Taking Chances: Ch.2

Rating: T

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Gabriella bustled around the kitchen, putting anything and everything back in order, if it was even out of order, she didn’t know.

Wiping the beads of sweat that were quickly forming on her forehead; she glanced at the clock.

5:12

In approximately 18 minutes, Troy would come walking through the front door; most likely with chocolate, or a new bouquet of flowers; as he always did. And then, approximately 5 minutes after that, Gabriella would find herself being carried up the stairs to the bedroom.

It was routine, and Gabriella didn’t really mind; after all, she was going to marry Troy in two months anyways.

Gabriella sighed; placing a hand on her hip she ran a hand through her hair; frazzled.

She walked out of the kitchen, and up the stairs; stopping at her and Troy’s bedroom door.

Peeking into their room; she smiled.

Jade was peacefully sleeping in-between her and Troy’s pillows; her small chest rising and falling gently.

Gabriella reached out and partially closed the door, so when Troy did come home; she wouldn’t be awakened.

Gabriella went back out to the kitchen; anxiously pacing the corridor.

Her stomach began to churn with nervousness.

“What if…what if Troy doesn’t want kids?” Gabriella strummed her fingers against the counter, watching the second hand tick by on the clock.

“No, come on Gabriella. Troy wouldn’t do that.”

Gabriella bit her lip and glanced at the clock.

5:20

Ten minutes.

As Gabriella exhaled, she blew it out, giving her a small amount of relief.

A small noise shook her from her thoughts.

The door.

“He’s early.” Gabriella began panicking.

She smoothed out her clothes, trying to eliminate the feeling in her stomach.

“Hey.” Troy said casually, walking in through the door.

“Hey.” Gabriella replied stiffly, her breath irregularly escaping her mouth.

Troy laid his coat on the small table by the door, and eyed Gabriella suspiciously.

“Are you okay?” He questioned, putting a bouquet of white lilies atop the kitchen table and loosening his tie.

Gabriella quickly nodded, “Yeah, mhm…totally fine.” Her heart rate increasing.

Troy just brushed it off; he pulled off his tie and tossed it on the table; beside the flowers.

“So, how was work?” Gabriella quickly asked, feeling the silence would put a damper on her plan.

Troy’s look transferred into a look of confusion, “You never ask me that…” He looked at her thoughtfully, however his eyes questioned her.

“Just thought I’d…try something new…” She covered up lamely.

Troy nodded, glancing down and picking up the flowers.

Gabriella turned towards the refrigerator, collecting her thoughts.

“Troy, I know we’ve never discussed this, but…we now have a baby.” Gabriella nodded, knowing this would just have to do.

Gabriella shut her eyes and quickly turned around, “Troy-”

Catching her lips in mid-sentence; Troy quickly distracted her.

Gabriella smiled against his lips; yes, she was freaking out, but she still loved him.

Troy, after a moment, pulled away.

“These, are for you.” He said with a smirk, bringing the flowers to Gabriella’s attention.

Gabriella’s smiled, “Thank you.” She said politely, gently grasping the lilies, “They’re beautiful.”

Troy nodded, “I know, and I know they’re your favorite flower…” He said with a shrug.

Gabriella nodded as she turned to the cabinet, to find a vase, “They are my favorite…”

Turning back around; a vase in hand, Troy’s eyes watching her, continuing to question.

“What?” Gabriella asked, her mouth going dry.

Troy shook his head, “It’s nothing…are you sure you’re feeling alright?”

Gabriella nodded, swallowing hard.

“You’re sure?” Troy repeated.

“Yes Troy, I feel fine.” She quickly explained, her eyes diverting from Troy’s.

Troy sighed, knowing that continuingly accusing her would get them nowhere, thus; Troy dropped the subject.

“So, my boss gave me a-”

Gabriella’s attention went quickly to Troy, “Oh my god.” She interrupted, her eyes widening.

Troy smirked as he nodded.

Gabriella shrieked, “Oh My GOD!” She jumped onto him, latching her arms around his neck and hugging him tightly.

Troy gripped her waist and hugged her back. After a brief minute Troy eased his grip and Gabriella slid down.

“I can’t believe you got that promotion.” She happily exclaimed.

Troy grinned and nodded his head, “I know! He was like ‘your hard work has been proven…’blah blah blah.”

“Oh Troy!” Gabriella exhaled, widely smiling, “This is fantastic!”

Troy smirked as he slid his arms around Gabriella’s waist; pulling her a couple steps forward.

“You know what would be even more ‘fantastic’?” He slightly mocked her enthusiasm; coyly looking into her eyes.

Gabriella’s eyes traveled to the left “Hmm…”She pretended to think, and as her eyes came back to Troy’s, she shrugged, “I don’t know Troy…” she sighed as she snaked her arms around Troy’s neck, “What would be fantastic?” She seductively whispered.

Troy smirked as his hands traveled up and down Gabriella’s back, “I bet you could guess.”

Gabriella wetted her lips as she pursed them together, she pretended to be thinking extra hard; closing one eye in the process.

“I got nuthin’” She concluded, lightly shrugging her shoulders.

“Nothing?” Troy repeated as the two began swaying back and forth in each other’s arms.

Gabriella giggled as Troy knelt forward and brought his lips to hers.

As the two pulled away, Troy brought his hand up and caressed her check softly.

Gabriella giggled, “Oh!” She exclaimed as if the answer came to her. A seductive grin appearing on her face. She laced her hands with Troy’s and reconnected their eyes, “I think I know what you’re talking about.”

Troy’s grin widened as the two kissed again.

In a matter of minutes, hands on whatever flesh possible, Gabriella was two steps up the stairs; lips heatedly attached to Troy’s.

Realization hitting her, Gabriella became distracted and she froze.

Troy, noticing Gabriella's withdraw, stopped as well.

“What’s wrong?” Troy asked, nearly laughing.

Gabriella shook her head, “Nothing” She mumbled; reconnecting her lips to Troy’s.

One step.

Two step.

Gabriella pulled away again, now four stairs up, three less to go.

“Troy, something happened at work today.” Gabriella said suddenly.

Troy stopped, looking at her intently.

Gabriella inhaled, untangling herself from Troy’s arms.

“Promise not to freak out?”

Troy looked at her hesitantly, but nodded.

Gabriella paused before talking extremely fast.

“Okay, well, I was running totally late this morning and when I walked into my office Robb was there, but so was this other lady and I find out that my dad’s sister’s daughter had a baby, but she died and well she left her baby to me and nowshe’sherewithus.”

Troy stared at her blankly; he opened his mouth to say something, but no words came.

Finally he spoke, “So…you were late for work?”

Gabriella groaned as she plopped down on the stairs, taking her head into her hands.

Troy slowly followed, sitting next to her.

“Troy, my cousin Veronica died in a car accident.”

Troy’s eyes enlarged, “That’s awful.”

Gabriella cracked a smile, “Troy, you didn’t even know I had a cousin named Veronica.” She giggled.

Troy laughed, “Well, I was trying that whole sympathy thing-”

Gabriella’s smile faded.

“There’s more?”

She nodded, deeply sighing.

“Veronica…made a will…” Gabriella said carefully.

“Most people do…” Troy commented, not sarcastically.

“Right, well, I was…in it.”

Troy, again, nodded.

Gabriella fell silent as she racked her brain on how to inform Troy of the situation.

“That’s…cool.” Troy unsurely said, “What did you…get?”

Gabriella’s brow furrowed, “Troy-”

Luck not being on Gabriella’s side; a loud infant cry was heard.

Troy nearly jumped out of his pants while Gabriella shook her head and quickly stood.

“Wait here…” She mumbled; racing up the steps and into the bedroom.

Troy, not really listening to Gabriella got up and followed her into the bedroom.

Shock overcame his facial expression when he saw Gabriella pick up the small baby and press her against her chest.

“Troy, this is my niece Jade…Veronica’s daughter.”

Troy inhaled; looking from Gabriella, to Jade, and then back to Gabriella.

The scene and Gabriella’s words circling his mind; Troy know understood.

Jade was Gabriella’s part of the will.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

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A/N: Ummm...i wanted to post this like 2 days ago, but i got busy with school and stuff...so yeah.

and sorry if there's any gramatical errors...i was rushed!!

review!?