Chapter Eight

Thursday 31st October 2013: Halloween-Hayden 7 Weeks

"Brie, you can not dress Hayden up as a Pumpkin." Troy called to his wife who was upstairs getting ready for the party at Chad and Taylor's that evening. Troy was already dressed in his outfit, the couple decided on going as a pirate pair, Hayden a surprise, and currently Gabriella was upstairs sorting out their daughter.

"I haven't!" she called back down to him. "She looks cute though."

Troy laughed. "She's your daughter so she's always going to be cute babe," he called back as she appeared at the top of the stairs. "You ready she asked?" as he nodded. Gabriella disappeared momentarily before returning with Hayden in her arms as the baby looked about. "Ta da!" she said and Troy laughed.

Hayden was in a long sleeved onsie with 'My first Halloween' written in white, with two candy corns in the left. She had on black tights with candy corns on each of the feet and a little tutu in the candy corn colours. There was also a matching bow headband in her hair.

Hayden squealed and Troy took her into his arms. "Aren't you a little cutie." he cooed to her as Gabriella went over to the mirror to adjust the red bandana in her hair. Troy kissed Hayden's head before he went and slipped her into her car seat. He then went behind Gabriella and wrapped his arms around her waist. "I'm dying to know where you found her outfit, because it is just adorable," he said as he kissed the side of her head. She turned around and pecked his lips. "I found most of it online," she said as she wriggled out of his embrace. "Now come on Bolton, let's go win this damn costume contest."

Taylor and Chad's

Gabriella shifted Hayden's car seat to her other arm as Troy opened the door. "Danforth," He called. "The Bolton's have arrived." Gabriella chuckled as she followed him in, and through to the kitchen where all the gang were dressed up and stood around talking. She gave a friendly smile as she moved passed everyone to place Hayden's car seat on the lone arm chair in the corner before she unclipped the baby and picked her up.

Hayden pumped her legs excitedly as she gripped onto the top of Gabi's costume, dropping her head onto her mothers shoulder as her eyes scanned the room. Her eyes settled on Taylor and she gave a bright smile Gabi moved over to her.

"Hi Cutie," Taylor cooed as she held out her arms for Hayden. The baby blushed before she buried her face into Gabi's shoulder and gripped onto her tighter. "Aww, you a shy girl?" Taylor cooed, as she reached over and tickled her foot.

Hayden kicked her legs and moved her arms about, as she moved her head to look over Gabi's shoulder. Gabriella laughed before she fell into conversation with Taylor and Sharpay, who was balancing Oliver, dressed as Batman, on her hip.

Troy came over with a beer in his hand, he was also holding onto Hayden's yellow blanket. "Hi princess," he said to Hayden as he approached, her eyes watching him as he came closer. He came and stood beside Gabriella, Hayden turned so she could see him, before she leant over to him slightly giving a small whine.

"Someone wants their daddy." Sharpay mentioned as Gabriella turned and handed Hayden to Troy. The baby gripped onto the blanket he handed her before she snuggled into his chest. "She's tired," he mentioned as he began to rub lightly at her back. Hayden let out a breath before she turned her head to look at everyone, her blue eyes full of sleep as she kept them open.

"and she's going to fight the sleep," Gabriella muttered as she ran her hand over her daughters head as she nuzzled further into the torn white shirt Troy wore. "She been doing that a lot recently?" Kelsi asked, as she took Oliver from Sharpay, the small boy now munching on a piece of apple. "Not much during the day," Gabriella responded. "But always at night. She'll cry for a bit then we'll cradle her and rock her for a bit. Normally that works, if not, we just have a fussy baby."

"Oliver used to fight during the day, but because of that he slept pretty much through the night." Gabriella laughed as the boy gave a cheesy grin and Hayden whined from her place on Troy's shoulder. "Come on Princess," Troy cooed as Hayden turned her head away from everyone. She buried her face into Troy's neck and sighed. Troy, never stopping the small circles he was rubbing on her back.

The men wandered over, Chad with a couple of trophies in his hand, and stood by their wives. "Award for best costume time," Chad sung making everyone laugh. Hayden had gone limp against Troy, her even breaths signalling she was asleep. Troy passed her over to Gabriella who held the baby against her chest. Her lips buried in the baby's dark fuzzy curls, as she swayed gently.

"Right," Chad began, "Best Childs costume goes to Oliver!" Everyone cheered as Oliver blushed and buried his face into Ryan's shoulder. " and Best Baby" Chad continued, "Goes to Hayden, who clearly doesn't care because she's fast asleep against her Mummy." Troy looked down at his wife and daughter and he smiled, before he looked at Chad. "That must have been an easy choice," He said jokingly, "I mean Oliver is the only child, and Hay is the only baby."

"Yeah," Chad replied as everyone laughed, before he blushed. "ADULTS NOW!" Zeke called out making Sharpay reach out and hit his chest. "Right yeah, urm," Chad started. "Best Adults, Me and Taylor of course." The girls laughed as the boys complained. "That is not fair," Ryan whined.

"You can't pick yourselves," Zeke added.

"Dude, just no." Troy said as Chad laughed.

"Just kidding, it's gotta be the Baylor's I mean come on, nobody can beat that."

Sharpay stepped forward and took the Trophy. "Now the obvious has been covered," she turned to Oliver, "Who wants to get some Candy?!" The boy squealed and squirmed from Ryan's arms, rushing towards the door for his shoes, the Adults following.

Troy came up behind his wife, peering gently over her shoulder to look at their sleeping daughter. "First Halloween and she sleep's through it," He murmured into Gabi's ear. She giggled, "She was tired." Hayden shifted, before she sighed in her sleep. "Come on Mr Bolton, let's go enjoy a nice stroll."