A/N: So I am trying to make sure to update. As of Sons of Albuquerque, I am going to try to get to that one soon. I also started a new story, A Chosen Life, which I think is going to be a really great story. It's only an intro right now, but it is just different than my other lines (it is Troyella). Anyway, I hope you like the direction of this story since this chapter kind of tells what the future lies in store for the Bolton's. I really do love hearing your comments since they make me want to update quicker!

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Disclaimer: I only own plot and original characters!

Life's "Little" Lessons

A Bright Future

The baby was so fragile in her arms. She was scared of death of dropping the little life or all of a sudden hearing the incessant beeping of a heart monitor, hence heart failure. Above all, it was the latter of the two that scared not only Gabriella and Troy, but their whole family. Their ears were always on alert in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit like they were expecting that fatal beep. Despite the problems that the family has experienced in the past two months that sound of a lost life hasn't rung in their ears… and they wanted it to stay that way. Gabriella looked down at the young boy in her arms and then peered over at her husband, holding a smaller, yet healthier looking Bayley. They gave each other a soft smile before turning their attention back to the bundle in their own arms. The room had a scary stillness in it. At least it was for having five people, two of which could only emit small whines, identical to those of hardly a newborn. Just the mere fact that they have disproven the rules of life and medicine more times in the past two months then they could imagine was enough to send the two parents into pure shock. While reveling in their luck, a small cry filled the room, causing the parents to turn their attention to the carrier in between them. Ashtyn was making her presence known, like she always did. One of the nurses came in from the hall and walked over to the monitors, checking the stats of both patients before carefully pulling Jeremy out of Gabriella's arms, sensing Ashtyn's need for her mommy. It wasn't a normal sight to see a sibling of NICU infants in the sick room, but the Bolton's case wasn't normal, not to any standards. Actually, the doctor told them from the start that having Ashtyn in the room with her younger siblings could kick start their improvement. And oh boy, were they right.

Three weeks after the birth, Jeremy's health took a turn for the worst in a sense of his breathing and nutrient intake and at a few days later Bayley was having an even more difficult time of digesting food without acid reflex taking over. But one day, in about the fourth week, when Jeremy was put on a ventilator in order to breath, the parents decided to do a tough thing, take Jeremy off the machine so he could have a little while longer without machines attached. In other words, they were told that he was going to die, end of story. That day, the whole Bolton and Montez clan, plus friends, piled into the private NICU room and said their final goodbyes to Jeremy before he was unhooked. It was the doctor's idea to place Ashtyn by his side so she could say a proper goodbye. It was a moment no one in that family will ever forget. The nurses detached the ventilator and right when they thought Jeremy moved on, his eyes opened up. No one could explain what was going on or why it was happening, but the two, right then and there, reached out to each other with their arm, actually Ashtyn reached forward slowly and Jeremy looked straight in her eyes. From that day on, somehow, Jeremy improved; he got his breathing back, his color returned, and his nutrients levels were returning. The family had asked the doctors over and over again how it happened, but every time, they received the shake of the head and a shrug of the shoulders. No one knew, but whatever it was, they felt it was the love between the siblings. It was from that day forth that whenever there was Troy and Gabi at the hospital visiting, there was always Ashtyn.

"Shhh, Ash," Gabi's soothing voice quickly quieted the infant that was in her arms. She laid the little girl down in her arms and slowly got up from her seat. She stood by Troy's side and lowered Ashtyn down to her sister's level. "How can they be identical yet look so different?" Her question oozed confusion and sadness as they watched the two girls slowly eye each other. The differences between the two were so distinct. Ashtyn had a dark tint to her skin, her hair growing in little patches and her blue eyes full of curiosity. She had gained so much weight in the past few months. Her face was full and she had that cute baby fat that other children seemed to posses, to the doctors, Ashtyn didn't have the mark of a preemie. Then, the one in Troy's arms, Bayley, anyone could tell that she confronted problems in her existence. Her skin, although was not nearly as see through as it was a mere couple of weeks ago, still had an invisibility to it. All her little vessels and veins could clearly be seen. Her hair was in less abundance, her reflexes were slow, and above all, her eyes seemed to possess a will to live over the look of curiosity.

"I don't know honey," Troy's thumb gently rubbed Bayley's arm as she gave out shallow breaths. It was just last week that Bayley was given the okay for spending time outside of the incubator. Jeremy was just given the okay the day before, one reason why both parents were thankful for holding one child each.

"How much longer do you think I'll be?" She kept her attention on the child in her arms and the daughter trying to keep her attention on her from her father's arms. Bayley's eyes seemed to stay concentrated on Gabi's face, her expressions, and her voice. Troy shook his head as he turned his attention to his wife. The moment was silent until the nurse interrupted. It was time for them to meet with the doctor for a weekly update. Troy slowly got up and the nurse took Bayley from his arms, gently placing her in her incubator. She released a small whimper at the initial loss of her father's heat, but quickly settled back into her comfy box. Troy felt just the same way, the only difference, she had a sheltered and predicted environment, while his was nowhere near predictable. Gabriella grabbed the baby carrier after she carefully strapped Ashtyn back in and took hold of Troy's hand. The three made their way down the hospital corridor before heading into the drab white news room. It was a place that they knew all too well.

"Hello Mr. and Mrs. Bolton… and little Ashtyn." The Doctor made a beeline for the baby as soon as he came in the white room. He gently picked up the child from her carrier and rocked her in him arms. This had become a weekly event, sometimes happy, others depressing. As he gently rocked the young child, he nodded for the couple to take their seats. He slowly sat down too after placing Ashtyn back in her carrier that was on the table in front of Gabi. "How is Caleb?" he always seemed to comfort their nerves before giving news.

"He's good, with the grandparents right now." Troy answered with a shaky voice. He wanted the report, not small talk.

"Good… very good… Well, I think I have some news that the two of you are going to love." The Bolton's looked up anxiously at this statement. "The babies are doing well, their nutrients intake has increased, color looks good, and they seem to be responding to outside stimuli. With that, they only have two very big obstacles to overcome before they can leave. Both babies have to be at least seven pounds and be able to breast feed. That means no stomach tubes and three more pounds for Jeremy and four more for Bayley." The couple gleamed at the news, best so far yet.

"You mean… my babies are going home?" Gabi smiled at the news, knowing Troy was thinking the same thing.

The doctor gave a joyful nod. "Not today, maybe not tomorrow or at the same time, but sometime in the next two weeks or so."

Sharpay took a deep breath as the cold air came in contact with her bulging stomach. She was only about four and a half months along but she felt as big as a house. Kelsi was sitting by her side holding her hand as Jason was looking at the baby pictures that adorned the walls. He got distracted pretty easily. They were all pretty excited since this was the first visit that Jason could make since work was busy at the moment. It was the first time that the heart beat was going to be heard loud and clear.

"Hello everyone," Dr. Julia Harlow beamed as she came into the room, setting up the machines for the visit. "Have you had any discomfort or problems?" She started to probe around Sharpay's stomach and set up as she asked the usual questions. Sharpay just shook her head no as Kelsi's squeeze got tighter. Within a moment, Jason was back by their side and the heartbeat was filling the room. "The baby's heart sound really good." It was the only response as the Harlow quickly used the ultrasound machine to check up on the baby before wiping up the gel on Sharpay's stomach. She printed out the pictures and Jason was the first one to grab them this time. He couldn't believe it was coming true. The three slowly made their way out of the OBGYN office after making an appointment for the next following month. As they walked out the main door, Jason was enthralled by the image in his hand and the girls were into full baby talk which continued until a familiar pair was seen walking into the office as they were exiting.

"Taylor… Chad?" Kelsi and Sharpay's voices rung out at the same time as the other pair stopped in their footsteps and sent smug smiles their way. They were busted and there was no way out.

So this chapter was based around the triplets but I tried to include a little of the others and uh oh, Taylor and Chad have some explaining to do.

Review please I love to hear about your thoughts!