None of these characters belong to me, they belong to Meg Cabot and Disney. I know Julie Andrews isn't remarkably thin in princess diaries one, she isn't overly fat either , she's kind of built like Julie Andrews !- just imagine she is like really thin, artistic licence and all 8-). Is it just me, or did anyone notice that when Clarisse first meets Mia, she crosses her legs! P.S. Pokimon, I love writing first, homework second! Lol

As Clarisse made her way down stairs, she couldn't help but let the sense of foreboding build up in her stomach. She stopped in the deserted hallway, and standing in front of the full length mirror, looked herself over. Her black dress clung loosely off her body, making her even more aware of the fact she'd lost a lot of weight- not from my chest, she noted wryly. She had been eating again, a pizza with Joseph, ice-cream at the movies and an extremely large breakfast this morning. She had always been a bad eater, Rupert had often commented about her weight, and she had took the bate when she was younger but now she understood as an older woman that he only done it to make her insecure - he'd managed it.

"she'll be with you in a moment", Clarisse heard Charlotte say as she stepped onto the landing, grasping a first glance at her granddaughter. She swallowed, clearly taking in the similarities between her and her father. She had unruly hair, much like his and she stood awkwardly, much like he had. She was gawky looking and Clarisse knew right away she needed a lot of work, introductions first, she though. She mentally prepared herself, straightening up, adding a few centimetres to her height as she brushed a few invisible creases from her dress.

"I don't need a moment", she announced regally in a sing song voice from the middle of the stairs, " I'm here".

Mia watched as the woman she could only assume was her grandmother glided downstairs. She was elegant, so much so Mia felt a little embarrassed. Every one on the room suddenly stood up, and she couldn't do anything but go along.

"Amelia I'm so glad you could come", Clarisse smiled, walking towards the young girl.

"hi, you've a great place", Mia answered lamely, looking at the obnoxiously grand surroundings. Clarisse could not take her eyes off her, the resemblance was painfully uncanny.

" thank you," Clarisse smiled, " let me look at you". Mia obliged slipping the glasses off that veiled her face. She watched as the older woman's glittery smile turned into an almost imperceptible frown.

"you look so young", Clarisse said awkwardly, not wanting to hurt the young girl, but she realised she immediately had. It wasn't meant to come out that way, and she mentally kicked herself for her quaintness.

"and you look….", Mia said, then as Clarisse arched an eye brow, Mia felt perceptibly stupid, " clean", she finished. Clarisse frowned again, clean? She had been called, beautiful, elegant, curvy but never clean! she couldn't help but smile at Amelia's awkwardness, it was odd but charming.

"charlotte?", she said, a laugh lacing her light voice, " could you check tea in the garden?". charlotte nodded slightly and turned on her shiny black heels, making for the garden.

"please sit?", she addressed Mia and the staff, motioning to the love seat next to her. Mia sat down, clicking her teeth together and looking awkwardly around her for a moment. Clarisse sat down, and crossing her legs, rested her hand in her chin and began to study the girl closely.

"sooo….. My mum said you wanted to talk to me about something, Shoot", Mia said, sounding more than bored. Clarisse looked at her, confused for a moment, and then grasped what Amelia meant.

"ahh, before I shoot", Clarisse said, killing the slang with her perfect diction, " I have something I'd like to give you". she slid forward a little on her chair and lifted the ornate trinket box on the table and handed to Amelia.

"it's the Genovian crest, it was mine when I was a girl", Clarisse smiled, her smile seeming evidently more real. Amelia grinned, lifting the heart shaped locket from the box and dropping the heirloom roughly in the process of trying to get the necklace on.

"ah, and that was my great grandmother's", Clarisse grimaced, playing agitatedly with her hair as the box clanked off the marble flooring. Mia looked up, feeling more than stupid by this point.

"I will take good care of it", Mia lied, brandishing the box in a vice like grip.

Clarisse sighed, the child was defiantly going to be hard work. It brought back memories of another child, her child, her baby.

O0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0000o0o0o0o0o

Joseph watched as she jumped out of her seat in shock, that was defiantly the first time he'd ever heard anyone tell Clarisse to "shut up!".

"well, that went well", Clarisse moaned at Joseph as she watched the diminishing figure of her only granddaughter run out the door. Joseph smiled slightly as he stepped towards her, shaking his head.

"ah, perhaps she needs more time", he suggested.

"will you help me", she questioned agitatedly, waving her hands in the air, illustrating her already apparent annoyance.

"with what?".

"watch her!", she snapped, causing him to frown. "I'm sorry, it's just at the moment this is the last thing I need!", she said quietly, massaging her brow.

"I'm your Head of security and you want me to be a chauffer and a baby sitter?", he asked in teasing amusement.

" for the time being, yes", she said curtly, clearly not as amused as him, " the child needs protection!".

"of course I will", he said simply. She smiled apologetically, as she slumped a little.

"I'm beginning to think this wasn't such a good idea", she deflated, motioning him to walk with her. He joined her, catching up confidently with her step instead of walking his usual, secure, three steps behind.

"I don't know her, but if she's anything like her father, or her grand mother for that matter………", he smiled reassuringly. She smiled a watery smile, amused at his kindness.

"I had a wonderful time yesterday evening", she said quietly, looking for a lighter subject, making sure she was out of ear shot of the people in the garden. She smiled lovingly at him, suddenly showing a part of his wonderful Clarisse.

"I'm glad you did, as did I", he answered more interested in what she had to say than what he had to answer. She looked radiant as the late evening sun turned into zingy orange behind her. Her eyes sparkled at him as her perfect mouth curled into a delicate smile.

"you're smiling", Joseph whispered, emotion clinging to his gravely voice.

"I know, and it feels good".

Hope you liked this one, it was boring to write because we all know what happened in this part but it was necessary.

Please R&R and thanks for all your touching reviews for the last chap.

Yours,

M