Arriving back at the palace for the evening reception, they were handed a glass of champagne each before Mia hurried of up to her suite to get changed out of her wedding dress and into something a bit more appropriate for the occasion, Charlotte dragged Pierre along with her to help direct all the arriving guests out to the gardens and Joseph headed off with Shades, to officially hand over everything to him. And with finding herself alone, Clarisse sipped her champagne and wondered off to the throne room.

Everyone was all still in shock at earlier events. They had gathered for a Royal wedding between Princess Mia and Andrew, only that didn't happen and Queen Clarisse and Joseph married instead. He had been her best friend of many years and head of her security, and though they had tried to keep their blossoming relationship low key and secret they soon realised that they had failed when no one was surprised at the sudden marriage between them. In fact, they were themselves more surprised when the archbishop replied with 'finally' when they approached him at the alter.

And now as she stood in front of the portrait of herself and her first husband, King Rupert, she looked forward to her future. They were married many years and though they had two handsome sons together, they never really loved each other. It had been an arranged marriage, one she didn't want but had no choice. And though they spent many years together, and they grew fond of each other towards the end there was no spark, no excitement and no love between them. And she knew that this marriage to Joseph would be different, there was love, there was a spark and lots of excitement between them and for the first time in her life she felt happy to be married, having today married her best friend and the man she ever really loved.

And sipping a little more of her champagne she averted her gaze to the portrait of her sons hanging beside the one she had been staring at for the last several moments. Smiling to herself and wishing that Philippe was here, she knew he would have been so proud of his daughter today. She had come along way since they first met six years ago, and she knew that she would make a wonderful Queen. Raising her glass, she said a silent toast to her late husband and son before turning to the sound of the door opening.

"Here you are, mother." Pierre smiled as he made his way towards her.

"Hello, darling. Is everything alright?" She asked and looked up at him as he stood in front of her.

"Of course," he smiled and kissed her cheek before glancing over at the hanging portraits "what was you doing when I came in?" He asked, looking back at his mother.

"Oh just saying a silent toast to them," she smiled towards the portraits once more before looking back at her son "I take it with you being here, everyone is gathered in the gardens now?"

Looking back towards his mother, Pierre nodded. "Yes they are, and we are now just waiting on Mia and Joe to return before we can make our entrance, speaking of which.." Turning he took his mothers free hand in his and smiled "I never got a chance to say before, but congratulations, mother." He smiled and kissed the back of her hand before studying the ring.

"Thank you, darling." Smiling, she studied her sons face a moment before looking down at their hands. "You don't mind do you, that I remarried?" She asked and looked back up, searching her sons face as he shook his head.

"Why would I mind?" He asked, smiling. "I have known that there has been something between you for sometime, and you deserve to be happy, you both do." Stepping closer, he hugged his mother a moment before stepping back as she put her hand up to cup his cheek. "I was surprised though, that it was you who had asked him today in the church after he came to me a few days ago and asked me for your hand," seeing the confused look on his mothers face he stopped "what's the matter?"

"What do you mean?" Clarisse asked, taking hold of the glass she held in her hand, with both.

Studying his mothers face. "He came to me a couple weeks ago and asked my permission for your hand in marriage." Seeing her eyes widen, he put his hand up and began rubbing the back of his neck nervously. "I take it you had no idea about this?" He asked, averting his gaze back up to her eyes.

Shaking her head, she looked down at the glass in her hands a moment before looking back up at him. "No I had no idea that he asked you, he did ask me to marry him a few weeks ago but with preparing for Mia's wedding and having a duty to my country I said no."

"Ah,"

"Now I can see why you were surprised over my asking him this morning." She said and turned her head to the side.

"He wanted to do the right thing, and when he came to see me he explained that he had loved you for years and wanted my permission before he went ahead and asked you." He said as his mother looked back at him. "I knew you would always be looked after with him as your husband, and because I felt you both deserved each other and would make each other happy I said yes, I had no idea you were going to say no, mother, I'm so sorry."

"You have nothing to be sorry for, you weren't to know I was going to say no. And besides, we are married now." She smiled.

"Yes you are, and I couldn't be happier for you both." He smiled.

"Thank you." Clarisse smiled up at him as he stepped closer, giving her a hug.

"He really does love you, doesn't he?" Pierre said as they stepped apart. "I mean, it's obvious he does or you wouldn't be married, I just meant that after all these years seeing how close you were, and all those secret smiles and whispers you shared really did mean something."

"Yes, yes they did." Clarisse nodded "Pierre, your father and I,"

"I know," Pierre nodded "you don't have to explain, Philippe and I have known for years that there wasn't any love between you."

"There was love, but not in the form it should have been in. I loved him as a friend, not as a husband." Clarisse answered. "Things with Joseph are different, and I'm really looking forward to our future together."

"I know, and I know that he will make you very happy, mother." Pierre smiled and studied her a moment.

"Did he really ask for your permission?" She asked, studying her sons face.

"Yes, I did."

Turning, both Pierre and Clarisse smiled as Joseph made his way over to them.

"I'll leave you two alone, see you in a while." Pierre smiled and kissed his mothers cheek.

"Thank you," Clarisse smiled and watched him walk away before averting her gaze on her new husband as he took the final steps towards her. "Hello, all sorted with Shades now?"

"Hello, and yes it's all sorted," Joseph smiled and kissed her cheek "and yes, I did ask him," He smiled "I wanted to do it the right away."

"I love that you done that, and I'm sorry that I said no, I had so much going on and I, I,"

"It's fine, you know I understand." Joseph interrupted with a smile and took hold of her free hand.

"I do," Clarisse smiled and watched as he lifted her hand up to his lips and kissed the back. "I'm glad we 'finally' did it though, I'm glad we're finally married."

"Yes, so am I." Joseph smiled and wrapped his arm around her back "come on, they are out waiting for us." He smiled and kissed her cheek as they began making their way over to the door.

Meeting the others out in the foyer, they made their way out to the gardens where Mia and Pierre were announced first, followed by the happy couple, Mr and Mrs Elizondo. And after each of them made a speech, thanking everyone for coming they sat down to dinner. And after, as the drinks were poured the band began to play.

And before they knew it, it was time for them to share their first dance together as husband and wife.

Taking his beautiful wife's hand, Joseph lead her onto the dance floor before turning to face her. And as 'At Last' began to play, Joseph smiled and pulled her gently closer to him, making her laugh and blush as he wrapped his arm around her waist, and keeping a hold of her hand they began to sway slowly to the music.

At Last, it was a song that Mia and Pierre had chosen for them, who both agreed it was the perfect choice for the newlyweds. The song, the words, the rhythm, everything about it was them, it had to be their song to have their first dance too.

And as they continued to dance Clarisse closed her eyes, her heart was beating fast, everyone was watching and as she thought back over hers and Joseph's life she suddenly thought of something.

Opening her eyes, she lifted her head and looked up into his eyes.

His eyes searched hers and they stopped swaying.

"When did you know?" She asked and searched his face as he looked away momentarily before looking back into her eyes.