Disclaimer: HSM is not mine.


The gang stayed at the Evans' home for a few more hours just talking and reminiscing. Mr. and Mrs. Evan's were away for the weekend, meaning that it was just the nine friends there. At around eight, the group began to depart until there was only Ryan, Sharpay, Troy and Gabriella left. They stayed for an extra ten minutes talking, but when Troy noticed Gabriella starting to fall asleep from exhaustion, he figured he should take her home.

"Gabi, we should be going," Troy whispered to her quietly.

Gabriella nodded. "Yeah. I guess ten months of no sleep is starting to catch up with me."

"I'll say," he agreed, standing up. "You've been making up for it over the last few days."

"I guess we'll see you guys on Monday," Ryan said as Gabriella stood up as well.

"Well, not me," Gabriella corrected. "Mrs. Bolton wants me to stay home for a week before going back, just so I can have some more time to heal, first."

"Okay, then, we'll see you next Monday," Ryan told her, smiling brightly.

"And, Gabriella, if you ever need anything, feel free to come me," Sharpay stated, hoping Gabriella understood what she really meant, that being the pregnancy.

Gabriella nodded and followed Troy to the door. "I will, thanks."

"Anytime," Sharpay replied, smiling. "But, Troy, make sure you take extremely good care of her. If you break her heart again, I'll-"

"Don't worry, Sharpay," Troy said, laughing. "She's in good hands."

Gabriella laughed too before speaking again, "Bye, guys, and thanks a lot for today."

"No problem," Ryan said, watching as the two left their home.

Once they were gone, Sharpay turned to Ryan, worry written all over her face which wasn't seen very often. Rarely ever was Sharpay Evans worried.

"What's wrong, Shar?" Ryan asked her.

She sighed. "I'll tell you, but promise that you won't tell Troy."

"I promise. Now, what's up?" Ryan asked her again.

"It's Gabriella. She's pregnant," Sharpay answered. "While we were on the front porch and while in the kitchen after eating, us girls were talking about it, and she said she's five, nearly six, weeks along according to the doctor in the hospital."

Ryan sat there, stunned for a moment as he took it all in. Gabriella was a nice girl who seemingly loved everyone and everything, but all she ever seemed to get was the short end of the stick from what he had seen, most of the time anyway.

"Troy doesn't know yet," Sharpay continued. "That's why we can't say anything to him."

"But, if Troy doesn't find out soon, then what are the odds of him staying with her?" Ryan pointed out. "I mean, yeah, it's obvious he cares a lot about her, but when you bring something like this into the picture, feelings could change."

"I know, but I told Gabriella that Troy would never leave her, and if he does, I'll be a liar," she said. "Not that I'm not already a liar to begin with, but it's just then I'd be a lying jerk for getting her hopes up."

"I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens," he said.

"I'm just afraid that, if he leaves her, Gabriella's mental state will go down the tube," she stated. "It's obvious how clingy and dependent upon him she is. If he leaves her, she'd probably kill herself."


Once they were outside, Gabriella felt fear come over her, but, this time, not because of Troy as it had was previously. It was the darkness that she was afraid of. This was the time she figured Lance would come after her again when no one else was around to see him do anything. The thought of being back in his clutches frightened her even more. If he ever took her again, she doubted she would be lucky enough for Troy or anyone else to find her again.

"Gabi, is something wrong?" Troy asked her, sensing her fear.

"No, it's just that it's times like these I fear being taken away again," she answered honestly.

Troy draped his arm around her back reassuringly before responding, "Gabi, no one is going to take you ever again. If anyone so much as tries to take you, it'll have to be over my dead body."

"But, Troy, what if something happens that we break up?" she questioned. "I mean, what if something happens that we realize we were never meant to be and that's when he gets me?"

Troy was silent for a moment, letting her questions sink in. He knew he never wanted to be without her, and, even though his feelings for her, he knew, would never change, what if hers did?

"Do you still love me? Do you want to still be with me forever?" Troy asked her after a long silence. "Answer me honestly."

"Of course I still love you! I couldn't imagine my life without you in it!" she cried. "I always want to be with you."

"That's exactly how I feel about you. You can't tell me we're not meant to be because my heart is telling me that you, Gabriella Montez, are the only one for me," Troy stated, pulling hercloser to him.

She smiled at his comment and rested her head on his shoulder as they walked, letting her arm wind around his back. It was then that she realized that maybe everyone else was right. Maybe Troy would stay with her after he found out she was pregnant.

"Want to know what my heart's telling me?" she asked him.

"What?" he asked curiously.

"It's telling me that you, Troy Bolton, are the only one for me," she answered, smiling softly, gently resting her other hand on his chest, feeling his heartbeat quicken under her palm. His heartbeat was the most reassuring sound in the world, she thought.

"Then, what is there to worry about?" he asked her. "I love you and you love me; so what's the problem?"

She knew that now was her chance to tell him, but, just as she opened her mouth to speak, she heard a familiar cell phone ring tone start to play.

Hesitantly, she pulled her cell phone out of her pocket. After all this time, Troy had been saving it and paying the monthly bill in order for her to use it now. Looking at the caller ID, she found that there was no data was available. "I'll just let the voice mail pick it up," she said hesitantly. After several rings, someone started to leave a message.

"I know you're there, Montez," Gabriella cringed, for she knew that voice all too well. Troy held her tightly, fearing the worst. "I know exactly where you are. Don't you know it's not safe to be alone after dark? Oh, that's right, Bolton's with you, but that won't do you any good." There was a momentary pause before they heard him laugh. "I also found out your little secret, you little slut. It's too bad your pathetic excuse for a boyfriend-" before anymore could be said, Gabriella shakily turned the phone off before Troy could hear anymore. She felt her legs go out as she started sobbing on the ground. Sitting down beside her, he pulled her shaking body into his lap.

"Sh, it's okay. It's all right," he whispered softly, letting her cry into his shoulder as he gently rubbed her back, a method he had learned before that could calm her down but it wasn't working now.

"H-he's been following me! He'll never leave me alone!" she cried.

"I know, baby, I know," he said softly, succeeding in holding down his anger. He knew he should've killed him when he had the chance, then maybe things wouldn't have come to this. But, he didn't because he also knew that that would make him as bad as Lance, as Gabriella often pointed out. "He'll never hurt you again, Gabi. I won't let him. You mean too much to me for me to give you up without a fight!"

Gabriella shook her head. "No! Just let me go! Let him have me! I don't care anymore!"

"Gabriella, I would never do that! Just because you don't care doesn't mean that I don't!" he said angrily, unable to believe what she had just said.

"It's for the best!" she shouted, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Without me, you can be free to do what you want, I'm only holding you back."

"Is that really what you think? Do you really think you're holding me back?" Troy asked her in a more calm tone. Gabriella nodded and he slipped his hand below her chin, making her look him in the eyes. "You're not holding me back, Gabriella. I want to spend all my time with you and I want to help you. I don't have to do any of those things, but I want to. You mean everything to me, and, without you, I'm nothing."

"But, if it wasn't for me, you wouldn't have Lance to worry with," she pointed out. "It's my fault, my problem. I should've never told you what was happening in the first place."

"But, Gabriella, if you didn't, you'd still be going out with him probably. And, since he tried to break-up our friendship, we probably wouldn't even be friends right now, and who knows where you'd be right now! You could be lying dead somewhere!" he argued.

"Just one less burden," Gabriella retorted.

"Gabriella, you're not a burden!" Troy told her sternly. "I refuse to have this conversation , I'm going to take you home. Mom cleaned out the guest bedroom and so you can stay there, okay?"

Gabriella nodded hesitantly, hating the fact that he was mad at her; although sheallowedhim to pull her up, but he didn't let go of her. He kept his arm locked firmly around her as they walked, as though he was afraid that she would be taken away from him again if he let go for even a second.

The pair stayed silent for the rest of the way home. Gabriella couldn't stand the silence; it made her feel almost as though she was alone, even though Troy was still there beside her and still touching her. There was an emotionless look on his face, and she knew that he was angry with her. As much as she wanted to say something, she didn't, in fear of possibly angering him even further.

Once they got home, he opened the door and found his parents in the living room watching television.

"You're back. We thought you guys got lost for a minute there," Jack stated, a teasing smile on his face. "Your mom was about to call the police."

"Yeah? Well, something happened that caused us to be a little bit later than planned," Troy started and looked down at her while she looked sadly back at him.

"I'm getting tired, and so I'm going on to bed," Gabriella said, not wanting to be reminded of what happened earlier, nor did she feel comfortable with Troy in that particular moment, for hostility seemed to radiate off of him. Of course, she knew he wouldn't express his anger to her in any way, but she was still nervous.

"I'll be there in a minute," he told her as she started walking away. Once she had disappeared inside the guest room, he turned back to his parents.

"What happened?" Cindy asked him worriedly.

"Well, we spent the entire afternoon till now at the Evan's home, but on the way home, Gabriella's cell phone started ringing. She didn't answer it because it came up no data on the caller ID, and it turned out to be Lance." Troy sighed miserably before continuing, "What he said really hurt her, I could tell, but it also hurt me, too. He's stalking her, waiting for the right moment to strike again, when she's alone. I don't know what to do! If he gets her again, I may never see her again!"

Jack and Cindy stayed silent for a moment, both unsure of what to say. Finally, Jack spoke, "Maybe you should just let her go."

Troy's jaw dropped in astonishment. Was he hearing right? Did his father really just tell him to leave her? Jack always said that he approved of he and Gabriella dating, but why the change of heart so suddenly?

"Jack, you don't mean that," Cindy said quickly.

"Yes, I do," Jack confirmed. Even though he didn't mind Troy and Gabriella being together, he wasn't too fond of any of this mess, especially not her being pregnant. If she were pregnant with Troy's child, he would make his son take responsibility, but she was pregnant with someone else's baby. This was one of the times that he and his wife disagreed. He didn't feel it was Troy's responsibility to take care of her child; he just went along and agreed to help take care of the child financially because Cindy wanted to. Gabriella was a sweet girl and all, but he felt that Troy was too young to be with someone facing the challenges that she brought on herself. "She has problems, Troy, too many for you to handle, and more than you know about. All she's been doing is putting it all on your shoulders ever since she got herself involved in that relationship."

"I can't believe you! Gabriella's been through so much, Dad! I'm all she has left!" Troy yelled, anger building up inside of him. "Her parents are dead! She has no one else to take care of her! She's broken enough!"

"Listen to me! There are plenty of girls out there that don't have the problems she's facing! You're only eighteen, it's unlikely you two are going to be together for very long, anyway," Jack pointed out.

Troy's hands tightened into fists. Although he wanted to punch Jack at this precise moment, he wouldn't, especially not with his mother watching.

"I love her," Troy said in a low voice a few seconds lateronce he had control over most of his anger.

"You just think you do," Jack replied. "You're too young to know what love is all about."

"Mom was my age when you two started dating!" Troy pointed out.

"That was…different," Jack argued.

"Oh really?" Cindy questioned. "How so?"

"For one, you didn't have problems like she does," Jack pointed out.

"Bad move, Dad," Troy said quickly, sensing an argument erupting between his parents.

"So, you're saying that if I did, you would've left me?" Cindy asked, her eyebrow raised.

"No, of course not!" Jack said quickly.

"Then there's no problem with Troy wanting to be with Gabriella," Cindy said and looked at her son. "Now, I believe someone is waiting for you in the guest room."

Troy said a quick thanks to Cindy before running up to Gabriella, who, little did he know, heard the entire argument. He still heard his parents continue arguing, but that didn't concern him. All he cared about at that moment was seeing her.

When Troy got to the guest room, he heard faint crying through the door which caused his heart to break, for he figured she had heard everything. He knocked a few times, but no answer.

"Baby, it's me," he said softly, hoping she would answer now.

"Troy, just go! I want to be alone!" she called back.

"Gabriella, I know you don't mean that," he argued, slowly opening the door. He found her sitting on the bed facing the wall, her back to him. Leaving the door open just a crack, Troy walked over and sat down beside her.

"I said I want to be alone," she said coldly, looking down at the ground.

"And, you were lying," he added, gently wrapping his arm around her, but she pulled away. Sighing, he started talking again, "My father was wrong about us, Gabriella."

Sniffling, she held back as many tears as she could. "He was right. I mean, my life has been on a downward spiral for nearly a year! All I've done is pull you down with me, and I never wanted that to happen! You're an awesome guy, and you deserve so much better than me!"

"Gabi, don't say that! You're not pulling me down at all!" he assured her, placing his hand gently on his cheek. "I love you. I don't care what my dad or anyone else thinks."

"But, Troy, what if he's right? What if…" Gabriella was cut off by Troy's lips crashing against hers. After a few seconds, he pulled back and stared into her deep, brown eyes clouded with tears.

"I know this feeling's real, Gabriella. I've never felt this way toward anyone else, and I know it's love," he explained. "I love you so much, Gabriella! If loving you is wrong, I don't want to be right. If loving you is a sin then I'll gladly go to Hell."

Gabriella couldn't help but to smile as he said this. As always, he knew the perfect thing to say to make her feel better. He showed her more love than anyone else she had ever known, and she was thankful for that. She was never alone as long as he loved her. She could feel him when she was trapped at Lance's. His love was all around her everywhere she went. Of course Jack was wrong, but for a moment, she started doubting not only Troy's feelings, but her own feelings as well. But, now, she knew the truth that had always been there since the first time she told him that she loved him, and that was that they were meant to be together.

"Gabi, are you okay?" Troy asked her, concerned after she didn't say anything.

Nodding, she rested her head against his shoulder, yawning tiredly.

"Uh, you're probably ready to go to bed, so I'll go," he told her and kissed her forehead gently. "Goodnight, Gabi."

"Troy, do you have to go?" she asked him before he could leave. "Could you please stay?"

"But, Gabi, what if my parents walk in and find us?" he pointed out. "That could just cause more problems."

Glancing at the door, which was opened just a crack, she then looked back at Troy. "As long as we leave the door as is, we should be fine. Besides, your mom knows we're not going to have sex. I feel safer with you here, and I sleep better, so, please?"

Smiling, he was glad to know she trusted him again; at least, he hoped she did. "Of course I'll stay here. I can't think of anything else I'd rather do."

She smiled brightly as he pulled the blankets back, and she laid down, leaving more than enough space for him, but he started walking away.

"I'm going to change first," he told her, walking out of the room.

Gabriella relaxed on the bed and waited patiently for Troy to get back. She had already changed into a pair of pajamas that she found in one of the storage containers while Troy and Jack were arguing. It was just a simple pair of black sweatpants and a light blue nightshirt. Both were now baggy against her body, for she was much thinner, but she was glad for that now. She wouldn't have to feel as hesitant if Troy touched her.

A minute later, Gabriella heard footsteps coming down the hall, followed by a voice, "Gabriella, can I talk to you for a moment?" Gabriella looked up and found Cindy standing in the doorway. She nodded, unsure of what she needed to talk to her about.

Walking toward her, she sat on the edge of the bed before speaking, "Troy told me you overheard what Jack said, and I just want you to know that he was wrong. You're like a daughter to me, and I know you're perfect for Troy. It's just Jack, is well, Jack, and he tends to say things when he's angry, like any other normal person."

Gabriella nodded, remembering the times Troy had done the same thing to her. "I completely understand, it's really stressing, believe me, I know. I never meant to impose, though; I'm really sorry."

"Gabriella, I told you already, you're not imposing! You're my son's girlfriend, we want you here!" Cindy assured her. "You're like the daughter I never had."

Gabriella smiled at this, but before she could say any more, she noticed Troy standing in the doorway.

"I'll just leave you two alone," Cindy said, flashing Gabriella a warm smile before leaving.

Once she was gone, he walked back into Gabriella's room, being sure to keep the door part-way open to keep from arousing suspicion. He chuckled upon catching her gaze as she stared at his half-naked body, remembering how seeing him without a shirt always made her blush. That was the purpose of him not wearing one tonight, and it had the desired effect. Laying down beside her, she immediately shifted her head onto his chest and closed her eyes, smiling as his arms wound around her small waist.

"I missed this," she said quietly after a few moments of silence.

"Huh?" Troy asked her, confused.

"I missed this. Lying here with you and having my every problem and every fear disappear for a while," she explained. "I can't remember the last time I felt as safe as I do now, and that's because of you."

"Yeah? Well, I haven't felt this relaxed in the longest time, either," he replied. "If I could, I'd spend the rest of my life just like this. Just you and me. "

Gabriella smiled at this, for that was exactly how she felt. She never wanted to be held by any man besides Troy, nor did she ever want to be with any man other than him. He was the only one who could make her feel that way, and she couldn't imagine herself loving anyone nearly much as she loved him, nor did she feel that another man could ever love her as much as he did.

"You're so sweet, you know that?" she told him, smiling.

"Only because I get to hold the most beautiful girl on the planet," he replied.

"You'rea genuine flirt, too!" she teased.

"Hey! At least I only flirt with you!" he defended.

"Yeah, right. I know you were playing Romeo with all the girls in school," she accused.

Noticing the playfulness in her voice, Troy decided to go along with it, thankful to have his Gabriella returning to him, "Well, now that you mention it..."

"Uh huh, just as I suspected," she said, shaking her head in mock disappointment. "Where's your little black book?"

"In the drawer beside my bed," he answered instantly. Gabriella stood up but he quickly placed his hands on her hips and pulled her back on top of him. "And just where do you think you're going?"

"I gotta see this!" she wined.

"You're not going anywhere. You're my favorite blanket, and, without you, I'll get cold," he stated.

"Just put a shirt on, Bolton," she replied, faking annoyance.

"If that's what you want..."

"Wait, no!" She took back her previous suggestion, for she enjoyed the view too much. For as long as she knew him, he had always been fit, but, looking at him now, she realized he was more so now than before. If it wasn't for the childish grin spread across his face, he would've looked closer to twenty-four as opposed to eighteen.

Chuckling, he teased her, "I knew you couldn't resist me."

"Oh, get over yourself," she remarked, rolling her eyes.

"Only when you get over me." Gabriella playfully smacked his chest.

Feigning injury, Troy responded, "Hey, that hurt, Gabriella! All I ever did was love you and now you're hurting me!"

"Aw, Troy, I'm sorry. If I kiss it, will it make it better?" she suggested, talking as though he were four.

"You can try," he agreed anxiously.

Giggling, she pressed her lips lightly to where she hit him and kissed him a few times. Upon hearing a small moan eliciting from his lips, she blushed and pulled away, causing him to frown in dismay.

"Better now?" she asked him after a few seconds of regaining their composures.

"Scratch that. Not only are you beautiful and loving but you're also the world's best kisser," he complimented.

"No, you won that title," she replied, using her finger to draw imaginary lines on his chest, making him shiver. Her touch felt like electricity across his skin, giving off an internal tingling sensation he never wanted to go away. It was amazing to him how one woman's touch could make him feel this elated.

"You are so stubborn," he told her, shaking his head in disagreement. "You have no idea...what your kiss and touch does to me...or what you're doing to me right now. It's the most amazing feeling in the world; nothing can describe it. Every touch makes me crave you that much more and sometimes it's frustrating, because I know how far we, as a couple, are willing to take this, but stupid male hormones continue to flair up." Gabriella laughed as Troy's face went red as a tomato. "I-I'm sorry. I didn't want to say all that out loud....."

Casually, she kissed his cheek. "It's okay. I know you won't hurt me...at least not like that."

"I'll never hurt you in any way," he corrected, kissing her forehead.

"I want to believe you," she hesitantly started. "But, Troy, I'm sorry but I can't completely believe you. I know you want my complete trust and you deserve to have it, but it's too hard. Please understand, though, that I do love you but I need time to regain my trust in, well, the human race to put it simply."

Troy nodded knowingly. "I totally understand, Gabi. I'll do whatever I can to at least restore your trust in me."

"I'm sure it won't take much," she replied, less nervous than before.

"I don't care because you know I'll go above and beyond your expectations, anyway," he stated. Carefully, he pulled up her shirt sleeve so he could see her right shoulder. Gabriella flinched but didn't pull away, although her reaction didn't go unnoticed. "Relax, sweetheart. I just want to see the wound." Hesitantly, she nodded as he examined the injury. Silence fell upon them for several seconds before he finally spoke again, "I still can't believe you did that for me."

"I refused to let you die for me," she started. "I knew that, in doing what I did, I would have a slightly less chance of dying than you did. He had perfect aim for your head, whereas it was a hasty, unplanned shot when he shot me. You would be dead right now, but I'm sitting beside you right now."

"But, still, I feel bad that I didn't protect you. You've been defenseless for nearly a year and I was the one who should've risked it, not you," he explained.

"Don't, because, if you died, I would've went with you. I don't ever want to be without you," she told him.

Troy sighed. As much as he hated to admit it, she was probably right. If it was her, he would've done the same.

"So, Gabi, how are your bruises?" he suddenly asked her, not wanting to discuss death any further.

"All are clearing up but the one on my back still hurts," she answered. "But, it's not like it's forever. It'll fade, just like the rest."

"Do you mind if I take a look?" he cautiously asked, wanting to make sure he had her approval first.

"You can," she replied, smiling at how much of a gentleman he was.

Gabriella turned so her back was facing Troy. As he began raising her shirt, her nerves came back to her and her body tensed. Sensing this, he placed his head beside hers and whispered, "It's okay, Gabi. I won't hurt you, I promise. I love you."

Once her body fell slack in his arms, he scanned her back, his rage hand holding up her shirt was clenched tightly into a fist, which she felt against her neck. She began whimpering as she sensed his anger growing.

"Gabi, I'm so sorry!" he quickly apologized, his grip loosening. "Baby, I never meant to hurt you!"

She continued to shake slightly, but she turned back to face him with a weak smile. "I know, it's okay."

"Did I hurt you?" he asked her. She shook her head. "Good, because, if I did, I'd hang myself."

"Don't be so hard on yourself. Nobody's perfect," she reminded him as she began to rub his chest, hoping to calm him.

"I just get so mad over what he did to you!" Troy stated angrily, trying to remain calm.

"I know, but you can't dwell on it. We need to move forward the best we can," she advised. "I want to move forward, with you, not my bad memories. I want you to move forward, too, but with love and kindness, not hatred and anger. Can you do that for me?"

"I'll do anything for you," he replied.

"Good, then, you'll need to find the movie A Walk To Remember, a box of chocolates, learn how to make dinner, and come prepared for an evening of cuddling tomorrow," she told him, smiling innocently.

"Well, the first three I don't think I can do but the fourth option I might," he said, winking.

"You know, most guys I don't think are into cuddling like you are," she pointed out, her smile widening.

"Well, I haven't been able to cuddle with you in nearly a year. Plus, I enjoy being able to touch you, and, when you touch me, I'm in heaven," he replied.

Gabriella nestled into his chest and he lightly kissed her shoulder. "You're too perfect to be treated like that," he stated, wrapping his arm around the small of her back.

"I'm not perfect," she disagreed.

"Tell me the worst thing you ever did," he told her.

"Telling you that I hate you," she answered. "Perfect people don't hate anyone, and I actually lied to you that day by saying it, and so that makes me a bad person."

Troy sighed. "Ella, that's a distant memory to me now. I know you were upset and you didn't mean it, and that's all that matters."

"Ella?" she questioned, grinning at his new nickname for her.

"Do you like it?" he asked her. "Lots of people call you Gabi but I want to be different."

"I love it," she answered. "But, this means I get a new nickname for you."

Troy groaned. "I've seen the horror movies... Girls come up with the most embarrassing names for their boyfriends."

"Relax, Wildcat. I'd never do that to mi amour," she replied. "That, by the way, is your new nickname."

"Doesn't 'mi amour' mean 'my love'?" he asked.

"Yep. You are my love so it fits," she replied.

Troy grinned. "I love it."

"Good," she said and kissed his cheek. "I told you I wasn't that mean."

"By the way, what's 'I love you' in Spanish?" he asked her.

"Te quiero," she answered.

Immediately, he recognized these words. He recognizedthem clearly from when she had broken off their friendship a year ago.

"You told me that once and tried to say it meant 'I'm sorry'," he reminded her.

"Oh yeah!" she remembered. "I did that because I didn't want to freak you out by saying I love you."

"Yeah. At the time, I was being pretty stupid," he agreed.

"We both were," she assured him.

"I guess," he said. "Oh well, our stupidity nearly killed us both but it still brought us closer together."

"Exactly," she agreed.

Gabriella suddenly yawned, indicating she was ready to sleep. However, she wanted to stay awake and talk to him.

"Baby, you should go to sleep," he observed.

Gabriella pouted. "But, I want to be with you."

"I want to be with you, too, but we have tomorrow, and the next day, and, well, every day after that," he told her.

"But, you still haven't given me a goodnight kiss!" she whined, making him chuckle. She hadn't been like this since she came back to him, and he was glad she was getting her old personality back.

"All right, babe." Briefly, Troy leaned forward and captured her lips with his. Smiling into the kiss, she wrapped her arms around his neck as he carefully wrapped his around her back. Gently, he laid her down next to him on the bed, keeping his arms locked securely around her. When they broke the kiss, he rested his head on her shoulder, placing light kisses on the bit of herexposed collar bone.

"I love you," Gabriella whispered, running her hand through his soft locks.

"Te quiero," he replied sweetly.

Gabriella smiled and kissed the top of his head. "Whoever said Spanish is the language of love knew what they were talking about."

Upon hearing her yawn again, Troy pulled away from her. "Ella, you really need your sleep."

Giving in, she nodded. "Fine, but put your head back on my shoulder and your arms back around me, please? I need to feel you here and that felt so good."

Nodding, Troy did as she requested, resting his hands on her stomach. "This good?"

Shaking her head nervously, she knew that, even though she was far from showing, she didn't want Troy touching her stomach. It was unnerving. "C-can you please not touch my stomach?" she asked timidly.

"Where would you like my hands to be?" he asked her.

"Around my shoulders," she replied.

Nodding, he did as she requested. "Is this better?"

"Perfect," she commented. "Goodnight, Troy."

"G'night, Ella."

Troy watched her as she fell asleep, watching her chest rise and fall with each breath. If any other guy were in his position, they probably would've tried to pressure Gabriella into sex whether she was ready or not, but he wasn't like that. Of course he wanted to, but he was willing to wait until she was ready and not before. He didn't need to have sex with her to know that she was the one he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. When he thought about his future, he only saw her, and that's all that mattered to him.

Glancing down at her stomach, he became curious as to why she refused to let him touch her there, even though she knew he wasn't trying anything. That's when he remembered something that had been said twice earlier, first by Lance and then by Jack, and they confirmed his suspicion. She was definitely hiding something from him, that much he knew for sure. He wished she would just tell him so he knew what was troubling her, and so he could help her. But, as long as she continued to leave him in the dark, there wasn't much he could do.

Troy looked up suddenly and noticed that the light in the hallway was still on. Mentally slapping himself for not it realizing sooner, he stood up to turn it off when he noticed several papers laying face-down on the nightstand. Curiously, he picked them up, figuring they had something to do with Gabriella's hospital stay. There were several pamphlets and papers stapled together, all of which revolving around one thing: pregnancy.