Don't own it
--
Gabriella gaped, horrified. Troy grinned as he tugged her into the store. She looked at him in disbelief.
They were in a baby store.
She turned to face an enthusiastic Troy.
"This was why you wanted to go shopping?" was all she could choke out.
He nodded, flashing a charming smile at the shop assistant. The girl blushed. Gabriella felt a familiar flame of jealousy rise in the pit of her stomach. She quashed it as soft toys, baby clothes and pastel colours bombarded her vision. Gabriella felt like she was going to throw up, and not because of morning sickness.
"You have got to be kidding me!"
Troy raised an eyebrow at a slightly disturbed and mortified Gabriella. He thought girls would go ga-ga over the cute baby accessories.
Obviously not Gabriella.
He sighed, before grabbing a soft, blue elephant. Troy waved it in Gabriella's face.
"Aw, come on Gabriella, don't be such a wet blanket!" he teased.
Troy bent down to Gabriella's stomach, holding the elephant in front of it.
"Do you like this toy? Daddy will buy it for you if you do" he cooed to his baby.
Something in Gabriella's chest swelled. A grin tugged at the corner of her lips as she watched Troy make faces at her stomach, her baby.
Their baby.
That was sounding more and more real as Troy thrust the toy in her hands, beaming at her.
"I think he likes it!" Troy exclaimed happily.
Gabriella laughed, hugging the elephant to her chest. She swore she saw his eyes sparkle in excitement.
"How would you know? He didn't say so" she retorted cheekily.
Troy winked.
"Because he's my son. He likes everything I like"
Gabriella playfully rolled her eyes and poked out her tongue, ignoring her erratic heartbeat when Troy winked at her. Troy chuckled. Gabriella brushed past him to pick up a fluffy monkey.
"Then that means he likes this one too! Because he likes everything I like" Gabriella giggled as she waved it about.
Troy pretended to think about it, a mock thoughtful expression on his face, before exclaiming,
"Okay then, that means we just have to get both of them!"
Gabriella's eyes widened.
"W-what do you mean we're getting both of them?" she stammered, confusion apparent in her voice.
Troy rolled his eyes. He playfully flicked Gabriella on the forehead.
"Hey! What was that for?" Gabriella pouted as she rubbed her head.
"For being such an idiot. And here I thought you were a straight-A student. Of course we're buying both of the toys! And some clothes, and some bottles, and some…" Troy began to list the baby items.
Gabriella was stunned. She was so surprised at how excited he was to be caring for the baby.
To say she was touched was the understatement of the year.
"You're really doing this?" she interrupted Troy's rant in a timid voice.
Troy gently smiled at Gabriella. He took her hand into his, squeezing it comfortingly. Gabriella ignored the butterflies in her stomach as their eyes locked.
"I said I'd support you and the baby, and that means you guys will get the best possible everything there is. And I don't go back on my word" he told her seriously.
Gabriella's breath hitched. She blinked up to him, her eyes shining with gratitude.
"Wow. Thank you"
A grin broke out on his handsome face. Troy laughed and swung his arm casually around Gabriella's shoulders. He ignored the jolt of electricity that ran up his arm when it made contact with her skin. Beaming at her, he gestured grandly to the shop.
"Anything you want, the baby wants, I'll buy it all. What do you say, Mummy?" he winked at her.
Gabriella fought down a blush, before looking up at Troy, her eyes twinkling mischievously.
"Anything?"
--
Three hours and sixteen shopping bags later, Troy collapsed on a bench. He wiped the sweat off his forehead with the back of his Ralph Lauren sleeve, exhausted. Gabriella giggled, and plopped herself beside him. She beamed happily. Troy raised an eyebrow.
"How can you be so energetic? We spent hours shopping for baby clothes and you're still so hyper!" he whined, a pout forming on his lips.
Gabriella laughed, her eyes twinkling. Her heart flip-flopped all over the place as she
"Of course! I am a girl, after all. We live to shop till we drop!" she exclaimed, laughing at her own joke.
Troy rolled his eyes, resisting the urge to smile. She always makes me laugh, he mused. He wondered if that was a good thing or not. Gabriella swung her legs off the bench and began to look through their bags.
"I wonder if we bought enough clothes" she tapped a finger on her chin.
Troy's jaw dropped.
"You've got to be kidding me! We bought hundreds of onesies! I think our kid would grow out of them before he got to wear all of them!" Troy huffed, crossing his arms.
"I guess you're right" Gabriella muttered dejectedly.
Troy felt instantly guilty. The crestfallen expression on Gabriella's face made him want to wrap his arms around her and comfort her. Troy bit his lip, his heart softening. He took one more look at an upset Gabriella, before sighing.
"Fine, we'll go buy some more clothes"
Gabriella instantly perked up.
"I knew you'd understand!" she beamed at him.
Troy grinned back. God, he was so whipped. Gabriella tugged on his arm. He began to gather their bags, juggling baby clothes, bottles and baths. Gabriella giggled and began to reach for one of the bags. Troy pulled it away from her grasp.
"The doctor said you shouldn't be lifting heavy stuff when you're pregnant" he reprimanded, sternly eyeing her.
Gabriella rolled her eyes. Why did everyone think she was a weakling now that she was pregnant?
"I'm not going to topple over from the weight of a couple of baby bottles, Troy"
She placed her hands on her hips, daring him to challenge her. Her hormones are acting up again, Troy thought, grumbling as he passed her a bag. She beamed happily, swinging the bag back and forth. Troy sighed.
Women were so hard to please.
They had made their way back into the baby store when-
"Troy, honey, is that you?"
He froze, his blue eyes widening. Troy slowly turned around to find his worst nightmare. Oh no, they weren't supposed to find out this way, he thought frantically. Gabriella looked at Troy curiously, then at the elderly, yet sophisticated couple that was calling him. She nudged a petrified Troy.
"Who are they?" she whispered in his ear.
Troy mumbled something under his breath. He was sweating profusely.
"What are you doing in a baby store, son?" the older man narrowed his eyes at Gabriella.
She smiled nervously. Her mind whirred, before it all started to make sense. Her eyes widened, a wave of apprehension washing over her. Oh my God, were they his-
"Um, M-mother, F-father, this is Gabriella. Um, Gabriella, these are my parents" Troy finally found his voice, stammering an introduction.
Gabriella looked at Troy, mortified. Sweat beaded down his forehead as he glanced back at her. The same thought ran through their minds.
Holy shitake mushrooms.
--