[A/N] thank you so very much for the reviews kids! They keep me going, more than you know! You are all too kind when it comes to my crazy updating… really, I couldn't be more thankful. I was really, really sick and so that's why you're receiving this so late (darn 'Troy' for brining his germs to school!).

Chapter 18: 'Homecoming'

Troy helped Gabriella out of their new black Ford Explorer. They were back in Albuquerque for their anniversary party that weekend. And then on Monday they'd be heading back to California with the babies. Andrea about had a fit when she saw them coming up the front walk, Mark just laughed and said she was crazy to be obsessing over Troy and Gabi showing up… almost three hours late. And they got hell for it too that night at dinner.

"You two were supposed to be here at 2:30! And here you didn't pull in the drive until 5:42! What made you so late?! Your Father and I were worried sick!" Andrea huffed as Gabriella and Troy shared amused glances.

"We had to stop and get something to eat. We'd been on the road since six this morning Ma, we got hungry…" Troy and Gabriella shared a knowing look with one another as Andrea's mouth dropped in horror.

"I don't really give a damn Troy! What did you kids have? Did you stop for a grand three course meal at some fancy French place?!" Andrea was really ticked as Troy, Gabriella, and Mark all tried to stifle their snickers.

"No, we stopped at Pete's Pizza. But they were busy…" Troy answered grabbing Gabriella's thigh under the table, making her shriek in surprise.

"Sorry…" Gabriella apologized turning red as Mark, Andrea, and Troy all giggled at her embarrassment.

"Troy, both hands on the table. Please?" Andrea commanded her son knowing very well why Gabriella shrieked just moments before.

"Yes ma'am…" Troy put his hands on the table moping like a little boy in trouble.

"You know, I don't really care that they were late… in fact I wouldn't have cared if they'd never shown up at all. They're young and in love, and they have every right to stop alongside the road somewhere and do whatever I'm sure they were doing…" Mark chuckled at the expression of anger that overcame Andrea.

"Marcus, kitchen now, please?" Andrea irritatedly requested a moment with her husband, to the amusement of Troy and Gabriella.

"Where are you going?" Troy asked as Gabriella left the table.

"To see our babies! It sounds like your parents are gonna be at it for awhile…" Gabriella giggled as she started up the stairs.

"Well I'm coming too!" Troy smiled and ran after her.

"I'm changing my major, Troy…" Gabriella stopped Troy just outside of his old room where the babies were sleeping.

"To what? I thought wanting to be a lawyer was your dream?" Troy was confused as he brought Gabriella into his arms.

"No… not my dream, my Mother's." Gabriella sighed as Troy nodded understandingly.

"What do you want to do then?" he asked stroking her arms lovingly.

"Interior design. I've always loved art…" Gabriella smiled happily.

"I think you'd be a terrific designer." Troy replied kissing Gabriella sweetly.

"You really mean that?" she asked biting her bottom lip innocently.

"Of course I do Brie." Troy smiled as he led them into see their sleeping angels.

"I wanna try and have another baby Troy…" Gabriella sighed sharply as they watched the babies sleep.

"But the doctor said it may never happen, ever. We could be trying for a long time babe, with no success. You sure about this?" Troy asked turning to Gabriella with a very serious look.

"Mama…Dada…?" they suddenly head a little babbling voice from under a pink fluffy blanket in the crib behind them.

"Did she just say…?" Troy asked turning to Gabriella as she picked up their little girl.

"She did Troy, she did." Gabriella smiled happily as she and Troy cooed over Capri.

"That's Daddy's girl." Troy smiled as he kissed the little one and put her back in bed with her brothers.

"Yes, I'm sure. I'd wait forever to have a baby with you Mr. Bolton…" Gabriella seductively smiled as she slid her petite hand inside the waistband of Troy's pants.

"Okay Mrs. Bolton. But you do know that means we actually have to 'try' right?" Troy groaned as Gabriella's hand massaged his hardening member.

"Well of course. When were you hoping to 'try' Wildcat?" Gabriella kinked her eyebrow making Troy swallow hard. She only called him Wildcat when it came to discussing matters of their love making.

"Huh, considering we're in my parent's house and they are awake…not now." Troy sighed as Gabriella's tempting hand worked harder.

"Then I'd better move my hand, right?" Gabriella giggled stilling her movements.

"Correct…" Troy groaned as he pulled Gabriella's hand out of his pants…to both of their upsets of course.

"I want to get her something really special for our anniversary Chad…" Troy was whining as he and Chad were in search of a gift for Gabriella.

The party was coming up soon and Troy needed to find a gift fast, hence dragging Chad to their local house ware store on this lovely Saturday afternoon.

"Well how about this? It is a '3-in-1 Chopper'! it says it cuts, fruits, veggies, nuts, barriers, onions, ice and anything that needs chopping. I think its perfect Troy." Chad chuckled as he held up the box to show Troy.

"In the almost two years I've know Gabi there is only one thing she's ever cooked…"

"And what was that?"

"Toast, which she burnt."

"Well, then maybe you should get her a cookbook." Chad sighed as he looked inside of a rooster shaped cookie jar and pulled out a fake chocolate cookie.

"Odds are she'd burn that too. No, I need to get her something that she will actually want." Troy sighed flopping down on a couch in the furniture section.

"What'd you get her for Christmas?" Chad asked as he joined Troy on the tan leather sofa.

"Nothing, we couldn't afford to get each other anything." Troy answered and Chad nodded understandingly.

"Well, aren't you kids trying to have another baby?" Chad asked after a couple of minutes in thought.

"Yeah, did Tay tell you?" Troy asked as he certainly didn't mention it to Chad.

"Yes, our wives talk ya know." Chad sighed thinking about his wife of a week. He and Taylor had eloped after she'd found out they were pregnant, again.

"But yeah we're trying. Why do you ask?" Troy turned to Chad whom had found something to eat…that wasn't plastic.

"Well does she like to dress up for you? Ya know, in little lacey numbers and that kind of stuff?" Chad asked trying not to sound like he was nosy.

"She's never had the chance to or the money. Why?" Troy asked wondering where this was going.

"There's a real classy negligee shop across the street, I will wait outside. But you go in there and pick something out she'll want to wear and you'll want to see her in… and help her out of." Chad chuckled knowingly as he ushered Troy out of the store.

"Okay, but then what?" Troy asked knowing Gabriella would enjoy something more than just a thing for him to take off her.

"There's a jewelry store right next door. Now get in there…" Chad pushed Troy through the front door and waited outside.

"Ohh, you're such a hopeless romantic Gabriella!" Taylor cooed as Gabriella had just read off a poem she planned to give Troy for their anniversary.

"Yeah, well I thought his other gift alone would look a little lonely." Gabriella smiled as she picked up a fussing Christian.

"And what's that…you?" Taylor kinked her eyebrow as she looked Gabriella up and down.

"Ooh, says the pregnant woman whom has a 3 month old at home?" Gabriella replied in the same tone as Taylor turned beat red.

"Yeah, anyway. Kelsi needs you to rehearse your special sometime before Saturday." Taylor sighed as she looked over the party plans in front of her.

"I know that's why Troy's watching the babies on Thursday for a couple of hours. I already told her I'd be down then." Gabriella replied as she changed Christian's diaper.

"Hmm, good. Everything is going according to plan..." Taylor smiled happily as Gabriella excused herself to the bathroom.

Once behind the closed door, Gabriella pulled out the pharmacy bag she had hidden under the sink earlier. She opened the bag and pulled out a home pregnancy test, she sighed and gave a worried smile to her reflection in the mirror. Yeah, they just started trying, but she was late. Yes, Troy would freak out that it happened so soon, but it would be quite a miracle.

"Yep, everything's going according to plan. Everything…" Gabriella told herself as she opened the test.

Please review? That's all I ask.

~Cassie…