Author's note: Thanks for reviewing hpfan99, KP, leigha, End-of-ur-world and DI PEKKA! I can't even describe how much I appreciate your reviews xD. And here is the next chapter! To tell you the truth it lacks excitement, but I hope that by this chapter you get to know Mia's past and who she actually is better. Her past in this story is far different than in the books, so she is a bit different person herself, too. Anyway, enjoy the chapter!

When love turns to hate and friendship deepens

Chapter 2 – You can't change the past
Mia's POV

I sat in the balcony and stared at the sky, admiring the full moon and shining stars. Somewhere in the distance I could hear an owl hooting and waves crashing against the cliff. It was so peaceful, I thought wistfully, but not for long.

I recalled the happenings of the past day, the magnificent ball that Grandmeré had arranged in honour of my eighteenth birthday. It had been a memorable event, with all my closest friends present. It had been an evening filled with laughter and joy, But now… now all that happiness just felt so distant.

Most of the guests had already left, when I received a phone call from the States. I expected it to be my mom, since she was probably the only one who ever called me from the USA. And well, it wasn't my mom, but it was about my mom.

"Yes" I answered the phone, expecting to hear my Mother's cheerful voice greeting me.

"Good evening, Your Highness. This is Doctor Anderson and I have some bad news about your mother" A strange voice started carefully. My hands tightened around the receiver as I sat down to the couch shaken.

"Yes…?" I managed to blurt out.

"She was in a car accident yesterday. Her arm and some of her ribs were broken and she had small internal bleeding so we had to operate her. I'm sorry to inform you about this so late, but it took time to identity her because she had no ID with her" He informed me, speaking very slowly and clearly, very doctor-likely. I laid my head against the back of the couch and sent out a little prayer. She wasn't dead. She wasn't dead, thank god.

"Is she alright now?" I asked worried and saw Katie, one of my closest friends, enter the room. She run in eagerly and was about to say something, but I put my finger on my lips and silently told her not to.

"She is in the intensive care unit and her condition is stable"

"Is she in coma?"I asked, massaging the back of my head with my free hand.The coma –word really caught Katie off guard. She sat next to me and took my hand in hers as to support me. She had an inquiring expression, but I didn't say anything. Just waited for the doctor to answer.

"No. She is still sleeping because we anaesthetized her so strongly, but she should wake up in the morning"

We still talked for a while, until the doctor had to go to some operation. I still asked for the hospital number and gave him mine personal number asking him to inform me when my mother woke up. With shaking hands I put the receiver down and walked to the window. Katie followed me asking what had happened and who was in the hospital, and I told her reluctantly about it. Don't take me wrong, because Katie is a good friend and I love her to bits, but I wanted to be alone.

She still stayed with me for half an hour, but eventually she had to leave home. I went to the balcony and sat down to one of the benches.

And here I still sat, listening to the voices of the night and wondering what to do.

I wanted to go there, I really did, but there was a problem… Problem called Grandmeré. She would get a fit if I even so much as suggested about going to the States. Parliament election was going to be in few short weeks and even Genovian Independence Day was coming up. My present wasn't absolutely necessary in the first one, but Genovian Independence Day was something I could no pass, so the leaving was more or less out of question.

But what about my mom, I thought sadly. She needs me, and I need to go. I couldn't concentrate on anything if I knew that my mom was lying in a hospital bed seriously injured, and alone. I was her only family member alive, since her mother and father had died recently.

I must go, I decided as I stood up. Whatever Grandmeré says I must go. And with determination I went to search for the devil herself.

"No, no and NO. You are not going, and that's it" She broke my ideas that instant, staring at me as seriously as you could with drowsy eyes. But I wasn't going to give up so easily, oh no. I stood up and started to pace around the room.

"My mother is badly injured and I'm the only family member she has alive. She needs me" I stated.

Grandmeré wrinkled her nose. "But Amelia, Genovia needs you. One person's needs are nothing compared-"

I cut her off. "You don't know how many times I have heard that. All those times when I asked you if I could go to visit my mom in New York you threw that at my face. And I gave up. But this time, this time, I'm going and there is no way you can change my mind" I said as I sat back down and tried to gather back the confidence I had had when I had decided to come to her. It didn't work, but there was no way I was going to show her that I wasn't so confident inside as I looked.

"Amelia, you are needed here" She continued stubbornly.

"You can do without me for a month. You did just fine when I was on tour in Africa, and I'm sure you'll do just fine this time, too." I sighed. She was determined to change my mind, but I was even more determined to go. I looked her in the eyes and tried not to wince as I saw her angry glare.

"She has her parents. They'll –"

"They're fucking dead! And you know that!" I screamed at her, losing the little self-control I had had. I fell in silence, as she started to look not only angry but murderous.

"Don't you dare to speak to me like that! Swear words are something royals don't use!" Even her dear poodle hid under the table as he heard her tone. Grandmeré didn't raise her voice often, but when she did… Even the bravest statesmen run away for their lives.

"I'm sorry for swearing, but I'm not sorry for telling you" I said trying to look confident, even my legs had begun to tremble. I searched for the calmer voice as I tried a different approach: "Look, I haven't been in USA for 10 years. Genovia is my home, and I love this country, but New York is my childhood home. I miss the city and I miss my mom. I'd much rather go there with your permission, but if you don't give your permission… Well, I'm going anyway."

She still looked unsure, but unsure was far better than murderous. Before she could say anything I started again: "I'm only asking for three weeks. I'll be back before the Independence Day, I promise. And… And, for god's sake she is my mum. I couldn't live with myself if I had left her alone on a moment like this... Please"

"I'm coming with you" Katie announced as I told her about my plans. I stopped midway with my packing and watched her confused. It took me a while to really understand what she was saying.

"What?" I choked out after a moment.

"I'm coming with you"

"No way. You have-"

"I'm coming with you. There's absolutely no way I'm letting you go alone. So better prepare yourself for a company" She said decisively. I gave her a wondering look before I went to look for my favourite pair of jeans. Two maids were standing in the corner, probably desperate that I was actually packing myself. Usually it was them who packed my belongings if I left somewhere, but seriously, this wasn't exactly any state visit and I didn't want to find my bag filled with gowns and skirt suits when I opened it in New York.

"I have Lars with me" I told her carefully as I came back carrying the jeans, but she just shook her head.

"Lars isn't really that much of a friend. And friend is what you need. And besides, I have always wanted to visit USA and even my dad can't really say anything against it when I tell him that I'm going with you." She said sitting on my bed legs crossed and viewing her manicured nails.

"Are you going to say that you've been hired as a royal escort?" I asked amused and she looked up at me with a smile.

"Sure. It does sound cool, doesn't it?" She winked and then stood up. "When are you leaving?"

"Tonight. I would've wanted to leave earlier, but our private jet is in maintenance and won't be ready until evening." I said quickly before I hurried back to my walk-in clothes closet. Katie followed me and leaned against the doorknob and watched as I rummaged one of my boxes.

"How is your mom?" She asked after a while. I sighed and sat to the floor finally giving up to exhaustion. I hadn't slept that much in the night, and it was starting to take effect.

I closed my eyes and tried to pull the worry somewhere unreachable. "She woke up about an hour ago. She is weak and hurting, but doctors ensured me that she is going to be fine. They let me talk with her a while and she just cried, just cried. Do you know why?"

"No. Why?"

"Because I told her I was coming to New York. She just cried that her little girl was finally coming home… Katie, it really broke my heart. She has never said that she wanted me to come there so desperately" I said as a sad smile played on my lips.

"She knew you had responsibilities here and she didn't have a heart to drag you away" Katie told me quietly and I nodded. That was the same conclusion as the one that I had come up with.

"All these years I thought that she didn't want me there" I started again. "During the years I've asked her numerous times if she wanted me to come to New York, but she said it wasn't important. She would rather come here, not wanting to drag me away from Genovia… I should've known that she was lying" I muttered under my breath. It felt wonderfully relieving to tell everything to another person.

"You can't undo all the years, you can just change the future. And now you are doing the right thing, going to New York, going to her" I knew she was right, but it still hurt to know that I hadn't realized my mother's true feelings before. If I had, we could be much closer now, not just a girl and a woman who meet twice a year. We could be a mom and a daughter in the words true meaning.

But there is no good to think what ifs, I thought and shook my head. What has been done, has been done. As Katie said, you can't change your past, but you can affect on your future. And future is what really matters.

I hope you all liked. And replies are (once again 'wink') more than welcome!

- Heini xx