A/N I DON'T OWN ANYTHING!

The next morning Gabriella and Troy were out back playing some basketball. Ashley had stayed the night with Lucille and Jack because Gabriella needed a night where she could just cuddle with Troy and not have to worry about anything else. That's just what happen. They had been playing for about an hour and they were tied and sweating.

"You're going down. Mrs. Bolton." Troy said playfully.

"No Mr. Bolton see that's where you're wrong. I'm going to kick your butt." Gabriella replied back a smile clear on her face.

Troy was happy to see her happy again.

"Bring it." Troy said.

They continued their game until it came down to the last point. They had been tied the whole game. Gabriella had the ball and Troy was in front of her ready to block her shot. Gabriella looked at the hoop and then at the ball in her hands. There was no way she could win this….unless…..she smirked as she got an idea. She clutched to ball tightly to her chest. Troy gave her a look.

"What are you doing?"

"Nothing."

Then she turned away from him and took off running. Troy laughed. "That's traveling Missy. That's really bad traveling." He called running after her.

He caught up with her in no time and wrapped his arms around her waist picking her up and spinning her around. Her laughter filled the backyard making Troy smile. Once he set her down she ran over to the net and shot the ball in. Then she turned to Troy and said " I won."

"You planned that?" he asked.

"No of course not." She giggled.

"You tricked me. That was not a very smart move Mrs. Bolton."

"What are you going to do about it?"

"Hmmm? Well…"

Troy started to walk towards hers a plan forming in his mind. She backed up too.

"Well there are many things I could do but only one I'm going to do."

Gabriella's back hit the wall and Troy went over to her putting his hands on both sides of her boxing her in. He looked serious for a second hoping this didn't make her uncomfortable but when he heard her giggling he knew she was ok with it.

"What are you going to do Bolton huh? What are you going to do?"

"Well I'm going to do….WHOA!" Troy was cut off and screamed with Gabriella tickled his stomach. He jerked his hands away and Gabriella ran off laughing, He ran after her.

"I was just going to hold you in my arms until you said sorry but if you want a tickle fight then it's a tickle fight you'll get."

They both ran around outside like a bunch of kids until finally Troy grabbed her by the waist and gently tackled her to the ground and pinned her arms over her head, her body under him.

"Still want a tickle fight Mrs. Bolton because you know I'll win. I know your weak spot and you can't get mine so I have the upper hand" he whispered letting his breath tickle her ear.

He felt her squirming and trying to pull her hands free which made him smile.

"Let me go." She said.

"Are you sorry?"

"No" she giggled.

"Do you want me to tickle your underarms?"

"No!"

"What about raspberries? I'll give you raspberries under your arm if you don't say sorry."

"No! No raspberries."

Troy laughed.

"Then say sorry."

"No way."

"Ok then let the tickling begin."

Troy started to tickle her one underarm with his fingers. Then he tickled the other by blowing raspberries then he switched. Gabriella screamed in laughter wiggling trying to get away.

"Sto-stop Tr-Troy!" she begged laughing hysterically.

"I'll stop when you say sorry."

"Nev-….never" she choked out.

Troy stopped letting her breathe. Once she got her breath back he smirked. "Once last chance."

"Nope still not sorry."

"Fine then you've left me with no other choice."

He blew another raspberry but this time he rubbed his chin against her skin letting his beard tickle her. She screamed and laughed hysterically.

"I'M SORRY I'M SORRY!" she tried to scream out but it just came out as whispering.

"What was that Mrs. Bolton?" Troy asked as he stopped tickling her.

"I'm …sorry…. I'm…. sorry." Gabriella panted.

Troy smiled and kissed her on the lips. She kissed back. He let her hands go and moved them to her sides. She brought her hands up to his hair. Before anything went further Gabriella pulled away.

"Troy I'm still sore from last night." She smiled.

Yep last night Troy and Gabriella…well let's just say proved their love for each other. It was the first time since they got news about Gabriella getting pregnant and it was perfect jut the way they wanted it full of love and passion.

"But it was so fun" he teased poking her stomach making her squeal.

"TROY GABRIELLA YOU THERE?" Lucille called out.

"OUT BACK MOM!" Troy answered.

Troy got off Gabriella and helped her stand. Lucille Jack and Ashley came into the backyard. Ashley ran into Gabriella's arms.

"Hey baby I missed you so much." Gabriella said kissing her head.

"I missed you too mommy."

Everyone froze. "What?" Gabriella asked.

"I missed you too mommy." Ashley repeated.

Gabriella's eyes filled with tears and she hugged Ashley tighter. "I love you Ashley so, so much."

"I love you too mommy. I didn't mean to make you sad."

"Oh baby you didn't make me sad. You made me happy. Sometimes when people are really happy they cry."

"Oh ok."

Gabriella set her down and she went over to Troy.

"Hi Mr. Troy." She greeted.

"Hey cutie."

"Papa Jack taught me how to play basketball and Nana Lucille let me help her make cookies."

"That's cool. You didn't eat all the cookies did you?"

"Not all just two."

"Good."

Troy was hurt. She was calling Gabriella Mommy, Lucille and Jack papa and nana so why wasn't she calling him daddy? Gabriella saw the hurt in his eyes.

"Ashley why don't you go inside and get changed." Gabriella said.

Ashley went inside. "Why won't she call me daddy?" Troy asked.

Gabriella and Jack just looked at each other. They knew why Ashley wouldn't call him daddy but they didn't want to hurt him worse.

"What?" Troy asked.

Gabriella sighed and looked at Troy. "To her 'daddy' is a mean man who hurts her. You aren't a mean man who hurts her. She doesn't want to call you daddy because in her mind you're aren't her daddy you're her Troy. She thinks all 'daddies' are mean it's not your fault Troy and she'll warm up to you."

"What if she doesn't?"

"She will. I didn't want to call Jack daddy for the longest time." Gabriella said.

"It took me almost three years before I got comfortable enough to call Lucille's mom and dad , my mom and dad. It just takes time son. Ashley will call you daddy soon enough."

Troy just nodded.

"Troy don't be too hurt by it. She doesn't understand that a real 'daddy' is someone who loves you and takes care of you. She thinks a 'daddy' is a man who hits you and beats you and hates you and cares nothing of you….She….." Gabriella trialed off.

She still hadn't gotten over what Greg told the night before and saying that out loud made the truth hurt more. Her father beat her. He never loved her. He lied to her and planned his own death. She shook her head as tears filled her eyes.

"Gabriella? Baby what's wrong?" Troy asked.

"Nothing. I'm going to check on Ashley."

She quickly went back inside and out of sight.

"What was that all about?" Lucille asked.

"Carlos." Troy sighed.

"What?"

"He told…no I'm sorry he screamed at Gabriella that her father didn't love her or her mother and that's all I know."

"That's horrible"

"Yeah and I made the stupid mistake of trusting Carlos to be alone with Gabriella."

"Troy it's not your fault. Gabriella wanted to be alone with him to get answers."

"Yeah and look how that turned out. She still won't tell me what else she found out but I know it's not good."

"Do you think it's true?"

"I don't know. I hardly knew Greg or Carlos."

"Well you guys seemed to be having fun before."

"Yeah we were standing outside the front door knocking for the longest time and we heard Gabriella screaming and laughing." Jack said.

"Yeah we were fooling around."

"Look why don't you go back inside with your family. Spend the day like you had planned and have fun. You can worry about Carlos another time."

Troy nodded. He said goodbye to his parents and ran back inside. He was happy when he heard giggling coming from the bedroom. He walked in and saw Gabriella laying on her back with Ashley sitting on her stomach and ticking her ribs. Gabriella squealed in playful torture and Ashley giggled. He walked in and grabbed Ashley tickling her sides. She screamed in giggles squirming in his arms. Gabriella sat up and giggled. Troy smiled at her. Maybe all she needed was a day of fun. Troy stopped tickling Ashley and whispered something in her ear. She nodded and giggled. Troy went over to Gabriella.

"Troy what are you up to?"

"Nothing."

He climbed in behind Gabriella and held her arms pinning them behind her back. Ashley went and tickled her sides. Gabriella squealed and burst into giggles.

"No, not again." She giggled.

Troy was holding her by the wrist so she had full use of her fingers. She started to tickle his stomach making him laugh squirm.

"Stop Brie."

"Tell Ashley to stop."

Ashley stopped and giggled at the two parents. Gabriella stopped as well. Troy grabbed both Gabriella and Ashley threw them over his shoulder and rushed downstairs. He laid them down on the floor and tickled them in their tickle spots. Gabriella on her underarms and Ashley on her sides. They both screamed in laughter wiggling to get away.

"Stop Troy…Sto-stop." Gabriella laughed.

"Mr. Troy stop, stop!" Ashley screamed.

Troy stopped and smiled as both the girls he loved caught their breaths back. Then Gabriella knocked him back and tickled his stomach as Ashley got his sides. He laughed and wiggled as well.

"Ok, ok. Truce" he cried out. Both girls stopped and Troy sat up.

"Mommy, Mr. Troy I'm hungry."

"How about some lunch. What do you want?"

"MAC ANC CHESSE MAC AND CHESSE!" Ashley cheered.

"Ok Mac a cheese it is."

They all went into the kitchen and Troy got out a pot filling it with water. Then he set it on the stove. Ashley appeared next to him on her stool.

"What can I do?"

"Turn this button until the arrow is at the ten." Troy said.

Ashley reached over and turned the stove on. "Ok now we just wait and when the water starts to make bubbles we can put the pasta in."

"Ok."

Troy walked away but then turned around Ashley was standing on her stool watching the pot. Troy laughed. "Ashley let me teach you a lesson. A watched pot never boils."

"Oh…what does that mean?"

Troy laughed harder. "It means the water won't bubble with you standing over it."

"Oh…but why?"

"I don't know." Troy shrugged.

"Ok what can we do while we wait?"

"Whatever you want to do. Is all your homework done for Monday?"

"Yes."

"Ok then we can go play some basketball."

"Yay!"

Ashley ran outside. Troy laughed and looked at Gabriella. She was sitting at the table smiling but something didn't look right. He went over to her.

"Are you all right?"

"I'm just a little dizzy tired from all the tickling I guess. I'll be fine."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah go play with Ashley."

"Ok call me if you need me."

Troy kissed her head and went back outside. Gabriella smiled but then frowned. That was all that was wrong with her right? She was just tired and dizzy from all the tickling? What else would be wrong with her? Gabriella had an idea but she was too scared to even say it. After a few minutes the water started to boil. Gabriella called Ashley and Troy back in knowing Ashley wanted to make it. Troy let her pour the noodles in but held her arm so it never touched the pot. He even let her stir. Ashley went to lay on the couch tired from running outside. Troy looked at Gabriella again. She was resting her arms on the table and resting her head on her arms. He went over to her and stoked her hair.

"You still feel dizzy?"

"Yeah but I'm ok."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes I feel fine."

"Ok baby."

He kissed her head and went back to cooking. When it was ready He called Ashley back in and they all sat down to eat. Gabriella took a few bites then felt sick. She rushed to the bathroom. Troy ran after her and held her hair back. When she was finished she leaned back against him. He went to brush the hair from her face when he felt how warm she was.

"Baby you're a little warm."

"I don't feel well Troy." She whimpered.

"Come on let's get you to bed."

He helped her clean up and chanced into her pjs. Then he laid her down in bed tucking her in.

"Just sleep you should feel better in the morning."

"I don't like sleeping without you."

Troy smiled. "I don't like sleeping without but I won't be long. I'm going to finish up dinner get Ashley in bed and then I'll be in ok."

"Ok. I love you."

"I love you too baby."

Troy kissed her forehead and left closing the door behind him. Troy went back into the kitchen. Ashley was crying.

"What's wrong princess?" Troy asked rushing over to her.

"What's wrong with mommy?"

"OH baby she's just feeling a little sick. She's all right."

"She is?"

"Yes baby she's fine."

"Ok."

Ashley sniffed and Troy hugged her. "Don't be sad sweetie. Mommy is ok." Ashley nodded and the two of them finished their dinner. They cleaned up and then Troy got Ashley ready for bed. He read her a story as she fell into a deep sleep.

"…and they lived happily ever after." He said.

He looked at Ashley who was sleeping. He smiled and kissed her head. "Good night princess I love you,"

"I love you too daddy." Ashley whispered.

Troy smiled and gave her one last kiss before leaving the room. He went into his room Gabriella wasn't in bed. His smile dropped when heard her getting sick again in the bathroom. He went in and held her hair back rubbing her back.

"What's wrong with me Troy?" she whimpered leaning back against him.

"Oh sweetie I'm sure you're fine. Just all the stress is getting to you."

"I hope so. I did have fun today."

"Me too baby. Guess what?"

"What?"

"Ashley called me daddy."

Gabriella smiled. "I'm glad Troy. She really trusts you."

Troy cleaned her up and took her back to bed. He cuddled her close all night. Luckily she didn't get sick again the rest of the night. He just hoped whatever this was went away soon. He was also happy that they got to spend this day together as a family.

A/N any guesses on what's wrong with Gabriella? Next chapter will be filled with drama so get ready.