A/N: Thank you for the lovely reviews. This is the last completed chapter I have so the next one might take a while to be posted. I'll try not to make you wait too long ;)

Two weeks later, Clarisse opened her eyes, staring into the eyes of her son. "Pierre?" she whispered.

"Yes, Maman. It's Pierre." Smiling, he caressed her face. "Welcome back."

"Back?" she asked then cleared her throat.

"Here," Pierre offered her an ice chip.

Clarisse sighed as the ice melted and soothed her throat. "I don't understand."

"Maman, you're in hospital. You've been here for two weeks." Giving her another ice chip, Pierre waited for her response.

"Two weeks? Why would I have been here for two weeks? Joseph is the one that was hurt."

Pierre frowned. "Maman?" he asked, confused as to where in her memories she was. Wracking his brain, he went back over the years, finally realizing where she was. "He's fine, Maman. They wanted to keep you because of the headaches you've been having." He made the last part up, hoping she'd believe him.

"My head aches a bit, but not like it was. I'm glad those horrendous headaches are gone." She closed her eyes. "Can I see Joseph?"

"I'll send him in."

"Thank you."

Pierre kissed her forehead then made his way from the room, dreading having to face his niece. How was he going to tell her that her beloved grandma was still lost in her memories?

"Uncle Pierre? Is she awake?" Mia asked as she rounded the corner.

"Yes, she is, but,"

Mia felt her heart break. "But?"

"She's still lost, Mia."

"But Queen's don't get lost," she whispered as she stumbled back into Andrew.

Pierre watched his niece as she struggled to be the woman and queen that she was and not the little girl she wanted to be. "I'm sorry, Mia."

"Which means I can't see her."

"I'm afraid not."

Biting her lip, she closed her eyes and gripped Andrew's hand. "Take me home," she told him quietly. "I need to see my baby."

Pierre could see his niece's façade beginning to crumble and nodded to Andrew as he gently turned Mia around and led her down the hall. "Why Father?" he whispered as he looked up. "Why?"

CnJ

"She knows her name. She knows you are her son. She knows that she lives in Genovia, and she remembers Joseph."

"But?" Pierre asked.

"But she doesn't remember that she's the dowager queen. Nor does she remember King Rupert or Prince Philippe. She knows nothing of the Queen. And," Dr. Satis paused, wondering if he should continue.

"What is it?"

"She believes that she and Joseph are together."

"What?" Pierre asked, clearly confused. "But when she woke, she asked about Joe. She thought he'd been hurt protecting her, something that happened years ago."

"I explained that the surgery could affect her memory. She seems to be confused about things and other things seem to be completely missing. I'm sorry."

"Will those things come back?"

"I can't answer that, Your Highness."

Pierre sighed and squeezed the bridge of his nose. "Now what do we do?"

"Let this take its course. We can't try to convince her that things aren't as she thinks they are. So, for the time being, her visitors are limited to you and Joseph. If she asks for someone, that person can be added to the list of those that she can see."

"What about when she's released to go home? Where do we take her?"

"Not the Palace is all I can tell you, as I know nothing about her life before marrying into the royal family."

Pierre sighed, "Thank you, Dr. Satis."

"I'm sorry there isn't more that can be done."

"I understand. You've done what you could, and believe me, I'm thankful. My mother would be dead if you hadn't come in. It's just hard to see her this way."

CnJ

"I miss her, Andrew." Mia sniffed as she curled up in his lap, her head resting on his shoulder.

Andrew rubbed his wife's back, his heart breaking for the pain he could hear in her voice. "I know you do, Mia. I'm sorry," he told her gently, wishing there was something he could do to ease the pain his wife was in.

Holding Andrew's hand, Mia closed her eyes. "I wish I could go back to being just a kid. Then she would be okay."

"But you can't." Andrew kissed her head. "You're going to have to concentrate on what to tell the public about Grandmother. And you have some big meetings coming up that are going to take all of your concentration."

"I know. Charlotte and Sebastian have both been working on the press release on Grandma's condition. Sebastian has been picking up a lot of my meetings the last few weeks, and has been preparing to help me with these next two big ones. But," she sighed. "I'll do my job just like Grandma taught me. Duty comes first."

"Unfortunately for royals, it does." Andrew agreed and held her closer. "Do you think Joe will go along with Pierre's plan?"

"He has to. There's nothing else he can do. For her sake, he must get over everything. She believes they're together. Uncle Pierre isn't sure who she thinks his father is, but he's leaning toward her thinking that it's Joe. She doesn't remember Dad, Grandpa, being Queen, none of it."

"But I thought Pierre said she remembered a time when Joe was shot protecting her."

"She did. That's why this is all so confusing. They're not going to try and make too much sense of what's going on with her memory for at least a week. Give her time to heal some and get settled in her parent's old estate."

"Has the place been kept up?"

Mia nodded. "Yes. Grandma kept a staff there. I guess, unbeknownst to anyone but Joe, she used it as a place to escape from Grandpa when things would get a bit crazy at the beginning of their reign as King and Queen. Then later, after she lost Grandpa and Dad so close together, she used it as a place to grieve without worrying about being the ever proper queen."

Andrew nodded. "Security?"

"Joe and William will be all she needs. Joe made sure that the estate had all the latest security features over the years. It has a security gate that has to have a pass code, along with a keycard, which will help keep out the media and other intruders. And Uncle Pierre will be staying there too, so she'll be in good hands."

"I wish there was some way we could let her see Joey."

"I know. I've been trying to think of some way for that to happen, but it's so complicated. What happens when she questions who he is? What happens…" she stopped and shook her head.

"Maybe Pierre can help us come up with something."

"Maybe," she sighed and closed her eyes. "I'm so tired, Andrew."

"Then why don't you go lay down and rest. I'll wake you for dinner."

"I really shouldn't. I have so much work to do."

"But what good will it do if you get sick from being overly tired? I think your work can wait. I'll help you catch up tomorrow."

Nodding, she stood up. "Thank you." Leaning over, she kissed him and caressed his cheek. "I love you, Andrew. Thank you for taking such good care of me these last few weeks."

"It's all a part of my job, Darling. A job I do gladly." Andrew smiled at her. "Go on now."

Mia nodded and walked slowly from the room, her shoes forgotten by the sofa.

Andrew shook his head as he noticed her shoes. It had been a long time since she'd left her shoes behind, a habit she'd had when they'd first met and married. This was testing her to her limits, and yet he could see her growing with each passing day. Two years ago she wouldn't have been able to handle this situation without cracking. "Grandmother would be so very proud of you," he whispered as he stood up to go check on their son. Suddenly he had the urge to just sit and watch the boy sleep. That seemed to be the only peace left in their world these days.

CnJ

"You'll be able to go home soon, Maman." Pierre smiled at his mother.

"Thank goodness," she sighed. "This bed is very uncomfortable." She smiled and squeezed Pierre's hand. "Where's your father?"

Pierre blinked. "Father?"

Clarisse gave him a quizzical look. "Yes. You know. Tall. Wears black. Has a goatee. Bald. Has an earring."

"Yes, I know." Pierre forced a laugh. "I was just testing you."

"Pierre," she scolded with a smile. "So? Where is he?"

"He's at home. He had some business to attend to. He'll be here later this afternoon."

"Oh," she sighed and looked away.

"Now, Maman." Pierre tugged at her hand. "He just wants to make sure everything is taken care of so that he can devote all of his attention to you once you are released to go home. That's all."

Looking at her son, Clarisse studied him, knowing he was hiding something from her. "Are you sure? He seems to be," she bit her lip. "He seems to be distant. I know that I hurt him and caused him to leave, but I thought when I woke up and he was there…I thought he'd forgiven me," her voice was quiet.

"Oh Maman." Pierre sighed. "You have to give him time. He was hurt very deeply, but he's here. He's going to take care of you. He came back because you needed him. Maybe this time together is just what the two of you need to fix things."

"I hope so." She clasped Pierre's hand with both of hers. "I can't lose him again, Pierre. I just can't." Her eyes filled with tears.

"Shh." Pierre soothed as he reached up and caressed her cheek. "I'll do what I can to help."

"Thank you."

"Now," he started and wiped a tear that had escaped. "close those beautiful blue eyes and rest. I'm going to go get myself something to eat and make a few phone calls. I'm sure he'll be here when you wake from your nap."

Closing her eyes, she sniffed and settled into her pillows. "I love you," she whispered as she drifted off.

"I love you," he whispered back. Shaking his head as he stood and walked from her room, Pierre leaned against the closed door. "What a mess," he sighed.

"What's wrong?" Joe asked as he came around the corner, startling the younger man.

"Joe."

"Sorry, Pierre."

"It's alright."

"Has something happened?"

"It's just hard
adjusting to her being this way." Pierre looked at Joe. "She asked me where my father was. I forgot for a moment, and questioned her. She gave me a funny look and started describing my father…she was describing you."

"I suppose we should have expected that."

Pierre nodded. "I suppose we should've, but it still didn't make it any less startling."

"I'm sure."

Pierre yawned. "It everything ready at the estate?"

"Yes. William is getting acquainted with the grounds and house so that it seems as though that's where we've always been."

"And have you figured out how to explain the need for security?"

"Not really. I thought we'd just play it by ear. If she asks, I'll think of something then. I'm hoping that will be something she knows and doesn't question."

"The last time she saw William, she thought he was you." Pierre reminded.

"I know, but that was before the surgery." Joe leaned against the wall with a sigh. "A lot of this we're going to just have to play by ear. I don't like this situation. Lying to her and living this make-believe life, but until things change with her memory," he shrugged.

Pierre studied the man standing next to him. "She hurt you more than any of us realize," he whispered. "I'm sorry, Joe."

"It is what it is, Pierre. She was hurt too." Pushing off the wall, he walked around the young man to the door. "Maybe her hurt is why she's living in this dream world now."

Pierre pushed away from the door. "I don't know. If that was so, why does she remember hurting you?"

"But has she said how she hurt me?"

"Not really. All she has said is that she knows she hurt you and caused you to leave."

"But it may not be the same way in which it actually happened." Joe whispered.

"Maybe not." Pierre agreed as he rested his hand on the older man's arm. "Joe, I told her you were home getting things with work taken care of so that you can spend your time taking care of her once she's released to go home. She's afraid you're going to leave again. I told her to give you time."

Joe nodded as he forced himself into the role he was playing and walked into Clarisse's room, smiling when her eyes fluttered open at the sound of the door closing behind him.

CnJ

"Hello," she whispered as she watched him cross the room.

"Hello," he returned the greeting. "Pierre told me you were taking a nap."

She sighed and shrugged. "I drifted off, but," she bit her lip. "I was worried."

"Worried? About what?" he asked as he sat down in the chair beside her bed.

Looking over at him, her blue eyes filled with sadness, she answered his question in a quiet voice. "I was worried that you wouldn't come back."

"Pierre told you that I was taking care of things to make sure I had time to spend with you once you come home."

"Joseph, I," she bit her lip again, hoping to stop it from trembling. "I know what I did hurt you, but,"

"Clarisse," he interrupted her and held up his hand. "Now is not the time to worry about that. I'm here and I'm not going anywhere."

"Until I'm better," she whispered and slowly turned her head away from him, her tears rolling hotly down her cheeks.

Joe sighed and scrubbed a hand over his face. "Clarisse, please," he pleaded softly with her. "We'll talk about all of this when you're home and have had time to heal a bit."

Wiping at her nose with the back of her hand, she sniffed. "Okay."

Getting up, Joe walked over to her, handing her his handkerchief out of years of habit, not thinking about the action. Hearing her sob, he realized what he'd done and sighed again. Evidently she remembered how this habit had gotten started.

"Clarisse," he whispered, his snow white handkerchief dangling out of his fingers for her to use.

"I can't," she returned in a whisper just before she began to cough again, blood covering her hand.

Grinding his teeth, Joe took her hand and wiped the blood from it. "Damn it, Clarisse. What the hell are you trying to do? If something happens to you, you do realize it's my head hanging from a pike in front of the palace, right?"

"Don't yell at me," she tried to yell back but only started coughing again, blood staining the white handkerchief she now held.

Rolling his eyes, Joe growled in frustration as he scooped her up and rushed toward the palace. As he drew closer, he could see other guards coming toward him. "Gerard, call Dr. Paxon. Tell him the queen is ill," he told the older guard before turning to the younger one. "Go find the king. Tell him it's an emergency, but don't tell him what. Just tell him that I sent you. There's no need for the whole of Parliament to learn what's going on." Finished with his orders, he rushed inside and up the stairs, heading for the queen's suite of rooms.

How the hell had she gotten this bad without him noticing? He was just going through the open doors of her suite when he heard the king behind him.

"Joseph! What's going on?" he bellowed.

Laying his precious burden down on her bed, he turned to face the king. Not bothering to bow, he moved so the man could see his wife. "Her Majesty is very ill. I believe she has pneumonia."

Frowning and shaking his head as he studied his wife, Rupert sighed, "How did you not notice?" he demanded.

"I was with Your Majesty in Greece for the last two weeks. Reggie has been her guard in that time." Joe sighed, "You know how she is. You know that if you aren't accustomed to being with her day after day, you don't know when she's hiding something. Reggie wouldn't have had a clue she was getting sick."

Rupert nodded and squeezed Joe's shoulder. "I'm sorry, Joe. I shouldn't have thrown blame your way. I do know how she is. Damn her. What was she thinking letting herself get this sick?"

"You know why." Joe whispered.

"The baby." Rupert barely breathed. "I knew she was handling that much too well." Turning to look at Joe, he studied his friend's face. "That's why you didn't want to leave her and go with me to Greece."

Joe nodded. "It is."

"Your Majesty? Joe? What is going on?" Dr. Paxon asked as he rushed into the room, immediately going to Clarisse's side.

"Joe will fill you in. He was with her."

Dr. Paxon nodded, continuing his work. "Tell me, Joe."

"I found her out in the gardens. She began coughing and when I handed her my handkerchief she refused," he sighed. "You can see why," he told the doctor, drawing the man's attention to the blood stained white handkerchief in the queen's delicate hand.

"Pneumonia," the doctor breathed, his face showing his concern as he listened to her lungs. Turning to face his king, he looked up at him. "We have to get her to the hospital, Your Majesty."

Rupert nodded. "Do what you must."

It had taken nearly three weeks for Clarisse to recover enough to be allowed to go home and that was only after the doctor's insistence that she have a nurse there as a precaution, much to Clarisse's chagrin. Closing his eyes, he remembered the heart breaking cries that had echoed about the private wing of the hospital reserved for the royal family. No one had ever spoken of the dreams that had plagued the sick queen during her hospital stay, Rupert had forbad it. The dreams had been about the baby that had been lost. The longed for little girl that the Queen had dreamed of, had come four months too early and died in her mother's arms. The doctors tried to save her, but she was just too little, too underdeveloped. The Queen had put on a brave face, telling her husband and the people of her country that she was okay. But she hadn't been, and none of them had realized until she'd been so sick she was near death.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking," he whispered.

"She would have been thirty today, Joseph."

"Yes, she would have. I didn't forget."

She reached out, taking his hand in hers. "I know. You never have. Although with the way things have been, I would have understood if you had."

Shaking his head, he squeezed her hand. "No matter what's going on, I'll never forget."

"Joseph?" she whispered as she looked up at him.

"What is it?" he asked, holding her gaze.

Blinking at what she didn't see in his eyes, she let go of his hand. "When can I go home?" she asked instead of what she'd intended.

Joe sighed, he shouldn't have held her gaze so long. Even if she was confused, she'd seen what he'd been trying to hide. "The doctor said maybe tomorrow."

She nodded. "Good. I'm tired of this uncomfortable bed."

"You've never been one who liked the hospital beds." He shook his head. "Even if this is the most comfortable they have."

"I just don't like hospitals, I suppose. Too many bad things have happened here."

"Good things too, Clarisse."

Laying her head back against her pillows, she sighed, "Yes. Good things too."