A/N: sorry it's late but it's been so hectic in my life at the mo. basically i have seven more weeks of school including exams so i need to spend time concentrating on those. i'm gonna try and update if i can but if not, once exams are over this story will then take priority so hang on in there with me! (:

enjoy this chapter, sorry for the lame ending!

"Troy, do you think I'm showing?" Gabriella hissed quietly as she noticed another woman with a buggy smile over at her. Her hands pulling her top down self-consciously.

"Not really Gabs – hey!" He pulled her hands away from the bottom of her jumper, clasping them both in his so she couldn't escape. "You look beautiful. Stop worrying. And besides, what if you were? What does it matter? You're having a baby, my baby, I think that's just about the coolest thing anyone could ever do." She smiled, his words causing calm to wash over her almost immediately. Why was it that he always knew what to say?

She smiled at Jack and Lucille who were making their way over, their hands clutching trays of food. Despite lots of protesting from Troy, his mom had insisted that they eat lunch at the mall so that she could buy 'a few things for Gabriella and the baby along the way'. What Gabriella hadn't expected that she would be dragged through countless baby shops, having to explain everytime Lucille picked out something blue or pink that she didn't know the baby's sex yet so she couldn't help with choosing which one and that she was really sorry. Not that she was complaining of course, she had enjoyed being spoiled for the past two and half hours and no matter how many times Jack complained (with a wink in her direction) about being dragged into yet another shop and the fact that he had to carry all the shopping bags or Troy complained because Lucille was spending too much money on things that he could have bought instead could ruin her good mood. She smiled as Lucille placed her order in front of her. Okay so if people didn't know she was pregnant before, she sure wished they knew now. Two cheeseburgers, a large coke and large fries were a bit too much for just one person of her height after all.

"Mom, seriously. We're going out for a proper dinner later and I'm paying. I feel bad that we've come to stay with you and you're paying for all of this plus all that stuff you just bought."

"Nonsense Troy." Gabriella giggled at Troy's face as his mom cut him off, "I'm your mother and you're my only child. I'm allowed to treat you every once in a while. Plus Gabriella's carrying my grandchild that gives me an even bigger and better reason. Now eat your burger before it goes cold." The moment Lucille turned to Jack to remark on something she felt Troy's breath near her ear.

"I'm beginning to wish we hadn't told her about the whole baby thing. She's using it against me every chance she gets. It's not fair!" Gabriella giggled as she turned to face her boyfriend who seemed to be pouting slightly.

"Oh babe, it's only cos she loves you and like your mom said, you're her only child and this is her first grandchild, she's bound to be excited. Just let her have her fun will you?"

"Fine."

"Troy…" She said warningly, a smile still gracing her features at how silly he was being knowing really what this came down to was the fact that he felt guilty that he wasn't paying.

"I said fine." He paused before continuing, "It's just that I feel bad her spending all her money on this stuff when I'm this celebrity basketball player who earns ridiculous amounts of money and I can be paying."

There it was. Gabriella shook her head at his reasoning. "That's what makes it so special. Knowing your mom bought this stuff because she wanted too, not just because she could, shows that she cares." She smiled, looking over at Troy as he considered what she had just said.

"Does this mean that you feel everything I buy for you is just because I could, not because I wanted to?"

"No." She shook her head, trying to explain the difference, "Troy, you know when to use your money and when not to. You're not one of those people who wave it round, buying anything and everything just because you can. The little things you buy for me are because they reminded you of me or the special moments between us, not because you felt the need to buy me something just because you haven't bought me something in a while. That means a lot to me, really it does. Just like when I get little things for you and you get that look on your face, which shows you really care that I care. I get what you're feeling now about the baby things 'cos they're pretty much a necessity but stop worrying about your parents and their money. If they wanted your help, they would say, okay? You need to let other people put their money to good use too."

"Now I feel like an idiot." She nodded her head.

"But you're my idiot and that's what makes you special. Just promise me you won't say anything else to your mom about buying this baby stuff?" He nodded, his eyes flickering back to look straight back into hers.

"Sorry Gabs."

"Apology accepted." She smiled, placing a quick kiss on his lips, "Now I suggest you eat your burger before it goes cold like your mom said." She giggled as she turned back to her food, Troy sticking his tongue out at her childishly before doing exactly the same.

"Now kids," Jack began, "after lunch it's up to you what you want to do. Troy, it seems, will not take no for an answer to this dinner he has decided we're having tonight but we have an entire afternoon to kill. I'm trying to think what we haven't shown Gabriella about Albuquerque yet – the cinema? the park? the zoo?"

"You have a zoo?" She didn't think she could get more excited if she tried. The last time she had been to a zoo was when she had been about twelve, a cheering up present from her parents after her Grandpi had died. Needless to say she hadn't enjoyed it much and so had blocked most of it from her memory.

"You want to go to the zoo?" Troy grinned at her causing her to smile and nod enthusiastically back.

"Yeah!" She glanced back at Lucille and Jack who were also smiling at her enthusiasm, "I mean the last time I went to a zoo was when I was like twelve, I don't really remember it all that much 'cos I've blocked most of it from memory due to the things surrounding why we actually went so if it's possible can we – oh!" She stopped, placing her hand on her stomach and glancing down, frowning.

"What? What's wrong?" She glanced up at Troy whose face had changed from happiness to a look of worry.

"Nothing, it's just I thought…" She looked over to Lucille who was smiling, seemingly understanding what was happening. "Is that even possible yet?"

"How far along are you Gabi, honey?" She mentally calculated for a moment before speaking once again.

"Sixteen weeks."

"Then it's very possible. I'm just surprised you felt it this early cos it's your first."

"Well I don't know… I mean, it was just a little tap but it felt like it was…"

"What?" Troy broke in, looking frustrated now, "What's going on? What are you two talking about?"

Gabriella smiled, turning back to look at her boyfriend. "I think our baby just kicked for the first time."

Xxx

Step three – go to lawyer and sort out divorce proceedings…

"So Miss Evans if you just sign here… and here… and here…" Sharpay sighed as she finished her final signature on the papers in front of her. Mr Jackson, as nice as he was, wasn't exactly the type of man who could deal with her bursting into tears at any minute which was precisely why her other hand was clutched in Ryan's. She had to be thankful that he had yet to comment on just how tightly her fingers were curled round his. She knew for a fact that her nails must have been digging into his palm for at least ten minutes by now.

"Well I think we're done here. Unfortunately you and Troy did not sign any pre-nuptial agreement but from the agreements that you have come up with here, I don't see any reason why he wouldn't agree to them. You shouldn't have anything to worry about Miss Evans, nothing at all." She smiled tightly at him. Her eyes flickered over to Ryan for a moment, silently communicating her thanks to him.

"Thank you so much Mr Jackson," She turned her gaze back to the older man in front of her, "You've been a great help."

"Oh no problem at all. My pleasure." Sharpay stood up, grabbing her bag whilst also letting go of Ryan's so that she could place the divorce papers within it. "If you need me to go through anything else either with you or with Mr Bolton, I will be happy to."

"Thank you." She smiled, genuinely this time. They had decided near the beginning of the meeting that she would visit Troy and get him to sign the divorce papers. She had smiled wryly at the thought that it would be her version of peace offering to him and Gabriella. Besides, it would help tick another box of her 'to do' list. After shaking Mr Jackson's hand once more time and bidding him goodbye, she left his office with Ryan trailing behind her. She chose to ignore his constant folding and unfolding of his hand. It was only once they were back in the comfort of her pink convertible that she breathed a sigh of relief. A single tear rolled down her cheek at the thought of what she had just done before she wiped it away almost as soon as it had appeared.

"It's okay you know Shar." Ryan smiled encouragingly at her, "You're allowed to cry every once in a while. I think signing divorce papers is one of these times."

She shook her head, "Yes but I'm not feeling the need to do so. Truth be told I'm kinda more relieved than upset. It was too much effort being Troy Bolton's wife, being the Sharpay Evans that I had created rather than who I am. I think in signing those divorce papers, I'm finally letting myself be free." She grinned, glancing over at her twin who was mirroring her exact expression.

"Too much cheese?" She guessed. His head nod was his reply before they both burst out laughing.

"Shar, seriously. I think this new-old you is awesome and all but can we tone down the cheese factor? I don't know if I can deal with that!"

"Sure thing." She replied, still giggling as she put the car into gear and made her way out of Jackson and Co. Lawyers car park. "Right, Ry. Do you fancy reading out the list for me?"

"Step one – sit down and sort things out with Ryan. Check." He crossed through the first line of writing with a pen that he had also found in her purse. "Step number two – delete all contacts I no longer want in my life." She watched him glance over at her out of the corner of her eye.

"Check!" She said, smiling as he crossed out another line of her writing.

"Step number three," He continued, "go to lawyer and sort of divorce papers. Check." Another black line added to the sheet. "Step number four, go through house and gather things into three piles – keep, Troy's and get rid. Are we doing this now?" He looked over at her disbelievingly.

"No." She shook her head, causing him to look relieved for a moment, "We're only starting it today. This, I reckon, is gonna take the most amount of time and I want to do a good job." She looked over to Ryan once she realised he wasn't going to answer anytime soon. The horrified look on his face caused to her to burst out laughing once again.

"Chillax Ry. I know how much you love sorting things out and all those house makeover programmes, this should be a dream come true to you." She finished her sentence as signalled left back into the familiar drive that she had once called home.

"Yeah but your house is huge." She watched as he indicated with his hands, the car coming to a stand still. "It's gonna take weeks!" She shook her head, getting out of the car and heading round to the boot where she had placed a load of boxes that she had found in Ryan's garage from when he had moved out of his old house.

"My plan is for it to take a week at most. I don't have that much time, my life needs to be sorted by the time Gabriella has their baby." She shook her head again as Ryan's eyes widened from above the pile of cardboard she had placed in his arms.

"That's your time scale? Troy's baby?" She nodded again, slamming the boot of her car and making her way over to the front door, placing her stack of boxes down so she could open it with her key. Taking a deep breath as the door swung open, she crossed the threshold. The familiar smell putting her senses on alert even though she knew he wouldn't be here.

"I figure it's a good one. If not then we'll start by saying that this whole house thing needs to be mostly done by my interview next week, reckon we can do that?" One nod of her brother's head was enough for her.

"Good. Right, I reckon we should start with the basement and work upwards, what do you think?" This time she didn't even wait for an answer, her heels already halfway down the stairs before Ryan caught up with her, muttering lines that mentioned her never changing her attitude towards him. Something which couldn't help but make her smile.

Xxx

Their baby had moved.

He or she had moved and now his mom and girlfriend were having an extremely long conversation about how amazing it was to feel it for the first time and truth be told, he was starting to feel a little bit left out. It was his baby too so why was he not feeling so happy about this part? He glanced over to his father who shrugged before indicating for Troy to follow him as he stood up and began walking out of the food court. Placing a quick kiss on the top of Gabriella's head, he stated that he would be back soon and willingly followed.

"Troy," his dad began as they reached the fountain in the middle of the mall and took a seat facing it, "talk to me."

"Well, " he took a deep breath before revealing what he was feeling, "I just feel a little bit left out. I mean, that's the first time our baby's kicked, ever. The first clue that he's actually alive and not just a bunch of cells and I don't feel like I was part of that moment at all. I feel like I've missed out on a really big part of the whole process, kinda like missing the final shot at a championship game or something."

He sighed, running his fingers through his hair, waiting for Jack to speak.

"I was exactly the same the first time it happened to your mom when she was pregnant with you. I get that you don't feel like you're a part of the process but you just need to hold on in there and wait. I guarantee that your son or daughter will kick again, countless times and one of those many will be the first time Gabriella will grab your hand and you two will be able to share that special moment that you're dreaming of now. If anything you should count what just happened back there as a blessing. Gabi knows now that the baby will kick again at any moment, she'll be constantly on a type of look out now, waiting so that she can share it with you."

"You think?" He looked over to his father for confirmation like he had done many times before when he was younger.

Jack shook his head. "I don't think, Troy, I know. You're gonna have to trust me on this one okay?"

Troy nodded, suddenly feeling a million times better than he did a few moments ago.

"Now what's this whole 'he' business? You and Gabriella have both let slip a couple of times today about this gender thing yet you're both saying that you didn't find out when you went for your scan." Troy's hand subconsciously went to rub the back of his neck, remembering their conversation from earlier on in the day.

"Well, me and Gabs were talking earlier and despite what others, mainly Chad, say about wanting a goddaughter to spoil we both want a little boy first so he can be the big brother to any other kids we may have in the future. I swear we haven't found out the gender and just haven't told anyone about it yet."

He watched as his dad's face slowly transformed into a grin. "Do you know me and your mom said exactly the same thing."

"Really?" Troy grinned back, "Erm, dad, how come you and mom never did have anymore kids? If you don't mind me asking that is!"

"Course you can ask son! Truth be told I think we just got too caught up in our lives to have another one. You were perfect to both your mom and me and by the time we finally got round to even considering having another baby, it seemed a bit too late for us both. Besides, we were happy enough as it was with just you." Troy's grin widened.

"So you don't miss not having your own basketball team?"

Troy laughed along with Jack for a moment, "No, not at all. Besides, I'm hoping you and Gabriella will make up for that! Reckon you guys can manage?"

"Dad!" Troy groaned, knowing what his dad was insinuating but he couldn't help but smile anyway. "I shall try my best! You may have to help me get round Gabriella first though!"

"Get round Gabriella for what?" Both men whipped round at the sound of Lucille's voice.

"Yeah, get round me for what?"

Troy shook his head. "Nothing you don't already know babe."

He smiled as she groaned, placing one hand on her slightly rounded stomach. "Is this about your basketball team again?" He nodded, causing both his parents to laugh. "It's a good job I love you Troy Bolton." She added, walking over to him as he held out both his arms so she could sit on his lap.

"Well then it's a good job I love you back isn't it Miss Montez." He said, placing a kiss to her lips.

"Now, not that I want to break you two lovebirds up…" Troy groaned, placing his head on Gabriella's shoulder as his mom spoke up, "but I do believe Gabriella here wanted to go to the zoo. We do have all afternoon to kill after all." Troy felt Gabriella nod.

"We'll catch up with you Lucille. Meet you back at the car?" Troy only looked up once he was sure his parents were well out of sight.

"Are you okay?" Gabriella asked him, her face showing only concern as her eyes searched his.

"Yeah, I'm fine." He smiled. "I just felt a bit out of it back there with the whole kicking thing but then my dad said a few things to me about when mom was pregnant with me and I'm okay now."

"You sure?" She checked, causing him to smile at her worry.

"I'm fine. Just promise me that as soon as our little baby kicks again you will grab me as fast as you can so that I can share it with you."

"Troy, that was my plan all along!"

"Good." He grinned along with her, placing another kiss to her lips, which quickly turned into a mini make out session.

"Troy…" He heard her breathe out as they paused.

"Hmmm…" He answered, resting his forehead against hers before opening his eyes to find her staring straight back at him.

"I do still really want to go to the zoo sometime today." She bit her lip in that cute way of hers that he found it too hard to resist placing another kiss to her lips.

"Well then," He said as soon as they broke apart again, "we best go catch my parents up. Gabriella Montez, you have a zoo to see!" She giggled as he finished, standing up and grabbing his hand so that they could walk side-by-side back to where he supposed his parents were waiting by their car.

"Troy…"

"Yeah babe."

"I'm sorry you felt left out earlier. I promise next time it happens we can share it together." He smiled over at his girlfriend who actually looked guilty.

"Gabi," He pulled her to a stop next to him, "It's fine and it's totally not your fault so stop beating yourself up about it okay? Dad says it happened to him too so I guess it happens to every single one of us about-to-be-a-father guys. I'll share it with you one day, it just so happens that that wasn't today."

"Okay." She smiled, looking visibly more relaxed. "Love you."

"Love you too, Gabs. Now, let's get you to this zoo."