Chapter 21 – Nesting and Thanksgiving
Tugging on the Laker's shirt, I moaned, it was not fitting.
I was finally feeling up to speed, myself again except I had this terrible cough that would not disappear. I was thirty-seven weeks pregnant, so close to my due date but not close enough. I wanted to go to one of Troy's games before I had the baby and it was becoming tougher and tougher to do much. I was just feeling better so I was going out with Liam to the game.
I of course had invited Sharpay and Bentley, plus Zeke but declined. So I was just going with Liam. An outing for the two of us, Troy didn't know we were coming quite yet. I wanted to surprise him in the locker room since he didn't think I could come to a game all season, which I would just not for right now.
At the rate I was going, I was barely going to be there by tip off. Pulling off my shirt, I went to Troy's closet and dug around. I found one of his practices shirts and I slipped it on, God, I was glad he was bigger than me. I paired it with a pair of jeans and some boots. Baby girl was becoming cramped in there and there was no sign of coming early, according to the doctor.
I chewed on my lip and I then went over to my bed. Liam was sleeping, I picked him up and then I gently put him on my shoulder. I took him over to his room and he woke up. "Do you want to go see daddy?" his eyes looked up into mine. "Dada?"
"Yea,"
We hadn't seen Troy since two days ago; they played yesterday and flew back home this morning. They had a crazy schedule this week but that was about there only one. They had a few days off here and there usually but that was there only crazy one.
I changed Liam into Troy's jersey and some jeans before slipping on some shoes. I pulled on my leather jacket, I went down the stairs at a fast waddled, I then put all of the dogs away and took Liam downstairs.
Slipping a little hat over his head, her smile and I kissed his forehead. "Alright, lets go." Getting back into my car, I backed out shutting the garage door. Driving to the stadium was second nature to me, or at least it felt like it but I was uncomfortable driving.
I hated driving when I was this pregnant and I was never this pregnant with Liam since he came almost four weeks early. Feeling her move more and kick more was odd; she was growing and getting bigger. Cramped.
Rubbing my eyes, I paused at a stoplight and leaned back. My eyes were tired; I was going to get there barely in enough time. Zipping around the parking lot, I pulled into the player's parking lot. "Never thought we see you this year!" the parking attendant joked, "Well being thirty seven weeks pregnant, it isn't easy."
"Mr. Bolton didn't tell me you were that far along." I put Liam on my hip and I gave Larry the keys to the car. "High five?" Liam looked at Larry and Larry sighed, "Okay, maybe not." I smiled, "I'll see you later tonight. Thank you."
"No problem."
Moving into the stadium, I went out the court and I found our courtside seats. Troy wasn't going to like me here but he was going to have to survive. I showed my passes and the usher nodded me through. Sitting down Liam sat down in the seats I had Chad smuggle me a few days ago.
The boys were on the court warming up; I gave Liam a drink and my phone. He played on it and I crossed my legs. A smile crossed my face when Luke passed a ball to Troy and Troy went up with a layup. It circled around the hoop and sunk in.
Troy laughed and slapped hands; Liam and I were near the end of the chairs, pushed away from the court, away from the action. Troy's eyes scanned the crowd; they passed right over Liam and I but came to a screaming halt back.
His eyes were wild and a smile climbed over his lips. The stadium was becoming loud and bright. Everybody was getting ready to play and the whistle blew for captains to come over. Troy put up a finger before he went over. He wiped the bottom of his shoes and he talked. He shook a few hands before he nodded, then he walked away. He said something to his coach before walking over here.
"What are you doing here?" he asked, Liam stood on his chair and Troy picked him up. Liam hugged him and kissed his cheek. "I was going to be here earlier but I was,"
"No, I didn't think I was going to get to see you at all." He leaned over and kissed me softly. He then put Liam back in the chair. "I gotta go but are you going to stop by the locker room afterwards?"
"Yea," I told him, he nodded, "Sounds good."
He kissed me once more before rejoining the team.
Liam and I cheered the Lakers to a win. He clapped his hand and spilt some of his popcorn but he had fun. Once the final buzzer went off, I began to gather Liam's things and lead him off to the locker room.
I sat down on the couch and the players began to file in. Liam gave high-fives to a bunch of them and then jumped into Chad's arms. Troy was right behind Chad. "Hi big guy!"
Troy walked over and he pulled me into a hug. "Did you have fun? One of the first times taking baby girl to a game."
"She went a couple of times,"
"Yea well," Troy gave me a grin and he kissed me softly. Chad then let Liam climb onto Troy's back. Troy was all sweaty and his body was vibrating warmth. His jersey was half untucked and his shorts were falling. His socks had fallen down and his shoes were a little untied.
"I think I am going to head home and let him get into bed." Troy nodded, "How are you feeling?"
"Okay." I admitted, "I'm tired."
"I bet you are. Are you going to be okay driving home?" he asked, Liam climbed on his back, Troy giving a smile, "Yea, I should be fine to get home."
Troy kissed me again, "Alright, be safe. I should be home in an hour or two. I think I am going to get some treatment. My backs a bit sore." I snorted, "Preaching to the choir."
"Okay, okay," he said with a small laugh, "That isn't fair." I smiled and I took Liam off his hands. "Love yea, good game tonight."
"Thanks, love you too."
I walked back out and Larry pulled around my car. "Mr. Bolton played well tonight." Larry said, he opened Liam's door and a smile crossed my features. "Did you sneak in Larry?"
"No…" a laughed echoed out of my mouth, "Uh huh,"
Buckling Liam in, I rested my hand on my bump. My eyes closed, "You feeling okay?" Larry asked, I nodded, "Yea,"
"Do I need to get Mr. Bolton?" I shook my head, "No, I'm just a little tired."
"Well get some rest because it looks like that baby could come any day now."
"We still have a couple of weeks."
"Really?"
"December 5th,"
"Oh honey,"
"Thank you Larry," I said with a smile, I tipped him and I climbed into my car. I buckled up around my bump. "Liam, are you going to be a big brother in a few weeks?" I asked, "I dunno."
Preparing Liam was becoming hard. We tried to tell him somebody was going to live in the room next to him and we were going to have a little Alexa except we got to keep this one. It was going to be tough the first few days. Troy and I were both trying it just wasn't working, we wouldn't really know until our baby girl came.
I ran my fingers through my hair, my phone buzzed in the cup holder. I looked at it and then back at the road before answering. "Hey,"
"Hi," Taylor was awake, "I just wanted to let you know that you were a topic of conversation tonight."
"During the Laker's game?" I asked, a frown pressing over my lips. "Yea, they thought you were going to pop."
"Because I am."
Taylor laughed, "How are you not tired?" I asked her, "Are you even human?"
"Last time I checked I was,"
"Then why aren't you tired?"
"I took a nap earlier."
"It must be nice to take naps."
"Naps are always good."
"Taylor,"
"I'm sorry."
"I don't understand how you aren't tired. I was exhausted."
"Alexa mostly sleeps through the night."
"You have to be shitting me."
"She wakes up once or twice."
"So that was an easy pregnancy, huh?"
"You aren't good with those."
"No, apparently not. How in the hell does she sleep through the night?"
"I don't know I have to wake her up to eat sometimes. She likes to sleep, I mean she is related to Chad." I snorted, "Okay, well that makes a little bit more sense." Taylor laughed, "I think she is going to be rough pregnancy and an easy baby."
"Liam was an easy easy,"
"I guess he was a pretty smooth baby besides his strange things."
"Yea, his RSV and night terrors."
"Yea, those were strange. He was colic for a little bit too right?"
"Yea, don't remind me about those times."
"So he wasn't that easy."
"Compared to Sharpay, he was pretty easy. I didn't have a screaming baby around the clock except for those few weeks."
"True, I guess you are going to find out soon enough."
"Yea, unfortunately."
"Unfortunately?"
"I have to go through labor and delivery first," I joked, "Then that's when I get to be with my baby girl."
"You are freaked about how it's all going to work."
"You can read me like that?"
"Of course."
"Taylor," my eyes glanced at Liam through the rearview mirror. "I'm scared Liam is going to change from the little boy I love,"
"Maybe for a few days, he is going to have to get used to it Gabi."
"I know I just hope he comes out in the end with that same Liam attitude."
"He will be fine." Taylor reassured, "Chad adjusted, he is a child."
I pulled into the driveway, "Taylor, that's not the same thing."
"Okay, yea, that was bad."
Parking the car, I sighed, "I am going to go put Liam to bed. When do you fly out?"
"We are going to New Mexico in three days,"
"I'm sad, it's only going to be Troy, Liam and I here."
"One of your last family hoorays." She said, "You will enjoy your time together."
"Yea, we will. I don't know if we are going to do much for Thanksgiving. Just eat and be with Liam."
"It must be hard to be away from family."
"Always is."
"Well I will talk to you later. I am going to go sleep."
"Yea since you have to wake your child up to eat."
"Hey, don't hate."
I rolled my eyes, "Bye Tay,"
"Bye Gabs,"
I let Liam's face lay on my shoulder, he was almost asleep and I was almost asleep. I took Liam upstairs to his room and changed him, he was out before we even got to cuddle, and so I just placed him into his crib.
He lay down and curled up with his blanket. I kissed his forehead. "Good night baby boy,"
"Night mama,"
Liam's vocab was becoming better and better day in and day out. More words and things came out of his mouth, more understandable words.
Shutting his door, I went and changed into comfortable clothes. Moving around the room, I brushed my hair and teeth, and then I laid down into the bed. Troy hasn't been home in two nights and I had missed him next to me.
When I heard clusters downstairs, then Oreo bark I knew Troy was home. He was quiet and then Troy appeared in the bedroom. He tossed his bag onto the floor and he collapsed onto the bed. He covered his eyes and I poked him with my foot. His hand reached up to touch it. "Massage them?" I asked, he sighed and looked back at me. He then sat up and rubbed both of my legs.
I had swollen ankles and feet lately, the longer I stood the worse they were. "How is your back today?" he asked, "It's okay," I told him, my eyes were luring shut when he went a further up. I kicked him and he laughed, "I'm sorry, I couldn't help myself." He crawled forward and he hovered over me. His body lowered to kiss me, "Troy," I complained, he closed his eyes and kissed me again.
"Troy," I laughed, "I am thirty seven weeks pregnant. I am not attractive, I even have stretch marks and,"
"You are beautiful." He told me, "I don't care what you say, and you are beautiful." He whispered, I felt my cheeks heat up. I wrapped my arms around him and he made the kiss go deeper. "I missed you." He whispered quietly, "I missed you a lot." He kissed me once more and then tucked hair behind my ear.
"I miss you too."
He dropped down and he kissed me belly, he quickly found where her feet were. "Hey baby girl, only a few more weeks until we get to meet you."
He talked with her for a few more moments and I laughed, "You are so freaking cute." Troy grinned, "I know." He kissed me once more, "What do you want to do for Thanksgiving?" he asked, "I don't know, I don't want to cook a lot."
"I could cook a smaller turkey, some potatoes and anything else you want. Nothing huge."
"Sounds good but could you do all of the cooking?" I asked, his smile beamed, "Of course."
"I'll be like thirty eight weeks pregnant," I remarked, "Yea, you will be."
"Two weeks from when we will get to see her." Troy rubbed my belly, "I am so excited." I smiled with a nod, "Me too."
"How come I don't get the same vibes that I did when you had Liam?"
"What do you mean?"
"You were so excited,"
"I am excited Troy, I am just…" I paused and my eyes left Troy's. "What?"
"What if something happens to Liam or we don't pay enough attention?" Troy's thumb stroked my stomach, "Liam won't let us forget about him. Liam is going to be a helper and be a great big brother. He is going to get his attention and he is going to be just as loved, if not more. We both have such a special bond with Liam, its insane. I don't think that bond is going anywhere."
"I don't want him to change from the little boy that I have right now. I love that little boy. Your mom was telling me that on Halloween he was saying Thank you without being told. How many one and half year olds do that?"
Troy smiled, "Our one and half year olds."
A smile spread over my lips, "I guess. Do you think she will do this?"
"I mean we did raise Liam right? Well if we do the same exact thing then we will get the same thing right?"
"Oh Troy," he smiled and I pulled him close. "I sure hope so."
I scrubbed the sink and I heard a bag drop. "What are you doing?" I turned and looked to see Troy. "Pick that up." I demanded Troy eyed me and then the bag he had just laid on the floor. "I was,"
"Can you please just move it?" I became desperate and her bent over to pick it up. "Okay, okay," he walked in and he kissed my forehead. "Where is my son?"
"Sharpay picked him up so Bentley and him could play. His birthday is tomorrow."
"Oh right, his first birthday."
"Yea and they are flying out so she is having a little thing with a few of Bentley's friends which is strange because he is one."
"A play date?"
"Yea, I guess,"
"But really, what are you doing?" his eyes scanned over me again, "I am cleaning, I just have this strong urge to clean and clean some more."
"That's why it looks clean, I did just pay a cleaning company to clean this whole house right?" he put the bag down again, "Troy, please," his eyes scanned onto the bag. "Shit, okay,"
He picked it up, "I am going to shower,"
"Wait, could you use the guest room shower because I have cleaned the other one but not that one." Troy nodded his head, "Whatever you want." His eyes went wide and I broke into tears. "Hey, hey, what's wrong?" I shrugged, "I don't know, I have no idea what's wrong with me,"
"Oh the final stages of pregnancy." Troy rubbed my lower back and he kissed my temple. "I am going to go put my bag away and what time does Liam need to be picked up?" I sniffled; "Soon," he nodded, "Okay."
"I am going to keep cleaning,"
Troy smiled and nodded, "Okay." He kissed me softly and then he went upstairs. That had been my life lately. Troy had hired a cleaning company but I went right back over their tracks and cleaned again.
I only wanted to clean and it was strange as hell, I hated cleaning. Later did I find out it was called nesting, The closer to labor you got, you just needed to clean so the baby was ready for the house. Running my fingers through my hair, I finished cleaning the sink. Troy came back downstairs. "Don't you think you should be relaxing?"
"No."
"Are you going to like eat?"
"I ate lunch with Liam."
"Yea, okay, I am going to go pick up Liam and get some dinner."
"Okay, oh can you grab some Chinese food?" Troy scrunched up his nose. "I was thinking more of the little place on the corner…"
"Oh that sounds good too!"
Troy rubbed his hands together, "What would you like?"
"The norm,"
"Got it."
I busied myself further with the work of the house. I then worked my way to her nursery. I still needed to wash all of her clothes and clean everything once more. I ran a vacuum and I then looked at a small thing on the wall.
A small smile crossed over my features. I walked away and I then found my mac and sat on her bedroom floor. My back leaned against the recliner, my stomach bulging in front of me. I opened a word document and my fingers smoothed over the keys.
Dear Baby Girl,
Daddy and I don't know your name yet since we have yet to see you or even meet you. We have talked about several different names but we want to meet you first. Your older brother Liam, well, we chose his name before hand and we couldn't have been more perfect about his name but I wanted to wait this time. We went out on a limb to even found out if you were a boy or a girl. When your Aunt Taylor let us into the room, we found out you were a girl. Your dad and I were so happy about it. You will be our first girl and we couldn't be more excited. We only have a couple of weeks left and we are excited to greet you. I won't lie, it wasn't easy carrying you around for all of these months but that's the beauty of being a women. We are stronger then men in more ways then one and don't let anybody tell you different. You are special and I can't even imagine what kind of daughter you will be to us. I'm ready to hold you and be your mother. Raise you and take you shopping. Your dad and Liam are going to take care of you, nobody is ever going to hurt you and if they do, then you can always come cry on my shoulder. Your dad well, he loves me like no other and to see his baby girl be hurt, it won't be easy. Just typing this letter to you makes me excited for you. Your daddy is probably almost home with Liam and we are going to enjoy eating a dinner together. You will kick just so you are involved but you are going to be at the table with us soon. I love you baby girl, I'm so excited and you are so precious and beautiful. I can just tell. I am going to keep this letter for when you really need it. I have on for you and your brother, I will do one for every child your dad and I have together. I love you baby girl, I love you so much.
Love, Mom
I read over the note again. I had a box for Liam and baby girl, I had written Liam fives letters already. One before he was born or while I was in the hospital since he came really. I then wrote him one at three months and then six. I wrote another on a year and a random one after that. I saved it and then placed it into a file for keeps, until I really needed it. I was going to print them all out but I would wait for later.
Pushing over the laptop, I glanced around the room. It was ready, besides her clothes not being quiet clean. I only washed them once in pre fabric baby stuff, after that it went with our stuff.
I pulled her clothes off the rack and began to put them in baskets when Liam came running in. I smiled and he hugged my leg, "Did you have fun?"
"Yea!" he said with a big smile, "Good," Troy raised his eyebrow, "Food is downstairs. What's up?" he motioned around, "I am cleaning her clothes."
"Oh yea," Troy's eyes went to the laptop and then back to me. A smile crossing his features, "Okay, well I am going to feed him."
"Of course." I took the laundry basket to the laundry room and dumped it in. I looked at each other them first and looked how tiny they were. How used to Liam I was, in normal clothes and how I was going to have to start all over again.
Starting the washer, I went downstairs and I joined Liam and Troy.
"You look good." Troy mentioned, "I'm not going to lie, this seems to be the easiest part besides the anxiety and nervousness, the back aches and well not sleeping, I am feeling pretty good." Troy laughed and his eyes shined, "Well im glad you can look at the positive side of this."
I shrugged, "Just thought I would be bright about it." Troy rolled his eyes and he gave a smile. Liam ate quietly, my feet rested against Troy's legs. A smile crossed my lips when his hand rested on my knee. "Are you really going to cook Thanksgiving?"
Troy turned his head, "Yea, why?" I looked around my spotless kitchen, "It's so clean." I told him, "You'll have plenty of time to clean it after she comes."
"Of course but I don't know if ill feel like it."
Troy smiled he leaned forward. "I still have to do Christmas shopping." I screeched in horror, Troy and Liam both looked at me. "Oh goodness." I pushed away from my seat and I went to find my computer. "Brie?" Troy yelled, I picked it up and Troy stood in the doorway. "Troy, I have to Christmas shop, I mean Christmas is,"
"In a month,"
"And guess what, we are going to have a baby in two weeks," Troy ran his fingers trough his hair, "I guess I kind of forgot about that."
I pointed to my stomach, "How does one forget about this?" he smiled, "I don't forget about my beautiful wife but two weeks? That's the part that slips."
"Did you leave Liam downstairs?"
"He was eating crackers."
I pushed Troy slightly and then we both went back downstairs. A smile pressed over my lips when he wanted my attention. "What about a movie night?" I asked him, "Onsters!"
"Monsters?" Troy corrected throwing away trash. "How about a bath and then monsters?" I asked he turned his head, "Okay!" Troy took him off of my hands, "You shouldn't be lifting a twenty four pound baby."
"Troy, just because I am thirty seven weeks pregnant doesn't mean I shouldn't hold my son."
Troy leaned forward and kissed my forehead. "Of course not." Troy walked out and into the bathroom. "I guess I can get everything ready for onsters,"
Troy grabbed my hand, "You could enjoy bath time with your son and your husband, and then we can get everything ready."
I sat down on the edge of the toilet. It had been a while since I have done this. Troy had been doing it lately and I was sleeping through it. Liam stood and clapped, Troy leaned on his knees and turned on the water. "Liam, come here." Liam glanced at me before he walked over. I smiled and I undressed him. He slapped his chest and Troy and I laughed. He began to dance.
Troy blew bubbles on him, he giggled and was only left in a diaper. Troy picked him up and disposed of is diaper. Liam giggled and Troy placed him into the water. He splashed around, Troy leaned back on his heels and he ran his fingers through his hair. "I need to go get a haircut."
"You do." My fingers rested on my belly and Troy stretched. Liam showed us his toys and he gave a smile, "Troy, how am I going to do it without you?"
Troy laid his hand on my knee, "You'll do fine."
Troy's POV
Glancing over, middle of Monsters Inc., Gabi and Liam were both out. Liam was cuddled into Gabi's chest, His legs curled up into her, I smiled, Gabi's arms draped over his body. He lay their, their breathing even.
I couldn't help but think I would have a little girl here soon enough. Rolling onto my side, I pulled down Gabi's pillow, I leaned against it and I watched both of them. My arm stroked over Gabi's arm, I then rolled onto my back and I grabbed my phone. I took a picture of them. I didn't want to move Liam but he needed to sleep in his crib.
Gabi and I were trying to get a routine down; he was going to have to sleep in his room when the baby came. She was going to be sleeping in here for the first few months just like he did, Gabi was going to be exhausted and its going to be her haven.
Delatching Liam from Gabi, I picked him up and he whined, his arms stretched and he reached for Gabi. "It's okay," I whispered. He turned into me and he lay against me. He nose pressed into my body, in that moment I just wanted to stay. I wanted him to be my little boy forever. I relaxed back down into the bed and I let my hands wrap around Liam. He clutched my shirt like Gabi did sometimes, his eyes twitched.
My mind wander backed to when he was little. How we would lie on the couch like this, Gabi would sleep but Liam and I would lay downstairs, he would sleep on my chest. We bonded.
He stretched again; it was almost hard to believe that he was going to be two before I knew it. Even if February wasn't that close, he was becoming older and in the past months, he has grown. The whole tumor thing and then everything else, God, I was scared. Just thinking of everything that had happened to him freaked me out.
Holding him close, I could feel his heart thumping in his chest. I had to be the luckiest guy on the planet. A wife carrying a baby and my son sleeping on my chest, nothing could get better than this.
Gabi's POV
"Troy," he laughed and I rubbed the counter. "Troy," I warned, "Gabs, relax." He raised his eyebrows and he turned to tickle me softly. I laughed and I collapsed underneath of his hands. He supported my weight and my thirty-eight week belly. "Okay, okay, how about you go pick up Liam and do some shopping and when you get back, your kitchen will be clean."
"So is this your way of putting your very pregnant wife in the car?" My smiled wedged my way between my cheeks. He gave a big smile, "Not exactly but Liam does need to be picked up and I am working on this beautiful turkey."
"Troy, how about you go pick up your son and I will shop online." I said with a big smile, Troy wiped his hands off. His hands then went to either side of my waist, he pulled me close and he pressed his lips against mine.
"Well are you sure Liam needs to picked up?" Troy asked, I laughed, "If you think this is having sex with you? You might be wrong." He puckered his lip, "Awh, I miss you."
"If I want to induce labor, then maybe." Troy smiled, "Oh baby," I shoved his shoulder. "Why don't you go and get your son?"
"What about my turkey?"
"It will wait."
"Of course it will." He sighed and he ran his fingers through his hair. "Okay, I will be back shortly."
Once Troy was gone, I glanced around; I wanted to put the Christmas tree up today. Before Troy had to start practices again and play games. I wanted to do it today. Troy wanted to start the Turkey to let the juices start flowing. I shook my head and went downstairs into the basement. I passed by the office; the computer was on like somebody had used it recently. I frowned and stepped inside.
Troy came down here often, talk with his agent or to do some stuff. Then this is also where he relaxed. Sitting down into the office chair, I shook the mouse to the Mac and pictures popped up. It was of all three of us when Liam was a baby.
A smile spread over my lips, Troy must have been looking at them earlier. I moved out of the folder and then a picture of our maturity shots. Liam was on Troy's shoulders and Troy kissed my belly while Liam kissed my cheek. I smiled and then looked in the corner at a document. I opened it up and I read over the pages. My lips forming into a frown, "Troy, what are you doing?" I whispered.
When I heard the garage door open, I jumped and I pushed back from the chair. I ran my fingers through my hair and I went back upstairs. My eyes darted around the room and Troy came bouncing up the stairs with Liam. Liam held his jacket and I gathered him in a hug. "Hi big guy." I kissed his forehead, "Do you want to put up the Christmas tree today?" I asked his eyes grew. Troy moaned Liam then ran into the living room. I put my hand out and Troy helped me up.
"Wow." I closed my eyes, "Can you bring them up and set the tree up? After that it can just be Liam and I." Troy gave a soft smile, "Of course, since I don't want you to do it, I'll do it. If I don't do you will and that's the last thing I want."
He went downstairs and in less than thirty minutes, it was all upstairs. He had the tree set up and Liam and I began to decorate. He giggled, all of the ornaments being placed around the bottom of the tree. Bubbles and Oreo both wanted to climb it.
Nemo just lay around, doing nothing. I flipped on the fireplace and, the night was dark and the lights were shining. Liam giggled and we both played on the floor for a little bit. "What's this?" Troy asked, a smile on his face.
"Just playing." I said Troy gave a smirk before he crawled onto the floor. "The tree looks great." He said he kissed my ear and then my temple. "I think tomorrow, I am going to have Liam do something, like make something for the tree."
"That would be fun." Troy said, I leaned back into him and he kissed my forehead. Liam rubbed his eyes and crawled into my lap. My bump pushing him back, he cried trying to get closer.
I stood him up on my lap and he leaned in to kiss my cheek. "I'm sorry buddy. It will be gone soon enough." He looked at me and he gave a big smile. I then kissed his cheek, "I think it's about time for bed."
"Yea, I think it is too."
I picked Liam up and got up slowly, "I think it's hot when you waddle." Troy said with a smirk, I threw a toy at him. He laughed and I took Liam upstairs. I changed his clothes and diaper. I then settled with him down into the chair. He fussed and I read him a book. Once we were done, I held him for a little bit longer; I then placed him back into his crib. I gave him a cup of water and he kissed me on the cheek again.
"Night Liam, I love you."
"Night mama."
I walked back downstairs and I looked at Troy cleaning up. He put a toy into a basket I played with my hands. Troy turned, "Did he go down easy?"
"Always." Troy glanced up; he threw a blanket down onto the couch. "What's wrong?" he asked, I took a breath, "Troy, I was downstairs earlier, looking at all of the Christmas stuff and I went into the office to look at something. Well the computer was on and I looked, the pictures were the first thing I saw, then I found a document…"
Troy's eyes jumped over to mine, "That doesn't mean,"
"Troy, I read it, twice."
He closed his eyes, "You can't just throw away basketball."
"I wouldn't be throwing it away." Troy commented, "I would be doing what's best for my family."
"Troy," I stressed his name, "If you gave up basketball, you wouldn't be the person I love so much. You would be somebody without it."
"I know but the other night, when we were all laying in bed, I thought of how this is just what I need. I don't need the money and I don't need the fame, I just want you and Liam and baby girl."
"Troy," I embraced his arm with my hand, "We are okay. I know it's hard to be away from us right now. I know it's going to be hard it's all going to be hard but you have to do what you love. It's scary being apart but we are fine. You aren't gone that often, as often as it seem we really aren't."
Troy gave a small smile, "I just want more time with you. I have a lot of practices and time away from you during the season."
"Troy, baby, I promise, it's going to be okay. Ten years from now, when maybe you are about done then we can have this conversation you are young and youthful. You are an excellent dad and nothing could ever change that. You are amazing and I don't want to see you give up something you love."
"I don't want to give you up and I feel like that's what I do during the basketball season."
"Troy," I wrapped my arms around his waist and I let my head fall onto his shoulder. "I will always be right here, okay? I am not letting you go and you aren't letting go of basketball, not yet."
"Did I marry you for a reason?"
"I think you did…"
Troy smiled and kissed me, "Troy, just talk to me when you feel like you need to talk about this. I know Liam is going to hold you a little bit tighter and when you leave, the baby getting up four times a night and crying, yea, I am going to beg you to quit but don't…that's just a rough patch." He gave a big smile and kissed me. "Okay, okay,"
He kissed me slowly and then a little deeper. "Mmm…I love you."
"I love you too."
"Liam, what's that?" Liam rubbed his eyes and looked at the TV. "Onsters." I perked my eyes up and Troy came into the living room. He wiped his hands off on a towel, "How are my favorite people?"
"Tired," I answered, "Go take a nap."
"It's okay. Liam and I are going to finish watching the parade, maybe do some coloring, I don't know, I am not used to Thanksgiving just be us."
Troy smirked and then he tapped his head. "Get dressed, both of you, I know what we are doing for most of the day."
I exchanged a look with Troy and he smiled, "Just get dressed."
A nod, I then took Liam upstairs and changed him into a pair of jeans with a sweater. I then put on a pair of dress shoes, I kissed him and then I took him up to the room. I found a maternity sweater and some leggings to put on. I then pulled on a pair of high heel boots. "Whew, sexy momma gets hot." I turned to see Troy who was in a pair of jeans with a nice long sleeve grey sweater-looking thing.
He had on a pair of dress shoes and his hair was smoothed back. A smile appeared over my lips and Troy picked up Liam. "Come on," we all piled into the car and Troy drove for a bit until he came to a homeless shelter.
"They kind of contacted me a few weeks ago asking but I couldn't commit, so when you said you were bored…" A smile climbed over my lips, "It's perfect." We all got out and Troy grabbed Liam, we walked in and Troy seeked out the head person. "Troy Bolton," Troy smiled and shook his hand. "Mr. Cummings,"
"Great to meet you! It such a thrill for you to be here." Troy nodded, "This is my son Liam and my wife Gabi and our daughter he will be here in about two weeks!" Troy exclaimed with a smile. "Well congratulations."
"Thank you, now we are in to help for a little while! We couldn't really travel so we are bored." A smile crossed the mans face and we traveled through, they told us what we would be doing and he then stopped at food. "We are going to start serving soon so make your way around and say hellos."
Troy nodded and we did. Troy signed a couple of autographs and took a picture with an old lady who only had a camera left. A small smile crossed my lips and Liam tugged on my shirt. "Shh," I told him, he then pointed to a young lady with a little kid on her arm. He then buried his face into my shoulder. I moved away from Troy and the young lady let the bag she was holding topple to the floor. She cursed and I set Liam down onto the ground. "Stay." I commanded, "Scream if you move." I bent down and I grabbed the stuff she dropped.
"Oh goodness, thank you, oh you are pregnant." She exclaimed, her face was flustered and then we connected eyes. "Hi," I told her, "Thank you so much," she exclaimed, Liam came back over and he tugged on my leg. I picked him up, "It's not a problem. It looks like you have your hands full." She blew her dirty hair from her face, "A little bit." I gave her a big smile. "I'm Gabi by the way and this is my son Liam,"
"Carrie and my son, Brit,"
"Carrie, Brit, nice to meet you." I chewed on my lips, "Would you like some help?" I asked her, "What kind of help?"
"Would you like to grab some food? I think they just started serving? I can help make both of your plates, I just need to give my son to my husband."
"I would love that."
"Alright, I will be right back."
I took Liam to Troy and Troy gave me a look. "I am going to help her."
"Don't over due it."
"I got it."
Going back over, I helped make both of there plates and sat down with them. "How far along are you?" she asked timid, "Thirty eight weeks,"
"Oh wow, I thought you looked close but I didn't want to say anything, I looked terrible when I was pregnant but you look beautiful." I felt a blush creep on my cheeks, "I feel like a whale."
Brit kept trying to eat and play with things, I smiled and he tossed them. "I just lost another job," she spoke, "It was going so well and it was so well but I was last hired and I almost had enough for an apartment."
I felt tears gather in my eyes, "My parents tossed me out and I am so tired." I let out a shaky breath, "Do you want a job?"
"What do you mean?" she asked, "A job, a stable job," I told her, "You deserve to have a stable job."
"With who?"
"My husband, well we are both really great friends of the owner of Zeke's and if you are going to be a stable person, who can be on time and everything, he will probably hire you if we talk to him. They provide daycare as they have a son themselves. You just have to do your job."
"You would do that for me?"
"You are a mother, I am a mother who has everything and I don't like seeing this. You and your little boy deserve so much more for being kicked out and abandoned. My mom wasn't happy with me when I was pregnant before my husband and I got married. She was pissed but we should all have a stable person."
She began to cry and then I began to cry. I went over and I hugged her, "Let me call him right now, okay?" I pulled out my cell phone and I dialed Zeke's phone number. He answered after a couple of rings.
"Hi Gabs!"
"Zeke, hey, Troy took us down to the homeless shelter for the afternoon and well, I ran into a young women and she has a young son. She doesn't have a job and she needs one, do you think she could be a waitress at the restaurant. If it doesn't work out it can be all on me, I just, I wanted to give her a chance."
"What's her name?"
"Carrie, I can pay for the daycare."
"Okay, okay, have her there Saturday morning, nine am. I better not regret this."
"If you do,"
"I will blame you. Can I call you later to work out more details?"
"Of course."
I hung up and I then went back to the table. I wrote down the information of the restaurant and the phone number. I wrote the time and the date she needs to be there. "Saturday morning. They will have daycare provided, paid by me." I wrote down my name and handed her the card. Her eyes watered and she hugged me, "Thank you."
After serving more food to people, we loaded back up in the car and Troy drove home. I stared out the window and Troy grabbed my hand, "That's amazing what you did for that girl."
"She deserves more than that. She looked clean and she cared a lot for her little boy. She didn't reject the job and was grateful for it. Zeke is going to keep an eye on her and I think she will do okay."
"I'm glad. It should be amazing. You are such a beautiful women."
A smile flickered over my features. "Thank you."
"Yea, you showed me so much more of you today."
"I had fun. Liam is exhausted." Troy smiled and he looked over, "Yea, poor thing."
My eyes went back to the traveling earth until we came bumping across the driveway. Liam woke up and he rubbed his eyes, Troy took him upstairs and down for a nap. I yawned myself and Troy kissed my lips. "Go take a nap, relax. I am going to start dinner."
I smiled and took off my boots. I rubbed my belly, I could feel her body beginning to move, a smile covered my lips and went upstairs. I relaxed into my bed and I played on the iPad, Oreo curled up by my feet.
I rubbed my belly after a while, the only comfortable place for my hand to rest. I let out a long sigh and Troy came into the bedroom. "Weren't you supposed to be taking a nap?"
"Troy, I can't sleep at night. What makes you think I can sleep during the day." He grinned; he then climbed onto the bed. "I love you." He kissed my forehead and he tangled our legs together. His hands rested on my belly, a smile bubbled over our lips.
"I love you too." He kissed my nose and then he kissed me. He kissed me longer and I smiled, "What you did today, was amazing." Troy smiled, "I thought it would be good for the family"
"Yea, it was." I stroked my hand over his face, "That's why I love you. You do little things like that."
"I do those things for publicity according to my publicist, she called encouraging me to do more of that." I rolled my eyes, "Mary doesn't know what's good for her."
"Yea, she doesn't." he sat up, he knees drawn up to his chest. "I was thinking about firing her."
"Oh man, my husband firing somebody."
"She really doesn't do much. Hell you could do more."
"I am not doing it."
"Of course not."
"Good." I massaged his shoulders and he gave a big smile.
Troy served dinner and we laughed and talked. Troy Face timed Jenni and we all talked. Everybody greeted us and we all laughed. "Gabi! When is that baby due?"
"In two weeks!"
Cheers went out and Jenni smiled, "Well we are going to sign off,"
"You guys have a great dinner!"
"Of course! Love you guys!"
"Love you too!" Once we signed off, Troy and I began to clean and put everything back into the fridge and clean up. A smile crossed my lips and Troy sung to the radio. "Do you want to watch Elf or something after Liam goes to bed?"
"Oh so bad."
"I mean we could watch porn." I laughed, "No thanks, I don't really want to watch porn." Troy chuckled, I picked Liam up and we went back into the living room. I heard the lights shut off and then Troy joined us in the living room. He flickered on the fireplace and he was holding a glass of wine. I closed my eyes of my jealousy, "Sorry," he cringed, "I need something."
"Of course." I replied he gave a soft smile. He sat down next to me and he pushed back his butt. A smile spread over my lips and I intertwined our hand together. He took a small sip of the wine, my mouth craved. Liam played on the floor with his toys and it was just quiet.
The fire crinkled in the background, the TV on low. Soon it would just be a lot of crying and I am not sure by whom. He gave a small smile towards me, "Are you thinking about the future?"
"About how three weeks this could be totally different?"
"Exactly."
A big smile crossed my lips, "I am excited though. Hopefully it will be about the same except a baby on my chest, Liam playing still and a glass of wine in my hands."
"I think that's what you always get excited about, the alcohol."
"Oh shush," he smiled and he kissed my forehead. "This was a good Thanksgiving."
"It was a great one."
"What are you thankful for?"
"You, the baby, and Liam."
"Me too," Troy said, "I don't know what more I could ask for besides my family being here."
"Yea, that's all I can think of too."
"We will all be back together for Christmas."
"Or when the baby comes."
"True,"
"Are you ready?" I asked him, my eyes glanced into his, and "I am beyond ready."
So Sorry for the long wait on this chapter! I have been busy and editing is my least favorite part. Bleh. Haha, well I hope you all enjoyed the chapter! Thanks for reading!
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