A/N: Here's the next chapter! Everyone wanted to know what's wrong in California, well in this chapter you'll find out.
Disclaimer: I own nothing except my own made up characters!
July 27th, 2031 5:00 pm (Troy's POV)
I watch my wife slam the phone down and ran her hand through her hair in frustration. The minute she turned to me with tears in her eyes, I knew something was wrong. I stood up and walked over to where she was standing.
"Gabi talk to me. Why do we have to go to California?" I asked her pulling her closer to my side.
She started sobbing as I rocked her back and forth. I saw Mack peak her head in and gave me a questioning look.
"Go gather your siblings in the living room and wait there. Your mom and I will be in a few minutes." I told her.
She nodded her head before walking back through the swinging door. I kissed Gabi's temple and listened to her calm down through the sobs.
"Can you talk now or do you want me to wait a minute?" I asked still holding her in my arms.
She took a deep breath before looking up into my eyes. Hers were red and puffy from crying.
"They moved my mom into a hospital. The doctors are giving mom two weeks to live." Gabi's sweet voice told me.
"Oh Gabi I'm so sorry. What do you want to do?" I asked kissing the top of her head.
"I want to go to California but I don't want to interrupt your work or the activities the kids are in." Gabi told me.
"We're going together as a family to California. You're going to need us around." I told her.
"Are you sure? What about work?" Gabi asked me.
"I've got to go into work later on tonight and I'll tell Jason what's up and tell him I'm taking a couple of weeks of vacation." I told her.
"Are you sure?" She asked biting her lip.
"You're my wife and you need me. I'm happy to drop everything and come with you. We just have to figure out if the kids are coming with us or staying with your parents." I told her.
"Let's go talk to them and let them decide." She said as I hugged her closer to me.
"I wish I could take all your pain away. I hate seeing you cry." I whispered.
"I know you do but with you by my side, I'll be all right." She said attempting to push forward a smile.
We walked through the kitchen and towards the living room. We heard the kids talking among themselves.
"So mom was crying and dad was holding her close. What's going on Mack?" We heard Jake ask his older sister.
"I'm not sure. Dad said to gather you guys up and wait here." Mack told her younger brother.
"What if it's grandma?" Aidan asked looking at Mack, Belle, and Josh with worry.
"That could be it." Belle said shaking her head.
"Hey guys." I said interrupting the sibling conversation.
"Mom are you all right?" Aidan asked looking at his mom.
"Not really but your dad and I need to talk to you guys." Gabi said as we took a seat on the couch facing the kids.
"What's wrong mom?" Mack asked, her voice thick with worry.
"Guys there's something you need to know. Nana has cancer. She's had it for a while but she didn't want dad or me to tell you guys. Now she's been moved to the hospital and she's not doing so well." Gabi said looking at the eight worried kids.
"Is she going to die?" Jake asked us in a panic.
"The doctors think so. So your mom and I are going out to California to be with her. You kids can come with us or you can stay here with grandma and grandpa." I said looking at the eight.
"I'm coming with." Mack, Aidan, Josh, and Belle quickly said looking at Gabi and me.
"Lily, Cassie, Jake, and J.J. do you want to come out to California with us or do you want to stay here?" Gabi asked looking at the younger ones.
"I'm coming." The four quickly agreed looking at Gabi and me.
"Ok we're going to leave tomorrow to go out to California. You need to pack suitcases and stuff you want to take." Gabi told them.
"But what about our plans we made?" Josh asked looking at us.
"Your mom and I will take care of them. You guys just need to get everything you want to take together. We're going to be out there for at least 2 weeks so bring enough clothes for that." I told them.
"Will we go to the funeral?" Mack asked us.
"We don't know yet. We'll have to talk to papa about it." Gabi told them.
"We're sorry momma." Lily said looking at Gabi.
"Thanks sweetheart." Gabi said as the other kids quickly said their apologies.
"Ok why don't you guys start packing? Mack, Belle, Josh, and Aidan will you guys help the younger ones?" I asked looking at the older ones.
"Sure dad." Aidan said leading the kids up the stairs to their individual rooms.
I turned and looked at Gabi. She had a frozen face on as if she was still in shock.
"I'm not going to leave your side for a single second." I promised pulling Gabi closer to my side.
"I know you're not. How am I going to get all of this done?" Gabi asked me in a whisper.
"What do you mean?" I asked in confusion.
"The girls all need black dresses. The boys need black shirts." Gabi told me.
"Leave it all to me. How about you go write down the sizes they need and I'll go get everything?" I suggested.
"Are you sure?" She asked in surprise.
"I'm positive. I've got to go to the restaurant so I'll do that as well." I told her.
"All right I'll go do that and then you can go." Gabi told me.
I watched her walk from the room before running my hands over my face. I knew we were going to be in for a rough couple of weeks. I knew at one point Gabi would break down completely and I was hoping I would be there when she did.
"Here you go." Gabi told me handing the pink piece of paper that had become her signature style.
"Do you want me to pick up dinner as well?" I asked her as she gave me a look.
"Sure just do pizza. Go see if one of the kids wants to go with you." She told me.
"I love you and you don't have to be strong." I told her.
"I know but I want to remain strong for as long as I can." She told me as I kissed her quickly.
I walked upstairs and saw Mack and Aidan standing in the hallway. They were quietly talking among themselves.
"Is mom going to be all right?" Aidan asked watching me walk closer to them.
"She will be. She's just scared of loosing her mom right now." I told them.
"I hate seeing her that way." Mack told me.
"So do I. Do you two want to come with me?" I asked looking at the oldest two.
"Where are you going?" Aidan asked me.
"I've got to run by the restaurant and then go get some things for the trip." I told them.
"I'm in. Aidan coming?" Mack asked her younger brother.
"Sure I'll come. When are we leaving?" Aidan asked.
"Now. Go get your shoes on and we'll go." I told them walking downstairs.
I saw Gabi holding her mom and Brian's wedding picture and staring at it. I walked up and wrapped my arms around her shoulder.
"Everything is going to be all right." I whispered.
"I know but I'm still losing her." Gabi whispered.
"Tell me what to do and I'll do it in a heartbeat." I told her.
"Just be by my side and that's all I need." She told me.
"All right I can do that. Mack and Aidan are coming with me so we'll be home in about an hour." I told her.
"Be safe and I'll see you later." She said listening to footsteps on the stairs.
"We're ready dad." Mack said sticking her head in the doorway of the living room.
"All right. We're leaving now. If you think of anything else, call my cell phone." I said as Gabi nodded her head. I kissed her lips before walking towards Mack and Aidan.
"All right. Bye guys." Gabi said watching us walk out the door.
We walked over to my truck and got in. Mack sat in the backseat while Aidan and I sat in the front. The ride to the restaurant was a quiet one. "How are we getting to California?" Mack asked breaking the silence.
"We're taking the 12 passenger van. Why do you ask?" I asked looking in the mirror at the oldest child of the family.
"It's going to be nuts you know that right?" Aidan asked laughing.
"I know but it's too late to get airline tickets. So we're driving." I told them.
"And how long of a drive is it?" Mack asked us.
"Almost 12 hours. So if we leave at 9 o'clock tomorrow morning, we'll get into San Diego about 10 o'clock tomorrow night." I told them.
"It's going to be pure hell." Mack said rolling her eyes.
"You'll have your cell phone, iPod, and computer. Your siblings will have their DVDs and iPods." I told her.
"And how will you and mom keep your sanity?" Aidan asked me.
"I have no idea. Your mom and I will listen to our CDs and try to keep you kids from fighting." I told them pulling into the restaurant.
"Are you guys going to sit in here or come in?" I asked looking at the two kids.
"We're coming in." Aidan answered for himself and his sister.
I nodded before getting out of the truck and walked into the restaurant. Sharpay, Zeke, Chad, Taylor, Kelsi, and Jason were all sitting at the bar. Mack spotted Brandon sitting a little farther down looking at his cell phone. Aidan spotted someone before walking over to them leaving me by myself.
"Troy we were just talking about you." Chad said smiling at me.
"Oh really? That must have been an interesting conversation." I said looking at him.
"Oh it was. Where's Gabi at?" Taylor asked me smiling.
"She's at home with the rest of the kids." I told them being vague as possible.
"Hey man, what's up? Is there something wrong?" Jason asked noticing my down mood.
"Um . . . there is something wrong. Gabi, I, and the kids are going to California tomorrow." I said looking at them.
"Is there anything wrong?" Kelsi asked me.
I took a deep breath before looking at my friends. "Yeah there's something wrong. Gabi's mom's cancer is back and they moved her to a hospital earlier this afternoon. The doctors are giving Maria two weeks to live."
"Oh Troy. How's Gabi handling it?" Sharpay asked me.
"She cried when she first found out but she seems to be doing ok. I'm just waiting for the moment she breaks down." I told them.
"When are you guys leaving?" Zeke asked me.
"Tomorrow morning hopefully. The kids and Gabi are at home packing. Aidan, Mack, and I still have to run to the mall and get black shirts and dresses for the kids." I told them.
"Is there anything you want us to do?" Chad asked me as I thought about it.
"Could one of you look in on Callie, Socks, and Buttercup?" I asked thinking about the dog and two cats we added to our family.
"Why doesn't Callie come stay with us while you're gone? And we'll check up on the cats." Taylor asked looking at Chad.
"We'll drop her off as we're leaving town tomorrow. And thank you." I told them smiling a little.
"If there is anything else you need, let us know." Kelsi told me.
"I will. I'll let Gabi know that too. She probably has a list a mile long of stuff that needs to be done." I told them.
"Will you keep us posted on what's happening?" Shar asked me as I nodded.
"I sure will. The kids will probably be calling you guys from California. If not, Gabi and I will call occasionally just to let you know how things are going." I told them.
"Good luck out there." Taylor told me coming over and giving me a hug.
"Thanks. Aidan, Mack you two ready to go?" I asked looking at the two.
"Sure dad." Aidan said coming over to my side.
"Mackenzie ready?" I asked her as she quickly kissed Brandon and came over to where I was standing.
"Let's go." She said before I said goodbye to all of our friends and headed out the door.
We piled into the truck and headed towards the mall. Mack's eyes widen when she realized where we were going. "Why are we here?"
"We're here to get black shirts for your brothers and dresses for your sisters and you." I told her walking into the local store.
"I'll pick out the dresses while you and Aidan go pick out the shirts." Mack told me.
"All right. Do you need to know the sizes or no?" I asked her.
"No I know the girls' sizes." She told me before walking over the girls section.
Aidan gave me a look before we walked over to the boys section and started looking. No more than 10 minutes later, did Mack come over to where Aidan and I were standing. "All done." She told me proudly.
"It didn't take you long." I told her rolling my eyes.
"I know what style the girls like. Do these look all right dad?" Mack asked holding up the four dresses.
"They'll do." I told her smiling a little.
"What do you need now?" She asked me.
"All we need are shirts for Jake and J.J." I told her as she flipped through the dress shirts.
"Here you go." She said handing me to shirts that were the sizes Gabi had written on the piece of paper.
"Anything else?" I asked looking at the two teenagers.
"Where you going to get anything for mom?" Mack asked me.
"What should I get her?" I asked my teenage daughter.
"What kind of jewelry does mom like?" Aidan suggested as I looked at my son.
"Obviously you don't know your mother. She doesn't like jewelry." I told him.
"Duh Aidan. The only jewelry she wears is her wedding and engagement ring from dad." Mack told him.
"All right I get it now. So what should you get here?" Aidan asked me.
"I know but it requires one more stop on the way home." I told them.
"Dad's got a plan. Watch out!" Mack warned as we walked up the register.
After we paid for everything, we headed back out to the truck. Mack put the dresses in the back so they wouldn't get wrinkled. "So what's your brilliant plan, dad?" Mack asked me.
"You're just going to have to wait." I told them pulling into the local florist.
"You're going to get her flowers?" Aidan asked me as I winked at him.
"Not just any flowers. Are you two coming in or no?" I asked them.
"I'm in. Let's go." Mack said leading the way into the florist.
I walked in and walked over to the roses. I picked one yellow, red, pink, and white. Then I walked over to the gerbera daisies and got a pink, yellow, white, and orange. Then I went over to the carnations and got pink, white, and red. My eyes swept around the shop before setting on the calla lilies. I got two before walking up to the florist.
"Could you make these into a little bunch?" I asked the sales lady with a smile.
"I certainly could. It will be just a minute." She told me taking the flowers from me.
"So dad what do all those flowers have to do with mom?" Aidan asked coming up beside me.
"Well the carnations, roses, and gerbera daisies were all in mom's bouquet when we got married. And Calla Lilies are nana's favorite flowers." I told the teenagers.
"Smart thinking dad." Mack told me as I quickly paid for the flowers.
"Why thank you. Now we have to go get dinner before going home." I told them as we walked out to the truck.
"What are we getting for dinner?" Aidan asked me smiling.
"Your favorite. Mom ordered pizza and told me to go pick it up." I told him.
"Oh you guys know where my heart is." Aidan told us.
"So Aidan who was the lady you were talking to at the restaurant?" Mack asked her brother.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." Aidan said looking out the window.
"Oh I think you do. Was that Carly?" Mack asked smirking at her brother.
"Yeah that was her. Will you just drop it Mack?" Aidan asked while getting annoyed.
"Sure I'll drop it for now but it won't be the last time I bring it up." Mack told her brother.
"Will you two just drop it? Mom doesn't need you guys arguing." I reminded them.
"Sure dad. Does papa know we're coming out to California?" Aidan asked me.
"I think mom told him. I've still got to tell grandma and grandpa." I said remembering my parents.
"How about we go get dinner and then you could go over to their house?" Mack suggested.
"That's what I was going to do. I'm surprised mom hasn't called one of our cell phones yet." I said before hearing the ringing of my phone.
"Hello?" I asked pulling into the pizza place. I got my wallet out and got out a wad of money before giving it to Aidan to go in and get dinner.
"Where are you guys?" Gabi asked me as I smiled.
"We just pulled into the pizza place. We'll be home in about 10 minutes." I told her.
"All right. I've got 6 hungry kids all of them whining and complaining." Gabi told me.
"I'm sorry. I'll be home soon. I love you." I told her.
"I love you too. Hurry up." She said before I hung up.
"Mom calling to figure out where we were?" Mack asked with an amused grin on her face.
"You've got it. Your brothers and sisters are complaining and I think they're driving her up a wall." I told her.
"Poor mom. What are we going to do?" Mack asked me.
"All we have to do is be there for mom. She's going to be hurting and you kids just have to be there for her." I told her.
"What if I don't know how to be there for mom?" Mack asked me.
"You know, trust me, you know how to be there for mom and me. You just be yourself and be there when mom or I need you." I told her.
"But I'm afraid of messing it up for mom and you. I want to be there for mom but I'm not really good in tough situations." Mack told me.
"You're great in tough situations. I've seen it before. But if you're really worried about it, talk to mom about it. She'll reinforce everything I just said." I told her as Aidan came out and got into the truck.
We drove home in silence. Mack was thinking about what I told her, Aidan staring out the window, and me driving. I looked at the two of them before pulling into the driveway.
"Finally we're home." I said pulling the truck to a stop. I grabbed the flowers while Aidan grabbed the pizzas and Mack got the dresses and shirts.
"We're home!" Aidan yelled as we walked into the house and the kids came running.
"Do you have food?" J.J. and Jake yelled as I smiled at the two of them.
"Aidan's got the food. Bother him." Mack told her brothers smiling.
"Hey guys. Did you have fun?" Gabi asked looking at Aidan, Mack, and I.
"Yeah we did. Mack how about you go put those upstairs and come down here and have dinner with us?" I suggested putting the flowers behind my back.
"All right. I'll be down in a minute." Mack told us running upstairs.
"What happened? Those two were all upset when you left and now the two of them are happy." Gabi said amazed.
"We just talked. I pointed some things out and they did the rest." I told her.
"Wait what are you hiding?" Gabi asked me pulling me closer to her.
"Um . . . nothing." I said as a smile crept across my face.
"Oh you're defiantly hiding something Mr. Bolton." Gabi told me smiling.
"Oh you think I am? Well maybe I am hiding something from you." I told her.
"Something for me?" She asked her eyes dancing with excitement.
"Maybe . . ." I said trailing off.
"Come on. You know you want to give it to me." She said leaning over and kissing me softly.
"All right I guess I could give it to you." I said bringing my hand out from behind my back and giving the flowers to her.
"Oh Troy they're gorgeous." She said putting the bouquet to her nose and smelling them.
"I figured they would make you smile. Gerbera daisies, roses, and carnations were from your wedding bouquet and the calla lilies are your mom's favorite." I told her.
"They're beautiful. Thank you." She told me smiling.
"How about we go put them in water and then go steal some pizza before the kids inhale it?" I suggested.
We walked into the kitchen and saw calmness. The kids were sitting at the table eating with conversations flowing amongst them. Gabi and I both smiled watching the kids get along.
"What are you guys talking about?" I asked grabbing a slice of pizza and looking at the 8 kids.
"We're trying to figure out if Coke products or Pepsi products are better." Aidan told me.
"Coke is better." Gabi said immediately.
"Pepsi is better." I disagreed with my wife with a smile.
"Wow even the best powerhouse marriage has their disagreements." Aidan said looking wide eye at his siblings.
Gabi and I both laughed at that and sat down. We let the kids direct the conversations during dinner.
There you guys go. Feedback would be amazing!!!
