A.N. – Well you have all confirmed what I wanted to do with this story so that worked out well. The story will now unfold along the lines of the replies and reviews I got from all of you so I hope it stays to your liking (luckily it's also what I wanted to write so it should unfold quite nicely!). I'm really enjoying writing this story and especially enjoying the helpful reviews from all of you. I really appreciate what you're doing for me. Big hugs coming your way!

This chapter is from Charlotte's point of view. This may be the case for the next chapter also.

Disclaimer…come on, be serious! Do you really think I own these characters? Or the PD world? Come off it and get your facts straight!

Chapter 9 – A Night of Torture, A Lifetime of Suffering

It had been almost a week since Clarisse had told Joseph the truth about her past. So far no one had asked about the Queen's breakdown, or what had gone on in her suite for all the time after that. All had been respectfully quiet.

Joseph was continuing with his work, organising security for this and that while Queen Clarisse continued with her own duties. Neither had been left alone with Charlotte long enough for her to start asking questions about how the search for her parents was going. Charlotte found that whenever she had time to see the Queen about it, Clarisse would either be too busy or retiring for the night.

It was on this evening that Charlotte decided that she needed to get back onto the search. She just couldn't continue with her duties properly until she had some answers.

Walking to Clarisse's suite, Charlotte found only Olivia saying that Her Majesty had taken Maurice for a quick walk. Frustrated, Charlotte headed out to the gardens in search of her Queen.

Wandering through the gardens whilst looking for Queen Clarisse, Charlotte reflected on the search so far.

Dr. Fitzgerald had phoned Charlotte earlier that day to report that he had nothing on a child being born on the day she had specified. The only record he came across was that of Charlotte's adopted parents having a stillborn. Nothing more and no ideas of who could have been Charlotte's birth parents.

Charlotte was clearly confused with this but put it down to someone giving birth to a child off the record and maybe even out of the hospital. However, this put forth the problem of who had left her, as a new-born baby, in a hospital room without any I.D?

All these questions seemed to be confusing Charlotte more and more that she knew the only choice she now had was to involve Her Majesty in the search again. That was why she was searching for Clarisse.

A dog's bark brought Charlotte out of her thoughts as she rounded a corner. Listening more carefully, she could hear a dog's playful bark once more. It appeared to be somewhere just ahead of her.

As Charlotte moved forward faster, she rounded a corner to see Queen Clarisse wandering slowly amongst the roses while Maurice explored the garden just ahead of her.

"Your Majesty" Charlotte announced herself, not wanting to startle her Queen.

Clarisse turned, surprised to be addressed by Charlotte outdoors and at such an hour.

"Charlotte? What can I do for you?" Clarisse asked.

"I was wondering if you have had time lately to look into the search of my parents" Charlotte asked, deciding to get straight to the point.

"No, I'm afraid I have not. I will get onto it as soon as I can, that you can be sure" Clarisse answered with a smile.

Charlotte smiled back before Clarisse's smile faltered as she looked away. Charlotte frowned; something was wrong. Perhaps Clarisse had still not managed to get back onto her feet since her breakdown almost a week ago.

Charlotte still had no idea what had happened but felt it was not her business to ask. As long as Joseph knew what was going on and he was making sure all was well with the Queen then Charlotte needn't worry.

"Charlotte? Sit with me?" Clarisse asked her, bringing her back to the present.

Charlotte nodded before sitting down in the gazebo with Her Majesty. She shifted uncomfortably as she found Clarisse studying her carefully and silently. She averted her eyes to Maurice's leash that Clarisse was holding while the dog bounced freely around them.

"Tell me, Charlotte, how long are you going to search for your birth parents?" the question took Charlotte by such surprise that she stared at Clarisse for a moment.

"Well…for as long as it takes for me to get answers" Charlotte said with a frown.

She could swear Clarisse was trying to avoid her gaze. Why had Her Majesty been acting so strange around her lately?

"Ah yes, I thought so" Clarisse said quietly, leaning back and looking out over the gardens and at the darkening sky.

"How is the search going?" Clarisse asked without looking at Charlotte.

"Not as good as I'd hoped. The hospital still hasn't turned anything up and Dr Fitzgerald didn't have much to say either" Charlotte reported, noting how Clarisse had snapped her eyes back to Charlotte at the mention of the Dr.

"You have spoken with Dr Fitzgerald since he was here last?" Her Majesty asked, her gaze staying on Charlotte for once. Her eyes were boring into the younger woman's.

"Yes, he rang earlier today when you were with Parliament" Charlotte replied, confused by her Queen's behaviour.

"What did he have to say?" Clarisse asked immediately.

Charlotte could see how tense Her Majesty had become and couldn't help thinking she was hiding something. 'What's going on here?' she kept thinking.

"Not much actually, just that he had nothing on record about any births in the hospital, or that he knew of, around my birthday. Except for my adopted mothers' stillborn" Charlotte explained, watching Her Majesty carefully.

Queen Clarisse seemed to relax after this explanation, which confused Charlotte even more. She brushed her confusion and suspecting thoughts aside; she was just too anxious in finding out more information that her mind was reading too much into things.

"Well that's a shame. He was our top source. We'll just have to look into other areas. How about we start the search anew tomorrow morning?" Her Majesty asked.

"Yes, that would be wonderful" Charlotte beamed. She would soon have the answers and be even closer to finding her birth mother.

Queen Clarisse was standing up now, putting Maurice back in his leash. Charlotte stood also, preparing to be dismissed from Her Majesties presence.

"I will turn in now Charlotte as it is getting late and Maurice has had enough of the outdoors for today. However before you go, I should inform you that Pierre rang earlier this evening to say he was coming to visit for a few days. He will be arriving tomorrow evening" Queen Clarisse informed her.

"I will make the necessary arrangements then shall I?" Charlotte asked.

"Of course" Queen Clarisse nodded her approval, "goodnight Charlotte".

"Goodnight Your Majesty" Charlotte smiled.

Queen Clarisse smiled back, looking at Charlotte for a moment before moving off towards her suite in the palace. Charlotte followed, making her way to her own rooms.

She couldn't help but feel excited for the next few days. She was going to have the help of her Queen again in the search of her birth parents, and she was going to meet Prince Pierre. Although she was born in Genovia, she had moved to the USA when in her early childhood years with her adopted parents so that she had no memory of the Royal Family. Until she came to work at the palace a couple of years ago, she hadn't returned to the USA.

She had heard much of Prince Pierre, that he was a very kind soul and always put others before himself. So much like Clarisse that Charlotte knew she would like the Prince as soon as they met.

Preparing for bed, Charlotte mentally ticked off what needed to be done before the Prince arrived and who needed to be informed. But all that could wait, right now what she needed most was sleep.

The next few days would come quickly enough.

A.N. – Well isn't it getting interesting? I think I'm going to have the next few chapters from Charlotte's point of view because it's the most effective. Please give me a review and let me know how I'm doing!

Fluffy cloud passing across the sky…look at me, I'm potential rain!