annette, it's just figurative. I think Christopher and Gabriella have been teasing each other to no end to try to battle the stress of all the pressure and expectations of the company and the King and Queen."

"Is that all it is?" asked Annette, concerned that there could be something else going on with her daughter and her dance partner.

"Yes and no. He has been dropping or not catching me lately but I think that's just the process of learning, nothing intentional. As long as Chris doesn't drop me on my head I'll be okay. Emma is right though, Chris loves teasing me about Patrick and this whole process I'm going through. I'm at least grateful he's let go of the Troy topic," confessed Gabriella, taking in a deep breath of the steamy eucalyptus scented air.

"Patrick and Troy, what an interesting topic to bring up dear daughter. What exactly are you feeling these days about the two?" asked Annette, knowing this was the opportunity she wanted to talk to Gabriella about the truth of what was going on in her daughter's heart.

Gabriella let out a loud groan, thankful in some ways that the steam room was void of anyone else besides the three women. "Mom, seriously!"

"What? We haven't talked about this in quite a while Gabriella. You know you can trust both me and Emma," replied Annette, shifting a little so she we more comfortable on the bench.

"Fine," got out Gabriella with a sigh as she refolded the now semi-cold towel so the colder parts were now lying against her face. "Patrick is still very sweet and I enjoy my time with him. I think he's the only reason why I haven't gone completely insane with this arranged search. He is very mature, more mature than his brothers that I've met, and I actually get the feeling that Patrick likes me for me and not what I am. In summary, I really like him."

Before Annette could ask, Emma spared her the trouble and asked the same question Annette was thinking. "But do you love him?"

Silence dragged on in the steam room while both older women waited for Gabriella to answer. After some time, she finally did. "I think I could."

Both women got the answer they knew they would, both beginning to wonder if this path Gabriella was now on was really what was best for her, regardless of it being best for the family and supposedly the country. "Gabriella, sweetie, if you don't love Patrick though, maybe he isn't the right one for you," murmured Annette.

"He's the closest one though Mom. I have to try to love him because if not him, who else is there?" returned Gabriella, sitting up and catching the towel and cucumbers as they fell from her face. She drew her knees up and rested her chin on her arms positioned now on her knees. "The man that I do love, well he's in the past and is moving on each day that passes from what we were. Besides, I'm even questioning now if it is love. After all, we were together for less than a year, knowing each other for less than a year, when we were still in high school. Can that be true love?"

"Do you truly doubt it Gabriella?" questioned Emma, looking directly at the young woman a small distance away from her after taking her own towel off her face. "It may have been less than a year together and in high school when most people are just crushing on each other but I think you know deep in your heart that it is and was love, then and now."

"Those butterflies in your stomach when he's near, the pain that lives in your heart knowing he's marrying another woman, that's love Gabriella. If you need even more proof, think back to how much Troy went through to stay with you, to fight for you, to keep you safe," added Annette, not wanting her daughter to start doubting that special man and time in her life. "Gabriella, that was the happiest I have ever seen you, from when you were born to this day. Don't start doubting him and the existence of this connection, this bond, this love that you've shared and I think still do."

"Yet he isn't fighting for me now, is he?" Gabriella returned, bitterness in her voice.

Emma and Annette heard it clearly and were a bit surprised by the sudden change in mood in Gabriella. Emma got up and sat next to Gabriella as Annette sat up so that they were all sitting together on the same bench. "Gabriella, did you ask him to?" asked Annette.

Gabriella let out a little sigh and shook her head. "No, I didn't. In fact, I think I told him not to by telling him I was happy for him and Celeste, that he was doing the right thing, and that we should both move on."

Quickly, Emma thought back to all the conversations she had had with Gabriella over the years and remembered a quote that Gabriella had cited to Emma a few months after her arrival in Copanvy after the final move. "Gabriella, do you remember what you told me a few months after you stepped into this role officially as princess? When I asked you about Troy and where things stood then? You said that you were following your heart, that you knew that you would love Troy for the rest of your life, and that no matter what happened, you had to let him go. You cited Richard Bach's famous quote to me, 'If you love someone, let them free. If they come back they're yours; if they don't they never were.' Do you remember that Gabriella?"

Gabriella thought back to the conversation and meeting Emma was referring to and nodded her head when she recalled the exact conversation. "I told you that I loved him, with my entire being, but that I had to let him go to follow his dreams and that if it were meant to be, it would be, and then I would know for sure that we were meant for each other. So are you trying to tell me that he was never mine to begin with, confirming my own thoughts?"

"No," replied Emma, rather fast. "I was trying to remind you of the real love and deep connection you felt then and what I think you still feel now. That's not simply puppy love you feel Gabriella, not when it lasts this many years, especially taking into consideration you didn't talk for most of it. What you remember is your young first love but I think seeing him again in New Mexico twice this past summer has brought all that back and if you were truly over him or not in love, you wouldn't be struggling the way you are now."

"Who says I'm struggling?" returned Gabriella, knowing perfectly well she wasn't fooling anyone.

"We do," replied Annette with a little laugh. "Oh Gabriella, sweet sweet daughter, I don't know what I'm going to do with you. You have your father's sense of duty firmly instilled in you yet you have my passion. Listen, all your father and I want for you is for you to be happy, to marry a man you actually truly love who will be your best friend and lover for the rest of your life. Yes, having a jeweled crown in the mix does complicate it a tad but I know you know how to resolve this in the best manner possible. Just listen to your heart Gabriella. If like turns to love with Patrick, great. If not though, just keep your eyes open at the ball in a few weeks, promise?"

"Promise," agreed Gabriella, immensely grateful she had such a deep relationship with both her mother and her therapist turned friend.

Emma smiled at the mother and daughter who shared in a hug. "Well, with all that heavy stuff out of the way, and considering I think we've been in here too long, what do you say to hitting the Jacuzzi before the massages?"

"Excellent idea Emma!" exclaimed Gabriella, instantly getting up, more than ready to leave the steam room behind. As she exited, she took in a deep breath of the colder air of the rest of the spa, feeling even more upbeat than she had in days. 'Maybe that steam room really did help, not only with the much needed relaxation but the talk in there seems to have lightened my heart and my mind quite a bit. Guess the spa really was a brilliant idea after all.'

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