Author's Note: Here's the new record for me... four chapters in one week! It probably won't happen again, but these four chapters were special and I was inspired!

Thank you to all my readers and reviewers... your reviews have helped me to get through another chapter in a matter of days...

The Princess Diaries doesn't belong to me!

Just over an hour later, the three of them were comfortably ensconced in one of the palace cars and heading out to the Le Roche's estate, having called earlier and informed them they were coming out.

Clarisse was feeling very nervous about the meeting, despite the comforting presences of Joseph beside her and Rupert in the seat opposite them.

She had heard the warm note in her mother's voice when she asked if she could come out that afternoon and Clarisse realized her mother suspected she had news, which she did, but involving the wrong person...

"It's been quite a while since we've seen or heard from you," Patricia couldn't help but add before the phone call ended, and Clarisse felt guilty- she had been wrapped up in her burgeoning romance with Joseph since her birthday at the beginning of October and had barely thought about her parents- before she realized, soon after she hung up, that she hadn't heard from them since her birthday OR apologized for embarrassing her that night, and now... she was visiting them to announce that she was getting married, but not to who they thought and hoped she would marry.

"It will be alright," Joseph said calmly, squeezing her hand gently. "Rupert and I will be with you the entire time."

Even if she had wanted time with her parents, or they wanted to speak to her alone, he would be close by... he didn't trust either parent in the slightest.

"Absolutely," Rupert agreed, watching the young couple in front of him- from his age perspective, despite the intense true love they clearly shared, but Joe and Clarisse still seemed so young to him, almost like children or teenagers in love for the first time, and the thought of them being so certain about their relationship that they were planning on getting married at 22 and 25 years of age... it amazed him somewhat.

Until a few months ago, Joe had been rather childish in most respects, only doing the bare minimum of work and putting partying as his top priority but now... he was far more mature than he used to be, especially when he was around Clarisse, and he was certain that Clarisse and their marriage would be the making of him.

Still, they were still so young... but if they were convinced that they were ready, then he would support them all the way.

Lord and Lady Le Roche were waiting outside for them when the car pulled up in front of them, and if they were surprised that Rupert and Joseph had accompanied her, they kept their surprise well hidden as they greeted the three of them and led them into the formal living room.

Joseph glanced around briefly as he sat down next to Clarisse, Rupert on her other side and her parents on the sofa opposite them and wasn't surprised that it was almost as formal as the palace... poor Clarisse, he couldn't even to begin to imagine growing up in this sort of atmosphere... no wonder her parents thought she was perfect Queen material.

"So, how is life at the palace?" Richard Le Roche asked conversationally once they were all seated. "I imagine it must be wonderful to have your every whim and need catered to," he joked, instantly irritating both Joseph and Rupert as they exchanged a glance- the man was clearly deluded if he thought life at the palace was that easy... both of them, at times in their life, had wished they could have escaped their life...

"We've all been fairly busy," Clarisse ignored the joke as she tried to keep the atmosphere light, although she could see the excitement and expectations almost oozing from her parents before she realized something else- she hadn't missed this while at the palace, but she had always been trying to keep everything light and settled, even when she was a little girl and her parents weren't speaking to each other.

As she remembered that unpleasant memory, she suddenly had some qualms about her future marriage to Joseph... what if they turned out like her parents?

"I've been busy with my history tutor and my lessons with Her Majesty while Joseph and Rupert..." she smiled at both men on either side of her. "Both represented Genovia- Joseph went to Spain and Rupert accompanied Their Majesties to France."

"Yes, we heard about the success of both trips," Richard said, smiling at both of them but Patricia had kept her eyes on Clarisse, trying to figure out her news.

"So... you intimated you had some news for us," she began diplomatically, but it was obvious to all that she thought she knew what the news was and was just waiting for confirmation.

"Yes, I do," Clarisse blushed, looking nervous again, and Joseph longed to give her a hug but didn't want to embarrass her. "I do... Mother Father... Joseph and I are getting married..."

She blindly reached out for his hand and he took it, squeezing it tenderly, prouder than ever of her before they both looked at her parents.

There was a long silence as Lord and Lady Le Roche stared at Clarisse in disbelief before her father laughed nervously.

"You're joking, aren't you Clarisse? Surely you must have meant that you and Rupert are getting married."

"No," Clarisse said quietly, squeezing Joseph's hand tighter. "I'm in love with Joseph and last night... he asked me to marry him and I said yes."

Her parents continued to stare at her in stunned silence before Joseph leaned forward, hoping that his words would help.

"Lord and Lady Le Roche... I know you were expecting your daughter to marry Rupert and I'm sorry... we didn't plan on falling in love and we did try to fight it, but...

Your daughter is a beautiful, sweet, kind and caring young woman and she'll make a wonderful Princess..."

"But she'll never be Queen," Patricia pointed out acidly, confirming both Joseph and Rupert's fears about her ambition- Clarisse as Queen was the pinnacle of her dreams. Her daughter's feelings and happiness didn't mean anything to her... all that mattered was that they would be the parents of the Queen of Genovia, and now that Clarisse had made another choice, it was all crumbling around her.

"No," Joseph continued, trying to remain calm. "But she will have a husband that will always love her and wants to look after her for the rest of their lives. Her happiness is what really matters to me, and I do love her," he finished with a loving look at Clarisse and Rupert grinned proudly, before Joe looked back at her parents... and his future in laws.

"I see," Lady Le Roche said coolly, clearly unmoved by his words, before looking over at Rupert apologetically. "I am so sorry about all of this, Your Highness. We honestly thought that Clarisse was ready to marry and become your wife, but she is obviously too young to know what is good and best for her."

"I am not," Clarisse murmured before Rupert smoothly stepped in.

"Lady Le Roche, you don't need to apologize for your daughter- I'm delighted that she and my brother have found each other and have decided to spend the rest of their lives together- they really do love each other, and their happiness is what matters to me."

"Surely... aren't you even the slightest bit angry that your younger PLAYBOY," she heavily emphasized the word as both Clarisse and Joseph stiffened. "... Partier of a brother seduced, manipulated and bedazzled your fiancée?"

"I'm sorry, Lady Le Roche, but I must protest at the way you've spoken about my brother, a Prince of Genovia, and your daughter," Rupert still spoke calmly but his eyes were glittering with irritation. "Yes, I was angry initially, but my brother and I have made our peace... and I felt that I couldn't stand in the way of true love..."

Both Joe and Clarisse looked over at Rupert in astonishment- did he just say that they shared 'true love?' Neither of them had thought of their love like that, but now that Rupert had put words to the intense connection they shared, it did make sense.

"True love," Patricia sniffed angrily before glaring at her daughter. "Clarisse Elizabeth Le Roche, you cannot marry... His Royal Highness," she shot an angry look at Joseph, who was trying to stay calm.

"My dear," her voice softened slightly. "Being in love might be all well and good now but marriage is a completely different situation and sometimes love will disappear... I'm sure it would with him," she shot him another glare and Joseph felt angrier than ever- she really was trying to provoke him.

"Excuse me?" he began, gently removing his hand from Clarisse's grip and leaning forward, determined to defend Clarisse and himself from the Le Roche's. They were so determined for her to marry Rupert that they didn't care about her or her feelings, and were even willing to insult HIM to seal the deal.

"Is there something about me that is unsuitable to be joined in marriage to your daughter?"

"Your Highness," Richard stepped in before Patricia could say anything. "We all know that you're a nice guy and are very pleased that you have finally turned your life around..."

The three young people sitting opposite him just stared, stunned at how condescending he was being to Joseph, Clarisse especially angered- they were treating him like he was nothing, even though he was Prince of Genovia, but he was everything to her...

"But... Clarisse really needs someone who's stable and constant... and Joe, despite your wonderful transformation, you really don't have the best track record to support a wife and family... I'm sure..."

"Enough!" Patricia snapped, taking control of the conversation again. "Clarisse, I'm saying this again- you cannot marry Joseph... you need to repair your relationship with Rupert!"

Both Rupert and Joseph were appalled at her open social climbing antics- she was actually ordering Clarisse to break up with Joseph and try and work on her relationship with Rupert.

"No," Clarisse suddenly said quietly, surprising the group with the single word.

"Excuse me?" Patricia looked annoyed.

"No, I'm not going to do what you ask of me," Clarisse said calmly, looking up and meeting her mother's eyes with steely determination.

"What?" her mother almost shrieked, unable to believe what she was hearing. "You're being very ungrateful and selfish young lady, after all we've done for you... You'll embarrass us if this get out!"

"Embarrass you?" Clarisse laughed dryly, suddenly feeling stronger with Joseph and Rupert with her. "YOU and Father were the ones who've embarrassed me- Father was the one who announced an engagement that didn't even exist... You embarrassed me at my own birthday party!"

Clarisse responded in an almost unemotional tone, but Joseph could feel that she was upset by the way her hand was trembling on her lap.

"I love Joseph with all my heart," she continued, slowly standing up, the two men following suit before Joseph reached for her hand and Rupert rested a hand on her shoulder.

"We didn't mean to fall in love and hurt anyone, but we did and I love him... I don't want to be without him anymore..." her voice trembled slightly as Joseph's grip tightened on her hand. "He loves me too," before she straightened up and looked at her parents proudly. "He wants to marry me, and I am going to marry him... with or without your consent."

"Well, you don't have our consent," Patricia said, standing and towering over her daughter who only stared back at her.

"That's fine... Good afternoon," Clarisse said politely, a twinge of regret in her voice, before she walked out of the room, Joseph and Rupert hot on her heels...

0

It was a very quiet trip back to the palace with Clarisse staring blankly out the window and the two brothers had a conversation with their eyes. It had been a terrible visit, and neither man was surprised that the Le Roche's had shown their true colours. Joseph was now, more than ever, relieved that Clarisse was marrying into their family, and he would be able to protect her from them.

Clarisse didn't realize that they were back at the palace until she heard her door open and she looked up to see Joseph looking down at her compassionately.

"Come with me, my darling," he said gently after he helped her out of the car and wrapped his arm around her slim waist for a moment, Clarisse leaning into him for a moment. "We're not due in the garden for another hour or so, so why don't we go for a walk?"

"Alright," she agreed, smiling gratefully at Rupert before Joe took her hand and they walked around the side of the palace and in the general direction of the lake.

They walked for a time in silence, Joseph enjoying the fact that he was practically free to hold her hand now, but aware that Clarisse was very quiet.

"Do you want to talk?" he finally asked when they were approaching the lake, and she shrugged before stopping and turning to look at him, her eyes anguished and ashamed.

"I'm so, so, so sorry that my parents were so awful to you... I completely understand if you don't want to..."

"Don't you say that," Joseph warned as he moved closer to her and encircled her with his arms. "Don't... and don't apologize on behalf of your parents... they don't like me but I don't care- the only opinion I really care about is yours... and do you want to know something else?" he added as he tipped her chin up so that she was looking at him.

"What?" she whispered, the love in his eyes taking her breath away.

"After this morning... I want to marry you more than ever," he said with a smile before kissing her tenderly and she relaxed into his arms. "I was so proud of you today," he added as his lips moved away from her lips and lightly left kisses on her cheek and jaw, his unshaven cheek tickling her skin before he gently kissed her neck for the first time, Clarisse shuddering slightly at the touch of his lips on a sensitive part of her neck.

"I just wish they hadn't been so cruel to you," she whimpered softly both from the emotions from the visit and the feelings he was stirring in her as he gently kissed her neck again before his lips reascended to her cheek and then her lips, his arms tightening around her waist.

"I don't care about them, sweetheart," he pulled his lips away from her mouth to look at her. "I love you, very very much. But," he added, pulling away slightly to reach into his pocket for a flat, velvet jewellery box. "I have something that may cheer you up..."

"Joseph, darling.. you didn't have to do this..." before she opened the box and gasped- sitting inside was a beautiful diamond bracelet and earrings, fairly simple but very stunning.

"Joe..." she looked at him in surprise. "You didn't have to do this.. they're beautiful..."

"I did and you do deserve them... they were for your birthday...

"Thank you," she gazed down at the jewellery again before smiling at him again, feeling much better. "Thank you so much..."

000

Clarisse was feeling much better by the time they returned to the palace for afternoon tea, after having strolled down to the lake, tried to skim rocks across the calm water and listening to Joseph regale her with stories of when he and Rupert had had swimming races, most of which culminated in accusations of cheating.

"Of course, I was usually the one who cheated" he admitted lightly and Clarisse had laughed.

She stiffened slightly when they walked into the main hallway, but Joseph didn't hesitate to pull her close for a moment, murmuring into her ear:
"My parents approve... you don't need to worry..." before he realized he could hear loud voices coming from the formal living room.

"What's going on?" Clarisse asked in confusion as she followed Joseph to the dining room doors and she went white when she realized she knew two of those voices so very well indeed... It sounded as though her father was shouting at the King, as she heard:
"Surely you can't approve of this relationship between your son and our daughter!"

Joseph suddenly realized who they were and tried to stop her but Clarisse couldn't help it as she stepped inside to see...She couldn't allow them to destroy Joseph's relationship with his parents...

The King and Queen standing up, looking severely displeased as, opposite them, stood Lord and Lady Le Roche, both of them trying to talk over the other. The four of them turned to see who had entered the room, and the Queen stepped forward.

"Joseph, Clarisse... this isn't what it looks like... Lord Le Roche was just expressing an opinion to us..."

"Yes," Lord Le Roche turned to glare at both of them. "We decided to come here to find out how they felt about your engagement..."

"And we have informed them that we support you 100 % in your relationship," Henrik said with a small smile before turning his gaze back to Clarisse's parents, his expression darkening instantly.

"But... she was suppose to marry Rupert... aren't you annoyed that...?" Lady Le Roche began, trying to look and sound appeasing but Henrik stopped her instantly and Clarisse suddenly saw the man that inspired awe and respect... as this moment, he was King Henrik of Genovia.

"My dear Lady Le Roche, as much as Her Majesty and I appreciate your assistance in this matter, it is clear that our son and your daughter have made the choice to spend the rest of their lives together and it is up to us to accept their decision."

"But..."

"Madam, if you interrupt the King of Genovia again..."Henrik said in a quiet voice, his glare meeting her face squarely before he lightened up considerably, although still looking very grave. "But I must warn you that if I ever hear you speak of our son with such little respect again, I will not be pleased with either of you.""

He paused and turned to look at the young couple slowly making their way over to where they were all standing, and he stepped forward to take Clarisse's hands in his to press warmly.

"Congratulations, my dear... I'm very pleased that you are marrying Joseph and I know that you will both be very happy..." before he turned to look pointedly again at Lord and Lady Le Roche.

"You have both just witnessed my blessing on this union, so if you aren't at all happy that your daughter is happy with His Royal Highness and will be officially engaged in a matter of days, I give you permission to leave us..."

There was a split second of silence as the other couple stood there, deciding what to do, before Lady Le Roche curtseyed angrily to the King and Queen and stalked from the room, closely followed by her husband.

Clarisse, forgetting that the King was still holding her hands in his, looked after them for a moment, realizing that she may have just lost her family, before a gentle squeeze of the hand made her look back at the King.

"Don't worry, my dear... they're just angry at what has occurred and they will come around... But if they don't... you do have all of us... especially a man who loves you very much," he glanced over at Joseph who walked over to join them and Clarisse stepped back to join him,

"Again, congratulations on your engagement... and we do support you all the way..."

"Thank you," Clarisse blushed, staring down at her feet for a moment as Joseph took one of her hands in his and squeezed it gently.

"I always wanted another daughter," she heard Alexandra's voice from above her, and she raised her head to see her future mother in law standing there, smiling kindly at her. "I wanted you as my daughter in law when I first met you, and now I will be... with Joseph as your husband..." she trailed off before holding her arms out and Clarisse timidly walked over for a warm embrace.

"Congratulations, my dear girl, and may you and Joseph have many, many years of happiness together..."

"Thank you," Clarisse murmured again, brushing tears away before she heard, from the doorway:

"What's with this love fest... oh, right... my brother just got engaged!" and she looked up to see Rupert striding towards them with a tray of champagne flutes and a bottle of wine on it.

"What's this?" Joseph looked bewildered as his older brother set the tray down on a table and poured four glasses of champagne. "I thought we were getting together for afternoon tea!"

"Oh we are... but we can't let your engagement go by without a little toast!" Rupert joked before distributing the glasses and standing next to his father.

"Well... this has all happened so fast, but seeing how happy the couple are in front of me, I can't think of anything else except... to Joseph and Clarisse!" Henrik lifted his glass to the young couple in front of them, Joseph weaving his free arm around Clarisse's waist.

"To Joseph and Clarisse!" Rupert and Alexandra echoed before the four of them drank a little from their glasses, Joseph and Clarisse's eyes meeting for a moment... they really were engaged now!