Author's note: Here is my next story…I've been working on this (and the last one) for a while, but it wasn't till now that I was completely happy with them. This is a long one (I think!

NB: The Princess Diaries belongs to Disney and Meg Cabot

It was a cold winter's day, the day before New Year's Eve, and Her Majesty Queen Clarisse Renaldi shivered as she looked out onto the white lawns. Her roses usually stood there in summer, but now it was only a bare, snow covered patch. The snow was falling heavily, and it was predicted that snow would continue to fall until after the New Year.

She loved being outside, surrounded by her flowers, but on a day like today, she much preferred staying inside, near her fire and sipping tea but, unfortunately, there was still an emergency session of parliament to preside over before she could finally relax for the day.

"How long is the meeting meant to be?" she asked her loyal assistant, Charlotte, as she turned away from the window and tried to get her mind on the coming meeting. She was usually up to date and ready for anything, but it was difficult today, especially as her seventeen year old granddaughter, Amelia, was visiting from America, and she wanted to spend as much time as possible with her.

"Prime Minister Motez says he will try and keep it short," Charlotte said sympathetically- she knew how much Clarisse wanted to spend time with the Princess, particularly as she was flying home very late that night. Her best friend Lily was having a party, and she didn't want to miss it- not to mention the fact that Mia was missing her boyfriend, Lily's brother Michael.

"I hope so," Clarisse said with a sigh as she walked over to her desk to collect her pad and pen. She was beginning to wonder when her work would finally end- even on the eve of New Year's Eve, there was still more work to be done.

Just then, a thought struck her:

"By the way, have you seen Joseph today?"

She usually saw her loyal bodyguard several times a day, and had a chat with him, but she hadn't seen him at all…but, she thought with a smile, she had stay firmly by the fire all day, unless deemed necessary.

"I think he has been in the security room all day," Charlotte said, and then paused. "But he has been standing outside for the last twenty minutes."

"WHAT?" Clarisse exclaimed as she strode over to the double doors, and threw one of them open. Sure enough, there was loyal Joseph, heavily rugged up and sitting on a chair. Even her guards had been sensible enough to work in shifts!

"Joseph! What are you doing out here in the cold? Come in here at once!"

Inside, Charlotte hid a smile at the tone of the Queen's voice- there were rumors that Clarisse and Joe had feelings for one another, but even she, who spent most of each day with them both, hadn't seen anything. They were simply good friends, and she wouldn't even dare ask the question…but, judging what she had just heard, and the concern that was evident, Charlotte had to wonder…was there something there?

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty. I just thought it would be easier for you if I was standing outside, ready to go when you go to parliament," Joe said calmly as he walked into the suite, over to the fireplace, as Clarisse shut the door behind him.

"Yes, but you won't be any good to me if you catch the flu!" Clarisse said as she followed him in. She was vaguely aware that she was sounding more like a wife than a friend, so she changed the subject.

"So, where is Mia?"

"In her suite, heater blasting, and listening to some band I've never even heard of! She has some strange tastes!"

"I have to agree with you- I tried listening to some of her music one day…ugh! I'd rather have some classical music any day!"

"Absolutely, Your Majesty. Anyway, the Princess said to tell you, to quote her exactly, to have fun this afternoon, and that she doesn't envy you at all."

Clarisse sighed.

"I don't know what I'm going to do with that girl! Who does she remind you of?"

"Phillipe, of course…and you." His second name startled her, and she whirled around to look at him as he stood, thawing, by the fire.

"What do you mean by that?" She wasn't shocked- just surprised at what he had said.

"It's a compliment, Your Majesty. I'm just saying that the Princess is becoming more and more like you. When I spoke to her on the phone last year I was shocked as she sounded so much like you- but with an American accent, of course."

Clarisse blushed- she and Joseph had been friends for a very long time, but she hadn't realised how observant the man was until he came out with things like that! Before she could respond, Charlotte, who was standing in the doorway, coughed discreetly.

"It's time to go, Your Majesty."

Charlotte hated to break the little tableau up- there was something nice and tender between them, which confirmed her suspicions, but there was a meeting to attend, and Clarisse already didn't want it going later than necessary.

"Thank you Charlotte," Clarisse said, pen and pad in hand, but she was still looking at Joseph, who was looking just as intensely at her. There was something about him that, when they were in the same room together, made her feel like a school girl with a crush- breathless, dizzy and shy.

Joseph watched as she broke the look and move towards the door- there was something so graceful and elegant about her…not to mention the fact that she was absolutely beautiful…he loved looking at her, especially when she wasn't aware of it…. However, he wasn't conscious of the fact that she had stopped, until she spoke.

"Joseph? Are you coming?" Joseph looked up and shook his head quickly- she was looking at him with a gentle smile, although there was a heightened colour to her cheeks.

"Yes, of course Your Majesty," and he hurried over to open the door for her, although the guards usually did it. Appreciating the gesture, she smiled warmly at him as she passed through the doorway, and then turned her mind back to the meeting. It wouldn't do to be caught daydreaming about the man she secretly adored in parliament- what a scandal that would make!

Prime Minister was true to his word, and the meeting only lasted half an hour, which was great considering that even the room was getting chilly, despite the heaters. Joseph, as usual, was waiting when she came outside, and she dismissed Charlotte early- there wasn't anything she needed to do tonight, and it was going to get even cooler that night.

"So, how did the meeting go?" Joseph asked casually as they walked back towards her suite- she only wanted to drop off her things, and head straight to Mia's suite. It was already 4:00, and Mia was due to leave for the airport at 8- although she had been here for Christmas, and they had spent lots of time together, it was making Clarisse feel sad that she had to say goodbye to her granddaughter that evening. Even 2 weeks wasn't long enough to catch up on sixteen years that she had missed.

However, she turned her thoughts back to the meeting as Joseph stepped up and walked beside her, as she had asked him to do years ago.

"I do feel ridiculous talking to you over my shoulder," she said by way of explanation, and he had agreed- but only when they were alone.

"It went well, but it's getting rather tiresome just sitting in that same room, day after day, listening to the same old complaints from the same old men."

She didn't mean to sound despondent, but it was how she felt at that moment. She had been used to working right up to New Year's Eve, and even when everyone else was partying, but since Mia had come back into her life, she was feeling that her life was empty apart from work.

"When's the next meeting?"

"Not until next week, but there is always still more work to be done, even when everyone else doesn't do their own." She stopped for a moment, and looked out the window at the snow. "You know, I think I should go away for a few days, just over New Year. I've spent the last 10 years seeing the New Year here….maybe it's time for a change," she said thoughtfully, looking hopefully out the window.

"Where are you going to go?" Joe has seen the way her face had lit up at the thought of a change of scenery, and he only hoped it would be somewhere where she would have privacy. Even now, in the palace, there were people everywhere, keeping an eye on the Queen.

She looked at him, pensively. Now that she had the idea in her mind, she had to make some definite decisions.

"Let's see…the beach house would be far too cold at this time of year….my parent's country house is too cold….."

"How about the Winter Palace, in Lybitt? It's rarely used in winter, and I'm sure that everything would be in top condition for any unexpected guests."

Clarisse stopped short and looked at him in surprise- why hadn't she thought of that herself?

"That's a good idea, Joseph! I don't know why I hadn't thought of it before…"

"Probably because you were freezing in that room," Joe supplied helpfully, and she burst out laughing at his accurate comment.

"That's true! I guess the next thing I need to do is decide when to go…most of the staff is going to be on holiday…but that's alright, I can do a little cooking if necessary… I haven't been out there in a couple of years…."

She trailed off- there were still some bittersweet memories attached to the palace- it had been where they had celebrated Christmas, where Rupert had found out he was dying, and where she had initially retreated to after Phillipe's accident. But it was the perfect solution- the palace was only an hour away (if there were any emergencies), it was almost as comfortable as this palace, and it would be private. She often felt that it was ridiculous having an entire palace full of servants when there wasn't anyone there.

"Alright, I'm going to do it," she said decisively as they began walking again. "Only, when should I go out? I don't really have anything to do here until the next meeting…."

"When we go out," Joseph corrected her gently, and she looked at him, puzzled. "You don't think I'm going to let you go out there alone, do you?"

"No," she smiled ruefully, and gently touched his arm as both felt an electric current pulse through them.

"But let's just make sure that it's just the two of us. I really don't feel like taking a whole entourage out, and most of them will be getting ready to go out anyway. When should we go? Tomorrow?"

"Whenever it suits you, Your Majesty."

"Mia flies out tonight, and its New Year's Eve tomorrow…how about tomorrow? I don't have any functions on at all, and I'm sure I can pack in a couple of hours…"and she trailed off as she saw the smile on Joseph's face.

"Alright, my maids will have to help me in that department! By the time we get out there, I will be so exhausted that I will be asleep by the time midnight comes!"

She looked sad for a moment- New Year's had been fun when Phillipe had been alive, as he had always made sure she was awake at midnight and, if she wasn't, he rang her phone or even came into her suite to wake her up. Joe watched her face sadden- he hated to see her sad or unhappy, and he longed to pull her in for a hug.

"Fine with me, Your Majesty. I'll be ready to go whenever you want," he said helpfully as they arrived at her door, and she smiled at him.

"You may go and have another cup of tea, if you wish, Joseph. I'm just putting these things away and going to see Mia."

"As you wish," as he took her hand in his and kissed it, before bowing and disappearing in the opposite direction. She looked after him for moment, before shaking her head and entering her suite. It was ridiculous to be dreaming about someone who only thought of her as a friend, she told herself sternly.

"Hello? Mia, are you here?" Clarisse called tentatively as she closed the suite door behind her. Mia, for the moment, was staying in Rupert's old suite and, thankfully, there had been extensive redecorating done since his death, otherwise Clarisse wouldn't have been able to bear stepping in there. There was a silence, but then suddenly music blasted from the bedroom, and Clarisse smiled to herself- obviously Mia had the music up so loud that she wouldn't be able to hear a thing!

"Hello!" she almost shouted as she walked into what had been Rupert's bedroom, and she had to smile. There was Mia, stretched out on the bed, doing her toenails and reading a magazine. Clarisse had to walk right up to her before Mia realised that she had company

"Grandma! I'm sorry!" Mia leapt up and raced over to her stereo, and turned it down. "I didn't hear you come in!"

"Obviously," Clarisse said with an amused smile. The room was absolute chaos, littered with magazines, clothes and lolly wrappers- she could just imagine Rupert's face if he had seen this…he had been almost apoplectic at the state of Phillipe's suite at times.

"I thought you were supposed to be packing!"

Mia looked surprised, and then smiled sheepishly.

"I got distracted…but I'm almost done. So, how was your meeting?" she asked as she threw another pile of clothes into her suitcase, before sitting down in a chair.

Clarisse, after carefully making sure that Fat Louie was out of her way, gingerly sat down in a chair that, a moment before, had been stacked high with clothes.

"It was quick…and, before you say it, yes it was very cold in there!" Mia grinned

"Like I told Joe, I didn't envy you one bit!"

"Yes, Joseph told me that. But, you know, one day you are going to be in that room, in meetings, on all types of days." Mia rolled her eyes in mock despair.

"But hopefully that won't be for a long, long time! I'm only seventeen, remember? So, what are you going to do for New Year's?"

"Well, I'm going out to the Winter Palace for a few days, just to have a break."

"Alone?" Mia looked stunned.

"No, don't be silly. Joseph is going with me, but I'd rather not take an entire entourage for what will only be a few days!"

"Sounds like fun…I can imagine you and Joe building a snowman in the palace grounds…" and Mia burst into laughter at the image. Clarisse pretended to look insulted.

"Excuse me, but I'll have you know that I used to build some very good snowmen in my time! Besides, I will be taking some work with me. There is that conference in mid January, and I think parliament wants the guests to stay in the Winter Palace…"

"It must be awfully confining to have to have approval to have people stay in your own palace," Mia said as she stacked a pile of CDs into another suitcase. "I don't know why you don't just say 'this is where its' going to be at', and who cares what you think!"

Clarisse had to smile at Mia's slang- that was something that was taking a little while to get used to.

"I can't say that, dear, because a) the palace doesn't belong to me exclusively, and b) it may be that the palace could suit them best."

"Well, I'd fire everyone who thought like that, and hired a new lot who would agree with you!"

"Mia, Mia, Mia," Clarisse chuckled, shaking her head gently. "You have a lot to learn before you become Queen. Anyway, how's the packing going? I thought you were due at the airport in four hours…and, by the look of this suite…."

"Don't worry, I'll be packed by the time I have to leave and, besides," she shrugged carelessly. "If I do forget anything, I know you could get someone to send it back," and she smiled winningly at Clarisse, who only laughed.

As Mia continued talking about seeing Michael and Lily again, and the party, Clarisse watched her with a smile. It was wonderful to see how Mia had blossomed since that Independence Day ball, and how happy she was….she was young and in love….That was something Clarisse wished could have happened to her……

"So, are you looking forward to the party?" she asked, shaking of the melancholy moment she had just experienced. It was fortunate that she was leaving the palace for a few days…she had been feeling rather down lately, and knowing that Mia was leaving soon only exacerbated her mood.

"Yes…and don't worry, Grandma! I'll be back in the summer, and we can keep in touch via phone and email." Somehow Mia had sensed her mood, as she came over and threw an arm around her grandmother's shoulder for a moment.

"Email?" Clarisse looked quizzical- everyone else in the palace always seemed to be checking their 'email', but she was satisfied with an old fashioned letter…not to mention the fact that modern technology baffled her. Mia laughed as she went back to her packing- she too knew how well Clarisse and computers mixed.

"Yes, Grandma, email. Don't worry, I've given Charlotte strict instructions to show you how to use it…and you get to set up your own email account!"

All too soon, it was time for Mia to leave, as the guards loaded her luggage into the limousine.

"You don't have to come with me, Grandma," Mia kept saying as Clarisse looked through her coat pockets for the pair of gloves she had always left in there.

"I would like to come with you," Clarisse insisted, as she found the pair- they had been hidden deep in one of the inside pockets- obviously someone had scrunched them in there, as she had never done that at all.

"And so will I," said a voice from behind her, and they both turned to see Joe standing there, heavily bundled up. "You don't think I will let either of you travel at night on your own, do you?"

Mia rolled her eyes and gave a resigned sigh..

"Fine, you can both come. I think you're both nuts to come out this late at night, in this weather, but it's your decision."

"Thank you for letting us come, Princess," Joe mock bowed to her and both Mia and Clarisse had to laugh, before they walked out to the car.

"Your Majesty," he opened the door for Clarisse, and she smiled at him before stepping into the car. Mia, on the other hand, had walked around the other side of the car and disappeared into the other backseat door.

"I see you still don't like anyone opening doors for you," Clarisse murmured as Mia slammed the door behind her, and sat back in her seat.

"I do…it's just taking a little while to get used to, that's all," she shrugged.

Neither Mia nor Joe would allow Clarisse to get out of the car at the airport so, after one more hug, the Princess disappeared into the airport with her security guards. For a moment, Clarisse felt utterly alone, before she pressed the window down and a blast of cold air hit her. But she knew that Joseph would be standing outside, waiting until one of his men returned from escorting Mia to the gate.

"Joseph?" He gave a small jump, and then turned to look down at Clarisse.

"Yes, Your Majesty?"

"When we go….can you join me in the back seat?" He looked surprised at the request.

"Are you sure that would be allowed?"

"Joseph," she gave him a small smile. "I'm Queen of Genovia- if I didn't allow it, I wouldn't be asking you, would I?"

"True…yes, I would be delighted to join you in the backseat…now!" he said, catching sight of Scott, his deputy, emerging from the building. "Don't move over- I'll go around the other side," he said before Clarisse pressed the button and the window went up. He raced around the other side, and slid awkwardly in next to the Queen.

"Thank you, Joseph. I…I didn't feel like being alone tonight," she said quietly, looking directly at him for a moment before looking down at her hands.

"Don't worry- Mia will be back in the summer, and it won't be long before I hear you complaining how she's driving you crazy with her music," he said gently, injecting some humour, and she smiled softly at him.

"That's right, I will too! Still…."

She looked out the window for a moment, lost in thought. It was at times like these that she missed Phillipe- he had always managed to make everything so jolly and fun…as Mia did….but once he had left for college…the palace had seemed so much more empty. Maybe it was just as well she was going on a brief break….the palace seemed to be filled with memories of Phillipe and Rupert…and she didn't want to relive them at that moment.

Suddenly, she was surprised to feel someone take her hand, and she turned to look as Joseph gently squeezed her gloved his hand with his own. Instantly comforted, she smiled at him warmly, before looking out the window again.