A/N: Thanks to all my readers and reviewers, so glad you're still reading this story! I had planned on tying up all loose ends in two chapters but, hey, five years is a long time! LOL!

But I WILL tie things up in the next one (hopefully)- I'm experimenting with having shorter chapters (but thus having more chapters) and we'll see how it goes!

The Princess Diaries doesn't belong to me!

After a brief coffee break, Joseph back into his work- while he would have loved to continue his trip down memory lane, he also knew that if he wanted to be present at Phillipe's party that afternoon, he REALLY had to get his paperwork done before lunchtime.

It still amazed him, even after threee years on the throne, at how much paperwork both he and Clarisse had to do on a daily basis, to read over, make notes on and sign, and he smiled ruefully as he recalled how it used to annoy his father too.

"Why on earth couldn't they condense all of this into something less ponderous and boring- I know what it all means, they know what it all means... we could save a lot of words and paper if all the necessary information was on one or two pages," Henrik had grumbled on more than one occasion and now Joseph could fully appreciate his complaints.

It was almost lunchtime when he finally finished (and thankfully he wouldn't have to return to his desk after the party) and he sat back in his chair with a pleased smile- Phillipe had been worried that his hero (Joseph liked the thought that the boys looked up to him, although it made him aware that he had to make sure he behaved in a way that deserved their admiration) wouldn't be able to attend his party, he had admitted the evening before but Joseph had promised he'd be there, and he would be- his children's birthdays were just as important, if not more, than any state occasion.

"As if I would miss any of yours, Pierre's and your sisters birthdays and respective parties. The only times I've missed one of your parties is when I've been away, but you KNOW I always make it up to you!"

"With great presents!" Phillipe responded with a cheeky grin and Joe laughed- the boys was getting more and more like him as he got older, but while Pierre, while combining the best of both parents, was more like Clarisse personality wise, he was proud of both boys and his daughters (even though their roles in public life would be more limited than the boys, a thought that kind of pleased him) and he loved them all very much.

His mind was still on the boys when he heard the sound of heels on the marble floor and he looked up to see Clarisse walking across the room after entering through the adjoining door connecting their studies, looking far younger than someone approaching her thirty sixth birthday, something she had always declared as making her feel old, he quickly countering the complaint with the compliment that 'she didn't look a day over 30- I'm the one who looks old!' he added slyly, knowing that she would then contradict him, as she again did in that instance with:

"You may be on the cusp of your 39th birthday, but you still look as handsome, youthful and... roguish as when we first ment, you will always look like that to me when we're both old and grey," she finished with a teasing smile.

However, while they were both aware they were approaching middle age ("middle age!" Joe complained, although they were still a few years away from it) accodring to their birth dates, but neither of them look their age and were thus still projecting a youthful image of their country to the rest of the world.

It had intially irked parliament that their King and Queen looked far younger than other reigning monarchs in the rest of Europe (and even younger than themselves) but it now turned out to be working for them in their favour as Joseph and Clarisse, along with their young family, were the future of Genovia, and their youthfulness was proving to be an asset.

"You look busy," she teased as she ran a hand across his now almost empty desk. "I take it you finished all the work you wanted to do before this afternoon?"

"Absolutely," he replied as he grabbed her hand and tugged her around the desk to pull her down onto his lap. "I try not to break promises to my boys... or girls," he added hastily as she raised an eyebrow.

"Good," she said seriously before smiling as he drew her face closer to his so he could kiss her- they had been married thirteen years and he was still crazy about her. While growing up, he had never imagined the way his life would have turned out (King of Genovia, who would have though- he certainly hadn't!)- but most especially he hadn't imagined being so happily married to a woman of his choice, rather than someon his parents would have selected for him... Rupert and he had certainly been lucky in the women they had married...

"Is everything organized for the party this afternoon?" he inquired as Clarisse relaxed back against him and her skirt hiked up a little further so he could rub her knees- it was one of their rare moments alone and they were determined to make the most of it.

"Finally," she let out a sigh of relief. "Cake, refreshments, games he wanted... the staff have been working flat out for the past few weeks..."

"It's what they're paid to do," he pointed out.

"Still, they've done an excellent job and I hope that Phillipe enjoys himself this afternoon."

"He will, and you've done a good job too," he gently tapped her nose playfully.

"I can't believe he's ten today," she sighed again. "I can barely remember when he was born..." she added in a slightly sad tone- she had been in the midst of a deep depression around the time Phillipe was born, due to the fact that her father had passed on and she had only just made it to the funeral, although heavily pregnant, and her mother had made quite a scene and drove her away...

"I can," he visibly shuddered at the memory of the day of Phillipe's birth- he had been away at a three day conference and had made it back in time to disocver Clarisse had been in labour all day, before it had continued into the night until dawn, Clarisse and the baby struggling towards the end before, with a final surge of energy, Phillipe arrived into the world.

"It was awful, especially since I left you and you were in labour in all day..."

"Still, Phillipe was finally born safe and sound... and you were there for it," she rested her forehead against his for a moment before pulling away with a smile. "Anyway, I came to see whether you wanted to have lunch with me?"

"Of course," he said enthusiastically as Clarisse gracefully slipped off his lap and he stood up too. "Where will we be lunching? Upstairs, the dining room...?"

"Well," Clarisse paused in her journey back towards the door adjoining their studies to look back at him. "I was thinking that since we usually have lunch in your study, we could have lunch in mine..."

"Great," he said as, following him into her study, he locked the door behind him as Clarisse did the same thing with her main study door- lunch together was another occasion they cherished- before he turned to see a small table for two set up in the middle of the room.

"If it was at nighttime, we could call this romantic and I would think that you were planning on seducing me," he joked as he brushed past a side table where several framed pictures of him and the children stood alongside a large vase of fresh flowers- Clarisse ALWAYS had fresh flowers in her study, in the living room in their suite and on tables around the palace, a feminine touched he liked and appreciated.

"Maybe," she smiled as he held out her chair for her and then sat down opposite her. "But if it's romance and seduction you were after," she said with a twinkle in her eyes. "... well, you'll have to wait until after our son's birthday party."

"Alright," he pretended to look disappointed before smiling back at her. "You know, I was thinking before at how five years have flown by so quickly..."

"Hmm, they definitely have... but we're still together," she beamed at him. "After the miscarriage, I was wondering if we would make it..."

"We did... and that summer break with the children was very timely," he grinned at her and they exchanged a long meaningful look- it had been a very timely break indeed, especially as it had helped their relationship even more...

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The boys had been disappointed when they had had to return to the palace, but they were happy with Joseph's promise that they could come back next summer ("hopefully," he murmured under his breath to Clarisse) and they settled back into palace life almost immediately, although their parents took a little longer to readjust.

While Clarisse and Joseph's birthdays were spent quietly, the twins third birthday was again celebrated with a party (and two cakes- they were two separate individuals) and as she watched the two girls playing with their friends, their brothers busy with their own friends, Clarisse suddenly was swept up in the emotions of the moment- she couldn't believe her little girls were three years old- before she had a sudden, overwhelming urge to have another baby- soon- before it was too late... maybe if it was too late...before Joseph, sensing her emotions, discreetly pulled her into the garden for a brief stroll, reassuring her that the children would be fine for a few moments.

"Are you alright?" he asked quietly as they disappeared further into the garden, the noises of the party fading into the distance.

He hadn't missed the look in her eyes as he had watched her watch the girls- she still blamed herself- she still blamed herself for the miscarriage, despite everyone's reassurances it wasn't her fault- and he knew they both wanted one more child...

"I'm fine," she smiled a little sadly at him. "I just can't believe the twins are three... we've been reigning monarchs for three years and the girls... they're growing up just as fast as the boys."

"And you're worried that we might not have another baby?" he asked shrewdly and she sighed again as she turned to face him wanting, as always, to be honest with him.

"Yes... I was watching Claire and Grace, remembering when I was expecting them and now... they're three... and I suddenly had an overwhelming feeling of wanting another baby but then... we might be too late..." and she looked at him in a way that made him realize that she was slowly working herself up and he quickly stepped up to wrap his arms around her and squeeze her firmly.

"Losing the baby WASN'T your fault," he murmured in her ear. "It was an accident of nature and while that may be hard to accept, it did happen and, if we're meant to have another baby, we will... But we DO have four healthy, happy children at the moment, and we're lucky with them... it will happen, if it's meant to," he whispered determinedly into her ear, hoping that he wasn't lying to her, squeezing her tightly for a moment before she looked at him, now reassured.

"I know, it's just that when I saw the girls together... I felt... strange," she sighed, again remembering how emotional she had felt, before she smiled at him, her smile suddenly much brighter. "Speaking of, I think we'd better get back before someone..."

"Namely, our bodyguards," Joe supplied with a grin- it had always been a favourite game of his to escape his security team, although he didn't do it now, not with his wife and family.

"Yes, especially them... notices we're missing... I can also just imagine what Charlie would say if he saw us emerging from behind the rose bushes," Clarisse giggled as they strolled hand in hand back down the path to where the party was still in full progress, and Joseph rolled his eyes.

"So can I... so let's just try and sneak back in!"

0

Things settled down again after the twins birthday party, and while they both still wanted a baby, they had agreed that they didn't need to worry about it unnecessarily, and both Joseph and Clarisse in fact forgot about worrying about whether they would have another baby (and even the desire to have another one) at all as they plunged back into work again, both busier than ever.

It was early December when Clarisse finally had a chance to stop and breathe- it had been a hectic few months since the birthdays, and she was very much looking forward to the Christmas break, for a number of reasons, including the fact that she had had a virus since mid November and had yet to shake it off (although she had continued with her duties); and the children were all eager to leave the palace and stay at the Winter Palace to see snow and Santa Clause, two subjects Phillipe continually spoke to the twins about, exciting them almost too much at times, causing Joe to tell him off about it several times.

"But snow is fun to play in and Santa brings all the presents- they deserve to know," Phillipe looked so innocent and so earnest that Joseph didn't have the heart to be too firm on him- he was only five- although he did remind his son not to over excite the girls too much.

The annual opera was again scheduled for early December, and it was only Joseph and Clarisse were attending (his mother was still travelling, although she would be back for Christmas) and it struck Joseph very hard that this would be the first year that neither of his parents would be at the opera with them (this time last year, his father had still been alive, although he hadn't gone), a fact that emphasized Henrik's absence again, but Clarisse was determined that Joseph would enjoy himself, a thought she woke up to on the morning of the opera before, seconds later, the thought was put aside as she, feeling nauseaous almost from the moment of waking, raced to the bathroom to throw up- Joseph had already left for his run.

"Oh no..." she moaned softly to herself as she slowly propped herself up against the bathroom wall- the upset stomach part of the virus had returned- before she froze, her memory recalling a time (or several times) when she had felt like this before and had dashed to the bathroom like she had just done... could it be? Could she really be... before she suddenly felt sick again and threw up again, resting on the floor afterwards, which was where Joseph found her a little later.

"Congratulations you two!" Dr Bangs announced an hour later- after finding Clarisse huddled on the bathroom floor and knowing how unwell she had been- Joseph had immediately sent for the doctor and she had just completed expecting his exam with Clarisse resting on the bed and Joseph sitting beside her.

"I am very pleased to tell you that you're having a baby- I think he or she will arrive in July sometime... is it safe to assume that you're both pleased at the news?" he eyed Joseph warily- he could still remember the mini lecture he had given him months earlier- but the younger man only laughed openly as he kept his wife's hand firmly in his own.

"I AM definitely pleased at the news, and Her Majesty..."the two men glanced at Clarisse, who was smiling wanly, her eyes filled with tears.

"...Is definitely more than happy," she concluded and the doctor grinned at them.

"Good, then I'm pleased too... and I know you're worried about another miscarriage," he added, looking at Clarisse seriously. "But I'm quite sure that it won't happen again and, besides, I will be doing the same as I did when you were expecting Claire and Grace- keeping a very close eye on you!" and he could see his words relieved both of them- the loss of the other baby had shaken them up greatly.

He left a few minutes later, after leaving a few instructions, and there was a long silence in the room before Clarisse finally turned to her husband still sitting beside her, her eyes still brimming with tears.

"A baby," she whispered softly- she had longed for another baby since the twins had turned two, but now... it was really happening! She still loved her other children very much, but she had wanted another baby to complete their family, even though some would argue that they had the perfect family with two boys and two girls... but she was so happy, she didn't care what anyone else said!

"A baby, our baby," Joseph echoed, grinning at her slightly surprised look- she had been a little worried he had only been encouraging another child to make her feel better.

"Yes, I'm thrilled as you are about our future son or daughter," he leaned over and patted her nightgown covered flat stomach. "I knew it would happen when we stopped worrying... gosh," he frowned at her, but his eyes were twinkling mischievously.

"I just thought of something...it seems as though every time I touch you, you end up pregnant!"

Clarisse blushed deeply at his teasing words- in some ways, it was true- but she was so happy at this news that he could tease all he wanted... they were having another baby, and she felt as happy as she did when she discovered it each time with the boys and the twins.

"Will you still be able to come to the opera tonight? I understand if you can't or don't want to," he said after a moment of stroking her hair.

"I'll be fine," she said a determined glint in her eye. "This has become a tradition for me, and I enjoy going-I love the opera, you know that... but... are you really happy about the baby?" she asked in a small voice and he didn't hesitate to wrap his arms around her.

"I am... five children may seem a handful (and they probably will be) but we can handle them all...especially with help," he added teasingly. "But I know we can..." before he leaned over and kissed her softly, pleased as anything and wanting everything to go smoothly for Clarisse this time...

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Present:

"Why did you have to ask me whether I was happy about the baby?" he asked as they sat back after finishing lunch and Clarisse looked thoughtful.

"I don't know... I guess I just thought that you might have changed your mind..."

"After seeing all the anguish you went through in March, and how guilty I felt? You've got to be kidding... when the doctor announced that you were having another baby, I was thrilled... honestly, I was," he looked at her earnestly as he leaned over and took her hand in his before he looked at her seriously. "Actually, I have another question for you..."

"Just the one?" she teased

"Yes... While I know now that everything is fine between us..."

"Although we still have to continue to work on our relationship..." Clarisse interjected.

"Yes, but that's part of marriage... not, it's about when you lost the baby in March... I was just wondering... I know you were really very angry about my behaviour then..."

"I was..."

"I was just wondering...whether you seriously considered ending our marriage? I know that the option really isn't there for us as monarchs, not to mention the fact that my mother would have been furious, but I was just thinking...was there a moment during that time when you really thought that our marriage was over?"