None of these characters belong to me, they belong to Meg Cabot and Disney. Don't worry, I'm not going to end and I wasn't getting bored, I just though it maybe seemed like an ending, Lol and wondered if it'd be any good. Artistic licence with age.

NOTE I changed the time scale of the movies, so Mia gets found out at school the same day as the baker beach bash.

As she stood in front of him, shivering and soaked through he felt immense relief fire through him. Her eyes were empty but begging all the same, he said nothing - he just took her in his arms.

"you shouldn't do that to me", he sighed, trying to pull her inside from the rain.

"I know", she whispered, holding onto him tightly.

"tell me what's wrong", he almost demanded, but softly.

"everything's wrong", she said desperately, her eyes coming slightly to life, " I miss Philippe, I can't bring myself to know Mia and I'm still scared he's going to walk in the door and hurt me!"

"he can't hurt you anymore", Joseph implored harshly, his emotion showing clearly.

"I know, I know", she whined, " but I still get scared Joseph, I'm so afraid".

"why?", he tried again, frustration clearly illustrated on his usually calm face. He'd never felt so frustrated in all his life, god! If he could just figure out.

"because", she continued, " I don't know how to explain it. All of this is so new, him not being here to hurt me, Philippe being dead, trying to get to know Mia - it's not what I'm used to! Can't you see that? I've never been so out of it, so out of control!" she was shivering uncontrollably as she stood in front of him, gripping him like dear life.

"come on", he sighed, pulling her in the door. He was glad for the mercifully deserted consulate. Everyone was busy doing other things, leaving him with the slight hope he might be able to get her up stairs and into her chambers without being noticed.

O0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

He waited quietly on the edge of her bed as she showered, wringing his hands together. He stood up, trying to release some of the stressful energy that was pent up in him and paced the dull room. It was dark outside now, and he knew the young princess would be having fun at the beach. God was he glad he'd given in and decided not to drive her, now he could help the one lady that mattered to him most. He could hear the old plumbing draining her bath water away, reassuring him that she'd be out soon.

He breathed again as she stepped out of the bathroom. Her silk pyjamas were hanging off her, unusually so. Her face was tired and blank, and she seemed not to register his presence as she entered. She smiled a little though as she stood at her dresser, registering his presence over her shoulder as she rubbed on her face cream.

"will you speak?", he questioned wearily, eying her reflection in the mirror. She looked at him for a long moment, and for once in their entire relationship Joseph could not read what she was feeling. She didn't answer but turned her attention back to the mirror, her face looking painful and disorientated.

She finished what she was doing as he sat patiently, waiting for some sort of coherent explanation. She slowly placed the tube on her dresser and taking her silk wrap from her chair and pulling it tightly around herself, came to kneel in front of him.

"I'm adjusting", she whispered, taking his hands and massaging them gently. She seemed to be returning, if only a little to what he would call the self-assured Clarisse.

"adjusting?", he questioned, squeezing her hand a little. She nodded mutely, and looked at him her eyes screwing up in adorable concentration.

"yes", she answered slowly, " yes I'm adjusting to not having my little boy, adjusting to not living in constant fear of Rupert and trying to be a queen, a ruler and a grandmother to a child I don't know what so ever at the same time". she looked at him for reassurance that he understood, she got her answer. The concentration and understanding on his face warmed her, filing her with respect and love for him.

" I think I do", he answered, after a lot of thinking, " but why don't you let me help you?".

"because", she sighed, standing up and running her fingers wearily through her hair, " because it's something I need to get used to on my own. It's not that I don't love you, god I love you more than anything and don't get me wrong, I need you but I need to learn on my own. I need, for once in my life to be on my own. I don't want to be suffocated like I have been for the last fifty years, I'm tired of that. And the medication the doctor prescribed - it's doing me no good - I'm relying on them".

"but you know -", he tried, but she silenced him, holding up a commanding but affectionate hand.

"I know Joseph, god I know you are here for me - if you weren't I wouldn't have survived these years. Just knowing you are there is my life line, but you are helping me by just letting me be here, and letting me disappear and not me be me for a few hours". he nodded quietly, understanding what she meant. Her strength shocked him, he had never looked at it that way. She hated who she was from the beginning, how must she feel now.

"I understand", he smiled, taking his hand and lifting it to his searing lips.

"of that, I'm glad", she smiled, touching his cheek, " we all have to readjust sometimes".

O0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

He left late that evening as she settled down to watch TV., something she rarely did or rarely had the time for. He smiled gently, reassuringly as he handed her a cup of tea and her needle work.

"goodnight", she whispered, taking it gratefully from him.

"goodnight Clarisse, get some rest please", he said gently, taking her hand.

"I can't sleep", she admitted, confirming what he thought.

"I'll stay, if it will help", he suggested, sincerity toning his voice. She smiled slightly, kissing his cheek.

"yes," she said thoughtfully, " I'd be glad of your company tonight".

"I'll be back soon", he smiled, " just some things to do". she smiled again, sipping the liquid warmth from the ceramic cup.

"Lilly's show's on, you know Miss Mia's friend", Joseph continued, desperate to bring some sort of light reality to the conversation.

"oh, right", she smiled, readjusting her sitting position and pulling her needle work.

"bye", he whispered, kissing her forehead warily. He wasn't sure what she wanted and she could tell he wasn't sure how far to push her. She tilted her face up, kissing his lips softly.

"a proper kiss", she whispered, cupping his cheek. His smile was heart melting, as his hand rested on hers.

"we'll be ok", she continued, " it will take time but I promise - no more running away".

Sorry it took so long.

Please R&R

Yours,

M