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The Princess Diaries doesn't belong to me!

Isabel was just as shocked when she heard the news half an hour later, but she agreed with Clarisse- their relationship was very different to Joe and Clarisse's and only THEY had the right to decide when THEY were to come out of the shadows and make their relationship official, although she could also understand why parliament was being so hard on Rupert and that she could help.

"So,"she began slowly over coffee. "If it will get parliament off your back, I will come to the dinner for the Spanish Ambassador as your date- and people can see us as a couple, which we are."

"We don't have to do it if you're not ready," Rupert protested, relieved that she hadn't been scared off by parliament's demands but not wanting to rush their relationship. "Forget parliament- this is all about us!"

He didn't want her to feel pressured- Joe and Clarisse had literally raced into marriage, which was sweet and romantic, but he had other considerations.

"No, I think I'm ready for this," she said bravely as Joseph and Clarisse, sitting across from them, smiled at each other- they really were a couple- before Isabel brought them back to the present.

"It's time and besides," she smiled affectionately over at the young married couple sitting opposite them. "We will have people there supporting us, but I will be there for you," she said sincerely- she cared about Rupert a great deal and was certain that their relationship was for real.

She too had felt jealous when she had seen how much Joseph adored Clarisse and how close and in love they were (she often felt they literally radiated love) but now she was hoping that she and Rupert would be as happy as them.

"Of course we'll be there to support you!" Joseph said seriously before adding, with wink. "It will be quite a relief not to be the only ones stared at!" before crying "Ow!" as Clarisse gently pinched him, but she hadn't seriously hurt him as he smiled lovingly at her.

"Wonderful!" Rupert's face lit up with delight-. "We'll all be there but as it's another month away, we won't about it... and before then, it's my little brother's birthday," he grinned slyly at Joseph. "So, baby brother, what are your plans for your birthday?"

"Well, since I was lucky enough to be granted the day off, I WILL be spending it with Clarisse and Pierre..." he glanced tenderly over at Clarisse, knowing that they both suspected his birthday the previous year had been special for another reason. "And, at the moment, we don't have any set plans."

"Except dinner with our parents," Rupert said impishly before turning his gaze to Clarisse. "That goes for your special day too, Madame Clarisse," he teased and Clarisse laughed- it was still hard to believe that she would be 24 soon after Joseph turned 27, they had been married two years in January and their first child was a happy, thriving baby boy. "Do you know if your father will visit?"

"I think so..." she trailed off, the pain of her mother's disapproval still hurting at times, but she had moved on- she was very happy with Joseph and Pierre, so it was her mother's problem if she never saw her grandson or only daughter again.

"Don't worry," Rupert said sympathetically. "It's your mother's loss if she doesn't ever see Pierre..." and she smiled slightly. "Speaking of Pierre, I think Isabel wanted to see him..."

"He may be asleep but I'm sure he'll be fine with someone looking in on him," Clarisse said gently before taking Isabel upstairs. Sure enough, Pierre was asleep, but both women were content to stand by his crib, watching his tiny chest rise and fall.

"He's so adorable, I can't believe you and Joseph have a baby... you're so lucky..." Isabel cooed.

"Yes, we are," Clarisse agreed before Isabel turned to her with a serious expression.

"Can I ask you something?" she asked before continuing when Clarisse nodded. "Did you ever have doubts when you and Joseph first got together?"

"Some, especially with our romance blossoming so quickly and was so intense, I was worried that it would burn out."

"No, I meant whether you had doubts about being involved with a Prince."

"A little... I knew and was attracted to Joseph as Joseph, not his title, although it was unbelievable that a Prince loved me, and while I was a little afraid of becoming a Princess, he supported me all the way... why?" she looked at her suspiciously. "Are you already doubting your relationship with Rupert?"

"No... I'm just concerned about how we'll be perceived..."

"You don't need to worry about everyone else's perception of you- what matters is that you and Rupert are happy," Clarisse said honestly as she led her back out of the nursery and gently closed the door behind them.

"It's just daunting that I may became a member of the royal family and eventually becoming Queen... you must have been scared when you and Rupert were..."

"Yes, it was, but I'll never regret that Joseph and I fell in love- they are both good men, but you must speak to Rupert if you have any doubts about this relationship before he decides he really will go public with this...this is serious and he doesn't deserve to be embarrassed..."

"You should have thought of that when Rupert chose you as his potential bride," Isabel suddenly said sharply before turning to look at her with wide eyes. "Oh, Risse, I didn't mean that!"

"I know," Clarisse said simply- Isabel was under a great deal of stress with this relationship, but Clarisse also felt a little guilty, knowing that she was right and she hadn't thought of Rupert when she fell for Joseph...

Meanwhile, downstairs, Rupert looked slightly nervously at his younger brother, unable to believe that he had matured so much in the past few years and how HE was turning to him for advice.

"So, are you more relieved that you know that Isabel will stand by you, no matter what?" Joseph teased gently as the maids began clearing up the dinner plates.

"I guess so... I was just a little afraid... marrying the Crown Prince and becoming the future Queen of Genovia is hardly something to be taken lightly... I now understand why Clarisse was so scared when we were casually courting."

"But she would have stepped up if it had happened- Clarisse is always mindful of her duties..."

Joseph paused, still remembering her guilt when she had discovered she loved him rather than Rupert... her parents had wanted her to marry Rupert, but she had had wanted to follow her heart. The decision had almost torn her apart, caring as she did about Rupert, but things had happily worked out in the end...

"No, that is in the past now," Rupert said gently as Joseph looked up and he realized Rupert had probably guessed what she was thinking. "Once you two were engaged, I stopped wondering whether it would have worked between us...I can see now that Clarisse wouldn't have been happy, which probably would have affected our marriage and the monarchy...Still, she would have made a wonderful Queen- she's quite charming as Princess..."

"Too true," Joseph agreed, but relieved that Rupert had moved on and no longer wondered whether Clarisse would have been happy with him.

The idea of her humiliating Rupert was still preying on Clarisse's mind when Isabel and Rupert left a little while later and they retired for the evening.

"Are you alright, darling?" Joseph asked as he watched her brush her hair in front of the dressing table- she had been a little withdrawn when she and Isabel had returned from visiting Pierre. "You've been a little quiet..."

"I was just thinking about this situation with Rupert..."

"Is Isabel really ready to come out of the shadows?" he was suddenly alert and Clarisse hastily nodded as she turned away from the mirror.

"Yes... she was just wondering how I coped with becoming a member of the royal family and the possibility of becoming Queen, when I was supposedly engaged to Rupert..."

She quickly told him what had transpired between them, and he scowled slightly at her sharp words to Clarisse.

"I think we should tell Rupert about this," he said immediately as she climbed into bed next to him.

"No, sweetheart, I don't think so- I've told her to talk to him, that he will listen to her and I KNOW she will.." she sat back on her pillows before looking back at him after a moment. "Were you serious about never wanting to be King?"

"Yes, especially when we have Rupert, who deserves to be King, and I won't participate in any underhanded tactics to oust him... but you don't want it to happen either, do you?" he eyed her gently- he had sensed her ambivalence earlier when they had heard the news, but hadn't had the chance to press her.

"I can understand why you won't be too thrilled- when you married me, you never suspected that something like this could happen..."

"Not really, especially when Pierre would then become heir to the throne... and I'm also scared that our relationship would change for the worse, and never be the same again..."

"Our relationship would change, granted, but not for the worse... and no, Pierre in line for the throne isn't something I want either... him and our future children deserve as much privacy as they can- I hated growing up in the spotlight and I don't want that for Pierre..."

"However," she added after a moment as she leant against his shoulder. "If something happens which I sincerely hope it doesn't, and you DO have to step up, I will be at your side."

"I know you would, my darling," he said softly as he pulled her closer to kiss her neck. "I appreciate that and I know you would make a wonderful Queen, but I don't want to consider that idea at all!"

"Neither do I... but you would make a good King," she murmured before he leaned over and kissed her.

000

As Joseph had informed Rupert, both his 27th and Clarisse's 24th birthdays were spent quietly together with Pierre (who 'gave' his parents birthday presents- Joseph received a new watch while Clarisse was given a bracelet with tiny trinkets on it, including a 'P' and a 'J'), marvelling at how clever he was and enjoying private time together (reminiscent of their honeymoon) and ending both days with dinner at the palace.

"Thank you for tonight," Clarisse blushed shyly after Rupert, Henrik and Joseph all toasted her at her dinner. "I do appreciate all your well wishes and gifts..." her eyes briefly rested on the box containing a blue silk dress and rose shaped broach that her in laws had given her as well as more trinkets for her bracelet from Rupert and Isabel. "I had a lovely day and thank you so much..."

The party broke up soon after wards and Joseph quickly chivvied her out the door, laughter echoing in their wake.

"That was rather rude, darling," she chided as he slid into the car beside her. "They were very kind in giving me a dinner and we could have stayed a little longer..."

"They are very fond of their only daughter in law," he murmured as he leaned over and nuzzled her neck, his hand gently rubbing her skirt covered knee, almost driving her crazy. "But I think Pierre and I should receive your attention for the rest of your day!"

"I think it should be the other way around!" she teased, although he had been very attentive to her all day, insisting that she keep her feet up and rest.

"I have been your devoted husband and slave all day," he reminded her.

"True, but..."
"Believe me, you are the most important person in both mine and Pierre's lives," he reassured her as, car having arrived back at their house, he helped her out of the car. "And yes, my family is very kind but... we've got our own little family with you, me and Pierre..."

"Our own little family," she repeated with a smile before he kissed her.

"So what would you like to do for the rest of your birthday?" he asked softly as she leant against him, her breathing a little shallow and he knew her reaction to his kiss often mirrored his own- her innocence and inexperience had charmed and enchanted him when they first met (and still did) but now her kisses were so intoxicating and she had opened herself up completely to him.

She had matured a great deal during their marriage, especially after the baby had been born, and he was madly and completely enamoured with her, and he knew he always would be- no one else mattered.

"Did you want to see our son before we go to bed?" he added as they walked upstairs hand in hand, and she paused outside the nursery, severely tempted, but she felt her husband hovering beside her, patiently waiting as he ran a hand up and down her back, and suddenly all she could think about was him.

"I had to disturb him as he's been sleeping so well lately," she said aloud- they were both pleased he was settling into some type of routine.

"And how have you been sleeping, Your Highness?" he murmured as he pulled her close and she wove her arms around his neck.

"Fairly well- my husband has been getting up with our son during the night... why?"

"I think you need some JLC."

"JLC?"

"Joseph loving care," he said with a smile before scooping her up and striding towards their bedroom, murmuring into her ear:

"Happy birthday my beautiful, sweet Clarisse."

0

The dinner for the Spanish Ambassador was held two days after Clarisse's birthday, and while no one had asked as to whether Isabel was attending as Rupert's date, Henrik, Alexandra, Joseph and Clarisse weren't surprised when they met up in the reception room before the dinner, and Isabel was there on Rupert's arm, looking a little nervous.

"Everything will be fine," Clarisse whispered sympathetically as they lined up to make their entrance into the dining room. "Just pretend that none of them or their opinions matter..."

Many of the members of parliament were very surprised when they saw Isabel on Rupert's arm, and Clarisse couldn't help but smile at the murmurs and stares- maybe now they would finally leave Rupert alone.

"At least we didn't have to put up with this rubbish when our relationship was developing," Joseph muttered into his wife's ear.

"Even if we had been together, would have really noticed... although we really didn't give them the chance" she teased, knowing that in October, two years earlier, all that mattered to them had been each other, their relationship only just beginning. It still amazed her how far they had come in two years but she was still so crazy about him.

"I would have noticed enough if they had treated YOU badly,"he responded quickly before escorting her to her seat, feeling a little resentful- as husband and wife (as well as Prince and Princess) they weren't allowed to sit together at most dinners, but he vowed that he would have that rule changed in the future.

However, since Clarisse was sitting between Lord and Lady Angus, an older couple he liked and trusted, he didn't mind too much that he was further down the table.

"These nights are so tedious," he complained softly as they reached her seat. "I wish we could be home by the fire..."

"I know, my love... what will get ME through the night will be knowing that you're close by..." before she slipped elegantly into her seat, Joseph prouder than ever that she was his wife.

The dinner seemed to pass by quickly, the stares Isabel and Rupert had initially attracted stopping when the main course arrived, and both young women charmed their dinner companions, although Clarisse happened to hear a murmur from down the table, thankfully out of earshot of Joseph or Rupert:

"Maybe the Renaldis finally have succeeded settling those boys down- those women may be the making of this family..." but she chose to ignore it.

After the meal was over, the Spanish Ambassador stood to make a few comments, graciously thanking his hosts as Clarisse again heard whispers and murmurs around the table and sincerely hoped that the Ambassador hadn't heard them. He was a very nice man, a good friend with Joseph and was planning on seeing Pierre either before he left or when they came to Spain next time... before she realized he was still speaking...

"While it is not my policy to involve myself in another country's politics or policies, I wish to make it clear that my dealings with the royal family are business like and polite, always fairly considering both Genovia and Spain's needs and while, yes, I have developed friendships with the members of the family, I, and my country, fully support the Renaldi reign- past, present and future- and I hope they and future generations will be on the throne for a long time to come... so, I propose a toast to the Renaldi family, our gracious hosts and the first family of Genovia!"

While there were a few dissenters (Arthur Mabrey among them, which made Clarisse wonder whether he had something to do with this, even though he was supposedly Rupert's friend and Joseph's adversary), the ambassador's speech had revealed an almost overwhelming support for Rupert, which pleased Joseph and Clarisse- they had been startled to realize the rumour had obviously spread quickly, but hopefully Spain's support would quickly silence these rumours.

The evening ended at midnight, but many of the members of parliament (who had been staring almost icily at Rupert and Isabel when they first arrived) were now looking at them with a modicum of respect and Rupert was relieved that maybe the tide had turned and they had successfully shut down an almost coup,although he knew Joseph wouldn't have accepted anything from parliament if Rupert had been forced to abdicate. It had been a long night for everyone, especially for a novice like Isabel, but she looked rather relaxed when Clarisse stopped by to say goodnight.

"That was quite a night!" she joked almost jovially.

"Any doubts now?" Clarisse asked quietly- she hadn't realized the rumour had travelled so fast, but she was relieved that Isabel seemed unfazed by the attention.

"No... Rupert and I had a long talk last night, and while we're both nervous about the attention we're inevitably going to attract, but we both want this to work and we're determined that it will," she looked almost defiantly at Clarisse and the latter was relieved- finally, something was working out for Rupert, and she couldn't wait to tell Joseph.

When she did, on their way home, she could literally feel the tension finally escape from his pores and he relaxed as he pulled her close to him.

"Thank goodness... and I know Paolo would say something- he's very fond of our family..."

"Even when you continue to brag about your son?" she teased and she could feel his chest rise up and down in the dark as he chuckled.

"Yes, even then... and he still wants to meet him... But, thank goodness that's all over...hopefully, finally something could be going right for Rupert!"