Author's Note: Okay, so this chapter isn't exactly short either! But I just kept writing…it was great. Thank you to all the wonderful reviews- they really make my day, and inspire me to keep writing!

The Princess Diaries belongs to Meg Cabot and Disney

Joseph opened his eyes and stared at the inside of the tent ceiling for a moment, trying to gather his bearings as the weak light from the sinking moon illuminated the tent slightly… he had somehow dreamed that Clarisse and the rest of the girls had come and joined them camping, but he surely had to be dreaming… his ladylike wife wouldn't do something like that…

Suddenly, a movement from beside him startled him, and he glanced over to see that Clarisse was also awake and staring at the ceiling. When she realised that he was watching her, she turned over on her side to face him, a radiant smile on her lips. She looked just as lovely when she woke up in the morning as when she was dressed up and attending a fancy function, although it had never mattered to Joseph.

"Good morning, darling," she said sweetly as he turned over to face her, before kissing him softly on the mouth.

"Good morning beautiful," Joseph responded contentedly as Clarisse snuggled up closer to him and he softly kissed the top of her head. "How long have you been awake?'

"Not long… I was just a little confused about where I was when I heard the birds outside, but once I got my bearings… I was just thinking about how lovely and quiet this spot is…."

"When the rest of the entourage is still asleep, that is," Joe joked with an easy smile, and Clarisse snickered softly to herself.

"This is so nice and cozy," Clarisse breathed as they lay there for a moment, just enjoying the presence of the other person in the tent. "I thought it might be squashed in here last night, but I was very comfortable and warm… and the mattress definitely contributed to my good night's sleep!"

They were speaking in soft voices as they were both well aware that the others would all still be asleep.

"Did you still want to go on a hike this morning?" Joe asked as he wove his arms around her and suddenly not wanting to leave the tent or the sleeping bag…this was pure magic, being alone with her, in the great outdoors… She looked at him amusedly.

"Why? Are you feeling lazy this morning?"

"No… no...actually," he realised there was no point trying to fib as Clarisse looked at him with her clear and piercing eyes. "I really don't want to get up this morning… it's so nice and cozy here with you, and I could stay here all day!"

Clarisse laughed softly.

"I very much doubt Scott or Mia would let us do that… but we've still got another couple of days to fight it out with them. I'd like to go for that hike, but only if you want to, and if your knees aren't too bad," she added hastily, and Joe had to smile. Even now, she was still so considerate of everyone around her…even him…most especially him.

"I don't mind at all, and my knees are fine…although, if I'd had to stand any longer on one leg last night, I don't think I would be quite so eager to go."

"Cheeky monkeys," Clarisse said lightly as she stretched her arms out in front of her, and Joe almost regretfully unzipped the sleeping bag, allowing the cool air in. "Aaah…it's still chilly outside, I see," Clarisse cried as the cool air reached her, and she shivered. "I guess I had better dress quickly… that is, if I can find the clothes I want!"

She was lucky, however, to find them, and all too soon they were both dressed and crawling out of the tent. Clarisse looked around her with a smile, and took a deep breath in- although the air was still fresh, there was a scent in the air that couldn't be found even in her beloved rose garden… it was the smell of nature. Although it was still partly dark, the horizon beginning to lighten, she could make out the silhouettes of the other tents, silent as their occupants continued to sleep, and the smoldering fire, which had almost burnt out completely.

"I want to wake up Scott," Joseph whispered as they crept slowly through the campsite. "The only problem is I don't know which tent he's in!"

"Don't be cruel," Clarisse chided in a whisper, gently pulling him away from the nearest tent he was looking longingly at. "I know you love waking up early in the morning, but not everyone is like you!"

0000000

"So, where are you taking me?" Clarisse asked, the campsite disappearing behind them as they walked in the opposite direction to where they had headed the day before. "I hope you know what you're doing, Joseph… I'm not sure I would like being lost!" but there was a tone of amusement in her voice as she said it.

"We won't get lost… I've been to this area several times, and I know it like the back of my hand," Joe pretended to grumble as Clarisse moved closer to him, and looped her arm through his. Now that they were getting further away from the camp, they were able to talk in their normal voices.

"My hero," she murmured softly, and he kissed her on the top of her hair. "Do you know whether Phillipe and Rupert came this way at all?"

"I think I can remember Phillipe telling me about this place… actually, yes, he was the one who told me about it before I came here the first time- he gave me specific directions to follow, and he was right! Apparently he and his friends had accidentally stumbled upon it, but Phillipe always hiked this way whenever he was camping. He thoroughly recommended it, and he loved it."

"Really?" Clarisse said softly, happy that Phillipe had been busy, even with his royal duties, and even more pleased that he had told Joseph about it. She knew that Phillipe had liked Joseph very much (more so than his brother), and she often heard them discussing the latest football or basketball game televised from the United States. She had teased them fairly often, calling them 'sports nuts', but she had enjoyed seeing the relationship between them.

Joseph, who had been watching her expressions soften at the very thought of Phillipe, gently squeezed her hand, bringing her back from her thoughts.

"He was actually planning on bringing you out here the next time he went camping… for the day, of course, but he wanted you to see this view… it's spectacular."

"He was going to bring me out here?" Clarisse said, her voice choking up with tears as Joe pulled her close to him and hugged her tightly. "He asked me to go camping with them once, you know, when he was about 12… maybe he was going to show me then…"

"Maybe, but he definitely planned on bringing you out here… and Mia too, eventually…he really did love camping," and Joe went quiet at the thought of the young man that had been so much like his mother, and dying when he had been about to embark on the biggest challenge of his life…

He suddenly remembered Clarisse then, and looked at her- maybe it wasn't such a good idea telling her that story…

"Are you alright?" he looked at her with such love and concern in his face that it almost brought tears to her eyes again.

"I'm fine… I just never knew that… Thank you for telling me that story…"

00000000

They had been walking for nearly twenty minutes when they came to a very steep hill, and Clarisse groaned softly as she looked up at the climb.

"I'm suddenly wishing I'd listened to you and stayed in bed!" Joseph laughed softly, and gently laced his fingers with hers.

"We're here now, and we're going to do this… believe me, when you get to the top, you will be so glad that you made the effort."

It was indeed a very steep climb, and Clarisse wondered whether they were actually going to make it before the sunrise, as the horizon was almost aflame as the sun began to creep over.

"Are you sure we're going to make this?" she asked as they stopped, halfway up, for a brief rest. "I think the sun is going to beat us up!"

"We're almost there… and there's a nice rock where we can sit and watch the view," Joe said encouragingly, and Clarisse only whimpered slightly in the back of her throat. She didn't know how Josephs' knees weren't playing merry havoc on him, but she had forgotten that she hadn't done this sort of walking for many years.

"You'll carry me back if I don't make it?" she gasped slightly as they finally came to the peak of the hill. She completely missed his response, and her slight aches and pains as well as her breathlessness suddenly disappeared as she came face to face with the view… it was absolutely stupendous!

Although the hill had been difficult and steep, Joseph had been right- she was more than grateful that she had made the effort. Looking down into the valley, crowded with trees and foliage, she could see part of the river and… in, the distance as a tiny speck, and she could just make out the campsite, which looked quiet and still.

The sun was coming up over the horizon as Joe led her over to the rock, and sat down beside her. She was speechless with awe, and Joe knew that he had done the right thing bringing her up here.

"Impressed?" he teasingly murmured into her ear, and she silently nodded as her eyes drank in the view… and it seemed, although it was a long, long, long way off, as though she could see the ocean…but that was ridiculous, she told herself.

As she sat there, holding Joseph's hand, she though about Phillipe again, and was struck with a pang of grief that she hadn't felt for a long time… although it was priceless being there with her beloved Joseph, she would have liked to seen it with Phillipe as well, she thought a little sadly as memories of her son swept over her.

After a moment of introspection, Joseph watching her carefully and knowing that she was reflecting deeply, she realised that she was being silly… Phillipe would have much preferred Joseph bringing her here than him… and she suddenly realised that Joseph was there, sitting beside her… As a tear, partly of grief and of wonder, slid down her cheek, she looked over at Joseph with a radiant look, a mixture of wonder and grief.

"Thank you for bringing me here… I love it, and I love you," she said as she nestled in closer to him, suddenly feeling at peace.

"I love you," Joe murmured softly into her hair as they continued to watch the sunlight stream through the valley. "By the way, do you remember our first sunrise we saw together… as newlyweds?"

Clarisse, the pang of grief almost subsiding just being in Joseph's arms, looked up at him and rolled her eyes, before grinning at him.

"Do I ever... I first wake up to find you in my bed, and then you want me to see the sun rise…"

"You have to admit, you did enjoy it!"

"Yes, it was very special… our first day as a married couple…" Clarisse admitted with a tender smile as she looked out into the distance…..


Clarisse was happily dreaming of Joseph when she suddenly felt someone gently touching her face with their hand, and she woke up with a start…who was doing that?… she kept her eyes closed- surely her security men wouldn't have let anyone strange into her room……

"Clarisse, darling?" someone said from near her, and the voice sounded familiar as she opened her eyes and found herself looking into Joseph's dark brown eyes. She frowned for a moment, wondering why was there, before sitting bolt upright in bed, suddenly remembering why he was there… they had gotten married the previous day!


"We got married yesterday!" she said in surprise and Joseph, sitting on the other side of the bed in his bathrobe, laughed outright at her reaction.

"Yes we did… I was wondering whether you were going to panic and call for security!" he joked as Clarisse, calming down, fluffed her pillows up against the bed head, and leant against them as she smiled ecstatically over at her new husband.

"Well, I didn't… aren't you going to kiss me good morning?" she asked innocently, and Joe could only smile- he had dreamed about doing this for so long…

"It would be my greatest pleasure," he said before leaning over and giving her a long, sweet and adoring kiss. "Good morning, my beautiful wife."

"Good morning, my handsome husband… I can't believe it," she said softly, looking down at her left hand, which now had a plain gold band on the ring finger. Yesterday had seemed like a dream, but he was here… She glanced over at the bedside cabinet and gasped- it was almost six in the morning!

"Much as I love waking up to see you in the morning," she began, slowly sinking back into bed. "I think I need more sleep!"

"Actually, I was thinking that we could see the sun rise… I know we've seen it together more than once, but it's our first as newlyweds, and it could be a lovely way to begin our marriage…"

Joe reddened after he finished, and looked away bashfully, but Clarisse was no longer sinking back into bed. She knew that Joseph was a sensitive man, but she had never realised the depth of his emotions… she shifted over to his side of the bed, and took his hand in hers.

"I think that's a lovely idea, darling. Just give me a few minutes to get dressed!"


She was out of bed and heading towards her cupboard, when she turned and noticed that Joseph was still sitting on the bed, looking at her in awe.

"What?"

"You just called me darling."

"Oh Joseph," Clarisse, touched, came and sat down next to him again. "There have been many occasions over the years when I've wanted to call you that, but I can now… you're my husband… why, would you prefer me to say 'hey you?'"

"No… there's going to be a lot of first for us, my love… and that was one of them," he said shyly, and she kissed him gently on the cheek.

"And that is a wonderful thing for us to enjoy together!"

0000000

The halls were deserted as they hurried, hand in hand, down the stairs. Clarisse was heading towards the main door, but Joseph tugged on her hand gently.

"I've got a secret way to see the sun rise…" he said with a cheeky grin, and led her back through the palace, past her study and the security room, before stopping outside a door that had a sign on it: KEEP OUT.

"Technically" he said as he opened the door and followed her in, switching the light on as he went. "You aren't allowed up here… this could be dangerous even for me, but I just loved doing this sometimes!"


"Joseph," Clarisse gasped as she saw the metal stairs in front of them. "Are we going onto the roof?"

"Yes… that is, if you want to." He was rather nervous about his idea, but when he looked at her face, he knew he had her answer- she looked excited.

"I've always wanted to go onto the roof, but my security detail…namely, you… wouldn't me! I can't believe I'm going to do this!" Joseph waved her for to climb the steps first, but she shook her head.

"I would rather follow you up."


"Oh, so if I happen to get injured, you can run away?" Joe teased over he shoulder as he began climbing the stairs, Clarisse a few steps behind.

"Of course!"

It wasn't a particularly long climb, and Clarisse had to blink quickly for a few seconds after Joseph helped her onto the roof, as the sun was almost over the horizon. She looked around her for a moment, unable to believe that she was on the roof, before she walked to the edge (while being careful not to get too close), and gasped when she saw the sight of her garden, bathed in early morning light.

"Magnificent view, isn't it?" came a voice from beside her, and she turned to smile happily at Joseph as his arm wound around her waist, and she moved in closer to lean on him.

"I can't believe you denied me so many opportunities to do this, Joseph… this is extraordinary! I can, however, understand why… but this…this…" she was almost lost for words as Joe chuckled into her ear.

"I hope this makes the first day of our married life memorable," he teased as she turned to look at him with love radiating from every pore.

"It does, it does…and I love you for bringing me up here!"


"I love you too," he said before kissing her tenderly on the lips. "Are you happy now, darling?"

"Two days ago, I didn't think I would ever be happy again," she faltered as they both remembered the scene in the ballroom. "But now… I am… more than I could ever imagine!"


"I'm not sure I've excused you for not showing me that spot earlier," Clarisse teased huskily as they continued looking at the view in front of them. "But that certainly helped… although I do understand why… I just hope that Nicholas doesn't get the idea…"

"Don't worry, I won't be telling Nick about that little secret," Joe said as he wrapped his arms around her- there was still a slight breeze in the air, and he could tell that she was shivering.

"I know they are going to be so happy together… you just have to see it in Mia's eyes," Clarisse said as she looked out and thought about the young couple, as well as Phillipe. "The new addition next year will certainly be cause for celebration!"

"By the way, are we still the only ones that know… do you know whether she's told the others yet?"

"I don't think so, otherwise, if she had, they'd be all treating her like a piece of fragile glass… But I hope she tells them soon- I think they would all like to be celebrating it! I wish Phillipe had been here for this…"

"He is in a way, and we both know that he would thoroughly approve of everything that has happened to both you and Mia…"

"Everything?" Clarisse teased, and he laughed.

"Of course… that's right, I've never told you about my little conversation I had with Phillipe before…. Anyway, I've never told you, have I?"

"No, and since you've piqued my interest, you're going to have to follow through with it!


Joseph walked through the palace, fresh from a meeting with Her Majesty ('meeting' being a stroll in the garden), and he was looking forward to a strong cup of coffee. Clarisse was in a meeting with Sebastian Motez and Charlotte for at least an hour, so she had given him an hour off.

"You don't need to be standing outside my study for the next hour!" she said with a laugh.

He was walking past Phillipe's private study, formerly the King's, when he heard someone inside call out his name. "Joe!"

He stopped for a moment, and when he heard his name called out again, he assumed that the Prince wanted to see him. Curious, he walked through the partially opened doors and found His Royal Highness, Prince Phillipe Renaldi, heir to the throne of Genovia, sprawled out on the couch watching basketball on the new television he had had installed that week. Not knowing whether the Prince had heard him, Joseph coughed discreetly, and Phillipe turned from the television with a wide grin.

"Hey Joe… the game's just started, and I was hoping you'd walk by… did you want to join me?"

Joe grinned- everyone in the palace knew that Phillipe's obsession with basketball had begun when he had been in America, and it had never abated since then… in fact, it had, if at all possible, had gotten even worse… He had even converted Joseph to the game, and Joe enjoyed watching the games on television, when he had the time…

"I was on my way to get a coffee and have a break…"Joe began weakly, his eyes glued to the screen, wanting to sit down and watch the game, as he had done many times before, with Phillipe. Phillipe grinned, knowing Joseph's other weakness… his other weakness was the Queen, Phillipe's mother… and he thoroughly approved.

"I'll ring for two cups of coffee later, if you want… and I'm sure that Mother won't mind you watching a game with me!"

"Alright," Joe gave in easily, sinking into a nearby chair, and instantly becoming involved in the game. At half time, Phillipe looked over at Joe with a grin.

"So what have you been up to today, Joe?"

"Well, your mother has been busy with parliament meetings and such, and we had just gone for a walk in the garden when you called me in here… I think she had more meetings this afternoon, so she gave me an hour off."

"Perfect timing for a basketball game," Phillipe grinned easily, before sobering up for a moment, another thought on his mind.

"You work closely with her, Joe… I'm worried about her- she's looking rather tired lately."


"She has been very busy, Your Highness… not only has she had affairs of state to keep up with, but I think she's also very involved in planning your coronation," he finished with a slightly teasing look at Phillipe, who only grinned broadly.

"I can't believe it's in June…only three months away…I never thought I'd be King of Genovia, I always thought that it was Pierre that was going to be the pride of the family…" he trailed off with a sigh, and looked away for a moment.

Joe looked thoughtfully at the young man- although it had been a major disappointment to Rupert and Clarisse when Pierre had given up the throne, Joseph suspected that Phillipe was temperamentally more suited to the role… he had told Clarisse many times that he would do a good job, not that she needed to hear it, and Joe would be proud to see him crowned… There were times when he had almost been like a son to him.

"Anyway… when I become King, Mother is going to have a lot more time on her hands," Phillipe said, coming back from his thoughts, and looking back at Joe. "So… are you going to marry her then?"

Joe stared at him for a moment, unable to believe what he was hearing… her son was asking whether he would marry her… how he had known about their close relationship… After so many years of working at the palace, his first thought was denial.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Phillipe…" Joseph stuttered, but Phillipe looked at him with a knowing smile. "That's completely ridiculous… we're just friends… that's all!"


"Sure, just friends. That may be alright for other people, but I have seen the chemistry between you two, and that is a lot more than friendship!" Phillipe teased, and Joe looked away for a moment.

"I… we're…" Joseph was still lost for words as Phillipe looked at him seriously.

"Joseph, you just have to see the two of you together to see that you are completely devoted to her, and Mother absolutely adores you… I think you're the only man who has ever made her really come to life! That's something I will always be grateful for… my father cared very deeply about her, but you give her something more… I thoroughly approve, Joe, and that would be the icing on my cake when I'm King (besides having Amelia and her mother here) - you tie the knot with my mother… So, are you going to marry her?" he looked earnestly at Joseph, who couldn't help but laugh before giving Phillipe an honest answer… it had crossed his mind several times over the years, particularly as their feelings had grown stronger…

"I would love to marry her, I have always wanted to…but what do you think she would do?"

"She would do it in a heartbeat, Joe… believe me!" Phillipe laughed wisely and Joseph had the feeling that Phillipe knew more than he was letting on.

"But promise me, Joe," he looked serious again. "You will make her happy… one day, you will be together…"


"One day, Phillipe, I hope that we will be together…" He was going to say more, but a noise in the doorway distracted them, and the sound of heels made them look towards the door to see Clarisse standing there, a broad smile on her face.

"So there's my Head of Security and my son…I've been looking for both of you everywhere!"


"So you didn't hear any of that conversation?" Joe asked as he stood up and stretched, before giving Clarisse a steadying hand up.

"No, I didn't… but I had the feeling that Phillipe was plotting something like that…I'll tell you about my conversation later… but, hadn't we better get back? I'm sure the others will probably be up and about… although I really don't want to walk down that hill again" she groaned, looking at the hill in askance. Joe laughed

"Don't worry… I've made sure that there's an alternative route back to the campsite- and it's much less hilly on this side!"

"Alright… let's go…" Clarisse paused for a moment, looking out at the spectacular view in front of her again, and enjoying it. Joseph offered her his hand, and she took it after a moment with a warm smile.

"Thank you," she said softly, looking back at the view and then at him. "I had wished I had seen this with Phillipe, but after hearing that story, I think I know who I was supposed to see it with… and I'm glad I did!"