When Jack and the juniors were greeted by the twins when they entered that afternoon, Jack bent down to their level. "I need to talk to Troy and Gabriella for a bit so why don't you start on your homework and they'll come in when we're done." The twins nodded and the juniors followed the man cautiously out to the backyard. "Just keep an eye out for your mom while we're talking, I don't want her to overhear this." The teenagers looked confused at the statement but nodded regardless. "Is there anything you'd like to tell me first?"

Troy and Gabriella looked at each other before he looked at his dad. "What do you mean? What did you want to talk to us about?"

"I know there's something going on between the two of you." He noticed they looked nervously at each other and he sighed. "You're not in trouble and I'm not angry, I was but I'm not anymore."

"How did you find out?"

"I had a suspicion there was more between you two than just Lilly the morning after the party. I was coming out of my office and I overheard you talking to Chad, that's why I was... inconsiderate about when Gabriella was missing. I was annoyed about the situation and that you were going behind our backs."

Troy looked at him curiously. "So what changed?"

"Seeing how Gabriella being gone affected you, Lilly and Jakie and seeing the change in all of you when she came back, especially you. It certainly wasn't what we planned when we brought home Lilly and Gabriella but she has changed you Troy, for the better. Your mom and I always assumed that the reason you were.." Jack thought for a second about his wording. "wound tight and cold towards others was because of what happened with Lilly but even after she was back, it still didn't really change until Gabriella. So when I did see you two in the gym with the wildcats at lunch, I knew I had to talk to you guys today."

Troy looked out of the corner of his eye to see his girlfriend blushing and subtly took her hand in his. "Is there a problem? Is that why you don't want Mom to overhear?"

"Sort of, I haven't told her about your relationship because although I'm fine with it, she absolutely would not be especially around the twins. But she has spoken to me about wanting to adopt Gabriella and I knew that would cause a few issues so I wanted to prepare you both privately."

"Thanks Dad, we really appreciate it."

Jack nodded before looking away and rubbing his neck. "I have one more conversation we need to have and I don't think any of us want to but it needs to be said." The teens' eyes widened with realisation as he continued. "You're both old enough to understand relationships and I know you're both over 16. I know very well what your age group gets up to, my office is in the boys' locker room for crying out loud." The juniors laughed at the latter statement. "I could be naive and say that it's not happening and that you're not to do anything under my roof but I know teenagers and I know what I was doing at your age. All I'm asking is that you're safe and not to do anything around the twins if they could catch you, preferably not when Lucille or I could catch you either but the twins are the important part."

Troy fought his blush at his father's words and responded, knowing Gabriella would be too embarrassed to speak much less around Jack. "Dad we're not, I mean we haven't." He took a few seconds to get his words straight. "We're not there yet but we promise we'll be safe when we do."

After a few seconds, Gabriella spoke up. "Mr Bolton, would I be able to ask you something?" He nodded. "I haven't really wanted to approach the subject but since we're already talking, I was just wondering why you didn't like me."

Jack sighed. "It wasn't that I didn't like you Gabriella, you're a lovely girl and if Lilly was going to be with anyone during the last few years, I'm glad it was you. I just, I resented the relationship you had with Lilly and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't form with her and I was also worried about the family getting attached to you – myself and Lucille included – if you were just going to disappear after graduation." He paused for a few seconds. "My father abandoned my mother and I when I was young so I know what it feels like to permanently lose a loved one because they disappeared from your life and having already lost Lilly once, I wasn't willing to put my family through that again. But I shouldn't have put my issues on you, it's certainly not your responsibility."

Gabriella shook her head. "It's ok."

"No it's not Gabriella, I shouldn't have taken my issues out on you. We fostered you for a reason and I hope you realise that you are just as part of our family as the rest of us are." Gabriella bit her lip, overcome by emotions and stood to hug Jack. The man returned the gesture and placed a kiss on the top of her head. "Lucille and I see you as our daughter Gabriella and I know that you're Lilly's whole world and Jakie adores you and I don't need to think I need to say much about that one." He said, gesturing to Troy with a laugh, which Gabriella joined.

When Gabriella returned back to Troy's side, the boy looked at his dad. "Are you really ok with us?"

"I wouldn't say it if I didn't mean it Troy."

The words made both Troy and Gabriella smile but their conversation was interrupted by the twins running out, the boy holding a newspaper in his hand. "Gabi, you're in the newspaper." Looking at the paper, they saw a photo of Gabriella, Troy and Jack walking to the house.

"They're following me," Gabriella whispered and Troy placed his hand around her shoulder, squeezing it gently in hopes of reassurance.

Jack sighed. "They shouldn't be invading your privacy like this... If you would consider it, maybe you should do an interview with a journalist or something to give them a story so they'll leave you alone." Seeing that she was hesitant, he smiled sadly. "Have a think about it."