Hi. I'm really sorry about my lack in updating. It's just been such an exhausting school year so far. I have to keep up my grades and get ready for the SATs. There's been a bunch of work to do with my AP class and Journalism. Plus, I have two writing contests I've been worrying about. I used the same story to make it a tad bit easier on myself, but it's been a lot of work for me. The first deadline was December 20th so that's over and done with, but now I have to make it perfect to send away before January 9th. I'm more concerned with that one because I can win scholarship money. I think I'm going to post it on fictionpress so if you'd like, I'll let you know when I do that. But enough with my rambling. It will probably be a while before you get another chapter so I'm terribly sorry. I'll try my hardest. I hope everyone enjoyed the holidays and has a Happy New Year!!! Please review!

Over the past three months, Gabriella had been struggling to carry on as normal as she didn't want to admit to anyone she was struggling to cope with everything; being a mom, being a good fiancée, a good friend and plan a wedding at the same time. Another thing that had started bothering her, thanks to a comment Sharpay had made in the past week during a girls day out, was how sexually frustrated Troy might be becoming as it had been eleven months since the two had started dating. To say life was getting confusing would be an understatement right now in Gabriella's mind; it was almost unbareable with all the pressure she was feeling emotionally as well as trying to take care of an eight month old baby.

A shrill cry rang through the quiet house as Gabriella was pulled from her thoughts. Getting up, she walked upstairs and into her son's room where the piercing cry was coming from.

"What's wrong, baby? You hungry?" The young infant's cries slowly subsided into a low whimper, once in his mother's arms, instantly knowing her comforting scent. His small fist gripped onto her, well Troy's, shirt while his head lay softly on her chest. "Or is it your teeth coming through that hurt?" Two months ago, Ryan Junior had started teething and the little sleep Gabriella had been getting of a night had been reduced down once again to virtually no sleep of a night. Troy, being the gentleman he was, offered to take turns to get up to try and help soothe the infants pain in any way they could but Gabriella refused most of the time; feeling too bad disturbing Troy any more than necessary since he had to work.

After calming her son, Gabriella carried him downstairs where she situated him on the floor amongst his toys on his play mat whilst she grabbed her notebook off the table and all the other things around it. The notebook contained a list Sharpay had started for her about what she needed to start thinking about so they could really start making developments in her wedding plans. Just looking at the list felt wrong; Ryan hadn't even been gone a year and yet here were people trying to plan her second wedding. Could she really cope with this right now? She knew Troy hadn't actually said anything about the wedding really since he knew how she felt about wanting to wait but it was clear to see just how in love he was with her and how desperate and excited he was to make her his wife when talking about it with all their friends. Plus, all the others kept telling her she should start thinking about it at least because Ryan would want this. Did anyone ever think about what Gabriella really wanted throughout this? Did her opinion even count anymore?

"Knock, knock." Gabriella turned her head to the front door and saw Sharpay stood in the doorway.

"Hey Shar, what's up?" Gabriella smiled at her friend, whilst her son was trying to pull himself up on her leg.

"Not much; just wanted to come and pay my favourite nephew a visit and see if his mommy had had a chance to look at the magazines I sent her yet." Gabriella rolled her eyes. This is what she meant when she was on about feeling pressured by the others to start thinking about her wedding. Wasn't a wedding supposed to be the best day of your life and the build up exciting? Well looking back, her last wedding day was certainly a day she would rather forget as it ended up being the worst day of her life as she lost her then love of her life.

"Shar, give me a chance. You only brought them round yesterday and I've not exactly had much time to look at them." Truth betold she hadn't even so much as opened the front covers. Picking up Ryan Jr, who was now balancing himself against his mother's leg, she situated him on her lap to face Sharpay. "I've had a few more important things to worry about than arranging some stupid wedding." Gabriella exclaimed, annoyed.

"Gab, what's going on?" Sharpay asked, taking her nephew from Gabriella so she could get closer to the fragile looking brunette. "You know you can tell me anything."

"I'm just so sick and tired of feeling like this wedding is now being forced upon me and I can't just enjoy being engaged to the man I love. I mean it's not even been a year since my last wedding day which ended up being turned from the best day of my life to the worst day of my life. You need to understand, I'll do things when, and only when, I'm ready to face them." Sharpay could clearly see just how much hurt Gabriella was going through as it was of two emotions that could be seen in the brunette's eyes, with sadness being the other.

"There is something else bothering you isn't there?" Sharpay pried, trying to get her close friend to open up to her.

"It doesn't matter." Sharpay raised one eyebrow at her indicating she didn't believe Gabriella. "Fine, there is something else bothering me. Do you remember when we went out for that girls day shopping and what we were talking out?"

"Which bit?"

"The part about me and Troy."

"Which part? I need specifics Gabs; we talked near enough all day about you, Troy and this gorgeous little one." Gabriella smiled looking down at her son, who was slobbering all over his Aunt Sharpay's freshly manicured hand. "Eww." Gabriella laughed handing Sharpay the towel behind her on the chair.

"I'm talking about when you made the comment of Troy probably becoming very frustrated." Gabriella reminded her as Sharpay smiled remembering the exact day.

Flashback

The four girls, Gabriella, Sharpay, Taylor, and Kelsi, were all sitting in the food court after having spent the whole morning shopping non-stop.

"So how are things going between you and Troy?" Taylor asked as they ate their lunches.

"We're doing really well. He's been so amazing since Ryan Jr was born and he is just so patient with us both." Gabriella gushed.

"We're so happy for the two of you. I mean how many guys would you find who would take a pregnant woman on when the child wasn't even his and then help raise him as if he was his own. Troy really is one in a million, Gabs." Taylor told her as the other two girls nodded. Gabriella just smiled as the confirmation from her friends of what she already knew.

"Have you guys, you know," Sharpay paused trying to find out the right the way to say the next part of her sentence, "gone all the way?" Taylor and Kelsi sent a cold glare towards Sharpay, while Gabriella blushed at the thought.

"Shar, stop, you're embarrassing the poor girl. Gabriella, don't answer that if you don't want too." Kelsi sternly told her, Gabriella giving her a thankful smile.

"What? I'm just asking. I mean seriously, think about it. Troy's probably getting very frustrated at the lack of action in that department because it's been a long while since he was with any girl." Taylor and Kelsi just shook their heads.

"So Gabriella, you convinced Troy to change Ryan Jr's nappies yet?" Taylor asked, changing the subject, not giving Sharpay a chance to say anything else.

End Flashback

"Gabs, seriously that didn't mean anything. Trust me, Troy would wait forever for you to be ready and even if you said to him, you'd never be ready; I don't think he would mind in the slightest. All he really wants is you and this gorgeous little one in his life because he loves you both so much and I honestly don't think he could cope if you two ever disappeared from his life." Gabriella smiled hearing the words leave her blonde friend's lips, feeling slightly relieved with what Sharpay had just said.

"Thanks Shar." Looking at her son, she couldn't help but laugh as he tried to suck on Sharpay's manicured fingers.

"Your son is gross." Sharpay handed her nephew back to his mother and dried her fingers.

"Her son is not gross." The two girls turned around, surprised to see Troy standing behind them.

"How long have you been stood there?" Gabriella asked, worried about how much of their conversation Troy may have heard.

"When Ry-Ry tried to suck Sharpay's finger's, why? Did I miss all the juicy stuff?" Sharpay rolled her eyes.

"Since when do you care to gossip, Bolton?"

"Since you seem to care about my girlfriend so much that I'm worried you're filling her head with all just rubbish, Baylor." Sharpay smirked.

"Gab, honey, how you survive living with him I'll never know." Troy glared at the blonde as he lifted Ryan Jr from Gabriella's arms. "I better go since I don't think Bolton wants me here. Call you tomorrow babe. Later Bolton." Troy just watched her walk out the room before hearing the front door close knowing she just lets herself in and out whenever she feels.

"How you doing?" Troy sat down next to Gabriella, dropping a chaste kiss on her lips as Ryan Jr settled into his arms.

"Tired. What are you doing back early? I didn't think you were coming home before going out tonight?" Remebering the conversation earlier that day, Troy just shrugged.

"I didn't really want to be away from you all day. I mean I barely can focus on work on a normal day so to be away from you all day unnecessarily." Gabriella leaned into him and let out a small yawn. "You look exhausted. Are you sure you are ok? I mean I don't have to go out with the guys tonight if you don't want me too." Gabriella shook her head.

"I'm fine. Look, just go out, enjoy yourself. You're stuck in most evenings with me anyway so just go." Gabriella stood up, taking Ryan Jr out of Troy's arms and disappeared out the room and upstairs, leaving a very confused Troy in the living room.

Upstairs in the nursery, Gabriella sat on the rocking chair, gently rocking back and forth and watched as the green eyes her son got from his father slowly closed as he fell into a peaceful slumber. All Gabriella wished right now was that Ryan was still here with her because then she wouldn't be feeling the way she did. But then again, if Ryan was still here, she wouldn't have Troy and she wasn't sure which was worse. Tears fell down her face as she finally let all the frustration and emotion that had been building up inside of her out.

Wiping away her tears with her jumper, she placed Ryan Jr in his cot and quietly exited his room after hearing footsteps outside the room, knowing Troy was probably worried about her.

"Hey." Troy said quietly as she closed the door behind her. Gabriella refused to look at him. "What's going on? Don't say nothing's wrong or you're fine because I know you're not. Please, Gabriella, talk to me." Troy was pratically begging, desperation heard in his voice. "Have I done something? Not done something? Are you not coping? Just tell me, I won't judge you. I love you."

"Troy, just leave it." Gabriella went to walk past him but Troy held her back.

"No, I won't leave it. I'm your fiancé, you're supposed to trust me and let me help you with whatever is bothering you but I guess if you don't trust me enough to let me in, why bother?" Gabriella closed her eyes and took a deep breath before opening her eyes and looking up at Troy who looked hurt. Not being able to find her voice, Troy shook his head and walked off.

Gabriella slid down the wall as she listened to Troy grab his jacket and keys before the front door slammed shut. And for the first time since Ryan died, she felt more alone than ever before knowing she could have just lost Troy over her stubborness to admit defeat. And with that, she broke down.

With Troy

Ever since he had stormed off earlier, Troy couldn't stop thinking about the look in Gabriella's eyes which for the first time was empty. Her normally sparkling brown eyes were no where to be seen and to Troy that was all he needed to see to know she was hurting.

"What's up with you, bro?" Chad asked as he, Zeke, Jason and Troy sat in a club, music blaring in the background.

"Yeah, dude, this is supposed to be a guy's night out, no girls, no kids, and no worries, nothing." Zeke added as Troy sighed.

"Sorry it's just Gabi and I got into this huge argument, well technically not an argument but she just wouldn't talk to me before I left, but I just stormed out without looking back and I'm just really worried." Troy explained as the others looked at him sorrily.

"That sucks. Do you want us to call any of the girls to check up on her?" Troy smiled at Chad's offer.

"Thanks but nah. I think it'll just make the situation worse if she thinks I'm getting others to check up on her."

"I don't know whether this might help but Shar said some stuff earlier when she got back. She was on about how she was really worried that Gabs wasn't coping and she was being too stubborn to admit it. Also, something about needing to speak to us all about laying off the pressure on her about the wedding plans. To be honest, after that I zoned out as Shar started talking about shopping the other day and trust me I didn't need to know anymore." Zeke told him.

"Thanks. I'll probably try and talk to her tomorrow about everything then as I get the feeling I'd be better talking to a brick wall tonight than trying to get anything out of her." Troy took a sip of his beer. "Anyway, enough about my problems, I thought this was a guys night." The others laughed and carried on enjoying themselves, forgetting all about the Gabriella problem for now.

With Gabriella

Gabriella's eyes fluttered open as she took in her surroundings. She was on the landing floor, outside Ryan Jr's room. She guessed after her break down earlier, she must've fell asleep from her exhaustion. Sitting up, she managed to pull herself up and stretch her achy body. Peeping back to check on her son, who was thankfully still sleeping, Gabriella walked downstairs with the evening's events re-playing over in her head and she could safely say she knew what she needed to do.

With Troy

Troy glanced at the clock on his phone and saw it was now twelve thirty am. Where the past five hours went, Troy had no idea. Just as he went to put his cell back in his pocket, Troy felt it suddenly vibrating in his hand. Pulling it back and looking at the ID Troy smiled.

"I have to get this." The other guys nodded as Troy walked out the club. "You called?"

"I need help." And that was all Troy needed to know everything would be ok.

"I'm on my way."

Don't forget to leave a review, we love them! Again, I am sooooooo sorry I have to leave you...especially with this ending.