Author's note: I'm sorry I have taken so long to finish this chapter, but I've been really busy with studying and all that, and I wanted to get this right! I hope you enjoy the conclusion of my story…now it's time for me to begin another!

NB: The Princess Diaries belongs to Meg Cabot & Disney; the song lyrics also don't belong to me!

Song lyrics: 'When You Say Nothing at All' (Ronan Keating)

'The Way You Look Tonight' (J Kern & Dorothy Fields)

The next six days passed quickly and busily for everyone involved in the wedding- after choosing the date and the place, they had spent the rest of Christmas afternoon discussing details.
"I'd like you to be my matron of honour, Grandma, " Mia said during a lull in conversation, and Clarisse had been moved to tears. "And Joe, I'd like you to walk me up the aisle," she added shyly, and Joseph could only clear his throat gruffly, as Clarisse knew he did when he was embarrassed and didn't know how to convey his feelings.

"Thank you," he finally said when they left, giving her a squeeze. Clarisse was delighted to see how much Joe meant to Mia.

"I thought Queens weren't supposed to be escorted up the aisle," he said to Clarisse as they walked into their suite.

"This is different- I think Mia is quite fond of you, darling," Clarisse chuckled, touched at how obviously flustered he was. "Besides, I think you look handsome in a tuxedo, and here's an opportunity to show off!"

"What if other women thought I looked handsome in it?" he teased, and she pretended to look angry at him.

"I could be very nasty if I wanted to be…."

"No, you couldn't," Joe contradicted her, pulling her close for a hug. "That's one of the things I love about you- how always nice and kind you are…although, that may have changed since we got married…."he pretended to tease her, and she only playfully slapped his arm before walking over to stand by the fire.

She stared at the flames for a moment, as it finally dawned on her…she spun around and looked at Joe, her eyes and face lighting up with a look Joseph loved to see.

"Mia's getting married!"

True to Joe's prediction, the Archbishop had no problems whatsoever marrying Mia and Nicholas at the Winter Palace chapel. He had given Clarisse and Joe a significant look as they left, and they were under no qualms about what he meant- he fully endorsed their marriage, and had been relieved when they had finally admitted their feelings, culminating in the wedding.

Sebastian Motez had been overjoyed at the news, and had immediately accepted Nicholas's request to be his best man.

"This will be fun…keeping a secret from the press and parliament for an entire week," he said with a smile, but there was no doubt that he supported the move.

While he was Nicholas's best man, Lily was Mia's bridesmaid, and gaining three dresses had been the trickiest part of the secret. However, Clarisse had had a trick up her sleeve- her personal dresser had been summoned to the palace and, after signing an iron clad confidentiality agreement, had made adjustments to the dresses Mia, Lily and Clarisse had chosen and promised to have them ready by New Year's Eve.

Viscount Mabrey and his son, meanwhile, had spent a cold Christmas in the city jail, before an emergency hearing on Boxing Day. The results for them had been grim- they were released on bail, but they weren't allowed to leave the country, and their trial had been scheduled for late January. The charges against them were extremely serious, and the media speculated that they could possibly receive jail sentences. However, Mia, too happy and busy with her wedding plans, didn't care about the speculation, although she was kept informed with what was happening.


It was a cold New Year's Eve when, unnoticed by the people of Pyrus and the press, four cars (not limousines) left the palace grounds and headed north, in convoy, towards the Winter Palace in Lybitt. Following the convoy, at a discreet distance, were the six security cars- even though Mia had been found, there was still tightened security about the Queen, the former Queen and the Prime Minister.

"Do you think anyone will guess where we're going?" Clarisse asked as Joe, who had insisted on driving again, followed the car containing Mia.

"I don't think so- judging by this weather, I assume everyone is staying inside until the end of January, at least," and Clarisse giggled at the joke. "How is the bride to be, anyway? I've been too busy organising tuxedos with Nicholas and Sebastian."

"I don't think she's the slightest bit nervous…I guess because she went through all this before, and then it ended in an anticlimax…she looks so beautiful in her dress."

"I know I'm not allowed to see what she's wearing, but what about you? Can see what you're going to wear?"

"No," Clarisse said definitely, shaking her head. "It's bad luck for anyone to see the bridal party's dresses before the wedding."
"Why? I thought the saying was it's bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding!"

"Yes, but I made up the other one. I want to give you a surprise tomorrow!" she smiled winningly at him, and he pretended to heave a sigh of resignation.

"Fine. Next thing I know, you'll tell me you're staying overnight with the bride and bridesmaid!"

"No, but I will be leaving our suite first thing in the morning, to help her dress. The next time you will see me is at the church, ahead of you up the aisle!"

"So, I won't see you when I come to get Mia to the church?"

"No! Can't you just wait for the surprise?"


Two and a half hours later, they arrived at the Winter Palace with even less fanfare than when they had left the main palace, and less staff- most of them, not expecting the Queen, were on their Winter holidays, which suited Mia's plans to perfection. Clarisse was looking forward to relaxing in front of a fire with a cup of tea, but Mia had seen the snow and declared that it was the perfect time for a snow fight, boys against girls.

"No, you can't get out of it!" she had said when Clarisse had tried to gently decline, and Clarisse soon found herself facing off against Joseph.

"Mia, is this such a good idea?" she heard Helen call from the other side of Mia, and Mia only laughed, before shouting:

"FIRE!"

While everyone else instantly got into the spirit of snowballing each other, Joe and Clarisse just looked at each other.

"I don't think I want to throw a snowball at you," Joe admitted after Clarisse stood up from tying her shoelace, before walking over to her. She smiled in relief- that was what she had been hoping for.

"I'm glad you're not because….I DO!" and she threw the snowball she had made while 'tying' her shoes at his face.

"Why you…." He sputtered, wiping snow off his face and looking around to retaliate, but Clarisse had taken off, heading in the direction of Mia. "I'm going to get you for that, Your Majesty!"

"You have to catch me first!" she called back before receiving a snowball in the back "Amelia!"

"Ha, ha," Joseph laughed from behind her, and Clarisse only laughed harder as she continued her escape from Joseph.

However, she had forgotten that she hadn't done a lot of running in the past few years, and she was quite out of breath when she met the front gate. She turned around and saw that Joseph was still on her tail, although throwing snowballs in other directions as he went.

"I'm sorry, Joseph," she smiled charmingly, hoping to disarm him, as he got closer and closer to her, and he only laughed.

"I love to see how you react when you're cornered…you try to disarm them with your smile!" before he got close enough to throw the snowball that hit her squarely in the face.

"I was quite good at making snowballs in my time,' she said, almost to herself as she bent down to make one quickly, before throwing at Joseph, catching him off guard.

It was an enjoyable afternoon but, after an hour, almost everyone was frozen and the snow was beginning to fall harder.

"Let's call it a truce," Joe said when Clarisse cornered him for the tenth time, a snowball in each hand. He had suspected that Clarisse had enjoyed herself, but he was surprised at how good she was- obviously she had played with the boys when they were little.

"Good idea, I'm cold," she relented, and dropped the snowballs onto the ground before accepting his proffered arm. They had just turned toward the palace when they heard Mia shout from behind them:

"Hey, where are you two going?"

"It's cold…"Clarisse began as they turned to face her, and were rewarded with snow in their faces.

"We surrender!" Joe shouted before taking Clarisse's hand and making a dash for the palace.

"See you tonight, Grandma!"

"What is she talking about?" he asked when they slowed to a walk.

"Mia is having a mini hen's night tonight- but I definitely won't be late!"

It was just after ten when Clarisse let herself back into the suite- it had been a fun evening, but Lily, Charlotte and Mia were planning on staying up all night while Clarisse, Helen and Sheila Motez retired.

"Don't forget, you have a big day tomorrow," Clarisse called over her shoulder as she left the room. She was just delighted to see how happy Mia was, and how the kidnapping had obviously not affected her.

"Have a good night in?" Joseph asked as she sat down on the couch next to him. Unlike them, the men had decided to have a quiet night in, playing cards but Joseph had retired early on, just in case Clarisse returned early.

"Yes…we played some silly game I've never heard of…'Truth or Dare' and I got stuck with Truth!"

"What did you get asked?"

"Well…"she stalled, blushing a deep red as Joseph sat up and looked at her interestedly. "I got asked how long I had been in love with you."

"And what did you say?" he teased as she blushed even more.

"I said…from almost the first moment I met you," and she looked down at her hands, her cheeks a brilliant red. Joe, genuinely touched and thrilled, tipped her chin up and looked into her big blue eyes.

"Really?"

"Yes," she smiled at him before he kissed her tenderly. After the kiss, he put his arms around her, and she snuggled in close to him.

"What's on television?"

"Not much…I've been flipping channels most of the night."

"That's what I used to do on New Year's Eve, when Rupert was alive," she said with a sigh.

"I know…I always seemed to know what you were doing…."

"You spy," she laughed, and then leaned her head against his shoulder. "What time is it?"

"About 10:30…why? Do you want to see the New Year in? Our first as husband and wife…."

"No, although I would love to…I think I might go to bed early," she stood up and stretched. "We have a big day tomorrow….."


It was still snowing heavily the next day as Mia looked nervously out of her suite window- she was slightly surprised that she was feeling like this. Her last almost wedding had ended unexpectedly, and she knew that there would be no one there to judge her, but she was still very nervous….

"Why am I nervous?" she asked, turning to look at her waiting bridesmaid and matron of honour. Clarisse was wearing a brand new, pale blue wool dress with the sapphire necklace and earrings that had been Mia's Christmas present, with a matching heavy coat hanging over a chair.

Mia had been surprised to find that Clarisse had already opened it, but was happy when she had seen how much Clarisse loved them. Lily was also wearing a wool dress, only in a dusky pink colour, and Lily had wrinkled her nose when she had first seen them. But they all knew that Lily was only joking, and that she was proud to be Mia's bridesmaid again.

"You're taking a big step today, Mia, and it's understandable that you should be nervous," Clarisse said from her favourite chair by the fire.

Clarisse had liked the other dress Mia had worn, but she thought that Mia looked absolutely beautiful in the wedding dress she was wearing that day. It was a sleeveless white dress, with beading on the bodice, an A line skirt (similar to the other dress) and her shoulders and arms were covered with white, transparent sheath.

"Were you nervous when you married Joe?" Mia sat down in a chair opposite Clarisse, mindful not to get her dress wrinkled. Clarisse's face softened at the mere thought of her wedding to Joseph- although it had been an unexpected surprise, she considered it one of the happiest days of her life.

Her wedding to Rupert, on the other hand, had been a blur- barely eighteen, she had been terrified at the thought of marrying the heir to the throne, whom she had barely known. They had been very tentative friends on the day of the wedding, and the friendship had developed over time, but it was the day she had first met Joseph that Clarisse really knew what it was like to fall in love.

He had looked kind and easygoing, and she had been surprised to find how quickly she settled in his presence, knowing that whatever he saw would not go to the King. He had seen her tears, anger, joy and disappointment, and it had been a wonderful day when she had found out that he loved her too. But their wedding….it had been the culmination of many years of denial and secrets.

Mia, watching her grandmother's dreamy face, knew how much she loved Joe, and it made her a little sad to think that they had had so many years of denying their feelings, for the sake of the country. Clarisse suddenly shook her head, realising that Mia was waiting for an answer.

"It was wonderful, Mia, and I wasn't at all nervous…I guess I knew that I had always been meant to be with Joseph, and it only been a question of when."

Charlotte glanced at her watch, and discreetly coughed.

"Your Majesty…Clarisse," she corrected herself with a smile. "It's time we were going- Joe will be back in about ten minutes…"

"That's right!" Clarisse gave a start, before walking over to retrieve her coat. She wanted to really surprise Joseph, and couldn't wait to see the look on his face. Mia, Charlotte and Lily had happily gone along with the charade.

"I'll see you at the church then," she said, turning to look back at her granddaughter, and then stopped. There was so much she wanted to say, but she didn't have the words to express what she was feeling. Mia seemed to sense it, as she smiled radiantly at her.

"We'll be there- and I don't think Joe will let me be late- even if it's tradition!"


The small group of guests were already waiting in the church when Clarisse, Lily and Charlotte arrived. Shades, Nicholas and the Archbishop were already standing up at the altar, while the other guests (Helen, Patrick, Sheila and two sets of maids, along with the security detail) were sitting down.

"I never thought I would see Mia marry so quietly," Clarisse said honestly as they stood outside, in the hall, waiting for Joe and Mia to arrive. "But she's so happy…this may mean more to them…."

"You deserved the other wedding," Charlotte said, a little shyly. In the past few months, since she had no longer been under Clarisse's employ, she had begun to regard Clarisse as a good friend, and it was obvious that the former Queen felt the same way. Still, it was a little awkward at times….

"I'm glad you're happy now."

"Thank you, Charlotte," Clarisse smiled at her fondly. "I don't ….oh my," she interrupted herself by looking towards the door. Standing there were Mia, her veil swirling around her face, on the arm of an extremely handsome, tuxedo clad Joseph. Charlotte smiled, and then followed Joseph's gaze- it was clear that Joseph was almost overwhelmed by the way Clarisse looked.

"You look…you look beautiful," he managed to say as they joined the two women near the doorway. "No wonder you didn't want me to see you!" before he stepped past Charlotte and kissed her, not caring that they were in front of Charlotte and Mia.

"You know, you're not suppose to upstage the bride," he joked once he had stepped back, and looked her over again.

"And you're not supposed to be eyeing other women when you have to escort the bride up the aisle," Clarisse retorted that the colour in her cheeks heightened. Although it was a relief to be openly affectionate to each other, it was still in her mind that royalty shouldn't show affection in public.

They lined up according to plan- Lily was first, followed by Clarisse and then Mia and Joe.

"By the way, we don't have the traditional song today…we've found a different song," Mia said simply as two security men opened the doors, and each of them stepped through to the sound of music….

Up the altar waited a clearly stunned Nicholas, with a beaming Sebastian beside him.

"It's amazing

How you can speak

Right to my heart.

Without saying a word,

You can light up the dark.

Try as I may,

I can never explain

What I hear when

You don't say a thing

The smile on your face

Let's me know

That you need me.

There's a truth

In your eyes

Saying you'll never leave me

The touch of your hand says

You'll catch me

Whenever I fall

You say it best

When you say nothing at all"

They got to the altar long before the song ended, and after Mia and Nicholas stepped toward the Archbishop, Clarisse turned to smile at Joseph, who simply mouthed 'I love you.' Clarisse, blushing hotly, replied the same but didn't notice that Mia was watching them with a smile.


"We are gathered here…" the Archbishop began, and Clarisse turned back to watch the ceremony. Clarisse and Joe looked at each other often, with warm smiles, remembering their own wedding day, and how much they loved being married to each other…..

"I now pronounce you husband and wife…you may kiss the bride," the Archbishop smiled at the young couplestanding in front of him, and Nicholas lifted Mia's veil before giving her a tender kiss. Clarisse had tears in her eyes, and Helen was teary eyed in the front pew. After the marriage certificate was signed, Mia and Nicholas headed back down the aisle, followed by Clarisse and Joe and Lily and Sebastian.

"I guess you and I paired together now," Joe murmured as they met at the top of the altar.

"I think so too," she beamed at him as he kissed her gloved hand before linking it into his arm and following the bride and groom.


Outside, the temperature had dropped even further in an hour, so it was decided that all photos and congratulations would wait until they were back at the palace. The Winter Palace had their own limousines for the occasion, so the bride and groom took the first one, Clarisse and Joe were in the second, and the others followed in the other cars.

"I don't know how I'm going to get used to being chauffeured about all the time," Joe said once he had shut the partition between them and the driver, and leaned back in his seat.

"It's actually quite easy- I've been doing it for years," Clarisse teased him, before he leaned over and kissed her again. "What was that for?"

"You looked so beautiful in there…it wasn't fair to the bride that you were almost as lovely as she was," he smiled, taking her hand in his.

"Stop, you're embarrassing me," Clarisse said with a shy smile, looking down at her lap and blushing. He pulled her face up again, and looked at her intently in the eyes.

"You are one of the most beautiful women I know and you deserve to be told that every day- you've gotten used to not being told that, but that's going to stop now!"

The reception was simply a quiet lunch- Mia and Nicholas had decided to have a major reception once they returned from their honeymoon in the Caribbean, in two weeks, and their flight was late that afternoon while Clarisse was, in the meantime, still acting regent.

"I can't believe that Mia is married now," Helen said as they waited in the main hallway to say goodbye to the newlyweds.

"Before too long, you two will be a grandmother and great-grandmother, respectively," Joe supplied helpfully, and Clarisse threw him a startled look, before laughing.

"Great-grandmother! I hadn't thought of it that way!" she laughed, before he whispered into her ear

"You don't look like a grandmother," and she beamed at him before turning to see that Mia and Nicholas had appeared at the top of the stairs. They spoke to everyone briefly, leaving Clarisse and Joe until last.

"You two have a wonderful honeymoon," Clarisse said as she hugged Nicholas, and then turned to Mia, who was smiling luminously at them.

"Thank you both for all your support- not only for today, but not giving up when I was missing. I don't know what I would do without you all!"

"We are family," Clarisse said soflty before Mia threw herself into Clarisse's arms for a hug.

"Will you tell parliament the news?" Mia said with an impish smile when they pulled away, and Clarisse's eyes sparkled- she couldn't wait to tell them the news.

"With pleasure, my darling!"

All too soon, in a shower of confetti, the happy couple were driven back to the airport in Pyrus.

"So, what do you want to do now?" Joe said with a sigh as everyone stood around in the hallway- it seemed oddly empty with Mia there.

"I think I just want to go home," Clarisse said with a sigh.

"Your wish is my command, madam," Joe said, and headed upstairs to get their bags.


Two and a half hours later, they arrived safely back at the palace, with no one from Pyrus or the press none the wiser as to where they had been.

"Although we will have to tell them eventually," Clarisse said as she sat down on the couch in front of the fire. "But I won't think about it again until tomorrow- I think I will have an early night tonight," she yawned.

"I think that sounds like a good idea… but, since we didn't get to at Lybitt, would you do me the pleasure of dancing with me?" Joe stood in front of her, his hand out, and she smiled tenderly at him before standing up and taking his hand.

"I would be honoured, Mr Bonnell."

He led her out into the middle of the floor, and switched on the CD player with a remote control. Clarisse listened to the tune for a moment, and gasped when she realised what the tune was.

"It's our song!" she cried with delight, her eyes filling with tears. "You remembered!"

"Someday,
When I'm awfully low
And the world is cold,
I will feel a glow just thinking of you
And the way you look tonight.

Yes, you're lovely
With your smile so warm
And your cheek so soft.
There is nothing for me but to love you
Just the way you look tonight.

With each word your tenderness grows,
Tearing my fear apart.
And that smile that wrinkles your nose,
Touches my foolish heart.

Lovely,
Never, never change.
Keep that breathless charm.
Won't you please arrange it, 'cause I love you
Just the way you look tonight
Just the way you look tonight."

"I love this song," she said softly as they continued swaying in perfect unison when the music stopped.

"I love you," Joseph murmured into her hair, before stepping back and reaching into his pocket. "I was meaning to give this to you on Christmas Day, but with all the excitement…here you are!"

He handed her a small, velvet jewel box and she opened it slowly, gasping when she saw what was inside. Sitting comfortably in the box was a small but perfectly flawless diamond ring. It was smaller than the ring that Rupert had given her, but this one meant so much more to her…not only because it was smaller, but because it came from Joseph.

"I know I didn't get around to doing this…and I don't have to….but will you marry me?" Joe asked, kneeling (despite his knees) in front of her. Clarisse looked from the ring to him, her eyes filled with tears.

"Of course I will…I already have….yes!" she kneeled down in front of him, and gave him a tender kiss. "But…" she added teasingly. "Can you put it on for me?"

"Yes, I will," and he slipped the ring on her third finger, next to the gold wedding band he had given her on their wedding day. "But…can you help me stand up?"

"Of course," she replied as she stood up, and then offered a hand to him.

"So, Mrs Bonnell," he said when they were standing, facing each other. "Do you think we will live happily after now?"

"Let's just see…" she said teasingly- there was one more thing she had to take care of before they were living happily ever after….


Just over a week later, Clarisse found herself standing in front of a room full of anxious and almost angry parliamentarians. They were rather confused- they had heard that the young Queen had been found, safe and well, and that the Mabreys were awaiting trial for her kidnapping, yet Her Majesty had not been seen or heard from since then. Even the press were beginning to wonder why the young Queen hadn't been seen in public.

"Perhaps the rumours about Her Majesty Queen Clarisse were true…or that Her Majesty Queen Mia is still too traumatised from the experience," some journalists, including Elsie Kentworthy, had speculated only that morning, before a press statement had been released from the palace saying that more information would be released that afternoon. Clarisse and Joe had laughed at the rumours.

"I can't wait to hear what Mia will say when she hears this," Joe said with a laugh as he switched off the television.

Now, as Clarisse looked around the room, she took a deep and breath, preparing to make her announcement. It wasn't a particularly long parliament session, and this was her last announcement- Mia would be back for the next session. She looked over at Joseph, sitting in the public gallery, and he smiled encouragingly at her.

"Her Majesty Queen Clarisse Renaldi would like to address this honoured body," Sebastian, sitting next to her, boomed and rapped his gavel sharply. The noise instantly quietened the crowd- they knew that they were about to find out where their young Queen was.

"As you know, my granddaughter, Her Majesty Queen Amelia, was kidnapped by Viscount Mabrey and her son the week before Christmas, but was found on Christmas Eve."

She paused for a moment, and glanced at Sebastian, who was giving her a furtive grin through his beard.

I am pleased and proud to announce that, on New Year's Eve, Queen Amelia and Lord Nicholas Devereaux were married at the Winter Palace chapel in Lybitt, but they will be returning from their honeymoon in the next few days."

There was a long silence before the entire room exploded into shouts and talking, as the parliament tried to understand that their Queen had married quietly in Lybitt, and both the acting regent and the Prime Minister had managed to keep the secret for nearly two weeks.

"I'll leave it in your capable hands," Clarisse murmured to Sebastian, who grinned and nodded, before she slipped quietly out through a back door. She walked through the secret tunnel, and as she opened the panelled door, she met face to face with Joseph.

"Well…you certainly left a bombshell and a half in there," he grinned as he took her hand. She laughed.

"I know- that's what Mia wanted me to do, and Sebastian is perfectly capable of handling them for me…oh, but I did love doing that!"

They walked along the hallway in silence for a little while, before Clarisse stopped and looked at Joseph.

"Ask me that question that you asked last week."

"What- will you marry me?"

"No, the other one."

"Oh…do you think we'll live happily ever after?"

She beamed at him, leaned forward to give him a kiss and then whispered softly in his ear…

"I think so….actually, I know so!"