Author's Note: I couldn't resist writing another story while thinking about the other one! Hope you enjoy this one as well!

The Princess Diaries belongs to Meg Cabot and Disney

It was a beautiful, but extremely warm mid August summer day in Genovia, over a year since the coronation of Queen Amelia, and much of the country was sheltering from the heat in front of air conditioners or fans. It was no different at the palace, with its occupants staying close to air conditioning.

Clarisse Renaldi Bonnell was leaning her head sleepily on her husband Joseph's chest as they lay on the couch, watching a film on television….it was one of her favourite positions, listening to his strong and steady heartbeat…she could have happily gone to sleep in that position when she suddenly held a loud, muffled shriek come from down the hall, in the direction of Mia's suite.

She sat up for a moment, now wide awake, and startled by the noise, but quickly relaxed when she realised who had made the noise, and why.

"I guess Mia has finished her last session of parliament until the beginning of October," Joe said as Clarisse settled back next to him, her head on his shoulder, and he gently stroked her hair.

"I guess she must be pleased about that, judging from the noise she just made."

"It is a big deal…she's officially on holidays for 6 weeks," Clarisse said with a chuckle. She herself hadn't reacted quite as loudly as when she had been Queen, and had finished, but she could well understand Mia's feelings…

After a year of being in constant communication with a group of parliamentarians double (or even triple) her age, and numerous meetings with representatives of different countries, and not to mention the business of the country itself, the holidays would be a welcome relief.

"I can't ever recall you sounding that excited, or doing that," Joseph said with a smile as Clarisse looked over at him with a quizzical look, which quickly relaxed into a smile.

"Well, you never saw me when I was alone, did you?" she said teasingly, before she leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. "You never know, I may have been wild with joy every August, screamed my head off, and even got drunk!"

"You get drunk?" Joe said, emphasizing each word before ending with a loud laugh as they slowly stood up, stretching their limbs and grinning at each other.

"I've never seen you drunk…hang on, wait a minute…I have!"

"I'm not talking about that…I'm just saying that you don't know how I celebrated when we finished for a long holiday," Clarisse said coyly as she walked towards the bedroom to brush her hair- they were due to meet Mia for lunch in fifteen minutes.

"I know you better than you think, Clarisse Renaldi Bonnell," Joseph said as he followed her into the bedroom, and put his arm around her waist, gazing at her reflection in the mirror.

"And I know that you were always calm and contained…I would have heard you screaming from your suite! In fact, I would have joined you!"

"Alright, you know me too well," Clarisse laughed as she turned away from the mirror, and wrapped her arms around his neck. "But, I'm glad to see that you're using my proper name, with no 'Queen' in front of it!"

"You will always be a Queen, Clarisse my love, no matter what you say or do," Joe said as he softly kissed her forehead, before gazing into her deep blue eyes. "I'm just relieved that I don't have to call you that anymore!"

"Cheeky man- you haven't had to call me that since we were married!" Clarisse said, playfully slapping his arm, but not pulling away as he leaned forward and gave her a long sweet kiss.

"I forgive you…but I think you had better change your shirt…" she added, playfully shoving him towards his wardrobe.

She watched him with a warm and tender smile as he rummaged in their shared, built in wardrobe- she had never imagined how truly happy she was…she had thought that, after her 36 year marriage to Rupert ended with her as a widow, that was it…she would be Queen, alone, until her granddaughter came of age….but, after the tragic accident that stole her beloved Phillipe, she knew life had to move on…and Mia brought so much joy and pleasure into her life…she was so much like Phillipe…Clarisse couldn't imagine her life without Mia…

But she had never imagined that she would love Joseph so much and that they would actually be together….she had secretly nursed feelings for him for many years, and it had come as a bolt of lightning when Joseph confessed that he loved her too….

"You love me?" Clarisse said softly, her eyes filling with tears as they paused in their wandering in the garden, and Joseph took both her hands in his and looked at her intensely for a long moment.

"Of course I do, Clarisse…I always have…I just never knew that you felt the same way about me…"

"I do," she said before leaning forward and kissing him, their second kiss, but it was proof that she loved him. "You are such a wonderful man, Joseph, and any woman should be so lucky to have you love them…"

"But they aren't lucky…there was only one I ever loved," Joe said, touching her cheek with his hand, and was touched to see her blush.

They had had to hide their feelings for a long, long time, but she had only recently discovered that most of the country had known about their 'friendship' for a while. She had been embarrassed about that, but she was so happy that she didn't care…

There had been a moment, the previous year, when she had been afraid that she would lose him forever, but Mia, encouraged by her grandmother's advice about marrying, had told her not to give up with him…and now, they had been married for almost 14 months…the happiest fourteen months of her life!

"What are you smiling about now?" Joseph asked, jolting her out her daydream, and she smiled happily at him.

"Nothing…"

"Nothing?" Joseph asked teasingly, walking slowly over towards her.

"Nothing," Clarisse affirmed, but then her smile broadened. "I just can't believe how happy I am…"

"I can't believe how happy I am too," he admitted as he kissed her again. "But," he added, glancing at his watch. "We had better go, otherwise Mia's going to wonder where we are!"

The sound of laughter spilled out of the closed doors of Mia's suite, and Clarisse chuckled at the sound of Mia's laugh, loud and clear.

"She's happy," she said, before Joseph opened the door and they walked in.

Inside, everyone was standing around the set table for eight, and laughing at a joke that Nicholas had obviously been telling. They stopped and turned to greet Clarisse and Joe warmly, giving Clarisse the chance to see who else was having lunch with them. Present in the room was Captain Kip Kelly and Lily; Charlotte and Shades, and Prime Minister Motez and his wife, Sheila, both of whom were firm friends of everyone present in the room. It was a tight, close circle that some of the more jealous parliamentarians had tried, unsuccessfully, to infiltrate.

"Grandma! Joe!" Mia stopped laughing, and waved happily at her as Clarisse and Joe mad their way over to the group. "I can't believe it…I have six weeks to do absolutely nothing! I can't believe that my holidays are here!"

"I'm relieved," Nicholas quipped. "I've been hearing her complain about everything for the last month, and dreaming about this time…finally, maybe I can get some sleep!" he laughed, ducking as Mia threw a pillow in his direction.

"Yes, we heard the scream of delight from our suite," Joe added with a grin, and Mia had the good grace to blush in embarrassment.

"If you thought it was loud from there, just imagine how I felt, being only a meter away from her!" Lily joined in from where she was sitting, next to Kip on the couch, and everyone dissolved into laughter again. Mia looked around the room in mock disgust.

"I can't believe this…everyone's decided it's 'gang up on Mia' day!"

"Don't worry, darling…I know how you feel," Clarisse said reassuringly once the laughter had died down again. "I was in your position, not so long ago."

"Yes Mia, she was trying to convince me that she screamed with joy in her suite when she had her holidays," Joe joined in, which only started everyone off again. Clarisse rolled her eyes in mock exasperation, and smiled at her granddaughter.

"Let's sit down, Mia, and leave the rest of the zoo to keep laughing until they've settled down!"

However, she was pleased to see the friendly and warm atmosphere in the room- Mia obviously had a strong support system in Nicholas, Lily and Kip, Charlotte and Shades, as well as Sebastian and Sheila. Sebastian had been a supportive and loyal prime minister to Clarisse, and she had no doubt that he would be more than supportive to Mia…

She smiled as Mia and Nicholas shared a cheeky smiled as they sat down on opposite sides of the table- Mia next to Clarisse, and Nicholas next to Charlotte. She was genuinely delighted for them- although they had had a rocky start to their relationship (Lord Devereaux had been trying to steal Mia's crown for himself), they had quickly fallen in love…and had married six months ago. Nicholas showed no inclination for his previous ambitions, and he was a wonderful support for Mia…Clarisse only wished that she had had that support when she had been Queen…

But, then again, she smiled as she glanced at Joe sitting beside her, busily chatting to Sheila, she had had her support…Joseph had always been hers…

She smiled at Mia on her other side, and then over at Nicholas…it had been a rollercoaster six months since their wedding, with a few incredible arguments, but it was abundantly clear that they adored each other…

Clarisse moved her gaze towards Shades and Charlotte, who were secretly giggling at each other across the table…theirs was another relationship that had been in hiding for a long time (although not as long as hers with Joseph, she thought with a wry grin), but they were obviously happy together, and Clarisse was pleased for them. She no longer had Charlotte as her assistant, as Charlotte had decided to go into parliament, but the two of them often had lunch together, and Clarisse had seen Charlotte in action in parliament…she was well suited to the role…

She was so busy looking and thinking about the others, that she almost jumped out her skin when she felt Joseph's hand creep under the table and squeeze her knee gently. She turned to look at him, and he was grinning knowingly at her.

"You were daydreaming again, weren't you?" he leaned close so only she could hear, and she instantly denied it, proving to Joseph that it had been true.

"Certainly not! I don't do that…" but she smiled ingenuously at him as she realised that it was no use lying to Joseph…they knew each other too well…

He laughed, and squeezed her hand on the table, before they turned away to talk to other people.

"So Mia, "Clarisse began as she unfolded her napkin, and spread it over her lap. "How did the last session of parliament go?"

Mia rolled her eyes at the mention of parliament.

"At least three of them mentioned the Winter Palace for a couple of weeks as a vacation spot…But I said I'd get back to them about that…Anyway, it went pretty well…I think everyone is as relieved as I am that it's finished for a while…"

"Of course they are…it's as hard a year for them as it is for you," Clarisse said calmly, trying to even up the balance, but even Mia could tell that she was fibbing slightly.

"Grandma, they have less to do then me…except Charlotte," she added hastily as Charlotte raised an eyebrow in her direction.

"And you know it….how on earth did you manage to keep so calm and collected around them- especially when they're all screaming for your attention?"

"Just a simple lesson I've learnt over the years- they all exaggerate for attention."

"Great, I'll keep that in mind for next time…But the meeting only lasted an hour, thank goodness, and now…holidays! I feel like I've been released from school for the summer! What was it like when you were Queen?"

"Almost the same as yours, only I didn't give them the chance to complain about anything. I think that annoyed them the most!" she laughed, remembering some of the flushed faces she had witnessed in parliament in her time, before changing the subject.

"So, darling, what are your plans for the next six weeks?"

"I actually hadn't thought that far ahead, actually," Mia said with a sheepish grin, as she sipped her glass of water and looked at her grandmother.

"Parliament is on holidays until October, so I'm thinking that we may go away for a while…but I'm definitely going to pamper myself over the next few days…I think I deserve it!" she smiled wryly at Clarisse, who glanced closely at Mia- she didn't look very well…she looked pale and tired…

She had been looking a little unwell for a while, and Clarisse had noticed it, and had wanted to ask about it, but attributed it to stress. Hopefully, now that she was on holidays, she would be able to rest and do very little.

"How about going to the beach house for a couple of days…it's perfect weather there at this time of year, and it's relatively quiet…"

"That sounds like a good idea," Mia said thoughtfully. "I've always loved the beach house…and the ocean…" she took a deep breath as though she was standing in front of the ocean, before coming back to reality. "I'll have to talk it over with Nick, though."

Meanwhile, the men seemed to be discussing their plans for the summer, and talk soon turned towards outdoor pursuits- specifically, camping.

"You know, I haven't been camping in quite a while," Nicholas said thoughtfully, as the rest of the men looked at him interestedly. "Uncle was never the sort of man that would rest comfortably in a tent…I used to go with some of the boys from college, and it was so much fun…fishing, hiking, dr…" but he quickly stopped when he realised he was in the presence of Mia's grandmother.

Although she was very kind and generous, with a lovely heart, he was still often intimidated around her…perhaps it was because he felt guilty that he and his uncle had tried to undermine Mia… but, to Clarisse's credit, she had never held it against him…However, she seemed to miss his almost lapse, as she joined in the animated conversation.

"Camping? I've never been camping…Rupert used to take the boys most summers until they got old enough to rebel, but I just wasn't that comfortable sleeping outside, in the woods…ugh," she voluntarily shuddered, as Joseph took her hand reassuringly.

"Mom and I went camping once," Mia volunteered with a laugh. "We thought it was fun…until we got rained out! We didn't go again!"

There was a silence as everyone thought about the idea of camping, before Shades said:

"I think it's a great idea! Who's up for it? I know I am! Kip?"

"Sure," he said calmly, not in the least perturbed at the spirited chatter surrounding him.

"I am definitely in!" Nicholas said positively.

"It'll be fun," Joseph said, and looked at Clarisse questioningly. "How about you, darling?"

Clarisse wrinkled her nose in disgust, and shook her head.

"No, I don't think so….I'm not so much into camping…"

"Mia?" Nicholas asked, and Mia, after a moment's thought, shook her head too.

"No thanks….I was thinking more about having a long massage, and watching lots of girly movies," she said, laughing at the disgusted look on Nicholas's face.

"I'll come," Sebastian said with a wide smile, while Sheila shook her head.

"Charlotte….my darling, Charlotte…will you come too?" Shades joked heavily, looking directly at Charlotte, who was looking thoughtful, before shaking her head.

"Give me a break- I'm not spending my holidays out in the woods, where fishing and hiking are the only things I can do!"

'So," Nicholas began after a slight pause. "It looks like it's a boys only holiday….when are we going to do this?"

"Let's do it again in the next couple of days…it's perfect weather at the moment! But, what are we going to need?"

"We'll need at least three tents- maybe a double for each of us?" Joe suggested, as the others nodded in agreement. "And sleeping bags- possibly nice thick ones…I can imagine it may get slightly cool where we're going at night."

"Plenty of food," put in Shades, and Charlotte gave a snort of laughter.

"I can see where your priorities are!" as Shades tossed his napkin at her.

"Fishing gear," Sebastian, a keen fisherman, chimed in.

"As well as plenty of warm clothes…don't think I'm going to nurse you if you come back with a chill," Clarisse said mock sharply to Joseph, before her stern look melted into a warm smile for her husband.

"I'm so lucky I've got a wife who would do anything for me…wouldn't you, baby?" Nicholas beamed charmingly across the table at Mia, who only shook her head in mock despair.

"Not with illness, buddy…" as the rest of the table laughed. After a slight pause, Shades took charge of the conversation again.

"So, I guess some of us should go and get some of this stuff this afternoon…Joe?"

"I'm busy helping my wife in her garden," Joe said, putting an arm around Clarisse, and then both of them laughed along with the group, all of them knowing that Joseph didn't garden.

"Fine, I'll come," Nicholas pretended to sigh heavily, but his grin only contradicted his words.

"I'll help you too," Kip volunteered, and it seemed that everything was set. The rest of the meal was spent talking about the camping trip, with the men exchanging stories about their trips, and the women listened with amusement, exchanging smiles with each other occasionally.

"I can see that we're going to have a peaceful week without the boys," Mia murmured to Clarisse in an undertone, and Clarisse laughed.

"I can only imagine what they are going to get up to without us!"

After lunch, most of the boys disappeared down the street to buy supplies for their trip ('I can imagine what some of those supplies are going to be' Clarisse heard Lily mutter), while Clarisse and Joseph silently disappeared for a walk. Although it was still boiling hot in the grounds, they discovered that, as they walked, hand in hand, down into the forest and to the lake, it was much cooler in the green, leafy forest than around the palace.

"Maybe Rupert's ancestors should have built the palace down here!" she joked as they wandered down towards the lake shore. Joseph looked at her, pretending to be shocked.

"And wreck a wonderful forest, and some fantastic hiding places? No way!" but he was laughing as he said it, and she playfully slapped his arm.

"So…a whole week apart…."Clarisse said thoughtfully as Joseph spread a blanket a few meters from the shore, and they sat down on it together. "I don't know how I'll cope!" she pretended to pout at him.

"You can still change your mind, you know," Joseph said teasingly, and she threw him a disparaging look, while shaking her head.

"I don't think so…I'm much more comfortable at home, in front of air conditioning and with all my home comforts…But I am going to miss you," she said softly as he pulled her close and kissed her.

"So," she said after a long moment. "What sort of things do you do camping? I know it's sad that I've never been camping, but Rupert seemed to prefer that it was a boy thing when he took Rupert and Phillipe…" she looked away for a moment, pretending not to show how hurt she had been when it had happened.

"Just all the normal things that you heard us talking about at lunch…fishing, hiking, sleeping under the stars, singing campfire songs…believe me, it's actually quite fun…You know, my brother and I went camping a lot when we were younger….of course, most of the time it was in our own backyard…"

"In your own backyard…how sweet!"

"But when I got my driver's license, we went out of town a couple of times camping…but then Ben grew out of it, and I didn't go again for a while…Maybe at college a couple of times…But I think we'll have a great time, especially where we're going…"

"Yes, away from this dreadful heat…I think that's the only thing I envy about this trip!"

"So," Joseph said, turning to look at Clarisse. "What are you going to do while I'm away, my darling wife?"

"Hmmm….I don't know…" Clarisse began, pretending to be coy. "At least I'll have some time to do things I can't do when you're around, distracting me…" she said with a teasing look, and Joe pretended to look offended.

"I surely can't be that much of a pain, can I?" he said mock petulantly. "But I could take that the wrong way, if I wanted to," but the smile tugging at the corners of his mouth told her otherwise.

"I know you won't," Clarisse said confidently, but with a soothing smile as she moved closer, and put an arm around her shoulders.

"But," she continued with a sigh. "I'm actually looking forward to spending time with Mia…she's had such a hectic year, what with the coronation, and then her wedding…and I'm a little worried about her…she looks rather tired and pale…"

"Yes, I noticed that about her….but, don't forget, there have been some busy times…but not only for Mia, but for us too…" Joe said softly, and she turned to give him a shy smile.

"Of course! I'm forgetting about our own wedding…" but she didn't finish her sentence as he began to trail his lips into her hair, moving slowly down her face until they met her lips.

"You better not forget our wedding," she murmured softly before he kissed her again, and she chuckled huskily.

"How could I forget our wedding…that was the most wonderful day of my life…"

"Mine too," he murmured softly as his lips moved down her cheek, past her jaw, and landed on her neck. She laughed softly, and he looked at her questioningly.

"What?"
"I told you that I was going to miss you, but you never said the same…I'm wondering whether you are going to miss me or not…"

"Aren't you a little past being insecure about our marriage?" he asked teasingly, before smiling at her and resting a hand on her cheek.

"Of course I'm going to miss you…that's why I asked you again if you wanted to come with us! It's going to be the first time we've spent more than one night apart since our wedding!"

"Really?" Clarisse looked at him surprised, and then laughed. "Yes, I realised that…can you believe that we haven't spent a night apart in 14 months?"

"Well, we spent over 25 years apart before then, so I think we can be forgiven for not spending any time apart," Joe said as he playfully tugged at a strand of her hair.

"But, can we handle a week apart now?" she said teasingly, looking at him with a smile.

"I think we can…but, when I come back…" he trailed off good-naturedly, and she touched his face with her hand.

"I think I can understand what you're saying….By the way, I thought you were supposed to be helping me garden?" She looked at him, raising an eyebrow, and Joe just laughed as he lay back on his elbows on the blanket.

"Oh…well, I just was getting out of going down the street to go shopping…shopping, ugh!" he made a face, and Clarisse only laughed as she stood up.

"Yes, I know how much you love shopping….But, since you said you were going to help me, I think you had better…After all, I'm not going to have you around for a week, so I would like to get as much done as possible…" she smiled winningly down at him, as he made another face.

"Do we have to?" he pretended to look disgusted, but he secretly didn't mind helping her in the garden…just as long as they were together….

"Only for a little while, darling," she said soothingly as he slowly got up, and she retrieved the blanket from the ground. "Then, who knows?" she smiled mysteriously at him as he took her hand with a smile, and they began their walk back up to the palace.