Here it is, the last part! Let me know what you think! Thanks!

Part 5

--

She was in a state of shock. It wasn't happening. This couldn't really be her life. A few years ago it wouldn't have been possible. What should she do?

Suddenly strong arms were being wrapped around her and she found herself relaxing. His warm voice soothed her as he murmured comforting words. She leaned against him, taking comfort in his nearness.

"That was supposed to be more romantic," Pierre whispered.

"Good enough," Charlotte replied huskily. She closed her eyes.

"The question is still the same," he said. "Will you marry me?"

"Of course."

"Uncle Pierre, Charlotte, get over here!" Mia cried. They turned around. "Are you gonna ask her or not?!"

Pierre turned to Charlotte and rolled his eyes, but then he kneeled in front of her and took her hands in his. "Charlotte," he said, pulling the black box out of his pocket where Mia had thoughtfully placed it for him, "will you marry me?"

Though she had already given him her answer, Charlotte's eyes teared up as she replied, "yes."

He slipped the ring onto her finger, watching it sparkle in the early morning light for a moment before standing up, pulling his fiancée into his arms, and kissing her thoroughly.

"SHUT UP!" Mia exclaimed. Queen Clarisse shushed her granddaughter and beamed at her son and future daughter-in-law, who were oblivious to their onlookers.

Finally Charlotte and Pierre pulled apart. Immediately Mia was at their sides, hugging them excitedly and blabbering about weddings and showers and babies and whatnot. Then Clarisse approached the happy couple to hug her son and aide (who was very surprised by Her Majesty's embrace).

"I've always thought of you as the daughter I never had, Charlotte, so it's simply wonderful that you're joining the family!" Charlotte blushed. "I just hope I'm not losing my assistant."

"Of course not, Your Majesty!"

Now it was Joseph's turn for hugs, and he whispered into both their ears, "Finally!" Helen congratulated the couple next, and then they all stood around awkwardly.

"Well," Mia stated, "we still have some presents to unwrap, so…"

They made their way back to the seating area around the Christmas tree, and now, finally, Charlotte and Pierre could sit as close together as they liked.

--

It was noon on Christmas Day. All the gifts had been opened, the ballroom was cleaned up, and four people were outside playing in the snow. The other two sat in her office.

"Why can't we do the same, Clarisse?" Joseph asked, his eyes pleading as he held her hands in his. She sighed and took her hands away, standing up from the sofa and pacing her office fretfully.

"You know we can't, Joseph. I'm the queen!"

"And Pierre's the prince," he interrupted. "But he can still marry a commoner. Why can't you?"

"Because I'm the reigning queen. It's different."

"Tell me how it's different, Clarisse." Joseph's voice was gentle and his hands warm as he grasped her shoulders, turning her to face him. "Why can't we get married, too? We've been in love longer than Pierre and Charlotte have, so why are they allowed to be happy and we aren't?"

"Joseph, my love, we CAN be happy!" Clarisse exclaimed, her hands grasping his jacket and pulling him closer. "We just can't be married."

"I still don't understand," he grumbled as he wrapped his arms around her. "It's all the same to me… a royal marrying a commoner."

Clarisse rested her head on his shoulder and sighed. "If only Mia were twenty one, then she could be on the throne and I wouldn't be reigning queen. Then we could get married. Can you wait that long, Joseph?"

"I've waited twenty years, Clarisse; I think I can wait four more." She pulled away from him at that comment, her eyes questioning his. He glanced down but then met her gaze again. "Yes, my dear, I have been in love with you for twenty years. I don't think I realized it at first, but after King Rupert's death, it was obvious that I had more feelings for you than I should have."

"Oh, Joseph," she moaned, "why do we have to deny ourselves for the sake of propriety?"

He chuckled. "Because you married into royalty."

"Oh, so it's all my fault, is it?" Clarisse faked incredulity. "If that's the way you feel, then you can just leave."

Joseph grinned but played along. "Yes, it's your fault. If you hadn't married that awful Rupert, we could be married right now!"

"My darling, I'm so sorry," she simpered, "but Rupert was just so irresistible! I mean, all that gorgeous hair… I love men with nice hair, you know."

"Obviously," Joseph said, smoothing his hand over his bald head. Clarisse finally broke down into laughter, burying her face in Joseph's chest as her arms enveloped him. He laughed along with her and led them back to the couch, where they sat down together, still in each other's arms. "Clarisse, my dear," he said after a while, "will you marry me when Mia is queen?"

"Yes, my love, I will," she replied, kissing him firmly on the lips. That chaste promise-kiss quickly turned into much more, and the windows overlooking the snow-covered palace grounds would certainly have steamed up, had they not been insulated so well.

--

EPILOGUE

The blushing, beautiful bride walked down the aisle alone, grinning widely at the groom. He stood with the priest, a young Frenchman named Patrice, at the front of the church, gazing at her lovingly. When she reached him, he beamed back at her, and they faced the priest together.

On either side of the couple, the Queen of Genovia and her loyal Head of Security stood as Maid of Honor and Best Man. Their eyes locked from across the aisle, and they each understood the other's wish that they were the ones getting married, not Charlotte and Pierre. But their time would come eventually, and now they could only be happy about this royal wedding. In time, there would be an opportunity for a different wedding: their own.

THE END

(finally!)