It was the eve of the gala and many of the nations found themselves bustling around with last minute details. After all, preparations for the grand gala would last most of the day, so the nations wished for it to be as easy as possible.

Dinner was rather small, a simple soup to combat the cold and some freshly baked bread. The personfications all ate happily, chattering the ears off one another. Nobody had been this excited for the gala in centuries, when Canada was attending the first time.

After the warm meal, Amelia took a nice shower and shaved, assuring she was smooth for tomorrow. She put her hair in a french braid and made sure everything was in order in her closet. When she got dressed into her red, silk nightgown, she found herself rather jittery. This was going to be her first gala in a long time and she was rather nervous. 

Slipping on the matching robe and some white slippers, she went down to the kitchen to make herself a calming cup of tea. That's when she found a bunch of the micronations and child nations had already been in the kitchen, turning it into a zoo.

"Well, it's pretty late for you kids to be up and about," she leaned on the doorframe with her arms crossed. Many of the kids stopped in their tracks, but Sealand didn't.

"We can't sleep! So we wanted food! Dinner was terribly small!" he complained holding his stomach. Amelia chuckled into her fist and nodded, finding herself in this familiar predicament many times before.

"Yes, we are very hungry. We are still growing after all!" Latvia had added. Moldova was basically crying as he rubbed his tummy, while Wy was blushing at being caught.

"Well, how about I give you all a cookie with some warm milk? Then if you're still rowdy, I'll read you all a story by the fireplace in the library," the kids all cooed at the idea and nodded, "good, now run along and get comfortable. I'll bring in the cookies and milk," they all ran off smiling, making Amelia laugh softly.

She began to prepare the warm milk and honey while placing one cookie for each child on a plate. While she was doing this, she forgot about her own tea. She just scurried to the library with the tray of goodies, unaware of the eldest nation following her. Once she got into the library, she found the kids all had a settled place by the fire. She set the tray down and gave a napkin, cookie, and mug to each one of them.

"Which story are you going to read to us?" Seborga asked as he sipped his milk. Amelia put a finger to her chin and went to the fiction section of the library, quickly she didn't like the selection of books. She sighed but softly smiled, sitting down in the middle of the group. She put a blanket over her legs, as to make sure she was covered.

"How about I tell you a story instead? About something that really happened," Amelia smiled coyly as she saw the smaller personfications get excited a bit.

"What's it about?" Moldova asked as he cuddled a stuffed animal.

"It's about a lonely little girl and how she grew up,"

"Sounds boring," Ladonia and Hutt River both scoffed. Amelia clicked her tongue.

"Oh, boys. It's quite the opposite, but if you don't want to hear it~"

"I want to hear it! Please tell us! Pretty please with a spoonful of sugar on top!" Sealand pleaded. Amelia chuckled and nodded, getting herself comfortable. All the children quieted down as Amelia began to tell the story.

"Well, it was sunrise when the little girl came into the world. Her mother was so happy as she gazed down upon her precious daughter, who smiled back at her. The little girl laughed at her mother's face, always seeming to wear a smile,"

"She sounds like you," Wy joked, making Amelia laugh.

"This little girl was named Makawee, the name meaning 'mothering'. This was because the great wise women of the tribes told the mother that her new daughter would become a generous and nurturing soul. The girl did in fact grow to be nurturing, having always been so selfless and kind. She was like a princess to the tribes around her,"

"Wait, you said she was lonely?" Hutt River interrupted. Amelia frowned and nodded.

"The mother loved her daughter so much, but knew that one day she would have to leave her precious child behind. She knew her time was coming fast, so she tried to spend as much time as she could with her. She even taught her a lullaby to sing whenever she got sad,"

"If you know it, can you sing it for us?" Kugelmugel asked. Amelia once again nodded and cleared her throat.

https://youtu.be/pB9W5PntH3s

"Wow," Moldova's eyes began to shut as he slowly drifted to sleep. Amelia noticed the song really put a good chunk of them to sleep right away. Sealand, Latvia, and Wy were the only ones awake.

"When the mother did leave, it made Makawee very sad. But, she took comfort in one thing," Amelia gestured to the windows, "the stars. Makawee loved to wish upon stars, believing that all the great spirits that became stars would one day answer her. She often stayed up late and sang the song to them, hoping to make the stars happy,"

"Did Makawee make them happy?" Sealand laid his head on her lap. Amelia gently brushed his head and nodded.

"She did, she made them very happy. She went on many adventures to assure she made them happy. She became a very powerful warrior because of the stars and helped save many people,"

"She did?" Latvia asked as his eyes began to flutter. Amelia nodded and took a deep breath, singing the lullaby again for the children. Once she was finished, she smiled at the sleeping children. She then looked to the window and gazed at the stars, beginning to tear up.

"I hope I made you proud, mama," she whispered as she wiped her cheeks.

"You seem to be very alike to this Makawee girl, aru," China suddenly came out from one of the shelves, "I wonder why," he smiled down to her and looked to the children around them, "she named you right, you are a fine mother, aru,"

"Yao, Jesus you scared me," she chuckled and sighed, "so you found out the secret? Makawee is actually me,"

"It is hard to believe you are of Native American heritage, you are so white, aru,"

"Yeah, I know right. That's why a lot of my other siblings kinda didn't like me. Only my elder sister," Amelia painfully laughed, making Yao frown.

"Come, let us put the children to bed," he helped her put the kids in their rooms, situating everything and tucking all of them into their beds. That's when Amelia realized what she had been originally doing.

"Oh my God, I forgot I wanted tea," she groaned as she rubbed her face. China laughed at her and nodded, gently guiding her to the parlor.

"I made some already, we can share," he offered as he sat her down on a cushioned chair. He poured her a cup and handed it to her, smiling softly.

"Xièxiè," was all she said before she took a nice sip. Her entire body began to feel more relaxed as she continued to sip her tea, "this is divine, Yao. Best tea I've had in a while,"

"That is so nice, aru. I'm happy you like it," he drank his tea as well, seemingly content, "you know, I also raised a few children. What do you like best about it?" Amelia had to think, pondering for a moment.

"Well, their first words are always the best. Same as their first steps. But, I feel like a mother most when I see what they've accomplished. When they graduate a school, when they win an award, when they feel proud of themselves, or when they just feel confident. It's an extension of my love flowing through them. My love, time, energy, and care is acknowledged when they feel proud of themselves,"

"I agree aru, though I must say it hurts when they become too independent. They feel like they don't need you anymore and it hurts, aru," Amelia felt bad and put down her cup.

"My children know they still need me, even though most of them do work good jobs and can even beat people up. They don't forget why they are who they are and appreciate me as a mother and a woman,"

"Then you are blessed with wonderful children," Yao put down his empty cup. His head bowed with sadness, making Amelia feel worse, "all of my children have left me because they became well enough on their own. I, now, live with only one child who refuses to even associate with me. Leon,"

"Leon is your son?" Amelia knew that Hong Kong was a joint child of England and China, but she was acting just to preserve her idenity.

"That's right,"

"Wow," she chuckled, "he's the same age as my elder children," Amelia smiled fondly as she remembered finding Delaware, her first child.

Amelia was walking around the small town in Delaware, her embroider Hungarian gown showing her massive wealth. Many people parted ways from her, as to not filthy her flawless garb. Many talked in whispers around her, assumingly talking about her beauty. A dashing man approached her, bowing and kissing her hand.

"My lady, what may I ask are you doing walking amongst the peasant folk? Surely you must need a strong male escourt to assure you arrive home unharmed," Amelia rolled her eyes.

"I see myself as a simple maiden, no richer nor poorer than a common maiden. I walk where I please, it is my freedom to do so. I need not an escourt, as I am plenty capable of protecting my own self," she answered, slightly offended at the assumption she was a weak damsel. He was about to retort when a man came from a shop.

"Someone stop that boy! He has stolen a loaf of bread from my stand!" the crowd parted ways a the dirty child ran swiftly through the crowd. The man who was talking to Amelia caught the boy's collar, looking at him disapprovingly.

"Such a naughty child," he scolded as he was about to hand off the child to the stand owner.

"Halt your movements," Amelia commanded to the man, who stopped out of pure fear of Amelia's authority, "release the child," he did as told. She gently knelt to the child, getting eye to eye, "young man, why have you stolen this bread from the baker?" the boy still hadn't looked her in the eyes, "young man,"

He looked at her with sad, green eyes. His lips were quivering and his body was shaking. He clearly had been on his own for a while, judging by how filthy and skinny he was.

"I-I apologize, but I am hungry. I have not had a bite to eat in days,"

"Where are your parents?" the man asked.

"I have none, sir," Amelia felt sad and pulled a few coins from a small satchel.

"This is to pay for the bread," she gave the money to the stand owner, who nodded gruffly before going back to his stand. She then gently took the child's hand, "come back to my estate, young one. I will feed you a nice meal and get you some nice clothes,"

"Thank you, ma'am. You are kind," she gently guided him back to her estate, waiting to be far away enough for her to converse with him without fear of someone eavesdropping.

"You are a personfication, just as I am," she told the boy, who nodded, "who are you?"

"I am Delaware, I have no name other than that," Amelia looked down as she opened her door to him.

"We will think of something, for now I shall give you a bath,"

After a warm bath and new clothes, Delaware was given a bowl of stew. Amelia stared lovingly at him as she fed him, grazing his lips with a handkerchief to assure he didn't dirty himself.

"May I call you 'mom' now?" he asked. Amelia nearly cried at the thought, but nodded.

"Yes, you may. I will name you David, do you like that name?" Delaware nodded rapidly and hugged Amelia, both of them crying.

"My eldest son was such a scrappy boy, he stole from shops and stands just to feed himself. But, I gave him that love he needed to grow into an intelligent young man," Amelia explained.

"That is amazing, aru. Nothing feels better than knowing you have made someone's life so much better," Yao got up and stretched, taking his cup, "I will retire now. Goodnight, aru,"

"Goodnight, Yao," she smiled as she continued to remember her children, sipping her tea.

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REST IN PEACE HUTT RIVER!!! WE AS HETALIANS WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU!!!