Author's Note: I know Grandmere's diary entries may seem a bit...pointless, but trust me, some pretty interesting things are going to come out about dear old Grandmere this chapter. Also, they are put in to explain why Grandmere encouraged Mia to go out with Michael and his band. And for those of you who have paid close attention to detail, you will recognize a character from Grandmere's past. Okay, enough of me ranting. Onto the next chapter.

-Kristin

MIA:
I hadn't meant to tell him about the dream, but I found myself spilling out every detail.
"And then I was so scared because I knew I wasn't going to see you ever again," I explained. "I mean, you weren't dead or anything, but I would be married. I would have to care for my husband then. Most people would think of a wedding dream as happy...but I wasn't. I-I was looking at the congregation and saw you with some other girl..."
His expression softened, "Mia, no matter what I'm always going to be with you. Hell, when you get married again we can continue our secret affair!" he laughed.
I didn't laugh though. He didn't want to marry me. If he did he could have said something right there. Of course he wouldn't want to do something like that. He kissed my tears that were coming down my face.
"We won't ever lose each other, not again." he promised.

I fell asleep right there in his arms and prayed that he was right.

He had a whole romantic afternoon for us on Sunday. He even came to church with me, which was surprising considering his dislike for organized religion. He really listened to the priest and even read some of the passages from the missel.
He was all dressed up for church, a suit and everything. I found that irresistible. A man in a suit always is.
He then brought me for lunch and then to Beauty and the Beast. He didn't even laugh at the dancing spoons like I thought he would. He held my hand the entire time.
We went to dinner later that evening at a new restaurant in the Upper West Side. He acted all important and fought for us to get a table far away from everyone else in the place. It was hard because it was such a popular place for the young and rich, but he still accomplished the task, and did not use my name or position to do so. All my other boyfriends, the ones between Michael and Joshua (well, after high school and before I started dating Joshua), well...they seemed to enjoy the fact that they were dating a princess. They introduced me as 'the princess' to their friends....well, not Robert, but the others, Brock and Kenny (not Showalter, I know, I have a tendency to go with boys named after old high school flames but it's not my fault...it's their parents faults!) sure did.
We sat in our quiet booth and our waitress approached us.
"Michael ?" she asked.
He looked up at her like a deer in headlights. "Oh, yes? Do I have a phone call or something?"
She laughed, "You don't remember me? From Los Angeles? Come on, it was only a month ago!"
"I'm sorry?" he asked nervously. I knew something was up. For some reason I felt like Julianne Moore's character in that movie Nine Months. You know, the part where she's going into labor and realizes that the man she loves (Hugh Grants character) had hooked up with some waitress. And then she goes into labor, but I'm not pregnant so I can't just spontaneously do that.
The girl looked at me, then him, "This is that girl from that picture, isn't it? The one you had on your dresser? You were right; the picture doesn't do her justice! Hi, I'm Katherine," she introduced herself. "But Michael should know that..."
He was sweating now. Who was this? "I'm Mia," I said softly, confused as to how she had seen- Oh, now I get it.
I looked at him. "Lonely huh?" I demanded.
He tried to take my hand on the table, "Mia please, I can exp-"
I tossed glass of water on his lap. "I don't care. Stay away from me and get out of my life," I said walking off. I guess my dream was right, but I wouldn't be sorry for not seeing him.

But maybe this was for the best, ya know? I mean, we aren't going to be together anyways so having it end this way would make me not want to see him again. I wouldn't miss him at all if I hated him, right?

I left early the next morning and ignored all of his calls. My mother didn't get it at all. She couldn't understand why I would be counting the seconds to seeing him, then never wanting to see him ever again. "He didn't try to force you to do anything, did he?" she asked as we waited for my flight to be announced.
"No, not at all," I replied, refusing to even look at her.

On the long flight back to Genovia I realized that I was getting exactly what I deserved. I had been having so much 'fun' with Michael when I should have been grieving over my dead fiancée. I stared out the window and ignored all the stewardesses.

My father and his girlfriend, Carrie, were surprised to see me back so early. I wasn't due back until that night. "Hey sweetie,"
Carrie greeted cheerfully. "Everything okay?"
I shrugged. "I'm fine. I'm going to take a long nap-"
"You got some phone calls," she said softly, so my father wouldn't hear.
I looked at her blankly, "Any from Lilly?"
"Several," she replied. "And some from Michael..."
"I'll call her later. I'm just really tired."
"Okay hon. Hey, some reporters are going to be poking around later on, think I should hit the road?"
"I don't care," I snapped. I hadn't meant to be rude. "Sorry, I don't think that will be necessary though."
She smiled, "Mia, can I tell you something?" she asked, linking her arm with mine as we walked toward my room.
"Yeah?"
"I was so scared when I met your father."
I laughed. Most women threw themselves onto him. "Oh?"
We walked into my room and I sat on my bed. She on my couch.
"I mean, really. I am just a regular girl. I grew up with parents who were barely even home, they were doctors you know."
"I know. I read the background search on you," I teased.
She smiled. "Well, I was just a regular assistant, ya know? I mean, sure I was a glamorous actresses assistant, but still. Your
father totally blew her off and went after me. I didn't get it at first though..."
"I remember," I said softly. "He came home that night and had a funny look on his face."
She smiled.
"I could tell you were different from the other women."
"I was so afraid of everything. Would I be willing to give up my job? Sure, I hated it anyways. But what about being a second mother to a princess? A girlfriend of a confirmed bachelor? I was terrified of what all that meant. I thought you would hate me."
I laughed. I had always hated all the other women Dad had brought back to the palace, but never her. "Oh come on, Carrie. You knew you had to worry more about Grandmere than me!"
She laughed now. "That's true, but you are the one he really listens to about women. If you didn't like me I knew I would be kicked to the curb."
This was true. Dad usually listened to my opinions about women he dated. "Carrie, Dad really does love you. Don't worry."
She kissed my forehead, "I really am the luckiest woman in the world."
Then she left.

I didn't go to bed though. I opened up my duffel and to out Grandmere's diaries.
1 July 1951
Maria is such a baby! She now wants to attend college because I am going to when I finish secondary school. She gets everything! I really do hate her! She is always bragging about the letters Edward sends her, she even leaves them out for all to see. I stole one and
here it is:
Maria- I hope all is well in New York. Things are gruesome here...I know you would hate it! No bubble baths or doilies! I must go.
My best, Edward
HA! My letters from Edward are so much better!:
Dearest CC,
How I miss you! I wish you were here with me, no wait I wish I were in New York with you! I understand our embassy is being built there? I shall have good excuses to visit you then if we
have an embassy near your school. I wish I could hear your sweet voice say my name...to kiss your lips so softly. Or maybe not so softly...I know, I'll behave myself. Do you know how much easier life would be if I were not a prince? I would not have to join the army just to make the family look strong. I would be able to choose my own wife, even if she is still only a teenager. I would wait for you. I would wait an eternity to make you my wife. What shall we do when I come back, love?
We cannot escape the future....
All My Love, Iggy

-C
13 July 1951
Edward and Maria's wedding will be held May 28, 1953. Less than two years. I will be in college by then, and far away from all of the heart ache I know I will experience if I am to see them together.
Eddie and I both know that we will have to live up to our duties when he returns, but I don't want to. I want to continue living in a fantasy world.
31 July 1951
Papa and the family are returning to Genovia today. I decided to stay behind with my grandmother. I cannot possibly live with my sister
and her constant baby talk. I hate her.
-C
15 August 1951
I know it has been such a long time since I last wrote...but I have fallen in love once again, but not with another man. I have started taking dance class. After only a few weeks the instructor says that I have the skills of Ginger Rogers! Ginger! Can you believe it?!?I have decided that I am going to remain here, in New York and persue a career as a dancer!
Eddie wrote once again. He sounds desperately sad. He speaks of his loneliness and sadness. I do miss him, but what I am going to do
is for the very best.
-C
23 August 1951
Terrible news! Papa just called and told me that Eddie's plane is missing! What am I going to do now?
-C
1 September 1951
I have started school in New York. It is a private school, which is fine with me. I would not want to attend a public New York City high school. The school just went co-ed, which is very sad to me. I was hoping for an all girls school, like I went to back home, but alas I have no choice.
-C
15 September 1951
I have met a boy. He is very kind to me. His name is Billy Feinstein. He helped me study for an algebra examination I am going to be taking next week. Papa would not approve of my talking to this boy because he is not of noble blood, but then again he would not approve of a relationship with Eddie either.
Billy goes to my school, New York Academy, because his grandfather pays for him to. He does not live in a very good neighborhood, but I don't care. I think I might have what American girls call a crush on him. He is very handsome, and very much the opposite of Eddie. He has short, dark brown hair, green piercing eyes, and a wonderful smile. Oh, and he smells so perfect! Like...soap!

Okay, so Eddie has a wonderful smile as well but that doesn't matter. Eddie and I are over. He's missing and when he returns he will marry my older sister. That is, if he returns.
-C
15 September 1951
Later
I have forgotten to inform you that Billy is a whole year older than me. He is going to be attending Harvard University next year, as long as his grandfather decides to support him. I hope he does...then I could go to Wellesley. I am getting too far ahead of myself here! I only met the boy two weeks ago!
- C
30 September 1951
Billy brought me to a movie tonight. We rode on the SUBWAY! Can you imagine me on such a contraption! I never thought I could, but so what? I did it and I enjoyed myself.
We didn't really watch the movie though...we actually made out! I can't believe how I am behaving, but I am in America. I must behave like an American girl, right? Well, I was really doing that because Billy is so handsome...cute...funny...smart. If I am not careful, I might fall in love.
-C
I snapped the book shut and rubbed my tired eyes. I knew what happened next. Grandpere showed up. The Americans had rescued him from a prisoner camp and brought him here, thinking he was American. My great grandfather enlisted Grandmere to care for the prince while she was in New York with him.
He was angry with her though, for calling for another boy while he was away fighting a war. I opened the book to read that part quickly though, but was surprised to read the next entries:
1 November 1951
Billy told me he loved me last night, Halloween. I could nearly collapse! I could die now and be happy! I felt bad though, because he didn't know about Eddie...but Eddie wasn't mine so it didn't matter. I felt guilty after I thought this though because Eddie could be lying dead somewhere, all alone. I told Billy he was very kind and I kissed him.
-C
26 November 1951
Today was...interesting. Billy took me to the Macy's Day parade. It was kind of boring, but fun to be with him. He brought me to his house for dinner that afternoon. My grandmother was spending the day holed up in our suite at the Plaza, getting a make over.
We ate so much at dinner! He held my hand underneath the table the whole time, well, not when he cut his food, but you know what I mean. His family decided to go play football (American football), at a park down the street, but we stayed at his house. He brought me up to his room and we did things I KNOW Mother and Papa would not approve of!
We made love tonight. I am no longer a virgin! I am shocked that I did this, and I think I scared Billy. He said, "I don't think any less of you, Clarisse. I love you more than anything else in this world."
That made me feel more at ease. But I knew that Papa would never let me stay with Billy, no matter how much I loved him. I would never get to marry him. Not like he was asking me anyways.
-C
30 November 1951
I am totally and utterly shocked! Billy was accepted early decision to Harvard yesterday! I felt so happy for him, but at the same time worried that he would forget me. When he figured out what I was feeling he got down on one knee and proposed to me! I, a sixteen year old Genovian, flatchested noblewoman, am now engaged to the Jewish son of a bricklayer!! Papa cannot know about this....
-C