Author's Note: It's that time again kids. We have to topple the Evil Empire. Vote Red Sox '04. I predict we have it in six games. They won't beat us at Fenway. If they do there may be riots. Their bus may be pushed over with them in it.

If you haven't guessed who the 'their' is, it is the Yankees. The snobby-greedy-can't have beards because Georgie won't let them Yankees. Can you believe that? The owner won't let them have facial hair or to do fun stuff with their hair. It's nuts. Take a look at the Red Sox. We have afros, Jesus hair, corn rows (which is really terrible, if he were my husband I would smack him). We are just the funner, better pitching, better hitting team. We will defeat them. Sorry to any Yankee fans out there. We'll take them in SIX games if not sweep them. (take that Regis Philbin)

Okay, enough with my baseball rant. Get used to it for the next few weeks. Seriously. Also, I must give props to the 4-0 Patriots, they've won 19 in a row. How much does that rock? It does. A lot. I smell a repeat.

On another note, go see I 3 Huckabees. You'll fall in love (with Jason) and question what the hell life means. I plan on seeing it again. Oh, lemme guess, you wanted to read a story right? Okay, it's below. Read it. Review it. You know you wanna.

And pray for the Sox. If they win I am in a good mood. If I am in a good mood I update. Bad moods make me go to bed early. They make me angry an uninspired.

PS: Ned Brower on Dawson's Creek made me enter a good mood. "You sit in row C seat ten."

Joey: "What?"

Ned: "Everyday you sit in row C, seat ten. God, you probably think I'm a stalker."

Wouldn't mind Ned stalking me. But for now Robert and Louie stalking me is okay. Now go read.

I hated girls that were forward like that girl. What makes her think I'd be interested?

"Michael, she sees you all sweaty and probably watches you when you change from your sweaty t shirt to your clean one. She probably thinks she knows you pretty well," Alex explained. "Hey, do you have the figures on the Henderson account?"

"On my desk. I'll give them to you later. Ella is sleeping."

"Oh, I got an e-mail alert today about a sale at the gap. That dress you wanted to buy her for Hanukkah is on clearance now. Did you want me to order it or go there tomorrow during lunch maybe?"

The phone rang before I could answer him. "'Ello?" I asked.

"Michael?" a voice asked.

"You got him, who is this?"

"It's George McCartney. Remember me?"

"Yeah, from the band. What's up?"

"We're in a bind. Think you could help us out?"

"What's going on?" I asked.

"Our lead singer just dropped out again. We need your help."

I had missed playing. I had thought about starting up a band, but with Ella and Mia I never got around to it. "I don't know...when do you need to know?"

"No rush. We just want to get a steady gig you know? Like back when we were in college. Just something to do. We signed a contract to play at the Crowe's Nest on Friday nights starting in January so..."

"I'll call you back tomorrow, okay? What is your number?"

I took his number down and looked at Alex. "Who was that?" he asked, doing his crunches on the living room floor.

"George McCartney, from my old band. They want me back."

"So? Do it. You need something to do. I can watch Ella. So can Lilly."

"It's a big decision. It'd take up a lot of time..."

"So?"

"What about Ella? I mean, between work and rehearsal time I'd never see her-"

"Bring her with you, or see her afterwards. A lot of people do it."

"But not every little girl has a mother in a totally different country who cannot acknowledge her existence. She needs her father around her more often."

"You need a hobby. Go ahead now. It won't be every night anyways. Go ahead. You need an outlet. Call him right back and say yes. Or I will for you."

I bit my lip. I hated making major decisions like this so rashly. "Fine. I'll do it. I'm a bit out of practice though. And only until they can find someone else."

"Yeah, whatever. Call him right back now."

So I did. I just told him I'd meet him and the other guys at eight o'clock the next night.

"Hey boys," Lilly said, coming into the room.

"Oh, hey, you just get in? I didn't hear the door," I said in greeting.

"Yeah. Rivers was being kind of immature."

"Yeah, midlife crisises can do that."

She rolled her eyes. My cracks about his age no longer mattered to her. "No, he wants to get married."

Alex and I both stopped what we were doing (him doing crunches and me snacking on some bugles....so much for that work out huh?). "Married?" I asked carefully.

"Yeah. I mean, seriously. We've only been together for like, five months. I do not plan on marrying him."

"Why are you with him then?" Alex asked, continuing his work out.

"Well, the sex is pretty gr-"

"Lilly stop now," I interrupted. "Just say he has a great personality."

She rolled her eyes. "He has a great personality. A REALLY great personality. But it's over."

"Good to hear," I said happily. Now my folks wouldn't be on me so much about dating.

"Yeah well, whatever. Is Ella asleep?"

"Yeah. I put her down a little while ago."

"Good. I'm going to bed. I have work early in the morning."

"Yeah, those coffee's don't wait on anyone. Better not be late," I teased her job at Starbucks terribly. "Don't forget to drop Ella off with Maya."
"Will do Big Brother. Oh, I grabbed the mail while I was downstairs. Someone got a package."

I took a big envelope from her. I saw Mia's neat handwriting. She could send stuff directly now because the apartment was in Alex's name so her grandmother would never know.

Michael- How is Ella? I hope the colic has cleared up. What did Dr. Rosen say about it? I made a video for her to watch when she goes to bed, but the second part is for your eyes only. I only hope this tape doesn't get lost in the mail or it'll end up on all the news channels.

Grandmere is happy with me now. She thinks that my summer holidays in the States re-freshed me enough to live the life she has planned for me. Funny huh? She has me modeling some clothes this winter for a benefit...that is the only reason I agreed of course. Money is going toward cancer research.

And Evan has been absolutely wonderful! HE's been supporting me completely. He could be an actor almost! The way he dotes on me makes me think of you and how much you sucked up to me after we got back together, remember you actually thought you had to suck up to me? Hehe, well, it makes me miss you. The way you would simply put her hand on my waist to let everyone around that I was with you and only you. And I miss seeing you attempt to change Ella's diapers, but I am sure you are now an expert in the art of diaper changing. How is she? Is she happy? Does she really miss me? I wish I could sneak over, but it is too risky. I have to find some way to see my daughter. I cannot possibly go this long without seeing her. She won't recognize me when I finally do see her. I mean, I'm just seen on TV, like Big Bird is. She'd freak if she saw Big Bird, right?

I have Grandmere believing in me and Evan. Hell, I almost believe it myself! I mean, if I weren't me and weren't completely one hundred percent in love with my husband. Then I would think that Evan would be a lovely match.

Don't I sound so formal? Ugh, I promise when we talk next I will be a big blabber mouth. Which reminds me (our next meeting that is), I spoke to a priest today during confession. He's really cool, you'll love him. He thinks our story is so sad, and he feels terrible for little Ella. He has agreed to marry us, and is going to visit New York in the spring to meet with you and start with your conversion. He asked me if you truly wanted to convert or if you were simply doing it to marry me. I chose to keep my mouth shut on that one. I don't honestly think you care that much, but he does. It's going to be hard. You REALLY have to want to do this. But the only way you can fully be married in the Catholic church is if you are Catholic. If we are going to pull this off then you have to do this. I'm sorry, it's terrible isn't it? And another thing, we have to have Ella baptized as soon as she is over here.

I'm sorry, I'm sounding awfully bossy aren't I? Well, it's just...you see, Evan and I were talking and we are going to have to get engaged eventually and you have to be a few steps ahead of us ya know? I just hope you don't hate me in the end of all this.

Is there anything new in your New York non-Mia life? Any cute girls hitting on you? If so please don't tell me. I think I might forget the whole secret thing and go over and tell them to keep their grimy mitts off my husband.

You know, I wear my rings every day. Grandmere never sees them though. She'd wonder why I still wore them if I was with Evan. No, they are around my neck on a chain. But when I wear lower cut blouses (sorry sweetheart, but I do), I hide them in a little pouch I have sewn into my shirts (I've learned to sew, aren't I so domestic?). I'll be sending your gifts for Hanukah soon. I love you both so much!

-Purps

Mia-

Ella is looking more and more like you every day! Her hair is growing back now, and I think she's getting a tooth. Can you believe it? Something we made has a tooth coming in! The doctor says its normal, so there is nothing wrong with it. Dr. Rosen said that she is in perfect health and doesn't have to see her for another three months for a check up. I'll be sure to watch your video tonight when I go to bed.

What I really miss is holding you while we are both asleep. I mean, we aren't conscious of the act, but when we wake up like that it's so great. And talking to you right before bedtime...could there be anything better? I love hearing about your crazy days. I miss talking to you about Ella every night. Arguing over who's turn it is to stay awake with her. Making plans for the next day.

I can hardly believe it is almost Christmas time in New York and there is no Mia Thermopolis here to poke fun at the tourists with. OR to trip the skaters at Rockerfeller Center. I don't even have a Mia Renaldo handy to do that.

My life huh? One of the girls who baby sit for Ella at the gym asked me about my wife and said that she was interested. I've made a mental note to leave Ella with my mom or with Alex and Lilly when I go to the gym, oh and to change my shirt in the locker room. I am re-joining my old college band. I just got off the phone with George before I got the mail from you. It'll be long days but anything to keep my mind off of missing you.

Ella misses you more than I would have ever imagined. I mean, that old tape is almost all worn out, thank very much for sending a new one. She'll love it I'm sure. She's asleep right now though. I don't see what is so comforting about the video where you are screaming at Lilly to stop taping you. She's an odd duck, no? No, she's our daughter. Here are some pictures of her on Santa's lap, yes, and I am sitting there with her so she wouldn't cry. Don't you love the expression on her face? She's like "What the hell is going on? Why is a man in a creepy red suit holding me and saying ho ho ho?"

She's going to be brilliant Mia. I know it. She almost seems like she is listening to conversations now. Is that normal? What is normal for an almost six month old? I better go if I want to watch the Mia video. I love you babe.

-HRH

I walked into my room and popped her tape into my VCR. "Hey guys," she said cheerfully. "It's Mommy... or Mia. Whatever...." Then she proceeded to sing Ella a few lullabies. She has a pretty good voice, doesn't really give herself any credit for it to be honest with you.

But then it was my turn. She basically said all the things she couldn't write in a letter. She said more personal things. I loved seeing her facial expressions. I missed those darn things. And how she would realize that she was just blabbering or talking too fast and she'd stop herself. It was really adorable how sweet she looked. I very suddenly wanted to just lay in bed with her and hold her close to me.

And speaking of her looks. She let her hair grow insanely long, and has dyed it very dark. What happened to my blonde little wife?

"I guess my hair is a bit of a surprise huh? Well, Grandmere is driving me nuts by acting so damn happy about my conforming so I decided to do something different. I decided to dye my princess-blonde locks black. Does it look terrible? I gotta go. Evan and I are going to a dinner in France tonight. I'll be waiting for your letter!" then she blew me a kiss.

I looked over at Ella. Would I rather be at some stupid dinner in France than here with her sleeping so soundly? No. There is no where else in the world I'd rather be.