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

The Princess Diaries doesn't belong to me!

Joseph's procedure (as he termed it, although the palace staff all knew it was a double knee replacement) was scheduled for early June, and only after he ensure that Clarisse (or the Queen, as he referred to her publicly) wouldn't try and schedule any trips while he was on leave (or in his words to her "try and sneak in a trip") and Clarisse reassured him, with more than a touch of exasperation in her voice, that she wouldn't.

"I TOLD you that I wouldn't, Joseph- besides, I have far too much work to do here."

There had been murmurs of surprise in parliament upon discovering that the Queen wasn't planning any travel during that summer, although they were silenced by the fact that the Princess would again be spending the summer there.

Thus, now knowing that and relieved that his knees would be looked after and he would NOT lose his job, Joseph set about preparing his team for his absence, his intensity amusing Clarisse.

"You either trained with them or trained most of these men- they know what they have to do... don't you trust them?" she teased as they strolled around the garden, one of the last times before he was due to check into hospital the following evening. "I always thought they were good, steady, reliable boys."

"Yes...but to me, they are boys, and they always will be," he grumbled. "Yes, I trust them- they are the best men for the job and they know what they are doing, but..."

"As far as you're concerned, regarding me, they're not you," she finished softly.

"Exactly."

"Well... I'm very fortunate to have such dedicated staff around me- I must inspire real loyalty in them."

"Indeed you do, ma'am," he said, taking her hand in his and raising it to his lips. "May I say that we are fortunate to have such a dedicated and hard working and kind boss who cares about her employees as well as her subjects... I know it's your job," he added as she opened her mouth to protest. "But you don't care just because you HAVE to, but because you WANT to."

"Flatterer," she blushed.

"You know that, that's why you're very, very, very fond of me," he smiled as he slipped her arm through his- they were still out of view of the outdoor security cameras so he could touch her- as Clarisse watched him for a moment, painfully aware of how fleeting life was, and, with worry about him coursing through her, she was momentarily struck with the desire to to tell him that she loved him... that she had always loved him and she always would...

But the moment passed as she realised she wanted to tell him at the right time, not now when fear and worry were driving her decisions.

"You look thoughtful," his voice suddenly broke into her thoughts and she smiled vaguely as she turned towards him, suddenly realising they were walking back towards the palace.

"I was just thinking... that I'm sure everything will go well for you the day after tomorrow," she said quietly, worry colouring her voice and he was touched enough to stop and take both her hands in his, turning her towards him.

"I appreciate your concern, but I WILL be alright- it's a relatively straightforward procedure and I'll be back here before you know it..." before he leant over and rested his forehead against hers.

"Promise?" she teased.

"I promise," he replied seriously.

00

Clarisse sighed as, sitting at her desk two days later, she glanced at her watch for what seemed to be the millionth time that morning- she had so much work to do, but it was the morning of Joseph's surgery (in fact, if the time was right, it would be occurring right then) and, for once she was more preoccupied with him than her paperwork... that didn't matter, Joseph did.

She had managed to remain calm and positive when she had seen him the previous afternoon but it had been hard, although she hoped that Joseph hadn't realised it...

"Good luck...although I'm sure you're not going to need it," she said calmly and he smiled as he took her hand- it made him feel good that there was someone who was worried about him, who cared that much about him to worry.

"It WILL be fine, I promise... and YOU won't be trying to escape, will you?" his eyes were twinkling mischievously.

"I won't... I promise," she said with a demure look and he chuckled as he pulled her close to him, appreciating the fact that Clarisse's study was one of the few places where there were no cameras- or, if there were, they were turned off most of the time.

"I hope so, otherwise when I get back..." he mock threatened.

"I PROMISE," she emphasised in return- not even Rupert was as protective as him.

She smiled vaguely at the memory- he was more worried about her than himself and she silently vowed that she would help him with his recuperation as much as she was able or allowed (for he was a proud man)- before she glanced up to see Charlotte entering the room with another pile of paperwork (something Clarisse noted with a groan, something that would keep away from Joseph) and it was this thought that made her snap at Charlotte:

"Any news from the hospital, Charlotte?"

"No ma'am," she said apologetically, knowing how worried the Queen was about Joseph- the whole palace was- and it was more than employer concern for her employee...it was definitely more than that, she suspected- but she was pleased for them and she would keep their secret, for that's what they wanted...

"However," she continued after a moment. "They did say that they would contact me once he was out of surgery- he put the palace down as his point of contact...specifically, Shades, me... and you."

"I see," was all Her Majesty said, but Charlotte could see that she was pleased at the news and it confirmed to Charlotte that they really were a couple, not that she could say anything.

"I'll let you know when they call," Charlotte reassured her and the Queen nodded, avoiding her eyes as she pulled another pile of paperwork towards her. "I'm sure it won't be too long until there is news."

"In that case, I'm not to be disturbed until you receive that call."

"Yes, ma'am," Charlotte said politely, duly chastened, before creeping quietly out of the room.

0As it turned out, Charlotte received the call a couple of hours later, and when she stepped into the study, she discovered that the Queen was pacing the room- she had done a little work, but as the hours ticked by, she had been less and less inclined to do anything at all... all she wanted was to know that Joseph was alive and in recovery...

"Well?" was all she said when she saw Charlotte.

"He's out of surgery, doing well in recovery but he will be in his room later this afternoon."

"Is he allowed to have any visitors?" Clarisse asked, slowly calming down, relieved that he was alright but embarrassed at her obvious behaviour towards Charlotte, showing her worry and concern for him... that wasn't appropriate...although she did trust her...

"Visiting hours are between six and eight- shall I get Scott to make arrangements?"

"Yes please, but please ensure that no one knows... it may be better if we go after visiting hours- I don't want the press hanging around the hospital."

0

Visiting hours were well and truly over when Clarisse, accompanied by Scott and Charlotte, with a team of men outside, scanning the perimeter), slipped unobtrusively into the hospital, keeping her head down as they made their way down to Joseph's private room, almost colliding with the doctor as he came out.

"Your Majesty... what are you...?" he began before correcting himself- of course, the Queen would want to check on her head of security, she was being a good employer. "I'm sorry... you can see him for a little while, but he really needs his rest."

"Can you tell me how he is?"

"The surgery went well- of course, I had discouraged him from a double replacement at one time, but he was so insistent and it did go well... due to his level of fitness, I feel that he could be back on his job at the end of the summer, although while he is undergoing physiotherapy, he really should be on light jobs, nothing too strenuous- but we shall see."

"I'd like to see him on light jobs," Shades murmured into Charlotte's ear and she was hard pressed not to laugh before she realised that the Queen had slipped into the room and the doctor had gone down the hallway. "Should we..." he nodded in the direction of the closed door.

"I think we should leave them alone- he will be very tired," Charlotte said firmly knowing, as their eyes met, that he was just as suspicious of them as she was.

Inside the private room, a slow smile spread over Joseph's face as he watched Clarisse make her way over to his bedside and take his hand in hers as she sat down on the edge of the bed- not appropriate, the Queen side told her sternly, but Clarisse the girlfriend didn't care.

"You came..." he said vaguely and Clarisse realised that he was still heavily medicated and thus might not know who she was, until he added: "Your Majesty... Clarisse..."

"Of course I came, why wouldn't I?" she smiled down at him, relieved to see his face again.

"Well..." he vacillated, trying to find the words he wanted to say but somehow, he couldn't...

"I'm glad I came," she suddenly broke into his thoughts, her warm hand squeezing his before she leaned over and gently kissed his forehead.

"So am I," he murmured thickly.

"How are you feeling?"

"Sleepy... my knees are hurting a little bit... but I'm sure I'll be getting some more pain...killers soon..."

"I should go, let you have your rest," she stood up again as Joseph's grip tightened on her hand.

"Did you come alone?" she could hear the ghost of a growl in his voice.

"No, Scott and Charlotte are outside, as are some of your men... did you want to see them."

"Not tonight," he breathed, closing his eyes for a moment.

"Goodnight, I'll try and come again tomorrow," but before she could completely pull away from him (albeit very gently), he pulled her down again and raised himself up enough so that their lips met in a slow, sweet kiss (a kiss Charlotte accidentally witnessed when she opened the door a crack to see if the Queen was ready, but she closed the door quickly again).

"What?" Shades asked but Charlotte shook her head hastily, embarrassed as seeing such an intimate moment between Joe and the Queen).

Meanwhile, inside...

"See you tomorrow," Joseph teased, his voice sounding stronger and his eyes opened and twinkling as she pulled away, blushing deeply- she hadn't been expecting that.

"See you tomorrow," she repeated vaguely, almost floating towards the door before she realised that she had to pull herself together- NO ONE could see her like that... it was fortunate that no one had seen that kiss...

000

Joseph's recovered remarkably quickly from his procedure, much to the amazement of his doctors, and that, along with his fitness, stubbornness and iron clad determination to be back on his feet in September, which allowed him to be discharged earlier than usual and return to the palace- on the proviso that he would do his physical therapy and nothing else until the doctors spoke to the Queen.

"That's going to be impossible for you, isn't it?" Shades joked as he helped Joseph to his room. "You're not going to be able to resist interfering..."

"Only if you guys are running the palace into the ground and I HAVE to step in!" he retorted jokingly- he trusted Shades implicitly and he hoped that, one day when he retired (which was still a long way off), Shades would become HOS.

As it happened, his discharge from the hospital coincided with the arrival of the Princess and her entourage (which consisted of her mother, Lily and another girl from school- but no Michael) and Joseph didn't begrudge Clarisse her unavailability, wanting to spend time with her granddaughter, but he was touched when she sent Charlotte down with a sealed cream envelope- and an enthusiastic welcome from Charlotte.

"Welcome back! It's so good to have you back!" she cried as she walked across the room to his chair. "We've missed you and we all look forward to having you back on your feet when you've recovered..."

"Thank you..." but before he could say any more, she handed him an envelope.

"I cannot stay but I just wanted to welcome you back and give you this..." before she flew out of the room again. He waited a moment before he opened the envelope and saw her familiar elegant handwriting on a piece of her personalised note paper:

"Welcome back Joseph!

I wish I could be there to personally welcome you home, but I will be visiting you this evening to welcome you properly!

Welcome back- we've missed you.

I've missed you

Clarisse"

Joseph smiled to himself as he refolded the note up- he was looking forward to seeing her idea of welcoming him back 'properly'.

0

Meanwhile, upstairs, Mia and her friends bounced into the foyer upon their arrival from the airport, Clarisse waiting for them in the doorway of her study.

"Grandma!" Mia immediately flung herself into her arms, taking Clarisse by surprise, although she had to admit she liked his enthusiasm. "I'm back!"

"I can see that... welcome back, to you and your...entourage," she teased and Mia laughed.

"Thank you... Your Majesty," she curtseyed, before introducing her friend and then looking around for Joe. "Hey, where's Joe? He's usually hanging around here."

The girl was very observant, Clarisse had to admit- and an admirable skill for a future Queen- but she wasn't quite sure what she should say, before she decided to tell him the truth.

"Joseph had a double knee replacement a week or ten days ago and he's on leave while he's recovering."

"Is he okay? Where is he?" Mia looked shocked.

"He's fine," Clarisse reassured her. "He's already been discharged and is back here for his recovery."

"Can... can I see him?"

"Not at the moment, dear, he's still settling in, but I'm sure once he's feeling better- and he's up and about- but I'm sure he would like to see you. Anyway, I'm sure the maids have your rooms ready...I'll take you up and we can have a catch up before my next meeting."

It wasn't easy to keep her mind on her paperwork, her meeting and being a gracious hostess to Mia, Helen and her friends, knowing that Joseph was back and downstairs in his room with no company (although she assumed that he would have received the not she had sent down him and that some of his friends would have visited, not all) but Clarisse managed (she had for many years, with lesser distractions) but she was secretly relieved when Mia and her friends retired for the evening and her maids disappeared for supper so, after ensuring that no one was watching her, she snuck down to Joseph's room and, when bidden, slipped in to see him sitting up in a chair near his bed, dressed in black pyjamas, dressing gown and slippers, obviously he had been waiting for her.

"Welcome back," she began softly as she walked slowly towards him. "We're all glad you're back- we've missed you," as she reached out and took his hand in hers.

"I've heard that a thousand times today," he replied, a touch irritably. "What about you- did YOU miss me? Are you glad I'm back?"

"Yes- to both questions," she said simply. "There are no words to express how happy I am to see you back..."

"I know a way of expressing your happiness," he said with a sly smile and she chuckled, knowing exactly what he meant.

"Alright, alright," she teased before she leant down and kissed him softly on the lips. "Welcome back."

"It's good to be back- although it will be even better when I'm back at work- and my knees don't hurt anymore."

"It's only been a couple of days and you're already bored?" she teased as she sat down in the chair opposite him. "Goodness knows what you'll be like after two months!"

"Champing at the bit, I can tell you!"

"But you won't take it out on your visitors, will you? They were all concerned about you," she chided gently.

"Alright, I'll try... so, did Mia and her friends arrive safely?"

"Yes- they're already getting settled upstairs... Mia wanted to know where you were, and after I told her, she wanted to visit you."

"I'd like to see her too... but maybe when I'm up and about."

"That was what I suggested."

A silence fell between them then, a comfortable one that allowed them to feel that they didn't have to say anything, before Joseph spoke up again.

"Thank you," he said and Clarisse looked at him quizzically.

"What for?"

"For coming down here tonight... and for visiting me in hospital..." he trailed off and he looked so vulnerable that Clarisse, touched, leaned over and rested a hand on her arm.

"Oh my dear," she almost breathed the term of endearment. "Of course I would have visited you- I wanted to... I was very worried about you and I was- I am- glad that you are alright."

"Really?"

"Really?" she affirmed.

"Why?"

"Why?" she looked startled- she had never seen him so low before, but she could understand what he was feeling- helplessness- and why. "Why..." she repeated. "Well, because... because..." she paused to take a deep breath in- this was it, this was the perfect time... "Because... I love you."