Written by: Shakayla

Rating: T for now - but M in the future.

Disclaimer: I don't own Princess Diaries or the movie, Dirty Dancing - I'm just borrowing from them both for the enjoyment of myself, my characters and my readers. No one is paying me (believe me!) for this so no worries. Additionally, the words from the song are by Evanescence.

Note: This hasn't gone through a beta so, in the spirit of Christmas, please forgive any errors you run across. As I find them, I will try and fix them. Thank you.

"Dirty Dancing"

"WHAT in heaven's name are they doing?"

Joseph worked hard to keep the amusement out of his voice as he answered his Queen and best friend. "I believe they call that dancing, Your Majesty."

The look that crossed Clarisse's face was a cross between astonishment and dismay. "Joseph…THAT is not dancing."

The two of them stood on the balcony overlooking the main ballroom watching the scene below. The bodies of about twenty young people were moving in what almost appeared to be a coordinated dance in time to a driving dance beat. The lights had been dimmed but Clarisse could still see the proximity of their bodies to each other. A crimson blush was steadily rising up her body as she could never remember dancing in such a manner – not even in the privacy of her own suite with her husband. "Tell me again why I agreed to this?"

"Charlotte and Shades agreed to chaperone?" Joseph offered. Truthfully, he had been surprised when she had agreed. His thought was that she didn't truly understand what "club" dancing involved. Otherwise, he was certain Amelia would have received a resounding no to her request for a night of fun.

"This really isn't appropriate for the future Queen, Joseph." Clarisse was concerned that the press would have a field day.

"All of the guests were specifically selected as they were of the same royal standing or nobility as the Princess; all cameras were confiscated upon arrival; and, they all understand the need for privacy. Besides, this is how her generation relieves stress and expresses themselves."

"I need some air. Walk with me?" Clarisse felt almost voyeuristic watching the seductive dancing – as though she were intruding upon what should be a private moment between a couple.

Once outside, the cooler air helped calm her somewhat. Her hand was firmly ensconced in the crook of Joseph's arm as they walked side by side toward the area of the castle where her suite was located. Though she blamed it on the dancing she had just witnessed, tonight she seemed to have a heightened awareness of his body. What would it feel like to dance with Joseph like that? His body pressed so close to hers that she could feel his heart beat or his hot breath on her ear?

Needing to reign in her thoughts, she wanted to bring up a different subject. Instead, "Have YOU ever danced like that?" rolled off of her lips.

Joseph stopped walking which brought Clarisse to a stop as well. His eyes found hers and they were strangely dark…almost as though she could feel the sexual tension that existed between them. He fought the urge to reach out and run his thumb across those beautiful lips of hers. Instead, he answered in a huskier voice, "A thousand lifetimes ago, perhaps…as I aged, I adapted it somewhat."

Clarisse was fairly certain she couldn't look away from him right now – even if her life depended on it. His voice was so smooth, so rich and so deep – it made her heart begin to beat a little faster and her breathing to become shallow. Her lips felt so dry. She fought the urge to lick them. Somehow she found a voice to respond. "Adapted how?"

He decided to blame the dancing for his bold move. He stepped closer and leaned forward a bit so he could whisper in her ear, "It would be easier to show you."

She could feel the heat emanating from his body. What was it about this man that turned her insides to mush? She didn't have time for a relationship right now – they both knew that. But what could one dance hurt? Finding her courage, she challenged. "Where?"

Joseph's breath caught. She had called him on his bluff. Never in a million years would he imagine that she would agree to dance with him in anything but your standard ballroom dancing. The thought of Clarisse's body moving against his, even if they were fully dressed, caused nerve endings to spark all throughout his body. Would he be able to control his body's reactions? Doubtful, if not impossible. Well it had been nice working at the castle while it lasted. At least he would have the memory of the dance to warm him as he looked for other employment. "Your suite."

"Agreed."

The decision having been made, they walked the rest of the way in silence – both lost in their own thoughts about what they had just agreed to do. The driving bass of the music from the ballroom finally faded as they moved further away. Clarisse finally found her voice. "I trust your selection of music will be a bit more appropriate?"

He smiled at her effort to lighten some of the tension…ever the diplomat. "I'm sure that can be arranged."

A few minutes later they were safely in her suite. Joseph looked at her current outfit, the suit she had worn to the office earlier in the day. "You will need to change."

"Whatever for?" She seemed genuinely surprised at his request.

"This isn't ballroom dancing, Clarisse." Casting a glance at her long, beautiful legs, he added, "You'll need room to…move."

She swallowed her nervousness. "Of course. I wasn't thinking. I will go change."

Once she closed the door to her bedroom, Joseph removed his jacket and tie and undid a couple of buttons on his shirt. He scanned the vast music library to find something suitable. Fortunately, Mia had put a few of her CD's in the case so she would have some of "her" music when she visited her Grandmother's suite. He saw one he recognized and felt would work. Removing it from the jacket, he slid it into the player and cued the song.

"Will this work?"

Hearing her voice, he turned and stopped short as he took in her appearance. She was dressed in a simple crème colored dress made from a fabric that clung to her curves in all the right places. The neckline was scooped low enough to reveal just a hint of cleavage and the skirt portion flared out slightly, which would allow the movement to which he had alluded. A thousand compliments came to mind, but he couldn't seem to force one out.

"Joseph? The dress…will it work?"

Still unable to speak, his eyes continued to drink in her appearance.

Clarisse chuckled, secretly pleased that she had been able to render him speechless. "I'll take that as approval."

Her smile was brilliant and he knew that he had to be the luckiest man alive. His eyes fixated on the sway of her hips as she turned to walk towards the corner of the room to pour a glass of wine for each of them. "Nobody puts Baby in a corner." He stated, his voice soft and almost inaudible.

Clarisse turned, wine glasses in hand. "I'm sorry. I don't follow."

He stepped towards her and took the proffered glass from her delicate hand. "Have you ever seen the movie Dirty Dancing?"

"I BEG your pardon!"

This time he chuckled. "It was actually a very good movie from the eighties. It was basically a coming of age story about a young girl named Francis, but everyone called her Baby. At the end of the movie, the rebel turned hero comes in and crashes the party so he can dance the final dance of the season with her. She was sitting at a table, in the corner and he spoke that line."

"Dare I ask why the movie is called Dirty Dancing?"

"The dancing they engaged in with their friends was not the accepted fox trot, waltz or any of the other dances of the day."

Finishing off her wine, she decided they needed to get started before she lost her courage. "So are you going to show me your adaptation or was that all just talk?" She teased, unable to completely hide the slight nervousness in her voice.

He set his glass down and moved closer to her, finally giving in to the urge to cup her cheek with his hand. "We don't have to do this, Clarisse. I don't want to make you uncomfortable or things awkward between us."

A battle momentarily raged inside of her. She wanted nothing more than to move her body in time with his but a small part of her brain screamed that she should take the way out he was offering…that once she danced this way with him, there would be no going back. Did she want to go back? Deciding that, for once in her life, she would ignore that still small voice, even if it was coming across loud and clear this time. She stepped closer to invade his personal space. "You are my best friend, Joseph. I trust you with my life every day. I'm confident and I can trust you in this."

Taking her hand and leading her to the middle of the space they had designated as their temporary dance floor, he desperately hoped she was right. Before he cued the music, he turned her body so her back was to him and he pulled her close, trying desperately not to focus on how well her body fit against his. "The key to dancing this way is to focus on letting go. Just feel the music. There are no required steps or turns. You just feel and let the music lead you."

Reaching into his pocket, he hit the play button on the remote. As the music started, he put his hands on her hips and started slowly guiding them in a small circle, carefully avoiding contact with his body. He knew that would eventually happen; but the longer he prevented it, the better his chance of controlling his actions. Her movements were stiff and awkward. He whispered in her ear, "Relax, make the movements natural."

Clarisse's heart was pounding in her chest. Nothing felt natural about moving her body in this manner. "I'm trying."

He stilled her and then lifted one arm until it was above her head. Slowly he let his fingers trail down the inside of her arm, careful to keep them along her side as they made their journey further down her body, gently caressing. He was certain they were both holding their breath, memorizing every second of this intimate moment.

Following his lead, she let her hand drop just in time for him to clasp it and spin her body away from him. As she pirouetted back in, his hand didn't stop her. Rather, it pulled her until her body was flush with his, his leg slipping between hers. His hands, low on her back, guided her hips to match his movements. As her arms had nowhere to go and nothing to hold, she lifted them to circle his neck.

Once he sensed she felt comfortable, he stepped back slightly. "Keep moving."

She felt a distinct loss as he separated them slightly. After the initial shock, she had felt right at home being held so close to the man she…did she love him? Opting to follow his advice, she focused on the music. Allowing her body to be a conduit-letting it flow through her and into Joseph. The chorus started…a driving beat. He stepped closer pulling her body flush with his again and increasing the tempo of their movements. This time, though, his lower body was moving in counterpoint to hers.

She knew she should stop them…this crossed so many lines she couldn't even count. Yet here she was…in his arms…his body moving against hers; his heart beat next to hers; and the warmth of his breath on her neck. This was exactly what she had been craving, hadn't she?

Choosing to focus on the music rather than the million reasons she shouldn't be doing this, she tried to hear the words from the song Joseph had chosen for them. Though she couldn't catch all of them, some of the words of the music slipped into her consciousness:

Wake me up…

Wake me up inside…

Call my name and save me from the dark…

Wake me up…

Bid my blood to run, before I come undone

Save me from the nothing I've become

Now that I know what I'm without, you just can't leave me

Breathe into me and make me real…

Joseph needed a little space from her body or he could no longer be responsible for what happened. She was a quick study and had followed the faster pace, rocking back and forth with him as their bodies effectively grinded against one another. The thought of driving into her soft and welcoming body was almost his undoing. He had an idea.

Being a highly skilled dancer, he knew she could pick up on what her partner wanted by where he placed his hands on her body. Raising a hand to her shoulder blade and gently pushing, she automatically let her head and upper body fall back in a sweeping motion as he held her hand and guided her back to him. Watching the abandonment on her face and the way the material stretched across her chest…well, in retrospect, maybe that hadn't been such a good idea.

The music started to fade and their lips were less than an inch apart. He could feel her heart beating and the breath escaping from her soft, full lips. He wanted to kiss her…no, he needed to kiss her. Before he could act on it, she spoke.

"So why did you insist that I change?" Her voice was soft and breathy.

Clarisse gasped as Joseph's hand skimmed over her hip and along her thigh lifting it until her knee was even with his waist. That would not have been possible in the normal skirts she wore. He executed a few movements with his hips, sending a blush over her entire body. Before she could form a word, his mouth covered hers with a kiss meant to silence any objection she might have. Despite her mind screaming at her to step away, her body betrayed her by immediately melting into his. Helpless to fight any longer, she returned his kiss with equal passion. She was certain she heard a moan come from deep within his body. Or was that hers?

Dear heavens they needed to stop. It was just that his kiss was pure bliss. It was demanding, giving completely and expecting nothing less in return. But enough was enough - this had gone farther than she had intended.

She feared it had gone too far entirely.

Joseph felt the change in her even before she pulled away. He reluctantly released her leg letting it slide slowly down his body. God, this woman was incredible. He loved her. And…looking in her eyes at that moment, he saw desire, love, fear, and anxiety. And he knew…

"You should probably go…" She whispered.

As he turned to leave, he felt as though lightning hit him, shedding light on their situation. Things would never be the same between them again…

**C/J**