Not long until the end of the story now. The story is going to finish at around 18 chapters, when the baby is born. If you want a squeal you will have to do some serious sweet talking. Haha. I want maybe 90 reviews? So please, please, please review.

Chapter 16

Third trimester. 35 weeks. One word: tough.

In the past 2 weeks I have finished all my finals, graduated high school- properly the most bittersweet moment ever. I went to visit UCLA for a couple of days to sort arrangement with Gabriella out and they said she could staying in one of the rooms in the family rooms for people who have kids or are married. I got the letter saying I got into Duke but turned it down, which was difficult and put me down for a day or two. Gabriella got more stropy and uncomfortable considering she was 8 months pregnant. We finished the baby's room off, made sure we got all the essentials for him. We were now 5 days into summer and it was getting hotter so that means Gabriella was getting even MORE uncomfortable which means she's more irritable.

Right now we were packing her hospital bag, we had the laptop open telling us what we needed and me running round getting everything.

"So what have we got so far, babe?" I asked, crouching next to the bag, on the opposite side to Gabriella.

"We have a dressing gown, slippers, socks, old t-shirt and lip balm," Gabriella told me, holding her stomach which was very big compared to her petite frame.

"Right okay," I scrolled down the page "So we need: Books if you get bored, hair tie, pillows and toiletries and that's it for during labour," I said, scratching my abs under my t-shirt, making my shirt ride up.

"Okay, you know where my books are," Gabs said and I nodded, getting up and walking over the other side of the room.

"Which one?" I asked, scanning through all of the books Gabriella owned.

"Erm any, pick a couple out," Gabs told me. I grabbed two and put them in the medium sized duffle bag. "Now hair ties which are in the draw next to the mirror," She said "Oh get my hairbrush as well please," I got them and put the hair tie around the bottom of the hairbrush and then put it into the bag which was filling up quickly. "Pillows,"

"Which?" I asked, walking out of the room.

"Any, just big, fluffy ones," I heard Gabs shouted and I opened the cupboard grabbing two and putting them next to the bag.

"Toiletries," I mumbled "Toothbrush, toothpaste.. What else?" I asked, frowning.

"Flannel and then that's it really," Gabs shrugged, leaning against the bottom of her bed and rubbing her stomach.

"You okay?" I asked once I saw her eyes close tight.

Gabriella opened her eyes "Yeah just a sharp punch," Gabriella smiled, softly at me.

I nodded, leaning over the bag, cupping her face and pressing my lips to hers a couple of times "I love you,"

"I love you too," She mumbled back, tracing my strong jaw which her index finger before going up and fingering my tattoo.

I gazed at her and kissed her once more before pulling back "I'll be back," I announced in the oh-so famous voice; earning a giggle from Gabs. I went to grab the spare flannel, toothbrushes and toothpaste before coming back and grabbing a small bag and putting it into the bigger big. We continued to get everything ready for Gabriella, now we were starting on the baby.

"So the website says we need: a car seat, one outfit for the trip home, two or three sleep suits and vests, baby blanket, diapers, a pair of socks or booties and a hat," I concluded, looking up at my tired girlfriend.

"Right you go get the car seat and I'll go pick out some outfits," Gabriella said, holding out her hands. I nodded and stood up, pulling her up gently and kissed her again before walking off and going to get the car seat to put it next to the bag, I went to the baby's room to see Gabriella looking at different outfits.

"Hey baby, you decided on some outfits?" I asked, wrapping my arms around her neck loosely, kissing the side of his head.

"No, I need your help. Well I have this one," Gabs said, leaning back against me a little, pointing to a stripy all-in-one with a digger on the front. "That's a sleep suit, so we need one more of these and an outfit for on the way home,"

"Right okay," I picked up the tiny sleep suit and placed it to one side "How about this one?" I pointed to a dark blue 'Mickey Mouse' sleep suit.

"Yeah, it's cute," Gabs smiled and placed it with the other one. "Now just an outfit for the trip home,"

"What about an all-in-one, something easy?" I shrugged, kissing the back of her ear.

"This?" Gabriella asked, pointing to a blue stripy all-in-one with foot holes.

"Mhm with a hat and shoes and we're done," I said, picking up some dark blue shoes and a light blue hat. (AN: All outfits on profile)

"Yeah," Gabriella smiled and picked up the clothes, walking out of the room, following me.

After we packed the last few bits, clothes and double checked everything. Now me and Gabs were just walking around town.

"I was wondering after the baby is born and I'm off from college do you wanna head up to New York and visit my family, show them the baby and everything?" I asked, swinging our hands while they were interlinked together in a weird way-our way.

Gabriella's hand that was rested on my forearm, rubbed itself on my tanned skin lightly "Sounds great, when's your holidays? Like after I leave?" Gabriella asked, looking up at me.

I licked my lips "It'll be the Christmas holidays. That would be amazing, take our little 'un up to New York for his first Christmas and visit my family," I said, grinning.

"How lucky would he be," Gabriella laughed and kept waddling.

"To have a mommy like you? Very," I grinned, cheekily, slowing down slightly.

"Cheeky," Gabriella giggled, smacking my chest.

I chuckled, unlacing our fingers and wrapping an arm around her shoulders "You wanna sit down for a bit?" I asked.

"Yeah, my back and my feet are killing me,"

"Come on then," I guided her into the park and sat her down on a bench near a playground and a lake.

I looked at the playground to the right of us and smiled gently at the little kids running around, some with parents and some of the parents watching them from the side lines. I carried on watching them as I placed my lips at the side of her head, keeping them there; my fingers stroking Gabriella's bare shoulder. I looked down when I felt a tap against my skin and saw a soccer ball at my feet, I bent down and picked it up once a little boy in a LA Galaxy t-shirt and matching shorts ran up to me.

"Here you go, dude," I smiled, handing him his ball.

"Thanks," I would say, a 4 year old said, taking the ball. "Is a baby in there?" He asked, pointing to Gabriella's stomach.

I glanced at Gabs who had a smile on her face and a hand went instinctively to her stomach and nodded. "Yeah, a baby is in here," I said, rubbing her hand "Where's your mommy and daddy?" I asked, smiling at the little boy.

"Tom!" I heard a voice shouted and the little boy turn around. "What did I tell you about bothering strangers?" A deep voice asked who was like an older version of the little boy in front of me.

"But he gave me my ball and there's a baby in there," Tom said, pointing to Gabriella's stomach again.

The man chuckled "Hey, I'm sorry if he's bothering you," The man said, placing his hands on the little boy's small shoulders.

"No, he's fine," I smiled. "He's yours?" I asked.

"Yeah," The man said "I'm Mark by the way, this is Tom," He introduced.

"Hey," I said "I'm Troy and this is Gabriella, my girlfriend," I smiled, squeezing her shoulder.

"Will you and baby come play with me?" Tom asked, looking at Gabriella.

"Tom," Mark scolded.

"Of course I will," Gabriella smiled and awkwardly got off the bench, walking- well waddling to the slide with Tom.

Mark took a seat next to me "So young parents?" He asked.

"Yeah, I'm 18 and my girlfriend's 17. I'm going to college when school starts up again and it's Gabs' senior year," I nodded.

Mark nodded "I was 19 when I had Tom, so I know how you feel," He said. "So when's your girlfriend due?"

"In a month, more or less. She's getting crabby," I chuckled and looked over at Gabs and Tom, Gabriella was holding Tom's hand as he went down the slide. "Is it as hard as everybody says?" I asked "Teen parenting?" I added as an after thought.

Mark nodded "Yeah but after the first year, it gets easier. After about 4 months you get into a routine and it's like your life has always been with a kid, you know?" He said, watching Tom.

I nodded and looked back at Mark "His mom around?" I asked, carefully.

"Yeah, she goes to college. I stay at home with Tom," Mark said "She's amazing," he pointed to Gabriella "Definite natural,"

"Yeah, that's the thing that's more scary. I mean like kid's love her but I'm just worried my kid won't like me. Come on, it happens, you know?" I said, I couldn't believe I was telling this to a stranger when I haven't even told Gabriella. It was good getting some advice off a young dad.

Mark looked at me and nodded "Totally," He chuckled "It just comes to you when you told your baby, it's cheesy but so true," He shrugged.

We spent another hour talking while Gabriella and Tom played, he gave me some advice and we swapped numbers he said because incase we needed a baby sit. I smiled at this.

"Daddy," Tom said toward Mark, hugging Mark's leg.

"Hey, what's up?" Mark asked, pulling the little boy up so sit on his lap.

"I'm tired," Tom mumbled, cuddling into Mark as Gabriella walked up to us, looking exhausted.

"He's tired me out," Gabriella joked, standing because there was no room on the bench. I tugged her on my lap.

"Well it looks like he had a good time, did you?" Mark asked his tired son who nodded with his eyes closed. "Well I better get off. You have my number so call if you wanna hang out," Mark said, nodding at me.

"Yeah, Cya dude," I said, nodding at him.

"Bye Gabriella," Mark said, standing up.

"Bye," Gabs smiled at him and Mark and Tom walked away. Gabriella slid on the bench and snuggled into my side, my arm going round her shoulders.

"You know you shouldn't have been playing and bending down and being on your feet for that long, babe. You need too relax, baba's on his way soon," I smiled, kissing her cheek.

"I know, I know but I wanted to play with him," Gabriella yawned, licking her bottom lip and shutting her eyes. "He's a good kid,"

"Yeah," I agreed "Let's get you home, I can't stay tonight. I have work," I sighed.

"Don't worry about it," She smiled, lazily and we stood and started the slow walk back to her house.

Once we got there we decided to lay on the beach for a while, soaking up the hot Californian sun. I looked out to the sea and saw a few surfer's riding the waves, god I couldn't remember the last time I went surfing. Gabriella must of seen me looking at the guys surfing because she nudged my arm.

"Go get your swim stuff and board and go surfing for a while, while I take a nap," Gabs smiled, sitting up.

I looked at Gabriella, the waves and then back to Gabriella "You sure?" I asked, biting my lip.

"Absolutely, as long as you help me up," She laughed and held out her tiny hands.

I got up, dusting the sand off me and pulling her up, giving her a quick kiss before ushering her inside where Gabriella climbed into bed and I changed into my swim stuff and grabbed my board which I kept at Gabriella's house considering it was right on the beach. I peeled off my shirt, throwing it on the decking posts before making my way down the beach towards the sea. I sat on the sand for a second, leaning back on my forearms, my board next to me. I rubbed my abs, I had gotten a little buffer. Me and Gabriella haven't had sex in a couple of months so I took my 'sexual' stuff out by working out- I have to say, it was paying off.

I got up a couple minutes later and paddled into the sea, waiting for a decent wave like the rest of the surfer's out here.

I quickly jumped up onto my board once a good wave started to build and started to do a few tricks before quickly getting out of the wave. I ran a hand through my hair, grinning once I got back on my board, waiting for another- loving the adrenaline of getting out of the wave, last minute. I've only ever had one injury surfing which was a cut to the head, I misjudged the wave and tumbled over my board; resulting in hitting my head on the corner and cutting my head. I rode a couple more waves before walking out of the ocean and sitting back on the sand, letting the warm sea air hit me only with the rays of the sun. I suddenly felt some block the sun from my face and sat up slightly, looking up squinting noticing my brother standing there with one of his friends.

"Hey, what do you want?" I asked.

"Just thought I'd come laugh at you at your shit surfing skills," Dylan smirked, kicking sand on my legs.

I brushed it off "I'm not the shit one, you're the crap one. It took you 6 months to even stand up on the board let along ride a wave.

"Troy!" Dylan shouted, gaining attention from a few people.

I smiled awkwardly at them and then glared at Dylan "We're not having this conversation," I said standing up and grabbing my board.

"But we will!" Dylan shouted after me as I walked away.

I smiled, shaking my head. Walking back to the beach house, leaving my brother embarrassed in front of his friends.. Man, was I loving life at the minute.

AN continued… Review, maybe? Remember what I said Haha.

Reviews seriously make my day.