Chapter 26 – In An Instant

AN: Hey guys… thank you very much for the many happy birthday wishes that I got from all of you, it really made my birthday a special one. Thank you also for the reviews, they really were fantastic. Don't worry; I think that you guys will like this chapter.

Also, thank you for giving me the best birthday present I could have imagined, MY STORY REACHED 600 REVIEWS!!!!!! GGGGAAAAAHHHHH!!!!! That is just fantastic!!! I really can't believe it! It is just brilliant. Thank you guys SO, SO MUCH!

So... i got the chapter done in time to submit it on my birthday! It's such an amazing thing being sixteen. I really an so happy right now, and all of you just made my day even better. Thank you so much and i love you all!

Well, all of my files are officially gone. I was so lucky that I backed up all of my stories, otherwise I would have actually been crying right now. So though I lost all of my pictures (over 3000 Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens photos… sigh) I didn't lose the stories that are so important to me.

So without further delay, here is the next chapter of the story.

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Pre-eclampsia.

For some, it sparks fear the second they hear that word. It means that things have become serious and urgent action has to be taken. It means that your heart rate speeds up and your stress level goes through the roof as you wait for the doctor to explain to you what will happen.

That is the reaction you have, if you know what the word means.

That is why when the doctor told us I was standing frozen for around ten full minutes before I finally got out of my shock.

"Induce labour?" I asked.

"Yes. You see, pre-eclampsia happens when there has either been a great deal of stress and finally your body cannot take the pressure, or there is a problem with the uterus and babies' placenta. Either was the disease is dangerous for both mother and child in this predicament."

"What about a C-Section?" Gabriella asked. "That's what we were originally opting to have." Dr. Hues urgently shook her head.

"Too dangerous. There is a very high chance we could lose both you and the twins if we have a c-section." Gabriella's face paled at the news, as I presume my face did as well.

"Well we are definitely not having that done." I said firmly, squeezing Gabriella's hand. "You'll just have to go natural." She nodded.

"No other choice." I looked up to see Dr. Hues smiling at us.

"You are like no couple I've seen before. Most of them began freaking out and yelling at one another, or crying. But you just stayed calm." I smiled at Gabriella.

"We just make a great team." I threw in a wink at the end, resulting in her blushing. It makes me feel like a teenager to see her have that reaction around me.

"Alright. A Nurse will be here in half an hour to give you a needle that will start inducing the labour. After that, we'll see how it goes. Until then, I would urge you Gabriella to not leave your bed."

"Okay." Gabriella said. Dr. Hues turned and walked out of the room. I leaned forward and kissed Gabriella on the forehead.

"You're so brave. You're mind is probably going crazy right now. But – " I interrupted as I saw she opened her mouth, "this is not your fault one bit. Nobody could have predicted this would happen, and we just have to get through it. I don't want to see any blaming yourself. Promise?" Gabriella looked at me, before smiling gently.

"Promise." She sighed, leaning back against the chair. Then, a loud ringing blasted through the room. I grabbed my blackberry from my pocket, to see April's smiling face looking up at me through the caller ID.

"I knew she would call." I said, pressing talk and holding it up to my ear. "Hey April."

"TROY! What the heck is going on over there?"

"April calm down."

"Calm down? CALM DOWN!!! You're in the hospital with your fiancé because she was having abdominal pains, and you are telling me to calm down." Gabriella began snickering as she heard April's yelling through the receiver.

"Seriously you're reacting worse than Gabi." I heard Isabella take a deep breath, before continuing.

"Okay, I'm better. Now tell me what's going on."

"Well Gabriella has been diagnosed with Pre-eclampsia. There's no time to explain what it is, besides I don't even know myself a hundred percent. The only thing I do know is that Isabella is going to be a big sister by the end of the night."

"Tonight? She's having the babies tonight! But they're a month premature."

"It has to be done. It's dangerous to keep them in the womb any longer."

"I'll call the family and close friends, and we'll all be at the hospital as soon as possible."

"You read my mind."

"Troy, take care of her." I smiled at my sisters caring for Gabriella.

"I will. I promise." We hung up, and I turned to look at Gabriella.

"You okay?" She asked me.

"Shouldn't I be asking you that question?" I asked.

"You look scared." I sighed, looking down at my fingers.

"I am. I'm scared something's going to happen to the babies or you. But mostly, I'm scared to hold the babies for the first time. I mean, I've dreamed of this moment for such a long time, and now it's finally going to come true. I mean, my own flesh and blood, my own child." I couldn't help the tears that began filling in my eyes. "I know that Isabella is as much my daughter as the twins, but I guess it's just so surreal that I am going to be holding my little babies in my arms. I never thought this day would come." Gabriella leaned forward and grabbed my hand, placing it on my stomach. I smiled when I felt the small kick, followed by a second, against my hand.

"They can't wait to meet their daddy either."

"We'll get through this. It's just another little obstacle to get over, right?" I said.

"Right."

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"Well, she's seven centimeters dilated right now. They say another half and hour and she'll be ready to give birth." My mom smiled from her seat, a sleeping Isabella in her lap. My parents, April, James, Sharpay, Taylor, Chad and Zeke had been called, and were all waiting in the waiting room for more news.

"You're doing good son." I nodded nervously, before walking toward my mom.

"I need to hold my little girl." My mom nodded, letting me grab Isabella from her arms and gently rock her in mine. I sat down in the seat beside her.

"I'm so proud of you honey." My mom said. "After all of that nagging it seems that your dream has finally come true." I nodded.

"I guess so." I stroked Isabella's dark brown hair, leaning forward and kissing her forehead. "It's just to surreal, you know. If you had told me a year ago I would have a family, I wouldn't have believed it. And now, I have a beautiful fiancé, an adorable little girl and two more who will be born soon."

"Life has a funny way of working out."

"You got that right." I stayed in that position for a couple of minutes, before handing Isabella back to my mom.

"Better get back to Brie. Next time you see me, I'm going to be a biological father." I leaned forward, kissing Isabella once more on the head, before walking back to Gabriella's room. Sweat was splattered on her forehead, her breathing ragged and coming out in pants, her face with a twisted look of pain on her face. I quickly ran to her side, grabbing her hand tightly in mind.

"Just squeeze my hand sweetie. It's just a contraction." Sure enough, once the contraction finished, her grip on my hand tightened and she fell back against the pillow. I wiped her forehead with a cool cloth.

"How much longer?" Before I could answer, Dr. Hues entered the room. She checked on Gabriella, before looking up at us smiling.

"Well Gabriella, it seems you are ten centimeters dilated. It's time to give birth to your little ones." Gabriella nodded. "At your next contraction, I'm going to need you to push." Again, another nod.

"You ready?" I asked her.

"Shouldn't I be asking you the same question?" She said, mimicking my exact question from earlier.

"Probably." I said, leaning forward and kissing Gabriella's sweat covered hair. "I'm secretly mentally preparing myself for what is about to happen. I mean, I'm going to be a biological father." Gabriella smiled, before scrunching her face up in pain.

"Here it comes." She said. Dr. Hues nodded.

"Push Gabriella!" she said, and Gabriella did as told. Her loud scream filled the room as she pushed.

"8…9…10…" I said, helping her count, as I knew she was having a hard time concentrating. Gabriella leaned back against the pillows.

"Good job Gabriella." Dr. Hues said.

"You're doing amazing Brie." Gabriella looked up at me with a glare on her face.

"You put me in this predicament. Don't say anything you'd regret or I'll never let you have kids again." My face paled at her threat. Dr. Hues just laughed.

"It's okay Troy. They usually say something along those lines at least once in the labour process." She looked back at Gabriella. "Alright Gabriella, push again on your next contraction."

Gabriella nodded.

Gabriella continued to push through two more contraction, yelling threats out at me the entire time. Then, I heard the words that I didn't think I would hear in the longest time.

"Alright Gabriella. I can see the baby crowning. One more push and baby number 1 is out."

Baby Number 1.

In a matter of seconds I was going to be a father.

The next few seconds passed by in slow motion. Gabriella's grip tightened against my hand as her contraction hit, her face scrunching up in pain. Dr Hues continued to urge Gabriella on, as I sat mystified in the chair.

A father.

My brain began mentally preparing itself to the fact that I was going to be a dad. That my little baby, either my son or daughter, would be entering the room soon. I couldn't get over the fact that it was actually happening.

My baby was actually being born.

My dream of having a little boy became more and more clear in my mind as my hand continued to be squeezed. A little Bolton heir running around the house, playing basketball and following in his footsteps.

A mini-me.

And in that exact instant, my life changed.

In one small instant, my life was completely turned around.

A cry filled the room. Gabriella fell back against the pillows, panting heavily. Nurses rushed to the other end of the bed, carrying towels and blankets. Then, Dr. Hues' voice broke through my thoughts.

"Congratulations. You guys have a boy."

A boy.

A huge smile spread on my face when I heard those words. I couldn't believe that I had a little boy in the world. Gabriella smiled, grabbing my hand. I looked at her, our eyes locking in a silent conversation. Gabriella then pointed to the clock on the wall.

Two minutes after midnight.

"Happy Birthday Troy." She whispered. "A son as the perfect birthday gift."

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AN: OHH!!!! Baby Bolton 1 is born, and it's a little boy! YAY!!! Don't worry, baby 2 will be born next chapter, and you guys will find out the names I have picked out next chapter.

Again, thank you so much for the birthday wishes and the fantastic reviews that I got last chapter! It's really something else!!!

Review, review, review if you want the next chapter to come out quicker.

Xoxo,

Lar