I'm on a roll...but I'm not so sure about this chapter. Let me know.

Security Room

"Tony, we are scheduled to meet with the Queen, Princess Mia, and Joe in five minutes to go over assignments for tomorrow night's function. Let's start heading down now." Lionel came over and announced the appointment to Tony.

"Coming. What can you tell me about them? I still haven't met the Queen and Princess, and I only met Joseph yesterday." Tony asked, slightly nervous about both the meeting and the event the next evening.

Lionel rolled his eyes. This kid loved to gossip. "I can't tell you anything about them, if you want to know something, ask them. Privacy is important around the palace."

Tony sighed, sounding a bit disappointed as they walked out of them room.

Queen Clarisse's Office

Joe was lying on the couch in Clarisse's office, eating pear flavored sun-flower seeds out of the bag he was holding. He was watching Clarisse finish up some paper work and trying to distract her with his attempts at starting wierd conversations. Clarisse's patience was starting to wear thin-she had been trying to tune him out for the past half hour.

"So Shades thinks that the gardeners should add flowers or something into the tack room in the stables. Something about the plants protecting the saddles?" With this last attempt, Joe threw a sunflower seed in her direction.

Clarisse started as she saw the seed land on her paper. Letting out an exasperated sigh, she looked up.

"You are SO annoying sometimes!" She reprimanded him.

"I'm only trying to keep you company, isn't that why you invited me in here?" Joe responded.

"You said you were going to read your book. Distracting me was not part of the original, agreed-to plan."

"The book got boring, and I figured this would be more fun. I was right!" He answered, smiling at her.

"Well, you win, I give up. Besides, don't we have that meeting in a few minutes?" Clarisse questioned.

"Don't remind me. Though, it can't happen if your granddaughter doesn't show up. Where is she, anyway?" Joe looked at his watch.

As Clarisse was about to open her mouth to answer, the subject of their questioning appeared in the room.

"Nice to see you today, Princess. When did you wake up, an hour ago?"

Mia jumped as she heard Joe speak from behind her. She hadn't even known that he was there. "Hi Joe. Actually, it was more like 20 ?minutes ago."

Joe and Clarisse shared a look and Joe shook his head. Mia looked around for a place to sit in the office and made her way over to the couch where Joe was.

Hallway Outside Clarisse's Office

"Ouch. Sure, make yourself comfortable."

"Okay, thanks! I'll try to."

Tony focused his attention on the direction of the voices that were followed by laughter.

Lionel pointed. "Next door on the right. Don't forget to knock."

Clarisse's Office

Mia had put herself on Joe's legs on the couch, deciding to take matters into her own hands when he wouldn't move. "I thought we had ended the interning thing after Lionel?" she asked in a hushed voice.

Joe responded quietly, "That was what I thought too. But your grandmother apparently did not remember what we discussed." The last part was said teasingly, though Joe was slightly annoyed at having another intern. "Shades gets to deal with him for the most part, though."

When Mia got off the couch to grab a drink off the table, Joe took the opportunity to move into the leather chair next to Clarisse's desk, letting Mia have the couch to herself.

"So whats going on for tomorrow night? Do we have to wait for the others? I need to pick out a dress." Mia complained.

Joseph rolled his eyes. "Women are all the same."

"Joseph! The dress that one wears is very important. It is crucial that it be the correct dress for the occasion, as well as something that the wearer is willing to stay in for the duration. A lot of time goes into choosing the right dress." Clarisse rebuked him.

"That's an understatement. I know how much time goes into picking out a dress and getting ready. I've had to wait for you two countless times." Joe countered. Mia looked back and forth between them, trying to see who would give in.

Hallway Outside Clarisse's Office

Tony and Lionel could hear the hushed tones as they came to the doorway of the office. Clarisse beckoned for them to enter when Lionel knocked on the open door.

"Good afternoon. Your Majesty, Princess Mia, how are you today?" Lionel asked politely.

"Hello Lionel, I'm well thank you, and I hope you find yourself the same?" Queen Clarisse responded kindly.

"Hi Lionel." Mia greeted.

"Your Majesty, Princess, this is Tony. He is interning for the summer as part of the security department." Joe introduced the other member of the group. Joe, like the other two, instantly switched from joking to professional mode when Lionel and Tony appeared.

After more formalities, the group got started on security details for the next evening. They worked for about 45 minutes discussing what should happen, where people should be, and what to watch for. Later on, Shades and Joseph would give the security team and especially Tony a more detailed plan. When they finally finished, Lionel had to stop at Clarisse's secretary's desk and drop something off. Mia whizzed past about a second after Tony and Lionel had left the room, leaving Joe and Clarisse alone in her office. Tony took the opportunity to watch the pair without having them see him, because he was out of viewing range.

The Queen and her Head of Security were talking softly about what Tony presumed were security details. Joseph chuckled at something that was said, and then picked up his book. Clarisse said something else which caused him to look up from his book. As Tony observed, the two exchanged a glance and a smile before each going back to their respective tasks. He found himself wishing that he had heard the conversation between the pair. Though he remembered Lionel's warning about privacy, Tony wished that he could find out what was going on with the Queen and Joseph.

The End of this chapter. Don't expect updates for a while, cuz I probably won't have any other ideas after this one for a little bit. This chapter wasn't as good as it could have been. Should I continue, or drop it off here? -KSpirit

Parelli is my anti-drug. What's yours?