FLASHBACK: Past, Present and Future
This is my first attempt at writing a story about my two favorite characters from Princess Diaries.Of course people such as Disney and others own them - I just get to do things with them they would never dream of! Please be patient if the timing is off a bit and play along – thanks! As always, feedback is appreciated!
Present
He couldn't believe his ears. He stood still motionless until he heard her say "Dearest Joseph". At that point he stepped forward, slightly bowing his head out of respect and, on auto-pilot saying, "Yes, your majesty"
Then the words he never thought he would hear, "….will you take my hand in marriage?"
All time stood still, he couldn't imagine that here, in front of all of these people, she was asking him, Joseph Romero, to marry her! He thought back to when he first came to know her.
35 years ago
Clarisse, I'd like to introduce you to Joseph, he's the newest member of our security team. A bright, hardworking young man who comes highly recommended. Joseph had heard the words coming out of King Rupert's mouth, but when the Queen turned from tending her flowers and smiled at him, he no longer paid much attention to what the King was saying about him. Fortunately, years of training had taught him his manners and he smiled pleasantly and bowed slightly and found the words, "Hello. Your Majesty" His eyes locked with hers for just a moment, but it was long enough for Joseph to know that her eyes were the clearest blue he had ever seen. "Welcome aboard, Joseph. I certainly hope you find this to be pleasant home for you." The Queen spoke with a perfect accent and manners as well. "I'm certain I will – thank you." And with that, the tour of the grounds and his duties continued.
He saw her occasionally on the grounds during his normal duty time. He had not been in the royals' employ long enough to be given the responsibility of personally guarding one of them – that came with time and experience. He had worked hard, though, in the hopes that some day guarding her would be his sole mission in life. Of course, getting to be near her a majority of the time would be one of those "fringe benefits." He would occasionally see her and make polite conversation – always trying to treat her with the respect due a Queen and the friendship due the wonderful woman behind the queen – he feared that not too many provided her with that type of relationship. At first she had seemed a little put off by his forwardness, but once she realized (or she thought) that he had nothing but honorable intentions, she began to relax in his presence somewhat.
Over time he had settled into palace life and began to take notice of the little things. Little things like – the King and Queen did not get along necessary well; they had separate suites (although there was a secret passageway that linked the two); and the King was becoming increasingly agitated that they had not produced an heir yet (although to Joseph – having separate beds could be a major cause of this).
One day he had found the Queen in one of the greenhouses tending to her roses. To the untrained eye (or one that had not spent as much time as he could secretly studying the queen), everything would appear normal. However, Joseph had seen small tears escape down her cheek and her wiping them away as quickly so no one would notice. Joe smiled to her personal body guard and asked if he could go in. "Be my guest – she's in a mood anyway. Perhaps you can bring her out of it- no one else has been successful thus far today."
"I shall try." And with that, he put on his best smile and stepped into the greenhouse. "Hello your Majesty. Your flowers are absolutely magnificent." He had used his low, calming voice and it had rolled off his tongue almost as velvet. She turned to him with her "Queenly" smile, but not before he noticed her wiping a tear away again. "Oh hello, Joseph - thank you for your kind words. I'm afraid these roses are a passion of mine and I try to sneak away every moment I can to tend to them. I so enjoy their beauty and fragrance."
"Then I should leave you alone to tend to your passion." Again he gave her thatkiller smile.
"No, Joseph…please stay. I could use a ...'friend' right now." She had hesitated before her use of the word friend, but he took hope in the simple fact that she had said it.
"Than I shall stay."
She didn't offer any more right then and so he picked up a spray bottle and began imitating her actions and tending to the beautiful roses. After a time, she stopped and said, more to the flowers than him, "I'm pregnant."
"Why your majesty – that's wonderful news. The King is most happy, I'm sure."
"Oh, yes he certainly is – he now has his heir." There was a strange tone to her voice and Joseph decided that he wouldn't pressure her – he may be treading on ground not meant for a lowly security guard to be walking on. Secretly fantasizing about his queen was one thing – getting involved in her marital problems – especially when those problems involved a King – was entirely another.
In a completely unexpected move, she turned to him and sought comfort from him. The tears were flowing freely now. He wasn't sure what to do so he made a quick glance to ensure the security guard was looking the other way and put his arms around her and just held her until the cries subsided. When he felt that she was somewhat composed, he placed his finger under her chin and lifted it up slightly and asked, "Do you want to talk about it?"
Those eyes, those crystal blue eyes that were now awash with tears gazed into his dark, obsidian eyes for what seemed like an eternity to him but in reality was only a few moments. She seemed to be searching him – deeply. For what, he wasn't sure but he gazed back at her openly and honestly – concerned only for the welfare of the woman in front of him.
"You know, Joseph, they say the eyes are the windows to the soul."
"And what do you see when you look into my soul?"
"A friend…a real friend. One that I can talk to and be myself with."
"You can your majesty."
She smiled up at him now and quirked her lips into a lopsided smile and said, "Well, then perhaps, dear Joseph, you should call me Clarisse when we are alone – just as a real friend would."
He thought his heart would melt right then and there – but he held his composure and calmly replied, "I shall try, your Majesty – I shall try."
A few more moments of silence elapsed before he found the courage to ask her again, "Do you want to talk about it?"
She seemed lost in her thoughts – perhaps she was battling with herself about how much to tell him, but somewhere inside of her – the decision was made. The decision that she could trust him and with that she began:
"I'm sure you've noticed, Joseph, that King Rupert and I don't always get along."
He nodded his assent quietly.
She looked at him, somewhat sadly and then continued, "I have understood, from a very young age, that it was my duty to my country to marry him and produce heirs to the throne." More silence – Joseph waited.
"I guess I naively thought that we would fall in love – there would be passion and romance – ok, maybe after a certain age, I didn't really think that, but I had always held on to a small glimmer of hope that it would at least be a small part of who he and I were."
"Am I to assume that it was not the case then?"
She smiled that sad smile again, "You assume correctly."
"Don't get me wrong, Joseph. I am happy to be pregnant in that I have always loved children and the thought of having my own was always something I truly cherished. I just thought…"
"You just thought that they would be born out of love rather than duty…?" He let the words hang softly in the air between them.
Quietly she exhaled and then looked deep into his eyes again, "Yes, I think that sums it up very well. It is my duty and one which I shall perform to the best of my ability. It just saddens me that Rupert sees this only as an heir rather than a child. The child hasn't even been born yet and already he or she is duty bound. I know that feeling well, Joseph – and it's not a thought I treasure for my child."
He had been at a loss of words to say anything at that point – so he just reached over and put his hand over her hands which were folded neatly in her lap. He gently squeezed the top one looking deep into the windows of her soul and saw a sadness that made his own heart break.
She allowed the contact for a few more moments as it created a warmth inside of her that she had not felt in a long time…no actually had never felt before. She smiled at him, a sweet and sad smile and then reached up and gently cupped his cheek in what became her trademark gesture of affection between them. And thus, they say was the beginning of a beautiful – yet tumultuous friendship.
Present day
He saw her looking – again with those beautiful, crystal clear eyes – at him expectantly, hopefully. Those eyes stating she hoped that she hadn't waited too long – that too much pain hadn't been caused by her constant choosing of duty over self – by her turning him down one last time – only a few heart wrenching days ago.
He couldn't deny her anything – no matter how hard he tried; and that had gotten him into more than his fair share of hot water and in uncomfortable situations over the years.
Back in time again
"I want you to become my personal bodyguard and I want you…no I ask you, as my friend to accompany me to the doctor for my first visit."
Joseph hadn't known what to think. First he was honored that she wanted him watching over her and he was terrified that he wanted her with him at a doctor visit – especially an OBGYN doctor – hell he wasn't even sure he knew what those initials even stood for.
"But your majesty…"
"Joseph…I thought we agreed."
"Yes ma'am. But Clarisse – I hardly see how that would be appropriate. Shouldn't it be….oh I don't know – anyone but me?"
She sighed and took on a look he had seen her put on when she was dealing with difficult trade negotiations or diplomats who needed coaxing. "Joseph, my dear, the law states that the Queen cannot visit a doctor of this type alone. There would be too much opportunity for gossip or other unsightly things that I don't wish to speak about if I were to be left alone in that particular situation."
"But the King…surely he would want to be the one to be there?"
"He considers his role in this whole matter of producing an heir to be completed; and, besides that, I have absolutely no desire for him to be present during such an exam. Now please Joseph, it is not polite to make a Queen…or your friend for that matter…beg."
"What about Olivia? Wouldn'tshe be more appropriate?"
"I don't want Olivia – I have no desire for one of my servants to see me in such a state." She placated – now becoming quite tired with this exercise.
"But Clarisse, technically I'm your servant as well – or have you forgotten?"
With that statement, a wicked smile lit up her face – one that he had rarely seen on Clarisse and never on the Queen. "If memory serves me correctly, Joseph, your service to me is my bodyguard, correct?"
He warily replied – afraid of where this was going, "Yes…"
"Then it is your sworn duty to "guard" my body to ensure that this doctor does me no harm – correct?" She smiled triumphantly because she knew she had him.
Sensing defeat and deciding to 'take it like a man', he bowed low and replied, "But of course, your majesty. It would be my honor to "guard" your body against anyone and everyone who would ever think to bring your harm." As he rose, he smiled up into her eyes and once again was rewarded with one of her beautiful smiles. He shook his head and hoped that was enough to get him through this upcoming doctor's visit.
A few days later….
Joseph still couldn't believe he had been talked into this. He was here sitting with Clarisse awaiting her first appointment with her doctor – he had no idea at the time just how much "quality" time he would get to spend with Clarisse and her doctor over the years and how close, actually, the three of them would become.
At first he was very uncomfortable and kept his eyes pinned solely on a plaque on the wall – only briefly glancing at the doctor…and only to ensure he was being proper with his Queen.
"Joseph?"
"Yes, your Majesty." Joe replied without even glancing her way.
"Joseph, please – stop being so childish and come look." Clarisse had tried to sound very serious but, truthfully, she was holding back the giggles – wishing she could see his face when she made her not so innocent comment.
"Your Majesty…" He wasn't sure of what to say as he didn't want the doctor to witness him being disrespectful, however, he wasn't sure what she wanted him to come and 'look' at.
"Oh Joseph, don't be silly – I want you to see Prince Pierre." With that statement, Clarisse had taken his hand and pulled him towards her. He noticed that her stomach was exposed and that a gel had been applied. The doctor was running an instrument over her slightly extended stomach and it was producing a distorted picture that the doctor had to interpret for him. But once he showed him, Joseph was clearly amazed. He was witnessing life – and not only that, but life inside the most beautiful woman he had ever met.
He knew he couldn't speak at that moment – for mere words didn't convey what he was feeling and he knew that if he said what he was thinking, the Doctor would be privy to information that just couldn't be shared with anyone. So instead, he squeezed thehand tightly that she had used to pull him towards her, silently thanking her for this gift.
As they got back in the car, Clarisse raised the privacy screen and then turned to Joe and teased, "Now see, wasn't that worth the momentary embarrassment you experienced?"
He was still reeling from the experience, but decided to tease back, "Well, your Majesty, I never imagined the first time I got to see you with nothing but a skimpy robe on that there would be two other people in the room!"
They laughed together, but he noticed a definitely flush climbing up her face. She turned serious after a moment and raised her hand to cup his cheek again. "Seriously, Joseph – thank you for being there with me today. I can't imagine having shared that with anyone else."
