wellllllllll i seem to be on a roll writing this fic lately so here's another part! once again...i cant say it enough...a HUGE thank you to those of you leaving reviews, it really does mean the world! I hope you like this part too!!

just a little note, the painting mentioned in this part is entirely made up...by me, my imagination sometimes runs riot!! :)

as usual, no copyright intended, disney and meg cabot own the lot!

Chapter 8

"You....walk...to work?"

"Grandma its like a five minute walk to the tube station then another five minutes from the other side!"

"Yes but...walk....no cars no escort and what is a 'tube'?"

Anna stared blankly at her grandmother as they stood just outside her house, Joseph having reluctantly dropped Clarisse off not five minutes previously.

"Ok, I'm not gunna stand here and explain all this you'll just have to pick it up as we go along! You promised a day in my life now here it is!"

Clarisse had no time to argue as she soon had set off in pursuit of her grand-daughter who was like a woman on a mission down the street post haste!

"You look very smart by the way! Professional!"

"Thank you grandma! From you that is a great compliment."

"Are you saying I was overly critical of your wardrobe before?"

"Ahha! But I learnt a lot from it so...snaps to you!"

Anna smiled as they turned a corner onto a much busier street and for a moment Clarisse was a little unnerved by the morning rush of people on their way to work and such! Quickening her pace, she finally caught up with Anna as she manouevered swiftly through the double doors of her local Starbucks!

"Hey Anna...usual?"

"Yeah, can you make it two this morning please Jack!"

"Sure thing....you want The Observer or The Guardian today...someone already took The Times." The young man behind the counter smiled as he held up two newspapers to the former princess as she seemed to ponder his question for a moment, Clarisse merely stood back in observation.

"Erm, I'll take The Guardian...thanks!"

"No probs, Steph kept your usual table free I'll bring your order over in a sec!"

"Great, come on Grandma dont stare!"

Clarisse jumped back to reality as she followed Anna towards a table by the window, where they could see the hoards of people desperatly trying to make their commute on time.

"Do you have time to sit and drink coffee young lady, shouldnt you be at work."

"Ya know, I used to be one of those people dashing desperatly everywhere but then I realised, if I just took a different route, I actually would still get to work on time, but with less crowds of people everywhere...plus I actually like to watch the world go by, and I still have a whole hour before I need to get to work, so shush, and drink your caramal frappacino....in peace!"

For a moment Clarisse mock glared at her grandaughter as she flicked open her newspaper and began to read. Usually she felt as though she would never have set foot in an establishment such as this, but somehow, it was strangely comforting, to simply watch the world go by.

"Anna, it just occured to me...where exactly is...work? I mean what do you do?"

"I wondered how long it would be before you asked me that!" Anna laughed as she placed her newspaper back onto the table. "I work at the national gallery...assisstant curator."

"Wow thats...interesting."

"Yep, well I have a first class degree in Art and Music from Cambridge Grandma...Art is my thing! Actually the gallery was more impressed with my ability to speak 6 languages fluently so they like to send me abroad to negotiate exhibitions and stuff."

"So you are a bit like a....national gallery ambassador?"

"Yeah I guess so, although I'm currently without assignment! Actually I only have to go in to the office today for a meeting which shouldnt last long then the rest of the day is mine so I thought we'd do a bit of a tour of my favourite places."

"That sounds nice, plenty of time to catch up."

"Theres much to catch up on Grandma, over lunch you can tell me all the details of you and Joe! I want alllllllllll the gossip!"

"You and Amelia are far too much alike! There shall be no gossip regarding myself and Joseph that is between he and I!"

"Ah well, it was worth a try! Now come on drink up we have a tube to catch!"

Clarisse sighed and rolled her eyes as Anna smiled at her in the troublesome way that suited her so well when she was a child. "You know this would be so much easier if we had an escort."

"But wheres the fun in that!"

The tube ride was, shall we say, interesting, particularly for Anna who took great amusement in watching her grandmother tackle the day to day mind-field that was London transport, but she did so with little complaint. But as they reached the gallery, the former queen of Genovia found herself, for once, completely speechless. Of course she'd been to the National Gallery before but never, never before had she been given such an opportunity as this. Whilst Anna attended her meeting, Clarisse was given unrestricted admittance to explore all the exhibitions at her leisure, and for once she found herself able to truly appreciate the art world, instead of just pretending to pay attention for the sake of state decorum. Strangely she found herself, enthralled by one painting in particular, for some reason it just seemed to haunt her, and keep her rooted to the spot in front of it.

"Fascinating isnt it?"

Clarisse jumped as she turned to see Anna leaning against the door frame to her right. "Theres something about it I....cant quite put my finger on it but, its just...haunting yet...divine."

"Its one of my favourites, actually it always reminded me of you. You want to know the story behind it?"

"Please." She smiled as Anna came to rest by her side as they both looked up at the painting.

"It was painted by a very under-appreciated russian artist named, Mikalo Petrovsky. This particular piece is named, in its english translation as, 'Love at its most basic foundation'."

"How can something that looks so sad be about love?" Clarisse asked as she stared at the image of a beautiful young woman surrounded by a cold waste land.

"Story goes that, Petrovsky based this piece on his own life. When he was a young man he fell in love with a beautiful russian princess, but it was deemed unaccetable for them to be together, even though the princess loved him more than anything. The day she married another man, is said to be the day Petrovsky's heart broke into pieces. It was so hard for him to watch her soul dying in a loveless marriage that he painted this, truly haunting picture to show the world that love might be the most divine and pure thing but, with that, somewhere there will always be this utter....heartache. Anyway, after he finished this piece he took his own life, his princess followed him into the next life shortly after, she couldnt bare life without him and claimed her own life aswell its....so sad."

"And you say this reminds you of me?"

"Hmm, I know you loved Grandpa and he loved you, you were best friends but, it wasnt real love, true love....he wanted you to have true love you know, thats why he didnt say anything about you and Joe, secretly he wanted that for you....for both of you and....I'm glad you got it. This painting it, reminds me that whilst there are many definitions of love, the best ones are always worth waiting for....I just wish Mikalo Petrovsky had had the strength to wait."

For a moment they both stood in silence, contemplating their thoughts and feelings until Anna shook her head free of all her sudden sadness and turned to her Grandmother. "Alright, enough of this place, lets get out of here, lunch...then I'll show you where I go to spend pretty much allll of my free time!"

"Would you mind if I made a quick call first?"

"Let me guess, Joe?"

Clarisse nodded as Anna smiled and took her mobile phone from her bag and dialled Joseph's number, before handing the phone to her grandmother. "If ya need privacy...that corridor is best."

Anna stood for a moment surrounded by paintings she'd begun to think of as her friends she knew them so well, as she listened to the hushed tones of her grandmother talking on the phone....its not that she was eavesdropping, but the conversation simply made her smile as she listened.....

"Joseph? No no its fine nothings wrong I just wanted to call and....well....just to say I love you......no I know you already know that its just, well something just reminded me of you, of us and I just, wanted to call. No I dont know how long I'll be yet, Anna wants to take me some place else this afternoon I'm not sure where it is...."

"Tell him its the community centre on the corner of West Harbour Street and Kempwith Green...he can meet us there if he likes!" Anna called as Clarisse jumped slightly and smiled back at her grand-daughter, an unspoken truth passed between them that said they needed to be together as a family...all of them.

Joseph didnt need telling twice, in fact he and Mia reached the community centre before Clarisse and Anna and were waiting for them by the car.

"Wow you guys work quick!" Anna laughed as Joseph pushed himself up from being leant on the sleek black limousine.

"Well we had some free time I hope you dont mind us coming....Nick went for a drink with Max by the way." Mia added as Anna nodded. "Why doesnt that surprise me! So yeah, this is like my second home, besides work...and Grandma stop looking at it like that its a community centre for kids in the area not a two storey disease pit!"

"Sorry! Sorry! Lead on!" Clarisse smiled as suddenly became practically glued to Jospeh's side before following Anna through the front double doors.

All three visitors were surprised at the welcome Anna recieved from the numerous teenagers, children and staff inside, clearly she was well liked and popular.

"Jemal! Dude! I thought we agreed you were gunna try school today!" Anna laughed as a fourteen year old boy approached from across the room.

"Naaah man! Ten minutes I was there and teachs went all postal on me, I dont need that hassle man! Treat me like I'm zero!"

"You're a smart kid why you do yourself down?"

"Not my deal Anna! School just aint my scene!"

"So what ya gunna do, spend ya life in some rubbish part time job making pennies! Go to school Jemal, you're better than them stuck up teachers who dont think you're worth it! I know you're worth it...prove them wrong."

"Yeah I'll think about it...why cant they all be like you Anna?"

"Ah thats because I'm perfect!" Anna laughed as she started to walk across the room, smiling as Jemal couldnt hide his grin.

"Keep it real Princess Peach!"

"Princess Peach?" Clarisse asked confused as she followed Anna around the room as she mixed with the various groups.

"Yeah, thats my nickname around here, not long after I started volunteering here the kids found out who I was and...what I was and they thought I looked like Princess Peach, ya know the character in the Nintendo Super Mario video game?"

"Yes!" "No!" Came the simulataneous reply from Clarisse and Mia, causing Anna and Joseph to laugh.

"Ok, whatever, look just chill here for a while, meet some new people, you might be surprised at what you discover."

Mia was quick to act on this suggestion and set off towards a group of kids that were playing games in the corner whilst Clarisse took a minute or two to collect herself before jumping in with a group of girls that were talking dresses and make up for a party.

"She looks really happy today....thats your doing kiddo." Joe smiled as he remained stood beside Anna.

"And theres me thinking it was all your doing."

"She's glad you're friends again, she needs you more than she realises Anna."

"Mmm, I guess I need her too....actually I need all of you.....I know I used to rebel against you all from time to time but....I've always needed you all."

"Good job you have us then."

:)