Hello everyone, I know you've all been waiting for this chapter as I left it on a rather tense and exciting note on the last one. I've been planning this through in my head and I hope it all turns up okay when I write it down for you.
Also, I'm glad you all liked the confirmation ceremony of Gabriella and Troy's vows. It took a great deal of work so I'm thrilled that you all enjoyed it.
Anyway, another chapter comes and goes.
Chapter 36 – What An Experience
SHE looked mildly confused at her state. Troy stared across at Gabriella blankly, he too could not recall what was going on…but at the same time his mind was yelling frantically 'Move idiot! She's going to have your baby!' Her legs began to tremble and her face twisted in agony, finally coming to his senses Troy made his way to her and grasped her arms making her look at him.
"Right, let's get you settled onto the bed okay? 'He told her tenderly, "I don't want you to be uncomfortable."
"Tha…Thank you." She stammered in pain.
Troy helped Gabriella over to the bed, there he supported her onto it whispering words of reassurance to her as she whimpered and murmured in displeasure. Troy propped her up on a silhouette of pillows, he kissed her forehead softly.
"Right. I'm going to get some help. Do you think we'll be able to get you to the hospital?" Troy queried as she panted.
Gabriella shook her head, "I…I…can't move. I…I don't want to move, 'she cried, "it hurts too much."
Gabriella moaned in pain, arching her back as another surge of agony coursed up her back. Troy took hold of her hand smiling calmingly.
"Everything's going to be alright Gabi, I promise you." He told her.
Gabriella blinked back tears, "I…I'm scared Troy."
Troy touched her cheek, rubbing his thumb against her soft skin, letting her feel she was not alone and that everything was going to be okay.
"Don't be afraid beautiful, I'm here…and I will be every step of the way. Okay?" He exclaimed.
They locked eyes, Gabriella's brown orbs like pupils met Troy's and there was an understanding between them for a brief moment. Gabriella nodded finally breaking the silence.
"Okay." She relented; Troy got up and left the room shouting that he would be back.
Gabriella gasped as another surge of pain shot up her spine and then back down again. The sensual sounds of the party going on downstairs were like a blur, she hardly heard them. She groaned, I carry the baby this far and this is the pain that comes at the end of it, she thought to herself.
Her ears caught the sound of footsteps on the landing, whimpering somewhat she managed to call, "Troy?"
The door swung back open and there Troy stood along with their anxious mothers. Sarah rushed to Gabriella's side and touched her forehead lovingly, Sojourner looked alarmingly terrified but came and stood at her daughter's side watching her fretfully.
"Mom, I don't think she can move. She's in too much pain. What should we do?" Troy implored.
Sojourner and Sarah looked at one another, "We'd better phone for an ambulance, 'Sojourner suggested, "Sarah would you?" She asked over a stifled scream from Gabriella.
As Sarah went to phone the ambulance Gabriella turned to her Mother crying, "Mom…I'm…so…so…scared. It really hurts."
"I know honey, I know." Sojourner crooned, she turned to look at Troy, "How long has this pain been going on for?"
"I don't know. She's been wincing and holding back tears all day. I thought it was just cramps. She's not due for another week. If I'd known I wouldn't have allowed the wedding to have gone –" Troy exclaimed but Gabriella cut him off.
"No, 'she breathed, "I wanted to…ah…get married. Not even going into labour was going to sto…stop me." She hissed her eye's shut tight with agony.
Troy looked at Sojourner seriously, "I think she'll be wanting Taylor. If I can remember she wanted Taylor and I to be her birthing partners. Will you get her please?"
"I'll be right back." She answered nodding.
As Sojourner left the room Troy turned to Gabriella and smiled kissing her hand adoringly. Gabriella laughed lightly her face the picture of pure pain and confusion.
"So much for a wedding night huh?" Gabriella whispered, "I'm sorry."
Troy stopped her, "Hey, don't say sorry. Don't apologise for this. You've nothing to be sorry for. Heck, the baby will be the best wedding gift ever." He said lightly.
Sarah and Sojourner returned together and with Taylor hot on their heels. Taylor looked rather distraught, she was holding up the bottom of her pink dress so she would not trip over it. Gabriella gave her an agonizing smile and Taylor came to her side.
"You holding in there honey?" She asked her.
Gabriella nodded, "just about. Where's the damn ambulance?" She snarled, she was obviously distressed.
"It's coming. Be patient." Sarah told her.
Gabriella glared at her, Sarah backed away, the venom in Gabriella's eyes was enough to poison a room full of people.
"This baby isn't going to be patient! Am I surrounding by incompetence!" She screamed.
Troy turned to his Mother, "Mom. Is she supposed to be like that?"
Sarah offered her son a half hearted smile, "Most women are sweetie. I'm surprised she's not throwing things yet, I know I did when I was giving birth to you." She replied.
Gabriella shrieked with pain. She turned on her side whimpering and crying.
"Troy, please, 'she muttered, "It hurts…a lot."
Troy took her up in his arms, holding Gabriella tight into his embrace, kissing her cheek softly and almost tasting the agony she was experiencing through the saltiness in her tears. Her body quivered under his hold, Troy could feel his wives irritated movements; every whimper she gave was unbearable to him. He would trade places with her in an instant; Troy was practically helpless to her.
"Hush, hush. I'm here." He told her.
"I want to push, 'she argued with him, "I want to push so badly, 'her eyes rolled to the back of her head, the pain it seemed was excruciating, "please, make it stop. I want to push!"
Taylor gasped and suddenly grasped Gabriella by the cheeks making her look at her forcefully, "No! You can't push! You're not allowed to push."
Gabriella's eyes appeared vulnerable, she licked her lips, sweat trickled down her face. She moaned clutching her stomach.
Troy look at his Mother, his eye's filled with terror for his wife safety.
"Can't we do anything? Isn't there anything to stop the pain?" Gabriella writhed next to him; she turned out of his grip, struggling to maintain control of what was happening.
"Not until the Ambulance arrives, 'Taylor shook her head, she turned to look at Gabriella seriously, "and you must not push, you can't…
"WHAT'S going on in there?" Jack asked from outside the room which was occupied by most of his family, he turned to Chad, who was closest to him. All of the friends were lined up against the wall, Chad was the last.
"It's Gabriella, 'Chad explained tugging at his tie nervously, "she's in labour."
Jack's jaw dropped, "What! Where's William? Where are Sojourner and Sarah?" He demanded.
"Jack? I'm up here." Came William's weary voice. Jack peered up the stairs, there William stood anxiously, squeezing his hands, shuddering.
Another scream sounded from the room and William winced, it was obvious he didn't like Gabriella being in pain. Jack came to stand at Williams's side, looking equally as anxious. Kelsi and Jason shifted beside them awkwardly; they could almost feel the panic resonating off the terrified father's.
"So this is it?" Jack breathed.
"Yep!" William nodded.
"We're going to be grandfathers, 'Jack muttered, "Our first grandchild."
"Yep!" William answered again robotically before they stood in silence, feeling utterly helpless as Gabriella's strangled cries filled the house…
"GABI, 'Troy whispered wiping away the beads of sweat from Gabriella's forehead, she was still rolling around in pain, fighting not to push her child into the world, "the paramedic's are here."
"Thank the lord." Gabriella cried gratefully, she didn't know how much longer she could stand the pain.
"Everything's going to be okay now." A gentle voice whispered to her, Gabriella turned; her eye's burning with tears to find a rather kind, sweet looking young man in a paramedic's uniform smiling down on her.
"I…I can't move from this room…I…I feel…like I'm paralysed." Gabriella stuttered, her teeth were chattering with fright, her body was trembling, convulsing and then relaxing, convulsing and then relaxing. It was torture.
"It's alright sweetie, we're here to make this easier for you, I'm Tyler." He said sympathetically, introducing himself.
The woman beside him, his partner with auburn hair tied back into a neat ponytail smiled, "And I'm Jennifer but you can just call me Jenny. Your Mother tells me you're Gabriella?"
Gabriella nodded though she hardly thought this was the time to be exchanging pleasantries. She was about to give birth!
Jenny turned to Tyler importantly," It looks like we're going to have to deliver here. We'll see how far the cervix's is opened?"
Jenny nodded, "Okay honey; don't be afraid, I just want to see how many centimetres you are." She told her soothingly.
The woman was gentle with Gabriella; she made sure no one was disturbing her while examined her. Gabriella remained quiet, fighting back tears.
"She's nine centimetre's, the baby is ready." She told Tyler.
Tyler sighed, "Okay Gabriella, this is what you have to do, when you have your next contraction I want you to push okay. I'm counting it down as we speak, we have about fifteen seconds."
Gabriella nodded and Troy was by her side holding her hand, "I'm…I'm scared." She muttered again, Troy had heard her say this over and over and he didn't know how to comfort her.
"Ready, five, four, three, two and one. Push Gabriella." Jenny ordered and Gabriella began to push, screaming and moaning in pain. Her face was contorted as Jenny and Tyler encouraged her, Troy felt as if his hand was about to fall off, Gabriella was squeezing it was tremendously hard.
The contraction ended but it felt as if it had lasted for hours to Gabriella. She collapsed back in pain panting like a dog.
"You're doing well, 'Taylor told her, Sojourner and Sarah had left the room, too disturbed by seeing Gabriella in such agony, "Keep it up."
Gabriella wheezed, "Never…ever let Chad…get you…pregnant Tay." She spluttered and Taylor chuckled.
"Right, your next contraction is coming Gabriella, are you ready to push again?" Tyler asked looking at his watch.
Gabriella heaved another big breath and gulped it down. She shook her head frantically.
"I…I can't." She struggled to say.
"You must Gabriella! You must." Troy said firmly.
Gabriella glared at him, "You're not the one giving birth!" She shrieked at him and Troy recoiled for a moment.
"Ready and push!" Jenny ordered again and automatically Gabriella began to push again, screaming.
"IT HURTS! IT HURTS SO MUCH!" She screamed, Troy watched her, her flushed cheeks, her eye's streaming with tears, her hair ruffled, she had never looked wilder.
"You're doing so well, keep pushing." Tyler encouraged.
"I CAN'T!" Gabriella moaned and she fell back, her head hitting the pillow, her chest pumping faster than a bullet from a gun.
"Alright, breathe." Jenny said softly realising how exhausted Gabriella was.
"The baby is crowning Gabriella; you have to push out the head. Everything will be alright. Lie back for a moment. Rest." Tyler told her.
Gabriella groaned, her eye's rolled to the back of her head again, she shuddered, sweat covering every inch of her body. She faced Troy and fixed him with the cruellest, most hate filled glare she had ever given in her entire life. Troy watched her innocently.
"You did this to me!" She accused.
Troy laughed breathlessly, "Hey, it takes two to tango."
Gabriella thwacked him around the head, "And apparently it takes one to give birth! Don't argue with me!"
Troy kissed her forehead lovingly; Gabriella grumbled in response but did not push him away. She could not deny that she was angry with him but no more than she could deny his affection. She needed his love more than anything now.
"You're doing so well baby, I'm so proud of you." Troy said, he kissed her chastely upon the lips before he pulled away, watching her anxiously, protectively.
"Gabriella, 'One of the paramedic's muttered, Gabriella was too exhausted to recognise which one, "Another contraction. Get ready…and push!"
A strangled sort of cry erupted from Gabriella's throat as she gave another, heavy long push. Her face was hard, scrunched up and she was bracing her teeth so hard it was a wonder they didn't shatter from the pressure. Troy once again felt he was going to lose a hand. Taylor was trying to be consoling, giving Gabriella encouragement.
"That's it, you're doing well, 'Tyler said over Gabriella shrieks, "the baby's almost crowned."
"HELP ME! I FEEL LIKE I'M DYING!" Gabriella sobbed.
"Come on now, the baby has crowned. You can keep pushing." Jenny said softly and Taylor's hands were on Gabriella's sweaty forehead, wiping her fringe from her eye's as she cried in despair.
"I…I can't." Gabriella groaned in defeat.
"You can, one more push and it's all over!" Troy exclaimed truthfully seeing his child's tiny blood filled face.
Troy's words were the last Gabriella heard before she gave another unbelievably powerful push, "OH GOD!" She cried feeling she was being ripped in two before a wailing filled the room. Everything was still for a moment. Gabriella fell back with an almighty oof.
Jenny wrapped the little one up smiling and crooning, "Congratulations Gabriella, Troy. You have a perfect, beautiful little boy."
Gabriella's chest jolted with joy before everything went black…
"LOOK, I think she's coming to."
"Shut up Chad, can't you see she's exhausted?" Taylor! Gabriella heard her; she opened her eyes and looked around, her sight blurred for a moment. Then, everything was clear, everyone came into view, a full room of beaming faces, Kelsi, Chad, Zeke, Sharpay, Martha! Everyone was there.
"What…what happened? Where's the baby!" Gabriella sat up and whimpered at the pain, she was still sore.
"Calm down, he's fine, 'Jenny said smiling, Tyler was peering over her shoulder and standing next to him was Troy holding a little bundle in his arms, "do you want to meet your son?"
Gabriella nodded timorously and Troy walked around the group to meet her. He sat down on the bed beside her and brushed his lips against her's softly, twice before he handed her the little bundle.
Gabriella's heart softened immediately. He was perfect. Soft ultramarine eyes, a dark brown tuft of hair, Troy's chin and her nose. The little was blinking up at her curiously. Slowly, hesitantly as if afraid of hurting him, she touched his minuscule hand with one of her fingers. Instantly reacting to her, the baby boy grasped hold of her hand and held onto it tightly.
Gabriella sniffled back a tear, "He's so beautiful, 'she said in a hushed voice, "our baby." She said meeting Troy's gaze.
Troy nodded in agreement, "He has your hair." He stated proudly.
"And your chin." Gabriella giggled, the pain didn't seem as bad now, their precious little baby's glorious blue eye's made Gabriella forget the pain. As long as she had him close she would be fine.
Gabriella looked up, "What happened? Why did I pass out? How long have I been unconscious?" She queried.
"Exhaustion mostly, 'Jenny answered, "and your blood pressure was very low. You've been out for about ten minutes."
Gabriella nodded in understanding.
The baby gurgled, he whimpered in his Mother's arms and Gabriella panicked, she pulled him closer, wanting to protect her little one from the world.
"I think someone's hungry." Kelsi whispered.
Gabriella glanced at Troy and he nodded. She hadn't noticed before but someone had changed her while she had been sleeping. She was now wearing a pair of loose pyjamas.
"Could you help me?" She asked her husband.
Troy carefully unbuttoned her shirt and slowly, so no one would see she latched the little one onto her breast. It hurt at first; she closed her eyes and hissed. Gabriella had been warned that breastfeeding for the first time was not comfortable, in fact it was very painful but Gabriella had wanted to breastfeed. Anyway, seeing the baby so peaceful was worth the pain.
"So, any names yet?" Sharpay asked impatiently.
Gabriella smiled knowingly, "Well, if he'd been a girl I would've definitely called him Jennifer, 'She said and Jenny grinned pleasantly, "but since he's not I think we'll call him Tyler. Tyler James Bolton, in honour of the paramedics. Thank you." She said beaming.
"You're more than welcome." Tyler said flushing with pride.
Troy kissed Gabriella's forehead, "Tyler, 'he murmured rolling the name on his tongue thoughtfully, "I like it. It's fitting." He said softly.
"Yeah, 'Gabriella nodded and sighed relaxing into Troy's secure hold on her, "and what an experience!" she chuckled, together they stared down at little Tyler who was drifting off to sleep in his Mother's arms…safe…
At first the chapter was slow and boring in my opinion but I think it picked up. I quite liked it. I'm proud! :D
Also well done mishyB for working out that Gabriella was having a boy! That was my plan all along, the baby was never going to be a girl, for some reason Gabriella give's birth to girls more than boy's on fan fiction so I thought I'd tip the scale a little. Even it out maybe lol.
Also to those who chose the name Tyler, I quite like it, thank you, they are, Link's-Lil-Darlin' and ZacandVanessaequalsZanessa
Also, a thank you to cj10824 who selected Tyler James as a whole. I really liked the name so thanks again.
Anyway, review and tell me what you think of the chapter. Hopefully it'll give me time to think of what I'm going to do next. I'm on a blank right now.
Anyway, review, xoxMusicalxox/Si xxx