So I've really got the dates messed up about Natalia's age. From now on until I change it again, her birthday will be in February. Hopefully if I get enough reviews I can update quicker!

Stand by Me

Chapter 11: Decisions

by

zacefanno1

It had been few days since the breakup. Troy was now living back in his parent's home and Gabriella was adjusting to living alone again, since her mother was always away. Troy would constantly come over to Chad's dorm room at U of A. They would sit together and talk mostly about Natalia then play some video games. Today Troy brought Natalia along.

"So how are you holding up?" Chad walked in the room carrying a box of baby snacks. "This is all the snacks I have left here." He handed them to Troy and then sat beside both him and the baby. Troy cradled Natalia as she slept and watched the movie on mute.

"I'm okay." Chad looked skeptically at his best friend. It had been weird not coming to college with Troy by his side, but he eventually got used to it.

"Really? Because it didn't seem that was three days ago."

"I'm sorry about that, I shouldn't have come here in that condition and ruin your Thanksgiving with Taylor." He looked at the newly shaven curls of his friend before continuing. "I should have known she wasn't happy. I should have tried harder."

"This isn't your fault, Troy. Gabriella had to figure out things for herself."

"I get that, but why couldn't I help her figure them out." He looked down at the sleeping baby. "Whatever, it doesn't matter anymore. I have all I need right in my arms."

101

"It was so weird. He came and got his things while I was at school and then when he came to pick Nat up, he didn't look at me." Gabriella was having a girls' night, something she hasn't had since she became pregnant. Sharpay and Taylor were painting each other's nails while she was braiding her hair. This is what a senior in high school should be doing not living with her boyfriend and raising a daughter, she thought. But then decided she wanted to kick herself for even thinking that. She loved Natalia, her beautiful baby girl that was changing looks so fast and started to resemble her father more. She would never regret her birth she just wished she had more time to grow up before it happened.

"Can you blame him?" Sharpay said from afar, breaking her thinking.

"Hey! I thought you were on my side, Pay." Gabriella turned around from the vanity to glare at her blonde friend.

"I understand both, honey." Continuing Taylor's nails, she furthered her explanation, "I'm on no one's side." Gabriella looked down and Taylor caught the sad look.

"She's right. We can't pick sides. Neither of you did wrong." She told Sharpay to pause quickly and hugged Gabriella from behind. "Just give him time."

101

Two weeks later and it was nearly Christmas. Troy was bringing Natalia back into the Montez home for the week. He knew he couldn't keep her too long because he was running out of formula. He walked into the house carrying the child in one arm and her things in the other.

"Here" Gabriella shut the door and grabbed on the bags. "I'll put these upstairs." As she went upstairs, Troy placed Natalia on the couch so she could sit up and smile at him.

"Okay pretty girl. You're home; daddy's bringing you back to mommy." He kissed her forehead and saw that Gabriella had returned downstairs.

"Troy?"

"Where's Maria?" He tried to look at her without feeling heartbroken.

"She's away on business, won't be back until the end of December." She moved closer to talk to him. "Thank you." He was taken back at her statement. What had he done to deserve it?

"For what?"

"For not being a dick about this."

"Where were you when we had the fight? I pretty much said I hated you." Once the words slipped from his mouth he knew they shouldn't. He heard a quiet gasp from her as she glanced at the floor. "But I don't okay. No matter how broken I am right now, I don't hate you. I love you so much and I'll try to respect that you don't want us together." He took her hand. "Just please keep me a part of your life."

She smiled, "of course." Troy turned to Natalia to say his goodbyes.

"Okay, daddy's leaving now. I love you." He gave her one more kiss and started for the door.

"Troy." She called after him and he turned around. "I'm sorry."

"Come do Christmas at our house. You don't need to be alone in this big house for the holidays." He gave her a small smile. "And don't be sorry. I'm sorry. I wasn't it for you." Then he walked out. Gabriella gave the door one more look before she whispered,

"You don't know that."

101

Time was going by quickly. Christmas and Natalia's birthday had passed. Troy and Gabriella have reconciled their friendship and are trying to come to terms with their situation. They both planned Natalia's birthday party and were delighted to see their one year old experience such a lovable thing. Now it was the end of February and Troy was taking Natalia to a checkup.

"Ah, Mr. Bolton here alone I see?" Natalia's doctor walked in and saw both the toddler and her father sitting down.

"Yeah, Gabriella has major exams this week. It's just us."

"Understood. Although I do with both of you were here." Troy face looked stricken.

"Why? Is something wrong?"

"No, no. Just the opposite. Natalia is developing rather well." His heart went back to his chest instead of his stomach. He watched as the doctor looked over Natalia's head.

"Then?"

"I want to bring up Cochlear Implants."

"What are those?"

"It's a developing technological device that has indeed been very successful." He handed Natalia back to her father. "If we did this early Natalia could start speaking soon and start understanding certain sounds."

"Really? That's great!" Troy smiled down at the girl.

"Yes the surgery helps audible noise pass through."

"Surgery? It's not like hearing aids?"

"No, Mr. Bolton. The procedure has placements in the inner and outer ear."

"She's only a little over a year old, Sir. Are you sure?"

"Exactly, the earlier she has this, the sooner she can be a normal child." He went across the room and grabbed a book. "Here is a pamphlet. Read this and I'll be back in a few moments."

Troy took a look at the pamphlet and read all the benefits, the procedure, and the risks. He looked down at his baby girl. Would it be so bad if she couldn't hear? He thought that's what makes her special. He loved her just the way she was.

"How did you find it?" Troy was so into his thinking he didn't notice the doctor come back into the room.

"There are more risks than there are benefits to this, doctor."

"Yes, but I can assure you-"Troy interrupted him.

"It says the procedure may not even work. We would put her through all this to have her hearing not even affected."

"Troy, there are many possibilities, but hearing something is a gift for your child."

"I'm not sure. I can't even afford this!" He was about to stand up. "I don't want her to be put in pain. She's only a year old."

"Here, I'll give you all the information and why don't you go home and talk it over with Gabriella."

"Okay, but I think she'll agree with me on this one."

101

"They can do this? Troy did exactly what the doctor said. He waited until Gabriella was finished with school and then went over to talk to her. After hours and hours of researching the topic he was still skeptical.

"Yeah."

"This is great." Troy saw her eyes light up with excitement. "Natalia can be like normal kids!"

"What?" He couldn't' believe what he was hearing. "You want to do this.

"Of course! She will be a normal little girl!"

"Did you see all the risks? There's a page full!"

"Troy, just because they have risks doesn't mean it happens often. There are risks everywhere!"

Shaking his head, "I can't believe this. This is a dangerous procedure!" He noticed Gabriella had stopped listening to him.

"I can't wait to tell mom. She will be so happy about this!"

"What? No. We are not going through with this." His mind was going to explode. How could she want to do this?

"Of course we are."

"We can't even afford it!"

"Pssh," She walked around the couch to pick up things. "Mom would be happy to loan us some!"

"Listen to yourself. Do you even care that it could seriously hurt our child?"

She stared up at him. Her facial expression changed to an angry one, "Of course I do! Are you saying I'm a bad mother?"

"No, I'm saying were not doing this! I'm not going to agree to it."

"You don't have to. I'm her mother and I can say what's best for my daughter." She turned her back to him.

"And I'm her father!" Troy went up to her and then was interrupted.

"Troy, do you want her to resent you? Do you want to be the reason she can't be normal?"

I already am! He wanted to scream. "I want here to be happy. I want here to have everything!" He sat down on the couch and leaned his head against the arm rest. "I'd love for her to hear me tell her bedtime stories. I want her to hear you sing her to sleep. I want her to live life to the fullest."

"Then why can't you see this is for the best?" She watched him look down then into her with his deep blue eyes.

"I'm scared, okay? I'm scared you'll get your hopes up and then be let down if it doesn't work." He stood up and leaned against the table. "I'm scared that she's going to get hurt. I can't lose her. I'm so scared that I will, since I've already lost you." He looked up at her and saw tears in her eyes. She reached up and placed her hand on his hot cheek.

"You haven't lost me, okay? I'm right here." Her breath caught in her chest as she watched his head turn and kiss the hand that was on his face. Before she could stop herself, she leaned up and kissed him slowly.

To her surprise he returned it before whispering, "I've missed that." He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close.

She smiled sadly, "I shouldn't have done that." She placed her hands over his to move them. "I'm still trying to think about things." Her heart broke as he nodded and ten turned away. "Don't be like that!"

"I love you Brie- to the moon and back. Why do you keep playing with my emotions, huh?" He looked her in the eyes before she hugged him and replied the three words he had wanted to hear for so long.

Against her better judgment she leaned up to peck his neck, then his chin, and after she pressed her lips against his, hard.

101

It had been a couple of days since they had talked about the treatment. Troy was still undecided. He had so many things going through his mind. He wanted to go to college, provide for the girls he loved so much. He just didn't know how. Now he was at home being pestered by his sister.

"So, are you back together now?" Sharpay asked for the hundredth time. He shrugged. "Well. It's not like you to sleep with someone and not be." He looked at her shocked.

"How did you know?"

"Sweetie, Gabriella kisses and tells!" She laughed and hugged her brother. Soon he joined in.

"I feel like we're getting there."

"Sex complicates things, Troy." She hit his shoulder, "Silly boy."

"You think I don't know that? One minute she's telling me she still doesn't know what she wants, the next we're in the bed all night." He laughed at Sharpay's face. "I don't know what she wants."

"Well, what do you want?"

"I want her, all of us to be a family again, officially. I hat not seeing her eyes twinkle when she's around Nat. I love her so much." He leans back against the bed.

"Then tell her, bro!"

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