Sorry, I didn't thank everyone for there wonderful reviews in my last chap. So thanks! None of these characters belong to me, they belong to Meg Cabot and Disney. I love Clarisse and Joe, they're so cute. Hope you enjoy and TierraL, this is gonna have the dress! Note: thought in italics. Ps. I don't know anything about unclaimed packages and security so I just made it up. Neither does "Armani", or "Gucci" belong to me.

Joseph made his way downstairs. He was wearing a tux, damn he hated them! And now every single persons eyes would be fixedon him and usually his eyes were fixed on Clarisse. She had sent him downstairs to check over security with shades or more like to get rid of him so she could get ready. He had offered to help her, she wouldn't let him. Damn! He walked into the security room and startled Lionel who was quite transfixed on the monitor, pretending to be working more like.

"Lionel, you're supposed to be in the ballroom", he hissed at the young man.

God, he's scary, thought Lionel. how the queen could find him attractive he wasn't sure but he was jealous all the same. They were so in love and it kind of made him annoyed, he was much younger and much better looking, or at least he thought he was.

"y -y-yes Joe", he nodded and scurried out of the room.

Joe looked over all the perimeters for any suspicious looking characters, checked all the ear-pieces and made sure all the security measures were being used properly. It wasn't that he didn't trust Shades, quite the opposite but he liked everything to be known to him, lifetime hobby. He sighed and let his thoughts wander to Clarisse. God! He had always been so aware of how secure and safe she was but it wasn't just obligation, it was because it was her. He had always been close to her, dangerously close and feared for her, he still did and that was why he was standing in the security room checking over fool proof plans he had designed over again; it was because he loved her and he needed her just like oxygen.

Clarisse swiped her trademark line of liquid eye-liner over her eyelid, every single woman in Genovia copied it at one point or another and she had become used to people wanting to be here. She hardly even noticed now. Olivia came into the room, clutching a silk cushion with one of Clarisse's many tiara's on it. She might be former queen but she was still a major royal and it was obligation. She sighed, everything was obligation. She liked this one though, it was the same as the one she had worn in San-Francisco and it was not as heavy as the others, not as much of a reminder as to who she was. Clarisse took it from her and fixed it in place, it sat perfectly, she had years of practice behind her, unlike Mia who came bursting into the room at that moment.

"ok, I seriously need help with this stupid tiara!", she exclaimed.

"come here, darling", laughed Clarisse, motioning with her hand.

"yeah, you can laugh. You look great!", she said, sitting down at Clarisse's dressing table and thrusting the tiara at her grandmother.

"erm, thank you Amelia", laughed Clarisse "you'll get used to it, my dear. Here, tip your head back", she commanded. Amelia done as she was told and looked into the mirror afterwards.

"grandma, it looks wonderful! Thanks", she smiled, it really was cool how quickly her grandmother had done that after she had been trying for the last 20 minutes.

"just tip you head back, it makes it a lot easier", Clarisse said as Mia stood up.

"thanks Grandma."

"no trouble at all, comes with years of practice," she smiled as Mia ran out of the door, tripped over Maurice and groaned. Nothing was ever easy with her Mia but then again that was something they shared, nothing ever went smoothly for Clarisse either.

Clarisse decided it was time for her dress, it was 6.30 after all and she wanted to see Joseph before guests started to arrive. She walked into her closet and Olivia slipped it on. It was truly stunning on her. She had a pretty good figure for her age and a very slim waist, so it looked amazing on her or so Joseph had commented a good few times. Olivia zipped it up at the back and Clarisse smoothed it out. She walked away from the closet and over to the her dressing room, opening a drawer in her dresser, revealing an array of lipstick. One for every day of the year or more. She fished about for a moment and pulled out her favourite red one and applied it to her lips. Now she was ready to face the music. Olivia handed her white evening gloves. She pulled them on pausing for a moment to look at her wedding ring and smiled to herself- she didn't really want to hide it but there was no way of showing it. She stood in from of the full length mirror, scrutinising herself. Unusually, she felt really good in this dress and she knew Joseph wouldn't think it was too bad either. She laughed a little, prompting a strange look from Olivia.

"mm, sorry Olivia. I was just thinking. There's something missing, isn't there," then It came to her. " jewellery, that's it", she had failed to notice she hadn't put a necklace, earrings or bracelet on.

"ahh, I suppose I'll have to pick something," she said walking toward a large cabinet where she kept her jewellery and was about to open one of the drawers when she noticed a black leather case lying on top of the cabinet. She picked it up and examined it.

"do you know what this is, Olivia?", she questioned.

"no, your Majesty," lied Olivia, with a smile.

"you're not a very good liar, Olivia", she said smiling " and I can imagine who this is from. Joseph?", she smiled opening the case. She smiled gently, it contained a beautiful 2 strand diamond chocker, matching earrings and bracelet. She lifted them out and asked Olivia to put them on while she read the note.

Dear Clarisse,

Lovely, don't you think? I thought they'd go well with whatever you wear but I'm sure, just like the dress, they'd look even nicer on our bedside cabinet.

All my love,

Your exclusive "cad",

Joseph x x

She laughed, very amused. She admired the chocker and fingered it idly, he was right, they were quite lovely. She wondered if he'd found her gift yet, she had given it to Shades and he would make it seem quite believable. She smiled cheekily and scrutinized her appearance once more, straightened up and made for the door to go and get Amelia.

Joseph had been sitting in the security room for the last 10 minutes when Shades burst in.

"Joe, Joe! I just found this package", he said, voice shaking. I'm a really good actor, he thought to himself. He thrust it in Josephs face.

" Give It to me" , said Joe taking it carefully with a worried look. It didn't look much like a bomb or anything but Just to be sure Joe put it through the scanner, It came up " all-clear".

"well it's not a bomb shades, I don't know what it is. I'll just open it," he said starting to gently rip the black paper open.

"no, Joe I -", but Joe cut him off.

"it's fine shades, I've done years of training on this stuff. We're fine, trust me", shades was dying to laugh. He was under strict orders from Clarisse to keep this going for as long as possible and he was enjoying every moment.

Joe was really baffled. As he undid the paper a note fell out. He picked it up from the floor as shades watched him intently, the game was up.

He read, laughing and wanting to kill her at the same time.

My dear Joseph,

Got you! Hope you like them! Never change to please me, I still like your leather jacket.

All my love,

Clarisse.

He now unravelled the paper quicker, and pulled out a leather Armani jacket, a pair of Gucci shades and a little box with a silver hoop earring . he was now really laughing and turned to Shades;

"did you know about this?", he said, trying to catch air.

"yeah, I was under strict orders from Clarisse to make sure you got really worried", laughed shades.

"yeah, she's really in for it. God! I can't believe it! I was so worried, I'll kill her!", he said trying to recompose himself, " I better go and put these upstairs and try and find her." he jumped up and left to go find her, she was in for it this time.

He returned to the suete, she wasn't there so he made his way down to the ballroom, putting his earring in while he walked. He had stopped wearing an earring lately, he thought it was sort of inappropriate but to be honest, he missed it and it seemed Clarisse did too. he was stopped dead by the sight of her gliding down the stairs in that dress.

God! She looked amazing! His eyes measured every inch of her with extreme happiness, she was his. The dress moved beautifully when she walked and the jewellery he had bought went perfectly with it. She looked amazing. He waited till she reached the bottom of the stairs and he offered his hand, a cocky smile on his face.

"I'd say you look nice but I'd be lying", he said studying her face intently.

"what?", she said, a little deflated.

"you're not just nice, you're beautiful", he said, laughing a little and spinning her round pulled her close to him.

"I see you found my present", he said, indicating to the chocker.

"mm, yes and I see you got mine", she said triumphantly " did it shock you?" she questioned raising her eyebrow.

"yes, it did, I was afraid for a second. I put it in again", he added tugging on his earring.

"yes, I missed it. It made you different and very attractive", she said with a flirty smile.

"you look quite beautiful, you know. Very, do forgive me, sexy," he said, waiting for a reaction.

"Joseph!", she blushed terribly.

"what, I'm only telling the truth, sweetie. Shame it doesn't show off your wonderful legs."

"thank you, but you better behave yourself and you better dance with me."

"my darling I can assure you, no other man will have the chance to dance with you. Is that clear, your majesty? It's for security purposes, of course."

"Joe", she whispered slyly " you cannot use that excuse anymore and anyways you don't have to, I'll quite gladly spend the rest of the night with you."

"it worked for years, but," he replied, tightening his grip on her waist.

"I know. Now stand up straight and let go of my waist. The guests have started to arrive."

"yes you majesty!", he mocked and saluted her.

"oh shut up."

"ok, dearest but one thing; if Lionel asks to dance say no, after all that is how we ended up here", that comment earned him a rich laugh and a slap on the arm before he had to greet the people who made his wife's life hell the years befoer he saved her.

it was long but cool. please R&R. hope you liked.

yours,

m.