After dinner all the princesses retired to the parlour for Gabby and Ayesha's show.

Camilla chose that moment to arrive, ready to collect Ayesha.

"What's going on?" she asked, at the sight of everyone dressing up in their finery.

"Shhh." said Bianca putting her finger on her lips. "We're about to have a song."

She gestured for Camilla to quickly join them on the couch. They waited for Gabby and Ayesha to emerge from the curtains. The two little girls looked ridiculously serious as they sang and danced 'the wheels on the bus' song in their princess dresses. Bianca had to stop her grin turning into a giggle. Especial the way Ayesha seemed to be yelling the words of the song rather than singing them. At some point she had clearly decided being loud was better than being in tune.

When the song was finished the audience gave the girls a rousing round of applause.

Spurred on by their success Gabby, made little rambling speech about their next song being the smiling song 'specially for Miranda, and then started singing 'The Ugly Bug Ball'.

This time Ayesha didn't know all the words, but she shouted along loudly to the few she knew and bounced along beside Gabby's dancing.

There was more happy applause when they were done.

"You're turn." said Gabby, jumping onto the couch next to Marissa. Ayesha climbed up beside her mom.

"My turn?" asked Marissa.

"You all have to do something for M'anda or it isn't a show!" said Gabby.

"Come on." said Bianca, "Don't be scared."

"I'm not scared." said Marissa, getting up from the couch. "I'll have you know I'm a professional. I had the lead role in the middle school production of Annie."

"You were Annie?" asked Bianca, her smile growing. "Perfect casting."

"Is that a red head comment?" teased Marissa. "Yes, I played Annie, but I will have you know I got the part for my singing voice."

"Please sing a song from Annie!" Miranda asked.

"Okay." said Marissa.

She gave them a rendition of 'Tomorrow', hamming it up terribly just to make Bianca and Miranda laugh.

They all applauded eagerly when she was done.

"I think that means it's your turn." said Marissa, retaking her seat on the couch and giving Bianca a pointed smile.

"I'm fine with that." said Bianca, getting to her feet, with a little help from Miranda. "As this is a princess party I think a Disney song would be appropriate. Which would you like Miranda?"

Miranda thought for a moment, with Gabby chanting in her ear 'Little Mermaid… Little Mermaid… Little Mermaid…'

"Can you sing 'Part of this World' from the Little Mermaid?" Miranda asked, making her baby sister cheer with delight.

"Okay!" said Bianca, "If I can remember it all."

She sung her song, much more seriously than Marissa had. Thanks to Gabby's repeated viewing of her favourite Disney film she actually did know every word. Her audience were listening entranced. Ayesha was leaning against her mom's side with her head nodding. It was clearly almost her bedtime.

The applause was just as enthusiastic when she finished, waking Ayesha up from her doze in the process.

"Can you do something," Gabby asked, looking to Camilla now.

Camilla had been looking down at Ayesha, thinking about taking her home, and was a little thrown by the request.

"Well I can't sing. I could tell you a poem?" she suggested.

"It's fine if you want to get Ayesha to bed." said Marissa, giving her a way out.

"No, I can do a quick one in Miranda's honour."

She recited 'The Porcupine' by Roal Dahl, a funny little poem about the dangers of not looking where you sit, which made then all grin.

Camilla's poem was the last act in the show and it was decided that it was time for the little ones to go to bed.

Ayesha was happy to let her mommy scoop her up in her arms and carry her home. Camilla promised to return the fancy dress in the morning.

Gabby however looked less than happy about bedtime.

"Come on." said Marissa, scooting Gabby up from the couch. "You've had a very busy evening and it's time for bed. If you're quick I'll read you one story."

If there was a bedtime story in it for her that was a whole different matter; Gabby hurried away.

Miranda got up too.

"It's not your bed-time yet." said Bianca, watching her eldest heading for the door with concern.

"I know." said Miranda, "But I have a lot of happy thoughts to write down before I go to sleep."

"You've had a good night then?"

"The best!" said Miranda, she was actually smiling. Smiles before bedtime was something Bianca hadn't seen from Miranda in quite a while.

…