AN: Thanks to those who reviewed. Okay back to our normal pace things will now have more detail and take s bit longer, just had to make a transition, on to new twists a plotlines that you will hopefully love.
RevSue- Thanks glad you like it. Hey uhm, Queens Chamber was introduced to me by Posh and I have a few questions as to the use of the site could I possibly e-mail you?
Rebecca- Lot's more coming your way.
Oh also I have run into a problem some of you like the whole Mia and Nick scenes and some like my Clarisse and Joe scenes. And with them being so far away from each other there will not be much interaction between the two couples so here is my plan, I will alternate every other chapter switching between the couples, thus keeping the same timeline between them? Let me know what you think.
Joseph and Clarisse where sitting in the dinning room planning out their vacation. When Mia walked in with a broad smile on her face.
"Morning Mia, you look very chipper today?"
"Yup Grandpa I'm happy that the two of you are going to get some time to yourselves. I have a few plans myself while you are gone."
"Oh Mia what might those plans be?"
"Things I'm working on."
"Right. Well then let me set out some rules 1- no tearing down walls well other than that your fine."
"Oh nothing to worry about. So where are you two planning on going?"
"Well that's what we were discussing. We are going to visit Josephs mother in Spain for a week or so and see some of his younger siblings."
"My sister."
"Oh come on admit it would be fun to have a beach outing with the whole family?"
"No just my younger sister."
"Then we are going to go see a few smaller European countries. Switzerland, Norway'
"Germany, Austria."
"Yes dear, Yes those too."
"Well when do you think you will be leaving?"
"We are leaving Saturday morning."
"Oh wow that soon? Well how long do you think you'll be gone?"
"Oh I think about 3-4 weeks." Joe said.
"Well don't have too much fun. " Mia got up from the table and left. Leaving a puzzled Clarisse and Joe.
Once Mia was far enough away from the dinning room she took off on a dead run for her suite. Upon reaching the door she met Nick and grabbed his hand pulling him back into their suite.
"They are leaving on Saturday and they will be gone for 3-4 weeks. Do you think that's enough time to get it done?"
"Well I think we could make it work/ of course we will be a bit crushed for time but I think it will work."
"Good."
'So did you leave them in a wonder as to what you are up to?"
"Yes I was a devious as could be."
"Funny."
"What do you think she is up to?"
"Joseph I don't have the slightest idea and that terrifies me!"
"Well it could be one of several things."
"Like what?" Clarisse asked puzzled
"Oh lets see a going away party… ball… family making, nothing…?"
"Well shall we finish our plans for our trip?"
"Yes, Now I really think we should see Switzerland last, it is the best in the late summer."
"I know I used to spend summers there as a teenager. But Joseph you can't honestly be serious about me not meeting your family? I mean they can be all that bad?"
"No my family is not all that bad but some of them don't like this 'us' Joseph took in a long breath.
"Why?"
"Because of who I am and who you are."
"You mean they don't like me because I'm a queen?" She asked a bit astonished
"I don't know that is all it. I think it also has to do with the fact I made something of myself. I got out."
"Just what do you mean 'got out'?"
"Well I grew up a more poverty stricken part of Spain my parents ran a small restaurant and when my father left my mother, we stepped up and worked hard to keep things going. We never had much. My mother finally said she couldn't work any more that is was too much for her which was about 20 years ago. My older brother Diego took over and my younger brother Louis after Diego died. And Louis never really wanted it and felt that since I was more successful that I should have taken it and done something with it but when I told him I had my career and duty to Genovia and you and that I would not be leaving he became angry and bitter with me. Things have not improved over time either. My brother had ideas to what he wanted to do but never set him self to do anything never committed. He saw how my life had played gone, how I had joined the Queens royal army, which took me all over the world. I was eventually brought here for a mission and I fell in love with Genovia and was offered a certain security position, which I took and settled down. I had in a way made something of myself and gotten out."
"Oh I see so and they also don't like the fact that you married me."
"Yes, the two of us came form two very different back grounds you grew up in this and I came from nothing to have everything a wife, love, a great life. Something he did not have."
"Well maybe if we meet he would warm up to us?"
"It is worth a try."
"I love you Joseph."
"I love you to." He leaned in and kissed her.
Saturday soon came and Clarisse was being ushered out their suite door.
"Grandma even late for leaving on vacation?"
"No just making sure I was well prepared and everything left in order. Besides a queen is never late."
"Well have fun take lots of pictures and check in every once in a while?"
"I will darling and don't hesitate to call if you need anything. I will be back in a heart beat if you need me,"
"Don't worry I'll be fine. Have fun."
Clarisse hugged Mia and Nick and then headed out the door with Joseph. Mia followed them out the door-waiving goodbye once they had made it out the gates Mia turned around and headed back inside smiling broadly at her husband and best friend Lily who was now her personal assistant.
"The work begins."
The three headed off to the palace library. Mia had stumbled across the old outdated room last week and had spoke to Clarisse about it.
"My grandma told me that she quit using it after my father died it was supposedly something the two had created and used often. I would like to update some of the books in here and bring in a few new collections."
"Mia if your grandma loves reading so much why would she have let this get the way it is?"
"Well she moved most of the books into her office and another reason because it was too hard for her to come back here without my father. Charlotte informed me that she has not entered the room in 7 years."
"So it has been locked up and collected dust." Nick stated.
"Yup and our project it to get this place in shape. First I want the furniture out and the books taken and cleaned and cataloged also the wood needs a new finish desperately add the wood floor to that. The drapes need to be replaced. I think this need a light feel warm and cozy."
"Okay well lets get the project rolling." Nick said
"Yeah but first I have a pile of papers. I have to work on then I'll get my hands dirty."
"Yes Mia if that doesn't get done it's my head and your grandma is the one who will be holding it."
"Yeah and mine would be up next to yours."
Mia left the room laughing, Nick turned back to examine the room covered in protective sheets he walked around pulling off all the sheets revealing several large seats and one love seat. They look as if they had been made for a giant. Covered in leather and several small pillows. The room definitely had not been dusted in years.
"Well now that I know what has to be done with this place I have a staff meeting to attend to? There is a lot to be done and I doubt that the three of us will get it done alone."
" Yes well I have a few things to do myself. Talk to you later Lily." Nick said and left. He headed down the hall for Charlottes room.
"Come in." Came Charlotte's voice
"Oh your Highness. What can I do for you?"
"Oh don't get up please and call me Nick. Well I have some questions about Clarisse? You have been with her for several years now and you must know quite a bit about her. I mean with Mia and I working on this project I think we could get some help from you."
"Yes well I do know a little about Clarisse. But for the most part she kept her walls up. Only Joseph was the one to bring those down."
"Oh I mean some of her tastes, preferences likes, dislikes. I know Mia knows a little but the two of you have fifteen years of experience working together."
"Okay but not all of my fifteen years here have been spent with the queen. She likes flowers…"
"Roses a give in"
"Light colors, spring, romance novels. And so on. I think a very light room would be perfect leave the curtains off the windows and get rid of the dreary painting hanging above the fire place. I know it is an old renaissance piece but I think a good family portrait would look nice. I don't know why she had the room done the way it was. She and prince Philippe would spend so many hours in there and sometimes every day the two had found a secret hide away sort of. The two loved reading and spending time together."
"Yes well thank you Charlotte you have been a help to us. Take care of that little boy of yours." Nick got up and left. Off to see Mia.
"Dear are you busy at the moment?"
"No, not entirely just finishing the last of the never ending paper work."
"Um isn't that an oxi-moron?"
"Yes today's lot is done tomorrow there will be more."
"Oh well anyhow I spoke with Charlotte and I pulled off the sheets that where on the furniture. It is actually cool furniture. Something tells me it has to stay but give it something new."
"Sounds good I have someone coming in from a designers office to help with some of the new coloring. I think something soft for the paint and very detailed fabric for the furniture. We could just have them re-apulstered. If you like them so much."
"It is up to you dear I just think it would be fun to curl up in a large chair with you and read something in front of a fire."
"Hmmm sounds romantic."
"So lets get this project done my hopeless romantic."
The first week Clarisse and Joe had been gone she had attempted to call each afternoon, but never was able to catch Mia. Becoming suspicious she called Charlotte who in turn was no more help than Lily. They were up to something.
The library was beginning to take shape the furniture had been taken to the designers Shoppe for sprucing up and the books removed and shipped off to the a restorer. Mia and Nick along with Lily had spent their every spare moment helping with the bookcases.
"This is going to take forever." Mia said
"Yes it might take forever, I love the thirty-foot high ceiling and the tall book shelves but there are so many." Lily complained
"Hey Mia, wow this is really starting to look nice again." Charlotte said as she entered the library." Uh you need to make it a point to speak to your grandmother she is getting a bit suspicious. She called me today."
"All right I will call her this evening. How is the baby boy?"
"Oh wonderful he is actually sleeping right now. Frank is on lunch watching him. I came to see if I could help?"
"Sure grab a rag and some polish and climb up. We have plenty to do."
"Okay, So Mia have you and Nick thought about starting a family any time soon?"
"Yes we have thought about it but we both feel that we're still in the adjusting period to the new roles new life. So we are just having fun being married at the moment, but there will be little Deveraux in the future."
"Well you know if you wait to long people are going to winder if you can't have children. They asked me all the time, 'you're married aren't you going to start a family?' I told them when it was right we would. But Mia I'm not being counted on having a family for the sake of the country."
"Yes, well as I said Nick and I will have a family and I know I can have children no doubt about that. The media can say what they want."
"Mia your grandmother is on the phone demanding she speak to you." Nick came in looking a bit flustered.
"Honey tell her I will call her this evening."
"No Mia she says that if she doesn't speak to you soon she will come home."
"Oh she can be so stubborn at times. Ok I'm coming."
Mia climbed down the ladder and headed for her office. She sat down and caught her breath then picked up the receiver.
"Hello,"
"Mia finally what have you been doing that keeps you so busy? I have tired to talk to you all week long."
"Sorry just queenly stuff you know, endless paper work, parliament, meet and great. So how had your trip been so far?"
"Oh, Well is has been so much fun. Joseph and I are still visiting his mother, and sister. Tomorrow we leave for Germany though."
"So are you enjoying getting to know grandpas family?"
"Yes his mother is such a sweet old lady I think if I remember he said she was 92 and still just as active. Our first night here she had prepared this large dinner. It was delicious. Well and his sister Anna are very nice she is 12 years younger than he is. Her youngest is your age. Emily is her name. I think the two of you would get along great."
"That's great grandma I'm glad you are enjoying yourself."
"Yes well how are things there?"
"Great, This morning I had a meeting with parliament that went pretty well. I proposed a second children's center be opened in upper Genovia. Our home in Mertz is getting a bit full so I proposed that and they seemed to like it. Lets see Wednesday was the 'meet and greet', which I spent most of the morning, doing and then I had lunch with the Prime Minister yesterday and other than that I have been burring myself in paper work and other meetings."
"Well I'm feeling much better now that I hear you're doing okay on your own. Joseph said he would not kiss me for a week if I didn't calm down about leaving you. Man I had to put on a real show but he saw passed it last night and he said no more kisses so I had to talk to you or I might worry myself into a nut house if I didn't hear from you. Or kiss him so I got a bit mad with Nicholas told him I didn't speak to you he would be dealing with me directly when I got home, and that wouldn't take to long."
Mia was laughing so hard. "Grandpa threatened you with no kisses if you didn't relax! That's the greatest thing I have ever heard. (Laughing) oh and he was serious. I bet that was as hard for him as it was for you."
"Funny dear, well I will call you later next week and let you know how things are. I love you Mia.
"Love you to Grandma have fun bye."
Mia hung up the phone laughing and walked back to the library.
"What did she want?"
"You guys wouldn't believe this but she has been so worried that it got to Joe and he finally said to her that if she did not relax he would not kiss her for a week. She tired to put on a show for him but he saw passed it and wouldn't kiss her last night. She was going nuts. But I'm sure it was the same way for him."
They all laughed picturing a Clarisse and Joe going nuts over a week of no kissing.
"Can you imagine what it would look like, the two after a week of not kissing?" Mia asked laughing.
"Your Grandmother would be in the worst mood ever probably the one person not to be around." Charlotte said laughing.
Mean while Clarisse and Joe had arrived in Spain their first day. Greeted by his sister and two daughters.
"Hey Uncle Joe!" the younger one said,
"Hello Emily, my how you have grown."
"Hello, you must be Clarisse. I'm Emily sorry my mom couldn't make it she was caught up at work."
"It's very nice to meet you Emily." Clarisse said offering a hand to shake.
"We're family" Emily said pulling her into a hug.
Joe laughed on the shocked expression on his wives face. The thought she only just meet this girl and she is already given hugs. He moved around to the back of the car to load the luggage.
"Here uncle Joe let me help."
"I can do it just fine."
"No I'm serious, here." Emily pushed her way in and helped Joe load the bags she loaded the last one and shut the trunk and headed for the driver seat. Joe moved around to the other side and opened the door for Clarisse who got in and 'slid' over pulling on Joe's hand to make him follow her in.
"I told you things would be okay." She whispered into his ear.
He smiled and kissed her cheek. They arrived at the small home about an hour later.
"Emily when did your mother and father buy the old family home?"
"Well let's see, I think it was about a year before he died. So for about three years now I think. He and mom had been saving up to build a new home when the owners of this one put it up for sale sign and mom had to have it. So they did and Grandma has moved in with us the spare bedroom is your old room too. So that's where you'll be staying."
"You have done so much to it. I mean it looks so nice."
"Yeah we painted it a year ago and Grandma does all the gardening."
They had pulled up to a small quaint, home it wasn't too small. It was a light yellow, with gorgeous flowerbeds all around the front porch and the grass was green.
Clarisse got out of the car and first noticed the flowers
"My this is so beautiful."
"Why thank you" said an elderly woman coming around the side of the house with garden gloves in one hand a small gardening shovel in the other hand. She stood about five feet talk with beautiful black hair and a bright smile glowing across her face.
Joe set down the bags and went to his mother. And hugged her gently. She dropped the things that had been in her hands returning the warm hug.
"Mother I would like you to meet my wife Clarisse. Clarisse the one and only other woman in the world who you can compete for my heart is right here my mother."
The two women laughed and Clarisse hugged the smaller woman.
"It is so nice to know that my son has finally found the woman of his dreams, the one who can tame his heart."
"Well I love him very much and he has seen through me and helped make me who I am."
"Lets go inside and get you to your room and I get some tea started I want to get to know this wonderful daughter-in-law I have."
Emily, Clarisse and Joe took the luggage up into a small guest room, which had been Joe's room when he was a boy.
"Thank you Emily we'll be down in a minute." Clarisse said.
She shut the door and turned and sat down on the bed. Joe moved over and lay down on he bed next to her. Pulling her over for a kiss.
"So what do you think of my old room?"
"It's cozy dear (kiss) I love this place (kiss) we should change and go down for tea (kiss)."
"But (kiss) I'm enjoying (kiss) being right here with (kiss) you, (kiss0. He ran a hand up her side making her laugh.
"Stop (kiss) you are (kiss) tickling me (kiss)"
"That my (kiss) dear wife (kiss) is my intention (kiss)"
She kissed him one last time and pulled away and moved over to her suit case and pulled out some of her dressed and hung them up in the closet finally she removed her jacket and then slipped into a light blue sleeveless dress. Turning to face Joseph who had been watching her the entire time. She gave him a pouty look.
"Come zip me up?"
"Oh but you look so nice with out it on." He said moving his hand behind his head.
"Joseph dear your mother is in this house and waiting to serve us tea."
"Oh but her room is on the other side of the house and she wouldn't hear us."
"No dear not now later. Come zip me up and lets go down stairs and visit with your mother.' She put her hands on her hips giving him a your in trouble look but it didn't last long he was gave in and move over behind her and zipped up her dress placing a kiss at the base of her neck.
They made their way into the dinning room and sat down with his mother.
"So tell me about my Joseph."
"Oh well he is a hopeless romantic and completely in love with me as I am with him.' Clarisse said smiling and holding his hand under the table. "He has been the best support for me through the years been my best friend, boyfriend, and now husband."
"Oh my Joey such a gentle man. And a romantic tell me Joe do you dance still?"
"Yes mother with an amazing dance too."
"Oh I should have known you dance being royal and all."
"Oh well long before I was royal I loved to dance always have."
"So tell me about yourself Clarisse."
"I know you have two children and your granddaughter is now the queen."
"Yes my oldest son Pierre is a bishop for a church her in Spain. And just recently Genovia's archbishop a close friend of mine has named his predecessor as Pierre. Philippe has one daughter Mia who is the queen now. Our granddaughter, She is the one who helped knock some sense into me and told me to have my fairy tail ending."
"Now where is your son Philippe now shouldn't it be he who is on the throne?"
"Oh Philippe died seven years ago."
"I'm sorry I didn't know." The older woman blushed a bit.
"Don't be I have moved on. I still miss him, terribly but how does any mother feel, after losing a child."
"I can tell you I know the same agony it's torture to lose one."
"Yes well I must tell you I love our flowers."
"Clarisse has a guilty pleasure she loved flowers and gardens."
She playfully swatted his arm "yes I do and if I hadn't loved gardens so much sweet Joseph you would never have been able to court me. Or even propose to me in the garden gazebo."
"True, yes if you had not insisted on walking every evening in your garden I would never have gotten to know you quite so well."
"Well and he fact that you were so blasted good at your job and well you went beyond any measure of requirements by being my friend and comforter. Your son has a great talent for getting one's walls and barriers down."
"Well he was always my little boy. So much love and kindness, in one being me though that was what he was made of for so long but then he grew up and moved on, doing something with his life. I was so proud of him I still am and now he has a wife too. A wonderful one at that."
The three sat there in the dining room for hours getting to know each other talking about Joe's child hood and talking about how things came about. Most of their time was spent in the garden and on the beach with his mother and sister and her daughter Emily and Elise.
They had all attempted to get Louis to come and see them. They even went to the restaurant for lunch one day and to his house where they spoke with are wife and four boys, but no such luck with him.
Clarisse and Joe had moved on to Germany and where traveling all over they had been to see several castles and historic sights places Joe had been while still in the army. Then on through England, spending a few days here and there. Seeing a few of Clarisse's friends from her role as queen.
Mia and Nick had been working hard to finish the library the books where due back in a few days the floor had been re polished the shelves where still drying the furniture on its way back a new rug for the room was ordered and had arrived earlier in the day and things were right on schedule. The room would be done the day before they where due back.
Mia and Nick where sitting in the library taking a break from working on the shelves when the phone rang. Mia picked it up.
"Hello,"
"Mia your grandmother is on the phone."
"Okay put her through."
"Mia.'
"Hi grandma!"
"How are you dear?"
"Good so still having fun?"
"Yes a lot of fun, but dear. Joe's mother has become I'll and we don't know what is causing it but we are going to return to Spain and we'll probably be extending the trip to stay with her. Are you okay with that?"
"Yes definitely. I hope she will be okay. Well where are you now?"
"We are in Austria."
"Oh,"
"So is everything still running smoothly there? How are Charlotte and the baby?"
"Everything is great, Charlotte doing well and the baby. So how much longer do you think you will be gone then?"
"I don't know probably at least another two and a half weeks."
"Okay well keep us update as to how she is doing all right."
"I will. I love you Mia."
"Love you too grandma tell grandpa I love him too and we hope the best for his mother."
Mia hung up the phone and looked up at Nick.
"Well it looks like we have a few extra weeks to ourselves what do you say when this is finished we take a break and go to the beach house for your birthday?"
"Well that sounds so enticing. How about just the two of us no staff."
"Oh certain things on your mind my sweet husband?"
"Just a certain birthday gift in mind."
He dropped the rag and polish and pulled her into a hug kissing her passionately.
"And what birthday gift would you like?"
"You."
AN: okay sorry it is Sunday evening but hey at least it is still Sunday. I ran into the worst case of writers block that or I got the worst brain fart ever and could not move from a certain paragraph in here that totally bugged me but as you can see I made it passed and now I am onto chapter 21 yet!