DISCLAIMER: I do not own PD and/or its characters, they are the property of Meg Cabot and Disney. I get nothing from this but satisfaction, and am responsible for this storyline only. ALSO I do not own One Special Night and/or its characters nor any relation to that film.

One Special Day

Smoothing over the bright white of her skirt, Queen Clarisse Renaldi was beginning to feel the wrinkles. They were the wrinkles in herself, not in her clothing. She could almost feel herself folding up, after sitting here, donning the throne of Genovia for the past two and a half hours. Looking over towards the double doors, she could only feel relief at the sight of the end of the line. Either she had gotten much older, less patient, or Genovia's population had grown in leaps and bounds over the last thirty years. In retrospect, it was all three.

It wasn't that she disliked the opportunity to meet with her people. On the contrary, it was something she looked forward to. Clarisse could always count on something being different, on meeting someone new, or just the opportunity to actually be able to do something worthy for her people. Often enough, she did not get to see the impact she had on her people firsthand. Clarisse Renaldi needed to see it, to know that she made a difference in their lives. Hearing it was not enough.

Most of the citizens she knew, having watched them age with herself, even from their own mother's arms. She had saw a few families grow to four generations. It made her feel old, but somehow fortunate and blessed. Being Queen was an opportunity beyond all opportunities, and she knew that when it came to her people, they rested on her shoulders and the holy God's above. It was a heavy weight to carry, one she was more than happy and capable to bear.

As she thanked the last of her guests, Queen Clarisse Renaldi couldn't help but feel as if something were missing, or that she had missed something. Gazing at the empty line, she scanned the room, seeing less than the usual regulars to the event. She liked it this way. It helped make it more personal, and Clarisse knew that most of her people were proud. It was hard enough for them to come and ask of her, so the least number present in the throne room, the better. Still, she felt odd, yet could not put a finger on the reason.

"Your Majesty?" Charlotte repeated, finally gaining her attention.

"Oh Charlotte, I apologize. What were you saying?"

"The rest of the afternoon is free. Is there anything you would like or need me to do?"

"Ah, no, no thank you." Clarisse still sat, pondering on her feelings. "Oh Charlotte?" Her trusted aide turned back to her, noticing the blank look on her Queen's face.

"Yes?"

"Charlotte, ah, I can't help but feel like I've maybe forgotten something." Clarisse looked to her, hoping she could help ease the tension she was feeling now. Charlotte scanned the docket in her hands, looking it over twice.

"Your Majesty, I'm sorry but you have completed today's schedule, and ahead of time." Charlotte skimmed through the rest of the papers underneath. "There's nothing more for you today that I have."

"Fine." Clarisse finally stood and stretched, yet still feeling as if she had missed something important.

"The grounds are clear, Your Majesty." His voice stunned her for a second, then brought her back into reality.

"Oh Joseph, thank you." She turned once more, scanning the now empty room before allowing him to escort her to her suite.

Taking his arm, Clarisse could not shake that feeling. Her feet moved with him, and her body followed, but her soul wanted nothing more than to sit upon the throne once again. Joseph felt her inadequacy, and the tension of her body. Any other would have missed it.

"Clarisse," Joseph scanned the corridor, making sure they were alone. Their friendship was special, and he wanted it to stay behind a curtain for now, at least for her. "Tell me, what's bothering you?" His words were soft as his fingers gently teased her forearm.

"I'm not sure. It's funny, I just feel like I have forgotten something really important. I've checked with Charlotte and she assures me that everything has been done for today, but still I can't shake that feeling. Joseph my heart and soul tells me that I forgot something today when I was sitting on that throne. I have never had that feeling be so strong as it is right now."

After entering her suite, Joseph waited for her to sit, and only after she motioned to him did he join her. "I'm sorry I cannot help you, Clarisse." He was, his heart always tore at him when he could not help her with something.

"Dear Joseph, you cannot help with everything. You do enough to keep me safe and sane," she brought a smile to both of them. She placed her gloved hand on his cheek, her thumb slowly, seductively stroking his lips. Clarisse couldn't help but to touch him. She had loved him now for so long.

Together they slowly came, both inching forward with the greatest of ease and fear. It seems they had denied themselves for too long, and today it was finally going to happen. They were going to let themselves get caught up in each other. They were going to allow themselves the little pleasure they could give to each other. At last their lips touched, a slight gentle pressure upon the others. It was difficult to do any more. It was more than just hard not to give in to the demanding of their bodies, as it was even more difficult to part.

She melted before him, feeling the gentle pressure from his hands, and the steady glare of his eyes taking in her beauty. "You have the most beautiful eyes, Clarisse." Joseph whispered, hardly comprehensible to her.

It was as if an alarm went off inside her head and heart all at once. Breaking herself away, she stood before him ready to take on the world. Not knowing what to do, or where to go first, Clarisse finally threw up her arms in frustration. "Charlotte, I need Charlotte."

"Clarisse, love, what is it? Did I miss something? Did I do something? What?" A thousand questions screamed at his mind for answers as he tried to piece together what had just happened between them. For an instant he was overwhelmed, afraid he had stepped across a boundary he was forbidden to. Joseph put up a front, almost afraid of what she was thinking, or going to have done.

"OH, Joseph, no, no, you don't understand." Clarisse picked up the phone, instantly calling for her assistant. Clicking it off, she noticed how nervous Joseph had became. She stepped over to him, knowing they had little time left to themselves, but needing to say something to him. "Joseph, have you no faith in me?"

Her words hit him hard. He stared at her, unsure as to what a good response would be. In fact, he wasn't sure himself of that answer. "Do you not know the depths of my affection for you Joseph?" She was halted by Charlotte's entrance, still looking to Joseph, unbelieving his reaction to her.

"Charlotte, I know what I missed today. Someone was missing. You remember that elderly woman, she always comes in to see me. As far as I remember, she's never missed a meet and greet since I was crowned." She looked to Charlotte, noticing the questions in her facial expression. "You know the one, the one who always compliments on my eyes being the most beautiful..."

Coming into view in Charlotte's mind as a smile came to her face, Charlotte nodded. "Of course, the elderly woman who most always is in need of assistance. She wasn't here today. No wonder you missed her. She has always been one of your biggest supporters, Your Majesty."

"Supporter or not, I enjoyed her visits. You know, she has never once asked anything of me. She comes to the palace just to compliment me, or something I have decreed or had done. My heart always aches with her as I watch her leave." Clarisse stood for a moment, daydreaming of the woman she had come to admire.

"Charlotte, find out all you can about her, I want...no, I need to go see her." Charlotte stood stunned for a second or two, then looked to Joseph who seemed to be rather stunned himself, but nevertheless proud of his Queen.

"Right away, Your Majesty."

"Joseph, I'd like for you to go with me, so have a car and driver ready please." Clarisse walked to the full length mirror, tidying herself for the short, but most important trip. Seeing his reflection about to disappear, she spoke softly, yet still audibly to him. "Joseph, I've never really told you, have I?"

He stopped in his tracks, taken aback by her words. "No, Clarisse, you never have." He couldn't look at her, he wanted to, but could not. When the silence had became too long, he moved on, switching himself to business mode. His exit was hasty, leaving her standing, staring at the empty space where he had just stood. "I do," she whispered to herself.

"Charlotte informs me that the woman you are so determined to see lives in...well, I think maybe you should change your clothing, Your Majesty." Joseph tried explaining the best he could, knowing it was a waste of time. She would present herself to her public as always, the spitting image of a Queen.

"Nonsense Joseph. It will be fine. I want to see her, and if she cannot come to me, then I will go to her. Now, do I have to pull rank to get this vehicle moving?" Clarisse, obviously annoyed, shut the back door of the royal limo herself. She sat erect, staring straight ahead, waiting for Joseph to seat himself beside her and give the okay to the driver to proceed.

It was awkward, being seated next to him. After the small episode earlier in her suite, Clarisse was sure Joseph may be somewhat angry with her. She had never told him outright. The thought had never crossed her mind until today. As Queen she took things like feelings for granted. She hardly ever had to say how she felt, she had maids and various servants who already knew just by living and working around her. Yes, Joseph did also, and someplace deep inside of him Clarisse suspected he knew of her love. Yet, a love such as theirs needed to be shared aloud as well. She remembered well the evening Joseph admitting to loving her. A smile crossed her face as the words came to her. It had been beautiful to her. Although he had only whispered three tiny words into her ear, they had impacted her life in such a grand and glorious way. He deserved the same from her.

"You're smiling," Joseph said, watching the green pastures pass outside his window. She couldn't tell if it was a statement or question, or even how he knew from looking the opposite direction.

"I was recalling a certain evening. It was one of the happiest times in my life. For all the happiness it brought me, I failed to repay the person responsible." Clarisse hoped he had understood, and judging from his change of view, he had.

"Your Majesty, would you merely be repaying, or is it in your heart to return the same joy that person brought to you?" He wanted to stroke her hand, touch her smooth, soft skin anywhere, but now was not the time. He already knew her heart, but he longed to hear the words come from her, to be directed at him. Someone actually loving him, it would be a new concept for Joseph.

"I suppose it would be both? I hope it would be both. Sometimes a Queen takes things for granted."

"Everyone, at one time or another, takes something for granted, Your Majesty," he replied, looking into the sweet, pale face beside him. "A Queen is certainly no exception to that."

"I agree," she nodded. "Maybe a Queen is even more prone to that. I would dare say that I believe I am." She hung her head in shame, knowing it was true. The money, the gifts, the palace, the constant pampering and the ability to change the world; she took all those for granted. It was Joseph that made her ashamed. He could belong to anyone in the world, yet he stood beside her, loving her, showering her with his attention and what had she ever given him besides a simple kiss? Nothing.

Though she had yet to speak the words he needed to hear from her, Joseph was proud of his Clarisse. She was showing signs of life inside that facade of a Queen's body she constantly wore. Joseph knew her heart was as large and warm and the sun, but finding it and showing her how to use it had been a long and tedious journey. He had watched from the very beginning, step by step, guiding her and showing her how easy it was to be the real person he knew her to be. From the very beginning, Clarisse had been taught to abandon herself, to take to royalty with no emotion. It was true enough that emotion could ruin most anything when it came to politics. Clarisse had never realized she could be both the Queen of Genovia, the politician, and the Queen of Genovia, the warm, sensitive woman.

"We're here." Joseph pulled out a slip of paper from inside his jacket, and began to read it once more, aloud this time. "Howard and Millie Bigcalf. 2132 Old Mertz highway, Pyrus." He scanned the numbers on the mailboxes as they passed.

In all her years as Queen, Clarisse had never before noticed the looks that came her way like they did today. What few people they had passed by had looked at the bright red, royal limo with the most ghastly expression of surprise. Even though she knew they could not see her, she rather felt like hiding. They made her feel guilty. She knew it wasn't deliberate and all in her mind. Queen Clarisse Renaldi had never been seen in a neighborhood such as this. She would quite admit to a long line of royals never having traveled this expanse of highway before.

She saw children run along the broken down fences, waving to her. The cattle and livestock had more mud than fresh green grass, but the hay was piled in bales alongside of the barns and covered in tarps and plastics befitting with holes. Their homes were nothing more than shacks, and most of the barns looked to be more livable. The only gardens here were full of vegetables, and in great need of working from the few she saw up close. As the limo slowed, turning onto a dirt drive, Clarisse watched as two men lifted something mechanical, rather heavy, in what seemed to be a garage for motor vehicles. Gasping at the red limo, they almost dropped their load. Their greasy faces were quickly replaced with rows of old tires, piled or thrown out back of the garage. Several children appeared magically from deep inside the rubber fortress. Clarisse smiled, remembering such a time when even she was so carefree.

"It's quite different here," Joseph broke the silence, watching the expressions change on her face.

"Yes. I've never been here."

"No. We manage to keep you in the better half of Genovia." Clarisse gave him a glare, anger somewhat seeping through. "It was in your best interest."

"MY best interest? Really Joseph, you of all people should know that things should be done in the best interest of the people. Just think what I could have done...could have helped them with..."

"You know these people are proud, Clarisse. They would not accept your help, unless it was some extreme emergency of some sort. You know that. These are good people, Clarisse. They may not have much, but they would be willing to give what they have to someone else, and they do, quite often enough when someone needs something." Clarisse watched the fencing turn to stone as the drive became bumpier, passing a small field with a single tractor sitting in the midst of it.

"Is that it?" Clarisse nodded toward a small log cabin almost hidden in the trees.

"Yes, I believe so," Joseph looked to their driver who nodded respectively in the rear view mirror. "Are you ready?" Joseph placed his hand atop hers, next to him on the leather seat. She twisted her fingers with his, and squeezed.

"Stay with me?"

"Of course, every step."

"Howard and Millie?" Joseph nodded, smiling at her.

"Howard and Millie."