"Gabby!" a small voice exclaimed shaking the sleeping princess. "Gabby, wake up!"

"Yuki?" Gabriella asked still half asleep. "What do you want?"

"Time to wake up! You're watching me today! Up! Up! Up!"

Gabriella groaned as she sat up in bed. Yuki climbed up next to her and waited for her favorite baby-sitter to get ready for their day out together. Gabriella walked into her closet and got dressed for a day of fun with the three year old princess. She chose a pair of jeans and a lavender sweater. She grabbed her skates and gloves knowing that the weather was very cold outside.

"Ready, Gabby-san?" Yuki asked.

"Lets go." Gabriella agreed.

The two young princesses walked out of the room and went down to the kitchen to pick up a small breakfast. Troy was already down there eating his breakfast before going to join his dad in the palace gym. Gabriella leaned over and kissed his cheek gently before going over to the fridge to get Yuki some milk. Yuki was sitting at the island next to Troy.

"So, what do you two ladies have planned for today?" Troy asked.

"Gabby's taking me ice skating and then to the zoo." Yuki answered.

"But we have to be back here by six because I have my birthday tonight." Gabriella replied handing Yuki her milk.

"I'm ready!" Yuki said jumping off the chair.

"Alright, lets go." Gabriella said. "I'll see you later."

"Bye." Troy said as he kissed Gabriella quickly.

Gabriella and Yuki walked out the door and off the palace grounds with body guards following close behind them. The ice rink was in the middle of a large park. Gabriella sat Yuki down and began to help her put her skates onto her feet. Yuki stood up shakily trying to get her balance as Gabriella laced her own pair of skates up. The two princesses walked onto the ice. Gabriella held the young girl's hand as they skated around on the smooth ice.

"Are you going to marry Troy?" Yuki asked.

"I don't know, it's too far into the future to decide that now." Gabriella answered. "But I hope to someday."

"Do your people like him?"

"I think they do. People seem to be very warm to him."

"Can I be in your wedding?"

"Why all the questions all of a sudden?" Gabriella asked laughing. "You're acting like I'm getting married tomorrow."

"Are you?"

"No, I'm not getting married for a long time. And when I do get married, you will be one of the first people I call."

"Ok."

For most of the morning, Gabriella and Yuki skated around the ice rink. Several photographers caught pictures of the two princesses having fun. Gabriella laughed as she slipped onto the ice and caught Yuki before she met the cold hard surface. Both girls were laughing when they stood back up. They waved to the photographers letting them know they were alright. Gabriella was now helping Yuki get her shoes back on.

"Can we go to McDonalds for lunch?" Yuki asked as they left the park.

"Sure." Gabriella agreed as they crossed the street to an awaiting car.

They climbed in and Gabriella gave the directions to go to McDonalds. Yuki was looking out the window excitedly. All the buildings were decorated for Christmas and that evening, they would be lit up to celebrate the holiday. The car stopped in front of the fast food restaurant. The two princesses were walked inside and got in line to order their lunch.

"Do I get to go to your party?" Yuki asked.

"Yes, you get to come tonight."

"What did Troy get you for you're your birthday?"

"I don't know, I'll find out tonight."

An hour later, the two of them walked into the Genovian Zoo. Gabriella allowed Yuki to lead where she wanted to go. The young girl led her to the lions first. Gabriella showed Yuki that the lion was asleep in his den and that it didn't want to be disturbed.

"Can we go see your penguins?" Yuki asked.

"Sure."

"Can I play with one of them?"

"I don't know if you're allowed to play with them, we'll have to see."

"Who gave them to you?"

"A close family friend. The penguins in the wild only take care of one of the eggs even though the mother lays two of them. Here, we let nature take its course and also, we take care of the second egg by placing them into an incubator." Gabriella explained as they walked into the penguin house.

Several penguins were in the habitat made for them. Some of them were swimming around while others were sleeping or walking around on the ground. Yuki giggled at how the birds walked. Gabriella pointed the ones that she received as a gift from her friend. The ones that were her own had a pink tag on them to keep track of them and on their health.

"Did you name them?" Yuki asked.

"That one over, the one that has a batch of black feathers at his throat in the shape of a bowtie, his name is Tuxedo. The reason I gave him that name is because he is one of them that actually has the full tuxedo on." Gabriella answered.

"What about that one?"

"That one is named Marilyn, after Marilyn Monroe."

"Why did you choose that name?"

"Well, she was named after the late actress because my grandfather had a crush on her."

"I have a crush on someone."

"And who do you have a crush on?"

"Troy."

"Oh do you, now?"

"But don't worry, I won't do anything." Yuki reassured her babysitter. "I know he makes you happy and I want you to be happy."

"Thank you, Yuki." Gabriella said kissing her on the forehead. "That was a very sweet thing to say."

After an afternoon full of zoo fun, Gabriella and Yuki were on their way back to the palace. Yuki was pretty much sound asleep in Gabriella's lap. Gabriella found herself getting sleepy and she still had her intimate birthday party with her close friends and family. The guards opened the door and Gabriella stepped out and walked inside. Yuki's nanny met them in the entrance hall. Gabriella carefully handed her the sleeping princess. She then headed up to her rooms to take a shower and change her clothes.

"Gabby?" Troy asked knocking on the door about twenty minutes later. "Gabriella, are you in here?"

"I'll be out in a minute!" Gabriella called from her closet.

Gabriella was changing into a comfortable dress since it this evening was just going to be about friends and family and not duty and reputation. She came out and smiled at Troy who has dozed off on her bed. She sat down next to him and began to kiss him to wake him up from his peaceful slumber. Troy slowly woke up.

"Hey." he greeted.

"Hey." Gabriella agreed.

"How was your day?"

"Eventful, Yuki and I walked all over the zoo after almost four hours at the ice skating rink. My feet are going to be so sore tomorrow. What did you all do today?"

"Your grandparents taught us all how to do the waltz for the ball after the ceremony." Troy answered.

"How did you do?"

"I thought I did pretty well, you're grandmother was my partner and I did not step on her foot once."

"So, you won't step on my feet?"

"I hope not." Troy said pulling Gabriella to rest beside him. "What is the dress code for this evening?"

"A pair of jeans and a nice shirt will be alright." Gabriella answered as Troy gently ran his hand over her arm. "This is not a big party. Only you guys, Mom, my grandparents, William, Harry, Kate, and the Emperor and Empress of Japan and their daughters are going to be there."

"What time do we need to be there?"

"In about forty-five minutes."

Thirty minutes later, Troy and Gabriella got up to go to Troy's suite so that he could change before heading down to the dining room. Gabriella sat on his bed as Troy went to change quickly. Troy made sure he had Gabriella's birthday gift in his pocket before they got up and headed down to dinner.