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

Chapter Fourteen-

It was peaceful. It was like a daydream. She couldn't remember if she was dreaming or remembering a happier time. She was feeling overwhelmed with happiness. With serenity. With love. The man of her dreams was running around with their three year old son in their clean and cut grassed backyard, and making her laugh with his child-like antics.

She watched on as the man pretended to be a tall and scary dinosaur and started to chase the little boy around the wide open space. She couldn't really make out the boys face, but she did catch a glimpse of his piercing blue eyes. Just like the ones that the man held. But his face was so familiar. So distinct. She knew that face. She knew that voice. And when he finally turned to grin in her direction, did it finally register, who the man really was. Troy.

She felt her breathing coming to a complete stop. Just for a moment she believed she wasn't dreaming and looked deep into his eyes. She saw the love and adoration there. She saw that he was happy and carefree. She could plainly and obviously see, that together, with their child, they were happy.

She couldn't help but laugh when all of a sudden the young boy ran into Troy's left leg and clinged onto him like there was no tomorrow. She couldn't help but smile in peace, as she watched the man pick the smiling boy up and lift him with his strong arms and made aeroplane sounds.

But as soon as she completely felt herself relax and lean back onto her elbows, she felt an overwhelming sensation. It was like no other pain she had ever felt. The pain overtook her body strength and she collapsed onto the warm blanket. Her voice was now screaming out for help. She desperately looked around to see if Troy was coming to help her, but when she turned her head in his direction, he was doing the furthest thing from helping her.

The tears erupted from her eyes. The pain eating away at her more and more. She didn't want to believe what she was seeing. She didn't want to see any of it. But there he was. There they were. She watched helplessly as Troy forgot all about her and rushed to pick up another woman. She was beautiful. Her hair golden blonde and silk like. Her face. Her face looked familiar. Her voice was unforgettable. But who was she? And why was she kissing Troy? Why was she laughing and picking up the little boy that wasn't hers. And that's when it hit her.

She couldn't help but scream out the word 'no' like a banshee. She couldn't help but try and ignore the pain rushing throughout out her fragile body, as she crawled towards them, begging for someone, anyone, to hear her pleas.

But it was useless. They continued to ignore her. They continued to stare into each others eyes like there was no one else existing, but them. And her heart broke all over again. With one last shooting pain, she screamed out in agony and watched as everything went back to black.

Gabriella shot up from the warmth of the surface she was laying on and cried out in sheer pain. She clutched her stomach and felt the acidy tears run down her face. She screamed again and again, until she felt the warmth of a hand trying to soothe and calm her down.

"Brie? Calm down Gabriella. Shh, it's ok. I'm here. Breathe Brie. Breathe."

The voice was soothing and velvety to her ears. It was like honey on toast and warm milk. Comforting and sweet. How she longed to open her eyes and see who it was. But she didn't need to. The voice and touch was like an angels, compared to what she had been feeling for the last ten minutes. She knew that voice and that touch was one she graved and longed for, for year after year. It could only be one person. Troy.

"Troy?" Her breathing was haggard and she continued to clutch at her swollen stomach in agony. "Troy. Please…make it stop. Please. I beg of you, make it stop."

Troy couldn't help but feel his heart grit in pain. For the longest five minutes of his life, he was told that something was wrong. That she had stopped crying out in pain and watched as her head lulled back into the comfort of the hospital bed. He slightly remembered his demanding tone and begging someone to tell him what the hell was going on. It wasn't until she shot up and screaming in absolute agony that he felt his heart start beating again.

"I'm here Brie. I'm here. It's ok. Just a few more pushes ok. You're nearly there. Just keep pushing when the Doctor says, and then you can rest." He tried his best to reassure her. He tried his best to calm her down and soothe her of some of the emotional pain she was going through, but he knew he couldn't do a damn thing for the physical pain she was enduring. And it was absolutely killing him to witness her go over and over this type of pain for the last twenty-four hours.

It was nearly over a day ago that Gabriella was emitted into Saint General Hospital. It was nearly over a day ago that she started to scream out in pain from her contractions. It was nearly twenty hours ago when she started to mumble to herself that she was going to be fine. That everything was ok. But then her contractions got more and more intense and the pain was eating away at her.

Troy didn't want to see her in that type of pain, but it had to be like that, didn't it? He kept questioning himself. He kept thinking he could have done something other than buy her flowers and a teddy bear from the shitty gift shop in the main entrance way, to make her feel better. But he couldn't exactly pull out their baby with ease. He couldn't exactly switch places with her and say "It's ok honey, I got it". He couldn't do a damn thing. And that's what killed him more and more.

He couldn't deny that she had the right to yell and scream at him for all the pain she was going through because of him, but he continued to sit for hours in awe as she just moaned and grunted in pain and not once have a go at him or blame him for all her pain. She was a trooper. She was strong. This was the woman he fell in love with when he was a young adolescent teenager. This was the woman that he married. This was the woman that he broke when she found him with another woman, in their home and in their bed. This was the woman that he was going to win back, no matter what, and live the life that they were meant to live, before he messed it up. The life that they dreamed and shared together, before he broke and destroyed all those dreams.

All of those thoughts of winning her back and living their life together again, came rushing back to him, when he heard the faint cry of their newborn baby.

Troy reluctantly turned his head away from the panting and heaving woman he was holding so tightly, to try and catch a glimpse of his son. He couldn't believe it. He had a son. The wide smile that erupted his face couldn't be erased. It would never leave his face. He was a Father now. He couldn't have been happier.

Gabriella heard the faint cry of the small body that she was desperately trying to push out of her tired and exhausted body. She could hear the Doctors rushing around and trying to do what they do best. She heard the comforting words that Troy was telling her over and over again. But all she wanted to do was sleep. She just wanted someone to finish the last of her delivery and to fall into a deep, deep sleep.

"Ok Gabriella. One last push. He's crowned now and all you have to do is one last push." Dr Jordan Allan had been with Gabriella every step of her pregnancy. At first she wasn't quite sure what was going on between the two new coming parents, but she had witnessed a lot of tears, tantrums, one-sided declarations of love and peaceful moments, but now was the time that she helped the weak woman in front of her, and deliver their baby. "Come on Gabriella. One more hard push. Ready? Now."

Gabriella tried to take in what her Doctor was ordering her to do, but her body was telling her something else. She couldn't push anymore. She couldn't go through the pain anymore. She wanted to give up. She wanted to go home. She wanted it all to just…stop.

"No. I can't. Troy can do it. Make Troy do it."

Troy covered his small chuckle with a worried expression. He had heard of delivery stories before, most of them where everything went accordingly well and fine. But only a few had he read or listened to where something goes wrong. He couldn't help but feel that something was going on with Gabriella. He wanted to help, he wanted to take it all away, but he had no idea how.

"She's not pushing Troy. Convince her to push. We need to get him out now." Troy looked between Dr Allan and Gabriella. He could see the determination and force on Dr Allan's face, but when he turned to see the Mother of his child, all he saw was pain and exhaustion. He quickly made the decision to get up and ease his way behind Gabriella and grabbed both of her hands in his and squeeze them.

"Come Brie. This our son. This is the moment we've been waiting for. To meet him. To welcome him into our lives, remember? I know you can do this baby." His mouth was so close to her ear, that he felt her shiver as soon as he whispered to her. He knew she could do this. He knew it. He just had to convince her that she could. "Come on baby. One more push and we can see who's eyes he has. Your's or mine. One. Last. Push."

Gabriella felt her eyes water with the salty tears once more and nodded her head in agreement. She slightly laughed when she remembered making a bet with Troy to see who their son took after. The Father or Mother.

"Ok." She was panting heavily and she knew she wanted this. She knew she could do this. As long as Troy was with her. She could do this. "Last one, right?"

"Last one." Troy kissed her temple and held tightly onto her hands. He listened as Dr Allan ordered Gabriella to push, and he felt like his hands were about to burst when she squeezed them so harshly, but he kept his game face on and squeezed back. He breathed with her, ignoring the comment she once made during a Lamaze class, that it was creepy and annoying.

He watched as she Dr Allan's face lit up with happiness and joy and heard the shrieking cry of their newborn son again. Troy watched in a daydream as he was lifted into the air and was introduced to himself and Gabriella. He laughed and let the tears of his happiness and relief wash over him.

Troy looked back down at Gabriella when he felt her heaving body lay back into his. He was so proud of her. He was so relieved. He was overjoyed with the fact that they now had a child. A son. A miracle that they both created and loved beyond anything.

"You did it Brie. You were so strong. I'm so proud of you." He gently whispered into her ear and felt her breathing starting to regulate into a soothing way again. "Congratulations baby. You did it. You're a Mom."

Gabriella gave a gentle laugh and snuggled back into the warmth of the Father of her child. "We did it Troy. We did it." She felt him kiss her forehead and looked back up to him to see a bright twinkle in his eye. "Thank you."

"I should be the one thanking you Brie. You've given me life. You've given me a child. I couldn't feel more happier than I do right now. I love you Gabriella. I really do." He brushed the wet and sweaty hair out of his face and went to kiss her temple again, but was shocked when she leaned up and kissed him on the lips.

"Love you too."

It was the last thing she said or did before the overwhelming of sleep overtook her and everything faded to black.

There were no words for him to describe how he was feeling. Words, they didn't even matter to him. They meant so little at the time. The only thing that he thought or focused on was the tiny little human being that was wrapped up in a warm blue blanket and sleeping in a plastic crib.

Every thought escaped him. Every sound went unheard. Every person that passed him by or stood by him to admire their own bundle of joy, went unrecognized. Troy was in his own world. He just stood and stared at his son and felt immensely happy. He couldn't tear his eyes away from him. He couldn't not think about him. He couldn't stop for one second and not see how much of an amazing wonderment his son truly was. For three hours he had been in a dreamlike state. For three hours he had never felt this happy. For three hours, Troy Bolton had been a Father.

Troy was pulled out of this trance when a hand slapped him on the shoulder. He quickly turned to see a shit eating grin on the beaming dark-skinned man. Troy had to laugh a little at how one small person could affect everyone in their life, in the biggest of ways.

"Congratulations man. You're a Daddy." Chad grinned from ear to ear.

"Thanks man." Troy gave off his own smile and felt the overwhelming rush of happiness all over again. "I can't really believe it, but it's true. That little boy over there is my…he's my son Chad…my son." He gave a soft chuckle and shook his head in disbelief. "I'm a Dad."

Chad gazed at the man he once called his best friend and couldn't help but chuckle at his behaviour. He had no idea what he must be feeling, but he hoped he would experience one day with Sharpay. He wanted to look at someone the way Troy was looking at the, now, wiggling little boy and feel on top of the world. He wanted to be able to share that experience with the person he loved. He wanted it all.

Over the past several months, Troy and Chad had become somewhat tolerable towards each other again. In words, Chad had stopped wanting to punch Troy in the face relentlessly. Their relationship was a far cry from what it use to be, but they were both putting in the effort to be civil and cordially towards each other, for the sake of Gabriella and the baby. Chad was use to Troy being wherever Gabriella was. He was use to knowing that Troy would do anything for her. But he was use to that when they were happily married and Troy hadn't cheated on her. It was different now, and they both knew it.

"How's Gabi? I heard there were some complications. Everything ok?" Chad asked worringly.

Troy turned away from his son, and looked down to the ground. He shook his head as he tried to erase the images of Gabriella crying out in pain. Pain that he caused.

"It was horrible man. You hear these stories that it's not that bad, that yeah, there's the pain and the risk of complications, but you never think it could happen to you, you know?" Troy saw Chad slowly mod his head from the corner of his eye. "I just wish…seeing her like that…it killed me man. When I saw her crying and distraught over my betrayal, I thought I couldn't hurt her anymore than that…but seeing her in all that physical pain…I felt so hollow. And I couldn't do anything to help her. I couldn't…save her from that pain."

Chad placed a comforting squeeze on Troy's shoulder. "Look Troy. You can say and think all these things that will end up eating away at you, but the most important thing was that you were there. Some guys…they can't even make it on time for their child's birth. Hell, some guys don't even want to be there. But you did and you were." Troy numbly nodded his head in agreement with what Chad was saying. "You can beat yourself up about this all you want, but it's not going to do anything. It was Gabriella's choice not to go through with the epidural like she planned, and because of that, she felt the pain more. She wanted to go through realistically and naturally. And naturally…there's going to be a shit load of pain before it gets better. And now after all that, both Gabi and your little boy are healthy and ok."

"She blacked out Chad." Troy couldn't keep that to himself. It was too much of a reality to him. "I thought I lost her. I mean…we're not together, but…I could have lost her to death and not just in marriage."

Chad felt overwhelmed. Upon arrival he and Sharpay were met Gabriella and Troy's parents and were told of the complicated birth of baby Montez/Bolton. But no one told them she had blacked out.

"Just remember Troy…that she's ok. That your son is ok. You didn't lose her. She's still here. Gabi…she's a fighter. She pulls through everything. There was no way that she would leave you alone to raise your son. I don't think anyone would wish that upon the poor little bloke." Troy laughed at Chad's attempt to cheer him up and realized that he was right. He couldn't have lost Gabriella during the delivery of their son…but he didn't. And that just made him want to fight for them even more.

"Hey Bolton."

Troy and Chad turned to where the feminine voice called out from and both stared upon a bunch of overbearing balloons and a beaming Sharpay. She gracefully walked towards them, whilst also hitting numerous visitors, nurses or doctors with the pompous gift gesture.

"Congrads Troy. You're a Father. How does it feel?" Sharpay asked when she finally reached them and ignored the muttering of another passer-by who she had hit.

"It feels amazing Sharpay. Thanks for coming." Troy looked between Sharpay and Chad. "Both of you."

"Well I couldn't miss seeing my Godson for the first time. Could I?" Asked a grinning Chad.

It was announced to an unexpected Chad and Sharpay, that Troy and Gabriella wanted them as their son's Godparents. Both were overwhelmed with honour and emotion that Sharpay squealed out in excitement and Chad blamed his watery eyes on the non-existent dust in his eye.

"Well I appreciate it. Means a lot. I'm sure Brie appreciates it too." With the mention of her name, Troy quickly looked back to Sharpay who had a knowingly grin on her face.

"Yeah she's awake. She wants to see you. And him." She pointed towards the small baby that Troy had been staring at before and smiled when she caught a glimpse of his beautiful face. "Just a few hours old and I can see so much of you both in him. He's beautiful. Congrads again."

Troy beamed for the hundredth time that day at the compliment and looked back to his son. "To me…he looks more like Brie. Has her nose and ears. I hardly see myself in him. But you're right, he's beautiful. Just like his Mother."

Sharpay playfully rolled her eyes and nudged him with her arm. Although she couldn't feel what she once did towards him, she still acted and behaved appropriately and civilly towards him. "Save the mushy crap for Gabi. I think she needs it. She kept whinging about how crappy she looks. I kept telling her she looks fine and she has the right to feel like shit, I mean, she just pushed a watermelon out of a lemon sized hole."

Chad and Troy cringed at the Sharpay-like metaphor, but couldn't help but laugh at the same time.

"Alright. I'm gonna go check on her. Could you ask the nurse if she could bring him in about five minutes or so? I think he'd like to meet his Mother."

Due to the exhausting and painful birth of their son, Gabriella had spent the last three hours in recovery and hadn't had the chance to meet her baby boy yet. But now Troy couldn't wait to introduce Mother to son. He couldn't wait to see her smile the exact same way he was.

"Yeah, sure man. We'll be up soon."

Troy nodded his head in their direction and walked past Sharpay, but of course fell victim to getting hit in the head with the large balloons.

On his way towards Gabriella's hospital room, Troy couldn't help but think about his life and how happy he was. He couldn't for the life of him, believe that he could feel any happier. He was a Father to a beautiful baby boy. He had one of the most amazing woman on the planet bear his child into the world. Troy couldn't erase the euphoric smile that was upon his face.

Troy finally reached Gabriella's room door and felt a wave of nerves wash over him. He hadn't felt this nervous since their first date. Their fist kiss. Their fist time. Or their wedding day. Such an eventful day brought such old and new feelings to him. He wanted to be able to rush into her room and bring her into his arms. But he knew that he no longer had the right to do that. She was no longer his to call wife or his.

Troy knocked on the door softly, just in case she had fallen asleep again and slowly opened the door. To his surprise and relief he saw that she was awake and that her glowing face had more colour to it, then it did before. Her skin was back to its tanned colour and no longer drenched in sweat or pale white. She looked exuberated and no longer tired or on the verge of passing out. The three hours of sleep did her some good.

"Hey." Troy softly walked towards her and placed a kiss on the top of her head. He pulled back and watched as she gently smiled up to him. "How you doing? Feeling any better?"

When Gabriella had heard the small knock on her door, she knew exactly who it was going to be. She had waited for him for the past half hour. At first she was worried and dreaded seeing him, after he saw her at her worst. But after much assurance from Sharpay and her Mother, she couldn't wait to see him. She wouldn't believe over five months ago that she could feel excited to see the man that she loved and had cheated on her, but with the re-growing of their friendship, she couldn't help but feel like apart of them were their old selves. That maybe, they didn't have to become that bitter and resentful couple of ex's who fight and hate each other. Maybe, she could learn to trust him again.

"Hey. I'm doing ok. Well…what can be expected after having to push a baby out of my vagina." Gabriella shared a pleasant smile with Troy while he laughed at her joking behaviour, before her serious and firm face startled Troy.

"What is it? Is everything ok?" Troy grabbed her hand that was so much smaller than his, and yet, it fit perfectly into his.

"Everything's fine…it's just. Before…when…we…"

Troy brushed his fingers along her hand and showed her that he was there. That it was ok to say whatever was on her mind. "When what Brie?" He asked softly.

"Well…before my water broke and during the delivery. You and I…we…I…kissed you." Gabriella felt the wave of heat rush to her face. She hadn't blushed in a really long time, and she cursed herself for acting like a fourteen year old girl.

Troy gave a soft chuckle and scratched the back of his neck. "I know. Do you…do you regret it or…wish you hadn't?"

Gabriella gave a small shrug and was about to tell him what she was thinking during both times, but she couldn't. She had no idea what she was feeling. Not only was she in so much pain during the second kiss, but she could hardly remember what was going on around her. But with the first kiss, all she wanted was to feel him around her. To feel his arms hold her and love her. In that brisk moment of time, she wanted her husband back.

"I don't regret it Troy. But…you and I…we both know that…that it can't happen again. I was just…" Gabriella gave herself a moment to breath and shake her head at her actions. "I admit that I wanted to. I'm not going to blame it on hormones. I wanted to kiss you. I always want to kiss you Troy. You're…Troy. My husband. The guy that I married and was in love with. But…you broke my heart and fell in love with another woman…I…that's not something I can forget or let go. I want to be able to hold you again Troy and say that I love you, but…"

Troy squeezed her hand when he saw her struggle with her words. He knew they couldn't ever be back to the way they were. He knew that, and yet, that's all he wished and prayed for.

"Hey. It's ok Brie…I get it. I hurt you and…now…we're just parents to one amazing looking baby. I know you may never look at me or trust me in the same way again…but…as long as you know that I will never love anyone like I love you. What happened…was a mistake. And I lost you as the result. I never, not for one moment, thought that I could have you and her forever. I just didn't think it all through. I just…didn't think…at all."

"Troy we can go around in circles with this conversation. I know you're sorry. And a part of me forgives you. But a major part is still hurt and reluctant to start anything with you. All I want is for us to be able to be like we've been the last few months. There for each other. I'll be there for you, and you'll be there for me."

"Always." Troy didn't hesitate to announce how much he would be there for her. He didn't want to play games with her and he didn't want to see her hurt anymore because of him. He wanted to see the smile she wore everyday before she found him in bed with another woman. He wanted to hear her laugh, her real laugh. Whatever she was giving him, he was going to happily take. "I love you Gabriella. And I know my actions before didn't really show you that, but I do. I love you. And…I'm not going to make this hard…well, harder, for you than it already is. I'm going to be here all the time. For you…and for Toby."

Gabriella's whole face lit up in a bright smile when Troy slipped the name of their son. For months they couldn't figure out a name, and they knew time was coming up short. But then finally, Gabriella had heard the name when she was in the car one day and was listening to an old jazz channel. When she mentioned the name to Troy, he was a little reluctant. He still liked the name Benjamin. That was until Gabriella pointed out that his initials would have been 'BJ', seeing as they were going to have Jack, as the second name, after Troy's Father. When Jack was told, he was over the moon. There was nothing that stopped him from smiling for weeks.

When Troy pouted and told Gabriella she had a dirty mind, he came to the realization that he indeed enjoy the name Toby.

"Where is he? I can I can see him yet?" Gabriella had woken up to an immense feeling of pain, but she ignored it as much as she could, just so she could see her baby.

Before Troy could tell her their son was on his way, there was a knock on the door and then a blur of unruly bunch of brown hair. Troy watched happily as Gabriella's whole face beamed in excitement and wonderment. He watched in awe as she was carefully handed their son and placed him in the comfort of her arms. To Troy, Gabriella had never seemed as beautiful as she did right now. She was holding their son. He couldn't have felt more over the moon than he did right now.

Gabriella looked down at the small bundle in her arms. She had never felt this happy or at peace before. Her emotions were all over the place. She felt excited, nervous and overwhelmed all at the same time. This was their son. Their son! She never thought she could feel like this.

That was until Gabriella gave a small gasp out loud when her small baby boy slowly blinked open his eyelids and displayed the brightest and bluest eyes she had ever seen. Even more bluer than Troy's, something she believed was impossible.

"Oh my gosh. Troy. Look at his eyes. They're so…so beautiful." She briefly looked away from her wiggling son and smiled up at Troy, who was grinning back at her. "Thank you."

"Thank me? Why on earth are you thanking me? I should be thanking you. Look what you've given us Brie. Look at him. He's ours." Troy looked down at his son and gently stroked his warm small cheek. "Like I said Brie…thank you."

Gabriella gave a small giggle and almost smacked herself for sounding like a little girl. She smiled once more at Troy and gazed back down at the child that she would forever call hers and love and cherish with her whole heart, no matter what.

"Hey there baby boy. I'm your Mummy. And this lunkhead here," Gabriella gave a swift flick off her head to the side where Troy was chuckling. "well he's your Daddy. And you're our beautiful baby. Our beautiful…Toby Bolton."

Troy couldn't wipe the smile off of his face. And he couldn't stop his heart from beating a thousand beats per second. Toby Bolton. She couldn't be serious, could she? After all he had put her through, she was giving him his last name?

"Brie? Gabriella…are you sure? I mean…we're close to getting divorced and we agreed that he'll be living with you most of the time. I mean it only makes sense that he has your last name. I mean as touching as it is-" Troy was shushed by the touch of Gabriella's finger upon his lips.

"I mean it Troy. He's your son. He has the right to have his true name." Gabriella couldn't help the smile upon her face when she saw Troy give off a goofy grin. "Now…say hello to your son Troy." Gabriella smiled once more and looked down at her son whilst taking one of Troy's hands with hers.

Troy squeezed her hand and picked it up to give a kiss to the back of her hand. "Thank you Gabriella. You've made me the happiest person on the planet." He gazed down at their small baby boy and memorized every little detail about him. The way his already soft hair was sticking up in many directions. The way his little nose looked exactly like Gabriella's. The way he would constantly blink open his little eyelids and show off his bright blue eyes.

This was his life from now on. The small baby in his Gabriella's arms. And the beautiful brunette who gave their son life. These two people were the most important things in his life from now on. And forever.


Hey guys, thanks so much for sticking with the story still. I'm the worst I know. But I graduated a little while ago and have been trying to get a job anywhere. And hopefully I get this job that will make me move away from home and across the country. Anyone who reads this and are from Australia, will know how much of a big change from living in Newcastle (Sydney), to moving to a small Island near Darwin. But I hope I get it. But don't worry, if I get it (fingers crossed) I will still continue to write. Thanks guys and I hope you're all well. Everyone like the name Toby? Took me a very, very, very, very long time to find a decent name. Hope you enjoy it. Cheers.