The next day Gabriella woke up feeling nauseous. She ran to the bathroom with Troy following her. Gabriella kneeled down in front of the toilet and released the remains of her stomach. Troy held his wife's hair and rubbed her back soothingly.
"Everything is okay honey. Just relax" Troy said.
Gabriella gasped for air and moved away from the toilet. She stood up carefully and walked to the sink and brushed her teeth. Gabriella then looked at Troy.
"Are you okay?" Troy asked.
Gabriella nodded slowly and walked over to her husband and wrapped her arms around his waist. Troy kissed Gabriella's head softly.
"I need to go wake up Nat so we can go to my appointment" Gabriella said.
"I will wake her up. You go get ready" Troy said.
"Okay" Gabriella said.
Troy walked out of the room and went into Natalie's room. He saw her sleeping soundly. Troy sat on the edge of his daughter's bed.
"Nat, you need to wake up baby" Troy said.
Natalie opened her eyes slowly.
"Daddy" Natalie said.
"Good morning honey. We are going to see the baby today" Troy said.
Natalie smiled.
"We are?" Natalie asked.
"Yeah, come on let's go get dressed" Troy said as he lifted his daughter up.
Troy dressed Natalie and got her ready for the day. They then walked downstairs and went into the kitchen. Gabriella looked at her daughter and smiled.
"Good morning sweetie" Gabriella said.
"Mommy, we are going to see the baby today" Natalie said incredulously.
Gabriella smiled and looked at Troy, who was watching the two interact.
"Yeah we are. Are you excited?" Gabriella asked.
Natalie nodded.
"Let's get you something to eat and we will go okay?" Gabriella said.
"Okay" Natalie said.
Gabriella made Natalie some breakfast. After Natalie was done eating, the little family left the house. Troy drove to Gabriella's obstetrician's office. He parked his car and looked at Gabriella.
"Are you ready?" Troy asked.
Gabriella nodded. Troy leaned in and kissed Gabriella's lips softly.
"I love you" Gabriella said.
"I love you too" Troy said.
The couple got out of the car and Troy unbuckled Natalie from her car seat. The little family walked into the office and sat down. Gabriella signed herself in and sat next to Troy. A few minutes later, a young brunette woman, who was probably in her twenties came into the waiting room with a file in her hand.
"Gabriella Bolton?" the nurse called.
Troy picked Natalie up and followed Gabriella and the nurse into a room where Gabriella's vitals were taken. They then were escorted to an exam room.
"Gabriella, please take your bra and underwear off and put this gown on. Dr. Green will be in shortly" the nurse said.
"Can you take her into the hallway for a minute while I change?" Gabriella asked.
"Yeah" Troy said as he picked Natalie up and walked out of the room.
Gabriella quickly changed and opened the door so that Troy and Natalie could come back in. Troy and Natalie came back into the room and sat down next to the exam table.
"Are you nervous?" Troy asked.
"A little bit" Gabriella said.
Troy put his hand on top of Gabriella's.
"Everything is going to be fine. I love you" Troy said.
"I love you too" Gabriella said.
"I love you" Natalie said.
Gabriella and Troy smiled.
"I love you too baby girl" Gabriella said.
There was a knock on the door and a young woman who had long blonde and who was probably in her forties came into the room.
"Gabriella, it's been a while" Dr. Ward said.
"Yeah, Natalie's three" Gabriella said.
Dr. Green looked at Natalie and smiled.
"Hi Natalie" Dr. Ward said.
Natalie looked at Troy.
"Say hi honey" Troy said.
Natalie looked at Dr. Ward.
"Hi" Natalie said.
"So Gabriella, you wanted to know how far along you are right?" Dr. Ward asked.
"Yes" Gabriella said.
"Okay. Troy, can you help her lie back?" Dr. Ward asked.
"Of course" Troy said as he stood up.
Troy helped Gabriella lie down on the exam table. He then sat down and placed Natalie on his lap. Gabriella took Troy's hand and entwined their fingers together. Dr. Ward turned on the ultrasound and waited until it heated. She then raised Gabriella's shirt above her stomach and took a bottle of gel and squirted some of the product onto her stomach. Dr. Ward took a wand and moved the gel around and looked at the screen.
"There's your baby, guys" Dr. Ward said.
Troy and Gabriella smiled.
"There's the baby, Nat" Gabriella said pointing to the screen.
"That's the baby?" Natalie asked.
"Yeah honey" Gabriella said.
Dr. Ward moved the wand over Gabriella's stomach.
"He or she looks healthy. You are about eight weeks along" Dr. Ward said.
Gabriella looked at Troy and smiled. Troy winked at Gabriella.
"Thank you Dr. Ward" Gabriella said.
"No problem. I will see you in a month" Dr. Ward said.
Dr. Green left the room. Gabriella looked at Natalie and smiled.
"Nat, are you excited for the baby to come?" Gabriella asked.
"Yeah" Natalie said.
Troy smiled and kissed Natalie's head softly.
"You are going to be a big sister Nat" Troy said.
Natalie nodded.
"We are going to step out so you can change" Troy said as he stood up with Natalie in his arms.
"Okay" Gabriella said.
Troy and Natalie left the exam room. Gabriella changed back into her clothes and walked out of the room. The little family left the doctor's office and drove home. Troy parked his car in the driveway and got out of the car. He walked to the backseat and helped Natalie get out of the car. They then walked into the house.
"Sweetie, it's nap time" Gabriella said.
"No nap mommy" Natalie said.
"You need one. Come on" Gabriella said taking Natalie's hand.
The two girls walked upstairs. Troy walked into the living room and sat down on the couch. A couple minutes later, Gabriella walked into the living room and sat down next to Troy.
"Is she asleep?" Troy asked.
"Yeah" Gabriella said as she leaned her head against Troy's shoulder.
"How are you feeling baby?" Troy asked.
"Tired. Plus, I am already gaining weight. I feel gross and fat" Gabriella said.
"Brie, you look beautiful. You are not fat. You are carrying our baby" Troy said.
Gabriella looked at Troy.
"Do you mean that?" Gabriella asked.
Troy smiled.
"Yes, I mean that. You are so beautiful and it is so hard for me to keep my hands off of you right now" Troy said.
Gabriella laughed.
"I love you" Gabriella said.
"I love you too. Never forget that okay?" Troy said.
"Okay" Gabriella said.
Troy kissed Gabriella's lips softly. Gabriella kissed Troy back and put her hand on his cheek. Troy pulled away and put his hand on her stomach.
"I can't wait to be a daddy again" Troy said.
Gabriella smiled.
"I can't wait to be a mommy again" Gabriella said.
Troy kissed Gabriella's cheek.
"What do you think the baby will look like?" Gabriella asked.
"I hope he or she looks like you. Nat looks like me and I want this baby to look like you" Gabriella said.
Troy smiled.
"I hope the baby looks like me but with your personality" Troy said.
"We will see in seven months" Gabriella said.
Natalie walked downstairs and went into the living room where her parents were.
"Hi sweetheart. Did you have a good nap?" Troy asked as he picked his daughter up and set her in his lap.
"Yeah" Natalie said.
"I am going to call Taylor and tell her the news" Gabriella said.
"Alright baby" Troy said.
Gabriella left the room. Troy looked at his daughter and smiled.
"Are you happy that you got to see the baby, Nat?" Troy asked.
Natalie nodded.
"When is the baby going to come daddy?" Natalie asked.
"The baby will be here in a couple of months. It has to stay in mommy's tummy for a little while so it can grow" Troy said.
"Oh" Natalie said.
Gabriella came back into the living room and sat down next to Troy.
"What did Tay say?" Troy asked.
"She said that she was happy for us and that we deserved to have another baby" Gabriella said.
Troy smiled.
"Everyone deserves to have as many children as they want" Troy said.
"Mommy" Natalie said.
Gabriella looked at her daughter.
"Yes baby?" Gabriella asked.
"Why does the baby have to grow in your tummy?" Natalie asked.
Gabriella opened her arms and Natalie moved into them.
"The baby has to grow in my tummy because it's safer for it. When the baby grows in my tummy, it grows, like you do. When the baby can't grow anyone in my tummy, then it can come out. Do you understand, Nat?" Gabriella asked.
Natalie nodded. Troy smiled.
"I think I am going to take a nap" Gabriella said.
"Are you feeling okay?" Troy asked worriedly.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I am just really tired" Gabriella said.
"Okay, let me know if you need anything babe" Troy said.
"I will" Gabriella said.
Gabriella walked upstairs and went into the master bedroom. She lied down on the bed and fell asleep. A couple hours later, Gabriella was woken up by a pain in her stomach. She sat up and put her hand on her stomach. Gabriella got off the bed and walked downstairs. She walked into the kitchen where Troy was. Troy looked at Gabriella.
"Troy, we need to go to the hospital" Gabriella said.
Troy looked at Gabriella worriedly.
"Are you okay?" Troy asked.
"I'm having stomach pain and it's not cramps" Gabriella said.
Trusting Gabriella's word, Troy walked into the living room where Natalie was. He picked up his daughter and then walked back into the kitchen and took Gabriella's hand. The little family left the house. Troy opened the backseat of his car and strapped Natalie into her car seat. He shut the door and then helped Gabriella get into the car.
"Where are we going?" Natalie asked.
"We have to take mommy to the doctor" Troy said.
"At night?" Natalie asked innocently.
"Yeah honey. Everything is okay" Troy said.
Troy drove to the hospital and parked in the emergency room parking lot. He got out of the car and went to the backseat and opened the door. Troy unbuckled Natalie from her car seat and picked her up and set her on his hip. He walked to Gabriella's side and helped her out. The little family walked into the emergency room and went to the front desk.
"My wife is having stomach pain and she is two months pregnant" Troy said.
"Okay, we will get her to a room" the receptionist said.
The receptionist started talking to a nurse and the nurse came towards Gabriella with a wheelchair. Gabriella sat down in the wheelchair and the nurse wheeled her to a hospital room with Troy and Natalie following behind. Once Gabriella was in a room, Troy had to fill out her paperwork at the front desk. Twenty minutes later, Troy and Natalie walked into Gabriella's hospital room. Natalie wrapped her arms around Troy tightly. Troy kissed his daughter's cheek.
"She's okay Nat. Don't worry okay?" Troy said.
Troy walked over to a chair that was next to the bed.
"Has Dr. Ward come in yet?" Troy asked.
"No, not yet. I'm scared Troy" Gabriella said.
Troy took Gabriella's hand in his.
"I know you are. I am too" Troy said.
"I don't want anything to be wrong with the baby" Gabriella said.
"Hey, just relax okay? Everything is going to be fine. I am going to call my parents and ask them to pick Nat up and she could stay at their house" Troy said.
"Okay" Gabriella said.
Troy walked out of the hospital room. Ten minutes later, Troy came back into the hospital room.
"My mom is on her way" Troy said.
"Okay" Gabriella said as she put her hand on her stomach.
Troy's phone went off and he looked at it.
"Nat, grandma is here to pick you up okay? Say goodbye to mommy" Troy said.
Troy picked Natalie up and walked over to Gabriella, who kissed Natalie's cheek.
"I love you baby" Gabriella said.
"I love you mommy" Natalie said.
"I will be back" Troy said.
Troy left the room and walked out of the hospital to his mother's car. Lucille got out of the car and looked at her son.
"What is going on?" Lucille asked.
"I don't know, but Nat can't stay here" Troy said.
"I will keep her until you both are home. Don't worry about Nat" Lucille said.
Troy hugged his mother.
"Thank you for doing this" Troy said.
"She's my granddaughter. Let me know what happens" Lucille said as she kissed her son's cheek.
"I will. Nat, you are going to stay with grandma for a little while okay? I love you" Troy said kissed Natalie's cheek.
"I love you too daddy" Natalie said.
Troy put his daughter down and watched her get into his mother's car. He walked into the hospital and went back to Gabriella's hospital room. Troy knocked on the door and heard a faint "come in". He opened the door and walked into the hospital room. Troy sat down on the chair that was next to the bed.
"Has Dr. Ward come in yet?" Troy asked.
"Not yet" Gabriella said.
There was a knock on the door and Dr. Ward came into the room and smiled.
"Hi Troy and Gabriella. What happened?" Dr. Ward asked as she washed her hands.
"I felt pain in my stomach and it wouldn't go away" Gabriella said.
"Let's have a look" Dr. Ward said as she put on a pair of gloves.
Dr. Ward turned on the ultrasound and moved Gabriella's gown up, revealing her flat stomach. She then picked up a bottle of gel and squeezed the product onto Gabriella's stomach. Dr. Ward moved the gel around with a wand and looked at the monitor. She stopped moving the wand and looked closely at the screen. Dr. Ward then looked at Gabriella.
"I am going to bring one of my colleagues in here to take a look. I will be right back" Dr. Ward said.
"Okay" Gabriella said.
Dr. Ward left the room. Gabriella looked at Troy nervously.
"What if something is wrong Troy?" Gabriella asked.
"Baby, if something is wrong, we need to fix it right? Everything is going to be okay" Troy said.
Dr. Ward came back into the hospital room with a tall man who had dark brown hair and was probably about fifty five. The two doctors looked at the monitor. The man whispered to Dr. Ward and left the room. Dr. Ward looked at the couple.
"Gabriella, the baby has hydrocephalus" Dr. Ward said carefully.
"What is that?" Troy asked.
"It's when there is fluid in the brain and it cannot drain, which causes the head to swell" Dr. Ward said.
"But it's curable right?" Gabriella asked.
"Unfortunately, there is no cure as of right now. The best solution is to put a drain into the brain and that will allow the fluid to drain and not cause any swelling" Dr. Ward said.
"What can happen to the baby?" Troy asked.
"The baby will have a lot of problems. Don't expect the baby to be able to walk or talk" Dr. Ward said.
Gabriella gasped. Troy put his hand on Gabriella's shoulder.
"When can you put the drain in?" Gabriella asked.
"As soon as the baby is born" Dr. Ward said.
Gabriella nodded.
"I am going to keep you here for the night alright" Dr. Ward said.
"Alright. Thank you Dr. Ward" Troy said.
Dr. Ward left the hospital room. Troy looked at his wife.
"Honey, everything is going to be okay" Troy said.
Gabriella just cried. Troy wrapped his arms around Gabriella and kissed her head softly.
"I didn't do anything. Why did this happen?" Gabriella cried.
Troy tried to hold himself together.
"I know you didn't Brie. Things like this just happen" Troy said.
Gabriella cried into Troy's chest. Troy lied down next to Gabriella and held her. Gabriella wrapped her arms around Troy tightly.
"I am not going to let anything happen to you or the baby okay?" Troy said.
Gabriella nodded slightly.
"We should have stopped trying to get pregnant" Gabriella said.
"Babe, don't think like that. We need to do what is best for the baby. We didn't know that this was going to happen. We just have to wait and see what happens" Troy said.
"I love you" Gabriella said as she wiped her tears away.
Troy kissed Gabriella's lips softly.
"I love you too. We are going to get through this. The baby will get through this" Troy said.
Gabriella nodded.
"Get some sleep okay? We will talk about this more tomorrow" Troy said.
"Okay, are you staying?" Gabriella asked.
"Yes" Troy said.
Gabriella snuggled into Troy's chest and fell asleep. Troy wrapped his arms around Gabriella and rubbed her back soothingly. The next morning, Gabriella woke up and remembered that she was in the hospital. She got up quickly and ran to the bathroom. Gabriella emptied the contents of her stomach and then brushed her teeth. She walked back to the hospital bed and lied down. Troy opened his eyes and looked at his wife.
"Are you okay?" Troy asked.
Gabriella nodded. Troy kissed Gabriella's lips softly.
"I love you" Troy said.
"I love you too" Gabriella said.
"Are you in any pain baby?" Troy asked.
"No" Gabriella said as she looked down at her stomach.
Troy put his hand on Gabriella's stomach.
"You are going to get discharged today" Troy said.
Gabriella nodded. Troy kissed Gabriella's cheek.
"You ready to go home?" Troy asked.
Gabriella nodded.
"Nat is going to be so happy to see you" Troy said.
"I can't wait to see her too" Gabriella said.
The couple left the hospital and drove home. They didn't know what life would have in store for them, but what they did know is that they had each other to lean on when times got rough.