Just a warning there is another mature scene below. Please read at your own discretion. lol i'm sorry.

Christmas wasn't a very big deal at her house, not like it was at the Bolton's. They went all out; décor- inside and outside, Little Santa village set up in the living room, and stacks of presents under the tree wrapped perfectly. Last Christmas, she watched Mariella open presents and her and Camilla got gift cards. This year, she got her family each something that was wrapped under the Christmas tree in her mother's house.

As for the Bolton's her dad got them something, it was tucked in an envelope that Gabi wasn't supposed to open. She got Jack a really nice watch, a new whistle and stop watch. She got Lucille new pots and pans and a purse from Coach. For Troy… she didn't really know what to get him. She wanted to get him something that could be unwrapped. She settled for new cologne, a nice watch so he stopped looking at the invisible one on his wrist, and nice Italian dress shoes.

Since she had to go home for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, she told the Bolton's that they couldn't open their gifts until she got back later Christmas day. On Christmas Eve, her and her father went to their mother's house. She kept the girls distracted while their parents talked about the divorce they were getting.

When her father came back, she went to go check on her mother in her room. She didn't seem to be upset but she also didn't show any emotion other than anger- especially toward Gabriella. They had a nice dinner where they only let Mariella and Camilla talk. Mariella had a lot to say so she filled the whole meal with chatter.

It was weird sleeping in her bed and sleeping alone. She was used to Troy being warm beside her. She ended up calling him and talking to him until they fell asleep like they would have if they were together. She woke up to Mariella screeching about how Santa came. She rolled out of bed and put some sweat pants on. She went down to the kitchen for food and coffee. Mari was bouncing off the walls.

She was about to make some breakfast when Rose came and took over. She tried to calm Mari down with some orange juice but the girl was just so excited. Gabriella remembered when she would run down the stairs Christmas morning. She wished she was that innocent again.

Her father came down in his pajamas with a smile on his face. He kissed Gabi and Mari before he sat down next to us at the island. "Daddy! Santa Came!"

"I know, Baby. I hope he got you everything you wanted, Mi Hija." He winked at Gabriella. "You should go wake up Cami."

"I should!" Mari popped up and ran out the room.

"You sent the poor girl to her death." Gabriella joked.

"She'll be fine." Her dad waved his hand. "I wanted to tell you something."

"Okay."

"I was talking with Jack, just getting to know each other. I was mentioning the Palisade property I was purchasing… the one I told you about in New York." Gabriella nodded her head. "Well, it turns out that they rent."

"Oh no, what did you do?" Gabriella suddenly felt nervous.

"Turns out Jack is a friend of Vance's who is a friend of Roy Chaplain who is friends with Michael Minson who knew Jack's parents. Michael Minson owns the house they rent."

"Dad…"

"They were renting to own, Bunny. So I called up Michael Minson. I introduced myself. I told him about how I know the Bolton's. We talked about them for a little bit about how they're good people. I paid off Michael Minson the remaining plus the property tax for the year so he can sign over the deed of the property to Jack and Lucille Bolton."

"How am I going to explain this to them?"

"Exactly how I explained it to you, Bunny. Give them the envelope. It has the deed and a note from Michael. Jack can always call me if he had any more questions."

Gabriella bit her bottom lip. "That's really nice, Dad."

"They kept you safe, Bunny. They opened their home and gave their food, their comfort to you. You are worth every single penny." Gabriella got up and wrapped her father in a tight hug. "Te quiero mucho y mucho."

"Te quiero mucho y mucho." She said, hugging him tighter. "I'm going to make sure that Cami didn't kill Mariella."

"Good idea."

Gabriella walked into the living room and noticed the pile of presents. This was way more than last year, plus she had her dad there. It was going to be a good Christmas. She walked up the stairs to Cami's room. She knocked gently before trying to open the door but it was locked.

"Who is it?" Cami asked.

"It's me, open the door." Gabi said, trying again.

"Gabi, go away."

"Rude. Did you kill Mari?"

"No I'm right here." Mariella said.

"Fine, I'll be down stairs. Breakfast is almost ready." Gabriella turned and walked back to the stairs.

"Gabriella." She heard her mother call for her.

She walked over to her Mother's room. She opened the door wider to see her mom sitting on her bed. "You called me, mom?"

"Yeah, how'd your audition go?" She asked.

"I think it went okay. I won't know for a couple of weeks." Gabriella explained. She looked at her mother.

"Are you going to be staying tonight as well?"

"I was actually going to head over to the Bolton's. I have some gifts that I want to give them."

"Oh, okay." Her mother nodded. "You'll be back soon?"

"New Years Eve. I don't think anywhere close has anything fun for kids. I was just going to stay with Camilla and Mariella and probably invite Troy over so he can play video games with Mari." Gabriella said, not quite sure how her mother was going to react.

"You should invite Sharpay and Ryan over, too."

"I'd rather keep it boring and low key. I don't want to have to entertain them. Besides, I think she's going to a party at another friend's house." She explained. "Rose is leaving the day before New Year's Eve, Did you need me to come watch them that day too? Dad is going out of town but he's going to pay me."

"Huh." Her mother said quietly. "I wonder who he's going to see this time? The brazillian, the Mexican, or the Filipina." Gabriella looked at her mother, confused. "I know it won't be Derby or Ester McKessie."

Gabriella blinked. "Wait, what? Taylor's aunt? Are you-" She stopped herself, walking to the door and shutting it. "Are you talking about dad?" She asked in a hushed whisper.

"Of course I'm talking about your dad. The man can't keep it in his pants. If you ever wonder why he has that condo, it's so he doesn't fuck my best friend in my own bed."

"You know?"

"Gabriella, sweetie, of course I know. Your father is a terrible liar. He's terrible about hiding his indiscretions. I have to clean up his mess every single time!"

"You're not mad?"

"It's been so long. I haven't slept with him in the last six years."

"Why didn't you divorce him?"

"Too much work and a waste of money. If he wants out, he is going to have to pay for everything himself." Gabriella tilted her head. Her mother had a point. "Whom do you know about?"

"Mrs. Evans. I walked in on him fucking her in his office." Gabriella shivered at the thought. "I promised not to tell you and blackmailed him into taking me to New York for my audition."

Her mother nodded in understanding. "Smart."

"Sorry I didn't let you come. I was still really pissed at you and I wanted dad to pay attention to us and not his cell phone."

"I'm sorry I slapped you. I never talked to my mother about anything meaningful and sometimes its hard to talk to you girls. I was never told anything positive while I was growing up and I didn't want to be like that and I turned out to be just like my own mother." She paused. "I talked to my therapist. I adjusted my medication."

"Are you okay?" Gabriella asked, concerned.

"Just a case of Bipolar Depression passed down from my mother. I'm okay though. I'm trying to get her voice out of my head and I can't... My therapist says that is the Complex PTSD." Gabriella knew the feeling so she nodded. "I got you something for Christmas… Your dad is kind of pissed off about it but I don't care. You unfortunately can't have it yet."

Gabi frowned. "What is it?"

"You'll see when we open presents."

"Speaking of, Mariella is going to give herself a hernia if we don't go downstairs and participate in Christmas."

"We should go." Her mother said with a small nod. She watched her mother stand up. Gabriella stood up next to her, she wrapped her arms around her mother, taking her by surprise. "Gabriella."

"Thank you for apologizing, mom. I love you."

"I love you too." Maria said softly.

Gabriella quickly released her mother and went down stairs. Breakfast was ready. She gave Rose a big hug and sat down at the table to eat. After breakfast they all went into the living room. They spread out and Mariella handed out gifts from under the tree. Most of them were hers but they all had something to unwrap this year and that made Gabriella so happy.

They all went around opening one present at a time. She got her dad a little New York snow globe as a joke before handing him an expensive Hermes tie. She got her mother a black Gucci dress and matching heels. She got Camilla a box full of classic literature as close to first edition that she could find. For Mariella, she got her some really expensive art supplies and an easel to put in her room. She gave Rose a Disney Dooney and Burke bag. Gabriella got some cute Louboutin's from her dad (That she picked out when they were in New York).

For the next round of presents, Rose got Gabriella, Mariella, and Camilla matching rings with their birthstones. Mariella got to open a couple presents when it was her turn. When it was Gabriella's turn again, Mariella handed her a box that was in her stack of presents. She opened it to find a photo album of the three of them when they were little, when they were being silly, when they were in New York. It had pages and pages of pictures together. "That one is from Me and Mari." Camilla said with a smile. "So when you go off to college, you won't forget our pretty faces."

Gabriella wanted to cry. "Thank you! I love it!" She held the book to her chest.

Mariella opened a couple more presents before Gabriella's mother handed her an envelope. "Open it." Maria instructed.

Gabriella looked at the envelope, confused. She opened it. Three day Julliard vocal arts workshop? "What is this?"

"I found a connection to the Julliard vocal arts board. They set up a three day workshop, usually over Easter break for people interested in the program. I got you in, you're going to New York for a week for spring break." Her mother explained.

"I'll be on business and I can't go with you." Her dad said, obviously unhappy.

"I'll be hosting Easter so I won't be able to attend."

"We still have to talk to Jack and Lucille, but if they are free that week, we would be more than happy to send one or both of them, and Troy with you."

Gabriella looked back and forth between her parents in disbelief. "Seriously?"

"Yes. You'll know if you got in by then. If you get waitlisted and attend they'll be sure to accept after they see you." Her mother said.

"This is amazing... Thank you, Mom."

"Can we go?!" Mariella asked.

"I don't think we can go this time, kid." Camilla said with a small smile.

After they were done opening presents, Gabriella helped Rose clean up the mess. She put her new stuff up in her room. She stayed to play with Camilla and Mariella for a couple hours before she left for the Bolton's. She was so excited to see them and tell them everything. She parked in front of their house and walked in after a quick knock.

"Honey, I'm home!" She said jokingly as she closed the door behind her.

"There she is! Merry Christmas!" Jack said, walking into the living room. He gave her a hug.

"Merry Christmas!" She hugged him back before rushing into the kitchen to look for his wife. "Merry Christmas!" She said happily to Lucille.

"Merry Christmas, come here." She wrapped her arms around her as best she could. "Sorry, I'm making gingerbread cookies."

"Where's Troy?"

"Sulking without you."

"What a baby." Gabriella joked.

"That's what I told him." Lucille said with a laugh.

"I'm going to go bug him." His mother laughed harder as Gabriella walked away and went up the stairs. She peeked in his open door and he was just laying on his bed. She rushed in and jumped on him. "What are you doing, lazy?"

Troy grunted, trying to push her off. "You knee'd me in the nuts."

Gabriella rolled her eyes. "No I didn't."

"Too close to the nuts." He defended. "Merry Christmas, cupcake."

"Merry Christmas. Where is the mistletoe? I want to kiss you."

"It's in my pants." Troy joked.

She quirked an eyebrow at him. "In your pants, huh?" She slid off the bed and walked over to his door, closing it quietly. She locked it. Gabriella smiled at him as she made her way back to him. "We can't mess with tradition."

"Whatareyoudoing?" Troy asked in one breath.

"Just a little kiss." She said with a wicked smile. She unbuttoned his pants and tugged them down. She lifted his shirt up and kissed right below his belly button. She looked up at him to make sure that he was okay with this. She pulled his boxers down to release his growing erection.

Gabriella's hand wrapped around him, stroking him slowly. He grunted as her hand wrapped around him tighter. "Fuck." He covered his face.

"Can I give you a kiss?" She asked with a small smile. She stroked him rhythmically, caressing the tip of his cock with her thumb.

"Please" He panted, reaching out to grab his blanket. He groaned again as he watched her press her lips against the head of his dick. It felt so good just to have her touch him. "I'm not going to last long."

"Good." She grinned, parting her lips and sucking him into her mouth. He moaned and thrust his hips up a little. She kept her firm grip around him, stroking him as she sucked him deeper into her mouth. She swirled her tongue around the tip before she pulled away.

"Don't stop." He panted, making her giggle. She obliged. She sucked him back deep into her mouth. With every bob of her head and stroke of her hand, she took him deeper and squeezed him perfectly. He could barely stand the feeling of her hot, wet mouth on him. "Fuck, fuck, I'm cumming." He moaned as his seed burst into her mouth. She kept sucking until his hips were done bucking up into her. She swallowed his cum and licked him clean.

She sat up, feeling proud of herself. She tucked his dick back into his boxers before pulling his shirt down and cuddling up next to him. He was breathing heavily, looking up at the ceiling. "Are you okay?" She asked hesitantly.

"This is the best fucking Christmas ever."

Gabriella giggled, rolling closer to him. She kissed his face. "It really has been." She said honestly.

He smiled at that. "You had a good morning with your family."

"Yes. My mom had an actual conversation with me." He gasped for dramatic effect. "She apologized."

"No!" He said dramatically.

"Yes!" Gabriella grinned excitedly. "And weirdly enough, my mom is kind of an evil genius. She's known about my dad's affairs for years."

"Years?"

"With multiple women."

Troy made a face. "Multiple."

"Yes! Taylor McKessie's aunt is one of them. I swear he has a mistress of every ethnicity." Gabriella shook her head. "They're getting a divorce… which I'm not surprised. But my mom was waiting for my dad to ask for it because she didn't want to pay for it… So she's making him. She also has bipolar depression and some kind of PTSD, but she fixed her medication now and seems to be tolerable."

"Holy shit."

"You're telling me." Gabriella sighed. "And I know that isn't like the basis for a good Christmas but I got my shoes and Cami and Mari got me this cute picture book of all of us. Rose got us matching rings." She held up the ring on her middle finger to show him. "And my mom enrolled me in a three day vocal workshop at Julliard over spring break so I get to go back to New York by myself! My dad is probably going to call your dad to see if you and your parents want to come get a free vacation because he'll pay for everything."

"What is wrong with your parents?"

"They don't know how appropriately show affection so they throw money at people… including your parents."

Troy looked over at her. "What do you mean?"

"My dad told me what was in the envelope."

"What is it?" He asked quietly.

"My dad was a stalker and found out that your parents are renting to own this house from a friend of a friend of Sharpay's dad. He called the guy and paid off the balance and is basically giving your parents the deed to the house for Christmas."

"Holy Shit." Troy said again, laying back. "My mom's going to cry. Hell, my dad is going to cry. My mom sells houses for a living and this is her dream home. She's been saving up for my college they haven't been able to pay it off. She negotiated with the owner as she sold him the home he lives in now."

"They won't be freaked out will they?"

"I don't think so. They'll be grateful." He pulled her close to him, kissing her cheek gently. She hummed happily. "I'm grateful for you."

"I'm so grateful for you, Troy. I think I would have gone off the deep end if it weren't for you."

"Troy! Gabs!" Jack called down.

"Ooh, present time!" Troy said popping up.

"Zip your pants." Gabriella reminded him. He grinned, fixing himself before zipping up his jeans. Troy raced down the stairs like a child and Gabriella laughed, following him. She made a stop in the kitchen to get a drink before she came in the living room.

"Are you ready to open presents?"

"Yes! I've waited all morning."

"We were talking to Gabi, Troy." His mother said, standing by the tree.

"You waited for me?" She asked, looking at his parents.

"Of course. And just to torture Troy." Jack said with a grin.

Gabriella's heart softened as she took a drink of her soda to keep from getting emotional. She put her drink on a coaster on the coffee table and sat down. "We usually let Troy tear through these." Lucille said.

"How about you guys go first this year?" Troy said with a small grin. "Come on cupcake. Let's pass them their presents."

She got back up and handed Lucille and Jack their presents with Troy, waiting to give the envelope last. She was still nervous about it. She watched them open their presents and smiled when they both loved the gifts she bought them. "This is so cute! Thank you!" Lucille said, collecting all of her garbage. Troy has ran to the kitchen to get a garbage bag.

"There is one more thing." Gabriella said nervously. She slid the yellow envelope out of the back of the Christmas tree. She handed it to Jack.

"I was wondering what this was." He said as he opened it.

"It's a gift… from my dad for taking such good care of me these last couple of months when you really, really didn't have to." She explained nervously as Jack opened the envelope. Troy rubbed her back.

Jacks face turned in confusion as he pulled out a card. "What is it?" Lucille asked curiously.

"Jack and Lucy, Thank you for taking such good care of my Grandfather's house. I wanted to keep it in the family and then you became family. Mr. Richard Montez offered to pay the- Oh god." Jack's eyes started watering.

"Pay the what?" Lucille said, reaching over for the card. Her eyes scanned over it. She gasped emotionally, covering her mouth. Gabriella bit her bottom lip to keep it from quivering. "Oh my god! This is too much!"

"What is it?" Troy asked, sliding his arms around her to hug her from behind.

"We had a deal with Michael to rent to own this house after your mom convinced him to sell it to us. Gabi's dad paid off what we owed him. We officially own our house." Jack said, fighting his emotions. Gabriella wiped the tear from her face. Jack got up and hugged Gabriella. "Thank you."

"No, Thank you." She said, hugging him back tighter. "For loving me when my own parents couldn't. It was a really good Christmas and it was a big step in repairing my relationship with them. I am so happy he did this for you."

"Move, I want a hug." Lucille said to her husband through tears. Jack chuckled, pulling away. Lucille wrapped her arms around Gabriella and she hugged his mother back just as tight.

"Can I open my presents now?" Troy asked, making them all laugh.

"You are so annoying." Gabriella said, pulling away from his mother, wiping her residual tears.

Thank you all for reading! I hope you enjoyed it.

Don't forget to review!