Chapter 2

Gabriella didn't seem to hear anything after she was told that Troy was in the hospital, she didn't even realize that she had dropped her phone until she heard her name being called. She snapped out of her reverie she picked up her phone and held it to her ear.

"Yes, I'm still here."

"Mrs. Bolton, your husband is in serious condition, and you need to sign off on some paperwork as next of kin."

"Okay, I'm on my way." Gabriella ended the call. She sat there for at least three minutes before she found the strength to move. Once Gabriella was ready she knocked on Ethan's door, she slowly creaked the door open and saw that her son was up playing video games.

"Ethan?" Gabriella calling out startled her oldest son who jumped in surprise and tried to hide the controller in his hands.

"Mom! I'm doing research for a school project—"

"Ethan, can you meet me in the kitchen I have to talk to you and your sister." Ethan frowned at the calmness in Gabriella's voice.

"Are you okay Mom?"

"I need to talk to you and Kadie so pause the game and meet me downstairs." With that Gabriella closed the door, leaving Ethan confused and worried. Gabriella then went to Kadie's room and was not surprised to see her fast asleep, she walked over to her daughter and gently shook her awake.

"Kadie?"

"Hmm?"

"Wake up sweetie, I need to talk to you and your brother in the kitchen." Kadie sat up, confused from being awakened well before her alarm was supposed to go off.

"What?"

"Meet me in the kitchen I need to tell you and Ethan something." Gabriella walked out of the room and closed the door shut behind her.

"Mom, what's wrong? Is everyone okay?" Kadie asked Gabriella looked at her children before sighing heavily.

"I got a call from the hospital not too long ago, Dad was in an accident, I guess he was coming home from work." Kadie started to cry and Ethan tried to console his older sister.

"What?" Kadie asked

"I know sweetie, I have to go to the hospital. I'll keep you guys updated in everything. You don't have to go to school today, I'll send your principals an email explaining everything. I have to go, but keep the house down okay? I'll have Uncle Chad or someone check on you guys."

"Okay, Mom." Gabriella kissed Ethan and Kadie goodbye, she held them a little bit tighter and when she said she loved them there were tears threatening to fall.

In the car, Gabriella realized she forgot to call Lucille and Jack. She let out a shaky breath

"Call Lucille Bolton."

Calling Lucille Bolton

As soon as Gabriella heard the first ring she wanted to hang up the phone but she knew she had to tell them after the fourth ring Lucille answered the phone.

Gabriella? What's going on dear?" Lucille asked sleepily.

"Lucy, Troy was in an accident coming home from work. The hospital called me and it's not good Lucy, and I don't know what to do and how—"

"We're on our way Gabriella, you won't go through this alone…"

As Lucille was giving Gabriella her colloquy, her mind was thinking about all of the times she and Troy shared together.

Flashback

Gabriella looked at the pregnancy test in her hands in shock. She didn't think it would be positive she took it as a joke after she told Taylor that she had been having weird cravings. Taylor jokingly told her to call her if she was pregnant well, the joke's over now. She and Troy had decided that after Zach, they were done with kids. She was 35, she knew that the older you are the tougher the pregnancy. She doesn't know how she's going to tell Troy.

"Babe? You in the bathroom!" Troy's voice startled Gabriella as she tried to find a place to hide the pregnancy test.

"Yeah, I'm about to hop in the shower!" Before Gabriella could hide the test Troy opened the door.

"Maybe we can save water and I—" Troy froze when he saw the pregnancy test in Gabriella's hand.

"What's that babe?"

"A positive pregnancy test," Gabriella muttered, Troy ran his hands through his hair

"You're pregnant?"

"I'm pregnant," Gabriella confirmed, she was nervous about Troy's reaction. Until he pulled her in for a kiss confused she didn't return the kiss. He pulled away smiling and Gabriella was even more confused.

"You're not upset?"

"Of course not, surprised, yeah. But we're having another baby, why wouldn't I be happy about that." Gabriella smiled widely and wrapped her arms around him.

"We're having another baby," Gabriella repeated.

"We're having another baby." Troy kissed her forehead.

"Gabriella? Gabriella!" Gabriella jumped at Lucille's voice, coming through the speakers. She was now parked in the hospital garage, she didn't realize she was here, she doesn't remember how she got here.

"Yes, I'm here Lucille. I just go to the hospital."

"Are you okay? I was calling your name."

"I was parking the car, I'm okay Lucille. I'll see you guys later."

"Okay, tell Troy we love him." Gabriella closed her eyes, trying to hold in her emotions.

"I will love you guys."

"Love you too."

As Gabriella was getting out of the car she looked down at her wedding band, it's still the same band from 13 years ago, she does other tasks throughout the day and she has never stared it at like that since the first few years of marriage.

Gabriella groaned in frustration as she struggled to put her wedding band on for the tenth time.

"Gabs? Are you ready? We're gonna be late." Troy entered the walk-in closet and saw his pregnant wife fighting to put on her wedding band. He smirked as he walked over to her.

"What's wrong babe?"

"I can't put my wedding band on anymore. My fingers are fat." Gabriella held up her hand and sure enough, her fingers were swollen.

"I still think they're beautiful." Troy tenderly took her hand and kissed it gently which made Gabriella roll her eyes.

"I'm serious Troy, I want to wear my ring." Gabriella pouted. Troy couldn't resist and he kissed her pouty lips.

"Gabs, it's fine."

"To you! This hasn't happened before, I swear this is our last." Gabriella looked at her pregnant bump, "You hear that Zachary Isaac Bolton? You're the youngest Bolton." Troy snickered at his wife.

"Don't laugh at me, my feet are swollen, I've gone up three sizes, I can't even see my feet anymore, people ask me if I'm, having twins. I'm so fat I can't even fit my wedding ring."

"Look, you are the most beautiful woman ever."

"You're just saying that."

"No, I'm not, I bet all of the single guys and some of the married ones are going to be jealous when I walk into that gala with you on my arm. That's how beautiful you are." Troy kissed Gabriella softly

"I'm still fat." Gabriella said

"You're a healthy pregnant woman. Who is the sexiest woman alive and I can't wait to get back here so I can show you just how sexy you are." Troy said seductively, which made Gabriella blush, she looked up at her husband and smiled softly

"I love you, wildcat."

"I love you too. Now come on, we're running late."

Gabriella slowly walked into the hospital ER, the bright lights blinding her slightly. She approached the receptionist and she was met with sympathetic eyes.

"Mrs. Bolton, I am so sorry." Gabriella nodded her head slowly.

"Can I see him?" Gabriella asked trying to hold back her tears

"Um, they just transported him for some scans. I can page a doctor for you so someone can come talk to you?" Gabriella nodded her head again. "You can wait over there Mrs. Bolton." The receptionist directed Gabriella to the waiting room and went go to page a doctor that could update Gabriella on her husband. While Gabriella was waiting she glanced at the TV in the room and she saw the news was reporting on East High's basketball team. Gabriella gasped, it totally slipped her mind to call Chad and Taylor. She pulled out her phone and immediately dialed Chad's number.

"Gabriella? It's like 3 AM—"

"Troy's been in an accident, Chad. It's really bad," Gabriella was met with silence "Chad? Are you there?"

"Yeah, yeah I'm here. Are you um, are you at the hospital?"

"Um, yeah, it's just me. Lucille and Jack are on their way and the kids are at home."

"Do you want me to meet you there?" Gabriella could tell that Chad was holding back his tears and the last thing she wanted was for him to back in the hospital especially with his mom having just gotten home after a two month long hospital stay.

"Or I can keep an eye on the kids?"

"Yeah, Chad that would actually be great."

"I'll head over there right now Gabi. Keep me updated, please."

"Of course Chad, I'll text Kadie to let her know you're coming over." Gabriella ended the call she let out a shaky breath. She looked around the waiting room and only saw a couple other people. Then she heard a woman groan in pain, her head snapped to the direction and there was a heavily pregnant woman walking into the ER with her panicked husband following close behind.

"Can someone help my wife?!"

Gabriella thought back to when she gave birth to Jackson, Troy was so nervous.

Troy was pacing back and forth in the hospital room, Gabriella loving watched her husband walk a hole in the floor. She felt a contraction coming and groaned. Troy was quick to her side and gave her his hand. Once the contraction was over, Gabriella fell back on the bed and huffed.

"I wish I could take the pain away babe." Troy said, a he wiped the sweat off Gabriella's forehead.

"I know, wildcat, I know." Gabriella said softly.

"What if he doesn't like me?"

"What?" Gabriella frowned

"What if he cries every time I hold him? Or he doesn't want me." Gabriella chuckled

"Troy, relax. He already loves you, every time you talk he relaxes. Trust me, he's going to love his Daddy." Troy nodded

"Mrs. Bolton?" Gabriella looked up and saw Dr. Tucker, standing before her. She was Troy's attending during his residency here at the hospital.

"Dr. Tucker? How is he? Is his awake?" Gabriella asked

"Mrs. Bolton, he's sleep for now we had to put him under to conduct some of the tests. Did anyone tell you the extent of his injuries?" Gabriella shook her head no.

"Alright, alright. Um, come me Mrs. Bolton and all the doctors will discuss what exactly is going on with your husband."

"Okay." Gabriella followed Dr. Tucker down the hall.