Hi!

Amy, I think I confused you by calling this story 'one shot' because you thought it was a one shot…lol

Here's chapter 2 and thanks to everyone who reviewed- and who review consistently, you know who you are!

Ps the songs aren't mine!

Last chapter was susanna hoffs and this one is green day.

Ang

CHAPTER 2

'Troy Bolton is a Ladies man…

Troy Bolton and wife Gabriella sealed their marriage yesterday when Gabriella gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. Reports indicate the birth was early and there were minor complications, but both mother and baby are doing well.

Troy is expected to release a message before the week is out welcoming his daughter to the world officially'

---

Having entertained several visitors in the days following her arrival home from the hospital, Gabi sunk into the sofa gratefully, sighing tiredly.

Fiona-Rose slept peacefully in the nursery and she had her radios to hear if she woke.

Troy wandered over to her from where he had been finishing washing up in the kitchen. He smiled down on his tired wife, scooping her into his arms as she snuggled sleepily into him and he carried her into the bedroom, laying her on the bed, pulling the covers up and standing back.

"I can't sleep" she whispered

"No?" he frowned "How come?"

"My arms are empty" she smiled, eyes still closed as she copied his words to her only a short time ago.

"Well, that's no good" he agreed, climbing onto the bed and pulling her against his body as he hugged her tightly, mindful of her stomach after the operation.

Gabi sighed into him as her arms went around his waist and she fell asleep, Troy worrying that she was not getting enough rest.

He made a mental note to speak to his mom to ask her not to visit for a couple of days and he hoped Karen would be busy too.

She seemed so fragile lying in his arms, he ached to protect her and be here for her in the coming weeks. He knew she would be under a lot of pressure, not only from her body which would go through more changes, but also emotionally and physically from their daughter and the stampede of guests that seemed to be appearing.

He kissed her hair, vowing to also call Greg and cancel his immediate commitments.

He didn't care if this was planned or not, he couldn't do this over if he got it wrong. He only had one shot at it and fatherhood was going to be challenging enough, he didn't want to let Gabi down.

---

Gabi awoke with a start, squinting at the clock and seeing it was 2am. She breathed in quickly, panicking that she had forgotten Fiona's feed as she scrabbled out of bed and rushed out, pausing in the doorway of the bedroom as she saw Troy sat on the sofa, cradling Fiona in his arm, clutching a bottle in his other hand as she suckled gently.

He looked like something from an Athena poster, his hair gently mussed, half naked in his boxers and holding her so gently with tender love glowing from his eyes as his strong body juxtaposed with his gentle touch.

The faint light from outside cast across his muscled chest and her breath caught in her throat at the sight of him. Her eyes watered at his touching gesture, smiling softly as she padded out towards them.

She could hear Troy's singing now she mused as she got closer, he was singing so gently she could barely hear it but he was definitely singing.

"# …My shadows the only one that walks beside me
My shallow hearts the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
Till then I'll walk alone

Ah-Ah Ah-Ah Ah-Ah Ahhh
Ah-Ah Ah-Ah Ah-Ah Ahhh

I'm walking down the line
That divides me somewhere in my mind
On the border line of the edge
And where I walk alone

Read between the lines what's
Messed up and every things all right
Check my vital signs to know I'm still alive
And I walk alone

I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk a... #"

He stopped singing as she approached; his eyes soulful and deep with his love for her.

"Hey mommy" he smiled as she sat with them, hugging his shoulders, her tears falling on his bare skin "You okay?" he checked, turning to her and she nodded, speechless

"Me and Fiona here just wanted to chill out on the sofa for a bit, didn't we doll?" he asked the baby as she made a little noise that he confused for choking "Oops, steady there" he said nervously and Gabi smiled, brushing her fingers gently over her baby's forehead.

"She's okay, she just guzzles" Gabi murmured, dropping a kiss on his bulging arm "Like someone else we know" she said with raised brows

He grinned at her then, leaning forward to kiss her mouth "I could take you back to bed right now and do wicked things to you" he husked "You are so beautiful" he added

She compressed her lips "Mmm. Maybe a bit longer yet, bunny" she ventured, the thought of having sex just so far from her mind, despite her sexy husband.

"Of course…I didn't mean…" he trailed off, flicking his eyes from her back to the feeding bottle and Gabi felt her gut twist as she realised her words had hurt him.

He had just been trying to pay her a compliment and she'd totally mis-read it and rebuffed him.

Gosh, but she was tired, and aching and all she wanted to do was wrap up her daughter and go back to bed.

"I'm going back to bed" she said softly, stroking Troy's hair as she stood before him and he gazed at her with his soulful eyes

"I'll be with you very shortly" he said, watching as Gabi padded back into the bedroom and he focused back on Fiona

"#I walk a lonely road
The only one that I have ever known
Don't know where it goes
But it's home to me and I walk alone

I walk this empty street
On the Boulevard of broken dreams
Where the city sleeps
And I'm the only one and I walk alone…#"

Troy sang softly as he finished feeding and put Fiona back into her crib.

---

"Hey! Let's go shopping!" Karen said as Gabi opened the door to her a few days later.

"Shopping?" she frowned, rubbing her head where her hair was sleep-mussed

"Yeah, Troy said…" Karen trailed off as Troy padded out from the bedroom in his boxers.

Gabi turned to him with a questioning look

He blushed "Sorry Karen, we're kinda up late" he smiled sleepily

He came over to Gabi, hugging her from the side "I thought you'd like to get out for a bit" he said, knowing she hadn't left the apartment for a few days.

Gabi's mouth opened and closed. She should be touched by his gesture so why did she feel angry?

"Me and Fiona can play Speed Racer on the Xbox" he grinned and Gabi gave him a look

"Or just hang out with Pirate…" he adjusted sheepishly. He noticed Karen staring at his torso and coughed nervously, moving to the kitchen to make drinks.

"Come in, Karen" Gabi said, sitting her on the sofa as she joined Troy in the kitchen.

"I'd rather stay in with Fiona today" she said softly "You should have asked me" she said of the shopping trip with Karen.

He turned, framing her face "Babe, you need to take a break." He sighed gently as his hands moved to cup her upper arms, his blue eyes showing his concern but Gabi refused to see it

"Are you trying to say I can't cope?" she snapped

"I'm not saying that" he said softly, going to kiss her but she turned her face so he was left mid-air, surprised at her tense body.

Gabi moved from his embrace, going into the bedroom and shutting the door.

Troy was left standing in the kitchen, brows raised, bewildered.

Karen sidled over from the sofa and looked at him for a moment, pondering if she should say something.

"It's a big thing, for a woman, to have a baby" she began and Troy gave her a 'no kidding' eyebrow lift, his lips compressed as he turned and braced his hands on the counter

"I mean, her body is going through a lot of hormones. And knowing Gabi, she's probably afraid right now" she added

"Afraid of what?" he asked, his voice tight with emotion

Karen sighed "Messing up, not being good enough, all the same things you're scared of, magnified ten times over" she twitched her mouth "She'll come round. Just plenty of hugs, huh?" she suggested and he nodded slowly

---

"You could at least smile" Karen accused Gabi as she tried on a gorgeous wrap dress that suited her post- baby figure

"I can't see how Troy can ever fancy me again" she said honestly, staring starkly into the mirror and only seeing her jelly belly and grotesque breasts which looked too big for her frame while they were swollen with milk.

"Oh, Gabi" Karen said, getting up from her seat outside the changing room and cuddling her friend "You're gorgeous, as always, and I bet he does fancy you" she said

"He just wants sex and I can't give it to him" she said forlornly

"Gabriella Bolton" Karen said firmly, looking her in the eye with her own stern deep brown eyes, her curly black hair falling over her face "If Troy was only with you for sex, he would not have married you and wanted babies" she reasoned and Gabi cried as she realised her friend were right.

"He doesn't deserve me being a moody cow" she said sadly "But I can't snap out of it. Every time I'm away from Fiona I feel an ache in my heart" she explained

"Oh hun, that's natural. That's being a mom" she smiled "Now buy that sexy dress so you can wear it home and surprise him" she suggested

"What if I never want to have sex again?" she worried suddenly

"With that hunk living with you, I can guarantee you will" Karen murmured knowingly and Gabi followed her out to pay for the items she had chosen.