"Are you sure it's ok to be doing this?" nine year old Taylor asked Gabriella.

Currently, the two of them, as well as Sharpay were in Alberto and Maria's private chambers playing dress up in Maria's gowns. Gabriella was wearing one of her mother's daily gowns. Sharpay was in a kimono dressing gown that had been a gift from the Emperor of Japan. Taylor had decided to dress in one of Maria's formal gowns. Martha had decided that she wanted to play with the boys, lately she had wanted to play with them all the time.

"Of course, I do this all the time." Gabriella replied.

"But these are your mother's clothes; won't she get mad that Sharpay and I are playing in them?" Taylor asked.

Before Gabriella could answer, Maria entered the room. Gabriella giggled while her friends stood frozen at being caught in their Empress' clothes while playing dress up. The two scared girls began to take off the clothes carefully.

"Well, look at this." Maria stated kindly.

"We're sorry, You're Majesty." Sharpay stuttered nervously. "We'll put everything back. Please don't send us away."

"What?" Maria asked as she and Gabriella looked at them.

"Please don't send us away for being bad!" Taylor pleaded.

"Who told you that I send bad children away?" Maria asked comfortingly.

"Grand Duchess Isabelle." Taylor answered "She told us that we were bad if we didn't address her by her title and she would tell you and then we would be sent away."

"I would never send you away. Isabelle should never have said that to you or demand that you call her by her title. She will be punished for that." Maria explained. "As for playing dress up in my clothes, Gabriella does it all the time."

"I told them that, Mama." Gabriella supplied helpfully.

"Now, Sharpay, those shoes do not go with that dressing gown." Maria stated kindly as she made her way to her closet. "These are the slippers that go with it."

"Thank you, You're Highness." Sharpay stated excitedly.

"Now, Taylor, you are missing one key item to complete your gown."

"Shoes?" Taylor asked.

"No." Maria stated pulling a box out of her closet. "Something else."

"What is it?"

"This."

Maria opened the box to reveal her formal tiara that she wore to all of her formal events. The young girls all had wide eyes as she lifted it from the box. The gems sparkled as they caught the light.

"Come here, Taylor." Maria beckoned the girl gently.

"I don't think I should." Taylor stated but still came forward.

"It's alright; my girls always try it on when I'm in the room. Isn't that right, Gabriella?"

"Yes, Mama."

Maria then placed the tiara on top of Taylor's head and led her to the full length mirror. Taylor smiled excitedly at seeing her reflection. Never in her life did think she'd ever get this close to the Empress, let alone allowed to try on her tiara.

"There, now you're all ready for the ball." Maria announced.

"Yay!" Sharpay and Gabriella cheered.

"Maria?" Alberto called coming into the room and then smiling at the girls. "What's all this?"

"We're playing dress up, Papa!" Gabriella announced.

"And Taylor is all ready for the ball tonight." Maria stated.

"Do you know what happens at the ball?" Alberto asked Taylor.

"Dancing." the young girl replied.

"And do you know who starts the dancing?"

"No."

"The hosting royal couple does."

"Oh."

"So, Empress Taylor, would you do me the honor of having this dance with me?" Alberto requested as he bowed.

"Say yes." Maria whispered to the young girl."

"Yes." Taylor agreed.

Alberto then swept Taylor up in to his arms and began to twirl her around the room. Gabriella and Sharpay giggled along with their friend as they watched. Soon, all the girls were dancing along while Maria sat back and watched the scene with a smile on her face.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but the children's parents are here to take them home." a guard announced to the Emperor.

"Thank you." Alberto told him.

Maria then helped the girls get out of her clothes and put them away. She led them to the entrance of the palace. Sharpay and Taylor ran to their mothers happily. Derby Evans and Margaret McKessie had become close friends with the Maria and Lucille, despite one being an empress.

"Did you behave?" Margaret asked.

"Yes, Mother." Taylor answered as Sharpay nodded.

"Where's your brother?" Derby asked.

"The boys and Martha are on their way in from playing outside." Alberto replied just as the boys and Martha ran into the palace. "I believe they are here."

That evening was another ball. After she was done helping her mother, Gabriella went to play with Troy, under the watchful eye of Natasha. As their chaperone knitted, Troy and Gabriella sat on the floor drawing or putting puzzles together. Natasha smiled as she watched her two charges. Ever since she had discovered them on Christmas morning, sound asleep in Gabriella's bed, she knew that once they were old enough that more guards would have to be placed in front of Gabriella's room to ensure that nothing could happen before the two's wedding night. The atmosphere was broken when the door suddenly was thrown open.

"Natasha, grab Gabriella's white dress, the one she had her portrait taken in." Maria instructed as she picked Gabriella up.

"Hey!" Gabriella cried in surprise. "What's going on?"

"You are going to the ball." Maria told her as she quickly changed Gabriella.

"I do not want to go." Gabriella pouted. "I want to play with Troy."

"I'm sorry, My Love, but King Lorenzo brought his grandson."

"Make Isabelle go, she's older."

"Prince Andres is exactly your age, it's appropriate for you to be there as his hostess."

"But I don't want to go." Gabriella argued.

"Gabriella Montez, you are going." Maria stated. "Troy, you can continue playing here until you have to go to bed."

"Yes, Ma'am." Troy politely agreed, upset that Gabriella had to leave.

Maria then placed Gabriella's tiara on the young girl's head. She then took her daughter by the hand and led her out of the room. Troy ran to the banister and watched as Alberto, Maria, and Gabriella journeyed down the stairs. Gabriella looked up and sadly waved to him.

"Gabriella, this is Prince Andres, King Lorenzo's grandson." Alberto introduced.

"Hello, You're Highness." Gabriella greeted as she curtsied.

"Andres, this is the Grand Duchess Gabriella." Lorenzo explained.

"Hello, You're Highness." Andres greeted bowing.

For the next couple of hours, Gabriella and Andres were paired together for dinner, and even a couple of waltzes. Gabriella was on her best behavior throughout the evening. Andres was another story. He purposely stepped on her feet while they were dancing, pulled her hair when they weren't being watched by his grandparents or her parents. The final straw for Gabriella was when he spilled wine on her dress. She raced to her mother and father in tears as she pointed to the laughing boy explaining that he had spilled wine all over her. Maria and Alberto knew that Gabriella had done her part and was free to go back upstairs and go to bed. Maria held her hand as they went back up the grand staircase together after Gabriella bid goodnight to their honored guests.

"How did you like your first ball?"

"I hated it." Gabriella announced bluntly. "I don't ever want to go to another one ever again."

"Sorry to disappoint you, but you will when you get older." Maria told her.

"Can't make me."

"Yes I can, I'm your mother." Maria stated. "The only way you or your siblings won't be able to go is if you're sick or in trouble."

"Then I'll make sure to be in trouble."

"Well, you'll still have to go, that will be your punishment." Maria stated, chuckling at her daughter's angry pout. "Troy will also be at the balls."

"Really?" Gabriella asked, her tone much happier.

"Of course, when you're both old enough."

"Maybe going won't be so bad after all."

Maria chuckled as they came to Gabriella's room. Natasha had been given the rest of the night off. Maria quickly helped Gabriella get out of her stained dress and into her nightgown. Gabriella then scurried into bed. Maria tucked her in.

"Did I get into trouble?" Gabriella asked.

"No, you were excellent." Maria answered kissing her goodnight.

"Night, Mama."

"Goodnight, Gabriella."

Once she was certain her mother was back downstairs, Gabriella threw the covers off and crawled out of bed. She quietly stepped out into the hallway, checking both ways to make sure nobody was going to catch her. She then ran down the hall to the third door on the right and slipped in. She then ran over to the room's bed and crawled onto it. A small groan came from its occupant.

"Troy." Gabriella said shaking him awake. "Troy wake up."

"Gabby! You're back!" Troy said as he sat up. "How was it?"

"Horrible." Gabriella pouted. "I had to dance with Prince Andres."

"You did?" Troy asked, not liking that at all.

"Yeah, he was so mean to me, Troy. He pulled my hair and spilled wine all over my dress."

"But you had to dance with him?"

"Yes, he kept stepping on my feet."

"I'm sorry, but other than him, what was the ball like?"

"It was romantic. Mama and Papa were dancing together. They would sneak kisses when they thought nobody was watching. Your parents were there also. They looked very happy too. Your dad would always kiss your mother's hand, and would also sneak kisses to her."

When she stopped talking, the music from downstairs could be heard through the door. Troy threw his covers off of him and got out of bed. He ran over to the door and opened it so they could hear the music better. Gabriella looked at him, wondering what he was doing. Troy walked back over to her and bowed to her, like he had seen his father do for his mother when he was about to ask her to dance.

"Can I have this dance?" he asked. "I promise that I won't step on your feet on purpose."

"Yes, you may." Gabriella agreed smiling happily at him.

Troy stood back up and held his hand out to her. Gabriella placed her smaller hand in his and he helped her get off the bed. Troy placed his left hand around her waist and held her hand in his other one. Gabriella held the skirt of her white nightgown up, just like she had seen her mother do whenever she danced with her father. Her other hand gently gripped Troy's hand. They began to dance around Troy's bedroom as their parents were doing the same, just in the ballroom. Gabriella smiled up at Troy as they twirled around. Troy looked down at their feet for the first several minutes, to make sure that he did not step on her feet. It wasn't until Gabriella tilted his head up to look up that he became comfortable to dance without looking down.

"Those lessons you have to take are showing." Troy said.

"Thank you." Gabriella said smiling. "Where did you learn to dance?"

"My mom and my sisters. They made me start learning because they said that in the future I'm going to have to go to the balls too." Troy answered.

"My mom said that too."

"Are you going to be there, too?"

"Yes, when I'm older." Gabriella answered as they stopped dancing around.

"So, you will be there with me?"

"Yes."

"Will we have to dance the whole time?"

"No, we have dinner there."

"What about after?"

"No, some people just sit and watch the others dance."

"Oh, and the kissing is just for those who want too, right?"

"Yes."

"Gabriella!" Natasha called as she was passing by to get to her room. "You know you're supposed to be in your room."

"I know." Gabriella answered. "I was just talking to Troy about what the ball was like."

"Well, you need to go to bed now. When I walk by again, I want you to be back in your room." Natasha instructed.

"Yes, Ma'am." Gabriella agreed as Natasha walked away. "I got to go."

"Ok." Troy said sadly.

The next thing they both knew, Troy pressed his lips against Gabriella's gently and quickly. Both looked at each other with wide eyes before turning away from each other, too surprised and shocked to say anything. Gabriella ran out of the room and back to hers while Troy crawled into bed. Natasha walked by again, and peeked in to see that Gabriella was gone and then closed the door again, not knowing that the two had just taken one huge step into their now changing relationship.