I wheeled myself back to my room. I'd gotten an infection in my left leg so they had to do a minor surgery on it the week before. It would take an extra week to heal.

"Hey, you are out early," Arthur said, reading a magazine that was written in French.

"Sorry I didn't warn you," I replied, tossing his letter to him.

"How'd you get this?" he asked.

"They told me to give it to you," I replied. "Direct mail service compliments of Moscovitz," I replied.

I shimmied up to my own bed and opened up the letter.

Michael sweetheart-

I don't know why you won't write back to me. Are you just too busy? Too sick? I will admit that I have been re-reading your two letters to me to look for clues as to why you would stop writing to me.

I'm sorry if my letter back in March was…well, shocking to you. But there is nothing I can do about it now. I'm going to have this baby whether we like it or not. And I suppose if you do not wish to take part in raising the baby, or in being with me, I suppose I can go back to live with my parents. They can raise the baby as their own or something. Not that I want that, but it's the only thing I can do. A princess can't have a child out of wedlock…not that we are not married. But if you wish to end this marriage then I am sure my grandmother will not allow the public to know I was ever married or that I had a child with a man in America during the war. It will just be one of those little secrets that someone will most likely uncover in the future.

Please, my love, write back to me. I don't know what to do anymore. But if you do not write back then I will take it as a sign that you do not care about our baby or about me. Then I will write to my parents who will come for me. My grandparents have already returned to Genovia so I could go stay with them.

Love Always,

Mia

I looked over at Arthur, who was smiling. I was in complete shock. Letter from March? A baby? Dear God... "Arthur," I said hoarsely. I decided to keep up the façade he was holding up.

He looked at me, "Yes?"

"I am going to be a father."

He looked back at his letter. She must have been telling him as well. "Congratulations, Old Man. When?"

I shrugged. "She said she told me in March. In a letter. I never received such a letter, have I?"

Hannah walked in just then. "Michael, you are early," she said, settling Arthur's lunch tray by him. "I'll go get you a lunch tray now-"

"How about the rest of my letters?" I asked. "The ones from my wife?"

She turned white. "What are you talking about?"

"All those letters," I hissed. "You never sent them, did you?"

"I don't know what-"

"Yes you do," I screamed. "You knew, didn't you?"

"What?" she asked, backing toward the door.

"You knew she was pregnant. That she was concerned about my feelings toward the subject. That's why you asked if we wanted lots of children together, isn't it?"

"What is the noise in here?" Dr. Gianni asked, coming into the room. "I was just doing my rounds and heard this ruckus."

"She's a thief!" I said, pointing to Hannah.

He looked at her. "Hannah, what is he talking about?"

"I don't know Doct-"

"She took Michael's letters to and from his wife. Never told him about them. Made it seem like his wife didn't care," Arthur replied.

The doctor sighed. "I should have known. Hannah, to my office. Private Moscovitz, I will see to it that you get your letters back. Hannah…she's….had problems. She recently found out that her fiancé Brian died. Right before you came in," he started. "And well, we didn't think it was wise for her to be so close to the sick when she was grieving…but well, she said it helped her. I was planning on having her assignment changed. I thought she was getting too attached to you. Michael, she isn't exactly right in the head right now. Please don't do anything too rash…"

"Right in the head?" Arthur chuckled. "That girl is a loon. A smart one though. Creative letting him think-

I gave him a look.

"And my deepest apologies to you and your wife," Dr. Gianni said turning a heel and walking out.

So it was just me and Arthur left in the room. I looked at him and realized at once that he was my wife's brother. The one she cried over. The one who left her all alone. I felt an immediate dislike towards him, but soon realized that I had done the same to her. Unintentionally, but still. But every word he'd said to me had been a lie.

"Who are you?" I asked.

"Arthur Jacques," he replied.

"No you aren't."

"Ah, so you have figured it out, have you?" he asked, coming to my bed.

I glared at him.

He put out his hand, "The name is Simon Artur Phillipe Grimaldi Renaldo. In some circles a simple Prince Simon will do," he said all that with a French accent that sounded very much like Mia's original one. Regal.

I shook it. "And my brother in law," I whispered.

He nodded. "I kind of knew, but couldn't be sure. So I got her address when you were telling Hannah where to send the letter to. Remember? A few weeks back you re-stated it to make sure it was arriving at the right place? I wrote it down and wrote to her." He lifted the letter she wrote to him. "She still loves you."

"I have to get to her," I replied. "She needs me."

"If I know my sister then yes, she does. She is the most helpless person I know. Did you know that one time we were on a little row boat and I fell in and she wouldn't help me back in?"

I gave him a look.

"Anyways, she was too concerned with mussing her new white skirt. Does that sound like your dear little Mia?"

I shook my head. What is he getting at?

"Michael….she's my little sister. And I basically deserted her. That's something I'll never forgive myself for. But it isn't my responsibility anymore. She is your wife. And she's having your baby. But it is my duty to get you back to her. Maybe she'll forgive me for leaving her."

I nodded, "She was really upset," I agreed. "Worried for you…" I continued. Then I realized he may have thought I married her because of the baby "..But I married her. But not because…"

"Clearly. You had no idea. Wait, you….before…."

Oh shit. "Um…."

He looked thoughtful, "I can't say too much without being hypocritical. I'm the one that she saw doing stuff with one of her ladies in waiting."

I smirked. She had told me it had been scarred into her memory.

"How's the leg?"

"Bone is healed," I replied. "Both of them. The left one is a pain though."

He shook his head, "I said, how's the leg?" he said, winking. "You know, for a physical to go home? Maybe next week?"

"Next week?" I asked. "When would we arrive in New York?"

He looked at the calendar by my bed. "Early August by my calculations."

I bit my lip. "We have to do it."

His face brightened. "We'll surprise her."

"Uhm, how long did you know about—"

"I saw your ring while we were on the ship. In the mess hall. I just thought it was a coincidence, but then I remembered that those were one of a kind. I was going to the engine room to speak with you when it all happened. To see how you got it."

"We didn't have any..." I started.

"It's fine," he assured me. "You guys did what you had to do. Now we'll do what we have to do."

The next evening Hannah came in the room. "I just want to apologize," she began. "I…what I did was irrational. But see," she started, looking at Simon who was not budging.

"Go on."

She looked at me for support. I didn't offer any.

"Anyways, here," she said handing me a bundle of letters. I saw Mia's neat handwriting on it. "She uh, sent some chocolate as well."

"That explains why you gave me a box of chocolate a few weeks ago," I mumbled.

"My sister sure does have taste," Simon replied, untying the string holding the letters together.

"Your…oh…God. Michael," she said, taking my hand. "I just…I fell in love with you."

I hid a smile, "How? You hardly even know me."

"It's like you said, you just…you just know. And once I saw you in your bed I knew."

I shook my head. "Then you should have kept your distance. I would…I couldn't love you Hannah. I'm happy with Mia."

"But she's so young," she argued.

I pulled my hand away from her. "No. She's perfect for me. How could you keep the fact that I'm going to be a father from me?"

She started crying. "I'm sorry…I just…I don't know what else to say."

I sighed heavily. I hated seeing girls cry. Even ones that tried to destroy my life. "Look, I know you loved Brian. You need to go home. Learn to live all over again," I explained. Mia probably thought she had to do this. Probably thought I…God knows what she thinks.

"You remembered his name?" she asked, wiping her tears away.

"Well, yeah. That's what friends do," I replied. "Go to him."

I passed inspection.Barely, but I still passed. I think that Simon convinced the nurse signing off on my release to let me go. I don't want to even enquire as to how but I'll assume that his charms are outstanding.I'm going home. I can only hope my letter to Mia will arrive before I do, so she'll know where to meet me. I hope she doesn't have the baby before I come home.

Mia:

I spent my nights up with Brie—that's what we were calling him. Gabe was too….I dunno. Not him. Of course, Grandmere will say that I named him after cheese, but she'll get over it. I'm sure she will.

So my days were spent with him. Feeding him. Changing his nappies. Washing used nappies. I still find it amazing that this time last year I had been so different. I was on a boat with a guardian. Now I was the guardian of a child.

I smiled at my now sleeping child and crept into my own bed. Well, my and Michael's bed.

I wondered how Randa was doing. If she'd had a healthy baby. If it was a girl or a boy. If she had found any happiness. Cuz she was wrong. I wasn't having the life she wanted with Kevin. That is, Michael wasn't around, and showed no signs of caring.

I started to cry. Soon everything would be going back to it was before the war. My hair was even going back to being blonde. Michael probably wouldn't recognize me. My mother had written to tell me that she and my father would be coming to New York to see their first grandchild. I hadn't told her about Michael's lack of enthusiasm. That he hadn't even written to ask about him.

Lilly and I decided to take Brie for walks every day. "It'll help you get your figure back," Dr. Moscovitz assured me. But I think he just wanted some peace and quiet; something rare with my son.

Not that I minded having him around. It kept my mind off of Michael. I was sad, however, that Michael may never get to see Gabriel.

"We better get him back to the apartment," Lilly said, putting him back into his carriage.

"Why?"

"Well, he needs a new diaper. Also, the paper said to watch for rain today. We wouldn't want to be stuck in a rainstorm, would we?"

So we started for the apartment. Only to have Mr. Robitussin run toward us before we reached the building. "Miss Mia," he said, out of breath.

"What is it?" I asked, worried. "Is it your son? Brian?"

"No, I saw this and got here as soon as I could," he replied. "I skipped the houses earlier on the route. I knew you'd want this as soon as possible. It's from London."

I stared at the envelope. It was Simon's handwriting. I looked at Lilly. "Thank you, sir," I said, hugging him. "I'll go straight up to my room to read it."

"How is the little one?" he asked, peeking into the carrier. "I bet his father will jump for joy."

I tightened my grasp on the letter. "Yes. I am sure he will. But we must go."

We rushed up the four floors. "I'll change him. You go read," Lilly said as I reached for Gabriel.

"Are you-"

"He's my nephew. I can handle it. Go."

I went into my bedroom and opened the letter quickly.

Dearest Little Sister-

I thought I would write you a quick note before I leave—yes, leave. I will be shipping out and going to New York. I am told that there will be quite a celebration upon our arrival, but they will not say why. I assume that those arrogant Americans believe they have the Japanese right where they want them. I cannot be sure, of course.

As I write this my roommate here is recuperating very well. He just had surgery recently, but wants to return to his sweetheart and soon recovered. He never shuts up about her. Almost makes me wish I had someone special back home.

I'll settle for you sister dear. And of course, this child of yours. I hope this letter gets to you before the little one is born. So I can tell you to name the baby, if it's a boy, Simon after it's wonderful uncle. Or Simone if it's a girl. I think it's only proper for the child to be named after the future crowned prince of Genovia, don't you?

Anyways, I will meet you in what I am told is Times Square. My friends from New York will bring me to this place called Frankie's Pizza. Be there on August ninth, but listen to the news reports. We may be later than that.

Love Simon

Four days. I'd see him in four days. "Lilly!" I screamed, waving the letter. She set Brie down for his nap.

"What?"

"He's coming. Here. Four days!"

"Who?"

"My brother! Simon! Four days!" I exclaimed, waving the letter.

She started jumping up and down with me. Gabriel started crying. "Girls, baby, crying," Mrs. Moscovitz said, coming into the room.

"Simon is coming home!" I cried.

She bit her lower lip to stop herself from tearing up. "I am very happy for you dear. But we must remember, we still have someone else there."

I held Gabriel close to me that night after I fed him. It had been determined that Mrs. Moscovitz would stay with Gabriel while I went to meet with Michael.

But the next morning life as we knew it changed.

The atomic age had begun.