A.N: We're getting there, we're getting there….
Thanks to all my readers and reviewers- you all rock!
The Princess Diaries doesn't belong to me!
Back at the cabin, breakfast was a leisurely affair- neither Joseph nor Clarisse had realised how ravenous they had been- and it was only after the meal (and Clarisse insisting on helping in the kitchen, although she had no idea how to 'load' a dishwasher), the television having been changed to a channel that was not focused on the news, that Clarisse decided to ask about the possibility of a walk outside.
"I mean, I'm not saying we should go for a long hike into the trees or anything like that, but I would like to get outside, even for a little while," she added as Joseph stood in front of her with a pensive look on his face. "Don't you want to go for a walk? You've been stuck inside with me for the last few days, and I know how restless you get when you're stuck inside…"
"So, while this is your idea, you want to make sure that I don't get too restless?" he teased with a chuckle in his voice and his eyes twinkling mischievously.
"Well, maybe…" she pretended to sound and look coy, but Joseph knew her well enough to know that she was trying to wheedle him into making the decision she wanted…and while it should have irritated him, she was just too adorable when she was trying to be coy and wheedling with him and he couldn't really deny her a simple walk outside.
"Well, maybe we can…as long as we go together and when I say we need to come back inside, we have to come back inside."
"Yes sir!" she mock saluted him and he laughed as he reached out for her and she stepped back with a laugh.
"Well, I'll just go and get my coat…" and Joseph couldn't help but chuckle, seeing the spring in her step- obviously she hated feeling cooped up as well as he did…..
"Brrrr!" Clarisse said almost as soon as she stepped out onto the wooden veranda. "It's a little chilly out here!"
"Are you sure you want to take your walk?" Joseph teased as he followed her out- he had already discovered how cold it was when he had come out earlier to get more wood for the fire.
"No, I don't think so… although I do think the walk will be shorter than planned," she said calmly as she slipped her arm through his, a totally natural gesture that had happened many times over the years- only this time, she didn't have to take a quick look around to ensure that there was no one watching them- and it felt normal to both of them. "Besides, I had never seen your cabin in the daytime."
"Well, take a look now," Joseph waved around and she paused to turn and look at the simple wooden, one level cabin- he didn't spend a lot of time here but it was obviously well cared for, the lawn having been mowed fairly recently and the plants and trees around the house well cared for.
"It looks very well cared for."
"You sound surprised."
"I'm not… but do you have someone out here occasionally?"
"Yes, a gardener who looks after the gardens and someone to clean… it doesn't make sense, since I'm never here, but I do want to keep the place looked after for whenever I managed to have time off."
"You may have some time off when this situation is resolved," she said calmly and he laughed.
"That wasn't a hint, believe me! But I just thought…."
"It's a very sensible idea and I appreciate how comfortable your house is…"
"I didn't think that I would ever host the Queen here…and I'm sure it's nothing like what you're used to."
"Nevertheless, I have to admit that I would prefer this much of the time to the palace…."
"That I wouldn't believe."
"Joseph, and I may have grown up in a privileged household, but I much prefer simplicity and less glamorous than the palace…"
"Do I hear the sound of a simple beach house upon your retirement?" he joked and she laughed, a rich sound that he had always loved.
"Retirement? I doubt that will happen for a long time to come…but a beach house sounds nice- and I take it that you would retire here?"
"I suppose I would… but, like you, retirement is still a long, long way away."
They continued their stroll in companionable silence- they knew each other so well, sometimes they didn't need to talk, something Clarisse appreciated, particularly after a busy, stressful day dealing with parliament, the press and diplomats. She appreciated the fact that Joseph was simply there, not judging or trying to initiate conversation- he just walked with her (always with her, once they got away from prying eyes and cameras), simply listening when she vented, only talking when she wanted advice or conversation.
He had become her closest confidante, her best friend and had been long before she discovered the fact.
"Are you okay?" Joseph suddenly broke into her thoughts and she smiled.
"I'm fine, Joseph. Why do you ask?"
"You just seem to be deep in thought about something. Are you worried about what's going on in Pyrus?"
"I am," she began slowly, ashamed that the morning's news and subsequent consequences had been relegated to the back of her mind. "Truly, I am devastated about what's going on there…"
"Clarisse," he stopped and turned to face him. "You don't need to convince me."
"I know… I'm just ashamed to admit that that was not at the forefront of my mind… I was… I am deeply concerned…."
"But you were thinking of something else… that's alright, you know," he said gently and she frowned at him.
"How can it be alright? I'm Queen, my country is suffering…there are lunatics who are trying to destroy me- how can me thinking about something else is alright?" she cried and he immediately reached over and touched her face, sliding his palm down over her jaw.
"Because you're human, a woman as well as Queen and you should have the right to think about other things."
"But…."
"You should," he contradicted her, his hand still on her cheek and he could almost feel the heat of her blush as her cheeks turned pink. "So…what were you really thinking?"
"It may seem silly…" Clarisse began after a pause, her cheeks still a fiery red (and Joseph's hand remaining on her cheek didn't help matters).
"Nonsense, tell me," he pulled away and, still arm in arm, they continued walking- it was too cold to stand still for too long.
"Well… I was just thinking of other walks we've had and how you have always just been…there for me no matter whether I wanted to walk in silence or vent… you were just… THERE."
"It was my job."
"I know… but you….listened, only spoken when necessary, and never made me feel stupid."
"I wanted to do that for you and you never sounded stupid."
"I appreciate that- then and now- and when I was reflecting back on that, I realised that… that you had been my best friend, even way back then, even if neither of us acknowledged it."
Joseph was silent for a long moment as he considered her words- yes, he had been quiet and listened when she had vented- she had deserved to and to have someone she trusted, someone who wouldn't betray her- but he had never thought she would consider him that… at the time, that is; NOW, however, they were close and confided in each other, but at the time….
"I guess I had something no one else had," he finally quipped and she paused to lean over and kiss his cheek.
"You did… you do," she almost murmured. "You ARE my best friend."
"As you are mine," he said immediately, almost in a rush and Clarisse gave him a knowing smile.
"I knew that long ago," she said smugly.
"I knew that about you as well," he retorted almost defensively and Clarisse only laughed before they continued their walk towards the forest that surrounded his home, via the driveway before Clarisse stopped and shivered; Joseph, as always in tune with her, stopped and turned to her.
"Are you cold?" he almost demanded.
"A little," Clarisse said almost meekly- she WAS cold but she had also suddenly, inexplicably felt a premonition, a bad feeling that something was going to happen and she suddenly wanted to get back to the cabin, with the doors locked and curled up in front of the fire.
"Shall we go back inside?" Joseph asked solicitously, giving his queen the choice (or the pretence of the choice) - HE was going to get her back inside.
"We haven't been out here that long," she said weakly.
"We've been out here about…" he consulted his watch. "Nearly half an hour- surely that constitutes a daily walk?"
"Maybe," Clarisse allowed, before another gust of wind swept past them and she shivered again- this time from cold. "Alright, maybe it's time to go back inside… but what we will do?"
"I have an idea…"
"Oh?"
"You're just going to have to wait and see until we get inside…."
0
"CHESS?!"
"What's wrong with chess?" Joseph said innocently as he brought out his wooden chess set and began setting it up on the table. "It's a game of skill and intelligence."
"There's nothing wrong with chess, but I haven't played since I was a little girl and I'm not sure I can remember all the rules of the game."
"It's alright, I'll help you for the first game," he said helpfully as she slipped into her usual chair and watched as he carefully set up the pieces.
"The first game? How many games do you think we're going to play?"
"Why? Are you in a hurry to go somewhere?" he teased and she chuckled.
"No, not at all. But I can assure you that I'm a bad player and you will get sick of beating me before too long."
"Nonsense, I'm sure you'll get all the rules back quite quickly…"
"You're just being kind… where did you get this set? It's beautiful," she picked up one of the heavy wooden, polished pieces and examined it carefully.
"It belonged to my great grandfather and then was passed down through the generations…"
"I like it."
"I'm glad you do," he gave her a smile before he sat down opposite her. "Shall we begin?"
"Yes sir, I'm ready," she gave him a pert smile.
000
Meanwhile, in an undisclosed location outside Pyrus…..
"Well?"
It was a demand from the man in charge, the man who had put the entire situation into practice, had supplied the money that had found the men and the resources that had caused much devastation in the city and had caused the fatalities of several men, but he didn't give a damn about that- all that mattered to him was the Queen, he had something very particular in mind for her….IF the bumbling fools he had hired to help enact his plan EVER found her and that foolish bodyguard…they HAD to find her! It was imperative that they were found!
"We have been looking everywhere and they weren't at the Winter Palace or the beach house…"
"I knew that was the case," he said with gritted teeth- these men were hardly the most intelligent people and their constant questions was wearing quite thin. Hopefully, by the end of the week, everything would have gone to plan and he could give them their final payment and never see them again. "Did you manage to remember to investigate her Head of Security?"
"Oh yes, of course…well, he does have several properties in Spain, as investments…."
"They would hardly have left the country?" the man was growing severely irritated with the roundabout way this man thought.
"No, of course not… and we know that he lives in the palace…."
"Obviously… and he's not there, clearly!"
"But we did discover that he had his own special property adjoining the Winter Palace….although he hasn't apparently used it too often, doesn't like having too many holidays, he says."
That was it!
The man couldn't help but rejoice- of course, Bonnell would attempt to isolate the Queen, keep her away from the rest of the country and try and seduce her…. part of his plan was to rescue her from that scoundrel, she didn't deserve to be anywhere near him and the bodyguard himself shouldn't even think that he could be anywhere near her, let alone touch her…
At the thought of that bodyguard touching the Queen, the woman that should have been HIS rather than the wife of King Rupert, rage began coursing through the man's head and he began balling his fists up at the thought, as if he could punch Joseph out if he was right in front of him, which he would in a heartbeat… hopefully he would get the chance before too long…
"So, what are we going to do?" the younger man was still waiting for his answer and the man realised that the final stage of his plan was about to be executed.
"Take three or four of your men out there this evening, you need to park the cars away from the property so that you don't make any noise and surround the place… once they have gone to bed, I'm sure that he will have a security system in place, but you know what to do…and tie them both up… Call me as soon as you have both of them secured."
000
Back at the palace….
Thankfully, as the day went on, things began to calm down and while the news coverage was still extensive on the ground at the crime scenes, and Scott was more than a little relieved when he finally had a chance to sit down and have a meal with his colleagues, Charlotte joining them as well.
"So, any more news?" Charlotte asked- for the past couple of days, she had been working frantically with the press secretary to ensure that the palace released their own comments and no rumours were allowed to run riot in the palace or in the city itself.
"Not much, another person has passed away but the police have a few leads but they don't know anything else at the moment."
"How are Joseph and Her Majesty?"
"They're alright- Joseph is going to put his security system on this evening and I've already contacted the other guys in Mertz, just to keep a look out around the property during the next few days…"
Just then, the phone rang but Scott let someone else answer it…however, unfortunately seconds later, the phone was handed to him: "It's for you."
"Hello?"
"Tonight, there's going to be a hunt on for Her Majesty and Joseph. He knows where they are." The voice was muffled but Scott could tell that it was a man's voice and it sounded like the call was being made from a public phone.
"How does he know this? Who are you? Who is looking for them?"
"All I can say is…make sure that you have men out there tonight…" before the person on the other end hung up, leaving Shades open mouthed.
"What? What is it?" Charlotte asked, watching him as was the rest of the team, tension building.
"They… they know where Joe and the Queen are…." Scott managed to stammer out. "They….going to look for them tonight….." and the rest of the group looked at each in horror…..the secret had been revealed and they were going to look for them….before he finally shook off his horror and stood up quickly, knocking back his chair. "We need to get into action stations… NOW!"