A/N: This entire setting will seem unusually abrupt if you haven't read WildMeiLing's "Straight Faces." This is a direct sequel (picks up right as that one ends). Also, be aware that that story and this one are ENTIRELY just for fun! Possibly slightly OC. But only possibly. Also also, this will be added as a 3rd chapter on that story, so if you go read that you can read this there as well. I'll try to keep an eye on comments over there as well as ones here, so feel free to review both of us there if you want. And finally, this is a VERY different style to what I usually write, but the scenario as a follow-up to "Straight Faces" latched onto my brain and wouldn't let go, and WildMeiLing was kind enough to let me play in . . . um, in Meg Cabot and Disney's world . . . but as modified by . . . yeah, anyway, you get the idea. Enjoy!

As the royal limo slowed for the palace gates to open, Clarisse dismounted Joseph's lap and shimmied her skirt back into place. Their lips never lost contact.

As the limo eased beyond the gates into the long driveway, nimble fingers resituated one another's shirts and slid one another's jackets back into place. Hungry mouths grappled for their final tastes of one another.

As the limo rounded the green, they finally broke apart, one to hastily reapply lipstick, the other to hastily remove it. Both took the remaining moment to regulate their breathing.

By the time the limo rolled to a stop in front of the palace steps, a perfectly poised Queen Clarisse Renaldi stepped primly through the limo door that security guard Shades had opened for her, and into the sunshine. If her hair was looking a bit more windswept than usual, and her cheeks a bit more flushed, well, she had been at an outdoor venue.

Her bodyguard and head of security stepped stoically from the other side of the vehicle and moved around to take his place just behind her. If his stance was a little wider than usual, well, his typically foreboding nature was only a little more foreboding as a result.

Clarisse's assistant Charlotte certainly didn't seem to notice anything out of the ordinary as she smiled brightly and said, "Welcome back, your majesty. How'd you make out?"

Everyone present was, thankfully, distracted by Joseph's sudden coughing fit and didn't notice Clarisse's eyes double in size. By the time Joseph had recovered and muttered something about swallowing wrong, Clarisse had equally recovered her poise, as well as her understanding of what Charlotte actually meant, and calmly replied, "We made out quite well, thank you, Charlotte."

If a slight strangled sound was heard coming from her bodyguard's throat, it was easily dismissed as continued recovery from previously swallowing wrong.

Charlotte and Shades took up places on either side of her, Charlotte launching into the series of next items on the agenda. So if Clarisse's hips swung a little more than usual, well, who would notice? Who but Joseph, who was taking up the rear...as it were.

When Charlotte paused for a breath, Clarisse casually said over her shoulder, without turning around, "Oh, Joseph, it sounds like my afternoon is rather full, but this evening we need to continue that conversation we started in the car. I'm afraid that particular matter of security won't wait long before needing further attention."

Joseph inclined his head respectfully. "Of course, your majesty."

And if both their eyes gleamed just a touch more than usual, and secret smiles played at the corners of their mouths, nobody else seemed to notice.