Author's note- just a little warning, chapters may be fewer for a while… but don't worry, I still have quite a few chapters to write… just got other things at the mo….
Thank you to: Clarisse Renaldi, Kristi-Julie- Lady Luxembourg, Captain Weirdo, tabby-fanny, addlogcon, Minerva M McGonagall and everyone else- u all rock!
The Princess Diaries don't belong to me!
After their unexpected guests had left, Clarisse and Joseph decided to go downtown to do their other 'chores'.
"So that if anyone else comes to visit, we'll be out," Joe quipped smartly as he helped her into the car, and she laughed, knowing that he didn't mean it- he adored Mia…
"So," he said after they had driven out of the gates, and he had re-locked them, and he had gotten back into the car. "Will you be helping me with the shopping today?"
"Yes I will," Clarisse said definitely. "I just didn't want to do it yesterday because it may have caused a scene… I do want to do all this, but I was just a little worried…"
Joe nodded understandingly, knowing how she felt after their first outing as husband and wife- she was really very shy, and sometimes didn't understand the continued fascination in them- and he was quick to assuage her concerns.
"I know what you mean, and how you feel, but there shouldn't be any large crowds or crowds at all there today, my love. But, if there is and you're feeling uncomfortable about it, not to mention if I get concerned about your safety, then I will get you out of there as quickly as possible."
"My hero," she beamed over at him, and then sighed. "I just wish we could be viewed as normal… I know we're going to be seen doing normal things, but…"
"My darling, I know you wish that…"
"More so since we got married- you led a relatively quiet, normal life before I came along…"
"It doesn't matter to me that we're now in the spotlight," he said gently. "I knew about all of that when I proposed, and it didn't make me feel any different about you, or marrying you….remember, I love you, not the crown or the Queen!"
"That makes me feel better, but I still wish I could have a normal life…"
"I know, sweetheart, but, as you've pointed out, you are a former Queen of Genovia, and the grandmother of the current Queen, and I am the handsome husband…" he pretended to preen for a moment, to her amusement.
"… Of a former Queen, so we are never going to be considered 'normal' by the rest of the country… but we can consider ourselves that!"
"As we explained to Mia and Nicholas," Clarisse chuckled.
"That's right… besides, as I've said a thousand times before, you insecure lady," he threw her an affectionate look. "It's impossible for YOU to be normal as you are so extraordinary!"
"Thank you, but so are you," Clarisse blushed modestly before Joseph thought of something else.
"By the way, were you serious about staying out here at the beach house more often, or even permanently?"
Clarisse looked puzzled for a moment, trying to remember when she had said that, before she remembered that she had mentioned it before Mia had made her dramatic entrance. She looked thoughtful for a moment- she had been pondering it over the past few days, and had been wondering whether to mention it- before she smiled over at him.
"Yes, I did."
"Why, may I ask? I thought you were happy at the palace… you lived there for most of your adult life…"
"I am, and I know that, but it's so lovely and quiet out here, near the ocean… and there is more privacy…"
"And it's two hours away from Pyrus," Joe interrupted with a grin. "And the press won't bother you as much…"
"Stop that!" Clarisse scolded, before laughing out loud. "But I was just thinking… the palace is more Mia's home now, and while we'll always be warmly welcomed there, it seems like time to make a change, and have a little independence from the palace system… This could become our home… our suite would always be ours, but the beach house… well, the beach house is always where I imagined I would retire…" she trailed off, gazing dreamily out the window.
"That sounds like a good idea to me," Joseph said softly, liking the idea more and more as he thought about it. "But… one question- would we be allowed?"
"Tush!" Clarisse said briskly, turning away from the window. "I still may be considered a Queen…"
"And still enjoy the perks of that role," he teased as she playfully slapped him on the shoulder.
"But…. I'm no longer needed…"
"Yes you are," Joseph said quickly.
"Alright… but I'm not needed all the time, and besides," she added with a sly smile as he found a car park opposite the grocery store. "I am married to the best in the business, or he was, until he retired!"
"You cheeky so and so," he retorted with a smile, reaching over and stroking her cheek gently. "James and Charlie were right- you do have a smart mouth!"
"All thanks to the three of you," she replied smartly, and she laughed before he stepped out of the car, and walked around to open her car door.
Her eyes lit up when she stepped out of the car, and looked at an object, or store, over her husband's shoulder.
"What are you looking at?" he asked, turning around after he had locked the car, and smiled when he saw her looking at the video/DVD store. "Did you want to rent a few DVDs while we're here?"
"Why not? There aren't any back at the house…"
"Alright," he grinned, more than happy to indulge her, but he had to admit that it was a smart idea- there wasn't that much on television.
When they stepped into the store, and walked towards the counter, the two teenage assistants stopped and stared at them….
"Hi," one of them said finally. "Can we help you?"
"Hello, we'd like to rent a few DVDs," Joe said politely. "I know we'd have to open an account, so what types of identification would you need?"
"Well," said the other, reaching under the counter for a piece of paper. "We usually need some proof of identity, like driver's license or something, but…"
"I've got my license here," Joe said, opening his wallet, a little uncomfortable at being recognised but Clarisse's hand, slipped through his arm, pressed his arm reassuringly.
"Your name or mine?" he murmured as he filled out the form.
"Yours," she replied quietly, aware that they were still being stared at.
After their information had been processed into the computer, one of the assistants handed a plastic card with the store's logo on the front, and a barcode and number on the back.
"How many are we allowed to rent?"
"As many as you want… but we do have a few specials… do you need any help?"
"No thank you, we'll be alright," Joseph replied before he and Clarisse disappeared down into a row of shelves.
"So, what shall we watch?" he asked, still aware of the staring teenage boys, and Clarisse perused the nearest shelf quickly before grabbing one.
"I found one!"
He squinted slightly at the title…
"Dirty Dancing? Didn't you watch that with Mia a few years ago?"
"Yes, and I liked it a lot… Patrick is very cute in that role…" She looked at the cover longingly, and Joseph was genuinely surprised.
"Clarisse, I didn't think you would like anyone…"
"He's a very good dancer," she said vaguely, still looking dreamy, before realising that he would be jealous. "But don't worry, you're my sweetheart… My very sexy sweetheart," she whispered into his ear before she stepped back, and he grinned.
"Fine, you win… How about this?" he randomly grabbed a DVD from the end of the aisle, and she winced when she saw the title.
"'The Godfather?' No… and if you do get it, you will be watching it on your own!"
"Spoilsport," he pretended to complain, but he hadn't been really serious about renting it.
"I have an idea," he suggested. "Why don't we split up, chose five movies each, and then show each other what we've got?"
"Good idea," Clarisse agreed happily before disappearing around the end of the aisle.
0
Ten minutes later, as more people came into the store, Joe casually strolled around and found Clarisse waiting patiently where they had split up.
"How did you go?" he asked.
"How did you go?" she retorted smilingly.
"I asked you first," he chided gently, and she pretended to heave a heavy sigh before handing over her pile.
"Dirty Dancing, fine… The Sound of Music?" he groaned. "No… why that one?"
"Because I think she's a very talented singer, the scenery is beautiful, and the story…"
"You do look a little like here, you know," he said as he looked from the cover to his wife, and she blushed.
"No I don't… but…"
"The Notebook? That sounds like another sappy film!"
"It is, but it's romantic as well…."
"Alright… just as long as you haven't chosen Breakfast at Tiffany's or Gone with the Wind…"
"Of course not darling," Clarisse said calmly, spying a copy of the former movie over his shoulder, and was fully intending on sneaking it into the pile.
"It Happened One Night….Hmm, maybe…But Gone with the Wind! No, Clarisse!"
"Why not? You've never seen it before!"
"Yes, and you know why- it's almost four hours long!"
Clarisse chuckled as she put the DVD back on the shelf- little did he know what she planning on sneaking in…..
Her final choice, 'The Pink Panther' met with his whole hearted approval.
"I've seen it, but I've always liked it."
"I've always wanted to see it…Now, let's see what yours are….I only hope there's no blood and gore…. Rocky… hmm, a boxing film… maybe… Indiana Jones- there are three of them?"
"Yes, and I thought that it was time to introduce you to one of my favourite characters."
"Hmm…. 'Mouse Hunt'? Isn't that a children's movie?"
"Yes, but I've always found it hilarious that a mouse could outwit two men!"
"Sounds like fun," Clarisse said warmly.
When they reached the counter, the two boys suddenly turned professional as they processed their DVDs. Joe gave Clarisse a look when he saw 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' being scanned, and she almost penitently offered him a copy of 'Gladiator'.
"You're forgiven," he whispered as they were packed into a bag but, to his surprise as he reached into his wallet, Clarisse calmly handed over the exact money.
He waited until they were out of the store before he asked:
"Where did you get the money?"
"I robbed a bank," she joked. "No, I had Charlotte withdraw money for me before we left… you don't mind, do you? I just don't want you to pay for everything."
"No, I don't mind," he said warmly. "But I also don't want mind paying for everything…"
"You are sweet," she smiled at him, longing to kiss him, but she was also aware that they were in public, and it was one place she would never really show much affection to her husband, apart from holding hands or holding his arm, much as she wanted to…
But she also knew that her marriage was meant to be private, away from everyone's prying eyes… Joseph was used to his privacy, and she was craving more privacy for them…
0
As soon as they entered the store, there were a few more stares, as well as some smiles, but Joseph expertly wheeled the trolley into an empty aisle, Clarisse walking happily at his side.
"Do we haggle over prices… or go for the cheapest?" she asked, trying to sound as if she was an expert at shopping, but failed miserably as he knew that she was no expert.
"Sometimes buying cheap products is good, but you sometimes also have to pay more for quality," he explained as they momentarily stood in front of the pasta sauces section, and Clarisse, looking around, was suddenly seized with inspiration.
"I'm going to make pizza and a salad tonight," she suddenly said as she reached for a jar of sauce, examining it intently.
"Pizza?" Joe sounded surprised. "You do realise that you will have to eat that with your fingers?"
"I know that… I used to have pizza with the boys when they were younger… but I think I want to try and make it from scratch- you will help me, won't you?" she looked anxiously over at him, and he smiled as she slipped her arm through his.
"Of course… you might burn the house down, if you don't!"
Clarisse found shopping for groceries fascinating- not quite as interesting as shopping for clothes, she thought to herself with a smile- but she could tell that she was a novice in this section, as compared to her husband. While she reached for either the prettiest jar on the shelf, or the cheapest (they were pretending to be 'budgeting'), Joseph was more careful, comparing prices and brands, and usually ending up choosing the more expensive brand. Clarisse, however, made sure they stocked up on the movie watching essentials- chocolate, popcorn, hot chocolate and marshmallows.
"This was fun!" she said when they arrived at the checkout, at the end of a slight line up.
"Yes, you sure missed out on a lot," Joe said with a twinge of sarcasm, and she laughed.
When they reached the checkout counter, the girl stared at them for a moment, open mouthed, before she realised what she was supposed to be doing, and she started scanning items, packing them into bags as she went, Clarisse watching with interest.
Once she had finished, and had given Joseph back his card, she turned to Clarisse, blushing deeply but with a shy smile.
"It was really nice to… meet… you, Your Majesty… I've seen you driving past here on occasion, as well as in the parades and… congratulations on your remarriage," she trailed off, looking even more embarrassed as she smiled at her, and then Joseph, but Clarisse appreciated the effort she had made- and, especially, the way she had included Joseph. As far as she was concerned, whoever included her, or wanted to talk to her, it had to include her husband…
"Thank you very much," Clarisse said graciously as two young men appeared, and insisted on carrying their groceries to the car.
Joseph was rather pensive- she was probably used to being put on the spot like that, but he didn't think he could do it, which made him admire her even more…
"Doesn't that bother you?" he asked as they drove out of town, and Clarisse looked at him, puzzled. "I mean, people coming up to speak to you, and literally fawn over you?"
"Not anymore- I felt, in the beginning, that I didn't deserve it, but I'm used to it now, and I realise that it takes a lot of courage for them to come up and speak to someone… I'm just glad that that girl included you in her well wishes… But, I should have introduced you."
"No, I'm sure she would have known that, but you are the famous one in the family!"
"So are you," she rested her hand on her arm for a moment. "But I hope that those occasions will become fewer and far between- would you like someone fawning over you?"
"No thank you- I saw enough when Ms Gupta did it in San Francisco!" and they both laughed as they remembered Mia's high school principal- while she was literally on her knees around Clarisse, she definitely ignored Helen and Joseph.
"Poor woman, she didn't know how to react!" Clarisse chuckled, remembering the event accurately.
"But you handled it well… so, what shall we do when we get back to the house? I think it might be a bit late to go down to the beach…"
"I know… we can unpack the groceries, and then you can show me how to work the DVD player, and THEN… we can watch…"
Joseph groaned slightly, knowing what was coming….
"Then we can watch Dirty Dancing… but I will watch one of yours after dinner," she added kindly as he pretended to look pained for a moment, and then he smiled.
0
Back at the house, Clarisse quickly discovered where all the cooking utensils were, and knew where to find everything she needed. Then it was time for Joseph to teach her how to use the DVD player.
"How many remote controls does one need?" Clarisse asked in disbelief as she saw Joseph handle four remote controls easily. "I don't think I could…."
"Well, one is for the video, one is for the television, one is for the DVD player, and the other…"
"I'm not going to be able to remember all this…" Clarisse said a little hopelessly as she stared at them all, and he put them all down to give her a warm hug.
"Well my dear, yes you will because there is no test after this tuition, and I will help you… I just want you to know this…"
before he explained the whole technological set up, showing her everything as she went. Clarisse was relieved that he was explaining everything to her, but she still found a few things very confusing…
Joseph personally found it adorable that she wanted to know everything, and how it worked (he knew how smart she was), but he also understood that there were some things that she didn't need to know about…
"So…. You put the disc onto that little shelf, in the part shaped like a disc, and then press close on the DVD control," Clarisse said as she did just that, and watched as the disc disappeared into the player, and laughed in delight when it seemed to work as the title menu for Dirty Dancing appeared on the screen.
"It worked!"
"Of course it did… now, shall we watch this film? I now want to discover your obsession with this mysterious Patrick…"
"Are you jealous?" she teased, and he smiled. "You don't need to be…"
"Only a little…"
She happily watched the film, sighing at the right places, and Joseph especially enjoyed watching her enjoyment… he seriously didn't think it would be her type of film, but he also knew that she enjoyed new things….sometimes. She just needed to be introduced to new things slowly….
He also became aware that her hand, which had been resting on his knee at the beginning of the film, had been slowly progressing up his leg, shyly and secretively; as if she didn't want him to notice.
When a particular section of the film began playing, he turned to him with a playful smile and seductive eyes, before she began unbuttoning his shirt.
"What is it about you and this movie?" he teased, but he didn't mind as the movie became long forgotten as they lay back on the couch…..
0
"Oh!" Clarisse cried much later, sounding slightly disappointed as she focused back on the DVD, realising that the film was almost over. "We missed most of the movie!"
"Whose fault is that?" he teased as she sat up a little, eyes still glued to the screen.
"Mine… but as I watched it, I realised that, while I still admire him, you, as my husband, are far sexier…"
They watched the rest of the film in almost silence, in each other's arms, before Clarisse stretched happily, and kissed him on the tip of his nose.
"I guess I had better get dinner ready… and I promise I will watch one of your movies tonight!" she said as she looked around on the floor for her blouse.
"Who says I'm going to let you go?" he growled playfully, pinning her gently down with his arms onto the couch, and she giggled happily.
"You will….if you want dinner!"
"True," he agreed, and he stood up so that she could move, while she continued looking around for her blouse, which was on the floor beside her shoes. She blushed slightly when he handed it to her- imagine if they had been caught…. Before Joseph said…
"Imagine if someone had caught us!" he teased, and she blushed even more… it was silly to get so embarrassed over something that was perfectly natural, but it was a combination of her own upbringing (where it was never discussed), and repression of her own feelings when she was married to Rupert. She had never realised what it was like to really love, and to be so attracted to, someone until she had met Joseph….
She adored being with him all the time, yet the physical aspect of their relationship was still surprising, even after a year….
"Penny for your thoughts?" he teased as Joseph handed her her shirt, and she shrugged.
"I was just thinking…. How embarrassed how I would be if we were caught in this position…"
"I knew it!" Joseph cried triumphantly, but subsided when Clarisse gave him a look.
"…. Before I realised that I shouldn't be embarrassed….this is our house…" she trailed off as she became even more mortified (which was even more humiliating in front of her own husband), and he immediately understood- she was really embarrassed and shy about certain things in her private life…
"Sweetheart…" He began, ready to give up everything for her, and she smiled.
"No…..it's just that I'm still getting used to it… But I love this and everything…. I just wish I wasn't so shy…"
"Don't wish that, because that's what I fell in love with!" Joseph said heatedly, and Clarisse blushed even more when she realised what he meant it.
"It's just that it's the old part of me that's making complications…"
"I DO understand- you are so much more reserved and shy… but you are slowly opening up, which is something I love to see!" he said as he held her close, and she laughed ruefully.
"Thank goodness… imagine if you were married to an ice queen!"
"You were never an ice queen to me, darling," he said quietly, caressing her cheek for a moment before stretching. "But what I'm really interested in is… Where is my dinner?"
"Fine!" Clarisse pretended to sound offended as she quickly re-dressed, and walked purposefully into the kitchen, her husband a few seconds behind her.
"So…. What do you want me to do?" he asked as she looked through the cupboards for the tools she needed.
"Just help…."Clarisse said vaguely as she looked for the ingredients she needed…
"Let's see… 11/2 cups of flour, 1 teaspoon of salt, ¾ of a teaspoon of yeast, ½ cup of water, and a tablespoon of salt…" she murmured almost to herself as she found the ingredients, and mixed them into the bowl.
"Don't tell me you're going to do what actual chefs do, and toss it into the air once it's dough, and make it really big?" he teased as he watched her almost expertly mix the ingredients, and then throw the dough onto the board he had put out for her. He almost laughed when he saw her- she had flour in her hair, and on some of her clothes, but she hadn't noticed as she was too busy with her dough…
"No… although that might be interesting," Clarisse looked thoughtful for a moment, mentally picturing what the scene would be like if that happened, but she calmly continued to knead it, before rolling it out onto a board.
"What do you want on your pizza?" she asked after she spread it out into the pizza dish, and spread the sauce out over it.
"Well…. I usually like meat lovers…"
"Meat lovers?" Clarisse looked confused.
"Mostly meat on the dish…. But I bought all the ingredients for Hawaiian- I know that it's your favourite, as well as Phillipe…. There's Pineapple, bacon…"
"Yes please!" Clarisse said with delight as Joseph rummaged through the groceries for the ingredients she wanted.
"I take it that you like it too…" he teased, and she beamed happily at him.
"Of course… can you help me?"
Soon enough, the pizza was ready to put in the oven to cook, and Clarisse was almost proud as she carried it over to the pre-warmed oven.
She watched it for a moment through the stove window after she closed the door.
"I can't believe I did that…" she said with a slightly surprised look, before adding: "with a little help…" she smiled warmly at him before she looked down at herself and laughed. "And I also can't believe that I'm practically covered in flour just for making a pizza!"
"I wish I had the camera here, you look so cute and domesticated like that… and I think our granddaughter would die laughing if she saw you like that…"
"Thankfully you don't have a camera, so that's not going to happen," Clarisse said mock haughtily as she cleaned up the bench, piling the used utensils into the sink. "Well…" she sighed, looking at her watch for a moment.
"The pizza won't be ready for…" she consulted the recipe book open on the counter. "….About fifteen to twenty minutes, so you might as well go and have a shower…"
"Are you planning on getting rid of me?" he pretended to look insulted, and she laughed.
"Of course… I want to watch the part of Dirty Dancing you made me miss!" but she laughed harder at his expression. "Just kidding- that was me… anyway darling, you might as well go and do that, I'll clean up…"
"Alright… but I'll be upstairs if you need me…"
0
When he came downstairs twenty minutes later, he was surprised and happy to see her place a salad, which she had tossed herself, onto the table, as well as the pizza, a delicious smell floating up from it.
"It took you long enough to have a shower!" she retorted with a grin as, in opposition to what he had done the previous evening, she held out a chair for him, and he laughed as he sat down.
"I just wanted to avoid doing too much work…. Although I'm very happy to help you with the washing up!"
"Thank you, my love," Clarisse beamed as she sat down opposite him, and cut apart two sections of the pizza. She wanted him to like it- she had very rarely cooked while she had been Queen, not having the time, but she wanted to make an impression on her husband… She watched him anxiously as he ate a small bite of the pizza, and he grinned at her, quick to reassure her.
"It's absolutely delicious darling… you did a good job with this…"
"We did a good job," she corrected as she nibbled on the edge of her slice, and then smiled- it was delicious. "I was rather worried that it would burn, but…"
"Not everything burns….Unlike popcorn," he added in an undertone, and she smiled- he would never let her forget the time she had burnt popcorn in the microwave. "But the pizza is good…. And so is the salad…"
"I always insisted on making a salad for the boys when they had pizza…. I always believed that they should have some vegetables as part of their meal…" she smiled a little sadly at the memory of the boys arguing with her over the merits of salad with pizza….
'Come on, Mother… we eat lots of healthy stuff during the day…'….'Why do we have to eat salad?...' 'We'll eat more salad tomorrow….'
"Don't worry, my love," he said gently, putting a hand over hers and pressing it gently.
""I promise that I will eat what you want me to eat."
"Good," she pretended to look at him sternly, but then smiled.
0
They ate in relative silence, but they both knew that they didn't need to make constant conversation in each other's company, as they were that comfortable together…
"You aren't going to be a naughty boy and flick soap suds as me?" she asked as they stood in front of the sink together, and he pretended to look offended.
"I am not that fickle, Clarisse… besides, I think I got some soap in my eyes last night…"
After they had finished the washing up, Clarisse casually perused the pile of DVDs on the table in front of the television.
"Which one of your films should we watch tonight?"
"Hmm…" Joseph sounded pensive as he looked through them, and discovered…
"How about we start off with Indiana Jones… there are three to watch, and this is the first one…" he held up a case that said 'Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Arc'.
"Alright," she said amenably. "However, why don't we make it like a sleepover… why don't we both change into our pyjamas…"
"Good idea!" he agreed, and they both raced upstairs to change into their sleeping attire, Joseph back downstairs before Clarisse… Clarisse wearing a robe over her nightgown…. She sat cosily down on the couch as he set up everything.
"I just hope that there's nothing too scary in this… I don't know how I put up with all of Mia's scary movies… I can't remember watching one of Phillipe's horror films…"
"Maybe that was because he knew you would like it," he said diplomatically as he sat down beside her on the couch, and she happily snuggled up to him. "But there shouldn't be anything too scary in this… but, if there is… you can hide in my robe…"
"Thank you…."
Nearly two hours later, Joseph looked down at Clarisse, leaning happily on his chest, and he had to smile… she was sound asleep…
He hated to wake her, having preferred to carry her upstairs, but she stirred slightly when he started shifting her.
"Has… has the film ended?" she asked sleepily as he got to his feet and made ready to lift her up. "Did I miss it all?"
"Most of it…. But we can watch it again- like Dirty Dancing," he teased as she smiled sleepily at him, and slowly got to her feet.
He helped her up the stairs, and she was slightly more wide awake when she climbed into bed.
"You are such a gentleman, Joseph… most people probably would have left me downstairs…"
"Not my wife," he said firmly as he switched off the light, and climbed in beside her. "If you hadn't woken up, I probably would have carried you upstairs…"
"Lucky you," she smiled at him in the dark, before she snuggled closer and he put his arms around her. He really did like doing that…
They lay there for a moment, listening to the sound of the ocean on the beach, and Clarisse sighed happily.
"I'm glad we're here…"
"So am I… and I think your idea to move out here permanently has merit…"
"I thought it would…. But I'm glad that we're doing this…"
"Me too… I just hope that we don't have any more surprises for a while!"