Five Years Later

"Papa!" Gabriella cried happily as soon as Alberto entered the palace.

"My Gabby!" Alberto laughed as he scooped his youngest daughter up. "I missed you so."

"I missed you too, Papa."

"Gabby!" a young boy's voice called out.

"Troy!" Gabriella called happily. "Papa's home!"

Troy and Gabriella were each other's best friend. They could often be seen running around the palace together. Alberto was like a second father to the boy and whenever he came back from another country, he always brought Troy something back, like he did with his own children.

"Come on out, son." Alberto called to the boy, who quickly joined him and Gabriella.

"Did you have fun, Papa?" Gabriella asked.

"It was not very much fun without you, your sisters and brother and your mother."

"And me?" Troy asked.

"And you." Alberto quickly agreed.

After Alberto was settled and welcome back, Troy and Gabriella ran to go play outside. There was a swing tied to a tree in the front grounds. Whenever one of the Duchesses or once he was old enough, the prince, went outside, even if it was just outside the door, a guard was always present. With their guard watching over them, the two children ran over to the swing that was tied up one a large tree's branch.

"Come on, Gabby." Troy called. "I'll push you!"

"Ok." Gabriella agreed.

Despite being only five and six, Gabriella and Troy knew that they were not like regular children. She was a Grand Duchess and he was being groomed to be a general in the Royal Army. But, to the two of them, they were just Troy and Gabriella.

"What do you think it's like?" Gabriella asked.

"What's what like?" Troy asked he pushed her on the swing.

"Being like our Mommies and Daddies."

"I don't know. My sisters say they kiss all the time."

"I heard some of the maids say that they play in their room by themselves."

"But we play in your room by themselves and we're not a mommy and daddy." Troy pointed out.

"Yeah, but the maids said this happens after we go to bed." Gabriella replied.

"Oh."

Just then they heard laughter coming from children that sounded like somewhere near the same age as them. Troy stopped the swing and helped Gabriella get down. A group of children were passing by the palace.

"Hello." Gabriella greeted them.

"Do you want to play with us?" Troy asked. "We've got a swing and lots of trees."

"We can't, the gates are closed." the tanned boy stated.

"I'll go ask my father if it's ok to open the gates." Gabriella announced.

Alberto was in his study looking over some documents. Maria was knitting a blanket in a chair facing the window. While it was common for a husband to look somewhere else for sexual gratification, Alberto never strayed away from his wife. Maria had given him four beautiful girls and a wonderful boy. Isabelle was ten but felt like she was at least eighteen. She and the oldest Bolton daughter, Anna, were best friends and often rolled their eyes at their younger siblings. Elizabeth was now nine years old and was quiet and reserved. She would often be seen with Isabelle and Anna because they were the closes in age to her. Josephine was seven and her best friend was Emma Bolton. Alexander was three and the youngest of them all, but was still too young to play with his older siblings. It was almost certain that once he was, he would join Troy and Gabriella on their adventures. And then, there was Gabriella. At of all of his daughters, she was the one who resembled Maria the most. Despite being so far apart in age, Gabriella and Elizabeth were the closes to each other. Gabriella's laughter was a recurring favorite sound of the palace.

"Mamma, Papa!" Gabriella called running into the study.

"What is it, Gabriella?" Maria asked putting her knitting aside.

"Can you open the palace gates?"

"Whatever for?"

"Troy and I met people our age and we want to play with them." Gabriella explained to them. "Please Papa."

"Come on, Maria." Alberto told his wife, taking her hand and helping her to her feet. "Let's go meet Gabby and Troy's new friends."

"Yay!" Gabriella cheered.

Alberto and Maria walked on either side of Gabriella, her hands clasped in theirs. As soon as they stepped outside, the guards all stood at attention. As he was being pulled by Gabriella, Alberto signaled for them to be at ease. The group of children looked in shock as their Emperor appeared before them.

"Troy, why don't you introduce us." Maria said kindly.

"This is Chad, Taylor, Martha, Zeke, Sharpay and Ryan." Troy introduced.

"You're Highnesses." the girls curtsied.

"I'll have the gates opened." Alberto announced.

"And I'll have word sent to your families so they do not worry." Maria told them.

For the whole day, the group of children played in the gardens. Their parents were shocked when personal messages from the Empress arrived stating that their children were over at the palace. Their parents arrived seeing Maria serving lemonade and Alberto entertaining the children with a few magic tricks. The Evans, Baylor's, Danforths, McKessie and Cox families were surprised when they were told that they and their families were always welcomed at the palace.

That evening, the palace was holding a banquet for a visiting diplomat. Only members of the royal family who were attending were Maria and Alberto. All the girls helped their mother get ready. Gabriella's job was putting Maria's perfume on. The young girl was proud and excited about her job.

"Are you ready, my love?" Alberto asked, dressed in full uniform.

"I just need my perfume." Maria answered.

"Here I am, Mamma!" Gabriella announced.

Maria sat down and allowed Gabriella to spray the French perfume on her. Maria kissed her four daughters in thanks. Alberto held his hand out to his wife and led her down the hall. Goodnight kisses were exchanged and the Emperor and Empress made their way down the stairs. Gabriella stood on her tiptoes and waved goodbye to her parents. Troy ran up next to her.

"Your mom looks very pretty." Troy said to her.

"Mamma's always pretty." Gabriella replied.

"Just like you." Troy replied softly making Gabriella smile shyly at him.

"Gabriella!" Natasha, Gabriella's nanny, screeched. "You're in your nightgown."

"Yes." Gabriella agreed looking at her white nightgown as if it was nothing.

"And you're in the presence of a young man." Natasha said picking the five year old up in her arms. "Say goodnight."

"Goodnight Troy." Gabriella called.

"Night, Gabby."

"You should be getting to bed yourself, Troy Bolton." Natasha ordered.

"Yes, Ma'am." Troy agreed looking at Gabriella until she disappeared into her chambers with her nanny.