Chapter 25 – Cause For Concern

AN: Hey people… Thank for so much for the amazing reviews for last chapter and the wonderful birthday messages. Even though my birthday is on Friday, I am so happy that you guys wished me the best.

I would also like to extend a heartfelt birthday wish to World of Peace (Who is turning 16 the day before me!!!) and PinkHeartItalian91 (Who, if I remember, is turning 18. Please correct me if I'm wrong Connie!). Happy birthday to the both of you and I really wish you guys the best!

I have a little bit of sad news. My laptop crashed from a virus, which means that all of the saved chapters of my story were deleted. That is why I did not post a chapter earlier, I had to re-write it. They say there is no chance that I will get all my files back. That also means all of my stalkerish Zac Efron photos have also been deleted. It's upsetting.

On a happier note, Zac and Vanessa were simply stunning at the Oscars. Their performance was fantastic, her dress was just gorgeous and Zac looked very handsome. It made my day to see them together. It was simply an amazing night.

On another happier note… Vanessa has now favourited a second video of mine on youtube. Another plus… she commented on it! I was so happy to see that!

Well, sorry about all of my blabbing, and I reward anybody that actually read all of it.

Here's the next chapter.

Love you guys!

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Fortunately, Gabriella awoke fever and headache free.

Two and a half months passed and Gabriella was still as normal as ever. Her stomach had grown twice as much and she already looked like she was going to pop any day. Her cravings had continued on, becoming stranger and stranger as the days went on.

Isabella had become a terror of a toddler, in the nicest way possible. She was starting to wander all over the house, and babbling strange sentences wherever she went. Her favourite pastimes consisted of playing with blocks, finding her daddy, and talking to Gabriella's stomach. She was becoming quite the curious little 19-month-old, and Gabriella and I enjoyed every moment that we would spend with her.

"Mama! Dada! Love you." Isabella squealed as she sat in between Gabriella's bent legs and her bulging stomach. Gabriella was resting against me on the couch, as we spent another quiet evening together as a family.

"That we do." I said, rubbing Gabriella's stomach affectionately. A familiar excited thumping of my heart occurred when I felt a small kick against my hand. Gabriella sighed, leaning back against me.

"This is nice." She said, closing her eyes.

"It sure is." I leaned forward, kissing Gabriella on the back of the head.

"Dada?" Isabella's quiet voice asked.

"Yes baby girl?"

"Pay."

"Of course you can play. Hold on." Gabriella leaned forward, and I got up off the couch and lifted Isabella carefully off of her. I placed Isabella in her playpen, throwing in her stuffed animals and a couple of plastic blocks. I then walked back towards Gabriella, sitting across from her on the couch.

"How are you feeling? Want me to get any aspirin for your back?" She shook her head.

"I'm fine. I just have a tiny headache but it will go away." Worry filled my body.

"A headache? Are they back?"

"This is just the second one I've had in the last week. I'm sure it's nothing." I reached for Gabriella's hand, placing my other one on her stomach.

"Gabriella, I don't want anything to happen to our little ones. If you continue to have headaches, I'm taking you to a doctor, no discussion." Gabriella rolled her eyes.

"You are just being overprotective. They will probably stop – ahh!" she cried, clutching her stomach.

"Brie? What's wrong?" She looked up at me.

"I don't think it's normal to have abdominal pain, is it?"

"No it isn't." Gabriella's eyes began tearing up.

"Troy, I think you should take me to a hospital."

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My parents had been called to come and take Isabella, and soon Gabriella and I were speeding off towards the hospital. Immediately I made sure we were taken in to see Dr. Hues.

We were now currently sitting in the room waiting for her to come.

"Troy, what if something's really wrong."

"Maybe it's nothing Brie. You're probably just stressed and this is your body reacting. I mean, you're pregnant with twins, have a toddler to look after, not to mention getting the house ready for the new babies. You have had a lot of stuff on your mind."

"Yeah. I mean, all of that plus you birthday coming up." Gabriella froze, and then looked at me. "I totally forgot about your birthday. I don't even have a gift for you. Gosh I'm such a terrible person!" I leaned forward, capturing Gabriella's lips with mine before she could go forward. When I pulled back, I took her hand in mine and squeezed it comfortingly.

"Gabriella. I don't care about my birthday. I have already been given the best gift I could have imagined. You are not a terrible person. You are stressed, worried, nervous, and have tons of things on your mind. Don't worry about something that doesn't really matter."

"Troy, you are too good to me." Gabriella said.

"It's because I love you." I leaned forward, kissing her. Then I kissed Gabriella's stomach. "And I love you two too!" Again, a familiar kick was felt against my stomach.

"They love you too." Gabriella said. I smiled.

"See Brie, they are kicking strong. There is probably not that bad of a problem if they are kicking. Things could be a lot worse." I said reassuringly.

"You're right." She said, sighing and leaning her head against mine. We stayed in that position, before a click of the door caught out attention.

"I hear we are having a little problem here." Dr. Hues said as she sad down on Gabriella's other side, taking out her clipboard. "What's going on?"

Gabriella took a deep breath, and began.

"It probably started about 3 months ago. I kept on getting these headaches. I also had a fever, but not very high. Troy," she added, smiling at me, "insisted I get it checked out, but it stopped after about a week. Then, it didn't happen again until a couple of days ago. Then, just today, I had some stomach pains. And now, we're here."

Dr. Hues was scribbling ferociously on her clipboard.

"Doctor. Do you have any clue what could be going on?" Dr. Hues put down the clipboard, and looked me straight in the eyes.

"Well, there are many things that could be wrong. It could just be a regular case of stress causing this, but that would not explain the fever and headaches. Again that seems to cancel out fake contractions. I'll have to run a few tests so we can have some more data and then I'll know what exactly we are dealing with."

"How serious can this be?"

"I'm not going to lie to you guys, this can get pretty serious. But fortunately, there are also some very simple explanations as to why this is going on. I'm going to go book an ultrasound and a couple of other tests for you, and I will be right back." She got up.

"Thank you doctor." Gabriella said. Dr. Hues leaned down and patted Gabriella's shoulder in a supporting manner.

"I promise you that I will get down to the bottom of this."

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All of the tests had come and gone, and again Gabriella and I found ourselves sitting in the room waiting for the results.

"I can't help thinking this is all my fault."

"Brie, how can you even think that?" I asked her.

"Maybe if I had gone and checked up on the stuff earlier then this wouldn't of happened."

"It's not your fault. Everything stopped, so we all thought that it was nothing. If anything it's my fault, because I should have just dragged you to the doctor." Gabriella smiled gently.

"How about it's nobody's fault?"

"That's a great idea." I said. A knock on the door interrupted us.

"Hey you two. I have the results." Dr. Hues said as she sat down in her seat.

"And?" I asked.

"Well Gabriella, it seems that you have been diagnosed with Pre-eclampsia. Now, it's a bit confusing figuring out exactly how you got it, but all I know is that it can be potentially dangerous for the mother and the fetus."

"What can we do to cure it?" I asked.

"The most helpful thing to do would be to induce labour."

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AN: Oh… another cliffhanger. Intense stuff.

I probably won't be able to get another chapter up until maybe Saturday… most likely Sunday or Monday. This is because I have a family birthday party on Friday (my real b-day), a friend birthday party on Saturday (all afternoon) and so I won't have any time really to sit in front of a computer and type away.

But, I might find time and will be able to update even sooner! Like a birthday gift from me to you.

So please, review as a birthday gift for me and if you want the next chapter!

Xoxo,

Lar