Disclaimer: Not to state the obvious, but, no, I do not own the Princess Diaries (book or film), its characters, or anything related to it except for my two DVDs. I make no profit from this story. I am merely borrowing these characters for a little bit of fun.

A/N: Hello! So, I missed the weekend by a day, but hey, new update! Thank you all so very much for your lovely reviews, they always make my day! This is the chapter I mentioned where a new development happens, so I hope you enjoy it. The next chapter may be a while in coming because I have two weeks until my last exam and then have to go about packing and moving. I will try to update whenever possible, but if it does take a while, I apologize in advance.

I hope you enjoy, and please review:


Standing as soon as the Royal family and Joseph entered, Sebastian wished – not for the first time – that he didn't have to add to their troubles.

"Sebastian," Clarisse did her best to keep the anxiety from her voice as she smiled at the man who had always been a friend.

"Your Majesty," he nodded as he bent to kiss her hand before turning to Mia and repeating the gesture. "Your Highness," he nodded to Nicholas as he straightened and, finally, turned to Joseph and nodded with respect.

Despite what his colleagues in parliament had to say about the Head of Security, and despite what every tabloid across the country would have him believe, Sebastian had always known Joseph to be a good man, and one who he had always respected – whatever the truth behind this scandal turned out to be, that was not going to change.

"Please, have a seat," Clarisse motioned for the prime minister to take one of the chairs across from her desk as she settled behind it, Mia taking the other one as Nicholas pulled a chair from in front of the fireplace to sit beside his wife, Charlotte standing dutifully beside the queen ready to take notes and Joseph standing behind the group, his back to a bookcase, his stance as professional as ever.

"I am very sorry to disturb you at a time like this, your Majesty," Sebastian began, "and firstly, please allow me to extend my best wishes to His Highness. I do hope he is recovering well," he smiled.

"Thank you," she smiled genuinely at him, "he is."

"Well then," he looked around apprehensively, "I do not wish to take up any more of your time than necessary, so," he cleared his throat as he turned to the Queen. "Your Majesty, as you know, as per protocol, after yesterday's events, an emergency parliament session was called. Once we received positive identification of everyone in the bunker and were assured of your safety, the meeting's focus shifted towards your next audience with parliament and to what actions to pursue regarding the current, er, situation," he paused for a moment before continuing, "I succeeded in postponing your next audience for another week, your Majesty, as I am sure this is a very trying time and a parliamentary inquiry is the last thing anyone needs."

"Thank you, Sebastian," Mia smiled genuinely at the man who had always strived to help her and was now doing the same for her grandmother.

"However," and now, the large man looked genuinely troubled, "some of our more, er, shall we say, 'zealous', parliament members are anxious to investigate the allegations made by certain publications over the past month, as well as the Princess' statements from yesterday's press conference and, er …" he sighed, "well, given that the Princess stated she would volunteer for DNA testing, well, parliament voted to sign an executive order for such a test. I tried to dissuade them, of course, to wait, however…"

"It's quite alright, Sebastian," Clarisse smiled softly, "perhaps it will be best to have this matter settled before I appear before parliament."

"I did say I would volunteer," Mia spoke a little indignantly, "there was no need for an executive order."

The look on Sebastian's face told them there was more, "I completely agree, Princess, however…" he looked around the room, his eyes momentarily falling on Joseph before turning back to the queen, "the order is not only for your DNA, your Highness."

"Well, of course a sample of Joe's DNA would be needed too, but…" began Nicholas.

Stepping forward, Joseph nodded, "I do not require an executive order, either, Prime Minister." For a brief moment, over the Prime Minister's head, his eyes met Clarisse's and he recognized the relief in her gaze – as long as he provided a DNA sample, the matter of Mia's parentage would be laid to rest.

"I, um, I'm sure, Joseph, however…" this was precisely the moment Sebastian had been dreading. It had been bad enough to hear the rather vulgar and, sometimes, downright inappropriate comments of his fellow members of parliament, it was quite another to explain to the queen he so respected exactly what those insinuations had led to. "…it appears that certain parliament members remain, ah, unconvinced that a DNA test performed in comparison to you would suffice."

For a moment, no one spoke. As the meaning of the Prime Minister's words became clear, only the Queen remained composed as several variations of indignation and outright anger appeared across the faces of all the others present.

"What?!" Mia exclaimed, momentarily forgetting that that wasn't exactly an appropriate form of enquiry for a princess.

"Surely, you aren't suggesting, that…" began Nicholas as Joseph's jaw tightened.

"No, no…" the Prime Minister quickly held up a hand, "I am not suggesting anything at all. I firmly support her Majesty and fully believe what the Princess stated yesterday. There is no doubt in my mind that Her Highness is the rightful heir to the throne, nor do I for a moment believe that, were she not, that her DNA could match anyone other than Joseph…"

If the situation hadn't been quite so serious, Nicholas might have laughed at the older man's attempt to skirt around saying exactly what he meant.

"…however, Parliament…"

"They believe I had other lovers," Clarisse finally spoke, stating clearly what Sebastian seemed unable to say.

Hanging his head a little, he nodded, "I'm afraid so, your Majesty…" sighing, he continued trying to ignore the tension raising around him, "they believe that to compare the Princess' DNA to Mr. Bonnell would serve only to prove that he was not Prince Philippe's father, however…"

Clarisse nodded, "it would not prove that the King was."

"Indeed," Sebastian nodded.

"This is preposterous!" Mia exclaimed from beside the prime minister as Nicholas placed a hand on her shoulder for support, "what do they want, then? Do they intend to check every man in the kingdom?!"

Even as her granddaughter protested parliament's decision and wondered what on earth they could possibly intend to do, the answer became quite clear to Clarisse. Taking a deep breath and hoping against hope that she was wrong, she turned to Sebastian.

Seeing the look on the Queen's face, the Prime Minister knew she had understood and, once again, wished he didn't have to be the one to deliver such news.

"Not quite, Princess. I'm afraid, the executive order not only compels you to provide a sample of your DNA, but it also demands the collection of a sample of King Rupert's DNA."

"I beg your pardon?!" Mia's head snapped to her grandmother and, as she saw the ever composed queen's head fall into one hand as she closed her eyes tightly, Mia knew she had heard right.

"I'm sorry to say that Parliament has ordered King Rupert be exhumed."

For a moment there was silence – it was as if everyone had heard the words, but no one quite believed them.

"When?" came Clarisse's surprisingly hoarse voice as she looked up from her desk, her face minimally more composed than it had been at hearing the news.

"Two days, your Majesty," Sebastian sighed, "I did try to dissuade them, however…"

"Not hard enough, apparently!" came Nicholas' angry voice as he knelt beside a visibly upset Mia and tried to sooth her.

"I'm sure you did everything you could, Sebastian," Clarisse added as if she hadn't heard Nicholas' outburst. However, despite her calm voice, Joseph could see that she was breaking inside. Regardless of their own relationship and feelings, he knew that Rupert had always been Clarisse's friend, he knew her well enough to know that she would blame herself for disturbing his grave and his peace.

"This is ridiculous," he stepped forward, "just test Princess Mia's DNA to my own," he gestured towards the younger woman, "I can assure you the result will be equally as concrete…"

"I am sure, Joseph," the Prime Minister replied sadly shaking his head, "however, parliament does not…"

"To hell, with parliament!" he growled angrily surprising everyone in the room, "do you not think that her Ma—" he stopped himself, "this family has been through quite enough without this?"

"I understand, Joseph, truly I do, but…"

"Thank you, Sebastian," Clarisse spoke from behind her desk as she stood slowly, "we appreciate you coming to us with this information so quickly and I understand that there is nothing to be done about it."

"But, grandma, surely you can override this ridiculous executive order!" Mia spoke up, "they'll just have to be content with proof that Joe is not my grandfather!"

Sighing, Clarisse shook her head sadly, before turning to Sebastian, "thank you, again." Taking that as his cue to leave, the prime minister quickly bid everyone goodbye and exited the office.

"Grandma?" Mia asked again as Clarisse retook her seat.

"I can't overrule this, Mia."

"Why not?

Signing, Clarisse was about to explain when Joseph's voice cut in, "because executive orders against the crown cannot be overturned by the crown. They can only be passed under very specific and controlled conditions, but, once passed, they cannot be overruled."

"So there is nothing to be done?" Nicholas asked as he turned from Joseph to Clarisse.

"No." Joseph answered shortly as he tightened his jaw at the sight of Clarisse. Even with everything going on between them, he could still clearly tell that, despite how outwardly composed she appeared, she was crumbling inside and, for that, he felt his hatred for parliament rise.

"But, surely, if they know that there was no one else, Grandma…"

Feeling a headache coming on, Clarisse allowed her hand to rise to her temple, "unfortunately, they don't know that, Mia. They only have my word for it and," she shook her head sadly, "that doesn't carry much weight right now…"

Suddenly, in a whirl of furious black, they all saw Joseph turn from his place by the bookcase and head for the exit, an angry whisper that sounded suspiciously like "how dare they insinuate that…" escaping his lips as he headed through the door and away from the office.

Turning back to her grandma, Mia tired once more, seemingly unable to comprehend that there was nothing any of them could do to change the decision parliament had already made, "grandma, I…"

"Mia," Clarisse's voice sounded exhausted for the first time that day, and any semblance of control or calm was gone as her posture visible changed and her hand returned to her aching forehead, "could we continue this later, I…"

Squeezing his wife's shoulder and silently indicating with his head that they should leave, Nicholas stood from his seat and, once joined my Mia, bid the Queen a soft goodbye as they followed through the door Joseph had stormed out of mere moments earlier.

For a moment, Clarisse forgot that she was not alone, as she allowed her elbows to rest on her desk and her head to fall heavily into her hands. Charlotte's soft, "your Majesty?", however, reminded her that she was never alone.

Understanding from the pained look on her queen's face that the older woman desperately needed a moment to herself, Charlotte promptly asked whether she would like some tea.

"Thank you, Charlotte," Clarisse nodded, as always, eternally thankful that her aide always seemed to know exactly what she needed, "please have it sent up to my suite. I will be up shortly."

"Of course, your Majesty," Charlotte nodded as she, too took her leave.

Finally truly alone, Clarisse could no longer contain the onslaught of emotions she'd barely been holding back in the others' presence and the tears began to flow freely as her head returned to her hands and she wondered, not for the first time, just how much worse things would have to become because of her one, stupid mistake.

TBC


I now realize that I really do seem to have it in for poor Clarisse! I promise things will get better! They really will! Anyway, I really enjoyed writing this chapter, so I hope you enjoyed reading it. As always, please let me know what you thought, and I will update again as soon as I possibly can!

Thanks,

CJS-DEPPendent