So here is the next chapter. Not too far after the first chapter, as far as the timeline goes but like I said, everything is no no particular order. So if one chapter is like three years later and the next one jumps back two years or something, I apologize for any confusion. All I'll say is, don't blame me for getting the ideas at different times...blame it on my brain.
Disclaimer: Still not owner of HSM.
Chapter Two Summary: Chad wants to get Taylor out of the house for a night after being cooped up in there with Cheryl for long enough; Dylan offers to babysit his sister while his folks go out. Elsewhere, Gabriella's twins are nearly a month late for delivery and she desperately wants to know why they're taking so long. (Genre: Family/Angst)

Chapter Two: Get Outta There!

"I can't take this anymore!" Gabriella nearly yelled as she paced around the Danforth's kitchen. "Why are they coming so late? Is something wrong with them? I mean, I know I feel them...but why aren't they coming out? What am I doing wrong?"

Taylor leaned up against the cold refrigerator and sighed. "Gabriella they're probably just a little late it all."

"We're way past late, Taylor." she replied. "Two weeks is late. This...this is completely tardy!"

"And this is you completely freaking out." Taylor told her.

"And what do you have to freak out about?" Gabriella inquired. "Last I checked you had a perfectly healthy baby. Due exactly three days prior to her due date!"

Man how Taylor hated the mood swings that accompanies pregnancy. She hoped so badly that she wasn't as on and off as Gabriella was right now. All she knew - and would probably admit to from that time - is that she got cranky very easily. That, and how she always had the nastiest food cravings. Pickle juice and orange juice mixed together with a dish of french fries covered in cranberry sauce. Taylor shuddered just thinking about it.

"Maybe the due date was just mixed up, or they're not ready yet." she suggested. "Look, I wasn't exactly born when expected either. First it was supposed to be Christmas time. Then they changed it to the first week in January. I didn't pop out until the last week in January."

"Yeah, and if memory serves from the stories your parents told, you were one tiny infant." Gabriella stated.

Taylor rolled her eyes. "Worst two years of my life." She remembered fragments of the things her parents made her wear as an infant and toddler and how they barely ever took their eyes off of her just because she was small.

"Those were the first two years of your life." Gabriella quirked an eyebrow.

"Exactly." she nodded. "Look, all I'm saying is maybe the twins need a few more weeks. The important thing is that they're going to be healthy babies and that's all that should matter."

Gabriella opened her mouth to counter until a cry filled the house. Again. "Speaking of healthy babies..."

Taylor sighed heavily and moved some hair out of her face. "I'll be right back." she told Gabriella as she headed up the stairs. "That girl takes after her father." she muttered.

Gabriella overheard and couldn't help but laugh. A female Chad...and only at a month old, tops! Why would have thought?

Too bad that didn't make her worry of her own babies vanish. Gabriella desperately wanted them out, even to just feel one contraction. But had she felt nothing? No. Were they really being that stubborn? Gabriella sighed herself and walked over to the nearest mirror she could find. She looked at her stomach, which was clearly large because of how far along she was and the fact that she was holding two children rather than one.

"Why don't you two come out of there any time soon?" she complained quietly, rubbing her belly. She looked at it sadly until her head snapped over to the staircase as she saw Taylor come down with Cheryl in her arms.

"She's hungry again. I have to make a fresh bottle." Taylor explained.

"You get the bottle going, I'll hold her." Gabriella offered, her mind off the twins for the moment.

Taylor nodded and handed Cheryl over before starting to dig through the refrigerator. "See what I mean?" she asked. "She goes through at least six bottles a day. That's how many meals Chad goes through."

"So she's her father's daughter." Gabriella shrugged. "Sometimes Gina's like that, too. The way she handles a basketball like Troy does."

"Yes, but at least she has your talent and intelligence." Taylor pointed out, pouring milk into a clean bottle.

"Hey, Dylan took more after you than Chad, remember?" Gabriella asked. "Your intelligence, musical talent..."

"And Chad's sense of humor." Taylor finished. "Though I have no idea where his artistic skills come from."

"Could be from his biological parents." Gabriella suggested. "Besides, how can you complain about talent?"

"Yeah, that is true." Taylor admitted.

"Hey speaking of Dylan, is he doing any better in school?" she wondered.

"Yeah. Cheryl's finally calmed down at night so we get more sleep which means any sleeping Dylan has to do it done during lunch, if anything else." Taylor nodded. She finished heating up the milk and then made sure it was alright for Cheryl to drink. She took the baby from Gabriella and started feeding her.

Gabriella raised an eyebrow curiously. "You give her formula?" she wondered.

"Yeah." Taylor nodded.

"Why?" she asked. "You know there's a lower risk of her getting allergies if you breast feed her."

"Yeah well, it's not happening. I'll take my chances." Taylor answered. "Besides, if it's just allergies to pollen then it's barely anything. The only real allergy we have to worry about is Chad's reaction to cinnamon."

"You think Cheryl picked up on that, too?"

"Not sure, but I'm not taking any chances. So what, you didn't give Gina or Timothy formula?"

"Not that often. Besides, you know I think it's important for kids to get close to their parents."

"Putting them in the room directly next to yours or your own room and breast feeding them isn't the only way, Gabs."

"I know." And now that they were on the subject of babies in general again, Gabriella's complaining returned. "So when am I going to feed the twins?"

"When they come out." Taylor insisted. "Which will be in a manner of days at this rate. Look, just enjoy the freedom while it lasts. Cause contractions aren't something you want to deal with."

"You know you were just being sensitive." Gabriella replied. "And don't tell me about contractions, I went through them twice."

"Ok, so did you complain every time they came because you were in searing pain?" Taylor questioned.

"Well...not constantly." she admitted.

Taylor shrugged. "I rest my case."

"We're back!" Dylan's voice echoed as he walked in through the front door. Chad and Troy followed behind, as well as Troy with his and Gabriella's kids.

Gina didn't hesitate to run over to her mother and wrap her arms around her leg. "Is it time yet, Mommy?" she asked hopefully. "Are they coming?"

Gabriella sighed. "No, not yet."

"Hey come on, they're just keeping you in suspense and you know it." Troy said calmly as he hugged Gabriella. "And right now they're probably starving so how about we go home and get food going?"

"Alright." Gabriella gave in with a nod. She just couldn't say no to her husband. Besides, half the time what he said made more sense than what anyone else said...which was odd because sometimes Troy wasn't necessarily the sharpest tool in the shed. Not like Gabriella would ever hold that against him, of course. But at least if Troy was at work or anything, Gabriella could still vent to Taylor. She gave her friend a hug. "I'll see you alter, ok?"

"Alright." Taylor nodded. "Say hi to the outside world for me."

"I will." Gabriella replied. Troy handed her Timothy and she took him before following Troy and Gina out. "Bye guys."

"See you tomorrow!" Troy called. "And your welcome for the lift, Chad!"

Chad smiled and rolled his eyes.

"Thank you!" Dylan called as a substitute for his father. "I'm gonna go put my books upstairs." he told his parents quickly before heading up to his room.

Chad smiled and walked over to Taylor. "And now that the peanut gallery is gone..." he joked, which made Taylor laugh faintly. He smiled and kissed her before wrapping his arms around her. "How's my girls?"

"Tired, but otherwise fine." Taylor answered. "She has your appetite."

"Well then you know she's gonna be a big girl." Chad smiled.

"Yeah, you just keep telling yourself that." Taylor nodded. She wiggled out of Chad's hug and he took Cheryl as Taylor put the now empty bottle in the kitchen sink to be cleaned.

"So have you started working yet?" Chad wondered as the now somewhat sleepy baby tugged on one of Chad's strands of hair.

"I haven't gotten a chance to." she shook her head. "Gabriella's worried sick that something's wrong with her twins, and I've been busy with Cheryl so I can't even crack open my laptop for one round of solitaire."

"What happened to working from home at this rate?" Chad wondered, recalling their discussion a few weeks back.

"And how am I supposed to do that when Cheryl needs constant attention?" Taylor replied. "At this rate I just might have to cancel everything."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa." Chad said sternly. He lifted Taylor's chin to look at him. "You are not canceling anything. You're just tied up is all. You need a break, a night out on the town."

Taylor shook her head, causing Chad to drop his hand. "And who would watch the kids, Chad?"

"I could watch Cheryl." Dylan offered as he came back downstairs and leaned up against the counter from the living room.

"Dylan, that's sweet," Taylor replied, "but we need someone to watch you and Cheryl. You're not old enough to stay home alone yet."

"I'm thirteen, Mom." Dylan shrugged. "Just have dinner here and then go see a movie or something."

"Listen to the kid, Tay. He offers good advice." Chad said.

"You're only saying that to get a date." Taylor informed him. She turned back to Dylan. "We can't just leave you here with a one month old on your own. Suppose something comes up?"

Dylan shrugged. "Troy and Gabriella are on speed dial. All the emergency numbers are on the credenza. I can handle it."

Taylor looked back and forth between the boys. "You're in a conspiracy against me, aren't you?"

Chad chuckled. "Just one night. C'mon Tay, you need to get out there."

"In what?" Taylor asked. "I have nothing to wear that won't reveal my body. I don't have my figure back yet."

"You got plenty of figure." Chad offered. "You've got the three f's. Fine, figure, and..." He paused to try and think of a third word. "And..."

"Feminine?" Dylan offered.

"I like it." Chad snapped his fingers. "Fine Feminine Figure. Go with what he says."

She sighed. "Look I appreciate this, but..."

"But what?" Dylan asked. "Come on, you can't stay in the house forever. You need a night to yourself. And I can always call you if there's an emergency."

"Yeah and we know better than to think he'll throw a wild party instead." Chad offered. "And hey, it'll give Dill and Cheryl some quality bonding time."

"You mean like how I suggested that for you and her last week?" Taylor folded her arms, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah...I'm getting to that...." Chad said slowly. He sighed and gently handed Cheryl to Dylan and pulled Taylor closer to him. "C'mon Tay, think about it." he said temptingly. "We could go to the movies. See a horror flick. I can be your body guard." He kissed her and then whispered seductively in her ear, "Making out in the back row corner."

Taylor felt the chills creep down her body. Why was he doing this to her? And why was her own son pushing her out of the house? Truly it was a conspiracy.

"Come on, Mom." Dylan said as his parents broke apart. "Cheryl wants you to go. Come on Cherry, tell her." He looked down at the infant, who only replied with a yawn. "Hear that yawn, Mom? That was a yawn telling you to go. She wants you to have fun tonight."

"Definitely a female Chad in the making, trying to kick me out of the house." Taylor said to herself. She waited for a minute, then took a long deep breath. "Alright," she gave in. "But if I want to go home..."

Chad smiled widely and kissed her deeply before pulling away. "We'll be in the car in a matter of seconds. Got it. Now let's get dinner started so we can get out of here. Or better yet, you go find something to wear and I'll start dinner."

"But..." Taylor started.

Chad had already begun rushing around the kitchen to prepare dinner.

"And I'll go put Cheryl in her crib for the time being." Dill added with a smile as he ran upstairs.

"Ok, but..." she tried again. She sighed and hit her forehead. "It's going to be a long night."

"Gabs, please eat something?" Troy asked as the family sat down for dinner.

Gabriella picked her head up as she put her fork down. "I'm sorry, Troy." she apologized. "I guess I'm still worried."

"They're fine Gabriella, I promise." Troy said. "Just give them a little time."

"But I haven't felt any contractions at all." Gabriella complained.

"What's contriton?" Gina wondered.

Troy chuckled. "Contraction." he corrected. "It's a sign that means the baby or babies would be coming in a number of days."

"Troy I'm telling you, I'm not feeling any..." Gabriella started. She stopped and froze in her seat, gripping her stomach.

"Gabs, what's wrong?" he asked worriedly.

"The twins just kicked again!" she exclaimed. She stayed in that position for a minute; Gabriella had felt them kick before but bit like they just had. It was a harder kick, like they really wanted out soon. And a few minutes later Gabriella's eyes widened again. "Troy..." she breathed.

"What?" he asked quietly, leaning forward in his seat.

"I think I just felt the first contraction!" she exclaimed as soon as it passed over.

"Cheryl why do you keep crying?" Dylan moaned a few hours later as he stared at his baby sister in her crib. "Tell me what's wrong?"

But there was no response from the infant. She kept sobbing rather loudly.

Well at least she wasn't wet or anything. That was the good news. The bad news was that he still couldn't figure out what was wrong with her. "Cherry, please talk to me?" he begged.

But only more crying came.

Dylan bit one of his nails, worried about what to do now. What would his parents say if they came back to a crying baby and a worried son? They might think he wasn't responsible anymore. If only he could think of a plan....

Then he raised an eyebrow, an idea somehow coming to him. He remembered how his father got Cheryl to fall asleep with a lullaby for the first time in a week. And it had made Dylan fall asleep, as well. Remembering the song in his head, he started singing it quietly and it was only a matter of time before Cheryl was sound asleep. He sighed with relief and tucked her in, smiling.

"We're home." He heard Chad call from downstairs.

Dylan left the nursery and headed downstairs. "Hey." he greeted. "How was your date?"

"It was...productive." Taylor answered after a minute with an actual smile. "I really needed that night out. Thanks for pushing me to it."

"Yeah, you finally get into it after an hour thinking about calling here to check on them." Chad chuckled.

"Hey!" Taylor gasped, hitting him on the arm. "I was generally concerned with my kids."

"Don't worry, we were fine. Nothing broken, damaged, destroyed, or harmed." Dill promised.

"So you were really fine here on your own?" Chad wondered. "There were no problems?"

"No, of course not." Dylan shook his head.

"And Cheryl didn't give you any issues?" Chad asked.

"Course not." he shook his head.

Chad smiled and nodded as he turned to Taylor. "See, Tay? I told you they'd be fine."

Taylor cocked her head slightly. "Maybe you're right." she agreed. She turned to Dylan. "Maybe we'll leave you alone with Cheryl more often. You really proved you can handle her."

Dylan's smile faded. "Huh?"

"Yeah." Chad nodded. "You really can do it, kiddo. We know you can do it again if you want to."

"Oh...that's great..." he said slowly.

Taylor raised an eyebrow. "Honey, what's the matter? You juts said everything went perfectly?"

"Actually, it didn't go that great." Dylan admitted. "See, it started out just fine. I had the TV on down here really quietly so she could sleep. And then she started crying and I gave her the binky but she spit it out five minutes later. So I tried feeding her but then she burped on my shoulder and didn't touch the milk. She calmed down for a while after I bounced her up and down a little but then ten minutes later she woke up with a wet diaper and I couldn't figure out how to get a new one on so I kinda used tape to keep it on her...and then when I put her back in the crib she just kept crying and I tried everything I could think of, and she didn't fall asleep until I sang her the lullaby a few minutes ago. So, I did have problems and I couldn't handle it. I'm sorry I ruined your night."

Chad and Taylor exchanged glances. Taylor then got down to Dylan's level. "Dylan, we're not disappointed in you." she promised. "Why didn't you just tell us this in the first place?"

"Cause you guys had so much fun." he answered.

"That doesn't mean you can lie about being comfortable watching your baby sister." Taylor replied. "We appreciate your help but the next time something doesn't go well you have to tell us instead of lying."

"Ok." Dylan nodded.

"But you did know how to fix it in the end." Chad smiled. "You did good, Dill."

"Thanks." Dill grinned. "So really, how was your night?"

"That really was perfect." Taylor answered with a smile.

"See?" Dylan replied. "We were right. You just needed to get out of here."

Yeah, that's all I got for today. And plus, I got work in less than an hour. So I will try and update something tomorrow, but I'm not sure bout Sunday yet. Long story, but I'll be out most of the day. So I hope this chapter wasn't disappointing andif you have any suggestions at all, you can tell me. I have been thinking if I should put the key couples in each chapter in the summaries or not, though. What do you think? Anyway, I'ma head off now so everyone have a good night and a happy Friday. C=