A/N Set at the beginning of PD1. Clarisse meets Mia for the first time and she's clean. How did that happen? Another "first kiss" story.
It was nearly 3:30 in the afternoon and afternoon tea was sitting on the Queen's desk in her suite in the Consulate. Not that she had touched it of course, there were too many papers to sign, documents to read and invitations to go through. It was a typical busy day for Clarisse, except for one thing: today she would meet her granddaughter for the first time. She wasn't sure, but she felt somewhat nervous, and that was a very new thing for the usually confident monarch.
Joseph was nearby, as usual, at the open window near her desk. He stood quietly looking out over the grounds, occasionally stealing a glance at Clarisse as she worked, or rather as she tried to work. She seemed unusually distracted this afternoon. He thought he knew what was bothering her, but there was nothing he could do but be there for her.
When Philippe had died, it had only taken Joseph a moment to realize that Helen would need to be contacted and this meeting between Queen and Crown Princess arranged. He had already begun the security arrangements for the trip even before Clarisse had made her decision to go. She had looked at him in momentary surprise, then smiled at him and whispered, "Thank you, Joseph."
They had often talked at what it would be like meeting Amelia for the first time and now they were here, in San Francisco, and she was due to arrive from school any moment. He knew Clarisse had hardly eaten all day, as he eyed the untouched sandwiches and pot of tea on her desk. He came and stood beside her and began to transfer a few finger sandwiches to a plate. She hesitated, pen still in hand, and looked up at him.
"Do you mind explaining what you're doing?"
"Not at all. If you're not going to take advantage of American high tea, I might as well." He popped a cucumber sandwich into his mouth and wiped his face with a cloth napkin. He reached for the teapot and poured a cup of steaming liquid into the china cup. He added a teaspoonful of milk and reached for the sugar.
"I don't take sugar in my tea."
"I know. This isn't for you." He stirred the sugar until it dissolved, then took a mouthful, washing down the sandwich. He stared at her, as she looked at him aghast. Apparently, he thought, no one has ever helped themselves to the Queen's tea before. Well, he'd certainly got her attention in any case.
"Perhaps you'd care for a scone and some jam, too?" It was a bit sarcastic, but he could take whatever she dished out.
"Lovely, thank you. And one of those chocolate strawberry things, too." He tried to keep a straight face as she put the items on his plate. He took the tea and sweets back over to the window and watched out of the corner of his eye as she poured a cup of tea for herself and ate a bite of a dry scone.
"They're better with jam…"
"Yes, I realize that, Joseph, but this American pear jam isn't nearly as good as the pear jam we have in Genovia."
"I agree. Do you think you'll be able to survive the visit without good pear jam, Your Majesty?"
She smiled for the first time that day, and it warmed his heart. "Well, I'm not sure. I may have to send for some." She took a sip of her tea and looked down at the floor. She felt her cheeks start to flush, as often happened when she and Joseph were alone and relaxed together. Getting herself back under control she set the teacup down and returned to the paperwork in front of her.
He stared out the window, smiling to himself. It had been a long road getting her through the death of the King and the Crown Prince, and now the stress of meeting Amelia for the first time. He sighed, a little too loudly for she remarked: "Everything okay, Joseph?"
He cleared his throat. "Wonderful. The fog is starting to roll in off the bay a little earlier than usual."
She continued working away, trying to concentrate, but her mind would constantly wander to the man dressed in black so close to her, yet so far away. Dangerous ground. She knew she was treading on dangerous ground when it came to her thoughts about her Head of Security. They had known each other for decades, but yet something was different between them now. A friendship had developed, but Clarisse was worried that she had let her thoughts carry her well beyond friendship when clearly, as professional as Joseph was, he had remained at a respectful distance. She sighed.
"Everything okay, Your Majesty?"
She turned to look at him, the afternoon sun shining on his face, and she caught her breath. She nodded and turned back to the dispatches. He grinned to himself and turned to look out the window again.
"She's here."
He'd said it so quickly it startled her, and her hand brushed the teacup sending it's contents streaming down over the desk and onto her lap. She tried to jump out of the way of the hot liquid but to no avail, the tea ran down the front of her black dress and stockings.
"Clarisse! Are you hurt?"
"Oh! No, I'm fine, but, oh, what a mess! Amelia! I can't see her like this, look at me, covered in tea stains." She moaned and threw her hands in the air. Joseph picked up the phone and dialled.
"Charlotte. Her Majesty is delayed. Please entertain Miss Thermopolis for a few moments, please. No, everything is fine, she just needs more time." He hung up and looked at Clarisse staring helplessly at the mess she had made.
"We need to get you cleaned up."
"Well, thankfully it went all over me and not on all the work I've done."
He raised his eyebrow at her and she felt her face flush. "Oh, alright. The work I've been trying to do. Honestly, Joseph, you never let me away with anything." She couldn't help but smile at him.
He took another cloth napkin and dabbed it in a bottle of soda water. "May I?" he enquired.
Getting down on one knee, Joseph began touching the damp cloth to her dress, right above the knee where the first tea stain could be seen. Clarisse leaned back against the desk, taking care to avoid the area where the tea had dribbled off the work surface. With both hands she steadied herself as Joseph carefully took the material of the skirt in his hand and concentrated on the stains. She looked down at him, at the crown of his balding head, the strong shoulders, and the muscles she could see rippling underneath his black silk shirt. She looked at the ceiling, trying to do her best to stop the thoughts that were seeping into her mind.
Finished with the dress he moved down to address the stains on her stockings. He hesitated, then put his hand on her calf as he attended to her knee and leg, working his way down to the ankle. In some ways he thanked God she had only spilled tea on only one leg, for surely he didn't have the moral fibre to see to the other one.
"That's pretty good for now. I'd stay away from the press until you change, but it's okay for around here." He began to stand, but paused. "Um, Clarisse, would you mind helping me up?"
Shaken out of her own thoughts she let go of the desk and took his hands in hers, helping him to his feet. "Thank you, I'm not as young as I used to be, the knees don't always work when I want them to."
She swallowed and looked at him, standing in front of her, mere inches away. She couldn't break his gaze, and found she didn't want to. Her hands were still firmly clasped in his until she felt him pull them away. She couldn't mask the disappointment she felt at breaking contact with him until his hands were cupping her face and drawing her even closer to him. He touched his lips to hers then pulled back to look at her.
"I'm sorry I startled you."
"It was my fault, I should have…" she couldn't wait another moment. She leaned toward him and pressed her lips to his in a more demanding kiss. He responded and they held onto each other tightly as the passion grew between them. He pulled her as close to him as she had dreamed of being. Long minutes passed until breathlessly they stopped the kiss and just held each other close. Joseph leaned back against the desk and stroked her cheek.
"Forgive me, if I've stepped across the line we've so carefully drawn all these years."
"Oh, you stepped over it alright. And not a moment too soon." She playfully kissed his nose and leaned her forehead against his. "I've been dreaming about this for so long, Joseph."
"Me too" was all he could say before the buzzer on the intercom went off. Clarisse leaned around Joseph and pushed the button. "Yes?"
Charlotte's voice came over the speaker. "Your Majesty, tea is nearly ready in the garden. Will you be joining Miss Thermopolis shortly?"
Clarisse felt Joseph's shoulders shake in quiet laughter and she squeezed his arm. "Yes, Charlotte, I'll be downstairs in only a moment." She released the button and came back immediately to Joseph's full embrace. "I have to go, Love."
A kiss of promise, then Clarisse picked up a jewellery box she planned on giving to Amelia. She glanced up as Joseph moved toward the door.
"Joseph!" she exclaimed.
"What is it?"
"You've got pears all over your backside!"
He looked at her and laughed heartily. "Well," he said, "I guess you'll have to return the favour".
She blushed as she walked past him out the door. "We'll have to see about that, won't we?"
-0-0-0-0-0-
"Well. Let me look at you."
Mia took off her glasses and looked at her grandmother.
"You look so young!"
Mia, unsure of what to say, simply stated: "And you look so, clean."
Clarisse felt her face blush furiously as she remembered what had just happened between her and Joseph upstairs. Or maybe, the blush was because she was thinking of what could possibly happen between them later on. She couldn't decide.
THE END