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

The Princess Diaries doesn't belong to me

Completely unaware of what had transpired downstairs earlier that morning, Her Majesty Queen Clarisse emerged from her suite after breakfast, preparing herself for a day behind her desk and the enormous pile of paperwork that had been piling up over the past few weeks. Hopefully, she would be able to have a walk in the garden as a break (or maybe as two breaks, she would probably need more than one break, considering what she had to do today) and hopefully Joseph would be pleased to accompany her… she hoped that he would.

However, almost the moment she stepped out of her suite, Clarisse could sense that there was a strange atmosphere in the palace, an atmosphere that she couldn't explain- although, upon reflection, the behaviour of her maids had been unusual during her breakfast time, as if they had known something but had been instructed not to say anything to her.

There was nothing unusual in the hallways or downstairs towards her study- her guards were standing in front of her study doors as usual, but she was a little surprised to discover that Joseph wasn't waiting inside her study for her- he usually reported to her early in the morning to ensure that her schedule was formed and there were no changes to the day- but, then again, if she was spending the day at the palace, doing paperwork, he had probably deemed it unnecessary to report to her… although he usually did it anyway, it was one of their rare private moments that they are able to enjoy during the day.

She too remembered the day they had spent at the beach, the closeness that had drawn them closer to each other, the confidences they had shared, and the hand holding… the kisses…

She had been regretful that she and Joseph hadn't had any additional opportunities to consolidate what they had experienced at the beach, that they had time to enjoy their deepening relationship… to hold hands again and share a few kisses, she admitted to herself with a coy smile. They had had some private time together- mainly a few nightcaps in the evenings as well as strolls around the garden, but there hadn't been time to do anything else.

It had been a busy few months since then, but the memory of the day had remained in her mind and Clarisse had been keen to continue exploring that relationship (the realisation frightening her just as much as it exhilarated her) but things had been far too busy and complicated…and Joseph hadn't been in the best of moods lately, much as he had tried to hide it from her….

She was already settled at her desk when Charlotte came into the room, clutching her notebook and pen, preparing to take notes for what Clarisse wanted her to do that day. She was an excellent personal assistant, organised, quick and intelligent and Clarisse didn't know what she would do without her, she was that efficient.

However, this morning, she seemed a little distracted as she sat down in the chair opposite the desk and opened her notebook, her eyes still on the book.

"Good morning, Charlotte," Clarisse said gently yet chidingly and Charlotte blushed as she looked up.

"Good morning, Your Majesty. I hope you rested well last night."

"I did… and you?" Clarisse was puzzled at the conversation- Charlotte was being unusually polite, asking about how she rested (something she hadn't asked before) instead of giving her the latest news from the media (she read all the papers as well, but Clarisse enjoyed different perspectives and she often enjoyed discussing the latest news with Charlotte or Joseph just as much as Sebastian) and, the biggest clue that there was something wrong- she continued to avoid her gaze- she had met her eyes briefly when she had responded to her greeting, but then her eyes had flickered away. Clarisse was instantly intrigued and curious… but she couldn't help but feel a little concerned as well.

"Charlotte?"

"Yes?"

"Is there something going on? Is there anything wrong?"

"There's nothing wrong, Your Majesty," Charlotte said quickly, meeting Clarisse's eyes again but her eyes flickered away from her just as quickly.

"Charlotte?"

"Yes, ma'am?"

"I don't believe you and I'm not saying this to be unkind… but you and I both know that you're not a very good liar… so please, tell me what's going on," Clarisse still sounded gentle but there was an edge creeping into her tone and her expression was turning even.

Charlotte blushed again- she knew that trying to avoid the subject was not the best tactic, so she tried Scott's suggestion.

"Joseph isn't to be disturbed today, he's got a lot of paperwork to do," she said bravely, meeting and holding Her Majesty's gaze.

"I see," Clarisse said evenly. "I see… but that wasn't what I was asking you- there is something going on in the palace and I would like to know what it is," and this time, her tone was brooking no argument or excuse- she wanted to know and she would know.

Charlotte winced inwardly- she had known that Scott's reasoning wouldn't work, and she knew that she was seriously beginning to irritate the Queen, so she decided to throw caution to the wind and tell her the truth.

"Alright," she looked up and met the Queen's even expression. "There was a staff meeting this morning and…well, I don't know all the details, but Joseph stormed out and has apparently left the palace about an hour ago."

"What?!" Clarisse was shocked- she hadn't expected anything like this and she certainly hadn't expected Joseph to walk out on his job. "Has he quit? Did he say that he quit?"

There was an element of panic in her voice, although she tried to hide it well and Charlotte didn't seem to have noticed. The panic was not just about losing her Head of Security, one of the best men who had looked after her over the years, but it was also panic at losing Joseph…

"Scott said he hadn't, he had just exploded and stormed out… his car is missing and….the guards saw him leave the grounds." Charlotte said simply- there was nothing else to say but the truth.

"Oh," Clarisse sat back in her chair, looking stunned.

"Of course, Scott is arranging alternative security arrangements, just in case you are needed to leave the palace…."

"That won't be necessary, although I appreciate Scott's fore thinking and please tell him so. I will be quite content to remain behind my desk for the day…."

So much for a walk or two in the garden, she thought to herself, although it was more important to find out what was going on with Joseph and why he had left so suddenly early this morning.

She had sensed that he had needed a break (although he would have fobbed her off with the words 'impossible, there's too much to do, I've got too much to do with my guys'') but she had wished, more than ever, that she had forced him to have a break when she had sensed that he had needed it, after the Christmas and New Year's celebrations, although he had denied it fiercely and almost shouted at her only a few days earlier…..

"Are you alright?" she asked gently after one such security meeting, three days after the New Year, and the visitors that had been staying at the palace had left. Clarisse herself had been slightly exhausted- her exhaustion made her realise that she wasn't as young as she once was, and that she was also looking forward to Mia finally ascending the throne when she was twenty one. She had a few days to herself, now, to rest and recover before preparing for the year ahead, but she had also wanted to know what she had to prepare for- and that included Joseph in the consultation process.

Charlotte had already provided her agenda for the first six months and much of it had been agreed to and Joseph had presented her with the security plans for the following year- one specific action was that there would be no inexperienced interns that year, not before they had undergone the necessary training that Joseph felt necessary.

"We're not going to have the problems that we had last year," he had said harshly when he had informed Clarisse of this, and while Clarisse had felt it a little too harsh a judgement, she decided to keep her tongue in check- Joseph wasn't in the best of moods and she assumed that he was just as tired, if not more, than she.

"I'm fine," he said as he packed up his papers and slipped them into his leather folder. "If there was anything else?" he turned to look at her coolly and Clarisse was a little surprised- he usually expected a nightcap after a meeting such as this.

"No, if there is anything else that I think of, I will get Charlotte to contact you…but Joseph," she stood up and slowly made her way towards him. "Are you sure you're alright?"

"I'm fine," he snapped.

"I know the Christmas and New Year's celebrations were busier than usual this year…." She began awkwardly. "You and your men did exceptionally well."

"It's part of our job, Your Majesty," he was still standing upright to attention, his eyes distant and expression neutral.

"I would completely understand if you wished to have some time off… I'm having a few days off myself…" she gave him a wry grin, expecting it to be returned but, instead, his expression turned even icier.

"Are you having doubts about my abilities to protect you?"

"No, I…."

"Are you having doubts that I cannot continue my duties without having a break?"

"No, I…."

"Are you simply wanting to get rid of me for a few days?" he spat the last sentence out and Clarisse was aghast and shocked.

"No, never… I just thought…."

"Well, if there are no doubts about my abilities, then we do not have to continue this conversation. I'm fine and it is not necessary for me to have any time off, as you suggest, although I thank you for your pity."

"Pity? Joseph, it's not pity…."

"NO? Then why do I feel like it is?" he almost shouted before he recovered himself and took a deep breath in before giving her a curt bow. "Your Majesty. May I be excused?"

"Of course," Clarisse responded, watching almost sadly as he strode from the room, his back stiff from anger….what was wrong with Joseph?

"Forget our plans for the moment, Charlotte," she said gently, resting back in her chair. "I would like to discuss exactly what happened this morning… I know you might not know what had happened at the meeting itself, but I assume that you would have heard quite a bit from those around him, including Scott and my maids… so I would like to know exactly what happened- please, tell me everything."

000

Charlotte's tale wasn't as long as she had expected (but much of it made sense to Clarisse) but while Clarisse spent the rest of the day at her desk, perusing and signing papers, her mind couldn't help but continue to drift back to Joseph and the explosion that had forced him to walk out.

Of course, she wouldn't fire him when (or if) he came back, but she would insist that he had to have a break and for more than one day… yes, he would be stubborn and insist on not wanting to go (she couldn't help but admire him for his dedication to his work… and to her, she knew that was the truth as well) but she would have to insist, for the sake of his health and sanity as well as the sanity of his security team (and she knew that they had been tolerating his bad mood for quite a while now), that he had some time off.

But… she also knew that he wouldn't go without a fight, so she had to consider other options… he had helped her when she was stressed, so she had to help him as well… not only as his queen and boss, but as his friend and…girlfriend… a word that made her nose wrinkle in disgust, it sounded so modern and quite unlike what she wanted but, in regards to their relationship, it as the truth… they were more than friends…

But where could they go? The beach house was totally inappropriate in this weather, it was far too cold and icy, she could only imagine them huddling in the house… no, that wasn't quite relaxing… but where else? What about… Joseph's cabin? He had a personal cabin, close to the Winter Palace, a place he had called his 'retreat' but hadn't been (or rather, had refused) to go recently…

Suddenly, now the idea was in her head, she had to go through with it, she wanted to go through with it and Clarisse pressed the button on the intercom that connected her with Charlotte's office.

"Yes, Your Majesty?"

"Charlotte, can you go and get Scott and bring him to my study?"