We're All In This Together © 2011"

Disclaimer - I Own Nothing (: Except for the plot, of course.

A/N - Thanks for the reviews guys! I know my updating is really horrible and stuff, but see, I'm starting to like this story some more. Once I get tucked into it, Ii'll update faster. I promise. Just so you know, Marcus's personality and learning ablity is based off my little brother who is three. I know Marcus is two and a half, but it's close. Anyway, enjoy!

Tell me how I'm supposed to breathe with no air
Can't live, can't breathe with no air
It's how I feel whenever you ain't there
It's no air, no air
Got me out here in the water so deep
Tell me how you gonna be without me
If you ain't here, I just can't breathe
It's no air, no air

No Air - Jordan Sparks and Chris Brown

Chapter Four: Forever Hopeful:

As soon as the bile began to collect and rise, Gabriella was darting to the bathroom, Troy right behind her, and letting the acid flow merciless out of her mouth. Troy held her hair back, rubbing her back soothingly and whispering sweet nothings. When she was finsished she leaned her head against the toliet seat, not caring how unsanitary that was, and let out cool, even breaths. Her fingers gripped the side of the toliet tightly as she tried to get a grip. "Gabs?" Troy breathed. "You okay, honey?"

"Yeah," she said hoarsly. "I just don't like the feeling of throwing up." Gabriella sighed before lifting her head and then her body. She splashed cool water against her face, loving how it felt, and then brush her teeth and rinsed her mouth out. Troy pressed a reassuring kiss to the back of her neck. "Want me to run out to go get a test?"

Gabriella nodded. "Okay."

"Cross your fingers?" Troy said. Gabriella smiled brightly at him and crossed her index and middle finger. Troy jumped into some confortable clothes and quickly left the house. Once he was gone, Gabriella laid in her bed, breathingly thinly. She felt very light-headed. Her skin was like a torch and when she looked in the mirror, she could see the sickly pale growing on her skin. She felt horrible. She looked horrible. She didn't remember this happening with Aubree and Marcus. But every pregnancy is different.

"Mommy?" She heard a small squeaky voice and little foot steps padding on the hard wood floor. Gabriella lifted her head just in time to see Marcus grasp the blankets and hoist himself up on the bed. "Mommy," Marcus said, grinning. "I pee-pee."

Gabriella held back a groan. "In your underwear?" She expected Marcus to nod his head, but he didn't. He smiled and shook his head. "No. I pee-pee in toelet." Gabriella's face suddenly brightened. She sat up and grinned, pulling her son into her arms. "Really? Good job, Marc!" She held up her hand and Marcus gave it a hard smack. Gabriella gave him a big kiss on the cheek and smiled. "Gummy?" Marcus asked. "I want gummy, mommy."

"Oh, this is going to be a problem," Gabriella murmured. Now that Marcus was shifting into being almost potty trained, earning gummies will be easier and Gabriella really didn't feel like buying a jar of gummies that'll last only a week. "How about I make pancakes?" Gabriella suggested. "You want pancakes, Marc?"

Marcus stared off distantly, as if he were thinking. A moment later he turned back to Gabriella and nodded. "Yeah, I want panhakes." Marcus slid off of the bed and pelted out of the room. Gabriella ran a hand down her tired face, sighed, then stood. Last night, her and Troy engaged in some heavy love making and she was sore to the bone. She felt like sinking in a warm bath and never coming out. "Mommy, come on!" Marcus yelled. "Come on, mommy! Come on!" Sometimes Gabriella wished he was still slurring and sputtering gibberish. Gabriella stood up from the bed and slipped her slippers on before walking out of the room. She peeked in Aubree's room to see her snuggled up to her stuffed alligator, and then she went down stairs to follow after Marcus. "I want panhakes, mommy," Marcus said.

"I know, Marc. Hold up, okay?" Marcus nodded and pressed the on button to the TV in the kitchen. He handed the remote to Gabriella. "I want to watsh Team Umizoomi," he said. Gabriella scrolled through the channels and landed on Nick Jr. Marcus squealed and clapped his hands together as Geo, Bot and Millie broke out into the Might Math Powers song. He sung along the best that he could and Gabriella laughed. For Halloween last year, Marcus had been Bot. He was literally bouncing off the walls trying to imitate him. "Mom, it's Bot," Marcus said, poiting to the screen. "Look, it's Bot." Gabriella nodded and pushed the step stool in front of the fridge. She stood on it, her fingers stretching out to reach the pancake mix. She almost reached it, but she didn't get it. She instead jerked her hand down and grasped the side of her stomach, cringing in pain. Before she could stop herself, she was falling, plummeting to the ground. Her head missed the kitchen island by and inch, but when she fell, it was as if she were hit by a dozen hammers.

"Oh, shit," she cursed, curling into a ball and still gripping her stomach. It was a simple cramp, but it took her by surprise. "Mommy, you okay?" Marcus asked, leaning over the table. He jumped down from the seat he climbed on and rushed to Gabriella. He attempted to pull her up and it made Gabriella laugh despite the pain down south. "I'm alright, baby," she said softly. "Thank you. Can you go get me the phone, please?" Marcus nodded and dashed out of the kitchen. He returned later with the house phone and handed it to Gabriella. "Thanks, Marc." Gabriella hoisted herself up on her arms, ignoring the pain for a second before pressing in Troy's phone number. She sighed in relief when he picked up on the first ring.

"Brie?" Troy said.

"Hey, Troy. Where are you? Are you almost home?"

"Yeah, I'm coming down the block now. Is eveything fiine? Are you okay?"

"Yes, everything is fine. I just had a cramp and fell."

"Wait, hold up. You think that's fine? What if something is wrong with the baby?"

"We don't even know if I'm pregnant, Troy," Gabriella ponted out.

"You missed your period," Troy said. "I checked on the calander before I left. You threw up. We've made love without using condoms for three weeks. Now you tell me, do you think you're not pregnant?"

Gabriella sighed. "The possibility is very likely, okay, I get it. Just hurry. I'm in desperate need to be in your arms right now."

"I'm getting out the car now," Troy told her. Gabriella heard the car door slam from outside and then the next second, Troy was opening the door. She pressed END on the phone just as Troy stepped into the house. "Brie?"

"I'm in the kitchen."

"Daddy!" Marcus jumped out of his chair and ran to Troy. Troy picked him up, gave him a kiss on the cheek, and then crouched besides Gabriella. "Mommy fell, daddy," Marcus said, stating the obvious. Gabriella smiled at him. " I think he knows, Marc. But thanks, baby."

"What were you doing?" Troy asked, putting Marcus down and helping Gabriella sit up the right way. Gabriella cringed. "Marcus wanted some pancakes so I tried to get them. We should take them off of the fridge. You know I'm short." Gabriella attempted to joke, but Troy wasn't laughing. He examined her body, his brow creased with concern. While teaching basektball, he came across many injuries from falling. Probably not how Gabriella fell, but they were just as hard. "Does anything hurt?" Troy asked.

"The cramp is gone, but the fall was hard. Can you help me stand?" Troy nodded and stood. He picked her up easily, like he did with Marcus and helped her on the counter. Gabriella rolled her eyes. "I wanted to stand, but this works, too." She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him between her legs. Their foreheads rested against each other and they just gazed lovingly in each others eyes. "I love you," Gabriella whispered. "Where are the tests?"

Troy held up a bag from the pharmacy and Gabriella took it. Inside were five tests. They always brought that much, just to be sure. Gabriella pecked his lips slowly before shimming down from the counter. "I'm going to take them. We'll look at them together." Troy nodded and Gabriella whisked out of the kitchen, grabbing a water bottle on her way out. She walked to the powder room while unscrewing the cap on the water bottle and bringing it to her lips.

Back in the kitchen, Troy pushed the step stool back beside the stove and reached for the pancake mix. Now that he thought of it, Gabriella was small. What was she? 5'4, 5'3? Yeah, she was 5'4. She hasn't grown since high shcool. "Where's Aubree, Marc?" Troy asked, starting to cook. Marcus pointed to the kitchen archway. "She sleepin', daddy. Aubee sleepin'."

"Hey, Marc, can you say Aub-ree," Troy asked. Marcus always pronounced Aubree's name without the R. "Say, Aub-ree."

"Aub-wee," Marcus said. Troy smiled. "Well, you tried. Can you get me the milk, please, buddy?" Marcus nodded. He yanked the fridge door open and grabbed the milk with both hands. "Look, I stwong, daddy," Marcus said, grunting a little. Troy took the milk. "Yup, like your daddy. Thanks, Marc."

"You welcome," Marcus quipped, grinning.

Troy was flipping his last pancake when Gabriella entered the kitchen. She wrapped the tests in a paper towel and was holding them. "Don't worry, I didn't look," she promised and laid the paper towel on the island. She unwrapped it and her and Troy leaned over the counter. On each one, not one different, had two lines stretching down the screen. A small smile pulled at Gabriella's lips and she looked at Troy. He was grinning like a mad man. And to add to the look of madness, he turned and picked her up, spinning her around. Gabriella squealed and latched her arms around his neck. Marcus joined the celebration by jumping and screaming. Gabriella pressed her lips hard to Troy's and Troy kissed her back with equal fevor. "I love you," he said, pressing kisses along her jaw. Each time his lips were away from her skin, he'd mumur, "I love you." Gabriella giggled and pushed at his shoulders. "Alright. I love you, too. Now let me down, Wildcat." Troy set her down carefully on the linoleum floors and gave her one last earth-shattering kiss. To say Gabriella was dizzy by his sappy love was a total understatement. Gabriella grinned up at him and rubbed his arms. "Who should we tell first?"

"Adalita will kill us if we don't tell her right away. And my mom will will probably throw me over her knee and give me a nice, firm spanking. So, I've got mine and you have yours." Gabriella laughed and nodded. Troy got his cell and she picked up the house phone.

"Mami?" Gabriella said. Adalita had returned from her trip at Costa Rica last week. She was ecastatic, saying that she had officially done everything. "Gabi, oh, buenos días. Todo bien no?"

"Good morning. And yeah, mami, everything is fine. It's just, Troy went to the pharmacy."

"I know I love to medal into your life, but I do not think I need to know every little detail, m'ija."

Gabriella smiled. "No, mom, do you know why he went?"

Adalita seemed to think about this for a moment. Gabriella grinned when she answered, "To buy some medecine? Oh, no, m'ija, are my babies okay?"

"Mami...it's not about the kids."

Adalita pondered around her options. "Oh! Do you have a fever? Why do you sound so excited?" She never really was the one to guess things. Gabriella smiled. "I'm pregnant, mami."

The other line was silent for a long, stretched out moment before Adalita squealed. Gabriella could basically see her jumping with joy and grinning like a mad woman. Gabriella laughed. "Oh, m'ija, I'm so happy for you!" Adalita then stopped talking and Gabrielal heard a chocked noise. "Oh, no."

"What? What is it, mami?"

"Im getting old, m'ija."

Gabrielal grinned. "Mami, trust me, you don't look a day over twenty-five."

Adalita sighed. "Oh, I love you, m'ija."

"I love you, too. I'll call you back later, okay?"

"Okay. Bye, Gabi. Tell Troy and the kids I said hi and that I love them."

"Okay, Bye, mom." Gabriella hung up the phone and turned around. Troy was still talking to his Lucille, trying to make her guess. "Getting closer, mom," he said, containing a grin.

"Troy, don't make me come over there," she warned. "Now tell me, what's the big surprise?"

Troy's eyes flickered over to Gabriella, "Gabriella is pregnant."

"What! Oh, my God! Jack, Jack!"

"Lucy, I'm right here," Troy heard his father say. He laughed. They were still in bed and she was screaming as if he were two floors down. "

Jack, Troy's pregnant!"

"Troy...is pregnant?" Troy and Gabriella shared a look of amusment.

"No, no! Gabriella is pregnant!"

"Then, why'd you say...?"

"Because she's crazy, dad," Troy said.

"I'm so happy for you guys," Lucille said. Troy knew she was tearing up. "Another baby. Wow, time does fly, doesn't it?"

"Like a bird," Troy confirmed. "Hey, mom, I'll call you back later, okay?"

"Okay. I love you! And tell Gabriella and the kids I love them, too."

"Of course. Bye, mom."

"Bye, honey." Troy pressed END and put his phone back in his pocket. Marcus trotted over to him. "What's wong?" he asked. Troy smiled and picke dhim up. "You're going to have a little brother or sister."

"Aubwee?" Marcus asked.

"No, not Aubree, honey," Gabriella said. "Another baby. Here." Gabriella pointed to her flat stomach and smiled. "Like you."

"There?" Marcus pointed to her stomach, and was confused.

"You'll understand when you get older, baby," Gabriella said, kissing his cheek. All three of them were suddenly startled at the sound of beeping. Troy raced over to the stove and turned the burner off.

After calling everyone and informing them about the great news, Troy and Gabriella just noticed that Aubree had still not awoke. Troy walke dup the stairs to her room and was surprised to see her still lounging on her Disney Princesses bed, but not sleeping. Troy knelt down beside her. "Hey, baby. You okay?"

"Hi, daddy." Aubree shifted so she was lying on her side. "My head really hurts."

"It hurts? Do you feel sick?" Troy sat up on her bed and helped Aubree sit up. His fingers trembled as he felt the hot skin sizzle beneath his fingertips and so he brought up his hand to feel her forhead.

She was absolutely burning up.

"Alright, hold up, Bree. I'll be back, okay?" Aubree nodded and Troy rushed out of the room. He searched the medicine cabinet for the thermometer and Moltrin. He raced back to her room to see her looking dully at her wall and rubbing her arms. "I'm going to take your temperature, okay, Bree?" Aubree looked up at him and nodded. He picked her up and sat down onto the bed, bringing her down to sit on his lap. "Alright, open up wide," Troy instructed softly. Aubree opened her mouth wide, as if she were at the dentist, and Troy eased the thermometer under her tongue. Aubree closed her mouth and Troy hugged her close. "Alright. Good job. Now, just relax and we'll wait two minutes."

Aubree nodded, though weakly, and nestled her head between Troy's neck and shoulder. After two minutes were up, Gabriella and Marcus came up stairs and Troy pulled the thermometer out of Aubree's mouth. Gabriella gasped and sat next to them. "You're sick, Aubree?"

Aubree nodded. "Yes. My head hurts so much, mommy." Gabriella pulled Aubre einto her arms and pressed the back of her hand to her forehead. She frowned and shook her head. "What's the temperature, Troy?"

Troy sighed. "Above nintey-eight. One hundred two degrees."

"One hundred two? Should we take her to the doctors?"

"No. We'll just give her some moltrin and keep her in from school today."

"But, we're having a party because Thanksgiving is almost here," Aubree explained. "I have to go."

"I'll tell you what," Troy said. "You have to stay at home today becasue you're sick, but, so you won't feel lonely, I'll bring someone here."

"Who?" Aubree and Gabriella asked at the same time. Troy smirked. "It's a surprise. Guess you'll just have to stay here to find out."

Aubree seemed to consider this, so she nodded. "Okay, daddy. Does mommy know?"

"No, and I won't tell her."

"Hey, why not?" Gabriella whined.

"Because." Troy chuckled and kissed both of thier heads. He scooped Marcus up into his hands. "Hey, Gabs, go and get ready. I've got Marcus."

"Alright." Gabriella bent to give Aubree a kiss and hug. "Sit tight, alright? I'll turn on the TV." Gabriella got up and turned to Dora before breezing out of the room. She walked into her and Troy's room to see him peeling off Marcus's sweaty pajamas. "You're telling me," Gabriella ordered. Troy chuckled again and shook his head. "Hm. Let me think...nah."

"Troy," Gabriella groaned. "Is it a boy...or girl?"

"Girl." He seemed to answer it casually. Gabriella narrowed her eyes at him. "A girl? Is it a little girl or grown woman?"

"She's little."

"What's her name?"

"December."

"December?"

"Yup. She was born in December." Troy turned to his wife. "Anymore questions? Because I have to get Marcus washed." Gabriella opened her mouth to say something, but Troy was already walking out of the room and closing the bathroom door. Gabriella huffed and crossed her arms. "Well, fine! It's not like I care anyway!"

"You are the same person from when you were in high school," came Troy's amused voice. "So cute."

An hour later, Gabriella was heading out of the house. Since Troy only worked three days a week at the Center, he took Marcus to school while Gabriella went to work. And while Gabriella was at work, it was killing her not knowing who was going to see Aubree. Troy had claimed she was little, but how little, exactly? She could be a little girl or maybe someone whose twenty. Gabriella mentally kicked herself. Why would she think that? Troy would never, in a billion years plus forever, cheat on her. She knew that. But still, the nosiness was clawing at her insides.

"Hey, Mrs. B," Sheldon said nosily, strolling into the classroom. "That autograph will be mine soon. I was thinking he could sign my basketball and poster."

"Sheldon, we haven't even taken our next test yet," Gabriella reminded him. Sheldon smirked. "I know. But, I've been studying extra hard. I'd ace a college exam, probably."

"Well, good," Gabriella said, a little shocked. "Don't forget tutoring, either, Sheldon."

Sheldon rolled his eyes and went to his seat. Gabriella stood a sthey rest of the class fillled into the room. "Alright, class, the cow eyes have finally arrived," Gabriella announced. Everyone, but a girl named Faye, for religious reasons, bought in a signed slip. Gabriella would just give her a mini project in the library to research cow eyes and write a mini report. Gabriella turned and lifted a box. She handed the cow eyes wrapped in plastic out to the students and had some other students pass out bins and supplies. "Please do not touch anything yet," Gabriella said. "Sheldon." She said his name as he started tossing the cow eye around in his hands. Sheldon chuckled and slammed the eye down in the bin. "Yes, Mrs. B?"

"Behave or get out of my classroom," Gabriella said. Sheldon said nothing, but he smirked and leaned back in his chair. Everyone laughed as he fell backwards. "Kind of hurts when you don't follow directions, huh, Sheldon?" Gabriella asked. Sheldon stood up, pulling his chair with him, and plopped back down in it and rolled his eyes. "Yeah, okay, Mrs. B. Hey, are you and your husband still acting like horny teenagers?" The whole class started to laugh again. Gabriella's cheeks tinted red with both embaressment and anger. "Sheldon, out!" she demanded, and pointed to the door. "To the principals office! I am sick and tired of you and anyone who finds this funny can join him!" Everyone was instantly quiet. Sheldon quriked an eyebrow and sat where he was. "Sheldon, what did I say?"

Sheldon shrugged. "A lot of things you say goes in one ear and out the other. So, I really don't know, Mrs. B."

"Yeah, well I hope you hear this. You have detention." Sheldon stayed put and smirked. "And you're off the basketball team. I'll make sure of it." And Gabriella was dead serious. Sheldon was suddenly upright in his seat, his eyes wide. "What? You can't do that!"

"Actually, I can. What you can't do is talk back to me and disrespect me. Now get out. That's the last time I'm saying it. Next time, you'll have a suspension." Sheldon looked ready to exploide. He stood up and angrily pushed his chair back. It fell again, landing with a loud clink. Everyone watched as he marched out of the room and closed the door loudly. Gabriella had never been this strict. Not to her classes, not to her own children. She had never raised her voce. She was a fairly calm person and you had to have said or done something horrible to have her this angry. And what Sheldon had said went way above the line.

Sheldon's partner raised her hand. "Um, Mrs. Bolton? Who will I work with?"

"Pair up with another group," Gabriella answered, exasperated. Even though she wanted to hurl something at the wall, she explained to the class as calmly as she could, what to do for the disection. Cut down, not across. The scapel and other sharp objects are for cutting the eye. Wear gloves and goggles. Keep the tables clean. And learn.

It was almost twelve back at home and their visiter had already arrived. Aubree was as excited as anything. It was a girl alright. A small, adorable girl. "Hey there, girl," Troy said. He laughed as December came racing into the room, and jumping on him. December was a golden retriever. She has golden-tan fur and she was justa puppy, smaller than Marcus. December was Chad's cousin, Will's dog. They'd play football together and Will agreed to letting December come over here for a while. "I'll have her back by nine," Will said. "That's when I get off of work. Walk her and I've got some of her food in her bag. Plus some toys. Around seven, her play mode decreases and she limps around mostly."

"Alright. Thanks, man."

"Sure. See you."

Troy closed the door and lead December into the house. She looked around curiously, not used to anything. "Don't worry, December," Troy said. "This place is fun. Come on, let's meet Aubree."

Aubree's eyes had lit up when she saw December. Troy helped December up onto the bed and Aubree gently reached forward to touch his beautiful coat. December barked approvingly and leaned forward to lick Aubree's face. Giggles erupted from Aubree and the next second she was wrapping her arms around December, letting him jump on her and lick her face. "Is it a he or she, daddy?" Aubree asked, pushing December's face away. December just licked her hand. "She. Her name is December."

Aubree turned to the puppy and stroked her fur again. "December. She's so pretty. Is she mine?" December barked and Aubree smiled. "Because she wants to be mine."

"Well, sweetie, she's uncle Chad's cousins dog. I don't think he wants to give her up yet. He just got her last year."

"But..." Aubree looked down and sighed. "Okay. Well, can I play with her?"

"Does your head still hurt?"

"A little. But not much."

"Alright. Well, I'll bring you and December up some pancakes, okay? I'll be right back." Troy stood from the bed and left the room. He smiled as Aubree's giggles and December's barks drifted around the air. Maybe, for Christmas, he could get a puppy. He didn't know how Marcus would react, but Aubree obviously wanted a dog and Gabriella loved animals. Troy smiled as he thought of his wife. She was amazing. In every way.

Troy was about to enter the kitchen when the front door opened. He backed up into the living room and his eyebrows rose as he saw Ggabriella, creeping in, not noticing him. "Ehem," Troy said before she could make a run for up stairs. Gabriella turned her exhausted eyes on him. "Hey, Brie," Troy said. "What are you doing here?"

"School is torture," Gabriella sulked, walking towards him and wrapping her arms around his built torso. Troy copied her action, picked her up, then carried her over to the couch. He let her lay on him while he sat on the couch and waited for her to continue. "I cried today," Gabriella admitted. That got Troy's attention. He sat up straighter and looked her in the eye. "Why? What happened?"

"I don't even know why I cried," Gabriella said, almost sheepishly. "Hormones, probably. But, anyway, Sheldon had said...something. You know how you told him we were acting like horny teenagers?" Troy nodded. "Well, to sum it all up, he humiliated me to the next century and beyond in class today. It was horrible. And I yelled at him, too. I mean, I yelled. I've never been that mad."

"If he were a decade older, I'd knock him senseless," Troy said, his usual protective side rolling in. Gabriella's chest rolled with laughter. She remebered when they were almost juniors in college and it was nearing the end of summer. They were invited to a summer party and a guy had attempted to hit and flirt with Gabriella continuously. When he had hit the fifth time, Troy didn't hesitate to break his nose and jaw. "Okay, baby," Gabriella said softly, tilting her head to kiss his slight stubble. "Thank you."

"Of course. But, hey, I gotta warm Aubree up a pancake."

"Oh, yeah. I forgot. Did your visitor come yet?"

Troy smirked. "Why don't you go check it out for yourself?" Gabriella eyed him curiously for a moment before nodding and standing up. She marched up the stairs while Troy walked into the kitchen, his smirk never leaving his face. "Aubree?" Gabriella said. She was taken aback at the giggle and bark following after it. "Mommy! In here, mommy! Look!"

Gabriella entered Aubree's room and gasped. Aubree was sat there on her bed with a dog perched between her legs. Huh. Well, she never guessed it could've been a dog. "She's cute, Bree," Gabriella said, smiling and walking to her daughter. "What's her name?"

"December. She's uncle Chad's cousin's puppy." Aubree ruffled December's fur. "She's been jumpin' around on my bed since she got here. I think she really likes me...It would be cool to have her, but daddy says he's not mine."

"Well, baby, December already has an owner. How about this. When it comes time to make your list to Santa, put down a puppy. I promise you, Santa will bring you one." Aubree's bright eyes brightened even more. She looked to December and then her mom. "Really? Can I make one now?"

Gabriella laughed. "Oh, Bree, Thanksgiving didn't even pass yet. Let's go through one holdiay at a time." Aubree nodded and sighed. After a moment, she turned back to Gabriella. "How come you're home early?"

"Well, I have lunch now. I came home for my lunch break."

"You can leave work to do that?" Aubree gasped. Gabrielal nodded. "Yeah. But I have to get back soon. I have about twenty minutes to spare. How about we go get some pancakes and hot chocolate?"

"Hot chocolate?" Aubree echoed, excited. She slid out of bed, not as enthusistic as she'd normally be and ran out of the room. December barked and follwed after her. Gabriella smiled and shook her head. She stood as well and followed the two. "Aubree, walk, sweetie, don't run." Aubree slowed into a walk and walked down the stairs carefully. The sweet aroma of pancakes filled her little nostrils and she was bolting again. "Woah. It's kiss the cook, not kill the cook," Troy joked as Aubree came in and crushed his legs in a huge hug. December decided to join up in the fun and jumped on her hind legs. Her little paws landed on Troy's pants leg. "Daddy, hurry up and cook!" Aubree demanded.

"She sounds so much like you, Gabs," Troy joked as Gabriella waltzed into the kitchen. She scowled at him and opened a cabinet to pull out the powdery stuff to make hot chocolate. Aubree smiled as Troy slipped another pancake on the already growing pile. Apparently, Marcus had eaten way too many pancakes so he had to make more. December howled at the sight of the food, but ebfore he could get it, Aubree pushed him back. "Well, that sounds like you," Gabriella said back, grinning.

"Ha, ha. Very funny," Troy muttered.

After Gabriella made the hot chocolate and Troy made the pancakes, they were sitting around the kitchen table, eating. Gabriella was stuffing the soft meal into her mouth since she had to be gone in five minutes. She looked no different than December who had her own plate of pancakes. "When does December have to get home?" Aubree asked.

"At about nine," Troy answered. "So you'll have to say goodbye to her beforehand."

"Alright."

"Okay, I'm leaving," Gabriella announced, standing and washing her plate off in the sink. She stuck it in the dishwasher and leaned down to press a kiss to Aubree's cheek. Aubree grinned and wrapped her small arms around her mother's neck. "Bye, mommy."

"Bye, honey. I'll see you later, okay?' Aubree nodded and let go. Gabriella turned and grinned as she was met by Troy's over-powering figure. He pulled her in a hug and kissed her lips passionately. "Ew!" Aubree shrieked, causing Gabriella and Troy to pull away laughing. Gabriella ruffled December's fur, said her last goodbyes, before leaving. "I wonder if December has ever kissed anyone," Aubree said, making Troy chuckle. "Hey, daddy, I feel a little better. Can I got out to play? With December?"

"I have to take your temperature, Bree."

"Okay."

Troy left the room for the thermometer and Aubree sunk down onto the floor next to December. December leaned up to lick her cheek and Aubree giggled. "Come on. Daddy will take a while. You wnat to go outside?" December barked and Aubree grabbed her collar. They pranced out of the back door and Aubree shivered at the cold air. "Hold up, okay? I need to get me my jacket." Aubree turned and quickly ran inside the house. The door closed behind her with a loud bang and December let out a whine. She got on her hind legs and started to claw at the door, but despite her efforts, Aubree had locked her out back. By accident, of course. December got back down on all fours and looked around, her mouth opened as she panted.

December paced for a moment, looking for someone in. She noticed the fence and pushed her nose against it. It opened and December raced through the new opening. She jumped on the Honda and used it as steps to reach the roof of the garage. The jump was huge, but December's legs somehow made it. December looked around her surroundings. The roof of the house was too far to reach. She clawed at one of the windows. The window that so happened to be placed in the room Troy was in.

Troy looked at the window, alarmed, and pushed the curtains aside. He gasped as December came into his view. "Aubree!" he called and frantically started to pull open the window. December seemed frightened by the action and backed up. Troy gasped as she almost slipped, but managed to stay put. "December, don't move," he said softly. "Come on, girl. Move slowly to me." Aubree came running into the room. Tears were flying down her flushed cheeks. When she went outside to get December, he wasn't there. "Daddy! December...She's gone."

"Honey, she's right here," Trroy said. "Look, December. Look, it's Aubree."

"December!" Aubree exclaimed, coming to stand next to her dad. "December, come here, girl!" December barked and bolted towards the window. Aubree squealed as she was thrown back onto the floor by December's friendly, but not so pretty, attack. "Aubree, sweetie, are you okay?" Troy asked, pulling his daughter up into his arms. Aubree nodded and wiped at her eyes. "I thought she ran away, daddy. I went to get my coat."

"Why were you guys outside, anyway?"

"I'm fine. I thought you were going to take a while."

"Well, yeah. But still. Don't go outside without my permission again, okay?"

"Okay, daddy. But I'm really fine. Can I go outside now?"

"Okay, okay, fine. Let's pull some warmer clothes on first, and then you can go."

After school, Gabriella, of course, had to stay for Sheldon's detention and tutoring. Gabriella decided that she'd have an hour for tutoring and an hour for detention. And of course, Sheldon was being difficult. But way too difficult. "Sheldon, this isn't hard," Gabriella said, sighing. They're thirty minues into tutoring and he's still stuck on what a neurotransmitter is. "How about we switch to vocabulary? What is a neuron?"

Sheldon sighed and tapped his finger tips against the the table top. "Well, let's see. A neuron is a cell. But, since we're talking about teh brain, neurons are cells that make up your brain and nervous system." Sheldon clasped his hands together and looked over at Gabriella. Gabriella had her mouth opened wide. "Well, good. How about your sensory neurons?"

"Well, sensory means a way of using your five senses. So...by knowing what a neuron is, a sensory neuron are neurons that sends sense information to the brain."

Gabriella's lips began to form a smile. "Alright. Motor neurons?"

"When you say motor, I think of my car, Betty. And I also think of movement. So, a motor neuron is a type of cell in the nervous system that directly or indirectly controls the contraction or relaxation of muscles, which in most cases leads to movement." Sheldon grinned, satisfied at Gabriella's shocked face. "I told you I've been studying, Mrs. Bolton." Bolton. He just said Bolton! So that's what she needed to do. Direct discipline towards him and he'll listen. Gabriella smiled. "Wow, Sheldon. Let's keep going, shall we? Now, what is a neurotransmitter and how does it function?" They dived into the lesson pretty quickly. Gabriella exchanged his detention for another hour of tutoring and Sheldon gladly took it. By the end, Gabriella was impressed. Motivation to get an autograph and discipline was all this kid needed to succeed.

"I have to say, I'm really shocked, Sheldon," Gabriella said, when they were done. "Our next test is next week. I have a pretty good feeling taht you'll ace it." Sheldon nodded and started to leave, but Gabriella stopped. "And by the way, I didn't inform coach about your behavior. You're still on the basketball team."

Sheldon turned to her, a look of disbelief and excitement writted across his face. "Really? Man, thanks, Mrs. Bolton!"

Gabriella smiled. "Sure. But, I'm serious, Sheldon. Say anything like that again, or show any more disrespect and you're off. Got it?"

"Yeah, I got it. See you tomorrow." Sheldon ran out of the room, runing down the hall. "Walk, Sheldon!" Gabriella called after him. Sheldon immediately stopped into a walk and Gabriella closed herself in her room. She leaned her head against the door, happy, relieved. She was happy she had helped Sheldon exceed in his studies. And she was relieved that he was still Sheldon. Average Sheldon. But, an improved one. Hopefully.

This is a longer chapter than I intended. I wasn't going to add December, either, but I wanted to. Anyway, I hope you guys enjoyed! Chapter 5 might come a bit slow and short, but all I can do is cross my fingers and hope. Please review!