Everything Has Its Time Chapter 23, a princess diaries fanfic

Chapter 23:

"Perhaps you should have lessons, Mia," Joseph heard Clarisse say as he entered the ballroom.

He had been heading down to Clarisse's office when he had heard the soft sounds of someone playing a piano. And knowing that the palace ballroom had a grand piano, he turned down the corridors to the sound.

"Am I not too old?" Mia asked Clarisse just as Joseph walked into the room.

Clarisse was sitting before the piano playing a nondescript tune as she spoke to Mia who was leaning on the side looking over the keys at Clarisse. They both looked up upon his arrival but Clarisse continued to play.

"Good morning Your Majesty, Highness," Joseph bowed to each slightly in turn.

Clarisse smiled warmly, reminding Joseph of last night, but looking to Mia he found her frowning with annoyance.

"How many times must I ask you to call me Mia?" she asked, shaking her head.

"Ah yes, I forget," Joseph laughed coming to stand near the pair at the piano, and watching Clarisse's hands move deftly over the keys.

"But I have to say that you are not at all too old to learn to play the piano. I myself didn't learn to play the guitar until I was eighteen," Joseph added, still watching Clarisse's hands.

"Really?" Mia asked, looking hopeful.

"Joseph is actually very talented at playing the guitar; I've heard him myself," Clarisse praised, looking up into his face as he smiled his thanks.

"Ok…then I guess that I would like to learn the piano," Mia beamed, looking from Clarisse to Joseph, then back again.

"But I don't think I will ever be able to play as well as you, Grandma," Mia added, sighing dramatically and placing her head on her arms as she continued to lean on the piano.

"Give it time, Mia," Clarisse replied, smiling reassuringly at her granddaughter.

"How many songs do you know Grandma?" Mia asked with much of her usual curiosity.

"Request one and we'll see if I can play it," Clarisse suggested.

"Ok then, what about…'All My Life' by KC and Jo Jo?" Mia asked, her smug expression showing she knew it was impossible her grandmother would know it.

Clarisse just smiled and began to play the song requested; flawlessly.

"What! How could you know that?" Mia asked, very shocked to say the least.

"I've heard you playing it yourself in your suite, and the title is always announced before it plays," Clarisse explained simply, playing the tune with a smile.

"Ok…what about 'Distant Sun' Brooke Fraser's version?" Mia asked after a short pause.

"Ah yes, good song," Joseph murmured as he moved closer to the piano, leaning against the side opposite Mia.

Clarisse just smiled as she began to play the tune (again flawlessly) and looked expectantly to Mia for the next request.

"Joe!" Mia suddenly exclaimed, clapping her hands together.

"Yes Mia?" Joseph asked, noticing Clarisse had stopped playing.

"Could you go and get your guitar? Then you and Grandma can play something together!" Mia asked, holding her hands in a pleading fashion.

"I don't think –" Joseph began but Mia cut him off.

"Just do it Joe or I'll get Grandma to order you to do it!" Mia huffed, hands on hips.

"Yes Your Highness," Joseph laughed, sharing an amused glance with Clarisse.

Turning swiftly, Joseph left the room in search of his guitar to please Her Royal Highness, and leaving Clarisse to continue to play in his absence.

OoOoOoOo

Upon reentering the ballroom, Joseph could hear Clarisse playing passionately as she sang along.

He paused in the doorway and let her play the song out, listening to the words as they flowed towards him.

"Just like the glorious northern star you guided me
Shining a light of pure tranquility
To a secret place where no-one else could go
Free to reveal the things I never show

Strong like a symphony
You protected me
From reality

Somewhere to love somewhere to breathe
Somewhere to call my sanctuary
Here in the dark I can be strong
Knowing that nothing can hurt from now on
Somewhere to love somewhere to breathe
Somewhere to call my sanctuary
Closer to the sun
To your heart I run

I was deserted like the moon is at the dawn
I never thought I'd ever find a place so beautiful
All my heart was falling like a stone
Deep into an ocean vast and colourful

Strong like a symphony
You protected me
From reality

One step on the horizon
A safe place up on the mountain
So far away from chaotic life

Clarisse looked up here and caught Joseph's eye. She held his gaze for the remainder of the song, an oblivious Mia at her side.

Clarisse repeated the chorus again before her hands slowed down and she came to a stop.

"Wow Grandma…that was amazing," Mia complimented, pleasantly surprised.

"My thoughts exactly," Joseph commented, walking into the room, guitar in hand.

"Yay! Now you can play something together! I don't care what it is," Mia was clearly excited as she jumped up and down like a child receiving candy.

Joseph carefully took his guitar from its case, tuned it quickly before setting himself up beside Clarisse at the piano.

"Until?" Joseph asked, looking expectantly to Clarisse.

"Key?" Clarisse asked in response.

"B minor," Joseph smiled, strumming the chord out.

She just nodded, placing her hands above the keys of the grand piano before looking back to him to start them off.

Joseph began to play, soon joined by Clarisse as they started a smooth quiet song, each concentrating on their own instrument. Mia remained silent as she listened to them play. However she gasped with delight when Joseph began to sing along also.

"If I caught the world in a bottle

And everything was still beneath the moon

Without your love would it shine for me?

If I was smart as Aristotle

And understood the rings around the moon

What would it all matter if you loved me?

Here in your arms where the world is impossibly still

With a million dreams to fulfill

And a matter of moments until the dancing ends

Here in your arms when everything seems to be clear

Not a solitary thing would I fear

Except when this moment comes near the dancing's end

If I caught the world in an hourglass

Saddled up the moon so we could ride

Until the stars grew dim, Until...

One day you'll meet a stranger

And all the noise is silenced in the room

You'll feel that you're close to some mystery

In the moonlight and everything shatters

You feel as if you've known her all your life

The world's oldest lesson in history

Here in your arms where the world is impossibly still

With a million dreams to fulfill

And a matter of moments until the dancing ends

Here in your arms when everything seems to be clear

Not a solitary thing do I fear

Except when this moment comes near the dancing's end

Oh, if I caught the world in an hourglass

Saddled up the moon and we would ride

Until the stars grew dim

Until the time that time stands still, Until..."

Joseph then strummed the short ending to the song, finishing in perfect timing with Clarisse.

They looked to each other with a smile, silently thanking each other before turning to Mia to see her reaction.

"Far out, Joe…I was going to say 'don't quit your day job' but after hearing that…maybe you should. You could easily make money from that voice!" Mia smiled, shaking her head in amazement.

"Thank you, Princess," Joseph gave her a dramatic bow, smiling broadly.

Clarisse chuckled lightly, interlinking her fingers before placing her hands graciously upon her knee.

Mia shook her head suddenly, and straightened.

"I'm going to ring mom and tell her all about how I'm going to learn an instrument! She'll be so excited for me!" Mia bubbled out, talking much too fast in Clarisse's opinion. But she just let it pass, nodding to the young woman instead.

"Thanks Grandma! See you later!" Mia almost shouted as she bounded from the room, full of energy and enthusiasm.

"I almost have to physically restrain that young lady," Clarisse murmured once she and Joseph were alone.

Joseph laughed as he placed his guitar back in its case, closing it and leaning it against the piano. Clarisse sat quietly and watched him as he approached her silently but his eyes saying so much. He ran his hand along her shoulders as he moved around her to sit on the seat beside her, both before the piano but only having eyes for each other.

Clarisse's smile faltered slightly as a look of concern came over her face when Joseph reached up and cupped her cheek lovingly.

"What if someone happens to walk in Joseph?" she asked, looking over to the doors before turning back to him.

"We could stay far apart and not take this moment, not use it to share our love; but what if no one comes and we are not disturbed? Would it not then be more time lost?" Joseph pointed out, dropping his hand to her shoulder before running his hand down her arm to take her hand.

Clarisse gave him a glowing, love filled smile before leaning forward and cupping his cheek also.

"You are right Joseph, as always," she said warmly before leaning forward and kissing him softly upon the lips.

Joseph took a quick, happily surprised breath through his nose before kissing her back. Pulling back slightly, Joseph ran his hand down the side of her face, letting his fingertips linger on her lips. Her eyes sparkled in the late morning light of the ballroom as her lips turned up in a smile. It was an expression she had begun to show often in his presence. However, this time there was a hint of amusement.

"Better not leave that there," Clarisse murmured, pulling out a delicate handkerchief and proceeding to wipe Joseph's lips. Joseph chuckled when he realized what had happened.

"Mia would probably think I had taken her seriously, quit my day job and found a new career in cross-dressing," Joseph joked, allowing himself to be cleaned up.

Clarisse laughed lightly, folding up her handkerchief and putting it away. She then proceeded to touch up her own lips, making herself 'presentable'.

They looked into each others eyes for a moment, longing for more time together but knowing they had already put their duties off for too long already. Duty called, and they would answer it, even if reluctantly.

"I really do love you Clarisse," Joseph whispered, leaning his forehead against hers, and taking her hands.

"Just as I love you," was her simple yet deep reply.

They smiled together before Joseph leant back and helped them both to their feet. Bending over her hand, he raised it to his lips, pressed a gentle kiss upon it before stepping back away from her.

"Shall we head back to reality?" Joseph asked, picking up his guitar before offering his arm.

"Only if I can come back to my sanctuary after the days duty has been fulfilled," Clarisse replied, taking his arm by wrapping her hands around it.

"Siempre," Joseph replied with a broad smile, leading them from the room and out into the waiting world.

AN: So how was that chapter? Please review and tell me what you think. I would like to know if you thought it was boring. Please, please, please! BTW the song called 'Until' that they played together is by Sting. And the song that Clarisse sang was 'Sanctuary' by Delta Goodrem.