I apologize in advance if this is a crappy chapter. I'm tired, and my brain isn't fully functioning. :(

"The more time I spend here, the more I want to stay." Gabriella said, sitting in the spacious kitchen in Troy's childhood home.

"Really?"

Gabriella nodded, "Yes. Houston is amazing."

Troy pulled a carton of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ice cream out of the freezer and grabbed two spoons. "My family loves you. I don't think they want you to leave."

"Maybe I won't." Gabriella took a spoon out of Troy's hand. She took a big spoonful of ice cream and let out a content sigh as the spoon hit her mouth. "God, Julia is going to kill me. I need to eat as much junk food as possible and work myself to death with P90X. I have a photo shoot as soon as we get back into Cali."

"For what?"

"Valentines Day. Me, in red and pink lingerie, smizing all day." Gabriella replied. She looked around the kitchen and laughed. "Why are we sitting on the floor?"

Troy shrugged, "Because, the freezer part of the fridge is at the bottom. Easy access to the ice cream."

Gabriella stood up and pulled the refrigerator door open. "Your mom buys everything. This is the fullest refrigerator I've ever seen. Only two people live here."

"Well, Yasmine visits a lot. When everyone else visits, she goes overboard with everything. Like that breakfast we had yesterday."

Gabriella groaned as the thought back to that huge meal. "I know. That was enough food to feed the entire country to China, twice. I never thought we were going to finish eating."

"Yeah, that was ridiculous." Troy agreed, grabbing a can of Reddi-wip.

Gabriella frowned, "Are you going to put Reddi-wip on your ice cream?"

"Yeah, Montez. Got a problem with that?"

"Whipped cream goes on vanilla ice cream." Gabriella explained. "Not Ben & Jerry's."

Troy started pulling other items out of the refrigerator. "Leave me alone. You just eat your ice cream the way you want to."

Gabriella put the lid back on the carton of ice cream and handed it back to Troy. "Here, I'm done with this flavor. Put this back, please."

Gabriella stood up and reached into the pantry. Her eyes scanned the shelves and she gasped, "Let's make s'mores!"

"That's so campy."

"You suck."

"Take that back, Montez." Troy warned.

"What are you going..." Gabriella was cut off by rush of cold whipped cream hitting her face. "Troy!"

"Take it back." Troy repeated, pointing the nozzle of the can at Gabriella.

"No." Gabriella stated, firmly.

Troy shrugged. Gabriella obviously made her choice. "Alright. You brought this on yourself."

Gabriella, seeing the mischievous gleam in Troy's eyes, ran. Troy laughed and followed suit, chasing her around the island and the kitchen table.

Troy grabbed Gabriella's waist and pulled her back. "You're resistance only makes it worse, Brie."

"Let me go."

"Nope."

"I'm sorry." Gabriella let out high-pitched squeal when Troy tickled her side. "I...take...it...back."

Troy shook his head as he continued to tickle Gabriella, "It's too late for apologies."

"Stop!" Gabriella let out an uncontrollable laugh as her arms and legs flailed, wildly. She ended up kicking Troy in the throat.

"Gabriella. Shit!" Troy grabbed his neck in pain.

Gabriella sat up quickly and rushed to Troy's side. "Troy, are you alright? Did I hurt you?"

"Not at all." Troy replied sarcastically, trying to catch his breath. "Getting hit in the Adam's apple doesn't hurt at all."

Gabriella gasped, realizing where she hit Troy, "Troy, this is no time for jokes." She said, moving Troy's hand away from his throat. "I could have seriously damaged you. What if you can't talk again? I mean you can become a silent actor, but thats not good enough. I don't have a great attention span, so I probably wouldn't be able to watch. What if you can't eat again because it hurts too much to swallow? You'll have to get fed through a tube."

"Calm down." Troy said, his voice hoarse.

"You can die." Gabriella continued, standing up. "You can be slowly suffocating right now. I could be a murderer. I can go to jail."

Troy stood up and slowly walked to the kitchen counter. He left his inhaler on it.

"We have to get you to a hospital." Gabriella announced, pacing around the kitchen, completely ignoring Troy.

"Can you get me an ice pack?" Troy asked. "Please?"

"Your parents are going to kill me! I killed you!"

Troy nodded, "Ok, I'll get the ice myself." He walked back over to the freezer to grab an ice pack. He placed it on his throat.

"You can't die, Troy! That would be really selfish of you, to die. I mean, we have plans and goals. You're only 26 and I'm only 25. I am way to young to be a...what do you call someone whose boyfriend is dead? I'm not you wife, so I can't be a widow. Well anyway,..." Gabriella was cut off by Troy grabbing her hand. "What?"

"Come sit." Troy replied, sitting down at the kitchen table.

"Sit? You want to sit down? Troy you are seriously injured. I'm going to get your car keys and we can go to the emergency room." Gabriella started to walk away, but Troy grabbed her again. He pulled her down onto his lap.

"I'm fine."

Gabriella shook her head, "How are you so calm?"

"You didn't kill me, Montez." Troy told her, chuckling.

"How do you know?"

"It takes a certain amount of pressure to really hurt someone. My throat hurts a bit, but I'd be feeling a lot worse if something was wrong." Troy explained.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes." Troy replied, kissing Gabriella's temple. "Why are you so nervous?"

"Troy just because nothing happened to you, doesn't mean nothing can happen. And I'm nervous. You know I talk a lot when I'm nervous."

Troy nodded in agreement, "Yeah. You talk a lot."

Gabriella moved the ice pack off of Troy. "I need to keep you up, though."

"Why?"

"I had a concussion, and my doctor didn't want me sleeping. I just want you to stay up for maybe an hour or so, or until your throat doesn't hurt."

"Gabriel..."

"I don't want you to choke to death in your sleep."

Troy sighed, reluctantly. He knew this wasn't a fight he could win. "Fine."

"Ok, what can I do to keep you up?" Gabriella wondered.

Troy put his face in the crook of Gabriella's neck. "I can think of a few things that will keep us occupied for a while."

"Me too. Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

"I probably am."

Gabriella smiled, "Great! So, you'll go over lines with me?"

Troy pulled back and frowned, "Not what I was thinking. At all."

"A few days ago, sex was just not an option. Now it is?"

"I'm bored."

Gabriella rolled her eyes, "Come on."

"Can't we just watch ESPN?"

Gabriella groaned and got off of Troy's lap. "Ugh, sports, sleep and sex. The three S's in your life."

"Four actually." Troy corrected. "For my Super amazing girlfriend."

"Yeah right. I guess I'm going to bed since my boyfriend is being unsupportive."

"If you're so afraid of me damaging my throat, I shouldn't be talking."

"You're full of shit."

Troy stood up, "I'm tired. We should go to bed."

"No!" Gabriella argued. "You're staying up."

"I don't want to. I don't have a concussion. I can go to sleep."

Gabriella glared at Troy, "Its 3 AM. Are you really prepared to argue with me?"

"Not really."

Gabriella flashed a sweet smile. "I knew you were smart. Don't forget to clean up." She made her way out of the kitchen.

"Love you."

"You better." Gabriella called back.

"What do you want to get?" Gabriella asked, walking around The Galleria with Jennifer. "I'll get you whatever you want."

Jennifer shook her head, "No. You don't have to buy me anything."

"Sure I do." Gabriella argued. "Think of it as your wedding gift."

"No."

Gabriella rolled her eyes. "You are just as stubborn as Troy."

"Us Boltons tend to have that stubborn gene." Jennifer agreed, glancing around the mall.

Gabriella saw a Victoria's Secret store and smiled, "Come on." She grabbed Jennifer's hand. "Let's go make fun of my job."

"Don't you get tired of looking at Victoria's Secret stuff?" Jennifer questioned.

Gabriella nodded, "Hell yeah." Gabriella walked around the store and she spotted a picture of herself. She was wearing the new Miraculous Multi-way Bra. "Look at me. I look ridiculous."

"You look great."

"Thanks. At least my boobs look great. I really wish my pose was better, though."

Jennifer pulled her phone out of her pocket. "I'm going to take a picture of you."

Gabriella got another good look at the picture, and copied the pose: slightly parted lips, hand in hair, and a blank yet deep look in her eyes. The photographers always say to not look at the camera, but through it.

Jennifer snapped the picture and laughed at Gabriella, "Ok, I got it."

"How did it come out?"

"Exactly the same. You're too perfect at this."

"Its so easy. Stand and stare, with the occasional smile." Gabriella looked around and saw a crowd forming in the store. "Hello everyone."

A teenage boy walked up to Gabriella, "Hi."

"Hi sweetheart." Gabriella greeted cheerfully. "What's your name?"

"Steven. Can I take a picture with you?"

"Of course."

Steven hands his friend his camera, "Here, Elliott. Take a picture of us."

Gabriella wrapped her arms around Steven's shoulders and smiled at the camera. In another picture she gave him a kiss on his cheek.

"Steve, try not to pass out." One of the teenagers in the crowd called out.

Steven turns around and smiles to Gabriella. "Thank you."

"No problem, handsome." Gabriella replied. "Have a nice day."

The teenagers walked out of the store. Gabriella turned back to Jennifer, "Pick up whatever you want. I insist, Jennifer."

"You really aren't giving up are you?"

"You aren't the only stubborn person on earth. Now what's your bra size?"

"34C."

Gabriella looked through the drawers. "Zebra or cheetah print?"

"Cheetah, I guess."

"Great." Gabriella picked up a bra and handed it to Jennifer. "You like sweat pants?"

"I guess."

Gabriella frowned, "Jen, you aren't too much fun to shop for."

"Sorry. You really don't have to buy anything for me."

Gabriella picked up a pair of blue sweat pants and a matching shirt. "I don't care."

"I hope you and Ryan enjoy the lingerie." Gabriella said, winking, as she sat down at the food court.

Jennifer laughed, "Gabriella, you really didn't have to buy that for me."

Gabriella rolled her eyes, "It was free. That guy realized who I was and just handed it to me. I didn't actually get you a real wedding gift, like a toaster, or wine glasses."

"My mom has all that stuff already in my house for after the honeymoon. We just have to move in."

Gabriella was about to reply when she saw a pregnant woman walking towards them. She had to do a double-take when she saw the woman to make sure her eyes weren't tricking her. It was Natalia!

"Natalia! Hi!" Jennifer greeted, getting up to hug the woman.

"Hi Jennifer." Natalia greeted back. "What's up?"

"Just doing some shopping, before the big day. What about you?"

"I was doing the same thing."

Jennifer pointed to Gabriella, "You've met Gabriella, right? Troy's new girlfriend."

Gabriella nodded, "We met some months ago in Los Angeles. I wasn't paying attention and I bumped into her."

"Small world, huh?"

"Very small." Gabriella said. She looked at Natalia's stomach. "You look like you're about to pop."

Natalia put her hand on her stomach and sighed. She looked anxious. "Yeah, just a few more months."

Gabriella picked on her nervousness. Something was obviously bugging Natalia.

Jennifer frowned, "I wish you could come to my bachelorette party, but you're so pregnant."

"I know. But I will be at your wedding, so have virgin strawberry daiquiris."

"I'll see what I can do, Nat." Jen promised, looking at her watch. "Shoot, I have to go. Aaron has to get his hair cut and then we have to go to the rehearsal."

"Ok, then. I will see you tomorrow."

Jennifer grabbed her shopping bags and purse, and waved to Natalia. "Bye bye."

"Bye."

As Gabriella and Jennifer walked off, Gabriella spoke up, "You and Natalia are friends?"

"Yeah. We've known each other for years. Even though she and Troy are broken up, she's still my friend. She's great."

Gabriella let out a forced laugh, "She's...super pregnant."

"I know. She and her boyfriend had broken up for some unknown reason, but I guess they're back together."

"Good for them."

"I'm exhausted." Troy said, flopping down onto the bed, letting out a loud sigh.

Gabriella nodded, "Me too."

"I don't know why. I was the one who wasn't allowed to sleep."

"Well, I was trying to keep you alive."

"You are so paranoid, Brie."

"What you are calling paranoid, I call protective."

Troy shook his head, "That was just ridiculousness."

"I ran into Natalia, today." Gabriella announced.

"What? What is she doing out here?"

"Jennifer and I ran into her at the mall. And she's pregnant!"

"With a baby?"

Gabriella glared at Troy,"No, with a turtle. Of course, a baby."

"Wow."

"She looks like she's 7 months or so. She was pregnant when I met her, then."

"Yeah, we bumped into her like, what, 5 months ago?"

"Yeah. I think I feel guilty for being mad at her. I accused her of trying to sleep with you."

Troy shrugged, "Eh, it's whatever."

"Why do you hate her so much?" Gabriella questioned, putting her legs on top of Troy's. "What happened between you guys?"

"She cheated." Troy replied, quickly.

"You'd think she tried to stone you to death." Gabriella joked.

"She's a liar. I hate liars."

Gabriella sensed that Troy wanted to end this conversation. His firm, short, answers were a dead giveaway.

She grabbed the remote control to the television, "You want to watch a movie?"

"I'm don't think I'm in the mood to watch The Notebook or Titanic again."

"We can watch Tower Heist." Gabriella compromised. She had just put Troy in a funk and he had to get out of it.

Troy smiled, "You are amazing."

"Of course, I am." Gabriella leaned in to give Troy a kiss, when she felt his phone ring. She pulled back. "Your phone."

Troy grabbed his phone and frowned upon reading the number. He clicked the ignore button and tossed the phone beside him.

"You can answer it. I don't mind."

"Its not important."

"Ok." Gabriella said, skepticism evident in her tone. "I'll order the movie."

Troy was making a huge mistake right now. He should be at his parents house right now. Instead, he was sitting in his car, in the parking lot of a Bel-Air. He should just turn around and pretend like he was never here in the first place.

Suddenly there was a knock on the car window. Troy reached over and opened the car door on the passenger side. Natalia walked in and sat down. "Hi."

Troy sighed, "Natalia, its 2 A.M. Shouldn't you be sleep?"

"I can't sleep?"

"What are you even doing out here in Texas? You moved to LA."

"The same reason you are. Jennifer invited me to her wedding, so here I am."

"What do you want? Whatever this is, couldn't wait until my mini-vacation was over?"

"This couldn't wait. And you refuse to answer my phone calls."

"I guess after the 12th call, I had to answer."

"Whatever. This is more of a face-to-face conversation, anyway."

"What's wrong?" Troy questioned.

"I'm pregnant." Natalia said.

Troy gassed, "Wow, I didn't notice that, Natalia. Thank you for..."

"There's a really good chance you could be the father." Natalia continued.

Troy stopped talking. He stared at Natalia, in confusion. What the hell was she talking about? "Natalia, what the hell are you talking about?"

"The baby I'm having might be yours."

Troy scoffed, "Natalia, you called me with this bull?"

"Why would I lie about this?"

Troy shrugged, "Why wouldn't you? You've lied about a lot of things in the past."

Natalia frowned, "You're really going to drudge up the past right now?"

"Yeah. Your record of honesty isn't 100%."

"Ok. I'm 7 months pregnant. You and I...relapsed, 7 months ago. Remember? The bar? My apartment? Your apartment? The dates are adding up."

"I also remember you saying how much you wanted to get back together, but you weren't broken up with your boyfriend." Troy added,spitefully. "I remember that."

"I made a mistake. I cheated." Natalia confessed. "I'll admit to that. But, this is bigger than your petty feelings towards me."

"Why are you telling me this now? You're 7 months pregnant."

"I tried telling you months ago, but that girlfriend of yours was answering your phone and you changed your number." Natalia explained. "Remember that?"

Troy remember changing his number. Some stranger had somehow found out his number and kept calling him. "I remember." He also remembered Gabriella almost breaking up with him over Natalia.

"Look, I get that you want nothing to do with me. But if this baby is yours, then we are going to have to get used to each other."

"What if I'm not the father? Because, I doubt that I am."

"Then you aren't the father. Joseph is."

"What do you to do? Have a paternity test taken?"

Natalia nodded, "Yeah."

"Good. We can get a doctor as soon as we get to LA."

"We'll have to wait." Natalia told him.

"Excuse me?"

"Paternity tests while pregnant, are risky."

"People get them done all the time."

Natalia shook her head, "I'm not willing to take the risk. We'll have to have to wait until the baby is born."

"So we wait 2 months?"

"Yes."

Troy ran his hands through his hair. "Fine."

"You can't tell anyone."

"No way."

"Why make this a big deal?" Natalia asked.

"I'm not going to lie to my family. I'll have to tell them."

"No."

"Natalia, I'm not going to argue about this with you. I don't know how you and Joseph conduct your relationship, or whatever. I don't really care. But I'm not keeping this from Gabriella."

"Troy..."

"If you didn't want anyone to find out, you shouldn't have told me."

"Ok." Natalia surrendered, throwing her hands up in the air.

Troy looked at the time on his phone. "Is that all?"

"I guess. I don't want things to be bad between us, Troy. Can we remain civil about this?"

"I'll be as civil as humanly possible, Natalia." Troy replied. "We'll get the test, prove I'm not the father and move on with our lives."

Troy quietly crept back into his bedroom, trying not to wake Gabriella up. She was a light sleeper and he wasn't in the mood to answer questions. He pulled off his shoes and climbed into the bed.

What if what Natalia said was right? What if he actually fathered her child? He didn't want to be, but since when did life give a shit about what he wanted. The thought of being a father made him want to throw up. How was he going to explain this to Gabriella? He barely understood, himself. Would she break up with him?

Troy shook the thought from his head. She wouldn't break up with him. Its not like he cheated. He and Natalia were together before him and Gabriella.

"Troy?" He heard Gabriella say. Troy turned around. "What are you doing?

"Nothing."

"Did you leave the room?" Gabriella asked. "I felt like I was here by myself."

Troy nodded, "Yeah. I couldn't sleep, so I got something from the kitchen."

Gabriella chuckled, "Were you making more crappy ice cream sundaes?

"No. Just go back to bed."

Gabriella let out a yawn as her head hit the pillow, "Ok. I love you."

Troy sighed, "I love you too, Brie."