You guys still rock very much. The story picks up the pace in the next few chapters.

"So can I see her?" I asked, snapping a little. I just want to get this all over with.

He stood up. "She's in the bath tub."

"Okay," I replied, walking towards the door of the bathroom.

"Wait," he said quickly, reaching out and grabbing me by the arm. The warm touch of his skin against mine sent shivers up my spine.

"I still remember where the bathroom is, Michael," I told him.

"It's not that," he said, looking both awkwardly and away from me. "It's just...she doesn't really know who you are..."

I cleared my throat. "As in her mother? Or as in the princess of a country?"

"As in both," he admitted weakly.

I glared at him. How could he not have told her about me? I'm her MOTHER for crying out loud!

Though I can't say I've been the best mother since I left...but still! Didn't she ever wonder who I was?

"Look, don't be angry. You left. I was angry, and she was too young to remember you. So I kind of glossed over the whole "Your mother left us," part. No kid wants to know their mother didn't want them enough to stay in the country."

"It wasn't like that," I said, though I wasn't at all sure it wasn't true.

"Wasn't it?" he asked bitterly. Then he shook his head. "It's all in the past. You've moved on, I've moved on, we've all moved on. But I don't want to introduce you to Olivia while she's in the bathtub and can't run away."

"You think she's going to want to run away from me?" I asked, a little hurt.

"Remember when your dad told you that you were a princess and you ran to the zoo? Well, imagine that, only a stranger in your father's shoes, and a tub restricting your limits. If nothing else she's at least going to run behind my legs. She's a little shy."

I nodded. "Fair enough. So, can you get her out?"

"Go make yourself a cup of coffee. We'll be out in about five minutes." He turned to leave, but then turned back to me again. "Wait, I don't know if this is such a good idea."

"Well we've got to do something. I want to take her back to Genovia with me."

"Whoa," he said, spinning right around. "You can't just come here and take her away from me. Cancer or no cancer, she's still my daughter too and I've raised her!"

"Well what did you think I'd come here for Michael? Just a little of catch up time?"

"Obviously not. Clearly your royal duties take priority once again."

"What is that supposed to mean?" I asked, crossing my arms and facing him squarely.

"Just that your first love is, always has been, and always will be, your crown. And anything that stands in the way of that is roadkill to you."

I glared as best as I could at him. And my glaring ability is the one thing (and hopefully only thing) I inherited from Grandmere.

He sighed. "How about we just introduce you as a friend of mine, and then we'll talk about letting her visit you in Genovia later. You can drop the bombshell on her then."

"Well," I said rather snottily. "If you want to lie to your daughter by saying that we're friends, then that's your prerogative."

"Our daughter," he pointed out, shooting me down.

"Whatever. I'll be in the kitchen."

My hands were shaking by the time I opened the coffee jar and made myself a cup. I really need this to calm me down. I didn't think this would be so hard. I thought I'd walk in, take her and walk away again.

Well, when you put it like that it sounds like kidnapping, but I just mean I didn't think there'd be this much resistance.

A few minutes later and my hands were stable. Then a little girl walked into the room and I almost fell off my stool.

She stared up uneasily at me, her big brown eyes sucking me in like her fathers used to all those years ago. "Hi," she said quietly, playing with a strand of wet, blonde hair.

I bent down to her level and struggled to find my voice. "Hi," I finally managed. "You must be Olivia."

She nodded, then turned around and headed straight for the comfort of the tall pair of legs standing in the doorway. Legs I hadn't even realized were there.

I stood up straight again to see Michael was grinning at me. Or at the situation, I'm not sure. After all, it looks to me like the girl hates me already, and she doesn't even know who I am yet! That'd sure put a smile on daddy's face.

"Olivia, sweetie," Michael said, shocking me with the calm, gentle voice he was using. "This is the lady I wanted you to meet. This is Mia."

Her little blonde head stuck out the side of Michael's right leg. She was sucking her thumb as urgently as if it had honey smeared on it. "Hi," she said again. "Nice to meet you."

Well, he's taught the girl manners, I'll give him that. Grandmere would be impressed. Maybe she won't need as many princess lessons as I did.

"Who are you?" she asked, causing me to look up from her pretty face and into Michael's. Who am I?

"She's just a friend, honey. She's going to be hanging around for a while, she wants to get to know you."

He makes my intentions sound so much nicer than I would have. I feel like an ass.

She nodded and removed her thumb. "Is she coming to dinner, daddy?"

"No," we both said in unison.

He looked at me. "We always go out to dinner on Monday nights. Just to Chuck-E-Cheese. It's tradition."

"Oh," I said, wondering what other little traditions they have...Wondering what I missed out on.

No, I didn't miss out on anything. Michael's the one who missed out on me when he slept with that whore. I didn't miss out on anything...

Though looking into that adorable little face, I can't help but let my firm beliefs waver a little.

Maybe I did miss out on something.

Don't be afraid to tell Schwartzibrow what you think. Schwartzibrow loves constructive criticism. And praise--if you have any.