Author's NOte:
TheTrouble...: If it is Grandmere then my writing skills amaze me. I would have to be VERY creative to bring her back to life...
Wenders: It is Cammie. I had messed up when I wrote this and thought it was Callie. I have to go back each time and fix it. Be sure to find the mix up again. I'm sure it'll be there....
NotHockey...: Um, I tried to e-mail it to you. I hope it worked out.
Kazzy: Thanks. I'm hoping to write....eventually.
lalalala: Um, didn't you notice that connection before? You know, in All My life?
TO ALL: I'm very upset no one has noticed that Michael's band was mentioned in the Joshua story. And that Mia's friend was gushing about the lead singer. Tsk Tsk Tsk....and that fact will be brought up in later chapters.
Read. Review. Do the Drill.
MIA:
"When you wear a tiara," I started, "It is better to have short hair. That way people aren't looking at your hairstyle, but the tiara instead."
Cammie nodded. "I cannot believe I am getting princess lessons."
"Trust me, you are lucky that Grandmere isn't giving these to you."
She sighed and sat on her fainting chair. "You know, he misses you when you are gone."
I rolled my eyes, "Oh please. Cammie, he is driving me nuts. If he tries to stuff another stupid guy on me, I'll go completely crazy."
She made a face, "He's just…worried."
"About what?"
"You marrying an American."
"He liked Michael before though."
"But he sees in your eyes that you truly do love Michael…Mia, he's worried about losing you."
I made a face, "Losing me? I'm stuck here, remember? Sole heir to the Renaldo throne?"
She stood up and closed the door. "Mia, I have to tell you something. Your father's cancer-"
I fell onto my bed, "Yes?"
"Has returned. He's been on some new medicine so his mood swings are because of those."
My mouth turned dry. My father had cancer. "Why hasn't he told me?" I choked out.
"He's trying to get over it before he tells you."
"What…" I started, I couldn't finish the thought though.
"He wants you to get married, but to a Genovian. Soon. So he can see...you know, if anything happens...."
"Who cares about me getting married?" I blurted out. "What about him getting well?" I screamed, pacing.
She gave me a hopeful smile, "He will. He's strong," she replied. "Mia, once he gets over all this he'll accept you and Michael. Mia…he is thinking about stepping down and letting you take over."
Okay, WHOA, shut up. Shut up. Rewind. Freeze.
I can't be the leader of this country! I can hardly even picking out the proper CD for a romantic night with my boyfriend! And a sovereign can't have a boyfriend! "Um, no."
"Mia, he thinks you are ready."
"Um, Cam, I'm not."
"Why not?" she questioned.
"It's not your business!" I snapped back. It wasn't. And I didn't want to admit why I wasn't ready. I didn't even admit it to myself.
"Mia…"
"Cammie, you can't come into this family and act like you know everything," I said, storming out of her room.
I changed my clothes and went to the stables. My father had cancer again. I didn't even know where it was, or how serious it was. What right did she have to tell me about this? Why was everyone changing?
I didn't go riding that day though. I fell onto a bale of hay and let myself have a good cry. "Mia?" I heard Michael's voice.
My head jerked up and I saw him. He was leaning against a post and looked confused. I jumped up and ran into his arms.
"Miss me much?" he asked with a slight laugh.
"Michael…"
"Baby, what's wrong?" he asked softly, kissing the top of my head.
"I can't talk about it right now," I stammered. "Just hold me."
He took me out for dinner that night.
"She brought Paul McCartney...your second favorite and favorite LIVING Beatle, to dinner?" I said in amazement.
"I know...it was really surreal ya know? Like, I got to ask him questions. AT first I was kind of like 'Do not be a tool Moscovitz. Keep it cool'. And I didn't wanna ask anything, but then he was all 'Micca tells me you are a big fan? You don't have any questions?'. So then I just shot off like a billion. I was like..."
"In heaven?" I teased. "He's really nice. I met him last year at Dad's celebration thing. I was a bit distracted though...had someone on my mind."
He smiled sheepishly, "Oh really?"
"Of course, Ben Affleck was on the other side of the room," I teased with a wide grin.
"So have I proposed?" he asked with a half smile. He still seemed uncomfortable with the stares we got from the other patrons.
I twirled my ring around. "I haven't really been outside the palace so no one has seen it," I replied. "So you could feel free to do it right here and right now," I teased.
He took my hand and slid the ring off my finger. Then he got down on one knee, surprising me. "Michael?" I asked shakily.
"Mia Thermopolis, will you marry me?" he asked simply.
Clearly he did not care that people were staring at us now. Some were taking pictures.
No. We were the only two people in the entire room.
I started crying and nodded. "Yes, of course I will!" He looked even handsomer than he did when he really proposed (maybe because he had hair now). But it was even more special because he called me Mia Thermopolis. Telling the world (or at least the people around us) that that's who I was to him. Not Princess Amelia Mignonette Grimaldi Renaldo. Just Mia Thermopolis.
"Are you sure you are okay?" he asked as we put his clothes away. We could have easily had a servant do this chore but it gave us an excuse to be alone.
"I'm fine," I said shortly.
He looked worried. "Nothing happened when we were apart?"
I laughed, "Michael we weren't even apart forty eight hours. I should be asking you! What happened while you were recording?"
His face turned away from me.
"Michael? What is it?"
"Nothing. The song blows monkey balls. I'm going to be embarrassed when it comes out."
I rubbed his back, "You are really upset about this huh?"
A knock came to the door. "Yes?" Michael called.
"The prince requests an audience with you."
"Me?" Michael squeeked out.
"Yes."
He started toward the door, but I grabbed his wrist as he passed me, "Tell my father that Michael will see him in the morning. At breakfast."
Javier gave a pained expression, "But-"
"I said, he will see him in the morning. Good night Javier."
Michael went to meet with my father after breakfast. Cammie told me in private that my father was unable to get up this morning because of his treatments. But he told the messenger to tell me that he was out exercising this morning.
So, while Michael was off seeing my father (or rather being berated for not gaining his permission for proposing first), I went to the library. I had some research to do.
I looked up information about the line of hierarchy. It turned out that three of my ancestors had abdicated and allowed another relative to take the throne. My father almost had when he met my mother, but he saw who would have taken his place and realized that he did not want his younger brother Jules, who had died back in the eighties, to ever get the opportunity to rule.
His brother, Jules, died in a boating accident when he was only twenty. He had been racing his boat with cousins from Monaco when his went out of control and crashed. He was Sebastino's father. Which means that Sebastino would be taking over if I ever decided to abdicate. And if he were to abdicate then my cousin Rene would rule. Rene would be a good ruler. He was very smart and charismatic.
Sebastino would definitely abdicate. He was too busy with his fashion career to bother with ruling the country. Rene has always involved himself. Over the years he has mellowed out and matured. He no longer chases women (he is married, which disspells my suspicions of his homosexuality.... I think). He offers to help me all the time with whatever duties I am given.
He would definitely be a good ruler. Now I just had to deal with the current ruler. And make sure he is not castratiting my fiance.
Post Note: Haha, I know who you guys thought it was. It's sad that this amuses me, isn't it? I will admit this much, it took awhile to figure out who to say he met. Cuz originally it was her. But I couldn't go for the obvious, right?