Author's Note: I knew I could leave this chapter for three weeks, so I really hurried to get this one done...
Thanks to all my loyal readers: fantasyinmymind, adda edwards, Poppinswannabe, tabby-fanny, Clarisse Renaldi and anyone else who reads this... you all rock!
The Princess Diaries doesn't belong to me!
"Mia's here?!" Clarisse repeated as she stood up feeling nervous, although she didn't need to be.
"Yes, and Nicholas is with her," Joseph confirmed as he peered through the window, watching the young couple climb out of the car. "I didn't think they would come until later in the week," he murmured before realizing that Clarisse hadn't said anything. "But are you alright about them being here, sweetheart?"he asked, turning to look at her with concern, and she smiled- she loved that he was so solicitous of her.
"I'll be fine, my love," she smiled lovingly at him. " I just feel a little nervous..."she admitted before he strode over and wrapped his arms around her.
"You have no reason to be nervous, my dear, you have done nothing wrong. Mia is the one who should be nervous and wanting to apologize to you."
"But I still feel nervous... and I'm sure I look awful," she waved a hand down herself- she was wearing a large comfortable grey wool cardigan and shirt with white pants, and while she enjoyed being 'dressed down' and casual now, she still felt rather sloppy, although Joseph clearly disagreed with her opinion.
"You're dressed for comfort and warmth, and you look fine to me. Besides," he added with a smile. "Despite the fact you look gorgeous either dressed formally or informally, you look much younger and sexier when you're dressed down."
"Thank you darling," Clarisse smiled appreciatively at him. "You really do know how to make a girl feel special!"
"Good... and you are," Joseph said with a satisfied smile, pleased that she now seemed happier, before noting that she still looked anxious. She was obviously concerned that Mia could launch another verbal attack on her, a concern he too had despite the pleasant conversations they had had during the week on the phone.
"I'll be there with you," he murmured into her ear. "I'm not leaving the two of you alone this time," he said firmly, a protective note in his voice, and Clarisse looked relieved.
"Thank you Joseph... I'm normally fine with conversations like these, but this one is different and I have the feeling it could be a difficult and delicate afternoon."
She had no idea that, a week ago, Joseph had spoken to Mia again, and he hope that she wouldn't find out, although he knew she probably wouldn't mind.
Just then the doorbell rang, and Clarisse looked at Joseph with anxiety in her eyes.
"Let's do this," she finally said, adopting yet another of Mia's slang expressions as Joseph wove an arm around her waist before they walked out to the front door. Joseph opened the door to reveal a nervous looking Mia and Nicholas standing there, both dressed in their best clothes, and Clarisse was momentarily surprised.
"Hello Grandma and Joe," Mia said simply after a few seconds of awkward silence- Mia and Nicholas were nervous, Clarisse wary and Joseph protective. "I know we should have waited a few days, but I... we wanted to see how Grandma was feeling... You seem to be much better, Grandma," she said sincerely, stepping forward as if to give her a hug, but stopping short when she perceived that Clarisse didn't seem receptive.
"Thank you- I do feel better," Clarisse said pleasantly, pulling her cardigan tighter around her as she shivered, thanks to the cool breeze drifting in, and Joseph suddenly stepped back, opening the door wider.
"Come on in, we don't need to be hanging around in the cold," he said gruffly, a lot more formal than he usually was, but he had witnessed Clarisse's distress over the past few weeks, and he was, deep down, still annoyed at Mia.
They didn't speak again until they were sitting down opposite each other in the living room- Joseph and Clarisse facing Mia and Nicholas. It was Nicholas who broke the awkward silence this time, as Mia was trying to meet Clarisse's eye and Joseph was clearly on the defensive.
"How long were you in hospital, Clarisse?" he asked and everyone looked at him. Both Joseph and Clarisse felt sorry for him- he was an unfortunate bystander in the situation, and Clarisse relaxed slightly as she answered him.
"Overnight, although," she looked at Joseph with a smile. "It didn't seem like overnight- more like 12 hours... But the staff were wonderful- they even allowed Joseph to spend the night with me."
"That hospital has a good reputation," Nicholas said approvingly before the conversation lagged again, the tension still unbearable between Mia, Clarisse and Joseph- Nicholas an exempt bystander. Finally, Mia cleared her throat.
"My main purpose for coming was to see you," she looked at Clarisse. "But I alos wanted to try and clear the air between us."
Clarisse knew that, and while she was pleased that Mia had taken the initiative to come and visit, she also knew it was going to be a draining experience as, beside her, she felt Joseph tense up as he held her hand. He was determined that, if it was going to get ugly, he would defend Clarisse absolutely.
"I...I'm sorry I behaved like such a brat for the past couple of weeks- it was unfair of me, and I never gave you the chance to talk to me properly."
"I never meant to upset you- I just wanted you to know the truth."
"I'm also sorry I said that I hated you and called you a liar... and I am sorry that I may have insinuated to a few people that you lied to me and were a liar...."
"Who did you insinuate that to?" Joseph asked sharply.
"Charlotte... Sebastian... Scott... Pierre...."
"Why would you do something like that?" Joseph snapped, taking control of the conversation as Clarisse seemed stunned by Mia's admission.
"I was angry and hurt... this may seem awful, but I wanted to hurt Grandma as much as she hurt me."
"I didn't mean to hurt you," Clarisse spoke up in a quiet voice. "I suppose I was waiting for when I considered you mature enough to handle information like this."
"I was mature long before now, Grandma- I've been Queen for over two years and married for six months."
"Just because you are undoubtedly both those things doesn't necessarily qualify you as mature," Joseph interrupted in disgust and Clarisse gently squeezed his knee to let him know that, while she appreciated his defence, this was probably something that should be left to her and Mia.
"Whatever... anyway, Grandma, why didn't you tell me about it before now? Did Dad know?" Clarisse sighed, trying to keep her temper.
"Yes, he did know about Joseph, Rupert, the lot... I never wanted him to know, but he found out so, as times changed, I though I would tell you...."
"After Joseph told you you should?" Mia almost sneered and Joseph finally snapped.
"Amelia, that really is enough! Is that what's really bothering you? Your grandmother told you when she though you were ready, and neither of us has the right to question her decision. You may that feel that she left you out, overprotected you... whatever," he mimicked her slang expression.
"But she told you now, when she is getting on with her life and would rather forget it, because she wanted no secrets between you- surely that counts for something more than learning about your grandfather via rumour and speculation," he said fiercely, angrier than ever as Mia deflated slightly at his words.
"Yes it does," Mia admitted as she shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "It was brave of her to tell me about what was an obviously painful time in her life, and I admire her for that, but..."
"But what?" Joseph challenged her, Clarisse and Nicholas now bystanders. "What else have you got against your grandmother?"
Before Mia had the chance to respond, however, Clarisse decided to step in and stop this before it got really ugly- Joseph was defending her fiercely, to her secret delight, but she also didn't want either of them saying things they could regret.... just like Pierre had done years previously, and the relationship would never heal...
"Alright, that's enough!" she said sharply and loudly as Joseph and Mia glared at each other across the coffee table. "Much as I appreciate all of this," she patted Joseph's knee warmly. "This isn't helping anything."
Both Joseph and Mia looked at Clarisse in surprise- she seemed very calm, but also very determined that she wasn't going to lose either of them- they were the most important people in her life.
"Thank you, darling, for defending me," she leaned over and kissed her husband on his tense jaw, hoping that he would relax and, sure enough, his eyes sparkled slightly as he looked over at her.
"Mia," she continued, turning to look at her recalcitrant granddaughter, suddenly becoming the old, stricter Clarisse for a moment. "I would appreciate it if you could see this from my point of view- yes, I didn't tell you about Rupert until now, but did you really want to know about it when you were 18? 21? When you were getting married yourself? I did and do have your best interests at heart, and while I'm very sorry for keeping you in the dark for so long, I'm also not going to keep apologizing for things that happened long before you were born and maybe I shouldn't have told you about. I told you because you are my only granddaughter and I had hoped it might help you understand the way I am... I protected you both this time and when I had to keep my distance for sixteen years (which wasn't the easiest thing for me to do) because I love and care about you very much...."she trailed off, but all nervousness was gone- she was feeling much better- while Mia suddenly looked less churlish, more thoughtful.
"It has- that, and what Joe told me..."before stopping short as Clarisse turned and looked pointedly at Joseph.
"Joseph, what's this?"
"No, he didn't say anything now- it was when I first came here when I was sixteen, and I wanted to know a little about you... Joseph gave me a few pertinent details, including the fact that you protect those you care about and love... especially your family...."
Joseph inaudibly let out his breath- he may have told her that years earlier, but Mia had finally deduced one of Clarisse's most endearing features.
"I may have told her years and years ago," he explained as Clarisse continued to look at him. "But...." before Clarisse smiled at him.
"Anyway," Mia continued. "I was going to say that a few other people also convinced me that I had been irrational in my accusations, and they told me a few things I think I needed to hear...."
"Who were these people?"
"The same people I tried to slander Grandma as a liar to- Charlotte, Scott, Sebastian and Pierre...."
"What did they say?" Joseph asked curiously, finally calming down a little. He did have a fair temper, which Clarisse had seen many times when they had argued, but he felt he had had a good reason for his unusual display of temper- he was defending the woman he loved.
"Things I needed to hear....."
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A MONTH EARLIER
Mia fumed and sulked all the way back to the palace that day- she had been expecting a nice, simple visit to the beach, but instead her grandmother had chosen to 'dump' most of her past history on Mia, expecting her to understand. Mia didn't know which was she was more angry about- that Clarisse had stayed with her cheating husband (even when she had embarked on a retaliatory affair of her own with poor Joe), that Joseph had pushed her into talking to Mia, or the way she wanted to 'protect' her from it all.
In Mia's mind, Clarisse Renaldi was a liar, and she didn't know whether she was going to speak to her again, let alone forgive her.
Nicholas patiently listened to her side of the story as they drove back to Pyrus, only making sympathetic noises, but he secretly thought that Clarisse had been incredibly selfless in keeping the rotten aspects of Rupert from her, and it was a mark of how much she valued Mia and their relationship that she had even told her at all. He didn't think he could have done it if he'd been in her place.
He chided her gently when she hung up on Joseph when he had called, just as they were back in Pyrus, and she rolled her eyes.
"Whatever- he's on HER side and whatever he's going to say, it's going to be biased in her favour, and I don't want to know."
"Just listen to him," Nicholas said impatiently as the phone rang again and, after briefly speaking to Joseph, pointedly handed the phone to her. She was somewhat chastened after the second call, but she was still furious as she stormed into her study and almost collided with Charlotte.
"Charlotte! What are you doing here?"
"You wanted to see me about the next session of parliament," Charlotte replied calmly, wondering why Mia looked so upset and angry.
"Oh, of course... sit down, Charlotte, I 'll be right with you."
"Is there something wrong, Your Majesty?" Charlotte asked carefully as she watched Mia fumbling around in her desk, and Mia looked up, startled.
"Why do you think there's anything wrong?"
"You looked angry when you came in just now, and you seem distracted."
"You're right," Mia sighed, leaning back in her chair. " I am angry- Nick and I just back from visiting the beach, and it was a visit I'm unlikely to repeat for a while!"
"What happened?" Charlotte asked quietly- hopefully there was nothing wrong with Clarisse or Joe- the accident may have shaken them up, but....
"Grandma decided to dump a whole heap of past history on me- including the fact that her marriage to Rupert was a complete sham! No wonder she hooked up with Joe, to make him jealous... She could have told me this a long time ago, but no, she decided she'd rather 'protect' me, like the way she did for nearly sixteen years. I don't know how you worked for her, Charlotte... she may not have been that truthful to anyone or even you!"
"Did you tell her that?" Charlotte was now sitting up in her chair and Mia nodded firmly.
"Of course... who knows, maybe she was the unfaithful one, not Rupert... Am I right?"
she looked at Charlotte for approval, but Charlotte looked disapproving as she shook her head, fearful for the future of her job but determined to defend Clarisse's spotless reputation and loving, true relationship with Joe.
"No, you are not right, Your Majesty... and, with respect, you don't know anything about it."
"WHAT?" Mia looked outraged. "What do you mean, Charlotte?"
"I mean, Amelia, that your grandmother was
never unfaithful to your... His Majesty," she amended hastily, seeing that Rupert being referred to as her grandfather was distasteful to Mia. "NEVER... her friendship with Joseph evolved, as you very well know, into a deep and loving relationship, and while I always suspected that she wanted to be with him more than anything, she also realized that the country would never tolerate it while Rupert was alive. Rupert was a good king, but he did treat Clarisse abysmally in a lot of ways- the entire country knew he was playboy (and, unfortunately, accepted it), but Clarisse stayed with him for the sake of the boys and the country, at the expense of her own personal happiness."
It still saddened Charlotte to recall how unhappy Clarisse had been for a long time, and how empty her life had been... thankfully, that had all changed when Joe had finally swept her off her feet.
"So, you witness most of this, like Joe?"
"Clarisse tried to hide most of it, but anyone who knew her could see how unhappy she was and it was easy to deduce what was going on."
She didn't add that Clarisse eventually came to see her as a confidant of sorts, although Joseph had always been the one she turned to in times of crisis.
"As for Joseph, he knew very well what was going on but he was still determined to protect Clarisse- he was more than a bodyguard, he was her best friend, and he would never have compromised her in any way," Charlotte ended fiercely with a stern look a t Mia who, bad mood dissipated, looked at her in awe, not only because of what she had witnessed, but also keeping it a secret for a long time.
"So, in all honesty, I do not understand your anger towards Joe and Clarisse in this matter, and I'm very disappointed that you leapt to conclusions so quickly... but," she added in a softer tone. "You really should give your grandmother the benefit of the doubt... she meant well....."
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"Dear Charlotte," Clarisse said softly, tears glimmering in her eyes as she looked over at Joseph, when Mia finished her narrative- she had never doubted Charlotte's loyalty, but she really was a dear friend, particularly as she had kept her secrets and defended her honour.
"If you talked to her that day, why didn't you call and apologize?" Joseph demanded after a moment, frowning, still very much on the defensive.
"It did help me understand, but I was still so angry and, again, I wanted to hurt Grandma... I know it was childish," she added quickly, seeing Joseph open his mouth in indignation. "I'm not making any excuses for myself- I was very badly behaved, I know that, and I'm ashamed of what I did... anyway, both Scott and Sebastian supported what Charlotte said, although I didn't mention what had happened between us..."
"They must have suspected something if you managed to insinuate that Clarisse was a liar," Joseph said quietly- it still bothered him that she had done it- he had never though Mia would say anything like that about her grandmother.
"Yes, it didn't please them- in fact, Scott told me that 'You had better hope that it doesn't get back to Joe!"
"Yes, he was right about that," Joseph smiled grimly. "So, why the long time before you came out to apologize?" He was well aware he seemed very defensive, but Clarisse was one of the few people he would defend whole heartedly until the end... that, and the fact no one else had done it for her before he came along.
"I have been busy, but it wasn't until just before Grandma went into hospital that I got the phone call that helped me realize how stupid I had been.... Pierre had called to see how Grandma was, and when I said I didn't know, he wanted to know why, and the story just seem to come out...."
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"So... that's what really happened between you and Mother... or is it your version of events?" Pierre asked shrewdly after Mia finished her story.
"Well, my side, but..." she faltered, suddenly realizing how foolish she sounded.
"Mia, I don't know you very well, but I DO know that my mother doesn't lie- lying is anathema to her and what she is, so I doubt she was lying about protecting you... her life with my father was very hard."
"But you and Grandma don't really get along."
"No we don't, and that's my fault, but I'm telling you the truth about her- my father wasn't easy to live with, but my mother was extraordinary to put up with it for so long... this may sound hypocritical considering my cold relationship with her and the way I hero worshipped my father for most of my life.... it is complicated, and probably will never be what she wants, what she had with Phillipe and what she clearly has with you now, but believe me when I say that she cares about you very, very much, and that's why she protected you from this... out of love, not because she wanted to leave you out."
He paused, sighing, before realizing that it would be the perfect time to tell her about the time in hospital.
"As for Joseph, their relationship was a secret, and they never had an affair, even though I thought as much and said some vicious things to her... My father treated her badly but she stayed... I never really understood her attachment and attraction to Joseph until now, but I think my father did... in fact, at the end of his life, he actually sanctioned their relationship, which was a bitter pill for me to swallow..."
Mia listened in stunned silence, a little appalled as Pierre recounted the story he had told Clarisse in hospital.
"How could you not have told Grandma before?" she finally said.
"Believe me, I hurt Mother a great deal over the years, and that omission didn't help matters when I finally told her," he concluded. "That's why we keep our distance... but I don't want that to happen to you two now.... Your grandmother does make mistakes, as we all do, but never doubt that she would do anything for you... "
0000000
Again there was a stunned silence after Mia's story, before Clarisse stood up abruptly.
"Excuse me, I'm going to go and prepare some tea for us all."
"Did you want some help?" Mia asked hesitantly, more than ever ashamed at her behaviour, but Clarisse turned in the doorway and smiled at her.
"No, I'll be fine."
After she disappeared into the kitchen, the other three sat in silence for a time before, Joseph, unable to stand the tension, stood and excused himself as well.
"Sweetheart?" he asked hesitantly as he stepped into the kitchen and saw Clarisse busy at the bench, organizing cups and saucers. "Sweetheart," he repeated as he joined her and put a hand over hers. "Stop and look at me."
"I didn't think the afternoon would turn out like this," she said in a falsely cheery voice, still not looking at him, before she found herself suddenly forced to turn around and look into his warm, caring brown eyes.
"Clarisse, honey, talk to me," he said gently.
"I thought it would be difficult for Mia this afternoon, but it turns out that it's been difficult for me and I don't know why- the were all defending me... I don't know whether I feel worthy of it or embarrassed..."
"It's good that they all defended you," he said softly, wiping the stray tear away. "You are worthy of everything they said and I'm glad that both Charlotte and Pierre had the sense to set Mia straight."
"I just want things be the same between Mia and I...."
"It will be," came a voice from in front of them, and they looked up to see Mia and Nicholas standing in front of them. "I was very angry, betrayed and left out when you told me about Rupert a month ago," she continued honestly, stepping closer to them, her heels clicking on the wooden floor. "I wondered why you did it, resenting your protective attitude, making all the excuses in the world but then realizing something- you are still who you've always been- I'm the one who's been acting like a child, quite unlike a Queen and married woman."
"You're still very young," Clarisse began before Mia held up a hand to stop her.
"You don't need to make excuses for me, Grandma- I'm all grown up so I can't act like a pouting child just because you chose to tell me things from your past not when I thought you should."
"It was a horrible mistake," Clarisse said falteringly but Mia smiled.
"Judging by my behaviour over the past few weeks, you should have waited a few extra years," Mia joked and Clarisse finally smiled, relieved that the conversation had finally lightened up... Despite the fact that she had almost fully recovered from her illness, she was feeling drained at the afternoon's turn of events.
"I'm really, truly, absolutely sorry for what I said or insinuated about you," Mia said finally, an apologetic look on her face. "I had no idea what I said at the time because I was so angry but, upon a great deal of reflection, I now know it was incredibly unfair and brutal to you... I don't want to lose my relationships with you and Joe- us four are the nucleus of the royal family and you, aside from my mother, are all I have... so, all I can say is... I'm so, so sorry Grandma," she ended simply, standing in the middle of the kitchen, and there was the smallest of pauses before Clarisse hurried forward and pulled her into her arms for a tight bear hug, instantly forgiving her.
"It's alright darling," she said just as simply as Mia almost clung to her. "I know it was a dreadful shock, but I honestly wanted to..." before Mia pulled away slightly to look at her.
"You don't need to say anything more about this... and Joe," she grinned at him. "... has proved himself as the perfect husband... But," she added, standing back as Nicholas joined her and Joseph stood beside Clarisse.
"We did come out for another reason...."
"Oh? Clarisse was curious although, judging by the mysterious smile on her face, she was instantly suspicious.
"Well...." Mia looked at Nicholas, who was grinning, confirming Clarisse's suspicions while Joseph was confused- did Clarisse know something he didn't? "I don't know..."
"Amelia, don't tease me," Clarisse said half warningly.
"Alright... I'm pregnant!" Mia burst out happily, beaming as Joseph and Clarisse both looked momentarily stunned before Clarisse burst out laughing and pulled Mia into her arms again.
"Congratulations, my darling, what wonderful news!" she raved, ecstatic at the news before moving onto Nicholas as Joseph joined in. "A baby!"
"You're the first to know," Mia confided when they had finished celebrating. "I figured you should know first!"
"Thank you... when are you due?"
"Late May, early June, just before my birthday... So.... she said teasingly. "Are you pleased?"
"Definitely," Joseph confirmed with a proud grin. "It's about time there was a baby in the palace... I'm just glad we're living out here now!" he joked as Mia made a face at him.
"So... you're going to be great-grandparents- Great-grandmother and Great Grandpa... I wonder what the baby could call you... maybe Poppy!"
Mia giggled as Clarisse and Nicholas laughed along with her while Joseph looked flustered, although secretly flattered that he was included.
:No, not that... but surely the name of the child is more important that what the grandparents are going be known as... but what about your grandmother?" he added hastily, grinning over at her as Mia looked thoughtful.
"Grandmother is way too formal, as is Great Grandma... maybe Grandma... or...."Mia laughed out loud again, suddenly remembering something. "Or maybe what I suggested when we came back from our honeymoon.... Rissie, and you could be Joey!"