That night, Gabriella came out of the bathroom and looked at Troy, who was dressing Grace in her pajamas. She smiled as she watched Troy try to change Grace.
"Need some help?" Gabriella asked.
"No. I just am trying to figure out where the legs and arms go" Troy said.
Gabriella smiled. She carefully put her daughter's arms in the right sleeves and then her legs. Gabriella zipped up the onesie and kissed Grace's head softly.
"Thanks" Troy said.
"No problem" Gabriella said.
Troy kissed Grace's head softly.
"Good night baby girl. I love you" Troy said.
Gabriella smiled.
"My mom was telling me about the song that she and my dad used to sing to me. She said she would sing it to me when she would try and get me to go to sleep" Gabriella said.
"Are you going to sing it to Grace?" Troy asked.
Gabriella nodded. Troy smiled.
"I want to hear it" Troy said.
Gabriella smiled. She sat down on their bed and held Grace in her arms.
Goodnight to you.
Goodnight to me.
Now close your eyes and go to sleep
Goodnight
Sleep tight
Sweet dreams tonight
Goodnight.
I love you.
Gabriella kissed Grace's head and placed her in her crib and made sure that she was asleep. The couple walked out of the room. Troy smiled.
"I liked it" Troy said.
Gabriella smiled.
"Mom said that that song never failed to get me to go to sleep. I would cry when I heard it, but I would fall asleep fast" Gabriella said.
"Maybe it could be like a connection to your childhood and Grace's" Troy said.
Gabriella nodded. The couple sat in the living area of the guest house and looked at each other.
"Our first night in our own house" Gabriella said.
Troy nodded. Gabriella leaned her head against Troy's chest.
"What are we going to do about school? We are supposed to graduate next year" Gabriella said.
"Well, what do you think we should do?" Troy asked.
"I'm breastfeeding and can't leave for multiple hours" Gabriella said.
"Maybe you could try and get your GED? I know you will pass it" Troy said.
"But that doesn't look good for college applications" Gabriella said.
"I know. But, we both can't go to school at the same time babe" Troy said.
Gabriella took a deep breath and sighed.
"I know. I just…this is frustrating" Gabriella said.
"I know it is. But, this is something that we need to discuss" Troy said.
Gabriella nodded.
"Can I still go to Stanford with that?" Gabriella asked.
"I have no idea. Maybe you could meet up with the college counselor and see what it's all about" Troy said.
Gabriella nodded.
"It's just really stressful to think about all of this stuff" Gabriella said.
"I know it is baby. I know it is" Troy said.
"I'll call the counselor tomorrow and see when I can go in" Gabriella said.
Troy nodded. The next day, Gabriella went to see the college counselor. She got out of the meeting, which didn't go as well as she would have hoped and went to sit and watch Troy in Ms. Darbus' class. After class had ended, Troy saw the look on Gabriella's face and knew that her meeting didn't go well. Troy walked over to Gabriella and sat down next to her.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Troy asked.
"I worked so hard…" Gabriella started.
"I know you have Brie. This is just a bump in the road" Troy said.
"I have to start studying for my GED test" Gabriella said.
Troy nodded and kissed her head softly.
"Everything is going to be fine" Troy said.
"You get to graduate with our class, Troy. I don't" Gabriella said.
"But that shouldn't stop you. You need to do everything in your power to get what you want. If you want to graduate, get the GED. Maybe Mr. Matsui will let you walk with us" Troy said.
Gabriella shook her head.
"Come on, let's get out of here" Troy said.
The couple left the school and drove home. They walked into the house and smiled when they saw Grace sleeping in her portable crib.
"How was your meeting?" Maria asked quietly.
"Not good" Gabriella said.
"She said that Brie needs to get her GED. They won't let her continue school because she has missed so much" Troy said.
"But she did all her assignments and everything" Maria said.
"But they didn't give her any tests of any kind and that is what they are concerned about" Troy said.
Maria nodded.
"It's better than nothing Gabi" Maria said.
Gabriella scoffed and tears ran down her cheeks.
"Brie" Troy started.
"I worked so hard" Gabriella cried.
"We know you did, babe. That's not the point. The point is, you haven't been tested on any of the material that you learned while you have been home" Troy said softly.
"Can we not talk about this anymore?" Gabriella asked quietly.
Troy's face softened and nodded. Gabriella left the house and walked to the guest house.
"I wish there was something that I could do" Troy said.
Maria put her hand on Troy's shoulder.
"Just be there. That's all you can do. Like when she was pregnant, let her know that you are here if she needs to talk" Maria said.
Troy nodded. He walked into the living room and smiled when he saw Grace still sleeping. He walked to the guest house and went inside. Troy walked over to the bedroom door and knocked politely.
"Babe, can you open the door please?" Troy asked.
"I don't want to talk about it" Gabriella said through the door.
"I know you don't and I won't make you. But, locking yourself in our bedroom isn't going to solve the problem, Brie" Troy said.
Gabriella opened the door and looked at her boyfriend. Troy smiled slightly. He opened his arms and Gabriella walked into them. Troy wrapped his arms around Gabriella and kissed her head softly.
"Everything will work itself out. Focus on getting your GED and then take the test. Once you take the test, then you will be done" Troy said.
"We won't finish school together" Gabriella said.
"I know we won't baby. But, as long as you finish, that's what matters right?" Troy said.
Gabriella nodded.
"Then that's what you need to focus on okay? I want you to do this. But I can't make you do it. You have to choose to do it yourself" Troy said.
"I want to do it. I just wish that I was able to walk at graduation with everyone" Gabriella said.
Troy nodded.
"I understand. Just focus on getting the GED okay? If not for you, do it for Grace. She's the reason why you need to go to college" Troy said.
Gabriella nodded. Troy leaned in and kissed Gabriella's lips softly.
"I love you" Troy said.
"I love you too" Gabriella said.
"Let me go see what our daughter wants this time" Troy said hearing Maria call them.
Gabriella nodded. Troy walked into the Maria's house. A couple weeks later, Troy came home from work and saw Grace lying in her portable crib and Gabriella, surrounded by study guides and GED workbooks. Troy kissed Gabriella's cheek softly.
"How's it going baby?" Troy asked.
"Good. It's just a lot of material" Gabriella said.
Troy nodded.
"How long have you been working on this today?" Troy asked.
"Maybe like an hour. Pushing two. Grace went down for her nap and that's when I started studying but now that she's awake, it's getting harder to focus" Gabriella said.
Troy nodded.
"Do you want me to take her to mom's so you could study in silence?" Troy asked.
"Yes please. I would let her stay here, but I really need to study if I want to pass" Gabriella said.
"Okay. Don't worry about it, babe. If you want me to keep her with me, just let me know and I will" Troy said.
Gabriella nodded. Troy picked Grace up and kissed her cheek softly.
"Hi baby. Go back to sleep, okay? Daddy's got you" Troy said to the two month old.
Gabriella smiled. Troy walked out of the house with Grace. Two hours later, Gabriella fell back against the couch, tiredly. She had studied for two hours straight and needed a break. Gabriella walked into her mother's house and smiled when she saw Troy coming out of the bathroom with Grace.
"She had an explosion. But, I got it under control" Troy said.
"Did you wash her?" Gabriella asked.
Troy nodded.
"Yeah, I washed her and put a new diaper on and a new onesie" Troy said.
Gabriella smiled. She took Grace out of Troy's arms.
"How's the studying going?" Troy asked.
"It's fine. I am taking a break. I'm exhausted. It's a lot of information" Gabriella said.
Troy nodded.
"I think she's hungry though. She was biting my finger" Troy said.
"Oh, yeah. It is time to feed her" Gabriella said looking at her phone.
Troy placed Grace into Gabriella's arms.
"Do you want to be alone?" Troy asked.
"No, you are fine. I mean, if you aren't used to this by now then there is a serious problem" Gabriella said.
Troy smiled slightly.
"I just didn't know if you wanted privacy or not" Troy said.
Gabriella smiled.
"Thanks for asking though" Gabriella said.
Gabriella fed Grace and cleaned herself up. A couple weeks later, Troy drove to East High to pick Gabriella up. She had taken her GED test that day. Gabriella got into the car and leaned her head against the window as Troy started driving.
"How did it go?" Troy asked.
"I think I did fine" Gabriella said tiredly.
"I'm sure you passed with flying colors" Troy said.
Gabriella smiled slightly.
"How's my baby?" Gabriella asked.
"She's fine. She's sleeping at mom's right now. When do you find out if you passed or not?" Troy asked.
"Two weeks" Gabriella said.
Troy nodded.
"Don't worry about Brie. I'm sure you did fine" Troy said.
"I'm just nervous" Gabriella said.
"I know. But, there is no reason that you should be. You studied really hard for it" Troy said.
Gabriella nodded. The couple drove home and went into their house and relieved Maria. Gabriella closed the door after checking on Grace.
"Is she asleep?" Troy asked.
Gabriella nodded.
"Yeah" Gabriella said.
Two weeks later, Troy came home from work and picked up the mail on his way into the house. He looked through it and raised his eyebrow when he saw an envelope for Gabriella from school regarding her GED. He put the rest of the mail and took the envelope that held Gabriella's future and walked into the guest house.
"Babe?" Troy called.
"Living room" Gabriella said.
Troy walked into the living room and smiled when he saw Gabriella lying on the couch with Grace on her chest. He held up the envelope.
"Your future awaits" Troy said handing Gabriella the envelope.
Gabriella took a deep breath and released it. She took the envelope from Troy and looked at it for a minute.
"I'm sure you passed Brie" Troy said.
Gabriella opened the letter and read it carefully. She then looked at another piece of paper that was attached to the letter. A smile crept onto Gabriella's face. She looked at Troy.
"So?" Troy asked slowly.
"Passed with flying colors" Gabriella said proudly.
Troy smiled. He kissed Gabriella's lips passionately.
"That's my girl! I knew you could do it baby. I'm so proud of you" Troy said.
Gabriella sighed in relief.
"Well that's one less thing to worry about" Gabriella said.
Troy nodded.
"Go tell mom the good news" Troy said.
"Is she home?" Gabriella asked.
"Her keys were on the table" Troy said.
Gabriella nodded. She walked out of the guest house and went into her mother's.
"Mom?" Gabriella called.
"Living room" Maria said.
Gabriella walked into the living room.
"I got my results from my GED" Gabriella said.
"Really?" Maria asked.
Gabriella nodded. She handed her mother the letter. Maria read the letter and the attached piece of paper. She smiled brightly.
"Congratulations, Gabi. I'm so proud of you" Maria said.
Gabriella smiled.
"Thanks. That's one thing I don't have to worry about" Gabriella said.
Maria nodded. Gabriella went back to the guest house and saw Troy bouncing Grace in his arms, who was crying, in hopes to soothe his daughter.
"What happened?" Gabriella asked.
"She just started crying. We just changed her and she ate an hour ago" Troy said.
"Come here baby" Gabriella said opening her arms.
Troy placed Grace into Gabriella's arms and she instantly stopped crying. Gabriella smiled.
"I guess she doesn't like me today" Troy said.
"Babe, she just needs her mommy right now" Gabriella said.
Gabriella looked down at Grace and smiled.
"Why are you giving daddy a hard time today baby?" Gabriella asked.
Troy smiled as he watched Gabriella interact with their daughter. He was so proud of her. She got pregnant, had to drop out of school and take her GED, she's the best mother to their child, and still has time for him. Gabriella was his superwoman. Troy leaned in and kissed Gabriella's cheek softly.
"I'm so proud of you" Troy said.
Gabriella smiled.
"Thank you baby" Gabriella said.
"I mean it Brie. You went through so much this past year and you never gave up" Troy said.
Gabriella smiled.
"That means a lot to me. Everything that I went through was for us. We are a family" Gabriella said.
Troy smiled and nodded. Two months later, Troy came home from work and smiled. Today Grace was four months old. He walked into the kitchen of Maria's house and smiled when he saw Grace sleeping in Gabriella's arms.
"She just fell asleep" Gabriella said hearing Troy walk in.
Troy smiled. He leaned in and kissed Gabriella's lips softly.
"Good. How was she today?" Troy asked.
"She was cranky. So I am glad that she finally tired herself out and fell asleep" Gabriella said.
Troy smiled.
"Sorry that I wasn't here earlier" Troy said.
"I got it under control" Gabriella said.
"So what did you do today?" Troy asked.
"I registered for classes at U of A" Gabriella said.
Troy smiled.
"That's great baby" Troy said.
"They are all online" Gabriella said.
"Okay, but it's a start right? This is the first step" Troy said.
Gabriella nodded. The couple relaxed around the house. They were so happy that their lives were finally starting to level out and that having a baby young was hard but it could be possible if they did it together.