Gabriella slowly awoke as birds continued to chirp right outside, opening her eyes to see herself in a familiar room that was definitely not her own room in the palace. As she looked around a little, she became aware of a soft, warm breath on the back of her neck and turned her head to see Troy peacefully asleep, feeling the comfort of having his arms tightly wrapped around her waist, his head sharing the same pillow with her. Gabriella smiled a little, seeing the tenderness in the moment, dropping it off her face though as memories of the night before invaded her mind.

After feeling the memories of Riley's attack slowly subside after some well used concentration that she hadn't used for years, Gabriella let out a sigh of relief, knowing that she needed to schedule some time with Emma today, to figure out why when Gabriella least wanted thoughts of Riley to come up they did. Ever so slowly, Gabriella turned herself in Troy's embrace, smiling again as she laid her head back down on the pillow next to his, remarking on how sweet he looked asleep, almost like a little boy with that look of innocence on his face. She tried matching her breathing to his to slim down the chances of him waking, taking the time to study his face, the slight stubble along his jaw line and the scar through his eyebrow being only a few features she memorized in that moment.

She nearly jumped when his husky voice said, "If you continue to watch me like that, I will not be responsible for what happens next."

His lips curved upward as Gabriella laughed a little, feeling her body press more snugly into his as Troy tightened his arms around her. Troy kissed Gabriella lightly on her forehead before meeting her lips in a sweet morning greeting.

"Good morning to you too Troy," said Gabriella, smiling as she pulled away, reaching up to brush some of his bangs out of his eyes, giggling a little at his bed hair. "So this is what you really look like when you first wake up."

"I could say the same about you but even with tangley hair, you still manage to look gorgeous," replied Troy, his blue eyes becoming lighter with happiness as her laughter filled his ears. His cerulean orbs darkened though as memories of the night before flashed through his mind, reminding him of the worry he had gone to sleep with over the woman now in his arms, smiling again as she should be. Troy also recalled the words she spoke, talking about "them" who seemed to be deciding not only her fate but theirs, forcing her against her will. Troy toyed with asking Gabriella about it but was hesitant knowing that this happiness that was between them at that moment could disappear at a drop of a dime.

Troy didn't have to worry too long as a more subdued expression appeared on Gabriella's face just then as she too recalled everything that happened yesterday, not just her flashback. "Troy, maybe we should talk," she stated, not wanting to disturb their comfortable and happy moment but knowing she needed to tell him what she recalled having eluded to the night before. "Do you remember much of what I said before my stupid flashbacks?"

"Don't call them stupid. They're valid and I get that. I just wish you didn't have to have them at all," replied Troy, his turn to brush back some of her curly locks, detangling some strands as his fingers ran through her hair. "Don't ever be ashamed to be like that, to share that with me, all right? No secrets, everything on the table, okay?"

Her heart tightened at his words, gaining affirmation in that moment that their love was mutual, that it was still there, but more so that Troy really unconditionally loved her and for that, Gabriella decided she needed to be honest with him, consequences be damned. "It's almost as if you can read my mind with what you just said because I do have a lot to tell you, things that I should have told you a long time ago but I was selfish and I was scared."

Troy searched her eyes with his, noting some stiffness in her body as she prepared herself to tell him whatever it was that she had been secretly dealing with. "Brie, you know you can tell me anything. Really, anything."

Gabriella took in a deep breath and let it out, forcing herself to keep her eyes locked with his or risk losing her nerve. "I know but this, it's so huge I don't know how you'll take it. You know how I struggled a lot in the beginning with being a princess and stepping into the light more?"

"Well yeah, I remember that but that was a long time ago. You've since proven that you know how to handle yourself and your responsibilities while still living the life you want so far. From what I can see you've done great and the people of Copanvy seem to have accepted you as their own!" exclaimed Troy, still puzzled as to what Gabriella was about to tell him but having an inkling of what it could be about, something that was weighing on his mind a lot lately. "Is this about us dating? About Patrick?"

She knew that shock was all over her face in that moment and took a few moments to gather her thoughts before she said, "Actually, yes. Troy, I don't really know what you've been thinking with me dating you and Patrick both but you've really acted very maturely about everything, not asking questions, and I really appreciate that. However, I realize now that isn't fair of me, to keep you in the dark but something was mentioned to me to make me rethink telling you."

As Troy felt Gabriella begin to draw away from him, his reflex was to hold her even closer but he let her go so she could get up and pace a little, gathering her thoughts, feeling it in the air that what she was about to say, what she would reveal, was huge. "There's a lot more going on than I thought evidently. Gabriella, please, what's going on? You're worrying me."

Gabriella stopped her pacing and turned her head to see Troy now sitting up against the headboard, his eyes full of concern. She decided she needed to feel him somehow, to give her courage to continue, so she sat down on the bed again, facing him and picking up his hand, holding his right hand in between both of hers. "Troy, what I'm about to tell you, if anyone ever asks you about it, you have to swear on our love you'll never repeat. Us, for whatever future we have, depends on your discretion in this. Can you do that? I know it's a lot to ask with the press and all covering the team and you these days but I need to hear your agreement to this secrecy."

Troy nodded his head slightly, indicating his agreement. "Whatever it is, it stays between you and me. I won't even tell Chad or Chucky about it and they know every little dirty secret there is to know about me."

"I'm sure they do," agreed Gabriella, smiling a little before letting it drop as she decided on continuing with her confession. "Troy, you need to know that I love you, so much that if being exclusive with you was an option, I'd jump on it in less than a heartbeat. I knew I still loved you even when I shouldn't have, when you and Celeste were engaged. Finding out though that you moved here for me, spending so much time and energy into finding a way to make this work, even ending your engagement with her, well that showed me more than words how much you love me in return, how our bond is far from over. Yet, at the same time this was all going on, I learned that there is an ancient royal…"

Gabriella's words were interrupted when there was an anxious banging on the door. Both pairs of eyes flew to the general direction of the front door where the knocking started again. "Maybe I should get that, it sounds urgent. Just, hold your thought okay? I want to know what's going on."

Unable to say anything else, Gabriella just nodded her head and kissed Troy back as he laid a kiss on her lips quickly before getting out of bed, finding a t-shirt to throw on and walking out of the bedroom, down the hall, and to the front door. Gabriella sat back in the bedroom, slowly panicking as she heard familiar voices travel back down the hall, knowing that this wasn't a good thing when Paul and Emma both showed up with such urgency in their voices. She sprung off the bed and quickly tried to straighten it out while she straightened out what she was wearing, having just finished by the time Troy appeared back in the bedroom, a grim expression on his face.

"What is it?" questioned Gabriella. "Was that Emma and Paul?"

"They're here to take you back to the palace Gabriella. It seems that a 'source' reported to the gossip column that they saw you come into the apartment with me and never leave, seeing you carry a duffle bag with you. Speaking of, Brie, why did you bring that extra bag?" returned Troy, now thinking back to the oddity of her carrying it in addition to her dance bag.

"I just needed a night away from them, from the palace, what it represents. I felt like I was suffocating after my day by these royal responsibilities and I just, I needed to be with you, I needed to get away. God, I'm so sorry this has caused so much trouble now though. I better get my things and get out of here," rushed out Gabriella, bending down to scoop up her duffle bag and unzipping it, finding a pair of jeans and a top before she hurried into his bathroom to change.

Curious and feeling a little guilty for going through her bag, Troy looked through the bag through the top two layers of clothes, enough to tell him that Gabriella was serious about needing a break and had someone not spotted her and reported her to the media, she probably would have stayed hidden from the palace for at least a week. 'Something must have seriously happened for all this,' he thought as he straightened the clothes again and walked down the hall to where Paul and Emma were waiting. "Do you two want some water or orange juice or something?"

Emma shook her head, giving him a small smile. "We're good, thanks Troy. I wish we were seeing you under different circumstances though. We thought it best if we try to make it appear she was with us and take her back to the palace now before media starts camping out to see if it's true or not. Martin and Henry may respect her privacy but this country has many other photographers who won't if they smell money tied to the pictures."

"Why aren't there more of them around more on a daily basis?" asked Troy, wondering why that was, something he noticed a while ago. He mostly saw only Martin and Henry around but on special occasions like public events, Troy had noticed other photographers around. Even then though, not all of them focused on Gabriella solely, especially when the King and Queen were present.

"It has a lot to do with respect and the Copanvy people not being totally star struck over their royalty like other countries are," explained Paul, guessing at what Troy was thinking. "If they are formal events, yes, more attention is given to them but every day things, they leave it in large to Henry and Martin. There was actually a law put into place about the amount of distance paparazzi had to remain from the subject here in Copanvy, sometime after Princess Diana's death actually. So yes, between the law, the people's respect, and lack of celebrity status here, Gabriella and her family can still roam as they do with the occasional bouts of hysteria. It's unfortunate now with everything going on with Gabriella that the gossip is starting."

Troy zeroed in on Paul's choice of wording, the phrase "everything going on" and raised his scarred eyebrow at this. "Gabriella was about to tell me something before you guys came. What exactly is going on?"

Emma looked extremely uncomfortable at this question and cleared her throat, shifting her eyes to look down the hall. "I think Gabriella is calling for me. Excuse me," she murmured, wiggling out of an awkward situation and feeling the short lived glare Paul shot her scorch her skin as she disappeared from view, leaving her husband to handle Troy on his own.

"So that pretty much does confirm something is going on. Paul, come on man, you've always been upfront with me. Please, I need you to level with me here," pleaded Troy. "Am I about to have this magic carpet rug I've been on while here, dating Gabriella again, pulled out from underneath me? Does Gabriella not love me enough to choose?"

Paul sighed as he ran his left hand over his face, his wedding band catching some of the sunshine from outside, sparkling and standing out to Troy who wondered if that alone meant something. "Troy, you know that I believe that you and Gabriella are bonded together, are meant to be together. As silly as that is of me, that romantic soul in me that Emma pulled out of the hidden dark corners of my soul still thinks that. Unfortunately, not everything is at it seems, not even Lady Fate can be gracious and forgiving of time passed."

Troy unconsciously began to rub the back of his neck as he absorbed Paul's words, trying to decipher exactly what it meant. The ticking of the clock in the room seemed to get louder as the silence hung between both men, Paul giving Troy the time to sort out what he just said while Troy continued to work at it. In truth, Paul wished he could tell Troy everything but he knew he'd be risking too much, more than working with Stephen to get Troy to Copanvy as a legal citizen. If Paul took this chance and it slipped out somehow that Troy knew about the pending royal arranged engagement, not only would Troy be deported and exiled, Gabriella's heart would be broken for good. 'Not that it won't with the way things are shaping up now but I will not be responsible for accelerating her pain.'

Back in Troy's bedroom, Gabriella was zipping up her bag when Emma entered with flushed cheeks, almost like a neon sign to Gabriella that something had happened outside in the hall. "Emma, what just happened?"

Emma saw the worry in those dark brown eyes and shook her head, trying to soothe Gabriella's concern. "Nothing so far as I know. Troy just asked about what was going on and I left the dear husband to handle it with his usual discretion. I can't see that lost look in Troy's eyes Gabriella, just as I'm sure you can't either."

"And thus the crux of my problem," groaned Gabriella, sinking down onto the bed next to her bag. She felt Emma's eyes trained on her and knew that now was as good of a time as any to tell her about the past twenty-four hours. "Paul probably knows all this, in fact I know he does, so you may too but because you are my therapist in addition to my friend, I'm calling a session with you because I think I may be in trouble."

Emma looked back at Gabriella with no judgment in her eyes, just open concern and curiosity. "In trouble how? I know we came over here to try to play it off like you were with us at our house despite the gossip column tidbit but what are you talking about exactly by 'in trouble' Gabriella?"

Gabriella's mind was so overloaded with answers to Emma's inquiry that she couldn't contain the string of words that came tumbling out at one simple prompting from her close friend. "I don't know what happened but yesterday, sitting in front of the Copanvy Royal Advisory Council, defending my life, my freedom, I got that overwhelming feeling like I did when I was in the courtroom or worst yet testifying all those years ago. My mind on autopilot found a happy memory, the first game I saw Troy play live for the Knights, and when I returned, it seemed like my fate was sealed, my choice was more or less announced and I was told indirectly I couldn't use my freedom granted to choose someone they deemed unworthy. Then while performing, I had the hardest time in the second act controlling my tears, thinking of how Troy is just going to be separated from me sooner or later. When we finally got here, my bag to hide out within my possession, I couldn't get the horrible thoughts out of my head, the sense of doom hovering over me and Troy. Next thing I knew, I just needed to feel him, needed him to distract me and take away everything, to give him what no one on that stupid council could stop me from. And then, when I thought it was all going so well, Riley came back and it was like I was there Emma, I could feel his hands, his breath, his eyes on me. I freaked out and that's about all I remember before waking up, at first not remembering all of it."

After a few moments of processing everything Gabriella blurted out, Emma cleared her throat and decided it was best to give Gabriella some type of feedback for now before they could truly go more in depth. "On the surface, I'd say it was a case of anxiety, nerves, and stress that prompted your flashbacks, both involving the trial and Riley. You and I have talked in the past about how it may be difficult for you to be intimate in the future but never knowing the degree as every rape victim is different. I'd say we found out to what degree it is now."

"So you don't think I am relapsing?" Gabriella asked simply, desperately wanting to believe that she would never feel like she did the night before.

"It is a possibility, I'm not going to lie to you, but at the same time I feel after all these years that you've progressed that it's hard to believe these episodes would be permanent as a daily occurrence again. Then again, the mind is a funny thing that way as it very well could mean that. For that reason alone I would suggest that we have twice a week sessions for now, so we can properly work through everything. Would you be open to that?" returned Emma, watching Gabriella's facial expressions carefully.

"Yes, I think that is a good call. I don't want to be this messed up and let Riley win Emma, I really don't. God, I just feel so bad that I did that to Troy last night, the flashback on top of everything else that is going on that he doesn't know," said Gabriella, shaking her head in disbelief that she now not only had some royal responsibility she had to fulfill that Troy didn't know about but now had the guilt of knowing her flashbacks threw cold water on a building passion she honestly wanted to follow through with.

Gabriella's distress rolled off her in waves, enough for Emma to know that Gabriella was finally beginning to lose her strength to continue what she had fought so hard to live though, to try to keep. Over the past year especially, Emma had been carefully observing Gabriella from both a friend and therapist perspective and was now concerned that if everything wasn't resolved quickly and to a point where Gabriella would be happy, Gabriella would end up sacrificing herself, her happiness, her well being, for a country she was born to rule. Not many people would understand what strength Gabriella still had while she went along with the council's and her family's wish for Gabriella to honor this tradition of an arranged marriage. They wouldn't see that it was Gabriella's dedication to her family and country that kept her there, that it took enormous amounts of strength to not allow everyone to get her to docilely agree to be a traditionally arranged bride to some random guy other people decided was for her instead of her heart. Emma still had hope that Gabriella would find happiness as she still saw the fight and strength in the younger woman that was present years before but felt that hope waver, seeing the guilt and sense of defeat growing and knew the friend part of her needed to help Gabriella in another way.

"Have you told Troy about the arrangement?" asked Emma, wanting to know this important answer so she could prepare for the worst outcome of the morning.

Gabriella shook her head. "In truth, if you and Paul hadn't come, I probably would have. I think it's just time for him to know, no more secrets, especially because the council seems so set against a future with him."

"And how does that make you feel?" Emma questioned, realizing that was more a formal therapist question than a friend but shrugged it off, knowing she was doing a bit of both roles at the moment.

"It makes me feel a bit hopeless and guilty and sad all at the same time. Troy needs to know the truth Emma, I know now it was way too selfish of me to keep it from him originally, especially after everything he has done for me," replied Gabriella, feeling her heart tighten as she spoke these words. "It's just, at the same time, all this is tearing me apart Emma and I just, I don't know if I could lose him now with him knowing everything. There's no fear that he'd leave me but the consequences if it ever got out that he knew. I love him Emma, I love Troy, and nothing, no one, is going to change that as much as they try."

Before Emma could respond, a deeper voice entered their conversation, surprising them both. "As I love you too Gabriella, no matter who or what is involved. If you feel that telling me whatever it is you were about to tell me could potentially rip us apart somehow, I'm not sure how it could but if you think it would, I can wait to know. Maybe this is a mistake, a short sightedness on my part, but I can see you are torn up about this and you don't need to be. I love you, you love me, and that's all I need to know for now."

Gabriella eyed Troy who was leaning with his shoulder against the doorframe, a comforting smile on his lips while his light cerulean eyes told her how sincere he was. "You really mean that Troy? About you not needing or wanting to know everything?"

"Oh I want to know, that I can't deny but I don't need to know it, not yet, unless of course you are trying to tell me to go back home and that it's forever over between us. It isn't that is it?" asked Troy, suddenly feeling unsecure with the situation.

"No, absolutely not!" exclaimed Gabriella before she got up from the bed and rushed into Troy's arms, feeling instantly better by being circled by his arms, feeling his soft lips press lovingly against her forehead as she let herself soak in the love, the tenderness, and the truth in that moment.

Emma watched the two embrace, slight tears in her eyes at seeing how incredible the two were together, to each other, wishing that Gabriella had more of a solid chance and freedom to live this life, the life with Troy that Emma knew Gabriella more than deserved. It seemed to her that Paul was in agreement too as he watched from down the hall, a smile on his lips. 'Somehow, please God, Fate, and anyone else listening, show some mercy and allow these two to have their "happily ever after" together.'

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