None of these characters belong to me, they belong to Meg Cabot and Disney. ENJOY! And thanks for all the wonderful reviews ! Ferrari does not belong to me.

Joseph pushed his way through the small crowd huddled at the top of the cliff , hoping to god no one knew who occupied the Ferrari. it was lying overturned on the steep embankment, glass lay strewn on the rain soaked road. Ambulances, police and firemen where everywhere. The rain poured down, soaking Joseph as he flashed his badge at the policeman who nodded mutely, lifting up the police tape for him.

A man walked towards him. He was burly looking, with a thick neck and yellowy skin. Joseph recognised him immediately as the chief of police.

"Martin?", he said urgently, " how is he?". martin looked down at the road and shook his head sadly.

"we won't be able to save him, Joseph…….. he's going to die", Martin whispered. Joseph took in a sharp breath, feeling dizzy.

"can I see him?", Joe choked, motioning towards the car wreck on the embankment. Martin looked at him for a moment.

"it's bad Joe. His body guard was thrown out of the car as it plummeted, it's not an attractive sight", he warned.

"I don't care", Joe said flatly, knowing he needed to speak to Philippe.

"does the queen know?", Martin questioned, looking Joe in the eye. Joseph shook his head silently, willing the tears to go away.

"here", martin said, handing him a harness, " tell him what he needs to know", he added knowingly.

O0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

When Joseph reached the bottom, he couldn't help but cringe at the sight. Blood surrounded the upturned car and the rocks piled on top of it. As he climbed under the wreck, blood covered his hands and face, making him feel sick. Philippe was lying upside down, head hanging back, blood covering his face, his hand and trickling from the corner of his mouth. He turned his head slightly when he heard Joseph clawing at the soggy dirt to pull himself forward.

"Philippe", he chocked as he reached the young man.

"Joe?", he questioned weekly, straining his blood veiled eyes, " Joe". Philippe smiled sadly, already knowing his own fate. Joe smiled reassuringly at him and reaching into the shattered window, groped for his hands. Philippe's eyes fluttered closed, the graceful smile still playing at his face.

"stay with me", Joseph urged, squeezing his hand a little tighter. Philippe forced his eyes open.

"good, my boy", Joseph smiled, cringing as the car shuddered and philippe cried in pain.

"tell Mama I'm sorry and I love her", he whispered, trying to move himself into a more comfortable position. Joseph nodded, too afraid that if he spoke he'd make it worse.

"promise me you'll look after her Joe, promise me", Philippe begged, squeezing Joe's hand with all the strength he could muster, " and I don't want her to see me like this, please tell me she doesn't know".

"she doesn't, I only got the phone call 10 minutes ago", Joseph tried, choking on his words again.

"come on Joe", Philippe smiled, " the man that taught me how to be a man never cried". Joseph laughed faintly.

"and Mia, make sure Mia knows who she is", Philippe said weakly, his voice becoming raspy. Joseph gripped his hand tighter, knowing that this was his last few minutes.

"I don't want to die, it's such a lonely thing to do", Philippe croaked, his breath catching in his chest.

"don't worry, I'm with you", Joseph whispered, pulling himself nearer the young prince.

"thank you, Joseph", he coughed slowly, " make sure you stay". his breath rattled in his throat, as his eyes rolled back into his head and closed.

"please", Joseph begged, " don't Philippe". tears streamed down his dust covered face. He couldn't remember ever feeling like this, or crying like this. He had lost the only close thing he'd ever had to a son. Another type of fear was coursing through him, he'd have to tell her and god he hoped no one had told her first.

Rubbing his face ferociously, he squeezed out and Jumped to his feet, leaving the prince behind- his main concern that he was the one to tell her. He clambered back up the embankment, slipping on the mud as it coated his hands thickly. The rain was pouring now, the sky looking treacherously dark as lightning slithered through the black clouds.

Martin greeted him at the top. Joseph shook his head slowly as martin looked at him questioningly. Joseph motioned towards his security team waiting impatiently at the cars.

"my men will deal with this, I need to return to the palace", he said in a monotone voice, " make sure no press get in, is that clear?". Martin nodded sadly as Joseph turned his back on him and headed towards the car parked on the edge of the embankment.

O0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

Clarisse looked out of the windows as the rain splattered off the glass, making for a pretty miserable day. She had ensconced herself in her office and was surprised when charlotte hadn't turned up after lunch with her afternoon schedule. To be truthful, she was tired and partially glad that charlotte had cleared her hectic diary - or so she thought.

She picked up her book from her bed side table and kicking off her shoes, curled up on the window seat and began to read.

She'd lost track of time when she was interrupted by a knock at the door. Sighing, she put down her book and made her way to the door.

" Jesus, Joseph!", she exclaimed, a puzzled expression playing at her face. He looked terrible. His hands were covered in dirt and blood and he was soaking through. He was shaking and his face was blanketed in grief as he pushed past her, into the room.

"Clarisse……… I'm so sorry", he whispered before she could even speak, " Philippe, he was in an accident". Clarisse clapped her hands to her mouth, covering the small scream that escaped her lips.

"he's gone Clarisse, he's gone", Joseph cried, sitting down and burying his head in his hands as tears streamed down his face. He didn't know how to tell her, but he had to and he'd done it. He felt sick, his stomach constantly churning.

"no", she choked, kneeling down next to him, " there must be some mistake - he couldn't……..". Joseph looked her in the eye, and gripping the side of her face with his hands, touched their foreheads together.

"god Clarisse, I'm so sorry" , he whispered.

"No!", she screamed, " No, he can't be. Please Joseph not my baby, not my little boy! I can't - no Joseph, please tell me it's not true"

"Clarisse, please he died peacefully, I was with him", he begged, " he wanted you to know he loved you and Mia, he wants Mia to know".

"why didn't you tell me?", she questioned weekly, the tears now tricking down her raw face.

"Clarisse, I found out 20 minutes ago…… and philippe didn't want you to see him like that. Please believe me Clarisse, it's better off you didn't", Joseph answered.

"I believe you", she said throatily, as she clung to his shirt, " oh Joseph……. my little boy", she cried suddenly. His harsh words registering and hitting her with ferocious force.

She could smell the blood as she clung to him as if he was a lifeline - she wasn't sure if this was real or if she could take anymore. Violent sobs now racked through her body and all she wanted was to shut the world out.

I was crying writing this!

Please R&R.

Yours,

M