Chapter 22 – Beth

Gabi's POV

"Beth," I breathed out with a sob following it. I took two steps before we were both wrapped around each other, both of us sobbing and crying as we held onto each other. "Elle, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry," she cried into my ear and I just held on for dear life as I couldn't stop crying. Our arms couldn't squeeze any tighter as I was afraid to let go of her. "you're here, you're here," I couldn't stop the tears and waterfall of emotion.

My sister.

She was here.

In my arms.

Another sob broke free from my throat as Beth pulled away and her hands framed my face like she always did when we were younger. "I'm here," she looked right at me and our eyes connected as I crashed into her again with another hug. Her arms wrapped around my shoulder and she just held me against her. A wet nose pressed against my leg though and Luna nudged her head between us as Beth laughed and looked down.

"Well look at this beautiful dog," Beth let go of me and I already wanted to grab here again. I wanted to hold onto her so tight. I wiped my eyes as Beth greeted Luna, "Hi beautiful girl," Beth said quietly as I cleared my throat, "Beth, meet Luna," Beth smile as my animal-loving sister was still in there. My eyes quickly flirted up and around to find Troy just leaning in the doorway. His blue eyes watching me closely but a tiny smile on the corner of his mouth.

"Beth," I said and she actually responded to me as she stood up, "I want you to meet somebody else," I told her as I took a step back and I looked over at Troy with a smile on my face, "Beth, I want you to meet Troy. Troy, this is my sister…Beth." I started crying again looking at her and she could only smile and look at my boyfriend with tears in her eyes before she went over and wrapped him in a hug. She said something in his ear and Troy just hugged her tightly back and just nodded his head.

The interaction was strange, "I am so happy to meet you," Troy said as the released and Beth wiped at her face. "How about we take this party inside?" Troy suggested quietly. "We can get some tea or coffee," Troy said knowing that sleep wasn't coming any time soon. "Yes, please, I know Gabi and I have a lot to talk about." We all walked inside and I grabbed Beth's hand and she squeezed mine back. "Uhm wow I wish you would have at least sent me a picture of him. Like damn, Elle," she joked and I couldn't stop my smile as my sister was right here. The tears happened all over again and I just hugged her again.

"I've missed you so fucking much," I told her as I held her tightly and she squeezed me tightly. "I missed you so much, I know you have so many questions and I will answer all of them. Okay?" I nodded my head and we both went to sit on a stool as Troy slid me a cup of tea and asked Beth which she preferred.

"A black coffee," she requested and Troy nodded as I turned to face her. "Are you okay?" I asked her and she gave me a faint smile and a nod of her head, "Yea, I'm better. I am much better. I just…" she paused and her eyes flickered around Troy's kitchen. "I'm so scared of how much you hate me," she finally whispered and I felt the tears in my eyes and I shook my head. "I told you in my voicemails that I could never hate you. It's what you needed to do."

Beth's lip trembled and she looked down at her hands that were still full of rings and her arms circled with bracelets. "It's not that simple, Gabs," I swallowed on the lump and I just looked at her for a moment as Troy slid her a coffee. "I am going to take Luna upstairs. Just call if you need anything, okay?" he said to me. His fingers grasping my chin and our eyes connecting. I just nodded my head at him and he dropped a quick kiss to my lips. "I love you," he murmured into my ear.

"I love you, too."

Troy and Luna disappeared upstairs as I turned my attention back to my sister. She was in a pair of torn up jeans with a t-shirt that she must have picked up from somewhere because I didn't recognize it. She fiddled with a ring on her finger and I gently pulled at her hand to look at it. It was Zoey's. It was the ring that she got in college at some pawn shop and I never knew what happened to it. Zoey loved that thing.

"I had it resized to fit my skinny ass hand," I smiled as I let my finger stroke it. "Where did you go?" I whispered out loud and Beth blew out a breath of air, "Where didn't I go?" she questioned. "I never left the country but I went just about everywhere. Slept in my car, motels, hotels, Airbnb's, worked random photography jobs, did some freelance work to keep some money flowing but I requested all cash because I just…" she sighed, "I didn't want to be found. I was destroyed."

I refrained from arguing with her because I was frankly jealous. I wish I would have just left, too. I wish I would have had the nerve to say fuck it to all of them and leave. I wasn't a free soul like Beth was though and I knew that was her speed. Beth looked up at me and she let out a big breath of air. "I was never in danger and I was just seeing the world. I think Zoey's death rattled me and told me that I needed to go do what I wanted to do – just in case I died."

Beth reached over and she grabbed my hand, "I was terrified and scared. Dad was already freaking out and you were practically taking care of the kids and James wasn't James and I just…I felt like I was already falling through the cracks and I was suffocating. I had to leave. I just had to get away and, in the moment, – it all made sense. It was clear to me and it was completely normal and justifiable to leave." I stroked her hand gently and she breathed in deeply. "I completely turned off my cell phone and for the first two weeks I didn't leave my hotel room. I didn't eat. I barely drank water. I barely did anything but cry and sleep."

My heart broke for her and I wanted to hug her again. "I then had a dream about Zoey telling me that I needed to do what I was set out to do or go home. So, I started doing it and I grieved, made new friends, and just went on an adventure through the country. I went to nearly every single state besides Alaska and Hawaii and a few in the middle. I didn't turn on my phone for nearly six weeks. I didn't want to hear pleading or begging for me to come home but one day – I saw three sisters in the park I was at and started sobbing. I was in Montana and I just couldn't stop crying while I watched them and I turned on my phone right there and listened to every single one. I deleted the non-important ones and I listened to every single one after that. I wouldn't turn my phone on until night time and it was comforting to at least hear your voice."

Her tears just dripped down her face, "I started seeing a therapist via Zoom twice a week and she talked me through a lot of my actions. She justified that it was something I needed to do but I knew she was hitting on something sometimes and I couldn't understand what until you called me with your letter. I did an emergency meeting with her the next morning after your voicemail and I sobbed the entire time and she told me kindly that I left my family when my family probably needed me the most. That you had lost one sister and then lost another sister with nothing to know where I was. I cried and cried and I slowly started my journey back to here but I was terrified."

She rubbed her eyes and took a deep breath, "So I kept detouring everything and kept finding new and longer routes. I nearly came home when you told me about your pregnancy. I was so happy for you over the phone and getting to listen to you fall in love with Troy? I knew just from your voice how happy you finally were and how happy Zoey probably was that you were no longer with Brad. I knew that Troy was the one for you and I never had to meet him. I found another reason to not come back and then when Troy called me," I sat up straight.

"Troy called you?" I questioned, my voice a whisper and Beth just looked at me as her head bobbed up and down. "He told me that you are pregnant with twins," she whispered back and I felt the cry crack in my throat. My eyes looked over towards the stairs and I felt my heart gush. "He called me and he told me how much you missed me. How much that you just missed having a sister around and that you were pregnant with twins and only had his siblings to celebrate with and I literally broke down and then drove until I got here. You need me." I nodded my head as I got up and I wrapped my arms around her again. "I've needed you since the very beginning but I understand," I whispered as I hugged her tightly.

"I am so sorry, Elle," I choked on my cry as I just hugged her so tight. "I don't care if you leave again but please talk to me. That's all I want. I missed your voice and celebrating things and just…I wish I had somebody to talk to all of the funny memories of Zoey." Beth just nodded her head up and down, "Yes, I promise, I will always be in contact with you. You are having twins." She whispered to me and I nodded my head. "I'm having twins," I nearly cried and she laughed while brushing my tears away.

"He loves you," she whispered to me and I nodded my head again. "Zoey would have loved him." I just laughed and nodded my head some more. "I'm sorry," she whispered to me and I just hugged her and I didn't let go for some amount of time. "Have you seen mom and dad?" she shook her head. "No. I am going to need back up. I can only assume how mad they are both going to be." I shook my head back and forth quickly. "No, Beth," I sighed as I looked at her with the blurry vision. "Nobody is mad at you. It was so hard for everybody and we all grieved so differently from each other. If that's what you needed – then that's what you needed. I just wish I would have known you were okay. I was so scared something happened to you."

"Mom and Dad are going to be so happy to see you. They are going to understand. They just want their daughter back." Beth released a cry and we both finished our drinks. "Can I stay here tonight?" she questioned and I nodded my head. "Of course, you can stay here as long as you need, Beth. Troy will not care. He really is an amazing man. He loves me, he loves these babies, and he just wants me happy. He has the best interest in it for me."

"We are going to need a long discussion about him but I am really tired. I drove here from Maine," I felt my eyes grow wide and she gave a tired smile. My fingers were still clasped on her arm, "Can I lay with you?" I whispered as if I was 10 again and Beth just smiled and nodded her head. "Yea, as long as Troy won't mind." I laughed and hugged her again as we tossed our drinks and turned out the lights. She went and changed and got ready for bed as I sat on the edge of the guest bed.

I waited for her to come back and she smiled, "I'm not going anywhere tonight," she whispered and I nodded, "I have to tell you something tonight – one of the things I have struggled with the hardest was people just leaving my life. I am terrified that Troy is just going to disappear or Jenna or if something happens to one of these babies. I just don't think I will handle it well if somebody leaves me so suddenly again and I just…I don't want to leave your side and I know I have to at some point but I just…I'm scared."

Beth sat next to me and I leaned into her body as she rubbed my arm. "I'm sorry, I did that to you. I shouldn't have abandoned you." She soothed gently and I just held onto her. "I've been working on it but I am always just scared."

"Go change your clothes, okay? Then we'll snuggle together," I just nodded as I went to the guest bathroom to avoid waking up Troy and washed off whatever make-up was left on my face after crying for the last several hours. I took off my shorts and found one of Troy's t-shirts in the laundry room before going back to crawl into bed with her. We cuddled with each other and I rested my head on her shoulder. "I would lay in bed at night and picture where you were…" I whispered quietly. "I would picture the mountains and the beaches and I knew you were probably okay. I knew that something was wrong with Zoey. I think we just…know. I missed you though. Every single day I wanted to call and leave a message. Every day I wanted to beg you to come home but I knew that would only cause you to stay away. I won't lie and say that I wasn't hurt and upset at one point but I knew it was what you needed."

"I don't deserve you," Beth whispered. "I don't deserve the forgiveness and the acceptance of what I did because I could hear how hurt you were through the phone. I could hear how broken you were in the beginning and when you met Troy…it all got a little bit better but I hated that I wasn't here to see it. I was just so…lost. I was so confused. Zoey was so young and that wasn't supposed to happen and I just…my fight or flight kicked in and I flew. It was the only thing that felt safe."

I just hugged my sister as we laid in bed together. Neither of us moving. Neither of us going anywhere. Just the two of us.


Saturday, July 20th, 2019

Troy's POV

I leaned in the doorway as I looked at the two sisters snuggling in the spare bed. Their hair was so similar that I couldn't tell where Gabi started and Beth ended. Beth was definitely more eccentric than Gabi but had a free spirit from the little that I had talked to her. The happiness that radiated from Gabi last night was overwhelming and I was so thankful that Beth had come. This was what Gabi needed in her life.

Her sobs broke my heart as they embraced because it just told me how much she had truly missed her sister. Luna was curled up at the end of the bed as I had already taken her for a walk and drank a cup of coffee but I just stared at the two of them. I was already going to offer Beth to stay here if she needed a place to crash for a little bit. I knew Gabi was going to struggle saying good-bye to her sister. I pushed off the door and I went downstairs as I picked up the house, switched the laundry around, and finished the dishes when a pair of feet came down the stairs.

I knew it wasn't Gabi because I knew the sound of Gabi. I turned to see Beth in a large sweatshirt and a sleepy smile on her face. "Good morning," I said. "Would you like coffee?" I offered as the pot should still be warm. "Please, I feel like I know so much about you already and we've only had a two-minute conversation." I chuckled as I poured her a cup of coffee. "Milk or sugar?" I questioned and she shook her head as I handed her the mug.

"Thank you," I whispered as I looked at her. Beth looked up at me with a question in her eyes before she just nodded her head. "I hope I didn't make you feel compelled to come back or anything I just…she missed you and that smile last night and watching her get to hug you again? I don't regret the phone call." Beth just smiled, "I wouldn't have come back if I didn't want to come back. Gabi's letter nearly drove me back, her telling me she was pregnant I started back in this direction, but hearing that she was having twins and didn't have her sisters? It stung in the best of ways. I knew I was needed here again."

"You are brave for doing what you did, I can honestly say, I might have reacted in a similar manner." Beth just shrugged her shoulders. "I think it's a bit of the middle child syndrome in me. Zoey was gone, Gabi was picking up the pieces, and I just felt…lost in the middle. Leaving felt like the best option but after many therapy conversations I learned that it wasn't the best answer and I hurt a lot more people along the way."

"I know Gabi is just happy that you are back in her life in whatever capacity you are willing to give her." Beth looked at me and I knew she was surveying me carefully. Her eyes flickered around my face, down my torso, and stopped at the counter before her eyes bounced back up. "I don't know how much Gabi told you about her relationship with Brad but you are a 200% upgrade from that piece of shit," I couldn't stop my laugh as I nodded, "Yea, I've met the douchebag a handful of times. I'm glad she walked away."

Beth just sent me a grin, "Thank you for taking care of her when she needed it the most."

"It was easy to fall in love with her,"

"It always has been that way for Gabi. I think it's just her chiasma." I smiled and nodded, "I agree. It's just the aura around her that drags people in – mostly me. I was happy to be there for her and do what I could for her. She deserved some extra love in the moment." Beth took a long drink of her coffee. "So, you're a teacher, coach basketball, and have a dog and absolutely love my sister." I turned my head to wonder how she knew that, "It's just how you look at her. With complete adoration and love. James looked at Zoey that way. My dad looked at my mom that way. I'm still waiting for somebody to look at me that way."

"I think you will. I am going to make a large assumption you all have that thing about you that makes you special." Beth just smiled while she rubbed her arms gently. "I am trying to figure out how to tell my parents. I really don't know what they are going to do."

"Hug you. Cry. Love you."

She blinked away the tears and rubbed her face, "I can invite them over here if you want. They come over frequently for meals. They are supposed to be leaving for their family vacation tomorrow." Beth hesitated and sighed, "I don't know if I'm ready for that yet."

"I think they would understand." I explained and she grimaced, "I don't know about Gabi. She was never clingy before and last night…it was like if I let go, she just grabbed back on again." I just nodded my head, "She thinks everybody is going to leave." I explained. "After she found out she was pregnant – she thought I was going to leave. After she found out was twins, she thought I was going to leave again. She's just scared."

"I did that," she looked at me and was asking me to deny it but I think that mostly stemmed from her leaving. "I think it was you leaving, Zoey dying, your dad barely leaves the house unless for the kids, and breaking up with Brad, while losing most of her friends prior…I think it's all these people suddenly leaving her life that has her anxious." Beth just ran her fingers through her hair. "Are you okay with my family coming here?" I nodded my head. "I'll invite them for lunch."

"Thanks Troy, I am glad you were there for her. Took care of her." I smiled, "It was my pleasure, truly,"

I turned to grab my phone and I turned back to face Beth, "I just want you to know. You are more than welcome to stay here as long as you would like. The guest room is typically empty and if you want to wait a minute until your feet hit the ground and you know what's next…I know I don't care and I know Gabi will love it. You just…have to share her with me." Beth cracked a smile and I smiled right back at her. "You missed her in your bed last night,"

I chuckled, "Yea, I did."

Shooting off a text to Gina and Andy to ask them to come to lunch today to help cheer up Gabi feeling down about the trip coming up without her sister for the first time. They both agreed, "They will be here around noon," I offered to her and she smiled, "I better go get ready and you better get your girl up," I felt my lips tip up and nodded, "Yea, pregnancy is kicking her ass." We both headed up the stairs as she went to the bathroom and I sat down on the edge of the bed.

My fingers stroked her cheek gently and her eyelids fluttered open gently, those brown eyes sleepy but awake as she glanced at me. "Hey sleepyhead," she let a smile cross her lips as I dropped down and pressed my lips to her lips. "Good morning," she whispered. "Your sister is in the shower and your parents are coming over around noon at Beth's request. They don't know she's here but are coming because I asked them too." Her fingers reached up to my hair and she nodded.

"She's still here?" she questioned and I nodded, "She's still here."

"You called her."

It wasn't a question or an accusation. It was a statement.

"Yes," I responded and she surveyed my face. Her brown eyes taking in every single feature as her hands gently tugged on my hair but I gave no reaction. "Why?" she finally asked and I shrugged. "I don't know. I know how much you missed her and we were having twins. You want her here for your kids and I just felt like somebody else needed to talk to her. So, I called from my phone and I left a voicemail explaining that I wasn't asking her to come back but to consider you – my beautiful girl who is pregnant with twins and who needed her sister. I don't regret it. The look on your face last night, the relief in your face this morning…it was worth it. I'm sorry if you're mad."

She just blinked and then shook her head, "No, I'm not mad. I just…I didn't know I could love you anymore than I did after she told me.' A sigh of relief released from my lungs and I looked at her and I kissed her softly. "I love you,"

She smiled, "I love you, too. Thank you for always knowing what I need even if I don't really know." I pulled her up gently as I wrapped her in my arms. Her head rested on my shoulder while my hands rubbed her back and just kept her close to me. Neither of us spoke as we just held each other. "I wonder if we'll still go tomorrow," Gabi finally whispered and I didn't say anything because I didn't know. Her parents were going to be so happy that Beth was back but I also knew it was going to be hard to leave Beth behind.

"I told Beth she could stay here with us as long as she wanted," Gabi pulled away and looked at me with tears already in her eyes, "You'd do that for me?" she whispered and I only let out a low chuckle, "Baby, I would do just about anything for you." My thumb stroked her cheek and she just closed her eyes and leaned forward struggling to gain her composure. "She has one stipulation though," I told Gabi who let her eyes fly to mine with worry and I couldn't stop my smile.

"She has to share you. I missed you last night," I pouted and Gabi couldn't stop her laugh as she looped her arms around my neck. "You get me every single night." I pressed my lips to her cheek. "I'm mostly joking because I know you needed that last night and I will be happy to share you with her every single night but…I was lonely." She giggled again, "You had Luna,"

I rolled my eyes, "She won't let me spoon her,"

"Yea because she is a massive amount of fur," I kissed her softly, "Do you want to go take a shower?" I questioned and she nodded her head as she rested her head on my shoulder and I just held her close. "Wow, this is adorable," Beth said and Gabi lifted her head and smiled at her sister. The happiness in her eyes and the relief in her shoulders. "You seem good," Gabi observed looking at her older sister. "I am doing okay. I am really nervous to see mom and dad. I cannot wait to see Blaine and Lucy. I just hope they welcome me with open arms, too."

Gabi stood up and went over to hug her sister tightly as I watched the two of them. "They will," Gabi told her quietly. "I just know it." Beth smiled as they broke apart. "I am going to get ready." Gabi said and I just nodded as she disappeared. Beth smiled, "God, Zoey would have loved you." I just laughed.


Gabi's POV

I twisted my hands together nervously as Beth was pacing back and forth. She told me more about her adventures and the conversations with her therapist about why she made the decision she did and why it wasn't the best but she did what she felt was right. I did get it. She was faced that her sister just randomly died when she was perfectly healthy the day before. It spooks people. She always wanted to road trip the entire country and she did it.

I'm proud of her. I just wish that she would have told us that she was okay along the way. I did feel abandoned by her but there is no correct way to grieve. My eyes glanced to the clock to see it was just before noon and I knew my parents were going to be here soon. Troy sat next to me at the table as he rubbed my leg gently back and forth. "Take a deep breath for me," Troy encouraged and I shot him a look. "Stop being so nervous. It's going to be okay."

Beth shot me a look, "Listen to your boyfriend, okay?" I just laughed as I nodded my head as there was a knock on the door. Beth's back went straight and Troy reached over to squeeze her shoulder. "Relax," I reminded her with a mimicking tone and she shot me another death glare. Wow, I did really miss that. It was weird how we just fell back into time with each other even though it had been 10 months. She was my sister.

"You ready?" I questioned and she just nodded her head as I went over to the door. Beth stayed at the table with Troy as I went over and opened the door. My mom looked at me with a grin as she grabbed me into a tight hug. "Hi sweetie, Troy said you were having a rough day." She murmured and I just hugged her back. "Tough isn't the right word…it's just been weird." I confirmed and my mom gave me a questioning look as I hugged my dad back.

"Are you going to be okay to go to Florida tomorrow?" my dad asked and I didn't answer. "Troy is at the table," I confirmed and my dad just gave me a look. "Blaine and Lucy are really excited to spend the week with you." I just gave him a reassuring squeeze as I guided them into the dining area when my mom just stopped. "Gina, what's wrong?" my dad was quick to get to her because her face was pale and she was just crying without a warning.

"Beth," she nearly sobbed the word out of her mouth and my dad's knees buckled as Beth caught my mom in a tight hug as they were hugging so tightly, I was scared Beth was going to break mom. My dad was two seconds behind wrapping his arms around both of them as they all were crying. My own eyes filled with tears as I watched my parents reunite with their daughter. I went over as I sat on Troy's lap and he circled his arms around my waist. His lips pressing into my neck as my parents didn't let go of her for quite some time. When my mom pulled away, my dad only brought her closer to his chest.

"Gabi, when did she get here?" my mom asked as she wiped away her tears. "Last night. She showed up when Troy and I were getting ready for bed. I was just as shocked." I told her and my mom was overwhelmed with emotion again. My dad finally released Beth, "Bethany Montez, what in the hell were you thinking?" my dad exclaimed and Beth cringed at the use of Bethany. A name she absolutely despised. "I do what to first apologize for just leaving and I realize that might be my biggest mistake out of all of the mistakes I made. I just…" Beth paused as she sat next to my dad and my dad just put his hand on her hand. "I felt so overwhelmed and scared and just…freaked out that my sister had just died and I knew she had so many things she wanted to do and I had known I had so many things I wanted to do so…I just…left."

Beth went into tell her entire story from beginning to end. The voicemails. The trips. Her therapist. The journey back. Troy's phone call.

I still cried when she got to Troy's phone call and both of my parents eyed my boyfriend and baby daddy on the end. Once Beth was done my parents had cried several more times – apologizing for not supporting her more the few days afterwards and giving her the forgiveness that she needed to hear that they understood why she did it but wished things would have gone differently. Beth hugged each of them so tightly and my parents hugged her the same right back.

After Beth let go, my mom got up and came over to where Troy and I were sitting, "Gabi, sweetie," I gave her a questioning look and she just nudged her head. I stood up and my mom grabbed my boyfriend in a tight hug. Troy was a little surprised with his blue eyes growing wide with the gesture but he just hugged her back as she sobbed a thank you into his neck for saying whatever he said to get her daughter home.

Troy just nodded his head and squeezed my mom back as his own eyes filled with some tears. My dad shook his hand afterwards and I just smiled, Troy gave me a quick look with a smile on his face and I just smiled right back at him. I walked over and I just hugged my boyfriend tightly as I pressed my face into his neck. "Thank you," I whispered to him and he just squeezed me tightly. Troy's lip pressed into my neck and I knew I had found the best guy there could be for me. He was it. The one. There was no chance I would ever just let him walk away from me.

I didn't care if we had only been together seven months. I wanted all of the months from that day forward. "I love you so much," I whispered into his ear and Troy couldn't hide that grin. "I love you, too."

"What are we going to do about Florida?" my mom questioned and my stomach churned. "Is there any way to postpone it? I know we are supposed to leave tomorrow but…I don't want to leave Beth and I also know that Beth might not be ready for that yet." I spoke and my voice quivered because I knew the kids were looking forward to this vacation. "No, no, you all need to go. I bet Blaine and Lucy are looking forward to it and they have had such a hard year." Beth spoke and I shook my head.

"I'm not leaving you," the tears were already threatening and Troy heard it before he just wrapped his arm around my waist and tugged me closer. "Gabi, I am going to be right here when you get back. You deserve a vacation. You are going to become a mom next year. This is your last trip without being one with the kids. Those kids deserve that trip." Beth told her as she reached for my arm. I couldn't stop the tears, "But what if you aren't here when I get back?" I nearly sobbed the words and Troy's hands were itching to move me to face his front but he let me be as Beth came over and wrapped me up tight in a hug.

"I'm not going to leave you again, I promise." My entire body went rigged in her hug.

Troy tensed behind me and I flew into a rage of sobs and I just got up and left. I heard Beth say something and her tears started but I heard a lot of murmuring as I went upstairs. I walked into our bedroom and I just sat down on the floor as I cried into my hands from the emotions from all of it. My hormones were not helping in any capacity but it was all almost too much. I went from missing my sister to have her right in front of me making promises. The emotions of being scared that she would never come back to being right here with her story.

A wet nose nudged my hand and I looked up to see Luna staring at me. I circled my arms around her neck and she just licked my face worried about my tears. She whined and I just stroked her fur as I couldn't stop the tears. "Thanks Luna," Troy's soft voice was heard and I didn't let go of her fur as she continued to whine. Troy sat down next to me and Troy gently pulled me into his lap. I rested my head on his shoulder. "I'm sorry, I wish I could stop the tears."

"No apologies." He whispered into my ear. "She made a promise that she can't keep," I nearly choked on the words. "I know, you're going to have to explain it to her. She's out of the loop, baby. I need you to calm down though, okay? Just for the babies," he whispered into my ear and I sucked in a rapid breath. "I hate this, I hate this," I whispered and he just rocked me in his arms as we sat on the floor. Troy just held me tight until my body could calm down. It just felt like one thing after another recently. I loved that my sister was home but all of these emotions were nearly too much.

"Breathe," Troy whispered into my ear and I started to follow his breathing pattern. My body started to calm down and I was growing exhausted from the emotions of the past two days. I felt my eyes grow heavy as Troy's large hands rubbed my back. I just gripped onto him and then the next thing I knew I was being slid into bed. He tried to pull away but I grabbed onto him. "I need to check on everybody downstairs. Get some rest, baby girl. You need it. Luna is right here." I reluctantly released him and he dropped a kiss to my forehead and he lingered there.

Once he pulled away, I closed my eyes, and passed out.


Troy's POV

I looked at her sleeping form and I just sighed heavily as I nodded towards Luna for her to stay with Gabi as I walked downstairs. Beth was crying, again, with both of her parents talking to her quietly. Gabi nearly just went into a straight panic attack from that one little promise that I knew Beth would probably keep but Gabi couldn't handle that and probably wouldn't handle it. She wanted to go after Gabi but I was half way up the stairs before she could move.

This was too much for her right now. She needed to take a break and she was right – her hormones were raging and it wasn't helping. My presence in the kitchen had three pairs of eyes turning in my direction. "Is she okay?" Andy Montez questioned first and I nodded my head. "It's just a lot of emotions right now. Her pregnancy hormones, Zoey feelings, and Beth being back is just overstimulating all of her emotions." I said with a half-smile. "She fell asleep and she needs a good nap."

I sounded like her dad with that comment but she did need some sleep to let her body relax. She was pregnant and in the early stages. I needed her to just…relax. "Why did she freak out? What did I say?" Beth asked wiping at her face and I sighed softly. "It was nothing you did, I can promise you that, this stems from Zoey but you can't make her promises that you cannot keep." I told her quietly as my eyes flickered to the stairs and then back to the family.

Beth scrunched her forehead, "I can keep that promise. I'll be right here when she gets back."

I sighed, "But you can't. You can't predict if you get into a car accident tomorrow, or trip and hit your head, or catch a deadly disease. You can't promise in your five days absence that something like that wouldn't happen and Zoey promised her that it was a simple surgery and that she would be fine and…guess what happened? Zoey wasn't okay and she wasn't fine and her promise was broken and that broke her trust with a promise. That broke, Gabi." My voice cracked at the end of that one and I squeezed my eyes shut and gained my composure. I pinched the bridge of my nose when I felt Gina's hand on my hand. She gave me a soft smile and I just gave her one back because I loved her daughter something fierce.

Beth just closed her eyes as Andy rubbed his daughter's back. "I had to learn that hard way about that when I told her I was having a simple surgery and I promised nothing would happen. That panic attack was on a whole different level than the one she just had. She's scared. She's tired. She's pregnant. She's literally full of hormones. It's not that she thinks that you are going to disappear but that something will happen to you and she just got you back."

Andy cleared his throat, "She isn't the same sister that you left, Beth. She's been through a lot of shit these past ten months between Zoey, you, Brad, the kids, James, Troy, her job, getting pregnant – it's just been a lot for her. She made peace with her past and that she has to move on but she is timid and scared and thank God for Troy for helping pull her out of the dark hole she was spiraling into. She loves that you are here and she loves that you want to do everything for her but it will take time to really get to know her again."

Beth just leaned into her dad's shoulder, "I am going to try and talk her into going on the trip for this week because the kids are looking forward to it and she needs a break from here." Gina and Andy nodded their heads, "Beth, you are still more than welcome to stay here while we're gone if you don't want to go." Beth hesitated, "It's okay. I think I am going to go. I think I owe it to Gabi to go because it makes me uncomfortable but I've clearly not helped with anything the past 10 months of not being here."

I ran my fingers through my hair and I just nodded my head as Gina and Andy looked at Beth for a moment. "I can't believe I hurt her like this. That I was a part of this." Beth was mentally kicking herself. "Gabi didn't help herself either. She had a really hard time adjusting and hurt herself in the process but she still laughs and smiles and…she has been blind-sided by the pregnancy and you coming back and she's just…fuck, I'm going to say it, she's really emotional."

The group laughed and I gave a patient smile, "She'll be okay, soon. I promise. She'll go see Regina this week probably and they'll talk it all through." The group all gave a patient smile as Beth promised to go rest and that left me with their parents. "Thank you, Troy. We are so grateful for you." I just gave a smile as I tried to ward off the raging emotion inside of me because I hated that I couldn't just fix everything in front of me. "I am grateful for her, our first year has been something else but I love her."

"We know you do," Gina squeezed my hand gently, "We have some last-minute packing to do and a plane ticket to buy. I think Beth is going to come over to see Blaine and Lucy this evening. You keep Gabi and see if we can get her feeling a bit more like herself." I just nodded in agreement as I walked them to the door but not without a hug from both Andy and Gina. Once they had backed out of the driveway, I walked upstairs to see Gabi still passed out in bed with Luna curled at her feet.

I crawled into the bed with her and she wiggled her body back against mine. "Are you doing okay?" I asked her gently and she just nodded her head. I didn't ask any other questions – I just laid there with her. My lips pressing into her hair and my fingers tugging on the ends gently. She finally twisted to face me and those brown eyes blinked. "I don't want to freak out over a promise," she whispered quietly. "I hate that I freak out." She battled back the tears and I just brushed stray hairs from her face.

"Brie, it hasn't even been a year yet. This is okay. You are okay." I reminded her. "But my sister should be able to say the words, I promise, and I shouldn't have a near panic attack." I wasn't going to disagree to that but that wasn't the statement to make at this time. "It is something you are working on and working towards. You will never be magically healed from the trauma of that day and Beth returning is bringing all of those emotions back. This is hard. This is not going to be easy for anybody in your family because it is reliving all of the days none of you want to relive ever again. You just got to hug Beth again and I know that scares you endlessly that you never will again but you have to trust and love and be there for her."

She wiped away at her tears as she just nodded her head in understanding. "I think she is going to go to Florida with all of us. It'll be good to just spend time as a family but you need to do just that. I wouldn't have hard conversations there or anything that will cause the trip to be strained. Just…be a family." Gabi curled into my body. My lips pressed into her hair and she didn't say anything. Gabi sat up after too long and sat in my lap. Her brown eyes were so tired and I wish I could get her to just rest but when her lips brushed mine, I forgot what I was actually thinking in the moment.

"I need you," she whispered and I groaned as I couldn't deny her that request.


Sunday, July 21st, 2019

Gabi's POV

Never in my life did I think that I would be sandwiched between Beth and Troy on a flight to Florida. If you would have told me these words eight months ago, I would have laughed in your face. Oh, I would have gotten a kick out of it. Yet, life was a funny thing and after finally getting some sleep last night and feeling refreshed this morning with a clear mind – I sat down with Beth and I told her about my fear with promises to find out that Troy tried to explain to her why and how he nearly cried.

That broke my heart because I knew deep in my heart how much he loved me. He loved me hard and it had absolutely nothing to do with these babies. I then told Beth that I was scared and I wasn't just scared because she was here but I was scared because I had so much life I wanted to live, too. I wanted to get married, I wanted to have babies, and I wanted to watch them grow so very old. I wanted all of these things but with Zoey it all came crashing around that we were not guaranteed anything but the day we were given.

That moment alone was the moment that I told myself that I was going to enjoy every single day that I was given. I was going to love Troy Bolton and I was going to be the best mom I could be and I wasn't going to freak out over the little things that I couldn't control. I took a cleansing breath after that, I hugged my sister tightly, and vowed that we were going to have a good vacation. When we got back – I would help her get her feet settled again.

My fingers threaded with Troy's fingers as I brought his hand to my mouth. He glanced at me from the aisle and a small smile came over his lips. I think he was outside the door when I had my conversation with Beth but I wasn't sure but the small smiles, the pride in his eyes, and just the relief on his shoulders told me that he knew. He knew that I wanted to try hard. I wanted to do better. I didn't want to live my life like this and I knew it was going to be harder than just thought but it was a step in the right direction.

Regina called me this morning as well and we had a bit of a phone conversation with a promise to see her the Monday following vacation. She was proud of how I handled myself and I was proud, too. It wasn't easy navigating life after losing your sister in a way that shouldn't have happened but it did. I was trying to find myself along the way and I found some amazing people with it. I found better friends and a lot of them may include a link with the man I utterly fell helplessly over heels in love with. I leaned over and rested my head on his shoulder. His body embraced mine and his lips dropped a kiss to my head.

I was so lucky to have found him and I wanted to do better just for him. I didn't take a month break from him to fall back into a spiraling hole of a mess – no. I was stronger than that. I was better than that. I wanted to be better for Troy. I already planned on a friend's party with everybody once we got back because he deserved to laugh and have some fun. I was going to take him on a date while in Florida because we needed it as a couple.

"I can't wait to fuck you next door to your parents," my eyebrows rose up and I tilted my head to look at him and he chuckled. "I'm kidding," he said and I just laughed as he smiled at my laugh. "I mean…I would do just about anything for you." Troy grunted with that admission and his fingers gripped my thigh. "I kindly asked your dad to make sure our rooms were not neighboring." I really couldn't stop my laugh this time and I tilted my head back.

"What did he say?" I questioned and Troy smirked, "Already done, son." I giggled as I glanced over to see Blaine and Lucy sitting with my mom and my dad was the row across from them. "I love you and everything you've done for my family." Troy just smiled, "I would do anything to see that smile and laugh all day every day."

I swooned.


Happy Sunday! I hope you enjoyed the update and BETH IS BACK! She has such a unique story that doesn't end here. Next chapter is another fun one! A week in Florida with this crazy group – should be nothing less than entertaining!

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Next Update: March 21st