Chapter 8 – Heartbreak

Friday, March 1st, 2024

Gabi's POV

Troy's fingers circled around my collarbone in a slow circle as I breathed him in. Things had been awkward between the two of us but things were falling back into place. I reached up to grab his finger as I massaged it gently. He breathed out, "How are you feeling?" he asked, I twisted in his arms to lay my head on his heart. The simple thud against the walls of his chest made my body warm. "I'm okay," I whispered quietly.

"The I'm okay," he muttered, I bit on my lip, "I'm not sure what you want me to be," I whispered, "It's been two weeks since it happened and I don't know what I feel."

The room grew quiet again, "How are you?" I echoed after the quiet got to me, the room seemed to stiffen around me, "Brie," I sat up, "You got pissed off when I didn't share my feeling and now…" I looked at him and his blue eyes filled mine. I climbed into his lap as I ran my fingers over his cheek. He flinched underneath my touch, "I neglected your feelings when I ran off and now I want to make sure that we are talking. I don't want to neglect you."

He reached for my hand as he locked our hands together, "I-," he stopped his sentence and he looked down. I leaned forward as I started to press my lips to anywhere they could reach. He breathed into my shoulder, "I wish it was easy to explain Brie," I pulled away from him and I tipped his chin backwards. It was a rare moment without a hat sitting on his head, my fingers brushed through his hair and I looked at his cheeks that shaped his face.

His blue eyes sparkled, "Just tell me,"

He shook his head, "I can't." I kissed him as I massaged his shoulder, "I just want to know that you are okay, I know that when I say I'm okay that you know exactly what I mean but…when you tell me you scare the shit out of me because I know you don't want to talk about it. I just want to be together on this Troy, I love you and I hate the tension that is flying around." Troy lowered his head onto my shoulder and I rubbed his neck gently with my fingers and ran my hands through his hair.

"I love when you wear a hat but I also love when you don't," I told him, "Running my fingers through your hair is amazing."

Troy's hot breath was against my shoulder as he was breathing hard, "Brie," his voice groaned out; I started to kiss behind his ear and along his jaw. His hand slid up my back to pull me closer to him. "Troy, this isn't what I was talking about." He grunted in response as he kissed me a little harder. "Troy," he stopped and rested his head on my chest. "What?"

"Do you just not want to talk about it?" I said, my hands washing over his. "No, I don't really want to talk about it." I gave it up because our relationship was rocky at this point and there was no reason to rock the boat a little bit more. "Can I kiss you some more please?"

"Daddy! Mommy!" Logan marched into the room with her blanket, I laughed running my fingers through his hair. "I love you," I rolled off his lap and Logan climbed into Troy's lap. "Daddy?"

"Logi?"

"Can I give momma her present now?" Troy's face steamed red, I raised an eyebrow, "My what?"

"If you remember right, I didn't see you on your birthday. I have, had, a gift for you but it is highly inappropriate to give to you now. I am working on another one." He finalized, I bit on my lip wondering what he bought me for my birthday that was bought in advance to our sonogram reading. "Dad," she said impatiently, Troy rolled his eyes, "Daughter?"

"Can we play today? I want to play with you and mommy."

Troy and I shared a look because when it came to Spring Training it was hard to find enough time for Logan. Troy was normally at the fields from 8 to 4 and then came home to eat and crash on the couch or in bed. Sometimes we went out on a date or took Logan out to dinner but it was a lot of everyday stuff that wasn't fun. During the season Troy normally didn't report to the stadiums until two or three in the afternoon depending on game time and if he was pitching or not.

"I don't know baby girl,"

"Please daddy!"

Troy pushed a strand of hair away from her face, "I have to work,"

"No," she pouted, she buried her face into his chest, "Logan Brielle," her eyes faced me, "Dada," she whimpered, I kissed her forehead, "Do you want to go shopping with mommy?" I asked, she shook her head, "I want to be with daddy and you,"

Troy glanced over at me, "You have to do," I breathed, he shrugged, "I don't have to be there for the game. I will go for practice and then bug out." I looked at Logan and then back to Troy, "Okay," I said with a nod, "You better get out of here then so you can get there and get back."

He smiled and Logan grinned standing up on his lap, "Yay! She giggled and Troy smiled up at her, "What do you want to do today?" Troy asked, Logan shrugged her shoulders and settled back into his lap. "I just want you there." I bit on my tongue to keep from showing emotions as I looked at Troy, his eyes were settled on Logan and then he shifted them to me. I got up off the bed as I went into the bathroom.

I heard Logan and Troy talked about something, as he was a couple of steps behind me. "Brie," his hands slid over my hips to pull my close, "Are we neglecting her? Are we not giving her the attention? I am a terrible mother,"

"Brie," he echoed, "You are not a terrible mother. You have had a rough two weeks and I have been busy. We still cuddle with her and love on her every single day. Do not blame yourself for this. It that understood?" His voice was forceful as I looked into the mirror to see his eyes looking into mine through the mirror. I just nodded my head, "Okay,"

"She is loved and cared for. It's spring training and it is normal for us to be this way. Okay?" I just nodded as he squeezed me back towards him. Logan marched around into the bathroom as she wrapped herself around us, "You guys are funny."

Troy and I laughed, "Something like that,"

Logan swung on the swing next to me as we were waiting for Troy to return home from his practice this morning. She giggled as she tilted her head backwards and I felt the cool breeze rush over my body. It was an oddly cold day for Surprise, Arizona but it was still nice outside. "Mommy?"

"Logan?" They really were not joking when they said toddlers asked five hundred questions a day. "Are you still sad?"

"No." I answered, she grinned, "Good! I don't like when mommy is sad,"

"I don't like it when I am sad," I told her, she grinned and jumped off her swing to come sit on my lap. I smiled as she kissed my cheek, "Are you girls ready?" I looked up to see Troy; he must have gone up to change first as Logan leapt off my lap to go join Troy. I smiled as I stood up, "Any decisions on what we are going to do today?" I asked, "Are you up for a hike?" Troy asked I nodded my head as I looked down at Logan.

"She'll love it." Troy said, "I made a scavenger hunt for her, well, actually one of the players nannies made a scavenger hunt and she gave it to me."

"Good idea," I said with a smile, Troy nodded as I picked her up, "and we need to go change into more sensible clothes then. Her sandals aren't going to work very well." Troy agreed as he escorted us back upstairs. I went to change into a pair of athletic shorts and a tank top with a baseball hat and my Nikes while Troy just changed Logan into a pair of tennis shoes and applied more sunscreen to her face. I came back out and Troy had packed a backpack of water.

"Are you good?" I nodded as we picked up everything and started to head to the apartment door when Logan puked…everywhere. She puked right down the front of Troy and all over the apartment floor. I went straight into mommy mode as I went over to pick her up off Troy as she was crying now. Troy was gagging on the smell from her vomit as he quickly moved to remove his shirt that he was wearing. She was sobbing into my shoulder as I pressed my lips to her forehead and her face was warm.

"Its okay," I said, "Shh…"I walked into her bathroom and I started the bathtub with some lukewarm water. I carefully undressed her as I placed her into the tub but she continued to sob and reach for me. "I know baby girl, I know," I was trying to decide if she just overheated or if she was sick. Troy came into the bathroom as he picked up her clothes, as he didn't have a shirt one. His eyes looked at Logan as this day was just shot to hell.

Her cries began to settle as I washed her body off and she trembled, "Troy, when you put sunscreen on her face did she feel warm?"

Troy appeared in the door way again, "I didn't put any on her face. I just put a hat on her head," I nodded my head as I leaned forward to press my lips to her forehead again. "She has a fever," I said, "Lolo, does anything hurt?" I asked, she nodded, "My belly hurts," she whimpered, "How long has your belly hurt?" I asked her, "Since last night."

"Why didn't you tell mommy?" I asked her, she shrugged, "I wanted you and daddy to have fun today," she whimpered again and I sighed, I picked up a towel and I wrapped her in it. She buried her face into my neck as I kissed the top of her head. I took her to the room as I dressed her in a pair of pajama pants and a sweatshirt. I brushed her hair and she shook in my lap, Troy came into the room to take her temperature.

"102.2," Troy remarked after reading it, I sighed, "baby girl, do you want to eat anything?" she shook her head, "Where is the pain?" she pointed to her belly button and my stomach dropped. "How long?" I asked her, I didn't know my four year old was this good at hiding pain. I didn't know Troy and I looked so unhappy in her presence. I didn't know four-year-olds were so smart.

"Yesterday," she mumbled, I kissed the top of her head, "What do you think we should do?" Troy asked me, I sighed, "I don't know. How about we give her some Tylenol for now and see what it does?" Troy nodded his head as he went into the kitchen to find the Tylenol. I curled up with Logan and I buried her under her blankets, she curled into my chest as I rubbed her back gently. "It's okay," I told her as Troy came back. Logan cried out in pain now that everybody knew.

Troy looked at her and he crawled in to the other side of her bed as he soothed her crying pains. I measured the grape liquid out and I stood over Logan as I got her to open her mouth and squirted it into her mouth quickly. She cried out but once it went down, she pulled my hand back down to her. I lay back down next to her as she was pressed in-between Troy and I. Troy reached over to grab my hand, as he knew I hated when Logan got sick like this.

"Rain check?" I asked him, "Of course."

I smiled as I pressed my lips into her hair, "blankie," she whimpered, I looked around for her precious blanket that she loved. I got up to go and find it when she puked all over the bed. Troy pulled away as the purple liquid was staining her bed as she screamed in pain, my heart shattered as I went over to pick her up. "It's okay," she cried louder as she started to puke some more and Troy was trying to get a bucket or something for her to puke into.

"Doctor?" Troy mouthed; I nodded my head because if she couldn't keep anything down then we might as well bite the bullet. I knew she wasn't going to like it and I knew that it was going to be a long day but she had a fever, she keeps throwing up, and she won't drink anything so we might as well just do it. Troy was reading my mind as he picked up our bags that we were going to take hiking and instead made sure we had her insurance card.

I carried her down to the car when Zach came out of his apartment, "Whoa," he took a couple of steps back, "Is she okay?" he looked her like she was oozing venom from her body and I laughed, "I don't know, we are going to take her to that place that she hates because she isn't keeping anything down," I got to wondering why Zach was here but probably for the same reasons to why Troy was here. He wasn't pitching today.

"You guys have fun with that. Hanson screams bloody murder." Troy laughed, "Yea, I don't know if she is up for that right now." Zach agreed as we went downstairs and through the lobby, Troy pulled the car around as I stuffed her into her car seat and Troy got into the drivers seat. We weren't freaking out like we normally were as she was just crying. It was more to get medication in her to help. He drove to the closest hospital because unfortunately this would not be our first trip for any of us.

Troy came here for the ball to the head, I came here for the first miscarriage and for a strep test a few years back, and Logan came here anytime she was sick. Not the first time around the rodeo. I rubbed her leg as she wanted to be in my lap but she couldn't. Troy eased into a parking spot as I pulled her out; she started to cry when she realized where she was. Another possibility to why she never told us. Logan hated to go to the doctor and she would do anything to avoid it.

I carried her inside while Troy grabbed my bag as he followed me in. Logan was trembling; I went to find a spot to sit while Troy went to sign her in. He caused attention around here so they normally pulled us back fairly quickly. "Mr. Bolton," I heard, I looked over to see a doctor and Troy was talking and the doctor grinned as he nodded, Troy waved me over and I was glad that we were bypassing lines. The sooner I could get home the better.

Going back into the room, Logan started to scream and cry harder. I sat her down and she doubled over on the table clutching her stomach. Troy and I shared a glance as I rubbed her back, a nurse came back to witness the meltdown. "Oh my," she muttered, "How long has this been going on?" my eyes ventured to a clock, how in the world had it only been an hour since all of this started happening? It felt like ten years ago. "She finally told us her stomach hurt about an hour ago." I said, "She told us it was hurting last night as well."

"Did she have a fever?"

"She does now. She never complained until she started vomiting in the living room." The nurse nodded, "Her stomach?"

I nodded, "Around the belly button." I answered, she nodded as she wrote it down, and "Did she eat today?" I frowned as she didn't touch her breakfast and refused lunch. She had her moments where she didn't ever want to eat but I didn't string it together that she didn't eat last night either. "No," I answered honestly as I felt like a terrible mom for not noticing that she wasn't eating. I was too busy buried in my own thoughts to notice that my daughter was in pain.

I rubbed her back as the nurse came in to start an IV. Logan screamed bloody murder when the nurse came close; Troy walked over and rubbed her back as I whispered into her ear. She wasn't having it so we had to hold her down on the table. She was sobbing an in pain as the nurse was trying to work quickly to get an IV in. I held her head in my lap while Troy kept the rest of her body held down so the nurse could do her job.

Logan's face was red with tears and my heart was shattering in my chest because I hated seeing her this upset. Tears were running down her face and once the needle went into her arm she shrieked and cried louder. Troy cringed and once the nurse moved away Troy let go and Logan jumped up into my arms, I held her tight to my chest as she buried her face into my shirt. Troy thanked the nurse as he rubbed her back as I just kept her close. The nurse started fluids as she left the room and we started to get Logan to calm down a little bit.

Troy had her blanket and she clutched it in her hand as she reached over for Troy.

Troy took her into his arms as he held her tightly as he whispered into her ear; her cries were dying down into hiccups as a knock came at the door. A doctor came in with a smile on her face, "Hi," she looked at the tear stained Logan, "Oh no, not a big fan of doctors?"

"Not a fan of needles," I smiled at her and she nodded as Troy tried to ease Logan out of his arm but her grip was too strong. He laid her down gently and she cried grabbing on, "Lolo, hold my hand," I said, she let go and she grabbed my hand as the doctor smiled. "Hi Logan, I am Dr. Alice," she hiccupped in response and Dr. Alice began to tell her a story about something as she started to do things like listen to her heart and take her temperature as she told her a story.

Logan started to relax a little bit but she still gripped my hand tightly and then she picked up Troy's hand tightly as well. The doctor started to press on her stomach and she frowned, but recovered as Logan yelped in pain at one point. She nodded her head as she went to write something down but continued to tell some silly story. She then finished her story before looking at the two of us, "I want to get an x-ray and a CT scan if needed,"

"What do you think it is?" Troy asked, very forward, "I think that she may have appendicitis, her symptoms all work with appendicitis and her stomach is very tender. If that is it she will have surgery tonight or tomorrow,"

My breath caught in my throat, as I didn't want my baby suffering through a surgery and a recovery. "Are you sure that's what it is?"

"I am pretty sure but she is in great hands, I'll send somebody back for an x-ray," I looked at Logan as I kissed her forehead, "Brie," Troy said, "It's fine," he reassured, I only nodded as I kissed her forehead, I wasn't prepared for this. Logan only had strep and ear infections. She never got sick and not this quickly and not this badly.

Troy rubbed my back as a person came back to get Logan, she started screaming as the man tried to take her hand. I looked at the guy and he sighed, "One of you can carry her down there," Troy stepped up, "I'll take her. You stay here," he said, "I'll come, I'll stay out of the way," I promised, the man nodded as Troy picked her up and Logan buried her face into Troy's neck. Troy started to walk as the man pushed the IV pull along. I could only see Logan's eyes as I looked into hers back; she unlatched a hand as I grabbed her hand. "Momma's here," I told her, her eyes lightened and when we got into the room, I let go and she went in further with Troy.

Troy was whispering into her ear about something and she nodded her head rubbing her eyes. He laid her down and then backed out of the room. He came over to rub my shoulders, "She'll be okay," he assured, I grabbed his hand as I leaned back into him. "I hope so."

"Appendicitis?" the words were sour against my lips as I looked at my baby, she was crippled up in pain as the doctor nodded, "Very simple surgery and she will be recovering at home tomorrow." My mouth went to sand paper, "No surgery is simple," I breathed, Troy looked over at me, asking me not to do this right now. "Well…of course, there is always a risk," my body tightened with the words risk because I seem to draw a risk to us. Risks were all that came my direction.

Troy stood up, "What papers need to be signed?" he asked, the doctor asked him to come out as I wrapped myself up with Logan. "Mommy," she whispered, "You will feel better by tomorrow," I said brushing her hair out of her eyes, she whimpered, "I don't want to be here anymore."

"I think we get to stay the night," I told her quietly, she started to cry and I hugged her to my chest, "You'll be okay." I told her quietly, "Mommy will be here," Troy came back into the room as he leaned over to press his lips to Logan's head. "Her surgery will be at eight tonight," he said, I nodded as they had run a blood panel as well. I kissed her forehead as they had given her some anti-anxiety meds to calm her nerves down. She was mostly becoming sleepy from them. Troy rubbed my arm and he nudged his head to the hallway.

I looked down at Logan as she was asleep so I agreed, I got up and he grabbed my hand as we walked through the door. "Come here," he said carefully, he pulled me into his arms and I just laid my head down on his chest. "I know you are scared, but she needs the surgery." I nodded because I knew this, I just didn't like it. It was 2024. I feel like they should have some super safe method to do this besides cutting her abdomen open and exposing her.

"Like he said, we'll be home by tomorrow morning. I called the Royals and I excused from tomorrows practices and games." I nodded as he lowered his lips to my forehead, "I just don't like seeing her in pain," his fingers rubbed my back in a gentle circle, "I don't like seeing either of you in any shape of pain and so these past couple of weeks have sucked." I pushed back off his chest as I reached up to kiss him, he smiled into the kiss, "Come on, did you call your dad?"

"Yea, he wanted to come down."

"Imagine that," I smiled as I settled into a chair while Troy sat on the other side of me, "My mom and dad wanted to as well but Luke,"

"How is Luke?"

"Playing baseball, I think I created a monster."

"A reason we don't need a boy." Troy laughed rubbing my shoulders as nurses came in and out as they were preparing her for the short surgery that she would have. Troy laughed about something when a knock came at the door, "We heard our girl was down for the count," I turned to see half the damn team standing in the doorway causing me to laugh, Troy smiled as Eric, Mike, Salvy, Zach, Josh, and Kendry standing there, all of the ones Logan loved.

Troy got up to greet them as a couple reached me for a hug, Zach was the last one to me as he stood by me and his eyes drifted over to Logan. "How is she?"

"Better now that she got some pain killers in her with some water, she is still in some pain though," Logan woke up and she giggled over something causing most of the attention in the room to focus on her. The boys all messed with her causing even more giggles to escape her drowsy throat. I went over to wrap my arms around Troy's waist and he put an arm around me as she pulled Salvy down as he said something in Spanish causing her to smile and claim she didn't understand.

Josh and Zach were smiling at her and Eric and Mike were trying to tickle her. A doctor came in at the surprise of the mass of baseball players in one room causing a flustered doctor to not kick any of them out. He mumbled something to Troy and he nodded his head as the doctor walked out. The boys began to back away as I noticed Logan had fallen asleep again. "She is tired guys,"

"We just wanted to wish her luck for the big operation," Zach said, "Well thank you, you all know how much she loves you guys," they all smiled, sheepish, on to the fact that she loved all of them a lot. They all started to head out as I hugged each of them thanking them, Zach leaned over, "You alright?" I nodded and he smiled, "Good," I patted his arm and he walked off with the rest of the guys. I sighed and Troy looked at Logan, "She loves them more than us."

"Something along those lines…" Troy laughed, as he hugged me again. I went over to lie next to Logan and the hours seemed to tick by. Her medication had kicked in. Pressing my lips to her forehead, I looked at the doctors who came in to keep preparing her and I let out a nervous breath. I wasn't sure if I was ready but…ready or not here it comes.

"What do you think is going on?" Troy was playing on his phone while I rested my head in his lap. He looked down at me, "She is sleeping and can't feel a thing,"

"How do we know?"

"Have you never had a surgery before?"

"No…"

"I promise…you don't feel anything." He answered, "What about after you wake up?"

"Then you feel some." He answered, he looked at me strangely, and "You have never had surgery?" Troy asked me again, I nodded, "Yea, is that not okay with you?"

"You still have your tonsils, appendix?" I again, nodded my head towards him. "Is that…weird?"

"No broken bones?"

"I have broken bones but I didn't need surgery to fix it." I explained, I sat up and he frowned, "I can't believe you have never had surgery before. I guess in the twelve years that I have known you, you have never even needed surgery,"

I shook my head, "Never needed,"

"You have had your stomach pumped before," I felt the bitterness roll of his lips and I stared at him, "That was years ago, why do you sound upset."

He laughed, "Brie, come on, out of every hospital stay, that is the one that haunts me the most. That phone call." His eyes broke off in the distance as I climbed into his lap. "Hey," his eyes looked into mine and I pulled his chin into my hands, "That was nine years ago Troy," he turned his head away from me, I never knew that this one moment hurt him like that. "I didn't know you still thought about it,"

"I don't but when I think of your hospital stays, that is the one that makes me hurt all over again." I kissed his neck gently, "You are amazing," I whispered, Troy sighed, "Brie,"

"Troy,"

"The feeling of losing you is something I never want to feel again," he finally looked back at me and I felt my breath close inside of my chest, "And that was only three years of knowing you, after twelve?" I couldn't look at his eyes anymore so I just leaned into his chest and listened to his heartbeat.

"I'm never going anywhere," I told him, "I have you and Logan, those dark days are way gone."

"With every miscarriage I feel you slipping through my fingers," I hugged him tighter as I tried to keep all my feelings inside. "I'm not going anywhere," I told him again, "I promise."

He didn't say anything back but neither of us moved for a while, I leaned back to look at him and his eyes were slightly red. I kissed his forehead and he sighed, "I love you,"

"I love you too,"

I moved to sit next to Troy again as he hooked our hands together, leaning my head onto his shoulder I breathed in his clean scent. "So you are saying you feel nothing?"

"Nothing." He responded, "It's like you are sleeping," Troy responded, "Once you wake up you are in some discomfort mostly from the stuff that they give you to sleep but the site of the surgery may hurt as well. She'll be drugged up still."

"I don't want to see her in pain,"

Troy leaned over to kiss the top of my head, "Now you know how I feel about you."

The doors opened up and Troy and I both glanced up to see her surgeon. I stood up and she smiled at me, I felt a sense of relief wash over me as she looked over at Troy. "Her surgery went beautifully and she is awake asking for you guys," Troy linked his hand through mine, she guided us back through the double doors, "We will keep her overnight for observation and then release you guys in the morning."

"Thank you," I said, I heard Logan's cry from down the hallway and my stomach sank, I moved a little bit faster, a nurse was trying to calm her down. "Oh baby," I moved to her side as she looked at me. She started to cry harder and she wanted to be picked up. I didn't want to hurt her so I just pushed the rail down and I climbed in next to her. She curled into me and she cried harder because it must have hurt.

"It's okay," I whispered into her ear, "It's okay, momma is here," she gripped my shirt and I pressed my lips to the top of her head. Troy reached over to kiss her cheek and she gripped his shirt making him lean over. Troy chuckled, "Baby girl, this hurts daddy's back,"

She only gripped tighter causing the nurse to laugh, "Come over here Mr. Bolton, while she is still waking up I'll allow you guys to smoosh her," Troy smiled as he gently pried her hand away but he held it the entire time he circled the bed and climbed in on the other side. Logan was fighting sleep as Troy pushed her hair away, "Go to sleep baby girl," he whispered into her ear, "Momma and daddy will be here when you wake up,"

Logan relaxed against me and I kissed her forehead, I looked up at Troy and he smiled, "This, this is what I love."

"I agree," I whispered as I looked at Logan, "I definitely agree."

Saturday, March 2nd, 2024

Troy brushed his hands off as he sank into the couch. I leaned into him as I yawned deeply after the long twenty-four hours that we had. Troy had gotten today off since Logan had surgery and he needed a good day off as well. "How about in a couple of days we get the stroller out and go on that hike. Logan can ride and we can have some time together."

"If she is feeling better,"

"I said in a couple of days, she should be bouncing back quickly."

"She had a rough night last night."

"That was the night after surgery. She was a lot better this morning," I sighed as Troy squeezed me tighter, "I think my parents are going to come down next week,"

"Yea?"

"Yea," Troy answered, "They want to come visit Logan and you of course."

"I think my dad mentioned another trip down here with my mom and the twins during spring break."

"Family,"

"Momma!" Logan's voice screeched from the other room, I sighed as I got up, Troy boosted me up and I giggled, I walked until I got to Logan's room and she was smiling, feeling a little bit better. "What's up sweet girl?"

"I want some ice cream,"

This was the first sign of appetite since well before her surgery; I smiled as I smoothed back her bangs, "Of course sweet girl, what kind?"

"Chocolate!"

"One chocolate ice cream coming right up." I turned my head to see Troy looking at us in the doorway, "Brie?" he asked looking at me, I smiled, "Chocolate Chip please," he nodded as he reached for his keys, "I'll be back in a little bit, you girls don't cause any trouble okay?"

Lo giggled as I smiled over at her, "Tell daddy that we are going to destroy the apartment in a good ol' punk rock concert." Troy laughed and Logan smiled, "I'll be back,"

Troy disappeared and the apartment door shut when I turned to look at Logan, "Do you want to build a fort?" I asked her, her eyebrows perked up and she gave me a questioning look. "My booboo hurts,"

"You can direct mommy to place it wherever you want it. We can have a slumber party tonight inside the fort." She grinned big as I picked her up and I placed her on the couch. "Alright, I am going to drag your mattress out here so that we have something comfy to lay on, okay?"

After shifting the furniture around and places comfortable places for all of us to sit, I began to string the sheets up around the room. Logan giggled away as she directed me holding her blanket close to her. I pinned them up and tacked them to the wall as we had one giant fort hanging across the room. Once I was complete with hanging of everything, I grabbed pillows and blankets and I stashed Logan inside.

"Momma, this is awesome,"

"Papi and I used to do this all of the time when I was little." A smile crossed her face with the mention of Papi. "If you see, I left the TV uncovered and now when Daddy gets back we can pop in a movie and eat our ice cream,"

Logan curled into me as I flipped through the channels underneath the fort. I heard the door open and then somebody suck in their breath. "Holy cow," I laughed as Logan gingerly moved out of the fort, "Daddy! Come inside!"

"Alrighty," I felt it shift and Troy ducked down with Logan as they brother crawled in. "Did you do this?" Troy asked me, I nodded my head, "With the help of Logan, of course."

Troy smiled as he handed out ice cream, "What movie do you want Logi?"

Logan thought about it for a brief moment and she then grinned, "the new Cinderella," Troy tried to suspense a grown in his chest but one look from me knew that he would enjoy it.

"Roger that,"

Troy crawled over and he put the DVD while I got comfortable with Logan. Troy popped it in and turned off the lights as he lay down next to me. Logan sat up to look at him and Troy laughed, "I'll be right here," he promised, his laid his arm over my body and he grabbed her hand. "I don't want to block your view of the TV,"

"We're laying down daddy,"

Troy chuckled to himself as I put my hand on his arm; he eased me back into his grasp as I settled against him. He breathed against my neck before placing a stubble kiss there.

I found his other hand that Logan didn't have and slipped my fingers through his hand. The movie started capturing Logan's attention as she finished her ice cream. I drank mine slowly but my eyelids were getting heavier and heavier.

Troy snored quietly from behind me causing me to want to sleep even more. My eyes glanced down at Logan to see that even she had fallen asleep.

I laughed a little too loudly as Troy peeked over at Logan, "You are going to wake her," he swatted, I giggled as I rolled into him, my lips pressing against his. "Come on," I said quietly, "She is knocked out,"

"I thought we were sleeping in here?"

"We are. Just…we need a little activity first."

Troy smirked at me as he rolled out of the fort and I followed him out. He easily picked me up and pressed me back against the wall. I groaned as his lips slipped onto mine. "Every time I kiss you, I feel like we are back on the baseball field." He said, the first time he kissed me. I smiled up into his kiss, "That should not be labeled as our first kiss,"

"It was an amazing kiss." He whispered I smiled as I touched his jaw. "That was a great start to a relationship," I smiled gently as he kissed me again. He lifted me up gently and pressed me against the wall. I groaned, "We need to go to the room," I whispered, Troy nodded and he walked along the way to our room. "Shower? That seems easier to hide from Logan,"

"I could use a shower," I murmured as he carried me into the bathroom. He dropped me onto the counter as he pressed his lips into mine harder. "Or right here," he breathed faster as his fingers slid into my shorts and I only agree with a head nod because I was trying to kiss him everywhere. I wanted to press my lips everywhere.

He shut the door and leaned over to turn the shower on, but he had no intention on actually getting in. I reached forward to take his shorts off and once his shorts were ditched, we were too lazy to even go for the shirts. Breathing became an issue but he pulled his lips away, "And every time we do this I go back to my eighteenth birthday," I giggled as I pressed my face into his neck, "That was a good night,"

"That was a damn good night." He whispered, Troy kissed me again and I breathed him in, "I am so in love with you,"

"Music to my ears,"

Wednesday, March 6th, 2024

Troy walked in the apartment, it had been almost five days since Logan's surgery and she was doing much better. "How are my girls?"

"Fantastic," I told him, he smiled as he wrapped his arms around me, "How about that hike today? I could use some time with my favorite people,"

"Sure," I answered, "I got all of my work done today and Logan has been feeling good. She might even want to walk a little bit." I said, Troy leaned over to kiss me and I buried my head into his chest and he held me a little tighter. "You okay?" I asked, he nodded, "I'm perfect."

"You sure?"

"Yes," I pulled back to look at him and he smiled, "I love you," he said tapping my nose, he kissed my forehead and I breathed him in. "I love you too. Do you want to get Logan ready or should I?"

"No, you go get ready and I'll take care of Logan." He kissed my forehead as I went to change into a pair of shorts and a tank top. I could hear Troy and Logan talking about something and she was giggling with him. I slipped on my tennis shoes and tied them tightly. "Gabriella, look at this girl," I looked up with a grin as Logan was hanging upside down.

"I am upside down!"

I laughed as Troy smiled at me, "I love you," I started to kiss her and she giggled, Troy pulled her back up as I hugged her tightly. Troy and I squeezed her in the middle of us and she laughed hanging off of Troy's neck. I pressed my lips to the back of her head while Troy put on some tennis shoes for her. Troy packed a backpack as we got her down to the car. "We made it a step farther than last time."

Troy laughed buckling Logan into the car seat as I folded into the front.

"I love some good ol' family time!" Troy turned the radio on and a song that Logan loved came on and she started to belt the lyrics out causing Troy and I to laugh. We started to sing with Logan while we drove to one of our favorite hiking trails.

Once Troy pulled in, Logan giggled excited and Troy went to get the stroller out while I picked her up. "Are you ready?" she nodded her head as I swirled her around and she smiled bigger. I settled her into the stroller as Troy locked up the car.

Troy started to push her to the trail as I picked up a bottle of water. "How was the team?"

"Good," his answer short and I knew something was bothering him, "What's wrong?" I asked Troy shook his head as he spread a smile over his face. "Nothing is wrong, what gives you that reason?"

"You just don't sound right…"

"Nothing is wrong, I promise."

"He promised mommy!" I smiled, "He promised huh?"

"He did."

"I don't think a promise is going to do," I answered, "Then a pinky promise!"

"A pinky promise! Oh my goodness! That is official stuff," Logan laughed while Troy smiled, "Did work not go well?" I asked quietly, "No, it went fine."

I just nodded my head as something was bothering him but he didn't have much of an interest to talk about it. Logan pointed something out as we continued up the trail. "Do you know what I miss?" I echoed, "What?"

"The spot,"

Troy turned to look at me and a smile spread over his lips, "A lot of great things happened there," I nodded in agreement as he laughed, "I wonder if our initials are still etched into the tree."

"I wonder. I miss New Mexico sometimes,"

Troy nodded with agreement as we both went quiet listening to the nature, Troy seemed to be battling something internally and didn't have much to say. We both listened to Logan's commentary of the park around us. "Bird!"

My eyes looked up at Troy as his eyes held a moment of sadness, "Troy,"

"Hmm?"

"Do you want to go out to dinner tonight?"
"I actually wondered if I could go out with Zach and Josh tonight. We haven't had a guys night in a while."

I frowned, "OH, okay,"

"I mean,"

"No, that's fine. Melissa and Alex are both here so I'll hang out with them."

"Melissa is crazy right now,"

"How is Josh?" I ignored the previous statement and Troy sighed, "Josh is a mess. He doesn't know what he should do. He wants to be with the baby everyday but he just doesn't have the trust with Melissa any longer."

"Sounds like Josh and Melissa need to sit and work it out,"

"What do you think they are doing?"

"Is Josh actually listening or is he just getting mad at her? She goes to every practice and every game with him. She is always with him and she makes him dinner and does all of this shit for him and he can't trust her,"

"I don't know if I would be able to trust you," I turned my head to look at him, "Really? You wouldn't be able to trust me."

"If you actually cheated on me? Yes."

I laughed shaking my head, "So the past twelve years doesn't make up for a lapse in judgment?"

"Are you cheating on me?" Troy asked, I laughed, "No, I am just wondering if it really came down to it, the twelve years that we have loved each other blissfully for one mistake,"

Troy thought about it for a minute, "I know I can't live without you,"'

"We make mistakes and maybe Melissa made a horrible mistake but Josh can't have all of the good and push out all of the bad. He needs to listen and open his eyes to look at her."

Troy sighed and I rubbed his back, "I'm not going to cheat on you, I just…I want you forever,"

Troy looked at the tree, "When is your first broadcast?"

"March 22nd,"

"Late,"

"Yea, we don't get much this year." Troy nodded his head as he went quiet again, we finally found a spot to stop and we let Logan run around for a bit making sure she didn't do too much. Once she was exhausted, she walked over to Troy and curled her body into his lap. "I love you dada,"

"I love you too sweet girl,"

"I love you mama," she tapped my nose and I giggled, "I love you too Logi,"

"Now say you love each other," Logan said twisting in Troy's arms, Troy laughed, as this was her thing lately, "I love you Gabs,"

"I love you Troy,"

"I love our family,"

Troy and I kissed her cheek and she smiled, "I love the park,"

Thursday, March 7th, 2024

I laughed with Casey as we walked down into the clubhouse, he was showing me pictures of his daughter and I nodded my head as he told me a story.

When we got to the clubhouse, it was eerily quiet. I moved further in as several of the players were talking close together.

My eyes tried to find Troy but I couldn't find him anywhere, I noticed Zach and I walked over to him, "Where is Troy? Why is this place so quiet,"

Zach's face paled slightly, "He is on the field."

I frowned, "What's wrong?"

"Go talk to him," he encouraged, "Zach,"

"Go. Talk. To. Him." He said slowly, each word dragged out, I started to move faster towards the field and when I got to the top of the steps, I noticed him sitting on the grass, his eyes staring off. "Troy?"

He didn't move so I walked closer to him, he didn't move again when I sat down next to him on the grass, "Troy?"

"I was feeling fine, I was pitching great, this was our fucking year and…it's ruined." I tried to scan him to find any sign or what might be wrong. I couldn't think of anything, I hadn't heard of anybody being traded. "Troy, tell me what happened, Zach wouldn't tell me anything."

Troy picked at the grass blades, "I had an MRI yesterday, that's why I left early and we could go on that hike." My face paled as I looked at him, my eyes went to his elbow as he buried his head into his hands, "My season is over," he said, I then saw his shoulders start to shake as the words first left his mouth most likely. "Oh Troy," I said quietly, I wrapped my arms around his shoulders, he only moved to press his face into my neck as I hugged him tightly, "I'm so sorry," I held on to him as he cried, "I'm so sorry," I brushed my lips to his temple as I held myself together as he fell apart.

He pulled me into his lap and he wrapped his arms around my waist, his face pressing into my collarbone, "I'm so tired," he whispered into my ear, the tears subsiding as I rubbed his back, "I haven't slept in a week because of Logan and then I heard my elbow snap the other day, the MRI yesterday, and now…I have the whole season off."

I kissed his temple and ran my fingers through his hair, "I'm so sorry Troy,"

He shrugged his shoulders, "I'm sorry,"

I looked into Troy's eyes and I could see the heartbreak of having to spend the next 12 to 18 months off the mound. Having to spend countless hours rehabbing his elbow. Having to go through a surgery. Having to sit on the sidelines.

The heartbreak that reduced him to tears again and all I could do was hold him tightly as his biggest nightmare was coming true, his UCL could no longer handle the stress he put on it.

No words can make up for what he was feeling right now so I just held him, cradled him towards me, and let him fall apart for five minutes to grieve a season that he lost by his body betraying him.

Well…poor Troy. I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! Also – sorry that it took so long to update the stories. Life has been crazy but it should be slowing down…just kidding. We have a week and half of school left, then I start working, and then I take a big voyage to the UK for two weeks. I will be absent for those two weeks and from there hopefully my life becomes a bit more stable. Lol, I may just update when chapters are done vs. waiting from here on out until my life levels out.

Have a grand week!

Please Review!

Also – Happy Mothers Day!