Please Read Till The End. Thank You!

It was early in the morning and Troy couldn't go to sleep for some reason. Just half an hour ago, he and Gabriella just got back from the hospital and Gabriella had told Troy all about her father's cancer. Although he barely knows her father, it was a shock to find out that he has cancer. He looked so healthy on the outside. He didn't expect him to have any cancer at all.

On the ride home, after Gabriella explained everything to Troy, they both fell into silent. Gabriella was looking out the window, probably still depressed by the news of her father. He wondered what else she could be thinking of. Could she be thinking of him for some reason? It's possible right? Troy sighed as he wondered when the favour is going to be over. He needed to tell Gabriella his true feelings for her before it's too late but now is probably not a good time. She's under a lot of stress and he didn't want to add up with the stress.

While staring at the ceiling, Gabriella, who is sleeping right next to him with the pillow in between them, turned to his side. Troy looked at her sleeping soundly. She looked so peaceful. It's as if everything that happened before she went to bed never happened. Troy looked down at her belly. Her shirt exposed her baby bump. Troy slowly moved the pillow in between them and lay next to her tummy.

During the doctor appointment earlier, the doctor told them that she knew the gender of the baby is. Gabriella wanted it to be a surprise but Troy didn't. He didn't like surprises so when Gabriella was preparing to leave, Troy came to the doctor and asked for the gender. He was happy to know that they will be expecting a baby girl. He knew it was going to be a girl. He didn't know how but he has a feeling.

He slowly strokes the baby bump slowly and spoke, "Hey. I'm not sure if you can hear me right now. Sorry if I interrupt you sleeping or anything. I just needed someone to talk to. So how's it going in there? I hope me knowing your gender doesn't ruin your mommy wanting it to be a surprise. You're probably wondering who I am, right? Well little girl, I'm your daddy. The doctor said that sometimes it good for mommy and daddy to talk to you so when you're born, you could easily recognise us," he whispered.

Troy didn't care if the baby didn't talk back to him. Somehow he can feel her listening intently. He continued, "You're probably wondering why mommy is so sad just now right? Well, I can't explain it to you because it's complicated. But you'll know once you're here. You'll also wonder why mommy and daddy isn't so close sometimes right? Well, that's also complicated also. All you should know that you are no mistake or an accident or unplanned. If anybody asked, you're a wonderful surprise. Got it? And one more thing you should know, I love you so much. If you asked if I love mommy too, well I do. I love her. I just have trouble telling her. Can you help daddy telling mommy that I love her?"

Suddenly, Troy felt something while stroking Gabriella's baby bump. It felt like a kick. Troy was stunned. Could it be real or was he just imagining it because he's tired? About thirty seconds later, it kicked again. This time, Gabriella felt it and started to shuffle in the bed. Troy quickly took the pillow and placed it back in between them and faced the other way of the bed before Gabriella suspects anything.

Gabriella then jerked up and felt her stomach again. It was another kick. She couldn't believe it. It is her baby's first kick. She looked over to Troy who was sleeping. She slowly touched his arm and tried to wake him up.

"Troy," she whispered, but no respond. "Troy, wake up!"

"Hmm? What? What is it?" Troy asked, purposely trying to sound annoyed.

"It's the baby. The baby started kicking," she answered excitedly.

"Really?" Troy replied, trying to act surprise.

"Yeah! Come, feel it," Gabriella said while pulling Troy's hand to her stomach. There it is again. The baby is kicking again. Troy had a smile that matched Gabriella's. They were both so happy.

Troy examined Gabriella's face. She looked so happy compared to how she looked before. Troy can't help but leaning in closer and he started to touch her lips, kissing it softly. When realising what he did, he pulled back.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know why I did that-," Troy apologised before getting interrupted by Gabriella wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him passionately. Troy was confused by her actions but didn't stop her at all. It had been a very long time since they kissed each other and this time, he wants it to last.

Gabriella slowly started to climb on top of Troy without removing her lips from him. She continued to kiss him while Troy slowly slid his hands under her shirt. He started to slowly rub her back while Gabriella struggled to get his shirt off.

After getting his shirt off, Gabriella pushed Troy to lie down while she helped Troy to get her shirt off. After that, she started to kiss his neck while Troy moans her name. It didn't take Troy to be drunk to want to have sex with Gabriella but he wondered if the moment was right. Gabriella came home depressed, then woke up happy because of the baby kick and now here she is on top of him and making out. It's not like Troy didn't want to have sex. He does but not when Gabriella is at a very vulnerable stage. He didn't want Gabriella to regret it the next day.

"Wait. Stop," Troy said.

Gabriella stopped and looked into his eyes, "What?" she asked innocently.

"I don't know if we should do this," Troy said.

"Oh," Gabriella said. Her facial expression then turned embarrassed. "I'm sorry. I didn't know what came over me," she said while getting up and wearing back her shirt.

"No, it's fine. It wasn't your fault. I just thought you had a long day and that you should rest. I don't want you doing something stupid," Troy said.

"You thought that was stupid?" she questioned.

"No. I mean, I didn't mean it that way-," Troy said.

"Then what did you mean then?" Gabriella questioned again.

"I just don't want to make you regret doing something you don't want to do. That's all," Troy said.

"What makes you think I would regret this?" she asked.

She's not letting this go. Troy thought. What was he suppose to say? "I just think you're just too tired-"

"So you're saying that after a long day and being pregnant, I'm not active enough?" she questioned once more. "You know what, don't answer that. Let's just forget this ever happened and that we only woke up because of the baby kick. Goodnight Troy," she declared before lying down on the pillow, not facing Troy.

Hormones. Chapter 2 pg 32. Troy sighed as he remembered the page he read in one of the pregnancy books. Now that Gabriella's not throwing up much anymore, her hormones will start to kick in almost every day and a few minutes is torturing enough. Troy might be thinking selfishly at that moment but he knew what just happened is not helping him to get Gabriella to fall for him. What's weird was Gabriella was the one who climbed on top of him. He didn't do anything to persuade Gabriella otherwise. Could she already have feelings for him?

The next day, during his break, Troy decided to visit Gabriella's father at the hospital. He wasn't sure what to get her father. Giving him foods could be offensive considering that he might not be able to consume any solid food. Not that Troy knows anything about pancreatic cancer but he just doesn't want to do something stupid.

When he arrived at the level where her father is, Troy walked slowly as he prepares what to say when he enters the hospital room. Troy and Gabriella did have an awkward morning. They didn't say much to each other and Troy's mother began to question. Troy explained that Gabriella was probably worried about her father that's all.

When he arrived outside the room, he took a deep breath and reached for the doorknob but someone was opening it from the other side. The door opened and revealed Gabriella. Troy looked further in the room and saw her father asleep.

"Oh, hi. What are you doing here?" she asked.

"I just thought I'd say hi and visit your dad. That's ok, right?" he inquired.

"Uh, I guess. I'm going to bathroom for a while. You can stay here with my dad for the moment," Gabriella said.

"Ok. Sure," he replied.

As Gabriella left the room, Troy entered and closed the door behind him. That went well, he thought.

"She likes you, you know," Greg spoke.

Troy turned his head. He didn't know her father was awake. Did he happen to hear the awkward moment? "Excuse me?" Troy asked.

"She likes you," Greg repeated. "Even when she doesn't admit it. I know she does."

"How do you know?" Troy asked.

"A father just knows what daughter is thinking sometimes," Greg explained.

Troy gave him a questioning look. "Really?" he asked.

"If you don't believe me then fine. But I'm telling you, she has a thing for you," Greg says.

"Well she has a weird way of showing it," Troy commented.

"Did you ever admit it to her?" Greg asked.

"No. But that doesn't mean I don't like her. Mr. Montez, I know it's weird to say this but I'm in love with Gabriella. Honestly. She makes me feel somehow, normal. Even though we fight and argue a lot, she's the only person who has been so honest with me and she has been supporting me through whatever I'm going through. No one in my family, except my mom, ever really acknowledges me or takes me seriously. But she…she just understands me and I really like that about her," Troy admitted. It felt good to finally admit it even if it's not to Gabriella.

"Why don't you just tell her? Are you afraid?" Greg asked.

"Yes. I'm afraid that she won't like me. Ever since after the night me and Gabriella…conceived the baby, I couldn't help but falling for her. And since then, I've been trying everything to make her like me so it'll be a lot easier for me to admit it to her when she actually likes me. I even read women's and teenage girl's magazines for advice and help. It sounds ridiculous but to be honest, none of those advices worked," Troy said.

"That's because a bunch of words in a print doesn't help true love. You have to work at it if you're really in love with someone. Magazine columns don't help true love. You help yourself and have your soul mate work it with you even if it's hard or awkward," Greg advised.

Now that Troy thought about it, her father was right. He shouldn't be following advice or stories from a magazine. He just needs to help himself. Prove to himself that he is not afraid to admit love to someone he truly cares about. "Thanks. Maybe your advice could help me. But if you don't mind, I would like to keep this between us. I don't want Gabriella finding out from someone else," Troy said.

"My lips are sealed. I wish I could help you but I can't even move my hands," Greg said. "Pancreatic cancer isn't a joke. It could really damage you badly."

"I'm sorry for this to happen to you," Troy said.

"It's not like it's you're the one who caused this. The only person causing this is me," Greg said.

"Gabriella told me that you stopped taking medications. Why?" Troy wanted to know.

"I guess I just know that my time is going to be up anyways so why not just end it," Greg said.

"But why? It's not like you don't have anything to live for. You have Gabriella to live for. Knowing her, she'll be devastated to find out that you past away," Troy reasoned.

"I've been taking care of Gabriella for 26 years. She's old enough to take care of herself. And if she has bumps along the way, I know you'll be there for her. I can tell that you wouldn't let her go or let anything to hurt her right?" Greg asked.

"I would never," Troy assured him.

"I know you wouldn't," Greg smiled.

"Speaking of bumps, yesterday I found out the sex of the baby. Gabriella doesn't know yet because she wants it to be a surprise. Do you want to know?" Troy asked.

"Wow. Two surprises in one day. Lay it on me," Greg smiled.

"Well, let's just say, you're going to have a granddaughter," Troy announced.

"That's wonderful. And she doesn't know?" Greg asked.

"Not a clue. I wanted to found out because I don't really like surprises," Troy said.

"I can assure you that I wouldn't let it out. That I promise you," Greg said.

Suddenly, the door opened and Gabriella came back. She was surprised to see her father awake.

"Dad? You're awake. I thought you were asleep," Gabriella said.

"I think I got enough sleep already Gabriella. Troy kept me company for the meantime," Greg said.

Gabriella turned to Troy and gave him a friendly smile as if to say 'thank you'. Then she turned to her father. "Do you need anything dad? More pillows or anything?" Gabriella offered.

"No, it's ok. You've done enough for me pumpkin. Maybe you and Troy should go to the food court downstairs and have lunch. I'll be fine here," Greg said.

"Ok. I'm getting hungry anyways," Gabriella said. "I'll see you back here around thirty minute ok?"

"Take all the time you need. Please, I insist," Greg said.

After leaving the hospital room, Troy and Gabriella had lunch just like what her father wanted them to do. Without her father around, they went back to their awkward silent phase. Troy knew he needed to break the ice.

"So when is your dad getting out of the hospital?" he asked.

"I don't know. He could be here awhile," Gabriella answered. "Troy, I need to tell you something."

"Sure. You can tell me anything," Troy said. Inside, he was wondering what Gabriella was going to tell him? Was she admitting her love for him or did she wanted to talk about yesterday night?

"I….."


CLIFFHANGER! HAHA. I'm evil. What do you think Gabriella wants to tell Troy about?

So what do you think? Sorry for the suspense but I just needed to know if all my readers are with me. If you're a true Forced To Be Wed reader, PLEASE REVIEW!

Anyways, I have a question for you guys:

Do you think I am dragging the story? If so, you can tell me the reason because I feel like I'm dragging it.