AN: Thanks to the person who reviewed and to those who read. Please review more! I'm getting a bit of writer's block and I need ideas so if by the end of this chapter you have any, please review and let me know because I'm running out! On with the story…
After Troy had come to the realization, the rest of the guys had followed. After many congratulations, the party continued, most of the talk concerning the next few months. At about 7:30, the cleaning was done and everyone left to get ready for Santa's arrival. We said good-bye, confirming the plans for Christmas dinner at our house.
"Ok everyone." I said once all the guests left, turning to the kids, "Into the living room!" They all turned and ran in the direction of the living room. Troy grabbed my hand and we walked into the room behind them. Once we entered, all three were already on the couch, waiting for me to pick out this year's movie choices. I let go of Troy's hand and headed for the movie cabinet. I scanned the Christmas movie shelf before picking up four that I thought would be great.
"Alright, this year's choices are…" Troy made a drum-roll sound and I laughed, " Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer, Santa Clause is Coming to Town, Annabelle's Christmas Wish, or Frosty the Snowman. Time to vote. Hands up for Rudolf." No hands were raised, though I wasn't surprised as they had watched that one on TV just last week. " Santa…No? Annabelle?" All hands shot up, even Troy's. "I guess we have a winner." I smiled, walking over to the DVD player and putting in one of my favorite Christmas movies. I pressed play before walking over to the couch and sitting down next to Troy who put his arms around me. We snuggled up as a family to watch the movie.
At 9:15, the movie was over. I gave Troy a kiss before looking over to the other side of the couch.
"Time to open your present!" I said to the kids.
"Yay!" They said, running over to the tree and picking up the special present that Troy and I gave them each year on Christmas Eve, a pair of pajamas. I sat back down on the couch with Troy, snuggling up to him as the kids came and sat down in front of us.
"Who's going first this year?"
"It's my turn." Said Lily. I nodded to her and she tore the paper off the box. I grinned at her excitement. She ripped the box, trying to open it too quickly, and pulled out a pink nightgown with Belle on the front. Her face lit up with a huge smile.
"Thanks Mama! Thanks Daddy!" She exclaimed, giving us hugs. We smiled back at her, saying your welcome.
"It's my turn next." Rose informed us. Troy nodded at her and she began opening her present.
"Can you please hurry? I want to open my gift and you're taking forever!" Zac complained as Rose was opening her gift gently, trying not to rip the paper. Though Rose was excited, just like the rest of us, I could tell she was trying to annoy her brother, and I was working. She seemed to have decided that two minutes was enough of waiting though because she suddenly began tearing off the paper even more quickly than her sister did.
"Thanks Mom, thanks Dad. I love them!" She said, holding up her purple nightdress with Minnie Mouse on it. I smiled, Troy and I hugging her as well. She sat back down and Zac asked, "Can I open my now?" I giggled and Troy grinned at our son's impatient behavior.
"Go ahead." Zac ferociously ripped the paper and box before pulling out his basketball covered pajama bottoms.
"Thanks!" He said hugging us as his sisters had.
"Time to put on those pjamas now. Go on upstairs, put them on and come into the kitchen so we can make Santa's snack." Troy said to the kids. They raced out of the door and seconds later I heard the pounding on the stairs. I bent down to pick up the paper.
"I don't think so, Montez. Pregnant wives don't pick up paper." Troy said, grabbing my waist and pulling me back up before bending down to pick up the paper himself. I rolled my eyes, hoping the protectiveness would not be as bad as last time. He gave me a kiss before walking into the kitchen to throw the paper away. I glanced at the door, making sure he was gone before picking up the stockings from the bow by the TV and placing them on the table. Then, I followed him into the kitchen.
"Have yourself a merry little Christmas…" I heard Troy sing as I entered the room.
"Let your heart be loved…" I sang. He turned to face me, singing the next line. We continued the song, getting a little audience in the doorway as we sang, though not noticing.
"And have yourself, a very merry Christmas now." We sang the last part together. I smiled up at him, our faces inches apart. He leaned down to capture my lips with his when the audience made a comment.
"Do you have to do that now?" Zac asked, slightly exasperated. I giggled and turned my head as Troy gave a sigh and rested his head against my cheek.
"Come on", I said, letting go of Troy, " let's get the snack ready."
Fifteen minutes later, the cookies and milk were set on the coffee table and the stockings were hung on the mantel of the fireplace. I glanced at the clock; 9:20. Just enough time to read the book.
"To the library!" I ordered. We walked out of the room and into the library. Everyone settled on chairs as I climbed the ladder on the shelf before taking a book. I hopped off and sat down nest to Troy on the loveseat as the twins and Lily gathered around.
"T'was the night before Christmas and all through the house;
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse." I continued to read the old story, the only sound being that of my voice.
"Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!"
I gazed at Troy before turning to the sleeping kids, lying on the oversized pillows on the floor. I picked up Lily while Troy took Zac and Rose and we ascended the stairs before putting them to bed. I gave Lily a kiss on the head before walking into the other rooms and doing the same to my other children. I met Troy in the hallway a few minutes later.
"Do you want me to go get the presents?" Troy asked me in a whisper.
"Ok, I'll wait downstairs." I went down and sat on the couch. A few minutes later, my husband entered, almost completely blocked by presents. I laughed quietly at him and walked over, taking a present from when his head should be. I giggled and kissed him on the lips before covering his face with the present once more.
"Hey!" Came his muffled retort.
"Do you want some help?" I asked innocently.
"Yes." I took a few presents off the pile and began placing them under the tree. Troy put the others down and copied me. Once we were done, we sat on the couch, sharing the milk and cookies in the glow of the fire. We stayed like that for hours, just thinking and enjoying each other's company. The clock struck midnight and I turned to Troy.
"Merry Christmas, baby."
"Merry Christmas, sweetheart." He said before giving me a kiss. We sat there a while longer before my eyelids began to droop and Troy picked me up bridal-style and carried me into the bedroom. We changed into our own Christmas pajamas, mine a tiny red, lace and silk gown and Troy's simple green and red boxers. We slid into bed, cuddled into each other's arms.
"Merry Christmas, Gabi." I would have replied, but I was sound asleep.
The next day began just as early as the last one. At 6:00, I awoke to giggles sounding in my ears. I opened my eyes to three excited faces.
"Good morning Mama!" Rose greeted.
"Hmm." I responded, still not fully awake. Suddenly, my eyes popped wide open. It was Christmas. I sat up and looked at Troy. As always, he was sleeping like a rock.
"Troy! Troy! Get up! It's Christmas!" Squealed, like a little girl. The kids looked at me in surprise before joining me in trying to get their father out of bed.
"What is it?" He asked, rubbing his eyes.
"It's Christmas Daddy!" Lily exclaimed.
"Yes, Troy! It's Christmas! Now get your but out bed. We have presents to open!" I squealed again. Troy looked at me and smiled, sitting up.
"Let's go." I bolted out of bed and ran from the room, grabbing my robe as I went. The kids stood for a few seconds, trying to grasp the fact that I was even more excited than they were, before joining my cries of glee and racing down after me, Troy not far behind. I was already sorting the presents before they came downstairs. They helped me and soon, everyone had their own pile of presents sitting in front of the along with a stalking.
Everyone opened their presents at the same time, Troy and I saving the ones for each other until after. The kids all got the things they wanted, including movies, books, dance equipment, toys, clothes and sports merchandise. Troy got some new clothes, CDs and other thinks he's been asking for. I received new clothes, shoes, books and CDs that I was also looking for. All the paper was put into a garbage bag and the kids went upstairs to play with their new toys and put them away.
"Do you want to exchange gifts now?" I asked.
"Sure."
"Who's going first?"
"I will."
"Ok."
"Wait here, I have to go get it." Troy said as he stood up off the couch and jogged out of the room. I sat impatiently as I waited for Troy to come back downstairs. Finally, I heard footsteps in the hall. Troy entered with two boxes in his hands.
"Which one do you want first?" He asked, holding them both out to me, one in each hand.
"That one." I said, pointing to the smaller of the two. He handed it to me and I opened it as he sat back down on the couch. I tore off the paper and opened the jewelry box. Inside was a matching necklace to the bracelet I had gotten for my birthday. The chain was made of white gold and there was a diamond, a ruby, an emerald and another diamond dangling from it in a squiggly line. I was gorgeous.
"Thank-you." I said speechless as he held out the other gift. I gave him a kiss before placing the necklace in the box and taking the other present. I smiled at Troy before taking the paper of this one as well. Tears formed in my eyes as I looked at the book in front of me.
"Are you serious? Is this really it?"
"Yeah, it is." I jumped on him and gave him the biggest kiss ever before breaking it and returning my attention to the object on my lap.
It was an old album, but not just any old album. This was an album that I had made while we were at East High. It contained photos from the musicals, newspaper articles of basketball games, photos from the decathlons, pages ripped out of yearbooks, photos from the summers and so much more. I had been making it during the last month of school as to always remember but a few days before graduation, I had lost it. I was devastated and Troy was the only person who knew I was making it.
"How in the world did you find this?" I asked him.
"Long story. To shorten it, the library was being purged of old books when they came across this hidden behind very outdated encyclopedias. They called here when you weren't home, wondering if you wanted it. I said yes and picked it up. I decided to give it to you for Christmas after I finished it."
"You finished it?"
"Yeah. In the back I put the last pictures you wanted to be in it; the graduation pictures, prom pictures, pages from our grade twelve yearbook, you know, that sort of thing."
"I can't believe you remembered."
"I've never forgotten anything you've ever told me." I looked at him with disbelief, remembering his grades.
"Well, nothing of importance anyway." I laughed and kissed him.
"So, where's my gift?"
"I'm already gone to get it." I left the room, returning in a few minutes with a gift bag.
"Here you go. I hope you like it." I asked nervously, suddenly realizing how stupid my gift now seemed compared to his. He smiled at me before taking the tissue paper out of the bag and Taking out an envelope. He stared at it questioningly, before looking at me with the same expression. I gestured of him to open the envelope. Once he did, his eyes went wide.
"Do you like it?"
"Do I like it? Gabi, this is great!" He said holding up the papers in this hand.
The papers were tickets; tickets to New York. Mid January the year I was pregnant, we went to New York. We had a great time and on the anniversary of the Triple Threat day at East High, we went to a Broadway show. I thought that after five years, it would be great to go again and repeat the experience. Troy obviously felt the same way. He leaned over and gave me a kiss.
"Hey, Mom, Dad!" Zac said, coming into the room with his hands over his eyes. "Can you make breakfast? And can you please stop doing that!" I laughed.
"I'm starting breakfast now." I replied getting up from the couch. "Are all your toys put away?"
"Yeah, except the ones I'm using."
"Alright. I'll call you when it's ready, Ok?"
"Thanks, Mom." He replied, going back up to his room, probably to play with his new train set.
I entered the kitchen with Troy behind me and began making the Christmas breakfast, Santa shaped pancakes, while Troy set the table. After breakfast, I ushered everyone upstairs to put on his or her clothes for Christmas dinner. I took a shower and did my hair before putting on a robe and going down to check on the turkey. Today's was bigger than yesterday as more people were coming over (the usual gang plus everyone's parents). I can only say that I'm glad that Troy and I had such a large dinning room.
Still in my robe, I made sandwiches for lunch (grilled cheese) and called all the kids down. None were yet in their clothes but all had wet hair, having just gotten out of the shower. After we ate, helped the girls into their red and gold dresses and then I fixed their hair. Once they were done, I told them to go watch TV, or read, and be careful of their clothes.
I finally entered my room and prepared myself. I slipped on an emerald green, spaghetti strapped dress, white heels and the match bracelet and necklace from Troy.
"You look beautiful." Someone whispered in my ear. I jumped at the sound. I turned around and saw Troy standing there in a pair of black dress pants, a shirt the color of my dress, a black jacket and black shoes.
"My, my. Doesn't the great Mr. Bolton look handsome?" I said, wrapping my arms around his neck. I leaned up and…
Ding-Dong!
Not even when we're alone can we do anything without being interrupted.
"Why us?" Troy asked, looking skyward. I smiled at him, gave him a peck on the lips, unwrapped my arms from around his neck and went to answer the door, feeling his eyes on my retreating back.
I answered the door and within minutes, the party was in full swing. The kids were running around, playing hide and seek, the parents were catching up and Miley introduced her father and brother Jackson to the group.
At five, we sat down to a huge dinner. There was everything you could possibly imagine to eat, carrots, salad, three kinds of potatoes, spinach, green beans, broccoli and cheese sauce, and so much more. The table was groaning under the weight of the food as everyone dug in. This Christmas dinner was one of my favorites. After the meal, the girls helped me clean up and then all the adults sat down for a few drinks while the kids played around the house. At nine, everyone left to put the kids to bed, wishing 'Merry Christmas' as they did so. When I closed the door behind my Mom, I sank into a chair, exhausted. I took a deep breath and walk upstairs to help Troy, who had started to get the kids ready for bed.
Lily was already asleep when I walked into her room so I kissed her on the forehead before going to say good night to Rose.
"Did you have a good time?" I asked her, sitting on the edge of the bed.
"Yeah, it was great! Alice has this new book, The Secret Garden, and she says that it's really good. And Nancy got this new game, 'Scrabble Junior' that we played. It was so much fun!"
"I'm glad you had fun, darling. Did you like your presents?" She nodded.
"I like my new numbers book and the Black Beauty story looks really great! And Santa gave all these Mickey and Minnie Mouse books! I can't wait to read those!" I smiled at her and kissed her on the cheek.
"Good night, Rose."
"Good night, Mom!" I turned off her light and closed the door.
"Hey Zac-Attack."
"Hey Mega-Mom." I giggled.
"Did you have a good day?"
"Yeah, the guys were showing me their presents and we played Hide and Go Seek. And I love my presents! There's this new DVD that I have about all these basketball moves and I got a new basketball from Santa! Aaand I got this cool CD."
"That's great Zac! Good night."
"'Night!" I turned off his light and walked out of the room.
I walked down the hall to my room, finding Troy already in bed, watching Charlie Brown's Christmas on TV.
"Hey, Gabi. Do you want to watch this with me?" He asked patting the spot next to him on the bed.
"Sure, just let me get ready." I walked into the closet, put on a gold nightdress and the walked to the bathroom, brushed my teeth and washed my face. Then, I sat in bed next to Troy as he put his arm around my shoulder. I smiled watching the special. I watched this every time it was on TV when I was younger.
When it was over, Troy turned off the TV, and I the light, before covering up in the blankets, snuggling against Troy. He gave me one last kiss, whispered good night, and then closed his eyes. I copied him, quickly falling into a slumber, dreaming of the future.
AN: Another long chapter! Well I really needs suggestions for the story and the babies so please, please, please review!