Disclaimer: I don't own these characters, and I make no money from this work of fiction!

A Mother's Thoughts

"Oh, look at her coming down the stairs! She truly LOOKS like a queen! Can that possibly be the little baby I cuddled, or the awkward teenager I tried to help through adolescence? Five years ago, I'd never have believed this transformation possible! Patrick says he always thought there were hidden depths to Mia when she was in his classes. He is a firm believer in fairy tales and one he loves to apply to Mia is that of the Ugly Duckling becoming a swan. Much though I still hate to admit it, I guess I have to say we owe a lot of that to my former mother-in-law. Look at HER, too -- regal, poised, elegant as always ... yet I think now I've seen the real Clarisse, and I know that underneath the veneer is a real, loving person. Joe knew that all along. He has probably loved her forever. Mia said a few days ago that she didn't think Clarisse realized that she truly loved him in return until the last month or two. Joe was just always there with her, for her ... she more or less took him for granted until he came out and said something to her. That's when she had to think about how she felt about him, about her role as the queen of Genovia, about what she would give up when Mia took over, and what she would gain as Joe's wife. I STILL am annoyed I didn't get to see all the interchange that day, but at least I got back to the church in time to see them being pronounced man and wife. Talk about fairy tale endings! Patrick has filled me in, of course, on what went on in the church before I got back from changing Trevor. I can't believe how much I love Patrick! He has truly been wonderful these last five years. I had thought I loved Philippe, but we were both so young. It WAS love, but nothing like what Patrick and I have together. No wonder Philippe and I couldn't stay together. In a sense, I can say that I lost Philippe to Genovia the way I'm afraid I'm losing Mia ... the way Joe almost lost Clarisse. But in another, I know that isn't quite true. I'm not REALLY losing Mia. She's just growing up and doing her own thing beautifully which is all any parent can hope for. As for Philippe, well, he was a dear boy ... as I told Clarisse five years ago, I DID love my time with him. He was charming, fun-loving ... he just hadn't quite grown up yet, and to be truthful, neither had I. Clarisse said Philippe DID mature when he came back to Genovia to be the Crown Prince. She said he was ready to be king. I wonder why he wasn't crowned king when his father died? He should have been King Philippe from that moment, I would have thought. I know that royalty and laws of succession aren't exactly items I'm up on, which is why there was no way I was going to move to Genovia twenty-one years ago! I really am not that kind of person. I'm an American, and proud of it! This day wouldn't be happening if Philippe had lived, but how he would have loved to see this moment! His mother and his daughter, both so beautiful. Oh, look, Mia's winking at Nick! That is so cute. I wonder if she'll take Nicholas' last name when they marry? I'm so glad she didn't marry Andrew. Andrew is nice enough, I suppose, but ever since she met Nick, HE has been the one to touch her emotions more than anyone ever has. Even more than Michael, and I never thought THAT would happen. Nicholas will be such a help to her in her role as queen. It was so sweet of him to turn down being king in order for Mia to be queen. My daughter, Amelia Mignonette Thermopolis Renaldi, queen of Genovia! Oh, I'm SO proud of her, and so thankful to Clarisse for bringing this about!"