Beside You

by: LunarEclipse360

A/N: Yay! I got it in, in under a month this time. This chapter as two sex scenes (right after each other). The first one starts after the second page break and the second is the first two paragraphs after the third page break. So, if there's anyone who wants to skip it you can. If there's anything you think I might have forgotten, please tell me and I'll add it to the next chapter. Sometimes I might forget to address certain things.

Warning: Rated M for sexual situations and language.

Chapter 5

She sat in silence on the wooden bench as she waited for classes to let out. After crying for a good half hour, she found the need to talk to someone. Sharpay was out of the question; as was Chad and (possibly) Ryan. So, her only other option was Duncan. Not trusting herself to drive, she dressed and took a cab back to campus. She knew that Duncan's class would be letting out soon and he would be willing to listen to her. The campus courtyard began filling with students, but she paid none of them any mind. Her head was stuck on Troy and the things that he had said. Not realizing it, tears fell from her eyes and on to her clasped hands in her lap. Too lost in her thoughts, she hadn't realized that someone had walked up to her until she felt a hand on her shoulder. Despair read in her dark gaze when she looked up to meet the eyes of the person who had interrupted her train of thought. Duncan looked back at her with concern flashing across his face. Saying nothing, he took her hand and helped her on to her feet. He reached up and wiped the tears from her face before ushering her towards his car. They drove in silence; her head leaning against the window while his spared glances at her from the corner of his eye. Minutes later, they reached his apartment and he turned towards her.

"Do you wanna come up and talk, or would you rather talk right here?"

Her head snapped to face him; she had forgotten where she was for a split second, so his voice had startled her out of her trance. She remained silent for a while before finally answering him. "I wouldn't mind going upstairs."

He smiled softly and nodded. "Come on, then." She followed him out of the car and up to his fifth floor apartment. With silent observation, she admired the interior of the space as he removed his jacket and placed it inside the front closet. "Can I get you anything?" he asked; moving towards the kitchen.

"No, thank you." Changing directions, he ushered her into the living room. She removed her jacket and took a seat on the couch; waiting patiently for Duncan to do the same. When he was seated comfortably beside her, he opened his mouth to speak; but she interrupted him before he had a chance to say anything. "Do you think I'm selfish?"

"What? No! O-Of course not. I think you're the least selfish person I've ever met."

She smiled at him, but it fell as quickly as it had appeared. "I used to think that way, but now…" She took a deep breath, "now I'm finding it harder to believe."

"Tell me what happened."

"Remember how I told you that I'm pregnant?" He nodded, though he really didn't want to think about that now. "Well, I've known about it for the past three weeks and I…I didn't tell Troy about it."

"Why not?"

"Because I was scared."

"Scared of what?" Gabriella dove into the entire story of her mother's death, the pregnancy she didn't realize, her miscarriage and the aftermath. By the end of it, she was in tears and Duncan quickly wrapped his arms around her. She sobbed against his shoulder; crying tears that she thought she'd run out of. When she finally calmed down minutes later, she apologized for soaking his shirt. "It's fine, Gabriella. It's just a shirt." He pressed his hand to her cheek; brushing away the salt water from her face. "So, you were afraid that if you told him…"

"That I would jinx everything and miscarry and…I can't go through that again; but now he knows and he's upset with me and I just…" She pressed her face into her hands, trying to prevent herself from crying all over again. "I don't want to lose him. I can't lose him."

Sighing, he placed his hand on her back and rubbed comforting circles against her spine. "Gabriella, I know how much you love him, but… Can I be honest with you?" She nodded. "I don't think he deserves you and his reaction to all of this just proves me right."

Lifting her head, she looked at him. "Do you really think so?"

"I know so. I mean what kind of man gets upset when the woman he loves is pregnant with his child. So what if you told him two weeks after you found out. What matters are that you told him and he should be happy." Putting his hand back on her cheek, he caressed her tear-stained skin. "If it were me, I would have told you I loved you over and over. If it were me, I would have made you feel like you were the most important thing in the world." His pale blue eyes looked into hers; wanting her to see how truthful he was being as he whispered. "If it were me, I would have kissed you and never stopped."

He held her gaze; his eyes flickering towards her lips every so often. It wasn't hard for her to decipher what he wanted, but she found it hard to break through the haze that had settled over her after Troy had walked out on her. So, despite the protest from the voice at the back of her mind, she gave him no reason not to do what he had always wanted. His lips met hers; melding into hers in a sweet, but passionate, kiss. That, however, broke the haze around her and she pulled back immediately. "Duncan, what are you doing?"

"Kissing you," he responded, confused.

"I have a husband."

"Yeah, the same husband who got upset with you for keeping your pregnancy from him. Or don't you remember that?"

She stood, backing away from him. "I do remember that, but that doesn't mean that you can just kiss me. I like you, Duncan; I really do, but I love Troy with everything that I am and I know he loves me because the only reason why he was upset that I kept my pregnancy a secret for the past two weeks was because he thought I was dying and he didn't want to think of a life without me." And then everything came rushing over her. "How could I be so stupid?" she whispered to herself. Here she was, crying because she didn't think that Troy loved her as much as she thought he did, when he loved her more than she'd ever imagined. "I have to go."

"Gabriella, wait." He grabbed her arm before she could move. She looked up at him, expectantly. "Why can't you see that I can be so much more? That I can give you more than he could ever offer you?"

"Because you can't."

"How do you know that? How do you know if you won't even give me a try?"

"Duncan, I must admit that maybe in another life I would have given you a chance, but not this one. If you had known me four years ago, before I met Troy, you would have seen a completely different person and I doubt you would have felt so strongly about me as you do now. The person I am now is because of Troy. I was once broken beyond repair, but he still managed to pick up the pieces of my shattered heart and put them back together. I love him because he makes me feel whole again. You have to understand that."

As much as he didn't want to see it, Duncan couldn't deny the pure truth in Gabriella's eyes; proof that her love for Troy was real and deep. He released her arm and she smiled softly; thanking him silently before leaving.

::

What had he been thinking?

Sitting at the base of the wall, Troy ran a frustrated hand through his hair. He still couldn't believe that he had walked out on Gabriella like that; still couldn't believe the words that had spilled from his lips. He hadn't meant any of it and he hated to think that she might take those words to heart. Out of all the things he hated about himself, he hated his temper the most. His temper always caused him to say things that were far from the truth. He'd already seen the damage it could inflict before, so why couldn't he seem to learn from his mistakes? That fiery temper of his had opened old wounds before and nearly drove Gabriella to suicide. He hated to think what it had done this time. It was the reason he was sitting in front of the building; instead of going inside to see what awaited him. The sound of a car door closing caught his attention and he lifted his head. He was surprised to see Gabriella standing at the curb as a cab drove off. Their eyes met in the dim shine from the street lights. Before he could even think, he was on his feet and she was in his arms.

"I'm so sorry," she whispered as she buried her face in his shirt.

"You have nothing to be sorry for," he said, taking her head in his hands. "I'm the one who should be apologizing. I shouldn't have called you selfish, because you're not."

"No, Troy, you were right; I am. I am selfish. I should have said something to you when I found out, but I was just so afraid. Say you'll forgive me?"

Instead of answering, he pressed his lips against hers; kissing her deeply. He poured every ounce of the love he felt for this woman into it. He wanted her to know how much his heart felt for her, how sorry he truly was, and how much he had forgiven her. "I forgave you the moment I walked out that door," he murmured against her mouth before claiming her lips once more. When he felt the need for air, he pulled back and rubbed his nose against hers. "I'm sorry for acting like such an ass, I was just…I was worried about you."

"I know. I'm sorry for making you worry about me. I, honestly, wanted to tell you, but my fear got the best of me and I…"

He silenced her with another kiss; this one short and loving. "Just promise me you won't keep something like this from me again."

She nodded. "I promise."

Smiling, he removed his hand from her face and traced them down her arms; taking her hands in his. "So…pregnant, huh?"

"Yeah," she responded, lips quirked.

"Are you okay, though?" he asked, knowing her past experience.

Her face slipped into a serious stance and she nodded. "I will be; as long as I have you, I will be."

Their lips met again before he suggested they go upstairs. Silence fell between them, but it wasn't an uncomfortable feeling. Troy opened the front door and allowed her to enter in front of him. Their hands never parted, though. So, when he closed the door behind him and leant against it, she was halted in her tracks. She looked back at him and saw the grin on his face. His arm pulled her to him and he took her other hand in his.

"You know what this means right?" he asked when their hips touched.

She shook her head. "What?"

"It means," he started as he leant in closer to her; breath mingling with hers, "sex without condoms."

"Is that all you have on your mind?" she asked; the pointed glare she was trying to give him failed under the amusement she felt.

"No, but, I find it hard to resist you when I know that you're carrying my child in your stomach." Blushing, she looked down at her flat abdomen. He lifted her gaze to meet his and she could see, with clarity, the love and adoration he had for her.

"I love you."

His grin shifted into a sincere smile. "I love you, too."

He pressed his forehead to hers before kissing her lips. The atmosphere around them shifted as their innocent kiss became so much more. His hand beneath her chin moved to rest on her neck; his thumb caressing her jawbone. His other hand gripped her waist and pulled her closer. As the embrace continued, her fingers traced the hairs on his forearm; causing his skin to develop goosebumps. Releasing her lips, he began kissing her neck and listened to the breathy sighs escaping her throat. He locked on to her pulse point and nibbled, gently. After being certain that a bruise would form, he returned his lips to hers. Playing with the hem of his shirt, she reached underneath and dragged her blunt fingernails over his abs. Pulling away from her mouth, he sighed and opened his eyes.

"Bedroom?" he whispered; she nodded.

::

The journey from the front door to their bedroom was a complete blur to her. She didn't remember them moving from that spot. It wasn't until she felt her back hit the soft mattress did she realize that, some way or another, the transition had been made and they were no longer standing in the entryway to their apartment. She wasn't given time to try and remember it all; for when Troy's lips found hers again, all thoughts completely vanished. He played with the hem of her shirt; fingers brushing against her skin and causing her to shudder. He pushed it upwards until it revealed her bra-clad chest. His mouth left hers; caressing her jawbone, the expanse of her neck and her collarbone until latching on to one of her nipples beneath the fabric of her bra. Sighing, she pushed her head into the pillow behind her; back arching off the bed. Troy reached around to undo the clasp of her bra. Once that was out of the way, her shirt (along with her bra) was removed completely and thrown into some unknown direction. He, then, moved to unbutton her jeans. Lifting her legs, he was able to pull her jeans off and tossed them to the floor (her sneakers had been abandoned by the front door and she hadn't bothered to put on any socks earlier). Gabriella bit her lip as Troy spread her legs and nestled his hips between them before leaning down to kiss her stomach. Her body burned with each touch of his lips as they descended lower and lower. Gaze laced with love and lust, she watched him through half-lidded eyes; his head getting further and further away from her. Anticipation fluttered over her face as he neared closer to the heat between her legs. She closed her eyes when she felt his finger pull aside the cloth covering her center and felt his breath ghosting over her nether lips. Her head pressed into the pillow underneath her at the feel of his mouth closing over her clit. Breathless and burning, she grasped the back of his head; fingers weaving through the strands and clutching hard. Soft moans escaped her throat and replaced the silence that had only been filled by their heaving breathing. Troy pressed a single digit into her opening while his tongue flickered over the sensitive nub.

"Oh…f-fuck!" she whispered; hand still tangled in his auburn hair. She gave it one quick tug and he moaned in appreciation; sending a mind-numbing vibration through her womanhood that nearly made her lose all control. "Troy. Troy, I need…I need…" Her words were lost to the overall bliss that had taken over her body, causing her to be unable to think properly.

"What do you need?" he asked; still knuckle deep inside of her. He stroked her walls and watched her come undone right before his very eyes. She cried out as an orgasm shook her entire body. He pulled his finger out and slid up until he was face to face with her. "What is it that you need?"

Waiting until she was able to think correctly, Gabriella opened her brown eyes; a haze of desire filtering over them. "I need you…to fuck me."

Smirking, he kissed her lips and removed his shirt. When he went to remove his jeans, she stopped his hands and he looked at her. She shook her head and began undoing the buckle on his belt before un-fastening the buttons. He held himself over her as she pushed the denim down as far as she could reach; using her feet to remove it the rest of the way. She did the same to his boxers (moving them as far down as she could before resorting to having to use her feet) and he kicked both off when they were at his ankles. Nestling his lower body once more between her legs, he kissed her mouth. Suddenly, he found himself on his back with Gabriella grinning down at him. She kissed his lips, then his jaw, then his collarbone, then his scar. She continued this way until she got to his erect member. He sighed when her mouth descended on him; fingers weaving through her dark tresses. Moments later, she released him with a 'pop' and situated herself so that he was lined up with her. Eyes closed, lips slightly parted, Gabriella helped him penetrate her folds and let out a small whimper when he was fully sheathed within her.

"Open your eyes."

She did so, willingly. Dark amber met azure as she rolled her hips. He stared at her; eyes never straying. The intensity in his light blue gaze was enough to send her over the edge for the second time that night, but they were far from done. Even as her orgasm racked her body, she never stopped moving. Lifting his arms, Troy offered her his hands and she took them; lacing their fingers together. This was how they made love with the sound of skin on skin and their shallow breathing to be their only soundtrack. When she reached her fourth orgasm, he found himself ready to finish with her. He took one of his hands and placed it on her stomach. She smiled and shadowed him; putting her own over his. There was life growing inside of her; life that they created and neither one couldn't be any happier. Throwing her head back, she screamed silently and he stilled beneath her as he reached his end. He grabbed her hips and thrust up into her a few more times before collapsing against the bed in exhaustion. Gabriella's body slumped against his and he wrapped his arms around her; holding her to him.

"I know I've said it before, but," he said, breathlessly, "that was the best sex I've ever had."

She giggled and rolled off of him; snuggling up to his side. Her fingers lazily traced his scar as her body hummed. "I agree."

"You never said how far along you were."

"Well, you never asked." He looked at her expectantly. "Just over two months."

"Two months? That means that you conceived on our honeymoon."

Smiling, she nodded. "You're correct."

"But, you've been taking the birth control pills. Not that I'm complaining or anything, but how did this happen?"

"I forgot. Remember our last night in Puerto Rico? I had forgotten to take my pill that morning. And it works like a regular pill: forget to take and you have to deal with the consequences."

"Do you regret forgetting?"

"No," she responded. "I thought I would, but I don't."

Taking her hand, he wove their fingers together and kissed the inside of her wrist where the faded scars of her past once lay. "I'm glad that you don't." He kissed her forehead. "Because, no matter what happens, I want you to know that I'll always be right here."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Hands still intertwined, the couple was asleep in a matter of minutes; smiles still adorning their faces, hearts beating in time with each other.

::

Gabriella awoke the next morning to the sound of his light snoring. Turning onto her back, she found that their positions had shifted during the night and Troy was currently sleeping with his back to her. She turned onto her side and traced his flesh with her fingertips. He could've awoken at any time, but she didn't care. It was like she was unable to not touch him. If her hands weren't caressing his skin then her lips were and if her lips weren't then her body was. Slinking up behind him, she wrapped a careful arm around his mid-section (like he had always done to her) and kissed his shoulder. He still tasted of salty sweat from their love-making. Her vision blurred as she remembered their activities from hours before. She could still feel his hands on her skin; his lips on her lips, both above and below. She shuddered and pressed her face into his shoulder-blade. Her hormones were racing. Without much thought, she slid her hand down his side and to the semi-erect cock that greeted her. Gabriella's teeth bit gently down on the skin of his neck as her hand slid over his member. He moaned and she stopped.

"I fucking swear, Gabriella, if you don't keep going, I will be forced to take drastic measures," he growled.

"Is that a threat or a promise?"

He said nothing as he turned around, spread her legs and slammed into her. She groaned loudly, but didn't protest. This wasn't like the sweet love-making of the night before. No, this was more urgent, but still held passion. Her fingernails dug into his shoulders; the pain just providing further incentive for him to move faster and fuck harder. Within minutes, they were both hurdling over the edge. Troy buried his head in her neck and bit down hard. His name slid off the tip of her tongue as she came; sweat glistening on her olive skin. He breathed heavily; his hips thrusting erratically before stilling entirely. He kissed her neck and breathed in her scent. If he could stay inside this woman for all of eternity, he would (or at least for another few minutes). But, other body parts had other ideas and his stomach growled; ruining the moment.

Gabriella laughed out loud. "Hungry?"

"Apparently so."

"Well, then get up so I can go make breakfast."

He groaned. "I don't want to."

"Then you'll go hungry."

Food or sex? Food or sex? His stomach growled once more and he knew what his decision would have to be. Sighing, he pulled out of her and moved to lie beside her. She smiled and kissed him before sliding out of bed. He watched her; naked and still glowing. The stirring beneath his navel told him that he should just pull her back into bed and make love to her until the moon rose again, but his famished stomach told him that he needed to eat first. Eat first, fuck later. Gabriella pulled on a clean pair of panties and the shirt he had been wearing yesterday and left the room. He followed moments later; pulling on his boxers and jeans. Entering the kitchen, he found her already ready to prepare breakfast. He hopped onto the kitchen counter and followed her with his eyes. Then a thought came to mind; one that he realized he never asked about.

"Why were you getting out of a cab, yesterday?"

She froze for a quick moment before continuing on. "I needed someone to talk to."

"So, what, you went to find Sharpay?"

"No," she answered with some bitterness. Even though she wasn't completely mad at her best friend, she still felt a bit betrayed and it left her feeling bitter. "Shar did something I told her not to do. She was kind of the last person I wanted to talk to."

"Then who?" he asked, confusion on his face.

Glancing at him, she knew she had to tell him, but she also knew that he wouldn't like the answer. "Well," She took a deep breath, "I went to talk to Duncan."

A skipped beat. "What?"

She sighed. "You heard me, Troy; please don't make me repeat it."

"Why would you go talk to him?"

"Who else was I going to talk to? Chad, Sharpay and Ryan were going to take your side no matter what I said. Kelsi went back to Boston and Taylor's been busy with Max and the new baby. Besides, I had to find someone neutral in all of this."

"He is far from being a neutral party. I mean, the guy is practically in love with you."

"I know this, Troy, but I needed someone and he was there. He didn't judge me."

Scrubbing a hand over his face, he reminded himself that he needed to shave when he felt the stubble scratch his palm. "So, what did he say?"

"Everything I wanted to hear…and everything that I didn't."

"What do you mean 'everything that you didn't'?"

"He told me that I deserved someone better than you."

His heart clenched in his chest. "And did you believe him?"

She turned to him; smile on her face. "If I did, I wouldn't be here." He sighed in relief. "He…he did kiss me, though."

"What?" Troy had always been jealous, she knew this, but the pure hatred that the man felt for Duncan was unprecedented. "That little shit."

Turning off the stove, she walked up to him; situating her body between his legs. "Troy, he's not worth it. I pushed him away; told him that I love you. Hell, if it wasn't for him, I wouldn't have realized how stupid I was being. He made me realize that you were upset because you thought you were going to lose me and I didn't help by not telling you the truth. I told him how much I love you and how much I've grown from the person I used to be; how you helped me grow. He understood completely that he didn't have a chance in hell with me." She clutched his hand. "He understood that, in this life, you're the only one for me."

He smiled and cupped her cheek. "I love you."

"I love you."

They kissed and the world seemed to fall away. The sound of his stomach was the only thing that brought them back to reality. She smiled sheepishly and went back to finish making breakfast. He continued to watch her; small smile on his face. Hopping off the counter, he sneaked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her; palms splayed across her lean stomach. In a few months' time, this stretch of skin would be expanded; showing the world the life she carried inside of her. He never thought his life would become like this, then he met her and she changed his mind. Now she was making it even better. He loved her; more than life itself. Loved her for that piece of her past she constantly carried with her; loved her for her determination to want a better future. Nothing in his life could ever amount to this little piece of heaven that he had found in the broken woman who had healed his heart.