Picture Perfect - The Epilogue.
Troy lay by her side, watching her steady breathing make her naked chest heave slowly, up and down. Her eyelids flickered gently, in a rhythm, making him think she was dreaming. The covers of their duvet were pulled up to her collar bone, showing her shoulders, neck and head to the world. But only Troy could feel the rest of her body, spooning against his flesh, while they lay together.
He watched her sleep, like he did most mornings, after finding her again. Her hair splayed all over the pillow, in all directions, the ends tickling Troy's face. He placed a kiss on her shoulder, and continued to watch her dream.
It had been 3 months since they had found each other again; since they had been reunited that night. He stayed most nights, now almost living in Gabriella and Sharpay's apartment. It was homely now, not only a sense of the apartment, but mainly because Gabriella was there. Wherever she was, was home to him. He'd slowly began to adjust to being a father. He could hear Matthew playing with one of his toys in the room opposite, but he was too caught up in watching the woman he loved sleeping.
He'd always thought this was a rather intimate act; watching your partner sleep. It was another matter altogether, having a one night stand with someone. But staying with the person, and watching them as they dove headfirst into dreamland was completely different. When you slept your inhibitions faded. You didn't know who was around you, or where you were, you only trusted you'd be where you were, with the person you were with, when you fell to sleep. You had to trust that person. And Troy was glad to say that he'd earned Gabriella's trust now.
Beside him, Gabriella began to stir. He watched intrigued as her body started to move, her groans mumbling, and her hands pull the covers closer to herself. Then her eyes fluttered open, readjusting to the world. Troy moved closer, now feeling every inch of their naked bodies pressed together, and left a small kiss at the top of her spine. He saw Gabriella shiver, and smiled against her skin.
"Good morning."
Gabriella turned over, to look at Troy, the covers rumpling with her sudden movements. She smiled up at him, her hair a mess and her eyes covered with sleep. "Morning." She replied, her voice thick with sleep.
He smiled back, leaning down to press his lips to her forehead, and he heard her sigh in contentment. She buried her body closer to him, and he wrapped his arms around her body, shuffling her on top of his lap as he readjusted to sitting up against the headboard. She pulled the cover further up, over her chest, to warm them both.
"I like waking up like this, every day." Gabriella mumbled happily, lifting her head up to see Troy.
He ran his hands down her sides, stopping at her hips and massaging the skin, making Gabriella whimper with delight. He then relaxed his hands at her waist, pulling her tighter, and placed a kiss on her neck. "Me too."
She leant her head back against his muscled chest. "We'll always be like this, won't we? Like, be happy, and complete when we are together? I know your job sometimes takes you away, but we won't be apart, will we?"
"Of course not.' Troy laughed, trying to make the situation lighter. He didn't like it when Gabriella thought back to how they'd been before. Not knowing where each other was. Alone, without the other by their side. He moved his arms to overlap hers resting on top of the covers, and grasped her hand. He twirled the ring on her fourth finger. 'We'll always be together. I want to be together, forever. That's why I'm marrying you. I could be with you forever without marrying you, but I want to tell the entire world how I feel about you. And how we are each others."
Gabriella smiled at his words. "Sometimes you are sickeningly sweet, Troy. Did you know that?" She giggled when Troy gasped, shocked.
He clutched his heart dramatically. "You did not just say that, Brie!"
She squirmed down his body, trying to move from his arms, creating an iron cage around her. She laughed, the playfulness in her voice adamant. "I think I just did."
"That's it!"
His hands found her waist, caging her in, and then he flipped them around. Gabriella now found her body being shadowed by Troy's bigger and muscular one. He laid up on his elbows, not laying all his weight on her more fragile body, but enough to not make her move. His hands roamed down her body, to her sides, and he pinched.
"TROY!" Gabriella squealed.
He cocked his head to the side. "Do you take your words back, Montez?"
Her eyes scanned the area, the room and back to Troy. She looked deep into his eyes, connecting them, not letting him break her gaze. She leaned forward, letting her breasts graze over his chest, making a shiver course down his body. Then she moved her lips to his ears. "No."
The tickling commenced. Gabriella shrieked with laughter, unable to contain it any longer. She wriggled in her arms, desperate not to be tickled any longer. And then she begged for him to stop.
He shrugged, while still tickling her sides. "Sorry, the show's just too good."
She smacked his chest. "Pl-ea-se!" Her words didn't form correctly.
He leaned forward. "Make me."
And then she threw her body to his, linking their lips together fiercely. They were in battle, each wanting control. Their lips and tongues duelled. Their hands roamed everywhere, tugging and pulling at each others hair and skin. Their breathing quickly became uneven, and each were every aware of where this was heading.
Gabriella moaned, desperate for air. "Troy… we can't."
His lips were now tracing an invisible line down her neck, shoulder and to her collar bone. She pulled at his hair, tugging him in the right directions.
"Yes. We. Can." He muttered between kisses.
He continued the trail, Gabriella giving in and letting him have his way with her body. His lips traced down her chest, over her stomach, and she was sure he had kissed every piece of available flesh. She could hardly breathe, and the familiar ache in her lower abdomen was increasing.
"Troyyyyy!"
He smirked against her skin as he moved his lips back up her chest, her shoulders, neck, and to her jaw. She grasped her hands around his head violently, dragging him up to meet her lips in a passionate kiss. They moaned.
And then they heard it.
Matthew's cries broke the relative silence surrounding them. From the other room, they could hear Sharpay groan loudly (something she did every time she was woken to his cries), and started to puff up her pillows, gathering them around her head to block out the noise. Troy collapsed on top of Gabriella's body, panting loudly, and rolling his eyes. Gabriela stroked his hair.
"Why does that always happen?" Troy mumbled annoyed into her shoulder.
Gabriella sweet laugh sounded, vibrating through the room. "Because that's what happened when we became parents."
Troy rolled over, bringing half the covers with him, and Gabriella snuggled into his side, trying to keep warm. The cries kept coming, and Sharpay started shouting through the wall, 'GO FIX YOUR DAMN BABY!', so they guessed they had to get up. Troy turned to face Gabriella. She smirked. He pouted.
"It's your turn." She laughed.
Troy grumbled, "I know, I know."
And then he swung his legs out of bed, grabbing a pair of boxers to slip on, and trudged out into the hall. The cold air hit him hard and he shivered. He could hear Gabriella's muffled laughs, but he ignored them. This happened every time. They would mock each other, when it was the others turn. He smiled; it would be her turn tomorrow. His colleges continually asked him why he was so tired, but he only had to say the word 'baby' and they seemed to understand. It was normal, he knew now, for babies to wake up at the most inappropriate hours during the night. He couldn't say it was something he was fond of, though.
So, he opened the door and stepped inside. The crying stopped when Matthew heard him enter, and Troy smiled knowing that his child knew his footsteps. He was glad he'd become a father, even if it had been unexpected. That was the last thing he would have thought of, but he wouldn't have missed this opportunity for the world. If anything, it had brought Gabriella and him closer, and they had become a real family.
And for once, he could say he was truly happy.
He gathered his child up in his arms, hearing him gurgle and blow bubbles. Troy stroked Matthews nose delicately, earning a little chuckle. He kissed his cheek, and Matthew nestled into his side. Rocking backwards and forwards, he walked around the room, picking up various toys and clothes that had been strewn haphazardly around the place. Humming along to a tune that didn't exist, he started to notice Matthews eyes begin to droop, and he sighed in relief. It was always better when he began to sleep, and didn't take as long as he used to.
Placing him back in his cot, with his favourite bunny beside him, he stayed there for a second, watching his son drift into sleep. With one thumb in his mouth, he was soon out for the count, and dreaming away. Troy kissed his forehead, then left to go back to their bedroom.
He smiled as he walked in, hoping that Gabriella would be willing to start what they hadn't finished. But it fell when he noticed she wasn't there. Looking around the room, and into the bathroom connected to their room, he couldn't find her. Naturally, he began to worry.
But when he stepped into the hall, all his worries washed away. She was standing in the middle of the hall, half way down, in one of Troy's baggy shirts. The same one, he remembered, on the night of the reunion. He leant against the doorway and watched her silently, picking up everything she did without knowing. The way she flicked her hair when her bangs fell into her eyes. The way her fingers twitched when her arms were folded, and the way her foot was moving up the opposite leg. He coughed, letting her know he was there, and she turned around with an innocent smile.
"I was wondering where you were." He mused, walking towards her, and pulling her closer by the waist. She slipped her arms around his torso, and looked up at him shyly.
"I was just… thinking."
He turned her around, so her back was agaisnt his chest and he stroked her cheek absentmindedly. "About?"
She sighed, then turned around, back to face him, looking at him hesitantly. She bit her lip, something that had always driven him crazy, and looked down, like she was deciding something. But he didn't interfere, he knew whatever was bothering her would turn up sometime. And then she looked up at him once more, a determined look in her eyes. She outstretched her hand, and his slid in easily, squeezing tightly. "I want to show you something." She whispered.
He kissed her cheek lovingly. "Then lead the way."
Troy thought they would have gone down stairs, but they continued along the corridor, and he smiled, knowing where they were going. He'd never been in this room before. Rather, he wasn't allowed in this room. He'd asked Sharpay about it, and she'd replied that no-one was ever allowed in. It was her painting room, and he wasn't going to admit he wasn't curious, because that would be a lie. He'd been tempted to break in, just for a little peek, while she'd gone out, or when her and Matthew had been sleeping, but he'd managed to stop himself. He didn't want to risk being caught; especially by Sharpay.
Now, they stopped at the door, and Gabriella turned to him. "Okay, I've never really let anyone in here before, except Sharpay once, when I went into labour.' Troy nodded, and she continued, her grasp on his hands still tight. 'It's sort of special to me; untainted in a way. And some of the images, and things I've painted may… confuse you, a little. I'm just guessing of course, but if I saw these, and I were you, I'd be a little scared to.' Troy pulled her closer, now quite worried with what was about to be shown. 'I will explain every picture to you. But these pictures, no-one will ever see again. I don't need them anymore, and you'll see why. I haven't showed you them before, because I didn't know how you'd react. But here goes…"
She reached under the shirt and took off the necklace she always wore. The key at the end fitted into the lock, and the click was heard. The door swung open, and they stepped inside.
Troy gasped.
Gabriella watched, uncertain.
In front of them were all the pictures, paintings and works of art she'd created. Every single one was an image of Troy. Troy was astounded. It was surreal, to walk into a room and see millions of clones of yourself in painting form. He was taken aback. Gabriella wrapped her arms around his waist from behind, and let her chin drop to his shoulder.
"What are you thinking?" Gabriella wondered.
Troy gulped. "How weird this is."
Gabriella smiled slightly. "I did these when we… were apart for those months. It was a way of… remembering you, I suppose. I was trying to grasp every piece of you I could get, and find. And I knew what you looked like, so I painted and drew you. That way… you were close to me, even if you weren't actually here."
Troy felt a tear spring to his eye, but he blinked it back. He turned around, bringing Gabriella swiftly into his arms and kissed her. Slowly and sensually, they connected their lips together, for a mind blowing kiss. When they broke apart, they both smiled, emotions overwhelming them both.
Troy laughed. "They are wonderfully done, honey. I guess it's just weird for me, because, well, it's me you've drawn. But they are excellent."
She snuggled closer. "Thank you."
His brow then wrinkled. "And why don't you need to keep them anymore."
"Because I've got the real thing."
And that sentence couldn't be more true.
A/N; And that is the end of The Pregnancy Path. It's been a real joy to write, and hopefully you've enjoyed reading this. It was a bit of a gamble for me, to write this sort of thing, because pregnancy I'd never really done in other stories. But, with that standing, I actually think this turned out pretty well.
I'm still continuing with We Love Pretending, but other than that, maybe a few one shots on the way. I've got some more story ideas, but they aren't fully formed yet. Still keep checking out for more, though. So alert me, please!
Anyways, a big thank you to everyone who read this. It meant the world, and to everyone who continued to read after I'd stopped writing for a few months, thanks to you too.
Please, lets have a tidal wave of reviews, for the last chapter.
Over & Out, HSMisLurve.
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