Thanks for all the reviews. I reloaded chapter nine to actually be a chapter instead of a poll so if you haven't read that you should do that before reading this chapter. If you haven't yet, please vote for which wedding dress you would like to see Gabriella wear for her wedding. Sorry for lateness in this chapter, I was out of town for the holidays and too busy to sit down and work on this story. I hope this is to everyone's liking. Please read and review.
"How could she do this?" Gabriella asked tearfully as they sat in the car on the way back to their apartment. "I thought she was my friend! How could have I been so stupid?"
"You weren't stupid, Babe." Troy comforted. "We both thought Sarah was a friend and we could trust her. She is the one at fault here, not us. Our families will understand once I explain it to them."
"Don't you mean when we explain it to them?"
"No, they are not speaking to you until after I have them calmed down. I am not putting you and the babies in harm's way, even if it means you not speaking to our parents." Troy declared as they rolled into the garage of their building. "I promise, everything is going to be fine."
"Ok." Gabriella whispered smiling softly.
The driver stopped at the elevator and Troy opened the door and got out. He turned around and helped Gabriella get out. The two thanked their driver before they walked to get onto the elevator. Gabriella pulled out her cell phone and saw she had a dozen missed calls from home and even more from Sharpay. Troy saw that he had several messages from his mother, sister, and uncle on his blackberry. The elevator doors opened and the two walked into the hall leading to their apartment. On their answering machine were more missed messages from their families and some reporters.
"I'm going to call my mom and your parents on a conference call." Troy said as they sat down at their dining room table.
"Ok, I'm going to stay."
As they waited for both parents to get to the phone, the young couple held hands. Gabriella laid her head on Troy's shoulder as they waited. Once both parents were on the line, Troy began to speak.
"Before any of you say anything, I just want to say that we only found out about this last night." He stated. "We only went to the doctor today to make sure it was in fact true. Gabriella's friend betrayed us in order to make a fast buck. We were going to tell you just as soon as we got home from the doctor's."
"So the rumors are true, you are having a baby?" Jasmine asked.
"Yes." Troy confirmed.
"What about the wedding?" Lucille asked.
"We're getting married the first part of May, the day after Gabriella's graduation. I promise that we will be married before we become parents."
"Is Gabriella there with you?" Lucas asked.
"She's right here, but I am going to warn you, if any of you start yelling or making her uncomfortable in any way, I'll end the call." Troy stated.
"Gabi?" Jasmine asked softly.
"Yes, Mama?" Gabriella asked quietly.
"Are you ready to become a mother?"
"Yes. I already have a couple of job interviews at schools who have already said they've wanted to hire me, we have plenty of space in the apartment and the beach house, we're financially ready to afford everything, and I know that I am ready to become a mom because I had a great mother growing up."
"Ok, we have to start planning the wedding right now." Lucille said. "We don't want the wedding to look rushed."
"Mom, let us plan the wedding." Troy stated.
"Your father and I are going to fly in to see you both tomorrow. We all need to sit down and talk about this face to face." Jasmine said.
"Ok, we'll see you tomorrow then." Troy answered.
That evening, Gabriella had gone to bed early, the day's events too much for her. Troy quietly worked in bed next to her. When he was finished with his professional work, he began to look up information about where was the best hospital to have a baby was in the city. When he narrowed down he decided that he would let Gabriella help make the decision on where she wanted to have the babies. Once that list was made, he began to look on what the safest and best cribs to get. Now that it was official, Troy couldn't wait for the twins to be born.
The next morning, Gabriella woke up to go to the school where she was doing her student teaching. After her morning sickness, she found herself eating toast and some orange juice. Troy sat at the table as she nibbled on her breakfast. He was waiting for her to finish and they he was going to have the driver drop her off at the school before he was dropped off at the office.
"I think I found a crib, it's the safest one on the market." Troy said as they got into the elevator. "I know we have plenty of time but I just wanted to start researching."
"You're going to be the best father to the twins." Gabriella said kissing him gently on the lips.
"I promise that I am going to be there for every ultrasound and for every single late night craving you have."
"I was thinking that we should sign up for Lamaze classes and I might do some prenatal yoga in the evening."
"Sounds good."
When Gabriella got to school, she went straight to the class she was helping out in. the teacher she was working with was really protective of her and made sure that she always felt safe when she was working. Gabriella had actually been offered to work at the school and she was really close to taking the job. As she walked down the hall, she noticed all the adults' eyes drifting to her belly. Gabriella shifted her bag so it was hiding it from everyone.
"How are you feeling?" Carmen Larson asked as Gabriella walked into the classroom.
Carmen had been a teacher for forty years. She was a feisty African American woman. When Gabriella first arrived, she was instantly taken under her mentor's wing and they became great friends. The older woman would often walk with Gabriella to the subway station and keep the paparazzi away from her.
"I feel good, my parents are flying in today and we're going to talk some more."
"And how are you physically?"
"Still a little bit nauseous."
"That will pass eventually."
"Good."
"But, do not hesitate to run out if you have to rush to the bathroom."
"Thank you."
"What time are your parents getting in today?"
"This afternoon, Troy's mother is picking them up and then we're meeting them at Lucille's apartment for dinner and discussing."
"How did they take it?"
"They're shocked and surprised and they're a little hurt that they found out from the media and not us."
"But they should know that it wasn't your fault that the bitch blabbed to the papers."
"I know, but it still hurts since I wanted to tell them personally that they were going to become grandparents."
"I'm sure that once the shock settles in, they will be so excited about being a grandma and grandpa."
"I hope so." Gabriella agreed quietly.
That evening, Troy and Gabriella were on their way to Lucille's apartment. Gabriella had already thrown up twice since she got home from work due from her pregnancy and nerves. Troy held her hand as they pulled up to the plush expensive apartment building. The two got out and walked inside, the doorman letting them into the lobby. They got on the elevator and went up to the penthouse apartment where Lucille lived.
"I think I'm going to be sick." Gabriella said.
"Alright, we're almost there." Troy said as he wrapped his arm around her waist. "Deep breaths."
The doors opened and Troy took Gabriella by the hand and pulled her quickly to his mother's door. He knocked on the door still trying to keep Gabriella's morning sickness from taking over. Lucille opened the door and Gabriella quickly went to her bathroom.
"Is she that nervous?" Lucille asked.
"No, morning sickness." Troy answered. "She's been like this all day."
"Honey, are you ok?" Jasmine asked as she knocked on the door. "If you're nervous about what your father and I think, then don't be. Now that the shock of this has worn off, we're thrilled. You're responsible and we know that you're ready to become a mother to a little baby."
"Gabriella, your mother is right. You are more than ready to be a mother and Troy is all set to be an incredible father." Lucas said. "Gabriella, you and Troy have our blessings."
"What about you, Mom?" Troy asked.
"I think that as long as you two are married before the baby arrives then everything will be fine." Lucille stated.
"What about Uncle Patrick?" Troy asked.
"He feels the same way."
"I promise that we will be married months before the baby is born." Troy said as Gabriella came out of the bathroom.
"How are you feeling?" Jasmine asked her daughter as she gave her a glass of water.
"Better." Gabriella answered as she took the water. "I'm surprised that there is still something left in my stomach for me throw up."
"Well, don't worry, once you get into the second trimester the morning sickness goes away." Jasmine said as she and Lucas went and helped Gabriella sit down on the couch.
"We never meant for you to find out like this, we had only found out the night before when I took an at home pregnancy tests." Gabriella explained as Troy and Lucille joined her and her parents in the living room. "I called Sarah because I thought I could trust her to go get the tests instead of me being seen with them, but right after she left me after seeing the results, she told the media and they told you."
"Gabriella and I were going to tell you all in person once we were out of the first trimester to ensure that nothing was going to happen." Troy stated. "We we're planning on flying both Lucas and Jasmine up here this weekend to tell you in person."
"We see that now, and now that everything is out there, we couldn't be happy for you." Jasmine stated kissing Gabriella on the forehead.
"We've set the date for the wedding." Troy announced. "Saturday, May seventh. We're going to have it up at the Hamptons. There's a small little church up there that we booked. It can only hold about forty guests."
"But that's so small, you know that we need a location that can hold all of the dignitary friends your father and I made while he was president, plus his staff, plus all of the politicians your uncle would want to invite." Lucille said. "Protocol calls for a bigger location."
"We understand that, Mom. Which is why, we are going to have a large reception at Uncle Patrick's estate on the beach." Troy added. "But you promised that we could have the wedding we wanted and Gabriella is the bride so she should have the wedding she's always wanted. It may be small in size, but it's what we want."
"If this is what you want, then it's what you will get."
"But, you will have to do some of the traditional things. You must be married by a minister, and not one of your friends who had been ordained online."
"Already taken care of, the longtime Montez family minister will be performing the ceremony."
"What about the wedding party?" Jasmine asked.
"Shar is going to be my maid of honor and Christina is going to be a bridesmaid along with Linda and Michelle and a couple of other girls from school."
"What about your groomsmen?" Lucille asked her son.
"Daniel is going to be my best man since he has been my best friend my whole life, Matthew and Bryan will be groomsmen and I still need to decide on a couple more."
Daniel was Troy's cousin. They were born only days apart from one another, Daniel being the oldest of the two. He was the grandson of Patrick and all through their life, the two Bolton men acted like brothers rather than cousins. Troy had also become friends with Gabriella's older brothers in the couple of years he and Gabriella had been together.
"Ok, now to the most important piece of the wedding, the dress." Lucille said as she turned to Gabriella, almost giddy at the thought of Gabriella's dress.
"Lucas, let's step outside onto the balcony. I don't think we are going to be needed for awhile." Troy suggested to Gabriella's father as he got up and headed toward the door.
"Right behind you, Troy." Lucas agreed.
With a seat next to Gabriella open, Lucille moved right in. Troy leaned over the back of the couch and kissed Gabriella on top of her head before going to the fridge and grabbing two bottles of beer for him and Lucas. When he got out onto the balcony, Lucas was looking out at the view of New York City at night.
"I have to be honest with you, Troy." Lucas said. "If I didn't like you and were it anyone else, I would have kicked your ass."
"I don't doubt it." Troy answered. "But I truly love your daughter with all of my heart. And if my family decided that because of her being pregnant before we were married, she was now no longer good enough for me, I would have given up my family in a heartbeat. I would never abandon her for anything, I can assure you that."
"I have no doubt of that."
"I will make your daughter happy."
"I know you will, and that I have no doubt about that as well. You are going to make a great father, Troy."
"Even if I grew up without mine?" Troy asked.
"He would be proud of you. I never knew your father personally, but as a father myself; I can tell he would be just as proud of you as I am. You've grown up in the two years that I've known you, Troy. When I first met you I honestly didn't think that you were going to be happy with Gabriella, but you've certainly proved me wrong."
"Can I call you if I have any questions about being a father?" Troy asked.
"Of course." Lucas told the younger man. "Whenever you need advice or just to talk, I'm only a phone call away."