Epilogue

"Don't tell me leggings aren't pants. I'm nine months pregnant; pants are whatever I decided they are."

Taylor let out a laugh as she sat at the kitchen counter watching Troy's confused expression.

"I just asked if you wanted to go upstairs and get ready?" Troy opened and then shut his mouth.

Today was their house warming party.

"Fine, I'll go freshen up." Gabriella placed a hand on her stomach and sighed as the phone began to ring. "You answer that." She frowned. "I swear I don't even say hello anymore. Every call begins with, no baby yet."

Taylor came around the table to help Gabriella her hand supportably at her side so Gabriella could lean on her.

"Love you honey."

"Don't you honey me, honey is how we got into this situation. Now I have a waddle and bladder the size of nat."

"Love you anyway," Troy called after them as they went up the stairs.

Troy let out a sigh as ran a hand through his hair. He was sure all this work wasn't good for the baby, but any time he tried to make her stop she'd just start another project that was, if not more, just as dangerous.

The woman was slowly turning his hair grey.

The kitchen was brand new, granite counter tops, a island sink, with stainless steel appliances, and room for a small breakfast table that led to more ceiling to floor windows and a set of patio doors that went right out into a great size yard with a deck.

She'd painted the kitchen a creamy white to go with all the pale gray wood work on the cabinets. At first he'd been a little skeptical about the color but walking into the warm, soothing space he had to admit she'd been right.

Not that he'd ever tell her that.

The overall effect was of useful comfort. It was a warm, family kitchen, a place for work and conversation. A place for sweet smells and savory concoctions, for taking stock of the day while planning the next.

Troy picked up the phone and held it to his ear as he opened the back patio doors and motioned Eddie and Gloria in who was holding a beagle puppy on with a pink ribbon tied to her collar.

"Your almost here?" Troy said into the phone, "Great just ring the bell." He hung up and looked back Eddie.

"About time," Eddie muttered, "Thought you forgot about us. She peed on me."

"On his shoe," Gloria added as she shut the patio doors behind her. "He swears it was it was a gushing spring."

"Sorry about that. You know better than anyone, getting your sister to do anything is task," Troy knelt down to pick up the puppy.

"How is she? Any contractions?"

Troy rolled his eyes. "I swear each month has an average of 30-31 days, except this last month of the pregnancy which has like 1453 days."

Eddie let out a laugh, "I'm sure you guys will be just fine."

The doorbell rang.

"I got to go get that, can you hold her? Don't let Gabi see her yet."

"I'll take her," Gloria said taking the puppy from him and cuddling it in her arms. "She's so adorable."

"We're not getting one."

Troy smirked as he made his way to the front door. Reaching for the door he pulled it open and came face to face with Rachel, Louie, Sharpay and Nick.

"Did you guys ride together?"

"No they pulled up when we did," Nick moved aside as Jamie and Matt ran inside the house.

Troy smiled pulled the door open to usher them in. "Come right in and make yourselves comfortable."

"I love this house," Sharpay said walking inside and wondering through the living room.

"Nice TV." Louie said making a beeline for one of the recliners.

Troy frowned, "Your sister didn't want one at first, and then I got that lifetime network. You should try pulling her away from that."

Rachel went straight to the kitchen, "Oh my god this kitchen is amazing."

Sharpay quickly followed suit to see for herself leaving Louie and Troy in the living room.

"Any contractions?" Nick asked taking a seat on the couch and reaching for the remote.

"Nope," Troy shook his head, "but she is moody."

"Sharpay been complaining about heartburn and having to use the bathroom every five minutes, she lays down in bed and just as she gets comfortable she has to get up again."

"Gabriella too,"

The door bell rang Troy turned to get it. This time it was Maria and Louis. He let them in and then recruited Nick and Eddie to help unload the food from their car.

Gabriella let out a sigh as she sat on the bed and let Taylor put on her sandals for her. "I don't know how much longer I can live like this."

"Oh you'll be fine," Taylor smiled as she finished doing the buckle on Gabriella's sandal.

"I'm serious, someone at the store the other day asked me if I'd be having another one, Before I could answer I swear I could feel uterus jump out of my body and run into oncoming traffic."

Taylor shook her head, "Gabi you're gonna have a baby and you'll be just fine."

"Says you," Gabriella began rock so she could stand; "You don't look like your watermelon smuggler with your clothes on."

"Have you guys picked out a name yet?"

"No," Gabriella grunted as Taylor helped her up. "You don't realize how many people you hate until you have to name a baby."

"Well, I hear Taylor is a really good name for a girl."

Gabriella let out a laugh as she took a step towards the door. Then she was stopped by a wet feeling running down her leg. "Damn it. I pied myself. I swear I've reached that point in my pregnancy were I no longer want to wear pants."

"Gabi, that's a lot of pee." Taylor said looking at her friends pants. "I think your water just broke."

"What?" Gabriella looked down at the hardwood floor at the small puddle. "Shit."

"Wait here," Taylor ran out of the room and Gabriella stood there with her leg slight parted.

"You heard that, she said wait. No making a run for it now."

In second Troy was at her side. "Now?"

"Looks like it."

Troy watched her for moment, "Any contractions?"

"I'm not- oh my god." Gabriella reached out and grabbed his shoulders as wave of pain rippled through her abdomen. "Oh my god what is that?"

"That would be a contraction." Troy smiled as he lifted his hands to her side, "Relax, it's okay pregnancy is a beautiful experience."

"Say that shit again and I'll cut you."

"Okay, it's alright. Do you want to go to the hospital?"

"No Troy I want go to freaking zoo right now and look at penguins," she said with annoyance. "What do you think?"

Maria came through the bedroom door puppy in arms with concern on her face. "Taylor said your water broke?"

"Where did you get a puppy?" Gabriella asked momentarily distracted.

"I thought it was yours?" Maria said looking at Troy with confusion.

Troy let out a sigh as he looked at the puppy in Maria's arms, "It is ours, and it was also suppose to be a surprise."

"Opps," Maria lifted the puppy to cover her smirk.

"You got me a puppy!" Gabriella's face lit up as she reached out to take the puppy from her mother. "Oh my god I love her. Thank you so much, she's so adorable."

Troy smiled as he watched the puppy snuggle up in Gabriella's arms, then suddenly she began to cry and his smile morphed into a frown. "What's wrong?"

"I finally get a puppy," she sniffled, "and now I have to go to the hospital." She handed the puppy back to her mother quickly as she latched onto Troy. "Like right NOW."

Another rippled of pain tore through her and gripped Troy's shoulder with a life crushing force.

Maria nodded to Troy, "I'll go spread the word and tell your father to get the car started."

"I never want to be pregnant again," Gabriella cried, "We're going to be good Christians from now on."

"Whatever you say," Troy murmured as he reached back for their Hospital bag and began leading her out of the room.

"Can we bring the puppy?"

Troy made a face as he led his wife out into the hall, "I think this might be a little too much excitement for the puppy right now."

"What are we going to do with her?"

Troy let out a laugh, "Babe, the puppy going to be fine. Right now let's figure out what we're gonna do with you."

"Troy?"

"Yes Babe," he said approaching the stairs.

"I love you," she murmured.

Troy paused as he looked down at Gabriella with a comforting smile, "I love you too Beautiful." Pressing a small kiss to her forehead he held out his hand for her to take. "Let's go have a baby."

The End

Hello,

I hope everyone enjoyed Welcome to Motherhood. I know some of you follow my blog, for those of you who don't; I wanted to give you an update. My parents are moving to a different state soon, my little sister might be moving into my office. I wanted to let you guys know it might be a while before a new story goes up.

There are a lot of things happening in the months of October and November. I promise you that I will be writing, but I'm not sure I can promise that I'll have the time for proofing, editing, cover work and posting on a Friday routine.

Even though my home office will be moving into my kitchen nook, I assure you I will keep writing. I am still working on my third book, and I am piecing together the next online story. You might see some short stories pop up from me, who knows. You guys can always check in on Punkpoet69 facebook page and my blog. All links are in my profile. Until then … not good bye, just until the next story.

-Punkpoet69