Troy walked out of his family's chambers. Right away he could tell something was not right. The air was heavy. The palace was quiet, too quiet. Every morning, he generally heard the staff talk through the halls and often heard Gabriella's giggles. With Christmas, two weeks away, he figured he'd hear her giggling with excitement. As he neared Gabriella's chambers, Troy noticed several people gathered out in the hallway, Alberto, Alexander, Isabelle, Elizabeth and Josephine. The Emperor was pacing back and forth with worry etched into his face. Troy ran up to Gabriella's door and put his hand on the door knob to go in.

"Troy, you can't go in there." Alberto said, stopping the young boy.

"Why?" Troy asked. "I go in there all the time."

"Gabriella's sick." Alberto continued. "She can't leave her room."

"Then I'll go in there."

"Not yet, the doctor's in there."

Maria sat next to her daughter as the doctor her out. Gabriella's face was pale and her hair was matted with sweat as she shivered. Her eyes were barely able to stay open. Maria caressed her youngest daughter's face as she coughed. The doctor looked over to the Empress and motioned for her to follow him so that Gabriella would not be able to hear the discussion they were about to have.

"I'll be right back, My Love." Maria whispered before kissing Gabriella on her forehead.

"Doctor, what is wrong with my daughter?" Alberto asked as the doctor stepped out with Maria. "Is she going to be alright?"

"I'm afraid that the Grand Duchess has Scarlet Fever." the doctor told everyone.

"Do we to have all the children sent away until Gabriella is well once again?" Maria asked nervously, thinking about all of her children as well as the Bolton children.

"That will not be necessary, just as long none of them go in and she does not come out of her chambers."

Troy was sitting in his lessons. Chad, Taylor, Sharpay, Zeke, Ryan and Martha were with him, as well as Gabriella and his sisters. Nobody but Isabelle and Martha were able to focus on their school work. The palace seemed dead without Gabriella well. Eight year old Troy found himself staring out the window at the swing he and Gabriella spent so much time on. Their tutor would gently pat him on the shoulder to try and get him back on task.

"Can I make Gabby a card?" Troy asked. "Please? She's my best friend."

"I do not think that will be a problem." Pierre Andres replied kindly.

The children had many tutors but their favorite was Pierre Andres. He came from France and taught French, Literature, and Art to the children. The girls loved to hear story about Paris and were anxious to see if it was as romantic as stories said it was.

"After lessons do you want to go swing?" Martha asked Troy as he began to work on his special project for Gabriella.

"No, I only swing with Gabriella." Troy answered.

Word had spread throughout the city about Gabriella. Several people were standing outside the palace holding vigils for the young girl. While it was almost impossible that Gabriella would ever sit on the throne, the people loved her dearly. Several palace guards had gone out to the toy store and bought out its entire stock of Teddy Bears for her. Troy sat out in the hallway outside her room every free chance he got. He had not been outside once since Gabriella had gotten sick.

Gabriella was in her bed. Her mother was dabbing her forehead with a cold compress. Sweat glistened all over her. Maria had not left her daughter's side once. Her heart was breaking at the sight of her daughter so sick and weak and to see Troy sitting out there so helpless without his best friend there to comfort him. Whenever Gabriella was scared or sad, Troy was the one who get her to smile. Alberto came in to check on her whenever he had the chance, bringing little trinkets to help make Gabriella feel better.

"Your grandparents are coming in from Lichtenstein to see you." Maria stated quietly.

"Can I see Troy?" Gabriella asked.

"No, Darling, I'm afraid not." Maria answered in a quiet whisper. "You do not want Troy to get sick do you?"

"No."

After he was ready for bed, Troy went to his mom. Lucille saw her son and beckoned him close to her. Troy crawled up in to her lap.

"I miss Gabby."

"I know you do. We all do."

"Is she going to be alright?"

"Of course she is. Gabby's mother and the doctor are taking very good care of her."

"I'm going to marry her, Mom." Troy proclaimed.

Lucille looked down at her son, expecting him to laugh and tell her he was kidding. She was shocked and stunned by his sudden announcement and the fact that he was serious, at only eight years old. Troy's blue eyes shone in promise.

"How do you know this?" she asked.

"Just a feeling I have." Troy answered.

The next afternoon, King William and Queen Madeline arrived at the palace. Madeline quickly raced up to Gabriella's room. Maria was dabbing Gabriella's forehead when she approached the bed. Gabriella's eyes were closed. The elder mother and daughter shared a soft smile between each other before turning their attention to the sick little girl.

"Gabriella." Maria whispered softly. "Wake up, My Love, your grandmother's here."

"Grandmamma?" Gabriella whispered.

"I'm right here, Ducky." Madeline announced using her nickname for Gabriella. "Grandpa and I rushed here just for you."

"I missed you." Gabriella stated quietly.

"I missed you, too." Madeline replied. "Maria, you look exhausted, why don't you get some rest. I'll stay here with Gabriella. The children are decorating the Christmas tree, enjoy some time with them."

"I don't know." Maria replied glancing at Gabriella, obviously not wanting to leave her side, even though her own mother was going to stay with her.

"I promise you that I won't leave her side."

"Can I see Grandpapa?" Gabriella questioned.

"I will bring word of your request to him." Maria told her. "Thank you, Mother."

Christmas was only two days away. Because of Gabriella's illness, there was not much celebrating. Finally, with Gabriella still sick, Alberto and Maria decided to salvage part of the holidays for their children as well as the Bolton children.

"Mother!" Isabelle, Elizabeth, Josephine and Alexander cried happily rushing to her.

"How's Gabriella?" Alberto asked.

"No difference." Maria answered. "Although, she is asking for her grandfather."

"I am on my way." William told his daughter.

"Can I see Gabby?" Troy asked Maria.

"No, Sweetheart, I'm afraid not." Maria told him sadly. "Maybe on Charismas."

"Ok." Troy agreed sadly.

"Hello, Ducky." William greeted Gabriella.

"Grandpapa." Gabriella said weakly, but happily.

"I hear you're not feeling very well."

"No."

"Well, you need to."

"I'm trying."

"Yes, you are, and we are all very proud of you for doing so."

Christmas Eve had arrived. The Royal Family was getting ready to head to midnight mass. Natasha was going to stay with Gabriella. Every year the family attended mass at the church and then Alberto gave his annual holiday speech from the grand balcony on the palace. Maria went in and checked on Gabriella one more time before leaving.

"She is in safe hand, Your Majesty." Natasha told her.

"I know she is." Maria agreed.

The family walked out to the carriages. Alberto, Maria, Alexander and Isabelle were in the first carriage while William, Madeline, Elizabeth and Josephine were in the second one. It was very somber in both knowing that Gabriella was still back at the palace sick.

"Natasha?" Gabriella asked shivering.

"Yes, Gabby?"

"I'm cold, I can't stop shaking."

"Let me check you before adding more coal to the fire." Natasha said placing a hand on Gabriella's forehead and then smiled softly.

"What is it?"

"Your fever's broken." Natasha answered. "You're going to be alright."

After mass, the family began to make their way back to the palace. Alexander was almost sound asleep. Just as they entered, Natasha was rushing down the grand staircase.

"Your Majesties, her fever has broken." she announced happily.

"It has?" Maria asked as they all headed upstairs.

Gabriella was sitting up in her bed for the first time since she had gotten sick. The snow was gently falling outside. She smiled, she always loved snow. She turned and saw her family enter her room. Maria and Madeline both had tears in their eyes.

"Mama!" Gabriella cried happily.

"My Baby!" Maria cried happily picking her up. "You're going to be alright."

"Gabby." Alberto said happily.

"Papa!"

"This is indeed a Christmas miracle."

"You're Highness, we are ready."

"Alright, let's go." Alberto announced.

Gabriella was wrapped in a large blanket and placed in William's arms. The family headed to the balcony. The Bolton family was already there waiting for them. Troy's eyes widened and a smile appeared on his face when he saw Gabriella in her grandfather's arms. While everyone else was outside during Alberto's speech, Gabriella and William waited inside, keeping Gabriella inside for as long as possible.

"Tonight, we celebrate the miracle of our lord and savior born to a virgin." Alberto announced towards the crowd at the end of the speech. "Tonight, I myself witnessed a Christmas miracle, in which I will share with you all now."

With that, Alberto went back inside. William gently placed Gabriella in his arms. The young girl wrapped her arms around her father's neck. Alberto stepped back outside on the balcony. Gabriella buried her further in her blanket. As soon as was visible, the crowd began to cheer loudly, their princess was well once again. Gabriella smiled shyly. Alberto smiled and began to wave, causing Gabriella to follow his lead.

Once things were settled back down, Gabriella was taken back to her room. Maria and Alberto settled her back in bed. Both kissed her on top of her head. Gabriella looked up at both of them.

"Will I get to be with everyone tomorrow?" she asked. "I'm tired of being in here."

"We will see how you are tomorrow." Maria told her gently.

"Thank you, Mama."

"Goodnight, Pup." Alberto whispered.

"Goodnight, Papa."

Despite sleeping for almost two weeks straight, Gabriella was exhausted. She settled into bed and closed her eyes. The door quietly creaked open and then closed. Gabriella sat up to see a boy's outline standing there.

"Troy!" she whispered happily when he came over and crawled into bed with her. "I missed you so much!"

"I wanted to come see you, but nobody would let me." Troy explained sadly. "Did you get the pictures I drew for you?"

"There over there on my nightstand. Mama showed them to me. Thank you."

"Martha wanted to go out swing with me, but I said no."

"Why? You love to swing."

"I do like to swing, but my favorite is to swing with you."

"My favorite is to swing with you too." Gabriella replied before they settled in bed to fall asleep refusing to leave each other's side, wanting to make up for the time they had to spend apart.