AN: I like this chapter. Sooo much drama omg! But yeah... thanks for the reviews, review again, yadda yadda yadda.

PS: I'M GOING TO THE JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE CONCERTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Title: With You
Rating: T
Author: MadiWillow
Summary: Troy is married with a small daughter. Gabriella is married and pregnant. They didn't keep in touch after school following a nasty break-up, but everyone knows that true love never dies.
Genre: Drama/Romance
Chapter: Chapter 4

"I have no interest in meeting your ex-boyfriend's family."

Gabriella rolled her eyes in exasperation at her husband's stubbornness. It was a Monday night, the first night off her tanned, brunette husband had had since Gabriella had talked to Troy the week before, and she was trying to convince him to go to dinner with them. But, alas, Nathaniel's low self-confidence forbade him from being threatened by his wife's old love interest.

She sighed. "Come on, Nathaniel. Why not?"

"I just want a dinner with you and me tonight," he told her firmly, but this statement just caused Gabriella to roll her eyes again.

"You mean you, me, and your cell phone," she spat.

Nathaniel glared at her and held up his index finger, pointing it threateningly at her. "Watch your mouth."

Gabriella was taken slightly aback from Nathaniel's forward remark, but was pulled out of her reverie when Danielle poked her head in the room and said, "Mrs. Richards, telephone."

Against Gabriella's wishes, Danielle refused to call her by her first name in Nathaniel's presence, afraid he would deem it 'unprofessional' and fire her. Gabriella told her that as long as she was around, she would never allow Danielle to be fired, although Danielle would always slyly remind her that it was Nathaniel's income that was paying her.

Gabriella took the phone and said, "Hello?", turning her back to Nathaniel.

"Hey Gabriella," came Troy's voice from the other line. "I wanted to ask you if we could do dinner tonight. Devon has the night off."

"Tonight? Sure!" said Gabriella, turning back to face Nathaniel. "You know, my husband has the night off too. I'll ask him about tonight." She put her hand over the mouthpiece and said sweetly, in a loud enough voice for Troy to hear through her hand, "Nathaniel? Would you like to go to dinner with Troy and Devon tonight?"

Nathaniel clenched his teeth. Gabriella knew that the one thing Nathaniel hated above anything else was when people weren't impressed with him, and turning down a dinner date would definitely not go over well in his book. "Fine," he said shortly before storming into the bathroom.

Gabriella smiled and put the phone back to her ear. "We'd love to!" she said perkily. "But how about you guys come here? That way you won't have to find a baby-sitter for Lauren and all that. Danielle can watch her while we eat."

"Great!" said Troy. "We'll come at 7?"

"See you then," and after receiving her address, Troy hung up.

At seven o' clock sharp, the doorbell rang. Danielle, who was caught up in organizing their three-course meal, was unable to answer it, so Gabriella did for her. Troy and Devon were standing in the doorway, arms around each other, looking like a picture-perfect family. Gabriella felt an uncontrolled surge of jealousy run through her before she was able to contain herself.

Lauren was sitting in the same stroller than Gabriella had seen her in before, and her hair was up in the water-fountain ponytail again. "Hello," said Gabriella politely, standing back so Devon could wheel the stroller into the foyer. "You must be Devon." Gabriella held out her hand.

Once Devon had gotten the stroller inside, she shook Gabriella's hand. "And you're Gabriella!" she smiled sweetly. Devon had the same olive skin and white blonde hair as Lauren, but had brown eyes instead of blue. She looked like she could be model; she was tall, skinny, and had a confidence to her that made Gabriella feel inferior. "Wow, Troy didn't describe you as being this beautiful!"

Gabriella blushed at the comment and looked at Troy. He glanced at the ground sheepishly.

"When are you due?" asked Devon, seemingly oblivious to the tension. Gabriella subconsciously ran her hands over her ever-growing stomach.

"Five-and-a-half weeks," said Gabriella proudly. "June 22nd."

Devon beamed. "Isn't is just the best feeling in the world? Knowing that you're carrying yours and your soulmates child?" Devon glowed at Troy, who looked more uncomfortable than ever.

It should feel good, said Gabriella to herself. But I just don't know... "Yeah, it is."

Gabriella then realized that Nathaniel had not come to greet their guests, so she excused herself and walked down the hall into the family room. Nathaniel was in the same position Gabriella had left him in; sitting on the couch and watching a basketball game. "Nathaniel!" hissed Gabriella. "Come greet your guests!"

Nathaniel glared at his wife, but didn't want to act like a prude. He grudgingly switched off the TV and walked into the foyer, where Troy was holding a giggling Lauren and Devon had the diaper bag. "Is there any special place to put the stroller?" asked Devon courteously.

"No, there's fine," said Gabriella warmly. It was hard to dislike Devon; she was so nice and sincere. But at the same time, she was married to Troy... "Troy, Devon, I'd like you to meet my husband, Nathaniel."

"Nice to meet you, Nathaniel," said Devon, smiling, as she shook Nathaniel's hand. He nodded and mumbled a stern greeting before turning to Troy.

The two men shook hands a little awkwardly, as Troy was holding his daughter. Nathaniel eyed him with distaste; it worried Gabriella, so she proposed, "Why don't we take our seats?"

She led their guests into the dining room, where Danielle was almost done setting out the appetizers.

"Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Bolton," said Danielle professionally as they entered. "My name's Danielle, and I'll be your server this evening." A smile lingered playfully on her lips. "And this must be Lauren!" she cooed, tickling the little girl under the chin so that she erupted into more giggles. "There's a highchair set up in the kitchen for our own little one coming soon, so if you want I'll feed and play with her in there to give you four some 'adult time.'"

"Well, if it's not too much trouble," said Devon.

"Oh, not at all!" cried Danielle, taking the diaper bag from Devon and the child from Troy. "I just love little babies, yes I do!" she said to Lauren, tickling her again.

As Danielle was leaving, Devon called after her, "There's food and a bottle in the bag!" before they all took their seats. Gabriella and Nathaniel sat next to each other on one side while Devon and Troy sat across from them.

The adults engaged in small talk, which led them all the way through the appetizers and the main-course meal. Nathaniel actually seemed to be enjoying himself; he and Troy were talking about the NBA playoffs while Devon and Gabriella talked about babies.

"I grew up with four younger brothers," Devon explained as they finished up the dinner with an apple-pie. "I pretty much raised them, so it was a big difference having a girl. Do you guys know the sex yet?"

Gabriella shook her head. "No, we're waiting."

Devon nodded. "Just a heads-up; if you have a boy, watch out. If you're changing your diaper and they pee, duck."

The two girls burst out laughing, causing the men to send them strange looks. "Really?" asked Gabriella, still laughing. "You actually have to duck?"

Devon nodded again, also chuckling. "I can't tell you how many times I forgot about that when I was younger. I got peed on all the time!" She giggled. "But with girls, you don't have to. It was funny the first time it happened. Since she's our first, we would always change her diaper at the same time – it's something most new parents do, you know, because it's such a big thing," Devon added pointedly. Gabriella nodded, although she doubted she and Nathaniel would change diapers together. "But anyway, one time she peed while we were changing her and, by instinct, I ducked." She grinned. "Troy looked at me like I was insane."

Gabriella smiled back, hating Devon for bearing Troy's child and being around him long enough for him to give her insane looks.

It was then that she tuned into Troy and Nathaniel's conversation. "...so damn controlling sometimes, you know?"

Troy looked uncomfortable as he answered, "Well, I don't know..."

"Come on, man, you dated her!" said Nathaniel, laughing.

Gabriella narrowed her eyes. "Who are you talking about?"

"You," said Nathaniel nonchalantly. Gabriella opened her mouth in exasperation as she saw, in the corner of her eye, Troy and Devon exchange worried looks.

"Excuse me?"

Nathaniel faced her and said slowly, as if talking to a dim child, "We're. Talking. About. You."

"But... why?"

"Well, I was just about to tell Troy about how you always make me do what you want!" said Nathaniel hotly. He turned back to Troy and said, "Do you know how big of a fight she puts up whenever I got out of town? I mean, it's like, come on! Get used to it!"

Troy glanced at Gabriella, who, due to her hormones, looked borderline tears. "Look, Nathaniel, I don't think we should-"

"I don't do that, Nathaniel!" snapped Gabriella, accidentally interrupting Troy.

Nathaniel rolled his eyes and glanced pointedly at Devon and Troy, as if what he was saying made complete sense. "Yes, you do. For the past few months, you keep complaining about how often I go away, how I'm never home anymore, blah blah blah."

Gabriella opened her mouth angrily. "Nathaniel! I'm pregnant!" she screeched. "You should want to spend time with me! I'm carrying our CHILD!"

"The kid isn't even out yet," said Nathaniel, waving away her comment. "Once it's born, I'll try and free up my schedule.

"Try? Try!?" cried Gabriella, standing up. "Nathaniel, you will make time!"

Nathaniel stood up, knocking his chair backward so violently that it crashed down on the hard-wood floor. He put his face right in front of his wife's and roared, "You will not talk to me that way! I am your husband! If I won't be around all the time, then I won't be here! And there's nothing you can say about it!" He turned on his heel and stormed out of the dining room, leaving behind an echoing silence.

Shaking, Gabriella slowly sat back down in her chair and put her face in her hands, pressing down hard on her closed eyes. Her head was spinning from Nathaniel. Could he be more fucking inconsiderate?

She could vaguely hear a whispered conversation between Troy and Devon, followed by the squeak of moving chairs. She heard the shuffling of feet as the other couple left the room and the low rumble of voices in the kitchen as Devon and Troy explained to Danielle what had happened. A moment later, Gabriella heard Devon say, "Gabriella... um, we're gonna go." Gabriella didn't move. She was so angry at Nathaniel that she was afraid of she looking at Devon, fearing that she'd explode. "I'll talk to you later... okay?" There was still no answer so after a moment she heard Devon leave and another moment later the front door closed.

"Gabriella?" said Danielle gently as she entered the dining room. "Gabriella... what's wrong?"

Gabriella just felt everything explode inside of her as she stood up quickly and screamed, "Nathaniel! Nathaniel is what's wrong!" She roughly pushed past Danielle and half-ran into their bedroom, only to find Nathaniel packing a suitcase.

"W-what are you doing?" she asked slowly as her anger turned rapidly into fear.

"Packing," he said gruffly. He snapped his suitcase shut and walked around her out the door, hitting her in the knee with his suitcase in the process. Gabriella cried out in pain and bent over, but Nathaniel kept on walking. Sucking in a deep breath, Gabriella walked after him.

Nathaniel made his way to the front door with Gabriella hot on his heels. "Nathaniel, please! We can work this out! Just, please, don't go!"

"My flight leaves at one," he said nastily as he gripped the doorknob.

"Flight? What flight?" she cried.

"I'm going to Washington for a week," he explained shortly. He opened the door and the cool, May night air blew inside.

"Nathaniel, I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow!"

He turned and glared. "So?"

"It's for our child! You haven't been to any appointments yet! Don't you want to come to at least one?"

Nathaniel pretended to think before saying, "No. Why should I go to the doctors? So we can sit in the waiting room for an hour for a two minute appointment so the doctor can say 'you have a healthy child'?"

"Yes!" pleaded Gabriella, tears starting to pour down her face. "Nathaniel, please-"

"I'll see you in a week," he interrupted, stepping outside and slamming the door behind him.

Gabriella stared at the door in shock for a moment before breaking down. She sobbed loudly, letting out all the despair and frustration she'd been feeling towards Nathaniel ever since they married, including all her confusion over Troy. She let it all out; sniffling and sputtering through her tears, gasping for breath as she wept into her arms. How had she put up with Nathaniel for all that time? How could she have been so blind as to not see this side of him?

"Shh, come on," said Danielle softly in Gabriella's ear. She helped her up and led her into the living room, lying her down on the couch and retreating into the kitchen to get her a glass of water.

Gabriella continued to cry softly, tears rolling down her face and ripping of her chin. "That's it," she sputtered. "I'm going to file for divorce."

"Really?" said Danielle, sitting on the edge of the couch with a glass of ice-cold water. She handed it to Gabriella, who took a sip and nodded.

"I just... can't take this anymore," she said quietly. "He treats me like shit. He doesn't give a rats-ass about this baby. I don't want him in my life anymore, or my child's. I don't care how hard it is to be a single mother; better that than raising him or her with Nathaniel."

Danielle nodded understandingly. They sat in silence for a long time until the phone rang, causing them to jump. Danielle bustled over to answer it, and glanced at Gabriella as the person on the other line spoke. "It's Troy," she whispered.

Gabriella closed her eyes, took a deep breath, but nodded anyway. As Danielle gave her the phone, she opened her eyes again and said, "H-hello?"

"Gabriella? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," she answered, with false happiness.

"No, you're not. I can tell. I dated you for two and a half years."

"Are you sure you should be saying this in front of Devon?" asked Gabriella, cooler than she meant.

"She's not here," Troy explained. "On the way home she got a call from her partner and she has to work tonight. She dropped me and Lauren off before going to her office. We just got home."

"Oh," was all Gabriella could say.

"So... how are you?"

Gabriella could no longer take it. She burst into tears again as Troy listened patiently on the other line. "N-Nathaniel is leaving on a business trip t-to Washington f-for a week!" she sobbed. "And I-I have a doctor's ap-appointment tomorrow. He-he hasn't b-been to one yet!"

"I'm so sorry, Gabriella," said Troy quietly.

"Th-this is just not h-how I imagined wh-where I'd be while p-pregnant-" Gabriella trailed off as she gasped.

"Gabriella?" Troy asked, concerned. "Gabriella, are you okay?"

"Troy," said Gabriella quietly, while Danielle perked up listening in the other room. "Troy, my... my water just broke."