Gabriella and Alexander were on the family's yacht, Faircrest. Maria was making them get portraits done. Their sisters had theirs done earlier that day. Since they were done, they got to go to the small island that they had anchored just off of. The younger two had to wait until they were finished before they could them on the island. Alberto was with the army as the new recruits were being trained, which now included sixteen year old Troy, and their friends, Zeke, Chad and Ryan. Gabriella and Troy wrote each other every day. This was the longest they had ever been apart from each other. Whenever the royal family had to visit another country, the Boltons usually went with them.

"When will Father be back?" Alex asked. "He's been gone for three months."

"He'll be with us tonight." Maria told them, noticing the smile that appeared on Gabriella's face.

"Is Troy coming?" she asked.

"Yes."

Gabriella found it even more difficult to concentrate now that she knew Troy was going to with her that evening. The photographer positioned her on the arm of the chair Alex was sitting in. she was perched on it as if she were riding a horse side saddle. Alex saw up straight in the chair as the photographer took their picture. Alex was the closes to Gabriella out of all of his sisters. Gabriella would comfort him whenever he used to get hurt. She would actually leave her friends and race over to him, often Troy following her. The thirteen year old brother and fifteen year old sister would often help each with their school work.

Isabelle was now about to turn twenty. Many foreign princes were interested in making her their wife but the Duchess was not interested in being so far away from her family. Josephine was seventeen and was soon going to have her Red Cross certification for being a nurse. Elizabeth was eighteen and it looked like she was going to be the first Duchess to get married. She had fallen in love with an officer in the Army, Matthew Sanchez. He was twenty-one and highly decorated already. Their wedding was set for the end of the summer with the whole family set to be in attendance. Elizabeth's parents and siblings were all very happy for the couple. Maria had taken great care in helping Elizabeth plan the wedding.

"Thank you for your time." Maria told the photographer as her two youngest sighed with relief at finally being done.

"It was my pleasure, Your Highness."

Alex and Gabriella thanked the photographer also before they were excused by their mother to go change to go to the island. The two made a break for it as soon as they were out of the room. Gabriella quickly changed into her bathing dress. Once her mother and Alex were ready, they got into a row boat and headed to the small island that belong to the family. Elizabeth and Josephine were splashing around in the water with one of Troy's sisters, Emma. Isabelle and the oldest Bolton child, Mary sat up in the sand, far enough away so they would not get splashed. One of the guards offered to carry Maria to the shore but she merely jumped into the water that was now ankle deep. Gabriella and Alex soon followed their mother's actions.

For most of the afternoon, the group enjoyed being at the beach. William and Madeline, who had been traveling with them, joined them for their picnic dinner. After the guards had made a fire pit, and the family had settled to watch the sunset, the sound of galloping horses filled the air as Alberto, Jack, Troy and Matthew rode towards them. The four got off and rushed to their families. Maria greeted Alberto first before four of their children; Elizabeth was too busy greeting Matthew. Jack and Troy were greeted by Lucille and Mary and Emma. Troy and Gabriella's eyes locked with each other's as she hugged her father tightly. Troy nodded his head over to where the four horses were meaning for her to follow him. Gabriella nodded and did as he instructed. The two hugged each other happily. In the three months they had been apart, Gabriella could feel some of the changes in his body. His shoulders were broader; there were also muscles in his back, arms and torso that were not there when he had left. Troy saw the changes in Gabriella as well. She was growing into a beautiful young woman, not that he did not always think of her as beautiful. Her sixteenth birthday was next year and around that time was when possible suitors began to make themselves known. Troy was going to make sure that he was the only one in her eyes.

"You look good." Gabriella whispered, almost shyly.

"So do you." Troy replied.

"I missed you so much; I had nobody to make me smile when I got bored."

"Well, now you know how I felt when you were sick."

"I was only sick for two weeks; you were gone for three months." Gabriella stated making Troy laugh.

"Well, let me make it up to you." Troy offered.

"How?"

Troy merely got back onto his horse and helped Gabriella get on behind him. The young woman wrapped her arms around his waist as she adjusted her side saddle position. Troy gave the horse a slight kick to get it to start galloping. Their parents watched as they headed off down the beach.

"Should we worry?" Emma asked Elizabeth.

"Let our mothers worry." Elizabeth replied.

"Where are we going?" Gabriella asked.

"Just a little ride down the beach, no harm in that." Troy answered as they slowed down. "So, what all happened while I was gone?"

"Nothing much. Isabelle turned down another suitor. He lived half way across the country and she had no interest in him at all. She wouldn't even meet with him. I have a feeling she is somehow going to start a war between another country and ourselves."

"I don't know about that, everyone seems to like and respect your father to let that be the cause. Anything else?"

"Martha wanted me to ask if you got her letters."

"I did."

"What did you think of them?"

"They mainly talked about herself and how she was so proud of me for being in the Army."

"I'm proud of you."

"It was different from her though. She wants to be the one who I fight for."

"And what did you tell her?"

"I haven't told her anything. Anyways, I already have a girl who I'm picturing fighting for, that is if she'll have me."

"And who would that be?"

"You."

"Me?"

Troy pulled on the reins and the horse stopped. He then jumped down and helped Gabriella down. The two walled while the horse rested for a bit.

"You were all I could think about while I was away." Troy explained. "Ever since we were children, I've always had this connection with you that was different from the other girls I'm friends with."

"I've felt that way with you." Gabriella replied as she sat down in the sand. "My life seemed empty when I couldn't see you every day. All I could think about was getting to see you again."

"When you were sick, all I could think about was trying to make you better. Every single day, I asked your mother if I could see you, my heart breaking each time I was denied." Troy continued. "I was so worried that you were not going to make it."

"I kept asking my mother if I could see you too." Gabriella said. "But like you, I was denied."

"I told my mom that I was going to marry you." Troy announced.

"What?" Gabriella asked in shock.

"I've always wanted to marry you, and now I'm telling you my wish."

"Why are you telling me this now? I turn sixteen a year from now."

"I know, I just thought that I'd get my say in now." Troy explained. "I've been in love with you my whole life, and I was hoping that you felt the same way about me."

"I do." Gabriella whispered. "I love you, too."

Troy smiled happily and leaned down and pressed a gently kiss to Gabriella's lips. This was the first kiss the two shared since that fateful night after Gabriella's first ball. Troy cradled Gabriella's cheek in his hand to deepen the kiss. The two knew that their relationship had changed completely from the one they had when Troy left. No longer were they were just best friends, they were each other's everything.