I don't own anything.
A/N: I'm glad you all enjoy last week's chapter and you all know it's that time for yet another chapter so here we go but first I want to thank my reviewers from last week; lilmissmonique, Quizas, HeartsWereNeverMeantToRace,chaylorXtraylorlover, Erieaud, serena's girl 4-ever , Marchbabe, Phelycia, LunaSolTierra,traylorlove, tina, and Gonna Give All My Secrets Away. Thanks you guys for the support. I hope you all enjoy this new chapter, and please remember to Review and let me know what you think.
Baby S
Chapter Thirteen
Taylor looked up as her parents and friends came rushing into the room, her mother quickly rushed to her side and draped her arms around her kissing her rapidly on the cheek and forehead. "I was so scared." Denise McKessie cried as she held onto her daughter who was now crying right along with her. Samuel watched from the doorway silently taking in his daughter's features, just getting his sight full of her. Five years had been to long, much to long. He missed his daughter, he missed her so much. "Are you okay? Samuel heard something about a baby." Denise asked as she pulled back and swept her hand along her daughter's hair. Taylor just nodded and smiled.
"The baby's fine...I'm going to be a mother." she whispered as she looked up at everyone in the room. Her eyes landed on her father's, and she smiled weakly at him. They had been so close before Darius had gotten a hold of her. "Daddy." Everyone watched as the older African-American male started crying immediately at his daughter's words. He walked over to the bed and crushed her into a loving hug.
"We missed you so much baby-girl...we missed you so much." he whispered into her hair as he held onto her tightly. Denise just smiled at the sight, her family was finally back together. "I was so worried that I would never see you again." Samuel cried as he held his only child. "Never do this again...never." he mumbled his voice breaking up because of the tears. Taylor cried back and buried her head into his chest as he rocked her. The movement caused her to remember how she used to go to him about everything. Sharpay and Gabriella stayed back and allowed the family to have a few moments together. After a few moments, Samuel released his daughter and stepped back with a small smile on his face, as he watched her.
"You girls go ahead and get your greetings in." Denise murmured as she stepped back as Gabriella and Sharpay rushed forward and hugged their long lost friend tightly. Taylor held them to her and laughed out loud with a happiness she hadn't truly felt in five years. She didn't realize just how much she had missed her friends, and she was more than positive that she wouldn't be letting them go anytime soon.
"Oh my goodness, I'm so happy to see you." Gabriella gushed as she held on to her friend, who had helped her transition into East High so long ago. "I missed you so much."
"I missed you too." Sharpay replied as she hugged Taylor to her. As she looked at her friend she wondered just what had happened all these years ago that allowed someone like Darius Combs to enter her life and completely control every aspect of it. She was so happy that Troy had found her and that he had fought his way into her life and saved her from Darius' clutches.
"I've missed you guys too. I'm sure you guys have a lot to tell me." she replied softly as she looked at them. Nodding their heads, they moved back.
"We do...but we also know that you need to rest. Today has certainly been," Gabriella paused and looked down for a moment before continuing. "It's been a trying day for you and your baby. You really need to rest."
"But don't worry we won't be leaving until after New Year's so we'll talk with you then." Sharpay replied with a wink. They both stepped forward and kissed her on the cheek before stepping out of the room leaving Taylor alone with her parents. Once the door was closed Samuel and Denise looked down at their daughter. Denise moved to sit on the side of the bed while Samuel pulled up a chair on the other side and reached out for his daughter's hand.
"How are you feeling baby?" Denise asked as she looked over at her husband who was silently holding his daughter's hand.
"I'm doing good." she replied as she looked over at her mother and then over at her father, almost immediately the tears that she had been trying to keep away flowed freely. Tucking her head, she tightened the hold on her father's hand and spoke her voice trembling "I've missed you guys so much." she whispered through tears. Samuel moved at that moment and pulled his daughter to him, and then pulled Denise into the hug.
"We missed you too. What's wrong sweetie?" Denise asked as she wiped away some of her daughter's tears.
"Nothing...I'm just thinking about how I've missed five years with you guys, five years that I will never be able to get back." Samuel shifted briefly and then maneuvered himself so that he was cupping his daughter's face in his hands while looking at her.
"We'll make up for lost time sweetie, we'll make everything up." he replied smoothly as he looked at her for a moment. Taylor blinked and two tears raced down her cheeks immediately, he sighed and then spoke again. His deep voice soft yet commanding. "Now, Taylor in order for that to happen I want you to forget about everything that man has done. Don't dwell on what he took, don't dwell on what you lost. Dwell on what you have and who loves you."
"Okay, Daddy." he lifted himself up and kissed her forehead.
"About who loves you...," Denise started with a small smile as she lifted her hand and fingered the beautiful ring that hung around her daughter's neck. "I take it Troy told you about his proposal." Taylor looked down at her neck and her parents watched as a smile went across her face, lifting a hand she touched the ring and just sighed.
"He did...he told me to take time, and when I'm ready to just put this ring on my finger and tell him that I love him." Samuel couldn't resist the smile on his face, at his daughter's words. Boy would he have to have a talk with Troy to see where he picked up his game. Samuel had to admit he was happy that Taylor was with someone like Troy. Someone who loved and cared for her before anyone else, he could tell that from their first phone call. Troy hadn't cared that Taylor was his daughter, his only concern was protecting her and if that meant not allowing her family to see her then he would do it. He respected that, and it sort of reminder him of how protective he was when it came to Denise.
"Do you know what you're going to do...you two are about to start a family." Denise asked softly as she placed a hand on her daughter's arm. Taylor released the ring, and sighed for a moment before shaking her head.
"I love him, mom...I really do. I'm just going to take some time though, I want to talk to someone and hopefully he'll still be there for me like he said he would be." Samuel shook his head for a moment before speaking.
"Now I don't think you have to worry about that sweetie, he loves you and I'm quite certain that he won't be going anywhere." Taylor smiled at his words and nodded her head, before she still held some doubts because to be quite frank her track record with men who claimed to care about her was most certainly the worst.
Three days later...
"Oh my goodness, Troy I can not believe you are picking me up like this." Taylor cried out as Troy hoisted her from the car and into his arms just as Julius who had followed them home ran up the stairs to hold the door open for them. Troy just chuckled as she wrapped her arms around his neck, he looked down at her and just smiled brightly.
"Didn't the doctor tell you, you needed to be off your feet for at least a week," he stated more than asked as he looked down at her while slowly walking towards the front door. "Cause I was there if you don't remember, he told you, you needed to be completely off your feet."
"I know but don't you think this is a little extreme."
"Nope not really, thanks Julius." he stated finishing his statement by sending a nod at the other man. "Can you stay for a little bit I want to talk to you about some things." Julius closed the door and rocked back on his heels.
"Yeah, sure thing." he mumbled. "I'll be in the living room." As soon as he finished Maria rushed out of the kitchen and over to Taylor's side.
"My goodness, child are you okay. I practically worried myself sick when Troy called and told me what happened." she admitted as she checked over Taylor herself. With a small smile Taylor carefully removed her hand from Troy and looked at the woman she considered her second mother. Reaching out she grabbed her hand and held it within hers.
"I'm okay Maria." she whispered as she looked up at the elderly black woman. Maria just smiled and patted Taylor's hand for a moment before speaking.
"I...I just look after you like I would any of my other children." she admitted softly her voice getting low with emotions. "I'm so sorry, that he did what he did," she paused again as if she was thinking some things over and this time when she spoke her voice was much more happier. "Now what is this I hear about a baby."
"She's pregnant...and it's going to be a boy." Troy beamed.
"Troy!" Taylor exclaimed before looking back at Maria. "It's to early to tell what the baby is, but he's been saying it since the moment he found out about the baby." Troy just chuckled and shook his head while looking down at Taylor.
"You ever heard of speaking something into existence." Troy asked with a twinkle in his eye, which caused Taylor to simply roll hers in response. Maria watched them both with a bright smile on her face before shaking her head.
"Okay, then I guess you two need your time alone. I'm going to go and cook dinner, Troy you go and get Taylor to rest for a bit cause I'm going to cook her a big ole welcome home meal...and she's going to eat every bite because she just needs too," by the look that Taylor sent her, she smiled and placed her hand on her stomach. "You need to have an appetite for you and the baby. You need to keep the both of you really strong right now." she admitted with a smile as she looked at her.
"Well, Maria I'm going to take her up there soon, she needs to rest a bit and then I'm going to go and talk to Julius." Maria just smiled and nodded her head slowly before stepping back away from the couple.
"Okay then," she leant down and kissed Taylor on the forehead. "Be careful with her she has a baby on board."
"I promise with my life." Troy stated seriously as he walked upstairs with Taylor in his arms. He carefully but quickly bounded up the stairs and then entered her bedroom. Moving over to the bed he sat her down gently and smiled at her for a moment before speaking. "Home sweet home." he murmured a she lifted her legs and placed them beneath the covers. "Do you need anything before I head downstairs." he asked gently as he reached over and grabbed his pillow and placed it behind her back.
"No, thanks for asking though." she replied as she settled back with a sigh.
"Okay now are you sure, cause you don't want to be punished for getting up on your feet cause believe me I will." Taylor giggled at his face and just shook her head.
"Believe me I'll be fine, Troy. You can go and talk to Julius." she replied as she reached out for the remote and turned on the television. "I think I might look at some movies."
"Movies...that sounds good I guess that'll work." bending down he kissed her quickly on the forehead before sighing. "I'm sorry about that." Taylor looked up at him in confusion as he pulled away from her.
"What are you sorry about?"
"I told you, I'd take it slow and here I am kissing all over-." his statement was silenced by Taylor moving and placing her finger on his lips.
"Troy, I told you I need time...for myself, but please don't stop being affectionate with me. I love that about you." she admitted as she looked at him with a small smile. "I like you kisses and hugs."
"Well I like yours better." he whispered as he bent down and kissed her briefly on the lips, after he was finished he rested his forehead on hers and just smiled. "Is it okay to say that I love you."
"Only if it's okay for me to save I love you back." she whispered softly as she looked deep into his blue eyes. Troy smiled and kissed her once again before pulling away. Taylor giggled as he stepped back with his hands up.
"Okay we've got to stop, I gotta go and talk to Julius and you need to rest." he stated more to himself than her. She smiled then as he blew her one last kiss before rushing out of the room. He threw one last 'I love you,' over his shoulder before closing the door.
Bounding down the stairs, he quickly went into the living room and Julius sitting there flipping through a book that was on the coffee table. "Julius." Looking up he tossed the book down and stood up as Troy walked deeper into the room.
"So what is this all about, man...what's going on."
"Come on let's go talk somewhere in private...," he quickly turned on his heel and walked away and Julius had no other choice but to follow him. Once they entered the downstairs office, Troy closed the door and looked at the man in front of him. "Have you thought about what I asked you?"
"About taking on Darius?" Julius asked as he crossed his arms in front of him while looking at the man before him. Troy just nodded his head and motioned with his hand for Julius to continue with his answer. "Yeah, I thought about it."
"Have you decided?" Shaking his head, he moved away from Troy and looked down for a moment before continuing. Troy watched him calmly, while silently hoping that the man chose to side with him. His plan didn't work without Julius in it.
"What is your plan, Troy? You know you gave me absolutely nothing back at the hospital and I make decisions now based off of people's plans. No one is going to be leading me around blind again. I did it once with Darius and that hurt Taylor, I won't be doing that again." Troy nodded his head and motioned for Julius to have a seat, he could certainly get with that idea.
"Look, I promise you what I'm planning won't hurt anyone but Darius in fact I'm willing to state that what I'm planning will help you and the others who are still on the label out as well."
"Let's make one thing clear...I'm no longer associated with Dee records, and Darius is working on making it so that you and Taylor are no longer associated as well." Julius replied with a shake of his head as he looked over at Troy.
"I'm aware of that...Darius called me while Taylor was resting yesterday." Troy stated with a shrug, "He's trying to find a way to get us out of contract without having to worry about paying us much money. As you can well imagine I don't give a damn, what he does as along as the end result is us being off that label."
"So you're going to stop singing?" Julius asked curiously as he looked at Troy. He knew Taylor and she probably wouldn't be happy with this arrangement once she found out, besides he spent time with Troy before getting him signed and he was almost positive that Troy wouldn't like being out of the music business.
"No, and neither is Taylor, if that's what she wants. I'm thinking about starting a new label, and taking Darius' acts from him."
"You can't do that."
"But you can, come on be truthful how many people actually are happy to be working with Darius everyday. It's all you man, you're the one people talk to and go to. You're a good guy when you're away from Darius and if those people currently stuck within Dee records see that you're leaving and starting a label of your own well I'm sure they'll follow."
"Darius is a good business man...he won't let that happen."
"Let me tell you something, I don't spend my life worrying about what people won't let happen. They don't control me, and Darius doesn't control them or you. I know you're a better business man and I know you are also a good talent scout despite what Darius had told you. I mean why do you think he kept you on. Besides I'm pretty sure you have a different idea of what sales, and that's what I want. I want a boss who allows freedom and creativity." Troy replied as he looked at the man in front of him. "And I think you can do this."
"Really?"
"Darius has done a number on you too, but yes I'm telling you right here and right now that you can do this." Julius thought over everything that Troy had told him and then nodded his head before speaking again.
"Okay...I'll do it, but seriously are you sure about this Troy." Leaning back he crossed his arms over his chest and sighed for a moment before speaking.
"The only Darius cares about is his wallet and how much is in it. He can't make money without good artist and a good crew to back them. You're the man who can get those people to just ship and get into our boat man. I'm trusting you with this, Julius...because frankly sitting behind a desk isn't what I want for myself."
"So you just want to remain an artist."
"I want some control...but I'm willing to be a silent partner." Troy replied. "You will hardly get any input from me, as long as everything is going good. I came onto Dee records because of you man. I trust you."
"Alright then...let's do it."
Once Troy and Julius were done talking, Troy let Julius out and then went back upstairs opening the door he saw Taylor sitting there jotting down some things into a notebook one he didn't remember giving her. "Taylor...what in the world." he exclaimed angrily as he looked at her for a moment before shaking his head. "Did you get up?" she looked up at him and gave him a quick smile before rapidly sitting down the notebook and shaking her head.
"I didn't get up...I swear."
"Sure." Troy replied with a shake of his head as he looked at her for a moment before walking over to the side of the bed that was unofficially his and settling down. He groaned as his body met the soft surface of the bed. Propping his head up on his hand, he looked at Taylor and gave her brief smile before his eyes settled on the notebook. "Well if you didn't get up for it...where was it."
"In my nightstand," she replied as she quickly held the notebook away from him. "Nope you don't get to see it." she replied with a smile, as Troy dropped his arm around her waist. Setting the book down she rolled onto her back and looked up at him for a moment. Troy bent and kissed the tip of her nose. "So what were you talking about with Julius?"
"Nothing much...just business." he answered smoothly, he still hadn't told her about what happened when he spoke to Darius earlier that week. She looked at him for a moment before frowning.
"You're lying to me." Troy bowed his head and nodded before speaking again.
"Yeah, I guess I am." he whispered back softly as he looked at her. "Um, I was talking to Julius about starting a record label...and he has agree to do it." Taylor watched him for a moment before speaking again.
"So Darius has removed us."
"He's working on it right now as we speak." he answered softly as he looked at her. "I'm sorry." he replied as he noticed the expression on her face. "Don't let this get you down, Taylor. You can still sing if you want, hell you can still be the headliner on the label if you want." he admitted softly as he gently cupped her face in his hands.
"I'm not really upset about that...it's just that he's doing all of this pretty quickly, and it just drives home the fact that he never cared for me or our relationship." Troy nodded his head for a moment before speaking up.
"I believe that you just shouldn't dwell on it, Taylor. He's going to do what he wants, and you already know how he feels unfortunately so don't dwell on it baby just let it go and move on." he finished the statement and saw Taylor watching him in silent awe, he gave her a smile and brushed her a hand over her face.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing...it's just that you sounded a lot like my dad right then." Troy smirked and shook his head before moving over to the side.
"Really...well he must be picking up some habits from me." he replied with a smile as Taylor just shook her head at him. Troy just smirked and looked at her for a moment before continuing. "I mean we did spend some time talking to one another."
"He told me to do the same that day in the hospital."
"Great minds think alike, Taylor I don't know what else to say." she nodded her head and then looked at him again.
"Are you taking your own advice?" Troy raised an eyebrow at her and sighed.
"What?"
"I'm serious are you taking your own advice...the whole business with the record label seems suspect because I know you." Troy just looked at her for a moment before shaking his head and sitting up and turning away from her. Taylor looked at his back and then groaned. "Please tell me you aren't going after Darius, Troy?"
"I'm not going to lie to you." he whispered softly as he looked back over at her. "Julius and I are going after Darius the only way we know how to hurt him." he watched as Taylor watched him before continuing. "We are going to start a label and we're going to bring over whoever wants to leave Dee records."
"Troy now didn't you just tell me to let what he did go?" she asked as she moved across the bed so that she could place her hand on his shoulder. Troy nodded his head, and then turned to face her. She studied him and waited for him to answer.
"Yeah, I did...but you don't think I'm going to simply let what he did to you go un-punished, fie years he held you underneath his thumb, controlling you, keeping you away from your family and to top it all off he tried to take you away from me and he almost...hurt our child." Troy replied his voice growing colder as he thought about all of Darius' offenses.
"Let it go."
"I will, really this is about moving on."
"Yeah, while waving your middle finger in the air as you walk away, Darius won't take this quietly." Troy just nodded his head and stood up from the bed with sad smile on his face as he looked at her.
"Well yeah that is the general idea...this is me moving on, Taylor."
"You just told me to let it go, how about you follow your own advice and do the same. I don't want Darius popping back up in our lives because on your way out you pissed him off." Troy just shook his head as he walked around to her side and hoisted her up in his arms. He was silent as he headed towards the bedroom door, before they stepped through it he spoke up then.
"What type of man would I be if I didn't let everyone know that you and my child were off limits. I want to get to him now, because I don't want to walk away and then later on down the line he publicly attacks you and our child. I want to shut him up now and end this. I love you and I'm going to protect you so please just let me do that." Taylor studied him a bit longer before nodding her head and leaning it on his shoulder.
"Okay...fine but no fighting."
"Of course." he replied with a smile as he looked down at her. He quickly gave her kiss and then strolled out of the room and headed downstairs where Maria had cooked what smelled like a great dinner for the two of them.
A/N: I hope you liked it, and please for those that are interested go and check out my new story for "Bamon," in the Vampire Diaries (TV) section entitled The Revelation.
Baby S