A/N: Thanks to all my readers and reviewers- you all rock!

The Princess Diaries doesn't belong to me!

Charlotte felt a little awkward around the Queen and Joseph for the following few days after the New Year's Eve ball- she had rejoiced over witnessing the scene between the two of them, the kiss especially, but she also was painfully aware that she had observed something that was meant to be private between the couple in question, and since the Queen was always observed, via security cameras and her bodyguards, she did deserve some moments that she didn't need to share with the entire world. But she couldn't help but feel happy for the two of them- they deserved every happiness in the world, but her happy feeling was coloured with a twinge of guilt- and her awkwardness was noted instantly by Joseph, as she suspected he would notice.

"Something bothering you, Charlotte?" he asked, pausing by her desk one morning after reporting to the Queen.

"No, nothing at all," Charlotte had started at first but then had quickly recovered.

"Are you sure? You seem a little… awkward around Her Majesty."

"I don't mean to be…. I'm just a little concerned about the trip to London at the end of the month- there are quite a few invitations for Her Majesty, but I'm not sure whether she will be able to answer all of them."

"Has Her Majesty seen them yet?"

"I was planning on taking them into her in a few minutes."

"Let her sort out which ones she wants to do… yes, I have a feeling that she will want to respond to every invitation, but I would suggest that you mention that there are time constraints while we're in London, and she'll understand."

"And if she doesn't?"

"Believe me, I think she will… but are you sure that you're okay?"

"I'm fine," Charlotte smiled at him reassuringly- she should have suspected that he would notice any change in behaviour, however minute, and she had to work even harder to cover her true feelings- and she was certain that he wouldn't be pleased if he knew the real reason for her awkwardness. "Really, Joe. I'm fine."

"Good… because I don't know what we would do without you, you've made yourself irreplaceable and indispensable."

"That's nonsense," Charlotte blushed. "But thank you for the compliment."

"It's the truth."

Thankfully, Scott was less than observant than Joseph and he didn't suspect a thing, although he couldn't resist asking whether she thought that the Queen and Joseph had kissed.

"I mean… they kind of snuck away at midnight, if only for a few minutes… that could have been the time when…."

"I don't think so, Scott- and, as usual, your imagination is running away with you... you can be such a romantic when you want to be," Charlotte teased, laughing when she saw the disgusted expression on Scott's face.

"Well…."

"Just because you didn't have a date for that night doesn't mean that you can match make with everyone around you, including Joe and the Queen."

"Well, I couldn't have a date because I had to work… speaking of, how come you didn't ask for the night off? I'm sure you would have been allowed to…."

"I didn't want to," Charlotte said pertly but she was relieved that Scott was distracted from the earlier question.

"Why not?"

"Because."

"Because what?"

"Because it's none of your business," but she gave him a small smile and he smiled in return.

"Touché."

000

The next few months seemed to fly by as always, busy with paperwork, parliament, several trips to Europe, with the Queen being interested in another trip to the United States, not only to see Mia but also to introduce trade negotiations with the country- since Mia had accepted her royal title, relations between the countries had become friendlier (not that they hadn't been before, but Genovia had been considered a smaller, less important trade partner compared to other nations) and there were several business deals in the making. Parliament had been 'delighted' with the developments (even the Von Trokan and Mabrey camps were interested), and while it made more paperwork, emails and telephone calls for Charlotte, she enjoyed dealing with the developments and it made her feel proud that Genovia was being considered more of a player in terms of world economics, even though there had been less interest before Mia had agreed to become a Princess.

In fact, Charlotte was so busy that it came almost as a shock when, with a glance at the calendar in late March, she realised that there were two significant anniversaries coming up- the second anniversary of the passing of King Rupert and, even more painfully, the first anniversary of the accident that had killed Mia's father, Prince Phillipe.

The anniversary of the King's passing was celebrated in the traditional style- a memorial church service, a ceremonial service at the cemetery and a quiet dinner with a few of Rupert's closest cronies (thankfully, neither the Von Trokans or Mabrey were considered of that ilk)- and Her Majesty conducted herself with dignity and class, as she always did- but the second anniversary was somewhat of a more delicate issue.

Charlotte could never forget that evening when Joseph had received the news and had requested her presence in the study when he had informed the Queen…..

"Your Majesty… Clarisse…" Joseph began, mumbling slightly as the Queen stood up, her smile fading.

"What's wrong, Joseph? Charlotte?" she asked with a twinge of concern in her voice.

"Why don't you come and sit down on the sofa?" Charlotte offered, seeing that Joseph was seemingly speechless.

"Of course… but what's wrong?" Her Majesty's eyes were still on Joseph as she walked slowly towards the sofa in the corner of the room. "Joseph… please tell me," her voice suddenly had more than a twinge of panic in it and Charlotte ached again. "It's not Pierre, is it?"

"No, Clarisse, it's not Pierre," Joseph finally said as he sat down beside her on the sofa and took one of her hands in his, Charlotte still standing above them but turning a blind eye to what she was witnessing.

"Then… what, Joseph?" her voice turned soft.

"My darling…." His voice was even quieter than Her Majesty's and Charlotte felt tender at the term of endearment he had just given Her Majesty…

"Joseph…."

"It's Phillipe…."
"No….no, no no… don't say anything," Her Majesty tried to pull her hand away from his but he kept a firm hold on it. "It's not true… you can't say it so it's not true…"

She waited until Her Majesty was occupied with writing letters in her study (and Charlotte wasn't needed at the time) before Charlotte made her way to the security hub which, thankfully was almost empty at the time, except for Joe and a couple of the younger men, most of whom were occupied, watching the television screens that came from the cameras that were dispersed around the palace and the grounds.

"Hi, Charlotte. Is something wrong?" Joseph looked momentarily surprised to see here.

"No, nothing's wrong- but I do need to talk to you," and her grave tone and expression made Joseph realise that it was something serious as his expression changed to match hers.

"Come into my office," he offered and he followed her in, closing the door behind her and then sinking into his chair. "So, what can I do for you?"

"I was just looking at the calendar and… I realised that… that the anniversary is coming up."

"I know," Joe looked grave and Charlotte realised that he too had come to same conclusion, if not earlier than her.

"There's nothing at all on that week, I've made sure of that…but… is there… is there anything we should do?"

"You're a very thoughtful, kind woman, Charlotte and I appreciate that you're thinking of Her Majesty and whether there was anything we can do for her… but I have the feeling that that day will be a very, very quiet day indeed."

"So….?"

"We'll just leave her be, that's all we can do."

000

As Joseph had predicted, the anniversary of Prince Phillipe's death dawned fine and bright, but the atmosphere in the palace was quite subdued, the palace staff being extra quiet in awareness of the day and Her Majesty's feelings.

Charlotte was expecting a quiet day at her desk, dealing with more paperwork and fielding calls from the press, who would inevitably be calling for a 'comment' from the palace, to add to their memorial editions of the newspapers and television shows, but she was more than a little surprised when, a little after nine, Her Majesty walked quietly into the room, clad in black again and, while looking pale and tired, was composed.

"Good morning, Charlotte."

"Good morning, Your Majesty."

"Is there anything on for today?"

"No, ma'am…." Charlotte said respectfully, hoping that she hadn't pushed the envelope by presuming to clear her schedule (and Joseph had firmly approved) but the Queen didn't seem to be listening, she seemed distracted, not that Charlotte could blame her.

"Good, good… well, I'll be in my study…" and she almost floated past Charlotte's desk and into her study, closing the door gently behind her.

Charlotte stared at the closed door for a moment before she was startled by the sound of a ringing phone and sighed- the press was already starting to hound the palace.

To her surprise, however, it wasn't a journalist on the line, it was the Princess.

"Hi, Charlotte… is it too early to call?"

"Good morning, Princess, and no, it's not too early to call. How are you?"

"I'm fine, busy as usual- I'll be so glad when school is over for the summer…" she sighed for a moment and there was a pause on the line.

"Was there something I could do for you, Princess?"

"Um… this might sound a little silly but… I know that today is… the anniversary of Dad's accident and…." the young girl paused again before continuing, sounding vulnerable and young. "I… just wanted to call and let Grandma know that we're thinking of her today."

"That's a beautiful gesture, Princess… did you want me to see if Her Majesty would like to speak to you."

"Oh no, no, no, I don't think… I don't know… I just wanted to call and see if she's okay."

"Princess," Charlotte began gently. "I'm just going to put you on hold for a moment and I'm going to see Her Majesty… I think that you should speak to her yourself," she added and then pressed the 'on hold button' before the Princess could protest. She was just about to enter the study when Joseph stepped into the room.

"Good morning, Charlotte… is Her Majesty in her study or upstairs?"

"She's here, she just arrived…. Um… the Princess is on the line and wanted to know about Her Majesty… I was wondering… do you think Her Majesty should speak to her?"

"Yes," he nodded after a moment's careful consideration. "I think she needs to hear from Mia… was that you were going to do, go in there?" he nodded towards the closed door.

"Yes… but I think you should tell her yourself."

"Nervous about facing her?" he said teasingly but there was no smile on either of their faces. "No, but I think… I think… you should do it," and Charlotte turned away from him as he opened the door and stepped in, almost closing it behind him and Charlotte was moving away but she could still hear the soft murmuring of words.

"Clarisse?"

"Yes… Joseph?"

"Mia's on the line, she rang to find out about how you were."

"That's very sweet of her, tell her that," and there was a slight tremble in her voice.

"I think you should talk to her yourself," Joe sounded tender but firm.

"Joseph… I don't think I can…" and this time, there was definitely a tremble in her voice, as if she was fighting back tears.

"You can, my darling and you have to- she's your granddaughter, Phillipe's daughter, and you need each other."

"But…."

"You can do it," he said in a firmer, stronger voice and there was a long silence before Charlotte heard the Queen take a long, deep, shaky breath in.

"I can do it…."

"Good girl…" and there was a long pause before, in a much stronger voice, the Queen said: "Mia! I'm so glad that you called."