A/N: Thanks to all my readers and reviewers... you all rock!
The Princess Diaries doesn't belong to me!
Six Months Earlier...
The morning after the coronation was bright, sunny and warm- a good sign for the start of Queen Amelia's reign, but while the rest of the palace- guests and some of the staff- were still in bed, recovering from the previous day and night's festivities, the recently 'retired' Queen Clarisse and her husband, Joseph, were taking a long, leisurely stroll through the gardesn, in no hurry to go anywhere or be anywhere at a certain time.
"What a beautiful morning!" she said as she stopped to examine some of her roses, bending down to sniff them and then standing and stretching with a contented sigh. "I always love summer mornings like these...the weather isn't too hot yet, but it's still warm enough to wander through the grounds in skirts and shirts!"
"It certainly is a beautiful morning," he agreed as she looped her arm through his again and they continued their stroll. "Now I know why you always tried to get out of your study and out into the gardens at this time of the day!"
"Not that you weren't dying to get out of that cramped security room!" Clarisse retorted and he had to grin at that.
"True... but what really mattered was that we were together, enjoying a little scrap of private time for ourselves!"
"Yes," her smile brightened at that. "That's mostly why I wanted to get out of the study!"
"How do you feel today?" he asked after a moment and she looked puzzled.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, yesterday you were Queen and today... you're..."
"Free!" she finished a gleeful, almost girlish look. "Free, free, free! But, in answer to your question, Joseph, I feel... wonderful! I haven't felt this light and free in a long time, not since before Phillipe decided to choose the crown, if not long before that... maybe not since I was young and before my betrothal to Rupert... .It's a strange feeling at my age, but I never truly realized how happy I would feel when I was finally no longer Queen until just now... not that I'm totally free, I still need to be around to support Mia when she needs me..."
"No one would expect that you would do anything less."
"But... this feeling of freedom is not only stemming from my stepping down from the throne- I took my vows seriously and I love my country, I always will... but it also stems from somethins else as well."
"Oh, what?"
"Being able to openlys how how much I love you," she stepped closer to him and touched his cheek with a gentle hand. "I've NEVER been ashamed of loving you, but it makes me happier to know that I can show everyone else... not that I'm inclined to do that very often."
"You don't have to do anything you don't want to do," he kissed her palm before leaving her hand in his.
"I know that, but I want you to know how proud I am to have you at my side and know that, when I enter a room, I am yours," she said simply. "I know that sounds very old fashioned in this day and age, but I..."
"I'm proud to be able to be at your side and be your escort... and I'm especially proud that you're mine, just as I am yours..." before he pulled her close to kiss her.
After that, they continued their stroll in companionable silence, enjoying the fresh air and the knowledge that they were, virtually, alone in this part of the garden (there were the usual cameras around, but no bodyguards, they all knew Joseph would be able to look after his wife), before Joseph glanced at his watch.
"Much as I'd love to stay out here with you all morning, I believe that everyone, hopefully, is getting up and about and we are supposed to be meeting them for brunch..."
"I'd love to stay out here too, but today, I'm just happy to follow the crowd, letting Mia do what she wants... within reason," she added hastily, but they both knew that Mia wouldn't do anything too wild, especially in the opening days of her reign.
"However," she continued with an unusually sly look appearing on her face. "The rest of the day could be our own... I'm sure we'll be able to find an excuse to slip away..."
"That sounds like a plan, my dear," he said with a grin, tucking her hand through his arm and patting it getnly, tenderly, touched at how she had changed since the wedding.
She had had the tendency to be closed, off, cold and distant, a defense mechanism she had developed during her marriage and one that was hard to break but, hopefully, the real Clarisse was emerging and the honeymoon had started the process off, much to his delight.
He was very much looking forward to seeing the 'real' Clarisse more often- the 'real' Clarisse who loved to laugh, tease others close to her, debate hotly when fired up and open her heart to those she trusted, a Clarisse she had shyly revealed to Joseph as their relationship had progressed, but now that they were husband and wife, he hoped that the 'real' Clarisse would become more permanent.
0
Mia was literally glowing at brunch- she was now Queen of Genovia, a role she had been training for since she was nearly sixteen, and while she knew there would difficulties and problems, she knew she would be able to handle it with Charlotte, her grandmother and Joseph, as well as Nicholas...
Young Lord Devereaux was present at the table when the new Queen and her guests- including Charlotte, at the request of both Mia and Pierre- gathered, and while he looked slightly nervous at being around Clarisse, still feeling guilty at the way he and his uncle had tried to cause trouble and destroy the Renaldi hold on the throne, Clarisse, after receiving the true story from Joseph, as well as her own discussion with him in the kitchens AND seeing Mia's blissful expression every time she looked at the young man, she knew he was trustworthy, kind and intelligent boy, a perfect consort, and she made every effort to make him feel included.
She did it in such a way that most people didn't notice, but Joseph did, and was touched at her gesture, and he could see that Mia too appreciated what her grandmother was doing.
Pierre was also present and Clarisse again couldn't believe that he was there, happily and easily mingling with everyone as if he had never been away, and it thrilled her every time she thought of the fact that he would soon be home permanently.
"Penny for your thoughts, Grandma?" Mia teased, breaking into Clarisse's reverie and Clarisse blushed, embarrassed at being caught out daydreaming. "Is something wrong?"
"No, I was just enjoying everyone being here," she replied with a serene smile. "It's wonderful to be able to share today with dear friends..." she glanced at Charlotte, Nicholas, Lily and Mia's other friends, as well as the Motezes.
"...As well as family..." her eyes wandered over Pierre, Helen and Mia's stepfather as well as Joseph.
"Yes, it's pretty neat that everyone's here," Mia agreed. "I'm so lucky to have so many people here celebrating and willing to support and believe in me."
"You are lucky, but we will always believe in you and will always support you through everything you go through," Joseph added, having listened in on the conversation between Grandmother and granddaughter.
"Absolutely," Pierre chimed in and Joseph was suddenly struck by the fact that if HE hadn't chosen to abdicate, PIERRE would have been King long before this, Mia could have been living a relatively uncomplicated life and Clarisse... her life would have been so much simpler and they could have been together long before now...
Joseph didn't resent Pierre at all for his decision- he was clearly happier doing what he was doing now, and he and Clarisse were now married- but he couldn't help but silently wonder what if... whether Pierre regretted his decision at all, of what if he and Clarisse had been together, legally, a lot sooner...
"If you are anything like Phillipe... or my mother," Pierre gave Clarisse a warm, affectionate look. "...then you are going to do splendidly, and I for one am looking forward to being here to see the differences and changes you make for the better in Genovia!"
"I do appreciate that, and the thought of everyone being behind me..." Mia said with a grateful expression, an expression that quickly changed to one of sly gleefulness as she thought of something else and her eyes met her grandmother's.
"However, I am also glad that the coronation was scheduled during the summer, and that there's still a month of vacation... I've got another month to do nothing but relax!"
"Mia!" Clarisse scolded, slightly shocked. "You do have things to do in regards to your new position- there are papers to be read, people to see, plans to be made..." before she realized that Mia was only joking and had only been winding her up. "Thank you so much, darling," she said sarcastically upon coming to that realization
"You are so going to have to get used to a lot of things, Grandma!" Mia laughed cheekily, ducking as the older woman threw her napkin at her, before Clarisse couldn't resist joining in.
"Be careful, otherwise I may rescind any offers of assistance!" she warned but Mia, still chuckling, clearly didn't believe her.
"You wouldn't do that to me... You're too nice to do that!."
"Oh wouldn't I?" Clarisse challenged, trying to remain straight faced but couldn't keep it up as she joined in Mia's laughter as Joseph, sitting between beside his wife and watching the interaction between them, felt pleased- the real Clarisse was emerging sooner than he had expected, but he was enjoying every moment.
There was finally a lull in the conversation once lunch was over, and Sebastian took the opportunity to tap his glass, effectively silencing the already quiet table as he stood up.
"I know this is not an official occasion, but I would just like to propose a toast to both our new Queen and our...recently retired Queen," he said. "Amelia, I am sure you are going to do a fantastic job as our new monarch- you definitely combine the best qualities of your father and your grandmother- and I look forward to working with you in the days, weeks and months to come."
"As am I," Mia said with a serious expression, although there was a small smile playing on the edges of her lips.
"And as for Clarisse..." he turned to the older woman with an affectionate look. "It is definitely going to be different not having your constant presence in parliament and in meetings..."
"Although she has agreed to stay on in an advisory capacity until I'm really on my feet," Mia intercepted.
"...Which is a good thing, as there will be times when our young Queen will need some wisdom and extra advice," Sebastian threw a warm glance at the younger Queen before refocusing back on Clarisse. "However, as I said the other night, we all appreciate all that you have done for Genovia, but I hope that you will have a well enjoyed retirement with Joseph..." he included Joseph in his look for a moment.
"You have done everything you could and did for our country, but now it's time that you look forward to having a life of your own..."
"Here, here!" echoed around the table and Clarisse blushed as, under the table, Joseph squeezed her .
"So, here's to Amelia and Clarisse... our past and present Queens... long live the Queen!" he declared, holding his glass up in tribute and the others followed suite as Mia beamed and Clarisse blushed even harder, her eyes sparkling with tears but she looked around with a smile, appreciating the gesture as Sebastian sat down again.
Long live the Queen... that used to apply to her, Clarisse thought as the conversation began flowing around her again, but now it applied to Mia, although she would still always be known as Queen Clarisse publicly... still, she was glad that Mia would be able to enjoy the title and all that came with it...
There would be a lot of hard work and difficulties, but there would also be experiences that Mia would never have if she wasn't Queen, and Clarisse had always got a lot out of her experiences...
Yet, despite her feeling of freedom and genuine happiness that all was well in her world and that Genovia was in safe hands, Clarisse couldn't help but feel a small frisson of jealousy course through her and she didn't know why she was feeling like that... why on earth would she be jealous of her own granddaughter... why?