October 29th, 2004

Week 36

She was in the last stretch. These last weeks were going slowly. She could become a mother at any moment and that idea frightened and excited her. Amelia stretched and rubbed her back. She waddled towards the stairs.

"Michael?" She called out. There was silence. "Mom?" There still was no response, "Charlotte?" Panic started to swell in Amelia's chest. "Did everyone die?" Amelia walked towards the conference room. She heard movement in there. Her heart began to pound. She opened up the door and in a blur of Pink and purple fear, people jumped from all corners and screamed:

"SURPRISE" Amelia stumbled back with large eyes staring at everyone. It was a baby shower.

"Oh My god." Amelia touched her chest. "You guys didn't..."

"We did." Helen rushed over to her daughter and hugged her, "Charlotte and I have been planning it for weeks."

"I'm so...surprised." Amelia laughed. Michael leaned over and kissed his wife's cheek.

"There's a bigger surprised." he pointed over to the corner where Lilly and Jeremiah stood.

"Oh my god!" Amelia squealed. Lilly and she ran into each other's arms. "You're here! I cannot believe that You're here

"Well, I wanted to be here when my first nieces was born." Lilly said kissing her cheek. Amelia reached over and took Jeremiah's hands.

"Thank you for coming." She said turning around, "Thank you for coming, everyone. This is such a surprise."

"We are so glad you didn't catch on." Clarice said showing her granddaughter over to an over stuffed chair, "Relax. We have presents and food. What would you like first?"

"Food. Defentally food." Amelia said as Lilly sat next to her, "When did the two of you get in?"

"Last night. Michael hid us away." Lilly laughed. "I was dying to come see you though."

"Im so glad that You're here." Amelia said. Michael walked over to her and handed her a plate of chicken and rice.

"Here you go." He said.

"Thank you." Amelia said, "I cannot believe you hid Lilly and Jeremiah away."

"That was my job in this whole thing." Michael said sitting across from Jeremiah. The two men began talking about something that didn't catch Amelia's attention. She looked around. There were so many people here. There was no way she'd be able to go through all the gifts today. Maybe she and Michael could open some later.

"The food is delicious." Amelia said.

"Your grandmother flew some chef from France in." Lilly said. Amelia shook her head. She still couldn't believe all of this was happening.

Everyone was laughing and having a good time as Amelia opene dup a few of the gifts. Lilly ran over and handed her a gift bag.

"I hope you like it." Lilly said. Amelia reached into the bag and pulled out a silky jacket that had silk roses on the labels..

"Oh, Lilly." Amelia gasped, "This is utterly gorgeous."

"It's kind of a family heirloom." She said, "I wore it home from the hospital, my mom and my aunts wore it home from the hospital, and I thought my nieces could wear it home from the hospital."

"She will." Amelia said carefully folding the jacket up and putting it into the bag again, "Im getting pretty tired. Maybe we should save the rest of the gifts for another time." Michael nodded.

"Anything you want." He said, "If everyone will excuse us, Miss Amelia is requesting a rest."

"Miss Amelia." She giggled as Michael helped her up. "Thank you all for coming. It is truly a blessing to have such good friends." She said as Michael led her out of the room.

"So was this a success?" Michael asked as he walked upstairs with her. Amelia nodded.

"A big one." She said, "It's a perfect ending to such a perfect pregnancy." Amelia kissed Michael's cheek. It felt good to have people pay attention to her and give her presents. A real woman never turned gifts away.


November 12th, 2004

Week 38

Genovia was beautiful in November. Michael had to admit it. The snow looked so beautiful on the leafless treees. But this type of weather didn't seem to improve his mood. Lilly walked up behind him on the balcony.

"You're going to catch your death out here." She said zipping up her jacket.

"You sound like Grandma." He said looking at his little sister.

"She was a smart woman." Lilly said looking out onto the grounds, "You guys are really lucky to have this."

"I know." He said. Lilly looked at him.

"Okay, spill it." She said.

"Spill what?" Michael asked.

"You're in a mood. I can tell." Lilly said, "I could tell you were in a mood when we spoke on the phone last month. That is another reason why I flew here. You're scared aren't you?"

"It shows dosent it?" Michael asked leaning against the railing.

"Just a little." Lilly said, "is it the baby?"

"She's going to be here any day now." Michael said, "I'm not scared of becoming a father because I know I'll be a great father, but I'm afraid of what's out there that will affect her. There are drawbacks to being the new princess of Genovia."

"I know there are." Lilly said, "You're afraid of paparazzi chasing you guys onto the way to the hospital and losing control of the car. You're worried they're going to follow her on her first day of kindergarten."

"Yeah I am." Michael said.

"You just need to get over those fears." Lilly said. "I still have people coming up to me asking for interview and stuff."

"Is it bad still over there?" He asked.

"It's increased now that the baby is almost here. There are a few pools going on I noticed." Lilly chuckled. "Remember when you were eight and made it into the local paper?"

"Yes." Michael finally smiled, "That week was hell."

"But you got over it." Lilly said, "The press is going to die down, I promise. They're just excited the baby is coming. Within a month, only one photographer will be following you opposed to twenty."

"I hope You're right." Michael said, "Let's go inside. You're going to catch your death out here."

"You sound like Grandma." Lilly winked as they walked back inside, "Just think, Mike, at any moment you could have a gorgeous little girl in your arms...and I'm here to help you guys out."

"We'll need it." Michael said, "I've been reading about newborns and they take...a lot of work." Lilly laughed as they walked towards her room.

"They are a lot of work. Don't worry. I'm here." She said.

"Thanks, Sis." Michael kissed her cheek, "I need to go check on Mia."

"I'll see you for dinner." Lilly said walking into her room. Jeremiah sat at a table sipping some tea and watching television. "He is freaking out."

"Who is?" Jeremiah said not taking his eyes off of the screen.

"Michael." Lilly said sitting next to Jeremiah, "he's worrying about every little thing about the baby. Things that might not even happen." Finally Jeremiah looked at her.

"Well, thats only natural. I know when we have kids, I'll be a worry wart." Jeremiah said, "Especially when it's my first." Lilly cocked her eyebrow.

"When we have kids?" She asked.

"I mean...you know we're going to have kids someday." Jeremiah said. Lilly chuckled and nodded.

"Someday yes. Way in the future." She said falling down onto her bed. "I want to finish school first."

"And get married first." Jeremiah said. Lilly sat up on her elbows.

"Well, yeah. That'd be ideal." She said, "But if an accident happened, I wouldn't be sorry."

"Me either." Jeremiah said. Lilly smiled at him. It was fun talking about this kind of stuff, even though Lilly couldn't see it happening for a long time yet. For right now, she was content on becoming an aunt.