You have most definitely waited long enough for an update, haven't you? And before anyone asks; No, I wasn't dead. But anyway, I think this chapter is not my best. I've been fairly busy lately and writing was, to say the least, difficult. So with that said, READ AND REVIEW!
BTW, thanks to HSMgirl102 for the reminder of updating! This update's for you.
Don't own HSM...you know the rest.
Going Home
Gabriella smiled as she finished putting Braison's 'going home' outfit on (pics in profile). It was a blue onesie that said 'It's a boy!' Braison squirmed as his mother grabbed the blue blanket to wrap him up. Troy came into the room with Juliana in the Sky Blue Belle Baby Carrier, her back against Troy's chest. He rolled the wheelchair into the room with him and helped his wife to sit down.
"Where's Eden?" Gabriella panicked, just about to get out of the chair to search for her first-born.
Troy gently held her in place and stated, "I brought her to your mother's. She's fine, sweetheart. I promise." Gabriella looked uneasy but eventually nodded. Troy handed Braison to her and once he was settled in her arms, she asked for Noah. Troy turned and started towards the carrier that was set on the bed.
The proud father smiled down on his baby girl. Noah was dressed in an Ooh La La Onesie Rock Star Pink. Troy had insisted on that specific saying because he claimed he knew she was going to grow up to be a rock star. She had been wrapped in a yellow blanket, but had already knocked most of it off. Troy chuckled to himself and picked the carrier up, walking back over to the wheelchair. He glanced down at Juliana, who had on an Ooh La La Mama Onesie Pink Elizabeth Rose and her pink baby blanket wrapped around the baby carrier to keep her legs warm, to see her babbling to herself.
"Troy?" He snapped his head towards the door to see Taylor.
"Hey, Taylor."
She motioned for Noah's carrier and he gently handed it over. Gabriella sighed, facing the fact that she wasn't going to hold Noah. Chad came running past the door and a few seconds later, he backed himself up and looked into the room. "The car's out front and the baby seats are strapped in," he informed them.
The three in the room nodded and Troy wheeled Gabriella out of the hospital, following Chad and Taylor. Chad opened the van's backseat door, revealing the car seats.
"Aww!" Gabriella smiled, "That's so cute." The car seats had special covers. Juliana's was pink and had her name on it in purple, Noah's was red with her name in yellow, and Braison's was a navy blue with the lettering in white.
After carefully strapping the children in, Troy helped Gabriella get into the middle seats. He climbed in afterwards, checking on the triplets in the very back. Chad started the van soon enough and started towards the Bolton household.
"What about Eden?" Gabriella asked Troy.
"Kelsi's keeping her overnight, honey. She'll be fine."
Taylor turned in her seat and laughed at her friend's face. "Gabi, chill. Eden's fine; especially with Elliot there," she smiled, amused at the thought. Gabriella let a small chuckle out.
Troy smirked and said, "They're going to fall in love some day."
Gabriella rolled her eyes and replied, "You and Ryan are hopeless about that."
The drive continued with a steady flow of conversation until Chad pulled into the driveway of his friends' house.
"We'll help you two bring the clothes in," Taylor informed them. Chad knew when she said 'we' that she really meant 'Chad'. He opened the trunk and pulled out the wheelchair for Troy, who was standing right next to him. "Thanks," Troy mumbled, taking the chair and proceeding to help Gabriella. Taylor carefully took Juliana out of her car seat and handed her to Troy, who placed her into the carrier that was on his chest again. Taylor then handed him Noah to give to Gabriella and lastly took Braison into her own arms.
Chad had already gone inside with the bags, leaving the rest of them out by the car.
"Are you sure Eden's okay?" Gabriella asked. She was on the phone with Kelsi about an hour after they arrived home.
"For the last time, Gabriella, she's fine. In fact, she's in the playroom with Elliot right now."
Gabriella sighed as she thought of another reason for Eden to come home. "What if she gets hungry? She's a very picky eater." She was certain that would work.
"Troy gave us a list of the foods she eats. You can try as hard as you want, Gabi," Kelsi laughed, "but I've been informed about everything."
"Are you positive?" Gabriella pressed.
"Absolutely. You know, Eden's one spoiled little girl."
Gabriella opened her mouth to speak when Troy walked past the room she was in. He shook his head and came up to her, taking the phone out of her hands. "Troy!" she whined.
He gave her a stern look and spoke into the phone, "Kelsi, I'm so sorry about Gabriella calling you like this."
Kelsi laughed a little and replied, "It's fine. She hasn't been talking to me as long as last time. She called about ten minutes ago."
Troy sighed in relief. "Good. I still can't believe she spent an hour trying to convince you that Eden needed to come home to her mom."
He heard something crash in the background and Kelsi yelled, "What did you break this time, Brian?!" Then she turned the conversation back to Troy: "Sorry Troy, but Brian broke something again. I'm going to have to let you go."
Troy waved it off. "That's fine, Kels. You go deal with that trouble maker of yours. Tell everyone hi for me. And don't forget to tell Eden that her mommy and daddy love her."
Kelsi agreed and hung up. Troy pressed the end button on the portable phone he held in his hand. He placed the phone back in the holder and finally took in where they were: Eden's room.
"Gabriella."
She turned at her name and set down the framed photo. "Yes?" she asked.
"Why are you so worried honey? Eden will be fine."
Gabriella let her eyes cloud with tears as she shrugged. Troy opened his arms and she immediately ran into them. "I don't know why I'm so scared," she sniffled, "I guess it's just that she's our first-born. I don't want to lose her." Gabriella pulled back a little and looked away.
Troy brought her face up with his pointer finger and smiled lightly. "We won't lose her. Kelsi and Ryan are some of our great friends. They care about Eden like their own daughter. Stop worrying so much."
She nodded and smiled at him. "You know what she said yesterday?" He shook his head and urged her to go on. "She said her name." Troy hugged her and noticed how brightly she beamed. She absolutely loved it when Eden spoke new words.
Cries filled the Bolton house at two in the morning. "You get it," Troy muttered into his pillow.
Gabriella shook her head, "I got them last time. It's your turn."
He groaned and sat up straight as he rubbed his eyes. He walked out of the master bedroom and stood frozen in the middle of the hall, trying to figure out where the screams were coming from. The cries seemed to come from the left so he scuffed his feet over to his son's room. Poking his head into the night sky themed room, he confirmed the suspicion when he saw the baby squirming in the crib.
"Braison, what's the matter?" he whispered more to himself than his youngest child. Troy picked him up out of the crib and rocked back and forth. "Shhh…" he soothed, "Don't cry, Brae. Daddy's here now." Amazingly, the newborn immediately stopped crying, although whimpers still came here and there. Troy stood there with Braison for a moment while deciphering what the cry was for before he headed back to his room. "Gabriella," he shook her shoulder.
"Hmm?"
"Gabriella, Braison's hungry."
She mumbled incoherently and he asked her to repeat what she said. She lifted her head just enough for him to hear her and repeated, "You feed him" before letting her head fall back into place.
Troy rolled his eyes, still keeping hold of his son. "Gabriella, wake up and feed your son. You know perfectly well that I can't feed him."
Knowing she wasn't going to win, Gabriella sat up and took Braison into her arms. Troy walked around to his side and crawled back into bed.
"Don't you love the joys of motherhood?" Taylor joked later that morning after Gabriella had explained the event.
"Oh, of course," Gabriella laughed. She checked her watch again, which didn't go unnoticed by Taylor.
"Gabi, that's the fifth time in two minutes. Would you be patient?"
Gabriella shrugged and ignored her friend as she watched out the window.
"They'll be home in a little bit. All they did was go for a walk." Troy had taken the triplets for a walk with Chad and Blake. Taylor and Gabriella stayed behind to wait for Eden to get home.
"I hate that I'm always so worried sometimes," Gabriella said, "Will it ever go away?"
Taylor nodded, secretly looking out the window at the car coming up the driveway. Wanting Gabriella to be surprised, she started a story. "My mother told me that from when I was born to when I was three years old, she was always worried sick about me. But once I turned four, it was my dad that was always so worried. It happened with Blake, kind of. I used to be so scared to leave him, but now, Chad's always with him. He's a handful though; usually all boys are. Just wait and see. Braison will be the same way." She went on telling about how her father always had to listen to her mother complain about how their baby was growing up so fast and then when high school rolled around, her father was the one that was constantly complaining.
By that time, Gabriella was so absorbed in the story she didn't even realize the doorbell ring. Taylor noticed Kelsi look in the window and she mouthed for Kelsi to come on in as Gabriella sipped her coffee.
Closing the door behind her, Kelsi carried Eden into the kitchen quietly. She smiled at Taylor and tapped Gabriella on the shoulder.
"Mama!" Eden laughed with glee, making Gabriella turn around with a wide smile. Kelsi handed Eden over to Gabriella and sat next to Taylor.
"Looks like she'll be busy with Eden for, I don't know, maybe until Chad, Troy, and the kids get home," Taylor said, turning to Kelsi.
"I totally agree."
The two laughed and struck up a conversation while Gabriella bonded with her daughter.
"Gabi, I'm home!" Troy sang, shutting the front door behind him. He smiled when he heard her giggle; she still had that effect on him.
Chad walked past him and through to the back porch with Noah in his arms and Blake walking beside him.
"Dada!!" Eden screamed as she charged out of the kitchen. She had just learned to walk a few months ago and Troy was still getting used to it.
"Hey angel!" he grinned, lifting her off the ground. "Did you have a good time with Elliot?" he teased.
"Troy, stop that," Gabriella said, coming out of the kitchen and into the living room to get Juliana and Braison.
"What's wrong with getting a head start on planning my oldest daughter's future?" Troy asked seriously before laughing.
Gabriella didn't even bother to answer him. She carried the two babies and stopped next to Eden. "Your daddy is crazy, isn't he?" she asked, then kissed her forehead.
As she continued to the backyard, where everyone else was, Troy raced past her with the now squealing Eden.
"It sure is great to be home," she whispered.
Eh, it was long and pretty good, but I think I've done better. It's all up to you readers on that decision. I'll get the outfits and the carrier up in a little bit, so hold on. I think that's it. DON'T FORGET TO REVIEW!!!
