A/N: Thank to all my readers and reviewers- I'm glad that you're all enjoying it.
The Princess Diaries doesn't belong to me.
There were several State Dinners held at the palace every year, hosting visiting ambassadors, diplomats and head of states from around the world (and often during negotiating procedures between governments) and this dinner in San Francisco was no different- Her Majesty was hosting the Japanese Ambassador as well as the Scottish Ambassador, being involved in trade negotiations with both countries, and there were several couples who had flown from Genovia, representing parliament (Sebastian Motaz and his wife) and not (the ubiquitous Von Trokans) so the consulate was full in the late afternoon of the State Dinner when Charlotte greeted the young teenager upon her arrival and whisked her upstairs to where Paolo was waiting to 'work his magic' on both her and her grandmother. Her Majesty was still downstairs with the Prime Minister and the two ambassadors, but Charlotte, upon bringing Mia into the Queen's suite, reassured her that she would up soon.
"Charlotte?" Mia sounded like a little girl again and Charlotte, who had almost been at the door, preparing to head back downstairs to finish overseeing preparations for the dinner, hearing the tone in her voice, turned back.
"Yes, Miss Am… Mia?" She had been told by the girl several times that she wanted to be called Mia and Charlotte tried to remember, although she always called her 'Miss Amelia' whenever the Queen was around.
"About tonight…is there anything else I should know?"
"Anything… you should know?"
"Joe told me that I will enter the room unaccompanied, and that I will meet everyone either through you or Sebastian Motaz… but… is there any way I should act?" Mia looked vulnerable and Charlotte suddenly felt sorry for her- this was very unfair to have happened to her; sure, her father had passed away unexpectedly and he was the Crown Prince of Genovia, but… this poor girl hadn't asked for any of this but suddenly she had all this pressure on her, and Charlotte honestly didn't know how she would react if she was in Mia's shoes.
"I know I should ask Grandma, but…" she wavered again and Charlotte suddenly knew what she wanted to tell her.
"Just be yourself," Charlotte said simply, stepping forward, closer to the teenager- she could hear Paolo in the next room and knew that he was about to come in, but she wanted to say this to her. "Don't pretend to be someone you're not- just be yourself," and Mia, sensing the intensity behind her words, gave her a small, grateful smile just as Paolo and his assistants came bursting into the room and Charlotte beat a hasty retreat out of the royal suite.
She almost collided with Joseph when she stepped off the bottom step- Her Majesty clearly wasn't too far away, she could hear voices echoing through the consulate, growing closer and closer.
"Is she here?"
"Yes, upstairs, getting ready."
"How is she?" and there was no mistaking the tender concern in his voice- he did care about the vulnerable teenager, obviously seeing her father in her and his concern and interest in the Prince had passed onto another generation.
"She's nervous about what will happen tonight… you told her a few things about tonight, and she asked me… how she should behave tonight."
"What did you say to her?" he asked.
"I said to be herself, not to pretend to be someone she's not," Charlotte said simply and Joseph only regarded her calmly before he nodded his head in approval.
"That is the best advice you could have given her…good thinking, Charlotte."
0
The evening didn't necessarily go to plan- Mia accidently set a fellow diner's coat sleeve on fire, broke a wine glass, ate ice cream too quickly and caused a chain of events that ended with the Prime Minister's face in his dessert but, on a more positive note, made the morose Japanese Ambassador laugh- and it was Charlotte who realised she was missing when the rest of the group adjourned for coffee.
"Mia?" she asked softly, bending down and lifting up a side of the tablecloth to find Mia huddled up underneath the table.
"Oh, oh, Charlotte! I'm sorry!" she started, slowly making her way out and standing up. "I… I didn't think that everyone would have gone so soon…."
"They're in the Grand Hall having coffee… Her Majesty will notice that you're not there."
"I kind of hoped she wasn't going to notice," Mia's shoulders visibly dropped. "I was kind of hoping that you were here to say that I could go home."
"I'm sorry," Charlotte said sympathetically. "I would if I could, but I can't."
"That's okay," Mia let out her breath and then took another deep breath in and straightened her shoulders again. "Well, I had better go and face the music," before she walked out of the dining room and into the hallway, Charlotte following and thinking that she was the bravest teenager that she knew.
The dinner finally drew to a close around eleven o'clock, Joseph having taken Mia home an hour or so earlier, but Charlotte had been in a corner and had noticed that the Queen had intercepted the two of them leaving, speaking quietly to the young girl in a quiet voice and that the girl, as she had left, looked upset and Joseph displeased.
She was about to retire for the evening when she realised that she needed to check the schedule for the following day and made a retreat to the study (thankfully all the guests had retired to their rooms) but she paused outside the study door when she heard low voices inside, almost arguing, and she peered around the crack in the door to see Joseph and the Queen in there, the Queen standing next to her desk and Joseph standing close to her….
"I'm not saying that you shouldn't have told her what you thought, what could be 'improved' but you shouldn't have said it tonight… she was tired, embarrassed and upset."
"She had to know what I felt about the situation… I could see that she was embarrassed when she came into the Grand Hall and the way she avoided me…"
"Clarisse, she's only fifteen! She is only just beginning to discover herself as a teenager in the modern world, and now her life has been complicated by…."
"Me? Are you saying that my presence in her life is a complication?" the Queen snapped in a not so quiet voice.
"No, I did NOT say that," he argued, stepping closer to her as she stepped back. "I'm just saying that….this situation is not as easily contained and controlled as you think it might be."
"So, what do I do, Joseph?" she asked in a softer voice and this time, when Joseph stepped forward, she remained in her spot. "Did you see how some of them were looking at her tonight? The Von Trokans?" and there was genuine despair in her voice.
"Don't worry about them," he said roughly. "They're trouble makers and they don't know what they're talking about half the time anyway- they're just obsessed with trying to get a seat in parliament."
"That's true… but… Joseph…what do I do?"
"Don't worry," he said, tenderness in his voice but he was trying to hide it by being gruff, although the way he reached out and held her shoulders with his arms.
"Just don't worry, things will work out in their own good time."
"I hope so," she said and Charlotte turned away as he pulled the Queen towards him- she had seen enough, they deserved their privacy, the schedule could wait until the morning….
0
"Joseph?" Clarisse finally said as she pulled away from his embrace, his familiar aftershave still lingering in her nose.
"Yes… Your Majesty?" his voice rumbled and his eyes never left hers- he was still standing closely near her and he could see that he was half serious and half teasing (almost flirtatious) so she decided, recklessly, almost on the spur of the moment, decided to respond in kind.
"I have a confession to make."
"Oh," he raised his eyebrow, intrigued- she had a confession to make? What could it be?
"Tonight, at dinner… I know I told Mia off before and while there were points I felt she needed to know… a mistake, I realise in retrospect," she added hastily as Joseph opened his mouth to protest. "I shouldn't have done what did, I know that now."
"So… is that your confession?"
"No, I haven't finished yet… I wasn't angry about tonight's incidents, I actually found it rather amusing."
"Amusing? How so?" Joseph was surprised- she hadn't seem very amused when chiding her granddaughter earlier in the evening, and the evening hadn't seemed very amusing to him at all.
"It… it just reminded me of my first state dinner before the wedding… I collided with a suit of armour at the Winter Palace (and yes, I'm aware that they are no longer there, that was part of Rupert's redecoration scheme) and a sword went right through the suckling pig that was being carried into the dining room… the King found it amusing but Rupert and the Queen were mortified and I was severely dressed down afterwards."
"It wasn't your fault, you were only young," he felt a wave of protectiveness towards the young Princess to be.
"I know, but while you took Mia home, I got to recalling that night and… I knew that I hadn't been very fair to Mia before… that and your annoyed expression."
"I was just annoyed that you had chosen to reprimand her…"
"I agree, it was a mistake….. It's just that…." she sighed as she turned away from him and looked out the window into the darkened consulate garden. "It's just that… this pressure… certain members of parliament and the press clamouring for decisions or scandals- as if to prove that I'm not capable of ruling Genovia… it's… getting a little…wearing."
"I can see why it would be getting that way," he said huskily, moving closer, ready to comfort her but when she turned around, her royal mask was back in place, a royal mask that was all too familiar but one that he had managed to break down on occasion- and thankfully, in private.
"Good night, Joseph- I'm sorry to have kept you for so long."
"It's fine, Your Majesty….Clarisse," he corrected himself and his eyes softened at the word- he knew that she preferred to be known by her first name with those she dealt with on a regular basis, a response to the formality that King Rupert had insisted on, before Joseph forced himself back to the present, realising that Clarisse was waiting for a response from him.
"Good night, Clarisse," he responded softly, lifting her hand up to kiss it, and he could feel her trembling at his touch. "May I give you a suggestion?"
"Of course?"
"Tomorrow, when Miss Mia is here, don't have any lessons as such… just have some time for the two of you… and also, that you should tell her what you told me tonight, about your first state dinner- that might help her feel better."
"Do you really think that might help?"
"I think so, I definitely think so."
000
The next morning began normally enough, with the Queen emerging from her suite in a peach coloured suit and looking happier and more relaxed that she had been in the past couple of months- it was clear Mia's presence was something of a tonic for her- and while Joseph was still as professional as ever, Charlotte sense that he was obviously softening towards both the teenager and her grandmother, not that he hadn't been doing that before.
As usual, the guests had their own demands for the day and the Queen's time, but Sebastian insisted on taking them on a tour of San Francisco, something which Charlotte appreciated- it would give the Queen and Miss Mia some time for themselves; at first they were in the greenhouse, watering the flowers (Her Majesty tried to spend as much time in the greenhouse every day just to water her flowers, she had always loved gardening) but when Charlotte had come into the room, announcing that there were further arrivals to the consulate, as well as the press secretary in Genovia wanting to speak to her, she glimpsed a look of dismay on the younger woman's face- and it was clear that Her Majesty had seen it too as, seconds later, she made an impulsive decision to cancel all meetings for the day and have a tour of San Francisco.
The delight on Mia's face was obvious to all, although her following words alarmed them:
"I want to show you my baby."
'Baby?' Charlotte murmured to herself before Mia, seeing the alarm on both women's faces, amended her words:
"No, no, it's not actually a baby, as if… it's my car, my Mustang…" and both Charlotte and the Queen let out their breaths in relief.
"Do you want me to let Joseph know that you're going out?" Charlotte asked and the Queen looked at her thoughtfully for a moment, before glancing back at Mia for a moment.
"Actually, Charlotte…he's in a meeting at the moment, so we won't disturb him… no, we'll be fine."
"Alright…" Charlotte said doubtfully- Joseph would be furious if he discovered the Queen had left the consulate without him, or even any security, and she would be in the line of fire….
Half an hour later… the explosion occurred as Joseph stormed into her study, a furious scowl on his face.
"Please tell me that they are still here, that what Scott was telling me was only a joke…" he began, stopping in front of her desk and glaring down at her.
"I'm sorry?" Charlotte was trying to finalise details for the ball that was to be held the following week, and she was more than a little distracted.
"HOW could you let Her Majesty and Miss Amelia 'take off' from the consulate in….a light blue Mustang that belongs to the Princess?" he persisted and Charlotte suddenly recalled what had happened- they had been gone for over half an hour and while she had tried to convince the Queen to at least have a bodyguard accompany them (albeit discreetly), but the Queen had simply waved her suggestion off with a light-hearted 'we'll be fine.'
"I tried…"
"You didn't try very hard," he almost barked at her. "Again, I will repeat myself- WHY did you let them go off by themselves?" Joseph was trying to remain calm as he paced in front of Charlotte's desk, but Charlotte could see that his temper was beginning to best him. "You know the protocol in regards to Her Majesty… if anything goes wrong…."
"I'm sure they will be fine," Charlotte tried to remain calm but she was feeling uneasy and Joseph wasn't helping.
"You DON'T know that!" Joseph suddenly stopped and glared at her. "If something happens to her, your job and MY job will be on the line… and I have to tell you, I would have serious doubts about whether continue recommending you to remain in your position…"
"I tried to…"
"You obviously didn't try hard enough!" he snapped, starting to pace again. "You should have insisted…"
"Could YOU have insisted on Her Majesty having security when she wanted to spend time with her granddaughter?" Charlotte finally had enough and snapped back at him, much to the surprise of both of them.
"I… uh… no, I probably couldn't have, knowing Her Majesty," he mumbled, looking sheepish. "But still…" he glared at her again and Charlotte rolled her eyes.
"Yes, but I'm sure that they will be fine."
"I certainly hope so."
0
Wrong, wrong, wrong, Charlotte thought to herself an hour later when she saw the police car come to a stop in front of the front door and Joseph only glared at her as they walked towards the front door to meet the 'escapees'- Charlotte could only be grateful that the rest of the guests were still out on their tour of San Francisco, otherwise there would have been even more trouble.
"Joseph, Charlotte!" the Queen smiled happily at both of them as she was helped from the car through one of the police men, while a shamefaced Mia emerged from the other side of the car. "We're back."
"As we can see," Joseph said grimly, only just managing to keep his expression neutral. "However, I'm curious to know why…."
"Oh, the young lady's car brake line snapped and they crashed into a trolley car," one of the police men said, stepping forward and almost wilting under Joseph's glare as Charlotte stifled a gasp- it had been far worse than she imagined, and she was going to be really in the firing line with Joseph. "There were no injuries and everyone is fine…"
"Thank you very much for bringing us back to the consulate," the Queen said gaily, as she turned back towards the two policemen. "I truly appreciate what you did for us, and as a gesture of my appreciation, I would like to invite you two, your partners and the driver of the trolley car to the Independence Day Ball next week. If you would just leave your addresses with my assistant here," she waved her hand towards Charlotte. "She will forward the details of the ball to you."
"Thank you ma'am," both men looked dumbfounded at her charm and graciousness, and while Charlotte relaxed a little, Joseph's posture and expression hadn't changed at all.
"Charlotte," the Queen suddenly focused on her attention on Charlotte. "Could you arrange for one of the men to take Amelia home? Mia?" she suddenly turned to the teenager, who had walked slowly around the car to stand beside her, avoiding looking at Joseph or Charlotte but looking up at her grandmother. "Thank you for this afternoon, I had a very enjoyable time- see you tomorrow?"
"O…alright, Grandma. I had a good time as well," Mia finally smiled at her grandmother and shot a look at Joseph before the smile slipped off her face as Charlotte slipped back into the consulate to get an escort for Mia while the police stepped back into their car and drove away. "I'll see you tomorrow…"
"May I see you in your study, Your Majesty?" Joseph finally managed to say as the Queen almost brushed past him as one of the bodyguards came out of the front door- Mia's escort, presumably- and both the girl and the bodyguard walked towards the garage.
"Of course, Joseph," Clarisse said gently and walked back through the consulate, Joseph almost on his heels, the tension almost radiating from him, and as soon as she stepped into her study, Joseph followed her and slammed the door behind her.
"Joseph… what?" Clarisse turned around, looking startled- and her surprise suddenly heightened into apprehension as he moved closer to her.
"Do you have ANY IDEA how much trouble you caused this afternoon?" he growled in a low voice and Clarisse stepped backwards.
"I…."
"You know you're not supposed to leave the consulate without informing me and without being provided with adequate security."
"I…."
"You know that the precarious situation in Genovia is on a knife's edge and if anything happens to you here, that the situation will be... even more precarious?"
"I know that…."
"There are protocols in place for your SAFETY, not for the sake of our health…" he continued talking in a low, angry voice and Clarisse, who had been rather surprised to begin with, had been listening to him with growing anger herself, finally snapped.
"I am perfectly AWARE of all of that, Joseph, I am not a child!"
"Then why….?"
"Because I wanted to spend some time with my granddaughter, away from the consulate and all those that remind her of the decision that she has to make… and yes, that includes you and the rest of the bodyguards, Joseph."
"But…"
"NOTHING happened, Joseph, I'm back and I'm fine."
"But the accident… the car…."
"It was an accident, nothing more- unfortunate, I must agree with you, but it was an accident. Please, Joseph, don't ruin this day for me," her tone suddenly turned beseeching, her expression soft and gentle. "This was the first time I actually was able to connect to Mia without having princess lessons or being surrounded by others… Phillipe would have wanted it and… you said that I should give her some personal time myself…."
"Clarisse," his anger suddenly dissipated and he knew that she deserved at least a private afternoon with her granddaughter. "I…I'm sorry, I didn't mean to lecture you… but I was…worried and scared…"
"I know, I know," she stepped closer to him and rested her hand on his shoulder for a moment. "I'm sorry too, I should have been more considerate of everyone here as well… I should have thought about you and the others…."
"It's alright, I'm glad that you're okay," he said gruffly, pulling her hand away from his shoulder and pressing his lips on top. "Just… don't do it again."
"I won't… I promise."