Chapter 21 – Shock

Tuesday, July 16th, 2019

9 weeks pregnant

"Twins?" My mom uttered speechlessly as I sat across her from while we drank morning coffee. My dad just blinked in my direction and I nodded my head, "Yea, twins," I said taking a sip of my coffee and Troy let his hand drop onto my leg as he gently rubbed it back and forth. "Wow, that is crazy." My mom laughed and she reached across to kiss my cheek. I hugged her quickly as my dad smiled wide. "I can't wait to spoil two more babies."

"We will need all hands-on deck because it will be during Troy's basketball season and Blaine's season so – all hands-on deck." I said to each of them and my mom grinned, "You know I will be there whenever you need me sweet girl," I blinked with a smile as I gripped Troy's thigh gently. "Troy, were you stunned?" my dad asked and Troy let out a bark of a laugh. "I don't think I spoke for a few minutes. I was just…not expecting that at all."

His long fingers squeezed my thigh as were telling my parents right now and then his parents later tonight as we were having dinner with them at Troy's house. Macken and Brady were all joining so that would be fun. "It was a surprise," I hummed in agreement and my mom smiled, "I think you both will doing amazing. You are going to be a great mom, Gabi." I smiled over at her because I appreciated the comment. "I am nervous, we're going from zero kids to…two." My dad chuckled, "I remember when we brought Beth home. Zoey was pissed." I couldn't help but let a laugh escape from between my lips.

"Yea because Zoey was like six and you guys spoiled her." My dad smiled at the memory of Zoey with a wave of sadness coming over his eyes. "Yet, when we brought Gabi home those two girls loved her to pieces. I barely held you." I couldn't stop my laugh and Troy like his palm rub up and down my thigh gently. I called a meeting with Regina for tomorrow because I just wasn't sure how to process all of this right now.

"Zoey literally carried you around like you were her child. God, I knew in that moment she was going to be such a strict mom. I was so wrong." I smiled as I leaned into Troy. His arm slipped around my waist as my mom sighed softly, "I called Beth the other day, of course, I left a voicemail. I kept telling her how excited I was that you were pregnant and how those babies needed an aunt in their life. I wasn't trying to guilt her into coming back but…" my mom sighed as she took a big gulp of coffee as my dad reached over to rub her back.

"You are still okay to go on the trip next week, right?" my dad asked and I nodded, "Yea, I might just be sleeping a ton," I said with a smile and Troy laughed next to me. "She isn't lying. She likes to sleep a ton currently."

"Yea, because you put two babies in there." Troy chuckled underneath of his breath, "Look, I didn't mean too it just… happened." I elbowed him as both of my parents laughed. "We leave Sunday night. I don't know if James is going to come or not. He was undecided but the kids will be coming." I just nodded as my heart ached for James. I knew he was struggling and maybe time away from the kids would be helpful. I knew they were talking about selling the house and I still supported that they did.

"We'll be ready, just let us know what time to meet you at the airport." I told them and my mom nodded, "Do you guys want any more coffee?" my mom asked and I shook my head, "I have to head to work but I wanted to tell you guys about the news." I stood up as I was already dressed and ready to go. Troy was just going to drop me off and pick me up later tonight. My black skinny pants with a t-shirt dressed up with jewelry.

I went over and I hugged my mom and dad as Troy said something to each of them, "Dinner soon?" I questioned and they both agreed as we walked out to the front door where Troy's Jeep was sitting in the driveway. "I love you sweetie," my mom called and I turned around to smile, "I love you both! Have a great day," I encouraged both of them as we headed to the car. We slipped in the front as Troy smiled over at me, "One more set of parents down," I laughed as he reached over and kissed my temple gently.

"You okay?" I nodded my head as I looked over at him. "Yea, I'm good. Thank you for asking. Tomorrow, I am going to meet with Regina," Troy gave me a bit of a surprised look as I typically only saw her on Friday's now. "Okay, back to my first question – are you okay?" I swallowed as I nodded, "Yea, I just…I am trying to sort out all of the twin stuff in my head. It's just a lot of emotions and I want to just spill out everything and just…Beth the longer she is gone the longer I think that she won't come back."

Troy didn't say anything but just rubbed my thigh gently, he pulled up to my office and parked out front as he put the car into park. "You know you can tell me anything," I looked up at him and I nodded, "I know and it's nothing you don't really know. I'm terrified, I'm not sure how I am going to handle all of this, and is this something from Zoey? Or is this just your super sperm? I don't know. I just…have a lot of thoughts going on and I think I really need her to help me sort them out and then maybe I can word them better to you." Troy slipped his fingers into mine and squeezed, "I love you and just know that I am terrified, too but we will figure it all out together."

"I know and I promise, I am not keeping anything from you. I just think I am struggling to understand how to convey what I am thinking? There is just a lot going on and you are a saint. You have always been a saint. I love you," I whispered and he reached over and cupped my cheek before kissing me softly. "I know. I love that you have a place to go talk about whatever. Just know I am right here with you."

"Thank you," I reached up and squeezed his shoulder as I grabbed my bag and lunch. "Have a good day! Luna and I will see you tonight. I'll go to the grocery store and get dinner ready. Burgers okay?" I nodded with a smile as my heart swelled with love looking at him in a long sleeve t-shirt in a pair of basketball shorts. His hair messy from constantly running his fingers through it. "Thank you, I can't wait to tell your mom."

Troy chuckled underneath of his breath, "She might freak out."


Troy's POV

Gabi was upstairs getting ready for dinner as I was finishing up dinner as Luna was sleeping underneath of my feet. The music was turned up in the kitchen on our speaker when a pair of arms slipped around my waist. "I hope I didn't worry you about the whole Regina thing. I don't think I reassured you very well." I stopped cutting the tomatoes before turning around to face her. She was in a pair of skinny jeans with a t-shirt, her hair tied up on her head.

"I'm not worried. I just want you to know that you don't have to be scared to talk to me." She shook her head, "No, I am not scared to talk to you and I don't think it's anything that I haven't said to you already. I am nervous about having two babies and I feel a little panicked about the whole thing. Two babies? It scares me and I hope she has things to say to just…help me calm down a little bit about it. I mean that's two babies. Two lives in my belly and what if something happens to one of them?" her voice cracked at the end and her eyes twisted away from me. Her eyelids blinking rapidly as I slipped my fingers onto her hips. "Brie, look at me," I whispered to her and she lifted her head as a single tear fell out of her eye.

"We're going to do everything we can for them, okay?" she didn't say anything for a moment as she reached up to rub her eyes free of the tears. "I just feel so much at the moment and it's too much sometimes. I just need some coping mechanisms." I framed her face and I gently placed a kiss to the top of her head. "You know what is best for you, baby. I am here for you, okay?" she nodded her head and I gently picked her up and sat her on the counter. I wedged my body between her legs as I framed her face.

"It's okay to be scared, it's okay to be nervous, and it's okay to be confused and lost. Just know…I am feeling a lot of those feelings too. This is a promise that I will keep to you but nothing about this situation has me wanting to run – it has me excited. I want to do this with you. I promise, I am not going anywhere because of this. I am not leaving because you're pregnant with one or two. Okay? I am staying here with you." She nodded and sniffled as I dropped a kiss to her lips.

"We have such a strong support system, between Jenna, all of my friends, our families…these babies are going to be so, so loved." She squeezed her eyes and that broke the damn that was within her. I cringed at my words and I didn't say anything after that. I just wrapped my arms around her and let her body tuck against mine. "Fuck, B, I am so sorry. I know how much you want your sisters here to experience this with you. I'm sorry," I whispered into her hair and she just gripped my t-shirt.

I held her until she started to calm down. She pulled away and wiped the make-up that was staining her face and she looked up at the sky. "I hate this because I do know how much these babies are going to be loved but it then hits how much Beth is missing and how much Zoey will miss and I just…fuck. I am so over it. I should be happy and excited and I just feel…blank." I tucked a stray piece of hair that fell out of her bun behind her ear and I just nodded.

"I love you; I appreciate the conversation and you just tell me what you need from me. Okay? I miss laughing with you baby, I miss talking and just having fun. I know the past month has been insane but…" I paused and I gave her a tiny smile. "How about a date? When is the last time we did that?" a true smile lifted onto her lips and I pulled her against my body again. "Just you and me. We'll go do something fun together. We got away from dating."

She nodded her head, "I would love that." I kissed her softly again when there was a knock on my front door. Luna hopped up and ran for the door. "I'll go answer the door if you want to take a minute." I whispered and she nodded her head as I dropped another kiss to her cheek before I walked to the front door. I wiped my hands off on my jeans as Ada and Brady were on the other side of the door. "Hey guys," Ada dropped to greet Luna as Brady carried in a 12 pack of beer.

"What's for dinner?" he asked moving into the kitchen, "Hi to you too," I deadpanned towards him and Ada laughed as Luna licked her face. Brady rolled his eyes and turned towards me, "Hi, hope you had a wonderful day sitting on your ass. What's for dinner, honey?" I couldn't stop my laugh as I even heard Gabi laugh a room over. That made my chest relax. I didn't realize how long it had gone without a date, a laugh, a time between the two of us.

"Brady, stop being an asshole to your brother." Ada stood up and she had a bottle of wine tucked in her arm. "Hi Ada," I greeted with a kiss on the cheek when I spotted my mom and dad walking up the sidewalk. I opened the door as Luna ran out to greet each of them. "Hi honey! Did you do anything useful today?" my mom asked and I couldn't stop the roll of my eyes. "I mowed and got everything ready for tonight. Isn't that something?" I questioned and my mom rolled her eyes.

"I guess. As long as you didn't make that beautiful girl do anything." I smiled with a shake of my head, "No, I didn't." My mom grinned, "Good. Where is she? I want to hear all about the ultrasound." I felt my eyes widen and I just nodded, "Yea, go find her." My dad patted my back as we walked in together. "Do you want to play a round of golf before you go back to school? How is the knee?" I nodded, "Golf sounds good, I think PT will clear me for that around the beginning of August. Knee is a lot better. Finally, able to walk around without pain."

"Good, good," we walked into the house as my mom had Gabi wrapped around in a hug and I felt my chest tighten with the love my family gave her. "I'm here!" Macken burst through the door and Luna barked at her, "Luna, it's me you freak!" Macken dropped to her knees to wrestle my dog and I just shook my head with a laugh. I walked over to Gabi as I dropped a kiss to her head. "Laura, I put the sonogram on the fridge if you want to take a look at it."

I narrowed my eyes as my eyes flickered to the picture and I couldn't stop my smile as Gabi had put up the one that said twins in the corner with a smiley face by the tech. Gabi slipped her hand into mine as my mom dropped her stuff and walked over to our fridge as she grasped the picture. She smiled looking at it and then her eyebrows dipped and her eyes flickered over it before her entire neck snapped in our direction.

Jesus, there were tears in her eyes.

"Twins?" she whispered as her voice cracked and a gasp went from behind me – Macken. Gabi nodded her head and she moved against my chest, "Surprise!" she yelled with a laugh and my mom burst into tears before she came over and wrapped her arms around Gabi. I laughed as my mom was crying and hugging Gabi as everybody else was trying to figure out what had actually just happened. I turned towards the rest of my family and smiled, "We found out at our sonogram the other day that we are having twins. Double. Two of them," I finished and the family cheered as hugs were given out.

Gabi and my mom pulled apart from each other and they were both crying but also smiling. I shook my head as I went over, "Ma, you can't make her cry. I spend all day preventing it." My mom grunted and elbowed me. "You are giving her so much hell, I would have been happy with one grandchild." She remarked and I just chuckled. "I knew you wanted a lot of grandchildren so we're just getting the party started quickly." I offered and my mom laughed as she hugged me around the waist. "I am very happy for the both of you and if you need somebody to move in and help just call me."

I couldn't stop my laugh as Gabi grinned, "Oh god, that sounds amazing since Troy is going to be in the middle of basketball season." I narrowed my eyes to my girlfriend, she just looked at me with an innocent smile on her face as my mom squealed. "Oh, it would be so much fun! Maybe by then Troy will have proposed, like for real proposed, and not any of that other shit he did and we can plan a wedding together." I groaned loudly as I pulled away from my mom.

"Mom, slow down and chill out. Let's tackle the baby thing first." My mom just smiled right at Gabi and they walked off together. I only could shake my head and rub the bridge of my nose. My dad chuckled, "You are making your mother a very happy woman. Between you and Brady…she's getting all of her wishes. Plus, with Macken in college she is living her best life." I just shook my head as I pulled the burgers out of the fridge. "Did you freak the fuck out?" Brady asked as he followed my dad and I outside with the burgers and beers.

I snorted, "Yea, just a little bit but she started freaking out so I had to reel it in. I think she was nervous that I was going to flee because it's a lot." My dad started the grill as Brady tossed me a beer. "That would freak me out. Gabi doing okay though?" I nodded my head. "I think she's really overwhelmed with it all. She's going to talk to her therapist tomorrow and just probably ramble until she feels better. Regina will probably have some helpful tips for her."

"How are you doing?" I shrugged my shoulders. "I'm freaked out a little bit but I'm thankful that I don't have anything to compare it too. It'll be hard. I feel bad that she is having to carry both of them and the stress that will come with it but I am going to take care of her as best as I can. As much as she wants me. Those types of things. I'm freaked out that I'll have two kids in February but I'm kinda excited about it as well."

My dad smiled as he threw a burger on the grill, "it wouldn't have mattered if you had been married for four years, two months, of not at all. That feeling is the same for any first kid. It'll be scary and hard but you'll both do good. I know I was struggling with the thought a few weeks ago but I know how much you love her and how much you'll be there for her." I looked up at my dad as I blinked and smiled, "I'm not going to rush marriage. I think she is focused on the baby thing first."

"You have a strong relationship. I wouldn't worry too much."

"Is she still going to try and help with the dance team?" I shrugged, "I haven't talked to her about it. She is just helping with chorography so maybe? I'll have to talk to her about it. Her niece and nephew still don't know because they all agreed that waiting for her to get out of the first trimester will be better. They don't deserve to get their hopes up and crushed again. Fuck, I don't know how Gabi would handle it."

"How far along is she?" Brady asked.

"Nine weeks, they said everything looks really good though. We go back in about a month." My dad grilled as Brady and I all caught up when Silas joined us on the deck. "I can't believe you all would just leave me with all of them." Silas shuttered, "It's literally wedding and babies in there. I feel my balls turning into raisins." We all busted out laughing as Silas dumped himself in a chair. "Hey that's my bride," Brady argued and I just raised an eyebrow, "Those will be your niece or nephew," I pointed out.

Silas rolled his eyes, "Can we just talk about like football or some shit? Troy do you still suck ass on the golf course?" my dad couldn't stop his chuckle, "I'm just glad to know that you aren't in any hurry to have babies or marry Macken," my dad said with a look over his shoulder and Silas grunted. "Maybe in like five years."

"Good answer," Brady said and I just chuckled as I tipped back my beer.


Gabi's POV

"Gabi, how are you feeling?" Laura asked me as she sat at the counter with a glass of wine. Silas had just escaped and went outside after talking about the wedding and the excitement of twins. "I'm feeling okay. My migraines are doing a lot better after starting another medication and my nausea isn't that bad." I said but I stood up and lifted my shirt, "But I am growing rapidly," I said with a tiny laugh and Laura laughed, "Oh my! Look at my grandbabies grow," I couldn't stop my laugh as I put my shirt back down.

"Brady is kinda jealous," Ada said with her own wine while twirling around her engagement ring. "I think he wants to have kids sooner than later." I smiled, "Cousins close in age would be amazing," I told her, "No pressure," I said with crack of a grin and she nodded. "I don't think it'll be too long after our wedding if I am being honest. I loved that my cousins were close in age." I didn't add on to it but I knew that my kids weren't going to be that close to their cousins. Blaine was nearly 17 years old. Lucy was almost 7. Luckily, between Jenna and Troy's friends we were going to have a ton of kids in the group eventually.

"Are you handling everything okay?" Ada asked and I nodded my head, "I think so. I am going to see my therapist tomorrow. I just need somebody to tell me that it's okay to freak out over the thought of having two babies and maybe your sister intervening in your life again. Not that she has been wrong before," I sighed as I looked at Laura with a shrug. "It's just been a lot of information to digest." Laura came over and sat next to me as she squeezed my shoulder as she wrapped me in a hug. "It's okay to freak out," she whispered. "I freaked out over just Troy but…I had more. You are going to be a great mother and I know it's going to be hard but you both will do so well."

I blinked away the tears as I hugged her right back, "I am just very thankful that we have a big support system. I heard Troy's friends tell him the other day they will all come over and help with whatever." Laura and Macken both laughed, "God, I love those boys. They are all thick as thieves. They always have been. I've had more dinners where I had to order extra pizza afterwards because there wasn't enough food." Laura shook her head at the memories forming in her brain.

"I do love them all. I have zero doubt they said that," Macken joked and it made me feel good that Troy had such a strong group of friends. "I can picture it probably like a sitcom. All five of them trying to figure out how to take care of two babies."

"Dylan will probably be the best," Ada threw in there and I giggled, "Dylan is secretly my favorite and they give him so much shit."

"He deserves half of it," I turned around to see Troy walking in with his dad and a smile on his face, "Oh c'mon, he's finally happy in a relationship and you all are so mean to him." Troy chuckled underneath of his breath as he sat next to me and sandwiched me in with his mom. "Dylan is the ultimate bachelor so to find out he let a girl in his house? It was a little bit shocking. I think I can count on my left hand how many girls he has let over there since he moved in and that was nearly four years ago."

I raised an eyebrow, "Then to know she stays there? Yea, he's in deep and deserves all the shit that he's given us through the years." Laura laughed as Troy dropped a kiss to my temple, "You girls doing okay? You ran Silas out of the house with wedding and baby talk." We all laughed as Silas groaned from the door. "Troy,"

"Yea?" he questioned turning to face him and he just shook his head at him. "That was our secret."

"Mac n cheese, he said don't expect a ring for like five more years." Silas cursed underneath of his breath as Troy gently grabbed my hand and threaded our fingers together. I leaned into his shoulder as he was snickering at Silas.

"Good, I don't wanna ring for five years. We have too much other stuff to do first." Troy smiled over at Macken, "Good. You should do all of those things first."

"I don't know, I think 28 is a little old to become a dad," I teased pinching his sides and Troy rolled his eyes, "Oof, Troy will be 29 before the babies get here. That's awkward. You're going to be the old dad." Troy shot Brady a look and I just giggled as I kissed his chin. "I like my men old," I whispered into his ear and he just laughed. "Yea, okay, I'm older but you're almost 26 so give me a damn break."

"Yea, in two weeks," Troy grinned, "I cannot wait to celebrate you,"

Luna came over and plopped her head down in my lap as I stroked her fur. "Do you think Luna is going to make a good big sister?" Laura asked and Troy chuckled, "I don't know. I'm actually a little nervous because she's never been around kids that much. I need to find kids to use her on." Laura laughed, "That sounds awful, Troy, you cannot do that."

"She's good with my basketball kids but they are practically grown-ass adults."

"Jenna is going to have her baby soon. We could bring Luna around her." I said, "And she's good with Lucy." I reminded him and Troy rubbed his own dogs head with faint smile on his face. "I'm more concerned about the baby age. I think she'll be fine with kids who listen and understand to not scare her. It's the baby to 3 that I'm worried about." Troy brushed his fingers through her hair as she jumped up into his lap. "Yea, I know, Lu, you will always be my first baby."

She licked his face and Troy chuckled as Laura smiled, "I think you just have to be slow with her and don't leave her alone with them. I think she'll be good though." Troy stroked her fur as Jack came in the door, "Dinner is ready,"

"Why is your dad cooking?" I asked him as I wrapped my hand around his bicep, "Because Troy will always give over the cooking power to his father," Laura said smacking the back of his head as she walked by, I giggled as Troy grunted. "He took over. I just let him do it. I wasn't going to argue." Laura rolled her eyes as Macken and Ada snickered and I stood up as Troy rolled his eyes. "Ya'll just love to gang up on me."


Troy's POV

Wednesday, July 17th, 2019

My eyes surveyed Gabi sleeping in bed as she told me all about her appointment with Regina earlier today. She talked about the twins, how scared she was, and how she couldn't convey what she was thinking to me and how to put it but when came back she was in a lighter mood. She was smiling and laughing and I just…my heart warmed looking at her and we had another honest conversation that we were both scared and we were going to do this damn thing together.

She explained that it was just so much to take in that her brain was just in overdrive with the information but Regina helped her sort it out and that made me happy. The end of their conversation and our conversation was the hardest part. She talked about her family and my family and how she loved my siblings and just getting to laugh and talk with them. How she was able to at least have aunts and uncles on my side but how sad she was that Beth wasn't here and that Zoey would never be here.

It was slowly causing more grief that she wasn't ready or anticipated to go through right now. Regina told her how normal those feelings of grief were and that to write Beth another message and to talk to Zoey if she needed to but she knew that Gabi would tell all the good stories about Zoey. I just hugged her tight when she got home and I told her that we had our date planned for tonight but she wanted to take a nap first.

I quietly walked in the room, patted Luna's head, and then turned to grab Gabi's phone. I quietly walked back out of the room and I went downstairs and outside as I typed in her password and found the phone number I was looking for. I grabbed my cell phone and typed in the number before returning Gabi's cell phone to her bedside. I went back downstairs and outside as I sat on the porch with my eyes on the door to watch for Gabi when I pressed called.

It rang several times before the voicemail picked up. "Hey! This is Beth, I am probably busy but I guess you could leave a message? Or you could just text me. That would be a lot faster, any who…I'll eventually get back with you," she laughed in the background before the voicemail beeped and I couldn't get over how similar she sounded to Gabi. I cleared my throat, "Beth, Hi, I just…" I exhaled heavily as I leaned forward. "I want to introduce myself; my name is Troy Bolton and I am madly in love with your sister," I couldn't stop my smile as I said the words. "She's told me a lot of things and one of those things is how much she misses you and loves you. She tells me all of her favorite stories and just that she hopes you are okay." I paused as I felt my chest tighten.

"I'm not calling to ask you to come back or call her or any of that. Mostly, to just let you know that she truly does miss you and she knows that this is what you need right now. Gabi is an amazing woman and I am in awh of her strength all of the time. I plan on marrying her and we're having twins together," I nearly choked on the words but I spit them out. "She's due in February and she is sad that she doesn't have her sisters here to do this with her. I know you have to do what you need to do but I see the sadness in her eyes. I see how much she wishes her sister was here too. Just a phone call for her to hear your voice. A letter in the mail. Whatever you feel like you can give. She misses you. I know I want to meet you and I want you in the lives of our kids but only if you feel ready. I just…I guess…I wanted you to know that I love her and I am doing everything I can for her." I paused lastly and I cleared my throat as I gave her my address and I then hung up the phone as I stared at it.

It hurt to watch her struggle with the fact that her sister wasn't here with her. That should be but was choosing not to be. I couldn't force her to come back and I didn't want to guilt her either but I wanted her to know that she was missing so much with her family. That Gabi needed her. I ran my tongue over my teeth as I stood up and went inside before jumping in the shower, changed into a pair of khaki shorts with a polo shirt.

I then rested down next to Gabi as I stroked her cheek, "Brie," I murmured her name as she fluttered her eyes open and rubbed her eyes. "I'm awake," she whispered and I chuckled as I leaned forward and kissed her softly. "Work kicked your ass?" I questioned and she nodded her head, "And the two things eating me alive from the inside out," I couldn't help but laugh as she smiled in her sleep. "I can't believe it'll be ten weeks tomorrow." I told her and she let those blue eyes blink open, her hands reached up to rub her eyes.

"Only thirty weeks to go," she said to me and those brown eyes flickered up to me, "Do you really think you'll make it to all forty?" Gabi snorted and shook her head, "But I'm going to pretend we have thirty weeks." I leaned forward and kissed her forehead. "Do you still want to go to dinner? We can do something else or lay in bed and eat pizza while watching Netflix." I offered her and she shook her head. "No. I want to go out. I want to eat at a table with you and talk and laugh and…maybe do something fun afterwards."

My smile reached over my face as I bent forward to kiss her softly, "Good, then we'll do that." It took her about ten minutes to work her courage to get up. Once she did, she went into the bathroom and touched up her make-up from work and I watched as she picked a sundress out of her closet and strip out of her shorts and t-shirts that she changed into after work. She was only in a thong with a bra that pushed her breasts up just enough as she slipped on the dress.

Her eyes caught me in the mirror and I smiled at her, "You're beautiful," I whispered to her and those words caused her to flush from the neck up. She picked up a pair of earrings and stuck them into her ears before coming over and straddling my lap on the bed. My fingers gripped her sides and my fingers spanned out over her sides. My head tilted back to look in her brown eyes and she wrapped her arms around my shoulders. "Thank you," she whispered and I dropped a kiss to her neck.

"If we stay in this position much longer you can kiss dinner good-bye," Gabi laughed with her head tilting backward and her throat bobbing with a big smile on her face. My heart swelled from the look and the memory that I wanted to keep forever in my brain. "I love you," I said as my fingers ran up her sides and she smiled back before dropping a soft kiss to my lips. "I love you, too." Gabi slowly stood up as she grabbed a pair of strappy heels before pulling them on and slipped on a few bracelets before picking up a necklace.

"Did I ever tell you that this was Zoey's?" she questioned as I stood up and I went over to grab the necklace from her and gently laid it on her chest. It was just a simple diamond stud, "My dad gave it to her when she was 18 and it was what she wore on her wedding day for something old. James gave her a new one and I was young at the time and sad that she was getting married so she turned around and wrapped it around my neck at the end of the day. She told me that it would always keep me close to her." I clasped it together and looked at her eyes in the mirror. "I'm so glad she gave this to me."

"It's beautiful," I told her and she gave me a smile. "The one James gave her is in a drawer at James house for Lucy one day."

"What did your dad get you?" I asked her and she smiled, "A diamond bracelet because I never took this one off. He knew I wasn't going to wear a different one. This was just too special."

"I'm glad you have that and a memory to go with it." She turned around to face me and smiled, "Promise me that if we have a daughter, you'll get them something like that for their 18th birthday. If something happens to me or something…" I frowned and I shook my head. "One, nothing is going to happen to you and two, I love the idea." Gabi frowned and she blinked looking away from me. "You don't know that something won't happen to me and the thoughts of abandoning my kids?" she gasped on the thought and I couldn't do anything but pull her into my arms.

I knew I couldn't promise her anything. I couldn't promise that nothing would happen. I couldn't promise that our kids would never be abandoned because of tragedy. I couldn't and I knew that this thought had probably been heavy on her brain. I wanted to know what I could do for her to help her through his because I could only assume that her pregnancy was going to be rocky with the emotions. "I don't want my little girl waking up in the middle of the night screaming my name and I can't come," I squeezed my eye shut and I just pressed my lips to her hair.

"I wish I knew what our future held and how we could prepare for it," I whispered into her ear. "I can't though but I know in the meantime what I can do – I can love you. I can love them. I can love and show them the world. I can be their person for however long I have and hope that I get sixty years with them." She sniffled and I just rubbed her back. "After Zoey died, I told myself I would never have kids because I couldn't put them through this. I couldn't do that to them and…" she paused and just pressed her face between my pectoral muscles.

"I hate how scared I am because of that."

I gently picked her up and I walked over to our bed before I sat down and just let her wrap herself around me. "It's such a strange mix of emotions because I am so excited to be a mom and I want these babies and I want to be a mom but at the same time I am terrified that I am going to leave them, ruin their lives, and cause them grief that I never want them to experience. I wouldn't be living through if I didn't have kids because I've always wanted to be a mom." A frustrated voice carried through this room and I just rubbed her back as I let her talk.

"I will never make you a promise I can't keep," I reminded her and she gave me a tiny smile as I looked in those eyes. "But remember this much – I am going to do everything in my power to protect you. To protect me. To protect them. We can't control everything but the things we can control? We'll do it."

"Without being helicopter parents," she interjected and I laughed quietly, "Without being helicopter parents." I soothed and she sighed and looked out the window for a moment. "I'm sorry, I don't know where all of that came from." She whispered and I just tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "It's okay," I murmured to her and she looked at me. "I want to make sure we do things that if something happens to us or one of us that there is something there for them. Maybe a yearly letter on their birthday and like wedding cards and what not and if something god forbid happens – there is something for them but if nothing happens, we can still give them the letters for them to read."

I smiled, "I really like that idea."

She wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed me softly, "Thank you for handling my meltdowns with such ease."

"I just want to be helpful to you."

"You are."

"C'mon, let's go get some dinner." I told her as I gently squeezed her legs.

"I gotta fix my make-up," she said with a laugh and kissed her cheek, "You don't need it. You're beautiful."

She just rolled her eyes, "Okay that comment was over the top."

I just laughed as she stood up and went to fix her make-up as I let Luna outside and made sure everything else was locked up and ready to go.


Gabi's POV

My fingers stroked his hand as he drove around after dinner where we spent most of the time laughing and talking about college stories. He was a saint of all saints to be able to deal with that breakdown earlier. I wasn't even sure where the thought came from but I was terrified of it. The thought that my kids would have to handle that type of loss? It rocked me to my core in a matter of seconds and I almost wanted to book another appointment with Regina for tomorrow.

He calmed me down, told me that he was going to do the one thing he could do – love them. He was going to love me, love them, and do everything he can to be there for our kids without freaking out. I loved the idea of writing them letters every single year for them to have one day – if something happened or didn't happen. It was nice to know there was something that I could give to them. "You okay?" Troy's voice broke through his Jeep and I looked over at him with a nod.

"Yea, I am okay." I whispered. "I am just thinking about everything and I am very thankful for you." I reminded him and he gave me that earth-shattering smile. "I am doing what I can. It is a scary thought though. Thank you for sharing with me." He pulled my hand up to his lips, "We will try our best to figure out the best course of action. I don't want this time to be anxiety filled and scary for you. You just tell me what you want from me and we will make it happen."

I swallowed down on the knot, "I don't deserve you." I whispered and Troy chuckled, "I love you and we deserve each other." Troy parked the car and I looked up to see we were at a park. "C'mon," he nudged his head and I got out of the car to follow him. Troy linked our fingers together as he walked along a path and I leaned into his body. "I just want you to know that when something ever happens to you, I hope I can give the same support you have given me since December. The amount of patience, love, and care you've shown…it makes me fall even deeper in love with you." I spoke and Troy squeezed my hand.

"I know you will because I know how much you love me because I know how much I love you." Troy paused as if he was trying to think of how to word his next sentence. "I can honestly say that if I didn't love you, see a future with you, or any sort of combination – I wouldn't have stuck through. I knew the moment I met you though that there was something there. It nagged at me deep in my belly for the longest time that you were different that you were something special." Troy gave a brief smile, "And I found out quickly how much I loved you and how much I wanted to be there for you. This journey is worth it all getting to see you smile and laugh again."

I blinked away the tears as I was done crying for the day but those tears were from the amount of love, I did have for him in my heart. "I felt it too." I whispered, "I wasn't looking for a relationship. It was honestly the very last thing I ever wanted to do especially after Brad and my sister had only passed three months before but…something told me to hold on tight." Troy turned in the night sky and faced me, his thumb stroking my cheek. "You are something very special to me, baby girl. I love you and fuck…I just want to protect you. I know the pregnancy is bring up a lot of emotions that you weren't expecting and I don't want you to apologize for that. It's hard and you are still grieving your sister and you another sister isn't around to be there for you. Those are emotions you don't have to apologize for. Okay?"

My head bobbed up and down as I just buried my face into his chest and he kept me tight against him. "I am very excited to spend time with your friends," I mumbled, "I need some laughter." Troy chuckled as he kissed the top of my head. "If there is something, they provide that is it."

We continued our walk as we talked about our family vacation to Pompano, FL. I told him about what to expect – which was a lot of beach time but he was more than welcome to join my dad for golf whenever he went. "I just hope this trip goes better than San Diego." I said with a sigh and Troy smoothed his fingers over mine, "I think it will. It's a new location and the kids will be there. I will be there." I gave him a smile and he looped around as we made it back to his car. "What do you think about telling them you are pregnant down there? Maybe towards the end of the week if we can get away with it. You'll be much closer to 12 weeks."

I bit on my lip nervously, "I don't know. I don't want to rush it. I really don't want to tell them and then something happens." Troy nodded in understanding, "How about we just play it by ear? I mean…I don't know how well you are going to be able to hide it from Blaine on the beach. Because baby, I know he knows that stomach of yours was flat a few months ago." I blushed and Troy opened up my car door. "Maybe we tell Blaine and maybe Lucy, I think Blaine will handle it better."

"Okay,"

I buckled in and Troy got in the car with me as he started it and Dan and Shay came on the radio. "I am very excited for their concert," I practically squealed and Troy chuckled, "In the beginning of August. The boys and I typically go away for a weekend in August to go golf in a different city. Do you care if we still do that? It would be August 2-5. The concert is August 1st." I smiled, "No, go, you deserve it before work and basketball start back up again."

"Thanks baby,"

"Just remember that after I give you two children that I am going to need a weekend," Troy chuckled underneath of his breath, "You got it,"


Friday, July 19th, 2019

10 weeks pregnant

Gabi's POV

The girls were all sitting around the fire as we were really getting to know Josie and just tell stories about the boys from our point of view – according to Sage this is the first time all five of them have been in a relationship at one time. The guys had given Dylan so much shit until he finally said that they were officially dating causing Josie to turn the color of a beet. She was shy but very sweet and funny. It was almost the perfect combination for Dylan.

"Sara, how is the wedding planning going?" Lennon asked as she took a sip of her wine. Sara just grinned as she had texted our new girl group chat of a picture of her ring the day after 4th of July. She was thrilled and the wedding planning was in full swing as they were planning on getting married early June next year. The boys were already planning their bachelor party. "Good. I'm going dress shopping next week with my mom and sister. I'm just glad Jax finally grew a pair and asked."

"Next up is Gabi," Sage joked with a smile. I laughed and I shook my head, "I'm having the first babies. I am in no rush to get married. I want too and to him but just not yet."

"Fair enough – I think you have your hands full as is." Lennon remarked and I couldn't stop my smile as I let my hand cover my belly. "How did you and Troy meet?" Josie asked and I smiled, "At a basketball game, actually. My nephew plays for West Ashley and Troy was there scouting and we sat next to each other. He flirted with me, I flirted back, and we ended up going on a 12-hour first date." Josie smiled, "We've practically been inseparable ever since,"

"How did you and Jesse meet?" Josie asked redirecting her question towards Sage. Sage laughed, "College." A smile flirted on her lips as her eyes searched for her husband in the group of boys sitting in the kitchen bullshitting together. "Oh, I sense a story there," Sage just laughed, "Yea, I uh actually, I approached all five of them. They had this…aura about them at this party as they were that group. They always were having fun but you could tell they didn't fuck around too much. I actually asked Cameron on a date and he was already in a relationship but Jesse popped right up and said he would take me on a date and…here we are." I smiled never hearing that story before.

"That's balls to approach all five of them,"

"I about pissed my pants."

We all laughed as I looked over my shoulder and I found Troy pushing Dylan as Dylan just rolled his eyes about something. "I think I am going to refill my water. Does anybody need anything?" I asked standing up and stretching my legs. "No, I'm good," Lennon spoke up, "Will you refill my wine?" Sara questioned and I nodded as I took her glass and walked into the kitchen. I felt his eyes on me immediately and I turned to give him a quick wink before grabbing a fresh water and topping off Sara's wine.

I wasn't surprised when an arm slipped around my waist and his nose pressed into my skin. "You doing okay?" he asked me and I smiled with a nod of my head. My hand resting on his hand. "Yea, I really like her. I think she's a good fit for him." Troy chuckled causing the vibrations to run down my back. "I think so, too. We're going to corner him the next time we all golf together. I made them promise they wouldn't do it on Sunday without me."

My head rested on his chest because I was exhausted. It has been an exhausting week and I just was emotionally and physically exhausted. His large hands ran up and down my back soothingly. "Bolton, you're putting her to sleep. Stop!" Sage screeched and I couldn't stop my laugh as I tilted my chin up to look at his smiling lips. "She needed a hug and she didn't let go. What was I supposed to do?" the group laughed and I gently let go of him but he dropped a kiss to my hair first.

"Just let me know when you're ready to go, okay?" I nodded my head as I picked up the water and wine before heading back to the living room but the guys were all venturing in as well and going to their ladies. Cameron pulled Lennon into his lap, Sage curled up with Jesse, Sara and Jax sat side by side on the floor, while Josie and Dylan just shared a look with a smile on his face before sitting between her legs as she sat on the couch.

I gave Sara her wine and she thanked me as Troy pulled on my hand gently to pull me into his lap. My head rested back on his shoulder while he rubbed my arm. "Troy, what's the dumbest thing Dylan has done?" Josie asked and Troy puffed out a breath of laughter. "We can't talk about that," Troy said with a laugh and Dylan just groaned while the other boys laughed. "You five have a little bit too much fun," Sage commented and they all scrunched their noses and shook their heads.

"We have fun," Jesse corrected.

"Fun is about to be a lot different," Troy commented and Dylan scrunched his nose. "A lot of diaper changes," Troy piped and the group laughed as Jesse and Sage shared a smile with each other. "A lot of diaper changes," Jesse spoke and that caused Jax, Troy, and Cameron to glance towards him. A wide smile split over Sage's face and the room exploded with noise. "Oh my god! Congrats!" was echoed around the room as the group congratulated their friends on their pregnancy. Troy's fingers dripped to my stomach and slipped up my shirt to rest his palm on my skin.

"We are about six weeks pregnant and are due exactly one month after Gabi on March 15th," Sage said and the grin that was on Jesse's face made me look at Troy who had a similar grin. "Fuck, you all need to stop having babies during fucking basketball season." Dylan spoke with a smile on his face. The group laughed as Sage gave me a smile, "I'm glad our kiddos will be close in age." I laughed with a nod, "They will be close in age. That will be for sure,"

"It might be a while before another one," Dylan joked and the group laughed as it would probably fall to Sara and Jax. "How have you been feeling?" I asked her and she smiled, "Just fatigued and a little sick but nothing I haven't been able to manage. We confirmed that there is only one baby though," Troy chuckled behind me and his thumb stroked my skin gently. "This time next year there will be three little ones,"

"That's wild,"

"I mean…we are 28 years old, it's about damn time." Jax laughed and the guys all agreed with a laugh. "Can we make a pact that like every year or other year we go on a vacation together with no kids? Long weekends or a week…whatever we can swing. Something to get friend time in?" Cameron questioned and the group all murmured with the idea and smiles were exchanged at the good idea. Kids were going to rock the group.

"Maybe early golf mornings instead of late morning?" Dylan suggested and the group all agreed, "And football Sunday's are still a thing. The kids will get to play with each other and the adults have socialization."

"It's going to be fun you guys," Troy spoke and they all agreed with the thinking of the future among the group.


Troy pulled into the driveway and I yawned deeply as we had stayed longer than I thought we would have but the group was all laughing and enjoying themselves. Sage and I both made a pact to get out of there together to go sleep. Troy shut off the car and shut the garage as we both went inside together where Troy released Luna out back as I grabbed a fresh bottle of water and took a long drink when his hand slipped over my shoulder.

"I'm happy Sage is pregnant; you have somebody else you can talk to besides Jenna. Not that I think Jenna isn't just enough for you but the more people in the corner the better." I smiled as I turned to face him and I nodded in agreement. "It'll be nice that the baby will have lots of friends early," Troy dropped a kiss to my lips and I wrapped my arms around his neck. Our kiss advanced but we broke apart when there was knocking on the door. Troy scrunched his eyebrows as Luna was barking at the backdoor as well.

"Go get Luna, I'll check the door." I told him with a little shove and he frowned. "Who's here? Brady nor Macken text me." I just shrugged as I slipped off the counter as Troy ignored Luna and followed me to the door. "Troy, seriously, I'm fine," I said with a laugh. "I don't know who it is, Gabs, I'm not letting you answer the door alone," my fingers grabbed the door handle and I swung it up. I turned my head to see who it was and I stopped.

Everything stopped.

The world stopped spinning.

The air in my lungs wasn't moving.

I just stood there.

And I stared.

And stared.

My eyes took in the familiar brown hair that was nearly black, the bold brown eyes that had tears in them, and the familiar bracelets around her wrists. The shock in my system didn't seem to calm down and my fingers started to shake and tears were in my eyes as I couldn't find the words. "Gabi," Troy's voice was quiet behind me but I couldn't tear my eyes away from her. I couldn't look away. I couldn't move. My body didn't know what to do. I swallowed on the growing lump and blinked away the growing pool of tears.

"Beth," I breathed out.


SHES BACK.

The moment a lot of you have been waiting for! Beth has arrived and what is going to happen NEXT?! Very rude of me to end this chapter this way but…I know you all will come back in two weeks to read the next chapter (smiles)

If you haven't checked it out – Nurse Montez has debuted! Go read the first chapter!

Also: I just want to clarify something reallyyyyy quick. Only one person has said something (recently, it was a hot debate in the baseball series) but I just find it kind of funny after going through all of my more recent stories (MLB, Baseball Lover series, and a few of my other stories) that was claimed that I only write about them having girls. This is not correct in the slightly lol. In those previous stories there have been 9 girls and 8 boys. I've started their family with more boys than girls. I only have two choices and I just don't understand the assumptions? Ya'll have ZERO idea what these babies are going to be AND Troy has a daughter in Nurse Montez but Gabi had a son in Rescue. I'm trying to make sure the stories are not similar in the slightest. I need ya'll to trust me that I don't have a bias and I equally love writing boys and girls with their families :-) Makenli and Adalyn were at one point going to be boy/girl but I got inspiration to do girl/girl and let's be honest – there probably would have been another story without me changing it. If you don't like my stories or how I decide to write out their families – don't read them. I can handle constructive criticism but when my ratio is nearly 50/50 – then I don't see a point in the criticism.

To my readers to don't care about any of that: thank you! I appreciate you for trusting me to write these stories as I see them in my head. I love it. I love to write about their families and how different each story is from another. Very thankful for all of you.

I hope you enjoyed today's chapter!

PLEASE REVIEW!

Next Update: March 7th