Thank you all so very much for your patience, it is greatly appreciated! We're nearing the end and, as all PD fans know, that means a good helping of angst. I tried to look at those days in a different way and in light of the story we've been sharing together over the past year (hard to believe, isn't it?)

This chapter did not see a beta so all mistakes are mine - thank you for your undertstanding.

Off to Genovia we go...

Chapter 26

The Other Half of Your Soul

"I must say, Your Majesty, I'm surprised you called and even more surprised at your request to meet."

Clarisse sighed, "Could we please dispense with the formalities? You are one of my long-term friends, you've seen me naked for heaven's sake. At least call me by my given name." Her eyes bore into his. "Please."

"As you wish, but it's difficult after everything that's happened over the years, especially in the last year or so."

Her eyes closed, "The last year or so has been nothing compared to the last few month." Finally, she lifted her lids and pained blue eyes bore into his, "Or the last few days."

His hand covered hers and squeezed gently, his mouth turning into a frown. "Why did you seek me out? I thought, even hoped, you no longer needed me in this manner."

A solitary tear slipped down her cheek. "He's leaving."

At her words, Doc Weston sat up straighter. Of all the reasons he anticipated her seeking him out, especially this late at night, this scenario he'd never imagined. She need not even identify the "he" in this conversation, there was only one person currently alive in the world capable of sending the mighty Queen of Genovia back to her therapist's couch: Joseph Romero.

"Joseph said those words directly to you." He still couldn't believe it was true – not after everything the two of them had been through together.

Clarisse's trembling hands reached into small leather binder she'd carried in with her. The doctor recognized it as her personal diary, the one she'd used during her most difficult years with Rupert. He'd often asked her to write her thoughts down to share with him during their sessions. He'd asked her to burn it after Rupert's death, to protect the secret, but she'd refused citing she never wanted to forget what she'd endured in order to prevent a similar nightmare from ever happening to her again.

He recognized the letterhead, fine paper with the Genovian crest centered at the top. The dark, masculine strokes of pen bled to the backside of the paper. She handed him the slip of paper. "His resignation."

As her friend, he wanted to pull her into an embrace and let her cry as they fully absorbed the devastating news and its impact, both personally and professionally. The therapist in him demanded he stay calm and refrain from outward shows of emotion. He read the words:

Your Majesty,

Due to personal reasons, I am tendering my resignation to the Renaldi Family. Upon Princess Amelia's marriage to Andrew Jacoby, my services will no longer be available to the Crown.

May Genovia prosper under the continued rule of the Renaldi family and long live the women who rule her.

Sincerely,

Joseph Romero

Doc Weston refolded the letter and handed it back to her. "Tell me what happened."

Clarisse fought for the breaths necessary to control her emotions—emotions barely being kept in check at the moment. "From the moment he proposed…"

He what?! This night grew more intriguing with each passing moment. "Joseph proposed to you?"

She rubbed her temples trying to assuage the pounding in her head. "If one could call it that. I'm out of touch, obviously, with what constitutes a marriage proposal. My first marriage was arranged and, well…the second hope for a happily ever after isn't looking promising at the moment."

"Tell me…" he needed to get her to talk. He couldn't help if he didn't know enough of the story.

"We were in the gazebo." She smiled, "It was a beautiful day. I would've been completely content to sit there with him and enjoy the gardens, but Joseph had bad news to share with me which stole my enjoyment."

The doctor's eyes squinted slightly, "I thought this was the story of his proposal."

She laughed bitterly, "It is. Prior to the proposal, he shared with me Amelia had been caught in a closet with Sir Nicholas."

"The chap trying to steal the throne from her?"

The Queen's head dropped into her hands, "The very one, indeed."

Didn't see that one coming either. I'm getting rusty. "Not the best way to put a woman in the mood for romance, I suspect."

"Hardly."

"Go on."

"After delivering the news about Amelia, he reminded me of how little time remained before Amelia was to take the throne…as if I weren't painfully aware of how much she still needed to learn along with the unrelenting pressures of Parliament. Then he held my fingers, not even my whole hand mind you, and we sat down. I tried to explain to him how the timing couldn't be worse and do you know what he said to me?"

"Why don't you tell me?" He sensed righteous indignation about to dominate the conversation.

Her eyes flashed, "He told me perhaps it was time to consider the duty I have to myself."

"You disagree?"

She stood, knocking the pillow on her lap to the floor. "Have you been listening at all to what I've been saying? Amelia, the woman who is to be future Queen of Genovia—the woman who is currently betrothed to Andrew Jacoby—the woman who has spent precious little time in Genovia—has less than thirty days before she is to become ruler of the country I have sacrificed everything for. EVERYTHING!"

Emotionally spent, she collapsed back onto the couch. "Does that sound like I have the freedom to consider the duty I have to myself?"

He needed to tread carefully here. "Rarely is it convenient for someone in a leadership position to see to their own needs."

Clarisse let her head loll back against the back of the couch, "Would you like to hear the rest because it gets so much worse."

Worse than a proposal on the heels of a threat against the future Renaldi reign? "I'm listening."

She smiled, "Yes, you are very good at that." Her eyes opened and looked at him. "Thank you for agreeing to see me this late at night and for coming to the palace. I hesitated to ask security for an escort."

"I'm certain he knows I'm here now. Not much gets past him."

Clarisse shrugged. "He won't see me, short of an order from his Queen. Besides, he's off this evening and, from what Charlotte shared, not on site."

He nodded, even in distress she still tried to protect him. "Do you believe knowing you are seeing me this evening would upset him?"

Remembering the jealousy Joseph voiced time and time again over her relationship with her physician, she didn't doubt it for a second. "Have you met Joseph?"

"Fair enough. Yet you were willing to risk his additional anger by inviting me here, very late at night. The situation must be very dire—it's been a long time since I've had a call from Olivia to request such a meeting." He also recalled times when Olivia contacted him unbeknownst to the woman sitting across from him. Of those times, of the things they did, they'd agreed never to speak.

"After the proposal, all of my time was consumed with Amelia: flaming arrow lessons, art of the fan lessons, oh and may I, along with the rest of Genovia, try to forget the chicken in the throne room situation."

He stifled a chuckle as merriment certainly wasn't welcome at this moment. He'd seen the article and found the young Princess' curiosity enchanting. While an embarrassing situation for the monarchy, he didn't think it jeopardized her ability to rule.

"We'd barely dealt with that media nightmare when the fiasco with the review of the royal guard took place." Blue, pained eyes turned toward him ending any smiles he'd been harboring. "That's when things really started to go badly for Joseph and me."

"How so?"

She sat up, the tension filling her body once again. "You must understand there are very few people in my life with whom I can be real."

"Three?"

"I'd wanted to let you retire, so only two. Joseph and Vanessa."

"Vanessa?"

"Wife of the Sheik of Tunisia and a very dear friend of mine. With her I don't have to pretend."

"I'm always here for you, Clarisse."

She shook her head violently, "I can't call you every time I'm having a bad day."

"This was worse than a bad day, though."

Another tear escaped. "Much worse. I blamed him."

"For her horse getting spooked?"

"For everything… I didn't mean to, but once started, I couldn't stop."

"What did Joseph say?"

More tears escaped. "Nothing. He stood there and said nothing. Once I finished, I dismissed him."

"He didn't resign then so he must've understood you were more upset at the situation than at him."

Clarisse didn't share in his assessment, but continued. Their time would run out quickly and, despite her bravado earlier, she didn't want to face Joseph if they ran into him when he returned…if he returned. "It gets worse."

This time Dr. Weston leaned back in his chair and fought to avoid rubbing his temples. Perhaps suggesting Clarisse stop meeting with him, even after she started a relationship with Joseph hadn't been the best idea. "I'm listening."

"The garden party occurred next. A beautiful day, happy guests, a brilliant Amelia with all her mingling. Joseph and his team kept a sharp eye on everything and pre-empted disaster right up until the end."

He said nothing but waited expectantly.

"The next thing I know, Amelia walks through the party right in front of me dripping wet."

"What in heaven's name caused that?"

"Followed, witnesses tell me, by an equally soaked Nicholas."

"Oh no."

"Oh yes. Something about the fountain deep within the hedge maze."

"Your frustrations were unleashed on Joseph again?"

"Joseph, Charlotte, Amelia…even poor Maurice."

"Did Joseph stay quiet this time?"

"For the most part. He reminded me his team's job was to ensure the safety of the crown, not to babysit the crown."

Doc closed his eyes briefly. He didn't blame Joseph as his words were true, but that couldn't have gone over well. "Your response?"

The pillow was drawn tightly against her body again. "If his team failed again, I demanded a resignation."

He expelled the breath slowly. He hadn't seen Clarisse this worked up in years. "Is that why he quit? Another fiasco for which he felt his team would be blamed?"

The tears fell freely now. "Oh no, his resignation came before any further incidents. He resigned today."

He blinked. "This just happened today?"

"Hours after I tried to ask him for more time."

"Your answer was a no to his marriage proposal?"

"Not a no. More like a not yet."

He moved to sit next to her on the couch and pulled her into a loose embrace. "You told him not yet and he still resigned?"

She dampened his shirt with her tears, "He never gave me a chance. He saw the rejection in my eyes and left me standing alone in the middle of the ballroom. I haven't seen him since."

At a loss for words, he simply held her and let her cry the emotions out. He wondered if Joseph knew how much she loved him. In all the years of hell she'd endured with Rupert, not once had she cried from heartache or loss. He barely remembered her crying at all. Part of him didn't blame Joseph, he'd been patient and understanding for many years now. The other part wanted to strangle him with his bare hands for proverbially pushing Clarisse into a corner when so much was at stake.

Finally, the tears subsided and he offered her what he could in the way of comfort. "He loves you, Clarisse. Give him time. He will find his way back to you or an opportunity will arise for you to make things right. When it does, don't mess it up. The love you two have is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of love." He lifted her chin so she had to look into his eyes. "You can still have your fairy-tale ending."

She didn't believe him, but appreciated his words nonetheless. "I should let you get back to your home. I've heard rumors you've been spending time with a certain young woman. Is it possible someone may have found a way into your complicated, yet endearing heart?"

"Vivian and I are the same age. I find her company enjoyable."

"I want you to be happy. You've given so much of yourself, your time and your energy to the throne. You should be with someone who can bring you joy."

He opted not to correct her as, from his point of view, his only concern when it came to the throne of Genovia was the emotional, mental and physical well-being of the woman sitting across from him. "So you're saying I should consider the duty I have to myself?" Sometimes his patients opened doors from which he had no choice but to walk through.

The smallest of smiles, "Nice try, however not all of us are free to love."

"You're wrong, Clarisse. We're all free to love, it's only that the cost of love is often greater for some than others. The cost of loving Joseph and him loving you is high indeed, but let me give you something to ponder over the next few days. What will be the cost to you, not only personally, but also to Genovia—because, like it or not, your happiness and theirs are inextricably tied together—should your love for each other not be allowed out of the shadows?"

He could've answered the question for her, but wanted her to come to her own conclusion. If she lost Joseph, she would lose herself and the shell of the woman she would become would be far worse than the one Rupert left when he departed this world. Rupert may have been her chosen husband, but Joseph was the other half of her heart and soul.

^^C/J^^

Joseph stood in the darkness, watching him take the steps slowly from the front doors of the palace. He'd recognized the car the moment he returned to the palace. The negative emotions swirled violently throughout his body, settling in his heart and mind. Jealousy reared its ugly head again. Not because he thought Clarisse loved the doctor, at least not how she loved him. It was because Doc Weston gave her something he could not: unconditional and unending love and support.

He didn't understand it—couldn't wrap his head around it, but knew it to be true. The love the doctor felt for Clarisse was grander than the love he had for her. It was the love a father would have for his child. The emotional health and well-being of his patient and friend being of prime importance. Adam Weston didn't need Clarisse like Joseph did. Joseph needed her to breathe, to function…to feel alive.

A pinch on his arm brought him out of his thoughts, but his eyes never left the doctor. "What is it, Olivia?" A pinch was about as physical as Olivia ever got. She'd witnessed years of violence from Rupert and, he believed, that made her a pacifist. The only exception—Clarisse. He may be willing to take a bullet for the Queen, but Olivia would kill for her. He suspected the pinch was Olivia's way of expressing her extreme displeasure with him right now.

"Don't be an idiot."

"Why am I the idiot? I asked her to make our relationship public, she refused."

Another hard pinch. "She didn't refuse."

"Ouch! Felt that way to me."

"Talk to her."

As the doctor came closer, Olivia faded back into the shadows. "Talk. To. Her." Joseph ignored Olivia and spoke quietly. "Is her Majesty ill?"

He heard Joseph's voice, even though he couldn't see him. Turning toward the sound, he opted for honesty. "I'm afraid she is."

His words struck fear in Joseph's heart, he hadn't expected the doctor to share-much less to hear that Clarisse was sick. "What's wrong?"

Doc leveled a glare in Joseph's direction, "From what I understand that is no longer your concern or won't be in a few more days."

She'd told him. He should've known she'd confide in someone. A small part of him was thankful it was the doc rather than Vanessa. She'd do more than pinch him when she found out. "What's wrong with her?' His voice turned desperate, "Please, doc, at least tell me that."

He stepped toward him, until they could see each other in the darkness. Joseph might not be interested in hearing what Clarisse had to say right now, at least not from her. But this one time…one time only, he'd share a small part of what he learned from his patient and friend. He'd apologize to her later and beg her to forgive the violation, but he could no longer keep quiet when two people he cared for so much were obviously hurting. "Her heart is broken, Joseph. Broken and cutting into her soul far deeper than the glass cut into her the night Rupert hurt her so badly."

A fist connected with his jaw before he saw it coming. It hurt, but he was certain the full power of the punch hadn't been unleased on him. "You feel better?" Doc Weston rubbed his jaw and moved it around tentatively to make certain no real damage had been done.

"That was low, Doc. I would never hurt her like he did."

Their eyes met in challenge. Doc wasn't going to back down, even if Joseph hit him again. "You didn't hurt her like he did, but you hurt her regardless."

He'd regret it, without a doubt he would…but someone needed to feel his pain too. "In case anyone cares, I'm hurting too. She ripped my heart out of my chest and ran one of those damn four inch heels through it. Unlike her, I don't have someone to turn to. She turned to you that night…the night Rupert's anger took its final toll. Your hands lovingly brought her back to health. Did your hands comfort her tonight too?"

Joseph felt the impact to his jaw, solid and heavier than he expected. Thankfully, it knocked some sense into him. He leaned against the decorative wall, "Damn, Doc. Nice hit."

"You deserved it." The older man rubbed his hand.

"That I did. I'm sorry. I…I'm just not myself right now."

Doc Weston moved to stand next to Joseph, he thought he heard a young woman's yelp…almost like someone fell into some bushes or onto the ground. Since Joseph didn't move, he assumed he was hearing things. "It's been a difficult day, a difficult few weeks. This isn't over, Joseph. You and Clarisse aren't over. She loves you—more than she's ever loved another individual in her life."

Joseph rubbed his face, "One person's love I could compete with, it's the love she has for the thousands that have done me in. Her love of duty is a force to be reckoned with. I've tried…God help me, I've tried."

He felt a gentle thumping on his shoulder, "She's not easy to share love with Joseph, but I know you'll agree that loving her is worth any potential pain and heartache. She is one of the most amazing women I've ever had the privilege to know."

Water accumulated in Joseph's eyes but refused to slip out. "I've lost her, Doc. She was there, within my grasp…within my arms…and I squeezed her so tightly, she escaped before I could stop her."

Before he could stop himself, his arm went around Joseph and pulled him close in a half-hug—there was a lot of pain in the palace tonight. "I'll tell you what I didn't say out loud to her. You own the other half of her soul. She may survive without you in her life, but she won't be living and, most assuredly, she won't be happy. I don't believe you'll last more than twenty-four hours outside of her life. Strongly consider what your quality of life will be without her in it. Should life and love give you one more chance, don't blow it. We're all too old for many more chances at happily ever after."

Joseph absorbed the wise words being spoken to him and prayed he had the courage to somehow make this right. It wouldn't be today, most likely not tomorrow or the next day. But maybe, just maybe, if life gave him another chance, he'd find a way not to mess it up.

^^C/J^^

Twelve hours later

If life planned on giving him another chance, it wasn't going to happen on this day. His security team, along with him personally, had failed in a major way last night. Even though he was off duty, the Princess had to have made her escape about the same time he and the doc were exchanging punches.

Thankfully, the wedding and all the security checks would keep him occupied and outside of the palace walls today as he wasn't sure he could face her wrath again. Whereas the other times, her judgment on his team had been too harsh, this time…she'd be well within her rights to fire him.

When he arrived back at the palace around eleven, Charlotte was waiting for him in the kitchen with a bottle of scotch and two glasses. "I knew you'd eventually make your way to the kitchen."

"Is that my scotch?" He sat at the table and poured them both a glass.

"Yes, I used my clout and got Priscilla to let me in your room to retrieve it."

"What the hell for?" He took a long swig.

"Because I needed to make sure I saw you tonight."

He cut her a glance. She might be almost as crafty as the queen. She'd certainly learned from the best. "What do you want?" He prepared himself to be berated again. As one of Clarisse's closest friends, with the exception of Vanessa, Charlotte would be livid with him as well.

"To see how you were doing and offer you a shoulder to lean on or a listening ear, if you want it. If not, maybe we could drink until the chaos settles."

Joseph grimaced, the past few weeks had been hard on Charlotte as well. "Thanks, Charlotte. I appreciate that more than you may ever know. I know I pushed her too hard, but I'm hurting as well. I'm about to lose everything and I have no one to blame but myself."

"That's not true." Charlotte finished off her first glass and poured a second.

He absently rubbed his jaw, remembering what had happened the last time he tried to shift blame away from himself. "I'm afraid it is."

"I blame duty, parliament, even the people of Genovia." The anger in Charlotte's voice surprised him.

"I'm listening."

Charlotte stood and paced the small area near the table. "Think about it, Her Majesty has spent a lifetime doing her duty, suffering untold horrors…"

Joseph sat up straighter in his chair. "How do you know?"

"Please, do you think I'm stupid?"

"No, never." He'd also never seen Charlotte like this.

"The mirror never lies. I saw the scars on her back through a reflection from one of her dressing room mirrors. She'd kept her front to me the entire time and I'm certain she had no idea the door on the closet was angled just right. I've never said anything to her or about it, but the maids know everything."

He shook his head. "Olivia would never say a word, not about that."

"Olivia wasn't the only ladies' maid around during Rupert's rule. The Renaldi family has many long-term employees and I've learned a thing or two about extracting information in an innocent manner from those around me."

His respect for Charlotte escalated, not that it was low to begin with. "I didn't know until recently."

Charlotte smiled briefly and winked a respite from her anger. "I bet you didn't see the scars from a reflection in the mirror."

His nerve endings fired at the thought of the first time his hand had been guided under the satin of Clarisse's panties to feel the jagged scars. He'd seen and touched them so many times now, even anointed them with his kisses and tears, they no longer were even visible to him—simply a part of the woman he loved more than life itself. "Perhaps not."

She sipped the drink a little slower. "After all of her sacrifice, neither Parliament nor the people of Genovia want to release their hold on her. And you want to know what's worse?"

"What?"

Charlotte plopped unceremoniously back onto the chair. "She refuses to pull away."

Joseph finished his drink. "I'm at a loss at what to do. I've tried being patient. I've tried forcing her hand. Neither one has resulted in me getting the girl."

Charlotte finished hers as well, screwing the lid back on the almost empty bottle. "I don't know either, Joe. She's had a helluva day today, maybe the worst yet. Can you at least go and talk to her?"

"She'll fire me."

"She won't."

"She blames me for the Princess escaping yet again and making the morning edition of Eggs with Elsie."

"She doesn't."

"Who does she blame then?"

"Herself."

^^C/J^^

He couldn't believe he'd let Charlotte talk him into doing this—not that she had to try very hard. He hoped Shades was ready to assume his role because he still believed she'd fire him on the spot. Joseph sent Felix on his break—it was almost midnight. She'd probably be asleep. He knocked softly.

A few moments later, the door opened. "Come in, Joseph."

His heart ached for the woman standing in front of him. The dark circles under her eyes weren't the only physical evidence of her stress and fatigue. He stepped just inside the door and closed it. "I wanted to report security is set for tomorrow, Your Majesty."

Her eyes flashed with pain before she turned around and walked to the sitting area. "I never doubted it would be, but thank you for the update."

Long moments of silence stretched between them before he found the courage to speak. "I'm sorry, Clarisse."

She poured a glass of wine and turned toward him. "Would you like some?"

He didn't, but he also wanted to stay a little longer. The scotch already filled at least a third of his empty stomach. "Yes, thank you."

The earlier phone call from Gretchen found its way into his rattled brain. She, along with the princess deserved the truth. It was too late to tell Amelia tonight. "Nicholas was unaware of the set-up at the lake. His only fault was falling in love with the wrong woman."

She drained the glass and set it down, starting to walk toward her bedroom. "Is that what you did, Joseph? Fall in love with the wrong woman."

Clarisse felt his body against hers before she could turn the knob on her bedroom door. She felt herself being turned before the full weight of his body trapped her between him and the door. He buried his face in her neck, the hot tears running down her shoulder and onto her chest broke her heart. She held him close and let her tears fall as well.

His voice was muffled, but she understood. "I didn't fall in love with the wrong woman, simply pressed my love at the wrong time."

She lifted his head, watery eyes meeting watery eyes. "Will you stay then? Give us time to work this out? I do love you, Joseph…more than I've ever loved any one."

His mouth covered hers in a fiery kiss as his hands held her head immobile. His tongue slipped past her lips, connecting them in the only way they could allow at the moment. The kiss was brutal, desperate and…not enough. Finally, he pulled away. "I can't stay, Clarisse. Neither you nor I know how long Amelia will need you before she has the confidence to rule on her own. Both you and I know you'll never leave her side until you're sure. I can't accept that…not right now."

His fingers trailed over her kiss-swollen lips before tenderly kissing her one final time. He lifted her left hand and fingered the large diamond still adorning her ring finger. "You can't pull away from the past, Clarisse, and I can't envision our future any longer."

Her eyes widened. "It's customary, Joseph…I have a…"

"Duty, I know. To uphold every image the citizens of Genovia and members of Parliament throw at you. I can understand you wearing it at public functions because, God forbid, you do anything less than what's expected of you. But you never take it off…" He leaned down and whispered in her, "You made love to me time and time again while still wearing his ring. Until you let go of the past, there can be no future with us."

Her eyes closed as she felt his warmth move away. By tomorrow night, he would be gone. He'd promised to oversee the transition, but he would no longer be at the palace. Shades would assume responsibility for Amelia and Felix would become primary for her. The closing of the door reverberated through her empty heart. She lifted her hand to switch off the lamp when the diamond caught in the light. Why haven't I taken it off? Truthfully, she'd worn it for so long, she didn't even realize it was still on her finger.

The whys didn't matter now. Joseph was leaving her and she had no idea how she would live without him.

^^C/J^^

The incessant ringing didn't sound like her alarm. It was a phone. Not just any phone—her private cell. Sitting up, she fumbled around her glasses, the glass of water and her book until she uncovered the device. "Hello?"

"Clarisse! Today's the day. Are you excited?"

Vanessa's cheerful voice sliced through her pain and added additional layers of regret. With everything going on, she hadn't had an opportunity to call Vanessa to update her on the latest between her and Joseph. "Morning, Vanessa. Of course, I'm excited. My granddaughter is getting married today."

There was a long pause. "What's wrong? You and Joseph should be celebrating…oh God, is he there in bed with you now…is that why you can't talk?"

"No."

"No, what?"

"No, we are not celebrating and no, the last place on earth he'd be right now is my bed." Vanessa had always been direct and brutally honest with her, time to return the favor. She had precious time for anything else anyway.

"What the hell happened, Clarisse?"

"I can't pull away from the past and he can't be patient for the future."

"I'm getting on a plane."

"No! Vanessa, please. Let me get through today and Amelia's coronation then we'll talk, I promise. I just can't…not today." There was enough on her plate to deal with right now. She loved Vanessa, but she was a force of nature. A force which would come in handy in about a week when she had to put her life back together without Joseph.

"I was invited to the coronation."

"Please come. We can talk after."

A long pause. "I'm sorry, Clarisse. We'll figure this all out. I'll see you the day before the coronation. Promise you'll call earlier if you need me. I happen to wield a great deal of influence over the ruler of this country and can secure use of his private jet fairly easily."

Clarisse smiled, "Of that I have no doubt. I'm sorry I can't talk more about this now, but thank you for understanding."

"Please give Princess Mia my best wishes for a long and happy marriage."

Clarisse closed her eyes, willing all the doubts she had about her granddaughter's marriage to subside. Mia and Andrew didn't love each other. She could only pray that someday they would find true love in each other or I find the courage to not make her go through with this. "I will. Thank you."

She hung up the phone and then, with a small sigh, removed the ring that had been on her hand for far too long.

^^C/J^^

"Oh my dear Mia…" Her heart broke for her granddaughter.

Mia stood when she heard her grandmother's voice. "Oh Gramma, I'm sorry. I…I…I just need a minute."

Courage is not the absence of fear… "No."

"I can do this!"

But rather the judgment that something is more important than the fear. "No."

"I can't do this."

The brave may not live forever… "I know."

But the cautious do not live at all. "Darling, listen to me. I made my choice: duty to my country over love. It's what I've always done it seems. It's been drummed into me my whole life. Now I've lost the only man I've ever really loved."

Mia's gaze found Joseph, standing nearby as always. Clarisse shut down her internal emotions, there would be time for her breakdown later. Right now, she summonsed the courage to be the grandmother Amelia needed right now.

"Mia, I want you to make your choices as a woman. Don't make the same mistakes I did. Make your own mistakes—there'll be plenty of them, believe me. Now you can go back into that church and get married or you can walk away. Whatever choice you make, let it come from your heart."

Joseph heard the words, but couldn't believe it. Clarisse Renaldi had just encouraged her granddaughter to disregard duty and expectations and follow her heart. Oh, if she would only heed her own advice…

^^C/J^^

"Just because I didn't get my fairy tale ending, doesn't mean you shouldn't."

Thirteen words holding the power to change everything.

One minute and a half later, "My Lord Arch Bishop, I would like to take this man as my husband…if you please."

She would later swear that a collective chorus of voices echoed those of the man standing before them.

"Finally."