A/N And still all this belongs to Walt, Meg & Garry. Thanks for your kinds reviews. Any suggestions welcome.

A day had passed, a day that Clarisse deemed to herself "frosty" between she and Joseph. He was respectful, attentive and reliable as ever, however there was none of the familiarity, the friendliness that had been building between them over the years. She sighed as she rode in the back of the limousine to Amelia's home. All the way across the city they hadn't spoken a word, other than the obligatory words of greeting as he settled her in the back seat. She pulled her compact from her purse and checked her makeup before arriving. Dark circles had appeared under her eyes, and no amount of expensive cosmetics erased them completely. She noticed the sadness in her eyes and the tired, vacant look. From Joseph's expression as he greeted her, he had noticed as well. He didn't so great himself, she thought. She snapped the compact shut and returned it to her purse.

Joseph had put the privacy screen up as they left the Consulate, despite years of them leaving it down so they could chat together. Nothing would be said between them, and he would rather the screen up than bear the awkward silence. As she had descended the stairs to the waiting limo moments ago, he had raised an eyebrow at her appearance. She looked so tired, distracted, and he was concerned for her. Concerned as any subject would be, he told himself, nothing more. He was nothing more to her; he was her Head of Security, an employee, and she was behaving toward him as such. His delusions of anything more had shattered yesterday as she dismissed him from her office. Hell, he hadn't slept either, and his body ached from all the extra running, biking and weight lifting he had done in place of the sleep his body desired but wouldn't give.

He had waited for her as she went to speak with Helen and Amelia about the plans for the next few days, and the rest of Amelia's life. A lot was at stake, and he knew that Clarisse was worried that the young teenager would not consent to being Genovia's crown princess. Joseph leaned his head back and stretched as he waited. If anyone could talk sense into a teenager, it would be Clarisse. He used to watch, amazed, as she listened to and counselled her own sons. She was a natural diplomat.

He got out of the limo upon seeing her exit Amelia's home, the two of them walking together, talking animatedly about something, and stopping to speak to the strange man on the canvas chair. He nodded to the driver of the second limo who stood waiting also. Joseph bowed slightly as Clarisse approached.

"There's someone I'd like you to meet. Amelia, this is Joseph."

The young teen smiled and shook Joe's hand as he greeted her.

"Joseph will be driving you to school from now on, and wherever you need to go. I'll see you at the Consulate after school, Amelia, we have much to do."

She walked down the sidewalk and allowed her driver to assist her into the back of the second limousine. She hadn't looked at Joseph, hadn't given him her usual smile, the sign that their friendship was intact. Whatever had been special between them in public and private had seemed to disintegrate. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. For the first time in many years of royal service, he was unsure of his future.

Princess lessons carried on over the next few days. For hours after school Amelia learned to walk, talk and act like a princess. No one could have been a better instructor than Clarisse, and Amelia seemed to make swift progress. Joseph had picked her up at 7 pm this evening so that she could spend time rock climbing after school. Clarisse had a training dinner planned for her, one of many, since the first attempt had been quite disastrous. He dropped Amelia off at the front door and then parked the car, deciding to roam the grounds for a while until he was needed again.

Charlotte had called his cell phone to give him an update on his next timing. The dinner was complete, but there were a few details that Charlotte needed to work out with the princess before she could go home for the evening. Shouldn't take more than a half hour, she assured him. Joseph climbed the stairs and stood on the terrace, enjoying the approaching dusk, and the colours of the garden, beautifully bathed in the glow of the sunset. He took another deep breath, shaking his head as he realized that reminding himself to breathe was becoming a pattern.

As he gazed around the expansive grounds of the consulate he became aware that Clarisse was strolling through the gardens, checking her roses, but seeming to wander aimlessly, sadness evident in her posture and her slow steps. He swallowed hard, and tightened his grip on the railing.

"I'm ready, Joe." Amelia had come up behind him silently, without him noticing. He was distracted, for sure, and he tried to shake himself out of it as he turned and pulled on his gloves.

"Well let's go, then."

"Hey, Joe. Why don't I ask Mom to come and get me? She wouldn't mind."

"No need, Princess. I'm ready to take you home."

Amelia looked out over the gardens to where Clarisse was sitting on a bench, twirling a rose in her hands, her head bent. "Well, Grandma needs some cheering up, and I'll bet only you could do that." She looked up at him with those innocent eyes, filled with insight that blew Joseph away.

"What makes you think that?"

She shrugged. "Come on, Joe. There's something between the two of you, I can tell. You both wouldn't be acting so childish around each other if there weren't. Plus", she grinned, "What other explanation would there be for Grandma to have your picture as a bookmark in the novel she's reading?"

The surprised look on Joe's face confirmed Amelia's reasoning. "I'm sure you are mistaken, Princess."

She smiled at him and shook her head. "Nope, Grandma was embarrassed about it when I picked up her book and opened it. She couldn't get it away from me fast enough. She turned beet red, too. I think she has a crush on you." Mia patted his arm. "Actually, Joe, I've already called, and Mom will be here in a few minutes. I think you have a lady waiting for you, and if I were you, I wouldn't waste any more time up here talking to a teenager when there's a queen down there who needs your company. Good luck".

She was gone in an instant, leaving Joe to try to get his heartbeat down to a normal level. Should he go to her? What would she say to him? His heart seemed to take control of his feet and brain as he descended the stairs and headed in Clarisse's direction, unsure of what her reaction would be, but sure that he needed to go to her.

A/N Next chapter should finish this off.