Chapter 17- South Carolina

"Why did you want to be the first one there?" I asked yawning; we were in the car on our way to the beach house. It was May, the sun was shining and it was time for the family reunion that was going to last two weeks.

"That way, we can do sleeping arrangements, and we arent stuck with the couch." I raised an eyebrow, "So if you are first there you can pick the sleeping arrangements?" I asked him, he nodded his head as he turned onto a street.

"Yup, we have to get them done fast. The kids don't know who will be it but the adults do, the next people to arrive is Sarah and Chris at noon." I looked at the dashboard to see it was almost ten. Our flight had left at seven that morning so we have been up for quiet some time. Liam had been cranky and upset all morning and was finally sleeping. After our scare with him, we really had not left the house with him making me go stir-crazy.

"Well, I want to get Liam in a crib." I told him as I looked back to see his tiny chest rise and fall. Just a little over two months old, he was really getting big. "I know they have those here too. I slept in one," he said giving me a smile, "That's how old this house is?" I asked he shook his head. "No,"

He turned into a neighborhood while Liam began to fuss in the back. My head began to pound from his constant crying. "Once we get there I got him." Troy told me as his hand reached for mine. "You seemed stressed," he told me as we driving down the street, the beach was in view and I could hear waves crashing.

"Just a little bit, Taylors wedding is in a month, Sharpay is two months pregnant and Liam is slowly driving me crazy." I told him, he gave me a soft smile as he slowly came to a stop in front of a huge house. "This?" I asked letting my jaw drop a little, "Yup, it is still a struggle to get our whole family to fit inside of it." He said shaking his head, "And there are four king beds so the adults always fight. That's why the first person that gets here always gets to chose the arrangements."

I giggled as the basketball hoop stood straight in front, "Looks like this is the Bolton's place," I said laughing as I pointed, he blushed a little before opening the rental cars door. "Well it will be used…often." He said as he pulled Liam out of his car seat. He bounced him up and down for several moments before patting his back.

I pushed open the car door to feel the crisp wind from the ocean. I was in a pair of sweatpants and a pink tank top, our flight was miserably cold there. Liam cried the entire time and I felt like breaking down right there with him. Troy kept me right up in his arms as much as he could with Liam back and forth.

I let my hand run up my arms as I looked around. There was a palm tree right in front, which made me feel at home yet in a different universe.

"Come on, lets get inside, figure out rooms and then we can unpack." He said coming up next to me, he slipped his arm around my waist as Liam still cried. "Alright," I said leaning against him, he held onto me as we starred at the street ahead. "Think we should head inside."

Troy kissed my forehead before we all started for the house. I felt amazed walking into our house for the first time but this time I felt shocked. "Damn," I muttered as I entered into the entrance.

"This is Mason's beach house?" I questioned him; Troy nodded his head, "Mhm,"

"And he decorated this?" I asked as my fingers crossed the old table that looked to be from a long time ago. It looked modern yet it had an old time twist every now and then. The wall colors were a light blue to the point you really could not tell it was blue or there was a sandy color on the walls. "Erm no, that was all somebody else."

Troy bounced Liam in his arms before looking over at me, "I am going to put him in a crib upstairs," he said switching shoulders, "I can give you a quick tour…" he said looking at me, "Totally," I said dropping the backpack that was sitting on my shoulder. Troy leads the way, "Here is the dining room where we will basically sit every night for dinner except when we eat outside which could be daily." I looked at the long wooden table, "There is a kids table," he said giving me a smile. He knew I was counting the chairs trying to see how all 35 of them would fit. Except three of them were babies, "Only you can read my mind," I teased

He smirked as we moved on into the living room, the couches were leather and there were four of them, "Enough couches?" I questioned, "They are needed. Most of the teenagers sleep on them; I think two of them fold out. I had to sleep on them my 8th, 9th and 10th grade year that is why I am first." He said as we came towards the set of stairs that lead up.

"Is that why you stopped coming?" I teased him, he shook his head, and "I met this amazing girl who took up way to much of my time." He played back, "Oh well I had this boyfriend back in high school who never stopped playing basketball."

"Oh was it that one guy? Heard he was in the NBA now," I giggled as we made it to the top floor, there was a hallway then it lead to several rooms. "There are three rooms on the bottom floor, five on this floor, and three on the next floor above." He said as he walked towards the first room on the right. He popped the door open; there was a queen-sized bed in the middle with a blue and white bedspread on top.

"Brie, can you open the closet and see if there is a pack n play or something of that sort in there?" he asked me, I turned to see if I could find what he was talking about but my eye caught on the flat screen TV with the seashells surrounding the dresser. I quickly turned around from that before opening the door. Sure enough, there sat a pack n play, "How old are these things?" I asked thinking about safety, "Since probably Ryan,"

I pushed it back into the closet, "I think he would be safer with staying on the bed." I told him turning around, he squinted, "Those things only stay safe for so long, I mean if it was a crib it might be a little better." I said as Troy laid Liam on the bed. "Well once we get rooms figured out we can go buy new ones." He said sighing; he ran his fingers through his hair as he looked at Liam. "Let me go get his swing out of the car." Troy said, I nodded, "Alright sounds good to me."

Troy escaped the room; I quickly surrounded pillows around Liam before I left the room myself. I would be gone for a minute and I was just going to look around the upstairs. I took a few steps down the hall to see that the whole floor was either king or queen.

I heard Troy come back up the stairs but I moved on to the next room. This was another Queen bedroom and it look like ours. Each bedroom so far had a bathroom to there selves which would be great. As I moved to the next room I felt Troy's arms slip around my waist and his lips connected to my neck. "Hey," I said grabbing his hand, "No talking," he murmured

"Don't we have to get those rooms done?" a groan slipped through his lips as he let his forehead dropped against my neck. "I do but I don't." he said as he rubbed my sides with his hands. "Well the sooner we do the rooms the sooner I will give you a kiss," I mumbled turning around to face him. He smirk raised on his face, "Really?" I started to lean in to kiss him but I pulled back and started for the stairs. "Is Liam buckled in?" I asked as I looked into the room, I saw it was in the corner near the window, which had a deck leading out.

"Yes," Troy said as we both started down the stairs, "I already have a rough idea where everybody is going." He said as he grabbed the pad of paper sitting on the counter. It had the list of rooms already on there.

"I flipped coins for the king bedrooms," he said as he started to write names down, "My parents are getting it, Logan&Meg, Rob&Tish and Mason gets the Master bedroom which is right off the kitchen." Troy told me, "That is always a givin."

"Now the queen bedrooms, we have one of the queens and the rest of them go to the other adults. Chris&Sarah, Michelle&Lucas, and Lilly&Shawn." Troy squribbled onto the piece of paper as fast as he could, poor thing.

I leaned over and I touched the top of his wrist, he flinched before looking up at me. His blue eyes shined as he looked at me before letting a playful smile cross his face. "Do we really have to finish this?" he asked, I gave a small nod. "Come on, I'll help." I told him. He rolled his eyes before looking down at the paper.

"The one room upstairs with three twins and a couch," he said tapping the pencil against his chin, "I saw that room," I told him as I slide the paper in front of me.

"But some of the oldest girls in the room," I said, as I reached for the pencil. I put down Haley, Jillian, Abby, and Becca down on the list. "They can fight over the couch and bed later," I said waving my hand, I wrote down the names as Troy's eyes longed for mine.

"Two Twin Beds," I said looking up at Troy, "Anthony and Josh," I told him, Troy nodded his head, "Whatever gets this done faster," I shook my head giggling. "Next room, two twins, two cribs, and one full bed," I told him as I looked up it, I saw it was on the third floor. "Put all the younger kids in there, Issy, Anna, Max, Austin, Mike, Dalton, Brett."

"That lives most of the older kids and the living room." I said as I wrote the rest of the names down in the living room. Emma, Aiden, Ryan, Greg, Jenni, and Derek, I pushed the papers away from me. Troy was quickly over to the other side of the table and he put his lips onto mine.

I moaned softly as he squeezed my sides, I giggled as I dipped backwards for him to deepen the kiss; I let him massage my tongue with his. Troy picked me without our lips escaping each other. Troy carried me to the living room where we collapsed onto the couch. He slipped his hand up my shirt and started to massage my stomach.

"That feels amazing," I murmured as I kissed on his cheek then down to his neck. "You have not even seen the back of this house. The pool, the beach…or the hot tub." His lips were right next to my ear making Goosebumps pop up onto my skin. "Damn, I love you." His lips felt hot against my skin making me want more.

"Why do you make me want more?" I asked him with a sly grin, "Because," he said as he kissed my lips over and over again. He kept his hands sliding up and down my stomach. I giggled as it tickled, Troy grinned with satisfaction. He dove down to kiss me again and this time we did not stop.

"Oh my!" somebody yelled, we quickly broke apart breathing deeply as it had sucked air out of our breaths. Troy tumbled onto the floor. We looked up to see Austin standing there looking at us, I let a small groan escape my lips. I touched them where they were swollen. "Damnit," I muttered as I wiped at my lips.

"Shit," Troy looked back at the clock on the wall before bouncing up and heading up the stairs to my guess, check on Liam. I stood up and started fixing my hair. "Greg!" Austin shouted at his brother, I quickly straighten out my clothes, "I found Troy and Gabi making out!" he yelled excited, I cringed as a blush crept onto my cheeks.

"Whoa, you found Troy making out with Gabs?" Anthony said coming into the room with a smirk plastered onto his face, I rolled my eyes as I looked at his green ones. "Not funny," I mumbled as I turned quickly to get out of the room. Anthony let out a bellow of a laugh, "Its pretty damn funny," he dropped the duffle bag at his feet before adjusting his baseball cap on his head.

"Where is the piece of paper telling me where my room is?" he asked me, "On the dining room table," I called as I saw Troy coming down the house with Liam in his arms. He was still asleep but Troy looked at me with a quick look. "I am going to bug out and grab that pack n play, so do you want to come?" I shook my head, "Nope. I am going to stay here and look around." He nodded his head before leaving with Liam. Since basketball had ended, Troy and he had been inseparable.

"Gabi, what is Austin trying to tell me?" Sarah asked coming into the room, I bit on my lip as Anthony came running into the room with a snubbing grin. "I got the BEST room!" he cried dancing around with the Nike backpack, "I am paired with Josh and Josh only in the twin room!" He tossed the paper to Greg who moaned, "I got stuck with the living room, and you have to be kidding." He said letting his hand roll down his face.

"Where am I?" Austin cried trying to reach for the paper, "Wait," Chris said grabbing the paper from his son, "Where are your mom and I at?" they looked like they were praying for a queen but did not get it. "Queen 2nd floor," he mumbled to Sarah, "We got one of the kings last year, it was just our turn." Sarah said as she picked up a bag next to her feet, "We are going to get settled upstairs and Austin you are in the little kid's room…again." Chris said to his son, Austin pouted before slowly going up the stairs.

I crossed my arms as the last time I had seen any of them was Troy's Birthday, it almost felt awkward. "So where is the little man?" Chris asked as he started to roll the suitcase. I had talked to him for about two minutes at Troy's birthday, "He is out with Troy getting a new pack n play since the one upstairs isn't in the best of shape," he nodded his head, "Well I know Meg and Logan were basically behide us so I am going to finish unpacking."

I nodded as I fiddled with my fingers. I chewed on my lip for a moment before I disappeared to the kitchen. I stepped in and took a deep breath. The fridge was new, the counters looked fresh, and the bar stools along the bar were brand new. I smoothed my hair back down as I let my fingers run through it.

"Now that I am settled in with the best bed, I thought I would come down to talk to you." I turned to see Anthony walking into the kitchen. "Really now? The best bed?" he nodded his head, "For the room I have, it's a pretty good bed." He said laughing, he popped open the fridge and grabbed a water bottle.

"The moms need to get to the store so I can have some food to eat." He rummaged through the fridges; I peered in to see there were a bunch of water and a few things of condiments. "When was the last time Mason was here?" He tapped his chin for a moment before shutting the fridge. "Christmas,"

I felt a shock run through my system, "Bullshit, this place looks brand new."

"He has cleaners come through cleaning the house, replacing things…" I nodded my head, "He keeps talking about getting a house up in Minnesota but we all don't really like the cold weather." I agreed with him, "I hate it."

"Yea, most of us do." He sat down at one of the barstools while taking a drink of his water. "So Troy was telling me you havent finished college yet?" he looked down at the counter, "Not like he has," he mumbled, "I found a job,"

"Yea well Troy is kind of different. I am going to finish college once this school year is over. I am not going to do anything with it because I decided I want to be a stay at home mom. Troy is already gone way too much," he nodded his head, "Where did you get a job at?"

"At a pay collectors place. They are paying me decent money; I am ready to move out of my parents place." He screwed the cap back onto his drink. "Thank Goodness thought I would never hear the words!" I turned around around to see Becca walking into the kitchen. She looked tired in her Pink sweats with a Laker hoodie. "Well if it wasn't Becca," Anthony said getting up to give her a hug, "I am trying to find room assignments." She said giving me a quick hug, "You are in with Jillian, Haley, and Abby." I told her as I glanced at the chart behide me. "You are in the three twin beds and the couch."

She pumped a quick fist, "Yes! I am the first one here, I get to have a bed!" she danced around the room for a moment before Brett came into the kitchen. "Did you find…" he noticed us all around and he grew out into a grin. "?Is Troy here!" he asked me excited; "Liam and him went out to grab something but should be back soon." I said winking, "But you are in the two bunk beds and cribs and the full bed."

Brett then took off in full sprit, "It's important to get the biggest because you could later end up sharing. It was so much easier when there was only a few of us," Becca said sighing, she ended up walking away and I let out a giggle.

"Michelle! Lucas!" I said as they walked in, "Let me guess…" Lucas said sticking out his hand, "We have a queen bed?" he asked, I nodded my head and Michelle let out a giggle. "You were wrong!"

"We have had the king bed the last three times! I didn't know how it didn't work!" he said shrugging his shoulders, I shook my head at Troy's insane family standing before me. I felt a small yawn escape my throat and I shook my head. I slipped out of the room before his family. I walked up the stairs towards the bedroom I would be staying in.

I slipped into the bedroom and I slipped off my sweat pants to replace them with a pair of boy shorts. I then slipped on Troy's hoodie. I crawled into the bed to see if I could get just a few hours of sleep.

"Brie," Troy whispered into my ear, I curled up into his chest. He had just come into the bedroom a few minutes ago and lay down on the bed. I was semi awake but asleep at the same time. Troy had let his arm drift around my waist and I instantly curled up next to him. He was quiet for several minutes before he spoke to me.

"Dinner is ready baby, you get to experience your first Bolton dinner." He said pushing back locks of hair, his thumb pressed against my temple as he let his lips come towards mine. I let my eyes drift open as he looked at me with his big blue ones, "I am so tired," I whispered as I let my eyes close again.

"You have been asleep since noon! It is six!" I slowly let a smile creep onto my face as he kissed my lips. "I think your little boy misses his mommy." He said as he pulled back looking at me, "What is little boy doing?" I asked him as I sat up, my hair was a mess and Troy sweatshirt had ridded up all the way to my chest.

"Sleeping. He has been passed around to so many family members, he is tired." Troy cuddled up next to me and let his nose press against my neck. "Maybe we should just stay in here," he whispered, "Liam is in somebody's arms."

I giggled and we stayed like this for a couple of minutes, "I had to basically tie Jenni down so you could sleep." I felt a smile rise to my face. "Troy are yo…" Troy and I both looked up to see Abby in the doorway. "Oh, hey Gabi." She said with a small wave, Troy cleared his throat, "Oh um dinner is ready, are you coming?"

Troy nodded his head as we both sat up. I climbed out of the bed and so did Troy, "Do I need to change?" I asked him as I looked down at my clothes. "Never," he said as he let his hand wonder to my butt. I pushed him off as I let a small giggle rise through my mouth.

He squeezed me close to his body and he put his arm around my body. We walked downstairs together and the place was loud. I yawned and Troy leads me into the room. I saw his whole family sitting around the table laughing, I looked outside to see a light drizzle coming down.

"Hey!" Anthony spotted me, "Its Gabi!" the whole family turned to look at me. I smiled at them and saw Liam in Tish's arms. "Liam wanna see mommy?" Tish said standing up; I went over to grab him from her. "Hey buddy," I said as I snuggled him to my chest. Troy came up behide me and kissed my temple.

Troy showed me to my seat, "Do you want me to take him upstairs?" he asked me in my ear, I turned and gave him a huge smile. "Only if you want to." He nodded and I kissed Liam's forehead before I handed him to Troy. His sleeping form went into Troy's arms as he left mine.

Troy then walked out of the room with Liam; I sat down in chair next to Jillian. "Hey, when did you get here?" I asked her as food was being sat down across the table. "So how is the life of being a mom?" Meg asked me, I looked at her with my steady brown eyes, "Amazing." I finally said, "Hard, rewarding…I could go on all day." I told her quietly.

"You seem tired," Lucille pointed out, I took a deep breath, "Did Troy at all tell you?" I asked her, she frowned at me, "Tell me what," I felt Troy's hand on my shoulder; "You failed to call you mother?" I asked him with a glare, Troy's eyes kind of popped out of his head. "What are you two engaged? Did you elope? Are you having another baby?" Lucille asked us, I felt a sudden feeling like maybe this was not the time for this.

"Mom, maybe we could do this after dinner," Troy said, the room suddenly felt tense and Liam started crying. I pushed my chair back to hit Troy's hip, "I'll be back." I said quietly as people looked at me escape the tension filled room, I rushed up the stairs as I came to our room. I pushed the door open as a tear slide down my cheek; I had not slept a full night since Liam left the hospital. I had slept in a rocking chair in Liam's room.

I went up to him to see him crying like he normal is. I felt relieved as I bent over to pick him up. I snuggled him close to my chest as tears escaped my eyes. "Brie," I turned around to see Troy standing in the doorway, I turned back around to face the wall. "I havent slept in days Troy and when I do its restless," I kissed Liam's forehead before I put him back down. "One thing I did was ask you to call your mom and tell her!" I yelled, he bit on his lip and nodded his head. "I understand." He said coming towards me, I let my head drop into my hands.

Troy's arms then wrapped around me, he pulled me into his chest while I tried to stop freaking out. I did not know what was wrong with me. I could not sleep, I did not want to eat half the time, and I just wanted Liam in my arms. Troy kissed the top of my head, "I have noticed that you sneak out, I have noticed that you havent been eating. I have been trying to leave you alone Brie but I can't do it anymore." He said rubbing circles on my back.

I turned my head to look out the window. "Troy, you should go back downstairs." I whispered, when I said the words I really did not want this to happen. I wanted him to stay here forever and hold me. "Not without you." He told me, "And you need to eat, I am going to make sure you eat." He said, I sighed softly as I looked up at him. "I don't know what's wrong with me."

He sighed and looked at me, "You are a mom. A mom who had to deal with probably the scariest thing ever." His hand slipped up my shirt, his cold hand on my warm back made shivers run down my back. "Tonight, I am going to make sure you sleep." His lips pressed against my nose, "Let's go back downstairs," I said

"I promise you…" he started with a grin, "You are going to get stares. Those stares are going to hold, wondering if we did something up here." I let a laugh ring out of my mouth, "Yea, yea, I get those looks a lot with you." I said as we opened the bedroom door. "Hey," he said pinching my waist, I laughed and Troy gave me one of those smiles.

"Promise me, you will sleep tonight?" I played at my fingers, "I don't know." We came into the dining room to see his whole family eating dinner and laughing. Troy did not say anything as he pulled out my chair for me. "How's Liam?" Michelle asked us, "Uhm good."

I reached over for the slice of pizza, salad, and the breadsticks lying on the table. "So Troy is there something you have failed to mention to your mother?" Lucille asked pushing her plate backwards, Troy took a bite out of his pizza. "Mom, seriously this is not the place for this. I promise, I will explain everything later."

The table then began to talk quietly; I looked over to see anybody under the age of thirteen at two card tables. I looked at the food in front of me not feeling hungry. I could feel Troy's stare so I picked up the fork to take a bit of the salad sitting in front of me.

"So Gabi how,"

"You guys maybe we should stop with the Gabi questions for tonight, thanks." Troy said staring around at his family, his family kind of gapped at him. "What because every time one of us brings a girlfriend or boyfriend over you have to interrogate." Troy seemed pissed, how can he flip like this?

"Troy you need to relax," I looked at Logan across the table; his eyes were set at Troy. "Uncle Logan, I am a big boy now, I am a father now. I know what I am getting myself into." Troy stabbed at the salad while the room was quiet.

"Is this how we are going to start every year?" Haley asked, "Last year it was Raul and I, this year Troy and Gabi."

The table let out a loose laugh, "Yet last year had to be the funniest year." Emily said with a light smile, "Maybe we should start each year like this." Jenni said with a light life, I found Troy's hand under the table and he squeezed it. "So what's on the agenda for tonight?" Aiden asked the group

"Well…we are going to let you kids run around outside while the adults our on the patio. If you ask Uncle Jack and Uncle Logan nicely maybe they can build a fire in the fire pit and you can roast marshmallows." Austin and Max jumped out of there seats and went running for Jack and Logan. "Please!" they both begged, I finished off everything on my plate and Troy let go of my hand before pulling me into his lap.

Chris, Lucas, and Shawn all noticed right away. "Guys," Mason grunted the wives all looked around before they fell on us. "Hey kids, how about you get dishes tonight. Anybody over the age of 22 can stay." Sarah said running her fingers through her hair. The kids all groaned as they began to pick up dishes once they were all gone Haley let a long groan.

"If you are doing what you did to me last year, can I please be excused to help them do dishes?" Haley said, I shared a glance with Troy and he shrugged his shoulder. "Yea, I don't think you should have to suffer twice." The rest of the kids all glanced around looking once at Sarah.

"Go." She waved her hand and suddenly it was a bunch of adults with us. I quickly slide off Troy's lap, "You arent giving us the sex talk right because we already have a baby upstairs…" Troy said pointing up the stairs, the adults let a laugh escape, "That's how this usually starts but I guess we failed that one." Lucas said laughing.

Troy gave me a small smile, "No, we just don't want any PDA; we have Max and Austin running around. Austin already found you guys making out." Chris said I glanced away as this became awkward. "So basically…"

"Guys, give these two a break." Mason said we were sitting at the head of the table. "They have been separated, I mean they have been together over the past few weeks but they spend a lot of time apart,"

"Well since we are all sitting here, I would like to know about what you have not told me." Lucille said as she wrapped her fingers around the glass. Troy sighed, "Liam was hospitalized the 26, 27, 28, and we came home early the 29th." Lucille gasped, "And you failed to tell me this?" she yelled at Troy, "Mom, this was two days ago. We got home two days ago and suddenly I am leaving again. I was away for the first two days basically, and then the next two I was worried sick about my son." Troy defended

"Lucille," Jack said, "What about the other two days?" she asked, "I'm right here telling you arent I?"

"No Troy, I mean the 29th or yesterday." Troy sighed and ran his fingers through his hair, "I am still worried about Liam mom, I just…" his eyes looked at mine. "Truthfully, I am worried about…"

"Troy," I said sharply, his eyes turned to mine, "Gabi, its something that prevented me from."

"From doing something I asked you to do?" I sneered; I rolled my eyes before getting up from the table. "Troy," Lucille said, "She isn't sleeping mom ok? She is not eating; this has to be the first plate of food she has eaten since we got home. She won't leave his side; she got her first hours of sleep today." I froze as I felt stares, "Gabi," Troy finally said, I bit down on my lip hard.

"Troy, why don't you go help out everybody in the kitchen," Lucille said, I did not turn around but I knew she was getting out of her chair. I then felt her hand on my shoulder. "Come on, let's go look out back." She said, I nodded and we walked out of the room. When we got to the back door and felt my hands shake.

"Is what Troy told us true?" she asked, I looked over the ocean and nodded my head. "I can't," I murmured, "It happened on my watch, he stopped breathing, he…" I felt the pictures lapse in my head, "What was it?" she asked me, "RSV," I told her, I took a deep breath then looked at the room I would be staying in.

"When I try to sleep at night all I can think about is Liam. So I sneak out of the bedroom and go sit with Liam," I took a shaky breath, "I didn't know Troy knew until I about exploded when Liam cried at dinner."

She rubbed my back, "You know what, and I think you had every right to be like this. Troy just worries about you too much; he doesn't want anything to happen to you."

I smiled softly as I saw the kids emerging from the kitchen. "I think I need to talk to him, I am just not starting off with this family very well am I?"

She laughed, "It happens to all of them, its torture because all of them had to go through it." I giggled, "Alright, fine." I looked up to see Troy come out the door. "I have no idea what's wrong with me anymore."

"You're a mom, your boyfriend is an NBA player, your best friend is getting married, and your other best friend is pregnant." She rather dwindled on before we came closer to the house "Thanks." I told her, "I am super tired and I just let everything fall out of my hands." I told her

"You are a new mom. We all have are ups and downs," we climbed the stairs and Troy quickly spotted us. He got up with the beer in his hands. Lucille left my side and stopped Troy, they whispered for a minute before Haley came up to me. "It has happened to all of us. I promise you." She said, "We all go a little nuts and our moms talk to us. In this case this would be your mother in law type thing but…"

"Hay, can I talk to her alone for a minute?" I looked up to see Troy standing in front of me. Haley nodded and then she disappeared to grab a beer herself. I spotted Anna sitting on a blanket in front of Meg who had a glass of wine.

"I'm sorry." He said, "You know I didn't mean to do that. I just, I am worried about you." He said letting his thumb trace down my cheek. "Your not always going to be there Troy, I have to be able to stand on my own two feet. I know I was not sleeping but that is going to happen. I am just a worried mom," he gave a slight smile, "I know,"

He then dipped down to plant a kiss on my lips. "Troy," someone began to say but Lucille said something. I laughed and I pulled back, "You want to feed him or me?" I asked as I grabbed his bottle. I lifted the bottle up to take a swig. He tired not to smirk as he looked down, "I got him, and I'll bring him out here."

I smiled nodding and he went off up the stairs.

"What?" I busted out into laughter as Logan tried to imitate a barking seal, "How the hell did you get that from that?" I laughed louder as the rest of the group did. We were playing a game of charades with the adults and a few of the lingering kids. Logan and Jack built the fire and the kids roasted marshmallows.

Sarah and Lilly were getting all the kids under fifteen into bed, which was four kids, Austin, Max, Mike and Greg. Not counting the babies, Troy put Liam down about an hour ago. Issy and Anna were both just about to go to bed.

"I was trying to bark and clap but I looked like a dog," he said taking a sip of beer. I rolled with laughter, as did the rest of the group. "Wow," I said laughing as it all settled down, "I am going to grab more beer, anybody want more?" Anthony said I shook my bottle to see it was at least halfway full.

"Nah, I'm good." I said to him, "Me too," Troy said, I was dressed in a pair of jeans now with a white zip up jacket. I let a small yawn escape my lips.

Troy nudged my shoulder and he pointed towards the fire burning down by the pool. I raised an eyebrow, "Come on," he said as he stood up. He was in a pair of distressed jeans and a pair of flip-flops on with a t-shirt.

He grabbed my hand as he led me down the stairs, I knew we had people's eyes but he pulled me closer to his side. When we got to the fire pit Troy bent over to pick up two sticks. "I havent made smores in years," I told him with a little grin, "After the day we had today, pretty sure you deserve one." He bent over setting down his beer.

Troy grabbed two marshmallows before poking them on the stick. He handed me one and I gave him a small grin as I let it flame over the fire. Troy grabbed his beer before sticking the stick over the fire himself. "So tomorrow what are we doing?" I asked him with a slight smile as it began to brown.

"Well its Monday, we hang out all day sleep all night," I rolled my eyes, "Nothing special planned?" I asked, he shook his head, "Nah, Mondays are the days we all just relax our first day off. Tuesday we go out mid-afternoon to do some shopping. Just a little something each day."

I nodded my head as I pulled back my stick to see the fire flaming. I blew it out and Troy quickly pulled his back as it was starting to build a major fire. I laughed as he tried to blow it out but could not. We both did it together and then finally I grabbed cracker and the chocolate sitting around. We both made the smores and ate it.

I had goo all over my face when we were finished that I was laughing. Troy laughed at my face, "Oh you think it's funny?" I asked setting down my beer. I quickly jumped onto him and let my lips press against his. Cheers were yelled and I let my legs wrap around his waist. "Mmm…God I love you." Troy murmured against my lips, "Even though I am a sticky mess?" I questioned

He nodded his head and he leaned forward to capture my lips. "What you are is a hot sticky mess,"

"Whoa, my brother is getting it on down there." Jenni murmured, Troy and I both busted out into laughter, I let my forehead touch his as we looked up at them. "This is probably very PDAish..." I told him, he shrugged his shoulder. "I don't care," his lips found mine and he tilted my head backwards as he slipped his moist tongue into my mouth.

"Not. Here" I mumbled to him, "Your family is basically watching," He sighed pulling back, "I guess your right." He told me, I dropped from his waist and he kissed my forehead.

"Ready to capture Liam's first time in a pool?" I asked Troy, it was Wednesday morning and yesterday brought much more than Troy said. We had a swimming contest; we went down to the beach, and shopping. Wednesday seemed to be the more relaxed day of doing whatever."

"Heck yea, I am ready to see my champion swimmer in action." I giggled as I hugged Liam to my chest; he was awake and was in a swim diaper. The sun was shining and warm today. Max and Austin were swimming around in the deep end. Jillian and Abby were lying out by the pool on towels.

Jenni was on the deck sipping lemonade; Emma and Becca were lounging on the chairs reading people magazines. Mason and the guys all went out to a golf course and the women were all inside preparing tonight's dinner which I heard was chicken, potatoes, and home grown green beans. To be honest, I was excited.

"I have the video camera rolling," Troy muttered as he stood in front of me. I cradled Liam in my arms as I took my first step into the pool. I was in a pink striped sequin bikini from Victoria Secrets that showed off more cleavage than it should but it was Troy. My foot hit the pool and the water gave me Goosebumps.

"Damn, this is cold." I muttered, "Should I really put Liam in this?" I asked, "I don't want to miss this!" Lucille came running out of the house, I giggled slightly as I took another step in. "Gabi come on, move a little faster." Troy said, "The camera is getting bored."

I shot him a look, "Its cold." I told him, I walked down another step. "Yea, yea," Troy was in a pair of burgundy swim trunks. Once I got to the bottom of the stairs and I held Liam out of the water. I slowly let my arms fall and his bottom hit the water and he started to make small noises.

I adjusted his him and I let his feet dip into the water, "And Liam Bolton has touched the water as of May 3rd," Troy said, I heard somebody take a picture. I supported Liam as he moved his foot in the water and then cried. I pulled him out and he stopped crying. I giggled and then I let his foot hit the water again, another cry escape from his mouth which made me laugh.

"You don't like it?" I asked, Max then swam towards us, "Troy, why does Liam cry every time he hits the water?" Max asked Troy shut off the video camera before slipping into the water with us. "He is a baby; he doesn't like it quiet yet. He doesn't know what it is." He reached his arms out for Liam as I handed him over.

"So when he is my age he will like it?" he asked, "Sure," Troy said, I reached around Troy's neck while I hugged him. I let my chin rest on his shoulder. "Troy," Max asked, "Yes?" Troy said as he bounced Liam around in his arms.

"Are you and Gabi going to ever get married?" he twirled around the water, "Hopefully someday." Troy said, I tensed slightly and I could tell Troy noticed. Liam started to cry harder, "Alright, looks like our swim time has to come to a stop." Troy said as he drifted away. Max looked at me with his blue eyes, "Do you want to marry my cousin?" he asked

I laughed as I turned to see Troy leaving the water. "Everyday." Max gave a small smile, "Good. I like you." I laughed as I noted how cute these little kids were. "I like you too." I told him as I waded towards the stairs. I got out as Troy held a towel, "Please don't bring it up. I don't want to talk about it." Troy mumbled as he wrapped Liam in the towel.

"You act like you asked me once and I said no." I mumbled as I wrapped the towel around my body. Troy shook his head before I made my way to the house. I walked up the stairs and walked through the backdoor. The kitchen smelled so good, "How was it?" Lilly asked

"Good. He doesn't really like it but he touched it." I said giving them a small smile. Troy walked in behide us with Liam wrapped up in his arms. I glanced back to see an expression on his face, one that I could not read.

"I am going to go upstairs, shower, and change." I told Troy, I walked up to him and gave him a quick peck on the lips. His face instantly turned into a better one that before.

"Hey, I'm sorry." I mumbled softly as we were still close, he let a small smirk rise onto his face, "I think I have a way," Troy said as he came down to press his lips against mine. "Don't you hate watching young love?" Meg asked from her spot on the barstool. "I miss when Logan and I were like that." I giggled softly and I gripped Troy's hand.

"We will be back down in thirty." I mumbled as we raced up the stairs. Liam was quickly changed into warm clothes then into a pack n play before I turned the shower on. Troy had his lips attached to my neck as I started to pull of his short. He undid my bikini top with his teeth before returning to my lips. "Did you lock the door?" I whispered as I felt the heat in the room rise.

"Always."

After forty-five minutes, I looked like I had not had any sex. Yup, I tried to wash the look away, my hair didn't have the look, and the swollen lips were disappearing. "Liam is ready," Troy called, after we were done Troy gave Liam a bath before getting him in a pair of jean short with a basketball hero's shirt.

"Good, are you ready?"

He laughed, "Yea but I am pretty sure they will notice no matter what." Troy said as he appeared in the bathroom with Liam in his hands. "How?" I asked turning to look at him. I ran my fingers through my wet hair. "Because, they always know," he stopped to laugh, "Once it was Anthony, nobody was around. Anthony had left early from the beach with his girlfriend and once we got back two hours later. Nothing appeared to be out of order but they knew."

My shoulders shagged, "Its like they can smell,"

"Please don't go there…" I told him as I put my makeup away. Troy laughed as I stepped out of the bathroom. I had put on a pair of jeans with a purple tank top.

"So are you ready to face the music?" Troy asked as he adjusted Liam in his arms. I rolled my eyes, "Let's do it."

"Well, I mean we can later…" Troy said with a smirk on his face. "Troy Anthony!" I said slapping his shoulder, "Baby!" I shook my head as I went past him on the stairs.

I carefully walked into the kitchen to see it was just the ladies still. I looked out back to see nothing had changed. Most of the boys were still gone and the girls were all outside.

"So shower took longer than expected?" Michelle asked as she slides something out of the oven. I swallowed hard, "We decided to give Liam a bath." They nodded there heads around the kitchen.

"Oh come on just tell us," Troy said shaking his head, he slide into the barstool and put Liam onto the counter. He was slowly trying to lift his head up everyday. I reached for his head as Troy looked at his aunts and mother.

"Are we getting that predicable Troy?" Tish asked as she stirred mac&cheese on the stove. "Yes, you are. In our defense though, everybody was outside. We were quiet and Liam was asleep. That was a rare chance." Troy pointed out, the women all looked around before nodding there heads. "Fair enough, now help set the dinner table." Lucille barked

I had to be honest. This week was going to be interesting.

Well! There is a new chapter of MLB! (: Now, I am super excited for the next chapter so I am going to write that before I update The Truth About Love! Anyways, what did you think of the chapter? Kind of boring, yet fun? I don't know…anyways I hope you enjoyed it and I to make the next chapter even more exciting…I will post a summary to my story I am working on in there…any of you excited yet? I know I am! : )

I am posting the page to look at the house they are staying in! So check it out!

P L E A S E R E V I E W – Because…you love me…right?