Author's Note: I'm sorry this story is taking a while to get posted (and I can see that it's getting bigger almost every chapter!) but I'll get there with it! Thanx to everyone who is reviewing it…was a little unsure about it before, but now I'm okay with it!

The Princess Diaries belongs to Meg Cabot and Disney

Although Joe's proposal was in both of their minds in the ensuing days, both Clarisse and Joe found that there was far too much going on to really be able to reflect on it, and even discuss it again. Mia's wedding was in less than three weeks, and Clarisse in particular was feeling the pressure- not only did she have to oversee the plans for the 'wedding of the year' (as one television reporter had said), but also oversee plans for the coronation as well as continuing to instruct Mia in the finer elements of being Queen. She only wished it didn't have to be so rushed and hurried- it could have, in normal times, taken months to gently hand over the reigns to Mia. Instead, thanks to a practically invisible law, all her carefully laid plans had been rendered void, and Mia had to become Queen in a month, or relinquish the throne to Lord Devereaux.

"I don't think they will ever realise how much there is in this job," she had complained to Joseph after the agreement had been reached in parliament, and Joe had looked at her quietly.

"We both know that, Clarisse…but parliament will always be parliament, and you know what they are like…."

He trailed off, and Clarisse had to laugh- they both knew what parliament was really like…

But she did know one thing- Lord Devereaux, nice boy that he may be without the influence of his duplicitous uncle, was not going to become King of Genovia. Mia, the daughter of her beloved Phillipe, deserved the crown- there was so much she had sacrificed in the past 5 years, and Clarisse knew without a doubt that Mia would get there.

However, there were times when she wondered whether the 21-year-old was ready for such a big responsibility…Clarisse herself had become Queen Consort at 25, and she had found the task so daunting that she had wondered whether she could do it…However, Rupert had been 39 and ready, and all Clarisse had to do was support him…but Mia, she would be Queen and monarch of the entire country…there would be no practicing….

0000

She had glanced at Mia's face several times during the session in the throne room, greeting the people of Genovia, and she could see that Mia was more than a little daunted at the task at hand. Most of the people warmly greeted their future Queen happily, but Clarisse knew that it would be daunting to her, particularly when Viscount Mabrey and his nephew were sitting and watching the proceedings closely. Clarisse had tried to have them removed from the session, but Joe (even though he understood her reasoning, and completely agreed with her,) convinced her otherwise.

"That wouldn't be such a wise idea, Clarisse…if they know you are trying to remove them from something they had a right to see, it could get nasty …and we both know how nasty Arthur Mabrey can be…" he trailed off as they remembered the heated argument Clarisse had found herself in during a private meeting with some of the parliamentarians in her office….

The session seemed to be going well, and Clarisse was proud of the way Mia held herself and conducted brief conversations with some of the citizens…she was also pleased to see that Lily had been taking notes…Mia was taking the threat seriously.

However, it went askew when Tiny, a lovable fellow that Clarisse liked greatly, offered a covered basket 'for their table.' Clarisse suspected what was in it and tried to send a signal to Mia not to uncover it, but Mia did….it was a brown hen, but Mia then lifted it out of its basket and, startled by the lights and noise, the hen bolted. Clarisse could hear Mabrey roaring his head off, and she was tempted to smile, but she couldn't as she grabbed the back of Mia's suit as she went by, stopping Mia from running.

"A Queen never chases a chicken," she murmured softly into Mia's ear before Shades, looking very disgruntled, came back to where the basket stood, carrying the chicken…….

Mia disappeared quickly after the session ended, and Clarisse didn't blame her- Mabrey had somehow invited the press along, and the press had managed to get a photograph of the whole debacle, which would do little for Mia's self confidence when it was published in the paper….

Clarisse sighed heavily as she walked back towards her study- her small crown had already been sent upstairs to the safe, but she couldn't be bothered changing from the pure white clothes she had worn in the throne room. She could really do with a cup of tea, but she didn't feel like going down to the kitchen…too many people there to literally bend over backwards to help her, or get nervous in her presence…That was one thing she disliked about her position- everyone either seemed to fawn over her or act liked they disliked her….she wouldn't miss that aspect all when she was no longer Queen….

"Hello," came a voice from behind her, and she turned to see Joseph, clad in black as usual, walking his usual two steps behind her.

"You look very lovely this afternoon," he added as she blushed.

"And you are your usual charming self," she teased back as she looked around for a moment and, seeing no one around, stepped back to walk beside him.

"By the way, where were you this afternoon? We were in the throne room…."

"I've already heard all about it from a rather disgruntled Shades…I never thought I would ever hear that a live chicken ran about the palace!" he started laughing, and she joined in for a moment, before stopping at the thought of Mia.

"It's not all that funny, you know. Poor Mia, she didn't know what was going on…I should have warned her about Tiny before today…"

"Oh, I thought it was him…good old Tiny," he chuckled softly. He knew Tiny, and knew that he did it on several occasions, despite palace security insisting he didn't, but Clarisse usually handled the situation with poise and grace.

"Poor Mia…she really got embarrassed- particularly once the press took her photograph."

"The press were there?" Joe looked at her quizzically, and she nodded. "I thought that they considered that sort of thing too boring for words!"

"They do…but I think Arthur Mabrey hinted that there could be fireworks…and, fortunately for him, there was…"

She sighed heavily as they stood outside the closed doors of her study, and Joseph grinned at her.

"I can tell that you need a good cup of tea," he said as he opened the door for her, and she smiled at him as she walked through the door.

"You know me too well, Joseph Bonnell…I am dying for a good cup of tea…"

"And it's waiting for you right here," he finished as she turned and saw that there was a table set for two in the middle of her study, with a waiting pot of tea.

"I thought I would bring it to you," he explained with a smile as she turned and looked at him, genuinely surprise at the gesture.

"Thank you, Joseph," she said before she walked over to the table and sat down. Joe, standing awkwardly in the doorway, wondered what to do until she looked over at him with an amused look.

"I notice that there are two places set…aren't you intending on joining me, Joseph?" she asked as Joseph tried to look startled- as usual, the Queen had read his mind.

"I didn't ask for two to be set," he protested as she looked at him knowingly, and he rapidly gave in.

"Alright, I was hoping that you would need some company for a little while…"

"Well thought of, Joseph, and I do…now come and join me!" she said mock imperiously, and he laughed as he walked over and sat down opposite her.

"You don't even need to tell me what you like…black with two sugars," she said as she expertly poured two cups of tea and, after putting two sugar cubes in one, handed it over to him.

"You know me too well," Joe said quietly as he accepted his cup of tea, and she smiled at him. "I know what you like too….two sugars, and milk?"

"Perfect," she smiled as she sipped her tea, and sighed with pleasure. "That's what I needed after this afternoon!"

"Do you remember the time we had tea in the garden…I think it was in San Francisco…?"

Clarisse put her tea cup down and looked at him intently for a moment, thinking hard, before her expression lightened and she laughed easily.

"Goodness yes…Mia had decided to storm out of the consulate, and I had no idea what to do!"

"To be fair, though, you had just dropped a major, life changing announcement onto her head…"

Clarisse watched, half exasperatedly and half confused, as the young teenage girl dashed up the garden path, and disappeared into the building. The girl hadn't noticed Clarisse's Had of Security, obscurely hidden in a bush, as she run past him, and he too watched as she disappeared inside, before he walked down to meet his mistress.

"That went well, didn't it?" she said sarcastically as she turned away from the building and gazed at her tea longingly. She hadn't imagined Amelia would take the news so badly…or run out on her own grandmother, goodness knows where she was going, Clarisse thought to herself before she had an idea…"Will you help me?"

"What are you talking about?" Joseph looked confused and slightly suspicious- the Queen obviously had planned just in case the announcement didn't go to plan…which, in this case, it hadn't…

"I want you to drive her around San Francisco- take her to school, bring her here if need be, and whatever else girls her age do…" Joseph looked at her, slightly unimpressed.

"I'm your Head of Security, and you want me to be a chauffeur and babysitter?"

"For the time being, yes. The child needs protection," she said, waving in the area where Mia had been seen last. She sighed heavily then, and sat back down in her chair. "

What on earth are we going to do, Joseph?"

"To be fair, Your Majesty," he began, discreetly waving to the other servants, who disappeared inside, before he sat down in the chair recently vacated by the Princess. "That was a major life curve you just threw at her…she needs some time to adjust."

"I don't know what on earth you are talking about, Joseph," Clarisse said impatiently as she retrieved the spare cup and saucer from the tray beside her, and poured a cup of tea for her Head of Security. "You know I don't understand your baseball slang…or whatever that was!"

"You just told her she was a Princess- she has lived for nearly sixteen years not knowing that…I don't know about you, but that would throw me just a little bit," Joseph said as he accepted his cup from her and sat back in his chair.

"I would have thought she would have been delighted…most girls dream of becoming a princess!" Clarisse sipped her tea before she too sat back in her chair and looked over at he man who was, besides her Head of Security, her closest friend and confidante.

"I think this girl may be different," he said thoughtfully, looking back at the place where the young girl had disappeared. "I don't think this girl ever imagined she'd be a princess…I heard that her main goal in life was to be invisible, so I don't think this was in her plan…"


"She would have found out eventually," Clarisse protested, and Joseph gave her a steady look.

"At eighteen- she may have handled the news very differently, Clarisse," he said, and she almost shivered with delight- she liked hearing him call her by her name, rather than her title.

"But she is a teenager, and teenagers march to the beat of their own drums, whether we like it or not…and she is very different from your sons," he added as he could tell she was going to add this. "Your sons were born knowing that they were royalty- Amelia hasn't had that advantage…She's had a very normal, quiet life for almost sixteen years, and to have this come down on her shoulders…"


"Poor girl," Clarisse sighed, feeling sympathetic towards her granddaughter. She had never imagined having to break the news to her personally- Phillipe had always insisted he was going to do it…but after the terrible accident in April…it had fallen on her to do so… She felt a slight twinge of guilt as she remembered Mia's reaction, and she wished she didn't have to do it, but Mia was now the heir to the throne…

"So, what do we do now?" as he watched her brow furrow in thought. So much had befallen the Queen in the past fifteen months, and he was more than a little worried about her…not only as her Head of Security, but as her friend…and someone who was in love with her…

"I guess I will have to go and see Helen tomorrow, for Amelia goes to school…it will be hard," she said with a sigh, remembering the last occasion she had seen Helen, fifteen years ago, when she was about to leave Genovia with Phillipe's tiny daughter…"

But, will you help me, as I asked you a few moments ago?" she asked, looking at him with her irresistible blue eyes, and Joseph knew he couldn't refuse her. "Besides," she added with a slight smile. "I won't be going anywhere in the next two weeks, so you will have the time…"


"Fine…I'll be happy to do it for you," he said with a great sigh, and she smiled, leaning over to pat his hand reassuringly.

"Thank you, Joseph…I knew I could count on you……"

"What an adventure and a half that turned out to be!" Joe chortled as he remembered going out into the pouring rain to find the Princess, on the evening of the Independence Day ball, and bringing her to the consulate…not to mention the misadventure involving Mia's Mustang and the police…..

"But you have to admit, you have grown awfully fond of her," Clarisse looked over her teacup at him, and he laughed.

"Yes I have…she's a wonderful girl, and she combines the best qualities of two of the best people in Genovia…Phillipe and….you," he finished softly, and she blushed into her tea cup for a moment.

"But," he added, sensing that she was embarrassed by the compliment. " I wasn't too pleased about that joy ride you two went on in San Francisco…."

"What could have happened to us, Joseph?" Clarisse retorted as she poured herself another cup of tea. "The worst that could have happened is that the Von Trokans would have got the throne…imagine Viscount Mabrey trying to wrest it out of their hands," she said lightly, chuckling at the image, while Joseph visibly shuddered at the thought.

"Don't even say that…I don't even want to imagine that! But, you do have to admit, that the drive wasn't one of your best ideas…."

Joseph popped his head around the study door and was surprise to see that Clarisse's desk was empty. If the Princess wasn't there, she was usually busy working at this time of day, and she usually liked him coming in to have a chat, or an update on what the Princess was up to.

He shrugged to himself, and turned to walk away, a little disappointed that she wasn't there, and almost collided with Charlotte, who was carrying a pile of papers.

"Charlotte, have you seen Her Majesty?"

"The last time I saw her, she was out in the greenhouse with the Princess…she cancelled all her plans for today, and I think the Princess was taking her for a drive in her Mustang…" she trailed off when she saw the slightly displeased look on his face. "I take it she didn't tell you?"

"No she didn't," Joe said lightly, trying to pretend he wasn't slightly panicked at the disappearance of the two most influential people in Genovia…if there was an accident, and both of them were killed, the throne would automatically go to the Von Trokans, and he couldn't bear the thought of that…But, he told himself sternly, he was being ridiculous- they would have only gone out for a quick drive around the block…Mia was very proud of her car, and it was understandable that she would want to show it off…

"Did they happen to mention where they were going?" he asked as he followed Charlotte into Clarisse's study.

"No…Mia mentioned something about a fun park, but I left as soon as they began making plans…I'm sorry, Joe," she said repentantly, and Joe smiled at her.

"Don't worry, Charlotte. This isn't your fault…We'll see them when they get back…"

"They'll be back soon, Joe," she said reassuringly, patting him on the arm as she walked past. "They'll be fine…"
"I hope so," Joe muttered under his breath as he walked back to his security room……

00000

Two and a half hours later, however, he was a tumult of emotions- fear, that something had happened to the two of them; anger that Mia had suggested something so silly, and that Clarisse hadn't thought to consult him about it; remorse that he was feeling like this; and guilt that Clarisse always had to have someone with her.

"Joe, they're back!" Charlotte called as she hurried past the study where he was pacing. Joe stared at the empty doorway for a moment, before literally dashing out of the room and outside.

To his relief, there was a car coming into the driveway…but, to his horror, it was a police car…What on earth! His fear, now that they were safe, dissipated into anger…whoever suggested this was in big trouble…

He watched as Clarisse turned to Mia for a moment, before stepping out of the open car door, smiled and thanked the police escorts, and turned to face him and Charlotte.

'Good afternoon Joseph," she said airily. "Are we expecting guests this afternoon?"


"I'm just interested in where you two have been all day," he said calmly, but both of them knew that his temper was just under the surface. "I'd like to speak to both of you inside, if you don't mind…"

"Actually, before you say anything else, I'd like to tell you that it was my idea," Clarisse said easily, ignoring the sharp intake of breath behind her. "So you don't need to involve Mia in this…These kind officers," she waved to the two men standing in front of the car. "Have offered to take her home…"

She turned to the girl, and smiled warmly at her. "I'll see you tomorrow afternoon, Mia."

"Are you…"Mia began nervously, looking over her shoulder at a smouldering Joseph, before Clarisse waved a hand easily.

"I'll be fine…see you tomorrow…Yes, I'm coming Joseph," she said as Joe, who was now standing near the entrance, glared back at her.

000

He waited until they were in the privacy of her study, the door firmly closed, before he turned to her…he took a deep breath and tried to calm down…they were safe, and Clarisse was back here again…

"Did you and the Princess have a good afternoon out?" he asked, with great restraint, as Clarisse, sitting at her desk, smiled at him. She was looking very pleased with herself, which only made him angrier.

"Yes…we went to a fun park, and ate corn dogs…the only dampener on the day was when Mia crashed into a trolley car," she said calmly, and Joe's eyes almost popped out of his head.

"She did…WHAT?"


"The breaks weren't working properly, and I ripped the emergency handbrake out of it's position," she chuckled softly at the memory. "And we went right down the hill and crashed into the trolley…I don't know what we would have done if that hadn't been there…"

Joseph was staring at her in horror- it was worse than he had thought…they had been in an accident…

"Why on earth did you go in that car anyway?" But they both knew the answer to that one

"Mia's so proud of it, and I actually wanted to…besides, what's the fun of going anywhere in a black limousine?" she was teasing him now, and Joseph couldn't believe this- Clarisse wasn't taking this at all seriously!


"You could have been seriously injured!" Joseph half shouted at her, and she raised an eyebrow.

"Are you shouting at me, Joseph?"


"Yes, I am…you didn't realise how…You should have told me where you were going? You aren't allowed to go anywhere without me, or one of the guys!"

"I know I'm not allowed…this is the one point you and I never seem to agree upon…But you have your freedom, you can and do as you please…why couldn't I, for one afternoon!"

"Because you're Queen of Genovia, and you need security around you!"

"Joseph," she said slowly, standing up and staring him. "I wanted to spend some one on one time with my granddaughter…surely you understand that?"

"Yes, but you don't know how much trouble you could have caused!"

"Trouble, tush!" she said, waving her hand and walking around her desk to stand in front of him. At that moment, he was suddenly struck by how sparkling her eyes were…but he knew it wasn't joy, but almost anger… "

I'm well aware of how much trouble, as you seem to put it, I could have caused but today…I didn't care! I just wanted to get to know my granddaughter a little better…surely you can understand that?" her voice turned beseeching, and Joseph realised that she was right.

"But you could have told someone where you were going- couldn't you?" he asked, his voice quietening down slightly, and she looked relieved.

"I guess I forgot to do that…and yes, Queens do make mistakes," she added hastily as he raised an eyebrow at her. "I'll admit that…But I am sorry that I made you worry…and I'll try not to do it again!"

"I was actually afraid that you weren't going to speak to me again after that…" Clarisse admitted as she poured another two cups of tea- she was very much enjoying having tea with Joseph…it was a little ritual they sometimes did, and no one else knew about it. There was so much that she was able to share with him that he could never share with anyone else… he was not only the man she truly loved, but he was her best friend.

She may have told Mia that Rupert had been her best friend- which he was, eventually- but what she shared with Joseph went beyond that…it was much, much more than that.

"We both know that that wasn't the worst fight we ever had, but I will admit that I was more frightened about your whereabouts than actually being angry."

"Your anger came about through relief…I could actually see, through the car window that day, that you were about to lose it!"

"It's just as well you managed to charm your way out of it, didn't you?" he teased, and she laughed.

"I guess I did…But I'm not the only one who is charming- you have your charms…you're a wonderful dancer. I don't know whether I've ever told you that, but you are… where on earth did you learn that skill?"

"I'm a little ashamed to admit this, but I took a few dancing lessons when I was a young man, but quickly stopped once I became a teenager…peer pressure," he explained as she gave him a quizzical look.

"I love to dance…not at all these boring events where I usually have to dance with every single member of parliament," she rolled her eyes at the thought. "But at small occasions… even when it was just you and me…."

She looked over at him meaningfully, and they both remembered the two instances in San Francisco where they had managed to dance together…alone…

"I don't suppose you're talking about the occasion after I tried to teach Mia the basics?" he teased gently as she laughed, remembering the look on his face when Mia had winded him.

"Of course…that's one of my favourite memories of San Francisco- the look on your face when she knocked into you- priceless…and then…" she trailed of with a dreamy look.

"See you tomorrow!" echoed back from the hall, and Clarisse smiled- she was becoming very fond of the girl…she hadn't realised how much she would love being a grandmother untiI Mia reappeared in her life. She sighed heavily, realising that there was still much to do, and stood up, taking off her glasses.

"Thank you Joseph," she murmured, switching off the CD player and preparing to walk away when Joe's hand moved past her and quietly switched on the CD player again. He had made an impulsive decision- she had always been a wonderfully graceful dancer when her husband had been alive, and now it was time she danced again. She turned to look at him surprise.

"You've been wearing black far too long," he murmured huskily, and she smiled at him- he was stating the obvious, and it was time for change. He took her hand in his, and she was only half aware of what was going on as she willingly followed him into the middle of the floor.

"It's been such a long time since I danced this, Joseph," she said softly, and he smiled over at her as they stood hip to hip, looking at each other.

"It's time, then, that you started dancing this again," he joked as the music continued playing, and he began guiding her through the dance steps. She had very rarely danced this number with Rupert- usually with the Spanish ambassador- and she was a little rusty, but Joseph was a patient teacher, and she quickly got the moves right.

As they danced, they were both aware of how easily they fitted and worked together- they had shared a number of dances over the years, and knew each other so well. As they eyes met and held, it seemed as though the world had stopped…If anyone had tried to ask where they were at that moment, neither of them would have been able to say. Clarisse had always loved looking into Joseph's lovely brown eyes, but what she saw there at that moment almost took her breath away…it was pure adoration…he loved her.

Faintly, as if from a long way away, Clarisse heard the sound of heels coming into the room, but they stopped so suddenly that she thought she had only imagined it…All that matter was that she was dancing again, and with the man she was falling in love with …Although, if she was really honest with herself, she had fallen for him a long, long time ago…

Joseph, on the other hand, couldn't believe that she had willingly followed him onto the dance floor- it had been a gambit he hadn't thought would work, but she obviously wanted to dance with him…Although she hadn't danced in well over a year, she was still as graceful as ever, and he didn't need to remind her of many steps…she had done this dance before, and the moves were burnt into her memory.

"I'm sorry," she murmured softly when she accidentally stepped on his foot, and he only smiled at her.

"My feet are much tougher than you seem to think," he whispered into her ear, and she smiled dreamily at him.

For a moment, as he gazed into her beautiful blue eyes, he thought he saw something tender and peaceful…she had gorgeous eyes, and could happily spend all day staring into them…But, for a moment, he saw love in her eyes…it was usually masked so well from the rest of the world that he wondered if he had dreamt it at times, but when they were alone, she couldn't and didn't want to hide it…and he felt so honoured that she loved him…

They had been gazing at each other so intensely that, for a moment, they didn't realise that the song they had been dancing to had finished, and the next song was playing. They stood there for a moment, but then heard sounds of voices coming down the hallway, and they quickly jumped apart.

"I don't know why you were worried about your dancing skills, Clarisse…you still dance very, very well," Joe said as he walked over and turned the CD player off. Clarisse, colouring a deep pink, laughed.

"You're being very kind, Joseph, but I think I stepped on your feet twice- at least!"


"Oh, so that's why my feet feel sore!" he joked, and she laughed as she collected her papers from the table.

"I'll let you go and put some ice on them," she teased as they walked towards the door together, well aware of the feelings they had for each other but, as they had been doing for so long, pretending that they didn't exist. It was getting hard and harder, though…

Joseph turned to her just before they left the room- there was something he had to ask her.

'May I have a dance at the Independence Day Ball?" he asked quickly, averting his eyes, and suddenly very nervous, and she smiled, touching his face as his eyes moved back to meet hers.

"Of course…you may have the second dance…"

00000000000000

Despite the black clouds overhead, and the intermittent rain, the Independence Day Ball was a massive success…Princess Mia had finally, and publicly, accepted her role and responsibilities, and Clarisse couldn't have been happier. There had been a moment, just that afternoon, when she had believed that Mia wouldn't do it, but she also had an inkling that Mia may change her mind…and, when Mia had appeared, soaking wet from the storm, Clarisse knew that Mia was about to fulfil her destiny.

"I'm sorry I was so late, Grandma," Mia said as they walked upstairs after her announcement. "I just got scared, that's all, but Dad helped me…"

"You found the letter in the diary…I wondered whether you would," Clarisse said with a smile.

"It was also amongst your father's possessions, and I slipped it into the diary," she added as Mia looked at her, wide eyed.

They stopped in front of Clarisse's suite where Paolo and Charlotte were waiting, and Clarisse turned to look at her for a moment.

"Are you scared anymore?"

Mia turned to her with a determined look that reminded Clarisse of Phillipe, and reminded Joe, a few steps away, of Clarisse.

"No," she said simply, before walking into the suite to get dressed.

000

Clarisse, now radiant that Mia was there, was enjoying the first dance with Sebastian Motez (as tradition dictated) before, out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Joseph appear from within the crowd watching, and walk towards them. He was coming for the dance she had promised him, and she was trying not to look excited about it.

Apart from Mia's announcement and presentation as Her Royal Highness, this was the highlight of her evening. Sebastian, looking from one to the other, chuckled secretly to himself- they were trying to be discreet, but their blossoming relationship was one of the worst kept secrets of Genovia…not that he minded- in fact, he approved whole heartedly.

"Your Majesty, Prime Minister," Joe said, bowing to both of them. "May I please cut in?" he asked Sebastian politely, who laughed and stepped aside.

"So you couldn't wait until the first song was over?" she teased softly as she glanced over and saw Mia dancing with young Michael Moscovitz, beaming happily.

"Well, I had it on excellent authority that the song was about to end anyway…there you go," he said in victory as the orchestra began a new song, and she only laughed.

She relaxed, enjoying the moments in Joseph's arms, before he said:
"They had the same idea as I had, but now the garden is occupado," and Clarisse glanced over to see Mia and Michael move off the dance floor and into the crowd.

She couldn't resist chuckling at him.

"Serves you right for thinking ahead," she teased softly as more and more people began joining them onto the dance floor.


"How many people do you need to dance with tonight, Your Majesty?" he asked sweetly, and she thought for a moment, before beaming victoriously at him.

"No one!"

She did, however, move around to greet people she hadn't had a chance to see before, and it wasn't long before she noticed that a certain couple were missing.

"Joseph, where are the Von Trokans?" she asked as she scanned the room for the surly face and portly figure of the Baron, but not finding them there at all…she was secretly pleased that they weren't to be seen, but she was curious to know where they had gone.

"I wasn't here when it happened, as you well know, but apparently the Baron tried to steal one of the vases on the nearby cabinet, and security busted him as he was walking out."


"Really?" Clarisse had to stifle her laughter, but the picture was just too good not to imagine. "I guess he was trying to get something out of it…What on earth!" she looked around in slight annoyance as the orchestra was replaced by a DJ that Mia had convinced her would be fun, began playing an incredibly noisy song.

"It's the DJ's turn to play now!" Joe shouted over the noise, and then had an idea. "How about we step out and have some fresh air for a little while, on the balcony?"


"Yes, thank you!" Clarisse said over the noise, and followed him through the ballroom.

As they walked out the doorway, side by side, Joseph gave a little wave with his hand, and the security men that had been sitting near the doorway, discreetly remembered something they had to do, and disappeared. As soon as they disappeared, Joseph calmly took her gloved hand in his and kissed it…Clarisse looked over at him with a warm and tender smile, butterflies in her stomach, and looped her arm through his.

0000

"This is so much better," Clarisse sighed happily as she walked out the double doors that led to the balcony and stood there for a moment, breathing in deeply.

The garden smelt like rain- her favourite scent- but she was happy to see that the clouds had broken up enough to allow some stars to sparkle through.

"Rather peaceful out here, isn't it?" Joe said mock innocently as they walked over to the edge of the balcony, and gazed out the lit up garden. "Wow…this is amazing- how on earth did you do all this?"

He was awestruck by the entire garden- the waterfall, the lights, the roses…it looked so much better than when they had arrived two and a half weeks previously.

"Charlotte was responsible for much of this," Clarisse said with a fond smile, glancing around and loving the look on Joseph's face.

"But you were the main architect that designed all this," he said with a gentle smile, and Clarisse had to acquiesce with his suggestion. He turned and looked her, gazing out in the garden with a smile, and smiled- she was even more luminous by moonlight…Sensing that he was looking at her, Clarisse turned and smiled at him.

"Aren't you going to ask me to dance again?" she said flirtatiously, and he laughed out loud.

"I would have thought that one dance with me would have been enough!"


"Not in the slightest," she said with a wide, expectant smile.

'Alright," he pretended to sigh heavily, but he was secretly delighted that she wanted another dance with him…

"Would you do me the honour of this dance, Yo…Clarisse?" he amended his sentence as she pretended to glare at him. He knew she much preferred her name when they were alone.

"Oh!" she said, pretending to be surprised, and then giggled. "I would be delighted, Joseph…"

"That was such a wonderful night," Clarisse said reflectively as she stared into her empty tea cup. "I thought that Mia wouldn't come…but, as you told me a million times during that trip, she was more like me than even I would realise…"

"But it took you until then to realise it, didn't you?" he teased, and Clarisse nodded.

"You're a very good judge of character, Joseph," she said softly. "I thought I was, but maybe my perceptions have been warped by the palace life…"

"I should think not!" Joseph looked at her, outraged. "You're a very sharp and good judge of character, Clarisse Renaldi, and I don't ever want to hear you put yourself down again!"

That was another thing he disliked about the former King of Genovia- he had very rarely given his Queen compliments, and now she didn't feel very comfortable hearing them.

"Alright, I won't Joseph," she laughed at his expression, and he softened for a moment. After an afternoon of sharing such wonderful memories in San Francisco, maybe this had helped her reach a decision… Clarisse, looking over at him, realised that, more than ever, she wanted to marry him…but there was something holding her back….

Just as they both moved to speak, there was a knock on the door, and Charlotte poked her head around, breaking the moment between them.

"I'm sorry to disturb you, Your Majesty, but it's time for your meeting with the press secretary!"

"I'll be right out, "Clarisse said with a smile, and stood up from the table as Charlotte disappeared. There was a long silence before she managed to look at him again- there were so many things and people interrupting them….would they ever get a moment to themselves?