Author's Note: I hurried with this chapter as I knew everyone was curious, but this is only part one of the chapter… Enjoy!

Thanks to all my loyal readers- Captain Weirdo, Clarisse Renaldi, tabby-fanny, Poppinswannabe, VictoriaGrant, addlogcon, fantasyinmymind, & Kristi-Julie… you guys all rock!

The Princess Diaries doesn't belong to me

There was a stunned silence between the three of them for a moment, before Clarisse, a little overcome with an unmistakeable feeling of déjà vu, cried "What?!", going as white as a sheet at the thought struck her- what if Mia… she couldn't bear it… surely life wouldn't be as cruel as that…

Joe, watching her face and aware of what she was thinking, hurried over to gently guide her back to where he had been sitting, and sat down next to her, his arm around her.

She was only vaguely aware of his strong arm around her, but all she could see was BJ, and the news he still had to tell her, news she was dreading… she didn't want to hear it, but she had to…she had already faced the worst once, and she could do it again…

"Who was it, BJ?" she almost shouted the words at him, but there was no fierceness in her voice, just panic, fear and anguish as she battled against her emotions, trembling like mad, but fighting her tears bravely. BJ took another deep, calming breath in- this was worse than he had imagined it would be, but he was grateful, for Clarisse's sake, ant Joseph was there, holding her.

"Mia…" he began, and Clarisse almost totally collapsed into Joseph's arms, unable to breathe for a moment, before she realised that he was waiting to continue. "Mia called me… it's not her, she's fine…"

Clarisse let out a huge sigh of relief (thank goodness, she thought to herself), but didn't relax- Mia was fine, and Joseph was sitting beside her, but someone else she cared about had been involved in a terrible accident…

"It was Pierre…" he continued after a moment, before he was interrupted by Clarisse and Joe saying, together

"Pierre!" before Clarisse went even whiter as Joseph held her tighter- it was almost as bad as he had initially thought… he would have been devastated if it had been Mia, but Pierre… that was almost as bad…

"What happened?" he asked, seeing that Clarisse was in no condition to speak- she was already having a hard enough time keeping her emotions in check.

"The details are still sketchy but, according to the Scottish Police (who contacted Mia), Pierre was at a conference, on his way to London, when he was involved in a massive car accident. They're not sure about the extent of his injuries, but they are going to keep Mia up to date, and she'll call your phone next time…"

He paused for a moment, at a loss for words- he barely knew Pierre, but he knew that Clarisse had been through enough in the previous years.

"I'm sorry I had to be the one to tell you," he said awkwardly and Joe smiled slightly at him as Clarisse continued to look at the ground, before he discreetly disappeared, leaving the two alone.

For a moment, Clarisse was completely numb, unaware that BJ had left, and only mildly curious at why Joseph was holding her so tightly, before she remembered… it wasn't a dream, it was real life nightmare. She had an unmistakeable feeling of déjà vu- first her second son was killed in a car accident 6 years previously, and now her eldest… if something happened to him, she couldn't go through another funeral… just the thought of another funeral, burying her only surviving child, made her feel very faint… but she was suddenly aware of Joseph still sitting beside her- as usual, he was always there for her, something for which she was, and forever would be, grateful.

She turned to look at him, and his heart ached when he saw the anguish and despair in her eyes- it wasn't as bad as when Phillipe was killed, but even though their relationship was still rocky, Pierre was her son.

"Joseph… I don't know what to… to say…" she stumbled over the words, and he knew that she was still in shock.

"You don't need to say anything," he said soothingly, gently stroking her hair as she leant against his shoulder.

"I don't what I'd do if… if…" she could barely form the words, but he wasn't even going to let her think that.

"He's going to be okay," he said firmly with more confidence that he was feeling- until Mia rang, they were completely in the dark- but Clarisse didn't notice his doubt as she nodded, only half listening.

"Let's go back up to the house so you can lie down," he said gently, helping her to stand up, but before they could take two steps, she suddenly felt faint again, and began to collapse towards the ground before Joe hastily sat her down again.

"I'm sorry, Joseph… I just feel a little light headed…"

"I know," he said, looking around and thinking hard- she wasn't up to walking back to the house, but he was serious about wanting her to lie down… before he spotted a 4WD coming towards them, BJ in the driver's seat.

"I figured you might need a lift back," he said as Joseph helped Clarisse into the front seat, before hopping into the back seat. BJ looked worriedly over at Clarisse- she was staring straight ahead, clearly in shock. He couldn't even imagine the pain she was suffering…

When they got back, the younger people obviously up, judging by the noise in the dining room, but Joe and Clarisse headed towards the stairs. Clarisse was feeling a little better, but still leaning heavily on Joseph, but she was very relieved when they finally reached the privacy of their room, and Joseph helped her onto the bed.

She lay there for a long time, staring blankly at the ceiling as Joseph, sitting in a chair beside her, rubbed her arm and watched her anxiously- she hadn't said a word since BJ picked them up- before she turned to look at him, her eyes filling with tears.

"Oh, Joseph," she managed to gasp, rather hoarsely, before rolling onto her stomach and burying her face in her pillows, her muffled sobs filtering out.

"Darling, darling, darling," he murmured, climbing onto his side of the bed and lying down next to her, rubbing her back, before she turned and buried her face in his shirt, still sobbing, and he wrapped his arms around her- she always liked that when she was upset.

She cried for a long time, not only because of her fears for Pierre, but also because she was reminded of Phillipe, before her shoulders stopped shaking and she pulled away, accepting Joseph's proffered handkerchief to wipe her eyes.

"I… I'm sorry…" she finally said.

"You don't have to say that at all… But he is going to be okay…"

"How do you know?" she almost whimpered as she pushed a pillow behind her, and sat up, still holding Joseph's handkerchief.

"We have to think positively- which, at the moment, may seem hard to do, but that's what we have to do."

"I hope so… I don't want to… bury another son, my last son," she stifled a sob. "And when we're on such bad terms…"

She knew Joseph was right, they had to think positively, but she couldn't help but voice her fears, and Joe understood that- after everything she had been through, he could empathise with her being afraid.

"You're not on bad terms," he said firmly. "You were beginning to re-establish your relationship at the wedding…"

"But we're not close…"

"It doesn't matter whether you're close or not, he still cares about you, and he knows that you care about him."

After a moment's reflection, she looked around with an almost puzzled expression.

"You know, I can't remember how we got here…"

"BJ drove us back up from the stables- you were in shock, and almost fainted when I tried to get you moving."

"I sort of remember that… but where are the others? Maybe we should go downstairs… after all, we did come to see them…" she began to sit up even more, preparing to swing her legs off the bed, but he gently pushed her back down against the pillows.

"They're out and about, but I don't think we should go down… you've just had a massive shock, so you should rest."

She smiled slightly at him- he was always so solicitous and caring- before she remembered something else.

"Is your phone charged up?"

"Yes, and it's right here," he reached behind him and grabbed his phone off the bedside table. "Here it is," he waved it in front of her, before putting it back on the table as Clarisse yawned.

"I think I might have a nap soon… will you stay until I go to sleep?"

"Where else do you think I would be?" he teased, stroking her cheek before she moved slightly, looking uncomfortable as she leant down to rub her calves. "Is something wrong?"

"I've just remembered something about not riding for so long- sore muscles… my legs are really sore."

Joe grinned before moving down the bed, and began to gently massage her legs. A small sound (almost a groan) of contentment escaped from her lips as she lay there for a moment, enjoying his 'magic fingers' (he was so good at giving massages) before she protested, rather half heartedly:

"That wasn't a hint, you know… you don't have to do it," but her smile of pleasure told him she was enjoying it.

"I don't mind," he smiled down at her, relieved and pleased to see that she was finally beginning to relax, although it was still quite a while before she completely relaxed- or enough to close her eyes and go to sleep. As he had promised, he stayed until he knew she was asleep, but his expression changed to one of concern as he went downstairs to find BJ and the others. He was more worried than he would let Clarisse know- Pierre and she had only just go back in touch, and he knew she would never forgive herself if something happened. He had kept a positive façade up for her sake, but while he was extremely concerned about Pierre, he was just as worried about her- losing two sons in the same way… he worst fear was that, strong as she was, another loss could break her… but, he couldn't think that way… they had to wait until Mia called.

Everyone was still congregated in the dining room when Joe stepped in the room, but the mood was oddly sombre as compared to the noise that he had heard before.

"How is she?" Lynn asked softly as Joe accepted coffee from Ben, and sat down next to BJ.

"In shock, and understandably very upset, but we just have to wait and see," he sighed heavily.

"I'm sorry I was the bearer of bad tidings," BJ said awkwardly. "Mia couldn't get through to you…"

"It's fine, you did the right thing… I don't think I would have wanted to break more news like that again," he said, still remembering the time he had to tell her about Phillipe.

"Is this what happened to… Phillipe?" Annie asked softly.

"Yes, he was killed in a car accident about six years ago," he said quietly. "That's why I'm really worried about Clarisse."

"Is there anything we can do?" Julie asked, and Joe couldn't help but smile slightly at everyone- it really meant a lot to him that they all cared about Clarisse. She would feel better when she knew that she (and Mia) was part of his family.

"Thank you all so much for the offer, but there's nothing we can do until Mia calls, but I will tell Clarisse you offered."

"What about you?" BJ asked, giving his brother a penetrating look. "Are you alright? It must have been a shock to you as well."

"I'm fine," Joe shrugged, and it was true- he was worried about Pierre, and hoped that he would be alright, but he had always been closer to Phillipe, and his primary concern was Clarisse.

"All that matters to me is that Clarisse is fine and coping- I'm going to be there for her… honestly, I'm fine, but I'm anxious about Clarisse."

"We all are," Lynn said quietly. "Losing one child is devastating for any parent, but two…" she trailed off, looking down at her hands for a moment. "But he'll be alright."

"Absolutely," BJ nodded as the others nodded, and Joe felt bolstered by their support as he went back upstairs to check on Clarisse, who was still asleep.

000

Half an hour later, she woke up and, for a moment, wondered why she was laying on the bed as she sat up and fluffed her pillow up against the bed head. She wasn't sick…

But when Joseph, sitting beside her, turned, holding a cup of tea (poured from the teapot on the table beside the bed), and when she saw the concern etched on his face, she remembered… as if she could forget…

"How are you feeling?" he asked tenderly as she sat back against her pillow, and accepted the cup of tea.

"Okay," she gave him a small smile, using a word she rarely used, before sipping her tea. "This is chamomile!"

"Yes, it is… I thought you needed something soothing."

"Thank you darling," Clarisse said softly, resting her head against his shoulder for a moment. "As always, you're very thoughtful, and I'm lucky to have you."

"It's part of the territory of being a good husband- looking after your wife when she's sick, cooking romantic dinners… and bringing her chamomile tea when she needs it."

She chuckled softly at his joke, and he was relieved- hopefully, the shock was beginning to wear off.

"Any news?" she asked bravely, looking away as she sipped her tea, and he sighed.

"Not yet, but Mia will call… and don't even THINK about what might happen," he said confidently, and she gave him another tiny smile, appreciating what he was doing. She was going make another light joke when his mobile rang, and she jumped, almost spilling her tea down herself, before stiffening, terrified… it was Mia…

"Hi, it's me," Mia sounded harassed when Joe answered. "I've got some more news- he's an induced coma as they still aren't sure about his injuries, although they suspect spinal injuries…"

She sounded clipped and cool as she almost recited her information, but he knew her well enough to know that she was worried.

"Is he still in Scotland?"

"At the moment yes, as they're trying to stabilise him, but once he is, they'll be air lifting him to London."

"London?" he repeated, surprised.

"Yeah, there are some of the best doctors there…" she paused for a moment. "I know Grandma is going to want to race down there, but I would prefer that you wait until we know he's going to be there, and some of the guys are there- you do understand, don't you?"

"Of course, I agree with you completely."

"I know you're the best, but I would feel safer knowing that you had protection in London."

"You don't need to explain it to me, Mia. I was actually thinking of waiting until tomorrow to go down, just so there's time for him to be settled."

"Alright… how's Grandma?"

"Fine… coping well," he looked over at her and smiled. "She went horse riding this morning."

"Really? I didn't even think she liked horses!"

"Apparently she does, and she did… did you want to speak to her?"

"I'd love to, but I can't talk at the moment- I have a meeting to go to, but I'll will call again soon."

Clarisse looked at him when he hung up, her expression a mixture of expectation, anxiety and fear. Her expression didn't change as he told her what Mia had said, but when he finished, her face crumpled slightly.

"It's worse than I thought," she murmured to herself, but she didn't cry. He reached out and squeezed her hands tightly before forcing her to look at him.

"But he's still alive, that's the important thing, Clarisse- it shows what a fighter he is… just like his mother!"

"But I want to see him, Joseph… I want to see my son."

"I know you do, baby, and you will, but we just have to wait."

After a long silence, she drained her cup and put it on her table, stretching.

"Let's go down and join the others," she said, swinging her legs off the bed, and slowly standing up.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I need to get my mind off everything at the moment… besides, we are visiting your family, remember?"

Downstairs, BJ and Lynn were chatting in the living room, the younger ones nowhere to be seen, but they stood up when Joe and Clarisse walked in.

"How are you?" Lynn asked as she walked over to Clarisse, who shrugged, smiling bravely.

"As well as can be expected."

"Any news?" BJ asked Joe in a low voice as they followed the two women across the room.

"Some…" and he recounted Mia's news quietly, out of Clarisse's earshot, although he suspected he was telling Lynn the same thing as he saw Lynn lean over and give Clarisse a hug. "Where are the kids, by the way?"

"Out walking somewhere… they should be back soon."

Just then, there was the sound of voices echoing in the hallway, getting louder and louder, before the group walked into the room, chatting loudly.

They all stopped short when they saw Clarisse and, for a moment, there was an awkward pause as they avoided her eyes, before Julie, the most sensitive one, walked over, bent over to give her a hug, and murmur some words of comfort in her ear. Clarisse, touched, smiled gratefully at her before Annie, unusually serious, followed suit.

Smiling at the scene, Joe looked over at Ben and Carrie, expecting them to do the same, but he was disappointed that, while they looked sympathetic, they were making no effort to move towards her, although their partners did. It suddenly dawned him- they may have apologised, and accepted Clarisse as part of the family, but they would never fully embrace her as Annie and Julie had. They still remembered the ring, and while they would never mention it again, they wouldn't forget it.

It saddened him deeply, but he accepted it- it wasn't that they weren't sympathetic, but they were different and, despite Clarisse's lecture, still held a grudge. He looked over at BJ for a moment, and saw that he was just as disappointed.

"Oh!" Lynn said, standing up suddenly and everyone looked at her. "I just remembered I've planted some new flowers in the garden that I wanted to show you."

"I would love to see them," Clarisse said, standing up as well, and met Joseph's eyes for a moment, smiling reassuringly. She was alright, and more than touched at Annie and Julie's words of support.

"Will anyone else being joining up?" Lynn inquired, looking around the room.

"No thank you, dear," BJ said cheerfully from his seat next to Joe. "You know I'm no good at flowers."

"Very true- Joe?"

"No, I'm afraid that I have to agree with BJ- flowers aren't my forte, and I'm sure my wife would agree with me."

"Fine… guys?" she looked inquiringly with her children.

"I'm in," Annie said enthusiastically, and Julie nodded as well as her husband Patrick sat down next to BJ. "Ben, Carrie?"

"Actually," Ben began. "We were going to go into town to pick up some stuff- did you want us to get the papers… see if there's any more the news? They might know more… the press usually does, compared to others… If one of my children were ill, I'd be on the first flight there, no matter what, not waiting around…"But I suppose that others would react different to me."

There was a shocked silence at Ben's nasty comment, Clarisse feeling as though she had been slapped, before Lynn quickly covered.

"No… although you could pick up your father's latest fishing magazine… I'm sure he's dying for it."

"I resent that!" BJ said heatedly, and the tension in the atmosphere dissipated slightly at Lynn's clever remark, but Joe was annoyed at Ben and Carrie's insensitivity.

"Sorry about that," BJ said remorsefully when the women went outside to the garden, and Ben and Carrie had gone. "I thought, after Clarisse spoke to them, that they were all over that nonsense… and that remark…"

"They might not have meant it," Joe said, not wanting to offend his brother, before BJ gave him a sceptical look. "But it doesn't matter… they're probably never going to warm to Clarisse after that ring incident, but at least Annie and Jules did, and that's fine with me."

After the women came in from the garden, Clarisse looking much happier, it was lunchtime and, at the table, BJ, inspired by Clarisse's riding that morning, immediately launched into the story of Joe falling off a horse when he was a boy.

"I though you said you were never going to mention that again!" Joe groaned, mock glaring at BJ as the rest of the table (except Ben and Carrie, who weren't there) were in hysterics. "I hardly think that me ending up with a broken arm would be the cause of so much hilarity!"

"It wasn't the end of the story that was funny," Annie managed to gasp. "It was just HOW you managed to end up on the ground!"

Joe wasn't as embarrassed as he pretended to be, and he was relieved when he looked over at Clarisse who, loyal woman that she was, was trying to keep her mouth straight, not smiling, and failing miserably.

00000

For the rest of the day, everyone did their best to keep Clarisse distracted, which she greatly appreciated, but it was a relief when, after dinner, she decided to retire early.

"You don't have to come up with me," she murmured to Joseph as she stood up, and he made to follow.

"Are you sure?" He didn't want her to be alone.

"Quite sure- you're not tired yet… I'll be fine," she squeezed his hand, before excusing herself and disappearing out of the room.

Upstairs, in the privacy of the bedroom, she was glad to be alone (apart from Joseph's company) with her thoughts, but she was determined not to dwell on Pierre- as Joseph said, he was still alive.

After a refreshing shower, although her muscles were still aching, she was just climbing into bed when the bedroom door opened and, to Clarisse's surprise, Joseph came in.

"I thought you were going to stay downstairs with the others!"

"I was, but I figured you needed me more… to talk or to give you another massage," he added with a sly smile.

"You're sweet, you know that," she beamed at him, leaning her cheek against his shoulder for a moment.

"I'll give you a massage in a minute… I just want a shower."

Ten minutes later, he was gently massaging her legs again, and she was smiling with pleasure.

"Thank you, sweetheart," she murmured as he helped her into bed and slid in next to her. "I really needed that."

"Good night, darling," he leaned over and kissed her on the cheek before she rolled over onto her side, hoping that sleep would come easily…

Unfortunately, half an hour later, she was still awake, and she sighed heavily as she turned to face Joseph, hoping that he was awake.

"Joseph?" she whispered, a little nervously. "Are you awake?"

"Yes," he replied, switching on the light above the bed, and put an arm around her as she rested her head on his shirt.

"I was just thinking about Pierre…"she confessed.

"I know you were," he said softly, stroking her hair.

"I was just thinking back to when he was born…"

"Really?" Joe was interested- she had very rarely spoken about the early years of her marriage to Rupert, but he sensed that she wanted to talk.

"Rupert and I, as you know, were married when I was 18, and he wanted his heir to the throne almost immediately- I, on the other hand, wanted to wait a year or so, just so I could get used to my roles as princess, wife and Queen to be… However, it was just after our first wedding anniversary that I discovered I was expecting, and the entire country started the countdown to the birth."

"How did you feel?" he asked, imagining an already shy and insecure 19-year-old trying to explore her triple roles before discovering her pregnancy, and then the expectations of husband, in laws and country on her shoulders- it would be daunting for any teenager.

"Terrified," she said honestly, remembering how alone she felt, despite Rupert's support. "Even my in laws thawed slightly…after all, I was having their first grandchild."

"How was…"

"I enjoyed most of it, but the attention was rather daunting (which is something I'm dreading with Mia), and I was very glad when the time for my confinement arrived."

"You poor thing," he said sympathetically.

"He was born the day he was due… Rupert had gone away for the day, but he managed to make it back in time…"

"How long?" He was aware that he was only asking questions, but she was just talking.

"Four hours- definitely not as long as Phillipe, but…the first time I held him…" she began choking up. "I fell in love with him, and I knew he was worth all the attention…"

She cried a little before looking at him, her eyes both tender and sad.

"He was always such a beautiful, affectionate little boy…"

"Who looked just like you," Joe added with a grin.

"For a little while… but," she sobered up. "Once he turned nine, and went away to boarding school, he began to change- he drew away from me, and became closer to his father…"

"I remember," he said pensively, remembering the many times he had seen Pierre mistreat (consciously and unconsciously) his mother, and it had hurt him.

"And then, when he said those dreadful things… But," she continued after a long silence. "He is still my son, and I love him."

"That's my girl," he said proudly, kissing the top of her hair, before she look over at him with a mischievous, sexy smile.

"Kiss me, Joseph… kiss me properly…"

"I'd be happy to oblige," he said cheerfully, leaning over to kiss her… and the kiss was only the beginning as things quickly escalated between them, everything else completely forgotten…

"Wow…" he said when they finally broke apart, both sets of pyjamas discarded on the floor. "You're always surprising me… but I'm glad…" he added as she smiled over at him.

"I guess that's what keeps our relationship so surprising… you surprise me, so I surprised you…" before she leaned over and kissed him again, loving him so much… he had always been there for her…

"By the way," he said afterwards. "What did Julie say to you?"

"Oh," Clarisse smiled, still touched at what had been said to her. "She said that they were behind us, she was glad that you were with me… and she called me 'Aunt Clarisse." She smiled tenderly- she had loved every word both girls had said, particularly the 'Aunt' in front of her name. "They're probably too old to call me 'Aunt', but it was the thought that counts…"

"Wow," he finally said, moved beyond words. "You really are a part of the family."

"Yes, I am," Clarisse said happily, but they looked over at him seriously. "I hope he'll be alright."

"He will be, my love,' he said, pulling her even closer into his arms, hoping that he wasn't lying to her. "But, no matter what, I'll always be here for you."

"Thank you, and I know that… and I'm always here for you too."

"Perfect match," he murmured as he switched off the light, and she snuggled up in his arms, happier than she had been all day.