All right everyone, here is the next chapter. I didn't get the response I hoped for in the last chapter, but a massive shout out to Pumkingking5 for reviewing! You make my day every time you review and I really appreciate it!
Now onto the chapter and I hope you all like it!

December 16th
Troy's POV

The well-known Skype ringtone was sounded from my computer and I accepted the video call coming through.

"Hi Troy," mom said as she saw me. It was eight o'clock Sunday evening here which meant that it was twelve on Monday back home.

"Hi everyone," I said seeing as both of my parents and grandparents was there.

"How are you son?" dad asked for everyone. "I am good," I told all of them.

"We were all so worried about you. How did you manage to break your arm?" my grandmother Amelia asked.

"On Friday it started snowing during the night, and because Albuquerque rarely get much snow they closed the school and we got a snow day. Chad from the basketball team invited a bunch of us to his house and we spent the day outside playing in the snow. We finished with a snowball-fight and I fell on top of my arm and that's how I broke it," I told them with a little smile.

"I imagine your arm is in a cast," my grandfather Alexander said.

The doctor had told me to keep my wrist elevated for the next forty-eight hours and when I got dressed this morning I put on a black hoodie over my arm so it was hidden underneath.

"Yeah it is. I was told to keep it elevated until tomorrow morning," I informed all of them.

"How has the year been so far?" my grandmother wondered with a little smile.

"Wonderful. School is ok, our homeroom teacher loves drama and are constantly hoping for the whole class to participate in the school's musical. The basketball team have won the last couple of games so we are hoping to get qualified for the championship game in April," I told them.

"What about your friends?" mom asked me and I smiled even more. "They're great. We're all busy about the last couple of finals, the musical, basketball and Taylor and Gabriella have been working really hard about the scholastic decathlon competition. They made it through the first rounds and have a great shot at ending up in the finals," I told them.

"Do you know what Gabriella are doing during the holidays?" grandma wondered. "No, we haven't talked about that. I guess she will celebrate with her mother," I told them.

"Speaking of Christmas, are you still coming home?" mom asked and I nodded. "Of course. I would not miss Christmas with all of you," I told them.

"People here still don't know where you have been so we thing it would be safest if Ted came and picked you up before you travelled back to Etrea," dad told me.

"I thought it would end up like that. Still flying to Los Angeles and from there to Iwaki?" I questioned and dad nodded.

"The security thought that it would be the safest for everyone."

We continued to talk for a good hour before we ended it and I headed to bed.

Monday, December 16th
3rd POV

"Good morning," Troy smiled as he greeted his girlfriend that Monday morning.

"Hey Troy," Gabriella said closing her locker, turning towards her boyfriend.

"Looking forward to Christmas?" he asked her and she smiled. "Yes," she exclaimed and Troy laughed. "How do you celebrate it?" Troy wondered with a little frown as they started making their way towards class.

"It's just me and my mom. We go to church to remember my father before going home and we eat Mexican and American Christmas food. We usually watch a Christmas movie before going to bed, and the next morning we open presents," she explained.

"That sounds amazing," Troy smiled.

"Is it really different for how you celebrate?" Gabriella questioned and Troy gave a little smile. "Not terribly," he answered. "My grand-parents invite everyone in the family to celebrate at the castle. Mom has two siblings so with my mother's parents, her siblings, their family and my family we are sixteen," Troy told her with a smile.

"That's a crowd," Gabriella said a little shocked. "Is there some ceremonial stuff you're supposed to do? What do you do?" she asked him quietly so they wouldn't get heard by others in the hallway.

"We too go to church the day before Christmas eve, but it mostly ceremonial. Afterwards we are closing the trading market for Christmas and such. Then on the 24th there is a Christmas parade during the day before we eat dinner all as a family in the evening and my grandfather does a speech on the TV. Then it is different from year to year. Last year mom and I made cookies while some of the others played, but another year we watched a movie. It's different but we do it together," he said.

"It sounds like a normal family. It's hard to think who they really are," she said thoughtfully.

"To me they are just mom and dad," he pointed out. "True. Hey, how is your wrist?" she asked looking at his red cast.

"It's better. Doesn't hurt but I can thank the painkillers for that," he laughed. "Oh Troy," she said and smiled as they walked into their class.

Later that night Troy was in the phone with his mother. "We know that this is a little short notice but we would all love to meet Gabriella. Why don't you invite her and Maria to spend Christmas with us? Or if she wants to come after Christmas eve and spend the new year with us," Lucille proposed to her son.

"I don't know, I will ask her though," Troy told his mother uncertainly. "Ok, goodnight Troy," Lucille said softly.

"Goodnight mom," Troy said ending the call. He hadn't more than put down his phone when it rang again.

"Hey Brie," he said cheerfully when he saw the caller ID. "Are you busy?" she sniffed and Troy grew concerned.

"No what's wrong?" he asked concerned.

"Are you here for Christmas?" she asked ignoring his question.

"No. I thought I told you I'm going home," he said frowning a little. There was silence. "What is wrong?" he asked softly.

"Mom… she just told me she was called to a meeting…" there was a pause and Gabriella was crying now. "She said… um… she said she couldn't spend Christmas with me," she said and started crying more.

"I'm so sorry to hear that," he said relieved that there wasn't anything more serious. "Do you want me to come over?" he asked his broken girlfriend.

"No, it's ok. I just need someone to talk to," she said sniffling a little.

"I just talked to my mom and they all wanted to meet you, so they invited you to celebrate Christmas with us." "I understand if you don't want to," he hurried to add and he could hear Gabriella laugh a little.

"Thank you Troy. I will ask my mom but I would love to. Just one thing, how are we getting there?" she questioned and he laughed a little.

"Flying, but don't worry about that," he told her and she laughed quietly.

"I will text you once I know ok? And thank you." "For what?" Troy asked a little puzzled.

"For just being there," she simply told him.

"I love you Brie," he told her softly. "I love you too Troy. Goodnight," she said and hung up on him

Gabriella walked down the stairs and found her mother in the sofa on her laptop. "Mom?" she started and Maria looked at her daughter. "Yes?"

"I called Troy and he told me that his family invited me to spend Christmas with him." she explained "Can I?" she asked hopefully.

"How are you going to get there? I'm sure it is a little late to get plane tickets now," Maria said doubtfully looking at her daughter. "He said we were going to fly, but that I shouldn't worry about that," Gabriella told her mother.

"If he has a plan then I'm sure it's ok, so yes you can," she told her daughter with a nod of her head. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" she said and hugged her mother tightly.

"I just want to know when you are leaving and what the plan is," she told her daughter sternly. "No problem mom," Gabriella said before walking back up to her room.

She said yes! Gabriella texted her boyfriend and a call came through, accepted it she heard her boyfriend's voice.

"That's great!" Troy said at once. "She just wanted to know when we are leaving and was wondering how we were getting there. Isn't it a little late to get an extra plane ticket?" she asked her boyfriend sceptically and he laughed a little.

"No because we are not going to fly commercially," he said.

"Oh?" Gabriella said surprised. "They are all so worried about security because no-one in Etrea knows that I am in America, so therefor we're flying to Los Angeles where the Etrean Royal plane is, and from there we're flying to Iwaki," he explained to her.

"Do you know how long it will take?" "From Albuquerque to Los Angeles it takes approximately two hours and from there to Etrea, twelve hours. If you are scare of flying I can assure you it is a hundred percent safe," he told her and Gabriella smiled at his thoughtfulness.

"No it's not that," she assured him. "It just seems a little surreal. By the way when are we leaving?" Gabriella continued.

"We're leaving early on the 21st. A car will pick us up around three thirty in the morning and from there were flying out around four in the morning. We are leaving Los Angeles just before six thirty and from there it is a twelve-hour flight to Iwaki. I recon we will be at the castle around seven in the evening American time," Troy told his girlfriend.

"I'm nervous about meeting your parents. Do they have certain expectations?" Gabriella asked nervously.

"No, of course not. What are you most nervous about?"

"Your entire family is royal Troy. Your grandparents are the king and queen of the country I'm visiting and your parents are the crown prince and princess. All I can think about is how to not make a fool of myself," Gabriella said voicing her concerns.

"You won't make a fool of yourself Gabriella. I will help you but I am certain you won't need my help. I also know for a fact that they are going to love you. It is hard not to," Troy said and Gabriella smiled to herself.

"Thank you Troy. I'll see you at school tomorrow?" Gabriella asked him.

"Why don't I meet you outside of your house before eight and we can walk to school together?" Troy asked her and he knew she was smiling.

"I'd like that. Goodnight Troy. I love you."

"I love you too. Goodnight," Troy said and they ended their conversation.

Thursday 20th of December
Gabriella's POV

"So Gabriella how are you spending you holiday?" Taylor asked on the last day of school.

"Troy's parents asked if I wanted to celebrate with them, and since mom couldn't get off work she thought that was better than me being alone," I answered smiling a little.

"That was nice of them. Are you nervous?" Taylor asked me putting a couple of books in her locker, while taking out others.

"Yes I am a little nervous, and I don't really know why," I answered lying about the last part.

"Maybe it's because you are dating, and all they can associate you with is a name," Taylor said diplomatically. "Maybe," I answered thoughtfully.

At the end of the day I was standing by my locker when Troy walked over. "Hi Troy," I said putting away most of my books.

"Are you home alone?" he asked me and I sighed nodding. "Yeah. Mom left yesterday," I told him. "I'll walk you home and you then you can come over," he suggested.

Troy stood over the stove cooking dinner for us while I was sitting on the kitchen island. "What are you making?" I asked him not recognizing the smell.

"I know for a fact that you like fish, but don't eat it often. Therefore, I am making Teriyaki Tilapia," he told me but I had no clue what that was.

"Ok," I said a little sceptical "What is it?" I questioned and got down to stand beside him.

"Teriyaki Tilapia is rice, fish and different herbs with teriyaki sauce. The herb salad is cilantro leaves and mint leaves with some crushed red pepper," Troy explained to me.

"All I can think about is Asian food when I see this," I told him taking in the smell once more.

"That is not strange. Most Etrean food is inspired by Japan and Australia or a combination of those two," he told me as he turned off the stove. "There. Dinner is served," he said as we sat down eating.

"Mmm, this is great," I said taking another bite. "I'm glad you like it. People not raised in Etrea, tend to not like it," he said and I was a little shocked by it because this was delicious.

"So we're leaving at 3:30?" I asked and he nodded. "What time do we need to get up?" I questioned.

"I would say about two forty-five, then I think we should have a fair amount of time," he told me and I nodded. "I'm sorry I haven't had the time to make the guest bedroom. I can do it after dinner unless you want to?" he questioned me.

"I don't mind," I said and I noticed that my cheeks got a little hot.

"Are you finished?" he asked and I nodded. "Do you want to do something or just head to bed?" he asked me collecting the plates.

"I think I just want to head to bed. It's getting kind of late and we have to get up early," I said to him.

"Ok." Troy nodded. "Yell if there is anything," he told me, kissing my cheek before I got what I needed and headed into the bathroom.

Fifteen minutes later Troy entered the bedroom and was quick in the bathroom before he crawled into bed with me. "Is that my shirt?" he asked me with a smile and I had to laugh.

"Maybe," I told him innocently laying my chin on his right shoulder.

"Good night Brie." "Good night Troy," I said and fell asleep.

And that was it! Please leave a review telling me what you think!
-FreeFlyingWriter