Chapter 29: Who's Your Daddy?

Gabriella stared at the man standing before her and a smile grew on her face. "Dad!" Gabriella dropped Troy's hand and ran into the arms of her father.

"I've missed you kiddo!" he said happily as her embraced his daughter.

"I've missed you too Dad." Gabriella smiled up at him. "But what are you doing here? Aren't you usually in Florence by now?"

"Usually. But I called up your house a few days ago and your mother told me that you had jetted off to Salt Lake with a boy."

"And you wanted to meet the boy." Gabriella said, nodding her head.

"Am I really that predictable? Dang, I must be loosing my mysterious edge."

Gabriella laughed. "You'll always be a mystery."

"That's what I like to hear!" he wrapped his arm around Gabriella's shoulders. "Now where is this boy that has you so smitten that you would take him to this winter wonderland?"

"He's over here." Gabriella started to lead them to Troy who was standing in the spot where Gabriella had left him.

"Ah! I should have guessed that it was the boy who you were holding hands with and who hasn't taken his eyes off of you since you ran over." He joked.

Gabriella's smiled brightened as they were approaching Troy. "Dad I'd like you to meet my boyfriend Troy. And Troy I'd like you to meet my dad, Alejandro."

Troy and Gabriella's father shook hands as the shock, for Troy, has started to ware down.

"For those of us here who aren't Spanish, I'm Alex." He said as he shook Troy's hand.

"Nice to meet you sir." Troy said politely giving him a smile.

"Sir makes me sound so old." Alex complained. "Call me Alex."

"Or Al." Gabriella piped in.

"Not unless you plan on flying home with a black eye." Alex said.

Troy let out a chuckle. "Good to know."

"So Dad, how long are you here for?" Gabriella asked eagerly.

"Only for a few hours." He told her.

Gabriella's face fell. "Oh…then I guess we should make the most of the time that we do have."

"And your boyfriend can tag along too." Alex said. "What about it Troy?"

"Uh yeah. Sure, that'd be cool." Troy said as he ran a hand through his hair.

"A teenager says it's cool to hand out with his girlfriend and her dad." Alex pondered. "Well if that isn't a lie, I don't know what is." He said smiling.

Troy smiled. "Actually I'm 21." He told him.

"Ahh, so you landed an older guy." Alex said as he turned towards his daughter. "Way to go Gabi!" he stuck out with hand for a high five. Gabriella laughed and slapped it. "But my comment still stands." Alex said, turning back to Troy.

"If you're as amazing as Gabriella it's be great to get to know you."

"Okay if you're going to hang out with us there are going to be some rules." He told Troy. "Rule number one: compliments about my little girl are kept to a minimum. I already know that you are dating. There is no need for you to prove that you're a good boyfriend by giving her compliments left and right. Rule number two: don't go out of your way to compliment me. If you have to put on an act to impress me, you aren't worth my little girl. Rule number three: don't treat me like someone you highly respect. You just met me and there is no way that you could admire me in this amount of time. And rule number four: no talking about crap reality shows or food. I get enough of that at work." He finished. "Understand?"

"Uh, yes sir." Troy muttered out.

"Boy what was rule number three?"

Troy's mind lit up. "Oh, I mean. Yes, I understand."

Alex smiled. "Good. Now let's go and paint this town." Alex declared as the three headed for the exit of the resort. "I was thinking a light shade of blue, but I am open to suggestions."

Troy looked down at Gabriella who was beaming up at her father. She glanced over at Troy. Her smile was spread across her face. He couldn't ever remember seeing hr this happy; with this much sparkle in her eye. Troy's mouth curved up into a smile at he looked at her. He slowly took her hand in his and squeezed it. She lightly squeezed back, giving him one last look before turned her attention back to her father.

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"And here are your menus. Enjoy." The waiter said, leaving the three at the table.

"Do you think this place can make a grilled cheese as good as you?" Gabriella asked her dad.

"I doubt it." He told her. "But I do hear they make a pretty good fish and chips."

Gabriella giggled. "I'm going to go freshen up. Be right back." Gabriella slid out of her chair leaving Troy alone with her father.

"Uh, Alex? Can I ask you something?" Troy asked once Gabriella was out of hearing range.

"Shoot."

"Could you maybe give me some ideas of what to get Gabriella for Christmas?"

Alex stared at the boy in front of him. "It's Christmas Eve and you still haven't gotten her something?" Troy slowly nodded his head. "Well the first Christmas I spent with Gabriella's mom I snuck out of the house at five in the morning to go buy her something."

"Really?"

"True story. And I bought her the first thing I saw and it was a disaster." He told Troy. "But I like you so I'm not going to let you do that. Go to the jewelry store and buy her the first necklace that your gut tells you to get because if you over think it, it wont work out."

"Okay. But I want to get her more than jewelry. But she seems-"

"To already have everything that she could ever want." Alex finished for him. "Been there and it isn't true. I saw a nice little boutique across the street and I want you to go in there and do the same thing with the necklace. Buy the first three things that your gut tells you that she'll like."

"And you sure this will all work out. She wont end up not liking it."

"Just do what I say and you'll be fine. And I'll make sure that she steers clear."

"Thanks, Alex."

Gabriella slid into her seat next to Troy. "So what are we all talking about?" she asked happily.

"We were just talking about how you probably want some one on one time with your dad, so I'll get out of your way." Troy said.

"Oh Troy, you don't have to…"

"No Gabriella, it's cool. Like I said on the plane, I never knew what it felt like." He leaned over and kissed her lightly on the lips before saying his goodbyes and parting from them.

"I like him." Alex declared as Troy left his sight,

Gabriella nodded her head and smiled. "Yeah, so do I."

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Troy clutched his small shopping bags as he quietly entered their hotel room. He quickly shoved them under the couch as Gabriella bounced out of the bedroom.

"Hey cute stuff! Where have you been?" she asked, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Just walking around." he said as he set his hands on her hips. "So did you have fun with your dad?"

Gabriella's smiled widened. "It was great to see him again. The last time I saw him in person was my sixteenth birthday. And I'm glad that you got to meet him. You're both a big part of who I am today and I wanted you two to meet."

"Well even though I am terrible at boyfriend-parent meetings, meeting your dad was cool. He's not like a normal dad."

"He'll be glad to hear that." Gabriella told him. "But I missed spending all of Christmas Eve with you."

"We'll have all of Christmas Day and a whole other week together." Troy told her. "I think we'll manage through a few hours apart."

Gabriella stood on her toes and kissed Troy. Troy fell into the kiss as Gabriella pulled away. "So what did you get me?"

Troy sighed. "Oh that is not fair Montez." He groaned.

Gabriella giggled. "I know, but you seem unfazed."

"Then why don't you try that kiss again." This time Troy met Gabriella half way. He gently ran his tongue across her teeth and let it explore her mouth before sweeping her up and carrying her bridal style. "Hot tub time!"

"Troy!" Gabriella screamed. "I'm in my pajamas. And you're in jeans and a sweatshirt!"

"Clothes dry." He told her with a smirk. "Of we could just go with no clothes?" he suggested with a smile. Gabriella looked at Troy sternly. "Okay, we'll stick with clothes dry." Troy said as he lowered himself and Gabriella into the hot, steaming water.


So a bunch of you guessed that it was Gabriella's dad, good job! If I was reading I never would have thought of that. But I hope you liked the chapter, a lot of fluff...reviews are loved!