Disclaimer: We own none of The Princess Diaries characters, we are merely using our imagination & having a little fun along the way!

Mixed Signals
by Posh & Stoneygem

Part 23

Her hand rubbing his back was both soothing and arousing; they were still joined, their bodies silently communicating. Her legs rubbed his; his mouth kissed her neck, her chest. Her tongue reached out and touched his shoulder; she suckled on his skin. He moved across to her breast, she lifted herself into his mouth.

"Joseph, Joseph…" She murmured the words.

He lifted his face to hers, took in her joyful flushed expression. Stroking her hair he smiled. "You look so beautiful."

Her voice was croaky. "I feel messy."

"It's beautiful, you always are."

She folded her arms around his back and he wrapped his under her back tickling her sides. They held each other as close as they possibly could.

"We should do this every morning," he kissed her forehead. "Can you imagine a more perfect way to start the day?"

She shook her head. "No, but we're too old for every morning."

"We'll see." He kissed her nose and she lifted her mouth to touch his.

She sighed, happy, contented. "Mmm, I didn't realise it would get better. I suppose I should have known, practice…"

"…makes perfect, just like dancing."

She laughed. "I need to shower."

"Not yet, stay here with me for a while."

"You said breakfast before you have to leave."

"Don't remind me I have to leave, you're right, we should stay here all day."

"I'm not sure we could beat that."

This time he laughed. "Oh but I'd like to try."

"I'm sure." She kissed him slowly, holding his face. "Order breakfast whilst I clean up and we'll eat it in bed."

"You spoil me. I can hardly believe my life these days."

"Think on it as a well deserved retirement period." She kissed him again. "Let me go." She whispered.

"Never."

"I'll be right back."

"Promise?"

"Promise, we have our next trip to plan, I rather like travelling as Mrs. Romerro."

"Oh believe me, I'm rather enjoying travelling with her too."

She rolled across the bed only to feel him grabbing her waist from behind and holding her to him.

"Joseph…" She smiled resting her hand on his. "Let me go."

"No." He kissed her neck.

"I'll be back directly." She wiggled against him.

"Ahh, definitely not now." He attacked her neck. "Stay with me."

"Mmm," she moaned and turned over in his arms, sliding her hands over his shoulders. "You're too convincing, charming."

"I practiced for years." He gently kissed her mouth.

"Oh I do hope it was just for me."

He nodded his head. "Absolutely."

He was about to kiss her again when his mobile phone rang. Groaning and sliding across the bed away from her he reached for his phone and flipped it open.

Clarisse took the opportunity to slide out of bed and disappear into the bathroom. A few moments later she returned in her bathrobe. Joseph still sat in bed, tapping his phone on his chin apparently deep in thought.

Clarisse moved to the window peeking through the curtains to take in the weather. "Well my dear where shall we shop this afternoon hmm? Oh and we should have lunch somewhere fabulous before we have to leave tomorrow, what do you think?" She turned to face him when he didn't respond. "Joseph…"

She crawled across the expansive bed toward him. "Joseph…" She drawled. "Are you listening to me, do you even hear me?"

He chuckled and shook his head as she climbed on top of him. "Yes I hear you."

She punctuated his words by kissing him, running her hands over his head.

"Darling I'm afraid I have bad news."

"Ohhh…" She lifted her head from kissing his chest. "I don't like bad news. And I don't like that look on your face." She sat back sighing. "No shopping right."

He shook his head. "Afraid not. A last minute emergency meeting." He stroked her hair. "I'm sorry."

"It doesn't matter, I'll shop alone, we can have a meal this evening instead. And you can make it up to me this weekend when we're home." She moved closer to him, pressing her chest against his and kissing his chin.

He sighed, frustrated.

"Something else?" She whispered.

He shook his head again. "I won't be flying home with you tomorrow, I have to fly to Sweden, I should be home on Monday."

She sat back again, annoyed. "Oh I see."

"Don't say it that way honey I'm sorry."

"I know, it can't be helped."

"But you're annoyed?"

"Well, it's the… it doesn't matter, don't worry." She kissed his forehead and climbed off of the bed. "I'm going to have a shower."

"Clarisse…"

"Hmm?" She opened the closet door glancing over the array of dresses there.

"Don't ignore me, come on, don't be angry."

"I'm not angry."

"Annoyed then, admit it, you are."

"I'm not…"

"Clarisse." He swung his legs over the side of the bed and hoisted himself up wandering over to her and kissing the top of her head. "Clarisse…"

"What?" She mumbled pretending to be engrossed in her wardrobe.

"Come on," he squeezed her stomach. "You can be angry at me without it being a problem. All couple's argue."

"I know…" She said nonchalantly.

He tried again, delicately kissing the side of her neck. "Clarisse?"

"It's nothing, stop it…" she pulled away from him. "Joseph stop it, you're naked, go put something on."

"I thought you liked me this way." He smiled.

"Not right now." She turned away from him and stomped across the room heading for the bathroom.

Once she was safely inside she closed the door and leant back against it, what was she doing? She wasn't angry with him, not really, she was angry at herself. There it was that jealous streak rearing again, he was needed, required, he was the one who had to rush from one important meeting to the next and she… She, who was she? The former Queen, former being the operative word.

Stamping her foot in frustration she crossed the marbled bathroom, leant over the expansive tub and turned the hot tap on. Perhaps a bath would help ease her sudden mood.

Staring into the mirror she dropped her robe and her eye caught the red flush that spread over her chest; oh she was still shaking from his touch. She still felt that warm rush in her stomach and heard the words he'd said, the words she'd said… and now she was arguing with him again. Just when she took one step forward in their relationship she tripped and went backwards again.

She tensed immediately as the bathroom door opened and glanced at Joseph standing there watching her, a towel loosely hung around his waist. She wanted to offer him a smile but instead she looked away partly out of embarrassment, partly out of fear.

"Clarisse?"

She swallowed. "I'm sorry."

"You don't have to apologise you know that…" he sighed walking towards her. "This isn't a problem, we have to argue every now and then or we won't be human. I have to annoy the hell out of you every now and then or you wouldn't be human."

She said nothing but continued staring into the now steamed mirror.

She listened as Joseph crossed behind her and turned off the bath taps then came to stand behind her gently placing his hands on her waist.

"Clarisse, my darling, we just shared the most amazing..."

She cut him off, shaking her head. "I know." Somewhat dejectedly she repeated, "I know. This is why I feel so..."

"So what hmm..." He kissed her neck softly. "Talk to me, share it with me."

She couldn't help but back away from the counter a little to be closer to him and with a relieved sigh she felt his arms going around her waist.

"I feel so... I don't know. Yes, we just had the most amazing experience. I never felt something like that, never imagined... Yet, only minutes later we are arguing again. I am arguing. I feel so...stupid, I guess."

"Hmmm," he kissed her neck again revelling in her scent. "But I suspect there's a reason for this... slight disagreement, and all I want is for you to share it with me. That's what we're supposed to be doing now, trusting each other implicitly."

Clarisse lowered her head and squeezed her eyes shut to rid herself of an image she didn't dare to see in herself. Shaking her head, she muttered. "It's silly really."

"Oh Clarisse, Clarisse… it doesn't matter how silly it is, I love the fact that I get to see the silly things now." He watched her smile appear and couldn't resist kissing the side of her mouth holding her body even tighter against his. "We can't go through the rest of our lives avoiding certain things, it's not what's done, we share it all, we trust each other and we laugh together at the silly things. So…" He turned her in his arms. "Whatever it is it doesn't matter, the argument's forgotten already, but the memory of this morning will always be there."

She swallowed heavily at that, desperately trying to keep the tears in check. Looping her arms around his neck she leant closer to him. "Yes," she sighed, "the memory of this morning will always be with us. Even when I behave like a fool."

"But a very gorgeous fool."

She giggled at that. "But a fool nonetheless. With a gorgeous husband, however." Turning her head slightly, she placed a breathy kiss upon his collarbone.

"We have about an hour before I have to tear myself away from you, shall we make use of that extraordinary bath?" She lifted her face to him, her eyes sparkling; he dipped his head and kissed her full mouth. "Hmm, how about we sink in there together and you confess why you're a fool."

Glancing over to the large and steaming tub, she tried to get out of an answer. He, however, would have none of it. Gently lifting her chin, he forced her to look into his face. Raising an eyebrow, he urged her to speak. "Do I really have to?" she stalled.

At his answering nod, she shrugged her shoulders. "Very well then."

Carefully disentangling herself from his embrace, she extended her hand to him and then led him into the steaming water.

He couldn't help but chuckle as he followed her, he dropped his towel. "So now you want me naked?"

She threw him a saucy grin. "Of course. Always."

"Ohhh" he sank down into the warm water, welcoming her into his arms. "Do you know how difficult it's going to be for me to get out of here and actually leave you?"

The smile on her face became only brighter. "I'd love to make it impossible for you to leave me today, but I know it can't be helped."

He tucked her hair behind her ear as she settled on his lap. "Tell me, are you simply desperately upset about my extra trip because you'll miss me terribly, which I expect." He grinned. "Or was there something else?"

Once again, Clarisse dropped her head to avoid his gaze. She was stalling, but she knew she wouldn't get out of an answer this time. "It is both, I'm afraid."

"Of course, I will miss you terribly. It is strange, I've been alone for so long and now I feel like I cannot function without you for even one day. I don't know how I thought we could have separate bedrooms, even temporarily. I need you to hold me at night. I need you to kiss me, to make love to me." She chuckled ruefully. "Sometimes I think, I have become sex-crazed. At my age." she exclaimed. "Yet, I cannot help but want you. All the time."

Joseph couldn't stop the smile that spread across his face. "Oh believe me I'm not complaining."

She smiled at this and then continued after a deep breath. "I need to see you, when I wake up. I need to know that I will at least see you for mealtimes, if not more often. Gods, I need your scent in the air. Joseph I need you with me. All the time. And I feel guilty about that."

He shook his head interrupting her. "You don't have to, I want you with me all the time too. There's no guilt, we're hopelessly in love," he smiled. "And we waited long enough for this, I want to be with you every single second..."

Her smile became a bit teary at that, yet she stubbornly ploughed on. If she didn't get this out now, she would never manage. "I'm happy about this, Joseph, but I still feel guilty. It is so egoistic of me. I saw and heard you yesterday in that conference room and I realized not only that you do an important job, but also that you are very good at it. This is a field, where you can really make a difference, because of who you are, how you are and," she shrugged, "what you are. And here I am behaving like a whiny, clingy wife, who feels neglected just because her husband does his job."

Taking another deep breath, Clarisse braced herself for the final part of her confession. "I guess, it is mostly my problem, not yours. It was always me, who was constantly busy and never had a moment to breathe and now, my load lightens considerably and my schedule is no longer so full. All of a sudden, it is you who is constantly busy. Travelling all over the continent. A meeting here, a conference there. It is actually quite ridiculous. I always wanted more time to myself and now that I have it, I'm not happy with it either. I guess, I just don't know any longer what to do with myself, especially when you are not with me..."

He stared at her, taking in her expression, attempting to engage with her words. "I..." Joe took a deep breath and shook his head. "I'm not sure what to say."

She made a face. "You don't have to..."

His hand lowered down her body, sliding into the water along her leg. "Yes I do, because you're my wife, and you're unhappy." He watched her, mulling it over, biting down on his bottom lip. "I'll give it up." He finally proclaimed. "We'll retire together, disappear into the sunset and relax."

She laughed out loud at this and leant forward to put her head against his shoulder. "We would both be bored out of our minds after a few days. Despite all the things we both come up with when we are alone. Still, it is a lovely idea."

Somehow he was relieved at her words. She lifted her head back and he stroked her face. "I would do it for you, if you wanted me to... perhaps in a few years. I have to admit; well you know how much I'm enjoying this turn of events. Being thrust into the spotlight is unnerving but I love doing it. But you... my god Clarisse the respect you receive, the work you've done over the years, if anything these event organisers are asking me as much about you as they are about my views on the future of education."

He sighed. "I want to share it with you, I want you to be part of it. Certainly never to feel ignored, you are first and foremost, the one person that matters above all else. You will always be the first thing I think of when I wake." He kissed her forehead. "The last thing at night."

She closed her eyes at the touch of his lips against her skin. "As you are for me."

"I'm not sure what else to say, I want to somehow, stupidly, make it better for you but I'm not sure how... it's not going to be that easy."

"No, it isn't. Still, being here with you, being in your arms is all the help I need. In case, I haven't told you yet: I like being Mrs. Romerro. But you are right, I'm afraid you cannot say or do anything to make it better for me. It is something I have to get through myself, just like you had to do, before this new task came your way. I know, you were not completely happy at that time. But you pulled through and with you by my side, I will do as well."

He smiled, somewhat half-heartedly. "You will, and I'll be here." He kissed her again. "The important thing is you told me, thank you for sharing it."

She smiled at him. "I told you once - in anger as I remember - that you are my best friend. I only have you to turn to, when I need a friend, when I need somebody to confide in. Whom else could I tell?"

Clarisse smoothed her skirt down and glanced again out of the car window. The sun was shining, the afternoon glorious, and she was going home… she turned her head again and looked to the front of the car, it never used to be her waiting, never.

The door opened and her husband slid in next to her, she folded her gloves in her lap.

"Sorry my dear, got caught in the lobby."

"It's fine, I told you, you don't have to come with me to the airport."

"Ah but you hate to fly." He leant over and kissed her cheek. "Besides, I might as well fly straight out to Sweden, save time."

"Oh well I'm glad I could accommodate darling." She teased.

"Ha ha…" He rested his hand on hers and leant closer to her, the privacy screen was up and there were no worries anybody might over hear them. "I'll miss you," he whispered. "Can't sleep properly without you next to me."

"I would think you would get more sleep without me next to you going on last night's activities."

"You're too distracting."

"Hmm," She smiled and finally twisted her head to look at him, taking in his expression she chuckled. "Joseph."

"Kiss me darling." He proclaimed resting his head on her shoulder.

"Stop it, you're being silly."

"You make me silly."

"Oh I do, I'm guilty of many things aren't I." She relented and gently kissed his forehead.

"I want a proper kiss."

"You can have a proper kiss when you return to Genovia, and not until."

"Then I'll hurry home."

"That was my plan." She glanced through the window realising they were nearing the airport and began to pull her gloves on.

He reached for her hand, lifted it to his mouth and gently kissed her palm. She let her demeanour slip for a second and brushed his lips.

"I'll miss you too." She tipped her head forward and kissed him gently, tantalisingly. "Especially as I have to face Lord and Lady Palimore's anniversary celebrations alone."

"You'll come through it admirably as always my dear."

"Hmm it's not that which worries me."

He sat up, straightening his tie. "Surely nothing worries you."

She was quiet, staring out of the window as the car slowed.

"Clarisse?" He prompted.

"Gossip, it's the gossip, the rumours about our 'floundering marriage' still abound… showing up alone does nothing to reassure the country we are still very much together."

"Perhaps more than ever." He squeezed her hand again.

"I'm being silly, it's fine, it will be fine." She returned the intimate gesture by folding her now gloved fingers with his. "You'll be off in Sweden flying the flag."

"I can but try." He kissed her head. "I wish you were coming with me."

"I'm too much of a distraction dear remember." She smiled coyly sitting forward, they had pulled into the private car park and any second would have to abandon their solitude. "Now, be careful, don't drink too much in the evening and do try and rest at least a little." She warned.

"Yes ma'am." Although teasing he enjoyed the way she fussed over him now. They were settling into married life. "And do try and enjoy yourself on Sunday. Mia will be there."

"I know," she sighed. "Call me this evening."

"You know I will." He sat behind her, touching her back, they heard the front door open. "I love you." He whispered kissing the back of her neck.

"And you." She was able to quickly reply before the door opened in front of her.

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