Thanks so much for everything.
I am still under the weather a bit, but I am fighting through it. In case you care, I got pretty good grades on my finals!!! YAY!
Review please
Twins are still Eight Months, no time change since ending of last chapter, obviously.
I'll explain to you the reasoning behind the answer of the pregnancy test at end of chapter..
Review.
Named Please Take Me Home by Blink-182 because the title fits with what goes on later in the chapter.
"Are you going to be angry at me all night?" I questioned Troy later at my mom's house. He shrugged a little, leaning on one crutch, chewing some of the snacks that are set out in the kitchen. It's the beginning of March, so it's warming up a little bit, so dinner is outside. But, since it's barely three thirty, everyone is hanging out and eating and playing with the kids. "Troy, I'm not going to say sorry for the way that I feel, especially when I don't see anything wrong with it. You taught me that years ago, and now you're mad when I agree with it," I said, wanting him to look at me in the eyes.
"You don't see anything wrong with it?" he asked, his eyes finally connecting with mine.
I shook my head. "No," I answered.
"Gabriella, you were too scared to look at the pregnancy test, so you made me do it. I'm fine with that, I don't care, but when I told you you aren't pregnant, you said 'Thank God,'" he reminded me. "Excuse me for feeling a little insulted that my wife is relieved she's not pregnant with my child," he said.
I rolled my eyes. "That's not how I meant it and you know it," I insisted, crossing my arms. "For the tenth time since we found out I'm not pregnant, I'm not ready for another one," I repeated, wishing he would get that through his head. "I know how much you want five kids, Troy. I knew that before we got married. I want five too, but not right on top of each other. I love my mother and Isabelle, but I don't want to be like that, I don't want to be pregnant all the time," I told him.
"How come whenever we talk about having kids, it's always all about you?" he wondered, raising his eyebrows a little.
I ran a hand through my hair. "I don't know, maybe because I'm the woman here," I reminded him easily enough. "I have to carry the baby for nine months, possibly two babies, and I have to breastfeed, and be up for practically three months straight," I went on. "I have to be huge, and emotional, and hungry all the time, and have weird baby dreams. I'll have to give birth again, you get to do all the easy stuff!" I said.
"Maybe I'm not the one with the uterus and vagina here, but you're acting like I have no part," Troy responded here, touching his hand to his chest for affect. "Like I didn't make you feel better when you were throwing up for three months, like I didn't make you anything and everything you craved. I was the one who was on the other end of your emotional outbursts, and mood swings. I may have not carried Tristin and Carmin, but I was there every step along the way and you know it," he stated.
"I'm not saying you weren't," I insisted instantly. "I know you were," I assured him.
He nodded. "Damn right. So, don't act like this would all be on you," he replied. "But, unlike you, I would have been happy if you were pregnant again. And, like you're not sorry about feeling the way you do, I'm not sorry either," he said before leaving the kitchen.
"Ugh!" I groaned, sitting down on a bar stool and dropped my head to the counter. He always gets so sensitive when we talk about kids.
"What's wrong with you?" Belle asked from behind me, obviously coming into the kitchen.
I shook my head, keeping it buried in my arms. "I'm not pregnant, that's the problem," I muttered.
"I didn't know you and Troy were trying again," Jaymi commented.
I lifted my head up. Allie, Jaymi, Serena, AND Belle were in the room. "Geez, you're all here," I mumbled, running a hand through my hair again. "We're not trying again," I added.
"Then, I don't see the issue," Serena mentioned, opening a drink.
"The twins are eight months old, right?" I asked rhetorically. They all nodded. "And, I'm late, only one day, but I'm still late. Well, I feel it coming now, but-"
"Gabi, get to the point," Allie ushered me along.
I nodded. "Anyways, I'm not pregnant, but for a little bit, I thought I might be. I got a test, and I took it. Before the time was up, Troy came into the bathroom. Actually, he came in right when the time was up. I made him look at it, I was too nervous to. It's said 'not pregnant' and I was happy. I even said 'Thank God' after he told me. I know that sounds bad, but I am just not ready to be pregnant again. The twins are finally manageable, Troy and I have a social life again. I'm going for my Master's starting in September, this is just not the time," I finished.
"Have you told him this?" Belle questioned me.
"Of course I have, he just gets so sensitive when we talk about kids. We both know we want five, I just don't want them to be right on top of each other," I answered. "His broken leg is already pissing him off, now this, and you didn't tell us Ana and Robbie were here, this is not going to be a good night for me," I said, looking towards Serena with a glare.
She couldn't help but smile. She is evil. "I'm sorry, but the four of you in a room is just a fun show for me. We all know I am a bitch, get over it," she suggested.
"No, you don't get, there are about four people in this world Troy hates, all for good reason. Robbie is one of them, he may be number four on the list, but he is still on the hatred list," I informed them.
"Why does he hate Robbie, and who are the other three?" Jaymi wondered, eating an apple.
Doesn't she already know this? "I had sex with him after Troy and I broke up. I was really drunk, and heartbroken, and regret it, but it still happened. And, since I kissed Robbie during high school, effectively cheating on Troy, Troy hates him," I explained. "The other three remain nameless," I added. The other three are his dad, Greg, and the man who raped me.
"We all know Ana hates Gabi for kicks and giggles," Serena mentioned, sipping her drink.
"Yeah, is it me or is she a bitch?" Allie asked in a low voice. "Ana, not Gabi, I mean. I met her back at your wedding," she corrected quickly.
We all laughed, agreeing. A cry came from the living room. "Gabi!" Alex called in.
"You would think with so many nieces and nephews he would be used to babies," I mumbled, getting off my stole.
Before I could leave the kitchen, Belle spoke up. "Gabi, with the Troy thing, explain to him you do want five children, just not exactly yet. Then, tell him you love him," she suggested.
It can't be that easy. "Thanks, Belle," I replied, and went into the living room. Carmin was wailing in Alex's arms, reaching for me as soon as she saw me in the room. "What's wrong, Carma?" I asked, scooping her up. She quieted a little in my arms, resting against my chest as she cried. "You're okay," I assure her as I went over to the diaper bag and pulled out one of her binks, plus her teddy bear. Her teddy bear always helps when she is crying. "You want this?" I wondered, sticking the lime green bink in her mouth.
It silenced her cries for a moment, then she spit it out and began to cry again. I knew what she wanted and pulled out a red one that is Tristin's and put it in her mouth. She kept it in, her crying done. She only likes Tristin's binks, and Tristin's binks means more boy colors. Red is kinda unisex, but it's usually Tristin's. We only do the boy colors and girl colors because when they were born, I put a pink one in Tristin's mouth just because he would not stop crying. When Troy saw, he said his son is a boy, not a girl. We got into a stupid argument, it was really a stupid thing to fight over. I really didn't nor do I care, so I agreed to only use 'manly' colored binks.
"How do you do that?" I mumbled, grabbing a blanket from the diaper bag and brought her over to the armchair. "Mind if I sit with you?" I asked Troy, jiggling our still fussy daughter.
He pulled on my belt loop instead of answering verbally. I sat down next to him, resting Carmin against my chest. "She's tired," Troy stated, watching her hug her teddy bear and snuggle in to my warmth.
I nodded. "I know," I mumbled, kissing her forehead. "Probably because they missed their nap today," I mentioned, smiling a little at him. Tommy, Mason, and Nick dropped by to cheer him up, so they spent the whole afternoon playing with the babies, making them miss their nap. I got a lot done though, I did some house work and went out to get that pregnancy test.
"Yeah, Tristin's tired too," he said, nodding towards our son. I looked over to see him leaning against Vince, attempting to play, but was way too tired.
"Here," I muttered, handing Carmin over to Troy. She cried for a second then relaxed against him. I got up, got another blanket and bink, the lime green one, and bent down to Tristin's level. I held my hands out, wagging my fingers a little, and his arms reached for me. "Let's get you down for a nap, buddy," I said, picking him up. "You're free, Vinny," I stated, standing up.
He chuckled. "Thanks, I have to pee, and he was leaning against my bladder," he informed me, going for the bathroom.
I sat down next to Troy with Tristin in my arms. It didn't take long for them to fall asleep, only a few minutes. As soon as I knew they were deeply asleep, I made my brother's quiet down before I got up slowly. I brought Tristin over to the pack and play in the corner of the room and put him down inside with a blanket on top. I removed his bib and made sure he was still asleep. I went back for Carmin and did the same.
I returned to Troy's chair and bent down, putting an arm on each arm of the chair and looked into his eyes. "I don't want to fight all day," I admitted, biting my lip.
Troy's arms wound around my waist and pulled until I was sitting down next to him again. "I don't want to either, but I still think the way I think, and you think the way you do," he reminded me. "But how about we forget about it until we go home," he suggested.
"I'd like that," I mumbled, resting my forehead on his shoulder. "We can fight then," I said, kissing his neck. "Does anyone know what Mami is going to tell us?" I questioned my brothers a minute later.
They all shook their head. "Nope," Marcus answered. "Just that she wants to tell us something," he said. Yeah, like I couldn't guess that.
"Something big," Lucas agreed, his eyes on the t.v.
"And, she thought AJ had to know first," Vince put in. "Because, as soon as he walked in, her and Richard ushered him upstairs," he explained.
Alex leaned forward on his knees. "Maybe it has to do with him," he mentioned. "She did tell him first," he reminded us.
"Well-" Before Felix could go on, the front door opened. My heart sank, Ana and Robbie are here. Wonderful.
They're apparently happy, and moved in together around when the twins were born. I think Aunt Nina, Ana's mother, likes Robbie more than Ana does. I haven't spoken to Ana in months. When she's in town, we don't speak, just glare and comment on the conversation going on around us. When I see Robbie, I hug him, say hi, ask how he is doing, the normal stuff. I don't do much else because I do know Troy hates him, and I know that even though he knows there is no reason for him to worry about me and Robbie or anything, he would prefer I don't talk to him much.
As soon as they came in, Mickey began barking. We brought him because Tara, Benny, Evan and Eva pleaded. The barking woke up the babies. "Mickey!" Troy scolded as I instantly got up and went to calm them down.
"Hey, hey, hey," I said, coming over and bent over the play pen. "It's okay," I assured them, my hands on their belly's. I put their binks back in their mouths and shushed them. "It was just Mickey, it's alright," I went on, rubbing their belly's gently. I stayed a few moments, hearing my brother's greet Ana, and Kris laugh with his brother. I watched the the twins eyes close as they settled back down.
I smiled once they began to fall asleep again. They look so beautiful when they sleep, not that they aren't already beautiful, but I could watch them sleep all day. Sometimes I wish they would sleep a little more so I could get more done, but I love playing with them. I love everything about them. I stood once I was sure they were sleep, a few minutes later. Ana wasn't in the living room anymore, and Robbie was near the door with Kris, talking.
"Watch over them, please," I told Vince as I walked by.
"Sure thing," he agreed.
I went out towards the door to grab my coat. Troy wasn't there either, and I knew he wasn't in the kitchen. "Gabi, hey," Robbie greeted me as I shrugged on my black leather jacket over my top. It's a light tye dye with a design down the middle, a mix of black swirly dots and lines. It's cute with my blue jeans and black knee-high boots. My hair is wavy and my make up is light, but done well, and I'm wearing hardly any jewelry. Just my rings, and a few gold bracelet that is barely noticeable.
I smiled. "Hey, Robbie," I replied, hugging him. Kris excused himself to go to Tara, who was calling for him.
"Sorry for waking up the babies," he apologized sweetly.
I waved him off. "It's alright, my brother's are in the room where they are sleeping, it's gonna happen again," I told him. "How are you doing?" I asked.
"Good, I'm really good," he answered, a smile on his face. I don't understand how him and Ana are together, he's such a good guy, and she's.. well, she's her. "Do I even have to ask how you are?" he questioned. "I mean, you're happily married, two babies, everything should be great," he said.
I nodded, a smile on my own face. "It's wonderful," I agreed, laughing a little. "Yeah, I love being a mom, I love being married. I couldn't ask for anything better," I assured him.
"That's good, you deserve the best," Robbie responded. "Listen," he scratched his neck. "Ana found out about.. what happened a couple years back. You know, between us," he admitted.
I bit my lip. "How bad did she take it?" I wondered.
"I- pretty bad," he answered honestly. "I would try to avoid talking to her, like normal," he instructed. "She's seriously pissed. Me and her worked through it, but I'm sure you two will just continue to hate each other," he added.
I nodded. "We are good at it," I mumbled. "Thanks for the warning," I replied. "I have to go see Troy, so," I stopped, backing away with a slight wave. I went back to the kitchen where I found all the girls except my mother. What is she doing up there? "Did Troy come through here?" I questioned, walking up to my sisters. I consider Jaymi and Allie sisters by now.
"Yep, the gimp waddled on through," Serena confirmed.
I rolled my eyes. "He's already getting pissy about his leg, you all really shouldn't make fun of him about it," I told her. They all rag on him about it, my brother's, my sister's, his friends.
"Oh, we're family. Do you really think we would not make fun of him for it?" Belly asked.
"There's something sexy about a guy with a cast," Allie commented. I raised an eyebrow. "Don't worry, I haven't been into him since high school, I am just saying," she added.
Jaymi laughed a little. "Maybe you can ask one of the brother's to beat up Lucas until they break something," she suggested.
"Good idea," Allie stated.
We all laughed. I saw Ana glaring at me. "Hi, Ana," I greeted politely.
"Gabriella," she muttered back before turning and leaving the kitchen.
"Geez, ice ice, baby," Belle mumbled.
I shook my head. "I need to find my husband," I reminded myself, going out back. I found Troy laying on the trampoline, his black hoodie zipped up, and he was looking up at the sky. He's wearing a pair of tan pants, a white t-shirt, and a black hoodie, along with an original converse. I slipped my boots off before climbing onto the trampoline. "Hiya," I said, on my knees above him.
"Hi," he replied, a hand behind his head, and the other across his stomach.
"Why'd you leave?" I asked, sitting next to him, partly leaning against his leg. His cast free leg was bent up.
Troy didn't answer for a moment. "I just.. I know it's a strong word, but I hate that guy," he told me. "I don't want to be near him," he added.
"I know," I mumbled, wrapping my arm around his leg.
"I hate that you had sex with him," he stated. "I don't hold it against you. I can't since we were broken up and I don't know what the hell happened with Sharpay and me, but you forgave me for that," he went on. "I didn't need to forgive you for sleeping with him, but I did. It was different with Sharpay, I hope in my heart that we didn't do anything. We were just both heartbroken and drunk, and I hope in my heart we didn't do anything," he repeated. "But, I didn't cheat on you with Sharpay, you cheated on me with him. I know it was just a kiss, and it was for some weird revelation you needed, but it was cheating."
I nodded, my cheek leaning on his knee. "I know, Troy," I mumbled.
"It shouldn't have been so bad for me because it was just one kiss, but it did hurt like hell," he informed me. "And, it sucked when I found out you two slept together. I understand you were drunk and heartbroken like I was, but it makes me hate him," he carried on. I nodded, knowing all of this, but I knew he needed to get it out anyways.
"I don't hate Sharpay," I spoke up, biting my lip.
"I didn't cheat on you with Sharpay," he instantly responded. I nodded a little. "And, you did not get along with Sharpay for a long time. You two hardly hung out, you didn't talk for a while, it's just this past year you two have gotten back on track," he reminded me. "To know that the only guy you have ever been with other than me willingly was him, pisses me off," he said again, getting up on his elbows.
I nodded again. "I know, baby. If I could take it back, I would," I told him.
"I know that, I'm not blaming you, and I'm not trying to make you feel bad," Troy insisted. "I'm trying to let you in on what I am feeling," he corrected.
"I'm glad," I replied. "I want you to, you're supposed to," I added.
He sat up and linked a hand through mine. "I took your virginity, Gabriella. I was your first, I was your only, and then you were raped, and we broke up, and you slept with Robbie," he listed off. "I know this makes me more of a man, maybe not in a good way, but I wish I was the only guy you'd ever been with," he confessed.
"Troy-" I started.
"I know it's testosterone or something, but I wish it was true. I'm possessive, I don't care anymore, you've known that since I was seventeen," he cut me off.
I scooted forward and hugged him. "I wish you were my one and only too," I whispered into his ear. "But, in a way, you are. You're the only man I've made love with, and that's all that matters," I murmured, holding onto him tight. "You are the one who took my virginity. You are the only one I've made love with. You are the one who married me, and you are the one who gave me two babies," I reminded him. "I love you, Troy, nobody else," I assured him.
"I love you too," he replied, holding onto me. After a moment, he pulled away and went into his pocket. "It's my mom," he mumbled, answering it. It's on vibrate. "Hey, Mom," he greeted. "Yeah, yeah, I'm at Gabriella's mom's," he told her. "Well, what do you have to tell me?" he asked her, rubbing his head. "Mom, tell me. I'm not exactly having the best of days, you're not gonna put a damper on anything," he assured her. "I don't want to wonder all day, just tell me so I can think it over if I have to like you are saying I will."
I kept a hand connected with his. I squeezed it a little, to which he squeezed a little back.
"Oh," he mumbled after I am guessing she told him. He straightened his head out and looked into my eyes. "Mm-hm," he said back. "I know, Ma. I'll think about it," he told her. "And, talk about it with Gabriella, of course," he added. "I love you too, bye."
"What?" I asked when he hung up.
He sighed, closing his phone. "My dad called her this morning," he informed me. I waited. "He wants pictures of Tristin and Carmin," he told me. "He told her he wants to know who his grandchildren are," he added. "This day just keeps getting better and better," he laughed sarcastically. "Fuck."
"Troy-" I started again. Can I ever finish my sentence?
"Gabriella!" Alex yelled out the backdoor. I looked over. "Mami's ready to talk to all of us," he told me. "Now. She said get your ass in here, both of you," he shouted before leaving.
I threaded a hand into his hair. "Troy, listen to me," I requested, pulling on his hair a little. He lifted his head. "We're going to go in there, listen to my mom, do whatever she wants. Then, when she's done, we'll tell her you don't feel well. She'll let us go home, we'll talk, we'll fight, we'll do whatever you want," I assured him. "Okay?" I proposed.
He nodded a little, resting his forehead on mine. "Okay," he agreed.
I kissed him before going over to the side and put my shoes back on. I gave him his crutches and we slowly went back into the house. Troy sat right down on the arm chair that was free for him, while I checked on the babies quickly. Both were sleeping peacefully, so I went and sat down with Troy.
Soon after, my mother came into the room, Richard by her side. "I know you're all wondering what news we have to tell you," Mami started, linking hands with our stepfather.
"Oh, God, you're not pregnant are you?" Serena spoke up before she could go on.
"No, she's not," Belle assured her. "She's going through menopause. Can she get pregnant while she's going through menopause? Maybe it's only after it's over you're baby making is done," she rambled on.
My mother rolled her eyes. "I'm not pregnant," my mother stated.
"Thank God," I mumbled against Troy's shoulder. I do not need to be one of ten. And, if she was, I would totally be hoping for a girl. Troy kissed my head, resting his on mine.
Richard walked forward a little. "The reason we want to talk to you all is because I got a job offer," he informed us. All my siblings instantly started talking, congratulating him. He waved his hands to make us stop. "Thank you. It is a good job. I'd get better salary, better benefits, better everything," he went on.
"Where's the but?" Marcus questioned.
Lucas nodded. "There has to be something bad coming, right? I mean, if you just got a better job, we would have had a big dinner during the week," he said.
"You're right, there is a but," my mother answered. "Now, Richard and I spoke about this for a long time, more than two weeks," she went on. "And, we've both decided the best is for him to take it," she told us.
"I still don't see the but over here," Vince mentioned. "Am I missing something, Al?" he asked, looking towards our little brother.
Alex shook his head. "Nope, they haven't told us the but yet," he replied.
"If you would all shut up," I started. "They would tell us," I finished. "Go on," I urged towards my mother.
Richard spoke, not Mami. "The job is in New York," he confessed.
"We're moving to New York," Mami explained. "In April," she added.
New York? Like, all the way over on the east coast with the coldness, New York? I don't think I am okay with this. I may avoid my mother, and ignore her calls, and was very annoyed by her during my pregnancy, and even last week, but she cannot move! She's my mom. I need her here, I'm a new mom, the twins aren't even one yet. I'm not ready for her to leave. College was one thing, uprooting your whole life forever is another!
We all started speaking at once, even me, but no husbands or wives started objecting.
"Hey!" my mother shouted. We all shut up, but Carmin and Tristin began crying.
Vince and I instantly stood to go over to them. Troy takes to long to get out of his chair, so Vince was right to stand up. He grabbed Carmin while I got Tristin. They quieted easy enough, but were a bit PO'ed their sleeping was disrupted again. I would be too. I sat down with Troy again while Vince handed Carmin over.
Mami ran a hand through her hair. "I know this may seem like a big deal, but it's really not," she assured us.
"You're moving!" Alex reminded her. "We're supposed to leave you not the other way around," he told her.
"You all already left me, you're all in college, or out of college and married with kids," she responded.
"I don't believe I'm married," Marcus spoke up.
Lucas nodded. "I don't have kids," he agreed.
"You know what I mean!" she exclaimed. "You are all out living your lives. I've raised you as far as I can, now it's your job to take what I've taught you and make a life out of it. You all have to remember that even though I am your mother, I have a life too. I have a husband and a job and friends and a life along with nine children," she went on.
I looked down at Tristin who I was cradling in my arms. I kissed his forehead. I don't want my mother to leave. "What about the house?" I questioned, turning all eyes on me. "Are you just going to sell it? We all grew up here," I told her.
"We're not selling the house," Richard assured us. "Exactly," he added.
Mami nodded. "We are selling it," she corrected. "Just not to a stranger," she said. "Belle and Serena already have homes, the next in line is Felix. He wants more kids, but he's living in a two bedroom apartment with Jaymi. We offered it to them for a extremely low price because he is my son, and they accepted," she told us.
"You knew?" Lucas asked him.
"She asked me not to tell you guys until she did," Felix defended.
"We offered it to him with the understanding," Mami went on. "That whoever needs to stay here, such as AJ as he attends college, and Alex once he graduates, and Vince during summers, can. But, do not act like this house is a free bed and breakfast, it's not. I will not having you living here until you are twenty five, I'll kick your ass out myself," she warned.
Tara gasped. "Mommy, Grandma swore!" she exclaimed, pointing.
"Grandma's allowed to swear, she's grandma," Serena commented. "Sh."
Mami nodded. "We've already spoken to AJ, he wants to say here and continue going to college, that's fine. His life is here, U of A is here, and you're all here. He wants to stay with Tricia too," she carried on. "I know you're all going to fight me, and be mad at me, but the bottom line is that I am moving with my husband. You'll have to accept it or get over it."
"But you can't move when we're pregnant!" Serena insisted, looking severely upset.
"Yeah," Belle agreed.
Wait, hold up. "You're both pregnant?" I questioned. They nodded. Oh, if I had been pregnant, this could have been funny. All my brother's looked towards me. "Oh, please. I'm not pregnant," I told them.
I heard Troy come down the steps a couple hours later, using only one crutch, like normal. "Hey, baby," I greeted, getting off my knees from in front of the coffee table.
After my mom's news, I asked if we could leave. She agreed and let us go. As soon as we got back, the twins had yet again tried to nap in the car, so we put them down to keep napping. We layed down in our own bed, and Troy fell asleep himself. I didn't want to wake him or sleep, so I began cleaning a little.
"How was your nap?" I wondered.
He sat down at the dining room table with a groan. "Too short," he answered in a sigh.
I threw away my paper towels and put away the cleaning supplies then washed my hands. I came up behind him after and massaged his shoulders. "I'm sorry today sucks," I apologized. "It's mostly my fault," I reminded him.
"No, no it's not," he told me, leaning back in his chair.
I wrapped my arms around his shoulders from behind and rested against him. "Yeah, it is. I'm happy I'm not pregnant yet, and you hate Robbie because of me," I listed off. "But, I have something that will cheer you up," I assured him, already walking away.
I came back with Tristin in my arms. As soon as he saw Troy, he extended his arms. Troy couldn't help but smile back. "Hi, buddy," he greeted, taking him into his arms. "Not fair, you're using our children against my mood," he accused.
I leaned against the table with a laugh. "Guilty, but it worked," I responded, feeling something on my foot. Carmin was there, having crawled after me like I knew she would.
"Ma!" she exclaimed, drooling on my boot.
I smiled at her. "That's me, Carma-Lu," I agreed, picking her up.
"Not all of it is about you, Brie," Troy mentioned a few moments later. "The pregnant thing we'll get through tonight, Robbie is leaving, and we're not at you're mom's, I don't have to see him anymore. It's my dad," he informed me.
I nodded, jiggling Carmin a little. "Do you know what you want to do?" I questioned, patting her butt.
"I want him to grow a heart," he responded, looking down at Tristin. "It's been eight months, you would think he would have called sooner. Or, maybe he could be a man and call me, because they're my children," he added.
"Well, you know that I'm fine with whatever you want. They are as much my children as yours, but he is your dad," I told him. "I don't like him because of what he's done to you, but it's your decision," I said.
Troy nodded this time, glancing up at me and Carmin before back at Tristin. "I think he's pooping," he commented about our son. "He has that face on," he finished.
I chuckled. "He probably is, I fed them less than an hour ago," I told him. "I'll let him finish, then change him," I mumbled, holding Carmin up higher on my hip. She wants put down, she wants to crawl. I went over to the living room carpet and set her down. "Go on," I urged, patting her butt again. She instantly went for the chain links.
"I ordered the pizza," Troy stated when I came into the bedroom around eight.
"I got the twins to sleep," I replied, climbing on the bed with him.
I layed down and rolled over on his chest a little. "I know, I heard you sing through the baby monitor," he mentioned. I'm usually the one who puts them to sleep because my singing is what does the trick the fastest. We have a routine. They get get a bath, they get a bottle, they get put down, they get sang to, they fall asleep. Troy helps with the first three. He wrapped his arms around me. "I think I understand why you're not ready to get pregnant again," he said, kissing my forehead.
I snuggled into his chest. "Really?" I wondered, becoming very comfortable.
"Mm-hm. If you were pregnant, I would have been happy," he told me.
"I would have to, it just would have taken a day or two to get through the shock," I assured him, my lips rubbing against his neck.
I felt his hand moving through my hair. "I know. You're right, we finally do have a social life and the twins are easier to take care of," he agreed. "But, I don't want the fact that the twins are more manageable to make us not have another kid for five years," he told me. "I don't want our kids to be that far apart, and I realize you're going for your Master's, but if we wait that long, you'll never go back to work," he said.
"I don't want them to be that far apart. I want them to be close in age, just not this close," I agreed with him. "And, I'm not going to let me going for my Master's interfere with my marriage or children," I added.
Troy nodded a little. "I know you won't," he mumbled. "But, when are we going to try again?" he questioned. "When will you be ready to get pregnant again?" he corrected.
"Mm," I thought about it. "How about," I started. "We'll keep having sex the way we do, without a condom, but with me on the pill," I went on. "And, if we get pregnant, we'll be okay, obviously. But, if we don't get me pregnant, around the twins' first birthday, I'll go off the pill," I proposed. "I'd have a year of being pregnant free, plus the time it takes me to get pregnant. We'll go from there," I finished.
"I think that's a good timeline," he breathed, tugging on my waist a little.
I moved to straddle him. "We seem to do this a lot," I commented, letting my hair out of the bun I put it in earlier. "Hey, wouldn't it have been funny if I was pregnant while both my sister's are?" I asked.
"No, Sunday's would be hell. All three of you hormonal, irritable, emotional, and hungry?" he rhetorically questioned. "I would ask Dan to intentionally schedule us to work Sunday's," he admitted.
I rolled my eyes, closing them as a I ran a hand through my hair to get the knots out.
After a moment, Troy grabbed my hand. "Stop that," he requested politely.
My eyes opened. "What's wrong?" I wondered, confused.
Troy shifted underneath me. "Nothing," he coughed. I smirked a little, having really felt what's, um, up. "Don't make fun of me, I can't really control it, not when it comes to your hair," he reminded me.
"I just think it's a little odd you're turned on by my hair," I giggled. "Mm, it's alright though, I have a thing for your hair too," I said, messing it up some more.
He sat up and wound his arms around my waist. "I know. Sorry I was moody today," he apologized, burying his head in my neck.
My hand threaded into his hair. "Don't be, you're allowed to have a moody day. Hell, you're allowed to have many moody days, it happens," I assured him. "Where is your head at right now?" I questioned, my arms around his shoulders.
"I don't want to think about my dad, Brie," he instantly told me. "We can talk about it later, I'll figure it out later, right now I just want my head to be right here, with my wife," he said.
"But, what about Ana and Robbie? They'll be here for a while, Serena said about a week, I hate when you are pissy because he's here," I informed him. "Ana found out about what Robbie and I did, and now she hates me more than ever-" Troy cut me off there.
"Is she here?" he asked rhetorically. "Is he here? No, I don't care, then. I'm away from him, who cares about Ana, I don't," he went on. "If we see them, we see them, I'll get pissy, you'll get uncomfortable, we'll deal with it then," he suggested.
I nodded, hugging him. I felt his hand dip under my shirt and rub my tattoo for a moment before moving up to rest over my new tattoo.
We got our tattoo's a little bit ago. Mine is in between my shoulder blades on my back, just under my neck, and his on his right shoulder blade. It's the Celtic symbol for love with the twins initials written in a cursive-y sprawl on two of the lines, separately. We talked to our artist guy about how we both want three more, and he said if we go back to him, or anyone, really, and they see our tattoos, they can work our other kids initials into it like Carmin and Tristin's. It's not huge, but not tiny either. It really hurt and I couldn't even hold Troy's hand because he got his done while I got mine done.
"I love you," I whispered into his ear.
"Mm, I love you too, baby," he murmured back as a loud knock was heard from downstairs. "That's the food, I asked them to knock because of the babies. There's money on the nightstand," he told me.
I took the money and went downstairs to get our take out. I went into the fridge and grabbed the rest of the six pack of soda we had, and went back upstairs. "Geez, what all did you order?" I questioned him, putting the boxes down on the bed. Our bed is made, and I remembered napkins as I left the kitchen.
Troy laughed, helping me with the boxes as I sat. "What I thought would be enough for dinner tonight and lunch tomorrow," he answered. "A medium pizza, half what I like, half what you like, bread sticks, some chicken fingers, and cheese fries," he listed off. "Along with extra dipping sauces," he added.
I laughed too. "I think we're good, then," I said, handing him a few napkins and a can of coke. I brought four, it was easier than ripping two off of the pack.
"So, I haven't asked you yet because you've been so worried about me, and being with the twins, how are you feeling about your mom moving?" he wondered, taking a piece of pizza from the box.
I let out a breath, opening the other containers. "I'm pissed," I confessed, stealing the remote from behind him and looked to see what is on the t.v. "I may avoid her calls and, well, her, but she doesn't get to leave!" I whined, eating a chicken finger. "Alex is right, we're supposed to leave her, not the other way around."
"Maybe, but your mom is right, too. You guys did leave her. You and your sisters are all married, plus Felix. Lucas is on his way to being married, Marcus is dating someone new, Vince is looking for apartments, Alex is planning on moving an hour away to South Albuquerque once he graduates, the only one who has stayed with her is AJ, and even he moved out for a while," he reminded me.
I made a face at the t.v. because of what Troy is saying. "So? We all stayed near her! Hell, we all stayed in New Mexico, do you know how rare that is when you have nine kids and they all stay in the same town?" I questioned him.
"Gabriella," Troy said, and I looked at him. "It is rare, but she didn't ask you guys to stay, it happened that way. If you had to move, any of you, she would be sad her kid was moving, but she would have accepted it. She would have helped you pack, and been a part of it. Your mom did her job, she raised you all, isn't it time she gets back to her life?" he asked.
"She has a life!" I insisted. "She has a husband, she has friends, she's had a life for years," I told him.
"My mom left me, I wasn't mad at her for it," he reminded me.
I glared at him. "It's different with me and my mom than it is with you and your mom," I commented.
"I know it's different," he agreed. "My mom shipped me off here when I was seventeen and the only person I knew was Chad. I had to adjust to being without her, my dad, to having no friends other than Chad, and I grew up because of it. I missed her, but I lived without her. I began to not need her as much, not rely on her as much, and take care of myself more. The only time you did that was college," he told me. "Even during that time your mom called you twice a week, and you two talked for hours each time," he went on. "Then, as soon as you got home, you had her again. Now that you've moved out, we still spend every Sunday over her house. I don't have that with my mom," he finished.
"But, I-" I stopped. "Now you're making me feel bad!" I whined, falling back on the bed.
He laughed a little. "Why?" he asked.
"Because, I have a better relationship with my mom than you do," I mumbled, rubbing my eyes.
He laughed again. "Oh, no, babe, we have the same relationship. Your mom just lives here and you just answer the phone more," he corrected me.
I dunno, I feel like that is a weird place to stop, but right at the same time. Odd.
Anyways, Maria's news seems a little.. less than what you all expected. I think it's bigger than you probably think because G is close with her mom, and all. I'll go WAY more into it next chap, which does not skip a lot of time at all. Only like, a few days. I'll go into Jack, too, and what Troy is thinking. Plus, some Robbie and Ana coming your way, yes, something will actually happen this time!
I told you the tattoo! It may see hard to picture, and if you have any questions about it, PM or review it, and I'll answer.
I didn't make her pregnant because I felt that it hasn't been enough time. I just don't see it in her personality to want to be pregnant like Isabelle is, or how her mom was. I know when she'll be getting preggers again.... if she does. Gasp.
REVIEW PLEASE!!