--

--

Gabriella let out a small moan as she slowly opened her eyes. The sun momentarily blinded her vision. Where was she? What happened to her? Scrunching her nose, she tried to recall what had happened before she fainted. A gasp escaped from her lips as her memories rushing to her. Eating with Taylor and Sharpay. A shooting pain in her stomach. Someone catching her before she fell. Her baby. She sat up immediately, panic rising. Gabriella began to scramble out of the hospital bed when something caught her eye.

Someone was sleeping on the chair beside her.

Troy.

Her breath hitched. What was he doing here? All her worries began to wash away as she leant in to examine his face. He had grown even cuter, if that was possible. Wait, what? Gabriella shook away the thoughts. This was the guy who refused to take responsibility of his actions. But the more she stared at Troy's sleeping form, the more she felt her heart tug.

Troy stirred in his sleep. He slowly blinked, only to find Gabriella's angelic face only inches away from his. His heart started to beat erratically. He swallowed as she looked away in embarrassment, a faint blush working its way onto her fair cheeks. Troy cleared his throat and flashed her a smile.

"Hey, you're awake"

Gabriella weakly nodded. Her head snapped up.

"Is my baby okay?" she whispered, almost afraid of the answer.

Troy was taken aback by the worry etched in her eyes. He didn't expect her to care so much about the baby. Something in his heart yearned to be a part of it all.

"Don't worry, he's fine" he croaked hoarsely.

Gabriella sighed in relief, before staring at Troy in incredulity. He stared back at her, confused.

"It's a boy?"

Troy blinked. She didn't know?

"You didn't know?"

Gabriella shook her head. A giggle escaped from between her lips.

"I'm having a boy!" she said excitedly, bouncing up and down on the bed.

Troy chuckled at her childishness. Gabriella grinned back. For that split second, nothing that had happened between them seemed to matter. They were just normal, excited soon-to-be parents. Someone rapped on the door, jolting Gabriella and Troy out of their giddiness. A kindly doctor walked in, smiling indulgently at the two. Gabriella turned her attention to the doctor, her dark eyes sparkling.

"Doctor! How's my baby?" she asked eagerly.

Troy could feel a grin tug at the corner of his lips. The doctor smiled and patted Gabriella's hand.

"Not to worry, dear. Your baby's fine and healthy. I'm sure your boyfriend has already told you you're having a boy!"

Gabriella snuck a glance at Troy when the doctor mentioned the word 'boyfriend'. He had an unreadable expression on his striking face, like he was deep in thought.

"Um, yeah" Gabriella muttered, playing with the hem of the blanket.

"Well, I just wanted to tell you that you can leave when you're feel better. You were dehydrated before, so make sure to drink plenty of fluids. You need to be taking a lot of rests. Pregnant women shouldn't be doing any heavy work, especially during the first trimester. I'm guessing that's where your boyfriend comes in handy" The doctor winked.

Gabriella nervously laughed. Troy sat motionless. Then, he did something that shocked both Gabriella and himself. Clasping his hand around Gabriella's, Troy beamed sincerely at her.

"Of course I'll be there. From start to end"

His piercing blue eyes made her heartbeat speed up. Was he really accepting her and the baby? Gabriella tried to quash the hope that was rising, but failed miserably. She felt her heart skip a beat. The doctor smiled benignly, bidding Gabriella and Troy goodbye. Gabriella turned to look at Troy in amazement. He gave her a small smile.

"I mean it, Gabriella. I've been thinking, not a lot, but enough. It was my fault you got pregnant, so I'll take responsibility. I'll take care of you and the baby. Our baby-"

Troy was cut off as Gabriella's arms flung around him.

"Thank you" she breathed.

Troy removed her arms from around his neck. She stared at him in confusion. He sighed.

"But I need you to know, I'm not doing this for you. I'm doing this for the baby. No child deserves a broken home. I'm going to take the responsibility of being the father of your child. It was my fault, after all. This has nothing to do with liking you. I'm just here to support the baby. Got it?" he coldly finished.

Gabriella nodded numbly, her arms falling dejectedly to the sides. At least he's accepting the baby, she thought, a small smile playing on her lips. Troy immediately regretted his words as soon as the crestfallen expression flitted across her face, before steeling himself. He was doing the right thing, anyway. Wasn't this what she wanted, for him to take responsibility?

It wasn't as if he was in love with her or anything.

--

"So where do we go now?"

Gabriella looked at Troy expectantly. He scratched his head.

"I have no idea"

Gabriella blinked, before bursting out in laughter. Troy glared at her. She grinned.

"Well, how about you take me home now, seeing that school's over?" Gabriella suggested.

Troy nodded, leading Gabriella to his car. Sliding into his BMW, she wondered how she was going to explain this to Taylor and Sharpay. They would be waiting for her at Taylor's house, ready to bombard her with questions.

"So, where do you live?" he asked.

"Um, 24 King Street"

Troy looked at her quizzically.

"Isn't that Taylor McKessie's place?"

"Um, yeah. How do you know?"

"She throws pretty cool parties for a nerd"

"Hey! She's my friend, okay! You don't see me insulting Chad or Jason!"

"Okay, okay. Don't get upset, it's not good for the baby"

"What would you know? You're not pregnant"

"Why you- hey, why are you staying at Taylor's place? I would've thought a girl like you wouldn't even leave your own house"

Gabriella glared at Troy fiercely, before sighing resignedly. She turned away from him and faced the window. Troy blinked. Was it something he said? Gabriella closed her eyes, tears burning the back of her throat.

"My parents kicked me out" she whispered.

Troy was shocked. The tears in Gabriella's eyes told him that she wasn't joking.

"Why?" he asked stupidly.

She turned to glare at him.

"What do you think?"

There was a moment of silence.

"I'm sorry" he murmured.

Gabriella closed her eyes, stifling the urge to scream at him. She had already been through enough pain because of him. Gabriella really didn't need reminding of what it did to her family.

"Just take me to Taylor's place"

Troy bit his lip. He didn't know he had caused such strife between Gabriella and her family. Guilt washed over him. It was all his fault. Okay Troy, you have nine months to make it up to her, he thought. Starting now.

"Do you want to go have something to eat first? You were out for a long time. The baby must be hungry" he flashed her a charming smile.

Gabriella raised an eyebrow. Troy, offering to buy her dinner?

"It's not a date! I just thought we bought needed to eat" Troy quickly added.

Gabriella smiled.

"And the baby?"

"And the baby"

Gabriella bit her lip. Troy found himself anticipating her answer. Finally she turned to him and said the words that, for some unknown reason, made his heart skip a beat.

"Okay then"

--