Author's Note: Wow! Thank you so much for all the reviews... you all rock, you know you do! I'm so on a roll with this!

The Princess Diaries doesn't belong to me!

Neither Joseph nor Clarisse slept much the rest of the night, both were far too happy to contemplate something so mundane as sleep... how could then when, that very evening, they had finally admitted their love to the person they had secretly loved from the moment they met and that their love with returned?

After Joseph escorted her to the doors of her recently refurbished suite, leaving her with a gentle kiss on the cheek and a loving look in her eyes, Clarisse quickly dismissed her ladies maids as soon as she entered the room, insisting that she was fine on her own (although she could hear Alexandra telling her that the maids were there to help her).

But when she was alone, however, she collapsed on the sofa, unable to believe what had transpired between her and Joseph...

He really did LOVE her, she thought with a radiant smile, and that first kiss... she still had chills from that wonderful moment when their lips met for the first time... and when he confessed his love for her... her eyes filled with tears at the moment.... She had dreamed of him saying that and kissing her since the moment they met, but the reality had been so different, so much more intense but even more wonderful than she had imagined.... he LOVED her!

She giggled delightedly to herself as she sat there, feeling like a teenager for a moment, before she sobered up- she had had crushes before but this was so different and she was certain it was love...and that she was truly, madly, deeply in love with Joseph, especially after all those kisses, and she knew that her life would never be the same again, except that there were complications in their lives- namely, her family and his... especially Rupert....

Her thoughts turned to him and her heart sank as the feeling of ecstasy disappeared somewhat to be replaced by a sharp stab of guilt. She knew he had been convinced there was something developing between them, and she had willingly gone along with it and suspected that he was planning on proposing very soon (although she had felt sorry for him because she knew there wasn't) but now, more than ever, she knew that her feelings for him were no more than friendship and that it would be a terrible mistake....

None of them would be happy, which would, in turn, damage the monarchy and Genovia possibly irreparably and someone would get hurt, no matter what she decided, and she knew, as she slipped out of her beautiful gown and slipped into bed, that it was HER decision who she wanted to be with. She cared about Rupert a great deal, he was a good man and a good friend to her, but she couldn't ignore the fact that she didn't feel for him what she felt for Joseph...Joe.... Joey, she giggled to herself as she lay back in the queen sized bed, all thoughts of Rupert suddenly drifting away and all she could think about was Joseph and the way he looked at her all evening, especially in the pagoda, and the way he had kissed her....

"I love you Joseph," she whispered to herself in delight as her cheeks went hot with delight at the though of him while a cool tear slid down her cheek- she had never imagined feeling like this about anyone and that they returned the feelings in equal measure....

0

Joseph meanwhile was too restless to even return to his suite, longing for it to be morning so that he could see her again, before he thought of something and he hurried down to the library to find copies of 'Treasure Island' and 'Gone With The Wind'. He might not have read one for years, and read one not at all, but he was going to now, he thought to himself as he glanced through the bookshelves... in fact, he thought, it might be a good idea to restart reading in general... something he hadn't had the time or inclination to do since college, but now...

It was amazing how everything, even his own perception of the world, had changed in a mere few hours but he also couldn't imagine returning to his old life or even wanting his life to return to what it was... he had found love and he didn't want to lose it...

He stared at the books for a long time, but his thoughts weren't on them but on Clarisse and their evening in the pagoda....

He hadn't expected their first kiss (their FIRST kiss, he realized sharply) would be so intense and so passionate, but it had been incredible... so much so that the mere memory of it made him teary...not only because she had kissed him back but because she loved him too... and he did love her very much....

She had almost cried several times during the evening, much to her obvious embarrassment, and he loved her more for it- he had always sensed that she had a loving, tender and kind heart (which he adored) beneath her shy and reserved exterior as well as her training and upbringing, but the emotions of the evening had almost overwhelmed her as she realized he did care for her more than a potential sister in law and she wasn't afraid to express her feelings, which made her so different from the rest of the aristocratic women he knew and had associated with, and it made her even more beautiful to him...

He had also realized that while she was still so young and innocent, she had had a far greater influence on him in the past few weeks than almost anyone else (especially the fact that she believed and supported him when no one else did, and they were only just friends) and he owed her a debt that he could never repay. He was also aware that, while they were embarking on a relationship which could end in marriage (which he sincerely hoped it would) and they were happy and in love, they had to face new hurdles along the way- Rupert and their respective families for starters (and he couldn't even imagine what they were all going to say)- but he would always support her....

He loved Clarisse more than anything (and he still had trouble understanding how he could have fallen so hard and so fast for her) and his main priority was her happiness....

He shook his head after a moment, ridding himself of the sober thoughts and reflections that had suddenly appeared and looked thoughtfully at the thick volume that was Gone With The Wind, before a thought struck him... he had never seen the film, knowing it was a lengthy romance, but since Clarisse loved it, and they would be alone for the next few days as his parents and Rupert were going to France on official business... maybe he could get a copy of the film....

His mind was still whirring when he finally collapsed onto his king sized bed, not for want of sleep but because he didn't want to attract any unwanted attention... all he could think about was Clarisse, hoping that morning would soon arrive so that he could see her again...

"I love you Clarisse.... " he murmured as he watched the moon through the crack in his curtains. "My love...."

0

Rupert could barely remember much of the previous night, but he could instantly recall, as he opened his eyes the following morning, that he had had FAR too much to drink and wondered why... Joseph was usually the drunk one... before, despite the headache and the fact his eyes felt like they were full of sawdust, his eyes narrowed in jealousy and anger... Joseph.... now he remembered.

He lay there for a moment as he remembered what had driven him to drink more than he usually did- his younger brother on the dance floor with his almost fiancée.... but the way they were looking at each other, it was if they were in love but had yet to admit it...

He again felt sick at the vision and longed to leap out of bed and confront Joseph- how DARE he seduce the young Lady Le Roche- he should have known better... and her too... how could she have succumbed so easily to his brother's easy words... he thought she was smarter than that... He was quite a ladies man, a playboy and there would be no chance she could ever get him to commit to her...

He was furious at both of them and he didn't know what he was going to say or do when he saw them, before he realized that his personal assistant was at his bedside.

"I'm sorry to disturb you, Your Highness, but you are expected to be meeting your parents in half an hour to leave for the airport... you're flying to France today," he reminded him as Rupert rolled over and groaned into his pillow- he had completely forgotten about the trade trip to France, although he was sure someone had already packed for him.

"Your Highness?"

"I'm getting up," Rupert snapped, rolling over and glaring at his assistant. "The plane isn't due to leave until ten so you can let their Majesties know that I will meet them at the airport!"

"Yes sir," his assistant bowed to him and turned to walk towards the door.

As he watched his assistant leave the room, he felt a little guilty about yelling at him- it wasn't his fault that he had drunk too much and had slept in, but he was just so angry at Joseph and Clarisse... Joseph more than Clarisse! Knowing him, he had probably seduced her and now he didn't know what to do.....

An hour later, he half stumbled up the plane steps (his father's new toy) and collapsed into a seat opposite his parents, both of whom were watching him.

"Good morning," Alexandra finally said stiffly, eyeing him sternly. "How are YOU feeling this morning? We were wondering whether you were going to make it this morning, or catch the next flight to France...."

Her sarcasm was burning Rupert's brain, and he rolled his eyes as he sat up and looked directly at his mother.

"I slept in, that's all... what happened last night?"

"You drank yourself into a stupor at Clarisse's birthday party," his mother looked at him disapprovingly. "I'm surprised that you remember anything at all....Aren't you going to ask about Clarisse?"

"Oh..." his jaw tightened as he again remembered her and him on the dance floor. "How is she.... why, was there something wrong with her?"

"Obviously your memory really is very fuzzy- her father made a speech that intimated she would be Queen of Genovia."

"Well, we all know that we're not engaged, so there's no problem is there, Mother?"

"No, he made that speech in front of the entire parliament, and you know how they've been on your case about getting married.... but I'm more worried about her feelings than anything else.... Joseph brought her back to the palace, she was that upset."

"Joseph?" Rupert laughed derisively. "Are you sure he wasn't too drunk to drive? That would make yet another good headline for his scrap book!"

"Don't be cruel," Henrik suddenly spoke up. "No, he wasn't, and he definitely did more than you, looking for her when she disappeared and brought her home."

"He's in love with her!" Rupert suddenly burst out as the plane took off, feeling angry and jealous. "I'm not sure about her, but I'm sure he's charmed her as well!"

The following moment's silence and the look his parents exchanged confirmed Rupert's suspicion that they had known too.

"You knew! They've been having an affair under our noses- why didn't you put a stop to it?"

"I suspected," Alexandra admitted, having heard the rumour from the palace as well as seen the look in Joseph's eyes, before she looked at him seriously. "I'm not condoning his behaviour, but I don't think they're having an affair... it's still new, if it even exists..."

"Aren't you going to send him away?"

"Why should we? It would only arouse suspicion but there is no good reason to do so- he has become a hard working member of the family, he's settled down a great deal in the past few months, and if Clarisse has had anything to with this, we can only thank her," Henrik said reasonably, but with a tone in his voice than even his 29 year old son knew was a warning not to go too far.

"They spend more time together than you do with her,"Alexandra added in a softer tone. "Maybe they are not in love, maybe they really are only friends...." although she highly doubted it, given the look in Joseph's eyes.

"But, if they are, you really have to think carefully about this.... do you want to fight for her or do you want to let her go... but also consider this- you need to remember that Joseph and your feelings aren't the only ones involved in this...."

000

Meanwhile, back the palace, Joseph was practically pacing his suite with nerves, anticipation and happiness, waiting for a decent time to visit Clarisse's suite. He was mainly nervous because he had to make sure that she didn't regret last night (he knew he didn't) as well as the fact that, now they had kissed, he wanted to spend more and more time with her....

Finally, the appropriate and reasonable time of nine o'clock finally arrived and he almost ran to her suite, which was only two doors down, almost colliding with her two ladies maids as he stepped into the room.

"Good morning sir," they both curtseyed as they moved past him and he nodded, but his eyes soon met Clarisse's, his heart racing as she smiled radiantly at him.

He waited until the door softly closed and Clarisse rose to meet him before he strode over, wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her lovingly, with a hint of passion, causing her knees to buckle a little under her.

"Good morning," she almost purred as she snuggled into him for a moment and he smiled, loving the reaction.

"Good morning," he responded before guiding her back to her seat and pulling a second one up next to her. "I'm sorry I'm early, I just.... I just couldn't wait to see you," he bowed his head down for a moment, a little ashamed, before he felt her gently pull his head back up so that she was gazing into his eyes, her blue eyes shining with love and tenderness.

"I couldn't wait to see you either," she admitted shyly as she caressed his cheek gently, and he kissed her fingertips softly.

"You don't have any regrets... about last night?" he asked shyly.

"No, never.... you....?"

She didn't want to admit it, but she had been afraid that the previous night had been a dream, but now that he was sitting here, kissing her fingers and smiling at her gently, she knew it hadn't been.

"Most definitely not," he smiled before squeezing her hand gently, their eyes expressing everything they wanted to say but had yet to find the right words.

"So, what are your plans for today?" she asked after a moment, gently extricating her hand to reach for her tea. "Did you want a cup of tea?"

"No thank you,... as for my plans- they depend... on you...."

"Oh?" she looked intrigued.

"I was just thinking of going for a horse ride and a picnic... would you like to join me?"

He sounded shy and he was- this was the first time he was genuinely attempting this, but he was serious about this- he wanted to court (or date) Clarisse the old fashioned way... she was special...

"I would love to," Clarisse looked delighted. "When?"

"As soon as you're ready?"

0

It took her all of 20 minutes to get ready and while she knew she should wear the proper riding attire, she wanted to look attractive to him, so her feminine instincts overrode her more practical instincts and she chose a pair of fairly hard but still pretty blue trousers and one of her favourite blue silk blouses, her hair pulled back in a loose ponytail, and he clearly appreciated her efforts as his eyes lit up when they met in the main foyer.

"You look lovely,"he said admiringly as they walked down to the stables, as always trailed by Joseph's bodyguards, and she blushed.

"I know it's a little impractical but...."

"We won't be going anywhere where you'll get dirty," Joseph grinned, touched that she had dressed up for him.

As it turned out, the picnic spot was in a grassy little clearing just beyond the forest near the palace, and Clarisse smiled when she saw that it was already set up near a large tree, offering both shade and sunlight.

"Don't tell me you sent your poor bodyguards out to set this up,"she teased as he helped her down, the bodyguards only specks in the distance. He had insisted that they stay far away- they could still see the Prince and Lady Clarisse, but they would never see them up close. "Shame on you!"
"Thank you... just for that, you..." he pressed her against the saddle and kissed her again- she was just so enchanting and intoxicating....

"Come on," he added when they finally broke apart, yet again breathless. "Let's sit down and enjoy this...."

Clarisse felt a little shy as they obediently sat down on the blanket and wordlessly watched Joseph pour two glasses of juice.

"Penny for your thoughts?" he teased gently and she smiled slightly but still didn't say anything, much to his concern, before he realized that she looked a little overwhelmed. "Clarisse?" he said softly as he reached over and squeezed her hand.

"Have I... have I overwhelmed you... I know...."

He felt ridiculous and ashamed of himself- he was so happy about her and they way he felt about her, but she was shyer than him....

She squeezed his hand back gently and met his eyes.

"It IS overwhelming, but in a good way... I just have one or two concerns..."

She didn't mean to sound wary, she trusted him with her life and loved his enthusiasm, but her somewhat reserved nature was cautious...

He, however, looked at her understandingly- with his reputation as a playboy as well as the fact they had fallen in love so hard and so fast, it was understandable that she was slightly wary.

"Tell me," he said gently.

"Well... you do have a reputation (which is somewhat over emphasized) of being a flirt and... I don't think I could bear...."

"You don't have to worry," he said seriously, lacing his fingers with her and raising her hand up to his lips to kiss it. "Yes, I AM a flirt, and I do have a reputation for being a ladies man, but, believe me, I will NEVER cheat on you... Since I met you, no other girl... young woman... has come close to possessing even a third of the qualities that you have... you are such a beautiful, kind, sweet and tender girl, my darling, and I love you...."

She blushed at his words, her eyes filling with tears, and sitting up next to her, he pulled her in for a warm hug, Clarisse burying her face into his shoulder.

"What's your other concern?" he murmured into her hair and she pulled away slightly to look at him.

"I'm just worried... this has happened so quickly, and while I know I love you, I'm afraid that this is going to burn out.... could we slow it down a little?"

"Of course, I don't want to rush you into anything but I'm sure that this will NOT burn out...." he replied, dropping soft kisses into her hair before placing another one on her forehead. "I've thought about it, and this.... this is kind of like our first date...." he looked coy and she smiled at him.

He pulled away a little to unpack the rest of the picnic basket when he realized that she was still holding his hand tightly.

"What?" he asked in concern.

"I just remembered... you called.... 'my darling'" she almost whispered the words in awe and he smiled.

"I did, and it is a term of endearment...."

"I know...."

"And I meant it," before he leaned over and kissed her gently on the lips. "My darling..." he almost breathed the words and she blushed again. "Let's have this picnic, enjoying this sunshine on an unusually warm October day and, tonight, I have another surprise for you..."

"What?" Clarisse's eyes sparkled curiously. "Please tell me now... please..."

"Alright..." he pretended to look disgusted. "I'll give you a clue... it involves me, you, the palace's private screening room and a copy of your favourite film...."

The look on her face was absolutely priceless, one of pure joy and happiness, before she leaned over and kissed him passionately on the mouth.

"You dear, sweet man... I love you... I only wish there was something I could do for you...."

"You can..." he murmured as he pulled her close. "Just enjoy yourself today...."

"I will...." she beamed at him, eyes sparkling. "Believe me, I will... especially with you!"