A/N: Thanks to all my readers and reviewers- you all rock!

The next morning, the palace was already humming with activity when Clarisse emerged from her suite, much earlier than usual, to go for a stroll before the rest of the day arrived, filled with a wedding ceremony, reception, guest and parliament.

Thankfully, as she crept down the stairs and out through one of the side doors, despite the voices she could hear, there was no one around as she snuck out.

She was almost at the bottom of the stairs leading out to the garden, when suddenly….

"Where do you think you're going?" a very familiar, husky voice murmured in her ear, an arm gently wrapping itself around her waist and Clarisse, who had momentarily panicked when she felt someone near her- who on earth could have caught her out, the focus was on Mia today- before the voice she heard made her relax and she caught the scent of the familiar cologne and she chuckled as she turned in his arms, wanting to see him again.

It had been two days since they were married and the secret of their marriage was weighing heavily, Clarisse honestly wanted to be open about her relationship with Joseph. He had waited so long for her, even accepting the possibility that she might not be free to marry (which hurt her when she realised that he was giving up his chance for happiness) but now it was time to openly, publicly recognise and confidently affirm her relationship with Joseph.

"I thought everyone was supposed to be busily preparing for the wedding," he continued teasingly.

"Everyone is… I just wanted to go for a brief walk before starting my own preparations."

"I'm sure you don't need too much preparations," he said lovingly, touching her cheek as they strolled down to the gardens, away from prying eyes and cameras.

"Flatterer."

"It's the truth."

"Flatterer, none the less," she retorted.

"I tell the truth, that's all I will say," he said simply. "So, may I accompany you on your walk?"

"I thought that was what you were doing," she teased and he laughed.

"Touché," he said before he paused in the middle of a cluster of rose bushes and trees, a little off their trace. "I was also wondering… I would like to kiss my wife good morning…do you think that she will agree to that?"

"I think you may be able to do so," Clarisse said regally. "Someday soon, you will be able to do it openly."

"Maybe so, but maybe I would prefer to keep some aspects of our relationship private… and you possibly wouldn't like me kissing you in front of everyone… in front of parliament, for example."

"Well, no," Clarisse admitted. "But…."

"I understand that you want people to know about us and accept us," he said gently, reaching out and caressing her cheek gently. "But I also know that you don't want us to be the focus of everyone's attention."

"I know, it's foolish of me… but I want people to accept us."

"And they will… but it shouldn't matter to you either way whether they accept us or not."

"Not for me, but for you, I want it for you," she looked at him with determination in her eyes and expression and he was touched.

"I appreciate that, I really do, but I don't want their acceptance- the people who really matter, who will accept us, are our friends and family…."

"Yes…" before her eyes widened in horror. "Oh… Pierre, I haven't had the chance to tell him…but I wanted to tell him face to face."

"Which you will be able to do soon enough, he's due to attend the wedding today."

"Of course," Clarisse suddenly felt nervous about facing her son and telling him about their marriage- she knew that he had always gotten along with Joseph when he was growing up, looked up to him as almost a father figure (as did Phillipe) but it would be considerably different meeting him as his mother's husband, his stepfather.

"You worry too much," Joseph broke into her thoughts again. "He will be fine… I think he may surprise you with his reaction."

"I hope so."

"I know so. Now, am I going to be able to kiss my wife before the morning really passes us by?"

"Of course," before he pulled her close to him and gently pressed his lips onto his, a kiss that had passion and emotion, feelings that had been building for years but as yet were unanswered, had been growing ever closer to the surface, especially after their secret ceremony, and they were both finding it difficult to contain themselves.

After a moment, after they had pulled away from each other, breathing heavily, Joseph took her hand again.

"Well, if we are going for this walk, we had better get going… I know that Paolo and his entourage will be arriving soon enough and we don't need to be caught by him… gossip that he is."

"You won't forgive him for selling Mia's story to the papers, will you?" Clarisse chuckled.

"No. He knew what he was doing, and all for the sake for a couple of rings… although, I have to admit, he has redeemed himself in the years since."

000

The rest of the morning flew by, and after a light lunch in her suite with Andrew Jacoby's parents and Helen and Patrick (Mia having lunch with her bridesmaids, although Clarisse imagined that she wasn't very hungry), Paolo bounced into the room, ready to do Clarisse's make-up and hair.

"A happy, happy day, indeed! The Principessa is to be married to Lord Jacoby and the crown will be safe!" he trilled as he fussed around with Clarisse's hair as his two assistants prepared her make-up and her ladies maids were in her bedroom, setting out her wedding outfit. Clarisse wondered idly how Joseph would cope with her ladies maids coming in and out of her suite, but she knew that she would compromise- as long as he was happy, that was what mattered and, she had to admit that she would prefer a little more privacy in her personal life- hopefully that would happen.

"Your Majesty? It is a happy, happy day, is it not?" Paolo's voice broke into her thoughts and she smiled at him in the mirror.

"Indeed it is, Paolo, indeed it is."

"And once the Principessa is on the throne, you will be able to live life as you always wanted to?"

"We'll see, Paolo. My plans are as yet… incomplete. We have a wedding and coronation to celebrate before anything else."

"Si, si- a happy celebration indeed."

All too soon, it was time to leave for the church. She passed by Mia's suite and paused, hoping to see her granddaughter for a moment, but the sounds of giggling and laughter made the decision for her- she would see her after the ceremony.

Joseph was waiting at the bottom of the stairs for her, looking extremely handsome in a formal grey morning suit, a top hat in his hand.

"You look… beautiful," he reached for her gloved hand and kissed the top of it. "You'll be competition for the bride."

"I wouldn't think so," she laughed before she dropped her voice to a whisper as she leaned forward. "You look handsome… very handsome… although as not as handsome as 2 nights ago."

"Now who's the flatterer?" he teased before he pulled away from her and his expression turned professional. "We must be leaving for the church now, Your Majesty- the Princess and her bridesmaids are ready to leave."

"Good," before Clarisse began walking towards the front door, already half opened by the guards standing on either side. "It's time to leave."

0

At the church, the crowds were threatening to spill over the barriers that had been placed on the kerbs, and the screaming, cheers and shouting increased greatly when Clarisse stepped out of the car, Joseph as always nearby. She paused for a moment at the top of the stairs to turn and wave to the crowds- always acknowledge the people, she had been taught by the Queen Dowager and even Rupert- before disappearing into the church.

The Prime Minister was waiting near the closed doors leading into the church- as tradition dictated, the Prime Minister and Queen were to greet all the guests who were stepping into the church. The only exception to that rule, during Clarisse's reign, was when the Crown Prince had been killed and Clarisse had been in no state to greet anyone- the funeral was one blur and it taken all of her strength to hold herself together- but today was not a day to reflect on that... today was a day of celebration…hopefully.

Once all the guests had been greeted- although she had seen them last night at the cocktail evening- and Joseph had finished perusing the room and the church, inside and outside- Sebastian offered her his arm and he escorted her up the aisle to the seat next to the altar, where Andrew's parents, Sheila, Helen and Patrick and… Pierre… were already waiting.

It wasn't a time to embrace her son, but the gentle squeeze of her hand and the corresponding smile on Pierre's face informed her that he was just as pleased to be here as she was to have him back. If only he had come to the palace beforehand, rather than come straight to the church…

"The plane was late, Maman, otherwise I would have met you at the palace," he said by way of explanation- he had always seemed to know what she was thinking, they had always been close- before she had seated herself and Pierre shook hands with the Prime Minister.

Charlotte was hovering near the closed doorways of the church, speaking into her earpiece, and Clarisse knew that the bridesmaids and Mia had arrived (the faint echo of screams and shouts could be heard, just barely, and she could imagining how deafening the noise would be outside) and they were getting ready for the ceremony to begin….

Clarisse's eyes then wandered over to where Joseph was chatting quietly with Scott and her heart suddenly ached- she again wished that their marriage was out in the open and that Joseph had been given the opportunity to escort her down the aisle, sitting beside her as a wedding guest and her husband….

Soon… very, very soon….

Just then, there was a ripple move through the crowd and the doors were opened with a gentle bang before the bridesmaids began flowing through the door, all clad in pink (Lily hadn't been impressed about that, Clarisse couldn't help but stifle a grin at the memory- 'Pink?! I'm not a pink girl! I hate pink! - as well as judging by the grimace on her face) but they all looked very pretty.

There was another pause, not very long, before the music turned regal, more imperious, and the congregation got to their feet as a whole, before the doors opened again and Mia appeared.

She looks beautiful, Clarisse thought to herself- her granddaughter had insisted on choosing her own wedding dress (with input from Clarisse) and her grandmother had to admit that she had made the right choice with the off the shoulder Genovian silk and lace dress the young woman was wearing, along with one of Clarisse's tiara. However, there was something in her expression, something not right….

Suddenly…. Mia froze halfway down the aisle, looking around nervously and Clarisse knew that she was having second thoughts about the ceremony.

"I'm sorry, I'm just going to need a minute or two…" before giving her bouquet to a nearby wedding guest and, grabbing her skirt, turned and almost ran out of the church.

Clarisse was on her feet and down the aisle before she knew it, reassuring Charlotte that she would deal with it and striding out of the church, Joseph on her heels. She found Mia in a nearby alcove, struggling not to hyperventilate.

"Grandma… I…I'll be right in a minute… I just need a minute…"

"No… No," Clarisse repeated forcefully- this wedding was not going to happen, not if she had anything to do with it. She would deal with the consequences, when they came, but at the moment, her thoughts were on Mia.

"I CAN'T do this!"

"I know… darling, I've always been told that duty to my country is the most important consideration I had- even over love- and until a couple of days ago, I was sure that I would always do my duty… but now… things have changed for me… and they can change for you too."

"How?"

"You need to do what is right for you. Make your own mistakes, you'll make plenty of them, believe me. You have a choice- you can go back into the church and get married or you can walk away. Whatever you choose, let it come from your heart."

Clarisse watched as Mia bit her lip, considering her choices, before she flung herself at her grandmother and hugged her fiercely.

"Thank you," she said quietly before she pulled away, straightened her posture and began walking determinedly back towards the church, Clarisse following slowly behind her.

"Well done," Joseph murmured to her as she passed and Clarisse allowed herself a small smile.

"It was what needed to be done."

For a moment, when Clarisse stepped back into the church, she thought that Mia had made the choice to continue with the wedding- she was walking determinedly towards Andrew, then taking his arm, together making their way to the altar, and then… she turned to him, his engagement ring in her hand.

For the next ten minutes, Mia created history- she defiantly declared that she was going to become Queen- 'without a husband'- and while Viscount Mabrey tried to create trouble, Lord Nicholas Devereaux, who had been missing since he had left the palace the day of the camera on the lake scandal, emerged from the shadows and announced that he was declining to be King, much to his uncle's fury, as he dashed out of the church, in the hopes of convincing the boy to reconsider.

Things went quickly from there- Sebastian suggested she make a motion to change the marriage law for present and future queens of Genovia (at this, Joseph and Clarisse exchanged a look) and the motion was unanimous.

There was an awkward pause after Mia had stepped down from the podium and joined her bridesmaids, no one quite sure what to do now that there wasn't a wedding, before the Archbishop gazed down the aisle at Joseph and Clarisse, who were standing together and waved them forward, attracting the attention of the congregation.

"Your Majesty and Mr Bonnell… would you please step forward to receive a blessing?"

"Blessing?"

"Blessing?"

"Blessing?'

The word echoed through the congregation as they watched Joseph and Clarisse walk down the aisle, arm in arm- this was the moment of truth.

"Yes, a blessing," the Archbishop affirmed before looking at Clarisse meaningfully and she gave a tiny nod of her head. "It is my great pleasure and an honour to announce that Her Majesty and Mr Joseph Bonnell were married by me two nights ago, in this church and I again offer them my heartiest congratulations, as I hope you will as well."