Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! It hasn't stopped snowing here, my home place is pretty much snowed in (seriously, you can't get in or out) and Monday, school was cancelled...again! I've been out of school for 6 days now. YAY! You know what that means, another update! Everybody dance and if you can't dance just click your fingers.
To be honest, I'm not sure how much longer this story is going to go on for. Personally, I don't think there is much left to it. We'll just have to see. I seem to be running out of ideas and the very few ideas I have left are probably my last. I hope you've enjoyed the story so far...
I have plenty of new stories just waiting to be let out of my head guys so don't worry, I'm not going anywhere for the time being. However, my updates may be scattered again as I have a few family problems that are really anchoring me down. Plus, school is a big deal for me...also...I GOT THE MAIN PART IN MY SCHOOL MUSICAL! WOO! I swear it, no one is more pleased that me.
My fellow UK-ians, 7 days until the HSM3 DvD comes out...yay!
Chapter 33 – Joy
IT was a dark, gloomy night. Thunder and lightning flashed and thrashed through the skies like all hell had broken loose and no one could escape the shadows that had leaked into the earth. This uproar had been predicted for the next four nights, high gale winds, furious rain showers and the sky being hit by lightning and torn by thunder.
Strangely, the weather did not upset Troy or Gabriella who lay awake in their bed, listening with rapture to the terrifying sounds of the storm outside. They were in awe, facing one another in the darkness, hands interlinked, smiling serenely as if these fierce, dangerous forces of nature could not even harm them. Occasionally, the blackened room would light up as another flash of lightening struck overhead and this gave both Troy and Gabriella a moment to stare at one another and share a tender look.
They'd been awake a while. The storm had brought them from their sleep, first Troy, being startled awake by another frequent nightmare, followed shortly by Gabriella who'd decided she'd needed a drink of water.
"In a way it's quite peaceful, 'Gabriella whispered speaking for the first time, the room was lit by another flash of light and she noted the soft glint in Troy's eye, "the storm I mean."
Licking his lips Troy shifted closer to her, "you used to be frightened of storms. It's kind of odd to see you so calm."
"I know. I used to snuggle right up to you and bury my head in your shoulder. I'd flinch at every noise and you'd wrap your arms around me and sing in my ear. Can you remember the song?" Gabriella asked.
"If all the raindrops were lemon drops and gum drops, oh what a rain that would be, 'Troy began to sing soothingly, he slipped a hand under the blanket and caressed the smooth skin on Gabriella's arm, "standing outside with my mouth open wide, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, if all the raindrops were lemon drops and gum drops, oh what a rain that would be!"
Gabriella giggled infectiously, adoring the sound of her husband singing, "I love it when you sing that song."
"How come you're not scared of storms anymore?" Troy questioned, curious, as a great roll of thunder rumbled in the sky.
Gabriella sat up and moved to straddle Troy, she felt his breath and smiled, pleased, slowly and very caringly, she ran her hands up and down his strong, bare torso.
"It had to be at least seven months after I'd ran away, 'she crooned, leaning down to press soft kisses against his skin, allowing her lips to travel up from his nipples to his neck, "and there was this great storm. I woke in the middle of the night, sweating and heaving with panic. I remember the first thing I ever did was call out your name. When you didn't come I knew I had to calm myself down. It wasn't easy, 'she nuzzled her nose into his skin, smoothly relishing his scent and the strength of his muscles, "I sang the song to myself as I hurried downstairs to make myself a hot cup of chocolate. It took everything in my power to stop myself from packing my bags and heading home to you. I knew you'd be there, worrying about me, waiting for me. All through the night I continued to sing the song, I kept myself awake but it was worth it. Every time a storm hit I'd repeat the process. I had six years of practice, 'Gabriella ended, "I soon got used to it."
Troy cupped her cheeks bringing her face down to his. Their lips brushed lovingly, "I wish you had come home." He whispered before kissing her directly. Groaning, he ran his tongue along her bottom lip and almost involuntarily she opened her mouth to allow him complete access.
There was a sudden burst of thunder and a terrified shriek from down the hall. Gabriella and Troy froze in their embrace listening. Then, there came the soft but quickened sound of someone running across the landing. Gabriella slipped out of Troy's arms and nestled into his side instead, waiting.
"Do I detect the sound of little feet?" Troy said smiling before their bedroom door swung open and peering through was Katie's alarmed bright blue eyes.
"Mommy? Daddy?" She asked in a muffled, nervous tone.
"Katie Kat. What are you doing up?" Troy asked her sitting up.
"I'm scared. Can I come and sleep in with you?" She pleaded opening the door to its fullest and standing in front of her parents, her little body trembling anxiously, her long curled hair in a mess around her shoulders.
"Of course you can, 'Gabriella said in a quiet voice, holding out her arms to invite her daughter to come and cuddle, "get over here."
Katie closed the door behind her and hurried over and into Gabriella's arms as the thunder rolled above them.
"There, your safe now. I've got you, 'Gabriella said lovingly wrapping Katie up in the blanket and lying back against Troy. Troy answered her action by placing an arm around her shoulder, scooping them both up into a secure embrace, Gabriella looked up at him and smirked, "we've got you." She concluded.
"I don't like thunderstorms. Their so loud." Katie told them.
"You don't have to be worried about them. You know, I used to be frightened of thunderstorms." Gabriella exclaimed.
"Really? How did you stop being afraid?" Katie queried turning to look at her parents.
"Your father used to sing me to sleep."
Katie smiled broadly, "Oh, 'she said exuberantly, "please sing me the song Daddy. Please. I don't want to be awake anymore."
Troy chuckled softly, "okay, okay. Cuddle up into Mommy and I'll begin, 'he wrapped them up even closer and kissed Gabriella's hair, "If all the raindrops were lemon drops and gum drops, oh what a rain that would be..." and he continued well into the night, soothing his girls into a comfortable, eased sleep.
THE very next morning Troy woke to find Katie wide awake and smiling in her mother's arms. She looked refreshed and content, her hair mangled and her eyes shining. Looking at them, lying beside each other, Troy could see their striking resemblance. Katie and Gabriella looked so alike; if it had not been for her blue eyes then they would've been almost identical. Troy supposed Katie's semblance to her mother was the real reason behind his contained sanity through all those years of painful solitary. He was enormously grateful to his little girl.
Noticing her father's gaze Katie turned and smiled, "good morning Daddy." She whispered.
"Good morning my precious." He replied and Katie moved out of Gabriella's arms and into his. Troy swept her up into a long, happy hug, enjoying her breath tickling the nape of his neck, "feeling better?"
"Much better. That song really works. You never sung it before, when it was just you and me and a thunderstorm." She mumbled.
"I guess singing it just reminded me of your Mom." Troy whispered pulling away so he could gaze into Katie's slightly hurt eyes.
"You were really sad without Mommy, weren't you?" She queried.
Troy nodded.
"Would you be sad if she left again?" Katie's tiny palm pressed against his cheek compassionately.
"Very much." Troy answered truthfully.
Katie sighed, "don't worry. Mommy won't leave again. She promised me and she keeps her promises."
"Just as long as you don't wander out of my sight as well Katie Kat, 'Troy said playing with his daughter's hair smoothly, how she resembled Gabriella, he thought with extreme disbelief, "I'm fine. Now, why don't you go on downstairs and let the dogs outside while I wake Mommy. Then we can all have breakfast together."
Katie brightened at the prospect, "Yay!" She said and she dived off the bed and was gone, as fast as a bullet from a gun.
Chuckling Troy turned to Gabriella who was still sleeping relaxingly beside him. He leaned down and gently nudged her, "Gabriella, 'he said quietly, "Gabriella, honey. Wake up. Come on."
She didn't move but merely nestled into him closer.
For a moment, Troy considered going through to the bathroom and getting a bucket of water, getting his own back for the other morning but such thoughts scattered immediately when Gabriella opened her eyes wearily and looked up at him.
"I don't feel so good." She muttered wiping the sleep from her eyes.
"What's wrong?" Troy asked placing a hand to her forehead softly. She felt clammy and hot.
"I feel sick, 'she shifted to sit up, "maybe a couple of painkillers will do the job." She told him but as she sat up entirely her body hunched over and she heaved, "I'm going to be sick." She groaned and she threw herself off the bed and ran through to the bathroom.
"Gabriella?" Troy called, a little stunned. He got off the bed and hurried through to sit with her. He could hear her being sick, his stomach tightened anxiously.
"Gabriella, 'he stepped through to the bathroom and found her on all fours, her head over the toilet, her body heaving and tensing as she was sick, he sat down beside her and pulled her hair back, holding it for her tenderly, "there, there, let it all up." He told her as she he rubbed her back gently.
When Gabriella was finished she sat back, wiped her mouth and sighed in relief. Troy swept her fringe from her face and kissed the side of her face warmly.
"Feeling better?" He asked.
She nodded smiling, she was pale and her lip trembled in her exhaustion, "I'm glad that's over though I still feel a little nauseous."
"Maybe some painkillers will help." Troy concluded.
"Um...Troy." Gabriella whispered, she didn't meet his eye and if it were possible, her face was paler again.
"What is it?"
"I'm wondering, 'Gabriella exclaimed, she licked her lips and took a deep breath, "well...I'm wondering whether...whether I'm pregnant."
"Pregnant!?" Came Troy's jubilant cry, "why would you think that?"
"I don't know. I mean, it looks as though I'm experiencing morning sickness and I'm...I'm two weeks late for my period." She told him.
Taking her hands in his, Troy stared at her intently, "are you sure?"
"Uh huh, I think so." She nodded seriously.
Troy took her cheeks in his hands and made her look at him. Gabriella smiled softly, her face a mixture of nervousness and glee, "why didn't you tell me earlier?" He questioned.
"I don't know. If I was pregnant, I didn't want to jinx it. I'm sorry." She replied kissing his forehead.
"How about I pop down to the store and pick up some pregnancy tests while you freshen up and make yourself more comfortable?" He said in a hushed voice as his lips sought out the soft hollow just beneath her ear, nuzzling into the warm space, then tugging on her earlobe with little light nips.
"Okay." She answered, her breath slightly ragged.
"Good girl. Come on. Let's go downstairs and fetch you a nice strong cup of tea first." Troy said and he pulled her up into his arms and made to carry her.
"Troy, 'Gabriella protested, "I can walk."
"I know but this seems more romantic doesn't it?" Troy teased.
Gabriella giggled and allowed herself to be carried down the stairs; she couldn't believe she'd been blessed with someone so beautiful and kind. She truly was the luckiest woman in the world.
"ARE you sure you can't find it?" Katie whispered down the phone to Monique that morning whilst her parents were still upstairs. The little girl had decided it was best to ask Monique to search for the dictionary that her mother had so claimed was still with Taylor. She knew if she kept asking about it, Gabriella would sooner or later, start getting suspicious.
"I've searched all over Katie. It's nowhere in sight." Monique said apologetically.
"Can't you search again?" Katie pleaded her tiny fingers twiddling with the phone wires in her trepidation
"I'll try but I have to make sure my Mommy doesn't catch me. She doesn't like me going through her things. She has a lot of books with men and women kissing on them." Monique told her friend in disgust, she was referring to Taylor's exclusive collection of romance books, something she herself, when she grew to a teenager would steal to devour and read when Taylor wasn't looking. If only she knew.
"If you can't find it then I'm going to have another look here, 'Katie sighed with impatience, "Maybe I'll get lucky this time."
"We'll talk about what we can do in school." Monique agreed.
Katie heard her parent's footsteps coming down the stairs, "Monique, I have to go. Mommy and Daddy are coming."
"Bye Katie. Good luck!" Monique said hurriedly.
"You too. See you in school." Monique bided goodbye and Katie slammed the phone down quickly.
Her father stepped into the room carrying her mother firmly in his arms. Troy frowned, watching his daughter linger by the phone, acting inconspicuous, "what are you up to?"
"Nothing. Just waiting for some breakfast, 'Katie answered pretending she was doing nothing whatsoever, "why do you ask?"
"Hmm...don't worry." Troy said setting Gabriella down in the chair next to her.
He leaned down and kissed Gabriella softly on the lips, "I'll be back from the store soon. Rest up." He kissed Katie's forehead and left soon after.
"Store? Are you feeling alright Mommy?" Katie asked worriedly.
Gabriella ran a hand through her dishevelled hair and nodded, "I'm fine my darling. I just have a sore tummy that's all."
Katie watched her mother fearfully, wondering...
WHEN Katie was in school Gabriella and Troy sat down in the bedroom and examined the pregnancy box with delicate care as if it were some wondrous treasure. They were tense, their bodies unsteady as they sat together, hardly able to contain their discomfort.
"What if I am pregnant?" Gabriella asked playing with the box in her shaking hands.
"We'll celebrate! It'll be a good thing, 'Troy answered his insides jumping with both excitement and unease, "we'll be happy."
Gabriella turned to meet Troy's eyes, "are you sure?"
"Why wouldn't we be happy? We'll be parents again, we'll have another child to love and Katie will have the baby brother or sister she always wanted. Gabriella, look at me, 'he demanded as she tried to turn away, she winced as he grasped her chin forcing her to look at him, "it will be alright. We'll be just fine because we love each other don't we?" She nodded.
"But...but, 'she hesitated and licked her lips, "but what if I end up hating this baby like I did Katie? What if the depression returns?"
"We'll face any problems together. Katie, you and me. As a family. Okay?" Troy promised wiping away the tears filling in her eyes.
"Okay." She mumbled.
"Now, shall we take this test or not?" Troy asked optimistically, his handsome features brightening.
Gabriella shook her head, "can I do it myself...and you wait here?"
"If that's what you want." He replied kissing her forehead, "go on then. I'll be waiting."
Gabriella stood clutching the pregnancy test close to her chest, her heart thudding brutally. It was now or never... (ha, now or never...*coughs* sorry, HSM humour lol)
TROY waited, for a sign, a sound, a voice...her voice! He'd never felt so choked up. When Gabriella had fallen pregnant with Katie he'd heard from her unexpectedly as they'd been eating their dinner. She'd taken the pregnancy test herself...alone.
Now, he felt ill. His chest was heaving and he wondered whether Gabriella was feeling the same way. She'd been in there for at least two minutes and yet it felt like an eternity. His eyes kept flickering to the clock on the bedside cabinet, watching, waiting, watching, waiting. Time was slow and it was exhausting Troy. It took everything in his power not wrench open the door and demand to know what the test revealed.
He had to be patient. Troy didn't want to upset Gabriella. He was nervous and had never been more nervous. He couldn't even imagine what Gabriella was going through, he didn't want to imagine.
As he paced back and fore he glanced at the clock again and sighed, three minutes. Surely she was finished. He approached the door feeling as if he could not breathe and tapped at it softly.
"Gabriella, 'he said in a hushed voice, "are you okay?"
There was no reply as he predicted.
"Gabriella, look, if everything is alright answer me, 'when she did not call out he began to worry, "I'm coming in sweetie."
He cautiously opened the door and peered through. Gabriella sat on the floor, her back to him, her shoulders slumped and quaking. Troy knew instantly that she was crying. He came and sat beside her, wrapping his arm around her shoulder and bringing her close.
"It's alright, 'he soothed, "we can try again. We can always try again."
"You don't understand, 'Gabriella whimpered pitifully, "I'm...I'm not crying because I'm sad, I'm crying because I'm happy. Troy, 'she said, "I'm pregnant."
For some reason, I could not go on from there. The chapter ends here but I hope it's enough to feed your imaginations. I hope most of my reviewers are pleased Gabriella's pregnant. It was pretty inevitable I think. Review and let me know.
There are a few errors here and there. I'm sorry, I've read the chapter over but I'm sure I'm missing things lol. I'm kinda stressed right now, homework and all. Plus, I'm watching 'The Golden Compass' has anyone seen that film! Whoa, it's awesome. The books are absolutely amazing too. Eek, sorry, I'm babbling.
Like I said, there isn't much left to this story, at least six maybe eight chapters. Don't fret though, I have more stories to write and 'Humuhumunukunukupua'a' still has to be finished. We'll see. xoxMusicalxox/Si xxx Please, review! Make me happy! :D xxx