It's time for the vacation Mia spoke of in A Tale of Love. Ready for another adventure?

"Mia!"

Mia, head down, walked from her closet into the bedroom, finding a very frustrated Nicholas. "Yes?"

"How many suitcases does one person need for a three week vacation?"

Mia shifted from one foot to the other. "A...a lot."

"Amelia..."

Now she knew she was in trouble. When Nicholas used her entire name, there was no backing out. "But darling, a girl needs a lot of clothing for a trip!"

"Can't you just wash things?"

"No...not really. You know that Grandma and I are making appearances. We can't possibly wear the same things all the time, can we?"

"But Mia..."

"Nicholas....please..." She walked up to him and stood on her tip toes so she was face to face with him. She let out her bottom lip and frowned. "Pretty please?"

"Oh...alright." He wrapped his arms around her in a hug and placed a kiss on top of her head. "But now we're going to have to get more luggage because I know you will be bringing many things back with you from California."

Mia looked up at him and smiled. "You, sir, are absolutely correct!" She kissed him lightly and then ran back to the closet, packing more things.

"Mia...how many more suitcases are in there? We have to leave in a half hour! You don't have much more time to pack you know!"

"Only two more! You can tell the boys they can take those six down!" she yelled from inside the closet. Nicholas sighed and went to get some help with the suitcases.

Nicholas and Mia walked downstairs a half hour later, ready to go...finally. Nicholas had been frustrated that Mia had brought so many clothes, but he could never resist her loving nature. Mia skipped up to her Grandmother's suite and knocked on the door. "Grandma! Grandpa! Come out, come out! It's time to go to California!"

She turned around and smiled at Nicholas. Nothing could contain her excitement. She had a little surprise for him that needed to be told at just the right moment.

"I can see you're very excited, my little Mia. Ready to go home?"

"Very ready." She kissed his cheek and took his hand as the door opened. Joe stepped out, looking almost as frustrated as Nicholas. "Grandpa...you don't look very happy."

"I have always wondered as to how one woman can have so many pieces of clothing that are all nessecary for one trip."

Nicholas let go of Mia's hand and put his arm around Joe's shoulders. "I understand perfectly, Joe. You and I are in the same boat. How many?"

"Including my own?"

"Nope, just hers."

"Seven."

"Ah, Mia beat her this time. She got it all into eight."

Joe laughed and looked down, clapping Nicholas on the back. "Son, we will never succeed in this situation will we?"

"Afraid not."

"I must agree with both of you." Mia smiled at her Grandmother's perfect entrance as Clarisse took Joe's hand. "And you know not to argue any more, don't you Joseph?"

Joe kissed her hand and smiled at the young couple in front of he and his wife. "I have learned that to keep silent while packing for a trip has given me much peace."

Nicholas and Mia laughed. "Well, are we ready to go?" Mia asked. She was anxious to get moving and on the plane to California.

Clarisse, Joe, and Nicholas all smiled at each other and answered at the same time. "Yes, Mia."

Mia laughed. "I'm sorry, I'm just very anxious."

Nicholas kissed her cheek. "Don't worry dear, we couldn't even tell."

They all laughed again as they made their way out to the limos, ready to start their three weeks of vacation in San Francisco.