Author's Note- I do not own anything relating to High School Musical. This is my own plot.

Chapter Thirteen-

Time was a funny and yet mysterious concept. It consumed everyone. It controlled everyone. What they did and how to live their life. To go by schedules or day plans. Troy for one was always fascinated by time. When he was of little age he would always wonder where the hour went during 'Daylight Savings'. He would always stare at the clock that was displayed in front of him in his old High School and watch each hand tick by slowly. He would countdown the minutes when he would he get home from a hectic day of work to his loving wife. He waited for hours by the phone to hear anything from his devastated wife, once she found him with another woman. But the thing that fascinated Troy the most was by how fast time could slip by him.

One minute he was happily married to his long-time sweetheart and then the next he was begging for forgiveness on his knees. One day he was a soon to be ex-husband and then the next he was going to be a soon to be Father. Troy still couldn't believe that a small human was growing within Gabriella. A small human that was going to be a part of him and her. A person that was going to grow up and call him 'Daddy' and look up at him with either its innocent blue or brown eyes.

Troy still couldn't believe it. It was hard for him to grasp still. With all the heartache, pain and turmoil, Troy truly believed that he could never be happy again. He believed that even with all his will power and effort to win her heart again, Gabriella would never forgive him and that would be the end of 'Troyella', as so many of their friends and family had nicknamed them. But within time, Troy started to see the changes. They were small and hardly noticeable to others, but to Troy they were monumental.

The changes were about Gabriella. The sweet and alluring smile that was never present for him for so long was once again showing. The happiness within her laughter was real and no longer forced or fake. When their eyes connected with each others, there was no longer suffering or hurt just contentment and joy. Troy loved seeing her smile. Troy loved seeing her laugh. But the thing he loved the most was her. He knew deep down that she may never forgive him, that he had the best damn thing in the world and he let it slip right through his fingers. He knew that even though they were always going to be bound together by their unborn child, that they might never really be bound to each other in any other way or form again. And with that thought Troy's heart broke each and every time.

Troy was immediately snapped out of his thoughts when the sound of his front door being closed shut with a loud bang. He stood from his place on the lounge and was met with a red-faced Gabriella.

"Brie? Are you ok? What's wrong? Is it the baby?" Troy was very unaware of the situation at hand but once he saw how distressed Gabriella was, he felt the sudden need to whisk her in his arms and comfort her.

"Are you happy? Are you satisfied with yourself? I can't believe you did this to me!" Gabriella then suddenly lurched forward and shoved Troy with all the effort she could muster, which wasn't much when your intended ex was a lot stronger than yourself.

Troy stumbled a little and then regained his balance and stood there confused. He wasn't sure what he had done this time, but he was guessing it wasn't done on purpose.

Troy looked beyond Gabriella and tried his hardest to try and think of why she was so troubled and upset, but nothing really came to mind. He then took one look back at her and saw her tapping her foot on his hardwood floors and that she was rubbing her now, very swollen stomach.

Again time was able to take control over so many things, and Troy's life was one of them. Time was able to take over him and he had no control over how fast it had really gone. He couldn't even remember parts of it really, just the times that stuck out the most. Like the time when Chad and Sharpay finally started talking to him civilly and not like he was scum on dirt. The time where he brought his parents around to show them the small bump that was his child, on Gabriella. The time where he was punched in the face by Mr Montez and then hugged by Mrs Montez. Within all those times, Troy was just floating by within a daze and wasn't really sure of what was real or not. But the day that he couldn't really believe or fathom was the day he found the sex of his child.

It was then a week later, around Gabriella's seventh month, which the pair decided to announce to friends and family, and really anyone else who would listen, that they were going to have a baby boy. That day Troy wore the biggest grin and continued to hug and thank Gabriella, who in return giggled every time and thanked him back.

Again the time factor wore on and Gabriella started to grow impatient with the ending of her pregnancy. For the last few months Troy and Gabriella went through all the feelings and emotions of becoming parents. First they were excited and nervous, and then came the fear and worry that they neither one of them were fit to be a parent. But as surprising as it was, both of them listened to each other ramble on about how the other was going to make a great Mother or Father. As hard as Gabriella denied it and as much as it pleased Troy, there was still the connection between the two.

And now that Gabriella was actually past her due date by a week, Troy had some clue as to what she was rambling on about.

"Brie you need to calm down and tell me what I've done wrong this time." Troy raised his hands like he was showing her he intended no harm, whilst making his way towards her.

"Stop there." Troy did as she asked. "I don't need you coming any closer to me. You've done enough." Gabriella turned on around sharply and huffed like a small child while crossing her arms.

"Gabriella. Please tell me what's going on." Troy made his way around her and came face to face with her. He saw the tears in her eyes and immediately went to wipe them away. "Brie…please."

Gabriella let out a heavy sigh and allowed Troy to wipe away her fallen tears. He led her to his lounge and placed her carefully down, so no harm would come to her or their baby.

"It's just…I hate the way people look at me." She finally confessed.

"What do you mean Brie? What way do they look at you?" Troy felt a little pull on his heart when he thought about people making her feel so insecure and uncomfortable.

"Like I'm the poor knocked up woman who lost her husband to some hot piece of ass and that I deserve all their pity. I hate it Troy." Gabriella couldn't help the way she felt. She no longer wanted to tell people she was pregnant, even though it was pretty obvious by now. She no longer wanted to explain to strangers or friends of friends that she was having a baby, but by herself. That her husband couldn't keep it in his pants and screwed around with some bitch from his office. And those were on her good days.

Even though time had passed, and some wounds were healed, Gabriella still couldn't place all her trust and heart back to Troy. She hated seeing him act so happy and like but knew it was all some deep façade. Even with all the bridges she tried to build to get over it, she couldn't and they would all burn down again. She felt like there was a wall between them, a wall that they both knew existed but didn't want to acknowledge. They had talked and tried to ease each others pain of the loss of each other, but it still hurt to be around him. To act like nothing had happened. To pretend that they were going to love happily ever after, it all just hurt.

"I'm sorry Gabriella." Troy shook his head and tried to remain calm. He knew, even with all their discussions and talks with each other, there was still so much left unsaid. He knew there was a chance that they would never even get back to being friends like they use to, but he still tried everyday to remind everyone, especially Gabriella, that he was still madly in love with her.

"No I'm sorry. I shouldn't have barged right in here and started yelling at you. I guess these hormones are just too much for me." Gabriella gave a small laugh and tried her best to brighten the mood, but she couldn't help the slight emotion of guilt when she saw how ashamed he looked.

"No. Don't apologise. You never ever have to apologise to me Brie." Troy cradled her closer to his body and rested his chin on the top of her head.

It had been like this for the past two months now. Slight caresses and touching. Small glances here and there. Whenever he would receive a call from her or see how upset or scared she was, Troy would rush to her and hold her tight within his embrace. Their relationship, if you could call it that, was somewhat odd and complicated. They were still going through their divorce and heading towards the end of it, but on their own, they were able to hold each other and act like they use to, without the judgemental and disapproving looks from others.

"But I am sorry. It's just…this baby was suppose to be born last week. And now it's late and I'm stressing that something is wrong and then what about my maternity leave? What if that drags on for too long? What if someone wants to take over my business? Then what Troy? Then I'll be a single Mother with no job." Before Troy could calm her down, Gabriella started starting rambling again and Troy couldn't help but smirk to himself. It was amusing how the hormones always got the best of Gabriella. The one person who he always thought was the best in control.

"And if I don't have a job, how am I going to pay for food and stuff for the baby? How am I going to afford to stay in my new home? I'm going to be homeless Troy. Homeless!" Gabriella finally stopped and took a deep breath of air to calm down a little.

Troy couldn't help but start to grin from ear to ear. He also couldn't help but to start laughing a little. He soon regretted it when Gabriella turned to face him and death stare him hard enough that he recoiled back into the comfort of his lounge.

"Look Brie. You are going to be fine. No matter what happens between us, I am always going to ensure your safety and our baby's. But I doubt you're going to lose your job, seeing as you own the company and everyone in your office loves you and would never dream about replacing you. And as far as the baby is concerned, you've just loved and cared for it for so long that he doesn't want to leave the place that he's called home for the past 9 months. He doesn't want to leave you."

Gabriella couldn't help but smile and blush a little at Troy's attempt to make her feel better about herself and insecurities. "Aww Troy." Gabriella leaned up and gave him a small kiss on the cheek, but when she went to face him again; her face was serious and hard. "But please stop with all the bullshit about the baby feeling at home. I don't care. I want him out. I want him out of me right now." Gabriella then looked down to her swollen stomach. "Get out!"

Troy laughed a little out loud and couldn't help but place a kiss on the top of her head. "Brie. Calm down. He'll come when he's ready." Troy's hands then went to wrap around the bump that was Gabriella's stomach and softly stroked it. "How about I go and make us some lunch while you choose a girly movie or something and just relax for the rest of the day before we have to attend Chad and Sharpay's Engagement Party? How does that sound?"

Gabriella leaned back into Troy's warm embrace and smiled to herself. "Ok deal. But…make it a big lunch. Like, 'I-could-eat-a-horse' big."

Troy smiled and kissed her on the top of the head again and gently eased himself out of the comfort of the lounge and Gabriella. "Deal. Go…pick a movie. I won't be long."

Gabriella stood up with the help of Troy and then watched as he went into his kitchen and started making them some lunch. Gabriella couldn't help but smile to herself. As much as he had hurt her, he was right, he was going to be there for her and the baby and she couldn't help but feel relieved every time he would do something to remind her of that.

Within the first ten minutes of the romantic-comedy movie Gabriella had picked out, she could hear Troy's soft voice humming a song she hadn't heard before and started to stroke her large belly. "I'm sorry baby boy. I didn't mean what I said before. I do care about you…it's just…if you decide to come out anytime soon…I promise I won't ground you for the rest of your life." Gabriella laughed to herself when she felt a small ounce of pressure against her stomach. "I'm kidding baby. If you've inherited you're Father's eyes, then I will never be able to ground you." Gabriella smiled to herself and continued to slowly stroke her stomach. Soon enough her eyes started to feel heavier and felt them close every now and then.

When Troy entered the kitchen he headed straight to his fridge and gathered all he could hold. He knew she would only want to eat something nutritional and healthy, like she had been doing for her whole pregnancy, but Troy decided enough was enough and that he was going to go all out and make home-made hamburgers and French fries.

Troy was softly humming the song that his own Mother used to sing to him as a little boy, but stopped when he heard Gabriella start talking to herself, well, to their son. Son. Troy couldn't help but grin like a fool whenever he said or thought the word. He was going to have a son. A son. A little boy. Even if the baby had been a girl, Troy would have been happier either way. But something within him was a little happier that his first born was boy.

Troy had grown up as an only-child, as was Gabriella. But even with growing up with all his friends and family, Troy still wanted to have someone he could call brother or sister. Someone he could talk to and feel really connected to. Someone who could come to him and depend on him also.

It was when Troy was seven years old and he asked his parents where babies come from. Although Lucille and Jack gave him the PG version of the process to gain a younger sibling, Troy couldn't help but still yearn for someone that he could play with all the time. Someone he could help and teach. Be a role model for.

Every Christmas and Birthday for four years, Troy had wished for his parents to give him a little brother or sister. And then on his eleventh birthday, Troy was rewarded with the best gift from his parents and was told that he was going to be a bigger brother.

Unfortunately the happiness didn't last long. While at her fifth month mark, Lucille was involved in a car crash and lost the baby. For months Troy and his parents tried their best to get by and move on, but it was harder than they expected. Troy would always question why he felt so upset and distraught about losing someone that he hadn't even met. It wasn't until Lucille and Jack sat him down and told him that even though he hadn't met his meant to-be younger sister, he still loved her and it was hard to deal with the lose of losing someone that he was already very much in love with. Troy numbly nodded his head in agreement and then continued to sit sandwiched in between his parents as Lucille sang him his favourite lullaby until he fell asleep.

Growing up from that kind of pain and lose, Troy then felt the need to protect and care for all his closest friends and family. For years he didn't want to go through the pain of losing someone again. So he looked out for others. He protected those who needed it and defended anyone he cared for, or even fellow students in the hallways that were being bullied by others.

Even when Troy and Gabriella were happily married and discussing the topic of a growing family, Troy had always hoped for a boy to be the first-born. He didn't really see it as old-school, as Gabriella had teased, but the thought that Troy would be able to teach him how to protect and defend his family, like he had wanted to when he was younger, comforted Troy.

Troy was pulled out of his thoughts when he heard the small 'ding' noise that alerted him of the oven finishing the French fries, and quickly made his way around the kitchen to complete the meal he promised Gabriella.

When Troy came out with a plate full of fries and a towering hamburger with the works, he couldn't help but smile widely and laugh a little to himself when he saw Gabriella sprawled out on his lounge with her mouth open a little and fast asleep.

Troy walked over to the lounge and knew he shouldn't wake a pregnant and tired woman, but he knew she needed sustenance. He placed him gently on the remaining space left and softly wiped some hair from Gabriella's angelic face. He watched as she stirred a little and then closed her mouth, only to hear a small snore erupt throughout the room.

He softly laughed and then stroked her swollen stomach. "Brie? Brie baby, I have your food." He knew at times he had to be careful when he would let it slip that he still called her 'baby', but when he saw her smile gently, he knew he could care less.

"Hmm…that was a nice nap." Gabriella fluttered her eyes open a few times and finally locked them with the handsome man hovering above her. "How long was I out for?"

"Not long. Forty minutes or so." Troy again wiped away the piece of hair that kept falling into her eyes and pushed it back behind her ear. "I have your lunch ready. You still hungry?"

"Is the sky blue?" Smirked Gabriella. And to confirm her answer even more, both Troy and Gabriella broke out into laughter when her stomach growled quite loudly.

"Come on you. Let's sit up and get some food into you." Troy helped Gabriella sit up and made sure she was comfortable before he placed the tray of her food and a glass of orange juice, pulp free, onto her lap and re-started the movie she had picked.

Not much longer than he had assisted her, that he went back into the kitchen for his own food and sat back down beside her and both started talking about the upcoming birth of their child and how excited they both were.

It was half an hour or so later, where Troy thought Gabriella had fallen back asleep on his side, that he heard her sweet and enticing voice again.

"Troy?" She felt him rub her stomach and heard a soft 'yes' before she continued on. "Even with everything going on between us, I know it's not the same, but…I'm really happy at we're where at right now." She again felt Troy move and nod his head in agreement, not wanting to break peaceful feel around them. "I'm glad that we're able to be there for one another still, even after what's happened."

"Me too Brie. Me too." He spoke softly. "If it weren't for your loving heart, things could be so different, but I thank God everyday that you allow me to care for you and our baby. I'll always love you for that Gabriella."

Gabriella smiled and closed her eyes in peace and snuggled close into his side. "I'll always love you for caring for and our baby too Troy."

Although she didn't say she still loved him and that she only loved him for caring for her and their unborn child, Troy still felt his heart beat faster. It was still something. She still felt something at least. And in that certain moment in time, that's all that he was thankful for.

"Ok. Open this one next."

Gabriella couldn't help but wear the biggest grin on her face. She had no clue. She had no idea that her friends had been giving her little white lies for the past week, but she did know they were the best friends she could ask for.

For the last few days, Gabriella had been told over and over again to leave today empty. She was told that she had to be completely free of all social activity so she could attend her two best friend's engagement party. Well that was a load of crap.

When Gabriella first arrived at the tall building she once called 'home' for a few weeks, she was slightly stunned to see a path way of blue balloons leading up to the front door. Her curiosity only heightened more when Troy started to act suspicious. Soon the both of them stood before the Danforth-Evans front door and were greeted by a giant blue ribbon.

Before Gabriella's hand even touched the hard framed door, it was pulled open and she was scared half to death when most of her friends and family came into sight and screamed 'surprise'. Gabriella felt the tears run down her face before she could even register anything else going on around her. She had felt her body being suddenly pulled into the apartment and felt another wave of tears free fall when she saw that the whole of the lounge room was covered in blue streamers, blue ribbon, blue balloons, blue everything.

After finally calming down, she was sat down and was explained to that her friends had no intention of stealing her spotlight and had decided to throw a baby shower. Gabriella couldn't help but cry some more and heard the laughter of her friends and family when she blamed it on the hormones. She beckoned Sharpay and Chad to her and hugged them with so much love and gratitude, knowing it was their idea. In that moment, she knew she was never really alone and that the people around her were always going to be there for her. Even the blue eyed man who was standing back in the shadows with the biggest smile upon his face.

"Hurry up Gabi. Open it. You'll die when you see it." Laughed Kelsi.

Gabriella smiled at her excited and bubbly friend and happily took the large blue box with a small blue ribbon on top. Gabriella was glad that her favourite colour was blue; otherwise she would have been tired of the overbearing colour that was surrounding her.

Gabriella couldn't help but feel a slight sense of yearning when she couldn't feel Troy's presence beside her anymore. All day she was comforted to know that he was just a one step away from her, but as soon as she was pulled into the 'blue room', she could no longer see him or feel him beside her. It was also starting to disturb her on how much she needed her cheating and lying husband near her.

"Uh guys? Where's Troy? Shouldn't he be here opening these with me?" Gabriella cheerfully asked out aloud.

As soon as the question left her lips, she could feel the mood of the atmosphere change immediately. For months most of her friends and family were able to understand, on some level, how her mood and behaviour towards Troy had changed, but others weren't so sure. Others were unconvinced that they were going to get through their change of lifestyle. Some were uncertain that Gabriella should forgive Troy. And then there were the people who were hell bent on making sure that Troy never see her again. One of those people included Gabriella's older cousin, Gina, who was sitting across from her and eyeing her carefully.

"Maybe he's off screwing some other woman like he did his assistant." Provoked Gina. Although Gabriella and Gina were close, she couldn't wrap her mind around the fact that her younger cousin had found her husband cheating on her and yet still allowed him in her life. Yes they were having a baby together, but no other divorcing couple on the planet were as close or as happy as the one she knew. "It wouldn't surprise me if he had run off and was screwing some random chick on the street right as we speak."

Before Gabriella could open her mouth and defend the Father of her unborn baby, Troy plopped himself down beside her and handed her a glass full of milky liquid with a red straw hanging over the edge.

"Actually I was off getting Gabriella her usual smoothie." Troy then looked to Gabriella, whose eyes had lit up when she saw what he had handed to her. "Around this time of day her cravings kick in and she usually has a glass of milk blended with bananas and mint ice-cream topping. Just one of the many odd cravings she gets."

Gina gave a fake smile but didn't let up. "See that's what's so disturbing about this situation. That you know stuff like that. You shouldn't know any of it. You shouldn't be here caring for her and acting like you didn't cheat on her. You shouldn't be here at all!"

"Gina that is enough." Demanded Sharpay. For too long had she been planning her best friend's baby shower and now it was getting ruined by Gina or anyone else.

"No. It's not." Gina stood up and made sure she had everyone's attention. She wanted to know why everyone was ignoring what was right in front of them. "Why are you all being so ignorant? Why are you all ignoring the fact that he cheated on her and fell in love with someone else? He fell in love with another woman. God broke Gabriella's heart and now has her knocked up. And you're all sitting here and acting like he did nothing wrong."

"Gina enough!" This time everyone looked to see an upset Gabriella trying to stand up. She shrugged of Troy's offering hand and placed her hands on her hips. "Look I know you hate this. Ok…hell, I know most of you hate this and are only pretending to entertain me. I'm neither stupid nor blind to know that half of the people in this room think or look at me like I'm an idiot to take him back. But I haven't taken him back. He knows this. I know this. Troy, unlike some Fathers around the world, is taking responsibility and he has every right to want to experience the process and birth of his first child. Do I wish it was under different circumstances? Hell bloody yes I do. But what's done is done. I'm trying to move forward, but can't if people," Gabriella then sent a very stern look to her cousin. "Can't just accept that this is the way that it's going to be. That the only thing that is happening between Troy and I are sharing and embracing the birth of our first child."

For a few brief moments it was quiet and no one dared to say anything. At the end of Gabriella's rant, her voice had gotten actively higher and her breathing started to quicken.

Troy just sat still and kept his gaze locked onto the very distressed and pregnant woman in front of him. He knew what others were thinking. He knew that none of the people in the room had forgiven him, including Gabriella, but most were giving him the benefit of the doubt. Most of them were willingly to ignore what was going on and just focus on the growing baby Gabriella was carrying. But Gina wasn't most people. A fact he had known the moment he had met her. She was protective of her family and made sure that if you hurt someone she cared for, you would get hurt. She was fierce. She was strong. She was a Montez.

"Look…" Troy slowly stood up and placed his hands on Gabriella's shoulders and tried to soothe and calm her down. "…if me being here is really such a nuisance, than I can leave. All I wanted for today was for Gabriella to be surprised about the shower and for her to enjoy herself. I know me being here has annoyed more than just one person, I understand that and I'm sorry."

"No!" Gabriella quickly turned to look at Troy and made sure he was still standing right behind her. "No. Don't go. I don't want you to go."

"See!" Gina quickly pointed at Gabriella and Troy and couldn't help but have another rant. "You shouldn't be begging him to stay here. You should be yelling at him to go. You should be kicking him to the curb. You should be-"

"Just stop it Gina." Screeched Gabriella.

Troy tried again to soothe her, knowing that if she got too worked up her blood pressure would heighten more than usual due to her condition and something could go wrong with her or the baby. Troy squeezed her shoulders to remind her he was there. Always.

"I love you Gina. I do." Gabriella's voice had calmed and was no longer holding anger or frustration within her tone. "But I shouldn't have to do anything unless I want to. This is my baby. Our baby. Mine and Troy's. What's going on between him and I is our business. Not your's or anyone else's. Troy isn't forcing me to do anything. And believe it or not he's the only person not demanding anything off of me."

This had shocked a few people in the room. Unsure of what Gabriella really meant. Each unsure of what they were apparently demanding off of her.

"Look…I didn't mean that in any wrong way…it's just…for months I've been over all the judgemental looks and disapproving head shakes. You're all demanding me to make a decision without actually asking me. And I've made it. Troy and I sharing this experience together. He is going to be apart of this child's life whether you like it or not. Please just…accept that."

Before anyone else could say anything, Mr Montez came up behind Troy and gestured that he anted to take over holding his daughter. Troy reluctantly moved and watched as the man he called a second Father took a hold of Gabriella and ran his hands up and down her arms to calm her.

"Enough is enough. Today was meant to be about sharing the excitement of Troy and Gabriella's first child being born soon. Well…suppose to be born." A few gentle laughs were heard through the quiet room. Gregorio wasn't one of the few who were completely ok with his daughter's decision, but he was always going to support her no matter what endeavour she carried on in her life. "Now…before all this squabbling began, Gabriella was going to open a present from her friends Kelsi and Jason. Let's all sit back down, relax and see what the lovely couple got my little girl."

As soon as Gabriella followed her Father's orders and sat and opened the present, she erupted into a fit of squeals when she pulled out the small baby-made jersey that had 'Lakers' written on the back. She couldn't help but smile and laugh as Kelsi explained that it was Jason's suggested it and she couldn't help but agree that the jersey was a good idea and original. Gabriella agreed and thanked them continuously until another present was placed onto her lap.

As Gabriella looked back to her left she saw that Troy was still beside her and looking at all the previously opened presents in wonderment and confusion, wondering what some of the certain gifts were. She was grateful that Troy hadn't had left and was still beside her. Just like he said he would be.

It was at least three hours later when Gabriella was finally bidding farewell to the last of the guests and was able to carefully plop herself onto the lounge and bask in its warmth and comfort, even in the middle of Summer, it was still cold and chilly outside.

Gabriella felt the weight another person sitting on edge of the remaining lounge pillow and slowly opened her eyes and was met with the heart-melting blue orbs she fell in love with.

"I think it's time to take you home missy." Teased a grinning Troy. "Chad and I have most of the stuff in the car. Sharpay is just gathering the last bits and pieces. I told them I would come fetch you." His smile was so sincere and sweet that Gabriella couldn't help but swoon.

"Thank you so much for this Troy." She watched as he was about to protest but cut him off before he could. "No, I mean it. Sharpay and Chad explained that they planned all of this, but they told me it was your idea."

Troy looked down sheepishly and scratched the back of his neck. "Yeah well…you know…I know you said you didn't really want one due to all the stress and worry, but I just thought if I took away most of the pressure than you would be surrounded by people who love you and want to celebrate this with you. And score some pretty amazing gifts."

Gabriella laughed softly and continued to look up at Troy with her big brown doe eyes. "Well thank you again. I know for a little while with Gina, it was…uncomfortable to say the least, but you handled it well and I can't thank you enough for being the bigger person and not retaliating to her inappropriate behaviour."

"She just worries about you Brie. Like everyone else does. They're worried that…because you don't exactly hate me or continuously throw objects at me, that…I'll hurt you again. But I can't stress enough by saying that I'm not going to. My mistakes finally caught up to me and…living without you is my punishment." Troy grabbed Gabriella's soft hands and placed a kiss on the back of each one.

Gabriella could tell that something within her was changing towards Troy. There was no longer hate towards him. There may have been resentment at times, but no longer hate. She wasn't sure if it was love, she wasn't sure what it was, but she knew something was changing. And she wasn't sure how she felt about that yet. For now, she was blaming it on the out-of-control hormones.

"You're not living without me Troy. I'm still here…just…differently. I'm not sure how to open my heart up to you again. But I'm glad you're here and I can tell you're going to be an amazing Father."

"Just like I know you're going to be an amazing Mother." Gushed Troy. He smiled his sweet and attractive smile again and bent down to place a gentle kiss on her temple, but was completely shocked when Gabriella leaned in too and made sure their lips touched instead.

It was soft and gentle. It was real and loving. Even though she had just told him that she may never be able to open her heart back up to him, Gabriella felt a wave of disappointment when she saw that he was going to kiss her forehead, like he had done so many times before, and knew that she wanted something else. Something that she went for completely unexpected and in the process, shocked both herself and Troy.

It was like she had no control over her body and she could feel herself deepen the kiss even more. She felt Troy's small hesitance and quickly pulled him closer before he could be a gentleman and ruin the moment by stopping what her body was obviously craving. His touch. Troy's touch.

Troy couldn't quite believe what was happening. He knew that both of their emotions were up in the air, but he wasn't sure whether or not she was kissing him because she wanted to or because her hormones got the better of her. When he felt her small hand reach for the end of his shirt and slide its way up his chest, sense and reality finally came back to him, and he had hoped Sharpay nor Chad had walked back in.

Both were heaving and panting heavily, while looking at each other in shock and confusion. Neither one said anything, both too unsure what exactly to say. He wanted to apologize and say it was his fault, but…she kissed him. He shook his head in confusion and quickly looked back at her, only to see a wave of lust and need in her eyes.

"Gabriella-" He started.

"No Troy. I'm sorry. That was out of line and I'm sorry I did that." She wasn't sure why, but she felt the beginning of salty tears brim the edge of eyes.

"Hey, hey. It's ok. No need for them. It's ok. I'm sorry…I shouldn't have let it carry on for so long. I'm trying to prove to you and everyone else that…" Troy stopped himself. He wanted to say that he was trying to prove something to her and everyone else, but he wasn't quite sure what. He wanted to them to know that he still loved her. That he still wanted her. That he was always going to be there. But to everyone else, his actions looked suspicious and doubtful. "…actually I'm not quite sure what I'm trying to prove."

Gabriella gently pushed herself up so she was leaning back on a few pillows on the end of the lounge and pulled Troy's warm towards her. "You're trying to prove that you're still the same old Troy. That you've always been the same Troy, but you just made a mistake. And you're trying to make up for it. It was my fault. I shouldn't have kissed you, but I did. I can blame it on the hormones; I can blame it on stress. But deep down you and me both know that I kissed you because I wanted to. And you kissed back because…you wanted to."

Troy slowly nodded his head in agreement and sighed heavily. "Everyday for the last few months, I have wished to feel your lips on mine again. No matter what reason was behind it, I will remember it. I remember everything about you."

Gabriella sent him a genuine and heart-warming smile and leaned up to place a soft kiss on his lips again, but this time it was short and quick. "Thank you Troy."

Before anything else could happen, Gabriella quickly pulled away from him and had a look of complete and utter shock on her face. Her eyes were wide and Troy felt worry and fear develop him.

"Brie? What is it? You ok?" Too many things were running through his head. He hoped it wasn't the reality of their position and sweet embrace just a moment ago that has gotten her so worked up.

"I…I…um…I think my water just broke."

That definitely was something to get worked up about.

OK, there is going to be a lot said in this author's note.

First off: thank you all so much for the support and understanding. Means a lot to me. I promised you I would post this a few days ago, but I felt it wasn't good enough. If I had posted what I had originally wrote, I would have cringed and poked my eyes out in stupidity. It wouldn't have been fair to me or you wonderful readers. I'm still trying to find the confidance to continue writting this story and posting it everytime. But your reviews and support always push me though. Thank you.
Seond: I know there may be some people who may not like how Troy and Gabriella's relationship has developed. BUT, I can't have the whole story full of hate and bitterness towards Troy, it's too much hate for me. In real life, I would never be able to easily accept someone who hurt me like that back into my life, but this IS fiction. And it's a story that has a lot to deal with and is going to be different (hopefully) and be twisted and turned in different directions. There may be areas that I drag on their reasoning for so long, but it's like the more I did that, it was like the characters were reminding themselves why and how they felt about it.
Third: I know I skipped over the pregnancy, but I felt that I wasn't confidant enough to describe all the details and emotions she would go through. It was something that I decided to do a long time ago, before the hibernation period.

So again, thank you all and hopefully the next chapter will be up soon. Cheers. Review? Opinions?