Whoa, these chapter's just fly by. I'm trying to update as soon as I can because when I start back to school I won't be able to do it as much. The last chapter was a serious one wasn't it! Kind of shocking I know but Troy wasn't being mean…well he was…but he was trying to make Gabriella see that she was slowly killing herself and her remaining child. He needed to knock some sense into her. And also, don't worry Troy won't always be drinking!

Chapter 28 – A Talk With A Little One

THE sun had set long ago over the Lodge's of the Sampoe Ski Lodge Park and the friends were just getting ready to leave the house. Unknown to all of them, the little Damien decided to sneak upstairs to his Auntie's room and visit her. He still hadn't seen her!

He knocked on the door gently and when he opened it he found his Auntie Gabi crying in her bed.

"Auntie Gabi…are…are you okay?" Damien asked, coming to sit beside her.

Gabriella looked up, tearful and when she saw the little one she smiled and put her arms out for him. Damien rushed into her embrace and hugged her tight.

"Why are you sad Auntie Gabi? Is it because of you're baby?" Damien asked innocently.

Gabriella smiled a little, "Yes sweetie. It is. Auntie Gabi doesn't think she's going to be staying with Uncle Troy much longer."

At that Damien's face fell and he looked downhearted, "But why?"

"Uncle Troy doesn't want Auntie Gabi here anymore. Auntie Gabi will be leaving soon." Gabriella said softly as she stroked Damien's hair.

"Auntie Gabi, 'Damien said, "Uncle Troy loves you and he just wants you to get better." Damien explained.

"Huh?" Gabriella said.

"I heard him talking to my Mummy and Daddy. Uncle Troy said he loved you so much and he thinks…you're…you're going…going to die. Why aren't you eating? Have you got a tummy bug?" Damien asked his eyes wide with purity.

Gabriella laughed a little, "Something like that!"

"You're baby is going to get really sick if you don't eat." Damien said seriously.

Gabriella looked at the young child in front of her and she stroked his blonde hair warmly.

"Please eat something Auntie Gabi. I heard Mummy, Auntie Taylor and Auntie Kelsi talking. They said uncle Troy's been drinking. Was he thirsty?" Damien asked, and Gabriella laughed, so like a child.

"Yeah, he wanted some pop." Gabriella said sweetly.

"Oh, Auntie Gabi…do you love Uncle Troy?"

Gabriella clung tighter to Damien and kissed his forehead. "Of course I do sweetheart, more than anything."

"Then why won't you do what he wants you to do?" Damien asked.

Gabriella smiled, he was asking such brave grown up question but there was such innocence behind them.

"Are you hungry?" Damien asked.

Gabriella didn't answer, she suddenly felt defeated and her stomach tightened under the pressure of his questions. Little Damien seemed to understand that his Auntie didn't want to talk, he kissed her one final time.

Little Damien stood and touched Gabriella's stomach; she looked at him, perplexed.

"I'm giving you my love Auntie Gabi…but…you…you don't need it. Uncle Troy will always love you." Damien said and he kissed his Auntie and then dashed out of the room.

Gabriella sat back a little startled by the intelligent words of little Damien. She looked out the window and darkness was falling over the lodges. She smiled a little and pulled herself out of bed, she was weak and she stumbled for a moment. She heard Troy bidding goodbye to their friends. She stuck her head around the curtains and watched them departing. Damien turned back and smiled, waving at his Auntie through the window before he turned back allowing Sharpay to pull him across the road. Gabriella stumbled to the door and opened it, she was suddenly faced with the fear if the stairs. It would take an effort to get herself down the stairs but she wanted to see Troy.

TROY sat in his study, his face in his hands. He was so stressed, he was trembling. He couldn't believe how much he had snapped at Gabriella. He felt truly like Richard at that moment. He had forced mash potatoes in her mouth, threw the plate across the room and snatched the engagement ring from her finger. Perhaps he had been too harsh. He hadn't meant to be so forceful. He was just so tired and angry and he'd have done anything for Gabriella to start eating again.

He wouldn't blame her now if she left. He would've left too if he had been treated with such disrespect. He had just seen red. He promised himself he wouldn't be angry, that he would keep calm and support her through her time of stress and pain but the sudden stubbornness and depression of her had tipped him over the edge.

He should've been softer with her. He should've been gentle and tried to convince her a different way. He was going to lose her now. The weight of the ring in his pocket kept him glued to his seat. It stopped him from going upstairs and apologising. She probably would never trust him again…he loved her so much!

He heard a knock at the door and he didn't bother to look up.

"Come in." He said tiredly.

The moon outside was out now and the darkness was eminent around the lodge's. He glanced at his watch, it was half past eleven now and he was very, very much ready for bed soon. An empty bed, Gabriella had slept in one of the suites by herself for the last three days. It was lonely.

The person who had entered did not talk; Troy thought it was Henry or Clarice.

"Well aren't you going to talk, 'He turned angrily and his face softened, "Gabi?" He whispered.

She stood there like a timid little child who needed protecting from the thousands of monsters hidden under her bed. She was shuffling her feet nervously and she stumbled back for a moment, looking a little surprised before her face took its natural look of sorrow again.

"Do…do y…you have…an…an…any pizza?" She questioned wearily, she met his eyes and Troy smiled.

He stood and walked over to her and was about to wrap his arm around her when she whimpered and stumbled back so he couldn't touch her. At the sudden fright he looked downhearted and he reached up and touched her face.

"I'm not going to hurt you baby." He whispered.

She saw the sorrow, sincerity and the tiredness in his magnificent eyes and went to him and he wrapped her up in his protective arms. She rested her head on his shoulder, the couple stood there holding each other tight, lost in their moment…

"THANKS for taking me to get pizza." Gabriella said as she munched on a pepperoni pizza with caramel on top. Talk about cravings.

She was sitting in a wheelchair and Troy, who was busy eating himself a nice cheesy slice of pizza, was pushing her gently.

"It's alright; it's only a few blocks down the road." Troy said softly.

They were kind of stuck in an embarrassed silence, Troy too ashamed to apologise for what he had done and said and Gabriella too frightened to bring it up.

Gabriella was on her fourth slice of pizza. She was absolutely ravenous, she was sure the baby was dancing inside her, she felt like and idiot and incredibly cruel. She had been denying her child a chance to live!

"I'll…I'll pay you when…when I can." Gabriella stammered.

"Huh?"

"Well…after I leave…I suppose I could get a job…and the baby can…sta…stay with my mo…mother." Gabriella stuttered feeling herself blush.

Troy stopped and Gabriella swallowed the mouthful of pizza she was eating and felt her body tense. Why had he stopped?

"I…I don't want you to leave." Troy muttered.

"Oh…um –"

"Please…I really don't want you to go. I mean if you want to leave I'd never stop you, I just want you to be happy but I know…I'd never be the same again if you left." Troy said softly.

There was silence for a moment and Troy started to push the wheelchair again. Gabriella lay back and tried to get comfortable. The awkwardness was all the more there now and she was not looking forward to their next conversation.

WHEN they got in Susie, Clarice and Henry noted that Gabriella was eating again. Troy had a gentle hand around her waist and he led her to the kitchen and poured her a glass of pop and gave her a tub of ice cream. Troy was really glad Gabriella was eating again. She was eating like a pig, she was starving and he couldn't blame her. If he hadn't eaten in four days he would've been exactly like she was too!

"Is that nice?" Troy asked gently.

Gabrielle nodded, "You wouldn't believe how heavenly it is."

Troy smiled; he touched the ring in his pocket and pulled it out.

"Gabriella, I really don't want you to go. I want you to stay. I went over the top earlier on. I shouldn't of. I understand if you don't accept but…I'd like to give you my ring back with my apologies." Troy said his eyes brimming with hope.

Gabriella looked up from her fudge ice cream and gave Troy a small smile, she nodded, "You knocked some sense into be Troy, I needed that. I forgive you, in fact there's nothing to forgive. I love you." She whispered.

Troy leaned across and contrived her with a quick kiss. He slipped the ring back on her finger and watched as she dug back into her ice cream, completely and utterly famished.

When she was finished she stood and looked at Troy smiling.

"I'm so tired." She mumbled.

"Well let me get you upstairs." Troy said taking the glass from his partner and allowed her to have another hungry mouthful of ice cream before he removed that from her hands too.

"Thanks Troy." Gabriella said softly.

He took her by the hand and helped her upstairs. She staggered a few times and she giggled a little. Troy loved to hear her giggle again, it just felt so right. He was about to take her back to the room where she had been staying when she touched his hand.

"Please Troy; I want to go to our bed." Gabriella whispered.

"Okay, I'll sleep downstairs and you can –"

"I want you to sleep with me Troy! Don't you want me anymore?" She asked sweetly.

Troy pulled her close to him and hugged her, "Of baby, of course I do."

He took her to their room and he removed his shirt and came and sat beside her. She was sitting in front of him looking at him with rich enchanting eyes. He touched her stomach and she reached across and captured her lips with hers. She opened her mouth and his tongue made its way into her mouth and mixed with hers.

He pulled away when he felt her whimper at his touch, she was still so very nervous around him.

"I'm sorry baby, 'He told her, and then he laughed, "You taste like pizza and ice cream." He chuckled.

"Is that bad?" Gabriella asked.

Troy shook his head and lay her down gently. He kissed her and watched her sigh softly. Her eyes were beginning to droop and Troy could not help but feel the contentment and relief pass over him.

He brushed a strand of her hair from her face and kissed her forehead. Who knew that a talk with a little one could bring them back together?

"Good night my angel." He said serenely.

He nuzzled down beside her and felt her breathe gently against his neck. Troy put his hand on top of hers and kissed her sweetly. He never wanted to let her go.

See, they made up! There is still more drama to come, is that too much! But you've got a while yet for it! Hmm, its kind of a serious chapter but it's a sweet chapter. I'm sorry there is so much drama guys, if you guys don't want it just tell me! Majority rules!

Whoa and thanks to all you guys my reviews have been upped to the 1000's! I am absolutely astounded! It's my most reviewed story, I thought 'Bullied Into Love' was great but this is amazing! Thank you so much guys, the next chapter belongs to those who have reviewed all the way through this story! Anyway, keep your eyes out for the next chapter. I'd love to know you're thoughts. Review xoxMusicalxox