Three years passed since Sophia was born and life had felt complete ever since. Josh was four and a half and was a mere image of Troy. Sophia, on the other hand looked exactly like Gabriella, only she had Troy's cobalt blue eyes. Troy and Gabriella were stronger than ever. The couple had just found out that they were pregnant with their third child and were ecstatic. Their families were so supportive of all of their life plans.
"Josh, put the remote down now" Gabriella said.
Josh put the television remote down.
"It's nap time buddy, let's go" Gabriella said.
"But I don't want to take a nap mommy" Josh said.
"You have to baby or you will be grumpy the rest of the day and we don't want that do we?" Gabriella asked.
"No" Josh said.
"Alright then, let's go" Gabriella said.
Gabriella made sure Josh got into his bed and fell asleep. She then peeked into Sophia's room to make sure that she was still asleep. Gabriella heard the door open and she walked into the living room and saw Troy putting down his bag.
"Hey" Gabriella said.
"Hey, how did it go today?" Troy asked kissing his wife's lips.
"Okay. They are both taking their naps" Gabriella said.
"Good. How are you feeling?" Troy asked.
"Fine" Gabriella said.
"Did you throw up this morning?" Troy asked.
"A little bit. Not too much, which is weird because with both Josh and Soph, I threw up a lot" Gabriella said.
"Maybe this one decided to give you a break because they didn't" Troy said.
"Maybe" Gabriella said.
"Have you heard from any of your job applications?" Troy asked.
Gabriella quit her job at the law firm because her hours were getting out of control and the employees and boss couldn't work together.
"Not yet" Gabriella said.
"When is your next ultrasound?" Troy asked.
"Next week. Hopefully, the baby will be bigger than before" Gabriella said.
"I'm sure it will be sweetheart" Troy said.
Gabriella leaned and kissed Troy's lips.
"I love you. I haven't said it all day" Gabriella said.
"I love you too" Troy said kissing her nose softly.
A week later, Troy was at his office when the phone rang.
"Dr. Bolton" Troy said.
"Troy! You need to come to labor and delivery immediately" Taylor said.
"Gabs" Troy breathed.
"Hurry" Taylor said.
Troy walked out of the office as fast as he could. He walked across the street to the hospital and went up to the labor and delivery floor. Troy saw Taylor and held his arms out, questioning what was happening.
"What happened?" Troy asked.
"You need to let Gabi tell you. She just told me to go get you" Taylor said.
Troy nodded.
"Thanks for calling me Tay" Troy said.
"Don't thank me. I'm your best friend Troy. It's my job" Taylor said.
Troy smiled. He walked to the reception desk.
"I'm looking for my wife-" Troy started.
"Room 3 Dr. Bolton" a nurse said before the receptionist could say anything.
"Thanks" Troy said.
Troy walked to the room 3 and took a deep breath. He walked into the room and saw Gabriella, with tears running down her face. Troy walked slowly over to the hospital bed and sat on the edge. Gabriella looked at Troy and collapsed in his arms.
"It's okay. I'm here" Troy said wrapping his arms around her.
Gabriella just cried into her husband's chest. She took fistfuls of his shirt in her hands. Troy kissed Gabriella's head softly. Forty five minutes later, Gabriella's cries turned into whimpers and she still hadn't told Troy what was going on.
"Sweetheart, what's going on?" Troy asked carefully.
Troy pulled back so he was looking at Gabriella. He wiped her tears that were falling.
"I lost the baby, Troy" Gabriella cried.
Troy took a deep shaky breath. He brought Gabriella to his chest and heard her start crying again. Troy had tears in his eyes.
"Brie, it's not your fault" Troy started.
Gabriella shook her head in his arms.
"It is my fault. I was it's mother and I was supposed to be taking care of it" Gabriella cried.
Troy kissed Gabriella's head softly.
"I love you" Troy said.
"I love you too" Gabriella said.
"Did Tay know?" Troy asked.
"She's the one that saw me come into the ER and I told her to get you" Gabriella said.
Troy nodded.
"I'm going to call my office really quick and tell Pat that I need some time off. I'll be right back okay?" Troy said.
Gabriella nodded. Troy kissed Gabriella's head softly. He then walked out of the hospital room. Ten minutes later, Troy walked back into the room and sat down in the chair that was next to the hospital bed.
"What's the next step?" Gabriella asked.
"They are going to do surgery and remove...remove the...remove" Troy started.
Gabriella's eyes filled with tears. She put her hand on Troy's cheek.
"Troy, it's okay to cry" Gabriella said as her voice cracked.
Troy sniffled. Gabriella wrapped her arms around her husband and cried herself. Twenty minutes later, the couple calmed down and looked at each other. Troy kissed Gabriella's cheek and then forehead.
"Should we tell anyone right now?" Troy asked.
Gabriella shook her head.
"I don't think I can handle that right now. I just want you here and that's all. Everyone else can wait" Gabriella said.
Troy nodded.
"When will they do it?" Gabriella asked.
"I don't know baby girl. Dr. Hart will come in and talk to us and tell us the plan" Troy said.
"Will it hurt?" Gabriella asked.
"You will be sedated. You won't feel any pain. I'm going to be with you too" Troy said.
Gabriella nodded. Troy kissed Gabriella's head softly.
"I can't push it out?" Gabriella asked.
Troy shook his head.
"He or she is too small. The best and safest option for you is to remove it quickly" Troy said.
Gabriella nodded. That night, Gabriella and Troy were in the pre-operation wing of the hospital. Gabriella was being prepped for surgery and Troy sat next to her. Dr. Hart came through the curtain and smiled sympathetically.
"Gabi, do you have any questions before we sedate you?" Dr. Hart asked.
Gabriella shook her head and looked at Troy, who shook his head.
"Alright, I am just going to insert a sedative into the IV and that will help you feel relaxed" Dr. Hart said.
Gabriella took Troy's free hand. Troy kissed her hand softly. Dr. Hart inserted the sedative into Gabriella's IV. Ten minutes later, Troy looked at his wife and smoothed her hair back.
"How are you feeling honey?" Troy asked.
"Sleepy" Gabriella said softly.
Troy smiled slightly. He kissed her head softly.
"You are so brave" Troy said.
"Don't leave me" Gabriella said.
"I won't. Not now. Not ever" Troy said.
Dr. Hart came back through the curtain.
"Okay, we are going to take her into the OR. Troy, you need to put some scrubs on if you want to come in with her" Dr. Hart said.
"Okay" Troy said.
Gabriella had a firm grip on Troy's hand.
"Sweetheart, I just need to change and I will be right back" Troy said.
Gabriella released Troy's hand. Troy went to go change into his scrubs. While Troy was changing, Gabriella was wheeled into the operating room. Her breathing sped up and she looked around the room. The door opened and her breathing regulated again once she saw Troy. Troy sat at Gabriella's head. He smoothed Gabriella's hair back and kissed her head softly.
"Feeling okay?" Troy asked.
Gabriella nodded as tears ran down her face, which didn't go unnoticed by Troy, who wiped them away.
"It's alright baby. Everything's going to be fine. Don't worry" Troy said.
Dr. Hart came into the OR and the surgery began. An hour later, Gabriella was in the recovery room. Troy sat in the chair that he had previously and held Gabriella's hand. Gabriella's eyes were closed. Dr. Hart had given her pain medication as the sedative wore off. Gabriella's eyes slowly opened. Troy smiled slightly. Gabriella looked around the room and her eyes met Troy's. All she could do was cry.
"Brie, how are you feeling sweetie?" Troy asked as he sat on the edge of the bed.
Gabriella couldn't find the words to explain what she felt. She just ended up sounding like she was hyperventilating. Troy took the oxygen mask that was hanging on the back of the bed and placed it on his wife's mouth.
"Take slow, deep breaths baby" Troy said.
Once Gabriella's breathing regulated again, Troy carefully took the oxygen mask off.
"You okay?" Troy asked.
"Our baby-" Gabriella started.
"I know. Are you in any pain?" Troy asked looking at Gabriella's chart.
"I feel numb and empty" Gabriella said.
"Gabriella, listen to me honey. There was nothing you or I could have done to save him. Things like this, unfortunately, just happen" Troy said.
Gabriella swallowed hard.
"I know you are hurting sweetie. Trust me, I feel it too" Troy said aware that Gabriella avoided his pain scale question.
"You trusted me with carrying our baby and I couldn't do it" Gabriella said.
"It was out of your control. Do not blame yourself" Troy said.
Gabriella sniffled and looked down at her stomach that had dressing and bandages all over it.
"I'm going to go home and bring the kids to see you" Troy said.
"How are we going to tell them?" Gabriella asked.
"We will figure it out. I'm going to bring them. I'll be back in a little while" Troy said.
Gabriella nodded.
"Troy?" Gabriella called as he walked out the door.
Troy came back into the room and looked at his wife.
"I love you" Gabriella said.
Troy smiled slightly. He walked over to the hospital bed and leaned in and kissed Gabriella's lips softly.
"I love you too honey. Get some rest" Troy said.
Gabriella nodded. An hour later, there was a knock on the door and Troy poked his head.
"Are you covered up?" Troy asked.
"Yeah, bring them in" Gabriella said.
Troy walked into the room, holding both Josh and Sophia's hands. He lifted Josh up and placed him on the foot of the bed. Troy then lifted Sophia up and placed her on his hip.
"Mommy" Sophia said.
Gabriella looked at her daughter's face.
"Hi sweetheart" Gabriella said.
"Josh, be careful with mommy. She has an owie" Troy said.
"Mommy has an owie?" Josh asked innocently.
"Yeah buddy" Troy said.
"Kiss it and make it better" Sophia chimed in.
Troy smiled and kissed his daughter's cheek.
"I wish we could Soph. But I want a kiss" Gabriella said.
Sophia giggled. Troy carried Sophia over to Gabriella and kneeled down. Gabriella leaned over carefully and kissed her daughter.
"That made me feel much better actually" Gabriella said.
Troy smiled.
"When are you coming home?" Josh asked.
"In a couple days. The doctor has to look at my owies and make sure that they are healing" Gabriella said.
"Okay guys, mommy needs to take a nap and so do you. Say goodbye to mommy" Troy said.
"Bye mommy" Josh and Sophia said in unison.
"I'll be back in a little bit" Troy said kissing Gabriella's lips.
"Okay" Gabriella said.
An hour later, Troy returned, as promised.
"How are you feeling?" Troy asked.
"Hold me please" Gabriella said looking at her husband with tears in her eyes.
Troy walked over to the hospital bed and lied down next to Gabriella and took her into his arms. He rubbed her back as she sobbed into his chest.
"It's not fair" Gabriella said.
"I know it's not baby. I know it's not. But, maybe we can try again" Troy said.
"That doesn't take the pain away" Gabriella said.
"I know it's not going to. Gabs, look at me" Troy said.
Gabriella looked at Troy, her eyes bloodshot from crying and lack of sleep. Troy put his hand on his wife's cheek.
"This isn't your fault" Troy said.
"Why does it feel like it is?" Gabriella asked.
"Because you are an overachiever at everything and if it's less than perfect, you think it's your fault" Troy joked.
Gabriella giggled.
"We aren't supposed to be laughing. It's not a time to laugh" Gabriella said.
"But, it got you to feel a little better right?" Troy said.
Gabriella nodded.
"It's going to hurt for a while. You probably aren't going to feel like it's real for a long time. But, I'll be here every step of the way" Troy said.
Gabriella wrapped her arms around Troy carefully. She inhaled his cologne and relaxed.
"I love you" Gabriella said.
"I love you too Brie. So much. Never forget that" Troy said.
Gabriella nodded against Troy's chest.
"I want to go home and be in our own bed" Gabriella said.
"I know you do sweetheart. Dr. Hart just needs to make sure everything is healing and if you are okay enough, emotionally, to go home to the kids" Troy said.
"How are we going to tell our families?" Gabriella asked.
"We could tell them today. If you are ready to tell them. It's your call" Troy said.
"I want to get it over with" Gabriella said.
"I want you to be ready to tell them. Not because you have to. There is no rush" Troy said.
"I want to do it today" Gabriella said.
"Are you sure?" Troy asked.
"Yes" Gabriella said.
Troy nodded.
"I'll call my parents and your mom and tell them to come to the hospital so we can tell them together" Troy said.
"Okay" Gabriella said.
"Let me call everyone and I'll be back" Troy said.
Gabriella nodded. She leaned over and kissed Troy's lips softly. Troy left the room and came back twenty minutes later.
"They are on their way" Troy said.
"Okay" Gabriella said.
Twenty minutes later, the Bolton's and Maria arrived at the hospital.
"What happened Gabi?" Lucille and Maria both asked.
"Um..we both need to tell you something. I think that you should all take a seat" Troy said.
Everyone sat down. Troy sat on the edge of Gabriella's hospital bed and entwined his fingers with hers. He looked at Gabriella for permission to tell the story and she nodded in confirmation.
"Yesterday, Brie was at home working on her job applications and she looked down and saw blood. She drove to the hospital and was immediately admitted. When I got over here, she had some bad news that could potentially change our life" Troy started.
Gabriella looked at Troy and squeezed his hand for support. Troy cleared his throat.
"Troy, what's going on?" Lucille asked.
"Troy" Gabriella said softly.
Troy looked at Gabriella and smiled slightly. He then looked back at their parents.
"Gabriella had a miscarriage" Troy said solemnly.
Lucille and Maria's face dropped.
"Gabi" Maria breathed.
"Okay, we told you guys. I don't want to talk about it anymore" Gabriella said.
"Gabi, I know you are hurting. We want to help you through this" Lucille said.
Gabriella's eyes filled with tears.
"Our life is never going to be the same. Don't you all understand that?" Gabriella cried.
"Baby" Troy said.
Gabriella wrapped her arms around her husband and cried into his chest. The Bolton's, Maria, and Mark both walked out of the room and into the hallway. Troy followed them.
"Troy" Maria cried.
"Brie needs time. I took some time off and am going to be home with her when she gets discharged. The kids want to be with her too. She needs to grieve" Troy said.
"If you need us to take the kids, we can if you want" Lucille said.
"Thank you. I don't know how we are going to recover from this" Troy said.
"You both need to grieve. Let us take the kids and the two of you, do what you need to do" Lucille said.
"I'll come by the house later to see them" Troy said.
Lucille nodded. The two mothers left the hospital. Troy walked back into the hospital room.
"Troy" Gabriella called.
"I'm here sweetheart" Troy said walking over to the bed.
The couple didn't know how they were going to be able to grieve the loss of their baby, but what they did know is that they were going to get through it together.