Chapter 40 –Twenty-Four Hours

Flipping through the magazine I looked down at Liam to see what he was doing. We were leaving for New Mexico, Christmas was in four days and we were staying for a whole week.

Liam was playing with one of his toys as he bounced it against his stroller. I smiled before I flipped the page again staring at the words that were spelling out in front of me. Liam and I arrived earlier this morning at the airport only for our flight to be delayed about twenty minutes.

I yawned as I shoved the magazine back into my backpack. Lucille and Jack were going to pick us up from the airport to take us to there house. We were staying with them as they were hosting Christmas dinner with Troy's family. My mom was going to do something with her family on Christmas Eve which we had been invited too.

Pulling on my long sleeve shirt I touched Liam's nose. We had shipped all of our presents out there wrapped so Liam could have his presents from us and then everybody else's gift.

Taylor was also coming down to New Mexico to spend Christmas with her parents and to see Chad's parents. Sharpay and Zeke were taking there first vacation from home even though Zeke was nervous leaving the restaurant. He did hire a manger but he was the head honcho above everybody.

Liam began to babble, "Dada?" I shook my head as I bent over to pick him. "Daddy isn't here." Liam looked like he was processing the information I just gave him. He would be ten months old the day after Christmas. He was getting so big.

"Do you want some yogurt bites or something?" I offered to Liam, he didn't make a noise, he just leaned against me. I kissed the top of his head as he kind of felt warm to me. I frowned as I picked up his blanket draping it over his little body. "Flight to New Mexico will now be boarding,"

I knew I would be one of the first ones on as I stood throwing all of my stuff into Liam's stroller. Traveling with a baby will never be easy.

I pushed it forward as I stopped; decided this would be easier putting him into his stroller. I rearranged everything; throw bags around my shoulders before showing our boarding passes.

"They will help you with the strollers at the front."

"Thank you."

Once I got into the plane Liam began to fuss, the flight attendant took one of my bags as she smiled, "Do you know what seats you are?"

"Uh, you can have my ticket if it helps," I said blushing; I bent over grabbing Liam as I folded the stroller up. I knew I was holding up a line.

Once finished putting away my stuff, I yawned and walked back to my seats. "Here you go." I nodded as I took the window seat hoping nobody would have the seat next to me. Liam was going to just sit in my lap the entire way; I prayed that he would just sleep or something.

He fussed as I grabbed his blanket and let him bury his head onto my chest. I switched my phone off shoving it in my bag, shoving that under the seat. Buckling my seat belt I got into the most comfortable position with Liam. It was nap time so I was hoping he would sleep the entire way, since it was a short trip.

Kissing the top of his head I let my head rest against the window, closing my eyes for a moment. Liam would make a small noise every now and then.

"Oh," I opened my eyes to see a younger looking girl standing in front of me. She was most likely younger than I was but she didn't seem to be in high school any longer. "Does he cry?"

My eyes glanced down at Liam before I looked up at him, "If he wants to." She bit her lip nervously and then looked around some more. "I just, I don't like baby's crying. I have a little sister at home who does it all the time; I was hoping to get away from it for a little while."

"I'm sorry." I said bluntly, it was a little mean. "I am hoping he is going to sleep because I don't want to listen to my son cry either. It must suck huh?"

The girl blushed before she turned and left, she walked up to a flight attendant who then began to look at a seating chart. I rolled my eyes; people were so spoiled now days. Liam's eyes closed as he gripped my shirt, this was going to be a long flight.

"Miss…" turning my head I blinked several times to see a nice flight attendant looking at me. "We are getting ready to land, I just wanted you awake."

I nodded trying to keep from squinting my eyes; I blinked my eyes several times as Liam was still lying on my chest. I yawned as I moved one hand to rub my eyes. Liam fussed in my lap as he finally backed his head up and let out a cry. It was an angry type of cry. Sitting up more alert I rubbed his back as people were looking around at me.

I made sure I had all of his stuff ready so I could bolt once the plane landed. I kissed his forehead while he cried in my arms, "I'm sorry baby, I'm sorry." I glanced around to see not many people were paying attention. I gave him his pacifier as he slowed down for a few minutes as I finished getting all of his stuff together. Kissing the top of his head, I smoothed my fingers over top.

Once the plane touched down I gathered up all my bags and waited for the get up and go. People usual let me off first since I had an infant.

The flight attendant got me up first along with two other families. We made our way to the front as we grabbed our strollers. I thanked them as I fastened Liam in and pushed him down the long hallway. Dropping all of my bags into the bottom part, getting outside of our gate, pasted security I looked around for Jack or Lucille.

Liam began to cry again as I leaned over to see what was wrong. I then looked up again to see Lucille jogging towards us. I smiled as Liam began to fuss more. Lucille had not seen Liam since Thanksgiving. I then noticed Jack and Jenni, who was with Carson, slowly coming up behide her.

Liam only began to fuss more as I tried to get him to quiet down. "Oh it's my baby boy!" Lucille said catching up with us; I smiled as I turned to Jack. I gave him a quick hug while he kissed the top of my head. "Gabs,"

"Hi,"

"How was your flight?"

"Since I slept the entire way, fantastic,"

"Did little Liam sleep the entire way?"

"You betcha." Lucille picked up Liam from the stroller as he fussed to get away. I frowned as Liam was always welcome to Lucille or Jack since they felt and looked like Troy. He sounded another cry as Jenni came over to give me a big hug. "Hey Jenni,"

"Gabs,"

I waved to Carson as he smiled back, his blonde hair rubbing in his green eyes. Liam's cry grew angrier the longer he was in Lucille's arms. She tried to calm him down as I reached out to take him from her as I let him cry into my chest. A frustrated sigh leaving my mouth, "Why of all times he decided to do this?"

"We can go get your bags, is it the normal ones?" Jack asked, "Yes, plus his car seat will be in a plastic bag with Bolton scribbled on top."

"Lucille, take her back to the car so we can get Liam out of here." Jack said handing Lucille the keys. He kissed her forehead before Jenni, Carson, and Jack all went towards luggage claim. Lucille led me out as Liam's cry just grew angrier. Draping a blanket around his body, I snuggled him close.

"He must be hungry or tired or something." I mumbled, Lucille sent me her mother eyes, "He was so good a few weeks ago when we went down to San Diego."

"Troy talked to me about that, sounded like you guys had a great time." I nodded as we stepped out into the warm New Mexico air. "We did, we had a fantastic time. Did the gifts come yet?"

"Yes! They arrived yesterday morning; I went right on ahead shoving all of them under the tree."

"Thank you, was Jenni peeking?"

"Of course." I smiled as I rubbed Liam's back hoping he would fall asleep. I kissed on him as we arrived to the car. I leaned back up against it as I rubbed Liam's back over and over again.

"I need to call Troy, I told him I would as soon as I could." Liam sobbed and I blinked my eyes clothes. "He hasn't cried like this in months."

"They change so fast," I nodded my head, "Yes, they do."

We waited, Liam cried and then Jack and Jenni emerged. Carson was close behide holding the car seat. I turned as I bounced Liam in my arms trying to get him to calm down. He hiccupped and then tossed his little arms around. "Thank you," I said to all three of them.

Jack and Jenni tossed things into the back of the car. Carson and Lucille helped put Liam's car seat into the car. Jack took his stroller as I kissed Liam's temple. Once Carson backed out her let me in so I could place Liam. "So are we all going to fit to get back?"

"I forgot about the car seat," Jack said rubbing the back of his head. "Carson and I can take a cab back to the house dad."

"Are you sure? I don't want you guys to feel like you have to. I am pretty sure we could fit all of us in here."

"Well, if you wouldn't freak about me sitting on Carson's lap then we would fit."

I buckled Liam in his car seat as I backed out looking at Jack. "Really?"

"What?" he asked, his blue innocent eyes looking towards mine. "How come you were never this way with Troy and I?" Jack blinked and Liam began to cry again. "Yeah! You never were this way with them, they could have flipping sex in the car and you wouldn't have cared."

Jack snorted, "Yes I would have. I did not want my son having sex before…" Jack looked at me and then he shook his head, "Never mind."

I raised my eyebrows, "Just, never mind."

Carson climbed into the car as Jenni quickly took to his lap. I went onto the other side as I buckled in. Liam was not crying any longer but was looking around frantically.

I grabbed his pacifier slipping it into his mouth. I grabbed my phone as I dialed Troy's number, a yawn escaping my lips. "Hey," Troy said answering the phone. I could hear loud explosions coming from the background and then a loud yell. Raising my eyebrow, i then heard Chad's voice in the background.

"That now makes a lot more sense."

"Oh, the video game, sorry, he came over after he talked to Taylor before she left. We should have gotten you guys the same flights."

"It was probably pointless. Liam and I both slept the entire way." Troy didn't talk for a few seconds, "You slept on the plane?"

"Yea, we were both pretty tired. We both just crashed." Carson kissed Jenni's cheek as she began to giggle. "Apparently. How is he right now?"

"He cried like when he was two months old again. He sounded so angry and upset. He wouldn't stop either and I finally got him into his car seat and he relaxed."

"I'm sorry you had to deal with that."

"Eh, we are okay but I think I am going to your room and taking another nap." Troy yawned himself which made me yawn, "We defiantly sound like parents."

"What yawning between every other word?"

"Yes,"

Our conversation carried on most of the way back to the Bolton house before they pulled into the driveway. "Gabi, I think we should warn you some people are not going to be happy with you." I raised my eyebrows as we bumped over the driveway. "Why is that?" I asked.

"Michelle and Lucas, plus the kids all stay at our house when they come in for Christmas. Usually Brett and Mike get Troy's room while Michelle and Lucas get the guest room."

"What happens to Becca?" I asked, "She gets the pull out couch but this year they are all going to have to be in the basement."

"I'm sorry, I would go stay with my mom but she turned my room into a little workspace plus he doesn't have all the stuff over at my moms that we do at yours, but it doesn't mean that I couldn't go there."

"No, we want you to be with us on Christmas. Just you won't be on top of the happy list with Brett and Mike." I laughed and nodded, "Fair enough."

Liam was almost asleep again, that is very weird. Liam never sleeps this much, and then I yawned. "Is there anything we are doing tonight? I think Liam and I are about done for the day."

"You two look like it."

"Yea," Carson picked up a couple of my bags as I pulled Liam out of his car seat. "You don't mind if his car seat just stays right? We switched…"

"That's fine; we won't move it unless we have too." Lucille said waving her hand as if it was nothing. "Are you sure?" I added as I lifted Liam to my shoulder. "Positive."

We all moved into the house as I was quick to go upstairs. Scrunching my head together, I went up and laid Liam down on Troy's bed. I looked around as I noticed the play pen was already sitting up.

Moving Liam into the playpen, I kissed his forehead to only pause. I paused as I kissed it again to stop deciding to felt slightly warmer than usual.

Brushing my fingers over his head again, I stopped, "Luc," I yelled, I heard some pounding before she entered the room. "Do you have a thermometer?"

"Yea, is something wrong?"

"Liam just feels a little warm, nothing alarming but I am just wondering."

"I will go get it out. Jenni had a fever about three weeks ago so it shouldn't be too buried." I nodded my head as I picked Liam back up as he yawned closing his eyes. "Hang on buddy,"

Once Lucille came back we both worked together to check his temperature for it to come back relatively normal. "Sometimes they might just feel warmer in the afternoon, early evening. It might just be a fluke that he feels warmer."

"Maybe from all of his crying he did," I said adjusting a blanket around his waist. "Yea,"

Once Lucille left I crawled into Troy's bed. It still smelled a lot like Troy as I buried my head into the pillow. I pulled my blankets up and around my shoulders as I suspense a yawn.

Traveling with a baby was never fun; all I knew was that it was wearing me out.

"Come on Liam, will you please eat?" Liam turned his head away again as he broke out into a cry. I bowed my head as I finally dropped the spoon onto the tray. "Somebody seems frustrated."

"He won't eat."

Jack looked at me and then made an o with his lips. "I have tried all day and then I try to give him a bottle, he took some and then just stopped."

"Well I think you should just give up for the night. It's almost midnight." I rubbed my palms into my eyes as I picked him up. "I am going to try bottle-feeding him once more." I said as Jack grabbed a snack, "I do not miss those baby days."

"Yet you love every single minute of them,"

"Yea, you do but once he gets older he will be fun."

"He will always be fun," Liam rubbed his face into my side as I picked up his semi warm bottle. I placed it into his mouth as he began to suck on it gently. "Thank the lord," Jack smiled as he watched him.

"Ten months old in a few days, that is going to be insane."

"I know, its like, where did my little guy go." Jack laughed, "I remember when you guys told us, I was so pissed at the moment. Then I realized it might be a good thing in the end."

"I kind of figured that is how you would react. My emotions ran so high during that time; I don't know what was wrong with me half of the time."

Liam stopped eating his bottle but half of it was gone. "I will take what I can get. I think I am going to head up on to bed."

"Have fun with that."

Walking upstairs, Jack followed turning off some of the lights. Once I hit the top step, Liam began to gag. Jack looked at me and then Liam threw up everything in his stomach, all down the front of me. I gasped lightly as Liam then began to fuss in my arms. His cry grew louder. "Awh, shit," I muttered as I went walking up the stairs.

Jack kind of panicked as he followed me, I kissed the top of Liam's head again only for it to feel warmer than it did earlier. He began to cry harder as puke was all over us both. I laid him down on Troy's bed as I stripped my own tshirt off to reveal my sports bra.

"Jack, can you grab the thermometer sitting on the table over there. I think he has a fever," I said as I stripped Liam of his own clothes. "Is everything okay out here?"

"No, Liam just threw up everywhere."

Lucille turned on a simple lamp as I blinked back the light that shined in my eyes. Liam cried as I reached for the diaper bag pulling out a sleeper to put him into. Jack gave me the monitor as I stopped to check his temp.

Once it blinked back 101.2, I took a deep breath. I finished changing him into his fresh clothes as Jack handed me a tshirt. "Awh, my little guy is sick."

Pulling him up to my chest I rubbed his back soothingly, "Do you guys have a rocking type chair?" Jack scratched the back of his head as he nodded, "yes! Jenni has that one chair in the basement that moves back in forth in a circular motion. I can bring it up really fast, it isn't that big."

"I can go there," I said keeping Liam calm against my chest. "No, Liam will probably feel most comfortable in Troy's room. It looks mad smells like Troy."

"Speaking of Troy, I should probably call him."

"Even though it's after midnight?"

"Well, where he is at its probably one, he is in Chicago after tonight's game."

"You would still call him?" I nodded, "He will flip if I didn't call him. I don't know when I would get a chance tomorrow to call him since he has a travel day tomorrow"

"Oh," Jack was back up the stairs after about five minutes. The chair was bigger than I thought and then it was cushioned unlike a rocking chair. "This has to be the most comfortable chair in the entire world. I love this chair."

He set it down and I sat down, it was comfortable and it had a footrest. "Thanks you guys, but I think I have it from here. I am just going to try to get him to sleep now."

"Just come get us if you need anything." Nodding my head, found a blanket as I draped it over Liam and I. Picking up my phone I quietly dialed Troy as I turned off a lamp. Liam coughed as he then whined, he rubbed his eyes, and I kissed the top of his head as the phone rang three more times.

"Mmm?" I tried to suspense my laugh, "Hey, sorry to call baby," some shuffling went on in the background, then a click of the lamp. Somebody began to complain, "Brie, Whats the matter?" Troy finally asked I could hear Chad groan as the bed he was sleeping on creaked.

"Liam has a fever of 101.2 and threw up everywhere. I just wanted to let you know so you don't freak out." Troy let out a sigh, "How is he?"

"Upset, not eating or sleeping, he is basically doing nothing." Troy let out a yawn, "Are you comfortable?" Troy asked me, "Yea, your dad brought that one rocking chair up from the basement."

"I love that chair." Troy mumbled, "I will let you get back to sleep Troy, I was just letting you know." Troy was quiet for a few moments, "Are you only letting me know because of how I freaked last time?"

"No."

"Sure, I love you."

"I love you too, have a nice flight tomorrow."

"I am pretty sure I will talk to you before my flight tomorrow,"

"I don't know, but if I don't, have a good flight tomorrow."

Once I hung up the phone with Troy, Liam just looked at me with his wide blue eyes. They looked glossy as he then began to cough. I pressed my lips against his forehead, rocking him back and forth, he breathed heavily. Keeping blankets around him to keep him warm as when I had a fever, it sucked.

He trembled in my arms as I gently kissed his forehead every now and then. He whined as I tried to get him as comfortable as I could but he wasn't having it. Glancing at the clock it was almost one here. I yawned knowing it wasn't going to end any time soon.

A loud bang, a laugh, and then the door swung open. "Guys don't," but it was too late, Liam began to cry out loud. I let out a very frustrated groan, Brett and Mike both looked wide eyed as Jack quickly came up behide them.

Liam's cry grew angry, raspy, and tired. He did not fall asleep until a little after three and was up on and off again all night. It was almost eleven as I was still lying in bed trying to get some sleep.

"I'm sorry Gabi, I tried to stop them but they are so much faster than my words." I rolled my eyes as I pushed the blankets off the bed as I walked over to Liam. His face was red but he was still trembling underneath two blankets. I picked him up with both blankets as I tried to get him to quiet down.

Pressing my lips against his forehead, he still felt like he was fighting a high fever. Not as high as his one when he had RSV. Lucille was standing in the doorway when she walked in. "I'm really sorry about the boys. They are early, I was going to call Lucas and tell him to make sure they are quiet."

"Its fine," I said stiffly, Lucille laughed, "No it's not. He was finally sleeping and he was woken up. You look like complete hell as you probably didn't get an ounce of sleep."

"No, I didn't. This always happens when Troy isn't around, always." Lucille nodded as she took a deep breath, "I sent Jenni out to grab some baby Tylenol for Liam. You could have probably used some a while ago."

"Thanks," I mumbled as Lucille left the room, I sat down in the chair as Liam hiccupped. I had tried feeding him twice now since he had woken up in the wee hours. He had taken some for it to only come back up in a gross mess. I had changed twice and changed him three times.

It was like he was an infant again, I swirled my chair around to face the window as I tried to get him to go back to sleep. Once deciding he wasn't going to take food, I was giving him water as much as possible to keep him hydrated. Liam began to cough as I sat him up to do so. Cradling him back in my arms his eyes slowly began to advance downward again.

Kissing on his forehead, Jenni quietly came into the room. "I have some medication," she said, I took the bag from her. "Thanks,"

Placing Liam in his crib, he began to fuss as I prepared a dose of Tylenol for babies. Putting it into a syringe, I coaxed Liam to take it after a few minutes. Once he finally got it down, I prayed that it would stay down. I gave him a little water before I settled into the chair again.

I yawned as Liam rested on my chest, pushing back some of his hair, I kissed his forehead. Every time he took a breath he sounded nasal and took in a deep breath. His eyes battered and then he grabbed my finger. "I'm sorry," I whispered to him as I rubbed his arm.

He yawned himself as he then cried, rubbing his back, he closed his eyes and then coughed again. It was like a repeating rotation. I kissed his temple and left my lips there, I heard the door click open as Liam was just falling back asleep.

"Whoever that is, you better not make a sound." The person did not answer as the door simply clicked shut for a moment. The person didn't make a single step or at least I didn't hear it. I felt the presence in the room still as I felt a simple hand on my shoulder. I tilted my head backwards to see Troy standing there.

Keeping my reaction under control, Liam winced as Troy kept one hand on my shoulder. "What are you doing here?" I whispered my eyes warningly glanced at Liam as Troy sat down in front of me. "We have a layover here, we are playing in Phoenix tomorrow, and I asked Coach if I could just catch up with them early tomorrow morning."

My smiled shifted as Troy frowned, "You don't look so hot Brie." My eyes glanced down at Liam while Troy held is hands out. "I am afraid he is going to wake up."

"I can sit with him for a little while. You can go sleep in Jenni's room if you want." Troy offered he was in a simple pair of basketball shorts and a white tshirt that had Lakers across the front. "I can wait a few minutes, has your mom seen you yet?"

"No. Nobody really has since I snuck up here."

"You should go see them before you get caught up in here."

"I will keep it a surprise. Please, go rest." He said gently as he tried to take Liam from me. Liam coughed and Troy looked surprised. I moved Liam slightly as he began to grip onto my shirt. "Liam, daddy is here." Liam cried as I removed him from me. His cry was angry as Troy took him into his arms.

Shifting all of the blankets over to Troy also I stood up as Troy tried to quiet Liam. He sat down in the chair, propping his feet up. Troy touched his fingers to Liam's forehead as he frowned. "Why does he always get sick when I am not around?"

"You are here right now."

"Only because of a fluke."

I bent over as I kissed Troy's cheek, "Well, I am very welcome for that fluke." I picked up my cell phone as I quietly left the room. I could hear people talking downstairs as I walked into Jenni's room. Lying down on the bed I pulled up the covers around my shoulders.

Letting out a deep yawn, I turned over onto my stomach. I could hear Troy talking to Liam from Jenni's room and then Liam would cough. It was so hard to see Liam sick.

Troy's POV

"Shh…" I cradled Liam into my arms as he was fighting back sleep. "Just go to sleep, please," he whined as he kicked his legs, then he let out a long upsetting cry. I haven't heard him cry this much since he was a little colicky.

I looked at my watch as I had been holding him for about twenty-five minutes. Gabi had mentioned before she left that she had just givin him some Tylenol. Rocking the chair some more, I brushed hair off his forehead as I kissed the top of his head. "I know monkey, it sucks."

Standing up I carried him around to see if he would relax. Once he started to quiet down, I placed him in his crib. His eyes were shutting as the medication must be kicking in a little bit. I brushed my fingers over his forehead as I turned on his baby monitor.

Drifting two blankets over top of him, I shut the blinds and walked out of the room. Peering into Jenni's room, I saw Gabi's chest taking even breaths as she was sleeping. Shutting her door, I glanced down the hallway seeing my parent's room empty.

Jogging down the stairs I turned the baby monitor on, as it was on my hand. Walking into the kitchen, I set it down on the table as I walked over to the fridge. Opening it up, a hacking cough came from the baby monitor but no crying. I reached in to grab a stray Gatorade sitting on the shelf.

"Did he go to sleep finally?" shutting the door, I turned to face my mom. Her face held shock as she smiled widely coming over to bring me into a hug. It has been a while since she had last seen me. "Troy, what are you doing here?"

"We have a layover, I am meeting up with the guys later tonight, I mean early tomorrow morning for the game tomorrow in Phoenix."

"Have you already been upstairs?"

"Mom, I have been here for almost forty-five minutes. I relived Gabi and got them both to go to sleep." I said I twisted the cap on top of the Gatorade as she backed up. "Lucas, Michelle, Becca, and Mike are all outside."

"What are they doing outside?" I asked, my mom frowned, "Well this will make you unhappy but they already got in trouble. They arrived earlier than expected; Brett and Mike were excited, went running upstairs yelling, barged into your room, and woke Liam and Gabi up."

Biting my teeth together, I nodded, "So that's why Gabi freaked when I walked into the room."

"Probably, Brett ended up leaving and going to Aunt Lilly's house."

"Okay, I am going to go say hi to them, then probably go upstairs to be with Gabs,"

I picked up the baby monitor, took one more drink of my Gatorade as I slipped out the backdoor. Becca was playing with Mike on the basketball court as my dad, Lucas, and Michelle were lounging around drinking iced teas. "Troy!" Mike was the first to spot me as he waved.

"Hey Mike," he smiled and then went back to his game with Becca. She caught the ball and then dropped it. She bounced off the court to come give me a hug. "What are you doing here? I didn't think you were going to be able to be out here."

"I am leaving late tonight to catch back up with the team. I am trying to help Gabi out while Liam is sick."

"Oh," she blushed and then she looked over her shoulder, "I am sorry about what happened earlier." I kept a straight face as I nodded my head. "It's fine."

She only nodded before she took off back to the basketball court. For being twenty, she acted fifteen. I shook my head as I sat down at the table. My dad was watching me as I shook my Uncle Lucas hand and then hugged Michelle from my seat. "Troy, I have to second that with Gabi this morning. I know you have heard about it already but we are so sorry. We had no idea,"

"Its fine, I promise. I'm pretty sure I have woken up a few babies in my time as a kid."

"Not a sick one though who wouldn't sleep," I shrugged my shoulders as I twisted my Gatorade bottle in my hand. My dad cleared his throat, "Troy, I was getting ready to get a card table out of the garage. Would you care to help me?" I scrunched up my eyebrows as I looked at him.

"Sure…" I stood up as I grabbed the baby monitor, leaving my Gatorade behide. Once we were inside my dad stopped, turning to look at me. "Are you really here because of a layover?"

"What?" I asked, "You heard me Troy, why are you really here?"

"I am here because my son is upstairs sick, my wife hasn't gotten much sleep, and because I had a chance. I don't play until tomorrow night. I am leaving late tonight to catch a flight. Maybe we didn't quite have a layover but I am going back to Phoenix to play."

"You don't have to be with her whenever he is sick, you do know that right." I laughed as I looked at my dad, "Dad, how would you know? You were always here when I was sick; you didn't travel like I do. You were never afraid of missing anything like I fear everyday, not like this is missing something but God, everything falls back on Gabi and she can't do it all. She is not wonder mom."

My dad looked at me, "You have a career Troy, you are on the high life, and Gabi is doing just fine right now. Why do you always have to come for the rescue?"

"I am not here for a damn rescue dad! I am not one going to be here for Christmas, it is Gabi's favorite holiday, its Liam's first and I don't get to be here. You were here for every single Christmas. Every single one, then I have to travel to forty-one games, I am gone a lot and with all of my practices when I am home. I just, I want to be there."

"Troy! You don't understand I know you want to always be there for her, but you won't be able to!"

"And the one time I am able to be there, I am going to be there. I couldn't be here when Liam had RSV, I was there for the last day but when Gabi had a fucking melt down, I was not there. When Liam was colicky, I was barely there. I am always just leaving her when Liam's life gets rough."

My dad began to say something else when Liam began to cough and then Liam's wail traveled through the baby monitor. "Excuse me while I go tend to my son so my wife can sleep for a few more hours." I turned tight on my heel as I jogged up the stairs. Jenni's door was still shut as I walked into my room.

Liam was laying on his back crying as he had puked all over his linear. "Oh big guy," I said bending down to pick him up. He was covered in puke as I gently took him to the bathroom. I could hear shuffling in Jenni's room as I knew Gabi had been woken by the mess.

My bedroom door opened and closed as she came in rubbing her eyes. "Did he throw up again?" I nodded my head as I turned the bath on. Liam screeched as Gabi sat down against the sink. "Go back to bed babe, I have this. I am just going to give him a bath then I will change his sheets."

"You will have to wash them. Those are it and I havent gotten a chance to wash the other one yet." Gabi's eyes bored into mine as Liam only grew angrier. I undid his sleeper as I tossed it into a dirty pile. "Thank you for coming. I was right near my snapping point."

"Well my dad seems to think different." I mumbled, placing Liam into the tub he shrieked and tossed his head backwards crying. "He is very uncomfortable." She whispered, I tried to wash him off but he kept jerking away. "Can you grab some PJ's along with a diaper for him?"

"Sure," Gabi said as she stood up, walking out of the bathroom, I gave up giving Liam any sort of a bath. Wrapping a warm thick towel around his body he cried. Real tears were being produced as I sat on the bathroom floor, holding him in my arms. Gabi came back into the room as her face softened.

"He looks miserable."

"The Tylenol did nothing," I mentioned to her, she nodded her head as her fingers rubbed over his little head. "You should go get more sleep. I am bugging out at around midnight to catch a flight to Phoenix. You will have baby duty after that."

"I know, I just, I feel bad and it's hard to sleep."

"I will move him downstairs so you can get some more sleep," she nodded and kissed my cheek. "Thank you Troy,"

She squeezed my shoulder before she walked out of the bathroom. Rubbing my fingers over my face, I finally unwrapped the towel to diaper and change him as fast as I could. He screamed as I noticed his fingers trembled. I touched his forehead as the crying only made it worse.

Once I finished changing him I wrapped him into my arms as I stood up. Grabbing one of his blankets I swaddled him tightly as his face scrunched up. Grabbing another, a little heavier of a blanket, to just place over his body. Grabbing his pacifier, I walked down stairs with Liam. He was finally slowing down with his crying.

I noticed everybody moved into the living room, when they noticed me with Liam, they all looked at him. My dad was staring at me as I sat down on the couch with Liam. Liam cried once more as I rubbed his back. The trembling had stopped but he had goose bumps on his arms.

"Did the medication work?" my mom asked, I shook my head, "No. He just threw it all up. I need to go wash the bedding,"

"So is that what all of the screaming was about upstairs?"

"Trying to give him a bath, yes, Gabi came in and tried to help but she is becoming frustrated and tired." My eyes traveled to my dads as he avoided mine. My mom picked up on it as she glanced between the two of us. Lucas looked at us too but Michelle and Becca had no clue.

"So do you think it is just a fever?"

"He has a cough and a fever, his stomach is upset over something because he can't really keep food down."

Liam began to cough as I rubbed his back gently. He moaned as I kicked my legs up slipping my shoes off. Liam rested his head on my shoulder, "I have never seen him so upset."

I agreed as I looked at my mom, "Remember when I was sick that one time and it hurt to move around?" my mom nodded her head, "Yea, you called me because it hurt too much to move. You had a high fever but I don't remember you throwing up."

"I think it is just a virus that will pass, hopefully before Christmas. I also think that is what's wrong; he doesn't like being moved around."

"Are you going to take him to a doctor?" Michelle asked, "I will probably talk to Gabi once she gets more sleep, but I am thinking if this lasts longer than two days, we will for sure be getting him into a doctor to check him over."

"The only thing worse than having a sick baby is getting the sickness yourself," I swallowed, "Yea, lets pray that doesn't happen."

Gabi's POV

Stirring in the bed, I yawned, opening my eyes. Stretching my arms I looked over at the clock to see it was a little after seven. I sat up and I let a long groan escape my throat. I was probably going to have an all nighter with Liam so some sleep was fantastic.

Pushing back all of Jenni's blankets I stood on my feet. Looking into my mirror, I fixed any mangled hair as I flipped my wrists. Opening the door to the hallway, I glanced in Troy's room to see the door wide open. His crib stripped of sheets and the lights on as if they were cleaning.

Blinking my eyes, I walked downstairs and around the corner into the living room. Looking in I felt my lips tug into a smile. Troy was lying on the couch with Liam prompt up on his chest. A blanket was on top of them both as Liam sucked in and out on his pacifier, his nose still congested, it was red all around, his cheek flushed.

"They have been like that for about two hours."

"I would normally complain but right now, I will take it. I was trying to get him to sleep because he is a lot more comfortable sleeping." Lucille nodded as she walked towards the kitchen. "Troy got more Tylenol into him and so far it has stayed down."

"I wish he would eat, I keep giving him water but he doesn't have a big interest in the water." Stopping by Troy I gazed my fingers over Liam's forehead. It was still a little warm but not nearly as warm as it was before.

"We were just getting ready to serve dinner, I thought about waking you up but I guess you might be up all night." I smiled as I nodded, "Probably. I am sorry about all of this. This must suck for you."

"No, I wish my grandson felt better," walking into the kitchen I noticed the whole Lucas Clan. "Look who is awake," Brett and Mike both quickly grabbed me into a hug. "We are so sorry about this morning. You looked so pissed," Brett whispered into my ear. "You just caught me at a very bad point. I was this close to already snapping, I had been up all night with a sick baby and he just fell asleep. It will be fine in the end, it was just bad timing."

"Thanks," Jack looked at me as he let out a sigh, "How come my son is always right?" I raised my eyebrow as I looked at him, "We got into an argument earlier,"

"Jack," I said stopping him, "Whatever was said, lets just not repeat it. I don't want to deal with that right now."

"No," he stopped as he walked closer to me, "He was right. You two are great parents and he has something that will always be there. I fought it because he could point out everything that I could not, so it was just, how it should be."

I had no idea what he was talking about but I just nodded, "I am going to wake Troy up so he can eat with you guys," I said backing out of the room. They began to set the table as I walked back into the living room. Knelling down next to the couch my finger gazed over Troy's cheek bone as I bent over kissing his cheek.

Troy groaned slightly before he turned his head to face mine. "Hey, you're awake." He whispered he cleared his throat before he looked down at Liam. "Is he still asleep?" I nodded as I sat down on the floor. Troy closed his eyes again before he opened them up again.

"Your family is getting ready to eat dinner; you should go be with them since you won't be here on Christmas." Troy looked at Liam, "I can hold him during dinner. Hopefully he will relax and just be held."

Troy began to shift as I peeled back a layer of blankets to pick Liam up. He cried out but only readjusted in my arms. His head resting on my shoulder, his fingers folded underneath his chest. Troy sat up running his fingers through his hair, "he was shivering like no other earlier."

"My poor little guy," I whispered as I kissed his temple. Troy stood up popping his back and then his neck before we walked into the kitchen. "I will make you a plate of whatever they are eating." Troy said as he kissed my lips. He then stopped, "Since I have been here, we have yet to have a proper kiss."

I smiled as I turned my head to greet Troy in the kiss he must have been waiting for. "That's much better."

We both walked into the kitchen as I took a seat next to Troy's usual place, then I settled back with Liam. I pulled one more blanket off as it only relived Liam swaddled which we haven't done in a long time. He fixed his hands as he let his eyes open. "Mama," he said quietly, I smiled as I felt like that was never going to get old.

"Did he just talk?" Lucas asked, I nodded my head, "Like words we can understand," Troy peered over towards us as he smiled himself. "Yea, he started that a little while ago. Along with walking but you wouldn't know that due to the fact he hasn't left somebody's arms in a long time."

Liam's fingers played with my shirt, he yawned before he flopped his head towards me. "Looks like he is feeling a little better," Lucille said, "I think it is just the Tylenol." I said pressing my lips against his temple. He whimpered as Troy sat down a plate full of food. I looked at it for it to reveal corn, a cheeseburger, and some pasta salad. I picked up a little bit of the meat that fell off and gently coaxed it into Liam's mouth.

He rejected it as it fell to the ground. "I will get that when I get up," I said rubbing my fingers over his back. "It will be fine Gabi, I sweep after dinner so, it won't go sitting there forever."

Troy placed his hand over my knee as I pulled off Liam's swaddle, then sitting him up on my lap. He looked around the table, "This was not the baby I saw a little while ago. That baby was screaming."

"He must have been in a lot of pain or something."

Troy took a bite of his food as I began to eat mine. Liam looked at the food as I gave him a bottle that was full of water. He took little drinks every now and then but he kept hiding his face into my side. Troy glanced at his watch before he finished off everything.

Troy got up and Jack got up to follow him. They said a few things in the kitchen before they hugged it out. I pushed back my chair as Liam yawned again, whatever this was, it was kicking his little butt. "I am going to take Liam upstairs Troy," I said as he passed me in the kitchen. I held Liam as he began to cough again.

"Gabi, if it helps we have a vaporizer," Lucille said from the chair, "I might be looking for it later but for right now, I am just going to take him upstairs and relax."

Troy picked up my half eaten plate as Liam took another drink of the water. Getting upstairs I opened the door to Troy's room. I shut off a few of the lights as I crawled into the bed, laying Liam right next to me. He fussed as I smoothed some of his hair back. "I know buddy, it sucks to be sick."

He yawned as he coughed some more, I rubbed my hands on his stomach as he squirmed. A cry escaping his mouth for another one to follow, I picked him up, laying him on my chest. I kissed his head, the bedroom door opened as Troy walked into the room.

"I have to be heading out soon but I havent gotten much Gabi time yet," Troy lay down as he touched Liam who was breathing heavy. "I am glad you came Troy, I know that you probably wanted to when I said he was sick but, this one was tough."

"Yea, Coach wasn't too happy that I chose this but he said as long as I was back before three am. I don't have to be at the gym till three so that was going to be twelve hours of sleep."

"You don't have to come if it means something would happen to basketball," I started but Troy stopped me, "Don't. My dad and I argued over this. Basketball is number three in my life Gabi. Liam and you are the most important things in my life; basketball can take a back seat. Deduct my pay, I don't care, I just want to be with you when you need me."

I stayed quiet as I didn't want to say something more than I wanted to say. "Liam is very happy you came," Troy smiled as Liam frowned and then he coughed some more. "I am happy I was able to let you sleep for a little while."

It was quiet for the rest of the time; Troy stroked my hair every now and then as I focused on Liam. Liam was in-between sleep and the upsetting world at the moment.

"His fever has not broken, even with medication." I finally said after the long pause, "I think you should wait until tomorrow evening to see if he is going to get any better. I don't want to rush him to the doctor for just a fever and a cough."

"Puking?"

"I think he doesn't want it. He is protesting what you are giving him, when I am sick I never want to eat and when I do, I throw it up."

Troy sighed as he sat up, "I have to be getting ready to bug out." Troy bent over as he pressed his lips against mine. "You are the best," I murmured to him, "I know but I am living behide my wife who is even better." I pushed him slightly as Liam cringed. Troy stopped as he picked Liam up from my chest.

Crossing my arms over my chest, I smiled at the two. Troy was slowly talking to him as he rubbed his back. I am so happy I married this boy.

Liam was snuggled into my chest as he wrapped his fingers around my shirt. The vaporizer was running as it was a little after one, almost twenty four hours of this mess.

He was still hacking at this cough but he wasn't really sleeping. He was only in his sleeper since the vaporizer was making me warm and with a fever, I didn't want him anymore warm than he needed to be.

The door cracked open as Jack poked his head through. "How is he doing?"

"Okay, he isn't as fussy but the vaporizer is defiantly helping." Jack stepped into the room as he came over, "How you doing champ?"

Liam squirmed as he then began to cough again. Jack sat down at the edge of the bed as I blinked my eyes, "I so hope this is it. I do not want to do this over Christmas. That would be a very sucky Christmas."

"At least it will be one he won't remember too well."

"Would you not hate if they did remember all of this? They would see every little detail we did with them," Jack nodded his head as he grabbed Liam's head. "I can not believe how big he is getting."

"I know it's crazy." Liam tried to get off my lap as he only began to do his crying thing again. He whimpered as I sighed, "I want to feed him something, anything, I just don't know if he will take it."

"The only thing you can do is try. I think he might take it by how he is acting but then again he may not." I nodded as I stood Liam up on my legs. He gave me one of his big smiles, "I knew I loved you for many reasons," Jack laughed as he stood up. "I am off to bed so good night,"

"Night."

I kissed Liam's forehead as his fever was still evident, not as warm, but still there. I stood up as I wrapped a blanket around him, kissing his temple.

I rack my brain for things to sing to him, to hopefully get him to go to sleep quicker. I thought of songs that Troy has sung to him before or something that I was very familiar with.

Then I came up with one of my favorite all time songs. Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol, a smile appearing on my face.

"We'll do it all, everything, on our own." I paused as I hummed some more of the lyrics to him, waiting for the course to get here.

"If I lay here, if I just lay here, would you lie with me and just forget the world. I don't quiet know, how to say, how I feel. Those three words, our said too much, but not enough. If I lay here, if I just lay here, would you lie with me and just forget the world, forget what were told, before we get old."

Liam had closed his eyes as it felt foreign to sing again, the lyrics poured out of my mouth with ease, as if I was singing with Troy again. I pressed my lips against Liam's temple as he had a hold of my hair. That was once Troy and I's song. It was our favorite song for the longest time.

I laid down Liam in his fresh sheets, he smiled before he coughed. I drifted a blanket over the top of him as I kept his vaporizer on. I yawned deeply as I kissed his forehead. Grabbing my phone I sat down on the bed, sitting crisscross, I found my last text message to Troy as I typed out a few words.

If I lay here, if I just lay here, would you lie with me and just forget the world, forget what were told, before we get too old. – Xoxo Brie

I smiled as I shut off all the lights, hoping that Liam would only have this bug for the twenty four hours, I was ready to have my little boy back.

My phone lay on my chest as I thought about the day in my head. It was long, unexpected, and crazy. Who knew twenty-four hours could last so long.

My phone began to vibrate as I smiled; knowing Troy had gotten my message.

Let's waste time, Chasing Cars, around our heads. I need your grace, to remind me to find my own. – Xoxo Troy

Can somebody say Wow? I, got this chapter out within three days. I wrote it, edited, and posted it within two days. WOW! I am pretty shocked since I also did a lot of babysitting this weekend. :D I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, it was cute and I know that is kind of sucked that Liam got sick but I needed something and it made me write it very fast! Love!

So how close can you guys get me to 800? Only six more chapters! Whew! Do you think I can finish this story before May 22nd? That is my last day of school and I would love to finish this story and focus on My Laker Boys all summer! Its gonna be good! I promise!

PLEASE REVIEW!