Written by: Me, MrsJosephElizondo ;)

Summary: A little Christmas C&J Fluff ;) Can't say to much or it will give it all away ;) so please read it to find out what happens and enjoy!

Rating: M just in case ;) (If it doesn't work out, I will change the rating when it's complete)

Disclaimer: The Princess Diaries 1 & 2 Do NOT Belong To Me.

A/N: I think, and I don't wanna get to carried away here just in case, but I think I'm getting my muse back... And before anyone asks, I haven't forgotten about my other stories, I will update them when I can.

xXx

x Christmas Eve x

Doing the zipper up on her skirt Clarisse couldn't help but smile to herself, any moment now her long time friend, her head of security and lover will be knocking on her door, like he did every morning. Lifting her head she looked at herself in the mirror as she smoothed her hands over her hips and turned from one side to the other, making sure she looked okay for the day ahead.

"You're beautiful, as always." Joseph said smiling from her bedroom door.

Jumping, slightly startled "Oh! Joseph you scared me." Clarisse exclaimed while looking over at him.

Closing the distance between them he sat his coffee cup down on her makeup desk, resting his hands on her hips, the smell of Chanel engulfing him as he drew her closer. "That was not my intent darling." He whispered as he placed a delicate kiss on her lips taking care not to mess up her freshly applied lipstick.

Pulling back Clarisse brushed her thumb across his lips removing her lipstick "I do love this color but the staff may talk if you and I wear the same color." She teased as Joseph chuckled.

"That is true." He smiled, watching her for several seconds.

"Anyway, are you all packed and ready to go?" She asked while walking over to her closet, disappearing through the door.

"I am." He nodded while picking up his coffee, taking a couple sips.

"Good." Smiling as she came back into the bedroom, holding her silk scarf in both her hands "I can't believe this is our first Christmas together as a couple and you have to go away." She said sadly while looking up at him.

"Then come with me, Clarisse." He answered while putting his coffee cup back down and stepped closer to her "I know Bella would love you to be there." He said taking the scarf from her hands.

Tilting her head slightly she looked into his eyes "I would if I could, you know that."

"I do." He said nodding "Maybe it's best this way seeing though we are a 'secret' couple for the time being." He added while putting his arms up, putting the scarf around her neck as she watched him.

"Do you have the gift for Bella and Charles?" She asked as he held onto her scarf, keeping her close.

"I do," He answered with a nod as they stepped that little bit closer to each other.

"Good." She answered and studied his face as the back of his fingers brushed against the front of her breast.

"I have something for you." He said letting go of her scarf and pulled a small wrapped box out from his inside pocket "It's just a little something." He added while looking down at the small perfectly wrapped gift in his hands "Merry Christmas, Clarisse." He said softly while looking up into her eyes.

"Oh Joseph what did we say?" She said while looking him in the eyes.

"I know we both said that we wouldn't get anything for each other this year, but when I saw this Clarisse I knew I had to get it you." He said standing to her side as he passed her the present "I hope you like it."

"It's from you, I'm sure I will." She said smiling and looked down at the gift as she unwrapped it. Seeing the infinity pendant inside Clarisse gasped before looking back up at him "Oh Joseph," She said looking back down at it "I love it, thank you so much." She added while stepping closer and put her arms up, giving him a hug for a moment before standing back "It's beautiful."

"I'm glad you like it." He said smiling and kissing her cheek.

"What time do you have to leave?" She asked while closing the box.

"Around 2." He said putting his arms around her waist, holding her close.

"Okay so we get to have lunch together before you leave?" She said looking into his eyes while putting her arms up, locking them around his shoulders.

"Yes we do." He smiled while wrapping his arms around her waist.

"Good." She smiled lovingly at him for several seconds before sharing a kiss.

Rushing through her suite door much later than she had planned, she slipped off her jacket and put it over the back of the chair as Mia appeared in the doorway.

"Sorry Mia I can't stop, I need to get changed before lunch with Joseph." She said unzipping her skirt as she rushed through to the bedroom.

"Grandma Joe's not here." She called out holding an envelope in her hands.

"Pardon?" Clarisse asked as she stood in the doorway, holding onto the top of her skirt to hold it up.

"He had to leave earlier than he thought." Mia answered while looking down at the envelope "He left this for you though, explaining it." She said stepping closer as Clarisse zipped up her skirt again.

"Okay, thank you." She said taking the letter.

"Well I'm going to go and wrap the presents ready for tomorrow." Mia smiled while walking over to the door.

"Okay." Clarisse said following her and watched her stop.

Turning to her, Mia half smiled "Unless you want some company?" She asked.

"Oh no, you go and do what you need to do." Clarisse said nodding "I have a few things I need to do here, and then I am going to take a long soak in the bath."

"Okay Grandma." Mia answered and kissed her cheek "I will see you for dinner then?" She said walking out the door.

"Of course." Clarisse said nodding and took hold of the door "See you later." She said forcing a smile and closed the door.

Slowly turning she looked down at the envelope in her hands for just a moment before walking over to her purse. Taking out the gift she had purchased for Joseph just that morning she headed through to her bedroom, hiding the present before getting on with the things she needed to take care off.

After having a soak in the bath she slipped into her robe and walked out into the bedroom while rubbing her hair with the towel, seeing the envelope on the bed where she stood staring at it for several seconds. Walking around she took hold of it while sitting on her bed, getting comfortable against the pillows piled up against the headboard she slowly opened it and took out the note.

Crossing her ankles she began reading it to herself.

Dear Clarisse,

If you're reading this then that's because we missed each other, as I feared we would. I tried to stay here as long as I could but it just wasn't possible to stay any longer, there's bad weather on the way and was informed that we would have to leave much earlier than I planned if I wanted to make it to see my Bella for Christmas.

I am sorry that we didn't get a chance to say goodbye properly, I will call later this evening to let you know that I have arrived safely. I hope you and Mia have a good Christmas and I will see you in the New Year.

I know that you're not really a fan of Christmas, but in the words of a wise man. 'Christmas is for those who believe' If you believe, then all your dreams will come true. I love you Clarisse and can't wait to hear your beautiful voice later today.

Take care my love,

Always yours, Joseph. x

Folding the note up and putting it back in the envelope Clarisse let out a long sigh as a couple tears, that she didn't even know were there, escaped her eyes. Quickly wiping them away she gathered her thoughts and climbed from the bed putting the note away safely so no one would find it before putting a call down to the kitchen to request dinner be brought up to her.

Looking up from her book upon hearing a knock at her suite door "Come in." She answered and looked back down to carry on reading.

"It's just me Grandma." Mia smiled as she entered her suite, closing the door behind her "I just came to see what you were up to?" She asked while walking over and sat on the arm of the chair "Oh you didn't eat much dinner tonight, are you feeling okay?" She asked.

"Just reading and yes I'm feeling fine, just wasn't hungry." Clarisse answered, never looking up.

"Okay." Mia answered and looking down at her "Have you heard from Joe?" She asked as Clarisse looked up "I just wondered if he called to inform us that he had arrived safely?"

"Yes I did about half an hour ago, he arrived safely and sends his love." Clarisse answered while looking at her then back down at her book.

"Okay." Mia said looking around the room "The Palace is so quiet this evening, there's no one around to talk to, Charlotte's gone home for the holidays. Shades is getting ready to leave, Joe's gone and you're up here reading."

"I'm sorry Mia." Clarisse said closing her book "Pierre will be here soon though, so you will have someone to talk to."

"But I want to talk to you Grandma, we've hardly spent anytime together since I arrived." Mia said and watched her sit up while looking in her hands.

"What's that?" Clarisse asked while pointing to her hands.

"This?" Mia said looking down while holding her hand up "Oh I found it on the floor beside the tree earlier, I guess I forgot where I was and walked off with it." Mia said standing up "I will go and put it back down on the tree right now." She said about to walk away, but stopped when she felt a hand grab her arm.

"No let me see that?" She said holding out her hand as Mia passed it to her.

"Grandma?" Mia whispered as Clarisse stared down at the Christmas ornament in her hands.

"This is what your Father made when he was younger." Clarisse said looking up at her "I had completely forgot about this." She said slowly looking back down.

"I wondered where it had come from, I don't recall seeing it the other day when we were putting up the tree." Mia said and watched Clarisse run her fingers lightly over the front of it.

"No I don't either actually." Clarisse said sitting on the edge of the chair. "Christmas is for those who believe." She whispered.

"Do you believe Grandma?" Mia asked and watched her slowly look up.

"I do." Clarisse answered with a small smile as Mia smiled back "I do believe." She nodded and looked down.

Seeing the tears in her Grandmother's eyes Mia moved to sit beside her "It will be okay Grandma, we will have a good Christmas this year." She whispered while putting her arm around her Grandmother's shoulders "I promise."

"Thank you sweetheart." Clarisse answered.