Disclaimer: Characters are owned and produced by The Disney Channel and It's A Laugh Productions. I am just borrowing them for these stories. Original characters are owned by the author of this story. Actual celebrities are listed only as physical inspiration for the characters and are not depicted in this story. This is a story involves a romantic relationship between two female characters. If that subject matter offends you, please do not read this story.

Author's Note: I want to thank all of you for the reviews that you have left so far. At the time I am writing this note, I have received 52 reviews for the first two chapters, a pace that will shatter my all-time record of 285 reviews for one story. I am extremely grateful for your love and support of me and my stories. Thank you very much.

Now as for this chapter's title, I decided to go back all the way back to 1958. The movie is Auntie Mame. The quote is number 93 on AFI's 100 Years… 100 Movie Quotes. Miley utters the full quote later on in the chapter.

The Valley of Queens

Chapter 3

"Life is a banquet..."

Monday, August 16, 2021 – 9 am – Miley and Lilly's house – Belle Meade, Tennessee

One week remained before Miley's departure to Los Angeles to meet the cast and crew of West Hollywood and shoot the title sequence for the show before flying from there to Vancouver for the beginning of principal photography for the pilot episode. As the days, hours and minutes ticked by, Miley grew more and more nervous. All of the trepidations that she held about taking the job continued to flood her conscience. The only thing that had been able to make her forget about her worries over the course of the last couple of days was the warmth of her son R.J. as she held him in her arms.

As she sat in the rocking chair in his nursery, she held and rocked her son. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath as they swayed back and forth in the wooden chair. She was able to clear her head and gain a clear perspective as she held a delicate, dependent life in her hands. Miley found that in recent weeks, answers and conclusions that she sought were found in that very room and in that very chair. It was there on that morning that she sought to remove any remaining doubt that what she was about to undertake was right for her and her family.

"You know why I like talking to you?" Miley said as she looked down at R.J., who reached up and grabbed her index finger and smiled on cue. "You don't judge. You don't ask questions. You listen to me. You're just like your other mother." Miley moved her finger back and forth as R.J. clutched it, making him giggle and coo. "You know you look like her; except she has more hair… and she doesn't do the whole diaper thing… I think. Anyway… are you sure that you're cool with me leaving you for four months? I mean, I'll come back home for a couple of weekends but… four months, little man. Are you absolutely sure?" Miley then paused. "Well… it's not like you'll go hungry. Momma Lilly has that taken care of." Miley said referring to Lilly still breastfeeding R.J. "Your Nana Kylie changes you and buys you clothes and fawns over you. Gran'pa Rob teaches you how to play the guitar every time he sees you. Now you have Aunt Renee to play with." Miley smiled. "Looks like your dance card is full. You are all growed up. I guess you don't need ol' Momma Miley around." Miley closed her eyes, allowed her head to fall back and sighed.

"Miley Ray Stewart, your Daddy and I raised you better than that."

Miley's eyes popped open as she stared at the ceiling. "Okay, either I am going crazy or I've turned into Haley Joel Osment." Miley said out loud.

"If you lower your head, you'll be able to say 'I see dead people'."

Miley slowly lowered her head. When she fixed her eyes on the open doorway of the nursery, she saw the image of her deceased mother, Brooke, looking exactly the way she did the day she died nearly a quarter of a century earlier.

"Momma?"

"More like a spiritual manifestation of your mother but, yeah, Momma is fine."

"What?... Why?"

"What am I doing here and why now?" Miley simply nodded. "To help you come to terms with the answer that is already inside you. You know, you are just like your father. You are both so cautious. Okay, you were a little harebrained in your teenage years but who isn't?"

"Ain't that the truth?" Miley scoffed.

"But the older you get, the more like him you are, which is a good thing. But every now and then I had to tell him the same thing I am telling you now… Enjoy everything that life has to offer you with no regrets. You have a wonderful, supportive wife who loves you very much and who understands that you are a natural born entertainer. It's what you live for besides your family and friends. Am I right?"

"Yes ma'am." Miley said.

"Lilly has given you her unconditional blessing to do this. Your Daddy and Kylie are supportive of your decision and your Divas have your back. Why are you still waffling?" Miley didn't answer. "You stood up to the media when you and Lilly came out, so I know you're not worried about the media. Mamaw said that as long as your TV character has a good moral foundation you have her blessing and I'm dead so you can't embarrass me even if you tried. So I ask you again, why are you waffling? C'mon. Say it."

"I'm scared, Momma." Miley admitted. "I'm terrified of messing up. I know how to sing and dance. I can perform in front of a hundred thousand people at the Rose Bowl because I know how to do it. This is television…"

"And you've been on TV before so I'm not buying it, little girl! Lie to anybody else you want to but don't lie to me and don't lie to yourself. What is the real reason you are scared?"

"I'll be intimately touching somebody else! Somebody other than Lilly and it is kind of freaking me out, okay?" Miley said.

"Thank you. That is much better. Now we are getting somewhere." Brooke said. "Look Sweetie, it's a job. It's your job. You're not sleeping with the person! You're acting. You're an actress; it's what you do now."

"But, Raven and Chelsea…"

"Raven and Chelsea had secret one-time affairs behind each other's backs. This is not the same thing. You are doing a job, acting in a television series that happens to have intimate scenes written in. You are not doing this behind Lilly's back. She knows and she's fine with it."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Okay, I'm not supposed to tell you this but you are still my little girl so… Lilly is completely fine and secure with this and just a little bit turned on by the thought of seeing you in action… because she knows it's not real."

"Okay, my mother just told me my wife was turned on by watching me. Eww!"

"You're welcome."

"Thank you! That is such a relief. I hope you don't get into too much trouble for that."

"I was a Stewart by marriage. The big mouth comes with the name. Trust me, they know that up here." Miley laughed. "I have to go. Am I gonna have to come back to talk to you?"

"Yes." Miley said. "But not about that. Thank you Momma."

"Good. Just remember, even if I don't talk to you like this, I'm still watching over you."

"I always feel like you do."

"You have a beautiful family and I am so proud of you."

Miley's eyes watered with tears. "I love you."

"I love you too."

"Can I ask you a question before you go?" Miley asked.

"I will not tell you where Jimmy Hoffa is buried or what the eleven herbs and spices are in the Colonel's chicken."

"Wasn't… really… thinking… okay." Miley mumbled. "What's it like… you know… where you are?"

"Now that, I am forbidden to tell you. You have to experience it for yourself. But not for a long, long time from what I hear."

"Promise to save me a seat next to you?"

"Promise. Now I gotta go. Lilly's coming. Oh, do me a favor and tell your father that Kylie is "mucho cayenne". He'll know what that means."

"I will. Bye Momma." With Miley's goodbye, Brooke's apparition disappeared. In the next moment, Lilly crossed the threshold.

"Hey babe." Lilly said. "Renee and I leaving for school." Lilly the noticed Miley wiping away tears. "Sweetie, are you okay?"

Miley smiled. "Never better." Miley then reached up and gently pulled Lilly's face toward her and delivered a soft yet meaningful kiss to her lips. "I love you so much."

"I love you too, baby." Lilly said. "See you tonight. Bye, Little Man! Mommy loves you! Yes she does!" Lilly kissed R.J. on the forehead then walked toward the door.

"Lil?" Miley called out causing Lilly to turn around. "You have no idea how much your support means to me."

Lilly flashed a slight smirk and nodded her head. "Oh… I think I do." Lilly paused before delivering her final line. "By the way, babe… you look mucho cayenne today." Lilly smiled then turned to walk out.

"LIL?"

"BYE BABE!" Lilly said from down the hallway.

"DID YOU TALK TO…" Miley called out again. Miley then chuckled and shook her head. "Momma."

Meanwhile, as Lilly climbed into her car with Renee, her cell phone went off. "Hey!"

"Are we all set for Friday?"

"All set on this end. Now you know the code?"

"Yes, you emailed it to me yesterday."

"If you have any problems, call me."

"I won't have any problems. I can't wait to see you."

"Me too. Talk to you soon. Bye." When Lilly hung up, she looked over at Renee who was staring back at her with a neutral expression.

"You know Miley is going to kill you when she finds out." Renee said.

"I know." Lilly said as she cranked up the car. "But trust me…" Lilly said as she put the car in gear. "With her going to California, she deserves this and more." Lilly then pointed the car toward the front gate, headed toward school.

Friday, August 20, 2021 – 8 pm – Miley and Lilly's house

Miley's family and friends had assembled for a dinner party to send Miley off to California in grand style. Besides Miley, Lilly and Renee, Robby Ray and Kylie showed up as well as her Uncle Bobby Ray and Aunt Noel, Aunt Vickie and her sons, Mamaw Ruthie and Lilly's friend and colleague Ariel along with her husband Christian and their daughter Jess.

"Miley, your Aunt Noel and I couldn't be prouder of you. Our little niece, the TV star." Bobby Ray said.

"Now Uncle Bob, I am just gonna be part of an ensemble cast." Miley said.

"Only the hottest ensemble cast on television." Christian said, earning him a smack on the arm from Ariel. "In terms of publicity buzz, honey."

"I'll publicity buzz you alright!" Ariel said.

"So you two are going to embarrass me again tonight?" Jess said.

"What do you mean again?" Christian asked.

Jess turned to Miley and Lilly. "These two went to the Titans game last Saturday and got caught on the Jumbotron kissing and like five of my friends were at the game saw them!" Jess exclaimed.

"Jess, your mom is a hot cougar. What can I say?" Christian said with a smirk.

"Yeah Jess. Your father's a stud. I can't keep my hands off him." Ariel said as she snuggled up to Christian.

"UUUUGGGHHHH!" Jess moaned. "Anybody have a garden hose I can turn on them?"

"Jess, get used to it." Miley said. "I have the same problem at 31 that you have at 17."

"And what's that supposed to mean, young lady?" Robby Ray asked.

"I think she's trying to say that we're a little too touchy feely for her taste." Kylie said.

"He who is without touchy-feely cast the first stone." Robby Ray replied.

"But…" Miley started.

"Just let it go, Miles." Lilly said. "Just let it go." Just then, the phone rang in short bursts indicating that someone was at the main gate. "I'll get it. Hello?... Okay. Come on through." Lilly hit the button to open the gate. "Luanne and Jenn are here."

"I swear, Luanne ain't even the same girl I tried to help you raise Bobby!" Mamaw said.

"I'll be honest. I wasn't exactly warm to the idea of my daughter turnin' to girls, but Jenn is about the best thing that ever happened to her." Bobby Ray said.

"They may be the only ones more touchy-feely than Miley and Lilly." Noel said.

"Since when did we become the touchy-feely standard?" Miley asked.

"Since the day you two met in the fifth grade." Robby Ray said. "You two have been inseparable since."

"Kinda like Jess and her best friend Taylor." Ariel said.

"Except Taylor and I like guys, Mom." Jess said.

"Jess!" Ariel exclaimed.

"They know I didn't mean it like that!" Jess said in defense of herself.

"Ariel, it's okay. I know what she meant." Lilly said.

"Do you still think guys are attractive?" Jess asked.

"Jessica Danielle Scott!" Ariel chided.

"What?" Jess retorted.

"Ariel! It's really okay." Lilly said.

"Yeah, our life is pretty much an open book. We are not ashamed." Miley said. "I still think guys are very hot and so does Lilly."

"Yeah. We are still on the lookout for some hot guys for Renee over here!" Lilly said. "And why are you so quiet?"

"I'm still trying to get to know everybody, Lil." Renee said with a smile.

"Renee, all of us are one big happy family, at least when I'm around. Once I go home, y'all can do whatever you want." Mamaw said.

"Thank you Miss Stewart." Renee said.

"Mamaw. I'm Mamaw to everybody in this room." Mamaw said. "Now come give Mamaw a hug." Renee smiled and stepped over to Ruthie who wrapped her up in a big hug. "Just hug all that standoffishness out of you!"

"Thank you Mamaw." Renee said before being released.

"Welcome to the family." Lilly said as she hunched Renee playfully.

"What is takin' Luanne and Jenn so long?" Bobby Ray asked.

"I bet I know. Excuse me." Miley walked over to the front door. Just as she stepped toward the door, Lilly received a text message. After viewing it, she nodded her head slightly and flashed her eyes at Renee who looked at her then Miley.

Miley stepped to the front door, silently counted to three, and then flung the door open. Her hunch proved to be correct as Luanne and Jenn were standing at the front door making out. "Now what if Mamaw opened this door instead of me?" Miley said, startling the two women out of their kiss.

"Ohmigod, Miles, I'm so sorry!" Luanne said. "That was my fault."

"No, it's my fault. Tori is looking so good today. I couldn't help myself." Jenn said.

"You two are worse than us." Miley mumbled. "Come on in, but… fix your lip gloss and Jenn? Your headlights are showing." Miley turned and rolled her eyes before walking away. "Newlyweds, I swear."

"We're not newlyweds!" Jenn replied as she placed her palms over her nipples in an attempt to turn her headlights off.

"Yeah, but we act like it." Luanne said.

"I know that's right." Jenn answered with a giggle that Luanne shared.

Miley rejoined the group. "I found 'em. They're right behind me." She said.

Lilly leaned over to Miley's ear. "Lip gloss?" Lilly asked.

"Yep." Miley said.

"Headlights?" Lilly asked.

"High beams." Miley replied.

"Young love." Lilly said.

"Ain't it grand?" Miley said.

"Grand it is." Lilly said.

"Hi everybody!" Luanne announced as she walked in. That set off a chain reaction around the room as everyone took turns greeting and hugging the two women.

"Now Luanne, I know that you and Jenn are in love, but it's not exactly ladylike to hook up while a room full of people are waiting for you." Mamaw said.

"Yes ma'am. I'm sorry." Luanne said.

"A couple of years ago that would have been a 30 minute argument." Miley said.

"And now peace reigns in the land." Jenn said.

"Thanks to you." Noel said.

"All I did was bring out what was already inside her." Jenn said. "True love amplifies our strengths."

"That was well put, Little Lady." Bobby Ray said. "You make a fine addition to our family."

"Any chance you may make that addition official?" Kylie asked.

"Now stop it right now." Miley said. "No relationship inquisitions tonight. This is about my going away party. And speaking of going away, my hunger is not going away, can we eat now?"

"In just a few minutes. There are just one or two things we need before we start." Lilly said seconds before the doorbell rang. Renee quietly slipped over to the door before it rang and had opened it the second the bell sounded.

"One or two things like what?" Miley said.

"Well… maybe not one or two. More like… eight… things." Lilly said.

"I RESENT BEING CALLED A THING!" The unmistakable voice of Raven Baxter-Daniels bellowed a split second before she emerged from the foyer.

Miley screamed at the top of her lungs and jumped for joy as one by one the other seven Divas; London, Maddie, Chelsea, Sandrine, Chloe, Mary-Margaret and Corrie filed into the living room. Tears flowed as Miley hugged and rocked each one of them, profusely asking each of them, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?"

"Girl, you did not think we were gonna let you go to Hollywood without saying goodbye and good luck!" Raven said.

"Yeah! We wanted to make sure that we said goodbye before you left." London said.

Miley spun around in Lilly's direction. "You masterminded this, didn't you?" Miley said as she shook a finger at her wife.

"I may have had a little help." Lilly said with a grin.

"You always did sell me short, Sis."

Miley let out a single sob of joy before spinning back around to see her older brother, Jackson standing behind her along with his wife, Tamera.

"Oh my God, Jackson!" Miley ran up the stairs and threw her arms around her brother's neck and wept. "I'm so glad to see you!"

"I wouldn't have missed it for the world." Jackson said through his own tears.

"I wouldn't have let him miss it." Tamera said.

"Sister!" Miley said as she warmly embraced Tamera. After releasing Tamera, she grasped Jackson's hand and sighed as she wiped her tears with her other hand. "This… has got to be the best going away party ever! I don't even know what to say. I just… thank you so much guys, this is awesome."

As Miley was finishing her last sentence, something behind Miley made Lilly gasp in shock and begin to cry. As Miley got to the end of her sentence, Miley would find out what that something was.

"I hope you have a few tears left for me."

Miley's mouth fell wide open just before her head whipped around. "Oliver?"

"The Ollie Trolley has pulled into the station." Oliver said. By the time Miley had reached him for their embrace, Lilly was right behind her. While the Divas were the surprise for Miley, Oliver was the surprise for Miley and Lilly. Lilly and Miley had not seen Oliver since the birth of their son eight months earlier. The three best friends engaged in a group hug and weeping session that reduced everyone in the room to tears.

"Oh my God! It is so good to see you!" Lilly cupped Oliver's face in her hands and delivered a big kiss to his lips.

"HEY!" Miley exclaimed. "Leave some for me." Miley followed Lilly's cue and delivered a heartfelt kiss to her best male friend.

"I should come to Tennessee more often!" Oliver beamed causing everyone to laugh.

"This reminds me of an old movie line…" Miley started. "Life is a banquet, and most poor suckers are starving to death!" Miley continued. "Well, I'm a poor sucker and I'm starving so let's eat!"

"Amen, sista! I am starving!" Raven said above the chatter of everyone else as the group followed Lilly into the dining room.

Later on in the evening, Miley and Lilly found themselves talking to their old friend Oliver, catching up on their lives up to that point.

"So Oliver, how's Grace doing?" Miley asked.

Oliver gave a faint smile. "Miles, Grace moved out two months ago."

"What?" Lilly asked. "What happened? What did you do?"

"I professed to her my undying love for you and she couldn't take it." Oliver said sarcastically. Lilly balled up her fist and punched Oliver in the arm with all her might. "OWWW!"

"Jackass. I'm serious! What happened?" Lilly asked.

"Gracie and I are great friends and we were even better partners, but as husband and wife? Not so much." Oliver said.

"Is there any chance you two can reconcile?" Miley asked.

"No. It's really best for both of us this way." Oliver said.

"Why didn't you tell us? We are still your friends." Lilly said.

"You have your lives, R.J., Miley is starting her new career, you have your school…" Oliver started before getting cutoff.

"Stop right there. When have we ever not been there for you?" Miley reminded. "There is nothing we wouldn't do for you. You are family to us. We both think of you as our second brother. You call us if you need anything, do you understand me? Just because you're in Chicago and we're here doesn't mean that we don't love you and think about you constantly."

"I could tell by the way you two kissed me." Oliver teased.

"That's the closest you're ever getting to a three-way so I hope you enjoyed it." Lilly shot back.

"Damn!" Oliver said. Miley and Lilly just laughed. "I promise I'll visit more often."

"You better. R.J. needs his Uncle Oliver." Miley said with a smile. "We love you Oliver."

"I love you guys too." Oliver said, pulling the two women into a group hug. After a few seconds, Oliver spoke up again. "Now this is how you start a three-way!" On cue, both Lilly and Miley punched Oliver in the arm. "OWWW!"

"Three-way on that!" Miley said. Lilly punctuated Miley's statement with her own Oliver signature. "Jackass."

Meanwhile, the Divas were having their fun catching up with Renee, Luanne and Jenn as well as chatting with Jess.

"So Renee, have you met that special someone yet?" London asked.

"London, I just got here! Give me a chance to get settled." Renee replied.

"There is no time to waste! The clock is tickin' baby!" Raven added.

"Rae, leave her alone." Chelsea said. "When the time is right, the right man will come knocking."

"So wait. Renee, you're straight?" Jess asked.

"Yeah. I'm straight." Renee answered.

"You have 12 friends that are all gay and you're the only straight one in the bunch?" Jess asked. "You've never…"

"That's a good point!" Mary-Margaret said. "Any stories from cheerleading camp you want to share?" Corrie playfully nudged her girlfriend.

"I don't have any cheerleading camp stories!" Renee scoffed. "It was soccer camp. That Bethany Franklin… whoo!"

"I KNEW IT!" Raven shouted as the other Divas oohed and ahhed.

"I'M KIDDING! I'M KIDDING!" Renee exclaimed just as Miley and Lilly made their way over to the group.

"What are you kidding about?" Lilly asked.

"Would you tell them that I have never hooked up with a woman!" Renee pleaded.

"Not counting me, you and Miley in the guest house?" Lilly deadpanned. The group of Divas howled with laughter as Lilly and Maddie exchanged high fives.

"Thanks, Lil. Thanks a lot." Renee said with sarcasm.

"Jess, Renee does not participate in the Diva orgies." Maddie said.

"Maddie!" London exclaimed.

"She just watches." Maddie deadpanned causing the group to laugh again.

"Maddie, don't joke like that! Jess is only seventeen." London said.

"Princess, Jess asked the question like a woman, I answer like a woman. Besides, I like her. She says and asks what's on her mind." Maddie said. "Maybe we can make her a non-lesbian Junior Diva."

"The group is getting too damned big." Raven said. "Next we'll have AARP Senior Cougar Divas!"

"We'll make it regional!" Chelsea said. "She can be one of the Tennessee Divas."

"But does she even want to be a Diva?" Corrie asked.

"I'll be one if you let my mother be one. She hates to be left out." Jess said.

"Which one's your Mom?" Sandrine asked.

"The blonde pixie over there. Next to tall, dark and goofy." Jess said causing the women to chuckle.

"Your parents are nice." Chloe said.

"Yeah. I love 'em. They just get on my nerves sometimes." Jess said.

"And vice versa." Lilly added.

"Yeah." Jess replied.

"Okay, so Jess and, what's your Mom's name again?" Raven asked.

"Ariel."

"Ariel. Jess and Ariel are in, yes?" Raven said.

"What about Mamaw and Kylie and Noel…" Miley started.

"I tell you what… all in favor of letting Miley and Lilly run the Tennessee Diva branch…" Raven said. A smattering of "yeah" and "fine with me" went through the group. "Great. They can all look in on Lilly while Miley is gone."

"I can tell by the look in her eyes that Lilly is going to miss you Miley." Sandrine said.

"But how much is Miley gonna miss her? All snuggled up underneath Sarah Douglass." Chloe teased.

"And Rachelle Masters." Raven added.

"You get to hook up with Sarah Douglass and Rachelle Masters?" Jess asked. "And you don't mind, Lilly?"

"It's part of her job. It's not porn. I read the script and it's a good script." Lilly said.

"I remember The L Word." Mary-Margaret said. "That was some pretty racy stuff."

"It's not like my character is the only one hooking up. I'm not the Shane of the group. That would be Samantha Ford." Miley said.

"Now I'm not gay, but I would so do Samantha Ford." Renee said.

"Me too." Jess added.

"Me too what?" Ariel asked as she walked over to the group.

"Oh hi Mrs. Scott." Luanne said.

"Ariel, please." Ariel said. "What are you over here agreeing to?" Ariel said as she put her arm around her daughter's waist.

"She… was just agreeing with Luanne about UT being a good school." Jenn concocted a quick lie that Jess suddenly blew up.

"We were talking about Miley's new show and about how Samantha Ford's character was the slut of the show and Renee said that even though she's not gay, she'd do her and I agreed." Jess said.

Ariel looked at her daughter for a moment then at the other women in the group. "Yeah, I'd hop the fence for her in a heartbeat." Ariel said, causing the other women to laugh.

"MOM!"

"What? You can say it and I can't?" Ariel said. "The woman is hot! Not as hot as Miley but still hot!"

"UGGGHHHH! DAD!" Jess groaned as she walked away.

"I get her every time." Ariel grinned.

Miley walked over to Ariel and put her arm around the shorter woman. "Make sure you take care of my Lilly Bear." Miley said.

"AWWWW!" The ladies exclaimed. Lilly glared at the group playfully.

"I will. You just make sure you behave." Ariel said.

"Don't worry Ariel." Lilly said. "Before she leaves, she will remember where her bread is buttered."

"Lilly is gonna tear Miley up." Maddie whispered to Mary-Margaret who was sitting right next to her.

"I know that's right." Mary-Margaret replied as they shared a giggle.

Lilly wrapped her arms around Miley. "I'm so proud of her. She is going to be an even bigger star than she was before."

"A star is nothing without a planet to revolve around." Miley replied as she turned and touched foreheads with Lilly.

"Eww, I think I'm gonna be sick." Jennifer teased. A second later, Luanne brushed hair off of Jenn's sensitive neck, touching it and causing the Mexican-Italian beauty to shudder. Jenn whipped her head around. "Tori!" Jenn whisper-yelled.

"Thanks, Cousin." Miley said with a wink.

"Anytime, Cousin." Luanne returned with a wink and a devilish smile.

"Thank you guys so much for coming. I love all of you so much." Miley said. "And I will never stop owing you four enough for what you did for us." Miley said, looking at Raven, Chelsea, Maddie and London; acknowledging them for helping Lilly and Miley get together.

"We'd do it again in a heartbeat seeing how happy the two of you are." Chelsea said. "You gave Rae and I hope in our darkest hour."

"You show Maddie and I what true love is supposed to look like." London added.

The six women shared a hug, sealing their special bond yet again as the other Divas looked on with tears in their eyes, smiles on their lips and love in their hearts.

The evening began to wind down. Most of the guests had gone for the evening. The Divas took their leave but would meet up for brunch the next day to officially say goodbye to Miley.

"Bud, Kylie and I are gonna head on home." Robby Ray said to his daughter.

"Daddy, thank you so much for comin'." Miley said.

"You got a minute?" Robby Ray asked.

"Sure. C'mon." Miley said as they stepped into the study just off of the living room.

Robby Ray took both of his daughter's hands into his own. "I just wanted to tell you how proud of you I am." Robby Ray said.

"I know you are, Daddy." Miley said with a smile.

"I don't think you know just how much." Robby Ray said. "Not just for the actin' gig or the singin'. But for the beautiful young woman, wonderful mother and devoted wife you've become. I am proud to call you my daughter."

Miley was speechless as her tears fell. She wrapped Robby Ray up in a tight bear hug causing him to softly cry. The two held each other and wept for several moments before Miley broke the hug. "Oh…" Miley sniffed her tears. "Before I forget… I was told to tell you that Kylie is mucho cayenne."

Robby Ray froze and searched his baby girl's eyes. "Mucho cayenne?"

"Mucho cayenne, Daddy."

Robby Ray let out a chuckle. "Damn that woman. She always has to get the last word." Robby Ray wiped his tears. "I will always love her."

"I know you will. I do too." Miley said. "Now go. Kylie's waitin' for you."

Robby Ray turned to leave. "Oh… Kyle said she's babysittin' for y'all tomorrow. She'll be over here at nine to pick R.J. up." He said.

"Babysittin'? But we don't have any plans except for me to finish packin'." Miley said as her Tennessee drawl intensified slightly.

"Miley. Tomorrow is your last full day here for four months." Robby Ray deadpanned. "Your wife arranged for a babysitter to pick your child up and keep him out all day. Are you followin' me, Girl?"

"Yeah. I am Daddy." Miley said with a smile.

"Thank goodness. 'Cause I was not explainin' any further." Robby Ray said with a sigh of relief.

"My ears thank you." Miley joked. Robby Ray hugged her again and gave her a peck on the cheek. "Bye Daddy. Love you."

"Love you too, Darlin'."

Robby Ray turned to leave. She watched Robby Ray and Kylie say their goodbyes to Lilly before she locked the door behind them.

"Ever'body gon'?" Miley asked.

"Ever'body gon'." Lilly mocked.

"Are you mocking me?" Miley asked.

"Yeah. But I love it when your accent comes out. That is so sexy." Lilly said.

"Well maybe… I'll let it come out on Saturday since we'll have the place to ourselves." Miley said as she put her arm around Lilly's shoulder.

"That was supposed to be a surprise." Lilly said.

"If you want a secret kept, don't tell Robby Ray Stewart." Miley said.

"I didn't. I told Kylie Ann Stewart." Lilly replied.

"Guess she goes on the list too." Miley said.

"We'll worry about the list later. Just make sure you're finished packing by noon, 'cause I got another list and I'm gonna find out if you've been naughty or nice." Lilly purred.

"Christmas is four months away and you know damn well I've been very naughty." Miley purred in return, cranking her accent up to maximum intensity.

"Good. The nice list is for suckers anyway." Lilly said as the two women ascended the main staircase arm in arm.

"Yeah. The naughty list is for lickers." Miley replied.

"I knew there was a reason I married you." Lilly said.

"Because of my forked tongue?" Miley asked as they reached the top of the stairs and made the turn for their bedroom.

"Honey, if you had a forked tongue, we'd never leave the house." Lilly replied.

"I wonder how much that plastic surgery would cost." Miley said as they continued down the hall.

Chapter three has concluded. What do you think? The review whore in me is coming out again as I ask for your reviews. I really want to know what you think. The title of the chapter was not only chosen for the banquet line itself but for the symbolism. At a banquet, you sample as much as you can. You might miss a few things but you still get a healthy sampling. I got as many characters in as I could and I know I missed meaningful interaction with them but I promise to revisit them later on.

Now, Miley is almost ready to head West but you didn't think she would leave without saying a proper goodbye to Lilly, did you? Chapter four of The Valley of Queens is next. The train is out of the station and will start picking up speed soon. Here we go. But before we move on…

PLEASE REVIEW.