"Have you decided what you're doing for Charlie's birthday?" Maggie asked as Bass signed her report on the Matheson children. He'd been asking for monthly health reports since they had first come to the capital. Maggie was pleased to say that they were doing much better but they were still painfully shy and skinny.

"I guess throw her a party," Bass shrugged. "Do you think a small party will be alright?"

"She'll die of happiness no matter what you give her," Maggie replied, scooping the report up. "The most she's ever had is a drawing of a cake on the wall." Bass frowned and Maggie laughed at the expression. "The people in that village tortured her and her brother. What makes you think they would do something as nice as a party for their slaves?"

That irked Bass. Charlie was a sweet girl. She deserved something nice for her birthday. "She likes those fairy tales you ladies read her, right? Cinderella and the like?"

"Cinderella is her favorite. She can barely go a day without hearing it. Why?"

Bass smiled. "Because I'm going to throw her a ball."

Maggie grinned at that statement. "IF think that sounds like a wonderful idea. If you'll excuse me, Mr. President."

"Dismissed," Bass nodded.

Maggie hurried out to share what she had heard. Julia and Anita would be excited for this news. Maybe even more excited than Charlie.

Charlie looked at the invitation in her hands. "I'm getting a ball?" she asked. "But why?"

"Because you're turning sixteen," Julia replied. "The President thought you deserved a ball thrown in your honor."

"Who's going to be there? I don't really know anyone here yet."

"Militia, of course," Anita answered. "As well as many families in the capital. Martha, that will be all."

Charlie smiled at the woman who always helped her dress and brushed her hair. "Thank you, Martha," she said softly. She looked down at the invitation then at Aunt Anita and Mama Julia again. "Is Unca Fishy sure they'll show up?" she frowned.

"Oh they'd better," Julia muttered.

"If they know what's good for them," Anita added quietly. She turned to Charlie with a bright smile. "You let Miles and Monroe and everyone else worry about that. We have other things to work on."

"Like what?"

"Balls are very different from every day things," Julia explained. "You'll need to learn new manners. How to walk, how to talk…"

"How to dance," Anita added. "And during those lessons, you'll need to wear this."

Charlie stared at the dress Martha brought forth. It was pale yellow with short sleeves and a full skirt that fell all the way to the floor. "It's very pretty," she murmured. "But can't I wear one of my normal dresses? I have so many of them."

Anita looked at Julia. "She'd have to change six times a day to even go through what she has," Julia whispered. "And they're still buying."

Anita shook her head. "Someone should stop them."

Julia was about to reply when Charlie made a small noise. She smiled at the young girl. "A ball gown is completely different from your other gowns," she said. "Now let's get you changed so we can begin."

The next few weeks were spent teaching Charlie everything she would need to know about being at a ball. She was so excited Danny didn't even complain about how little time she spent with him. He couldn't believe how happy his sister was for this one little thing.

Before they knew it, it was the night of Charlie's party. Mathra was busy pulling curlers from her hair when Julia and Maggie came in with boxes. "You look so pretty," Julia smiled.

"Practically a princess already," Maggie agreed. "We've got your presents from Miles and Bass here."

"Where's Aunt Anita?"

"She's with her family," Maggie explained. "You'll see her when you go down stairs."

"What's in the boxes?" Charlie asked curiously.

"Open them and find out," Julia prompted.

Charlie went to the smaller of the two boxes first. She carefully undid the blue ribbon and pulled the white top off. Her eyes were dazzled by the diamonds resting on the plush blue interior. Drop earrings, a large ring for her right hand, a beautiful necklace and a rope to thread through her hair. Charlie felt tears begin to well. "I can't take these," she whispered. "They're so pretty. What if I break them?"

Julia smiled. "They're diamonds, sweetie. You'd have to really work hard to break them. Even in this day and age."

"Open this one now," Maggie prompted, pushing the much larger box forward. "This one is from Miles."

Charlie bit her lip and opened the box. Inside was a gorgeous, full length, royal blue ball gown. The top had originally been a corset with a sweetheart neckline in white but sheer sleeves with swirls of silver had been sown on so they would sit at her shoulders. The corset had vertical white lines and white roses on it. The full skirt had two parts at her hips that were pulled up. It was studded with little bits of silver that reminded Charlie of stars in the sky and the hem had a design of silver around it. "It's beautiful," she murmured. She looked to them with a frown. "But I thought I was supposed to wear my yellow dress."

The women laughed. "That's a practice dress, Charlie," Julia said.

"It won't do for your birthday," Maggie added. "Now let's get you changed."

Charlie let them take over. It took nearly an hour to make everything perfect but they finally let her look in the mirror. She almost didn't recognize the young woman she saw there. The dress fit her like a glove, her face held just enough make up to highlight her natural beauty and her hair was pulled up with the diamonds glittering throughout her curls. "I'm…I'm…"

"You're a princess."

Charlie turned to see Miles in the doorway in full military dress. "I didn't know I could look this pretty," she admitted.

"You look beautiful," he told her. "Better than Cinderella at the ball. And speaking of balls, you need to make your entrance. You are the guest of honor, after all."

Julia and Maggie smiled at her. "We'll see you downstairs," Julia said, kissing her cheek.

"It'll be wonderful," Maggie added, hugging her.

"Thank you," Charlie whispered, hugging them. She turned to her uncle. "Let's go."

They walked arm in arm to the hallway leading to the ballroom. "Are people really in there?" Charlie asked.

"Lots of them," Miles nodded. "Want a quick peek first?"

"Yes please."

Miles cracked the door so Charlie could scan the crowd. He hadn't been lying when he said that lots of people had come to her party. Black Militia uniforms were everywhere, mixing with beautiful dresses and highlighted with sparkling jewels. "Bass required full military dress," Miles whispered in her ear. "The women in the militia had the option of wearing dresses but they had to be black or white. No one else could wear royal blue so you'll stand out."

"It's perfect," Charlie breathed.

"It's all waiting for you." Miles grinned at her. "Ready, little duck?"

"As I'll ever be, Unca Mi."