I'm so glad you all liked it and thank you so much for the reviews. I hope you enjoy this chapter...
Chapter 2
"Gabs!" A deep voice shouted as the person it belonged to entered the kitchen.
"What Joshua?" Gabriella asked, immediately recognising her older brother's voice.
"Hello to you too, I don't see you very often but it's nice to get a warm greeting." Josh Montez said sarcastically while he walked up to his sister and leant against the counter next to her.
"I'm sorry. I'm just trying to get all this food together." Gabriella said, pausing for a minute.
"I'll help, just tell me what to do." Josh rubbed his hands together.
Gabriella looked at him sceptically, "Hmm, who told you to help?"
Josh grinned at his sister, "Tom." He said, referring to their older brother.
"Why couldn't Thomas come and help too?" Gabriella pouted, brushing a hand over her stomach.
Josh shrugged, "Just tell me what you want me to do."
Gabriella looked around the kitchen, "Erm, can you take the potato salad in and the sausages. Basically everything in his area." She asked, pointing to the counter on the far side.
"Yeah sure." Josh pointed to his cheek.
Gabriella rolled her eyes, telling him to bend down so she could kiss his cheek, "Thanks Joshua."
Josh started to carry everything into the dining room and placed it in the middle of the dining table before Gabriella announced that lunch was ready. Close family of Troy and Gabriella had come. Their extended family promising to come down and see them once the baby is born.
Gabriella made sure everyone had something to eat before serving herself some food and sat in a chair at the dining table- some went to sit in the living room because the dining room was full. Troy walked in holding a tired little girl on his hip, asking her something earning a nod. He collected them both some food on one plate and went to sit between his girlfriend and his brother.
"Hey," He greeted, giving Gabriella a kiss to her temple and smiled at his mom who sat next to Gabriella.
"Hey Jamie," Gabriella smiled.
"Hi." Her tired voice mumbled.
"Uncle Troy wore you out, huh?" Gabriella asked, softly moving some of her thick light brown hair away from her face.
"Yeah, we were playing catch outside and he chased me after I dropped the ball." She said lowly.
Gabriella faked a gasp, "He didn't, did he?"
Jamie smiled big, nodding, "Yeah, he tickled me. Right here." She poked her stomach gently.
"Boy's are silly aren't they?" Gabriella pretending to whisper, smiling at how cute the little girl was.
"Yeah, Uncle Troy is." Jamie giggled as Troy tickled her stomach again.
"You two finished talking about me?" Troy asked.
Jamie shook her head quickly, grinning at Gabriella.
"Little monkey." Troy teased, kissing the top of her head before picking up a sausage and holding it toward her.
Jamie took the sausage and took a bite, happily snuggling back into her uncle's chest.
"Told you, you were gonna be a good daddy." Gabriella whispered, pushing Troy's hair back off his forehead.
Troy smiled, "But it's going to be different. Just me and you looking after a newborn."
"I know." She nodded, leaning forward slightly.
Troy quickly met her lips in a quick kiss, "Another Jame?" Troy asked, picking up his own sausage and ate it quickly.
Jamie nodded, taking the last one off the plate and chewing it slowly.
"So have you been down to the hospital to see what kind of birth you want to have?" Troy's mom, Lucille Bolton asked.
Troy answered for them, "Yeah, we went a couple of days ago." He told her, laying his arm on the back of Gabriella's chair.
"I was thinking about having a C section but once they told me more about it- I didn't want it. We went down to where you have a water birth and it looked good, more relaxing if that's possible," She smiled at Lucille who laughed lightly, "But I was thinking that after I have given birth to this little one." Gabriella rubbed her stomach, "I won't want to get changed and dry so I'm just going to normal birth and we went through pain killers and everything." Gabriella nodded.
"Yeah, I wanted her to have the water birth one but like she said, she'll be tired and everything." Troy shrugged, finishing off his plate once Jamie jumped off his lap and went to play again.
"You'll want every pain killer in the book." Lucille smiled.
Gabriella's top teeth sunk softly onto her bottom lip, trying to keep the scared expression off her face, "We're so close, I just want it over and done with. Labour I mean."
"Two weeks right?" Lucille asked.
"Yeah." Troy confirmed, "Well a week and five days."
Gabriella let out a shaky breath, "How long were you in labour for?"
"With Dale about… nineteen hours because he was the first child then Troy was around twelve hours and Dylan was only seven." Lucille told Gabriella how now looked even more worried.
Troy seemed to notice this because he softly started to massage the back of her neck and placed a small kiss on her ear, "It's gonna be okay," He whispered.
"Do you guys know who's gonna be in the delivery room?" Lucille asked.
Troy scooted his chair closer to Gabriella so she could cuddle up to him, "Just me." He answered, "But we agreed with the doctor that people can come and go until Gabriella has to push."
"I did the exact same thing." Lucille smiled.
"Ok!" Someone shouted to gain everybody's attention, "Troy, Gabs. I know you didn't really have a big baby shower so we all brought you a few things which you might not have."
Troy and Gabriella smiled at Troy's oldest brother before Gabriella's: Josh and Tom and Troy's father brought out the three small boxes of things and placed them on the table which had been cleared. Everybody from the living room were now in the dining room.
"Come on babe, let's take a look." Troy said, standing up and holding out his hands so he could pull her up.
Troy opened one box and smiled at all the piles of clothes: some pink, some blue as they didn't find out what the gender of the baby will be. Some were a pale yellow, green- every colour possible and different sizes.
"Gab, look." Troy grinned, picking one of the onesies- it was a light blue and really soft material. On the front, it had 'I have the best daddy!' in bold letters.
Gabriella giggled, "That's so cute."
Troy and Gabriella continued to look through the boxes. Fifteen minutes later all the things had been looked at and put back in the boxes neatly. They had gotten baby clothes, a few toddler pieces of clothing too, toys, lots of diapers, bottles, wipes, baby bath wash. All the little things Troy and Gabriella will need in the next few months.
Gabriella yawned, placing her hand over her mouth as she and her boyfriend lay on the couch with Gabriella between Troy's legs.
"How long are you guys staying for?" Troy asked as it was only Troy's parents and brothers in the room with them. Everybody else mingling outside or in other rooms.
"A couple of days." Troy's dad answered, Jack Bolton.
Troy nodded, slipping his hand under Gabriella's soft plaid shirt, "Tired?" He murmured next to her ear.
Gabriella nodded, turning slightly so he was tucked into Troy more, careful of her stomach, "Just need a little nap. All the food has made me and bubbles tired."
Troy laughed quietly, "Come on, let me take you up to our room." Troy lifted himself up and over Gabriella without knocking into her.
"Troy, pull up your pants." Lucille scolded.
Troy wriggled and he pulled up his jeans, "Give me chance to get up, mom."
Gabriella giggled and accepted the help from her boyfriend.
"I'm gonna take big momma up to bed for a nap." Troy teased.
His whole family gave him 'you shouldn't have done that' looks and Troy frowned looking back at Gabriella who looked upset and hurt.
"Baby, I was just teasing." Troy stepped closer to her, brushing his hands down her arms.
"Leave me alone." Gabriella jerked her arms away and waddled away toward the stairs.
"Let me help you." Troy said softly, coming up behind Gabriella.
"I said, leave me alone." Gabriella hissed, spotting her older brother, "Thomas, help me up the stairs?" She said, sweetly.
Tom nodded and walked over to her and Troy stepped out of the way watching his pissed, pregnant girlfriend climb the stairs with the help of her brother, "Fuck." He muttered.
"What's wrong, little sister?" Tom asked as he helped her lay down on the bed.
"Just tired."
Tom gave her a look, "You may be able to fool some people but not me Gab. Tell me what's happened."
Gabriella's bottom lip started to quiver and her chin dimpled, "Troy called a big momma."
Tom held back a smirk as he knew that if she weren't pregnant she would of just slapped Troy's chest and scolded him for it but she was pregnant so her emotions were running wild.
"Oh little Gab." Tom sympathised, kneeling next to the bed, taking her hand, "You're a pretty momma."
"Thomas stop trying to sweet talk me," Gabriella attempted but the tears kept falling.
"Just think when you have this little one, you can beat the crap out of him… Unless you want me to go do it right now." Tom joked but trying to be serious as he went to stand up.
Gabriella gripped his hand tighter, "No, I'll do it." She pouted, closing her eyes.
"Get some sleep little 'un. You're gonna need it." Tom commented, kissing her forehead.
"Love you, Thomas." Gabriella said, sweetly.
"Love you too, Gabriella." Tom teased as the use of his full name which she always used.
FIREMEN'S BABY
"Troy Bolton, well done in making my sister cry." Tom said, walking into the living room to find Troy sitting talking to Gabriella's mom.
Troy winced, "Dude, I'm really sorry."
"Don't worry about it. She's just hormonal." Tom chuckled, patting Troy's shoulder as he went over to the arm chair where Dale and Dale's wife and their daughter: Jamie were sitting. Starting up a conversation with them.
"What did you say to her?" Gabriella's mother, Eva asked, firmly still protective over her only daughter.
"Well we have this on going joke which went on from when we found out that she was pregnant at five weeks. Me and Chad call her big momma and usually she just playfully hits us or comes back with some sort of come back but she just told me to leave her alone and shouted for Tom to help her up the stairs." Troy explained, carefully as this was his girlfriend's only parents.
"She's probably really wanting the baby out now. She'll be tired, hurting, scared. I know I was and if you ask you're mom she say she felt the same. Right Lucille?" Eva asked.
"What's that?" Lucille asked, smiling as she was in a conversation between her husband, Dale's family and Tom.
"Just before your kids were born. You felt tired, scared and were aching?" Eva asked.
Lucille nodded, "Gosh, yeah. My feet were killing, my back was aching. Everything."
Troy just sat their quietly, "I'll leave her to rest for a few minutes before going up there."
"Go now." Lucille instructed.
"But she needs rest."
"Go." Everyone shouted at him.
"Consider me gone." Troy mumbled, standing up and bounding up the stairs before quietly opening their bedroom door and shutting it behind him.
Troy quietly knelt beside the bed, not knowing Tom had done this minutes before.
"Thomas, go away." Gabriella muttered, reaching her hand out to push his face.
Troy caught her hand and pressed a kiss to the back of her hand, "Gabs, it's me."
"Go away, jackass." Gabriella muttered, unfazed.
"Baby, I'm so sorry. It's just been our little on going joke and I didn't think you'd take to heart now." Troy told her, softly.
"I'm exhausted, I haven't had a decent night sleep in months except for last night. My lower back aches and I just want the baby out but in a way I don't because I'm terrified of labour." Gabriella whispered, not opening her eyes- worried that if she did tears would fall.
"I know," Troy kissed her cheek, "I know," He gripped her hand tighter, "I can't begin to understand what you've been through the past nine months but I'm trying to help you."
Gabriella's eyes fluttered open, "I know you are." She ran her fingers through his short hair.
"I'm really sorry I made you cry." Troy whispered.
"It's ok. I'm just very hormonal." She gave him a small smile before puckering her lips slightly- silently asking for a kiss.
Troy leant forward to press a kiss on her lips before wiping away the tears and kissing her gently again, "You're gonna be okay. We're gonna be fine." He promised, looking into her chocolate eyes.
Gabriella gently nibbled on her lower lip, "I love you."
Troy smiled and softly thumbed her cheek, brushing his hand down her shoulder and to rest on her side, "I love you too and I love bubbles." Troy grinned.
Gabriella let out a giggle, "I love bubbles too," she sniffed.
"We okay?" Troy asked, quietly as her eyes fluttered shut again. He softly rubbed her stomach.
"Yeah." She smiled but not opening her eyes.
"Get some rest. I'll check on you in a little bit." Troy told her, kissing her temple as he stood up and pressed a kiss to her stomach.
"Ok. Wake me before everyone leaves." She instructed him, weakly.
"Don't worry babe, there'll be here for as long as they can." He get a light chuckle.
A giggle escaped the brunette as she agreed with him. Troy snuck out of the room quietly and just as softly closed the door to make his way back to their families.
FIREMEN'S BABY
A couple of hours later, found Troy, Dale, Dylan, Tom and Josh sat on the deck over looking Troy's and Gabriella's back yard all with a beer in hand. None of them were saying anything, just soaking in the time they were having together as they wouldn't all get to hang out like this for a while. Tom lives in New York City. Dale lives in Florida with his wife and kid. Dylan and Troy's parents lived in Arizona. Josh lived in Utah and of course Gabriella and Troy lived in San Diego.
"When are you guys going back?" Troy asked, taking a sip of his beer.
"In two days." Dylan answered and they rest agreed with him.
"You're all coming back when the baby is born, right?" He asked, again.
They all nodded, "And miss seeing you struggle? I'm defiantly there." Dale teased.
"Hey!" Troy exclaimed as they all laughed, "Don't freak me out."
Dale wrapped his arm around Troy's shoulders, "You'll be fine. I know you will. When Jamie was born- all the worries… they go when you hold your kid. Trust me, you're gonna do great." Dale told his younger brother quietly.
Troy gave his brother a smile, "Thanks, bro." He smiled before looking to his left, "So how's your girlfriend, Dyl?"
Dylan looked up from his cell phone, "She's good." He said simply.
Troy frowned, usually he was grinning and beaming when someone mentioned his girlfriend, "What's wrong, man?" Troy asked.
The twenty year old's eyes shimmered as his eyebrows cottoned together briefly, "Nothing." He gave his brother a slight smile.
"Come on," Troy nodded his head deeper into the yard.
Dylan nodded and stood up as did his brother. Troy told Dylan to wait for him further down the yard while Troy told them where they were going and put down their beers.
"So what's happened?" Troy asked.
Dylan leant back against the large tree, "She broke up with me." He said, bringing his bottom lip between his teeth.
"What?" Troy's eyes wide. He thought they were really happy together and they were just coming up to their two and a half years.
"She broke up with me. Last night on the phone." Dylan elaborated.
"On the phone? That's low." Troy mumbled, slightly bitterly.
"I know. She erm, she said she had been sleeping with this other guy for two months. We got into an argument and then she finished me." Dylan shook his head, wiping his eyes roughly.
"What the fuck! Dude, I'm so sorry." Troy winced as he saw another tear fall from Dylan's eyes, "You really loved her, didn't you?"
Dylan nodded, his nostril's flaring as he tried not to cry, "Yeah." his voice broke.
"Amy doesn't deserve you. She was cheating on you for two months. You should be glad she's out of your life. If I was still living in Arizona- I'd give her a piece of my fucking mind." Troy fumed.
"She text me today." Dylan said, simply after a moment of silence.
"What did she say?" Troy asked, lowly.
"That she's sorry for fucking around but she wasn't happy with me anymore and that she's sorry for hurting me." Dylan relayed.
Troy frowned, "What did you text back?"
"That I'm glad she's gone and I don't need a girl who cheats on me because I treated her really well and I said she won't get that with many boys." Dylan looked at his brother, "I know I shouldn't but I miss her, already."
Troy reached out for his and brought him into a hug while Dylan let out a few soft tears against his brother's shoulder, "It's gonna be alright, bro."
Dylan nodded, "At least you have someone faithful like Gabs."
Troy pulled back but kept his hands firmly on Dylan's shoulders, "I got lucky." He said, simply, "You'll find someone like that. You're only twenty."
"You started dating Gabriella when you were nineteen, though." Dylan complained.
"Like I said, I got lucky. Not many people find a girl at nineteen and planned to stay with them their entire life. You will find a girl who is worthy of you, I promise." Troy told him, not taking his eyes from his.
Dylan swallowed thickly before nodding, "Just gonna a while."
"I know, buddy." Troy smiled slightly.
"I can't believe I was sleeping with her while she was fucking some other guy as well." Dylan frowned, "That thought alone makes me feel sick."
"You remember Taylor? The girl I dated when I was seventeen?" Troy asked.
Dylan nodded.
"When I was with her, I thought she was the best thing that ever happened to me. I wasn't necessarily in love with her- like I thought at the time but I really liked and she cheated on me and now look I'm in a five year committed relationship at twenty four with a gorgeous, caring women and with a baby on the way. You'll get that too but in your own time. Now I'm not saying you didn't love Amy because everyone knows you did and possibly still do but you'll find someone. For now, go out- have fun."
Dylan nodded, slowly, "I just never thought she was the type to cheat."
"Who knows what a cheater looks like?" Troy asked, rhetorically.
"True." Dylan shrugged, meeting his brother's blue eyes with his on blues, "Thanks bro."
"No problem just talk to me if you ever need to okay? Even after the baby is born." Troy told him, strictly.
Dylan nodded, "Yeah. You're gonna make a good dad, man."
Troy smiled, bringing his brother into another hug, "Does mom or dad know?"
"Mom knows," Dylan nodded.
Troy nodded, "You wanna go back?" He thumbed in the direction of their friends and brother.
Dylan shook his head, "I will, you go. I just need a second."
"Are'ya gonna be okay?" The older sibling asked, concerned.
"Yeah."
Troy nodded and with one last pat on the back he left his little brother to think things through about Amy and about their talk.
"Dylan okay?" Dale asked with a frown.
Troy shrugged, "He and Amy have split." He said, quietly.
Dale's jaw dropped, "What?"
"I know but don't say anything to him. He was crying and he's really broke about it. Let him tell you the full story in his own time." Troy told his older brother who was just as worried about the youngster as Troy was.
"Of course," Dale nodded but soon felt two arms snake around his neck. He looked up to find his wife's smiling down at him.
"Hey," Abby Bolton said, softly.
"Hey beautiful." Dale smiled back with the Bolton charm.
Abby sat down next to Dale, letting him wrap his arm around her shoulders, "Where's Jamie?" Dale asked.
"Inside with Gabriella."
"She's awake?" Troy asked.
"Yeah, she has been since just after you guys came out here." Abby told her brother in law.
The blue eyed man ran his tongue over his teeth, "I'm gonna check on her." He said, jumping up and bounding toward the patio doors and into the living room.
He was instantly met with the sight of Gabriella holding her stomach, her face twisted in pain and her mom next to her, rubbing her back. He didn't make himself known yet- wondering what was going on. Lucille was the only other person in the room who was on the phone.
"Mom, it hurts." Gabriella breathed, laying her head against her shoulder in comfort.
"I know, honey. Just breathe." Eva whispered.
Gabriella's face relaxed and she curled into her mother more then Troy made himself clear, "What's going on?" He asked with a slightly shaky voice.
"Troy!" Gabriella called out.
"I said what's going on?" Troy repeated, walking over to Gabriella side where he sat on the couch.
"She's gone into labour but the hospital won't let her in until she's four centimetres dilated." Eva explained as Lucille was still on the phone.
Troy swallowed thickly, pressing a kiss to his girlfriend's temple as she curled into his side, "Who's mom on the phone too?" Troy asked.
"The hospital, asking when we can take her in." Eva answered.
Suddenly, Troy felt Gabriella gripped his tee and her face crumpled up in an uncomfortable pain, he pressed soothing kisses to her forehead and any skin he could reach. He massaged the bottom of her back to try and relieve some of the pressure.
"Ouch," She muttered.
Troy tipped her chin up with his fingers and pressed a small kiss to her lips, "We're gonna have a baby." He whispered.
Gabriella let out a shaky breath, "Yeah," he breathed.
"You're gonna be fine, I promise." Troy continued to whispered, cuddling her closer.
"I'm scared." Gabriella mumbled.
Troy kissed her again but her lingering there, "I know but I'm here." He kissed her again before he let her dig her face in his chest.
"Because it's been a couple of hours and Gabi's contractions are getting closer together and more painfully they said we can take her in." Lucille told them.
Gabriella whimpered softly, holding onto Troy tighter, "I don't wanna."
"Babe," He cooed, "Baby, look at me."
Gabriella look up into his eyes, "You are gonna be fine so is our baby. You just need to try and relax and breathe like your mom taught you, okay?"
Gabriella nodded slowly and started to calm down, "We have everything ready and we are ready." He tried to soothe her but knowing he was scared also.
"I'll go tell everybody." Eva said.
"Mom, could you get Gabriella's bag please?" Troy asked as Gabriella calmed down and had her eyes closed.
"Yeah sure, where is it?" Lucille stood.
"By the bedside table in our room." Troy smiled softly at the older woman who knew exactly what Gabriella was going through.
"I'll be right down." Lucille said before rushing off.
"Ow." Gabriella grumbled, her grip once again tightening on his tee.
Troy kissed her forehead, stroking her back again. Not knowing what else to do to help the woman he loved.
Lucille came back downstairs with the duffle in hand, "Let's go." She said just as everyone else came running into the room.
"Let's go." Troy repeated, quietly as him and Gabriella locked eyes.