Mamma Mia: Through The Years: The Anniversary Edition

Following The Wedding (18h July 2008)

As the celebrations for Donna and Sam's, somewhat whirlwind wedding, drew to a close, all the guests were still soaked through from the waters of Aphrodite, which had erupted from under them. Therefore giving them all the love that was needed for a long and happy marriage or relationship. After disentangling herself from Sam's embrace and giving him an appreciative look up and down as he'd removed his wet shirt earlier in the evening.

'I'll be back in a minute, I just need to speak to Soph.'

'You better had be Mrs. Carmichael! Otherwise I'll will come and hunt you down.'

'It's a promise.' She whispers, leaning in to give him a soft kiss on the lips, a promise of what is to come.

'Is that a promise Mr. Carmichael?'

'You bet Mrs. Carmichael.'

Donna quickly moves through the mass of people to find Sophie and Skye, who are wrapped in each other's arms, gazing lovingly into each other's eyes. Donna gently taps her daughter on the arm and she reluctantly turns away from him.

'Shouldn't you be busy off somewhere with Sam?'

'Probably, but I need a word with you.'

'Oh come on, Mum it's supposed to be your wedding night, not mine. You have Sam now and I have Skye. You don't need to worry about me anymore.'

'I will always worry about you. I'm your Mum. It comes with the territory.'

'You are also a wife, shouldn't you be catering to Sam's needs and not nagging me?'

'Yes but I really need to talk to you. Come on please Sophie? Don't make me ask again, not today.'

Suddenly, Skye takes Sophie's arm, whispering something Donna can't hear. It is then that Sophie reluctantly agrees to talk to her Mum and they both walk down the rocky steps to the water's edge. The noise from the party fades into the background until they can hardly hear it anymore. Donna can see Sophie's eyes sparkle in the dark.

'Do you really have to leave tonight? Sam and I would love you to stay longer!'

'We think the sooner we go it will be better for you and Sam. You can have the place to yourselves and you can start married life the right way. I mean, you don't want us getting in the way. Do you?'

'Sophie Sheridan, how could you even think that? You would never be in our way. You know that!'

'I know. But I think it's time we both moved on. I also think it would be good for you to let me go because if you don't, I could imagine myself staying here forever, helping you run the Villa. You've got Sam now. You don't need me.'

Sophie closes the gap between her and her Mum. She wipes the tears from her mother's eyes, which have begun to fall. In that moment, it is just them, no one else exists. Sophie whispers.

'We better be getting back. Sam will be wondering where you've got to.'

Sophie takes her Mum's hand in her own and they walk back to the party.

'Slipping through my fingers all the time;

I try to catch you every minute;

The feeling in it;

Slipping through my fingers all the time;

Do I really see what's in your mind?

Each time I think I'm close to knowing;

You keep on growing;

Slipping through my fingers all the time'

Donna and Sophie return to the reception to find Sam looking around aimlessly. Most of the crowd have dispersed and it is much quieter, with only a few stragglers milling around the fountain.

'There you are. Sophie, Donna where have you been? Sophie, Skye told me to let you know that he has gone to get your bags and is going to load them into the boat.'

'Ok, thanks Dad. I'll see you guys down at the dock. I've got to go to see Skye, he will be wondering where I am.' Sophie walks away towards the villa, leaving her parents alone for the first time since they married.

Donna and Sam both smile at Sophie's reference to Sam has her Dad. They are overjoyed that she looks on Sam as her a Father and her Stepfather, well a third of her at least.

'Where have you been my love? I was starting to get worried.'

'Oh there is no need to worry about me, Soph and I just took a walk down to the water's edge and had a talk about things, you know?'

Sam nods and walks closer to his wife, wraps his arms around her waist and rests his head on her shoulder.

'Look Donna I have three grown sons, I'd like to think I know something about letting go'

'I know that, don't you think I know that!'

'Of course, just come with me, there is something I want to show you'

'No Sam we can't, we have to get to the dock they will be leaving soon.'

'Oh come on Donna it's our wedding day and we have hardly spent any time together. Just ten minutes'

Sam takes Donna's hand in his own and leads her back the place where she and Sophie had their conversation earlier. Donna goes to sit on one of the larger rocks and Sam comes to sit next to her. Husband and wife proceed to watch the sun go down, casting shadows across the water as it goes, causing the water to glitter and sparkle adding to the romantic atmosphere. Sam takes Donna's hand and massages gentle circles into her palm, before leaning in for a gentle kiss. As he pulls away he sees a faint smile on her lips. The couple leave their piece of paradise, hand in hand, as the darkness starts to envelop them. They walk so close to the shoreline that the bottom of Sam's trousers start to get slightly damp from the sea water. He decides to throw water at his wife, which makes her pick up her dress and run the rest of the way to the dock. However this is somewhat hindered by her heels getting stuck in the sand. So she stops to take them off. By this time Sam catches up to her. He grabs her round the waist and throws her over his shoulder into a fireman's lift, giving her bottom a feisty slap as he does so.

'Come on Sheridan, we've got somewhere to be and we don't want to be late. I think our daughter would kill us if we were'.

The couple arrive at the dock just as Skye is loading the last of the bags into the boat. The rest of the group are standing in a semi-circle giving Sophie goodbye hugs. She seems preoccupied, biting her nail nervously. When she reaches the end of the group, she waits as she sees Sam's silhouette walking towards her. When Sam reaches the dock he places a flustered Donna on her feet and walks towards his daughter. Sophie holds out her arms and the two embrace.

'So this is it then?'

'Yeah it is! You had better look after my mother or I'll come and hunt you down.'

'Don't worry I think most of the time she'll be looking after me! She's always needed someone to look after on this island, whether it be you, me or someone else. Add to that the fact that I love her and you've got the perfect combination.'

Sophie gives him another quick squeeze before letting go and turning, finally to her mother. She takes her mother's hand and leads her to the bottom of the dock, out of earshot of her three Dads. They put their foreheads together so it looks like they are one person.

'You call me every week, I don't care where you are, on that new video thing Skye set up for me'.

Donna can feel her eyes filling with tears and they spill over and all of sudden tears are streaming down her cheeks.

'But Mum, you don't know how to use it. You don't even know how to use the website that Skye has set up.'

'I've got a husband now. He can show me how to use it.'

'I think you will be a bit busy, if you know what I mean.' Sophie winks at her Mum, using her hips to softly wiggle her bum in a sexy fashion, in an attempt to lighten the mood and make her mom laugh.

'Sophie Sheridan! You cheeky monkey. Tell me when did you grow up so fast?'

In response Sophie gives her mom a soft smile before she hears Skye's voice interrupt them, from behind.

'Well I think that's everything, you ready?'

Sophie nods slowly and Donna slowly takes hold of both Skye and Sophie's hands and holds them together

'Yeah, yeah she is ready, now you take good care of her for me, alright?'

'That goes without saying Donna, you know that.'

Donna and Sophie share one last hug, which Sophie is reluctant to put a stop too and a kiss on the cheek. Sam comes up behind his wife and hold her lovingly around the waist as silent tears slide down her cheeks. Then Donna and Sam both watch as Sophie climbs into the waiting boat and slowly begins to pull away from the dock.

'Go and have an adventure baby. See you soon.'

'I'm proud of you Sheridan. Letting Soph go, I know how hard it can be. But it isn't just Soph starting a new adventure today, it's us we are starting our married lives together. I love you Mrs Carmichael.'

'You too Mr Carmichael.'

The newly married share another passionate kiss on the dock, as they see Sophie and disappear over the horizon…

'Sometimes I wish I could freeze the picture;

And save it from the funny tricks of time;

Slipping through my fingers'