"Grandma, the palace is awesome. And this food is great."
"Well I'm glad you like everything." Clarisse was very delighted her granddaughter liked Genovia and the palace. "Mia I'm glad you're here."
"Thank you Grandma." Mia looked at the clock "it's getting late, so I think I'll say goodnight. Charlotte said I have a meeting with you in the morning, so I wanna be ready for it. Plus I didn't get much sleep last night at Lilly's."
She got up and walked over to Clarisse. "Goodnight darling." "Goodnight Grandma, see ya in the morning." She gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek then left for bed.
Charlotte entered after seeing Mia. "Do you need anything Your Majesty?"
"No, I'm fine Charlotte. I'm going to turn in for the night like Mia."
"Okay. Goodnight then."
"Goodnight." She gave her assistant a smile and then both went their separate ways.
The hallways were as usual, a guard here and there, which was about it. She got into her bedroom and changed for bed. She returned from the bathroom and noticed a note on her pillow. It was addressed 'My Love'. She hopped into bed and opened the note.
Clarisse, you seem so happy now that you are back and Mia is here. I love seeing you when you are happy; your eyes light up so beautifully. Your smile takes my breath away. Have a wonderful nights sleep. I love you. Joseph.
She looked at the letter, "how did I ever deserve a man like you?" She knew she couldn't go see him right now, it was too late and she needed to rest for tomorrow. She fell asleep holding the note in her hand on her chest next to her heart, and with a smile on her face.
"Grandma, Grandma? Wake up" Mia saw Clarisse's eyes open slightly and so she jumped on the bed next to her. Clarisse still had her note in her hand. Mia did not notice so Clarisse slipped it under her pillow.
"Good morning sleepy head. I brought breakfast up."
Mia was way too excited for this early in the morning. Clarisse looked at the clock before she woke; it read 6:30 am.
"Mia I didn't think you were a morning person."
"Oh, I'm not, normally. But today I am because I wanted to spend time with you before we got too busy."
"Well all right, sounds good to me. What's for breakfast?"
"We have tea, muffins, pancakes, and fruit."
They ate breakfast, and soon an hour had past. They were laughing so hard they did not hear Charlotte come in. Charlotte cleared her throat and the two finally noticed her.
"Your Majesties, your meeting has been changed to nine o' clock. The Parliament sends their apologies for the late notice. And Joe has a meeting with the security, when he is done with that, he'll accompany you two to the interview with Ms. Sanchez."
"Okay, thank you Charlotte. Come on Mia, we don't have that much time to get ready now."
Charlotte and Mia left and everyone got ready. Clarisse was ready and headed for her door to leave. She was about to open her door when she saw a note attached to it. All it said was 'I love you'. She put the note in her pocket and left with a smile, thinking of Joseph.
Clarisse met Mia right in front of the door where the meeting was going to take place.
"Now Mia this meeting is very important and also" in a whisper, "very boring." Mia giggled. They went in for the meeting and then came out an hour and a half later.
"Grandma you were right, that was really, really boring."
"I know, but don't worry; the interview will be more eventful. Ms. Sanchez is a very interesting woman."
Joe entered the library and found the two of them in a whispered discussion.
"And what are you two ladies talking about?"
They were startled by his voice, especially Clarisse. She was telling Mia about Joe's little notes.
"Oh hello Joseph, is everything ready to go?"
"Yes, right this way."
They all got to the limo and then Joe opened the door for them. Mia slid in and then Joe helped Clarisse get in after her. Joe slipped another note in her pocket without her knowing.
"Now Mia, I must warn you, there will be many questions about you being so young and American and I want you to make sure you are aware of your answers."
"Okay. Yeah I know what you mean. I am going to be very careful. The press and I are not the 'best of friends'" remembering the beach incident.
The interview went better than expected. They got back to the palace with Charlotte ready to take Mia again to explore more of the palace. "See you at dinner Grandma" and with that she was off with Charlotte.
Joseph caught Clarisse's arm before she left for her office. "If you get bored with work, you should look in your pocket." Then he left before she could ask what he was talking about. She went into her office and started working.
Clarisse finished all her paperwork for the day and was happy that she could keep her mind occupied for a little bit. But now her thoughts drifted back to Joe. Then she remembered he had said something about being bored and looking in her pocket. Therefore, she stuck her hands in her pockets and found a note. 'How does he do that?' She opened it.
My Sweet, if you are bored you should go visit Elizabeth, she has a surprise for you. Joseph.
Clarisse decided to go since she didn't have anything else to do.
Joe saw Clarisse take out the note, so he went towards the stables to Elizabeth. He got there before Clarisse got outside, so he was not seen.
Clarisse walked back to the stables and found Elizabeth. "So Elizabeth, I hear you have a surprise for me. Where did you hide it?"
Just as she finished her question, Joe jumped out of hiding behind her and tickled her sides. She jumped and turned quickly around ready to shout and scream at whoever touched her, but Joe covered her lips too quickly with his. Clarisse gasped.
"Joseph you scared m-"
"Shh" he put a finger on her lips, "were you surprised?" Then he kissed her once more. "You look so adorable when you're angry." Joe had a huge smile on his face that she just could not visit. Her serious face was replaced with a smiling one. Then they both were laughing. He opened his arms and she fell into them. She felt so safe right there.
Joe looked at her, "You know it's funny."
"What?"
"You fit perfectly in my arms. I first noticed that when we were looking out over the garden at the consulate."
She didn't say anything, just smiled and kissed him. As she kissed him, a new feeling came over her. She had butterflies in her stomach and wanted nothing more than for Joe to return and deepen the kiss. And he did. Clarisse was completely lost in his touch. She had never felt this much emotion before in her life. Somewhere in the back of her mind she knew they should not be doing this out there in the open, but she could not and would not stop.
Elizabeth made a loud noise and brought the couple back to reality. The two jumped but still stayed close to each other. Clarisse giggled.
"I love you Joseph."
"I love you too. I love your beautiful eyes, the way I can get lost in them for hours. I love your perfect lips and your amazing smile. And the way you blush every time I give you a compliment." He noted as her cheeks reddened.
"Oh Joseph" and she kissed him once more. "I loved all the little notes."
They both smiled and just stood there holding each other's gaze.
They did not notice the reason Elizabeth made a noise was that she saw Charlotte come toward the stables. She walked through the doors and saw the couple looking at one another in each other's arms.
"Your Majesty-oh I'm sorry I didn't mean to-" Clarisse cut her off.
"Its okay Charlotte, what were you going to say?"
"Princess Mia would like to speak with you."
"All right, thank you Charlotte." And with that she was gone. Charlotte looked at Joe as he watched Clarisse walk away. Once she was out of sight, he looked back at Charlotte who had a smile on her face.
"Charlotte may I inquire as to the reason for your smile?"
"It's just-you and her-its-I'm really happy for the both of you."
Joe laughed and Charlotte continued, "I mean it, she always has a smile on her face, even more than before. She and I have gotten closer, which I really like. It's just wonderful."
"Yes, it is. I still think I'm dreaming sometimes."
They shared a smile and then headed back inside.
Clarisse found Mia waiting for her in the library.
"You wanted to speak with me Mia? Is everything all right?"
"Yeah, everything is fine. I just wanted to talk."
"Oh okay then. I am finished with my paperwork today, what would you like to talk about? I have the rest if the day for you now."
"I wanna talk about you."
"Me? I don't understand?"
"While I was going through the palace I noticed little things about you. Like you love flowers and the garden. And I wanted to know I if inherited anything from you."
"That might be hard, I don't have many quirks."
"I'm sure I'll find something."
Mia and Clarisse talked all afternoon and evening, and still, Mia could not find anything she had in common with her grandmother. Nevertheless, she would not give up 'til she found something.
"Mia I need to tell you something, it's nothing bad so you can stop looking so worried" noticing the look on her granddaughters face, "Next week on the 27th, Joseph and I are meeting with the Lord Bishop so he can marry us in secrecy."
"Oh that's so cool! Are you going to wear a wedding dress? Is anybody coming? Are there going to be flowers? Did you write your own vows? Or are they going to be traditional? Are-?"
"Mia wow, that's a lot of questions? I will be wearing a dress, but not a big fancy one, just a nice simple one. The only people that are going to be there are you and Charlotte. We need witnesses. Plus we wanted you both to be there already, so it works out perfect. There is going to be nothing big. However, I need to ask you something Mia. Charlotte and I have gotten rather close these past few weeks and I want her to be my made-of-honor. Is that all right with you?"
"That's wonderful. Grandma you do not need my permission for that, besides I was thinking the same thing. I mean you two know each other better, I just want to sit back and watch. Ooh maybe I could be Joe's best man, or best woman." Clarisse laughed.
"So when are going to ask Charlotte?"
"Tomorrow morning. It is a bit late right now…. And don't worry, you'll find something we have in common." Mia hugged Clarisse and left for her own room for bed.