The car came to a sudden halt. Gabriella was surprised that the bitter gin remained in the tall thin glass that was held by Sandra. She glanced out the tinted window seeing the frame of a giant house. Troy opened the door, taking her hand and helped her out of the car, feeling the hot Albuquerque sun hit her skin. Gabriella suddenly felt bashful of her own home. What did Troy think of her old house when he grew up here. It was incredible, it was enormous. Beautiful grey brick lined the front of the house and a magnificent circle driveway sat in front with a fountain dead center. Gabriella felt out of place and shocked that sweet modest Troy came from a house that screamed anything but modesty.

"You grew up here?" Gabriella asked shocked, not removing her eyes from the beautiful home.

"Yup." He replied somewhat embarrassed. Why he was embarrassed, she had no idea. She would kill to live here.

"Oh my god." She muttered and he rubbed the back of his neck.

"You like it?"

"How could I not? It's beautiful." She said and Troy just nodded. They walked in and Gabriella gasped at the inside running her hand smoothly over the banister as if it was a work of art. "You must of loved growing up here."

"To be honest I would of much rather grew up in your house." He mumbled. Gabriella was about to question him when she was interrupted.

"I'm not going to say anything embarrassing!" An older lady hissed to Troy's dad before coming into the room.

"Oh no." Troy mumbled under his breath and Gabriella looked at him. "Brace yourself."

"Gabriella?" She asked coming up to her. Gabriella was shocked. She did not look like a grandma, although her face looked like it had been botoxed into oblivion.

"Well who else would it be?" Sandra snapped and the mother in law glared.

"Why my son married her, I'll never know." She muttered to Gabriella. She took a deep breath and looked her over pursing her lips together. "Turn around."

"Excuse me?" Gabriella asked timidly.

"Turn around." She repeated harshly and Gabriella quickly did as she said and Troy turned bright scarlet.

"Grandma I don't think-"

"Sh Troy." She shushed. "Hm, your very beautiful." She said and Gabriella's eyebrows scrunched slightly. Why did everyone keep saying that? She couldn't help but smile slightly as she heard Troy mutter quietly under his breath. Suddenly she felt herself being spun back around. "Nice frame, beautiful eyes." She muttered to herself and Gabriella couldn't help but feel slightly flattered at her comments. "Are you and Troy sexually active?"

"Grandma!"

"It's a question Troy. It lets me know about her personality."

"That's all nice and dandy and everything but I'm trying to date this girl." Troy said. Gabriella breathed a quiet sigh of relief.

"That's right Troy. You tell her." A voice said from the stairs and he smiled brightly as he saw his aunt. He laughed and gave her a hug as she came down the stairs. "Oh my god!" She shrieked grabbing Gabriella's hands to get a good look at her. "How did you ever get a girl like this?" She asked teasingly and Troy laughed and slung his arm around Gabriella's waist.

"I ask myself that everyday." Troy said and Gabriella felt her cheeks redden. "Ella, this is my aunt Cassie."

"Hi, it's nice to meet you." Gabriella said extending her hand.

"You too. You'll have to tell me later how you got him to come and visit." She said making Gabriella giggle. "Once he moved it was like he died. Doesn't even call."

"So I've heard." Gabriella said making Cassie laugh.

"Well can you blame me?" He muttered quietly and they laughed.

"Troy stop being rude and bring her in!" His mother shrieked from an attached room, making Troy realize they were no longer in the hall. He gave a look to Gabriella showing his annoyance and she giggled and gave him a quick side hug and he kissed the top of her head.

"So," Sandra started as the couple sat down. Gabriella looked around the elegant room. Two classic white couches were facing each other and a small bar was up against the wall. With drinks like wine and scotch standing tall, on the mahogany table. Now she knew where Troy got his taste for wine. "Gabriella, so happy you could come to Albuquerque."

"Yes definitely." Cassie added. "My sisters been talking non-stop about you. She said Troy's quite infatuated with you. Troy's never brought a girl home before. He must really like you." Troy blushed at his aunts words.

"Well I hope so." Gabriella answered smiling at a blushing Troy.

"So, you two look serious, are you serious?" Troy's grandma Vivian asked.

"Oh god Vivian." Sandra snapped. "Put her on the spot."

"Well I'm sorry, I don't want to find out her and Troy have eloped and while we thought they were just having casual sex! I've been there before, I don't need it again."

"Mom.." Will warned.

"Oh William, hush. How did you think I would react when I come home to find you running away with..this." She said insinuating to Sandra.

"Excuse me?" Sandra asked.

"Oh please." She muttered rolling her eyes. "Your drawing attention to yourself." Vivian murmured taking a sip of her martini.

"So, Troy, how's work?" Cassie asked.

"Uh, works..work."

"Troy, you know how much money a career in insurance brings in?" His mother asked.

"No mom." He groaned.

"Brings in an incredible finance, you could support you and Gabriella, and a family. Much more comfortable then what you would be able to, if you stay a photographer."

"Mom, I'm not suddenly looking into a career in insurance."

"Fine, fine, it was just a suggestion, don't need to get snippy. How much to you make in a year?"

"Why does that matter?"

"Well, how are you going to afford a comfortable life style Troy? I mean I'm sure Gabriella's not going to want to work after the wedding-"

"Wedding?" Troy asked incredulously. "What wedding?"

"Oh Troy, calm down. It was just a thought."

"A thought? I bring a girl home-a girl who means a lot to me, and you have to say everything and anything to make her run in the other direction. Including planning an imaginary wedding!"

"Troy! Don't you yell at me. Of course I know your not engaged but its going to happen eventually. I see the way you look at her, and you brought her to Albuquerque, that has to mean something."

"It means she wanted to meet you. Why, I have no idea, but she did. And so I said okay, because its what she wanted, and I thought since my mom liked her maybe they would be half sane. But guess what? I was wrong!"

"I'm just being prepared."

"For something that's none of your business."

"Yes god Sandra. Let the poor boy rest." Vivian snarled.

"Oh like you haven't been thinking the same thing. You've been saving for his wedding since he was born."

"Unbelievable." Troy muttered.

"Of course I have! Because he was my first grandson. Troy's special. Looking at Gabriella I see he's found a special girl. And some day they'll get married , but I'm not pushing them into it like you are."

"Oh of course you are." They squabbled. Troy looked down at a shocked Gabriella and sighed.

"I'm so sorry. I really am. I knew this was going to happen."

"It's okay." She said smiling softly. Troy opened his mouth to apologize again when suddenly something caught his ears.

"Well what about the children!?" Sandra suddenly shrieked. "Your just going to forget about their children?"

Oh no.


Troy let out a loud relieved sigh to be in the safety of their bedroom. He started to unbuttoned the white dress shirt he had to wear on the plane, knowing his mother would scold him for anything else he would wear.

"I'm so sorry, my family's crazy and humiliating. I'm sorry if they humiliated you, god of course they humiliated you, that's what they do. But I did warn you so you can't be totally mad at me. I'm sorry, there judgmental and awful and..please don't be mad." Gabriella just smiled softly and took over the job of unbuttoning his shirt.

"How could I be mad at you? You took me on this amazing vacation to this amazing place, and I got to see where you grew up." She said smiling as she helped him slide out of the white cotton. "Your family's great." She said and he looked at her like she was crazy.

"You spent the whole evening with them. And they drilled you with question after question. About marriage and babies, and sex. And you still can say there great with a smile on your face?"

"Your family is..intimidating, but, they're your family. That's all that matters. They could be axe murderers for all I care. I'm in it for you, no one else."

"How did I get you?"

"Well as I remember," She started wrapping her arms around his neck. "it started with endless begging."

"Ah, now I remember." He replied playfully, wrapping his arms around her waist.

"Yes, you certainly were a charmer."

"Were?" He asked teasingly.

"Oh I'm sorry sweetie. You are a charmer."

"That's better." He laughed. She looked at him before placing a quick kiss on his lips.

"You love me?" She asked playfully and he smiled letting a small laugh slip his lips. As if she had to ask.

"I do. You love me?"

"I truly do."


Sorry, it's not that great. PLEASE REVIEW.

dani