Happy Opening Day!

Chapter 5 – Unexpected Surprise

Wednesday, January 24th, 2024

I folded a pair of Logan's shorts and I put them in a box that would be shipped down to Arizona tomorrow. We were leaving on Monday as she would complete this week of pre-school and then wouldn't be back until March. It was scary that next year would be her last year of pre-school and I would have to start staying behind instead of going to Arizona. We weren't normally as concerned with her missing pre-school as long as we kept working with her on the basics.

I grabbed a couple of different t-shirts and shorts and I laid them down into the box. I had a raging headache for the past week and Troy finally decided that maybe it was a good idea to take her to school for once this morning on his way to Swings. I was getting some work done but I also was hesitant on everything I was doing. I seemed off and I didn't feel hot this morning. Troy had battled the flu two weeks ago and was just now on the mend. Logan spent a lot of time with his parents and my parents while he was sick.

Troy and I had spent the past week in St. John and it was a blissful trip. After the chaos of family holidays it was nice for the two of us to just get away. We spent more time having sex than doing anything on the beach. I seemed to be in the mood for it a lot more and Troy was rather enjoying it.

I sat up alert as my wheels started to spin. Oh my god.

Leaving Logan's room in a tear I grabbed my cell phone and scrolled to my period calendar. I held my breath as I had missed my period. A week ago. My stomach lurched into my throat as I picked up my cell phone. I called Mallory as I begged her to come over and then my next phone call was to Ellie. I was holding my breath as I sat down on the couch. How was I this stupid to miss the symptoms? I craved sex on a regular basis, I had raging headaches and I felt sick but I had yet to actually puke.

I was pregnant.

I felt tears in my eyes as I thought about it and I didn't actually know when Troy and I didn't use a condom. We did a couple of times in St. John and we didn't some other times but that didn't make any sense. We wouldn't have gotten pregnant in less than a week, or, I wouldn't know about it in less than a week. When? I took a deep breath again and the door burst open at my 911.

"What the hell?" Ellie echoed, I laughed as she panted, Mallory was quick behind her and I looked between the both of them. "I think I might be pregnant." They both gaped at me with confusion, "What?" I nodded my head with a laugh, "I don't know, I was packing up Logan's clothes and I was wondering why I felt like shit and why this and this and my period is a week late." Mallory laughed as she hugged me, "Have you taken a test?"

"No, not yet. I'm scared," I confirmed, Mallory understood and Ellie pulled me closer to her as well in a hug. "Let's do this together girl," I smiled as we loaded into Mallory's car, shoving around the toys that were littered everywhere. Sitting in the passenger seat I laughed thinking about finding out I was pregnant with Logan. "Did I ever tell you about the time I found out I was pregnant with Logan?"

"Besides hiding it for weeks on end?" Ellie said annoyed, I giggled, "I dropped a box of tampons and that's how I learned that I was several weeks late. When you don't get your period you just kind of forget about it and time passes."

"How late are you?"

"A week,"

"Are you ever a week late?"

"Since Logan I have not been very regular." Mallory shared a look with Ellie and I started to talk more and I smiled with more easiness. She pulled into a CVS a little off the beaten path and we walked inside. I grabbed a couple of pregnancy tests and then I demanded that we go to lunch first. I would drink several waters and then we would do this because maybe…maybe I just wasn't ready yet.

Curled up in my bed I rested my head on the pillow when I heard Logan and Troy return home after a long day of school and playing baseball at Swings. It was practice night so Troy would eat dinner and most likely go back. "Brie?"

"Mama?"

I didn't answer their calls as Troy talked to Logan, the TV turned on and I heard Troy come down the hallway. He opened the bedroom door as I was still curled up in a ball, "Brie?" he asked, I didn't move and he moved rather quickly from the door to the bed, my foot twitched and I heard his body relax. "What's wrong?" he asked me, I didn't respond, I just looked at the wall. My eyes bored into it and I tried to breath but I couldn't.

"Brie, baby," He spooned in next to me and I tried to just let it go and not even tell Troy about it but I couldn't do that. I turned over to press my face into his chest, "I thought I was pregnant," I mumbled quietly, "I'm late, I crave sex, and I feel sick but it must be a virus because I got another negative sign." Troy let out a really long breath of air and he pulled me close, "Oh Brie," I tried to stop my new fresh round of tears and Troy didn't seem to mind as I just relaxed against him.

"You seriously sound pregnant," he whispered, "Are you sure it wasn't a faulty test or anything?"

I shrugged, "I can't see another negative sign. If it persists then maybe I will do another but I can't right now." Troy only nodded his head, "Okay," he kissed me forehead and he talked to me quietly. I didn't listen too much of anything he said, I just laid there and listened to his voice. I knew Logan would grow antsy soon and need attention so I started to get up but Troy eased me down gently. "Is it even possible for me to be pregnant?" Troy couldn't hide a smile and he shrugged his shoulders, "I don't know,"

I eyed him and he raised an eyebrow, "Tell me what is going on in your mind." He asked, I shrugged, "I just thought it finally happened and it was least expected. I didn't think anything of it and all of a sudden I could have been pregnant. It made me so excited and I couldn't stop smiling and then the negative came back…"

Flashback

I laughed sitting with Ellie and Mallory as we were talking about Drew and Emerson. They were both a handful as children but they both were so funny. I smiled as I tucked my legs closer to me and I rocked gently on my bed while we waited for the test to be finished. I wondered what the test was doing, calculating slowly about what sign to offer up to me. I let out a long breath when my phone dinged alerting me that hey, your life could change at any minute.

Quick thoughts of negative results came into my head but I quickly banished them, as I felt pregnant. I had many of the symptoms of being pregnant so how could I not be pregnant? Ellie looked at me and then the thought of being pregnant and losing the baby to a miscarriage crossed through my mind again and I felt destroyed on the inside because I am not sure I could do that again. I wasn't sure if I wanted to be pregnant at this point. Too many scary thoughts crossed through my head quickly and I felt panicked.

"I can't do it." I mumbled, "Gabs, you seem pregnant." Ellie encouraged, I let out a long rush of air as I forced my legs to stand up. My knees wobbled from underneath of me as I pictured Troy's beautiful smile and his tight hug when I told him that we finally, finally did it after such a long time and it would most likely be right near the end of the season. IT was going to be a good thing! I knew it, I felt it, and I just knew I was pregnant. The other time I took the tests I took them because I wanted to be pregnant.

I felt pregnant this time.

Logan would be so excited to finally be a big sister. I picked up the stick as I blinked once, I blinked twice, and I blinked a third time before I felt the tears pool in my eyes. Troy's smile turned into a concerned look in my head and my heart cracked underneath of the pressure as I leaned forward until my legs rested against the counter, my knees buckled from underneath of me as I tried not to start crying now. I didn't want to start crying because then I would feel weak, like a failure.

"Gabi, I can't tell if they are happy tears or sad tears…" I covered my face as an ugly sob escaped my throat as I sank to the floor. My legs couldn't hold my weight from underneath of me any longer as I just cried. Malloy and Ellie held me tight until I broke free. I had to finish packing up all of our big boxes to be shipped tomorrow. I went into Logan's room quietly and I started to pack again like nothing had happened. I let out a long breath and I folded clothes again.

Ellie sat on Logan's bed and she began to help fold the clothes and Mallory started to help as well. I could barely see through my tears but we finished it quickly and then we moved to my closet as well. Mallory and Ellie didn't try to talk to me we just folded clothes and taped boxes shut. I bit down on my lip gently and I looked up at them, "Thank you so much you guys," I whispered, "I'm sorry I dragged you here,"

"Sweetie, it's okay," Ellie hugged me again, "You'll get it one day, and you'll get that baby. You'll make Troy a dad again and you'll make Logan a big sister but right now is not a good time. It is out there, I know it," Mallory squeezed my hand and I smiled through the tears, "Thank you guys,"

"Are you going to tell Troy?"

"Yes,"

"Good," they hugged me tightly on the side and I smiled, "I love you guys,"

End Flashback

Troy sighed, "I'm sorry baby,"

"I'll be okay,"

"I know you will," he kissed me gently and I wrapped my arms around him and I just held him for a moment, never wanting to let go.

Troy's POV

I swung the bat with frustration as the ball wailed into the net far away. Somebody whistled behind me as I hit the next ball again, "Do they wish they could make you the DH on your off days?" the ball clicked again with the bat and I saw that the machine was out. I threw my bat as I ripped the batting gloves off my hands. I glanced up to see Cody and Zach watching me, I frowned at the two of them as I went out to swipe my card again.

Cody reached for my shoulder and I brushed away from him, "Dude, is something wrong?" I let out a long frustrated breath of air as I looked at the two grown men. "I'm fucking pissed," Cody and Zach both raised their eyebrows in response as I sat down on the bench, "Gabi thought she was pregnant again. She took another test and it fucking destroyed her when she got the negative back." Cody sighed, "Troy,"

"Stop, okay? I know that it will happen but you didn't see her face, the amount of hurt that she is in all the time because of this. And when she does get fucking pregnant she is in constant fear of losing the baby. I don't know why we are even trying anymore because it destroys her."

Cody and Zach only shared a look before they decided to speak, "Troy, bud," Zach sat on the other side of me as he looked ahead, "Alex had troubles as well, we never really told anybody because we didn't see it as a huge issue. We weren't too concerned about it and I saw those faces. I know those faces. It did start to break her heart and then it happened. You have Logan though. Focus on her," I let out a sigh, "I know, normally, I don't have this problem but she is tore about it."

"I do like that your therapy method is crushing a baseball," Cody popped up and he ran to the back to pick up a couple of different balls. He laughed, "Dude, you left dents in these. Why don't they let you bat more often?" I laughed, "It's something I still find therapy in when I shut down my elbow for the winter. I still take batting practice all the time. I loved hitting."

"You were good at it, I was always disappointed that you didn't go to the NL." I shrugged my shoulders, I got back up easily and I stretched my back muscles out.

I walked away from the bench as I went back into the cage to retrieve my bat, "Cody, will you swipe it for me?" Cody only nodded as he did and I set myself up, the bat relaxed against my shoulder and I hit the next three balls that came my way, the machine blinked, I waited, and I crushed the next one while my bat when splintering around the cage. "Fuck," I backed away from the cage, as ten more baseballs should be exiting the machine.

"Holy shit man, you just crushed that bat."

I let out a long sigh; "I guess I am just full of anger towards the world today."

Cody patted my back, "I understand man."

Gabi's POV

Friday, January 26th, 2024

I applied lipstick to my lips while Logan played with my make-up on the counter next to me. She stuck her fingers into the eye shadow and smeared it around. "Momma, where are you going?"

"On a date with your daddy," I told her, she sighed, "Why?"

"Because I would like some time with your daddy without you."

"Why?"

"Because?"

"Because why?" I laughed, "Because your daddy and I would like to just talk without being asked a question."

"What's a question?"

"The things you keep asking me."

She shrugged and picked up my lipstick to apply that to her face, I ran my fingers through my hair and I took a deep breath. "Alyssa is going to come over to play." Logan gasped, "Aly!" I nodded and she bounced off the counter and her little legs took off running. I smiled as I finished doing my make-up. I went out to the bedroom as Troy was tying his shoe. "What did you tell Logan?"

"That Aly was coming over to play," Troy smiled as he finished tying his shoe, he planted his foot on the floor and I sighed as I clasped my watch onto my wrist and Troy stood up as he was dressed up in a black pair of slacks with a button down t-shirt, his sleeves rolled up, and no hat. Troy smiled up at me, his hands slipped into mine as he pulled me into a gentle kiss. I smiled as I leaned into him a little, "I love you,"

"Are you ready?" I shook my head and I sat down on his lap, my maxi skirt rising up as I wrapped my legs around his waist. He smirked, "What are you doing?" I kissed him and then I rested my head onto his shoulder. "I just want to be close to you," Troy wrapped his arms around my waist and he held me, "You okay?"

"I'm happy we are getting a date night."

"Me too."

"Momma! Momma!" Aly must have pulled in and I slid off of Troy's lap. I kiss him again and I went over to slip on a pair of heels while adding my necklace, rings, and bracelets. I twisted my wedding ring around in a circle while Troy went to greet Alyson. Going downstairs Troy and Alyson were catching up since Logan's birthday party and I smiled at her, "Hi,"

"Hi Gabi,"

"You are looking good, kind of glow," I laughed, "I see. It might be from our vacation last week." She smiled at me and I smiled back at her, I went into the kitchen to grab water and Troy was putting his wallet and phone into his pocket. Aly and Logan were already playing with something; I went over to kiss the top of Logan's head. "Be good for Aly?"

"Momma, I always am," I smiled and I nipped her chin with my finger, she giggled and Troy kissed her cheek. We walked to the garage door as I picked up my jacket and Troy grabbed his jacket as well. I took one last look at Logan and I started down the stairs to the garage. Troy followed me, as we were both pretty quiet for some reason. "She looked silly,"

"She had fun putting on my make-up,"

Troy nodded his head as he slipped the keys into the ignition and started the car. He pulled out of the driveway and down the street, I reached over and I rubbed Troy's knee gently. "Are you okay?" I asked him, "I don't know, how are you?"

"I'm not sure," I said glancing out the window, "I am ready for a change of scenery,"

"Brie, do we need to talk? We haven't talked much about it since it happened."

"What's there to talk about? I just got too excited," Troy, sighed frustrated with me and I stayed quiet only knowing it would frustrate him further. I bit down on my lip as I smiled, "I was thinking about when Logan was tiny and she would sleep on our chests. She would curl up with her butt in the air and grip our shirts." I felt Troy's stare into the back of my head as I looked out the window. I smiled out the window, "her tiny cry but she could move mountains,"

"Brie," he said quietly, I felt my hairs stand on ends while I turned to look at him, "I'm okay, I was just thinking about Logan. I was thinking about babies. I have baby fever. Is that so bad?" I asked him, he shook his head, Troy smiled as he looked out, "My favorite is when she would crawl to us as fast as she could after games, she would latch her arms around our legs and not let go." I laughed, "She always missed us in those early ones and then Alyssa became her favorite."

I giggled and nodded with a laugh, "I have no idea what we are going to do after this season."

"Oh God, I know,"

I leaned over as I giggled, "After dinner can we go to Swings?" Troy looked over at me with a sideways glance, "What?"

"When was the last time we went to Swings late at night together?" Troy laughed, "College?"

"It has been forever. My favorite memory is laying on the bench at two in the morning watching you switch between pitching and hitting in the cages. I would tuck my hood over my head and I would just watch you. I knew you would be good and here we are, so many years into your professional baseball career, a veteran." Troy smiled and he pulled into a nice restaurant, something I could have cared less for. "Troy,"

"Hm?"

"Can we like…go to Applebee's?" Troy laughed and looked at me as if I was joking, we normally avoided small restaurants as they were swamped with fans most of the time but I was so sick of fancy. I wanted greasy and fun and terrible service. Once Troy realized I was serious he squinted as he looked at me, "What's wrong with you?"

"I don't know, I just…" I looked at the restaurant, "I don't care for this." I said waving my hand, "I don't care for eating uppity food with a big glass of wine. I want a beer and a cheeseburger." Troy laughed, "Now, that is something I can do." He put the car into reverse and we were out of the parking lot in a flash.

Troy pulled into a little hole in the wall burger joint about ten minutes later and I kicked off my heels and dug around in the back for a pair of flip-flops. Troy unbuttoned a couple of buttons on his shirt and rolled his sleeves one notch higher. I let my hair out of the perfect bun and released it among my back. Troy moved out of the car and I followed behind him. My flip-flops crunched beneath the gravel and I giggled as I put my hand into his. "What is this sudden change of mind?"

"I don't know, I just didn't care for fancy food tonight. I really just want a night with you." Troy opened the door for me and I went in as he followed me. I smiled softly as we walked up to the counter looking over the menu. Troy squeezed my shoulders gently, "Go find a seat, I'll order,"

"Okay," I went and I looked around for an empty table when somebody recognized me. I ducked my head and I went over to the far corner booth and I slid into the back. Troy came moments later with a number and two chilled beers.

"Here you go my lady," He slid in next to me as he wrapped his arm around my shoulders pulling me close. I took in sniff of his aftershave as I laid my head on his shoulder. "I have been spotted three times so far," Troy said with a little laugh, I agreed, "Me too," he rubbed my knee gently with his finger. A small stroke and I pressed into him as I took a sip of my beer.

"Truth," Troy said, a game that we started in high school and carried over until now as a game we play every now and then to just see what was on our minds. I giggled, "Favorite moment with Logan," I asked, we always ended with Troy asking a question so I always went first.

Troy laughed, "That is a hard one," he thought about it when they brought our food to the table. Troy passed me my burger and his burger while we split the fries between us. "I would have to say one of my all-time favorite memories of her is every Christmas morning." Troy said, I agreed with a nod, as she is always full of life every Christmas morning, even when she is down sick with something. She pounces on our bed and begs to open presents at five thirty in the morning.

"What do you miss most about high school?" Troy asked glancing over at me, I tucked my feet underneath of me as I took a bite of my burger. Grease falling out the sides and some of the condiments leaking out. This was a good burger.

Once I finished my bite, I thought about his questions.

"Us," I told him, he looked at me kind of surprised, as we were only two years of high school. "Really?" I nodded my head, "The simplicity of our lives was amazing in high school. We lived down the street from each other and we did everything together." I took a bite of my burger again and followed it with a drink of beer. "I mean, watching you at Swings, going to all of your games, being with you and having fun with the team was always something special."

"The dream team," Troy said with a little laugh, I nodded my head, as it was the dream team of the high school ages. Troy had a couple of bites left while I had half of my burger when I asked my next question. "Tell me more about your arm," I said softly, my eyes flickered up to him and his jaw tightened for a moment and then released. Nobody had mentioned anything since he brought it up in Hawaii. Troy finished his burger in two bites and he thought about what he was going to say while I took another drink of my beer.

"Its just sore," he said, "There isn't much to say." He told me, a flat lie escaped his mouth and I looked at him, "Troy Bolton, I have known you a very long time and just like you know when I lie, I know when you lie and the last time I checked the name to the game was truth."

He took a couple of fries and smeared them in a special sauce the place served, he chewed slowly trying to avoid the question but this would mean he would lose after a lot of years of playing. I finished off my burger and Troy sighed, "It never popped so it isn't that bad. I promise Gabs, it feels a lot better than it did at the end of last season."

I went to say something else when he pressed his finger to my lips, "No, it is my turn." I frowned in response and it caused him to grin. "Anyways, I want to know how you are feeling," I knew what he meant behind the sentence I just wasn't sure how to answer it.

"I'm feeling okay, I still have headaches every morning and nausea." This caused Troy to raise an eyebrow, "Are you sure you don't want to take another test?"

"I don't want to see the negative and that was two questions," I said, I ate another fry as Troy laughed, "Fine,"

"Would you want a boy or a girl?" Troy seemed confused about the statement but answered, "Boy, I mean, I love Logan but we need some more male power in the house. I don't need it being all girly and pink in my life." I smiled, "I think a boy would be fun…"

"Do you want another beer?" Troy asked, I looked at my half full bottle and I nodded, "Yes, please," Troy agreed and went back up to the counter to get another one while I finished the one I had. When he came back he slid into the booth, "Okay, favorite city to travel to,"

"Oh easy, New York or Boston," Troy smiled, "You just love New York,"

"I had a lot of fun in New York."

"The second time around,"

"Yes, the second time around."

I thought about my next question as I smiled, "Where do you want to go one day?" I asked him, he always asked me where I wanted to go but I never asked him. "Wow, I have to choose one?"

"Yup,"

He thought about it for a while as we both nursed our second beers, in absolutely no rush to be anywhere. "I would probably pick Africa,"

"Africa?" he nodded his head, "I have heard so much about it. I have always been interested." I smiled at him and he squeezed my shoulder gently. Troy leaned back a little and I looked out the window to see more cars pulling in. "Can you believe Logan is four?"

"It's hard right? She acts so much older than that." Troy squeezed my shoulder gently; we kept talking and throwing questions back and forth. We stayed off of the hard topics and I drank another beer with Troy, as we were both laughing a little too hard. Troy fished out his keys from his pocket and he dangled them in front of me. "Want to go to Swings?" I looked at him as I glanced up at him, "Isn't it closed?" I looked at my watch and Troy held up one key.

He laughed, "Do you know that I have my own key?" I laughed, "Well what are we doing here?" I scrambled out of the booth and Troy followed me as we laughed all of the way to the car. I thought about it and I looked at Troy, "How many beers did you have?" I asked, he held up two fingers compared to my three. Our limit to driving was two beers and no hard alcohol. I didn't even notice that Troy didn't have a third when I did.

Climbing into his car he drove across the town to Swings. He pulled in and I slipped out of the car, as it was dark. I giggled and Troy laughed as he unlocked the door. "What time is it?" I asked, "Ten forty-five," Troy said, "I told Alyssa we would be home by midnight," I nodded as he dragged me into Swings and I quickly went in search of a baseball helmet and a bat. I then went to the back fridge that the kids didn't know about where the beer was stashed.

Troy laughed when I came back with two beers, I would make a small exception with the two-beer rule, as we were only a couple of blocks from the house. He also had the first beer hours ago. I handed him his while I walked into the cage after taking a drink. Troy grinned, "This is hot. My favorite lady with a beer in one hand and a bat in the other." I winked at him, "You just watch me," Troy slid the card and I eased the bat back and the first ball came at a shockingly slow pace. I grunted, "Troy,"

"What, I am trying to see how drunk you are."

"I have had three beers!"

"Working on that fourth, sailor!"

I giggled as the next one came a little faster and I smacked it down the middle, "Ouch, second baseman got that one." I turned around and I flipped him off, he laughed as I turned to focus on the next ball coming down the middle. It hit that one to the left side, "That might have been a gapper,"

"Hell yes it is," Troy chuckled as I made contact with every ball, "Can I pitch to you?" I turned around on my heels as the last ball was pitched to me, "What?" Troy shrugged, "I'll go easy."

"Hell no, I don't want easy,"

"So is that a yes?"

I nodded my head, "Do I need a mask?" Troy laughed, "You think you are funny,"

"I do, I do think I am." I winked at him as I took another drink of my beer, I looked behind me, "We should have called Cody," I said with a frown, Troy laughed, "So he could protect you?" I shrugged, "I don't know, is my husband going to be mean to me?" Troy laughed as he came over, his arms locking around my neck as he started to kiss me. I giggled as his tongue ran over my lips as my mouth parted gently for him. "Do you know I have always wanted to have sex at Swings?" Troy breathed into my ear, I laughed, "Really?"

"Oh yea. In high school it was never possible because if I was there Lance or Gary or my dad was there with me to work. Now, I have my own key, it is eleven fifteen and I for sure know that Lance and Gary are not here. My dad will not show up and I have you all to myself." I kissed him to shut him up and he wrapped his arms around me tightly, he moved out of the cage and he found a wall to press me back up against. I slid my legs over his waist as his hands slid up my shirt. His fingers were kneading my breasts gently and I moaned against his lips, "Uh…you may not have very long," I whimpered, Troy glanced at me in surprise, as our clothes were being ditched left and right.

Sunday, January 28th, 2024

Troy turned a burger over on the grill as the group around us laughed for the last time till March. Josh and Melissa were both here tonight, together, as they were slowly working things out during a marriage counseling thing and I really think it was helping them. Josh didn't trust her much so Melissa was going down to Spring Training for the entire time to spend it with him and she was leaving her manager in charge while she was gone.

Cody and Becca were tending to Ben and Anna as Becca was starting to look pregnant. She was due in the beginning of June with baby number three. Ellie and Chase were starting to feed Emerson some food, as she was grumpy earlier. Mallory and Collin were dealing with their two children as they were settling in when Zach and Alex showed up with Hanson. I chewed on my lip as Troy's family was here as well mingling along with everybody.

Logan came running out the door and down the stairs as we were leaving tomorrow morning for Arizona. I licked over my lips, which were dry, as I felt terrible. I must have gotten a virus or something as I continued throughout the day and I felt worse. I sat down on the patio as the fire was blazing keeping everybody on the deck warm. I was shivering though and Troy must have glanced over and caught me as he walked over. "Hey, you look really pale." I looked up at him, "You feeling okay?"

I just nodded my head, "I think I am going to make sure everything is okay inside," Troy agreed as I walked inside, I helped set out food and everything when Troy came into the house with all of the food. Once he set the plate down he slipped his arm around my waist, "You okay?"

"I'm tired and I don't feel so hot but I'll be okay," Troy kissed the top of my head as our friends were all being loud about something. It was the yearly send-off as Troy and I were leaving tomorrow, Zach would follow the following week and Josh normally tagged along with Zach. Troy and I got our own apartment down there now as we stopped sharing with Zach and Josh two years ago as Logan got bigger. Troy and I liked to get down there early to get settled in before it got busy with workouts and broadcasting meetings.

I sat down on a stool as Becca and Mallory strolled in laughing about something, I smiled at them as Mallory leaned against me, "You okay? You seem kind of out of it." I shrugged, "Tired, Logan didn't sleep well last night and kept us up most of the night."

"Troy looks pretty upbeat," I grumbled, "Logan kept me up last night. She kept having bad dreams." Mallory rubbed my back and I leaned back into her, "I am ready for the sun."

"I am extremely jealous."

"You better be girl," she smiled as she started to make plates; Logan came rushing in the back door with Zach right on her heels. She screamed running away from him and Zach ran further. Logan was excited to the fact that all of her baseball buddies would be back in the same room again. The rest of the party filtered into the house as they started to make plates and everything else while Zach came back carrying a giggling Logan. Ben and Audrey were giggling behind as Zach swooped up Ben as well.

I shook my head as Troy offered me a spot in line but I declined, "You okay?" I just nodded my head, "I'm just not hungry." I told him, "I ate a late lunch." Troy just nodded his head and kept moving. Ellie gave me a sideways glance and I gave her smile back as if not to worry about me. "Aunt Gabi," Audrey pulled on my shirt and I turned to look at her, "What's up?"

"Can you help me make food?" I nodded as I slid off my stool and I helped Audrey make her plate as Logan was with Troy. After we got all of the kids settled in their places the adults fixed their plates and I picked at a couple of things but I just wasn't feeling food. I mostly wanted to crawl into my bed and cuddle with Skip. I sat next to Troy and I tried to keep my eyes open as we were going to have a fun night but I just wasn't there.

"Gabs, what is the first thing you are doing in Arizona?" Alex asked, "Laying by a pool," she laughed and Logan grinned, "Swim?" I nodded, "You can swim all you want." Troy took a drink of his beer and I picked at a fry, I munched on it but it made my stomach shift in an unpleasant way. Troy reached down to rub my knee gently as we all started talking about Arizona. Troy's parents wouldn't make it down because Luke had a lot of practices. My dad would come down for about a month in March to spend time with Logan while I worked more and Troy focused. Logan loved spending time with my dad.

Chase said something and then Colin responded with a laugh, Josh was awful quiet by me and Melissa was even quieter. She was due in early July, wrecking havoc on Josh's season a little bit. Obviously it wasn't planned or anything but it was going to happen. If it all worked out the baby would come during the All-Star game and he would get to spend most of the week with it before reporting for the second half of duty in the outfields.

"Gabs," I looked up, "Yea?"

"You okay?"

"Just not feeling well." I responded, "I actually think I am going to head upstairs," I said quietly, Troy glanced at me as I leaned over to kiss the top of his head. "I just need some sleep," he squeezed my hand and I kissed the top of Logan's head, "We can swim all afternoon tomorrow," I said with a smile, she giggled and I hugged her quickly before heading upstairs and crawling into my bed before I could even put on my PJ's.

Troy's POV

"Is Gabi okay?" I turned to see Ellie, I put one of the last dishes in the dishwasher as I shrugged, "I don't know. She hasn't talked much about it."

"I figured. She was pretty distraught that day."

"Ellie, I think she is pregnant." Ellie arched an eyebrow in my direction, "What?" I nodded my head, "Just by the way she is acting. She is tired all the time, I mean, she is sleeping instead of hanging out with everybody. She is in the mood more often, she doesn't want to eat as much."

"She could just have a virus. Troy, it was pretty negative and I don't want to see her hurt again. Don't bring it up with her." I sighed, "I know, I just…I want it as bad as her. Maybe she wants it a bit more but I want another kid. It was never my dream to just have one kid." Ellie nodded as she glanced out the window, "Just give her some space. You know she shuts people out."

"She shouldn't shut me out," I mumbled, "True, but it is going to happen. You guys need to relax." I shut off the water and I rubbed my hands dry with a towel. "Is she okay?" I asked Ellie, Ellie gave me a smile, "She is Gabi. She always pulls through."

"What if one of these times she doesn't pull through?" Ellie shrugged her shoulders; "You and Logan make her really happy. She may dive underneath a little bit but she will always bob along the surface." I agreed as she squeezed my shoulder before walking off. I leaned back against the sink when my mom came over, she hugged me tightly, "You have a fantastic Spring Training," I hugged her, "Thanks mama," she smiled, "Are you alright? You look distracted."

"I am just thinking about Gabs,"

"Is she okay?"

"I don't know, we all have our physicals next week so she is probably just holding out till then." My mom nodded, "Always a trooper," I nodded with an airy laugh, "A trooper she is." My mom left and my dad came over for a good pat on the back, "I might sneak down for a weekend," I laughed, "Sounds good."

"Lolo!" my dad called, she came running over, exhaustion deep inside her eyes as she had been playing all night and it was way past her bedtime. I granted a later one, as she wouldn't see her friends until March. Hanson was the only other one who would come down to Spring Training and he was one compared to her four. I bid good-bye to many other people as Logan said good-bye as well. Josh and Zach would join me soon enough in Surprise.

Once everybody vacated the house, including Josh and Melissa who were awkwardly together tonight, I picked up Logan who was lying on the couch. "No bed,"

"Yes bed," I echoed, I marched down the hallway with her on my shoulders as she had changed a while ago into her PJ's, I undid her bed and I laid her down. "I want mommy," I tucked her hair behind her ear, "No, mommy doesn't feel good. She needs to sleep okay?" Logan shook her head and I bent over to kiss her forehead, "Hey, if you need something tonight wake me up okay? Not mommy,"

"I want mommy," she whined, "Logan, mommy will help you in the morning. Right now, it is you and I." Logan turned onto her side and I kissed her temple, "I love you Logi,"

"I love you too daddy,"

"Get some rest, we have a long day tomorrow."

"Okay,"

"If you are good we can swim all day,"

"Okay," she was slowly slipping off into dreamland, I got up off of the bed and I walked into our room just across the hallway. Gabi never even made it underneath the covers of the bed or changed her clothes. She just lay down and passed out. I walked over to her dresser as I pulled out a pair of shorts and I knew she was wearing a tank top underneath her sweater. She hates sleeping in jeans. I rolled her onto her back gently as she didn't even stir. I unbuttoned her jeans and I slipped them off her waist and down the rest of her body.

I put her legs through the shorts and back up the length of her body. I pulled off my shirt and took off my socks before easing her up in the bed next to me. She finally opened her eyes as I shut off the light. "Did you take my jeans off?"

"You bet," I pulled her against my chest and she turned over to press her face against me. "You okay?"

"I'm exhausted."

"Get some rest,"

"Okay," she mumbled already asleep.

Gabi's POV

Wednesday, January 31st, 2024

They took my blood as Logan and I did our yearly physical with the doctors that did all of the boy's physicals. He stopped taking the blood and I thanked him, as we didn't make Logan go through that. Just the basic finger stick and she was good. Once we were done, I took Logan out to the locker room and she giggled running around to each of the boys. Troy came over and he kissed the top of my head. I started to feel a little bit better. Logan ran up to Troy with a big grin on her face, "Daddy!"

"Logan!" he picked her up and he started to take her down to the field that he would practice on today. I was staying behind to get a little bit of rest as I had been pretty busy entertaining Logan and doing some school work with her. Today was my day to go chill by the pool and not have to worry about my toddler drowning. I escaped out of the back, since Spring Training had not officially start yet it was pretty laid back around here. Spring Training didn't really start until two weeks from yesterday.

Seeking out of the back I walked to the car when somebody grabbed my waist, I screamed and he laughed. I swatted his hand, "Dylan Brett! I will call your wife and you know that is hell." Dylan laughed again and I turned around to hug him. "How are you?" I asked leaning into him. He smiled, "Good,"

"Heard Brooke is due any day now?" Dylan sighed, "Impatiently."

I laughed and I nodded, "Poor girl. I went pretty late with Logan,"

"How is Logan?"

"A fireball."

"Where are you headed too?"

"My hotel to lounge by a pool. I am getting over some virus."

"Mind if I join? I only have so many days left without a baby in my life." I nodded as I hugged him again, "I miss you."

"I miss you too."

We walked back to my car and we were talking about some stuff, "How are you and Troy?"

"We are Troy and Gabi," I said with a shrug, "I saw him pitching earlier and he didn't look so hot." I looked over at him alarmed, "What?"

"I mean isn't this his first workout? I think he threw ten baseballs but still, it wasn't pretty."

"I'm glad I didn't let him pitch to my that night when we were drunk," he laughed and we traveled back to the apartment complex together slowly catching up about life and what was going on in our two very different worlds.

Troy's POV

Friday, February 2nd, 2024

Sitting in the locker room, I shoved my feet into my cleats when a pat came to my back, I looked back to see our trainer, I smiled, "I was heading your way in a minute." Jason nodded his head as I stood up and I left my cleats unlaced. Walking back to the training room I hopped up onto a table for him to stretch me out and so that we could talk about my elbow. I alerted staff yesterday about the issue on hand but I was hoping it only stayed an issue for now.

Jason slowly began to stretch me out while I listened to the music pumping through the room. Gabi and Logan were both fast asleep when I left this morning. I didn't have the heart to wake either of them as Gabi was exhausted recently and Logan was wearing herself out from all of the time in and out of pool. He moved my elbow around when I grimaced causing him to eye me carefully. "Bolton,"

"I'm fine," I said, he pulled it another direction and I bit the inside of my cheek so I didn't give away that it wasn't comfortable either. He moved it more and I was ready to pull my arm away from him. He then went to my legs to move those around and stretch them out. He pulled them and loosened them before I flipped onto my stomach so it could be massaged. Renny came over to do that as that lasted about fifteen minutes to loosen all of my back and neck muscles up before I went to throw a bullpen.

"An ounce of discomfort," Jason said, I rolled my eyes, "Okay."

"Troy, I'm not kidding. If it is damaged pitching with it inflamed will do more harm than good." I just nodded my head as I got up off the table as my whole body felt like Jell-O that was just formed. Jacob came into the clubhouse as he patted my back. "Congrats," I turned to look at him with confusion, "What?"

Jacob raised his eyebrow, "Gabi's pregnancy?" I narrowed my eyes as I looked at him closer, "What?" Jacob widened his eyes, "Oh my god, you didn't know."

"Does she know?" I questioned, my body didn't move from my spot as I felt my heart start to race underneath my skin, my blood pulsing faster and faster. "I don't know, I just figured she knew because it came back in her lap report," I dropped my cleats out of my hands as I grabbed my keys and my tennis shoes. "Tell Coach that I'll be back in a bit. I have to go talk to Gabi," I ran out of the clubhouse running into a couple of different players to go down to the car.

I raced back to the apartment complex that we were renting and I parked my car crooked, I had two different sides to what was happening in my brain. Anger for her hiding it or complete excitement that we were pregnant and she had no idea. I pushed into the apartment and Logan was laying on the couch watching a TV show, "Daddy!" she got up and I smiled, I kissed the top of her head and she giggled as she wrapped her arms around me. "Is mommy still sleeping?" she nodded her head and I kissed the top of her head when I left her on the couch. Going into our room, I shut the door gently and I locked it.

"Brie," I said gently, I crawled onto the bed and she turned her head to look at me. Her brown eyes blurry with sleep, "Hmm?" I looked at her and she didn't know, she didn't have any idea. "You don't know do you," she raised an eyebrow gently as she was too tired to do anything else. "Brie, we need to have a talk,"

"What am I hiding from you," she asked, "Brie, you're pregnant." I couldn't hold the information any longer and I wondered how Gabi kept it for six weeks from everyone. Her eyes widened, "What?" I nodded my head, "Jacob came up to me and congratulated me and I had no idea what about. He finally told me that your blood work came back and you were pregnant." Tears were in her eyes and I really knew she didn't know. "What?" she whispered, she sat up and I nodded, "You can call him and talk to him yourself but…" she launched her arms around my skin as she started to cry. "Are you serious?"

"Brie, I would never joke about this with you." She cried harder and I just hugged her closer to me. "You mean we are going to have another baby?" she asked me, I laughed and I nodded, "We are going to have another baby." She kissed me and I have never felt so happy. Holding her in my arms after the last year struggling with this she was finally happy. She sobered up quickly as she swallowed hard on the tears, I shook my head, "No, no do not go there Gabriella," she dissolved into a mess before my eyes as the thought of miscarriage entered her mind. "No, no," I leaned forward as I kissed her cheek, "No,"

"Troy, I," she breathed, "I won't relax until after it's over."

I rubbed her shoulders gently, "We will wait until then to tell Logan okay?" she nodded her head as she probably wouldn't tell many other people either. She was scared. "Would you have told me this time?" I asked her quietly, she hesitated and the hesitation kind of made me angry because I knew she would have at least thought about it. "Brie," she covered her eyes, "It's easier Troy, it is just easy because then you don't have to worry about me. I don't need you worrying about me. You have a lot to focus on."

I got off the bed, "But you know and it isn't anything now okay?"

"I have to get back to work,"

"Troy," she begged, I turned around to look at her and she opened her arms. I sighed reluctant but I went over and she wrapped her arms around my waist. Her head buried into my chest, "I love you and I wouldn't have done it for nearly as long. I just need to make sure everything is heading in the right direction."

"I hate when you shut me out,"

"I hate when you worry about me too often." It was fair and I just kissed her forehead. "I love you,"

"I love you too," Gabi let a slow smile creep onto her face, "We are having a baby together."

Hmmm…I'm just gonna leave that with you ;)

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