A/N: A different chapter to what I expected but...all good!

Thanks to all my readers and reviewers!

The Princess Diaries doesn't belong to me!

"Hi..." she began almost shyly as she started to open the door before her mouth dropped open at the sight before her... she couldn't believe it...Was she really seeing what she was seeing, or was it a dream?

"Pierre?!" she gasped, the power of speech finally returning to her as she gazed at her first born, still as tall, dark haired and as handsome as ever, clad in his usual black outfit, standing beside Joseph, the man she had sometimes secretly wished had been the father of her sons.

"What are you DOING here? You were busy... did YOU know he was coming?" she turned accusingly towards Joseph, who shrugged, looking slightly sheepish but before he could say anything, Pierre decided to speak up.

"He knew, Maman, but he was sworn to secrecy- actually, your granddaughter planned all of this via the telephone."

"But... but..." she slowly backed into the room as the two stepped in behind her. "You... were busy..."

"Not too busy to see my mother- and finally meet my niece," he said with a smile, stepping forward and reaching for her hand. "Yes, I know I have yet to return to Genovia- you know my reasons for that, although one day I will return- but I thought that San Francisco would be a good place to see my family... you're not too angry at me, are you?"

Now it was his turn to regard her sheepishly as he stood before her- it had been a long time since he had been afraid to look at his mother- but Clarisse's expression lightened almost instantly as she stepped forward and threw her arms around him, something she found difficult to do with Mia, still, but with her own son, it was completely natural.

"Of course I'm not angry at you, Pierre- it is a wonderful surprise, from both you and Mia, and I am so pleased that you are here... how long are you here for?"

"Only for the day- I have to get back for my retreat the day after tomorrow."

"That's a shame- I barely spend enough time with you as it is," Clarisse frowned again.

"Relax, Mother, " Pierre rested his hands on her shoulders and looked at her with a warm smile. "We have tonight... and you could always try and have a holiday in Scotland in the next couple of months..."

"I'd love that, but can you imagine how parliament would react to me having another 'unnecessary' vacation? I already had enough trouble with this trip!"

"You really shouldn't have to fight with them for some well deserved time off," Pierre looked irritated. "You are the Queen...and, by the way, you look wonderful..." he looked at her up and down and she blushed- she could see the admiration on Joseph's face as well, but she refused to be distracted from the issue at hand.

"Thank you, dear, but as you were saying, I AM the Queen..."

"But Her Majesty in England always spends the summer at Balmoral, away from London..."

"But she also has her own work that she has with her."

"Nevertheless, parliament has the summer off- so you should technically as well, aside from what you need to do... didn't you have a much more low key summer last year?"

"Yes, I did, and it's very sweet for you to argue on my behalf, but I'm quite happy with the way things are at the moment."

"Hopefully, one day, you will have the chance to enjoy a life outside duty and responsibility," he said firmly. "Am I right, Joe?" he turned to the older man for moral support and he nodded.

"Indeed," and Clarisse couldn't help but laugh.

"I've been ganged up on, which is sweet," before she looped her arm through Pierre's. "But I suggest that we postpone this conversation until after the party which, I believe, we may be very close to being late to."

"I thought Queens were never late, Maman, everyone else was early!" Pierre quipped as he escorted her out the door, Joseph following with a smile- he was delighted to see the two of them together again, albeit briefly- and Clarisse only laughed.

"I can see that Phillipe still lives on in you and Mia... I hope you both aren't going to gang up on me in the future!

000

"I see you received your surprise, Grandma!" were the first words out of Mia's mouth when she opened the front door of the restored fire house and set eyes on Pierre and Clarisse, Joseph standing behind them both. "I hope you were pleasantly surprised?"

"I was," Clarisse affirmed as she stepped into the house and gave Mia a light hug. "I had no idea that YOU had organised this- with Pierre and Joseph as your co-conspirators- but I am deeply grateful- thank you," she said, tenderly touching Mia's cheek before stepping aside. "So now I can officially introduce Pierre, my son and your uncle to you... Pierre, Amelia- or Mia, as she prefers to be called."

"Hello, Uncle P...we finally meet!" Mia beamed at her uncle before she exuberantly threw her arms around him, a move that visibly startled her uncle before he recovered and wrapped his arms around her.

"It is a great, great pleasure to finally meet you as well, my dear, although I do recall meeting you when you were three and I was visiting San Francisco."

"Like I could remember that far back!" Mia joked bashfully as Helen joined them.

"Hello Clarisse, Joseph," she nodded formally towards the older couple before her face broke into a warm smile upon seeing her former brother in law. "Hello, Pierre, it is so good to see you again!" and the smile Pierre had for her in return was just as warm and friendly.

"Indeed, Helen, it's just as good to see you again and see how happy you are," before he hugged her, Mia's jaw dropping open in surprise.

"You guys were friends?"

"Of course," Pierre said simply. "Your mother WAS married to my brother and I was always very fond of Helen."

"And I felt the same for Pierre- he was always a good friend and brother to both of us, even when things began to go wrong..."

"I always regretted not keeping in touch with you after the divorce," Pierre said soberly. "But it was what Phillipe wanted."

"Which was very kind of him, although HE always tried to keep in touch," Helen said and the mood of the group seemed to sober for a moment, Clarisse, Pierre and Helen all feeling regretful at what had transpired after Phillipe and Helen had divorced, before Mia, sensing the change in mood and not wanting it to affect the evening.

"Anyway, I'm so glad you were able to come tonight, Uncle Pierre- I can't wait to introduce you to some of my friends... and Grandma, you look so gorgeous!"

"Thank you, dear," Clarisse said gratefully- she was clad in a simple blue lace dress, with simple pearls as her only jewellery, although she felt overdressed seeing what some of her granddaughter's friends were wearing. "How did your final exams go?" she continued as they stepped further into the room as other teenagers milled around about them- she could see Lily and Michael in a corner with some music equipment, three long tables set up in the middle of the room, and the rest of the room was decorated with streamers, balloons and other party decorations- she had to admit that it was simple and fun, something Mia clearly wanted for her eighteenth birthday. It wasn't something SHE would have had for her own eighteenth birthday (not that she would have any option) but for Mia- it was perfect.

"They went well- I am SO glad that they are finally over!"

"Just wait until you are at college," Pierre said with a wry smile. "You'll have plenty more exams then!"

"Don't remind me!" Mia groaned, a disgusted expression on her face before she glanced around, realising that she had other guests arriving. "Anyway, would you all like drinks?"

"We'll be alright," Clarisse said, sensing that she wanted to go and greet her other guests. "We'll sort ourselves out."

"Okay, I'll catch up with you all later, hopefully!" before she zoomed off to meet another group who had just arrived.

"Why do I feel like I'm a fish out of water here," Clarisse murmured to Joseph as Helen and Pierre went to get drinks for them, and he chuckled as he stood beside her- for once, no one would be able to make any assumptions with them standing next to each other and talking to themselves, as he had been invited as Mia's friend and wasn't on the job. "I feel as old as the hills."

"You don't look it," he murmured into her ear and she laughed.

"Thank you, but I still feel old... and over dressed."

"You look beautiful- and, remember, you are a different generation to these young people... from what I've seen of them, they prefer to dress down rather than dress up... and don't get me started on their language!"

"Surely you're not going to lump my granddaughter in with them?" she gave him an arch look before smiling. "But yes, in some ways, this generation is much more relaxed then ours and Mia is part of this generation...some of the outfits she has worn..."

"Oh well, you really cannot complain- she's an individual and she knows what she wants."

"Yes, I'm lucky in that way..." she smiled thoughtfully before she turned her gaze towards him. "How about you? Do you feel as old as I do?"

"Not really- and no, you don't look old and I don't look old, so we really shouldn't feel old- we should be embracing all this youth around us!"

"Yes sir!" she sassed him, in the way her granddaughter did her, and it pleased her that she was able to do that to Joseph...not that anyone else could see this side of her.

"By the way, if you are supposed to be my date (which is only between the two of us), you're not doing a very good job of charming me...you need to shape up or..."

"Or what?" she flirted.

"Or...I may have to find another date for the evening..."

He gave her a mock stern look and she burst out laughing, neither of them realising that they were being observed from across the room.

"They're good friends, aren't they?" Helen said to Pierre as they slowly walked back towards them with their drinks.

"Yes, Joseph has always been a good friend to my mother- he is a fantastic personal bodyguard and I know Mother trusts him with her life."

"That's usually a good thing, isn't it?"

"Of course- we all find people who follow us around as part of their jobs boring and stifling, but I've come to realise that they were doing their jobs... and I definitely appreciate Joseph's job- he HAS to protect my mother and he is very protective of her and I'm grateful for that- and always will be."

"Yes, Phillipe told me he has always done his job well, and Mia's very fond of him...he's a very nice man..." Helen said thoughtfully, not wanting to mention that she suspected that there was more to his feelings for the Queen than most people suspected...

Little did she know that Pierre, who was watching them intently, was pleased that they were clearly more than friends- their relationship had moved up a notch and he hoped that it would eventually lead to something serious, deep and committed...

He had seen the friendship develop as he grew up, deepening over time, but since he had been gone, things had definitely stepped up and he was glad of it- it was becoming every so obvious that they were meant to be together and he, despite his respect for his father as his father and as the King, hoped that they WOULD end up together. They were in love and he was thrilled to see it...maybe now he could return to Genovia...

"Pierre?" he suddenly realised that Helen was talking to him and he turned to her.

"I'm sorry, I was just thinking... that we should give Joseph and Mother their drinks and then I would like to meet your new man... Patrick, I believe his name is?"

0

The evening, despite Clarisse's initial concerns, turned out to be quite fun and enjoyable- all of Mia's friends (and while it seemed as though there were a lot there, it was quite an intimate party) were keen to meet Clarisse again (and she was amused at how much scraping some of the boys did when they met, almost tripping over their own feet when they met her) and were very polite, and she was comfortable sitting at one of the tables with Lily's parents, Joseph (beside her), Pierre, Helen, Patrick O'Connell and some of the other parents who were invited. It was an unusual way to spend a birthday, and Clarisse couldn't help but feel guilty that Mia hadn't been able to have dinner at a restaurant or go out clubbing, but Mia was quick to reassure her:

"I wanted you here, Grandma, and if that involves staying in, I'm fine with that."

Dinner was loud and exuberant- something she expected with a group of teenage boys and girls who were on the cusp of graduation from high school- but it was only half way through the meal when she had a twinge of grief that Phillipe wasn't there, enjoying it and possibly in the middle of all the jokes and laughter.

"Are you alright?" Joseph suddenly murmured in her ear and she nodded- she should have known that Joseph was attuned to her moods and thoughts, as he had before their relationship had become 'serious'.

"I'm fine, just had a twinge of wishing that Phillipe was here."

"We all wish that," Pierre, who had been sitting on her other side, added. "He would have loved being here- I'm sure he would have been right in the middle of that," he nodded towards the other two tables, which had been pushed together so that all the teenagers were sitting together. "But we're here, Mama, and that's what matters."

"Thank you," she reached over and squeezed his hand tightly- it meant the world to her that Pierre had flown all the way from Scotland to meet his niece and see her again.

She had been a little worried that she would have to make a speech- it was traditional in Genovia, to pass on words of wisdom during a speech- but after dessert, instead of having speeches, Mia happily announced that they had a karaoke machine organised, along with a DJ and that "everyone has to have a go!"

"No," Clarisse whispered almost immediately to Joseph and he nodded.

"You don't have to if you don't want to... does that mean I can avoid it as well?" he gave her a sly smile and she smiled back at him.

"Alright..."

Unfortunately, once some of the younger people had had a go- and clearly enjoyed every minute- Mia made her way over to the table, a sly look on her face and the microphone in her hand.

"Grandma..." she began in a sly voice as Clarisse shook her head.

"I don't think so, dear."

"Grandma..."

"No, I don't think so..."

"Please," Mia persisted and Clarisse couldn't help but feel a little annoyed and put on the spot- everyone was watching her and she knew she had to do it, otherwise be seen as a fuddy duddy, but she didn't appreciate Mia putting her on the spot. "You don't have to know the words off by heart- there's a screen in front of you and all you have to do is sing along..."

"Alright," she said after a moment, feeling Joseph reach over and squeeze her hand tightly as Pierre let out an whistle and clap of encouragement. "I'll do it- once, and that's it!"

Clarisse had never felt as embarrassed as she followed Mia towards the karaoke machine and she had to squint slightly to see what the song was- something she had never heard of, but she could follow the melody easily, having studied music when she had time- and she felt like a complete fool as the song began and she had no choice but to start singing- WHY had she agreed to do this?- but she was very surprised when, upon conclusion, she received a standing ovation from the guests.

"Thank you very much," was all she said modestly, her cheeks turning a deep red as she made her way back through the crowd to her table, all of them standing up and clapping for her.

"Well done, Maman!" Pierre crowed triumphantly as he leaned over and kissed her cheek. "I knew you could do it- you have a beautiful voice and you shouldn't be hiding it!"

"Exactly!" Patrick said with a smile. "Excellent job, Your Majesty!"

But the best praise came from the man sitting beside her, the man who took her hand in his when attention was away from her and focused on the next person and kissed it gently before leaning over and murmuring into her ear:

"A beautiful performance, my love... as your son said, you have a beautiful voice but I have to add that it matches the person who I'm looking at."

"I felt foolish," she admitted shyly and he smiled at her.

"You looked anything but- I think all of Mia's friends- Lily in particular- are more in awe of you than ever! You looked elegant, strong and in control- just like the woman you are."

"What about you?" she murmured, again feeling slightly flirtatious- she hadn't felt this free in a long time, and she was determined to enjoy it. There was no one there, hopefully, that would sell the story to the press but, for a night, she didn't care- she wanted to enjoy herself with her son, her granddaughter and her man around her.

"I've always been in awe of you, you know that... and if it wouldn't cause such a fuss, I would kiss you here and now... I'm so proud of you."

"Thank you... can I ask a favour of you?"

"Of course- whatever you wish."

"Instead of being driven back to the embassy afterwards, could we go for a walk?"

"Of course- whatever my lady wants, my lady gets," he said with a smile, happy at the idea that they were alone together (although it wasn't necessarily practical), touching her cheek gently for a moment before being distracted as Pierre turned back to them...