Hello Everyone,

Firstly I wanted to thank all the new followers, comments and people adding me to their faves list, it's still very much appreciated and always will be. I can't thank you enough for all your support also, it means the world to me.

Secondly, I am back with a new short story. I have been working on this for a while now, and decided I'm going to post this one and see how it goes from there, hopefully it will go well but we shall see. It's been a good while since I wrote anything, so I apologise now if there are any mistakes.

Anyway, hope those who read this story will enjoy it. Thanks in advance for taking the time to do so :)

Anyhoo, here it goes...

Chapter 1: Tears Will Flow.

Hearing a knock on her office door, Queen Clarisse looked up from the stack of paperwork that lay before her on her desk. She couldn't get her head around the fact this was something that would normally be done by this time of the day, but ever since her best friend and personal body guard handed in his notice she found it hard to concentrate.

"Mother?" Pierre, said softly after a moment and watched as she slowly looked up. "Shall I get the door?"

Nodding, she found herself putting her pen down on the desk and slipping off her glasses "Yes please, Pierre." She said giving him a small smile. "Thank you!" She added as she watched him walk over to the door "It will probably be Joseph, I asked him to come after lunch." She said standing to her feet as Pierre looked back at her.

"Do you want me to leave you?" He asked, opening the door.

"Ahh hello young man, is your Mother here?" Joseph asked, with a smile.

"Yes." Pierre nodded and looked back towards his Mother as she made her way around her desk, coming to a stop in front of it.

"You may go, you can finish your home work later on." Clarisse said while watching him nod and make his way out her office. Clasping her hands together she looked back up at Joseph as he stepped inside, closing the door behind him. "Please?" She said, motioning towards the sofa.

"Thank you." Joseph nodded with a small smile, making his way over to take a seat. "Now, what can I do for you?"

Watching him as he sat, Clarisse took a deep breath and sat beside him. "This is a long shot... but is there anything that I could say, or do.. that would make you stay?" She asked, knowing somehow his mind was made up and in a few days he will be gone.

Looking down to find the right words, he clasped his hands together and slowly shook his head "I'm sorry, there isn't anything." He said, looking back up at her and watched as she slowly nodded and looked down. "My mind is made up, I'm sorry."

"I understand." She said looking up at him "What will I do without you, you are my only friend around here." She said, sadly.

"Oh come on, that's not true. You have Rupert, your Sons and what about Charlotte?" He asked, and watched as she tucked one ankle behind the other.

"Of course Rupert is my friend, but he's a different kind of friend." She started, "The boys are at that age where they don't really want to be spending time with their parents. And Charlotte she's.. she's, well she's new around here..." She said looking up at him "They all don't understand me like you do," Standing up she made her way around the sofa, and over to the window. Watching the boys playing out on the Palace grounds as Joseph watched her. "You've been there for me ever since I came here, a stranger in a strange place. You were there when I had my boys, there for me whenever Rupert was away on Royal business and accompanied us on many family holidays. Stayed with me while Rupert was off doing sports with the boys." She said slowly turning around, looking over at him as he stood up. "I trust you with my life."

"I know," He nodded "I'm so sorry." He said walking around to her.

Shaking her head as Joseph stood in front of her, "Oh don't listen to me, I'm just sad that you are leaving, being selfish I guess."

"This isn't goodbye you know?" He asked "I will return one day, but for now I have to do this." He said and watched as she let out a sad sigh and nodded.

"I know," She said nodding again "Ok, tell me what are your plans?" She said forcing a smile and walked back over to her desk, sitting back down.

"I plan on travelling, seeing family I haven't seen in many years." He said walking over, standing in front of her desk.

"That sounds lovely," Clarisse smiled up at him as someone knocked on her office door "Come." She called out and looked towards the door as Joseph turned, seeing who entered.

"Here you are," King Rupert smiled. "I wondered if you wanted to take a walk?" He said walking over to her desk, and looked at Joseph "Oh I do apologise, I hope I wasn't interrupting anything?" He asked, looking between them both. "Should I go?" He said looking back at Clarisse.

"No no, it's ok." She said looking up at Joseph "Can we continue this later?" She asked, standing to her feet as Joseph nodded.

"I have to get back to work anyway." He said giving her a smile then looked back at his King, "Take care of her when I'm gone, Your Highness." He said.

"Of course I will," He nodded as Clarisse made her way around to them "But please, how long have we known each other? Call me by my name, not my title." Rupert said smiling.

"If it's ok with you, I would still prefer to call you by your title, rather than your name." Joseph answered, watching his King.

"If that's what you are comfortable with, then that's ok too." Rupert smiled and looked back at Clarisse. "Shall we go?" He asked, extending his arm towards the door.

Nodding, she led the way as Rupert followed. She couldn't help but wonder why Joseph was more comfortable calling her by her first name, but not his King. Shrugging it off, she turned back to Rupert and caught sight of Joseph stood watching them leave her office.

Later that evening.

Rupert stood to the steps of the gazebo watching his Queen, he was surprised that he managed to get where he was now without her noticing. Stepping up the steps he slipped his hands in his pants pockets and lent back against the post.

"Penny for your thoughts?" He asked, watching her come from her day dream and look towards him in surprise.

Smiling she shook her head "It's nothing important." She answered, and patted the space beside her "How long have you been there?" She asked and watched as he made his way over.

"Not very long." He said, sitting beside her and saw why she sat day dreaming. "Beautiful sunset." He said, looking back at her.

"Yes, this is the perfect spot for a beautiful sunset." She said looking at him "How was your afternoon?" She asked, looking back out at the sunset.

"It was busy," He answered, looking away for a moment "What about yours?" He asked, though an answer never came. "Is it because Joseph's leaving?" He asked as she looked back at him.

"What do you mean?" She asked.

"Ever since he handed in his notice you've been in an odd mood, like you're not really here." He said and watched as she looked back out at the sunset quietly.

Finally, moments later "He's my best friend." She said, looking at him with tears in her eyes.

"I know." He simply answered and wrapped his arms around her, holding her close as she finally let her tears fall.

~~~~~

So? Was it good, or bad? Should I continue or not? I really do hope that you liked this, but will understand if you don't, just let me know and I won't post chapter two.

Feeling really nervous now...