"It's almost midnight" troy said coming up from the basement and closing the door behind him.
As he entered the room the women were sitting on the couches as Zeke, Chad and Ryan drew straws in the corner. Ever since Michael was first Christmas every year one of the guys dressed up like Santa and handed out the gifts at midnight. Over the years the guys came up with some rules. Rule one who ever hosted the party was off the hook, two: who ever did it last was off the hook. And three who ever drew the shorter straw put on the suit. Troy was Santa last year at Chad's place there for all three of them were a possibility for tonight.
The kids were watching another Christmas special and the women were cuddled up each with a child watching show and passing around a bowl of popcorn. Sharpay sat on the couch with Michael on the ottoman rubbing her feet. Troy looked over at Gabriella and how calm she looked with the twins at each side close to a faint sleep. Taylor had sat in the corner of the couch playing with the baby. Tina's head lay in Kelsi lap as she laughed at the TV.
"Well the good thing is at least for now Chad has enough kids to please everyone." Troy whispered to the men. For a moment they stared back into the living room.
"Your woman is making my boy a wimp." Chad said looking at Zeke and then holding up his longer straw. "Looks like I get the honors of watch you make a fool of yourself."
Ryan held up his long straw. And shrugged his shoulders "sorry dude"
Zeke held up his straw and closed his eyes silently murmuring revenge. After a half an hour Troy Ryan and Chad took a step back and looked at Zeke.
"Aw don't you look precious" Troy said handing Zeke a bag of toys.
"Bolton I kill you if you say another word." Zeke said as he blew some strands of white hair out of his mouth.
Chad and Ryan tried to muffle their laughter as they made their way to the door. Troy smiled as he held the bedroom door open for Zeke as he walked through the door stuffed with pillows and covered with red.
"Now presenting the one and only" troy said arms extended
"The big and tubby" Chad chimed.
"Santa Claus" Ryan finished.
"HO HO HO" Santa held his tummy and stepped into the room as all the kids jumped from their seat and ran towards him. The children cheered and hollered as they jumped up and down around Santa.
"Now, now, one at a time I have a long night ahead of me; Mrs. Claus wants me home before the sun comes up." Santa took a seat in a chair Gabriella placed in the middle of the room. Smiling she backed away to the side of the room to rest against the wall.
One by one each of the kids sat on Santa's lap and received a gift from Santa as he chuckled and listened to all the request and tattling. Then they spent some time taking pictures and posing next to Santa. When all was said and done Santa said good bye and Chad went upstairs to help Zeke while Troy went downstairs leaving Ryan to pass out the gifts.
When Troy came back upstairs everyone was laughing and smiling at pictures while they looked at their gifts and smiled.
"Babe where did you go?" Gabriella said as she looked at the box troy was carrying. "What is this?" she said with a smile.
The room was quite and troy looked around as everyone looked up at him and Gabriella. "Well I know that you sometimes feel alone when I'm way at work so I got you a little something to make you feel not so lonely"
Gabriella looked at the box suspiciously then at troy. "Troy I know you want a family and I'm so happy that you do."
"I'm happy you're happy" troy said.
"And I want you to know that I really do want a family and I can't wait to be the mother of your child"
"What?" troy felt his heart beat in his chest and his blood go cold.
"But, I'm not ready to be a mother and me sorry but I just can do something I'm not ready for." She said looking at him then at the box.
"Wait what are talking about?" just then the puppy start barking and troy looked at his wife "I'm not asking you to be a mother,"
Gabriella smiled as troy put the box on the floor and opened it pulling out a small husky puppy with a red bow around her neck. "I wanted us to have a dog, I know sometimes you're lonely or I'm at work late and I wanted you to feel safe and not alone."
Gabriella took the puppy from troy relief flooding her as she let the puppy lick her check "oh troy I love him."
"Her, and she has all her shots." Troy watched his wife and the puppy and laughed as she gave the puppy kisses.
"I'm going to call you angel." She said looking at troy then the puppy. Gabriella felt her heart beating faster and smiled at troy.
"What did you think I had in the box?" troy asked looking down at it. "I mean don't get me wrong but you looked like I had a baby in there."
The room filled with laughter and the kids came closer to play with the puppy and Gabriella blushed. "I don't know what I thought."
"Well trust me when we start a family it will be because we are both ready and we will care and raise our children with so much love." Troy said placing a kiss on Gabriella forehead.
There was clapping and sighing as the woman looked at Gabriella and smiled.
"You know while we're talking about right times and being ready I think this is as good a time as ever." Ryan said bending down and one knee in front of Kelsi.
"Ryan?" kelsi's eyes went wide as Ryan pulled a small box from his pocket.
"I've been carrying this ring for a very long time and I been waiting for the right moment and I believe that when two people love each other as much as you and I the only thing left to do is make that bond official and letting every man in the world know that you're mine and official off the market." He said looking up into Kelsi's eyes. "Will you marry me?"
The room was silent and kelsi looked around at every one the back at Ryan. "Yes"
There was more clapping.
"Mommy does this mean Ryan and Kelsi are gonna have babies or a puppy?" Tina asked looking at Tory and Gabriella then Ryan and Kelsi.
Taylor laughed and smiled as she scooped her daughter up "It means they're going to a big party and kelsi gets too dressed up like Barbie."
"Does Ryan dress up like Barbie?" brain asked tilting his head to the side.
"No" Ryan and Chad said at the same time.