Author's Note: just a short chapter as Clarisse realizes what they're getting into...next chapter will definitely be longer and things will start to speed up!

Thanks to all my loyal readers and reviewers- you all rock!
The Princess Diaries doesn't belong to me!

Dinner with the Motezes was, as usual, an enjoyable, pleasant evening- Andre and Andrea were older than both Joseph and Clarisse, around Rupert's age in fact, but they had always been kind to the younger royal couple and the foursome had become very close since the accident. Andre himself had always been a keen supporter of Joseph's, defending hum against the more critical members of parliament, even more so in the past two or three years, something for which both the new King and his Queen greatly appreciated.

Outside parliament, the four of them saw a great deal of each other socially, their children playing together often and they always had a good time together, Joseph and Andre far more exuberant than their far quieter wives, but they had gelled together very well.

Tonight was no different, although, when they first arrived, Clarisse wished they had brought the boys as six year old Sebastian and three year old Lucy were waiting to greet them, but Andre only chuckled when Clarisse tried to apologize.

"They insisted on seeing the King and Queen before they went to bed, and now that they have... he trialled off as both children hugged Clarisse (Clarisse was one of their favourite playmates whenever they came to the palace to play with Pierre and Phillipe) before quickly turning formal as Sebastian bowed and Lucy curtseyed to Joseph, both children then laughing and running into his arms when he knelt down to hug them.

"But we really should choose a day for them to play together," Andre added as, once the children disappeared upstairs to bed, the adults strolled into the drawing room for pre dinner drinks.

"Absolutely," Joseph agreed enthusiastically as he and Clarisse sank down together on the sofa opposite Andrea Motez, Andre striding over to the bar to prepare drinks. "We both want the boys to have friends outside the palace walls- they ARE princes by birth but they aren't above the rest of the world," he added firmly as he squeezed Clarisse's hand. "Rupert and I were lonely when we were growing up..."

"Eventually got sick of each other?" Andre teased and Joseph laughed.

"Yes, but I could understand that- I was the brat and Rupert had to put up with me... but Clarisse and I feel that Pierre and Phillipe will be much better balanced young men if they had friends who weren't princes or of nobility... and your children are wonderful playmates for them."

"You two are a very modern royal couple," Andre said approvingly before changing the subject. "So... who wants what for drinks? Clarisse?"

"Lemonade please," Clarisse said simply, blushing again as she thought of the news she and Joseph had been quietly celebrating all afternoon...

"I'll have the same, please," Andrea interrupted her train of thought and Clarisse immediately tried to rid herself of the thought of their twins, although the Motezes were friends, as were James and Charlie, and they could share the news with their friends.

"Excellent...Joseph?"

"Whatever you're having," he replied calmly, still observing Clarisse- he had seen her blush beforehand and he could understand her feelings and why she was still a little preoccupied- HE had barely stopped thinking about their twins all afternoon- before discovering that his drink was a scotch and dry.

The men spent much of the pre dinner drinks time discussing the conference and the ideas/suggestions they could put into practice into Genovia society and politics, the women quietly chatting together, but as soon as dinner was announced, they immediately turned their attention back to their wives, Joseph especially enamoured of his wife.

Joseph kissed the top of Clarisse's hand, his eyes still on hers as she stood up and she beamed at him before they turned to Andre and Andrea who were, to their surprise, smiling almost fondly at them.

"Almost six years of marriage and you're still crazy for each other!" Andre teased and the group laughed before Joseph, after a brief, silent conference with Clarisse via their eyes (and having received her approval) cleared his throat gruffly.

"Alright, we all know how much I adore my wife," he began with a light chuckle as Clarisse demurely lowered her eyes. "She IS the one who set me back on the straight and narrow..." Clarisse blushed at that as he slowly entwined his fingers with hers. "I'm not ashamed to admit that among friends, and I know it's pretty common knowledge... but today, Clarisse has told me something rather special, and we wanted you two to be among the first to know..."

"It won't go beyond us," Andre said calmly as Andrea nodded eagerly.

"It was definitely quite a surprise to me when Clarisse told me this afternoon..." he was deliberately being vague, seeing that both Andre and Andrea's interest was piqued before beaming lovingly at Clarisse. "However, I am thrilled to tell you that Clarisse and I... are expecting... twins!"
There was the smallest of silences, Joseph wrapping an arm protectively around Clarisse, before the Prime Minister and his wife happily walked across the room to the prospective parents, beaming and arms wide open.

"Congratulations, this is excellent news!" Andrea said with a warm smile, shaking Joseph's hand enthusiastically as the two women hugged. "You two are already marvellous parents to Pierre and Phillipe, and I'm sure you 'll be able to handle four with ease! Twins! Are there twins on your side of the family, Joe?"

While Joseph liked to be called Joseph in public and in parliament (and he fully expected it), when he was socialising with his friends 'after hours', he preferred to be called Joe (although Clarisse was the exception- he loved her calling him Joseph- ''it makes me sound like a gentleman'' he had once said, Clarisse quickly retorting "You are a gentleman") and he was pleased that the Prime Minister had willingly agreed to his request, although there were a few people who disapproved of his idea.

"I don't think so," Joseph said in the dining room as he held Clarisse's chair out for her before, once she was seated, he strode around the table to take his seat beside Andrea. "I think Clarisse might... you said something about twins in your family, didn't you darling?"

"I remember my father telling me twins did occur in my family once, three or four generations back," she frowned thoughtfully. "I only remembered it yesterday when the doctor told me the news, and I did wonder whether it was possible it could happen again... and it did!" she finished shyly.

"We always did want a big family," Joseph added.

"You'll certainly have your hands full... with four... my goodness, two are enough for us!" Andre teased as Clarisse's cheeks reddened and Andrea, noticing her discomfort, frowned at him and he quickly changed the subject slightly, turning to Joseph with an amused expression.

"So... I imagine that you won't be available to travel from August onwards?" he inquired as Andrea sighed, looking disgusted.

"That's the plan," Joseph said almost defiantly. "I intend on attending ALL doctor appointments- I don't want to miss anything... and I don't think we should release the news officially- Clarisse is expecting, that's it!"

"Fair enough..."Andre said mildly. "Although... there may be some disapproval from both the members of parliament and the press..."

"Who really cares?" Joseph looked belligerent and Clarisse felt slightly embarrassed- he was King after all and he was meant to be setting an example, not alienating people, although Andre was completely unfazed by his words.

"We'll support you... we're thrilled for you and... as far as releasing the news officially, as far as I'm concerned as PM and your friend, it's your business when and if you choose to release the news..."

Clarisse relaxed somewhat at his words, although still deeply embarrassed at Joseph's open stubbornness and defiance towards parliament and the press in front of the prime minister (although she herself didn't want the entire world to know her every move) but she was relieved that, while everyone would be watching her every move as the pregnancy progressed, she had the Prime Minister's full support to keep certain things private...

0

It was an enjoyable, pleasant evening, and it was late when Joseph and Clarisse finally returned to the palace, Clarisse deep in thought.

She was still embarrassed at Joseph's almost open defiance he had displayed to the prime minister, determined that he could dictate the way the press would perceive them (he was King after all, and the representative of the nation), but she was also a little concerned about the attention she would inevitably receive as her pregnancy progressed, even if the country didn't know she was carrying twins... Before the thought of the twins changed her feelings from embarrassment to fear, especially knowing that they would be arriving in a little less than five months...

Andre had only been joking about having 'their hands full', and she knew that not many others would know, but she couldn't help but imagine what others would say, especially questioning whether they would be able to handle four children when they were supposed to be ruling a country? It was something that made her feel almost sick with fear...and she couldn't help but quietly begin to panic...

"You're awfully quiet, dear... are you alright?" her husband asked as he followed her into their bedroom and she shrugged wordlessly before disappearing into her dressing room, still panicking but not wanting him to see her emotions.

She was normally a quiet, calm and collected and even tempered person, calming her husband when he got fired up, but the past six months (starting with Henrik's announcing his attention to step down) had given her very little time to take serious stock of their new life and situation, and she was now almost desperate for some time and space, with the chance to talk to Joseph about this...

But she knew it was out of the question until they returned from Europe and, by then, it would be early summer and the twins arrival would be a little over 3 months away, and they would have to start preparing for them...

Her mind still reeling- she hadn't felt this overwhelmed since before their wedding, when he had travelled constantly and she had been pining for him- Clarisse suddenly felt dizzy and she slowly sank down in front of her dressing table and waited for the dizziness to disappear before she began to remove her jewellery, avoiding looking at herself in the mirror, hoping that she would be calmer by the time she was ready to go to bed.

As she placed her jewellery in her jewellery box and let down her hair, she didn't hear any noise from the bedroom and she assumed that he was in the bathroom, or already in bed, before she suddenly felt hands come to rest on her shoulders and she almost jumped out of her skin before she looked up into the mirror to see Joseph standing behind her, gently massaging her shoulders.

"Joseph! You startled me!"

"So I saw..." he joked gently before his expression changed to one of concern. "Baby... are you alright? You didn't answer me before and you seemed very preoccupied in the car."

"I'm alright," she shrugged carelessly as she started brushing her hair, giving him a bright smile but he didn't look convinced as she met his eyes, and she softened when she saw how worried he was about her- he really did care. "I am!"

"I don't believe you," he said gently, seriously worried- she had seemed withdrawn this afternoon, brightening only at dinner (although he suspected she had been embarrassed by his open defiance) and now... he had only ever seen her this tense and overwhelmed once before- when they were engaged and secretly wanting their wedding to be pushed forward. He had been away much of the time, but she had shut herself off whenever he was around but then, like now, he had wanted her to talk to him...

Clarisse had always been strong, he had known that from the early days of their relationship, but he also knew there were times when he had to encourage her to talk to him- she didn't want to cause any more problems for him, hence she closed herself off from her problems, but he didn't want that- it wasn't healthy for her mentally, and most especially in her condition...

"I... I... I am, really... I'm just tired... it's my headache..." she repeated fervently, hoping he believed her, but stopped when he leant down and nuzzled her neck and she couldn't help but relax a little- he knew she wanted to talk to him, and he was giving her an opening...before he stood up and smiled tenderly at her in the mirror.

"I'll be in the bedroom," he said simply, squeezing her shoulder before exiting the room silently, leaving Clarisse to stare at her reflection in the mirror, torn in two different directions- yes, she didn't want to cause any more problems or add any more pressure on Joseph, but she was again feeling overwhelmed- something she hadn't felt since they were newly engaged and, Joseph being away much of the time, she had wondered whether she could actually be a Princess- and she needed him so much... before, suddenly feeling happier, knowing that he was waiting for her to talk, he began hurrying through her night time rituals, simply wanting to curl up in bed beside him and open up her heart to him...

It was ridiculous that she was keeping things from him- he had been very offended the last time she had done that and she didn't want to hurt him...

Joseph meanwhile waiting calmly yet cautiously in bed, their bedside lamps the only lights illuminating the room, hoping that Clarisse would open up again- he was well aware that she was reluctant to tell him what was wrong and add more pressure, but he wanted her to confide in him- they WERE husband and wife, after all, and he had vowed to love and cherish her... and, as far as he was concerned, protecting and listening to her should be part of their vows, as he liked doing both...

He let out an almost audible sigh when she finally emerged from her dressing room a little later, switching off her dressing room light as she went, clad in one of her favourite negligees, her stomach barely visible, and climbed into bed beside him, relaxing back on her pillows as he followed suit.

There was a small pause as they lay side by side, slowly unwinding from the day's events, before Joseph turned onto his side to face her.

"You're not upset at what I said at Motezes, are you? I did mean it, but Andre..."

"No, I'm not upset at that, although I was a little embarrassed... you are King, after all, and you are supposed to be setting an example."

"Andre agrees with me, and it won't get past him... but if it's not what I said that's bothering you, what is REALLY wrong, darling?"

"I'm sorry about before," she said quietly as, still deeply concerned, he moved closer to her and wrapped his arms around her. "I AM alright, but..."

she sighed heavily as she rested her head on his shoulder. "It's just that... the last couple of months have been been incredible, and I..."

"Just tell me, my darling, I want to know how YOU are feeling and what you are thinking."

|"I don't want to bother you..." she trailed off timidly.

"You will NEVER bother me," he responded vehemently, resting his chin on the top of her head and rubbing her back soothingly as her head sank down onto his chest. "Please, Risse..." he was almost begging now. "You are my wife and you and the boys will ALWAYS be my priority... please, baby..."

Clarisse sighed softly, momentarily torn between protecting her husband and wanting him to know everything but, as she listened his steady heartbeat, affirming that he was a strong, steady, reliable man, her eyes filled with tears- she was so lucky to have him- before, almost simultaneously, the tears began rolling down her cheeks as she began confiding in her husband about everything that had occupied her thoughts for the trip home that evening... Rupert's death, his younger brother's unexpected succession, the boys, the discovery of her pregnancy, the coronation and it's complications, her mother's appearance and disappearance, the fact that, on the eve of their first European tour, she was expecting twins and her fear that they wouldn't be able to cope with four children...

"I'm sorry..." she finally gasped through her tears, the sobs beginning to subside and Clarisse was now feeling beginning to feel a little better, particularly as Joseph hadn't stopped confiding her, his arms wrapped around her, a hand rubbing small circles on her back. "I know I should be stronger, calmer, cooler and more collected for you... I'm sorry..."

"How can you be any of them when this situation is something you never expected would happen?" Joseph said calmly, somewhat relieved that Clarisse had finally opened up to him and already thinking about how he could calm and alleviate her tension.

"I want to be strong for you!" she almost wailed, her eyes welling up again as he abruptly pulled away from her and leant on his elbow to gaze down at her, an almost incensed expression on his face. "I want to be useful and supportive to you..."

"You are, my beautiful Clarisse, you are and you always have been!" he said earnestly, reaching over to caress her flushed cheek, her face clearly tear stained. "You have been absolutely marvellous in the past few months... you have always been the strong one, we both know that my love, and while I appreciate that... you have always been wonderfully strong and supportive for me... I don't want YOU being overwhelmed as I can see you have been... it hasn't been the easiest time for us..."

"I tried..."

"You tried to pretend you were fine, not wanting me to worry but, sweetheart, you forget that I know you better than anyone else in my life, and I could see that you were feeling somewhat overwhelmed this afternoon...and I am proud that you tried to keep it all from me, but please, darling, don't do that... you have always been there for me, and now it's your turn to allow ME to comfort you... agreed?" he beamed lovingly at her as he wrapped his arms around her again and she gave him a small, watery smile before she snuggled in closer.

"Agreed..."

"Good..."

They lay there for a few moments in content silence, Clarisse lulled into calmness by his steady heartbeat and warm arms around him, before Joseph dared to ask the question, not wanting to upset her again but wanting everything to be out in the open before they went to Europe:

"Is there anything else that's bothering you?"