A/N: Here's the next chapter! Thank you for all the feedback. I really appreciate it!!!
Big thanks to Mandy Sueeeee for her help in this chapter!
Disclaimer: I own nothing except my own made up characters!
I don't want a lot for Christmas
There is just one thing I need
I don't care about the presents
Underneath the Christmas tree
I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true...
All I want for Christmas is
You ... yeah
December 25th, 2031 4:45 am, Mack's POV
Opening the door slowly, the 8 year old slipped through the opening before running and successfully jumping on the bed. The quick action caused me to open her eyes before groaning loudly.
"What are you doing?" Being met with a giggle and wide eyes, the younger one continued to look at me with wide eyes.
Not wanting to look at the clock, I continued to eye Cassie. "It's not even light out yet Cassie. What are you doing up?"
"It's Christmas." The girl continued on with giddiness before the bright red numbers of the clock caught my attention.
"Brooklyn Cassidy Bolton; its 4:45 am . . . its way too early for you to be up. Go wake mom or dad up and let me go back to sleep."
Pulling the covers over my body, I started to snuggle back into the warmth of the comforter. "Mack . . . its Christmas. Get up; we gotta go see what Santa brought."
Feeling my sister's pokes, I chose to ignore them before looking at Cassie. "Cassie it's too early. Go back to bed please."
Throwing me a look, she stomped out of the room before continuing on with her merry little way to find someone to get up with her.
Pulling the covers up to my chin, I sighed before falling asleep; dreaming of sweet nothings.
6:00 am Troy's POV
Hearing two giggles from the corner of the room caused me to look above the covers. "Girls go back to bed."
"Daddy its Christmas." Hearing their pounding feet against the carpet, I didn't anticipate the hard landing on them on the bed.
"Cassie, Lily it's too early for you two to be up." Hoping the two didn't waked Gabi, I looked over at them.
"Daddy Santa came. There's a whole pile of presents downstairs." The two's excitement caused me to roll my eyes.
Looking over the covers at them, I saw identical grins on their faces. "How about you two curl up here and get some more sleep before we get up and open presents?"
"But daddy . . ." Pushing forward a pout, Lily looked at me with her big blue sad eyes. "I'm too excited to go to sleep."
"What's going on?" Cussing under my breath, I heard Gabi's distinct groggy voice call.
"Go back to sleep Gabs. The girls are up and I'm gonna go put them back to bed." Leaning over I kissed her cheek before getting out of bed.
"Just let them stay here. We're getting up in a little bit anyways." Rolling over she looked at me.
"Merry Christmas Gabi." Looking over at her she ran a hand through her hair before smiling at me.
"Merry Christmas Troy." Leaning over, our lips met in a sweet kiss before the gagging of our daughters pulled us back to reality.
Lily and Cassie both made identical faces that caused Gabi and me to laugh. "That's gross daddy."
I chuckled listening to the girls chat about everything under the sun. "That's gross? Oh now you've got it coming."
Reaching out, I found both girls' sides before letting my fingers wiggle in tickles as they giggle and laughed in reply. The opening of the door caused our attentions to be directed there.
"What in the world is going on in here?" I laughed at the grogginess of Aidan, Mack, Josh, and Belle as they stood in the doorway.
Looking at the girls, my eyes went wide. "Uh oh we drug the sleeping beasts awake."
"Troy Bolton; those are your children you're talking about." Gabi shook her head as I laughed.
Before we knew it, six of the eight kids were sitting comfortably on our bed. They were lying there all with identical grins on their faces. "Merry Christmas you guys."
"Merry Christmas, mom, dad." Six voices chorus before we looked at each other.
Eventually we were joined by Jake and J.J. and we spent our morning together before finally rolling out of bed and going to sit in front of the tree.
Aidan and Josh, both adorning Santa hats, sorted out the many piles of presents to the rightful owners. I was sitting comfortably in the oversize chair before my wife came and sat down in my life making herself comfortable as well. Looking back at me, the grin was firmly planted on her face.
"Remember all the Christmas' we frantically ran around trying to find the perfect gifts and the all the kids were more interested in the gift wrap and boxes?" Shaking her head, I laughed at the frustration of it all.
Kissing her temple, I nodded. "Of course; but it was always great to see their smiles once they realized the toys were there to stay and the paper would be gone in a matter of hours."
We sat silently as the kids eyed their heaping piles with great intent. Looking at us for the go ahead, I nodded. "Go for it you guys."
Gabi and I enjoyed watching the kids open each of their many presents. Everything from clothes to books and even games were given as many thanks and your welcomes were passed from each family member.
Twenty minutes later, our living room looked like a tornado went through it without a soul around. The kids had disappeared to their individual rooms leaving Gabi and I to pick up the mess they had made.
Holding her coffee cup close for warmth, Gabi sat and stared at the tree. "It seems just like yesterday I was running around the house frantically trying to make Mack's first Christmas memorable. Now eighteen years later, I can't help but wonder where the time went."
Nodding my head, I knew her feelings oh too well. Kissing her temple, I wrapped my arms around her trying to give her some comfort. "I know; this time next year, she'll be off to college and we'll get to spend even less time with her."
"She's growing up Gabi . . . we have to let her go. All of the kids will always be our children but we have to let them go on their own." Nodding her head, she tried to hide the tears.
"Hey, Gabi look at me." Using my pad of my thumb, I wiped the stray tears away before putting my index finger under her chin. "It's Christmas; today is a day of happiness not tears."
Smiling, she nodded. Kissing her quickly, I stood up and walked over to the tree. Taking out a large square box, I slid it over to where she was sitting. "What's this?"
Grinning at her, I motioned her to open it. "It's one of your Christmas presents."
She eyed me suspiciously while I relaxed waiting for her to open it. Using her fingers, she dug her nails into the tape before ripping it free. Throwing the tape ball in my direction, she grinned before undoing the box. Lying it on the floor, she revealed the large square frame within the box.
"Oh Troy." She gasped running her hand over the glass. For her Christmas present, I had managed to get all eight kids together and had a professional picture taken of them.
Gabi had been wanting to do one for a while but we could never get the timing right; so I stepped in and managed to get them all to sit down for an entire afternoon and had a whole bunch of pictures done with them.
"The rest are in here." Handing her a large envelope, she gasped as she looked through them.
Tears gazed her eyes as she flipped through the twenty pictures I had chosen to give her. After she was done, she looked up at me with teary eyes. "Thank you Troy. This is the best Christmas present you've ever given me."
Closing the gap, I kissed her before pulling back. "Our kids may be growing up, but they'll always be young in your heart."
"I love you."
"I love you too. Now would you like the rest of your present?" Nodding her head, she wiped the tears away before looking at him expectantly.
Holding out a black ring box out, she eyed him before taking it in her hands. Popping it open, her eyes grew in confusion as she spotted a piece of purple paper. "Read it."
Unfolding it gently, she let her eyes scan over the chicken scratch she had grown to love over the years.
Gabi,
This is our 25th Christmas together; 22 of them have been as a married couple and 18 of them have been with children. You and I are so blessed as a couple and as individuals. I love you and our family.
Now as your Christmas present, the kids' picture was part of it . . . the other part is a surprise. Be ready by 9 pm on the 31st in your party dress and shoes to dance the night away . . .
No questions, my dear and I love you very much.
Troy
Gabi looked up at me with a grin before folding the paper again. Placing the paper back in the box, she snapped it close with a gentle bang.
"I can't wait to see what you have up your sleeve; the only question is are you going to be able to hold out for that long?" Seeing her smirk, I quickly gulped before nodding meekly.
"Oh don't worry about that Bolton; you're going to be totally surprised that night. Now how about we finish presents before our parents coming over?"
Kissing her lips, I smiled against them before pulling back. "Ok Troy it's your turn. Here you go."
Handing over a square box, I watched Gabi fidget while waiting for me to open it. "Will you chill? I'm going to love it."
Nodding her head, she motioned me to finish opening it before talking anymore. Tearing off the paper, I found a box before opening the lid and smiling at the content.
"You kept this from high school?" Pulling out the script, I flipped through it seeing the familiar handwriting of notes the two of us had made from our days in Twinkle Towne.
"Yeah I did; I found it while rummaging through some old stuff a couple of weeks ago. I knew you were looking for it a while ago so I decided to give it to you as a Christmas present."
Kissing her deeply, she sighed as I pulled back. "I love it Gabi. It's perfect."
"Good but there's one more . . ." Nervously handing over the box, she bit her lip while waiting for me to open it.
"Gabs the lip . . ." Looking over at her, I saw her continue to chew while I took her hand in mine. "I'm going to love it; you have nothing to worry about."
"Troy . . . before you open that." She waited until she had my full attention.
"I want you to remember a conversation we have right after we got married . . ." Confusion passed my face as I looked at my wife of 22 years.
"What conversation did we have?"
"About children . . ."
"Gabi can I just open my present?" Sighing, she nodded her head before looking down.
Sliding my finger under the wrapping paper, I threw it on the ground before attacking the box. Lifting the lid, I felt confused as I looked at the tiny sleeper. Like a light bulb, it hit me.
"Gabi . . . are we?" Looking at her, she nodded her head ever so slowly.
"Yeah Troy I am. You know that conversation I was talking about earlier?"
I smiled knowing now exactly which one Gabi was talking about. "It looks like you got your wish . . . we're going to have one more baby."
Leaning forward, I pressed his lips to her awaiting ones. "I love you Gabi . . . now, forever, and ever."
Wrapping her arms around me, she put all her weight on my body causing us to fall to the floor. Our laughter grew as I kissed her successfully shutting her up. "I love you too Troy."
I kissed her as she smiled against my lips, and I knew that we were going to make our dreams come true; to add another one of our own to our family.
Ok soooooooooooooooo all of you must HATE me!!! I'm sooooooooooooooooo sorry that I haven't updated in like a month . . . . School got really overwhelming and the work has been piling up. I hope you guys like the surprise in here and don't kill me yet. I promise I'll have the next chapter up sooner than this one. Thank you for being patient and supportive.
