Chapter 10 - Charlotte

"Wrong or right

Be mine tonight

Harsh world be damned

We'll make a stand

Love can bind

Mine is blind

Others stray but

I won't walk away"

Jewel - I Won't Walk Away

When she awoke, everything around her was fuzzy. She could barely hear the doctor's terse voices as they barked orders to the nurses. The faces were blurs of tan and white. The feeling coursing through her body was numbness. Cold.

"Clarisse?" A light was shone into her eye. As she thought about it, it must have been hours later. "Clarisse? Are you awake?" She groaned unpleasantly. She was very unsatisfied with herself at this moment. I tried to kill myself, and I didn't even do that right..

"You gave us quite a scare, your majesty."

That was the idea... She thought. He throat felt swollen and pained, indicating that she had been intubated, and was restraining her voice.

"I just don't know, why you would. . .well it's not my business." The doctor continued, not caring that she couldn't reply.

Right on. He counted the beats of her pulse, as she rolled her eyes. This isn't happening. You're dead. Much to her dismay, denial was not helping.

"You have some visitors, I'm sure you'll want to see them." A nurse entered the room with Charlotte and Mia in tow. Before she could finish, they were at Clarisse's side.

Perfect. Off to an insane asylum for me! I'm officially crazy now. That's where they'll put me. Where there's no pills, and no way out. Although, technically, the door to freedom had officially shut for the ex-queen.

"Grandma!"

"Clarisse!" Charlotte shouted at the same time.

"We're so glad you are all right." Mia said.

"Yes, we are." The aide echoed. Clarisse raised her hand in reply, indicating for pen and paper, which Charlotte soon handed her.

Go away. She wrote.

"Wha...why? Grandma. We were so worried about you."

You should have let me go.

"What? Left you to...die?" Charlotte asked sarcastically. "That would have gone over well with the press."

I don't care about the damn press. You would have found a way to cover it up.

"Cover up your suicide? How?"

Old age. But it's over now, and you failed me, Charlotte. Mia, dear, how's Philippe? Charlotte read over the note and dropped it silently to her lap, a tear falling down her cheek.

"He's fine, grandma. Why'd you yel..write at Charlotte? You upset her." Clarisse looked up to find out that Charlotte had left the room.

Maybe I was a little harsh, but Mia, I am so lost now. She scrawled slowly.

"Without Joe?" Clarisse didn't respond. She looked away and out the window. "Grandma" Mia couldn't think of encouraging words to say.

How is he?

"They called last night to say that he was repeating 'June 29'. Do you know why?"

Our wedding date. June 29. Mia, he remembers.

"That's great, Grandma! Listen, I have to go, poor Nick's at home with the baby and everything. But I'm so glad you're okay." Mia rose from her spot where she had been kneeling.

I'm not okay, Mia, I'll never be okay again. Clarisse tossed the note at her. Queen Mia just shook her head and walked away.

- - -

"Charlotte?" The young woman sat with her back turned in the waiting room, her cheeks tear stained.

"Oh... Your majesty. Would you like me to call a car?" She turned and wiped the last remaining tears from her face. The one thing Charlotte thrived on was doing things right. Pleasing people, particularly the people that she worked for. Never failing to do the things she was paid to be, and actually quite enjoyed, doing

"No...no Charlotte."Mia placed a hand on her back, and spoke in a soothing voice. "Grandma didn't mean it. She's really confused and lost right now. She's learning how to be human." To this, Charlotte had to giggle.

"You really think she didn't mean it?" She had never known Clarisse to not mean what she had said.

"I really do. Now lets get you home. Take the rest of the day off. Spend it with 'you-know-who'" Charlotte blushed. It was true that someone close to her had the day off today as well.

- - -

"All right Clarisse, it's time for your medication." A cheery nurse opened the blinds and toddled over the bed.

"A little ironic isn't it?"

"What is, dear?" The nurse asked while pouring a glass of water.

"Me taking medication. I mean, that's why I'm here, right?"

"It's not my business to say." Clarisse rolled her eyes.

"Why can't people just speak their minds?"

"I'll be back later to check on you."

"Whatever." Clarisse snapped, adapting one of her grand-daughters favorite sayings at 15.

- - -

"Mia?" Nicolas asked when he saw his wife walk slowly into the room. "Are you all right?"

"No." He ran to hold his wife in his arms. "What if you forget me?"

"I could never forget you."

"How do you know?"

"I love you that much." Mia looked up at him.

"No! Nicolas! I'm serious. What if one of us gets dementia."

"Then we'll deal with it then, and make however long our time together is the best it can be."

"Thank you."

"No problem." He kissed her softly, hearing their baby cry from the next room.

"I'll get him. You should sleep, my darling."

"Ok." Mia sniffed. "Nicolas?"

"Yea?"

"I love you."

"I love you, too." He shut off the light and moved into the next room to feed his son.

- - -

"Shades?" Charlotte found him in the garden, sitting on a bench. "What are you doing?" She was nervous, and it showed.

"Oh, Charlotte. Come. Sit." He gestured to the spot beside himself.

"All right." For a while they sat, looking off into the distance, watching the water in the fountain. Finally Shades spoke, never taking his eyes off the water.

"I was just thinking." Before waiting for her reply he continued. "I was thinking about Joe. It's kind of a defining moment, one of those change your life things. Seeing him so weak, and unable to love the ones he loves, it's just. . ." Before he could finish, Charlotte had pressed her lips to his. They had spent many a night out in the garden, much as they were now, talking and sharing their thoughts. But they had never kissed. At a ball they had danced, but this was beyond belief for Charlotte. When they parted she giggled at the shocked look on his face. He had taken his 'shades' off, and his blue eyes were staring back at her in disbelief.

"I'm sorry. But I've been thinking, too. Thinking that I don't want to miss my chance."

"I. . .I have no problem with that." He stuttered, leaning in to kiss her himself this time.

"I'm so glad."

"Wait. Are you working right now?" He had never known her to take a break.

"No, Queen Mia gave me the night off."

"The whole night?" He asked suggestively.

"Yes...oh...Shades!" She playfully hit him on the arm after understanding.

"What? It was just an idea." He whispered into her ear, kissing her neck.

"Hmm..." She leaned into him. "A very good one."

"Really?" He whispered, almost afraid of her answer.

"Only if it is to you." She spoke quietly back, meeting his gaze with a soft one of her own.

"Took the words right out of my mouth." He kissed her gently and took her hand. "Your place or mine?" She laughed softly.

"You've always wanted to say that haven't you?"

"Yes." He kissed her head, smiling. "Well?"

"Yours." She squeezed his hand as they walked inside.