A/N: Sorry I haven't been uloading...ill...essay...I've had it all lol. Don't own HSM

Chapter 10 – A date

"Mama, you look fine. Uncle Troy will love you in anything. Trust me." Allie muttered as she dodged another shirt which her mother threw at her.

Gabriella frowned as she came back out of her closet with a white blouse in one hand and a pair of long, flared jeans in the other. "What are you talking about? Uncle Troy and I are…" She trailed off as she thought about the best way to explain it.

"Mama, he loves you." Allie whispered.

Gabriella turned to her daughter and smiled softly. "I know, Baby. I know he does. And we're kind of," She paused to swallow slightly, "together." She walked over to the bed and set her clothes down and sat next to her daughter, holding her tighter. "Are you okay with this?"

Allie knitted her brow together as she lifted her head. "Like Uncle Zeke and Auntie Shar?"

Gabriella shrugged. "I don't know exactly. We're not getting married…yet. But, between you and me, I hope so someday. But, promise me you'll tell me the truth. Are you okay with it? I mean, I know it's quick and I'm still in shock. But, I like it."

Allie giggled and shifted her position so she was kneeling next to her mother. "So, is Uncle Troy going to be around here a whole lot?"

Gabriella laughed gently and hugged her gently in her arms. "I sure hope so, mi hija."

"And, just to let you know, you look really pretty in whatever you wear." Allie said sweetly, giving Gabriella a toothy grin.

Gabriella turned and picked up the blouse and jeans. "This would be okay?"

Allie nodded. "And your boots would go good with that."

"Well with that." Gabriella corrected before a sigh escaped her mouth and she looked at Allie through narrowed eyes. "You have been hanging around your Aunties too much."

"Hey, they're your best friends." Allie muttered as she folded her arms and her face contorted into a cute pout – one that she had undoubtedly inherited from Gabriella.

Gabriella glared at her as she got to her feet. "Don't use that tone with me, Young Lady." She turned to her daughter and before a second had passed, they suddenly started laughing and giggling. "I'm lucky you're so well behaved."

"Yeah. You're not very good when you try to tell me off." Allie admitted with a shrug.

"Well, as it is," Gabriella started as she sat down at her vanity and started brushing her hair, "you're well behaved and always know when you've done something wrong, don't you?" She saw in the mirror that Allie was about to open her mouth so she continued, "And, yes, that does include getting eggs and flour all over my kitchen."

Allie avoided her mother's eyes and fiddled with her fingers. "Technically it was self-raising flour." She muttered.

Gabriella rolled her eyes jokingly as she started applying some foundation to her face. "You keep believing that, Sweetie."

Her daughter giggled and nodded. "I will."

Gabriella started brushing some grey eye shadow on and smiled at her through the mirror. "Allie, Honey, why don't you go to your room and pick out a pretty dress and some toys to take because Uncle Troy said that it's okay if you take some."

Allie jumped off of the bed and nodded. "Okay, Mama." She ran out of the room and Gabriella giggled to herself.

As she applied mascara, Gabriella reminisced of her relationship with Troy. He had arrived in Albuquerque and they hadn't exactly got off to the best start. He found out about Allie and they suddenly became friends, with him having the inability to refuse the opportunity to spend time with Gabriella. Then, when he confessed that he was in love with her, she didn't talk to him for a week for a reason even she didn't know. And now, they were official.

She shook her head slightly and concentrated on getting ready. She changed quickly into her blouse and jeans and laid her thick, blue coat out on her bed so it was ready for when they left. She knew her boots were downstairs and she debated momentarily before rummaging through her vanity drawers and finding a thick, blue belt which she clasped just under her breasts, finalising her outfit. She sighed to herself and, after one final glance in her mirror, left her bedroom and walked down the hall.

She entered Allie's bedroom and smiled when she saw her daughter packing a Dora the Explorer backpack with a colouring book, crayons, Molly the dolly and a large, colourful book called 'The Rainbow Fish'. "Have you got everything?"

Allie smiled up at Gabriella and nodded. "Do you think Uncle Troy likes The Rainbow Fish too?"

Gabriella picked up the ink dress which Allie had folded on her bed and shrugged. "I don't know. We'll have to ask. And if you're a good girl, I'm sure Uncle Troy will read it to you."

"I really like Uncle Troy." Allie said sweetly as Gabriella started to help her change her clothes.

"What do you like about him?" Gabriella enquired.

"Don't you see it?" Allie asked as she furrowed her brow into a cute look of confusion.

"See what?" Gabriella asked, slipping the ink dress over Allie's dress and kneeling down to do the buttons up at the back.

"How you look at him. And how you've been singing ever since you picked me up this morning." Allie said as she turned to face her mother. "As much fun he is, and how much ice cream he gives me, he's made you happier in a week than I've ever seen you."

Gabriella giggled and hugged her tightly. "When did you start being such a grown up?"

Allie shrugged slightly. "Te amo, Mama." She whispered softly.

"Te amo, mi hija." Gabriella replied gently.

* * *

Gabriella was surprised, to say the least, when the limo pulled up at Lava Springs and she leaned forward slightly. "Are you sure Troy said to bring us here?"

The driver nodded as he un-clicked his seatbelt and turned in his seat slightly. "Yes, Miss Montez. I am under strict instructions to bring you straight to Lava Springs. George is inside, waiting to serve you." He opened the door and then shut it, jogging to Gabriella's door. He opened it and smiled as she got out with Allie.

"Who's George?" Gabriella asked, holding Allie's mitten clad hand in her own.

"One of Mr Bolton's finest waiters." The driver explained. "Please make your way to the ballroom."

Gabriella nodded. "Thank you." She quickly followed the path up to the club and pushed through the open door to be greeted by an elderly Japanese guy dressed in a grey waistcoat, a white shirt and grey trousers: what waiters wore during important events.

"Good evening, Miss Montez." He said in a deep voice. "I am George and I will be your waiter for this evening."

"Hi. Oh, and its Gabriella and Allie. Miss Montez makes me sound like a teacher." She laughed.

"Of course." George replied. "May I take your coats?"

"Oh, thank you." Gabriella smiled gratefully as she took her coat, hat, scarf and gloves off before handing them to George. She knelt down and started helping Allie with hers, handing them also to George. "Where's Troy?"

"Mr Bolton will be here in a few moments. He is running a little behind schedule." George explained. "Please take a seat."

Gabriella nodded and she and Allie made their way to the only table in the ballroom. They sat down and Gabriella looked around with wide eyes at the different coloured lilies decorating the room. "Are you okay, mi hija?"

Allie nodded as she dropped her bag to the floor. "I am. Are you, Mama?"

Gabriella nodded and giggled. "If you must know, I'm really excited. This is my first date with Troy. And you."

Allie grinned and giggled. "Me too."

* * *

Gabriella drummed her fingers on the table impatiently as she checked her phone for the tenth time in five minutes: half five. She sighed and looked across at Allie who momentarily stopped her colouring to sip her chocolate milk. "Allie, Honey, pack your things away."

Allie looked up in surprise. "What? Why?"

Gabriella sighed as she walked over to the hooks where George had placed their things and she pulled Allie's coat down. "Allie, I don't think Troy's coming." She said quietly as she reached for the mittens, scarf and hat. She made her way back to the table to see Allie zing her backpack back up. "And I want some ice cream, chocolate sauce and to sit down and watch a movie."

"Why don't I give you a makeover?" Allie suggested as she started accepting Gabriella's help with the mittens and coat.

"Why?" Gabriella asked.

"That's what you do to Auntie Shar when she and Uncle Zeke fight." Allie explained.

Gabriella wrapped the scarf around her daughter's neck and tucked it into her coat. "Maybe I'll give you one."

Allie giggled and nodded. "And I'm sure Uncle Troy has a good reason."

"It had better be a good reason. He could've texted me." She exclaimed, placing Allie's hat on her head.

Allie sighed. She knew how smitten her mother was with Troy and she was obviously hurt by how late he was. She did the only thing she could think of to make Gabriella feel better. She hugged her legs tightly. "Te amo, Mama."

Gabriella smiled gently and knelt down to hug her daughter. "Te amo, mi hija. Listen, it's okay. We'll just have a girly night in. We haven't had one in ages. What do you say?"

* * *

Gabriella chased after Allie and lifted her up over her shoulder. "Take that, Missy." She ran to the front door, laughing, and pulled it open, her laugh dying down. "Hello, Troy."

Troy sighed and his eyebrows rose slightly. "Listen, I can explain."

"Hold on." Gabriella said quietly. "You're sick."

"How did you know?" Troy asked through a cough.

"I'm a doctor." She set Allie on the floor and patted her back. "Honey, go and get ready for bed, okay?"

"But, I wanted to lay with Uncle Troy." Allie whined.

Gabriella sighed softly. "You can play with him tomorrow. Now go." She ushered her daughter up the stairs and pulled the door open further for Troy. "Come on."

Troy stepped inside and waited until Gabriella turned around. "I know you're mad but please let me explain."

Gabriella stepped forward and unwrapped the scarf from his neck and hung it on a hook. "Don't talk." She said sternly. "Judging by your cough, it's going to hurt." She started pulling his gloves off and she placed them on the small table under the coat hooks. "What are you doing outside if you're sick?"

He shrugged his thick coat off to reveal a black tuxedo. "I went to the club but George said you left."

"Well, Mr Bond, you are not leaving this house until you're better." Gabriella said sternly.

Troy groaned quietly as Gabriella pushed the black blazer off of his shoulders. "I love it when you get all medical on me."

"I'm still mad." She warned with a hard stare. She folded the blazer over the banister and turned back to Troy. "I expected you to turn up. And if you couldn't make it, I expected you to call or to text me. But, shall I tell you what bothered me the most? What hurt me so much I questioned whether you told me the truth when you said 'I love you, Gabby.'?"

"What?" Troy whispered fearfully.

Gabriella let out a deep breath as she started to work on his bow tie. She lifted her eyes to his before lowering them again. "You disappointed Allie." She whispered softly. "I told her how we were kind of together. And she asked if we were like Auntie Shar and Uncle Zeke. I said we weren't getting married but yes. Then, she asked if her Uncle Troy would be around here a whole lot. I said I hope so." She yanked the bow tie from around his neck and threw it to the floor. "I guess I should grow up and realise that my hoes don't matter anymore, huh?"

"Gabby-" Troy tried desperately.

Gabriella reached up and pressed the back of her hand to his forehead. "I'm going to settle Allie down. Go into the lounge and strip to your boxers."

"Gabby, Baby, I thought you're mad at me? Besides, even if you're ready, I'm not feeling too good." He said regretfully. He saw her raise a single eyebrows before a soft pink glow rose in his cheeks. "You weren't talking about that, were you?"

She shook her head determinedly. "No. I wasn't. I want to bring your temperature down as fast as possible. Strip to your boxers. I'll be down as fast as you can say Dora the exlorer." She said quietly before jogging up the stairs. She entered Allie's bedroom to see her already in her pink nightshirt. "You okay, Sweetie?"

Allie nodded and looked up from her pile of dolls and teddies. "Are you okay? You seemed pretty upset downstairs."

Gabriella lifted Allie up and walked them into the bathroom. "Well, I kind of am. But, Uncle Troy and I are going to talk about everything."

Allie nodded and Gabriella helped her brush her teeth before carrying her back to her bedroom. "Is Uncle Troy staying here tonight?"

Gabriella nodded. "Yeah. I'm not letting him outside while he's this sick."

Allie snuggled into the blankets and hugged the doll which Troy had bought her tightly. "Are you going to make him better?"

Gabriella nodded as she kissed her forehead. "I am. Te amo, mi hija." She straightened u and walked to the door, switching the light out as she left. She slowly wandered down the stairs and stood in the lounge doorway. Troy was lying on the couch in his plaid boxers, his tux folded neatly on the chair. "What are you thinking about?"

Troy sighed and stared at the ceiling. "You."

Gabriella disappeared into the kitchen and returned with a glass of water, a damp cloth and her brief case. She set the glass on the coffee table and set the cloth on Troy's forehead. She knelt next to the couch and sighed. "What were you thinking?"

"Well, I was sorting something out this morning and then I had paperwork for the club and then I was stuck this ridiculously long meeting…" He looked into her eyes and sighed. "I didn't think I could put it all off."

Gabriella sighed. "Troy, you can't do that. If you do, you'll get even more ill." She opened her briefcase and took out her thermometer. She laced it under his armpit and looked him in the eyes, brushing his hair gently. "Troy, I care about you, I do. But, the next time you organise something like that and you can't make it, text me or call me. Because I wasn't just mad, I was worried. Anything could've happened."

Troy nodded guiltily. "I know. I'm sorry."

Gabriella removed the thermometer and inspected it. "You don't feel good, do you?"

Troy closed his eyes and groaned. "Not really. My throat felt tickly this morning before I dropped you home but I figured it would go away. Then my nose was blocked while I was sorting something out this morning. Then my eyes were running and then I started coughing during that awful meeting."

"Troy, I hate to sound like your mom but, the next time you feel the slightest thing wrong with you, tell me and I'll try to fix it." Gabriella said sternly, lifting the cloth from his forehead to kiss his damp skin.

"I promise, Gabby." Troy whispered. "And I'm sorry."

Gabriella pulled back and smiled gently. "I know." She laced the cloth back on his forehead and rummaged through her briefcase. "I reckon you just have a real bad virus and although there isn't any medication for a virus, there are some tablets which boost your immune system." She turned back to Troy with a white pot. "You wanna try it?"

"You're my private doctor, what do you think?" Troy asked with a smirk.

"I think it's the best thing for you and you should be your old hyper self in a couple of days." Gabriella explained. "And I'm not letting you out of my sight until that happens." She opened the pot and poured out two yellow capsules. "Take these." She laced them in Troy's hand and helped him to sit up and took the cloth off of his head. She handed him the glass of water and watched as he swallowed the pills with two gulps of water.

He held the glass out to her and wiped his mouth. "How often do I take these?"

"Two four times a day and I want you to drink that. It'll do you good to have some water in your system." Gabriella said sternly as she shut her briefcase and shoved it under the coffee table. She climbed onto the sofa and settled next to Troy. "I'm going to look after you but only if you let me."

"In other words, you want me to call you when I can't make a date." Troy said knowingly as he continued to drink his water.

Gabriella nodded. "Troy, I thought we'd been over this. I can't be with you if you don't take Allie into account. She was so sure you'd show up… Troy, I know it's a big jump going from single guy to a dad but where you have the choice, I don't."

Troy sighed and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "Gabby, you don't know how horrible I feel. Please!"

Gabriella shrugged. "I'm not so sure anymore. I know it's been a day but are you going to be like this in the future?"

"No!" Troy exclaimed. "I'm not. I was busy, having a bad day and I sent the entire morning planning something for you."

"What?" Gabriella asked quietly, a small smile on her lips. "Me? What is it?"

Troy chuckled at her child-like behaviour. "I planned for you, me and Allie to go to Hawaii for a couple of days before you start your new job at the hospital."

"Hawaii?" Gabriella exclaimed excitedly. "Troy, you didn't have to!"

"Well, we're going in my jet so it really wasn't that hard but my pilot wouldn't answer any of my calls for hours." Troy exclaimed in annoyance.

She giggled slightly and leaned over to kiss him softly before pulling back. "Troy, why?"

"Well, I know you're hard to convince that you're doing the right thing by being with me so I wanted to surprise you. We leave tomorrow, hopefully I'm better, and come back Saturday night." Troy said softly. "And I bought you new clothes as well. Allie too. But, no underwear. I've never understood girl sizes."

"What?" Gabriella gasped. "How much? I'll totally ay you back."

Troy rolled his eyes. "I'm not telling you."

"How much?" Gabriella demanded.

"A couple of thousand." He relied nonchalantly, sipping his drink.

"Dollars?" She shrieked. "Troy! I can't afford that."

"You don't have to." He said gently. "Forget about it"

Gabriella looked unsure and avoided his eyes. "Troy, you shouldn't do this…"

"I want to. Please come with me? I've been to Hawaii with Jase and Kels but they always act like a couple. I know they are a couple but they overdo it. I just figured it would give me a chance to act coupley with someone." He muttered.

Gabriella sighed and finally nodded. "The flight's tomorrow?"

"Four thirty." Troy replied.

"Well, like everything, I'll have to ask Allie what she thinks." Gabriella whispered.

Troy set his empty glass on the coffee table and turned to Gabriella, holding her hands. "Gabby, I truly love you. Tonight was a mistake and I apologise."

Gabriella leaned forward and planted a soft, passionate kiss to his lips. He felt her relax into his body and his arms weaved around her waist. Their lips moved in perfect sync to a rhythm they had perfected during their only night together. Gabriella's hands ran through his hair, over his bare chest, back, arms…anywhere she could reach, actually.

"Gabby, you're going to get ill." He mumbled against her lips.

The vibrations caused her to giggle into his mouth, which, in turn, caused him to moan into hers. "Do you want me to stop?"

"Well, no, but do you want to be sick?" He muttered, their lips still attached.

"Don't care." She smiled against his lips as they slowly manoeuvred so he was lying on top of her.

He pulled back breathlessly and rested hers and smiled. "Gabby?"

"Yeah?" She whispered.

"Do you know I love you?" He asked softly.

"Just a little bit. Thank you." She said gratefully. "Allie's never really had a vacation before."

"The pleasure is mine." He murmured.