None of these characters belong to me they belong to Disney and Meg Cabot. Please enjoy. Neither dose Armani. sorry Pokimon, Miguel was brought up by Joe and as much as he might be nasty, he's not going to land one on her, though the other fight was for your benefit! lol.

Joseph walked into the sitting room to find his wife already there.

"morning", he laughed kissing her on the forehead.

"I'm going up to help Antonio again, marina was wondering if you wanted to go shopping?", he suggested.

"No", she laughed slyly, " I'm far too exhausted from our exploits last night".

"Clarisse!", he reprimanded, " so you're not coming then?"

She shook her head, she planned to visit Miguel, " no I think I'll just laze about the pool".

"ok, are you sure?", he said standing up. She nodded as he dropped a gentle kiss to her fore head.

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Clarisse knocked the door with a shaky hand, what on earth was she doing? The door latched open. She smiled at Miguel, he just sneered.

"what are you doing here, I didn't think queen's visited these type of houses", he sniggered.

"actually", she said coldly, " I'd like to speak with you". he looked her over, she was elegant and so well spoken. Everything about her screamed stuck -up.

"fine", he said opening the door wider and motioning her in. she walked in briskly.

"kitchen's in there", he motioned with his head towards the room at the end of the hall.

She sat down at the table, drumming her fingers on the surface. She felt terribly nervous, she certainly could not control this situation. She'd made a t terrible mistake.

"drink?", he asked, " tea, water, cyanide", he muttered. She glared at him, and decided to let his comment go over her head.

"no thank you," she said flatly.

"so…?", he questioned, sitting directly across from her. She was wasting his time as far as he was concerned.

She decided to go straight to the subject instead of dancing about it.

" you did not hurt me", she stated pointedly, then continued, " but you hurt your brother, my husband. The once in his life he has been happy and yet you can't be glad, why?", she sat back waiting on his response. He looked at her, silently for a moment. She was straight forward, he decided to tell her why.

"I'm not Joe's brother", he said, his voice laced with a little emotion. She nodded, Josephs mother had taken him in when he was a baby- Joseph had told her.

"he left when I was seven, he was like a father to me. He went away as Joe and came back in his flash car, his Armani suits and a completely different person. He came back full of his new life-full of the monarchy and full of your influence", he looked up. Nodding in understanding, she willed him to continue;

"he left me and I missed him real bad. I persisted with it but I was jealous of the life he was leading. Then…then we all tuned into watch the wedding of your princess and he's sauntering up the aisle with none other than you. I was so angry, he'd married someone that everyone said was the " Ice-queen". I was so angry, we weren't even there", he paused finding it hard to admit, " I was jealous because he'd left me to make something of himself".

She suddenly felt terrible for him and wanted to make him better. She was never usually like this but he meant so much to Joseph, she had to try.

"do you think I'm comfortable in myself?", she questioned. He paused, trying to understand what she meant.

"well yeah, you've got everything you want. You're cocky and full of yourself. You're well dressed, you look down on everyone, you think you're better than us". his words didn't hurt, she'd heard them all before.

"yes, appearances can be deceiving. I walk into rooms and I'm scrutinized by every single person, I can't ever feel emotion, I work endlessly. Joseph is my only salvation. And please be clear on the fact that I do not think I am better than any of you, especially not Joseph.". He suddenly felt a surge of respect for the woman in front of him. Yes she was prim and proper but suddenly he felt as if she was on his level and he began to feel bad.

"I'm sorry", he muttered hanging his head.

She laughed and continued;

"do not worry I've been called worse than a stuck-up bitch before". his head shot up, it sounded so foreign in such a well-spoken person.

"being queen is not all it's cracked up to be, I was betrothed to the prince a day before my sixth birthday. It was drilled into me to be a queen and I am not going to apologise for the way I am, Joseph taught me to stop doing that. Just like he tried to teach you. I am the way I am, as is Joseph and he will never stop loving me… or you". she said in a business like tone, " he never stopped missing you but yes of course he changed to suit his environment-my environment. I'm not always like this, I can be very cold and harsh but Joseph is the only person I've ever really know who makes me feel as if I can be me. You do not know me so don't cast judgement, you never took time to know me you just assumed like everyone else." He was staring at her now, listening to her every word and feeling more guilty as she uttered every one.

"and yes I know I can be a, if you'll excuse me " stuck - up bitch" but I'm not really that way, I wouldn't be here if I was one. I'm not doing this for your benefit, I'm doing it for you… and Joseph", she finished and looked him straight in the eye, staring him down. He looked back at her, feeling terrible.

"Do you understand?", she asked, hoping to god he would. What if he didn't. the pain on Joseph's face flashed in her memory, she willed it away.

"I didn't mean to hurt him, I just wanted to be him and I felt as if he'd left me behind… for you", he mumbled, " I didn't want to hurt him. I'm sorry". she wasn't sure what she was doing, she reached across the table for his hand on sheer impulse and gripped it. He looked up a little shocked and then smiled sheepishly.

"thank you", she smiled, " but-" she faltered, unsure how to approach this, " but you should apologise to him". he was silent for what seemed like eternity. She scolded herself for being to pushy. She could really have kicked herself at that point.

"I will but in my own time, I'm a little ashamed", he offered, his head hung low. She let out a relieved breath and smiled.

"of course", she said standing up, " and Miguel", again his head shot up-she'd used his name.

"you can still get out of here. There's a job in security needed at the palace, please be aware I'm not offering you out of sympathy. I actually think if you curtailed you temper, you'd have a lot of Joseph's qualities", she said, resting a thoughtful hand on his arm. He smiled hopefully, suddenly realising what she'd said-he was like Joseph.

"thank you, I'll think about it", he said, genuinely.

"no, thank you. I'd love to stay for that cyanide but I must be off", she laughed making for the door. His face immediately turned bright red. He walked her too the door and she stepped into the sun.

"again, I'm sorry Cl-", but he stopped, not sure how to address her. She shook her head and looked him in they eye.

"It's Clarisse Miguel, Clarisse", she smiled and turned on

her heels, feeling very proud of herself.

He watched her walk down the street, feeling very ashamed. She been so damn forgiving, so diplomatic and he'd been a complete ass! At least she's got a sense of humour, he thought wryly as he closed the door.

Did you like? Please say you did,

Yours,

M