Christmas Day.

Andy and Rider surrounded the Christmas tree opening up their christmas gifts, and opening them up already. Troy sat on the floor with Gabriella smiling, drinking hot chocolate with her, and rubbing her swollen belly.

Gabriella looked up at him, "Merry Christmas." she murmured. He kisses her forehead, "Merry Christmas Brie." he rubs her swollen belly, "Merry Christmas Baby Emily, We'll see you in a couple months.."

Rider opened up a huge present, and gasped when he saw a huge toy firetruck. Rider smiled, "Wow. Firetruck." he walked over to Gabriella kissing her cheek, "Thank you Mommy!" Gabriella smiled, "You're welcome baby."

Rider sat on Troy's lap, "Thank you daddy for my firetruck." Troy smiled, "No problem buddy." Rider smiled, "You know what?" "What?" Rider whispers to him, "I'm happy you're here for christmas.."

Rider wraps his tiny arms around Troy's neck, "Me too, buddy.." Troy says, hugging him tightly. Rider sighs happily, "I love you daddy.." there are many things that make a person's heart leap out of their chest.

Those words from Rider's tiny lips are one of them, Troy kisses the top of his head, "I Love you too, now go finish the rest of your presents." Rider gleefully, jumps down and runs back to the tree, just as Andy comes up and hands Troy and Gabriella presents. "Aunt Sharpay and Uncle Keegan helped us buy them...we picked them out..."

Gabriella looks at Troy and smiles, Gabriella opens it open and smiles, "Awww.." It was two clay made frames, with Andy and Rider's handprints on them with their name underneath it. One to each to Troy.

Troy smiles, holding Andy's and Gabriella holding Rider's. Gabriella kisses her boys foreheads, "Thank you! I'll keep this forever."

Troy hugged his two boys, "This means alot boys.. Thank you." Rider and Andy smile going back to the tree. Gabriella looks at Troy, "Are you glad you stayed?" she smiled.

He leans and kisses her on the lips, then he leans his forehead on her's, "very. Merry Christmas." Gabriella smiles, setting her frames down on the coffee table and taking Troy's and putting them with hers, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Merry Christmas to you...I love you, Wildcat." Troy smiles, "I'll whip us up some Christmas breakfast..."

Gabriella laughed, "Alright. Just don't catch the kitchen on fire." Troy rolled his eyes, "haha. very funny." Gabriella laughed, standing up and going over to the boy's, "Tonight we're going to make christmas cookies."

Just then the phone rang, and Gabriella stood up from the floor, cradling her belly, and going over to the phone on the counter. she picked it up, "Hello.." Troy looked at her as he was taking the eggs out of the fridge.

"Umm hold on.." Gabriella looked at Troy, "Troy..It's your coach..he wants to talk to you.." she said.

Troy rolls his eyes, taking the phone from her and going to the kitchen, as he was talking to the coach, he was getting things ready for breakfast. "What?" Okay, so maybe his tone is harsher than intended.

The coach sighs, "Bolton, I'm giving you another chance, you're the best player on the team-" "Team? What team? Is it the team that puts games ahead of family?" "Bolton-" "or is it the team that let's the fame get to the player's head and they treat everyone they love like complete shit?"

"Bolton-" "Or better, is it the team whose heads are so far up their ass that-" "Would you just listen to me Bolton?!"

Troy rolled his eyes, "This better be important, I have things to do." The coach sighed, "I'm giving you another chance.. just please come back, not right now, but a few days after Christmas...Think about your family..your job."

Troy kept the phone to his ear, he looked into the living room to see Gabriella with Rider and Andy playing with their new toys.

Troy sighed, "Fine.. I'll come back in a few days." The coach smiled, 'Thanks Bolton, you won't regret-" Troy already hung up the phone before he could finish and he went over to the stove to start the breakfast.

Troy closed the door slowly waving goodnight to his two boys. Gabriella stood there behind him as he shut the door and Troy turned around and jumped when he saw her. Gabriella giggled softly, and kissed his cheek, "Sorry I scared you-" "You didn't scare me-" "Troy." "Okay maybe a little bit."

Gabriella smiled, grabbing his hand, and leaning her head on his shoulder as they walked down to their bedroom. "Did you have a good christmas?" Troy nods, "I did. did you?" Gabriella nods, "Yes. the boys were very happy that you were home this year."

Troy smiled, "Yeah me too." Gabriella crawls into bed and so does Troy. Troy pulls her close after turning the lamp off, "Goodnight Brie. Love you. Merry Christmas." she smiles, "Love you too."

**Troy's Dream**

Gabriella was packing her stuff in the room, tears rolling down her cheeks. Troy walked in, grabbing her arm, "You don't have to do this-" "Yes I fucking do!" she slammed her suitcase down, and turned to him, "You..You lied to me! You've been lying to me! You slept with her!"

Troy rolled his eyes, "Gabriella, you know this team is important to me-" "So is sleeping with Ashley important too! I can't believe you would do this to me!-" "Will you stop fucking screaming!" he yelled. He backed her up against the wall, he came towards her like a predator.

She was backing up slowly towards the wall. "You're not leaving. You're staying here, with me." she was up against the wall, he grabbed her cheeks, Gabriella pushed him off, "Don't touch me! I don't deserve this Troy!" "You're not leaving-" "Yes I am...I'm not going to stay with someone who cheats on me Troy.. I want someone who loves me!"

"Montez-" "You don't fucking love me Bolton! so just let me be! If Ashley is what makes you happy, then good! be with her! But I'm not going to sit here and let you be with her and treat me like this.. I'm not. I'm leaving. and I'm taking the boys with me."

**End Of Troy's Dream**

Troy jolts awake in a cold sweat, breathing heavily as his heart pounds out of his chest. He looks at Gabriella sleeping soundly in bed. His bed. Their bed. Slowly, he rises from the sheets and walks to the dining room. Perhaps the backyard.

He didn't know if it was a dream or a memory from...his old life, but he didn't like it. He wanted to banish it from his mind, but..."Get a hold of yourself Bolton." he leans against the glass of the back door, closing his eyes only to open them again when he see's the dream flash through his mind again. It's like he can feel...every part of him starting to turn back to into that...monster.

Shaking his head, he puts on his shoes and changes his bathrobe for a leather jacket, he writes a note to Gabriella and his son's, he had to get some time to himself. Forget about basketball. Everything. Prevent himself from turning into the man that mistreated the woman that he loves and his kids, he isn't that man.

"I love you..." he whispers, going out the front door quietly; walking across the lawn to the nearest bus stop. From there, he got to the Greyhound station and hopped a bus to Albuquerque.

Troy finally made it to the footsteps of his chilldhood alberquerque home. He opened the door and looked around. It was dark so his mother was still asleep. He walked upstairs slowly and opened the door to his old bedroom.

That was now a small guest room. Troy looked around and saw his east high basketball trophies up. He sighed, sitting on the bed and running a hand through his hair.

A few minutes later, He heard footsteps and some humming. he looked to the door and saw his mother walking by, but when she looked at him she jumped and screamed and dropped her laundry basket and the clothes falling out on the floor.

She put a hand to her chest, "Troy..you..you scared me..what..what are you doing here? Where's Gabriella? The boys?"

Troy moves from the bed, "Mom..." he wraps his arms around her in a hug. At first, she's taken aback by his action but she hugs him back.

"Troy...what's wrong? What are you doing here?" He pulls away, and her heart almost breaks, seeing her son so close to crying- she raised him to not be afraid to show his emotions.

Taught him that emotions don't make him weak. "I feel myself going back.." "Back? Troy what are you-" "I can't be that person again, mom..I can't...I had to leave...I don't want to hurt Gabriella or the boys anymore.."

That was it. Right there, his voice cracks, "Oh Troy..." she hugs him again, kissing the top of his head. "My son...come on...let's have some ice cream." Just like when he was a kid and upset...his mother always gave him ice cream.

Gabriella yawned opening her eyes and looking at the empty space beside her, "Troy?" She stood up, resting a hand on her swollen belly. Her daughter was due anytime now."

Gabriella walked down to the kitchen, "Hello? Troy?" she saw a note on the fridge, and held it in her fingers and read it.

'Brie, I'm sorry for leaving like this. I'll be back, I swear I will, but I just...I feel myself turning back into him- the one that hurt you and Rider and Andy, I can't do that again.

So I'm gone until I'm sure he's not coming back. Until I'm sure that I'm myself. I love you...all of you. Tell the boys that daddy will be back soon. Love, Troy.'

Gabriella ran outside to see his car still here, and she looked back down at the letter. "Troy where are you?" she whispered.

Troy dropped his spoon in the glass bowl. His mother looked at him, "Baby, are you okay?" Troy looked at her, "I feel myself..turning back into that monster..I don't wanna be that person again mom, I can't..If I go back to that person, I'll lose everything.."

His mother ran a hand through his hair, "oh honey, Only you can choose to go back to being that person, But you have to be stronger than that to not let that happen." "I don't know If I'm strong enough mom."

"You are strong Troy. you're my son. you're the strongest man I know. You have to be strong for Gabriella, and for the boys, and for your unborn daughter.." she paused for a minute, "You should really let Gabriella know where your at..what if she goes into labor while your here?"

Troy puts his head in his hands, "Mom...right now..I just...I want.." he slams his head on the table, "I don't fucking know what I want." "Troy David Bolton!" his mother yells, he lifts his head, God it's been a while since he heard his full name used like that.

"watch your language! So help me, I don't care how old you are...you will get your mouth washed out with soap!"

He actually laughs, "Sorry, mom.." she sobers, her eyes soften, "Troy...you're welcome to stay here as long as you like, but think of Gabriella. Call her." He nods "I will...I promise." maybe in two days, he'll call, but right now...he's just not feeling it.

His mother nodded, "Good." she grabs his bowl and puts it in the sink. "How are the boys?" she asked. Troy stood up, going to the fridge grabbing coke. "Their great. I'm thinking about moving everyone back here...to alberqeurque.."

His mother looks at him, "Really?" He nods, "I really want my kids to grow up here.. go to East high...Andy be the captain of the wildcats." "Just like his daddy." she smiled.

Troy nods, "Yeah." She smiles going to the basket and grabbing keys. she tosses them to him, "Go ahead." he looks at her, "What?" she smiles, "Your dad was still coaching, remember? go ahead to East high? It might do you some good."

Troy smiles, getting up and kissing his mom on the cheek. "I love you mom." she smiles, watching as he grabs his coat, but then decides against the leather, and goes to the coat closet and grabs his dad's old coach jacket with a white 'W' on the left breast pocket.

With that, he leaves and takes his mom's car to his old school. His luck, it was just opening for the day with only the principal's car in the parking lot. He smiles, getting out of his mom's car and walking through the front doors.

Taking a moment to breath deeply at the familiar smells, he's lost in his reverie that a voice breaks him out. "Last time I checked there's not supposed to be anyone else here besides me..." he turns around, and then the person smiles, "Oh my God...Troy Bolton. Captain of the wildcats."

Troy smiles, "Jason." Jason comes and hugs him, and looks at him, "Hey man what's up? how are you?" Troy smiles, "I'm good. you're the principal now?"

Jason nods, "Yeah, could you believe that? With all the trouble I got into..I guess being in the principal's office all the time really had an effect on me."

Troy laughed, "You still dating Kelsi?" Jason nods, "Yep. we're married. with 2 boys." Troy smiles, "That's great to hear." Jason nods, "Yeah. how about you big time laker? you still married to Gabriella? any kids?"

"Two boys, one little girl on the way." Jason smiles, sticking his hands in his pockets, "hey that's great...hey, I have to finish some rounds you want to walk with me? Catch up?" Troy smiles, nodding, "sounds good."

The two go walking around the school; Jason making sure that every class room is clean since the janitors cleaned it. "So," Troy says, "is Darbus still here?" "Haha, no, she retired with her husband last year ...but, her daughter- teaching must run in that family -is in her place. Sheila Darbus.."

Troy nods, "another Darbus." "Just as freaky." The two laugh, it wasn't until they got to the gym where Jason mentioned something that makes Troy stop in his tracks.

"I'm looking for a coach." "What?" his eyes are wide, "Bolton, your old man was a great coach, I hated losing him...and i think that he'd be happy to see you in his place." Troy looks at him, "You don't have to make a decision now or right away...just think on it?"

Troy nods, "Uh yeah, I'll think on it." Jason smiles, looks at his watch as his smile falls. "Shit..." "What?" "The teachers are arriving, and that means my dear Kelsi- our music teacher and guidance counselor will be here any moment."

Troy laughs, "you two work together?" Jason smiles, "hey...it's a good thing. I ask her for her help with a school related problem and vice versa." "Well, it was nice seeing you."

Troy smiles, "You too." Jason looks at him, "You can walk around." Troy nods, "Thanks." Jason leaves him to himself.

Troy stuffs his hands in his pockets and walks around the school, He goes to the gym and see that it's empty. He looks around the smelly gym, He see's a ball rack in the corner. He smiles going over to it and grabbing a ball and began dribbling it.

"Bolton passes right, passes left, passes it to Danforth, Danforth makes it half way down the court, It goes back to Bolton, Bolton shoots." he shoots the ball in the air, and It goes through the hoop.

Flashback:

"And he scores!" Troy's head snaps to the gym double doors, Gabriella walks to him, "Hey wildcat." He runs to her wrapping her up in his arms, "Hey! There's my girl." Gabriella laughed, "I've missed you." she whispered. "I missed you too. How was the stanford interview?" Gabriella smiled, "It was great, I think I have a really good chance at getting in."

Troy smiles, "I'm proud of you. you deserve that scholarship." she giggled, grabbing the ball and pulling away from him, "Montez dribbles away from Bolton she shoots." she throws it through the hoops, "She scores!" she said throwing her hands up in the air.

Troy wraps her up in a hug, "I love you so much. I want to be with you forever and ever." Gabriella smiles, "Me too." he smiled, "That's why." He gets down on one knee, and pulls out a box. Gabriella gasps, "Oh Troy." He looks up at her, "I love you Brie. More than words can explain. please do me the honor of becoming my wife. Will you marry me Brie?" Gabriella cries, "Yes Troy. I love you so much!"

End Of Flashback:

He sighs, how much things have changed since then. Looking at the ball that he caught in his hands, he looks around hte gym. Coach...Jason wants him to be coach...what about the Lakers? What about them? Says the devil on his left shoulder.

He shakes his head, aiming at the basket again and making the shot. He smiles, it would be fun to follow in his dad's coach.

"Dad, that whistle makes you a god practically.." His dad laughs, "I wouldn't go that far, but it is pretty cool, huh?"

He was thirteen when that conversation took place; it's one of his favourite and always make him smile...

**In L.A.**

"WHERE THE HELL IS BOLTON!?" The coach shouts, it's been three days and Bolton was supposed to be here on Monday...he was a no show. At first, Coach was going to blame that whore that he "loves" so much, but Chad crossed him and said it wasn't and isn't her fault.

So now, the team is running laps around the gym and working out while he is trying to keep the paparazzi and sports news at bay.

Gabriella comes by everyday to see if Troy has returned, and he leaves her the same answer. "Nope, not today..."

**With Troy**

Troy walked through the door, His mother was making some homemade macaroni and cheese. "Hey honey how was the school?" he smiled, "It's still the same. but different at the same time."

"Well you had alot of memories there..High school was the best years of your life.. you made captain of the basketball team, You met Gabriella, Prom, You met Gabriella, Was with your friends all the time, and did I mention that you met Gabriella?"

Troy laughs, leaning against the counter; not bothering to take off his father's coaching jacket. "Yeah...once or twice." there's a comfortable silence between the two of them, Troy looks at the pot, "need any help?"

"Hmm," his mother bites her cheek in thought, "No, I got this pretty much covered- oh, tomorrow is the barbeque at the Cross'..they invite me every year..would you like to be your mother's date?" Troy laughs, bowing low and then hugging his mom, "I'd love to mom." "Good, now go wash up."

"Okay Mom." He walked upstairs into the bathroom. His mother smiled and went over to the dishes then the phone rang. She sighed, drying off her hands with a dish towel, and going over to the phone, "Bolton Residence. Rachel Bolton speaking."

Gabriella took a deep breath, "Hi Rachel. It's me Gabriella." "Gabriella, sweetie how are you?" "I'm..doing okay..but I'm really..really worried."

"What's wrong-" "Troy's gone. He left. and I don't know where he's at..I just need to know he's okay. I want to see him. the boys want to see him."

Rachel sighs, running a hand through her hair- something that her and Troy have in common, "sweetheart, Troy is...he's having a hard time right now-" "I know he is, Rachel, but I'm his wife...shouldn't he come to me about this?"

"Not if he wants to hurt you...and he doesn't, Gabi, that's the last thing he wants to do absolutely." Gabriella sighs on the phone, "do you know where he is?"

Rachel bites her lip, she shouldn't tell her, but there's no sense in worrying her further. "Sweetie, he's been here. Just give him time, he'll go back...but let him stay with me for a bit..until he feels better."

Gabriella sighs, "Okay but can I at least ask you a favor." "Sure sweetie." Troy walked in and looked at his mother, she looked at him, and mouthed, "Gabriella." Troy's eyes went wide, and Gabriella spoke, "Can the boys come visit him? please.. If he doesn't want to see me at least can he see the boys..?" she asked.

Rachel looks at him, it was obvious that Troy heard. Troy shakes his head, mouthing, "Not right now..." Rachel sighs, "he says he'll think about-" "He's there?" "Gabi, he just walked in-" "Can I talk to him? Please?"

Rachel sighs, looking Troy, "Okay." she hands the phone to Troy, covering up the mouth piece so Gabriella doesn't hear, "talk to her." "No." "Troy-" "No, mom-"

"Troy David Bolton, you talk to her right now." before Troy can say anything, the phone is shoved in his hands, and his mother is back to cooking. Taking a deep breath, he puts the phone to his ear, "Brie?"

"Troy-" "Brie please listen-" "Troy why are you running away from me and your kids?" "I'm not Gabriella I just need time to myself. that's all."

"Troy I know you're going through alot.. you're at war with yourself, I'm at war with myself to Troy.. I'm trying to be there for you, and trying to help you, you can always talk to me about anything that's going on-"

"That's not the problem Gabriella..I'm just..I feel myself slowly becoming that person, I don't want to hurt you or the boys-"

"Your only hurting me Troy by not being here.. The boys miss you Troy, I miss you. And if you don't want to be in LA that's fine, We'll come there, It's about time our boys see Alberquerque and I miss Alberquerque too. It's about time I get out of LA too Troy.."

Troy sighs, "Brie..." "Troy," her voice cracks, "Please.." "Don't cry...you know I don't like it when you cry.." Gabriella sniffles on the phone, "Troy, why did you leave?" he's silent for a moment, looking at his mom before he turns around with his back to her (she doesn't believe in cordless phones...)

"Brie, I left because...I told you, I feel myself slipping back to who I was ..before my accident. I don't want to be him anymore, I just need some time to myself, you and the boys can come down here if you want, but I'm just- I just want my space right now, please understand that?"

Gabriella sighs, "The boys miss you Troy...the first thing Rider said when he woke up three days ago was 'Where's daddy?'"

Troy swallows, "what'd you tell him?" "I said that you went on vacation- the coach is mad to, you know?" "The coach can shove his whistle up his ass for all I care-ow! Mom! I'm a grown man!"

Gabriella sighed, "Troy I'm just saying we miss you.." Troy ran a hand down his face, "Then I want you three to come down here."

Rachel smiled, "What?" Gabriella asked. Troy sighed, "I want you three to come down here, the boys don't get to see their grandma much, and I miss you three too.." Gabriella sniffled, "If you're sure Troy.."

"I'm sure...just don't tell the team or...anyone that I'm here-" "What about Chad?"

Troy shakes his head, even though, Gabriella can't see, "No, not Chad..he'll open his big mouth and then everything will be a hayday. I just...it's peacefull right now. I ran into Jason- he's the principal of East High by the way, he's married to Kelsi."

Gabriella smiles through the phone, "me and the boys will catch the first bus there. I love you Troy. And the boys...they love you."

"I love you too...I'll see you three when you get here.." "Okay bye." "Bye." he hangs up and Rachel looks at him, "I'm proud of you." Troy nods, "I just don't want to be that person again." Rachel sighed, "And you don't have to be.."

Troy looks down, Rachel smiles, "Hey, why won't you and Gabriella go back around alberquerque..go back to your romantic dates, East High.. I'm sure it would help, and you two can feel young again."

Troy looks at her, "saying I'm old mom?" Rachel frowns, but her eyes are full of teasing. "No, no, what would make you think that? Pfft." "uh...huh.." Troy nods slowly, rolling his eyes.

"I love you mom.." "I love you too, now..come on, it's dinner time." he smiles, sitting at the table as if he were still a little boy eating his mom's cooking.

He looks at his dad's empty chair and sighs, "Jason offered me a job today." "What?" Rachel says, sitting down, grimacing as her arthritic knees crack in protest.

Troy nods, "he wants me to be the new coach.." "I didn't hear you mention this to Gabriella-" "Cause I'm still thinking about it."

Rachel smiled, "Well it's your decision Troy, and I raised you to make your own decisions-" "That sounds familliar..Dad always said that." she smiled sadly, "I miss him too Troy.. I really do."

Troy looked down, "Let's just continue with dinner.." Rachel Bolton nodded, "Okay dear."

Gabriella sat on the bus with her two boys. Already almost to Alberqeuque. Andy looked up at his mother, "Mommy, Where are we going?"

Gabriella smiled, "Alberquerque.. It's where me and your daddy grew up..and we're going to see daddy." Rider and Andy's eyes lit up, "Daddy!"

Rachel and Troy were sitting down having lunch. Rachel walked over putting her plate in the sink, "I'm going to get started on laundry Troy. do you have anything you need wash?"

Troy shakes his head, "No mom." rachel nods about to leave and then there is a knock at the door.

She walks swiftly to the door and opens it. "Mamaw!" the two boys run to her and she gets down on her knees and hugs them.

"Awhh my big boys..I've missed you!" "We missed you too Mamaw." Rachel looked at Gabriella and hugged her, "Hi sweetie, I've missed you too." "I've missed you Rachel."

Rider and Andy run to their father at the table who was standing up now, "Daddy! We missed you!"

Troy laughs, smiling at the two boys who are now clinging to his legs. "Hey! How was the bus ride here?" Andy made a face, "Rider snores! He fell asleep on the bus-" "I don't snore!" "Do to!"

"Do not-" "Okay," Troy laughs, "how about...we continue this debate later and I give you guys a tour of the place, K? But we have to be careful...grandma has a fiery temper-"

"Troy Bolton!" He looks up at his mother and laughs, "mom, you know it's true." "Well, yeah, but you don't have to say that to them!"

Troy smiled, Rachel looked at the two boys, "Boys, why won't Grandma show you to your room, and around and then we can make some cookies? how does that sound?"

Andy smiles, "I love that Grandma!" Rider smiles, "Me Too!" And Rachel smiles grabbing their hands to go upstairs.

Troy looks at Gabriella, "Hey." she stands there, "Hi." He comes over to her pulling her close for a hug, "I missed you..I'm sorry I left-"

Gabriella looks at him, "Don't be sorry. We're together now." She pauses for a moment, and then whispered, "I've missed Alberquerque so much.."

Troy smiles, "Yeah...I didn't realize how much I missed it until I showed up here.." Gabriella looks him up and down, "you're wearing your dad's coat-" "Am I?" he's smirking, "the coat he wore for coaching games.."

Troy tugs at the sleeves, "well...I felt like it. It's...it's comfortable." Gabriella hugs him close to her, "it's okay to say it makes you feel closer to him."

Troy smiles, pulling her close, "God I've missed you." She giggles, pecking his lips, "What are we all going to do?" "Well, My mom is going to stay here with the boys and make cookies while we have a tour around Alberquerque.. and then we're going to head over later with the boys and my mom to Jason and Kelsi's Barbeque."

Gabriella smiles, "I've missed them! me and Kelsi have a lot of catching up to do." Troy chuckled, grabbing her hand, "Shall we go?" Gabriella nods, "Let's."

Troy pulls up into the East High parking lot. Gabriella looks at him, "Troy do you have-" "I have a key. don't worry." Gabriella nods, and gets out of the car with Troy. Troy unlocks the front double doors and opens it. Gabriella looks around, "It hasen't changed that much."

Troy looks at her, "Shall we go to the gym?" Gabriella smiles, and he grabs her hand going down the hall. When they got to gym, Gabriella looked around and smiled, "Wow." she walked around, and looked up at the ceiling.

Troy looks at her smiling. Gabriella walks over to the basketball, and picks it up, and dribbles it. "You still got game Bolton? Wildcat style?" she smirked.

Troy laughs, "well that depends...has your traveling improved?" Gabriella rolls her eyes and dribbles the ball and tosses it in the hoop. Troy whistles, "Nice..." he catches the ball, and flies it around his abs and then he tosses it in.

Gabriella sticks her tongue out, "show off." He laughs, Gabriella yanks the ball from him and starts dancing backwards with it, "hey..that's traveling. That's really bad traveling." he runs after her.

He grabs her around the chest to make sure he doesn't hurt her baby bump. She giggles, dropping the ball, "I give.."

Troy kisses her cheek, and looks at her, "Why won't we go get something to eat." Gabriella smiles, "I like that idea." He smiles, "Good."

They walked out of a small restaraunt downtown Alberquerque, Gabriella walked out with Troy with his arm wrapped around her waist, and eating cream, and Gabriella looked at Troy, "Did you have a nice lunch?"

Troy nods, "I did. You?" she nods, she giggles, "You have a little something on your nose?" "What?" she sticks the chocolate cold ice cream on his nose, "There I got it."

"You're in trouble missy.." Gabriella squeals, "you'll have to catch me first." Troy smirks, and when they start running, Gabriella runs 10 feet...and then she stops with her hand on her stomach.

"Ooh.." she winces, Troy catches up to her and helps her stand straight, "Brie...Brie are you okay?" she nods, "Yeah...I'm fine, apparently I can't run with this little girl." she offers a weak laugh.

Troy frowns, "maybe I should take you to the doctor-" "Troy, no, you'll miss the barbeque." "Jason will understand-" "Troy..no."

"Brie-" "I'm fine.. Really. I am." He nods, "okay. Just no more running." Gabriella nods and was about to turn and walk. "Gabriella?" Gabriella heart speed up, "Mike?" He nods, "Yeah, what..what are you doing here in alberqurque?"

She gulps, "Uh..just uh.. visiting.." This was very Awkward. Ex-Boyfriend. Husband. Mike just smiled at her, "You uh..your pregnant again I see." Gabriella nods, "Yeah..I am." she looks down at her feet.

Mike looks at her, "Are you okay?" "Yeah I'm fine." He nods, "Well it was nice seeing you Gabriella.." he walks pass her and then looks at her, "You're looking good." and winks and walks off.

Gabriella smiles, calling over her shoulder, "You uh...you too." Troy watches him walk off, then looks back at Gabriella, "whose that?" she looks at him, smirking, "Troy...I do believe your jealous." "hey..I'm not jealous, I'm just...not liking how he was looking at talking to my wife."

Gabriella giggles, shaking her and reaching up to pinch his cheek. "Your jealous Troy." "Am not." "Are too." "Not not not." "Too too too." "Are-" "Troy, we are worse than the boys." She says with a laugh, taking his hand, "come on, we have a barbeque to get ready for."

At the barbeque, The kids were all playing in the sprinklers, and the rest of them we're sitting around talking and catching up. While Troy's mother was talking to Jason's mother. Kelsi and Gabriella were sitting across from each other.

"So you're the guidence counslor and music teacher at East High?" Gabriella asked. Kelsi nods, "Yes. It's so much fun." Gabriella laughed, "I just can't believe Jason is a principal-" "Hey!" Jason said. Gabriella laughed, "Kidding."

Troy smiled, having his arm wrapped around Gabriella. "My cousin should of been here already." there was a knock at the door.

Jason nods, "That should be him," Kelsi gets up to go through the house to the front door.

Troy looks at Jason, "Jason can we talk later?" "Sure." Troy nods. Kelsi comes back with her cousin, "Hey guys this is my cousin-" "M-Mmm-ike?" Gabriella stammered. He smiles, "Hey Brie."

Troy looks back and forth from Gabriella to Mike, wanting to punch the guy and throw him across the freaking lawn, but he decides against causing a scene and instead says "I'm going to go help Jason with the grill." he walks off.

Gabriella swallows, "So..Mike..you didn't tell me that Kelsi is your cousin." Mike laughs, patting his younger cousin on the back, "yeah, well..you didn't tell me you knew my cousin, Dahling."

Kelsi rolls her eyes, "hello, extremely hormonal pregnant woman, yeah me? I have a name." Gabriella and Mike laugh, "sorry," they say at the same time.

"Mommy!" 5 year old Savannah came up to her, "Mommy. I need to pee." Kelsi laughs "Come on." She looks at Gabriella and Mike, "I'll be right back." Mike smiles, "We'll be right here." Gabriella held a glass of water in her hand.

Mike looks at her, "So.. How are Rider and Andy?" Gabriella looks over and smiles as her two boys were playing on the water slide. she looks back at him, "Their fine. Great." Mike nods, "So are you and Troy back together?"

Gabriella raises a brow, "Isn't it obvious?" Mike clears his throat, "But why?" "Why?" "Gabriella, he's been nothing but an ass to you-" "He's not like that anymore Mike.. He's changed."

He sighed, "I..I just don't want you to get hurt, alright?" Mike grabs her hand. Troy watches from the grill.

He leans in and kisses her cheek, "We'll talk later,okay?" Gabriella looks at him, "Uh..okay..umm." he smiles, going over to the table and talking to one of the relatives.

Troy stomaches the urge to kick the dude's teeth in, he turns to Jason who is flipping hot links and burgers on a plate. "So...I thought about the job.."

Jason looks at him, "yeah?" both men are unaware of Gabriella standing behind them- she had been walking to the cooler to get some ice for her water.

Troy nods, "Yeah, and...I have only one question." Jason looks at him, "what's that?" Troy smiles, "when do I start...boss?" Jason smiles, "we can talk first thing Monday morning at the school. That good?"

Troy smiles, "that's perfect..uh...help me think of a way to tell Gabriella?" Jason laughs, "I learned a long time ago...don't upset your wife. Especially when she's pregnant."

Troy laughs, "Yeah I know-" "Tell me what?" Troy's head turns around to look at Gabriella. "Brie-" "Tell me what?" He grabs her hand, and pulls her close, and pecks her lips, "We're moving back to alberquerque."

Gabriella drops her glass of water, and wraps her arms around him smiling huge, "Really? you mean it?" He smiles at her, How happy he made her.

"Yes baby, Jason asked me for a job to be a coach at East High.. follow in my father's footsteps." Gabriella smiles, "Oh Troy! We're moving back! Your dad would of been so proud of you baby!"

Troy smiles, "I love you Gabriella." she smiles, "I love you too wildcat." and she pecks his lips. Troy looks at her, "Why won't you go over and get the boys for their burgers?"

Gabriella nods, "Alright." Gabriella walks over to waterslide and walks by Mrs Bolton. she looks at her, "I see that Troy told you the great news." Gabriella smiles, "Yes he did. I am so happy we're moving back."

Gabriella then had a sharp pain go through her stomach. "Woah..wow." she grabbed a hold of Mrs Bolton's hand. "Gabriella are you okay?"

Gabriella falls on the ground, "H-Help...The..The baby...Get Troy..." she whispered. Rachel is torn between a frown and a smile, it sort of looks like a grimace on her face. "Hold on, K?" She looks up at the grill, where Jason and Troy are talking.

"Troy! Come here now!" Troy looks up, excusing himself quickly from jason- who follows him anyway -toward Gabriella. "Brie.." he holds her shoulders, "Brie..what is it?"

Gabriella sucks in a breath, "It's the baby..." she rubs a hand over her baby bump, "Troy...some-something is wrong.." she looks into his eyes, "something's wrong.."

Troy has never felt more scared in his life than right now, he looks at Jason, "call an ambulance now.." he looks at he next person he see's -Mike, oh joy. "Get a towel or a cool cloth..anything.." Mike nods, running into the house. Troy looks at Gabriella, "it'll be okay, Brie..it will. I promise."

Troy looks at her, "Come here.." he pulls her close, "Are you in a lot of pain?" Gabriella squeezed her eyes shut,"It's..yeah..oww." Mike comes back with a cold rag, Troy grabs it from him and damps it over her head.

"Brie..stay with me. okay." Jason looks at him, "The ambulance is on it's way." Troy nods, and holds Gabriella close. Rider and Andy run over, "What's wrong with mommy?"

Troy looks at the two boys, "She's going to be fine." He looks at his mother, "mom, please take them over to eat.. I don't want them to see their mother like this."

He mother nods leaving with the boys. Gabriella looks at Troy, "Troy..what..what if we lose..this baby...are you going to..leave me?" she stammered.

Troy shakes his head, "Brie, look at me, look at me...nothing on this earth could ever make me leave you."

Mike snorts, Troy glares at him briefly before looking back at her, "I love you, okay? I'm not going anywhere...and we aren't going to lose the baby. Stay with me."

Gabriella looks at him nodding, and lays her head against his chest. Troy looks around, then looks at Jason. He hears the sirens go off.

Troy looks down at Gabriella, "Their here, I'm gonna lift you up, okay? just rest your head on my shoulder." Gabriella nods, As he lifts her up, He rests her head on his shoulder.

The paramedics come up and help her on the gernie. One of the paramedics look at Troy, "Are you family?"

Troy nods, "I'm her husband.." he looks at where his mother is watching the boys, "Grandma is over there with our sons." the paramedics nod, "okay, aside from one other paramedic, only you can ride with her."

Troy nods again, watching as they strap her down on a gurney, he holds her hand tightly. "Brie, I'm here..I'm here." Gabriella whimpers, "I hate hospitals Troy."

Troy sighs, "I know Brie..just hold on, "I'm right here." Gabriella whimpers. They slide up on the ambulance, and Troy sits next to her. "How far are you Gabriella?" The paramedic asked. She sniffled, "About 8 months."

The paramedic nods, "Okay. I'm sure everything is fine Gabriella...are you in any pain?" Gabriella nods, "Alot." The Ambulance had already taken off and was close to the hospital.

Troy squeezes her hand, "What do you think the problem is?" he asked. The paramedic sighed, "We're not sure yet."

They rushed her into the room, and hooked her up to wires, and put wires all over her swollen belly. They pulled up the screen and searched for the baby.

Troy squeezed her hand, kissing her knuckles. "I love you no matter what. Everything's going to be okay."

The doctor looks at the screen, his eyes went wide, "We're going to have an emergency C-section." Gabriella's eyes went wider, "What-"

"Your baby's has the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck." Gabriella looked at Troy, "Troy..Our baby.." she whimpered, tears rolling down her cheeks.

Troy looks at the doctor, "what exactly does that mean?" the doctor looks at him, "it means that a normal natural birth isn't an option. We have to get her to the ER stat."

Troy looks at Gabriella, "I'm right here..okay?" Gabriella squeezes hia hand, "I don't want to lose this baby or you..please.." "You won't..I promise you won't.." he kisses her forehead lightly.

Gabriella whimpered, "Don't leave." He nods, "I promise. I won't leave." They had rushed her to the delivery room. More like the C-Section room. It was a dark room, and They pulled Gabriella's bed close, and put a blanket over her. Gabriella squeezed Troy's hand.

A few minutes later after Gabriella was numb, They began to proceed the C-Section. Gabriella looked at Troy, "Troy." he looked at her, "Brie." "I'm scared." "It's fine.. everything's going to be fine."

Gabriella looked away, and the doctor looks at Troy, "Troy a little advice." Troy looks at him, "Yeah?" "I'd advise you to not look over, Which now you probably will, while I'm doing this, Cause it's going to be a hard image to get rid of."

Troy looks at him confused, "what do you mean?" he peeks over at the doctor's work, "Oh My God!" he feels lightheaded and faint, the doctor chuckles, "told you." taking deep breaths, and looking at Gabriella's face again.

"I am...not going to look until the baby is here okay?" Gabriella nods, "Troy...I love you-" "Don't say Good bye." Troy says, his teeth gritted together, "don't you dare say goodbye. This isn't goodbye."

The doctor pulls out the baby, tears are heard from the baby. Gabriella gasped, "She's here. She's okay?" Troy kisses her forehead, "Told you things would be fine."

"We're just going to have to go and give her a bath and change her." Gabriella nods, and looks at Troy. The nurse sits down to stitch Gabriella back up. Gabriella looks at Troy, "Troy." "Yeah Brie?" "No more kids. 3 is enough."

Troy laughs, kissing her forehead, "I understand...but you are irresistible." Gabriella rolls her eyes weakly, "I'm serious Troy." "So am I." "You're not funny." "Really? I think I'm adorable."

Gabriella giggles, "you are adorable. And a dork." Troy smiles, "you should relax...you've been through a lot." Gabriella sighs, "I wanna see her first."

Troy kisses her forehead, "Okay. But after, I want you to get some rest." Gabriella nods. The doctor returns with the little girl. "Here's your daughter."

Gabriella holds her in her arms and smiles holding her daughter's head up. "Hey Emmy..Mommy loves you." Troy leans over, "She's beautiful."

Gabriella kisses her forehead, "You wanna hold her? I know that you probably don't remember holding Rider or Andy, and I can tell your anxious to hold her.."

Troy smiles, "You like to read my mind, don't you?"Gabriella smiles, "call it mother's-slash-wives intuition."

Troy laughs, taking Emily from her gently and bouncing her in his arms, "hey little girl.." he smiles, "I'm your daddy..and I'm going to spoil you rotten."

Gabriella smiles, and then Kelsi, Jason, Troy's mother, Rider, Andy, and Troy's favorite person, Mike, All come into her room. Gabriella looks at them, "What are you guys doing here?"

Kelsi hugs her, "We were worried about you. so we came to see your daughter too." Troy's mother looks at the little girl, "She's beautiful. Can I hold her?"

Troy smiles, "Sure mom." He lets his mother cradle little emily. Jason puts a hand on Troy's shoulder, "Man Troy, You and Gabriella make the cutest babies."

Kelsi punches his shoulder, he grimaces, "Ow! We do too, but come on! You have to admit that!" Kelsi sighs, "of course I know it and admit that, but it's different when a guy says it."

Jason looks at her, "how the hell is it different when a guy says it?" "It just is!" Kelsi yells, raising her fist to punch him again. Jason moves behind Troy and Mike, "I got body guards."

Troy laughs, "Guys, This is a hospital. and Gabriella needs her rest." Kelsi nods, "Right. Sorry Gabs." Gabriella smiles, "It's fine. thanks for coming."

Kelsi smiles, "Your welcome. I called Taylor and Sharpay. Chad, and Keegan and the rest of them are coming in to see you."

Gabriella smiles, "Good, Shar would kill me if she didn't get to see emily." Kelsi laughs, "Yeah, she would kill you." "Hey! I can handle sharpay."

Mike walked closer to Gabriella's bed, "Hey, how are you feeling?" Gabriella looks at him, "I'm fine. just a little tired, but I can probably fight it off." "That's my Brie.. always a fighter."

Gabriella looks at him, "Mike...Troy calls me that." he sighs, "I know, but...I did to, remember-" "Yeah well, we're not together anymore."

Mike sighs, shaking his head, "okay..I get it." he looks at Emily, "get some rest." Gabriella nods, watching him leave.

"I don't like him." Troy says, his eyes narrowed at the door that Mike just left through. Gabriella sighs, "Troy he's fine-" "Brie, I don't like him."

Gabriella shakes her head, looking down at the precious bundle in her arms. "Emily, your daddy is stubborn-" "hey!" Troy says, not hiding the smirk in his eyes.

"Your just as stubborn." She giggles, "well, daddy, would you like to hold your daughter so I can take a short nap? I'm tired-" "I got it...I'd love to hold her."

Gabriella placed Baby Bolton into Troy's arms. Troy cooed his little girl, "Hey baby girl, It's daddy..I'm your daddy.." he looked over to see Gabriella already asleep.

Troy chuckled, "And That's mommy.. who is already asleep." He kissed her forehead, "Daddy is going to be the best daddy in the world.. I promise. We're all going to start over."