Ooh, the plot thickens and you guys are getting frustrated! Sorry I couldn't update last night but there's a lot of people who like to go on my computer and I'm just not nasty enough to tell them to get off when I want it!

Anyway, I don't own High School Musical but one day I'll own the second movie DvD! Lol

Chapter 17 – A Talk With Taylor

THE Christmas holidays passed very quickly and to be truthful, Gabriella's Christmas hadn't gone well. It was January and it would be her final week at Sampoe Ski Lodge. Gabriella couldn't help but feel discomfiture at the thought of not seeing Troy again. Perhaps she could arrange to meet up with him another time.

Once again she had woken on the 2nd of January with the sickness. She was used to it now, Richard kept saying she was faking it but that wasn't true! She was meeting up with Troy and Taylor down at the one of the café's. Richard had gone away for the day so she had taken the opportunity when Taylor had called.

She had Lupin back too, when she had gone to stay with Troy, that Thursday night. She could still remember how it had snowed so badly and she and Troy had sat at the window with mugs of hot chocolate watching. She had been sitting between his legs and every now and then he would lean down and kiss her dark brown hair as if reminding himself that she was there!

Breaking from her reverie, Gabriella stood and grabbed her bag. She touched her stomach for a moment feeling uneasy but readying herself she straightened up and patted Lupin on the head she walked out of the Lodge and down the street towards the small town centre of Sampoe Ski Lodges.

She could just make out Troy's figure waiting for her by the café as she drew nearer and nearer. She smiled to herself, blushing a little, feeling like a school girl again!

When she was close enough to Troy to throw herself at him, he stepped towards her and weaved his arms around her waist.

"Hmm, you smell good." He said breathing in her 'White Musk' perfume.

Gabriella giggled and brought her arms around him, just being near him made her knees go weak from under her.

Troy took Gabriella's hand and led her through the restaurant. There Taylor stood, bigger than ever before beaming at them.

"Hey Gabs!" Taylor said cheerfully.

"Whoa Taylor, the little one isn't ready to come out yet huh?" Gabriella chuckled.

Taylor laughed and touched her stomach, "Apparently not."

Taylor noted the way Gabriella's face seemed to go pale for a moment and her eyes became distant. She didn't like the fear imprinted on her friends beautiful face. It look unnatural.

"Gabriella? Are you alright?" Taylor asked, Troy had gone off to get some coffee and chocolates.

Gabriella seemed to come to herself and she sat opposite Taylor with a desperate look on her face.

"Taylor, can I tell you something. You know, in confidence." Gabriella asked softly.

"Of course, 'Taylor said noting the worry in her friends voice, "You can tell me anything."

The young brunette took a deep breath as if trying to bring everything she wanted to say together.

"I think –"

"Here you go, 'Troy said cheerfully appearing at the table, Gabriella's voice shrunk back and Taylor looked at Troy sternly, though he didn't see it, "One coffee, two sugars, two hot chocolates, three sugars, four marshmallows and one large plate of chocolate!" He said triumphantly, he was obviously pleased with himself.

"Hmm, we were just talking Troy, 'Taylor said firmly and she turned to Gabriella, "Continue."

Gabriella's eyes darted to Troy and then back to Taylor, "Um…no, it's nothing, 'She laughed, "Hey you know, I've already forgotten what I was talking about."

Taylor felt that Gabriella still wanted to talk but with Troy sitting beside her eating his chocolate, she found it hard to say anything!

THE trio returned to Troy's after they had finished their tea and coffee. It was still reasonably cold in Sampoe Ski Lodge's and Troy's house was warm and mellow.

Rex bounded towards Gabriella and she stroked and fussed the dog as a breathless Taylor slumped down onto the sofa, breathing deeply.

"Taylor, are you alright?" Gabriella asked softly.

"Yeah, I've just been having this sharp pain in my back for the last few days." Taylor replied.

"That doesn't sound good." Gabriella replied shaking her head.

"I'm okay, 'Taylor said firmly, "I'm a fighter."

Gabriella walked out the kitchen to where Troy was standing. He was watching Rex bound around the garden, lapping up the snow in her mouth as she went.

"You seem a little distant lately." Troy said.

"I've just been thinking a lot." Gabriella replied.

"Anything I can help with?" Troy asked taking in her in his arms and holding her close.

"Oh believe me, you've helped enough!" Gabriella said, her eyes wide and her face suddenly crimson.

"Have I done something? Have I done something wrong?"

"Of course not." Gabriella chuckled.

There was a large thud from the other room and a cry of pain. Gabriella and Troy pulled apart quickly and stormed into the living room. There, Taylor laid, her trousers damp and holding her stomach as she cradled herself on the floor.

"Taylor!" Gabriella cried rushing to her side.

"What's the matter?" Troy asked.

"The…the baby…the baby is coming." Taylor gasped.

"Troy, we're going to have to take her to the hospital. You're going to have to help me support her!" Gabriella said urgently.

Troy took hold of Taylor's arm and Gabriella took her by the other. She was breathing heavily, she looked tired and worn out and she had not yet given birth.

"Chad! What about Chad! He has to be here!" Taylor said quickly as they got to the car.

"I'll phone him, we just have to get you to the hospital!" The young man said giving her a reassuring smile as he helped her into the car.

"I'm going to stay in the back of the car with her. She might need help if this baby decides to come early." Gabriella said softly sliding in beside a whimpering Taylor.

"Right, buckle up." Troy said as he turned the keys and the exhaust started.

They drove quickly and steadily. Troy was worried the snow was going to cause the car to slip or something, his eyes, every now and then would dart to his mirror and there Gabriella's image would be, comforting and helping Taylor.

They arrived in the hospital as soon as possible. Taylor was supported gently between Troy and Gabriella and they made their way to the desk where a young nurse stood.

"We need some help here! She's in labour." Gabriella said.

"If you'll wait one moment." The woman said.

"I CAN'T WAIT! THIS BABY IS COMING NOW YOU DIMWIT!" Taylor's voice bellowed over the many voices.

"Okay, let's get this lady a wheelchair." The nurse said and a moment later Taylor and Gabriella were whizzed into a delivery room.

Troy waited outside nervously, he had phoned Chad and his friend would be with them as soon as he could.

He could hear Taylor's screams above so many of the other patients at the hospital. It worried him so much, he thought of Taylor as a baby sister and the thought of her being in any kind of pain was scary.

He felt someone tap him frantically on the shoulder and he turned to find a very anxious Chad looking at him, "Am I late? Where is she?" He queried bouncing up and down.

"She's in there. I think you can go in." Troy said stepping aside for his friend as Taylor let off another unbelievably high pitched scream.

Chad went in and out came Gabriella dressed in (those nurse things, you wear when you're present to a birth, don't know the name) when she saw Troy she hugged him and he felt her body trembling against his.

"How's Taylor?" Troy asked.

Another scream filled the hospital and Gabriella chuckled a little, "Pretty much like that." She answered.

Suddenly the cries of a child entered the air and Troy and Gabriella fell silent to listen. A moment later Chad came out beaming proudly.

"I'm a dad!" He said, gob smacked.

"Congratulations!" Troy said and he and Gabriella threw their arms around the stunned Chad.

"Do you want to come in and see my little boy?" Chad questioned.

"A son? Oh Chad, you always wanted a boy!" Troy exclaimed cheerfully.

The new father led his friends into the small ward and their eyes fell on Taylor cradling a tiny bundle in her arms.

"Oh, Taylor, 'Gabriella said, she looked exhausted, her head was draped in sweat and she was lying back relaxing as her tiny slept against her heaving chest, "Are you alright?"

"Well I guess, though I'm not sure whether I want anymore kids after this one. He tired me out." Taylor chuckled.

"Let take a look." Troy said and Taylor pulled back the blanket that was wrapped around her child and showed them the tiny baby.

The child's dark skin was damp and subtle looking. His eyes were warm and blue (all babies are when their born) and he had an array of curls, he was obviously going to inherit Chad's wild hair.

"Have you thought of a name?" Gabriella asked sweetly.

Chad and Taylor looked at one another and smiled, "I think we've decided on Corbin James Danforth." Taylor said.

"It's a great name." Troy said nodding his head with approval.

ABOUT an hour later Chad noticed Gabriella's uneasy look on her face and sensed that she wanted to talk to Taylor alone.

He looked at Troy and smiled, "How about we go get these two lovely ladies some drinks?"

"Sure!" Troy said, he kissed Gabriella's forehead and smiled, "We'll be back soon." He told her.

Chad to kissed Taylor and baby Corbin (Gee, I wonder where than name came from? Lol) and joined his friend, they left beaming.

"Do you want to hold him?" Taylor asked Gabriella.

"Sure." The young woman replied and she allowed Taylor to place Corbin into her arms.

The little baby whimpered for a moment before settling in Gabriella's arms. Gabriella touched his scruffy curls and she started to cry. Taylor saw Gabriella's tears and tried to get out of bed to comfort her but she slumped back, shattered.

"Honey, what's wrong?" Taylor queried.

"I…I think I'm going to need some practice with babies." Gabriella sniffled.

"Why?" Taylor asked.

"Because…I'm…I'm preg…pregnant, 'Gabriella cried, "And…I think Troy's…the father."

"Oh my god!" Taylor said and this time she did get out of bed and she hugged Gabriella gently.

"When did you find out?" Taylor asked.

"The other day, at first I started being sick over Christmas…I thought it was a bug but it was every morning and then I didn't like all these smells and…so I took a pregnancy test and it was positive. I then took about four and they were all positive and I went to the doctors and he just confirmed what I already knew." The young woman cried.

"Are you sure Troy's the father? I mean, you don't want Rich –"

"No! I'm positive, I calculated the time it would've happened around about and it was the last night in Spain, Troy and I, we kind of…well you know." Gabriella said.

"And you and Richard didn't?" Taylor asked.

"No! I haven't let him near me in weeks. Every time he tried to have sex with me, I'd run, cry, pretend to be sick or faint or something. I've been doing it for ages, 'Gabriella exclaimed, "I mean I may have had a nasty beating after every time I refuse but it was definitely worth it."

"What are you going to do?" Taylor asked as Gabriella handed her back little Corbin.

"I don't know yet. I'm scared." Gabriella whimpered.

"How far gone are you?" Taylor asked.

"About three weeks." Gabriella whimpered.

"Are you going to tell Troy?" Taylor asked.

Gabriella shook her head; she wasn't planning on telling Troy or Richard for a while.

"Why not, Troy will be thrilled, he's always wanted children. He'll be astounded; he'll be over the moon." Taylor said trying to reassure Gabriella.

"I'm not sure Tay, 'Gabriella sobbed looking out the window, the people outside mere blurs through her tears, "I'm really not sure!"

There you go! Most of you were right, Gabriella's pregnant! What's going to happen next! Also, I'd love to thank TheLongLostGilmoreGirl47 for giving me the great idea of having Gabriella and Taylor and all that at the hospital! Pure Genius! I hope you really like this chapter, it was kind of difficult to write and I worked really hard on it. Anyway, review and tell me what you think? Have I made the right decision on Gabriella being pregnant? xoxMusicalxox