I only have one chapter after this, and then I need to start writing, a lot! Please Review.

Chapter 7: Stealing Kisses

It had been almost a week since Amelia had arrived at the palace. Things were slowly getting back to normal. Amazingly enough, the little swearing controversy was almost over. Thanks to a little controversial movie by a certain hotel heiress, the media had pretty much forgotten about Mia.

Clarrise had managed to settle into routine. If there was anything that made her feel safe, it was routine. Knowing what was going on and when, were her greatest comforts. She could remember at time when it hadn't been like that.

When she had first been married, she had hated the protocol, and the order. She had wanted to be spontaneous. Wasn't that what married couples were supposed to do. To lie in bed until noon just holding hands, to stay up all night talking. To go on walks, and picnics. Obviously royal couples didn't. Rupert was always up at exactly six, and in bed by ten or eleven. Any walks and picnics had to be scheduled in days before. And a huge entourage had to come with them. Often a camera crew was present. It was all about publicity.

When Rupert had died, she had realized this was her chance to be spontaneous. She would soon be only the Queen-Mother. But lying in bed until noon by yourself is not particularly fun. And you can't stay up talking if there was no one to talk to. Sometimes she had gone on walks with her sons. But Pierre was so serious, always wanting to discuss religion and philosophy. Phillipe on the other hand became to busy.

She had put all those things aside the news that Phillipe's college sweetheart was pregnant. That was about eighteen years ago. At first she had insisted that is couldn't be his. This was probably someone else's baby. After all Phillipe would never have slept with a girl. But slowly she began to realize that times had changed, and Phillipe had indeed slept with this girl. And this girl was now pregnant.

She would never admit this to Mia, but the day of the little girls birth had been the saddest one ever. Phillipe had flown to the states, to be there, and to discuss what was going to happen. Neither was willing to give up their future's to join the other.

Clarrise was awakened from her daydream when Mia burst into her sitting room, breathing heavily. She looked excited over something.

"Guess what?"

"Amelia, slow down, a Princess must never gasp." Mia took a second to regain her breath, jumping from foot to foot. "Tell me, Mia, all this anticipation is tiring me out."

"Lily and Micheal can come in a week, isn't that great?"

"Lily and Micheal? Amelia you needed to discuss this with me first, we have so much to do..."

"But I did ask, the very first day I got here, and you said fine."

"When, I don't remember this?"

"When we had our little talk."

"Amelia I was preoccupied. Besides, if that boy is here, you'll have no time for anything else."

"He has a name."

"I realize he had a name, and I also realize that you are much to young to have a beau."

"Grandma, You were married when you were my age."

"Times have changed, and besides I was married, not just philandering with some boy."

"He isn't some boy-"

"I hate to interrupt you but he is some boy. Amelia you must think of your future, in a very short time you will be Queen, and you will need to find a husband. A queen can not marry just any man. He needs to be Prince material."

"How can you lecture me about Micheal, when you have Joe?"

"I have what?"

"Joe! Don't pretend you don't. Everyone knows you and Joe have something going on."

"Mia, Joseph is nothing to me but a very good friend. And besides even if there was something going on with Joe, which there isn't, Joseph would have made a much more suitable consort than your American Boy."

"What do you mean?"

"Well for starters the spouse of the monarch must give up any citizenship they hold in various countries for a Genovian citizenship, they must be willing to give up there life for yours. They cannot participate in any dangerous sports until an heir is born. They cannot argue with you in public. They cannot sit before you are seated. They cannot do anything without your approval. Is Micheal willing to do all this for you?"

"Grandma, I'm only 18 it's not like I'm going to marry the first guy I kiss!"

"Mia you need to be careful, we don't want anymore ... well accidents on our hands."

"Accidents? Is that what I am? And accident! Just because my mother wasn't willing to give up her life for this, I'm an accident?"

"No Mia, that isn't at all what I meant."

"Whatever." And with that Mia stormed out of the room. Clarrise shook her head sadly. Mia had gotten it all wrong.

"Come out." She motioned to where she knew Joseph was concealed. "That girl is going to be my death!" Joseph said nothing. "Well say something, I know you want to..."

"We are good friends?"

"Yes of course. Don't you want to be friends?" Clarrise was perplexed, she had exceptected some lecture on how she needed to loosen up on Mia. She turned around on the couch to face Joe.

"No your majesty, and I don't think you want to be just good friends either." He moved towards her, cautiously. And suddenly she knew what was coming. Before she could stop herself, she reached out and grabbed his hand, pulling him closer. He took his own sweet time, but she couldn't wait. With her free hand she reached up and brought his head down to hers. Their lips brushed lightly at first, and then he leaned in further, deepening the kiss.

It was an awkward position him leaning over the couch, with his band knee, her kneeling on it. But to them it didn't matter. Because for the first time in their lives, this was what they both really wanted.

Hopefully you didn't think that was too dramatic, or that it had too much dialogue, but tell me if you did!