Summary: Troy & Gabriella are both 23 and married. They have a 3-year-old daughter. Troy got the chance to become a Lakers player and leaves Gabriella and his daughter behind. He hasn't seen his daughter since she was born. It's Christmas and he finally realizes where he needs to be. Will they be able to get back to how they use to be? Or will the pressure of Troy's absence get too much for Gabriella?

A/N: Thanks for the reviews. I love reading them. Anyway here's the next chapter. Read and Review. Thanks:)

Disclaimer: Don't own HSM or anything apart from Ella, James and the plot.

Chapter 8

Gabriella and Troy raced into the hospital where they saw both their parents.

"How is she?" Troy asked as Maria shook her head.

"We don't know they were running some tests just and we had to step outside." She explained. Troy looked at Gabriella who was in a state of shock still. He wrapped his arms around her pulling her into a hug. Their parents noticed that they must have been sorting things out the fact that Gabriella wasn't pushing Troy away. They smiled at each other hoping that this was a good sign and that maybe, just maybe they could work things out. They all sat down just waiting for the doctor to come out.

Gabriella was resting her head on Troy's shoulder just waiting for news. It was now 12.30pm and they had been there for over an hour and the doctors were still doing tests.

"Do you think she will be ok Troy?" Gabriella asked not moving her head.

"She's a strong girl just like her mother so she will be fine." Troy wrapped an arm around her waist as she snuggled as close as she could to Troy. Troy looked up and his dad smiled at him as they all sat around waiting.

"Ella Bolton?" A doctor asked as Gabriella and Troy shot up.

"That's my, I mean our daughter." Gabriella looked at Troy. She had been so use to saying my daughter that she still caught herself saying it.

"Well Mr Bolton, Mrs Bolton if you follow me you can see Ella and I'll explain what's happening." The doctor led the way down the corridor. As they started walking down the corridor Gabriella grabbed Troy's hand.

"It's going to be ok." Troy squeezed her hand as they followed the doctor.

"Ok Ella has got a slight Kidney infection which is why she has a high temperature and was being sick (A/N: that's actually true because I've had a few and trust me they really hurt if they're bad) but other than that she is fine. She just needs to drink plenty and she will be fine. We think as long as she gets plenty of rest and fluid then she can go home now." The doctor then opened the door handing some papers for a nurse to sort out before she walked off. As Troy and Gabriella walked in Ella was sat up looking very scared and lost.

"We heard a little princess isn't very well." Troy said as Ella looked back at them.

"DADDY! MOMMY!" she squealed as they walked to the bed and kissed her head.

"You ok sweetie?" Gabriella asked as she sat on the bed. Troy sat on the bottom of the bed as he watched Ella give Gabriella a hug. He smiled hoping that maybe this would bring him and Gabriella back together.

"Mommy is daddy coming home?" that was the first thing Ella asked. Gabriella didn't quite know how to respond because she wasn't sure how she felt still.

"Mommy and daddy aren't sure yet." Gabriella immediately noticed the disappointment cross her daughters face.

"How about daddy go and find out when you can go home?" Troy asked quickly noticing Gabriella's discomfort at the question. I take it from her reaction things aren't quite going as good as I thought they were. Troy thought.

Troy came back and said they wanted to keep her in for a few hours to make sure her temperature went down. They managed keep the subject of Troy going home out of her mind.

Around 7pm a nurse entered Ella's room holding some papers.

"Ok if I can get mom or dad to sign these papers then you can be off." A nurse said as Gabriella looked at Troy to do it. "Hey aren't you Troy Bolton the Lakers star who retired?" The nurse asked as Gabriella once again frowned as she stood up ready to go.

"Yeah." Troy noticed Gabriella's frown. He quickly signed the papers and picked up Ella from the bed and took hold of Gabriella's hand. "Thank you for your help." Troy quickly pulled Gabriella out of the room not wanting to make her any madder. Their parents had left when they found out Ella was ok and said they would see her tomorrow.

Walking out of the hospital Troy was still holding Gabriella's hand and she wasn't pulling away while he carried Ella who had already fallen asleep. They got in the car and drove home putting Ella straight to bed.

"Hey thanks for being there today." Gabriella said as they came out Ella's room.

"It's ok I glad I was." Troy smiled as he sat down. "Gabi we need to talk about earlier." Troy said bringing up the conversation that had been on both their minds all day.

"Troy I don't know." Gabriella said as Troy moved next to her.

"Come on Gabi, you wanted it as much as me and I know you still love me and I still love you so what's stopping us from giving it another go." Gabriella refused to look at him.

"Troy I think it's best you just go." Troy didn't bother arguing.

"Fine but I love you and unless you say you don't want this divorce I will sign them as soon as I get home if it will make you happy." Troy walked towards the door as Gabriella spoke up.

"I…" Gabriella started.

A/N: Aren't I cruel leaving you with a cliffhanger :P What will her answer be? How will Troy react to her decision? Please Review! Thanks!