A/N: Almost there, and now all we have is the birthday... I wonder how surprised Clarisse is going to be!
Thanks to all my readers and reviewers- you all rock!
The Princess Diaries doesn't belong to me!
The remaining few days leading up to Clarisse's birthday party (Mia delighted that Clarisse's party would occur on her actual birthday) flew by too quickly and Mia was a little flustered when she returned from England and realized that the party was less than two days away.
"Relax Mia," Pierre said calmly when he discovered his niece's nervousness as the foursome met up for one final meeting to finalize details, Clarisse out and having lunch with Sheila and Sebastian. "Everything will be alright- it's all organized and all we have to do to set up on the day," he added but he was touched at how concerned Mia was about getting this party right for her grandmother- it showed that she cared and he was sure that his mother, after the intial surprise, would appreciate it.
"There's something I overlooked," Mia said pensively, doodling on a piece of paper in front of her. "How are we going to distract her while we're setting up?"
"Well, it will be her birthday, so she should be distracted," Joseph said with a chuckle.
"We could lock her in her suite," Mia said with a grin, dissolving into giggles as the others rolled their eyes.
"Joe or I could take her out to lunch," Pierre suggested. "Whatever we do, Joe will have to be involved- Mother won't want to celebrate her birthday without him...officially, this is the first birthday they've been able to celebrate as a married couple."
"Aww, that is so sweet," Mia sounded like a teenager for a moment as Pierre and Joe shook their heads in disbelief- there were times when Mia acted younger than her years. "What's up, Char?" Mia continued, seeing that Charlotte was frowning.
"I just remembered... Lady Palimore called a couple of days ago, wanting to have lunch with Her Majesty... she's the chair of the Art Gallery board and I think she wanted to see if Her Majesty would join the board...that, and the fact they are good friends...that may be a good excuse for leaving the palace; and then, when she returns, we'll keep the ballroom doors shut so that she can't see inside."
"Good thinking Charlotte!" Mia said in approval before turning to Joe. "Have you thought of an excuse to get her down to the ballroom?"
"Yes, Your Majesty," he said gravely but his eyes were twinkling teasingly at her. "I've already got that figured out, so you don't need to worry."
"Good," Mia sat back in her chair with a sigh. "Whew! I never knew it was THIS difficult to plan a party- and this is a small one! What am I going to do with major balls and parties?"
"You'll manage, my dear," Pierre teased gently. "You'll learn on the job, you'll have a good assistant and I assume Mother will be happy to help!"
"I don't know how she managed to run a country and organize balls... like, how did she plan my 21st?"
"With great ease- and she was especially looking forward to seeing your reaction to it," Joseph said calmly, thinking back to that party, only 3 months earlier...
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Clarisse hadn't been able to make it over to San Francisco for Mia's graduation from college- parliament was starting to get restless and unsure about Mia becoming Queen and thus making noises as such and she wanted to make sure everything was ready for Mia's party- but Joseph reassured her that Mia would understand.
"You were there for her high school graduation and her 18th birthday, so I'm sure she will understand," he reassured her as they strolled around the garden, an hour before she had to step into another meeting and he had to leave for the airport. It was the only chance they would have to spend a few moments alone until Joseph returned, and possibly until after even Mia's birthday party.
"Really?"
"Really?" he affirmed, reaching out to touch her cheek gently- now that they were in the privacy of the garden, he felt comfortable enough to touch her. "Don't let parliament get you down."
"I won't," she looked determined. "We are so close to Mia ascending the throne, I'm not going to let them get in the way now!"
"That's my girl!" he teased and her expression softened.
"I should reprimand you for that comment- I'm not a girl and it sounded a little condescending- but I'm not," she finished with a smile. "Because... because I'm going to miss you."
"Even though I'm only going to be gone four days?" he teased.
"Even then," she blushed.
"I'm going to miss you took," he said and then there was a long moment between them, eyes holding the other's until Joseph silently moved closer to her, tilted Clarisse's chin up and, reading permission in her eyes, kissed her softly on the lips.
Afterwards, as Clarisse turned away to examine a bush of roses (and regain her composure), Joe couldn't help but allow himself a small smile- little did she know or suspect, but once Mia was back in Genovia and her 21st birthday all over and done with, he was planning on asking Clarisse to become his wife...
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Mia's graduation went off well (as did the pre graduation party the evening before) and while Mia was a little disappointed that Clarisse hadn't come, she had also understood the difficulties that she was undergoing at home.
"She did want to be here,"Joseph ensured that she knew that, especially once the ceremony was over.
"I know, Joe, and it means a lot to me that you're emphasizing that point strongly, but she did come to my high school graduation so I can't complain... and I do understand her reasons- she also has a country to run and parliament being the way they are... I just wish they weren't going to be at my birthday party, though..."
"I agree with you, Princess, but it's tradition- all current members of parliament are invited to all palace functions and they are given the opportunity to dance with the Queen and the heir to the throne- which is you, in this case."
"Sometimes I really hate tradition," Mia murmured to herself as she gazed sadly out the window and realized they were at the airport- as a member of a royal family, she didn't need to pass through customs, something she enjoyed on occasion- and realized that, from this moment on, the United States wouldn't be her permanent home again but, rather, Genovia would be, and she suddenly, almost inexplicably felt depressed.
"Princess?" he had noticed her downcast expression on the rear view mirror.
"Yes Joe?" she looked back at him.
"We- all who really matter- have faith in you... and she won't walk away and leave you to deal with this all on your own."
"Thank you, it's nice to know that," she looked slightly brighter and suddenly felt a twinge of excitement about returning to Genovia and seeing her grandmother again.
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The reunion between grandmother and granddaughter was a warm, albiet a slightly awkward one, with Clarisse being between meetings and Mia feeling the affects of her graduation celebrations and jet lag.
However, she couldn't miss the genuine delight and love in Clarisse's expression, or the easy way she embraced her upon arrival.
"I'm truly sorry I missed your graduation, my dear," she said apologetically as they walked towards Clarisse's suite, where Mia would be staying "until Rupert's cousin finally sorts himself out," according to Clarisse.
"It's alright, Grandma, I understand."
"You do?" Clarisse didn't mean to sound surprised.
"Of course," Mia paused to look wisely at her surprised grandmother. "You have your priorities and, at the top of the list, should be Genovia."
"True- but, as a grandmother, YOU are my top priority and always will be," Clarisse reached over and squeezed Mia's hand. "As your grandmother and your Queen, I will always protect you," she said solemnly and Mia suddenly appreciated everything her grandmother and father had done for her over the past twenty one years, protecting her to the extent that they had left her alone for the first sixteen years so she could have a normal life... they had done that for her.
"Thank you," Mia said simply before, overcome but her recent revelations, she hugged the older woman.
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The guests began arriving early the following evening- so early that Clarisse and Mia weren't completely ready.
"Do they always do that?" Mia asked as she peered out from behind a curtain, watching a well dressed couple alight from a car below.
"Yes, always," Clarisse said calmly as she finished fastening her jewellery and Olivia handed her her gloves. "And it has never ceased to annoy me that they feel the necessity to come as early as possible... I have been tempted on many occasions to insist the doors be locked until the said time," she added as Mia turned back, eyes wide, and spied the small smile on her lips.
"However, you may be able to think of a different way of convincing them to come a little later in the evening."
"I'll definitely have fun trying!" Mia beamed.
"Don't be too long," Clarisse reminded her after examining her reflection in the mirror for a moment- she was hoping to see Joseph for a few moments before her entrance- she hadn't seen him since he had returned the day before and she missed him.
"I won't," Mia promised solemnly- this was an occasion where she HAD to be on time and ready to impress all the members of parliament, especially when dancing with them and she would do so... even if it was HER 21st birthday party...
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Three hours into the party, Joseph looked around and surveyed the scene- all seemed to be going well and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves.
Mia had finally finished dancing with all the members of parliament (as well as a handsome stranger and 12 year old Prince Jacques) and was now having some well deserved time with some of her friends, which was something she needed, considering what she was going to face, and while he was concerned for her, he also knew she was capable of fulfilling her destiny.
Her grandmother, on the other hand, was still circling the room, pausing to chat with guests, occasionally accepting a dance from a parliamentarian but mostly staying on the edges, observing just like he was, and he was about to move over and suggest that they disappear outside before Mia stepped in front of him.
"Hi Joe... I know this probably isn't something that would be allowed but... would you care for a dance?"
"I would love to, Your Highness," he bowed low to her before he led her out onto the dance floor, seeing Clarisse pausing in conversation to watch them with a smile.. "I wouldn't worry about protocol, Princess," he continued once they had settled into a rhythm and they ignored they stares they were attracting. "It's your birthday party and you have the right to do whatever you want... within reason," he added hastily as her eyes began twinkling.
"You sounded just like Grandma then," she pouted playfully.
"Well, I do work for her and we've been spending a lot of time together, so it's natural that I have picked up some of her mannerisms and sayings."
"What has she picked up from you?"
"I wouldn't know... you would have to ask her that," he said calmly and she laughed.
"You're being coy!"
"Merely being a gentleman," he said with a blank look before giving her a smile.
It was one of the more enjoyable dances Mia had enjoyed during the evening, and she told him so once the dance had ended.
"It was my pleasure, Princess..." he bowed to her again before Mia glided away to join her friends and Joseph slowly moved back to the side of the room, hoping not to be pulled into another dance.
He had just made it to the door leading out into the gardens, and was turning to face the room, when he felt a gentle tug on his tuxedo jacket and he felt himself being pulled out into the darkness.
"What the...?" he sputtered before the sound of laughter caught his attention and he realized that Clarisse had pulled him out into the darkness. "Your Majesty!"
"I couldn't risk you being pulled into another dance," she teased before they moved out towards the light illuminating the garden. "I'm glad you danced with her, Joseph."
"As if I could deny Mia anything... she's your granddaughter and my future monarch!"
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"So, what happened after that?" Mia leaned forward in her chair- she hadn't heard this perspective of her birthday (although her grandmother had slipped into her suite long after Mia had retired) and she was curious... was this the night Joseph had proposed?
"Nothing much," Joseph shrugged casually as he stood up. "We went for a walk and then retired for the evening..."
"Joe..."
"I have to be going, your grandmother will be returning from lunch soon and we don't want her to find out about this, do we?" he grinned wickedly at her as he walked towards the door.
"Joe..."
"Princess, I just have one thing to say to you," he turned in the doorway to grin at Mia, Charlotte and Pierre.
"What?"
"Ask your grandmother!"
