Soulmates Chapter 21: Keep Holding On, a high school musical fanfic

A/N: Here's the next chapter! Thank you for all the feedback; I really appreciate it!

Disclaimer: I don't own and/or am affiliated with any of the characters, the movie, music, etc. I do not own the music used in the chapters. Those are property of artists and the writers!

December 20th, 2010 10:00 am

Christmas was a mere five days away and looking around the Bolton household, you could easily see that work still needed to be done. The tree had been cut and decorated with Troy and Gabi's childhood ornaments as well as a few ornaments they had collected over the years. Presents were starting to pile up under the massive 8 foot tree.

Various Christmas decorations were placed around the house. A stuffed Santa was sitting in the rocking chair while mistletoe was hanging from the ceiling.

Gabi sighed looking around the still messy house. Her doctor had warned to her take it easy but how was she supposed to do that when her house was a mess and they were hosting Christmas that year.

Looking at the boxes of lights and garland sitting at her feet, Gabi stood before grabbing it and heading into the foyer. Sighing, she listened to the Christmas music fill the house as she decorated the stairs with the lights and garland.

"And what do you think you're doing?"

Hearing her husband's harsh tone, Gabi turned around with a deer in the headlight look on her face. "Good morning husband . . . to what do I owe this fine pleasure?"

You're not alone
Together we stand
I'll be by your side, you know I'll take your hand
When it gets cold
And it feels like the end
There's no place to go
You know I won't give in
No I won't give in

"So is this what you do while I'm at work? You sneak behind my back and decorate the house?"

Cussing him in her mind, Gabi looked innocently at Troy as he stood his ground. "You're supposed to be taking it easy . . . not becoming Martha Stewart and getting this house ready for Christmas."

"If I don't do it, then it won't get done . . ." Stubborn as ever, Gabi stomped her foot angrily at her husband.

"Gabi Christmas is five days away and you're six months pregnant with our daughter. You're supposed to be taking it easy not mad rushing around the house." Pointing into the living room, Troy gave her a look. "Go sit down for a while."

"But Troy! I wanna get the house ready."

"But Gabi . . . I don't want to rush you to the hospital with early contractions. Sit down for a while then you can do a little bit at a time." Troy followed her into the living room before sitting down beside her.

The quietness from Gabi only lasted a few minutes before her head rolled towards his and a pout accented her mouth. "I'm bored Troy!!"

Keep holding on
'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through
Just stay strong
'Cause you know I'm here for you, I'm here for you
There's nothing you could say
Nothing you could do
There's no other way when it comes to the truth
So keep holding on
'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through

Groaning loudly, he knew if his wife wasn't on her feet bustling around 24/7, then she was bored out of her mind. "Well we need to figure out what to do for you."

Sighing, she knew there was no way he was letting her off the couch. "How about we figure out our daughter's name?"

Gabi's face lit up at that suggestion. "All right . . . where's the fish bowl of names?"

"Right here." Getting to his feet, Troy took it down and placed it in between them. The ten pink pieces of paper were scattered around as Gabi picked them up.

"So we have 22 names and we need to narrow it down to like three names." Gabi started as Troy looked at her.

"Why three?"

"In case the other two don't suit her. That way we'll have options once she's born."

The light bulb clicked on over Troy's head. "Ah I got it."

"You're a smart cookie, Troy . . ." Noting the sarcasm, Gabi smiled at her husband.

"Thanks sweetie." He smiled cheesily as Gabi shook her head.

"No problem." Picking up several pieces of paper, Gabi sighed looking at the names.

"How about we tell what names we like and dislike then go from there?" Troy looked over at Gabi before smiling.

The two were silent for a few minutes until Gabi cleared her throat. "So I like Kayden, Ava, Delanee, Alivia, and Charlotte."

"And I like Averi, Elisabeth, Michelle, Meghan, and Noelle."

"And we're back at square one . . ." Gabi sighed as Troy's face broke into a smile.

"Well what names go well together?"

"How about Ava Noelle Bolton?" Troy looked hopeful at his wife.

Smiling, she laced her fingers with Troy's. "I like that one. What about Kayden Michelle?"

Scrunching up his nose, Troy shook his head. "Kayden and Michelle don't go good together. How about Kayden Elisabeth?"

"I like that one too." Gabi whined.

"How about you come up with the last?" Troy suggested as she looked over the names.

"I like Meghan Delanee Bolton . . . what about you?"

"Whatever you want babe." Kissing her forehead, Gabi sighed in content.

"So we have Meghan Delanee, Kayden Elisabeth, and Ava Noelle? Are those the names we're deciding on?"

"Those are perfect babe." Wrapping his arm around her waist, Troy drew her closer. "And we'll make the final decision, once she gets here."

"Sounds good to me." Yawning, Gabi snuggled closer to her husband. "I love you, Troy."

"I love you too babe." But as he looked down on her, she was already asleep against his chest.

Kissing her forehead, he thanked Him for everything he had. Troy smiled before watching his beauty sleep.

So far away
I wish you were here
Before it's too late, this could all disappear
Before the doors close
And it comes to an end
With you by my side I will fight and defend
I'll fight and defend
Yeah, yeah

December 24, 2010 4:00 pm

Being relieved of the constant ringing of the doorbell, Gabi finally walked into the kitchen to see her mom as well as her mother-in-law peeling potatoes and chatting away.

"Aw Gabi finally getting a free moment?" Her mom as Gabi sat tiredly on the barstool.

"Yeah . . . Troy's in the living room with everyone." Sighing, she let a yawn escape her mouth. "I'm just tired."

"You look like you're tired." Meghan observed as Gabi smiled.

Nodding, another yawn escaped her mouth. "I am . . . I haven't been sleeping very well lately. The baby can't seem to get comfortable lately."

"Your husband also spilled the beans." Looking wide eye at her mom, Gabi smiled.

"I have no idea what you're talking about." Both moms' looked at her before smiling.

"Oh really? Like you haven't been taking it easy and been bustling around getting ready for Christmas."

Hanging her head, Gabi tried to keep the smile off of her face. "But did you ask your son or son in law if he tried helping me?"

"Troy!" Hearing Meghan call caused Gabi to laugh.

"What's up?"

"You forgot to mention that you didn't help Gabi with the decorating." Meghan looked at her son with her eyes raised.

Troy immediately whipped his head over to where his wife sat. "Is that what she told you? Gabriella Elisabeth Bolton . . . that is not even right."

Putting her hands up, Gabi narrowed her eyes at her husband. "I asked you to help me but basketball was more important!"

"What are we going to do with you two?"

Gabi and Troy looked at each other before smiling. "It looks like you're going to have to follow us around every minute and make sure we do everything we're supposed to."

Leaning over, Troy kissed Gabi's lips before smiling. "Everyone's asking about you . . ."

"I'm just sitting here, like a good girl, and relaxing." Yawning again, she covered her mouth. "I think I'm tired."

"She was up and down last night wasn't she?" Troy asked putting his hands on his wife's baby bump.

"Yeah . . . she couldn't get comfortable so since she wasn't comfortable, neither was I. If you can't find me later, I'll be upstairs on our bed."

Nodding his head, Troy kissed her once again. "Tell me before you go up there."

"I will. Love you."

"Love you too." Troy said before heading back into the living room.

"You two are just as cute as you were back in high school." Meghan sighed looking at her daughter in law.

Gabi's eyes went wide before smiling. "Uh . . . thanks."

"So my daughter," Anna started before watching her daughter's eyes. "Have you and Troy decided on baby names?"

Hear me when I say, when I say I believe
Nothing's gonna change, nothing's gonna change destiny
Whatever's meant to be will work out perfectly
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Putting her hands on the counter, Gabi smiled. "We have and we've decided to keep them a secret until she's born. We have three picked out but we're not deciding until we hold her for the first time."

"That's cool. Did they come out of the fishbowl names?" Meghan asked.

"Yeah . . . Troy and I liked the names that were in there so we told each other which ones we liked the best and went from there. All three names are from that fishbowl."

The pushing open of the door caught their attention. "Finally I found you."

Sharpay walked into the kitchen with a smile on her face. "I've been here the entire time Shar. Didn't Troy tell you?"

Shaking her head, Sharpay walked up before giving Gabi a quick hug. "No! He left me to suffer in the living room with all the guys."

"Taylor, Kelsi, and Lauren all are in there as is Tess." Gabi pointed out.

"Yeah but they're in a conversation amongst themselves."

"Aww you poor thing. Well you found me, finally." Gabi smiled.

Sharpay continued with her story as Gabi let her mind wander. Smiling, she grabbed Sharpay's hand quickly before putting it to her stomach. "Feel that?"

Sharpay's face showed confusion before smiling brightly. "Is that her?"

"That's the baby . . . she's making her presence." Gabi smiled before calling Troy's name.

"What?" Out of breath, he walked into the kitchen with confusion written on his face.

"Come here."

Placing his hand where Sharpay's hand once was, Troy looked at his wife with pure confusion. "What am I supposed-" Trailing off, realization hit him.

"Our baby girl?" He was speechless as his wife nodded.

"That's her . . . she's saying her hellos." Leaning forward, Troy captured Gabi in a kiss. "Love you babe."

"I love you too Gabi."

Keep holding on
'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through
Just stay strong
'Cause you know I'm here for you, I'm here for you

7:00 pm

"Anna, mom do either one of you know where Gabi is?" Troy poked his head into the kitchen later that night.

Both moms looked at one another before shrugging. "We told her to go into the living room. She's not in there?"

"No . . . maybe she went upstairs. I'm gonna go check. The guys are on another basketball memory lane trip." Troy smiled.

Walking out of the kitchen, Troy took the steps two at a time before pausing at the door of their bedroom. The sight caused him to smile before stepping into the room.

Gabi was stretched out across the bed with her hand resting on her baby bump. Sound asleep, Gabi had a smile on her face as Duke laid against her side.

Leaning over the bed, Troy pressed his lips to her forehead before turning towards the door. Getting one more glance at her, Troy quickly closed the door before heading back downstairs to entertain their guest.

There's nothing you could say
Nothing you could do
There's no other way when it comes to the truth
So keep holding on
'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through

December 25, 2010 3:00 am

Getting up, Gabi sat up in bed before moving closer to Troy. She had been up and down all night due to the baby moving but this time it felt different.

Pushing off the bed, Gabi stood by the window hoping the cool breeze from the night would help settled the baby down but did nothing.

"Come back to bed, Gabs." Troy rolled over and looked at her sleepily.

"My back hurts."

Pushing himself off the bed, Troy came behind her and rubbed the spot her hand currently was. "Helping?"

Shaking her head, Gabi turned so that her head was leaning against his chest. "I ache, Troy."

Kissing the top of her head, Troy looked over at her. "Gabi?"

"Hmm?"

"Do we need to go to the hospital?"

Looking up into his eyes, Gabi's brown ones bored into his blue ones. Nodding her head ever so slightly, tears flooded her brown eyes. "Yes."

Keep holding on
Keep holding on

The song is "Keep Holding On" by Avril Lavigne. Uh oh!! What's wrong with Gabi? Ok so it definitely took me a longer to get back into the swing of writing this story. Summer college class is almost done so I'll have way more time to write but I think I finally know the path I want to take. Thank you to my loyal readers and reviewers; you guys are truly the best!!