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

The Princess Diaries doesn't belong to me!

Meanwhile, the other two questions that was on everyone's mind was: where was Joseph and what was he doing?

Joseph had stormed out of the staff meeting, fully determined to go for a very, very long walk, giving himself time to calm down and repress his emotions, fully intending on being back on duty when the Queen emerged from her suite, ready to begin her day,… but somehow, that hadn't happened… somehow, he had found that it wasn't enough and he found himself almost running to his room (his knees preventing him from running completely), grabbed his jacket, car keys, wallet and sunglasses and made the decision to leave for the day. He wasn't quitting, not in the slightest, but all he knew was that he had to get out of the palace and the time was NOW!

"Joe!" he heard someone call- Charlotte, he assumed, as he didn't think that any of his men would dare to face him after what had transpired earlier- but he chose to keep his head down, ignoring the call and the few staff members who were milling around and head towards the door that lead to the palace garage where his car resided with the rest of the palace cars ("Of course your car should be garaged with the rest of the cars, this is your home as well!")

These words kept echoing in his mind as he searched the darkened garage for his black BMW, and he was vaguely aware that Clarisse… the Queen… Clarisse (the name and title of the same women kept causing him pain- Clarisse the woman, Her Majesty the Queen) would expect to see him sometime during the day, but the moment… he honestly didn't care….

0

However, almost an hour later, once he was 'on the road' and had left Pyrus behind him, Joseph wasn't quite sure of his impulsive decision, not knowing where he wanted to go or what he wanted to do.

Relaxation was something rare for him- a word and action that he hadn't experienced in years (not that he had wanted to) but now that it had actually happened, and seemed appealing, his conscience was reminding him of the responsibilities he was abandoning back at the palace, namely Clarisse… Her Majesty… the Queen… Clarisse….

Where was he to go? He wanted to go to the beach house, relive the memories of that day he had spent with Clarisse in October, but it was far too cold for that; his cabin was too far away to go there and back within a day; and he couldn't go back into Pyrus and wander around there because most people knew who he was and it would attract attention back to the palace, something he didn't want at all.

He found it relaxing to drive- he had very rarely had any opportunity to do so when he was working, usually opting to sit in the passenger seat next to the driver, read to spring out at any opportunity to open Her Majesty's door when she alight at her destination, something she had teased him about on more than one occasion….

"How can you spring into action so quickly?"

"It's part of my job to be prepared- and I don't want you waiting long in the car."

"Why wouldn't I mind waiting? Sometimes I'm just trying to delay entering parliament and dealing with those men."

"I can understand that… but you have a reputation to protect and I want to protect it."

"You have a reputation too."

"What's that?

"Being far too quick on your feet… they say…."

"Who says?"

"Well, according to my maids, there is a saying that there must be a spring in your chair that is set off once the car comes to a stop… it propels you into action, like Superman."

"I see," was all Joseph said and Clarisse wondered whether he had offended him, but when he looked up at her again, he was grinning.

"That's a reputation I wouldn't mind maintaining."

"I'm sure you wouldn't have any problem keeping that reputation," she retorted with a twinkle in her eye and they couldn't help but exchange a flirtatious look.

Joseph couldn't help but grin at the memory- he too had heard the saying around the palace, but hearing Her Majesty say it only confirmed the truth of the story. Yes, he liked being prepared, he knew he had to be on the go, ready to go whenever the Queen was ready to climb out of the car, but what he didn't want to mention to the Queen was that he was so quick so that in case something went wrong- a crowd that went wild or something much worse- he was on hand to protect her.

That memory again reminded him that he had abandoned his post, abandoned his Queen, and he full expected that when he returned, he would be fired. Justifiable, he knew, he would do the same if he was in her position, but still, the thought was more painful that he imagined. He would never see her again, never be able to hold her hand, call her Clarisse… kiss her… but he also knew that he had to be punished for what he had done…

For a moment, he was tempted to turn the car around and return to the palace and the inevitable, but then he suddenly decided that he would enjoy his day off and deal with the consequences later.

He suddenly realised that he was driving into the outskirts of Mertz, a town three hours south of Pyrus and he was suddenly hungry. Glancing at his watch, it was almost noon, so he decided to look around for a restaurant or a pub where he could have a meal- hopefully, no one would recognise him….

He found a pub near the centre of town, and Joseph felt a little self-conscious as he parked the car and strolled towards the pub- there were a few people walking around the main street and he wondered whether they would notice that he was wearing black, unlike most of the population who were dressed casually, albeit warmly.

However, Joseph was relieved that no one was taking any notice of him or what he was doing and he managed to slip inside the pub unobtrusively.

"Morning, how can I help you?" the bar man was standing behind the bar, cleaning a glass while there were a few patrons (obviously the regulars) sitting around the bar, glasses on the bars in front of them.

"Morning, I was wondering if I could grab a drink and a meal." Joseph asked as he slid onto a barstool and removed his sunglasses.

"You're right in luck, the bistro is just about to open," he waved to the said bistro, located in a corner of the pub, a number of chairs and booths lining the walls. "I'd recommend the meal of the day- steak and chips, they cook it pretty well… What can I get you?"

Joseph wouldn't have minded a beer, but he had to drive back to Pyrus and it wouldn't look great if he turned up back at the palace under the influence of alcohol, or even getting pulled over on the way back.

"A Coke would be great."

"Just a coke?" one of the other bar patrons joked. "You don't want to add anything to that?"

"Just the Coke," Joseph reaffirmed to the bartender and he nodded.

"A Coke it is…"

"Where are you from?" the same patron, an older man with a scrubby beard and wearing jeans and a flannelette shirt, slurred as he turned to face Joseph. "Don't think I've seen you here before."

"I'm not from around here…I'm from Pyrus."

"No, I didn't mean where you live, where were you born? You look… Spanish, Italian?"

"I was born in Spain, although I have travelled around the world as well."

"Lucky son of a gun, aren't you? I wouldn't have minded travelling around a little if I had the chance… or the money," the older man sounded sarcastic and Joseph, already wary, was suddenly considering options about whether he should leave the bar altogether and avoid having lunch.

"Never mind old Jim here," the bartender thankfully intervened as he set his glass of Coke on the bar in front of him. "He's just a little jealous of everyone who has travelled… not that he ever wanted to do it anyway," he gave the other man a look, who grunted and turned away back to his own conversation. "Having a day off?" the barman continued conversationally and Joseph shrugged.

"Yes, just needed to get away from the job for a day."

"High pressure job?"

"I suppose so," he shrugged- yes, being the personal bodyguard of the Queen was fairly high pressure, not that he had ever really considered it to be high pressure, he had never really considered it to be so, everything was usually dealt with fairly easily, but to the outside world… their perception would probably be a lot different.

"What do you do?"

"I'm in security," which seemed like the simplest answer to give, and he hoped that he wouldn't pursue the subject, he didn't want to get any more specific.

"Tough job… like a bouncer in a club or something?"

"More like personal security."

"Oh, that would be even tougher, wouldn't it?"

"I guess so, but I don't mind it."

"Good for you," the bartender gave him a smile and then moved down the bar to where a couple of the patrons were calling for more drinks.

00000

After lunch- and Joseph had to admit that the bartender had been right about the steak and chips (although he had opted for salad as well), they had been delicious (although not quite up to the standard of the palace chefs, he knew he had been spoiled) - Joseph decided to take a walk around Mertz, stretch his legs before getting back in the car and driving back to Pyrus.

"Take care, security!" the bartender held up a hand in farewell as Joseph moved towards the door, Joseph returning the wave (and thankfully his 'friend' hadn't noticed he was leaving) before he stepped out into the cool main street- the temperature had suddenly dropped since he had entered the bar about an hour or so earlier, but it wasn't cool enough that he couldn't take a stroll down the main street of Mertz.

As he shrugged on his jacket, he felt his mobile phone on his belt and wondered momentarily whether he should check his messages or even call the palace, but then shrugged, deciding not to bother. Why ruin the rest of an already unplanned day with the inevitable consequences? He could wait until he returned to the palace.

0

"Have we heard from him at all?" Scott inquired as he strode back into the security hub after his 'meeting' with Her Majesty (and, he had to admit, it wasn't as bad as he had feared- he had half expected her to fire him for not 'controlling' Joseph properly and preventing him from leaving the palace that morning) and one of his colleagues looked up from his phone and shook his head regretfully.

"Keeps going to voicemail, I don't think he has it on."

"Well, we're going to keep on trying, we need to know what's going to happen tomorrow."

"What's on Her Majesty's schedule for tomorrow?"

"I'm not quite sure yet," Scott was being uncharacteristically closed- mouthed and unconcerned about what would happen with Joseph.

"How come?"

"I don't know and that's all I'm going to say."

"What did Her Majesty want? Did she want to tear strips off you for letting Joseph escape from the palace?" one of the younger men teased and Scott grinned sheepishly.

"No, not that like at all….but I cannot say anything, not at the moment… but believe me, by the end of the day, you will know more."

0

Joseph discovered that the afternoon passed by pleasantly- he hadn't had the opportunity to stroll leisurely down the main street of Mertz, exploring some of the shops, standing in front of the real estate agency and examining all the properties that were for sale.

He hadn't time for this for many years, having always been on the run, trying to ensure that the security team at the palace ran smoothly and well, as well as ensuring that the Queen was always well protected, but he had to admit that he was enjoying the day, despite the guilt that was building in the pit of his stomach. Soon, he would have to go back and face the music….

Mertz was a pleasant town three hours south of Pyrus, and while Pyrus was the capital and not only population wise but for the industries that made Genovia a small but great nation, Mertz had its own offerings as well- including being only 4 hours away from the French border.

Aside from the marching band that went to the parade every year, there were a number of farms on the outskirts of town, growing the fruit and vegetables that were exported and imported- pears being the most popular- as well as factories where the silk and lace that made Genovia famous were made. It was a tourist town- tourists flocked to the city every spring and summer to visit the farms, the wineries and the lake and enormous camping site that everyone enjoyed visiting.

Joseph himself hadn't been to the lake or the campsite in years- not since it had been developed- but Phillipe had been when he was younger and he had told Joseph that he had enjoyed it and had a great time water-skiing on the lake as well as barbequing with his friends (which of course included his security team) and "I definitely recommend that you go and have some fun."

"I'd like to have the time for that," Joseph chuckled easily.

"I'm sure Maman would give you the time off, if you wanted to go," Phillipe said earnestly. "I'll even mention it to her, if you wish."

"That's very thoughtful of you, Your Highness, but I'm content to do my own thing."

"If you ever want it though, you know where I am…"

Now, standing by the still frozen lake, the campsite neglected due to the weather and the season, Joseph suddenly wished that he had requested the time to come out here for a couple of days. He wasn't a camping man at all, but there had been cabins built and he would have been able to stay there… he could just imagine all the families flocking there in summer, swimming and water skiing, camping out under the stars, barbequing and just enjoying each other's company…. He was too old now, definitely, to camp, but maybe there was an option for holidays in the future… although, who was he kidding, he wouldn't actually take the time off….

He sighed and glanced at his watch- the sky was rapidly darkening and he still had the three hour trip back to Pyrus, as well as stopping for dinner on the way. It was time to go, and while he knew that he had to face the music back home, he was actually relieved that he had had some time to relax and be away from the palace, even if only for a few hours…

000

By the time he returned to the palace (and having had dinner in a roadside diner on the way home), it was after ten o'clock and he was quietly confident that everyone was asleep. He didn't even bother to stop in the security hub to check on what was going on with the team (and, more importantly, whether the Queen had noticed his absence) but the question was answered clearly when he discovered Her Majesty was standing near the doorway of his room.

"Your Majesty! It's rather late in the evening- I didn't think you would still be awake!" he said in surprise.

"I've had a fairly easy day and I'm fine," Her Majesty said quietly, her expression neutral but her expression was even. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," he said guiltily, realising that the moment was on him and he wasn't actually looking forward to this, despite his calm assurances to himself earlier in the day.

"Good. We need to talk." She stated this sentence calmly, without any anger. "May I?" she indicated his bedroom and he shook his head.

"No, Your Majesty, that would be inappropriate." Not to mention the fact that it was a mess, he hadn't had the chance to clean up this morning, only desperate to leave before he exploded.

"Fine. My study. Fifteen minutes," before she turned on her heel and strode back down the hallway, leaving Joseph stunned and wondering what was going to happen…