hey everyone!! thanks so much to everyone who has reviewed, i really appreciate your comments! So here's some more :)

Oh, and as ever, i dont own the princess diaries, i just like to toy with the characters!

Enjoy!!!

Chapter 4

"Anna, come on, she didnt call you to start a fight, blatantly she wants to see you!"

"Well I kinda guessed that Dad but she just made me so angry excusing her actions by saying she'd been busy!"

Pierre Renaldi sighed and sat back in his chair, briefly surveying the work load on his desk, he'd finally made a start on it when his angry and upset daughter had marched into the Philosophy department of King's college university London and embarked upon a rant of the biggest proportions!

"Darling, dont you think its about time you stopped being angry with her? Yes she behaved wrongly, you both did but you said it yourself she actually apologised! Now lets face it, apologising isnt something your grandmother does often she probably found it very hard! And I bet it almost killed her not to comment upon your latest life choices! Oh dont look at me like that Anna you know how your Grandmother feels about....relations before marriage!"

Anna sighed and lowered herself into a chair. "Do you think I over-reacted?"

"A little, yes. You do have a right to be upset Anna but hostility is never a solution! Ask yourself this, would you rather bury the hatchett now, or regret not doing so when its too late?"

"I guess she isnt going to live forever."

"No, and I know you'd never be able to live with yourself if you never had the chance."

"Max, what do you think?" Anna spoke over her shoulder to him as he stood at the side of the room listening since they arrived.

"I think, on this occassion, I have to agree with your Father, its about time this feud of yours was laid to rest."

Anna knew they were both right, but she couldnt help the feeling of apprehension growing within her. It had taken her so long to get over leaving Genovia, it had been her home for so long, and she missed it terribly. But what she missed more were the people, her friends, Charlotte, Joseph, her grandmother....and Shades! How she used to love tormenting him in his early days of working at the palace! She would see them all again in a heartbeat, go to Genovia in a second, if not for the fear....the fear of being rejected once again. Anna could never take that feeling again, she loved them all far too much.

"Anna, I know you're scared.....but why would your Grandma contact you, if she planned on hurting you again? She's grown Anna, she has changed! We saw as much when we watched her marry Joseph on the 9 o'clock news!"

Anna rolled her eyes with a laugh at her father's comment, undoubtedly that had been a news report they'd been startled to see!

"True! I guess she does at least deserve a chance!"

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Jospeh stood out on the terrace for a moment, simply watching his wife walking slowly around the garden, he could tell she was deep in thought.

He could see, even from this distance, the rise and fall of her chest as she regulated her breathing, tears more than likely pricking her eyes.

She'd never openly lost her composure before, even Joseph had never seen her lose it. He'd seen her upset, crying, hurt and angry, but not all at once, and not in the intensity he sensed would come if their family remained in turmoil!

'Their' family, it felt so good to him to think of them each as 'their' family. Of course he loved Mia, and Anna and Pierre and Phillipe to a certain extent as if they were, but now they really really were...and he loved it.

Slowly Joseph made his way across the garden, Clarisse had paused to admire the new layout of the rose garden, it was simply beautiful, a pure reflection of the former queen herself.

"No! Joseph dont come near me!" Clarisse suddenly declared as she sensed her husband's approach.

"Why not?" He asked confused as he stopped walking for a moment.

"Because I cant control my composure around you and if you come any closer I'll break and I cant break I just cant!"

With two long strides he was behind her, his hands firmly on her shoulders as he turned her around and proceeded to wrap his arms around her, holding her tight against his own body. For a moment she resisted, the tears had started as soon as he touched her, she knew they would, and now there was nothing she could do to stop them.

"Let it out Clarisse, you've kept it inside for far too long!"

Yet again she attempted to resist, but his grip tightened and as his hands moved firmly yet comfortingly across her back she began to relax, sinking into him as she moved her hands across his own back.

"Why is it you know exactly how to handle me?" She asked quietly moments later, after the sobbing had subsided.

"I know you better than you know yourself, for years I watched you, I know every single little action, every expression, every sign of your body language Clarisse....I just know you."

She sighed, pulling back slightly to take his hand and continue to walk through the gardens, yet keeping her body as close to his as possible. "What am I going to Joseph? I dont know anything anymore....since Mia arrived I thought I had changed, become more tolerant and accepting of the modern views of the younger generations but, Anna still wont listen."

Joseph smiled and sighed for a moment, looking out over the beautiful lawns. "I think we both know Mia and Anna, though similar in some respects, are very different. Anna was raised here, under the strict values of a monarchy, she was instructed to think and behave in a certain way from a young age....she is out there now in the real world adapting to life away from a palace, its probably been a very enlightening experience for her, she's become more opinionated, more independent and exploring the alternative ways of living."

"That doesnt explain why she wont talk to me though."

"Well, if I was her I would still be angry with you. Although you and she were closer than close at one stage, after Rupert and then Phillipe dying....you were...on more than one occassion...just plain nasty to her! I know you dont want to hear that darling but we have to face the truth here."

Clarisse, though initially about to embark on the defense, sighed and nodded slightly. "You are right, as always. I suppose to win her back, I will have to accept her as she is now, and not judge her or try to change her back into Princess mode.....and yes, I am including the concept of her 'living' with that Max person without being married!"

She couldnt help but smile as Joseph's hearty laugh met her ears. "Oh I wondered when that would come up! You did quite well to hide the cringe when Nicholas told you though!"

"Well I'm not happy about the concept, the press would have a field day on a scandal such as that but.....I know, inside me I know that I dont really care...aslong as Anna is happy...then I am happy...truly I am!"

"That, my darling....is called 'growth'!"

Clarisse joined in the laughter that was currently being emitted from her husband, and playfully slapped his chest. In all seriousness, as they walked, she knew that she could not have done any of this without him...he was there for her as always, even just to hold her hand, smile when she needed reassurance, just protect her in every single way that he could, and certainly he was well practised in that!