(A.N. I am so so sorry for the long wait between chapters, starting college with classes and everything - having to dedicate between 40-50 hours a week - as well as work and family commitments hasn't allowed for much time for writing. So thank you for your patience, I hope you enjoy the chapter / are enjoying the story and please feel free to let me know what you think :) )

Troy and Gabriella had gone to school the next day and it had gone as normal. There wasn't anything out of the ordinary and soon enough, their school day finished and they returned home. After greeting the twins and putting their bags away, they had some afternoon tea with the seven-year-olds. Troy and Jacob had gone off to get their homework but as Gabriella went to follow, Lilliana tugged on her arm. "Bria, can I ask you something?"

"Of course you can, what's up?"

Lilliana fiddled with her hands as she asked. "Can we go somewhere? I want to do something just the two of us."

"Sure, we can do that. Is there anywhere in particular you'd like to go?" The girl shrugged. "Do you wanna go to the park?" The six-year-old shook her head. "No, how about the mall, we could go sit by the fountain?" Lilliana nodded. "Alright, we'll just go tell your parents and let's get going?" They walked through the house and found Jack outside with Jacob. "We're just going to the mall for a bit, is that alright?"

"Of course Gabi, that's fine. Just make sure you're back by dinner." The two girls nodded. "Alright well have fun and stay safe."

The girls headed off and walked to the mall, choosing to stay outside and sit by the fountain. Giving her sister her full attention, Gabriella asked. "So you wanted to come just the two of us, was there something you wanted to talk about?"

Lilliana shrugged and instead of answering the question, she asked. "Did you have fun at school?"

Gabriella chose to go along. "It was ok, my school's a bit different from yours though. Did you have a good day today?" Lilliana nodded, making the junior sigh inwardly. "Alright Sweet Girl, I can see something's bothering you, do you want to tell me what's going on?"

"I won't get in trouble?"

"No of course not, you know that." The girl nodded. "Alright, I'm all ears, tell me what's up."

"You know how we've been in Albuquerque for a long time." Gabriella nodded. "And Lucille said I didn't have to call them Mom and Dad until I felt comfortable?" She knew this conversation could go one of two ways and wasn't completely surprised when the little girl said. "I don't think I can call them Mom and Dad."

"I see, and you wanted to come out here so you could talk to me and they wouldn't know." Lilliana nodded and Gabriella placed her hand on the little girl's knee. "Well I'm glad you told me. Is there a reason you don't feel comfortable?"

"I don't know, I just can't call them that."

"Ok, that's ok. It's not really my place to say that you shouldn't call them Mom and Dad but I don't think you should be forced to do anything that makes you uncomfortable. Have you spoken to them about this or have they brought it up to you?" Lilliana shook her head. "Ok so what made this come up Liv?'

"A lot of stuff happened and they're trying to spend more time with us and leave us out of things like how you and Troy are boyfriend and girlfriend and I didn't really like that."

"I know Liv and I know you've always liked to be aware of things but unfortunately that's how they parent and we have to respect that. You can talk to them about how you feel and I can to an extent but at the end of the day, we can't tell them how to parent." The girl nodded along. "So they haven't brought this up?"

"No but I'm not sure if they will and I don't know what to say."

"Ok, you don't have to go to them with this if you're not comfortable but if they do bring it up, just be honest. There's nothing wrong with saying that you're still not ready." Lilliana agreed. "So has that helped at all, do you feel any better."

"Uh-huh." The seven-year-old moved to hug her sister. "Thanks Bria."

"It's no worries Little One, you know you can come to me any time you need to talk." Gabriella glanced down at her phone and saw the time. "Alright, I think we better head back, dinner will be ready soon and we don't want anyone to be worried."

The family was sitting at the table for dinner in a somewhat uncomfortable silence. The twins were looking around the group curiously as the older members were all tense. Troy sighed and looked over at his mother. "Mom, this is ridiculous, everyone's uncomfortable right now. You haven't spoken or even looked at Gabriella and I since we told you. Can we just let it go?"

"We'll see." She directed her attention to the twins. "So I've been told that you two know that Troy and Gabriella are together." The seven-year-olds looked to their siblings, making Lucille exhale loudly. "Yes they told me that you both know. But I need to know if that confuses you or makes you uncomfortable in any way."

The twins looked at each other confused, Jacob responding. "Why would Troy and Gabi being boyfriend and girlfriend make us confused or uncomfortable?"

"Because relationships can be a confusing thing for kids and I don't want anything about it to confuse you guys. And if it makes you uncomfortable that they're together, we can sort it out."

"It doesn't make us uncomfortable, does it make you uncomfortable Mom?"

Lucille chose not to respond and Lilliana, who was able to interpret grown-up conversation a little better than her brother, spoke up. "I'm happy that Troy and Bria are together, they're happier now that they're boyfriend and girlfriend. And it's not confusing, Troy's our brother and Bria's..." The little girl trailed off, not willing to say the words out loud. "I like that Troy and Bria are together."

Lucille didn't have anything to say. "Ok then, I guess that settles it."

Troy's jaw ticked, having kept himself quiet during the conversation. "For the record Mother, I really don't appreciate you trying to use Jakie and Lilly as an excuse to make us break up."

The twins gasped, begging. "Don't make them break up."

Jack input his opinion. "He's right Honey, I know it's a lot to take in and believe me, I felt exactly what you are when I found out. But you'll see how great they are together and you'll be happy for them too. You just have to give it a chance."

The woman sighed, seeing that she'd have her whole family against her if she answered otherwise so she responded. "Alright, I'll try my best to give it a chance."

The juniors thanked her and Jack looked at her with an appreciative expression as quiet conversation slowly built up amongst the group as they finished off the meal for the night.