A/N: This is something a little different, the Crown has gone down through Clarisse's family instead of Rupert's. The story has been going around my head for a while and I wanted to write it out, see how it goes. I hope you all enjoy it, I know it's a little AU but I still hope you like it and any support is much appreciated :) Thank you.
Go Your Own Way - Fleetwood Mac.
Loving you isn't the right thing to do
How can I ever change things that I feel
If I could maybe I'd give you my world
How can I when you won't take it from me
These words connect me to this fic, and I really do hope it makes sense to you all.
xXxXx
Chapter 1: Happy Birthday!
Clarisse Renaldi has been Queen of Genovia ever since she was twenty two. Her father, Philippe, had been sick at the time and with her being married the year before he finally agreed to abdicate the throne to his eldest daughter, knowing she would make a fine Queen. He died shortly after, and Clarisse has done her best to make him proud, even when she had to face ruling the country and raising her two young sons alone after her husband Prince Rupert passed away suddenly ten years ago.
And now, standing in her office she slowly turned to sit on the edge of her desk taking a moment to look out at the weather as she drifted off into a daydream while waiting for her assistant to return. She felt truly blessed to have such a wonderful family, amazing friends and a loving man by her side. When Rupert died she thought she would never find love again, and if she was honest she wasn't even looking, it just sort of happened. Lord Edward was a long time family friend, was there for her and the boys when she needed someone, even a shoulder to cry on. And slowly over time she fell in love, finally accepting a dinner date two years ago.
When her assistant returned Queen Clarisse stood back up and turned to face the young lady with a smile as she made her way over to her standing beside her desk and handed her a file, where Clarisse stood reading it a moment. Unaware that Joseph, her best friend and head of security was stood in the doorway watching her.
They had been friends since school, he had loved her since they were teenagers, but in secret. He would do anything to be with her, but he knew that would never happen. He loved every little thing about her, took notice of what she wore and paid her charming compliments everyday. His father was good friends with her father, with both of them hoping that one day they would be together and rule Genovia together, sadly though those dreams were dashed when she announced she was to marry Rupert.
Even to this day she has no idea how he really feels about her, and probably never will.
Seeing that she wore the red portrait collar jumper that he had got her for christmas with a black pencil skirt and heels his heart skipped a beat. Clearing his throat a moment later, he watched as she and her assistant looked up at him. Smiling he stepped forward.
"Joseph, good morning." She smiled "How long have you been stood there?"
"Oh only just," He lied and began making his way over to them.
"Thank you, Stacy, that will be all for now." Clarisse smiled at her assistant and watched as she bowed before walking out. "Now, what may I do for you?" She asked while moving to stand behind her desk.
"I just wanted to give you this, and to wish you a Happy Birthday." He smiled while placing a gift bag down on the desk in front of her.
"Oh Joseph, you shouldn't have." She said while looking down at the bag before looking back up at him.
"Yes I should have, it's your birthday and you're my friend, so it's only right I get you something." He smiled "I just hope that you like it." He added while watching her reach inside and pulling out a bottle of perfume with a bow on it.
"Oh Joseph, it's my favorite perfume." She beamed and looked up at him as she held it in both her hands, against her chest. "How did you..."
"Clarisse, dear." Edward interrupted and smiled from the doorway as she looked over at him.
"Edward," She smiled and put the bottle down as she watched him look at Joseph.
"Oh hello Joseph, I didn't know you would be in here." He said, stepping forward.
"Hello, and I only just got here." Joseph answered "Had to give my friend her birthday present." He said, smiling back at Clarisse.
"Ahh I see, that's lovely." Edward nodded and looked back at Clarisse.
"Yes it was, it's my favorite perfume. I have been looking for this everywhere." She beamed while looking down and picked it up to look at the bottle once again.
Watching her, Edward nodded a little "Anyway dear," He began and watched as she looked back up at him "I'm just about to leave now." He said while walking over to her as she put the bottle back down on the desk.
"Okay, what time do you think you would be back?" She asked, walking around her desk to meet him.
"I shouldn't be too late." He answered, wrapping his arms around her.
Seeing them sharing a kiss, Joseph looked away, giving them their privacy before they walked out of her office together.
Several moments later Clarisse returned and made her way back over to her desk as Joseph watched her.
"Sorry about that," Clarisse said while putting the perfume to one side.
"That's alright," He smiled and watched her sit down at her desk. "Are you ready for your party?" He asked.
"Oh I am," She smiled and looked up at him. "What about you?" She asked.
"I am, I am having a briefing with the security team shortly to make sure they are all up to date and know what's going on." He nodded as she looked back down at her desk.
"That's good, thank you for everything and all your hard work, Joseph." Clarisse said while looking back up at him. "And please remember that I have given you tonight off, so I want you to enjoy yourself too."
"Oh, I know but I will much prefer to work and make sure everything is as it should be." He answered, looking over at her.
"Joseph, you work to hard. Please will you take the night off, and enjoy yourself?" Clarisse said.
"We will see, I can't promise anything though."
"Fair enough," She said and shook her head. "Anyway, I haven't seen much of Jasmine lately, is she still coming?" She asked.
"Yes, she is." He answered, looking her in the eyes. "She's really excited about it."
"That's good," Clarisse smiled and pulled out a file. "How long have you been together now?" She asked and looked back up at him.
"Nearly 3 years," He said, half smiling.
"That long already?" She exclaimed. "Maybe she is the one?" She asked, smiling up at him.
"Maybe, but we will see." He answered while watching her a moment before looking over at the door "Well I best get on," He said and looked back at her as she looked up. "Got loads to do."
"Okay, and thank you so much for the perfume, it's lovely." She smiled "Thank you." She said softly.
"You're welcome," He smiled and made his way over to the door. When he reached it, he stopped and looked over at her to find her staring towards the windows. Shaking his head he walked out, closing the door behind him.
That Afternoon.
Putting a file down on her desk, Clarisse began to lower herself, about to sit down when someone knocked on the door, stopping half way she stood back up straight and looked towards it to see Jasmine stood smiling at her.
"Jasmine, come in." She smiled and motioned for her to enter. "Close the door behind you."
"Thank you, I hope you don't mind me popping in like this?" Jasmine asked as she closed the door and turned to her.
"Of course not, you're a friend aren't you? You can pop in anytime." Clarisse smiled as she made her way around her desk.
"Thank you," Jasmine smiled as she made her way over to her "As I won't be able to make it to your party tonight, I just wanted to pop your gift over." She said as they embraced into a hug. "Happy Birthday!"
"Thank you, but how come you can't make it tonight?" Clarisse asked as they pulled apart. "Jasmine, is everything alright?" She asked as she passed her, her gift.
Shaking her head, she looked back up at her "I take it Joseph hasn't told you then?" She asked and watched as Clarisse turned, putting the gift bag on her desk.
"Told me what?" She asked, turning back to her friend.
Meanwhile Outside.
Seeing Pierre and Philippe shooting hoops out on the basketball forecourt, Joseph put down his paperwork and joined in with them. Like he often done if he didn't have a lot on and had time. And after a while they all sat down to have a rest and a drink.
"So what's up with you both today," Joseph asked and took a sip of his water.
"What makes you think theres something up?" Pierre asked and watched as he lowered his bottle down.
"Because of the look on both of your faces," Joseph answered and watched as they both looked at each other before Pierre looked down at the floor and Philippe drank some of his drink.
"Edward is planning on asking mother to marry him tonight, at the party." Pierre finally said a moment later and looked up as both Joseph and Philippe looked at him.
"He asked us what we thought about it just a while ago." Philippe said as Joseph looked at him.
"Alright, and how do you feel about it?" Joseph asked, watching them.
"Alright I guess, I mean I want mother to be happy." Pierre said.
"Me too, but he isn't father. And he doesn't even bother with us much." Philippe said as Joseph looked at him and Pierre looked away. "I know that we are older now, but he hardly talks to us."
"We just want her to be happy, which he obviously does well." Pierre said, looking up at Joseph. "Just wish it was you she was marrying and not him though."
"Me? Why me?" Joseph asked in surprise.
"As you've always been there, you were when we were growing up and helped us with our homework after father died." Philippe said "And yes I know that we are at the age now when we don't need you, but we know that you are there if ever we need you."
"And I always will be, no matter what." Joseph said, watching them before taking a drink of his water.
"Why did you never tell mother that you love her?" Pierre asked, and watched as he choked on his water.
"I beg your pardon, what..."
"Anyone can see that you do," Pierre interrupted.
"Well anyone but the one person who's meant to see it most." Philippe added, and everyone nodded.
That Evening.
Joseph watched as the crowd gathered around the Queen as she prepared to blow out her birthday candles. It had been a long day, and he was glad that it was nearly over. Seeing Edward wrap his arm around her while leaning closer, whispering something in her ear before she lent forward to blow out the candles. Seeing her stand back up straight as the room cheered a moment before it all fell silent, searching the room he soon discovered why. There in front of him Edward was down on one knee, holding onto Clarisse's hand. He was speaking so everyone could hear, but Joseph blocked it out.
Moving away from the crowd he grabbed himself a drink and stood watching as the room began buzzing with excitement once again. Sipping his drink he watched as Edward wrapped his arms around Clarisse, spinning her around before they shared a kiss. He hated that man, even more now that he was going to be taking his best friend away from him.
"Joseph?" Came a voice beside him, turning his head he saw Pierre stood there, looking at him. "Are you alright?" He asked as ironically, the song Go Your Own Way began to play.
Looking back over, he saw how happy his friend looked as she danced with her husband to be and his heart broke. Glancing back at Pierre he shook his head and walked out, not saying a word as Pierre watched.
Later.
After finding out from one of the guards where Joseph had disappeared too, Queen Clarisse made her way to find him. And sure enough he was there, with his drink and cigar, sitting quietly.
"I was told you would be here," She said softly as she approached him at the table.
Looking up, he nodded "Can't escape really, can I?" He said and sat up straight.
"Please don't do that just because I'm here," Clarisse said, pulling one of the chairs out and sat down beside him. "Are you going to tell me what's wrong?"
"There isn't anything wrong," He answered and sipped his drink before putting his glass down and slumped back in the chair. "Congratulations by the way, I'm very happy for you." He said, forcing a smile.
"You could have fooled me." She said, crossing her legs as she watched him. Resting her arms on her leg, she lent forward and studied his face as his gaze fell onto her necklace.
"I see Jasmine has given you her gift," He said, his gaze shifting back up to her eyes and watched as she looked down, taking the necklace in her hand.
"Yes she has, and she told me what happened." Clarisse said and watched as he looked away "Why didn't you tell me that you had broke up?" She asked.
"Because you have been so happy, I didn't want to damper your spirits." He answered, his gaze falling on the table in front of him.
"You should had still told me," Clarisse said and watched as he turned his head to look at her.
"Look, today is a happy day for you. It's your birthday and you have just got engaged.." He began while looking her in her eyes "If it's all the same, I would rather not talk about my breakup. If anything, I would rather just forget about it and move on." He said and downed the rest of his drink as Clarisse looked down and nodded.
"Alright, if that's what you want." She said and lent closer, placing her hand on his knee as he watched "Just know that I am here though, if ever you do want to talk about it, or even if you just want a shoulder to cry on." She said.
"Thank you," He said, looking back up "But I will be fine."
"Ok," She answered with a slight nod and stood up "I'm going to head back inside now, are you coming?" She asked and moved behind the chair, pushing it back under the table.
"In a bit," He answered and watched as she folded her arms.
"Alright," She nodded and gave him a small smile before walking away.
Staying put he watched as she disappeared back inside and after several more moments he stood to his feet, disappearing the opposite way. Deciding to take a walk before returning back to the Palace, wanting to be alone.