Princess Jasmine leaned over the railing of her balcony and looked down at the people of her kingdom. Did they care if she didn't produce an heir? Would they think she wasn't fit to be queen, just like Parliament did? Jasmine sighed and went back into her room. Hercules still hadn't come to bed, but Jasmine wasn't surprised. It wasn't late and he didn't usually return until after she was asleep.
Jasmine sat down at her vanity and stared at her reflection in the mirror. She was beautiful now with her hair done for her everyday by the best stylists, her face covered with the most expensive make up and she wore the finest clothes in the kingdom. But, underneath it all Jasmine was just like the rest of people in her kingdom. She had grown up poor with her mother and her older brother. She sold flowers from their small garden in order help her mother afford food. When her mother became ill, Jasmine came to the castle in hopes to sell all of her flowers. It was a desperate act that she knew would be in vain, but she had to try. It was then that she met Hercules. He thought she was delivering the flowers that had been ordered for his mother's funeral that day. Knowing how Prince Hercules felt about poor people, Jasmine never told him the truth.
Once, Hercules met Jasmine he never wanted to let her go. She wasn't allowed to return home until one night, several months later. Jasmine put on her old peasant dress and snuck back home to see her family. But, by then her mother had died and her brother had gotten married. Jasmine felt guilty about returning home after all that time and was afraid her brother would be angry with her. He wasn't, though; he was happy to see her. He even understood when she told him that no one could find out she had come from a poor family.
Every once in a while, when she got a chance, Jasmine would sneak back to her brother's house and give them some money. It was never much, since Hercules was in complete control of their money, but it was enough to keep them from starving.
Jasmine glanced up at her closet, where she kept her peasant dress hidden. Without a second thought, she changed into the dress and slipped out of the castle. Luckily, it was dark so she made her way through the streets without being noticed. As she walked to her brother's house, Jasmine passed a young girl selling flowers. Jasmine couldn't help feeling for the young girl. She was dirty and her blonde hair was ratted. She wore a white apron over a ripped blue dress and a black bow sat crookedly on top of her head. Jasmine walked over to the girl and knelt down in front of her.
"Hi, there," Jasmine greeted. "What's your name?"
The girl looked up at Jasmine with sad blue eyes. "My name is Alice."
Jasmine smiled at her. "Your flowers are very pretty, Alice. May I buy them from you?"
Alice's eyes grew wide. "All of them?"
"Yes." Jasmine reached into her change purse and pulled out some coins.
Alice handed all of her flowers to Jasmine and Jasmine dropped the coins into her hand. Alice counted the coins and when she realized Jasmine had given her twice the amount than the flowers were worth, a huge smile spread across her face.
"Thank you so much, Miss!" Alice said.
"You're very welcome," Jasmine said. "Take care, Alice."
Jasmine stood up and arranged the flowers into a nice bouquet as she continued on to her brother's house. When she arrived, she gently knocked on the door, hoping she wasn't waking them up. However, her brother answered the door right away. As soon as she saw her brother's smiling face, Jasmine thought she was going to break down and start crying.
"Oh, Naveen, it's so good to see you!" Jasmine said as she wrapped her arms around her older brother.
Naveen hugged her back. "You, too. I've actually been hoping you'd stop by. Tiana and I have something we want to tell you."
Jasmine followed her brother inside, closing the door behind her. Tiana was asleep in a chair with a blanket covering her. Naveen bent over her and gently shook her. Tiana slowly opened her eyes and smiled at her husband.
"Tiana, Jasmine is here."
Tiana looked over at Jasmine and smiled at her. "I'm so glad you made it, honey."
Jasmine smiled back at her, then held out the flowers. "These are for you."
Tiana took the flowers and sniffed them. "They're lovely. Thank you."
Jasmine nodded. "So, what is it that you wanted to tell me?"
Naveen sat down on the arm of the chair and put his arm around his wife. "Jasmine, Tiana is pregnant!"
Jasmine felt a jealous lump form in her throat and she forced a smile. "That's wonderful! Congratulations."
"Thank you." Tiana sat up and the blanket fell off her. A small baby bump was already starting form under her dress. "I'm going to put these flowers in some water."
Jasmine watched Tiana walk into the kitchen, then looked back at her brother. "Naveen, can I talk to you?"
"Of course," Naveen replied. "Tiana, we're gonna be in the bedroom."
"Ok, dear!" Tiana called from the kitchen.
Jasmine walked back to the bedroom and sat down on the bed as Naveen closed the door.
"Is something bothering you?" Naveen asked, leaning against the door frame.
"Yes." Jasmine clasped her hands together. "Lately there has been a lot of pressure on Hercules and me to have a son. But, I- I don't think I can have a baby." Tears started to run down her cheeks. "We've been trying for so long and I still haven't gotten pregnant."
"Jasmine, I'm so sorry," Naveen said. "I didn't know or we wouldn't have sprung our news on you like that."
Jasmine shook her head. "No, it's all right. I'm happy for you. I just- I don' know what to do. I wish mom was still here."
Naveen walked over to Jasmine and sat down next to her. She buried her face in his shoulder and he wrapped his arm around her.
"It's going to be all right," Naveen said softly. "It took Tiana a while to get pregnant, too. When it's the right time, it will happen for you, Jasmine."
"I miss my old life so much sometimes," Jasmine confessed after a few moments. "And I miss mom."
"Jasmine, I have something for you." Naveen walked over to the dresser and rummaged through one of the drawers.
He then returned to the bed holding a flat, square, wooden box. He handed it to Jasmine and she saw her name was carved into the top of it.
"Tiana was cleaning out the back of the closet a few weeks ago and she found that," Naveen said.
Jasmine slowly opened the box and her breath caught. Inside the box was her mother's favorite earrings and matching necklace. They weren't expensive by any means, but right then they were the most beautiful things Jasmine had ever seen. They were made out of a goldish bronze-colored metal. The earrings were in the shape of triangles, but with curved tips and the necklace also had a curved tip in the front. Jasmine ran her fingers over the jewelry and that's when she noticed there was a piece of paper stuck underneath. She slid it out and unfolded it. Jasmine recognized the handwriting immediately as her mother's.
Dearest Jasmine,
I heard you married the prince. I'm so happy for you. I miss you very much, but I'm glad you're living a better life now. I'm getting weaker and I fear I won't be around much longer, so I don't know if I'll see you again. But, there is something I want to tell you. You have grown into a beautiful, strong and smart woman and I'm so proud of you. No mother could have a better daughter. I will always be watching over you; you'll never be alone. I love you with all my heart.